Of Masters, Mentors, Matrimony




Disclaimer: If you really have to read this to find out that I don't own 
anything but the plot, then where have you been?
~Chapter 1~
"Well, I think I'll go with the 'antique parchment' ones. They're very nice." 
Hermione said, flipping closed a sample book at Habadesheere's- a wizard's 
stationary shop in Mugwarp Alley. Despite its rather off-putting name, the small 
cobbled street was just the place to look for anything to do with anniversaries 
and weddings, and celebrations of all kinds.
"That's a wonderful choice, madam." The clerk behind the desk told her, putting 
the book back under the counter, "They'll make lovely invitations. May I ask how 
many you'll be needing?"
"Goodness!" Hermione thought for a moment, "We'll need at least two hundred. All 
of Ron's family, all of my family, Harry, all our friends and old teachers&#8230; 
it'll be packed."
The clerk smiled and with a wave of his wand said "Accio invitations 20784, one 
case." A box came zooming out of the back room and Hermione jumped back as it 
landed on the counter in front of her.
"You take these," He said pushing them at her, "And fill them out and address 
them. Then, bring them back and we'll send them out for you- no charge." He 
gestured to a wall covered with owls of all shapes and sizes on perches. It 
reminded Hermione of the Hogsmeade post office.
"Thanks, we'll do that. How much do I owe you?"
"Nineteen galleons and three sickles." He said and she pulled out her purse.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm late for lunch with my maid of honor. Good bye!" 
She called as she backed up against the door and pushed it open while holding 
the case of invitations. She hurried two doors down from Habadasheere's to the 
Rainbow Owl, the sidewalk café where she was meeting Ginny for lunch. Hermione 
found her already seated at an outdoor table, perusing a menu and sipping a 
goblet of iced pumpkin juice, which was turning her lips, the same color as her 
hair.
"Hey Gin. Sorry I'm late." Hermione said, plopping down in the chair across from 
her.
"No problem. I was a little late myself- What?" Hermione had stifled a giggle at 
the sight of Ginny's lips- they were really orange!
"Um, Ginny? What have you been drinking?"
"Huh?"
"Well, your lips&#8230;" she trailed off with another giggle.
Ginny whipped out a compact mirror from her purse, "Oh damn! It's this stupid 
muggle lipstick. It makes my lips really susceptible to color changes, but it's 
cute, don't you think?"
"Well, if I could see it under the orange hue, I'm sure I would, but as it is&#8230; 
you might want to stick to wizard cosmetics."
Ginny sighed, "You're probably right. I just saw it in a store in Paris the 
other day and thought, Why not?" She picked up her napkin and wiped off the 
lipstick, taking the orange along with it just in time, the waiter came to take 
their orders at that moment.
"There. Now, how are the wedding plans going?"
"Oh, there's a story." Hermione groaned, "It's two months away and today the 
first thing went right: the invitations."
"That's good." Said Ginny optimistically.
"Not when everything else has gone wrong, it isn't."
"Oh."
"Yes, 'oh'. We have to find somewhere big enough to hold all the guests- and 
there will be a lot of guests, believe me. The ideal location would be Penny and 
Percy's yard, but that's such an imposition on them, what with the new baby and 
all."
"You know, Hermione, I really don't think it would be. I was a little late 
because I was visiting Penny. You know Percy went back to work two weeks ago, 
and I think she misses adult company. She's going a little stir-crazy. It would 
be great for her to have something to organize- to occupy her time."
"You really think so?" Ginny nodded, "Okay, I'll mention it to her. How was 
little Noah?"
"Adorable as ever. He's such a good baby; barely cries at all. Of course Mum's 
still miffed about the name. Molly was named after her you know, and Claire 
after Penelope's mum. Devon was just a name they liked, but fortunately for 
them, mum liked it, too. This time they were less lucky. I don't see what's 
wrong with it. It's pretty cute- I think."
Hermione nodded, "Well, she'll get used to it. The premises aren't my only 
problem, either. I have you designing my dress- God bless you- but we've got to 
get you and the bridesmaids dresses. I'm not going to make you design all of 
them."
"You know I wouldn't mind-" Ginny began, as the waiter returned and set their 
food before them, but Hermione cut her off.
"I know you wouldn't mind because you're a sweet person, but you're also an 
internationally famous designer, who is very busy, whether you'll admit it or 
not."
"Okay, okay!" Ginny laughed, "Well that's what we're here for, right?"
"Yes. This afternoon I also have to ask Celestina Warbeck if she'll sing with a 
back-up group for the reception. She's a contributor to the Prophet, you know. 
I'm sure she'll agree- she's such a nice person. Then, tonight I have to go to 
about five different restaurants with you and Harry and Ron, when they get off 
work to decide who will cater it. Then I might actually get to go home and get 
some sleep. Of course, then I'll wake up and&#8230;"
"Stop! Stop!" Ginny cried, throwing up her hands and laughing, "I get the point: 
if I ever decide to get married, I'll elope."
Hermione grinned, "Exactly. Speaking of your love life, how's Harry?"
"Honestly? Confusing. We seem to click really well and get on perfectly. Most of 
the time he's wonderful, but then, every once in awhile, he shuts down, 
emotionally I mean." Hermione nodded.
"Yeah, I think Harry has almost two different personalities. I've seen him with 
girlfriends, and then I've seen him with Ron and I. With them, he's 'The Harry 
Potter'- the boy who lived- famous Auror and Quidditch player for England- hero 
extrodinaire; with us, he's just Harry. He keeps his emotions involved in the 
just Harry persona- it's easier for him not to get too emotionally involved with 
who he dates. He's been through a lot, and then there's less at stake when 
something goes wrong. You're different, though, because you were Ron's sister 
and Harry's friend before you were his girlfriend, so you've seen the real 
Harry, but now you're dating 'The Harry Potter'."
"Exactly. That pretty much sums it up, but what do I do?"
"Give him time. Be patient. Harry already knows you're different from the 
others; he just hasn't figured out how to deal with that yet. He will, though, 
eventually." Ginny nodded, scraping up her last bit of salad.
"Ready?"
"Yeah." Hermione answered, scooping up one last spoonful of soup and leaving the 
waiter money for the bill and the tip. "I'll treat, since you're about to buy a 
dress for my wedding."
"Deal." Ginny said, smiling and picking up her purse. "Let's go." And they 
headed over to Regina's Regal Robes for Special Occasions.
Once she had stepped inside, Hermione had trouble breathing. The air was heavily 
perfumed with potpourri that reminded her of Professor Trelawney's classroom at 
Hogwarts. Everywhere she looked was pink, with flowers.
"I definitely prefer Madame Malkin's." Ginny nodded.
"Yes, but you don't get this lovely aroma there." She replied, wrinkling her 
nose, "What is that 'eau de Divination'?" Hermione laughed as a tall, thin 
woman, with purpleish-red hair swanned over to them.
"Hello, dahlings!" she said in an over exaggerated accent. "I am Regina 
Ratcliffe. Welcome to my emporium."
Emporium? Hermione thought. What planet does this woman live on? "Er, Hello. I 
called and made an appointment. I'm Hermione Granger, it's under Granger/Weasley 
wedding I believe."
"Yes, of course! Weasley? The groom isn't related to Ms. Virginia Weasley of 
'Robes by Virginia' is he? I simply adore her work!"
"Actually, he's my brother." Ginny said, sticking out her hand, "Virginia 
Weasley. Pleased to meet you Ms. Ratcliffe."
The woman looked like she was about to faint from excitement, "Oh my! Could you 
sign my guestbook, please? And we've got to take a picture." She shoved a 
Polaroid camera into Hermione's hands and rushed around the counter, wrapping 
her arm around a horrified looking Ginny's shoulders. After Hermione had 
dutifully taken the picture and was examining her handiwork- the tiny Ginny 
seemed to be putting up a great deal of resistance to being hugged by Regina 
Ratcliffe- Ginny found herself with a gaudy peacock feather quill in her hand, 
signing the woman's guestbook. After that ordeal, they finally got to go back 
and look at dresses. Hermione's bridesmaids were going to be Ginny as maid of 
honor, her muggle cousin Lila, and Delia Smith, a member of Ron's M.L.E.S. squad 
who Hermione had gotten close to in the months following their capture of the 
would-be-deatheater Ariel Nott. Unfortunately they all had very different 
coloring. Ginny, with her long red hair, brown eyes, and creamy skin dusted with 
freckles would be the hardest to match with the other two. Lila had short blond 
hair, cut into a pixy style, sky blue eyes, and clear, milky skin; and Delia, 
the most exotic of the three, came from the West Indies, with shoulder length, 
thick black hair, dark eyes, and honey colored skin. Hermione knew that finding 
a color dress that would suit them all might be impossible, but that's what 
she'd brought Ginny along for. What good were fashion designer/maid of honors if 
they weren't consultants as well? However, Ginny seemed to be in more of a 
joking than consulting mood. She popped up from behind a rack holding quite 
possibly the ugliest dress Hermione had ever seen. It was knee length, and 
orange with a fitted bodice and skirt, the waist accented by a double ruffle 
around the midriff. The sleeves were short and puffy, made of a synthetic gauzy 
material and the back was topped off by a huge, gaudy bow.
"How about this?" Ginny suggested, a mischievous smile on her face very 
reminiscent of her twin brothers. Hermione was about to make a comment about 
Ginny's taste in bridesmaids dresses being similar to ruffley janitor's 
uniforms, but Regina Ratcliffe flounced up, seeing Ginny holding the dress and 
said, "Oh, yes! That's one of my favorites!" The bemused look on Hermione's face 
was quickly replaced by one of horror, mirroring Ginny's own.
"Ummmm. I really don't think that's Lila's color." Hermione said, by way of a 
quick save, "Sorry Gin."
"Oh, it's no problem. I forget that I don't know all the bridesmaids, 
sometimes." Ginny said, hastily putting the dress back on the rack. Regina's 
face fell for a moment and then she perked up again, "Well, of course we have to 
make sure all of your bridesmaids look lovely, not just a few."
Hermione nodded vigorously, trying to lead the shop owner away from the rack 
with the orange dress on it. "Of course. I really like&#8230;" She flailed her hand 
behind her and felt it connect with a plastic hanger and soft, silky material. 
'Oh God, Ginny, if this is hideous I'll never forgive you!' She thought as she 
slowly brought the dress out between herself and Regina Ratcliffe. To her 
surprise and delight, Ginny came through. The garment that hung in front of her 
was of the palest yellow. The high empire waistline was accompanied without a 
neckline. It was cut straight under the arms and across the chest, held up by 
thin spaghetti straps. "This one!" she finished with real enthusiasm this time. 
Regina was nodding with approvement, and Ginny suddenly appeared behind her with 
a wink at Hermione that seemed to say 'Now maybe we'll make it out of here 
alive!'. Hermione grinned back at her and said, "We'll take three. A size two, a 
six, and an eight. Right Ginny?" Ginny bobbed her head enthusiastically.
"Yes, and now we really must be going." She said in her most haughty, 
professional voice, which she usually reserved for snobby clients and difficult 
retailers. "You know, important people see, appointments to make&#8230;" She trailed 
off with a pointed, almost conspiratorial look at Regina, that, though Ginny and 
Hermione both knew meant nothing, they also both realized that Regina would 
interpret it as camaraderie, and she did.
"Well, of course dear. A famous designer like yourself must have numerous 
important appointments to see to&#8230;" She was obviously fishing for information, as 
Hermione shoved the appropriate amount of galleons into her outstretched hand. 
Ginny tried to look pained and impressive at the same time.
"Yes," she nodded solemnly, "as soon as I leave here, I have to take my owl to 
have her talons trimmed. They're getting horrendously long." And trying not to 
burst out laughing at the shocked expression on Regina's face, she grabbed 
Hermione's hand and pulled her out the door, where they both doubled over in 
hysterics.
"Ginny! That was awful! What will she think of us now?"
"Well, certainly no less than we think of her- I don't think that's possible. 
Besides, since when do you care so much what people think of you? You never used 
to."
"I&#8230;I really don't know." Hermione said, truthfully, "I suppose it was after Ron 
and I broke up the last time. During that last fight we both said some pretty 
awful things, one of which being, 'I don't know what I ever saw in you- can't 
imagine why I ever liked you!'"
"Oh, 'Mione." Ginny said sympathetically.
So, maybe I'm just way too sensitive, but it kind of stuck with me the whole 
time we were apart. I figured that if everyone else liked me, it'd cancel out 
what Ron, said; what he felt, what I felt."
"Oh, no. My idiot brother!" Ginny said heatedly.
"Well, I guess I just got used to sucking up to people and caring what they 
thought. The habit stuck."
"Ooooh! I'm gonna scream at Ron the next time I see him. Have you talked to him 
about this?" Hermione shook her head. "That is one habit we're going to break 
you of before the wedding. But you really should talk to Ron- I think he needs 
to know this." Hermione just shrugged.
"He didn't mean it. It was in the heat of the moment, and I said some stuff to 
him that was just as stupid."
"Yeah, but Ron's not nearly as sensitive as you are."
"Really? Most people see him as the sensitive one."
"Most people aren't me, and most people don't know you two as well as I do. In 
fact, the only person I can think of that does is Harry. Ron is more outwardly 
sensitive to the rest of the world- people like Malfoy are able to anger him 
really easily, but it never lasts long. You only let the people you really care 
about hurt you, but when they do, you carry the pain around like baggage. The 
only way you can fix this is to talk to him about it."
"You're probably right, but it's so hard." Hermione sighed. "I think you missed 
your calling as a wizard-therapist."
Ginny laughed, "Oh, but if I'd gone into therapy you might be stuck with that 
horrible orange dress!" And they both dissolved into laughter again.
* * *
"So, the big day's coming up, huh?" Delia Smith strolled into her boss, Ron 
Weasley's, office.
"Yeah, in just about two months, and Hermione's freaking out, but that's nothing 
compared to my mum. She's already asking us what names we're considering for 
kids! Like she doesn't have enough grandchildren already; she just got a new 
one! But that's another story, What's up Dee?"
"Well I was just wondering if I should go buy a rattle for your wedding 
present&#8230;" She grinned at him.
"Ha ha. Very funny. Now, seriously, what is it?"
"I want to know what to get Hermione for her shower. It's in two weeks you 
know."
"Umm-hmm." Ron murmured, "You know, Dee. I'm no good at stuff like this. You 
might want to ask Ginny- she'd know."
"Yeah, but that's my other problem: I feel kind of left out. I mean, I'm really 
just a casual acquaintance of Hermione's, and I've only met Ginny once, and Lila 
not at all."
"You're not just a casual acquaintance of mine, or 'Mione's. You may not have 
known her long, but she'd never ask you to be in the wedding if she didn't want 
you there. As for Ginny- well, she's hardly ever in town long enough to be met, 
let alone to get to know her, but you'll love her; I do. Lila I've only met a 
few times myself: once at the train station when she came to pick up Hermione 
with her parents, Harry and I both met her then; once at our graduation, but 
only briefly because she left soon after the ceremony, and once at her older 
sister's wedding, where I was Hermione's date. She seems quite nice, though, and 
my father's absolutely thrilled that there's going to be a muggle in the 
wedding. Neither Percy or Bill had any muggle friends, and their wives are both 
purebloods, too, so Hermione will be the first muggle born in the family. Of, 
course, Dad would be even happier if I just married a muggle outright, but since 
I don't know any, he's quite pleased with Hermione. Why am I going on like this? 
I suggest you owl Ginny and ask her advice about the gift: she'll have some 
great idea, I'm sure."
"Who'll have a great idea about what?" A tall man with black hair and bright 
green eyes leaned casually in the door jam, observing Ron and Delia. "Hi. I 
don't believe we've met. Harry Potter." He said, sticking out his hand to Delia.
"I know, and no, we haven't. Delia Smith." She shook his hand and smiled 
slightly, because it didn't seem to have occurred to Harry Potter that he'd need 
no introduction. Ron, however, used to the variety of reactions Harry got, 
ignored this and said, "Harry might be able to help you, Dee." He turned to 
Harry, "Dee was just asking me what to get 'Mione for her shower. I referred her 
to Gin, but if you have any ideas?"
"Well, Harry stroked his chin in mock concentration, "how about a nice book? Her 
copy of Hogwarts, A History must be getting pretty worn out by now&#8230;" Ron began 
to laugh, and Delia looked confused.
"Inside joke." Harry explained between snickers.
Delia just raised her eyebrows and said, "I think I'll ask Ginny. Not that you 
two haven't been very helpful." She said sarcastically and headed out as the two 
men in the office began to laugh again.
"Don't think she liked me much." Harry observed, watching her go.
"Nah. I think you just surprised her. You know, not heroic enough."
"Well, I'll try harder next time. Maybe I could wear a cape with 'HP' on it. 
That'd be a nice touch."
As they both chuckled again Ron asked, "So, why are you here, Harry? Surely not 
just to make bad jokes." Harry's face turned serious at the question.
"No, I was actually wondering if you guys at M.L.E.S had gotten anything like 
this recently." He tossed a piece of parchment down on Ron's desk. "This is the 
second that's come to the Academy." He referred to the Auror's Academy- it 
housed all the offices of Aurors and all those in training. Ron's eyes widened 
as he unfolded the parchment and read the message that had been clipped and 
pasted on it:
Tell your pRecious dumbledore to watch Out. I will avenge my Master.
Ron looked up at Harry, his eyes wide with shock and confusion. Who could be 
threatening their old mentor and Professor?
 
~Chapter 2~
Later, on the same night that Hermione and Ron were supposed to meet Harry and 
Ginny to taste-test caterers for the wedding, Hermione decided it was time to 
take Ginny's advice, to talk with Ron about what she'd been avoiding and trying 
to forget for months. She got her chance when he arrived home to the flat they'd 
been sharing for the past six months or so, off of Diagon Alley. It was Ron's, 
and though Hermione still had her old flat in muggle London, she rarely used it 
for anything other than storage anymore. Ron looked a bit troubled when he came 
in, but that wasn't unusual. Hermione knew that being an enforcer came with 
certain emotional strains most other jobs didn't have- they had to see things 
most other people didn't. Harry had this at his job as an auror, as well, but 
while Harry usually couldn't talk about things from his work for confidentiality 
purposes, Ron usually simply didn't want to, so Hermione knew better than to ask 
what was troubling him, and he didn't volunteer the information.
Instead she kissed him in greeting and said, "Ron, we need to talk."
He raised his eyebrows, but nodded and plopped down onto the couch, patting the 
seat next to him, "Okay. What's up?"
"Well, you know I met Ginny to look for bridesmaid dresses this afternoon, 
right?"
"Yeah&#8230;" he said slowly, clearly not seeing where she was going.
"Well, to make a long story short, the owner of the dress shop was a perfect 
idiot, and a big fan of Ginny's." Ron smiled, " So, before we left, she was 
babbling about how busy an important person like Ginny must be, and how many 
appointments she must have to get to, blah blah blah." His smile widened at 
Hermione's use of the muggle idiom, " Ginny said, with a perfectly straight 
face, something like, 'Oh yes, I have to go take my owl to have her talons 
trimmed, they're getting horrendously long.' And pulled me out of the shop 
before the poor woman could work out what she'd said." Ron laughed, "Once we 
were outside I scolded Ginny for toying with someone who obviously couldn't 
afford to lose many brain cells, and what must she think of us. She replied that 
I had never used to care what other people thought of me if I didn't respect 
them." She stopped for breath and Ron got the feeling that they'd finally 
reached the point of this 'talk'. "It got me thinking, when had I started caring 
so much? And then the answer hit me. It was when we broke up for the last time 
(ever, I hope). Specifically when you said,
'I don't know what I ever saw in you- can't imagine why I ever liked you!'" Ron 
started to say something, but Hermione rushed on, like a train in danger of 
being derailed if it paused, "I guess what I'm saying is that I need to know 
that you don't feel that way anymore. Can you honestly tell me that?"
Ron looked down at her downcast eyes; sad, in a way, that she had to ask. Her 
took hold of her chin and tilted her head up to face him.
"Hermione, I can do one better than that- I never felt that way. I was angry 
with you and words just came out of my mouth. Words to hurt you, not the truth. 
I didn't feel that way then, and I certainly don't feel that way now." He said 
firmly. She looked up at him, first doubtful, but then she started to smile.
"So I can make fun of all the idiot shop owners I want?"
"Absolutely. To your heart's content." He said with a grin, "Now what time do we 
have to meet Harry and Gin?"
"Oh my gosh! I almost forgot! We're supposed to meet them at Le Magician at 
7:00, and it's already 6:20!"
Thirty-five hectic minutes later, Ron and Hermione walked into Le Magician 
looking very breathless but none the worse for wear. He, after much prodding by 
Hermione, wearing slate gray dress robes, and she in robes of her favorite shade 
of periwinkle, designed by Ginny to replace the ones she'd worn to their first 
Yule Ball, long since outgrown. As the maitre-d was asking Ron if they had a 
reservation, Hermione spotted Harry and Ginny at a table in the candle-lit 
corner, waving to them.
She pointed them out to the maitre-d, saying, "We're dining with friends 
tonight. They've already arrived."
He nodded, picked up two menus, and led them to where Harry and Ginny were 
seated. Harry stood and kissed Hermione on the cheek, saying, "Hi, 'Mione. It's 
been almost two weeks. How are you?" and adding before she could reply, "I'd 
kiss you too, Ron, but it hasn't been nearly as long."
"Lucky for me." Ron shot back with a grin. They all laughed. The maitre-d 
frowned slightly, as though he didn't approve of such larking about in his 
restaurant, but didn't comment as he handed Hermione and Ron their menus. Harry 
and Ginny already had closed menus in front of their places, indicating that 
they'd already selected a dish and were ready to order.
"You two are unusually late." Harry observed as they perused the entrees, 
"What's up?"
"What else is new?" Hermione answered, brushing off the question, "I was late 
for lunch with Ginny today as well, and I decided to start a new trend: being 
fashionably late for dining with fashion designers." She gave Ginny a look 
however that clearly said, 'I'll tell you later'. "Seriously, though." She 
continued, "With all these wedding plans and preparations I don't know if I'm 
coming or going, half the time!" Their waiter, a plump, balding, Italian man, 
arrived then to take their orders.
"Make I take-a your order?" Ginny smiled at his heavy accent. He obviously 
wasn't as comfortable with English as he was with his native tongue.
"May I have the rosetti pasta with pesto sauce, please?" she replied, in fluent 
Italian. (I don't speak Italian, just French and English, so pretend that was in 
Italian.) The look of joy that flushed his round face was almost comical, and 
she stifled a laugh, saying, "Don't get your hopes up. They don't spend a third 
of their time in Milan." The man's face fell slightly, but he hid his 
disappointment well as the other three delivered their orders in perfect, 
fluent, boring English. After the waiter walked away, they began to chat about 
the wedding plans, the guest list, the bridesmaid dresses that Hermione and 
Ginny had bought that afternoon and life in general. After about twenty minutes, 
the waiter returned, carrying a large tray, laden with four plates. He set one 
before each of them, Ginny first, them Hermione, and then both of the guys. 
After he'd gone for the second time that evening, Ron looked over at his sister 
with a glint in his eye.
"Well, we know who he likes best, now, don't we?" He teased, grinning, and 
making Ginny blush. Harry and Hermione laughed as well.
"Oh be quiet. It's just because I can speak Italian, and you know it."
"Oh I don't know, Gin." Harry jumped in, "I think he might have a crush on you&#8230;"
"You know, if we weren't in a fancy restaurant, I'd throw this roll at you!" she 
said, picking one up out of the breadbasket. "In fact, I think I will, as soon 
as we get out of here." She stuck it in her purse for safekeeping.
At this moment, the maitre-d walked over to them, and Ginny hastily stuck her 
now pudgy handbag under her chair.
"Mr. H. Potter?" He asked.
"Yes?" Harry answered.
"We just received a letter for you, by owl. It seemed rather urgent from the 
owl's behavior." He held out a folded piece of parchment and walked off. Harry 
unfolded the message and read it once quickly, reread it, and folded it back up, 
sticking it in an inside pocket of his robes.
"Bad news?" Hermione asked, looking at his now impassive face.
"It's for work." He replied, "Unfortunately, I've got to go."
"I think you're just trying to escape the roll. How long?" Ginny asked, knowing 
the routine by now.
"Few days at the most. Don't worry, I won't miss the wedding or anything." He 
said with a smile. Hermione laughed.
"You'd better not! Well, good luck."
"Yes, Harry, have fun." Ron put in.
"No doubt." Harry replied.
"Be careful and have a safe trip." Ginny finished, kissing him good-bye.
"I will, and I'll see you all in a few days." He clapped Ron on the back, hugged 
Hermione, and kissed Ginny again, before striding out of the restaurant. Once he 
got out into the cool night's air he took out the message and read it again:
For: Auror H. Potter
From: the Academy
Message: We've received two more threats to D. You must go visit him and 
investigate, immediately. Report to the Academy for further instructions.
Still clutching the paper, Harry aparated to the Auror's Academy, showed his I.D 
to the guards and entered, heading to his boss's office.
He knocked lightly on the door, and upon hearing the words "Come in, Potter." He 
shoved it open, and saw Aurelia Quackenbush seated at her desk, looking at two 
pieces of parchment.
"I was summoned?" He said.
"Yes, here they are, she held out one of the sheets to him. It looked something 
like this:
Dumbledore hurt my master. Now he must pay.
Harry looked up at Aurelia. "And the other?" She handed it to him and it was 
pieced together in much the same way, the message saying: "Hogwarts can't keep 
me out. It's only a matter of time. Tick-tock, tick-tock."
"Weird." Harry said. "I don't understand two things about this. First- why are 
they sending threats about Dumbledore to us?"
She looked up at him; "Your guess is as good as mine."
"And second, why Dumbledore? Most of Voldemort's old deatheaters come after me. 
It's like a hobby."
"Well, even though you did defeat Voldemort six years ago, Dumbledore had been 
leading quite a crusade against him since his first rise, over thirty years ago.
"You've got to go to Dumbledore and see what he thinks, whether he's been 
receiving threats, and make sure there's no one suspicious inside Hogwarts.
"You mean, besides Snape?" Harry asked with a smirk.
"Ha ha, very funny. Get going, and send me reports every day."
"Okay." Harry said and disaparated. He materialized outside the towering gates 
of Hogwarts. Just in at the castle, caused him to be hit with a wave of 
nostalgia. He pushed open one of the gates and headed up the drive, past the 
forbidden forest. As he drew level with Hagrid's hut, something large and black 
began to bark at him and the door was thrown open.
"Who's there?" Hagrid boomed loudly. Harry laughed, it felt as if he'd been a 
student, caught out of bed.
"Hi, Hagrid! Hey Fang. It's just me, so put that longbow away." He replied as 
the light from Hagrid's lantern fell across his face.
"'Arry!" Hagrid sounded overjoyed to see him. "What brings yeh here? How's 
London? How's being an Auror? How're Ron and 'Ermione; how's Ginny?" He asked 
the questions in rapid succession, winking at the last one, making Harry laugh 
again.
"They're all fine. I actually had to leave the last three at a restaurant to 
come here. It's for work. I've got to see Dumbledore."
"Well, what're yeh waiting for? Come on up to the castle. How're the plans for 
Ron and 'Ermione's wedding going?"
"Quite well, I think." Harry answered and told Hagrid all about the wedding 
plans as they walked up to the front doors. Hagrid pulled open one of the 
massive doors and ushered Harry inside.
"It's just toward the end of dinner, so Dumbledore's probably in the Great 
Hall." He said as Harry looked around at the familiar Entrance Hall. A few 
students looked at him curiously as they trudged off to their common rooms. 
Harry followed Hagrid into the Great Hall, and looked up at the inky blue 
ceiling, dotted with the night sky's stars. He spotted the brightest one there, 
the dog star, Sirius, and smiled at the thought that he'd be seeing his 
godfather soon. As he looked at the house tables, he didn't recognize many of 
the students. A few of the oldest seemed familiar, as they would have been first 
years when Harry'd graduated, but he only recognized one of the younger ones. 
Apparently she spotted him, too, because a small, red blur shot across the Hall 
at him, from the direction of the Gryffindor table. Charlie Weasley's only 
child, Andrea, was a first year this year and for once, the only Weasley at 
Hogwarts.
"Uncle Harry!" She called as she ran into him and gave him a hug that knocked 
the wind out of him.
"Hi, Andy!" Harry laughed. "I'm here to see Professor Dumbledore. How's your 
first year going?"
"Oh it's great! I love all my classes, except potions." She wrinkled her nose 
and Harry laughed, "But my favorite so far is Astronomy. I love the stars," She 
pointed at the ceiling, "and Professor Sinistra is really nice."
"That's great, Andy. I'd better go now, but I'll be in town for a couple of 
days, so I'll come see you again before I leave, alright?"
"Okay, Uncle Harry. We could go visit Uncle Fred and Uncle George at Weasley's 
Wizard Wheezes (WWW)!"
"Great! It's a date." Harry grinned and waved as Andy scurried back to her food 
and her friends, who still looked wide-eyed at the arrival of Harry Potter. 
Hagrid chuckled and lead Harry up to the staff table, where Harry saw many 
familiar faces and a few that he didn't recognize. He immediately saw Snape, who 
obviously recognized him as well, judging by the look of distaste that twisted 
his sallow face even more than usual. Harry's eyes traveled further down the 
table, spotting Sprout, Flitwick, a tall, black woman who must be the latest 
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, and finally resting on McGonagall and 
Dumbledore, who were having such an engaging conversation, they hadn't yet 
noticed his arrival. Hagrid walked around the table and tapped Dumbledore on the 
shoulder. He looked up and Hagrid pointed to Harry. Dumbledore's eyes lit up.
"Harry! Welcome! What brings you here?"
"Well sir, it's about work, actually. I need to speak with you privately when 
you have a free moment. Hello, Professor McGonagall." He finished, smiling at 
his former teacher.
"Hello, Mr. Potter. How are you?"
"Just fine thanks. And you?"
"I'm doing quite well, thank you."
"If you'll excuse me Minerva- Harry, if you'd like to come up to my office?" 
Dumbledore invited, standing up.
"Thank you, sir." Harry answered, following him out of the Great Hall and 
through the twisting corridors until they were in front of the familiar 
gargoyle.
"Canary Cream." Dumbledore said, and it opened. Harry stifled a laugh. Once they 
were seated inside the office, Harry explained why he was there.
"So," He finished telling Dumbledore about the threats, "Have you been getting 
any threatening messages?"
"Well, Harry. As you of all people know, people in the spot light get all kinds 
of mail, from all kinds of people." Harry nodded, "I usually get some sort of 
threat about twice a week, "Do this or I'll&#8230;", but I rarely take them too 
seriously. However, if they are contacting the Aurors, that could mean a number 
of things. It sounds like, from what you've told me, that there is only one 
person involved. I'll strengthen the wards on Hogwarts and add a few new 
protection spells. Hopefully that will do the trick. Have you done a tracking 
spell on the notes yet?"
"They're doing it now. I should find out the results tomorrow sometime."
"Very good. Now, on to happier topics, how are the wedding plans for Mr. Ron 
Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger going?"
"Quite well. I think Hermione's starting to go out of her mind, what with 
everything she has to do, but as far as I know, everything is falling into 
place. She and Ginny picked out bridesmaid's dresses today; she picked up the 
invitations, so you should be getting one soon along with the entire staff; 
Celestina Warbeck has agreed to sing at the reception, and they're trying to 
decide on a caterer. It's chaotic, but they're both have the time of their 
lives."
"That's wonderful." Dumbledore said, with that familiar twinkle in his eye. 
"Will you be staying at Hogwarts tonight, or have you made other arrangements?"
"No, thank you, but I'll stay with Sirius, I haven't seen him in a while. I'll 
come back tomorrow to help with the spells. I also have a date to go to Fred and 
George's joke shop with Andy." He grinned. Dumbledore returned the smile.
"Ah, yes. Young Miss Weasley. It's so quiet only having one of them here." They 
both laughed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* * *
Harry walked along one of the residential roads in Hogsmeade a half an hour 
later, enjoying the quiet and calm of the village. Once he'd gotten out of 
hearing distance of The Three Broomsticks all he could hear was the soft rustle 
of the wind through the trees. It was so peaceful, almost serene, even. He 
turned onto a small path that led through a picket fence and up to a nice sized 
cottage. There were lights shining through the windows and Harry could hear 
grumbling as someone inside got up and headed to open the door. As the knob 
turned, he could make out what was being said.
"Mathilde, I'm telling you Remus won't be back for another week! You can see him 
then, but in the meantime, stop bothering me!"
Sirius Black yanked the door open and his jaw dropped. "Harry!"
"Well, I'm not Mathilde, whoever she is, and I must confess, after hearing the 
way you must treat her, I'm rather glad of the fact. Hey Sirius." Sirius Black 
was still, at forty-five, a very handsome man, and it showed even more so when 
he laughed, which he did now.
"Come on in Harry. Mathilde's my annoying next-door divinator/
neighbor who happens to be madly in love with Remus. Poor guy. She's been by 
four times today looking for him. For some reason she refuses to believe he's 
out of town and that that's why he's not at his own house. She seems to think 
he's in here, hiding from her. Not that it'd be a bad idea. What brings you to 
Hogsmeade, o' godson of mine?"
"Work." Harry said simply, "I had to go visit Dumbledore at Hogwarts, and won't 
be going home till tomorrow or the next day. Do you mind if I crash here?"
"Crash away." Sirius said, "My home is your home, and all that codswallop. 
Besides, you can answer the door the next time Mathilde comes by. Maybe she'll 
believe you." They both laughed and after chatting for a little while, Harry 
decided to turn in. It had been a long day, and he knew tomorrow would be, too. 
His only thought before his head hit the pillow was: 'It's been a very weird 
day.'
~Chapter 3~
The next morning Harry woke to hear hissing voices filtering up the stairs.
"Get in, get in! I told her you wouldn't be back for a week!" That was Sirius, 
he knew.
"Well, I got home and now she's camped out on my stoop!" Could it be? Professor 
Lupin? There was the sound of the front door slamming, and Sirius called up the 
stairs.
"Rise and shine, Harry! You've got to meet Dumbledore!" He was greeted with a 
groan, and a surprised, questioning look from Lupin.
"Harry's here? Why? Since when?" Harry himself at this point had dragged himself 
out of bed and was standing at the top of the staircase, so he answered Lupin.
"For work, and since last night. Morning Professor."
"Good morning, Harry! You know you can call me Remus. I haven't been a Professor 
for nine years. How's life in London? Are Ron and Hermione's wedding plans going 
well? It's coming up soon, isn't it?"
" I guess old habits die hard. Yes, their plans are all starting to fit into 
place, I think. They've arranged to have it in Percy and Penny's yard, in about 
a month and a half, or so."
"Grand. And how's Ginny?"
"She's fine." Harry grinned, coming down the stairs in his pajamas, "Probably 
still asleep, too. Like a normal person." He finished, shooting a pointed glance 
at Sirius, while pouring himself a cup of coffee from the pot. Sirius, however, 
was nonplussed, and he just grinned at Harry.
"You wouldn't want to be late for dear old Professor Dumbledore now, would you?"
"Late? I've got two hours!" Harry said, taking a gulp of his coffee and pointing 
at the clock.
"All right. I just felt like making you get up early: God-parental instinct." 
Sirius confessed, and Lupin laughed as Harry made a face.
"I'm so glad you told me that after a I drank a cup of coffee. Now I can't go 
back to sleep!" He said.
"Go for a run, or something. It'll do you good." Sirius suggested.
Harry felt like pointing out that sleep would have done him good, but instead 
said, "Yeah, right. So I can meet whoever's camped out on your doorstep?" He 
said to Lupin, who in turn, groaned.
"Oh. Your arrival made me forget about Mathilde, temporarily."
"Forgetting about Mathilde is always temporary." Sirius pointed out bracingly, 
"She's bound to come along and remind you sooner or later."
"Usually sooner." Lupin added miserably. "I don't know what she sees in me. If I 
ever have to talk to her, I'm only ever polite."
"Well, that's your problem, isn't it?" Sirius said, as though this were obvious, 
"The rest of us just run the other way screaming."
"She's a divinator, right?" Harry asked and Lupin nodded glumly. "Best friends 
with Sybil Trelawney. They make a scary pair."
"I'll bet." Harry said, only half pretending to shudder. He had vivid memories 
of Divination Classes at Hogwarts. If he remembered correctly, by fifth year he 
had broken the record for 'Most often predicted death by Professor' by a 
landslide. It was only a small consolation that the previous title-holder was 
alive and well and working his way towards middle age.
"Go get the paper, Harry." Sirius directed.
"Why? I could do the obvious and point out that you're the dog here, and I'm the 
house guest."
"Yes, but you're the house guest who the freak of nature next door won't 
recognize. She'll pounce on me, demanding to know about Remus, and that's 
nothing to what she'll do to him!"
"You're kidding, right? Won't recognize me? Everyone recognizes me! She's bound 
to ask who I am, and what do I do then?"
"Lie." Sirius said, simply, and Lupin, sitting behind the counter sighed. "You 
two are overlooking the obvious." He said, "Accio, Daily Prophet!" and the paper 
came zooming through window Harry threw open just in time, landing with a flop 
on the table. The front-page headline read "Ministry in a Muddle over latest 
attempt at Peace Treaty between Serbia and Croatia".
Harry shook his head down at it. "You'd think the magical world would be able to 
get together to battle the dark side, wouldn't you? But no, they've always got 
something to fight over."
"It says here that Dumbledore himself has appealed to both of the country's 
ministers to negotiate, and that coupled with Persia's scheduled trip to visit 
the peace talks later next week just might do it. He's going after the wedding?" 
Remus asked. Harry nodded.
"As far as I know. He certainly won't leave before it, because that would leave 
Penny to deal with having the whole shindig in their backyard."
"So what's up with Croatia and Serbia?" Sirius asked, sipping his coffee.
Harry turned to him and rolled his eyes, "I heard about it at work. Get this- 
they're fighting over whether or not Voldemort's really gone or not. Seems that 
Croatia feels that I really got rid of him and there is no reason for Serbia to 
keep a fully armed, full-time army of hit wizards at their borders. Serbia, on 
the other hand, maintains the position that while it was supposed that I 
'conquered' Voldemort a number of other times, he survived each one. They don't 
believe he's completely gone, and refuse to remove the defense wizards. I told 
them he's gone, Dumbledore told them he's gone but they seem to feel that if 
Voldemort popped up at one of their borders, their hit-wizards would be able to 
finish him off."
Sirius looked at him, disbelieving: "You're kidding me."
"So help me, God, I'm not." Harry said, holding up his right palm.
"Well, I think creating international incidences deserves some sort of 
godfatherly punishment." He said with a glint in his eye as Harry hastily 
grabbed his cloak saying, "Uh-huh, well I'll take a rain check on that, Sirius. 
Got to go see Dumbledore. See you, Professor Lupin!" Remus grinned and waved as 
Harry dashed out the door and Sirius' face fell.
* * *
Harry walked into the Hogwarts Entrance Hall, to see some of the students 
exiting the Great Hall after breakfast, and a few stragglers just coming up or 
down from their respective common rooms for their meals. After a quick peek into 
the Great Hall to confirm that Dumbledore wasn't there, Harry headed up the 
stairs towards his office. He made it there in about fifteen minutes, having 
been delayed by a group of giggly first year girls who all seemed to want his 
autograph, reminding him strongly of Colin Creevy; and Madam Pomfrey who waylaid 
him in the corridor outside the infirmary, wanting to know how he was and who 
his doctor was. After Harry had provided this information to her apparent 
satisfaction, she released his arm (she had a surprisingly strong grip for a 
woman who must be nearing seventy). Harry made to his former headmaster's office 
in one piece and said to the gargoyle, "Custard Cream". That reminded him of his 
date to visit Fred and George's shop with Andy that afternoon. It was nice that 
they were letting her visit her uncles on occasion, even though she was only a 
first year. He knocked on the door and at the "Come in." from within, he 
entered. Professor Dumbledore stood above a cauldron full of a shining, frothy 
something that had more of a gaseous quality than anything else. Harry knew 
instantly what it must be: the wards of Hogwarts- materialized for the purpose 
of strengthening them. Dumbledore looked up and smiled, but continued to stir 
the entity.
"Ah, Harry! So glad you could make it! We'd better do this as quickly as 
possible and get the wards back up. I really don't like taking them down at all 
while the students are in session, but we have little choice."
"Morning Professor Dumbledore, sir." Harry replied. "We also have to make sure 
no muggles come across the castle while it's without it's usual shroud."
"I've had Minerva see to that." Dumbledore responded, "She placed a 'cosmetos' 
spell over it- like temporary polyjuice potion for and object."
"Oh, good. Professor, if you'll excuse me asking, what exactly are the wards of 
Hogwarts made of?"
"Dumbledore stopped stirring for the first time since Harry had entered and 
said, "Ahh, well that's an interesting question, Harry. Hogwarts, as you know is 
very magical, one of the most magical places in all of Britain. That is because 
it and the town that has blossomed outside its walls (Hogsmeade) were built on 
no ordinary land. Where we stand now, used to sit the Palace of King Arthur, in 
Camelot. Hogwarts is built on the grounds of the ruins of that Palace and 
Hogsmeade on the ruins of all of Camelot. As I'm sure you know, Camelot, in its 
day- King Arthur's day, was Utopia- paradise on earth. However, most people 
don't know that that Utopia was contingent upon Arthur himself. When he died, in 
a sense Camelot died with him. It eventually crumpled into ruins. About five 
hundred years after Arthur, four witches and wizards came along and recognized 
the power of the site, though it was not alive anymore. They took the stones 
that Merlyn himself had used to construct Camelot almost half a millenium before 
and used them to build a school. The rest is, if you'll pardon the expression, 
history. So, in answer to your question, the wards of Hogwarts are that magic 
incarnate, in a way. They access the original powerful magic of Camelot and use 
it to protect Hogwarts. For instance, you know that when muggles see Hogwarts 
they see a pile of old ruins?" Harry nodded. "Well, what they see is exactly 
what the founders of Hogwarts saw when they first discovered the site- it uses a 
time control spell. There are many, many other spells as well: anti-apparation 
ones, anti-dark magic ones and more. All they require to work is such a powerful 
core of magic as ancient Camelot has. The anti-dark magic ones and the 
anti-apparation ones are the ones we need to strengthen. The incantation is 
'Combus, wardium Camelot's magication strengthen!'"
"Combus wardium Camelot's magication strengthen! Alright." Harry said, "Wow, so 
Hogwarts is part of Camelot, sort of."
"Indeed." Dumbledore smiled, "As we say the incantation, we must stand over the 
wards with our wand-tips touching."
"Okay" Harry said and walked over to the cauldron behind Dumbledore. They stood 
on either side, touched their wand's tips
together, and began to chant.
"Combus wardium Camelot's magication strengthen!"
At the beginning of their words both wands emitted a shining white light that 
seemed to engulf the entire cauldron. As it swirled around the wards, Harry felt 
a tingling fusing through his body, as though the magic were in his very blood, 
and then, a few seconds after he and Dumbledore finished the incantation, it all 
stopped abruptly. He stepped back from the cauldron, shaking slightly.
"Was that supposed to happen?"
"Oh, yes. As soon as the wards are re-strengthened to the original magic of 
Camelot the spell completes itself. Thank you for your help. I believe you also 
have an appointment with Miss Andrea Weasley today? She's very excited." Harry 
laughed.
"Yes, I do. We're going to go visit her uncle's joke shop together. It's been 
way to long since Fred and George turned me into some sort of strange animal. 
I'd better go get Andy. You don't have any idea where she might be, do you?"
"Well, I'm not sure, but you could check the entrance hall. Professor McGonagall 
usually has everyone who is going to Hogwarts sign out there first. Even though 
it is muggle-esque she seems to think it's simpler than placing tracking spells 
on them all."
"Thank you Professor." Harry smiled, "I'll go check down there. I'll probably 
leave later tonight, after a quick dinner with Sirius and Remus, but I'll see 
you soon- at the wedding, okay?"
"Fine, Harry. Send Ron and Hermione my regards."
"I certainly will. Good-bye Professor."
"Good-bye Harry." Dumbledore said as Harry closed the door behind him and headed 
down to the entrance hall where he found Andrea signing a clipboard held by 
Professor McGonagall with what appeared to be an enchanted quill from the way it 
was glowing.
"Now, Miss Weasley. Your name will glow red if you leave Hogsmeade and it will 
glow blue if you fail to return on time. We will know if you do either of those 
things and you will be punished accordingly when we retrieve you, so I would not 
advise breaking the rules." Harry almost laughed. Muggle-esque indeed! Andy was 
nodding and said, "Yes, Professor." As McGonagall moved on to the next student, 
Harry walked up and tapped Andy on the shoulder.
"Well, Miss, I don&#8217;t suppose a lovely young lady like yourself would like to 
spend the day in Hogsmeade with me?"
She whirled around and laughed, "Uncle Harry! C'mon let's go! We've got lots to 
do, and I have to be back by three."
"Okay. Where to first?" He asked as they strolled out of the front doors and 
down the drive.
"I thought we could get some lunch somewhere, as it's already noon, then hit 
Honeyduke's. We should do Uncle Fred and Uncle George's shop last- save the best 
for last."
"Okay!" Harry grinned, "What do you think of lunch at the Three Broomsticks?"
"I think," She paused for a moment, "Yummm! Race you there!"
They arrived at the pub a few minutes later after a tie. Andrea was her father's 
daughter and very fast indeed, but Harry was his father's son, and a fully 
trained auror, at that; a job that required a full year of purely physical 
training. Perhaps he gave Andy an edge, or perhaps not, whichever they both 
seemed quite contented with the race as they sat down and took two menus from 
Madam Rosemerta. After she'd chatted with Harry for a bit, the studied the menus 
and chose their food. Andy went with classic fish-n-chips while Harry opted for 
a hamburger. After they'd been served, Andy asked Harry how London was.
"Well, it's still there, if that's what you mean." He teased. She giggled.
"No silly! I mean how is everyone in London? I almost never get to see any of 
you guys."
"Yes, I know. We all wish we could get away more, but it's difficult. Ginny's in 
Paris or Milan half of the time and Ron and Hermione are very busy with work and 
all the wedding plans. You'll see everyone there, though. Do you get to miss any 
school for it?"
"No." She sighed, "All of my teachers, since they'll be attending as well, were 
kind enough to give me all of my assignments ahead of time so I could get 
ahead." Harry didn't miss the sarcastic note to her voice and he laughed. "Well, 
nothing's perfect."
"Perfect?" She looked at him in disbelief, "I'm going on vacation with Snape! 
It's far from perfect!"
"Harry laughed again as he handed Rosemerta a handful of sickles as payment.
"Come on, lets go to Honeyduke's." And they were off again.
After picking out some interesting sweets at Honeyduke's, they meandered down 
the lane towards Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Andy chomping on a licorice wand that 
shot sparks if you weren't careful, and Harry enjoying the sensation of a 
peppermint toad hopping in his stomach. Andy pulled open the door to the shop 
and revealed one other customer browsing. The shelves however, were nearly 
empty.
"Wow. Everyone must have already come and gone." Andy breathed and walked into 
the shop, with Harry behind her. He gazed at all the interesting objects that 
were left and the signs showing where some had been: "Perma-broomstick! For the 
eternal rider" and tubes of something that resembled toothpaste, but Harry knew 
better. Sure enough, he picked one up and examined the label. It said: 
Tooth-Glue, slip some on your enemy's brush and watch the magic! He quickly set 
down the tube. It was then that he heard someone from the front of the shop say, 
"Andy! What brings you here?"
"I brought you another visitor, Uncle Fred." Came Andy's voice. Then she called, 
"Uncle Harry!" At this point Harry popped out from behind a shelf and said, "Hi 
Fred! What exactly do you do with 'Flobberdubber'? Or do I want to know?"
"Harry! What brings you here? And probably not, but I'll tell you anyway. You 
put it on someone's food, we have all different flavors, and then the minute 
they put it in their mouth it explodes!"
"You were right- I didn't want to know." Harry said laughing. "And I'm here for 
work- doing Dumbledore a favor. I have to head back to London tonight, though. 
Where's George?"
"In the back. Hey George! Our second favorite Auror is here!" He called.
"Second?" Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Well, we're rather partial to Angela the Super-Auror. Welcome Andy and Harry." 
George explained as he came out of the back room.
"You guys do know she's a comic book character and doesn't exist, right?" Harry 
pointed out as Andy giggled. Fred looked mortally offended, while George put a 
hand to his forehead and pretended to swoon.
"And to think we once counted you as one of our close friends!" Harry laughed.
"Okay, okay! I was just kidding- of course she's real."
Fred grinned, "That's better. Now what brings you here at two-thirty on a fine 
Saturday afternoon?"
"Two-thirty!" Andy exclaimed, hopping off the counter, "I've got to go!"
"She has to be back by three." Harry explained. "I'll see you guys at the 
wedding, okay?"
"Great! Give everyone our love, and a canary cream or two!" Fred's shouts 
followed them out the door as they hurried back towards Hogwarts. Harry left 
Andy at the gate with a hug and the promise to see her again in a little more 
than a week at the upcoming wedding. He went back to Sirius' to find Remus had 
left, and Sirius was working on a case in his office. He went up to his room and 
wrote out a report to Aurelia Quackenbush and sent it off with Hedwig. As he was 
closing the window, the front door opened and Remus walked in.
"Hi, Harry."
"Hi Remus. Are you up for dinner out tonight? I have to leave after that."
"Sure. I'll go drag Sirius out of his office." And he disappeared through a 
closed door. Harry grinned and scribbled another note to Ginny saying:
Hey Gin! I'm all finished with business here and I spent the afternoon with 
Andy, Fred, and George. They all asked about you. I'm going to have a quick bite 
to eat with Remus and Sirius and then come home. See you soon! ~ Harry
He sent that note off with Nennius, Sirius' screech owl and then Remus and 
Sirius came out, ready, apparently for dinner. After an enjoyable meal at one of 
Hogsmeade's smaller cafés during which Sirius made a lot of jokes and Remus and 
Harry laughed often and rolled their eyes even more, they all got up and 
returned to the house where Harry got together his belongings, told Sirius and 
Remus good-bye, and apparated to Ginny's to see if she'd gotten his letter. He 
found her curled up on her sofa, his letter fallen from one hand onto the floor 
when she'd fallen asleep. She looked so peaceful and Harry didn't have the heart 
to wake her, so instead he climbed onto the couch behind her and wrapped his 
arms around her. Ginny stirred but didn't wake, and soon Harry had dropped off 
into a deep slumber as well.
~Chapter 4~
Hermione Granger sat at her desk in her office at the Daily Prophet, with a list 
in front of her.
To Do Before W-day
Confirm band to back up Celestina
Order flowers
Confirm Vicar to do ceremony
Send Invitations
Go for dress fitting to Ginny's
Shower on 6/13 at 5:30PM (Ginny's)
Confirm caterers
She picked up her quill and added "about a bazillion and one other things I 
haven't got time to write down", furiously scratched it out, put her head in her 
hands and sighed. Then one of her fellow reporters, Anita O'Hara came in. Anita 
was a small, plump girl, just a year or two younger than Hermione from Ireland. 
She'd joined the Daily Prophet staff as a recipe columnist two months ago, and 
though she wasn't 'the sharpest quill in the box', Hermione liked her.
"Rough day?" Anita asked in her lilting accent.
"Oh, I don't know. I'm just having pre-wedding stress, I guess." Hermione said, 
looking up into Anita's rosy face.
"Ah, yes- good ol' PWS." Hermione made a face at her. "Have you got everything 
done?"
"Of course not." Hermione groaned. "I'm going to have to start delegating 
assignments. I'll put Harry in charge of tuxedos for him, Ron and the other 
groomsmen, Ginny can be in charge of all bridesmaid issues, Ron can take care of 
the Vicar and the caterers. The flowers have already been done and thank God the 
shower's over with. I'll do the band, my dress fitting, and I'll go send the 
invitations now. Ron and I finished addressing them all last night."
"See, you've got it all figured out." Anita said brightly, "Now, what can I do 
to help?"
"You mean that?" Hermione looked at her gratefully, and when Anita nodded 
firmly, she said, "Well it'd be a tremendous help if you could get in touch with 
Celestina and the band, just to confirm the times and everything while I take 
these back to the stationary shop to be mailed. I can't believe the wedding's in 
only a week!" She gestured at the stacks of invitations in boxes.
"I'm on it!" Anita said and flashed Hermione a grin, before walking out of her 
office. Hermione then stood up and after performing a weightless spell 
(JennyCraigium!) on them she apparated to Habadasheere's in Mugwarp Alley and 
entered the stationary shop. The young clerk behind the desk looked up at her 
entrance and helped her with the boxes.
"May I help you?" He asked once they'd gotten them settled on the counter.
"Yes, I bought these here and now I need to send them out. They've all been 
addressed."
"Very good, Miss." He nodded and began to remove the invitations from the boxes. 
As Hermione was thinking about how little time she had left to be called 'Miss' 
the clerks eyes were getting wider and wider.
"Mr. Percival and Mrs. Penelope Weasley. The Minister of Magic!" He flipped 
through a few more and came to "Miss Virginia Weasley. Isn't she a fashion 
designer?" Hermione nodded wearily. "Blimey! Professor Albus Dumbledore! Next 
thing you know I'll see-" His eyes turned to saucers and Hermione had no doubt 
as to whose invitation he'd come across. He was mouthing the words 'Harry 
Potter' soundlessly. She cut to the chase.
"Well, he's the best man! I couldn't very well not invite him, now could I?" She 
said a tad peevishly, but she didn't care anymore. "Now could you please mail 
those, so the guests know where they're supposed to come and when?" He nodded 
meekly, "Thank you. Good-bye." She turned on her heel and walked out of the shop 
as the young man began to distribute the envelopes to the owls on their mailing 
wall. Once Hermione was down the cobbled street a ways she leaned up against a 
wall and said, "Oh man. I've got to get under control. It'll all be over in a 
week. I've got to stop freaking out."
"Why are you freaking out?" A voice came from her left. Hermione slowly lifted 
her head and saw the last person she ever expected to meet on the street corner 
in Mugwarp Alley.
"What on earth are you doing here?" She asked, too bewildered to be nasty.
"I'm, ahhh, nothing." Draco Malfoy hastily shoved a small box into the pockets 
of his robes. "What's wrong with you?" He tried to adopt a sneering tone, but it 
was too late, Hermione's curiosity was peaked.
"What've you got there?" She asked, trying to get a look, but the box was out of 
sight.
"Nothing- I already said. Why are you freaking out?" He repeated and she sighed.
"Well, you know Ron and I are getting married in a week, right?"
"I'd heard." He nodded shortly. "You having second thoughts? Not that I'd blame 
you- being engaged to Weasel and all." He added, helpfully.
Hermione was too tired to wonder why Draco was being oddly nice (sort of) to 
her.
"No! I'm just really stressed with everything I have to do, and it seems like 
all I do is eat, sleep, and dream this wedding. It's taken over my life!"
"Aren't they supposed to?" He asked pointedly.
"Well, I suppose so, but it's no fun- losing your life, let me tell you!"
"It'll come back."
"I hope so. I'm being perfectly horrible to people, now, who haven't done 
anything to me. I'm acting like you!"
"Flattered." Malfoy said, and indeed he seemed to be.
"Whatever." Hermione snorted "I just bit off a clerk's head- metaphorically of 
course- because he was goggling at my guest list, first Percy, then Ginny, then 
Professor Dumbledore, and then-"
"Let me guess," Malfoy interrupted, "the Great Harry Potter."
"Harry." She nodded. "I'm mean sure, it's quite a guest list, but he doesn't 
have to make such a big deal of it. Now what did you put in your pocket?"
"None of your business." Draco snapped.
"Oh come on- I spilled my beans, now it's your turn. Besides, I need something 
to distract me from my wedding, temporarily."
"Oh fine- it's not like you'll tell her anyway." He relented and pulled the box 
out. Hermione recognized it as a velvet jewelry box.
"Tell who what?" But when he opened the box she knew immediately and had to 
suppress the urge to laugh. The box contained a ring with a jet black onyx stone 
set in silver.
"You're going to ask Pansy to marry you!" She grinned despite herself. "So 
that's why!"
"That's why what?" He looked confused.
"That's why you're acting semi-human today!" She said grinning at him 
shamelessly.
"Yeah, well." Malfoy actually blushed, and Hermione couldn't help it. She 
laughed.
"What?" He asked, looking sharply up.
"Love does strange things to people."
"Well, I'm glad I've distracted you from freaking out." He said sarcastically, 
but Hermione knew he was just trying to put up a front.
"You have. Oh and Draco?" She called as he was walking away.
"Yeah?" He turned around.
"Good luck."
"You too." He said and gave her a crooked smile before disappearing around the 
corner and Hermione walked off back towards the Prophet offices, humming to 
herself.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* * *
 
Six days later, Hermione was no longer humming. It was the night before her 
wedding day and she was frantic. It turned out they didn't have anywhere to put 
Charlie, his wife Susan, and their daughter, Andy. Bill, Fred, and George were 
staying in Hermione's apartment in muggle London. Ginny had graciously agreed to 
put up Lila, the third bridesmaid, and Harry, being the saint he was, was taking 
in Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mr. and Mrs. Granger had arranged for a room at the 
Leaky Cauldron, as had all the Hogwarts staff who were staying over night and a 
few of Ron and Hermione's old classmates who were coming in from out of town. It 
was fully booked.
"Well we could cram them into Harry's with Mum and Dad." Ron suggested.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, punching his shoulder, we can't do that to your 
parents, even if Harry wouldn't mind. I know! We can give them our place!" Ron 
looked at her as though she'd taken leave of her senses.
"Umm, 'Mione? In case you'd forgotten, that's where we live."
"I know that silly! But it's only for one night, and I could stay with Ginny and 
Lila, while you could stay on Harry's couch or something." Ron looked dubious, 
but in the end he agreed.
"Okay. We'd better move everything we're going to need for tomorrow to their 
places, then."
"Already done." Hermione said and with two flicks of her wand, it was. "Are you 
ready for the rehearsal dinner?"
"Yeah, I suppose so. What do I have to wear to this?" He asked, going into the 
bathroom to shave.
"Dress robes- not a muggle suit, but still nice."
"Okay. What're you wearing?"
"Lavender dress robes, I think. Comfortable, but still nice. She moved into the 
bathroom as well, hairbrush in hand, and began pulling at the frizzy mass on her 
head. Finally taming it enough to twist into a bun. Then she applied a touch of 
lipstick, something she usually didn't indulge in, but hey, it was the night 
before her wedding. Ron wrapped his arms around her as she put on the final 
touches- the earrings his mother had given her for Graduation.
"You look beautiful, you know." He whispered in her ear. She smiled turned 
around and kissed him.
"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself." She reached up and straightened his 
collar, and they were off to Percy and Penny's to rehearse.
The rehearsal went well, and everyone played their parts right. Later they all 
went out to dinner and had a nice chat, but returned home early because Ron and 
Harry and the other groomsmen had a bachelor party to get to, while Ginny, Lila, 
Delia, and Hermione were going back to Ginny's for a movie-fest. Ginny had 
wanted to throw Hermione a party as well, but she wouldn't hear of it. She said 
she just wanted to hang out with her friends and watch old movies, eat popcorn 
and preferably not get hung-over before her wedding. Though Ginny didn't really 
understand this point of view, she agreed and had rented Casablanca from a 
muggle video store and borrowed her father's old television set to play it on. 
By the end of the video all four women were in tears. Though none of them were 
what you'd call 'sentimental' by nature. (Ah, well, Humphrey Bogart can do that 
to the most sensible of people.)
After the film Delia went home and the other three went to bed. Ginny and Lila 
fell asleep quickly, but Hermione lay awake gazing at the ceiling, listening to 
the shallow rhythm of their breathing. Tomorrow she'd be married. She would no 
longer be Miss Hermione Granger. For personal purposes she'd be Mrs. Hermione 
Weasley and professionally she'd be Ms. Hermione Granger, but never again would 
she be exactly as she was now. Tonight was her last night as a single woman. How 
odd that sounded. But she wasn't worried (much). She was going to marry Ron, and 
sure, they'd drive each other nuts, they always had, but they also loved each 
other, and that was what mattered wasn't it? Yes, it was. She sighed and fell 
asleep. Hermione woke up at five AM the next morning, and both Ginny and Lila 
were still asleep, but Hermione was to excited and nervous to go back to sleep. 
She pulled on a set of robes and apparated to Harry's apartment, where she 
knocked lightly on the door.
"Ron!" She hissed. "Ron! Are you awake?" There was tiptoeing across the floor 
and Ron pulled the door open slightly. He was in his pajamas and his hair was 
rumpled, but other than that he looked wide-awake.
"'Mione! You're up! I wasn't sure if you would be and I didn't want to wake 
you." She grinned.
"How could I sleep? I'm way too excited. Come on, put on some robes and let's go 
for a walk."
"C'mon in and give me a minute." He said and disappeared into the bathroom. 
Hermione stood in Harry's living room where an extra bed had been conjured and 
slept in by Ron. There was the faint sound of snoring from the master bedroom, 
which Harry had let Mr. and Mrs. Weasley use and she though muffled sounds of 
movement coming from the guestroom. Harry came out, his hair looking messier 
than usual.
"'Mione! Good morning! I guess Ron's up then?" She nodded.
"He's getting dressed. Why are you up so early, Harry?"
"Are you kidding? My best friends are getting married today! Did you expect me 
to sleep through it?"
"I guess not!" she grinned at him and gave him a hug.
"So are you nervous?"
"You have no idea! But I'm so excited, it doesn't even compare."
"I'm glad to hear that." Ron said, coming out of the bathroom, wrapping his arms 
around her, and kissing the top of her head. "You ready?"
"Absolutely."
"Okay. Harry, we'll see you at Percy and Penny's at eleven or so."
"Alright, the wedding starts at two, right?"
"Umm-hmm." Hermione nodded as she linked her fingers through Ron's. "See you!"
"See you!" Harry replied as they walked out the door.
They ended up walking along the bank of the Thames, unaware of all the muggles 
staring at their strange clothing. They were totally absorbed by each other. 
Suddenly it started to rain and as all the muggles held their newspapers over 
their heads and ran for cover, Ron and Hermione laughed and kissed. Eventually 
they made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron where now, at seven AM, everyone 
was beginning to wake. They came in laughing and dripping, and Tom immediately 
made them both drink a shot of whiskey to keep them from catching their death of 
cold. Dumbledore and McGonagall came down the stairs one after the other and 
while Minerva gaped at the sight of them, Dumbledore just laughed and grinned. 
Soon, Harry and Ginny raced in from the Diagon Alley side of the pub, almost as 
soaked as Ron and Hermione. Dumbledore smiled again and said, "Ahh, the wonders 
of youth."
The four sat down at a table near the fire, which was blazing, despite the fact 
that it was late June. After a quick breakfast Hermione glanced up at the clock 
and said "Oh my! We've got to go! I've got so much to do! Was Lila awake when 
you left Gin? We've got to get her up. I've got to bring a ton of stuff to Penny 
and Percy's and everyone has to get ready!"
"Hermione, honey. Don't go spastic on us now." Ron put a hand on her shoulder. 
"We've got plenty of time. It's only eight-thirty. You two go back wake up Lila, 
and owl Delia. We'll transport stuff to Penny and Percy's."
"Oh no!" Hermione shouted.
"What is it now?" Harry asked.
"It's raining!"
"Last I checked, yes." He said, giving her a strange look, but a look of 
realization dawned on Ginny's pretty face and she too gasped, whacking Harry's 
arm. Ron also looked in the dark.
"The wedding's outside you idiots!" She said.
Suddenly both the guys seemed to realize the impact of the rain.
"We don't know if it's raining at Penny and Percy's." Ron pointed out.
"Right." Harry added, "You just concentrate on that. We'll worry about the rest. 
Just take a few breaths." He added looking at her purplish complexion.
"Okay. I'm all right. C'mon Ginny, we've got a job to do." She stood up, 
determinedly and the four walked out of the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley and 
apparated away. Hermione and Ginny went back to Ginny's apartment to find Lila 
awake and Delia already there. They were weaving wreaths of forget-me-nots since 
Hermione had chosen to have each of them wear one on their head and leave their 
hair down. Her own hair was to be twisted up off her neck after being tamed by 
some frizz-ease and adorned with forget-me-nots and buttercups as well. Ginny 
went to check on Hermione's dress, which was antique-white silk. It draped 
across her gracefully to the floor and was held up by spaghetti straps. The 
neckline was cut on the bias, making it fall out in small ripples creating a 
kind of up-side-down waterfall. It was backless, but had a length of silk 
cording that crisscrossed across her back and tied in a bow at the base of her 
back. Her shoes, quite unusually for Hermione, had three inch heels, and were 
simple satin sandals, with only a few thin straps over her foot. Ginny had, 
after much resistance, talked her into them; saying she'd look short enough 
compared to Ron.
Hermione sat in front of her bathroom mirror toying with her hair when Delia 
appeared behind her and effortlessly twisted it into place, securing it, not 
with bobby pins, but with a flick of her wand. Hermione looked up at her and 
grinned.
"Thanks. I needed that!"
"No problem. I think Ginny's ready to help you get dressed." Delia smiled back 
at her.
"Great." Hermione went into Ginny's bedroom and saw Ginny with the dress lying 
on her bed.
"Good! Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be!" Hermione said, shooting her a grin. She pulled off her robes 
and wiggled into a strapless slip. Then Ginny helped her pull the dress over her 
head without too much difficulty and tied the bow in the back. Then Ginny went 
to work on her make-up and by the time she was done, even Hermione gasped.
"Ginny, you're a wizard!"
"Witch, actually, but thanks." Ginny said grinning at her.
"I don't look like that!" Hermione said pointing to the mirror.
"Sure you do." Ginny insisted, "You just go out of your way to hide it most of 
the time, but it shows through to certain people all the time. My brother for 
instance."
Hermione jumped up and gave Ginny a hug.
"I'm going to go help Lila and Delia get ready, okay?"
"Sure, shoo. I've got to do me now. Send them in when they're ready for 
make-up!"
Hermione went into the living room and found Delia and Lila in various states of 
undressing. When she entered, they both looked up and Lila gasped as Delia 
grinned.
"My, my. You're going to knock their socks off, to use a muggle expression."
"You think so?" Hermione asked, excitedly twirling around. Lila nodded 
emphatically.
"Oh yes. Now come help us get ready." They both wriggled into their dresses and 
Hermione zipped them up, then sent them in to Ginny for make-up. When all were 
ready to leave, it was already 12:30. They apparated to Percy and Penny's foyer, 
and found Percy with all four of his children in various states of disarray. 
Molly was dressed up in her flower girl outfit and Devon in his ring-bearer's, 
but he kept trying to untie her sash and they were in the middle of a frantic 
chase. Claire seemed content to sit on the floor and play with the buckles on 
her patent leather shoes, while Percy held little Noah high above the reach of 
the other three. He and Harry were trying to have a conversation. When they 
noticed the four women both turned around and Harry whistled.
Percy just smiled and said, "You all look so lovely. Penny! Come see Hermione, 
Ginny, Delia and Lila!" Penny hurried down the stairs, her hair done, but 
wearing a bathrobe.
"Oh my! You all look fabulous! Just gorgeous!" and she raced back up the stairs.
Ginny was giving Harry a kiss, and Hermione said, "When you two are finished 
making out, where's Ron?" They pulled apart and grinned at her.
"He's outside supervising the setting up. But he's not supposed to see you is 
he?" Harry answered.
"Oh, I almost forgot! Is it raining here?"
"Nope." Harry said with a grin. "Luck is on our side."
" Great! I'm going to check on the food and then go upstairs. Someone let me 
know when everyone arrives." As she walked into the kitchen, Harry turned to 
Ginny.
"She doesn't seem nervous at all. It's incredible. Did you do that?"
"I just made the outfit and did her make-up. She did the rest all by herself." 
She said, giving him a peck on the cheek.
"All the stuff in the kitchen looks great. We'll move it outside after the 
ceremony." Hermione said coming back into the foyer. "I'll go upstairs now. I 
want to talk to Penny, and you can tell Ron it's safe to come inside whenever he 
wants." Harry just gazed up after her, amazed.
Hermione tapped on the door to the master bedroom and pushed it open a crack. 
She saw Penny sitting in front of her vanity table with jewelry strewn over the 
top of it. She looked up as Hermione walked in.
"'Mione! Well, it's your big day! How do you feel?"
"Honestly? I don't know." Hermione said sitting down on Percy and Penny's bed. 
"I&#8217;m half totally excited/can't wait and half scared out of my mind. I mean 
nothing will ever be the same!"
"No." Penny agreed, "It won't. Sometimes it'll be better, others it'll be worse. 
Mostly it'll all be new and different- and fun. It's a lot of fun. Don't forget 
that in between all the serious stuff. I find myself reminding Percy very often 
that it's supposed to be fun."
"So that's why you two have four kids!" Hermione raised her eyebrows jokingly. 
"But thanks for the advice. I don't think Ron and I would ever have gotten this 
far if it weren't for the fact that we were surrounded by so many great examples 
of loving couples who've made it work."
"Thank you." Penny smiled at her. "That means a lot." Hermione grinned at her 
and said, "I meant it." Harry poked his head in the door with his eyes closed.
"Is everyone semi-clothed?" He called.
"Yeah, you're safe." Hermione said " But not for long. Penny's about to strip." 
Both women started laughing and Harry rolled his eyes.
"I didn't need to know that. I just wanted to let you know that people are 
arriving and being seated by the ushers. Your Dad and the bridesmaids and free 
ushers are waiting downstairs."
"Okay. Deep breath, Hermione. Time to go." She said to herself, and Harry 
grinned at her.
"You ready?" He asked, offering her his arm.
"As I'll ever be." Said Hermione, taking that deep breath and his arm. "You'd 
better hurry Pen. I don't want to start with out you!"
"All right, all right! I'm going. You'll be fine Hermione, I promise. See you 
out there." She gave her a peck on the cheek and then shoved them both out the 
door. As they headed down the hallway and back down the steps Hermione stopped 
dead in her tracks.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"Harry, look at me. What do you see?"
"A beautiful bride, who is going to be late if we don't get moving."
"No really look at me, and what do you see? Who do you see?"
His grinned slid into a serious expression and he gazed into her eyes.
"I see one of my best friends since we were both eleven years old, and always 
will be." She nodded and it looked like it took some effort.
"And what will you see in an hour?"
"I'll see that same best friend with a glorious smile on her face, instead of 
those tears in her eyes, I hope." He said wiping the corner of her eye with his 
hand.
"Oh Harry!" She threw her arms around him and pulled him into a huge hug, 
clinging to him like a life preserver.
"I'm going to go marry Ron."
"Yeah, you are." Harry punched her lightly on the shoulder and grinned again. 
Finally Hermione was able to return it.
They headed down into the living room where Ginny, Delia, Lila, Fred, George, 
and her father were all seated, looking rather worriedly at the clock. They all 
looked up when Harry and Hermione entered.
"Oh, good! You're ready! Let's get this show on the road-" Fred began but was 
interrupted by a sleek gray owl Hermione didn't recognize flying through the 
window and dropping a letter in her hands. She quickly tore open the envelope 
and pulled out the single piece of parchment on which were written these words:
Hermione- Good Luck. -D.M.
Hermione looked up from the sheet and beamed. There was no other word for it.
"Okay, I'm ready now." She said firmly and when Harry looked in her eyes there 
was none of the indecision he'd seen in the hallway minutes before. As she 
linked arms with her father and they all headed out to the yard, there was no 
doubt in any mind there that this was the right thing.
The setting for the wedding could not have been more perfect. There were many 
neat rows of white chairs for the guests, lined with trellises on the outside, 
creeping with ivy. The sun shone high in the sky and showered the assembled 
company in light. It reminded Harry of their graduation day from Hogwarts. All 
of the guests looked lovely, in their best robes or muggle outfits, depending on 
which side of the aisle they were on. The entire wedding party was in muggle 
clothes. Hermione had decided on that to make her family as comfortable as 
possible, however Fred and George as they stood, waiting for their cues to head 
up the aisle with Lila and Delia respectively, looked anything but comfortable 
in them. They kept fiddling with their ties. Dumbledore sat between McGonagall 
and Snape (yes, Snape came) and Harry could have sworn he spotted a tear in the 
old wizard's twinkling eye. Sirius and Remus sat side by side in the second or 
third row. There were old friends from school- Lavender and Seamus Finnegan (now 
married), Parvati Patil, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, and Colin Creevy. 
Hermione's friends from work, including Anita, Celestina Warbeck, Roger Davies 
and others, and Ron's squad and boss, Angelina Johnson were also in attendance. 
After Fred and Lila and then George and Delia made their way up to either side 
of the flower-adorned 'altar', Harry linked his arm through Ginny's and they 
headed up. Just before they separated in front of the altar, Ginny squeezed 
Harry's hand, and though she was staring straight ahead, he could tell she was 
smiling at him. Then Ginny walked over to Lila and Delia, while Harry went over 
and stood behind Ron. Harry gripped Ron's shoulder as "The Wedding March" ("Here 
Comes the Bride") began. They both looked down the aisle as Hermione and her 
father began to make their way down. All the guests stood up and Harry glanced 
over at Ginny, caught her eye, and grinned. She grinned back, then turned back 
to watch Hermione, who despite the butterflies that were fighting to escape from 
her stomach, was glowing. It was as though she was radiating some sort of 
magical light. Her father firmly held her hand and all she could do was marvel 
at how well everything had gone. She looked at the sea of guests and was able to 
pick out some faces: Sirius and Professor Lupin; Professor Dumbledore, who was 
beaming almost as much as she was; Professor McGonagall, who had a rare smile on 
her face; Professor Snape, who, for the first time in recent memory, wasn't 
scowling; Neville, whose eyes were shining with unshed tears; Anita, whose plump 
face and rosy cheeks were lit up by a huge smile; and there, down at the end of 
the aisle- her two best friends, ever.
When Harry saw Hermione's gaze fall on his face his grinned widened, and he gave 
her a small thumbs-up. She returned the grin with one of her own that seemed 
electric. Then she turned it on Ron, the look on his face was the only one that 
could rival her own, and Hermione didn't take her eyes off him until they'd 
reached the end of the aisle.
Her father bent and kissed her cheek, saying, "Good luck, Honey." And then his 
job was over. He went and took the seat next to her mother, who was 
unsuccessfully trying to stop the flood of tears stemming from her eyes with a 
handkerchief. Her father, reached over, took the 'hanky' and blew his nose.
The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur to Hermione. The Vicar had them say 
their vows, then they did the wand-tip spell, in which they both touched the 
tips of their wands together and were engulfed in a sparkling light that came 
from the connected tips. It was the only thing all day that Ron thought could 
rival the glow Hermione was emitting.
Then the Vicar said, in traditional muggle fashion, "I pronounce you husband and 
wife. You may kiss the bride." and they kissed whiled everyone clapped.
The kiss itself almost outlasted the applause, but finally Ron whispered to 
Hermione, "We'd better come up for air soon." And they pulled apart, both 
grinning. By the time they'd made it to the dance floor that had been set up, 
Penny had magically rearranged all the chairs around white tables with pale 
yellow table clothes. The first dance was to Lone Star's "Amazed", which 
Hermione had chosen. It was then that she noticed the Daily Prophet had sent a 
photographer and reporter. She recognized them, but didn't know them personally. 
The young woman approached her in between dances and asked, "Excuse Mrs. 
Weasley?" Hermione started at the name, but then relaxed and grinned. "Yes?"
"I'm Amanda Harting, and I'd just like to offer my congratulations. You don't 
mind if we take pictures for the Prophet, do you?"
"Thank you. Of course not." She grinned at Amanda. "Now, if you'll excuse me, 
I've got to go see everyone."
"No problem." The young woman returned the grin and hurried back to her 
photographer as Hermione headed back towards all the dancing couples. She stood 
watching Ron and Ginny dancing together for a moment, and was about to go get 
some food, when someone came up behind her and said, "May I have this dance?"
Hermione looked up into Harry's sparkling green eyes, and grinned.
"Of, course, kind sir." She offered him her hand and they made their way out 
onto the dance floor.
"Well, you did it." Harry said smiling down at her.
"Yes, indeed we did. I can hardly believe it." They danced, comfortably 
chatting, until the end of the song, at which point Hermione went off to dance 
with Ron and Harry and Ginny headed to get some food. Harry was waylaid by Andy 
on the way there and Ginny spotted Neville sitting at the open bar, nursing a 
glass of champagne. She hadn't spoken to him all day and began to make her way 
over to him, but stopped abruptly when she got close enough to hear him. He was 
singing softly, and Ginny vaguely recognized the song. It was "Champagne High" 
by a muggle band called Sister Hazel. She caught bits and pieces as she got 
closer to the bar and stopped about five feet from him.
I wasn't looking for a lifetime with you.
I never though it would hurt just to hear, "I do" and "I do."
And I do a number on myself and all that I thought- to be,
And you'll be the one
Who just left me undone
By my own hesitation.
And for the million hours that we were,
Well I'll smile and remember it all,
Then I'll turn and go.
While your story's completed mine is a long
Way from done.
I'm on a champagne high.
Where will I be when I stop wondering why?
On a champagne high.
Toast to the future, but that'd be a lie.
On a champagne high- high.
Your wagon's been hitched to a star.
Well now he'll be your thing that is new.
Yeah what little I have you can borrow.
'Cause I'm old (I'm old) I'm blue.
And for the million hours that we were
Well I'll smile and remember it all,
Then I'll turn and go-
At this point, to Ginny's horror, and Harry's as well because he'd come up 
behind her about two verses ago, Neville stood up and looked as though he was 
going to leave.
Ginny rushed forward, throwing out her arms and saying, "Neville! There you are! 
I've been looking all over for you- we haven't had a single dance yet!" At first 
Neville looked very confused, but then he rewarded Ginny with a small smile and 
they went out onto the dance floor, leaving Harry at the bar, marveling at what 
a good friend Ginny was. He knew he'd have to give her multiple foot massages 
tonight. Harry sat down and faced the bartender, ordering a drink. Ginny came 
back a few minutes later, after having sort of perked Neville up; she'd left him 
dancing with Lila. She slid onto the stool next to Harry, and grabbed some 
peanuts out of a small crystal bowl on the counter top.
"I always knew Neville had a thing for Hermione, but man-" she finally said.
"Do you think he really believes the he and 'Mione ever had a real 'thing'?" 
Harry asked.
"Wishful thinking, I think. He seemed okay once we started dancing."
"That was a really sweet thing you did, Gin."
"What was?"
"Sacrificing your feet for the good of a friend. That's why I love you." She 
grinned at him.
"Oh really? Well, how about a dance if you love me so much?"
"Sounds good to me." He answered grabbing her hand. and they headed out onto the 
dance floor, where Ron was dancing with Andy and Hermione with Professor 
Dumbledore. Fred and Angelina Johnson were dancing together, and George was 
twirling a rather tipsy Professor McGonagall. Ginny laughed at the sight of them 
and she and Harry danced over to them.
"Hey George!" Harry called, "Let us know when you two set a date!"
"Ha!" George called back, "It'll have to be after the hangover- whoopsy daisy 
Professor!" He caught her quickly before she tumbled into a waiter with a tray 
of hors d'oeuvres. "And after I dance with her." He pointed across the dance 
floor to Amanda Harting.
"Who is she, anyway?" Harry asked and George shrugged.
"I think she's from the Prophet. Good luck, George!" Ginny said, steering Harry 
back towards the middle of the dance floor.
Hours later Hermione called for all the single women in the crowd to gather at 
one side of the garden for the throwing of the bouquet. There was quite a crowd, 
too. Ginny went over, bring Andy, Maggie and Claire with her, much to their 
father's dismay. (Well, maybe not to Charlie's, but definitely to Percy's.) 
Hermione did a basic levitating spell to give her some height above the others 
and took her bouquet, throwing it blindly over her shoulder. Much to everyone's 
surprise, it landed in the arms of Anita O'Hara. Then it was time for the 
throwing of the garter. On his way over, Harry had to drag George away from 
chatting up Amanda Harting. Thanks to good fortune, and a little nudge from 
Harry, Neville caught the garter, and when he and Anita were introduced Ginny 
decided it was fate. After all, who says fate can't use a little help sometimes? 
After all the necessary pictures had been taken and good-byes had been said, Ron 
and Hermione disapparated to Rome for their honeymoon in a shower of sparks. It 
was wizard tradition to shoot sparks at the couple out of your wand as they 
departed instead of throwing rice.
As all the guests were leaving, and the house elves were cleaning up (if only 
Hermione knew!), Harry stood with his arms around Ginny gazing up at the stars 
and said, "Well, that went as well as could be expected."
"No," Ginny corrected, "It went better."
~Chapter 5~
'Urrgh.' Harry mumbled into his pillow as he pushed himself up far enough off 
his pillow to blink sleep out of his eyes and glare in the direction of this 
latest disturbance- his front door. "Knock! Knock!" There it was again! Someone 
was obviously pounding on the door and showed no signs of giving up anytime 
soon. He supposed he'd have to get up.
It was the morning after Ron and Hermione's wedding, and he was still exhausted. 
It had been wonderful, though. All their old Hogwarts friends had been there- 
some people Harry hadn't seen in years, and so many newer acquaintances as well. 
He really had loved it, and had danced his feet off, but that was nothing 
compared to Ginny. It seemed to Harry that she'd hardly sat down all evening, 
and here she was again, standing on his doorstep (he'd finally managed to yank 
the door open), obviously much more wide awake than he.
"Gin! What on earth are you doing here at-" He searched for a watch, but wasn't 
wearing one, and his eyes were still to bleary to make out the small numbers on 
the clock so he finished, "At the crack of dawn?"
Ginny giggled as her boyfriend pulled open the door, looking quite rumpled and 
none to happy at being awoken.
"I love you when you're like this." She said, reaching up and rumpling his hair 
even more and breezing past him into the apartment. Harry's disgruntled look 
softened a bit, and he closed the door behind her.
"I'm guessing I'm not allowed to go back to sleep now, huh?"
"Right in one!" Ginny flashed him a grin. "Well actually, I don't care what you 
do after I leave- but you probably do have things that will prevent you from 
just collapsing again. Besides, I brought breakfast!" She held up a large brown 
paper bag proudly, and, after sitting down at the counter, drew out many 
different types of bagels. Though they were originally a Muggle food, Ginny had 
discovered them on one of her trips to New York in a hip, wizard café, and they 
had become her favorite breakfast food ever since.
"Yumm." Harry said, eyeing the delicious rings. "I'll make some coffee. And yes, 
I do have things to do today- I just wasn't planning on doing them until the sun 
had come up."
"The sun is up, silly!" Ginny waved her wand at one of his shaded windows, and 
the blinds disappeared, revealing the sparkling orb, peeking up along the 
horizon. Harry blinked several times in quick succession before adjusting to the 
new light.
"So what are you up to today?" Ginny asked.
"Well, I took the morning off to take your parents to the station, but then I'm 
headed into the Academy. I've got a lot of work to catch up on that I missed 
with all the wedding preparations."
"Oh yeah! I forgot that Mum and Dad were taking the train. 'That fantastic 
Muggle contraption' Dad calls it. They've never been on a Muggle operated one 
before, and he's very excited. I'm sorry I couldn't go see them off with you, 
but I did promise Andy that she could visit my London office in Wizard Soho 
before they left."
"No problem. I'm actually looking forward to it. I like your parents." Ginny 
smiled and finished the last of her bagel.
"Me too. I'd better go. Charlie, Susan, and Andy are coming by in a few hours 
and I want to have a good chunk of time to work before they do."
"Okay. Bye, Gin." He walked her to the door and kissed her good-bye, "Tell Andy, 
Charlie and Susan I said 'good-bye'."
"Will do. I'll see you later, maybe this evening?" She suggested returning the 
kiss.
"Sounds good to me." Harry answered, "I'll owl if anything comes up."
He closed the door behind her and sat down on a stool at the counter, unfolding 
the Daily Prophet. The front page showed the election results of the American 
Ministry of Magic's new Minister, and other smaller stories. Harry flipped 
forward a few pages to one that he rarely looked at: The Society Page. Sure 
enough, the entire page was devoted to Ron and Hermione's wedding. There were 
pictures galore and Harry was amused to see himself waving up from the page more 
than once. The article, written by Amanda Harting, was nothing short of glowing. 
She really seemed to have enjoyed herself, especially after meeting George 
Weasley. Harry laughed, as Molly came out of his bedroom, looking refreshed and 
happy.
"What's so funny, Harry dear?" She asked, and then noticing the bagels, "Ginny's 
here isn't she?"
"Was, actually. She left a little while ago; and I was just reading the article 
about the wedding in the Prophet."
"Oh, let me see! Did they get pictures?"
"See for yourself," Harry said handing her the paper, and pouring himself 
another mug of coffee. "Is Arthur up yet?"
"Hmm?" She glanced up from the article, "Oh yes. He's just getting dressed now. 
We have to leave soon, don't we- to get on that Muggle train."
"Yes, in about twenty minutes." Harry said, consulting the clock, which he could 
now see clearly. "I'll go get dressed. You help yourself to a bagel and coffee 
or tea, or whatever." He went into the guestroom and pulled on a set of basic 
black robes, went into the bathroom, insta-shaved with his wand, and washed his 
face. Then after fruitlessly attempting to tame his hair with a brush, his wand, 
and his hands, he gave up and went back into the kitchen, where Arthur and Molly 
were both sipping mugs of tea and munching on bagels, admiring the wedding 
pictures in the paper.
"Doesn't Ginny look lovely in that one-"
"Oh! Look at this one of Harry, Ron and Hermione- and this of just Ron and 
Hermione-" They jabbed at different places on the page, until Harry said, 
"Morning Arthur. Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Harry! Yes, very well indeed, thank you."
"Good. We'd better be off if you want to make that Muggle train. Ginny says to 
wish you both a safe trip, by the way. She'd come herself, but she promised to 
show Andy her London office in Soho."
"That's sweet of her. I think we're all set to go." Molly answered, magiking 
their luggage out of the bedroom and in front of the door. Harry picked up both 
small cases, not even bothering with a weightless spell and they all 
disapparated to Paddington Station. After about ten minutes of Arthur trying to 
figure out where they had to go and Harry trying to explain it to him, they got 
to the right platform- plain old platform 17. They both seemed a little 
disappointed when there wasn't any barrier to get through, but the information 
that he'd get to meet a conductor cheered Arthur up immensely. Harry finally got 
them both settled and happy on the train, and he gave Molly a hug and a kiss on 
the cheek, shook Arthur's hand, and climbed up as the conductor, much to 
Arthur's delight, called, "All aboard!". After getting off the train, and seeing 
it pull safely out of the station with the Weasley's waving madly at him from 
the window of their compartment, Harry was struck by an odd sense of déjà vu. It 
was like a total role reversal of when he, Ron, and Hermione had gone off to 
Hogwarts each year. After shaking his head slightly at the ironic nature of 
life, he disapparated to the Auror's Academy. He went straight to his office, 
following his talisman to get there, and sat down behind his desk, shuffling 
through papers, until someone knocked on his door. Ernie Fitzpatrick, an 
Auror-in-training, walked in.
"Chief Potter, sir. We've completed the trace on those threatening notes about 
Professor Dumbledore. It took longer than expected because they were clipped 
from a muggle company newsletter, and we had expected them to be from a 
wizarding source-"
"Ernie, where are they from?" Harry liked Ernie, very much, but he did have a 
tendency to ramble a bit.
"Yes, sir. Well, they came from a relatively small company in Surrey, sir."
"Ernie-" Harry said, with a hint of warning to his voice.
"From Grunnings drill factory, sir." Ernie said hastily. Harry was shocked. 
'Grunnings?! What on earth was some deatheater doing with clippings from 
Grunnings' newsletters. Was it a coincidence that it also happened to be the 
place of employment of two of Harry Potter's three living relatives. Was someone 
(who obviously didn't know much about his relationship with the Dursleys) trying 
to threaten him using them?' Questions tumbled around in his head like small 
rockets, bouncing back and forth and colliding with each other. Well, there was 
only one thing to do&#8230;
"I'll have to go to the company." He said, gazing at Ernie. "Tell Quackenbush 
I've gone, and that I'll be back as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir." Ernie said, practically saluting, and making Harry chuckle, as he 
turned to go. Harry himself stood up and examined the robes he'd pulled on that 
morning. They just wouldn't do- no; he'd have to wear muggle clothes. As fun as 
it was to terrify Dudley with the robes, it just wasn't worth all the memory 
charms he'd have to go through to make everyone else forget them. With a wave of 
his wand, he was wearing a lightweight sweater from the GAP and a pair of dark 
gray slacks. He quickly disapparated.
When Harry popped up, seconds later, he was on the sidewalk outside, a small, 
squat building with a sign saying:
 
 
GRUNNINGS- FINE MAKERS OF QUALITY DRILLS
He walked inside and found a receptionist seated behind a desk typing away at a 
computer. She looked up as he cleared his throat, and said,
"May I help you sir?"
"Yes. I was wondering, who is in charge of your company newsletter- I wanted to 
congratulate them on the fine job they're doing promoting the medium on behalf 
of-" He pulled the name out of the air, "The Daily Post." Her eyes widened and 
she said. "That'll be our VP in charge of company communications and 
paperclips-" Harry raised his eyebrows at the title, "Mr. Dudley Dursley."
It took quite a bit of self-control for Harry to mask the look of surprise on 
his face and keep himself from groaning out loud. 'Dudley? How on earth did 
Dudley, of all people, get to be a vice president of something, even if that 
something did include paper clips? The wonders of nepotism at work.' He sighed.
"Could you show me where his office is, please?" He asked the secretary 
politely.
"Certainly, sir. Right this way." She said, rising out of her chair and 
beckoning him to follow her down the corridor. They climbed into a lift and went 
up to the third floor. Then she showed him down two more identical halls and 
finally stopped in front of a door with a nameplate on it.
Vice President Dudley Dursley
The receptionist rapped her knuckles softly on the door twice, and then pushed 
it open wide enough to stick her head in.
"Mr. Dursley, sir?" There was a grunt. "You have a visitor, sir. Shall I send 
him in?" Another grunt which she took to be affirmative, because she then held 
the door open fully, and gestured for Harry to enter. Dudley sat behind his 
desk, ever expanding, not even looking up at his visitor, but rather intently 
concentrating on his computer screen. Harry had never seen him work that hard at 
schoolwork over the summer. Come to think of it, he'd never seen Dudley work at 
all during the summers. On a hunch, Harry shook his wand down his sleeve where 
it had been hidden, into his hand and waved it inconspicuously at the back of 
the screen.
"Relfectus." He muttered under his breath and sure enough, as though it were 
being projected onto the back of the machine by a projector, a video game was 
shown. It seemed to involve large guns and flying toasters. Harry almost smiled- 
some things never changed. After replacing his wand, he cleared his throat.
"So, Dudley, enjoying that kid's computer game are you?" Dudley jumped at his 
voice; or rather, looked as though he would have jumped, had he been able to get 
himself airborne for even a fraction of a second. As it was, he just sat there 
gazing up at Harry with a look of terror in his eyes.
"What&#8230;what are you doing here?" He stuttered.
"Oh relax." Harry said, disgusted. "I haven't come to attack you or Vernon, or 
Petunia. No, Dudley, unlike you- apparently, I have a life, and unfortunately 
the job part of it brings me here." He sighed. "You're in charge of the company 
newsletter, right?" Dudley nodded. "Who has access to that newsletter?"
He finally seemed to regain his voice. "Why should I tell you?" He attempted a 
sneer, but only managed to look as though he'd just swallowed a lemon. Harry 
didn't even blink- on the contrary- he smiled.
"Because it will be so much more comfortable for you if you do." He shook his 
wand out of his sleeve and fingered it, thoughtfully. "I don't want to use magic 
on you if I don't have to, but I really do need to know these things, Dudley." 
He sounded almost apologetic.
Dudley, apparently realizing his position again, said, "Everyone in the company 
gets a copy."
"Can you get me a list of all the employees?" Dudley nodded mutely and clicked a 
few buttons on his computer and then turned the printer on it began spitting out 
sheets of paper, and it was fortunate that Grunnings wasn't a very big 
corporation because it would have taken Harry forever to sift through all their 
employees. Since it was small, however, only two and a half pages were listed 
with names. Dudley handed these across the desk silently and Harry took them.
"Thanks. I'll be going now, but I'll probably have to come back. See you!" 
Dudley made an indistinct noise in his throat, and before Harry had even pulled 
the door closed behind him, he heard Dudley pick up the phone, dial, and say 
nervously, "Dad? Do you know who-". Harry laughed outside the door to Dudley's 
office, at his cousin, his uncle, but mostly at the irony of life. Then after 
checking his watch, he disapparated to The Aurors' Academy. He went to his 
office and began to go through the lists Dudley had given him; putting checks by 
the names of heads of departments, and any surnames he recognized to be common 
among wizards. At about seven o'clock he looked at his watch and noticing it was 
already seven o'clock he decided to walk over to Ginny's. It wasn't far and it 
was a nice evening. When he arrived, she was writing a message furiously at her 
desk; a waiting owl perched on the back of her chair. As he walked in and was 
about to kiss her, she looked up startled. One look in her eyes told Harry that 
something was very wrong.
"Oh Harry! I was just writing to you- Professor McGonagall just owled me. She 
couldn't get in touch with you- it's so terrible! Harry, Professor Dumbledore is 
missing."
~Chapter 6~
Harry looked at Ginny, amazed. Then he shook his head as though to clear it of 
the shock.
"Ginny." He looked at her scared face, willing himself to remain calm. "Where is 
the note McGonagall sent you?"
"Gone." She looked perilously close to tears. "She was afraid it might fall into 
the wrong hands so after I read it, it just burst into flame."
"Okay." Harry nodded, "What did it say- as best you can remember?"
Ginny bit her lip and concentrated. "She wrote- 'Dear Ginny- I've tried owling 
Harry, but can't reach him, so I must send this message to you in the hopes you 
can get in touch with him." or something like that, "There is an emergency here. 
Professor Dumbledore is missing. He left no note and didn't notify any of the 
teachers as to where he was going. There doesn't appear to have been any 
struggle in his office, or anywhere else that we've checked, but it is most 
unlike Albus to simply desert Hogwarts without explanation. Therefore I feel it 
is probable he's been kidnapped. Please tell Harry as soon as you find him.' 
Signed M. McGonagall. That's all I can remember. Oh Harry, what do you think 
happened?"
"I don't know Gin, I don't know. But I'm going to find out. I've got to go to 
Hogwarts." He pecked her on the cheek and disapparated. Ginny stood as still as 
a statue in the middle of her living room her hand pressed over the place on her 
cheek where Harry had just kissed, and silent tears began to trickle out of the 
corners of her eyes and down her face. "Harry, bring him back safely&#8230;please?" 
she whispered into the silence.
* * *
Meanwhile in front of the Trevi Fountain, surrounded by crowds of swarming 
muggles, Hermione and Ron Weasley stood tossing in small bronze knuts and making 
a variety of outlandish wishes. They had no idea of the crisis that was 
enveloping their favorite headmaster and best friends. They were carefree, happy 
and in love in Italy. After leaving the Trevi they went to a sidewalk café and 
watched other tourists and couples stroll by. Hermione had purchased every 
postcard she could find; and in Rome that's saying something. Now, as Ron placed 
their order with the waiter in horrible Italian, she scribbled notes furiously 
to many friends and acquaintances; sticking stamps on the ones to muggles and 
handing Pigwidgeon (whom they'd brought with them) the ones to wizards. Hermione 
looked up at her new husband, fondly watching him butcher the language, and then 
looked back down at her postcard before handing it to Pig who was waiting by her 
shoulder.
 
 
Dear Ginny and Harry,
Hi! How are you guys doing back in damp old England? Here in sunny Italy it is 
gorgeous! And you wouldn't believe how many wonderful museums there are to 
explore here- think of all the research I could do! However, Ron refuses to let 
me- spoilsport! We're having a wonderful time, but miss you both terribly. I 
don't even want to think about what you two are getting up to without us! Hope 
all is well!
 
 
Lots of love,
 
 
'Mione & Ron
She couldn't have known how wrong she was.
* * *
Harry popped up outside the Hogwarts gates and could tell immediately that 
something was wrong. He saw Hagrid off in the direction of the Quidditch pitch 
with a lantern. He appeared to be searching the edges of the Forbidden Forest 
for any sign of the missing headmaster. Harry pushed open the giant gate and 
sprinted up the drive, past the lake to the massive front doors. The castle 
itself was completely aglow with light despite the fact that it was well past 
eleven at night. Harry knocked hard on the door and it was opened by a young 
witch in M.L.E.S. uniform robes.
"May I help you sir?"
"Yes. I need to see Minerva McGonagall. I didn't know M.L.E.S. had been called."
She raised her eyebrows. "And you are, sir?"
"Harry Potter." He took out his Auror's ID and her facial expression changed 
completely. Thankfully before he had to explain, Professor Snape heard the name 
'Harry Potter' and swept over to them.
"Potter." His sallow face was still twisted with his dislike of Harry, but there 
were circles under his eyes, which betrayed a lack of sleep. The expression in 
those dark eyes was worried, almost haunted, and Harry realized just how much 
Dumbledore meant to all of them. The M.L.E.S. agent had walked off. Harry nodded 
to Snape.
"Professor Snape. Professor McGonagall owled Ginny to find and notify me."
"Yes, I know. Come with me." Snape swept up the grand staircase in the entrance 
hall, and Harry went after him: following him through the old familiar 
corridors, passing by his old classrooms and creaky suits of armor. They walked 
in silence until Harry asked, "Have the students been told?"
"Yes." Snape answered without stopping or turning around. "They are all in the 
common rooms."
They continued in silence up to the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to 
Dumbledore's office. Snape said, "Fizzing Whizbees" and they entered up the 
gliding spiral staircase. After making sure Harry got to the door, Snape turned 
around and headed back to the Entrance Hall to help coordinate the search. Harry 
pushed open the old door slowly and saw Professor McGonagall seated behind 
Professor Dumbledore's large desk. She had her head in her hands and the 
ordinarily impeccable bun had fallen and was a tangle of black framing her face. 
At the sound of Harry's entrance she looked up abruptly.
"Oh, Harry. Ginny got in touch with you?"
He nodded. "You don't have any clue as to where he's gone, or who might have 
taken him?"
She shook her head firmly. "No. I've looked everywhere- searched this office 
thoroughly, and everywhere else I could think to look. There aren't any clues to 
be found."
Harry studied his former teacher's face with concern and noticed that despite 
the youthful quality the loose hair gave, the face itself seemed to have aged 
light-years since he had last seen her, only a few days before. He shook his 
head to clear it of such thoughts- there just wasn't time to think of anything 
but Dumbledore's disappearance. Suddenly the door of the office burst open and 
tiny Professor Flitwick rushed in. He was gasping for air, probably due to the 
considerable sprint he'd just completed, and the small size of his lungs.
"There's a student missing-" gasp.
"Who?" McGonagall's demeanor changed instantaneously- from totally exhausted to 
completely alert.
"Andrea Weasley." Then Flitwick fell into a dead faint. Harry quickly picked him 
up and set his small form on a short couch while Minerva got out her enchanted 
megaphone and called out all around the school:
"Would all teachers and free M.L.E.S. and other law enforcement agents please 
report to the staff lounge immediately? Students please remain in your common 
rooms. I repeat: report to the staff room immediately!" Then she turned to Harry 
and said, "I'll go inform them, Harry. You continue the search for clues- 
anything. It's imperative we find them now."
She swept out of the office, leaving Flitwick on the couch and Harry essentially 
alone with his muddled thoughts. 'Where would Dumbledore have gone without 
telling anyone? Had he been kidnapped by whomever had taken Andrea? Andrea! 
Someone would have to notify Charlie and Susan. McGonagall would do that, 
though. Harry had to bring her and Dumbledore back safely. But how?' He sat down 
behind the massive Jacobean desk and began to rifle through drawers, looking for 
a clue to their owner's whereabouts. He came up empty handed, and assumed that 
the drawers were somehow bewitched to hide their contents. Dumbledore had been 
on his guard- Harry had expressly warned him about the threats. He'd even helped 
him strengthen the wards around Hogwarts. How could anyone have gotten in? That 
question tumbled around haphazardly in his head as Harry gazed around the 
familiar office. There were the portraits of all the previous headmasters and 
headmistresses of years gone by; there was Fawkes' perch, but it was devoid of 
the glorious phoenix that usually graced it; Godric Gryffindor's sword was 
encased in glass near the ragged old sorting hat; there were pictures of many 
witches and wizards on the desk itself: one of James and Lily Potter on their 
wedding day, and Harry felt his eyes mist as his parents, so young, waved 
cheerily up at him; one of a young witch many years ago, who oddly resembled 
Mrs. Figg, the Dursley's neighbor; numerous ones of past students; and one of a 
very old wizard with his arm around an equally old witch, who looked vaguely 
familiar to Harry- he'd seen his face in the Prophet&#8230;no, on a card. Yes, that 
was it, on a card from a chocolate frog- Dumbledore's old partner, Nicolas 
Flamel. When he realized who the ancient wizard must be, Harry was reminded of 
something Dumbledore had said to him regarding death at the end of his very 
first year at Hogwarts: "To one as young as you, I'm sure it seems incredible, 
but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it is really like going to bed after a very, very 
long day. After all, to the well organized mind, death is but the next great 
adventure." '&#8230;to the well organized mind, death is but the next great 
adventure." The words seemed to echo in Harry's head louder and louder the more 
he tried to block them out. He didn&#8217;t want to think about the possible 
significance of that particular quote in this situation. Harry looked up and 
blinked his eyes a few times to clear them of confusion, rather than 
obstruction, and found himself staring at a familiar black cabinet whose door 
hung slightly ajar on its hinge. Harry stood up rather quickly and it was just 
as well there were no papers on the desk because the wind he initiated would 
have sent them all fluttering to the floor. He strode over to the cabinet, 
opened the doors, and sure enough there sat the shallow stone basin containing 
the "liquid air" Harry recognized instantly as Pensieve. He bent close to the 
surface until his breath created ripples on the smooth surface, then 
Dumbledore's office lurched, and Harry was falling into Dumbledore's thoughts. 
He landed in the same office, earlier that day, or perhaps the evening before- 
Harry couldn't tell. He saw Professor Dumbledore seated at his desk, writing on 
a sheet of parchment when an owl flew right into the outside of the office 
window. Dumbledore got up and opened the window, catching the feathery emissary 
in mid-collapse. He set the owl down on his desk and unfolded the letter it 
carried after returning to his seat. Harry, unseen by the room's other 
occupants, moved to stand behind his former headmaster and read over his 
shoulder.
Dumbledore-
I have "borrowed" one of your students. Call her collateral, if you will. You 
and your petty watchdogs, the Aurors, have failed to respond adequately to my 
previous warnings, so I have taken matters into my own hands. She will be 
released, relatively unharmed, if you heed this message: use the enclosed 
one-way portkey to reach my current place of dwelling- I'm sure you will 
recognize it; it holds memories for both of us. My first husband reached his 
downfall here, and my second made it our family home. Come at once and tell no 
one you have gone. This is between you and I, and between us it shall stay. I 
trust your precious 'honor' to ensure this and await your arrival with 
anticipation- as does my little captive.
-Hadesa G. M.
As Harry watched, Dumbledore drew the unconscious owl gently toward him and 
seemed to examine it closely, before nodding. As he set the bird down in front 
of him, Harry caught a glimpse of a shiny silver ring around one of its ankles. 
Dumbledore thought for a moment before walking to the cabinet holding the 
Pensieve and raising his wand to his temple, then the memory went black.
All at once Harry was spit out of the thought, and it felt rather like he'd been 
rejected by Floo-powder. He whooshed through the black vacuum and landed with a 
thump, but surprisingly on his feet, back in the present, empty office.
Before he had time to think what to do he rushed over to the desk and began to 
search for the portkey that had been around the owl's ankle. It was several 
anxious minutes before he found it, half buried in the plush carpet that proudly 
displayed the Hogwarts seal. He plucked it from where it was nestled and was 
careful not to insert his finger in the ring as he examined it.
He saw that it was indeed a ring: silver with a cut shiny black stone that he 
recognized as onyx. It looked like a class ring: more decorative jewelry rather 
than a mode of transportation to a dark wizard's lair. Harry looked around him 
for something to leave a message on, but the drawers were empty- or at least 
Harry couldn't get anything out of them, and he couldn't afford to waste anymore 
time. He didn't know how long Dumbledore and Andy had been gone, and he had no 
doubt as to what Haseda G. M. was planning. He slid the ring onto his finger and 
felt the familiar jerk behind his belly button.
* * *
When Harry felt himself slow down in preparation for stopping he squeezed his 
arms to his sides, knowing that he didn't need any travel induced injuries going 
into this fight. He was sure it would be a fight, and was confident, but not 
overly so. Harry knew that he was facing an unknown, whereas with most of his 
Auror assignments, he at least had an idea of who or how many people he'd be up 
against- usually. He hit the ground with a soft 'thwump!' and pushed himself up 
far enough to realize he had landed on someone's front lawn, mercifully the 
grass had cushioned his landing. As he quickly got to he feet, Harry gazed up at 
a formidable manor house and realized at once where he was: Malfoy Manor. A 
cool, gentle English rain was falling around him, dampening his robes and 
misting his face with water. He ran up the numerous front steps and pushed open 
the front door, which swung open easily and silently. (I bet you thought I was 
going to make it squeak, didn't you? I'm not that cliché!) Harry entered a 
large, dank stone foyer. A large, swelling staircase opened into the cavernous 
room, and ancient oriental carpets covered the floors. A large iron chandelier 
hung from the ceiling with unlit candles in it. The room was dark, and shrouded 
in shadow, but Harry whispered "Lumos!" and his wand emitted a faint glow that 
drew his attention to the wall on the far side of the room. One of the large 
stones that made up the wall wasn't quite in line with the others. It seemed to 
stick out on the top at an odd angle. He walked quickly and quietly over to it 
and pushed on both ends to no avail. Then he thought for a moment and remembered 
one of the simplest spells he knew- one Hermione had taught him back in their 
first year: the opening spell. With a wave of his wand he whispered "Alohomora" 
and the stone slid back into the wall out of sight leaving a gaping hole in the 
wall which Harry walked through into a small, cramped tunnel and behind him he 
heard the stone grinding back into place. He proceeded down the tunnel expecting 
to hear evidence of the people who must be imprisoned here any moment, but oddly 
he did not. It was quiet- too quiet.
Harry picked up his pace to as fast as he could go without making noticeable 
noise. Then at the end of the tunnel, he saw a green, glowing light and broke 
into a full sprint. As Harry reached the exit to the tunnel, wand outstretched, 
he had no idea what he was going to see- only what he was dreading. He walked 
into a long, wide room with a low ceiling. It wasn't lit, save by the stars in 
the sky and the ever fading greenish glow coming from the corner, but before 
Harry could make it that far something silvery white caught his eye on the far 
side of the room. It was reflecting what little light there was in the room and 
was glowing almost as bright as a unicorn's mane.
Harry recognized it instantly and rushed over to the fallen form of Albus 
Dumbledore. His beard and hair were brighter than Harry had ever seen them 
before and though he was still breathing, it was a laborious task. Harry bent 
down beside him and began to try basic muggle CPR on him, until Dumbledore 
managed to gasp out, "Harry, stop." He did so abruptly and looked at his former 
Professor with tears shining on his emerald green eyes.
Dumbledore struggled to speak as Harry urged him to rest, "Harry, I'm on my way 
to -gasp- the next great- adventure-" Before Harry could reply he pressed on, 
his speech punctuated with wheezes and gasps. "When I die, remember that, and 
not what I've left behind. Harry- you have shown yourself equal to every 
challenge put before you- I am so proud of you- you have lived your life in a 
way that would make your parents very proud as well- I hope to see them soon- 
Remember- one day we shall meet again." And he closed his bright, twinkling blue 
eyes, never to open them again. As Harry looked down at the old, wrinkled face 
tears began to stream down his own, but through them he saw true peace on Albus 
Dumbledore's face.
He gently folded the hands of his old headmaster across his chest, just as a 
streak of red and gold shot through the air- Fawkes. He opened his beak and let 
out the most beautiful, haunting, skin tingling sound Harry had ever heard, it 
reached to the depths of his soul and stirred something inside him- phoenix's 
song. Fawkes reached the spot where Dumbledore lay he burst into flame in 
mid-air; and somehow, Harry knew it would be the last time he did so. The 
fireball was one of the saddest and most spectacular things Harry had ever seen. 
He was transfixed by it- forgetting his surroundings, and almost forgetting his 
pain.
Then, a noise from a corner, sounding as though it was filtering through a 
screen on it's way to Harry's ears, startled him out of his frozen state. He 
looked up from the falling ashes and across the room to the corner where the 
sound had come from and again remembered the fading green light, and the other 
hostage- the one Dumbledore had come here chasing. 'Not Andy, no, not her too.' 
Was Harry's only thought as he left Dumbledore's body and raced across the room 
to where someone else lay fallen, beneath a hanging body, but even from the 
rapidly closing distance, both forms looked too big to be that of eleven year 
old Andrea Weasley. Harry felt waves of relief and confusion wash over him, 
respectively. Hanging suspended from a magical rope was the body of an old woman 
with an aristocratic profile, twisted into an expression of grief and shock. 
This must be the mysterious Hadesa G. M. There was indeed another body lying 
beneath her, but it was a man. A man Harry's age with pale blond hair and thin 
features. Harry felt himself grow cold as he approached the still form of Draco 
Malfoy- obviously a recent victim of the "Avada Kedavra" curse. The faint green 
light around his pale form was almost extinguished and Harry felt as though 
someone had punched him in the stomach. Malfoy and he had never been friends, 
but Harry would never wish this fate on anyone- too many innocent people had 
received it already. He felt an inexplicable sense of loss at seeing his old 
enemy, crumpled there, never to mock again. Then from under the fallen form of 
Harry's old classmate came a movement as someone very small fought to get out 
from underneath him. Harry caught a glimpse of matted red hair as Andy Weasley 
crawled out from underneath the fallen corpse of Draco Malfoy.
"Uncle Harry." She whispered when she looked up and spotted him, and burst into 
tears. He grabbed her in a hug, so relieved to find someone still alive in this 
horrible room filled with death. They clung to each other that way for a long 
time and finally Andy pulled away and began to point at Malfoy and the hanging 
form of the old woman visibly distressed. She didn't know about Dumbledore, yet, 
and Harry didn't want to tell her. He quieted the frantic child and picked her 
up, disapparating with her in his arms- taking her back to Hogwarts. He would 
return later, but not until Andy understood her ordeal. As Dumbledore had once 
said: "Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance 
can there be recovery." Harry wanted, no, needed Andy to recover. Perhaps 
because that was best for her, or perhaps because he wasn't sure he ever would.
~Chapter 7~
When Harry appeared in front of the Hogwarts' gates for the second time that 
evening, a very different picture met him from the first. The grounds were 
deserted and everyone seemed to be inside the massive castle trying to figure 
out what to do in this time of crisis.
No doubt they had noticed that the famous Harry Potter had gone missing and were 
now searching frantically for him as well as Andy, and Dumbledore. Harry looked 
down at the small form of Andrea Weasley nestled in his arms. She was sleeping 
fitfully, no doubt reliving some of the nightmares she had experienced in that 
chamber in Malfoy Manor. He held her tightly as he slowly headed up the lawn 
with a heavy heart. He didn&#8217;t want to think about telling people about 
Dumbledore's death. He could only imagine the variety of reactions that would 
range from numbness to hysteria.
He hadn't processed enough to gauge his own reaction yet; all Harry knew was 
that it felt like a chunk of his heart, his soul, was missing- he felt like he'd 
lost a father all over again. When Harry, after shifting Andy's weight, reached 
out and pushed open one of the massive front doors to the castle, chaos ensued. 
Charlie and Susan, who had been seated in the corner with Professor McGonagall, 
were somewhat removed from the melee.
When they spotted Harry holding their daughter both sprinted over to him, tears 
streaming down both their faces. M.L.E.S. agents swooped down from all corners 
of the entrance hall and some even seemed to just pop out of the woodwork; but 
of course this was Hogwarts, and that was not only possible, but likely. Harry 
spotted Sirius sprinting down the huge staircase, his face pale, and missing its 
usual grin.
Professor McGonagall tried to make a path through all the swarming M.L.E.S. 
agents but to no avail. Finally Harry got his wits about him and after handing 
Andy over to her parents, he held up his Auror's ID and did something he'd never 
done before: he pulled rank.
"The Academy is going to take over this case- it is no longer a 
kidnapping/hostage situation, but a triple homicide involving two possible 
deatheaters. Thank you all for your cooperation. If you have any questions 
please address them to Aurelia Quackenbush at the Auror's Academy."
And with those business-like words all hell broke lose. Some of the M.L.E.S. 
agents walked outside and quietly disapparated beyond the gates; others stayed 
put in shock- three homicides? Not Dumbledore, surely not Dumbledore.
As the words "triple homicide" left Harry's mouth McGonagall sunk to the floor 
as though her knees had just given way. Snape stood stock still- not moving an 
inch and not showing any visible sign of reaction, he looked as though someone 
had stunned him. Sirius, having reached the landing hung his head, and when he 
looked up he had the same haunted look on his face that Harry had seen from 
pictures of his tenure in Azkaban.
Many people simply began to sob, others fainted, and others just left- walked 
away into the night- never turning back, as Harry wished he could do. But he 
couldn't. He had to stay and make others understand- to make them remember.
Harry stood for a moment staring silently around himself at the reactions of the 
occupants of the Entrance Hall for a moment before re-collecting his composure. 
He couldn't break down; not here, not yet. He moved over to where McGonagall was 
leaning heavily against the wall and sitting on the floor. He helped her to her 
feet and motioned for Snape, the Weasleys, and Sirius to follow them up the 
stairs.
After a tedious journey through the castle the seven people reached their 
destination: Dumbledore's office. Charlie and Susan sat down on the couch off to 
the side with Andy securely nestled between them. For once the rambunctious 
young girl did not seem anxious to leave her parents' protective sides. Harry 
glanced briefly at Dumbledore's chair and then at McGonagall- it was her 
rightful place now; but no one seemed anxious to take up position there just 
yet- it was still too soon. So Snape conjured an extra chair and he, McGonagall, 
and Harry all sat down. After looking at each face in turn and seeing on them 
the fear and apprehension he had felt only hours before, Harry took a deep 
breath and made one of the hardest announcements of his life.
"You've probably all guessed why we're here. Earlier this evening I went after 
Dumbledore and Andy, following a trail of clues that I'll explain later. Where I 
eventually arrived was Malfoy Manor. I went inside and discovered a secret 
chamber. In that chamber I found Professor Dumbledore- alive, but dying. I went 
to him and he spoke to me, then died peacefully." Even to Harry's own ears his 
words sounded hollow and empty, yet they provoked a small sob from Minerva, Andy 
buried her face in her mother's chest, and Sirius and Snape bowed their heads. 
He continued, "Dumbledore was not the only person who died tonight- Draco Malfoy 
and an old woman also lost their lives. I believe the woman to be a "Hadesa 
G.M.". At these words Snape looked up at Harry with an odd expression on his 
face.
"Hadesa&#8230;.G.M.?" He repeated.
"Yes, do you know her?"
"I did &#8230;once." Snape began. " She was Draco Malfoy's grandmother, Lucius' 
mother, and Grindelwald's wife. The G. M. stands for Grindelwald Malfoy. She 
never forgave Dumbledore for destroying her first husband- actually, on the same 
ground where she eventually made her home with Satian Malfoy. I'm sure she 
thought it a fitting place for her old nemesis' demise." At these last words 
McGonagall choked out another sob, while Harry stared at Snape, thunderstruck.
"How do you know all this?"
"Surely you know that I was once a deatheater, as was Lucius Malfoy?" Harry 
nodded. "Well what you probably don't know is that it was Hadesa's idea that 
Lucius become one, not his own. She was a very close friend of Morgana Slytherin 
when they were at school together. Best friends in fact." He judged by the looks 
on their faces they had no idea who Morgana Slytherin had been, so he clarified: 
"Voldemort's mother."
This announcement was met with stunned silence from all assembled and Snape took 
this as his cue to continue his tale. "Both girls were in the same year at 
Hogwarts- they lived in the Slytherin dormitory together for seven years. After 
school, Hadesa le Faye (her maiden name; you are all familiar with her father- 
Baron le Faye, better known to some as the "bloody baron"), who'd always been 
interested in the non-defense side of Defense Against the Dark Arts left England 
to study them more closely abroad in a Hungarian school that was just beginning- 
Durmstrang. She was involved in an independent study type program, living in a 
room with one other student and having access to their extensive library of 
books that here at Hogwarts, well, at best would be in the restricted section, 
at worst, would not even be allowed.
Hadesa spent two years there studying, until she left suddenly; with a young 
teacher who had been in charge of teaching the three unforgivable curses- 
Gregory Grindelwald. They went off to Siberia together as best our sources and 
records can tell and were not heard from for around a year, until 1936.
Meanwhile, as her old friend was getting up to who knows what with the next Dark 
Lord, Morgana had left her ancestral home and gone to look for a job in London. 
She felt the need to strike out on her own. Upon finding no luck there she moved 
further south to a small village on the Devon-Cornwall coast called Little 
Hangleton. She finally found work in the local pub as a barmaid. Her parents 
were ashamed- their daughter, a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin's serving 
drinks at a filthy muggle pub? They tried to bring her back, but Morgana was as 
stubborn as Slytherin himself and blatantly refused. We suspect that at this 
point she must have been pregnant. Her parents disowned her. Then Morgana 
settled into her life as a "muggle" comfortably, with her baby on the way and 
soon her boyfriend became her fiancé. As the wedding approached Morgana's 
Slytherin blood must have finally taken over, because she told her fiancé- one 
Tom Riddle- what she was: a witch.
The man left her and their coming child without blinking an eye, and though 
Morgana had the power to kill him easily with the flick of her wand, she didn't. 
She must have truly loved him. Instead she left Little Hangleton and returned to 
London, where she worked again in muggle pubs to get by, too ashamed to return 
to the wizarding world. On the night Tom Riddle Jr. was born one of her 
co-workers took her to the hospital and she lived just long enough after his 
birth to call her son by name "Tom Marvolo Riddle". After his mother died, Tom 
was taken by muggle social services and placed in a London orphanage, not to be 
heard from for eleven years.
Once again our story returns us to Hadesa, no longer le Faye, but now 
Grindelwald. There are only two things we can be sure of that happened in 
Siberia over that year- one: That Hadesa and Grindelwald were married, and two: 
that they began gathering support from Russian and eastern European wizards. By 
the time they returned to England young Tom Riddle was ensconced in his 
orphanage and Morgana was dead and buried.
Hadesa did look up her old friend upon her return, but when she asked her 
parents they told her that their daughter was as good as dead. Hadesa, though, 
being the wife of Lord Grindelwald at a time very similar to Lord Voldemort's 
first rise to power, was not easily dissuaded and had many connections. She 
traced Morgana to Little Hangleton and discovered from the locals that her 
friend had returned to London notably without her fiancé, but with his child.
It's unclear why Hadesa simply didn't kill Tom Riddle at this point, perhaps 
because she still thought Morgana was alive- we'll probably never know. Anyway, 
she went to London and after a bit of persuasive questioning discovered her 
friend's fate. No one seemed to know what had happened to the child, though. 
Some said he had died with her; others said the father had come for him, while 
still others insisted he was being raised by Morgana's parents.
In any case, Hadesa did not search for him- Lord knows she had other things to 
worry about. The year was 1942, by the time she'd tracked Morgana to London, 
which, if you know your muggle history, was being blitzed by the Germans. 
Grindelwald was in control of the wizarding world, and in her position as "first 
witch" Hadesa had a very full calendar.
In 1945 we all know that Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald in a mysterious 
showdown at the site where Malfoy Manor now stands. The next year, Tom M. Riddle 
began school at Hogwarts, and not quite five years later Hadesa remarried, this 
time to a man named Satian Malfoy who had been one of Grindelwald's closest 
advisors. They had only one child- a son named Lucius. Satian died during his 
son's last year at Hogwarts, leaving a wealthy, though bitter, widow. About 
three years later a wizard going by the pseudonym "Voldemort" began to gain 
power.
Knowing Hadesa to be an influential person in Dark Arts Circles, Voldemort 
approached her in hopes of following in her first husband's footsteps. It was at 
this first meeting that Hadesa finally found out what had become of her old 
friend's son. She decided to tutor him in everything she knew about the Dark 
Arts, which was considerable, and to use her connections to help him gain 
support. She set up her son in his inner circle, and after teaching Voldemort 
everything she could she slipped out the spotlight.
No one heard from her since about three years before Voldemort's first downfall, 
and she remained hidden until Lucius' funeral, two years ago. By that time she 
was a very old woman and no one thought there any harm in her. Apparently we 
were wrong. You say Draco is dead?" Snape finished this eloquent speech with a 
questioning look at Harry, who nodded.
"And Hadesa, too. She appeared to have hung herself with a magical noose. As for 
Draco, it was definitely Avada Kedavra." He turned to Andy, who was still in her 
mother's lap.
"Andy? We need your help. Can you tell us what happened before I arrived 
tonight?"
The small head bobbed up and down and she swallowed hard. Charlie looked as 
though he were about to protest, but Harry held up a hand to stop him, "It's for 
the best; trust me. Andy?"
"Well, I was on my way back to Gryffindor Tower after dinner, and I stopped at 
the bathroom on my way. I grabbed the handle of the door- and then&#8230;well, I don't 
really know what happened. I felt a lurch in my stomach and then I was somewhere 
else- in front of a house, a huge house being picked up by some guy in robes 
with a hood.
He took me inside the house and into this chamber where an old woman was 
waiting. She asked him if anyone had followed, calling him Draco, and he said no 
one had. Then she sat me in the corner, tied me up with her wand, and left the 
room. I was really scared." Charlie gave her a reassuring squeeze.
"When she came back she told me she'd owled Professor Dumbledore and if I was 
lucky he'd be here before too long. That actually made me feel a bit better, 
because I knew Professor Dumbledore would save me." Harry felt a lone tear slide 
out of the corner of his eye at these words. He blinked it away as Andrea 
continued.
"We were waiting there for a while, and the guy who brought me in took down his 
hood and talked to me. He had really blond hair. He took one glance at me and 
said, 'You're a Weasley.' And I said yes, I was. Then he asked me the oddest 
question- he asked about Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione's wedding. Actually he just 
asked if Aunt Hermione had seemed happy, and I told him she had: very happy. I 
think that cheered him up a bit, and then Professor Dumbledore came in.
He looked really disappointed to see Draco there. Anyway, he untied me with his 
wand and then he and the old woman dueled for a long time. Then she hit him with 
some spell I'd never seen before and he fell down- he looked so tired. Then she 
turned on me and said "Avada Kedavra!" just like that." At this point Susan 
screamed and Charlie went deathly pale, "but before it hit me, Draco jumped in 
front of it. He died&#8230;.." she trailed off as though not sure how or whether to 
continue, but picked up again, "he died and his body landed on me. The woman 
looked like she was in shock. Then she turned around and conjured a rope, tied 
it in a noose and hung it from the ceiling. Then she did "Wingardium Leviosa on 
herself and&#8230;.and&#8230;..hung herself." She choked back a sob. "A few minutes later 
you came in, Uncle Harry." Harry nodded silently as Susan cradled her daughter.
Everyone else in the room was shocked into silence. The two stories had been 
tragedies the caliber of The Arthurian Tales, or Romeo and Juliet, or Hamlet. 
They seemed to have come out of a fairy tale gone wrong, one where the 
characters all forgot chivalry, where star crossed lovers were not meant to be, 
where Kings were killed before their time.
Slowly the assembled parties got up and left one by one; each walking their 
separate ways. Harry headed down the great staircase and out of Hogwarts, only 
turning back at the gate. He gazed up at the once familiar turrets and towers, 
which now seemed so foreign. He had to go sort out his thoughts, and then he had 
to go give the world some bad news.
~Chapter 8 -This is it!~
Harry apparated to The Leaky Cauldron before going home- he needed not to feel 
for awhile; he knew he could not deal with the tears and grief Ginny would 
surely shed when he told her the news of Dumbledore's death. He wasn't even sure 
that he could deal with his own.
He trudged up Diagon Alley towards The Auror's Academy only to be met at the 
entrance by a mob of anxious looking reporters from various wizard tabloids, 
magazines, and newspapers, including&#8230; Harry did a double take&#8230;yes, there she 
was, bushy hair and all: Hermione. Back from her honeymoon in Italy suspiciously 
early, Harry suspected the Prophet must have called back their top reporter to 
cover this story. Ignoring the shouts of "Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter! Would you care 
to comment on-?" He quickened his pace, forging his way through the crowd, and 
grabbing Hermione's hand in his own on his way through. She followed in his wake 
and when he reached the top of the steps preceding the entrance to the 
formidable building Harry turned around to face the reporters. He stood for a 
moment surveying their nervous faces and realized that many of these people had 
probably been Hogwarts students, and were, just as Hermione no doubt was, 
dreading the confirmation of the loss of their loved headmaster- the 
confirmation he had to give them. He held up his hand for silence, and 
immediately a reverent air fell over the assembled group. Then he spoke.
"You are all here no doubt on a tip that you have heard there was a triple 
homicide at Malfoy Manor. You have also probably heard rumors on the possible 
victims of those killings. One of the victims was a classmate of mine at 
Hogwarts: Draco Malfoy." At these words a murmur spread through the crowd, but 
next to him, Harry felt rather than heard, Hermione gasp- obviously she hadn't 
heard that Draco had been killed. "I am saddened at the thought of someone I 
knew in my childhood being gone before he even reached twenty-five; Draco will 
be sorely missed.
Another victim was Draco's grandmother, Hadesa Grindelwald Malfoy. Many of you 
have heard of her, I'm sure, and know her as Grindelwald's wife. Perhaps you 
don't think of her death as much of a loss, but it is. Every human life has 
worth, and when one has been snuffed out we all feel a twinge of loss.
The third victim-" He broke off, then continued, "The third victim was Albus 
Dumbledore." At these words, when Harry had expected chaos, he was greeted with 
grief: pure and genuine. Tears began to stream down the face of every person 
gathered around the now rain drenched stairs. Next to him Hermione sank down to 
the top step and hugged her knees to her chest, crying silently. "Dumbledore- 
what can I say about a man who was my mentor, my confidant, and my friend? 
Though I will think of him often and miss him always, Albus Dumbledore has gone 
on to the next great adventure.
I ask you to respect the family and friends of the departed. Funeral 
arrangements will be made and announced, and there is, as always no comment on 
the ongoing investigation." He turned around and walked into the building, 
leaving the reporters to disperse, and Hermione to sit on the steps. It didn't 
feel right to tell her to come in out of the rain. He didn't know what to do 
about how he felt; he sounded empty- he felt empty- when he talked to the crowds 
about a man whom had been more like a father, a mentor to him than perhaps 
anyone else on earth. They sounded like strangers. Harry turned around and 
walked back out of the building and went to sit on the step next to Hermione. 
She was soaked now; not only by rain, but by her own tears as well. When Harry 
sat down next to her and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders, she 
looked up at him with red rimmed eyes.
"W-Why?" She hiccuped
"I don't know, 'Mione. I don&#8217;t know. Maybe it was just his time to go. I don't 
think Dumbledore was killed purposely, I think the exertion of trying to rescue 
Andy just exhausted his energy. He was almost one hundred and seventy, after 
all." (A/N: In an interview J.K. Rowling said that McGonagall is seventy and 
Dumbledore, one hundred and fifty.)
"What about Draco? What happened to him- he was only twenty-four for God's 
sake!" Malfoy's age seemed to inspire in her a rage that Harry had only seen 
provoked before by Draco himself in life.
"Malfoy died saving Andy Weasley, 'Mione. His grandmum was going to kill her and 
there's no way to block Avada Kedavra, except with another life." He finished, 
thinking he'd said enough.
"He jumped in front of the curse&#8230;" Hermione said to herself, and then suddenly 
aloud, "Has anyone told Parvati?"
"Not that I know of." Harry replied, surprised by the question. "They're still 
looking for Narcissa; she wasn't at the Manor at the time." Hermione nodded.
"I'm sorry this ruined your honeymoon." Harry began, not knowing what to say as 
an apology.
"It's not your fault- the Prophet called me back. And I'm glad I knew- finding 
out when we got back and missing the funerals&#8230;well, that would have been far 
worse."
"How's Ron holding up?"
"He went to stay with Ginny, but remember he doesn't know if it's been confirmed 
yet- neither of them do."
Harry nodded. "I think I'm ready to go home now, I need to see Ginny. How about 
you?"
She nodded and they stood up and walked down Diagon Alley together. When they 
arrived at Harry's apartment, they were greeted at the door by Ron.
He took one look at their faces and said, "Oh God, it's true."
To tired to speak anymore, Harry just nodded and passed him, on his way to the 
couch where Ginny had fallen asleep waiting for news. Ron followed him and 
placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, saying, "She's had a long day- when 
she dropped off I thought it best to let her rest."
Harry nodded again, saying, "You were right. I'll let her sleep. She can have a 
few more hours of peace before I have to ruin it." Hermione gave him a firm hug 
and whispered in his ear, "Time heals all wounds, Harry, even the ones we're 
sure will never close. You and Ginny have to help each other through this- 
remember that. We'll call in the morning." With that they left. Closing the door 
quietly behind them. Harry drew a blanket up around Ginny and walked to the 
master bedroom, fell into bed and a fast dreamless sleep.
When he woke the next morning, the sun was peeking through the curtains, which 
he hadn't bothered to draw the night before. Harry blinked and resisted the 
temptation to crawl under the covers and hide from the light- he knew that 
Dumbledore surely wouldn't want that. He climbed slowly out of bed, and plodded 
into the kitchen, where he found the coffee made and sitting in a steaming pot 
on the counter, and Ginny seated at the kitchen table, which was covered in 
newspapers and magazines, all of whose lead story was&#8230;"Gin?" Harry said softly, 
walking up behind her.
She didn't jump, didn't seem surprised. She just said, without turning around, 
"I'm so sorry."
Harry sat down across from her and looked up into her eyes, which were red. 
"Sorry? Why?"
"Because you loved him so much- and they said you were there." She gestured at 
the papers weakly.
"Yes, I was there, but I think it's better that way. He saw me, he could talk to 
me, and at least I know he died at peace."
She raised her eyes a bit at this last sentence. "How can you be so calm?" She 
asked.
"Because he wouldn't want me to drive myself and you and everyone else crazy. I 
think he'd want us to be at peace, as he is."
Ginny sat and absorbed these words for a few moments before she held out her 
arms to Harry, like a young child, in need of comfort. He embraced her and they 
clang to each other that way for a long time; until Ginny finally pulled back.
"We should help." She said.
"Help do what?" Harry looked at her, perplexed.
"Help with the funeral arrangements and everything. We should go to Hogwarts and 
help McGonagall- I can only imagine how she must feel now."
Harry looked at Ginny; minutes earlier she had seemed exactly like the 
eleven-year-old girl who had discreetly followed Ron and he around The Burrow 
that first summer he'd visited. Now she seemed like the woman he had fallen in 
love with.
"That's a good idea, Gin. I know she'll appreciate it. Do you think one of us 
should go to The Burrow and see your parents; explain what happened? After all, 
they were very close to Dumbledore as well."
"Yes, but not you or I. Maybe Ron and Hermione could go- they could pick up the 
extra three days of their honeymoon somewhere along the Cornish coast after 
visiting Mum and Dad. You and I will go to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, see everyone 
there, and do what we can to help."
"Sounds like a plan." Harry said, the ghost of a smile tracing his lips at 
Ginny's business like approach. "I'll send Hedwig to Ron and 'Mione with a 
message and then we can go- do you want to apparate or take the train, or go by 
broom?"
"Not by broom!" Ginny said quickly, not having enjoyed the profound lack of 
balance one experienced on a broomstick, the few times she'd ridden with Harry. 
"Perhaps we should go by train; I'm quite tired and I don't want to risk either 
one of us getting splinched."
Harry nodded and said, alright then- off to King's Cross we go."
After sending Hedwig out the window with a brief note to Ron and Hermione, they 
dressed, Ginny packed a few spare robes, and they were off.
The train ride was long and quiet, giving them both much needed time to think 
things over. Harry dozed for a bit, while Ginny sketched, and soon enough the 
train had pulled into Hogsmeade Station.
After Ginny had nudged Harry awake, the two climbed out of the train and headed 
to Hogwarts. When they arrived, the school seemed to have returned to 
semi-normal, but there was a noticeably subdued air about the students as they 
went about their daily tasks unenthusiastically. Harry and Ginny headed up to 
McGonagall's office, unhindered by anyone, and when they arrived, for the first 
time in Harry's memory, the entrance to the spiraling staircase was open- 
definitely un-McGonagall-ish. They both hurried up and found Minerva seated 
behind Dumbledore's old desk staring intently at the air in front of her nose. 
Upon their entrance she started abruptly.
"Harry! Ginny! We weren't expecting you back so soon."
"Well, Professor," Harry began, "Ginny thought you might be able to use some 
help, making arrangements, dealing with the press&#8230;anything you need- we're 
here."
"That's very kind. I just may take you up on that. I was just watching Albus' 
will, and I just got a bit overwhelmed&#8230;."
"Pardon me, Professor?" Ginny broke in, "You said 'watching&#8230;'?"
"Oh yes- Albus Dumbledore's last will and testament were preserved in his 
thoughts- through Pensieve, we are able to see what he wanted. You can both have 
a look if you like- she gestured at the open cabinet door inside which the now 
familiar (to Harry) basin sat. He led Ginny over to it and they both pressed 
their noses almost to touch the silvery liquid, and then&#8230;whomp! They found 
themselves seated on a couch in Dumbledore's office, and across from them, 
looking at them, but not really seeing Harry knew, sat Albus Dumbledore.
He sat calmly, regarding them through blank eyes, and said, if you are looking 
at this then I have undoubtedly moved on to the great beyond- the next great 
adventure, if you'll forgive me quoting myself." For and instant Harry could 
swear he saw those blank eyes twinkle again. "This is the statement of my last 
will and testament, as read on, he checked a pocket watch quickly, October 27, 
2007. (A/N: It is now 2010). First we'll dispense with all my worldly 
possessions- the furniture of my office and all my headmasterly things go to 
Minerva McGonagall, my dear friend, and the next headmistress of this fine 
school. To all my students I leave undying love and admiration, as well as all 
the canary creams and other treats that may be left over from what Misters Fred 
and George Weasley keep generously sending me; I also bequeath the sword of 
Godric Gryffindor to Harry Potter, who has been its rightful owner since the age 
of twelve. All my other worldly possessions are to be divided amongst anyone who 
has need of them, and then what's left may be given to charity.
Now, on to the real stuff- to Fred and George Weasley: I leave a lifetime full 
of laughter and merriment, and the gratitude of a headmaster whose tenure would 
not have been nearly as entertaining without you.
To Ronald Weasley- If you have not yet, I leave you the courage to try and to be 
yourself before you're anyone's shadow.
To Severus Snape- I leave admiration beyond words for having risked your life in 
such a dangerous way for our cause, and for being faithful to me, even when such 
a decision was not only difficult, but often potentially deadly. Don't be afraid 
to feel, Severus, to touch people and let them touch you.
To Minerva McGonagall- I leave my trust that you will do your best as you always 
have for Hogwarts' students and to keep the spirit of learning alive in those 
halls that I loved.
To Hermione Granger- I leave the hope that you will abandon books and reason and 
follow your heart when it is necessary- when that time comes- you will know.
To Ginny Weasley- I leave the hint that you and Harry belong together (I'm 
usually more subtle, but there's no time for subtleties.) and you should go out, 
and maybe consider marriage&#8230;Well, first thing's first!
To Sirius Black and Remus Lupin- I remind you that it is up to both of you to 
keep "the marauders" spirit going. James would never forgive you if you let it 
die. I may see him soon, so you'd better give me a good report for him!
To Harry Potter- I leave my spirit, which will always be with you; people will 
now look up to you more than ever, but you are, and always have been, up to that 
challenge. I bid you a fond adieu, Harry, but someday, in a better place, we'll 
meet again; and perhaps your parents will be there.
Lastly, I leave to all my friends my undying love and friendship- please pass it 
on to those you meet; in that way, my spirit will live through you forever."
At these last words, unbidden tears began to tumble down Harry's face, and as he 
looked over at Ginny, there were rivers cascading down her cheeks, as well. He 
turned back to the desk and saw that Dumbledore was slowly fading where he sat 
until Harry could barely see him, physically, but when he pressed his eyes shut, 
the blue eyes twinkled and smiled at him once more- in the memories.
Well, let me know what you thought of that! Hope you enjoyed it!~Anne
 
A/N: Just letting you all know that I am still alive! Also this is the 
definitive end of the "Nodody&#8230;"/ "Of M, M, & M" series, but not of my fanfiction 
career! Be on the lookout for new stoories from me&#8230; Please review!