The Plateau of the Seven Graces.

They landed in bright sunlight. After the dim interior of the library it was temporarily blinding and they held their eyes tightly closed for several moments. When they opened them they were looking out over a small wall at a truly magnificent vista. The wall bordered a precipitous drop to a lush green valley below. At least a thousand feet, Harry thought, if not more. A river wandered through the middle and off into the distance to hills at the limits of their vision. To the right the view opened onto a large mountain a long way off, its peak shrouded by the only cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky. To the left, about halfway to the horizon, the land gave way to a sparkling blue ocean.

Turning around they saw a group of single storey buildings forming three sides of a square. A pillared portico ran around the buildings on the inside of the square. Behind the buildings the ground rose gently into a small hill. Sheep and goats contentedly grazed the thick green grass, watched over by a shepherd sitting on a rock blowing a flute or some similar instrument. Standing in the centre of the square were Aspartea and Myrdeo.

Myrdeo motioned them over. "Welcome. This is where you will live while you are with us." He indicated one wing of the building." There are four bedrooms there, take your pick. It's now almost noon; take the rest of the day to just chill and get squared away. I'm glad I learned to speak the way you do. Even if I don't get the nuances as Hermione called them. It's ah… cool… right?" The four agreed. Aspartea smiled indulgently at Myrdeo as if he was a fifth student.

"The noon meal will be here shortly, and then we will leave you to rest, and see you again tomorrow morning. Follow me and I'll show you the rest of the buildings." They went to the centre section which joined the two wings. There was only one large double door. Inside was one long room. At one end was a pool of clear blue water. In the middle area was a table and against one wall a rack of what appeared to be towels and a shelf of jars and bottles. The other end was partitioned off by floor to ceiling curtains, behind which were toilet facilities. "This is where you can perform your daily cleansing." The final wing would wait until the next day, Aspartea informed them.

Lunch was bread dipped in watered wine along with some olives, figs, cheese or dried fish. They told Aspartea and Myrdeo of their lives, and the era in which they lived those lives. They talked of science and learning, which meant that Hermione was in her element and did most of the talking. At one point, Myrdeo interrupted her.

"You are seriously telling us that twelve men have walked on the moon? What's it like there?" She told him as much as she could remember. A couple of hours flew by, seemingly in an instant. Myrdeo glanced at Aspartea,

"Time we were going, 'Tea. Let these youngsters get acquainted with this place."

"Does this place have a name?" asked Luna, "It's very beautiful here."

"It's called the Plateau of the Seven Graces. The Seven Graces are…"

Myrdeo interrupted her, "Not now, 'Tea, they are tired, we can explain things tomorrow when they are refreshed and better able to take it in. Let them relax for now." He spoke again to the four. "In one of the bedrooms you will find clothing more appropriate to the time and place. I can see that you are already feeling the heat. You'll be more comfortable if you change. I suggest you do so soon, there will be some visitors in a short while. We will leave you now, I'll call again this evening to see that all is well."

"What visitors, Myrdeo?"

"Oh, nothing to worry about." An enigmatic answer at best. "Go and change now, you'll feel better." Harry led the way to the accommodation. In the first room they tried they found on the bed four neat piles of clothing. Hermione held up a white tunic. It was a single piece of closely woven cotton type fabric.

"Oh well," said Luna, pulling off the T-shirt she was wearing, "let's try them on." She undid her belt and let her jeans fall to the floor.

Harry looked amazed. "Luna, do you mind, give me a chance to get out of here."

"Don't be so silly Harry. She still has her underwear on." Harry looked from Ginny, who was stepping out of her trousers, to Hermione in time to see a flash of pale blue knickers as she dropped her tunic over her head. Knowing when he was beaten, he undressed to his boxers and put on a tunic. He thought he looked as though he was wearing a gym-slip, with the skirt reaching to mid-thigh. The skirts of the girl's tunics were the same length, but the bodice had an asymmetric cut and only went over one shoulder. A narrow leather belt and a pair of sandals, completed the ensemble. Back outside they seated themselves on the coarse grass lawn.

They had not even begun to have a conversation when a woman appeared about twenty yards in front of them. She walked slowly towards the group. Luna gasped and stood up. "Mu… Mummy, is it really you? Why… I mean how…"

"Hello Luna." The woman smiled. As the two embraced, two more people appeared. This time it was Ginny's turn to suck in her breath.

"Granny, Grumps Weasley, oh my goodness, I don't believe it." By now the four of them were standing. Luna and her mother drifted off a little way and Ginny was embracing her grandparents. Harry and Hermione were closely watching the spot where the people had materialised. Another two people shimmered into view and Hermione took a pace forward.

"Nana, oh my… and Pops. Oh God." She ran forward to her father's parents and stopped in front of them. "I don't understand what's happening. I'll just have to take it on trust. I'm so glad to see you."

Harry waited expectantly, and then they were there. Lily and James Potter, walking towards their son. He met them halfway and fell into his mother's arms. She was solid, she was real. He held her tightly and hid his face and tears in her neck, "Mum… I…"

"Hush darling, don't cry. I am so happy to be able to hold you like this." She eased him away from her and he turned to his father. James held out his hand for Harry to shake. Harry ignored it and hugged his father.

"Dad, I don't know what to say." He stood with an arm around each of his parents. "I love you both so much. I…"

"Come on, son," said James, "let's walk, and let's talk. We don't have a lot of time."

Walking slowly away from the others they came across a semi-circular stone bench, which Harry thought had not been there before. He did not know where to start the conversation, but eventually asked his father, "Did you know about Myrdeo and this bloodline thing?"

"No, Harry," James replied, "I had no idea. I knew I was descended from a Peverell but not how important they were."

"Why did you trust Pettigrew? You must have known he was weak and spineless, why pick him?"

"I don't know, Harry. It seemed like a good idea at the time. A poor answer, I know son, but it's the truth."

"Don't blame him, Harry," said Lily, "there is only one person responsible and that is Tom Riddle. Concentrate on him, don't lose focus. There are tough times ahead for you. I wish it wasn't so, but it is. I wish you were enjoying a normal life, marrying Ginevra or Hermione and raising a family."

"I plan to do that one day, Mum, but I've got something to do first. I didn't ask for the job but I've accepted that it's down to me. I also have to accept that I might not survive. Ginny wants to have my baby so that our bloodline won't die out. I'm not sure that's a good enough reason to have a child, although others do. At the same time it does bother me slightly that I could die and leave nothing behind. That must sound vain and frivolous, but it's the first time I've spoken of it."

"What we leave behind when we're gone is not as important as what we do while we're here, Harry." said James. "We were blessed Harry. We left you behind and we are unbelievably proud of the person you've turned out to be." He looked at the other groups around them. "They are fine girls, Harry. Trust them; they won't let you down in the fight. If you can bond with them, then Voldemort won't stand a chance."

Harry followed his father's gaze, "I know that Dad, I'm very fond of Hermione and Luna. I love Ginny. Her suggestion about a baby… well I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted, but how would the child feel if it found out that it was conceived purely as a weapon against Voldemort? I think if it was me, I'd be devastated." Lily looked proudly at her son,

"You say you love Ginny. Does she love you?"

"Yes, I believe so, Mum."

"Then make that your reason for having a child. Make sure the child knows it is loved for who it is, not for what it's capable of. So if you and Ginny are in love, then get married and have a child. Forget about the 'son of Myrdeo and daughter of Aspartea' stuff, if you love each other and want a child, such things are irrelevant."

"Either way, it won't be anytime soon. What was it you were saying about bonding, Dad?"

"I think that's why you're here, Harry. You are a powerful wizard, but you know that already. In their own way those three girls are equally as powerful. Hermione is the brains, Ginny, in a tight corner, is incredibly courageous and Luna has imagination and insight beyond her years. Never discount her ideas because they seem ridiculous. I wish I could tell you more but I think our time is almost up. We should re-join the others." The four groups assembled and started to say their farewells. When all was said, Luna's mother spoke to all four,

"We wish good fortune to all four of you, we will help you all we can. If you can stay together, stay strong and believe in yourselves then you will, with the powers on your side, you will prevail. We have to go now so all I can say is goodbye and good luck." The visitors turned and as they walked away they seemed to shimmer and then vanished. Myrdeo appeared in their place.

"Your evening meal will be brought to you in about one hour. There are two hours before the sun sets. Feel free to wander where you will, look around the area, relax. Sleep well and I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight."

"So what shall we do now?" asked Ginny, before answering her own question, "Let's just stroll as far as those trees and back." The others agreed.

The trees were further away than they looked and although they only strolling it took them nearly half an hour and they were perspiring freely when they arrived. They found a shady spot and sat down. The sound of water splashing back in the wood made Ginny go and investigate. She was back a few minutes later enthusing about what she had found and encouraging the others to follow her. They found a twenty foot waterfall splashing into a large pool of crystal clear water. The small glade was cool and restful.

"I'd love a swim," Ginny sighed, "no costume though."

"Swim in your underwear, or better yet, try skinny dipping." Harry joked.

"You would love that wouldn't you, well, I'll tell you what Potter, I will if you will!" Ginny challenged,

"Go on then, you go in and I'll join you." Ginny stood and took off her tunic, standing only in her bra and knickers. Suddenly Harry didn't feel so brave.

"I wasn't born yesterday Harry, come on." Hermione watched the two, standing in their underwear, trying to decide what to do next.

Ginny looked at Harry. "Skin or not, Harry?"

"Er… skin?"

"Skin, it is." Ginny reached behind her back to unfasten her bra, but then decided that a bit of fun was in order. She turned her back on Harry and winked at Hermione. "Help me with this please, Harry."

Hermione joined in, as Harry reached out towards Ginny, Hermione said teasingly,

"You do know how to work a bra, don't you, or would you like me to show you?"

"Very funny, Hermione, very funny indeed." He watched as Ginny, now stripped walked slowly into the water. He gawped when first Luna and then Hermione, both naked, followed Ginny. The three girls were facing away from him well spaced out. Harry sighed, dropped his boxers and took three paces backwards. He ran at the pool and leapt as high as he could, tucking his knees to his chest and crossing his arms in front of them. Up to this point the girls had been dry from the waist up. Harry landing in the water changed all that. They all screamed, one of them cursed and they turned on him. They had a fun ten minutes splashing and cavorting like five-year-olds before climbing out on to the bank.

They dressed in the tunics and carried their underwear. Ginny noticed something strange, she spoke to Luna. "Have you got your wand, Luna?

"No, it's back at the accommodation. Why?"

"Well, its just that your hair is dry and looks newly brushed. How did you do that without your wand?"

"I don't know. I remember being a little annoyed because I hadn't brought my wand, oh and I remember muttering the incantation. I hadn't realised that it had worked. As far as I know I can't do wandless magic." Hermione and Ginny both spoke the incantation and their hair dried and styled itself instantly. Harry dried his hair but it still looked a mess. He also had a conundrum, he had just been swimming with three very attractive, naked girls and he had not felt even a hint of arousal. Strange! But then, he reasoned to himself, the water had been cold. Even so…

"It seems," said Hermione, "that we can all do wandless magic, perhaps its just because we are here, we can ask our hosts tomorrow."

They reached the compound just as the sun kissed the horizon. It would be dark soon. All four slept the sleep of the innocent.

Harry was woken by the first rays of sun through the window. The night had been warm and he was feeling refreshed by a good nights sleep. Going to the bathroom he noticed the curtain to the toilet area was closed. "Anybody there?" he called.

"Morning Harry." Ginny returned. "Accio tunic." Harry watched as Ginny's tunic flew from the floor and over the top of the curtain. A moment later Ginny pulled the curtain open, drying her hands as she did so.

"Right, I'm done here, I'm going to find something to eat. Try the pool, Harry; it's warm but very refreshing." She kissed him lightly on the cheek, "See you shortly. Just jump in, it's really good." He started to take off his tunic and hesitated when he saw her watching him. Then remembering the events in the forest not 24 hours ago, he took it off and jumped, not hearing Ginny murmur an incantation, into the water… the icy cold, brain numbing, water.

"Ginny Weasley, you… little…" All he could hear was Ginny's hysterical laughter as she left the room.