While Harry Potter was having a spot of tea in Nevernever, Ivy Potter was dangling her bare feet in Chicago's famous Buckingham Fountain. Even in late September the city could experience hot and humid weather, and her upcoming meeting had the young newlywed in a foul mood. Lara Raith fancied herself a master manipulator and would no doubt attempt to bamboozle the Archive. The fact that she had spewed her entire breakfast forty minutes ago wasn't helping matters, nor was the view of bloody Lake Michigan.

"I am sensing a great deal of sexual tension in the air. Is someone missing the companionship of her new husband already?" Lara Raith said as she hopped over the small fence which surrounded the fountain

Ivy turned to look at unofficial Queen of the White Court Vampires, and had to stifle a pang of jealousy. Lara radiated an overwhelming aura of sexuality, and all men in Grant Park were openly lusting after her. The same could be said for a large portion of the women as well. Compared to the vampire, the teenager's pretty face and slim figure barely warranted a passing glance.

From a corner of the park Ivy heard a distinct bird call. That meant trouble, so she raised a veil that only Kincaid could see through. "You brought six bodyguards with you."

Lara smiled her perfect smile. "One can never be too safe nowadays, considering what happened to the Red King and his Court."

"Your bodyguards are dead," Ivy said casually.

It took Lara a full minute to regain her composure. "According to the Unseelie Accords you simply can not..."

"Who did you think wrote the Unseelie Accords, you stupid cow. I know all the loopholes because I created them for my own benefit in the first place," Ivy explained. "If the Weasley boy is not returned to the United Kingdom in the next twenty-four hours I fully intend to eradicate the White Court Vampires. You disgusting creatures have been a plague on humanity for several millennia, and it is long past time you joined the Red Court Vampires in oblivion."

"The Archive is suppose to remain neutral at all times," Lara said in a tight voice.

"And I do remain neutral as long as I am not provoked," Ivy replied. "You kidnapped my husband's best friend from our wedding reception—that is a clear provocation in anyone's book. You are going to tell me why you did it, or I am going to kill you, and magically toss your corpse out into Lake Michigan."

Lara Raith thought of herself as a predator, but now she realized that she was nothing more than prey for a far-superior predator. The vampire began to panic just like Ivy knew she would. Beneath the mask of cool confidence she was still a frightened little girl who had been mentally and physically abused by her father for the past two hundred years. Ivy might have felt sorry for her... if it wasn't for the thousands of mortals the she had feed upon in order to stay alive for all those years.

Rather than accept her well-earned trip to hell, Laura Raith blurted out her brilliant plan. "I want Harry Potter and his wizards to destroy House Malvora and House Skavis for me."

The White Court Vampires were divided into three branches depending on their choice of food. House Raith feed on sexual energy, House Malvora on the emotion of fear, and House Skavis on despair. Lord Raith was currently considered the single most powerful vampire among the Whites, which earned him the right to ruled as King. In reality he had lost his ability to feed and most of his other powers when Margaret Dresden had used her death curse against him shortly after Harry Dresden's birth. This weakness had allowed his daughter Lara to secretly seized power, but the other Houses would never accept her as their Queen since she lacked her father's reputation for strength and brutality.

"I was already aware of your little plot since one of your less-then-intelligent sisters mentioned it in her diary," Ivy said dryly. "But thank you for admitting it to my face."

"Which one of them was it?"

"That is not important now, so take off those ridiculous high-heeled shoes and join me. This slimy water feels wonderful."

Lara hesitated, but as powerful she had become since overthrowing her father she still wasn't powerful enough to ignore a command from the Archive. So she dutifully removed her designer shoes and sat down on the edge of the fountain. "You should know that young Ronald will never leave me, nor would I want him to. I have never had such a delightfully source of food before."

Ivy sighed. "I take it you haven't you read the Iliad lately."

"As the Archive do you know the real story of the Trojan War?" a curious Lara asked. "I have often wondered if Helen was a Vampire or a Sidhe."

"Helen was nothing more a twelve year-old human girl, and Paris was a drunken fourteen year-old human boy with acne. They were found naked beneath an olive tree one day, and were both murdered for bringing dishonor upon their families. The Trojan War actually started three months later because of a dispute over fishing rights in the Aegean Sea."

"The most famous war in history was started over fishing rights. No wonder Homer went with the story of Helen of Troy instead," Lara mused. "Ronald is hardly the most beautiful boy in the world, but his kidnapping should be enough of a reason to start a nice little war. As you pointed out, his best friend is their society's greatest hero, and his father is the Minister of Magic for the United Kingdom."

"How can you be sure that the other members of the White Court won't simply hand your lovely head over to these wizards rather than fight an unnecessary war?" Ivy asked.

"Because I have been preparing to move against my rivals for years, and the chaos of a war will provide me with the perfect cover to carry out those plans," Lara replied. "Once my enemies among the other Houses are out of the way, I will humbly ask for a peace treaty with these weak wizards."

"Are you truly willing to sacrifice the resources that House Malvora and House Skavis provide for the White Court?" Ivy asked. "The Black Court Vampires may breed like insects, but it takes nearly fifteen years for your kind to replace any losses."

"The twenty-first century is no place for vampires who feed on fear and despair. They attract far too much negative publicity. Only House Raith was the ability to adapt to this modern era."

"That is true. The pornographic culture you prefer has never been more popular or more accepted by the general pubic," Ivy admitted. "Many rulers throughout history have attempted to employ this strategy before: using a minor military conflict to solve their short-term political problems. Over ninety percent of them failed, and around forty percent end up being deposed or killed."

"This time it will work... if you and your husband are willing to cooperate with me," Lara insisted.

Ivy considered the vampire's proposal for twenty seconds, which was quite a long time for the Archive. "Two more of the Weasley brothers are due to arrive in Chicago today, and three hostages make for better bait than one. I'm sure they will enjoy the special hospitality that only the Raith sisters can provide."

The White Queen just smiled.


Harry had written a detailed note explained the situation with the White Council, and how they wanted him to heal their poisoned wizards. He had doubts about his own political judgment, and wanted to hear Ivy's opinion before making any firm commitments. Dresden suggested that they have at meeting at McAnally's tavern in Chicago, which was considered neutral ground under the Unseelie Accords. Ivy, Kincaid, Andromeda, and little Teddy Lupin got there at noon. The group from Nevernever was due to arrived in half an hour.

Ivy walked up to the bar, and placed a small suitcase on it. "Mr McAnally, we need to borrow your tavern for the afternoon."

Mac knew exactly who, and more importantly what, Ivy was. "Everyone out." Only when the room was clear did he open the suitcase to find that it was full of one-hundred dollar bills. "This isn't necessary."

"Buy yourself a new car," Ivy suggested. "That black Pontiac Trans Am out back is pathetic."

"It's a classic."

"No, it's pathetic," Ivy said with a smile. "Now break out a case of your finest dark ale, and I wouldn't mind one or two of those famous steak sandwiches either."

Back at their table Andromeda was admiring the finely carved wood columns scattered around the room. There were thirteen of them to disrupt the flow of magic caused by any intoxicated wizards. "This place is much nicer that the Leaky Cauldron or the Three Broomsticks."

"I don't know—that barmaid Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks has a superb rack," Kincaid said as he bounced Teddy on his lap.

"When do you ever visit a backwater like Hogsmeade?" an amused Andromeda asked.

"I had business in the so-called Forbidden Forest, and stopped by for a drink afterwards. Ogden's Old Firewhiskey is definitely the high point of your culture."

"I don't know, I rather enjoy their talking portraits," Ivy said.

A few minutes later the younger Harry burst through the door. He went straight over to Ivy and started kissing her even though her mouth was still full of medium-rare steak. Dresden, Ebenezer, Injun Joe, and Luccio followed him to the large table and sat down with looks of disapproval etched on their faces. It was the White Council's firm belief that of the Archive should avoid any emotional entanglements because of her lack of mental stability. Ivy thought the self-righteous bastards would only be happy when she started reproducing by parthenogenesis.

"If you want a steak sandwich order your own," Ivy told to her husband after they ended their prolonged kiss.

"That is just plain wrong," Dresden said as he stared at Kincaid and Teddy. As a budding metamorphmagus the child could mimic the appearance of others, and his current hairstyle perfectly matched Kincaid's shoulder-length golden hair. "How can you let a monster like him hold your child?"

"Jared is alright once you get to know him," Andromeda replied.

"You have no idea of the horrors this thing is capable of you ignorant fool," Luccio hissed.

"I was tortured by my own sister, a sister who then turned around and murdered my daughter," Andromeda said quietly. "I may not be a member of the White Council, but I have a fair understanding of the concept of evil. I know what kind of man Jared is, and I know that my grandson is perfectly safe with him."

"I second that motion," Ivy said. She then turned to Injun Joe. "How many patients are inflected by this poison?"

"Fifty-one are still alive, including me," he replied.

"Bring them here to Chicago," Ivy said. "To McAnally's specifically. Harry will go through with this mercy mission only if it takes place here on neutral ground."

"Some of our people are far too sick to be moved through Nevernever," Luccio objected. "The boy should come to Edinburgh and treat them there."

"You hide it well bambina, but you are just as much of a fanatic as your former protégé Morgan," Ivy said. "If Harry ever sets foot inside the wards of Edinburgh we both know he will never leave your stronghold alive. It would be a race between you and the Merlin to see who could execute him first for violating the Laws of Magic."

"She has you there Luccio," Ebenezer said after taking a long drink of ale. "I will bring our people back here; the round trip should take us about two hours. Potter, I want you to work on Injun Joe while we're gone. It's of the greatest importance for all of us that my friend makes a full recovery as soon as possible."

"Sir, you are just going to give in?" Dresden asked. "They haven't even asked for any payment yet."

"Hoss, it doesn't matter want they want because we are just going to end up giving it to them," Ebenezer told his grandson as he and Luccio got up to leave. "We can't afford to lose a single wizard, let alone fifty-one of them. Not now, not ever."

It took Injun Joe, Ivy, and Mac about almost an hour to set up a sterile operating theater in the middle of the tavern. By comparison actually treating the patient took only a few minutes. As a healer himself the Native American was extremely interested in what Harry was doing, and afterwards pronounced the procedure a total success.

"Kid, I haven't felt this good in months," Injun Joe told them. The questions lasted for a few more minutes, but Harry lacked the necessary medical training to converse with a master healer.

Ivy gently led him away to the restroom, warded the door, and then stripped naked. The loo was by no means a comfortable place for sex, but it had its own unique charm for the two horny teenagers. After their first frantic coupling they began exchanging questions about what the other had been up to. Harry went first.

"Well since I wrote you that note we dropped Neville and Sanya off at the Carpenters, and Murphy took a flight to Nigeria. She told us there was going to be some major trouble in Lagos, and that they would need a Knight of the Cross ASAP. Hermione returned to Arctis Tor with Luna, since Queen Maeve had some new mission for her. What about the Ron situation?"

"I had a very productive meeting with Lara Raith, but this restroom is not the place to discuss it," Ivy told him.

"Do have any theories as to why I can heal these wizards when no one else can?" Harry asked. "I don't even have much practical experience with the spells I'm using."

"I believe I know what's going on, but I would rather not fill your mind with doubts until you are finished helping the White Council."

"That doesn't sound very reassuring Ivy," Harry moaned.

"Then let me provide you with a proper distraction. In the Kama Sūtra this particular position is called the suspended congress."

"You know, I would have enjoyed the Yule Ball a lot more if Parvati Patil had promised to teach me stuff like this afterwards."


"Are you two horndogs decent?" Dresden asked from out in the hallway some time later.

Ivy was just buttoning her dress when she called out: "Get in here you big lummox, we need to talk to you."

Dresden came in with his eyes closed. "I hope you know how incredible awkward this is for me. I first met you when you were just six years old."

"Open your eyes," Ivy snapped.

"Oh good, you're dressed," a relieved Dresden said. "You know Potter, I have to thank you for what you just did for Injun Joe. Not only is he a great man, but he has also saved my life on several occasions."

"A simple thank you is not good enough," Ivy told him. "We have two tasks for you to carry out. First of all you will escort us to Demonreach. I have important business to conduct out there, and I expect you to keep the island under control while I working."

"Is this business of yours dangerous?"

"Of course it's dangerous, but it must be done, and I require your help," Ivy told him.

Dresden just shook his head. "Fine. Potter your first patients have arrived, along with the Merlin."

"That is excellent news, and it brings me to the second task we have for you. When my husband is done I want you to formally propose that he became a member of the White Council."

"But I don't want to become a bloody member of the bloody White Council," Harry whined.

"I'm happy you feel that way Potter, since it will never happen. There is no way in hell the Merlin will let one of your kind join the White Council while he's in charge," Dresden explained.

"I know that," Ivy said.

"And when he turns Potter down, he will look like a huge asshole for being so disrespectful to the man who just saved the lives of so many wizards," Dresden reasoned.

"I know that too," Ivy said as she exited the restroom.

The Merlin was not the real Merlin—it was just a title given to the current leader of the White Council. Not that Arthur Langtry was empty suit or anything. He actually was the most powerful true wizard on the entire Council, which meant he had as much magical strength as most minor gods. He also looked the part with his immaculate white robes and his long white beard. He even carried a white staff. Most people found this whole image intimidating, but when Harry Potter saw him for the first time he started laughing uncontrollably.

"He looks just like Dumbledore," Harry said after catching his breath.

"Mr Potter I do not appreciate being compared to that wretched sodomite of yours," the Merlin intoned.

Ivy turned to her husband. "You will soon discover that unlike your Headmaster, the Merlin has no sense of humor and takes himself very seriously."

"But he does loosen up a bit when they're about to execute someone for violating the Laws of Magic," Dresden whispered as the first patients were brought in on stretchers.

"What payment do you require for your services Mr Potter?" the Merlin asked in a condescending tone.

"Helping my fellow wizards will be payment enough old chap," Harry said in a loud theatrical voice that everyone in the tavern was sure to hear. "These people are obviously the worst off, so let's not waste anymore precious time with idle chit-chat."

Both Ivy and Injun Joe insisted that Harry pace himself, and neither would allow him to perform more than one healing every ten minutes or so. Everyone kept waiting for signs of exhaustion from the young wizard, but even after eight hours of work Harry felt fine. At first several of the true wizards had complained about being treated by a "primitive charlatan", but as the afternoon wore on their attitudes started to change. It was hard to find fault with such incredible results.

Since McAnally's was a tavern and had a lot of alcohol on the premises, people soon began celebrating their recoveries by getting drunk. In addition to the patients themselves where were many husbands, wives, and even children who had made the trip from the Edinburgh infirmary. To everyone amazement Mac even brought out an ancient record player, and for the first time in living memory allowed dancing at his establishment.

While Ivy twirled around the makeshift dance floor with Kincaid, Harry was forced to submit to an examination from Injun Joe. "I feel fine."

Ebenezer snorted. "Potter, if you don't learn to respect the limits of magic some day that magic going to turn around and kill you."

"I have already died once. It wasn't that bad," Harry replied.

"You are talking about the lightning bolt on your forehead, aren't you?" Injun Joe asked. "I have seen a lot of black magic during my lifetime, but that scar sure takes the cake."

"You should have seen it when it was still had a piece of Voldemort's soul inside of it."

Ebenezer and Injun Joe shared a concerned look. "You mean that Dark Lord of yours actually placed a piece of his soul inside your body?" the old healer asked.

"Yeah, that about sums it up," Harry told them.

The two true wizards quickly raised a complex ward cutting them off from the others. "Kid, I own you a debt so let me tell you this: never trust the Merlin with a piece of information like that. He already wants you dead because of your relationship with the Archive. If he learned that you are some sort of junior necromancer your life won't be worth a bucket of warm spit," Injun Joe told him.

Harry studied the ancient pair for a moment. "You both think the Merlin is part of the Black Council, don't you? That's why you don't trust him."

"Did the Archive tell you about the Black Council?" Ebenezer asked as his mysterious Blackstaff appeared out of thin air.

"Yes, I did," Ivy said as she causally walked right through their powerful ward. She then grabbed the Blackstaff from a stunned Ebenezer. "I should kill you for summing this vile thing in the presence of my husband."

"I didn't think anyone but me could touch that without dying," the old man said in amazement.

Ivy rolled her eyes as the staff disappeared back to wherever it came from. "Your weapon is not as unique as you were led to believe. Now answer my husband's question: is the Merlin a member of the Black Council or not?"

"We honestly don't know," Injun Joe admitted. "Some of the evidence says yes, some of the evidence says no."

"That's just wonderful," Ivy muttered. "Watch him closely. If we are going to have to eliminate Arthur Langtry from the picture, I want to do it as soon as possible."