Author's Note: Thanks for reading. Thanks to all the people who constantly review (PhinalPhantasy, RemusSiriusJames, Sarah). Keep reviewing! The next chapter will be out soon as I now apparently have been bitten by the writing bug and I just want to keep writing.

"Is Kingsley going to be alright?" asked Ginny, lying in the bed, next to her husband. Her hands and legs were casually draped over him. Her red hair was lying wildly on the pillow.

"The Healers are doing all that they can do for him," Harry explained. "When I left, they were researching what kind of poison it was that he had."

"Do you think that this Vespa woman is behind it?" she asked.

"There's no doubt in my mind," Harry said simply.

A momentary silence broke out between the two of them. Harry stroked his wife's hair.

"How long is he going to be in St. Mungo's?" she asked.

"No one can be sure but they said we shouldn't expect him out anytime soon," he said quietly. Harry knew what she was getting at. He was, after all, Deputy Minister Of Magic, as well as the head of the Auror Department.

"You're going to be busy," she said.

"Always," he replied.

"Will you be able to handle doing both at once?" she asked, leaning in and placing her head on his chest.

"I'll have to," he said. "And it's not like I'll be by myself. Ron will be there to help me."

"You know you're going to have a hell of a day tomorrow, right?"

"Of course," Harry said. The Daily Prophet would be publishing the news of the attacks in the morning. Along with it would come the news of Kingsley getting sick, and Harry being appointed as temporary Minister of Magic.

"Let's not think about it tonight," she suggested. It had always been in her nature to try and keep Harry's mind off of work when she could help it. "Tonight, let's forget about all of that."

"I love you," he smiled at her, and he bent his neck down and began to kiss and caress his wife.

"I love you two," she smiled, pulling the covers up over the two of them. She lay on her side, turning her back to Harry. He did the same, throwing his arm over his wife and grabbing her hand in his.

The two soon fell asleep in one another's arms. Quietly breathing, the husband and wife pair barely heard a soft tapping at their bedroom windows. It was not until the tapping grew quite louder that one of them stirred.

"What in the hell?" came the groggy voice of Harry Potter. He placed his glasses on his face and looked at the time. It was just before 2 in the morning. Turning and looking at the window, he saw a very unfamiliar owl tapping.

Opening the window and taking the note from the owl, he wondered who was it that would be sending him a message at such an hour. The owl flew away and Harry looked at Ginny, noticing that she had barley stirred since the owl tapped.

Harry opened the letter, reading it quickly. He became panicked. The letter said that Albus, along with others had been attacked in the Forbidden Forest. Albus was alright, and was currently in the Hospital Wing until the morning.

"Ginny," Harry urgently shook his wife, "wake up."

She stirred and then sat up, looking at her husband like he had lost his mind. "What is it?" she asked, trying not to sound irritated.

"We need to get to the school," he said, standing and heading towards the door to.

"Why?" she asked, now throwing on her bathrobe on. "What's happened?"

"Albus and some other children were in the Forbidden Forest. They were attacked," Harry explained.

"By who?" she asked, now anticipating the worst. "Is Albus alright?"

"He's fine," Harry continued. "He's in the Hospital Wing. I don't have all the details." He paused for a moment. "I'm going to get Lily over to Ron and Hermione's. We'll pick her up on our way back."

Within an hour, the two frantic parents had arrived at Hogwarts. They were not that worried about Albus, as the note explained that he just needed to rest up until the morning. They were more concerned about who had attacked him, and how they had gotten through the wards at Hogwarts.

The halls of their former school were empty, considering that most of the students had long since gone to bed. They remembered the way to the Hospital Wing quite well, as Harry had spent much of his time there during his 7 years there.

Entering the room, they were greeted by a Madame Pomfrey, looking much more elderly than she had during their years, but still moving like she had not gotten a day older.

"Harry. Ginny," Greeted Neville, who was wearing his night clothes. He hugged Harry and patted him on the back. Kissing Ginny on the cheek, he hugged her as well. "I'm sorry that you had to come under these circumstances."

"It's alright," Harry said, looking past Neville and staring at his sleeping son. Harry now knew what everyone else felt whenever they had seen him laying on one of those beds. He looks so much like me, Harry thought to himself. "Who attacked him?"

"We're not sure," Neville said, directing Harry and Ginny to seats in front of one of the drawn curtains. "It wasn't any creature, that's for sure."

"What were they doing in the forest in the first place?" Harry asked, and he was trying to keep his tone as calm as he could, despite the anger swelling up in his chest.

"They went down to Hagrid's," Neville explained. "They thought they heard him in the forest, so they followed the sound."

"Who could have done this?" Harry asked, bewildered by the whole ordeal. "Have you checked the wards yet?"

"The Headmaster is doing it now."

"Who was he with?" Ginny asked, placing her hand on Albus' leg.

"My son for one," Came a voice as the curtain behind them separated. "Potter, Weasley," said the voice of Draco Malfoy. He greeted the two as warmly he could, though his voice was still quite ice cold.

"It's Potter now, Malfoy," Ginny corrected the man. She looked over at his son, noticing that he was asleep as well. "How is he?"

"Just as well off as yours, I expect," Malfoy said. "Potter, even here at Hogwarts, he wasn't safe. I'm taking this into my own hands."

Ginny sensed an argument coming on. She squeezed her husband on the shoulder before asking Neville to accompany her to the Gryffindor Common room to wake James and tell him of his brother.

"Malfoy, if I remember correctly, last time you tangled with her, she almost killed you," Harry reminded the man.

"Yeah well, I was unprepared," Malfoy tried to reason. "Next time, she's all mine."

"Malfoy, I understand how angry you are. I'm just as angry, but until we have more of a grasp on the situation, nothing can be done."

"That's your problem Potter," Malfoy started, "you've lost your edge. At least when you were facing the Dark Lord, you knew what to expect. Now, you've turned into some kind of weakling who won't make a move until it's too late. The time for action is now…before any more people get hurt."

"What do you mean?" Harry questioned.

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. With you being Head Auror and all," Malfoy smirked. "If I can find out about those attacks, and I don't even play for that side anymore, I know that you know about them."

"How did you find out about those attacks? What else do you know?" Harry asked.

"You'll do well to keep contacts Potter," Malfoy said. "The Malfoy's name is mud with mostly everyone, but not everyone. I keep a few people close, and they tell me a little information."

"Like what, Malfoy?" asked Harry, eager to know if the man knew anything.

"I'm not saying a word," Malfoy retorted. "If I tell you what I know, then you'll go in, wands blazing, and I don't get my revenge."

"You know, Malfoy, that as Head of the Auror Department I can make you talk," Harry said menacingly. He smirked at the man.

"You won't make me do a thing, Potter," Malfoy said simply. "And stop trying to change the topic. My son is lying in a bed in a magically induced sleep because you couldn't stop this bitch from becoming more of a threat. Now, not only is my family in danger, but so is the entire magical world." His words were clear and carefully chosen. He was angry and his temper would soon get the best of him.

Harry noticed the pain in his voice and decided to soften his own tone a bit. "Malfoy, I understand and I sympathize with you; my son is sleeping right next to yours. But I can't do anything until we have solid information. For all I know, Vespa doesn't really exist and it's just an alias. But if you have any information, any information at all, I'm pleading with you to give it to me."

Malfoy looked at Harry apprehensively. "Fine," he replied. "I'm not giving you anything though. You'll have to dig it all up yourself."

"So what can you give me?" asked Harry.

"I can give you a name and a place," he said.

"That's better than nothing," Harry said.

"The name is Charlie Eastman," Malfoy said. "He frequents Borgin and Burke's but on most nights he can be found at the Dragon's Den."

"You mean that run down pub in Knockturn Alley?"

"The one and only," Malfoy said. "When you speak to him, be sure not to mention my name, and you may want to make sure that you've got somewhere to take him, because if the two of you are seen together for too long, word will get out."

"Thanks," Harry said.

"No need to thank me Potter," Malfoy said, "just know that you owe me one."

The door to the Hospital Wing creaked open. "I'm sorry it took me so long. I was on an expedition," came a voice from the door.

Harry recognized the voice immediately. It had lost some of its dreaminess through the years, but since he had known her for so long and had seen her just a few months prior, he knew her tone.

Luna Lovegood had matured a lot in the years since Hogwarts. She had left behind some of her youthful imagination, foregoing talks of Crumple Horned Snorkacks. Yet in her life time, she kept her true nature and had gone on to discover many new species of creatures and had even married the grandson of the writer of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Physically, not much had changed. Her eyes were silvery gray, and her eyebrows had finally grown in, causing the surprised look from her youth to vanish. Her dirty blonde hair was shorter now, and braided in two elegant braids that ended at her shoulders. Her face still bore the dreamy expression that defined her.

"Oh, so sorry," she apologized. "I thought you two were Madame Pomfrey."

"It's alright Luna," Harry said, walking over to greet his friend. "What brings you here this time of night?"

"Well, Neville said something about there being an attack," she said. She walked over to where the curtains were still drawn and pulled them back, revealing her son, who, like the other, was asleep. She placed a hand on his forehead and began absentmindedly stroking his hair. "Do you know who attacked them?"

"Nothing solid, but we're working on things," Harry said.

"I hope you figure this out soon Harry," she said. "I don't want to have to come up here again, unless it's for something good."

"You're not the only one," Malfoy growled.

"Is Ginny around?" Luna asked.

"Yeah," said Harry. "Neville and she went to the Gryffindor Common Room to wake James."

"I'll go say hello," she said. She headed out the room, humming under her breath something that sounded suspiciously like "Weasley Is Our King".

"She's always had one foot in the loony bin," said Malfoy.

"I think she's quite charming," Harry smirked.

0000000

The following morning found Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and quite a few Ministry officials inside Harry's office. Harry was being sworn in a temporary Minister of Magic. If he were being made permanent Minister, then the ceremony would be much larger.

"Harry James Potter," began Jonas Hughes, speaker for the Wizengamot, "current Head of the Auror Department, Order of Merlin First Class, so and so forth, do you swear to temporarily uphold the creeds and ideals set forth by the Governing Magical Bodies?"

Harry, who was holding up his right hand while Jonas was pointing his wand at Harry's chest, swore, "I do." Jonas' wand spit out a little golden light that hovered above Harry for a moment before disappearing.

"Do you swear to temporarily protect the Magical Community from any and all threats to the best of your abilities?" Jonas asked.

"I do," Harry swore once more and Jonas' wand again emitted a golden light that soon vanished.

"And finally, do you agree to be fair and just? To lead and guide us until time comes for you to release the duties from which you have been set forth?"

"I do," Harry said, and Jonas' wand did the same thing.

"Congratulations," Jonas smiled. "I now present to all those present, Temporary Minister of Magic, Harry James Potter."

A small applause broke out in the room. Harry smiled, and nodded. Within an hour, everyone had left the room, except for Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Harry sat at his desk, leaning back.

"Harry, how does it feel?" Hermione asked.

"What?" Harry asked.

"You're the most powerful man in the magical world right now," she said. "You control the Auror's and the laws."

Harry thought for a moment. "It's a bit overwhelming to state the truth," he said.

"You've faced much worse," Ron said.

"I don't want to get used to it though," Harry said. "Kingsley will be out of St. Mungo's soon enough, and things will be back to normal."

"Well as normal as things can be with a mad woman on the loose," Ginny said.

"Well, that's our biggest concern right now," said Harry. "I'm a little scared to go outside. That issue of the Daily Prophet hit the streets this morning, and when everyone gets the news of the new threat, there will be a couple of Howlers in the building. Hermione, has you're department set the obliviators on stand by like I asked?"

"Not yet, Harry," she said. "We aren't really getting things done. McDougal is so worried about losing his position that he doesn't want to make any moves, as it might upset his chances of getting reappointed."

"Are you serious?" Harry asked, now getting angry. "Well, as my first official act as acting Minister, I promote Hermione Granger to Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Ron and Ginny beamed and congratulated Hermione, who stayed quiet.

"What's wrong love?" asked Ron, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder.

"I'm not taking the job," she said, much to everyone's shock.

"Why not?" asked Harry, though he already had an inkling as to why she did not want the job.

"Everyone knows Harry and I are friends," she began to explain. "They also know how much I wanted the job. They'll all think that Harry gave me the job because we're friends."

"Hermione, when you married my brother, how did you end up with that trademark Weasley stubbornness?" Ginny asked, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Harry, don't think that I'm not grateful, but, I just can't accept it," Hermione said.

"I understand," Harry said.

"She's taking the job," Ron said firmly to Harry. He then turned to his wife. "Hermione, who cares what they all say? We've all endured much worse muttering than that. If they want to talk, let them do so. And if they say anything to you about it, show them your outstanding record and then ask them if Harry appointed you only because of your friendship."

Hermione beamed, staring lovingly at her husband. "Oh, Ron," she smiled, kissing him passionately.

"You've come a long way, big brother," Ginny said.

00000000000

"Nightstar, have you seen the papers yet?" asked Vespa.

"Yes," he smiled. "Those raids were quite a bit of fun."

"I can imagine so," Vespa said. "Were you able to get to Potter's children?"

Nightstar looked a little scared to speak. "I, myself, was unable to do it. But I had already taken a few precautions and as such, we now have someone at Hogwarts."

"Excellent. Who was attacked?"

"We lucked out," Nightstar said. "Little Albus Severus Potter just happens to be friends with Scorpius Malfoy. The two were attacked at the same time. Nothing too serious, but just enough to send a message to both of their fathers."

"Well Anton," Vespa began, "it seems that things have come to fruition. We now have Harry Potter where he needs to be. Kingsley will be dead soon. A spy is in place at Hogwarts, and our numbers have swollen. I don't think its enough though."

"Really?" Nightstar asked. "I believe this all to be enough to take down Potter and his family."

"No," she said, "not yet. I will need the help of a few old friends."

"From where?"

"Azkaban."