Harry Comes Home

The one thing that my parents taught me was that family is more important than money or power. The reason was clear. Death is waiting for each of us. (For some of us it waits longer than the average.) Money is nice. Power is nice. But family gives you purpose. Father told me once that I gave his life meaning. Everything he would pass on to his children was not his success or failure. It wasn't his legacy. It was our history.

"What we do, defines us. What we have done, defines our family." I remember his words, still.

I asked once about John's family. I did not ask John. I asked his wife. She told me only one thing. "His family were all cowards. They were always afraid of what would happen if they didn't do the right thing."

The irony is that whenever I remember the time I told Neville I was a coward, I always feel pride. It is the proof that I am part of his family as he is part of mine.

"I thought we were going to Diagon Alley." Hermione was upset. She was also tanned. Her vacation was wonderful. Except she only had one week to get her supplies and books before heading back to school. That was why she agreed to join John and Draco. Except now they were somewhere east of London on a muggle bus.

"We have to make one stop," Draco said. "It's very important."

"It involves Harry," John assured her.

"Then why didn't you bring Harry?"

"Good question." John turned to his brother. "Draco?"

"Here's our stop." Draco stood up and walked to the front of the bus. The driver stopped the bus and they stepped off next to a park. "This way." He led the way past a set of swings and turned left at the water fountain even though there wasn't a path.

"Where are we going?" The park wasn't that big. They would be out of it in another ten steps. Draco turned left. They followed. After ten paces he turned left again. They followed. Hermione stared. The swings weren't in front of them as she expected. Instead, there was a sloping hill which led to a path under a small walkway bridge. An old stone bridge.

"Let me rephrase that question. Where ARE we?"

"It's like the Leaky Cauldron," John explained. "You have to know it's there in order to get in. You have to know where the path is in order to follow it."

Hermione nodded. "And how does Draco know where the path is?"

"He doesn't." John smirked. "It's hard to explain. He's doing it the other way. He's not walking where the path isn't."

They were crossing under the bridge. It did not surprise her that they were still under the bridge after twenty paces when they passed though a cast-iron gate which had been left open. Another twenty paces brought them to the other side of the bridge which was now a tall wall which encircled a courtyard. There were trees along the sides and benches along the path and around the central fountain. On the other side was a modern office building mad of green glass. The doors opened automatically as they approached.

Draco walked up to the reception desk. "I am expected."

Hermione smiled at the man, a wizard with a diplomatic insignia on his robes. He was part of the security detail. John told her she was right. This was an Embassy.

"I need you to identify yourself," the man said as his phone chimed. He picked up an old muggle style phone and held it to his ear. He said, "Yes" into the mouthpiece and put the phone back in its cradle. "Third floor, Mister Malfoy."

Draco thanked him and walked to the single elevator. The doors slid open at his approach, closing after the three of them entered.

"There aren't any buttons," Hermione pointed out.

"Should there be?" Draco asked. "I've never been on one of these before."

The doors opened and Hermione looked out on a different reception area. She never felt the elevator move. Following Draco, she tried to look around without staring. "This . . . it doesn't look familiar. It feels familiar. Like . . ." She paused to think. She remembered. "The auditorium. The Arcateenian Ambassador."

"You are smart," John told her, smiling. "That's why we brought you. Harry would never notice."

"And you were there the last time," Draco said.

"So was Harry."

"This is about Harry. He can't be here. Other wise he'd know."

Hermione didn't ask what Harry would know. She didn't have the chance or the need. Draco had stopped and turned to his right. A door was opening. The ambassador came out and floated toward them.

"The impossible child is coming, John Malfoy," the ambassador said in her singing tone. Her voice made Hermione smile. "And the human child. Wonders are expected from you. We will not be disappointed."

The ambassador stopped in front of Draco. She was still looking at Hermione. "This is interesting. Am I destined to see you in all your forms?"

"If destiny favours me," Draco answered. "And it is a favour I need."

"Yes, Hermione," the ambassador said. "You are hearing our thoughts. That is why your friend seems so formal. He is thinking before he projects and he tries to imitate his father." A silvery laughter. "And the answer to your question is no. He is not hearing this conversation. Instead, he hears me praising his success and asking him what he needs."

"Thank you," Draco said as he bowed. Hermione heard the silver laughter again. Draco responded by saying he would.

"You will what?" Hermione asked.

"Turn right when we leave instead of going the way we came."

"And where will that take us?"

"Bannerman Road."

"But . . ."

John and Draco explained as they walked through the trees into a small wood. By the time they were finished, they were through the wood and into another park.

"We told you about Harry and his curse scar," John told her.

"John told you," Draco corrected.

"Thank you. I told you. And Harry received the curse scar because of a spell that his mother cast as she died."

"That's why he didn't die from the killing curse," Draco said, muttering that John should get to the point. "Anyway, it was a blood spell and because of that, Harry's safe from Death Eaters as long as he lives with the Dursleys and considers their house to be his home."

"I know that," Hermione said. When they stared in surprise, she told them, "Harry confided in me. He thought I might figure a way around it."

"To the point, then." John smirked. "While you were away, we introduced Harry to Luke's Mum." He smiled. "She took him in because Sirius Black had to work nights."

Hermione paled. "Harry . . . He thinks that . . ."

"Bannerman Road," Draco supplied.

"Is home?"

"And the Dursley's house is no longer unplotable."

"Professor?" Harry was happy but surprised to see the headmaster at the door.

"You're looking well, dear boy. May I come in? I need to talk to Mrs. Smith, the woman who is taking care of you."

"Yeah," Harry said as he stepped aside. "SARAH JANE. COMPANY."

Albus was amused, not so much that Harry shouted but that the first person to respond was a young girl in jeans and a sweatshirt.

"Sky, this is the headmaster from my school, Albus Dumbledore. Professor, this is," the girl smirked at Harry and Harry smirked in return, "my sister, Sky."

"I adopted him," Sky said. "Are you a real wizard or are you like television?"

"I am real." Albus held out his hand. "You can even touch me."

Sky laughed as she shook his hand.

Inwardly, Albus sighed. The girl's attitude was refreshing and positive. The question was what of the mother. That was answered quickly as a woman older than he expected walked down the stairs.

Introductions were made again, Albus being corrected on the woman's marital status.

"My apologies, and you are correct. I am here about Harry. And it does concern his new living arrangements. May we talk in private?"

"The garden?" Sarah Jane offered. "It's walled and private." Her eyes turned to Harry. "You may need to use one of your privacy spells."

Albus had to chuckle at Harry's frown, telling him, "I know you would never listen in."

Albus explained the situation over tea, which he supplied, concluding with the statement, "We are still unsure exactly how to handle this. Our main concern is Harry's safety."

"Then Harry will have to leave?"

"I know of no other alternative except to take him to Hogwarts, and even there I cannot guarantee him full protection from his many enemies."

"I may know someone," Sarah Jane started to say, "but . . . that might be a worse choice for Harry." She looked Albus in the eye. "I've seen Harry happy before. John's video from his party of last year. His party this year. Yesterday, I saw for the first time, something I hadn't seen. Contentment. Can you understand that? I was happy to be so successful with him in so short a time. It made me so happy that he considered this house to be a home. I didn't realize this would happen."

"He never had a true home. Not since his parents died." Albus frowned. His task was becoming harder, not easier. "This could do more harm than good, in the long run."

He took a sip of his tea as he tried to think of what to say, as he tried to decide what to do. He was taking so long it became noticeable. And he noticed. Sarah Jane was also thinking. Neither of them could find a solution. Although he began to feel relaxed as he heard someone singing. Sarah Jane even smiled. She then looked up in surprise. Albus followed her gaze.

"I have come to help an old friend. And a new one, I expect, Albus Percival Brian Wilfred Dumbledore."

It was an angel, Albus was convinced. Sarah Jane whispered that she was from Arcateen. A poet. The angel alighted and handed a small package to the headmaster.

"Often we have to protect ourselves from those of the magic. This hides us from those who would watch uninvited." It floated away. "Use it to hide the precious one."

"Amazing people," Sarah Jane was saying as the alien vanished in a flash of light, taking the beautiful music with her. She smiled. "Does it come with instructions?"

"No," Albus said, slightly confused about how he would know. "It comes with an instructor." He cancelled the silencing spell as he turned around to face the garden gate that led to the driveway. He smiled. "John, Draco, Hermione. Miss Granger, you are looking particularly well. The Mediterranean suits you."

"Albus," John said. (At least he thought it was John. Draco would not, correction, should not dare be so casual.)

"I assume you know what to do?" He handed over the small device.

John smiled. "This is easy." He began pressing a few buttons on the keypad. He pressed a few more. He grunted. He began pressing buttons at a faster rate. Draco and Hermione were offered cups of tea. John stuck his tongue out of one side as he continued pressing buttons. He muttered that this was ridiculous. "Sarah Jane, do you want the driveway covered as well? Yeah, the entire property line. Guests, too?"

Sarah Jane was surprised. "Guests?"

"It suppresses magical signatures so they can't be detected as well as making the house seem normal."

Albus nodded his head and Sarah Jane said yes.

John pressed a few more buttons. "And yes to automatic upgrades." He smiled and handed it to Sarah Jane. "Just leave it in the attic or somewhere where it won't disappear. As long as it's on the property, the house can't be found by magic or noticed by passing wizards." He frowned. "Where are Draco and Hermione?"

"They went into the house after they finished their tea."

When John went inside, Hermione told him. They had agreed to go to Diagon Alley with Harry, tomorrow, when he goes to pick up his books.

"That was very convenient," Hermione said. She and John were sitting on the swing in the yard. It was a warm afternoon. "Draco, I mean. Having a friend with exactly what Harry needed."

"There were other ways to do the same thing. This one was the easiest and fastest." He paused. "Yeah, it was convenient."

"Other ways?"

"There's a group in Cardiff that have access to alien technology. I would've contacted them. They'd probably have something similar. Also, Harry has a new friend. The one he told us about. His father is a wizard, and his planet is more advanced. They would have helped."

"Are they that advanced?"

"Maybe. They could also have taken Harry with them. That would have kept him safe."

"And get him back in time for school?" Hermione smirked. "Not the best solution." She grabbed his hand. "John, you knew this could happen. Why didn't you suggest it yourself? Isn't that what you would have done?"

John scowled. "I can't say anything except that, in the long term, this could make things harder for Harry."

"How?"

"Let's leave it at that. Time will tell."

Hermione hesitated. John looked as though he was in pain. As if the memory of something was painful. She did the best thing she could. She changed the subject. "I never asked. What elective did you choose?"

"Ancient Runes. The same as you."

"And how . . ."

"Draco told me. Colin told him. You told Ginny Weasley."

Hermione laughed. "I should have known. You can't keep a secret at Hogwarts. Is Draco taking the same course?"

"He's taking Muggle Studies. Same as Harry."

"Harry's taking Divination. I tried to talk him out of it."

"Draco succeeded. He had to take the same course, but he doesn't mind. He says he might get to read some muggle books."

"He loves reading. Now that he's changed."

"It's my fault. I know so many things. He wants to catch up."

"All those other lives you've lived?"

"You know, after I lost my memory, most of them were fairly dull. I'd grow up, go to school, work at one thing or another. This time, it's all different. That's why I needed to remember everything. I have the chance to do something. Something more than sit around and wait for my next regeneration. And . . . I have Draco." He sniffled. "More than that, I have a family. I have friends. I . . ." He paused again, glancing slyly at Hermione. "The hardest part of growing up again is going through puberty. It always makes me do strange things. Ask embarrassing questions. I know they're stupid, but I feel the need to ask them."

Hermione managed not to smirk this time although she couldn't remove her grin if she tried. "You're going to ask me a stupid question."

"Uh, yeah. If you don't mind?"

"Go ahead. I'll even try to answer it."

John blushed. He looked at her. He looked away. He looked back at her.

"Have you ever kissed an alien?"

She was surprised. Then she was surprised that she was surprised. "I . . . I've thought about it."

He leaned toward her. She leaned toward him. They stopped inches away and looked around to make sure they were alone. They smiled, smirked, then moved their heads closer together. Hermione knew that if she were ever asked the same question, the answer would now be yes.

Hermione was waiting at the bookstore. As usual, she was on time. Her parents were amused. Usually, she would scowl in self righteousness about how no one else could tell time properly. This time she was anxious, peering constantly to see if anyone else was coming. Her smile brightened when the two blond boys appeared with their parents.

"There's John." There was excitement in her voice. One boy, presumably John, was waving.

Hermione's father couldn't help himself. "He's much cuter than Draco."

"He is, Dad," she said. It would have been less embarrassing if her mother didn't laugh. To make things worse, her father said, "Now, Dear, you remember your first crush."

"That boy at dental school? I ended up marrying him."

Hermione groaned. "Am I that obvious?"

"You did kiss him," Her mother said, "and bragged about it to us. I'm your mother. I have to embarrass you about anything you tell me." She leaned down to whisper. "That way you're looking at him. I still look at your father that way."

Hermione stared. For some reason, that was something she didn't want to know. She didn't even want to think about it. They were her parents.

John walked up and Hermione kissed him. Draco frowned.

"How do you know I'm not John?"

"You didn't wave to let you know you saw me."

Draco looked at John? "You waved?"

"I had to let her know I saw her."

"MUM," a one-year-old boy shouted.

"Hermione," John said politely, "you remember Romulus."

"He's getting big."

The children were pushed aside as both sets of parents talked about, and to, the baby. They used that as an excuse to go into the bookstore.

"We should wait for Harry," Draco suggested as he began picking up the odd book and leafing through it.

"He'll figure it out," John assured his brother. "Two sets of parents, one baby, He'll come in here as soon as he arrives."

"True."

Ten minutes later, John was proved wrong. He glanced out the window to see Harry, standing next to Sky. Sky was holding Romulus. Her face held wonder.

"We're here, the fast way. Like I promised." Tonks patted Ritchie Evans on the shoulder. "And there she is. In front of the bookstore, as expected."

Ritchie looked in time to see Hermione greet the Malfoys. To greet John Malfoy. Tonks saw the look in his face. They watched until the two walked into the bookstore hand in hand.

"Um . . ." Tonks wasn't sure what to say.

"Could you take me home?" Ritchie asked. The happiness of ten minutes before was completely gone.

"Yeah, kiddo."

They apparated away without being noticed by anyone who knew them.

"Was I this small?"

"Smaller," Sarah Jane assured her daughter. "You did grow faster."

Sky laughed as Romulus grabbed her hair and pulled on it. "It hurts. Why does he do that?"

"If it hurts, why are you laughing?"

"Because it's silly."

Sky reluctantly handed Romulus back to his mother. With less reluctance, she took Harry's hand and let him lead her into the magic book store. It would be another adventure. Even better than the paintings that moved and talked.

"Why is there a cage?"

"Let's find out," Harry suggested and led the way. They paused when they were spotted do that the others could join them. Draco waved as he walked up.

"Why did you do that?"

"To let you know that I saw you."

"Oh. Is it required?"

"No. I did it to annoy John."

Sky nodded. That seemed to make sense. "We're going to look at the cage."

"Be careful," a clerk said as they drew near. "Those are the Monster Books of Monsters."

Sky looked in the cage and saw books jumping up and down. Some were attacking each other. The clerk looked frightened as he asked if any of them needed their schoolbooks.

Draco snorted as the books suddenly appeared to calm down.

"And what is so funny?" the clerk demanded.

"They're going to jump at you as soon as you open the cage."

"I know that. They always calm down. They tricked me the first time." He pulled up his sleeve to show the bandaged arm.

"I'll get my own book," Draco said and pushed past the man. John grabbed the man's arm to stop him. He assured the man that Draco had a way with books.

Draco opened the cage. "I can only take one of you." The books did nothing. "C'mon," Draco said as he put his hand in the cage. "I brought my friends." He picked up a book and handed it to Harry. "He likes it when you rub his spine."

The clerk stared in surprise as Harry took the book and stroked the spine a few times. The book began to purr. "How did you know to do that?"

"The book told me." Draco smirked. "It's funny. Talking to books." He stuck his head into the cage. "I need a volunteer. It's for Hermione. She's real smart. She probably read you three or four times."

He picked up a book that began squirming. He handed it to Hermione who also stroked the spine. The book opened at once to the first page.

"Anyone else?" Draco asked. "No. Only John and he's like me." He reached down and picked up one more book, said thank you and leafed through the pages. He handed the book to John who did the same thing. He then put the book back in the cage. "Don't worry. I'll tell him." Draco laughed. "I'll tell him but you have to promise to be nice." He closed the door to the cage.

"What was that about?"

"They like the cage," Draco told him. "It makes them look scary. They promise not to bite anymore if you act like you're being really brave when you open the cage. But you have to tell everyone about petting the spines. And NEVER bend over the pages."

"They'll learn that on their own," John assured everyone.

The clerk walked away muttering that he wished they'd cursed the man whoever wrote that book.

"You're not getting a copy?" Sky asked.

"I already read it. And it would only get lonely. The sentience spell only lasts a year or two, anyway."

Harry smirked. "So I only have a pet book for two years?"

"Can I have one?" Sky asked. She pouted when she was told no but smiled again when Harry said she could have his book when he was done.

"Muggles," the elder Zambini cursed as he looked across the street at the bookstore. "That the Malfoy's would stoop so low. I remember when that family had pride."

Blaise tried to smile. "We'll best them, father. I know it."

"In time, son, we will. But keep a low profile. Don't antagonize them. Be polite but distant. Never let them see you as a threat. That will keep them off guard."

"But Father . . ."

"Remember, Blaise. That was what the Notts did. Now the father is in hiding and the son is under constant watch by the Aurors. Patience is the key. We will strike because we are ready not because they aren't."

"I will remember, Father." Blaise kept his feelings to himself. He knew his father's plans would take months to complete. He would be patient. Now that the Dark Lord had been found.

"Something is up," Draco was telling Terry Boot and, because he was also there, brother Marc. Marc permitted his attention to be distracted from the racing brooms to listen in. Terry had helped the conversation along by asking what was up.

"John. He's not telling me something. All I know is it's something bad that's going to happen."

"Bad? Like those Cybermen?"

"No," Draco drawled. "More like "I wish it didn't have to happen" bad. Nothing unusual, only unpleasant."

Marc laughed. "How can he know something bad is going to happen? Unless he's planning it."

Draco looked at Marc with his piercing silver eyes. It made the younger boy hesitate. Draco smiled.

"You've heard of the Doctor?"

Marc nodded his head.

"That he's a time traveler?"

Marc nodded his head again. Dorothy had told him about visiting the American girl's grandfather before the girl was born.

"He's a friend of the family. John knows lots of things about the future." Draco smirked. "He cured me when I was sick. I know a few things, too."

Marc naturally asked to know something about the future. Draco pointed to the young girl that was with all the adults gathered at Forterscue's. "I'm going to meet her in, oh, four years and fall in love." He smirked. "I'm cheating. That already happened."

Marc looked confused. "You already met her in the future?"

"Time," Draco said as he knelt so that he was actually looking up at the smaller boy, "is not linear. It wanders all over the place and, sometimes, it twists back on itself."

Marc shook his head. He had no idea what Draco was trying to say.

"It's a wibbly wobbly ball of timey-wimey stuff," Terry supplied, giving Luna Lovegood's definition.

"Wow," Marc said. He was impressed. He was insulted when Draco asked Terry, "That makes sense to him?"

"He is eleven," Terry pointed out.

"Do you have your wand yet?" Draco asked, then led the way to Ollivanders.

Sarah Jane had the fortune, or fate, of sitting with Margaret Boot, Narcissa Malfoy and Hermione Granger's mother who insisted she be called Jane if it wouldn't be too confusing. The subject was children. She escaped uncomfortable questions by pointing out that her children were adopted at an older age.

"Tell the truth," Margaret Boot said, looking directly at her. "There are some days when you wish you could have raised them from when they were babies."

Sarah Jane laughed lightly as she said, "Yes".

"And there are some days when you're glad you missed that part."

That led to stories that would embarrass their children. When four-year-old Hermione decided clothes were stupid. Narcissa admitted that Draco waited until he was five. His excuse was that they were a waste of time. Margaret Boot finished her sentence. That they were only going to get dirty anyway.

Sarah Jane had to laugh. She was happy not to have dealt with such problems. But. It was as though she was not a complete mother.

Margaret brought up the subject. Hermione looked nice. She dressed well. The answer was simple. While in Marseilles, Hermione made a friend. They met at the library. She was also a witch. Then came the conspiratorial whisper. That girl, Jeanette, managed to get Hermione to understand that how she looked affected how people saw her.

Jane Granger looked at Narcissa. "It was a remarkable coincidence that she knew your family. Thank you." She looked at the other two women. "Hermione is so headstrong at times."

"Which brings us to Harry Potter," Margaret said. "Sarah Jane, how did you manage to do it? I've seen all sorts of smiles on that boy but never such a happy smile."

"Harry did it by himself."

"It's not s secret," Narcissa told her. "Not for much longer."

Sarah Jane smiled. "Then I'll tell you the truth. Aliens were involved."

The other two women looked surprised. Margaret pointed with her hand. "Harry was THAT boy, the one who rescued the alien?"

"He met the alien when the boy crawled out of the escape pod. It wasn't much of a rescue." Sarah Jane smiled. "We even had a picnic while waiting for his parents."

"You did know they're going to the school?" Jane asked. "If not, You'll know soon enough. They're warning all the parents."

"Warning?" Sarah Jane was surprised. "The aliens aren't dangerous."

"Dear," Narcissa said lightly. "The school has been visited by aliens already. The parents are nervous."

"These aren't Cybermen." There was anger in Sarah Jane's voice.

"Exactly," Narcissa agreed. "Warnings go both ways. It is cleverly worded but the central point is not to worry about the aliens and to make sure the aliens have nothing to worry about." She smiled at Sarah Jane's frown. "Welcome to the world of magic. I understand one parent already complained that they shouldn't let an alien child visit Hogwarts. Next thing they'll let one attend the school."

"Too late for that," Margaret Boot said with a laugh.

Sarah Jane was surprised at how easy it was to laugh. She laughed again when Jane Granger had to ask about Draco. They agreed there were one and one half aliens at Hogwarts. She also learned something very helpful. John's secret was confined to a small group. She was now a part of that group. And the determining factor was the children.

"Draco tells me he's going to marry your daughter?" Narcissa asked.

"Ooooh," Sarah Jane said, trying not to laugh. "Sky told him they were going to get married. Draco said yes. He even told me the day when they were going to fall in love."

"Children are always full of surprises," Narcissa said. Everyone agreed.

"They're doing normal things," Alastor Moody said into his spell phone.

"I'm not worried about what they are doing," Lucius insisted. "I'm worried about everyone else."

"I AM talking about everyone else," Moody snarled. "It's those kids I don't understand. They keep wandering around and changing groups without reason." Moody stopped his rant as a claxon sound could be heard at the other end. Lucius told him the coordinates of a warehouse. Something was spotted.

"It's about time."

Moody apparated to the spot. He instantly saw the problem. One group of horsefly eggs had been missed. He had been warned about the horseflies. A miniature version of the monsters he saw on the video and pensieve was fanning its wings to dry them. He helped it along with a fire spell. Before it finished burning, others began appearing from the pit. They were met by more fire spells from a half dozen wizards.

A pair of flies escaped the bonfire and flew toward the opening left in the wall from the previous battle. They never had a chance. Moody turned and fired stunning spells. Lucius walked over and stomped one, then the other. As a final act, he cast a cleaning spell on his shoes.

"Did you enjoy that?" Lucius asked Moody.

"I did," Moody admitted. Since he was forced to retire, it was the first time he felt that he was doing something that mattered.

"BOSS," Tonks shouted. "TROUBLE."

She and Remus Lupin began casting the diffudo spell, causing the floor to tear apart. After a few spells, the floor collapsed, showing how they had missed the eggs. A cavern was beneath the warehouse floor with a dozen feet of dirt in between. The flies had dug their way out. More could be seen. Many more.

"Trouble is the mild term," Lucius commented. He then looked up, "Sirius, I need a big, bad fire, that won't come back this way."

"Fiendfire confined to the pit? Will do."

"Lucius, what if . . ." Tonks began to ask.

"There's another way out?" Moody finished. "Well, little lady, we'll put those fires out after the creatures that dug those tunnels are dead."

"Watch the perimeter," Lucius commanded as Sirius cast the spell.

Tonks watched the waterside for steam or bubbles to show that the fire reached that far. She uttered a muggle oath when she saw a flare of flame spout out of the ground in the parking area. She shouted it louder when the ground collapsed into a fiery inferno. In the same second, the flames vanished. She turned around to see Sirius grinning at her.

"The secret, dear cousin, is to know you can cancel the spell. Shall we check the damage?"

"Where are . . ."

"There's a building on fire across the street. The others are checking to make sure nothing escaped."

"Sirens."

"Lucius should be fine." Sirius smiled. "We should go."

"You go. I need to take care of this." She smirked at her cousin's surprise. "I'm going to tell them what they'll believe. It's easier than casting spells on everyone."

Tonks remained where she was, looking in the smoldering hole. She could see where some of the dirt was cooling into glass. That told her the fire was very hot. When the first vehicles came into view, she had backed away. It was a police detective that reached her first.

"MA'AM, STEP AWAY . . ."

"I'm done here, anyway. Nothing to see, is there?"

"No, there isn't." The man stared at her. "I know you. I've seen you around. You're that reporter."

"Sarah Jane Smith," Tonks answered smoothly.

"And will we be reading about this in the newspapers?"

"Not from me. Unless I write a blog about how I was almost killed in a gas line explosion." She smiled politely. "You might want to mention how lucky we are that it happened before the work began on the site."

Tonks was escorted from the scenes by two policemen after making a brief statement about what she saw. As she walked away, the wrinkles of age smoothed themselves on her face. As she turned the corner, out of sight, her hair returned to bright pink. It was then that her spell phone rang.

"Sarah Jane?" Tonks looked at a security camera and smirked.

"I don't appreciate the smile and I don't appreciate your impersonation."

"Sorry. I won't do it again."

"Not without my permission first." The voice softened. "What did I tell them?"

Marcus Boot smiled as the customers entered his shop. It was larger than that day that Lucius Malfoy walked in. The curiosities were now on the second floor. The first floor was for spell phones and accessories. He sensed a pattern. Parents would bring their children to Diagon Alley for their school supplies. First Years would also buy their wands. On their way to or from Ollivanders, they would stop in his store. Especially the muggles.

"We can keep in touch?" the parents were always asking.

"Can I pick a cool/special/private name?" most new students would ask.

The humour was that Marcus would not be the one to help them. He had two part-timers for the summer who loved the chance to practice their sales skills. They even talked him into a commission rate against base pay. And the Weasley twins kept their word. Not one prank was played on anyone.

"Dad," Marc said as he ran into the store. "I've got my wand. It's mahogany, just like yours."

Everyone in the shop paused to smile. A girl asked her mother if mahogany was good. Marcus smiled and left the Weasleys to answer her. Marc was excitedly asking his father to teach him his first spell. Marcus mentioned that he was so proud of his new wand, he asked his father to teach him a spell so that he knew something before he went to school. Terry remembered the story and asked his father to do the same for him. Now, Marc was doing the same. That was how traditions started.

"You're him," the girl said, pointing specifically at Draco.

"That depends on who I'm supposed to be."

"You're the one in the picture. With Uncle Bob."

"Then I must be him. If Bob's your uncle."

"And twice as witty as I expected," the girl said. "I'm Clara. Morrigan's my cousin. You met her." She added to herself, "because my name's not Morrigan."

They were standing outside Ollivander's wand shop. The reason for their coming had run away to tell his father. John was telling Terry that this girl was impossible. Terry was asking if that was because she used to not exist.

"She always existed," John said as he stepped closer to Clara. "Tell me, do you ever dream? About the future or the past?"

"No. It's always the present," the girl said forcefully. She shrugged. "Sometimes it isn't this present. You're Draco's twin brother."

"What gave it away?" Terry asked with a smirk.

"They're not identical," Clara said with self assurance. The self assurance faded when Terry asked how they were different. "It'll sound stupid if I say it."

"Try us," Draco suggested.

"Fine. Right. It's like this. You strike me as being too young and he comes across as too old. There. Now laugh."

"I think she's spot on," Terry said as he opened the door to the wand shop. "I'm curious what wand will choose you."

As the girl walked into Ollivanders, her mother paused to thank Draco for humouring her daughter. As they left Draco and John standing outside by themselves, the first turned to the other.

"How is it possible for her to be a muggle woman and a witch child at the same time?"

"It isn't. That's why she's impossible."

"I assume it was your fault."

"No, it was hers. She's headstrong, you know."

"Ah, in that case, her wand will be willow. It will need to be flexible."

"And a strong core. Dragon heartstring." John paused. "Didn't Ollivander obtain some of that basilisk?"

Draco frowned. "That would be an interesting combination. We can ask." He opened the door to the shop. They walked in.

Vernon Dursley answered the knock at the door. It was a tall black man he had never seen before. "We're not interested."

"Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mister Dursley. Ministry of Magic."

"And what do you folk want?" He kept his tone calm with difficulty.

"Who is it, Vernon?" Petunia called from the kitchen.

"One of them," Vernon called back, snarling.

"You will be pleased to know, Sir," the man said smoothly, "that we have made alternate arrangements for Harry Potter. He will no longer be in your care."

Vernon smiled. He called back, "Petunia, we're rid of the boy."

A smiling Petunia rushed to the door. "Then we won't have to deal with you lot anymore?"

Shacklebolt smiled. "I need to do a search of the house to make sure that nothing of Harry's has been left behind, especially anything of a magical nature. Then we'll be gone, as far as you are concerned."

As Vernon happily opened the door for the man, Petunia had to ask, "That means we don't have to worry anymore, like we did when that freak was here."

Shacklebolt grinned. "No. Since you no longer have the Potter boy in your care, you no longer have any magical protection." The grin widened slightly. "You're on your own."