A/N: Fun and useful stuff from the Black family vaults...it's not just a horcrux...dinner with the Diggorys...and Dobby designs a uniform!

Disclaimer: To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub--Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, as reported by W. Shakespeare

Chapter 49

The next morning found the entire Gang of Five in the library, looking for ways to destroy a horcrux.

Harry and Cedric were taking turns searching the computer and setting aside books from the Black library to take to Hogwarts with them, while Sirius, Remus and Mad-Eye were combing said library for anything that might be even remotely helpful.

"Pity we couldn't just stab each of the things with a basilisk fang," Sirius opined.

"I rather doubt that would work with the locket, or the cup," Remus mused, while Mad-Eye just looked thoughtful, then shook his head.

"Probably not," Cedric agreed with Remus. "Of course, soaking the things in basilisk venom might not be a bad place to start..." he trailed off.

"Horribly expensive, and probably not all that effective against porcelain and silver," Mad-Eye put in.

"Probably not," Harry said, then sat thinking hard. When Cedric caught his eye and winked, he was reminded that Cedric had passed along a message from 'future' Harry about basilisk hide. The two boys had discussed going into the Chamber of Secrets to retrieve the shed skins that must be there--hundreds of them, if their research was accurate--and checking the corpse to see if anything might be salvageable after more than two years. Several references had mentioned that a basilisk's carcass was so toxic that even bacteria and molds wouldn't grow on it for decades, and there should be a rather large quantity of venom--not to mention other useful components--still waiting to be harvested. All in all, a thousand year old basilisk should yield a largish fortune in materials, and high on their list of things to do once back at Hogwarts was to go exploring in the Chamber. Since only a parselmouth could open it, it was doubtful that Dumbledore had already raided Slytherin's hidey-hole, but they could only wait and see.

"We do know that Fiendfyre can almost certainly destroy them, but it would probably destroy any house that you tried to cast it in," Harry said grumpily.

"Well, if worse came to worse, I suppose that we could always use an open field, or maybe a cave somewhere," Remus thought aloud. "Of course, we'd have to be very careful and not let it burn too long, in any case."

"Horribly tricky stuff, fiendfyre. First thing you know, the damn thing'll be taking on a mind of its own, then you'll have a bloody flaming creature chasing you over the moors," Mad-Eye grinned at the thought. "Ought to make a brilliant show for any muggles that happened to be wandering about," he chuckled.

"Or get you sent to St. Mungo's to have your skin regrown," Sirius put in.

"Hmmm...let's just put that on the 'possible but not to be tried at first' list, shall we?" Cedric asked, to general agreement.

Harry was thinking furiously. "What would happen if you cast the AK on a horcrux?" he asked carefully.

"Good question, Harry. I'm sure that I don't know," Remus said.

Suddenly, Sirius jumped up. "Stars and moons, I'm an idiot! I'll be back in a few," he said, lighting a fire in the fireplace and reaching for the floo powder.

"And just where do you think you're going?" Harry demanded.

"Pup, I just remembered...there are probably dozens of books on Dark Objects in the book vault! I'll just pop into Gringotts, fetch them from the vault and be right back!" Sirius grinned hugely with excitement.

"And you'll just be right back with an armload of Dark books, Black? Are you totally mental, or have you just had a sudden attack of extra stupid?" Mad-Eye snorted derisively.

"Now, see here, Moody!" Sirius began to object, but was drowned out by the shouting.

"Padfoot, you idiot!" "Stupidest Godfather EVER!" "Sirius, you've lost your mind!" This last was from Cedric, who was having trouble believing that anyone could be that impulsively suicidal.

"Black, all it would take would be one auror catching you with those books and you'd be back in Azkaban before you could blink," Moody thundered. Then, more reasonably, "which is why I need to go with you, you dunderhead! Now, let me get my cloak, and we'll be off," the old auror said, heading towards the hall where his new over cloak was hanging.

"Alastor, are you sure that it's a good idea for you and Sirius to bring books like that back here?" Remus asked carefully. "After all, this weekend we'll be playing host to an Order meeting, and certain people might poke around in places that they shouldn't."

"I see your point, but trust me...if Harry can hide a pair of horcruxes here, then between all of us, we should be able to find a secure hidey-hole for a few Dark volumes. If nothing else, we'll just put them on a high shelf here and claim that they were here all along. Sweet Circe! This is the Black family library, after all...a few Dark volumes are de regueur." Moody grinned toothily, then disappeared out of the door.

"Well..." Remus still wasn't convinced.

"Oh, Remus, don't be such an old woman," Sirius laughed. Moody has a point...if anyone finds something they shouldn't, we'll just blame my mother. Merlin knows it would be deserved!"

"Just don't get caught," Cedric cautioned as Moody returned, adjusting his over cloak carefully.

"Here, Mad-Eye, let me help with that," Harry smiled, moving to adjust the fall of the heavy garment. "There," he said, stepping back. "Well, now, what a dashing figure!" he snickered. "That certainly looks better than that tattered old thing you used to wear."

"Bloody hell, that coat carried me through two Dark wars and more Dark wizards than you can count," Moody groused, but everyone could tell it was an empty protest.

"Oh, give it up, Mad-Eye, it looks good on you. Gringotts in Diagon Alley!" Sirius called, then he and the old auror were gone in a burst of green flame.

"Well, I think it's time for a break, don't you boys?" Remus asked, shaking his head in exasperation.

There wasn't any argument with this particular idea.

***

A short while later, Sirius and Moody floo'd back into an empty library.

"Hello, anyone home?" Sirius called as Moody dumped an armload of dusty tomes onto a side table.

"Kitchen!" came the call back, and the two men headed that way.

"Well, any luck?" Harry wanted to know as soon as they appeared.

"Aye, lad, there's a stack of books in the library that discuss Dark objects in general, and one with an entire chapter on horcruxes." Moody shuddered as he thought about some of the volumes he had seen in the vault. "You lot wouldn't believe some of the stuff that's in that particular vault. Urgh," he finished, helping himself to a cuppa.

"Some of my ancestors had...peculair tastes," Sirius added. "There's a reason that those books are kept in the vault, and not here in the library.

Harry, Remus and Cedric all nodded in understanding. Just the books in the library were enough to curl the hair of any 'normal' wizard or witch, and they could easily imagine just what might be too awful to sit on those shelves.

"In a way, I suppose we should be glad to have them," Sirius sighed. "I mean, who could ever imagine having a legitimate need for books about horcruxes? And yet, here we are, trying to figure out how to destroy them."

"Potter, there's one thing that's bothering me," Moody said carefully. "I've been counting...the diary, the locket, the cup, and you, that's four. What about the other two?"

Harry and Cedric had been expecting this question, and only glanced at each other before Cedric replied for his boyfriend.

"We believe that Ravenclaw's diadem is somewhere at Hogwarts. So, we probably won't be able to retrieve it until after school begins." When Moody and the others nodded, he went on. "The last--a ring that belonged to Marvolo Gaunt, Tom's grandfather--we think it's probably hidden somewhere around the ruins of the old Gaunt home, outside Little Hangleton, but we can't be sure."

"Little Hangleton? Well, that's easy enough to get to, lads! We can be there and back again before supper," Mad-Eye grinned.

"Except that my future in-laws are coming to dinner tonight, and I won't start running all over the length and breadth of England when I should be getting ready for that. Otherwise, that's not a bad idea, Moody," Harry said sternly. "Also, I won't allow you to go haring off by yourself after it, and disrupt Winky's dinner plans. Do I make myself clear?" Harry Potter said, using what Cedric thought of as his I Am Lord Potter, Do Not Argue With Me voice. Then, more calmly, "and besides, there are things that you don't know yet about the Gaunt ring."

"Such as?" Moody asked acidly.

"Such as, the ring has at least one deadly curse on it that we have no idea how to counter or remove."

Moody shrugged. "I know a thing or two about cursed objects, you know."

Harry just looked at him. "And how much do you know about the Deathly Hallows?" he asked calmly.

Moody looked confused. "Deathly Hallows? That old story?" He snorted. "They're the stuff of myth and legend, boy. Somebody's been telling you tales," he finished.

Cedric and Harry shared another look before Cedric spoke. "Moody, have you ever asked Dumbledore about the wand he uses?" he asked carefully.

Alastor Moody started at the non sequitor. "Albus' wand? No, why?"

"Because it's actually the Deathstick," Cedric continued. "Or, as you may have heard it called, the Elder Wand. Dumbledore has it because he defeated Grindelwald in a duel, and thereby became the current master of the wand. It's one of the reasons that he's so powerful today."

"But what does that have to do with Gaunt's ring?" Sirius asked.

"Because the stone in the ring is actually another of the Hallows, the Resurrection Stone," Harry said. "We're afraid that Dumbledore may be on the verge of discovering the true nature of the ring, as well as its location. Since he already has the wand, that would give him two of the three Hallows."

"Wait a minute...didn't Grindelwald try to unite the three Hallows before Dumbledore defeated him?" Remus asked. "That was one of the stories that was told about him, you know...that he had wanted to unite the Hallows and conquer death itself."

Harry and Cedric both nodded. "We think so, yes," Cedric said carefully. "Remember, a lot of this is conjecture..."

"...or a fairy tale," Mad-Eye Moody broke in.

"...or a fairy tale, except we know for sure that the Hallows do exist, that Dumbledore does have the Elder Wand, and we know where the third Hallow is," Cedric went on.

"What? The third of the three Hallows? You know about it?" Sirius yelped.

Harry nodded quietly, then left the room. While he was gone, Cedric just sat sipping his tea while the three older men sat and stared at each other and at him. All three were grappling with the idea that an old fairy tale might actually be true...and that the two young men they had come to respect were convinced of the truth of that tale.

A few short minutes later, Harry returned with his invisibility cloak draped over one arm.

"Here it is...my dad's old cloak. Cedric and I are absolutely sure that it is the third Deathly Hallow."

"Oh sweet Circe," Moody breathed, while Sirius and Remus sat speechless.

"So you see, this whole bleeding fustercluck involves not only two Dark Lords and a pile of horcruxes, but three of the most sought after magic items in history...and we've got one already," Cedric said, pulling Harry down to a seat beside of him and starting to rub the younger man's back gently.

"Bugger!" Moody breathed.

"Merlin's beard," Remus said softly.

Thunk went Sirius' head as it hit the table.

"At any rate, we probably need to plan on a trip to Little Hangleton for tomorrow," Harry said brightly. "But for now, my future in-laws are coming to dinner in a few hours, and I'd prefer it if we could not burden them with knowing all of this. Agreed?" he asked.

Not surprisingly, everyone agreed...even if their mumbled affirmatives were not terribly enthusiastic just then.

***

Cedric Diggory activated the floo in the library at Number 12, Grimmauld Place, threw in a handful of powder, and stuck his head into the green flames.

"Diggory House!" he called out, then braced himself for the mildly nausea-inducing sensation of a floo call.

"Mum? Dad? It's me, Cedric," he called out, gazing out at his parent's sitting room.

"Amos, you great lump of pudding, get down here right now!" Anna Diggory called out from the door to the room. "Hello, dear," she said, addressing the face in the fire. "Your father is running late, as usual. Can you wait, or shall we just leave him here?"

Cedric smiled at his mother's question. "Oh, I can wait, Mum. I have specific instructions from Harry not come out of this room without both of you in tow."

Anna's smile broadened at the mention of the Boy-Who-Lived. "And how is dear Harry?" she asked.

Cedric snorted, then shook his head. "At the moment? Driving the house elves insane in the kitchen."

"House elves, love? I thought that you only had the one old Black family elf there with you?"

"Oh, Harry acquired another set, two unbound elves that he knew of. You know how house elves get around him," Cedric explained as his mother nodded in understanding. The parents Diggory were not the only people at Diggory House that Harry had charmed, and Fritch and Wobbly were almost as crazy about Harry as Dobby and Winky...and now Kreacher, as well.

"Well, that's a load off my mind, actually," Anna Diggory said with a small sigh. "I was wondering just how to go about broaching the subject with you two about getting yourself some elves in the near future. Now, that's one less thing I have to worry about," she finished, nodded to herself.

"What's that, wife of mine? Worried about loosing your dashing husband to some tart of a Ministry secretary?" Amos Diggory came into the room, obviously having just caught his wife's last sentence. He was fiddling with his necktie as he walked, and complaining under his breath about having to dress up for supper.

"No, you prat, worried that some tart won't take you off of my hands so that I can run away with a handsome young Quiddich player," Anna fired back without missing a beat. "Are you finally ready to go?"

"Absolutely, dearest," Amos replied calmly. "Oh, hello, son," he said, addressing the fireplace. "I take it that you're ready for us to come through?"

"Hullo, Dad. Yes, if you're ready, then come on through." Cedric drew back to give his parents ample room in the fireplace.

"Well, then, my lady," Amos said, gallantly offering his arm to his wife. "If you're ready?"

"I've been ready for the past half hour, in case you hadn't noticed," she answered as she took his arm.

"Nervous, much, dear?" Amos teased. "It's only the boys, you know."

"You mean it's only the first time we've had dinner with our future son-in-law and his family in their home, you mean," Anna corrected her husband. "I'll bet you any amount of galleons you care to loose that poor Harry is a nervous wreck, house elves or no."

"Harry has house elves now? Oh, I can't wait to hear this story," Amos laughed as they approached the fire.

Fortunately, Anna was spared having to answer as they stepped into the floo together.

***

Amos and Anna Diggory stepped into the library of Number 12, Grimmauld Place in a swirl of formal robes.

"Hi, Mum, Dad," Cedric said. "If you'll just step out of the way, I'll shut the floo back down, then you can have tea while I go check on our dinner."

"So, it's the kitchen we'll be eating in, then," Amos asked jokingly. "Formal dining room not good enough for us, then?"

"I should think not, especially since my godson had me polish the good silver all afternoon," Sirius announced, coming into the library. "Amos, what say we tell the tea to sod off and go straight to some of my better firewhiskey?" He moved to the sideboard and began looking through various bottles and decanters there.

Sirius Black was resplendent in his new robes (black with gold trim) with a large ruby at his throat holding his cravat in place. Only slightly less well dressed was Remus Lupin, who entered the room right behind the Lord Black wearing blue and copper-trimmed robes. With all of the Diggorys equally well attired, they looked more ready for a night out at the theater than a simple family dinner. But, tradition demanded that this be a formal affair, so Harry had insisted....

"Sirius, I rather doubt that Harry would thank you if you got his future father-in-law drunk before the first course," the werewolf said, taking the decanter Sirius was holding and returning it to the sideboard firmly. "Anna, Amos, welcome. I had the elves open a bottle of a rather nice red wine almost an hour ago, and we have white wine or tea."

"Tea would be lovely, Remus," Anna said. "I hope you don't mind me calling you Remus, by the way...after all, we're all going to be family, as it were, before too long."

"Not at all, dear lady, not at all," Lupin replied gracefully. "Now, I feel that I should warn you--Alastor Moody may or may not be joining us this evening."

"What? Old Mad-Eye's not going to be here? I hope he's not...indesposed, or anything," Amos said.

"Oh, no, nothing like that. Harry invited him, but he was making some noise about not wanting to intrude into what was basically a family dinner. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see," Sirius shrugged.

"Well, we'll endeavor to enjoy ourselves either way," Anna said confidently. "Now, where is Harry? Cedric said something about him being in the kitchen, getting in the way of the house elves?"

Cedric laughed. "He's either still there or getting ready up in his room." Despite how well his parents had adjusted to the thought of he and Harry dating, Cedric was still reluctant to let his parents know that they were routinely sleeping together. "I could always go check on him...."

"Oh, no, he'll be around when he's ready," Sirius stopped him. "Until then, why don't we leave him be?"

"I think that's probably best," Anna said. "But, I want to hear about how Harry wound up with house elves. You know, I was actually thinking about trying to get him and Cedric an elf for a bethrothal gift, but now I don't know..." she shook her head.

"Well, that's a funny story, since you asked," Sirius laughed. "Cedric's told us about how Harry charmed your elves, so you're familiar with the effect he has on them." As the Diggorys nodded in agreement, Sirius settled in for a good storytelling. "Well, as it turns out, two years ago Harry made the acquaintance of one of Lucius Malfoy's elves, name of Dobby...."

***

"...and so, the next thing we knew, Winky was telling Harry and Cedric to hurry up and start making wizardlings so that she would have little wizards to take care of!" Sirius finished his story with a flourish, gratified to see that both Amos and Anna Diggory were laughing out loud.

"Sirius, I'm so glad that you were able to amuse the Diggorys with tales of my life," Harry said, coming into the room.

"Well, of course, pup...and if you had been much longer, I was going to pull out your old baby pictures."

Cedric rose to greet his beloved, his eyes sparkling. Harry was magnificent in an emerald robe that matched his eyes, trimmed with black in the latest style. Black lace at neck and cuffs matched the black acromantula silk shirt, and black pants tucked into black dragon hide boots completed his outfit. A large emerald at his throat and the Potter family ring adorned his hand, and Cedric noted with relief that Harry had continued to wear his bracelets...even though they were almost completely hidden by his cuffs. His hair was held back by a single jade clasp, falling in a gorgeous shower down his back.

Cedric thought that he was possibly the most handsome man he had ever seen in his entire life.

Harry reached out and clasped Cedric's hand as his fiancé approached.

"Good evening, Mum Diggory, Amos," he said, nodding regally. "I trust that you've been adequately entertained?"

"Oh, Harry, you look simply wonderful! Come here and let me see you!" Anna Diggory waved him over. "Oh, look, Amos...Harry, is that jade in your hair? It's exquisite!"

"Yes, Mum Diggory, it is," Harry smiled, turning his head to give the older lady a better look. "A souvenir from Japan, actually."

"Oh, it's lovely! Now, turn and let me see that robe...it's new from Malkin's, isn't it?"

While his wife and Harry chatted about robes and styles--joined enthusiastically by one Sirius Black--Amos sidled over to his son and nudged him gently.

"Son, I just want you to know something," he said quietly.

"Yes, Dad?" Cedric looked at his father curiously.

"If you ever let your Mother and your...boyfriend," he barely stumbled on the word, "take you shopping..." he paused, smirking.

"What, Dad?"

"You're doomed. Like every other married man in the history of the species...completely, utterly, hopelessly doomed."

Cedric sighed theatrically. "I know, Dad, I know."

***

Dinner that night went off with the precision of a Swiss watch. Dobby and Kreacher had been pressed into service by Winky, and the entire dining room reeked of polish. Dozens of candles glowed in ornate candelabras, their light reflecting from almost every available surface. The Black family china and silver lay on the spotless white tablecloth (Harry had apologized, explaining that he still hadn't had a chance to locate the Potter family dinnerware in his vaults), and Dobby and Kreacher stood proudly in their white powdered wigs and frock coats. Dobby's coat bore the Potter arms, while Kreacher's bore the Black crest. Unfortunately, both coats were signal flare orange with lavender trim.

Dobby had bragged to Anna Diggory that 'I choosed the colors myself', and wriggled with happiness when she told him they were the most impressively striking elf uniforms she had ever seen.

Winky had directed the meal like a general running a military campaign; beginning with lobster bites as appetizers, then progressing through green salad with champagne vinaigrette, leek and lentil soup, Beef Wellington, assorted fruits and cheeses, and finally a delicate citrus sorbet which swirled lemon and orange flavors together in a sweet/tangy creation. She had only made one comment at the beginning of the meal about how 'certain Master sirs should trust their elves to cook for them', then said nothing more. Of course, she had bowed gracefully when Harry gently reprimanded her, reminding her that he had wanted to have a hand in preparing a meal for the Diggorys. Immaculate in her white chef's gear, Winky had introduced each course--pointing out that the main course was the creation of Master Harry Potter sir--then popping out to allow Dobby and Kreacher to serve the courses.

Dinner conversation, by tacit agreement of all of the parties, was purposefully light and inconsequential. Finally, though, Amos Diggory threw his napkin down on his plate and pushed his chair back from the table.

"Well, I'm stuffed!" he declared. "Harry, you and your elves have outdone yourselves."

"Yes, Harry, it was a lovely meal," Anna agreed. "Could we possibly give our thanks to the other chef?" she asked.

Harry smiled broadly, only partly in relief. "Of course. Winky! Dobby! Kreacher!" he called.

Immediately, all three elves appeared.

"Master Harry Potter sir and guests is wanting something else? Winky is having more food in the kitchen, or she is making something else in no time," the little elf asked anxiously.

"No, Winky, I'm quite full, and Amos is more than that," Anna smiled at the white-clad elf. "I just wanted to let you--and your Master--know just what a wonderful meal it was. And the service was excellent, as well," she said, smiling and nodding at Dobby and Kreacher.

"Winky is being glad that Mum Anna is enjoying herself. Winky is being hopeful that she can make many more meals for Mum Anna, after Master Harry Potter sir and his Ceddy is married."

"I'm certainly looking forward to it, Winky," Anna said. "And, I hope that you, Dobby and Kreacher can work with my elves, Fritch and Wobbly, once Harry and Cedric give me grandchildren to spoil."

"Winky is want to having little wizardlings around, too," the little elf grinned madly. "And she is glad to work with Mum Anna's elves, which is good, because Winky is wanting lots and lots of wizardlings to take care of!" she declared.

"Winky, I couldn't agree more," Anna said, chuckling as both Harry and Cedric blushed furiously. Her eyes twinkling, Anna nodded seriously. "I think we should expect at least seven little wizards or witches, don't you, Winky?"

If Winky noticed that Sirius, Remus and Amos were about to explode from holding in their laughter, she gave no sign.

"Winky is thinking that seven is a good number, but she is not minding a few more...say, nine or ten, at least."

"Well, Winky, we'll just have to keep on the boys until they produce as many as we want, now won't we?" Anna asked, her face as serious as it could be.

"Winky agrees, and if Mum Anna is being asking, Winky is being doing all she can to get Master Harry Potter sir and his Ceddy to make us more wizardlings."

"Thank you, Winky. Amos and I both appreciate all of your efforts," Anna nodded, then began laughing out loud, joined by the other three older folks present, after the elves had popped away.

"Mum!" Cedric protested, shaking his head in exasperation while Harry just pounded his head with his fist.

"Oh, shush, Cedric," his mother replied, now tearful with laughter.

"Son, I hate to tell you this, but tormenting your children is one of a parent's greatest and most important duties," Amos agreed.

"Hear, hear, Amos!" Sirius agreed heartily. "I've been saying the same thing myself, but no one believes me."

Remus managed to stop laughing just long enough to speak. "Amos, Anna, you don't know what you're getting yourself into, tweaking these two like that. Just ask Sirius what happens when you annoy Harry Potter."

At Amos' confused look, Remus pulled himself together and said "two words: purgative draught." And with that, the wolf left the table, laughing hysterically all the way out of the room.

Anna and Amos Diggory looked at each other carefully, then at the chagrined look on Sirius Black's face before turning back to a still-blushing Harry and Cedric.

"Son...Harry...surely you wouldn't..." Amos began, only to trail off at the feral grin on Cedric's face.

"Oh, no, Mum, Dad, I wouldn't...but I won't life a finger to stop Harry," he warned, then leaned into his boyfriend, who was now developing an evil grin on his face.

"Harry, love, you wouldn't prank your mother-in-law, now would you?" Anna asked, her voice all sweetness.

"Only if I could do it in front of the Canasta club," Harry smirked.

"Harry! You wouldn't!" Anna said, still smiling. "No, wait, you would, wouldn't you, little urchin that you are." When Harry shrugged, Anna shrugged herself. "Just remember this, young man...when you have children, as their grandmother I will take them, spoil them rotten, and then hand them back to you. Annoy me, and they'll come back to you with bellies full of chocolate frogs and ice mice!"

"Mum Diggory! You wouldn't!" Harry protested, at the same time as Cedric gasped out "Mum!"

"Oh, I'd listen to her, son," Amos said cheerfully. "You don't know your mother like I do. Why, I remember once, back when we were at Hogwarts together...."

"Amos," Anna said, repressively, then looked at her husband over the rim of her tea cup.

"Yes, dear?" Amos asked innocently, winking at the boys (who had suddenly perked up, very interested to hear what he was about to say).

"The sitting room couch makes a horribly lumpy bed, as I'm sure you recall," she said levelly, then winked herself at her son.

"Yes, well, perhaps that story can wait for another time," Amos said hurriedly. Hearing what she wanted to hear, Anna smiled and rose from the table.

"I think I'd like that glass of wine now. Harry, accompany an old lady to the library?" she asked.

"Nope," Harry chirruped brightly. "But I will take you, Mum," he said, taking her arm in his.

"Oh, you," Anna smiled, letting Harry lead her out of the dining room.

As they left, Cedric turned to his father, curious. "Dad, just what did Mum...?"

"Later, son," Amos said softly. "But don't let me forget, you hear? Your mother was the terror of the Great Hall at one time."

"Now that I've got to hear," Sirius added, rising himself to lead the other men to the library. "Seems like the next generation of Marauders will have a fine bloodline, indeed."

"Oh, yes, Sirius, yes indeed. In point of fact, I pulled a prank or three myself in my day," Amos said jovially. "Just ask me sometime when I'm not at risk of a night on the couch."

Both Sirius and Cedric agreed that Amos' logic was unassailable.

A/N: whee...I've been up since yesterday evening writing (the loa crawled on and won't let me stop), so I'm just a little punch-drunk right now. On the bright side, the story is much further along. As always, love to all of those of you who review. I'm sorry that I can't answer each and every one of them, but that's life as it is rather than how we might like.

Next Chapter: Rumors from the MoM, another healer visit for Harry, the Wrath of Gabrielle, and new toys!