The higher chambers of the Amazonian Tower were originally designed as gathering places. The middle of the tower was ever-changing to the needs of its residents, but the top would always be a series of rooms carved out of ice with windows large enough to survey the surrounding area.

Tonight the gathering was small and elite. The eldest and most knowledgeable Amazons were there. Most of them were frowning at each other over a long white table.

"She's not a prisoner. It's as simple as that." Sophia frowned at Nyssa.

"But it's obvious that she's matured more in the last few weeks than in hundreds of years. We should be given time to study the changes!"

"Have you ever thought that when she comes back she may know more about herself than you could discover in your lifetime?" A tall woman in red robes pointed out.

"If they let her come back." A small woman with a hunch and a face like a dried apple spat out. "They may kill everyone and keep her. We don't know."

"And what if the contingency goes without her? What then?" Another woman with purple robes asked. "What excuses could they make?"

"You forget an important thing." Alexandra reminded them. "Asta could have returned with them after the battle a thousand years ago, but she stayed. She could have gone back with them after the attack on the Ministry of Magic, and she stayed again. No one asked to take her back. She didn't ask to leave."

That silenced the women for a moment, but it was fleeting.

"What if it's a trick?"

"How is it a trick?"

"I don't know, I didn't devise it!"

"We will send Nyssa with her." An ancient crone with long white hair and robes said with a tone of finality.

"Me?" Nyssa squeaked.

"You know her best. You know our reasons for treating her the way she has been throughout the centuries. Assure them we've always had her best intentions in mind and ask questions. Get as many answers as you can, I don't care how many men you have to lie with to do it. Don't remind me what their kind look like, I saw the Jotun for myself. Just get it done."

The crone rose to her feet, her gnarled hands resting on an enormous white staff, and turned to leave, the others staring at her in shocked silence. They turned to look at Nyssa, but the color had left her face and her mind was whirling so fast she didn't register their stares.


"No!" Nicolai roared. He slapped his hand on the ice table. "We shall not use dishonest means to gain intelligence against the Jotun." His cheeks burned in anger.

"I'm sure that's the only reason," Pieter said under his breath. Harry and Hermione both bit back laughter while Severus furrowed his eyebrows at them.

There weren't the usual group of soldiers guarding the floating meeting place the Amazons had constructed. Only a handful. It wasn't a confidential meeting, but it was common ground for the trio of allies and they were comfortable there. Most of them, at least.

"I only told you because we agreed to be transparent," Nyssa said, her cheeks flushing.

"Thank you," Severus said. "But I'm afraid we cannot condone such behavior."

"She has no choice," Asta chimed in. "She has orders."

"Then I will not allow them to be carried out." Nicolai folded his arms in front of his chest.

"You can try," Hermione said under her breath. Severus kicked her under the table.

"Are you going to be joining us, Nicolai?" Hermione asked, trying not to sound teasing.

"I will." He drew himself up taller and tried to stare Nyssa down. "Mikhail needs a chaperone. I am the best choice."

She waved a hand flippantly at him before she sat.

Hermione had to bite her lips and tried to hide her face with her hair by looking at the table.

"Let's go over the plan again," Pieter suggested, trying to change the subject.

"We meet at the Ministry of Magic and spend five nights in London being trained on how to use our gear," Hermione offered. "Then we board ambassadorial magic carpets to get to France, where we will spend three nights. We will brief their Ministry and taking their advice. Then we will descend to the ruins of Atlantis and attempt to find the portal. If we can't do that within three days we must try again later."

"After that, you will enter the portal and it will either let you in, or present you with a series of trials," Pieter added. "They know we're coming. We should expect either a diplomatic emissary or taken prisoner. Best and worst scenarios, I suppose.

"If the trials don't kill us first," Hermione pointed out.

"Well, you two are cheerful," Severus groused.

"You should talk." Pieter snorted.

"We have to survive those dances first," Mikhail grumbled.

"It won't be so bad," Pieter assured him. "Most of us will be there. Even Nicolai."

"I certainly will not!" Nicolai frowned.

"You certainly are. It's been arranged." Pieter smiled like a satisfied cat. "You even have a partner."

"Ha!" Nyssa barked. "The poor thing!"

"The 'poor thing' is you," Pieter said delightedly.

"It is not!" she exclaimed.

"It is," Mikhail said, ducking prematurely. "The order came down after you left."

"Well, perhaps I will take a youth potion or two and learn Amazon secrets," Nicolai said haughtily. "Since that is acceptable behavior now."

Nyssa snorted and tossed her head. "As if."

"Right," he said, glaring at her. "We shall see!"


"We will find them in a broom cupboard and have to peel them apart." Pieter snickered as he sipped at his cup of tea. "Thank you, Stacie, I'm always chilled when we come from that meeting place."

"It's heated." Severus pointed out.

"There's something about it. All of that water and ice." Pieter shivered.

"You can't how to swim, do you?" Hermione asked slyly.

"It has been a long time," Pieter said abruptly. He drank deeply and set his tea down. "Thank you, but I must be going. Anna will be waiting for me."

"Oh," Hermione said, surprised.

He embraced everyone before throwing a handful of Floo powder in the fireplace and going.

"What did I say?" Hermione asked.

"Pieter doesn't swim anymore because he almost drowned doing something for the Brotherhood. He hasn't had the taste for water since," Anastasia said worriedly. "He's not angry at you."

"Is that why he isn't going with us to Atlantis?" Hermione asked.

"One reason. He recently had a son." Severus pointed out.

"He has to care for a future member of the Brotherhood," Hermione reasoned. "So, they'd make him go if it was a girl?"

"They couldn't drag him down there," Jacob interjected. "Not anymore."

"It's very sad. He used to be a good swimmer. Do you remember, Severus?" Anastasia asked as she waved her wand to tidy up the table.

"He was faster than anyone," Severus agreed. "But after breathing in that cloud of pixie dust he never held his breath the same."

"That's right!" Anastasia exclaimed. "I'd forgotten about that!"

"Well, it's good someone has," Severus grumbled.

"No one blames you, Severus. It was all his fault, and he knows it." Anastasia 'tsked' at him. "He was always lazy in potions."

"I know, but you would have thought I'd noticed he was going to do," Severus said glumly.

"Is that why you're so hard on everybody?" Hermione blurted out as realization hit her.

Severus looked up, looking like he'd been caught doing something naughty.

"It raises standards—" he began sheepishly.

"It didn't raise standards!" Hermione glared at him. "It made me everyone's bloody babysitter!"

"Draco—"

"Don't you give me that!" Hermione hissed. "You may have chided him in private, but you humiliated me every chance you got!"

"Severus!" Anastasia looked scandalized. "You apologize right now!"

"Mother—"

"Don't you 'mother' me!" she fumed. "I have been hearing things about the way you behave when you are away from home!"

Jacob snorted as if this were an understatement.

"You need to watch yourself, young man!" Anastasia continued.

Severus looked bewildered. "Or what will happen, exactly?"

"I am not too old to beat sense into you!" Anastasia made for him, but Jacob caught her.

"This is a good time to slip upstairs." Severus suggested.

"Good idea," Jacob said as Anastasia squirmed and cursed at him in Russian.

He and Hermione slipped out and to their room upstairs, but she was still cross at him.

She got into bed naked as he was cleaning up in the bathroom, then she snuggled under the covers. She was nearly asleep when he slid into bed with her. She would have ignored him, but a hand covered in oil slide up her back.

"What are you doing?" She jumped, thinking of the sheets and mess.

"I will rub you until you're convinced you need a happy ending," he said boldly. "I will cherish we're sleeping alone tonight."

"Oh, really?" Hermione said as she flipped onto her stomach and groaned as his hands found a knot under one of her shoulder blades.

"Yes," he confirmed.

"You're still in trouble."

"I knew I'd be in trouble the rest of my life the minute I married you." he snorted.

"Do you want to get remarried?" Hermione asked him suddenly.

"It's unnecessary, but if mother heard me say that I wouldn't have long to live." He sighed in resignation. "Your parents deserved better."

"Should we do it over Christmas? When we'll all be in France?" Hermione asked as she relaxed further.

He thought for a moment. "Yes."

Hermione sighed and sunk further into the soft mattress. "I'd like to pick out my own dress this time."

"I'm sure mother could help you with that. Are you ready for Ball Season?"

"Yes… well, sort of…"

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"We have the dresses, but we're trading them with each other." Hermione groaned. "A little to the left."

"Girls," Severus sighed teasingly as his hands changed position. "Always complicating things."

"Well, we weren't going as a group. When Luna and Ginny decided to go with us everything changed."

"If the worst thing you have to worry about is a ball gown I'm content."

"And Harry." Hermione added.

"You've been worried about Harry since before you met. I'm convinced that it's your natural state."

"Humph."

He slid his hands lower and she tried to hide her grin. He moved over her in light touches and squeezes, down her back and legs and then between them.

She gasped and squeezed his hand between her thighs.

"Changed your mind yet?" Severus asked innocently.

"I have."

She grinned as she rolled over and pulled him to her. His mouth met hers and his hands continued to slide all over her, her body oiling his.

Her fingers clawed at his back, but they slid around, trying to find purchase. She felt him push forward and fill her, and she gasped and held him close, her cheek against his.

He whispered sweet words into her ear and he didn't take long to finish.

He apologized as she giggled and guided his hands to the places she liked.

After she let out a muffled shriek, thanks to a throw pillow, and he cleaned the both of them and the bed.

His arms went around her, and she relaxed, running her hands through his hair.

"We've been through worse than this." Hermione reminded him.

"You don't have to remind me." Came his reply. "This is the least dangerous thing we've done."

"Well, there's a thought," Hermione shifted uncomfortably.

"We have to keep an eye on Nyssa and Nicolai."

"I know."

"How long do you think it will take them?"

"Mundungus has odds 3-1 after the third dance." Hermione sighed.

"How does he factor in?" Severus asked.

"He knows is that two squabbling people from opposing sides are being forced to be partners."

"That's all it took?"

"I'm afraid so."

"I'm starting to feel like the bet on our consummation was far less personal than we thought."

"Apparently."

"So, we're letting him off the hook?"

"Not in a hundred years."