"For my first witness, I'd like to call Draco Malfoy to the stand," Theo announced.
Draco squeezed Hermione's hand and kissed her temple before walking down the stairs. The last time he'd been in this courtroom, other than the much-too-brief hearing for McLaggen, was when he had watched his father sentenced to life in Azkaban. Draco's own trial had been swift since there were not many misdeeds to his name, despite being a Death Eater. This room still made him uncomfortable, the ghosts of his past seemingly looking down on him from the vaulted ceiling. He could do this, though. He could sit in the same chair he'd sat in at age seventeen and answer questions to protect Hermione and other witches like her.
Theo met his eyes, suppressing a smirk. Draco hoped his friend could hold it together through this line of questioning; he and Theo had broken down into a fit of laughter when they'd done a practice run. The whole conversation was serious, yet absurd at the same time.
"Mr. Malfoy, before we begin, I'd like to disclose to the court that you and I have a close personal friendship. Let's establish a timeline for the Wizengamot and the other observers."
Hermione listened as Theo and Draco walked through a brief summary of their childhood friendship and then their time at Hogwarts. After Theo had laid out his connection to Draco, he began asking Draco to construct yet another timeline — one that gave reference to his relationship with Hermione, beginning with meeting at age eleven to present. It was all rather dull and dry, but he knew it was necessary.
"Mr. Malfoy, there is one personal detail I'd really like to focus on with you. At what age did you find out you were an Alpha?" Theo asked.
Draco's cheeks tinged pink and he confessed the rather embarrassing truth. "I was twenty-one, nearly twenty-two, and Hermione told me. My mother had tasked my father with telling me about the designations, and he never did."
The other Alphas in the gallery started mumbling, talking about how they thought Draco was supposed to be a bright person. He caught short snippets and phrases and felt himself getting angry. He was sure it was showing on his face.
Calm down, love. It's fine. Everything is fine. This is crucial to the case. Keep your cool. I love you and need you with me.
As usual, her voice soothed him, their bond thrumming while they silently communicated in a crowded room. The Chief Warlock called for order again, and then Theo continued his questions.
"Do you know why your father never explained any of this to you?"
This was the question that Draco had been dreading. He'd fought against the stigma associated with the Malfoy name for years and didn't want to mention blood purity, especially in open court. However, it was the truth and the only possible explanation to give.
Taking a deep breath, he began. "Before he was sent to Azkaban, my father had a portrait completed. The spell was cast on it just days before his trial and subsequent incarceration, so it was a very recent version of him. My mother asked the portrait why I was never told about Alphas and Omegas. He told her that he'd gone to Hogwarts to see if there were any Omegas present, and he was informed by a staff member that the only Omega present was a Muggle-born and Harry Potter's best friend. He thought her blood status would keep me away from her since there would be consequences if anything happened between us, especially given the climate of the wizarding world right before the war started."
Draco couldn't see the witches and wizards who were attending the hearing, but the looks of disgust on the faces of Wizengamot members spoke volumes.
"But it didn't keep you from Hermione," Theo stated.
"No, but I'm assuming my father just didn't understand how strong the impulse to be near Hermione would be for me since he wasn't an Alpha."
"So who was the staff member that your father consulted with?" Theo asked.
Clearing his throat, Draco said, "I believe it was Severus Snape. He was also an Alpha."
"Okay, so during our sixth year, you and Hermione were carrying on a secret relationship, correct?"
"Yes, we were. It was both physical and emotional in nature," Draco answered.
"Can you walk us through the events of the war from your perspective? Every time you saw Hermione from the end of sixth year through your trial?" Theo asked.
Draco started to tell his tale, explaining how he'd felt when she was brought to Malfoy Manor, when he saw her at the Battle of Hogwarts, how their eyes had locked after Voldemort was killed, how they had spoken after his trial.
"During any of those times, did you feel the need to force yourself on Ms. Granger?"
Draco paused for a moment, as if thinking, though he and Theo had practised this bit. "No, I never felt the need to force myself on her. I wanted her. I wanted to keep her safe, to take her in my arms and never let go. I won't say I wasn't sexually attracted to her because that would be a lie. I wanted her, but I didn't have her permission, so I didn't touch her. My whole life, I was taught that witches always have the final say. Even when the Dark Lord would host revels in our home, my father and I did not partake in those sorts of activities."
"And when you saw her at the Victory Ball this year, did she emit pheromones?" Theo asked.
Draco nodded. "Yes, she did. As soon as she saw me, I could smell her."
"Could you describe that encounter? How you felt?"
"I hadn't been alone with her since sixth year. We saw each other in the ballroom and moved away from the crowd. We started with small talk, but the longer we were around each other, it all sort of evolved into something else. We could both smell each other, and it was so familiar. Something we'd had before, and I wanted to go back to her. I wanted to press her into the wall and kiss her and… well, you can guess. But I didn't. I didn't touch her at all."
Theo casually carded a hand through his hair. "And it was after this interaction that you found out you were an Alpha and Hermione Granger was an Omega?"
"Yes," Draco answered. "She told me when we met up again after that encounter that she had gone into heat while we were standing there together. She fled the building while she was still coherent enough to do so, and I owled her a few days later to discuss the designations further."
"Before re-establishing your romantic relationship, how many times did you and Ms. Granger meet up?"
"At least twice a week for about three weeks. Things did progress rather quickly, but we did not begin a physical relationship again until after the Ministry incident with McLaggen," Draco replied, spitting Cormac's surname like it was something foul.
Theo looked towards the crowd, surveying the other Alphas and then looking towards Hermione and the other Alpha/Omega pairs. "And during all of those meetings, did you feel sexually aroused?"
"I did," Draco admitted. "Her scent was strengthening over time. The more I saw her, the stronger it seemed. She was taking suppressants, but they weren't enough to totally block out the pheromones. I always wanted her, but I knew from the beginning that she would have to be the one to initiate any type of sexual contact between us. I was willing to wait for her to be ready."
"But in everything I've ever read about Omegas, it's clearly stated that they're always ready for an Alpha," Theo commented
"Physically, maybe. But Hermione was struggling — she was attracted to me and had feelings for me, but she was married and she loved her husband. She wasn't sure if she was going to leave him or not. There was never a question for me; if Hermione wanted me, I would find a way to leave my wife. It's an ugly statement, but it's true," Draco said.
"So, to recap, you were spending time with Hermione, alone, and you never touched her? Even though you had a previous sexual relationship and were both attracted to each other and throwing pheromones?" Theo summarised.
Draco nodded. "That's accurate."
"So you managed to control your urges?" Theo asked.
"Yes. We shared a few kisses, but nothing beyond that happened until after the incident at the Ministry, even though we slept in the same bed one night."
"And when she smelled like another Alpha? Did you have sex with her and claim her then?"
"No. We waited a handful of days. I didn't want to hurt her, especially after what she went through with McLaggen," he answered.
"Interesting," Theo replied. "I think that's all for now, Mr. Malfoy, unless the members of the Wizengamot have questions for you."
An older witch in the front stood. "Mr. Malfoy, I think your self-restraint is commendable. Did you and Ms. Granger share any kind of a bond when you were together in sixth year?"
Draco released a breath. He didn't want to talk about this; the bond was theirs . It was sacred, something between them that only their closest friends and family knew about. Discussing it aloud in the courtroom felt wrong, but he knew he had to. The question had been raised, and he felt like it would strengthen their case.
It's okay, Draco. I can feel how uneasy you are. It's okay for others to know about the bond. Please don't worry.
"Yes. From what we've managed to work out, we started the soul bonding process. It was not completed, but it was never entirely destroyed, either."
The witch eyed him carefully. "And now?"
"It's complete now," Draco answered, not willing to elaborate.
She smiled at him and sat back down.
Merlin, it's like she just wanted to know for her own personal curiosity and gossip! Why? Why are we so bloody interesting to people?!
I know you already know the answer to that, Draco. It's not a problem. We'll go home after this and just lose ourselves in one another.
A wizard stood next. "I find it hard to believe that you, a pureblood heir, were never told about Alphas and Omegas, especially if you are one. Surely your parents would've told you."
"I don't know if you realise this, but we had a lot going on when I was a teenager. You know, what with Voldemort moving into our home after my fourth year, my father being sent to Azkaban at the end of my fifth year, and my tasks as a Death Eater when I was in sixth year. I didn't exactly have the normal adolescence years that most magical teenagers enjoy," Draco replied, derision lacing his voice. "My generation was filled with teenage warriors, parents who were killed or imprisoned, and strong blood prejudice. While I don't agree with my father's actions, I can understand why he thought I'd stay away from Hermione. Getting involved with her was basically a death wish."
Sorry, love. I know how harsh that sounds, but I need this wanker to understand.
I know. Don't worry. He's just an old arsehole.
"I understand that part, Mr. Malfoy," the man began, "but I don't understand how you never heard about it at Hogwarts. There were other Alphas there. If you and Ms. Granger were emitting pheromones, I'm sure others were, as well. Did it never strike you as strange that certain males and females smelled stronger than others?"
"Honestly, it didn't. We were still in Hogwarts and not fully matured. The only time I really noticed a strong scent with Hermione was when we were alone together and aroused. I know that I gave my first pheromone burst when I saw her on a date, but I never noticed it happen to other males. And if I had, I don't think I would've given it a second thought. Stranger things happened every day in the halls of Hogwarts\," Draco explained.
The older wizards didn't look convinced, but he took his seat again.
Much to his chagrin, the next Wizengamot member to stand was Arthur Weasley. Hermione had told him that the Weasley patriarch was on their side, but it was still awkward to be addressed by her ex-father-in-law.
"Mr. Malfoy, as you know, I've been very personally involved in this whole mess, however indirectly," he paused, and Draco nodded, demonstrating that he followed. "My wife and I have both spoken with Hermione, but I wanted to take this chance to give a statement, both to you and the court. I am fully in support of changing these laws or abolishing them altogether. What happened to my former daughter-in-law within the walls of the Ministry is unacceptable. It was partially my fault that Hermione didn't fully understand the implications of her Omega status. Before she and Ron married, I spoke with him, but not with her. I should've told her about the dangers of walking around unclaimed."
Damn right he should've. Instead, the whole ginger clan just let you go on thinking that everything would just be perfectly fine.
Draco! Come on. Would you want to talk to the woman your son is marrying and say something to the effect of 'if you marry my son, you'll likely be abducted and raped by an Alpha.'
Unsure if he was supposed to respond, Draco stayed silent and kept his eyes respectfully on Arthur.
"I think the restraint you've shown over the past years and, more specifically, at the Victory Ball and the month or so following it is remarkable. You've proved to us through your actions that Alphas can control any impulses they have if they actually try to," Mr. Weasley continued.
"Thank you, sir," Draco replied, not sure what else he could say.
"I do have a question for you. Were there any tricks to it? How did you do it?"
"Honestly, I stayed in a lot after the war. I threw myself into training to be a curse-breaker. When Hermione and I saw each other at my trial, I tried to express to her that I still thought about her, but she was already… Well, you know. She was with your son. After that, I tried to avoid seeing her at all. At all of the charity galas, I tried to be seated as far away from her as possible and stayed for as little time as possible. She was always surrounded by your family," Draco rambled.
Arthur Weasley gestured for him to go on.
With a sigh, he began speaking again. "Once Hermione and Ron married, I figured that was it. It was final; she was really gone forever. I didn't blame her. Everything that had happened between us from the end of sixth year on basically guaranteed that conclusion. The guilt and the longing had become normal by that point, so had the dreams of her every single night. I was used to waking up in the middle of the night sweating and, well, aroused. Aching for her. I figured that I would always feel that way because we just… we had no real closure. If not for the war, I thought we could've made it work. I might have been disowned, but it would've been worth it. I agreed to start the process of a marriage contract, and my mother lined up dates for me. I married Astoria, adding another layer of complication. I had a wife. I had to stay away from Hermione."
You're doing so well, Draco. I know that being this open in front of everyone is likely torture for you, but you're showing how much you cared.
"So, I guess the overall answer is no — there wasn't really a trick to it. I just made sure to keep my distance. I never did more than nod or say a polite hello. If she was on her own, I just stayed away from her. I knew I wouldn't be able to spend time with her or near her, even if we weren't left alone. I made sure we had no reason to interact," he answered.
Arthur nodded. "So how would other Alphas be able to behave similarly?"
"It's simple really," Draco began. "They have to want to behave that way. They have to realise that it's not okay for anyone to touch a female who is unreceptive. Anyone who has seen Hermione's memories from the Ministry lift knows she did not want McLaggen touching her. She fought him off for as long as she could. I slept in the same bed as Hermione without having sex with her, even though she wanted me to touch her. I kept my hands to myself, first until she was separated from her husband and then again after the attack."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Malfoy," the eldest Weasley replied before sitting down again.
Theo looked to Draco and nodded discreetly, signaling he was doing well.
The Chief Warlock looked into the gallery and narrowed his eyes. "Yes, Mr. McLaggen?"
Don't react, Draco. I'm sure whatever comes out of his mouth is going to be vile.
Cormac stood and walked down to the floor. "Chief Warlock, I feel I need to give my side of the cannot base this decision off of one Alpha's behavior."
"Mr. McLaggen, I will give you a chance to speak because I have to. Please don't abuse the privilege."
"Thank you," McLaggen responded with a charming smile. "Malfoy might not have known he was an Alpha, but yet he had sex with a witch he supposedly hated in sixth year. Do you think a Death Eater would've been shagging a Muggle-born if not for the Alpha/Omega dynamic?" He paused, trying to build the anticipation. "No. He spent the better part of our time at Hogwarts terrorizing Hermione and calling her a Mudblood."
The Chief Warlock looked up again. Hermione had risen from her seat and walked down the stairs. Draco could feel her rage and her magic coursing through her. "I think I need to be involved in this, Chief Warlock, if he is going to insinuate that Draco took advantage of me in any way during sixth year or that there was any sort of Alpha/Omega dynamic before the first time."
Hermione stood as tall as she could, placing herself between Draco and McLaggen, and the Chief Warlock nodded.
"Thank you, sir. I want to clarify the first time Draco and I were together. It was in late October during our sixth year, and I was the one to approach him. I smelled something different about him and noticed he had grown quite a bit over the summer. We taunted each other about spending the night together, but I am also the one who kissed him first. I initiated or, at the very least, encouraged every act that took place between us the first night and every night after that," she explained. "There may have been pheromones at work part of the time, but we developed a genuine relationship, and he certainly didn't force himself on me."
McLaggen glared down at her. "Why don't you take a seat, Granger?" he snarled in an Alpha tone, causing Draco's skin to crawl.
"McLaggen," he warned. "Do not talk to her like that. You have no right. She's mine and you know it."
Draco could feel Hermione's ire at being discussed like a piece of property, but she held it back. The older warlock spoke up again. "Mr. McLaggen, do you have any other questions? I do believe Ms. Granger quite thoroughly answered your comment about Alpha/Omega dynamics between them."
"No, sir. I don't have any other questions," he answered.
Looking around the room, no one else appeared to have questions for Draco.
"Mr. Malfoy, you may return to your seat," he stated. "Mr. Nott, please call your next witness."
Theo strode to the front of the courtroom, pausing for dramatic effect. "I'd like to call the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt."
At the mention of Kingsley's name, murmurs and gasps flooded the courtroom. It was clear that no one had been expecting the Minister to weigh in on something so controversial.
As usual, all eyes fell on Kingsley as soon as he entered the room. He had a commanding presence, and not just over the Omegas. His position in wizarding society basically made him the Alpha of all Alphas, a man that had earned the respect of all the witches and wizards in Britain. In fact, the only person who wasn't giving their full attention to Kingsley was McLaggen.
Once Kingsley had taken his seat, Theo approached him. "Minister Shacklebolt, I'm sure most constituents are wondering why you're here today, as it's quite unusual for the Minister of Magic to openly speak at a hearing like this. Could you please, for the record, state your designation?"
"I am an Alpha," he replied, his tone deep and rumbling.
Theo nodded. "I'm sure most could tell just by looking at you, but it needed to be officially said. Now, we're all here today to discuss whether or not Alphas can control their impulses around Omegas. Can you please tell me, Minister, if you've ever been alone with a matured, unclaimed Omega?"
After a few seconds, Kingsley said, "I have. Three over the course of my life."
Did you know about this?
I knew he was speaking. I obviously didn't know he'd been around other Omegas.
"Can you tell us their names?" Theo asked.
"Of course. Lily Evans, before James Potter claimed her. Samantha Bulstrode, and Hermione Granger after she came of age," Kingsley answered.
"Can you describe how it felt for us?"
The Minister's eyes scanned the Wizengamot, likely trying to make them feel like he was speaking to each of them directly.
"When I was younger and I met Lily, I was very attracted to her. However, she and James had already been seeing each other for quite some time. She was usually covered in his scent. However, on the occasions when she wasn't, the compulsion to move closer to her was much stronger. I met Samantha—" he paused, looking up towards the married Omegas, "—about ten years after the first war. She was not yet involved with another Alpha, but she was much younger than I was. I fought the urge to approach her because it felt somewhat inappropriate. I was over thirty and she had just finished Hogwarts."
Theo nodded. "I can understand your hesitance, but isn't that supposed to be non-existent? You're an Alpha, and she's an Omega. Didn't her scent drive you wild?"
Kingsley shrugged. "It did, but I made myself stay away from her. I had the willpower and sense to walk away. I thought about how I would feel if she were my daughter. I was nearly twice her age."
"So you could smell her pheromones, and you wanted to approach her, but you stopped yourself?" he asked, continuing to drive home the point that Alphas did have a choice in the matter.
"I stopped myself," he began, "because I knew it was the right thing to do. Just like I knew Ms. Granger was much too young to be a viable companion at the end of the second war. I was definitely far too old for her."
"Were you ever alone with any of these Omegas?"
Nodding, he replied, "I was. I had been alone with Lily Evans on a few occasions. I was in public most times when I saw Ms. Bulstrode, but I was alone with Hermione Granger on several times both during and after the war."
"And you never gave in to any of your Alpha impulses? Never touched them or tried to get them to submit?" Theo questioned.
Kingsley looked straight at the Wizengamot and said, "No, I did not. I never wanted to force my company on a witch who didn't want it. Had they approached me, the situation may have been different. I believe, in the case of Alphas and Omegas, that the Omega should be the one to make the initial approach, especially in situations like mine where I was significantly older."
Again, shocked murmurs and echoes moved through the courtroom, likely debating this uncharacteristic Alpha behaviour in what they thought were hushed tones.
"Silence!" the Chief Warlock bellowed. "I will have order in my courtroom!"
The sounds of other witches and wizards talking died down.
Theo looked back at Kingsley. "So, you believe in giving the Omega the power in this situation?"
"I do," he answered.
"And you never felt the need to claim one of them immediately after scenting them?" Theo asked.
"The needs are always there, Mr. Nott," Kingsley began. "But we have consciences. We're still human. Having urges does not mean I need to act on them, especially when a young woman's life will be disrupted by my attentions."
"So, in your opinion, did Cormac McLaggen have any right to trap Ms. Granger in a lift and try to have his way with her?"
"Of course not! No one has the right to do that to another witch or wizard. Pheromones or not, I would never force myself on another person," Kingsley seethed. "And I was profoundly regretful that I could not do anything to stop Cormac McLaggen, nor punish him to the full extent of the law."
Draco knew the Minister had just backed them up, lending his support and the full might of the Ministry to their cause.
Theo looked to the Chief Warlock. "I have no further questions for the Minister."
Showing the utmost respect for the Minister, the Chief Warlock asked if anyone else had any questions. When no one else dared speak to Kingsley, he swept from the room, his robes billowing behind him.
The Chief Warlock said, "I want to hear from the healers next."
Hermione watched as a team of healers from St. Mungo's was brought in one by one and questioned about Alphas and Omegas. They explained both hormone and pheromone spikes, heat cycles and ruts, suppressant potions, and how the Alpha/Omega dynamic worked in theory. Soul bonds, unintentional Legilimency, and the dangers unclaimed Omegas faced were all discussed in detail. Although a lot of the information was correct, Hermione wished they had asked actual Alpha/Omega pairs about their own experiences.
Theo looked to the Healer who had done most of the talking and asked, "Do you think it's reasonable to say Alpha males can control themselves?"
"When these laws were drafted in the Middle Ages, I would've said no," the Healer began. "However, with the advances made in the past few hundred years, with the introduction of suppressants and contraceptives and other things that can affect hormones and pheromones, I think it is very possible up until the point where an Omega enters an active heat cycle."
"And do you think an Omega knows when she's going into heat?"
The Healer nodded his head and said, "Yes. There are definite warning signs as I'm sure any of the Omegas in the room can attest to."
Theo appeared to ponder for a moment, and Hermione wasn't sure if it was for dramatic effect or if he was actually thinking about it. "What about the first heat for a Muggle-born Omega? What if she just doesn't know what's going on?"
"If these laws are abolished or changed, I would recommend having all magical children examined at age eleven. Muggle-borns could be tested right after receiving their Hogwarts letter as part of a pre-entrance physical exam. That way, there are fewer surprises, and both Alphas and Omegas can be properly educated about their designations from a young age," the Healer suggested. "This could help to clear up any confusing feelings or scenting when pheromones start being thrown around in the later school years."
Hermione looked to the Wizengamot and saw many of them nodding in agreement with the Healer. A wizard she didn't know stood up in the crowd and said, "Won't that project need to be funded? It doesn't sound like something that will be able to be done for free."
I'll bloody fund it if I have to just so no one ever goes through what we have ever again.
I'll develop some kind of potion or free test. I'll make suppressants for anyone who wants them or needs them. We can flesh all of this out later on when they ask for support.
"I'm sure there are plenty of people who would be willing to fund this project. That is not the purpose of today's hearing," Theo stated. "So, in summation, you do believe Alphas can control their behavior if suppressants are used and both Alphas and Omegas are properly educated from an early age?"
The Healer looked straight at Draco. "If Mr. Malfoy can do it, I don't see why not."
After that, the Chief Warlock decided it was time for a brief recess. Hermione held her breath as most of the other Alphas exited the room in a pack, scowling up at them. Draco was still sitting as close as possible to her, an arm slung around her waist.
Bunch of bloody fucking wankers, they are. I might be cocky but at least I don't act like them.
Thank Merlin for that.
"Lunch?" Harry asked.
Hermione wasn't sure if she could eat, but Draco nodded. Harry, Ginny, and Theo joined them, and they all went to a small restaurant in Muggle London. Checking his watch, Theo stated, "We don't have a lot of time. I wanted to say that I thought this morning went really well. I think your statement will have a lot of impact, Draco. And Hermione, standing up against McLaggen, that was brilliant."
She felt her cheeks heat. "I wasn't going to let him claim Draco had taken advantage of me. It wasn't like that at all."
Harry and Ginny snickered. "We know that, Hermione. You've explained it."
Draco turned to Theo. "What will you do next?"
Grinning, he said, "I believe the Chosen One will be up next. We need to talk about the DMLE and Granger's attack and how their hands were tied because of these laws."
Harry rolled his eyes, and they dropped conversation about the hearing, discussing Theo's upcoming wedding and Ginny's birthday plans. Taking a break from the heavy, potentially life-changing hearing was definitely welcome. Hermione wasn't able to eat much, but Draco made sure she at least picked at something, sitting close enough to touch her in some way at all times.
"Theo!" Hermione scolded. "You are getting married next weekend? And you're stuck in court all week?"
Shrugging, he replied, "This was the date the Wizengamot gave us. I wasn't going to push it back. Cho understands that this is important."
Hermione squeezed his hand. "Well, I'll find a way to apologise for stealing you away. I swear it."
Theo only winked before moving the conversation along, asking Harry and Ginny when mini-Chosen Ones would start popping up. As usual, Harry deferred to Ginny, knowing that professional Quidditch wouldn't really be a feasible career for her while pregnant. She quickly deflected, halting that discussion.
"Ron wanted to come with us," Ginny said. "But he didn't feel like he would be welcome right now."
Hermione looked at her. "After that stunt he pulled with the house, he wouldn't be. I need time away from him. I'm glad he came to support us at the hearing, but I'm not sure if I can be friends with him just yet."
Feeling Draco stiffen beside her, Hermione moved closer to him, grazing his scent gland with her lips.
You have nothing to worry about. I don't know if I'll ever really be able to forgive him about this, Draco.
And you shouldn't. We were both in the wrong. I'm happy you've forgiven me, but I don't want you alone with him. Ever.
She brushed off his possessive comment, knowing he was overly sensitive when it came to Ron — with good reason, given their history.
The rest of the meal wrapped up quickly, and before they knew it, they were heading back to the courtroom, retaking the same seats they'd been in before. Ron was noticeably further away, sitting with the rest of his family rather than Harry and Ginny.
And the waiting began again.
Author's Note: So close to the end! It's so bittersweet!
We'll wrap up the Wizengamot on Saturday and then just three little chapters left!