Author's Note:

Update — I am back to posting every week!

I took a break to catch up myself and to give Dusk a little break. I took the last month and half to re-read ASC myself and to update my character notes and charts (how do I have so many characters?) But I am back to weekly posting so, I hope you all enjoy!

Reviews and Comments: Thanks to deadwoodpecker: For loving my fruit basket, even though she still isn't even caught up and probably never will be. (I'm only a little bitter LOL). To alix33: Thank you! I wanted it to be moving, the Wall of Heroes and the carved oak. It's a lovely tribute to our heroes. To kyra5500: I look forward to your re-read and the sporadic reviews. To darkhk: Thanks. I do love to end a chapter just the right way. To Nightwing2013: I didn't know there was a record for such a thing, but that's interesting. Points for getting my CofS movie reference, I like the idea of Greg wearing glasses to read. It was time for King Taliesan to talk to Theo and I felt it was needed. To Wolf's scream: You are right, Rita would have a field day! And yes, between Kevin and Mrs Abbott, poor Hannah has a mix of bad influences on the confidence level. To JamesTKent: I'm glad you're enjoying Percy and Audrey, I really am as well, and yes, Ginny is definitely having way too much fun LOL. To Nuno Neves: Thank you! Always happy to provide a romantic chapter! To STARLEO: Thank you! And I love your name, it reminds me of Zeerius' twins!

To ANewRanger: Thank you, please never stop getting enough of ASC. I need you lot to survive in my ASC world. To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: Thank you! To Dianne: You're right, it has been reflecting the world recently, that's just a coincidence LOL. I like to think of Goyle being a little bit of my own creation as he's such a single dimensional character in the JKR verse, I can play around with him. To scrappy8: Thank you! To Steelcode: So much is yet to happen, just wait. To pix25: Me too, it was needed for Theo and for the fae. To Calamity Ganon: So glad you loved the fruit basket. Thanks for understanding on Finn being "too perfect" yet his death is, of course, still heartbreaking for Theo. Yes, Theo will end up with someone and no, I'm not telling you who, but yes, I do know who it will be. To WinkingSkeever: Thank you! To alsaceloranne: I hope that's a good wow. To Rusty-malla Hayek: Thank you! And thanks for eating up my story, here's the new chapter! And yes, Barty Crouch Jr will get his comeuppance, just not anytime soon. Thanks for saying this is your favourite fanfiction! To Chris: Audrey is definitely fun and bold in my book! Percy needs that.

To Unstupid: Thank you for that lovely review! 72 hours is crazy impressive! It took me over a month to re-read my own story LOL. I'm so happy that you're loving my Slytherin Trio and that I've helped further an interest in history. As to Leeds, I don't think I've focused there more than anywhere else, but I do have a friend there. As to the smut, there can never be enough lol. To speedsONEandONLY: March babies are the best (as I am one LOL). And yes, that is the hardest lesson, we can't save those who don't want to be saved. And yes, Audrey is exactly who Percy needs. To sygt: I think Percy is influenced by those around him and they reflect his choices, I wanted to show him sticking closer to his brothers and seeing that change. To tim2604: That is frustrating! Thanks! I hope the spells were interesting as they are a challenge for me to write. I like the idea of Harry learning with Dumbledore, but the key is that as good as he's getting, he still can't defeat Dumbledore in a duel. Neville will definitely show her. I think together they will boost each other up. Of course Hermione loves Outlander, what did you expect? As to Greg reading Dumas, don't be skeptical. I love it. And yes, endless teasing is coming Percy's way. To Maya: We will see some of Harry spending time with the twins in this chapter.

To AQuickRead91: Thank you. To Jmcglynn522: Keep getting pissed at Snape, no complaints here. And we shall see where his story goes. To briana_t: I hope the Weasley reaction is what you're looking for. To Arcanis: Thank you. Yes, I do love Outlander, one of my favourite book series ever. And there will be some Remadora fighting wolves action coming. To PadfootSimp: Aww, you're so sweet! "I don't like this story. I freaking love it." To Leapyearbaby29: Thank you and yes, Theo is slowly starting to feel better. To PurpleLotus: Thanks. To Pottermum: So happy to see a review from you again! It is always the quiet ones, isn't it? LOL To SeriouslySam: Harry would definitely get into the spying if they did it lol. Vampire nest may have been a Supernatural reference, I do love that show. I like the idea of Hannah smelling like a baking ingredient as well.

My posting schedule: Weekly.

Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.

As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!

CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN

Harry walked into Black Cottage and was immediately engulfed in a warm hug from Sorcha. He hugged her back, smiling when she framed his face with her hands and tugged his head down to kiss his cheeks.

"Welcome home, mo ghràidh."

"Thanks," he said, moving into the house. "It's good to be home." He wrapped his arms around Sorcha, hugging her tightly and she kissed his cheeks again.

"Such a handsome young man! Now, go see your mama," she said, patting his cheek affectionately before closing the front door behind him.

Kreacher appeared and immediately took his bag, surprising him. He had forgotten that Zee had told him how Kreacher had pretty much made himself at home.

Harry moved into the living room, his face heating when he saw that Zee was breastfeeding both of the twins. "Er, I'll just..."

Zee rolled her eyes. "I put a little privacy bubble up, Harry. You can't even see my tits!"

"Yeah, but I still know what you're doing," he complained.

Misha chuckled and tossed an arm over Harry's shoulders. "Our young man is a gentleman, Zahira! Leave him be."

Harry hugged Misha before he bent over to kiss Zee's cheek, pointedly staring at the ceiling. "Hi, Zee."

"You can look at me, you know," Zee said.

Harry grinned and kissed the top of her head. "Definitely. Once you're decent and all."

Zee rolled her eyes. "I am decent! Harry, breastfeeding is perfectly natural."

"Uh-huh," he said, moving to sit on the sofa.

Sorcha pat his shoulder. "Guess we shouldn't tell him about that new nipple lotion you found. It's really doing wonders to stop her nipples from cracking."

"Er…"

"They get rather dry, you know," Zee said, her eyes full of mischief. "From the twins sucking on them so hard. You should see the way they pull, it's sometimes painful."

"Please stop," he murmured, the back of his neck heating.

Misha chuckled. "Mamas like to tease their boys. Zahira is taking good care of Mina and Leo. She's giving them sustenance from her body."

"Papa, not you, too!"

Sorcha kissed his flushed cheek from behind the sofa. "You should know these things, Harry. It will be good for when your wife has babies one day. Leo likes to fall asleep while he eats so Zahira has to tease his lips with her nipple, massage the breast to help get the milk flowing. Mina has a good appetite on her and latches right on."

"Merlin, I'm going back to school," he grumbled.

Zee chuckled. "All right, we've traumatized you enough. How is school, sweetie?"

"Good. The same," Harry said, running his fingers through his hair as he pointedly tried not to look at Zee. She was blurred from the neck down. He could see shapes and colours, but the privacy bubble did (thankfully) stop him from seeing anything that he didn't want to. "Theo's doing better. I'm sure that Mrs Weasley is feeding him already."

"Speaking of, there's a plate warming in the kitchen for you," Zee said.

Harry's grin was quick. "Excellent."

He returned a moment later with a plate full of food. It was overflowing full of thick slices of roast beef, scalloped potatoes, mashed butternut squash with pecans and onions, green beans, and two thick slices of cornbread.

"This looks amazing, thanks."

Zee smiled as he settled himself on the floor in front of the coffee table. "You're welcome. I've been in a cooking mood. Been filling up the ice box with meals all week. The twins are doing great. Sleeping a bit longer. Mama and Papa are a godsend."

"I bet," Harry said, helping himself to the cornbread. "This is fantastic, Zee. I've missed your cooking."

"That's sweet, Harry."

"Not a lie," he insisted, as he scooped up some of the squash. "This is brilliant. By the way, Uncle Remus said that he and Tonks would be by tomorrow afternoon."

Zee nodded. "Good, that means I get you all to myself tonight."

He smiled. "I suppose."

"How did your lesson with Dumbledore go?"

"Good," Harry told her. "He showed me how to animate statues as part of a fight. It was pretty wicked."

"So, you duelled him?"

Harry nodded. He told her about what they'd talked about beforehand including the information that the students who had married over Christmas were all apparently pregnant.

Zee frowned. "Those poor dears! I couldn't imagine going through pregnancy at their age. Yes, the result is something beautiful, but between the morning sickness, the aches and pains, the swollen ankles, and the hormones… Merlin, I hope they have some support."

"It certainly doesn't sound like it," Sorcha said. "I hope at least one of them has a husband who takes care of them now that they are carrying their children."

"Narcissa Malfoy would have helped," Zee replied. "From the brief times I met her, she was very much a mother and I don't think that she would have left those girls during a time like this."

"Has Andy been doing okay?" Harry asked, accepting the tall glass of cold milk that Sorcha handed him. "I mean, I know that they weren't close or anything, but it was her sister."

"She's been doing all right," Zee replied. "She's been by at least once a week to see the twins. I think that she's been feeling a bit nostalgic as she's been telling me stories about some of the shenanigans that she and Narcissa were involved in as children. It seems even being much younger, Sirius was often the mastermind."

"Sounds about right," Harry said.

"But she's doing good. I think me having babies is starting to give her granny fever a bit, so Tonks better watch out."

"Granny fever? No way that's a real thing," Harry said as he cleaned his plate and finished his milk.

Sorcha took his empty dishes from him. "I can assure you, it's a very real thing. I'll clean this up, mo ghràidh."

"Thanks, Grandmama."

Sorcha kissed the top of his head as she sent his dishes into the kitchen with her wand. "Misha and I are going to go next door and give you two time to catch up. See you in the morning, Zahira, Harry."

"Thanks, Mama," Zee said.

The front door had just closed behind them when Zee spoke. "Ooh, Leo's done eating. Can you take him, Harry?"

Harry nodded, standing up as he carefully approached Zee.

"Watch his head."

Harry put his hand under Leo, holding his head and back as he carefully lifted him up from the nursing pillow. Leo stared up at him with Sirius' grey eyes and head of dark hair. Harry carefully moved him into the crook of his elbow.

"Put him on your shoulder, sweetie. He needs to burp."

Harry wasn't quite sure how to move him. He kept one hand on his bum, the other under his head as he awkwardly lifted the baby onto his shoulder amidst Zee's instructions. Zee thrust a baby blanket at him to put over his shoulder in case Leo spit up and Harry carefully adjusted the baby so that his head rested over his shoulder. Harry rubbed Leo's back, patting lightly.

"Little harder," Zee instructed. "You won't hurt him."

Harry did as instructed and grinned when Leo let out a loud belch a moment later. "Good on you, mate."

Leo stared up at him.

"He's already so much heavier. Last time I held him he was the length of my forearm."

Zee smiled. "I know. They're both getting so big." She lifted Mina off of the pillow to hold her in one arm as she buttoned her blouse and removed the privacy bubble before moving Mina to her shoulder to burp her. "They grow fast. Leo's up to six kilograms now and Mina five and a half."

Harry nodded, still rubbing Leo's back. "Padfoot still sleeping under their cot?"

"Well, more between them now since I've moved them into the nursery. I put a dog pillow in there and he guards them at night."

"Lady Godiva with you, I assume?"

Zee nodded. "Definitely. Sit back down."

Harry did, doing his best not to stir Leo who seemed content to cuddle into his shoulder. Once he was seated, Zee carefully placed Mina on Harry's other shoulder.

"Wow," he said as he held both babies.

She kissed his cheek. "They'll sleep now. Let them nap on you, familiarize themselves with their big brother."

Harry grinned before he whispered. "Can I still chat?"

"Definitely!" Zee assured him. "I want them to be able to sleep during noise or we'll never be able to do anything!

Harry figured that made sense. Besides, now since he had a baby on either side of him he was too afraid to move.

Zee sat on the sofa next to him, stretching her legs out and plopping them across his legs. "Now that I have you stuck with me, tell me what's going on?"

"You know what's going on. We talk on the mirror," he told her.

"Yes, and I show you how adorable Mina and Leo are and we chat, but you don't say much. Remus told me about your detentions with Snape."

He shrugged, a hand on each baby's back. "I didn't want you to worry."

"You didn't want me to worry that you were sassy or you didn't want to get scolded?"

He grinned, sheepishly. "Maybe both. He deserved it, Zee."

"I'm almost certain that he did, but he's still your professor, which means he deserves your respect."

"He was in love with my mum."

Zee's eyebrow rose. "Was he?"

"You knew," Harry said, realizing that she wasn't surprised. He continued to rub the backs of each baby as he stared at her.

"Well, Sirius told me that he always thought he was. And from my meetings with Snape, I'm not exactly his biggest fan either. Does it bother you that he loved her?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know if bother is the right word. It's weird, isn't it?"

Zee stretched her arms up over her head. "I don't think it's weird. He was in love with her. They were friends once. Did your mum feel the same way about him?"

"It certainly didn't look like it."

At her arched brow, he sighed.

"I viewed some of his memories without his permission."

"Harry! That's very invasive. No wonder he was furious!"

"It ended my detentions actually," he admitted. "He was so mad that he just ordered me out."

Zee nodded. "I certainly can't blame him."

"One of the memories was… he healed Bellatrix after… after Hogsmeade."

Zee reached over to squeeze his wrist. "Remus told me that."

Harry frowned. "I don't know. I just want to enjoy the little break from school and not think about it. Any of it."

"That sounds like a good plan. Molly invited us over for dinner on Friday before you lot go back to Hogwarts the next morning. Charlie is supposed to come in tonight with Aydin and she's having her big family dinner tomorrow to celebrate."

"Has she been visiting a lot since they came back from Romania?"

"About once a week," Zee told him. "She's very helpful. A mother of seven can only have good advice, but between her and my parents, I'm starting to go a bit spare."

Harry chuckled, his eyes on the two sleeping babies in his arms. "You said that you were going to go out and get tea with someone from work though. Did you ever make it out?"

Zee nodded, wiggling her bare toes. "I did. It's been the only time that I've left the babies and it was so much harder than I thought. Once I was out, it wasn't so bad, but I felt guilty for leaving them even though I know I shouldn't. I was only gone a few hours."

"I'm sure they'll get over it. A whole three hours without their mama shouldn't cause them too much trauma."

Zee poked him in the hip with her toes. "Brat! Anyway, as I was saying, I went out to meet him and I wanted to tell you about him. He said that I'm his idol."

Harry grinned. "Really?"

Zee bit her bottom lip. "I always considered myself to be good at my job, but for someone to admire me already… Merlin, it made me feel a bit old."

"Who was he?"

"That's what was so amazing," Zee exclaimed. "Remember, I told you about that letter Goldwin sent me about that young wizard who wanted to apply for the freelance position, but would only do so under his initials until he was interviewed by me?"

Harry vaguely remembered her mentioning it. She had gone on about it one evening in the mirror about how Oliphant thought she should take the time to meet with him. "Oh, right, he left Hogwarts a few years ago, right?"

Zee nodded. "More or less. He attended a year at my old school as well. His name is Rolf Scamander and his grandfather is Newt Scamander."

"The famous magizoologist?" Harry asked. "The one who wrote the textbook?"

"One in the same," Zee said. "And he's a fan of my column in the Daily Prophet. Newt, that is."

"Wow," Harry said. "That's amazing! You are a celebrity!"

Zee rolled her eyes. "Haha, don't mock it. We both know who the more famous person in this room is."

"I'd trade you in a heartbeat," Harry told her.

Zee smiled. "Well, Rolf told me that I was his idol. He was listing off things I've done over the years, people I worked with, and he said how this was a dream opportunity for him to be able to work in the same department where I was employed. He wanted the freelance position because it involves lots of travelling which he enjoys, but it still gives him a home base here in England which keeps him close to his family. He was lovely. You'd really like him, I think."

"How old is he?"

"Just turned twenty, but he's already accomplished quite a bit. He took the job and Goldwin and I are excited to have him in our department."

"That's pretty cool, Zee."

"I thought so," she said. "Are you still thinking that you want to be an Auror?"

"Yes," he told her. "I want to protect people. I don't want someone like Voldemort to ever get the chance to gain power over everyone again."

Zee nodded. "Well, I for one think that you're going to be brilliant at anything you choose." She stood up, stretching her arms up over her head. "These two usually sleep for an hour to an hour and a half after feeding. I'll leave them in your capable hands and go enjoy a nice bath, yeah?"

Harry's eyes widened. "But what if they wake up? What do I do? Zee, you can't just go upstairs!"

Zee bent down to kiss his cheek. "You show them that you're here. Trust me, sweetie, you'll be fine."

Harry watched her head up the stairs before he looked down at the two sleeping babies on his chest. At this very moment, he'd rather face another dragon than have either of them wake up. He pressed his lips to each of their heads.

"Don't wake up until your mama comes back, okay?"

When neither of them moved, he let out a slow breath and prayed for the best.

~ ASC ~

When Ginny walked into the Burrow with Ron and Theo, her eyes found her father sitting in the living room, the paper in his hand as he did a crossword puzzle.

"Hi, Dad," she said, dropping her bag on the floor.

Arthur stood up and opened his arms to engulf her tightly. "Hi, baby girl." He kissed the top of her head. "Never stop giving me big hugs, okay? Your brothers don't do that anymore."

Ron rolled his eyes as he came into the living room and let Arthur engulf him in his arms. "Happy now?"

Arthur ruffled his son's hair. "Immensely. Charlie and Aydin are supposed to get in around seven. I met Percy's Audrey today."

Ginny's eyes widened. "Really? What's she like, Dad?"

"She's coming to dinner tomorrow so you can decide for yourself," Arthur said, his eyes twinkling. "And she's rather charming. She asked me a hundred and one questions about my job."

"Was she really interested or just being polite?" Ron asked. "I always thought Penny was kind of a cold fish so, not sure if I trust this new bird of his."

"Polite at first, but then she was very interested. She's lovely. Percy is quite smitten," Arthur admitted. "And I admit, I already like her much more than I ever did Penny."

"Who is smitten?" Molly asked, hands on her hips as she stepped into the living room with Theo.

"Percy with Audrey," Ginny supplied. "Dad was just telling us that he met her today."

Molly's eyes twinkled. "It's about time that young man brings her round for a meal."

"Who is Audrey?" Theo asked.

Ginny smiled. "That's the question, Theo. She works at the Ministry and Percy's been secretly dating her since just before Christmas. None of us have met her, except Fred, and that was by accident."

"Fred met her?" Molly asked as she moved to fix up the magazines on the coffee table. "He never said."

Ginny smirked. "He caught them… er, alone and said that he was scarred for life."

"What were they doing?"

"Mum," Ron groaned.

"No!" Theo's eyes grew wide.

"What?" Molly frowned. "What were they doing?"

"Playing chess," Ginny said with a grin.

"What's wrong with playing chess? Ron plays chess all the time!" Molly protested.

"Oh, trust me, Ron's not playing this type of chess no matter how much he wants to." Theo grinned.

"Shut it, Theo!" Ron hissed, his neck flushing.

"Oh... oh!" Arthur exclaimed as he turned bright red and went back to his crossword.

"What are you lot talking about?" Molly glanced between her family.

"Four letter word for Superman's girlfriend. Starts with L!" Arthur asked loudly. "Anyone know? What's a Super Man?"

"More like a three letter word for something two people do in bed," Ginny said, her lips curved.

"Wha... Ginevra! Enough!" Molly exclaimed, a hand over her heart.

"You asked, Mum! I just answered." Ginny said.

"Enough," Molly declared. "You three bring your stuff upstairs. Theo, I made up the bed for you in Fred and George's old room. Ginny, I made space in Percy's old room for Charlie and Aydin, can you make sure that there's extra blankets for them and for Theo? And check the cot for Aydin, make sure it's clean."

"Yes, Mum," Ginny said.

"Thank you for inviting me, Mrs Weasley."

Molly waved him off. "The more the merrier. Hermione went home, Ron?"

Ron nodded. "Yes, Mum. She had plans with her parents, but she said to thank you for the invite."

Molly adjusted her apron. "Good. Remind me to send her an Easter Egg later in the week. Ginny, once you and Theo get settled, I'd love some help making the eggs."

Theo's eyes widened. "You make Easter Eggs?"

Ginny grinned, linking her arm through his. "Come on, let's go put your stuff down and then we'll help Mum. She makes the best hollow chocolate eggs and we fill them with whatever we'd like. Everyone gets something different."

"Brilliant," Theo said. "I can't wait to see this!"

The moment Ginny opened the door to the twins' old room, Theo's eyes caught hers.

"Now tell me what that look was between you and Ron."

Ginny's lips curved. "About Audrey? Oh, Fred stopped by Percy's new flat and walked in on them having sex."

Theo barked out a laugh. "I definitely got that; now you have to tell me about it!"

"Fred claims he's scarred for life. Apparently, Percy was tied to the bed and being spanked."

Theo's eyes glinted in laughter. "Oh, Merlin!" He hopped onto the bed and crooked his finger at her. "Tell me more."

"That's all I know," she said, laughing. "No one else has met her. She works at the Ministry and she's beautiful."

"And likes to spank Percy when he's been naughty," Theo added, wiggling his eyebrows. "Intriguing."

Ginny sat cross legged on the bed next to him. "I didn't get to tell you how Fred mirror called Harry and Ron to tell them and I interrupted. Then he tried to make me leave because I'm a girl and don't need to know this stuff."

"Pft! You do need to know that stuff so that you can then tell me!" Theo declared. "What did you say?"

Ginny's lips curved. "Let's just say that I put Fred in his place."

The knock on the door had them both turning and Molly smiled.

"Come on down, Ginny, I want to get started on those eggs."

"Yes, Mum."

"Mrs Weasley, can we really put anything we want inside the eggs?" Theo asked, standing up.

"Absolutely anything, dear," Molly said. "I usually like to mix it up between chocolate mousse, buttercream, caramel, raspberry, strawberry, and last year I made a cheesecake filling that was quite delicious."

"It was amazing," Ginny corrected. "Theo and I will be right down to help, Mum."

Molly nodded and headed downstairs after telling them not to doddle and Ginny snuck a look over at Theo.

"We better get baking before Mum comes up again."

"That's fine, but later we're going to chat about my fruit basket because I think you've left out some things in the skills of seducing one Harry James Potter." When Ginny blushed, his smile widened. "Oh, yes, we're definitely going to chat later."

Ginny watched him head down the stairs and she bit her bottom lip. Theo was finally coming back to himself and she couldn't help but smile while at the same time wondering what it was going to take to stop him from asking a million and one questions later. She wondered if she could bribe him with baked goods, she thought as she followed him down the stairs.

Probably not, but it might be fun to try.

~ ASC ~

Remus looked up when Tonks came in through the front door, tossing her coat on the stand before she made herself comfortable in his lap. She dislodged the book that he was reading, flipping it upside down on the cushion next to him and snuggling herself against his chest.

"Make yourself at home," he said.

Tonks grinned. "Will do."

Remus put his book on the table next to them and wrapped his arms around his wife. "You okay?"

Tonks sighed and snuggled herself in her husband's arms. "Another package arrived today."

Remus tensed. His wife's fingers danced along the side of his neck and he slowly relaxed. "What did it say?"

"Nothing new," she said. "But this time it was a dead fish full of maggots."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop blaming yourself," Tonks exclaimed. "It's not your fault that there's some psycho out there."

"A wolf," he corrected. "A wolf who is taunting you because of me."

"Maybe, but that doesn't make you responsible for it."

Remus' hands ran along her back, but he didn't answer.

"We received a tip today about a vampire nest near County Antrim," she continued. "We went down to investigate and it turned out to be wolves. We found one dead. It looked like he had been torn apart by his pack and the others were gone, but they left evidence behind. They were staying in an old abandoned church living like animals and eating like animals. It was like they weren't even trying to be human anymore."

Remus nodded. "Sometimes Greyback likes to stress that kind of living. He claims it helps you become one with the wolf."

Tonks frowned. "I don't know how he can spout crap like that when he's a wizard. He uses a wand!"

"He does," Remus replied. "But he considers himself first a predator and will use his wand to help him hunt you before he bites you."

"He's not going to bite me," Tonks assured him. "You need to stop worrying about that. I'm not going to be turned."

"It only takes a second," Remus said, his voice rising. "Sometimes you're too fucking confident, Dora! I know how powerful you are and how good of an Auror you are, but no one is infallible, not even you. Will you please just be careful?"

Tonks framed his face with her hands. "Promise. I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you worry."

Remus relaxed a bit under her touch. "I always worry about you."

She kissed him. "I like it and it drives me mental at the same time."

He chuckled. "I know it. Any idea why they were in County Antrim?

Tonks shook her head. "No, but there's been a lot of noise about the wolves prowling along the Giant's Causeway. They could be working with the giants on something."

Remus frowned. "The giants don't live there anymore. They haven't in centuries."

"There's been reports of werewolf attacks, there's been nothing about giants," she told him. "Someone would have seen something if there were giants involved."

"No, you're right. It's just a strange place for the werewolves to congregate."

"I thought so too, but as Higgins pointed out, that area is constantly wrought with tourists and its an easy hunting ground for them. Muggles go missing and it's often thought that they fell from the rocks into the sea. It makes it harder to pinpoint who may actually be taken."

"Snape mentioned that Greyback's pack was doing more guarding for Voldemort, but I wasn't sure what he meant by that," Remus admitted. "But Snape's been acting extra strange as of late."

"Not taking to having a co-professor, I take it?"

Remus' lips curved. "Definitely not a fan, but from what I'm hearing, the students are enjoying Potions more. But it's not just that, no. He looks more surly and according to Harry he's gone from the castle almost every weekend."

"He's doing what Dumbledore asked of him from what it sounds like, spying."

"Yes," Remus agreed. "I know that. I don't know, I just think something else is going on."

"When Dumbledore has news he'll call a meeting."

Remus knew that. He knew that if anything had changed there would be word, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was going on, something he couldn't quite grasp and that Snape was at the root of it.

"How's Harry's lessons with Dumbledore going?"

"Good," Remus said, kissing the top of her head when she snuggled into his chest again. "Harry said that Dumbledore taught him how to animate statues and use them in a fight. You might have to duel him soon."

"I'll still kick his arse."

Remus chuckled. "I wouldn't be so sure. He's learned a thing or two over the last two years and it shows. He's my top contender in Defence Club and he has the highest grade in my class."

"You wouldn't be showing favouritism now, would you, Professor?"

"No," Remus said, his lips curving. "If anything, I expect more from him. I only show favouritism to you."

Tonks grinned, her fingers slowly unbuttoning his cardigan. "Wise move."

Remus let her push the cardigan over his shoulders and watched her unbutton his shirt. "The two orgasms I gave you this morning weren't enough? Greedy woman," he said, his mouth moving over her neck.

Tonks slid her hands over his naked chest. "You knew that when you married me." She planted kisses along his chest before she looked up at him. "Besides, this morning was your tongue and now I want something else from you."

He grunted when her hand slid into his jeans and she gripped him tightly. "That can be arranged."

Tonks climbed to her feet, taking his hand in hers. "Take me to bed, Mr Lupin."

Remus scooped her up into his arms, making her laugh as he carried her to their bedroom. He placed her on their bed, his mouth meeting hers as he crawled over her. Tonks' arms linked around his neck as they kissed and his hands pushed her shirt up, unbuttoning her blouse as he did so. His mouth moved down her throat, opening the clasp on her bra so that he could plant kisses over her breasts.

Tonks' fingers clasped themselves into his hair as his mouth moved over each breast, kissing and sucking. His hand slid down, unzipping her trousers and pushing them down before her knickers followed. She made a move to reach for him, but he only moved lower until his face was between her legs.

Remus licked his lips as his eyes met hers and then he used his tongue. The sound she made was enough to spur him on. Her fingers tightened in his hair and one leg draped over his shoulder. He used his tongue more aggressively and she began to pant above him.

"Rem… Rem, fuck… I want you. I want you inside of me!"

Remus merely circled her clit with his tongue, flicking the swollen bud leisurely, rolling it, and her whole body arched.

"Merlin, fuck!"

"Naughty mouth on you, Nymphadora," he said, licking his lips.

"Get up here," she hissed.

Remus let her tug him up, undoing his own jeans as he did and pushing them down and off. He rolled his wife onto her side, lifted her leg and filled her. She groaned as he continued to push himself in. She grunted in satisfaction and he pressed his thumb to her clit.

"Come for me, Nymphadora."

Tonks gripped his shoulders, hips moving to meet him. With every thrust, his thumb would press down and move in a circular motion and within minutes she was gasping incoherently. Her orgasm left her feeling weak and she could only hold on as he continued to ride her, coming with a loud cry.

Remus buried his face in her shoulder as he caught his breath and Tonks made a sigh of contentment. She woke up twenty minutes later still sprawled in his arms and feeling extremely well rested.

"You're much too good at that," she whispered. "I feel like I should be tired of shagging you, but I never am."

"Thank Godric for that," he murmured. "How was your nap?"

She grinned, her hand slipping down to cup his bum. "Just long enough."

Remus kissed her and let out a little squeak when her fingertip pressed into him. "Dora!"

Tonks' mischievous smile was catching. "You like it when I use my finger, Remus, don't you?"

When she murmured a lubrication charm and pressed in a little more, he groaned. "I… oh, fuck."

Tonks kissed his shoulder, her other hand sliding down his chest to cup his growing erection. "My turn."

Then her mouth wrapped around him while her finger continued to work him and Remus groaned her name. Merlin, he thought, he would never tire of shagging of her.

And thank Godric for that indeed.

~ ASC ~

Fred was late arriving to the Burrow. He had sent George off with Angelina, determined to finish the last bit of paperwork at the shop and annoyed that it had taken him twice as long as he had anticipated. George was much better at the paperwork aspect of the shop, but Fred knew that if they were going to make it a partnership, the two of them needed to share the duties accordingly and that meant that sometimes he was forced to wrestle with those blasted sales reports and payrolls even though he'd rather gnaw off his own arm.

He came up the back garden on his way in and was surprised to see Charlie standing outside, looking up at the sky.

"Charlie!"

Charlie tore his gaze away from the sky and offered a lopsided grin for Fred. "Hey, Mum was worried that you were going to miss dinner."

"So was I," he admitted. "Blasted paperwork."

Charlie chuckled. "Pretty depressing when it's something like paperwork holding you back instead of a bird." He gestured towards the house. "She's beautiful. I pictured the dominatrix a little differently in my head. I imagined more leather and bigger tits."

Fred snorted. "I never said that she was a dominatrix."

"Don't crush my dreams," Charlie retorted.

"She is beautiful. Who knows what the hell she sees in Percy."

"Jealous because he's getting shagged?"

Fred rolled his eyes. "Please. Bet I see more action than you now, Papa."

Charlie sighed. "I admit my sex life has taken a rather depressing dip, but that won't be forever. Dad has claimed Aydin for the time being."

"Is that why you're out here staring at the sky?"

"Nah," Charlie said. "I just wanted some fresh air. What's going on with you?"

"Business is booming. George and I are going to have to hire someone on before the summer months start up, someone other than Ron that is. We won't be able to handle it plus the production otherwise."

"That's amazing," Charlie told him. "I'm proud of the two of you. Those mirrors are brilliant. I have a few people on the reserve that are looking to place orders if you're willing to ship internationally."

Fred's eyebrow rose. "I could be persuaded. Internationally, eh?"

"I see the wheels in your mind turning," Charlie said. "So, other than work, no gorgeous birds?"

Fred shrugged. "Been a few here and there. Most recently was this waitress. She had dark hair and a round arse. She brought me free drinks and when the bar closed, we might have done it right there on the bar."

Charlie laughed. "Merlin, I miss those days. Was she good?"

Fred groaned. "She was fantastic. I went home with her and we went another round and again in the morning."

"You sly dog."

"Learned from the best," he said.

Charlie grinned. "Some of us Weasley men can't be tamed."

"Damn straight," Fred declared. "The rest of us are falling like flies! It's horrifying!"

Charlie draped an arm around his brother's shoulders. "It really is. A few more months and I'll be at Bill's side as he ties the knot. I still can't believe it. I never thought Bill of all people would be getting married. Come on; let's head inside and you can get to know Audrey a bit better."

Fred made a face. "As beautiful as she is, once you see her slapping Percy's freckled arse, it's hard to have respect for her." He laughed when Charlie poked him in the side. "All right, all right, I can't account for her bad taste. I'll give her a chance."

They headed inside. The moment the door opened they were greeted to the familiar noise and smells of cooking. It always surprised him how much he was comforted by those two things. Audrey was sitting next to Percy on the love seat, her hand in his. George was on the floor, his back leaning against the brick of the fireplace with Angelina resting between his legs. Bill was seated in the armchair, Fleur squeezed in next to him. The chesterfield held Ron, Theo, Ginny, and Molly. Arthur was in the recliner, rocking Aydin in his arms.

"Hey, all, sorry I'm late."

"Fred!" Molly exclaimed, jumping to her feet to hug and kiss him. "We were getting worried."

"Don't worry," Fred told her. "Everyone can start actually having fun now, I'm here." He moved to the armchair to sneak a peek at Aydin and his eyes widened. "Is she honestly wearing a green dragon onesie?"

"Damn straight!" Ginny exclaimed. "Harry and I found them in this shop in Hogsmeade. We bought her one in every colour!"

"And I love them," Charlie said, taking a seat on the floor in front of Ginny. "Best auntie gift ever."

"Plus, they're charmed to expand with her up to twenty-four months so she'll get great use out of them," Ginny said. "There was this whole magical creature onesie section. Harry found some for Mina and Leo as well. He bought Mina an owl, a unicorn, and an augury and Leo a lion, a dragon, and a bear."

"What store is this?" Fred asked. "How is there a market for this?"

"Pint-Sized Things," Ginny said. "It's owned by two old ladies and they make all of the clothing themselves."

Fred raised a brow. "Huh. I never noticed it in Hogsmeade."

"It's a bit hidden off the beaten trail," Ginny admitted. "But it's worth the find. Plus, it's not exactly a store you would go out of your way to find, Fred."

Fred figured his sister was definitely right about that. "Wait, that's the little shop behind that amazing pie place, isn't it? You know, the one that makes those blueberry pies to die for?"

"Pie-Tastic-Treats," George said with a grin. "Merlin, they make the best pie in the world. It rivals Mum's."

"Don't flatter me, George," Molly said. "I happen to know that place makes better pies than me."

"Barely," Fred said. "Really, just the blueberry and the apple. Nothing else comes close to your cooking, Mum."

Molly's cheeks flushed as she waved them off.

Arthur passed Aydin to Fred. "Hold your niece in her dragon onesie. This Grandpa needs to use the loo."

Fred accepted the baby with a smile. "Hi, Aydin Dora. It's your favourite uncle, Uncle Fred."

"Oi!" Ron bellowed. "Don't be spouting lies now!"

Fred ignored him. "That's Uncle Ron and he's a moron. You'll learn these things as you get older and see how much cooler I am than everyone else. It's a burden I've long learned to accept."

"I'm her favourite," Bill said. "Being her godfather and all."

"Pft! That means nothing to me," he kissed the top of her head. "Uncle Fred will always be her favourite."

Aydin merely yawned and blinked up at him.

"That's right, lovey, agree with your Uncle Fred."

Charlie rolled his eyes at his brother as Molly urged everyone into the kitchen for dinner. Fred put Aydin in a cot in the corner as they all sat down to eat. The table was groaning under the delicious glazed ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and fresh salad as everyone talked over each other as usual. Fred perked his ears up when he heard Audrey answer Molly's question of what she did in the Ministry.

"I work in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"Are you an Auror?" Ginny asked.

Audrey chuckled. "Goodness no! A secretary or personal assistant to Rufus Scrimgeour. Or as I like to say, his personal house elf. He's always asking me to fetch this and that for him like I'm his servant, but he's good at his job. Though I suppose I won't be working for him any longer since he's taking on the position of Deputy Head, but he assured me that I would be working for the new department head whoever that may be."

"How did you and Percy meet?" Angelina asked.

Audrey's eyes lit up as she looked over at Percy. "He caught my attention when he stormed into my department, banged on Scrimgeour's door, and told him that he needed to show up to the communication meetings for the Defence Department. Scrimgeour called him a young paper pusher and Percy told him that he'd push Scrimgeour's papers to someone else if he didn't show up to the next meeting and do his job. I'd never seen Scrimgeour so rattled."

Percy's face flushed. "It was bad form. I thought that I was going to be fired."

"Scrimgeour was impressed with him. He spent an inordinate amount of time muttering under his breath about balls of steel before he signed the papers and had me return them to him," Audrey continued. "I saw him around a bit at the Ministry after that, but it wasn't until he saved my life when the Ministry was attacked that I asked him to get a drink."

"Percy? Balls of steel?" Fred asked in amazement. "I think you have him confused with someone else."

"Shut it," Percy said.

Audrey smiled. "He's rather wonderful."

Percy's cheeks flushed again as Molly asked Audrey about her family.

"You went to Beauxbatons?" Fleur commented. "I loved it zere! It is ze best magic school."

"I did," Audrey said. "I loved my time there. My mum went there when she was young and she wanted her children to as well. Dad wanted Hogwarts and when Anna and I received letters to both, they let us choose. Much to Dad's dismay, we both chose Beauxbatons. I finished in '92 and worked as an intern at The Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France. I was hired by the Ministry of Magic here in England the next year."

"Does your family live in France?" Molly asked.

"My sister Anna does," Audrey told them. "But we always lived in Oxley. Mum is French, but Dad is an Englishman and he always refused to live in France as to this day he never picked up on much of the language. I have my own flat in Oxley as I wanted to stay close to my parents with Anna moving to Paris."

"Mayfair," Bill said, his brow furrowing. "Is your father Richard Mayfair?"

"Yes," Audrey said in surprise. "Do you know him?"

"I worked with him once last year. He's one of the lawyers that deals directly with Gringotts. He's very intelligent. I liked him."

"Thank you," Audrey said.

"Can we stop with the interrogation now?" Percy asked.

"We just want to know more about her, Percy," Molly said. "After all, you've been keeping her a secret."

Audrey smiled, warmly. "Guess I have to take him home to meet my mum and dad now."

Percy's ears turned red in response.

Talk soon turned to the wedding as Bill and Fleur discussed the last minute things they were still putting together and Bill told them about the changes they'd been making to Shell Cottage. Molly happily fed Aydin a bottle before Charlie put her down for the night and everyone began to disperse.

Fred heard Molly ask Percy to speak in private and, in very hushed tones, asked him if he was being careful to prevent pregnancy during his chess games with Audrey. Fred's grin widened in surprise when he heard his brother's stuttered response, wondering who spilled the beans on Percy's sexual adventures.

"Mum! Of course, I'm being safe," Percy mumbled. "It's not… we're careful."

"Well, so was Charlie, Percival, and yet we have Aydin. I wouldn't trade that angel for the world, don't get me wrong. Just play chess more… carefully. That's all that I ask."

Fred snickered under his breath as Percy's ears flushed and Molly headed upstairs to bed.

It was well after eleven when Fred let himself back into his flat and plopped down on the sofa in the living room. George came in behind him ten minutes later.

"Alone tonight?"

"Angelina has an early practice so it makes more sense for her to stay at her own place," he said, moving to sit next to his brother. "Speaking of places, I looked at one today."

Fred nodded, getting up to grab two beers for them. "Did you find one you like yet?"

George hesitated. "I think I might have."

Fred handed his brother the beer before he sat back down next to him. "Where?"

"Carysfort Road. It's only about ten minutes away from here so I'd still be close to you and the shop."

Fred nodded. "And Angelina?"

George drank from the beer, staring at the bottle. "I haven't asked her yet."

"George!"

George grinned sheepishly at his brother. "It's a nice house, Fred. I would be using almost all of my savings just for the downpayment unless of course Angelina went in on it with me. But it has four bedrooms, two baths, plus a big cellar where I could turn it into a workshop. It's in a Muggle area, but we can do charms on the garden to remain hidden if necessary."

"Four bedrooms, eh?"

"In case you didn't want to stay here in the flat."

Fred smiled at the sudden warmth he felt at the offer. He and George had been discussing him moving out for the last two months and now it suddenly felt more real. He loved that his brother would consider making a room for him, but he knew it wasn't the right move.

"Georgie, you and Angelina are looking to move on together. You can't be tugging me along with you."

"Ang wouldn't mind, she loves you."

"Aye. And I love her, but I'm going to be okay here. You're still going to get to see my sexy face every day at work."

George grinned. "Yeah, I know." He took another drink before he spoke. "What if Angie says no?"

"She won't say no," Fred assured him. "Woman's head over heels for you, you daft baboon."

"Mum won't like it."

"Mum will get over it," Fred said. "Bill and Fleur will be living together for a full month before they marry."

George nodded before he let out a slow breath. "Yeah, but they're getting married. Ang and I haven't talked about that and… I really like the place, Fred. As soon I walked in, I could picture us living there."

"You need to talk to her before she signs the new contract," Fred told him. "Didn't you say her lease on her place is up next month and she and her teammates have to decide if they're going to stay another year or not."

"Yeah, they have a few more weeks to decide. And I will. Tomorrow night. We have a date night and I'm going to ask her then."

The front door opened, making them both turn as Angelina stepped inside.

"Or now's a good idea," Fred replied. "Hi, Angelina. George said that you were staying with your team tonight?"

Angelina shook her head. "Patricia is having really loud sex in the living room. I couldn't stay there and listen to that. Do you two mind?"

George tilted his head to give her a lopsided grin. "Do I mind if you stay the night in my bed with me? Hmm, let me think…"

"He doesn't mind," Fred said as he finished his beer. "He wants to talk to you anyway. Goodnight, lovebirds."

When he closed his bedroom door behind him he leaned back against it and thought sometimes it felt like everything was changing and he was staying in the same place. He wasn't sure what that meant for his own future, but he really hoped that George took the courage to start his tonight.

~ ASC ~

When Fred's bedroom door closed, Angelina's eyebrow rose. "What's up with him?"

"Nothing," George said, standing to wrap his arms around her. "I'm glad you're here."

Angelina wrapped her arms around him, tucking her chin on his shoulder. "Me too. You really don't mind?"

George kissed her cheek. "Not even for a second. I did spend ten minutes trying to convince you to come back home with me you know."

Her lips curved. "I know."

He took her hand and led her into his bedroom. They sat on the bed and he took both of her hands in his, his eyes on hers.

"I did want to talk to you."

Angelina's eyes met his. "About?"

"Us," George said, taking a deep breath. "I want… I hate it when you're not here. I love waking up beside you. I love going to bed with you next to me. I even like it when you take over my bathroom with your multitudes of hair products. I want to be with you all the time. Ang, will you move in with me?"

Angelina stared at him a moment before she reached down to pluck out the blue crystal around her neck. "This is warm all the time and it makes me feel good. When I feel the warmth of it, I know you're thinking about me and it makes me think about you. I love knowing that I make you happy because you make me really happy, too, George."

"Is that a yes, then?" he asked, eagerly.

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. "Yes. Fred doesn't mind if I move in? I mean, it would be a tight fit in this place."

George captured her lips for a deep kiss before he rested his forehead against hers. "About that…"

"Hmm?"

"Not here."

Her brow furrowed. "You want to find our own place?"

George nodded. "Yeah. I've been looking actually, trying to get an idea before I asked you just to see what was around. I want to stay close to the shop and Fred and I know that you like living in London so I thought maybe staying in the city would be good, yeah?"

"Yes. I definitely want to stay in London," she agreed.

George linked his fingers with hers as he spoke. "I found this house this morning and… Ang, when I saw it… it felt like us."

"A house?" she whispered.

He nodded. "Carysfort Road. It has a decent cellar where I could set up a workstation for inventing. It has four bedrooms and two baths, which is a lot, but I thought if Fred ever wanted a new place or anything or you know, for the future."

Angelina's lips curved. "Are you thinking about having kids with me, George Weasley?"

"Maybe, in the future," he said, his own smile widening. "I love you, Angelina, and I know that I want to spend my life with you."

"I love you, too," she whispered. "I think I'd like to see this house."

George grinned. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," she agreed. "I make pretty good money with the Wasps and with your shop booming, we might be able to put down a pretty decent sized downpayment."

"You haven't even seen it yet," George told her. "What if you hate it?"

Angelina straddled him, her hands linking around his neck and her fingers sliding up the back of his neck and into his hair. "I know you, George, and if this place already has you picturing a workstation in the cellar, you're more than halfway sold on it. You were the same with the shop."

"But you have to like it, too. It's a big investment and I want to do it right."

"And we will," she said, her lips moving to his ear. "How soon can we go look at it?"

"I'll get a hold of the agent again tomorrow to set up an appointment. I told her I was very interested. It's in a Muggle area."

"Good," Angelina said. "I can't wait."

Her hands slid down to tug his shirt over his head and he grinned. "Thought you had that early practice tomorrow?"

"I do," she said. "But a little extra cardio will be worth it."

George snorted. "Oh, will it then?"

Angelina pushed him back onto the bed and smiled. "Want me to stop?"

"Fuck, no," he murmured tugging her lips down to his for a long kiss.

George took his time kissing her, letting his hands slip under her shirt and over the smooth skin. They undressed each other slowly in between long kisses and when she finally rose over him, taking him deep inside of her, he groaned.

Angelina placed one hand flat on his stomach as she rode him, the other on his hip as she moved faster and faster, tossing her head back, dark hair falling down her back.

"Yes," she moaned. "Oh, fuck, yes!"

George reached between them to press his thumb over her and her hips picked up speed. He kept his eyes on her, watching her as she panted, biting her bottom lip until she let out a tiny gasp. He loved watching the way her eyes would widen and she'd come apart around him. Not to mention the sound she made was always enough to send him over the edge.

He stifled her moans with his mouth, tongue meeting hers, and she collapsed against him, snuggling into his arms.

"Mmm, be nice to do that in our own place," she said, kissing his chest. "I won't have to be so worried about someone hearing us."

George grinned, kissing her shoulder. "First thing I'm going to do is make you scream my name."

Angelina danced her fingernails along his chest. "Not unless I make you scream first."

George chuckled. "Sounds like a deal."

She kissed him once more before she stood up, grabbing his shirt off the floor to cover herself. "Be back in a minute."

George watched the swing of her hips as she grabbed her silk head wrap and one of his old tee shirts before heading into the bathroom. Moving in with her was going to be great and he couldn't wait.

~ ASC ~

Tonks hugged Charlie tightly when he stepped through the front door and placed Aydin down in her basket. "Missed you!"

Charlie kissed her cheek and hugged her close. "Missed you, too."

Tonks grinned at him when he pulled away. "You still look the same, maybe a bit more tired around the eyes."

His eyebrow rose. "Were you expecting a change?"

"Maybe. I don't know. Being a dad is different, right?"

Charlie scratched his bearded chin. "Yes, and no. She still really only eats, sleeps, and poops."

Tonks chuckled as she reached down to scoop Aydin out of her seat. "Aww, she's in a little purple dragon onesie!"

"Ginny bought it. She has ten, all in different colours."

Tonks carefully snuggled her onto her shoulder. "She's so much bigger already! You can't really tell from the mirror."

Charlie shrugged as he took a seat in the living room armchair. "She's amazing. You know the other day when she woke up, I leaned over her cot and I said, 'Hi, my baby girl. Morning, Aydin' and her whole face just lit up, Tonks. It was like the best feeling in the world. She knows her papa."

"Of course she knows you. She's so beautiful. She has your eyes," Tonks told him. "The shape and the colour."

"Mum said that a baby's eyes can change their colour later on."

"Yes, my mum said the same," Tonks agreed. "But hers will stay blue, I can just tell. And the reddish fuzz on her head? She's definitely a Weasley."

He grinned sheepishly. "I just want to be the best papa I can be to her. How have you been doing? Any more threats?"

Tonks shrugged, her hand rubbing up and down Aydin's back. "Not every day now, but yes, still threats. The last one was a dead fish full of maggots. I don't even think they're trying anymore. The fear tactic has rather lost its edge."

Charlie's sharp look made her pause.

"I'm still being careful, Charlie. Merlin, with Remus worrying night and day, how can I not be?"

"I just want you to be more careful. These wolves are working for a maniac and if he wants you dead, they won't stop."

Tonks nodded. "I know and I'm being cautious. I never go anywhere work related without a partner and if I have to make a stop somewhere before coming home I tell someone. It's just frustrating to be left in limbo like this. I can feel them watching me when I'm at a crime scene or if something big is going on, but I don't know who it is."

"You want them to make a move," Charlie realized.

"Wouldn't you?" Tonks exclaimed. "At least if they make a move I can do something. Arrest them. Get them thrown into Azkaban. Bloody something!"

"I get it," he told her. "I can't imagine how hard it is to just sit back, but you don't even know if it's a werewolf following you, Tonks. Greyback works for Voldemort which means that he could be using any Death Eater to do so."

Tonks knew that he was right about that which only increased her frustration. "I'm just tired of the mind games. It's tiring and frustrating and I just want to do my job and find them."

"And you will," Charlie told her. "Unfortunately, I just think it's going to be one of those things where you won't find them until they want you too. For now, you just have to keep doing your job."

"Which I am," Tonks told him. "How's the reserve?"

"Great," Charlie said. "Irving has really taken to Aydin. Whenever I go out to tend to her she practically purrs at the sight of Aydin."

"Irving is the Shortsnout, right?"

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, the one who we found with the broken wing. It's fully healed now, but she still needs to take it easy. When she flies for too long, she gets tired quickly. I found her sleeping in my garden the other night."

"Even a papa to the dragons," Tonks chuckled.

Charlie shrugged. "You know how they get attached. But the dragons are good, the reserve is good. I've been corresponding pretty regularly with the Wing Guards, discussing plans and tactics. A few of the other reserves around the world have already decided to bring some dragons to England to help when the time comes, but I think the Ministry seems to think there's going to be some massive dragon army and there won't be. Dragons are fierce warriors on their own, but they have to trust their handler. If we manage to convince the dragons to help us, it will be a last minute decision on their part as much as ours."

Tonks agreed with him on that. "Not to mention that no one knows when you will need to send the unit in. How long will it take the dragons to arrive? How long will it be until you can join the fight? Once the time comes, how will we know it's the time?"

"I think Harry will know," Charlie said, quietly. "I hate to think of it all falling on him, but we both know that it's going to. He's going to know the moment and when he does, he will let everyone else know."

"The GWCS coins," she said. "Everyone in the units has them along with the Order members. The three main commanders of each unit, Dumbledore, Harry, and Remus all have them. Well, Harry doesn't have his yet. Dumbledore is supposed to give it to him after the holiday. He said that he wanted to speak to him about something before he presented it."

"What does he need to speak to him about?"

"Knowing Dumbledore, something cryptic, I'd imagine," Tonks said. "But the coins were genius on Hermione's part and the Ministry loves them. Kingsley thinks that we should keep them on as part of the Auror uniform, alter them to fit in with our codes."

"That would be smart," Charlie said. "A way of communicating in case things go south."

"Exactly," Tonks said. "Since the Weasley twins helped manufacture the coins, he was going to present the idea to them. They have a full contract with the DMLE as it is for supplies."

"I never would have thought that all those times they were blowing shit up, they were actually doing such productive things," Charlie said. "Now, they're the most successful Weasleys in centuries."

Tonks chuckled. "Well, we can use their intellect for ourselves that's for sure."

Charlie nodded as Aydin's head moved over Tonks' shoulder. "Can you still snuggle your goddaughter while I kick your arse at Monopoly?"

"Excuse me?" Tonks said in disgust. "How dare you imply that I would lose at Monopoly? Get that damn board out of the cupboard!"

Charlie laughed and did as she instructed. "Drinks?"

"You know where the kitchen is," Tonks told him.

Charlie headed into the kitchen as Remus came in through the front door. "Hey, Remus. Want to watch me destroy your wife in a game of Monopoly?"

"Charlie Weasley, stop sprouting such terrible rumours!" Tonks exclaimed.

Remus grinned. "I'll leave you two to your death match. I was going to head to Hogwarts and get some quizzes marked, but I forgot my bag."

"Boring!" Tonks shouted.

Remus leaned over the couch to kiss his wife. "Shush. I'll still love you if you lose to him."

He laughed when Tonks pulled his hair in response. Remus kissed her cheek again before he grabbed his messenger bag from behind the chair.

"Your daughter is looking more and more like you, Charlie. You're doing a marvellous job."

"Thank you," Charlie said as he set up the game board on the coffee table.

Remus nodded, his eyes on the baby. "Aydin, keep these two out of trouble."

Tonks gestured him forward, tugging him back down to kiss him. "I won't lose."

Remus grinned. "Good luck, Nymphadora."

When the front door closed behind him, Tonks' eyes met Charlie's. "Give me the top hat and prepare to be defeated."

Charlie put the top hat on the board and handed her the glass of red wine he had poured. "You're on."

~ ASC ~

Pansy spent the first two days without Greg doing exactly what he told her to do. She kept redecorating the house. Her mother-in-law had painted everything a ghastly peach and just the sight of it made Pansy nauseous. She liked bold, rich colours and she did her best to make the place feel like home. The outside of the home was a bright sky blue and she wanted the inside to look just as inviting. When she got to the master bedroom she decided to go for a dark grey with bright blue. It felt better and more like her. Then she started to go over the building designs for her new shop, jumping between the house and the shop to keep herself busy.

By the time the Easter holiday came, Greg had been gone for well over two weeks. Pansy had a meal with her father and new stepmother to celebrate the holiday. Greg's mother invited herself over and prattled on and on about how her new grandson was going to be Gregory the III and be exactly like his grandfather who was much stronger than her son, who she worried was too soft despite his big muscles. It had taken everything in Pansy not to forcefully remove the woman from her home.

Lucky for her, Mitzy did it for her. The house elf came in and claimed that Pansy needed to rest and invited them all to return another time. Pansy thanked the elf once her family left, but once they had, she missed the company.

Letters to Daphne were one of the few things that kept her sane. She missed writing for the Herald and was eager to assist with the articles on the newest fashion advice. Daphne filled her in on the comings and goings of Hogwarts as well including how depressing Slytherin was with so many of them missing. Pansy knew that her friend was wondering how much longer she would be allowed to stay out before her father forced her to marry. Daphne was doing what she could to protect her younger sister, Astoria, who was only fourteen, from being part of the marriage alliances. With Giselle pregnant, Daphne was hoping that her brother's upcoming child would give her another year at least before she was forced to marry someone and would therefore protect Astoria even longer.

Pansy hoped that was true for her friend's sake.

Daphne, home for the holiday, came to visit her at her new home. Pansy spent the time telling her about her shop and showing her the house. As the end of the holiday approached, Daphne went home as she had to return to Hogwarts the next day and Pansy realized that it had been three weeks since she'd heard anything from her husband. She found herself getting nervous at this thought. It was only in passing from her father that she even knew that they had run into some snags, but Castor Parkinson claimed that they would be returning soon.

She tried to stay busy after her friend went home; sketching fashionable lingerie designs and ideas, but she couldn't stop her nerves. She had trouble sleeping that night, wondering what she would do if something happened to him. Would she be able to stay here in her new home? Would they make her move back in with her father? If she moved back home, there was no way that Castor Parkinson would ever let her get her shop off the ground. She tossed and turned, wondering what Greg was doing.

It was well after one when she heard the commotion coming from below. She hurried downstairs in her dressing gown and found Greg bleeding from the shoulder as he was half carried into the house.

"What happened?" Pansy demanded.

Rabastan eyed her critically. "He got in the way. Hope you have some dittany handy or he might lose that arm."

Pansy ordered Mitzy to get some dittany and demanded that Rabastan help take him upstairs. Once Lestrange had him in the bed in the master bedroom she shooed him out.

"The Dark Lord will want to make sure that he's all right," Rabastan told her.

"He will be," Pansy said. "Once you leave and let me take care of him."

Rabastan shot her a look. "I am following orders."

Pansy ignored him and took the dittany from the elf, ripping Goyle's robes off to reveal the long slice on his shoulder. She applied the dittany. The dittany immediately sealed most of the gash, but it was still tender and a little raw looking.

Rabastan stood up. "Good. He won't lose the arm. When he wakes, send him to Avery Castle to be debriefed."

"He needs to rest!" Pansy exclaimed.

"Tomorrow by noon, no later," Rabastan said. "If I have to come looking for him, you'll be sorry."

Pansy glared at him as he left the room and she ordered Mitzy to make sure he left before she turned back to Goyle. He looked pale in the blue sheets, his dark brown hair dishevelled and his face looking almost innocent under his beard. Pansy ordered the elf out of the room when she returned and went into the master bathroom to get a warm cloth. She carefully wiped the blood off of his arm. She summoned a clean cloth and carefully applied more dittany to his arm, wrapping it tightly to hold the salve in. Her long nails, painted a dark purple, gently traced his abs, but he didn't wake.

The sight of him coming in covered in blood had shocked her more than she'd been willing to admit. Panic had set in. The thought of losing him, of suddenly being alone in this big house, pregnant and widowed… She moved to the master bathroom to wash her face and to hide her tears. Once she'd composed herself, she changed into a silk nightie to match her nails and then she crawled into bed next to Greg, her cheek tenderly resting over his chest, one hand on the cloth as if to hold the salve in place and she drifted off to sleep.

She woke a few hours later to the feel of him stirring under her cheek.

"Pansy?" he asked in surprise. "Why am I in your bedroom? What happened?"

"Don't you remember? Rabastan brought you back."

Greg frowned and sat up a little, wincing. "I was hit with a rock or something… I don't remember."

Pansy nodded, her eyes wide. "I applied dittany. But it was a big gash."

Greg looked down at his arm, lifting the cloth to see the red line. "It's tender, but it's healing."

"Does it hurt?"

He shook his head. "Yeah, but it's manageable. Why am I in your bedroom?"

Pansy moved back to where she was before, resting her head over his chest. "Our bedroom." She took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders before she pulled the blankets up.

Greg stared down at her in puzzlement, but he didn't attempt to move. "Our bedroom?"

"I had Mitzy move your things over. It's stupid for you to have your own room. I need you in here with me."

Greg's hand gently rubbed her shoulder. "You do?"

"For the baby," Pansy said, cuddling his naked chest. "Now be quiet and go back to sleep. You have to go to Avery Castle in the morning and report to the Dark Lord."

Greg nodded, his eyes still wide as he looked down at his wife. "Er, okay."

Pansy's arm looped around his waist and he let out a soft sigh before he closed his eyes and drifted off. Pansy waited until he was asleep and then she gently brushed her fingertips over his cheek, eyes on him as she checked his arm again. Only then did she let herself go to sleep.

~ ASC ~

Voldemort looked up at the movement in the doorway. "How did the mission go, Bart?" Voldemort asked. "I understand that young Goyle was injured?"

"He got in the way," Crouch said, bitterly. "Love having the muscle, but I don't much trust him with a wand."

Voldemort merely pursed his thin lips. "But, the question is, did you find it?"

"Yes, my Lord," Crouch said. "It was right where you said it would be. I can see why you believe it would be safe there. It's almost poetic."

Voldemort's red eyes gleamed. "Isn't it? We'll be off in a few days to put it in its proper place. Only my most trusted, of course."

"Of course," Crouch said, bowing his head.

"And young Mr Gray."

Crouch frowned. "Gray? My Lord, he's still green! He only just accepted your Mark a week ago and you would trust him with something as important as this?"

Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "You would dare to question me, Bart?"

"No, my Lord. Never! I only want to understand why him. I am your most trusted, my Lord, your most faithful."

Voldemort stood up and moved over to where Crouch stood before him, head bowed. He cupped his chin with his spindly fingers before he pushed him down to his knees. "You are my most faithful, Bart. My favourite. You know this."

Crouch's eyes stayed glued to Voldemort's feet as he nodded. "Thank you, my Lord."

"Mr Gray will be coming along. I trust you will keep him in line to do his part. He's vital to the mission."

"Yes, my Lord."

Voldemort tapped his hand on Crouch's head. "And if you keep him in line and do what I ask of you, I will reward you." He gripped Crouch's hair and pushed his face against his robes. "Yes?"

"Yes," Crouch moaned, his fingers playing with the hem of Voldemort's dark robes.

Voldemort shoved him back and ordered him to stand.

"How are your wives, Bart? The pregnancies are coming along by now, are they not?"

"Yes," Crouch told him, scrambling to his feet. "Both are starting to show now. Bellarosa has finished decorating the dungeons and we'll move them down there within the week. The two bitches have stopped fighting me when I tell them to suck me off, its rather lost its fun."

Voldemort's lips curled. "I'm sure you'll find someone else to strike your fancy soon."

"The others will be moved as well, right?"

"Most likely. You don't want your wives moving into the Crouch home, do you?"

"That house should be burned to the ground," Crouch spat. "Nothing but misery there, not to mention that dear old dad hardly kept it up. It's rotting from the inside out."

"Might be a good place to move the women," Voldemort said. "I'll send Bellarosa to take a look at it. She's quite a wonder when it comes to renovation charms."

Crouch nodded. "Is it wise to let them live there so freely my lord? You know that they still disrespect me at every turn. I have to keep them chained to prevent them from running off."

"Ah, Bart, they would not be left unsupervised. I know how these brides feel about their new husbands. As long as they're alive long enough for the children to be delivered, I could care less what happens to them after that."

"Thank you, my Lord!"

Voldemort merely stared at him. "You'll have your boy and you can start grooming him to be a proper pureblood. In the meantime, speak to Bellarosa about the Crouch home. Perhaps if she does well, we can move them there. Avery Castle is getting... crowded."

"Yes, my Lord."

When Crouch left him alone, Voldemort tapped his long fingers on the table in front of him. Soon he would have the last piece hidden away and then he could proceed with the next part of his plan. He wondered how long it would take the wizard to break once he had him.

He couldn't wait to find out.