Author's Note:
Happy Easter Weekend to those who celebrate.
Reviews and Comments: To JamesTKent: My cowardly stalker was scared away it seems, but thanks. And thanks about the chapter, it was fun to write some good old family fluff. To xluvsophia: Thank you! It's nice to hear from you and I love using a bit of history and mythology and making it my own. To scrappy8: Wow, so many words, I finally did it! Thank you! To Nightwing2013: Ha, I'm sure it did, but they are a bit young yet to be thinking about babies. I'm glad just reading Crouch's name makes you cringe, I consider that a good sign. To Nuno Neves: I think Zee is a wonderful mother to Harry as well and Harry getting to be a big brother is just so fun to write. To elin2002: Thank you! To redmen6blight: Voldemort's strength does seem to be increasing and the end will be dark. To Wolf's scream: Nope, Tom doesn't know it's a fake and yet he protected it so strongly. To manugonzalezsu: Thank you so much! And thanks for reviewing, it really does make authors feel great to hear your thoughts, so keep that in mind! To millie15128: I don't think Harry will ever meet the Dursleys again, no. It doesn't really fit into this story. But if you want to read a Dudley/Harry reunion, I did write one in my Missing Moments story, chapter twelve.
To Dianne: Thank you! I loved writing the Weasley banter, it's so fun. Harry should definitely be grateful it was Theo and not one of the Weasley boys or worse, Mr and Mrs Weasley LOL. To ValGrey02: Thank you, I love the Weasleys as well. To DeadFish37: Thank you, I love the mythology of the causeway so it was fun to add in. To bakobingo: Thank you very much. To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: I like writing Charlie and we'll see more of him. To kanishkkannu: Action will be coming too, but still a few more chapters away. As to the HBP ask, I liked the idea of the book belonging to James. I don't think it took away from Snape's work as potioneer, I think it only showed how intelligent he was as well to add to the potions someone great like Fleamont Potter, had already corrected. To ScoutGinevra: Not at all because it seems like a new story every time when I have so many characters to choose from. To alix33: I thought Fred would find it funny that Molly would say the family is usually better behaved lol. To LunaSetsuna: Thank you! It's so nice to hear something I wrote has brought people to both tears and laughing fits! To nothatchhavi: I think you're right and Sirius is definitely laughing at Harry's reaction to the nappies. I think Ginny and Audrey will be friends as well.
To Seriously Sam: Yes, Greg might have giant blood and yes, it is escalating lol. Of course Remus is a worried dad! To Elora Donovan: Thank you! I hope I do get to 10K reviews, that would be amazing! To ANewRanger: Thank you and I'm happy to back posting weekly as well. To Undead Gothic Princess: Thank you! It's nice to hear people calling themselves loyal fans, how lovely! To speedsONEandONLY: Haha, of course he didn't want her to stop! And yes, I think Albus definitely uses people. To Steelcode: Theo will never stop teasing about the fruit baskets, but I think Harry won't be sending any more this time around LOL. To WinkingSkeever: I appreciate that. To Alexandra Hutanu: Thank you very much! It is hard to sometimes not become discouraged by such negative reviews, but all of the love I get pouring in from people like you make a difference. Thank you! To Spike's Number One Pet: Thanks for reading! I'm glad you're caught up and enjoy what's to come! To Guest: Aww, Neville and Hannah are cute indeed. To pix25: Theo's input makes me happy as well. To Saz J: Thank you! Always happy to supply you with a cuteness overload! To Mika Markerhad: I have no idea what your review said, I'm sorry. Google translate only helped with two sentences, but thank you, I think.
To Krazyasibe: I'm glad it's not just me, but I hope others realize that reviewer is a tool as well. To Sel99: Thank you! I'm dying to know the end as well LOL. To The Go1den Snitch: What a great question! I like to think all of the Weasleys can tell them apart for the most part, but obviously when one is distracted, it's easy to get them mixed up. Then Angelina and Lee Jordan because they've known them so long and Remus. Harry can, but it takes him a minute and only because he's known them so long as well. And I agree, the twins would definitely appreciate those who can tell them apart more than those who can't. To RishIdea8: Thank you! I have no idea. I don't plan on a chapter by chapter basis. All I can say is there's more.
To briana_t: Thank you! I thought it was cute for him to talk to Mina about why she was supposed to be sleeping. And ha, not wrong, but definitely would be funny if one of her brothers caught them. To AQuickRead91: Happy to supply a good laugh. My favourite character tends to vary. But usually my first choices are always Sirius, Ron, and Ginny. I love the way they are undeniably loyal and loving. How they're friends first and foremost and even though they make mistakes, they don't give up on those they love. I don't think there's a character I would rewrite, at least no one I can think of. To Harem_HP_GW_is_Queen: Thank you! I'm always down to increase my review count, especially on fanfictionnet because I'm only a few hundred away from hitting 10K!
To Ginny22: Well, the dark was bound to circle back LOL. To GryffindorHealer: Thank you! And yes, I agree completely with your statement, that's why the giants have so much gold. They don't consider it treasure not like magic. To Leapyearbaby29: Thank you. To Hellpony: Thanks! I wondered if anyone would catch that, considering Fleur is part Veela herself. To BleedRedandGold: What a beautiful review! Thank you! I'm honoured that you think "a second, third, or forth reading" is worth it!
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-NINE:
Harry met Dumbledore in the Chamber of Secrets that evening. He immediately noted that Remus and McGonagall's large defensive obstacle course was even bigger this year as he eyed their progress surrounding the mini lake under Slytherin's statue. He was so focused on the obstacle course he almost didn't see the headmaster who was standing at the base of the statue, staring up at it, and looking very much lost in thought.
"Professor Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore turned, a smile on his face. "Hi, Harry. Forgive me. I was thinking."
"No need to apologize, Sir.".
Dumbledore nodded. "Well, I'm sure that you're wondering why I decided to have us meet down here of all places."
"I assumed that you had another practical lesson in mind and wanted to utilize the space."
"I do," Dumbledore assured him. "But first I wanted to talk to you. Let's go inside."
Harry followed Dumbledore up the path and into the statue, leading into the office. A fire was roaring and Dumbledore had tea and biscuits on the small table between the two armchairs. Harry noticed that the walls had recently been filled with books and potions.
"Professor Slughorn has been using this as a bit of an office. He likes the ambiance of it once having belonged to Slytherin himself. Plus, the lift down from the dungeons makes it seem not so far away. Sit, have some tea."
Harry did as instructed and waited for Dumbledore to speak.
"As you know, the Ministry of Magic is working with the Order of the Phoenix in our common goal against Voldemort. I know that it doesn't seem like we're doing much, but I assure you, every step is crucial towards helping us defeat him once and for all."
Harry nodded, helping himself to a lemon biscuit. He was getting tired of hearing that. He knew that they were working towards taking down Voldemort, but it seemed like Voldemort and his followers were always one step ahead of them in some way or other. Every time Harry felt like they had reached a point where they had to be close to the end, it seemed further away. Until Voldemort made an appearance where they could kill off his snake, they were stuck waiting. It was the waiting that was causing most of the havoc.
"I understand that, but how long are we going to let him keep attacking Muggles and innocent people? The attacks all over London? The missing people? The papers have been littered with it." Harry said, dragging his fingers through his hair. "You said that he thought he was going to take over the Ministry, yet he's made no move to do that. He's just sitting back and… I don't know what he's doing outside of creating panic."
Dumbledore tapped his fingers on his thigh. "Yes, he is creating panic. That's something that he is very good at it. We have Ministry witches and wizards working on the attacks and the missing people, working both with the Muggles and on their own, but in the meantime, we must wait. I know this frustrates you. You're a young man and I remember being your age. Everything needs to be now and quickly or it feels like it's the end of the world. I sympathize with how you're feeling, Harry, which is why there are a few things that I want to discuss with you tonight."
Harry waited, wondering what it was that Dumbledore wanted to bring up. Had something else happened? Something that the papers hadn't mentioned?
"I asked Remus to make contact with Adrian and Volk from the werewolf packs. I believe that they can help give us some information on why Voldemort has been spending some time on the Isle of Staffa, specifically in Fingal's Cave."
"Fingal's Cave, Sir?" Harry said in surprise.
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "You know the legend of course, how Fionn mac Cumhaill and Benandonner, each too afraid to fight the other, built the cave and the causeway which has become such a prominent landmark. Mac Cumhaill's boot is often visited by Muggles as a tourist attraction. Mac Cumhaill was the Gurg of the giant village in Ireland and Benandonner was the Gurg here in Scotland, the two were enemies and wished to take over the other's tribe. As you know, they both decided the fight wasn't worth it and they each ran off in cowardice instead of fighting. The giants still use the cave despite no longer having a village on the island and its rumoured to be full of magic and secret passageways."
"But the giants don't live there anymore, do they, Sir?"
"Not on Staffa or in the cave, no," Dumbledore replied. "But they have history there. The Gurg keeps his treasures there. They still use the cave to help them travel, and of course, they stay there along the coast, but giants prefer to stay in the mountains. But lately there has been a lot of activity on the Isle of Staffa both near the cave and surrounding it."
"Werewolf activity?"
"For starters, yes. Staffa is close enough to Hogwarts that it does pose some worry about why they might be there. But the main thing is that Voldemort likes Fingal's Cave as a hiding spot for the diadem."
"For the diadem?" Harry asked, unable to hide is surprise. "Ravenclaw's diadem? Wait, you mean he still hasn't hidden it? He still doesn't know that it's a fake?"
"No," Dumbledore said. "He's looking to put it away in Fingal's Cave, but I don't know when or why. As to not knowing it's a fake, I don't believe that he's even attempted to check. I have a theory regarding that. I think that he cannot touch a Horcrux without great pain being inflicted upon him. A pain that is like a longing for his soul pieces to be reconnected."
"He touches Nagini, Sir."
"Yes," Dumbledore said, his brow furrowing. "But her being alive and him having been milked by her… I'm not sure if that dims the connection or if it strengthens it in some way. You both felt pain when he touched you before the Horcrux was removed."
Harry nodded. That was true. The pain had been unbearable and he hadn't even thought to wonder if Voldemort felt the same intense pain when he came into contact with a part of his soul. "So, you think that he doesn't want to touch it in case he reacts badly to it?"
"More or less. I believe that he doesn't want to deal with the possibility of a reaction to it and it hasn't even crossed his mind that anyone could've found it and destroyed it. He doesn't believe anyone is smart enough to have even considered he'd gone that far in death."
"Don't his Death Eaters know, Sir? Malfoy and Bellatrix both held parts of it in storage for him."
"No," Dumbledore answered. "I don't believe they do. They know snippets and rumours. I'm sure some of them suspect that he's done something big considering he returned from the dead, but no, Voldemort would never share that kind of personal thing with one of his followers as it would imply trust and friendship, two feelings that he does not possess."
"What would be his connection to Fingal's Cave, Sir?"
Dumbledore tapped his fingers on his thigh. "I'm not sure. That's another reason why I would like to know more about the activity on the island. I would like to know more about their activities concerning the diadem and how or why the giants may be involved with his hiding of it."
"I thought some of the giants might be agreeing to peace talks, Sir." Harry said.
He remembered Fred and George telling him about being in Diagon Alley when two of the giants arrived looking for an agent from the Ministry to discuss peace with. The paper had quoted it as a potential new alliance.
"Some of them have," Dumbledore answered. "But most are still very supportive of Voldemort. Agent Hoffman and a few other DRCMC agents are doing what they can to try to get more of the giants to come to the table to talk or at least be willing to listen to what the Ministry of Magic is offering them."
"And you think that Uncle Remus can help figure out why the werewolves are there?"
"For a start," Dumbledore said. "Unfortunately, there's still a lot that we don't know, Harry."
Harry nodded, his eyes on Dumbledore. "And in the meantime, we wait."
"Yes," Dumbledore repeated.
Harry helped himself to a lemon biscuit, trying to bite down his anger. He knew that Dumbledore was right, he even understood his reasoning, but he was so tired of being told that he had to wait.
How much longer would he be forced to wait?
How much longer until Voldemort made a move?
"I know it's frustrating for you which is why tonight I also wanted to give you this."
Harry's eyebrow furrowed as he looked down at the coin in Dumbledore's hand. "A coin?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "It is one of the commander coins."
Harry's eyes widened. "One of the... really, Sir?"
Harry had heard the coins had been handed out. He remembered Sirius telling him that the new Defence Department had ordered a ton of them, that Fred and George were manufacturing them. Hermione had passed off instructions on charming them to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Office of Equipment and Tactical Gear, but he hadn't actually seen them. He didn't know that they were already in place.
"You will carry this with you at all times," Dumbledore explained. "When you feel that you need help, all you have to do is touch it. Your coin is connected to my own, to Rufus Scrimgeour, and to each head of each section of the defence squads. Voldemort will bring the fight to you, Harry. We've talked about this. You know that it will be this way."
"Yes," Harry admitted.
"And you having one of these coins is crucial to that," Dumbledore said, quietly.
Harry accepted the coin, his eyes on the GWCS logo carved into it. The fancy lettering engraved on the face of a phoenix that symbolized such hope. He knew exactly what this coin meant and he understood the implications that Dumbledore was telling him by passing it to him. He pocketed the coin before his eyes met the headmaster's.
"I just have to touch it?"
"Yes. Hold your fingers to it for ten seconds and it will heat in your hand. When you feel the heat, you know it worked. The coins it is connected to, will immediately connect to you, providing a location as to where you are. From there, the other people with commander coins will do the rest. But help will come to you."
Harry nodded, pulling the coin out of his pocket to stare at it again.
"Harry, there is no shame in you not wanting to take that coin," Dumbledore continued. "This is a lot that I am asking you, a lot that I am expecting from a soon to be seventeen-year-old young man."
"Do you think that I can do it, Sir?" Harry asked, his eyes still on the coin.
Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled at him over his half moon spectacles. "Without a doubt, Harry."
Harry felt the weight of the coin in his hand just as much as the rush of confidence that soared through him at Dumbledore's words. When the time came, he would be ready. No matter what happened in the end.
He pocketed the coin again. "I won't let you down, Sir."
Dumbledore smiled. "I would never bet against you, Harry. Now, why don't we finish our tea before we see see if you can defeat me in a duel tonight."
Harry kept his eyes on Dumbledore's wand as he nodded. He had yet to defeat Dumbledore in a duel, but he sure as hell was intent on trying. Every time he thought he had the headmaster, Dumbledore surprised him.
"Sir? What you've been teaching me, about using the elements along with the basic spells and hexes I've already learned, is that how you defeated Grindelwald?"
Dumbledore frowned, his hand gripping the table. "I defeated Grindelwald by sheer luck, Harry. We were equal in terms of our duelling skills. We'd fought together many times in the past, practiced on each other. I knew his skills as well as my own. When it came down to that fight, I didn't think that I was going to win."
"What happened, Sir?"
Dumbledore stared down into his tea for so long that Harry was beginning to wonder if the man was going to answer him. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.
"He was my friend. In that time, we both realized the equivalent of our powers. We were evenly matched in both power and intellect. We spent hours discussing academic research on spells and curses, dissecting the engineering and sustainability of charms and hexes. As you know, we became obsessed with magical relics. We believed that if we could find the mythical Deathly Hallows, we would be able to do anything — we could change the world."
"But you never found all of them," Harry said.
Dumbledore shook his head. "No. We realized, even without the Deathly Hallows, we had both become incredibly powerful. Our knowledge and capabilities, together, were unparalleled to most. Grindelwald convinced me that the it was safer for both of us if we were to create a blood pact together."
"What's a blood pact?" Harry asked, his brow furrowing. "Is that like an Unbreakable Vow?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "The ritual requires us to mix our blood with our wands and swear an oath that we would never fight each other. We thought that it would help us preserve our friendship; a fail-safe if you will to ensure that no rift would ever set us apart while we embarked on our grand endeavour to ignite the sparks of revolution. If you remember, we were young and foolish, desiring to cause a rift between magical and non-magical people, to rule over the Muggles in order to help them better themselves. It was foolish and dare I say, full of bigotry and misunderstanding. The blood oath meant that we could never harm the other, both protecting each other and hindering each other in the end."
Harry remembered Sirius telling him a story about how he and his father had once mixed their blood, proclaiming each other to be blood brothers in a much cruder form than through a magical pact. Dumbledore looked sad again, like he was lost in memories before he caught himself.
"The blood pact was the beginning of the end for our friendship. We were getting deeper into the research of the Deathly Hallows, more determined than ever to find them and possess them. It consumed our lives. We did nothing but work on trying to find them, following leads everywhere we could find. My younger brother, Aberforth, told me it was far-fetched and impossible to find these magical relics. I didn't believe him. I thought that if anyone could discover them and their magical properties it would be me and Gellert. We were too smart not to discover them. I didn't want to listen to Aberforth and well, eventually things turned south."
"You saw that Grindelwald was evil?" Harry guessed.
Dumbledore's blue eyes looked sad. "No. My sister died."
"Oh. Sir, I'm so sorry," Harry said, quickly.
He shook his head, tears in his eyes. "Thank you. It was a long time ago, but it was… it woke me from my stupor and it showed me that the Deathly Hallows were nothing more than a legend that caused death to those who hunted them. Gellert and I argued and he… we went our separate ways."
"But Grindelwald found the Elder Wand," Harry said.
"He did," Dumbledore said. "He stole it from Mykew Gregorovitch, a well known European wandmaker. It happened sometime in the early 1920s that he came across it. Gregorovitch was hoping to duplicate the power of the Elder Wand when Grindelwald stole it from him."
"Wait," Harry said. "He stole it? He didn't duel him for it?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "No. Gellert was always one to take the easy way out when it was offered. He stole the wand and it became his."
Harry frowned. "Doesn't the wand choose the wizard? I remember Mr Ollivander saying that to me."
"Yes," Dumbledore said simply. "So, by stealing it rather than winning it in a duel, Grindelwald was never able to absorb the wand's true potential."
"What does that mean, Sir?"
"Wands are magical on their own, Harry. Each core is chosen carefully to match with the wood it's crafted in. Wandmakers know which magical artefacts to mix and blend and which to stay away from, but every wand has its own unique elements that connect with one certain individual more than another. If I were to use your wand, I could do extraordinary magic with it, but my magic would always be greater with my own wand," Dumbledore explained. "Remus had you find a second wand, did he not?"
Harry pulled out the second wand he kept in a holster at his right ankle. "This one. It's twelve inches, hawthorn wood with a blend of a unicorn hair and a dragon heartstring entwined together."
"And it works for you?"
Harry nodded. "Yes. It's an excellent wand, but my holly wand with a phoenix feather just feels more natural in my hand, like a part of me."
"That's what the right wand does," Dumbledore told him. "Wands swear allegiance to their owners and when you disarm someone, you've stolen that allegiance and it is up to the owner to take it back. Gregorovitch never took the wand back and eventually the wand did surrender itself to Grindelwald, but he still never reached the full power of the bond between wand and wizard."
Harry stared at the fifteen inch elder wood wand in the headmaster's hand. It had a smooth, unadorned shaft with a handle formed from two conjoined spheres making it look almost bone like.
"Sir, if you made a blood pact, how did you fight him and win?"
Dumbledore offered a small smile. "I had some help in destroying the blood pact and when I finally faced Gellert in 1945, we duelled. It was long and full of passion, an arduous battle, but in the end, I disarmed him. He had been my friend once. After the duel, he was captured and tried by the International Confederation of Wizards and sent to Nurmengard, the prison he built himself to hold his enemies. He's still there."
"Have you ever visited him, Sir?"
Dumbledore's blue eyes met Harry's, tears glistening in them. "Once."
He stood up, wand at his side. "Enough chat now, I want to see what you've learned. On your feet, Harry."
Harry followed Dumbledore out of the office and into the Chamber of Secrets, wand at his side, and wondered what it was about that final duel in 1945 that made Dumbledore look so sad.
~ ASC ~
When Harry returned to the common room that night, he found Ron sitting in an armchair by the fire, tickling Hermione as she giggled and tried to get him to stop. He stared at them a moment, watching the happiness dance in Hermione's eyes as she squealed and he thought how happy he was that two of his best friends had finally found each other. Hermione squealed again and Harry stood in front of them.
"If you two are done, I'd like to have a word."
Hermione let out another squeak as Ron's fingers found her ribs before she composed herself. "Thank you, Harry. I thought that he would never stop."
"She loved it," Ron said, pulling Hermione into the chair with him more securely. "She's insanely ticklish. It's kind of endearing, actually."
Harry thought it was best not to comment on that. "Where's Ginny?"
"I think she went up to bed," Ron told him.
Harry frowned. "All right. I guess I'll fill her in tomorrow." He reached into his pocket to pull out the GWCS coin, letting it glisten in the palm of his hand. "I wanted to show you this. Dumbledore gave me it to me tonight."
Ron's eyes widened to saucers. "Is that… blimey! Hermione, that's one of the coins you invented!"
"We invented," Hermione corrected. "I never could have completed them without your help, Ron. Harry, what did Dumbledore say when he gave it to you?"
"He told me that it's one of the commander communication coins," Harry said. "If I use it, it will alert everyone to where I am. This coin is… he says that I'm to use it when I think it's time."
"When you think… you mean when Voldemort comes after you?" Hermione whispered.
Harry nodded. "More or less."
Hermione stared at the coin, biting her bottom lip. "May I?"
Harry passed the coin over for her to examine. "Dumbledore thinks that when the moment arrives, I'll know it. He says that if anyone is going to know when that time is, it will be me and that I should have one of the coins to alert the guard, the defence squads, and well, everyone."
Hermione examined the coin closely, her finger tracing the carving of the phoenix and the GWCS markings.
Ron let out a low whistle. "Well, that's a boatload of manly responsibility to come flying out of nowhere."
"Not exactly flying out of nowhere, Ron," Hermione hissed. "We all knew it was coming!"
"Yeah," Harry admitted. "It still feels odd. It is a lot of responsibility and, I guess after our lesson tonight it just hit me… it's the beginning of the end, kind of."
He moved to sit in the chair across from them, accepting the coin back from Hermione and examining it more closely. The phoenix with his wings spread wide, rising up over the dawn was such a symbol of hope. He liked that it symbolized the Phoenix Initiative just as much as new hope.
Ron stared at him. "Yes, and no, Harry. You still don't know any more than you did yesterday and we're still essentially waiting, but… it is the start of the end. I mean, at least we hope it is. The First War went on for almost a decade."
Harry couldn't imagine living another ten years with the world subjected to this kind of panic and fear. "This one won't be. I do know that. And we know a little more," he admitted, telling them about the giants and the rumours of the werewolves near Fingal's Cave.
"He wants to hide the diadem there?" Hermione asked. "That's interesting! You know that Fingal's Cave is one of the most mysterious places in the world. Even the Muggles lean towards the legend of the giants creating it. Some people believe it's even connected to the Bermuda Triangle in terms of disappearing ships, mysterious treasures, and secret tunnels. They say pirates hid treasures there, only for them to disappear without a trace."
"Giants kept them," Ron said. "Giants love treasure. They like to collect it, hoard it. Grandpa used to tell a story about a giant who hoarded so much treasure that he was buried alive in his own pile of gold. They don't even use it. They just love the shiny objects. Giants love to just count their riches."
Harry frowned. "How many treasures have gone missing over the years?"
"Hundreds," Ron replied. "Thousands probably, though a lot of them were probably lies, people making up riches in hopes of getting something. Plus, I bet a lot of them were the same treasure that kept reappearing over and over again through the years."
"That one makes the most sense," Harry agreed. "Does anyone know how many secret passages are in Fingal's Cave?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. Legends claim that a secret doorway lies behind every hexagonal rock and that when the rocks shift, the passage vanishes."
"Plus giants use them to travel around," Ron said. "Bill once told me that giants don't like to get their feet wet so, they travel underground in secret tunnels under the ocean in these air pockets that keep them on dry land right under the water. It's like a secret place where they're under the ocean and in the ocean, but not in the ocean or in the water. It leads them around the island and allows them to climb up on shores and cliffs on their treks to the mountains so that Muggles don't see them."
"Would Voldemort know the secrets from the giants?" Hermione asked. "Is that why he's chosen their cave?"
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "Dumbledore isn't sure either, but he thinks that the cave must hold something special for him if he's choosing to hide the fake diadem there."
"All of the other locations definitely did," Hermione agreed. "They each held a personal connection to Voldemort himself."
"Exactly," Harry said. "Dumbledore doesn't know when he's going to attempt to hide the fake diadem in the cave, but apparently it's something that he's considering. Snape told him that Goyle was part of a mission there and was injured."
"Goyle?" Ron said, wrinkling his nose. "That buffoon has joined up, then?"
"I don't know if he had much of a choice, Ron," Hermione said.
"He married Parkinson so that's something," Ron said.
"And they're expecting a child," Harry told them. "We know that he's a Death Eater, but after what we saw with Malfoy and Zabini, we can't be sure how many of them are willing participants."
Ron scoffed. "That moron can barely tie his own shoes. I doubt he put too much thought into choosing a side. Besides, he's the one who let word out to Theo's father that he didn't want to share a dorm with a poofter."
Hermione frowned. "I don't know. I heard him defend Theo twice when some younger Slytherins made mention of him being gay. He definitely scared them straight. He used to hide out in the back corner of the library and read. It always surprised me and if anyone caught him, he would scare them off."
"Whatever, he's still a Death Eater," Ron said. "And I still think he's an idiot."
"But Goyle being in the cave only tells us that Voldemort was seriously looking into the cave, we don't know anything else," Harry interrupted. "Dumbledore's concern at the moment is the werewolf activity on and around the Isle of Staffa, especially because it is in Scotland."
"Fifty-two point nine four kilometres away from the castle, actually," Hermione stated.
Ron frowned. "Okay, so werewolves that close to the castle is a bit concerning."
"Uncle Remus is going to speak to the packs and see if he can find out what's happening. At least that's what Dumbledore said and I'll ask Uncle Rem about it tomorrow to see what he found out."
"When he knows something, he'll tell you, Harry," Hermione said. "Isn't Scotland technically under Volk's territory? He's the one that doesn't really seem like he actually wants to be allies with the Ministry, but is because he's upset with Greyback, right?"
Harry nodded. "More or less. Uncle Remus doesn't fully trust him, but he says that his need for revenge is holding him in their favour. At least for now."
"Wait," Ron said, scratching his long nose. "I thought that Volk controlled the packs in Germany?"
"He does," Harry replied. "But he controls most of the European packs. He has lieutenants all over the continent and one of them runs the Scottish packs as part of a larger European pack. As far as I know they are peaceful and correspond with the English packs, but there are rogues and they tend to stick with Greyback."
Ron nodded, looking apprehensive. "Another thing though, there's nothing near Fingal's Cave. No one lives on the island, not since the giants left centuries ago."
"That's another reason why the presence of so many wolves is worrisome. There's nothing for them there," Harry explained.
Hermione tapped her fingers on her leg. "It's not a large island and they wouldn't have any shelter or places to, well, hunt."
"Like I said, it brings about some questions," Harry told them.
Ron frowned. "More than I'd like."
Harry shoved the coin back into his pocket. "For now, as per usual, we wait and see what happens next."
"More attacks, more chaos," Ron supplied.
Harry wished that wasn't the case but he knew that his friend was right. The waiting meant more havoc and it worried him how much more damage was going to be done before the end arrived. And he hoped that when it did come, he really did know that it was the right time.
~ ASC ~
Harry woke up the next morning, feeling energized and anxious for their match against Slytherin. He showered and dressed, merely raising an eyebrow at Seamus as he stumbled out of his bed, one sock still on, and in nothing but red boxers with green hearts on them. Dean poked his head out from the bed curtains and grinned sheepishly at Harry.
"Morning, Harry."
"Morning, Dean," Harry said, shaking his head in amusement.
Seamus stumbled into the bathroom, still yawning as Harry made his way downstairs, thinking it was better to leave his roommates to their own devices.
By the time he made it down to the pitch, he felt ready to go. He waited for his team to arrive, gave a quick pep talk and headed out onto the pitch. The game was indeed a quick one, but Harry had to admit that Slytherin's new team was a hell of a lot better than he'd expected. But nevertheless, Gryffindor won when Harry grabbed the Snitch forty-five minutes into the game making the score four hundred and ten to one hundred and twenty.
Harry congratulated his team on a job well done and claimed that there would be a victory party in the Gryffindor common room. Ron promised to provide food and drink and everyone headed off to the changing rooms to shower and change. Ginny, Katie, and Demelza were laughing about something or other by the door to the change rooms. Harry put his Firebolt in his cubby and pulled his shirt off, tossing it into his bag. Jimmy and Ritchie headed off to the showers as Ron slapped a hand on his shoulder.
"We slaughtered them!"
"We did, but you have to admit, they were decent. Next year they're going to give us a run for our money."
Ron frowned. "Maybe… that kid playing Seeker was good."
"Norton? Yeah, he was." Harry agreed. "He's only a second year, too."
"That girl playing Keeper? The way she was saving those goals made me nervous, but Ginny sure solved that problem."
Harry grinned. "Twenty-five goals in a forty-five minute game? She's a bloody menace! I'd hate to play against her."
Ron snorted. "As the Keeper on the receiving end of those goals, I second that." He grabbed his bag and put his broomstick over his shoulder. "Hey, I'm going to head down to the kitchens and see what I can get out of the house elves. I'll shower in the dorm."
"Neville mentioned something about Hannah baking fairy cakes?"
"Excellent!" Ron said. "I'll find him first. Seamus already has some drinks for us."
"Make sure Hermione doesn't see you pouring those," Harry warned.
Ron's smile was quick. "Please. I know my way around her."
Harry shook his head as he watched his friend hurry off. He doubted Ron knew his way around Hermione as much as Hermione let him think he did. He grabbed his toiletry kit and headed off to the showers. He'd just stood under the spray, letting the hot water shower his face. He closed his eyes, basking in the feeling of the jet hitting him, moving over his sore muscles and making him relax.
He loved Quidditch, but he was always surprised by how much a game could make him need a massage, among other things. Playing with his girlfriend was both a blessing and a curse. She was a menace on the pitch, scoring goal after goal. The way those hands gripped her broomstick as she leaned forward, thighs hugging the wood, red hair in the wind… his hand reached down to grip his growing erection at the thought, wondering if he had time for a quick wank before he found said gorgeous Chaser and snogged her brains out.
He moved his hand along his shaft just as he heard the curtain open and pale freckled arms encircled his waist.
"Were you thinking about me?"
Harry tugged her around in front of him, eyes on her French manicured nails as they gently ran along his abs. "I'm always bloody thinking about you."
Harry let his gaze travel over his girlfriend. Her gorgeous red hair tumbled down her back and over her shoulders. He admired the pale skin, scattered freckles before his gaze landed on the black and pink bra and knickers she wore.
"How come I'm starkers and you are scantily covered?"
Ginny pressed her lips to his chest, kissing the wet skin as the water rained down on her. "I don't know what you're implying."
"Where's Katie and Demelza?"
"Went back to the dorms to shower," she whispered, lips pressed against his wet skin. "I decided to surprise you since we're alone."
Harry put his fingers on her chin, lifting her head to look at him before he lowered his mouth to hers for a long, deep kiss. Her nails continued to tease his abs, over his hips, and ribs as his tongue met hers.
"You know what watching you play does to me," he said, kissing her again.
Ginny made an 'mmm' sound against his lips. "Harry, I need you to touch me."
"You killed it on the pitch today," he murmured, nuzzling her neck. "You were fucking brilliant."
Her bra opened and his mouth pressed against her throat.
"It was… a good game," she gasped as his hand reached under the wet fabric to cup a breast. "Touch me."
Harry let his thumb brush over her nipple, kneading it. "I am," he said, his lips curving. "I love watching you fly. You're so bloody sexy. Brilliant." His mouth met hers again. "Seeing you on a broom is incredible."
Ginny made a small gasp as his cock pressed against her stomach. "Harry…"
He groaned when she took his hand from her breast and slowly trailed it down her body, slipping it into her knickers. His fingers found her soaked and he groaned against her neck. Merlin, she was sopping and it made his own erection throb between his legs. His other hand fumbled with her bra straps, dropping the wet fabric to the ground before he kissed her again.
Ginny's hips arched towards his hand and when he began to kiss his way down her body, slowing falling down to his knees, she bit her bottom lip. "Mmm, yes…"
Harry kissed her through her knickers before he slowly lowered the cotton down, tugging them off and dropping them on the shower floor. He took a quick look behind him to make sure the curtain was closed before he picked up her right leg. He kissed her thigh tenderly and then he hooked her leg over his shoulder.
Ginny placed one hand on the tile behind her to give herself more balance as the spray of hot water hit her chest, her other hand fisted in Harry's hair. Her head arched back as his tongue swiped over her.
"Mmm… yes…" she moaned.
Harry let his tongue do the work. He held one hand on her hip and arse to hold her in place as he trailed the other one up to fondle her breasts. He used his tongue aggressively, licking every inch of her. He danced it along her clit, circling and teasing with deep strokes the way he knew she liked it before moving lower to lick her folds. Ginny's fingers tightened on his hair.
"Harry…" she moaned. "Mmm, yes… oh!"
He smiled against her, moving his mouth over her and when he suckled her into his mouth, the sound she made was enough to almost make him come on the spot. He played her with his tongue and her hips moved against him as she pulled on his hair, panting and gasping his name until she finally fell over the edge.
The hot spray continued to fall and hit them as Ginny fell apart under his mouth. When she finally caught her breath, he lowered her leg back to the tile, kissing his way up her stomach and her breasts, lingering on her nipple. When his mouth met hers, she sighed into him.
"I love you."
Harry tilted his forehead against hers, holding her under the spray, his erection pressing against her stomach. "You're so fucking beautiful when you come for me."
Her face was flushed, a mix of the hot water and of the pleasure he'd given her. "I like to come for you."
Harry rubbed himself against her stomach, his eyes on hers. "Me too."
Ginny kissed him before she knelt down and wrapped her hand around him. Harry pressed his hands against the wall behind her, closing his eyes in ecstasy as her mouth wrapped around him.
"Fuck… I'm not going to be more than minute."
Ginny's tongue danced over his tip, lingering under the head and he bit his lip, desperately. He was determined not to come too quick. He wanted to relish in her touch. He licked his lips and tasted her just as she sucked and he groaned. There was no way that he was going to make it if she kept that up.
"Ginny…"
Her hands cupped his bum as her mouth moved down to kiss his balls. She licked and sucked on them, her tongue trailing over and around them before she slid it over his shaft. Her tongue tickled the length of him, circling the tip achingly slow, lingering under the head as he panted. Her mouth had barely taken him again before he was coming. He bit his lip to stop himself from crying out as she held him in her mouth, nails dancing along his balls as she did.
He gasped incoherently as he finished and she made a soft "mmm" sound before she let him go, kissing his tip softly. Then her hands were sliding up his stomach, over his chest and her hands linked behind his neck as her mouth met his.
"Better?"
Harry kissed her, hands tangling in her wet hair. "Everything with you is always better."
Her lips curved. "Sap."
Harry pulled her under the spray, hands moving up her back. He watched the water cover her hair before he spoke. "I want to wash your hair."
Ginny's brown eyes twinkled at him. "I'd like that."
"I only have my shampoo."
Ginny only stared at him. He took the bottle and carefully put a dollop in his hand before rubbing them together and carefully putting them on her scalp. Ginny closed her eyes, sighing happily as his hands rubbed and massaged her head, washing every bit of her hair.
"Mmm, that feels wonderful."
"I love your hair," he murmured. "It's just so vibrant. When it's wet it looks almost brown, but with hints of gold and red in it. It's fascinating."
"Sap," she repeated.
Harry tugged on her hair hard enough to snap her head back and he kissed her neck. "Minx."
Ginny sighed, pressing her body back against him as he finished washing and then rinsing her hair. "My turn."
Harry dutifully turned around, crouching down enough for her to do the same to him. The feel of her fingers rubbing his head was fantastic. He made a sound of contentment when she rinsed his hair and then he stood up, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her until they were both breathless.
Ginny's brown eyes met his when he pulled away. "I need to wash you now."
"Me first," he said, taking the soap from her.
He kept his eyes on hers, watching the way they darkened as he soaped her shoulders, her arms, lifting each arm to soap underneath before he spent a long time soaping her breasts.
"I think they're clean," Ginny said, her eyes twinkling in amusement.
Harry's thumb brushed around her nipple. "Are they?"
"People are going to come looking for us soon," she said, letting her head fall back as he rinsed her breasts and then bent his head to suckle them.
Harry figured she was probably right, but he made no move to speed things up as he soaped up the rest of her. By the time she turned the soap on him, he was standing at attention again. Ginny's hands were soon doing more than washing him and he moaned her name as he came a second time.
Ginny rinsed the soap off of him before she kissed him once more. "I think it's time we head to our Quidditch victory party."
Harry rested his forehead against hers, still partly breathless. "We need to share our showers more often."
She grinned, biting her bottom lip. "We'll be late to everything."
Harry let his hand slide down to cup her bum, wondering if he could go down on her again. "I know."
He sighed in disappointment when she reached around him to shut off the hot water before she grabbed his towel and wrapped it around herself. He watched as she towel-dried her hair and handed him a towel in return. When she reached for her brush, he beat her to it. He didn't speak, taking his time brushing her long gorgeous hair, watching the way each stroke brought out a different colour in the wet strands.
It was another ten minutes before they finally managed to get dressed. Harry was still shirtless as he zipped up his jeans when Theo stepped into the change room, his eyebrow rising.
"You two are starting to be troublesome! Do you know how long I've been barring people from coming in here? I'm going to start charging by the hour if I have to be a lookout again." He let his eyes move over Harry, a small smile on his face. "Can't say I blame Ginny for wanting to spend time licking sweat off that body though. I had no idea you've become so delicious."
Harry's face flushed. "Theo, can't you wait outside?"
"Not anymore," Theo said, taking a seat on the bench. "The steam in here is definitely not only coming from the showers."
Harry rolled his eyes. "You're actually incorrigible, I don't know why Ginny puts up with you."
"Well, I teach her things that please you."
Ginny elbowed Theo as she used her wand to dry her hair. "Enough from the peanut gallery."
"But my comments are so entertaining!" Theo whined.
Ginny quickly braided the front of her hair away from her face and pulled it back into a high pony tail as she spoke. "And annoying. Did Ron get food?"
"Tons. The Gryffindor common room is apparently a buzz with snacks and drinks. I heard a pretty Hufflepuff even made some fairy cakes that are apparently to die for. There are some lemon ones that are calling my name."
"Good, go eat one," Harry said, grabbing his shirt from the bench.
"But then I can't sit here and admire your fine form, Harry."
Harry pulled his shirt over his head, making Theo sigh in disappointment before he grabbed his Firebolt and his bag, shaking his head. "Let's go up to Gryffindor and celebrate kicking Slytherin's arse."
"Ooh, let's!" Theo exclaimed, jumping to his feet. He linked his arm through Ginny's and steered her towards the door. "I should feel bad my house lost, but I want to join in Gryffindor festivities. Besides, now I can help come up with excuses as to why the two of you have been trapped in the showers for almost an hour."
"Theo, I'm tired from the game. Carry me," Ginny whined.
"Have your boyfriend do it. I always see him hauling you around."
"He's tired from the game too... and other activities," Ginny said, her eyes full of mischief.
"You're just lucky I like you so much, chick. Hop on." Theo crouched down to allow her to hop on and turned to Harry. "I expect another fruit basket."
"You and you're damn fruit baskets," Harry muttered. "Get down, Gin."
Ginny frowned but did as he asked, grinning when Harry crouched down for her. She kissed her boyfriend's cheek once she was situated piggyback style.
"You can carry my broomstick and kit," Harry said, passing Theo his Firebolt.
Theo accepted the broomstick. "I'd rather hold your other broomstick if I'm honest," he said, winking.
"Shut it," Harry muttered. "Gryffindor Tower is a long walk."
"You're right," Theo said, putting both of the broomsticks over his shoulder as he took Harry and Ginny's kit in his other hand. "I might need you to carry me, too."
Harry chuckled as Theo skipped off ahead of them. He had a feeling that Theo was definitely not going to be letting this go anytime soon. He kissed Ginny's hand when she stroked his cheek, his soap and shampoo scent on her making his heart race. He loved that she smelt like him in ways that he couldn't put into words. He adjusted her more securely on his back as Theo rambled on about potential excuses for their absence.
A lemon fairy cake sounded really good right about now. He was suddenly feeling ravenous and definitely in the mood to celebrate's Gryffindor win. After all, he and Ginny had already had a mini celebration of their own and he couldn't stop the smile from staying on his lips at the thought.
~ ASC ~
Remus and Tonks met Adrian and Echo in Tobermory the next evening. Volk was supposed to be meeting them there along with his lieutenant, Tavish Campbell. They were meeting on the docks and the cool breeze off the water made Tonks move closer to Remus. He put his arm around her to let her snuggle into his warmth as he glanced at his watch.
"He's late."
"He's always late," Echo replied.
It was only a moment later when the two men appeared at the end of the dock Volk looked just as menacing as ever and Tavish, a tall bearded blond, looked just as imposing.
"Volk, thank you for coming," Echo said. "Tavish, it's nice to see you again. This is Adrian, Remus, and Dora."
"She's not a wolf," Tavish said, his tongue trailing along his lips.
"No, but she's my wife," Remus said, fingers lacing through hers at her hip.
Volk stared out across the water. "Tavish tells me that there's been wolves making camp on the island."
"They've been hunting here as well and not just on the moon," Tavish admitted. "Two Muggles were killed the other night, wild animal attack. And a young witch went missing last week. Her body turned up on the shore this morning, shredded, and her organs were all missing."
"Missing organs?" Tonks asked, frowning.
"Unfortunately, the organs are usually eaten," Adrian said. "Usually last, but Greyback likes to… spread out the pain."
Tonks looked confused for a moment and Remus squeezed her hip when he saw the realization hit her. Greyback liked to train his pack to eat their prey alive.
"Volk, we're assuming that you and Tavish did not give permission for the werewolves to make camp near Fingal's Cave," Remus said carefully. "If they are in fact looking to stay there, we need to know why."
"Not why, but how to get rid of them," Tavish declared. "The last thing we need is rogue wolves attacking the people here. My pack and I have lived here peacefully for over a century because we aren't stupid enough to let bodies turn up!"
Remus frowned. "The Ministry will send in agents from the WCU if necessary, but we're hoping to avoid that and simply find out what's going on."
"If the WCU comes here, there will be a fight. Nothing good will come of it," Tavish admitted. "As to the Isle of Staffa, I sent two wolves over there the other day and they told us that they were just passing through, seeing the sights. A few tourists have disappeared since then and according to my mate, there's been wizards in and out of Fingal's Cave."
"How many?" Remus asked. Dumbledore hadn't said anything about wizards outside of the initial mission Voldemort had sent Death Eaters on to explore the cave.
Tavish shrugged. "Someone claimed that they saw your dark wizard himself."
Remus' frown deepened. If Voldemort had already been seen on the Isle of Staffa, that meant he must have already planted the fake diadem. Dumbledore wasn't going to like that news.
"You're sure?"
Tavish scratched his scraggly beard. "It's what people are claiming. But that's not the main problem. Alec Warren was seen on the island as well."
"Who is Alec Warren?" Remus asked.
"Conan's lieutenant," Volk said, darkly.
"Conan controls half of the territory in Scotland," Echo supplied.
"Not this area," Volk declared. "This is out of bounds and he has no business being here!"
"He was," Tavish told him. "And he was talking to Greyback, that much I know for sure."
Tonks looked out across the water at the Isle of Staffa. "I can get a team of Aurors sent out to investigate."
"We don't want Ministry workers in our territory," Tavish spat. "The island is abandoned for a reason. There's no shelter there. No place for anyone to stay. That's why watching the wolves set up camp is worrisome. They have to leave the island to hunt."
"If Voldemort was truly already on the island, they might not be there much longer," Remus said. "We believe that he may have had business inside of Fingal's Cave."
Tavish nodded. "My father always said that he would come back."
"Come back?" Remus asked.
"He was here once when my father was young. He spent time in Tobermory talking to the locals about the legend. He spoke to my grandfather about the giants and the village they once lived in on the island."
"What did he want to know?" Adrian asked, curiously.
"Mostly about the cave," Tavish said. "He was curious about the cave, the legend of the treasure. There's a story that claims only one who makes a sacrifice can find the treasure within the cave. No one really put any stock in it, but back in the late sixties, two teenage witches went missing. Locals blamed the packs and a lot of werewolves were taken in by the WCU on false charges. Eventually one of the witches turned up, washed up on the shore with signs of torture, raving about the death of her friend, how he made her do it."
Remus frowned. He wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. "When was this?"
"'67 I think," Tavish said. "Girl who survived, her name was Kelly Heart. She died five years later, took her own life. My father always said that whatever had happened in Fingal's Cave had destroyed her."
Volk frowned. "I remember this, Conan had let his pack on the island, claiming he needed to keep guard for a few veeks. Vhen the girl turned up dead, he disappeared. Her death had no signs of verewolf activity on it, so I didn't think it was relevant to vhy he needed to keep guard."
"Obviously it was relevant," Remus said. "Voldemort made a sacrifice thirty years ago and he's come back to finish what he started."
"We just don't know what that is," Tonks replied.
And that was what worried Remus the most.
~ ASC ~
Zee had just put the twins down for a nap when the knock sounded on the front door. She headed down the stairs, wondering who was stopping by in the middle of the afternoon. Her parents had things to do for the day and as far as she knew none of her family members had made plans to stop by, not that it usually stopped them from showing up, but they did usually give word first. When she opened the door, the last person that she expected to see standing there was Althea.
"Thea, hi," Zee said in surprise.
Althea offered a polite smile. "Zee. Sorry to drop in so unexpectedly, but can I come in? I need to talk to you."
Zee nodded, moving out of the way to allow the woman to enter. "Sure. Come in. Where's Xander?"
"Xander stayed in Greece with the kids, but I wanted to talk to you in person," Althea said as Zee closed the front door behind her.
Zee gestured for her to sit in the living room. "Would you like some tea?"
"That would be lovely, thanks."
Kreacher appeared at the word tea. "I will get it, Mistress."
Zee sighed. The elf controlled her more times than not. "Thank you, Kreacher."
Once they were both seated in the living room, Zee waited for the woman to speak. Not for the first time, Zee admired her beauty. She was tall, lean, blonde, and beautiful. She was one of those women who despite having five children looked like she hadn't gained an ounce. Zee was still carrying an extra two kilograms from the twins despite her regular exercise regiment. She wasn't sure what it was about Althea Castellanos Papakonstantinou, but whenever she saw her, she felt a little twinge of jealousy.
It was funny because she remembered how much Sirius had teased her about it; how he'd told her that Althea had meant nothing to him. They were just friends and she knew that. She knew how much he had loved her, yet she still looked at this beautiful woman and felt jealous. It was an emotion that she couldn't put into words.
"What's going on, Thea?" Zee asked, fiddling with the cathedral star engagement ring on her finger.
"Dante Dragomir."
Zee continued to fiddle with the diamond. She remembered that name. "Harry told me that you wrote to him about him. He spoke to Dumbledore, but from what I understand the Bulgarian Aurors haven't found anything."
Althea tapped her fingers on her leg. "Yes, Harry wrote me back to tell me. That's true, they haven't found anything pertaining to him or where he disappeared too, but then he showed up at my house after over two months of no one knowing where he was or what he was doing."
Zee's eyebrow rose. She hadn't expected that. "Well, that's good, isn't it? It means that he's all right? Isn't he?"
Althea shook his head. "No, because now he's missing again. This time, I'm convinced that he's been kidnapped by Death Eaters."
Zee stared at her as Kreacher brought them tea and biscuits. "What makes you so sure?"
"He told me more about what they're looking for. He told me that they want to take him to Voldemort so that he can give him more information on the dark curse."
Zee nodded. They had discussed his research at length at the last Order meeting and why it was vital that Voldemort not get access to it. Dumbledore had gone on to explain how Dragomir was a historian of ancient dark magics and how a lot of what he researched was myth and fiction that had been debunked by defence historians over the years. But it was that little smidge of what hadn't been that was the real concern. That one percent of the dark magic that hadn't been debunked, that couldn't be fought which was worrisome.
"Yes, and we agreed that was true. It seemed like the type of thing that Voldemort would be interested in. Dumbledore explained why it was important that we keep tabs on him if he was truly on Voldemort's radar."
"Yes," Althea said. "But now I think I know exactly why Voldemort wanted to talk to him."
"His research, isn't it?" Zee asked. "That's what Harry said you wrote about. Remus has been looking into his academics and trying to figure out what it is that is attracting Voldemort to it outside of the dark magic history."
Althea tapped her fingers on her teacup. "Yes, but one particular area of his research specifically. Dante was the charms professor when I was at Durmstrang, but his specialty was always in the Dark Arts. He took over the post two years after I left and he spends all of his free time researching. He taught a Defence and duelling club when I was there and he continues to do so now. He was always telling his students that the dark arts have two important distinctions, dark and Dark. He's a brilliant man and Dante thinks that Voldemort wants to use this specific curse on Albus Dumbledore."
"Of course he does, Dumbledore is the one wizard who has always stood up to him. The one whom he never could defeat," Zee said. "Dumbledore himself is aware of how much Voldemort wants him dead. That's hardly a secret."
"Dante said that this would be a way for him to defeat him. He said that if Voldemort was able to get his hands on this curse, Dumbledore wouldn't stand a chance."
Zee frowned. "Dumbledore is too smart to fall for something like that. He's not the kind of wizard who you can trap."
Althea bit her lip. "Everyone seems to think that. I don't know Albus Dumbledore, Zee, but I do know Dante Dragomir, and if he says that Dumbledore is in danger, I believe him. And now Dante is missing for real which tells me only one thing, Voldemort has gotten a hold of him."
"And you think that means that he will give up the curse?"
"Not willingly," Althea told her. "But from what I know about Lord Voldemort, no one can defy him for long. Dragomir is in his seventies, Zee, he's not as young as he used to be. Holding out against Voldemort? How long do you think that he can do that?"
Zee was afraid that was true. She remembered the torture inflicted upon Pettigrew to convince him to turn on his friends almost twenty years ago, she couldn't imagine what new things he had learned since then. "You really think that this Dragomir has information that will help Voldemort hurt Dumbledore?"
Althea kept her eyes on hers. "Zee, I wouldn't have left Xander with the kids and taken a portkey from Greece if I didn't think that it was possible. Dante is a brilliant wizard. He was my mentor growing up and we remained close over the years, exchanging letters even once I moved to England. He's always been there for me and if he says that he's scared, that worries me. Then when he didn't return to my home... Xander told me that he said he was going out, that he needed to check in with a friend, a cursebreaker named Ezio Doukas. But he never made it there."
"What did the authorities say?"
Althea shook her head. "That there's no evidence of foul play. He left my house willingly to meet a friend and the fact that he didn't show up is worrisome, but not a sign of true concern. When I told them that he believed Lord Voldemort was after him, they looked more concerned and said that they would touch base with the British Aurors and the Bulgarian Ministry. I haven't heard anything else since then. That was two days ago! I told Xander that I couldn't wait any longer and that I needed to come here and talk to you in person. You know Dumbledore and I wasn't sure if writing to Harry again was a good idea."
Zee nodded. "No, I appreciate you coming. You don't need to bother Harry with this. Let me contact Albus and see what he thinks."
Althea let out a slow breath. "I'm so worried about him, Zee. He's like a favourite uncle kind of mentor. My kids call him Pappouli Dante. He's always been there for me. But he's an intelligent wizard and some of the stuff he researches... if it were to fall into the wrong hands..."
"I understand, Thea. One moment."
Zee was going to move to the fireplace before she changed her mind and pulled out her wand. She hadn't had much use to use this charm over the last little bit, but she had been practicing. She concentrated hard, trying to focus on the moment she came downstairs from her bath over the Easter holiday and found Harry dozing with a baby on each shoulder. The feeling of love and utter contentment at that moment was the perfect happy memory she needed and the panther Patronus shot out of her wand and disappeared.
"You can produce a corporeal Patronus?" Althea asked in surprise. "I could never do more than mist, no matter how hard I focused on happy thoughts."
"Harry taught me," Zee told her, pride swelling inside of her as another part of her was pleased she could do something this beautiful woman couldn't.
Althea nodded. "Harry can produce a corporeal Patronus? Sirius told me that he was powerful, but that's really impressive. How is he? How are you doing? I didn't even ask, I'm sorry, it's been almost a year since he died."
"Yes," Zee said, marvelling at that thought. It was almost a year and she still sometimes felt like it was only yesterday. "Harry and I are both doing all right. Plus I have the twins who light up my life."
Althea smiled. "Challenging even with help. Sirius would have been an amazing dad if he lived."
"He was," Zee corrected. "He was an amazing dad and I know how much he already loved Leo and Mina before they were born."
"He was a great dad," Althea agreed. "I loved watching him try to be a parent. He didn't want to be, you know. He wanted to be the cool godfather, the fun friend that Harry could have fun with. It wasn't an easy beginning for him. He was so... lost in the beginning. Harry had been abused, physically and emotionally. Sirius had just gotten out of prison and was still dealing with that, with his own grief. He and Remus really came together."
"That's how you met him, wasn't it? With Harry?" Zee asked, her curiosity surprising her. Sirius had mentioned in passing how they had met, but she realized now that she didn't really know much of the details.
Althea nodded. "Yes. Oh... twelve years ago now. He set up an appointment for Sirius Black and when I went into the room, he told me that it was actually for Harry Potter, but we needed to keep that under wraps. The nature of my job requires that I keep patients confidential so that wasn't a problem, but what amazed me was how Sirius described how he'd found Harry only a few days before and the condition that he'd found him in. Yet Harry was so trusting of this man. He clung to him, so desperate for affection and he only agreed to let me examine him once Sirius had assured him that it would be all right. It was Sirius who removed his shirt so that I could examine him properly."
"I wish that I had known them back then. I sometimes wonder if we had met earlier, would it have still been the same. Would I still have wanted him so much at first sight?" Zee admitted.
Althea smiled. "Sirius wasn't ready for you then. He wasn't ready for anyone. It was all about Harry and I respected that. I hoped there would be more, but when I met Xander, I just knew. Sirius and I were always meant to be friends and nothing more. He was waiting for you."
Zee's lips curved. "That's nice to think."
"It's true," Althea assured her. "He was smitten with you at first glance. He always wrote to me about these conquests of his and how he met them and whatnot and with you, he went on for pages about you. Not just a mention that he shagged you, but he went on and on. The way he described how much you knew about bikes and the way he corrected me on your exact hair colour, he was a goner. You ruffled his feathers and he didn't know what to expect. Sirius was never ruffled by a woman, not even a little bit. Until you."
A phoenix Patronus burst into the living room, interrupting them as Dumbledore's voice rang out.
"Minerva and I will be there within the hour to talk."
The phoenix vanished and Zee reached for her tea. "Well, looks like we have some time to spare."
Althea smiled. "Good. That means we can talk more about you and Sirius."
Zee raised an eyebrow. "About me and Sirius?"
"Yes," Althea said, reaching for her tea. "Watching him fall for you was one of the greatest things in my opinion. Did you fall for him right away?"
Zee chuckled. "Sirius? Did I fall for the sexy tattooed shirtless man next door with incredible abs covered in engine grease with a vintage motorbike behind him? Nah, wasn't interested at all."
Althea sipped her tea. "Liar."
Zee helped herself to a biscuit. "Sex appeal wise… Merlin, yes, I wanted him at first sight. I took one look at his body and had an immediate desire to lick the sweat from him like any hot-blooded woman would have. Once he started talking motorbikes, I was intrigued, and then when I met Marauder, I was half in love with that dog. Then he kissed me and there were shooting stars and fireworks."
"He definitely knew how to kiss," Althea agreed. "But, you've never kissed Xander. That man has a way of making my toes tingle with just one kiss."
Zee grinned. "That's a definite good thing."
Althea's lips curved. "Considering we have five children, also a bad thing. Sometimes I swear he just looked at me and I got pregnant."
Zee laughed. "Looking at you one would never guess it. I can't believe you have that body after having five kids."
"Good genes, mostly," Althea admitted. "But I wish I could have your curves. You truly have the most spectacular backside and I'm not ashamed to admit it."
Zee laughed. "Thanks, I think."
"You know when Sirius told me that you thought I was his wife originally, I felt a little gleeful for like half a second. I think I talked Xander's ear off about how gorgeous you were that first day. Sirius did the same to me while denying that he simply found you an attractive nuisance."
"I suppose letting my panther run free wasn't the best first impression," Zee replied. "But in my defence, I didn't expect my neighbour to be so… sexy. When he kissed me… it was definitely more than I expected."
Althea smiled over her tea. "As I said, he really knew how to kiss. I look back at my time with him and it just seems like a dream almost. We became such good friends and he was so supportive of Xander and the kids… he was an amazing man and Merlin, he loved you something fierce, Zee. Did you know that there was a connection from the moment you met him? Did you feel it even then? I think I did from the moment I met Xander. It was like there was this click, you know?"
Zee hesitated. "I knew there was something there. Sirius definitely knew how to kiss, but it was more than that, it was… there was this chemistry. It was like this force… we had hot sex right here in the kitchen and when it was over it was like we both knew it wasn't over. The next thing I knew we were eating leftovers and just talking. When he started talking about his son, I think I knew that it was going to be a hell of a lot more than a few shags. What about you and Xander?"
"Oh, instant chemistry," Althea said, her lips curving. "With Sirius, there was attraction and I was interested and he knew it. He relentlessly pursued me and I feigned indifference, but I was definitely interested. It was fun and hot, but with Xander it was just… explosive. Like when you're with the right person, it just kind of accumulates into the most incredible thing that you can imagine; better than you can imagine."
Zee nodded. "Yes, exactly."
Althea grabbed a biscuit. "Xander was all slow touches that drove me wild and I couldn't get enough of him. We bickered constantly and every argument ended up in just incredible sex. We travelled together and slept in each other's tents and fell in love. It terrified me. It was Sirius who helped shove me back on the right track. I came back to England and we snogged each other senseless to see if we still had any chemistry."
"Did you?" Zee asked.
"No," Althea said. "It was like a memory of the chemistry we once had. We both felt it. It wasn't the same and it was Xander whom I wanted. Xander proposed and I said yes and it was the happiest moment of my life. Sirius had Harry and he was happy. He wasn't looking to settle down. He was still working out how to be both cool godfather and stern dad."
"I'm not sure if he ever truly mastered 'stern dad,'" Zee admitted. "Remus is much better at doling out the sternness. He has a way about him of making you feel both sorry and like you personally disappointed him at the same time. It works every time. Sirius and Harry were always too much alike. They would yell at each other until they were blue in the face, walk away miserable, and come back to make amends. It was interesting to watch."
Althea nodded. "I can see that. Did Sirius ever tell you about the first time that he had to punish Harry?"
"No," Zee said, shaking her head.
"It was maybe a week or two before I left. Harry was five and he was busy planning the treehouse. Marauder ran off and Harry, being a boy, went after him. Sirius understandably panicked when he realized that Harry was missing. By the time he caught up with him, he was furious and thankful that he was okay and he spanked him. Harry cried and so did Sirius. He told me afterwards, that he thought he was the worst sort of man imaginable, for how could he spank a child who had been abused? He was so worried that Harry would hate him, but he said McGonagall talked him down and it was because of that moment that they crafted the house rules together."
Zee smiled. "I love those rules. I knew that they wrote them together, but I didn't know the context."
Althea nodded. "He was so determined that Harry would have no rules and no discipline. He wanted to be the cool godfather and I told him that as Harry grew more comfortable and more at home, he would start to act out. He didn't believe me and sure enough, it happened. He'd bitch to me about how Harry didn't want to eat his vegetables and how he refused to eat cauliflower because Remus called it ghost broccoli. He didn't want to go to bed or take a bath or brush his teeth. I remember telling him how blissfully normal that was and how much it meant that he was doing a good job. Once I left and we started writing, he filled me in on when he got sick and when he had a bad dream. Sirius made this place a home for that boy without question and Harry loved him, he and Remus both became fathers to him."
"Remus told me that they once joked that Sirius was the mum because he was home all the time."
Althea chuckled. "They were both whatever he needed. You know, Sirius never let me come round the house when we were together. It wasn't until later after I had married Xander. You were the first woman he ever invited back here."
Zee bit her bottom lip. "I fell for him hard. He and Harry both and I was so afraid to admit that I was falling in case something went wrong or it ended. I didn't want to lose Harry too. And now... he's my son and no one will tell me any different."
A loud cry from upstairs interrupted them and Zee stood up. "That would be Mina. Someone is up from her nap and will be waking Leo any second."
"I remember those days," Althea said. "And with two it was always double the trouble. I don't know how you're doing it alone. I couldn't imagine handling twins without Xander by my side."
"I have a great support system. An incredible family and Harry is the absolute best with them. He's a great big brother. Would you like to come up and meet them?"
Althea's eyes lit up. "I'd love that. You know, this has been really lovely, Zee. I miss hearing all about you and Harry from Sirius. His letters always made me smile. Perhaps I could write to you every now and then, if you wouldn't mind? We can swap motherhood war stories."
Zee smiled. "I'd like that. I don't have a lot of girlfriends and as a single mum, I can use all the friendly advice I can get."
They both turned just as Dumbledore and McGonagall stepped through the Floo. She gestured to the biscuits. "Sit and be at home, Kreacher will bring you tea momentarily. I have two babies to see."
McGonagall used her wand to clean herself as she spoke. "I'll come help you with my grandbabies and Mrs Papakonstantinou can fill Albus is on Dante Dragomir."
Zee offered a smile for her as the older woman followed her up the stairs. "They've been down almost two hours which is a decent nap, I'll say. I had just put them down when Althea came by."
McGonagall immediately moved into the nursery and picked up Mina who was awake and making sounds. Leo looked half asleep and like he didn't quite want to be up yet but his sister had woken him anyway.
"Granny's got you now. Don't cry."
Zee couldn't hide the smile from her lips. The usually stern woman melted like butter in the sun when it came to these two. Zee scooped Leo up into her arms and over to the change table to deal with his nappy. She swapped him with Mina and grinned as McGonagall cooed over Leo.
"You've taken to being a granny very well."
McGonagall continued to coo at Leo before she answered. "How could I not with these two precious little angels?"
"They are perfect, aren't they?" Zee asked as she finished with Mina.
"Very much so," McGonagall assured her. She stared at Zee a moment before she spoke. "Sirius never loved her."
"What?"
"Althea," McGonagall said, carefully. "He never loved her. He never would have fallen in love with her. It was infatuation, attraction, chemistry, nothing more."
Zee kissed her daughter's chubby cheek. "I never doubted for a second that Sirius and I were meant to be, but I appreciate you saying it. Sometimes it's hard to remember the way we were when he's been gone for so long. I never want to forget how it felt with him."
"With a love like that, you won't," McGonagall told her. "Just looking at these two beautiful babies is a reminder of the love you shared. Althea's a lovely young woman, but I never knew she existed in his life until she already had three children. The day he met you, his new neighbour with the panther, he ranted about you for over ten minutes. Tried to pass it off as a minor annoyance."
"He did?" Zee asked in surprise. "He told you about me before we were even together?"
"He did," McGonagall told her. "In fact I learned more about your sass, your beauty, your panther, and your motorbike knowledge than I ever knew about Althea. She was Harry's first healer and a penpal friend to Sirius, you, Zahira, were always so much more before he would even admit it to himself. He would have moved the world to make you smile. And for the record, leggy blondes are not as beautiful as brunettes."
Zee swore the woman winked at her as she carried Leo from the nursery and Zee couldn't help but grin back. She made it back down to the living room as Althea was telling Dumbledore what she had told her about Dante Dragomir.
"Has there been any news of Selwyn in Greece?" McGonagall asked, rubbing Leo's back as he rested on her shoulder.
"None. Last I heard he was still in Croatia. Perhaps Voldemort sent another to find him," Dumbledore suggested. "Either way, I think Mrs Papakonstantinou is right. It sounds like Voldemort may finally have caught up with him."
"Call me Thea, please, and he wants you, Mr Dumbledore," Althea said. "Dante was very clear on that. He claimed that there was something he knew that Voldemort wanted to use on you. Dante told me that it's more than just a simple curse or hex, but a complicated spell involving multiple potions that haven't been brewed in centuries. Voldemort would need to know all of the pieces to make it right and Dante is the only one who has made the connection between them."
McGonagall looked startled by this. "Albus, you knew?"
"I suspected," Dumbledore admitted. "Remus and I spoke of it after reviewing his research, but how much we know to be true is something else entirely."
"Dante's a brilliant wizard," Althea insisted.
"I don't doubt that," Dumbledore agreed. "But Voldemort still has to get to me and I don't plan on making that easy for him."
Zee swayed back and forth with Mina in her arms as she spoke. "That doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned."
Dumbledore's blues eyes met hers. "No, we should be concerned, but only once we're sure. I'll talk to Kingsley about keeping a closer eye on Woodrow Selwyn. If indeed they do have Dragomir, it will still take some time for Voldemort to get what he needs which gives us time to find the wizard."
"Can you save him?" Althea asked.
Dumbledore tapped his fingers on the tea cup in his hands. "We will certainly try to."
Zee knew those words didn't comfort Althea anymore than they comforted her. If Voldemort finally did have the wizard he had been searching for, that was troublesome and it meant that Dumbledore could be in even more danger than ever. She pressed her lips to Mina's soft hair and said a silent prayer to Sirius to watch over them.
They were going to need all the help they could get.