The next few weeks were busy for Iris. She dashed back and forth through the veil with various people.
Letters were sent and tearful reunions were plentiful. Iris was part an emotional wreck herself but another side of her was elsewhere.
Gabriel had been sorting through her mind in Equilibrium. Calculating the places where the Horcruxes had been hidden. The locations and protections on these objects were beyond anything anyone had ever attempted before. Gabriel spent many nights with Albus and the Order of the Phoenix trying to make sense of how this was going to be approached.
The consensus was that to obtain these items was bordering on a suicide mission for anyone to undertake. For a Muggle, it would be certain death. The quest was deemed deadly.
Albus mused and mused. His eyes caught the mirror in the corner. The Astral plane would certainly be useful. Iris could get into places to spy that others couldn't. The Gaunt shack did not affect her in the Astral plane. A Marauder from birth. Even so. The danger would be a constant presence. Dumbledore had been creating portkeys as close to the places Gabriel said they were located. This would save Iris from using too much magic. Her portals would get them close enough from there. The protections in place were what was concerning the Order of the phoenix.
Gabriel had warned Albus against entering Iris's mind. It was a maze of locked doors. The images of these cells with Mirror placed inside were quite plain and easy to find in her mind. All had been marked with the initials of T. . A gift from a force in the infinite. It was right at the forefront of her mind. Even if the task of collecting them was going to be an uphill struggle that had been explicit.
Gabriel had infiltrated several of these locked rooms further back and the onslaught of millions of images had made the Angel slam the door shut and flee in fear. It was all. It was everything. If those doors became unlocked Iris would certainly realise her greatest fear. Gabriel explained to both Albus and Iris that her mind wasn't evolved enough to process it. It would instead release what she could understand. Even Albus had to accept the limitations. His lust for knowledge was tempered with the fact one must use caution in such matters. Albus knew when to stop.
Harry had been like a new person. He had lived with pressing darkness most of his life. To have that removed suddenly had had a vibrant effect on the young man. He saw the world through new eyes. Literally. He no longer needed glasses. His anger had subsided dramatically. For years his glass had been half empty. Overnight that had changed. The glass was half full now. An optimism filled him and it was contagious. He was not a stupid boy. He knew what his parents and Iris had been alluding to about Ginny. He had to admit he had more or less painted a picture of her to them.
He took the time to really look at his childhood friend. She had always been affectionate to him. Always stood by him, even in the bleak days. He watched her discreetly from across the common room as she rowed with Ron over something inane for the third time that month. Now, that was a typical brother and sister relationship, Harry mused. He had had a few rows with Hermione over something or nothing when they were younger, usually when her bossiness had got too much, which Harry never responded well to. She had matured though and calmed down over the years. She hardly ever bossed them about anymore. Well, not all the time anyway.
There had been times with Iris on occasion when the strain would get too much for both of them and they would unfairly take that resentment out on each other, only to quickly make up. He had never argued with Luna, although he couldn't imagine Luna in a slanging match with anyone.
He thought back over the years. From the early days of scraped knees and falling off Quidditch brooms playing at the Burrow. Ginny and her red hair and that determined look on her face as she barrelled through chasers on the Quidditch field. They had grown up together. Protected each other. Laughed together. Lounged together on the sofa. She had grown up in front of him. He watched her harried expression on her face as a book was hurled across the room at a red-faced Ron. He watched her hair flip as she stormed out the room as Ron shouted after her.
'Ginny,' Harry thought. His friendship with her was different from the ones he had with the other girls. She had always been honest with him. She always defended him and he had always looked out for her. When he had gone through his angry stage she had been quick to assert herself and she would not put up with it. She had dragged him kicking and screaming to Dumbledore to get sorted. She had always been there for him, as he had been for her. With that mutilated fragment of Riddle gone, he was seeing everything crystal clear, and he was liking very much what he was seeing. His magic was more settled. He could feel hers too. It was sublime. She had gone through her gangly stage and was truly blossoming into a true beauty. He had noticed that she caught the eyes of quite a few of the young men at Hogwarts now. Merlin. How had he been so blind?
His eyes were drawn now to Ron who looked like he had almost calmed down. Fuck. Harry may not be her brother but Ron most definitely was. Wasn't there some sort of bro code that forbid this? Harry slunk back in the chair and pretended to read. If he did ask Ginny out then what would be the likelihood of Ron being happy about that? Ginny had dated the Ravenclaw, Michael Corner. Harry had been indifferent. Michael was alright. He didn't see that couple going anywhere. It hadn't.
Harry had been a little more annoyed when she had started dating Dean but after one too many arguments Harry had relaxed. It would run its course. They weren't suitable for each other. Harry had at the time thought he had been annoyed simply because Dean took so much of Ginny's time up which had led to less Quidditch time. Harry saw with clarity what had really been happening. He had been a moron not to understand why he had resented the boy's presence. He had always liked him until that point.
Dean had perished in the battle and Ginny had been upset for months but over time she had come to terms with that loss. Harry sighed. Ginny may not even like him like that. He'd have to talk to her. He wouldn't attempt to flirt. After the Cho fiasco, Harry had to admit to himself he was not skilled in that area. He cringed as he remembered some of his less auspicious moments. Even Hermione had grimaced at some of his futile attempts and she was hardly the consummate romantic. Harry pursed his lips as he recalled Luna giving him a pity hug after one such disastrous encounter with the object of his affection.
Even Iris had been stunned into mortified silence at one particular feeble attempt at seduction.
Harry thought back. The only one who had seemed happy at his sloppy attempts had been Ginny. She would look at Cho with that sly grin of hers. Cho had had one eye on Cedric at the time. Harry brightened. Why had she been so happy at his failure to woo Cho? It wasn't in spite. It was clear Ginny cared for him. That could only mean Ginny had been happy it wasn't going to work out with Cho. Harry felt a warmth fill his chest. He glanced at Ron. He was going to talk to Ginny. His dad was right. He needed to live a little on Earth. Merlin knew how long they all had. Ron would survive if Ginny did want to date him. He had survived the week from Hell after all. This would be a breeze.
It was not a breeze but it wasn't a typhoon either. Ginny had happily accepted going on a date with Harry with what appeared to be actual relief he had finally come to his senses. Iris had had a quiet word with her before so she had been prepared and understood the delay. Ron had been a little put out for a few days and had looked at his sister and best friend coupled up with a variety of expressions on his face but he had accepted it and gradually things had returned to normal.
The summer term was coming to an end. The Burrow was calling. Endless days with his most important people. It may well be his last so he was going to make the most of it.
Ginny looked happily smug. Like the cat that had got the cream. So did Harry. Their good mood affected the rest of them. Equilibrium had been vital for people to be able to move on. Magicals and Muggles from all around the country had visited Iris who had held the hands of visitors from the Astral plane to speak to their loved ones.
To give some much-needed cheer to the peoples and as a massive thank you for all their help, and after much persuasion to her family, Iris finally released the much sought after Black beauty spell to the masses which was cause for much jubilation. Andromeda's beauty shop was the beginning of a national chain throughout the lands. Muggles found another reason to be pro magic as the spell worked on them too. Witches found a common bond with Muggle beauticians and traded their trade secrets with each other.
Healers, dentists and doctors followed their lead. Advancements were evolving rapidly in Britain.
Iris told an intrigued Parvati that Lavender and Padma had appreciated the spell very much. Even in Equilibrium, it was nice to look as nice as you could. Lavender was living with her Grandmother and had found a lovely boyfriend called David. He had recently died in a car crash and was simply bewildered by this new way of life.
Padma was stepping out with a young man called Fernando who had died of leukaemia and was simply elated to have a second chance at life. The pair of Witches were having a wonderful time teaching their new boyfriends all about magic. They were all attending one of the magical schools there to discover life and all its complexities in Equilibrium. All in all, they had settled in well to life in the next world. They missed their friends very much though and like everyone who had passed over, they were very worried for those they had left behind.
Cho and Cedric sent their love. They had decided to get married and had shacked up in a lovely cabin in the mountains.
The Hogwarts students with Filius and Sinistra had regular meetings. They were getting used to the Astral plane and would visit the Earth to keep their eyes open and report the happenings to Albus and Gabriel. The Angels had been forced to focus much more on their own world due to the sheer numbers of people coming in from all around the world.
The Nazis were covering so much ground it was hard to keep up. So many were traumatised by all they had witnessed and experienced. Healers and psychiatrists all aided the Angels. Rebellions were being organised everywhere on Earth but the Nazis had had more planning, money and power. It was David versus Goliath. So far the only thing going in their favour was that Riddle had all but disappeared. There had been no more nuclear attacks from anywhere. It was a waiting game. It was a world where no one knew what was going to happen next.
The summer term was coming to an end as Hermione and Iris made their way into their trunk for the last night. A film and popcorn, 'Like the old days,' Iris had said to a nostalgic Hermione.
Hogwarts breathed a sigh of relief at this. Things were being put back together. Their magic pulsated strongly around within them. The country was safe. The students that remained had grown closer. The four founders had rebuilt the Room of Requirement and had explained just how they did this to fascinated students and professors. They had all learnt so much. It hadn't taken that long to get used to their presence at the school. Salazar had put Winston back into magical hibernation.
The four founders had settled into the Castle to continue their work.
The students were all training for the future. They wanted to help those in the world. The Professors had been surprised by how studious this generation was. After what they had witnessed the future needed strong people with something to offer. Not those that were ignorant and weak.
The professors all agreed that a strong enough motive was enough to engage the younger generation.
Iris leaned back on the comfortable sofa. Esmerelda had been fed and watered by Kreacher who had been as good as his word and kept an eye on the gold snake. She was curled up in her glass cage. The flat had seen a few changes over the years. Pictures of Einstein and Rowena Ravenclaw had been added to the walls. Movie posters had been framed and hung. Comfortable cushions were scattered everywhere and a sheepskin rug lay on the floor. The bookshelves had been expanded and deepened as Hermione kept adding to the collection. Trevor and Lily had taken their usual spot in the corner. They had been joined several years ago by a flat-faced Kneazle called Crookshanks. Iris wasn't sure why that was his name but Hermione was very happy with her familiar, as he was with her.
Iris stoked the ice white ring in contemplation. Hermione was making them drinks. DVD's of Braveheart and Clueless were waiting for them. Iris breathed in the sense of normality.
Her life had been a rollercoaster. It was always nice to embrace these fleeting moments of sanity.
Hermione sat back down next to her and handed her a tea.
'Thanks,' Iris said.
'Been a long time since we've been able to do this,' Hermione said gently.
Iris looked steadily at her friend. Hermione had changed a lot since that bossy, buck-toothed kid from back in the day. Iris turned away and pushed away other thoughts.
A misfired spell back in the fourth year had damaged her teeth. When Madam Pomfrey had fixed them they had been noticeably smaller. Hermione had always been pretty but without the protruding teeth, she had turned into a very distinguished-looking young woman. Her brown eyes looked with concern at Iris.
'There has been so much to do,' Iris said, 'I'm not complaining. It has all been vital. I have missed this though. Just you and I.'
Hermione smiled and picked up the remote, 'I feel the same,' the television had been replaced with a large flat screen. She pressed play as the machine started.
The Equilibrium magic flowed around the room as they both relaxed. Hermione's own magic drifted around Iris, calming her.
'We've got the summer. Then Dumbledore is going to begin the Horcrux hunt. I think he wants us to make the most of this time,' Iris said in a hollow voice, 'The Order of the Phoenix is preparing.'
Hermione turned to Iris, 'He said it will be very dangerous. Even for him. The protections that Riddle would have set. They mess with your mind. I'll do anything I can to help,' Hermione said.
Iris grimaced, 'I know. Don't take this the wrong way but the further you are from those Horcruxes the better.'
'I'm sure I can handle myself. I was frontline fighting next to Death himself,' Hermione sat up straight a little affronted.
Iris gazed at her with a smile on her lips, 'I've always admired your tenacity. I don't think it's as simple as a battle. Going in and throwing spells and knocking others down is straightforward. Gabriel has looked at my mind from every possible angle. This will be psychological warfare. With dark, twisted magic,' Iris stopped for a moment, 'Gabriel told me that the sort of protections Riddle sets can send a person insane. The risks are very high,' Iris said quietly, 'I have to be there. Some of the places the Horcruxes are may only be found by me. I'll need to open the portals as close as possible.'
Hermione's eyes widened, 'Are you alright about that?' she asked.
Iris closed her eyes, 'No. I'm afraid,' she said honestly, 'I can hide. I can disappear, but I can't run from myself,' she told Hermione in a low voice.
Hermione looked at Iris at a loss. For a person so loquacious, she didn't know what to say. She put her arm around Iris who sighed.
'Come on. Let's watch Braveheart and get fired up,' Iris said suddenly.
'Don't change the subject. You don't have to always be brave,' Hermione said.
'I'm not. It's our last night at Hogwarts for a while. I shouldn't have got maudlin,' Iris moved away and turned the sound up as Hermione wondered at the change of behaviour.
Iris appeared to have improved her earlier mood as they became engrossed in the movie. Popcorn was dispersed liberally. The credits rolled as Iris leaned back.
'So, Harry and Ginny?' Iris said with a grin.
Hermione smirked, 'Took him long enough. I thought Ginny had more or less given up on him.'
'His parents and I may have given him a little nudge. Since he's had that fragment removed he's really improved his outlook. Do you remember his bloody mood swings in the fifth year? Merlin, I was close to smacking him so many times.'
Hermione giggled, 'Same. Ron seems ok with it. Well, as well as a brother could be. To be fair I think of all the boys in the school only Neville and Harry would even be considered as suitable boyfriends for his little sister by Ron. Even so, he's been a bit weird about it all.'
Iris gave a small smile, 'Ron will be fine. He's just getting used to it. It's nice to see the two of them genuinely happy. They deserve some nice things. The pair of them have gone through enough bad stuff. Ron sees that. Taking long, romantic walks around the black lake and being all soppy with each other is good for them.'
Hermione pondered this.
'So, what about you Hermione? Any cute boys you have your eye on?' Iris asked.
Hermione was very tight-lipped on romantic matters. There had been the Tri-Wizard Tournament in the fourth year and a certain Viktor Krum from one of the schools competing, Durmstrang Academy, had taken an interest in the book worm and had asked her to the Winter ball. Iris hadn't known what to make of him. He looked surly but on speaking to him he was a nice enough chap. Iris had threatened to crack his knee caps if he wasn't a gentleman. Viktor had been very offended but at the same time impressed by the candour.
'You vud have done vell at Durmstrang,' he had told the girl. Viktor had been a gentleman and to Iris's knowledge, the two of them had kept in touch with the occasional letter. Ron had been very put out by Hermione, 'fraternising with the enemy,' and Iris had begun to suspect Ron had more than friendly feelings towards Hermione. He had seemed like a jealous boyfriend at the ball, which had upset Hermione.
Ron and Hermione had acted afterwards like none of it happened which surprised Iris.
Hermione hadn't wanted to talk about it so Iris let it drop.
Now Iris looked at Hermione with interest as Hermione looked a little uncomfortable.
'So, is there a cute boy?' Iris asked seriously as she observed this noticeable change in her friend's demeanour.
Hermione blushed.
'Is it Ron?' Iris asked her. Hermione looked at her incredulously.
'What? You could do a lot worse than Ron Weasley,' Iris stated, 'Sure, Ron has disgusting table manners and he can be a little obnoxious at times, but he's good in a crisis and he has your back in times of trouble.'
'Ron is. Ron and I. Well, we had a thing while you were away,' Hermione said quietly.
Iris gasped, 'You're only just telling me this now? What the Hell, Hermione?'
'It was just after the battle. We were both in shock, I think. We needed support. Comfort. It just,' Hermione stuttered, 'We were together for the wrong reasons. It was only for a couple of weeks. No one else knows. Not even Harry so don't say anything. We both agreed with each other to stop it. There's no unpleasantness. It just wasn't right. It felt off.'
'Oh,' Iris said as she stared at her friend, 'Well, maybe later on. When all this is over you could try again.'
Hermione looked at her thoughtfully and shook her head, 'I don't think so. We just want different things. I didn't realise how old fashioned he was. He wants to get married as soon as he leaves Hogwarts and start a family as quickly as possible. When I said I want a career first he was genuinely stunned by that. I thought he knew me better than that.'
Iris mused, 'Yeah. You're going to get a lot of that if you marry into one of the old, Pureblood families. They are very much about tradition. You see, the wife is responsible for the family estate too. The families business interests. She runs the Manor and raises the children. It's very involved being a magical wife in the old families.'
'Is that really common then?' Hermione enquired.
'Yes. The Weasley's were screwed over and lost their Manor, properties and money but if that hadn't happened and you had married one of the Weasley sons you would have inherited one of their properties and possible investments and you would have been responsible for all that. Ron knows all this. It's also difficult to shake centuries of that tradition. It's why Mrs Weasley stays home and Mr Weasley works. It's the way it's always been done. Most Witches prefer it like that too.'
Hermione looked puzzled, 'Are you sure they all think like that?'
Iris nodded, 'Mostly. Not everyone, but in general they do. Draco and Neville will tell you the same. Draco is in limbo with his inheritance. Legally he is Malfoy's only heir. The courts are so clogged up with cases who knows what will happen. The Ministry may seize the property because of Lucius or release it to Draco for his war efforts. If he does inherit Malfoy Manor and the Malfoy's investments then when he does marry he will expect his wife to be responsible for that. Any woman who was raised in the magical world who marries him would know what to expect. There aren't any surprises. Regardless of that, he is still due to inherit several Black properties and investments as well. Narcissa prepared for the worst. A wealthy Pureblood male tends to have a separate career and his wife generally takes care of the family accounts, the children, the Manor and any other properties. That is her career.'
Hermione looked surprised by this, 'So it's actually quite balanced between the sexes.'
'Yes. It's tradition, but it's mainly to make sure there isn't a power imbalance in the marriage. Gran used to control our families investments. Bella does them now. She's showing me the ropes. Witches deals with Gringotts for the day to day things. Unless there is a major issue a Wizard won't normally get too involved. Grandpa Gareth helps Dawn deal with a lot of the families business interests but that's because there is so much of it. Most Wizards don't like dealing with the Goblins. The Witches know how to handle them so it makes that easier. Gran taught me a few tricks. If you want a different career then that's where the problems can start. Amelia Bones never married because of her career. A lot of Wizards and Witches still like to follow the status quo. Andromeda married a Muggleborn. Ted wasn't fussed either way.'
Hermione looked at Iris in contemplation.
'Clueless?' Iris asked.
Hermione looked confused then realised Iris was holding up the movie. She nodded smiling slightly.
They settled back down. The movie started.