A Second Chance

by Breanie

What if Sirius didn't spend twelve years in prison, but was given a trial after four years? Follow the story of Sirius Black as he learns what it means to be a father/brother/guardian to his young godson & the story of Harry Potter, a young boy with a loving home who learns about the Marauders from the two men who should have raised him. Slow-burn Hinny. M for sex & violence.

283. Chapter 283

Author's Note:

As anyone who saw on my Tumblr the other day, I am assisting in helping the incredible author Seriously Sam with writing a new story. She is the genius behind it, but I am helping with some plot points and hopefully will be writing some smut for her (since she doesn't write smut). I'm really excited for people to read it and I hope you love it as much as I already do (even though it's still only an idea with barely one chapter written haha) but I'm already in love with all that is going to happen between adult Hinny, with Albus and Scorpius, with James and his wife, with Teddy and Vic, and with Lily and her new boyfriend... fasten your seat belts folks - I think this one is going to be awesome!

The story is going to be called Legerdemain — When Albus Potter is accused of domestic terrorism, Harry will not stop until he uncovers the truth. Things would be a lot easier if Albus wasn't missing… or presumed dead.

How awesome does that sound? There's going to be mystery, there's smut, there's family moments, some stressed out super dad Harry, and of course some nice comic relief. If all goes to plan, it should be coming out around mid-August. So watch out for it!

Reviews and Comments: To marauders_mowopapr: I'm so happy I made you laugh so hard you cried, what a great compliment! I do have some ideas of the tattoos, they are posted on my tumblr with this chapter post. Thank you! To briana_t: I know, I could go for a good hen night and massage myself! Haha, Harry and Neville, secretly in love right? I can't wait for Tonks to find out either! A few chapters away unfortunately. To TheOgholycookies: Bahaha, when you say it like that… he smelt the baby, but yes, that confirmed it LOL. To AQuickRead91: You will get more chapters. I don't know how many, but there will be more. Moving into Theo's place would be interesting. I think Crookshanks can tell Ginny is different, but the cat is too busy chasing gnomes as usual at the Burrow. To neuman: Happy to give smiles. To GryffindorHealer: Ginny is seeing the holes, but she's trying to make sense of it. I think that even though Harry had an amazing childhood, part of him still remembers being unwanted so Zee tattooing his name is a surprise to him. To Seriously Sam: Avril was not named after the singer lol, but yes, I am Canadian! And I do love her haha. Tipsy Molly was fun to write. Theo would totally watch power washing videos on YouTube if he was a Muggle haha.

To QuietReader: Happy to give fluff and yes, baby! To Steelcode: Ha, poor Tonks, she does trip over air. You'll have to wait and see. We'll see more of Neville soon. To BadWolfKris: Thank you! To Gigmar: Thank you! I'm sorry you have to wait chapter by chapter now, but I think it's worth it :D To pottermum: Thank you! A well done from you is basically the best compliment ever! We did need an easy going chapter! To cookiepinkgirl6: Thank you! It's only a sneak, Tonks will find out soon enough (but not this chapter). Happy Harry's drunken night was entertaining, I thought he needed to loosen up. Haha in the final battle have him mention he has a bigger penis just for fun? Maybe he will lol. Thank you for saying my chapters are the highlight of your week, that's so sweet! To Wolf's scream: It is a good thing, but Ginny still has a bit to go. Anyone who isn't embarrassed by details of their parents sex lives at that age I'm concerned about lol. I'm in my thirties and I'd still rather not think about it… Well said, not trusting one's self is a form of madness.

To Arctoid32: Interesting concept for Voldemort lol. Happy I made it almost as good for you lol. I just wrote some Hinny fluff today! Of course… it's not in this chapter lol. To shivani: Thank you! To notthatchhavi: Your long reviews are amazing and make me smile each week, thank you! Yes, massages, I could so go for one right now myself lol. Who wouldn't have the hots for Bill, really? Haha, yup, Harry waved his dick around while declaring it was bigger than Voldemort's lol. They are growing up! They are seven months old now. Zee is totally winding Harry up in a Sirius like manner because she's so grateful to hear him laugh. Happy to keep you in stitches! To Dianne: You also leave wonderfully long reviews that I adore, thank you for taking the time to make me smile each week. I think Theo would be able to give the most insight because he lived a similar life. I'm glad Hermione had Ron to comfort her as well. Thank you!

To Guest: Thank you! To AccioRxses: He will be named Edward, yes. Yes, I will share pictures of the tattoos. To ladyinwaiting2005: Yes, Baby Lupin is coming! And no, there will not a red wedding. To thepluraljame: Thank you! I do enjoy giving some insight into the minor characters lives. On my tumblr page, my pinned post has all of the couple chapters there so you can easily find the ones pertaining to Bill and Fleur. Thank you for saying ASC is "completely fucking brilliant." To ITHersey: Haha more drunk Harry and more Harry and Theo hanging out. I can promise one of them is coming soon. To ANewRanger: Thank you and I hope the tattoos are what you were hoping for. To scrappy8: Thank you! To Speedyconzalis: Thank you for saying the story keeps getting better. To Nightwing2013: Ginny is fighting a little, but it's not enough and as to the blood, we'll see how willing she's going to be. I love Theo and adding him into the boys night was just fun.

To Chintan: Thank you! I am/was so happy to see ASC get 10K, I'm just so amazed and honoured! Aww, thanks for saying 282 was like a cozy blanket and for the positive words! To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: Thank you and I agree, friendships are great. To GodMisha: Thank you and I'm glad you liked my sentence about creating new life. To sygt: He does know he can be a good father because he was a great dad to Harry. And I know, poor Hinny. To WinkingSkeever: Once a week. To gemini614: Thank you! I think it's important for Theo to be accepted by them, he is still sometimes a bit insecure. To Nuno Neves: Thank you! And she's not very far along, only a few weeks. To Bumlewis: Thank you! I know getting Ginny's POV is rough, but it's necessary to show it. I'm glad you liked the moment between her and Audrey. Zee is ruthless, but also such a mum! And ha, Ron would totally take the mickey.

To wanderinon: Thank you for saying this story is incredible with amazing characters, imaginative and fun storylines, but there will be a lot more sex scenes to come. Just so you know. To ValGrey02: I think it was lovely for Remus to find out first as well, and Tonks' reaction I hope will be good. And yes, if Tonks had been there, she would have had more to say on the dick conversation LOL. To Mackie919: Thank you! And Harry won't be finding out about the baby for a bit — Tonks has to find out first! To LilyBlack18: Thank you! They needed some stupid teenage boy time. And making Ron the responsible one was just fun. To pix25: Haha, he's too drunk to remember being embarrassed lol. To alix33: Thank you! Fleur's bridesmaid, Avril is a cosmetic-witch and she invited a few colleague she knows to come and provide the beauty treatments. I love that advice! Stay up and argue — well said! As to Mina and Leo, too young for scrambled eggs just yet LOL. Happy Zee could make you laugh with the quip about the seasons.

To tim2604: Of course, monsieur! Theo is a softie so making him Holy Helga just made sense. I do hate the hot weather, it's true, especially gross humidity ugh! And hahaha "Harry naked on the pirate ship claiming he's the chosen one and he has a bigger cock than Voldemort and then doing the helicopter with it" — yup! LOL. Happy to give you that magical moment, you're welcome. Zee is definitely amazing and such a mum! And yes, it was the most unusual pregnancy test ever haha. To UrmixMoonstone: Wow, I'm honoured you put your life on hold to binge read, but thank you! Thanks for the feedback, I never liked Tolkien myself (I know blasphemous), but I'll take your word on that. To Zacnelson0628: No, sorry, no fast forwarding, but soon. And yes, I think Theo was quite happy — we'll hear more about that later haha. To wreneclipse: Thank you! And ha, I give a happy chapter and you get suspicious lol. To joss: Thank you! Thanks for saying that about Ginny. There's few authors who truly do her justice so thank you for saying that I do right by her. She's an amazing character. Thanks for reading!

To tryagain4me: Thank you! There were some things I didn't want to change and the first year and half I knew were staying essentially the same, which is why I tried my best to get through them quickly. Thanks for saying this story is phenomenal! To airpowmech: Thank you so much! To Shouldna: Yes, Remus wants Tonks to find out on her own as we will see. Everything is always better when Theo's around, isn't it? Thanks!

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!

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CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-THREE:

The morning of Harry's seventeenth birthday, Remus found himself heading to Hogwarts. Tonks had gone to bring Harry and his friends to the Ministry to take his Apparition test and then Zee was taking him to lunch and shopping for the day. Remus was looking forward to spending the later part of the afternoon and evening with his son, but for now, McGonagall had asked him to come to Hogwarts.

Remus and Flitwick had been running the castle over the last month. Fixing the walls, keeping things in order, and doing what they could to get ready for the upcoming school year with both Dumbledore and McGonagall out of the picture. The Hogwarts letters had gone out a bit later than usual, but the students would be getting them today and they'd gotten everything done. Now that McGonagall had returned, she needed to be updated on everything which they had planned on doing in another three days. Which was why the urgent message from her this morning worried him.

He found her seated behind her desk, Nyx lying at her feet with her head resting on her mistress' knee. Her cane leaned against the edge of the desk and she gestured Remus forward.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Of course," Remus said, taking a seat in the chair across from her. "I was planning on coming by to discuss with you what Fil and I have done in your absence, but you said that it was urgent that I come today. Are you all right?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," she said as she waved him off. "I feel stronger every day. Another week or two and I'll be rid of this blasted cane. No, this has nothing to do with me. Fawkes is gone."

Remus' eyebrow rose. "Dumbledore's phoenix?"

She nodded. "I went into his office to feed him as I've been doing every day since I returned to the castle and the cage is empty."

"Maybe he went for a fly?"

McGonagall shook her head. "Remus, he was almost fully grown again. When Hagrid found him in Dumbledore's office, he was a hatchling. Hagrid said that it takes between thirty-three and thirty-seven days for a phoenix to grow from hatchling to adulthood. That time has come."

"What does that mean?" Remus asked. "That the phoenix is fully grown so he took off? I don't see the significance of it."

McGonagall leaned forward, her eyes on his. "I think that he went to find Dumbledore."

Remus' eyes widened. "You — really?"

"Phoenixes are rare creatures, Remus. They don't usually befriend wizards the way that Fawkes has befriended Dumbledore. They are loners. He's had that bird longer than I've known him. When Harry defended Dumbledore down in the Chamber of Secrets, that bird came to him instantly. I think that Fawkes can find Dumbledore and I think that's the reason why they attempted to kill him, leaving the bird as nothing but a hatchling in the ashes."

"But how do we help with that? What can we do?"

"Nothing," McGonagall said. "But I think that it means we can hope Fawkes will bring him home soon."

"That is good news. Will Fawkes be able to get through whatever enchantments they're using to keep him hidden?"

"Remus, I think that phoenix can do whatever he wants to do."

Remus had a sneaking suspicion that she was right. He wondered what that meant for Dumbledore and how Voldemort was going to deal with his prized prisoner suddenly being taken away from him.

~ ASC ~

Voldemort wasn't concerned.

The influx of power that he'd seeped from Dumbledore day after day made him stronger and stronger. Every morning he would choose an assistant and they would force the old man fo drink the potion and every day, more and more power seeped from him and into Voldemort. He could feel it fuelling him, feel it funnelling into his own power and giving him strength that he didn't know was possible. He was taking Dumbledore's power from him and he could feel it adding to his own like he was being electrically charged.

Every spell he performed seemed that much more powerful. It had a punch, pizazz, and an electrical charge he couldn't even put into words. He used the Killing Curse on one of the werewolves who Greyback told him had disobeyed a direct order. Not only had the jet of green light come spiralling from his wand, but it had knocked the wolf back five full metres. The man had flung through the air from the impact, crashed into the stone wall with a sickening crunch, dead. Voldemort could feel the power radiating through his arm and into his wand as if he didn't even need the wand anymore to kill.

It was incredible.

He moved into Dragomir's cell, his wand in his hand.

"Your potion has been most helpful."

"You're not velcome," Dragomir said.

Voldemort sneered. The wizard had been tortured for months now and he could see the toll his work had taken on him, but it enraged him that the old man still had the gall to be snippy. He flicked his wand, the power rushing through him in a way that made his blood heat and his lips curved in delight.

The torture curse hit Dragomir straight on and he screamed making Voldemort's red eyes gleam in satisfaction.

"You've taught me many things, Dante. May I call you, Dante? After all, we've grown close in these months together. I've learned things about you and you about me. We're basically old friends."

Dragomir didn't look convinced.

"You've taught me many things," Voldemort repeated. "To use runes the way you said, to divide them and rewrite their worth to be used in so many different ways. I never imagined it. Belladonna has been raving about the runes she crafted to help us keep Dumbledore here in our midst, haven't you, love?"

Belladonna stepped into the doorway, a soft smile on her beautiful face. "It has been most illuminating. The ones I've carved here in our dear Dante's own cell have done more than simply hold him in place. I had no idea that one could simply write their own runes. If I had, it might have stopped me from a lot of pain."

Voldemort held his hand out to her and she accepted it, stepping into the cell. "You will avenge them, Brambilla. I promise you this. Why don't you tell our friend Dante here your story? Bellarosa, you can join us?"

Bellarosa came into the cell as well. "As you wish, my Lord."

Belladonna reached back to grip her sister's hand in her own. "Dragomir isn't the one who needs to hear my story, my Lord."

"Indulge me," Voldemort said, tightening his grip on her arm.

Belladonna swallowed, her eyes on the man still attempting to catch his breath from the torture curse. "My daughter and husband were taken from me because of Dumbledore."

"And you think by taking Dumbledore's power, it vill make up for that?" Dragomir asked. "You're an even bigger fool than he is!"

Belladonna's wand flashed quickly and Dante gasped for breath as the spell she used seemed to choke him. He attempted to grab at his throat, but the chains wouldn't allow it and Bellarosa chuckled.

"Donna, don't kill the man."

Belladonna let him go and Dragomir collapsed in his chains, coughing and choking. "He overstepped."

"That he did," Bellarosa agreed. "But he doesn't know exactly what Dumbledore did, does he? He should understand."

"I don't need to understand," Dragomir spat. "Dumbledore… is one of the greatest vizards to ever have lived. No one is perfect and I'm sure the death of your family vas nothing more than an accident, but things happen."

Belladonna squeezed her wand again and his throat closed up. "An accident? An accident is not an excuse for… fanculo! He did nothing to help them! He just stood there and watched them die!"

Voldemort's lips curved. "He did. I would have been there for you, Donna, I would have protected them."

Belladonna's anguished eyes met his. "Will you let me now, my Lord? Please. He's been here for weeks."

Voldemort nodded. "Of course, Donna. Anything for my two beautiful girls." He gently stroked his fingers over each of their cheeks before he turned back to Dragomir who was still choking. Belladonna lifted the spell and he gasped for breath once more. "My beautiful girls here will help me with the final stages of Dumbledore's demise. I believe a few more drinks and my prisoner might be truly devoid of every ounce of power that he's ever possessed and I, I will possess all of it."

"And you think that more power vill make you stronger?" Dragomir gasped, venom in his voice. "You think it vill help you vin this var you seek?"

Voldemort's eyes flashed. "More power is always the answer."

Dragomir's eyes met his. "And that is vhy… in the end… you vill lose."

Voldemort flicked his wand carelessly and a flash of green light lit up the room. The chains holding the prisoner captive clanged together at the influx of dead weight and Voldemort turned to open the door.

"Come. Let's see how Dumbledore is faring," he said as he led them into the hall where Bellatrix and Rodolphous were waiting. "Get rid of the body. Belladonna, Bellarosa and I have work to do."

"In the open, my Lord?" Rodolphous asked.

"Yes," Voldemort said. "In the open will be perfect. After all, he's outlived his usefulness."

~ ASC ~

Ron yawned as he accepted the Hogwarts letter that finally arrived at breakfast that morning. He was still groggy and only half listening to the early morning conversation at the breakfast table. He was meeting Harry and Neville to take his Apparition test this morning and he had to admit, he was feeling a little nervous. After all, failing him over one eyebrow wasn't exactly how he'd expected his test to go the first time around.

Breakfast at the Burrow had been a quiet affair as of late. Now that Bill and Fleur had moved back into Shell Cottage, it was usually just him and Ginny. His dad was always heading into the Ministry early, which left Ron and Ginny alone with their mother. It wasn't that he minded it, it was just different from what he was used to. He missed the full house and the loud voices that meant his brothers were home. He found himself turning the wireless on more frequently just for background noise as the quiet of the Burrow seemed strange. Today, it was more exciting.

Not only had Hermione moved in with them for the remainder of the summer, but Charlie had come home a few days earlier with Aydin. He had exchanged a sleepy smile with his older brother when he passed him the plate of scrambled eggs just as a loud squeal on his right had him blinking in surprise. He watched his girlfriend jump up from the breakfast table and tightly hug the letter that she was holding to her chest.

"Congratulations, Hermione," Ginny said, picking up the badge that was sitting on the table. "Head Girl. We all knew that it would be you."

"What wonderful news, dear," Molly said, a bright smile on her face. "No one deserves it more."

"Great job, Hermione," Charlie said as he scooped up some of the porridge onto a spoon and held it out to his daughter. Aydin opened her mouth dutifully, eyes wide as she looked around at Hermione who was still clutching the letter to her chest.

Ron saw the tears in her eyes as she nodded her thanks and he knew that she wasn't only crying in happiness. It had been over two weeks since Hermione'd sent her parents to Australia and he knew that it was moments like this that she wished they were here. He reached out to take her hand, squeezing, and she sat back down.

"Well, Hermione's not the only one," Ginny said, holding out a second badge that had been sticking out of Ron's envelope.

"Ron?" Hermione asked.

Ron stared at the Head Boy badge in his sister's hand in denial. "No bleeding way."

"Ronald!" Molly exclaimed. "There's no need for language. We have a baby in the room."

Charlie rolled his eyes. "She's nine months old tomorrow, Mum. She's not going to be swearing up a storm."

Molly scowled at her eldest son. "You say that now, but when you have a toddler running around screaming curse words, don't say I didn't warn you." At Charlie's look, she sighed. "Fred used to run around the house calling everyone a buggering bint and he was only three."

Ron snorted, amused at how his mother had almost whispered the bad words like she still didn't want them to hear her swear. "Sounds about right."

Charlie shook his head in amusement. "Anyway, congrats, Ron. Head Boy's a big deal. Not that I was ever given the honour."

"Responsibility, you mean," Ron corrected. "Head Boy… wow."

Hermione squealed again, this time throwing her arms completely around Ron and hugging him tightly. "I knew it would be you!"

"Me? But… I thought for sure Goldstein was a shoe-in this year," Ron mumbled, still a bit shocked at this turn of events.

Hermione tugged his face down to kiss his cheek. "Tony isn't you."

Ron's cheeks flushed at her words as Charlie winked at him.

Ginny lifted her glass of orange juice. "To the new Head Boy and Girl."

Molly beamed, moving around the table to pull Ron into her arms. She pulled his face down to her level and covered his cheeks in kisses.

"Mum — gerrof!" Ron grimaced, his face turning red under her affections.

"My baby boy, Head Boy! Oh Ronnie, I'm so proud! Wait until your father hears, he'll be so chuffed. Oh, darling, we're so proud of you." Molly gave him one more long kiss on the cheek before she let him go. "We'll do something to celebrate of course, but I'm afraid it will have to wait until after the wedding tomorrow. Are you doing something with Har — after your test?"

Ron gave her a look at the mentioning of Harry's name, but even the slip up had been enough. Ginny's demeanour changed as she crushed the toast in her hand. Hermione attempted to change the subject, asking Ginny about what she was looking forward to her for her own birthday coming up and Molly looked rather hurt.

Ron knew that this was hard on Ginny, but she had no idea how hard it was on the rest of them. Using Harry's name made her angry. Any mention of him changed her entire mood and it was getting harder to diffuse the situation. Ginny had cornered him the other day, demanding answers to all sorts of things that Luna had told her and when Ron had confirmed them, her eyes had been full of utter disbelief.

"It can't be true, Ron… it just can't. Me and Potter… no! He's horrible, Ron! He's just awful!"

"Ginny, I promise, we're going to get those memories back for you."

But she'd shaken her head and claimed that she didn't want them back. She didn't want to remember anything at all about Harry Bloody Potter.

Ron hadn't been brave enough to tell Harry those words. He knew that his friend was counting down until Ginny would be given this potion, until she remembered that she didn't hate him anymore. But none of them had really banked on the idea that Ginny wouldn't want it. It was making everything only that much more complicated.

The only thing that seemed to calm her was Aydin. The fact that Ginny had no memory of her niece only made it that much more heartbreaking. She would sit for hours outside or on the living room floor playing with the baby. Charlie was worried about her and asked a dozen and one questions about what they were doing to help her. What more they could do to tell her that her memories were wrong, but Ron didn't have the answers. All they could do was hope that this potion Borage was brewing worked.

Then there was Bill. His speech was getting stronger but he was still stuttering and still struggling with the r sound. His voice was still broken and scratchy, but he was practicing every day with the exercises that the Rhetoric Healer had given him to use. Ron knew that tomorrow was going to be tough for him to stand up there and to say his vows to marry Fleur, but he also knew that Bill was going to do it. He was going to marry the woman he loved and nothing was going to stop him.

He turned back to his breakfast, listening to Hermione pepper Ginny with questions about her OWL results as a means of distracting her, which his sister had received last week. She'd earned ten, one in each subject and his parents had been through the roof with excitement. Ginny had merely shrugged it off, but Ron knew his sister better than that. She was proud of herself, but the worry over her confused memories and her high emotions was taking a toll on her.

Hermione told him that Ginny rarely slept, but spent most nights tossing and turning or sneaking out to fly outside, never getting more than three to four hours of sleep. Since Hermione wasn't sleeping much herself and spent a good portion of her nights wrapped in his arms, he knew she noticed when Ginny was dealing with the same thing. Molly and Fleur kept Ginny busy during the day with wedding plans, cooking, cleaning, and making soaps and the like, but it wasn't enough. Charlie arriving allowed for one more person to keep an eye on her which helped, but Ron didn't think that they could take another full month of this.

Her brown eyes were almost black most of the time and dark blue veins were starting to appear around her neck and face as if something was striving to get out. Fleur helped her cover them with makeup every day, but the more Ginny was bothered by them or the angrier she got, the darker they became. One particularly dark one had risen up her neck and onto her left cheek. It was hard not to stare at it and that was part of the reason Fleur worked so hard to help Ginny hide it. Ron and Hermione had mentioned it to Borage when the three of them had gone to speak to him the day before. They felt that they needed to see the potioneer with Harry as much as they could, both to calm their friend, and for their own peace of mind. Borage, however, had not given them peace of mind when they had shared that news, but instead had given them a look of concern.

"It's spreading."

"What does that mean?" Ron demanded.

Fleamont cleared his throat in the portrait. "The more she tries to fight against it, the more internal the bloodlust becomes. As a result, it's showing signs of wear and tear on her body. The veins are only the start."

"The start?" Ron repeated.

"I don't mean to alarm you, Ron, but it's a sign that her time is coming to an end," Fleamont said carefully. "Usually it's three months, but depending on the potency of the potion, it can be less."

Hermione grabbed Ron's hand. "What does that mean?"

Borage had his nose over the potion, eyes closed as he sniffed the contents. He twitched his nose before standing back with an approving look on his face. "This will be ready by the tenth and we can administer it to her. It will work, I know it. But if she starts getting deep purple bruises, we'll need to keep a closer look."

"Why would she get bruises?" Harry demanded. "Why are her veins appearing dark blue?"

"It's the blackness of the bloodlust, Harry," Fleamont said. "It's… well, blackening her soul and the veins and eventual bruises are a physical manifestation of that."

Ron frowned. "What do you mean by bruises?"

Borage gave the potion one slow stir to the left.

"Stir to the right, Lib!" Fleamont interjected. "Right, then left, then two rights! It's like training a toddler."

Borage gave him the finger, but stirred the potion as Fleamont instructed. "As I was saying, bloodlust encompasses the human soul and when bruises start to form, it's a sign of the soul being taken over by hate, by anger, by everything that the potion entails. It's a sign of the potion winning. It means that she doesn't have three months. If she doesn't let her anger win her over and well, kill her intended victim soon, the potion will consume her within the next four weeks. Five tops."

"Consume — we can't let that happen!" Ron bellowed.

The glass shattering the windows in the room had all of them ducking. Harry stood there, his eyes blazing and magic literally crackling from his fingers. Hermione moved towards him, grabbing his arm.

"Harry," she said, calmly. "Harry, look at me."

When he made no move despite the rather sudden outburst of accidental magic, Hermione grabbed his face in her hands and turned him towards her.

"Harry, Mr Borage has the antidote for her. We won't let this happen," Hermione assured him.

"Harry, my boy, the potion will be ready for her before that," Fleamont declared. "The tenth is less than two weeks away."

Borage nodded, giving Harry a sympathetic look. "I know this is hard. I know it's difficult to wait, but we really don't have another option. In the meantime, you must keep a closer eye on her. Any signs of the bruising or any other unusual symptoms, I must be made aware of. The dark blue veins is a sign that I didn't expect for at least another two weeks so the potion may be working overtime."

"And if the bruises start forming?" Ron whispered.

Borage stroked his prickly goatee. "We'll worry about that when it happens."

Ron hadn't found the words reassuring and he knew that Harry hadn't taken them well either. But the tenth was in eleven days and until then, he had to do what he could to help keep his sister's emotions under control. He turned back to his breakfast with gusto as he repeated the time of his Apparition test to his mum.

Today he would pass his test, tomorrow his brother was going to get married, and the day after that they would deal with adding Ginny's blood to the potion. His eyes fell on the Head Boy badge and his cheeks flushed.

One day a time, he thought, one day at a time.

~ ASC ~

Harry tried not to scowl as he opened the paper the day of his seventeenth birthday. The last thing that he wanted to see was his own face staring up at him. But he'd agreed to be the face of the Ministry, the so-called Chosen One, in hopes that it would help draw out Voldemort. The only consolation was that he'd asked Colin to take the photos and to choose them.

And he had to admit, Colin had done a pretty great job.

Colin had taken about fifty photos. He'd made Harry pose in ways that he never would have thought of himself. He'd taken photos of him duelling with Misha, of him flying on his broom, and of him just sitting around. Harry thought most of them looked good, but Colin had insisted only ten were good enough to use. He'd only shrugged and agreed to let Colin decide which ones to submit to the Ministry of Magic.

But he still wasn't expecting to see a still life photo of himself covering the entire front page of the Daily Prophet. In the photo he was sitting backwards in a chair, Gryffindor tie loose around his neck, and his dress shirt rolled to his elbows, the top three buttons undone. He looked rather pensive in the pose and written across the top it said: The Chosen One Turns Seventeen.

At the bottom in small script, it told him that he could find the article on page two. Wondering what exactly they had written about him, he did, and frowned down at the article.

THE CHOSEN ONE TURNS SEVENTEEN!

Today marks the seventeenth birthday of The Chosen One, otherwise known as Harry James Potter, Marquess of Somerset. Potter will be starting his seventh and final year at Hogwarts come September. But Potter has more on his mind than writing his NEWTs. As darkness continues to rise, the Ministry of Magic told the Daily Prophet that Harry Potter is the one to bring the light back into our world.

He Who Must Not Be Named has returned and with his growing power, Potter has reminded us that the dark lord isn't as powerful as he believes himself to be.

"I'm still alive," Potter told this reporter. "I've come face to face with him more times than I'd like to admit and yet here I am."

Potter's statement rings true as he witnessed the dark lord's return after the Triwizard Tournament in June of 1995 where Potter was chosen as one of the Hogwarts champions. He Who Must Not Be Named murdered two of the champions that night, Hogwarts' own Cedric Diggory and the famous Bulgarian Seeker, Viktor Krum. Potter escaped with his life in order to warn the world that the dark wizard had returned. The following June, Potter found himself face to face with You Know Who again and once more, the dark wizard failed in killing him.

So the question is — is Harry Potter Unkillable?

"Of course not," Potter exclaimed, looking almost amused at the question. "Everyone can be killed. Losing my godfather last year, one of the incredible men who raised me, who I considered to be a father, taught me that. I thought that he was invincible and I was proven wrong. No one is invincible. No one can live forever. Not even Lord Voldemort."

But is he truly The Chosen One?

"Potter seems to be the main factor in all of You Know's Who's decisions," Minister Bones said. "Everything he does seems to come back around to wanting to get rid of this young man, even when he was a child. Something about Potter obviously terrifies You Know Who. I think it's because he knows that he can't defeat him."

Potter is the sole heir to Somerset and the Potter fortune. He's top of his class in Defence Against the Dark Arts with ambitions of becoming an Auror. According to some of his classmates, he's the one who no one can beat in a duel. He was the youngest Seeker in over a century when he joined the Gryffindor Quidditch team at the age of eleven and he's Captain of the team. He was a champion in the Triwizard Tournament and Potter has trained with Dumbledore himself.

He's good looking, wealthy, and powerful.

Harry Potter is The Chosen One.

"Not by the Ministry," Minister Bones continued. "We didn't make him who he is, but he is The Chosen One, the one who You Know Who seems to fear and Potter's willing to do whatever he can to help us defeat him once for all. I'm proud to have Potter on our side."

With a declaration like that from the Minister herself, it has to be true. Harry Potter truly is The Chosen One. We can't wait to see what he'll do next.

The cover of Phenomenal Potions had his face plastered on it as well. He was posing in an armchair looking oddly comfortably in blue jeans and a white dress shirt. His sleeves were rolled back to showcase his toned arms, shirt unbuttoned revealing a tight white vest beneath, hair messy as he leaned forward looking almost pensive with his wand in his hand. Every few seconds he would shift, ruffle his hair in a nervous way, and lean back in the chair. On the table next to him was a stack of potions books.

MARQUESS OF SOMERSET IS THE CHOSEN ONE!

Harry James Potter, the Marquess of Somerset, and infamous grandson of the famous Potioneer Fleamont Potter is the sole heir to the Potter fortune and to the title of Somerset. A title that has been passed down in the Potter family for centuries and now Potter has a new moniker to add to his list — The Chosen One!

The name Potter has always meant something and for the last sixteen years, it's meant the light that defeated He Who Must Not Be Named. At fifteen months old, Potter defeated the darkest wizard the world has seen in centuries. Now at seventeen, with infinite wealth and resources at his fingertips, not to mention a powerful duelling ability, Potter is ready to take on the world.

Coined The Boy Who Lived when he was just an infant, Potter is no stranger to being given nicknames. From an early age, the world took note of him and despite living out of the spotlight, people always knew who Potter was. The trademark messy black hair that made Fleamont Potter invent Sleakeazy's Hair Potion in the twenties, the bright green eyes from his mother who died trying to protect him, and of course that infamous lightning-shaped scar, makes him stand out in any crowd.

"He's certainly grown up well," an anonymous witch claimed. "And he's in great shape! He's an incredible flier and you can just see the muscles quivering when he works out."

"Potter made lightning," someone said. "It was like he was Zeus himself, just shooting lightning bolts from his wand. I certainly wouldn't want to duel him."

But is he good at Potions?

Unlike his grandfather, it doesn't look like Harry Potter has any desire to become a potioneer though Horace Slughorn claims he's a very gifted student.

"He made a Felix Felicis that was so perfect it brought tears to my eyes! He takes after his mother, he does!" Slughorn declared.

Lily Potter was a Potioneer herself and had she lived might have gone on to create all sorts of incredible potions. On top of having Fleamont Potter as his grandfather, the potions gene was bound to trickle down.

"It's really not my best subject," Potter admits.

Slughorn claims he's being too modest.

Somerset, the seat of the Potter family for centuries, has seen a great deal of loss over the last few decades. Henry Potter, one of the Ministry's best Aurors was killed in the war with Grindelwald. His two sons, Fleamont and Charlus, both died in the last war. Charlus and his wife Dorea were killed by You Know Who and his followers along with their son William. They refused to join ranks with the Death Eaters and were murdered for their refusal. Fleamont and his wife Euphemia sadly died of Dragon Pox a few months before their first and only grandchild, Harry, was to be born. And on that fateful Halloween in 1981, James and Lily Potter were murdered by You Know Who himself for trying to protect their son, Harry.

The dark wizard attempted to kill Harry that night as well, but he failed. Potter was given only a lightning bolt scar on his forehead that dips down into his eyebrow and You Know Who vanished for over a decade without a trace. The Boy Who Lived was the moniker given to Potter then and the world rejoiced for we had a true hero to celebrate.

Now at seventeen, Potter has become The Man Who Lived. As the last Potter left, he plans to live life to the fullest.

"Call me The Chosen One if you want, the Man Who Lived, whatever," Potter said. "But I know who I am and I know what I can do."

And the world can't wait to see what Lord Somerset has in store for us.

The cover of Weekly Scribe, the weekly newspaper just about the Ministry of Magic, had used one of the shots Colin had taken of him duelling. He stood with his wand in his hand as he dodged a red flash coming at him from what looked like the unknown. He was wearing jeans and a Pride of Portree tee shirt, his wand in his hand and every time his arm turned, he could see the muscles coil from the effort. Colin had told him it was important to showcase the lean muscles he'd built up from Quidditch, but Harry wasn't sure showing his arms was going to help.

POTTER'S PLANS TO COME OUT ON TOP!

Harry James Potter, the Man With Many Names. He is otherwise known as The Boy Who Lived, the Hogwarts Triwizard Champion, the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Gryffindor's Star Seeker, the Marquess of Somerset, and is now being called The Chosen One. The last day of the seventh month has Potter turning seventeen and with that birthday under his belt, he has big plans.

Attending his final year at Hogwarts is a big part of that. Potter's ambitions include applying to the Auror Academy as he wants to make sure that dark wizards aren't given the chance to cause more trouble. Since he's already fought dark wizards in his past, he seems to know what he's capable of.

"I don't want to live in a world where people are scared to go out to the market," Potter declared. "I want the world to be safe for everyone. I don't care what kind of blood you have running through your veins, we all bleed red."

Potter claims that the prejudice and backward traditions of dividing our community between Pureblood, Half-Blood, and Muggleborn is only part of the major problem.

"Minister Bones understands this better than anyone and the work she's doing to rectify this, to bring more people into the Ministry of Magic with these amazing alliances and attempts at brokering peace is the start of something incredible."

Bones is bringing the Ministry into the twenty-first century and it's an incredible feat that Potter is proud to be part of.

"If we're going to do things right, if we're going to win this war, Minister Bones is making the right choices. Lord Voldemort wants to change the world, to revert back to ancient traditions and old-fashioned thinking that only makes us move back instead of forward. The world is changing and it's up to us to change with it or we're going to be left in the dust."

The Chosen One has spoken and it's about time all of us start listening.

The cover of Witch Weekly magazine was a photo of him in dark jeans, barefoot and shirtless. His arms were raised over his head, his wand in his hand and his scar visible on his forehead. When his head turned, lightning crackled from his fingertips. He still couldn't believe that he'd let Colin talk him into that photo.

"Trust me, Harry," Colin had insisted when he told him to take off his shirt. "You have to give them what they want. If you're going to do it, we're going to do it right and anything for Witch Weekly's cover edition, you should definitely show off your assets."

Harry rolled his eyes. "My assets?"

Colin nodded and insisted he take off his shirt. He had. And he had to admit, he did look good in the photo. The lean muscles, the abs, the broad shoulders and toned arms, the dark trail of hair that trickled down from his bellybutton and disappeared into the low riding jeans he wore… he really didn't think it was appropriate despite how good he had to admit he looked in the photo. But he trusted Colin and now seeing the photo splashed on the front of Witch Weekly he was wondering if trusting Colin had really been a wise decision.

The title on the side proclaiming him both Marquess and the Chosen One made him sigh. He flipped to the article in question and watched as the photo of him shirtless had him standing up and transforming into his Animagus form and then back into himself.

SEXY SOMERSET FULL OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM!

Harry James Potter, the Marquess of Somerset, is not only good looking, wealthy, and The Chosen One, but incredibly powerful. Potter mastered the difficult Transfiguration spell of becoming an Animagus at only fourteen years old. Having the ability to turn into the beautifully large wolf-dog is a handy ability that he's found helped him out of some tough situations.

As one of the best duellists at Hogwarts, it's not often that he feels the need to resort to his animal form, but having the ability is something he cherishes. Potter chose to master the craft to spend time with his father-figure and current Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin. Lupin is a werewolf and as many witnessed during the trial he was put through in '94, when he turns into a werewolf having other animals near him gives him peace. Potter, who was raised by two of his father's best friends when You Know Who murdered his parents, thinks the world of Lupin.

"He's the best man I know," Potter declared vehemently. "Patient, intelligent, kind, and one of the best professors that Hogwarts has ever had."

Considering over ninety percent of the student body signed a petition in favour of Lupin returning to the school to teach after his trial in '94, Potter is hardly the only student to think so. Potter's ability to become an Animagus is also inspired by his deceased godfather, Lord Sirius Black. Black was also an Animagus and could turn into a dog before he was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange in the attack on the Ministry in June of 1996.

Knowing Potter has yet another ability to make him stand out only makes us more sure that he's The Chosen One.

Is there anything that Potter can't do?

Turn to page six to take our quiz and find out if you're compatible with Harry Potter!

Harry turned to the quiz and rolled his eyes. Over half of the questions were bogus and they didn't even have the right answers. Of course he didn't like lemon cakes over treacle, where had they gotten these answers? He tossed the magazine aside and grabbed the next one.

Wizard Weekly had the photo of him with his eyes blazing and fingers crackling with magic as lightning appeared behind him in a flash. In this photo he was in his Quidditch robes, flying on his Firebolt.

LIGHTNING STRIKES ON THE CHOSEN ONE!

From his infamous lightning shaped scar to the repertoire of spells he has under his belt, Potter is fast becoming known as one of the best duellists Hogwarts has seen.

"He could compete," Filius Flitwick, Charms Professor at Hogwarts said. "He has the ability and I think he would win."

"He's fast and he's smart. He pulls things out of his hat that no one would ever think to do," one student claimed.

Well, when Potter is being trained by one Albus Dumbledore, it was bound to happen.

Albus Dumbledore is one of the greatest wizards of our time. Everyone knows his name and whether he was our headmaster or our professor, the world knows of the great gift he gave us by defeating Grindelwald in 1945. If Dumbledore is offering extra training to our own Chosen One, that only adds favour to our already favourable choice.

They say lightning never strikes twice, but Potter has lightning in his favour. Not only does he bear the very symbol upon his forehead, but he wields it like a Greek god from his sexy hair to his toned body.

Potter is Our Chosen One and we can't wait to see what he decides to do next!

Harry scowled again as he dropped the magazine. He'd expected the article in the Daily Prophet and maybe even Witch Weekly, but knowing he'd be all over almost every print media in Britain was something else entirely. He grabbed his Hogwarts letter, tugging out the parchment to see the school supplies he needed as Zee came into the kitchen with Mina and Leo. Harry stood up to take Leo from her. Once the twins were both seated in their highchairs, Zee let her eyes fall on the photos of him.

"Well, someone's popular today. Oooh, Sexy Somerset? Animal Magnetism? Lightning Strikes? Well, well, well."

"Don't," he pleaded. "It's embarrassing enough."

Zee tapped her fingers on the shirtless one. "This one is going to drive the girls crazy."

His face heated and she chuckled.

"I know it's over the top and yes, they definitely went a little overboard with the praising, but it's what we agreed to. You're publicly declaring yourself as The Chosen One."

"And pissing Voldemort off when he sees them," Harry told her. "In one of them they basically say that Voldemort's terrified of me."

Zee nodded. "Well, I think he is on some level."

Harry rolled his eyes. "He wants me dead. He's not scared of me."

"He does want you dead," Zee agreed. "And yet he can't seem to kill you. That has to eat at him."

"I'm sure it does," Harry admitted. "And only makes him want to kill me more."

Zee placed the banana chunks down for the twins as they made happy noises at being fed. "Another reason why we're doing this. I thought you were okay with it. It's a little late to back out, of course, you still can and I will support you one hundred percent, but it is a little late to do so."

"No, I'm not backing out," Harry said. "It's just the photos are… not me."

She smiled. "Just because you don't see yourself that way doesn't mean they aren't you, Harry. Colin did a wonderful job with these. He captured the raw power you exude when you fight, the strong line of your jaw, and yes, how incredibly good-looking you've become. You're a handsome young man, Harry. Ginny certainly thinks so."

"Ginny hates me," he mumbled.

Zee gave him a sympathetic look. "Not for much longer. Now, are you done scowling?"

He shrugged. "Maybe."

"I'll take a maybe. Happy Birthday."

His lips curved and he stood up, bending to kiss her cheek. "Thanks for letting me vent."

"Anytime," she told him.

"But why am I on the cover of a potions magazine?"

"Because you're the grandson of Fleamont Potter and because they know your face will sell more copies."

Harry couldn't argue with that logic.

"Now, you better finish getting ready. Tonks will be here to pick you up any minute and when you get back, we'll go get our tattoos."

Harry grinned widely. His tattoo. He still couldn't believe that he was finally going, but he was excited at the 'd used the Floo to talk to Dean the day before and it had taken his friend only twenty minutes to sketch up the tattoo idea that Harry wanted. It was something that he had been thinking about for a few years now, so the idea was easy for him to explain. Dean took another two hours to flesh it out and when he showed the drawing to Harry, he was thrilled with it. He had shown it to Zee with a grin and she agreed that it was going to be perfect for him.

Tonks picked him up at nine along with Neville and Ron and the four of them headed to the Ministry of Magic for their Apparition tests. Thirty minutes later, they all passed with flying colours. When Ron and Neville asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday, he told them that he had plans with Zee and eagerly Disapparated back to Black Cottage. Misha and Sorcha were there to greet him and wish him a happy birthday.

Harry thanked them as they handed him a gift. When he opened it, he found a black hooded cloak in the softest and lightest material he'd ever touched.

"That material is very special," Misha told him. "It's made to keep you varm in temperatures up to -20 and it vill keep you cool, in temperatures up to 35 degrees. It has hidden pockets and compartments for just about everything and is full of featherlight charms so that it never feels any heavier no matter vhat you put into it. It's attuned to the vizard voo vears it and vhatever you're looking for vill magically appear the moment you reach into one of the pockets so that nothing will ever be lost. It molds to the vearer."

"Wow," Harry said, admiring the cloak even more. "That's brilliant."

"My best Aurors all vear them," Misha told him.

"And one more gift," Sorcha said, passing him a smaller box.

Harry opened it carefully. Inside were gold Snitch cufflinks with black lettering that said HJP.

"Every man should have his own cufflinks for special occasions," Sorcha told him. "Don't you think?"

"Grandmama, they're lovely, thank you."

Sorcha kissed his cheek. "Happy Birthday, mo ghràidh."

Harry hugged his grandparents tightly before he and Zee headed out to get her tattoo. She kissed Mina and Leo three times each before Harry was able to pull her towards the door. Then the two of them Apparated to Knockturn Alley and Zee led him into the tattoo parlour down one of the dark alleys.

"I know that it looks rather bleak here, but I'm telling you, this bloke is a genius with his wand."

Harry nodded and followed her inside. The dingy looking place was actually very clean inside. There were different pictures of tattoos along the walls and four chairs were set up around the room where three witches and two wizards were working around the place.

"Hi, I'm here to see Mateo," Zee told the witch at the front desk. "Tell him Zee is here."

Not a moment later a huge man appeared behind them, his arms wide and a big smile on his face. He had hair down to his waist that was jet black and streaked with neon blue in a long thick braid. His ears were covered in earrings and he wore a vest over black jeans, every inch of his muscled arms and torso covered in tattoos.

"Zahira!"

"Mateo," she said, hugging him as he kissed both of her cheeks.

He put his arm around her shoulders. "Come. I will take you in the back."

Zee gestured to Harry and he followed her into the backroom where Mateo closed the door and warded it for privacy. Harry looked over at the tall man and he watched his eyes widen when he recognized his scar.

"Harry Potter!"

Zee touched the man's arm. "Please, we wish to be discreet."

He nodded, seeming to catch himself. "Of course, Zahira! I apologize! It's just… the Chosen One, coming here in my shop! What an honour! Wait until I tell my Stella!"

"I would like you to do some work for me," Harry said. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble?"

"Me? Tattoo the Chosen One?" Mateo asked, his voice dripping barely contained excitement. "I would be honoured, Mr Potter! Absolutely tickled!"

Zee chuckled. "Of course, I would still like you to do mine first."

Mateo nodded and eagerly urged Zee to have a seat. Harry watched as she lowered the strap of the vest she wore to give him more room.

"You wish for me to put it over your heart, yes?"

"Yes," Zee told him, handing him the design she wanted.

Mateo examined it for a moment before he got to work. Harry watched the way he pressed his wand into her skin and the tattoo was inked into place in black over her heart, with only the flowers in a vibrant pink. It took thirty minutes and when he was done, he used a charm to seal it into place with a smile.

"Perfect!"

Zee accepted the mirror he passed her to examine his work. "Oh, Mateo, it is perfect! Thank you! Harry, what do you think?"

"It looks great," he agreed, his eyes on the fancy ornate lettering of his father's name in the centre of the heart. The sight of his own name included with that of Mina and Leo gave him a little thrill as well. "It's just right. Uncle Sirius would love it."

Zee beamed at him.

Mateo clapped his hands together. "Now, let me see pictures of those babies of yours!"

Zee grinned as she opened her purse to show him the little album she carried and they cooed over the babies for five full minutes. Soon, Mateo had pulled out his own photos. Apparently he had three daughters himself: Violet, Verity, and Valkryie. He pulled out photos to share and Harry was greeted to three happy young girls varying from the age of five to ten. He told Zee that he and Stella were thinking about trying for another one. Once they were done, Mateo turned to Harry.

"Now, what art will I be bestowing upon the Chosen One?"

Harry passed him the sketch that Dean had done for him. "I'd like this."

Mateo examined it critically for a moment. "Lovely imagery. You wish to keep the colours as they are here?"

"I think so," Harry told him.

Mateo raised an eyebrow. "If you don't mind, I would suggest we add a little red into the brown fur, it will give it more punch."

"He's a genius," Zee said with a smile. "I would trust him."

Harry nodded. "Then I trust you."

Mateo gave him a pleased look, tossing his long braid over his shoulder and gesturing for Harry to have a seat. "Now, where would you like this tattoo to be?"

He pulled his tee shirt over his head and the memory came over him quickly. The feel of Ginny's fingers on his abdomen, moving across his ribs. He'd known at that moment that it was exactly where he wanted the tattoo. He placed his palm on the right side of his abdomen.

"Here and a bit on my ribs maybe?"

Mateo nodded, urging Harry to lean back. "Great muscle tone, and this," he said, touching the hair at Harry's naval. "My wife calls this a man's happy trail."

Harry blushed. "I don't want the tattoo to go there, just on the side here."

"How big?"

"Just enough to cover here, I guess," Harry said.

Zee leaned over to look at his stomach. "Let's say about the size of your hand?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, yeah that works."

Mateo clapped his hands together. "Let's begin."

It took him two hours.

Harry stared at the ceiling trying not to focus on the slight burning from the wand as he felt the ink being dipped into his skin. But when Mateo sealed the tattoo with a flourish, a wide smile on his face, Harry felt an odd sense of pride. When he stared down at the mark on the right side, he grinned.

"Wow."

"Harry, that looks amazing," Zee admitted, leaning in to get a closer look. "That turned out even more incredible than Dean's sketch."

Harry stood up to stand in front of the full length mirror, his fingers trailing over the newly tattooed skin and thought that he had to agree with Zee. The tattoo was the head of a great stag in brownish red fur with hazel eyes. The stag's antlers rose up and intertwined in them were bright yellow lilies. Between the antlers in black cursive lettering it read, 1960-1981. On the right side of the stag below the antlers, was the head of a black dog with Sirius' grey eyes, cursive lettering beneath, 1959-1996. On the left side of the stag in the same black cursive it read: Love Is All You Need. It was just big enough that if he laid his hand over it, he covered the ink completely.

"It's perfect," he said, his eyes staring down at it in amazement.

"I agree," Mateo said, proudly. "I'm not ashamed to say, that it's some of my best work. Not too many people come in here with artwork that good for me to go off of."

"A friend of mine is an artist," Harry told him. "He designed it for me."

"Well, he knows what he's doing," Mateo declared. "Is what you hoped for?"

"Yes," Harry told him. "Thank you."

Mateo smiled. "It's sealed, but the next few days you should rub a soothing salve over it to help the seal strengthen. Twice a day for three days and it will stay pristine."

Harry beamed at him as he and Zee paid him for his work, each giving him a generous tip before Zee linked her arm through his and they left the shop with big grins.

"Now, I'm taking you to lunch," she insisted.

They went to a pub in Muggle London so that no one would recognize them. It was nice and they talked about Bill and Fleur's wedding the next day and how Harry would be in disguise.

"You don't have to go," she reminded him.

Harry shook his head. "No, I have to go. I… I want to be there for them and I want to see her."

Zee nodded. "Don't get too close, Harry. The bloodlust potion may be fooled by your disguise, but it also might not be fooled for long."

"The potion is coming along. Mr Borage thinks it will be less than two weeks."

"But until then, we will be cautious," Zee advised. "It's not just about keeping you safe, Harry, it's about Ginny too. She could hurt herself in her attempts to get you."

Harry knew that was true and it only worried him more.

"And in the meantime, we will be staying close to home. After those articles were printed about you today, I don't think it will be much longer until Voldemort sees them."

Harry nodded. He knew that Voldemort wouldn't like them and he wondered just how upset the dark wizard was going to be when he read the news.

~ ASC ~

After taking his test, Neville felt better. He Apparated straight to Diagon Alley and made his way to the Leaky Cauldron. Hannah was smiling as she served drinks to a couple and he sighed. After spending the other night at Harry's completely pissed, he'd sent her flowers with an apology note. She'd never responded to him. He figured that showing up at her place of work was probably a definite long shot and could even be borderline stalker-like, but he had to try at least one more time.

The moment she saw him her eyes lit up before she masked it. She walked over to him, her arms crossed.

"What are you doing here?"

"I missed you," he said, his eyes on hers. "Hannah, can we please talk?"

"I'm working," she said, stiffly.

"After work," he said. "I'll wait."

She looked like she wanted to say something before she shook her head. "No. I'm sorry, Neville. But, I think it's best if we don't. Please leave me alone."

Neville watched her walk away and his heart clenched in his chest. How could he have possibly messed it up so badly between them? He watched her a moment longer before he let himself out and headed into Diagon Alley. He just wanted to talk to her, to understand why she was ending it between them. They had something together, something great, and he didn't understand why she was ending it.

He grabbed the supplies he needed for school, new shirts since his arms were too muscled for his old ones and too short, and a few other supplies before he caught sight of Mandy and Anthony walking hand in hand by the ice cream parlour. He quickened his pace and Goldstein gave a wave.

"Longbottom."

"Hey," he said. "Do you have a minute to talk?"

"About?"

"Not you, Goldstein, no offence," he added quickly, his eyes on Mandy. "It's about Hannah."

Mandy's eyes narrowed. "And why would I tell you anything about Hannah? How could you do that to her?"

"What?" he exclaimed in bewilderment.

"You broke her heart!" Mandy exclaimed. "She's been crying over you all week, Longbottom! I thought that you were one of the good ones!"

Neville frowned, trying to make sense of what Mandy was saying. "She's been… wait, what? She broke up with me and I don't even know why!"

Mandy stared at him a moment. "She told me that you broke up with her last week."

"Well, I didn't," Neville insisted. "I don't know why she would say that. I've been trying to get her to talk to me, Mandy. Please, can you help me?"

Mandy let out a long sigh. "Tell me what happened."

Neville gave her a grateful look as Anthony led them into the ice cream parlour. Once the three of them were seated with a treat, did Neville start to talk.

"Wait — you went to her flat?" Mandy demanded, interrupting his story.

"Yes," he said. "Isn't that what one does when they're dating the girl of their dreams?"

Anthony chuckled. "You got it bad, mate."

Neville ignored him. "I wanted to see her. I thought that I'd surprise her and we'd go out, but she… she was angry."

"Of course she was angry!" Mandy exclaimed. "You can't just show up uninvited at her flat!"

Neville frowned. "You lost me."

"Neville," Mandy began. "I know that you don't understand this, but Hannah didn't want you to meet her mum."

"Why?"

"Because she's a psycho, Neville. She's completely off her rocker. Hannah is embarrassed by her mother's behaviour and was probably mortified at what she said to you before you got there!" Mandy reasoned. "Let me guess, she made Hannah change into a low cut outfit to show off her assets?"

"Err... actually, yeah," Neville said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Mandy nodded as if this explained everything. "Hannah didn't want to tell her mother about you for a reason. She was afraid that you'd get scared and make a mad dash for the door. She was afraid her mother would do something to you."

"Wait, what? Do something to me?"

"Caroline Abbott is a narcissistic, manipulative psychopath. She's mad, Neville." Mandy explained. "Look, Hannah is trying to be independent, but every time she saves up enough money to escape, Caroline takes it and she's trapped again. But Hannah has such a good heart and she doesn't want to hurt her mum's feelings, so she can never says no. Her mum goes through money faster than anyone I've ever met. If she finds out her daughter is dating you, someone who comes from wealth, can you imagine what she would do to make sure her daughter kept you? I wouldn't put it past her to slip you a Love Potion herself and make you fall madly in love with her. Hannah's not willing to risk losing the man she loves because of her mum.

"She loves me?" Neville repeated, his eyes widening.

"Of course she loves you! She wouldn't be trying to protect you from Caroline Abbott if she didn't!"

Neville's smile was slow. "She loves me."

Anthony rolled his eyes. "He's completely over the moon for her, Mandy."

Mandy nodded. "You made her really happy, Neville. I loved seeing how happy she was with you. Do you love her?"

Neville tapped his fingers on the table. "No offence, Mandy, but you're not going to be the first person to hear those words if I do."

Mandy's smile was quick. "Tony's having a little get together at his place in three days. Be there for seven. Hannah will be there. I'll convince her to take a walk in the gardens and you can be waiting out there for her. After all, that's where you two had your first moment last summer, wasn't it?"

Neville blushed. "That was… we were just talking."

"Yes and it meant the world to her. See you there."

Neville watched them walk off, feeling more confused than before, before he grinned. Hannah was head over heels for him, that's what Mandy had said. Three days… he needed to find the perfect flowers for her. He was going to grovel his heart out if he had to, but he was going to get her back.

~ ASC ~

Voldemort stood inside of the prison cell, power flowing through him. The ball of blazing red light surrounded both him and Dumbledore as the power seeped from the old wizard and into Voldemort in a dazzling force. The punch of it was still enough to make him feel giddy, even after days of receiving hit after hit of it. It was a high that he couldn't explain, a high that he couldn't put into words. When he left Dumbledore, he felt like he could walk on air, like he had more power than he'd ever held in his possession before.

It was an absolutely mind-blowing experience.

He let the last remnants of the power hit him before he leaned back, grabbing for Bellarosa and Belladonna to hold him up as they helped him to a chair. The haze of power took a moment to clear from his vision as he took in the old man before him.

Dumbledore looked like he'd aged even more. His skin was wrinkled and gaunt looking, almost grey. His broken glasses still sat crooked on the end of his long nose, his head shining through the patches of thin white hair on the top of his head hanging limply down his back and over his shoulders. His long full white beard was so thin and scraggly that it was see through. His eyes, the usual piercing blue, were dull and tired.

Voldemort felt his lips curve in satisfaction. He'd taken the life from the man before him. He was nothing more now than a shell of the old wizard who barely had any strength left. The chains had cut into his wrists and ankles, dried blood around them, and the wizard was even thinner than ever, his ribs visible through his ripped robes.

Belladonna took the opportunity to kneel before the prisoner. "I brought you here, Albus. You are here today because of me and because of the opportunity that Lord Voldemort granted me."

Dumbledore's eyes met hers. "Delta… how have I wronged you?"

"Belladonna," she whispered. "Delta was never my real name. And you know what you did, Albus. You know exactly what you did. The twenty-ninth of November, 1981. Does that ring any bells?"

Bellarosa conjured a glass of water and carefully gave it to Dumbledore to drink.

"Thank you, Signora Zabini," he said, kindly, turning his gaze back to Belladonna. "I see the similarities now. I should have seen it then. Sisters."

"Sisters," Belladonna repeated. "But it wasn't Bellarosa's life you ruined."

Dumbledore's sad eyes met hers. "I don't know what you think I did, my dear, but I am truly sorry for your loss."

Her wand pressed against his windpipe, her eyes blazing. "You murdered them!"

"I did not," he said, calmly.

Belladonna pressed her wand harder and he gasped for breath. "You let them die then! It's the same thing! Crucio!"

Dumbledore's limbs twitched against the chains and he cried out in pain as the curse tore into him.

Bellarosa lowered her sister's arm. "He's old, Donna, be careful."

Belladonna glared at her. "I know what I'm doing, Rosa!"

She turned back to Dumbledore and flicked her wand, a sharp gash cut through his shoulder.

"Admit it. You killed them."

"I did not," he repeated, wincing as another gash tore through him.

Voldemort stood up, his head still spinning a bit from the power surge. "Perhaps you need to refresh his memory, Belladonna."

Belladonna added a third slice before she framed his face in her hands. "1981, Albus. The Potters were dead. Our Lord was missing, presumed dead, and his loyal followers were trying to find him. There was a riot near the Ministry."

Dumbledore's eyes widened. "I remember. Death Eaters attacked Big Ben and Aurors were forced to step in before the Muggles were made aware of the situation."

"We were just looking for a safe place to go."

"I seem to recall there being a lot of duelling and a general lack of surrendering for people looking for a safe place," Dumbledore said.

Belladonna scowled. "Gavino and I weren't there to duel. We were there to make sure our Alessia was kept safe."

Dumbledore's blue eyes met hers. "Tell me what happened. Why did you attack the Aurors then?"

Belladonna's wand moved and his throat began to constrict as if he were being strangled. He choked and she sneered. "You know what happened! You were there! You killed them! The Aurors were duelling and you showed up to help! You didn't help, Albus!"

Dumbledore coughed when she let the spell up.

"You used your wand to make the Thames rise up and hide the duel from the view of the Muggles and when we tried to flee to safety, you used water to hold us in place!" Belladonna exclaimed, her voice rising. "Aurors were rounding up the Death Eaters and when I pleaded for the safety of my Alessia, do you know what you said?"

"I told you… I would keep her safe," Dumbledore whispered. "I promised to keep her safe, but that you… you still had to pay for the crimes you committed."

"AND YOU TOOK HER FROM ME!" Belladonna screamed.

Dumbledore didn't flinch as another gash tore into his arm.

"You took her from me," Belladonna repeated more calmly, "and when Gavino tried to stop you, Mad-Eye Moody stopped him."

Dumbledore coughed. "I didn't… kill them, Belladonna."

Belladonna's eyes bored into his. "Rookwood tried to help and with his distraction, I escaped and took Alessia from you. I was going to get her back to Italy, to my sister and her son for safety. I gave her to Gavino to protect and Dolohov said that she would be safe."

"And he blew up the street," Dumbledore said, quietly. "Six Aurors died… twelve Muggles… and you and Dolohov… escaped."

"Gavino and Alessia were killed! Buried under the rubble like those filthy Muggles and you didn't even try to help them! Gavino protected our daughter with his body and she was still alive! The healers told me that she was… she could have been saved!"

Dumbledore's eyes were sad. "She could have been saved, but we didn't know she was there, Belladonna. We didn't know until it was too late and by the time we found her… I am truly sorry for your loss. But it was Dolohov who blew up the street, one of your associates, not I."

"Because you tried to take her from me!" Belladonna screamed. "Because you tried to deny me the right to raise my daughter! SHE HAD JUST TURNED TWO YEARS OLD AND YOU LET HER DIE!"

"And your misguided loyalty to the wizard behind you is the reason why you were denied that right," Dumbledore said, softly. "You were fighting for the wrong side and if you had just entrusted your daughter to me, rather than try to run, she would still be alive and so would your husband."

"Crucio!"

Dumbledore cried out as the curse hit him again and again. When he choked up blood, Bellarosa pushed her sister's arm down.

"Enough, Donna. The Dark Lord didn't say that you could kill him. Not yet."

Belladonna's tear-filled eyes were full of rage but she nodded. Her gaze fell upon Dumbledore. "It should have been you beneath that rubble. She was only two years old. My Alessia Delta… my Gavino… it's your fault they're dead. You took everything from me that day! Everything!"

Voldemort placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing. "And tonight, Donna, tonight I will drain the last of his power and we will gather everyone around to watch as you kill him."

Belladonna beamed at him, bowing her head. "Thank you, my Lord. Thank you for allowing me that honour."

Voldemort cupped her face with his spindly fingers. "Just promise me that you'll make him suffer and give us a good show."

Belladonna's lips curved. "I'll crush him, my Lord. I'll crush him like he let my Alessia be crushed." She turned to look back at Dumbledore. "And I'll stand there and watch you die just like you did to her all those years ago." She spit at his feet. "Enjoy your last few hours, old man."

The two sisters strutted out of the room and Voldemort gave Dumbledore a last glimpse. "One of your many sins, Dumbledore. It will be lovely to watch you pay for them at Belladonna's hands."

When the cell locked behind him, Dumbledore coughed up more blood in the darkness, alone once again.

~ ASC ~

Greg arrived at Avery Castle, wiping his sweaty palms on the side of his trousers. Being summoned by the Dark Lord wasn't something he found himself comfortable with on a normal day, let alone after the last conversation he'd had with him. Every time he'd been summoned he wondered if this would be the day that the Dark Lord would ask him to do something terrible, something he would have no choice to do if he wanted to protect Pansy.

Every time, it was nothing.

But today, he'd seen what Pansy had been reading at breakfast. The paper, the magazines, all with Potter's face splashed across it.

"Can you believe this?" Pansy demanded. "Potter is actually telling the world he's The Chosen One? He always was completely full of himself."

"Do you think he is?" Greg asked.

"Full of himself? Absolutely! The way he always boasted about his Seeking skills like he was the Second Coming… he's a prat." At his look, she shrugged. "I don't know if he's really the Chosen One. Maybe he is. The Dark Lord certainly does seem to worry about him, doesn't he? He did give that potion to Weasley you said and why would he do that if not to hurt Potter?"

Greg chewed his toast and nodded.

"But enough about bloody Potter," Pansy said, tossing the paper down. "Today we're opening Sophistication By Pansy! I can't believe this day has finally arrived! And it's a little late, I know, we are behind. But it's really happening, Greg!"

He smiled. "I knew you would do it."

"Daphne is going to meet me there for half past ten so we can get the last minute stuff out of the way. You'll be there as well, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

"I know that we don't open until one today, but I want everything to be perfect! I have the champagne ready and Mitzy threw together some finger sandwiches and baked goods. It's going to be amazing!"

Greg made a sound of agreement.

"And of course, having the press there will help and Daphne promised that her cousin's best friend, that model in Paris, will be making an appearance. You know the one who models in all of the fashion shows? Dayla? She's absolutely gorgeous and will be trying on some of my lingerie and modelling it right there in the shop!" Pansy continued, her eyes alight in excitement. "It's finally coming together."

"It will be perfect," he assured her.

Pansy stood up, her hand over her stomach before she kissed his cheek rather noisily. "And you promise Lockhart won't be there?"

Greg took her hand in his, his large thumb gently stroking her knuckles. "I promise. I took care of it."

The pure happiness on his wife's face told him that he still didn't regret that choice. But now, heading up to Avery Castle, summoned once more by the Dark Lord, the nerves returned. He had a feeling this meeting was going to be interesting.

He headed into the throne room where Voldemort was holding court in the high backed chair and looked around quickly at the Death Eaters gathered around. It looked like almost everyone was present except for a few stragglers and of course, none of the pregnant women outside of Alecto and Calypso. Voldemort considered them two of his most loyal followers and would never not invite them to an important meeting.

"Ah, Goyle!" Voldemort said, his red eyes gleaming. "Good."

Greg swallowed as he found his spot in the circle. "My Lord," he said, bowing his head reverently.

"You and your wife are opening the shop today, are you not?" Voldemort demanded.

Greg nodded. "Yes, my Lord. At one today."

"Good. I want news of the opening. If you're going to make this business turn a profit, the opening day is the most important. I won't keep you here long as I imagine you have much to do, but I want to discuss a few things."

Voldemort turned his attention on the room.

"Bellatrix showed me the magazines and newspapers that were published today. It seems that young Mr Potter has gained favour in the Ministry of Magic."

"My Lord, we know that it's all rubbish," Crouch declared. "He may be powerful, but he doesn't hold a candle to you."

Voldemort's long fingers danced his wand between them. "He's trying to draw me out, Bart. He thinks that I will submit to the bait before I am ready."

"But you won't?" Yaxley asked, hesitantly.

Voldemort sneered. "I've been a little busy, Corban. Dumbledore has been weakening each day with the help of Dragomir's potion."

"Can I kill him for you, my Lord?" Crouch asked, falling to his knees. "Let me do it for you, my Lord. Let me kill him."

"Watching him weaken is quite amusing for me. The great and powerful Albus Dumbledore left to rot here in my dungeon for my amusement. It's really too good to be true," Voldemort said. "And our Donna will get that honour, Bart. Tonight at dusk, I ask all of you to be here for the execution of Albus Dumbledore."

Crouch cackled in glee. "How will you do it, Donna?"

Belladonna licked her lips. "Slowly."

Rabastan smiled. "Can't wait."

Voldemort held his hands up to quiet the room and everyone stopped talking. There was no sound for a full minute as everyone waited to see what Voldemort was going to say next. Greg felt his palms sweating even more.

"There was another article that I read today in the Daily Prophet. Once one passed by Potter's face, it was a small one at the bottom of page six. Does anyone know what that article was? Goyle, perhaps?"

"No, my Lord," Greg said, quickly.

"Well," Voldemort said, slowly. "It was most interesting to me. It seems that the Croatian Auror whose wife we kidnapped made a statement to the press. I'm sure you remember his wife, Woodrow. Well, it turns out that she gave birth to a child yesterday."

"My son?" Selwyn said, his head shooting up. "I have a son?"

"No," Voldemort spat. "It was a girl. It seems they've named her Freya Gregoria and given her the surname Novak, not Selwyn. Her idiot of an Auror husband has decided to adopt the child as his own. What else did the article say, Bella?"

Bellatrix stepped forward, the paper in her hand. "It's a rather impressive article, my Lord. It goes on to explain how her husband never gave up on her and how much he only loves her more for fighting to find her way back to him. He says how they talked about the child not being his biologically since she lost the son whom she had carried and how they decided to raise the child in a household of love. How they wouldn't let what happened to her deter them from being happy."

Crouch snorted. "How boring."

At Voldemort's look, he quieted.

Bellatrix continued. "It seems that Kata claims that she had a knight in shining armour help her escape that night and her knight's words are what helped her realize that her life and that of her unborn child were worth living. Of course, she's seeing a Mind Healer as apparently she has some things to deal with but, she's back with her husband and happy. It was rather a touching article. Two lovers reunited through the help of a mystery knight… whom she named her daughter after."

Greg's hands trembled and he shoved them into his pockets.

"Someone helped her escape?" Selwyn demanded. "Who?"

"Young Crabbe claims that he saw nothing," Voldemort continued, his wand still moving through his fingers at a leisurely pace. "But Yaxley tells me that he was too busy polishing his wand and stuffing his face to be a worthy guard. With everyone else off at the gambling hall, that only leaves one other person who was left behind at your home, doesn't it, Goyle?"

"I-I-I don't know what you're talking about," Greg said.

Voldemort's eyes gleamed. "I think you do. Freya Gregoria… that is quite the coincidence of a name, isn't it? Did you help her escape, Goyle?"

"No."

Voldemort stood up from his chair. "You wouldn't lie to me, would you, Goyle?"

"No, my Lord," he said, quickly.

Voldemort stepped towards him, his wand jabbing into the side of his neck. "If you tell me the truth now, I will forgive you this once. If you continue to lie to me, I will chain your wife up in the dungeons until she gives birth and then make you watch as I kill her."

"I helped her escape!" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry, my Lord. It was me, I helped her! I just… I couldn't stomach how Woodrow was treating her! Please, don't punish my wife for my mistakes. Please! She doesn't know what I did."

Voldemort tapped his wand against Greg's neck, the cool wood of the wand pounding his pulse at every beat. "And you thought that you'd play the hero, is that it?"

"No, my Lord. I just… I just wanted her to have a fighting chance."

"Crucio!"

Greg fell to his knees as the curse ripped through him, his veins popping at the pain as he tried not to scream. It was lifted a moment later and he gasped for breath.

"Do you beg my forgiveness?"

"Yes!" Greg panted. "Yes, please, I'm sorry, my Lord. I'm sorry!"

Voldemort stared down at him. "Stand."

Greg stumbled to his feet, his eyes meeting the red gaze before him. He was going to die here, he thought. He was going to die standing right here and there was nothing that he could do about it.

"I forgive you," Voldemort told him. "You may go and help your wife open her shop."

"M-my Lord?" he stammered in confusion.

"I pardon you," Voldemort repeated. "Now go, before I change my mind."

Greg nodded and hurried from the room without a backwards glance. He made it all the way to the front door of the castle before he paused to let out a slow breath. When he turned, he saw Yaxley on his heels.

"You're one lucky son of a bitch, Goyle," Yaxley told him.

Greg turned to head outside and Yaxley followed him. "Are you coming with me?"

Yaxley sneered. "Am I now your babysitter to make sure that you're only going to your wife's new shop? Yes, I am. I vouched for you, Greg. I thought you were one of the smart ones and yet you went behind my back and freed that witch!"

"I'm sorry," he said again. "I just… her husband was still looking for her. After all that time and I just… I'm sorry."

Yaxley stared at him for a long moment. "I never would have pegged you for a hopeless romantic, Goyle." At Greg's look, he shook his head. "I convinced the Dark Lord that killing you wouldn't be wise. You've proven yourself a few times over now and yes, you made a mistake, but she was just a whore after all. She doesn't know anything that will come back to haunt us and personally, I think having her gone will make Selwyn a hell of a lot more useful. But until he decides that you've proven yourself again, consider me your new best friend."

Greg's eyes were wide. "Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir."

"Don't thank me yet," Yaxley warned. "Now, let's go see this shop your wife is so proud of."

Greg nodded. "I-I have to go get Pansy first."

"I'll be waiting in Apricity Lane. Don't be late."

When he Disapparated and left Greg standing on the edge of the castle wards, he let out a slow breath. He wasn't sure what he had done to get on the good side of Corban Yaxley, but the man had just saved his life and he sure as hell wasn't about to mess that up a second time.

He was just about to Disapparate when he heard someone call out his name. He turned to see Snape walking out towards him with Bellarosa and he frowned.

"Mr Goyle, it seems that the Dark Lord has requested your presence for a short mission," Snape said.

"He said that I could go and help Pansy open the shop," Greg said, warily.

Snape's dark eyes bored into his. "You'll be a bit late. The Dark Lord wants to debrief before you go. He says that he's going to need some muscle later and wants you in on the plans."

Bellarosa nodded, her perfectly manicured hands sliding over his biceps. "And you, my darling, have that in spades."

As he was led back to the castle he couldn't help but wonder if they were about to be his last steps forward. He hoped Yaxley would be there to help Pansy because he had a feeling that he was going to be a bit late.

---

End Author's Notes:

fanculo! — fuck it!

Thanks for reading and please review!