Author's Note:
Reviews and Comments: To marauders_mowopapr: One tiny girl my arse indeed lol. And yes, Ginny is too good of a flier. I did think Quidditch myself at first. You will find out about Remus this chapter and yes, there is potentially another spy working against Voldemort. To AnaGPotter: Yes, Ginny did get a new vein. Thank you! I wanted to give Bill and Fleur a lovely wedding (uninterrupted). To AQuickRead91: Too much of a Muggle story LOL. And yes, I'm sure Theo would have danced with Harry. To SeriouslySam: It has been a while Harry and Remus had a nice normal chat, hasn't it? Happy this chapter had so many adorable moments for you. To briana_t: Thank you! I agree, they did need some good father/son moments. Harry did get to appreciate Ginny's beauty from afar. To peppertc: Thank you! I appreciate your kind words. I'm happy you feel it's been a rollercoaster of emotions and I hope you continued to enjoy it with my weekly updates! To QuietReader: Thank you! Wow, that is an insane honour! Your tattoo sounds lovely, but really it must be your choice and definitely choose whatever story means the most to you! To Steelcode: It will be interesting for Ginny to take the potion to say the least. To Mizfitz22: Thank you! Ginny does trust Luna in a way that she doesn't trust others and yes, things at Hogwarts will be different. To FrankziskaRH; Thank you!
To Wolf's scream: What would Harry do with himself in a normal year? It would be strange for him indeed. Ha, doesn't every girl wish for six big brothers? LOL. To Nuno Neves: Thank you! We will see more of Theo, Luna, and Ginny hanging out soon. To Dianne: The Novaks did, but Tonks still wants to talk to her. Harry was close to Dumbledore and he's sad the man has died, but yes, not like he was in HBP because he has a loving family in ASC. Happy my rain comment from Ron made you smile. It felt like the right thing for Ron to say and sorry, no back to back updates lol. I'm trying not to get murdered by Dusk. To jaccy3: Thank you! I thought Ron and Bill deserved a close moment together. And no, sorry, not nine days worth of an extra long chapter haha. Thank you so much for saying my "abilities to develop the plot and build this story is truly staggering, masterful, and nail-biting."
To Mackie919: Thank you! Oh, the Weasley men knew it wouldn't be easy LOL. To Arctoid32: Yup, only 9 more days in the story before the potion. Wow, you will cheerfully murder me in my sleep if something goes wrong? But then how would I fix it? To nothatchhavi: Haha, yes magic. Yup, Sirius ate dog food and then threw it up lol. It is part of his personality, but it shouldn't dominate every scene. Remus likes chocolate, but he's not obsessed. For sure Remus did the same thing and the babies do calm Harry down. Harry was definitely pining after Ginny at the Yule Ball and even more at the wedding. To Justice League: Aw, the potion has become your mortal enemy? Happy to help! To Atea1793: I'm sorry you didn't understand what I was trying to say. Let it go. I'm human.
To AccioRxses: Thanks for thinking the wedding was beautiful, but I know, poor Arthur! Sorry I didn't show Ron as the princess haha. To shivani: Thank you! Happy my fanfic is the highlight of your week! To Guest: A bit more suspense I'm afraid, but things are slowly coming together. To tim2604: Yes, Harry didn't have Birthday by the Beatles. He just wasn't in a celebrating mood and I think Remus knew not to push him. Caught my MCU bit in there did you? LOL, yes, dragons assemble. To AnonXimous: Thank you! I like Ron being someone we depend on. To BrainOut: I had to sneak in Won somehow haha. Thank you. To scrappy8: Thank you. To Mutt N Feathers: Yes, Bill and Fleur deserved a wedding with no Death Eaters in my opinion. Happy to throw you some surprises. To wanderinon: I agree! I absolutely love the thought and attention people put into their reviews (even the critical ones) There is an ASC discussion group on discord in the GinnyLovers group. No one really discusses much, but it's there for anyone who would like to. The link is on my tumblr. I'd love it if it could become more of an actual discussion group! And yes, Ginny was a bit pissed off lol.
To alix33: Yes, it would be cool at first, but annoying very quickly. To Nightwing2013: You think Ginny will end up in a coma? Hmm… we shall see. I love your theories! To WinkingSkeever: Of course Ginny would get a drop on her brothers LOL. To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: Hmm, a vaccine antidote, interesting! Seriously Sam covers needle injections with potions very well in her story Kalopsia — I highly recommend if you haven't read it! To gemini614: Weasleys stick together, even saving those they love when they don't want to be saved. To Guest: Um, I am continuing this story? You reviewed one day after I posted so I don't understand why you think I'm not? To pix25: I wanted to really show how the potion was influencing her. It's more than just making her hate Harry. To ValGrey02: Thank you! I think Remus was excited in canon as well, he just let his fear cloud that. I loved him dancing with Mina, it made my heart melt writing it. To Chintan: Harry is a bit like a love-struck puppy, isn't he? Part of the potion, distorts Ginny's memories and makes her think Muriel is cool.
To Bumewis: Happy to keep the chapter nerve-wracking and keeping people guessing! To Cristina: Remus is doing his best to hold out. I can't promise I won't keep some of the canon deaths, but I can promise they won't all be the same. I think Mrs Weasley was too happy to see her son get married. To joss: Nope, won't kill Ginny, but yes they will have some hard work to do! Thanks! To JamesTKent: Thank you! To TigerGirl14: Wow! "Earth shatteringly epic" is a very high compliment thank you! It's so amazing to hear that you felt like you were part of the action from watching Harry grow up and his power grow with him, to meeting Tonks and watching Hinny fall in love. Thank you so much for such a kind and lovely review! I hope to keep you at the edge of your seat a little bit longer!
My posting schedule: Weekly.
Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.
As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!
Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!
CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SIX:
Ron accepted the vial with the drops of Ginny's blood from Fred, his eyes on the deep red drops. "How did it go?"
"We're lucky to be alive," Fred said. "But we got it. You and Hermione are taking this right to Harry, yes?"
Ron nodded. "Yes. We're heading there now so that Borage can add it."
"Good," Fred said. "She dropped Percy, Charlie, and George like a bat out of hell. Aydin was my only saving grace."
"Now I'm extra glad I wasn't there," Ron admitted.
"Another vein appeared as well," Fred told him. His eyes were full of concern before he masked it, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Just get her back, Ron."
"I will," he said, tucking the vial into his pocket. "You heading to the shop?"
"No, George is. I'm taking the day. I left a very lovely and very naked Avril in my bed."
Ron snorted. "Of course you did."
"What?" Fred said. "She's gorgeous and limber. You should have seen how she twisted her leg around so that we could… hot damn! I promised I'd bring brunch so I need to get back to her."
"How long is she staying in England for?"
"Two more days," Fred said. "And I'm hoping most of those days will be in my bed. She has one hell of a mouth on her." He winked at him and took off, leaving Ron standing in the back garden.
Ron shook his head in amusement. He had to admit, Avril was beautiful and Fred had her laughing through most of the evening in between the close dancing and outrageous flirting. He turned when Hermione said his name and he smiled. She was wearing jean shorts that showed off her tanned legs and a red button-down vest blouse that tied at her waist. She had attempted to tame her hair into a messy bun, but a few loose curls had already sprung free to dangle by her neck. Ron held his hand out for her, pleased when she took it.
He pulled her up against him, hoisting her hips upwards to kiss her. When those brown eyes blinked up at him in a daze, he smiled.
"Hi, Hermione."
Hermione's lips parted. "Hi."
Ron let go of her hand and patted his pocket. "I have it. Are you ready to go?"
Hermione led the way to the Apparition point and the two of them Disapparated to the gates of Clevedon Court. Dobby was there to greet them, ushering them in for tea and sandwiches to tide them over before lunch. They found Borage standing over the cauldron on the table, humming to himself as he stirred.
"We got it, Mr Borage."
The old wizard looked up when they entered and held his hand out for the vial. "Excellent timing!"
He popped open the stopper and carefully added three drops of Ginny's blood to the bubbling potion. It hissed like butter frying in a pan before turning a blinding shade of red and fading back to the deep purple that it was before. Borage made a 'hmm' sound as he stirred it.
"Is that good?" Ron asked. "Does it mean it's working?"
"Of course it's working," Fleamont Potter said from the portrait on the wall. "It's nothing but good news from here on out!"
"Did someone say good news?" Harry asked as he came into the drawing room with Mina in his arms.
Zee came in behind him carrying Leo. "Did you already add the blood?"
"Just now," Ron told them. "Mr Potter says it's good."
"And it is," Borage said. "It will simmer on low for twenty-four hours and then we'll need to add Harry's blood for it to acclimate properly. It will work, mark my words!"
Harry let out a slow breath as Mina's hands gripped his chin. "Thank Merlin."
"Is that my grand-baby you're holding?" Euphemia asked from the portrait.
Harry smiled and moved to stand in front of the portrait. "It is."
"Oh, look at her! She's gotten so big already! Hi, Mina, darling!"
Zee came to stand in front with Leo as well and Euphemia cooed over them happily. "They're seven months and two days old," she said, smiling proudly.
Euphemia's eyes filled with tears. "My sons make such beautiful babies, don't they? Oh, Monty, look what our Sirius made!"
Fleamont chuckled. "Yes, they are very beautiful."
Harry passed Mina to Zee so that she could talk babies with his grandparents' portrait and he made his way over to Ron and Hermione.
"So, how did it go this morning?"
Ron shrugged. "Fred didn't go into details, but it sounds like Ginny fought back and knocked out Charlie, Percy, and George. Fred said that he was only spared because he was holding Aydin. But Charlie obtained her blood and that's what matters."
"She was still refusing to give it?" Harry asked.
Ron nodded. "Yeah and now she trusts the four of them as much as she trusts me. I hate this because it feels like I'm betraying her trust. Hell, I am betraying her trust in this way and that makes it so much worse."
Hermione squeezed his hand. "But it's to save her, Ron. Without this antidote… we have no choice."
Ron knew they were right. He knew that this was the best decision but watching the betrayal in his sister's eyes, the way that she was slowing losing trust and faith in her brothers was something that he hadn't expected to find so painful.
Harry's eyes met his. He knew that Harry understood that better than anyone. He just wanted this to be over.
"Your blood goes in tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah," Harry said, his eyes on the potion. "And then we wait."
Ron stared at the cauldron. "And then we wait."
~ ASC ~
Bill held his wife's hand as the portkey took them to the beach in Anguilla that morning. They had decided that it was where they wanted to honeymoon and the thought of getting to spend time with her here where they had first gone on holiday together, seemed right. They Apparated to the house they'd rented, the small one bedroom cottage on the beach, and merely dropped their bags before turning towards one another.
Bill didn't even say anything as his wife tore his shirt over his head and he made quick work of her clothes. They didn't even bother to explore the rest of the cottage and instead, Bill had her half kneeling on the floor as he shagged her from behind, his finger carefully stroking her clit. Fleur was making keening noises, hips moving back against him desperately and he knew that despite the evening they'd spent lovemaking after their wedding, neither of them were ready to stop. It was how twenty minutes later they came to be lying like the dead in the middle of the living room carpet, tangled and naked.
Fleur made a happy noise as she brushed her lips over his shoulder. "Bonjour, my husband."
Bill's lips curved as he let his hand slide down her back to pat her bum. "Bonjour, my wife."
"I shall never tire of hearing zat," she said, her hand teasing his stomach, tracing the muscles there. "I like when you take me like zat. So deep and so… fiercely. Perhaps later, you can sit while I ride you in reverse, oui?"
Bill's cock was already hardening. This honeymoon might be the death of him, but it was a risk he was willing to take. In response, he kissed her neck, letting his hand gather a breast in his hand.
"And zen we can try out ze bath we're supposed to have?" Fleur suggested. "And we must try ze bed and ze sofa."
"And the table," Bill said, his lips by her ear. "I want to sh-sh-shag you on the table. Hard enough to make it w-w-wer-attle."
"Mon Dieu," she said, her hand slipping down to fondle his growing erection. "We have much to do zen, n'est pas?"
Bill gripped her chin, kissing her again and letting himself bask in her kiss.
Fleur's soft sigh made him let her go, his eyes on hers. She framed his face in her hands. "I am so proud of you."
Bill's brow furrowed. "Why?"
"Your vows," she said. "Zey were so beautiful. Your speech is getting better every day."
"The stuttering is l-l-less," he admitted. "But the w-w-wer sound…"
Fleur smiled, stretching her body over his before she climbed to her feet, tugging him with her. She led him naked into the bedroom to where the huge bed was waiting for them and sat on the edge, crooking her finger.
"We will practice."
Bill raised an eyebrow. "Practice?"
Fleur nodded, shimmying up the bed. "I promised to help you, did I not, my husband? We will work on ze movements of your tongue. How to, shall we say, roll it, mimic words, and practice zoze 'r' sounds."
Bill's lips curved as he crawled onto the bed. "Oh? How do you pro-pose we do that?"
Fleur merely pointed between her legs. "I theenk you might know already."
Bill's tongue licked his lips before he lowered his head to kiss her stomach. "Here?"
"Lower."
He let his tongue trail over her belly button and down into the silvery blond curls before he spoke again. "Here?"
"Better," she instructed. "Perhaps if you say somezing?"
His lips curved as he recalled one of the many tongue twisters his rhetoric healer had suggested he practice with. "Nee-er-ly nee-er the seashore," he murmured before his tongue slid into her folds.
"Mmm," she said. "I don't hear you talking."
"Fuck talking," Bill said as he licked her again. "I'm g-going to show you what I c-can do with my tongue."
And when he let his tongue go back to work, her eyes rolled and her hands gripped the bedspread on either side of her.
"Bill… Bill… s'il te plait, mon amour. Mmm…"
His tongue curled around her clit as his fingers slid into her and she moaned his name. Oh, he knew how to position his tongue. He knew how to make her beg and he knew that he was doing exactly that when her hands clutched at his hair as she rocked against him desperately. When she finally caught her breath, she ran her fingers down the scars on his face, a soft smile on her face.
"See? I know how t-t-to position my tongue," he whispered near her ear.
Fleur's cheeks heated. "I am not sure. I theenk you might need to practice a few more times. Maybe deux or trois times a day, just to be sure."
Bill kissed her breasts, then her neck, before his mouth met hers. "If that's what I must do, then I must do it."
Then he shimmied back down her body and buried his tongue between her legs once more.
~ ASC ~
The next day, Harry used a small knife to prick the tip of his finger and let his blood drop into the cauldron. As instructed by both Borage and Fleamont, he let three drops fall before he curled his finger into his hand. The potion shimmered a dazzling emerald green before returning to the dark shade of purple it was before. Harry sucked his finger in his mouth to stop the blood as he watched Borage stir the potion.
"Wonderful!" Borage exclaimed, wiggling his hips in excitement. "Yes, yes this will do nicely."
Harry let out a slow breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "So, seven more days then?"
"Give or take," Borage told him. "At least six, seven is most likely. See how dark the potion is? It has to lighten. Ideally, we want this dark purple to lighten to a soft blue. Preferably a deep sky colour. Each day, it will lighten a little bit more and when it's ready, a soft white fluffy film will appear on the top."
"A film?"
"Er, foam? Is that the right word? It will look like the head of a good beer. Then it will be ready."
"And she can drink it?"
Borage nodded. "In doses. Three to be exact. They will carefully be done an hour apart and by the third dose, the bloodlust potion should be eradicated from her system. Sometimes it takes a fourth dose, but three should do it."
"A fourth is rare," Fleamont said from the wall and giving Borage a dirty look. "Usually just in dire circumstances like the drinker is on death's bed. Your Ginny isn't that far gone. Three will do it."
"Three will do it," Borage agreed. "I was just saying that sometimes it takes a fourth dose, but not in this case."
Fleamont's eyes narrowed. "Stop scaring my grandson, you bloody prat! Three will be fine, Harry."
Harry felt a little relieved by that, but he was still feeling rather anxious for her to take it. He trusted his grandfather and Borage, but he knew there was a small chance this potion wouldn't take; that the bloodlust potion had been too potent. Or worse, that they had missed an important ingredient that was the key to everything.
He left Borage to the potion and he made his way out into the back of Clevedon Court. This summer had just been one long never-ending summer. He felt as if he'd done nothing; accomplished nothing. He pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it on the back patio before he began to run out across the massive grounds, increasing speed as he began to jog around the makeshift Quidditch pitch.
Memories floated in his mind there of he and Ginny racing… the way she'd pouted in her pretty way when he'd beat her.
"Weasleys never back down."
The sound of her taunts echoed in his mind as he remembered how she'd then snogged him senseless. Kissed him as if her life depended on it and he'd relished in feeling her soft curves under him. He ran faster, putting on full speed as he did so, jumping over the small bushes on the edge of the property, trying to keep himself busy. When he finally made it back to the house, he dropped to his hands and knees to do sit-ups and push-ups. It was only when he finally wiped sweat from his brow did he sit up and find Dobby waiting for him by the backdoor holding his shirt.
"Would Harry Potter like some water?"
"That would be great, Dobby, thanks," Harry said.
The elf reappeared a few moments later with a tall glass of water as well as a cold wet towel. Harry took it and carefully used it to cool himself off, thanking Dobby.
Dobby beamed. "Harry Potter's been sad and Dobby wishes he could help."
"You are helping," Harry assured him. "Being here and taking care of things for me… it helps a lot."
Dobby's ugly grin only widened. "Dobby has something to show Harry Potter."
Harry's brow furrowed as he followed the elf around to the left side of the back garden where the old guest house was. To his surprise, the guest house was fully renovated into a stable. He'd left the house elves to do the project and when he stepped through the double wooden doors of the triangular stone structure, he found a beautifully done wooden stable with four cells for horses including a large cupboard to hold all of the supplies. The floor was the same stone as the back path and Harry couldn't help but feel better as he looked around at it.
"Dobby… it's beautiful."
Dobby bounced in his excitement as he showed Harry each stall, opening all the gates and showcasing how each one had its own little cupboard made for grooming supplies, a bench along the side, a space to hang the saddles, etc. Looking around at it all made Harry have an intense longing for Georgia. He wanted to ride Cloud Dancing, to let the wind rip through his hair, to feel the animal underneath him…
Zee had mentioned going, but in the height of everything, they had both decided they needed to stay here. Ginny was under a potion, Dumbledore had been missing, Harry was becoming the official face of the Chosen One and taking on Order responsibilities, Dragomir was missing… they couldn't just take off. But he missed Colt and Flo. He missed the freedom of being able to ride a horse, of surfing on the ocean.
Ginny teaching him to surf had been one of the best things about last summer. The feel of it, of riding the water and the wind, had been the kind of light fun he'd needed. The kind he wished he had right now. But he was too worried to consider attempting that. He had another week to wait and find out if the potion worked; if he would get his girlfriend back or if the damage would be… No, he couldn't think like that.
Instead, he looked around the finished stable with a smile and complimented Dobby on a job well done. He listened as the elf explained how he and Darby had spoken to a few different magical contractors to make sure they did it right, keeping it small and original to the structure, but making sure it was comfortable for the horses. The stable would hold four horses and was better than anything Harry could imagine. It would be the perfect place for Ebony to be and Harry would have to find her a friend in the stables. It was a nice thought.
Dobby explained more about the renovations and Harry dutifully followed the elf around as he saw the rooms had been repainted and touched up, floors polished and gleamed, and furniture moved to be where they thought it was best suited. Harry thanked them for their hard work and when Dobby asked when he would be moving in, the question startled him.
"Well, I still have another year at Hogwarts, Dobby," Harry told him.
"So after that, Sir?"
"Erm… maybe? I'm not sure, Dobby. I'll decide next summer, okay?"
The elf nodded. "Dobby just wants to serve Harry Potter the best he can, Sir."
"And you are," Harry assured him. "You're helping me so much, Dobby. With you Darby, and Rosa handling all of the household stuff and keeping track of the properties it's helping me a lot. The Potters have a lot of assets and it's nice to know I can leave them with someone I trust. I'm sorry I destroyed so much of Potter House at the beginning of the summer, I know I startled Basil and… I'm sorry."
"It is your house, Sir," Dobby said.
Harry knew that but Potter House wasn't really his home and he still felt like he'd destroyed all sorts of precious artifacts for no reason other than the satisfaction of watching them smash.
"I'm still sorry."
Dobby accepted this and Harry decided to head up to take a long shower before heading back to Black Cottage. He made his way into the master bedroom, the sight of the huge bed looking inviting as he suddenly felt tired. But he made his way into the ensuite bathroom, admiring the large bathtub under the tall windows, but he had his eye on the shower. He undressed, letting his clothes drop where he stood before he opened the glass door and stepped inside.
The elves had updated the shower when he'd asked, but this… it was better than he'd imagined. There were three shower heads hanging from the ceiling and nine spray heads on the walls, three on each. When he turned the water on hot, carefully turning on each shower head, the water pressure hit his body from all angles and he sighed in satisfaction.
It was pure bliss.
He stood there, letting the spray hit him from all angles, basking in it. He couldn't help but let his mind wander to the few times that Ginny had snuck into the shower with him in the Quidditch change rooms. Those showers were small in comparison. Nothing but a marble rectangle with a large shower head big enough to spray three people. Harry had always considered them a luxury, but this was something much better. He wondered what Ginny would think of it.
He eyed the little bench against the wall as he remembered how the last time she'd joined him in the shower she'd been begging him. He'd knelt down and wrapped her leg over his shoulder for leverage before he'd given her exactly what she wanted. He'd eaten her like a starving man, licking every inch as she moaned above him. This shower had a little tiered bench and he wondered what it would be like for Ginny to sit on it while he used his mouth on her over and over and over again.
Harry's hand wandered down to his growing erection as he thought about Ginny. He let his fingers glide gently along his shaft as he remembered how good she tasted; what it felt like when she came apart under his tongue. He could hear the sound of her moans in his mind as he thought of how she'd bite her bottom lip; the way she'd tilt her head back, exposing the long milky column of her throat. He loved to watch the way the flush in her cheeks would spread down her neck to the tops of her breasts; the way her nipples would harden to sharp peaks. He wanted to see her like that again. He wanted the chance to be the one to make her feel like that again.
His hand moved a little faster, fondling his sack a moment before he returned to his length, pumping himself under the water in quick jerks. Merlin, he missed her. He missed kissing her and touching her and Godric knew he missed tasting her, but he missed talking to her. He missed the way she smelled. He missed her laugh; the way she stole food from his plate. He missed the way she teased him; the way she'd sit in his lap and play with the lapels of his shirt as she told him about something that happened.
Her laugh, her smile, her skin… the way her hair shone in the sunlight… the more he thought about it, the faster he pumped and when he felt himself get close, he put one hand on the wall of the shower as the spray hit him directly in the chest and he grunted.
Ginny, he thought, his hand moving faster as he thought about her small hands pumping him. The way she'd stroke his sack in just the right way and squeeze the way he liked it. Merlin, was she good with those hands. And her mouth… the thought of her mouth wrapped around him, the way she'd stroke him with her tongue, teasing the head of him before she'd suck. He pumped faster, imagining her mouth wrapped around him, his length down her throat and he groaned.
"Ginny… ah… fuck…" he groaned as he finally came on his hand and splashing the wall of the shower.
He kept his hand in place, working himself as he finished, his heart pounding. He turned to wash himself off in the hot spray before he plopped down on the little bench, the water still hitting him from all sides. He didn't feel satisfied. He felt… empty.
Every time he wanked this summer it was like something was missing. It didn't matter how much he fantasized or how much he used the memories of Ginny to get him off, it just wasn't the same knowing that he couldn't touch her at some point during the day. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to kiss her. And Merlin knew he wanted her to stretch out over him and let him do naughty things to her while she sucked his prick because he still thought that had been the most brilliant thing that they'd ever done. Just the thought made him stir again and he stroked himself absently.
The way she'd shimmied up his body to sit on his face… the noises she'd made when his tongue and fingers had worked her over… he pumped himself faster, remembering how she came apart on his tongue and when he came a second time, he grunted her name and took a minute to catch his breath. He stood back up to finish his shower, washing up.
When he stepped out, the mirror was foggy from his steam and he used a towel to wipe it clean before putting his glasses back on. Dark stubble outlined his face and a little down his neck. He was pleased to see it was growing in properly now, no more little patchy spots. He decided to leave it a few days and see what happened, wondering if he could grow a beard or if it would merely stay stubble. He ran his hand down the trail of dark hair just under his naval before he examined the tattoo on his right side, tracing his abs beneath it. The sight of it made him smile and he wondered how Ginny would feel about it. The thought of her seeing it was something he desperately wanted.
Harry shook the thoughts from his mind as he padded back into the bedroom. He opened the large window across from the bed to let the afternoon sun and the breeze in. Then he draped his towel over the back of the chair.
Without a plan for the day or a thought to do much else, he tossed his glasses on the bedside table, and let himself fall face first and naked into the comfortable feathered bed. He was asleep from exhaustion in minutes.
When he woke, the sun was setting. He stretched in the big bed, surprised to find that it was the best sleep he'd had in a while. A plate of sandwiches sat on the breakfast nook table by the window along with a fresh change of clothes. Harry moved to dress and eat and when he headed downstairs, Dobby was waiting for him at the bottom.
"Did Harry Potter have a good rest?"
"Yes. Thanks for the sandwiches, Dobby."
Dobby smiled. "Rosa made them, Sir. When you didn't come down for a few hours, I is thinking you must have decided to nap and might be hungry."
"It was appreciated," Harry told him.
He headed into the drawing room to find Borage making notes next to the cauldron while Fleamont asked him why he hadn't printed a new edition of his book with the proper corrections. A tall willowy woman with long white hair in a braid down her back was sitting next to him. Harry knew that it was his wife Lara, but he'd only met her a handful of times since she'd arrived in Britain. She'd spent most of their trip doing some sightseeing while her husband worked on the antidote.
"I didn't read them, that's why," Borage said. "As I've told you, constantly."
"I made that book better," Fleamont went on. "Without my corrections, people are going to make stuff wrong and then you'll be blamed for their incorrect work."
Borage closed his eyes, bringing his fingers to them as if he had a headache. "After this week, I will gladly disappear from your life."
"Ha!" Fleamont exclaimed. "I'll sing you to sleep from my portrait."
"I'm burning that."
Euphemia let out a loud sigh. "Lara, I am so sorry these two are still bickering."
"I can't imagine them doing anything else," Lara said.
Harry cleared his throat from the doorway. "Am I interrupting?"
"Oh, no, dear!" Euphemia exclaimed. "Please come in! Zee took the twins home so that they could nap, but Dobby said that you went upstairs to have a lie-in!"
"I did," he said. "Well, I went up to use the shower and the bed looked inviting when I came out."
"That bed is the softest in the world!" Fleamont said. "Fee had it specially made from the finest Elder Duck feathers in the world! She shipped them from all over. It took ages and cost a bloody fortune!"
"And yet did you complain the moment you sat on the bed, Monty?"
He grinned. "Not once. I slept like a baby."
"It's really comfortable," Harry agreed.
"I just wish we'd done it sooner," Euphemia said. "We only were able to use the bed for around two weeks. With the war going on, it took forever to get it together and then well, we caught Dragon Pox."
Harry nodded, suddenly feeling sad. "Well, I appreciate the bed all the same, Nan."
Euphemia looked pleased by this. She asked questions about Zee, Mina, and Leo, turning to Lara occasionally to tell her something about her grandchildren.
Lara smiled. "Grandchildren really are the best, aren't they? Lib and I have six and we love them dearly! In fact, did I tell you my youngest has another on the way?"
"No!" Euphemia exclaimed. "That's Evora, right?"
Lara nodded. "Yes. She already gave us two girls, Iolanda and Lorena. They're hoping for a boy this time."
"That's wonderful! Congratulations!" Euphemia said, rolling her eyes as Fleamont yelled at Borage again about something potion-related.
Harry tried not show his amusement at his grandfather's antics. "I'm going to head home. You'll let me know if there's any change to the potion?"
Borage nodded, his fingers playing with his pointed goatee. "I will let you know. Like I said, it will need about a week and then we'll get everything settled."
Harry thanked the old wizard once more before he told the house elves he was leaving. He walked to the Apparition point, feeling a little hopeful for what was to come and thought… seven more days…
~ ASC ~
Two days after the wedding, Tonks had barely finished eating lunch when the nausea started. She eyed the empty container from her egg salad sandwich suspiciously. She had thought it smelt funky but she'd been so hungry, she'd eaten it anyway. Her stomach was protesting this decision now. She barely made it to the bathroom before she threw up rather spectacularly, cursing her egg salad sandwich and absolutely everything to do with eggs. She stayed on the bathroom floor a little longer than was necessary to try to catch her breath before she cleaned out her mouth and brushed her teeth, hoping that was the end of that.
She had a lot of work to do today and the last thing she needed was to be tossing her cookies left and right because she'd eaten a wonky sandwich. Higgins was waiting outside of the bathroom for her, his hands in his pockets and his A3 badge pinned to his belt.
"All good?"
"Next time I decide that I need an egg salad sandwich from the snack bar, please talk me out of it."
"Noted," he said, a smirk on his lips.
Tonks touched his arm as she stepped forward and shook her head. A minute later she was back in the toilet and was vomiting again. When she was finally finished, she cleaned her mouth once more and used a charm to clean her teeth. Higgins was still waiting outside.
"I was going to flag someone down if you didn't come out of there soon. You sure you're okay?"
Tonks nodded. "Yes, I think I'm done. Bloody hell, never again!"
He chuckled as she followed him down the hall. "K received a new lead he wants us to check out. Apparently we have confirmation that Lockhart is officially in Voldemort's fold."
Tonks lifted an eyebrow. "Really? I mean, don't get me wrong, he's scum. Worse than scum. He's the scum that scum scrapes off of scum, but I never pegged him for a Death Eater."
"Guess he decided to sign up rather than die after the breakout," Higgins said. "K wants us to talk to Malfoy and see what he knows. Atwell said that she'd meet you at three so that you two can talk to the Novaks now that they're finally in England."
Tonks nodded and followed Higgins back to the bullpen to discuss plans to meet with Malfoy. Four hours later, Tonks and Atwell Apparated to the hotel where the Novaks were staying. Aurors had provided them with twenty-four hour protection for the duration of their stay. The Ministry was putting them up in one of London's best hotels, The Magick Inn, until they found a place to live in England. Tonks placed a hand over her uneasy stomach and Atwell raised an eyebrow at her.
"Sorry. I ate some bad eggs earlier and they did not agree with me."
Atwell gave her a sympathetic look. "I feel you. Maybe that husband of yours will take care of you when you get home."
"He will," Tonks told her. "He's the most incredible man in the world."
Atwell blew her hair out of her eyes. "From the stories you've told me, I'm starting to think that's true. Though Sully's a close second. He told me he loved me."
"Really?" Tonks exclaimed as they headed up the stairs. "Nat, that's great!"
Atwell nodded. "I said it back. He's just... he's the best man I've ever met and he makes me ridiculously happy. I just... I'm going to have to keep lying to him."
Tonks couldn't imagine how hard it must be for her friend to not reveal that she's a witch to her Muggle lover. "You'll get there, Nat. I know it."
Her friend only gave a half smile and they stepped through the doors leading them up to the fifth floor. Two officers greeted them and asked them the security questions they'd been given to proceed. When they answered correctly, they knocked on the door.
Luka Novak answered. He was a large man, made of solid muscle with a full dark beard and kind eyes. He welcomed them into the suite and Tonks noted that Kata was sitting on the sofa, a baby sleeping in the cot next to her.
"Hi, Mrs Novak. I'm Auror Lupin and this is Auror Atwell, thanks for agreeing to see us today."
Kata nodded as Luka sat next to his wife, kissing her fingers and staring at her in adoration. "Thank you for coming."
Tonks and Atwell each sat across from them.
"We understand that it may be hard for you to talk about, but I'm sure you understand why it's important that we know everything that you can remember." Atwell began. "No matter how insignificant it may seem."
Novak gripped his wife's hands in his. "Ve understand and she vants to help."
Kata nodded. "I vill tell you everything."
"We'd like to record it, if that's all right?" Atwell asked.
Kata nodded and Tonks tapped her notepad with her wand to record everything that was said both written and audibly for their records as Atwell read her her rights. When Kata began to talk, Tonks only listened, amazed that she had survived for so long.
Kata explained how she had been pregnant with their first child, a boy. She told them how they were going to name him Goran after her father. She told them how she'd let her husband go off to work, kissed him goodbye with plans of making a big dinner for him when he came home and how she'd opened the door to two tourists. They'd snuck through the wards when Novak had left and tricked her into giving them directions only to kidnap her. Tonks' heart broke as she learned how the woman had woken chained to a large comfy bed and been left there for days. She explained how she'd been fed, but no one would give her answers until one day, a group had come into her prison and told her that she was going to give birth to the Dark Lord.
"I knew very little English, but I understood enough," she said.
Tonks' stomach turned as the woman described in grisly detail how they had removed the child from her womb and barely healed her wounds before Woodrow Selwyn and Thaddeus Notf had taken turns raping her. They took her child and promised her that he was safe.
"They brought him to me after they raped me and they made me feed him from my breast and vhen I looked down at him... I knew they had killed my son. They had murdered my Goran and put a monster in his place."
"But you fed him?" Atwell asked.
Kata nodded. "I did not have a choice. I fed him every three hours for over two months until the voman, Bellatrix, told me that I vas no longer needed."
"They kept you in the same room?"
"Yes. For long time. Eventually they unchained me and I vas let out daily to shower. But they continued to rape me."
"How many?"
Kata closed her eyes. "I lost count. Voodrow Selyvyn and Thaddeus Nott vere the two who used me the most, but sometimes others vould vatch..."
She recounted the abuse and what they forced her to do and how each day she begged them to kill her and how they refused and laughed. She told them how she started to worry that her husband had given up on her and how she didn't know if she wanted to live. But they kept her around and the more she did what they asked of her, the less they hurt her.
"They still forced me to have sex with them," she whispered. "But they didn't go out of their way to hurt me. I vas given some freedoms."
They let her outside more, but she explained how she was never made aware of what was going on. She became a sex slave to be used and nothing more.
"And how did you escape?"
"A young man helped me," she admitted. "I vas sent to his room to perform oral sex on him if he so desired. Selvyn would often send me off to do this because he said it showed that he was good host. But the young man said no. I... there vas something in the vay he looked at me that reminded me of Luka. He had kind eyes and suddenly I just said something about how I didn't think my husband vould ever vant me again now that I'd been so terribly used and he told me if he really loved me it vouldn't matter. I don't know vhy I said it to him, but he just… he reminded me of my Luka. He sent me out of his room and I didn't think about it again. But then the next night, he came to me and I thought maybe he's changed his mind, that he vanted to bed me after all. That happened sometimes and I couldn't say no vhen they vanted it. I vas vrong, he didn't come to me for that. He made me put on his clothes and he took me outside of the estate into the voods and... Luka vas there, vaiting for me. It vas a shock."
"And who was this? Did you get his name?"
"Yes," Kata said. "His name vas Gregory Goyle. He vas kind to me. Ve named our daughter after him. Freya Gregoria."
Atwell's eyes softened. "And your daughter?"
"Is mine," Luka said, his voice like steel. "I owe this Goyle my life. He brought my vife back to me and gave me this beautiful baby girl to love. I am grateful to him."
Tonks nodded, unshed tears in her eyes. "You're a very brave woman, Kata."
She nodded, her upper lip trembling. "I am a survivor. My Luka vill keep our Freya safe and loved."
Luka kissed his wife's hand. "I love you."
Kata leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder and the love in her eyes made Tonks sigh. "I love you, too."
When they left, Atwell turned to shake her head. "That woman is incredible. I never would have survived that. The rape... watching them tear her child from her womb, then forcing her to breastfeed that monster... using her as a whore for years... she did more than survive, Dora."
Tonks nodded. "When we find Woodrow Selwyn, he'll pay for what he did to her. They all will."
Atwell let out a slow breath. "Come on; let's get this report started and talk more about what a bloody treasure that woman's husband is. To make that little girl his own knowing what… they're going to make it. Both of them."
Tonks couldn't agree more. The three of them had made themselves into a little family and she knew that no matter what came next, they would hold onto each other. Luka, Kata, and Freya Novak were going to be a happy family, Luka and Kata would make sure of it. And now with the new information they had, she and Atwell had enough to nail Selwyn to the wall.
All they had to do now was catch him.
~ ASC ~
Remus headed through the gate leading into Hogwarts, his bag full of new supplies for his office and classroom. With the new school year coming up, he wanted to get an early start on being prepared for his classes. He was surprised to run into McGonagall in the main hall when he stepped through the front doors.
"Good morning, Minerva," he said. "How are you feeling today?"
"Like new," she said. "I finally don't need that blasted cane."
Remus chuckled. "I thought the healers said another two weeks."
"I know my own body better than those healers," McGonagall said stubbornly. "I'm sixty-one, not a hundred."
Remus figured it was wiser not to argue with that. "Well, I'm happy to see you doing well. I just stopped by to spruce up my classroom and make sure my office is supplied for September."
"I'm glad you're here," McGonagall said. "I was going to send you an owl later today. Will you have tea with me in my rooms?"
Remus agreed and followed her to her suite of rooms. A house elf quickly brought out tea and scones before leaving them. "Shouldn't you have moved into your new rooms by now?"
"I will be. It's just… I've lived in this suite for over thirty years now and it will be a big change."
"But a well deserved one," Remus told her. "There's no one more suited to run this school than you, Minerva."
She nodded, adjusting her glasses as she buttered a scone with raspberry jam. "I am looking forward to the new challenge. That's part of what I wanted to discuss with you. Taking on the job as Headmistress means that I will have a lot of new responsibilities including and not limited to, the running and well being of this school. On top of my classes, it's going to be a real challenge, but I'm not willing to give up teaching just yet."
Remus understood that. McGonagall was a very gifted teacher and he knew she loved it. "I don't know how you would even go about finding anyone to replace you."
She smiled. "James Potter would have been my first choice. I always imagined he would be the one to replace me and when he was killed… he had a gift with the subject. I don't know, I just knew it in my gut that he would be the perfect teacher."
"That he did," Remus agreed, thinking fondly of his old friend. "He had a way of explaining it just right, no matter who it was, he could adapt the lesson in any way to help them succeed. I couldn't believe you had him tutoring the subject in our second year."
"He was gifted," McGonagall replied. "He would have been an ideal replacement, but it was not to be. In the meantime, I will continue to teach the subject at least for this year before I reassess if it is something that I want to continue to do or if I will need to find a suitable replacement. As to teaching, we have two open positions to fill for International Magical Relations as well as Life in the Magical World. I really don't want to have to end them, but if we don't find a replacement professor… With Carthaginian turning out to be… well, we need to replace her with either one or two professors."
Remus nodded. "The class has been running smoothly for two years now, Life in the Magical World for three, despite her turning out to be a spy. She was a gifted professor and… I can't believe she fooled all of us. As to finding replacements, have you considered Mary for Life in the Magical World? The class covers a great deal of history already and the students seem to like her."
McGonagall looked thoughtful for a moment. "Actually, that would be a splendid choice. If Raffigan took on that class, it would only mean finding someone to teach International Magical Relations. Excellent idea, Remus. I'll speak to Raffigan as soon as we're done here. As to the damage done by Carthaginian, she may have been gifted teacher, but we still don't know how much damage she might have done within the school. She clearly opened a secret passageway that had been caved in for years, but I don't know what else. Hagrid and Filch have been combing every inch of the castle for any sign that there are other ways in that we don't know about. The house elves have taken the opportunity to do an extra thorough cleaning, scrubbing even the portraits until they shimmer. The school's never been cleaner."
"Have they found anything?"
"No," she replied. "As far as we can tell, that's the only passageway that was tampered with. We are however, working on closing off the others. I refuse to be taken by surprise again if I can help it."
Remus thought it was better not to mention that being taken by surprise was just that. But he could see her reasoning. "Minerva, we will do what we can to keep the school safe this year. With you and Fil running things, I can't see it being a problem."
"That's another thing," McGonagall began. "Filius has no desire to move up to the position of Deputy Headmaster. He says that he's perfectly happy in his role as Second Deputy Headmaster and wishes to stay as such."
Remus frowned. "Well, I can see that. Flitwick does love to throw himself into extra curricular activities and between teaching, Frog Choir, the extra lessons he does with orchestra and whatnot, I can see where the added work would force him to give something up. I take it you're thinking Pomona then? She would be good or even Slughorn if he's willing to come back. He is coming back, isn't he?"
"Yes, Horace has agreed to come back and teach Potions as well as to take on the job of Head of Slytherin. He's healing well, his heart is good, and he's been working with a healer on trying to bring back any lost memories due to the Imperius Curse, but he claims that he's ready to go. With Snape taking off the way he did, we can hardly have him return here, but Horace has retired once before and adding Deputy Headmaster to that is too much for him. Pomona is too engrossed with her plants and says it's a headache she doesn't need. No, I was hoping that you would want the job."
Remus' mouth opened in surprise before he promptly closed it again. The lemon scone smothered in honey was halfway to his lips as he stared at her. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I want you to be my second in command, Remus. You've taught here for three and a half years now. You're one of the best professors and most well-liked. You run a tight ship and you know how to keep the students engaged. The Defence Club has become yours over the last two years, I merely have assisted with the final obstacle courses and frankly, there's no one who I would trust more to help me stay organized and on top of things this year."
Remus opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. He cleared his throat, putting the scone down on the plate before him. "Minerva, I'm flattered… honoured, really, but I'm a werewolf."
"Oh, pish posh! No one gives a flying monkey's arse about that! You're a wonderful educator and a good man and that's what I care about."
"I… I don't know what to say," he admitted, suddenly feeling rather flustered.
"Say yes," McGonagall said, a soft smile on her lips. "It will come with a significant pay raise that will warrant the extra work and responsibility. As my deputy, you would also be required to spend three nights a week here at the castle and yes, your wife would be welcome as well. You would be responsible for making sure the students arrived and are welcomed into the Great Hall and would be responsible for the school Sorting. You are also the person they can come to if they have any concerns or need help finding anything. Often many first years will come to you before their heads of house until they settle in."
Remus swallowed, feeling a bit overwhelmed as McGonagall continued.
"It would be your job to deal with the Hogwarts letters each year including collecting the book lists and supplies for each class, getting the letters out in a timely fashion, and visiting any and all Muggleborns who need to be told about their heritage. Plus, you would assist me in dealing with the daily chores of running the school including any disciplinary measures that the heads of house feel need to be taken to a higher level. You would have a place on the Hogwarts Board of Governors for any official changes, though you're only acquired to attend a meeting with the board twice a year unless the governors request your presence. It would be your responsibility to organize any staff meetings or important rule or role changes that need to be discussed including keeping track of who has the healer assistant training for first responses until Pomfrey arrives, who has control over school evacuation and safety protocols, and of course, keeping track of the coming and goings of guests. It's a big job, but I can imagine no one more suited to it than you."
"I'm… I am truly in shock," he admitted. "I don't know what to say."
McGonagall nodded, her hand moving automatically to rub Nyx's head when the large tiger zouwu came out from the bedroom to see her mistress. "Take a few days and think on it. I'd like an answer by the tenth. I need you by my side, Remus. Talk to Dora about it and we'll discuss it again soon. In the meantime, you've been appointed as Head of Gryffindor as you are the only other professor who was once a student of that house."
"I expected that," he admitted. "I was prepared for that."
McGonagall smiled. "And you'll be prepared for this as well. As Head of Gryffindor it will mean you'll have to spend more time at the castle overnight, but we can arrange to keep it only a few so that you and Dora can live at the cottage. Take some time and get back to me."
"I will," Remus told her.
"Good," McGonagall said. "Now, finish your tea and tell me what the Aurors have found out about Carthaginian."
Remus chuckled. "It's an open investigation, Minerva."
"Of a woman who taught here and deceived us all! You suspected that she was the sister of Bellarosa Zabini, was she?"
"Yes," he said. "Belladonna Brambilla is her real name. Nymphadora believes she's responsible for kidnapping Dumbledore, but we don't know what else. As to why she was in disguise, her husband and daughter were killed in '81 in that riot outside of the Ministry of Magic. Dumbledore was there, trying to help talk down some of the Death Eaters. Moody remembers the riot, but I don't know what her role is with Voldemort."
McGonagall looked pensive. "Whatever it is, we know that she's loyal to him."
"Yes," Remus agreed."
"I've seen Harry's face plastered all over every paper and magazine."
"Well, it's a bit like dangling him like bait, but it's the plan that we're going with," Remus told her. "He's rather embarrassed by it, but if it draws Voldemort out in any way, we know that it's working."
She nodded. "On that we can both agree. Well, I have a lot to prepare for and need to get moving. I have Rhiannon and Bathsheda working on Albus' — my office. There are runes carved into the floor that need to be studied and removed."
Remus knew the office had remained sealed while Dumbledore had been missing and no one could gain entry. Finding the runes carved into the stone floor, the blackened chains, and burn marks from a large magical spectacle told them very little of what had happened the day that he went missing.
"What have they found?"
"Nothing good," she admitted. "Bathsheda says the runes are ancient and rewritten into something new. Rhiannon is doing what she can with her fae magic to cleanse the area. I don't know how long it will take. As you know, Albus arranged to be buried here at Hogwarts instead of in Godric's Hollow. We're going to wait until September and give the students a chance to say goodbye if they wish it. It won't be anything elaborate, but I think he would have liked that. I still need to box up Albus' things as well and see what Abe may want. Until I get that organized, I'm not even thinking of moving into my new chambers."
"It sounds like you have your work cut out for you," he said. "If you need some assistance, let me know."
McGonagall's eyes twinkled at him. "I will and as my new Deputy Headmaster, you'll be in the perfect position to offer it."
She patted his arm affectionately before she left him to his tea and Nyx followed her out of the suite leaving Remus alone with his thoughts.
Him, Deputy Headmaster… the sudden urge to fight back tears surprised him.
"Of course Minnie would ask you, Moony! No one is more brilliant and more patient! Though really, if she knew you were the mastermind behind half our pranks she might rethink it," he could almost hear James say.
"Bloody brilliant! You have to take it, Moony! No one deserves it more than you!" Sirius' voice flooded his mind.
"You're a wonderful teacher, Remus. Always so patient and understanding. No one would be a better choice and Minerva is a wise woman. She knows when someone has a good heart," Lily's voice rang in his head.
He closed his eyes, leaning back on the settee and let out a slow sigh.
He had a lot to think about.
~ ASC ~
By the time Tonks and Higgins went through all of the security in the Azkaban Crypt, her stomach was rumbling. She hadn't eaten anything since she'd promptly thrown it all up over four hours ago, and she was vastly regretting that decision. But she just needed to get through this last meeting and she was homebound for the day.
When the guard opened the door to the cell of Lucius Malfoy, she and Higgins both stepped inside. Malfoy was sitting at the small desk he had been provided, magical chains holding him in place for the duration of their meeting.
"Mr Malfoy," Tonks said as the door closed shut behind them.
Lucius looked up at them with a bored expression on his face. "I've told you everything. Now please, leave me be."
Higgins leaned back against the stone wall, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Maybe, but we have some questions that might show you know more."
"Do you have word on my son?" he asked, his blue eyes hopeful.
Tonks shook her head. "I'm sorry, but no."
He nodded, his eyes sad. "What can I do for you?"
Higgins cleared his throat and took the lead at Tonks' nod. "The last few weeks have been a shit storm. Dumbledore was kidnapped and killed as was Dante Dragomir, a well respected academic and professor at Durmstrang. Among these two high profile names, a spy was revealed to be at Hogwarts. What do you know of Belladonna Brambilla?"
Lucius snorted. "There's a name I haven't heard in years. Last I heard, she'd run back to Italy and found herself a new rich husband."
"She's been living in Hogwarts as a professor for the last three years," Tonks told him.
Lucius' eyes widened. "Really? And no one recognized her?"
"She was using the name Carthaginian," Higgins said.
"Carthaginian… Delta?" he asked, attempting to lean back in the chair but the magical chains kept him sitting straight. "This is news to me."
"What do you know about Brambilla?"
"Not much," Lucius admitted. "I met her a few times, a decade or so ago. She was often at gatherings and social events that Bellarosa put on. I remember her husband, second husband if I recall, Gavino… or maybe he was her third? It doesn't matter. He was an Unspeakable and absolutely brilliant. It was because of him that we received a lot of intel in the first war, between him and Rookwood. I remember her husband and daughter were killed just after the Dark Lord fell, but I can't recall the circumstances. Nar-Narcissa…" he paused as if speaking his wife's name caused him great pain. "We were doing what we could to keep Draco safe at the time and to not be associated with the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters and I was never close to her."
"But you were close to Bellarosa?" Tonks prompted.
Lucius hesitated. "Yes and no. I know her, but I know of her more. Bellarosa has always worked very hard to keep her life mysterious. Her sister is very similar to her in the sense that she's been married more than once and her husbands tend to end up dead. It's never been proven that the deaths were anything more than unfortunate circumstances, for both Brambilla sisters, but they've happened often enough that people talk. Belladonna always had high opinions of both herself and of society. She used to listen with absolute attention as the Dark Lord spoke of bringing in a new world. She was fascinated with the idea of magical relations and how to keep everyone together and yet separate."
"What do you mean?" Higgins asked.
"You know, Muggleborns being allowed to live in our world, but they would be segregated. It wasn't up to us to breed with them or to mingle with them in an unsavoury way, but she saw the benefit of welcoming them to our world as it would bring in new inventions and new ways of life," Lucius explained. "As I said, she was always full of ideas and opinions."
"And what about Kata Novak?" Tonks asked.
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Selwyn's whore?"
"The woman who was kidnapped, her child stolen, before she was repeatedly raped and kept hostage for over two years," Tonks corrected.
"I never touched her," Lucius said. "I don't hold with rape and I was faithful to my wife."
Higgins scratched his chin. "But what do you know about her?"
"I didn't know she was around until a few months later. I mean, I knew there was a woman who had given birth to a child that held the Dark Lord, but… I didn't realize it was the same woman until months later. Nott used to bring her around with him. He'd force her to suck him off where others could watch. I thought she was just a whore."
Tonks scoffed. "Just a whore and not worth saving then."
"I didn't say that," Lucius said. "But I chose which battles I felt were worth fighting for and helping a woman I didn't know so that she could stop sucking cock wasn't on my agenda. I did what I could to protect my wife and son. Did I make the right choices? No. But at the time…" He closed his eyes. "I'm paying for my sins now."
Tonks took a step towards him. "Lastly, what can you tell us about the forced marriages that took place?"
Lucius stared at them cooly. "I already told you what I knew there. They were married and bedded. Some were Imperiused, some blackmailed, and some coerced, but they did their duty."
"And the young ones?"
"We tried to talk him out of marrying the ones so young, but there's not a lot of purebloods left and the families who do have them… making more purebloods was the goal," Lucius said carefully.
"From what we understand, all of the women have gotten pregnant," Tonks told him. "Even the children."
Lucius closed his eyes. "It might sound horrible, but I'm glad. The Dark Lord knows who he can trust and who he wants to help him, but young mothers with babies? He'll leave them be to raise the children. They'll be safer than the ones he entrusts to work for him."
"And what about the husbands of the women?"
"I can't speak for them. Some of them will still force themselves on their wives, but many will be happy to have an heir and leave it at that," Lucius said.
Tonks wasn't sure what to make of that but his honesty was appreciated. She knew that he was right about that and it somehow made it harder to hear. Having met Shanae and Graham, she knew that they were some of the lucky ones. They were both young and Graham had no desire to hurt his wife the way some of the older and more sinister Death Eaters did. They were going to make it since Snape had gotten them out. At least one good thing could come of it all.
Higgins banged on the door to let the guard know they were ready. "If you remember anything else about Brambilla or anything else you think we need to know, contact us."
"Don't worry, I'll eagerly pen a letter to my new best friends in the Auror Department," Lucius said, dryly.
Tonks gave him a pointed look as the door opened. "We're better than no correspondence at all."
When the door locked behind them, Tonks let out a slow breath. She wasn't sure if they'd really gained any new information in there, but it was one more step in the right direction.
Now she needed to do some digging into Gregory Goyle and the first person on her list for that information was Harry.
~ ASC ~
When Tonks got home that night, her stomach was still churning a bit. When she'd returned to the Ministry, she'd eaten two bags of crisps and a handful of almonds to tide her over until dinner. She still wanted to speak to Harry about Goyle, but had put that on her agenda for tomorrow. She was hoping to talk to Theodore Nott as well since he'd shared a dormitory with him. Maybe it would be a good idea to speak to Remus too and see what kind of student he'd been.
She said hello to her husband before she made her way into the bathroom, hoping to find a potion to help. She rifled through the drawers and came up empty. She wondered if she could con Remus into going out and buying her one.
Tonks headed into their bedroom to find a change of clothes. She ruffled her hands through her hair as her stomach rumbled and she caught sight of the calendar on the wall. A little over two weeks and it would be their two year wedding anniversary. She couldn't believe it. Sometimes, she looked at him and felt even happier than she had the moment she married him. She flicked her wand to cross out the days she missed and froze.
No, that couldn't be right, she thought. It was the stress. With everything that was going on, she was bound to be late for her period or to… miss it? Of course, she'd always been like clockwork before and… she paled, her hand covering her stomach. Maybe it hadn't been the egg salad.
Tonks grabbed her wand and hurried back into the living room. "I forgot something. I'll be back."
"Where?" Remus called out. "You just got home."
"Be back in a bit," she told him, kissing him over the sofa.
Remus looked confused, but he nodded. "Okay. We need to talk about something when you get back. Want me to start dinner?"
"Yes," she said. "That would be great. Wait — what do you want to talk about?"
Remus smiled and kissed her cheek. "Minerva offered me a new job. I'll explain later."
Tonks frowned. "A new job? I — no, we'll talk about this after. I won't be long."
She stood on her toes and kissed him quickly before she hurried off to Apparate. She changed her appearance, giving herself long black hair and a sharp nose before she Disapparated to Diagon Alley. Ten minutes later, she walked quickly towards Black Cottage clutching the vial in her hand. She let herself in and she found Harry playing with Mina and Leo on the living room floor.
She greeted Harry with a quick hello and a very firm, "I was never here!" that left him frowning after her as she hurried into the kitchen to find Zee cooking.
"Zee, thank Merlin, you're here!"
Zee turned, her hands covered in bread crumbs as she covered chicken breasts in them. "I am. What's going on?"
Tonks snuck a look behind her to make sure that Harry was out of earshot. "I'm late."
Zee's eyebrow rose. She cleaned her hands off before she turned to give Tonks her full attention. "By how much?"
"Four weeks."
Zee bit her lip. "Well, that's a bit more than simply being late."
"I didn't even… with everything that's been going on with Dumbledore missing and then turning up dead and Ginny and this potion and… Zee… I…" She held the potion in her hand. "I didn't want to drink it alone."
Zee moved across the kitchen to take Tonks' hands in hers. "Let's go up to my room and see, okay? Until you know, it's best not to freak out? Yeah?"
Tonks nodded and followed Zee into the living room.
"Harry, Tonks and I are just going upstairs for a moment," Zee said. "And Tonks was never here, okay?"
"Uh… okay," Harry said as Leo knocked his glasses. "Pretend like I'm not even here then."
"You're the best!" Tonks said, winking at him as she hurried up the stairs.
Harry looked down at Leo and shook his head. "Leo, first lesson, girls are so weird."
"Goo-dah!" Leo said.
"Exactly," Harry agreed.
Mina let out a little whimper and Harry plopped her onto his lap.
"Don't deny it, Mina. You're going to be just as weird one day." Harry pressed a kiss to the side of her head. "But, you'll always be my favourite little sister." Mina gave him a gummy smile, her mouth attacking his hand. "Yeah, yeah, I love you, too."
Leo crawled onto his lap to gum his other hand and Mina pressed closer to him, making him smile. Girls may be weird, but the ones in his life were ones he couldn't imagine living without. But he couldn't help but wonder why the woman he considered a sister was being so secretive.
"Come on, you two," Harry said, lifting them both into his arms with confidence. "Let's see if Mama has a snack in the kitchen."
Meanwhile, Tonks followed Zee upstairs and into the master bedroom, closing the door behind her. "I don't know if I remember the test."
Zee smiled sympathetically. "Tonks… Dora, breathe, okay. You and Remus have talked about this, it's not like the subject of babies never came up."
"No," she admitted. "But we both decided to wait."
"I certainly didn't expect to get pregnant when I did," Zee said. "Sometimes when it's the right time, these things happen. Mina and Leo were really fated to be. And Merlin knows you and Remus have a very active sex life."
Tonks blushed. "That's true."
Zee led her into the master bathroom. She took the potion from Tonks and uncorked the vial. "Drink it down."
Tonks accepted the bottle, drinking the potion in one quick gulp. "The witch at the apothecary said that I have to wait two minutes, then I can do the charm."
Zee set a timer with her wand and sat on the edge of the tub. "We wait then. Any idea of when you might have conceived? Once I thought about it, I knew the exact moment that it had happened."
Tonks hopped up onto the counter, her legs dangling. "A few days after everything happened on the causeway, I think. I was exhausted and tired and wired, you know? Remus knew it and he knew that we both needed something and we made love. It was just… lovely. We did it three times and then slept six solid hours. In the morning, we did it again and I went off to work feeling really refreshed and ready, you know? Of course, two weeks ago I convinced him to get kind of kinky, but I don't think that was it."
"Kinky how?" Zee asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tonks blushed. "I bought this strap on thing and I well… buggered him. But he did me first. Buggered me, I mean, and then I showed him the strap on."
Zee chuckled. "Well, that sounds fun."
"It was," Tonks admitted, blushing.
"But two weeks would be too early if you're four weeks late," Zee told her. "It sounds like the first night might have been the moment."
Tonks nodded, biting her nail. "Has it been two minutes yet?"
"Not yet," Zee assured her.
"I mean, if I am, pregnant that is, I can't be more than six weeks, max, as that's when Dumbledore was kidnapped and everything just… and… well, you didn't even know at that point."
"Yes," Zee agreed. "But I had the stomach flu so, I didn't see the signs. It was only when Remus told me that he could hear the heartbeats that it all rather came crashing down."
Tonks paled. "The heartbeat! How soon can you hear a baby's heartbeat?"
Zee frowned. "Well, I'm not sure of the exact timing, but within a few weeks, I imagine. You think Remus heard it? I mean, I was almost thirteen weeks along — is his hearing that good?"
"I don't know!" Tonks exclaimed. "He would have told me if he had, right? Right?"
Zee chuckled. "Tonks, one step at a time. Do you want to be pregnant?"
Tonks let out a slow breath. "I don't know! I mean, some day sure, but being pregnant right now… amidst all of this and… I don't know…"
The timer went off and Zee nodded. "Well, I guess now we'll find out. You okay to perform the charm?"
"No," Tonks said as she scrunched her eyes closed. "You do it. I can't look. Tell me."
Zee was quiet for a moment before she said. "There's nothing."
"What?" Tonks exclaimed in surprise, her eyes snapping open. "Nothing… but that means… I'm not…"
"You're not pregnant," Zee said.
Tonks opened her mouth to say something before she burst into tears. Zee moved to sit on the counter next to her, wrapping her arm around her friend.
"It's stupid," Tonks hiccupped. "I can't be crying over something I didn't even think I had twenty minutes ago and now I… I wanted to be pregnant, Zee. I wanted… how can I be upset over something I never even had." She wiped the tears from her eyes. "Are you sure the test was negative?"
"No, it was positive."
"What?" Tonks exclaimed, tears running down her cheeks as she stared at Zee.
"I lied before. You glowed gold. You're pregnant."
"I'm pregnant?"
"And now you know how you really feel about it," Zee added. "You want this baby, Dora."
Tonks stared at her. "That was a risky move, Zacarias."
Zee smiled. "I know my audience, Lupin."
Tonks' smile widened. "I'm going to have a baby."
Zee hugged her. "Congratulations. I can admit that I'm secretly thrilled to have another mum around."
Tonks hugged her back, her face pale. "I'm pregnant. Oh Gods… I have to tell Remus, I'm pregnant."
"Unless he already knows," Zee added.
Tonks scowled. "If he knew that I was pregnant this entire time and didn't tell me, I'm going to bloody kill him!"
Zee laughed. "I suggest only maiming, you're going to want him around after."
Tonks hopped off the counter. "Yes, you're right. Okay, now I just have to tell him the news."
Zee smiled. "I can't wait to hear that story…"
End Author's Notes:
Zee and Tonks moment was inspired by Rachel and Phoebe from Friends. Thanks to Sam for her help!
Thank you for reading and please leave a review!
