Obligatory Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character, story element or plot item originally published in the Harry Potter books or movies that I may refer to in this story. I'm merely playing in the sandbox.

…"How did a centaur get past my wards?"

Algie sat with a perplexed look on his face as he lifted the cup of coffee, sipping it. Brahm's eyes widened, and he looked over at Sarah, who smirked. "I told you," she said.

Brahm had feared coming down for breakfast, but Sarah had pulled on her robe, laughing quietly at him. "I wouldn't bring it up, he's still not thrilled with how close we are on the whole physical aspect, which never made sense to me. He practically pushed us at each other. He'll be more frustrated at the invasion of his wards."

Brahm hated admitting that she was right but was glad for it. "I know the centaurs I knew in the States could fool many kinds of detection. Frankly, after that dream, I'm not sure that I fully believe he was really there."

Algie nodded. "Well, whatever that was, he was right. I think I'll have the prophecy tonight. We can listen to it then."

Sarah reached out for Brahm's hand. "I want to visit my parent's grave tomorrow morning, if you want to come with me?"

Brahm nodded. "Of course. We'll go as Aaron and Emma." He looked over at Algie, who now had some kind of block in his hand, examining the runes on it. He didn't ask where it had come from. "Can our disguises work over our current features?"

Algie looked up, then nodded slowly. "I'll have to put them on leather bracelets, like what you used before the rings, but that won't be a problem. Do you want me to come, too?"

Sarah shook her head. "I'm fine with just Brahm."

He nodded again, then gestured. "I found it! I'll fix this today. You kids keep yourselves busy." As he wandered to his study, Brahm chuckled.

"Okay, you were right."

"Told you. C'mon, we can get some homework done and just relax today.

They finished their holiday assignments, working together to fix each other's essays. From there, they played cards with the elves, keeping the game to Gin Rummy, not wanting to disturb the day with the explosions of Snap.

After dinner, Algie motioned them into his study. This was the one room that hadn't been decorated, Brahm noticed. He took a seat on the couch, Sarah sitting next to him. Algie sat across the coffee table from them, conjuring a chair to sit. "So, this is the globe," he said, lifting a small box and setting it on the table. "Brahm…I mean, Harry, you must put the orb on this pedestal, then tap it with your new wand. Don't use the Fawkes wand."

Brahm frowned at the usage of his real name, then reached out and carefully lifted the glass ball and set it on the stone pedestal, resting the glass in a divot in the material that fit it perfectly. He tapped it with his wand, and it rang, projecting an image on the floor. Trelawney stood, rigid in the room.

"Light and dark contend for primacy, but both walk side by side. In the light, the velvet glove conceals the iron fist. In the dark, madness runs free. As the seventh month dies, balance is born. He will grow strong in the love of those who hold him dear. The path will fail for light and dark, and a new world will be born, forged by the one who makes peace."

The image faded and Brahm swore. "In the dream, it was about forging my name. The centaurs call me Peacemaker." He groaned. "How can I grow strong in love if I was alone until just now?"

"Time is relative for this sort of thing. You are strong now. Look at your allies."

"I just mean…Luna had to ask me out. I didn't even know what I was feeling until she confronted me with it…doesn't it mean that Dumbledore succeeded in voiding this?"

"I don't think so," Sarah said, tightening the grip on his arm that he hadn't realized she had. "You had bad examples, but you've never done me wrong. Even when I thought you had. You've somehow been protected from it all. Remember when we wondered about that protection your mother had given you?"

He nodded. "Maybe it was protection against more than one kind of evil. We did talk about that."

"You were better trained because of the love that Luna didn't admit she had at the time, but she wanted to help you."

Sarah leaned against his shoulder. "That's right."

"That's why he did it, then." Brahm moved on, tracing through the questions he'd had in his mind. "That's why he had Molly Weasley find me in the train station. I could see what I never had. Why he let all those rumors go on. Why Snape was the way he was. The Dursleys, Snape, the students…everything was shaped to make sure I was isolated. I wouldn't find help. I wouldn't even want to fight." Brahm's eyes narrowed. "I should just let Malfoy have him."

"He'll fail." Algie held up the box, gesturing to the orb. Brahm put it back and Algie put the box on his desk. "This is a real prophecy. It doesn't say how you'll do it, but you have to do it."

"So, it's inevitable that I'll win?"

"No." Algie said. "There's another section of the prophecy room, one that you will never see even if my associates didn't think I was mad for working with you, that shows failed prophecies. Ones where someone took too many risks or just didn't pay attention when crossing the street." He sighed. "The prophecy says that you are the one to bring balance and peace, but it doesn't say that you will do it. Just that you are the only one who can."

"I don't understand that, though. Who's to stop someone from taking out Voldemort?"

"They can die, but what will happen? Another will take their place. Maybe you'll defeat them and expose the corruption that causes the birth of Dark Lords. Maybe you'll become a Minister who brings everyone together. Who knows?"

He rose. "It's late. I'm going to bed. I'd appreciate it if, when you two go to bed tonight, that you go separately and stay separately."

Brahm snickered. "I told you so."

"Shut up, Harry."

He leaned over and kissed Sarah. "Brahm. Sheesh, you're my girlfriend and can't even get my name right!" With that, he went to bed, hoping for a dreamless sleep. When he woke in the morning, he breathed a sigh of relief. No strange dreams, surprising with what he'd heard the night before. As he sat there, staring at his reflection in the mirror on the wall, he pondered aloud. "It really shouldn't surprise me…I've seen this coming."

He rose and dressed, heading out to run that morning. On his return, he joined the others for breakfast, and they talked. Soon, Sarah handed Brahm a bracelet and he tied it on, the strange feeling of the disguise over his current disguise making him itch slightly.

"It takes a second to get used to. Just be patient." Algie said.

Brahm sat, feeling the tingling continue. "So, do we have flowers this time?"

Sarah shook her head. "No, I just want to clear the snow. Talk to them."

Brahm nodded and they fell silent, each focused on the cups in front of them. Finally, Brahm stood. "Okay, the distraction is gone. We can apparate over there now."

"Aim for that big hill near there and walk. It's safer there." Algie said, then leaned over and kissed his niece. "You two do something fun afterwards. Go to the Alley. Do a little window-shopping. Just remember to get out immediately if there's trouble."

Brahm offered his arm to Sarah. "Okay, we'll do that."

They walked together, stepping outside and apparated to the hill Harry had taken his first portkey from. He shivered at the memory and the cold wind that seemed to blow through him. "Took my first portkey from here," he said, explaining.

Sarah nodded, edging close to him to hide as she cast a warming charm on both of them. "C'mon."

They walked almost a mile before reaching the cemetery. There were more people there now, placing flowers and holding candles, even in the daytime. Brahm found it odd but didn't say anything. With all the witnesses, they each knelt by one of the Lovegood stones and began brushing snow.

"Hi, Aaron, Emma." Ginny spoke from behind them, surprising Brahm.

"Ginny? I didn't know you'd be here."

Sarah tensed. "I thought it'd be nice to see her again."

Brahm nodded, then noticed Ginny's escorts. "Ahh, the infamous twins."

The pair smiled, but the smile was tight, not natural to them. Something about it made Brahm want to pull his wand. "Hello, Aaron."

"We weren't aware that our reputation had preceded us."

"Ginny does tell stories."

Ginny nodded, then stepped forward, clearing Luna's headstone. The two twins stepped up to Brahm and looked at him. "You were in our store not long ago."

"I can't believe you remember me in all that."

"Ginny described you and we remembered." Fred said.

George nodded. "You were memorable when you didn't seem surprised by some of the pranks."

"It stands out you know."

"You should do a better job of hiding things if you want to stay hidden."

The twins came together, flicks of wands as they spoke in unison. "Harry."

Harry took a breath, edging towards Sarah and Ginny stepped forward. "You idiots. You said you'd talk to him, not terrify him."

"Brahm, wait." Sarah's voice stopped him as he reached for his portkey. Statute of secrecy or not, he was about to get them out of there.

"We wanted to say we're sorry, Harry."

Harry felt his arm relax slightly. "Sorry for what?" He kept his hand on the portkey necklace but wasn't reaching for Sarah anymore.

"We knew what was going on there, but we relied on Dumbledore too much."

"How…Ginny?"

"I didn't tell them. They…they saw through the story when Mum told them."

Brahm frowned as Sarah nodded slowly. "Yeah…I…I forgot they used to follow her around."

"We did, but we knew nothing about an Emma and Aaron. We thought about it and wondered. Neither of us bought the kidnapping story."

The other twin nodded. "You were kept locked up in that house and no way the guards would fail again. No one knew who was guarding you then anyway."

"I never went back. Between your brother and his friend Granger, I knew I was alone. I hid in the Room of Requirement."

The pair looked at each other and nodded. "Smart."

"From there…how's your Occlumency?"

"Good. The twins can't get past me."

The twins grinned. "Why do you think we were never caught?"

Brahm laid out a very edited version of things, culminating with them getting help from a distant family member of Luna's. The twins nodded slowly. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Spread gossip. Maybe have me sighted in Ireland or something. Make the Order members wonder. I know your parents are part of that group, but still. Not even they can know." He held back the reminder that they may not care to know.

The pair agreed. "What about money?"

"Do you need anything?"

"Handled." Brahm grinned. "Let's just say that the new Head of Family Black is a friend, helping force them to give me my money back. Plus…I broke back into Hogwarts and sold the Basilisk."

They looked at each other. "We're using some scale in some of our…experiments. Order stuff, at least, supposed to be used that way."

"Expanding shields. The skin can stretch and compress well, much better than dragon skin. We've managed to make some shields. We're not just handing them over to order, but we keep them on hand in case."

They flipped a coin over to Brahm, him catching it easily. He looked at the round object, then touched a release rune, causing it to expand, automatically attaching to his hand. "Nice."

"Keep it. We brought the spare in case you really were you." Fred said, handing another over to Luna. "It'll stop anything but Unforgivables…let's just say our test rats learned that."

Brahm nodded. "Thanks guys." He grinned. "It's good to know that someone other than Luna and her uncle believe me."

"If we'd known." The twins said, simultaneously, but it seemed as though neither knew how to finish.

Brahm just nodded. He had an idea of what they were trying to express. "I just don't understand, though. Your brother thinks I betrayed him."

"Ron's very jealous," one began.

"Too right, Fred," George said.

Fred continued. "He wanted to be friends with you. Mum told all those stories about you, the ones from the book series, to Ginny, but he was listening. He's always had this idea of getting out of our family, out from behind the shadow that we seem to have with the other purebloods."

"But he's friends with Granger."

"Not anymore," Ginny said. "When Harry left, they had several fights and now…they don't even sit near each other. He's failing everything, too. I guess Hermione carried him."

Brahm didn't say a word, simply nodding slowly. Finally, he exhaled. "She carried both of us, before she hit me and told me she never wanted to see me again, that is." He was quiet again. "I'm doing better at my new studies."

"You went to school?"

"There are magical schools in the States, I'll have you know. Emma and I are doing very well in our studies."

"Where did Aaron and Emma come from?"

Brahm smirked. "We were laying flowers on some graves and this very nosy little redhead showed up."

"Hey!"

The twins laughed and nodded. "We get that," they said in unison.

"We're going to lunch in the Alley. Want to join us? Aaron's treat!"

Brahm just rolled his eyes. "Yes, my treat."

"Well, if you're paying," George said.

"We have to go back to the store after lunch anyway, so…"

Ginny just grinned.

That evening, as they returned, laughing at the events of lunch and then the afternoon shopping with Ginny, Brahm stopped in the doorway and hugged Luna. "I think you saved me."

She raised an eyebrow in confusion. "From what?"

"Me." He kissed her gently, then gestured for her to walk in first. He happily closed the door behind them, looking forward to Christmas morning.