Harry and his seven soulmates were going for a quick jog along the beach the following morning. As they went past the greenhouses, they saw Neville was chatting to Swamp Thing. Lavender, Susan and Hannah were on nearby sun loungers, watching their soulmate affectionately. In the sky above, the Weasley twins and the Gryffindor chasers were happily tossing and catching a quaffle on their brooms.

"Hi, Harry, Gin," George called down. "Have you had any more thought to putting together a couple of Quidditch teams? We would like to get some matches in."

"Not much," Harry admitted. "I was thinking of waiting until the New Olympus Academy of Magic is fully up and running. After this week, we should be studying magical subjects again. Perhaps we could have a Potters and Longbottoms versus Weasleys match or something?"

"That makes sense. Ron can be our keeper. Gin, you are small enough to be a seeker…"

"I prefer being a chaser, Fred. Besides you are making a fundamental error."

"What?!"

"I'm effectively a Potter now, not a Weasley. Which team do you think I am playing for?"

"Bloody hell! That means Padma or Hermione needs to be our seeker. Any thoughts, Angie?"

"Merlin! Perhaps we should rethink this idea, Katie.

"What about your team, Harry? You have a seeker and a chaser. Who else?"

"Pansy and I can play as beaters," Millie offered. "Neville may not be the most confident flyer, but he should make a decent keeper. Daffy, you and Tori are both reasonable chasers…"

"Astoria's not a Potter, a Longbottom or a Weasley," Alicia pointed out. "She can't play!"

"Tori's the next best thing," Parvati snapped. "She is effectively Harry Potter's sister-in-law after all.

"Sue Bones has played chaser with Daffy before, if Tori's not acceptable to you. I have played keeper in friendly games at the Greengrass and Bones manors. By the way, Pads was our seeker. She's not as good as Harry, but she's perfectly decent in the position. Besides, Gin, Daffy and Sue or Tori don't have your experience at operating as a pack of chasers."

"Parvati's right," Katie agreed. "If we can get 160 or more in front before Harry catches the snitch, we win anyway. Besides, Padma might get lucky. Who knows?

"I just want to play again in any case, Angie. This gives us a chance to get a couple of games in. We should take it."

"Of course," Angelina agreed. "I'll captain our team and Harry can captain his, if we are all agreed."

"Sure." Harry waved up at Angelina. "May the best team win."

"If I was chosen as a Champion of the Green, would I have to… How should I put this?!"

"Become like me, young Neville?" The anthropomorphic foliage gave a laugh, suggesting that he had taken no offence. "That come from being chosen as The Champion of the Green after my dying body was dumped in a swamp.

"You already are A Champion of the Green, my friend. The plants in these greenhouses tell me that you look after them like they were your own children. You have a good heart, Neville. These plants and your soulmates have found a rare specimen in you."

"Thank you, Professor Holland."

Neville nodded at Swamp Thing and walked over to his soulmates, casting an appreciative gaze over their bikini-clad forms. "I'll go back to our tent, shower and put on my trunks to join you for a swim."

"Sure, Nev," said Susan, pulling him in for a quick kiss. "I'm looking forward to it. That is fun exercise, as opposed to running several times around the bloody island."

"All that running isn't fun, Sue," Lavender agreed. "I have, however, already lost a couple of pounds, despite eating rather more.

"When we have the best figures in wizard Britain, we will be glad of all that exercise."

"We also are more likely to all survive to be so recognised," Hannah agreed. "Given who your Aunt is, Sue…"

"I know, Han. Staying safe is worth some effort! I accept that, but that doesn't make all that bloody exercise any easier."

"Perhaps we should start jogging for fun, as Harry and his girls do? That may make our bodies more acclimatised to this running business."

"Thanks, Lav," Neville said. "I don't like the idea any more than you do, Sue. We are, however, going to be kept exercising regularly for the foreseeable future I fancy."

"You are right," Sue sighed. "Not today, though, please?"

"Whatever our soulmate wants…"

Susan pulled Neville down on to her sun lounger and covered his lips with hers. This soulmate wants to snog you senseless!

No objections here, love!

"Mr Addams? I was asked to come here by the White Council…"

Gomez looked up at the visitor Lurch had just escorted in. He was a dark-haired man, about six feet and six inches in height and wearing a long greatcoat over a rather shabby suit. There was an eldritch power almost crackling in the air around him.

"Ah, you must be the White Council's agent? A Mr Denton…"

"Almost, Sir. My name is Harry Dresden. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise. So, Mr Dresden, what can I do for you?"

"Straight to the point, Mr Addams. I like that in a man. Whatever the Red Book of Westmarch might say, this wizard isn't subtle!

"I would like to meet the young mages on Potter Island as soon as possible. When would be a good time for them?"

"Well, my good man, there is to be a barbecue on Potter Island on Saturday evening. Would that suit you?

"I must warn you that the wards around Potter Island can cause serious harm to anyone who attempts entry intending to harm the young mages there."

"As it should be! Would that most wizard schools have such wards!"

"Too true, Mr Dresden. Hogwarts' security seems as porous as a sieve! I guess that Dumbledore's reputation has given the staff and directors…"

"Governors! The Brits have Boards of Governors at their schools, not Boards of Directors.

"That said, I think that you might well be right, Mr Addams. The old man might be past his prime, but I still wouldn't want to take him on. For all his faults, by all accounts he is a good man."

"That is what they say. Certainly, the Hogwarts' wizards speak well of him as a decent man, with an unfortunate tendency to see the best in those who don't deserve it."

"There are worse faults to have."

"True. Now, Mr Dresden…"

"Please call me Harry."

"Then, my good man, call me Gomez. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"That would be most kind of you, Gomez."

"Don't mention it, Harry my boy. Ah, 'Tish darling, may I introduce you to Harry Dresden, agent of the White Council?"

"Enchanted, mon vieux…"

"Harry, darling, I suppose we should ask Mr Blood to begin training us on effective magical tracking methods when we begin our magical classes a week tomorrow? I mean, if one or more of us needs to be rescued from the Hogwarts' Lake…"

"Most likely you, Parvati, as my date for the Yule Ball," Harry noted. He hugged her tightly. "I shall do all in my power to retrieve any or all of you, you know that."

"Mr Blood?" Harry asked. "What do you know of magical tracking methods, particularly wordless ones?"

Jason thought for a moment. "Presumably for this Second Task? Do you know if your hostage is going to be conscious or not?"

"We haven't been notified."

"If she is conscious, you could always use the bond to ask her where she is. Otherwise, you could learn to cast wordlessly, or you could seek help from the giant squid and the merpeople telepathically.

"Diana, we could arrange for some training exercises. The first is to lead the potential hostages to a few hiding places and they can use the bond to guide Mr Potter here. Then, we shall have to see if they can be echo-located when bound, blindfolded and unaware of their position. Finally, we can try various methods when they are in enchanted sleep. We should probably start on that this coming week, as February draws ever closer.

"Perhaps there are muggle means that we could use? How about providing Mr Potter with infra-red lensed swimming goggles?"

"That could work, Jason. Maybe the Young Adventurers have something that we could use. We must ask them.

"Rex, can you come here a minute please?" Rex, who had come through one of the portals to visit Luna, was chatting to his new friend nearby.

"Of course, Diana."

"Thank you. Do you know of anyone with a non-electronic means of swimming underwater?"

"I am sure that Jupiter could develop one, if he hasn't already.

"A number of underwater divers' goggles can have infra-red heat-vision lenses lowered mechanically; I believe. Jupiter would be able to get some in Rocky Beach easily enough."

"Thank you, Rex.

"Jason, how about teaching Harry to summon muggle scuba gear? Then he could cast verbally if he so requires…"

"I am sure that the rules wouldn't have been written with such equipment in mind, Diana. We could bring some with us for the Task and have it placed near the lake. Won't that make life easier?!

"He could still have some Gillyweed on his person as a backup plan. That way, we are covered either way."

"Thank you, all," Harry said happily. My loves, we have a few plans in place. I'll keep you all safe, as I promised…

The following morning, the young mages were led through the usual laps around the island, followed by press-ups, star jumps, and various stretching exercises. Once they had finished in the ice bath and the other young mages had finished for the day, Harry and his soulmates were sent back to their tent to change into swimwear.

Shortly afterwards, they were gathered on the beach. Parvati, Millie and Pansy had volunteered to be the "hostages" for Harry to find. As the first had been Harry's date for the Yule Ball and the last two had already taken the Potter surname officially, they were the most likely candidates for the Second Task in Remus' opinion.

"Well," Diana said, "you are using telepathy and Gillyweed only for now. We shall experiment with scuba gear and infra-red goggles from next week.

"Girls, you are to say goodbye to your soulmates, then take two hours' worth of Gillyweed and our guards in scuba gear shall escort you to an underwater cage and lock you in. Harry, you are to take an hour's worth forty minutes later and the girls shall guide you to their cage. If you fail to find them in an hour, the guards shall release them and take them to the surface. If the Gillyweed wears off early, then spin yourselves into Furies, ladies. That should allow you extra time to hold your breath and signal for the guards to release you.

"Harry, here is a key to the cage. Good luck, everyone."

The three hostages kissed their other female soulmates goodbye and walked to the sea. Millie and Pansy were in green bikinis and Parvati in a red one. Harry was in red swimming trunks and was also on the shoreline.

"Goodbye, my love," said Millie, before pulling Harry in for a snog. "I hope to be rewarding you with a longer one in due course." She winked at him. After that, first Parvati and then Pansy copied her actions, before each took their Gillyweed and disappeared below the waves, accompanied by Amazon guards in scuba gear.

Forty minutes later, Diana signalled for Harry to kiss his other four soulmates goodbye and take his own Gillyweed and dive in.

I'm underwater, darlings. Where do I go?

Swim to the left, Harry darling, then turn right at that coral reef.

Thanks, Pans. Are you all alright?

Yes, Harry. Our cage isn't exactly spacious, but there is a comfortable enough bench for us to sit upon. Our Gillyweed is lasting well so far.

I'm glad about that, Parv. How far away are you?

It took about twenty minutes and there is a clear swim to the surface, Harry. You have plenty of time. Don't rush!

I won't, Millie.

Once Harry had reached the coral reef, he turned right. Which way do I take now, sweethearts?

There should be three caves directly in front of you.

I can see them. Which one do I take?

The left one, Harry. It broadens into a grotto, with an aperture in the ceiling. Swim through it and our cage is directly in front of you.

Thanks, Millie. I'll see you al in less than ten minutes, hopefully.

Harry swam into the cave indicated, found the grotto and swam through the aperture. The cage was on an underwater ledge behind the aperture. It was made of stainless steel and had a padded bench of some sort at the rear, upon which the three hostages were seated. He swam up, unlocked the door at the front of the cage and opened it for the three prisoners to swim through. Harry noticed that the Amazon guards were on a nearby ledge in scuba gear. They were only a few yards away; in case the girls had needed releasing quickly in an emergency.

Whilst there was a beach in a nearby cove, there was ample time left for the four soulmates to swim back to their original starting point. Once the effects of Harry's had worn off, he emerged from under the waves to be greeted with kisses from Daphne, Tracey, Ginny and Wednesday. Twenty minutes or so later, Pansy, Millie and Parvati surfaced, back to normal. After kissing their female soulmates, they rewarded Harry with the promised extended snogging sessions. "My hero!" Parvati sighed dreamily.

"We shall set you a more challenging search for your three beautiful damsels in distress tomorrow afternoon, Harry," Diana told him. "From next week, we shall be experimenting with options for what to do if they are unaware of your route or even unconscious."

"I shall ask the Ancient One to work on some meditation techniques early next week," Jason added. "You should be able to sense exactly where a conscious soulmate or, indeed, other coven member is over a reasonable area. Ultimately, you should be able to do that when the fellow coven members are unconscious, but you would need the Doctor's TARDIS to do the tracing without months' worth of study.

"We shall start working on the use of infra-red goggles and silently cast tracking spells also. Would Ms Patil and the two Ms Potters be happy being bound and blindfolded or placed in enchanted sleep to test this?"

"Harry needs to be prepared for anything," Pansy noted. "I consent happily!" Millie and Parvati both agreed.

"We should try it with the other four of you in due course," Harry noted. "I could see the Judges going for Daphne and Tracey as the daughters of allied families or Ginny, given my friendship with her family. As for Wednesday, I can't imagine the Judges wanting the feared lawyer Gomez Addams going after them. Still, I wouldn't leave that to chance either!"

"Sadly, Mr Potter, I fear that you could well be right."

"I've learned to fear the worst when it comes to wizards and logic, Mr Blood. Please call me Harry."

"Thank you, Harry."

Each afternoon that week, Harry was set an increasingly circuitous route to find where Millie, Pansy and Parvati's cage had been hidden. Every time he had located the hostages with enough time to surface before the effects his Gillyweed or theirs hah worn off.

"You are making excellent progress, Harry," Jason told him on the Friday evening.

"Thank you, Professor Blood. I am determined to protect my soulmates, come hell or highwater."

Later that evening, the Portal from 0001 Cemetery Lane opened and Lurch came through carrying a large gas barbecue. He put it down in front of Pugsley's tent, grunted, and went back to collect three gas cannisters. "Thank you, Lurch," said Pugsley.

Gomez then emerged from the portal. "Pugsley, Wednesday, my dears, I hope that the barbecue is suitable for you. Your mother, grandmama, Uncle Fester and I are looking forward to tomorrow."

"C'est ce que je voulais, papa," Wednesday gushed. "Merci beaucoup!"

"We shall be back tomorrow morning with the meat," Gomez told his children.

"Thanks again, Dad, Lurch," Pugsley responded. "Wow, this contraption should cook the sausages, burgers and the rest to perfection!

"Given the size of those gas cannisters, we should be able to throw several barbecues before we need any more!"

"Hi sweetheart!" said Jean Granger, embracing Hermione the following afternoon. "How are Ron and Padma treating you?"

"Like the wonderful witch that she is!" Ron grinned.

"That is a great answer, Ron!" John Granger laughed. "Keep it that way!"

"You are all looking healthy," Jean noted.

"It must be all that exercise that we have been getting," Padma laughed. "My abs have never been so toned!"

That toned tummy was always sexy, Pads!

Thanks, Hermione. You have great abs too!

"Mentally flirting again, Hermione?"

"Oh yes, Dad. Pads and I were complimenting each other on our tummies.

"Ron's family should be joining us soon, with Pads' due in 15 minutes or so."

"Have either of your families been to a barbecue before?" Jean asked. "John uses a charcoal barbecue in our back garden at least two or three times each summer.

"If the weather is good this summer, the five of us must have a few days in the back garden. Hermione and I like to sunbathe on deckchairs with good books in our hands, whilst John prepares the barbecue. Later, Hermione and I prepare the salads and bring them outside with the coleslaw and condiments, whilst John cooks the burgers and sausages."

"That sounds like fun," Ron agreed. "It will be good to spend time together as a family."

"Of course," Padma agreed. "Ron can help with the barbecue and I with the salads. You would need to teach Ron how first, mind, but…"

"I don't think that John would mind teaching you, Ron. We meant to give you a younger brother or sister, Hermione darling, but it just never happened.

"Luckily, our wonderful daughter proved to be a witch with two soulmates, one of each sex, so we did get a son and another daughter after all!"

Hermione pulled both her parents and both her soulmates into a five-way hug! "Thank you, Mum and Dad! My family!

"Hi, Mr and Mrs…"

"It is Mum and Dad to you, Hermione!" Molly Weasley told her firmly. "The same goes for you, Padma dear!"

"I think, Molly," Jean noted with a grin, "that you and Arthur need to join our little huddle!"

"Harry, my boy, this is Harry Dresden. The White Council has asked him to be your liaison with them."

"It is nice to meet another Harry, Mr Dresden."

"Likewise, Mr Potter. Nice place that you have here.

"There aren't many buildings so far. Cool! I have this effect on buildings, pal!"

Harry Potter got the sense that his fellow Harry was a force to be reckoned with. He wasn't someone you wanted to mess with!

"In any event," the other Harry continued, "I hope to teach you all some tricks of the trade. The White Council also wants to monitor this mixed wizard and muggle interaction, with a view to assessing its effectiveness.

"If you have any questions, I'll be here at least a couple of times a week."

"Thank you again, Mr Dresden." This chap seems friendly, as well as scarily powerful…

"I'll tell you what, kid. You call me Harry and I'll call you Harry. How does that sound?"

"I like that, Harry! Something tells me that you will be a good friend and a very useful ally…"

With help from Harry and Parvati, Wednesday and Pugsley grilled the meat to perfection. The salads that Hermione, Padma, Pansy and Millie prepared were well-balanced and with a variety of dressings. As with their previous social evening, it was considered a firm success.