Chap. 42: The Weasley twins, Remus, Hermione, and Snape.

Harry was walking down Diagon Alley dressed in a very fine black wool three-piece suit, and he was wearing a black knee-length Chesterfield cashmere topcoat over that. On his head, he was wearing a black wool flat cap, and he had on a pair of black full-brogue oxford shoes. Many, along the alley, gave Harry a respectful nod as he passed them by, while he was carrying a cardboard box about twelve inches square, and holding it tight to his chest.

When he arrived at the Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes, he opened the door and strolled in, having to dodge several people looking over the merchandise for Christmas. Harry noticed that the twins had a large assortment of wizarding toys out for sale, which brought a smile to his face since the deed he was about to set them to do was rather grim.

When Harry walked up to the counter, where George was discussing some fireworks with a client, he cleared his throat and gained his attention.

"George, with me," Harry said as he nodded toward the back, "and fetch Fred as well. Ministry business."

The man buying the fireworks gawked at Harry's display, but Harry simply turned on his heel and made his way to the back room.

"Er, uh, Harry's the third owner, you see," George quickly explained to not lose the sale. "He's our adopted brother, so have Verity to help you, sir, as I have to go."

When George stepped from behind the counter, he looked up at the first floor, and shouted, "Fred, down here, now! The ministry's here!"

Fred scowled, but slid down the handrail of the stairs, and joined George, as the two made their way to the back. Once the two made their way through the doorway, they noticed Harry emptying the contents of a cardboard box.

One was a large and clear plastic bag of silver powder, as fine as flour, and the other was a large glass flask with a cooling charm on it that contained a pale blue liquid.

"Uh, uh, Harry," Fred stuttered as he looked at the flask and swallowed, "is that what I think it is?"

"Which one?" Harry asked as he turned to greet them.

"The flask, Harry," George said, who was nervous, too.

"Prussic acid," Harry dryly replied, "and the other is five pounds of 99.9% silver powder, which is as fine as flour."

Both were still staring at the flask with nervous looks.

"Er, Harrikins," Fred replied, "you do know what happens when that liquid reaches 78°F, do you not?"

"Turns into a gas, which is exactly what I purchased it for."

Both Weasleys were gawking at Harry, now, with wide eyes.

"It's for a weapon," Harry said as he took a seat on one of the stools by their workbench. "Well, both are a part of it, really.

"Remember the chalk dust and flower gag you created, which would keep either suspended in the air until it was cleared with magic?"

"Yes," George said after taking a seat. "So, that is what the silver is for, but what about the acid? You do know that this could kill everyone here?"

"Yes, about that," Harry said, "you're to create a way to keep the contents cool until it is triggered, where the flask will be heated to 150°F, and then allow the gas to disperse and hang in the air. The silver powder needs to be dispersed at the same time.

"All of this will work with your permanent fog grenades, as I want the products of both to be hidden within the fog when they go off, and that must be magically triggered by a portkey opening nearby or a proximity spell. Plus, the almond smell must be hidden, and I would prefer this to have a delayed effect like the flatulent potion you created; say 30 minutes after inhalation. Also, you can divide them up into ten units so they can easily fit into several rucksacks."

Here, Fred swallowed, again, and took up the other stool.

"Harry, who's this intended for?"

"Oh, about fifty Werewolves," Harry explained, "who will be arriving by portkey just after Christmas break. Needless to say, money is no object, and this is another state secret."

The twins looked on the verge of passing out.

Here, Harry stood with a smirk and started toward the door.

"Remember, my fellow Marauders, that this needs to be done before the break, and once done, it must be given to Snape with clear instructions.

"By the way, put the flask in your project's icebox, yea, as we wouldn't want any accidents."

Here, Harry gave the twins a nod and left.

"Fuck me," George muttered, who then rushed to gently place the stoppered flask in the shop's icebox, with a large danger and poison tag tied around its neck.


Remus, Harry had found out, was at the Tonks' residence, and was finally courting Nymphadora. Here, Harry snorted, shook his head, and apparated with a slight pop.

Harry appeared at the gate to the Tonks' residence at Hook on the south coast close to Southampton. They lived close to the lake, which was really a bog, off Hook Park Road.

Here, Harry opened the gate, walked up the sidewalk to the front stoop, and knocked up the door. When it opened, it was Andromeda Tonks.

"Harry?" Andromeda questioned. "Looking for Nymphadora?"

"Oh, uh, no Mrs. Tonks. I heard that Remus was here, today, and I need a quick private word with him, about the war. It's highly confidential, you see."

"Do you want to come in for some tea?" Andromeda asked.

"Er, no, Mrs. Tonks, but thanks," Harry said. "No, I'm needed back at the ministry as soon as I talk with Remus."

"All right, he's in the parlor with Nymphadora and Ted, so just wait a sec," Andromeda said as she walked back into the house.

Harry didn't wait long until Remus appeared with a worried look, as he closed the front door. "Harry?"

"Let's take a quick stroll, Remus," Harry said, who nodded toward the back of the house by the swampy marsh.

Harry led Remus away from the house, and once he stopped, he turned to look at Remus.

"I'm not sure of what Albus has you doing with the werewolves, Remus, but avoid them until the first of the year, no matter what the headmaster says."

Here, Remus sighed as he looked out at the bog.

"He wanted me to contact them as soon as they come, Harry," Remus explained. "He claims they'll be here during Hogwarts' Christmas break."

"Believe me, Remus," Harry replied, "you do not want to be anywhere near them when they arrive."

"Why?"

Here, Harry grimaced, and drew his finger across his throat, making Remus flinch. "That's why."

Remus swallowed, hard, and then sighed as he looked back out at the bog.

"I take it that you know what will occur?" Remus asked.

"I do," Harry said, "and it will not be pretty."

"Yes," Remus said, "I heard about the giants. I also take it that you do not wish me to tell the headmaster?"

"No," Harry stated, "it's a state secret."

"Fifty-one of us," Remus said as he looked off into the distance. "I tried to warn them, Harry, but they sided with Fenrir."

"I know, Remus," Harry said, "but the order has already been approved, and they will not exist after their arrival. I'm sorry, Remus, truly, but this war has to be stopped as we are very close to ending Tom for good."

Remus' eyes grew wide at this declaration. "Really?"

"Very close, Remus," Harry said, "and I can't say any more. I just want your name out of it."

Remus put his arm around Harry's shoulder and hugged him to him. "Thanks, Pup."

"Any time, old man," Harry replied with a smirk, which made Remus snort. "Now, go back to your sweetheart, as I have to be back at the ministry. My wife is keeping me very busy, as well, as we'll be leaving during the break, and won't be back until she goes back to Hogwarts."

"Keeping you busy, is she?" Remus asked with a chortle as they were walking back.

"Furniture shopping, if you can believe it, on top of my ministerial duties."

Remus barked out a laugh at that. "That's married life, Pup."

"That it is, Remus," Harry said, who was now standing at the gate. "Floo if you need anything, yea?"

"I will, Harry," Remus said, as he made his way back toward the door, "and take care of yourself, Pup!"

Harry watched the last true Marauder with a sad smile before he turned on his heel, and disapparated.


Hermione was standing by the stairs leading down to the Hufflepuff and Slytherin common rooms and was waiting for Daphne to come up for supper. She was nervous about what she was going to ask, but she needed to know if it was anything important. She stood there for another few minutes when she noticed a head of blond hair coming up the steps, and the said witch was jovially laughing at the brunette beside her.

Once Daphne made it to the top of the steps, she saw Hermione and almost sighed out, but she plastered on a fake smile and greeted the Gryffindor witch with a nod. "Hermione?"

Hermione looked at the floor, first, and wrung her hands before she muttered," Can we speak somewhere private, before supper, that is?"

"Uh, sure, Hermione," Daphne said, who started walking toward the girl's loo just down the corridor. "I'll be back in a few minutes, Tracey."

Tracey nodded and made her way into the great hall, where she sat down beside Astoria, who was already there and speaking with her friends.

Once Hermione and Daphne were inside the loo, Daphne took out her wand and cast a privacy spell.

"What do you need, Hermione?"

"I, uh, noticed that you received a letter this morning," Hermione said, "and I was wondering if it's anything important?"

"Well, no, just that Mum and Da' agreed to go with Harry and I to Barbados for Christmas."

"Barbados, again?" Hermione asked.

"Well, of course, Hermione. We do own a house there," Daphne explained.

"You what?"

"Sirius bought it when he was on the run," Daphne explained, "and it was left to Harry. We started redecorating it during our honeymoon."

Hermione was floored at this, as she had no idea. "Well, I do remember Harry receiving letters from Sirius by tropical birds, so that was where he was at?"

"Yes," Daphne sighed out as she walked over to look out the window. "He should have never come back. The man was regaining his health there, Harry said, and after he came back, he went downhill, both physically and mentally, while locked up at the townhouse. Such a shame, that.

"Anyhow, Harry and I will be hosting Mum, Da', Astoria, and Tracey for Christmas there, and we will take them around the island. On Christmas day, they have a Bajan Christmas celebration after church, we found, where they have live bands and good food at Queen's Park in Bridgetown, their capital. We are to meet up with our ambassador and his wife there."

"Oh, I see," Hermione said, who had gotten it all wrong. "So, there is nothing important about the war, I mean?"

"Hermione," Daphne replied, "Harry doesn't tell me everything because he doesn't want me to worry. That is, especially, if it's a state secret."

Hermione felt like stomping her foot. "Neville said his grandmother wouldn't tell him anything, either, and the headmaster is keeping his mouth shut."

"I'm sure the headmaster has other things on his mind, Hermione, like how much longer he has to live," Daphne said with a sigh. "He doesn't have long, as the curse is advancing even with the treatments."

"How much longer?" Hermione asked.

"Probably sometime in the spring."

"Oh," Hermione said, who was also now looking at the window. "Can I ask you something that is, er, sort of embarrassing?"

Daphne turned to look at Hermione with a raised eyebrow at this. "Sure."

"Er, well, Daphne, uh, what does a wizard 'earning their red wings' mean, and do they wear them?"

Daphne, surprised, and now, wide-eyed, gave out a very unladylike snort, and then a braying laugh as she bent over clutching her knees. When she finally looked up at Hermione, she had rosy cheeks and teary eyes, though Hermione looked a tad bit upset.

"Sorry, sorry," Daphne said, but then had to chortle again. "That means, Hermione, that you do it while on the rag, and nothing more.

"I'm not sure where that phrase started, maybe during the last war," Daphne opined, "where randy muggle pilots compared doing the deed to gaining their wings after training. You know, when they pin the wings on their uniform afterward? There are so many different sources about where it originated, that one can't believe any of them.

"Harry and I haven't done that yet."

"You've not?" Hermione asked with an unbelievable expression on her face.

"Oh, we've done the deed many times now," Daphne admitted with a blush, "and it has been great, but never when Uncle Red has come calling. I've been stuck here most of the time. Mine started just after we arrived back from our honeymoon, and cleared up before our next, well, get-together.

"I've never thought about asking Harry, to be honest, since my monthlies come with the cramps sometimes. Harry sat with me, and rubbed my belly while I took a potion for it the last time it happened on a Saturday."

Hermione felt like she could just dissolve at the moment, and slip through the cracks in the floor.


Snape was eating his supper when Hedwig made an appearance in the great hall, which everyone noticed, except, instead of the owl making its way to the Slytherin table, she flew straight to the staff table and lighted by him, where she held up her leg.

"You have a letter for me?" Snape asked, and Hedwig gave out a low hoot.

Snape untied the letter and gave the bird a bit of fatty steak that he had cut off to the side, where she took back into the air to visit Daphne after swallowing it.

He unrolled the letter, and began to read:

.

.

Severus,

The Twins have been told what to create, and they will contact you when the project is finished, along with giving you complete instructions on how to implement it. Look for their owl, and you will have to travel to their shop to pick up the package. It will take care of our mutual problem.

As you may know, the wife and I will be in the Caribbean during break but can be reached through Gareth or the Minister for Magic. If something goes awry, have them to contact me at once.

Burn this after reading it,

H

.

.

Snape grimaced but did as he was told, where he lighted the letter with his wand, and it went up in a ball of flame to disappear, completely.

"Was that from 'Arry?" Hagrid asked, who was sitting to the right and next to him.

"Yes," Snape replied. "It was about some rare potions ingredients that I had him help acquire for me. The Greengrasses are importers, you see."

"Good people, tha' family," Hagrid said as he sat back in his chair, and took a long swig out of his bucket-sized goblet. "Cyrus, Helen, and Gareth have always been good ta me, you know. Never like summa the others. Then, there's Harry's wife and little Astoria. Great students to have in class; very polite. Always have their homework ready, and straight Os, too!"

"Did you say, Harry, Severus?" Slughorn asked, who was sitting to Snape's left.

"Yes," Snape replied, "he obtained some extra ingredients for the headmaster's potions."

"Good young man," Horace remarked, "and I can see him and his wife going far. Why, they'll be together in a few days to attend my Slug Club Christmas Bash! I'm looking forward to seeing them."

Snape grimaced but nodded at his old potion's professor. Yes, Horace was a talent collector, Snape thought, and he had his hooks into the young couple, but he would bet that Potter was using Horace for his own benefit, and not the other way around.


A/N: Another chapter down to set up the next few. Thanks for the reviews!