Chapter 19

"Yes, I understand. As soon as possible. I'll get right on it. Right. Bye." Meredith put down the phone, mystified, her hand still scribbling down the words.

"Who was that, honey?" Harry Potter slipped his arms around his wife's waist, marvelling at just how beautiful she was, even now, twenty-two years after they had been married.

"Oh, the newspaper called. Strange happenings in the outer suburbs. I have to go and have a look, see if there's anything worthwhile reporting on."

"What sort of happenings?" Harry asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Rowena didn't say. I guess it's up to me to figure that out. Why?" Meredith turned to look into Harry's cat-green eyes.

"I just don't feel right about all this. Kate gave me a call the other day, said that there's a woman on the loose who wants to destroy the entire wizarding world."

"Oh. I thought that was the reason we straddle these two worlds, to build links, to make people like that see that it's not the way it's supposed to be?" Meredith's blue eyes sparked, and Harry reached an arm around her shoulders.

"Yes, that's the idea. But you can't blanket a problem. I'll come with you. Just so the odds are in our favour."

"Ok, but you're taking notes," Meredith smiled, reassured that her husband cared so much about her. "I'll write a message for Jeremy. Just so he doesn't panic."

"Good idea. Shall we be going?" Harry motioned for his wife to leave the room before him, closing the door gently behind himself.

~*~

It was hours later when Jeremy returned home to an empty house. He read the note, and thought nothing of his parent's absence. But, when he had cooked his own dinner, eaten it, done his dishes and watched a few hours of meaningless television, he decided it was warranted for him to begin to worry.

Jeremy found some parchment in a drawer, quill and ink on his desk in his room. He scribbled down a note, folded it, then took it to the fireplace and Flooed it to Hogwarts.

He just couldn't think of anywhere else to send it.

~*~

Minerva took the piece of parchment- somewhat smudged, and smeared with soot, out to the lake.

"Hermione, dear, I believe this is a problem to be encountered." She handed over the parchment, and wilted to the ground. She creaked and groaned, but ended up somewhat graciously upon her rear, her skirts fluffed out around her like a cushion.

"Adrienne, read this." Hermione handed the scrap over to her daughter, who scanned the words quickly.

"What does he mean, didn't come home? Harry Potter destroyed Voldemort!" Adrienne held the parchment out in disbelief. "And his wife wasn't a weakling of any sort. She graduated top of her year, didn't she?"

Hermione nodded, but looked at the ground. She looked up at Minerva. "Better invite him to stay for a while." Minerva nodded sadly. Adrienne felt steam rising within herself. What was she not understanding?

"I don't understand! What is going on? Why is there not hope that Harry Potter just got lost!" Adrienne stood to her feet, her hands pleading.

Hermione looked up at her daughter, her face brightened by an angry flush. "Adrienne, if that woman has the ability to soul steal, she is more than capable of wiping Harry Potter, and his lovely wife, right from the face of the earth. Soul magic is about a hundred times stronger than Avada Kedavra, stronger in any way. Where Avada Kedavra is based on dark and weakness, soul magic is based on light and strength. It would burn the entire world up if it could- if it weren't contained in bodies. Souls are amongst the most powerful forces in the world. Stronger than anything, maybe, as they are a balance of all the elements. Harry wouldn't stand a chance," Hermione broke off, turning her face away. Adrienne didn't need to see her face to know the anger and hurt to be found there.

Minerva climbed back to her feet haltingly, turning and leaving back for her offices without saying a word.

"What happens when she uses a soul for her magic?" Adrienne asked, though fearful of the answer.

"Someone, who has previously been listless, becomes permanently asleep." Hermione muttered. Adrienne gazed worriedly at her sister, though Lianna appeared to be still breathing, her eyes open and gazing blankly at the world around her. A living doll. Adrienne handed her mother a handkerchief, and waited to meet Jeremy.

~*~

"Meddling peasants. They'll think twice, next time. My souls are my own- now." Another morose chuckle. "Ah, this is getting to me. I'm laughing at my own jokes. But, company is far too intrusive. Much better for me to laugh at my own jokes than to keep company that doesn't even get it when I make jokes." She placed another two vials onto the rack, stoppered tightly. "Better no company than pointless company, yes." She slid the mirror back down and gazed into it, at her inwardly lit blue eyes, her dark brown silky smooth hair, her red lips upturned thoughtfully. "Better my own company," she muttered, turning away from the mirror. "Much better."

~*~

A/N: Another chapter for you all. Thanks and kisses to all my reviewers- you guys are awesome.

*kitten