A/N: Thanks for the great reviews and once again to my beta reader. I will be out of town and unable to update until next weekend, but I will try to post 2 chapters then.

Chapter 18. Homecomings

            Sirius looked at himself in the mirror and smiled. 'Not bad,' he thought. 'Although Azkaban tired me, I look pretty good for someone near forty.' He was brought out of his reverie by a chuckle from Remus.

            "I remember James giving you a hard time about not being able to pass a mirror."

            "Well, Moony old chum, some of us have a date this evening!" smiled Sirius.

            "I am well aware of that fact, Paddy," he snickered as Sirius winced at the nickname he hated. "That would be me!"

            "Hey, can't I come along?"

            "Sorry, Sirius, but she's allergic to dogs." Remus laughed loudly now. "Sorry, Padfoot, I just couldn't resist. The look on your face was worth it!"

            "Okay, Remus. I will remember that when you want to borrow something," Sirius laughed. Remus grinned. They knew each other too well. "So, where are you meeting Emma?"

            "We are going to meet in Hogsmeade at the Three Broomsticks for a drink or two then it's off to dinner. Don't wait up," he added as he walked out the door.

            "Go Remus Go!" smiled Sirius as he headed for the door himself.

***

            Arthur, Molly and Sirius had opted to meet the newlyweds at the dock. The ship was just entering the harbor when they arrived, so Arthur took the time to update Sirius on the disappearance of Oliver Wood. Molly was quiet, Sirius noticed, but he attributed that to watching for any sign of the youngsters.

            Harry had the porters lined up to take their luggage ashore. A week on the ship had driven him crazy. He was used to DOING…and their just wasn't enough room to do anything. Sure, they had gone swimming every day. He had even tried his hand at skeet shooting, until a skeet he was aiming at started doing figure eights. He looked around and saw Ron with his wand out.

            They had all had a good time, but they were all ready to get back. Ginny had an essay to finish, Harry had to get ready for training, and Ron and Hermione had a train to catch in two days. And somewhere in there they had to send thank you notes, work out arrangements for spending some time together and telling everyone about their trip. Ginny had confided in Harry that she was exhausted thinking about it, and he agreed.

            They went on deck to watch as the ship pulled into the dock. Ron spotted their welcoming committee and started waving. They waved back and started making their way through the crowd as the gangway was lowered.

***

            The three Death Eaters apparated in the backyard of a house in Suburban London. One went around in an invisibility cloak and checked the name on the mailbox. Returning to the others, they nodded and made their way to the back door. Peering in the window, they saw a middle aged couple on the couch. Opening the back door with "Alohamora!" they sprang in and surprised the couple. One of the neighbors thought she heard something, but wasn't sure until she saw a green light from inside the house. Moments later a strange wisp of smoke resembling a skull caught her attention; then she saw the flames and called the Fire Warden. As she explained the fire and the location, she shook her head. She knew that the Grangers were going to meet Hermione, who was back from her honeymoon, so she wouldn't know how to contact them until they returned.

***

.           Harry had just gotten the last of their luggage into the boot of the car when he suddenly felt a tingling in his scar. When he closed his eyes, an all-too-familiar feeling enveloped him. Ginny looked at him and put her hand on his arm. "Harry?"

            "Gin, this is weird. It feels like Voldemort is happy."

            Molly looked over at Harry and nudged Arthur, he turned toward him. They watched as Harry held his head and Ginny pulled him into a hug. "I suppose," Arthur whispered to Molly, "that they will tell us later."

            Molly waited until Harry seemed better, and then said "Let's go home."

***

Kingsley Shacklebolt was one of the most seasoned active Aurors in the Ministry. He had been trained by the best, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. He had built one of the finest teams of Aurors since the dark times of twenty years before. He surveyed the scene before him in horror. This was the fourth attack in less than a month that had been found with a Dark Mark, Voldemort's favorite calling card. But he had witnessed Harry Potter's defeat of Voldemort first-hand. He had never seen such magical power before that night. Even Dumbledore himself wasn't that strong.

But now he was charged with finding out what was going on. First, there was the young Muggle boy, Johnny. Then there was the attack on Panus Street that killed Wen-Lee Chang's secretary. In Greece, Oliver Wood, the famous Quidditch star had gone missing, but was found this morning, dead by the killing curse. And now, an attack that was clearly intended for Hermione Granger's parents, which had killed Hermione's Aunt and her boyfriend. Things were definitely jumbled, but he had a hunch that there was more of a common thread than the Dark Mark. He had a feeling that Harry could help figure it out...in fact; this might be part of Harry's training.

He was finishing up when he saw Tonks heading his way. "Oy, Kingsley, here's a bit of something you may want to see!" she said excitedly. She opened her hand and had a small sliver of wood in it. He took it and turned it over. It was a piece of a broomstick handle! The handle was carved and in it was an inscription. 'PROP OF O WOOD'.

***

After everyone had arrived back at the Burrow, Arthur asked Harry for a word. "Harry, we have a situation and Kingsley would like to get you started right away. He's asked Neville as well. I know its short notice, but he is coming here tonight and would like to speak with you after dinner." Harry nodded as Arthur led him back to the group.

"Now you will just have to show us the pictures," laughed Molly. "Arthur, Hermione tells me that Ron is just a wonder on a surfboard!"

"Yeah, it's a wonder I didn't break my bloody neck!" he laughed. "Who needs an enemy like Voldemort when you have friends like Harry Potter!" The newlyweds all laughed, but Ginny saw her parents stiffen at the name of their old enemy.

"Mum? Dad?" she asked.

"Kids, I think we should all sit down and talk for a minute. Molly, could you get us something to drink?" added Arthur. As Molly served some juice, Arthur explained about Oliver Wood and Hermione's Aunt. "Just so you know, Hermione, your parents are fine. They should be here within the next half-hour."

"Is this why Kingsley wants to talk to me?" asked Harry. Arthur nodded.

"What?!?" exclaimed Ginny.

"Sorry, Gin. Dad just told me a few minutes ago and I hadn't had a chance to discuss it with you yet," added Harry.

Just as Ginny was going to reply, an owl swooped in and flew to Harry. Harry untied the parchment tied to its leg and quickly read it before handing it to Ginny, who started crying. Harry looked at Arthur. "It's from Remus. He is at St. Mungo's...it seems Alice Longbottom has had a relapse."

***

Remus had just sent an owl to Harry before returning to the waiting room. He consoled Neville as best he could while waiting for his father and grandmother to return. He looked out the door for them and saw Harry and Ginny, followed closely by Ron and Hermione, striding purposefully towards him.

Ginny and Hermione went straight to Neville and hugged him, while Harry and Ron talked to Remus. "She had gone outside to the garden, which had become a habit for her in the mornings. When she didn't come back to the house for lunch, Frank and Neville went to get her. They found her collapsed near a tree and rushed her here. Poor dear was just starting to remember, too! Now she is much like before. She has even started collecting scraps of paper again. They found her with this in her hand." He held up a crumpled piece of paper. It was light pink and had some writing on it. "Someone wrote something in a different Muggle language on it...Spanish, I think."

Ron took the paper from Remus and walked toward his wife. Harry and Remus, curious to know what was going on, followed. "'Mione?"

"Yes?" Hermione said, turning around. "What is it, Ron?" He held up the paper and she gasped. "Where did you get that?"

"Mum had it, Hermione. She was holding it and we had to pry it out of her hand. She used to collect gum wrappers, now I guess its scraps of paper." said Neville.

Hermione opened her purse and pulled out a small pad. It was filled with pink paper. She looked up at Ron with tears in her eyes. Harry was the first to speak. "What did you write on it, Hermione?"

"Salga sus preocupaciones en las manos de Dios," she replied. "It means 'Leave your worries in the hands of God'. I saw it in that one church we stopped in when we put in at Spain and I thought my mother would like it. She speaks Spanish so I knew she wouldn't need translation."

"So how did Mum get it?" asked a puzzled Neville.

"Someone gave it to her." Everyone looked at Harry with shock. No one had heard him use that tone of voice since the day of his final battle with Voldemort.

***

            After a short visit with Neville and his family, they all apparated back to the Burrow. They found Molly sitting at the kitchen table, staring out the window.

            "Mum?" asked Ginny.

            Molly looked up. "Sorry, dears. Lost in my own thoughts. How is Alice?"

            "It doesn't look like a relapse to me. I think someone's modified her memory," added Harry.

            "Good eye there, Mr. Potter," said a gruff voice from the doorway. Everyone turned to see Moody standing in the doorway. "Now can you tell me how you know this?"

            Harry understood. This was some kind of test. He thought hard about all that he knew. He couldn't quite put his finger on it…something didn't add up, but he didn't know what. Knowing that he failed, he said "I don't know, sir. Something just doesn't feel right about the whole thing."

            "Exactly!" shouted Moody with a smile on his face. Harry was relieved. "Can't teach you that…how to think with your gut."

            "Testing the boy already, Alastor?" asked another voice from outside. Harry smiled as Albus walked in. "That smells wonderful, Molly. Thanks for inviting myself and Minerva. She will be along shortly." He turned to Ginny. "And here is your letter and supplies list. Since I was coming here I saved some poor old owl the trip."

            "Thank you, sir," said Ginny.

            "Ginny, since at some future date I hope to be spoiling one of your children, I think it safe if you call me Albus or Grandfather while we are not at Hogwarts. I daresay it's better than what some call me at Hogwarts," he said, chuckling.

            Just then Minerva popped in. After saying hello to everyone, she went straight to Harry and gave him a hug. Harry, shocked by this, dropped his pumpkin juice and the glass shattered. Everyone laughed and Harry did a Reparo spell while Molly dried up the spill and refilled his glass with one wave of her wand.

***

            Emma was nervous as she waited for Remus. She remembered when they were all in their seventh year; James and Lily had found each other, Sirius had a girlfriend but Remus was unattached. She had a crush on him, but he didn't notice. Lily did, though, and finally, the two of them got together. The dated off and on for a few years, and she eventually figured out he was a werewolf; she didn't care…it wasn't hereditary and as long as he was careful she wasn't worried. And that was the problem…he was too careful. That's why he was so distant to her. After James and Lily's death she had been transferred to America for a few years by Gringotts, and had lost touch. When she went to the reading of the will, she had realized she still felt the same toward him. Then when she had met Harry, she knew that she needed to be back home. So she asked to be transferred back home and they had done so. She had made it back in time for the wedding, and had attended and been happy for the new couples. When she watched Harry and his new bride, she could almost believe that James and Lily were alive again. She left in a hurry and had gone back to her flat and spent the rest of the night in tears, grieving for the loss of her friends, and wishing she could tell Remus how she felt.

            She was brought out of her memories by the feel of a hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked into a pair of beautiful gray eyes. Overcome with the emotions she had been reliving, before she knew it she had kissed him as Remus stood there, shocked.

***

            Dinner at the Burrow that night was a happy one for Harry. He was with his family. His wife, brothers, adopted parents and grandparents were all sitting, laughing and joking. He couldn't remember the last time he just relaxed. Ginny looked over and noticed a contented look on his face. He smiled at her and gave her hand a little squeeze.

            After dinner, Harry was taken into the living room by his grandfather, where several people including Tonks, Sirius, Arthur and Kingsley were waiting for him. "Harry, Kingsley has something to discuss with you."

            "Harry, I know that we were set to begin next week, but I think that you and Neville should start day after tomorrow. Here is your training badge. Keep it on you at all times. It gives you authority to use magic at any time. You will be training with Tonks, Moody and I over the next eight months, then you will be tested. Part of your training will be helping us work on the current caseload. You and Neville will be assigned a case and Tonks will be your duty officer. Moody will train you in Stealth, Detection and Curses. I will be training you in Combat. Tonks will be training you on procedures and other items as they come up. Do you have any questions?" asked Kingsley.

            "No, Sir."

            "Okay. Tonks will collect you and Neville from your house in London at 7:00 am day after tomorrow. See you then."