A/N – Hello, wonderful readers! I know it's been a few days since I posted. I apologise, my dad and his girlfriend came to visit for a few days, and between keeping him from spoiling my kids rotten (he only sees them about once a year, as they live on the other side of the country), and trips out here and there, I haven't had the time to post.

However, I'll let you all in on a little secret. The story is done. Finished. I've got it all written, I just have to edit it all and post it. I can't thank you all enough for the encouragement and support here – I can't tell you how much this has done for me!

I'm posting two chapter right now, because they're both pretty short – the next two chapters are quite long, though... and that's all I'm saying for now!

CQ


Chapter Twenty: The Return of the Malferret

Harry closed the door to the bedroom behind him, leaving Ginny sleeping. He was up early, as he had agreed to meet with Ron and the others for a six-thirty breakfast downstairs before they all went off on their own agendas for the day.

Ginny had gone to bed early the night before. Seamus' death had affected her more than Harry had thought it would, and she'd been pale and listless for days. He certainly had no intention of waking her this morning when he was as capable as she in pulling breakfast together. She obviously needed her rest.

He was halfway down the stairs when he smelled coffee. It was just after six... apparently someone had beat him down this morning. Entering the kitchen, he found Molly sitting with her usual morning cup of tea. The coffee percolator brewing behind her on the kitchen counter.

"Good morning, Harry, love. How are you this morning?"

"I'm good, Molly. And you? Sleep okay?"

"Yes, love, yes. Arthur told me that you were going to be meeting early this morning for breakfast. Who all shall I be making for, then?"

"All of us... the Weasley's, anyhow," Harry poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. "And Hermione, of course. Thanks, Molly."

"No trouble, lad. I'll get it started then. The twins will be moaning the moment they arrive."

"Thanks, Molly. I didn't want to wake Ginny, but if I were cooking, they'd all be getting toast and marmite."

"And how is Ginny this morning?" Molly asked, her back to him as she opened cupboards.

"Asleep right now," Harry said, frowning. "I'm... she seems to have really taken Seamus' death hard. Harder than I expected her to, anyhow."

"He was a friend to her and Dean," Molly said quietly, laying bacon in a pan at the stove. "He stood for Dean and their wedding, love. Ginny's probably just... well."

"I know, Molly, but... it just seems like more than that, somehow."

"How so, love?"

"Well, she's listless, and pale, and tired all the time. She doesn't..." Harry flushed at what he had almost said. He certainly wasn't going to discuss that particular change in his new wife's behavior with her mother!

"Less than... attentive, lately, is she?" Molly smiled knowingly.

"Molly..." Harry's ears burned. Merlin, was he really having this conversation with his mother-in-law?

"And you can't think of any other reason she may be acting this way, Harry?" Molly continued, ignoring Harry's discomfort.

"Molly? Has something else happened?" He was suddenly worried. "Has someone said or done something to upset her?"

"Harry," Molly had finished with the bacon and left it sizzling, wiping her hands as she returned to the table to sit down across from him. "Let me tell you a story."

Harry, none too sure where this was leading, stayed silent. Which was generally a wise course of action when it came to Molly.

"When Arthur and I were first married, we were very much in love. We had a lot of fun, just being together. Those days were full of laughter and happiness. We did everything together, and were very active." She smiled, "You wouldn't know it now, of course, but we were very... physically active. Then, one day, Arthur came home from his job at the Ministry, and found me sitting in a chair, looking out the window. I'd been there all day."

"Why?" Harry asked. Was Molly trying to tell him that some of her family suffered from depression? Was that what was wrong with Ginny?

"Seven and a half months later," Molly continued as though he hadn't interrupted. "Bill arrived."

It took Harry a minute, but then his eyes widened, and he went completely white.

"Molly? You mean...?"

"Harry, love, it's genetic. Every woman of the Prewitt line is listless and completely without energy for the first trimester. I was with every one of mine, and Ginny was with each of the girls."

"Molly?" Harry whispered. "Do you think it's possible?"

Molly laughed. "Harry love, you'd know that better than I. I'm just telling you what I see."

Harry sighed as Molly returned to the stove. Was it possible? Could Ginny be pregnant?


The Leaky Cauldron was quiet that night when Harry and Ginny apparated in about eight o'clock. Ron saw them and hailed from the corner table where he, Hermione, Neville and Luna sat. The twins were at the bar and Lee Jordan was making his way from them back towards Ron and the others. Lavender Brown and the Patil twins were sitting at the next table over.

As they made their way towards the table, Colin Creavey arrived through the floo.

"The gang's all here," Ginny smiled sadly. "Well, almost."

Harry squeezed her hand in his. "It's fitting, Gin. Seamus would have loved this."

Ginny nodded, and sat, as Harry pulled her chair out for her.

"'lo, all!" she said.

"Ginny Weasley!" Lee Jordan grinned at her.

"That's Ginny Potter now, Jordan," Harry said gruffly, then greeted the other man with a grin. "How are you?"

"Great!" Lee said, sitting a pint in front of Harry. "First round's on me, mate."

"Thanks," Harry said absently, watching as Ginny pushed the pint Lee put in front of her away. "Ginny?"

"Just cola for me, please, Harry?"

"Okay, love." He stood and moved to the bar.

"Harry, lad!" George smiled, putting his arm around his brother in law's shoulders. "How the hell are you?"

"Great, George," Harry gave his order to the barman, eyeing his brother in law warily. "You?"

"Good, good..." George smiled. "I wanted to ask you..."

Harry looked at George, then Fred, and their identical grins, and groaned.

"Oh, what?" He asked, afraid he knew the answer.

"Now, lad..." Fred started.

"No," Harry said. "When you two get those looks..."

"What looks?" The twins said in unison.

"Those looks," Harry said, pointing at them.

"No, no, mate..." George said. "It's just, we've noticed Ginny-girl looking a bit green about the gills, and wondered if you're taking proper care of our little sister?"

Harry sighed, "She's fine, really."

"Marriage... to you... not agreeing with her, then?" Fred asked innocently.

"Look," Harry said in an undertone. "I'm not sure if... keep it to yourselves, okay?"

Fred and George exchanged grins.

"I knew it. I just knew it!" George said.

"What do you mean, you knew it?" Fred said. "I told you, you bloody git."

"Actually..."

"Told who what?" Hermione asked from behind them. Harry threw the twins dark looks before turning.

"Nothing, Mione... They're just arguing again. Guy stuff."

"Hmm," she pursed her lips, her eyes telling Harry that she knew full well he was lying through his teeth. "Ginny sent me to find out what was taking so long?"

Harry turned to see her cola sitting on the bar. He took it and turned back.

"And I'd like a pint," Hermione said, her eyes narrowing at the twins.

"Let me get that for you then, love," George said, stepping up to the bar.

"Thanks, Mione," Harry said, knowing that she would know he was thanking her for distracting the twins.

"You owe me, mister," she whispered. "Big."

"I know," he smiled as he stepped away, taking his wife her drink.

"Everything okay?" Ginny asked as he sat down next to her.

"Fine. The twins were just..."

"Being the twins," Ginny said dryly.

"As always," Harry agreed with a smile.

"Everyone, if I..." Neville began as Fred and George escorted Hermione back to her seat. Harry noticed Ron watching them closely. "If I could have your attention..."

"We're here..." Neville said, "to honor a friend. I... this is...I'm sorry..."

There were murmured agreements around the table. They were only in their thirties, and they'd lost too many friends.

"The five of us... Harry, Ron and I, and Seamus and... and Dean... we spent seven years as dorm mates. And... well... Seamus and Dean..." He glanced apologetically at Ginny, taking in her hand clasped in Harry's. He smiled sadly. "Well, I'll miss them both. To Seamus."

Harry glanced at Ginny. She had tears in her eyes.

"When Dean and I got married," she said quietly. "Seamus stood as witness. I never thought..."

"He's going to be missed," Ron said, raising his glass. "To Seamus."

"To Seamus," everyone responded, raising their glasses.

As they all drank in salute, George sighed, "That boy was death at Charms, but bloody hell, he was a genius at Transfiguration."

Fred nodded, smiling. "I wonder if McGonagall ever figured it out?"

"Figured what out?" Hermione asked. Fred and George turned to look at her.

"You mean, you didn't know?"

"Know what?" Hermione looked uncomfortable. She didn't like not knowing.

"Bloody hell, Hermione," Fred laughed. "You didn't think he smuggled in that firewhiskey, did you?"

"Or anything else, for that matter," laughed George. "He had a reputation for being able to lay his hands on just about anything, but more often than not, it was thanks to his transfiguration talents that he got it!"

"It took him two weeks to get me a French lace bustier once," Lavender smiled, remembering.

"More likely it took him a week and a half to figure out what the hell it was you were asking for and a day and a half to find something no one would miss and transfigure it!" laughed Fred.

"Bloody prat," Lavender smiled fondly. "He charged me fifty pounds for it!"

As they each shared their memories, Harry sighed. Seamus would have loved to be here, amongst his friends, one last time.

"Harry?" Ron looked across at him. "You okay?"

The group went silent, all looking at Harry.

"He stood beside me. In the final battle," Harry said quietly. "I don't know if I would have gotten to Voldemort if he'd not been there. I... I wasn't too comfortable with throwing unforgivables, and there were a lot of Death Eaters around us."

Silence.

"Ron was on one side... my left... about ten feet away, and he was dealing with Bellatrix Lestrange," Harry smiled sadly. "She almost had you, mate."

"Bloody bitch," Ron muttered. "Her and that goddamned Cruciatus..."

He glanced at Neville, then down into his mug. When he looked back, Neville raised his mug to him. Silently, Ron did the same. The two men held gazes for a minute, totally understanding the pain of the other, before turning their attention back to Harry.

"Well, Seamus was on my other side, cursing up a storm, and sending Death Eaters off... at an alarming rate. And then..." Harry smiled. "And then, he yells, 'Come on, Harry, let's finish up with this lot and go find a drink'."

Everyone laughed.

"And then, the self-sacrificing mudblood jumped in to save you, and changed the world." The voice came from the side. The group turned as one to see the tall, slim man standing there.

He was dressed completely in black. Hermione immediately thought of Snape, but then, a much more uncomfortable feeling washed over her. A mixture of burning anger and blind panic.

"Malfoy," Ron stood. "This is a private party."

"Really?" the blonde man smiled snidely. "And here I was thinking that this was a public establishment."

Harry, Lee, Neville and the twins also stood. Ginny put her hand on Harry's arm.

"I suppose that this is a... memorial?" Malfoy sneered, looking down at the rough, stained tabletop and the pints sitting there. "Fitting, I suppose."

"Malfoy," Harry said in a dangerously quiet voice. "If you have something to say, I suggest you get to it. Otherwise, move along."

"I just wanted to congratulate you, Potter," he said in a saccharine tone. "The ministry, I'm sure, will benefit from your... leadership."

"Thank you," Harry's voice was steely. "Anything else?"

"Yes... I suppose now that Arthur Weasley is no longer the puppet..."

"Malfoy, I would suggest you get to it," Ron said. "Otherwise you might be looking upon a return to Azkaban as something... desirable."

Malfoy looked at Ron, his silver eyes piercing.

"Ah, yes, Weasley. Far be it from me to expect to have a conversation with your little... group... without it degenerating into threats of violence."

He turned his pale eyes on Hermione.

"Miss Granger. So nice to see you again. It's been so very long."

Hermione stood slowly. Instinctively, Fred and George leaned back, giving her a clearer path.

For a moment, she considered letting it go. Then, she remembered that night. The look of desperate lust for violence on Malfoy's face as he leveled his wand at Harry's back, the anger and frustration as he saw her jump in front of his spell, the glee as he realized that she would be much easier to control than Harry.

Her eyes narrowed, and she felt her wand in her hand.

"You're still a pissy little tyrant, I see," she commented. "Playing with the big boys in Azkaban didn't improve your outlook much, did it?"

"Still as... biddable... as ever, mudblood?" he taunted.

Hermione sighed, for a moment, looking as though she would back down. Ron's eyes widened. He'd never seen Mione back down from Malfoy.

Malfoy smirked, and it was a mistake. An instant later, Hermione jerked her hand up. Focusing her narrowed eyes on the slim blonde man, she muttered the incantation.

"Invidium mustela furo!"

And, with a look of shock, Malfoy's face began transforming, into that of a ferret. Panicked, his hands moved to the furry cheeks, and he started to curse. But all that came out was a series of high-pitched squeaks.

Hermione lowered her wand, smiling in a very self-satisfied way. "If you leave now, it might wear off in an hour or so. Otherwise, it might be permanent, Malferret."

There was total silence as a very obviously irate Malfoy huffed and hissed, then abruptly disapparated. All eyes turned to Hermione, who merely sat, smiled happily, and took a sip of her drink.

"Mione?" Harry grinned. "Where did you...?"

"I didn't even know that that was possible," said Ron in awe.

"Anything is possible, Ron," she said. "It just took a bit of research to find the proper incantation. He's just lucky I haven't found the bouncing charm yet."

"I can't believe you did that!" Fred whispered. "I can't believe anyone could do that!"

Hermione, sitting back in her chair and crossing her legs, grinned wickedly. "He was long overdue for that."


Three days later, Harry returned from a quick trip to Hogwarts to find Bill Weasley pacing in his office.

"Bill?"

"Harry," Bill sighed. "We've got to talk."

"What's wrong?"

"I've... Harry, I've been contacted by an old... associate. Another curse breaker..."

"Bill, slow down." Harry sat down in the wingback chair as Bill sat on the sofa across from him. "Now, what is going on?"

Bill sighed again, "This morning I got a letter, from Ledwin Murray..."

He stood and began pacing again. Harry ignored it.

"And just who is Ledwin Murray?" Harry asked.

"When I was working in Egypt, Murray was employed by Gringotts Saudi branch. He's... well, he's a curse breaker, but..."

"But?"

"Harry, he's a dark wizard. We never really got on very well, and I always suspected, but... we had to work together occasionally..."

"Bill?"

"He... he says that he has information, Harry. He's been working for Phillip Mahood. He knows about our connection, so he contacted me."

"Information?" Harry enquired.

"He wants to change sides."

Harry's eyebrows rose.

"But," Bill continued. "He'll only talk to you."

"Me?"

"He wants your personal assurance that..." Bill sat heavily. "He's been in the middle east for thirty years, but he's a British citizen. He wants your assurance that if he brings us this information, he won't end up in Azkaban."

"Which is where he belongs if he's had anything to do with this," Harry said, considering.

"Yes," Bill agreed. "But... Harry, what if he's really got something? Something that can help?"

"Do you trust him?" Harry asked, his green eyes piercing.

"Not as far as I can spit," Bill admitted. "But he's powerful enough to be within the inner circle. He's not a blow hard. If he says he's got information, he's got it. It's not that that I would be worrying about."

"What is it that you would be worrying about?"

"His motivation in changing sides."

"Double cross?" Harry asked.

"He's capable," Bill said. "He's slippery, a real piece of work, but I can't help..."

"Being tempted, I know," Harry nodded. "Well, it's not like we've got much to loose, Bill. Tell him I'll meet with him."

"Harry?" Bill looked down at him. "It could be a ruse."

"To get to me?"

"To get to you," Bill confirmed.

"I'll have to be on my guard, then, won't I?"

"Yes."

"If he does have information, Bill, we need it. Things aren't going as well as I would wish. If he doesn't..."

"If he doesn't, I'll kill the little bastard myself," Bill gritted.

"Arrange the meeting," said Harry. "In the meantime, I need to talk to Snape."


To each of my wonderful readers, I just wanted to say... thank you.

Larna Mandrea: Suicide is rarely an easy thing to talk about, especially when you or someone you love has been touched by it. However, as Dumbledore said, fear of a name simply increases fear of the thing itself. We have to talk about suicide to make it something we can deal with and prevent.

Saerry Snape: I'm sorry to hear that your life, too, has been touched by this. As to how I ended the last chapter, who would want to run against The Boy Who Lived?

Shotgunn: Fantastic Beasts and Quidditch through the Ages are both in our library. A bit dog-eared now, but we wouldn't be without them.

Azntgr01: Now, it makes sense. I was born in the year of the rooster. I don't know if that is good or bad.

Merlindamage: Bad fluff taking over the world? Oh, no! Fluff writers unite! As for the suicide/magical world thing... it might be magical, but it's not perfect. And as the story suggests, perhaps the magical world is more like our own, more integrated with our own, than we think.

Texasjeannette: I'm glad that the story is that convincing! I only wish it were real...

James Milamber: Never inadequate, my friend. Keep that cricket bat handy, I might have a job for you later!

Lalaluu: Thanks – I always thought of Seamus as a rather under-utilized character. It might be my Irish background, but I like the thought of a completely irreverent Seamus.

CQ