Chapter Twenty Two: Preparations

"Harry, we need to go into the Ministry this morning," Ron said when Harry entered the kitchen the next morning. Ron was already sitting with his coffee, his empty breakfast plate next to him.

"Thanks, Molly," Harry said as she placed a cup of coffee and a plate of toast in front of him. "Why? What's up?"

"Don't know," Ron said. "I was just about to come up and get you. I just got a call from Bill. He wants us there as soon as we can get there."

Harry took a long drink of his coffee, then stood. "Molly? Ron and I have to get down to the Ministry. Do you think you could put my coffee in a thermos mug?"

"Of course, love," Molly said happily, bustling across to the table to take the mug from him.

"I'll just get my papers, and meet you back in here, if you're ready?"

"Yep," Ron confirmed, snatching a piece of Harry's toast as he stood. "Ready."

Harry raised his eyebrows at the theft, but was saved saying anything by Molly.

"Ronald Weasley! You've had your breakfast! Leave Harry's alone."

"Mum, he was leaving it! We have to get to the Ministry..."

"Don't you speak to me in that tone, young man!"

Harry grinned as he left the room. Molly never changed. For that matter, neither did Ron.

Two minutes later, he returned to the kitchen to find his coffee in a travel mug, and a packet of fresh toast wrapped in waxed paper sitting beside it. He picked it up and grinned wickedly at Ron's nasty expression as he sauntered over to his mother-in-law.

"G'bye, Molly," he said. "Tell Ginny where I've gone?"

"Of course, love," Molly smiled and blushed as he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.

"And thank you for breakfast," he whispered.

"Go on with you, then!" she muttered, blushing again.

"Suck up," Ron muttered as Harry passed him on the way to the kitchen floo. "Brown noser, kiss ass..."

Harry tossed a handful of floo powder and firmly said, "Ministry of Magic!"

Arriving in the great hall of the Ministry building, he stepped out and away from the hearth just as Ron flooed in.

"... bloody prat," Ron continued.

"Watch it, " Harry grinned at him. "Or I won't share my toast."

"You do realize, don't you Harry, that now that you and Ginny are married and..." Ron dropped his voice, "... and now with this... she's going to consider her work with you done, don't you? And you do realize, Harry, exactly what she's going to turn her attention to next, don't you, Harry?"

"Why, Ron," Harry laughed, holding out a piece of his toast to him as they walked through the building to Harry's new office. "One would almost think she had you running scared."

"You're bloody well right I'm running scared!" Ron said. "With good bloody reason. You know what she was telling me before you walked in? Do you? Go on, just give it a guess!"

Harry raised eyebrows at his friend. "I'm sure that I couldn't begin to fathom, Ron, the workings of Molly's mind. Please, enlighten me."

"She was bloody telling me that neither Hermione or I were getting any younger!"

Harry snickered. Molly was nothing if not blatant in her subtlety.

"And?" he asked.

"And?" Ron's voice was deceptively quiet. "And? Does there need to be a bloody 'and', Potter?"

"Good morning, Minister," the young witch behind the desk outside his office door smiled.

"Good morning, Ramona," Harry said. "Bill Weasley..."

"Already inside, sir. Mr Charles Weasley is with him."

"Oh," Harry was surprised. "Thank you. Could you arrange some coffee?"

"Already done, sir. And an assortment of pastries as well. You'll find them on your credenza, sir."

Harry looked at her, in awe. "Ramona, remind me of this when it's time for a raise, will you?"

"Yours or mine, sir?" she deadpanned. Harry laughed, shaking his head and heading into his office.

He sauntered into the largish room followed by Ron, who was still grumbling.

"Good morning Bill, Charlie."

"What's put you in such a good mood this morning?" Charlie said through a mouthful of danish.

"Oh, I don't know..." Harry smiled, reaching for a muffin.

"The fact that you've managed to get our sister knocked up wouldn't have anything to do with it?" Ron grumbled, reaching for the pastry tray.

After surprised congratulations, Charlie turned his attention to his youngest brother. "So, what's your problem there, Ronnikins?"

"I..."

"He's just concerned," Harry laughed. "That now that Ginny and I are 'settled' that Molly is going to consider us... done, and be on the lookout for a new... project."

"Ah," Charlie said, nodding understandingly. "Running scared."

"You're blood right," Ron grumbled, mumbling something more that no one caught.

"What was that, Ronnie?" Bill said.

"I said, mind your own bloody business, unless you have a way to get that damned terrier who is our mother off my back about marriage!"

"Oh, that's easy," Harry said dismissively. The three Weasley men present turned disbelieving looks on him.

"Really?" Ron said sarcastically. "So, what's the solution, Sherlock?"

"Easy," Harry sat down at the long table. "Admit you're in love with Hermione, beg her to marry you, and produce a baby or two."

Ron began to choke on his pastry, and Charlie burst out laughing as Bill banged poor Ron on the back.

"Bloody hell, Harry! Don't be saying things like that!" Ron choked.

Harry shrugged, "Hey, it works. Bill, you wanted to see us? Ron said it was urgent."

"Well," Bill sat across from his still fuming brother. "We got a letter this morning."

"This morning?" Harry said, glancing at his watch. "It's quarter to eight, Bill. When, exactly did this letter come?"

"It was delivered by hand to the security guard on door duty."

"By whom?"

"They don't know," Bill admitted. "The guard in question was obliviated."

Harry and Ron glanced at each other.

"So, what does the letter say?"

"I don't know, Harry," Bill said quietly. "It's addressed to you."

Harry held out his hand and Bill produced a small envelope. Before handing it over, he said, "Harry, it's been checked for curses. I checked it myself..."

"So?"

"There is... well, there is some spell on it that I can't identify. And it's blocking whatever is inside."

"Blocking?"

"I can't tell if there is anything dangerous inside. I've never seen a blocking spell like this before."

"So?"

"So, I would suggest that you allow me to open it for you."

Harry's jaw clenched angrily at the suggestion. "Like hell, Bill. Give me the letter."

"Harry..."

"Bill, the day that I knowingly allow someone to put themselves in danger to protect me is the day I hand it all in, got it?"

"Yes," Bill agreed. "But let me have my wand out and ready."

Charlie and Ron both pulled out their wands, as well. Harry sighed and stuck his letter opener in the envelope to slit it open. They all tensed as a blue light played out of the opening.

"An identification charm," Bill said. "Making sure that it's you who opened it."

"And how could it tell?" Ron asked.

"Someone has gotten hold of a piece of Harry," Bill said matter-of-factly. "A hair, something. It would be required for that charm."

Harry opened the envelope and slid out a double thickness of very expensive stationary. Unfolding them, he saw a scrawling script.

Mr Potter,

If you are reading this then you did nothing silly like allow one of your minions to open the letter. If anyone but you had opened this, the scene would not have been nearly so pretty.

My name is Phillip Mahood. I know you know it... my Lord Voldemort was very impressed with your mental abilities, and the knack for getting into his mind and rooting about was one of your less endearing qualities, so far as he was concerned.

I am writing to you with an offer. I am aware, as my friend Mr Murray has not returned with his report, that we have been very unfortunately misled about your abilities. Rest assured that I shall not make that mistake again. I hope to please you with the news that Mr Malfoy has, as well, learned his lesson with regard to underestimating you.

My offer is this: join us, and the magical world and all who live in it, be they muggle, mudblood, wizard or squib, will live with nothing to fear from me. Join your power with mine, and we shall dominate the world, as we were meant to.

Should you choose to not take advantage of my generous offer, be aware of the consequences. There will be no mercy for those who do not bow to me.

I realize that your defeat of my Lord Voldemort may have given you some false belief that you can defeat me as easily. Rest assured, this is not a possibility, but even if it were, and even if you somehow managed to succeed in destroying me, you are intelligent enough to realize that events have been put into motion in the muggle world that will not be easily stopped. If at all.

You cannot win, Harry Potter. Your choice is to join forces with me, or die. I give you until midnight to choose, and would ask that you send your answer with Ledwin Murray. Mr Murray and I have some unfinished business that I would like to take care of by tomorrow.

Sincerely,

PM

"Well, hell," Charlie commented after Harry finished reading aloud.

"Harry?" Bill said, looking at the pale man beside him.

"Bill, I want you to bring Murray here."

"Harry! You're not...?" Ron began.

"Don't be a prat, Ron," Charlie spat, "Harry's not going to do anything stupid."

"No, Ron," Harry said quietly. "I'm not going to send him back. But Mr Murray doesn't know that. Charlie, I want McGonagall, Snape, Lupin, Hermione, the twins and your parents here within the hour. Ginny, too."

Harry hadn't moved from where he sat. He stared at the wall, thinking, as Bill and Charlie got up to leave.

"Harry?"

Harry turned to see Ron watching him closely. "Relax, Ron. It's okay."

"Harry, this isn't good."

"No," Harry laughed. "But it's a lot better than dealing with Voldemort. This one feels the need for retribution, Ron. He has a weakness."

"Oh?"

"He wants Murray back."

"So?"

"So that tells me that Mr Murray knows more than Mahood wants told. His coming here was a ruse, just like Bill thought it might be. The information on the planned attacks was supposed to lure us into a trap. Now that that didn't work, Mahood is panicking. He expected us to let Murray go, he didn't expect us to suspect the information. He underestimated us."

"And?"

"And, I would not want to be a Malfoy right now," Harry said softly. "From what Murray said, they got their information from Draco... and you know how Voldemort rewarded ineptitude in the ranks."

Ron winced. He knew all right. Snape's accounts were colorful, to say the least.

"Damn," Harry muttered, reaching for his phone. "I need Luna here..."

Two minutes later, Luna Davis walked through the door into Harry's office. "You're lucky you caught me, Harry. I was just leaving the building."

"We have a situation, Luna." Briefly he filled her in. "I want you to sit back and observe, and act like a lawyer."

"Huh?" Luna looked at him, clearly confused.

"Just follow my lead," Harry said in an undertone as Bill led an obviously upset Ledwin Murray into the room.

"I demand...!"

"Mr Murray," Harry said in a firm voice. "My use for you is lessening by the minute. I would suggest you not give me any further reason to be rid of you."

"Potter! I demand you release me!"

"Very well, Mr Murray. But might I suggest that you listen first to the letter I received from your... employer... this morning?

At that, Murray stilled. There was wariness in his eyes as they darted between Harry and the gorgeous blonde to his left.

"Letter?" Murray asked.

"Hmmm," Harry confirmed. "The gist of it is that he's made me an offer, and wants an answer today. He wants me to release you into his... caring custody, and allow you to carry my answer to his generous offer with you."

Murray choked, clearly distressed.

"I have no doubt he'll let you live long enough to get it out of you," Harry said dryly.

Now he paled.

"I really don't see any other way to get the answer to him. Luna, what are the legal implications of handing Mr Murray over to Mr Mahood?"

"Well, that would depend, Harry," Luna kept a straight face and Harry blessed her Ravenclaw background. "We don't really have any official record of Mr Murray being in our custody, so technically we wouldn't be responsible for handing him over to anyone..."

"You can't..."

"Is there any other way to get the response to Mr Mahood?"

"I don't know of any. The guard who the letter was delivered to is still in St Mungoes..."

The guard was in fact, Harry knew, laying on the couch at his home watching Fulham FC get their pants kicked by Liverpool. He'd check in with HR just before Luna arrived.

"It's unknown the extent of his injuries..."

"Yes..." Harry said, looking lost in thought.

"I... you can't send me back there! Not now!" Murray said, distraught.

"Well, Mr Murray, I'm sure as hell not going to risk one of my people to save your sorry ass..." Harry gritted, "Do you have a better suggestion?"

"Yes," If anything he looked even more upset than before.

"Oh?"

"I...I can tell you how to find him."

Harry smiled in a way that the women in his life would never recognize. "Please, do tell."

With a gulp, Murray spilled his guts.


Within the hour, Charlie had rounded up the people Harry wished to see and had them all in the larger meeting room off of Harry's office.

"What on earth is this all about, Potter?" Snape snapped at him as he strode through from the other room.

"Severus," Harry nodded. "Nothing much, I just felt like letting you know that we may have what we need to destroy Phillip Mahood. If you feel you have more pressing business elsewhere, please, feel free to leave."

Harry stood, staring down his old Potions professor who, occasionally, still required bringing down a notch or two.

"I apologize, Harry," Snape said. "I was in the middle of a rather... delicate... potion when Mr Weasley called."

"Apology accepted," Harry said. "I understand. But I would appreciate it if you would consider, in future, that I don't call emergency meetings for no reason."

"Harry," Minerva said from the other side of the table. "What is this all about?"

"A letter came from Phillip Mahood this morning, making an offer to us. He has offered safety to the magical world in exchange for our... allegiance."

Several snorts and gasps were heard.

"I intend to answer him in a way that leaves no doubt as to where we stand," Harry said in a steely voice. "Please, everyone, sit. By rights, as Minister, I can't ask this of any of you."

He sighed, sitting down. "The people around this table right now are the ones I trust implicitly. Each of you have proven yourselves again and again. Your actions have always been in the best interest of our world, and you've all shown unwavering loyalty to me. I find myself asking you now for... far more than I feel I have the right to ask for."

"Harry..." Lupin began.

"Please, Remus, let me finish," Harry said tiredly. "I know where he is, I know how to destroy him. I also know that there is no way he'll be lured to us. We must go to him. What I am asking for now is volunteers to go with me."

There were gasps and everyone seemed to speak at once.

"You are not going!" Ginny stood.

"Ginny, I have to," Harry said. "I don't think he's anywhere near as powerful as Voldemort, he's shown too many weaknesses. But I thought in the beginning that he was far more powerful. The truth is, I could be wrong. And I won't send Aurors into a situation like this. I've got the power to fight him that others may not."

Ginny stared hard at him, "Harry..."

"I have to, Ginny."

She sighed, "I know."

"I'm with you, Harry," Ron said from his left side.

Harry turned to his friend of so many years. "I knew you would be."

"Hey, can't split up the golden trio, now can we?" Hermione piped up, although Harry could see the tears in her eyes. "I'm with you, if you want me there."

"Are you sure, Mione?" Harry asked.

"Are you kidding?" she laughed with little humor. "Where else would I be but standing with you and Ron?"

"Count me in," Neville spoke up from the back of the room. "Mr Mahood and I have a score to settle."

Harry nodded his thanks. Despite the other mans obvious lack of enthusiasm for fighting, Harry couldn't remember a battle that Neville hadn't stood with him.

"Well, we can't mess this up, now can we? I'm in," Luna said dryly. "Looks rather like another team from a few years back, doesn't it, Harry?"

"Harry..." Ginny said, looking into his eyes, her own full of pain.

"Ginny, I want you to stay. The girls need you. Our..." He left the rest unsaid.

"Yes," she agreed, the look on her face telling him that she was torn.

"Well, I'm happy to take Ginny's place on the dream team," Charlie said.

"No, Mr Weasley," Snape's voice was cold. All eyes in the room turned to him.

"Excuse me?" Charlie said, turning to glare at the professor.

"I said, no. There are already far too many members of your family heading off on this little... mission."

"I don't see how..."

"I will go," Snape stated firmly.

Harry turned to look fully at him. "Severus?"

"I am an accomplished duelist, Potter. Besides, I am acquainted with Mr Mahood. We met during my time with Voldemort. It may be disconcerting for him to see me. It might give us a moment of advantage, the element of surprise."

Everyone in the room was silent, waiting for Harry's decision.

"Charlie, Bill... I need something from you two that you will be better able to do from here. Sev is right, with Ron and Hermione and I going, there is no reason to make your parents... and Ginny... worry any more than they already will.

"Sev, I would be glad of your assistance with this."

Snape nodded.

"I have the information on where Mahood will be for the next two weeks. I would suggest that we all take a couple of days to prepare. I would like to speak to each of you individually, but for now, I suggest that we prepare ourselves to go Dark Lord hunting."


"For Merlin's sake, Ron, I'm perfectly capable of doing this on my own!" Hermione said as they apparated with a pop into the kitchen of Potter Manor. "When are you going to let me do it on my own?"

"When I'm sure you won't splinch yourself," Ron snapped back. It was then that he noticed Ginny watching them, amused, from where she stood leaning against the kitchen counter. "Ginny."

"Ron," Ginny greeted gleefully.

"I... I have to talk to Harry," Ron said.

"In the den," she grinned saucily.

"Ginny...?" Ron appeared hesitant to leave the room.

"Yes?"

"I... nothing, just..."

"Harry's in the den, Ron."

"Yeah," Ron swallowed, leaving the room with a glance over his shoulder.

"By all that is holy, Ginny, I swear I could kill him!" Hermione huffed.

"Oh? Why is that?" Ginny turned amused eyes back on her friend.

"He won't let me apparate alone! He says that I'm not ready and might splinch myself. He's got to hold my hand, or stand with his arms around me..."

"And you hate that," Ginny observed dryly.

"I don't hate it," Hermione blushed.

"Oh?"

"He's... oh, Ginny, he's just so frustrating I could scream!"

"Hmmm," Ginny nodded understandingly. "You hate having him touch you and he makes you want to scream. I'd suggest you just stay well away from him, Hermione."

"I can't..." Hermione realized what she was about to say, and wisely shut her mouth.

"I mean, you two are constantly bickering. It's obvious you can't stand each other."

"I... I can stand Ron, Ginny," Hermione said softly.

"Oh?" Ginny said, sitting down and indicating that Hermione ought to do the same. "Just how do you feel about my brother, Hermione?"

Hermione sighed and pulled out the chair across from the redhead. "I just... he's just so bloody annoying. Sometimes I just want to slap him, but..."

"But?" Ginny inquired.

"But other times, I just want to kiss him senseless," she muttered, dropping her head onto her folded arms on the tabletop with a groan.

"Well, I don't see the problem, then," Ginny stated. "As that feeling seems to be mutual."

"What?"

"The kissing senseless bit. Ron's nuts about you."

"He is not!"

"Oh, he certainly is! Why else would he insist on putting his arms around you every single time you apparate?"

"That's just so I don't splinch myself," Hermione said dismissively.

"Really?" Ginny smiled wickedly. "That's funny."

"Why?" Hermione looked at her, puzzled by Ginny's response.

"Because, Hermione, there is no such thing as splinching. You can either apparate, or you can't."


"You can't let her go, Harry!" Ron paced in front of Harry's desk.

"Ron, I can't forbid her to go, she's one of us. Would you let me forbid you from going?"

"Hell, no, but..."

"Hell, no, nothing. She's one of us, and she's responsible for making her own decisions."

"Ginny is one of us, too, but you told her to stay!"

"Ginny is my wife, Ron. She's carrying our child, she has our children to consider. Hell, I have to consider them, Ron. Ginny is needed more here."

"So you're just going to let Hermione go, then?"

"Unless she's pregnant by Thursday, yeah, I am."

"I..." Ron spluttered., turning red to the roots of his very red hair.

"Is she pregnant, Ron?"

"I... I wouldn't know."

"Ah, well, you'd better find out, then." Harry said lightly.

"She's not ready for this, Harry."

"She was top witch in our year, Ron. She's the smartest woman I know. She's not going to walk into this blind."

"She still hasn't remembered enough!"

"Like the fact that there is no such thing as splinching yourself?" Harry asked, amused.

Ron turned an even deeper shade of red. Harry wondered absently if it was possible for someone to blush so hard they passed out from lack of oxygen to the brain.

"Ron, if you have things to say to Mione, I would suggest that you get them said. They're doing neither of you any good going unsaid. And I dearly wish I could forbid Mione from going, but I am absolutely certain she'd hex me into next week if I tried."

"She's not ready," Ron asserted. "She's not strong enough yet."

"She might just surprise you, Ron."

"Harry..."

"Ron, she faced down a Dementor and a Death Eater alone and kicked butt on instinct before she even knew who she really was. My money is on her."

"Harry," Ron said quietly. "I love her."

"Then tell her that."

"I can't," Ron said miserably.

"Why not?"

"I... Harry, we don't exactly live safe, normal lives, you know?"

"So?"

"I can't endanger her."

"She's part of this, Ron. She's already in danger."

"What if I tell her, get her to stay here, and then I don't come back? What then?"

"Then, at least she knew you loved her," Harry shrugged.

"But..."

"Look, Ron," Harry laughed. "You're talking to the wrong guy if you want me to say you shouldn't say anything. Look at me. I pushed Ginny away for her own safety and lost her for eighteen years. I have to live with that for the rest of my life. I have to look at her children, whom I love with my entire soul, and know that another man fathered them because I was an idiot. Don't do it to yourself, Ron. The two of you have lost too much time already. Don't lose more if you can do something about it."

"What if..." Ron said quietly. "What if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"I don't think that there is much danger of that, mate. However, if that's the way it works out, then at least you know."

Ron sighed, looking out the window. "I'm thirty five years old, Harry. Why do I still feel like the sixteen year old who couldn't get up the courage to ask her to the Yule Ball? Why is this still so hard?"

"Because you love her," Harry said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "If you didn't give a rat's ass about her, if she was just another of the many, many women you've... enjoyed... over the years, it would be easy."

"Not that many," Ron denied with a hesitant smile.

Harry snorted, "Compared to me, mate? Yours was a regular shag-fest."

"There was plenty of opportunity presenting itself to you, oh great Voldie-slayer, as I remember it."

Harry smiled ruefully, a little sadly. "They weren't Ginny, Ron."

"Ewww! No," Ron shook his head as though trying to clear his mind. "No, no, no! Harry, do not speak of shagging and my sister in the same breath..."

Harry laughed.

"God, Harry, that's a mental image I just do not want, okay?"

"She's..."

"Don't!"

"Okay, Ron, so long as you agree to never, ever, talk to me about Hermione's... talents. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Ron said, blushing when he realized what he'd just said. "Harry?"

"What?"

"How am I going to do this?"

"I would suggest the direct approach, Ron," Harry responded dryly. "Less room for misunderstanding and you two need all the help you can get."

"What do I do if Ginny is there?"

"Kick her out?" Harry grinned.

"Well," Ron stood. "I guess there's no time like the present."

He gulped nervously as he walked out of Harry's den and down the hall towards the kitchen.

"Hermione, I want to tell you..."

"No," he muttered to himself. "No, no, no!"

What on earth was he thinking? You didn't just walk up to a woman and tell her you loved her. In Ron's experience, that would be a sure-fire way to get your face slapped. Women liked you to work up to things.

This required some working up to. Dinner, dancing, maybe a film or theatre tickets... candlelight.

Time.

But time was something they didn't have. He could be dead by Friday. And he refused to face death with this still unsaid between them.

Stiffening with resolve, he pushed the kitchen door open and strode in, to find his sister and Hermione sitting at the table, staring at him with rather... guilty?... looks on their faces.

"Ron?" Ginny said hesitantly when she saw his expression. "You okay?"

"Ginny, you're my sister and I love you..."

"Thanks, Ron." Ginny looked confused.

"Now get out," his eyes never left Hermione's face, so he missed the look that Ginny shot him. Surprised, she stood and with a last glance at Hermione, left the room.

"Ron?" Hermione watched him, looking concerned.

"Hermione, I have some things I need to say to you, and I'd appreciate it if you just let me talk and didn't interrupt because if you do I'll probably never be able to say it.

Hermione was stuck between wanting to lamb-baste him for presuming to tell her what to do and curiosity about what it was he wanted to say.

"Okay," she said slowly, reserving judgment.

"Eighteen years ago, you were my best friend. Before the final battle, I wanted to say some things to you, and I didn't. I've... I've been relieved over the years that I didn't get to say those things, because if I had, and you had said them back, I'd never have rested until I found you.

"When you came back, it was easy to put those things aside, because you didn't look like my Hermione. For a while, I actually believed that my feelings had changed. But the more I got to know Maura, the more I recognized you in her. When Harry changed you back, I really... it really hit me that you were Hermione. I guess, until I saw you as you are now, I didn't want to believe it. Since then, I've realized that things have never really changed for me.

"We're facing something Thursday that... well... I don't want to face without finally telling you..."

"Tell me what, Ron?" Hermione asked quietly.

"That I love you. That I've always loved you, that... I fell in love with you when I was eleven years old and you told me I had a dirty face, and since then, it's only grown stronger."

"I love you, too, Ron," she smiled gently.

"No, Hermione... I mean, I love you like... like Harry loves Ginny, like Bill loves Janie. Like my Dad loves my Mum."

Hermione stood and walked over to him, placing her hand on his chest right above his heart.

"Ronald Weasley, I love you. I love you like Ginny loves Harry. I love you like Janie loves Bill. I love you like your Mum loves your Dad. Only more."

"You do?"

"Of course I do," she said, tears running down her cheeks. "How could I not love you? My Gryffindor lion."

Ron pulled her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her, "Mione..."

"But we are going to have a discussion about splinching," she whispered into his ear before kissing him senseless.


Okay, okay, I know. REALLY long. I guess I should have cut it into two, but this is how it was written, folks!

James Milamber: As always, my dear, you've got me rolling here. Just the kind of laugh I needed today, too – I thank you. Tell Jonas and Milamber they can seek refuge over here if necessary, and that their comments, too, were appreciated!

Merlindamage: Well, I wouldn't say "monster"... but we'll see.

Shotgunn: Well, we'll see about that due date! As for the R/H thing... was that good enough for you?

Azntgr01: Well, I'm supposed to be a bit tenacious... but self-involved, too. I don't know if that is a good thing or not. Hmmm. No, to the early riser thing... well, not by choice, anyhow! Do NOT be sad, I'm already contemplating a prequel... or a sequel!

Larna Mandrea: I raise my glass to you! Thanks again for your encouragement!

Saerry Snape: Malferret... you've got to have the ferret reference in ANY HP fic involving Draco. Come ON!