Chapter Thirteen: Christmas Day II

"Do you think it could be...?" Hermione turned horrified eyes to Harry. "Harry?"

"What is it?" Malcolm said. "You know this person?"

"Malcolm..." Harry paced. "Gregory Goyle was a... friend... of Malfoy's when we were in school. There was also a girl in their group by the name of Millicent Bulstrode... Millicent's prospects weren't exactly... wide. Nor were Goyle's. Both of them being names we know, along with the Nott family involved, and in that area... I think that David's school or some place in the nearby area might be the headquarters of the group we've been looking for."

"In the bloody Cotswolds?" Ron breathed. "Harry..."

"Where better, Ron? Hilly country, lots of tiny villages... lots of tourists coming and going... where better to hide than in plain sight?"

Bill cleared his throat, glancing at Harry, then over at the children.

"Yes..." Harry nodded. "Right then. Ginny, Hermione, Tonks, I want you to take the kids back to the Manor..."

"Harry!" Hermione turned shocked eyes on him. "Where are you going?"

"Nowhere, Hermione," Harry said calmly. "We'll be right behind you, but I need to speak to Malcolm for a few minutes. Bill, if you could round up the others and send them on back, Ron and I will meet you back there, in say, ten minutes?"

"Done, Harry," Bill turned and headed out the front door. Ginny and Meg holding the twins and Tonks and Hermione each with a hand on Mary and Maddy, disapparated with a pop. Harry noticed David and Susan looking on in awe.

Harry turned back to Malcolm and his family.

"You are more than welcome to come with us," Harry said. "You would be safe, but I can't promise you that you would be able to return to the... muggle world anytime soon."

"What?" Malcolm turned and looked at him, his eyes clouded.

"Malcolm, we spoke earlier, and you know the situation. But I had no idea about David's school at that point. I have no idea of why they are concentrated in that area. I don't know if it's just a coincidence, or if they know about David's relationship to me..."

"We just won't send him back there," Marion said, rather desperately. "He can go to the village school this term..."

"If he suddenly disappears from school, and they are watching him, and they do know of his connection with me, they have all the information they need to come after you," Harry said.

"So what, we just send him back into the... into the lions den?" Malcolm said.

"Malcolm... you need to do one of two things. Either accept that it is simply a coincidence, and send David back there, or leave here entirely, and come with me to Potter Manor."

"Harry..." Malcolm sat down. "We have a life here..."

"Malcolm," Harry sat down across from him. "That life wasn't going to last much longer, anyhow, if they know who you are and where you are. You're exactly what they want to use as examples. People with connections to the wizarding world, with adolescent children."

Malcolm looked at him, his pale blue eyes frightened, but determined.

"Harry, I can't leave right now," he said. "I can't... my parents left a lot of debts, and I'm just now getting them paid off. I may be wrong, but I can't just up and leave in the night and leave those things undone. We've just started to get back on our feet, and..."

Harry sighed, closing his eyes. How to make him understand?

"Malcolm..."

"No, Harry, I understand what you're saying, I... I do. Really," he swallowed. "But I can't leave right now."

Harry nodded. This Malcolm had changed dramatically from the child he had known, and Harry understood that this man's self-respect had been hard won, especially after the childhood he had led. He could understand Malcolm's reasoning, but somehow he had to make him understand...

"I know I have no right to ask this of you..." Malcolm swallowed again. "And I wouldn't blame you if you told me to go blow... but...will you take Marion and the children? I will... I'll get things settled here. I'll say I've been offered a position overseas... and Marion and the children have gone on ahead... Harry, please, take them and keep them safe?"

"No!" Marion cried. "I'm not leaving you, Malcolm. I'm not!"

"Marion..."

"I'm not!" she said furiously.

"Harry..." Malcolm turned pained eyes to him. "I'm sorry... I'm asking you, please take David and Susan. Marion won't leave... I know her... she won't now that she's said so, but take the children and keep them safe. I'll call you as soon as... as soon as I've settled up here."

Harry nodded. "I'll position some security..."

"No," Malcolm said. "It would only draw attention to the street."

"No..."

"You're telling me that you can detect magic, but they can't?" Malcolm looked at his cousin.

"I don't know, Malcolm. I don't know how powerful..."

"Exactly," Malcolm said firmly, then turned to his wife. "Marion, go and pack a bag for the children. Quickly."

As Marion scurried from the room, David and Susan following at their father's command, Malcolm turned back to Harry.

"Harry, I should be able to make the arrangements to sell the house and take care of what business I have to within the week. I'm going to try to persuade Marion to go to you, but I doubt I'll be able to..."

"We could just take her," Ron suggested.

Malcolm looked at Ron doubtfully, "And how long have you been married?"

Ron flushed.

"No, Ron," Harry said quietly. "It has to be her choice. Ginny would kill me if..."

"Hermione, too, I guess," Ron agreed. "But if it's for her own safety..."

"You don't know Marion," Malcolm smiled sadly. "I pity the Death Eater who chooses to take her on."

Harry sighed. Malcolm really didn't have a clue if he believed that.

Their return to Potter Manor was done quickly after another very loud and emotional conversation with Malcolm's wife. Harry had stood back and watched the dark-haired woman as Malcolm tried to convince her to go with Harry and the children. She adamantly refused.

"Are you telling me," she asked her husband, her narrowed eyes taking in his flushed face and obvious frustration. "Are you telling me that you don't expect to get out of this?"

"No, of course not..." Malcolm said. "I'd be with you in a couple days..."

"Then there is no reason for me to not stay with you, is there?"

"Marion..."

"I made a vow, Malcolm Rivers... I made a vow to stand by your side till death do us part. Your mother told me that I'd never last it, that I would never be able to stand next to you for the duration, that you needed someone stronger..."

"She was wrong!" He said. "But..."

"Absolutely, she was wrong," Marion agreed quietly. "But if I run now, leave you now, what would that prove? It would prove her right, Malcolm. And you know I'm not the person she made me out to be!"

"So you'll risk your life because of what some batty old woman said? She's dead, Marion!" Malcolm said angrily.

"It's got nothing to do with her," Marion said. "It's got everything to do with me. I don't run. I never have. And I am true to my word. Not for anyone else, but for me. I thought you told me that I taught you that?"

At this, Malcolm was silent.

"Now, Harry," Marion turned to him, handing him the quickly packed bag. "Protect my children."

Harry looked into her dark eyes and saw an enviable strength there. He reached out, took the bag, and then placed a hand on David's shoulder. "I will, Marion. I promise."

A moment of understanding passed between the two of them, and Harry nodded. Marion stepped forward, hugging each of the children in turn, and then turned back to Malcolm before they could see the tears in her eyes.

"Let's call the estate agent, then, shall we? We have work to do."

Ron held out his hand to Susan, who shyly took it, and with a pop, they were standing in Harry's study at Potter Manor.

"Oh, dear!" Molly rushed forward to them, pulling the children into her arms and hugging them tightly. Harry looked up to see Ginny and Hermione there, as well. As he put the bag down on the floor, Bill apparated with a pop into the room.

"The others are all on their way... what's this?" Bill looked at the children, who were looking mildly frightened, and reacting to Molly's comfort by nestling in closer to her. Susan had her face buried in Molly's ample bosom.

"Malcolm and Marion will be coming as soon as..." Harry sighed. "They had to make some arrangements before they came. I need the Order assembled, Bill. Preferably within the hour, but until then... I think those of us who are here need to be brought up to speed?"

"Done, Harry. In the meantime, I'll try to get some information on Nott..."

Harry turned to Ginny, who now had her arms around David. Susan was still buried against Molly.

"Ginny, Molly... can you get the children settled? And find a room for Malcolm and Marion... I hope they won't be long, a couple of days at the most."

"Of course, love..."

"Susan? David?" Harry squatted down so he was just below eye level with the boy, and looking directly into the green eyes of the girl.

"Sir?" David said quietly.

"You're safe here. I promise you that. If you need anything, you just ask. Understand?"

"Yes," David nodded.

"Yeth," Susan said quietly. Harry noticed the lisp and smiled.

"You're safe here," he said again, not knowing what else to say. He glanced up at Ginny, who smiled softly down at him, then took the children's hands and led them from the room.

"They're safe," Ron said. "But Marion and Malcolm..."

"Why wouldn't she come?" Hermione asked.

"Wouldn't leave Malcolm," Ron explained. "I suggested just apparating her, but..."

"Ron!" Hermione turned horrified eyes to him. "You didn't?"

Ron flushed again, and Harry chuckled. "The only thing stopping him was the thought of your response to it, Mione."

Hermione turned furious eyes to her new husband, but before she could say a word, the door opened, admitting the other Weasley men, Ginny, McGonagall, and Snape.

"The others are on their way, Harry," Charlie said.

"Bill?" Harry enquired, not seeing the eldest brother in the group.

"He said something about going to the Ministry. I'm sure he'll be right back," Charlie said. "Harry, what the hell happened?"

"In a minute, Charlie," Harry said.

At that moment, Bill apparated with a pop, and with one look on his face, Harry knew they had even bigger problems.

"What?"

"Harry, our trap has been sprung," Bill said.

"What?"

"Three ministry officials have responded to our... test." Bill looked at him meaningfully. Harry swallowed. "Two escaped, but we have the third in custody."

Three ministry officials have been found to be spies? Harry thought, What next?

So this time we get a shorter chapter. I just write 'em folks!

Saerry Snape: Yeah, I figured it was time to get back to the suspenseful bits...

Elise: Happy surprises are good... there might be a few coming, we'll have to see!

Pdlegirl: I like twists... I think there might be one or two left!

Merlindamage: But you LIKE it when I hit you with stuff from left field! I KNOW you do!

James Milamber: You know me too well, my friend!

Larna Mandrea: Yes, scholarship money would be a motivator... I just hate standardized testing because... well.. even the name "standardized", I guess. Ticks me off. Ah... sorry, rant over now, really! Thanks again for your lovely comments... and I'll try to remember... long chapters, good, long chapters, good...

Shotgunn: Yes, you're right... I'm playing with canon! I had a strange dream last night. You sent me some trees for safekeeping. Weird, I know. Poplars, I believe. Probably just too much caffeine... it happens.

CQ