Chapter 6
Ministry Oppression

Breakfast was finished and everyone started for his or her first class, Harry and Hermione had, for the moment, stopped flirting and looked around at the still snickering students, both were wondering what they were snickering at. Harry smiled at Hermione as he got up to make his way to his classroom. Hermione looked back at him slyly with her head slightly tilted down with her hair partially obscuring her face. Harry was going to have a class of 1st years for his first time in 13 years… other than his kids anyway. Hermione, on the other hand, had Potions… Harry frowned slightly as he made his way to the doors. He wished that Hermione had a closer class so they would pass each other more frequently; he was really enjoying his and Hermione's flirting. His mind didn't have room for thoughts about Dark Lords and Dementors; his mind was otherwise occupied from breakfast. Harry quietly slipped into his classroom just before allowing his students to enter; as he looked back, Hermione passed on her way to the dungeon, she smiled slightly as she delicately pushed her hair behind her ears and winked at him; Harry smiled back and looked down for a moment, while trying not to laugh, he was really enjoying the game Hermione had come up with. With everything going on; he had almost forgotten that life did have its fill of fun and joy. Harry realized that maybe that's something he had forgotten during the past few weeks; life was full of happiness, you just had to create it, not wait for it to come to you. That had been the mistake Harry had made during his 'studentship' at Hogwarts; he didn't help himself, he waited for something good or bad to come to him. His and Hermione's flirting had told him that; he hoped Hermione was going to keep it up for a while, it was a really wonderful distraction when he couldn't get his mind off everything he was having to deal with at the current time… although, to be honest, now he was having a hard time getting it out of his mind. He smiled as he thought about the birth of his triplets, which had also been a wonderful distraction. This was mainly due to the fact he loved kids, every one since his first, Lily, he was enjoying his kids more and more. Even this new war in Harry's life couldn't distract him from that; it was for this reason he even bothered to fight it at all, other than Hermione of course. Harry smiled slightly; he was really looking forward to the end of class now; he wanted to return the favor to Hermione. Although, he had to stop his thoughts and attempt to teach his class, albeit he was still feeling very distracted. To make matters worse; Hermione started showing up at random moments about half way through his class and smiled at him again in a playful way.

Jay gave Harry a frustrated look, "Dad, pay attention!" James half whispered and half shouted at him as his mind once again went blank during the middle of an explanation about Expelliarmus, just as Hermione… happened… to walk by the classroom for the seventh time in the past half hour bouncing her hair and smiling softly at him. Harry's face went slightly red; he felt like a young kid again, this was so much fun, but he also had to teach. He realized Hermione meant to distract him from teaching. Then Harry remembered he was currently in his first years' class. Jay and Lily were giving him the Look. Harry turned his attention back to class trying to remember where he had left off before Hermione had distracted him… again. Although, Harry had to admit to himself he was and was still enjoying it, but Hermione distracting him during class was enjoya… unacceptable. Harry smiled at his first thought, "Let's start practicing; select your partner and begin," he said quickly realizing he wouldn't regain his train of thought he figured that going into a practical exercise would spare him the embarrassment of having to explain it from the beginning.

Lily looked slightly amused, and bemused in her slight smile, "Umm, dad?" whispered Lily, "You explained what it does, but not how to do it." Harry gave her a confused look, "In other words; tell us the spell!" she said quietly in response to his confused look.

Harry went slightly red in embarrassment, "Now, try to disarm your partner by aiming your wand at them and shouting, 'Expelliarmus'," he commented.

Lily and Jay both rolled their eyes while smiling and turned to each other to begin. Lily drew her wand gracefully from under her cloak, "Watch out!" she cried.

Jay turned to see a mal-aimed charm heading right for him, fast, time slowed down as it approached, Jay quickly muttered under his breath and a shield sprang out in front of him, time resumed its normal pace as it hit Jay's shield. Jay's shield rippled with power as the spell was absorbed.

The first years looked amazed, Harry merely looked amused, "Wow!" said all the goggling first years.

Lily gave him a look that said 'show off!'. Jay smiled and mouthed a 'thanks' to his sister.

"Where'd you learn that one?" asked one of the first years.

Jay shot a grin at his dad before answering, "From my dad!" All the first years looked more excited then they were before, if this was indeed possible, and began again with extreme fervor. It was not the last time either Jay or Lily had to dodge a mal-aimed spell from the other students; instead of practicing, they offered pointers and help to the other students, not as much out of kindness but… self-preservation. Jay and Lily both admitted to each other that they would have been less scared if the students were aiming at them, instead of their partner. All the students appreciated the help; as did Harry, who realized that there wasn't nearly as many of him as would be required of him to help all the students as they should be. He smiled at the thought of a human duplication spell to help out; then maybe he could distract Hermione during class…

He noticed towards the end of class his kids had done a wonderful job with helping their classmates; he would have to compliment them before dismissing the class. Harry finally glanced up at the clock again after helping a pair of his students, it was at an end… he almost sighed in relief but stopped himself in time. "Before I dismiss you," called Harry, then he waited for his students to give him their full attention before continuing, "First of all, I want to thank Lily and James for helping me run the class; then for next class, read chapters 4, 5 and 6; that's all, have a good lunch!" Harry watched as his students all filed out talking excitedly about how much they had improved in such a short span of time. Lily and Jay didn't leave with the others; as soon as the classroom was empty Lily and Jay ran up and hugged their dad. Lily looked at the ground a moment, "Thanks dad," she said as she looked up shyly. "It's good to know we're appreciated," finished Jay without the slightest hint of embarrassment. Harry smiled gently at them as he hugged them back, "You guys have no idea how important you are to me," he replied kissing both of them, "Hurry, you don't want to miss lunch, do you?" Both kids looked at each other, then turned to their father and continued to look at him suggestingly for a few seconds before Harry took the hint, "Oooh, okay, " he smiled, "I'll get mum and meet you two out by the lake… why don't you call your siblings too?" Lily gave her dad an innocent smile that turned into an evil grin, "Just don't get caught up snogging mum," she said her evil grin dissolving into giggles. Harry looked slightly embarrassed but chuckled and hugged his daughter again, "I'll try to keep it to a minimum," he answered.

"Do you think he will get caught up snogging mum?" asked Jay seriously as they walked up the stairs in the opposite direction of their dad.

"Probably," answered Lily, "From the way they're acting."

Jay sighed as he hung his head, "I hope they don't get caught! I can imagine the teasing before classes…" he commented.

Lily smiled slightly at her brother, both slightly irritated at his attitude towards their parents, and faintly giggly at the thought, "Ah, shut up Jay, I'm glad they are, at least they don't fight a lot," she replied, "The only thing they occasionally fight about is us."

Jay's head shot up in a split second, "Hmm?" he asked, "What do you mean?"

Lily looked at her brother curiously, "Well, dad usually doesn't want to forbid us to do anything that's not dangerous," answered Lily, "But he isn't going to cross mum; sometimes those two conflict, although, dad tries to compromise or give into some restrictions rather than an outright 'no'. You know that!"

"Yeah, now I know to what you were referring. Dad also likes to let us make small mistakes," replied Jay.

"Helps us learn," finished Lily as they approached their parents' room.

Jay opened it as he gave his sister a mock bow, "After you!" he said teasingly. Lily smiled quietly before rolled her eyes and holding her head high trying to look stuck up as she passed her brother, but when she was right beside him, she turned her head quickly, crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue at him. Jay started laughing uncontrollably as Lily resumed her position of head held high. Jay couldn't stop laughing, it was rare Lily did something so 'childish', but she was fun occasionally.

"Good one Lil," said Jay between laughs.

"Come on guys!" called Lily completely ignoring Jay, "Mum and dad are waiting for us outside!"

All the kids came running, or carried, as the case required, Jay suppressed a chuckle for a moment,"Or snogging," he whispered.

Lily barely managed to keep a snort of laughter under control, "Then we'll deal with that as it comes," she whispered back, "I'll go look for them if they're not outside."

Jay groaned slightly at the possibility of someone catching his parents, "I just hope no one else catches them," he commented.

Lily smiled lightly at her brother, "I'm sure they know all the good snogging spots," she teased.

"That's what worries me, so does everyone else," replied Jay returning her smile with a idiosyncratic one.

Lily sighed inaudibly, "If they're not out there, I'll go look for them okay?" she said.

Jay couldn't help but crack a smile, he may not have heard her sigh, but he knew she was about to become moody as she always did when she thought he was being unreasonable with their parents, or had a 'boyish' attitude towards relationships, "They're not Lil, you know that as well as I," he commented.

Lily wasn't going to hide her temper from Jay much longer, "Give it a rest James!" she snapped, "If they aren't, then I'll go find them, in an hour, they are adults, not to mention married; if they want to snog each other silly, they've got the right!" Jay gave a small smile, deciding whether it was worth it to get her to argue, Lily was just starting to get in the 'mood' Jay really liked to tease her in.

He adopted a façade of innocence, "Ohhh, I'm sure they have the right to snog each other silly, but how responsible is it to do that to your children?" he asked. Lily flushed slightly, and Jay could see the anger in her eyes, "Ooo," she started, "Not responsible is it?! I'll have you know it's better they snog then fight!" Jay hid a smile as he held the door open for his siblings before exiting himself, "Perhaps, but at least them fighting is interesting to watch," he replied. Lily's face dropped, "WHAT?!" she nearly screamed at him. All the other kids, Jay included, started laughing so hard they fell on the ground. "G-g-got you!" Jay gasped out between laughs. Lily growled and scowled at him, not much unlike Hermione did to Harry occasionally and stalked off. "Wait Lil!" called Jay as he ran after his sister still panting from his laughter. Lily was too angry to listen to her brother, "You guys obviously don't take me seriously," she snapped. Jay shook his head, "You're right, but we love you!" he replied. "You love me?" asked Lily her body completely ridged and she yelled, "THEN YOU WOULD TAKE ME SERIOUSLY!" Jay hugged his sister regardless of her trying to push him away, "I do, I just like to tease you occasionally. Like you do to me," he said quietly into her ear. Lily still looked livid, but sighed and gave up, "Fine," she said still sounding upset. "You know I love it when you get this way," snickered Jay, "You are sooo cute!" Lily gave him a degrading look, "Sure," she replied, "Just wait until you get yours Jay." "Come on guys!" yelled Jay as their siblings attempted, once again, to get up after their fit of laughter, "Let's hurry up!" Dumbledore watched them as they passed, looking extremely amused, Lily felt his mind attempting to search theirs. Lily and Jay stared back immediately; Dumbledore looked at them in surprise, their thoughts didn't betray them, he could clearly see that they hid nothing. Yet something behind their gaze told Dumbledore there was more behind it, although their minds were blank. "That was close," commented Jay, "I'm glad I studied Occumlancy with dad before coming here." "Yeah, me too, that does come in handy," replied Lily as they approached the great double doors that guarded Hogwarts from the outside. Lily stopped and looked behind her, something was bugging her, something that was near or at the wall. But she dismissed it for now; they were running late… if there was such a thing when she knew her parents were probably off snogging somewhere. She sighed at the look her twin gave her, questioning, "I sense something, we'll check it out later," she said in reply to his questioning look.

They arrived outside under the willow tree that extended its branches over the lake, their parents were no where to be seen… not that this surprised anyone, especially Lily and Jay, "Stay here, I'll get them," said Jay with something between a snigger and a sigh, "Probably off snogging somewhere…" Jay gave a fake sigh, "Parents these days… I'll tell you."

Lily gave him a degrading and scathing look before rolling her eyes, "Whatever," she said with something akin to disgust.

Jay smiled at her playfully, "You know I'm playing around anyway; want me to help you find them?" he asked.

"Sure, we can track them more easily together," replied Lily, "Let's go, you guys stay here."

All their siblings rolled their eyes, "Okay," replied Linda for all of them.

Lily and Jay watched as their siblings head for the lake before turning towards the castle, "Do you have a bad feeling about this?" asked Jay feeling uneasy.

Lily looked slightly perturbed, "Hmm, let's hurry up and find them," she replied as she broke into a flat out run.

"Don't worry too much," said Jay as he caught up with her breathing hard, "There are others out here too." Lily stopped a moment inside the castle; she got the same feeling again, but quickly suppressed it and ran for her parents' room, Jay lagging somewhat behind but caught up quickly.

Lily knocked impatiently on their parent's door; there was no response, "Errr," she growled and pushed the door opened, she looked around to find it empty; then commented, "Dad promised he'd keep it to a minimum."

"Yeah… right," replied Jay, "If your b/f… if you had one, wanted to go off snogging, would you refuse?"

Lily gave Jay an indignant stare as her neck went stiff, "YES," came her reply, she sounded an awful lot like younger version of her mother, Hermione.

Jay snorted, "I'm sure you would," he responded sarcastically, "I have no doubts."

Lily looked around before sighing, "Come here Jay," she said quietly this time.

"What?" asked Jay as he approached his sister.

"You want to find them, don't you?" she asked. Jay sighed and looked his sister in the eye, they both felt their minds merge and all their memories and discoveries pooled into their, now, completely merged mind. Lily/Jay turned their attention towards finding their parents; a difficult prospect for most, but this wasn't the first time they had done this. 'Search out their emotions… there are so many…eww, not there… let's look elsewhere… Ah, there, do we feel them?'

They both broke their connection and sat down breathing heavily, "That's what tires me out when we fight Dementors," commented Lily.

"Yeah, it takes a lot to maintain that," replied Jay getting up and helping Lily do the same.

"Let's go get them!" said Lily, then she grinned evilly, "I got an idea…" she whispered fervorently to her brother.

"LILY! That's mean! I thought you were the one that thought it's cute," said Jay with a face full of disgust.

"Well," replied Lily haughtily, "If you want them to continue this…behavior, then I guess we can let them."

"Yuck, okay, okay," agreed Jay quickly, following Lily as she stormed out. They headed towards the Great Hall, but before they reached it, they turned and went across from it; Lily opened the broom closet and slammed it shut. Jay heard a squeal and he started snorting with laughing, he attempted unsuccessfully to stop himself as their parents emerged looking sheepish, their mother had slightly disheveled hair… so did their dad, but that wasn't unusual.

Lily looked livid, "You two were supposed to meet us outside!" she said with a forced calm then all calmness disappeared with her next words, "HALF AN HOUR AGO! Here I find you in a broom closet? Just what are you two thinking?!"

Hermione giggled, "Well young lady, if we didn't snog so much, you twowouldn't exist," she commented.

Lily went a furious red, "So just because if you two didn't…" Lily trailed off and went redder, if at all possible, "…snog so much we wouldn't exist is an excuse for acting like a bunch of hormone ridden teenagers?!"

Hermione giggled again, "Yep, you bet!" she replied hugging Harry.

Harry, who'd been silent during the exchange now started chuckling, "Embarrassed?" he asked lightly.

"Just a bit," answered Lily.

'Imagine if Filch caught them…' whispered Jay as he tried to hold back tears of laughter threatening to break loose in a torment, 'Reaches in for a broom… and pulls out dad, or better yet, mum.' Lily burst out into giggles.

"What?" asked Hermione nonplussed, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Lily managed to get out between giggles.

"Oh, come on you two!" said Lily as she mastered herself and started dragging her parents out onto the grounds.

They found the grounds in an utter state of panic, everywhere spells flew and students were running and screaming. Lily and Jay, along with their parents, were extremely worried as they ran to check on their kids, but they weren't to be seen where Lily and Jay had left them Harry looked towards the forest and saw the Aurors retreating towards it, Harry knew immediately what was going on. The Minister had threatened his kids, but apparently he hadn't gotten the message that Harry was more than capable of finding them and punishing their kidnappers. Harry looked towards the Disapparating Aurors. Harry, Hermione, Jay and Lily started reviving the fallen students to discover the Aurors had indeed taken all their kids, except Lily and Jay. There was a lot to digest, Lily and Jay felt extremely guilty for leaving their siblings alone for such a protracted period of time, even if it had been to find their parents…

Lily and Jay knew that their dad was going to be extremely angry… although, not at them, but at the Minister. They wanted to go with their parents and help, "I knew it was the Minister… I warned him…" snarled Harry, "Does he think me unable to defend my family?"

"I'm sorry dad, we shouldn't have left them," said Lily downcast.

"Hey guys, don't blame yourselves, you wouldn't have been able to do anything anyway, if it is as we suspect and Aurors took them," comforted Hermione, "Harry, let's go get them."

Harry looked at Hermione for a moment, "I know Harry, but I'm fine," she replied with a smile.

"Wait for us," commented Jay. Harry smiled slightly, although his kids had been kidnapped, there was one thing they could never take away from them, that was their closeness.

"FAWKES!" Harry called. A puff of smoke and flame appeared along with a swishing gold and red plumage and beautiful screech.

"The kids have been kidnapped," Harry said in Phoenix language, "The Ministry took them most likely. This guy is worse than Fudge, and I didn't think that possible!" Fawkes looked livid; Harry switched to English, "Guys…" Harry, Hermione, Lily, Jay and Fawkes all disappeared into flames.

The Minister hummed as he strode into his office; confident in his knowledge that, soon, Harry—indeed Harry Potter no less, would be at his feet. Begging him for Aurorship in exchange for his own children.

He stopped short as he entered the room, surprised to find his guest chair occupied. By a Phoenix. The Minister was honored, and perhaps slightly frightened, by its compelling presence; the rarity of which was unspeakable. The numbers of the Phoenix had dwindled since the ancient days, when they had lived freely in large groups. Or alone, as guardians of the men fortunate enough to procure their friendship… The only one now known in existence belonged to Dumbledore—But this was not his.

The plumage on this ancient beast shamed that of Dumbledore's Fawkes. Flaming red and burnished gold that gleamed without any aid from external light. And eyes whose crimson flame pierced and burned so that the Minster could not look at them long without pain… The growing pang of fear in his breast caught suddenly in his throat. This was too human, too real, for any mere beast… And there was an anger in the molten rubies of its eyes that was beyond any he had ever seen, a passion that surpassed his own weak comprehension and belief—a rage he would never understand.

"Hmm… Have you a message?" Minister Amilstua's nervousness flowed through his vainly suppressed tone. The Phoenix considered him a moment, head cocked, eyes aflame as another appeared almost noiselessly behind him. It lighted softly and settled on the perch that materialized beneath it.

The air in the room was now thick with a mixture of uneasiness and hostility. Their menacing gazes set to flight the arrogant thoughts he had had only minutes before. They now seemed a foolish eternity ago. And he knew he would never have them again.

The elegant monster in front of him looked furious. But that wasn't possible.. Was it? Minster Amilstua backed away, easing himself in the direction of the open door. He turned to face the flaming beauty perched above it, but the Phoenix didn't move; only looked on with an air of content fury, if it were capable of such a thing.

He inched along the wall toward the door, his escape was inches, miles away…

He leaped off the wall as the door burst into flame. Thinking he had escaped. White hot flames consumed the wooden frame. Threatening even now to set his cloak afire. The Minister shuddered, backing away from what had been his only means of survival, his only gateway to reality; this was a dream. Indeed, and fast becoming a nightmare.

His face contorted and streaming with sweat and fear. He backed away from the searing heat of the burning door. The flames flickered. Dying with his final step to the center of the room.

Cautiously, he slipped around the chair that held the first Phoenix, toward his desk, clutching for a piece of paper and a quill. Knowing that, if this Phoenix set the desk afire as the first had the door… He shuddered at the thought…It would kill him.

To his relief and amazement, it did nothing of the sort.

Quickly, he scribbled a note for the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The Minister's hand shook as he wrote, and he could only hope that it was legible enough. This was more than strange, and far beyond terrifying—This was potentially deadly….

He muttered a spell as he sealed the note, flicking his wand at the page. It's sides began to flap and it headed toward the door. The Phoenix tracked its floating progress a moment with its fiery eyes before it burst into flames. A flame-licked hand reached out and snatched the note before it could pass. The paper was reduced instantly to ash.

The Minister backed away in horrified surprise.

"W-w-who… Who are you?" he cowered. Speaking to a Thing completely enveloped by a white cloak, and bearing a mark the Minister did not recognize. The figure blazed with an internal fire that seeped through its skin and clothing, with eyes that held the deepest red of flame. It stared at him with the same menacing glower it had held as the form of a Phoenix.

"You were warned…" It hissed softly, in a voice more frightening than a shout, and as mortifying as a scream. The figure began pacing. The other was now behind him, a petite, shapely thing.

"Who are you?" The Minister shouted. "I- I'll have you…" His eyes lit as fury mingled with his fear. "Arrested! …Guards!" With a single wave of his hand, the figure silenced the Minister, forced him into a chair, and sealed the door.

"First of all: you will listen to me." The figure's voice made the Minister's skin crawl. He hadn't a choice. "When I am finished, you will know who I am, and what I am capable of. And you will learn what folly it is to cross me." Amilstua's eyes widened as the figure's tone dropped. "I don't believe you've had the… occasion… to suffer the wrath of the Phoenix…. Or mine." The figure paused. "Strange creatures, the Phoenixes are… One of the more interesting, unregulateable, animals-they hide their true power. Only an animagi of its form may know its full potential." The figure's voice was of a cold that more than rivaled both the Shadow's and Voldemort's. The Minister had lost control. He was not sure how much more of this he could take. "Perhaps, a demonstration?" It asked. "Fawkes?"

The room exploded. Suddenly the Minister found his office had become a blistering inferno of hellish flames. The walls festered and burned like living tissue. Heat radiated, permeating and enveloping the room with devilish pleasure, as though the flames themselves were conscious. Minister Amilstua could feel himself sweating.

But he was wrong in believing that as terrifying.

Another eruption.

A flaming Phoenix head appeared, inches from his face. Its hot breath choked him. Its wrath pulsated against his being, trying to regulate his breaths with its rhythm. He gasped, straining to breath and drowning as he fought it.

In spite of his struggle, he noticed that the figure seemed unaffected by the change in temperature. Likewise the lithe being behind him; who stood, watching serenely as though this were not an unusual occurrence, but actually quite the opposite.

"Wh-wh-what do you want?" The Minister quaked and stuttered. Hardly used to the irregularity of breath that had so quickly become his normality.

"For you to understand one thing…" The figure stated, seemingly disgusted by the cowardice of this 'powerful' man. "I will not have mercy on kidnappers." It sneered. "I don't care if they are low-grade scum of humanity—or the very Minister of Magic" Sinister sarcasm covered Amilstua's title. "…Who happens to be the scum of humanity." The figure paused. "If you ever attempt to kill, hurt, or kidnap any of my descendants again…" It seethed, flaming eyes threatened to destroy the Minister's very soul. "I will destroy the Wizarding World… Understood?" The figure hissed… The Minister flinched, then his eyes widened in recognition…

"H-h—" The Minister of Magic shook himself, anguish and fear consumed him. "Harry Potter?"

"I will destroy everything you have built up. Everything! …Do I make myself clear?" Harry's eyes blazed as he nearly screamed from two feet away. The Phoenix in front of him loosed a diabolical note, its searing breath still robbing him of oxygen. His eyes closed, watering under the intensity of the heat.

"Y-you don't have that much power!" He snapped, in spite of his visibly broken spirit.

"Yes…I do." Harry growled. A snarling, sweltering, consumingly heated screech emanated from Fawkes as he closed in on the Minister, less than an inch from his face. "This…" The figure began, somewhat matter-of-factly. "Is how a Phoenix fights, there is no defense, no counter spell, no hope—against us…" Harry snarled, as he and Fawkes disappeared within a burst of flames. The petite figure in the background stood motionless.

"He may just have threatened, O Minister," It said softly, ending with an indiscernable hint of sarcasm. "to destroy all that you have built…But I tell you now: I can make sure he won't have even the chance." This one was different, almost comforting—for a moment. "…I can prevent it from ever being built." It paused. "Do not try to touch my children again, coward." It voice did not threaten, but spoke calmly and gently; both stating a fact and making a request in hopeful prevention of regrettable consequences. The Minister gawked, wide eyed, tortured, vision blurred and eyes still streaming beneath the oppression of the heat.

"How could you keep it from being built? It has already been done, and you haven't a time-tuner… You haven't the ability to change what already is! For that, a time-tuner is necessary, all of which are under heavy guard." Suspicion at its tone, and curiosity as to the figure's means filled the Minister's exhausted words. He had nothing immediate to fear from this somewhat delicate creature, his underlying desire was simply to know how she meant to accomplish such a feat.

"How is my business." The figure stated. "But I don't wish it to come to that." It paused. "You will leave my babies alone, clear?" An almost inexpressible menace had crept beneath the softness of its tone, but perhaps it was his imagination…

"Who are you?" The Minister breathed.

"I am…" It thought a moment, flames still enveloped the room and his body still quaked horrifically. "No one of consequence." It answered. "If you leave my children to me…" The figure's voice followed the assured calm of its face, the Minister found it almost comforting. "Do you understand, Minister?" It uttered gently tilting its head slightly to the side.

"Yes." He was mesmerized by its voice and demeanor, so much so that he could not refuse.

"Good…." She glanced into the distance before returning her gaze to the pitiful being that the Minister had become. "We have them now. You are never to come near them again." It finished quietly, disappearing into a cloak of flame.

"Never…" The exhausted Minister echoed, trailing off.

Lily and Jay collapsed on their beds, "That was hard, but it's getting easier don't you think? That was a new record for us," commented Lily.

"Yeah, but I'm exhausted and we still have classes… good thing we know most, if not all, of it already," said Jay in a almost happy tone, "At least mum and dad taught us more than the Seventh years before taking us here."

"Well, everything considered, mum and dad did that for our and our siblings protection and safety, from now on; one of us should stay with them," said Lily.

Jay frowned slightly, "Umm… I…" he started but Lily interrupted.

"I don't like to separate from you either," she answered before he could finish, "But it's necessary, it will happen sooner or later anyway, I don't think our partners would want us living together…" Lily dissolved into giggles.

"Oh, give me a break Lil, you know as well as I do that's a long way off," said Jay rolling his eyes, "You should know that better then me! Besides, I was trying to ask something else."

"So?" Lily said between giggles, "That doesn't mean I can't tease you about it! What fun would it be not to?"

Jay gave a mock sigh, "Of course…" he replied, "Lil, sometimes you can be so annoying, you know that?"

"Of course I am… Jay, I'm your sister, that's an occupational hazard!" she replied as she started giggling harder.

Jay sighed, "That's for sure," he commented then added in a serious tone, "Now, I was trying to ask you…"

Lily sat up and looked worried, "one of us should stay with our siblings… or parents?" Lily and Jay both burst into laughter, it was a funny thought; they would have to watch their parents.

Jay finally mastered himself and asked, "Aren't you even going to ask where we found them?"

"Sure, tell me," Lily replied with a sudden air of extreme sudden interest.

"Well, mum and I Apparated to where we sensed them," commented Jay suddenly got off track, "… I can't believe she just took our word for it."

"Jay, stick to the story," replied Lily easily.

"Okay, fine," Jay shot back playfully, "When we were in front of the Ministry building, our kids were no where to be seen of course, but when we went in, you should have seen mum's face, she was ticked, she… convinced a guard to tell us where our kids were and we went up there, but instead of finding them, they were fighting the Aurors that were guarding them… and winning! Mum was so proud! It was funny when… remember Evan setting fire to the carpet? Well, he did that to an Auror's wand… a couple in fact, it was great I couldn't stop laughing! You should have seen their faces… a mere baby setting fire to their wands without a second thought or even a wand." Lily giggled along with her brother at the thought of the shock, not even 'pure-blood' babies could do that… here was a muggle-born baby doing what a pure-blood couldn't. Only strange thing was that we couldn't put them out, May did that… don't ask me how, but she did, then Jarod threw them down the hall with a near tornado, it nearly pulled us along with it. Then all the others were wonderful as well, mum and I didn't even have to get involved, we let them take care of it since they could anyway! Bethany and Brent hit a couple of them with something… no idea what, I'm still analyzing their use of our language… and the energy signature, it was strange… a mixture of a curse, jinx and counter … I'm still trying to figure out which ones, but it had a great effect, one turned into a half-cow that sprouted broccoli heads out his… its ears along with a small…change… I'm not sure how to describe it, almost like a half… hippogriff, or something of that nature, it was weird."

"What color was it?" asked Lily on the edge of her bed.

"It was sort of a mixture of black, white, purple and blue," replied Jay, "But somehow, it wasn't mixed it was four separate colors in one… cloud."

"Sounds like a transfiguration/curse/jinx/counter, most likely a cow/hippogriff half-transfiguration mixed with a growth curse, and a broccoli sprout jinx. Then mixed with the counter of jelly-legs," commented Lily.

Jay looked shocked, "How'd you come up with that so fast?" he asked.

"Oh, I recognize it," replied Lily with a smile.

"From where?" asked Jay racking his memory.

Lily gave him an evil smile, "I'm not going to tell you!" she replied.

"I'll find out sooner or later!" commented Jay with an equal evil grin.

"Perhaps," said Lily playfully, "Perhaps not…"

"Lil! Tell me!" Jay playfully snapped at her.

"Okay, okay, I came up with it a few days ago, don't you remember?" Lily replied.

Jay thought for a moment, but then it occurred to him, a conversation Bethany and Lily had;

"Yeah, I know, I've been trying to come up with something that St. Mungo's won't be able to reverse without my help," said Bethany. "Well, how about a transfiguration, curse, jinx and counter mix?" replied Lily. "What would you suggest?" asked Bethany. "Oh, well there's one I can think of off-hand. Try a combination of Hippogriff-cow transfiguration, growth curse, broccoli sprout jinx and counter of jelly-legs," replied Lily. "What's the effect of that?" Bethany asked. "Oh, they sprout broccoli out the ears, then the growth curse causes it to meld with the host DNA…" started Lily. "Okay, STOP, what does it DO?" asked Bethany. Lily rolled her eyes and smiled slightly, "It humiliates them," came Lily's answer. "Okay, that sounds good, now how do I do it?" inquired Bethany eagerly.

"Hmm," said Jay quietly, "I forgot about that! Thanks for reminding me."

"Hmm," repeated Lily mocking him, "We share all our memories… yet you still forget it…"

Jay laughed, "Okay, you got me, I had a male moment!" he replied jokingly. They both laughed and headed for their next class… transfiguration.