Liz did wake Harry for breakfast, and Harry found the kitchen positively buzzing with whisks, griddles, and juicers operated by invisible hands. French toast, bacon, sausage, and orange juice were on the table, fresh and hot (except the juice, just fresh!). Harry and Liz spent that day, and every other day, doing normal things: reading the post, feeding the owls, doing their summer studies, finding new and fascinating ways to make messes around the house, leaving them for the invisible hands to clean. They explored the house and grounds, went horseback riding, had broom races, and practiced Quidditch. They even watched TV and played video games. Liz pointed out, that among all muggle creations, TV's and video games were among the most useless, yet the most addicting. At night, they'd go up to the observatory to look through the telescopes, read, or sometimes just lie on the floor and look up at the infinite vault of sky, stars, and moon above them. Sometimes Vivian would join them, sharing stories, memories, and dreams. Weeks passed, and June became July before their routines were interrupted.

The Daily Prophet, which had taken to kissing Harry's butt no matter what he did, published an interesting letter to the editor. It started out vague, criticizing the Ministry for allowing "foreigners to engage in Ministry affairs", but soon came to attack Liz's family history, and even Liz herself, saying "surely her return is like the return of You-Know-Who's own right hand". Liz made a face as she read it aloud and threw the entire paper in the fire.

"Something getting under your skin, Liz?"

"Only a little. And didn't I see some Hogwarts' letters in the post somewhere?" she asked, digging though the pile. "Ah-ha! There y'all are!" She snatched the envelopes from the bottom and tossed one to Harry. They tore into their envelopes and read silently for a few moments. "So, you need to restock your potions kit, buy new books, new quills, stuff like that, right?"

"Yeah, that sounds about right."

"Nice. I love shopping! What can I say? I'm such a girl," Liz admitted sheepishly.

"Diagon Alley, then?"

"Mais bien sûr, my friend, but of course. Grab your list, the limo awaits.

The ride into London seemed to take no time at all, and the Leaky Cauldron was a sight for sore eyes. They quickly passed through the entrance to Diagon Alley, and the suspicious stillness was replaced by the sounds of the bustling marketplace. The two looked at each other and nodded, heading straight for Gringotts. After retrieving sufficient spending money from their respective vaults, Liz and Harry made their way back out. Just as they reached the door, a mass of red hair caught Harry's eye.

It was the Weasleys, Ron and Ginny, but not with either of their parents. They stood next to a skinny, red-haired man, with a tone of proud indignation Harry recognized right away. It was Percy. Ron had written Harry that Percy had come home, after realizing his mistake in judging his family. He recognized a fault when he saw one, always the calm and often the rational one. But Percy seemed to be quickly becoming upset over a dispute with one of the goblins at the front desk. Harry touched Liz's arm and looked in the Weasley's direction. "C'mon, maybe we can help," Harry suggested, leading the way. Liz followed behind, raising her eyebrows in interest, ready and eager to throw her weight around. As they approached, Liz and Harry could hear an edge to Percy's voice as he fought a loosing battle to stay calm.

"But sir," Percy contested, "I have the key and a letter signed by my father, authorizing me to make a withdrawal from the account!" His calm was rapidly disappearing, but he still maintained his rationality.

"I'm sorry young man, but unless one of the principle account holders is present, no withdrawal can be made, key or no key, letter or no letter." The goblin didn't even look up from his papers. Percy sighed and turned to leave.

"Do you not trust the man? Is that the problem?" Liz challenged. She looked unconcerned, casually examining her nails, but her voice defiantly offered a challenge.

The goblin seemed quite confounded, but whether at the question or the questioner was not apparent. He stammered for a response, "Why, Miss Gwydion-"

"Because," Liz interrupted as if the goblin hadn't even spoken, "I can assure you that this young man is honest and is telling you the truth. I can vouch for him one hundred percent, and will personally reimburse the account if the fault is mine. Hence, I suggest that you take young Mr. Weasley to his parents' vault right away." She looked up only then, daring the goblin to force her hand. The goblin hesitated only a moment.

"This way Mr. Weasley, quickly. And bring your key." Percy cast a thankful glance back at Liz and she smiled and nodded, accepting his thanks. As Percy and his escort vanished down a hallway, Liz turned to Harry, Ron, and Ginny. She grinned girlishly.

"My, my! That sure was fun, wasn't it? And it is so perfect that we ran into y'all! I need to go handle some… business, I guess, and it would be terribly boring for Harry to have to tag along. Could he shop with you until I can catch up? I'll meet you in about an hour at, oh, ninety-three Diagon Alley?"

"You- you're- you're Elizabeth Gwydion!" Ginny stammered. "I've heard all sorts of things about you!" Her eyes widened in amazement. Liz rolled her own.

"Who hasn't these days? Half of it is flat-out lies, and the other half isn't even half as outrageous as the truth. So, one hour then? Number ninety-three?"

"Sure, " Harry answered, "an why do you want to meet at the Weasley Twins' Joke shop?"

"Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes? Why not? I might as well check up on my favorite investment as long as I'm here," she winked at them and sauntered out the door.

Ron still had his jaw dropped to his knees, and was staring vacantly at Liz as she walked away. "Harry, if You-Know-Who's right hand looks like that, give me the Dark Mark right now!" Harry hadn't even thought of it that way, but Liz was striking. And to think that Harry had been living with her for over a month, and none of this had occurred to him.

"Yes boys, " a patronizing Ginny cut into their trance, "girls do exist for a purpose other than hair pulling and other torments. Seriously, you guys act like you've never seen a girl before!"

"Not one like that," Ron mused. Once the boys recovered from their swoon, Harry and Ron discussed normal things, like their summers, and their classes, Liz's image still lingering in the backs of their minds. When Percy returned, the three updated him on the plan, and they were off. Both Ron and Harry were intrigued and a little disgusted with the supplies required for their sixth year potions class. Finished there, they went on to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes to catch up on some fun and wait for Liz.

Relieved to be able to run her next errand alone. Liz made her way to Ollivander's Wands. When she opened the door, the bell above tinkled, bringing Mr. Ollivander out of the shelves. Liz smiled. She remembered this man and this shop from years ago when Vivian had brought Liz here for her first wand. "Elizabeth Morgan!" Mr. Ollivander exclaimed, "I remember when you were four years old, you would barely let go of your mother's hand to test your new wand. Four and three quarter inches, willow, with unicorn hair. A big wand for such a little girl as you were. Not so little now though. Running with the Ministry now, I hear."

"Only jogging really."

"You know, I always found that wand an odd fit for a child as young as you were. It was a sad wand, but willow and unicorn are a common pair in Seeing families. Now, you must have had another wand since then. What brings you to me?"

"My last wand was willow, eight inches, and well, even I can't circumvent some regulations. The Ministry has restrictions on human body part cores other than hair. Mine was the rib shard of a Voodoo queen, hence the problem. So, here I find myself."

"Willow, eh? I sense a pattern. Try this: willow, nine inches, unicorn hair. A classic." She took the wand. Nothing. It felt as cold as stone in her hand.

"No. I can never use willow again," Liz murmured. "I need something else, Mr. Ollivander. Willow is too… suggestible. It's too easy. I need something strong. Something steady." Mr. Ollivander approached her and got very close. He stared into her eyes, their noses nearly touching.

"I know what you need," he whispered softly. Mr. Ollivander rose and retreated far into the back of the store. When he returned, he carried an old, worn, black box. "Ebony and phoenix feather, nine and a half inches. Strong, dark and light. It's yours." A shower of black and gold surrounded her. Then, as soon as it had started, it subsided.

"Perfect," Liz smiled. She paid Mr. Ollivander and left without saying another word. She made her way from there to the joke shop.

"Why hello, most distinguished guest!"

"Oh, mistress-of-the-bottomless-bank-account, greetings!" Fred and George met Liz with their standard taunts. Liz laughed and joined in.

"Boys, boys, don't forget, I am expecting a twenty percent return on this place, or you lose your thumbs. All five of them."

"Ladies, gentlemen, and other patrons of this fine establishment, this is our most benevolent, generous, benefactor Lady Elizabeth…"

"Morgan…"

"Nimue…"

"Cornwall…"

"Gwydion! Make way for the Lady, make way!" Trumpet imitations followed as the twins escorted Liz about the store.

"Very cute boys. Things going well it seems." Amidst the conversations and jokes, no one noticed a hunched woman slip in the front door.

She drifted around the edge of the store for several minutes before a quick flash of her face caught Liz's eye. Liz acted as though she had seen nothing, but slowly made her way towards Harry. She still smiled as the woman's actions became more calculated and deliberate, also closing her gap between her and Harry. Liz got there first. She leaned to Harry and whispered, "Get down, Harry. NOW!" Liz yelled as she shoved Harry to the floor, quickly dropping herself. A red blast narrowly missed, slamming into the shelves behind them. "Percy! Fred! George! Help!" Their wands were already at the ready, but before they could get a single spell off, the woman screeched a laugh and disapparated with a loud 'pop'.

"What in the bloody hell was that?" Percy yelled.

"Bellatrix Lestrange, the one and only." Liz helped Harry up, shoving aside boxes scattered by the blast.

"How did you know? How did you know to warn me?" Harry asked, picking cardboard shards out of Liz's hair.

"What?!?" Percy looked ready to loose it. "You knew who it was and you didn't attack on sight?!?"

"You try blasting off a stunner with a wand you're had for thirty minutes! I could have taken out you! Or Ron! Or Ginny! That would have been loads of fun!" She proved her point by summoning a broom and watching it miss her by and arm's length. She strode over to where the broom now laid on the floor, picked it up, and started sweeping without another word.

The twins hung their closed sign and the wizards and witches cleaned up the store, returning it to a general level of normalcy. Fred and George were used to messes in their shop, and Ginny proved to be quite adept in reorganizing the disrupted shelves. When they were all finished, Harry and Liz made for the door. Liz felt someone grab her hand. It was Ron. "Don't beat yourself up over it. The rest of us didn't even notice."

"I could have hit her, Ron. I know I could have."

"Then why didn't-"

"Because I was scared."

"Of what?"

"Of killing her."

"But you didn't."

"… Yes."

"You know, Harry didn't kill Peter Pettigrew when he had the chance, years ago."

"It's different for me Ron."

"Somehow I don't think it is."

"That's because you've made one large mistake. Unlike Harry, I'm complicated. I'm not a good person exactly." And she left.