Disclaimer: No rights to the story, but I'll take my tacit approval to write whatever I want and run with it!


Chapter 37- Here, There, and Everywhere…

The March sunlight streaming into the Gryffindor common room made Ron long to be outside instead of slogging away at Divination. Trelawney's assignment was to keep a dream diary for a week, and then use Unfogging The Future to interpret them. Ron was currently writing down Wednesday's dream. Observing him,his girlfriendfrowned,

"Ronald, aren't you supposed to write down the dreams each morning after they happen? It's only Sunday. Therefore, you should have only one night's dream written in the journal."

Hermione was so cute when she got all lecture-y. He grinned,

"If all my dreams are like the one I had last night…you should be glad that I'm making ones up instead of telling how we went skinny-dipping in the lake…"

Blushing, the girl glanced around. Thankfully, Harry was too engrossed with a History of Magic essay to have heard Ron's confession. She hissed,

"We were wearing underwear…there was no nudity involved." Her face turned scarlet when the boy at the table without freckles pointed out amusedly,

"So that's why my mate didn't invite me along on that midnight stroll."

She sputtered, "Um…Harry…"

"That's okay…I didn't want to see Ron's underwear. I might've had a nightmare about it and only think what interpretation the book would've put on that!"

Harry's eyes were bright with mirth. It was nice to see him looking so relaxed, so…happy. If only a Slytherin girl wasn't the cause for it. Hermione glanced at Ron. He nodded encouragement. She tried to be subtle,

"So, Harry…what are your plans for today?"

He shrugged, "Finish this essay, look over my list of assignments, and decide which ones to do tomorrow. After lunch, Morrigan and I are going over to Hagrid's Hut to feed the Jabberwocky."

"The vicious monster, you mean."

Chuckling, Harry corrected,

"Jiminy isn't a monster…yet… He's still a baby."

Freckles stood out against pale skin,

"Crikey, you mean that thing's gonna get bigger?"

Hermione attempted to steer the conversation in the direction she wanted,

"Is Morrigan going to come swimming again this afternoon?"

Harry nodded,

"Yeah, she is…said yesterday was fun. Thanks for not being…you know…mean to her, just because she's Slytherin."

Feeling like a hypocrite, but determined to learn everything she could about the girl for Harry's sake, Hermione questioned,

"Where's Morrigan from?"

"Dunno, really. She mentioned something about an Uncle Hamish who's a policeman in some Highland village- Lochdubh…but I think her family's from Edinburgh…she's mentioned clubs and coffee shops there that she hangs out in while on Holiday. Why?"

"Just curious."

Ron saw how uneasy his mate looked. Wanting to ease Harry's suspicions, he added,

"She really does have to know it all, pal…where have you been all these years?"

Even Hermione thought that comment was funny… The trio turned their attention back to their school work. After lunch, when Harry left The Hall with his…whatever…the youngest Weasley boy held his girlfriend's hand and asked,

"Did you find out where they store school records?"

The way she bit her lip made him feel protective and turned on at the same time. He wished she'd stop doing that…or let him do it for her. Eyes large and serious, Hermione said,

"Yes. They're in a chamber located underneath the dungeons. Hogwarts, A History stated that traps lie in wait to deter the uninvited."

He scoffed,

"That won't stop us…with your brain, and my brawn, we'll get past those. Ready to go?" She nodded and together they walked toward the dungeon stairway. Traversing the shadowy corridors, the girl guided them into a dungeon without a number, or anything inside it. She looked up.

"We need to find a splotch of frog's brains that looks like an opened book."

They split up. Hermione took the front half of the chamber. Striding to the back, Ron squinted at the many blotches marring the high ceiling. That one looks like a bludger…and that's a snitch…that circle's a goal…and that rectangle…

"Hey 'Mione, is this it?"

Disgusted by how unsanitary conditions in the dungeons were, the girl was trying to scan the icky glops and gobs attached to the ceiling when Ron called to her. She swiftly came over and stared up at the rectangle he pointed to. It did resemble an opened book. Approvingly, she said,

"That's it…good eye." Trying not giggle at the look on his face that reminded her of the first time she'd teased, 'nice arse', the girl continued, "We have to walk forward four paces and then stomp three times on the flagstone we stop on."

Stepping hastily back from the huge square that had started to shift under their feet, the couple watched an opening appear in the floor. They looked down. A set of stairs was barely visible. Ron drew his wand, muttered 'Lumos', and took the first step. A tug on his sleeve made the boy stop and look back enquiringly. Holding up her glowing wand, Hermione smiled,

"Ladies first."

"No way…I don't want one of those traps to get you!"

She kissed his cheek. Ron was so gallant.

"No offense, but I'm more observant." She smiled and appeased, "You can find a way around any traps I find…Alright?"

"Alright"

They descended into total darkness. The light of their wands dimly illuminated the corridor. The walls appeared to be solid rock. A cool breeze streamed by…its origin unknown. They walked on.

Ron heard something. A whisper…he gently placed his hand on Hermione's shoulder and asked,

"Do you hear that?"

Her pretty face looked concerned. He was half past concerned and almost into worry. The whispering sound grew more and more discernable until they clearly heard,

"Go back…go back…gooo…baacckkk…"

The disembodied murmur was unnerving. He wanted to forget about finding the records and go back. After telling his girlfriend that, she said in a tone of discovery,

"That's the trap! A compulsion spell to make us give up…how can we fight it?"

He laughed shortly and pulled a wad of cotton out of his pocket.

"Harry wanted me to come see Dobby this morning before breakfast. I can't stand the way he gushes over 'Master Harry' so…I brought this to put in my ears…d'you think it'll help?"

Decisively, she nodded,

"Yes. We don't have to block all sound, just blunt it enough to enable us to resist the compulsion."

Dividing up the cotton and placing it in their ears, the Gryffindors moved on. Eventually, the whispers stopped, and they could stop for a moment to remove the cotton. The smiles of mutual admiration and enjoyment of their adventure faded when they came to a fork in the corridor. While Hermione tried to remember if Hogwarts, A History had mentioned this dilemma, he contemplated one dark tunnel and then the other. Ron's eyes narrowed. He pointed,

"What's that winking light thing, 'Mione?"

She had a photographic memory. If she read it, she remembered it- although sometimes it took awhile. When Ronald asked what the 'winking light' was, she contemplated the corridor on the left, saw the point of light flicker, wink out, and then reappear further down the corridor. Her boyfriend mused,

"Is it supposed to lead us to the records room?"

Shaking her head, Hermione said adamantly,

"No. It's a type of will-o'-the-wisp. A trap…the only place that will lead us is straight to Filch. We'll take the right corridor." She giggled, "Pun intended…"

His chuckle echoed in the darkness behind her while she led the way. The girl knew that it was a compliment, Ron's willingness to follow. He knew that she could handle whatever came up and didn't have to hide behind her big, strong, man. She'd rather press him up against the wall and snog him silly, but that had to wait, regretfully. After twists and turns, her wand illuminated a bizarre sight. A moth-eaten tapestry was hanging by magic on a rock wall. It depicted a wizard being attacked by Trolls with…cutlery?

"Trying to teach Trolls table manners? Barmy!"

She gave a peal of delighted laughter, threw her arms around Ron's neck and kissed him enthusiastically. He grinned,

"What'd I say to deserve that?"

"You pointed out that the wizard was barmy. Barnabas the Barmy! There's a tapestry of Trolls attacking him because of ballet across from The Room of Requirement. Ronald, we've found The Room of Records!" She turned and contemplated the opposite wall. "All I have to do is extrapolate the right spot…like so…and walk back and forth three times…and there it is!"

Brilliant…'Mione was bloody brilliant, she was. Opening the door for her, Ron followed his girl into the chamber and halted abruptly. It was massive, filled with filing cabinets so wide and so high that only magic could account for it. He groaned,

"How are we going to find anything in all this?"

"Might I be of assistance?"

The students jumped, and whirled around to face the most bizarre ghost they'd ever seen. It was a dragon! Chinese, by the serpentine shape… Transparent spectacles perched on the specter's nose. A curl of 'smoke' wafted from each nostril. Waving a translucent talon, the poltergeist 'opened' one of the thousands of drawers to the enormous filing cabinet and assured,

"I am quite capable of finding any information you might need."

Stepping forward, the boy asked,

"You'll help us?"

"Of course…I am charged to help all visitors with their searches…it would take you longer than your lifetime to locate pertinent data."

The girl caught the glance her boyfriend threw and stated,

"We require the school file of a current Hogwarts student. Morrigan MacDuff."

Inclining his Chrysanthemum-like head regally, the dragon floated down the long chamber, 'opened' a drawer and floated a file down to them. Graciously, the serpent invited them to stay as long as they liked, only requesting that they leave the file on the desk when they left. When the ghost would've floated back to a pile of books in one corner, presumably to continue reading, Hermione asked,

"May we ask your name, in order to thank you personally?"

A low, rumbling, noise reverberated in the chamber. It seemed to be the serpent's way of laughing. The students looked warily at each other. Displaying a mouthful of teeth that would've caused hysterics if he'd been solid…and alive…the dragon replied,

"You may call me Mushu."

"Oh…erm…thank you very much…Mushu…"

Intermittent rumbles sounded the entire time they pored over the file. Raptly, Hermione commented,

"This is shocking!" She told Ron, "It seems that Morrigan's father killed his partner in order to gain control of their company. Her mother was an accomplice. They were caught by the Vice President, who then adopted their infant daughter and changed her surname to MacDuff." Pausing, she shook her head sadly. "How awful…her mother committed suicide and her father was killed by aurors when he tried to escape being sent to Azkaban."

"My gods, 'Mione…I can't believe it!"

A strange look crossed the girl's face.

"Neither can I…" Turning toward the source of the rumbles, she accused, "This file is full of wrong information. This isn't really about Morrigan…it's a thinly disguised re-working of the plot from Shakespeare's MacBeth!"

Drifting over, the dragon flashed knife-like teeth.

"Did I not inform you that visitors without valid permission see only misinformation? Oh ancestors, I always seem to forget that part…"

Ron dragged a seething Hermione out of the chamber, booming dragon-laughter echoing behind. She grumbled the entire way back down the twisting, turning corridor. Once inside the dungeon again, he wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug,

"Cheer up…we didn't find out about Morrigan, but…there's always polyjuice. Fred and George said they'd get hold of Mundungus and we'd have the potion by the weekend."

Reluctantly, Hermione smiled and admitted,

"It was a great adventure."

"You were brilliant."

The look in his eyes made her heart beat faster. Softly, she corrected,

"We're brilliant…as partners…in every way."

Kissing Ron was an adventure she never tired of, and the feel of his mouth on hers was more than merely brilliant. It was abso-bloody-lutely brilliant.


Tripping over a pile of Daily Prophets Sunday afternoon, Tonks thought blackly that pacing was hard to do in a room untidy as hers. It ruined the whole bloody point. Meeting Remus' understanding gaze, she told her partner who was sitting on the sofa in her lounge, "That…that little speech of Dumbledore's…I don't believe it. I mean, yeah, I can see Smalley doing something stupid, but the entire 'Professor Lorelei's father is ailing again' story…I know it was bogus." Taking a calming breath, she asked, "Will you promise to keep a secret?" He nodded, and she continued, "Lorelei told me after she returned from her last trip to 'nurse her father' that selkies don't get ill, it was a ruse to hide the fact that she'd accidentally taken an anti-aging potion and had to pretend to be a sixth year named 'Ronan' for a week."

"But…didn't you tell me that…"

Nodding, the woman waved her hand in emphasis, "Yeah, but she told me she didn't sleep with Harry, it was some comfort thing that I don't want to think about either…that's not the point. The point is…Dumbledore is blowing smoke up my arse again and I don't like it!" Appealing male lips quirked at her colorful way of putting things. She wasn't amused. "I want to know what's happened to my mate, and I want to know now!" He stood.

"Why don't we go ask Albus?"

She felt a twinge of dread, but shook it off impatiently. The Headmaster didn't intimidate her, or make her feel like he remembered every naughty schoolgirl prank she'd ever pulled. Tonks covered her eyes. Oh yes he did. Gentle fingers took her wrists in a light clasp and pulled her hands away from her face. Remus smiled.

"You can hide behind me while I ask the questions if you want, love."

Indignantly, she spluttered, "I don't hide behind anybody, and don't you forget it! Let's go!" Rushing out of her quarters and down the corridor, she muttered, "Think you're so smart, don't you?" Modestly, her lover shrugged. She noticed the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes though, and privately vowed to pay him back for maneuvering her into action by manipulating him into action later. Oh yeah…

Reaching the gargoyles guarding the entrance to the office stairway, Tonks almost bowled over a seventh year student that had just exited the passageway. Steadying the brunette, the woman noticed the turbulent expression in the girl's green eyes and said, "Hang on…Lora, right?" When the Gryffindor nodded, the professor asked, "What's the matter?" Angrily, the girl explained,

"Ever since Harry Potter called Cho Lora on Valentine's, I've been getting teased about being his secret girlfriend. That Slytherin Montague is the worst. He was getting in my face today, so I hexed him."

Trying not to sound encouraging of student misuse of magic, Tonks inquired levelly, "What did you do?" The student's eyes gleamed at the memory.

"Did you ever hear the saying, 'Liar, Liar, pants on fire'?"

The sound of a throat clearing wiped the smile of the woman's face. She briskly waved the grinning student on her way and marched to the concealed stairway.

The wily Headmaster acted surprised to see her burst into his office, but she noticed the way the man rubbed the fabric of his robe in a nervous gesture before he put on an air of amiability.

"To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

Slender fingers ran through magenta spikes that rivaled Harry Potter's in unruliness, "Cut the crap. Where's Lorelei?" Leaning over the desk in I-mean-business mode, the DA professor saw amusement flare in canny eyes.

"Ah, yes…I had wondered, after hearing your cough that sounded remarkably like 'gobshite' if a more thorough explanation would be required." Waving her and Remus to seats across the claw foot desk, Dumbledore gave a slight smile. "This morning, in the early hours, Smalley forced his way into Snape's quarters. When confronted with the reality of the couple's…relationship…the sadly unbalanced man drank poison. Severus and I felt that Lorelei should go somewhere peaceful and secluded, to recover from the traumatic experience."

Stuart had always been strange with his 'positive affirmation' tosh. Personally, Tonks felt that if you had to tell your reflection that you were good enough and smart enough…it probably meant that you weren't. She couldn't help but feel a bit hurt that her mate hadn't even…

"In the event that you demanded an explanation, Lorelei left this note for you."

Snatching the missive with a 'Why didn't you give me this earlier?' glare, the woman broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.

Tonks,

I told Albus that you were too stubborn to take his story at face value. Perhaps I should've explained in person, but everything happened so fast, it still doesn't seem real. As I write, Slinky is packing my suitcase while Severus OWLs my mother. We're going to Apparate to London and then floo to my father's on Hoy. If you and Remus would like to visit, we'd love to have you. My mother will give you the direction.

Take care,

Lorelei

Sniffing, she handed the note to Remus. He quickly scanned the page before asking,

"Would you like to visit?"

She nodded, and then shook her head. Her partner smiled.

"What does that mean?"

Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling. Remus chuckled when she said sheepishly, "Yeah, I want to visit, but…not until next weekend, okay? I've got to get used to the idea of Snape taking an actual holiday first."

Standing, the metamorphmagus threw the letter into the fireplace. Tonk's exit was much more subdued than her entrance. Once the couple had descended the stairway and left the smirking gargoyles far behind, she asked, "How about we go down to the pub for a pint?" Her partner's smiling nod lifted her spirits almost as much as the warm clasp of his hand holding hers.

Entering the Broomsticks, Tonks broke into a grin upon hearing,

"Tonks! Ciamar a tha thu!"

She called back, "Doin' good…until I saw your ugly mug, MacManus!"

Ian MacManus, fiddle player for Gaelic Uprising, was laughing and waving them over to a table in the back. His equally ginger-haired brother Angus and the singer Mairi smiled a greeting. Taking a seat, the couple ordered drinks from Rosmerta, who was bringing the trio another round. Tonks asked, "Where's Piper and Sticks?" Mairi informed,

"They're playing at a Goblin wedding." Satirically, she added, "No humans allowed."

The Wizarding World was hardly Utopian, and prejudice ran both ways… The conversation turned to less controversial topics. Ever since Piper had become Remus' landlord, the pair had regularly been invited down to join the band for drinks, or dinner, or a friendly poker game- sometimes all three in the same night. Tonks enjoyed the eclectic group's company. The MacManus brothers explained that they'd stopped in to visit Lorelei, but had been told she'd gone to nurse her father. Cheerfully, Ian shrugged off his disappointment and challenged the couple to a game of darts. Three matches and several pints of beer later, the mellowed woman listened to Mairi complain that the band would be without a gig for another two weeks. A brilliant idea surfaced, "Why don't you all come with us when we visit Hoy next weekend?"

"Ahem…sweetheart…do you really think…"

Airily dismissing her partner's misgivings, Tonks assured, "Yeah, it'll be fab. Lorelei will be so happy to see all her friends!" The trio seemed glad to have something to look forward to. They assured that Piper and Sticks would too. The group quickly made plans.

Humming a Gaelic tune on their way back to school, Tonks noticed that her lover wasn't nearly as pleased as she was. Seeing her inquiring look, Lupin flashed white teeth in a wolfish grin,

"Lorelei may be 'happy to see all her friends', but will her partner?"

The thought of Snape was ruining her mood. Her bottom lip stuck out. Remus slipped his arm around her waist and sang softly, 'Here, There, and Everywhere'

Her steps slowed. She thought, What a great voice you have Grandma…

The Beatles weren't her favorite band, but when Remus sang, they shot right up her list. When Tonks complimented her love on having a wonderful voice, he gave a huff of laughter and pulled her into a loving embrace. Remus growled playfully, before getting down to the serious business of snogging,

"The better to say 'I love you' with, my dear…"


At a round table under a tree in the Brocklehurst back garden, Bindy and Neville sat and enjoyed each other's company, the mild London Saturday, and afternoon tea. To thank her boyfriend for designing a new planting scheme for the boxes framing the outer façade of her parents' restaurant, the girl had conjured a tea fit for a king, or at least a prince. A tiny basket of ripe strawberries sat beside a plate of tea sandwiches that the hungry teens had almost cleared.

"I like the cucumber with alfalfa sprouts almost as much as the ones with cress."

The girl's pretty, round face lit up. She blushed,

"Thank you…and for the bunch of violets you brought, too. The flowers are so pretty."

Neville could feel his cheeks heating. Taking a sip of steaming hot tea, his eyes flickered to the small centerpiece before staring into her eyes. She returned the smile when he said,

"You're welcome…and they're not half as pretty as you are."

The silence that fell was warm and comfortable. The Gryffindor didn't know when he'd felt so at ease with a girl before. Maybe with Ginny…his lips turned upwards at the corners. Neville hadn't ever wanted to kiss Gin like he did Bindy, that was certain. His girlfriend served an Angel Berry Trifle that was almost as heavenly as her kisses.

"Oh Merlin, my dumpy sister is polluting the garden with her ickle boyfriend."

The sandy-haired Ravenclaw tried not to get upset. In a calm, firm voice, she turned to her sister Mandy and the girl's best mate Cho,

"Go away and don't come back until we leave…or else I'll tell Chang about the entry in your diary where you go on and on about how Roger Davies whispered how much prettier you were than her and how he preferred your…"

"Shut up! Shut up you cow!"

The slamming of the back door was music to Bindy's ears. Turning back to Neville with a satisfied smile, the girl was startled to see the boy rising from his chair. She placed her hand in his outstretched one. Gently, her boyfriend pulled her up onto her feet before bending down to kiss her. Dazedly, the Ravenclaw wished that she'd gotten assertive a whole lot sooner if this was how her Gryffindor would react!

Helping his girlfriend clear away the tea things, the boy whose hair was starting to grow out tried not put too much hope in his and Bindy's sleuthing today. They were going to take a Squire cab over to St. Mungo's and ask questions about his parents' visitors…and mysterious gum wrappers.

"Huzzah!"

Uncertain whether the squire driving the cab was pleased with the tip or using the shout to warn passerby that he was easing back into traffic, Neville held his girl's hand and walked toward a brick building. 'Purge and Dowse Ltd' had been closed for refurbishment for years, but a spell kept Muggles thinking that the old department store would open again…one day.

Bindy gave him a sideways, supportive look when he told the tatty looking dummy in the window that he was there to see the Longbottoms on the Resident Ward. After the mannequin had crooked her jointed finger, they each stepped through the glass and into the hospital. The young couple made their way up to the fourth floor. A signpost clearly marked the ward as one for Spell Damage. Crystal orbs lit the corridor, but nothing could take away that antiseptic hospital smell. He hated it.

His eyes became uncomfortably misty while contemplating the door to the Janus Thickey ward. Using his wand, Neville said 'Alohomora'. When the door opened, he took a deep breath and a step forward.

Blowing her long fringe out of her eyes, Bindy followed Neville into the closed ward. Several witches and wizards milled around. One resident looked familiar- Gilderoy Lockhart. The man was every bit as handsome as she remembered, but his air of forgetfulness was an improvement on the unadulterated conceit the golden haired wizard used to project.

"My adoring fans visit!" A glittering white smile flashed while the former DA professor reached for Bindy's hand and held it in both of his, "Gladys Gudgeon…we meet at last."

He may have been an idiot, but Lockhart was a gorgeous idiot. Neville pulled her away from the beaming man before he could kiss her hand. She smiled at the boy's jealous expression and asked,

"Professor Lockhart, have you noticed any visitors who chew gum?"

Tilting his flowing locks to the side with an arrested expression, Gilderoy answered,

"Professor? Was I a professor?" Winking at the girl, he chuckled, "Had a crush on me, did you? Wanted to come by and get an autograph picture to remember me by? Don't blame you; hold on, I've got loads…somewhere…"

Perhaps she'd been a bit premature in thinking the man's conceit had lessened. While Lockhart rushed off to find her a photo autographed in 'joined-up writing', Bindy smiled hesitantly at her boyfriend. He scowled.

"Did you have a crush on him?"

Not about to confess thinking…for a very short time…that she'd thought Gilderoy was the dreamiest name ever, Bindy kissed her boyfriend's cheek and sidestepped,

"Maybe if he'd handed out chocolate in Defense Against the Dark Arts…"

Neville chuckled and led her toward a curtained off area at the end of the ward. Thankfully, he didn't remember a certain Valentine's Day.

Pulling back the curtain that afforded his parents a bit of privacy, Neville felt a mixture of pride and shame that almost made him ill. He'd tried to prepare his girl by telling her that his folks had been aurors tortured by Cruciatus Curse into their present condition, but the reality was something that words couldn't do justice to.

"Erm…hulloo…I'm a…friend of Neville's. It's a pleasure to meet you."

His parents were sitting side by side in chairs across from their beds. Frank had a slight smile on his face, staring off. Alice touched her prematurely white, limp hair and then stretched out a shaky hand toward him. Holding the frail hand and gazing into dark eyes so like his, Neville wanted to hunt down Bellatrix Lestrange and curse her into oblivion. Hurt her for the way she'd damaged his parents…damaged him. A soft hand wiped away a tear that had fallen unheeded down his cheek. Smiling lopsidedly, the teen rasped,

"Bindy, these are my parents… Mum, dad, this is my girlfriend, Bindy." A flicker of something- almost a smile- crossed his mother's once plump and happy face. The same conflicted, shaming emotions overwhelmed the boy. He wanted to stay and find some way to help his folks. He wanted to run out of the room, the ward, the hospital and never come back. As usual, he forced himself to chat about things at school.

The girl beside him told his parents about the planting boxes that he'd designed and they'd planted together. He admired the way she talked to the couple as if everything she said truly registered. After a plain young man in a white coat came in to remind the Longbottoms that it was time for Art Therapy, the teens waved goodbye to the couple who drifted like wraiths behind the Healer. The man smilinglyassured that the patients would enjoy painting with watercolors and 'Vincent' promised not to try and rip his ear off again.

"Ah, Gladys, there you are! Here are some photographs for you and all your friends." Eyes and teeth vying for most sparkling, Lockhart approached the students on the verge of leaving and beamed, "Can't have the ladies' society fighting over me…" Thrusting a thick stack into the startled girl's hands, a look of pained concentration made the features of the man wearing a lilac dressing gown resemble a Muggle actor well known for Shakespearean roles. Shrugging when he couldn't remember the name, Neville steered Bindy toward the door.

"Eureka! I remember…gum wrappers!"

Whirling around, the young couple gave each other a swift, hopeful glance. They watched the man reach into a pocket and pull up a tiny, crumpled ball. He held it out to the boy. The girl leaned close and watched her boyfriend unwrap it. Droobles Blowing Gum… Her stomach dropped. Neville whispered,

"Who?"

"Who's on first? No clue, my good man, but if you're asking who dropped that wrapper, why it was that Healer who just left. Quite shocking, really…I'd expected Wonka's!"

Pushing past the bag of wind now protesting the rudeness of returning his photographs, the teens dashed into the outer corridor. Down at the end, Frank and Alice shuffled into a room. Behind them, the suspicious Healer looked up to see them and broke into a run- toward the nearest exit.

Neville pulled out his wand, but his 'Stupefy!' bounced harmlessly off the door already swinging closed. They hurried to open the door and clamber down the stairs. Bindy wanted to cry. They searched every floor from Potion and Plant Poisoning to Artifact Accidents, but the false Healer had vanished. Reporting the incident to a skeptical security Troll, she realized that average height, weight, and features were too non-descriptive to give a mental image, much less one an auror sketch artist could draw. Her boyfriend's shoulders slumped while they waited for a Squire cab to arrive. She held his hand and encouraged,

"I'm sorry we didn't catch him, but Neville…don't you see…the wrappers, they really do mean something. It's not just a conspiracy theory. We saw that man with our own eyes. We don't know what he wanted with your parents, but the staff will be on guard now, and one day, you'll find out." Her cheeks turned pink, "You were so brave, charging after him…"

"I was, wasn't I?"

She giggled at the pleased look on Neville's face. He smiled down at her.

"I couldn't have done it without you, Bindy. I'm glad that my parents got to meet the girl…" swallowing hard, his heart was beating so hard that breathing became a conscious effort, "…I love…"

Wrapping her arms around him, the girl's smile was watery,

"I love you too, Neville!"

On the sidewalk outside St. Mungo's, Muggle shoppers passed by with looks of amusement or irritation. One little boy with a handful of embedded spines cried while his mother snapped to the dummy that looked salvaged from a skip, "Creature induced injury." Heedless to the world around them, Bindy and Neville kissed, and the sun came out from behind a cloud.


In the library of her mother's London home early Sunday afternoon, Lorelei hugged Marina goodbye for the fourth time and laughingly fended her mum off when she appeared ready to hug again,

"Mum, we're expected for tea."

Since Stuart had drunk poison in front of her, Lorelei had found it easier to allow others to take care of her. Severus had made arrangements, and once they'd Apparated to London from outside the gates of Hogwarts, her mother had fussed, coddled, and comforted her. The gentle caring and concern enabled the woman to begin to deal with the traumatic events.

Yesterday, she had slept for hours. When Lorelei had awakened, the sun had set and her lover had been reading a text in a comfortable chair by the bed. She'd smiled at him before heading to the bathroom to take care of several pressing needs. Feeling clean and fresh, with hair tamed into sleek spirals instead of sleep mussed Celtic knots, she moved to sit on Severus' lap,

"Thank you for watching over me."

Keeping his gaze focused on the blue satin spaghetti strap his fingers were sliding under, Severus had replied,

"Thank you for not telling Albus Smalley's true motive for self termination. It would have been…difficult…to explain."

Smoothing back his hair, she'd insisted,

"You did what you had to do…for us and The Order. Stuart made his own choices."

"Unfortunately, he paid the ultimate price."

She'd waited patiently for his eyes to meet hers.

"It was unfortunate…but it wasn't your fault."

The corners of his lips had turned down.

"Not this time, perhaps…but there have been so many others…"

A far-off look had revealed that her man was lost in bad memories. Determined to take him out of that dark place, Lorelei began unbuttoning his black shirt while pressing butterfly kisses to every part of his face. Severus' lips began to twitch.

"You've slept all day. Are you hungry?"

The insinuation in that dark, silky voice made her shiver.

"Mmmm…ravenous…"

A rumble from the chest beneath her palms brought a smile to the lips brushing over the mouth of the man laughing silently. Dryly, he'd asked,

"Shall I call the house elf to bring you tea?"

Trying to keep her eyes wide and solemn, she'd replied huskily,

"I have a need that's more basic than tea."

An eyebrow arched sardonically while male hands pushed straps off her shoulders,

"Really? What need is that?"

Taking his face in her hands, Lorelei had smiled tenderly,

"Love…Tha gaol agam ort…"

The smile that was becoming not quite so rare…with her…flashed briefly. Between long, deep, satisfying kisses, he'd whispered,

"I love you too."

Blinking, the woman snapped out of memory, realizing that everyone was staring at her. A blush spread across her cheeks. Embarrassed, Lorelei asked,

"What'd I miss?"

Jean-Luc grinned.

"Your mother asked if you had shared the…unique…qualities of your father's house with Severus."

Unthinkingly, she bit her thumbnail, sawher love's glance silently question the gesture, and put her hand down quickly. Attempting to sound casual, she explained,

"No, no I haven't…I wanted it to be a…surprise."

Her step-father and mother's laughter caused Severus' gaze to narrow. Hurriedly thanking Silky for sending their luggage on ahead, Lorelei stepped into the fireplace with a handful of floo powder. Wondering too late what on earth Severus was going to think of Tynan's home, she threw the powder and left her mother's library to reappear in the parlour of the abode known as Bag End.

While Lorelei flooed to the Orkney island of Hoy, Severus looked askance at the couple who were now wiping tears from the corners of their eyes. Disdaining to request that they share the reason for such mirth, he walked with dignity onto the hearth and stiffly nodded farewell.

The fireplace he stepped out of was…a half circle… The siren stood twisting her fingers nervously together in the large, yet comfortable space. Taking an assessing look around, Snape approved the paneled walls, the tiled floor with carpets, the neutral colors of the furniture and excellent, if clichéd, paintings of the ocean. A closer inspection made the chamber's idiosyncrasies stand out.

The room had a rounded shape. The windows were of the enchanted variety. Strangest of all, the door to the chamber was completely round like a porthole. His lover was staring at the door with an expression of…panic? What was wrong with this home? Striding to the door, the man puzzled for a brief moment over the brass doorknob being located in the center before shrugging it off and opening the chamber.

Outside the lounge was a corridor. A few steps brought the perplexed man to a tube shaped entry hall. The front door was another enormous green-painted circle with a bright yellow shining brass handle in the center of it. Upon the paneled walls were…pegs…hundreds of them. Turning to face the stone passageway, he glanced out of the lone round window on the left side of the entry. Snape saw flowers- at eye level. It appeared that the house was built into a hill. Unusual, surely, but why was Lorelei looking so mortified? She explained quietly,

"When I was ten, my father wanted me to come and stay for the summer. I wouldn't, because I didn't like the dark, cramped cottage that he was living in." Self deprecatingly, she admitted, "I was a bit of a spoiled brat. I threw a tantrum, my favorite book ever and said that if he built a house like that one's, I'd come."

"What book?"

Darting back into the lounge, Lorelei returned with a small leather-bound novel. Taking it from her, Severus frowned. The title seemed familiar. Opening to the first page, he read aloud,

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell…

Lorelei looked entreatingly at him while she finished from memory,

it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

The mind boggled. He pointed, "…and the pegs?"

Sheepishly, she cited,

lots and lots of pegs for hats and coats- the hobbit was fond of visitors.

Amazement and something unexpected welled. Concealing his reaction, Severus inclined his head toward the inner corridor of the home. Smiling weakly, Lorelei had a quote for that too,

The best rooms were all on the left-hand side (going in), for those were the only ones to have windows, deep set round windows looking over his garden, and meadows beyond.

Unable to contain his feelings any longer, the man contained his mirth to a single shout of laughter, after which he covered his mouth and restrained his amusement. Sliding her arms around his waist, Lorelei confessed,

"I was horrible, and my father took me literally instead of capturing just the warm and cozy feeling, but I do love Bag End so. It's like stepping into another world. One that's far removed from the cares of life…you'll like it here, I promise. There's a library. I even have a lab in one of the cellars!"

A smile curved his lips.

"What more does a man need?"

Grinning like a beautiful fool, Lorelei tugged his hand and led the way down the bizarre home's central corridor that seemed to wind its way directly into the hillside. Stopping in front of one of the many round doors that opened off the long passageway, she pointed to the runes carved into the stone curving around the door. He lifted an eyebrow, and translated,

"Speak, friend, and enter. Speak a password? Sensible…what is it?"

"Bel Roc"

A huff of amusement escaped.

"Friend…from the book also…?"

"From another book in the series…Tynan really went…overboard…in absentee parent guilt."

"Indeed."

Nodding ruefully, Lorelei opened the door. He followed her inside and stared. Murals made the chamber appear to be a woodland bower. The bed was a large four-poster. Carved upon the headboard was the World Tree. Above Yggdrasil was carved in Elvish, 'Aa' lasser en lle coia orn n' omenta gurtha.'

"May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown."

She smiled at his dry tone, unsurprised by Severus' knowledge of Elvish. Her love was a man of many talents. "Father's not the poetic type, but he tried." Standing beside the huge round window looking out upon the garden, his lover confided, "The Hobbit meant more to me than just a story. I too wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking stick."

Her tone was pensive. Unable to guess what memories caused the hint of sadness, the lean man cradled her back against his chest. Humoring her love of Elvish, he said quietly,

"Vanimle sila tiri"

"My beauty shines bright, Hmmm?"

Head to the side, her neck was arched in invitation. His lips trailed upwards, sought the mouth turning to his. Her lips softened, parted. In all the days and nights they'd been together, not once had they lain with the sunlight streaming across heated skin. At this moment, there was nothing he wanted more than to forget every care and luxuriate in warmth on every level. His touch conveyed the depth of his desire to be with her. Slender hands rose to yank at the buttons of his shirt. They paused. His eyes opened.

"What is it?"

"You're smiling. I can't explain how happy that makes me." A soft, tender kiss was pressed against his mouth. "But I'd love to show you." Caressing his cheek, Lorelei whispered,

"A'maelamin"

My beloved… He whispered back, before his lips found hers and words became unnecessary,

"Mela en' coiamin…love of my life…"


A/N Alright, I confess…besides being a Princess Bride fanatic, I have a LOTR fetish. Don't ask me who I like more, Aragorn or Legolas…I refuse to pick! I do have one LOTR question for fellow fans…Did anyone else think that Aragorn looked way better dirty and wet than he did all cleaned up? I was screaming (silently) 'go fight something and then come back and get crowned' at the end. I hope it's not just me. :D Must thank wonderful reviewer FNP who single-handedly propelled my reviews over the 500 mark. Did a happy dance Beyonce would envy! LOL