Chapter 26

Once Michele had Floo'd away, Nell's rush of energy faded. She waved her mum, Audrey, and Emma away from their card game and off to the flat's bedrooms, then sat down heavily on the couch beside Harry. He leaned against her shoulder.

"What will happen tomorrow?" asked Harry quietly.

"I don't know, Harry," Nell admitted. "There's going to be a lot of fuss, I know that much."

"And you're going to be right in the middle of it," Harry noted perceptively. "You're starting all this."

"I'm finishing all this," she corrected. "Magic is one thing; outright cruelty is quite another."

"I'm sorry about your mum," Harry said, quietly and all in a rush. Nell hugged him tightly against her side and didn't reply.

"Look," she said after a minute, "We have to talk about some things." Harry nodded tentatively, and she continued. "This minister probably won't be thrilled about me keeping you. So we'll need a plan. We can always run away, but we should probably leave that for a last-ditch attempt." Harry stiffened against her.

"What do you think will happen?"

"It's hard to say. Hopefully, he'll agree to Lupin or Michele or Dumbledore taking you, or even the Dursleys, because I could get you back from any of them as easy as anything. But if he tries to take you anywhere--" Harry exclaimed softly in alarm and she rubbed his arm briskly. "If he does that, you have to show him how difficult you can be." She grinned conspiratorally, and he smiled back uncertainly after a moment.

"You mean, be bad? On purpose?" Harry's voice was intrigued, and Nell caught his smile widening.

"Only as a last resort," Nell warned, smiling wider herself. "Just, keep all your unpredictable magic things in your mind -- remember all you can do if you get mad enough."

They shared a naughty grin and Harry sat back, curling up on the couch. "Okay," he said sleepily. "I c'n do that."

"Good," said Nell, watching him drift off to sleep against her. She didn't realise that he had her arm caught until she tried to get up, but she happily sat back down to watch Harry sleep for a little longer. Just a little -- little longer --

A sudden POP woke her up, making her jar Harry and nearly tumble the two of them off the couch. She blinked blurrily up at Lupin, who was smiling indulgently at her. "What?" she asked.

"It's half eight," he informed her. "'The earlier the better'?"

"Oh," Nell said, embarrassed. "I didn't say I'd be awake for 'earlier'. He snorted.

"What?" said Harry, lifting his head. He tried to smooth his rumpled hair, but only succeeded in further mussing it. Nell thought about helping, but decided against fighting a losing battle.

"Nothing you can do about it, I'm afraid," said Lupin. "Your father had the same problem."

"Really?" asked Harry, forgetting his hair. "Did he look like me?"

"Completely," Lupin replied. "Except he used to rumple his hair on purpose, so people would think he'd just gotten off his broom. And when I say people, I mean your mother, of course."

Harry looked up at him, wide-eyed. "My dad flew, too? Did he play Quidditch?"

"Champion Chaser -- but I'm afraid we have to get down to business. I'll tell you more later. For now -- Nell? Anything new happen overnight?"

Nell hesitated. Should she mention her new plan, or let it be a surprise?

"Nell?" said Lupin sternly.

She sighed. "I talked to my friend Michele. Er, I got that impression that Minister Fudge will probably show up around ten or so."

"Alone?" pressed Lupin.

"Well, he'll be under the impression that Harry and I will be alone, so he'll probably just come with one other person. Is Dumbledore coming?"

"Yes. How did Fudge get this impression?"

"It's what Nell told her to say," Harry suddenly contributed. "When Nell Floo'd her at the Daily Prophet office."

Nell cringed. "Er, yeah, that's probably how."

Lupin laughed out loud. "You really are remarkably direct," he said, still chuckling. "Getting the Minister and the press in the same room is more brilliant than you know. Although," he frowned, "it would have been best to run your plan by Professor Dumbledore."

Nell shrugged. "Probably. Didn't stop me."

"No, it wouldn't have, would it?" Lupin snorted. "Anyhow, Professor Dumbledore should be here shortly. Any chance of a cup of tea? And perhaps we should wake our guests?"

"Oh!" exclaimed Nell. "Of course!" And she bustled off to the kitchen to start the kettle. Her second stop was the bedrooms, where she found the residents already stirring. Audrey and her mother were confused again and needed reminding, but they were soon coaxed out for a cup of tea and some breakfast.

They were finishing off the toast when another POP announced Dumbledore's appearance in the sitting room. He walked into the kitchen and smiled a greeting around. He poured himself a cup of tea before sitting down.

"How are we all doing this fine morning?" he asked genially.

"Well, Nell's made her own plans for today, Professor," Lupin said.

"Oh, you're both a big part of them," Nell hastened to clarify. Dumbledore turned a curious gaze on her, and she elaborated. "The Minister should be here, pinstripes and all, in about," she checked her watch, "forty-five minutes, and I'm hoping that with you and Lupin here, he'll be willing to back down and restore some memories." She looked hopefully at Dumbledore. "What do you think?"

He looked at her gravely. "Perhaps this plan could use some refinement, though the logic is sound. What if Minister Fudge declines to back down?"

Nell smiled. "That's where you come in. I understand he listens to your counsel?"

Dumbledore inclined his head slightly. "He has been known to do so, yes," he admitted, "Though I cannot rely on that fact."

Nell shrugged. "Well, we'll see," she said philosophically. "And not much more waiting, anyway."

"Ah, I see," said Dumbledore, twinkling a little at her, "Nothing so intolerable as waiting, is there?"

"No," agreed Nell and Harry in unison. They looked at each other and broke into giggles, which proved contagious. Once the bout of laughter died down, more desultory conversation ensued, and they moved to the lounge to await the Minister.

At about quarter to ten, Michele tumbled out of the Floo. Dumbledore looked at her in surprise. "Miss Zabini?"

She smiled at him. "Lovely to see you again, Headmaster," she greeted him. "What do you think of our plan?"

"We shall see," he said imperturbably. "I had not known that you were involved. Is it in an official capacity?"

"Officially? Oh, you'd heard I'd got a job at the Prophet?" Dumbledore nodded and she continued, "It's partly officially -- at least, I'm hoping to get the story afterwards -- and partly just as a favour to a friend." She cast a warm glance toward Nell, and Nell smiled gratefully back at her.

"Plus, we're hoping the 'press' being here will have some impact on Fudge," Nell added.

"I had thought that was part of the motivation," Dumbledore commented. He joined in the mutual smiles.

The smiles died, however, when an officious knock came at the door.

"Miss Burton?" called an unfamiliar man's voice. "Minister of Magic here to see you; please open the door."