Warning: Narcissa comes back. You have been warned.

Chapter 21:

Harmony sat rocking herself in a chair, wrapped in the blanket she had once given Remus. A knock came to the door. "Who is it?" she called.

"It's Bianca! Can I come in?"

"Sure," Harmony said. With a swish of her wand, the door opened. Bianca came through and took a seat on the couch. Harmony turned to her. "Sirius is teaching right now."

"Good."

"Pardon?"

"How long will his class last?"

"Well, this one just started and he has the one immediately following it. Why?"

"Good. This will work out without starting World War Three."

"Bink!"

"What?"

"Would you mind telling me what you are babbling about?"

Bianca smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I was given orders to try to find out what Fudge is planning on doing and if he has had any contact with any Deatheaters. To do so, I'm having tea with Narcissa today in these rooms. So if you want to go lie down now, I completely understand."

"No," Harmony replied. "I think I want to listen in on this." She and Bianca shared a short a laugh before the latter walked over to the fireplace to order the tea for the meeting. Within minutes, the Hogwarts house elves had set up and left. Narcissa blew in a few minutes later.

"Harmony, Bianca, darlings!" Narcissa air-kissed both women, leaning down for Harmony. "Are you due soon, Harmony? Should we be careful? Shouldn't you be in the hospital wing?"

"Narcissa, I'm only seven months. Poppy assures me that I'm fine."

"Seven? My dear, you look like you could give birth any day now!"

"I'm pregnant with twins, remember?" Harmony sighed.

Narcissa giggled falsely. "Oh, that's right. You know, it's hard. I hardly grew an inch with Draco," she said, pouring herself some tea. "But we're not here to talk about you, Harmony, are we?"

"Oh no," Bianca replied. "I wanted to actually talk to you about, well, you!"

"Oh!" Narcissa's smile grew bigger. "Whatever about?"

"Well, about your marriage. How's Cornelius?"

"Always away. But he still manages to come back home to me."

"Narcissa, please spare us the details," Harmony said.

Narcissa giggled again. "Of course. What happens in my bedroom stays in my bedroom." Bianca and Harmony sighed. "But Rosier was over recently. Him, Goyle and Crabbe, nearly all the old crowd. But what happens in my bedroom stays in my bedroom, right?" Bianca and Harmony almost choked on their finger sandwiches.

"Anyway, I'm glad that Corny is starting to fall into my old crowd. It's so good to see them all again. Although Corny isn't brave enough to get the Dark Mark like my Lucious—be strong, Cissa, don't cry—it's just as good. And I know Corny's going to be coming to see your husband soon, Harmony."

"Oh?" Bianca and Harmony were both leaning in. "Why?"

"Because the Dark Lord needs an envoy to the werewolves and Corny said he would be able to convince Remus easily. Now, I know Severus is with the others on the continent—if I were still married to Lucius and if he were here, I would be on the continent. Calm down, Cissa, breathe—but where is his lovely fiancée?"

"Work. She's got only a few more weeks left before she goes on maternity leave."

"Oh, well, this was fun, but I have to go and see dear Andromeda."

"Andie's talking to you again?"

"I don't know. I'm going to check on her. Ta ta!" And just as she came, Narcissa left the room.

"Narcissa?" Sirius asked, walking into the room.

"You just missed her, dear," Bianca replied, kissing the man. "How was your class?"

"Alright. I think," he replied, crinkling his nose. "Anyway, it's Harmony's turn now. I think you and I can finish off these finger sandwiches."

"You do that," Bianca said, hugging him. "I have a letter to write to Dumbledore. And mental images that need to be purged."

"Fudge is getting in with the Deatheaters," Dumbledore replied. "Apparently, he won't take the Dark Mark, but he is still working with them. That's probably why he married Narcissa."

"I wouldn't be surprised. And I guess I should be expecting an invitation to the Fudge Manor soon enough," Severus replied from the corner.

Dumbledore nodded. "And expect that invitation to include Remus."

"Me?" Remus said, sitting up. "Why me? I'm not a Deatheater."

"Voldemort is looking to gain the alliance of the werewolves," Severus said. "He mentioned that he had a 'high-ranking ally' who had a 'contact' with the werewolves. I didn't think it would be Fudge. He's probably going to put pressure on Remus."

Dumbledore nodded again and motioned for Severus to reveal anything new he had also learned. "The attack on the village tomorrow night will be short—just a warning and to alert the old crowd that Voldemort is back in power. I believe they are attacking a former Deatheater who gave up names to the French Ministry after the first war. I have his address with me."

"Good work. Tonks will change her appearance and make sure that he and his family are away from the house tomorrow night. Ace, go to Paris. I believe that we can now convince a few people. French Aurors will be waiting for them.

"After the attack, we are to return immediately to England. I'm technically supposed to be there already since I was ordered to take a week off from work."

"Good, we can finally go home," Remus said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Hermione was busy doing a sweep of the castle before turning in for the night when she heard someone coming into the castle. She met Professor McGonagall halfway and the two witches ran the rest of the way to the door. When they saw who it was, they immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Severus immediately swept through to get to the dungeons and to Kiki. "Remus, why don't you escort Miss Granger back to her Tower?" Dumbledore suggested. Remus and Hermione nodded before walking off. They turned around briefly to see Dumbledore and McGonagall locked in an embrace before continuing.

"So, has Harmony taken over all my classes?" Remus asked, concerned.

"No. Sirius was brought in as your substitute."

"Sirius? As in Sirius 'I'll Just Cheat Off Of Remus in DADA' Black, Sirius?"

"What?"

"No, it's Sirius 'I'll Just Sweet Talk Harmony To Copy Her Homework' Black," Harmony's voice came from behind them. Remus whirled around quickly and smiled.

"I'll just leave you two alone, then. Goodnight, Professors."

"Goodnight, Hermione," the two replied. They watched as the girl left before retiring back inside their chambers.

They quietly walked past Sirius, who was snoring on the couch, and into their room. Remus collapsed onto their bed, enjoying how soft and comfortable it was. He felt Harmony lay down next to him and encircled her. "It feels so good to be on a real bed with you," he said.

"It just feels good to be back in your arms," Harmony replied.

"I missed you."

"Not as much as I missed you."

"I've been sleeping in a barn."

"I've had to listen to Sirius' snoring."

"Well, I still think I've won."

"How?"

"I'm not longer sleeping in a barn and you still have to listen to Sirius' snoring."

"Would you like to join him?"

"Shutting up."

Kiki sorted through the pile of papers on her desk and came across one with familiar writing on it. Her stomach dropped as she opened the letter. She closed her eyes and counted till ten before stalking off to the corridor. She threw open the door labeled "witch" and checked to make sure every stall was empty. When she was certain, Kiki let out a rather loud scream.

"Kiki? Are you okay?" Bianca asked, walking into the bathroom. Kiki tossed her friend the crumbled up letter in her fist. "What's so upsetting? It's just a letter from your brother."

"Keep reading."

"Oh. My. Merlin."

"I know. He's congratulating me for carrying on the Deatheater tradition. He's happy I'm pregnant but because the father is known to support Voldemort."

"I would think he would be yelling at you," Bianca said, confused.

Kiki splashed some cold water onto her face and straightened up. "Offer to buy the pregnant witch something to eat and I'll pay you back with a little story about the Wright family black sheep."

The two traveled down to the Ministry's cafeteria, where Bianca bought herself a cup of coffee and got nachos for Kiki. She joined the other witch at a nearby table and the two started on their respective items. "So, your brother is the family black sheep?" Bianca asked Kiki.

"Yeah. Who's yours?"

"My mother's uncle Mikey. Apparently he got mixed up in something in America. Referred to someone named Capone, but that was years ago. Mikey's been on the hide since the guy kicked the bucket, and don't forget he's a wizard," Bianca explained.

Kiki laughed. "You're great uncle got mixed up in America's underworld?"

"I guess. I'm not too familiar with American culture." Bianca took a sip. "So my family's black sheep was part of a seedy time in American history. So, what's yours?"

"A Deatheater."

"Wait," Bianca said, holding up her hand. "Your brother is a deatheater and you're engaged to a deatheater, who just happens to be spying for Albus Dumbledore."

"And don't forget the wonderful fact that I am pregnant with Severus' child."

Bianca sat there. "What did your mother--?"

Kiki laughed. "My brother must've only recently gotten the Dark Mark, but it isn't surprising. He hated the fact that because our grandmother on our mother's side was a muggle and that we all had to be called half-bloods because of it. Tommy and I didn't mind, blood didn't matter. Jake believed otherwise and didn't like the fact that my father loved to live as a muggle—he wasn't as bad as Arthur—and loved muggle culture.

"Jake was always so interested in advancing his position. He is the only Wright to be sorted into Slytherin."

"No surprise. And he wasn't a Deatheater earlier?"

"Probably didn't want to insult the family. We are blood, after all. And probably had no reason to either. Not yet."

"So what gave him his motive?"

"After Jake left Hogwarts he also left England. He went into the Welsh Ministry so no one knew that his father had worked in England to improve Muggle-Wizarding relations. He eventually married the Minister's daughter. Which now means that if my brother has taken the Dark Mark…"

"Wales is in the hands of a Deatheater. Great," Bianca said, leaning back. "You'll have to tell Dumbledore."

"I know," Kiki replied. "Tonight."

A half hour after Kiki and Bianca were talking in the Ministry's cafeteria, Riley McCollugh found himself drawn to the same place by his empty hungry. He browsed through the selections, but nothing seemed to catch his interest this time. 'Sounds like my love life as of late,' he thought, sighing. He hadn't had a girlfriend in a few years and, though he would never admit it because he cared too much for her, was happy when his sister was also alone at the same time. It seemed to bring them closer and they could complain to each other about their empty date books.

Riley sighed as he remembered the reason why his sister no longer shared the same lonely existence as he. It wasn't that the Dumbledore boy had anything against the man, it was just well, his career. Sure, being an Auror was considered a great honor in the wizarding world, but it was a dangerous job. Riley always hoped that Eden would find someone with a bit more security, stability. Not someone who was called upon at all hours—and who may not return alive. He didn't want to have to comfort his sister through that pain if her relationship ever progressed to "serious" and if Ace never returned home alive.

Why couldn't she have settled down with another medi-wizard? Or why hadn't she become attracted to one of the teachers at Hogwarts? Or someone who ran a shop in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley? Or someone who worked in any other Ministry department? Why was she drawn to an Auror?

He shook his head to clear these thoughts when he felt a hand touch his arm. He whirled around to see another Auror standing there, Nymphadora Tonks. He remembered her from the Order meeting, only then she had short, curly red hair and blue eyes. Now, she had long blonde and pink hair with brown eyes. Riley was amazed at the woman's metamorphagus abilities and realized how much leverage that must've given her in the Auror world. "Nymphadora," he said, believing her name to be quite a mouthful. Especially since his parents had been wise and given their children easy names like "Eden" and "Riley."

The young Auror groaned. "Don't call me that!" she said, slightly hitting the man. "Call me Tonks! Just like everyone else."

"Except for Remus Lupin."

"Yeah, well, Remus does that to torture me. Only he calls me 'Nymphadora.' Ugg, he is so annoying! I don't know how Harmony puts up with him!"

"Well, I was actually going to comment on how he calls you 'Dora.' Actually, come to think of it, I've also heard it out of Kiki's and Harmony's mouth," Riley said, his task of finding himself something to eat completely forgotten.

Tonks blushed and smiled. "It's a rather long story. Say, there's nothing here to eat. Can you spare some time and join me outside for lunch?"

Riley checked his watch and realized that he had wasted a half-hour mostly thinking and staring at the food choices. Luckily, he was given usually a 90 minute lunch break—which he hardly took advantage of unless he was eating with his sister. Or called to Hogwarts for lunch. "Yeah, I've got about an hour. You?"

"Same." Riley nodded as he and Tonks headed out onto the wizard street near the Ministry to grab some food and continue their conversation. "So how long do you Aurors get for lunch?"

"Usually an hour. Sometimes more on slower days—which are pretty rare right now—and of course, sometimes less on busy days. Today's a usual day, so I pretty much have an hour. How much lunch time do they give you travel gurus?"

"Ninety minutes, there about," Riley said as Tonks gave a low whistle. They walked into a small café known for its speedy service and took a seat at one of the empty tables by the window.

After ordering, Tonks started to explain how her cousin Sirius and his friends all used to take turns watching her as a child. "I think they all still see me as that annoying five year old who wanted ice cream all the time," she said, crinkling her nose. Riley laughed, which caused Tonks to hit him.

"Sorry, Nymphadora!" he said, emphasizing her full first name.

Tonks glared at him. "Okay, Travel Boy, bring it on!" she said, holding her arm up. The two arm wrestled until their food was brought out and Tonks won. From then on, they eat their lunches and had a pleasant conversation before returning to the ministry.