Dark Days Pass But Are Never Forgotten

****



Hello everyone! Hope your week has been as good as mine. Other than this annoying NCAA basketball thing completely consuming every single channel, things have been quite nice. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and read. I'm really shell shocked. I can't believe how much support I'm getting for this story. I'm really happy with this chapter. I hope you guys like it. I feel like I'm off to a slow start, but that is probably because I have about 100 ideas floating around in my head, and I can't wait until I get into the Auror training chapters. It's coming……

On another note…. I'm in the editing process for my previous two HP stories. If anybody is looking for a wonderful Beta, check out Anamarie, she is the best! (but remember I'm her priority client)

I also wanted to thank Joel for going over this chapter as well… Maybe someday My stories will be flawless.


Read and Review,
Nothing is my Own…..

If you would like to be added to the mailing list to be notified of updates please e-mail me at LogicalRaven@insightbb.com

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Campaigns, Trials and Pranks




"Draco Malfoy….are they mad?" Harry asked as he read the letter Cho had handed him quickly.

Cho shook her head quickly, "We have to go back to England tonight, my leave has been cut short."

Harry was only half listening as he re-read the words over and over. It didn't matter how many times he read them, he couldn't believe it was true. How could they even think about freeing Draco Malfoy, how could they be so thick?

Harry rolled his eyes, "Well, December O'Riley is going to hear it from me, I can't believe the Ministry is honestly going to let that git out."

Cho frowned, "I'm so sorry, I wanted these few days to be special, I wanted to get you away from everything."

Harry forced a smile, "It isn't your fault. It seems things are never going to end."

"Don't say that, things will get better," Cho said forcefully as a few tears trickled down her face, "It's suppose to be over."

"Well, it will never be over is the bloody Ministry has their way about it," Harry said bitterly handing Raymer's letter back to Cho.

"Cho Lei, come eat," Mrs. Chang called from the front of the garden.

Cho sighed at the sound of her mother's voice, "She's going to be so disappointed."

"She'll understand though," Harry offered.

Cho took a deep breath, "Sometimes I wish I'd never taken this Auror position."

****




Ron Weasley yawned as the pounding on the front door increased. He hadn't gotten much sleep during his night at the Burrow. Fred and George had decided to visit also and had kept him up all evening with stories of their new pranks. It didn't help that they had to figure out how to cure Ginny of her temporary blindness from eating one of their blurry muffins.

"I'm coming," Ron said groggily as he cracked open the main door.

"Good morning sir, is Mr. Potter home?"

Ron scanned the figured as he narrowed his eyes, "He's out, what do you want with him?"

The gentleman laughed as he took a quick bow, "George Steppin, I'm a campaign specialist. I was hired by the Order of Merlin to conduct Mr. Potter's campaign."

"He doesn't want to run," Ron said bitterly as he started to shut the door.

"Ah, you must be the best mate," George Steppin said with a grin as he caught the door and pushed past Ron to enter the room. "You have a photogenic face, I could do wonders from that angle."

Ron took an annoyed breath, "Harry isn't here."

The man smiled politely and took a seat on the couch and tapped his pocket with his wand and then pulled out a large briefcase, "I don't mind waiting, when do you expect him back?"

"I don't know," Ron said bitterly.

He shook his head in understanding, "Well, I'll just set up then."

"Harry doesn't want to run for Minister," Ron tried again.

"Oh, I'm sure he just hasn't seen the potential. Cornelius Fudge's time is over as Minister of Magic, the people are wanting a change. Harry Potter is young and wise in the ways of the world. Who better to lead the wizarding community of England into a new era," George said with a smile as he pulled out a notebook and jotted some of his statements down.

Ron threw his hands up, "Fine, but you can't say I didn't warn you."

Ron rolled his eyes as he ran up the stairs two at a time. He knew that when Harry got back if George Steppin was still here there would be hell to pay.

"Who was at the door?" Neville asked as Ron brushed by.

"Harry's campaign manager," Ron spat bitterly.

Neville's eyes grew wide, "His campaign manager? I thought he wasn't running."

"He isn't," Ron said quickly.

"Then why does he have a campaign manager?" Neville asked.

Ron as he grabbed the handle to his bedroom door, "Because the Order of Merlin hired one."

Neville peered over the banister, "Someone should tell him Harry is going to be in China with Cho for a few days."

"He said he wanted to wait. China?" Ron asked curiously, "Harry went to China?"

"He told us to tell you," Neville frowned, "The campaign guy is going to have a long wait."

Ron let a snicker escape him as he opened his bedroom door. He smiled momentarily as he watched Hermione sitting at his desk scribbling furiously onto a piece of parchment. He liked her best at moments like this.

"Who was at the door?" she asked not looking up.

"A campaign manager for Harry," Ron answered with a lopsided grin.

Hermione sighed, "Did you tell him Harry wasn't interested?"

Ron blinked, "Of course, but he's still waiting for him downstairs."

"Ron, you know how upset Harry is going to be when he gets home and is faced with a campaign manager. He told us last night he didn't want to run for Minister of Magic, the least you could have done is send him away," Hermione said with an annoyed tone.

"I told him that," Ron defended as he crashed into his bed, "It doesn't much matter, Neville said he went to China with Cho for a few days."

Hermione looked up from her parchment, "I'm worried about him, he doesn't seem happy."

"He just defeated the darkest lord in…" Ron started.

"The history of dark lords, I know, Ron. All the same I think you need to have a talk with him, and tell him you're sorry for being so insensitive."

"What?" Ron asked.

"You've been insensitive. It's obvious that Harry isn't into all this fame, and you boys have been nothing but a reminder of it since we left Hogwarts," Hermione stated, "That is why he blew up last night."

"He blew up because they nominated him for Minister of Magic, not because I was teasing him about it," Ron snapped.

"And you're the one who is allowing the campaign manager to sit down stairs and wait for Harry," Hermione argued.

"If you think you can do a better job, why don't you go downstairs and get rid of George what's his name," Ron said annoyed.

Hermione rose from her chair as she shut her book, "Fine, I will."

Ron blinked hard as Hermione marched her way out of is room and down the stairs into the main room. Ron followed her as a momentary pause from shock.

"Hermione," Ron said as he finally caught up with her but she waved him off.

"Excuse me?" Hermione said sweetly to the gentleman who was talking to Neville on the couch.

"Oh, and you must be the girlfriend," George Steppin said as he examined Hermione up and down.

"My girlfriend," Ron said quickly.

George smiled, "Oh how silly of me. The currently love interest is Chinese, you're the X who is like a sister to him now. Just another example how Harry Potter never writes anybody off."

"Wow," Neville said with a wide-eyed smile.

"Do you know how serious Harry and this Cho Chang are?" the campaign manager asked placing his quill to his head.

"Very serious," Neville answered.

A smile creep across George's face, "Excellent, I'll have Kimberly, that's my assistant, start drawing up the wedding plans."

"What?" Ron laughed.

"The Minister of Magic needs a wife, it shows stability and yet another difference between Harry Potter and Cornelius Fudge."

"Sir, I guess nobody told you that Harry doesn't want to run for Minister of Magic. He's declining the nomination," Hermione said quickly as she nudged Ron to suppress his chuckles.

George gave her one of his dazzling campaign smile, "My dear girl, I have never met a candidate I couldn't convince to run for an elected position."

"He's already created Harry's campaign theme," Neville interjected, "Vote Harry Potter for Minister of Magic, if he can defeat the Dark Lord he can do anything."

"He isn't going to like it," Hermione said quickly, "I think it be best if you leave."

"Nonsense. Harry James Potter is going to be the Minister of Magic. How can he possibly not like that?"

"He isn't even in the country, he went to China with his girlfriend for a few days!" Hermione practically shouted.

"No matter, I can wait. Would anyone like to help me start setting up Potter's Campaign Headquarters?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed Ron's arm and whispered into his ear, "If he's still here when Harry gets home things could get ugly. Desperate times call for desperate measures, go get Fred and George."

"Fred and George?" Ron asked with a confused expression.

Hermione lifted herself up to her tiptoes to bring herself closer to Ron's face, "They owe Harry a favor."

"Hermione…" Ron started but she silenced him with a quick kiss.

"Go, and hurry," she whispered as she noticed Neville pinning a 'Vote for Potter' button to his shirt.

"What are you going to do?" Ron asked.

Hermione sighed, "I'm not sure."

****




Harry sighed as he watched the two Chang house elves rushing to set the table before Mr. Chang arrived. How in the world Mrs. Chang ever convinced the two of them to stay for dinner with Malfoy being freed was beyond him. Yet, here he was sitting at the Chang family dinner table with his girlfriend by his side.

"We could have told her no," Cho whispered quickly as she glanced at the clock over the mantel.

Harry let a sigh escape him as he watched Cho's worried expressions, "It isn't going to do any good to worry. You said yourself that we're not allowed in the councils meetings."

"Still, I'd like to voice my opinion with a big picket sign before they assembled," she rushed.

"Quite mugglish of you," Harry said as his grin grew into a full smile.

Cho met his eye, "Is there something wrong with being a muggle?"

"I can just imagine you with a picket sign," Harry said lightly as he caught her serious expression.

Cho giggled in spite of herself.

"Miss. Cho, your father is home," Boo whispered as he passed by the laughing pair.

Cho immediately sobered up and rose from her seat. Harry followed suit, afraid he would be disrespecting Chinese tradition if he didn't rise.

"Father," Cho said with a beam as she caught sight of Mr. Chang.

"Cho Lei," Mr. Chang said sternly not looking up from a report he was reading.

"Hello sir," Harry offered, immediately regretting it.

Mr. Chang's face rose from his reading as it settled on Harry, "You."

"Father," Cho said quickly in a pleading voice, "Mum told me it would be okay to invite Harry to visit for a few days."

"Your mother did not okay it with me," Mr. Chang said stiffly not moving from his spot.

"We're going back to London tonight," Harry said feeling slightly offended.

Mr. Chang turned to Cho and said something in his native tongue.

Cho frowned, "We don't have a choice, father. Eros sent me a letter this afternoon telling me I needed to return to the Ministry tonight."

Harry felt like smirking at the sight of Mr. Chang's face when Cho answered him in English and Chinese.

"Darling, how was your day at the Consulate?" Mrs. Chang greeted as she entered into the kitchen.

Mr. Chang narrowed his eyes at his wife as he quickly started to ramble in an angry Chinese dialect. She returned his tone, and her eyes told Harry she was warning Mr. Chang to watch his temper.

"I'm sorry," Cho whispered.

An Xi rushed forwards helping Mr. Chang out of his overcoat.

"Lets just enjoy dinner," Mrs. Chang said hastily signaling an end to the argument in Chinese.

Mr. Chang took his seat grudgingly, not breaking his glare at Harry. Boo arrived a moment later with a tray of soup bowls.

"It's a traditional Japanese recipe that has been in my mother's family for ten generations," Cho said quickly as Harry ran his spoon through the clear broth.

"So, I hear you're running for Minister of Magic," Mr. Chang said spitefully as he sipped the soup out of his spoon.

Harry lowered his head willing his temper to stay controlled, "I was nominated by the Order of Merlin, but I didn't accept the nomination."

"Oh yes, the Order of Merlin, congratulations," Mr. Chang said sarcastically.

"I think it is wonderful you received an Order of Merlin, First Class," Mrs. Chang said giving her husband another look.

"Just another ploy by the boy to draw attention to himself," Mr. Chang said in response.

"Si," Mrs. Chang said dangerously at he husband.

Harry gave Cho an annoyed look as her parents started fussing in Chinese again.

"Do you like your soup?" Boo asked Harry, ignoring the bickering going on around him.
Si Chang rose from his chair and flung his napkin into his plate.

"Father," Cho pleaded, as her eyes brimmed with tears.

"I'm sorry Cho Lei, but I do not approve of this boy. Now you disrespect me by bringing him into my house without my permission," Mr Chang said firmly.

Cho narrowed her eyes and took a rattle breath, "Why do you hate him? Why don't you want to see me happy?"

"Happy? If happiness is sharing a bed with a boy you barely know," Mr. Chang began despite the gasps from Mrs.Chang.

"I'm not sharing a bed with him," Cho said rather broken.

"You are living in his house. I respect no man who disrespects a woman by making her a scarlet," Mr. Chang said quickly staring at Harry as he spoke.

Harry started to shake slightly, he kept telling himself this wasn't his fight and he shouldn't get involved.

"A scarlet?" Cho asked getting close to the point of hysteria, "If you and mum hadn't moved back to China."

"Silent, you will not take that tone in my house," Mr. Chang said sternly.

Harry closed his eyes as he watched Cho concede the argument and slump back into her chair. Mr. Chang stood for a moment as he if was waiting for Harry to respond, then he turned and left.

"You'll have to forgive my husband Harry, he is very traditional," Mrs. Chang said with a forced smile.

Harry nodded.

"It isn't fair," Cho fumed as she wiped her eyes with the back of her robe.

Mrs. Chang gave Cho an encouraging look, "Your father is a good man, a difficult man, but a good one."

Cho slammed down her spoon, "The only reason he doesn't like Harry is because he's afraid we're going to get married! He wants me to end up with someone like him or Eros."

"Your father wants you to be happy, Cho Lei," Mrs. Chang said briskly, annoyance creeping into her voice.

"You want me to marry a Chinese or Japanese wizard to," Cho spat.

"I want you to stick to your roots, but I have never said an ill word about Cedric or Harry," Mrs. Chang returned.

Harry swallowed hard; this was turning out to be a terrible evening. Not only were the Changs comparing him to Eros Raymer, but he was also competing with the memory of Cedric Diggory. Cho face fell into her hands, and Harry knew without even seeing her eyes and she was crying.

"Excuse me," Mrs. Chang said politely as she rose from her seat.

Harry touched Cho's back lightly, "Are you okay?"

"I hate them," she sobbed, "It isn't fair, why can't I make my own choices?"

"Do you want to go?" Harry asked lightly, he still wasn't comfortable with her emotional side.

Cho sat up straight and took a deep breath to control her crying, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made you go through this."

"It isn't your fault. I'm sure your father will come around eventually," Harry dared.

Cho narrowed her swollen, "He's a stubborn old fool. He'll never waiver. If he said he's against us, I'll never have his approval."

"I'll just try harder to prove I'm not going to hurt you," Harry offered.

Cho forced a grin, "You don't have to prove you aren't going to hurt me. You don't have to prove anything."

"Miss. Cho, are you and Mr. Harry still hungry?" Boo asked tugging gently on her sleeve.

"No, I think we've both lost our appetites," Harry answered for her.

Cho nodded as the elf dashed back into the kitchen with a disappointed look on his face, "Well, we need to get to the Ministry. Maybe we can do something productive tonight."

"Malfoy," Harry said hatefully, "With all the excitement I almost forgot."

Cho narrowed her eyes as she pursed her lips, "I didn't."

****




Draco stared the pale gray walls of the interrogation room. He wasn't sure how much time had passed since he had been brought into the room. He imagined it was near four hours by the way the sun was fading through the small window in a high corner of the room.

The sun felt like fire upon his skin. He hadn't seen the sun in months. As the memories of his confined cell flooded back into his mind he started to shake. He couldn't go back there, he wouldn't go back there.

Draco could hear rattled whispered coming from the opposite side of the steel door. He could make out words like "traitor" and "fool." He narrowed his eyes in a nervous flutter. What if he was a fool? What if they were just planning on using him and throwing him back into Azkaban?

Wizengamot was meeting with the Auror Councils of Elders. The two groups would decide his fate. Amelia Bones and Alastor Moody had offered him a proposition; he would be forced to betray his blood. They would use little Draco Malfoy to catch his father, the notorious Lucius Malfoy. He had sworn to do whatever the Aurors asked to catch his father, and his pardon would not be guaranteed until his father took his place in Azkaban.

He shivered as the thoughts of Azkaban rushed through his mind again. He wouldn't go back here, no. He would do whatever they wanted even betray his blood. Malfoy startled as the steel door rattled open.

"Draco, the council had decided on the proposition we've offered you," Madame Bones said swiftly as she and Alastor Moody entered the room.

Draco felt a dry swallow journey down his throat as he waited for the verdict.

"They've agreed to the terms of your pardon. You will remain in Azkaban until your father is caught, and if you assist us sufficiently you will regain your freedom," Madame Bones continued.

"I'm going back to Azkaban?" Draco asked with panic in his voice.

Moody snarled his scared face, "Don't panic Malfoy, you won't be in solitary confinement, and you'll only be there until arrangements can be made other wise."

"We will be assigning an Auror team to you to help catch your father. We expect you give them your full cooperation," Madame Bone's baritone sounded as she placed the pardon papers in front of Draco to sign.

Alastor Moody snatch the papers out from underneath Draco's nose and focused his magical eye on him, "Remember my warning Malfoy. There are things so much worse than death."

Amelia Bones shifted uncomfortably but didn't say a word.

Draco took a narrow breath as he picked up the quill. He scratched his signature quickly without reading the logistics. Reading it made it more real. He had just sold his family out to save his soul.

"Well, I'll run this through the proper departments. Have a good day gentlemen," Madame Bones said quickly as she rolled up the parchment.

As the door shut behind Amelia Bones, Alastor Moody turned to Draco with a sadistic grin, "Ready to see the River Trolls again?"

"Yes," said Draco in a barely audible whisper, "I'm ready to face hell again."

****



The halls of the Ministry of Magic were much quieter. The hour was late and the mood between Harry and Cho was grim. The visit to China could not have gone worse if Harry had imagined it. The work that had been done to repair Cho and her father's damaged relationship had been destroyed within a few short hours.

"Lets go to the Department of Law Enforcement first, since we're already at the Ministry," Cho said quickly as she pushed the elevator to its appropriate floor. A few memos whizzed by them as the elevator stated to rise.

"Do you think they've met yet? The Council of Elders and Wizengamot?" Harry asked.

Cho narrowed her eyes quickly but didn't say a word.

The two exited the elevator as it stopped on the appropriate floor.

"Cho!" Eros Raymer said quickly as he rushed over towards them.

"Eros, what's going on? I got your message," Cho said.

Eros nodded towards Harry a let a sneer slightly cross his face, "I'm not on the Elder Council so I don't know what they decided, but apparently Draco Malfoy has negotiated some sort of deal with the Ministry."

"Where is December O'Riley?" Harry asked as he glared in Eros's direction.

"In the Court Room 10l, they're hearing another case right now," Eros said flatly as he placed a hand on the small of Cho's back to lead them out of the corridor.

Cho sighed, "So that is it, Malfoy if free?"

"I don't know," Eros said shortly.

Harry narrowed his eyes, as Eros's hand didn't move once the they had stopped.

"This is ridiculous, I can't believe they'd even agreed to negotiate with that stupid git," Cho ranted. "Did Alastor Moody agree?"

Raymer shifted slightly on his feet as Madame Bones passed by.

"Good evening Amelia. Lot of excitement happening," Eros said politely.

"Yes indeed. Eros will be a good lad and run these papers up to Sanford's office for processing. I need to speak with Cornelius about something before he leaves," Madame Bones said quickly passing the parchment to Raymer.

"Oh course. I'll tell Sanford to place a rush on them," Raymer offered.

"No need for that. It is going to take some times for arrangements to be made," Madame Bones said as she quickly walked past.

Cho eyes darted to the parchment, "What does it say?"

Eros Raymer propped up his chin as he cocked his eye in his student's direction, "Have you met Karl Sanford?"

Cho shook her head to say something, but Eros interrupted her.

"I know you're off duty, but come with me you'll love Sanford," Eros said forcefully as he grabbed Cho had to pulled her along.

"I'm sorry," she mouthed back towards Harry who was beyond angry.

Harry turned back around brooding as his mind wondered what in the world he was doing there. He noticed a few wizards passed by him tipping their hats as they rushed into a nearby room. He figured they were probably just trying to get in good position with him since they thought he was a candidate for Minister of Magic.

"Harry?"

He spun around to a stern looking December O'Riley. Her expression made it obvious she wasn't having much better of a evening the he was.

"Is it true? Did they set free Malfoy?" Harry demanded.

December O'Riley gritted her teeth for a moment then her face loosened, "I'm sorry, Harry, I was over ruled on my vote."

"So it's true?" Harry said with a soured expression.

"It's complicated. He won't be official released until we capture Lucius Malfoy."

"He sold out his father, is that what he's done?" Harry said bitterly, "He'll betray his own blood and the Ministry is foolish enough to let the traitor walk free?"

"It wasn't an easy decision, but Draco Malfoy may be our only chance at capturing Lucius. Lucius has done far worse than Draco had," December tried to explain.

Harry took a rattled breath, "Tell Cho I went back to Grimmauld Place."

"Where did Cho go?" December said looking over Harry's shoulder.

"Up to deliver papers to some idiot named Stanford with Raymer," Harry said shortly.

December sighed as he nodded, "I'll send her over to your place as soon as I see her. I'm assuming Raymer owled her the news about Malfoy's release?"

Harry didn't have to answer.

"I'm sorry, Harry, I told Eros not to inform Cho of this situation during her leave time. I'll have a word with him," December promised.

Harry knew that December understood his problem with Eros Raymer. How could he trust the intentions of someone who had openly told him he was after his girl.

****



"Terry, what are you doing?" Hermione asked desperately as she walked past the study with an arm full of 'Vote for Harry' posters.

"I'm turning the study into a election room," he answered as he swished his wand and created a election map on the wall.

Hermione face grew red as she set down the arm full of posters, "No, Harry doesn't want this!" She quickly erased Terry's work.

"George Steppin said we needed an election war room. You know a place to keep up with the polls and such," he argued.

Hermione pointed her wand at Terry with a threatening glare; " Harry has made it perfectly clear he wants nothing to do with this nonsense."

Terry narrowed his eyes, "Are you threatening me Granger?"

"I'm begging you to help me put a stop to this before Harry gets home," Hermione sighed.

Terry shrugged as he placed his wand back into his pocket, "You better go stop Neville, he's making buttons with Harry's picture on them in the parlor."

Hermione sighed, "I know. Here, dispose of these posters, I'll go stop Neville."

"Err, Hermione? I hate to tell you this, but Dean left a few moments ago with an arm full of these posters to hang up in Hogmeade."

Hermione snarled her nose, "Oh I do wish my back-up would hurry up and get here."

"Your back-up?" Terry asked.

An eardrum-ringing crack in the main room caused Hermione's eyes to widen. Only two wizards she knew used a loudness charm to make their apparitions more noticeable.

"The Weasley's have arrive," Fred said loudly as George appeared next to him a split second later.

Hermione rushed over to them with a relieved smile, "What took you so long?"

"Ah patients, we had to decide which pranks to bring," George explained.

Fred nodded, "Not an easy task."

"So did Ron tell you what was going on?" Hermione asked.

Fred nodded, "He told us some bloke is here trying to start Harry's campaign."

"We'd like to volunteer our services," George finished.

Hermione smiled in relief, "Good what do you two have planned, and where is Ron?"

"Ron went to the Burrow to get more reinforcements. We did mold Ginny in our image," Fred explained.

"So George what first, Canary Creams or Nose Bleed Nougat?" Fred asked as he looked into his bag.

"I say the Nose Bleed Nougat, much more subtle don't you think?" George nodded. "Where is this campaign specialist?"

"Ah, more Potter supports! Allow me to introduce myself I'm Harry's Campaign manger, George Steppin," he said gleefully as he walked into the main room from the kitchen. "I was just talking to Harry's house elf about planning a fundraising dinner."

"Dobby isn't Harry's house elf," Hermione said viciously, but Steppin didn't pay much mind.

"Good ole Hermione, still into the whole elves right thing," Fred nodded.

"Would you boys be interested in hanging elections poster in Diagon Alley? I already have a crew plastering the streets of Hogmeade," George Stepping asked.

George Weasley winked at his brother Fred who let a large sadistic grin spread across his face.

"Mr. Steppin was it? Allow my brother George and myself to offer our assistances. You see we owe a very successful business in the heart of Diagon Alley." Fred stared.

"Perhaps you've heard of it? Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes?" George offered.

"We have a brilliant plan," Fred said.

"Brilliant," George added.

Fred smiled at his brother George handed him one of their Nose Bleed Nougats with a wink. He then threw his arm around Steppin's shoulder to distract him from the brilliant plan.

"The way we see it is that Harry need an angle to capture the young wizarding communities' vote. After all, we've been told Harry is a nut, a mad man, for years."
George glanced back to see if Fred was done charming the candy to have a flashing'Vote for Harry' wrapper.

"The easiest way to win a young wizards vote is to give them something to remember," George finished as he spun Steppin around to a smiling Fred.

"Here is phase one," Fred announced.

George Steppin took the candy with a interested eye, "I think this promotional idea could be very useful."

"Oh you haven't experience the best part," Fred said with a cheeky grin.

George Weasley nodded, "Go on and give it a try, it's a secret family receipt."

George Steppin smiled as he placed the chewy piece of candy into his mouth, "These are quite tasty."

"There are some side effects, but they are generally mild," Fred sighed as George nodded in agreement.

"Side effects?" Steppin asked.

"To the Nose Bleed Nougats," Fred said quickly.

As the word escaped him George Steppin grabbed his bleeding nose. The smile faded from his face as he made a dash for the restroom.

"We told you it was a brilliant plan," George Weasley said with a laugh.

"Should we give him the antidote?" Fred asked.

George seemed to consider it for a moment then smiled, "The effects should subside eventually. Did you bring the portable swamp?"


****
Well, what did you think. I had to add the Fred/George bit. I love those two nuts. For you Ginny fans out there, never fear the pranking is far from over. I hope to have another update up before Wed, but no promises.

NEXT UPDATE: 03/28/04 a the latest ……but I'll probably update sooner.