Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter or its associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N): Enjoy. It'll be probably Friday before the next chapter.

Chapter 23

Christmas at Grimmauld

Harry had once tried to figure out how long it took gossip to go from one end of Hogwarts to the other. It was a problem Ginny had been infinitely helpful with, as had Luna with her keen, if oblivious, insights into the people and castle. For something simple such as someone falling in flying class, it could take half the day. A possible crush took and hour. A dead relative took half that. News of Dumbledore's death had gone from impossibility to reality in half that again. A full and surprisingly accurate account of what had happened in the Ministry circulated through the entire school, including the students who had slept in, in six minutes.

Harry and Ginny emerged from the passage a good forty-five minutes later, furiously trying to straighten their clothes. She waved a wand past her head and her hair instantly pulled itself back into a neatly combed order. She began to raise it to Harry's head before realizing the futility and stuck it back in her pocket. Harry pulled his robes back around his shoulders, the torn edge still hanging to the side. Though they had managed to clean up a little, they hadn't had time to change clothes. They glanced at each other, both smiling like idiots. Harry did his best, which wasn't saying much, to speak in a serious tone.

"Well, I must say…that's the best thank you I've ever gotten." She reached up and straightened his glasses, also vainly faking a serious tone.

"Yes, same here. You know," she began to straighten his shirt and then grabbed his lapels forcefully, "it could have been even better." Harry's arm started twitching again.

"In a secret passage at school? We'll be back at Grimmauld tomorrow."

"Yes…yes…" She released his robes and stepped back. "I suppose you're right. And my parents were right around the corner. Bit of an uproar if they had found us."

"You think?" He was interrupted from further innuendo by a rumbling in his stomach. She cocked an eyebrow as she glanced at him. "Well…I did sort of skip breakfast."

"So did I." She glanced along the corridor and noticed the portrait that led to the kitchens. "And there we go!" Harry followed her eyes but strangely shook his head.

"Wait…lunch should be starting about now. We go to the kitchens the house elves will kick us out. Well, Dobby would probably stop them, but why risk it?"

"Right…so the Hall it is." She took his offered arm and they set out back across the castle. "You know, we could have…"

"Ginny!"

"What? I'm just saying…"

"We'll be home tomorrow. Besides, this place will be crawling with parents in the next few hours. And Aurors. And everyone else. No parent is going to stay home now. There's probably a hundred owls coming in this minute." Harry's prediction turned out to be perfectly true. It seemed the news of the battle at the Ministry had taken scarcely longer to circle the wizarding world than it had taken to cross Hogwarts. The ceiling of the Great Hall was a tornado of owls deluging nearly everyone within with at least one piece of mail. Several dozen envelopes were piling up in front of Professor McGonagall's chair at the head table. Only Flitwick and Sprout were at the table currently, sorting through the ever growing stack of mail.

Harry glanced around to the rest of the room and found not only students but Ministry workers and a couple Aurors eating. Many of the workers sat with their children while the Aurors each had a small clearing around them. Most of the DA had apparently cleared the infirmary and were seated, according to team instead of house, consuming some much need sustenance. As they entered a few students close to the door noticed them and soon the entire student body had risen and was giving them a round of applause. Taking a small bow at the reception, they found Ron and Hermione and hurried to sit across from them. Ron was downing everything in sight while Hermione ate with far more reserve. With barely a nod for greeting, the pair sat and began mimicking Ron's actions. Hermione looked up between bites.

"Where have you two been? McGonagall's been here looking for you twice Harry. You just disappeared for over an hour!" Harry shrugged and kept double handing his way through a chicken while Ginny responded.

"Where have we been? How about what were you two doing? I noticed you were gone when I left my parents' room." Hermione opened her mouth to respond…and then snapped it shut. "Yeah…thought so."

"Well…anyway, she said to give you this." She handed Harry an envelope with his name hastily scribbled on it. Having already torn through the entire roast chicken he wiped off his hand and took it. Ripping the seal he pulled out a small scrap of paper and read over the few lines quickly. "What is it?" Harry handed it back so she could read for herself.

"A meeting. She wants me there as soon as possible." He immediately rose from the table and stepped over the bench. Ginny glanced up at him, again looking concerned.

"What do suppose it's about?"

"Afternoon tea." There was no trace humor in his response.

"Hey, don't get snippy with me." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment.

"Sorry. I'm sorry. I'll…be back as soon as I can." She nodded sympathetically as he began to stride away, all three staring after him. A thousand possibilities shot through his mind as he began to ascend the levels of the castle. For once, the only thing he didn't fear was the ministry trying to punish him. Bracing the best he could for whatever might await him, he passed the Gargoyle and knocked on McGonagall's door. Her curt and slightly weary reply came back a second later and he pushed the door open.

The office was more crowded than he ever remembered it. To one side stood seven people he recognized as Hogwarts Governors in a little group conferring with each other. To the other side stood half a dozen Aurors, strangely silent. Remus and Moody were standing together near the desk which McGonagall was sitting at. To the far side of the desk, much to Harry's surprise stood Cornelius Fudge, looking more powerless than Harry could remember. All of them turned as he entered, each going silent. Stepping toward the desk his head half turned to see Professor Keystone leaning against the wall, partly behind a cupboard.

"You summoned me Headmistress?" She nodded slowly and looked up at him.

"Yes Mr. Potter, thank you for coming. Though you might have been a bit quicker."

"Sorry, got hung up in the infirmary." For a wonder she let the blatant lie slide. Clearly she had other things on her mind, or was taking advantage of the useful story for the others. "What can I do for you?" She considered him for a moment before speaking.

"Do you know how many people died this morning at the Ministry?" He considered the question for a moment, trying to recall the numbers Neville had ran off.

"Uh…sixty…something? Neville knows for sure."

"Seventy three, including thirty-two Death Eaters. I did check with Mr. Longbottom." She indicated a scrap of paper in her hand and tossed it aside. She rose and squared herself to face him. For the first time since Dumbledore's death, she seemed to have regained her strength. "You ignored my express commands, my wishes and who knows how many rules by leading a group of fellow students into a battle that should have been a massacre." She paused for a moment, her voice dropping to carry a truly awestruck tone.

"And then, you did something even less likely. You brought every one of them back and the worst injury was a bumped head. You not only brought them back, but also rescued two thirds of the ministry's employees and struck a greater blow against You-Know-Who in one hour than the Ministry has managed in two years." Harry noticed both Fudge and the Aurors looking relatively sheepish by this point. Remus and Moody, on the other hand, beamed with pride. "You've broken more rules and laws in one day than convicted criminals do in a life time…and I'll be amazed if you don't get the Order of Merlin for it." She finally looked genuinely proud of him, approval clear in her eye.

"Which is why you're here Harry." He turned a little as Fudge spoke, for once without the pompous air that was usually his calling card. "If the past couple years have shown me anything, it's that you and Albus had a much better grasp on what was going on than I did." Harry nearly fainted at that. A glance told him some of the others felt the same. Humility from Fudge? Had the world truly turned on its ear? "Unfortunately, Rufus fell into much the same predicament; surrounded by yes men and insulated in that ivory tower we call the Minister's office." He approached and, for the only time Harry could remember, looked rather abashed. "Forgive me Harry. I'm just an old politician, too used to hearing what he wanted." He slowly extended his hand. After a moment, Harry took it and shook firmly.

"You didn't come just to say that." Fudge smiled just a little and shook his head.

"No I didn't. Professor Keystone was kind enough to review most of what happened at the ministry. All of us are very impressed. However, with Minister Scrimgeour missing and presumed dead…or worse, some quick decisions had to be made. Proving once again that people prefer the familiar, if less than wonderful, to the unknown, I've been named the emergency Minister. Though Minister of what…"

"Of those who survived." Harry turned to find the lead Auror, a grizzled middle aged man who had lost an arm, looking directly at him. "Iverson McCraggen, Deputy Head of the Auror office. Harting, the Head, died on the table at St. Mungo's, leaving me in charge. I'll give it to you straight Potter. The ministry is shattered, the Aurors are scattered and broken and now we've no place to call head quarters. This morning just proved that the Ministry building, despite all our efforts, is no longer safe. I've already begun sending teams back to recover and identify the dead, but we can't go back there until You-Know-Who has been dealt with." Harry suddenly got fed up with the euphemisms.

"Bloody Hell! His name is Voldemort! Use it!" Several of them took half a step back as Harry felt an ethereal wind start to rise around him, causing his robes to ripple a little. Quickly taking a deep breath before he blew someone or something up, he continued in a cold voice. "What's he going to do? Kill you? He as good as murdered seventy people today, how many of you think it was because they said his name?" Shaking his head in disgust he turned back to McGonagall. "You needed me here for something?" For a miracle she ignored his tone.

"Yes, Mr. Potter, we do. We were hoping you might be able to give us a bit of insight into what You-…Voldemort's next move might be. Where will he strike next?" Harry glanced around wondering what effect his answer would have on the rest. He and Ron had worked this out months ago; he just hadn't expected the Ministry to be hit first. It still came down to the same thing, the same answer.

"Here." Shock resonated around the room in a flash. "It's all that's left; it's all he truly wants. Other than me dead. His goal is to take Hogwarts." It took several moments before any of them could respond. It was McGonagall who did.

"Thank you Harry." She glanced to the governors. "We were afraid that's what you'd say. Well…even so, we've agreed it's more important than ever that the school stay open. And the ministry if currently looking for a new place to gather, if only temporarily." He glanced around and received confirming nods from the governors and the few Aurors. Fudge was also nodding an agreement.

"I don't know where we might find temporary offices, but needless to say, they'll remain secret even if we do. Might I speak to you come the New Year Mr. Potter? There are a couple things I would value your insight on." Harry watched him warily, still unused to this Fudge, before nodding slowly. "Thank you. Well, until then. Fare well." A short bow to the Headmistress and he headed out, carrying the Aurors in his wake. A moment later the Governors also bade farewell and departed for family and friends.

Keystone pushed away from the wall and approached. "You're sure he'll strike here next?" Harry nodded slowly as he responded.

"Yes. Hogwarts holds a fascination for him and possessing it is his primary goal."

"Then I'd best go speak to my friends, see if we can get more help. Professor." With a half bow to McGonagall he turned and strode out. Remus watched him go before following suit.

"Tonks was part of the first group to go back. She was one of the few that hadn't already fought. I'm going to go check on her." As he passed he set a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Your parents would be proud Harry." Nodding quickly he continued on.

"I'll come with you. See if these Aurors still know how to fight." Moody followed him out, giving Harry a rather respectful nod as he passed, and leaving him alone with McGonagall.

"Harry…are you still planning to go home tomorrow?" It took a moment for Harry's mind to make the jump to their new topic.

"Uh…yeah. Someone will be staying with Percy most of the time, at least until he wakes up, but I'm still planning to go through New Years at least. Why…? You want me to stay?" She shook her head slowly.

"No…I want you to take some time away." She turned to the window and took a few steps toward it. Harry felt vaguely uncomfortable for a moment before she spoke. "Harry…I've never been as smart as Albus. I could never see the patterns he could or learn much of what he was capable of. He had a plan, I know he did. And he passed it on to you. I won't ask you to tell me what it was, I doubt you would anyway." She turned back and Harry was surprised at the nearly pleading look in her eye. "But…is there anything you can tell me?" He only needed to consider it a moment. He didn't know what else Dumbledore had planned, but he knew what had to be done here.

"Keep the school going. He loved Hogwarts above all else and would want it to stay open. I'm sorry I can't tell you more."

"I understand…thank you." Harry nodded slowly, his eyes scanning the room over all the things he had seen before and he realized again just how much of the man was still here. He glanced back to the headmistress. "Take care Harry."

"I will." She nodded and he could sense it was time to leave. Turning back, he pulled the door open.

"Albus would be proud of you." Smiling to himself, Harry exited and headed down the stairs, past the stone guardian and back out into the school which was abuzz with activity. Glancing up, he found the others waiting for in the hall. The girls were standing close together and whispering while Ron leaned against the opposite wall looking bored and occasionally glancing at them quizzically. As Harry approached he pushed off the wall and inclined his head in greeting.

"Hey mate."

"Hey Ron."

"So, what did McGonagall want? We saw some Aurors and Cornelius Fudge of all people leaving just a few minutes ago." The girls joined him as he answered.

"Uh…yeah…he's been made temporary minister since Scrimgeour is…missing." Hermione looked nearly as outraged as Harry would have felt at being told that.

"Fudge?! But he's an idiot! After all he's done; they're going to let him have the job again!" The others looked just as annoyed until they noticed the passive acceptance on Harry's face. Hermione looked at him quizzically. "What?"

"Fudge. He's…changed. I think that year out of office gave him a real wake up call. He may not be the best available choice, but I think he'll be the most effective right now. Besides, they need someone to look to and at the very least, he'll do minimal damage." Ron nodded thoughtfully.

"You think he'll actually listen to you this time?"

"I think he might. Which reminds me, they were asking about what I thought Voldemort's next move would be."

"You tell them the truth?"

"Of course." Ginny glanced back and forth and Harry realized neither she nor Hermione had been in on that particular conversation. He and Ron had hadn't meant to exclude them, it just seemed they were better able to think with tactical clarity when the girls weren't in the room. "We'll explain later. Too many people around here." The both nodded in agreement and Ginny glanced back down the corridor, huntedly. "What?"

"Parents have started arriving and settling in. Some how the fact it was an organized group students that went to the ministry has been left out of the stories and no one is seems positive which students went. None of the parents anyway. There are three names that keep coming up though." Harry pointed to Hermione, Ron and himself. "Yep. You especially. A dozen parents have already tried to interrogate us to find out where you were. I'm not sure if they want to thank you or kill you, but they are hunting you."

"Great. So I only have to get through half the castle without being seen to get back to the tower." He smiled a little. "Fortunately, I have just the thing." Glancing around to make sure the hall was clear, he whipped out his invisibility cloak and wrapped it around himself. Hermione smiled appreciatively.

"Good idea. Ronald, you head for the dungeons, I'll head for the Astronomy Tower and Ginny, Harry can follow you up to our room." With quick nods the pair broke off in opposite directions to draw off anyone searching for Harry. Waiting for a few moments until they were out of sight, Ginny headed out as well. Walking silently, Harry followed her down the hall. She was careful not to look back at him as she passed several people walking with purpose, a few asking if she knew where Harry Potter was. With all the sincerity befitting a Weasley child, she lied right to their faces.

Reaching Ron and Hermione's room, he finally took off the cloak and crashed to the couch next to her. Having been basically at a dead run since he woke up in a cold sweat, it felt good to sit still and do nothing. He glanced over as she leaned into his shoulder and glanced up at him.

"So…what do we do now, 'Captain'?"

"Rest. Lots of rest."

The thing that got to Harry, as he entered the Great Hall and sat next to his friends for dinner, was the curious looks he got. Not from the students, who had grown used to his presence and various antics, but from their parents and the ministry officials. Having joined the students, they now nicely filled the tables and as students or coworkers informed them, they would inevitably rise to try and get a glimpse of him. Having grown used to it for the last seven years, he pretty much ignored it, but it still irked the back of his mind. He also noticed more than a few staring at Professor Keystone as he entered and spilt off from his friends to take his place at the staff table.

That was all pushed away though as McGonagall stood from her seat and awaited silence. It came instantly from the student body, though it took surprisingly longer for the adults to fall silent, something which visibly annoyed her. Finally having everyone's attention, she spoke.

"Good evening. Welcome to all of our visitors, I hope your stay will be comfortable in this dark time." Having observed the niceties, her voice became far more serious. "As you know, the Ministry of Magic itself was attacked this morning and virtually destroyed by Lord Voldemort and a contingent of his Death Eaters. Directly due to the intervention of a group from this school, the attack was repelled, but at a great cost of life and limb. Despite that, the building itself remains unsafe. So, for the time being, a number of its employees and its entire Auror department will be housed here at the school. I trust you to treat them with the respect they deserve.

"Now…over the course of Christmas break, the kitchens will be operating on a holiday schedule so bear that in mind. Also, for the duration of the year, it has been decided that all further excursions outside the castle will be canceled. This means no visits to Hogsmeade will be allowed and that Care for Magical Creatures will be conducted inside the walls." She took a breath and steadied herself before continuing. "Professor Dumbledore once said 'The time is coming when we will all have to choose between what is right and what is easy.' I'm telling you now, that time is here. Never before has the Magical world known danger and darkness such as exists right now. This castle, and all of us, are a beacon of hope in these dark times and together we can keep it so." Leaving that thought in the air, she waved her hands to summon the feast and returned to her seat.

Harry and his friends dug in, as did much of the DA. They had heard this speech before, when he made it four months ago. For the rest however, it took a few moments of contemplation before they slowly began eating.

It was a challenge for Harry to collect everything he wanted to bring back to his house for the holidays and not have it bulging out of his pockets. In the end he decided that all he really needed was his broom and some other odds and ends. He could always come back if he needed something else. How to get the broom to Ron's room, where the quartet would be leaving from, though was still a problem, but one easily solved. Using the key he jumped to Zonko's and then back to the school.

The recovered Arthur had left early in the morning, supposedly to talk to some of his fellow ministry workers who had been home during the attack. Before leaving he had again thanked Harry for his help. Molly had decided she would be coming back later after receiving a letter from the twins that they would keep an eye on Percy for her. Charlie, Bill and Fleur were also coming in for the holidays. The attack on Percy was the deciding factor on where the couple would spend Christmas. Molly was looking brighter at possibly having her whole family back together for Christmas.

Harry popped into Ron and Hermione's sitting room and looked around, his broom over his shoulder. Ron appeared immediately, strangely energetic for so early in the morning. "Morning mate."

"Morning. You two ready to go?" He pointed to a suitcase sitting next to a couch, a broom strapped to the top.

"Yep, all set."

"Where's Hermione's?" Harry glanced around the room but found no other luggage.

"Oh…turned out neither of us had a lot to bring along, so we split a case. Less to carry." Harry cocked an eyebrow at that.

"Did you now?"

"Yeah we did, so?" He turned at Hermione's voice to find her coming out of her room. Harry shrugged noncommittally.

"Nothing." He was saved from further explanation as Ginny appeared from the portrait hole also with trunk behind her and a Firebolt over her shoulder. Ron got what Harry quickly realized was his first clear look at the broom. When she had been on the train he had been otherwise occupied and she hadn't had the chance to ride it since. His mouth dropped open as he stared at it.

"Morning. Neville's got the coin and promised to watch the school, so I'm ready to go."

"Where did you get that?!" He was pointing straight at the broom over her shoulder. Hermione followed his finger and also looked surprise at seeing the top of the line and extremely expensive broom. Ginny looked just a little smug as she responded.

"For my birthday."

"From who?!"

"From me." Both of them looked at Harry, Ron stunned and Hermione with a strangely happy look in her eye. Ron couldn't speak any more and simply stood there staring at the broom. It took Hermione grabbing him in one hand and their trunk in the other to get him to move. Harry held out the key and each of them Grabbed hold, Ginny holding the broom and trunk in one hand. A second later they were pulled the short distance from the room to Zonko's basement.

Hermione and Ron each took one of the trunks and apperated a moment later. Pulling Ginny close for a side along apperation, Harry turned a little and disappeared. Both of them arrived in the entryway at Grimmauld a moment later. Glancing over, Harry found the portrait of Mrs. Black still looking angry and sulking in her blessedly silent frame. Heading up the two flights of stairs past the already bustling second floor, they found the others waiting near on the landing. Harry helped Ginny carry her trunk down to her room while Ron and Hermione headed into Ron's room to unpack.

When Harry arrived at his door after helping Ginny he found a few packages piled at his otherwise sealed room. Opening them after stepping inside he found the Tri-Wizard cup, his Quiddich plaque and the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. The cup and plaque found homes on of the short bookcases near the door. After drawing the sword and swinging it around a couple times, he set it on the desk and turned to cleaning away the dust that had built up on everything in Mrs. Weasley's forced absence.

Christmas Eve turned out to be a relatively calm day. Order members arrived slowly all day and the second floor grew accordingly to room them all. By the time evening itself had rolled around, there were a good fifty people in the house. With so many around, the quartet quickly found themselves in Harry's room, if only to get a little peace and quiet. They spent very little time talking and instead just enjoyed being away from the school, Ginny curled up with Harry while Ron and Hermione half sat together while she paged through a book. Harry chuckled to himself at the way his two friends would slowly move closer for half an hour before one of them realized how close they were and pulled back. He, on the other hand, simply enjoyed being close to Ginny.

Christmas itself was also a low key affair starting with a typical Weasley breakfast and followed by not much else. No one had had time to pick up presents though Mrs. Weasley had managed her usual run of sweaters, once again including Harry and this time Hermione. Most everyone was content to sleep and just rest, many of them not even bothering to get fully dressed, simply floating around in robes with mugs of hot chocolate from the constantly brewing cauldron Molly had set up in the basement.

Hermione and Ron disappeared for few hours during the day and Harry found out from Ron after they returned that the pair had visited her parents. The point that he kept bringing up was being introduced as her boyfriend. Harry just shook his head at the way they were acting. It had always been like that with them, never the same for more than a few minutes at a time. It was kind of like watching lightning crackle during a storm the way they would flash and flourish and then shy away from each other. Their standard seemed to be leap ahead, jump back and then slowly work their way back to that point before jumping ahead again. At this rate they were going to be married before either proposed.

All afternoon the Weasley's rotated through so Percy would never be alone. As the twins, Bill and Charlie arrived they immediately sought out Harry and each time was the same. It would start with whole hearted thanks for rescuing their father, slightly less enthusiastic thanks for their brother and then some kind hearted ribbing about him going out with Ginny. Having just escaped the lately arrived Charlie after departing the packed living room for bed, he slid into his room and closed the door, falling back against it.

Falling back onto his bed after pulling off the family sweater, he kicked off his shoes and stretched, pulling the t-shirt free of his jeans. He barely had a minute to rest before a knock came at his door. His eyes popped open as he sat up at the edge of the bed and slowly rose to his feet. "Come in." The door opened slowly and Ginny slid in, firmly closing it behind her. She was wearing a long bathrobe tied around her waist and pulled tightly around her neck. She also carried a small box. "Oh…hey."

"Hi." She looked uncharacteristically nervous for a moment, but it quickly passed. "I got you something." She lifted the small box a few inches. He took the few steps forward and accepted it. It was indeed a small black box with a slip on top.

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"I know. But I think you'll like this." Cocking an eyebrow at what it might be, he looked the box over and removed the top. Sitting inside, in a single piece of white tissue paper, was a deep red stick on bow. He stared at it, confused.

"Uh…thanks." He glanced up to find her smiling at him. With out a word she picked the bow from the box, pulled off the paper and stuck it firmly to the shoulder of her robe, just above her heart. When her eyes again met his, they held a look he remembered very well.

"Merry Christmas Harry; would you like to unwrap your present now?" Harry's arm started twitching violently a split second later. As she spoke, she untied the robe and let it slide to the ground around her bare feet, revealing the dress she had worn to the Yule Ball. As with the first time he had seen it, his jaw hit the ground and his eyes hit the glasses. As he stood stunned, her wand appeared from somewhere and he felt the door lock and a silencing ward settle over the room. Not waiting for him to recover, she dropped the wand, stepped forward and pulled him into a deeply passionate kiss. His body responded immediately by pulling her close, his hand finding much more fun things to do than twitch.

It only took a moment before he felt her hands running up under his shirt and his under the straps of her dress, desperately trying to get them off her shoulders. He could feel fire hotter than the sun flowing through his veins and could tell by the look in her eyes that she felt it too. In one swift motion his shirt and glasses were gone and he managed to get the straps off her arms.

Passion was bouncing back and forth between them, growing stronger each time and it threatened to scour all thought from his mind. He desperately wanted to give in and let go. She wanted it, he wanted it, it was perfect. Except… Suddenly drawing back he put a hand on each of her shoulders, holding her back. "Wait, just a minute…wait." He could feel more than see confusion, pain and then anger rising in her. He could hardly blame her. She tried to fight off his grip and close back in but he held firm.

"Damn it Harry, what?!" A silent accio brought his glasses to his hand and he slipped them on to see real hurt in her eyes. "What?! Don't you dare try to tell me you don't want this."

"No! No…it's not that. It's…" He was unable to face her and looked away. He could hear concern rising in her voice.

"Harry…? What?" He took a slow breath before continuing.

"It…when we went to the orphanage, you remember?" She nodded, clearly confused. "To get to the Horcrux, there was a door that required a blood sacrifice. The blood of an innocent." She took a moment to figure out exactly what that meant.

"So? Have Ron do it." She again tried to push through his grip and failed.

"Won't work. He tried it. And I don't think Hermione could do it either." She rolled her eyes at the first and looked a little stunned at the second.

"You mean they…"

"Yeah."

"But…you've got all the Horcrux you need. What's the problem?"

"I…what if we missed one? Or we need the blood of an innocent to destroy one? I…god! I want to do this. I…I just can't risk it." His head fell in resignation; his hands on her shoulders loosened in defeat. It was several moments before he felt her hand reach out and raise his chin. He found her hurt and anger gone, replaced by acceptance.

"Okay. We wait. But when this is all over…you're making it up to me." She punctuated that with several sharp pokes to his bare chest. He marveled at how quickly she had switched convictions. A little chuckle from her brought out one form him. "Why does this always happen to us?"

"Just unlucky I guess." He smiled a little despite the huff in his mind as she pulled the straps back up her arms and called her robe to her hand. Slipping it back around her frame she tied it tightly, neatly covering the dress.

"I'm going to smack both of them upside the head next time I see them."

"Why?"

"Because if they hadn't, we could. Once again my brother causing me grief without even trying. Well," she stepped closer and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Good night Harry."

"Good night." With a final glance she turned and left, making her way back to her room. Harry took a couple steps and cast his glasses to the desk before falling back onto the bed. Pushing off his already unbuckled jeans he rolled over and crawled under the covers, purely annoyed.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.