Harry had spent most of the day after his birthday getting to know his new pet, and was now enthusiastically telling Alexandra about it. "I called her Hedwig," he said, "and she's so gorgeous! It's great, too, how I can let her fly and she always comes back! Is this some kind of special training, or-"

Before Alexandra could answer, Alduin made a sudden, sharp hissing sound over the newspaper he was reading. "What is it?" His wife asked. She had been reading the other half of it before she put it down to talk to Harry, and so couldn't have seen whatever article it was that disturbed Alduin so.

"There's been a break-in at Gringotts," the man said. "A successful one."

Alexandra immediately turned all of her attention to him. "What vault? What has been taken?"

"The bank is refusing to say."

"Naturally," Alexandra muttered. "I'm surprised they let it out at all."

"It seems there was a small interaction on departure of that thief – even though, once again, there are no details – and that made it impossible to keep it quiet, though they did try. It actually happened the night after Harry's birthday, and they're only reporting it now."

"Does this happen often?" Harry asked.

"Not at all," Alexandra replied.

"Or rather," Alduin clarified, "people always try, of course – the temptation is great – but they're normally unsuccessful, so it doesn't warrant more than a small paragraph on the last page a week later. But an attempt that actually worked...well, that's alarming. There are some very strong enchantments protecting Gringotts. We'll have to wait until we get details, but I don't like this at all."

The same afternoon, Neville was to visit Travers Manor, and so Harry took him to the garden lake again to discuss the various new things he had to talk about. As they walked, Neville was confiding his fear of Hogwarts. "I'm glad I at least met some of the people we'll be in the same year with, thanks yo your party, but...I'm still afraid I'll be terrible at school. What if I get kicked out because I can't do enough magic?"

"Does that actually happen?" Harry asked, worried.

"I've never heard of a case, but come on, I'm practically a Squib!"

Harry frowned. "You're not a Squib, Neville. Forget it. That your family thought so for a long time doesn't mean anything. It just proves they don't understand these things. You got your letter just like any of us, and so that makes you as much a wizard as any of us."

Neville sighed. "I wish I could believe you," he said, "but Gran says differently, and I mean, she's actually been to Hogwarts."

Harry really wanted to hex Mrs. Longbottom now, even though he didn't know how. He decided to change the topic. "Listen," he said. "I have to tell you something. A secret. You musn't tell anyone, not even your Gran."

Neville looked a little nervous at that. "Okay, I won't. What is it?"

Harry took a deep breath. "Well, you know how I told you we'd go to the zoo for my birthday?"

"Of course. It's great, isn't it? It's one of the few places Gran takes me, and I really love it."

"I know, you said so. Do you like the inside exposition with all the smaller animals?"

"Yeah. I especially like the different rodents. Why?" Neville seemed confused.

"Well...the runespoor they have there caught my attention."

"The runespoor? Really? I always thought it was a little creepy..."

Harry grimaced.

"What is it?" Neville asked.

"I kinda...well, I went to see it up close, and I heard it talk."

"What do you mean, talk?"

"Like, it was hissing and I understood what it was saying."

Neville stared at him, his eyes wide. "You're telling me that you're a Parselmouth."

"Yeah. I mean, that's how Alduin explained it, anyway. Don't tell anyone, like I said. He only allowed me to tell you because I promised you wouldn't. He says people are afraid of it."

"Yeah, I'd say so," Neville agreed weakly.

"But...I don't get it. Why?"

Neville sat down in the grass and frowned. "Didn't Alduin tell you that? Only Dark wizards are Parselmouths."

"Well, I'm not a Dark wizard!" Harry retorted, remaining standing.

Neville looked immediately guilty. "No, sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Other than you."

Harry nodded in acceptance of the apology and sat down as well. "Really?" He asked. "Which ones? Alduin only told me about Riddle. Was Grindewald one too?"

"No, or at least I've never heard about it, and you know my Gran teaches me modern history rather in detail. But I know Slytherin was one."

Harry frowned. "But, I mean...Slytherin wasn't a Dark wizard. I know he disagreed with Gryffindor on some things, and with the other founders as well, but that doesn't exactly make him Dark."

Neville furrowed his brow. "You're right...but I don't know of any other cases. Gran just told me that it was a Dark wizard skill. I'll have to ask her about it."

"Or maybe I'd better ask cousin Alexandra – I mean, I don't want to tip off your Gran...she sounds like she's exactly one of those people who are afraid of Parselmouths."

Neville grimaced. "I'm not sure I'd call it afraid exactly – she isn't afraid of many things – but you're right, she wouldn't be exactly thrilled you are one."

"You don't look too thrilled either!" Harry said a little snarkily.

"Are you?"

"Not when I see what a bother it is," Harry replied. It was rather irritating, too. He thought it was quite a cool skill...

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The pace of garden parties during the holiday months was something unmatched at any other time. Everyone wanted to make the most of their children being at home from school – and, as Alduin had said, the opportunity to show off with them. Apparently, there was a rule that children were not allowed to do magic during the holidays, but it was often flaunted at these parties, in the name of proving to your relatives that your child possessed the most magical talent.

There were at least two parties a week now where they were asked, and Harry was glad he wasn't supposed to go to the formal dinners the Traverses started giving now. That at least meant that during the evenings, he had a little quiet time for himself.

They had been at the Shacklebolts again, and the McMillans threw a party, and now there was another one at Malfoy Manor. Harry automatically headed in Draco's direction after arriving, to find Horatio and Theodore already there and in a lively discussion about some Shakespeare, for a change.

"What is it this time?" Harry asked.

Draco sniggered. "They're arguing about Horatio," he said. "The character from Hamlet, I mean. Theo says he's only there as foil for Hamlet, but Horatio is – obviously – defending him."

Harry wasn't really sure what foil was, so he just nodded noncommittally. "Have any of you started reading the books for Hogwarts yet?" He asked then.

Draco shrugged. "I took a look," he said, "but just skimming through, you know."

Harry grimaced. "My cousin is making me read them through," he said. "I understand it's important, but I mean...there's time enough for that at school, isn't there?"

Daphne appeared at this moment, looking a little harassed. "Oh, thank Merlin!" She said. "Some people with brains. I had to get away from the other group. I had to subdue Abdulaziz again – I swear, he gets on my nerves so much!"

"Hey!" Harry said, frowning. "Abdulaziz is my friend."

"Then tell him to stop treating my sister like she had spattergoit. Seriously. But I didn't want to interrupt you – what were you talking about?"

"Harry was complaining about having to study," Horatio said with a snigger, "so I'm not too sure about the whole 'with brains' thing."

"Oh, shut up, Yaxley," Draco replied, rolling his eyes. "No one cares about you Ravenclaw pose."

"Are you sure you want to be in that house?" Horatio asked Theo. "Your brain will rot away there."

"But everything else would rot away in Ravenclaw," Draco retorted.

"If that was a jab at my Quidditch skills, I assure you that I don't care about the stupid game one whit...Roger, on the other hand, is an expert flyer and would beat your ass any day."

"Well, Roger's even older than you are," Theo pointed out reasonably. "That wouldn't be exactly fair."

"There could be a showdown between Marcus and Roger," Draco offered.

"Yeah, sure." Horatio said, and then added in an explanatory tone to Harry: "Marcus would have the advantage then – he's a year older than Roger, two years above us, and he's been playing on the team ever since second year."

"Why hasn't Roger been appointed to the team if he's so great, then?" Draco asked challengingly.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'd much rather go flying myself than argue pointlessly about whose team is the best."

"There is no need to argue," Draco sniggered. "The Slytherin one is the best. We won the cup last two years in a row, didn't we?"

"From what I know, that was only because that Weasley Seeker quit the team," Daphne muttered.

Draco gave her a look that clearly said 'traitor'.

"Why did he quit?" Harry asked with interest. He knew they were talking about Charlie, because Ron had boasted to him that his brother was an excellent Seeker.

Daphne looked uncomfortable. "I don't really know – it's not like I keep up with the Weasleys – but I've heard my cousin Aristotle complaining about it. That after Weasley did his OWLs, he quit the team to concentrate on 'what he really wants to do in life', as he had said."

"Oh, I see! It was because of the dragons!" At the others' questioning look, he elaborated. "Charlie Weasley left to work with dragons in Romania directly after Hogwarts. It must have taken a lot of preparation to get a place there, so he didn't have time for Quidditch. Dragons must be like the one thing that's cooler than flying."

"I hope one of the dragons eats him," Draco said nastily. Harry frowned at him. This was getting really irritating.

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In some ways, Alduin was really looking forward to harry being at Hogwarts. It would be one less thing to worry about.

He felt like he had no rest ever since he woke up from the coma, arranging his return to politics and society and reconnecting with friends and family, and preparing his wedding and caring for Harry...he really, really needed to rest and the postponed honeymoon was becoming a light at the end of the tunnel, a time when he would finally be away from it all for a time. Especially now, with news of Gringotts break-in and Harry as a Parselmouth, he needed it like never before.

He was not actually sure which of these two things worried him more. The Gringotts break-in made even people who generally assumed the war was over worry that Riddle was coming back, and for Alduin, it was very close to the final confirmation. On the other hand, he had known that would happen, so he was not exactly shocked, though he might well wish it took a little longer. However, it chiefly made him even more vigilant and careful of any other signs he should not miss.

Harry's unexpected skill, on the other hand...well. It could, of course, be an accident, but what were the odds? Alduin knew none of the Potters had this skill, and was almost certain Lily hadn't either. That Harry would suddenly develop the skill, when it was him who defeated Riddle...well, that was just a little suspicious, and gave Alduin all sorts of unpleasant ideas, ideas he firmly forgot himself to think about at the moment. Whatever it was, harry survived ten years with it. He would manage a month or two more, until Alduin had a little less on his plate.

At least the second formal dinner he was giving made him much less nervous, even though he was, by the guest list, making his anger with Jonathan Crouch effectively official. Had there not been that stupid stunt with Eliza just before the wedding, the obvious choice for the guests this time would have been the Ollivanders, the Crouches, the Shacklebolts and Mrs. Longbottom. As it was, the Crouches had been replaced by the Davies. The news of this were likely to travel fast, and hopefully it would finally manage to convince Jonathan that Alduin had been seriously displeased, when words apparently couldn't reach the desired result.

But perhaps the reason for his relaxed state was simply that both the Shacklebolts and the Ollivanders were very laid-back and pleasant guests, and the Davies were doing their best, aware of the unexpected honour they have been awarded by this early invitation. Not even Mrs. Longbottom could entirely ruin the scene, as much as she might try. In this, he was very thankful to Mrs. Graham Ollivander, who was closest to Mrs. Longbottom both in age and in character and evidently took it as her goal this evening to occupy the august lady's attention. It made him feel a little guilty, too – Mrs. Graham was Ginevra's mother, and Ginevra, of course, was one of those people who were pointedly not asked today. She really did not deserve this, and Alduin would have liked to see her, but he could hardly ask her without her husband, and given that Jonathan was precisely the person he had no interest in seeing...he'd have to ask Alexandra to ask Ginevra for tea some day soon, to make up for it.

Alexandra, he saw, was doing her best to be a proper hostess and not to spend all of her time by speaking to Patritia Ollivander. With how busy things had been lately, the two hardly saw each other, and Alduin found it likely that Alexandra missed her best friend during a time of so much transition in her life. Yet another thing to feel guilty about.

But now was not the time, and he walked to where Mercurius was talking with his father and Kingsley. "Well of course field healing is always a little different," the youngest of the men was saying, "but a few herbs and potions can never hurt."

"Frankly," Kingsley replied, "I always feel it's just asking for trouble – you reach for the wrong bottle when in a hurry, and can end up doing a lot of damage. I mean, of course some potions you need to have – there's no substitute for blood replenisher – but the less, the better, to my mind. Just put yourself together quickly and get to hospital as soon as you can, that's my approach."

"And when you can't?" Alduin asked curiously, joining them. "I mean, for example in a war situation when the hospital is controlled by the enemy forces?"

"Do you know something we don't, Alduin?" Mercurius' father asked with a laugh, but it was clear that his mind went to the Gringotts break-in, as did those of the others.

"You set up your own hospital," Kingsley replied in all seriousness. "That's what we did in the last war. St. Mungo's was impossible to use towards the end, so we had our own makeshift ones, in safe houses. The rules stayed the same."

"That still requires a certain amount of support at your disposal, though. I mean, without wanting to downplay your fight in the slightest...basically the entire Auror section went undercover in the war, if I remember correctly. Hell, the entire ministry did. You can't always be assured of that, can you?"

"Hypothetically, no, but in practice, they'd have to kill off all of the Aurors before they cut away this avenue from us, I think. We are trained for the possibility that the ministry is taken down – Aurors have always been trained for that, and even more time is spent on it since the last war."

Alduin lowered his voice a little and asked: "And are you trained for internal threat as well?"

The small group exchanged looks. They all knew what he meant: there were many ex-Death Eaters who had the ear of the Ministry now, and if Riddle came back, it wouldn't be too hard to achieve some level of sabotage, probably.

"Not quite so well," Kingsley replied even more quietly, "which might or might not be an accident. But I think that's a topic for another day."

Alduin nodded. It was, however, a good piece of information to bear in mind when the war finally returned. To most, it was still a distant possibility, despite the recent news, but for him, it had only ended a year ago, and he wanted to avoid being lulled into calm as the others had been, if at all possible.