Chapter Six:

The Weasley's kitchen seemed to be spinning. Harry's head was reeling from what he had just experienced. So much for being normal, he thought dryly. He looked up and tied to focus his eyes on something. The first thing they found was Ari.

"Are you alright," she asked nervously.

Harry swallowed, his eyes stinging with unshed tears. "No," he answered truthfully.

"I realize that that was a bit much to show you in one day…"

"Ya think," Harry said rolling his still slightly unfocused eyes.

"I'm sorry, I just…"

"It's fine," he told her, "I'm just trying to take it all in."

"Did Snape really think that highly of Harry," Ron asked in an awed voice.

"Well," Ari said smiling, "he is Lily's son after all."

"I never thought he could love anyone that way," Harry said, "I think I might actually feel bad for him."

"I'm sorry, Harry," Ari said, "I know that it must be hard for you to accept that Severus is innocent. I understand the need to have someone to blame. I know how much my grandfather meant to you."

"I'm sorry," Harry said earnestly, "I never knew that Snape had a heart. I never even took the time to consider what life must have been like for him."

"He always said that he would tell you one day," she said wistfully, "He would say that one day, when you had gotten to hate him viciously, he would tell you everything. That he had loved your mother, and that he was only trying to make you stronger when he scorned you…"

"That he was the Death Eater who had heard the prophecy," Harry finished for her.

"He always said that that would be the hardest thing he would ever have to say," Ari said looking sad, "because it would just make you hate him all over again."

Harry bowed his head and closed his eyes. He thought about the things that he had seen in the pensieve. Things that he would never guess were true. Snape loved his mother. Harry was his favorite student. He hadn't wanted to kill Dumbledore.

"What are we going to do," Harry said, raising his head back up, "How are we going to get him back?"

"I've got myself a little bargaining chip," Ari said with a mischievous grin, "that I plan to use as leverage for Severus and Draco."

"Why do we need to get Draco," Hermione asked curiously, "I should think that he is safe where he is."

Arianna's face reddened. "I just want him to stay close," she said shakily, "I don't want Voldemort to use him as a lap dog."

"Oh no," Ron said, "You don't like him do you?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Ari said hurriedly, "it would be foolish to leave him. One less puppet for the Dark Lord means one less enemy for us."

"Good God," Harry said, "Admit it, you like him."

"I will do no such thing."

They all laughed except or Fred and George, who were sulking quietly in the corner.

"Need I remind you that I am a queen," Ari asked dangerously causing everyone in the kitchen to cover their mouths to contain their giggles.

"Besides," she said now, "my grandfather would never allow an innocent teenage boy to remain in the hands of Voldemort and neither will I."

This statement caused everyone to stop their laughing immediately. It was true that if Dumbledore were living he would save Draco Malfoy. Even if it were safer for everyone else if he stayed behind.

"What about his mother," Lupin asked.

"What about her," Ari asked back.

"She'll want to be with her son," Remus said.

"The plan I have devised," Arianna said slowly, "will have Voldemort believing that I am going to kill Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy. He would never give them to me if he thought they would be used against him. So naturally Draco's mother would have to believe him dead. At least until the war is over."

"But that is such a terrible thing to do to a mother," Mrs. Weasley said aghast.

"I know," Ari said, "but we don't have a choice. Which reminds me; Mr.Weasley, I'm going to need you to get Draco and Severus's birth certificates. They magically record the time and date of death and I need them to show that the people to whom they pertain are in fact dead. Or else Voldemort will know right away."

"I'll start collecting them tomorrow," Mr. Weasley said obediently.

"And there is one other thing," Ari said a little nervously, "Draco is going to need a new identity. Or else he won't be able to function as a normal wizard."

"Yes," Mr. Weasley said slowly.

"He'll be needing a new family," Arianna said, "Preferably a large one. And also a family whose members won't show up on any pureblood family trees…"

"Oh, good God no," Mr. Weasley said shaking his head and holding his hands up in front of him as if to ward off unfriendly beings, "I can not just go around adopting children I don't know…"

"He needs you, Mr. Weasley," Ari begged, "You have such a large family that one new entry won't even be noticed in the hall of records."

"Ari, I really do want to help but…"

"Please," she was pouting now, "look, you've got a queen begging you right now."

"I don't know," he said, "I can't…"

"I love him," Ari said with tearful eyes. The whole room was dead silent. It was as if it was suspended in mid-air. "I need to know that he's safe. And the only way he will be is if he's with you."

Mr. Weasley sighed heavily. "Well," he said, "seeing as we're about to get two more in a couple of weeks anyhow…"

Arianna threw her arms around him before he could finish speaking. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you," she said over and over again. When she let go she looked over at Mrs.Weasley who looked rather nervous.

"I promise to pay for everything that he needs," Ari told her, "But I'll be counting on you to whip the Pampered Prince out of him. You should make him de-gnome your garden."

All the nervousness evaporated from Mrs. Weasley's face. Her biggest worry seemed to be about paying for another child. Now that she knew it was a non-issue, she seemed rather excited about the idea of having another boy to fuss over.

Harry felt a little uncertain about the idea of he and Malfoy being part of the same family. He looked over at Ron, who had a face that made him look as though he had just sucked on a lemon. And Ginny didn't exactly look pleased as punch either.

"You sure your in love with that Draco kid," Fred asked smiling

"Yeah," George followed, "We hear he's got some really pretty girl cousins in Sweden or something."

Charlie and Bill reached over and slapped one of their brothers each on the head. Ari was laughing at their joke, however, and did not seem the least bit offended.

"I used to date a girl from Sweden," she said, "but I dumped her cuz she only ever wanted to have sex."

Fred and George were no longer smiling. They were staring at Arianna with their mouths open. Harry could see a little bit of drool coming out of their mouths. Charlie and Bill were sniggering behind their backs.

"Anyhow," Ari said now, "I would like you, Harry, to come with me to the ministry tomorrow."

"Alright," Harry said, "but what for?"

"To let Scrimgeor know that you're on my side," she said, "and that you're not going to be the poster child of the wizarding war."

"Is that all," he said, "because I already told him that."

"Well," she said smiling, "we're also going to tell him about my new appointees, half of which will have more power in the government than he does, your self included."

"That sounds like fun," Harry said, grinning evilly.

"And I also need a lot of you to attend the coronation ceremony," she said now, "There is going to be two of them; one crowning me Pharaoh of muggle Egypt and the other crowning me Queen of the wizarding world."

"We get to go to Egypt," Hermione squealed excitedly.

"Yes," Ari said, "and you'll all be staying in the royal palace while you're there. I haven't been there before myself, but I'm told it's quite beautiful. And it supposedly has magnificent gardens."

Hermione and Ginny were both positively beaming. Ron looked a lot less grumpy now that he was being promised a vacation. Harry had never been outside of the British Isles. He conceded that he was rather excited too.

"And, Harry," Arianna said timidly, "My grandfather had something of a surprise for you. He had planned on giving it to you when you graduated, but seeing as you've got a new life to start I thought…"

The words died on her lips. "What is it," Harry asked anxiously.

"It is better to show you," Ari said, "we can go alone if you like. Or you can bring your friends."

Harry looked around the kitchen. "Harry," Mrs. Weasley said, "What ever it is, I'm sure we have all the time in the world to see it. It's fine if you want to go on your own."

"Actually," Harry said, "Ron, Hermione and Ginny can come. I'll bring it back if I can."

"Good luck with that," Arianna snorted comically, "Where is your floo powder, Mrs. Weasley?"

"In a bowl next to the fire, dear," she said, "And do be careful, will you. Keep them all safe."

Arianna walked out of the kitchen and into the den. The others looked around at each other nervously.

"What d'you reckon," Harry asked.

"I trust her," Lupin said simply, "I don't know why, but I trusted her the moment I heard her voice. It was like I knew that her voice meant everything would be okay."

"I know what you mean," Harry said, "I felt the same way."

"Where do you think she's taking us," Ron asked.

They shrugged. "Why don't you go find out," Tonks said brightly, pushing Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny out the door.

Arianna was standing before a grate full of green flames. "Step in," she said, "it'll take you where we're going."

Harry stepped back and allowed the others to go first. After Ari disappeared, he stepped into the fire after them. He held his limbs tightly to his body as he zipped past other grates. Finally, he landed in a heap at a cozy living room and his friends pulled him onto his feet again.

"Here it is," Arianna said beaming at him.

"Where are we," Harry asked, looking around at the living area. There was an over-stuffed couch and a frayed area rug in the room. The walls were a sort of tan color and there were pictures hanging all around. Harry stepped closer to one of them and was shocked by what he saw.

Lily and James Potter were standing in front of a beautiful three-story house. Lily was very pregnant and glowing beatifically while her husband was holding a sign that said "SOLD" in bright red letters.

"Oh, my God," Harry said n awe, "Is this…is this my—my parents house."

"Grandpa said that you should have it," Ari said, "So he had it rebuilt to look exactly the same way as when Lily and James were alive. He said that it was the perfect house to raise a family in."

Harry listened with his back turned. He looked over to another picture and saw his mother holding him. He couldn't have been more than a few days old. And in the next picture over he saw his father with Sirius, Remus and Peter. They had their arms around each other and looked as though they were singing.

After seeing all the smiling pictures, Harry turned around and faced Ari. She was smiling at him and he knew that he must be beaming. Ginny and Hermione were standing at the other end of the room, looking at a picture and giggling into their hands.

"Aww," Hermione cooed in a toddlers voice, "wook at wittle baby Harwy."

"Isn't he so cute," Ginny exclaimed.

Harry stepped forward and looked over their shoulders at the photo on the wall. It was of him in the bathtub. Bubbles were flying everywhere as he slashed around, smiling delightfully when they changed shape.

Blushing, Harry removed the picture from the wall. He was quite sure that, if his parents were still living, they would have taken it down ages ago. He looked around at Ari who was grinning mischievously at him from the center of the room.

"Couldn't resist," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Uh huh," Harry grumbled, slipping the picture in his pocket.

Harry and the others spent the next few minutes looking around the house. It was very spacious and comfortable. There were four bedrooms, an office, a playroom, five bathrooms, a den, a very large kitchen and an attic.

"Woah," Harry breathed as he took it all in.

"It is a very nice house," Ari said from behind him while Ginny looked around at one of the bedrooms and planned a color scheme. Ari said that her grandfather had never gone to the top floors so he left everything white so that Harry could paint it how he wanted.

"What did it cost," Harry asked, "I want to pay for it. You and Dumbledore shouldn't have to."

"I don't want your money, Harry," Ari said shaking her head, "what the hell am I gonna do with it? I already have more money than God."

"I don't want to live in a house that I didn't pay for," Harry said stubbornly.

"It was an inheritance," Ari told him, "all Grandpa did was fix it up. He and I did it together. Severus helped too. And so did Sirius. It didn't cost a thing."

"Then I should pay you for…"

"Don't insult me, Harry," Ari said smiling, "I won't take any money from you. We have to leave anyway. We've been here half an hour."

"Hermione," Harry called, "Ron, lets go!"

They went downstairs and headed toward the fire. Ari yelled 'The Burrow' and everyone climbed in. When they got there, only Remus, Tonks, Mr. And Mrs. Weasley, the twins, Charlie and Bill were there.

"Wha'd ya get," Fred asked Harry when he brushed the soot off of his clothes.

"A house," Harry responded happily.

"Where," Remus asked curiously.

"Godric's Hollow," Harry said beaming more brightly.

Remus smiled wider and asked, "Is it near where your parents lived?"

"It is where my parents lived," Harry told him, "Dumbledore had their house rebuilt."

Everyone gasped and then laughed. It was the sort of thing Dumbledore would do. He always thought of things like that before anyone else.

"So," Ari said now, rubbing her hands together, "whose up for a game of Exploding Snap?"