[This is a continuation to "Harry Potter and the Marauders of the Mind" by moonsign. Do read that one first!

Disclaimer: the world of Harry Potter belongs to JKR and the world of the Marauders of the Mind belongs to moonsign.

I realy loved to read it - but desperatly missed something when it ended. While missing some ideas popped up and so I made up a continuation - hope you enjoy it! (If you dont make up something else.)]


Getting at Getambos

Harry realised that it was one thing to pass on the information yet it took a lot more bravery to deliberately let a Dementor come close his mouth than if it happened accidently. But after he had done it voluntarily for the first time having the power to really get rid of the Dementors not just chase them away caused a sort of ecstasy steadily spreading among those fighting. After a while Harry was not the only one to open his arms and walk towards a Dementor again and again feeling an odd kind of joy raising from the power to be able to explode them.

Dementors close to an explosion tried to flee while others still filled in so they obstructed one other and the fight went on for quite a while.

Harry felt sort of disillusioned, when he found himself standing ankle deep in scrubby bits and slime with no Dementors left to chase. He saw Prongs standing in front of him and only realised it wasn't his own patronus when it started to speak with his father's voice.

"Getambos heading for Hogwarts! Barricade the castle up as strongly as possible. We try to fight them back but there are so many we might not have enough venom. Be prepared to clear the castle if necessary. Everyone strictly stay inside the castle!"

While several older witches and wizards started to transfigure tables, benches, even cakes and plates into massive shutters for the broken windows Harry felt someone pulling his sleeve. Alex and Daniel little as they were did look very out of place within all this chaos.

"Hogwarts told Daniel no one should use any magic on those dead Dementors." Alex told him "And they must not be exposed to the open sky until they can properly be buried."
Daniel added: "Us seven want to be at the seventh floor - now."

Harry searched the room for Draco who he presumed might still have his wand then once more cast "sonorous" on his throat to pass on this important information. Then he asked Alex: "Us seven, who would that be?"

"You and your friends of course" Alex answered "Daniel, me and Emma" he nodded towards the doorway leading to the hall where Emma the first year Slytherin girl who had called for Harry to help Daniel and Alex months ago stood watching them.

Harry diverted Ron and Hermione who were just approaching them towards the doorway and together they left the Great Hall.

"Where' we heading?" Hermione asked Harry.
"What are you still doing here?" Ron asked Emma as they reached her.
"Seventh floor" Harry answered hurrying upwards.
"Daniel said Hogwarts told him I should stay here and that she would hide us until we're needed. So I reckoned if Daniel bothered to use that many words I should probably take that seriously, and stay, even if I don't know why. But we weren't really hiding, you know, we were just sitting in an empty classroom playing expl….

"If we are heading for the seventh floor we should probably think about what exactly we require." Hermione interrupted. "As the ministry has tried to get hold of any mamba venom available it would be no use to ask for that. The Room would only provide us with the venom the Aurors already have. So we need to ask for as many black mambas as we can get, so they can help us."

"And we'll ask for all the equipment required to collect the venom." Draco added.

"Well, I think we rather need mambas that are willing to help us. As many, as we can get." Ron put in.

"Good point" Harry agreed "we should have Dragon-hide gloves, jars and perhaps a Parsel-translator."

"You are able to speak Parsel." Draco insisted.

"I told you before this has been part of Voldemorts power. I lost it when I got rid of him." Harry was a bit cross they had this argument over and over again.

"Parsel is if you are able to talk to snakes," Emma asked "isn't it? I can do that."

"So that tells us, why you are still here." Ron answered his own question as they arrived at the corridor leading to the Room of Requirement.

"Now everyone try to visualise what we need as clearly as you can."

As Harry opened the door it didn't lead to a real room but to a kind of blurred savannah. A few steps in front of them stood a rectangular tent with a wide entrance on each of the long sides. Inside the tent were three tables, on the one in the middle there were Dragon-hide gloves and overalls for each of them, on the other two, where several small jars with a kind of rubber lid, and a pile of extra lids.

They all put on protection cloths then Emma turned to one of the entrances and politely asked the first black mamba to appear. "They usually don't socialise but stay on their own, you see" she told them "that's why we should try to keep them apart form each other."

After a short while an olive snake slithered in. With a light blue ring around their round pupils they had a friendly face, was about eight foot long and a bit lighter at the downside. Emma guided them onto one of the tables. She held out one of the jars and asked the snake to bite into the rubber lid.

When the Mamba did so, Emma muttering soft reassuring words carefully massaged them just behind the head to squeeze out more of the venom. Then she handed the jar to Hermione who stood next to her and asked her to carefully replace the lid. She released the snake on the other side of the tent telling them how grateful they all were.

Only then Harry realised he had understood what Emma had said. He hesitated for a short moment unwilling to let Draco be right. When he stepped forwards to the entrance to follow Emma's example he saw Daniel reaching it just before him. Harry cold not hear Daniel using Parsel or human words still he somehow managed to guide the next mamba in.

They were working at all three tables now and Harry had the impression that the landscape a few yards away from the tent was slightly different each time he looked at it. He wondered if this tent was travelling throughout all Africa to help them meet as many mambas as possible.

"How are we going to get the venom down to the Aurors?" Hermione asked after a while of silent working. "We can't just go down there, can we? And did any of you by chance get to know what they found out to which extend it's possible to dilute it?"

"30%, Water, as far as I remember." Draco maintained, then he added: "I think I remember a spell to connect two containers so they equally share whatever is put into one of them."

"Oh! Right." Hermione took a few vials out of her bag "It does work on more than two as well, doesn't it?" She gave a questioning look to Draco "How many viols would they need?"

"I might be able to see out of one of the windows outside." Draco left the Room of Requirement to find out.
"Seven." he said when he came back in "It's Harry's family, Kingsley Shacklebold, and two other Aurors I don't … - Oh - No! No! Vincent, No!"

Harry jumped, as he heard the scream he instantly remembered the nightmare Draco had told him weeks ago when he had found him outside the Room of Requirement. The dark grey Mamba he was just about to release still in his hands Harry hurried outside the tent and saw one of the Getambos – or what Draco recognized as Vincent - the enlarged thumbnail (or was it his wand?) pointing at Draco. It was slowly but very determinedly walking towards the young man who stood there hands up wide eyed, shaking in agony but without the least attempt to withdraw. The Getambo was only a few steps away.

Harry dropped the mamba to the hot ground and told them to stop the Nge Ithambo. "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" It was amazing how quick that snake could move. They was there in the very next moment half their body raised from the ground they bit into the large tongue that emerged from the skull.
At once the Getambo stopped walking, the ugly tongue began to shrink back and two bodies dropped to the ground.

Harry started to run towards Draco but immediately realized the alarm this caused the mamba so he stopped dead. He told the snake how pleased he was and that they might leave. The Mamba only slithered a few feet away and curled up to relax in the sunshine and Harry carefully approached Draco.

"Hermione, what's wrong with him?" Harry whisperd "Did it infect him?"

"No, Harry, he'll be okay. He just fainted." she assured him "We should take him back to the tent though. He needs to be in the shadow – and I fear the tent might be moving across the country."

Harry wanted to pull Draco into his arms, to carry him carefully into the shadow. He remembered how often within the last months Draco had caught him when he had fainted, how often he had gently cleaned away all the blood. Harry wanted to show his corresponding attention but although he didn't know if anyone else had noticed his new patronus (it had only been there for a short moment and no one could see the shape of a patronus cast into a Dementor) he knew Draco definitely had and Harry didn't dare to do anything that might scare or embarrass him. He took out his wand muttered 'Mobilicorpus' and softly floated Draco back into the tent.

"Harry, there's an idea:" Hermione drew his attention back on the outer world "Why don't you take that mamba – or any mamba willing to – down to the battlefield? The poison that's left after we milked them still seems to be quite effective."

"You're right, that might help" Harry agreed. "I'll take one or two mambas down there. Perhaps you can set up a kind of transport system to send new mambas down and bring exhausted ones back up here?"
"Yeah, we'll figure out something." Hermione assured him.
"I'll come with you." Emma said.
"You have no idea how dangerous this might be, I'd rather have you up here where you're fairly safe" Harry told her. "You are a great help collecting the …"
"Prof. Potter" Emma interrupted "I might not know how dangerous this is. I might not exactly know what we'll be doing – but I do know what I am doing it for! I want to live a good respectable life. So I need a proper education. Therefore I need this school to exist and that's why I'm going to fight for it. I don't want to be scared and threatened of some Dark Lord my whole live. So we'll have to fight him. And if there is something I can do and most others couldn't I will do it and you're not going to stop me for some noble moral. Definitely two people down there being able to talk to mambas is a lot more help than just one."

"But I'm your teacher, under no circumstances I could let you…"

"Harry?" Hermione interrupted "I think she has a point. Remember we did a lot no one could ever have allowed us to do –and still it was right. There's only one mistake, Emma. In this special case you mustn't call him 'Professor'. No Professor, including me, could possibly allow you to go down there. Let's just pretend for this special situation there're no Professors here only Harry Potter and his friends who do what needs to be done."

Harry's mouth fell open startled that Hermione of all people could suggest something as strictly against the rules as that. But at the same time that made him realise how desperate their situation was and so he obeyed.

Daniel agreed that he could do the communication part up here call in, comfort and release the mambas, while Alex, Ron and possibly Draco would milk their poison. Hermione and Ron would put up the transport system to get snakes to and from the battlefield.

Harry picked up the vials Hermione had charmed, he and Emma each asked two mambas to follow them (which is a miracle without any magic) and led them downstairs where Professor McGonagall reluctantly opened the small door at the hospital wing for them to get outside.

They had to get around a few corners till the battlefield came into view. When it did they could tell by the area covered with fallen skeletons the Aurors must have started to fight the Getambos quite a way outside the grounds of Hogwarts. But as they did obviously not want to fight tripping over fallen skeletons when they had to concentrate they could not push the frontline further away so it had moved quit a way towards the castle.

Harry felt like he couldn't breathe in. Other than with Dementors that caused chilly darkness he felt like the air was getting putrid, jelly-thick, hot and kind of dazzling intense Day- Glow yellow.

The Getambos seemed to be dragged forward by their big flickering tongue. Head stretched forward as if they tried to taste where to go to they did not move very quickly. It was a slow but steady motion and tramping through the fallen skeletons did not slow them down at all.
Seven Aurors stood in a halve circle each summoning a single down out of a box tipping it with their wand into a vial in their hands - obviously holding the venom - then sending it towards the next Getambos tongue with a banishing charm altered to work amazingly controlled.

It must have been easier while the confrontation took place in the road outside the grounds of Hogwarts where the Getambos by the shape of the landscape had been forced to stay in line. Once they had passed the gate they tried to spread. It wasn't hard to tell the Aurors struggled not to let any of them mange to get passed them.

"I think it's best if we split up and each of us tries to control one side of the field." Harry told Emma "I'll go over there." She understood immediately what was necessary and started to send one of the Mambas towards a Getambo that tried to escape at the far right.

"Harry! What are the two of you doing outside here?" James jelled at him "We told you everyone should stay inside. This isn't your fight!" While shouting he still managed to direct a down.

"Nice to see you too, dad! Just helping. Hermione sends these vials they are connected to the one they gather the venom in up there." He told them, handing out a vial to each of Aurors as he led two of the mambas to the far left side.

This was a strange battle. No yelling, no explosions, no flashing curses ore hexes only soft muttered spells, floating downs, gliding snakes and the rustling of falling skeletons.

After a while his breathing adjusted his tension decreased it wasn't that difficult. He just had to tell the mambas the same words all over again "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" while visualising exactly which Getambo he wanted them to get at. It was best to let the Getambos get just one step past the previously fallen skeletons. If they came any closer the gained ground to easily but if they fell on top of each other the motion of the following Getambos was not as predictable and therefore more difficult to attack for the Aurors.

When a round coiled basket with a lid appeared next to Harry he realised his mind had slipped off. He scanned the battlefield and saw Emma had gotten a basket as well. He lifted the lid and asked the mamba to come out then tried to figure out which of the snakes that had been down here for a while was more exhausted and offered them to go into the basket and go back home. He had to send the other two mambas back on task before he could afford to glimpse up to the seventh floor to give a short wave to - by the colour of the hair it must be Ron - leaning out of the window.

First the arrival of new mambas had woken him up, but soon this became kind of a routine too. Doing the same thing again and again it was easy to forget that these creatures were the most dangerous thing he had ever faced. He had to deliberately recall that if one of them would manage to get too close to him he wouldn't just be killed he would himself become a menace, a threat to those he wanted to protect.

"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!"
"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" There was no way to tell time was going on. "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!"
Harry felt as if he had stood here forever and would be standing here forever Eternal Conductor of the Black Mamba.
"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!"
"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!"

"Harry," he jumped at a familiar jaunty voice behind him "I wondered if it was possible to stop one of these things long enough so I could cut of a bit of a tongue before it is destroyed? Hermione and Draco had an idea the other day that might be worth a try." Luna asked as she walked past him towards the Getambos wand in one hand a little glass jar in the other. Several of the Getambos immediately changed their direction towards her. Harry hurried to send the Mambas to protect her. Then he jelled: "Luna! Come back! It's not gonna work like that!"

Everyone was distracted, which perhaps was an advantage. Harry was almost positive he was not the only one in danger of drifting away.

"What's that about?" Kingsley standing next to Harry demanded to know.
"Can any of you cast a precise cutting course so we could get a piece of a tongue?" Harry shouted "I can acctio it and catch it with that jar" he added to Luna.

"I can do that" Remus offered "That one over there?" he pointed at one Getambo.

"Pass me that jar then, Luna. - Okay, Remus, go."

Harry saw Remus cast probably a variation of 'Sectumsempra', precisely it cut of the tip of the tongue.

Kingsley placed a down onto the same Getambos tongue just after Harry had acctio-ed the cut of bit.

Harry was distracted for a brief moment and lost sight of the small piece as Luna exclaimed: "Harry, these snakes are really beautiful!" Just before it touched his face he caught sight again and managed to catch it with the jar.

When Harry with a hammering heart turned to pass the jar to Luna he almost dropped it. Luna was down on her knees holding out her unprotected hands to both sides smiling at the mambas that were slowly approaching her. Only a few steps behind her stood a Getambo already leaning forward to lower its skull to her level.

"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" He sent one mamba at the Getambo behind Luna the other one a bit further where the next one was already coming closer.

"Thanks, Harry!" Luna took the jar rose to her feet gave him a fond smile stepped across the skeleton and strolled back to the castle.

It didn't take long till they gained back control at the frontline and Harry once more became Eternal Conductor of the Black Mamba.
"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!"
"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!"

He only realised that he had drifted of again when his mother's voice called him back: "Harry? Harry, we are running out of downs! Could you summon something adequate, please?"

He called for his pillow to come down. Fighting Getambos he wondered why it took so long. His pillow seemed to have difficulties to find a way out of the castle. If he had known he could have left his window open this morning. This morning, how many centuries ago had that been?

The pillow finally arriving hit him at the back of his head appearing from a totally unexpected angle. He stumbled one step forward to hold his balance then turned to pick up the pillow, but Kingsley had already banished it towards the box they were using and ripped it open.

And still it went on and on. How many Getambos did Crouch create? How did he create them – or waken them up? Where was Crouch? Did he and his Death Eaters accidentally become Getambos themselves? But if these creatures were so desperate for human flesh why would they all come to Hogwarts and not randomly attack anyone wherever they turned up? Or had they done so on their way and that's why there were so many of them? But still there had to be a strong will behind this attack and that would most likely be Crouch.

As the sun started to dazzle him he realized they would not have a chance to hold this up for much longer after the sun went down. They would not have had a chance to guide mambas onto the battlefield at all if it had not been a rather warm day or to begin with if they hadn't been able to get rid of all the Dementors and the chilly cold they brought with them. And still he could not see an end of the Getambos constantly filling into the grounds of Hogwarts.

"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!"
"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!"
"Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!" "Bite into thzzze tzzzzzongue!"

It took a while until he realised why he didn't move, why he didn't know what to do.
It had stopped.
It really had stopped.
He was no longer the Eternal Conductor of the Black Mamba.

Mambas.
He had to take care of the mambas.
And of Emma.
Where was she?
He scanned the grounds around him. Emma stood not that far away across all these skeletons hardly able to keep herself up to her feet. The grown ups seemed to be as paralysed as he felt but apparently no one had been hurt.

Harry struggled to pull himself together. The large entrance of the castle was only a few steps behind them. When Harry reached Emma Remus was already there.
"I'll take her to Madam Pomfrey." he said gently picking up the swaying girl. "You take care of these incredible persistent and quick snakes. We wouldn't have had the slightest chance without them – or without your unruly interference."

Harry was only half aware of McGonagall offering food and hot chocolate when he took the four mambas inside. Someone had given him four boxes so he could carry them upstairs in a pile but separated.
Why had there been no lidded basket for them to hover up to the seventh floor? When had he last sent one of the mambas back? Had there been a different attack up in the castle he hadn't noticed?

Only Ron and Hermione were waiting for him in front of the Room of Requirement. They looked as exhausted as he felt.
"We must have seen every single mamba of the world." Hermione told him while he took of his protection clothes. "Towards the end the room sent us into zoos and even research laboratories. I couldn't understand why, but Daniel was certain it would be no good sending these mambas down to you."
Together they asked the room to show their gratitude to and take very good care for these four totally tiered out mambas then they closed the door.

Harry felt no wish to get food or something to drink. He felt no joy or relief about their 'victory' – if that was what it was. He didn't want to talk to or see anyone. The only thing he wanted was to be on his own.
He went to his room, dropped onto his bed, kicked of his shoos and was asleep the very next moment.


Clearing out

When Harry woke up the next day sun was already way up the sky. Draco was nowhere to be seen and Harry couldn't tell if he had been there this night at all, but at least all his belongings were still here.
He took a quick shower before he went down to the Great Hall. A small part of the hall next to the doors had already been cleared of the dead Dementor scraps. Staff, students and those family members that hadn't left yesterday sat mixed at two of the tables sharing a late breakfast. Draco sat at the far end of one table his back towards the door surrounded by Daniel, Alex and some sixth and seventh year Slytherins. Harry realized they might know Draco as they must have been at their third or fourth year when Draco had still been a student.

Harry's parents, Kingsley and the other two Aurors obviously had left - either yesterday or this morning.

"Harry, come over here!" Luna waved so he went to take a seat where she was sharing her breakfast with Neville and some girls mostly from Ravenclaw.
"We were just discussing the funeral. I think even if we're not meant to use any magic it's still important we create a kind of protection and find the precisely right words and choreography for the ceremony so the Dementors and Getambos can find peace and don't get infected by Spredovirofeers, don't you think?"

"Yeah, you're probably right." Harry nodded. "Build up a team to figure that out, why don't you? Looks like you've already started. Could call out who wants to join." Harry poured himself some tea. He was really thirsty, but all that food at the table made him feel sick.

Professor McGonagall standing on a stepladder raised her voice: "Please, be quiet for a moment. I wish to inform you I just sent owls to all those who left yesterday. As we need some time to clear everything up there will be no school for the next two weeks. Unfortunately this means holidays will be shortened two weeks. All tests will be held exactly two weeks later than previously arranged. You may go home to prepare if you wish to, but everyone is welcome to stay and help with all the muggle work we'll have to do. Hopefully students who left will be coming back for support during the day, so we need to clear the Great Hall first for everyone to find space in here.
We already asked the ministry to supply us with as many scrubbing brushes, floor cloths, brooms, wheelbarrows, shovels and spades as they can get hold of. Until these things arrive we'll have to do with the inventory Mr Filch can supply. We will start in half an hour."

Harry stood up as McGonagall stepped down the ladder. "Yes, Professor Potter?"

"First I'd like to announce Luna Lovegood" he nodded towards where Luna raised her arm and waved cheerfully "just started a team working out the ceremony for the funeral. Whoever has any proposals to make or any suspicion what could go wrong or needs to be considered please do tell her or join the team.
Second as we are all rather unfamiliar with muggle work I'd like to suggest no one should be doing the same thing longer than for two hours. After that you certainly need a break and preferably do something different afterwards."


Harry had never enjoyed less to fly on a broom than while scrubbing Dementor slime of walls and windows constantly having to wear rubber-protection gloves. But as not many students felt secure enough taking both hands of to scrub while flying he did it quite a lot. And wiping the floor or scrubbing tables wasn't really much better. Therefore he was rather glad when by Monday afternoon Luna and her team had decided where the grave was to be and they could start to measure and dig it out.

Tuesday evening he felt like his arms were doubled in length from digging and carrying skeletons on a wheelbarrow from the road closer to the grave to be. His shoulders were aching and he had blisters al over the palms of his hands. He was so tired he just stared onto his plate but couldn't even string himself together to leave the table and go to sleep.
Hermione carefully touched his arm. "Harry? I suppose this owl has something for you."
He blinked at the large barn owl in front of him wondering how he could have missed its arrival then loosened the preachment it held out for him.

"It's from Kingsley Shacklebolt" he told his friends "as there have been more Slytherin students and family members than of any other house defending Hogwarts he managed to talk Wizengemond into release al those prisoners who don't have a condemnation. He asks me to come along to release the Malfoys."

"Then you should probably take Draco with you." Hermione suggested.

"He can't possibly take me along to release myself from a ministry cell!" Draco frowned at Hermione obviously irritated how she of all people could suggest such a stupid thing. "He gave up his invisibility cloak, remember?"

Hermione smiled: "He could drop you at Grimmauld Place first where you and your mother stay until there is only one Draco and one Narcissa left free to go wherever you like, how about that?" she turned towards Harry "When are you supposed to be there?"

"It's - now. It says he's giving me access to his office fireplace this evening." Harry took a deep breath "OK then, are you coming with me?" He only vaguely looked in Draco's direction as he rose.


When Harry stepped out of the kitchen floo about an hour later the four Slytherin hostages had already left, Remus and Sirius still were dealing with some order for the ministry – probably searching for Crouch. Everyone else was settled around the large table scanning the two house-elves who uncertainly stood next to the floo.

Teddy's eyes were wide with amazement flickering from one Draco to the other. Andromeda watched him in amusement then carefully put two fingers under his chin to close his gapping mouth.

"OK, I should probably repeat to you" Harry nodded towards Draco and Narcissa "what the ministry told you" he turned his head towards Bobsy and Althie "before you were allowed to leave. There will be a trial for each one of you. Until then you are not allowed to use a wand or to apparate. Apparently they put something like the trace on you. Nevertheless you are free to go wherever you want until your hearing. You may use the floo, but not into the ministry. On the day of your trial you have to go there by muggle-transport."

"Why should that be? That's ridicules!" Draco really got wound up "We are innocent! They can't treat us like that!" he hostilely stared at Harry as if this had been his decision.

"Calm down, love." Lily said in a soft voice patting his arm "Of course you are. Still they can treat you like that. They shouldn't but they can. They do it to make you feel small, servile and feeble so if it turns out they were wrong all the time you wouldn't dare to think about vengeance. Probably the only reason you do have the energy to get so upset is because you have been treated like a decent person for the last months."

Draco's face fell "Hmm - may be you're right …" he muttered to his hands on the table.

Teddy had climbed out of his high chair and strolled over to Draco trying to get onto his lap now. Draco pushed him away with a gentle but firm hand. "Something else: Althie, would you like to stay in this house with Kreacher?"
If it had been odd and kind of funny to see the small house-elf act as if she was possessed by Narcissa Malfoy months ago it was even more distressing to look at the shape of that slender, tall witch wearing the noble robes Narcissa had been arrested in head bent between rounded shoulders her aristocratic face looking uncertain and doubtful. "Althie does not want to be given clothes, Master Draco." She wailed "These robes were given to Althie by the ministry. You promised not to give Althie clothes." It was almost hart breaking how miserable she could look.

Teddy walked over to the other Draco standing next to the hunched Narcissa looking almost as miserable. He grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the kitchen door "Come, play, come play, Draco!" he demanded.

"May Bobsy go play with that child, Master Draco?" the elve asked hesitantly.

"Yes, Bobsy, you may go." Narcissa answered with a short nod.

Looking at Teddy's happy face Harry wondered, if he could do the boy a favour now and then making Kreacher act as Draco for him. He knew the elves had brought all the vials back from the ministry cells and he also knew there still was some Polyjuice left.
Then for a very brief moment Harry had the vision he could also make Kreacher act as Draco for himself, that a house-elve-Draco would be pleased to do whatever he asked for. Though he knew at the very moment he'd never do that and it wasn't at all what he longed for he still was ashamed and disgusted by the fact that it had occurred to him.

"You got me wrong, Althie," Draco replied "we don't want to give clothes to you. We just want you to stay in this house with Kreacher when almost everybody else is leaving. You see," he explained to the family around the table "my mother told me you, James and Lily, started to mend your house in Godric's Hollow, Remus and Sirius help you every other week and Andromeda will go back to her place with Teddy when they aren't here. The house will be rather quiet, so we thought Kreacher might perhaps like to have some company."

Harry didn't know if Kreacher was lonely sometimes. He was sort of embarrassed that he'd never considered the possibility. But just as well the house-elve might enjoy his solitude. And Harry did remember Draco once said Althie was a bit trouble sometimes. He wasn't sure if this was a present or a strange kind of revenge. Why would they want to leave Althie? Why not one of the other house-elves who had spent the last months in this house?

"Kreacher? Would you like to have another house-elve as company?" he asked.
"Is Master Harry not happy with Kreacher?"
"Everybody is happy with you, Kreacher." He assured the elve "we just wondered if you would like not to be alone when we're all elsewhere."

His head tilted Kreacher's eyes went from Harry to Draco from one of the Narcissas to the other. He wrung his hands "Kreacher does not know, Master Harry."

"So let's have a probationary period." Lily suggested. By the questioning faces turned towards her Harry could tell Wizarding World was not familiar with that concept. "You see, if a muggle starts a new job they'll get a contract ruling payment, hours of work, holidays and setting a reasonable period of notice. But within the first months both contracting parties are allowed to withdraw from the contract any time and without having to explain."

"Althie dos not want to be paid!" the elf-Narcissa shrieked. The alarm on her face would probably only be seen on real-Narcissa's if somebody tried to force her to kill her own son.

"That's OK, Althie nobody's going to pay you if you don't want it." Harry really was glad Hermione wasn't here. "Mum just suggested you stay here with Kreacher to find out if you like it. Both of you can experience how you get along with each other. And if you don't any of you is welcome to say so and we'll simply go back to what it was like before. You'll go back to the Malfoy's and Kreacher will be on his own. Are you both happy with that?" he looked from one elve to the other.

Althie nodded hesitantly whereas Kreacher with a little more confidence said: "Yes, Master Harry."

Suddenly Harry felt again how tired he was. He knew his family expected him to stay and chat for a little while but he couldn't face any idle chit-chat, any friendly questions how he was.

"So that's set then?" he glimpsed at Draco and Narcissa who both nodded "I really do have to go now." he continued "I'm absolutely worn out and there's a lot to do within the next ten days. But I would really appreciate to see you all at the ceremony Saturday next week."
He gave them a short wave, trying not to notice the concerned faces grabbed some floo-powder and stepped into the green flames.


Spiralling in and out

While for Harry as for almost everyone else the next days were mostly digging and pushing wheelbarrows some people did completely different things. Mostly Ravenclaws were working out the labyrinth they planned to build onto the grave; some Hufflepuffs were working as stonemason to build the pylon that would hold the lantern in the middle of the labyrinth.
A few students form different houses were skilfully painting the ensigns of Hogwarts and each of the houses onto glass panes that then had to be fired before they would build the lantern.
A small group including Neville, Prof. Sprout and Mary Parker, the elder muggle sister of Jennet Parker 6th year from Hufflepuff, who had just become a master of horticulture and was the first muggle allowed to work at Hogwarts grounds were elaborating which non-magic plants to choose to make sure there would be something flowering on the grave for almost the entire year.
A group of first years from all houses were neatly knotting single unicorn tail hair to unicorn tail hair to build a large loop. Prof. Slughorn had been very proud to be able to contribute a small handful of those, telling everyone how difficult they were to come by, whereas Hagrid had just dropped a bunch of them droning "Jus tell me'n case je need some more."

Thursday around noon the hole finally had reached its final dimension of 35 yards in diameter and ten feet deep so they could put this loop along the edge.

After lunch they started to carry all the Dementor slime and scraps out of the castle and into the large hole. That day everyone worked until very late for they didn't want to leave a single bit of dead Dementor within the castle but didn't dare to leave them outside uncovered either.

The day after the Dementor scraps had been removed from the castle McGonagall started to rebuild the broken windows and the wards. She had invited those interested to add their ideas. Friday at lunch Harry could see George, his parents, Remus, Sirius and Kingsley within a group of other witches and wizards at the staff table but they were all so mesmerized and enthralled he didn't want to interrupt and just gave them a wave across the room.

The following days skeletons were placed into the grave circle after circle feet to the centre almost touching each other. There were so many of them, two layers had to be build with a layer of earth in between to separate them. Harry wondered who all these people had been before they became Getambos. Some were even smaller than the first years; some must have had bad injuries and broken bones that had not healed correctly. Had they been children working in British mines centuries ago? Had Crouch reawakened them? Or had he somehow pulled them together from all over the world out of nowadays mines? Were there still Getambos anywhere? Or had all of them been in this battle?

Someone must have been very good to estimate the size of the grave for when they had finally put all skeletons into it there was hardly any space left but fit in they did.

Monday evening they were able to put the second loop of unicorn tail hair around the upper edge of the grave and besides a large circle of uncovered soil and a lump of rocks next to it Hogwarts looked as it always had.

Luna had asked everyone to contribute stones from Places Connected to Happy Memories to the path of the labyrinth. Students took days or hours off to travel and gather stones from all over the country, from the mountains or the seaside, from the highlands or the wetlands, from the river in the woods, edge of the moor or from the backyard of their childhood. Some brought stones from far abroad were they had spent happy holidays or had lived before they had moved to Britain.

Teachers and former students contributed stones as well and Harry wondered if he had ever been happy anywhere else than Hogwarts. Right now he felt like he had never really been happy at all.

He knew that wasn't true though.
He knew he had been happy at the Burrow and also at Gimmauld Place.
For some reason he didn't quite understand himself he wanted to get a stone connected to Dobby. First he had thought how happy he had been, to see Dobby appear when they had been caught in the cellar of Malfoy Manor. But although his relationship to Narcissa had eased to some extent during the last months he had no desire to ask her for a tile of her cellar floor. Instead he gave a floo call to Bill and Fleur to ask them if they could find him a pebble of Dobby's grave and pass it through the floo.
He didn't want to travel to the Burrow or Grimmauld Place either. He'd ask Ron to bring along some stone when he came next time and Kreacher would definitely find him something appropriate in the garden.

But he did go to Hagrid's cabin and picked up a flat stone almost one foot wide Hagrid had dug out of his garden patch and put aside. Hagrid had tears in his eyes when Harry told him: 'For many years Hogwarts was the only place I was ever happy at and within Hogwarts your cabin has always been the best place to be –except perhaps for the Quiddich-pitch'.

Harry was surprised how many different things there were to be done. The labyrinth was drawn onto the circus, the paths were first tramped with gravel then the contributed stones were puzzled into a layer of sand.

The plants that had been chosen demanded different soil, so people were mingling sand, clay and lime into the earth to prepare the ground for them. 1 Some of the plants came as bushes, some were just roots some were seeds and some they planted as bulbs. Prof. Sprout, Neville and Mary took care that every plant was placed into the right soil and surrounded by the right neighbours.

To get everything done before Saturday they were working as long as there was daylight. Some people started at about four thirty in the morning others worked till quarter to ten in the evening. They took breaks in turn so there were always at least two dozen people each planting and paving.


During one of the breaks Harry overheard a conversation among a bunch of fifth years: "What are you going to do next?"
"I'll go to the library for the next two hours to study for my OWLs. I would never have expected it could feel like having a privilege when having to study."
"Neither did I. But on the other hand I find it a lot harder to get something into my brain when my body is so tired from al that Muggle-work."
"Right, which shows all the better the privilege we usually have."
"For me it works best to study first thing in the morning, so I can recall it while carrying, digging or paving."

It had been raining severely several times during that week but Mary told them this was very fortunate for they didn't need to water the plants that way. Saturday Morning hundreds of metal bars holding candles in glass jars were pushed between the plants all along the labyrinth. A platform was built for the musicians and a tent was put up protecting a large buffet with tea, coffee, juice, several delicious looking cakes and a wide variety of fingerfood.

After noon witches and wizards filled into the grounds; the Knight Bus stopped outside the gates again and again spilling out whole families, former and future students. Harry had never seen that many people on the grounds of Hogwarts at once – except for the Battle perhaps but then at least half of them had been intruders.

Harry had offered Andromeda and Teddy to come by floo and picked them up at his study. As they approached the crowd Teddy immediately spotted Draco and Narcissa and to Harry's apprehension insisted to join them. Surprisingly the two sisters seemed to be able to welcome each other with at least something like respect, still Harry was glad, when he soon found some excuse to leave them.

Harry had had no idea how many witches and wizards were able to play an instrument. Different groups had taken it in turns while everybody arrived. Now they all gathered on the platform and joined in a very majestic and sacred composition. Harry wondered if it had been composed specially for this occasion and if sorcerer musicians did have to practice as much as muggles did.

McGonagall and Kingsley Shacklebold had been asked to hold the speech the preparation-group had worked out and they did it with great dignity and honour alternating each line.

"May all these, buried in this grave find peace."
"May all the darkness and cold,"
"all desperation, envy and greed,"
"all hunger, pain and loneliness"
"they suffered"
"and caused"
"be settled here protected"
"until they gradually fade"
"or diffuse into life"
"to find a good balance"
"with warmth and light,"
"with goodwill, delight and enjoyment,"
"with beauty, agreement and community."

The music started again.

Of course it had been decided Harry had to be the one to light the flame in the lantern in the middle. Neville had told him: "I know you don't like to be The Chosen One but to many it will mean a lot if this everlasting flame was lit by The Boy Who Lived – also you know how to use muggle matches, don't you?"
Harry was sure there were several others who knew how to use matches.
"Why don't you do it? You're war-hero just like me. If you hadn't killed Nagini I'd now be the Boy Who Died. Plus I can easily teach you how to use matches."
"I know, Harry, but this isn't about facts. This is about feelings, about hope. And in dark times we need to nourish every tiny bit of hope we can get."
Harry didn't understand why feelings had to be nourished despite the facts, but he gave in anyway.

At least it wasn't a maze there were no decisions to be made, he couldn't guide the wrong way. First the path lead almost to the centre then it wound and spiralled back out again changing directions again and again. Soon he wasn't alone any more, McGonagall and then Kingsley followed him in a little distance and after them there were many more. None of the bushes and flowers they had planted was any higher than three or four feet. Soon Harry could see people moving back and forth almost everywhere. He wondered what face they expected him to make. Should he look composed or concerned, happy or serious? He decided not to look into anyone's face at all instead he studied the stones under his feet. Harry tried to imagine what the labyrinth would look like within a few years when al the seeds and bulbs and roots had become grown up flowering plants.
Foresightedly the labyrinth had two parallel paths, so after he had reached the middle and lit the lantern with the matches Mary had endowed he could walk on without having to pass those now coming in. Everyone who followed him picked up a candle lit it at the lantern in the middle then put it back into the next unlit jar on their way out. Though there were heavy dark clouds in the sky it was far to light to really see the candles burn. Harry imagined if they repeated this ritual sometime during the winter when everything was dark around it certainly would be quite impressive.

When Harry stepped out of the labyrinth Emma was one of the current musicians. He went to watch her passionately playing the violin. When she noticed him she smiled at him fondly and he smiled back glad to see how proud and moved she was to be an important part of the ritual.
After a while Harry noticed the many conversations that surrounded him.

"... told them they have to bury the scraps immediately and plant something flowering on top."

"…. would have thought they would be able to do all this without any …"

" … found out many children under the age of eight or ten can easily cast a Patronus if you show them once. Most of them without a wand …"

" … what you've done here. You really can be proud!"

" … still couldn't find him anywhere …"

"Harry, have you heard Kingsley decided to resign as Minister?" Sirius and Remus came to stand next to him. 2
"Pass on to the next flobberworm." Kingsley explained "I feel a lot more satisfied working as an Auror. I'll only continue till Wizengamod settled on a new Minister."
"Did you contribute a stone too? Where was it from?" Harry had decided this was a good question to ask whoever wanted to talk to him.
"Rom, when I first saw my sister keeping her right mind under the full moon." Kingsley told him after a short while blinking away little sparkles in his eyelashes "Certainly the Wolfsbane Potion created the happiest moment of my life."

Sirius and Remus both nodded sympathetically.

"And yours?" Harry asked them.

"You won't belief it I brought one from Grimmauld Place." Sirius grinned "Despite al the older memories I do have happy ones connected to that house now, and Hogwarts of course. Luckily someone was wise enough to keep all the stones you had dug up separately. I believe almost everyone wanted to bring a stone from Hogwarts."

"I took one of these too." Remus agreed "And one from Alphads cottage in the forest."

"Did you?" Lily just arrived; she seemed to be surprised.

"I know, it's not only good memories", Remus smiled sadly "that's why I hadn't been there for so long. But there are really happy ones as well as you know - plus we just decided to fix it."

Lily nodded "We brought one from Godric's Hollow – and one from Grimmauld Place as well."

"I couldn't get one from Potter Manor so I took one out of our dorm" James added.

"Out of our dorm! Are you insane?" Remus frowned "If everyone did that McGonagall had to rebuild the whole castle!"

"I replaced it." James assured him "With a real stone without any magical extensions."

"Mum, can I have a word?" Harry asked.

"Sure!" Lily beamed "Don't leave without me, will you?" she added to the marauders as she turned towards the lake. Out of the corner of his eyes Harry saw her rise an eyebrow glancing at Remus and Sirius.

Harry noticed several witches and wizards with burning candles in jars as they walked through the crowd. "That's strange" he marvelled "did they light them in the maze? Do they want to take these home?"

"Seems very sensible to me." Lily said "It's good to have an Ever-burning Flame of Hope at a place everyone knows. But any possible future Dark Lord will have great difficulties to put out that hope if the flame 's burning at many unknown places as well."

"It's only a candle lit at an oil-lantern."

"No, Harry, it's not. The lot of you just created a strong powerful symbol."

Harry considered she might be right. For a while they walked in silence.

"Mum, I wanted to ask you something:" Harry started the conversation again "When you think of your happiest memory with Severus Snape where would that be?"

Lily stopped walking to think about it.

"It's a stone bench on a hill outside Cokeworth, the place we grew up, still warm from a sunny day with some bushes in the back. Sometimes we met there, watched the sun go down discussed whether there is something like justice, how much in life is fate and how much is ones own free will, how to make the world a better place, if the end justifies the means or the means corrupt the aim. Things like that – and in my memory it is always Golden Autumn - though it can't have been …" she trailed of.
"Why do you want to know?" she said after a while "Do you think I should have brought a stone for him as well?"

Harry shrugged "You can still do that if you want to. I'm sure there'll be a gap for an extra stone somewhere."

After a while Lily asked "So, was that all you wanted to talk about?"

"Yeah. I thought it might be easier to bring back good Snape-related memories without the marauders around - …"


Lily, Remus, Sirius and James soon left and Harry felt kind of lost after they, Andromeda and Teddy had said Goodbye.
He searched the crowd and decided to join Luna, Neville and Ginny.
"Hi, Harry, how are you?" George approached the group from the other direction.
"I'm fine. How're you?"
"You don't really look fine." Ginny interrupted.
"I think that might still be the Wrackspurts infestation he has had for months now." Luna put in "I thought they would leave once he lit the Light of Hope."
"No, infestation, Luna, I'm just tired out."
Harry couldn't read the expression in the glance Ginny and George exchanged so when Luna suggested: "I reckon it might help if you do the labyrinth again now all the candles are lit. Try to concentrate only on good memories." He agreed just to escape their looks.

When he reached the entrance of the labyrinth there were only a few last witches spiralling out. Harry took one of the last un-lit candles and started to follow the winding path. It was different now that he was more or less on his own no one watching him. He tried to follow Luna's instructions, when worries, sadness, gloom or grieve that had lurked in the back of his head for the last weeks popped up he tried to shove them aside and think of something happy instead. He really tried hard but caught himself brooding over and over again.

By the time Harry came out the labyrinth almost everyone had left. He went inside and when he passed the Great Hall he could see there were still several groups of students and relatives sitting at the tables. To his delight he noticed that like during the last two weeks of voluntary muggle work they weren't strictly sorted according to the houses they were in. Still he didn't want to join instead he decided to go straight to bed.

When Harry came to his room Draco was in his bed and asleep. To Harry's surprise Draco had come back from Grimmauld Place the night he and Narcissa were released from the ministry. But within the last two weeks they had only spoken to each other surrounded by other people pretending everything was fine.
It wasn't.
Whenever they spent time sharing Harry's private quarters one of them was asleep – or pretended to be. Harry once again wondered why Draco hadn't moved to another room as he didn't have to hide any more. McGonagall actually had offered Draco teaching Potions once his case would have been cleared as Prof. Slughorn constantly begged to be retired.

Harry slipped into the bath to get ready and went to bed. If he only had been prepared that this might happen. Perhaps he would have been able to willingly keep the shape of his Patronus.
But he hadn't been prepared.
At first he hadn't been sure if anyone had noticed the change – except Draco of course who had stood right next to him sharing the same wand. But then one day he had overheard Ginny asking Ron and Hermione if they knew which witch had a ferret as her inner animal. Harry was glad to hear they didn't know any such witch and he was even more grateful they pretended not to know what other implications that question might have. Still it caused him the biggest effort to convince these two that everything was alright with him.
But was that because Draco was male? Hadn't he tried to hide all the crushes he ever had? Then again that might have been because he never had been sure. And sure he was this time even though perhaps only because he had seen the brightness of his new Patronus.
Why did everyone around him seem to have noticed before him?
Harry thought about the awkward conversation with Ron at the Quidditch pitch, about Alex assuring him it was alright to have a male bedroom-friend, about Sirius asking 'dos it matter?' Why had he not noticed it did? Why had he not been prepared to hide, to disguise his …

"Harry?" a hoarse voice came out of the dark.
"Hmmmm"
"Would you mind if I change the place where I sleep?"
"For heavens sake, Draco, you know you never really were my hostage! You're free to do whatever you like." Harry could hear how hurt his voice sounded but couldn't help it. He tuned to face the wall. This was it. Draco would leave him. Most likely he had only stayed here to make sure Harry would help him to clear his name at the trial. If only he had noticed before. If only he had kept this secret. If only he hadn't scared Draco away.
"Harry?"
He jumped. This voice did not come from further away but from quite close.
He turned and in the thin moonlight the moving clouds let through he saw a skinny slightly trembling figure a pillow crouched to his chest standing next to his bed uncertainly looking down on him.
"Draco!"
Harry struggled to sit up he reached out for his wand. "I'll - I'll enlarge the bed."
"Don't bother. This will do" Draco sat down at the edge of the four-poster. He turned to look at Harry "What did you think where I was heading?"
Harry shoved aside the jumper he used for a pillow and laid back again; he couldn't meet Draco's eyes. "I- I thought I'd spoiled it all, threatened you away. You see I was not at all prepared this could happen …"

"You almost did with your stupid griffindorkish bravery – but here I am."

Harry raised his arm to hold up the blanked for Draco to slip in. Face to face they lay in the dim light of the moon smiling at each other. Draco's face was so close Harry could clearly see his grey-blue eyes and his beaming smile without wearing his glasses. Harry felt like the smile on his own face was so wide it should overlap several inches at the back of his head. This must have been the moment that created his new Patronus.

"May I touch you?"
"Pease do"
Harry carefully traced the line of Draco's hair with his left hand, he followed his arched eyebrows his delicate cheekbones his chin and the smiling lips.
"You are such a dear, amazing, brave, beauty-full person how could you manage to hide this that long?"
"Well, I am a Slytherin, didn't you know that?" Draco grinned "But you beat me out with that one, you managed to hide that well, you didn't even notice yourself.
- May – may I kiss you?"
"Yes, yommmm" Harry couldn't finish that sentence.
Then he needed all his attention all his senses to tentatively explore, to feel and smell and taste, to listen to two sensitive, tender, curious bodies so he had no time for words or thoughts or worries.


The next morning when Harry came down to the hall Luna and Ginny were just about to leave.
"Good morning Harry" Ginny welcomed him "You look a lot better today. Did you get a good sleep?"
Harry nodded. He wouldn't tell anyone he hadn't slept at all.
"I told you the Light of Hope would chase away the Wrackspurts." Luna said "I'm glad you tried again though you seemed not to belief me."
"I'm glad as well." Harry replied.
And that was the truth; glad he was.


Trial

Harry was quite satisfied he had had prepared the biggest part of the exams before the baking sale. So he didn't have to think up much before he could hand them in to the Headmistress. Finally he added one question to all of them: 'Regarding the attack at the baking sale: was there anything you thought should have been done; anything you would have liked to be able to do? What was it and why?'

On Tuesday though tests were held McGonagall had managed to give a day off to both Hermione who had a meeting at the St Mungo's Research Centre together with Luna and to Harry who had to give a statement at Draco's hearing. Together the four of them were having breakfast at Grimmauld Place.

"I suppose your visit to St Mungo's has to do something with that piece of Getambo tongue Luna mad me catch?" Harry said "You never told me what idea it was you had."

"Have you ever heard of Homeopathy?" Hermione asked him.

"Some kind of healing method muggles argue about?" he offered "I don't know much about it."

"It's all about shaking, rhythm and diluting until there is nothing left but condensed information. The more materialistic orientated physicians say its only hocus-pocus. But is seems to work, even on animals or plants. The healers at St Mungo's managed to slow down the transformation of those infected by a Getambo who were discovered early enough, but still haven't found anything to cure them. So we thought we might just give it a try." Hermione explained.

"So we made different potencys" Draco added "we also tried Spagyric - something else we found information about at the internet - almost like these muggles try to brew potions without having magic. That's what I've been doing when you didn't know were I was within the last ten days"; he gave Harry an apologetic smile.

Hermione cast a quick time spell. "Thank you for this enjoyable breakfast, Althie, Kreacher!" she said "I'm afraid it's about time we get going."

When Luna and Hermione had left the kitchen Draco held out his hand "Harry, please!" he begged "Only as long as we are in the muggle world. I promise I won't do anything you wouldn't. Plus you'll be right next to me, they won't notice. Please!"
He looked so desperate.

Harry sighed took out his wand and passed it to Draco who let it slip into his pocket. Then they followed the two witches.


"Why are they all looking at me?" Draco whispered as they were on the underground.

"For you are the prettiest young man in the world, of course." Harry answered in an equally low voice.

"Don't bee ridiculous" Draco demanded "I look exactly as I always did!"

"Draco," Harry tried to keep his face stern "don't pretend you couldn't tell the difference." Then he smiled "You look incredibly happy!"

"He's right, you know." Luna put in "I wonder if that is because the Secreesuppries left you or if they left you because you are so happy. Is there anything else tha …"

"Luna," Hermione interrupted "we have to get off now. Excuse me. Excuse me." She pushed their way towards the door. "Good luck, Draco!" she said turning back to them "See you later."


When they had almost reached the small road leading to the telephone box that was the visitors entrance to the ministry Harry wondered once again how many things could happen at the same time.

In this muggle surrounding the apparition-plop he heard immediately caused him alarm, when he wanted to get his wand he noticed Draco wasn't next to him. As he turned to find out where the sound came from he saw Draco a few steps behind him voicing 'petrificus totalus' Harry's wand pointing at nothing - nothing but the little tip of a wand emerging a green flash.
Harry ducked the curse and hurried over to Draco.

[Behind Harry that curse hit some man in the road. People gathered around him, an ambulance was called … but no one was paying attention to Harry and Draco nor did they notice any of that.]

"Harry, you better put this into your pocket" Draco said pulling an invisibility cloak from the wizard he had just petrified. "If the ministry find out you've got one they might get the impression you could have been involved a certain Slytherin has recently been seen at places he ought not have been." He handed the cloak to Harry.

"I could see his reflection in the window I was looking at." Draco pointed at a small shop selling used laptops and computers "He didn't pay the least attention to me."

"You - you just saved my live!" Harry's heart was still hammering.
"I did not. I'm not allowed to use a wand right now, as you know." Draco passed the wand to Harry. "Besides you are famous for your ability of self-defence. Now hurry up! I don't want to be late at my trial."

Harry cast a hovering charm onto the petrified wizard that – no big surprise – turned out to be Barty Crouch and they continued their way.

"Are you sure?" Harry could hardly believe Draco did not want the credit for this catch. "There's thousands galleons reward for catching him!"

"Yes, I am sure. I'd rather be with you and poor than rich and in prison."

Harry's heart almost popped, Draco preferring his company to being rich was something he would- despite the last days - never have expected to be possible.
"They wouldn't put you into prison for using a wand against Crouch, would they?"

"It wouldn't be any better if they sent you to prison when they find out you gave me your wand. They shouldn't know. This was all you."


"Wand, please!" At the counter was the same bored witch reading her magazine who had not so long ago made Harry sign her arm.

"I'm not allowed to carry one right now." Draco told her "Draco Malfoy, trial at ten thirty."

She pulled out a preachment from underneath her Witch Weekly took a quick look at it nodded and without looking up pointed to the elevators "Two floors down, Room W34. – Next! Wand, please!"

Draco stepped aside and Harry said "Excuse me, I can't hand you my wand unless you call someone to take care of this."
With an expression of great reluctance she looked up.
"Cr-Cr- Crouch!" she choked, her face went pale her hands started to tremble. Harry could see why she was shocked, when he noticed the wand the petrified wizard still held was almost pointing at her face. He turned a bit so she could see him hovering Crouch.
"He's not dangerous at the moment! Please just call somebody. I have to be at that trial at ten thirty."
"Harrypotter" she whispered, eyes wide.
"No signing today, please," Harry begged "just call someone."

Two Aurors appeared behind her she must have rung an alarm without him noticing.
"Would you please take care of this wizard – as far as I know he's wanted. I have to be in W34 at ten thirty."
"Barty Crouch!" the younger Auror, Harry recognised as McCabe, said in admiration "We turned every stone in whole Britain to get hold of him. How did you manage to find him?"
"I didn't." Harry told him "He tried to attack me a few yards down the road. Just put him into one of the ministry cells. I'm a bit in a hurry."

"These cells are out of service," the older Auror informed him while he pulled the wand out of Crouch's hand. He was a small white haired wizard with deep wrinkles and a big moustache Harry hadn't met before. "There's an investigation on them at the moment. Apparently someone managed to break free without anyone taking notice. He possibly wouldn't be save there."

"He will be kept save in any cell" Harry tried to convince them "as long as everybody treats him as a dangerous person and an incredibly convincing actor. If you want to make sure you could add some of Neville Longbottom's catch vines."


When Harry came down to the dungeons he was late. He failed to sneak silently into W34. All eyes immediately turned towards him.
"Sorry for being late" he mumbled "I first had to find someone to take charge of a wizard who attacked me on my way here. Apparently it is Barty Crouch."

Voices and whispers rose in the room. It wasn't the large terraced one in with Harris's trial had been held in his fifth year. Draco sat on a chair in front of three wizards and two witches wearing the robes of Wizengamot behind him in three rows of black wooden benches sat several spectators.

"But that's not why we are here, is it?" Harry took the five steps to stand besides Draco.

"Right!" the head of the trial, a black haired wizard with a rather resided hairline and a massive jar-bone gave a short nod. "This young man, according to several witnesses, has been seen at Hogwarts when he was meant to be in a ministry cell."

"Oh!" Harry was surprised "I think I remember I was here to release him about two weeks ago. Do you have any witnesses that he had been missing in his cell?"

"No, we don't. There's an investigation going on on that topic."

"Was Mr Malfoy able to explain to you how he managed to be in to places at the same time?"

"No, he wasn't."

"Then perhaps it is not the right question to ask?" Harry had the slight impression he was channelling Dumbledore. "Despite that I thought this trial was about if there had been a verifiable reason for putting him into that cell in the first place. Within my experience of time-continuum and logic it seems impossible that the reason someone is sent into prison for could be that he might have been escaping from this cell months later."

Harry hoped that these witches and wizards didn't know about time-tuners or, if they did, they didn't know he had once used one.

"Above that, would you really think being seen defending Hogwarts against Dementors and Getambos – regardless if you are meant to be in a ministry cell or not – is something someone should be charged for? At least in my opinion it is something most unlikely to prove someone is a Death Eater. Draco Malfoy should never have been in that cell."


After the pronouncement, while they were waiting until Draco had back his license to apparate and the defendant-trace was taken from him they agreed to floo directly to Diagon Ally. Draco wanted to go to Mr Ollivander to get himself a new wand but Harry could convince him they had to go to Gringotts first.

"You were wrong though" Draco elaborated as they were approaching the large bright building of the bank "If they had not put me into that cell you wouldn't have broken me out and I wouldn't have had to hide so I probably would not have been at Hogwarts at all. And I would have had no reason to fight if I hadn't found out I loved someone whom I wanted to protect. I would never have found out about the love of my live if you had not told me that it could be possible that males love each other which you wouldn't have done had you not taken me to that movie. And you wouldn't have taken me to a movie if I hadn't been your hostage. So if they had not put me into that cell I would never have been able to prove I'm no Death Eater. Instead I might have been forced to act as one."

"Are you trying to tell me I ought to be glad that the ministry was acting unjust … " Harry whispered as they entered the building.

"Oh no! I just try to prove you were wrong!"

"… and that I am the love of your life?"

"Shut up!"

"Harry Potter," he gave his key to the Goblin at the counter "could I please get into my vault?"

When they reached the mounting platform Harry sight "I'm so glad I don't have to share Remus's and Lily's nausea. This time I'll be able to enjoy this ride!"

"You could at least pity me and share nausea for my sake" Draco wailed.

"I'd rather you share joy and excitement for my sake." Harry beamed "Just imagine you are sitting on a broom and throw your heart ahead. Want to sit in the front?"

Compared to Malfoy's vault they had visited last time Harry's was really small and the Goblin simply opened it with his card and the key Harry had given him.

Remembering how proud Draco once had been of his riches and how little of it was left Harry would have preferred if Draco could not look into the vault but he had to get right inside to pick up the only thing that wasn't a coin, a small, rather long wrapped package.

Draco's eyes were wide as he followed Harry into the cavern "You indeed are wealthy!"
Harry could tell Draco was irritated by the amount of Knuts, Sickles and Galleons piled up and he was glad a good part of what had once been his had meanwhile been transferred to a vault belonging to his parents and another one held by Sirius.
"I told you money's not a problem - that I could easily afford to take care for a spoilt pampered pretentious princess."

Draco flushed his head bent down he gave Harry a shy look "So … may … I be your princess?" he whispered.

Harry's heart jumped. He would have loved to pull Draco into his arms, to protect this shy innocent well-guarded part of him. But he didn't know at all how homosexuality was looked at by Goblins. He had never seen a female Goblin. May be they only had one sex? More likely they were very traditional and females were kept strictly out of public. Harry didn't know if not caring for Wizarding Worlds issues included 'moral' questions like sexuality or gender roles. He didn't dare to cause a scandal, didn't dare to put Draco at risk. Filling some coins into his pocket he explicitly looked past Draco at the Goblin standing at the doorway "We've got what we came for, let's get back."

In the rattling wheel-cart on their way back up Harry bent forward "You are my hero any way" he whispered into Draco's ear "- and if you want to you can also be my dragon, my price or my princess - whatever you want." When he sat back he could see Draco's ears shimmering slightly red through his blond hair.


"What's that parcel you picked up? Draco asked as they left Gringotts.
"I'll show you in a minute if you accompany me to Florean Fortescue's for some ice-cream."
"Do you try to distract me from going to Mr Ollivander?"
"'course not! But I'd definitely like some ice-cream first. It's summer! And I had no lunch."

It wasn't Florean Fortescue himself who served them but a young black haired witch with a slight accent that might be his granddaughter. When they had ordered Harry asked Draco to close his eyes then passed the parcel to him. Draco carefully unwrapped it to let his fingers tentatively slide along. As he realised what it was he immediately recoiled his fingers and dropped it.

"That's my old wand!" his eyes were wide with dismay.

Harry was confused "I thought you would like it. It's your wand." he said defensively.

"You have no idea what I was forced to do with it!"

"That's true. Still this one saved my live – don't you appreciate that?"

"So did that one" Draco indicated to Harry's wand "I'd rather stick to that then."

The young witch brought two cups filled with ice-cream fruit and yoghurt.

"Well, no. I do want to keep mine." Harry continued when she'd left "We'll get you a new one at Mr Ollivander's then."

After an awkward silence he added "Sorry, Draco, I really am. I didn't want to hurt you. I thought I was doing you a favour."

Draco gave him a wry smile and slowly closed his eyes "I know. Still it hurts."


Mr Ollivander had a lot of patience. Harry clearly remembered how many attempts it had taken till he had gotten his wand in first year. Fortunately there weren't many customers this afternoon. To Harry it seemed Draco was about to test every single wand in the shop. At least there wasn't as much chaos as with Harry's first efforts since Draco knew how to use a wand. But neither he nor Mr Ollivander seemed to be satisfied with any of Draco's attempts.

"Mr Malfoy," Mr Ollivander finally asked rubbing two fingers across his frown "are you sure you don't already own a wand that answers to you?"
"Harry's wand does answer to me" Draco sounded a bit miffed "but he wants to keep it to himself!"
Harry took out both wands and passed them to Mr Ollivander who inspected them carefully.

"Yes … I remember these … Hawthorn … ten inches … reasonable springy … Unicorn-hair – " he muttered to himself "eleven inches … Holly and Phoenix feather … nice and supple …" in turns he was looking at either of them and the two wands. "Now, that's interesting … exceptional … extraordinary … very rare indeed."

He put both wands onto the counter.
"You see, occasionally it happens that two wands would equally serve the same wizard – or witch. Very rare times one wand would answer to two different persons in the same way. But here we have two wands equally loyal to both of you." His face blank, he had the slightest smile in his eyes as he studied them carefully.

"I suggest you switch these wands regularly. This most likely won't last forever. One day you might find one wand answers better to one of you. Then possibly the other wand will have chosen the other wizard. But it might as well be both of them answer better to one of you; then presumably the other wizard has already gained another wand's favour. If not, you're welcome to come here and we'll easily find one for you." He gave them a fond smile. "No matter how, Gentlemen this is very special! I'm honoured I was allowed to see it. Appreciate it as long as it lasts."

He opened the door and bowed them out. It was about closing time.


"Do you think he knows?" Draco asked as they were on their way back to the Leaky Cauldron.
"I don't know. Does it matter?"
"Suppose not. He didn't seem to be bothered."
"Let's just get home. I desperately need to hug somebody."
"Anybody?" Draco smirked.
"No. Someone special who today accidently happened to tell me I might be the love of his live."


[Headline?]

Harry remembered how as a student he always had enjoyed the last two weeks of the year, when most of the exams had been held and there wasn't much to be done. Now he realised it was the most stressful time as a teacher. Besides the lessons that still had to be held and made it extremely difficult to gain the students attention he had to mark all exams that were held in every class within little more than a single week so he could discuss the grades with the headmistress. Therefore he still had to do some grading in the evening though he had had a day off.
He copied all the answers he'd gotten to his last added question hoping they would be inspiring for future lessons and possibly allow new inventions for Defence Against the Dark Arts.

It was really late when he finally went to bed.
"Draco?" he asked curling around the warm half-asleep body "would you help me do someone a favour?"
"Whom?" Draco murmured.
"Snape." Harry answered.
Draco turned around to look at Harry's face in disbelief "You - want to do Prof. Snape - a favour? – Why?"
"He has been helpful with the Master of Death Potion plus I've got the feeling he might be less agonizing if he got at least a little bit of happiness if not during his lifetime then now."
"So, what do you want to do?"
"I thought we could have another portrait made for him to be able to visit my mom."
"Why would you need me to help with that?"
"I don't want to tell him. I want it to be a surprise for him. You've got to convince him we need that portrait without telling him why."
"But I would have to tell him something."
"Tell him it's a gift. Tell him he's going to like it. Tell him he'll be able to leave the castle. I know he's bored stuck in here."
"Why don't you tell him yourself?"
"Cause he doesn't trust me?"
"He'll think someone wants him to spy somewhere."
"Well that wouldn't be completely new to him, would it? – Don't deny it, it'll be a good disguise."
"You really are a dignified Head of Slytherin House." Draco grinned.
"So you'll ask him?"
"I'll try my best."
" thought we could ask Leonie Winner, 6th year from Hufflepuff, to paint it. She was very good with the lantern and her Grandmother had been a famous portrait artist."
"You have been thinking about this for quite a while, haven't you?" Draco rose on his elbow to look at Harry in concern "I'll ask her tomorrow. You can't not sleep every night, Harry, there's another exam you have to supervise tomorrow morning." Carefully he put a tender kiss on each of Harry's eyes "Good night, love of my live."
"I really am?"

"Hush"


Harry was still marking exams as he had been the whole afternoon, when Draco came in late Wednesday evening "You could have told me" he demanded.
"Told you what?"
"And how did you gather the money for it?"
"What for?"
"The interrupted baking-sale can't have raised that much."
"The baking sale? Draco, what are you talking about?"
"The windows, of course!"
"The – what?" Harry was completely jumbled.
"You didn't know?" Draco seemed to be irritated. "I thought the whole Snape-Portrait-Issue had only been your Slytherinly excuse to send me down there."
"No, honestly, I really want that portrait to be painted. You didn't ask him then? – So, what is it like to have day-light down there?"
"It's brilliant! The windows seem to mirror ones somewhere at the third or forth floor. But not two of them next to each other are showing the same view. It's a bit distracting not to know which direction you're actually facing but once you've gotten used to it, it could be very nice to have morning and evening sunshine at the same spot. – Oh, and I did ask Snape anyway. He's fine with it. We were right, he expects we want him to spy, he is bored in here and he's thinking it might have to do something with the unknown donator of the new windows. "
"Did you manage to talk to Leonie Winner as well?"
"Yes, she said she'll start Saturday when she's done all her exams."
"Thank you! I'll have to ask her if it's possible to add the background I want there to be without Snape taking notice – And I think I'll have to find a reason to be needed down in the dungeons so I can at least once have a look at the windows."
"You are Head of House, Harry, you don't need a reason to go there."
"I'm not as scared as I used to be but I still never really feel comfortable among them. I'm sure they'll all be glad when they get you as new Head of House next year."
"Me? – Why would that be?"
"Well, you are a Slytherin, you're going to be a teacher next year, hasn't McGonagall asked you jet?"
"No."
"I'm sure she will. - Draco, I'll finish marking this then I'll come to bed, OK?"


When Harry finally went to bed he found Draco impatiently waiting for him.
"Harry we can't tell anyone. You know that, don't you." he said while Harry slipped under the blanket.
"Of course I do. I'm not stupid. If accidently sharing some of Remus and Sirius's memories for more than half a year hadn't taught me we've got to be careful your reaction at the cinema certainly would have. But Remus's and Sirius's live can also prove that there actually are people you can trust. I'm sure we could tell them - or my parents - or Hermione probably …"

"We won't have to tell Hermione. I'm afraid she knew longer than you did. She was the one to tell me at the day of the ceremony since you accidently happened to reveal your love I had to make up my mind and inform you about my decision so you wouldn't drown yourself in self-loathing."
"She did?"
"She did."
"Draco, I'm afraid I have to inform you that you are no longer my only hero."
"That's Okay. She is great, isn't she? Getting off the underground two stops too early only to protect us."
"Did she?"
"Never mind, they had plenty of time and Luna certainly didn't notice any more than you did."


During first week of July when Harry sat mostly in his room marking exams Draco forced him every day to go for a walk together for at least an hour in the afternoon. Then he told him about his first attempts to teach Slughorns students, the fascinating details of the process painting a magical portrait and the little pranks and wrangles among the students and it all sounded joyful and vivid. Harry felt a bit jealous but at the same time he was glad. Glad he had time to work without a bored nagging Draco around him, glad that Draco had fun, glad that they could share this fun, glad that non of these pranks were severe enough to call for his attention.


The End-of-Year Feast came and Harry realised the Great Hall was decorated in silver and green. He hadn't paid much attention to the house-points. He had given points to whoever knew something or done something good, he had taken them from whoever did something wrong not caring which house they were in. He hadn't heard anyone complaining about him or any other teacher favouring ore discriminating houses. He hadn't had much time to care about the Quidditch-matches but apparently Slytherin had done quite well without his support and he was glad for them. Hopefully he would have more time to care about and even to play Quidditch next year.

More than his house having won the house-cup, Harry enjoyed that after the banquet students did not stay at their tables or leave for their common rooms but swap places all across the Great Hall. Crouch had with his attack and the following two weeks of necessary muggle–work done more for inter house relationship than Harry or any back-sale ever would have been able to do.

That night cuddled up against Draco Harry forced himself to finally ask the question he had so carefully avoided during the last weeks: "Draco, were will you go to tomorrow?"
Despite Draco had his back turned towards him Harry felt the sudden return of the self-controlled distant and indifferent stiffness.
"Malfoy Manor, of curse."
When Harry didn't answer Draco continued in an obvious need to explain.
"I could convince my mother that it was good for our reputation I was seen rebuilding the castle, I managed to persuade her it was an improvement for my future carer to be Prof. Slughorns assistant for the remaining weeks of the year, but what should I be telling her why I have to spend my holiday with Harry Potter? - I'm sorry, Harry, I do have to go home."
"Wait" Harry had the impression he just caught sight of something he had missed unto now "you told your mother you had to be seen rebuilding the castle - just to be close to me?"
"Sure" Draco shrugged.
"So you already knew you wanted to be with me, when I released Bobsy-you from the ministry-cell?"
"Of course! I told you, I wouldn't have had a reason to get involved into the fight if I hadn't known."
Harry did remember Draco had mentioned that "- But - but - why didn't you say something?"
Draco turned around to look at him "I thought you knew. I presumed you noticed my Patronus was far too big to be a ferret."
"Oh, - so it was on purpose it was so blurred?"
"When I saw your Patronus change shape my heart almost stopped, for I thought you had recognized my badly disguised 3
herbivore and this did make you change. At the same time I immediately hated you for your griffindorkish bravery to unnecessarily tell the whole world and thus destroy every disguise we might have used."
"… sorry for that …" Harry murmured.
"I waited for you to talk to me as you had been brave enough to tell the whole school but instead you avoided me. You wouldn't look at me so I presumed I'd done something wrong during that battle, something to no longer deserve your love, like putting first years at risk by requiring Vincent's vengeance or keeping your wand while you were exploding Dementors. I tried to stay out of your feet so you wouldn't kick me out …"
"Oh, Draco" Harry pulled the slender young man into his arms "I'm sorry I was such a blind dork. We cold have had so much more time together."
"Yeah, we could. I'm glad Hermione finally disclosed to me what things might look like from your perspective and forced me to act."
"I don't want to imagine where we would be without her."
"Both miserable and alone?"
"Just like we will be from now on …

After an awkward silence Harry continued: "… Draco, will you let me be your 'hostage' next year? At least part of the time?"
Draco pulled back to look at Harry: "What are you talking about?"

"I really like being at Hogwarts, you know." Harry slung his arms around his own neck "Hermione lets Ron stay at hers quite often. And you don't have to be afraid, I can hide. A close friend gave me an invisibility cloak not that long ago - no one needs to know I'm here."
"Harry, you are a teacher just like I will be next year. That's why I accepted to become Potions teacher."
"How could I? No one has ever taught Defence Against the Dark Arts for more than a year. I'm sure McGonagall has already found someone new."
"I'm sure she hasn't, there's no need to. You're not dead, you had no reason to flee the castle and you haven't done anything to be dismissed, have you?"
"No, but …"
"Harry, all these teachers left for some reason. No one left only because this subject can't be taught for more than a year by the same teacher. You might once again be The Chosen One to start a change."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am." Draco put his arm around Harry and kissed him on the forehead "Still the cloak might be very useful …"

"Still …. – seven weeks without you." Harry knew he sounded miserable "I don't want to be apart from you."

"Nor do I. You do have your family though, a house full of live. I'll have seven weeks alone with my mother in a house filled with horrible memories and some pleasurable prison visits - how am I supposed to survive that?"

"Well, we'll have to – somehow. How else could we have a future together?"

After a while Harry asked: "Do you want to take my wand? …to feel closer?"

"Harry, I get what you try to offer and I appreciate it, but I can't. How would I explain this to my mother? It's odd enough you kept my old one and choose to give it back to me. Besides they are both your wands. And mine. We are connected either way."


Second Birth Day

When Harry arrived at Grimmauld Place the house was very quiet. His parents had moved to Godric's Hollow, Sirius and Remus were on some mission for the ministry and Andromeda with Teddy would arrive tomorrow.
When Harry up in his room called for Kreacher after a delicious but somehow awkward dinner in the kitchen surrounded by two bustling house-elves who didn't talk to each other at all the house-elve appeared with a soft plop.

"Yes, Master Harry?"
"Kreacher, does Althie make …" Harry interrupted himself " … I'd like to know how you get along with Althie?"
"Kreacher does not know, Master Harry."
"Kreacher," Harry spoke patiently and soft: "don't watch out for my opinion. This was meant to please you. You should be able to tell if you like her to be around or not."
There was a long silence and Harry wondered if it really did take Kreacher that long to figure out whether he liked Althies company, but when the house-elve finally spoke again Harry realized he did not struggle for an opinion but for words.
"Kreacher knows Master Harry was raised by muggles so Master Harry might not know …" the house-elve seemed to be even more uncomfortable than usual, obviously he needed to gather all his courage to continue "… does Master Harry want Kreacher to … to make a … new house-elve?"
"Do I want you to …" it took some time till Harry understood. "Oh! You are trying to tell me, new house-elves are 'made' if a master tells his house-elves to do so and the elves aren't asked whether they like it or not?"
"Yes, Master Harry." Kreacher seemed to be very pleased Harry had understood so quickly.
"You were right, I didn't know that." Harry was horrified by the idea the house-elves were expecting him to order Kreacher to rape Althie, horrified by the idea that rapture had probably stood in the beginning of almost every house-elve's live for generations. "Still that wasn't what I thought about when we decided to let Althie stay here. If both of you like the idea to raise a little house-elve I'd find that marvellous. But if you prefer to be the only elve in this house I'm perfectly Okay with that as well." Harry saw the tension on the elves face decrease "Will the two of you be able to make up your minds about that without any orders?"
"Kreacher does not know if Althie has orders."
"You think she might have?"
"If the male elve is told to make a new house-elve" Kreacher explained "that one would always belong to his master no matter to which house the female elve belongs. If he isn't ordered to breed but she is, the young house-elve would belong to her master."
Harry wondered if Kreacher had any special qualities Narcissa might like to 'add' to the Malfoy's house-elves by tricking him into this.
"Does it ever happen that little house-elves are born without any order?"
"Kreacher has never heard about something like that anywhere - except at Hogwarts; headmaster Dumbledore has given permission to all the house-elves to decide themselves who wanted to raise little elves with whom. Kreacher thinks the new elve in that case would probably belong to the house it is born in."
"Right. Kreacher, can you ask Althie, whether she has any orders? Or would you rather have me ask Draco?"
"Kreacher can ask Althie. She would tell Kreacher." Harry had the impression this could be the first glimpse the two elves might get along quite well. He was surprised how much this delighted him.

"That's good. Then the two of you can draw your own conclusions. Thank you, Kreacher. Have a good night."


The following days were filled with happy light-hearted activity. Sirius and Remus were occupied by the ministry part of the time but still the five of them had much fun together. One day they went to the zoo, another day they visited a string-puppet-show. Almost every day Harry accompanied Teddy to one of the playgrounds in the neighbourhood prepared to interfere if Teddy accidently by sudden change of the colour of his hair should upset other children. Harry realised, the children didn't mind at all as long as the adults didn't notice and get agitated. Harry taught Teddy to raise speed on a swing on his own and encouraged him to head up to the top of the climbing frame, both they tried to balance across bars and tight ropes, together they dug holes and built sand-castles and sand-snakes. In the garden Harry and Teddy practised broom-flying and when it was too wet to stay outside all day they drew pictures together invented little skits and tales played muggle or wizard-games or did puzzles. Harry enjoyed sharing the excitement and delight to look at the world with the eyes of a child discovering something new every day. He felt as if he got a big mouth full of what it might have been like to grow up in a loving Wizarding family who did not fear or avoid the muggle-world.

But at night when he was on his own he missed Draco. He missed his breathing and his scent, he missed the presence of his body, he missed to touch him and to be touched, he missed recalling the day together, he missed his cutting comments, he missed ... he missed.
He had tried to soothe his nerves by writing to Draco but stopped it when after his second letter he received one addressed to 'Prof. H. Potter' that read: 'Dear Harry, please stop writing. There are too many wards on this house for me to receive letters unnoticed. Miss you too. Yours Draco'

On Sunday Remus and Sirius left for uncle Alphad's cottage in the woods for Remus to transform. As Harry knew Remus's Lycanthropy wasn't kept a secret he assumed Remus not only tried to keep the wolf away from a little trusting boy but also tried to prevent his son from the confusion it might cause having to see his father act like a scared, insecure little child.

Tuesday Harry and Teddy followed them to spend some time in the wood together. They gathered wild strawberries and mushrooms tracked and observed wild animals. Remus knew something to tell about every plant or insect every trace or fumet Teddy spotted and though life was completely different here compared to the city it never got boring and Harry learned a lot.

Over the weekend before Harry went back to Grimmauld Place he visited his parents in Godric's Hollow leaving Teddy with Sirius and Remus.
Back in the big house alone to keep from brooding Harry bought a used lap-top and spent many hours in the garden or in the Black's library trying to fix it to work in a magical environment. He knew Hermione would happily have done it for him without any effort and probably so would Remus or Sirius but he wanted to do it on his own. When he got stuck and needed to think about something else he started to work on his lesson-plans.


On his birthday suddenly the house got crowded again. In the morning his parents appeared at his bedside singing a birthday song that almost rang very old memories. Lily was holding a tray carrying a mug hot cocoa, a tiny treacle-tart with two candles on it and several letters.
"It's kind of strange" Lily said putting down the tray "to know that you actually count twenty now while for us it's the second time to celebrate your birthday."
Luna and Neville along with best wishes sent a picture of the labyrinth changing flowers throughout a year, Molly and Arthur congratulated and asked him to visit them at the Burrow, and Ginny sent a photograph of herself arm in arm with an other young woman both dressed in dark green robes of the Holyhead Harpies beaming at him. On the back it read: 'Dear Harry, Happy Birthday and a sparkling lucky next year full of love.' The word 'love' was constantly shimmering in all rainbow colours.

During the brunch Kreacher and Althie had prepared in the garden first Sirius, Remus and Teddy appeared happily joining the meal, later Hermione turned up followed by Ron and George who had closed the shop in Diagon Alley for the afternoon. Finally Andromeda arrived and joined them for a cup of tea.
"Harry" James said "we have to prepare some things in the garden for your present to work, would you mind to stay inside for a little while until we call for you?"
"I heard you're into baking now?" Andromeda responded "I haven't finished my cakes jet. Would you like to join me?"

In the kitchen she asked him to wash the currants, strawberries and raspberries and remove the leaves while she started to whip cream. When he was done she handed him a biscuit cutter in the shape of a snitch-wing and two layers of something golden-transparent that felt like slightly sticking leather.
"This is dried apple-juice." she informed him "If you cut out the wings neatly there should be enough for all the biscuits."
"I'll try my best. How was your first More Than A Weekend without Teddy?"
"Wonderful. And he obviously liked it as well."
"Well, it was more like kind of a holiday tough, Remus and Sirius both didn't work during these days."
After mixing yoghurt, fruit, sugar and the whipped cream to a fluffy pink mousse she filled it into a piping bag Andromeda opened a box containing about two dozens of snitch-sized balls covered with sesame-seeds. Starting to carefully fill the biscuits she changed the subject "Are you expecting any more guests, Harry?"
"Err, no."
"So Draco is not going to come?"
"Not as far as I know. Aren't the biscuits going to get mushy?"
"They are covered with chocolate on the inside. See, you can stick the wings to the filled cakes like that. Did you invite him?"
"No, I didn't – d' you think I should have?"
"Of course! He's your friend, isn't he? Don't you miss him?"
"Well, yes, he is … kind of …" Harry hoped he didn't blush "I … I thought you'd prefer not to have him and Narcissa around?"

Andromeda watched him carefully.
"Harry," she said, in a calm voice putting the piping bag aside "do you know what the one thing is, my sister Narcissa would sacrifice almost everything for?"
Harry was confused, he couldn't figure out where this conversation was leading to.
"Money? Reputation?" he tried.
Andromeda smiled. "These are definitely among the top five. But there's one thing far more important to her than that."
Harry didn't have a clue "You tell me."
"It's the happiness of the one she loves most - her son." Andromeda picked up the bag again and continued to fill the biscuits "Of course she'd struggle at first. But you don't have to hide. She'll cope."

Harry stared at her.

"How - how do you know that we … ?"
Andromeda smiled "That wasn't too hard to tell, once one has gotten used to the idea." She nodded towards the photograph of Remus and Padfoot playing in the park. "Invite them, now, will you? I know it's not polite and Ciccy will be furious not to have the chance to make an insulting present but we can handle that."
"But how could I invite them? Draco asked me not to write to him. My last letters came back."
"Don't you have a house-elve living here that belongs to Malfoy Manor?"
"Right!" Harry slammed his hand against his head. Why had he not thought of that possibility? Althie might have been able to deliver his letters.
"Althie?" the small elve appeared with a loud plop. "Althie, could you please invite Draco and Narcissa Malfoy to come here right away to help us eat my birthday cakes? Tell them we do know it's not polite to invite that late and they needn't bring any present but we'd really appreciate it if they come anyway."
"And please," Andromeda added "ask them to bring along their brooms if possible."
"Yes, Master Harry" Althie nodded with a smirk and disappeared.
Harry suddenly felt the urge to get upstairs to change his robes to something more formal.

"Harry, would you like to lick out the left bits?"
"No, I'm fine – I bet Teddy would though."
"I thought so too. Would you mind if I go and see how many sweet-teeth I can find outside?"

Andromeda had just left the kitchen when Hermione appeared with something in her hand that looked suspiciously like a wrapped book.
"Harry," she said "I wanted to hand out my present to you without everybody else around. The kitchen seems to be the perfect place."
A book it was Harry unwrapped: 'Baking with a Badger – Biscuits, Cookies, Cakes and Pastries With(-out) Magic'
Harry gave Hermione a questioning look. "Why would I need a baking book? There's dozens in the library both here and at Hogwarts."
"I know History never was one of your favourite subjects," Hermione said totally out of context "nevertheless I thought you might be interested in this specific part of history." She smiled at him. "Go on, open it!"
Harry opened the book the inside title read: 'Struggle and Fights for Pride and Equal Rights – 100 Years History of Gay Liberation - Aims, Events, Theories and Personalities' 4 Harry started to page through it. Considering the photographs it was a muggle book and she was right, this did interest him. Just as he started to read, a question popped up in his mind
"Hermione, what help will it do to disguise this book when whoever happens to look for a recipe stumbles into it?"
"Right. Shut the book and tell me: did you bake a birthday-cake for Draco?"
Closing the book Harry murmured "I haven't. You – you know we weren't talking at that time …"
"I know." Hermione smiled apologetically "Anyway think about what you would like to bake for him - then open up the book again."
When Harry did as she told him underneath the title 'Baking with a Badger' appeared a photograph of a young man with rectangular glasses in Hufflepuff robes standing in a muggle kitchen smiling at him while passionately stirring in a bowl with a whisk.
"You see" Hermione explained "the baking book is always there for everyone whereas the other book can only be seen by those especially interested in the subject."

Teddy entered the kitchen to putt the bowl he had licked out onto the table. "Harry, come outside!" he said grabbing Harry's hand pulling him towards the doorway.
"Oh! Am I being missed at my party?" he winked at Teddy. Then he turned to smile at Hermione "Thank you! That's a really great present!"

In the garden Harry saw the big table had been placed into the shadow of the walnut laid out with fine china. Closer to the house was a small table covered with red linen surrounded by all his guests. When Harry stepped out of the door they began to sing a birthday-song he'd never heard before. Even Kreacher sang along and Harry was amazed how well the high screeching voice added to the others.

Harry put the book onto the table next to the cards he had received this morning before he picked up the smaller of the two parcels.
"This is from us." George and Ron said almost in one voice.
He unwrapped a cube-shaped lidded box about 8 inches wide that was empty when he opened it - except for vivid pictures on the inside. The lid showed a bright sunny sky while each of the sides and part of the bottom showed close ups of different places. The one the lid was attached to seemed to be the gravelled shore of a lake, left of that it looked like the stem of an old tree with a hole in it, the opposed side showed something like a rabbit-hole in faded summer grass and the last one appeared to be a dark corner at the attic of an old building. Harry had no idea what use this box might be.
"We got to know your students quite liked the familiar that accompanied you last term." Ron started to explain "And as he might for some reason or another not be there any more next term …"
"… we decided to make you a toy-version to replace him." George fell in "We did our very best to replicate him in both appearance and character." they both grinned wildly "Plus we created him a little world to live in" Ron said pointing to the box.
"Nice idea" Harry answered "but there's nothing in it …"
"You've got to name him and he'll show up whenever you call him" George clarified.
"Call him 'Git'" Sirius suggested with a sarcastic grin.
Harry frowned at him "I call him 'Ferret'" he declared emphatically. As he had spoken he realized the slightly shocked or embarrassed glances past him. He turned around to see Draco and Narcissa approaching them.
"I assumed this was meant to be an insult" Draco said in a cold voice "despite what Althie tried to tell us. Still we know how to behave." Offering Harry his hand he continued "Happy Birthday, Prof. Potter." Then drawing him closer slamming his left hand on Harry's shoulder Draco hissed "Behave! She can't know."
Harry straitened his back and smiled at Narcissa now coming closer to shake his hand. "I'm glad you both could come. It really wasn't meant to be an offence that we asked that late."
"If you planed on humiliating us by giving us no chance to get you any present -" Draco elaborated
"Come on!" Harry interrupted "I'm old enough to prefer sincere good wishes and nice company to half-hearted gifts."
"If you planed on humiliating us" Draco continued completely unimpressed "– you failed. I happened to have something at home I know you wanted to get hold of for quite some time."
Pulling out a flat rectangular package he stepped forward to offer it to Harry.
"Thank you!" Harry beamed putting the parcel onto the table "This really means a lot."
"Why don't you open it up?" Draco asked with a suppressed smile that made Harry wonder if Draco really was offended and planned on embarrassing him.
"I will. Later." he confirmed "Let's have tea, coffee and birthday-cake first."

The snitch-cookies Andromeda had made were now floating half a foot above a tray looking as golden as anything made out of food but metal could. Next to them there was a cake easily recognisable as what Remus and Teddy agreed on to be perfect: a chocolate roulade-snake filled with chocolate mousse decorated in patterns of different shaded chocolate chips with pistachio eyes and a flickering tongue that probably consisted of mango. Next to the treacle-tart Kreacher had made as Harry had asked him to there was a very colourful one covered with various fruit in concentric circles starting with an apricot in the middle surrounded by a ring of pineapple followed by slices of pear, kiwi, blueberries, cherries and strawberries.


(this is what might be part of the conversation at the table – as I do not want to elaborate things happening along I'll just write it down like a play.)

Remus "Yeah, it really is an improvement, Muggle Studies are compulsory now. But just imagine what the world could be like if all Wizarding children got to know Muggle world as naturally and passing as Teddy just does."

James "What about the Muggles though. Why aren't they taught? There have always been some Muggles who knew about us, like your parents knew you were a witch when you started at Hogwarts, Lily, right? And your sister did, she told her fiancé."

George "Concerning how many muggle-born witches and wizards attended school during the centuries there ought to be thousands of Muggles who know."

Harry "Concerning aunt Petunia's and uncle Vernon's reaction it might be better there aren't too many knowing …"

Lily "But, Harry, didn't you tell us this morning the Muggle-children at the playground took Teddy's colour-changes just as natural as 'dogs bark and cats don't' unless some adults told them it's not?"

Harry "well, yes, but …"

Hermione "Which proves: the earlier people get to know something the less likely it is to scare them."

Draco "But you can't force Wizarding families to send their children to muggle playgrounds and do magic amongst young muggle children. It won't work. At least not while witches and wizards are unsure and scared amongst muggles."

Andromeda "Someone could write a book to make muggle –children familiar with the idea witches and wizards exist."

Hermione "There are thousands of stories including magic. Most of them are rubbish. I doubt that would help."

Ron "We could enchant the book to become really popular all over the world so even adults would read it."

Draco (sarcastic) "Simply write down Harry Potter's life, why don't you? It will certainly prove to every muggle that magic is nothing to be scared of."

Hermione "Well, it might prove that magic, just like biology, chemistry, IT, banking, publishing, politics or anything can be used in different ways for different purposes. Some use it to try to gain power over others or the whole world, some use it to fight for a better world in justice, peace and freedom while most people only use it to somehow make a living and take care for those they love."

Harry "You couldn't use my story though. My life's been so weird no one would believe you if you tell it the way it was. No one would ever trust one single boy could by any chance survive that many deathly dangerous adventures."

George "Split it up then, create different characters. Change the main character to be a girl …"

Andromeda "I wouldn't recommend that. Like in the Wizarding World many muggle girls do read books with a male main character but most boys wouldn't read a book with a female hero – if they read at all that is."

Hermione "I don't think your story being unbelievable would be a problem, Harry. Many books are and they still are popular."

Narcissa "Some things would have to be changed anyway to not cause trouble with the Ministry."

George "Like the Leaky Cauldron mustn't be named 'the Leaky Cauldron'. Imagine what might happen if Muggles started to see it once they know the name!"

Sirius "Imagine thousands of Muggles coming to Hogsmeade searching for Hogwarts!"

Lily "Right! We are already fed up with all these witches and wizards turning up at our house. We actually thought about putting a charm on it to make it look as destroyed as it used to during the last years, to keep them from entering the garden and interfering in our live. Imagine thousands of Muggles strolling through Godric's Hollow to investigate."

George "Well, alter the story a bit, change names, places and spells of course – that should be fairly easy. But it's still an awful lot of work to write a book; who would voluntarily agree to do that?"

Ron "Hermione, you know most of the story, you love books, you always wrote long essays for homework, you could easily write it, couldn't you? "

Hermione "I love to read books. Still I don't think I would be any good at writing a novel. Plus I'm not that used to teaching yet to have lots of spare time – what about you, Remus?"

Remus "Oh, I'm honoured you would trust me to tell your story but we're just about to restructure the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to something more supporting, and I'm afraid that will take all the time I don't spend raising a child. – Lily?"

Lily "Almost the same. Wan'na take up my healers training again next term and … well, … we don't raise a child right now, but …"

Narcissa "I could do it. If you trust me, that is. Of course you'd all get to read and correct it before it's published. You'd have to visit me every now and then though, Harry, or invite me, to fill me in on the large parts I don't know about."

All " … … … ?"

Andromeda "She used to invent and write stories when we were small. Those were actually quite well written."

Harry "You would really do that?"

Narcissa "I would love to do that. I wouldn't want it to be published under my real name though."

Harry "Give me some time to think about it. We don't have to decide that right now, do we?"


When everybody had eaten more cake than was healthy and Kreacher already started to prepare the fire they would later on bake twisted bread and toast marshmallows at Harry asked his mother: "Lily, would you accompany me inside for a moment? I've got something I want to pass on to you."
"It's your birthday, Harry. You should receive presents not offer them." Lily said while raising from her chair.
"Wasn't it you who gave birth to me? So you should be honoured as well." Harry replied moving up to her.

On their way inside he picked up the still wrapped package Draco had given him. When they entered the passage between the kitchen and the garden he said: "Mum, I think you should know this is actually only halfway a present to you. The other half you are the present. That's why I'm going to unwrap it."

Harry made sure he stood with his back towards a white, unrecognisable wall and gestured Lily to stand back a little while he unwrapped the flat rectangular package. Harry made sure the small picture showing a stone bench on a little hill surrounded by golden autumn bushes glowing in the sunset faced only him "Professor?" he called.

"You!" a cold accusing voice replied when a familiar hostile face appeared. "I should have been more suspicious. If I had known that, I would never have agreed on another portrait."

"Which might then turn out to be a big mistake. That's why I asked Draco Malfoy to persuade you." Harry smiled raising his eyes to see the dawning of understanding on his mothers face. "Draco told you this was going to be a gift, didn't he? Well it's actually meant to be a gift for you. You are the one we want to do a favour with this." Harry remembered the advice his mother had given him that had worked so well on Draco and forced himself to a beaming smile at the loathing distrusting wizard. Then he turned the portrait for Snape to see Lily. "As you helped us for my mother's sake I thought you might like to keep in touch with the life you enabled her to live." handing the portrait to Lily he smiled at her and turned to go back to the garden.

"Lily, did you ask him to do this?"
"No, Sev, I had no idea."
"Perhaps I really misjudged him …"
"Yes, you did. I know he does look a lot like James, still you could have known better. You knew he is my son as well and …"
Harry was glad when the conversation he left behind faded - and jumped at James's upset voice at the table.

"WHAT! I don't want to have HIM hanging around at my place!"
"Well, it is Lily's place as well." Remus tried.
"Can YOU imagine having him hanging in YOUR living room? Possibly sneaking into the paintings hanging in your BEDROOM?" James shouted.
"There are charms" Remus assured him "that can stop him from leaving his frame at your house."
"Lily does have a room of her own, doesn't she?" Harry put in.
Before James could answer to that Andromeda interfered: "James, if you and Lily ever happened to have another child would that stop you loving Harry?"
"Certainly not. Never!" James frowned at her.
"Right. Everyone expects parents to be able to love all their children equally whether they are completely different or very similar." Andromeda explicated her thoughts "Did your affection for Remus or Sirius ever rival with your love for Lily?"
"Err, no?"
"So tell me: why should the same woman be capable to love more than one child but only one man?"
Lily came back "You don't have to be jealous, love" she said laying the portrait face down onto the table casting 'Muffliato' "He's only a portrait, we'll occasionally see each other and talk. If anyone was to be jealous it should be him - as you actually are the one" she came to stand behind James putting her arms around his neck "who's able to touch me and be touched." She kissed his forehead as he looked up to her. "Now, Harry, why don't you open up that present we got you?"

The last parcel turned out to be a claret wooden crate about the size Quidditch balls were kept in at Hogwarts with golden delicately intertwined letters H and P at the lid. Harry wondered why the Marauders and Andromeda would want to get him a new suitcase since he had never complained about his trunk.
"Come on!" Sirius demanded fretful "Open it! We can't sit and eat all day!"
Remus elbowed him in his side "Be patient, Padfoot!"

When Harry opened the lid whatever was in it was covered with dark blue cloth spotted with pink and light green stars. Harry reached for the fabric that turned out to be a cape - one of seven capes. Underneath them lay four Beaters bats on another cloth. When Harry had pulled out seven light grey capes ornamented with a doubled rainbow slightly darker grey between mirroring colours he could see six balls.
"This Quidditch-crate once belonged to my grandfather Henry, then to my father Fleamont Harold Potter." James explained "When we started to sort through Godric's Hollow it still stood in the closet I had put it in after his death."
"We thought you might like it" Remus added "as teachers aren't allowed on Hogwarts Quidditch teams."
"So we decided to ad some extras for you to build your own Just-For-Fun-Teams." Lily pointed to the capes.
"We very much hope you'll invite us for a game every now and then." Sirius grinned.

"Oh! That's marvellous! - But why are there four Bludgers? They are usually not the ones that get lost?"
"That's true. Actually there are two Bludgers and two Bluegers." Sirius explained "Teddy helped us to invent these."
"You played Quidditch with Teddy?!" Andromeda suddenly looked like someone you really did not want to get into trouble with.
"Only on his kids-broom" Remus hurried to calm her down "and it wasn't that much like Quidditch. You see, these Bluegers are actually sponge-balls. We hexed them to act like Bludgers but they can't hurt you. They only turn you blue. Depending how hard you were hit your vision might get slightly blue blurred or turn to nothing but blue. Plus you're getting correspondingly blue from the outside as well so everyone can see how hard you were hit and if there ought to be a break. Teddy and Sirius enjoyed it a lot to test these."

"So, who wants to have a game?" Sirius already grabbed for one of the star-studded capes.
While James, Ron, George, Draco, Harry and Teddy immediately raised their hands or grabbed for a cape Hermione looked at them in disbelief "You are aware we are in the middle of London?" she asked in her most concerned teacher-like voice "It has been illegal to play Quidditch within one hundred miles to any muggle place since the 1360-ies!"
"Well, there are two possibilities" James declared "first this crate also works as a Portkey, connected to some time-table at the Department of Magical Games and Sports. You set these clocks" he pointed to two golden circles with black wooden hands on the inside of the lid " to the time you want to start and stop your game and the Portkey will send you to a Quidditch pitch not occupied for that time. Second: We'll have a game here, but it's not Quidditch."
"We don't use Bludgers but Bluegers;" Sirius pointed to one of his fingers adding up the differences "we can't fly any higher than five foot – that's because Teddy's broom wouldn't go any higher so we hexed the whole pitch to that restriction; the pitch isn't oval but square and a lot smaller" with his finger on the middle finger of the other hand he pointed to the end of the garden "plus there're trees within the pitch; we don't have hoops but old baskets in these trees; and of course we can agree to a totally different way to count points."

"As Teddy wants to be part of the game" Harry declared "I vote for the second possibility. But I want you all to join in. We can't have more or less all the wizards on the pitch and all the witches at the coffee-table – sorry Remus, no offence intended."
"None taken." Remus smiled "We'd have to level the competences though. I suggest no one should be allowed in the position they've been trained at. And of course you trained players can't possibly all be in one team."
"So we're all going to have a Non-Quidditch game?" Andromeda agreed "What's it called then? Nodditch? Nidditch?"
"Or 'Pridditch'" Draco suggested "short for Practice-Quidditch?"

Hermione still didn't look convinced.
"You don't have to be worried, love." Lily assured her "No ball can get any higher than ten foot; we took care for that. The neighbours have been used to not see this garden for centuries they won't notice anything and there's no way to look into the garden from the streets."
"As there's only twelve of us" James voiced "I suggest we'll have no Seekers. Everyone is allowed to catch the Snitch but this will only end the game, not bring any points. So you only want to catch it when your team is in the lead."

"I can see Teddy wants to be a Beater." Harry smiled at his godson who had already grabbed a bat.

They agreed on one team called 'Nidditch Nightstars' with Narcissa as Keeper; Lily and Teddy as Beaters and Sirius, Ron and George as Chasers.

At the other team Andromeda was Keeper, Hermione and James were Beaters and Harry, Draco and Remus played as Chasers. They called their team 'Rainbow Racers'

"Beaters, touch the Bluegers with your bats, so their strength can adjust." Remus directed "Everyone onto their broom! I'll release the balls. We don't have a referee, so play fair!"

It really was not a Quidditch-game. The more experienced players had great difficulties to adjust to the height-restriction. Several times players almost ran into another for one had thought to get out of the way by going above the other one and couldn't. Or they almost fell of their broom as it suddenly changed direction when touching the height-level.
"I'd love to hear Lee Jordan's comment on this game" a rather blue George laughed when he climbed back on his broom after he had failed to evade the Blueger Hermione had forced on him.

The first game only lasted about twenty minutes. The Nidditch Nightstars were leading 40 to 30 when the Snitch was floating next to Lily and she grabbed it without any effort.
Of course a second game was started immediately. Sirius, Ron and George were definitely better at conquering the Quaffle in the game, but both Keepers were getting better and managed to catch more often, attack and defence changed fairly quick. Harry managed to score two times when Andromeda had thrown the Quaffle to her team, but out of habit he always tried to keep an eye on the Snitch as well. After about an hour Harry saw Teddy was getting tired so when Draco had scored the 80 to 60 points for the Racers Harry dived for the Snitch he had just seen next to the roots of the Apple tree. When Harry got there the small golden ball disappeared into the branches, Harry lost sight of it for a brief moment, saw Lily heading towards him, dived into the leaves and grasped the Snitch only before his mother's hand. At the same time he could hear Ron, George and Sirius yelling: "Seventy! Seventy to eighty!"
"Why would you want to catch that?" Harry looked at Lily in disbelief "we were 20 points ahead."
"Who says I did want to catch it?" Lily grinned
"So it's drawn" Harry detected when everyone had landed "do we want to start a third game?"
"I wouldn't think so" Andromeda said "some of us seem to get tired."
"But we can't let the first Nidditch game ever end in a draw!" Sirius demanded.
"We could first have a short break" Remus suggested "and then add some extra time."
"Okay" James clarified "ten minutes break, drink something, then go on for another fifteen minutes."
"Ten minutes extra time should be enough" Andromeda insisted "and we accept whatever is the result after these ten minutes."

When extra time had been played, each team had scored twice it still was a draw. Sirius and James each caught one of the Bluegers to put them back into the crate turning rather blue at the attempt. But no one could reach the Snitch that for some reason had decided to cling to the ten foot line.
"Could someone climb into that Apple tree?" George asked those who had already landed "And pass me one of your brooms – perhaps I can manage to swap it over there."
But the brooms wouldn't go any higher than five foot someone sitting on them or not.
"Can't we simply undo the five foot line?" Draco wanted to know.
"Unfortunately not" Remus informed him "both level lines are connected in the same spell."
"Do it anyway." Draco required "Harry and me are both Seekers. Won't be a problem to get it."

"NO! You are not going to fly any higher!" Hermione was very strict.

Harry who meanwhile had landed too realised Teddy had been pulling on his sleeve for a while. As he looked down on him Teddy started to pantomime balancing with his hands in the air "Harry, stand up." he said.
Harry remembered their balancing attempts at the playground. "Good idea, Teddy!" he mounted his broom again, flew as close to the Snitch as he could and climbed onto his broom to balance. Harry had never stood on his broom before, but actually it was easier to stay on there than on the tight rope at the playground. He cornered the Snitch and could catch it easily.


Sun had settled and the sky begun to glow in a dark blue above the sparkling fire when Andromeda rose to her feet. "Remus" she said approximating him "this little person sitting on your lap is dead beat. I suggest the two of us go upstairs to get some sleep while you lot carry on to enjoy the lovely night."
Remus stood up kissed Teddy good night and passed him into Andromeda's arms. "Good Night everyone!" she said gently waving Teddy's hand while carrying the almost sleeping boy into the house.

Not much later Narcissa got up as well, "Harry Potter, thank you for your invitation. This really was a rather pleasant interruption of my routine." Draco was just about to rise as well when she put a hand on his shoulder and tenderly pushed him back onto his seat "No, Draco dear, you don't have to leave when old women get tired. You stay with your friends. Harry, would you mind if I ask Althie to take me back home?"
"Certainly not, she's still your house-elve."
Narcissa went to pick up her broom while Harry called for the little elve to bring her back home. "One more thing, Harry," she uttered passing the table with the gifts "would you mind to lend me that book once you finished reading it?"
"Course not, if you want to copy a recip.. – Oh! … Err … I mean … course not. I … I definitely won't have any time to read tonight, so if you want to start reading, just take it with you."
"Thank you. Just send Althie when ever you want it back." She came back to the fire, standing next to Draco she put a kiss on her fingertips and gently stroked his chin "Good night my dragon, stay as long as you like. Good night everyone." Then she took Althies hand and they disappeared.

"Hermione!" Harry jumped up as soon as Narcissa had left "This book was the best present I ever got!" he gave her a passionate hug "She saw it! Draco, she saw it!"
"I …I must have done something wrong!" Hermione stuttered while Harry sat down besides Draco "I … I watched her, she didn't open the book a single time!"
"No, Hermione, you have done nothing wrong." Sirius reassured her "Narcissa is an extremely powerful witch and she seems to have a very good reason" he smiled at Draco and Harry "to be especially interested into the topic."
"Harry, she saw it!" Draco was completely baffled " A-and she said I may stay as long as I like!" He beamed wildly, then pulled Harry into a passionate hug and kissed him.

"Well, if your life was a book, Harry," Remus meditated "this most likely would be the Happy End."
"But my life is not a book!" Harry's voice sounded distressed "I probably should be horrified. Whenever I thought I had solved the problem and could live a normal, quiet life from now on the next threatening already crawled around the corner to pick me as its target."

"Well, if you don't want faith to pick fights for you" George suggested "you should perhaps settle on which fights to put onto your schedule before fights pick you."

Harry thought about it. "I'll stick to that topic then" he decided gesturing towards the spot Narcissa had taken the book from.

"Learning to bake is not really that challenging a struggle, though, is it?" James sounded bewildered.

"Not that topic, love," Lily grinned "the hidden one!"
"There was a hidden one?" James looked dumbfounded.
"'Gay Liberation'?" Lily volunteered "You should have seen it! It affects both your best friends and your son."
"Oh! - Sorry for that one, I guess."

"You're welcome to borrow it once I read it." Harry tried to help James out of humiliation.

"Oh, I can easily get another copy if you want me to" Hermione offered.

"So, next year's schedule is" Harry returned to the subject "to convince – how many? - witches and wizards to attend Gay Pride? A dozen? Two?"


"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about" Lily said an hour later when George, Ron and Hermione had reluctantly left as the shop had to be opened the next morning "It's something else I might want to put onto the schedule. Don't get me wrong, I really love to be alive! I love to have a body! I'm just so sick and tired that everybody expects us to be able to solve every fucking problem that turns up. And if we do that proves we have to and if we can't it proves no one could and they won't even try! I hate to be 'Brought Back by the Powers That Be'. Barty Crouch is in jail, right? Death Eaters do not have much power right now. If every single person in this stupid society now only took on responsibility for their own action, think first and do a decent job they wouldn't need no hero! Instead they kindly relay on us. Perhaps it works better for everyone if they forget we had been brought back at all; if we could, somehow create new identities for the four of us and 'Obliviate' everyone, put these last months under some Fidelius Charm … I don't know."

Harry gaped at his mother he'd never seen or heard her outraged like this.

"Wow! Lily, this must have been gnawing on you for quite some time!" Remus noticed "Why haven't you said a word?"

"I didn't know what it was until I had that dream a few days ago. I dreamed I was working at St. Mungo's as a healer when an old man told me 'You remind me of a young witch I once knew named 'Lilly Evans' - is she perhaps a relative of yours?' I felt some regret I couldn't tell him who I was. Instead I said to him 'I've been told that before but as far as I know we're not related. Tell me about her.' and thus, in my dream, I was able to help him. When I woke up I knew I would absolutely prefer to live that life to the one as a 'Hero Brought Back by the Powers That Be'."

Harry, though he never wanted to be a healer, knew exactly what she meant, what she felt like. He nodded and so did Remus, James and Sirius. "But how would you manage to do that?" he asked.

"I have no idea." Lily shrugged "I first wanted to find out if you'd go along with me. I believe it's either change history for all four of us or not at all."
"Well, I don't have to be 'James Potter' as long as you love me." James declared promptly smiling at Lily.
"It might actually be a benefit" Sirius responded "not to be identified with that still somehow scary mass-murderer who escaped from Askaban after twelve years."
All eyes were on Remus now "I do agree that most things would be a lot easier if we managed to get rid of that label, but I quite enjoy having Teddy around. I'm not sure if I'd voluntarily abandon that."
"We'll figure out a way for you to continue taking part in his life, or not do it at all." James assured him.
"But the four of you" Draco conjectured "and Harry I presume would still remember who you really are, right?"
"Yeah, that's what I sort of had in mind" Lily confirmed "would that be Okay with you, love?" she smiled insecurely at Harry.

"Oh, I don't care who you pretend to be as long as you're here with me!" Harry guaranteed promptly "But, Draco, wouldn't you want to remember?"

"Not necessarily." Draco shrugged his shoulders.

"But, … if … if you don't remember this whole year, how would you … explain to yourself … ?" Harry wanted to know.

"See, you'd still be Harry Potter and I'd still be me, so if we're meant to be there should be other paths leading to the same point. Make up something! It's on your schedule."

҉≈≈≈≈҉≈≈≈≈≈҈≈≈≈≈҉≈≈≈≈≈҈≈≈≈≈҉≈≈≈≈≈҈≈≈≈≈҉≈≈≈≈≈҈≈≈≈≈҉≈≈≈҉

1[I wonder if it's good to list up some of the possible plants. But I'm no good at English plants-names ore at knowing which of them grow in Scotland. So feel welcome to embellish this!]

2 [I just realised: if the baking-sale takes place at Saturday 3rd of June (which is the date most likely) the ceremony two weeks later would take place one day after full moon. This could either mean that Moony can't be there or that he would be Post-Moon-Moony in public … May be restoring Hogwarts should take three weeks? – or no'ne of you would notice …? ]

3[ {here starts another branch of possibilities} ... new Patronus and this made you …"
"How would I? I don't know my inner animal."
"Well, everyone would easily have recognized. That's why I had to disguise it: messy black hair, known to be a symbol for resistance, ready to fight, and proverbially stubborn."
"Don't try to fool me there's no such animal."
"Yes there is: the Catalan donkey."
"Donkeys aren't stubborn they're careful! Living on uncertain grounds never sure what they might step on they can't just run away like horses if something unexpected turns up. So they have to face the situation and if it turns out to be dangerous they defend themselves."
"… and their herd even if they are not donkeys but sheep and don't fight along. So: I rest my case everyone would easily have recognised you."
{but sadly this doesn't lead where I want it to …} ]

4(I made up this one – is there a real book you'd recommend?)

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