Okay, everyone, first I want to say how surprised I am that people have been reading this fic at all. Second, I want to say sorry for how long it's taken me to get back to this. My life kind of imploded in a rather horrible way and then I went off for eighteen months to do something I needed to do (not as creepy as it sounds, just don't want to go into details—promise!). When I came back, I found reviews asking for this story to be finished, so here I am finishing it. Sorry for the wait. I'll be posting a chapter every week until the end. With my current plans, there will be fifteen chapters, but we'll just have to see if it ends up the way I'm planning it now—spoiler alert: it rarely does!

Thanks to everyone for your reviews and love! Hope you like how it ends.

Chapter 11

The next morning, Draco and I made our way down to breakfast at the usual time, though this time he held my hand on the way. It made me feel all tingly and warm and special. When we reached the Great Hall it felt as if every eye was on us.

"Do you want to sit with them?" Draco whispered, nodding towards where Harry, Ron, Ginny, Seamus, Luna, and Dean were sitting. Dean and Seamus looked just as confused as the rest of the room did, making me think that the other four had kept my true identity to themselves.

"I don't know."

"They don't appear to be hostile."

"That's an extreme word choice, don't you think?" I said with a raised eyebrow.

He shrugged. "You never know with Weasley."

I rolled my eyes. "Ron isn't that bad."

"Sure."

"If everyone could sit please," McGonagall's voice rang through the hall. She was staring straight at Draco and I, the only people actually standing.

"I guess I don't have a choice."

"Then I'm coming with you." I flicked a glance to him, but he looked determined so I didn't say anything. We sat in the space by Dean. The third years on the other side of Draco scooted away. I sent them a glare, but Draco grabbed my hand under the table and gave it a squeeze before I could say something mean.

"I'm sure by now all of you have heard about the attack in Hogsmeade yesterday afternoon," McGonagall said, gaining the attention of the room once again. "The attacker was an assassino, or, as we would call it, an assassin. From what I've been able to understand, there are a few assassinos in Italy. They are incredibly dangerous men and women that go after their victim with a single-minded intensity."

"What was he doing here?" McLaggen asked loudly.

McGonagall glared at him for interrupting. She glanced back at Kingsley sitting behind her and he gave a small nod. "There is a student he has been paid to find." Her eyes flicked to mine. They were hard, warning me. She didn't want me to say anything. "Obviously the Ministry has been informed, as well as the Board of Directors. They are coming to a decision about how this will all be handled." The hall erupted into whispers and mutterings. It was at that moment I felt a breach in my wards. I gasped as the alarms started ringing in my head. There were seven people, and all of them were headed straight for us.

"Hemera?" Draco asked, obviously worried. I didn't answer. I was too busy watching the Ministry spellcasters run to Kingsley and whisper in his ear. He looked at me and I nodded. He said something to the spellcasters and every Ministry official ran out the door.

"What's going on, Her–uh, He—" Harry tried. My heart broke a little.

"Someone broke my wards," I murmured just loud enough for my group to hear. "Several someone's. I don't know who, but they're going after them."

"You have wards up?" Seamus asked, confused.

"Simple ones."

Draco snorted. "If those are simple I'm not a Slytherin."

"What are you even doing here?" Dean asked, eyebrows drawn together. "And why are you two holding hands?"

"I'd like to know about that last one," Ginny said, her eyes twinkling.

I frowned. Didn't she hate me right now? "I—"

"Let go of me!" a female voice with a heavy accent yelled from the Entrance Hall. "È inglese pensa di poter fare qualsiasi cosa!" I gasped. I knew that voice. I jumped up and ran to the door, and what I saw brought tears to my eyes.

"Eirenne," I breathed. Her chocolate eyes, my eyes, met mine. Her lips parted as we stared at each other. I ran forward, stopping in front of her as the auror let her go.

"Hemera." Her voice was soft, a tone I'd never heard her use before. She reached up and gently touched my cheek, and then she yanked me to her in a bone-crushing hug. Warmth flooded me. How I'd missed her! It felt like a piece of my mother was holding me. She pulled away, eyes bright with tears. "You look so different." She touched my cheek, my hair, my forehead. I let out a breathy chuckle.

"You look exactly the same." And she did. Same straight, black hair. Same soft heart shaped face and fierce eyes. She was a mini version of my mother. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Alex didn't want me to. I didn't listen."

A hand clasped her shoulder from behind and my brother stepped up beside her. "Which is something we need to work on."

"Alex!" He threw his arms around me in his usual huge bear hug. I clung to him, tears pooling in my eyes again.

"I missed you, il mio amore."

"I'm so happy you're here." I pulled away slightly, reaching out to Eirenne. "That both of you are here."

"I hate to break up this reunion," Kingsley said softly, making us look at him, "but I think we need to talk."

"Yes," Alexiares said, straightening up and suddenly looking like the Padrone he was. "Lead the way." Kingsley nodded to McGonagall who was standing a bit away and she went back into the Great Hall. Leonardo, Draco, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Luna didn't move.

"You people might as well come. We'll go to the Heads' dorm so there's enough room for everyone. Let them come, too." I turned to see whom Kingsley was talking to, only to see five Soldato being held back by aurors a couple of meters away.

"Maria?" I breathed as they walked over, "Giovanni, Daniela, Marco, Leporello? You came?"

"Hemera," they said together, beaming from ear to ear. They each gave me a kiss, eyes full of promise to talk later, before going to stand behind Eirenne.

"Right. Come on," Kingsley said before starting up the stairs. My friends followed first, Draco with them. Leonardo stayed behind, falling into step beside the Soldati. Everyone was silent as we followed Kingsley to the Heads' dorm. When we got there Draco gave the password and held the portrait hole open for everyone. All of the British people ended up on one side of the room, while all the Italians gathered on the other. I was in the middle, not sure where I belonged, and Draco was halfway between me and the British side, obviously trying to show solidarity.

"First," Alexiares said once the door was shut, "I feel it is only fair that everyone in the room knows each other. Do you agree?" Kingsley nodded.

"My name's Kingsley Shacklebolt."

"You are the new Minister of Magic here," Eirenne said.

Kingsley smiled. "I am. These young adults beside me are Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley, and Draco Malfoy." They nodded as their name's were said, Draco sending me a small smile that made my heart flutter. Merlin, but that boy was attractive.

"I am Alexiares Gervasio. I am the Padrone of the Fenice dinastia." Kingsley looked surprised. His gaze shifted to me, wide and confused. I shrugged. It wasn't my fault McGonagall hadn't told him who my siblings were.

"I am Eirenne Gervasio. I am the Comandante of the Fenice esercito." My sister motioned to the Soldati behind her. "These are Giovanni, Daniela, Marco, Leporello, and Maria. They are Soldati."

"You brought your soldiers to Scotland?" Kingsley asked, obviously not impressed.

"We need all the help we can get. Adriano is not a man to trifle with," Alexiares said so Eirenne wouldn't say anything. She always got a little hostile when Soldati weren't treated with the exact amount of respect she felt they deserved.

Kingsley sighed. "Minerva mentioned him. I understand the threat of the assassin. We've had them in our country before. But I don't understand this other man."

"Adriano is the man that started this war in our country," Alexiares explained, eyes hard. "He killed his own father when he was twenty to become Padrone of the Serpe. Then he wanted to take over all of Italy, starting with the Fenice. He killed my grandfather and later my parents."

"But why is he coming here?"

"The Serpe and the Lupo became allies in the war, but they have different ideas about how to deal with Hemera." Kingsley glanced at me, but didn't say anything. "The Lupo sent the assassino to kill her, but the Serpe don't want her dead. Adriano has always had plans to use her."

"Use her?"

"Adriano thinks he's found some way to brainwash me into joining them," I answered. "He thinks that if I join them he'll be able to take over the world."

"Will he?"

"The short answer is yes," I admitted, looking away. "Though I doubt this brainwashing program of theirs could actually work, I don't want to stick around long enough to find out."

Kingsley nodded, deep in thought. "How long until he gets here?"

"We know he is already in Britain somewhere. He came here before we did."

"Then why didn't he get to Hogwarts before you did?"

"I'm guessing he knew we were coming," Eirenne said. "I'm sure he had someone watching our fortezza."

"Are we sure he isn't at Hogwarts?" Ginny asked.

"My wards are strong. Even if he takes polyjuice or attempts some other type of disguise, it will still catch him and warn both me and the Ministry people."

"At least we have that," Kingsley sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. "Okay. How about we have my aurors and your Soldati figure out the best way to guard Hogwarts? That way everyone is involved and we get as much personnel as possible to keep the students and Hermi—er, Hemera safe."

"I will agree to that," Eirenne said, looking to our brother.

He nodded. "As will I."

"Perfect," Kingsley said brightly. "Shall we, then? We need to get Minerva involved in this, too." He walked over to the door, but stopped when he realized Alexiares and Eirenne weren't following him. They both took a step towards me.

"Hemera," Alexiares started.

I shook my head before he could say anything else. "Come back after you're done. I'll be here."

"You four need to go to your dorms," Kingsley said, motioning to my friends.

"Why can't we stay here?" Ron asked, echoing the same annoyance on the other three's faces.

"Minerva's sent everyone to their houses to keep them safe."

"We killed Voldemort. I think we'll be fine," Ron said, but Kingsley looked rather unimpressed. Luna rolled her eyes and smacked Ron on the back of the head. "Ow! What was that for?"

"You're being ridiculous, Ronald."

"I am not bei—"

"Its okay, Kingsley," I said, stepping forward. "They can stay. I'll be able to protect them if anything happens." He stared at me for half a second before giving a heavy sigh and a reluctant nod.

"I trust you, Hemera. Always have." He sent me a small smile that made my heart fill with warmth. He still trusted me. Despite it all, he trusted me to do the right thing no matter what. I could have kissed him for that. He left, Alexiares following behind him. But Eirenne lagged behind, sending the Soldati after Alex.

"Hemera?" She held out her hand, which I took and let her lead me over to the door. "That Draco Malfoy seems to be rather close to you."

"Really, Eirenne? Aren't there more important things to worry about than my love life?"

Her eyebrow went up. "I was unaware you had a love life."

"We haven't seen each other in four years. I'm sure there's a few things in your life I'm unaware of."

"This isn't about me. This is about the fact that you're dating a blond Englishman."

I looked away, suddenly fighting a blush. "I suppose I am, aren't I?"

Her eyebrow went up again. "You suppose?"

"Well, he hasn't actually said those words specifically. I mean, he said that he can't bear the thought of being without me so I assume we're together now."

"No," Eirenne shook her head. "Never assume anything when it comes to uomini. Never. When did your not-technically-dating relationship start?"

"Last night."

Eirenne's frown turned into a small smile. "Give him a week before you say something."

I blinked. "What? Why do I have to say something?"

"Because men are clueless when it comes to this sort of thing. And I'm willing to bet that if Italian men have no idea, then an Englishman isn't going to have a chance."

"I'm not you, Eirenne. You've always been the brave one. I can't just ask him what our relationship is specifically."

"Then I'll ask for you."

I grabbed her arm, desperation flashing through me. "Don't you dare."

She chuckled, making me relax. "Okay, okay. I won't say anything." She paused, glancing behind me, "but you need to talk to him soon. When this is over you're free to come home, Hemera."

"I am?" I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. A feeling that could only be described as joy filled me. I could go home!

"So you would come home if given the chance?"

"You know I would. I won't abandon our people."

"Does he know that?"

"I—" I bit my lip, realizing what she meant. I knew it was early, but I had already admitted that I couldn't picture a life without Draco Malfoy in it. I loved my life in England. I'd made friends and found a second family I would cherish forever. But I couldn't abandon my responsibilities as the Guida Suprema.

Eirenne smiled softly. "If you like each other as much as I think you do, then you owe it to him to be honest."

I stared at my sister, shaking my head. "When did you become such the expert in relationships?"

She chuckled. "Mamma told me that once, when I first started dating Giovanni."

"Oh!" I gasped, surprised I'd forgotten about that. "How are you two? You were very, um, respectful to each other earlier."

Eirenne shrugged. "I'm his Comandante now. In official capacities there has to be respect." She looked down, a small smile forming on her lips. "Though he did ask me to marry him a month ago."

"Eirenne! Complimenti! Questo è incredibile!" I gave her a hug, but pulled away when I realized she hadn't told me her answer. "Hai detto di sì, giusto?"

"Naturalmente! Sono innamorata di lui." I smiled. She was in love with him. He was in love with her. They had been making eyes at each other since they were fifteen. They were perfect for each other.

"I'm so happy for you, Eirenne. When's the wedding?"

"I told him we couldn't get married until you came home." She cupped my cheek. "I need my sister to be my maid of honor." My eyes filled with tears, making it hard to see her.

"Sí. Yes. It would be my honor." I kissed her cheek and she returned the kiss. She gave me a wide smile before shaking her head and going back into Comandante mode.

"I need to find my Padrone and Soldati."

"They'll be on the seventh floor, in the office behind the gargoyle."

She nodded. "Guida Suprema." She bowed, her hand over her heart. And it hit me like a ton of bricks, the fact that I was a recognized magical leader of my people. Hearing her say it, watching my older sister bow to me, it hit me so hard I couldn't breathe for a moment.

"Comandante." I bowed in return. When I met her eyes again there was pride shining in them. Pride in me. Pride in our family. We'd gone through so much. We could make it through this.

We would.