Author's Note:

Reviews and Comments: To dessalee: You think by chapter 279 Ginny will be cured? Interesting idea with the showing her some memories and she still won't believe it. We will have to wait and see! To ladyinwating2005: No, MACUSA is not going to get involved. Sorry, I don't believe Voldemort would suddenly be scared because America shows up. (As a history major it's actually one of my biggest pet peeves that American history always has them saving everyone). To Wolf's scream: Unless the healer is also a Death Eater? And yes, Tom doesn't believe anything is worse than death, but he is delusional. To Nuno Neves: I'm glad we're full of questions about Kane, and yes, Ginny and Harry have so much history which makes the potion that much worse for taking it away from her. To The Booknerds: Poor Harry indeed! To GodMisha: Thank you! I think it makes sense that there would be an elite Auror force, like spies in the works! Thanks for rereading! To Dianne: Yes, the game is heating up! Will Hinny be separated until the final battle? We will have to see! No, I won't make you wait THAT long! To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: Thank you! I'm glad Kane is intriguing and where the story will be going, but we shall see. To Tiegdalewills15: Sorry to break your heart and we'll see how Hermione and Anthony fair. To Speedyconzalis: I'm pure evil? I accept that haha and oh, you think it will be 3 more chapters until Hinny is back together, good to know. To Slaidback: Ha at the thought of you throwing a tantrum over separated Hinny. To Chintan: Harry would be a cool KofA, agreed! Thank you! I'm only a little sorry to make you blurry-eyed LOL. To ITHersey: Ginny is essentially lost to Harry right now, which does make it harder on him. Ha! You can't "wait to see what" I "have in store to further emotional destroy us in the future!" Why thank you!

To Seriously Sam: George is a great big brother! He's trying to help Ginny as best as he could. Harry does need to be cuddled, poor guy. To alix33: LOL, Harry's reputation as baby whisperer, so cute! To WinkingSkeever: Thank you! To scrappy8: Yes, Ginny thinks she's dating Michael and Harry is definitely heartbroken and scared for her. To PeevesTwinBrother: Expediency? Well, when I post a day or two earlier than normal that means you have to wait a day or two later for the next one… LOL! To ValGrey02: Thank you! I'm excited as well! I know about fifty percent of it for sure and the rest I guess I'm winging it haha. To mlhspets: Thank you, Rusty-malla! We'll see if Fleamont can help! I'm glad you liked the chapter and aww, you devoured it! To Arctoid32: I won't tell you if it's going to get better or not since you don't really want to know LOL. Thank you! And we will learn more about the bloodlust potion soon! There will be some comparisons to the diary too.

To KcrForce: Thank you for saying you "love and hate this great story!" To CorbanD17: Seeing Ginny like that is hard, but we will see how it all turns out! To Bumlewis: For Malfoy it was mostly reminding that he still exists LOL. I'm glad you think the altered memories is an interesting twist. To TheRealTonks: Poor Harry indeed, but also poor Ginny. To pix25: Them being separated is painful, I agree. To Tiyanie: We will have to see how Ginny will be. To Steelcode: Thank you! Of course everyone will recover, but it will be a difficult road ahead to deal with the after effects of the attack.

To briana_t: Will Hermione come up with the cure? Will Fleamont? Stay tuned to find out! To RedheadLover: Haven't heard from you in so long! Welcome back! And I promise, it will not be 200 chapters before they get back together haha. (only 199 — just kidding!) To potterheaded_hipster: Ginny definitely could use her friends right about now. To GryffindorHealer: A very effect diversion from Riddle indeed! To Lovesamemory: Harry and Ginny are the bright spot in a sea of angst, well said! To AQuickRead91: Poor Harry and Ginny, and it will be sorted. To marauders_mowopapr: Thank you! We will see more of Blaise and Draco and more with Belladonna/Delta as well!

To tim2604: They definitely are some super-badass Aurors. I was definitely inspired by Kingsmen for sure! I've never seen a single Mission Impossible or James Bond movie, but I assume that it's similar? And I know, poor Harry is all sad and miserable. To Guest: Thank you! I will assume that's a compliment that you love this story and it's not even Jily! I love my OCs so thank you for loving them just as much! To gemini614: You don't trust Kane? Interesting. We will have to wait and see!

Thanks to Sam for helping me with Caroline.

My posting schedule: Weekly.

Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.

As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!

CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHT

The One Where Theo Demands Answers

Theo brought his things back to Norfolk after leaving the train station. After dropping everything at home, he Apparated to the Burrow to see Ginny. He was surprised to find her so happy and healthy until someone mentioned Harry and her entire demeanour changed. Fred and George told him that it had even changed some of her memories, but they didn't know what to make of the potion yet. They were looking into it. Theo didn't know what to make of it himself, but seeing Ginny hating Harry was something that he really didn't like. He loved them together and he knew that if soulmates were a thing, Hinny were it.

He stayed for dinner, listening as Mr Weasley told him about the procedure that they were doing on Bill again in the morning to repair his larynx. It would be the third procedure and the healer was hopeful, but had warned them it could take up to five due to the extent of the damage. After Theo promised Mrs Weasley that he would be at the Burrow for the wedding on the first of August, he took off. There was something that he needed to do. Ginny had only given him a look when he said that he couldn't tell her.

"I'll be fine, chick. I promise. I'll be back in a week or two."

Ginny kissed his cheek and they said goodbye. Now that he was back in Norfolk, the place seemed empty. No Finn. No Blaise. Just three house elves and himself. He was greeted by Kiki who eagerly welcomed him home and he made his way upstairs to his bedroom. He looked around, waiting for the pain to flank him, but it didn't.

This was his home and no matter how much he still missed Finn, this would always be his home. He would always treasure the happy memories from that summer that the two of them had shared here. He opened his closet and began to go through his clothes, packing a small suitcase. He'd only just finished when Kiki came in with tea.

"Is Master Theo leaving?"

"Just for a week, maybe two," Theo told her. "There's somewhere that I have to go. You'll keep the place up and running for me, Kiki."

"Of course, Master Theo," the elf squeaked. "But you must eat first."

Theo smiled at the tiny elf. "Mrs Weasley fed me at the Burrow, but thank you."

Kiki nodded and bowed before she left him alone to finish packing. Thirty minutes later, he headed off, sword at his side under his cloak. Theo decided against going to the Ministry to get an official portkey and instead he took the train. If he was right about this, the last thing that he wanted to do was to lead anyone close to where he was going. He travelled for almost two days, but when he arrived, he thought that it was worth it. He arrived at the base of Mount Erice and took a slow breath and walked through the wards.

The villa appeared before him in all of his grandeur, moss growing on the side in the Sicilian sun. He walked up the drive and knocked on the front door. Lia opened it and welcomed him inside as if she'd been waiting for him to arrive. The house elf took his bag before leading him around the back of the house to where he saw them eating breakfast on the terrace. The sight of them sitting there made his breath hitch. Theo'd missed them more than he wanted to admit.

"Should have known you two bitches would be living the hard life out here."

Blaise's head shot up and he was on his feet in seconds. "Theo."

Theo didn't wait. He marched right towards him and hugged him so tightly that he thought he might have cracked a rib. Blaise didn't complain. He simply hugged him right back. When Theo finally let go, Blaise's eyes met his.

"I'm so sorry about Finn."

Theo nodded, his eyes moving over to Draco. "Are you going to hug me or what, arsehole?"

Draco stood up slowly, his face pale and his blond hair styled in a perfect tousle. "I wasn't sure if you wanted me to."

Theo moved away from Blaise and threw his arms around Draco. Draco's arms came around him and the moment they did, Theo began to cry. It came upon him so suddenly, surprising both of them, but he clung to the back of Draco's silk shirt and he just cried. He didn't know how long he stood there, but Draco didn't let him go. When he finally managed to control himself, he let out a slow breath and pulled himself away.

"I love you, arseholes. Now why the fuck did you let me think you'd both betrayed me? What the fuck is wrong with you?" Theo demanded, feeling angry all over again.

"I wanted to tell you," Blaise began. "I almost did more than once, but I couldn't let Draco know and… I was worried that if I told you, I wouldn't be able to lie to him. I needed him to think that I was a Death Eater."

Theo's eyes moved down to their left arms. Blaise was shirtless, but Draco rolled up the sleeve of his silk dress shirt to show the long jagged scar. "Fuck. That looks like it hurt."

"It did," Draco said quietly.

"Good," Theo answered before he plopped himself down at the table and helped himself to some breakfast.

Blaise and Draco tentatively sat down, eyes on him. Theo ignored them as he ate some toast and strawberry jam. He drank the orange juice from Draco's glass before he spoke.

"I knew that the two of you had to be hiding out here. Blaise told me that he'd hidden it in the summer and I remembered the location so, I figured that was intentional on your part."

Blaise nodded. "It was."

Draco was staring between the two of them. "Does someone want to tell me what the hell is going on here? Theo's known about this bloody place the whole time? Why are you even here? Don't you hate me?"

Theo looked over at his friend; the man he'd considered a brother his entire life. His blue-grey eyes were hesitant and his blond hair hanging just so around his face. His fingers had whitened on the edge of the tabletop as he sat across from him, his shoulders tense.

"Do you want me to hate you?"

Draco's tongue flicked out to lick his lip. "I thought that he would heal. I thought if they just needed a bit of his blood, he would heal. I was so fucking stupid!"

"You didn't stab him, Abraxas did."

"I still brought the bloody blade into Hogsmeade. I was going to use it on him."

"Were you?" Theo asked, quietly.

Draco's eyes bored into his. "I'm sorry. I'm so bloody sorry. Hit me! Punch me! Do something!"

Theo only picked up the glass of orange juice and drained it. "It wasn't your fault."

Draco jumped up from the table, slamming his fist onto the wood. "It bloody well was! I'm the one who had the damn blade! I'm the one who fucking dropped it and let him…"

"Finn told me that it wasn't you," Theo said, quietly. "And I know that you would never have killed him."

"It was him or you," Draco whispered. "I couldn't choose you, Theo."

"And you chose neither," Theo told him.

Draco slowly lowered himself back down into the chair. "No, I was willing to hurt Finn, to… fuck, to let him die if need be, if it protected you. I couldn't let them hurt you… I was a coward. I should have used that blade on my grandfather instead."

"I think Finn beheading him was poetic justice myself," Blaise said, fingers tapping on the table.

"It was," Theo agreed. "But I didn't come here to talk about Finn. I came here to tell you two what the hell is going on in England."

"We've seen some of it," Draco admitted. "My mother… Father's in the crypt. What do we have to go home to?"

"Me for one," Theo answered. "I miss you two arseholes! Being at Hogwarts without you is like missing a part of me. I have the whole damn dorm to myself! Greg and Vince are bloody married! Pansy's gone and up the duff. So is Millie. Half of the upperclassmen from Slytherin have up and left, are married and up the duff."

"Wasn't by choice," Blaise told him. "I was supposed to marry Isabella Shafiq."

"Bet she wishes you did," Theo said. "I heard that she's married to Rodolphus Lestrange now."

Draco frowned. "He's married to my aunt."

"Took a second wife to try to make an heir and from what I've heard, it worked. All of them are pregnant."

Blaise's eyes darkened. "And us?"

"Word is that he believes you're both dead because he can't track you. Whatever you did to remove the Dark Mark, it worked."

"Which is exactly why we're staying right here," Blaise told him. "I'm not going to go back and let him learn that I'm alive! Let him find out that I damn well took his mark and made a 'fuck you' to it and ran off! Draco and I will both be killed and tortured."

Theo leaned back in his chair. "We have a few problems to contend with other than you two arseholes being alive. Dumbledore's missing, presumed kidnapped by Voldemort. Snape has disappeared and no one knows what side he's really on. And oh yeah, your aunts."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "My aunts?"

"No," Theo said, gesturing to both of them. "Your aunts."

Blaise looked puzzled. "You lost me."

Theo sighed. "Your Aunt Bellatrix cut off her husband's prick for taking that second wife and your Aunt Belladonna showed her true colours."

Blaise swallowed. "Is it too early for wine?"

Draco dragged his hand over his face. "Shit. I'll take a whole bloody bottle."

Theo folded his hands in front of him. "I want a big fucking glass, Blaise, because you have a lot of explaining to do."

~ ASC ~

Bill woke to the feel of a finger running along the back of his hand in a steady motion. He blinked at the bright lights of the hospital room and a moment later Fleur filled his vision, looking more beautiful than ever in the bright lights. Her silvery blonde hair seemed to shine and her eyes were wide as she stared down at him.

"Bonjour!"

He blinked and swallowed, causing a dull pain in his throat. He tried to speak, but it came out in a terrible croaking sound that he didn't recognize.

"Non, non," Fleur advised. "Do not speak."

Bill brought his hand up to his face and the feel of the bandages covering him made him frown. Greyback, he remembered. The wolf had attacked him and he'd… the memories came flooding back suddenly and he remembered the healer telling him that he wasn't a wolf. But his throat… everything was still rather foggy.

"Ah, Mr Weasley," a familiar voice said from the doorway. "I'm glad to see that you're awake."

An elderly kind face hovered over him with a wand. The healer, he recognized, but he couldn't remember his name. "You had another procedure this morning and I'm happy to say that it went very well."

Bill only blinked at him.

"Not yet, I'm afraid. I think that we'll do one more healing session on your throat tomorrow morning before we have you trying to speak. As I said the other day, it cannot be done all at once."

He attempted to speak again and the sound was just as terrible.

The man gave him a kind smile. "I know it must sound horrible to your ears, but you will get your voice back, it will take practice and a good deal of time. It will be a slow healing process, but it can be done, I assure you. Now, let me see to these bandages."

Bill stayed still as the healer carefully unwrapped the bandages covering his face, throat, and shoulder. Whatever he saw there seemed to please him because he nodded and made a 'hmm' sounds as he worked. When he finished, he didn't apply the bandages again.

"I'll have a Healer Assistant in here in a moment to help you to the bath and you can get yourself cleaned up a bit. You've been here four days and I think a hot shower will make you feel better and then we'll talk more about the steps you need to take to heal. You will have assistance because you're weak, do not argue."

Bill grabbed his arm when he made to leave. "Ugh…"

The healer passed him his notepad and quick quill.

Bill carefully wrote his message and passed it to the healer.

The man smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Yes, Mr Weasley, I promise that you will be able to very clearly say 'I do' to your lovely intended bride."

When he left, Fleur bent her head and kissed his lips softly.

A moment later a man came in to help him up and into the bath. Once he was alone in the bathroom, Bill moved towards the mirror, fingers clutching the sink, and he blanched at the sight before him. His red hair hung to his shoulders, a knotted mess, and the scruffy beard looked positively barbaric, but it was the gashes that shocked him. Five deep gashes slashed diagonally to the left across his face. The sight of them made him remember the feel of Greyback's nails ripping him open and he flinched.

The cuts started almost at his hairline and three of them covered his throat. He could see where two of them had ripped his jugular open and the sight made him swallow, despite the pain. He remembered Zee hovering, her fingers holding his neck as he bled out in her hands…

Two more gashes covered his left shoulder, shallow in comparison, but still marked. They would fade over time, but they would never vanish. He would always have these horrid scars to remind him of how close he came to death. He stared at himself for a long moment and thought of what he'd asked the healer about his wedding day.

He was set to marry the most beautiful woman in the world on the first of August. She was here sitting by his bedside as if he wasn't a horribly disfigured man and he suddenly felt guilty. She deserved to have a handsome husband, a whole husband, not this… beast. By the time he finished showering, he felt more like himself, and he'd decided that he wouldn't hold her to this marriage. He wouldn't force her to spend her life with someone who would never again be the handsome man whom she had fallen in love with.

Bill let the Healer Assistant help him back into bed as he still felt a little weak and no sooner had the man left the room before Fleur took his hand in hers and kissed his fingers.

"Non."

Bill raised an eyebrow.

"Your maman and I already 'ad it out over zis. I will not let you push me away because you theenk I do not wish to marry you anymore."

His eyes softened and she squeezed his hand.

"I love you, Bill Weasley, and I theenk I am beautiful enough for both of us. You will always be ze man that I want. No one else."

Bill tugged her close and kissed her forehead and then he mouthed 'I love you' against her lips and she kissed him.

"After your procedure tomorrow, we will practice your speech," Fleur told him. "I want ze whole world to hear you marry me in four weeks. Oui?"

Bill nodded, a soft smile on his face, and when Fleur snuggled into his side, making herself comfortable in the hospital bed, he kept smiling. He wasn't sure how he had gotten lucky enough to find this woman, but he definitely wasn't letting her go. And who was he to argue with her logic? She was the most beautiful woman in every room and every day he would thank his lucky stars that she was his.

He couldn't wait to marry her.

~ ASC ~

Tonks tapped her fingers on the table in the conference room as she waited. Rumours were rampant about the new transfer taking over for a special ops team and she was intrigued. Looking around the room, she knew that if the rumour was true, this was the team that they had assembled.

Gawain Robards stepped into the room, adjusting his glasses over his large ears. His dark hair was in his eyes again as he pushed it back with an annoyance. Robards' hair was always that 'just shaggy enough that he needed a haircut' style. The man was forty-four and one of the best Aurors in the DMLE and according to him, had too many important things to worry about than to worry about something so superficial as getting a haircut. He crossed his arms in front of him as he critically examined the room before him just as a tall, dark-haired man walked in.

He was very good looking, Tonks noted. Short dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, and light stubble on his pale skin. He had broad shoulders under his black dress shirt, rolled up to the elbows revealing toned arms. Long legs under black jeans and black boots that did nothing to hide that he was very much in shape. Tonks thought that he was almost as tall as her husband, give an inch or two. He had full lips and a rather boyish charm to him, telling her that he was quite young. And honestly, not at all like she'd been expecting.

"Attention up here!" Robards barked. "Now, as you know, Dumbledore has been taken hostage, presumably by Voldemort. Given Dumbledore's high status and his role here in the Ministry, Minister Bones and Deputy Minister Scrimgeour have decided that rescuing him is high priority. Those around you have been personally picked by myself and Shacklebolt as the team who will work on finding him. And with us, will be a transfer from the French Ministry, Sebastian Kane otherwise known as MIA Special Auror Kane. He will be my number two on this and running this op."

Kane stepped forward, his hands casually in his pockets. "You can call me Auror K or Kane if you prefer. Now, we need to work together on this. We need to be fast, efficient, and thorough if we're going to find him. When I give an order, I expect it followed without question. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Sir!" the room chorused.

"When I call your name, come forward and I'll give you your first assignment. Atwell."

Atwell accepted the folder he passed her.

"Delta Carthaginian is a false identity. It is believed that she is in fact Belladonna Brambilla. I want you to contact Italian Aurors and find out everything you can about her. We need to find out who she is, why she was living under an assumed identity, and why she is now missing. Was it flight or fowl? Take your partner. Clear?"

"As day," Atwell said, holding up the file to Baxter who followed her out of the room.

"Lupin," Kane barked.

Tonks stepped forward. "Sir."

He merely met her gaze for a moment before he passed her a file. "There's been rumours of magical activity in Ireland near Killarney. I want you on the ground, talking to local officers, Muggle police, and going door to door. I want you to be able to tell me every damn thing about that area and its people from the colour of the carpet in the officers bullpen. Clear?"

"As day," she repeated. "Is my partner with me on this as well?"

He nodded as if to dismiss her and she beckoned towards Higgins. They took a seat at her desk to look over the folder.

"Kane doesn't seem that old," Higgins whispered.

Tonks shrugged. "I doubt he's older than me or you, but he's obviously good or they wouldn't have sent him."

"Auror K," Higgins said. "The only people who go by initials like that are definitely from the MIA. Do you really think that he's a knight, Lupin?"

Tonks' eyes met his. "I don't know, but I definitely do think he knows what he's doing and we're going to Killarney."

"Should we really tell him the colour of the carpet in the bullpen?" Higgins asked as he holstered his wand at his side.

Tonks grinned. "It's a good idea to file it away in case he asks. Grab your stuff and let's go. We have work to do in Ireland."

~ ASC ~

Crouch let himself into the dungeon, standing by the door to watch. It had been three days since Dumbledore had been brought down here and today, finally, the Dark Lord was going to begin. Crouch had been eagerly awaiting, but they'd also been waiting on another, and last night, it had finally happened.

Dragomir had given up the last bit of information that the Dark Lord was waiting on. The runes were ingenious and so simple, Crouch was amazed that no one else had ever thought to do it themselves. They were holding Dumbledore within the cell, seeping his power from him in steady intervals and keeping him as docile as a child. With Snape brewing the potion that Draogmir had told them about, they were ready to get started on all of a matter of fun things.

Crouch stared at him now. The old man's arms were raised up above his head where he was chained to the stone, his toes brushing the ground where Crouch had put him when he'd arrived. His long hair and beard were scraggly and dirty and he hardly looked the imposing figure people believed him to be. He looked like an old, decrepit man.

"I admit," Voldemort began. "Seeing you here, weak before me… it's a dream that I have long possessed."

Dumbledore's piercing blue eyes met Voldemort's red gaze. "To leave me tied up and defenceless? I didn't think that you were a coward, Tom. Afraid of an old man like me."

Voldemort's red eyes blazed. "I'm not afraid of you, Dumbledore. You are nothing more than a has been and I, I am the future that the world has been waiting for."

"Are you?" Dumbledore asked.

Voldemort sneered. "Bart, give him some water."

Crouch made a glass of water appear and he gave it to Dumbledore, making sure that he drank even as half of it spilled down his front.

"Thank you, Bart," Dumbledore said, politely as if he was at a dinner party.

Voldemort flicked his wand and Dumbledore lowered to the ground, the chains clanking around him. "I learned a few runic secrets as of late. Have you felt the drain on your magic?"

Dumbledore rubbed his wrists in the chains. "What is it you want from me, Tom?"

Voldemort stared at him, twirling his wand between his fingers. "You have been a thorn in my side since I was eleven years old. You always thought that you were better than me; thought that I wouldn't amount to anything and now, here I am, the greatest wizard to ever have lived. I've accomplished more than any man before me. I have even conquered death. Can you say the same?"

"Death is nothing to fear," Dumbledore said, calmly. "Death is a natural part of life, one that we must submit to when our time has come to pass."

Voldemort's eyes flashed, furiously. "We do not submit to death! This is what makes you weak and pathetic, Dumbledore, believing that life and death are nothing to concern one's self with. Thinking that emotion is a good thing. Spouting on about love and living one's life — it's pathetic! What kind of life have you lived? Old and alone."

"To have loved and to have lost, is better than to have never loved at all," Dumbledore quoted.

The Cruciatus tore through him so strongly, he cried out, chains clinking together as his body twisted and turned brutally. When the curse finally let up, he panted.

"I've lived a good life, Tom," Dumbledore said. "I've been… happy. I've loved. I'm not… afraid to die."

"I'm glad to hear it," Voldemort spat. "Because you will die here and it will not be fast or peaceful. I can promise you that."

He flicked his wand and the runes carved into the stone glowed red making the veins in Dumbledore's skin glow a piercing red and pulse as if they were trying to burst from his skin. Crouch thought it looked incredibly painful, but the old man did no more than let out a breath. When it finally stopped, his chin fell to his chest and his breathing was heavy.

Crouch knelt down in front of him, using his wand to lift his chin and looked into those blue eyes. "He's going to kill you, you know."

Dumbledore's piercing gaze seemed to go straight through him. "He's going to try."

Crouch sneered as he stood up. "You really are nothing but a pathetic old man."

When he turned to move towards the door, the rocks rattled and when he looked back, Dumbledore's hands were fisted at his side as his magic shook his chains and then the runes lit up, veins popping in his skin again and the rattling stopped.

Crouch's smile was slow. "You're nothing without your magic, old man."

Then he closed the door to the dungeon cell and locked it, a big smile on his face.

~ ASC ~

Neville had only been home for four days before he decided to surprise Hannah at work. He knew that she was working at the Leaky Cauldron as a waitress. Neville had planned to head out as he need to buy some seeds, but it was most definitely out of his way to go all the way to Diagon Alley to do so. But it was worth it.

He missed her.

The last few days had been... intense. He knew that Harry was reeling with the Ginny situation and no one knew where Dumbledore was. Neville had spent his first day home at the Ministry of Magic with his gran trying to learn what was going on. Madam Bones was running the Wizengamot as Chief Witch until Dumbledore returned or until another was chosen, which everyone knew was a big possibility.

The fact that no one had come out and claimed Dumbledore's death said a lot. It meant that he was still alive, but everyone was also aware that him being alive wasn't a good sign either. Why did Voldemort want him? Why did he want to keep him alive? What did it mean? And more importantly, why was he keeping it on the down-low?

Neville thought that if Voldemort had succeeded in kidnapping Albus Dumbledore, he would have screamed it from the rooftops. But he hadn't. In fact, outside of the immediate people who were present when it happened, no one even knew that he had been kidnapped. The Ministry of Magic was keeping it quiet for the time being as they were worried that it would incite panic and Neville thought it was a wise decision. He just didn't honestly know how they were going to find him.

He and Theo had sat in the session, listening to the talk about the fight on the Giant's Causeway. One of the Aurors projected their memory on the ceiling of the auditorium and Neville couldn't tear his eyes away from the army of Inferi rising from the sea. The Wizengamot spoke about the loss of the giants and the conclusion that they had chosen once and for all to follow Voldemort. They broke down the attack, discussed the use of the Terra Troops and the success the squad had in being called forth and fighting. Then they had a moment of silence for those who had been lost and Madam Bones claimed that they would be added to the Wall of Heroes.

It had been a very intense session. By the time he returned home, his grandmother had wanted to know everything about the attack on the castle. Neville hadn't known what to tell her. He explained how he had stumbled upon the Death Eaters and cautiously stayed back to see what they were doing. He told her how he'd followed McGonagall when the Patronus came and from there found Harry and Theo. When he got to the top of the Astronomy Tower, he still didn't know what had happened. But someone had given Ginny a bloodlust potion and all evidence pointed to Slughorn.

Augusta Longbottom had nodded as he spoke before she sighed. "You did good, Neville. You didn't have to follow them."

Neville stared at her. "You're saying that I should have let McGonagall go off alone?"

His grandmother scoffed. "Minerva McGonagall is more capable than any woman I know, and no, you damn well shouldn't have let her go off alone!"

He grinned. "I followed her, Gran, and I ran into Harry and Theo, but I didn't do much. I was just along for the ride."

Augusta pursed her lips. "Doesn't mean that you weren't brave for going along."

Neville hadn't been able to hide the blush on his cheeks. Then his grandmother had decided to grill him about his girlfriend.

Neville had been very close-mouthed about her. He didn't want his grandmother to interrogate him, but he knew that she would. He told her how sweet she was and how much she liked to bake.

"And this is the girl who had that git of a boyfriend?"

"Yes," Neville said.

"And now she's with you?"

"Yes, Gran."

Augusta nodded as if pleased. "Good. You'll treat her with respect."

"Yes."

Then she'd claimed that she was having Griselda Marchbanks over for tea and that he was welcome to putter in his greenhouse if he wanted. Neville had been more than happy to make his escape. He spent his time checking on his plants and re-potting a few of the ones that he'd brought home from Hogwarts as part of his project. Professor Sprout had given him Os on everything and edited the first draft of his paper on crossbreeding plants for healing use which he would be finalizing with her help this year. She told him that next year she was looking forward to seeing him write his PLANTS. It both thrilled and terrified Neville to think about that.

But now that he was organized in his greenhouses, he wanted to get started on a few more new things and to do that, he had to buy more seeds and saplings. He made his way into the Leaky Cauldron from Muggle London, the bell ringing on the door. The bartender nodded at him and he found himself looking around the pub for her. He recognized her blonde hair in a high ponytail by the back entrance that led to Diagon Alley and he couldn't help but smile.

She was wearing blue jeans with a little apron tied at the waist. A pink short-sleeved blouse was tucked into her jeans and just the sight of her reminded him of how much he missed her. Neville made his way to the back to see her and frowned when he noticed that she was wringing her hands together nervously. She looked upset and worried. He made to move closer to check in when he heard her sharp whisper.

"It's only been one day! I can't ask for an advance on my pay!"

"You can," a woman answered. "He likes you. Explain that it's an emergency and that you need to help your mother."

"But that's a lie."

"Hannah Katherine, will you really not help your mother in her time of need? I thought I raised my daughter better than that. This dinner is important to me and I need a new dress if I'm going to look presentable. A small advance won't matter to Tom."

"Mum, please, I need this job," Hannah whispered.

"Well, you wouldn't need it if you'd just spread your legs for Kevin like I told you, too. Merlin, you could be engaged by now!"

Hannah's cheeks flushed. "I don't want to talk about Kevin. Look, I'll ask. Now go, please, I need to go back to work."

"Thank you, love. I adore you. Kisses!"

She left, blowing a kiss in her direction before she headed into Diagon Alley and Hannah's shoulders tensed before she turned. She had worry lines on her forehead as she wrung her hands together nervously.

Neville was still a little bit in shock. That couldn't actually have been her mother, could it?

"Hi, Hannah," he said, quietly.

Her head shot up and her blue eyes lit up. "Neville!"

He opened his arms and she ran into them, making him grin. He hugged her tightly and if she stayed against him a moment longer than necessary, he didn't comment on it.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to get some new seeds for the greenhouse and thought I'd see if you started working here yet. You looked like you were having a bit of an intense conversation there. Are you okay? Is it a bad time?"

She nodded, hugging him again. "No, it's a perfect time. I'm glad that you're here. Just a rough day. Come on, I'll get you a table."

"Any chance that you can join me?" he asked, hopefully.

She shook her head. "Unfortunately no, but I'll bring you a sandwich."

He grinned and let her lead him over to a corner table

"Nev! Hannah!"

"Seamus!" Neville exclaimed in surprise. He and Dean were just sitting down at a table at the other side.

"Come join us!"

Hannah smiled. "Go, I'll bring menus."

Neville took a seat across from his friends. "Hey, fancy meeting you here."

Dean grinned. "I live just down the road. Seamus missed me terribly."

Seamus rolled his eyes. "That's only partly true. We have a meeting."

Neville looked between his two friends. "A meeting? Sounds ominous."

Dean shrugged. "It could be." He tapped his long fingers on the table. "We're meeting my father."

Neville's eyes widened. "I thought that you didn't know your father?"

"I don't," Dean admitted. "Today will be the first time I meet him and I asked Seam to be there with me."

Hannah returned with three menus. "What can I get you lads to drink?"

"We'll have pints," Seamus said.

Neville nodded. "Sounds good."

Hannah smiled warmly before she left to grab their drinks and Neville turned to look at Dean.

"Are you nervous?"

Dean hesitated and Seamus reached over to take his hand. "Yes. I was supposed to meet him over the winter holiday and he bailed on me. I guess I'm worried that he might not show."

Neville could understand that. "Well, no matter what happens, we know how brilliant you are."

Dean smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Nev. What about you? How's Harry? Have you spoken to him?"

Neville shook his head. "No. I tried, but he's… he said he's too busy. I spoke to Zee this morning and she said that he's trying to talk to his grandfather's portrait. Fleamont Potter was one of the greatest potioneers of the twentieth century and Harry is desperate to find a way to help Ginny."

Seamus frowned. "She really hates him?"

"Yeah," Neville said. "And not just hates him, but wants to kill him. It's seriously messed up and Harry's just… I couldn't imagine, I mean, he loves her, you know?"

Seamus nodded. "I don't know what I would do if Dean suddenly turned on me like that. Poor Harry. You'll let us know if we can do anything?"

Neville nodded. "I will, but I don't even know if he'll let me help in any way."

"Didn't Hermione and Goldstein work on the potion?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, and they did narrow down most of the ingredients, but according to Remus, bloodlust potions are very precise and the antidote has to be perfect or it could go terribly wrong. They still want to talk to Slughorn as well, since he brewed the potion for Ginny, but between his heart attack and the Imperius Curse, he's not exactly helpful at the moment," Neville explained.

Dean blew out a slow breath. "Damn, what a way to end the school year. Ever wonder what a normal school year would be like?"

Seamus grinned. "Where's the fun in that?"

Hannah brought them three pints of Dragon Scale beer and took their orders before leaving them be again. Neville clinked his glass with his friends before he took a long drink.

"I wish there was more I could do to help Harry, to help… this."

Dean nodded. "Us too. Seam and I were talking about it on the train actually."

Seamus cleared his throat. "We're both seventeen, eighteen in the fall. We want to do something to help."

"Like what?" Neville asked.

Seamus leaned across the table. "Death Eaters snuck into Hogwarts and attacked without any of us knowing, Nev. None of us were fighting and we could have helped if we'd known."

"We could have used more wands, that's true," Neville admitted. "But it wasn't like I had time to go find people. I wanted to make sure McGonagall was all right and then Snape was running off towards the Astronomy Tower… it all happened so fast."

Dean nodded. "Defence Club."

Neville raised an eyebrow. "What about it?"

"We have one," Dean said. "We have this incredible Defence Club where Lupin teaches us how to fight and this is our chance to put it to use."

"I'm still not following," Neville admitted.

"Come September, we're going to form our own little unit," Seamus told him. "For those of us old enough who want to help defend the school from future attacks. Like a Hogwarts Defence Unit Division."

"That's kind of brilliant," Neville told them.

"That's what I told him when he came up with it," Dean said. "And now's not the time, obviously, but we're going to ask Harry to lead it. Between those private lessons with Dumbledore, his learning from the Russian Auror, and the shit he's lived through — we want to stand alongside him, one hundred percent."

Neville was surprised to find the lump in his throat and he smiled. "I'm in."

Seamus grinned. "Excellent! We're going to plan it out, Nev, and come September, we'll be ready to help however we can."

"And in the meantime, we're going to hope to Merlin the summer brings good news."

"Other than my sister's wedding, of course."

"Yes, other than that," Dean said.

Neville couldn't help but smile at them. This was something he could do to help, something simple, yet impactful. He agreed with them, it wasn't the time to bother Harry with it, but they would make sure that he knew when the time was right. No matter what happened, they had his back. Always.

~ ASC ~

By the time they finished lunch at the Leaky Cauldron and took some time walking around Muggle London, Dean was feeling even more nervous than he'd been that morning. The feel of Seamus holding his hand was comforting, but it didn't stop the anxiety that he was feeling.

Today he was going to meet his father.

It seemed surreal.

When they finally stood outside of the pub that Kellan Morgan had asked him to meet him in, Dean let out a slow breath.

"Whenever you're ready, love," Seamus said, squeezing his hand.

Dean looked over at his boyfriend. "What if he doesn't show?"

"Well, I already think he's an arse of epic proportions so, it really wouldn't change my opinion on him much."

Dean's lips curved. "Seam… be nice, okay?"

"I'm always nice. In fact, I'm the picture of nice!"

Dean squeezed his hand before he let go and led the way into the pub. It was just before tea time and rather crowded so he squinted around the place looking for the only identification that he had been given. His father told him that he would be wearing a bright purple tie.

When he spotted the tie on the other side of the pub, his breath hitched and it was only the feel of Seamus' hand on his back that propelled him forward. He was tall, he noted. Dean obviously had gained his lanky frame and height from him. His head was shaved and he had a long stubble beard peppered in grey that suited him. He was dressed in a navy suit with his purple tie and was running his fingertips along the condensation of his pint glass.

Dean took another step towards him and it caught his attention. The man stood up, his eyes on him, and Dean swallowed. He was definitely as tall as he was.

"Dean?" The smooth masculine voice with a subtle hint of a South African accent asked.

Dean nodded.

Seamus extended his hand. "Kellan Morgan? I'm Seamus Finnigan. Dean's a bit tongue-tied at the moment."

Morgan shook his hand, his eyes on Dean. "I understand the feeling completely. Will you sit?"

They both took a seat at the table and Morgan rose to get them both drinks. Seamus elbowed his boyfriend lightly.

"You just going to keep staring?"

Dean kept his eyes on Morgan's back as he went up to the bar to grab them drinks. "Do you think that I look like him?"

"A little," Seamus admitted. "You have his jawline and his height, definitely. Plus he's rather lanky and skinny like you are, but you look much more like your mum. You have Sunny's eyes and her smile."

Dean tore his eyes away from Morgan to look at his boyfriend. "You think?"

"I know," Seamus assured him.

It was only a moment before Morgan came back, putting a pint in front of each of them. He took his seat, lifting his own pint glass and holding it out to them. The three of them drank before Morgan spoke.

"I imagine that you have a lot of questions for me."

Dean didn't respond.

"I'd have a lot of questions if I were you," Morgan continued. "Not to mention probably a lot of anger, which I deserve. You can ask them. Please."

Dean only stared into his beer.

"Why did you bail on meeting him over Christmas?" Seamus asked. "To reach out to him out of the blue and then not even have the decency to keep the meet…"

Morgan didn't look away from Dean as he answered. "Because I was scared. I talked myself out of it and when work gave me an opportunity, I jumped on it. I'm not proud of that, but look at you. Such a good looking and strong lad… handsome. I bet the ladies chase you."

Dean still didn't say anything.

"I know that it was wrong of me to bail on you over the holiday, but I was scared. I don't know anything about being a father and… please, Dean, I want to be given the chance."

Seamus' hand rested on his thigh under the table and it seemed to give him the motivation he needed to speak.

"I'm going to be eighteen in September. I don't need a father."

Morgan looked hurt for a moment before he masked it. "I know that you're grown up, a young adult and you have your whole life ahead of you. I would like to be there, if you'll let me, as a friend."

"Why now?" Dean demanded. "Where were you for the first seventeen years of my life? And don't say working because that's a bloody pathetic excuse. You didn't have to be there every hour of every day, but you could have at least sent a letter once a month or a bloody birthday card."

"I know," Morgan admitted. "I have no excuse other than selfishness. I didn't want to be a father. I didn't want something or someone who would tie me down. Now, I'm forty-eight years old and I'm alone. I regret my choices, Dean. Last year, I was in an accident and… I almost died. I was alone in the hospital with no family to be my side, no friends and… I realized that I don't want to spend another forty-eight years alone. Let me be part of your life, Dean. I'll take whatever scraps you want to throw my way."

Dean only stared at him.

"I won't make up excuses," Morgan continued. "You've heard them all before I'm sure, but you're my son and looking at you, you've become an incredible young man. I know that I had no part in who you've become, but I want a chance to know the man. If he'll let me."

Dean brought his pint to his lips. "I don't know."

Morgan nodded. "I accept that. This isn't an easy decision for you and I understand, but it's one that I hope you will consider."

"Why did you put the letter on the window of Mum's shop? Why didn't you mail it?"

"I knew where her shop was so it seemed… more personal," he said.

"How did you know were her shop was?"

Morgan hesitated. "I've kept tabs on the both of you… sporadically, throughout the years. I just wanted… I wanted to make sure that you were both okay."

"But not okay enough to check in and say hi," Dean demanded.

Morgan looked ashamed. "I'm here now."

When Dean didn't answer, Morgan let out a slow breath.

"How is Sunny? Did she… ever marry?"

"No," Dean said.

"And you," Morgan asked. "Do you have a gorgeous girlfriend at your boarding school?"

"No," Dean repeated.

Seamus squeezed his hand under the table. "He has me and frankly, I think I'm way better looking than any bird."

Morgan stared between the two of them for a moment.

"Seamus is my boyfriend," Dean said.

Morgan's eyes widened. "Oh."

"I love him," Dean continued. "He's who I love and my best friend in the world. He's been my rock while you were fucking off somewhere pretending you didn't even have a kid."

"Dean…"

Dean shook his head. "I'm sorry that you woke up one day and realized that you could have had it all, but you chose to cut me out of your life. You were the one who never took the time to check in, who never took the time to write a bloody letter to learn something about the son you abandoned. I'm sorry that you regret that. But I don't need you. Mum is the most incredible woman in the world. She was both mother and father to me. She never made me feel unwanted or unloved. Between her being absolutely brilliant and with Auntie M, Gramma River, and Grandpa, I have a family. She's home and you're… a stranger."

Morgan stared at him for a long moment. "And you're gay."

Dean snorted. "And?"

Morgan finished off his pint and opened his wallet. He put a business card on the table before he stood up. "That's my business address and my personal address. I'm well aware of how much you don't need me, Dean, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to know you. Take care of him, Seamus."

Then he turned and walked out of the pub.

Dean's hands curled into fists and Seamus grabbed the business card off of the table. It was completely blank except for the name Kellan Morgan, Art Dealer, and an address in Kensington. "He's a wizard, right? I mean, for a business card, there's no phone number, so he has to be a wizard."

"I don't care," Dean said, finishing his beer. "I just want to go. You can throw it away. You were right, he's not worth it."

But Dean didn't see Seamus tuck the card into his wallet as they left the pub. He was too lost in thoughts on the man he had just met and trying to come to terms with what it had all meant.

~ ASC ~

Harry was half dozing on the sofa with Leo sleeping in his arms. It had been a week since the battle on the causeway.

A week since Snape had disappeared from Hogwarts missing half of his left leg.

A week since Ginny had tried to kill him.

Ginny… Merlin, he missed her.

He missed her more than he could put into words. Not talking to her on the mirror, not seeing her… it was pure torture. Ron kept him updated as best as he could and for all intents and purposes, he swore that she was good, but her memories were changed. The potion had made her see him as some sort of villain. She seemed to hate him, even more than she hated Voldemort. He was the enemy and she wanted him dead.

It made him want to rip his own heart out just to stop the pain. Holding either Mina or Leo seemed to be the only moment when he could find peace; the only moment when he was able to even get sleep of any kind. Fingers stroked his hair and he opened one eye to look at Zee as she bent over the chesterfield to kiss his forehead and then Leo's. He didn't know what he would do without her. Zee had been nothing but good to him.

"He's been out almost an hour," she said. "How about you?"

He shrugged. "Where's Mina?"

"In her cot over there. Girl is stubborn and only just went down for a nap. This one takes after his father, an absolute cuddle monkey."

Harry half smiled. "Uncle Siri was a cuddler?"

"Denied it like mad," Zee continued. "But whenever I woke, he was wrapped around me like he had ten limbs and trying to get away to use the loo was always a chore and a half. Then he would accuse me of cuddling."

"Sounds about right."

Zee smiled. She kissed his forehead again. "Close your eyes, sweetie. My boys need their sleep."

He didn't close his eyes though. He just held Leo as he slept peacefully on him. When he woke, Leo wanted to be with his sister so Harry gently placed him down in his cot. Leo rolled next to her, but Mina continued to sleep. Harry watched them for a moment, feeling a pang of emptiness that he couldn't explain.

Zee stepped out of the kitchen and his eyes met hers.

"What if Slughorn can't reverse it? What if... she hates me forever?"

Zee pursed her lips. "I refuse to subject myself to that kind of pessimism. You two will find you way back to each other. I know it."

He nodded, but he wasn't quite sure that he believed it.

Zee put her arm around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder. "Believe it, Harry. She needs you to believe it. To believe in her. To believe in the love that you two share for each other."

"Listen to your mama," Misha said as he came down the stairs, tucking his wand into his holster. "Toilet's fixed, dochka."

"Thanks, Papa."

Misha put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Now, you listen to your mama, she's a vise voman. I should know, I raised her."

Harry's lips curved at that. "Yeah, she's the best."

Misha went on to explain how he fixed the problem with the toilet and Harry listened with half an ear to the charms his grandfather used to do so. He excused himself a few minutes later and went up to his room. He made himself comfortable on his balcony, the pile of Fleamont's journals stacked next to him just like they'd been since he came home, and he began to read.

Harry was positive that his grandfather knew something but when he had gone to Clevedon Court desperate for answers, the frame had been empty. Darby had told him that they might have more than one portrait, but they weren't sure.

Harry hadn't found it reassuring. He needed to talk to them and they weren't there. He went to Potter House in Brighton, but when he didn't find a portrait, he felt such despair that panic surged through him. The sense of panic it gave him had made him enraged.

He'd spent half an hour smashing everything that he could get his hands on in one of the rooms of the Potter House in Brighton: Sculptures, artwork, dust collectors… the sounds of smashing and his screams, the only thing that he could do to get out his rage.

They'd taken Ginny away from him.

They'd taken her and they'd done it in a way that was so much worse than death because when she looked at him, there was hate in her eyes.

Harry had never hated himself more. He'd screamed until his throat was hoarse and then he'd started to cry, pounding his fists on the hardwood of the room he'd just destroyed. Dobby had attempted to come in when Basil had called him, but Harry ordered the elves out.

When he'd finally managed to compose himself, he looked around the room and felt shame wash over him. Then he'd cleaned up the mess, throwing out what couldn't be salvaged and doing his best to repair the rest. When he'd finally emerged from the study, he found Remus reading in a chair. He'd only risen one eyebrow at him.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered.

Remus stood up and pulled Harry into his embrace. "Never be sorry for your emotions, Harry."

Harry clung to him, his head resting on his father's shoulder, his eyes squeezed tightly. "I need her."

"We'll find a way, Harry," Remus assured him. "We'll find a way."

But Harry didn't know how they were supposed to do that.

He'd spent the better part of most nights sitting in front of the portrait at Clevedon Court, eyes staring at the empty canvas, waiting for his grandparents to reappear. It was on the third night when Remus had come to get him.

"Harry, come on. We'll check back again tomorrow. You need to come home and get some sleep," Remus insisted.

But the next night, Harry was back in front of the empty canvas, desperate for answers. When he wasn't staring at the portrait, he was pouring over the journals of Fleamont Potter, desperate to find something to help him help her.

It had been a week since everything had happened and Ginny still hated him. He still had that awful pang in his heart as if part of it was missing. The dark circles under his eyes only showed part of how he was feeling.

He spent his days searching through Fleamont's journals and when he needed a break, he worked out. He took Padfoot or Lady Godiva with him as he rang along the beach. He ran around the back garden, broomstick over his shoulders. He used the treehouse as an obstacle course, running up and down the stairs, climbing the net, racing through the net tunnel, sit-ups, chin-ups, and push-ups until his muscles ached before he'd shower and go back to the journals. He needed the physical exercise to keep him in form and some part of him knew the stronger he became physically, the longer he would be able to sustain himself in a duel. But in reality, he was just trying to tire himself into exhaustion so that he could actually sleep.

Now he sat out on his balcony, journals open around him once more. He'd been at it for almost two hours when someone sat next to him. Sorcha's hand squeezed his wrist.

"You know, as a journalist, research is one of my higher skillsets."

He passed her one of the journals wordlessly and she kissed his cheek.

It was another hour later before Sorcha made a sound and he looked over at where she was reading.

"Harry, I think that I found something."

Harry immediately dropped the journal he was reading. "What?"

Sorcha passed him the leather bound book and pointed to the passage:

March 1920

Euphemia Fawley is the most incredible woman that I could ever hope to meet. She's beautiful inside and out and she makes me laugh. She intrigues me. Which is only part of the reason why I want to help her so badly. Well, help her brother.

You see, Elgin Fawley was slipped a potent bloodlust potion by Brutus Burke in an attempt to stop him from marrying his daughter, Briella. Fawley has always been a proud pureblood house, but Fawley's a widower and his new girlfriend, a Muggleborn, which apparently is too much for Brutus Burke to handle. He claims that he won't subject his family to that kind of scandal, regardless of the fact that any children they would have would be pureblood as Fawley's son is not in anyway related to the Muggleborn witch whom his father is now dating, but Burke always was a little mad.

The potion is potent, as I said. The healers are doing what they can, but bloodlust potions are extremely rare and if brewed correctly, can permanently alter someone's state of mind. Dad told me that he's worried about finding the antidote. He wants me to do what I can to try to help. He said that winning Britain's Potioneer of the Year award for the last three years running has to mean something and that I need to help them. But Godric knows that I'd do anything for Euphemia Fawley even if Dad hadn't asked.

But what to do?

The antidote is obvious. You need to mix the blood and get it into their system, but it's more than that. It's the perfect mix of ingredients, the right subject, the right... that's where I'm stuck. The problem with a bloodlust antidote is that every bloodlust potion isn't the same. They are uniquely made to alter the individuals in which they want to suffer and in this case, Elgin Fawley was the intended victim. It's been almost a month and his utter distain for Briella is disconcerting, for I have never seen two people more in love before this potion took hold, and now he can't even look at her. Poor Briella is heartbroken and rumour has it, hasn't left her bedroom for weeks.

Dad is doing what he can to get Burke to talk, but Burke claims that they can throw him into Azkaban if need be, he won't help. Dad's one of the top Aurors in the DMLE and if he can't get Brutus Burke to talk, it might just be up to me. I'm examining the potion now and so far, I've determined the ingredients used, but it's about getting the right measurements. To make a proper antidote you have to understand all of the variables. Elgin is starting to go a little mad and I'm worried that if I don't pull this off soon, it will be too late.

And if I fail, Euphemia will never give me a chance. Of course, my happiness is not what's important here, but one date with Euphemia Fawley would make me the happiest man on earth. She's beautiful and vibrant and full of life. It's clear she adores her older brother and… I have to find a way to help. I just need to get a sample of the potion Elgin took…

Harry's eyes widened as he realized what he'd read. His grandfather had in fact attempted to brew an antidote for a bloodlust potion.

"Grandmama!"

Sorcha smiled. "See, I knew that we would find something! Let's keep reading and see what we can find out. Maybe he wrote down the solution."

Harry nodded, eyes on the faded cursive on the page as desperate to find answers as he was afraid that he wouldn't. The fear of having lost Ginny forever a looming shadow he couldn't quite bring the light onto.

~ ASC ~

Snape spent three days resting in bed before he was finally able to venture from his room. Walking on his new leg was harder than he anticipated, but once he managed to get it, with the help of a cane, he found himself moving around and anxious to be moving about. He had work to do and it couldn't be done from the confines of a bed. Voldemort had him brewing a potion within hours of him moving from the bed.

It took him another three days before he made it back to Spinner's End and to the notes that he had left there. He did what he needed to do before he returned to Avery Castle to speak to Shanae Pritchard.

The fifteen-year-old-girl was clearly pregnant where she lay in the bed in the dungeon guest-suite that Cassia and Bellatrix had built for her. She was holding a hand over her stomach as she stared blankly at the ceiling when he entered.

"Mrs Pritchard?"

Her dark eyes fell on him, devoid of all emotion. "Professor."

Snape quietly closed the door behind him before he approached the bed. "I assume that someone has told you about your husband?"

She nodded, tears in her eyes. "Yes, Professor."

Snape stared at her a moment. "Graham was a nice boy." When she nodded, his voice dropped to a whisper. "It's why I faked his death."

Her dark eyes snapped to his and her long blonde hair fell in her face as she sat up. "What?"

His eyes fell to her stomach. "You're both still young, children really, and I know neither of you chose this life. But now you've created a life between you, someone who will be depending on you. That life deserves to come into this world in a better place; not here, not like this."

Shanae's eyes were still focused on him. "Are you here to get me out?"

Snape's hooded gaze gave nothing away. "When you go for your daily walk, meet me by the cliffs. We'll talk."

Then he left her alone with her thoughts. He left the castle and wondered how he was going to get word to Ted Tonks that they were about to get another Death Eater thrown into their lives. He glanced at his watch. He had two hours until he met with Shanae and until then, he needed to come up with a plan.

A plan that wasn't going to get him killed on sight by wand-happy Order members who wanted revenge on him.

~ ASC ~

Harry listened with half an ear to the Order meeting Remus had called. He knew that he needed to be here, but he wanted to be reading more of his grandfather's journal. He needed to know more about the antidote to help Ginny and this… he closed his eyes and willed himself to pay attention. This was important.

Andromeda and Ted were telling them how they had three Death Eaters living in their home.

"The girl is six months pregnant and fifteen years old," Andromeda said. "Ted and I have the space for the three of them, but if any more of them come our way, we won't."

"And you've removed the Dark Mark?" Zee asked. "Fascinating."

Ted nodded. "It was harder on the girl. Dromeda and I were concerned with her being pregnant, but as long as she was marked, we couldn't keep her there and risk the others. Her husband held her hand throughout and guided her through it. The two are still children, but they've become friends and they trust each other. I think the trauma they suffered together was the only thing that kept them both both sane."

Zee's face was heartbroken. "Those poor children."

"But the thing is," Ted continued. "Is that Snape is the one giving them to us."

Harry's head snapped up at that. "What? Snape!"

Ted nodded. "It was his idea. He said that he's not sure how many he will be able to help escape, but three is a great start. He led us to his office that night and sent Malcolm and Graham to us. Shanae arrived last night, shaking in terror. Ted found her outside of the wards, rubbing her pregnant stomach and looking anxious. She told us that he sent her. I don't know how he's doing it, or what the reason behind it is, but he's trying to rescue them."

Harry stared at him. Snape was trying to… save them? His mind revolted at the concept, while at the same time, he realized that it made sense. The man was a lot of things, but he did have some good in him, Harry knew that.

"What about Slughorn and McGonagall?" Remus asked. "Did he say anything about attempting to kill both of them?"

Ted shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't see him, let alone speak to him. I only know that he helped the girl get to us."

Remus frowned. "Did he say anything about Dumbledore?"

"No," Ted admitted. "As I said, I didn't see or speak to him. I don't even know if he knows anything about Ginny either."

Harry's face fell. "I found something in my grandfather's journals about Elgin Fawley being given a bloodlust potion in 1920. It looks like my grandfather was tasked with trying to find an antidote and I'm trying to see if he wrote it down."

Mr Weasley's eyes met Harry's. "I can't imagine how this feels for you, Harry, but I can assure you that Ginny is doing well enough. It's just her memories are… distorted. She… blames more than just you for things."

Harry nodded. He was glad that she was doing well, he was. He just wished that she could do well with him. Zee squeezed his hand and his eyes met hers before he spoke.

"What else is everyone doing to find Dumbledore?"

"Scrimgeour brought in a MIA Auror to lead a team," Tonks spoke up. "Kane's young, but he's good. In the last four days, we've found three Death Eater locations. Unfortunately, they've all been cleared out, but I feel like we're on a path to discovering where they're hiding. Mum and Dad also learned of their main fortress, which is in Ireland, a place that Kane believes is called Avery Castle based on the description. The problem is that it's under the Fidelius Charm. Someone would have to get us in and once we were in… who knows what kind of defence would be there and if we left, we would never be able to find it again."

"So, wait, you can bring someone to a secret location without giving away the secret?" Harry asked.

Remus nodded. "Yes. If, for example, you Apparated someone here who didn't know the location of Grimmauld Place, they would get in because they were part of you when you Apparated. But once they were here, they would have complete access unless the wards or charms kicked them out. Once they were evicted or left the premises, they would have no way of getting back in, even if they were standing in front of the house staring at it, they couldn't see it or find it again. It's a complex bit of magic and makes it very difficult for us to plan anything involving it."

"We're pretty sure that Dumbledore is being held inside the castle," Tonks continued. "But getting to him is not going to be easy and we have no idea how to find the castle, let alone get inside. Atwell is looking into Carthaginian. All we know so far is that Delta Carthaginian and Belladonna Brambilla are definitely the same person."

"What about Snape?" Harry asked.

Ted shook his head. "He can't. It would blow his cover and the kids he's been helping…"

"Do we really know what side he's on? Helping the young ones, yes, that's good, but he attempted to kill Slughorn and McGonagall. As far as we know, he thinks he did kill Slughorn. He sure as hell Imperiused him into brewing this potion for Ginny," Tonks said. "I really don't know if we can trust him."

Andromeda stared at her daughter. "Trust is a strong word and I admit, one that I would use cautiously when speaking about Severus Snape, but what choice do we have?"

Kingsley cleared his throat. "I agree with Andromeda. Right now, we have to assume that Snape is still on our side, but that doesn't mean that we aren't cautious. In the meantime, Auror K is helping a special operative team find more Death Eater locations. We're hoping someone will let something slip about Dumbledore or we'll luck out and find him."

Emmeline Vance snorted. "We're not going to find Dumbledore, King. I'd like to be optimistic about it, but we're not. You lot have been bloody hunting Crouch Jr for years now and we've turned up nothing! They don't want to be found! And trust me, when they decide to come out into the spotlight, we're not going to like what we see."

Harry swallowed at her words. He had a feeling that Vance was right and it wasn't a reassuring thought.

"Look, I'm not saying it's going to be easy," Kingsley replied. "I admit, I think the chances of finding Dumbledore alive are slim to none, but I'm not going to stop looking. Without Dumbledore leading the charge, it gives Voldemort more power. He's the only wizard he's ever feared and frankly, I think Dumbledore's the main reason why he's stayed in the shadows this whole time. He took a step by kidnapping him and I think that we can all agree that things are about to get a hell of a lot worse!"

"I don't understand the bloodlust potion," Hestia Jones declared. "No offence to your daughter, Weasley, but why is she so important?"

Remus raised his wand. "Because Harry loves her."

Harry's eyes were full of turmoil as he met the whiskey coloured ones of his father.

"Harry loves her and I think that by choosing to give the woman he loves this kind of potion, Voldemort was showing his hand," Remus said.

"How so?" Jones asked.

"Because he basically told us that he sees Harry Potter as the Chosen One," Vance finished.

"Exactly," Kingsley said. "The need to put Potter through this kind of distraction, something to take his mind off of what Voldemort could be doing…"

"Dumbledore's not the wizard he truly fears," Zee finished.

Harry swallowed as everyone in the room turned to look at him. "I'm not the Chosen One, that's… it's a stupid name."

"Better than The Boy Who Lived," Remus said, his lips curving. "Voldemort sees you as an adversary, Harry, a true advisory, and that is something that we all need to realize. He may have feared the power that Dumbledore possessed, but you defeated him. You defeated him when Lily sacrificed herself to save you. You defeated him when you stopped Quirrell when you were eleven. You defeated him when you saved Ginny when you were twelve. You defeated him when you escaped his clutches in the graveyard. And last year, when you escaped the Ministry and he possessed you momentarily, you won. You were stronger than him and he felt that."

Harry looked around at the table, eyes on everyone who was staring at him. "He won't win. He can't defeat all of us."

Emmeline Vance clasped her hands together. "No, he can't. He may have distracted you, Harry, but you can't let him know that he succeeded. Don't let him take anything or anyone else away from you. Be the Chosen One that he fears."

Kingsley's dark eyes met his and he nodded, his smooth voice assuring Harry. "The day you turn seventeen, you've just graduated to more than just a man."

Hestia Jones smiled, her wide smile lighting up her face. "We're going to plaster your face everywhere and really piss him off. He wants to taunt the Boy Who Lived, he hasn't seen anything yet."

Harry wasn't sure what to make of that declaration, but when he looked at Remus, Zee, and Tonks, the three of them were giving him reassuring looks that told him to trust them.

And he did.

He just wasn't sure what exactly he was trusting them with.

End Author's Notes:

Story recommendation — I have been devouring this Jily fanfic by TiffanyToms called What Are You Doing To Me? ( s/13727184/1/What-Are-You-Doing-To-Me) and if anyone loves Jily, please check it out!

After class jerk James Potter crushes her, a depressed Lily Evans vows never to let him back into her heart — even though she's letting him under her skirt. But can she stop herself from taking it too far when she realizes he's actually in love with her? Lily & Bad Boy James turns smutty.

It has smut. Angst. Mystery. Violence. Great marauder relationships. And I love it! I devoured it two weeks ago and just started reading it again. I highly recommend!

Thanks for reading ASC, and please leave me a review!