Author's Note:
I am posting early in honour of Seriously Sam posting chapter one of her new amazing story Legerdemain which I urge absolutely everyone to read immediately! I am so excited for her to share it! It's available on both fanfiction and Ao3!
Reviews and Comments: To ANewRanger: That's sweet! Thank you! To scrappy8: Thank you! To Atea1793: Thank you for your opinion. To Dianne: Happy to make you smile with an early update! Well, cliffhangers are usually worrying, aren't they? Ron is such a great brother, he knows his sister needs time, but he wants to assure her she has to be careful as well. I really loved going back and rewriting those scenes from Zee's POV, especially because when I first wrote the scene, I started it from her POV and then realized it didn't work because we didn't know her character yet. So it was fun to go back and recreate that. Ah Hinny! The forever question! To Phoenix Is Rising: Sorry, but I am a fan of Hinny and this is a Hinny story so prepare to be disappointed. To alix33: Sheets and a duvet (that's what I have and it's my favourite way to sleep so it's what I'm going with LOL). Thank you! To Bumlewis: I knew that you would love that Theo line the most LOL. I wanted Hannah and Mrs Longbottom to totally get along. Haha, not as bad as Game of Thrones, I assure you!
To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: Thank you! To Spellotape707: Glad to make you laugh! I love the friendship of Ginny, Theo, and Luna and throwing in Colin is always fun as well. Who was at the Ministry? Well, everyone. To Ironhidensh: Maybe it can be a little in between? You'll have to wait and see. To Accio698: Sorry you find this getting too soap opera like, I disagree. There are consequences to things and when people suffer a trauma, they have to deal with them. To shivani: Aww, that's so nice to know you stayed up so late just to read! Happy to keep things interesting! To Undead Gothic Princess: Thank you! I love that you're still so invested! Ginny's internal battle is important because we have to see where she's coming from and understand what is happening with her as well as Harry before we can see them reunite. And I promise, steamy Hinny will return! To Seriously Sam! Yes, our soap opera Hidden Passions finally made an appearance! Hinny is life and should be a battle cry, I agree! To Mutt N Feathers: Thank you! Zee still misses Sirius, but she's not broken hearted like she was when he died.
To Anna1607: Thank you! Ha, well please don't neglect your schoolwork! I'm glad to say only a chapter a week should help you stay focused! Hello, New Zealand! I'm happy to provide a magical creature reserve lol (too bad it's not real). Haha, I will take that as a compliment! To the Mandalorian terminator: Unfortunately I have never been to Australia, so I don't know enough to create a whole thing about it, but they definitely have a cool Ministry of Magic in my world! I kind of enjoy building my own world within the universe. Thank you so much for your kind words! To ValGrey02: I need a Theo in my life too! He's a mix of my cousin and one of my friends, but I do wish he was real! I know, I miss Sirius and Zee too, so dipping into the memory was fun. To Nuno Neves: Thank you! I hope you're not holding your heart in your hands too long!
To Wolf's scream: Harry needed to get it out. And yes, it was a cliffy, wasn't it? To GodMisha: Thank you! Wow, reading for the third time! That's awesome! To alondrizdiaz: Thank you and soon! To WinkingSkeever: This soon enough? Though now you do have to wait 1.5 weeks for chapter 292 LOL. To LHNB: No, it won't be like that. To chthonian: Thank you! I agree, it doesn't make sense considering the population. To The Booknerds: Thank you very much! I'm honoured that my updates are the highlight of your week! To Arctoid32: Thank you! To Fairqueen2: Haha, tune in this week to find out indeed! To ITHersey: Thank you! Haha, okay a million dollars in cash please! To newgroundcreations: You will have to wait and see! To pix25: Augusta definitely is one of those people who know everyone and has connections everywhere LOL. To Nightwing2013: That would be why! LOL. The eavesdropper is a bit omnionous as we will see. Tom only has Nagini left. To Guest: Thank you! We will hear more about Dumbledore when school starts again.
To The Go1den Snitch: Yes, I am going to make you wait, but I will take that as the highest of compliments, LOL. To wanderinon: Thank you! I thought it was important for Hannah to meet Mrs Longbottom and yes, we'll see more of Caroline Abbott. Yes, there is a little bit of bitch in all of us! To CorbanD17: Glad I could help! Thank you! To TatiRena: Haha, you assume I'm going to murder one half of a happy couple? We shall see! To GryffindorHealer: Silvanius does have the best stories! To AnaGPotter: I'm glad you found it heartwarming before that cliffhanger lol. To briana_t: Theo really is the best and yes Hinny needed that little talk. Did one of them die? We'll have to see. To AQuichRead91: I loved Passions! It was stupid as all hell, but I watched it every day after school too without fail! Thank you very much! You think the Minister of Magic died? We'll see.
To sweetxsavory: Only a bit awkward I think and yes, so many people at the ministry! To marauders_mowopapr: I love that people keep coming back so thank you! To Paus24: Rainbows sunglasses were big in the 90s. The lenses are rainbow coloured so you can't see people's eyes, but the person wearing them looks out and just sees a normal sunshade. I had like three pairs! To pottermum: Thank you! I love writing Ginny and Theo! I think Hinny did turn a positive corner, but they still have a while to go! Better get on those 49 reviews LOL. To Gimrrin: You think Percy or Audrey dies in this chapter? Good to know. Thank you! To BadWolfKris: Thank you! To Lovesamemory: You think Harry will be badly hurt and that will jar Ginny back into realizing how quickly she could lose him? I'm loving these theories! Thank you!
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 NINETY-ONE:
The One With the Amethyst Inferno
Dean had sent a letter to the address on Kellan Morgan's card, asking him to meet him at the same pub as before. He stared at the clock, his hand wrapped around the pint in front of him, and wondered whether it had been smart to see him again. When he was fifteen minutes late, anger soared through him. Now the man couldn't even be bothered to show up on time?
At twenty minutes, he made to get up just as Morgan came inside. He looked a bit dishevelled as he hurried towards Dean.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. Every possible thing that could go wrong this morning, did."
Dean only stared at him. "I finished my pint."
"Please sit," Morgan said, his eyes sad. "Please."
Dean wasn't sure if it was the please that did it, but he sat back down.
"I was so happy to hear from you, Dean," Morgan said. "So happy. I… I really thought that I blew it at our last meeting."
"It wasn't great," Dean admitted.
"I don't care that you're gay," he said, quickly. "I… I didn't mean to give you that impression."
Dean leaned back in his seat. "Didn't you?"
Morgan tapped his fingers on the table. "It surprised me, I admit that. I wasn't… expecting it."
Dean didn't say anything.
Morgan let out a slow breath. "You're really not going to make this easy on your old man, are you?"
"Why should I?"
"You're right," Morgan said. "You're absolutely right. Can we backtrack a bit here and start over?"
Dean leaned forward. "I don't know if I want that, Mr Morgan. Mum is all I've ever needed. She's been both mother and father to me and she's done a bang-up job of it."
"She has," Morgan agreed.
"I just need to know one thing from you," Dean said.
"Anything," Morgan told him. "Please, Dean. I'll tell you anything you'd like, just don't shut me out."
Dean's eyes stayed on him for a long moment and when he spoke, it was only one word. "Ollivander."
Morgan swallowed. "Ollivander?"
"Yes," Dean said, staring at his father.
Morgan stared back before he whispered. "Maker of fine wands."
"So you… are."
Morgan nodded. "I didn't… I didn't know if you were."
"I am. Mum is, too."
"She… that makes sense. She was always so quirky and… bohemian. I can see it now. It's… that's why I was late," Morgan said. "I was supposed to have a meeting with the head of the International Magical Trading Standards Body to discuss this art I've commissioned to come in from Uganda and… I couldn't get in."
"Why?" Dean asked, suddenly realizing that his father being a wizard meant more than he realized. If he dealt with the Ministry, he was more than just an art dealer.
"There's been an explosion," Morgan said, making Dean focus in on him once again. "I don't know what happened, but they weren't letting anyone inside. They were evacuating the Ministry."
Dean's eyes widened. "Evacuating the… I have to go!"
"Dean, wait!" Morgan said, standing up.
But Dean didn't wait, he was already running. His aunt worked in the Ministry of Magic. He needed to find his mum and he needed to know what the hell was going on.
~ ASC ~
Tonks sat at her desk, trying to motivate herself to finish her latest report while her mind continued to wander. Remus would be going back to Hogwarts tomorrow and they both agreed that she would tell Kingsley about the baby in two weeks. She'd been doing what she could to stay on light duty, sticking close to the Ministry as much as possible, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to keep that up without informing someone for much longer. But they both wanted to wait until she was at least ten weeks along before making an announcement. It wasn't that she was superstitious, it just… made the most sense.
They'd finally told her parents last Sunday and her mum had cried. They'd both hugged her and Remus close and promised to be there for anything that they might possibly need. It had only given Tonks something else to worry about as she could see how tired her parents were from dealing with having the teenagers there who they'd rid of the Dark Mark. It was taking a toll on them, but neither Ted or Andromeda were willing to stop and Tonks admired them for it. Those teens needed them and her parents had the biggest hearts of anyone she knew.
The sound of someone swearing quite colourfully had her looking up in time to see Sebastian Kane come bursting out of the conference room, his blue eyes alight in rage and his dark brown hair a mess from his hands. She jumped to her feet, wand in her hand.
"Sir?"
Kane's eyes flashed. "Get as many Aurors and officers as you can down to the Wizengamot. Now!"
Tonks frowned. "But the council's in session, Sir."
Kane's eyebrow lifted. "And?"
"And that means that we can't get inside," Tonks said, carefully. "Once the chamber doors seal for session, they won't open for anyone until the Chief Witch calls the meeting to a close."
"We'll find a way in," Kane insisted. "We have to. I just received word that there's going to be an attack."
Before Tonks could ask, a huge earthquake seemed to shake the bullpen hard enough to throw her backwards over her desk. She stumbled to her feet, grabbing the wood for support with her ears ringing. The entire left side of the bullpen had collapsed, desks were falling into the hole that had seemed to have erupted from the floor And to make matters worse, the ceiling above them was also exposed; rubble and people were falling through and below. People were screaming and bleeding; heat was rising up from the floor.
She blinked in shock, hands clutching the wood as she stared at the DMLE in horror. Kane's arms wrapped around her waist and he pulled her back as a second rumble shook the bullpen with such a loud thundering that she thought a volcano had erupted. She fell backwards, landing on Kane, and he held her in place.
"Fuck!"
"K? Sebastian? You all right?" she asked.
He coughed, a cut on his cheek. "Fine. You?"
When she assured him she was, he pulled her to her feet as heat filled the room with such an intensity that sweat broke out across her forehead. She blinked around the bullpen. People were shouting and running. Aurors were pulling each other from the rubble and thick smoke was trickling up from the floor.
"Fire!" someone shouted.
Tonks grabbed the wall for support, tripping over Savage as she attempted to see through the thick grey smoke that was permeating the room at an alarming rate. She helped Savage to his feet as he coughed, his wand in his hand. She kept her eyes peeled for Kane, wondering if this was what he had been concerned about. But Kane was already on the other side of the room, his wand out helping people out of the rubble when they heard another shout. Savage grabbed Robards as he fell, yelling for Tonks. She ran to help him as they each gripped Robards tightly to stop him from plummeting through the sudden hole in the middle of the bullpen. A pipe tore his leg as they pulled him up and he swore, coughing.
"What the fuck just happened?" Robards demanded, coughing harder as Savage made a quick tourniquet for his leg.
"Get below!" Kane ordered. "Find out who needs medical attention and get to the Wizengamot! We need to find out what the hell just happened!"
"The Wizengamot?" Robards repeated, blinking through the smoke.
"Just do it!" Kane ordered.
Tonks didn't need to be told twice. She found Higgins by the door with Baxter and they bolted out. Baxter left them to help Atwell, who's leg was trapped under a flipped desk. Kingsley was slamming his fists against the windows of his office, a collapsed stone having sealed him off from the rest of the bullpen. Tonks hesitated only a minute before hurrying off. She knew that there would be others to help them, they needed to get below and figure out what the hell had just happened.
The lifts had been taken out in the explosion so they were forced to use the stairs, running at full speed down towards the courtrooms and towards the Wizengamot chamber. Witches and wizards were making their way into the stairwell from all levels as alarms sounded throughout the Ministry along with a woman's voice calmly directing people up to the atrium for safety. Tonks and Higgins kept moving downward.
The further down they went, the more the building seemed to be rumbling. The grey smoke became thicker and the heat was sweltering. Tonks kept her hand on Higgins belt as they walked. They each had a bubble head charm over their mouths and nose, but the smoke was still stinging their eyes.
When they finally reached level ten, Tonks hovered her hand over the door without actually touching it and shook her head.
"It's hot. We can't open it."
Higgins swore. "If we don't open it, there's no other way in."
"If we open it the oxygen will shoot the flames in here and kill both of us," Tonks told him.
"Are we sure that there's a fire?" Higgins asked.
Tonks gave him a pointed look.
"Okay, okay, stupid question," he said.
Tonks prodded the door with her wand for a moment and then performed a quick sealing charm before turning it into a giant bubble that worked as a protective shield. She pulled Higgins into the bubble and the two of them pushed slowly. Heat flicked through the edges along with flashes of purple, crackling like fireworks in front of them. She moved slower, being as cautious as she could and when the door finally sprung open, the fire flickered to the ceiling and then dived at them.
Higgins grabbed her just in time, throwing her body to the floor as he covered her with his own as the fire roared over them and past them into the stairwell. She coughed, pushing him off. It was only then that she saw the burn across his back.
"You prat! You should have protected yourself!"
Higgins hissed in pain as he stood up. "Well, you can't say I don't have your back, Dora."
Tonks' eyes softened and she grabbed his arm, turning him to add a cooling charm to his back to help ease the pain. "Thank you. Are you okay to keep going?"
Higgins nodded, his wand in hand as they crept along the passage. The damage here was even more significant. Black smoke seemed to fill the hall. Water sprayed down from the ceiling to no avail as chunks of brick and stone continued to fall. Witches and wizards were doing what they could to patch the building, to stop it from collapsing, but the damage was too severe.
A fire was raging ahead, jumping from area to area without stopping. It was a fire unlike anything Tonks had ever seen before. Purple flames were travelling across the ceiling like thick lava and jumping down whenever it felt like it in thick fiery globs that moved in waves across the stone. The chamber doors were blown apart in the shape of a crystal, the sharp edges glowing in dark purple and black. Tonks swallowed as they stepped into the room and her stomach revolted.
Bodies were littered around the room; some in pieces. People were trapped under rubble and those who were only mildly injured were doing what they could to help out those who were trapped. The purple fire had surrounded the room, moving up the walls and jumping up to level nine, giving off an eerie glow. Unspeakables above were trying to control the fire from jumping up into their department and from spreading further, but when Tonks looked up, she could see the explosion had already knocked through most of the floors and the burning blaze had already reached the atrium.
There was no doubt that it had started in this room.
Stone and marble were collapsing into each other, falling lower, and further trapping those who were trapped under the rubble. Someone screamed as a desk fell from the hole, crushing a witch beneath it before anyone could react. Higgins brandished his wand, erecting a massive shield over the hole in the ceiling to stop it from collapsing while they began to try to get people out from beneath it.
"It won't hold long," Higgins called out. "We need to get everyone to safety!"
Tonks followed suit, doing what she could to help dig people out of the rubble. She tried not to look at the body parts strewn around her. Some were burned so badly, their faces weren't even recognizable. They'd been working steadily for five minutes when the London Fire Brigade came in from the stairwell.
The fire wizards and witches immediately began to move around the room to assist, rounding up people and leading them out in a single file.
"Whoever can move, needs to, now! We're running out of time on getting everyone up to safety."
"How many levels are damaged?" Tonks called out.
The wizard turned, his arms around a witch with burnt robes. "All of them. Let's move!"
Tonks listened to the OFB officers order people where to go and how to get out safely as she and Higgins followed them back to the stairwell. She coughed as black smoke filled her lungs again before she performed another bubble head charm and wondered what the hell had just happened.
~ ASC ~
Theo drummed his fingers on the side of the Nott family seat in the Wizengamot session. Chief Witch Marchbanks had been doing a decent job of leading the charge through the council sessions as of late. Or at least for the last three since this was only her third time since being appointed, but Theo felt like she was doing a good job. She had a way of commanding the room much in the same way that Dumbledore had. It was carefree and didn't take much effort.
He liked that about her.
Today's main topic of conversation seemed to be about Hogwarts and the return to school. The train would be taking everyone back to the castle tomorrow and it seemed that the council wanted to make sure that everyone was doing everything possible to keep the students safe. Marchbanks, along with many of the council members, were concerned as to how the school was going to protect itself in case of another attack. McGonagall had taken over the post as Headmistress and to his surprise, it wasn't Flitwick who would be the Deputy Headmaster, but Remus Lupin. It fit, he thought, it really did fit.
Lupin was one of the best teachers at Hogwarts and he ran a tight ship in the Defence Club. Of course, Flitwick was also an incredible professor, not to mention a champion duellist, but from what Theo understood, he hadn't wanted the position and was perfectly happy staying on in his position as Second Headmaster. He claimed he had enough on his plate and wasn't looking to take on another role just yet.
Marchbanks was discussing the possibility of adding Aurors and DMLE officers to be on guard in the village of Hogsmeade twenty-four seven instead of just on the main weekends when students were allowed out of the school. A wizard on the left, seated near Bones and Scrimgeour stood up, shifting his robes. Theo watched him a moment, wondering what it was that he was doing before he sat back down, his hands protectively holding the front of his robes closed. Theo frowned and thought it was an odd thing to do as Lord Macmillan raised his wand to ask a question.
Suddenly, the wizard stood up again. It was enough to make others look at him as he opened his robe, his wand touching his chest. Theo caught a glimpse of potion vials attached to his belt and chest as someone shouted and then there was a flash of purple before he found himself flying through the air.
He grunted as he landed on his side, his ears ringing. His hand moved to his head, finding blood and he coughed as the room began to come into focus once more.
Grey smoke filled the chamber as purple flames erupted from the left side of the room. He blinked in confusion as the purple human torch disintegrated with a bang and a second rumble shook the chamber. Marble and stone collapsed as the flames shot out like long tendrils, stretching to reach everything and anything in sight.
People were coughing and bleeding around him. The entire left side of the council room was blown to hell. The walls and ceiling had collapsed on top of each other and when he looked up, he could see desks and the familiar black marble that belonged to the Department of Mysteries above them.
Theo climbed to his feet, coughing as he pulled out his wand. He tripped over an arm and fought the urge to vomit before he found Percy on the ground. He had a deep cut above his eye as he tried to climb out from under the rubble. Theo moved to help him, using his sword as leverage to lift the chair up properly. Percy carefully crawled out, coughing as white dust covered his red hair.
"You okay?" Theo asked him.
Percy coughed again, this time hard enough for blood to splatter his hand. "Been better," he admitted. He placed a hand over his right side and winced, pulling it back to find it covered in blood. "Oh dear."
Theo grabbed him before he could pass out and slapped his cheeks. "Stay with me, Percy!"
Percy coughed again and his eyes focused. "I'm here."
Theo dragged him with him out of the rubble. They found Neville next, bleeding in the leg from where some piece of the building had fallen on him. He was trying to pull his leg free to no avail.
"My wand," he panted, pointing to where it was stuck under the rubble with his leg.
Theo snagged his wand, tossing it to Neville before he waved his sword to levitate the stone. Neville hissed in pain as blood shot up like a fountain from his leg. Theo smacked his hand over it, muttering a charm to tourniquet it in place.
"That will have to do until we can get you a healer. Can you stand?"
Neville nodded, his hands gripping Theo for support. He turned sheet white when he attempted to apply pressure to his leg. He gripped Theo tighter and nodded again. The three of them stumbled down the stone benches, trying to walk as another rumble shook with such a force that Percy shoved them down just in time to avoid the desk that came plummeting through the ceiling above them.
A loud roar could be heard from below and Theo wondered what creature from the menagerie might have just been set loose in the Ministry. He helped Neville and Percy to their feet again, wiping at the blood dripping into his eye furiously as he looked around at the others.
It was complete chaos.
The podium was on fire. Purple fire. The floors above them seemed to be caving in and adding to the rubble. He could see glimpses of the Brain Room, the Death Chamber, the Time and Space Chamber, and further up into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and higher. One of the vampires was leading those who could walk through the doorway that the explosion had caused. Marchbanks was covered in dust from head to toe, but looked marginally uninjured as she attempted to pull people from the rubble with the help of an equally dishevelled Lady Longbottom.
Adrian was soon assisting along with a few of the fae as they worked to get those who could move out of the Ministry as safely as they could. But many were too injured to follow and others were clearly past help. Some were screaming and crying. Some people were falling from the ceiling from the levels above and Theo couldn't help but wonder just how far up the damage went.
The Sovereign Chalice was glowing white in the middle of the room, unscathed and untouched despite the explosion. It was the only thing in the room that was left untouched whether by intent or by magic, Theo wasn't sure.
By the time Theo made it out of the Wizengamot chambers, he really took in the damage around him. It was as if a reducto spell had torn through half of the Ministry — literally. The entire left side of the building seemed to have collapsed within each other, dragging parts of each level down into the other. Bricks and stone, wood and copper broke out as office supplies, witches, and wizards fell into the hole.
It was a mess.
The lifts were destroyed and he was forced to take the stairs as Aurors and officers did what they could to direct the traffic. Theo ran past each department seeing more chaos in its wake. When he finally made it up to the atrium, which seemed to be the only level that wasn't completely destroyed, a deep rumbling could still be heard from below as if the floor beneath his feet was still trying to decide how much longer it could last.
The London Fire Brigade had arrived to help put out the fires, stop the flood from the broken sinks and toilets, and to help rescue the Ministry workers who were still trapped in the rubble. The Aurors and DMLE officers who were uninjured were doing their best to direct people to safety. Healers arrived from St Mungo's and from St Agatha Healing Academy to help with the injured. The tree of life memorial had become its own A&E department with a wizened old witch barking out orders on where to move people based on injury. The fae who had been in the session were also helping to heal those they could.
Healers rushed towards them, one grabbing Percy, another Neville and stealing them away to be treated.
"Sir! Sir, let me look at your head!" a healer said, touching Theo's arm.
"M'fine," Theo said, his ears still ringing from the blast.
The healer tried again, but he wandered off, disoriented and eyes still wide in shock. He wanted to kick something, curse someone, but he didn't know who to blame. The last thing he remembered was CWM Thicknesse opening his robes and then... Thicknesse!
"I need an Auror! I need an Auror!" he shouted, startling the healer who had been following him in an attempt to look at his head.
A man on his right who had just helped deposit a witch down to be examined, turned. Theo caught sight of his badge only a second before the wizard came over to him.
"What's wrong? I'm Auror Proudfoot. Do you need medical attention?"
Theo shook his head. "No, I... the explosion! It was Pius Thicknesse! He opened his robes and there were potions... he had potion vials attached to his chest and belt, at least two dozen of them and…"
Proudfoot's brow furrowed. "Potion vials? What level were you on?"
"Level? I was in the Wizengamot. Was there another attack?"
Proudfoot put his hands on Theo's shoulders. "We're investigating. What can you tell me about these potions?"
Theo swallowed. "There were potions and he... I don't know what they were, but he opened his cloak and I saw them. They were bright purple, like an amethyst, and when he touched his wand to them... it was purple fire, Auror Proudfoot. Bright, blinding, purple fire!"
Proudfoot looked mildly alarmed to hear this. "Purple... bloody hell! No one has made Amethyst Inferno in years! Not since Zanthar the Zany destroyed an entire village with it back in 1652! You're sure that it was purple flames?"
The memory of the purple light radiating from Thicknesse, the way it engulfed him in flames until he was a burning torch before he blew his top like an erupting volcano. But it wasn't blood and gore he remembered coming from the wizard, it was high purple flames that hurt to look at. Blindingly bright, scorching the air and everything they touched, until a blue-white flash exploded like an earthquake and a reducto curse had combined to create some sort of bomb taking out those in his immediate vicinity as well as the floor and ceiling around him. It had created a domino effect, shooting up through the Ministry with such a destructive force that it had only taken seconds for the building to start collapsing around them.
"Yes. I'm positive."
Proudfoot nodded, his face somber. "Let that healer check you out and then you wait here. We're going to need to know more about what you remember. We're going to need to know everything."
~ ASC ~
Zee pulled back up the drive, her hair windblown and the rumbling of the bike making her smile. The one hour drive had done wonders for her. She'd forgotten how much she missed the feel of the wind in her hair, the hot sun on her skin, and the vibration of the bike beneath her. It was a high unlike any other and one she hadn't realized how much she needed.
She'd just headed back in through the kitchen when Remus came running through the front door. Harry looked startled at both of them running in at the same time from different directions. Mina and Leo were on a blanket on the living room floor.
"There's been an attack at the Ministry!" Remus exclaimed, his eyes wide.
Harry jumped to his feet. "An attack?"
Remus moved to the wireless, turning it on, his hands shaking.
"— explosion at the Ministry of Magic. Authorities have not yet released a statement of what happened, but it's believed the explosion took place on the tenth level, specifically the courtrooms of the Wizengamot. All levels have extensive damage on the left side as Fire Brigades, healers, and Aurors are doing what they can to evacuate the building," the announcer said.
Zee reached for Harry's arm, her hands over her mouth as they listened.
"Casualties have been reported, but no names have yet been released. There are multiple injuries as an A&E set-up is taking place within the atrium to treat those too injured to be transferred to hospital."
"Tonks?"
Remus shook his head and Harry immediately hugged his father.
"She's fine, Uncle Rem. She is. You'd know if she wasn't."
Remus only nodded, his arms coming around Harry.
"Reports are coming in claiming that more than one explosion has taken place inside. It has alerted authorities into believing there's more than one assailant. No one has come forward to claim responsibility for today's attack, but word is already spreading that Death Eaters are responsible for this domestic terrorism. Muggle authorities are claiming a gas leak caused a minor explosion to explain the disaster striking downtown London as hundreds of witches and wizards make their way to safety outside of the Ministry."
Harry stared at Zee. "If the explosion went off on level ten that means it would affect all of the levels wouldn't it?"
Zee's eyes widened. "The Menagerie!"
"It's on the opposite end," Remus reassured her. "It's on the other side of the Ministry completely and in levels eleven through thirteen. They said the left side."
Zee nodded. She knew that Remus was right, but she couldn't help but wonder if the explosion had still reached it and the animals. "They would say something if it did because having magical creatures on the loose certainly wouldn't help with the gas leak situation for the Muggles."
Harry let out a slow breath. "So, what should we do?"
Remus shook his head, still hugging him tightly. "We wait. The last thing officials need is more witches and wizards running there. They have to evacuate the Ministry and examine the damage before any other steps can be taken."
"And if Death Eaters are responsible?"
"Oh, they are," Zee said, darkly. "But they aren't doing anything else at the moment but watching the chaos unfold."
"Someone has reported that there's a witness inside who was in the Wizengamot when the first explosion took place and is able to identify one of the assailants," the announcer proclaimed.
"A witness?" Harry repeated. "Wait — in the Wizengamot? Neville and Theo are both there and Percy!"
"Bill?" Zee asked.
Harry shook his head. "He and Fleur were supposed to be getting back late last night, I don't think he's there."
"Lucky him," Zee murmured, picking up Leo and Mina to hold them close. She kissed their cheeks and snuggled them against her chest. "Mama loves you both, yes she does."
Harry moved to wrap his arms around Zee and the babies. "How long do you think it will take to evacuate the Ministry?"
"Too long," Remus whispered, sitting on the sofa.
And Harry had a horrible feeling that his father was right.
~ ASC ~
Theo was shuffled into a chair, a healer holding him still as they examined his head. Now that he was sitting, his heart was pounding and his head was throbbing, but he wanted to get the words out.
"I'm really fine," he insisted.
Proudfoot sat across from him. "Let the healer examine you, Lord Norfolk. Focus on me while she works."
Theo nodded, trying not to be annoyed at the prodding. "He's dead."
"The assailant?" Proudfoot asked.
"Yes," Theo said. "He… he was the fire."
Proudfoot's brows came together. "He was the fire?"
Theo nodded. "It was Pius Thicknesse. I… during the session, I noticed he was fidgety out of the corner of my eye. I didn't think much of it, but when he continued to shift, almost constantly I remember thinking that it was odd. Then he stood up and sat back down and I think I was going to say something about it. Or call him out on it… I… I don't know, it was just strange. Then suddenly he stood up again and opened his robes."
"His robes?"
"Yeah. He was wearing a belt and it was full of potion vials. It all happened so fast. He stood up… his robes opened and his wand touched one of them… he must have said a spell, but I didn't hear it and then it was just — boom!"
"What happened to Thicknesse?"
"He… he was like a human torch," Theo told him. "Purple flames and it just… exploded. He… exploded."
Proudfoot frowned. "Was there anyone else?"
"I…I don't know," Theo admitted, his brow crinkling.
"Proudfoot, there's another witness on level six," a voice barked. "Take the statement. I'll speak to Lord Norfolk."
"Sir, that's kind of below your pay grade," Proudfoot said, an amused look on his face. "You don't take statements, you order us to do it."
"And I just gave you an order, Proudfoot. I'll speak to Lord Norfolk."
Proudfoot jumped to his feet. "Yes, Sir."
Theo looked up when the chair was filled with the tall dark haired Auror. The blue eyes met his and he suddenly remembered the man's gaze on him as he left the bullpen. He managed a small smile. "Auror Arsehole."
Kane's lips twitched. "It's K and I'm MIA. Now, tell me what you told Proudfoot."
Theo frowned. If he was MIA that meant that there was something else going on here. "Pius Thicknesse exploded."
"How?" Kane demanded.
Theo reiterated what he'd seen. With Kane's prompting, he gave more details, things that he hadn't realized he remembered. Fifteen potion vials, all shining in blinding purple except for one white one in the middle. The way Thicknesse looked almost like he was in a trance as he did it. The way he moved closer to Bones and Scrimgeour as he stood…
"We don't know," Kane said. "But neither Bones or Scrimgeour have been found yet."
Theo nodded, thanking the healer when she passed him a pain potion. "Was it really what Auror Proudfoot said? Amethyst Inferno?"
Kane's bright blue eyes met his. "We believe so. If there's anything else that you can remember, contact me directly." He handed him a card with nothing on it but the letter K in fancy gold script. When Theo flipped it over, it said "Chevalier."
"If you touch your wand to the card and say the word on the back, I'll find you."
"You'll find me?" Theo repeated. "How?"
Kane only stood up. "If you remember anything else, use the card."
Theo jumped when the man's thumb brushed over his cheek.
"Sorry, you had… it's three freckles, I apologize, I thought it was…" His cheeks flushed a bit before he cleared his throat. "If you need, erm… use the card, Lord Norfolk."
Theo watched him walk away feeling more confused than ever. The man was abrasive and had the most intense and impossibly blue eyes he'd ever seen and now he had noticed he had three freckles under his right eye. That was strange. He looked down at the card in his hand, eyes on the fancy gold letter K as he finished his pain potion, still not sure what had just happened. He let the healer examine him once more before he found his footing.
"Do you know where Neville Longbottom and Percy Weasley are?" he asked.
The healer shook her head. "No. I'm sorry. All non-life threatening injuries were treated and sent on their way, others were transported to hospital once they were able to be moved."
Theo nodded, thanking her and heading out to look for the two. He found Lady Cumbria arguing with a healer.
"I don't care about your damn protocol! He's my grandson and I want to know where he is!"
"Lady Cumbria," the healer said, calmly. "I understand that you're under distress, but please, let me do my job."
"Lady Cumbria?" Theo said, making the old woman whirl around. Her vulture hat had burn marks on it and her skin was covered in ash and soot. "I saw Neville's leg, is there any word?"
"Humph!" she exclaimed. "According to these nincompoops he's been transferred to St Mungo's, but they won't tell me his status."
"We don't know," the healer said. "Once he left here, we don't know what his status is."
"Percy Weasley?" Theo asked. "Do you know where he is?"
"He's over by that wall. We can't risk moving him until we get his blood pressure up."
Theo nodded and hurried over to check on Percy. The healers working on him were doing what they could to stop the blood from oozing out of his side. Theo only stared, not sure what to do. There were people on cots all around him, bleeding and burned. Some were screaming, some crying, and some he could see that some were well beyond help. One wizard's body was scorched black and he looked like he had bright purple scales burned into his skin. His eyes stared blankly ahead and Theo stared back until a healer finally covered him with a sheet.
A hand landed on his shoulder and he turned, recognizing Auror Higgins' mop of blond hair.
"Come on, Theo. Let's go."
"Go?"
"Home," Higgins said. "You've done enough. Go home and get some rest."
"Right, home," Theo said, letting the Auror lead him from the atrium and outside into the sunlight.
Theo could see more people were scattered about. Journalists and reporters were waiting for news. Muggle news vans were parked about. He moved passed the throng of people, ducking into an alley and his hands trembled. He didn't think that he could risk Apparating without splinching himself. He stuck his wand out and the triple decker purple bus appeared in front of him in seconds.
"Norf — Ottery St Catchpole," he corrected, paying the wizard at the front.
The wizard nodded. "Were you at the Ministry? Can you tell us what happened?"
Theo shook his head. "Nothing good."
~ ASC ~
Ginny stood in the living room, her arms still around her mother. Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George had all come to listen to the wireless with them, all waiting desperately for news. Bill and Fleur's international portkey had arrived late last night/early that morning and they'd stopped by to say hi and to see Ginny before heading back to Shell Cottage to settle in. They had returned to the Burrow that afternoon and found them all huddled around the wireless, listening intently for news.
Molly was trembling. Ron had moved to her other side, holding his mother close and letting her bury her face in his chest, but they all knew exactly what she was feeling. Percy and Arthur were both at the Ministry and there was no word.
"Percy still won't answer his mirror," George said, shoving his own back in his pocket.
"That doesn't mean anything, Georgie," Fred assured him. "He could just be busy."
"Dad forgot his on his wardrobe," Bill said. "I found it upstairs which explains why he isn't answering."
"Seventy-five people have been sent to St Mungo's for injuries considered life-threatening," the announcer said. "And Aurors declared twenty-two dead so far. No names have yet been released."
"Bloody hell," Fred said, dragging his hand over his face. "That's… a lot of people."
The knock on the door had all of them jumping. Hermione was closest so she moved to open it. "Theo."
Ginny bolted across the room and threw herself into his arms. "Oh thank Merlin! Theo, what happened?"
She pulled him into the living room, taking in his dirty and bloody clothes and the bandage over his head.
Theo shook his head. "Explosion. Pius Thicknesse for sure, Aurors believe more. He… he had potions and they just… purple fire."
Molly let go of Ron, rushing over to pull Theo into her arms. "Oh, you poor dear! Ron, Fred, help him to the sofa."
"M'fine," he insisted. "I… Percy…"
"Is he all right?" Molly demanded, her hands clutching Theo's shirt.
"The healers were working on him," he said. "They… they said his blood pressure was too low to move him to St Mungo's. He was hurt in his side when I pulled him from the rubble, but he was okay, he was talking."
Molly sobbed in relief, kissing his cheek. "Arthur?"
Theo shook his head. "I don't know, Mrs Weasley. I didn't see him anywhere. I was in the Wizengamot."
Molly hugged him tightly again before urging him to have a seat.
"Three more confirmed dead have just been reported," the announcer declared. "Head Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt has been rushed to St Mungo's. There's no comment on how serious his injuries are."
"Shacklebolt?" Bill exclaimed. "If the Head Auror was hit… was he in the Wizengamot today?"
Theo shook his head. "No, he didn't come. He said that he was needed in the DMLE and wouldn't be there today."
Ginny linked her arm with Theo's as she sat next to him. "Can I get you something? Tea? Whiskey?"
Theo shook his head before resting it on Ginny's shoulder. "No. Ginny… there were so many people hurt and… bodies."
Ginny kissed his temple, resting her head against his. "Close your eyes, Theo. You're all right now. You're safe."
He was sleeping next to her in moments and she exchanged a look with Bill when he sat on the other side of her.
"He'll be all w-wight," Bill told her.
Ginny nodded as Molly put her shoes on. "Mum?"
"I'm going to St Mungo's. I need to see Percy," Molly declared.
"Mum —"
"I'm going!" Molly insisted. "You lot stay here and wait for your father."
The door slammed behind her and Fred sighed. "I'll go. Send word if you hear anything."
Fred hurried out after Molly as Bill took Ginny's hand.
"And how are you f-f-eeling, Fi-w-wee-cwacker?"
Ginny smiled at the nickname. His stuttering and broken voice making her ache. "Better since you're home."
He kissed her cheek. "We we-were wo-wee-ied about you."
"I'm sorry."
"She's doing good, Bill," George assured him. "She's completely back to her normal annoying self."
Ginny stuck her tongue out at him.
"Mostly," he said with a grin.
"Shh," Ron said as the announcer chimed in again with something new.
"The explosion at the Ministry of Magic has been confirmed to take place at three checkpoints. First was inside the Wizengamot session, causing significant damage to the levels above. The second explosion took place two minutes later in the Floo Network Authority Office. The third explosion detonated five minutes after the first inside of the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee Office. A fourth one was stopped at the entrance to level nine by two Unspeakables. The wizard is in custody and being questioned. Aurors are positive there are no other explosive devices within the Ministry."
"Four?" Ron exclaimed.
"That we know of," George added. "Three went off for sure, but only one more was found so far."
"You think that there were more?" Hermione asked.
George shrugged. "Four is an odd number, don't you think? It doesn't have much significance. So yeah, I think that there are more."
"They just said that Aurors have confirmed there's not."
"Within the Ministry, Ron," George corrected. "Doesn't mean they didn't find them and remove them."
Hermione looked pensive.
Ron put his arm around her and she leaned into him. "Where's Angelina?"
"Practice," George said. "Thank Merlin she's not in London."
"Audrey?" Ginny asked.
They all exchanged looks as Fleur sat herself in Bill's lap.
"She works in the DMLE, right?" Ron asked.
Ginny nodded. "I think that she's Kingsley's secretary now that Scrimgeour is Deputy Minister."
"Did zey not say zat Kingsley was badly hurt?" Fleur asked.
Ginny kept her head resting against a sleeping Theo's. "So we wait."
Ron took a seat in Arthur's chair, pulling Hermione with him and the six of them sat in silence as Theo slept on and they waited for news.
~ ASC ~
Tonks left the Ministry exhausted. By the time she'd been ordered home while the OFB continued to evacuate, hours had passed. The sun was setting and a glance at her watch told her that it had been almost ten hours since the first explosion had gone off. She rubbed a hand over her tired face and Apparated straight home.
When she found the cottage empty, she knew immediately how worried Remus must have been. Merlin, she was so stupid! It had been all over the news, of course he would have heard! She sent a quick Patronus to her parents, assuring them of her safety before she hopped into the Floo and a moment later, came out into the living room of Black Cottage. She'd barely found her feet before his warm arms engulfed her tightly.
"I'm fine," she told him, lips meeting his. "I promise, I'm fine."
Remus kissed her temple, holding her tightly. He only let her go when Harry touched her and she turned to hug him.
"I'm okay," she said again. "I'm sorry. I should have sent word earlier, but it was just… chaos."
"The wireless is saying an explosion."
"Seven explosions," Tonks corrected. "Thankfully only three of them went off, but there were seven planned."
"How did they get into the Ministry?" Zee demanded.
Tonks made to take a step forward and the pain in her leg made her stumble. Remus scooped her up into his arms bridal style in seconds.
"Has a healer examined you?" he demanded.
Tonks cupped his cheek. "Yes. I'm fine. Both of us are fine. I fell over a desk and bruised my leg. It's really no worse than my everyday walking skills."
Remus didn't look convinced. He sat on the sofa, cradling her on his lap as he lifted and inspected her leg himself. He must have been satisfied because he rolled her jeans back down and pulled her tightly against him.
"I'll tell you everything I can," Tonks said. "But I really need some food first."
"I'll get it," Harry said, moving into the kitchen.
Tonks saw Zee get up to help Harry so she turned and kissed her husband. "I'm okay. I promise. I had a full check-up once I evacuated the Ministry. But, that means the secret's out as well. Rex was with me."
Remus placed his hands over her flat stomach. "I don't care. I want you safe. I want our baby safe."
Tonks kissed him again, holding a hand over his heart. "We're fine. I promise."
He nodded, his lips on her eyebrows. "What happened?"
"K knows more. He said that he's going to debrief us tomorrow. He has a spy, Remus, directly inside Voldemort's circle."
"Who?" Remus asked.
Tonks shook her head. "I don't know. But he knew… he was swearing up a storm, which to be fair, is normal, but this time he was spitting mad. He told me that I had to get down to the Wizengamot because he received word there was going to be an attack. He barely got the words out and then boom! It was like an earthquake had hit or what I assume an earthquake feels like."
"An earthquake?" Zee asked as she and Harry came back into the living room.
Tonks accepted the plate of food Harry passed her with a thanks. "Yes. The whole building seemed to shake and tremble and it was so strong that I fell over my desk on top of K. Furniture was shaking, the ceiling was trembling and a hole opened right in the floor, just exploded. It… it was hot and… it was like I knew there was fire, but we didn't directly see the fire, but we could feel it… it's all kind of jumbled."
She explained how Kane had sent her and Higgins down below to try to help the Wizengamot and how they'd been moving lower when a second explosion went off.
"Theo and Neville are fine," Tonks said, turning to Harry. "Neville hurt his leg, but it's not broken. He'll be on the mend in a few days and they sent him home. Theo had a small head injury, but he's the one who witnessed one of the assailants in the Wizengamot. He spoke to Proudfoot and K about what he saw. Higgins said that he saw him leave when it was done, so he's safe. I heard Percy is at St Mungo's, but I don't know how bad his injuries are."
"The casualties?" Zee asked.
Tonks shook her head. "Aurors and OFB officers were still counting. The inferno was so powerful it… some of them were melted beyond recognition. King suffered smoke inhalation as even with a bubble head charm, he was trapped in his office longer than he should have been and this inferno… it was unlike any fire that I've ever seen. It tore through bubble head charms, burned and choked… it looked like purple lava. But according to Theo and a few other witnesses… the first explosion took out Bones and Scrimgeour."
Zee gasped. "Both?"
Tonks nodded. "We're almost positive. Those who were closest to the explosion were… disintegrated."
Harry closed his eyes as Zee leaned into him.
"Merlin… I can't… at least it was quick for them," Zee said.
"Yes," Tonks said, sadness in her voice.
"But you said that there were seven?" Harry repeated.
"Yes," Tonks said. "Three of them detonated. They were witches and wizards who had potion belts attached under their robes. The first one was Pius Thicknesse, a member of the Wizengamot. He's never been directly associated with Voldemort, but he's always been a strong advocate of the dark arts and of pureblood statistics. He… well, he exploded first."
"So, he's dead then?" Harry asked.
Tonks nodded. "Most definitely. Proudfoot said witnesses claimed it was like a human torch of purple fire. The second explosion took place on level six, specifically in the Floo Network Authority Office. It was a witch named Brenda Cameron. She's worked there for fifteen years, Muggleborn, and was always known as one of the kindest witches you'd ever meet. And the last one detonated on level three in the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee Office. It was the wizard who is the secretary of the witch who works for Parliament. His name is Edgar Sheldon. His father was arrested in the '70s for crimes against Muggles, but Edgar's never shown any sign of animosity over it and in fact works tirelessly on protecting the Muggles."
Zee let out a slow breath. "Imperius?"
"We think so," Tonks said. "None of them would have done it willingly. They all lost their lives doing it, and the ones we were able to stop, were clearly under the influence."
"Who are the others?" Harry asked.
"No one special," Tonks told them. "One was a witch who runs Ministry Munchies, another a wizard from the International Magical Office of Law, another wizard from the Ludicrous Patents Office, and the seventh was a maintenance witch. They're being contained in the Azkaban Crypt until the OFB gives us permission to head back into the Ministry. We need to interrogate them and find out what the hell happened."
"How long until everyone can get back into the Ministry?" Zee asked.
Tonks shrugged. "I don't know. It's mostly the left side of the building, but it's all collapsed within each other. It's dangerous to be anywhere inside. They evacuated everyone who could be done so safely, but we're still searching through the rubble for more. Departments are going over employee lists to make sure everyone is accounted for. It's a mess. Until they're sure everyone's out and rescued or… recovered, we won't have word."
Harry's hands clenched at his sides. "This… why? Why blow up the bloody Ministry?"
"You know why," Remus said, quietly.
Zee watched Harry's eyes narrow before she saw it click.
"Chaos. Without the Ministry to police and control, Voldemort can gain power quicker," he said.
Zee squeezed his hand in hers. "Temporary offices will be set up until we can get back inside the building, but it will make it harder for us to police and keep control of situations."
"Which means that he's going to gain more power," Harry said, his voice cold. "How can you expect me to go back to Hogwarts tomorrow? Can't you see that I'd be better off out there? Fighting him?"
"Where?" Zee demanded, anger coursing through her. "Where will you fight him, Harry? Where will you find him?"
"I don't know!" Harry exclaimed. "But sitting at school certainly isn't going to help matters!"
"Yes, it will," Zee declared. "You may be a man now, Harry, and you may not need our permission to make choices, but you are not dropping out of school to go hunting after the darkest wizard to ever have lived! Do you understand me?" Harry made to protest, and she held up a finger. "Do you understand me?"
He swallowed. "Yes."
"Harry," Remus said, slowly. "Hunting him isn't going to do anything. His Horcruxes are destroyed except for Nagini and we'll get to her, we will. But right now, we have more important things to deal with and you can deal with them from Hogwarts. You mentioned that Dean and Seamus want to form a defence unit for the school? That's a great place to start and something important for you to work on. Something concrete to hold onto."
Harry nodded, but Zee kept her gaze on him, unsure if he'd truly accepted it.
Tonks finished eating and put her plate down. "I'm tired. Can we go home?"
Remus nodded, standing with her in his arms.
"I can walk," she said.
"I know," Remus told her.
They said goodbye and disappeared into the Floo. Zee turned to look at her son. Sometimes it still amazed her to see the man standing before her. Gone was the little boy full of jealousy that she was stealing Sirius from him; gone were the knobbly knees and scrawny body. Now he towered over her with broad shoulders and his workouts resulted in lean muscles and a strong frame. His face had narrowed and sharpened, looking more like a man than a boy, and the stubble he'd been sporting for the last two and half weeks was thickening, almost growing into a patchy beard. The green eyes, so brilliant like emeralds, had seen more than anyone his age should have.
She wrapped her arms around him, resting her face over his heart. "I love you, Harry."
Harry sighed into her hair, his arms coming around her. "I know. I love you, too. You're right, Hogwarts is where I should be. It's just…"
"I know," she said, tilting her head back to look up at him. "I know. I wish there was more that I could do, too."
He nodded, smiling when she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "I should make sure that I have everything for the morning."
"Yes, you should," she said, moving out of his arms. "Mina, Leo, and I can't wait to wave you off."
"I can Apparate myself," he said. "You don't have to drag the babies all the way to King's Cross."
Zee's look made him chuckle.
"But of course I want you too."
"Good answer," she said. "Besides, it's your last first day of school. I want to be there to celebrate that with my son."
The smile on his face, made her smile back.
"Thanks, Zee. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," she said, watching him head up the stairs.
Zee spent a few moments cleaning up Tonks' plate and tidying the kitchen before she closed the Floo and locked everything up. She checked on Mina and Leo, smiling at the sight of them both sleeping soundly before she moved into her bedroom and closed the door. The baby monitoring charm was on her night table on low, assuring her of her sleeping children. She brought it with her into the bath before she undressed.
She took her time, putting her hair up in a messy bun, changing the water temperature, and adding her rainbow bath bomb. When she finally sank into the bubbles, she let out a low sigh. She took a moment to appreciate the bath, the comfort of the tub, and how relaxed she felt. After everything that had happened today, she needed to relax… really relax.
The bike ride had helped this afternoon, allowing her to have some fun alone time; to ride the motorbike and remember how freeing it felt. But she was also still feeling the after effects from her little daydream in the work shed. She closed her eyes, letting her fingertip slide over her breasts, tweaking her nipples in soft strokes. She could almost imagine him standing there, watching her.
"Oh, yeah, babe… just like that…"
Zee smiled to herself as she let her hand slide lower under the bubbles, twirling and exploring. She imagined he was kneeling next to the tub, his eyes on her, his lips near her ear.
"That's right, Zee, that's right, darling… stroke that clit, rub it harder for me…"
"Mmm," she moaned, lost in her fantasy as she touched herself.
Feeling herself getting closer, she grabbed her wand from the side of the tub and placed a one-way silencing charm on the bath before she summoned her favourite toy from the locked drawer of her night table. She caught it in her hand, the Cleansweep C8, and in her opinion, the best toy she'd ever owned. It was small, compact, and charmed so that she didn't even have to touch it. All she had to do was place it where she wanted it and tap her wand, and it certainly knew how to do the rest.
She remembered the day that Sirius had found it in her drawer in her little cottage. They had only just declared that they were dating, even after a year of shagging each other's brains out. She'd been attempting to get dressed as he lay naked in her bed. She asked him to grab her wand from the night table which she'd placed in the drawer.
"What's this?" he asked, opening the case. "A Cleansweep C8? Like the brooms?"
Zee smirked at him. "Well, in a way. Cleansweep makes more than broomsticks, you know."
He frowned. "No, I don't. What's a C8?"
Zee took the case from his hands. "It's for me."
He raised an eyebrow. "For you? I'm not — oh!" he exclaimed, his mouth forming a perfect o.
She smiled. "I haven't used it since I moved here."
He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Oh? Someone's needs being taken care of, are they?"
"Well, I have already come three times today," she said, putting the case on the bed next to her.
"That's on you, babe. When you wake a bloke up to a spectacular blow job, he's gotta show his appreciation."
"I didn't hear you complaining," she said, straddling him on the bed.
Sirius' lips pressed against her neck. "What nutter would complain about that? No wonder you bought that thing! Guess you just needed a proper man to satisfy you."
She smirked. "Oh, is that what you think?"
"Well, by your own admission, you haven't used it once since you met me," he said, kissing her throat. "That makes me feel like you've been pretty damn satisfied."
"Only one or two minor complaints," she said.
He pinched her hip and she laughed.
Sirius slid his mouth over her collarbone. "So… how does it work?"
"What?"
"Your friend… how does it work?" he asked.
Zee cupped his face in her hands, the desire in his grey eyes making her heart pound. "You want to see?"
Sirius nodded. "Fuck yes."
Zee grinned. "My favourite place to use it is in the bath."
His eyes darkened. "Show me."
And she had.
He'd knelt next to the tub, kissing her neck, watching as the Cleansweep C8 lubricated, vibrated, and swept over her in just the right way. When she was on edge, he'd lifted her from the tub, surprising her as he carried her soaking wet into the bedroom, the toy still doing its work on her clit. He'd placed her on the bed, spread her legs and with his eyes on her, watched as she fell apart.
"Finite incantantem," she moaned and the Cleansweep C8 fell to the bed.
Sirius' mouth quickly replaced the toy, kissing and licking her as she moaned. When he finally sank into her, she'd cried out his name.
The orgasm tore through her now in present day and she moaned at the memory, using her fingers below the toy to get herself there. When she finished, she let out a satisfied sigh and leaned her head back against the tub.
Oh yes, her Cleansweep C8 could definitely still get her there and the memories of her man definitely helped.
She licked her lips, feeling satisfied and sleepy as she sat in the water. After everything that had happened today. After such a horrible event, she'd needed the release. For her own peace of mind, for her own memories, and most of all, for herself. When she climbed into bed twenty minutes later, she snuggled into the big pillow and dreamed of Sirius, a smile on her face.
~ ASC ~
Remus was still holding his wife in his arms when they stepped out of the Floo. He closed the Floo and carried her into the bathroom.
"Will you let me walk?" Tonks asked.
"No," he said, sitting her on the side of the tub. He vanished her clothes before she could protest and turned on the shower. A moment later, he was naked as well as he carried her into the tall walk-in shower.
"I have legs," she insisted. "I'm fine."
Remus ignored her, turning all six shower heads on and pulling her close in the water. "I know."
The moment he held her, she snuggled close in his arms. "Thank you."
He kissed her temple, but didn't say anything.
They stood there under the warm spray, holding each other for almost five full minutes before Tonks finally moved out of his arms and washed up. He helped her, scrubbing the ash and soot from her body, washing her hair, and cleaning her. She washed him as well, scrubbing his hair and once they were both clean, he kissed her cheek and shut off the water.
Remus wrapped her up in a big towel and carried her into the bedroom.
"What did I say about legs?"
Remus dried her legs with the towel. "That you have gorgeous ones."
At her look, he smiled and kissed her calf.
"Let me take care of you."
"You always take care of me," Tonks said.
Remus only kissed her knee in response. His lips moved up her leg, over her thigh. Then he was kissing her hip, her ribs, mouth moving higher to cover a breast. His chin rested against her breast as he looked up at her.
"You scared me today."
Tonks' expression softened, cupping his cheek. "I'm sorry. I should have sent a Patronus earlier, I just… I didn't think."
He kissed her lips, silencing her, before moving his mouth back down her throat; soft kisses, teasing licks, until his head was between her thighs. Tonks practically purred when his mouth kissed her there, teasing her and building her up with kisses and nips. When his fingertip brushed her, she moaned.
When he used his tongue, taking his time to enjoy her as he licked and stroked, sucked and teased, and she panted his name. Then he moved his mouth away, kissing lower and lower, lifting her bum and letting his tongue slip inside.
Tonks groaned at the intrusion, but it wasn't long before he added a finger and she found herself face down on the bed, aching for more. He teased her with a second finger, his lips at the dimple on the top of her arse.
"Where's the lube, Nymphadora?"
His voice was caked in desire and she practically whimpered. He summoned it to him, rubbing and teasing and as two fingers slid in and out of her arse; she cried out.
"Too much?" he asked, his thumb over her clit as two fingers slid into her arse.
Tonks shook her head. "No… no, it's good. Don't stop, Rem."
He groaned, but did as she asked and when his fingers disappeared and were replaced with his cock, she moaned his name. One hand rested on her hip as he thrust into her, the other teasing and rubbing, stroking and flicking. When he pulled out, pulling her up to her knees before entering her again, she gasped at how much deeper he went. His fingers slid into her, his thumb still working a steady rhythm and she screamed when she came, hips undulating back against him desperately.
Like before, he flipped her over and thrusted into her. Tonks could only hold on as pounded himself into her over and over. His whiskey-coloured eyes had darkened to a deep caramel and when he finally came, he shouted her name in a loud grunt before he collapsed on top of her. She pushed his shoulder and he turned, rolling her with him, lips pressing against the side of her neck.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you, too," she replied.
He kissed her once more and when she fell asleep in his arms, he held her closer, thanking every deity he could think of for bringing her back safely to him. Her and their unborn child.
End Author's Notes:
Thanks to Dusk for giving me the idea of using "Ollivander" as my codeword for Dean to discover if his dad was magical or not!
Thanks to Velvet for giving me feedback on my Cleansweep C8 scene. I wanted it to show that Zee needed time to herself, to relax, to unwind, to process things, and well, to remember Sirius. Because I love and miss him.
More on the explosion and what happened to Arthur and Audrey will be in the next chapter.
Thanks for reading and please review!