Author's Note:
Hello, my lovelies! Just a reminder for those who might have missed it — I am double posting this week! My chapters have so far kind of aligned chronologically with our lives and I figured out the other day that if I want the Christmas chapters to be posted during Christmas (which I do) then I need to double post. So, I spoke to Dusk and she is allowing me to double post — this week only! One chapter today (posted on Thursday) and again this weekend at my usual time!
Thank you so much for all of the reviews! I look forward to reading each and every one of them!
Reviews and Comments: To the Mandalorian terminator: Thank you! I loved writing the Ginny and Na'eemah moments. And yes, Lavender's father was killed. Thank you for saying that you've like the changes I've made to her character (she is a Gryffindor though). I am trying to keep Voldemort interesting and Snape interesting as well. To Ellieoryan7447: Ginny is getting there, slowly. Poor Harry was so embarrassed and yes, he is taking it harder because he and Ginny are not together to deal with it. Dobby is definitely the real MVP coming in to save the day and poor Harry from future dick pics LOL. Ted and Andromeda are so adorable, definitely couple goals. To minderdude: Humphrey Himmler just sounds like a name for a bad guy? Haha, poor Humphrey Himmler lol. To ahlem stelena: Aww thanks. I think it's sweet that I made you blush at the Hinny scenes! We'll see more of Leo and Mina soon. To Mutt N Feathers: Harry and Ginny will get there. A primary school? How interesting. To scrappy8: Thank you!
To Wolf's scream: Borage IS an old friend of his grandfather's. They just bicker like an old married couple LOL. Thanks for liking my Ted and Andromeda. As to the Sovereign Chalice, we shall see. To WeasleyCousin: Can I spare Ted Tonks? Sorry, no spoilers on who will live and die. To Dianne: Yes, Harry and Ginny are both struggling and seeing others flirt with them is hard on both of them. Ted and Andromeda are definitely tired and yes, Greg is very confused and trying to do what he can to protect himself and to protect Pansy. Cornfoot may be temporary, we'll see. And yes, Umbridge and Lockhart both with the DE's. To ITHersey: I do spoil you and yet everyone demands more updates! Haha, Harry flirting back with Theo would be funny. Maybe it will happen! Fully invested in every single plot thread? Thank you! That is the ultimate compliment. To Nuno Neves: Thank you! I really wanted to show Ginny and Na'eemah getting to the heart of Ginny's problem.
To ValGrey02: We'll see more of Ted and Andromeda soon. Thank you very much! I have been working very hard to keep Snape grey so I'm happy you think I am succeeding. To tim2604: Those are all questions Ginny is terrified of and talking to Na'eemah will help her understand them. The defence club setup is similar to the DA a bit, yes. To HPuni101: It is soon and me too. Arthur is doing much better. To GodMisha: Don't worry, I can promise this story will not end with Voldemort winning. Thank you very much! To notthatchhavi: Nope, Rabastan is definitely just as bad, maybe worse because he pretends he's not. I love the idea of Harry getting unwarranted dick picks LOL. Poor Harry. As to one of the Potter properties, we'll see. To Felicity: Well, I really want you to read every chapter and 294 just happens to be next so… yes? To joss: Thank you very much. They will be back together before Christmas LOL. And haha, it's okay, Na'eemah is a hard one!
To tryagain4me: Thank you very much! I was quite proud of how it turned out. To Yusraa Ifthikar: Thank you! Ginny is definitely the anchor as much as Harry. To shivani: You're welcome! I think jealous Harry and embarrassed Harry are both fun. To tanuskagina11: She does know that, but she is struggling too. And sometimes when we're struggling ourselves, we don't see the struggles others are having. To WinkingSkeever: I literally gave you a bonus chapter this week. To Guest: Thank you! The Tonkses' house is getting full! But don't worry, Ted has a plan! To Slaidback: I understand, we're doing the same here in Canada. Haha, "Harry Potter But With Common Sense" would be a fun title. To Steelcode: Skeeter likes too cause trouble and Romilda… she definitely wants her hands ON Harry, not off. To Arctoid32: Ginny is getting somewhere slowly, yes.
To shuweet: Ginny is terrified she's like Tom, but yes, she's getting the healing she needs. To marauders_mowopapr: Happy to come in perfect timing! I'm so glad everyone is loving my Ted and Andromeda interludes! I think the Hinny reunion will be worth it. Who is the other mole? We'll have to wait and see. Happy to improve your mood. To briana_t: Dean and Seamus are always around to tease him, even when he gets dick picks LOL. To AnaGPotter: Thank you! Yes, we can see more about Ginny's confusion and we will see more in this chapter as well. To AQuickRead91: Thank you! To edwards_zoe_32: It is killing them too, yes. Theo definitely does deserve a happy ending and everyone thinks it's going to be Kane and not Cornfoot, interesting. One of the Potter houses is a possibility, but as you will see, I had another idea in mind. As to how Bellatrix will end up, prison or death — we'll see.
To TatiRena: I root for Hinny all the time LOL. To GryffindorHealer: Thank you! To Fanfis01: It is coming soon, but yup, didn't happen at the funeral. To BadWolfKris: Thank you! To ANewRanger: I'll let it slide — just this once LOL. Thanks for reading! To Spellotape707: Ted and Andy are great. The banter is just so much fun to write. Definitely an emotional rollercoaster haha. How do I decide what to sneak peek? Um, not always the first bit, no, just what I think people will find the most interesting without giving away a major part/plot of the chapter. To alix33: Riddle having the Sovereign Chalice is definitely worrisome! Me too, Ginny talking to Na'eemah will really help! To HinnyForLife: Thank you! I agree, Ginny went through a lot and JKR never even mentioned it outside of her outburst at Harry about knowing what it feels like to be possessed. Ted and Andy do love each other and it only gets stronger the longer they are together. To PurpleLotus: Thank you. To purplegemini614: They really are doing what they can to help! Such great people!
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-FOUR:
The One Where Dean Hates Running
Harry stood at the front of the duelling room, his hands behind his back as he watched his fellow students arrive. The announcement for all sixth and seventh year students to meet there this evening had made him feel nervous and anxious. Remus and McGonagall had both decided that this would be his and he would be the one running the unit. It both pleased and terrified him at the same time.
Once everyone had arrived, Harry cleared his throat.
"Thanks for coming out tonight. For those of you who haven't heard, a few Gryffindors have decided to start a Defence Unit for the school. Like the club, we'll be focusing on advanced charms and defence, but above all else, it will be about whipping us into shape to defend the school in case of an attack."
A wand shot into the air and Harry's eyes fell upon the lanky blond sixth year Hufflepuff named Smith. "Against Death Eaters?"
"Against anything necessary," Harry corrected. "But ultimately, yes, against Death Eaters. Last year, Professor Carthaginian allowed a handful of Death Eaters into the castle unawares and no one was prepared. With the war getting darker out there, we don't want to make the same mistake again."
At Harry's look, Ron spoke up. "We're asking only sixes and sevens to join up. It's not mandatory, but anyone willing to join will get extra credit and house points per McGonagall. Feel free to speak directly to her about applying extra credit to whichever class you choose."
"We don't need extra credit," a sixth year Ravenclaw exclaimed. "Of course we're going to help defend the school if we can! My mum was killed in the Ministry a few weeks ago… I want to fight."
Sounds of agreement began to ripple throughout the room and Harry grinned.
"We're glad to hear it. We want to be the ones to get things moving until real help can arrive and hopefully stop anyone from doing any more damage than necessary. The attack on the Ministry took everyone off guard. I'm sorry about your mum. It's White, right?"
"Thank you," the Ravenclaw boy said. "And yeah, Channing White."
Harry nodded. He remembered the name vaguely as someone in Ginny's year. "Now, those of you who are interested, if you could sign this roster up here and then we'll get started. We're going to start with getting everyone into shape because duelling isn't just about magic, it's about being able to physically withstand the enemy and if you're too tired to keep duelling, you will lose," Harry said. "Professor Lupin will run the Defence Unit with me. We will meet twice a week, once for duelling and once for physical fitness until everyone is comfortable duelling for hours at a time. Once we hit that threshold, the physical fitness part will end. It will be hard work and if you're not willing to put in the work, there's no shame in that. Once you've signed, meet me on the left side of the room."
Harry was pleased to see every student stay. With most of the six and seventh year Slytherins gone, it was still a decent amount. A strong smelling perfume made him try to breathe through his nose, but when he turned, he almost walked into Romilda Vane.
"Er, hi," he said, taking an automatic step back from her.
It was the first time that he'd been this close to her since the love potion fiasco in his fourth year. He knew that the restraining order Sirius had implemented had only been for the first year, but she had nevertheless kept her distance from him.
"Hi, Harry," she said breathlessly, her long thick black hair curling over her shoulders.
He noticed her shirt had an extra button undone, giving him a view of very ample cleavage. "Can I help you with something?"
"I just wanted to say thanks for doing this," Romilda said. "It's so brave of you to help defend the school and I'm just so honoured that you would let us help you. I can't wait to work more closely with you." Her hand touched his arm and her breasts brushed his elbow as she spoke. "I think it's just terrible what's being published about you. You shouldn't listen to them."
Harry made to move back and found himself backed against the wall. Her perfume was incredibly strong and it made him want to gag a bit as her breasts brushed his arm again. "Thanks. Look, Romilda, I appreciate the sentiment, but —"
"Romy," she corrected.
"Romy." He grimaced. "But —"
"Harry," Theo exclaimed, his arm linking through his and tugging him away from Romilda and the wall. "Just the man I needed to speak to."
Romilda looked like she wanted to protest, but at Theo's look, she marched off.
Harry let out a slow breath. "Thanks."
"Anytime," Theo said, elbowing him lightly. "Besides, it might interest you to know that Ginny's been glaring daggers at Vane's back since she approached you. I believe she mentioned something about her shoving her tits in your face."
Harry's lips curved. "Vane might be a tad scary, but those were nice tits."
Theo chuckled. "I think it helped that you looked slightly panicked."
"Well, the last time I was alone with her she dosed me with a love potion. Trust me, I'm right to be weary of her," he snuck a look over at Ginny who was talking with Luna. "Was she really jealous?"
Theo smiled. "All in good time, mate."
Harry watched Theo head over to Stephen Cornfoot and kiss his cheek and Harry turned to move across the room towards Ginny. She looked up at him in surprise when he approached her and Luna.
"Ginny, can I get your help over here for a minute?"
Ginny's eyes met his and the urge to pull her close and cradle her against his heart made him shove his hands in his pockets.
"Sure."
Harry led her onto the other side of the room near the dummies before he stopped suddenly, making her crash into him. He grabbed her arms to stop her from toppling over and the feel of her skin made him pause. He let go quickly, the back of his neck flushing.
"Sorry."
"It's okay," she said. "I should have been watching where I was going."
Harry let out a slow breath. "I just wanted to… I mean…" Harry dragged his fingers through his hair, his eyes on hers. "Can I get your help with this?"
Ginny raised an eyebrow. "With what?"
"The physical training," he said. "You know what I like to do and how I like to run things and Merlin knows you're definitely the most fit witch here. I thought maybe you could run the witch sessions, help with whatever they might need and…"
"Help keep Romilda's tits out of your face," she suggested, her lips curving.
Harry smiled. "They were nice tits."
Ginny's eyes flashed and his eyes automatically dropped to her chest. Unlike Vane, Ginny's shirt wasn't indecently unbuttoned, but her tie was loose and the splash of freckles over her collarbone made him lick his lips. He knew exactly what was beneath that shirt and Vane's tits didn't even compare. They both knew it.
"I miss you," he whispered.
Ginny crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I'll do whatever you need for the training, Harry. I… I miss you, too."
Then she turned and hurried off towards Luna. Harry watched her walk away, his eyes on her arse and wondered how much longer she was going to keep walking away from him before he cracked.
~ ASC ~
Pansy tried to control the shiver that tingled down her spine when Rabastan, Lockhart, Selwyn, and Crouch came into her shop with Vincent Crabbe trailing behind them. She had just locked up for the night, sending Blanche home only twenty minutes earlier. Daphne had returned to Hogwarts at the beginning of the month and she already missed her best friend dearly. When she opened the door to leave, seeing them standing on the steps had made her pause for only a moment.
The last few weeks had been stressful. Losing Daphne to Hogwarts and losing Greg to these top secret missions made her spend a lot of her time alone. She was using her spare time to nest, getting ready for the baby to come. She'd decided to make the nursery navy and white, keeping it very sleek and sophisticated looking. Though she had caved when Greg brought home a Quidditch mobile to hang over the cot, the floating Quaffle, the racing Bludgers, and the tiny Golden Snitch all being chased in a circle by seven floating broomsticks had charmed her. She'd even made a navy and white blanket for the cot, taking the break from making lingerie to sew the blanket out of strips of white velvet and navy silk, quilting it over a cotton blanket. She was quite pleased with the results.
She spent her nights puttering around the nursery or sneaking down into the kitchen to indulge in something covered in cheese. All this baby seemed to want was cheese. On everything. Greg came home late every night and never said anything about what he was doing, only that he was sorry he couldn't spend more time helping her at the shop. She was due in sixteen days and she was starting to feel more bitchy every day it inched closer. The fact that her stomach hadn't dropped yet caused the healer to mention that she may be late and she'd not been impressed with that news.
Pansy was tired of being pregnant. She wanted to be able to make lingerie without having to spend fifteen minutes finding a comfortable position to accommodate her stomach. She wanted to be able to walk without waddling. She wanted to stop peeing every five bloody minutes which took close to fifteen minutes by the time she made it to the toilet. She wanted to be able to stand without help and she wanted to be able to see her feet again.
Keeping busy kept her mind off it for the most part, but she was uncomfortable all the time and it was driving her mad. Not to mention the fact that her nipples were so sensitive that covering them with anything made her libido act up. Three times in the last week, she'd practically ripped Greg's clothes off on sight when he'd come home late. Last night, he'd spent almost two hours with his head between her legs and she'd still been begging for more. She'd never felt so fat, ugly, and sexy all at the same time before.
But the sight of the men standing outside of her shop's door suddenly made her feel uncomfortable in a very different way and she placed a protective hand over her large stomach.
"I'm afraid that we're closed for the day, gentlemen," she said. "I'll be open again at ten tomorrow. You're welcome to come back then."
Rabastan's wand pointed at her. "No. I think that we'll come in now."
Pansy backed up slowly, her hands raised until she was standing behind the large marble desk at the back of the boutique. She tapped her fingers on the marble desk and did her best to keep a bright smile on her face.
"Looking for something for your wives, gentlemen?"
Selwyn had his eyes on a red lace number before he shook his head. "Well, darling, as tempting as that is, we're here for something else."
"Oh?" Pansy asked, hoping they couldn't hear the fear in her voice.
She didn't like the idea that they were even in her shop. She didn't like the idea that they came here after she'd closed and she really didn't like that they'd timed it for when she was alone. She should have known better than to linger after Blanche left, but she'd stayed to make some notes on new ideas she wanted to try out and now she regretted it. The last time that she'd seen any of them, they had used an unforgivable on her, and the fear of that had her cursing herself even more. She placed both of her hands protectively over her round stomach, her eyes on them.
Crabbe and Lockhart were walking around, looking at the merchandise. Rabastan and Selwyn had crowded around the desk as Crouch stood nearby, his hands touching the silk near him.
Selwyn rubbed a finger over the marble of the desk as if inspecting for dust. "We'd like to see the books."
"The books?" Pansy repeated, confusion written all over her face.
"Yes, the books," Rabastan said. "I thought that you were the smart one between you and the buffoon."
Pansy hesitated only a moment before she pulled out the sale ledger and opened it. "What are you looking for?"
Selwyn opened the ledger, scrolling his finger down the carefully inked sales listed. "What does this mean?"
Pansy was trying not to watch the way Crabbe, Crouch, and Lockhart were touching her things around the store. The idea of their fingers caressing her things made her feel nauseous. She looked down at where he had pointed.
"Dream nightie in gold, red evening bra with matching knickers, and the honeymoon ensemble in blue."
He raised an eyebrow.
"I've named them all so that I can keep track of which ones are the most popular. The store is arranged in those sections. I have Quotidian Needs, Elegantly Sexy, Moonlight Nighties, Rendezvous Romps, and Little Nothings. Each section has names for the outfits," Pansy explained.
Rabastan rolled his eyes. "How quaint. And this?"
Pansy's eyes fell on the ledger again. "Last name of the customer. I'm hoping to start up a loyalty program of some kind so that they get discounts on events like their birthdays or anniversaries and if they spend so much within a period of time; incentives to keep them coming back. It's my job to know when they have special occasions or events in their lives that they might need my help for."
"Hmm, well, you'll have to keep insisting on customer names," Rabastan said.
Pansy bit her bottom lip. "Why?"
"Here's the thing, Mrs Goyle," Selwyn said. "You're going to make sure that you're only selling to the right sort of people."
"The right sort of people?" she repeated.
Selwyn nodded. "The Dark Lord is impressed with how well your first month has gone. You sold over half of your stock in the first month and September is shaping up to be just as successful."
"I'm making more," Pansy said.
"Yes," Selwyn said. "But it's the who is buying your merchandise that we want to discuss."
"Why?" Pansy asked.
"Because you should only be selling to those worthy enough to be buying," Rabastan said.
Pansy stared at them suddenly comprehending what they were saying. "Are you saying that my customers can only be purebloods?"
"You are to record their names and their blood status in a separate ledger when they shop here," Rabastan continued.
"No one will shop here," Pansy exclaimed, her voice rising. "No one will accept that!"
"The right sort of people will," Rabastan concluded. "And you can have customers who are not purebloods, but they will pay more for the same product."
Pansy's mouth dropped open. "What?"
"This here," Crouch said, holding up a short pink nightie with a plunging neckline in satin. "It's twenty galleons, if you sell it to a half-blood, the price would be thirty galleons, and to a Mudblood, fifty galleons."
"That's daylight robbery!" Pansy exclaimed. "No one is going to spend fifty galleons on that!"
"Then we don't want their business, do we?" Rabastan said, cooly. "You will record their blood status with every purchase."
"And if I don't?" she asked.
Crouch had come around the desk now, the nightie still in his hands. He rubbed the satin against her cheek, a wide creepy smile on his face. "If you don't, dearie, you won't have this shop for much longer. And the Dark Lord says that if you don't do what he asks, Rab and I get to play."
"Me too," Selwyn said. "Since your husband let my whore escape, my cock's been begging for a decent blow. I have no qualms about letting you have that honour."
Pansy's breath hitched. "I'm a married and a very pregnant woman."
Crouch snickered. "And we know how randy that makes you, but we'll wait until you have the child, dearie… maybe."
Pansy swallowed, her heart beating quickly in her chest as her hands held her large stomach. "If I ask for blood status, no one will shop here. How will the Dark Lord make a profit from this shop if I can't get any customers?"
Rabastan reached out to open the buttons on her blouse, revealing her full breasts in the black lace. "Guess you'll have to figure that out, won't you?"
She made to move away from his grip, but Crouch's hands rested on her hips as he came up behind her. "Don't touch me!"
"Why?" Crouch whispered, his lips near her ear. "Scared you might enjoy it?"
She shuddered as Rabastan cupped a breast. "Stop, please…"
"I love it when they beg," Rabastan said. "I love how big your tits have gotten with that baby. Who could have guessed a pregnant woman would be so fucking randy? Take off the bra."
"No," Pansy said. She whimpered when Crouch clamped her arms behind her back. "Please, don't!"
"Er, Goyle wouldn't like it," Crabbe called out.
Pansy's eyes met his from across the shop, suddenly feeling hopeful. Vince knew her, he wouldn't let them do this. He was standing with Lockhart, his eyes glued to her chest with a greedy look on his face.
"Goyle isn't here," Rabastan said, flicking open the front clasp and exposing Pansy's breasts to the shop. "Besides, she likes it." His fingers twisted her oversensitive nipples sharply and tears threatened her eyes. "Are we clear on what you must be doing?"
"Yes," she said, her eyes squeezed shut as he continued to fondle her breasts. Crouch's hand slid around her hips, down the front of her trousers, and into her knickers. His fingers touched her and she shuddered in disgust. "Please, stop."
Selwyn chuckled. "Oh, we all know you like it."
A tear escaped from her eye and Crouch pulled his hand out of her knickers, bringing his fingers to his lips. He let go of her arms and she fell forwards, smacking her belly against the counter. Rabastan's hands were still on her breasts as Crabbe came around the desk.
"All right, you lot had your fun. Leave her be," Crabbe demanded.
Selwyn pouted, his hands on his belt. "One blow isn't going to hurt her?"
"I said no!" Crabbe exclaimed. "Come on, you remember what happened the last time Goyle found out you touched his wife? I'm not getting a bloody beat down again!"
Rabastan removed his hands away from her breasts. "Fine. I think Mrs Goyle knows what we expect of her anyway." He reached out and twisted her nipples sharply once more. "And if she doesn't comply, we'll be back."
Crouch's tongue licked her cheek and she fought back the urge to vomit. "Pregnant or not, the next time I come back, dearie, I'm going to take you up the arse and make your husband watch." He licked her neck and she shuddered.
Rabastan smirked at Crouch before his dark eyes met hers. "Blood status. Record them. Or else."
She was trembling as they finally moved away from her. They headed towards the door, except for Crabbe, who's eyes were glued to her tits, a hungry gleam in them and she suddenly felt more exposed than before. She attempted to pull her blouse closed and his eyes met hers.
"By the way, Lockhart's taken the office on the second level. You won't even know he's there."
Lockhart gave her a winning smile before he headed up the back steps and she finally let her legs give out, falling to the floor behind the counter, and she wept.
~ ASC ~
Seamus wiped sweat from his brow as he turned to look behind him at where his boyfriend was struggling to keep up. It made him feel oddly good to think that he could outrun Dean's long legs, but unlike his boyfriend, Seamus had already spent a full year under Harry's Quidditch training and running five laps around the statue of Slytherin in the chamber of secrets was peanuts in comparison.
"Fuck, I'm… going to… die," Dean panted, grabbing Seamus' arm as he coughed. "I hate running. Why is… he making us… run? I don't want… to run."
Seamus wrapped his arm around Dean's waist and shoved his water at him. "Drink. You'll feel better."
"How come you're not out of breath? I hate you." Dean said once he finally managed to catch his breath.
Seamus smirked as Dean chugged more of the water. "No, you don't."
At Dean's glare, he grinned.
He led Dean back over to the large room on the left that Flitwick had enchanted into a full training room. There were thick bags for punching hanging from the ceiling and a hundred metre run that included jumping over floating poles at various levels before running up and down the stairs. Seamus already knew exactly how hard Harry was going to work them.
It was only the second physical day of the new Defence Unit and most of the sixes and sevens were already cursing them. Those who played Quidditch were the only ones who seemed to be able to keep up with what was happening. Ginny was running a girls session on the other side that involved the same running course, but she put them through different sets of push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups than the wizards were doing. He thought that it was intriguing to watch her. She might be just as ruthless as Harry was, if not worse.
By the time they were dismissed, Dean was whimpering. Harry ordered them all up the stairs and Dean called him a sadist. Seamus helped his boyfriend up the hundreds of stairs back to the castle and then up the multiple staircases it took them to reach Gryffindor Tower. By the time they made it to their room, Dean was limping. He stripped down in the middle of the room, leaving a trail of clothes as he stepped into the shower and whimpered.
Seamus picked up his clothes as he went, following him into the bathroom. Neville and Harry hadn't returned with them and Seamus suspected that they were talking plans for the next lesson. He waited for his boyfriend to finish showering and when Dean stepped out with a towel slung low on his waist, he smiled.
"Feel better?"
"No," Dean grumbled. "Harry wants me to die."
"He doesn't," Seamus told him. "That's why he's making you do this. You only ran one kilometre, love."
"And did ten push-ups, ten sit-ups, and ten pull-ups before having to walk back up all of those bloody stairs!"
Seamus chuckled. "Trust me, that was Harry going easy on you. The next one is only going to be way more intense."
Dean groaned and rubbed his hands over his face. "I draw. I don't need to be physically fit. I just need a working hand."
"That's what he said."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Walked into that one, didn't I?"
Seamus smiled and hopped up onto the bathroom counter. "Now you understand why I used to limp back from Harry's practices and beg you to massage me."
"Because you're a needy, randy bugger?"
"Well, that too," Seamus admitted. "Want me to give you a massage, love?"
Dean rolled his shoulders. "I'm overreacting, I admit it. But fuck, I'm not a runner."
"That's okay, babe," Seamus assured him. "I'll still love you."
Dean put shaving cream on his face. "Lucky me."
"Bloody right," Seamus said, reaching for the towel to pull Dean close to him until he was standing between his legs. "Now, let's talk about what you're not really saying."
"I don't know what you mean."
Seamus used his fingers to smear the soap over Dean's cheeks and neck. "You not being a runner doesn't really have anything to do with the physical act of running."
Dean closed his eyes as Seamus began to shave his face. He didn't speak until his boyfriend had finished the entire left side. "Oh?"
Seamus carefully cleaned the razor in the sink next to him before he worked on removing the shadow of dark hair from the other side of his boyfriend's face. "You're not Kellan Morgan and you don't run away from things because they frighten you. You fight for them."
"Seam…"
"No," Seamus insisted. "You do. I'm not saying that you get there right away. You are a bit dense, love, and sometimes it might mean a best mate has to suck your cock a few times under the guise that he's only practicing or experimenting or whatever bullshit I tossed at you to let me touch you once upon a time, but eventually your heart catches up with your brain and you take the right path. You realize that your best mate is sexy as sin and you absolutely are madly in love with him and have to fight for him instead of running away out of fear."
Dean dipped his forehead down to Seamus'. "That's some example."
"Been saving it," he said.
Dean kissed him chastely. "Running away from my feelings isn't the same as abandoning a kid, Seam."
"No," Seamus admitted. "But being brave enough to face those feelings is still something to be proud of. You took a while, but Morgan took seventeen years to reach out to you. Maybe he's thinking he doesn't like running either."
Dean sighed as Seamus rinsed his face off before running his fingers down the smooth cheeks. "I just don't know what to say. I had an idea in mind when I met with him but then… everything happened with the Ministry and Auntie M… Mum's still a wreck. As much as she and Auntie Meadow fought, they were best friends. Losing her like that on top of it all and here I am trying to think about Morgan… now that I know he's a wizard and that he's been sending me owls twice a week… how do I respond?"
"However you want," Seamus said. "There's no rulebook. You don't have to be Mr Nice Guy if you don't want to be. You can ignore him. You can write back. You can do a mix of the two. It's your decision."
"I don't know if I want to have a relationship with him," Dean admitted. "But I don't not want it either."
"See? You're definitely not running away from anything. You're allowed to take your time to decide, love. No one is rushing you or chasing you to make a choice now. It's not now or never."
Dean nodded. "I could put that in a letter, I suppose, that I don't know what I want. He would respect that."
"He would," Seamus agreed.
"But Seam?"
"Hmm?"
"I still bloody hate running."
Seamus laughed, sliding his hands down his boyfriend's chest. "Noted. But you know what you do love…"
Dean's breath hitched when Seamus opened his towel. "What's that?"
Seamus' eyes twinkled before a hand wrapped around him. "When I suck you off."
Dean grunted a response to that as Seamus pushed him back and hopped off the counter, lowering himself to his knees. Dean's hand slid through Seamus' sandy hair.
"What happened to you declaring that you'd rather receive than give?"
Seamus smiled up at him. "That was a choose one or the other scenario, Dean, and if I had to choose between your mouth never being around me again, I couldn't give that up. This though… I'd definitely never want to give it up."
Then those lips pressed against the side of his long shaft and Dean let his head fall back. Soft kisses and firm strokes were enough to make Dean fully hard in mere moments. Then Seamus wrapped his mouth around him and he hummed in pleasure at the feel of his boyfriend's member between his lips. He took his time, allowing his tongue to swirl and stroke as he sucked, drawing out every ragged breath as he traced each vein. Dean let his fingers dance through his boyfriend's hair as Seamus worked him and when he let go, dipping his head to kiss his balls, Dean groaned.
Seamus knew how much Dean loved it when he took the time to draw out the pleasure in his balls with slow deliberate sucks. It made him pant incoherently and when that tongue slid around and under, slipping into him, Dean shuddered.
"Seam…"
But Seamus had nudged his legs further apart now, his tongue teasing him, licking him, lubricating him, and then a finger replaced the tongue only a moment before Seamus' mouth wrapped around his cock again. Dean rocked against him, groaning desperately. He barely heard his boyfriend murmur the lubrication charm, too caught up in his own pleasure, but he certainly felt it when Seamus sucked harder and added a second finger.
Seamus knew he was close, he could feel him building, the way he clutched his hair, the sounds he made. Seamus turned his head, sucking more of him down his throat and added a third finger.
It was the third finger that set him off.
Dean's head tossed back, clutching Seamus' hair tightly as he came, shuddering around his boyfriend at the intensity of his orgasm. Seamus lingered, taking his time to make him fully sated before he stood and with his eyes on his, pulled off his shirt. Dean helped him shove his trousers down and a moment later Dean had his hands planted on the bathroom counter, his legs spread apart. Seamus stood behind him, one hand stroking his behind, spreading him with his fingers.
He was so hard and so ready. Nothing turned him on more than watching Dean come apart. To suck him off and watch him tremble and shudder in unabashed pleasure. He gave himself a few quick strokes before he stood on his toes, one hand on the counter, the other on his cock as he slowly pushed himself inside of him.
"Fuck," Dean whispered.
"Okay?" Seamus asked, kissing his neck. Despite the use of his fingers, it had been a while since he'd had Dean and he was so tight around him.
"Mmm, yes," Dean said.
Seamus pulled out and pushed in again, this time giving him all of it and Dean panted. Seamus' calves strained to hold himself steady as he relentlessly pounded into his boyfriend, eyes on where his cock slid in and out in ecstasy.
Dean made a half pant, half cry and Seamus saw him reach around to start stroking his own growing erection.
"Yeah, Dean, yeah… come again for me, babe. Come again for me."
When Seamus' hand wrapped around him, taking over the strokes while he continued to shag him, Dean only arched his neck back and let Seamus destroy him. It wasn't long before he was coming a second time and Seamus was finishing behind him with loud grunts.
Seamus kissed his shoulder again as his sated cock slid out. "Oh, bloody hell, I needed that."
Dean whirled him around and kissed him deeply, tugging Seamus to his toes as he assaulted his mouth with a kiss hard enough to bruise. When he finally pulled back, Seamus' eyes were dazed.
"I really love you, Seamus Finnigan."
Seamus' lips curved. "I really love you, Dean Thomas."
Dean stepped away from the counter. "And now I think that I need another shower."
Seamus let his eyes travel down to where the evidence of their coupling was on his boyfriend's stomach and his thighs and smiled. "I don't know. I rather like you this kind of dirty."
Dean bit his bottom lip. "You're such a naughty bugger."
Seamus grinned. "Come on. We'll shower together and I'll help you wash up."
Dean chuckled, moving to turn the shower back on. "I think that's how I got dirty a second time, Seam."
But when he crooked his finger, Seamus followed him into the shower and soon found himself pressed against the tile to be snogged senseless. Yeah, Seamus really loved this man.
~ ASC ~
Theo took a seat next to Percy in the newly renovated Wizengamot chambers of the Ministry of Magic. It had taken almost a full month to get the Ministry back into a usable building, but Theo had to admit, the chamber looked good. The magi-architects and magi-builders had done an incredible job in keeping the original historic feel of the building and restoring it to the example it had been. The original chairs, charmed and blood sworn to each noble family, had been destroyed in the blast. But the new ones were shining in black wood, the family crest and name carved into the back of it. Theo noticed when he sat, he didn't feel the family magic like he had before and wondered if there was a way to bring that feeling back or if it was even necessary.
Griselda Marchbanks answered that question for him.
"The chairs were destroyed, but charmers will be setting up appointments to meet with each of you and to call upon your family bloodline to help choose your seat once more for the lords and ladies. The common members are welcome to have the same honour if they wish. We will not keep it the same old traditions of only lords and ladies being given this privilege. As many of you have noticed, the Sovereign Chalice is missing from its stand."
Theo's eyes moved to the alter in the centre of the domed room. It was empty.
"It survived the blast," Marchbanks continued. "Of this we're certain as a number of people recall seeing it well after the explosion. But it is now missing. Aurors are speaking to all workers who were in and out of this room during repairs in an attempt to find it. With it missing, it does mean that no new members can be sworn in. But amidst the chaos, a new Minister of Magic was chosen to replace Minister Bones."
Percy leaned forward in his seat, his brow crinkled. "They chose someone? Without a vote?"
Theo shushed him.
"Common Wizengamot Member Humphrey Himmler decided to run for the position of Minister of Magic and received quite a few votes in his favour. For those of you who don't know, Humphrey worked as a Hit Wizard for thirty years before retiring to only dedicate his time to the Wizengamot. He's a well respected wizard and one who thinks he has what it takes to lead us through this troubled time. CWM Himmler?"
The man stood up. He was balding with black eyebrows. He nodded towards them all.
"I want to help lead us from this tragedy and help bring about a new world. Let me lead you there, take you there. Together, we can conquer it all."
Applause broke out and a wand went into the air. The woman stood up, her blonde hair worn tight in a bun. "I'd love to help you as your deputy, Himmler."
Himmler looked her over before he nodded. "Done."
Marchbanks nodded and raised her wand. "As Chief Witch, I'd like to propose a vote. Those in favour of voting in CWM Humphrey Himmler to be our new Minister of Magic along with CWM Kendra Norton to be our new Deputy Minister, please raise your wands."
Over half of the Wizengamot shot wands into the air. Theo hesitated. Instead he cleared his throat.
"Chief Witch? May I ask a question before we finalize the vote?"
"Of course, Lord Norfolk," Marchbanks said as eyes turned to him.
Theo stood up. "While I applaud your decision to run for Minister, it does make me wonder why no one else is being considered?"
Himmler stared. "No one else is willing to step up and deal with the mess that the Ministry is in, Lord Norfolk. Let Norton and I handle things. We'll bring things back to their proper way."
More applause broke out and Theo sat down. He exchanged a look with Percy as more wands rose into the air. By the time Theo, Bill, Percy, and Neville raised their own, it was most of the council.
Marchbanks smiled. "Well, it looks like we have a potential new Minister of Magic. Minister, would you like to say a few words?"
Himmler stood up. "Thank you. I am honoured that you're giving me the chance to lead you out of these dark days."
Marchbanks tapped her wand on the podium when he sat back down. "After our assembly we will make an announcement of our new choice for Minister and open the polls for everyone to vote in the meantime. Now, let's call the Ministry council forward to discuss the renovation plans for the rest of the Ministry…"
A week later, Himmler was officially sworn in as Minister of Magic.
~ ASC ~
Theo was nervous.
He hadn't expected to be. In fact, he'd been thinking about this moment for a long time and yet now that it was finally here, he was nervous. Anxious even. He rocked back on his heels as he waited for Auror Higgins in the front entrance of Hogwarts. To his surprise, the tall man who came up the bridge was not the sweet mannered blond Auror who he had expected.
Auror Arsehole (as he called him) was marching up the bridge in long strides to match his long legs. The wizard had to be as tall as Professor Lupin and his dark hair looked windblown. He wondered why Higgins had abandoned him for the one Auror who seemed to hate him on sight.
"Lord Norfolk," he said in his smooth, deep voice when he reached him. "I'm here to escort you to the Crypt."
Theo stared at him. He wasn't sure what it was about this man, but he suddenly felt like the Auror wanted to lock him in the Crypt and throw away the key and he didn't know why. The man was infuriating and sexy as hell. The dark windblown hair, the soft lips surrounded by dark stubble, and the bluest eyes he'd ever seen. He remembered the way K's thumb had stroked his cheek after the explosion and how he'd taken his statement. He still had the card in his wallet. Auror K, he remembered, though he couldn't remember what K stood for.
"Where's Higgins?" Theo asked.
"Something came up and I need to talk to Malfoy myself. Are you coming or not?"
"Are you always this abrasive?" Theo demanded, staring at the man's tight jaw. He couldn't remember the name of the man for the life of him. What did K even stand for anyway? Knobhead? Killjoy? Auror Arsehole clearly suited him better.
"Are you always this annoying? Do you want to see Malfoy, yes or no?"
Theo tried not to roll his eyes as he tightened his cloak. "Let's go."
Theo followed the Auror down the bridge. At least the man had a nice arse for him to look at it, he thought. It almost made up for the man's lack of a winning personality. He admired his backside a moment before letting his gaze move up the toned back. He was definitely fit so at least he had that going for him. Theo accepted K's arm to Apparate when they reached the property line. They arrived outside of the entrance to the London Catacombs and Theo stared down at the stone archway leading them underground; he shivered. He couldn't imagine a worse place to end up.
He followed K through the stone doorway. Muggles were touring the place, but K led him to the left and through another stone archway that appeared as they walked towards it telling Theo that Muggles had no idea it was there. They stepped through the wall and he found himself in a huge stone cavern where a security wizard sat at the desk.
"Kane," the wizard said, jumping to his feet. "You're early."
Kane marched towards the desk. "Why are you alone, Fletcher?"
"Collins had to use the loo."
"Then he can bloody-well piss himself," Kane exclaimed. "You do not leave your post without a cover for any fucking reason! Am I clear?"
"Yes, Sir," Fletcher exclaimed, his back straight.
A short wizard with long brown hair tied behind his neck came from the door on the left, tucking his shirt into his trousers. He took one look at Kane and paled.
"Sir."
"Collins, I'll be talking to your superior officer about this," Kane said. "Next time you need to take a bloody piss, you call for relief."
"I couldn't wait, Sir. It was…" he trailed off, his words coming out as a mumble as Kane's eyes narrowed. "I ate cheese, Sir, and it doesn't exactly agree with me."
Kane snorted. "Rules are rules, Collins. Shit your fucking pants next time."
Collins looked like he might be doing just that at this very moment as he nodded.
"We're here to see Lucius Malfoy," Kane continued.
Fletcher nodded from his spot behind the desk, grabbing the ledger and a quill for Kane to sign. When he handed the quill to Theo, he signed his name, passing over his wand to be inspected.
"The sword, too," Fletcher said, eyeing the weapon hanging on Theo's side.
Theo carefully unhooked the scabbard from his belt and passed it across the desk. He took the tag Fletcher gave him in return before he followed Kane to the next checking point. The Auror was still muttering under his breath.
"Damn irresponsible prats! The point of working in partners is to watch each other's backs and these idiots are scampering apart without calling for relief…"
"Er, he said that it was an emergency," Theo offered.
Kane shot him a look. "You still call for relief. If something happened and Fletcher was left without backup… we have training for a reason."
Theo decided not to comment as they headed down the long stone passage to the next checkpoint. They were checked at every level by a different set of security wizards. Thankfully, all of them seemed to be where they were supposed to be as Kane didn't have any problems with them. When they finally reached level five, they were once again checked for enchantments and patched through before a wizard led them down a stone hall to a steel door, unlocking the many chains and locks holding it in place.
"Get back, Prisoner!" The guard declared.
Theo swallowed as a moment later he was staring at the man who had always been a father to him. He was dressed in prison robes of black cotton trousers with a white shirt. He had a black jumper over top with the logo of the Azkaban Crypt (a fancy scripted AC over the crypt symbol with an embossed V for the prison level he was assigned) and his prison number was on the other side. The guard immediately shackled his hands and feet together. His hair was pulled back away from his face and his blue eyes lit up in surprise at the sight of him.
Kane urged Theo to step into the cell. "You have fifteen minutes, Lord Norfolk."
"Are the shackles really necessary?" Theo asked.
Kane lifted an eyebrow. "Yes."
The sound of the door closing behind him was rather ominous but he immediately moved across the room and threw his arms around the man. Lucius immediately rested his head against his. Theo didn't think it was enough and he lifted Lucius' arms, shimmying himself under his tied hands to hug him properly.
Lucius chuckled, hugging him tightly. "Look at you! You've become a man."
Theo shimmied back out of Lucius' arms and took a seat in the chair by his desk. Lucius sat on the edge of his cot, his eyes on him. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Lucius said. "How are you? Have you spoken to Draco?"
Theo nodded. "I did. I saw him this summer. He's safe, Uncle Lucius."
Lucius looked relieved by this. "When Andromeda's daughter told me he was alive I…and you?"
"I'm safe as well," Theo assured him. "I'm sorry that it took me so long to visit. I wanted to come sooner but I… I didn't know if you'd want to see me."
"Of course I would want to see you," Lucius said. "I can't believe you would come see me. I've made a mess of everything. Cissa…"
"I'm sorry."
Lucius nodded. "I didn't plan it well enough. If I would have waited to make sure she left I… but I was too scared that I would lose my nerve to turn myself in. I should have just stayed and let them kill me."
"I think it was brave," Theo admitted.
The blue eyes met his from across the room. "It doesn't feel brave."
"How is it here?" Theo asked.
"It's not too bad," he said. "I get three meals a day and they let me read books and write letters." He gestured towards the desk and Theo's eyes fell on a stack of envelopes with his name on it and a second larger stack with Draco's name. "But I've never sent them. I didn't know if either of you wanted to hear from me."
"We do," Theo said. "I can get the letters to Draco for you."
Lucius looked relieved by this. "I've done wrong by him, Theo. I wanted to be a father whom he could be proud of. I thought if I could just not be like my own I would do it right, but in the end, I still ruined his life. I didn't want to let my own father control me, but I was a coward and I did exactly what I told myself I wouldn't do. In the end, it got Narcissa killed and I lost Draco." He shook his head. "But I don't want to talk about that, I want to hear all about you. Tell me everything."
Theo smiled and he did. He told him how he'd taken his seat in the Wizengamot and how much he enjoyed it. He talked about how he wanted to come to him for advice and how much he was loving being on the council and taking part in changing the world. He told him of the changes he'd done to Norfolk Manor, the classes he was taking for his final year, and about his new boyfriend, Stephen.
"You like this man?"
"He's nice," Theo said with a shrug. "He makes me smile. I need that right now."
"I'm sorry about your fae prince, Theo. I understand that you loved him very much."
"Yes. I wish that you could have met him. You would have liked him."
"I think I would have as well."
"He loved me, Uncle Lucius, and he really made me see that I can do anything I put my mind to. He pushed me to be the man I want to be, the man I'm supposed to be. I think I met Finley exactly when I was supposed to, you know?"
"I do," Lucius said. "He was who you needed, but with him gone and this Stephen in your life, what are you going to do, Theo?"
"About what?"
"About Norfolk and the Nott name," Lucius said. "You will have to father an heir one day. Are you willing to marry a witch for that to happen?"
"I'm gay, Uncle Lucius."
"I know and that's who you are, but you're the last Nott, Theo," Lucius said carefully. "And as the last of your name, that puts a lot of responsibility on you. Without a witch to give you an heir, your family name will die."
"I don't care," Theo said. "Notts have been notoriously terrible people and maybe the name should die with me."
Lucius nodded. "I had a feeling you would say that."
"Do you think I'm wrong?"
Lucius' eyes met his. "I know that I've never known such a gentle soul as you, Theo, and that one day when you're older, I think that you would make an incredible father."
"I don't want to pass the Nott blood down," Theo said. "I won't risk that."
Lucius' lips curved. "You don't have to share the same blood to be a father, Theo. You taught me that."
Theo moved to hug him again. Lucius stood and he once more shimmied under the wizard's tied hands to hug him tightly. "I'm glad that I came today."
"Me too," Lucius said against his neck. "I'm so proud of you, Theo. I'm so proud of the man you've become. You're strong and independent and not afraid to speak your mind. You have so much of Aster in you. Thaddeus never deserved you."
"Thank you for that," Theo whispered. "Harry told me… you killed him for me."
Lucius' lips brushed his cheek. "And I would do it again in a heartbeat."
Theo's grip tightened around him just as the door to the cell opened.
"Lord Norfolk, step away from the prisoner," Kane demanded.
Theo squeezed him once more before he carefully shimmied away from him. "Can I take the letters, Uncle Lucius?"
He nodded. "I hope you'll write back?"
Theo promised he would, scooping up the letters into his hands before saying goodbye. A moment later, Kane closed the door in his face. He leaned back against the stone wall, the letters clutched tightly in his hands. He was so glad that he had come here today. He was so glad that he had taken the time to talk to Lucius. He hadn't realized how much he'd needed to see him, to hear his voice, until he'd been standing before him.
Despite being here in prison, he did look good. He looked healthy and well taken care of and despite the depressing feel of being locked underground in the catacombs, the prison was nicer than he expected. He was safe here and he was being well taken care of. It wasn't like before where the Dementors could feed on them and he felt this was proper justice.
The guard at the end of the hall beckoned him forward and he marched along, looking behind him to see if Kane was there, but the Auror was still talking to Malfoy. Theo wondered what he was speaking to him about, but he was soon led back up the stairs and into the main entrance where he was given back his wand and his sword while he waited. It was almost twenty minutes before Kane returned, taking his wand and putting his badge away.
Theo watched him clip his badge to his belt, his shirt lifting just enough to reveal tight abs with a trail of dark hair, but it was the second badge that caught his eye. It was more of a pin, really, but it had a gold cloak surrounding a crossed dagger and wand, both with golden hilts. There was no writing on it, but Theo felt it meant something he couldn't quite put a name to. Kane's cloak covered it before he could look at it more closely.
Once they were outside, Theo looked over at the tall Auror. "So, what did you need to talk to Lucius Malfoy about?"
"Nothing that you're privy to," Kane said. "Take my arm."
Theo did as the Auror demanded and soon found himself standing outside of the gates to Hogwarts. Then the letters were taken from his hands.
"Hey!"
"You can have them back," Kane said. "But only after my team has decided there's nothing in here that we need to know."
"Those are private!" Theo exclaimed.
"He's a prisoner of the Ministry. Nothing he does is private. They will be returned to you soon."
"Does being an arsehole get you off or something?" Theo demanded. "Why are you always such a bloody prick?"
Kane's blue eyes met his. "Call me an arsehole again and I'll have you arrested."
"For what?" Theo exclaimed.
Kane took a step towards him and Theo took an automatic step back. He was so tall that he was forced to tilt his head back to look up at him. When he did, the bright blue of the man's eyes were staring into him.
"Try me."
Theo swallowed, but he didn't tear his gaze away. "I want those letters back, Auror Kane."
Kane stared at him a moment longer as if he was contemplating something before he slowly backed away. "I'll return them to you personally once we've examined them. I promise."
Theo nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Can I ask how some big shot from the MIA ended up escorting me during visitation to the crypt? Seems kind of low-key for someone of your caliber? Are you being punished or something?"
Kane's gaze lingered on him. "As I said, I needed to do some follow up questions with Malfoy."
"It just seems pretty minor," Theo continued. "I figured that what's people like Higgins did for you."
"As I said, Higgins was otherwise occupied today. I'll return these to you as soon as we've cleared them. You have my card. Good day, Lord Norfolk."
Theo watched his cloak turn with him as he vanished before him and he let out a slow breath. He wasn't sure what it was about the imposing Auror but Theo couldn't decide how he felt about him. He thought the man could do with being hexed and he rather wanted to be the one to do it. There was something about K that he didn't quite get. How come he kept showing up around him? If he was MIA, why was he taking statements and doing prisoner visitations? It all seemed rather strange to him. And if he was MIA, Theo couldn't help but wonder just what the mysterious pin had meant. It reminded him of something that he couldn't quite place, but he had a feeling it was more important than he knew.
~ ASC ~
Zee left Mina and Leo with Kreacher while she went to Grimmauld Place to meet with Ted. The old elf was excited to babysit the most noble and special children of the House of Black; Zee had failed to hide her grin when she'd caught him singing to them while they played on the living room floor.
Kreacher was completely soft on them.
She found Ted already in the kitchen when she arrived and she moved to make them both tea.
"Sorry, I'm late," she apologized. "Kreacher is completely over the moon for Leo and Mina and I might have stayed behind a bit just to watch him. He's like a mother hen."
Ted chuckled. "I would have as well. Thanks for meeting with me."
"Oh, it's no problem," Zee assured him. "How are things going? How's Andy?"
"As good as can be expected," Ted admitted. "The house is getting full, as I said, and we're starting to be concerned. Once those witches give birth, it's going to be a very full house."
"They're all due in the next few weeks, aren't they?"
Ted nodded. "Yes. All by the end of September through the middle of October and once the babies are born, Andromeda brought up a good point last night. All magical births are automatically registered in the Ministry of Magic's Administrative Services Department for census data and schooling notifications."
Zee bit her bottom lip, her long nails clinking against the porcelain of her tea cup. "That's true and they will have to be in hiding before that happens."
"Exactly. We can't keep them at Shoreditch and risk it just because we don't have the space. It's not safe for them and it's definitely not safe for me or Dromeda. I'd like to think that Snape is going to send us more, but after speaking to young Lofthouse, I feel that the others are too compromised to get out safely and secretly."
"Well, Grimmauld Place is essentially abandoned right now," Zee said. "But it's also Order headquarters and who knows when or if we might need the place again. Not to mention that we have the destroyed Horcruxes locked in the vault in Sirius' grandfather's old study."
"I thought about that as well," Ted said. "And then I had another idea this morning. One that I haven't run past Andromeda yet." At Zee's look, he cleared his throat. "Draco and Blaise."
Zee's eyebrow rose. "They're gone?"
"Yes," Ted agreed. "But I think their friend Theo knows where they are."
Zee frowned. The fact that Theo knew where his two best friends were didn't surprise her, but she wasn't understanding what Ted meant unless…
"You want to send them to wherever they are?"
"Yes and no," Ted said. "Dromeda used to tell me stories about the warding of the old families. The Blacks and the Malfoys would ward their homes in ways that are beyond the ways that people do it now. Grimmauld Place will be protected a thousand years from now and no one will ever have to touch the wards as long as anyone with Black blood is alive."
Zee's nails continued to clink against the tea cup. "Okay…"
"Wiltshire Manor is a huge home," Ted continued. "I don't know the specifics, but if you remember, Snape told us that after Lucius turned himself in and Narcissa was killed, the manor evicted everyone who was there. Without a Malfoy in place to keep the manor open, the entire estate shut down."
Zee's eyes widened. "So, you think that if we could bring Draco home, he could host them there? In Wiltshire Manor?"
Ted nodded. "No one would be any wiser. He could stay cloistered there. The house has nine official guest rooms and Dromeda thinks that Narcissa turned some of the old dressing rooms into guest rooms as well which means that at minimum, they have eighteen bedrooms. That's not even including the family suites, the library, the extensive grounds and gardens for them to be outside, the huge dining hall, the living room, the ballroom, the parlour, the kitchens, the servant rooms, the stables, Malfoy's expensive peacocks… it would be the perfect place for them and right under Voldemort's nose, as he would have no idea that anyone would have returned there. Without a Malfoy giving permission to enter, the house remains completely hidden."
"You're sure?" Zee asked, intrigued.
She had never heard of such elaborate wards before, but the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. Sirius had always gone on about how Black properties were more protected than he could explain and if Narcissa had once been a Black and Ted thought that the Malfoy properties were the same… it did pose an interesting question.
"I'm sure," Ted told her. "But the question is, would Draco be willing to come home and help?"
Zee sipped her tea, leaning back a little on the bench. "That I can't answer, but I think that you should speak to Theo about it."
Ted's tongue stayed in his cheek as he contemplated a moment. "I think it's the solution that we've been looking for. I just don't want to get Dromeda's hopes up. But I think if it worked… he might even let us visit as we've grown rather attached to these children and we don't want to abandon them."
"You two have huge hearts, Ted. We both know that you're not looking to ship them off without another thought."
He nodded. "I'll talk to Andromeda about it tonight and we'll go from there. But if Draco agrees to return to England from… wherever he is… making his house ground zero for the rescued Death Eater wives would be a huge turning point for us. Not to mention for him. After everything that he's been through and losing his parents, this could be what he needs to help him move in the right direction."
"I think you're right," Zee admitted. "And in the meantime, if you need extra room, we have Grimmauld Place available. Or Harry even has the Potter House in Brighton?"
"I considered that," Ted admitted. "But the Potter House is still being used for tours occasionally due to the large influx of art it possesses. It's not completely warded and would be too easy for them to find. Clevedon Court is large, but there's still not enough bedrooms to house them all."
"You're right," she agreed. She sometimes forgot that Harry's properties had other responsibilities attached to them. "Well, I guess you'll be talking to Theo."
"Let's just hope that he doesn't think my plan is completely ridiculous," Ted said.
Zee smiled over her tea cup. "He's an intelligent young man and I rather like him. I think if anyone can convince Draco to return to England it would be him."
~ ASC ~
Ginny finished showering after a gruelling Quidditch practice. Harry had run them hard and the whole team needed to be whipped back into shape. After two weeks of practices, she felt that they were finally getting back on track. Between the intense Quidditch practices and the intense new Defence Unit sessions, she was going to sleep each night exhausted from the workouts. She woke refreshed after a good night's sleep and felt for a moment at least, better.
September was coming to a close and with it, lots of big changes. She was talking to Harry, but no more than a few shared sentences to discuss the training for the Defence Unit. Theo and Luna both talked to her, tried to convince her to speak to him more, but the more they pushed her, the more she felt the need to fight them. With Na'eemah in England, she was seeing her three times a week and it was making a huge difference. She finally felt like she was getting to the root of her issue.
It wasn't Harry.
It had never been Harry and she knew that from the beginning. It was her. Ginny had let the bloodlust potion mess with her mind in a way that hadn't been done since Tom. The deceiving behaviour of the potion, the way she manipulated Harry that day in the orchard, the way she tried to manipulate her brothers into giving her what she wanted… it had made her into a person she didn't like.
Ginny trusted Harry with her life. She knew that he would never hurt her for any reason and that was the problem. She tried to explain it to Na'eemah in a way that could help her understand herself, but getting the words out seemed to be hard.
"You think that you're a liability," Na'eemah said.
Ginny bit her lip. "Aren't I? They went after me because of him. It wasn't even about me, it was to hurt him; to distract him. I'm his weakness."
"And that alarms you?"
"No, it worries me," she admitted. "He's… he's noble to a fault. He doesn't have a selfish bone in his body and if it came down to saving me or…"
"You don't want that responsibility?"
Ginny shook her head. Responsibility wasn't the right word. It was more of a knowing realization that Tom was going to keep hunting her to get to Harry. He wasn't going to stop when he knew what she meant to him.
"No, that's not it… it's… I don't want him to worry about me. To worry about me getting kidnapped or poisoned or whatever else they throw at me next in order to distract him. I don't want that for him. He has enough on his plate. He has enough responsibility and I don't…"
"Do you think that he views you as his responsibility?"
Ginny hesitated. Again, it wasn't the right word. "No, that's not…"
Na'eemah stared at her as she trailed off. "Ginny, it's been well over a month since you asked him for a break. There's no time limit here. There's no number in mind on how long you're allowed to be on a break for, but I think that we both know you owe him an explanation. You need to sit down with the man you love and you need to tell him what you've told me. Your fears of being manipulated, your fears of being used against him."
"Used against…"
"That's what your biggest fear is," Na'eemah said. "I've watched you struggle over the right words, the right way to describe what it is you're feeling. But that's what it is. You're afraid that if you get back into a relationship with him, it will be that relationship that will be used against him. That it will be you who will be used against him."
"Won't I?" she whispered.
Na'eemah tapped her fingers in front of her. "I love my husband very much. I sometimes wish that I had found him years before or as young as you found your Harry. The fact that the two of you were such close friends before falling in love means a lot, but it also shows how intertwined the two of you are. He is part of you and you are part of him and whether you continue this journey of love romantically or platonically, the love will always be there. You will always be important to him and he to you. Whether you are romantically involved or not will not change that. By stepping back, you are only hurting the two of you, for if one wants to use you against him, the nature of your relationship is not going to stop them."
Ginny bit her bottom lip. "I don't want him to… resent me."
"Why would he resent you?"
Ginny let out a slow breath. "After everything happened with the… with the Chamber. He was always there to listen if I had a bad dream or to talk and he… when he touches me, he makes sure I… he would never force me into anything and yet I sometimes worry that I'm forcing him into not doing what he wants because of it."
"Ginny, you experienced a terrible trauma. It will always be with you. Your wounds have healed and you've moved on, but it will be something that you will always carry. You had darkness inside of you. You were brutalized at a young age, but you not only came out stronger than ever, you've been enjoying a very loving and somewhat physical relationship with a man. Am I right?"
She nodded. "But we haven't… I mean, we haven't…"
"And that's okay," Na'eemah told her. "But you mustn't let that experience define you. You've said it a dozen times if not more, that the one thing you know with absolute certainty is that Harry will never hurt you. Is that still so?"
"Yes," Ginny insisted.
"So trust in him. Trust in yourself. Trust in your heart and your head and the lust and love that you feel. I'm not saying go find him and shag his brains out, though if that's your choice, you may do so. I'm saying, trust in what the two of you have and the rest will follow. He knows you. He knows what you went through. He knows how this potion impacted you. I can promise you that he is not holding you accountable for your actions under the potion."
Ginny had felt immensely better after that conversation, but still unsure. She wanted to talk to him. But she needed time with no one around, with just the two of them to sit for hours and to just… and part of her was terrified that when she tried to talk to him, no words would come out.
Ginny needed him to understand that it was never about him, not directly. But this break had been about her, no matter how cliché it sounded. She shook her thoughts from her head and gathered her things. She needed a little bit more time.
She was the last one to leave the change rooms and she jumped at the sight of Harry on her way out the door. He was still in his kit and sweaty. His dark hair was tousled more than usual and the sight of him caused instant lust to ripple through her
"You scared me!" she exclaimed, tucking her long hair behind her ear. "I thought that everyone was gone."
"So did I," he said.
At his words she realized that he'd been avoiding the change room until she was done and guilt worked through her. They had both become very apt at avoiding each other and the sudden realization made her sad.
"Sorry," she said quickly and made to move around him, suddenly feeling embarrassed to have been caught avoiding him.
He snorted and she turned, raising one eyebrow.
"Is that funny?"
"Your apology? A little bit," Harry said, putting his Firebolt against the wall.
"Excuse me?"
Harry whirled around, his green eyes blazing in anger. "You heard me! How much longer is this going to go on, Ginny? How much longer are you going to avoid me?"
"Harry, you know why I've —"
"Yeah, I know," he spat. "I get it, Gin. Out of everyone, you know I get it! I know this potion messed you up. I know it's probably giving you flashbacks to Tom and the diary. I know that you have to think things through and figure it out and whatever, but how do you think I'm feeling? I went the whole bloody summer trying to figure out how to help you! How to get you a cure so that you didn't… do you know what that was like for me?"
"Harry…"
"I'm not done!" he exclaimed, making her brown eyes widen in surprise.
Ginny closed the door behind her, leaning back against it, but she kept her eyes on him.
"This summer was hell, Ginny. I couldn't see you or talk to you. All I had was word from your brothers on how you were doing. I had to see hate in your eyes when you looked at me and I bloody well knew that it was all my fault! Voldemort had that potion made for you because of me and I have to live with that. All I had going for me was that once I gave you the antidote, you would be you again and we… and then you didn't even give me that. Needing time is one thing, but its been weeks, Ginny! I need to know where the hell your head is on this? On us?"
"It is your fault," she whispered. "I would never have been given that potion if it wasn't for you."
The hurt in his eyes made her flinch but she kept going.
"But I know that it could have been worse, Harry. That potion probably saved me from a worse fate, but it did wake me up."
"What does that mean?" Harry demanded.
"I am a liability!"
Harry stared at her. "What?"
"I'm compromised," she continued. "They went after me to hurt you and it worked! You said it yourself, you spent the summer worrying about me and trying to help me instead of…"
"Instead of what?"
"Instead of focusing on Tom," Ginny said. "I'm not worth that, Harry."
Harry's eyes flashed. "So, I should have just let the potion consume you and watched you die?"
"I didn't say that," Ginny replied. "I just meant that you should have focused on other things. And if you weren't such a self-sacrificing noble git you would have!"
He snorted. "So, now I'm a git for wanting to help you? Now I'm the big bad? What do you want, Ginny? Do you even want to be with me anymore? Do you even want to be friends? Or have we progressed into this awkward bubble where we can't even be in the same room as each other?"
"Of course I want to be with you, Harry! I just… I'm confused okay?"
"Well get unconfused!" Harry exclaimed taking a step towards her.
When he took another step forward her breath hitched and when his hands slammed against the door on either side of her head, lust ripped through her so strongly she squeezed her thighs together. He was sweaty from Quidditch, but he smelt… delicious and intoxicating.
"I won't stand around and watch other blokes flirt with you," he said. "I won't stand by and watch them try to woo you, to seduce you. I'm tired of being jealous all the time, Ginny! Colin put his arm around you yesterday and it took everything in me not to hex him." He bent his head, keeping his mouth a breath away from hers. "You need to give me something. I can't just be in this limbo anymore. I can't…"
Her heart was pounding in her chest. She wanted nothing more than to grab a handful of that sweaty shirt and yank that mouth onto hers. She wanted him to wrap her in his arms, to hold her close and cradle her against his heart. His hugs had always meant safety and warmth and she wanted to feel that again and yet everything in her told her no. Not yet.
The guilt was too much. Speaking to Na'eemah the last few weeks had helped. She felt better, but she had lied to him. She was still lying to him. She didn't blame him for the potion, she blamed herself. She had let that potion force her to manipulate him, to hurt those she loved. She'd led it consume her and then when those she loved tried to help, she fought against them. It was her fault that Harry felt this way, her fault that she was pushing him away, but Godric… after how she had treated him, she didn't deserve him.
She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out and Harry shoved himself away from her. He tossed one more angry look at her before he slammed his hand against the doorframe and shoved past her, leaving her alone in the change room with her heart pounding. He didn't even shower, she realized. His Firebolt was still leaning against the wall and Ginny moved over to it. She should bring it back to Gryffindor for him. He shouldn't leave it here. She stared at it a moment longer before letting her fingers trail along the wood. It was worn where his hands always gripped it and she suddenly felt a desire to hug the Firebolt close to her.
Merlin, she missed him.
She missed his laugh and his smile. She missed the way he was always touching her: Squeezing her hand, brushing her arm, playing with her hair. She missed the way he held her, the way his eyes twinkled when they shared a joke, the way he saved her favourite foods for her, and most of all she missed how just being in the same room with him made her feel warm and safe, loved and appreciated, respected and adored. And she wanted to feel those things again.
She wanted to curl into his lap and tell him a story; to snog him senseless and run her fingers through his unruly hair. She wanted that more than anything and yet part of it terrified her. Ginny hugged the Firebolt to her chest, suddenly fighting back tears. She sniffed them back and grabbed her bag from where it had fallen to the ground before putting Harry's broomstick over her shoulder with her own. She'd bring it back to Gryffindor and make sure someone gave it to Harry. Then she was going to her own room for a bit. She needed to do some serious thinking because part of her was still struggling and no matter how small that part was, she knew that she could never move forward until she felt deserving of that incredible man. She courted darkness and it kept trying to clutch her soul and Ginny was terrified that if it touched her again, it would consume her and she wouldn't just hurt Harry, she would destroy him.
And that was the one thing she couldn't live with.
End Author's Notes:
Thank you for reading and please review!