Author's Note:
Reviews and Comments: To ResaThee: You're welcome and yes, they are finally back together! Voldemort is not going to be pleased you can bet on that. To shuweet: No, I'm not crying LOL. Greg is very protective of Pansy, you're right. Happy to provide some Hinny goodness. To briana_t: Theo definitely wants to see him naked again, but mostly he just enjoys teasing him. Seamus is definitely the guy who would make out with himself. I am also happy Hinny is back together! To TatiRena: The disturbing trio? LOL. And yay, Hinny! To HinnyForLife: Embarrassed Harry is very fun to write indeed. Pansy did say she loves Greg and as to Bellatrix, well, we'll see. Ha, that's funny about you scaring your family, but as long as you enjoyed the chapter! To marauders_mowopapr: About damn time about sums it up! We'll see what happens with Draco and Blaise. To AnaGPotter: Haha, you better leave another review next Sunday! And only a few bad things here and there… ISH, lol!
To AQuickRead91: What is Snape's special potion? Nah, Andy and Ted are definitely going to love the newborn cuddles and maybe Blaise will soften, we'll see. To kyciona: Enjoy the champagne! To CorbanD17: There's some Hinny, don't worry! To PurpleLotus: Thank you! To potterheaded_hipster: Thank you! Ha, I love that I have you heavily invested in Greg and Pansy! Yes, we did miss the Slytherin trio and it was nice to see them back together again. To Endinium: You're welcome. I want Theo as a friend as well and yes, Hinny! Thank you! To Steel: They do belong together! Thank you! To edwards_zoe_32: I'm glad you fell in love with Zee! I know people are always unnerving about original characters, but I'm glad people seem to like mine for the most part. Yes, every thought was very entertaining lol. Thank you! To Sam: Wow, skipping class, priorities haha. Of course, Harry will teach Theo how to do a Patronus! Blaise is definitely too crude for little cabbage Harry, haha. I'm glad you think Pansy is so relatable (especially because you helped with that scene haha). Greg is definitely prepared and yes, the placenta is gross! Wow one of your fave chapters, thank you! To Harry: Thank you!
To notthatchhavi: Yes, two chapters! The Slytherins are definitely lush and have no shame LOL. Theo is protective over his friends. Power of your spunk (thanks Seriously Sam), Pansy was serious lol. I love how happy your review is. To minerdude: You're welcome! To ahlem stelena: You're welcome and no, LOL. To shivani: Hinny is back yes, and yes another surprise chapter! Hope you like this one as much! To alondrizdiaz: At long last indeed. To Just William: Thanks. To TigerGirl14: It wasn't a mistake or a dream. And ha, yes, Bellatrix wasn't very nice lol. I'm glad you found the scene with Pansy so hilarious. To A Voodoo Gypsy: There is an ending in sight, I swear. To xX Mizz Alec VolturiXx: Thank you! Blaise is definitely too much. To scrappy8: Thank you. To Yusraa Ifthikar: Yes, the kiss and yes Harry and Theo are an awesome duo! To Guest: Thank you and Hinny will get there. To dinosararus: You're welcome and yes, Hinny is back! To newgroundcreations: You're welcome.
To Saz J: Ha, only a little! You love me for it! To ANewRanger: No suspicions, it's real. You're welcome. To The Booknerds: Don't kill Greg. Noted. To Wolf's scream: Pansy is happy with Greg and Blaise is a bit of an acquired taste I suppose. To anamigellar: I know, finally. To MinnieRocks: Thank you! Theo is the friend everyone wants and I think Blaise is hilarious as well. I'm happy you're shipping Greg and Pansy! To Mackie919: I think Ron needed to tell Ginny and I think Ginny needed to hear it. To the Mandalorian terminator: Colin is a great friend! I suppose it was a bit intense, poor Pansy just wanted the baby out haha. To Ellieoryan7447: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed Draco's reaction to Harry's swim shorts lol. Pansy being randy and giving Greg no recovery time was an idea from Sam, so thank you to her! Andy and Ted are such good people! Harry and Ginny are back, we can all take a deep breath! Yes, they still have a lot to talk about. And yes, you do deserve it!
To Nuno Neves: Thank you! Ginny was very emotional and beautiful and they totally are soulmates! Thank you! So glad you liked it! To PeevesTwinBrother: I'm sorry you feel that way. To me it wasn't the defining reason that pushed them, it was the thing that gave Ginny the courage to take the last step. To Bluerain22: Ron was sneaky like that! I can never get bored of writing Theo and Harry time. Thank you for laughing (only a few people commented but I thought it was funny). Theo's wank bank was too hard not to resist! Pun intended. To WeasleyCousin: Thank you and you're welcome for caring for Greg Goyle. To Nightwing2013: Bellatrix is definitely bloody insane and nope, Ginny meant it! To ValGrey02: Thank you and you're welcome! To Calamity Ganon: Haha, thank you! Sirius would be so proud of Ted and Andy. Snape is doing some good, but yes, definitely grey. Haha, thanks for the rating! To ITHersey: You're welcome! Ha, I'm so glad you enjoyed that Draco reaction! To Bruck27: You're welcome! And aww, starting again, that's so sweet!
To tim2604: Blaise is definitely very crude. Really? The baby scene was the weirdest haha? Obviously you haven't been around very many late pregnant women lol. Greg is definitely über adorable. Pansy does love him and Greg was definitely all ready to go and in father in mode. He was nervous and read all the parenting books. And yes, Hinny has returned! To pix25: Thank you! To yunkol76: Thank you and no, it wasn't all a dream! To WinkingSkeever: Will do. To UemixMoonstone: I know Greg being an amazing husband was a surprise and yes, Hinny are back! Thank you! To Sloopyqueen4: Ha, I love the honesty! Thank you for reading and definitely don't hold your breath while reading, what if you pass out before you find out the answers? LOL. To Laura: LOL, thank you! I hope all of Brazil did hear your screams of joy at the Hinny reunion.
To Layla: I'm sorry I made you cry! And I always try to be kind especially to such lovely people who deserve it. I'm not an angel, but you're sweet for saying so. Thank you! To saucyswimmer: Thank you! Ron is always there for Harry, even as a secret wingman lol. Thank you for that wonderful review! I couldn't stop smiling while I read it! To puttyman24: Thank you and it is great to see Ginny giving him the chance. I'm glad you enjoyed my Harry with the Slytherin trio. To Laura Lassen: Thank you! That's lovely to know I always leave you wanting more. To akshutalankar: Bellatrix is that and more and yes, they are finally back! To pottermum: Happy to make my favourite Aussie happy!
To GodMisha: No, I am not going to double post every week. I have no plans of double posting again in the near future. Thank you very much for reading my work! I love second reviews! Yes, they both are victims of the prophecy in some ways, that's an interesting way to look at it. To Slaidback: Thank you! To alix33: It is a lot, but they will get through it. To dabbydo15: Thank you very much! I thought it was worth the wait as well. Mental health is important and not giving time for Ginny to work through it would have made it hard for them to be together. To Dianne: You're welcome! Weasley temper and possessiveness, definitely, but also just the push she needed. To R4mb0g: You're welcome and thank you! To HPuni101: Thank you! To Fanfis01: Thank you and Draco is still a bit of an asshole, he's just dealt with a lot in the last year. To Guest: Nope, not wrong of you at all to wish that LOL
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-EIGHT:
The One With the Lover's Kiss
Harry and Ginny didn't emerge from the tower room for several hours. They'd just sat there, holding each other and kissing over and over. Neither had been in a rush to do anything else or to make any effort to move. Ginny snuggled into his chest as he held her firmly snuggled in his lap.
"I don't want to go back," she said.
Harry kissed the top of her head. "Let's stay here tonight."
"We can't," she said. "With everything that's been going on, one of my dorm mates would totally snitch on me for not being back by curfew. Not to mention we have classes in the morning."
Harry frowned. "Are they mean to you, Gin?"
"No," she said. "We just don't really get along. Part of that is on me. They all bonded in first year and I was… well, we never really made a connection. I've always been the odd one out. Not to mention the fact that we've always been friends and they all have posters of you all over our walls. But right now I'm feeling extra annoyed since two of them offered my boyfriend a threesome."
Harry blushed. "Well, to be fair, KJ actually offered to shag me first and when I turned her down, she somehow thought that meant I preferred Romilda Vane over her; then she offered for both of them to blow me at the same time…"
Ginny smacked him and he laughed.
"I never even considered it."
Ginny's brown eyes met his. "Not even for a second? Really?"
"I mean, I'm seventeen, my cock definitely considered it, but the rest of me? Not even for half a second."
Ginny cupped his face and kissed his swollen lips. "I love you."
"I love you," he said, kissing he again. "You're it for me, Gin."
Her eyes darkened. "Am I?"
"Completely," he said, lips brushing her jaw. "You're the only witch I've ever truly wanted. The only one who gets me. You're the only witch I fantasize about. The only witch I dream about. I don't like imagining my future without you by my side."
"Harry," she whispered, her hand on his cheek. "You're it for me, too."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," she said, kissing him again.
When they finally stumbled back to the Gryffindor common room, there were only a few stragglers left. They held hands as he walked her to the stairs leading to the girls' dorms. Harry tugged her up against him, his hands in her hair as he kissed her once more in a long slow kiss designed to drive them both mad.
"Goodnight, Ginny."
Her eyes fluttered open as she nodded. "Goodnight, Harry."
He watched her head up the stairs, his eyes on her arse until she disappeared around the bend and then he shoved his hands into his pockets, a huge grin on his face. He stepped into his dorm and Seamus and Dean clapped.
"What?"
"Look at that shit-eating grin! You and Ginny have been gone for hours and your lips look like they've been properly snogged off!" Seamus exclaimed
Harry grinned. "We're back together."
"YES!" Neville exclaimed, tossing his shirt onto his trunk. "You owe me ten Galleons, Seamus!"
"You placed a bet on us?" Harry exclaimed. "Really? Why am I even bloody surprised? You lot are the worst!"
"Seamus guessed you'd be snogging her again by the second week of September and I said October would be more likely," Neville said.
"And you?" Harry asked.
Dean shrugged. "I went with November for good measure, but I rather doubted you'd both last that long."
Harry shot them all a rude hand gesture.
Seamus grinned. "Now, tell us everything."
"We talked and we snogged."
"Tongue?"
"Er…"
"Ah, come on, mate! Don't hold back on us now!" Seamus exclaimed.
The back of Harry's neck flushed and he ran his fingers through his hair, making it stick up even more than usual. "Er, yes."
Seamus grinned. "Well done."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm going to bed."
Neville collected his winnings from Seamus before he walked over to Harry's bed and handed him the Galleons. "You take it."
"What?"
"Take it," Neville insisted. "Buy Ginny something pretty on me. I'm happy you two are together again."
Harry smiled. "I appreciate the gesture, Nev, but it's your winnings. Keep it and spend it on Hannah."
Neville squeezed Harry's shoulder. "I'm glad that you two are back."
"Me too," Harry said, grinning at his friend and when he climbed into bed that night, he fell asleep with a huge smile on his face.
~ ASC ~
Pansy woke to the sound of a low murmuring she couldn't distinguish. She blinked a few times in the dark before rolling over to try to make sense of the sound. The sight of Greg standing by the window with Grayson snuggled against his bare chest made her heart soar.
"See? Those are the stars," he whispered. "One day when you're older, you'll study them. I know you'll be brilliant like your mum one day. But I'll teach you how to do things too. One day I'll teach you how to fly high enough to reach them."
Pansy smiled and climbed out of bed, her breasts full and aching. She placed a hand on the small of Greg's back and he turned to smile at her.
"I wanted to give you a little extra time."
"He's hungry," she said, her eyes on Grayson.
Grayson let out a huge yawn before turning those eyes on her. They were starting to turn a deeper blue and it pleased her. She hoped that they were Greg's eyes.
Greg urged her to sit in the rocking chair before he carefully passed her the child. He knelt in front of her, resting his arms on her legs as he watched in fascination while she opened her nightie and exposed a breast. Grayson took her nipple easily. She'd had no trouble getting him to feed.
Greg watched his son feed at her breast and he reached out, running a finger over her breast and down to brush against Grayson's cheek. "He's perfect."
Pansy smiled. "He is, isn't he?"
Greg stayed there, just watching his son in amazement for almost five minutes before he spoke. "You didn't tell me about Lockhart."
Pansy froze, her eyes meeting his. "You've been busy on these guard missions."
"Pansy… what changed? Why is it okay for him to be there now?"
"It's not," she admitted. "But what choice do I have? He's there and he stays upstairs for the most part. He came down once for a cup of tea and Blanche told him that the tea is for customers only and he apologized. He's been alone."
"Has he hurt you?"
"No," she whispered. "He hasn't bothered me."
Greg looked like he wanted to say something, but instead he leaned in and pressed his lips to his son's head.
"What are you guarding, Greg?"
His blue eyes met hers. "I can't tell you that."
"Can't or won't?"
He closed his eyes. "I just want you and Grayson to be safe, Pansy. I want to keep you both safe and the less you know, the safer you are."
"I disagree," she said. "I love you and I want to be a proper family with you and Grayson. I want to have a life together, Greg. We could be happy."
"I am happy," he told her, taking her hand and kissing it. "I thought marrying you was the best thing to ever happen to me, but then you told me you loved me and you gave me Grayson and… Pansy, I don't want to lose you."
She cupped his cheek, his beard pricking her palm in a pleasant way. "Then we need to stick together, Greg. We have to do everything together. You can't shut me out."
"I don't want the Dark Lord to find a reason to go after you."
Grayson finished, falling asleep at her breast. He seemed to be cluster-feeding, but the healer assured her that was perfectly all right. Pansy carefully shifted him to her shoulder, patting his back as he slept on.
"They threatened me."
Greg's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"They threatened me," Pansy repeated. "A few weeks ago. You were on a mission and they came to the shop and told me that Lockhart was going to be staying there to work. They told me that I have to record the blood status of my customers. I have to charge different prices based on blood status and if I disobey they would…"
"Fuck! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you're always gone on these mysterious guard missions! Because I didn't want you to get into any more trouble! After the way you threatened Bellatrix when Grayson was born and after the Kata situation… Greg, he could kill you!"
"Bellatrix didn't say anything to the Dark Lord," Greg told her. "She claimed I wasn't worth the effort. The Dark Lord wants me to be on guard duty. That's all I know."
"You've been lucky," she whispered.
He nodded. "Corban has been… he trusts me and I don't know why."
"You have to be more careful," Pansy said. "The fact that the Dark Lord didn't kill you after Kata was… Greg, one more mistake and he will kill you!"
"If it kept you safe, I'm willing to risk it."
"Well, I'm not!" Pansy exclaimed. Her voice rising made Grayson stir but the newborn slept on in her arms. "If you're killed, what happens to me and Grayson? How can you protect us then? We both know that my father has no concerns about me now that he has the son he always wanted. You said that you're doing this protect me, but what happens if you're not around?"
He stared at her, his breathing slow. "I… I don't know."
Pansy stood up, moving to place Grayson in the cot before she turned into his arms. "Our parents forced us together, Greg. They forced us to have a baby and they convinced us to take his mark, but I'm scared. We're both purebloods and he treats us like we're… like we're nothing. Like we're replaceable and I don't see how that's going to help make the world a better place."
Greg rested his chin on the top of her head. "Is Theo still coming in every Saturday?"
"Yes," Pansy said. "He's purchased at least twenty pieces of lingerie from me."
"Maybe it's time you talk to him," he whispered.
Pansy pulled back to look up at him. "But I don't know anything."
"But being on his good side might allow him to help you if you need it."
"Greg… what are you guarding?"
He swallowed, his hands resting on the small of her back. "It's not a what, it's a who. I'm keeping an eye on the Minister of Magic."
"Himmler?"
He nodded.
"Why?"
"Because the Dark Lord ordered it of me."
Pansy frowned. "Is there something else?"
"He's under the Imperius. Rodolphous is controlling him. He meets me to make sure that he's still influenced and doing what we ask of him."
"And what are we asking of him?" Pansy whispered.
Greg's eyes met hers in the low light coming in from the street. "Dolores Umbridge has some ideas."
"Umbridge?" Pansy squeaked. "I thought she… she's alive? And here?"
"In Avery Castle," Greg told her. "And I think Minister Himmler is going to be changing a few things very soon."
"The Wizengamot won't allow it," Pansy said.
Greg grimaced. "Trust me, Pansy. Some things are already too late to stop."
Pansy moved back into his arms, burying her face against his bare chest, afraid to find out just meant that meant.
~ ASC ~
Ginny barely made it through breakfast the next morning before Theo was dragging her away. She managed to kiss Harry quickly and steal one last triangle of toast before Theo was pulling her towards the Hogwarts Herald.
"Slow down!" she insisted.
"I can't, I need to talk to you!"
Once they were seated in the newspaper room, he closed the door.
"Okay, we're alone," she said, curling her legs under her. "What is so urgent?"
Theo exhaled slowly. "Tell me everything!"
Ginny chuckled. "This was the dire emergency?"
"Yes!" Theo exclaimed. "You and Harry are finally back together! Hinny has returned and all is right with the world!"
"You're so dramatic."
Theo grinned. "And you love me for it. Now, tell me everything!"
"There's nothing to tell," Ginny said. "We talked. I apologized for being stupid and then we snogged. A lot."
"Under the clothes?"
"No!" Ginny exclaimed. "We only just got back together and it… we snogged."
"Well, thank Salazar for that! Because I have been waiting fifty-six days to share this with you!"
Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Fifty-six days?"
"That's how long it's been since you broke up with Harry. Pay attention!"
Ginny tried not to laugh as she nodded solemnly. "Noted."
He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at her. "Well, now that I have your attention. There's more about what you can do for Harry." He winked. "Now that I've seen him in all of his glory, we need to talk about exactly how much bigger he gets when he's hard because from what I saw, that is one hell of a wizard, chick, and I have some more tips on how to handle that wand even better!"
Ginny blushed. "Theo!"
"Are you telling me that you don't want to hear my excellent advice?"
Ginny bit her bottom lip. "You're incorrigible."
His grin widened. "So, based on the beautiful image that I now have seared in my brain, not only did you hold out on me about his size and girth, but I'm imagining that when he's hard, he's just beautiful, not to mention how beautiful that tip must look when he's ready. And a big beautiful cock like that deserves lots of attention."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'm listening."
His eyes twinkled. "Let's talk about what he likes so far…"
~ ASC ~
Harry and Ginny getting back together was the talk of the school. It seemed that they couldn't go anywhere without hearing their names mentioned together. It took three days for Witch Weekly to get a hold of the news and plastered a photo of them holding hands on the Hogwarts grounds. McGonagall discovered a fifth year Ravenclaw had taken the photo and sold it to Witch Weekly for fifty Galleons. She was given a month's detention and lost one hundred points for violating school policy on privacy laws and for the whole issue of ethics.
But Harry didn't care.
They could publish whatever they wanted about him as long as he had Ginny by his side. He even stopped being annoyed by the constant attention, that was until McGonagall found out girls were following him and saying or doing inappropriate things either. It happened right in front of her after the article was published. Harry had been leaving Transfiguration when a witch he didn't recognize had intentionally bumped into him to cop a feel. He shifted, but not before her hand brushed him in a way that told him she'd been aiming to grab hold of him.
"Er, careful there," he said.
"Oh, wow, it's really…" the witch exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Can I touch it again?"
"No," Harry growled, holding her at arms length.
"Miss Maguire," McGonagall said stiffly. "Ten points from Ravenclaw and detention for the week! I have never seen such disrespectful behaviour! Get to your class."
"Yes, Professor," she said, her cheeks flaming.
"Harry?"
Harry turned to look at McGonagall, hoping his cheeks weren't as red as they felt. "I'm really hungry, Professor."
McGonagall stared at him for a moment. "That wasn't the first time someone has touched you inappropriately, was it?"
Harry pursed his lips. "They don't mean any harm."
Her eyes narrowed. "I will not allow any of my students to be goggled at and manhandled because their name is in the press. How many times has something like that happened?"
Harry shrugged. "A few. Really, Professor, it's no big deal."
"Harry…"
"I have to go. Talk to you later, Auntie Minnie."
The name made her eyes soften just enough for him to pick up pace and hurry off to the Great Hall for lunch. But not enough to prevent her from making an announcement at dinner declaring that anyone caught manhandling, flashing, following, or doing anything remotely inappropriate towards another student would be given immediate detention, lose house points, and depending on the severity of their action, a possible suspension or expulsion.
"It might seem like fun," McGonagall said. "You might even find it amusing, but if you are doing it without the other person's consent, it is assault and nothing more. If I hear of anyone else accosting another student, you will deal directly with me and if necessary, the Ministry of Magic. Am I clear?"
Harry slouched down in his seat a little until Ginny took his hand.
"Did something happen again?" Hermione asked.
Harry shrugged. "People are going mad since the articles, that's all."
Hermione didn't look convinced, but she let it go.
Harry appreciated McGonagall stepping up to defend him, but having Ginny back made everything else dim in comparison. He didn't care who hit on him or who tried to get his attention. He had Ginny in his arms again and nothing else really mattered.
They spent days talking about everything and everyone. He told her about Remus and Tonks having a baby, how Mina and Leo had almost blown his disguise at the wedding, and how the elves had finished the stables at Clevedon Court. Ginny told him how she spent the end of her summer with Theo, Luna, and Colin, about Fleur's hen night, and about how scared she'd been when Arthur had been attacked. Harry told her how terrified he'd been when she didn't remember things and how worried he was about her when she wanted to hurt him. He explained how he tried to find a cure and learned new things about his grandparents. When he told her about Monty and Borage, she'd laughed until her sides ached. He told her how incredible she'd looked at the wedding and how all he'd wanted was to dance with her.
Ginny spoke more openly about what she'd experienced and told him about her dreams then and now, how vivid they were. She explained to him what Na'eemah had said and why it made everything make sense. Harry admitted to having a little breakdown when she broke up with him, how Zee had found him bleeding in his room after breaking his communication mirror, and how he'd listened to Bon Jovi on repeat. Ginny admitted that she'd cried herself to sleep most nights missing him and being too afraid to come to him after the way she'd treated him.
They talked about everything that first week in every spare moment they could find. She told him details about her dreams before and after the potion and he told her how helpless he felt when it came to trying to help, even knowing that she didn't want his help. He told her of how Dumbledore's death affected him and how worried he was that they hadn't done enough to find him. He explained that with Voldemort now possessing the Elder Wand it made him more nervous to duel him until Ginny asked how he had come to possess it.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
Ginny shrugged. "How did he get it? Surely he didn't take it from Dumbledore in a duel, right? From what I understand, Dumbledore was kidnapped."
Harry's eyebrows rose. "Yes, he was."
"So, did anyone disarm him or did he just lose his wand in the struggle?"
Harry frowned. "I don't know actually."
"Well, surely if Voldemort didn't win the wand, that means he doesn't have the wand's full potential, right?"
Harry kissed her smartly on the mouth, making her laugh. "You are completely brilliant, Ginny."
"I know," she said. "But really, if we don't know for sure, that means he might not be as powerful as he thinks he is."
"He still has Dumbledore's powers though," Harry admitted.
"Yes," Ginny agreed. "I spoke to Na'eemah about that and she said that he will feel powerful for a long time, but the moment he uses his power in abundance, most likely in a duel or where he needs to exert himself in some way, it will start to loose momentum. When one is duelling or using excessive amounts of magic for long hours, it drains us and to take on another's power, it would only exacerbate that momentum."
Harry looked thoughtful. "Unless of course he decides to just start killing people."
"I don't know, Harry. I don't know how it works, but I do know that Tom isn't as powerful as he thinks he is."
Harry nodded, feeling a bit better with that thought in mind. They talked more about Dumbledore's death, the way Fawkes had sacrificed his own life to die with Dumbledore, and about the changes in the Ministry of Magic. Harry told her how much it meant to him that she had hugged him after the funeral and how grateful he was for Luna and Hermione to be there at his side during the ceremony. Ginny apologized for not being there the way she should have and Harry dismissed her. She had done what he needed and given him a hug, he was grateful for that. Harry explained how the new changes in the Ministry meant that the new Minister was no longer running the campaign of him being the Chosen One.
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know," Harry said. "Hopefully it means I don't have to do any more photoshoots."
"That's how you celebrated your birthday, wasn't it? Too busy doing a photoshoot to find time to celebrate."
Harry blushed. "Okay, Colin talked me into those and —"
"Of course he did, he wanted to see you shirtless."
"He — what?"
Ginny grinned. "You looked great in them. I didn't see them when they came out for obvious reasons, but my dorm is papered with them now."
He winced. "That's embarrassing."
Ginny grinned. "I rather liked your photo shoots and I wasn't the only one considering the mail you've been receiving when they found out we'd broken up."
"Er, about that," Harry said, slowly. "I might have had Dobby help out in censoring our mail."
"What?"
Harry quickly explained how Dobby had been helping out by censoring her mail from the bad stuff the same as he'd been doing for Harry. Ginny started to protest before she shook her head and kissed him soundly.
"Are you upset?"
"That you made a decision to censor my mail without consulting me? Yes. But considering I haven't received any horrible mail or pus filled envelopes or howlers telling me that I'm an awful person… no."
"If it helps, my mail was way worse. I'd so much rather have pus filled envelopes than some anonymous witch's dirty knickers."
Ginny laughed. "That red lacy pair that Seamus was flinging around the common room was my favourite."
He chuckled. "Well, he enjoyed them more than I did."
"I also heard that you received some prick pics, especially the ones that were the moving photos."
Harry rolled his eyes, his face heating in embarrassment. "More than I'd like to admit too."
She grinned. "Were they at least nice?"
"Ginny!"
She shrugged. "Are you telling me that you didn't check them out and compare them to yourself? Doesn't every bloke do that?"
He covered her mouth with his hand. "Enough from the peanut gallery."
She giggled. "According to Theo, you have nothing to worry about. He said that you have one of the nicest pricks he's ever seen and that— mmph."
His hand covered her mouth again. "Theo needs to learn boundaries."
She grinned and licked his hand making him yelp in surprise. Then she tugged his mouth down to hers for a long kiss that made him forget what they were even talking about. When she moved away and licked her lips, he gave her a dazed expression that made her smile widen.
"Did you like that, Captain Potter?"
Harry's hands landed on her hips as he bent his head to nip at her mouth. "Oh, I really did, Miss Weasley. Shall we try it again?"
"We've missed lunch," she said. "And I have class in ten minutes."
Harry's lips brushed against hers. "I'll make it up to you at supper. Promise."
Then she was kissing him again and Harry had never felt so happy.
By the time Harry left her outside of her Defence Against the Dark Arts class, stealing one more kiss at the door, he was hard as a rock and couldn't stop smiling.
"You look like someone got too excited with the cheering charm," Ron said when he met him in the hall. "That's what happened, right? You're not about to tell me something gross happened with you and Ginny."
"I don't know, mate, I'd reckon it was fantastic. Ginny sure knows how to kiss."
Ron made a gagging sound.
Harry grinned. "You love us together."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Doesn't mean that I want to hear about it."
"Then stop asking me about it," Harry countered.
Ron stuck his tongue out at him in response and Harry thought his day was definitely going in the right direction. He glanced at the clock and thought only two and half hours before he could see his girlfriend again and he most definitely planned on snogging her senseless.
~ ASC ~
As much as he didn't want to admit it, Draco was glad to be home. He'd missed England and he'd missed his home, but returning to become lord of the manor at the age of seventeen wasn't in his plans either. The fact that his house was full made it feel different and the fact that there were five babies made it seem even weirder. Draco had never been around a baby before in his life.
And it seemed like one of them was always crying.
Andromeda spent most of the days there and Ted stopped by frequently to help out before and after work, but at night it was just them, and it was getting frustrating. His old nursery was now the space where the four babies were at and each witch was doing what she could to take care of them. But when a baby started crying again and woke him in the night, he couldn't help but scowl.
He knew that he could use a silencing charm but the idea of blocking out a baby's cries seemed wrong to him. Blaise had no issue with it and slept through everything, but Draco found himself getting up and making his way to the nursery on more than one occasion. Tonight he found Ethan crying and flailing in his cot and he bent down to pick him up ever so carefully. It amazed him that anyone could be so small. The moment he scooped him up into his arms, he stopped, eyes wide as they stared up at him.
He turned at the door and nodded towards Flora Rowle. "He was crying."
"Thanks for getting him."
Draco passed the baby over carefully before he shoved his hand into his pyjama pants. "You uh… doing okay?"
She nodded. "Yes. As well as I can be. I don't know how I'm going to take care of a baby."
"You will," he assured her. "It will all work out."
"I'll take care of Ethan, no matter what."
"That's good," he assured her. "But I'm sure if you didn't want… I mean… we could find a home for him with someone else if that's what you wanted."
"I know," she whispered. "Mrs Tonks lined up a lot of options for us, but I think no matter how my son came into this world, he deserves to be loved and cared for and I can do that. I won't let him be like his father. I'll teach him how to be a good man."
"Good for you," Draco said quietly. "I'm going back to bed. If you need anything…"
"Thank you, Draco. For everything."
Draco nodded, trying not to feel the intensity of her gaze as he turned and left the nursery, feeling restless. He headed down to the opposite end of the manor where Blaise was staying in the Russian Palace Suite and knocked on the door. There was no answer so he pushed it open a crack. He regretted that immediately when he realized his best mate was not only lying naked in the huge bed, but openly wanking.
He closed the door behind him as Blaise panted; Draco headed back to his own bed, annoyed. It was only a few minutes later before Blaise let himself in, dressed in black silk pyjama bottoms.
"Enjoy the show?"
"Piss off."
"Next time, when someone doesn't answer, don't walk in."
"Maybe you should stop wanking a hundred times a day."
"Excessive," Blaise said, crawling onto Draco's bed. "I only do it ninety-nine." When Draco failed to smile, he raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
Draco shrugged. "I don't know. I just saw Flora in the nursery and listening to her talk about raising her son… all of them saying it… it's a lot."
"Yes, it is," Blaise agreed. "For them. They've decided to keep them?"
"Most of them," Draco said. "Aeliana is still considering adoption and I can't say I blame her."
"I heard Pansy had her baby, a boy. They named him Grayson Goyle."
"Good for them," Draco said.
Blaise shrugged. "Better them than us. I don't even know if I want kids someday, let alone right now."
"Andromeda said that she was going to stop by tomorrow with coursework for all of us. She's been talking to McGonagall and they plan to help us make sure we're getting our studies in so that we can write our NEWTs and OWLs and whatever other exams the others might have," Draco said. "It's hopeful, isn't it?"
Blaise moved under the covers next to his friend. "It is, but it's also still far away. The Dark Lord believes us dead, Draco. We can't exactly sit our exams right now. If the Dark Lord finds out that we're alive…"
"We'll fight," Draco whispered. "I won't be a coward. I won't become my father."
"You're not a coward, Draco," Blaise said. "Coming back here, opening your home… your father never would have done something like this. Your mother would have in a heartbeat and he would have helped her because that man would have walked over hot coals for your mother, but to do it on his own, like you are? Never. You have more of her in you than you do of him."
"More Black? That doesn't mean much when you look at how mad my aunt is."
"Sure, one of them," Blaise agreed. "The other is the kindest woman I've ever met. Not to mention your cousin, Sirius. I didn't really know him, but from what I've heard, he was kind of a badass, even for a Gryffindor."
Draco's lips twitched. "He was kicked out of the family."
"Who doesn't love a rebel?"
Draco turned in his bed to look at his friend. "I still don't know if it's enough, Blaise. Are we really helping them by keeping them locked up here?"
"Yes," Blaise said. "It's not ideal, but right now, it's the best idea in the world."
Draco nodded, sighing when Blaise merely made himself comfortable in the large bed. He knew his friend was right and he knew that Blaise had made a good point about his mother supporting his choice. Narcissa Malfoy would have opened her home to these young witches if she could have and knowing that he was doing something that would make his mother proud, made him finally drift off to sleep with a smile on his face.
~ ASC ~
Tonks stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bath completely naked, turning herself left and right and examining her body for changes. She felt different and yet she didn't see too much of a difference in her body. She placed a hand over her stomach. There was a little bump there, barely visible, but she could feel it.
Remus came in behind her, his eyes widening at the sight of her standing naked. "Well, this is a lovely sight."
"Haha," Tonks said.
He slipped his arms around her waist, his hands resting on her stomach. "You're beautiful."
"My tits are bigger," she said proudly, sighing when his hands slid up to cup them.
"They are," he agreed. "That's part of pregnancy."
"I like that part," she admitted.
Remus chuckled, kissing her neck. "I love you."
Tonks turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck to kiss him. "I liked our romp in the choir room. We'll have to do that again. It was rather naughty being able to watch what you do to me from every angle possible."
"I can say the same," he said. "Though next time we must be more thorough in our cleaning as I heard Filch bitching about students leaving arse smudges on the mirrors."
She grinned. "Such naughty students you have, Deputy Headmaster Lupin."
Remus' hands were still cupping her breasts and he bent his head to suckle her. "Yes, it was all the students, of course."
Tonks let her head fall back, stifling a groan. "Mmm, they're sensitive, Rem."
His tongue swirled more gently and when a hand slid between her legs to help relieve the sudden tension, she moaned. Then he was lowering her to the tile, making a cushioning charm on the hard floor before he had her up on all fours and the moment he slid into her, she cried out in ecstasy. She loved it when he took her like this. It was always so deep and so perfect.
Her nausea had mostly subsided, though she still felt queasy around the mid afternoon. But she had noticed a serious increase in her libido over the last month. Remus seemed to have noticed as well because the two of them had been shagging like rabbits. It wasn't slow love-making, it was none other than hard fucking everywhere they could.
She wanted him all the time.
In the last week alone, he'd taken her against every possible surface in their Hogwarts suite. The choir room had involved two incredible shags and she couldn't forget the alcove on the fourth floor where he'd sat her on the window ledge, the glass against her back as he knelt down and used his mouth. She'd been forced to stifle her moans with her fist so that Filch didn't find them. Remus had been nothing if not the most attentive of lovers to her needs.
She'd even skived off of work one day last week just so she could shag her husband's brains out during his free period (which she had). First riding him in his desk chair before bending him over his desk and using the strap on. They'd made quite the mess and Remus had flushed furiously when he'd realized his teaching notes had been part of the damage.
Tonks stretched out like a contented cat as her husband snuggled her into his side. "Do you think we have time for another go?"
Remus kissed her shoulders. "You're incorrigible. I remember James saying something about pregnancy making Lily randy, but this…"
Tonks turned to kiss his neck, her lips trailing down his chest. She tongued a nipple before moving lower, feeling him tremble as she kissed his ribs, his belly button, his pelvis before her lips pressed against his balls.
"Want me to stop?"
Remus' hand clutched her hair. "Didn't say that."
Tonks kissed him there again and again before she dragged her hand over him, making him stir. "There he is."
With a few more strategic strokes and grinds, it wasn't long before Remus was ready for another go and he only smiled at his wife when she turned around to give him a view of her lovely arse before she began to ride him. She took his hand placing it over her centre and as his fingers found her, she rode him faster, panting. When the orgasm tore through her, she cried out his name, coming in a huge wave that sent him over with her.
Remus kissed her arse before he picked her up off of the bathroom floor. "We're both going to be late for work."
Tonks gave him a lopsided grin. "Stop being so sexy then."
He chuckled and dragged her into the shower. "Shower. And no funny business."
The loud slap of his hand on her arse made her shout as he shoved her into the shower. They washed up quickly, both of them realizing that they were on a time limit and when Remus turned around to grab the shampoo, she slid a fingertip along his arse.
"Nymphadora…"
But then his lovely wife was sitting on the small bench in the shower, her mouth on his arse until Remus was spinning around and pulling her to her feet. He pinned her against the wall, wrapping her legs around his waist and she smirked.
"You said no funny business, Professor Lupin."
Remus kissed her hard enough to bruise and filled her at the same time. They held each other against the wall, the hot water beating down on Remus' back, their groans echoing off the bathroom tiles.
By the time she made it to work, she was running twenty minutes late and had missed breakfast. She shoved the rest of the blueberry muffin one of the house elves had given her into her mouth just as she slid into her desk. Kingsley had finally returned to work and he merely lifted an eyebrow at her.
"Sorry," she said. "Late start."
Kingsley cleared his throat. "Now that Auror Lupin has finally graced us with her presence, I'd like to talk about what's been going on while I've been absent. I'll speak to each team individually throughout the day. Lupin and Higgins, I'll see you first."
Tonks grabbed her files before she hurried out after Higgins and into Kingsley's office.
"Glad to see you back, Sir," Tonks said. "How was the time off?"
"Boring as fuck," Kingsley said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Now, update me. What have you two been working on?
Higgins cleared his throat. "Lupin and I have been working with Baxter and Atwell on the Novak case as well as dealing with the MISPERS that have been creeping up. With the Ministry explosion we lost some of those files and Lupin's been trying to recover them with the evidence department. I've been hunting down leads on Death Eater haunts and dealing with Dementor sightings."
"Why isn't Lupin going with you?"
"I'm on desk duty, Sir," Tonks said.
Kingsley's eyebrow rose. "Were you injured in the explosion?"
Tonks shook her head. "No, but I'm pregnant."
Kingsley's eyes widened in surprise. "Well, shit. Congratulations, Dora."
"Thanks," she said, placing a hand over the tiny bump. "It's still new, but Remus and I are excited. I trained Rex well, Sir. We're coordinating everything while I stay in the office."
"Good, good," he said. "Keep me posted on what you've been finding. Send in Proudfoot and Savage next."
Tonks and Higgins left him to send in the next Aurors and she smiled at Higgins. "Let me know as soon as you check out the location. Take Baxter with you."
Higgins promised to check in before he headed out. Tonks moved back to her desk, sighing as she looked over the huge pile of files. Desk duty wasn't fun at all. She had finally finished going over every single file on every Death Eater and every crime believed to be committed by a Death Eater from 1968 to 1982. She colour coded them by crimes and made notes on anything that had remained unsolved and anything that she felt could pertain to knowledge they could use now. It had taken her the better part of a month to do so.
Now she needed to look at the recent cases which went back to the first Azkaban breakout back in 1993. She'd been at it two hours before her stomach demanded it was time for a snack. A glance at the clock told her that Remus would still be teaching and she contemplated whether she could sneak off to Hogwarts to meet him for lunch. But first, she needed sustenance.
Tonks made her way to the back where the pantry was full of crisps, nuts, and biscuits. As usual, all of the good biscuits were gone so she settled for a bag of salted crisps. She wasn't up to taking a trip to Ministry Munchies just yet. She took the long way back to her desk, wanting to stretch her legs and frowned when she heard voices coming from the conference room.
Kane tended to use the room as his personal office more often than the desk he'd been given in the bullpen, but as far as she knew he was supposed to be working alone today on whatever it was that he worked on behind closed doors. Her brow furrowed as she heard the woman's muffled voice.
"But I love you, Nash! Can't you see that we belong together? How can you think that I don't love you?"
"I don't think that you know what love is, Harmony," a man's voice exclaimed. "Love can't be bottled and it certainly can't be forced. I love Katherine, why can't you understand that? We will never be together!"
"Nash, please!"
"Come near me again and I'll tell the Aurors everything, Harmony," Nash warned. "I'll tell them about the love potion you gave me, about the other men you've seduced and drugged. This is your last chance. Leave Katherine and I alone."
Tonks pushed open the door to the conference room. Kane leaned back in his chair, feet propped up on the table with files opened around him. One file was open in his lap as he spun a quill around between his fingers. The back wall was lit up with the images of the handsome Desmond Elliot with his sweeping blond hair and well muscled physique as he was displayed shirtless across from the beautiful Hattie Taylor.
"Nash! I love you! Please, give me another chance!"
"Pft, you don't deserve him," Kane muttered as he reached for the bag of sweets on the table. "Don't let her sweet talk you, Nash. You belong with Katherine. Everyone knows that."
Tonks' lips curved as she leaned against the doorjamb. "Hidden Passions? Really, K?"
He almost tripped attempting to stand, the file falling to the floor as he tapped his wand twice over the wireless and the image disappeared.
"Er, it was just… on. I needed some background noise."
"Sure," Tonks said, closing the door behind her. "Background noise. That's why you used the codeword to project it onto the wall and are rooting for Nash and Katherine."
At Kane's scowl, she continued.
"My mum's a big fan and according to her, Desmond Elliot is much too good looking for his own good. Nashville Tucker has been quite the favourite character since he joined the show in the last year."
"I wouldn't know," Kane said, turning back to his file. "As I said, it was just background noise."
"Uh-huh," Tonks said, moving to take a seat at the table with her crisps. "I needed to stretch my legs and I was hungry."
"You mean the baby was hungry."
"Same difference," Tonks said. "King's back."
"Yes, I spoke to him already. He's itching to jump back in," Kane said, clearing his throat. "While I have you in here, Lupin, can you take a look at that file on the top?"
Tonks opened the file in question and her eyes narrowed at the old potions case. She remembered it as something she'd studied as an A1. A potioneer had been experimenting with Polyjuice potion on unsuspecting Muggles. He had taken hairs from them and forced their spouses to drink the potion to turn into their husbands or wives. Then he'd held them at wand point and made them have sex with Polyjuiced versions of themselves while he watched. He kept one man under the potion for months, turning him into a woman whom he then raped. The woman became pregnant in the Polyjuiced form; the man's body unable to bear the child had caused the potioneer to do even darker experiments. The whole thing disgusted her. Unfortunately, the Polyjuiced man had died from the effects and the potioneer had been sent to Azkaban before being subjected to the Dementor's Kiss.
"I remember this case. It was a high profile case back when I was an A1, had everyone working hard to find this mad man. What am I looking for?"
"Look below at the names of the witnesses."
Tonks let her eyes scroll down before a familiar name jumped out at her. "Belladonna Carthaginian?"
"Claimed she worked in a potions shop in Leeds and witnessed him buying the ingredients for Polyjuice."
"Is there more?"
Kane gestured to the files on her right. "Found a Delta Brambilla who found the body of a man poisoned with Lover's Kiss."
"Was it Herman Frost?"
"No," Kane said. "I think that this was her perfecting the poison before she killed her husband."
Tonks nodded, intrigued. "She practiced."
"She did," Kane continued. "A lot. Here, in '89, a witness named Donna Bram claims that a man assaulted her who was later arrested for sexual assault. According to the man arrested, she assaulted him first. Donna Bram disappeared and the charges were dropped."
"She's been using false names for years," Tonks said, her eyes widening.
"The Black Widow is said to have lost five husbands and rumours are that she was behind their unfortunate demise, but if Belladonna Brambilla has been using false names for the last sixteen years, she's the real Black Widow, not Zabini," Kane said. "If we can connect all of these deaths to her, she's responsible for killing at least twenty-five men and ten of them were supposedly married to her under one of these identities."
Tonks flipped through another file, searching for the name and tapped her finger on the witness list before looking over at the list Kane had been making. "Delta Billa, Bella Frost, Donna Carthaginian, Ella Bram, Belle Fannucci… she's been careful, but not as crafty as she thinks."
Kane nodded. "It's a good lead. I think she might be our weak link."
"Do we have a timeline?"
"Yes," Kane said, waving his wand over the board. "She was barely seventeen when she married Antony Porzio in '78, a man fifty years her senior. He died mysteriously six months later and left her with his fortune. Then she married Gavino Carthaginian and gave birth to her daughter, Alessia Delta. Both were killed in November of '81. It looks like this is what set her on her path and Carthaginian is the only husband she had a kid with, not to mention the only husband who didn't die mysteriously and most likely by her hand."
Tonks nodded, eyes on the timeline Kane had put together. "Belladonna Brambilla married a Ricardo Ricci in '85 and he too died of mysterious circumstances in '89. You think that she was already sleeping with Frost?"
"Yes," Kane said. "She met Herman Frost in '88 and was seen in many photographs with him in magazines. I think they were lovers and she discarded Ricci for Frost as they married less than three months after Ricci died and Frost died in '91 of what Italian Aurors determined was Lover's Kiss."
"Lover's Kiss is a pretty infamous poison though, K. I mean, even Marestella DiMaggio used it on Noah Dickens two years ago."
"Yeah, but that was only because his contract was up and they didn't want to recast Dickens' character which is why they brought him back last month when he renegotiated as a ghost in the — I mean, shit."
Tonks' grin widened. "I knew it! You were listening!"
"Okay," Kane said, clearing his throat. "I like Hidden Passions. It's entertaining. And for the record, DiMaggio poisoned herself when she used Lover's Kiss because she didn't get it off her lips in time and the poison seeped into her mouth, backfiring on her and killing Noah in the process. The healers saved her in time, but Noah died and woke up in limbo where he saw his mother who told him that he was destined to return to Arcane Falls as a ghost."
"But then that necromancer found him and helped him return to his body," Tonks said. "As I said, my mum's a big fan and according to Dad, has been crushing on Sam Collins since he first started playing Noah Dickens ten years ago."
"Anyway," Kane continued. "I'm merely stating that the poison called Lover's Kiss is real, not fictional, and yes, I think Brambilla has been brewing it herself and using it on her past husbands. I wouldn't be surprised if Porzio and Ricci were both killed by the poison before Frost and no one made the connection."
Tonks nodded, flipping through the files again before reaching for her crisps. "I think you're right. After Frost, Brambilla disappears."
"In name," Kane agreed. "But between '91 and '93 there's a Bella Frost who married a James Kent. He died a week into their honeymoon from, no surprise here, Lover's Kiss. Delta Billa married a Romeo Romano who was found poisoned on his honeymoon as well. Ella Bram married a Walter Cortland who was found poisoned in his office. None of those marriages lasted more than a month and each time, the witch in question disappeared with a great deal of money. By the time the poison was confirmed to be Lover's Kiss, she was long gone and Aurors never found her."
"Because she was switching up names and they didn't know who they were actually looking for."
"Exactly," Kane said. "That's seven husbands in eleven years and in '93 alone, a witch by the name of Donna Carthaginian married three times: Sullivan O'Ryan, Pierre Lesperance, and Nick Chow. All in different countries. All two months apart. And each time, the men were poisoned on their honeymoon and the wife had vanished with most of their wealth. One month later, Delta Carthaginian applied for a job at Hogwarts. In '94, she introduced Leonardo Fannucci as her fiancé at the Hogwarts Yule Ball and no one questioned her, but according to sources, Fannucci has been married to Belladonna Brambilla since July of 1995 and claims he doesn't know Carthaginian, which means he's well aware of her real identity. Italian Aurors can't find him. He's closed up shop at his fashion warehouse and all evidence points to him having left the country."
"And all of them were killed with Lover's Kiss?"
"Everyone since Frost, yes, the others before are just a theory," Kane explained.
Tonks had a feeling his theory was definitely right. Ten husbands killed in a span of what fifteen years? It was insane. "And what about the other dozen or so men?"
"Lovers from what I can guess," Kane said. "A Japanese businessman who was last seen with a beautiful witch in Rome name Ella Bram; an Australian journalist last seen with a woman named Alessia Frost in Sydney; a Russian Minister last seen in Greece with a beautiful witch named Delta Gavino; a Portuguese portkey official last seen in Rome with a woman named Bella Bram; and an Italian painter last scene leaving his art show with a woman named Belladonna Billa. They were all found dead, poisoned with Lover's Kiss, and part of their assets stolen."
"So, she's a thief as well."
"And a good one," Kane admitted. "She seduces these men, gets them to trust her, and then takes what she wants from them before killing them."
Tonks frowned. "How is she controlling them? These men are all wizards. Surely, they must be suspicious of this beautiful woman seemingly falling in love with them."
Kane pointed to the photo of Brambilla. "She's beautiful. Most men would be flattered by a woman who looks like that showing them a little attention. I'm sure she has a routine. A little flattery, a little touch, a few well choices words or phrases… she might even have sex with them, it might be part of the thrill for her, but in the end, she kills them. Evidence points to her spending at minimum three to five days with each man who died on their honeymoon. She wines and dines them, seduces them, and then in the last day, kills them. It's a game to her."
"What about when she came to Hogwarts to teach?" Tonks asked. "Someone that sadistic… she doesn't just stop killing men?"
Kane tapped his finger on the blue folder. "Two Scottish wizards were found dead between the '93 and '94 school year, both poisoned from Lover's Kiss. During the fiasco at the Quidditch World Cup, I was working on a case nearby where twin brothers were found both poisoned by Lover's Kiss just outside of the World Cup. We couldn't find any connections to the chaos and thought it must just be an isolated event, but knowing now what we do about who Brambilla is… I think that she was there."
"Who were the men?"
"Two Bulgarian brothers named Kamen and Khristo. They were wealthy investors in the Bulgarian National team. They were found naked in a huge bed inside one hell of a tent, all of their gold taken, along with all of their jewellery. There was evidence of a woman around, but no one turned up. All we found was a pair of red lace knickers with one brown pubic hair that didn't match either of the victims, but without anyone to compare it to, it has merely sat in evidence."
"Eighteen deaths. She's mad."
Kane nodded. "I think I can trace her to a few more. The Christmas she went to Rome to be with Fanucci in '95, one of his interns was found dead. Two months later, a French wizard was found dead in his hotel bed where he'd been entertaining a beautiful woman named Bella. The summer of '96, four wizards were found poisoned within England, Germany, and France. October of '96, an Irish wizard wrote an article in the Irish Prophet connecting five of these deaths and making a theory that there was one person behind the deaths. Two weeks later, he was found dead in his flat from the same poison with a red bow tied around his cock and a note that said: Curiosity Killed the Cat."
"How the fuck did anyone like that teach at Hogwarts and appear so normal?"
"Because she's fucking good at it. She's been playing a role for so long I doubt she even knows who the fuck she is anymore. The role of a professor was easy for her and when she needed to branch out and deal with her urges, she slipped away from the school and found her release. Nord Gleeson has come forward to talk about her. It seems she'd been his secret lover for almost six months. He begged her not to tell his wife, but they met every Saturday at the Three Broomsticks before she would take him upstairs to the room she rented. According to him, she would tie him up and shag his brains out, force him to say all sorts of naughty things and make him eat her out, repeatedly. More than once he claimed she would slip him a potion and he'd wake up to find her shagging another man in the bed with them. He called her thrilling and exciting. Then in the beginning of June, she sent him a letter saying it was over and she didn't want to see him again."
"He's lucky to be alive," Tonks murmured.
Kane nodded. "I found two more lovers while she was professor. Both lasted no longer than six months and had the same story. Rosmerta, the owner of the Three Broomsticks, said she kept one room paid for the entire school term every year."
"She likes control. Tying these men up, forcing them to have sex with her the way she wants, inviting other men into the bedroom… is the other man Fanucci? Does he get off on it?"
"He could be," Kane said."
"Well, the control clearly gives her a high. And when the high isn't enough, she finds a man and she kills him."
"Lover's Kiss is deadly and slow. All she has to do is give them one kiss and the poison burns through their lips like acid. If removed in the first five minutes, it's only a numbing sensation, but if left to fester, it takes almost three hours for them to die as their skin burns and bubbles and they choke to death. She's perfected her method of killing."
"She uses it like lipstick or dips her lipstick into the poison," Tonks said.
"She's murdered twenty-five men that we know of in cold blood. Either way, she's the real Black Widow of the Brambilla sisters."
Tonks tapped her fingers on the folder before looking up at the clock. "All right. I'm going to see if I find her name on any of the old Death Eater cases I'm working on, but first turn the program back on and we can catch the last ten minutes. I won't tell anyone that the mysterious Auror K loves daytime soap dramas."
Kane gave her a sheepish look before he tapped his wand at the wireless and said, 'Harmony.' A second tap projected the program into the centre of the room making it feel like they were in the middle of Arcane Falls. Harmony was the codeword to find the program and Tonks knew it changed every week, usually resulting in whatever character was causing the most trouble that week.
The beautiful blonde bombshell stepped down the grand staircase in a long black shimmering dress drenched in jewels. She was all lean curves and long legs and looked like a model.
"Oooh, who's that?" Tonks asked, pointing to the actress.
"She's new to the cast," Kane said. "Her name is Hollis Sterling and she plays Maybel Macintosh, the secret love child of Sloan and Noelle. She's been away at Beauxbatons Academy and only just returned home. She grew up believing that she was the daughter of the wealthy business tycoon Mac Macintosh, but just found out that she was adopted by Mac and Marion when she was a baby. Noelle thought her daughter died at birth. It's a whole big thing."
Tonks held out the crisps to him as an advertisement interrupted the program to tell them about the new sales at the Apothecary. "Tell me more."
"Lupin, we have work to do and I hardly know everything about the show. Ask your mum."
"Liar," Tonks said. "I already know that you're a die-hard fan."
Kane dragged a hand through his hair. "I'm not. I just… listen sometimes for background noise."
"Pants on fire," Tonks said. "Tell me about Maybel."
Kane sighed and reached for the crisps. "Fine. So listen, today is her eighteenth birthday party and Mac's throwing the party of the century. He even hired a band to play, but last night she was snooping for her birthday present and accidentally came across her birth file. She confronted Mac and Marion and they admitted she was adopted, but they don't know who her birth parents are. Noelle's never given up on her. She's always believed her daughter was still alive despite everyone telling her she'd died, but Noelle has no idea that Maybel is her daughter. Anyway, it looks like the party is just beginning."
Tonks nodded as the program returned and she took in the beautiful young woman who filled the wall. She had a feeling that she was going to enjoy being stuck on desk duty for the next little bit. There was no way that she was letting Kane watch Hidden Passions without her from now on.
~ ASC ~
Neville listened to the new Minister of Magic talk, trying to keep his face neutral. He knew that Bones had instigated a lot of changes and he knew that not everyone had been a hundred percent on board with those changes, but Himmler seemed to be moving backwards. It seemed the new cabinet had taken a jump on new bills and new laws, including hiring his own personal guard from handpicked Aurors and officers. Norton had her own guard as well and Neville felt it was a little bit of overkill.
He looked over at the Weasleys, but none of them gave anything away in their expressions. He wasn't sure if maybe he was overthinking it, but it seemed that a lot of the new bills and changes that Bones had been pushing for had suddenly vanished or were tucked under the rug to be discussed at a later time.
He tapped his fingers on the side of his chair as he listened to things that were being pushed back. When Norton mentioned how the Common Wizengamot Members would no longer have blood binds in their chosen seats, his brow furrowed. That had been one of the changes implemented by Marchbanks and one that he'd rather liked. It wasn't fair that only the original family names of noble families (namely the purebloods) were to have that honour when most of the members of the Wizengamot had held family seats for generations themselves. They should also be able to get their names and insignias on their seats. It made sense.
"And lastly, we're asking for every member to reach out and help us take a census of the magical population," Himmler said, his eyes looking around the room. "The attacks on Muggleborns have risen and the more we know of every magical citizen's blood status, the better we can protect them against those who seek them harm. We need every magical citizen to be formally registered with the Wizengamot Administrative Services by the first of December. I refuse to allow these injustices to continue."
Marchbanks thanked Himmler before adding that they needed everyone's blood status in the Wizengamot recorded today before they left. The Chief Witch ended the session and Neville frowned as he looked over at Theo.
"Is it just me or does that sound… odd?"
Theo shrugged. "If it keeps those who aren't pureblood safe, I'm all for it. I'm tired of reading about pointless deaths."
"Well, yes," Neville agreed. "But taking a census of our blood differences… that's something else entirely."
"I agree with Longbottom," Bill said. "It's for a good cause, but I don't like the w-w-way it's being done. I'd like to discuss it w-w-with Kingsley."
"Me too," Percy admitted. "He might be able to make us feel better about it. If he's helping to organize protection details on those we consider high risk, I would consider that a good cause."
Bill made a sound of agreement before they headed down to the registry to record themselves down. Neville had just finished listing off the names of his parents and grandparents when he heard the voice from next to him say the name Julius Abbott. He looked over at the tall man with blond hair, greying at the temples. He'd seen him around the sessions more than once but hearing him list his family now made him frown.
Without thinking he moved over to him and waited for him to finish registering himself before he held his hand out.
"Hello, Mr Abbott, I'm Neville Longbottom and I think you forgot to mention one important person. Your niece, Hannah."
Julius Abbott frowned, taking in Neville's appearance as if he wasn't sure what to say.
"She's part of your family, is she not, Sir?"
His eyes narrowed. "I haven't seen nor spoken to her in over a decade. But, yes, she is my blood. Now excuse me."
"She's the bravest and kindest soul I've ever met," Neville continued. "I don't know what happened, Sir, between you and her father, but she could use some family. Real family, not the guilt-driven shit her mother gives her, but real family. That's all I have to say."
Julius Abbott stared at him for a long moment before he nodded and left the room. Theo moved to stand next to Neville.
"Should I ask?"
"That's Hannah's uncle," Neville said. "And I don't know if I should have done that."
Theo nudged him with his arm. "I guess that depends on if he does anything about it. Come on. Let's head back to Hogwarts. I have an essay to write for Ancient Studies."
"Sounds enlightening," Neville said.
He followed Theo out to the atrium and to the Floo that led them to the Hog's Head. They walked together back through Hogsmeade to the gates of the school.
"It really didn't bother you? Giving out your blood status?"
Theo shrugged. "I have nothing to hide. My family has been pureblood supremacist arseholes for centuries. I'm the only Nott left."
Neville nodded. "My family is pureblood too, but didn't you hear Lady Dettweiler in there? Her sister-in-law married a vampire and they were asking for a lot of details on her nephews Henry and Hudson Clovenfield. They're taking their OWLs this year and the questions she was being asked made them out to be… monsters."
"How so?" Theo asked.
"Norton asked how often they needed blood and if they would be willing to wear a badge to identify themselves as half-vampires for their own safety."
Theo frowned. "Own safety? That's painting a bloody bull's eye on their backs!"
"Exactly," Neville said. "I don't know, Theo. I think this whole blood status thing is just fishy."
Theo wrinkled his nose. "Well, Bill said that he was going to talk to Kingsley and I'm sure that he'll get the answers he seeks. If they have Aurors working to protect people and keeping everyone safe, that's a good start."
"And if they don't?"
"I don't know," Theo admitted. "But it does make me wonder what Himmler is hoping to do if not protect his community. Making those who are different wear badges… it doesn't seem right. I don't know if that's protecting them or hurting them more."
Neville agreed, but he wasn't sure what to do about it. He left Theo by the Great Hall and decided to head out to check on his plants in greenhouse five. He suddenly wasn't feeling very hungry for lunch.
Neville checked all of his plants, assisting a few first and second years who were working on a project for Sprout, and then headed out to find his own thesis. He stared down at the parchment, taking in nothing, before deciding his mind wasn't in the right place to concentrate.
He grabbed his things and headed inside the warmth of the castle as the cold breeze of November hinted that winter was on its way. He found Hannah talking with Justin Finch-Fletchley and smiled.
"Hey!"
Hannah threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly as Justin waved goodbye. "Hi."
"You have to patrol later?"
She nodded. "Yes. Justin and I were just discussing where Hermione's designated us to start for the evening. How was the Wizengamot?"
Neville shrugged. "Enlightening. Walk with me?"
Hannah nodded and promised to meet Justin at eight before taking Neville's hand in hers. "Everything okay?"
"Yes," he assured her. "I was trying to work on my thesis, but I can't shut my mind off. Hannah, I have to tell you something… I did something… incredibly stupid."
"Neville, I'm sure you're just overthinking it."
"No, trust me, it was stupid." At her look, he sighed. "I, uh, I may have spoken to your uncle today."
Hannah stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening. "You — what?"
"I didn't plan it," Neville said quickly. "I just saw him and we were listing off our family members for the registry and it just slipped out that he forgot you."
Her eyes softened. "Neville, I told you, we're not close."
"I know," he admitted. "I just hate that he didn't even say your name. You're incredible and he should be so bloody proud to know you."
"Neville, you have to stop. I don't have a family like yours. We're not close. We're like strangers. My uncle is a stranger!"
"Do you want him to be?"
"I… I don't know," she admitted.
"If you want to be strangers, then I'll stay out of it. I'll never do something like this again. If you want to try… I'll be right by your side, Hannah. Always. You're my number one priority and I just want you to be happy."
"You make me happy."
"And hearing you say that makes me want to grin like a fool, but I just… I love my gran and my great-uncle. I couldn't imagine not having them in my life. I want you to have someone too. But if you don't want that, then that's that. No more meddling."
Hannah moved into his arms, linking her hands around his neck and kissing him. "You are far too kind, thank you."
Neville smiled against her lips. "You have a free period now, right?"
"Yes, but I'm supposed to meet Mandy in the library."
Neville pulled her tighter against him. "Forget Mandy."
Hannah laughed as he kissed her again before he took her hand and was tugging her along. "Neville! Where are you taking me? Mandy's waiting in the library!"
Neville only shot her a sheepish grin as he tugged her along, leading her up the stairs to seventh floor and stopping in front of the wall that led to the Room of Requirement. He framed her face in his hands, dipping his head to kiss her before a door appeared in the wall making her gasp.
"What is this place?" she whispered.
Neville grinned. "A surprise."
Hannah squeezed his hand in hers as she followed him through the door and into a beautiful rooftop view under the London sky. There was a large sofa in the centre and bottle of wine appeared on the table with two glasses.
"Neville…"
He grinned. "I keep meaning to bring you here and well, things happen and we get distracted. But this is what we believe to be called the Room of Requirement. It becomes anything you want, anywhere you want."
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
"The Muggle city lights are always rather beautiful, aren't they?"
Hannah nodded, taking a seat on the sofa and gesturing him to do the same. The cool breeze ripped up as if they were actually outside and a blanket appeared for them.
"This is amazing, Neville. Thank you for sharing it with me."
Neville smiled and poured them each a glass of red wine. "My pleasure."
He handed her the red wine, but Hannah merely took it and sat it on the table next to them before crawling into his lap to kiss him. Neville groaned against her mouth, his hands resting on her hips. She kissed him with such fervour, he felt himself stirring against her. Hannah noticed as well because she pulled back, biting her bottom lip and her eyes twinkling.
"Er, sorry," Neville said, adjusting himself and her to sit more comfortably on his lap.
Hannah only smiled and let her lips trail up his neck to his ear. "Don't be sorry. I like it. I like knowing that I can make you feel like that with just my kiss."
Her lips lingered at his earlobe and when she sucked the lobe into her mouth, he hardened. "Hannah…"
Then he was pinning her to the sofa and lying his body over hers to kiss her more thoroughly. Her hands slid over his back and Neville thought this was exactly where he wanted to be, right here, snogging his girlfriend senseless. Nothing felt more right than that.
~ ASC ~
Pansy looked up when the door to the shop opened and she watched her best friend come inside. She wasn't surprised to see her as Daphne promised to come on the weekends as much as she could to help out, but it had been almost three weeks since she'd made it last. Pansy adjusted Grayson in her arms, sneaking a look down at his adorable face as love swamped her. She was still surprised by how much she was loving motherhood.
"Pansy!"
"Hi. Come over here and meet your godson!"
Daphne's eyes widened in surprise. "My — really?"
"Absolutely, Auntie Daph. This is Grayson and he's been dying to meet his godmother."
Daphne took the baby awkwardly, her eyes filling up. "Oh, wow. Pansy, you had a baby!"
Pansy nodded, smiling. "I know and… I love Greg. I mean, I don't know when it happened, but I love him."
Daphne's expression softened. "You're lucky. He treats you like a queen."
"I know," Pansy admitted. "But I'm scared. Every time I record someone's name down with their status it feels… "
"I know," Daphne whispered. "But what choice do we have? I'm scared too and Father told me that it's even more important to make sure that we don't screw it up than ever. Lockhart is going to be checking your books every week."
"He already has," Pansy said, glancing up at the ceiling nervously.
Daphne leaned closer as Pansy's voice dropped to a whisper. "On top of that, Father sent word that he wants to marry off me and Tori by December."
"Shit, Daph, I'm sorry."
Daphne nodded. "I won't let him marry off Tori, Pansy. She only just turned fifteen in August. She's never even had her first kiss and Amycus Carrow wants her."
"He wants her?"
Daphne nodded. "Tori really grew up this year. She's becoming a woman and he… Father said he noticed her photo at our home last week when he was there and… with Alecto losing her baby, he's decided that he needs to have another child since his sister can't and he wants Astoria to be the mother."
"And your father's all right with it?" Pansy asked, her voice dripping in disgust.
Daphne shrugged. "He's not thrilled, but… the Dark Lord likes the idea of Amycus trying for more children. His wife doesn't speak to him and since he married his daughters off, but he doesn't have a son. Father said that Carrow could only have Astoria if they found me a husband first."
"And for you?" Pansy asked, almost afraid to find out the answer.
Tears welled up in Daphne's eyes again. "Macnair."
"Walden? Isn't he the same age as your father?"
Daphne shook her head. "Atticus."
Pansy's eyes widened. "He's at least seventy-five!"
"Seventy-eight," Daphne said, hiccuping. "Pansy… how am I going to let him… touch me?"
Pansy gave her friend a sympathetic look. "Isn't there anyone else you could… convince to marry you?"
Daphne shook her head. "There's no one left and if I don't marry him… I'm worried for Tori. You know how frail she is and how… I don't know what to do. There has to be someone who can help us and my first thought was to go to McGonagall but… what can she do?"
"Theo," Pansy whispered.
"What?"
Pansy bit her bottom lip. "He keeps coming in here every Saturday looking for me to do something and… talk to him, Daph. I think that he can help."
Daphne looked intrigued before she passed Grayson back to Pansy. "Theo? How?"
Pansy shrugged. "I don't know. Talk to him. For now, I need you to help me take inventory."
Daphne nodded and jumped to her feet, eyes on the customer who had just walked in. "Absolutely. Whatever you need, Pansy."
Pansy watched her friend hurry off to help the customer and frowned. She was lucky. She'd found Greg, chosen him herself and despite not wanting to marry him, she'd found herself content and dare she say it… happy. But Daphne wasn't as lucky as she was and she knew that her friend needed to figure out a plan or Astoria would be married off to one of the most disgusting men that Pansy had ever met. What kind of man fucked his own twin sister? And even worse, if Daphne married a man old enough to be her grandfather… no, Theo could help. She knew he could.
She just had no idea how.