A Second Chance

by Breanie

Part 2 Kismet Trilogy: What if Sirius didn't spend twelve years in prison but was given a trial after 4 years? Follow the story of Sirius Black as he learns what it means to be a father/brother/guardian & the story of Harry Potter, a young boy with a loving home who learns about the Marauders from the two men who should have raised him. Slow-burn Hinny. M for sex & violence.

324. The One With the Portrait

Author's Note:

I apologize for the delay. Due to personal reasons and a very stressful week, the chapter did not get up like I wanted. But I am okay and thanks to everyone who checked in on me. I appreciate it.

Reviews and Comments: To notthatchhavi: I like to think Sirius was there, just a glimpse to offer comfort to the woman he loves. Ron is always hungry and he most definitely wants anything that is not what he's being forced to eat. His humour is the best! Well, I made up the Malfoy and Nott characters because I do assume all of the old families intermarried at some point over the course of a few centuries. Thank you! To darkhk: Thank you! To CherrySara: You're welcome! Yes, I love Molly cursing Bellatrix and the boys joking is definitely a Weasley thing! I know, I love Ron and Hermione! I am heartbroken over Sam breaking them up in Legerdemain but her writing is too damn good! I like trying to write Dumbledore just write so I appreciate you saying that last line is so Dumbledore. Thank you! To scrappy8: Thank you! To Sara: Thank you! I love writing Ron and Harry's friendship. I know, everyone wished for more of a Sirius appearance, but he is dead after all. To Nuno Neves: Thank you! I love writing Weasley brother love. Bill is definitely a very caring older brother. Harry and Ginny both definitely understand the importance of each other's friends. I hate couples who are not supportive of friendships (personal pet peeve). Zee is such a strong person! Thanks for saying that her seeing Sirius in the mirror gave you chills! Theo does deserve happiness! Thank you!

To Bhelliom: Thank you so much! The cobra chickens will make an appearance at some point (definitely in the final battle). Thank you! To Bruck27: I accept that, but don't worry, Ron is alive and well as he should be! Thank you! To alix33: Thank you! To Slaidback: Yes, they do need some normalcy, thank you! To the Mandalorian terminator: Thanks for loving my Romione moment. Molly calling Bellatrix a bitch was justified! Thanks! It was fun to get the history of the wand and add it into my story. To puttyman24: Thank you! I love writing the Weasleys. To Wolf's scream: Sorcha definitely has the mothering gig down pat. Thank you! To akshutalankar: Dumbledore does love his cryptic explanations. To tim2604: Thanks for enjoying the Harry and Ron discussing scars bit. Yes, Avada Kedavraing his arse lol. Thank you! To GODMISHA: Thank you! To ellyann13: Sirius is there to comfort and to show that he's always there in the background, watching over them. Ron is in good humour. Ginny has plans for the Seamus bit, don't you worry. Thank you! To Derpdude32: Thank you!

To Nightwing2013: Aw, I'm sorry Sirius appearing even for a second made you cry — he is a wonderful man! I'm glad the neener neener neener bit made you chuckle. Yes, the sword would appear but keeping it closer is always a nice idea too. Thank you! To Person: Theobas are still too new but yes, I'm sure they will argue over something at some point. Thank you! To Marauder007: Thank you very much! I love knowing that I am leaving you begging for more. To Fanfictionlover: Thank you very much for saying this is "honestly the best AU ever." If you check out The First Time Around, it's missing moments/prequel of ASC that will cover the Marauders and Jily. Thank you! To EnigmaticEmperor: Thanks for loving Sorcha and Zee. I agree, Zee didn't need a full blown conversation with Sirius, just a glimpse of him was the strength she needed. I can definitely see Theo and Ginny doing that in the future! We will see more of D and J as well. Thanks for liking the bit with the other portraits and for appreciating me bringing in Neville. He deserved it. Thank you! To pix25: Thank you!

To Griffind00r: Thank you! I thought we needed a bit of Sorcha and Zee so I'm so glad everyone appreciated it! I know, I miss Sirius too, but having him show up to give Zee support was important! We'll see more of Dumbledore soon! Thank you! To ascfan: Thank you so much for reviewing! You always leave me asks on tumblr but it's so great to see you leave a review! You are too kind for saying it's amazing! Thank you! To Zarathos Morgenstern: You haven't been pestering me on tumblr, thanks for the asks. Thanks for saying I've written this story so beautifully. I think that trauma needs to be dealt with not pushed aside so I want to make sure that happens. I am sorry to hear that happened to you and am grateful you are doing better now. To Lucifer'sMinion411: You're welcome! That's awesome that you met an amazing person on Bumble and bonded over ASC, that's so lovely! Good luck! Thank you! To riddermark: Thanks for catching up! I suggest you check out SeriouslySam's Moments in Time Universe — highly recommended!

To Shravani: Thank you so much for reading ASC again! I'm glad you're enjoying it! Shivani: Thank you! It is fun to watch them grow at that age. I know, I miss Sirius too which is why writing him in FTA is so much fun! As to Bellatrix's death… I have a few plans there. I'm glad you're loving my friendships in ASC. As to Fred and George threatening Sebastian? We'll see. Thank you! To Gigi87: Zee is very strong and she definitely puts everyone else's needs before her own. You quoted BSB, we might be Canadian soulmates LOL. I'm sorry I disappointed you with my glimpse of Sirius not really being there moment. Sorcha is very cute and yes, three generations of honorary children is well said. Family doesn't mean blood after all. Misha is definitely a proud grandfather. Yes, Ron will still be able to be an Auror, it was a small part of his lung and it will be healed up properly over time. Harry and Ron's bromance is definitely the best. Ginny knew Harry needed to talk to Ron so of course she and Hermione gave them the space they needed. They know their men. Yes, Harry does know how to push Ron's buttons LOL. Harry and Ginny do understand each other so well. As to the Dumbledore stuff, it will be answered in this chapter. I didn't make up the elder wand history, no. Thank you very much!

To Yusraa Ifthikar: Not soon enough I can assure you. As to Sirius appearing, I know, it wasn't long enough and as to him appearing to Harry, we'll see. Ron and Harry's banter is definitely never disappointing. I think you will all love Ron's reaction to finding out about Seamus LOL. Harry is totally sassy, even to the portraits. D and J will meet Theo, but still a ways off. Thank you! To Sloopyqueen4: Thank you very much! I do my best to make the dialogue feel natural and real. It's so nice that you said it makes you feel as if you're "sitting chatting with them or watching the conversation in the same room." Thank you! To NikkiWeasleyPotter: Thank you! Sorry I made you tear up with the scene of Zee seeing Sirius. Thanks for loving my Criminal Minds reference as well. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! To CorbanD17: I appreciate you wanting to give me more kudos, thank you! To briana_t: Thank you! Ron is getting better and yes, Hermione definitely needed to see him. It was fun doing research on the elder wand and on elder wood as well. To shuweet: Yes, we will see Sebastian's reaction here and see Harry's answers (mostly). Thank you! To katelyn453: Thank you! Ron and Harry would totally haunt each other without question LOL. To AQuickRead91: Thank you! To Fanfis01: Thank you very much! I do love giving Ron some gallows humour!

To marauders_mowopapr: Thank you! I love putting history into my story. Do I think Harry won in canon because he was the Master of Death or because Voldemort was frail? I think he won because he outsmarted Voldemort. Thank you! To Khanate: Thank you very much! To AnaGPotter: Thank you! To skyreader_183: Thank you! Everyone is doing okay and healing and yes, Harry is taking steps to learn more. To ravenclaw_rockchick: Thank you! Dumbledore is back (in a manner of speaking). Ron is alive and thank you for loving him in my story. To GoGinny: Thanks for rereading this story! I'm honoured that I can make you "of from laughing until your sides hurt to sobbing red-eyed." Thank you! To BadWolfKris: Thank you! To Joyce Foesenek: Thank you! It is time that Dumbledore shows up, isn't it? To Bellmel: Thank you for loving the scene with Zee and her mum. They did both come into their child's life later and yes, their love is infinite for them. They definitely know how wonderful Ginny is and how much Harry loves her. Thanks for loving my Harry and Ron banter as well as my Weasley banter, those boys need each other. I'm glad you enjoyed the elder wand bit, it was fun to weave together all of the information. Yes, Harry is honest with Ginny and gave her more than the I'm fine because he does know that she knows him better. He trusts her explicitly and isn't afraid to show his true emotions and fears with her. Thank you!

My posting schedule: Weekly.

Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.

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

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

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CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR:

The One With the Portrait

Dumbledore's hands folded in his lap as he leaned back in the chair he sat on in the portrait. "How may I help you, Harry?"

"I want to know everything that you know about this wand," Harry began. "You took it from Grindelwald and then what? You owned it longer than anyone else in history. I want to know why and I want to know how."

Dumbledore stared at him for a long moment and Harry began to wonder if the man was going to refuse to answer him. But finally, he tapped his two index fingers together and leaned forward in his seat.

"It is not the answer that enlightens, Harry, it is the question. For curiosity is not a sin, but we should exercise caution with our curiosity for age is most foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth." He tapped his fingers together, his eyes on Harry. "And as someone who lived a very long and full life, I am guilty of all of the above and guilty most of all, of letting the power of the Elder Wand beckon and seduce me. For even after all these years, I could not pass up the mythical elements that drew me in my youth."

"To be the Master of Death."

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "And yet Death still took me like it takes all of us for one can never escape the inevitability that is the journey of life. Now, what answers are you truly looking for? You own all three now. You have the Hallows at your fingertips."

"That doesn't mean anything," Harry said. "Being the Master of Death means nothing. It doesn't make me more powerful or make me the master of some secret weapon, does it?"

"Do you think it does?"

Harry stared at him. "I don't miss your cryptic messages, Sir."

Dumbledore chuckled. "I believe that one only truly learns and understands when they can find the truth in themselves. Tell me, why don't you think it's a secret weapon?"

"Is it?"

Dumbledore only lifted an eyebrow and pursed his lips.

Harry let out a slow breath. "No, I don't think it is. Being the Master of Death isn't a power, it's a curse. No one would really want that power if they were presented with it. Being forced to watch people beg to live, to take them from the life they love, and to… to be forced to watch their families and friends grieve for them… it's a curse. Why would anyone want power like that?"

Dumbledore smiled. "But it is unlimited power and with unlimited power comes more strength and therefore responsibility."

"No," Harry disagreed. "It doesn't. You said it yourself, the power that Voldemort took from you — he can't contain it or control it. No one can truly have unlimited power. No one is unstoppable. That's why no one was able to hold onto the Elder Wand. Even with the supposed most powerful wand in existence, they all still lost. Again and again. People were slaughtered over something that wasn't even proven to be true."

"Why was it not true?"

"Because if it was truly the greatest wand in all the world, the one wielding it would be unbeatable," Harry concluded. "And no one was. Every person who owned it was defeated and ultimately killed for its power by a less powerful wand. What power did it truly have other than to bring death to those who held it?"

"You are a wiser man than I was at your age, Harry," Dumbledore said. "The desire for that unlimited power, the need to own something so powerful and so mythical far outshone any logic I might have shone towards its faults."

Harry licked his bottom lip. "And it cracked down the middle, which proves the wand in itself is not unbeatable."

"Tell me how it happened."

Harry's fingers traced the cracks in the wand as he explained to Dumbledore the fight he had in Hogsmeade. He explained how Voldemort had used an Unforgivable on him and how he had called a Disarming Charm at the same moment that Voldemort tried to torture him again and how the force of the spell had caused the two to crash into each other and cross out the other. How the wand had cracked, the sound seeming to echo around him, and how Voldemort's eyes had widened in shock as he dropped the wand on the ground and Disapparated.

"The power of your disarming charm countered the power of his curse," Dumbledore said. "That is interesting."

"And seemingly impossible," Harry corrected. "Nothing can go against an Unforgivable and win. You've said it yourself, an Unforgivable is in fact that, and nothing can stop them."

"That is usually the case," Dumbledore agreed. "But alas, you have proven otherwise thrice over."

At Harry's frown, Dumbledore continued.

"Your mother first did it when she died to save you. By sacrificing herself for you, she stopped an Unforgivable curse in ways that shouldn't be possible. Her love for you countered the evil in Voldemort's deed and stopped him from murdering you that night. When you came face to face with him in the graveyard after the tournament, you attempted to disarm him and he sent an Unforgivable at you, but you didn't die, Harry."

"Because our wands connected," Harry remembered. "You called it Priori Incantantem."

"Another extremely rare occurrence for two brother wands to be forced to fight against the other. The power of the phoenix feathers, both from Fawkes' plumage, reacted negatively to the force of a fight and you countered the killing curse because of that connection. You held him off."

Harry licked his bottom lip. "He was using the Elder Wand in Hogsmeade, but he didn't truly possess it, that's what you're saying? Because he didn't truly possess it, it didn't have the full range of his power, so when I attempted to disarm him, the wand cracked from the force of using too much power that wasn't his?"

"Precisely," Dumbledore said. "Tom did not own the Elder Wand."

"He didn't disarm you?"

"That I do not know," Dumbledore admitted. "I don't have those memories available to me."

"She didn't," Dippet spoke from the wall, making Harry turn to look over at the former Headmaster.

"Pardon?"

"Delta Carthaginian or Belladonna Brambilla or whatever she wants to bloody-well call herself," Dippet exclaimed. "She didn't disarm him. She used runes to hold him in a sacred circle and let him fight against them until he was too weak to move and he dropped his wand."

Harry's eyebrow rose. "He dropped it? She didn't take it from him?"

"She did," Dippet said. "But only with a summoning charm from the ground. She never disarmed him."

Harry's eyes met Dumbledore's. "Which means that when you died, the wand belonged to no one. No one disarmed you."

"Well, that's not entirely true," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "You did."

"What?" Harry exclaimed, his eyes widening.

"When we duelled down in the Chamber of Secrets," Dumbledore said. "We spoke about Fingal's Cave and we duelled. You showed me what you'd been working on and you disarmed me."

Harry stared at him. "But that wasn't like for real, it was… we were just practicing."

"We weren't fighting to the death, this is true," Dumbledore agreed. "But we were exerting a great deal of magical energy towards each other and you did disarm me, Harry, which means that you are the true owner of the Elder Wand."

Harry stared at the cracked wand on the desk. "I don't want it."

Dumbledore smiled. "Oh?"

"I have a wand, two in fact, and my holly and phoenix feather one is still my favourite. It works the best for me and I'm not going to take over this one just because I won it in a duel. That only further proves my point, Sir. If I disarmed you, does that mean the wand wasn't completely in your control?"

"No," Dumbledore said. "That wand belonged to me and to my magic and it worked extraordinarily well for me. When a wand is taken from you, it does not mean it will not work for you. The wand chooses the wizard after all, but in a fight where one is forced against the witch or wizard who was responsible for disarming them of that wand, it would cause a rift between the two opposing wands. For both my wand and yours would want to work for you."

Harry's eyes fell on the Elder Wand once more. "And that's truly why it cracked because I was the rightful owner of both wands."

"Exactly," Dumbledore said. "And no matter how much power Voldemort used to fend you off, he could not stop the power of the wand choosing you over him. That's why it splintered. That's why the power was too great for the wand and that's why Voldemort abandoned it."

Harry clutched the Elder Wand in his hand. "This wand is more dangerous than anything. If anyone is to learn that I have it… that it exists… it deserves to be destroyed."

Dumbledore watched him over his half-moon spectacles. "No one has been brave enough to do it. For to destroy the Wand of Destiny or the Wand of Death is something no one wants to do. No one wants to admit that in doing so it would stop people from looking for it, for hunting it."

Harry held the wand in both of his hands and without a second thought, cracked it in half. The wand flickered in power, the snapping sound seeming to echo like a crack of thunder and the portraits gasped.

"Harry, have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one that rises against them and strikes back. Destroying that wand makes you the wisest man I have ever known and is one of the many reasons why Voldemort will not defeat you. He fears you and what you represent."

"And what exactly do I represent, Professor?"

"Hope," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "Hope, Harry. And the only thing stronger than the power of love is the power of hope and what it represents."

"Voldemort doesn't have hope then? Hope to see me gone, hope to defeat me and the Order and everyone who is against him?"

Dumbledore's lips curved. "He does, this is true, but without love, hope becomes despair. A wise man once said it best, I think. 'There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die so that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life.' A man like Voldemort, he cannot appreciate true happiness because he has never allowed himself to appreciate true grief. He has never experienced love or what it means to hope and dream and without those things, he cannot hope to truly hope."

Harry nodded, his eyes on the broken pieces of the Elder Wand before him. "And when I face him again, Sir, and our wands connect like before, then what?"

"Don't let them," Dumbledore said. "For he who hesitates is lost."

When Harry only blinked in response, Dumbledore closed his eyes.

"Good day, Harry."

Harry stared at the portrait of Dumbledore, unsure how to make sense of the words before he scooped up the broken pieces of the Elder Wand and put them into his pocket. Then he headed down the stairs of the spiral griffin, his thoughts on the broken wand and on his own holly and phoenix wand.

No, he thought, he wouldn't hesitate. But if their wands connected again, he had a hawthorn one in reserve.

"I don't want you to not use your wand, Harry. I just… I want you to have another wand that works for you just in case."

"If our wands connect again you mean?"

Remus nodded. "It doesn't hurt to have a backup wand, does it?"

His fathers had been preparing him for it for years, he realized.

It wasn't about who had the most powerful wand.

It wasn't about becoming the Master of Death.

It wasn't even about the duel.

It was about facing Voldemort and using whatever means necessary to come out on top.

He put the broken wand pieces with the broken Horcrux objects and locked them away. Just in case, he thought. He definitely had a lot to think about.

~ ASC ~

Tonks was working with Sebastian in the conference room when Hedwig tapped on the window. They had been going over the files that Sebastian's friend Rossi had made up while working undercover and trying to pinpoint the exact location of Avery Castle. If they could find if, it would remove Voldemort from the one stronghold that he seemed to possess.

"Hedwig!" Tonks said, getting up to go the window.

Sebastian frowned, his eyes on the snowy owl. "Friend of yours?"

"Harry's actually," Tonks said, taking the small package. "Oh, it's for you."

Sebastian's eyebrow rose. "Why would Potter write to me?"

"No idea," Tonks said, settling herself back into her chair. "Are you hungry? I'm hungry. We should get pizza."

"It's ten in the morning," Sebastian said, holding the package in his hand.

"But the baby wants pepperoni and cheese."

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Fine, we'll get pizza. But finish that report on Irish properties."

"Aren't you going to open the box?"

Sebastian carefully unwrapped the twine and opened the small box. The mirror shone up at him and he frowned. "VainMuch? What's that?" He pulled the note out. "Oh, it's from Theo. He just borrowed Potter's owl. He says that it's a communication mirror."

"It is," Tonks said, pulling hers out of her pocket to show him. "My cousin and Harry's father invented them back when they were in school. It's why the Weasley twins called them VainMuch, Remus said it was a homage to Harry's mum who thought that James and Sirius were checking themselves out all of the time, not realizing that they were secretly communicating. Anyway, only those who are connected to your mirror can use them. You say Theo's name and his mirror will vibrate. Then you can see his face and talk."

"Fascinating," Sebastian said. "And you just talk on them?"

"Yes," Tonks said. "Why?"

"I like that I'll like being able to see him."

Tonks' grin widened. "How are things going with Theo?"

"Good."

"And…" Tonks prompted.

Sebastian tucked the mirror into his pocket. "And that's all I'm saying. Get on that file and I'll see about getting you a pizza."

"Extra cheese," Tonks said. "Ooh with pickles and onions!"

The look on his face made her bite back a laugh, but he nodded and disappeared. Tonks returned to the files in front of her and wrinkled her nose. She couldn't wait until she was no longer trapped in the office with mountains of paperwork to go through. One hour in the field would be a blessing right now.

She looked down at the timeline that Rossi had established since he'd been undercover. It gave her a few more questions that she wanted to ask to some of their captives. Since the attack on Hogsmeade, Aurors had been interrogating the followers they had captured. Antonin Dolohov, Amycus Carrow, and Woodrow Selwyn being the three that they were most proud of capturing.

Dolohov had nothing to say and other than a few curse words and foul name calling, remained as silent as he had during his first arrest back in 1982. He had nothing to say and did nothing but stare at them every time they spoke. The only reaction they'd earned from him had been a comment about his son Alexander and where he would end up once his wife, Calypso Fields Dolohov, was captured. Antonin's dark hooded eyes had only blinked in rage before he'd whispered.

"I'd rather see my son dead than being raised by anyone with less than pure blood." He'd spit at Atwell and crossed his arms in front of his chest again, refusing to speak.

Amycus Carrow had a lot to say and none of it was remotely helpful. He spent an hour raging at them, screaming and yelling and proclaiming that he'd done nothing wrong. Dawlish and Kingsley had gone in to speak to him and he'd sneered at their accusations. Hestia and Flora were his daughters which meant that he had the right to force them to marry anyone he chose. He claimed his ex-wife was a madwoman and that he'd saved his daughters from a life of madness by giving them to purebloods he could trust.

"You trust Crouch with your daughter?" Dawlish asked, unable to hide the disgust in his voice.

Amycus leaned across the table, the chains rattling at his wrist. "Daughters are nothing more than pussy to sell. She gave him a daughter, not a son, and only proved her disappointment to me."

"And Flora?"

Amycus sneered. "I gave her to one of the Rowles and she was just as ungrateful. Promised me she'd do better, that I should let her go. I told her that if I had to, I would hold her down myself while Caleb Rowle fucked her pussy bloody and put a child inside of her. She did good, gave him a son. At least one of my daughters isn't a complete screwup."

"What about your sister?" Dawlish asked.

Amycus blinked at them. "Alecto is no one's business but mine. The Dark Lord will protect those of us who are loyal."

"I don't see him here," Dawlish taunted.

Amycus smiled, his yellow teeth making him look even creepier. "He'll come for me."

Kingsley listed off his crimes and Amycus shrugged, biting one of his dirty fingernails until it bled.

"The Dark Lord will protect those of us who are loyal to him."

Both he and Dolohov were immediately brought to the Crypt since both had escaped prison previously and had their old sentences to carry out. All new charges would merely be added at a later time.

Woodrow Selwyn however was a new find.

He'd never been captured in the first war, nor had his name come up in any of the accusations. Tonks knew that when Kingsley had caught sight of him, he'd smiled. Tonks had her own list of his crimes.

He'd been the one to help carry out Voldemort's resurrection plans along with Abraxas Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. He was the one, along with Thaddeus Nott, who was responsible for the murder of Bertha Jorkins. He was the one who had raped and kept Kata Novak a prisoner for years. He was the one who had kept tabs on Pettigrew, who worked with Snape, who worked with the Malfoys, who worked with Nott…

He was definitely one hell of a find.

Tonks looked up when Sebastian came back into the room with a cup of coffee in one hand and a bottle of orange juice in the other.

Tonks wrinkled her nose at the juice. "I can still have coffee."

"Juice is better for you," he said, taking a seat next to her.

"But coffee is full of caffeine and excitement," Tonks said, poking the juice bottle with her finger.

"You have enough excitement. I ordered your weird-arse pizza. Higgins said that he'd pick it up on his way back."

"Rex would bring me coffee," Tonks said. "A real work husband would bring me coffee."

Sebastian looked up at her over the file in his hand. "Well, when I leave here, you can bug Higgins into bringing you coffee. I will bring you juice because you are already full of too much energy and I refuse to contribute to the insanity that is your caffeine high. However, I will not stop you from going out and getting your own bloody coffee if you insist."

"Pregnant women can have caffeine, you know."

"I know," he said.

Tonks pouted, but she opened the lid on her orange juice and took a long drink, the cool liquid soothing her throat and the sugar making her feel better (not that she'd admit it). "What do you mean, 'when you leave here?'"

Sebastian sipped his coffee, his eyes never leaving the file in front of him. "When I leave here."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't work here, Dora," Sebastian said, flipping the page in front of him. "I'm on assignment here to help pass on new information and to help run an elite team of Aurors as an interim organization between the DMLE and the MIA. My contract was originally for three months and we extended it after the Ministry explosion. I'm only here for another month."

"No!" Tonks exclaimed, grabbing his arm. "I need my Hidden Passions dates with you! I'm pregnant and lonely and desperate for gossip and food breaks!"

Sebastian chuckled. "I'll stop by and visit. Besides, it will be the first week of March when I leave and you'll be so fat by then you can't move. It will be time for you to take your leave of absence and go harass that sexy husband of yours."

Tonks pouted. "But Hidden Passions!"

Sebastian pulled the mirror out of his pocket. "Well, someone did give me this handy communication mirror."

Tonks' smile widened. "You love me."

Sebastian rolled his eyes and put the mirror away. "I'm still not telling you about my relationship with Theo."

"But there is a relationship to tell me about," Tonks prompted. "He's funny and sweet, isn't he?"

"Irish properties, Lupin," Sebastian said, tapping the file in front of her.

"Have you kissed him yet? Of course you have, he's adorable. How can you resist him?"

"I'll be asking you the same question about Irish properties when Higgins and I eat that cheesy pizza in front of you and don't share it."

Tonks scoffed. "You are pure evil!"

Sebastian's lips twitched as he flipped another page in the file in front of him. "Irish properties, Lupin."

Tonks took another sip of her orange juice, eyes on the file in front of her, and wondered what she was going to do when he went back to the MIA. She was going to miss the annoying son of a bitch. She thought about what he said about the mirror and smiled. She was going to call him every bloody day to talk about Hidden Passions and Theodore Nott.

After all, he couldn't stay silent about his relationship forever. No one had that kind of willpower.

~ ASC ~

Joseph Rossi had been working in the MIA for almost twenty-five years. He had missions under his belt that people would never know about. He'd done things to save cities and villages and no one even knew he was there. It was his job. He liked the intrigue of it and he liked the mission.

Going undercover had always been something he'd prided himself on. He was the perfect candidate for her. He had no wife, no kids, no family to speak of. Work was his family and it made his undercover missions that much easier to keep going for long periods of time. He was good at it. He knew how to blend in, to make people trust him, and he could read people.

It wasn't only about being a sublime Occlumens or being able to perform Legilmency, it was about body language. He had to make sure that when he went in, he knew how to keep what he learned safe in case he didn't make it out again.

But this was the first time in twenty-five years that he'd actually fallen for his con. Bellarosa Zabini was the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on. She knew it. She flaunted it and used her looks to her advantage. He'd expected that.

But he hadn't expected to fall for her.

What made it worse was that he knew that she was a criminal. Maybe she wasn't a dark lady or made to bring down the world, but she was a criminal and she was dangerous.

The problem was that Rossi didn't know how much.

He'd been undercover here for almost two years as Emilio Mantegna and in that two years he'd watched her. He'd been her secret lover for most of those two years. As her secret lover, he'd studied her. He'd watch her lose her fifth husband to werewolves and he'd watch her grieve for him at the drop of a hat and then when she thought she was alone, he'd watched her pop champagne. He watched her watch her sister, telling her everything she wanted to hear, but watching her warily. And he watched her when no one was looking, take out a scrapbook and look at photos of her son.

That was where he was most unsure of her.

Marrying her was part of the mission and one he hadn't regretted. They'd eloped in the summer in his Tuscan villa. He'd given her a diamond ring big enough to take someone's eye out and she'd been elated to plan her sixth wedding. She wanted it to be perfect and insisted on wearing a white dress. He'd let her plan it how she wanted and he had to admit, she'd taken his breath away. She'd been heartbroken about her son not being there and they'd even put a picture of Blaise up on the alter to honour him.

Yet she'd known the whole time that her son was alive. He found that fascinating.

Bellarosa had known her son was alive the whole time yet she'd given no sign of it. Then she'd lied to Voldemort's face about it, and for the first time, Rossi began to wonder just what else she was capable of lying about.

He finished his newest report, writing it out in code with his newest clues about Avery Castle's location. He rolled it up and pointed his wand at it and the roll of parchment disappeared in a flash like a mysterious portkey where it would appear in the waiting mailbox of his supervisor. Then he put on a bright smile and stepped out into the bedroom to where Bellarosa was lying on the bed in nothing but lace that covered next to nothing.

"There you are," she purred, a fingertip dancing between the curves of her impressive breasts. "I was beginning to think you'd never come to bed."

Rossi climbed in next to her, his hand resting on her hip. "You know I can't resist you, darling."

"Emilio," she whispered, pressing her lips to his neck. "I've missed you terribly."

"You should take me with you next time," he said, kissing her stomach and around the skimpy lace of her bra. "We can work together."

"I wanted too," she said, opening her bra for him. He moved his tongue over those perfect pert nipples as she spoke. "But the Dark Lord said that you had to stay behind."

Rossi kissed her breasts, sucking on her nipple. "The Dark Lord needs to let his most loyal followers have lives, too. Doesn't he, Bellarosa?"

She pushed his head down in response so he kissed his way down her stomach to the black and red lace that covered her, pressing his mouth against the material until she squirmed. He nudged the lace aside with his nose and kissed her.

"Oh, Emilio," she moaned, her leg coming over his shoulder. "Oh, Emilio, no one does it better than you."

Rossi doubted he was the first man she'd ever said that to, but he also knew that he had a talented tongue. He used it now, enjoying himself as he pleasured her and when she screamed his assumed name, he finished her off with his fingers. Bellarosa smiled down at him, cupping his face when she finished.

"My naughty boy. I've missed that mouth something awful."

Rossi kissed his way up to her breasts. "I've missed you, Bellarosa. You were safe, right? The Dark Lord didn't have you doing anything too dangerous? You know how I worry." He kissed her nipple again, his eyes on hers.

"No," she said, brushing his cheek. "He just wanted to talk. Donna and Bella are keeping an eye on Snape. Everyone wants to mess with him."

"And you?"

She wrinkled her nose in distaste. "I have better things to do than something awful like torture. They should just kill him and be done with it. He betrayed the Dark Lord and he doesn't take well to traitors."

"I imagine the Dark Lord would kill him, but he does like to keep his followers happy, namely Crouch."

Bellarosa ran her fingers through his dark hair. "Crouch is a little parasite that the Dark Lord puts up with."

"Seems to do more than put up with him if you ask me."

"I didn't," she said.

Rossi kissed her pert nipple again. "I apologize."

"No, Emilio, I'm sorry. You know talking about work makes me cranky," she said, pouting. "And we were having such a lovely time."

"We were," he agreed. "But I have to ask: Has there been news on the others? Are the rumours true?"

"Yes," she whispered. "The Aurors captured them. With the new prison, escape will be impossible. The Dark Lord says that they were foolish enough to get caught and he doesn't have time to fix their mistakes."

"Smart man," Rossi said.

He hadn't thought Voldemort would attempt to break them out. Not this time and not with the crypt being next to impenetrable to get into.

Bellarosa kissed his brow and pushed him down her body again. "Smart men know how to keep their witches happy, don't they, love?"

Rossi pulled her knickers off this time and when he placed his mouth over her naked core, she squealed in delight, completely unaware that her lover was filing away every piece of information she told him. Because no matter how beautiful she was, he needed to stay diligent.

It wasn't just about survival, it was about the mission.

And nothing else mattered.

~ ASC ~

Sebastian called Theo that first night on the mirror and they talked for almost three hours. They spent almost four hours talking the following night, four the night after that, and by Thursday, Theo was anxious for him to call again. He couldn't wait to see him the next day in person and he found the mirrors only made him want to snog him senseless that much more.

He'd just finished moisturizing his face and cleaning his teeth when he heard the mirror vibrate on his night table. He ran a hand through his still slightly damp hair as he went to grab it, expecting to see Ginny's face asking him why he turned in so early, but the deep blue eyes of Sebastian staring up at him, made his heart pound in his chest. He never called him before eight PM. He couldn't stop smiling as he sat on his bed to answer.

"Sebastian Kane."

"Theo." Sebastian answered, a smile on his face.

"Hi, Bas."

"Have I mentioned how much I like these mirrors? A very clever invention if you ask me. Are you in your dorm?"

"I am," Theo said. "I was just getting ready for bed."

"A little early, isn't it?"

"Sometimes it's nice to go to bed early, get some sleep. How was work?"

"Good. Busy," he said. He scratched his chin. "I have some bad news about our weekend."

Theo frowned. They'd made plans officially last night. Theo was going to meet Sebastian at his flat where they were going to get takeaway, fish and chips from a pub down the street. Theo was going to spend the night and they were going to see where the night led. He couldn't wait to see where the night led. He wanted to kiss Sebastian for hours, to get his shirt off and finally see for himself the abs and muscles he'd been feeling up. He wanted to discover if the hard length he'd felt pressed against him was really as big as he suspected it was and he desperately wanted to take him in his mouth, in his hands. The image of Sebastian filling him made his own cock throb as he pushed away the daydream.

"What happened?"

"D and I are being reassigned to Berlin for a few days, maybe a week."

"What's in Berlin?"

"For starters, wolf packs," Sebastian said. "Our portkey leaves tomorrow morning."

Theo pouted. "I was really looking forward to spending the night with you."

"So was I," Sebastian admitted. "I'm sorry. This is a big part of my job where I have to leave at the drop of a hat."

"I know," Theo said, leaning back against the post of his bed. "Stolen moments."

Sebastian smiled. "Yeah. So, how was your day?"

"Boring," Theo said. "Went to class, did some homework. Ron's supposed to be released from hospital tomorrow. Hermione is anxious for him to come back. Plus, it means that she won't be spending every spare moment that she's not in class at St Mungo's with him."

"That's great news," Sebastian said. "It's a relief to know that he's going to be all right. And you?"

"Bruises are almost all gone," he assured him. "Bas, will you call me, from Berlin?"

Sebastian's slow smile made his stomach flutter. "As often as I can."

Theo grinned back at him. "So, what happened on Hidden Passions today?"

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Harmony is making a complete mess of everything…"

Theo stretched his legs out across his bed, unable to stop smiling at the mirror in his hand as he listened to Sebastian tell him about the madness that unfolded in Arcane Falls.

~ ASC ~

After almost a full week at St Mungo's, Ron was starting to go a bit spare. Not that he was ever alone, but it didn't really matter. All day every day in hospital with healers coming to poke and prod him was bound to make him crazy. He drinks the potions they gave him, including one to regrow the part of his lung he'd had removed which made him uncomfortable but wasn't unbearable. Hermione visited every day after classes and stayed until visiting hours were done, but with his girlfriend also came homework which he did not appreciate. Tonight was the first night that she hadn't been able to come because she had Head Girl duties to deal with. Ron had insisted he was fine, but he knew that she was upset not to be there. Harry and Ginny had come by to see him once more and told him that Theo, Neville, Seamus, and Dean had all asked about him and then there had been his never-ending trail of family. His parents were there every day without fail and whenever they left, one of his brothers always seemed to show up.

Bill and Fleur were there more often than not and surprisingly, so was Percy. He stopped by during his lunch hour every day to bore Ron to tears with something that happened at the Ministry, specifically in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. So seeing him show up tonight when Hermione couldn't make it, hadn't been what Ron considered a fair tradeoff. After his third story about something Ron already forgotten about, he groaned.

"Percy, I'm begging you! Can't you talk about something interesting for once?"

"Ron, I am taking time out of my day to come and keep you company," Percy lectured. "The least you can do is be polite."

"How's Audrey? Let's talk about her instead. She's gorgeous and way too fit for you."

"Oi!"

Ron grinned. "Things still going good there?"

"Merlin, you're like a gossiping school girl! I didn't come here to tell you about my love life."

"Come on, Perce. Can't two brothers talk about their girls? Hermione couldn't make it tonight and I miss her so tell me about your witch instead."

Percy rolled his eyes, his lips twitching slightly. "She's good. Things are good. No, they're great actually. She makes me happy."

"You deserve that," Ron told him. "To be happy. Godric only knows why she likes you though. I mean, the way you talk about your job all the time — boring! You need a hobby!"

Percy shook his head in exasperation. "I am not boring and Audrey doesn't think I'm boring. I have hobbies. I read." At Ron's look, he clucked his tongue. "I just read a book the other night on chess strategies and how to win in ways never imagined."

"Why?" Ron asked. "Whether you read a book or not, I'm still going to defeat you every single time. Or were you hoping to teach Audrey to play chess?"

Percy rolled his eyes. "Audrey isn't into chess. Audrey and I have a lot to chat about and we get along famously. I've even met her family on multiple occasions. Her father and I share a love of gin rummy."

Ron snorted. "Right, with all that excitement, how could you ever be boring?"

"Percy's being boring?" Fred said as he stepped into Ron's hospital room. "I'm shocked!"

"Audrey's dad and Percy share a love of gin rummy."

Fred slapped his hand on Percy's shoulder as he took a seat in the chair next to him. "Exciting. No wonder she likes to spank you."

Percy made a sound of exasperation. "You saw that one time!"

"And it was horrifying," Fred interrupted. "My eyeballs needed to be cleansed and my brain scrubbed. That freckly arse was more than I needed to see."

"That's fair. He's no Mr March," Ron agreed.

Fred rolled his eyes. "Your arse isn't that good, Ron."

"Not true," Ron said. "My arse is magnificent. You lot are just jealous that it's so gorgeous."

"Okay, bend over and I'll spank it a few times. We'll see if Percy gets excited."

"Piss off," Percy said, shooting them both a rude hand gesture. "What Audrey and I do in the privacy of our bedroom is our business, not yours."

"Excuse you," Fred exclaimed, pointing his finger at Percy. "In the privacy of your room? I heard that you two were going at it in the very public staircase of the Ministry of Magic. Doesn't sound like you're looking for privacy to me."

"We were under the stairs and no one could see us," Percy said, his cheeks flushing.

"Still, that's definitely breaking a law somewhere," Fred said. "I never imagined Prefect Percy being the lawbreaker in the family. A proper prefect and Head Boy would never do something so naughty. Did you?"

Ron grinned. "I heard Bill mention something about them doing it near the Wizengamot, too."

"Percy, you naughty thing. You like the thrill of possibly getting caught, don't you?" Fred said, wiggling his eyebrows. "You ever tie her up?"

Percy's face was as bright as a tomato now, but he nodded, making Fred roar in laughter.

"What about you, Ronnikins? Ever tie up Miss Granger and do naughty things?" Fred teased.

Ron bit his lip. "No."

"Shame," Fred said. "I rather think a wildcat like Hermione would like to be tied up."

An image of Hermione wearing that sexy blue nightie and tied to his bed made Ron's cock stir. He shifted and Fred winked at him.

"What about you?" Percy said, turning to Fred. "Where's Fiadh? Are we ever going to set eyes on this mystery woman of yours?"

Fred leaned back in his chair. "Fiadh and I are enjoying ourselves. Why mess it up by introducing her around to everyone and giving Mum ideas?"

Ron snorted. "Ideas? Really? What are you really hiding her away for? Is she ugly?"

"No, she's not fucking ugly, you git," Fred replied. "She's gorgeous and limber and so fucking naughty. You think Percy and Audrey are kinky, but the stuff Fiadh comes up with… Merlin, she is a very naughty girl."

"Who's a naughty girl?" Bill asked as he came into the room.

"Fred's not-girlfriend," Ron said. "Apparently she and Fred can give Percy and Audrey a run for their money."

Bill raised an eyebrow as he took a seat at the end of Ron's bed. "Really. Do tell."

Fred grinned. "Oof, poor Bill. Haven't even been married a year and the sex is already going downhill? Want me to give you some pointers?"

Bill shot him two fingers. "If you think sex with a woman who is part Veela will ever go downhill, I'm sorry for you. My sex life is just fine thank you."

"Using the word fine doesn't instil confidence in that statement," Fred teased.

"Bill's is better than Ron's, I bet," Percy said. "Did the healers tell him yet?"

"Tell me what?" Ron asked, eyeing his brother warily.

Percy frowned. "They didn't say anything? Oh, Merlin, I don't want to be the one to tell him."

Bill's eyes met Percy's before he cleared his throat. "I'm the oldest, I should do it. It might be better coming from me."

Fred covered his eyes. "I couldn't imagine. I think I'd rather be dead."

"Me too," Bill admitted.

"What the fuck are you three gits going on about?" Ron demanded. "I'm fine! I get to go back to Hogwarts within twenty-four hours as long as my next test still looks good."

Fred looked at his watch. "George wanted to be here to offer his support. Should we wait for him?"

Percy held up the mirror where Charlie's face had appeared. "I've got Charlie here to be supportive."

"Hi, Ron," Charlie said. "Don't worry, as your brothers we're going to do everything we can to help you stay healthy."

"I have no idea what you're all talking about," Ron said. "I'm doing great. Brilliant, actually."

"I'll call Harry. Ron should really have his best mate here for this," Fred said, pulling out his own mirror. "Hey, Harry."

"Hi, Fred," Harry said, frowning into the mirror. "What's going on?"

"Will you gits just tell me what's going on?" Ron demanded, his eyes wide now. "What did the healers tell you that I don't know?"

"Oh, good," George exclaimed, pushing the door open. "I was worried that I wouldn't be here in time."

Ron watched his brother lean on a cane as he came into the room. He couldn't help but look down at where his brother's leg was missing below the knee, but he noticed that George seemed to be walking very well with the cane, almost at ease with it. Then he noticed the cane and snorted.

George grinned. "What? Isn't it brilliant? A bloke in Apricity Lane made it for me at that novelty shop where they sell walking sticks."

It was pretty brilliant, Ron had to admit. The wooden cane had a smooth spot at the top for George to fit his hand that looked like curved coral around a pirate ship that narrowed into a gorgeous thick walking stick. Hanging down the front of the cane, about a quarter of the way down was a very well endowed mermaid impeccably carved out of wood with very perky nipples.

"Bloody hell! Did Mum see that yet?"

George wiggled his eyebrows. "No. Aren't the tits fantastic? I modelled them after Angie's. What do you think, Harry?"

Harry chuckled from the mirror. "It suits you. How did Angelina feel about that?"

"She said that I'm an idiot," George admitted.

"Let me see!" Ginny's voice exclaimed before her head appeared in the mirror.

"Bloody hell, Harry," Fred said, shaking his head. "When we tell you we're having a Weasley brothers night, Ginny is never included."

"I'm a Weasley," Ginny said.

"Go away, Ginny. Let us blokes have a chat," Fred said.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm supposed to meet Luna anyway." She made a show of kissing Harry deeply before she pursed her lips. "Ron, I just wanted to offer my condolences before I go. It will be okay. We're all here for you." She gave him a small smile before she kissed Harry's cheek and disappeared.

"You told Ginny!" Fred exclaimed. "What happened to Weasley brother secrecy?"

Harry shrugged. "She's a Weasley."

Bill scoffed. "New rule. We can't share things with Harry that we don't want Ginny to know."

"Probably smart," Harry agreed.

George shook his head. "You're a disgrace. You're lucky we like you."

Harry's lips curved. "Noted."

"And by the way," George said. "I thought we talked about the snogging thing. You don't have to let her put her tongue in your mouth like that. You can tell her that it disgusts you."

Harry bit his lip, failing to hide his smile. "Why would I lie to her like that?"

George grinned. "Anyway, now that Ginny is gone and we can have a proper Weasley brother meeting, let's get on with it."

"Get on with what?" Ron demanded. "Harry, do you know what this is about?"

Harry nodded, his expression serious. "I do. Fred and George filled me in this morning when Bill told them. I'm here for you, mate, okay? I know it's going to be a lot to take in and your life is going to have to change."

"What in bleeding hell are you lot talking about?"

Percy cleared his throat. "Ron… I'm sorry the healers didn't say anything to you yet."

"They were probably waiting for the last test tomorrow just to confirm it," Charlie said from the mirror.

Bill nodded. "That would make the most sense."

Ron frowned, starting to get angry now. He didn't like that he was also starting to worry. Why did his brothers know something that he didn't? "What the fuck are you lot talking about? I am fine!"

Percy pursed his lips. "Your heart, Ron."

Ron looked between his brothers in confusion. "What about my heart?"

"It was serious," Bill began. "You were stabbed and… Ron, you died. They had to actually hold your heart in their hands to get it beating again. It was terrifying to say the least."

"I know," Ron said. "Dad told me, but they got it beating again and I'm doing fine."

"Yes," Percy said. "You are and we're so happy to see that you're alive, but your heart is… you did significant damage to it."

"What kind of damage?" Ron asked. "No one said anything about damage."

Bill leaned forward, putting his hand on his brother's ankle. "Ron, you can't ever do anything to overexert your heart muscles. If you overexert it, even once — you could die."

Ron stared at them, his tongue resting on his bottom lip. "What do you mean?"

"He means that you can't do anything that would get your heart too excited or pumping too quickly," Fred said. "It means that you won't be able to play Quidditch anymore or fly or even be an Auror. But most importantly, you can't have sex."

"What?" he squeaked.

"Like ever," George said, his face completely serious. "Of any kind. You can't even wank."

"We're not joking," Percy said seriously. "The intensity of having an orgasm could cause you to have a heart attack and die."

"Even one given by yourself," George said. "I'm sorry, Ron, but you can never have sex ever again."

Ron stared at them, his mouth slightly agape in horror for a full minute before he saw Charlie's lips twitch in the mirror.

"Piss off! You lot are fucking tossers!" he exclaimed as Bill and Fred burst into laughter.

"We had him!" George yelled. "We had him! Pay up, Bill! You owe me twenty Galleons! You, too, Potter!"

Bill grumbled as he reached into his back pocket to pull out his wallet. "Come on, Ron. I thought you'd be smarter than to believe that one! No sex ever again? Seriously!"

"Me too," Harry said. "I thought for sure he'd know that we were fucking with him."

"Piss off," Ron muttered again. "I hate all of you. Especially you, Harry! You're supposed to be on my side!"

Charlie snorted from the mirror. "That's a lie. This was definitely worth being called in for. No, baby, don't touch that."

"No!" Aydin's voice shouted from the mirror.

"That's right, no," Charlie said. A moment later Aydin's face appeared in the mirror. "Say hi to your uncles, Aydin."

"No-gah-do!"

Charlie sighed. "Sorry."

They all said hi to Aydin before Percy cleared his throat. "I um, I have something I'd like to get your thoughts on while you're all here." When they all turned to look at him, he bit his lip. "My lease is up on my flat in March and I was thinking about asking… I was thinking about asking Audrey if she wanted to move in together."

"Perce, that's brilliant!" Bill said, squeezing his brother's shoulder. "Congratulations!"

He shrugged. "I don't know if she'll be into it."

"Not into it," Ron said. "Perce, she's crazy about you. No one quite knows why, maybe it's the spanking thing."

Fred snorted. "I bet that's definitely a factor."

Ron grinned. "You should definitely ask her."

Percy let out a slow breath before he nodded. "I think I will."

"How's the mysterious Fiadh?" Charlie asked.

"Apparently very naughty," Ron said.

Charlie wiggled his eyebrows. "Ooh, do tell. I love me a good-bad girl."

"I didn't say bad girl," Fred said. "She's… the sex is fucking brilliant. Like definitely the best I've ever had. It's not just the whole multiple orgasm thing, though that definitely has its perks."

"I'll say," Bill said. "What are the other perks?"

Fred grinned. "The sex is good, okay. Really, really good."

"Positions?" Charlie prompted. "Tell us more."

"Why, do you want pointers?"

"Single father out here," Charlie said. "I'm going through a serious dry spell. Do you know hard it is to find time to go out and get laid when you have a one-year-old running around?"

"Sucks to be you," Fred teased. "I had sex two hours ago."

"Arse," Charlie muttered as Harry snickered. "What about you, Potter? Is our baby sister still corrupting you?"

Harry shrugged. "How do you know I haven't corrupted her?"

George snorted. "Please."

"No offence to Harry, but I want to hear about Fiadh, not Ginny," Bill said. "Tell us more about her."

Fred grinned. "Fiadh is just… I don't know how to explain it. She makes me laugh and she likes my cheesy jokes and puns. She makes jokes just as cheesy, not to mention she's a total badarse. In Hogsmeade, she shot a flaming arrow over her shoulder to take out a bloke about to attack me and the arrow was close enough that I felt the heat of it against my head yet she has perfect aim. She can hit anything. She's limber as fuck and she can bend in ways that I didn't think we're even humanly possible. And the sex… she likes it dirty and she likes it hard. She's a screamer — which I love — and she sure as hell likes to take control."

"When you say she likes it dirty…" Charlie prompted.

Fred licked his lips. "Let's just say that she rather likes it when I come on her tits and talk dirty during sex. She's a fiend."

"You look real upset about it," Percy teased.

Fred chewed his bottom lip. "When she rides me, it is just incredible. It's… it's more than just sex."

George raised an eyebrow. "And you finally admit it."

Fred shrugged. "We still haven't made it serious but… it's more to me. I like her. I really like her and I think I can see myself with her for the long run."

Percy whistled. "Well, that is a surprise."

Charlie shook his head. "Why are all of you losers talking about tying yourselves down and sticking with one woman? There are so many gorgeous witches in the world. Skinny ones, curvy ones, chubby ones, tall ones, short ones, blondes, brunettes, redheads, and that's not even including the whole other side of it. When you get tired of witches, you can find a big tall man with a huge cock to fuck you into oblivion or find a nice prick to suck on. There's hairy guys and well oiled guys and let's not forget about the blokes who know how to ride you until you come so hard you can't breathe. What's wrong with you?"

Bill smirked. "Yet we're the ones getting laid. Imagine that."

Charlie made a rude hand gesture in response.

"If we're talking about big announcements," George interjected. "I um… I bought a ring."

"What?" Ron exclaimed. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," George said, taking it out of his pocket to pop the lid and show them. "I love her. I've always loved her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Maybe even do the kid thing one day. If she'll have me."

Bill stood up to hug George, squeezing his brother tight. "Congratulations, brother. She'll definitely have you."

Each of them hugged George in turn until he sat down on the side of Ron's bed again.

"I don't know when I'm going to ask her," George admitted. "Maybe after we're both more healed and I get a real leg and shit, but I'm thinking about it."

"Knew I should have snuck in some beer," Fred said.

Ron grinned at his brothers, smiling at Charlie and Harry's faces hovering in the mirrors. He loved these six idiots more than he could put into words. He couldn't imagine his life without any of them. And he couldn't wait to be released tomorrow and get back to Hermione.

Overexert himself indeed. He couldn't wait to get Hermione alone so that he could show her just how alive he really was. But for now, he would enjoy this moment with his brothers.

Even if they were all gits.

~ ASC ~

Ginny was actually terrified. No, terrified wasn't the right word; maybe petrified would do.

She was going to try out for the Premier Quidditch Training Camp and she couldn't even believe it was happening. She had less than four weeks left to get her butt in gear and now that February had arrived, it seemed much closer than it had last week. The last Saturday of the month was her tryout and she was equal parts excited as she was nervous.

Harry had been so incredible.

They woke up early six days a week to go for a run. She loved the adrenaline of it, not to mention running behind him let her check out his behind which was always a plus. But Harry was a great trainer. She didn't know if it was a mix of his Quidditch captain skills or just his complete patience, but he had a way of encouraging her to do better without letting her overwork herself.

They had started in January and ran every morning, except on Sundays which they both agreed was a much needed day of rest. They did slow stretches and warm-ups before running around the Black Lake and finishing with a run around the pitch. At practice, Harry spent an extra hour outside with her both before and after, practicing drills.

Ginny had never flown so hard in her life.

She did flying sprints. She practiced rolls and dives. Harry had Demelza and Jack Wolf throwing Quaffles at her from every direction, practicing overhead and underhanded passes, trick passes and trick holds. She was outflying Bludgers from Cootes and Peakes at every turn. She worked Ron hard on the goalposts until he claimed that he was exhausted from her throws and she'd managed to do some pretty unbelievable goals that made her shriek in excitement.

She was ready and yet she wasn't and the contradiction worried her. It seemed silly for her to be so concerned about a tryout when Hogsmeade had been attacked only a week before, when her brother had only just healed well enough to come back to the pitch, and when there was so much other stuff going on.

But she wanted this more than she could explain.

A dream she'd never truly believed was possible and to know the chance to claim it was at her fingertips, made her determined to do everything possible to show them that she was worth it.

"Once more," she called out when Harry ended the practice that night.

"Go on, hit the showers!" Harry said, turning to look over at her. "You, too, Gin."

"Just once more," she repeated, flying over to where he was hovering on his Firebolt near the top of the goalposts.

"You've done enough tonight," he said. "Don't overwork yourself."

Ginny blew her hair out of her eyes. "I know. I just want to be perfect."

Harry reached out to pull her broom towards him. He cupped her cheek and leaned forward to kiss her. "You are going to be amazing. I know it. Now hit the showers."

Ginny fisted her hands in his kit and pulled him closer. "Kiss me again."

Their brooms hovered over the pitch, sliding against the other as their lips met again and again. Harry's hands moved to her waist, his fingers touching bare skin as he kissed her. When his mouth moved over her throat, she took her hand off of her broomstick, keeping herself steady with just her thighs. She slid her hand up over his thigh, stroking him through his sweats and he groaned against her neck.

"You know," she whispered near his ear. "We've never tried to do anything on a broomstick before."

"Do what now?" he asked.

Ginny chewed her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes twinkling at him as her hand slid under the waistband of his sweats and into his boxer briefs. When she gripped him in her hand, his breath hitched.

"Bloody hell! We'll plummet to our deaths if you do that."

Ginny's lips curved. "I think it will help test our flying abilities, don't you?"

Her hand stroked him and he swore under his breath as he grew under her ministrations.

"I'm just testing my ability to keep a steady broom while holding onto things," she teased. "Testing my concentration on the broom and on my surroundings. Just following my captains orders, really."

Her hand was working him now. His eyes were bright and his breath was getting ragged.

"You are going to be the bloody death of me."

"Harry Potter Dies From Orgasm On Broomstick," she said, leaning in to nip at his mouth. "It has a nice ring to do it."

Her hand moved faster, her thumb tracing the tip of him and he groaned.

"Fuck… Ginny…"

Harry was gripping his Firebolt so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. If he let go, he was positive he would plummet to the ground. There was no way his legs were going to hold him in place. With every stroke of her hand, his legs were spreading wider, giving her more space. He rose up a little and Ginny pushed his sweats and underwear down with one hand, exposing him fully to the cold night air. It did absolutely nothing to cool him down. Her soft hand moved over his balls, cupping him before she leaned in to kiss him. He moaned into her mouth and Ginny stroked him faster.

"Gin," he moaned.

She nipped at his mouth and then she ducked her head, stretching herself across her broom and kissed the tip of his cock. Harry's hand gripped her hair and their brooms shifted, knocking into each other. Ginny smiled and kissed his erection again.

"Will you catch me if I fall, Mr Seeker?"

Harry brought her face back to his and kissed her lips. "You won't fall."

Her hand took a firmer grip of him as she worked him and he let his head fall back. No, they wouldn't fall, he thought. There was no one he trusted on a broom more than Ginny and despite his initial nerves about falling to his death, it would be worth it. Totally worth it, he thought as her fingers teased and stroked him. He bit his bottom lip when she began to tease the underside of his shaft. Her hand felt so good wrapped around him. Soft and strong and the way it was running over him was enough to make him chew his bottom lip. Merlin, he was going to come right here if she didn't stop…

And Godric, he didn't fucking care…

"Oi!" Ron's voice shouted from below, making Harry jump in surprise. "You two ever going to come down or what?"

Harry bit his lip, eyes on Ginny in the darkness as they hovered over the goalposts at the end of the pitch, her hand still wrapped around his cock. Ginny squeezed him once before she let go.

"Coming!"

"Almost," Harry muttered under his breath, making her smirk at him.

He took a second to catch his breath, before he pulled his sweats and underwear back into place. Ginny moved away from him, securing herself on her own broom, before she did a loop-the-loop and dived through one of the rings. Harry cursed under his breath. He was so hard and clearly pitching a tent, but he dove after her, the cold night air helping him cool down as he circled the pitch twice more before finally landing next to Ron.

"Hey, how you feeling?"

Ron rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. It was great to be back at practice. I know it was only my first one, but it felt good to be doing stuff again."

"Just take it easy," Harry cautioned. "You only got released from St Mungo's this afternoon. And remember, you can't overexert yourself."

Ron shoved him. "Fucking prat. I'll exert myself if I want to."

Harry grinned. "But you took it easy last night, right?"

Ron rolled his eyes. "Unfortunately. Hermione was all lecturing about how I just out of the hospital after having a serious procedure and how I have to relax and rest and take care of myself."

"But she let you come to practice?"

"Sure. After we argued about it for forty-five minutes," Ron said. "She's worried and she has reason to be, I get it. But I'm seriously fine. I feel great. A little tired, sure, but anyone would be after one of your practices."

"Seriously, take care of yourself though," Harry said. "Hermione's right to be worried. You scared the shit out of all of us."

Ron nodded. "I know and I will. You and Ginny shouldn't be up there, snogging in the air like that either. What if you fell?"

"Hey, I didn't start it," Harry said.

"I believe that," Ron said. "Go take a shower already. You promised me that we'd have a game of chess tonight."

"Right," Harry said. "I forgot. Okay, let me just clean up and I'll meet you in twenty."

Ron nodded and yelled out goodnight at his sister before taking off, his broomstick over his shoulder. Ginny did a perfect cartwheel before she grabbed her own broom and stood on her toes to kiss Harry.

"He's such a mood killer, isn't he?"

Harry's hands slid around her waist and down to cup her arse. "You are a minx."

Ginny kissed his chin and took his hand in hers. "Come on. My captain ordered me to the showers."

Harry squeezed her hand. "I promised Ron that we'd have a game of chess."

Ginny pulled him into the change room, closing the door behind them. "Chess is boring. Kiss me instead."

Harry's arms came around her waist to do just that as Demelza whistled.

"Get a room!"

Ginny ignored her and kissed him anyway. Harry didn't mind in the slightest. They snogged for five solid minutes until the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team left them alone in the change rooms. Harry pressed Ginny against the wall, his hand moving around her hip to cup her behind.

"If we don't hurry it up, Ron will come looking for us."

Ginny pouted, slipping a hand down his chest to cup him through his sweats. "Guess we better make the most of it, then."

Harry grinned at her, his eyes crossing when her hand slipped under his waistband once more. "I fucking love you," he murmured.

Ginny stole one more kiss before she slowly knelt in front of him. Harry cupped her cheek in his hand as she pulled his sweats and boxers down, freeing him once more from the material. She pressed a gentle kiss to his balls and Harry let his head fall back to hit the wall behind him.

"I've missed you," she whispered, kissing his balls again.

"Missed you, too," he murmured.

"With everything that's happened we haven't found time for each other," Ginny said.

He nodded. That was true. It had been a week since the attack on Hogsmeade and despite sharing a bed with Ginny almost every night since, they hadn't seemed to find time for each other. They'd tried, Harry remembered. Merlin knows they'd tried. Twice he'd had his head between her legs and they'd been interrupted. Once by Seamus, who quite honestly had killed the mood, and once by the charm for class where Ginny had an assignment to hand in and couldn't be late. Between practicing Quidditch and keeping Hermione company while Ron was at St Mungo's, yeah, they'd missed each other.

When Ginny's mouth sucked on his balls, Harry made a small moan, his hand gripping her ponytail. She hummed around his balls and his breath hitched enough to make her eyes meet his. The sight of those big brown eyes staring up at him while her mouth was wrapped around him was enough to almost do him in. Ginny made a 'mmm' sound as she released him, dragging her tongue up over his sack and using her hand to hold his cock before she carefully took it into her mouth. Harry groaned when she started to suck him, her thumb moving in a similar rhythm along the underside of him as she worked him. Godric, she knew his body so well. She made him feel things he couldn't even put into words.

"Ah… yeah," he mumbled, his head hitting the wall again.

Ginny hollowed her cheeks, taking more of him into her mouth. Harry groaned as she sucked him, her hand fondling him as she did. It had been much too long since she'd taken him in her mouth, she thought. She didn't know what it was, but she loved pleasing him like this. She loved the feel of him in her mouth, hearing the sounds he made as he slowly relinquished control. To her. Harry giving up control to her was something she found incredibly sexy. Knowing it was only for her, that he trusted her like this… it made it all that much sexier. Her thumb pressed against his balls, kneading them and he trembled.

Ginny took her time, sucking on the tip of him, using her tongue to tease, circling his tip as her thumb stroked the underside of his shaft in a steady rhythm. Her other hand was wrapped around him, stroking in time to her sucks and Harry was moaning softly. She felt him tremble again and when she sucked a little harder, he grunted.

"Gin… Gin, I'm so close," he murmured. "Ah… fuck, I'm so close…"

Ginny started to hum, her thumb stroking the underside of him faster as her other hand stroked his shaft. She sucked a little more rapidly as she hummed and Harry's breath began to get more ragged. It took no time at all for him to make a 'mmm' sound as he came, panting her name desperately. Ginny took her time, letting him finish until he softened in her mouth. She kissed his thigh when she removed her mouth and stood up, leaning in to kiss his lips.

"Better?"

Harry's hands gripped her arse as he pulled her up again him. "So much better." He lifted her up to her toes to kiss her for a long deep kiss before he brushed his nose with hers. "We should probably hit those showers now."

Ginny smiled, her fingers playing with the short hairs at the nape of his neck. "You think so?"

Harry kissed her cheek, the side of her neck, and the middle of her throat. "Mmm, yes."

She laughed when he kicked his sweats and boxer briefs off before he picked her up and ran around the corner to the showers. He tugged at her clothes, tangling them with the rest of his in a pile on the floor followed by his glasses before they stepped into one of the showers. Harry tugged the curtain closed and turned on the spray before he pulled her under the hot water with him. His lips began to move over her shoulders and Ginny let her head fall back.

"Mmm, that feels nice."

"This?" Harry asked, kissing her breast.

"No, the hot water," Ginny said.

He pinched her hip and she laughed.

He planted soft kisses over her shoulders, bending his head to kiss her breasts, and when his hand slipped between her legs, she gripped his arms tightly.

"Yes…"

Harry's mouth sucked a nipple between his lips as a finger began to tease her. It wasn't long at all before Ginny found herself standing under the hot spray, riding three of his fingers wantonly as Harry sucked on her breasts. Merlin, she loved the feel of his fingers inside of her. Three had become the norm and neither of them had spoken about it, but the feel of them moving in and out her, the way she clenched around him desperately… it felt so good. She kissed his chest, one leg locking around his waist as her legs started to tremble from the pressure. When she finally came, she panted his name desperately and he kissed her.

Ginny caught her breath, her cheek resting against his chest. "Harry?"

"Yeah?"

She pressed her lips against his bare chest, a soft smile on her lips. "I think you're late for chess."

He laughed and captured her lips for a kiss and Ginny thought she definitely had the best boyfriend in the whole world.

~ ASC ~

Ron had been released from St Mungo's Friday afternoon. After spending his first two days resting and having Quidditch practice, he was anxious to get his girlfriend alone. But Hermione was very skilled at making sure that didn't seem to happen. He would fall asleep alone in the bed and wake alone. If she did come to bed, it was no more than hour before he'd feel her leave it. Between her rigorous academic schedule and making sure Ron was resting and taking the last of his potions, talking to her was even difficult.

"Hermione," he began when she came into the bedroom to grab her book bag that morning.

"Ron, get up. We're going to be late for class," she insisted, shoving books into her bag.

"It's only half past seven," he said. "Come here. I want to talk to you."

"I can't right now," she said, attempting to close the flap on her bag. "I have to go to the library before breakfast."

Ron climbed out of bed, running a hand through his hair. "You can go to the library after. I just want a minute."

Hermione finally succeeded in closing her bag, swinging it up over her shoulder. "I'm already behind, Ron."

Ron beat her to the bedroom door and put his hand against it. "Then another few minutes won't hurt."

Hermione huffed. "We can talk later."

Ron took her bag from her and dropped it on the floor. "No, we can't because you keep saying that and then it doesn't happen."

"I'm very busy and I'm behind because I spent all of my evenings visiting you in St Mungo's," she insisted.

Ron shifted in front of her, his other hand pressing against the door now and blocking her tiny frame against the wood. "Too bad."

Hermione jutted her chin out, her brown eyes on his. "Fine. Talk."

Instead of talking, he moved closer, pressing her up against the wood and making her breath hitch. "In a minute."

Then before she could protest, he lowered his head and captured her mouth in his.

It wasn't the quick pecks and soft kisses that they'd been sharing over the last week and half since he'd been stabbed. It was hard and hot and bruising and Hermione's hands clenched at his hips in surprise. Ron savoured the moment. Godric, he'd missed her. He missed kissing her and touching her. His tongue met hers and when she let out a small whimper, Ron picked her up and carried her back to the bed.

She squealed in surprise when he dropped her onto their bed and crawled over her. She started to say something, but he covered her mouth with his instead. He let his hands roam down her torso, unbuttoning her shirt with ease before his hand slid under her skirt to touch her. Hermione's hips arched towards him and when his mouth finally left hers to trail over her rising breasts above her bra, she spoke.

"Ron… Ron, we-we have class…"

"Not right this minute we don't," he said, tugging her knickers down beneath her skirt.

Hermione's eyes widened as she scrambled out from under him and snatched her knickers out of his hand. "Ron, stop it! You just had a very serious procedure!"

She started to close her shirt again and Ron pulled her back into the middle of the bed.

"Did. I'm healed now."

"And you have to take things slow," she lectured. "You've only been out of hospital for five days!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "There's slow and then there's blue balls, Mione."

Hermione scoffed. "You don't have blue balls. That's not even a thing."

"You can say that because you don't have blue balls."

Hermione scrambled off of the bed and buttoned her shirt. "I have important things to do and you need to take time to heal properly. You said that you wanted to talk and this was not talking."

Ron sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "And you've been avoiding me."

"No, I haven't! I'm just busy."

"Avoiding me. You've barely even come to bed at night since I've returned."

"Well, I have trouble sleeping," she admitted. "My mind won't quiet."

Ron reached for her hand, tugging her towards him. She didn't protest when he cradled her into his lap. "I thought we agreed not to lie to each other."

Hermione stared down at his naked chest, her fingers reaching out to trace the two procedural scars before tracing the scar from the knife. "I don't know what to say."

"I thought the scars added to my rugged appearance," he teased.

Her eyes darkened. "They don't. They remind me of how close I was to losing you."

Ron's eyes softened as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. "You didn't. I'm right here."

Her arms slid around his neck, hugging him tightly. "I just… Ron… she almost killed you."

"I'm too annoying to die," he teased. "And I'd do it again. She hurt you."

Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes as she buried her face into the crook of his neck. "I see her. In my dreams."

Ron wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She was trembling in his arms and he cursed himself for not seeing it. It wasn't that she'd been avoiding him, he realized. She was avoiding talking about what happened to her. What that bitch had done to her. He realized that she hadn't once even shown him her arm. She wore long sleeves or one of his thick jumpers at all times and he wondered just what it was she was afraid of.

He kissed her cheek. "I won't let her touch you ever again. You're safe with me."

"I know," she whispered. "I love you."

The look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know.

Ron kissed her, deepening the kiss as his fingers worked to unbutton her blouse again. He pushed it over her shoulders and she stopped him, framing his face in her hands to prevent him pulling it off. He merely ran his hands over her thighs and beneath her skirt. She made a sound of protest against his lips when he unhooked her skirt and when he pushed her over onto the soft bed, he took in the view.

Merlin, she was gorgeous.

Her dark curls looked extra bushy today, framing her face and the sheets beneath her. Her white blouse was open, locked at her elbows and revealing her pale shoulders. She wore a white bra beneath, low-cut and lacy, making her full breasts look all the more enticing. With her skirt gone, he trailed a finger over her thigh high stockings, tracing the garter around her waist and taking her in. With her knickers missing, it made her look all the more naughty.

"Godric, you're beautiful," he said.

"Ron," she breathed. "Kiss me."

He did, taking his time to do so while his hand slid down between her legs to touch her. Her hips arched towards him when his fingers slid into her, his thumb pressing over her clit as she panted. When the first wave came over her, her nails raked down his back as she cried out and Ron lowered his head to suckle her through her bra. Her small hands moved down his back, pushing his pyjama bottoms down, and squeezing his arse. Then she pushed him off and over, taking his pyjamas right off.

His breath hitched when she crawled over him, her breasts heaving in the bra, shirt still hanging off of her shoulders. The fact that she was still partially dressed, garter and stockings still in place, was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. Her lips pressed against his scars, kissing them thoroughly and gently. When she got to the one by his ribs, her hand slid down to stroke him and he moaned.

"Oh, yeah… definitely touch me."

Hermione smiled against his skin, kissing lower. When she took him into her mouth, his hands clutched her bushy curls desperately, eyes wide as he watched that smart mouth suck his cock. Fuck, he'd really missed her. He urged her to keep going until he couldn't take it anymore, and pulled her away. She kissed his stomach and he flipped her beneath him, holding her wrists above her head. It made the blouse she wore rise and made her breasts push together in the bra.

"I've missed you," he said, kissing her cleavage with enthusiasm.

"I've missed you, too," she murmured.

When he finally slid into her, they both groaned in unison. Ron kept her hands pinned up above her head, his other hand holding her hip as he took his time. He deliberately kept his strokes slow and deep. He let go of her wrists to rub her clit and she bit her bottom lip. His lips moved over her breasts again, attempting to use his teeth to open the front clasp of her bra to no avail.

"Let me," she began, but he was too impatient and pulled with his free hand, breaking the clasp as her breasts spilled out for him to feast on.

"Ron," she said in exasperation. "I'm running out of bras if you keep… oh! Oh! Oh, yes…"

He sped up, stroking her in time to his thrusts. Her head tilted back and Ron lowered his mouth to one of her beautiful tantalizing peaks.

"Faster," she purred. "Oh, gods, faster, please…"

Ron didn't hesitate to give her what she wanted.

Her nails raked down his back, clutching his arse tightly. She kneaded his cheeks, teasing him, and he rubbed her clit faster.

"Fucckkkk…." Hermione cried. "Oh, fuck, please, Ron. Please…"

"Please what?" he panted, his thumb stroking her. "Tell me."

Instead of answering, her fingertip pushed into him. It surprised him to say the least, but what surprised him was the fact that when she slid it in and then out and then deeper into him, he reacted. Suddenly, he was coming harder than he'd ever come in his life. He groaned her name and grunted, hips pounding him into her until they were both crying out.

His face pressed against her breasts as he caught his breath, barely taking the energy to slip out of her. They took a moment to catch their breaths, both panting before Hermione kissed his forehead.

"Wow," Ron murmured, kissing the nipple near his lips.

Hermione bit her lip. "We both needed that. I'm sorry that I've been avoiding you."

Ron kissed her nipple again before he lifted his head to look into her eyes. "I love you. You should never avoid me. I can make you feel better."

"You always do," she agreed. She turned her head to look at the clock. "Ron! Get up!"

He grunted when she shoved at him.

"It's already quarter after eight! We're going to miss breakfast completely and be late for Defence Against the Dark Arts!"

Ron merely groaned and rolled onto his back. "I'm too tired to move."

Hermione jumped off of the bed, adjusting her thigh-high nylons and her garter before she found her knickers on the floor, pulling them on. "Get up!"

His school trousers hit him the face and he grinned as he watched her breasts bounce between her broken bra. "You're so beautiful, Hermione."

Hermione ignored him and pulled her skirt on, muttering under her breath at his incompetence as she attempted to repair her bra with her wand for the umpteenth time. She buttoned her shirt. She found her tie and threw more of his uniform at him.

"Get dressed!"

Ron sighed and sat up. "Skive off. We'll do that again."

Hermione's face flushed. "We're not missing class to have sex."

He watched her attempt to fix her hair, unknotting some of the curls to the best of her ability before she went into the bathroom. Ron sighed and stood up, using his wand to refresh himself a little since a shower wasn't going to be an option. He pulled on his uniform and was just adjusting his tie when Hermione came out looking much more refreshed and put together. She reached for her bag and Ron grabbed her arm, tugging her against him.

"Ron," she began.

Ron merely bent his head and kissed her softly. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she said. "Now let's go to class and if you behave yourself, maybe we'll make a repeat of that after dinner."

His grin widened, his hand on her arse. "Deal. And maybe we can talk about the fact that you put your finger in my arse and I came harder than I've ever come in my life."

Her cheeks flushed red. "It just… happened."

He pecked her lips. "I think I liked it."

Her smile widened and she grabbed her jumper, pulling it over her head. "Let's go to class."

Ron watched her grab her bag and hurry out of the bedroom and he realized that despite the incredible sex they'd just shared, there was one thing he had noticed.

She still hadn't let him see her arm.