Thanks for reading I appreciate it. The chapters will be shorter from now on. I have tried to do more editing that normal to get them a bit more compact.

Harry Potter and Co. belong to Rowling.

Chapter 31. Owls and Things get rolling…

3 weeks into the bonding time.

Harry sat reading the owls that had been piling up since he and Severus had come for their bonding time.

He looked at the names, Fred and George's owl sort of stood out among the pile, literally. The letter had little paper legs and was walking back and forth swaying every now and then as the breeze from the open window traveled into the room.

He looked at it and opened it carefully…seconds later as he wiped the sooth from his face he thought he should have known better . The jokesters had sent a play bomb to announce the grand opening of their joke shop in two weeks. He'd talk to Severus about it and see if they could manage going...they would kind of stand out in a crowd. Harry didn't want to venture out where that might prove dangerous.

His godfather's owl was next. It was odd, short almost rushed it seemed. Harry frowned and wondered how things were going between him and Remus. He had received an owl from Lord Girbaldi announcing Remus' nuptials with Narcissa, Harry was still trying to figure that one out.

The werewolf's owl was next. The wizard hoped that he and Severus were doing and well and hoped to see them soon. He made no mention of his new wife or Sirius. Harry bit his lip and put the owl aside thoughtfully. Should he write them and ask them what was going on? He'd ask Severus for his opinion…he didn't want to make things worse.

He was surprised to see an owl from Neville. He read it and smiled broadly. Neville was engaged to Ginny Weasly! Wow! He was not surprised by Neville's choice the shy boy had mentioned to him that he liked Ginny. Ginny was a smart girl he was sure they'd be happy together.

He continued with Luna of all people! She had decided to keep him posted on all the happenings and going on in the Wizarding World. And went on to mention how the Minister was reputed to be making sense on some of the actions he was taking. For example he had given a speech just recently saying that there would be a call for one out every three Wizards and Witches to receive training for the up coming War. He also asked the Wizengamot to step in and declare Harry Potter Snape and Severus Snape innocent of any wrong doing and asked that the pair receive the Ministry's support. The cherry on the cake had been an interview he had given Rita Skeeter in which he blamed his lack of judgement and nothing else for any mistakes he might have made in the past. According to Luna things were going rather well now…although it seemed that there was some strain between the Headmaster and Fudge. The strain had been noticed when the Minister had not shown up for Hogwarts opening ceremony.

Harry blinked at the letter that was certainly a lot going on…he wondered if Severus knew about it he's have to ask him. The last owl belonged to Ron. Harry held in his hands it seemed to be a few pages long…he hadn't written to Ron since they had flown together at Snape Manor and he was nervous over what his friend might have written.

"It won't open it self you know."

Harry smiled and nodded. "It's from Ron."

"I see." Severus nodded knowingly.

"I haven't written him once. What if he hates me?"

"I don't think he does."

"Really?" Harry asked looking very, very young.

"Really. You two have been through too much…Mr. Weasley and you are like that mutt and werewolf of yours."

"They have names you know." Harry murmured smiling.

Severus smiled slightly, "really?"

"Really."

Severus leaned back on the chair and got more comfortable his back was starting to bother him just a bit here and there enough to make it a nuisance. Wizard's body were definitely not built for carrying children, especially precocious ones that liked to use their magic while still inside.

"How's the baby?"

"Quiet. Thank Merlin." Severus murmured resting his head back.

"Is that good?" Harry asked watching Severus close his eyes. He loved to watch his husband sleep.

"For me…is wonderful." Severus said. "Write your owls Harry, you can watch me sleep some other time."

Harry sighed and opened Ron's owl and began reading. Sweet Merlin! Talk about killing him with kindness! Ron wrote in messy handwriting the red-head went on to say that he understood what was happening with him and hoped to see him soon. He mentioned that he'd be sharing classes with Draco. DRACO! Harry re read the sentence; yes that's what it said. Lord Gribaldi had asked Mr. Weasley for permission to allow Ron to study with the Slytherin and his father had accepted! Wow! Ron went on to say that although he wasn't happy with the arrangement he'd be damned if he was going to let the Slytherin bastard get the best of him. He closed the owl with good wishes for him…the boy omitted Severus but Harry kind of understood why. Ron didn't know Severus like he did and it would be a while before his best friend could see his husband as a friend. Harry sighed and looked up. Severus was sleeping his hand over his stomach in a protective gesture. His wedding ring caught the rays from the outside and made a kaleidoscope on the wall, it was like magic, Harry thought wistfully. Picking up the quill he began writing.

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Lucius meets with Moody…

Lucius sat in his office going over some more owls; he seemed to be getting popular. He bet old Fudge never got this many invitations. The bastard had to practically beg to be invited anywhere. Things were going rather well. If he could only get rid of Fudge's wife everything would be perfect. The woman was a constant thorn in his side. No wonder Fudge had had a mistress!

"Minister Auror Moody to speak to you."

Lucius frowned, he didn't have a meeting with the Auror. "Have him come in and let me know when my three o' clock arrives."

"Yes Minister." The secretary nodded knowingly. He'd have to interrupt the Minister in five minutes.

Seconds later the old Auror walked in looking around suspiciously.

"You wished to speak to me."

"Yes Minister I want your permission to arrest Lord Gribaldi." Get Gribaldi arrested! His mind ordered.

"From Family Affairs?" Lucius was not prepared for the odd request.

"Yes Minister." Lucius looked at the Auror for a while. Gribaldi like Snape and the Prince was one of his son's indirect protectors and he could not endanger them. While Draco remained with them the Malfoy name had a chance at greatness. He could not allow the old Judge to be arrested.

"Under what charges?" Lucius asked stalling.

"He's Snape's Godfather and I believe he tampered with the bonding procedures."

"There's no way to prove that or is there?" Lucius raked his brain for a way out without raising any questions. The old Auror was too suspicious; he could not allow any of that suspicion to come his way.

"There is if we check the vault in the Ministry of Magic." Wait a minute the Department of Mysteries wasn't that where the Ministry's pensieves were kept?

"There has to be some grounds for me to authorize an investigation of such magnitude."

"There is. They are related." Clearly the Auror would not budge.

"Very well but I will accompany you. Make sure you take a scribe with you I want everything recorded I will ask for the Wizengamot's permission." Finally an excuse to get in the department of Mysteries!

"Good then I'll await the time."

"I will have my secretary look into it right now."

"I appreciate it Minister. Clearly you have the Wizarding Community's interest at heart." Moody said solemnly.

"I do. If any wrong doing is found then Harry Potter will be returned to the Ministry's custody."

"And then to Hogwarts." Moody added on a reflex. Harry Potter had to return to Hogwart's!

Lucius opened his mouth but was interrupted by the secretary. His 3 o' clock appointment had arrived. Saved by the bell, Lucius thought sarcastically.

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A couple of hours before Moody's meeting with the Minister….

"He's not doing anything child." Minerva said floating next to Dumbledore who sat holding a glass of wine. They had missed the Auror's visit. The Headmaster had blocked out any energy from entering his office throughout the Auror's visit and the pair had been flung from the room. By the time they had managed to get back Moody had already left.

"Maybe we misunderstood Professor."

"Do your really think that?" Minerva asked looking around the room.

"No. but how could Lucius Malfoy fool Dumbledore? He's dead!" Hermione was exasperated. She considered herself more than intelligent and here she was unable to figure out what the Headmaster had meant.

"OH SWEET MERLIN!" Minerva screamed her hands flying to her mouth.

"WHAT ?"

"HE'S NOT DEAD…. Malfoy is not dead!" Minerva murmured her eyes wide in surprise.

"…but he was buried."

"So were we and here we are!" Minerva harrumphed.

"But how? Don't you think we would have seen him by now?" Hermione asked confused.

"Yes but what other things can happen after one is dead!"

Hermoine counted off her fingers. "Well, you can become ghosts naturally. Poltergeists, is another. I can't think of anything else."

"Or you can die…which I don't think he did. Or you can posses someone!"

"Possession is some of the darkest magic there is!"

"Right up Malfoy's alley I'm afraid!" Minerva was thinking fast they had to get back to Harry and tell him. "…he's out there somewhere and Dumbledore knows where."

"Yes, yes, he was coming from the Ministry! He went to see Fudge!" Hermoine shouted.

"Fudge? Fudge! Fudge knows!"

"We need to tell someone who can help."

"We need to get to HAGRID! You need to talk to him child so he can see Harry and this time we're going along."

ADADADADADADADADADADADADDA

is happening at the same time Moody meets with the Minister

Dumbledore sat trying hard to ignore the two presences standing next to him. If he concentrated hard enough he could listen to them but he really didn't care the sooner the little pests left the better. He couldn't abide ghosts and tolerated the ones in Hogwarts because they came with the job. These weren't even ghosts he could barely make their shape out and that was after a considerable effort.

He sat pondering the meeting with Moody. The man had been suspicious and it had been that suspicion that had convinced him not to kill the Auror. He had decided to use that suspicion instead.

As for Lucius well that was a pickle if there ever was one. What to do? Denounce him? Kill him? Use him? Confront him? No not yet…not yet. Dumbledore sat for a while longer and then went to the common room for dinner.

He sat eating slowly listening to Madame Sprout while he looked on at the students. A good 50 percent of the children had come back and more were slowly trickling in day by day. Too bad none of the powerful houses had sent their children. Well nothing to do about that. The families that had kept their children back were known as death eaters and or Vampires. When Voldemort was vanquished they would come around.

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"Rise my little serpent." Voldemort whispered. "What news do you have for me?"

"Dumbledore is losing support My Lord. He and the Minister have had a falling out."

"Yes the Minister did not attend Hogwarts reopening."

"He sent an excuse to cover it up but he did not attend. The Headmaster was furious."

"Anything else?"

"Auror Moody was with the Headmaster. When he arrived he was very suspicious but after meeting with Dumbledore he seemed different."

"How?"

"More compliant."

"Really…Moody is a tough Wizard."

"Yes that's why he's behavior was odd."

"He might be controlling Moody somehow."

"What about the Department of Mysteries?"

"He hasn't mentioned it again My Lord."

"Keep looking boy."

"Yes Master." Percy said kissing the hem of Voldemort's robes. The youth made it back to a half empty Hogwarts. His parents would probably be disappointed in him but what did he care, the Weasley's were a pureblood family that lived like stupid house elves. Well if his parents, brothers and sister were happy with that he wasn't... and he never would be!

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Sorry it took so long to post!

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