Author's notes: Thanks to those who reviewed my latest attempt at writing fanfics! Skittles, theboltshaped scar, and sakura jen! Much love, guys! Much love!

Chapter 22: Another Family Reunion

August came too quickly, and it was time for me to go home. Viktor and I still promised to owl each other, although he would be too busy to go to Hogsmeade during weekends, but we would be together during Christmas. I don't know what to feel during our parting; I'm sad because I will not be able to see him for months but I'm also happy to see my friends again.

"Ianthé, how was Bulgaria?" Alfonse Herze asked her.

"Quite good. Uncle, it's surprising to see you here."

"Family meeting, apparently…"

"Uncle, do you happen to know the owner of the premises number 93 in Diagon Alley?"

"Yes, oh yes…. Me."

"You?"

"Won it on a bet. Why?"

"A small company wants to buy it."

Uncle Alfonse looked skeptical.

"Look, Uncle, how much do you want for the premises?"

"One thousand Galleons…"

"Are you insane! Uncle, the company I'm talking about has just started. They cannot possibly afford the place!"

Uncle Alfonse wagged his finger.

"Come on, Uncle! I'm your favorite niece!"

"Don't you play the guilty card on me! Now, I have to go to the meeting. I trust you have your invisibility cloak with you…" Uncle Alfonse winked at her before disappearing into the main hall.

I crept behind Uncle Alfonse to follow him to the family meeting. I know they wouldn't talk about just business.

"We are here to talk about what we would do once everything is out in the open." Alex Herze announced.

"Uncle Alex, sending the others as Death Eaters is pretty dangerous in itself. About three million Galleons will be lost if the public would know of our so-called alliance to the Dark Lord," Edmond spoke up.

"That is the quandary we are facing now. How are we supposed to play on both sides?" Uncle Alfonse spoke.

"I don't know about you, my brothers, but I can feel a presence here that should not be," Wilhelm Herze spoke. He quickly felt the cloth of the invisibility cloak and yanked it.

"Ianthé, what in Merlin's name are you doing in this meeting?"

Edmond just shook his head. If I'm in big trouble, then so be it.

"This is bigotry and you know it!" Ianthé shouted, "How come no female family member was invited in this meeting? We can do our part in all of this!"

"Glad to hear your views on feminism, but you are not welcome here, child!" Wilhelm spoke loudly.

"I am not a child anymore, Uncle Willie! I just want to say my opinion in this whole mumbo-jumbo since Papa included me in your plans!"

"Ianthé, you will not speak of it in this meeting!" Alex Herze spoke threateningly.

"I want to be part of this! I am a Herze, am I not? You told me about using my brains to get gains. I want to use them now! For this family's cause!"

Uncle Alfonse smiled, "I must say… she is right…"

"Don't you side with her, Alfonse!" Wilhelm shouted.

"Silence!" Alex shouted once more.

"All we can do is indeed play the two sides but wisely," Ianthé said loudly to the much older and more experienced in cunning male members of the Herze family.

"What do you propose us to do?"

"Okay, so we got You-Know-Who convinced. The question is, how to get the other side --- Dumbledore's side --- convinced without the Ministry knowing it? Pretty simple, really…" Ianthé smiled.

"Simple? We are known in this community as an arrogant bunch of purebloods. How can we infiltrate and be amongst those impure half-bloods and blood traitors?" Uncle Wilhelm shuddered.

"That's where our problem lies, dear Uncle…" Ianthé's laugh echoed in the cavernous hall, "We have separated ourselves from them. That made our family weak. We do have connections in and out of the Ministry, but we cannot connect with the ordinary folk… We do not have that power."

"What do you suggest we do, then?" Ianthé's father asked.

"If you put our people amongst the Death Eaters, we should put someone inconspicuous inside Dumbledore's circle, especially inside Hogwarts."

"Impossible!" Uncle Wilhelm shouted as many of the other family members debated.

"It can be possible!" Ianthé shouted. The hall became quiet once more.

"What do you propose?" Alex Herze asked.

"Who do you think is inconspicuous? Who do you think can go in and out of Hogwarts? Who do you think can determine if the Dark Lord has recruited students as Death Eaters?" Ianthé paced around the room.

"A student… someone who is almost invisible but still has connections within the four Houses. Someone who can report to us immediately any suspicious activities in Hogwarts," Edmond said thoughtfully.

As if some invisible spontaneous brainwave hit all of those who were there because of what Edmond Herze said. All of them looked at Ianthé.

"That's right, my dearest father, uncles, great uncles and cousins. Me."

"That's impossible!"

"Totally crazy!"

"She's possibly gone mental!"
Uncle Alfonse laughed loudly and the uproar was doused, "That's the most brilliant thing I have ever heard this evening! Honestly, Alex, she compensates her gender! She's absolutely demented!"

Ianthé's father looked concerned, "I have shielded you from danger but you want to face it haphazardly with what you proposed?"

"I will not be in any danger or whatsoever, Papa. I will be hidden and I have not created anything that would make me known, so I really am inconspicuous."

"You be careful, child! That school harbors the spawn of those horrible Death Eaters. They may be purebloods like us, but they have committed atrocities that are below us. I am warning you, my child," Uncle Wilhelm said as he patted Ianthé's back.

Whew! There's nothing like your whole family at your side!

The meeting was over and everyone was leaving the Herze mansion. Alfonse Herze, together with his son Edmond, were the only ones left behind.

"Ianthé, come here for a second."

"What is it, Uncle?"

"I have sources from the Ministry saying that they will be sending Dolores Umbridge as your next professor in Defense against the Dark Arts."

"That foul woman! That toad? As professor?"

"Relax, cousin. We have an early birthday present for you…" Edmond handed her an extremely large package.

"What's this?"

"Some things to help you survive your fifth year…" Uncle Alfonse winked at her. The father and son stepped into the fireplace and disappeared into the emerald flames.