A/N: This is the last regular chapter so there is quite a bit going on and makes it a longer than the average chapter. Almost all of the loose ends are wrapped up in here. As I mentioned in the last chapter, I have a few ideas for some one-offs from this universe...more on those after the epilogue. I don't want to give anything away for that or this chapter.

This is the chapter for those who love when Harry gets to be the hero. I promised it would come and it did, it was just at the end.

You get one more lemon before the HEA...of course they are going to get an HEA, it really should have never been in doubt.

Thanks to everyone who read, liked, favorited, followed, reviewed, etc. It has been a pretty cool experience. The epilogue is done and will be up shortly as well.

' - - - - - - '

Harry, Kingsley, Severus and Arthur sat around a table talking about the letter Stephanie Phoenix had sent. Arthur had no idea how she was able to get an official seal and stamp, as those were only accessible to a select few and required to be kept under lock and key. Severus was more worried as to why she was refusing to see a healer. It wasn't like she was an escaped death eater. Kingsley worried if these children, who were forced to grow too quickly, would ever catch a break. Harry was just worried about everything and realizing he couldn't protect everyone he loved at the moment. All were frustrated in their own way.

"I can't let go of the fact that she is refusing to see a healer. It does not make any sense unless she is not actually Stephanie. But, instead, someone is parading as Stephanie." The other three men in the room looked to Severus as he may have just found the key. They weren't sure the hows or whys but at that moment the idea clicked in each of their heads.

"Polyjuice?"

"Maybe. Could be a glamour charm. There are a number of ways it could have happened. The question is who would do it and where is the real Stephanie." Kingsley answered as he sent a paper airplane out the window and a short woman wearing an auror robe walked into the room.

"Here is the list sir." She handed something to Kingsley before quickly leaving the room.

"This is a list of former death eaters who we have left to apprehend." The group reviewed the extremely short list and none of the individuals fit this scenario.

"What if it was someone who disliked Hermione? It seems that attacking her family means the motivation was her and not Malfoy." With everyone agreeing with him, Harry set out to list all the individuals he thought would want to harm his sister. Again, the list was short and consisted of the snitch and a toad. The snitch he had seen earlier in the day and apparently the role of Ministry intern was not what she expected. She was complaining about no one listening to her wonderful ideas and how insulting it was to be fetching coffee and tea for others. The toad hadn't been seen for a couple of years and rumor has it was running with the centaurs in the Forbidden Forrest. But, Harry thought he was missing someone. "Severus, can you think of anyone else?", while handing him the list.

"The only person I can think of is Lavender Brown, but she is under Ministry arrest since her attack at the school." Kingsley grunted.

"I wish she was. She got here and started to act up. Well, to be more precise, she started to babble in a non-sequitur manner and make feeble attempts to harm herself. It was really nothing more than a scratch to her arm but the auror was concerned. In response we had to take her to St. Mungos for evaluation. She has been under their supervision since. We can't charge her until they sign off on her mental stability." Kingsley rolled his eyes. He knew the girl was lying in an attempt to save her skin. Harry was less pleased than Kingsley.

"Is she under guard? When was the last time anyone checked on her?" Harry was now certain he knew who was parading as Stephanie. The attempt to dissolve the marriage now made more sense as she had always desired to be popular and craved the attention of the student body. Being the mother of the bride would provide her with some of that attention. Finally, she hated Hermione for all that she had able to accomplish. The friendship with Harry, the acclaim that came with the war but, her relationship with Draco seemed to push Lavender over the edge. "We need to get over there now."

Harry stood and left the room not waiting for the rest to follow. With the Minister of Magic and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement present, the hospital had little issue with allowing them to observe a patient. What shocked the head administrator was finding Lavender's room empty with no indication of recent occupation. With unexpected speed, the hospital was locked down and a complete search was initiated. The head of staff responsible for Lavender's care was brought in and questioned.

Healer Opfeer stated that the last time he saw the patient was two weeks prior. He had a discussion with one of the other healers regarding her stability. The other healer felt that she was stable enough for trial but Opfeer disagreed and overruled the diagnosis. Harry and Severus both believed Healer Opfeer was either not being completely truthful or he was hiding something. Each started to use legilimency on the healer and both men were surprised to find that he was the uncle of Brown. But, Harry was the first to see what they all wanted to know. In the memory he saw Stephanie in a room and Lavender standing over her. Delving a little deeper, Harry was able to identify the room was located in the hospital.

"Kingsley he needs to be arrested. He is related to Lavender and they were the ones who are responsible for Stephanie's disappearance. Stephanie is being held here, at St. Mungo's." Harry left the room to find the missing woman. Healer Opfeer attempted to escape but Severus, seeing his plan, quickly disarmed and bound the man while Kingsley called for extra backup. Kingsley then left to help Harry. Not that Harry needed it. He had already found the room and Stephanie. Luckily she hadn't been hurt too badly but was extremely weak.

To ensure her safety, she was placed into a secured room with a protection detail. A few other aurors were placed around the area where Stephanie was held captive for whenever Lavender showed up again. Not liking the idea of just waiting on whenever Lavender would reappear; Harry tried to reason out where she might currently be. It didn't take long for an idea to being to take shape.

"I think I know where she is. Kingsley would you and a couple of aurors come with me?" Agreeing, Kingsley and selected a few trusted aurors followed Harry to the apparition point just outside of the hospital. Severus followed along due to his own interest in seeing what Harry had deduced. "I think she would be at Phoenix Manor. I know Percy had said they were opening the house but they aren't going out in public yet."

Severus agreed and added "Percy and I have been discussing a few things and mentioned an argument they had about it. Apparently Stephanie has been wanting to go shop and be seen. She even made a comment about all the money in the vaults and how it's been going to waste for the last eighteen years. And finally, wanting to have a huge ball that would, and I am quoting here, 'Make that Malfoy Yule Ball seem like a child's party'. Everything really seems to make sense now, knowing that it is Lavender." In the blink of an eye Harry, Kingsley and the aurors were standing at the gates of Phoenix Manor.

"Harry do you have a plan? How do we make sure Percy doesn't try to interfere?" Kingsley did not want to have to stun the man who he was beginning to think of as a close friend. With that Severus appeared next to the group.

"I'll make sure Percy doesn't overreact." As Harry was leading the group toward the Manor he came to the realization this wasn't his role. It upset him to know he couldn't be the lead person.

"Kingsley since I have no authority, I think we could go up together but you'll need to take the lead. We should know pretty quickly if she is there." Kingsley agreed and the accompanying aurors were quite impressed with what the young man had done thus far. His calm demeanor and acknowledgement that he couldn't be seen as anyone other than a bystander also impressed the men. Most wanted the perceived glory that came with the role. The aurors had heard the rumors of Harry wanting to join the corps and so far he appeared to be someone who would be able to do the job very well. The small group headed up the pathway to the front doors. Upon reaching the opening they found Percy standing on the porch watching the individuals as they made their approach. The wards had alerted Percy to someone accessing the grounds. As the home was still under protection charms and wards only a few individuals could actually pass onto the grounds proper.

' - - - - - - '

"Hello Gentlemen. What may I do for you today?" Percy appeared quite weary and almost apprehensive about why these men, as a group, were visiting.

"Whose there?" Stephanie walked outside and stood beside her husband. "Well, if it isn't my traitor of a daughter's friend. Get off my property now." Percy was shocked and the half step he took in response to her vicious words was more than enough for Harry. Before Stephanie could reach for her wand, she was bound on the ground and Severus was pulling Percy away. Kingsley pulled Harry behind him and pointed his wand at the witch. The other aurors did the same as they too had noticed her attempt to grab her wand.

"What is he doing? Stephanie is sick!"

"That isn't Stephanie." Percy was silent in equal parts shock and relief. "She was taken almost a month ago and held captive. Harry found her and she is currently under protective watch at St. Mungo's. This person is someone who went to school with Hermione and has a vendetta against her." Percy felt like being sick. He thanked Merlin and all the muggle deities he knew that Stephanie's actions had been so revolting to him, he refused to have any relations with his wife during this time.

"I am Stephanie and in nine months I'll have a child that will be raised correctly. That brat will not have a home here and I intend to bring charges of family abandonment against her. She'll finally see what it is like to be when she isn't the 'golden' girl anymore." Harry raised a questioning eye at the witch before shaking his head. Lavender really hadn't changed at all after the war.

"If you are pregnant it isn't my child. I have not been in the same room as you since we came back to the Manor." Percy faced Kingsley. "I know the abandonment charges won't stick and I refuse to agree if the Ministry attempted such of thing. That said, I would like to bring any charges I can against this thing. I would like to see my Stephanie now would Severus be able to get me in?" Stephanie screamed in frustration as the bounds grew tighter against her struggles. Finally, Severus was sick of hearing the ranting and silenced the witch on the porch. All the other wizards nodded in appreciation.

Kingsley agreed to Percy's request and Severus, with a couple of aurors, left to return to the hospital, while everyone else stood waiting for the polyjuice potion to wear off. As the transformation was starting one of the house elves came out and started to try and pour another vile into the immobilized girl's mouth. Harry gently stopped the elf.

"Why are you giving her this potion?" The elf, who was very young and shy, had a hard time speaking to the Mr. Harry Potter.

"Mr. Harry, sir, she is my mistress and I have been ordered to give this to her. It's for the baby she is carrying. If I fail then I'm the reason the baby died and I will be removed from the manner. She has shown me the sock." The elf struggled to break free from Harry's grasp.

"What's your name?"

"Scrappy, Mr. Harry, sir."

"Scrappy, I have to tell you that she isn't pregnant. She is pretending. Also she isn't Stephanie. This is a person who is pretending to be Stephanie in order to hurt Percy and Hermione." Had Harry been part of the wizarding world for his entire life he would have expected the elf's response, but alas, he had no idea what the elf was about to do. Scrappy immediately lost her mind.

"Oh no! I helps the wrong person! Mr. Percy is going to be so mad at me. I was supposed to help her." Scrappy broke from Harry grip and began to beat her head on the marble steps before Harry was able to pick her up.

"Scrappy it isn't your fault. It took us almost a month to figure it out. Do not blame yourself. Miss Hermione will be sad if she finds you hurting yourself. Have you met Miss Hermione and Mr. Draco yet?" The elf nodded her head. "Well, they don't like their elves to hurt themselves. So let's not start that again. Ok?"

"Yes Mr. Harry Potter, sir." With that the polyjuice potion wore off and Lavender Brown lay immobilized and silenced on the front porch of the Manor. Kingsley motioned to the aurors, who took her and left. This time there would be no need for an evaluation, the notes from the prior healer noted Lavender's competence. She and her uncle would both be tried and would spend a long time in Azkaban.

Harry and Scrappy went through the Manor confirming Lavender had not left any hexes, spells, curses or other surprises. A couple things were identified during the search but as she wasn't that great of witch, the neutralization of the items was almost too easy for Harry.

After confirming the Manor was safe, Kingsley left to complete some paperwork before returning to the hospital. Upon entering his office he smiled at the small stack of reports on his desk. The results of the entrance exams had been finalized. He smiled as he flipped through the stack to find the one for 'H. Potter'. Grabbing it he left to inform his newest auror trainee of his acceptance to the program. If Kingsley was lucky, Harry would agree to start immediately.

' - - - - - - '

It didn't take Hermione and Draco long to arrive at St. Mungo's. In fact, the reason Severus arrived at Phoenix Manor after the rest was because he had stopped to call Draco and inform him of what they had discovered. Hermione was saddened to realize all their recent heartache had been at the hands of Lavender Brown. At the moment she heard Severus explaining what had occurred, Hermione knew she and Draco would have to redo their ceremony. This was not only so Stephanie could attend, but to allow Narcissa and Percy their rightful places. Before that would happen, she swore to her husband and son their safety would be ensured.

When they arrived at the hospital, they were escorted to the room where Stephanie was recovering. Luckily, she had not received any physical harm but had not been given sufficient food or drink and was suffering from mild dehydration. The doctors explained for Stephanie to be released, she would have to finish a couple rounds of hydration and hold down solid food. The expectation, assumption, and hope was for that to be in a day or two, once she recovered her strength.

' - - - - - - '

"I don't understand his motivation. I get wanting to keep his niece from prison but why assist in taking my mom?" Hermione stated as she and Draco arrived at their home, the cottage. After being told to leave by Percy, who knew Hermione needed time to come to terms with everything and to eat, Draco finally got Hermione to agree. Upon arrival to the house they found the elves had furnished and stocked the home for their new Master and Mistress.

What surprised them more were the elves waiting for them on the porch. Twinky and Kitmu stood with large smiles on their face and Twinky was bouncing with a nervous anticipation. During the stay at the villa Narcissa and Percy discussed the cottage and how to ensure Draco, Hermione and the baby received the best care. It had been decided the elves at the manors would be asked and those wanting to be at the cottage would be stationed there. As a smaller home, the number of elves needed as support staff would not be as great as the need at either of the manors, but the need would still exceed a few dozen.

Scrappy, after her perceived failure to protect her mistress, had decided to move to the cottage along with a few other Phoenix elves. She felt incredibly guilty over her failure at identifying the fake Stephanie and felt she could better atone for her perceived failure with assisting Hermione. Harry had relayed the young elf's request to Percy who agreed after ensuring the elf he was not mad at her. And thanked Scrappy for wanting to assist his daughter. Twinky took the young elf under her wing.

Kitmu was in charge of the kitchen and ensuring the young couple ate. After the villa, he did not fully trust them to not forget. Now that his Mistress was pregnant, Kitmu swore to be even more vigilant in caring for them. Twinky was in charge of the house. She knew life would only get more exciting once the newest Master was born. Twinky had just been a young elf when Draco was born and had helped raise him. In Scrappy, Twinky saw herself from all those years ago.

Hermione and Draco entered the home and where directed to their room in order to freshened themselves and take a slight rest before dinner. Twinky warned both Hermione and Draco of Kitmu's resolve and for them not to be late. Both laughed and agreed to be ready to eat in a couple of hours. Twinky agreed to inform Kitmu of their plans.

Draco studied his wife and smiled realizing they had been granted more than enough time to christen their new bedroom. Hermione was too entranced with beautiful room to notice her husband's silent advance. His arms wrapping around her waist was her first warning and by then it was too late. Draco's lips hungrily descended to Hermione's neck while his hands roamed her arms.

"Draco!"

"My lovely wife it has been too long." Given they were still on their honeymoon, having not been inside his wife in over six hours was torture for the man. Before Hermione could respond, Draco's right hand cupped her breast while the left hand already opened her pants and his fingers were already sliding through her folds.

"Oh gods Draco." Hermione's hips were thrusting against his hard, trouser covered cock. Reaching behind, Hermione unzipped the zipper, slipped her hand into his boxers and gripped his cock possessively.

"Mine. You are mine."

"Yours and only yours, Hermione. The time for teasing is over." With that Hermione was lifted and carried to their bed. At the foot of the bed, Draco undressed Hermione reverently. Hermione did the same for her husband. She traced her fingers over the Phoenix crest now clearly visible on her husband's chest. She leaned forward, and as became habit, she gently kissed and laved the crest before opening herself to her husband. Each kiss Hermione gave to the crest increased Draco's desire for his wife. As Hermione stood Draco picked her up and laid her on the bed. Her hair fell in a halo on the pillow and instinctively her legs opened.

Draco picked up her left foot and began to kiss each toe, the sole of her foot and the ankle. His fingers followed behind the kisses and slowly massaged each place. Hermione moaned in want and need of her husband. Draco continued to kiss and massage up the left leg until he reached the juncture where he bit her the fist time they were together. He reverently kissed the spot before moving to her right foot. Hermione had come to expect this, as it had become his routine. It was a routine she hoped he wouldn't break. As her right leg received the same loving attention, Hermione's core was dripping with want and desire. If it could think and remember, it would know soon Draco's lips and tongue would throughly lavish it as well. Hermione's own mind, with its well documented ability to think and remember, was having a difficult time remembering the pleasure she had received prior. Instead, it was begging for Draco to move faster.

As Draco finished his review of Hermione's legs, he knelt between those legs and stared at one of the best views he could imagine. Hermione's eyes were dark and unfocused, her fingers were fondling her breasts and her pussy was weeping with want of him. Leaning down he took a lick and groaned in pleasure at her flavor. Although she was only just pregnant her flavor already was changing due to hormones. Draco lifted her hips and allowed himself to suckle on his wife's juice. His fingers slid deeply into her as he attacked her clit. The intensity of Hermione's screams of pleasure were increasing with each suck and thrust. Hermione's hands took purchase on Draco's head as she pulled him closer to her. She was reaching her climax as the fingers on Draco's other hand began to press into her ass. With both Draco's tongue and fingers in her she rarely lasted long. Draco needed to be in her and she needed to climax before that happened. He continued his assault on his wife's nerve ending as she trashed and screamed for him.

"Fuck Draco, yes. Gods more. Please."

Draco didn't need to hear her beg, but by gods that did something to him. He hardened even more as Hermione's juices dropped off of his chin. Her legs wrapped around his head as her climax approached. Draco sunk three fingers into her back side as his fingers replaced his tongue inside her. His mouth attached itself to her clit. Hermione knew from the first time she allowed him to take her from behind that she enjoyed having both of her channels filled by her husband. If they had time maybe he would claim her all over again. Thinking of his cock filling her while he was fingering and sucking her pushed her over the edge. Coming down from the climax, Hermione opened her eyes to find the simmering silver eyes of her husband a few centimeters from her face. Lifting up slightly, Hermione's lips met Draco's as he lowered himself onto his witch. His wife.

At the reminder she was his wife, Draco brushed his tip against her still sensitive clit. Hermione's moan opened her mouth and Draco took advantage by thrusting his tongue into her mouth. As his tongue entered Hermione's mouth, his hips thrust and his cock pushed into its most favorite place. Hermione was hot and wet. She took her wizard and thrust to meet his movements. Draco grunted when his hips met with Hermione's hips. He wanted to be deeper. He wanted everything Hermione could give him.

With a second grunt pulled out and thrust his hips, again driving himself into Hermione. Pulling away from her lips, he remained implanted in Hermione as he lifted her hips and drove deeper. With each thrust her breast jiggled. The Malfoy crest was a beacon to him. The crest symbolized all things to him. Staring at the crest, his thrusts became more aggressive. Hermione's screams of pleasure mixed with his and the sound of their skin slapping together. Leaning over he took her nipple into his mouth. Suckling on her breast while pounding into her was a fantasy he never really thought would occur. As he began to feel her tightening around him, he bit gently onto the nipple. After receiving the crests both noticed the nipple to be more sensitive during their couplings. Hermione responded to the bite by trying to pull him deeper into her before as her orgasm ripped through her body, two thrusts later Draco poured himself into Hermione. He collapsed and rolled the two so Hermione was laying on him and he was still in her. As the aftershocks of the orgasm rippled through Hermione, the movement of the muscles began to caress Draco's member.

Hermione, feeling Draco harden and knowing she could not take another round at the moment, adjusted herself to allow Draco to slip out of her. Draco feeling spent hadn't realized Hermione had moved until the coolness of not being inside her registered. Opening one eye Draco saw Hermione turning. She had her back to Draco and swung one leg over him. She was now straddling him while sitting on his chest and leaning toward his cock. Her fingers wrapped themselves around him and began to slide easily over him. Their combined juices made an excellent lube. As he hardened she leaned and took him into her mouth. Hermione thought for a moment how thankful she was for her husband's libido. Grunting Draco pushed his hips up driving himself farther into her mouth. His hands went to her hips to hold her in place. For the first time Draco realized his hands spanned more than half of her perfect ass. And with minimal stretching he could hold her in place and press his fingers into her ass.

Hermione continued to suck and lick her husband. Over the course of the honeymoon, both had learned they greatly enjoyed the combined flavor created after sex. Hermione was devouring Draco's cock and again missed Draco slipping his fingers into her. With a groan that vibrated across the cock firmly down her throat, Hermione began to rotate her hips toward her husband. Taking advantage of the movement Draco lifted Hermione slightly. This allowed her legs to kick out behind her and for Draco to pull her toward his mouth. As he again began to fuck her with his tongue, his fingers continued their thrusts. Hermione had never had Draco do this while she gave him a blow job. She never thought about having him fill her totally, at the same time, but it was an amazing feeling. He claimed her in a new way. Her senses were getting quickly overloaded. Draco was reaching the same point and when she came again so did he.

Sweaty and sated, at least temporarily, the couple righted themselves and pulled the blankets up. A nap was most definitely needed at this point. Kitmu, sensing the magic melding in the master bedroom, set the food aside knowing it would be another couple hours before they would emerge to eat. He had no compunction about walking in on the couple, but the magic bonding the two was getting stronger and based on the prophesy surrounding them there was still so much to happen. He smiled a little elfin smile and went to find Twinky. Maybe they would take a little rest before they were needed again. Twinky, sensing Kitmu's desire, winked and then popped into their shared bed chamber.

' - - - - - - '

After their rest, Draco and Hermione entered the dining room to find a simple lunch but more than enough food for the both of them. They each filled their plate and sat to enjoy the meal. Although the large table was long enough for twelve, Kitmu arranged the place settings so the couple could sit next to each other.

"Draco did Severus say anything as to the reasons this happened?" Hermione, now stated sexually and full of food, could focus on the mystery at hand.

"No. I'm pretty sure you heard everything he said when he called. And we were together the entire time at the hospital. Maybe Kingsley will have gotten something from one of them during the interrogation." Hermione nodded knowing that was the best possible answer. A short while later the couple arrived at the Ministry to learn if there was any new information. They were met by Harry.

"Harry? Do you have something you want to tell me?" Hermione was confused and a little upset to see Harry in official ministry robes. Harry laughed at the slightly upset face Hermione was making.

"I haven't really had a chance to talk to you since you went off to some mysterious villa on a beach. So I'll give you the condensed version of what we have all been doing and fill in the rest later over dinner. Ginny is set about updating Grimmauld Place for me. She has trying to get Kreatcher to agree to accepting help with the project but, he is being his obstinate self. If setting him free wouldn't kill him, I'd give him a sock post haste." Draco watched in rapt attention, he had heard about the elf at Grimmauld.

"Maybe we could send Kitmu over to help Ginny." Both men stared at the witch before them. Draco turned Hermione to face him and lifted his hand to her forehead.

"I don't think she has a fever. But I'm not sure why we aren't hearing a long diatribe about house elf rights." Harry nodded in agreement, he hadn't intended on going off about the inherited inhabitant of the house. Hermione let out a little growl.

"If you must know, I have had some conversations with Twinky. You and I have had some discussions on how this world works. I have come to realize that maybe the elves aren't as downtrodden as I had thought. That said, I still think there should be some rules regarding how they are treated. But that is not what we came here to learn or what Harry intended for us to discuss."

"No it certainly isn't and I'm sorry about mentioning it, I honestly hadn't intended to but Ginny just sent a note about his latest compliant. If you think Kitmu would be willing, we will accept any help. I'm not sure it is possible, but maybe having other elves would be a good thing for him." Harry rubbed his head because that elf was probably going to be the death of him. He was surprised but not shocked when Hermione gave him a hug. He had missed those while she had been on her honeymoon. Her hugs were what he thought his mom's hugs would have been like. They were warm and comforting. The inner storm was calmed, temporarily.

"Ok, now that I have my hug I can continue. The day after you and Draco left for your honeymoon, I contacted Kingsley and set up my entrance exams for the auror corps. By the end of the next day I had taken all the written exams and a few of the practical ones as well. I am thankful to Severus for the time he spent with Draco going over potions. I picked up enough to pass that practical. The rest of the practicals were obviously difficult but potions was my biggest concern. The written exams take time to review and I had not received the results before everything happened today. After having to step aside and watch as Kingsley and the other aurors did everything with Stephanie, aka Lavender, I knew that was the life I wanted. I was here with Percy and Stephanie when Kingsley returned. Apparently the results were finalized sometime today and he gave me mine. I passed with the second highest results ever and I was immediately offered a place in the training class. I accepted Kingsley offer and assisted in the paperwork that went with the apprehension of Lavender and her uncle. The training program begins next week. It lasts for almost six weeks and I will be on probation for six months after it is completed. Once the probationary period is over, my work will be reviewed and it will be determined if I will remain in the auror corp or not."

Hermione smiled at her friend before giving him a second hug. "I'm pleased for you. I think going back to school was important but I could tell how utterly bored you were. If it wasn't for everything that happened with Ron, I think you may have lost your mind." She hadn't really thought about Ron for months and it appeared Harry hadn't really either. Their hug tightened a little before they released each other.

"I'm happy for you too. It's always good to have an auror as a friend. Never know when you may need some assistance. And given who my wife is, I may need it since danger seems to follow her." Draco slapped Harry on the back and smiled at his wife.

"That is a true statement Draco. So now you know the quick story on me. This afternoon has become my official first day and other than paperwork, it consists of explaining to my best friend how her mother was taken. Let's go inside, I have a conference room set up with everything we have learned. There are still a few holes but I think we have the basic idea of what happened."

Entering the conference room, Hermione noticed a large board with pictures and strings attached to the pictures with pushpins. It was very similar to the old detective movies Hermione had watched while growing up. She laughed knowing Harry had set it up, any wizard raised in the magic world, would have connected the pictures with magical connections. Harry shrugged and pointed to the far left side where a young picture of Stephanie, Percy and another man started the storyboard. The three sat as Harry pointed to the pictures on the board.

"Obviously you recognize your parents. Who you probably don't recognize is the third person. That is William Opfeer. He met and befriended Stephanie at Hogwarts. From the first moment he saw her, he wanted her. Stephanie, having already met Narcissa and Louisa, didn't realize Will was attracted to her. And after her first meeting with Percy, it wouldn't have mattered if she did know. Stephanie fell in love with Percy almost the moment they met." Hermione smiled. Based on the stories her father had told her and the time she spent with her actual mother over the holidays, she knew their love was almost a 'love at first sight' type of love.

"Will was always trying to be on the periphery of Stephanie's life. He stated he was going to be there when Percy eventually broke her heart and left her. Will was also in Gryffindor and felt no love for anything Slytherin. When Percy and Stephanie were married he cursed them, at least in his own mind. When they were 'killed' Will left Britain to mourn. He eventually decided return to school for additional schooling and was accepted to a school in France where he trained to become a mind healer. He only returned to Britain after the war."

Hermione nodded at the timeline. It seemed reasonable. The guy had his heart broken and left.

"So he has wanted my mom for decades and took the opportunity to get her? How did he get close enough? I'm sure my father wasn't going to just let the guy in the house and leave with mother. How was he allowed to treat his niece? Aren't there conflict of interest concerns in this world?" Harry chuckled as he had asked all of the same question.

"It turns out when he applied at St. Mungo's, he didn't list the Browns as related. In fact he claimed he was an orphan with an unknown past." Hermione was stunned and Draco was just pissed. Both reactions were based on the fact the hospital hadn't verified any of the details provided on the application.

"You mean there were no background checks, confirmations of the story, or verifications of schooling? I hope the board has been informed of this." Draco, after being around Hermione for so long, had taken up pacing when frustrated. Harry shook his head slowly before continuing.

"No, apparently the medical school in France provided those transcripts, which appear accurate but no one looked into his wizarding school records. It seems the hospital doesn't follow its own policies regarding new employment verification." Draco let out a growl of frustration. His wedding had been ruined by an unrequited love for his wife's mother.

"Before Draco blows up, let me finish was we do know. Will was actually an orphan of sorts. When he was six his parents were killed in a potions explosion. The details on the accident are extremely sketchy, this is one of areas we are waiting to hear more details about, but it was in the old Soviet block. Will refuses to give a lot of details but we think it was either the Ukraine or Belarus. After the explosion he was sent to live with his closest relatives here in Britain. Lavender's mother and Will's mother were sisters. There was some falling out between them. Again, another mystery for us to understand. We have sent a request to both the Belarus and Ukrainian Ministries asking for any information on the family and explosion. We are waiting to hear back from them."

Hermione was beginning to feel like this was going to be something bigger than just some unrequited love story. Draco was looking at the board of pictures and had moved to the ones not yet mentioned by Harry.

"So Will was taken in and raised by Lavender's grandparents. The cousins were raised as siblings but there appears there was some friction in the family. Lavender is still playing the "crazy" card but I really believe her uncle is the one that needs to be locked up. He seems to believe that with enough time Stephanie would have realized she loved him."

Draco was still stuck on the board. "Potter, do you think there is some connection to his parents? When you mentioned Ukraine it triggered something in my memory but I can't put my finger on it."

"Severus said the same thing when this came to light. I would assume it is either something to do with potions since it was a potions explosion or something else that you and Severus share." Harry really didn't want to bring up Death Eaters. Draco was nodding but not necessarily about what Harry had said. His mind was racing to connect the dots.

"Dolohov. He was from the Ukraine. I'm almost certain of it." Draco was tapping his fingers on the board. "There was something he talked about at the Manor. I never really understood him, his accent was always thick." Draco went back to his thoughts not realizing the expressions of the two others in the room. Harry looked to Hermione and while she was pale she was focused on Draco.

"He died in the final battle. That I am sure of. His was one of the bodies I personally cleared." Hermione stated very clearly and Draco realized what that name would mean to his wife, he quickly refocused on her.

"I'm sorry, I should have been more thoughtful. I had forgotten about the Department of Mysteries. Yes, he did die. I may have assisted in that one. But I wasn't inferring he was alive. I think we've had more than enough people return. I was just trying to figure out why Ukraine seemed important. Maybe it is just a coincidence." Draco was doubting that was it but like Hermione, he likes all the facts before drawing a conclusion.

"So how does Lavender actually play into this? She was locked up before my parents returned."

"Based on a review of the records, we know she was in the hospital two weeks ago. Before that, the last time we have verification completed by someone other than Will, was over the Easter holidays. A fill-in healer noted observing her. Will was on a mandatory rest so either they made sure she was there or he hadn't figured out how to use her yet."

"Since mom wasn't taken until the end of term, I would bet he hadn't decided to use her yet. So I think we can safely say she was in the hospital until June. Lavender isn't bright enough to come up with this plan or to brew polyjuice. That has to be Will. And this is another connections to potions. Did the healers find anything unusual in mom's results? Maybe Will was feeding her some sort of potion also?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary was found, just the dehydration from not getting enough nourishment." Harry opened her medical record and reviewed the results. "I can't show these to you because of confidentiality but I want to. I don't fully understand what the results are telling."

Hermione and Draco nodded in agreement. Draco had been running potential plots including potions through his mind. He really needed Severus. There had been an article in last year about a breakthrough with memory loss.

"Harry is Severus here? There was something I read recently and I wonder if it could be something." Draco trailed off as his mind worked through possible adjustments to the formula. The use of Jobberknoll feathers and scarab beetles have been known to help with memory loss but if they were replaced with mistletoe berries and valerian sprigs may be a combination to remove memories. Mistletoe berries have been noted to cause mild dehydration. That combined with not giving her enough water could get someone what the healers noted for Stephanie. If Will's intent was to erase her memories they would need to be replaced with something else. But how would they be replaced? That had to be what Will wanted.

Hermione noticed the intensity of Draco's thoughts and how after asking his question his mind wandered back to wherever it was. Harry had left to get Severus because he too believed Draco was onto something. Harry had no idea what but, he had the two smartest people he knew working on it and one of them was going to figure it out. Upon knocking on the room where Stephanie was recovering, Harry found Severus sitting and discussing his plans for Draco's apprenticeship with Percy while Stephanie slept.

"Severus, Draco and Hermione are here and he has some potion questions for you. I think it would be good idea for Stephanie's healer to come along. I don't understand Stephanie's results and I don't want to miss something because I didn't know to look for it or that it was there." Severus was pleased to see Harry asking others for help and not being forced to accept help. Nodding the potions master stood and followed Harry out of the room. At the door to the conference room, Harry met Healer Jones. Severus and Healer Jones entered the room as Kingsley caught Harry's attention and pulled him to the side.

In the conference room, Draco was busy scribbling notes with Hermione watching with pride. Severus walked over and reviewed what Draco was furiously detailing. What he saw was the new memory potion and a modified version. Looking at the ingredients, Severus quickly identified the modified potion would be a memory eraser. "Draco, what are you thinking?" Shocked at Severus voice, Draco jumped a little and started in on his theory.

"I think Will intended for Stephanie's memories of Percy and Hermione to be erased. What I am not sure is what his next move would be. If it were me, it would be to replace those memories with ones of me. And make her believe the last twenty years hadn't happened."

Hermione gasped at the thought. She had just found her mother. "Is that potion possible?"

"Yes, it is. Or at least it is rumored to be possible…" Severus started to explain one of the mythical potions that circulated in the world of potions. Interrupting Severus, Harry and Kingsley walked into the room with a file folder.

"This is the official investigation into the potions explosion that killed Will's parents. Apparently they were working for some underground organization. The details are sketchy at best, the Ukrainian Ministry believes the individuals for whom his parents worked, wanted to modify the memories certain individuals. These people thought the best way to instill fear in their enemies was to use the potion on their enemy's family members. Instead of killing the family, they wanted them to forget their family and replace the memories with ones where they hated their actual family members. Psychological warfare, if you will. Based on what is here, these individuals believed an oblivate curse could be reversed regardless of how strong the caster made it. This potion, supposedly, could not be reversed, and it would not fade if it was ingested once every ten years."

Harry had handed over the file to Draco and Severus who quickly got to where the potion was detailed. What they saw explained why the explosion occurred. Severus was tsking at what he saw. The potion master and apprentice gave each other a look before addressing the rest of the room.

"It appears this potion is an impossible task. The main ingredients are red spiders and the horn of the Erumpent. Both of these are explosive and when combined, in any amount, they cause an immediate and unstoppable explosion." Severus wanted to make a comment about not even Longbottom being naive enough to do this, he held his tongue. "What confuses me is why two well respected individuals in the potion world would even attempt this? Apparently Mr. Opfeer changed his name upon moving in with Lavender's family. His parents were Rose and Igor Zylliakov and were both masters in potions. I had studied their work during my own apprenticeship."

Kingsley, though following along, wanted to be clear. "Severus, so what you are saying is the potion detailed in the investigation, to replace memories in a permanent manner, is impossible and in fact deadly to anyone who tried it?" Severus nodded once. "So his parents died making it and he just decides to try it as well? He isn't a potion master, why would he even attempt it?"

"That is one of the questions that makes this theory unbelievable. What Draco has mapped out, is only a guess and could only be attempted by someone with great skills. Based on what I remember of Will Opfeer, he lacked the fundamental understanding at Hogwarts. Granted, I was a year behind him, but I did hear Slughorn complain about this on a fairly regular basis."

Again Draco and Hermione were on the same page about not wanting to make any conclusions until all the facts were in place. Right now, Hermione thought it would be best if the potential potion plot was put on hold to see if any other prospective plots could be identified.

"Until Kingsley can get permission to use veritaserum, let's assume this wasn't his plan. What would Lavender posing as my mother accomplish?" The group sat thinking about the newest questions posed. Sighing a little, Hermione continued her own train of thought. "This sounds like one of the soap operas my mother, Jean the muggle who raised me, would watch." Not everyone was aware of who Jean and Rich Granger actually were. Harry remembered the soap operas his Aunt Petunia would watch as well.

"Those were always so dramatic. But let's use that. I've found the most ridiculous ideas always seem to lead us in the right direction. So let's start with what Lavender said when we arrested her. She claimed she was pregnant." Hermione gasped worried her father and that slag had…had…she didn't want to think about it.

"She isn't. They didn't. Percy stated he hadn't touched her since the engagement party. We also tested her and she is not pregnant." Harry quickly calmed Hermione as he could see her starting to freak about an eternal connection to the Browns.

"Thank Merlin! So she wants to get pregnant in order to stay with my dad. She would have money and acclaim, pretty much everything she wanted. So her part makes sense. Now let's go to Will."

"He wants to be loved. The girl who first caught his attention picks another. He is devastated. After his niece's attempt at murder he uses her to get his chance. We know she was in the hospital during the Yule holidays and after the announcement of your mother's safety, Will concocts the plot. After all these years he has the chance to end up with his true love. He takes Stephanie, and we are positive he was the one to grab her. Severus saw it in his memories. After taking Stephanie, he gets Lavender to take the potion and tells her to keep up the charade or she is going to Azkaban."

"Seems shockingly simple really." Harry was not used to such easy mysteries. Kingsley laughed knowing this would be one of the most complex investigations Harry may see. With Hermione and Draco's map, the aurors quickly located and apprehended the remaining few missing Death Eaters. A knock on the door stopped all conversation, the same short auror from earlier walked in and handed Kingsley another file. She again quickly left. Kingsley read the note on top and flipped through the file.

"Will's home has been searched; based on what we have discussed here and what I read in the Ukraine report, it appears he was going to attempt to make the memory replacement potion. We are going to try and determine where he obtained the ingredients as some of them are quite rare. I would also like for Severus to become a subject expert for us. We have obtained all notes and documents related to potions from the home. I want to make sure there aren't any other secrets the Zylliakovs were hiding."

Severus nodded again. This time he was quite pleased, the opportunity to review those notes could give him some ideas for Draco's apprenticeship.

' - - - - - - '

Two months after arresting the pair, Lavender was sentenced to a rather long stay on a rocky island in the North Atlantic. The Wizengamot decided her attempted attack on Pansy Parkinson (soon to be Zabini) was made with malice and the sentence was for a decade. After hearing of her uncle's plan, her participation in the abduction and charade of Stephanie Phoenix, Lavender was deemed unfit to live in the general population. Her stay was commuted to life and she was immediately transported to the small concrete cell.

Will Opfeer's sentence was different. He was to be held in the high security wing of St. Mungo's and have constant surveillance to observe his mental state. At the point he was deemed mentally stable, he too would be sent to Azkaban. After the verdict was read, the fury of the Brown family was felt by the court. The Browns claimed their daughter had been an unwilling tool used by her uncle. This tactic did not sway anyone present. While the Browns were causing their disturbance, Will was able to snatch the wand of his defender and freeze the man. He turned to where Stephanie and her family sat. Pointing the wand at Stephanie was a ploy; he knew she would never be with him now and the only way to end the misery he felt at not being the one Stephanie chose was to no longer live. His "attack" of Stephanie Phoenix was met with an immediate response from the aurors present. Within a minute of freezing his defender William Zlliakov Opfeer was dead.

' - - - - - - '

A/N - I never really liked Lavender but I do like Kitmu. He's grown on me and will probably appear in one of the other stories. Also, elves need lovin' too.

All that is left now is the epilogue. There will be a time jump to March. Hermione's expectation of her due date was correct...which means the epilogue will introduce the final character in this story. Hope everyone is excited...