"They were attacked Arthur!" Molly Weasley shouted. "He was at her house, and she couldn't keep him safe. He needs to be here. He'd be safe here. We could protect him!"

"And I already told you Molly, it isn't up to us!" Arthur said firmly. "Harry is engaged to Madam Bones' niece, and he is choosing to remain with them for the time being. We should be grateful that he wasn't harmed during the attack."

"But we can protect him better here with us." Molly tried.

"We would be no better equipped to handle a Death Eater attack than Madam Bones." Arthur said, his voice lowering so as not to upset any who might be listening.

Ron was standing at the top of the stairs listening to his parents discussing the events that had occurred the other night at the home of Amelia Bones. It had been reported in the paper and on the wireless, and Ron's mother was becoming more agitated with each passing minute that Ron's best friend Harry Potter wasn't safely within the Burrow.

Ron was just as upset, but only that Harry had once again been attacked. Though, if he understood it correctly, the Death Eaters had not intended to kill Harry, nor had they even been aware that he was staying with Susan and Amelia Bones. It was just an unlucky coincidence. And Harry had managed once again to come out alright.

Ron turned suddenly when something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye to find his younger sister standing at his side. He hadn't even heard her come up the stairs.

"Hey Gin, haven't seen you much lately." Ron smiled, and it was true. Ever since Ron had come back from seeing his best friend with the news that Harry was to marry Susan Bones, Ginny had barely been seen. She preferred to hide out in her bedroom most of the day. When she had come out for meals, she looked very pale and sick, and she barely spoke a word.

"I've had a lot on my mind." Ginny said flatly. "Which is why I'm here. I really need to talk to someone, and I just can't talk to Mum or dad."

"This is about Harry, isn't it?" Ron asked, and Ginny nodded once.

"I figured this was coming." Ron said and headed into his room. Ginny followed and they sat down on the floor. Ron waited for Ginny to begin, which took a few minutes.

"I don't know how I should feel." Ginny finally said. "It's no secret how I feel about Harry, and I always thought he and I would end up together at some point. I mean, yes, I hoped it would be him that I married, but now I feel like I've been robbed of even the chance to find out if there was even a possibility of it. We can't even go out and see if we'd be a good couple. I never even got the chance to kiss him, even just once…"

Ginny's eyes grew unfocused, and Ron sighed as he pondered it all.

"It's unfair." Ron nodded after a bit. "Not just for you, but both Harry and Susan. They didn't want this. And to be honest, there's no way to know if you and Harry would have ever gone out. I don't mean to be cruel..."

"I know." Ginny stopped him. "I know, but I thought there could be a chance. I mean, I've been able to really talk to him for a couple of years now, and I was sure he would start noticing me as a girl, and not just your little sister."

"I wish I could make this thing go away, if only so you and Harry could have a chance." Ron sighed. "I wish 1 could make it go away just so Harry could have the choice. I can't believe that I was jealous of all the attention he got. But now...now that I see that he's had his life all but mapped out for him..." Ron shook his head.

"Is she nice?" Ginny asked, not looking at Ron.

"I didn't talk to her that much, but I've never heard her be mean." Ron said unable to offer much more insight. Ginny just sighed.

"Harry deserves someone nice." Ginny sighed. "He deserves nothing but the very best, and If I can't be the one he's with, 1 want it to be someone who really appreciates him for who he is. Not the boy who lived, but the boy who is selfless, thinking about everyone else before himself. The boy who eats treacle tart like it's going out of style. The boy whose laugh is so contagious, and when he's smiling it makes you smile. That boy."

"You really do care about him, don't you?' Ron smiled.

"How can you not?" Ginny said sadly. "Once you spend anytime with him, he does get under your skin. Besides…he did save my life."

A heavy silence fell between the siblings and Ron just stared at Ginny who was playing idly with a gobstone she'd found on the floor.

"Are you going to be alright?" Ron asked.

"I don't know." Ginny said honestly. "Mum told me that heartbreak is all apart of growing up. She says it hurts now, but it will get better over time. She says I just have to do the best I can and be supportive of Harry because he's my friend."

"She not often wrong." Ron smirked, and Ginny laughed softly.

"Not, but when she is, it's pretty huge." Ginny smirked, and Ron gave a soft chuckle.

"It probably wouldn't be so bad if she would just admit it." Ron laughed with his sister. They quieted down after a bit and sat silently.

"I've noticed you've been a bit out of sorts lately. There's something bothering you." Ginny said, and Ron sighed, before nodding.

"I guess heartbreak is going around."

Hermione?" Ginny asked, and Ron looked out his window.

"She's dating Zacharias Smith. I found out when I visited Harry."

"I know."

Ron turned to look at his sister who looked apologetic. "She kind of made me swear not to tell anyone. It's her business, so I respected her wishes."

Ron deflated a bit and nodded again,

"It was just a shock I guess. I knew eventually other guys would catch on, I just guess I thought we'd be together by then or something. She's one of my best friends, and I can't even tell you when my feelings started to change. All I know is that I want to be better when she's around. I guess I should have asked her out a while ago, but I was always afraid she'd laugh at me. I mean, why would a girl like that want a joke of a bloke like me?"

"You're not a joke, Ron, and any girl would be lucky to have you. I'll give you the same advice she gave me once. Date other girls, and take time to get more comfortable with yourself. She's dating Zach now, but that may not last. As I recall, he was a real dragon's arse." Ginny pointed out.

"Yeah, but Hermione has a talent for bringing out the good in just about anyone, and if she's dating him, then he must not be as bad as we thought." Ron replied.

"She may not be the girl for you anyway." Ginny pointed out. "You could be missing something else while you're pinning over our little bookworm."

"Maybe, but I don't know. Maybe I'm supposed to be own my own right now. Maybe I'm supposed to be learning how to be a better person or something. Or maybe I'm not supposed to ever…Ron shrugged.

"There's someone for everyone Ron." Ginny shook here head. "Even if it isn't who we want right now."

"Hermione and Harry?"

"See. I knew you weren't as dumb as everyone says. Besides, you and Hermione fight all the time. Who wants a relationship where all you do is argue. And if Harry and I were supposed to be together, we would be right?" Ginny grinned, and Ron glared at her.

Ron gave a small smile that showed he agreed, and Ginny smiled in return.

"It's been a really long time since we talked like this." Ginny said.

"I'm sorry." Ron sighed. "I should have been there for you more."

"Ron, sometimes growing up means growing apart, but that doesn't mean we stop caring about each other."

"Who told you that?" Ron asked.

Ginny got to her feet and gave Ron a smile. "Sirius did."

With that, Ginny left her older brother to think about all they had talked about.

Harry barely slept that first night in Grimmauld place. He was plagued by too many memories, and guilt over what had happened to his godfather just over a month ago. He sat up in the bed he'd used the previous summer and stared into darkness, thinking about all the things he could have done differently.

If he could have just remembered the two way mirror he'd been given. Or if he could have remembered earlier that Snape was a part of the order and gone to him first. If he'd only just thought things through a bit better. His friends never would have been put in danger, and Sirius would possibly still be alive. If only he'd stopped for a moment and just thought about everything instead of just reacting.

Even now he was still learning those lessons. He had cost Susan her wand the previous night by preventing her from reaching into a fire to retrieve it. Harry had every intention of replacing the wand, not just for Susan, but Amelia as well. He hated to think of the head of magical law enforcement without a wand. It just seemed wrong.

He'd not told either woman about his plan. He knew they'd just protest and put up a fight. But when they went to Diagon Alley the next day, Harry was going to make sure that it was he who paid for their wands, no matter what it cost.

Harry also spent time thinking about his friends. He wondered if Hermione and Ron were doing okay. He'd seen Hermione the day before, but he hadn't seen Ron for a little over a week. After everything that had happened during his date with Susan, he kind of wished he had a friend to talk to about it. Another male who could understand his confusion on the whole thing.

Thinking about the date, Harry tried to fight the tiny smile that crept on his face as he remembered what it felt like to have Susan's body so close to his. It was really nice, and Harry hoped that it could happen again. He then began to feel guilty about thinking like that. Susan was a person and deserved a modicum of respect. Besides, He wasn't like guys like Seamus who could get with a girl snog her, and drop her like a bad potion. That just wasn't Harry's style. Besides, he and Susan were supposed to get married one day.

Harry felt his decision to spend more time with the redhead and try to figure out what they were going to be was a good one, even after the Death Eater attack. He knew that he wasn't at fault for the attack. It would have happened whether or not he'd been there. But it didn't take away his fear that Susan was now going to be in serious peril because of him and their relationship. They could keep a lid on the marriage contract, but the two of them spending time together was going to get some notice, and Harry was sure there were children of Death Eaters within Hogwarts. Word was sure to get back to Voldemort. Besides, Voldemort and he were connected, wasn't that what Dumbledore had told him at the end of last year? Was Voldemort able to see into Harry's mind an know what was happening to his enemy?

Harry suddenly realized that he had not had a nightmare, or a vision for some time. His scar hadn't even prickled. Harry wondered why that could be. Was it possible for Voldemort to close off the connection? Harry had failed miserably with his Occlumency lessons, though he was positive that Snape was mostly to blame for that.

Still, he had to accept some of the blame. He just couldn't figure out how he was supposed to clear his mind, or protect it from intrusion. He wondered idly if he should try to learn on his own. Surely there were books on the subject, and perhaps they would be more instructive than Snape had been.

Exhausted from so much thinking, Harry tried again to get to sleep, but it was futile. His mind refused to shut down. Getting out of bed, Harry went to his trunk and found an old pair of Dudley's jeans and a t-shirt, which he slipped on. Dobby had brought his and Susan's trunk's early in the evening, and Harry was beside himself to find that nearly everything he cared for had survived. His Firebolt had burned, and Harry had mourned the loss as it was one of his most prized possession, not only for the fact it was the best broom around, but also for the sentimental value it carried. It was his first gift from his godfather.

On the other hand, his father's invisibility cloak was unharmed, as was the marauder's map, and his photo album. All of his school supplies and robes were unharmed as well. Harry found out that Susan had been equally lucky with her trunk.

Amelia was quite happy about that as well, as it meant less time in Diagon Alley which she claimed wasn't the safest place at the moment. They would be going there first thing in the morning to get knew wands, and a few other essential supplies, the rest would be owl ordered. Then they would be heading into London for clothing and some other things. They would be checking the houses the next day, and deciding on the most suitable one. Harry hoped on of them had a swimming pool.

He slipped out of his bedroom and wandered downstairs as quietly as he could. He slipped into the kitchen and set about making some hot chocolate. While he waited for the milk to heat up, he found the latest copy of the Daily Prophet sitting on the table. One article caught his attention.

The Chosen One Rescues Head of DMLE

In an unsurprising move. Followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named attacked several prominent families last night. All the victims of last night's raids had members in key posts within the Ministry. None of whom posed more of a threat than Amelia Bones, who heads the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. As the director of the Auror forces, Madam Bones posed a significant challenge to You-Know-Who's rise, one which he wished to erase.

Sources say that the Death Eaters were surprised when they encountered fifteen year old Harry Potter, who our readers may remember foiled a plot involving Death Eaters breaking into the Department of Mysteries.

What Potter was doing at the home of the head of the DMLE is being speculated, and no one seems to know the real reason, though the popular theory is that Harry has developed a relationship with Madam Bones ' niece Susan who attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and is in Harry's year. Madam bones is remaining close lipped on the subject, but promises Death Eaters will be sought and punished severely for their crimes. Newly instated Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour reinforces Madam Bones' declaration.

"We've been trapped by our fear for too long. It's time to make those who have oppressed our world face justice."

Harry shook his head. He knew that the story would get out, but he expected it in school, from all the other students, now the world knew about it. Not the whole story, but enough. He was impressed though by the Minister's decree. Harry hoped the man would actually follow through on his claims.

A noise caught his attention, and Harry looked up to find Susan padding softly into the kitchen. When she saw Harry she gave a small jump of fright.

"I didn't know you were down here. I'm sorry." She said.

"It's all right. I'm guessing you couldn't sleep either.?" He said, motioning for her to sit down. "Do you want some hot chocolate?"

Susan nodded, and Harry took down another mug from the cupboard and continue making the drink for the two of them.

"No offense, but I don't like this house." Susan said bluntly.

"I don't either." Harry confided. "Too many bad memories."

"I don't understand. Did you live here with your aunt and uncle?" Susan asked.

"God no." Harry shook his head as he passed a mug of steaming chocolate to Susan and sat across from her. "No, this was my godfather's house."

"Did you not like him?"

"No. I loved him. He was one of the greatest people I'd ever met. No, this house belonged to his parents and they weren't very nice people. He was trapped in this house for the last year of his life, and he was miserable."

"Why was he trapped here?" Susan looked confused. "Why couldn't he just go someplace else?"

"Wanted fugitives can't very well go walking down the street." Harry explained. Susan looked even more confused by his statement which made him chuckle softly.

"Sirius Black was my Godfather." He said with a smile as he sipped his drink. Susan nearly dropped hers.

"But.. .He was trying to kill you."

"No he wasn't. He was innocent. The person who should have been in Azkaban was is an animagus, and had been hiding out as a rat with Ron and his family all that time. He got away, and Sirius was on the run again. After fourth year, he hid out here, and had to stay hidden here, and it was like being back in Azkaban, I think. When we went to the Ministry last month, he showed up to save us, and he got killed."

Harry's eyes were now distant. He had no idea why he was telling Susan any of this, but in a strange way, it felt good to get it off of his chest.

"I'm so sorry." Susan said, reaching across the table and covering his hand with hers. Harry looked at their hands and smiled.

"The thing is, I went to the Ministry to save him. I ... I was shown a vision of him being tortured, and I reacted. He was the only link to my mother and father, and in a lot of ways, my only family. It's because of me that he died." Harry said, his voice sounding scratchy as he tried to keep himself from crying.

Susan was suddenly overcome. Harry was opening up to her. Whether he intended to or not, he was allowing her into his world. She stood up from her seat and came around the table and took the chair next to him, immediately wrapping and arm around him, and drawing him in closer to her. Harry didn't resist.

"Voldemort used me, and in the end it cost me the one person I had gone to save." Harry said, still fighting against his tears. Susan wondered if Harry had allowed himself to grieve for the loss of his godfather before now.

"I wish there was something I could say that could ease your pain, but there really isn't. Auntie says that we should never ignore our pain. She says if we allow ourselves to feel our emotions, than it makes us stronger for it, no matter what it is. Happiness, sadness, and even grief. You need to let yourself feel this stuff, Harry."

"I've spent my life running from most of my feelings. Burying them deep so I wouldn't look weak." Harry said, and even though she couldn't see his face, she knew he was losing his fight to not cry. She could feel tears on her shoulder.

"Do you remember what I told you about living your life right before you nearly bludgeoned the life out of me?"

Susan felt Harry stiffen and begin to draw away, but Susan held firmly to him.

"It goes for your emotions as well. You know as well as I do that our feelings sometimes power our magic. You'd never produce such a strong patronus if you didn't have good memories. It takes real hate to pull off the torture curse. If you don't let yourself feel what's in your heart, you're kind of stunting yourself magically, and I'm not about to let you do that."

"Dumbledore is always telling me that Love is the most powerful magic there is." Harry chuckled.

"I agree with him." Susan smiled. Harry sat up and looked at her with a strange expression. Susan nodded.

"Of course, Love is easily the most powerful magic. Why do we all chase after it? Why do we do the things we do for those we care about? Why does a mother protect her child risking her own life?"

Harry perked up at that statement. Susan smiled a bit more and took his hand a gave it a squeeze.

"Love. It can conquer anything, if you let it." Susan said.

Harry nodded slowly, unsure how to respond to that. He knew she was right though. His mother's love for him had protected him when Voldemort tried to kill him as a child. His mother loved him so much that she put herself between him and Voldemort, sacrificing herself to save him. It was his love for Sirius that had made him fly across half the country to get to the Ministry to save Sirius. It was his love for his friends that had pushed Voldemort right out of his mind when the Dark Lord had tried to possess him. Love was very powerful.

"Thank you." Harry said softly, and Susan smiled in return.

"Anytime."

She stood up and gave him a long look. Harry thought she looked like she wanted to say something else to him, but she just gave another smile, and went back upstairs. Harry followed not long after, and went back into his bedroom where he lay down, and a minute later, was fast asleep.

Harry and the Bones women arrived back at number 12 Grimmauld place at nearly seven in the evening after what Harry could only describe as a marathon shopping trip. They had gone first to Diagon Alley, and Gringott's to fill their pocket books. They had intended to replace lost wands at Olivander's but the old wand maker was gone, his shop stripped bare.

Susan was quite upset by this, as was Amelia, though she didn't voice her disappointment quite as much as her niece.

"Where could he have gone?" Susan asked, but Amelia shook her head. As she looked around the shopping district, she saw a few more stores boarded up and empty. Amelia realized that many people must have fled, possibly even going as far as to leave the country. When she explained her thoughts to Harry and Susan, the two teens looked as angry as she felt. Voldemort was already winning the war, and it hadn't truly begun yet.

They went to a lesser known wand maker at the far end of the alley. The store was quite small, though it smelled of fresh cut wood. It was less a store, and more of a workshop. On one wall were several tools used in the wand making process. There were two gentlemen inside. The first was a slim man who looked to be in his fifties. He had wire rimmed glasses and thinning black hair, and an easy smile. He wiped his hands on his apron as he approached them. The second man sat at a bench bent over his work, and Harry found himself curious as to how the man was crafting his latest creation. Amelia did most of the talking and the man nodded, listening intently.

"Tell me, your last wand, what was it?" The man asked Amelia, who gave him her wand specifications. The man nodded, and then asked a few more questions in regard to the wands performance. When Amelia finished, the man nodded again, and then took a few measurements, not unlike Harry had when he'd bought his first wand.

"Alright." The man smiled before turning to his assistant and asking for several different wands. The assistant, another thin man with a bald head and a thick beard brought a handful of wands which he placed on the counter before going back to his work area when he was carving out wands.

Amelia tried only three wands before her new wand selected her.

"Oak and Dragon Heartstring." The man smiled. "The same type of core as your last, but a much stronger wood. It's also a bit longer than you last. You may notice some differences in your casting. Now young miss, let's take care of you." The man said turning to Susan.

Again the man asked his questions and listened to Susan's answers. He took measurements, but this time, it was he who went to retrieve a variety of wands for Susan to try. Again he laid them out on the counter, and asked Susan to choose one to try.

Susan looked at each wand, and then went to reach for one, but stopped. Her hand hovered over the wands, unsure if of the one she was about to pick up. Susan looked to her Aunt who was watching her intently, and then to Harry who was equally entranced. Susan felt as if she were being drawn to a certain wand. Her hand moved and she grasped one of the wands near the end that was decorated with what looking like ivy near the base. As her fingers clasped it, a warm tingling sensation shot up through her hand and into her soul.

Harry watched Susan's eyes light up with excitement and guessed that she had found her new wand. He wondered how often a person found their wand upon the first attempt.

"Last time it took me nearly an hour to find the right wand." Susan commented.

"It can happen." The man smiled. "Unicom hair and Vinewood. Fifteen and a half inches. Use it well."

"Thank you." Susan smiled happily as she admired her new wand. The man rang them up, and before Amelia could pull her money bag, Harry was handing over the gold. Amelia began to protest, but Harry simply gave her a pleading look, and Amelia's words died in her throat. Amelia felt somehow that despite all of her and Susan's assurances, Harry still felt responsible for their loss, and she knew that it would just be easier to allow him to do this as it would ease his guilt. Amelia also decided that this would be the only such instance she would allow.

The next stop was Madam Malkins as Susan needed a lot of new robes. Not just school things, but for other occasions as well. Harry also got a few new sets of school robes while they were there. When it was all over, Amelia ushered them quickly out of the alley and into London, where she relaxed a bit.

The rest of the day was spent clothes shopping at the shopping center. Harry was allowed to shop for his own things on his own after Amelia made him a portkey in case of emergency. She and Susan went to pick out their on things.

Harry was deeply appreciative of not being hovered over, or people insisting that he needed to be protected. It was an odd feeling to be trusted in this way, and Harry intended to show that Amelia's trust was not misplaced. When Amelia set a time and plce for them to meet up again, Harry intended to be there early.

They had agreed to meet for lunch, where Amelia could shrink all their packages before heading for what she jokingly called round two.

When they met up again, Amelia shrunk all their new purchases, and they stopped for dinner at a Chinese restaurant before heading back to Grimmauld place. Amelia returned all their bags to normal size, and the two teens collected their things and headed to their rooms to put things away.

Harry was only just finishing putting his new jeans away when Hedwig flew into his room, landing on his bed and giving a loud hoot. Harry shouted with joy at seeing his owl. He had no idea if she had been alright. She had been out hunting when they'd been attacked, and he hadn't seen her since. Hedwig allowed Harry to stroke her feathers for a few minutes before she hooted and presented her leg, where Harry saw she was carrying a letter.

Harry took the letter and then took Hedwig to the wardrobe, and got her a few owl treats, and promised to get her some water in a moment. He opened the letter, and was unsurprised to find Hermione's tidy scrawl.

Dear Harry,

I'm writing to you because I can't think of any faster way to get in touch with you. I have no idea where you might be right now, and I'm going spare. The Daily Prophet reported on the attack at Susan's house. Are you and everyone else ok? What happened? Where are you now? How can I help? Please write me back as soon as you can. Even better, please call me.

Love, Hermione.

Harry saw she had included her phone number, and folded the letter and stuffed it into his pocket as he headed to the kitchen to get water for his owl. Amelia was in the dining room reading the paper having finished putting her things away. Harry guessed she'd used magic to do it. Harry hadn't yet learned any of those types of spells.

"I need to get to a telephone." Harry said as he got a bowl and began filling it at the sink.

"Why?" Amelia asked.

"Hermione wrote me. She's worried about all of us, and a letter will take too long to get to her. I just want her to know we're all alright."

"I suppose we can manage that, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. We'll do it while we're looking at the houses. I promise." Amelia said, and Harry nodded.

"What's the water for?" Amelia asked.

"Hedwig turned up." Harry grinned. "She's fine. I think she went right to Hermione's after the attack."

"Very smart bird you have, Harry." Amelia smiled.

"Quietly." Harry smiled. "If her head gets any bigger, she won't be able to fly."

Amelia laughed as Harry went back upstairs.

Susan could not believe that she had actually bought half of the things she had gotten while they'd been out shopping that day. She'd gotten jeans and skirts and shirts and that sort of thing, but she'd also gone a little crazy in the lingerie department.

She had needed new under things, of course, but some of the things she bought were just... scandalous. What was worse, as she selected much of them, she imagined herself showing them off to Harry... while she was wearing them. She'd even purchased a few pairs of shoes that went specifically with some of the lingerie she'd bought.

As she folded them neatly, Susan kept cursing Hannah, Sally Anne, and some of the other Hufflepuff girls. They'd been the ones who'd introduced her to the whole idea of sexy lingerie and the affects it could have on boys. She also cursed her own overactive hormones. She knew her body was trying to betray her.

After the incident in the pool, she had been unable to stop thinking about Harry in THAT way. She'd never been more thankful that people couldn't read her mind. Susan allowed herself to think of getting Harry alone and allowing him to see what she wore under her school robes, and what his face might look like as she revealed herself to him, a devilish smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Susan couldn't deny the power and confidence she felt when she wore the bra and panty set Hannah had given to her for her birthday, and she loved that feeling. She felt very beautiful, even though no one could see them. She now understood why women bought those kinds of things.

It was then that Susan realized that her usual fantasies about getting physical with a boy which usually starred Zach, now featured Harry very prominently. She wondered if it was the Contract's doing, until she remembered that the contract only bound them in marriage. It could not affect their emotions.

Susan figured that their recent interactions might be the reason that she was thinking of Harry a bit more. There was no denying that Harry was becoming a very good looking man. He was well built, not overly muscular, but he had definition, as she recalled from seeing him in the pool.

More important than how he looked, Susan was fascinated by what made Harry who he was. She had witnessed first hand his selflessness and his bravery. But, there was this lingering sadness, like a dark cloud that hovered over him constantly. When they had spoken the previous evening, Susan had seen the real Harry. The one that was so well protected by his emotional walls. She had seen Harry vulnerable and hurt, and al! she had wanted was to hold him in her arms and ease away his pain.

Susan had been amazed that he had chosen to confide in her, though she was sure that he might have opened up to anyone at that point. He clearly needed to talk about how he was feeling, and Susan thanked whatever had made her unable to sleep so that it had been her Harry confided in. She felt it was a huge leap forward in their budding friendship.

Now, the difficult part would be to get him to do it again. However, they still had over a month left in the summer holiday, and Susan knew they would be spending much more time together. She just prayed that wherever they ended up, it would be less creepy and gloomy as number twelve.