Chapter 26 – Bonded When the Minutes Drag
Harry woke up in the same position he had fallen the previous night. It took a moment for the 'morning fog' to clear and memories of last night flooded back into his head. He remembered performing the ritual and then the kiss before everything went black. Looking around the room at the light streaming in he knew it must be morning probably between eight and nine.
He looked at Hermione and was tempted to wake her, but she looked so peaceful in her sleep that he carefully got out of bed and went to have his morning shower. As he was standing under the hot shower letting the water wash away his cares he realized something – he felt different. It was a wonderful feeling; for once he felt the weight of the world missing from his shoulders. He wondered if it had to do with Hermione's declaration of love last night, the new soul bond with her, or something else.
"Merlin," he thought, "maybe we dodged all the nasty side effects of the bond. I can't believe how good I feel."
He actually felt so good as he cam out of the shower he started singing one of his favourite songs silently to himself – with a few modifications.
The word that would best describe this feeling
Would be BONDED
Back in the bedroom Hermione stirred. She heard the shower stop.
I touch the clothes you left behind
And still retain their shape and lines
Still BONDED
Now awake, she could not believe Harry was such a bad singer.
I trace the outline of your eyes
We're in the mirror hypnotized
I'm BONDED
She tried to pull a pillow over her head to block out the noise.
I find a solitary hair
Gone and still I reminisce
I'm BONDED
The pillow didn't even muffle the sound. She sat up and looked at the bathroom door opening. "Oh no," she thought.
BONDED to your SOUL
BONDED to …
Harry's song was cut off as Hermione demonstrated a heretofore unknown ability to hurl a pillow across the room with such unerring accuracy at Harry's head that many professional Chasers would never believe she was not a Quidditch player.
"OW. What was that for?" Harry complained to a now relieved Hermione.
"Harry, were you singing?"
"Yeah. I was feeling good until you threw the pillow at me."
"Were you singing out loud?"
"No, I never have. I kind of got into the habit of singing in my head so Uncle Vernon wouldn't have an excuse to punish me."
"Harry. I threw the pillow at you because you were singing too loud."
"But Hermione, I just told you I was … oh … OH!" The realization of what she said took a moment to register – then it kind of smacked him in the frontal lobe in very much the same way the pillow had, "you heard me in your head."
"Exactly, I can hear your thoughts." She walked over and embraced him. "Harry dear, I love you with all my heart. But let me tell you – when you sing in your mind, you sing off-key. I didn't think something like that was possible. To make matters worse in this case, I actually like that song."
"You do? I never knew that."
"Harry, don't try to change the subject. This is serious." Suddenly the image of a smirking Sirius came into her mind, "Stop that!" The image disappeared. "Harry, we need to find a way to block each other's thoughts."
Harry smirked, "Why? It doesn't seem that bad." All of a sudden he felt a strong love and the image of Hermione kissing him. Just as he was getting used to it, it was quickly replaced by the image and sounds of Hermione having a discussion with her mother about certain feminine hygiene products and differences between the muggle and magical world in how women dealt with … "STOP!" he yelled this time. "OK, I can see what you mean." He had turned very pale. "I agree. Let's talk to Severus and Tom. Maybe Occlumency can help. Do you think we can finish getting ready without transmitting too many thoughts and images?"
"I think so. But Harry, until this is sorted out," she glared at him, "No. More. Singing."
He looked down and pouted, "OK. I'll try and remember for the sake of your sanity. But I don't want to know any more about tampons than I already know."
"Deal," she said as she looked at him. They stared at each other of a few more moments before Harry lost it and cracked up. Hermione followed and the two hung on to each other laughing. Once they stopped, they just looked in each other's eyes and moved to kiss when Hermione snorted and started laughing again and this set Harry off again.
They both knew it was going to be a long day.
/Scene Break/
Molly Weasley made breakfast for her two remaining children. They were going to go down to the Ministry offices this morning where she would see about legally adopting Ginny as Ginevra Molly Prewitt. She wasn't quite sure that she could until Arthur officially disowned her, but she could at least get the papers submitted for when Arthur got around to doing it.
She still wasn't sure what to tell Ron. She knew she would tell him and give him a chance to make it up to his father. Ronald Bilius NoName had a certain pathetic ring to it. Either way, she would have to cut ties with him quite soon.
The two children came down to breakfast and Molly voiced her concerns that the adoption would have to wait for Arthur to disown them.
"Actually Mum," Ginny said, "I expect he'll be doing just that first thing this morning."
"What makes you think that?"
"Well," Ron piped up, "Ginny had this great idea after you talked to us yesterday. Since you wanted to go down and fill out the adoption papers today we both wrote Dad last night with our decision. We asked if he could disown us as soon as possible so that we could take the Prewitt name."
Molly saw the smirk on Ginny's face. She was playing one final prank on her brother knowing full well Molly didn't want him and now Arthur was going to toss him out of the Weasley family.
Molly looked at her daughter with a conspiratorial look and thought, "What a conniving little thing. No wonder Albus had to arrange with the hat to keep her out of Slytherin like he did for me. Well, Ronald Bilius NoName it will be."
She wondered idly what Albus had in mind for the boy and realized that she simply didn't care.
/Scene Break/
At exactly nine o'clock morning clerk for the business permit office at the Ministry of Magic sat down at her desk and opened up for the day. Once all her forms were in place she looked up to see the first person of the day was a rather stylishly dressed wizard with long white hair. She smiled and greeted the man, "Good morning to you sir, how may I help you?"
The man answered in a very disdainful voice, "I'm here to renew a permit for my ancestral family business. I have the paperwork right here." He slid a sheaf of parchment towards her.
"Very well Mr.," she looked at the forms, "Oh for give me, Lord Malfoy. All of the paperwork is in order. Please give me a moment."
Malfoy nodded and looked around nervously. He was taking a risk showing his face at the Ministry. As long as he didn't bump into any Aurors or Dumbledore he should be OK. Fudge had ordered the identities of the Death Eaters captured in the DoM concealed. Most of the wizarding population did not even know that he had been incarcerated, let alone escaped. He looked back as the young clerk reappeared.
"Lord Malfoy, everything is in order. However this permit expired over a century ago. There is a mandatory waiting period of ten days before we can approve it in case there are any challenges to this license. We will have the notice printed in the Prophet this afternoon."
Lucius smiled, "Yes, I expected that would be the case. Please do what you must do and alert me if there are any challenges. If I do not hear from you I will be back in ten days for my permit."
"Is there anything else I can help you with today?"
"No that is all. Good day."
"Have a nice day Lord Malfoy."
/Scene Break/
Outside the permit office, an Auror team had been dispatched once they received a tip that the escapee Lord Malfoy had been spotted. The team evacuated the hall and waited for Malfoy to leave the office – there were too many clerks and other civilians in the office to take him down there. The plan was to take him quietly in the hallway where they had established control.
The door opened and the Aurors tensed but relaxed as a young man with a dark beard left the office. The point auror who was posing as a cleaner got a good look at him and it was not their prey. The man was allowed to pass and the aurors waited again.
Nearly thirty minutes elapsed before they realized Malfoy had given them the slip again.
/Scene Break/
It was half past nine when Arthur left the ministry flanked by Bill and Fleur. He was distraught and asked Bill and Fleur to accompany him while he did one of the emotionally hardest things he ever had to do – disown his own flesh and blood.
The twins had contacted him early this morning with notes from Ron and Ginny. Both had – in no uncertain terms – expressed their desire to be free of the Weasley name and become the Prewitts they now knew they should have been all along.
Arthur hoped that Molly would adopt them. He had a feeling though that Molly would let Ron flap in the metaphorical breeze. In part of his heart he hoped that all turned out well for Ginevra Prewitt and Ronald NoName.
Bill and Fleur took him back to Harry's for some breakfast. The past few days had been tough and all the brothers had agreed that someone would be with Arthur at all times. Charlie was even due in this afternoon.
Shortly after they disappeared, Molly along with Ron and Ginny appeared at the entrance to the Ministry.
/Scene Break/
Amelia Bones was sitting down to breakfast with Susan and the two of them were discussing the meetings from the previous day. Amelia had shown Susan how to cast silencing charms and wards and also how to detect several types of surveillance charms. They were not taking any chances – even in their home – to let the word out that they knew about the conspiracy.
Up until this summer, Amelia had been used to treating Susan like a child. However when she had come back from school for the summer she found that her niece was starting to turn into a self-confident young woman and was surprised by the depth of magic she had learned under Harry's tutelage. She had even taken Susan down and tested her in some of the Auror training rooms and found she knew some of the Auror Academy spells and charms better than the cadets did.
The effect of all this is that she had started to confide in her niece and found that Susan had a very mature outlook and sometimes came up with suggestions to problems that Amelia's had not thought of. If anything, the two were becoming much closer than they ever had been which surprised Amelia since she had been expecting quite the opposite, as Susan got older.
Amelia's had been going over some of her plans for the Order Eaters' infiltration of the Ministry. Using Susan as a sounding board, they came up with a number of good initiatives that Amelia could bring up with her subgroup at lunch. She had already reserved a private room at a sushi restaurant in a trendy upscale section of Muggle London a few kilometers from the Ministry. The chance of running into any wizards – especially purebloods – was very slim and provided another level of security.
/Scene Break/
Hermione and Harry rushed to get ready and headed down for breakfast. They had tried to keep their minds blank during the intervening time since their initial discussion but were quickly discovering that telepathy – even when only shared with one other person – was more of a curse than a blessing. In order to save the sanity of the other, each had agreed to try and think about things that would not adversely affect the other. It worked to a point but it was very tiring. Hermione nearly gagged as she read Harry's thoughts about checking his toes for fungus before he put on his socks and, in a very similar manner, Harry did not want to know what certain depilatories were for.
It was a very agitated couple that ran into the dining area and spotted Tom and Severus having a discussion with Luna and Narcissa. They were just sharing a laugh over the announcement Harry had put in the paper regarding Narcissa's marriage. Narcissa was just telling them that Stage 2 should be getting underway.
They all looked up as Harry and Hermione started speaking in a very peculiar – yet very familiar – manner.
Harry was out of breath and starting to get a bit anxious, "Hi everyone. We need your help."
"Harry and I," Hermione started saying.
"Well, we performed the bonding ritual," continued Harry.
"Last night. This morning"
"When we woke up,"
"We discovered a major"
"Side effect. You see"
"We can read each other's"
"Active thoughts and its"
"Driving us nuts."
"We figure we need"
"To learn Occlumency and"
"Get the Horcrux"
"Out of Harry"
"As soon as possible," they said in unison and their heads snapped around to stare at each other.
"Listen to us," Harry started.
"We're talking like," replied Hermione.
"The Bloody Twins!" Once more they finished in unison.
They were interrupted by laughter from around the table. Luna had her head face down in her arms on the table and was visibly shaking with laughter. Tom was chuckling and Severus was laughing so hard he fell of his chair. Narcissa had managed to remain calm until Severus hit the floor. Then she lost it as well.
Hermione and Harry just gawked at the four having breakfast. They waited until they had calmed down and Severus had reseated himself and then Bill came in with Fleur and Arthur. Arthur looked around perplexed. He said, "I was sure I heard the Twins in here a minute ago."
This set off another round of laughter followed by a third round once Luna could explain the situation to Arthur, Bill and Fleur.
/Scene Break/
Molly and her two youngest went to the Family Records Division of the Ministry. While Ron and Ginny waited in the lobby, Molly went and spoke with one of the clerks.
The clerk looked up the appropriate records and confirmed that Arthur had been there not twenty minutes before and had indeed disowned Ronald Bilius and Ginevra Molly. He gave Molly the forms she requested and immediately after she completed them he reviewed them and stamped the papers as approved.
Molly went back out to her children. "Well, it's all official now. It's strange, Albus was supposed to meet us here."
A small crack and Albus appeared. He looked very weary. He looked at Molly and asked, "Is everything completed?" Molly nodded s he turned t Ron, "Please floo to my office once you are packed."
Ron nodded dumbly wondering what this was all about when he heard a voice he didn't think he would ever hear at the Ministry again – Bellatrix.
"Oh, Headmaster. Why do you keep running away? Don't you want to play Headmaster and naughty schoolgirl? If you are good, I'll even let you play 'Headmaster' this time."
As the images from this statement invaded Ron's brain, Albus disappeared again quickly followed by Bella. Aurors rushed in moments later but they realized they were too late.
"Mum, what did the Headmaster mean about me being packed and seeing him?"
"I'll explain it all once we get back to the Burrow Ronald. I talked to the Headmaster yesterday and he wants you for something he's planning."
"OK," Ron said with a smile. He was getting his first solo assignment for Dumbledore. He knew becoming a Prewitt would be good for him.
Molly sighed. At least she now knew just how to tell Ron he was no longer part of any family.
/Scene Break/
The people around the table were finally starting to compose themselves. During this whole time Harry and Hermione just stood and stared at their friends. The looks on their faces did not help to quell the laughter.
"This isn't funny!" She tried to say it calmly but it came a bit louder than she expected. "We need"
"Your, humph." Hermione's arm shot out quickly and her hand clamped over his mouth silencing him.
"What my dear boyfriend and I want to say is that we need your help," she continued with an enforced calm.
Severus was wiping the tears from his eyes, "So," he started trying to fight down more laughter, "we can assume the bonding worked?"
Hermione still try to keep and enforced calm, "Yes. It worked a little too well. I have half a mind to write Teen Witch Weekly and let them know that speaking to a bonded in your mind is more of a curse than … HARRY POTTER, you will NOT be LICKING my HAND to get it off your MOUTH."
The table erupted in laughter once more.
/Scene Break/
Albus got back to his office exhausted and it wasn't even ten o'clock yet. He needed to find out how Bellatrix was tracking him. So far the only thing he knew was that she could not follow him to Hogwarts. Everywhere he went outside school grounds she would show up within minutes. He had Alastor, Minerva and Filius cast revealing charms on him, but there were no tracking spells found.
He calmed himself down with a Lemon Drop and thought about the situation. While it was true that he was still a very powerful wizard and could easily take Bellatrix down, the other Death Eaters could be a problem. His age was starting to catch up with him and while he felt he probably had another good sixty to seventy years left in him, dueling multiple opponents alone might be a stretch. He didn't know this for sure, but he had a reputation to protect and if he tried to take Bellatrix and her companions by himself there were so many things that could go wrong that could permanently tarnish his image. That was the last thing he needed right now.
The duel a few weeks ago with Tom had tired him and Albus knew they were dueling to a standstill. However Albus also suspected that he would not have lasted any more than another five minutes or so against Tom. Tom's possession of Harry was a lucky break for Albus since it weakened Tom to the point that he had to break off the fight and allowed Albus to keep his image as the only one the Dark Lord feared.
No, what he needed to take care or Bellatrix was to lure her into a trap. He would talk to Alastor about this later.
The first order of business was to take care of Ronald Bilius NoName. He went over to his fireplace to make a call.
/Scene Break/
The laughter had died down once more. In his mind Harry told Hermione he had something to ask Tom. She took her – thankfully dry – hand from his mouth and he looked over at Tom. She willed herself to keep quiet even as she saw the words forming in Harry's brain and felt the urge to speak.
"Tom," Harry was trying to also maintain a level tone, "we have a connection through the Horcrux. It used to only open when one of us was experiencing strong feeling but we both eventually learned to control it. Do you have any idea why that one was a closed connection until we opened it, but the connection I have with Hermione is wide open?"
Tom thought for a minute and then believed he had the answer, "Harry, the Horcrux in you is more like a parasite attached to your soul whereas your voluntary bonding with Hermione had the effect of your two souls overlaying each other in a more complete connection. I think Severus and I should begin to teach you Occlumency – the correct way mind you – to help you organize and shield your minds. However that will only go so far."
Hermione spoke up, "What do we do then?"
Luna answered, "Based on the few first-hand experiences I read about in the library, I think I can answer that. Regardless of the strength of the bond, you two need to take the time to explore its limits. Talk to each other in your heads and take the other for a 'tour' of your mind. Explore the connections; see how they can be manipulated and set ground rules between the two of you. It's new right now and like any new ability you have to learn how to control it. Remember, there is a good chance that if it is not permanent now, the ritual to remove the Horcrux could make it permanent."
Harry and Hermione both nodded together and sat down to breakfast. The atmosphere had clamed down quite a bit with Luna's matter-of-fact explanation. Harry and Hermione did not say much during breakfast – they were trying to keep out of the other's mind as much as possible until they could spend some time alone and map out the dos and don'ts of their bond.
They had arranged with Tom to do the ritual tonight. When Tom asked if they were sure they looked at each other and nodded. Both wanted the Horcrux out of Harry sooner rather than later.
/Scene Break/
Molly arrived back at the Burrow with Ron and Ginny. Ginny went to make some tea as Ron and Molly went up to his room.
"Now Ronald," Molly began explaining, "Albus has some very interesting plans for you this summer."
Ron looked at her with a furrowed brow and asked, "What plans Mum? Does it have to do with getting back at Potter?"
"I don't want to spoil the surprise," Molly told him cheerfully. In her mind she was thinking, "and I really don't care at this point."
"I got you a present Ron – a new trunk!"
"Thanks Mum. You know, I think that being Prewitts will be good for us."
Molly coughed, "Yes. Well, er, the trunk is one of those ones that are charmed inside to be very big and it has a feather light charm. You know how when you go to school you always for get something?"
"Uh huh."
"Well with this one you can pack everything you own – or so I was told. In fact, why don't you pack now and see if you can get all you belongings into this trunk?"
"Sure Mum that will be cool."
"You can then take it with you since Albus agreed you may not be back here for a while."
"OK, Mum." Ron was really happy. He was now the oldest child in the family and they were better off financially than when they were Weasleys. And now Dumbledore wanted him for something special. "Maybe he wants me to spy on Potter or better still he's going to give me extra training," he thought. It was with these uplifting thoughts that the unsuspecting Ronald NoName was packing his trunk on his last day at the Burrow.
Once he was done he came downstairs and found his mother and sister in the kitchen talking. They stopped as soon as he came in and both turned to him smiling.
"All packed?" Ginny asked him.
"Yup."
She came over and gave him a brief sisterly hug. He looked at her strangely, "What's that all about?"
"Oh, not knowing Dumbledore's plans for you, I may not see you for a while so I thought I'd give my brother one last hug," Ginny said. If Narcissa had been there at that moment she would have noted that Ginny had the whole 'fake sincerity' tenet down pat.
"Well, come along Ronald," Molly said adopting her fake motherly voice, "let's not keep Albus waiting."
Ron Said goodbye to Ginny, and as soon as he walked out the door she started doing her 'happy dance' around the kitchen. She finally had her Mum to herself and now they could really live up to the Prewitt name. Their first target would be Lord Harry James Potter-Black.
/Scene Break/
Molly and Ron arrived in the Headmaster's office shortly before noon.
"Ronald, I'm very glad to see you. Arrangements have already been made."
"Um, thanks?"
Albus was used to seeing a lack of comprehension on the boy's face, but this one was unusual. "Ronald, I take it your mother explained the situation?"
Now it was Molly's turn to look constipated, "Well Albus, you see … um … it was really better this way. I didn't have any troubles bringing him here. Ronald," she spoke directly to him and he was still so confused he wore a 'deer in the headlights' expression, "you see, I didn't really adopt you this morning. I'm only adopting Ginny."
She paused to wait for a reaction – none came. This built up her confidence, "You see Ginny and I spoke about it yesterday and there really is only enough money for the two of us to live in the style we deserve and she really is the smarter one – the one who is more like a Prewitt. That and the Prewitt line is matriarchal so all in all I had to adopt her. You didn't bring enough to the table."
"Ron looked like he was about to faint. His warbling voice came out just enough to be audible, "My Mum and sister betrayed me?"
"Oh come on now Ronald, don't be selfish. I thought that you would be able to go back to your father but you had to go and request him to disown you himself before I even had a chance to." She glanced at the clock, "Well. Just look at the time. Where has this morning gone? I really should get back to Ginny. There is a lot of work to do when you reactivate a family name. Goodbye Mr. NoName. Have a nice life. Albus, always a pleasure."
With a burst of green flame, Molly Prewitt was gone through the floo.
Ron was stunned. His ego had just taken another swift kick and was once again down for the count. Ronald NoName. He was Ronald NoName. He was an outcast in pureblood society. He looked a Dumbledore who had that twinkle in his eye.
"Headmaster, I'm not sure what is so amusing. Just this morning I've been thrown out of one family by my Dad and denied access to another by my own Mum. Perhaps you can tell me what the hell the twinkle is for?"
Just then the door at the back of the headmasters office opened and a man who was instantly recognizable to Ron came out. "Now Mr. NoName is that any way to talk to your Headmaster?"
Ron looked on wide-eyed, "YOU. What the bloody hell are you doing here?"
The man continued, "Really Ronald, such language in unbecoming of a pureblood. If you would please sit down, the headmaster can fill you in on what he and I have been discussing this morning and how it pertains to you."
/Scene Break/
Tonks arrived at Potter Manor shortly after eleven. She walked into the sitting room and Narcissa looked up expectantly, "Well, if it isn't my favourite niece. How did it go?"
Tonks laughed, "I was at the Ministry today. Your former husband showed up to apply for a business permit. Someone tipped off the Aurors but he managed to get out without being seen."
Narcissa smiled, "Perfect. I wonder how he managed that," she said playfully.
Tonks giggled, "you never know."
/Scene Break/
Back at the compound, Bellatrix was enjoying the memory of Dumbledore's face this morning. The one thing that bothered her was that Dumbledore never fought back. This bothered her. Every time she goaded him and teased him she was looking for a fight. And yet every time he turned tail and fled.
"What the hell is he thinking?" she said to herself.
On of her team heard he and said, "What if he's testing us?" He cringed as she looked at him, "Well, there goes my life," he thought.
Bellatrix looked at him and thought about what he said. "Please go on," she said slowly.
"Well, you obviously have some way of tracking where he is that he hasn't been able to figure out. He's been trying to figure out how you're doing it. Obviously he hasn't yet and he wants to know how before he puts a stop to it."
Bellatrix nodded, "That makes sense."
"There's more."
"Oh?"
"We need to be careful. Obviously whatever the Dark Lord used is virtually impossible to trace. Dumbledore will eventually get to frustrated to care. If I were he, I'd look to set a trap. We should be ready for one."
"Agreed. We need to be ready from now on to either fight or withdraw immediately," she smiled at the man, "What is your name again?"
"Fudge, Algernon Fudge."
"Interesting name."
"My fourth cousin Cornelius is the Minister of Magic," he said the name as though it made him want to vomit.
"Not a fan of him?"
"He and Dumbledore conspired to kick me out of Hogwarts in my first year. Then they tried to use their international connections to keep me out of any school. I got into Durmstrang under an assumed name and learned everything I could about Dumbledore."
"Well Algernon, you can call me Bella and my new squad leader. I want you to whip these," she gestured to the rest of her team, "into shape. Get them ready to cast or withdraw immediately upon arrival. I also want to know more about our target."
Algernon smiled, "Thank you Bella. I will make sure your team will not fail you."
Bella cackled as he left. Albus wouldn't know what hit him.
/Scene Break/
Amelia looked around the table and smiled. Really watching wizards trying to eat sushi with chopsticks was something that could even inspire a woman her age to experience a fit of giggles. She had taught herself years ago after a friend told her she had to try this style of Japanese food. Tonks and Audrey seemed to have the hang of it but Arthur and Percy were another thing altogether.
They finally had to ask the waitress for the "training" clips that would hold the chopsticks together and allow the two men to enjoy the food.
Once their orders had come, Amelia cast the appropriate spells around the room and started their discussion.
"OK everyone. In order to fight back, we need to weaken their hold on the Ministry without them catching on. Once the four heirs return to Hogwarts and their identity becomes public, we will lose our element of surprise. We have six weeks to try and destabilize something that has taken two centuries to put together." She paused for effect to let her previous sentence sink in before she continued.
"Now our opponents are some of the most powerful witches and wizards. They have their people in high places in most of wizarding society and the Wizengamot. They even control both sides of the war facing our country." She had their full attention now.
"However, they have become complacent. Two centuries of having everything go your way will do that. We have the element of surprise. They don't know that we know what they are up to. We have to be fast, smart and undetected. If we do it right, we can cause them some real problems and destabilize their organization so it can't easily fight back when the time comes."
"Now, I asked to meet today not to come up with solutions, but to start by listing our strengths and our connections within the government. From there we can plan our course of action. I would like to have some plans ready by the end of the week. Any questions?"
No one said anything.
"Good," she said picking up a piece of spicy salmon roll, "Let's get to know each other a bit better then."
/Scene Break/
Draco Malfoy was sitting on the sofa re-reading his Potions and Herbology textbooks picking up on the nuances of some of the recipes that he hadn't before. He was cross-referencing all the potions ingredients with their entries in the Herbology books to get a better idea of why certain plants were used in certain potions. He had come across this epiphany once he realized that Potions and Herbology were two of the only NEWT courses he would be able to take and that he had better do his best in them.
He looked up as the fire flared and his father stepped through. "Where did you go this morning?"
"I've been taking measures for your upcoming school year."
"What do you mean, taking …" he paused as the fire flared again and another stepped through. Draco's eyes went wide, "What the hell are you doing here?"
Lucius smiled, "Draco, watch your language around your new brother."
That was the last thing Draco heard before everything went black.
A/N – My apologies to Love and Rockets. "Haunted when the Minutes Drag" is one of my favourite songs and it just seemed to fit here.
Thanks to everyone who continue to follow this story and leave their reviews.
I would also like to say to AmintaCyprian that I am floored by her request to translate both this story and The Power He Knows Not to Spanish. Thank you for your offer. If you can read Spanish, check them out.