Chapter 20 – The Game Is On

Sergeant Atkins hung up the phone with a sigh, shaking his head. She was at it again. Mrs O'Donnell was ninety-nine years old and had lived in the village of Wellingshire her entire life. She was, for the most part, very respected in the local community. During the Great War, she had worked in a munitions factory. During the Second World War, she served with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during the Battle of Britain, among other campaigns. However, over the past three or four years, she had repeatedly called the police a couple of times every month to report various crimes she claimed to have witnessed.

"I fear old Mrs O'Donnell is ready for the House of Pancakes, Otterburne," he said.

"What is it this time," he asked with a snort. "Has she seen Hitler in her garden? Last week, it was Nazi spies in the old mill."

"That surely was one of her best so far, but today's report is amazing," Sgt Atkins assured him with a chuckle.

"What? She did find Hitler in her garden," Otterburne snickered.

"No, you ridiculous berk. Listen to this. In the abandoned manor, where the Earl of Wellingshire used to live, she reports two people popping out of thin air and breaking into the manor. One of them is a shady big fellow and the other a typical sloppy teen girl, wearing too short a skirt. What do you make of that?"

They both laughed, but stopped when the Chief Superintendent snapped his head up at them. "What did she say about that girl," he asked, slightly alarmed.

"A normal British girl, by the description. In her teens, seemed quite normal except for popping out of thin air."

The Chief left in a hurry and Sgt Atkins looked after him. "What's wrong with him?"

"I'm sure I don't know. Care for a cuppa," Otterburne sighed as he rose. "Neat for you, yeah?"

"Yeah, thanks," Atkins replied.

A few minutes later the Chief Superintendent returned with a paper. "Sgt Atkins, you will see if Mrs O'Donnell can identify this young woman," he said, handing him a photo. "If she does, do not—under any circumstances—go near the old manor. Ring me and wait at O'Donnell's."

Sgt Atkins noticed Otterburne's sarcastic smile, but was surprised as the photo came from MI5. The photo had originally been made Draco Malfoy's memory of his meeting with Mafalda.

"MI5?" Atkins paled. "Are we considering Mrs O'Donnell a threat to national security now? Chief, this is daft!"

"Look, this smells of Top Secret all over. The instructions are that any report on any teen girl behaving oddly or supernaturally must have her location confirmed. She's not to be contacted or approached. If she's there, ring me and stay put. Understand?"

A quarter of an hour later, Atkins showed the photo of Mafalda Prewett to Mrs O'Donnell, who confirmed that the girl in the photo was indeed the one she had seen popping out of thin air. Atkins rang the Chief Superintendent, feeling rather dubious, to make the most bizarre report of his career.

"This is Sgt Atkins, sir. I have confirmation on the girl's identity. Mrs O'Donnell confirms it's the girl in the MI5 photo that... behaved supernaturally by appearing out of nowhere. She also repeated that there was a break in at the manor. Shall I investigate?"

"No. Sit tight. Don't do anything," the Chief insisted.

"Right sir. Sitting tight, then," Atkins replied and hung up the phone.

The Chief reported in and his report was in the Prime Minister's office less than an hour later. Once the Muggle Prime Minister was alone in his office, he opened the drawer and fetched a jar with a strange powder. The other Minister had explained it all and it seemed simple enough. Toss some powder in the fireplace, speak the name and destination, and then stick your head into the green fire. Sticking his head into some magical fire seemed beyond stupidity—something a Tory might do.

The Prime Minister chuckled at his political sarcasm, sighed heavily, and threw the powder into the grate. "Minister for Magic's Office," he called and the green fire appeared. After some hesitation, he stuck his head into the fire. Feeling rather dizzy, he could see another office and the only person there was the other Minister. "Minister," he asked.

Kingsley started and turned to his fireplace. "Yes?"

"This is the... Muggle... Prime Minister. I have a report of a teen girl popping out of thin air."

Kingsley drew his wand and dispatched his Patronus immediately. "I'll be there shortly. Mr Potter will join me."

The Prime Minister pulled himself out of the fire place and the green fire vanished. "Why can't they have phones, like normal people," he mumbled as he dusted ashes from his suit.

One of Harry's first initiatives as Head of the Auror Office was to work his people into shape. The DA were on their game, but the veteran Aurors were not. Harry refused to lose any more Aurors to slow reflexes or deviances from certain procedures. Most important for him, though, was their reflexes and duelling skills.

Harry and Ron developed a training regimen not unlike the one the DA followed during their accelerated program. Physical and mental exercise were important, including sharpening Occlumency and Legilimency skills. Harry had pushed through a proposal for an updated Auror locker area and weight room, upgrades to the duelling rooms, and some classroom tactical and procedural training, courtesy of Ron and himself.

For the most part, his initiatives were met with very little resistance. The physical part was a bit challenging for the older Aurors, and even Smith and Dawlish had to admit that over the past several weeks, they'd noticed a change for the better. Next to Ron, Andy Thompson was Harry's most enthusiastic advocate and encouraged the others to "sook it up!"

Today, Harry paired with Cho. She wanted to get in some extra training time following her recovery and wanted to be back in shape as soon as possible. It was a chance to test both their reflexes and reaction times. He concentrated on Cho's every possible move. He stood opposite her as she stood with her wand out. Her left foot moved a little, indicating she was about to cast a spell. Since she would have to focus on that spell, he was able to push a non-verbal Legilimens. Cho was taken by surprise, but managed to raise a defence.

Just before Harry could cast a stunner, Kingsley's Patronus appeared, catching him off-guard. "Harry, come immediately," the Minister's voice said.

Cho used the distraction to her advantage, hitting Harry with a forceful Stupefy to the chest. Harry swore under his breath, more for the annoying way he lost to her than for the physical pain from crashing to the floor. She grinned wickedly. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Harry," she said with mock sympathy.

"Sure you are," Harry replied rubbing his back. "And I'm a ruddy centaur in disguise. Well, I'd better get going. You lot! Another hour and you're done here for today."

Harry left practice, took a quick shower and put on some clean robes. He pinned on his badge with the Ministry Auror Emblem emblazoned on it along with his name and rank, although in Harry's case, no one needed to look at his badge to know who he was. He stepped out of the lift on the first floor and made for the Minister's office.

"Hello Harry," Kingsley said gravely. "We have a Muggle report of a possible sighting. We are going to visit the Muggle Prime."

They Flooed and once more Harry found himself in the Muggle Prime Minister's office. They were given copies of the report and read it. Kingsley turned to the Muggle Prime. So she's Apparating in plain sight. Perhaps this is just the beginning. "All right, the Aurors will handle this," he said and turned back to Harry. "Mr Potter?"

"We'll go to Wellingshire and at least save this...Sgt Atkins... from waiting at Mrs O'Donnell's home longer than necessary," Harry said as he leaned into Kingsley. He lowered his voice and added, "Sounds like she's a bit like Molly's Aunt Muriel." Harry snickered.

Kingsley chuckled at Harry's comparison. He had met Muriel Prewett briefly while the Weasleys hid at her house during the war, and then again at Fred's funeral. "I'll go back to the Ministry and arrange your Portkeys," Kingsley said.

"I'll send for Weasley and Chang," Harry declared purposefully.

"I'm just curious," Kingsley said, cocking his head. "Any particular reason for choosing those two?"

"Weasley's a master strategist and Chang is one of our top duellers...if it comes to that," Harry said. "I wouldn't trust this potentially sticky situation to anyone else."

"You'll only have to hold out for a short time, if you find yourselves in a battle," Kingsley promised. "Minister, we'll advise you when we can."

"Thank you," the Muggle Prime Minister replied as they took their leave through the green flames in his fireplace.

"Phones wouldn't hurt, but they seem to have better and more extraordinary ways of travel than we have," he said smiling a bit.

Less than twenty minutes later, Ron and Cho had arrived at Harry's office, accompanied by at least a dozen parchment air planes concerning the justification for tearing out the wall between his and Ron's offices. "Ruddy parchment Glumbumbles," Ron growled as a few bounced off his head. "This is Percy's doing, I know it."

"Sorry, mate," Harry said. "That's the third attack since I sent the request to Arthur. We'll deal with Percy later.

"Can't we hex the ruddy planes to attack the wall, doing some good while they're at it," Ron asked.

"We've got more annoying fish to fry." Harry sighed.

"Right. Mafalda," Ron said darkly, as he sat on the edge of Harry's desk. Cho took a chair across from them.

Following a short discussion as to how to approach the manor house, they agreed on a plan and set it into motion. They dressed in Muggle clothes and grabbed hold of the Portkey and were pulled off. They landed in a back yard behind the Wellingshire pub just across the street from the police station.

Their first task was to find the Chief Superintendent who'd called in the report so they could get Mrs O'Donnell's address. They entered the police station and found only one policeman at the reception desk. Harry confunded him and then sent Cho to retrieve Mrs O'Donnell's address. She returned after only a few minutes with a slip of paper in her hand.

"Did you get it," Harry asked.

"Oh, it was no problem. He gave me the address and won't remember I'd ever been there," Cho said cheerily.

No wonder Mafalda was targeting Muggles. They're easy to manipulate. However, once they arrived at Mrs O'Donnell's home they would need to be more careful. If there were Death Eaters in the area, they had to be taken by surprise in order to avoid any injuries.

Harry knocked on the door and a policeman opened. "Yes?"

"Sgt Atkins, I presume? We are here because of Mrs O'Donnell's report," Harry said.

"You? Are you MI5," he asked a bit taken aback. "I... expected someone older."

Sgt Atkins ushered them into the living room with Mrs O'Donnell. "More people coming, eh?" she said without further greeting "You're probably some secret police or possibly military. I saw and heard enough during the war to know things. Popping out of thin air... I guess they stole some secret gadgets of yours..."

Ron felt goose bumps all over his body. Harry hadn't been kidding. This woman was a lot like Aunt Muriel.

"Mrs O'Donnell, I believe an experienced lady like yourself understands that we can't provide those kinds of answers. You have also been of great assistance to our national security, and for that, we thank you. Now we'll take control of this situation," Harry said, buttering her up as he could Muriel Prewett.

The old woman smiled warmly at Harry, as his words worked like a charm. They left the room and signalled for Sgt Atkins to come outside.

"Thank you. I've had to listen to her prattle on for better than two hours now," Sgt Atkins said, rolling his eyes and mopping his brow.

Harry considered the options for a moment and decided to use his invisibility cloak. He turned to the policeman. "I will accompany you to the manor. Knock on the door and tell them anything as to why you are there. If it's the ones we are looking for, we'll take action. If not, finish your business and return here," Harry told him.

Sgt Atkins nodded as Harry pulled out his cloak. "You two. Stay alert and move in if there's... trouble."

"Right...uh, sir," they answered in chorus. They had to remember they were in the field in front of other people. In this case, Muggles. They had to make a professional showing even if they were laughing inside, knowing Harry hated to be called 'sir'. Harry threw them a glare and a smirk as he swept the cloak around himself, disappearing beneath it.

Sgt Atkins turned to say something to Harry, but he was gone. "Bloody wicked, that is," Sgt Atkins gasped, believing he'd witnessed some new high tech invention. He lowered his voice to just above a whisper and leaned toward Ron and Cho. "I suppose it's classified, yeah?" Ron nodded and signalled for him to approach the manor. Cho just smiled to herself and said nothing.

Sgt Atkins felt nervous when he knocked on the door. MI5, the orders not to go near the manor, the mysterious young specialists. There was no answer at the door. He didn't understand what this was all about. He knocked again and still no one answered and he could hear no sounds from inside.

Under his cloak, Harry cast a non verbal Alohomora and the door creaked open. Harry then cast Homenum revelio, but apart from him and Sgt Atkins, no one else appeared to be there. Harry took off the cloak and signalled Ron and Cho. "Hold this position Sgt Atkins. We'll check the manor," Harry said. He didn't want a Muggle inside, in case there were any Portkeys, traps, or curses.

"Right you are," Atkins replied with an air of relief in his voice.

"What's the situation," Ron asked as soon as they were inside.

"It seems to be empty, but there might be a shielded room, curses, anything. We'd better check this out," Harry said.

"Shall I call for backup," Cho asked.

"There's no indication anyone's here, so hold off on that. For now, let's just be careful," Harry instructed. They moved stealthily through the manor, carefully checking for any clues. As soon as they stepped into the dining hall, the trouble began. From a shielded corner of the room, four persons appeared and without a fight, Ron and Cho, who were the first two to enter the room, were taken and Portkeyed away. Harry cast a stunner at one of the two remaining persons, but he had a shield up and was able to deflect it.

"Go," A female voice commanded and the others Disapparated.

With a flick of his wand Harry opened the curtains covering the windows. He found himself eye to eye with Mafalda.

"Harry Potter," she greeted with acid in her tone.

Both held their wands raised. "Mafalda Prewett," Harry replied in kind while considering his options.

"Before you try to capture me, let me tell you that unless I'm back with my people in five minutes, your friends will be killed."

Harry had no doubt she meant it. "What will you do to them?"

"Two Aurors? I think I might trade them for something valuable," Mafalda answered.

"It's beyond my authority to release the men we've arrested."

"Potter, please. I said I might trade them for something valuable," she said sarcastically. "I will let you know soon enough."

Harry followed Mafalda's every move. He couldn't risk a duel that might lead to Ron's and Cho's demise.

"You'd better return them because you're only making things worse for yourself," Harry shouted.

Mafalda smiled at him evilly and Disapparated. Harry was left alone in the manor, cursing Mafalda and cursing himself. That little bitch! Ron and Cho were captured. Why didn't I cast the revealing charm? What the hell was I thinking? Harry left the manor at full steam and sent off Sgt Atkins, before returning to the Ministry.

Burdened with his thoughts as he entered the Auror office, Harry had begun to work himself up into a rolling boil with a full-scale brood to match. I should've seen this coming. A simple charm would have prevented Ron and Cho being taken. No matter. I have to get them back, but first I have to notify...Damn! Hermione's going to kill me, the Changs are going to be after my blood, and the Weasleys...bloody hell!

"Chief Potter," Dawlish greeted him.

Harry stopped and looked at him. "Dawlish. Gather the others. Weasley and Chang have been taken by Mafalda's people," he growled through gritted teeth.

Minutes later, Harry surveyed his team of Aurors with brood-darkened eyes. He could see they all understood the gravity of the situation and were hell-bent for leather to rescue Ron and Cho from their captors.

"What happened, Harry," Thompson asked.

"Mafalda tricked us. She took Ron and Cho by Portkey. I have no idea where. She said she would contact us, so I don't believe she plans to kill them, at least not right away, but I have little doubt she might have them roughed up a bit. We need a plan to locate Ron and Cho and bring them back safely. Report back in one hour. By then I want ideas," Harry snarled. "In the mean time, I must speak with their families." Again.

"Well then, lads and lassies," Thompson boomed. "Tae the brainstormin' then!" The Aurors arranged themselves into groups of threes and fours and began to discuss possible strategies for freeing their associates and doing it safely. Despite the pall that hung in the air, they were optimistic. Most of them had gotten to know Ron enough to be able to strategise as they thought he would.

Andrew Thompson was a natural leader and damned organised. Since the stakeout operation several weeks before, the Aurors gravitated to Thompson in Harry's or Ron's absence. As ideas were hashed out, a representative from the groups would report to him for his input. For years following, Harry would find Auror Thompson invaluable in endeavours that required his skills in temporary field headquarters as well as at the office.

Harry went straight to his surrogate father's office. The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement answered his knock. "Come," Arthur called in his typical jovial fashion.

Harry opened the door and stepped in, his countenance grave and his heart pounding. "Arthur... Mafalda captured Ron and Cho. They should be safe for now. We'll do everything we can to get them back safely."

Arthur looked at Harry and nodded. "I know you will Harry. Can you tell me anything about what happened?"

"We checked a possible hideout for Death Eaters and were fooled. Ron and Cho were Portkeyed out of there. It happened very fast," Harry said, still berating himself. "I should've..."

"Now don't you go blaming yourself, Harry. It goes with the territory," Arthur chided, putting his arm around his surrogate son.

"I need to see Molly," Harry said with a heavy sigh. "And after that, I'll go to Hogwarts and tell Hermione and Ginny."

"Of course. I'll go to the Burrow with you. It'll be easier for her to hear if I'm there," Arthur said.

"I'd sure appreciate it, sir," Harry said, trying to hold back the tears that began to sting his eyes. It broke his heart to have to tell the kindest woman in the world that her son is in danger because of him.

Harry and Arthur Flooed to the Burrow to break the news to Molly. Harry was grateful Arthur had accompanied him. He kept calm, assuring Molly that he had the greatest confidence in Harry's abilities and that he would move heaven and earth to bring Ron back safe and sound. Through her tears, Molly assured Harry that this wasn't his fault and that she trusted him with her son's life. For the most part, Harry felt better about himself, but there was still a nagging bit of guilt that bit at his heart.

"Harry, you've done your here duty for now. You'd better get to Hogwarts to see Hermione and Ginny," Arthur told him "Tell Hermione she's welcome to come here after classes. In light of the circumstances, I'm sure Professor McGonagall will allow her and Ginny come home if they want to."

Harry Flooed to his and Ginny's room. They had decided to connect their fireplace with the one at the Burrow so they wouldn't have to burden the headmistress. Ginny was still in class, so the room was empty. Harry checked her schedule and headed for the Potions classroom in the dungeons. Ginny and Hermione sat that class together. At least I don't have to go chasing all over the castle. Harry quietly stepped into Professor Slughorn's classroom and approached his desk.

"Harry Potter, my dear boy," the professor greeted him. "What brings you?"

"Ministry business, Professor. I need to see Miss Granger and Miss Weasley," Harry told him in an official tone.

"Miss Weasley and Miss Granger, please go with the Head Auror," Professor Slughorn told them in the same official tone. "And take your things with you."

Hermione and Ginny stood in stunned silence, tears glistening in their eyes as they listened to Harry's story. They held to each other, trembling at the news. "Are they hurt," Hermione asked as her tears began to fall. "Is Ron..."

"I'm sure they're fine," Harry reassured them. "If her plan was to kill any of us, she'd've tried it already right there at the manor.

Hermione relaxed a bit. It made sense. Instead of using Portkeys it would have been killing curses if that had been Mafalda's intention.

Harry put his arms around his surrogate sister and placed a kiss on her head. "We'll bring him back safe and sound, Hermione. I promise."

"Harry," Ginny said softly when it was time for him to leave for the Changs. "Please careful. And don't blame yourself, okay?"

"Gin, I..." He wanted to argue, but the pleading in Ginny's eyes put him off. "I won't, love. At least I'm trying not to." But I can't help it. Harry kissed her tenderly and pulled her into an embrace. "I'll see you at the Burrow later. I love you."

"Love you," Ginny said, choking back a sob. She put her arm protectively around Hermione's shoulders as they watched him walk away, Auror's robes and raven ponytail streaming behind him.

His visit with the Changs turned out to be less harrowing than Harry originally thought. The Changs were concerned, but their confidence in Harry was quite evident in their manner. "Cho is a very powerful witch and has learned so much this year. I also know of Mr Weasley's talents and drive. I'm sure they'll be fine," Mr Chang said. "And again, Harry, thank you so much for coming to us personally."

"I'll let you know as soon as we have news," Harry promised.

His official duty completed, Harry returned to the Ministry, eager to hear whatever ideas the Aurors had. He was just about to Apparate when an Otter Patronus appeared. "I'm coming to the Ministry. I have an idea," Hermione's voice said.

That was music to Harry's ears. Even though he had great confidence in his fellow Aurors, he trusted Hermione more than anyone else with matters like this. Even more than Ginny, he realised. After facing death together so many times and being saved by Hermione's wit, it was no wonder he had every confidence in her.

Harry strode confidently into the conference room. "What have you got," he asked.

Seamus looked up as Harry strode toward him. "I have plenty of ideas about what to do once we locate 'em. The only problem is... the locatin' part..."

"I talked to people at the Portkey Office, but they can't trace Portkeys people make themselves," Goldstein said, frustrated.

"Aye, lads. We've got lot of ideas aboot what tae do once we get therre, Harry," Thompson said, summing up the brainstorming session. "We just canna come up wi' any ideas as to where therre is."

Following this report, there was a knock at the door and Hermione was stepped in. All of the former DA members greeted Hermione with a new spark of hope in their eyes. If she was there, it must mean she's had one of her brilliant ideas.

"So Hermione," Seamus called with a glint in his eyes. "What brilliant scheme have ya come with?"

"I have an idea, but it involves unauthorized magic. I'm not sure if it's dangerous or not, and there's no guarantee it'll work."

"Well Hermione, we got nothin'. I'm willin' to bet a Galleon that your plan works, but not me DA Galleon. That's me own treasure," Seamus chuckled, causing the others to do the same, even though they hadn't the slightest clue what a DA Galleon might be. Hermione blushed and smiled.

"Aye, Irrish. Tha's true," Thompson agreed. "We'rre willin' tae hearr ye out, lassie." The Aurors, many sporting splitting headaches, all agreed.

"Pipe down, you lot. What's your plan Hermione," Harry asked.

"I think we can put the Trace on a Patronus," she said thoughtfully. "Well...a simple form of the Trace, anyway. But if it works, we should be able to discover where it goes. If it does, we can send another to give Ron and Cho a message."

"What's so unauthorized about that," Susan asked, looking around at the others.

"First of all, we'll need to modify the Trace charm. Secondly, it has never been put on a Patronus. Thirdly, there's no telling what kind of effects it might have if it backfires, or what it might do to the one producing the Patronus," Hermione replied.

Harry looked at her with his signature Harry-grin. "So we have a possible solution with a laundry list of unknowns, is that right?"

"That's about it, yes," Hermione replied with a sigh. She then realised why Harry grinned at her that way.

Since they were eleven years old, all of their adventures started out that way. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had no idea what they would find through the trapdoor their first year when they went in search of the Philosopher's Stone. They found a magical obstacle course it took all three of them to best, but Harry kept Voldemort from stealing the stone. In their second year, Harry and Ron had no idea what they'd find in the Chamber of Secrets when they went to rescue Ginny. They found an almost-living memory of a young Tom Riddle and a sixty-foot long basilisk, but Harry saved Ginny's life.

In their third year, the three of them had no idea what would happen when they followed Ron and a huge dog into the tunnel under the Whomping Willow. They discovered their Defence Against the Dark Arts professor was a Werewolf and that the man convicted of murdering Harry's parents was innocent and Harry's godfather. In their fourth year, they had no idea which spells Harry would need to survive the Triwizard Tournament—let alone win it—so they researched and practiced every spell they could find. Harry won the tournament, but at a terrible cost. Cedric Diggory was murdered and Voldemort returned.

In their fifth year, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna had no idea what they would find the night they broke into the Ministry to rescue Sirius or how they'd even get there. They rode Thestrals that only Harry, Neville, and Luna could see. They found that Harry had been deceived and lured there for the prophecy. They had to fight off Voldemort's top Death Eaters until the Order arrived and arrested many of them. In their sixth year, they suspected Malfoy was trying to kill Dumbledore, but they had no evidence, but they followed and monitored him anyway. Dumbledore was killed, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sent on a quest to defeat Voldemort.

They missed their seventh year entirely as the three of them went on the lam, hunting for Tom Riddle's Horcruxes. They hadn't been exactly sure what or where they were, but they did find and destroy them, which led to the downfall and demise of the most evil dark wizard in history. They were used to dealing with plans based on little or no information.

"Sounds like business as usual," Harry snickered. "And it sounds like a plan. I guess you'll do the Trace, Hermione, and I'll produce the Patronus."

"Sorry sir, be we can't allow that. You're the Head of the Auror Office," Auror Smith called abruptly.

Harry's first impulse was to protest, but he recalled that the Auror manual clearly stated that the Head Auror was not to endanger himself in a case like this. "You're right, Smith. Thank you. And please don't call me sir," Harry said.

"Right. Sorry sir...er...Harry," Smith said automatically.

"Volunteer," he called.

"I'll do it," Lavender said, showing her Gryffindor courage.

"Hermione and Lavender cooperating to rescue Ron? Who would have imagined that in sixth year," Seamus laughed, receiving a very sharp look from Hermione.

"You're not off the hook yet, Finnegan," Lavender replied. "Locating them is only the first part. Next is actually getting them out from a Death Eater stronghold. Up to the challenge?" The look in Lavender's eye revealed more than friendly banter. There was more there but neither was letting on.

"Bring it on," Seamus replied. "I'm up for it."

"All right, all right. Let's get to work," Harry scolded. "LB, you're with Hermione. Now."

hphphphphphphphphphphphp

The next few days passed in a hectic blur. Harry, Ginny and Hermione stayed at the Burrow, not because it was necessary, but because it felt right that they should be together as a family. George and Angelina dropped by, Percy stayed one night, and Bill and Charlie each wrote letters offering their support. Hermione was so focused on adapting the Trace from a complex Ministry-controlled charm to a localized one to be cast on a Patronus, that she didn't even complain about missing classes at Hogwarts this close to NEWTs.

"Have you considered using your other wand to locate them," Ginny asked Harry as they lay in bed on night.

"The thought has crossed my mind. If Hermione's plan fails, I won't have a choice," Harry said darkly, shaking his head. "I just hope it does, because I really don't want to have that thing out in the open. It's too dangerous."

"I know, Love, but desperate times..." Ginny didn't need to finish. She just stroked his hair and kissed his brow as she held him in her arms. "Whatever you decide, you have my full support, you know." She sent a wave of the unspoken thing through their bond as she held him.

"I appreciate that, Gin," Harry said with a sigh. "I just can't help but think..."

"Harry, we've been through this with Mum and Dad, and Hermione, too," Ginny gently scolded. She turned his face and gazed deeply into his stubbled face. Already, she could tell he wasn't getting much sleep. Dark circles began to form under his glassy eyes. "Nobody blames you, Harry. That's not even what's important. What's important is doing what you do best to bring Ron and Cho home safely."

A wave of distress hit her through the bond. "What I do best, Ginny? So far, all I've done best is get two Aurors killed, a couple more injured, and now Ron and Cho kidnapped," Harry growled.

"Harry James Potter, you stop it this instant," Ginny scolded, poking his chest. "You didn't get Ron and Cho captured and you sure as hell didn't get anyone killed. Harry, you and I both know very well that things like this happen in your line of work. Mum and Dad know it, my brothers know it, and Hermione knows it; and what's more, we all accept it."

"But Gin..." Harry started to argue, but Ginny cut across him.

"Let me finish," she said less sharply. "We all accept it because we love you and Ron, and it comes with the job. We're a law enforcement family now. We're Aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix...well, Hermione and I aren't yet, but you know what I'm talking about."

Harry gazed at his fiancée in utter awe. How does she do that? How did she get to be so wise at seventeen? As she pulled him down against her breast and stroked his face, he fell in love with her all over again.

"Hush now, my love. Rest. You'll need all your strength when you go to bring Ron home to us," she cooed, kissing his messy head. "He and Cho are all right, Harry. I just know it." Like hell you do, Ginevra.

"Gin," Harry began, drawing concentric circles around her navel.

"Yes, Harry."

"Thanks."

"Anytime. Harry?"

"Yes, Gin."

"I love you, but that tickles," she giggled, holding his hand still.

"I love you too. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

"You always have to have the last word, don't you?"

"Not always. Just usually," she smirked. Ginny snuggled down bedside him and turned her back against his chest.

Harry laid his arm across her waist and pulled her close, kissing her shoulder. He waited for her to fall asleep and then said, "not this time, Beautiful. Sleep well."

He laid his head on the pillow, but just before he dropped off, Ginny rolled over and kissed his nose. "Dream on, Potter."

Harry couldn't help himself. His face broke into a grin. He coaxed her up against him and began kissing her face—her, forehead, her eyes, her nose, her lips. "As long as you're dreaming with me," he said and captured her lips in a goodnight snog before she could reply.

hphphphphphphphphphphphp

Harry and Ginny agreed that she should continue to attend classes, so she left for Hogwarts every day, giving Hermione copies of her notes so she wouldn't fall behind. Late on the first of May, Hermione told Harry she felt confident that she would be able to cast a Trace charm on a Patronus.

Despite her wishes to try it that same evening, they were interrupted by a Patronus from Bill. "Fleur is in labour. We're on our way to St Mungo's" it said.

Everyone stopped doing what they were doing and the Burrow fell uncharacteristically silent, except for the thump of Molly dropping down into a seat at the table. "I'm becoming a grandmother," she said. "Bill and Fleur's baby."

They agreed that Molly and Arthur should go to St Mungo's while Harry, Ginny and Hermione would remain at the Burrow in case other members of the Weasley family might show up. Harry looked at Ginny and broke into a smile. She knew what he was thinking because she could feel the mischief through their bond.

"Don't... you... if you say it, tonight's snogging is off," Ginny warned him.

"Say what," Hermione asked.

"Harry finds Aunt Ginny immensely amusing," Ginny said with a simper.

"Aunt Ginny?" Hermione turned bright red trying to hold back, but she couldn't hold it back, so she exploded with laughter.

"I hope you realise my dear brother will be Uncle Ron."

Hermione stopped laughing as tears began to well up in her eyes. "I'll be sure to remind him of that... when...when he comes home." She found herself torn between the joy of a new baby on the way and the emptiness and uncertainty of Ron's absence. Please let him be all right.

hphphphphphphphphphphphp

Ron and Cho were blindfolded upon arrival and led into a locked room. Their wands were taken away and the walls, window, door, ceiling and floor were all prepared with wards. A wandless witch or wizard had no easy way out. Once the door was shut and locked, Ron and Cho took off their blindfolds, a bit surprised that they had been left unbound.

"Where are we," Ron asked.

"I don't know," Cho said going to the window. "All I see outside is a forest. We could be anywhere."

"Well then," Ron said. "All we can do is wait, yeah?"

"I suppose so," Cho said a little shakily. "You all right?"

"Yeah. You," Ron asked.

"I'm fine. Just a bit shaken," she said, walking away from the window.

"Come and sit down, Cho," Ron said, patting the floor next to him. "Standing at the window won't bring Harry here any faster."

"So you think he'll find us," Cho asked a little uncertain.

"Are you joking? Of course he will, and if I know Harry, he's got Hermione on this too," he said. "Between Harry, Hermione, and the others, they'll have us out of here in no time." At least I hope so.

For the next few days nothing happened. They were fed well, but no one came to interrogate them, no one told them anything. They were unmolested. The only really hard part was the strain of being locked up waiting for... rescue, torture, execution, interrogations? Talking about it seemed to help keep them sane. They had already evaluated the chances of escape and came up with a definite maybe.

Finally, after days of waiting, the door opened and Mafalda entered. "My dear third cousin, Ronald," she greeted him. "And of course, Miss Chang."

"What do you want from us, Mafalda," Ron asked bluntly.

"I wanted to apologise for neglecting you these past few days, but I promise you'll see a lot of me from now on," Mafalda replied in a sickeningly sweet tone. Without another word, she turned on her heel and left them.

Ron waited for the sound of the key in the lock. "Honestly, Voldy was scarier," Ron said trying to cheer them up.

Cho smiled a little. "I guess she wanted to make us feel more uncertain. I'm guessing that their next move will be to separate us. We've had each other for support for a few days. I'm sure Mafalda thinks that we depend on that support by now, and will try to break us by isolating us. If she does, Ron, don't buy a word they tell you about me. They might tell you they've broken me, tortured me, killed me. Don't listen to them. I won't tell them anything."

"I know Harry's working on getting us out of here, and like I told you before, Cho, I'm willing to bet that Hermione's helping them figure a way to locate us," Ron assured her once again. Only this time, he felt the need to assure himself of it.

"You know. Hermione would have made a great Ravenclaw," Cho said with a smile.

"She's a pretty fair Gryffindor. I've never seen a girl...er...woman with so much moxie," Ron replied proudly. She's a damned good Gryffindor and that's part of why you're so madly in love with her, isn't it Weasley?

Cho had been right. The next day, the first of May, she was dragged away. Ron tried to remind himself that it was all a game designed to break him. Cho would be fine and Harry and Hermione wouldn't rest until they got them out.

hphphphphphphphphphphphphphp

At St Mungo's, Bill paced back and forth in the waiting room like a caged lion. His wife was giving birth, but overshadowing that was the fact that his youngest brother was missing. He was glad his parents were there, even though his mother was an emotional wreck.

"I was never this nervous giving birth myself," Molly moaned.

Bill looked at his mother. "How much longer will this take," he groaned. He resumed his pacing.

"Bill dear, it's only been an hour," Molly said, trying to calm her eldest son's nerves. Bill sat down, got up, and resumed pacing again. Molly's apprehension turned to mild amusement. "Were you like that Arthur," she asked her husband.

"Nervous? Yes indeed, especially with Bill, being our first," he said with mock gravity.

Bill stopped and glared at his parents before returning to his routine. "Just an hour? Are you sure," he asked. He'd been running his hands over his head so much that his hair had all but fallen loose from its ponytail.

"I am very sure, Bill. Now sit down and relax. Everything's fine," Molly said. Bill sat down and she rubbed his back. "These things just take time." Bill made to stand up again, but his mother held him down.

Arthur glanced at his watch. "She's right, it hasn't been more than an hour," he said with a wink. First-time-father jitters. Better him than me.

Molly shook her head. "Men... thank Merlin your only direct involvement in this process is the very act," she sighed.

Bill blushed. He had The Talk from his father while he was still in his teens, but he didn't remember his mother ever mentioning sex. With his wife giving birth and his mother making comments about the very act made him feel literally caught with his pants down. He also had the very disturbing thought in his mind that his parents...did it... and he was fighting back the mental picture that kept trying to form.

"William Arthur Weasley, sit down," Molly told him firmly.

Bill sat down and tried to relax, but he still kept pacing in his mind. He took the rest of his hair out of the band and let it fall around his face. "Mum, this is maddening. Is Fleur all right in there?"

"Of course she is, dear. Women have babies every day," Molly assured him. "Besides, the first one usually takes a bit longer."

At the Burrow Harry was rather nervous too. "Shouldn't we have heard something by now?" Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Harry cut across her to avoid one of her hours-long lectures. "Gin," Harry added.

"We might not hear anything until morning, Harry." she replied. "Sometimes labour can go on for hours or even days on end."

"You know what? It's close to midnight and tomorrow is the second of May," Hermione observed.

"That is usually the day after first of May, Hermione," Harry pointed out. "What's your point?"

Hermione gave him a sharp look. "Don't you remember what we did on the second of May last year?"

"Oh Merlin! The Battle of Hogwarts," Ginny remembered. "It's been a year since..."

"If you say so. I don't really remember the exact dates of those events," Harry said. He didn't want to remember. As far as he was concerned, that part of his life was over and he wanted it left in the past where it belonged.

At three o'clock on the morning of May second, a Healer walked out of the delivery room with a clipboard in her hand. "Mr Weasley? Is there a William Weasley here?"

At first Bill seemed paralyzed. In his parents' presence Mr Weasley still applied to his dad. The Goblins at work didn't use titles, but simply the name. Bill wasn't called Mr Weasley very often. Once he had let the words sink in he realized the Healer was talking to him. Bill just about flew out of his seat. "I'm Bill Weasley! Is she... is the baby...?"

"Mr Weasley, you are the father of a beautiful baby girl," she told him. "Please follow me."

He had a daughter. He was a father. He seemed rooted to the spot. "Go," Molly ordered.

Bill followed the Healer in a daze. The Healer led him to Fleur's room. She looked exhausted, but never more beautiful to him than she did this moment. Wrapped in a pink receiving blanket lay a tiny baby, his daughter. Bill was surprised how small she was. Fleur's big belly was gone and instead, this gorgeous baby girl lay in her arms.

"Fleur, my love," he said, taking Fleur's hand and kissing her forehead. He couldn't say anything more as tears filled his eyes and ran down his cheeks in tiny rivers.

"'Ere is our child, our daughter. "'Ere...you must 'old 'er," Fleur said giving her to Bill. "Watch 'er 'ead. Zat's eet."

Bill gently and gingerly took the tiny miracle in his strong arms. He had learned how to hold a baby, but the last baby he had held was Ginny, and that was almost eighteen years ago. Bill gazed down in wonder at the little girl as she slept. A flood of emotion, especially those of joy and love like nothing he's ever felt before filled him. Fleur looked up at him and smiled.

"I sought of calling 'er Victoire." Fleur said.

"Victoire," Bill repeated and in that moment she opened her eyes "I think she likes it."

"Eet means veectory. Eet is only feeting, since eet eez zee second of May today." Fleur reminded him.

"Of course," Bill whispered. "It's perfect. How are you feeling, Love?"

"Tired but 'appy. And a little woozy from a potion to get zee breast-meelk flowing."

"Are you up to visitors? Mum and Dad are just outside," Bill asked her.

"Of course. Victoire must meet 'er grandparents," Fleur replied with a weak smile. "Show zem een, Papa."

Moments later, Molly and Arthur came into the room. Bill handed Victoire off to Molly first. She beamed into the face of her first grandchild, as Arthur looked on with pride in his eyes. Grandparents. Molly knew from the very first moment she saw Victoire that she would love being a grandmother. She handed the baby off to her grandfather, who tickled a cooed at the baby. "She's a Weasley, all right. Red hair and blue eyes!"

"Oh, but Fazzer Weasley," Fleur said with a giggle, "all babies 'ave blue eyes."

"Blue they are and blue they shall say, eh son," Arthur countered with a wink.

"If you say so, Dad," Bill replied. "But remember that Ginny's and the twins'...George's eyes are chocolate brown."

"Yes, yes. Quite right," Arthur allowed. "Blue eyes or brown eyes, she's beautiful, son. Congratulations," He handed the baby back to her father, who placed her in her mother's waiting arms. Exactly one year to the day after one Weasley left the world, another came into it.

Harry, Ginny and Hermione had gone to bed, but were awakened early when they heard someone in the house. They headed downstairs, wands at the ready, to find Arthur making tea in the kitchen. He absent-mindedly whistled a tune as he worked, not realising three people stood there staring at him.

Ginny rushed to her father's side and grabbed hold of his arm. "Dad! Is it...is Fleur...?"

"It's a Weasley," Arthur announced. "A beautiful little girl with red fuzz and blue eyes. They named her Victoire to commemorate...well, you know."

"That's wonderful...Granddad," Ginny said slyly.

"Yes it is...Aunt Ginny," Harry teased.

"Uh...remember that you're Uncle Harry now," Hermione reminded him.

"How could I ever forget...Aunt Hermione," Harry teased again. Harry turned his attention back to Arthur. "How's Fleur?"

"Fleur is just fine and she's resting comfortably," Arthur told them. "You can come and visit later today. Bill, Fleur and the baby are sleeping now and Molly's keeping watch."

"Yes...of course we will, but we must try to locate Ron and Cho first," Hermione said, trying not to cry again. "Ron'll be so excited..."

"Yes, we must focus on Ron and Cho," Harry agreed. "Then we'll all come and see the new baby together."

Arthur stared at his future son-in-law and daughter-in-law. He expected nothing but a highly professional attitude from the Head of the Auror Office and there was no one better to lead the 'new' Aurors than Harry. But still, Arthur was not used to dealing with Harry on this level, but they had to work out a professional relationship now that he was Harry's supervisor and Department Head.

Harry and Hermione left the Burrow for the Auror Office where Seamus and Dawlish were waiting with Lavender, helping her deal with her case of nerves.

"Are you up for this Lavender," Harry asked.

"Let's get this over with. Seamus arranged for a Portkey to St Mungo's and he'll take me there in an instant should something go bonkers."

It was hard to believe that this was the same Lavender who, only two or so years before had been a gossipy, giggling all-over-Ron girl; however, during this year, she and all of the former DA members had astounded him with their maturity and dedication. Innocence and teenage frivolity had been further casualties of the war.

"All right. Let's do this, then," Hermione said resolutely. "Lavender, I explained the risks involved, didn't I?"

"For crying out loud, Hermione. Can we get on with it? I know you well enough to know that you wouldn't do this if you thought it'd hurt me," Lavender said "We've lived in the same dorm for six years after all."

Lavender drew her wand and the others followed suit. Hermione took final are-you-ready glances at Seamus, Dawlish and Harry. "It feels... right..." Harry shrugged.

"Expecto Patronum!" Lavender produced her Spider-monkey Patronus with confidence. Her feeble fifth-year attempts were from another era and long forgotten.

Hermione took a deep breath and focused. "I'm not sure I'll get it right the first time," she said as flicked her wand in a complicated series of patterns while she muttered the incantation. The monkey turned more yellow than usual before it disappeared with a flash of bright light. "Are you okay, Lavender?" Hermione asked.

"A bit dizzy, but...I'm fine," she replied.

"I over-compensated for the difference between Tracing a physical person and a Patronus. That caused the Patronus to dissolve, I'm afraid."

"Then we do it again." Lavender said with her jaw set and her head held high. She closed her eyes, smiled, and took a deep breath. "Expecto Patronum!" The silvery Spider-monkey appeared again, crouched down with its head cocked as though waiting for instructions.

Hermione looked at her notes to figure out exactly what to adjust. Unauthorized magic was not an exact art. She decided to go a little easier on her wand and emphasize one of the words in the incantation a bit softer. Harry watched Hermione work. He was so proud of his friend who was more than friend; she was his sister.

Some wizards and witches far beyond Hermione's years found authorised charm work difficult, but not Hermione. Charms and spells always came easy to her. In fact, magic in general came easy to her, except flying. That's one thing Ron and Harry had on her. She wasn't a flyer. But more importantly, she could re-forge highly complex Ministry-controlled charms and manipulate them to her purposes.

Only a handful wizards and witches had that useful ability. Anyone could meddle with the Jelly-legs jinx to affect other body parts, but this was something completely different. Harry didn't quite understand it, but basically, the Trace was some kind of wide-ranged magic, which had to be very difficult and very powerful. Professor Dumbledore had used that kind of magic to enable the food appear on the tables at Hogwarts. Harry watched as Lavender's Patronus glowed purple this time and did not de-materialise or disappear in a flash of light.

"I think we did it," Hermione said. "It's ready."

"You're on, then, LB. Please instruct your Patronus to give Ron and Cho a message," Harry said.

Ron sat alone in the room he and Cho had been left in for the past three days. The Death Eaters had taken Cho the night before and hadn't returned her. They told him how they had tortured her until she broke and told them all she knew.

"We won't torture you for information," a Death Eater claimed with a maniacal grin. "We'll do you just for fun."

Ron recalled Cho's and his agreement Don't believe a word they say. For all he knew, Cho could have been told the same thing, but there was still the nagging possibility that she may actually have been tortured or even killed. It didn't matter much which right now because whatever had happened to Cho, if anything at all, didn't help Ron. Of course he hoped she was all right.

His wandering mind snapped back to reality with the sudden appearance of a bright light. He turned towards it. It was a Patronus, or at least he thought it was. Ron had never seen a purple Patronus before, but purple or orange with green polka-dots, this one bore a very welcome resemblance to a spider monkey.

"Ron and Cho," Lavender's voice said, "Hermione has managed to put a Trace on my monkey. If you receive this, please know that we'll get to you. Don't give up hope."

Ron's jaw dropped and a wave of love and affection ran through his body. Ron knew enough about Ministry-controlled charms to know it was dangerous enough just to handle them, let alone manipulate them. Hermione, his wonderful, bright, and courageous Hermione."She's mental, but I really hope it worked," he mumbled to himself with a chuckle. I'll let her know how bright and wonderful she is when I get home.

Harry watched Hermione and Lavender with puzzled interest. Hermione seemed to be reading Lavender's mind, as if there was something similar to Legilimency at work. The Patronus was connected to Lavender, and through her mind, Hermione tried to follow its movements.

"I know where the Patronus went," Hermione said, reaching for a map."

Within minutes, Harry's team were ready. "Irish, LB, JD...you're with me." Harry handed each of them a couple of stunning grenades. "Wands out, people."

"Shouldn't there be more of us," Seamus asked with raised eyebrows. Harry, Dawlish and Lavender looked back at Harry.

"Four of us taking them by surprise should be quite enough," Harry said. "We don't want to be tripping over each other in a fight. Besides, if we have to fight our way out, Ron and Cho'll make six." Harry equipped himself with two spare wands for Ron and Cho, in case they didn't find their own wands immediately.

"Five...or seven," Hermione said with a blazing stare at Harry. "I know I'm not an Auror, but you'll have to fight me before I let you leave me behind. I've got a stake in this too."

Harry smiled his knowing smile. "I wouldn't dream of leaving you behind if you're so hell-bent come along. Hermione, you're most welcome." Dawlish didn't argue and Seamus and Lavender knew Hermione's capabilities only too well.

Hermione placed a few objects on the table, and waved her wand over each of them, muttering Portus. "I have a Portkey here for each of us," Hermione explained. "In case someone gets hurt, we can get away from there quickly."

"Good thinking, Sis" Harry replied with a sly grin. "Now listen up. We move in. Use the grenades. Don't worry if you happen to stun Ron or Cho. Avoid it if possible, but we need the element of surprise, and those stunners'll do just that." Harry turned to the others. "Thompson, you lot know the drill!"

"Aye, Harry. That we do," Thompson said with a curt nod. "Good luck!"

The five of them held onto the Portkey as Hermione activated it. They felt the familiar tug behind their navels as they were swept away to the place Ron and Cho were held. They landed in a forest in front of a manor house. "It's a pretty big place, but we need to search it quickly," Harry said. "Remember, if you see Mafalda, try to knock her out, but our main objective is to rescue Ron and Cho."

The Auror team and Hermione quickly took up their positions as Harry deployed them. There were three entrances. Harry and Hermione would go in through the main entrance, Lavender and Seamus through the back door, and Dawlish through the kitchen door. As soon as Harry gave them the signal, they attacked.

"Bombarda maxima," Hermione shouted and cast her spell with fervour. Harry threw a stunning bomb through what was left of the doorway. They moved in quickly. A Death Eater guard had been knocked out, taken by complete surprise. The five of them quickly cleared the ground floor and met up with Harry and Hermione covering the staircase.

"Is there a cellar," Harry asked.

Dawlish nodded. "Looks like it, yes."

"Irish, LB... secure the cellar," Harry ordered.

"Right," Lavender said. "C'mon, Finnegan." Harry watched as Seamus and Lavender stealthily moved off to the cellar door and disappeared through it. Their training in coordinated attack was about to pay off.

Hermione hadn't trained with the others, but all of their adventures together, including having embarked on a nine-month life-threatening quest, she had long-ago learned to read Harry's body language and facial expressions so she knew what to do without explanation. She was impressed by Harry's way of taking charge. During the Horcrux hunt, he had reluctantly been thrust into leadership of the trio, but now he developed his nature leadership abilities. Harry nodded to Dawlish and threw another stunning bomb. As soon as it detonated, they pounded up the stairs.

A door opened and a Death Eater appeared. "My Lady," he managed to shout before Hermione hit him with a stunner.

Further down the hallway, they heard a noise. "It's Ron." Hermione cried. "He's here and he's alive." Hermione lost concentration for a brief moment when her worry for Ron turned into pure joy. Suddenly, another door flew open, and before anyone could think, someone cast a curse from the darkness. Hermione just barely caught it out in the corner of her eye and attempted to throw a shield up to cover herself.

Unfortunately, the shield and the curse collided and caused an explosion. On pure reflex, Harry and Dawlish had managed to throw their own shields up, leaving them unharmed, but Hermione was caught in the blast and thrown backwards several feet. She lay motionless on the floor, covered with bits of dust and debris.

"Damn! JD, check on Hermione!" Harry threw his last stunning bomb through the offending door. It detonated, but Harry choose to hit the door with a stunner of his own to swing it wide open against the possibility that the attacker hid behind it.

Harry entered the room carefully, and all he found was that it was empty. Returning to the corridor he saw Seamus and Lavender supporting a very weakened Cho between them. "Cellar's clear, Harry. There was one DE there, but he Apparated off," Lavender reported.

Harry nodded and turned to Cho. "You all right?"

"Fine, under the circumstances. They tortured me with the Cruciatus curse for several hours," Cho replied with a weak voice. "But I'll live. They have our wands."

"We'll find your wands. I'm sure they're here somewhere," Harry assured her. "Meanwhile, we'll have you checked out at St Mungo's...just to be sure there's no internal damage." Cho nodded without argument.

Next he turned to Dawlish, his face full of concern and shock. "How's Hermione?"

"Unconscious. She took a blow to the head in the blast. I don't dare try to wake her up," Dawlish answered gravely. "I'm not even sure I want to move her."

Harry cursed himself for letting her come along. Now he had to go down to the room where she'd found Ron and tell him she'd been injured. "St Mungo's..." Harry concluded. "Cho, can you take her with you?"

Cho nodded. "Of course."

"And Cho..." Harry added, "there are probably members of the Weasley family there. Bill and Fleur had their baby this morning. Irish, you're with me. JD, cover us."

Seamus and Harry carefully checked the other rooms on that floor, but they were all empty. Finally, they unlocked and opened the room Ron was held in. "What in Merlin's name..." he started, but the brooding in Harry's face made Ron stop.

"Ron, Hermione took a blow to the head. Cho's taken her to St Mungo's," Harry said darkly.

Ron forgot all about being released. "Why did you bring her along? What the bloody hell were you thinking," Ron thundered in an explosion of fury. The frustration of having been locked up against his will had broken forth and poured itself out over Harry.

"Actually, she insisted," Seamus said in defence of his Chief.

"She had no business being here! If anything happened to her, I'll personally beat the crap out of you, Potter," Ron screamed half out of anger and half out of desperation.

And I'll let you do it too, mate. "Ron, we'll go to St Mungo's," Harry said in a calm tone. "I'm sure she'll be fine. She's a tough lady." Ron calmed down considerably, but underneath, his blood simmered. "And I might as well tell you now...you're an uncle," Harry added.

Ron walked out of the room and turned to Harry and Seamus. "What are you waiting for?"

"Irish, you and JD get Jock and a few others to search the manor properly," Harry said. "Then go back to headquarters and start on the bloody damned paperwork. I'll..."

"Harry, go. Ron and Hermione need you. You should be with them and your family," Seamus said softly, clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Thanks mate. I'll leave you in charge then," Harry said as he caught up with Ron. "Let's go, brother."

Harry and Ron Apparated to St Mungo's and approached a very bored-looking receptionist. "Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. We are here to see Hermione Granger, Cho Chang and Fleur Weasley."

The receptionist's first reaction was to treat them with the indifference she usually treated visitors with, but when she got an eyeful of these two fit young men in Auror's robes, she decided it would be best to be at least co-operative, if not polite.

"Take those lifts to the fourth floor, gentlemen," she said pointing to their right.

"Thank you," Harry said. He guided a now-brooding Ron toward the lifts.

The receptionist followed them appreciatively with her eyes as they strode away like men on a mission. I've just met Harry Potter and Ron Weasley...and they're much hotter in person!

They stepped out on fourth floor and headed for Hermione's room. They met an elderly Healer who reminded Harry of Madame Pomfey. She recognised them immediately. "Mr Weasley, come with me please."

Harry nodded to his friend. "I'll be right here," Harry said taking a seat on the sofa.

"Thanks, mate," Ron said shakily.

Harry noticed a woman and a boy of about nine years old seated nearby. They stared at him as though they couldn't believe Harry Potter was real and in the same room with them. They had seen photos of him in the Prophet, but now he sat there in the same waiting room, a living, breathing person.

Ron followed the Healer into the room where Hermione lay, still and unconscious. Cho was with her. "How is she," Ron asked, hurrying to Hermione's bedside.

"It's too soon to tell," the Healer replied kindly. "We were able to repair her fractured skull and her life isn't in any real danger. But for the moment, she remains unconscious."

"Can you wake her? Is she..." Ron tried to ask more, but a sob threatened to escape his constricting throat.

"We can wake her up, sure, but that might damage her brain. We've given her several restorative potions to help stabilise her. If they work properly, we will know more soon, but it may take a week before we can be certain."

"Certain of what," Ron asked, himself uncertain if he wanted to hear the answer.

"Of permanent brain damage," the Healer said with a sigh. "Or...if she's simply unconscious as a result of the impact."

"I'll be right here. I want to be by her side when she wakes," Ron said pulling out a chair.

The Healer nodded as Ron's eyes filled with tears. Her heart went out to this lovely young couple as he took his fiancée's hand. "Is there anything I can do, sir?"

Ron looked up at her with red eyes, puffy from lack of a decent night's sleep and red from the burning tears he fought to hold back. "Just get her well." Ron sobbed. "And please update Harry. She's like a sister to him."

She nodded. "Of course I will, Mr Weasley. If you need anything, just let me know." The Healer turned and walked out the door to speak with Harry.

"Are you all right, Cho," Ron asked as he pulled himself together.

"I'm fine. I waited for you to get here. I'll leave you now," she said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "If there's anything I can do, please just tell me. I owe her my life." Cho left quietly, and stepped out of the room.

The Healer returned to Harry, who stood up expectantly. "Mr Potter...I think it's safe to say Mr Weasley will remain here. I assume you wish to join your family. News of your arrival here spread like wildfire and I understand your fiancée is visiting her new niece on the maternity ward."

Harry nodded his head smiling. "And Hermione?" The Healer related everything to Harry that she had told Ron about Hermione's condition. "...and so it's just a waiting game, now."

"Thank you, Healer. I think I'll go update the family and...see the baby," Harry said with a heavy sigh. Tears for his beloved surrogate sister stung his eyes and he tried to blink them back, but it was no use. They began to fall. He sat back down for a moment and hid his face in his hands until he could collect himself before he faced Ginny and the family.

Harry appeared at the maternity waiting area. Molly, Arthur and Ginny were there, and by the look on his face, they could tell immediately that something had happened. "It's Hermione isn't it," Ginny asked, trusting the flashes and emotions she had caught from Harry's mind through their bond.

Harry nodded and buried his face in Ginny's hair. He breathed in her wildflowers and strawberry scent and began to sob. Ginny held him to her and stroked his hair, whispering comfort into his ears. They stood there in their embrace for several minutes until Harry could collect himself again. "She has a head injury, but they're not sure how severe. She'll live, but...they can't say if there's going to be any permanent...damage," Harry said, wiping his eyes.

He told them about the mission and how Hermione had insisted upon tagging along. He told them about the explosion and how Cho brought her to the hospital. Molly and Ginny gasped in shock and desperation, holding their hands to their mouths as tears welled up in their wide eyes.

"And how's Ron," Arthur asked.

"Worried. He wasn't hurt. He's with her right now. He won't leave her," Harry said, shaking his head.

Bill came out of the room he and Fleur shared and stopped in his tracks at the looks on the faces of his parents and his sister and her fiancé. "Hey, it's a birthday," he said cheerfully.

"Bill, Hermione's been seriously injured," Molly said, her brown eyes glistening.

"No," Bill gasped. "How? What happened?"

Harry once again explained about the Patronus, the mission, and the explosion. With each telling, his heart beat heavier and heavier in his chest. He still blamed himself because he should never have allowed her, a civilian, to come along on such a potentially dangerous mission. I should've argued. I shouldn't have let her come. He chose to ignore a still, small voice in the back of his mind that told him all the arguing in the world wouldn't have stopped her. His best friend—his sister—lay comatose in a hospital bed with her brilliant mind on the line.

The rest of the day passed in a fog of surrealism. The joy over the new addition to the family was overshadowed by Hermione's condition. It was difficult to focus on the joy of new life while Hermione lay unconscious with a grieving Ron by her side.

That afternoon, Fleur got out of bed with Victoire in her arms."I will see Ron and 'Ermione," she said flatly. Ginny accompanied Fleur to Hermione's room, where they found Ron asleep in his chair with his head resting against Hermione's arm. He held Hermione's hand clasped in his as he dozed. He awoke when his sister and his brother's wife walked in.

"Ron, how are you," Ginny asked, giving him a loving hug. "Are you...?"

"I'm as well as can be expected, I guess. Given the situation, there's no other place I'd rather be right now than here... with her." Ron gazed with loving sadness at the sleeping face of his beloved Hermione.

Ginny gave her brother another bracing hug as Fleur stepped forward. "Ron," she said softly, "zis eez your niece, Victoire."

Ron gently released Hermione's hand and took Victoire in his arms. "Hey, little one. I'm your Uncle Ron," he said. "And that beautiful lady right there is your Aunt Hermione." He gazed at the bundle in his arms and stroked her little face with the back of his long index finger. "Blimey. Uncle... it sounded ridiculous until I took her in my arms." Ron smiled wanly at Ginny, before he handed Victoire back to her mother.

Sensing that Ron wasn't really in the mood to chat, Ginny and Fleur left him with hugs and pecks on the cheek to return to the family. As soon as they left the room, he took Hermione's hand firmly in his again as he allowed his tears to flow freely and unashamedly down his freckled face.

The Assistant Head of the Auror Office never thought too much about the existence of higher powers, even at the most frightening hours in his life. But this moment held more terror for him than the hunt for the Horcruxes or any battle he'd ever fought in the war. In desperation, he uttered what he thought might pass as a prayer.

"I know I have no right to ask, since I really don't know if you exist, but if you're there, please hear me. I love this woman with all my heart, so much that I'd gladly give my life for her. I can't...I don't want to live without her; she's life to me. Everything I am is because of her; without her, I'm nothing. I beg of you—please don't take my sweet Hermione where I can't follow."

He kissed her forehead and brushed her lips with his own. He kissed her hand and held it to his face as he whispered to her. "I love you so much, Hermione." He lay his shaggy red head on her chest, massaging her hand. "Please come back to me," he sobbed. "I can't live without you." He fell asleep against her breast, his big heart breaking with love for her.

hphphphphphphphphphphphphp

Draco awoke to a tapping sound against his bedroom window the morning of May third. Astoria lay next to him, still asleep. He carefully slipped out of the bed so as not to disturb her. She looked like an angel to him as she lay there with her blonde hair spread across her pillow. He padded over to the window to open it. The owl stuck out its leg so he could remove the scroll tied around it. He sat down in an easy chair in the corner and opened the letter. His heart sank; it was from Mafalda.

This is your lady. I will need a diversion. You will release Fiendfyre at the Ministry by noon on 5 May.

She's got to be ruddy joking! Fiendfyre at the Ministry? In two days? "Bloody hell," Draco muttered to himself and dropped his face into his hands.