Chapter 21 – Full Circle

This was the moment he dreaded. Harry had to break the news to Hermione's parents. How am I going to tell them that their daughter is lying comatose in hospital and nobody has any idea whether or not she'll come out of it with her mind intact? He couldn't help but blame himself, although everyone kept telling him it wasn't his fault. But, dammit, this time it hit too close to home. Wasn't my fault? I could have made her stay at the office with Jock and the others. Way to go, Potter.

Harry took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Mr Granger answered it and broke into a warm smile to find Harry Potter on his doorstep. "Ah Harry. I'm most pleased to see you. Our clinic is doing great and..."

Harry's grave expression gave Mr Granger pause. "Mr Granger, is your wife here with you?"

"Well...yes, of course. Please. Come in. Has something happened," he asked as he ushered Harry to the living room. Mrs Granger sat on the sofa. She had been reading about a new procedure in a dental journal, but put it down when she heard voices in the hall. "Dear, Harry's here."

"Harry. How nice to see you again," she said with a perfect smile. "What brings you..."

"Mrs Granger," Harry cut across her. "I'm here on official business. Hermione's been seriously injured." Harry said it as calmly as possible. His experience carrying dour news to the families of his colleagues the past couple of months made him feel a little more confident.

"Is it... bad," Mrs Granger asked. "Is she going to be all right?" Mrs Granger's eyes held all the terror that grips a mother's heart when her child is in danger, whether that child is an adult or not.

"What happened," Mr Granger asked urgently as he put a comforting arm around his wife.

Harry took another deep breath and told them the whole story—the modified spell, the mission, Hermione's insistence upon coming along on the mission."The Healers say there's no risk to her life, but they say it's too soon to tell if there's any permanent... brain damage."

Tears streamed down Mrs Granger's face as Mr Granger attempted to pull her in closer to him as she wept. "Head injury. Can they handle this at your hospital or should we transfer her to one of ours?" Mr Granger swallowed hard, trying to choke back his own tears. Hermione was his only child—a brilliant girl—with a serious head injury. He could scarcely take it all in.

Harry thought about it. "I'm not a Healer, but I think we treat injuries a lot better. Head injuries are common in Quidditch matches and are usually taken care of quickly. The Healers know what they're doing."

Mrs Granger relaxed a bit. "C-can we see her?" She blew her nose into a tissue from a box on the end table and then dabbed at her eyes with a fresh one.

Harry nodded. "I'll take you there immediately."

When he heard the door open, Ron looked up from Hermione's bedside where she still lay unconscious. Mr and Mrs Granger entered the room and stepped quietly toward him. "Ron," Mrs Granger said, cupping his stubbly face in her hand. "You look tired. You need to get some rest—we'll sit with her for a while."

"Thank you, Mrs Granger. I'm not exactly comfortable here, but I can't leave her." Ron said, sadly shaking his head. "I won't leave her." He held fast to her hand with his jaw set and his bleary eyes fixed on her face.

"Son, you need to get some rest," Mr Granger said. "Wearing yourself out and making yourself sick isn't going to help her. She wouldn't want you to do this to yourself."

More and more, the Grangers had come to understand what their daughter saw in Ron Weasley. He had appeared to be a prankster, a mediocre student at best, and not an intellectual counterweight for their gifted daughter. He often came across as jealous and hot-tempered, but now they knew him a lot better. Ron had a sharp mind, something Mr Granger had learned the hard way on the chessboard. Ron had a wonderful sense of humour and a strong loyalty to friends and family.

Now, Ron's fight was with his emotions. He was worried sick about Hermione, but he proved his love for her as he sat there hour after hour, unwavering, holding her hand, talking to her, beseeching whatever god or gods to allow her to return to him, whole and intact. This kept him sane. Fundamental in that sense was his immeasurable devotion to his family, and as far as he was concerned, Hermione was the closet family he had.

Rather than argue with her daughter's fiancé, she turned to conversation. After all, he'd been sitting there since just after Hermione had been admitted and knew more than Harry could have. "How is she," Mr Granger asked tearfully.

"The Healers say that the potions they keep giving her are working. I hope they work better than they smell. They don't want to wake her up before they're sure it's safe."

"We'll stay here too, then. At least one of us will be here," Mrs Granger promised. "There's no sense in you sitting here alone." Mrs Granger put a motherly hand to his face and gave him a bracing smile. Ron was grateful to have some company as he kept his vigil at Hermione's side.

Harry had to return to the Auror Office. He still had a job to do and he couldn't blow it off to sit at St Mungo's. Besides, he'd been rather avoiding Hermione's room. He just couldn't bring himself to watch as his best friend agonised over her because he, Harry, had used poor judgement in allowing Hermione to go on that mission with him. You can't avoid it forever, Harry. Ron needs you to help him through this.

Harry stepped into his office to find Draco waiting for him. "Malfoy," Harry said.

"Potter. Have you seen the Prophet yet today?" Draco held out the Daily Prophet for him to look at. "This doesn't look good."

Harry shook his head. He took the paper and began to read.

Hermione Granger in St Mungo's

It is reported that Hermione Granger was rushed unconscious to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Healers would not comment, but The Ministry of Magic confirmed that Miss Granger participated in an Auror mission to arrest fugitive Death Eaters. Her condition is stable and non-life-threatening."

Harry looked at Draco. "What this article doesn't say is what doesn't look good."

"I honestly hope she'll be all right," Draco said. "How's Weasley holding up?"

"About as well as can be expected. He won't leave her side," Harry said. Who are you what have you done with Draco Malfoy? "So, I know this isn't a social call. What's going on?"

Draco fished in his robes and pulled out a bit of parchment. "This," he said, tossing it onto Harry's desk.

"Fiendfyre? Here?" This was just about the last straw for Harry. First the kidnapping, then the explosion that put Hermione in St Mungo's, and now Malfoy tells him he has to unleash Fiendfyre in the Ministry by noon on the fifth! Could this nightmare get any worse?

"If I don't do it, she'll know I'm not under her control," Draco said, wiping his face with his hands. "I'm... not keen on the idea, trust me. I've seen what it can do, and I sure as bloody hell can't control it! I'm good, but not that good." The truth was that Draco Malfoy was a rather talented wizard, but he was no Hermione Granger and he was never a match for Harry.

"Yes, I understand," Harry said thoughtfully. "I must talk to the Minister about this. I'll get back to you."

Draco nodded but didn't get up. "There was one more thing. Of a personal nature."

"Yes," Harry asked feeling rather surprised by Draco's almost humble tone.

"I haven't been together with Astoria for very long, but I know she's the girl," Draco mumbled, clearly uncomfortable sharing this kind of thing with Harry Potter.

"I'm happy you found love, Draco," Harry said feeling very awkward.

"The thing is...I...I've thought of proposing...but getting married means Ministry involvement with the Wedding charm and I resent this Ministry." It was obvious to Harry that Draco struggling to get to the point, but said nothing. "In fact, there's only one person I would even consider allowing to cast the Wedding charm over us."

"Well...I'll put in a good word for you if you're afraid this person might hesitate," Harry offered, wondering why on earth Draco had come to him with this.

"You don't understand, do you, Potter? I want you to do it," Draco said with a mild snort. He raised his head and looked Harry straight in the eye.

Harry's jaw dropped. "Me? I've never cast the Wedding charm, and they won't allow me do it only because I'm Harry Potter," Harry gasped.

"They'll allow it because you're Head Auror. Any Head is authorized to cast the Wedding charm. I thought you knew that," Draco explained, clearly more comfortable in the position of lecturing Harry.

"Let me get this straight. You want me to officiate yours and Astoria's wedding," Harry said more in a way as if I was thinking out loud rather than speaking to Draco.

"It's a mental world, right? But yeah. I don't like you, but for some bloody reason I respect you, Potter. Maybe because of what you did—witnessing on my mother's behalf. I don't know."

Harry was stunned. Cast the Wedding charm for Draco Malfoy, of all people. That sounded downright bizarre—to say the least.

"Yeah, mental... I'll have to discuss that with the Minister as well...and get back to you," was all Harry was able to tell him at that moment.

Harry shook his head all the way to the minister's office. If someone tried to tell Harry even two years ago that he would have a working relationship with Draco Malfoy, he'd have laughed uproariously in his or her face. And then to have this same Draco Malfoy ask him, Harry Potter, his arch nemesis, to cast the Wedding charm over himself and his fiancée—impossible. Unthinkable. This day couldn't get any weirder! Could it?

When Harry arrived at Kingsley's office, he was in a meeting. Harry waited in the antechamber allowing his mind to wander once again. Fiendfyre. Kingsley would certainly like to know about that. And this whole Wedding charm thing. He had no idea he held the power to marry people. Unreal. Soon, the door opened and several witches and wizards, department heads, filed out.

The Minster welcomed his Head Auror into his office with a firm handshake and a clap on the back As soon as the door closed, Kingsley's countenance turned sympathetic. "Harry, I heard about Hermione. I hope she'll recover," Kingsley said. "How's Ron doing?"

"She's tough, Kingsley. Ron's holding up, but he won't leave her side," Harry told him. "Her parents are with him. I took them there before I came here. I felt it was my responsibility to..."

"It's the place he should be right now," Kingsley said with a nod. "Harry, I hope you're not blaming yourself for this. In their report, Finnegan and Dawlish state that she wouldn't take no for an answer."

Harry smiled and gave a soft chuckle. "You've got the measure of our Hermione, that's for sure, but I still wish I would have made her stay here...or go right back to Hogwarts."

"Harry, she'd never let you do this without her, especially since it was her brilliant charm work that located Ron and Auror Chang."

"Yeah, I know," Harry said with a sigh. "But that's not why I'm here."

"Oh? What's on your mind, then, Harry?"

"Draco Malfoy came to see me. He got this note from Mafalda." Harry handed him the parchment and waited for the Minister's reaction.

"Mafalda probably knows, as Draco does, that he won't be able to control it. The Ministry could be devastated. But what's the bigger picture here," he wondered.

"What do you mean?"

"Does Mafalda want us kept busy here, while she implements her plan. Or is she guessing that Malfoy won't obey her?" Kingsley began to tap his tented fingers together in deep thought.

"Would she suspect he's thrown off the Imperius," Harry asked.

"Good question. After all, Voldemort hadn't detected Severus Snape's ruse, but on the other hand, Mafalda knows that Voldemort was deceived somehow."

"I have one idea," Harry said. "I thought of a way to enter her mind. If we do that by noon that day, we may be able to learn something."

"What's your plan, Harry?"

"Draco is connected to her mind. I think we can use that connection to our advantage. I'm not sure how legal it would be, though," Harry warned. "It involves a bit of strong Legilimency."

Kingsley looked at Harry thoughtfully. " Sweet Merlin, Harry! What borders do we cross and which ones don't we, if we're to come out of this with a clear conscience?"

"Ginny's constantly telling me that desperate times call for desperate measures," Harry said, rubbing his aching forehead. "Must be all that Shakespeare she reads."

"Shakespeare? Who's..."

"A sixteenth-century Muggle playwright. Never mind," Harry said with a snort. "Anyway, we can safely assume that now is one of those desperate times?"

"I'd say so. Do whatever you need to do," Kingsley conceded. "I want this matter resolved as soon as possible."

Harry explained his plan. He would connect with Draco's false mind and, through it, cast Legilimency to break into Mafalda's mind. If it worked perfectly, he might be able to gain control of her and gain the upper hand by convincing her to give herself up. But if nothing else, he'd hoped to at least learn her plan. Harry was confident it would work, but wished Hermione could be there to support him.

"Minister, there's another thing," Harry said, still in a state of amused bewilderment.

"There's more?"

"No, this is something different...really different. Malfoy told me he's going to propose to Astoria Greengrass. He asked me to cast the Wedding charm."

Kingsley looked astonished and then began to laugh. "How do you feel about that?"

"I'm not really sure, but if I have the proper assistance to prepare me for it, I'll do it. I'm honoured in a bizarre sort of way."

"All right, Harry. I guessed long ago that you'd receive requests to cast the Wedding charm sooner or later. Once this business with Mafalda is finished, I'll assign you an instructor."

"Thank you. Now what about the Fiendfyre?"

"In case you can't break into Mafalda's mind, I'll cast it myself, set the fire alarm, and then see what happens. We must make her believe he's co-operating with her and that her plan is a success. We will of course need every Auror and Squad from MLE on highest alert."

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Harry arrived at Hogwarts castle late in the afternoon. Ginny had decided to return full-time, and Harry just wanted to be wherever she was. Since Ron and Cho had been kidnapped, he hadn't had much time for her and it was wearing on his nerves. He had her love through their bond, but he just needed to hold her and be held by her. And now with his worry over Hermione, he needed the comfort Ginny's touch offered him. "Any news about Hermione," he asked hopefully. He melted into Ginny's arms and immediately felt at home there.

"No. Still the same," Ginny replied. "I heard you brought Mr and Mrs Granger to St Mungo's. It must've been hard for you to tell them."

"I think you know pretty well what I felt," Harry said referring to their bond.

"I know, Love," she said, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "You're exhausted. Come and lie down for a bit." Ginny unclasped his robes and tossed them over a chair. She led him to the bed and coaxed him to lie down. Then she climbed up and cuddled him against her breast.

It was good being back in their room together, despite their worries about Hermione and the Fiendfyre. Just lying here in her arms allowing Ginny's love to flow between them cleared Harry's head and chased away the guilt that gnawed at his heart. Her every caress eased the pain and relaxed his tense and aching muscles, allowing him to relax.

"What's your plan," Ginny asked, kissing his furrowed brow. She knew Harry needed her most at times like this. She knew he still harboured some guilt about Hermione's present condition, but at least he wasn't brooding. She'd made sure of that.

"We're going to try to break into Mafalda's mind," Harry said.

Ginny gazed at her Harry as she held him. He'd become a strong leader. He had taken over the Auror Office from Dawlish shortly after Gawain Robard's death. He currently faced an enemy just as evil and almost as powerful as Voldemort. Hermione lay seriously injured with Ron by her side, but even in his heartache for them, Harry still stood strong. He seemed to trust his own abilities a lot more than he ever had done before, but remained the humble and gentle person he'd always been. Ginny loved his strength, his determination, and his heart. She had seen these qualities in him when he led the Gryffindor Quidditch team, so she wasn't surprised to see them bloom now. All his life had been a long series of situations we should've been too young, too inexperienced or not skilled enough to handle—but Harry always found a way. Always with friends on his side, yes, but Harry was a leader. Now he was confident enough to assume the role with authority, and leading by example.

"You know I'll support you any way I can," Ginny promised.

"I know, Gin. It's not that I want to shut you out, but I'd prefer to use the Aurors. We have trained so much together to become an effective fighting force and I can't have another incident like this thing with Hermione."

Ginny understood what he meant. One thought about Hermione explained a lot of Harry's opinion too. A while later, they undressed for bed, but neither could sleep.

"Gin, you still awake," Harry asked just above a whisper.

"What kind of a rat-arsed question is that? Really, Auror Potter," Ginny smirked, rolling over to face him.

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean, Miss Weasley," Harry grunted, expecting a more romantic answer.

"How the bloody hell would I answer if I were asleep?"

Harry thought about it for a few moments. "I guess you're right. It's a pretty silly question to ask," Harry agreed. "I just thought if you were awake, we could read a bit from Mum's diary."

Ginny liked the idea. It had been a while again, and thinking about something other than Harry's task and Hermione's situation felt right. They had already read about James' and Lily's induction into the Order of the Phoenix and how James and Sirius had been dispatched on several missions to gather information while Lily brewed potions for the organisation. One autumn evening in 1978, Professor Dumbledore had called an important meeting. This was the event Lily wrote about:

15 October 1978,

Professor Dumbledore called a meeting of the Order today. The situation is a lot worse than we knew. You-know-who is virtually running the Ministry; however, there is hope. Professor Dumbledore has learned that the chairman of the Wizengamot is Imperiused. We'll put an end to that. Regaining control of the Wizengamot is essential. This will be mine and James' first mission together to take on the Death Eaters. Oddly enough, calm about it, but James is restless. I think he's worried that I might be hurt, but he'll settle once we're under way. Our plan is to take the chairman from his home and bring him to Professor Dumbledore so he can try to lift the Imperius curse.

"Blimey, Ginny," Harry exclaimed. "This is the first time they're going up against Riddle." Harry referred to the Prophecy claiming his parents, as well as the Longbottoms, had defied Voldemort three times. Harry knew that much. This was the first hint at what Lily and James had done for the Order. Bringing the chairman of the Wizengamot to Dumbledore was a big task and Harry was proud that his parents were chosen and entrusted with this very delicate operation. Harry read on.

I feel a bit uneasy, despite the success of our mission. That slime, Crabbe, saw us and that's what worries me. James and I are now known enemies of You-know-who. There have been so many disappearances, deaths, threats... I don't really see any choice but to fight, and neither does James. I'm so glad I have James by my side. I love him so.

The entry was short. Harry and Ginny could sense that Lily felt they had passed a point of no return. Part of their lives was now out of their control and in the hands of fate. "They did what had to be done, but they were eventually killed for it," Harry said.

"You know perfectly well why they were killed. It had very little to do with them being in the Order," Ginny said, kissing the hand she held.

"If they hadn't been, they wouldn't have opposed Tom three times," Harry retorted.

"Harry, you don't know that." Ginny was, of course, right.

"Divination..." Harry sighed. Saying no more, they drifted off and finally fell asleep.

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After seeing Ginny off to class on the fifth of May, Harry left Hogwarts for the Ministry. The first order of business was a mandatory staff meeting in Arthur's office. Ron had been excused for obvious reasons. Kingsley and the Heads of the Department of Magical Transportation Floo Network Division and the Muggleworthy Excuse Office attended as well.

"As you know we might have a panic at noon," Kingsley began. "We'll limit the Floo Network for a time, giving us maximum control in case we need to evacuate quickly."

Harry had no idea how the Floo Network functioned or how the Department of Magical Transportation monitored it, but he did understand that said limitation would increase capacity and allow Ministry personnel to escape quickly and safely it the situation called for it. After all, the Minister for Magic was about to take part in a highly-orchestrated ruse by releasing controlled Fiendfyre in the building. More than that, though, Harry didn't feel that it was necessary for him to understand.

"We have our squads at full alert," Arthur declared.

"Our plan is set and my people are ready to move in immediately," Harry added.

Kingsley looked pleased. "We're truly whipping the Ministry into shape, I think," he told them.

"Let's hope it still exists tomorrow," Arthur said under his breath. "We're really going through with this?"

"The stakes are high, but in case Harry's plan fails, we have to play along. I'm confident I can control a Fiendfyre. I can let it rage through the Ministry without causing too much devastation or injury."

The others relaxed in light of Kingsley's strength. He was an experienced Auror, one of the few great ones left. With a nod and wishes for luck, Harry left to prepare himself to attempt to infiltrate Mafalda's mind.

"Malfoy, are you sure about this," Harry asked, once they had finished their preparations.

Malfoy looked at Harry and then his beloved Astoria, who had come along. "I am," Draco confirmed.

"And you know this is..."

"I know we're dealing with unauthorized magic. There's a risk that both of us might end up with fried brains next to Professor Lockhart at St Mungo's. And for the record, I am aware that that risk applies to Mafalda too if we manage to connect with her."

Harry shook his head. He couldn't believe he'd ever co-operate with Draco like this. Neither could say he trusted the other, but Harry trusted that Draco's love for Astoria was sincere and that he acted on that love. Malfoy trusted Harry would rather take any backlash or danger upon himself rather than leave Draco, or even Mafalda, to suffer the full consequences of magic gone awry.

Harry checked the clock in his office. Two minutes before noon. It was time. Unless they managed to make immediate contact, they had to signal Kingsley to cast the Fiendfyre. Law Enforcement Squads were on full alert to help the rest of the Ministry workers to evacuate, because it was necessary to give the illusion of an all-out, but somewhat controlled, panic.

"Legilimens," Harry muttered as he flicked his wand. Harry entered the false awareness outside Draco's mental wall. He had never entered an Imperiused mind before, but he soon found something he perceived as a pipeline leading away from Draco. Harry instinctively thought that was the connection to Mafalda's mind. Harry pushed through the pipeline. It felt similar to Apparition.

Emerging from the pipeline, he realised he had been successful. He didn't waste any time. Mafalda was probably aware of something happening, but with any luck he might conquer her mind before she knew what hit her. Harry pushed hard and after an initial success, he could feel Mafalda launch a counter-attack. The pain in Harry's head was almost as strong as a Cruciatus curse.

"So much for getting the job done without much effort," Harry sighed. He struck back and tried to turn the Imperius back on Mafalda. The pain decreased as though both Harry and Mafalda had taken a step back to reposition for the next attack.

"Harry Potter, I don't know how you did this, but I must say that I'm impressed. You are a worthy opponent," Mafalda spoke to his mind.

Harry didn't want to waste focus or power on idle chatter. He wanted to break Mafalda's defences and learn whatever he could, or if possible take control over Mafalda altogether. He pushed again and he could feel Mafalda buckle under his pressure. She had underestimated his strength and sending her message to him opened up a small window of opportunity. However, the pain returned. Somewhere Harry was aware that Draco felt that pain too. He could only hope he had pushed Mafalda to her limits, too. He couldn't let go now, he was so close. Suddenly Mafalda surprised him, letting all her walls down. Overwhelmed, Harry fell without control into Mafalda's mind. She immediately raised her walls again.

Ginny was listening to Transfiguration lecture when she suddenly felt Harry's mind disappear. She was so used to being aware of his presence and general state of mind. The intensity would fade in and out, but he'd never completely disappeared from her. It left and empty ache that chilled her soul. "Harry," she screamed, interrupting Professor Bones' lecture, and then everything went black.

Draco was aware of what was happening outside his wall. He felt a jerk when Harry fell. He could see Mafalda raise her defences again, trapping Harry in her mind. That can't be good. From outside the office, he could hear screams of panic as the Fiendfyre began to rage through the corridor. They hadn't called that off.

Harry felt like he was locked up in a dark room. "You are trapped in my mind, Harry." Mafalda's voice called to him, dripping with venom. Fear was poison. Harry knew that, but his situation was far from good. He wasn't keen on staying locked inside Mafalda's mind. He gathered all his strength and struck, but Mafalda's walls held.

Professor Bones gasped as Ginny fell to the floor, seemingly lifeless. She flew to her side in an instant. "Madame Pomfrey! Go! Bring Madame Pomfrey," she shouted with desperation in her voice. Two of Ginny's classmates hurried out the door and made for the hospital wing at a sprint.

Madame Pomfrey arrived quickly and examined Ginny. She shook her head. "She appears to be dead," Madame Pomfrey declared. Professor Bones and the other students froze in horror, as though they'd been petrified.

Draco watched as the battle raged behind Mafalda's defences. He realised Harry's dilemma and made his choice. Draco cast off the Imperius and with his fake awareness gone, he launched himself into the battle, throwing all his mindpower against Mafalda's walls. He struck from the outside as Harry fought her from within.

Mafalda was taken by complete surprise from the forceful attack on two fronts. She lost control and Harry's mind broke free. Her mental walls seemed to dissolve in a tornado and in the whirlwind, a mess of pictures and memories flew around. Harry gathered as much as he could before retreating to safety.

Harry and Draco fell to the floor, panting and gasping for breath, the sweat pouring off them as they lay there. Astoria flew out of her chair in a mild panic, rushing to Draco's side first and then Harry's. Harry looked at them as he caught his breath and picked himself off the floor. He offered Draco a hand up and pulled him to his feet.

Astoria breathed a heavy sigh of relief as Draco took her in his arms. "I'm all right, Stori. Don't cry," he whispered as she sobbed into his chest. He kissed the top of her head and ran his hands up and down her back. "Potter? You all right?"

Awareness returned to reality. Harry felt like he'd been trampled by a herd of hippogriffs, but he felt fine. "I'm good. You?"

"I'm good."

Ginny's eyes fluttered open. Her head felt heavy and fuzzy and there was a buzzing sound around her. She couldn't quite make out the blurry shapes above her, but after a few seconds, her vision cleared. Madame Pomfrey was kneeling beside her, with Professor Bones and her classmates looking on in horror.

"What," Ginny asked with a weak voice. "What am I doing on the floor?"

Madame Pomfrey gave her a surprised look and began to re-examine her. "I don't know what happened," Madame Pomfrey said. "Professor Bones tells me you screamed for Mr Potter and then fell to the floor unconscious."

Ginny recalled the empty ache she felt before everything went black. Harry. She focused her mind on Harry and could feel him again. He was there. What had happened? He was gone, and then back again. He better have a really good explanation for causing her to black out during class. Still and all, she couldn't help sending him a massive wave of love and relief. Whatever happened to him, I'm sure he needed that.

Harry felt Ginny's emotions add more strength to him, quieting his shaking body. He returned the favour with a smile in his heart as Gryffindor's lion began to stir. Coming to his senses, he looked at Draco again, studying his expression as he recalled the battle of minds. Draco had most likely saved his life—or at least his sanity. If he hadn't been able to escape Mafalda's mind trap, she could have killed him or tortured him until he was lost in his own delusions, never again to recognise anyone or anything from his life.

Draco looked back at him with raised eyebrows. "Was it worth it?" Astoria had calmed down, but still sat next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Harry became aware of the pieces from Mafalda's mind he brought back. "I think so. I need a few minutes to sort this out. Did you get anything?"

Draco nodded. They began to compare mental notes, and after sorting through the images they'd collected, both Harry and Draco were able to discern a couple of locations. Harry sent his stag Patronus to his superior's office. "Arthur! Come quickly! My office! We've got something," Harry's voice said urgently.

Arthur arrived after only a few minutes, just as Harry and Draco had completed a list on a sheet of parchment.

"What's the situation, Arthur," Harry asked his breathless surrogate father.

"Chaotic. It seemed the Fiendfyre was the signal for an attack. The attackers, mostly former Snatchers Mafalda hired, were taken into custody immediately. Kingsley extinguished the curse before anyone was hurt, but not before an all-out panic had spread and a few Snatchers got away. We have Squads searching the Ministry floor by floor. Thank goodness no one was killed, but we had to send a number of employees to St Mungo's with scrapes and minor burns."

"We managed to get a few locations from Mafalda's mind. We must send everything we have to those locations. I fear today's events have set her plan in motion."

Arthur took the parchment and with a flick of his wand and a muttered Geminio, he made several copies.

"Arthur, have your Squads report any problems to Auror Thompson. He and his team are standing by in the inner office. We'll co-ordinate a strike force and move in. Make sure the Squad leaders understand that they are not to challenge Mafalda. Just have them put up wards to detain her. We'll need a precisely-executed Auror attack to bring her down," Harry instructed him. "Also, tell them to Stupefy any Muggles in the hands of her DEs, and bring them in too. We'll worry about modifying their memories later. Our objective today is to surround Mafalda and bring her and her plot down once and for all."

Arthur nodded and hurried away. Still feeling a bit weak, Harry withdrew into the inner offices to brief his Aurors. "Friends, you're the best of the best and you are hereby on alert—all of you. It appears we're about to corner Miss Mafalda Prewett and her people. Law Enforcement Squads have been deployed to target locations now. When the time is right, we move in. Any questions? Good."

Harry instructed his Aurors as to what each of their responsibilities would be for this mission and how they were to go about fulfilling them. This was a very dangerous operation and would require precise movements with no deviation from orders. "Unless lives are in danger, civilian or otherwise, I want her brought in alive. Understood?"

Mafalda blasted every piece of furniture in her room with spells and curses. Draco Malfoy had deceived her. She had Imperiused him. What had gone wrong? Even worse, her plan was already set in motion, there was no way of stopping it now. Would it succeed? How much vital information did Draco and Harry steal? She decided what course of action to take and Disapparated. All she needed to do was stay out of sight for a few hours. Even if her men failed, she would succeed by herself.

The Aurors waited on pins and needles for their call. This was it. They were taking Mafalda Prewett and her henchmen down once and for all. Their Chief had taken great pains to plan this just right so as to avoid any harm to the thousands of Muggles gathered at their target destination. They all knew there was fighting going on, and all the waiting had them on a controlled edge. But they knew why they had been held back. They were the cream of the crop, the elite.

Harry held them back so as to send them in full-force rather than have them spread out all over the country assisting the Squads. They couldn't help thinking that lives might be lost, but many more would be saved. But if Mafalda's plan succeeded, there would be no quality of life for anyone.

"Blimey this is frustrating," Seamus bouncing his legs.

"I know, Love," Lavender said quietly, taking his hand. "But we have to be patient. This is what Harry trained us for. You heard what he said."

The others looked on with snickers and amused smirks. There had been talk that Irish and LB had something going on, but never breached the subject with either of them. However, what they saw going on right then confirmed all the rumours and speculation. Finnegan and Brown were an item.

"What? Can't a man hold his ruddy girlfriend's hand," Seamus asked incredulously, his dark eyes flashing.

"Let the laddie be, ye bloody tosserrs," Jock boomed. "Auror Brown's a right bonny lassie and Finnegan's a damned lucky man, says I!" He winked at the scrappy Irishman and his girlfriend, raising his cuppa to them. The other Aurors shrugged and snickered again as they returned to their nervous chatter.

"So, you and Lavender," Harry asked, thinking about the first meeting of the DA class at Hogwarts where Seamus supported Lavender with an arm around her waist. She had been badly busted up at the Battle of Hogwarts and was still a patient at St Mungo's. The more he thought about it, Harry recalled them having attended the Yule Ball together in fourth year.

"Yeah, mate. It has kind of just happened," Seamus confessed, slightly embarrassed. "And then after that last mission, well..." He winked at Lavender and gave her peck on the cheek. Their cohorts wolf-whistled and made cat-calls at them.

"You're a true romantic," Lavender cooed with a hint of playful sarcasm.

Moments later, a Patronus appeared. "Three DEs trapped with a Muggle hostage! Baker Squad needs assistance."

Harry reviewed the list of Squads. "Terry. You, Tony, and Sue, go! Remember. Just stun them if possible. And don't forget to protect that Muggle." Harry tossed them a Portkey to Baker Squad's position.

Harry couldn't help his nervous pacing as he sent three of his friends out to assist Baker Squad. The last mission had put Hermione in her current condition and two previous ones cost lives. Now Boot, Goldstein, and Bones were off to fight those three Death Eaters and rescue their Muggle hostage. They were certainly at the top of their game, having had more intense training that afforded them uncanny co-ordination. But all it would take would be a stray curse, or a moment's hesitation and lives could be lost.

Harry carried the weight of full command, knowing the risks to his people in a fight. And like a great commander, he valued every life and took none of his responsibility to them lightly. These people were his friends and he loved them all. Years later, legend would declare Harry Potter's incredible power and capacity to love as his greatest attribute.

"Don't worry, Harry. They know and accept the dangers. We all do, and so did Hermione..." Seamus assured him as if he could read his Chief's mind. It wasn't so much that Seamus could read his mind, but that he could read Harry. Seamus had bunked with the man for the better part of six years at Hogwarts, attended classes with him, watched him, and studied and trained intensely with him over the past eight months. "They'll be mighty, as me granddad used ta say."

"Thanks, Irish. That means a lot to me, mate," Harry said, bumping fists with his scrappy friend.

More calls for assistance came in over the next few hours until the only ones left in the office were Harry, Cho, and John Dawlish. They were startled as Susan Bones rushed into the office with a horror on her face.

"Okay, Sue," Harry said ushering her to a chair. "Catch your breath and tell me what happened. Cho, get her some water."

"Terry took the Muggle and Tony to St Mungo's," she reported, gulping for air. Cho handed her a cup of water and she drank it eagerly. She handed the cup back to Cho who made to refill it. "The Muggle's unharmed, but will need his memory modified." Cho handed her the cup again and Susan drank. "Tony took a stunner and wanted his ribs checked. However, Baker Squad... they were under attack when we arrived. Two of them went down to the killing curse before we could mount our counter-attack. After that things turned our way, though." Susan took another gulp of water.

"The rest of us spent the last hour clearing the curses the DEs had placed on their hiding place and reporting to the Muggleworthy Excuse Office. The DEs are in the hands of Law Enforcement as we speak."

Harry was pleased with Susan's report and with the relative success of Baker Squad's efforts, but he was not pleased that two more lives had been snuffed out by Death Eaters. It hurt Harry badly, but he remembered what Arthur and Ginny had reminded him about the possibility of dying in the line of duty came with the job. It could have been worse, Chief. Hang in there.

"Thanks, Bonesy. You did good today," Harry replied. "Hit the showers, then fill out your official report. I think I'm going to have some food brought in. Kreacher!"

Crack! John and Cho jumped as a little old House-elf appeared in their midst. "Yes, Harry. Kreacher has heard your call and he comes."

"Hello, Kreacher," Harry said. "Could I ask a favour of you?"

"Harry Potter needs only to ask and Kreacher does," the elf said in his scratchy voice. "What can Kreacher do for you?"

"We need food—and a lot of it. I have hungry Aurors and Law Enforcement Squads in the field and they're beginning to report in."

Kreacher raised a long bony finger to his brow and tapped it with a smile. "Kreacher is knowing just the thing for hungry Aurors and Squads." The elf bowed and disappeared with a crack! before Harry could say another word.

"What the hell was that," John asked in amazement. "Was that a House-elf? Since when did you own a House-elf?"

"Kreacher is a House-elf, and I do own him, but I don't treat him like a slave. He's been a real friend and there's nothing he won't do for me," Harry explained. I inherited him with the Black estates after Sirius was killed. I wanted to free the old boy, but that would have broken his heart, so...yes, I have a House-elf."

"Bloody hell, Chief. You're full of surprises aren't you?" Dawlish stared at his shoes as he shook his head. "Never a dull moment, hey Harry?"

"You have no idea, JD. You have no idea," Harry replied with a twinkle in his emerald eyes.

Crack! Harry, John, and Cho jumped again as Kreacher re-appeared. "Where would Harry Potter like Kreacher to serve the food," he asked.

"Um...well, we have several tables in here. Why not just distribute it amongst them and then replenish as needed," Harry suggested.

"Of course," Kreacher agreed. "Harry Potter is very wise." Kreacher snapped his long fingers again and plates of sandwiches, packets of crisps, bottles of Butterbeer, and tins of biscuits appeared on each of the tables.

Just then, Susan emerged from the locker room, clean and prepared to write her report. "Where did all this come from," she asked in wide-eyed surprise.

"Harry's House-elf brought it, Sue," Cho replied. "We were just about to indulge. Join us, then?"

"I'm starved. Thanks, Harry," Susan said brightly as she slid in to a chair at their table. "I didn't know you owned a House-elf."

Harry sighed, ready to explain again. "I don't own a House-elf, I have a House-elf. I inherited him. He's a friend, not a slave."

Susan began to giggle. "Um...is Hermione aware of this?" Susan remembered Hermione's obsession with the rights of house-elves when she tried to sell her a SPEW badge in fourth year.

Harry laughed, knowing what Susan was thinking about. "Yes, she's aware of it. She doesn't like it, but she also understands that if I freed Kreacher, it would kill him, so she let me off the hook."

After another thirty minutes of nervous waiting, Terry and Tony returned too. Tony had taken quite a beating from the stunner and would be sore for a few days, but his ribs were all right.

"So what's with all the food," Terry asked, taking a sandwich from one of the trays. "What?"

Harry, Cho, John, and Susan had broken into laughter because Harry was going to have to tell the story again. "The short version, okay? I inherited a House-elf named Kreacher. He's not a slave, he's a friend. I called on him for a favour and here it is."

"Okay. Thanks...uh...Kreacher...wherever you are," Terry said as he uncorked a Butterbeer.

"Any word on Hermione," Tony asked as he bit into his sandwich. "What about Ron? Is he with her?"

"Hermione's still unconscious. They don't want to wake until they think it's safe. Ron and her parents are with her," Harry said. "She took a blast to the head in that explosion. They're not sure if there'll be permanent damage or not." No brooding, Potter. Remember, it's not your fault.

"Can she have visitors," Susan asked.

"Yes, but I wouldn't advise it," Harry replied. "Ron's taking this pretty hard and the family's close by, but I'll be sure to keep you all posted. If we can finish up this mission at a decent hour, I plan on dropping in to check on them. Ron won't leave her side."

"We'll keep her in our thoughts, Harry. We know how much you care about her," Cho said sympathetically.

"She's like a sister to me, you know?" Harry blinked back hot tears that stung his eyes. "Excuse me. Loo," he choked as he strode off toward the locker rooms.

Reports began to filter in from Delta, Fox and George Squads as Aurors and Squad Troopers alike shuffled in, exhausted from their days' work. They all welcomed a hot shower and a bite to eat as they wrote their reports. The Aurors proved to be more than efficient and saved many Law Enforcers' lives. Seamus returned to the Auror Office freshly healed and smelling of that disgusting Potion for cursed wounds.

"Seamus Finnegan, you're a magnet for that ruddy curse," Lavender complained. "I'm not snogging you today. That stuff reeks!"

Seamus had taken a Sectumsempra to his chest again, and apart from a blood replenishing potion and a charm to heal the wound, he had to take another potion to continue the healing of that cursed injury. That potion had a notoriously disgusting smell. "We got the job done," Seamus replied, munching on crisps. "I'll be like new in a few days."

Harry smiled to himself. Seamus was a scrappy bastard and a damned good fighter. Harry valued his leadership qualities and was proud to have the fun-loving Irishman on his team. Knowing Seamus as he did, Harry didn't doubt that if the smell of the potion wouldn't have been a dead giveaway, the git would probably have insisted on returning to the fight. Seamus Finnegan seemed to thrive in the heat of battle.

By four o'clock, it seemed as though the Ministry had won an overwhelming victory over Mafalda's Death Eaters. The list provided actual locations where Muggles were to be kidnapped from or taken to for execution. Squads that reported in latest had a difficult time securing their target locations because they were public places crawling with loads of Muggles. Secrecy had been maintained, but the Muggleworthy Excuse Office had an overwhelming workload ahead of them.

Harry relaxed a little when he received an owl from Ginny.

Love,

What happened today? I lost our connection and fell to the floor and then appeared to be dead for a few minutes, according to Madame Pomfrey. She released me from the hospital wing a few minutes ago, so I wrote you immediately. I know you have a job to do and I want you to know I'm very proud of you. I love you and I hope you can feel that I'm thinking of you.

All my love,

Ginny

Harry gasped. If must have been when he fell into Mafalda's mind. It must have overwhelmed his and Ginny's connection. He thought of her and could feel her love and support. Harry owled a short message about the events and promised to tell her in greater detail when he got back.

My Love,

I'll explain what happened to me today when I fell into Mafalda's mind. I expect your collapse had something to do with that. Don't worry. I'm fine and I can feel your love. I'm sending mine right now. I'm going to stop by St Mungo's to check on Ron and Hermione and then I'll fly straight to you. I love you.

Yours forever,

Harry

With all the Aurors and Squad Troopers showered, fed, and accounted for, Harry began the debriefing meeting. "Break into your squads and teams. We're going to check the list and compare it to the places we took action today."

Chairs scraped the floor and bottles clanked as Aurors an Squad Troopers re-assembled with their teams and squads. There was a quiet buzz of discussion as they compared one another's reports and turned their results over to Thompson, who had all but become their spokesman.

"Chief Potter, sirr," Jock called. "We've been able tae accoont fer all but one on the list!"

"Which one, Jock?"

"Anfield, sirr!"

"What's Anfield," Seamus asked, scratching his head.

Harry closed his eyes and sifted through the stolen memories. "Damn! It's a Muggle sports arena in Liverpool! Cho, Irish, LB—let's go," Harry called, grabbing a Portkey. "You lot sit tight. We'll call you if and when we need you!"

They landed near the arena to the sounds of a cheering crowd. "Bloody hell! There's a ruddy match in there today. If Mafalda is here with thousands of Muggles, she can do a lot of damage. I'm calling in the others and any available LE Squads."

Harry sent a Patronus to the Auror Office and another to Arthur Weasley requesting Squads and the Aurors to surround and invade Anfield to look for Mafalda. The group of four average-looking teens approached the entrance.

"Shit, Harry, we'll need Muggle money to get in here," Seamus hissed.

An official mission to protect the Secrecy Act authorized the use of magic against Muggles, so Harry cast a Confundus charm at the entrance and they all walked through unmolested. Harry about choked when they entered the arena. There were almost 45,000 Muggles gathered to watch the game. On a big screen, Harry immediately spied the player in shirt number seven.

"Look, Cho" he said as he pointed to the Jumbo-tron. "That's Beckham. He's the one we pulled out of that house the day Williamson was killed."

"How in the name of Merlin's discoloured laundry are we going to find a single female here," Seamus asked, running his hands through his hair. He usually wore it close-cropped, but he rather liked Harry's wilder ponytail style and Ron's shaggy over-the-eyes look, so he decided to let his sandy locks grow out too. Another motivating factor for avoiding the barbers was that Lavender had told him on several intimate occasions that she thought it made him look sexier.

Before anyone answered him parts of the crowd exploded into deafening cheers. Apparently Beckham's team scored. "I'm not sure I understand this game," Cho began, "but it seems they have been playing for twenty-two minutes and this is their first goal. What a dull game! If we wouldn't score for twenty-two minutes during a Quidditch match, the crowd would curse us off the pitch, yeah?" They all agreed. But the game seemed to be very popular among the Muggles.

"Liverpool playin' Manchester United, huh? All I know about this game is that Dean supports West Ham..." Seamus commented. "But we won't find the little chit standin' around here gawkin' will we?"

They agreed that Mafalda would probably be targeting one of the players, very likely Beckham. They thought she might be lurking closer to the pitch, rather than hiding high up in the stands. Seamus and Lavender deployed the arriving Aurors and Squads in a search pattern, while Harry and Cho began their own search. The search gave up nothing, but after a while, there was a break in the match. Spectators left their seats to visit the lavatory or get something to eat and drink.

"Maybe Mafalda's seen us or some of the other teams and already left," Cho suggested hopefully as the match resumed.

"I don't think so." Harry tried to think. If I were a fifteen-year-old Death Eater with designs on kidnapping a famous football player right under everyone's noses, where would I hide?

Cho had been partially correct. Mafalda had spotted the Wizarding authorities searching the stadium. She thought about her options. Potter's people had very likely put up anti-Apparition charms, so she didn't dare try that because it would set off the wards. She could still carry out her plan, but she would not escape if she did. On the other hand, the Ministry had every exit covered. Would she get away even if she didn't carry out her plan? Not jolly likely. What had she to lose? She'd be captured, but the damage would be done.

Harry felt sure it was the football pitch itself that needed the wards, rather than the entire arena. The match was coming up on a full hour when it suddenly happened. Mafalda Apparated onto the pitch and 45,000 Muggles gasped in surprise. Harry acted out of desperation and pulled out the Elder wand. This was certainly a time to disregard his personal secrecy and think of that of his world. All eyes had locked on Mafalda anyway.

Harry cast an anti-Muggle charm with all the might he could muster from his love for Ginny and the power within the Elder wand. The result proved far beyond anything he could imagine. Within the wards already in place, all the Muggles were collectively Confunded, thinking about their summer holidays, how to celebrate today's win or loss, or the report they had to finish at work the coming week, among other mundane things. He knew he had only a few moments to act.

"Bring in the Muggleworthy Excuse people. I'm going after Mafalda," Harry told Cho as he sprinted toward the cloaked figure on the field. He dropped the Anti-apparition charm so he could Apparate outside the stadium. He Apparated to a spot behind Mafalda, grabbed her and Disapparated.

Cho Apparated to the entrance and quickly grabbed a worker from the Muggleworthy Excuse Office. "All right, let's handle this mess... 45,000... that's got to be a department record..." he said with a Cheshire grin.

The anti-Muggle charm had effectively blacked out all Muggle electronics. The Muggleworthy Excuse Office people knew they had to have everyone's attention focused on the game when they dropped the wards. That way, no one would notice anything odd. They placed the players and hit one of them with a Jelly Leg jinx. After that, they retreated and dropped the wards.

The spectators' minds suddenly returned to the match, and the first thing that happened on the pitch was a Manchester United player falling in the penalty area. The referee was slightly confused and blew his whistle for a penalty kick. The Wizarding teams left Anfield as the match announcer declared that a Denis Irwin had scored.

The team scored only two goals in fifty-seven minutes. What a drag. Cho was shaken from her reverie when Seamus tapped her on the shoulder.

"What about Harry," Seamus asked.

"He...he never told me where he would take her," Cho replied.

"Blimey, Harry's facing down Mafalda all alone," Lavender asked with a tremble in her voice.

"Nah, it's more like Mafalda's facing down Harry Potter all alone," Seamus chuckled and winked.

Ginny picked at her supper in the Great Hall as she felt Harry's emotions consisting of mixed jolts of joy and worry.

"Come, Gin." It was like she heard his voice in her head and saw an image as his love surged through her.

She rose up and approached Professor McGonagall at the staff table. "I'll need to leave the grounds, Professor."

The headmistress simply nodded. She knew Ginny wouldn't say something like that without good reason.

Harry ended up in the first place he had thought of—a place he would be out of sight, Little Hangleton graveyard. Exactly why he Apparated there he wasn't completely sure. Maybe he considered it the place it all had begun and now he could hopefully put Tom Riddle and his reign of terror to rest.

Mafalda had broken free and turned to him with her wand drawn. "Potter, I never intended to kill you, but I will have to change my mind on that."

"Give it up, Mafalda. You've failed. As we speak, the Muggleworthy Excuse Office are handling the situation at Anfield. It's over."

"I will fight you until one of us is dead, and unless you defend yourself, it will be a very short fight," Mafalda threatened.

"I don't want to fight you, Mafalda," Harry said. "Your lot never learns, do you?"

Mafalda hesitated for a moment. "My lot never learns what?"

"Why Severus Snape was loyal to Professor Dumbledore...why you never had Malfoy's loyalty."

"Malfoy was weak, too weak," the girl spat.

"Quite the opposite, Mafalda," Harry sighed.

"Stupefy," Mafalda hissed in anger.

"Protego," Harry countered in a conversational tone.

Soon they were engaged in a fierce duel. Curses, counter-curses and charms flew and were dodged. Harry fought calmly. He could feel Ginny's love surrounding him, and all he needed to do was beware the Unforgivables. Try as she might, Mafalda could not penetrate Harry's shields. Mafalda fought with all the anger and hatred she could muster. Those emotions surged and grew inside her as her spells repeatedly ricocheted off his defences.

After what might have been a few minutes or several hours, Harry relaxed. Mafalda misinterpreted it as a sign of exhaustion. "You are weakening, Potter. Give up and I'll spare your life. I must admit I haven't ever duelled a better opponent."

Harry simply smiled, which confused Mafalda even more. "It is over now, Mafalda."

"Stupefy," a second voice spoke and Mafalda crumpled to the ground.

Harry's eyes met Ginny's. They lowered their wands and smiled lovingly at one another. Ginny ran to him and leapt into his waiting arms. "Death Eaters just don't understand love," Harry said, claiming her lips in one of his patented mind-blowing kisses.

"I heard you," Ginny said with a bemused smile. Her head spun when he kissed her like that. She found herself bereft and wanting more.

"I know you did," Harry replied. "Shall we deposit your dear third cousin into a cosy holding cell?"

Harry and Ginny returned to a battered Ministry building. Harry and Ginny had Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron and Flooed into the Atrium from there. The panic and the destruction the much-controlled Fiendfyre had caused could have been disastrous, but inflicted only minor damage. But Kingsley's hard work reforming the Ministry had paid off.

Ministry workers, reporters, and curiosity-seekers crowded the Atrium. When Harry and Ginny arrived with their stunned prisoner the entire atrium fell silent. All eyes locked on the Head Auror, his fiancée, and the mad teenager who'd set out to rule their world. The crowd parted, making an open path to the lifts, with cameras flashing nearly every step of the way. Once inside the lift car, they pressed the button that would take them to the Auror Office, little parchment air planes and all.

Upon arrival at the office, they were met with cheers and applause by Harry's entire team of Aurors, Arthur Weasley, and Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Well done, Chief Potter! Well done!"

"I only wish Ron and Hermione could be here," Harry whispered to Ginny.

Even now, in his time of triumph, he thinks of others before himself. Ginny had many reasons for loving Harry Potter, but his kind generosity was one of the primary ones. She gazed into his eyes and sent a wave of desire through their bond.

He sucked in a breath and left a lingering kiss at her temple. Maybe tonight, my love.

Mafalda was taken into custody and processed while Harry briefed his Aurors. As they prepared to leave, Ginny took his arm, but Kingsley moved to stop them. "Harry, we have to face the press. They are asking questions about the fire and evacuation here. They want to know about your prisoner."

Harry sighed and took Ginny's face in his hands. "Sorry, Love. I have to do this."

"I know, Harry. It's part of the job, remember?" Ginny gave him a kiss and released his arm. I'll be right here."

"Let's get it over with," Harry allowed and followed Arthur, an Enforcer, and the Minister to a makeshift dais to face the press.

The first question was about the events of the day, about which Kingsley gave a brief summary. "Most important is that the last of Tom Riddle's Death Eaters now are imprisoned, and or awaiting trial," he concluded.

"What about that fire? And the rumours about battles around the country. Any losses?"

"We had every Law Enforcement Squad Trooper and Auror on alert. Despite numerous duels, casualties are minimal. There were, to my knowledge, three killed and several requiring treatment at St Mungo's," Arthur declared "The scale of this battle is as big as the Battle of Hogwarts, where 50 lives were lost on our side."

"Three killed? I only knew of two from Baker," Harry whispered to Arthur.

"One from Alpha died about an hour ago. He was a mess, Harry. They got him before your people arrived."

"Damn," Harry cursed, trying to keep his cool. I thought the ruddy war was over.

The Law Enforcer took over. "The reason we didn't lose more people is down to the Aurors. They came in teams of three. I have never seen wizards or witches fight like that. If I hadn't known for sure, I'd say there were at least ten of them on each team."

This account shifted focus to Harry, and a statement about the Aurors. "We have worked hard to improve on what we learned as Dumbledore's Army," he said. "We have lived and trained together all this year at Hogwarts, and we are all close friends. Our strength lies in that there's no one in the group who would hesitate to take the full blast of a curse to shield a friend. We don't let our comrades down."

Harry had to answer more questions about the Aurors' performance until Kingsley finally summed it all up. "The last remnants of Tom Riddle's hordes were brought to justice today. It's been a year-long struggle, and a huge group effort involving several Departments. We will have more details as reports are completed and compiled. Thank you."

Cameras flashed and reporters shouted more questions as the four men stepped down from the dais and disappeared into the Minister's office. When the clatter died down, Harry left with Arthur and Ginny for the Burrow, where Molly fed them a very well-deserved supper. Harry was too exhausted to stay awake afterwards and crashed into Ginny's bed. She was disappointed that there would be no snogging or other activity tonight, but she cuddled up next to him anyway. She understood what he'd been through that day and didn't begrudge him on wink of sleep.

The next few days passed quickly with a heavy workload. Harry had to work on his report and speak to the press on a daily basis. Accounts of the Aurors' prowess in a duel sold out copy after copy of every magazine and newspaper. He and Ginny also visited St Mungo's every day to check on Ron and Hermione. The joy from defeating Mafalda was dampened by Hermione's unchanged condition.

Ron was a wreck. He barely slept, subsisting on coffee, pepper-ups and whatever food Molly brought to him. The Healers, primarily Leo Wyatt, had become quite concerned with his health, but they couldn't budge him. By the ninth of May, he had practically lived in that chair for a week. The Healers had disregarded every rule about visiting hours and regulations, and even offered him a bed, hoping to at least get him to rest, but Ron had refused. He believed he deserved the discomfort of that hard chair because he had been such a git, not realising his feelings for Hermione sooner.

"They're going to wake her up today," Ron said hoarsely. "They have no ruddy way of knowing if that's a good or bad thing to do."

"What do you think about it," Harry asked.

"I... I just want her back, Harry. I c-can't... I won't live without her," Ron croaked, his eyes filling with tears. His emotions were bottled up and now he sprang a leak. That's when the Healers arrived, and he snapped. "Don't you dare touch her," Ron yelled, drawing himself up to his full height. Even in his exhausted state, he managed to sum up the energy to intimidate an entire team of Healers. "You might cause more damage than you can heal."

The Healers hesitated because of Ron's raging anger. Leo stepped forward and took hold of Ron's forearm. "We can't keep her like this much longer, Ron."

"I don't care... I don't care... I can't lose her," Ron cried and threw himself back down onto his chair, breathing heavily as he shook with rage.

Harry had never seen Ron like this, but he also trusted that the Healers really meant that the wisest course of action was to revive her. He took hold of Ron's shoulders and looked into his eyes. It was heartbreaking. His best friend had been eaten alive by fear, agony, anger... Harry could only hope he could reach through all that. "Ron, do you trust me?"

Ron's eyes looked empty, but he listened to Harry's words, as if he heard from a distance.

"Do you trust me," Harry asked again, shaking him.

Everyone in the room was amazed to see the raging lunatic calm down. Ginny could feel Harry being so calm, despite feeling very worried. Ron nodded once, and then again as if he had to convince himself that he did trust Harry.

"Harry," Ron said in a shaky voice, "I trust you. Of course I do."

"Then follow the Healers out," Harry ordered and then turned to Leo. "Take him outside and calm him down. Knock him out if you have to. This has got to stop right now."

The Healers didn't quite know what to do, since they weren't used to taking orders from visitors. But his authority and leadership qualities worked like a charm, affecting them all. This was not just a visitor; this was Harry Potter, war hero and Head of the Auror Office.

Reluctantly, Ron left the room, looking over his shoulder. He stopped at the door. "Only for a minute, right?" Tears streamed down the tall man's face, his eyes like those of a child awakened from a nightmare.

"Yes, only for a minute. I promise," Harry confirmed.

Once he and Ginny were alone in the room, Ginny looked up at him. "What's your plan, Harry?"

"I know I can wake her up," Harry said. "Please send me all your love now. I need it, for Hermione's sake."

He drew the Elder wand for the second time this week. He had to consider the temptation of just having it in his possession, but right now he wanted to use it. He closed his eyes and concentrated on Ginny's love for him and for Hermione. He focused that love onto his friend and sister, then cast a Healing spell. Harry hadn't cast many, but he felt a warmth leaving his arm through the Elder Wand. Immediately, Hermione seemed to regain some colour. He glanced at his lovely Ginny, encouraged by her smile. Then returned his focus to Hermione. "Ennervate."

A slow shudder passed through Hermione's body.

"I think she'll be coming round in a minute. Let's get Ron back inside now," Harry said tucking the Elder wand back into his robes.

Ginny opened the door with a flick of her wand and Ron stepped back inside, hurrying to Hermione's side. He gazed at Hermione, then looked at Harry and Ginny, and then back at Hermione again. He was considerably calmer, but still very emotional.

Slowly, Hermione's eyes fluttered open and fixed on Ron. She smiled. "Ron," she whispered. Then turned her eyes to Harry and Ginny. "My dearest friends."

"We'll give you a moment, all right," Ginny said nudging Harry toward the door. "We'll be right outside."

Ron nodded but had eyes only for his fiancée. Harry left the room with Ginny, meeting a very puzzled group of Healers. "She's waking up now."

"What did you do, Harry," Leo asked, staring at the door to Hermione's room.

"Magic," he shrugged. "Please give them a moment before you examine her. They need to get re-acquainted." Harry's request sounded more like a suggestion, but no one questioned it.

"My 'Mione. My sweet, sweet 'Mione. You came back to me," Ron sobbed as he kissed her hand over and over again. " I've been so worried. I was afraid that... that..." He had to fight back the urge to scoop her up in his arms and squeeze the stuffing out of her. He wanted to bathe her face in kisses and never let go. But out of concern that he might hurt her and set her back, he controlled himself until the Healers could examine her.

"I... I could hear you, everything you said, but..." Tears began to leak and fall into her pillow. "I tried to answer you, I wanted to touch you and look into your eyes, but I couldn't... I couldn't..."

"Shhh, Love..." Ron said, caressing her brow and wiping her tears away with a tissue from her bedside table. "You heard everything?"

"Y-yes. Your…your…prayer," she sniffed. "It was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I love you so much, Ronald. I-I don't know how to say it. I... your prayer... it..." She began to sob. He scooted the chair closer to her bed so he could lay his upper half next to her on the bed and slip his arm under her shoulders to hold her as she wept.

"I meant every word, 'Mione. I was so afraid you were going to leave me. I... I couldn't live without you. You're my whole world. I owe everything I am to you," he confessed, burying his face in her neck.

Ron and Hermione lay there for several minutes holding on to one another, whispering their love for each other as they calmed one another's fears.

"Ron?"

"Yes, Love."

"What happened?"

Ron raised his shaggy head and told her about the fight, the explosion, and the week. "I've missed a week's worth of classes," Hermione moaned.

Ron relaxed. This was his Hermione and she was back, whole and healthy. Having her brain all but blasted into oblivion requiring advanced potion treatment didn't matter a whit. Her studies were the foremost thing in her mind. He chuckled. "Now I know you're all right."

Hermione's eyes opened wide as she got her first really good look at him. "Ron, you look bloody awful," Hermione said, looking around the room. Her eyes settled on the lonely chair by her bedside. "You didn't...spend the week here? On that chair?"

Ron nodded with a blush. "I rarely left your side. I wouldn't have at all, except... well, you know."

"You, Ronald Bilius Weasley, are the most thick-headed and stubborn wizard I know," she cried as her eyes filled with tears, overwhelmed by the love and devotion Ron demonstrated. "And I love you!"

"I know" Ron said. "But I... I just couldn't leave you here all alone." He leaned in and kissed her softly, wanting more, but not daring to press her. He continued to hold her hand to his face as he kissed and massaged it.

He had a week's worth of ginger growth on his face and looked rather scruffy, but Hermione didn't mind. All that mattered to her was that this handsome rogue holding her hand loved her so much that he kept a constant vigil at her bedside, protecting her at the expense of his own comfort.

As they broke apart, Hermione looked at him again. "Were Harry and Ginny here, or was that my imagination?"

"They're right outside with a mob of Healers. Your parents are here too, but they left to get something to eat just a while ago."

"Harry... he did something. Did he wake me up?"

"Yes, but I don't know how. All I know is that I went spare because the Healers were going to, but somehow Harry managed to run me and the Healers out of your room," Ron explained. "Only Ginny stayed."

"I want to see them, Ron. Please let them in," she said, trying to sit up.

"Okay, but you stay down until the Healers have a look at you," he said gently pushing her back down onto the mattress. "I want to take you home soon."

Ron opened the door and let Harry and Ginny in. "One more minute," he asked the Healers.

Harry and Ginny approached Hermione's bed. She held her arms out, inviting each of them into her embrace. "Welcome back, Hermione," Harry said, kissing her forehead. "You gave us quite a fright."

"Thank you, Harry." Hermione said "I don't know what you did, but I feel right as rain. I don't even have a headache."

Harry drew the Elder wand and showed it to them.

"You didn't," Ron said in astonishment. "You hate that thing!"

"I did... I saw no other choice... and I don't hate it, exactly," Harry said as he examined it. "I just... I don't know. I don't really feel comfortable waving it about. I don't want anyone to know I have it."

The four friends chatted a while, with Ginny promising copies of her class notes. "I have copies for each class arranged in a file folder so they don't get mussed. They're yours when you're ready."

"Thanks, Ginny. I really appreciate it," she said.

Harry and Ginny bade them goodnight and turned to leave. "Ron, you might want to send your Patronus to the Burrow and give them the news," Harry suggested.

"Bloody hell! Mum'll go spare if I don't tell her," Ron exclaimed.

"Ron, Love," Hermione said softly. "Why don't you go on back to Hogwarts and owl her from there. You're a mess and you need some rest."

"But 'Mione..."

"Ron, please? You said Mum and Dad are here, so I won't be alone. Besides, I'm a bit knackered myself," she said. "Do this for me, if not for yourself. Your whiskers are scratchy and I want to snog you tomorrow." Her lips broke out into a bright smile and her cinnamon eyes sparkled.

As soon as they left, Hermione's team of Healers slipped into her room to give her a quick check up. They were amazed at her recovery. They tucked her in as she slept and walked away, whispering about her case.

As Harry, Ginny, and Ron walked to the lifts, they met Mr and Mrs Granger returning from the commissary. "Ron, is she...?"

"She's fine. She was awake for a bit, but she's pretty tired. She just fell back to sleep," Ron assured them. "She's sent me back to Hogwarts, telling me I look awful."

"We've been telling you that for the better part of a week," Mr Granger said. "Thank you for looking out for her. We'll stay with her tonight and see you in the morning."

The Grangers continued on to Hermione's room just as the lift arrived to take them all back to the lobby, where they Apparated to the Hogwarts gates. The prospect of a night's sleep in a bed hit Ron like a stampeding unicorn and he collapsed on the bed fully clothed and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The following morning, Ron got out of bed and padded to the bathroom for a hot shower. He stood there and flexed his neck, back and shoulder muscles as the water cascaded over his head and down his aching body. He quickly washed himself and turned off the tap. He stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist, drying his shaggy red mop with another. He wiped the steam from the mirror and gasped at what he saw. I look like a bloody geezer!

He carefully shaved the offending growth from his face, revealing the smooth youthful skin underneath. He still looked a little drawn, but more like nineteen than ninety.

"A hearty breakfast and you'll be good as new, but your first order of business is to owl the Burrow before your mum has your head."

"Right," he said absent-mindedly, not realising he was answering the mirror.

Ron dressed and climbed the steps to the owlery, where he found Pig hanging about with the school owls. "Pig, come down here, you screwy git." Pig flew down and landed on Ron's shoulder. "Take this to Mum at the Burrow and no showing off, got it?" The tiny scops owl hooted his enthusiasm as Ron tied the note to his leg. "Off you get, now. Go!" Pig hooted again and flew out the window.

The next day Hermione was discharged from St Mungo's with a clean bill of health and the admonition to take it easy for a couple of day.

"Easy? I'm so far behind," she moaned. "This is going to be anything but easy."

Ron had arrived to collect her and the Grangers to head for the Burrow. Molly wouldn't have it any other way. There was a much over-due celebration for Victoire's birth, for Arthur's, Ron's, and Harry's promotions, for the victory against Mafalda, and Hermione's return to health. As the Grangers had hardly been home for the entire week it didn't take much to get them to accept the Weasleys' hospitality.

Harry felt more relaxed than he had in months. The only thing niggling him was the question of the Elder Wand. Should he keep it hidden and never use it again? If he'd done that already, would Hermione have still come through with her mind intact? The delicious feast Molly prepared took his mind off it, at least for the moment as he tucked in a joined in the celebrations.