"It's a lot easier walkin' the grounds without those damn dementors everywhere," Hagrid said, taking a long sip of mulled mead. "I'm ruddy glad they're gone."

Fred, Alexandra and Alanna had gone down to Hagrid's hut for a visit and were happily sitting around his table drinking hot tea and attempting to chew on some fudge.

"Saw your quidditch team flying pretty late last night," Hagrid continued. "When's the first match then?"

"Three weeks," Fred replied. "Against Slytherin."

"Ah," Hagrid nodded. "And how's James doing?"

"He's a good Beater," Alanna said. "Hit a bludger right at me from clear across the field last night."

"Of course he's a good player," Hagrid grinned. "His mum and dad are brilliant players themselves."

""Are you alright, Alexandra?" Alanna asked. "You've been awfully quiet all day."

"I'm fine," Alexandra said quickly. "Just tired."

"So Hagrid," Fred said, sipping his tea. "Has James told you that Al and that Malfoy bloke are apparently friends?"

"Yeah, he told me," Hagrid said. "And I'll tell you the same thing I told him; don't go judging that boy by his family's past."

"But Uncle Harry and his father-"

"Harry and Malfoy were enemies," Hagrid nodded. "And quite frankly when he was at school, I wasn't fond of Malfoy either. And yes, he did use to be a Death Eater…but that don't mean a thing about his son."

"But-"

"I haven't met the boy myself," Hagrid said. "But every other teacher says that he's a fine student; Professor Flitwick says that Rose is the only pupil brighter than him in the whole year."

"But how do we know it isn't all just an act?" Fred pointed out. "For all we know his father told him to get close to Albus so he could get access to Harry!"

"Sometimes you've just got to believe in the good in people," Hagrid said heavily. "Because sometimes that's all you can do."

…

Alexandra rubbed sleep out of her eyes and shivered as she pulled back her covers. This was the fifth night in a row this happened…

She quickly ran across the dormitory to the window where an owl was perched and pecking at the glass and opened it up before the other girls woke up as well. As it did always, the owl dropped the letter at Alexandra's feet and took off again.

Everyday for the past week, Alexandra had been bombarded with letters from her mother, telling her again and again to come stay with her over the holiday. Alexandra always ignored them, but her absence of any reply seemed only to fuel Claridina's desire to contact her. Alexandra tore open the envelope as she pulled the curtains back around her bed.

Alexandra,

Please send your answer. I'm going to be heading south again soon, so it will take me longer and longer to get your replies and send you letters, so tell me your answer while I'm still close so I won't have to wait. If you continue to ignore me, perhaps your brother will just have to ask you while your around those friends of yours. I know how much you would hate for anyone to know about our relationship, so I'd suggest you don't let it come to that.

Love,

Mum

Alexandra gritted her teeth. Her mother was blackmailing her? Unfortunately, though, her threat frightened Alexandra. Would Rolwat really let it slip that they were related? She didn't doubt it.

Fine, Alexandra thought, grabbing a quill and piece of parchment from her bedside table. I'll give her a reply…

She quickly scribbled the word 'NO' on the parchment and rolled it up and put in her drawer. She would send it tomorrow using one of the owls from the school.

"Alexandra?" Alanna muttered sleepily. "What are you doing? It's three in the morning."

"Um, nightmare," Alexandra said lamely. "I was just going back to sleep."

"Oh, alright," Alanna said. "G'night." She laid back down on her bed and fell back asleep.

Alexandra breathed a sigh of relief. That was a close call. She hoped she could get her reply to her mother before she received any more letters. If they kept up, someone was bound to find out about their relation, and that was something Alexandra had hoped she'd be able to take with her to the grave.

…..

"So he's really going to be a spy?" Teddy asked as him and Harry apperated back to his home in Godric's Hallow.

"Yup," Harry nodded. "We told him everything he needs to do today, and tomorrow he's going to contact Claridina and tell her he'll join her."

"His family's going to be safe, right?"

"As far as Claridina will know they're moving to the States," Harry nodded. "But Claridina doesn't want his parents; says they're too old to be of use to her."

"Who else knows about him?"

"Kingsley, Ron, two other Aurors, Hermione and you," Harry said. "Plus his family. We can't risk having too many people know about it."

"You really think it'll work?"

"I don't know," Harry said honestly. "It could go brilliantly, or it could backfire in our faces. But it's all we've got so far."

"Thought I heard you," Ginny said, coming downstairs in her dressing gown. "Did you just get back?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded.
"There's some dinner for you two in the kitchen if you're hungry," Ginny yawned.

"Brilliant," Harry nodded. "Go on back up to bed, Gin. I'll be there in a little."

Ginny nodded and yawned again as she turned back up the staircase.

"Alright if I crash here?" Teddy asked.

"Yeah," Harry nodded, grabbing the plate of beef Ginny had left. "Lily's turned the spare bedroom into a sort of clubhouse for her and Hugo, so you can just use one of the boys' rooms."

"Thanks," Teddy said, spooning potatoes into his mouth.

Harry watched his godson eat. "Teddy," he said. "I've got something I want to talk to you about."

"What? Is this about my training session yesterday? Because, I swear, I thought that mannequin we were using had a wand and I was-"

"Relax," Harry laughed. "It's not about work."

"Oh, alright then. What is it?"

"James told me back in September that he saw you and Victoire snogging at the train station."

"Er," Teddy said, his hair turning a scarlet shade that matched his face. "So you've known for that long, huh?"

"Didn't want to say anything and make you uncomfortable," Harry said. "But I figure three months is long enough to wait. Mind you, it was no easy task keeping Ginny and Hermione from jumping down your throat asking about it."

"Wait, you're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" Harry asked.

"She's your niece."

"She's of age," Harry said. "She's old enough to make her own decisions. As long as you treat her right I don't see any problem with the two of you going out. Of course, you'll probably get quite a different reaction from Bill, but he likes you, so you should be fine."

"It's just-I really like her, Harry," Teddy said, his hair turning a vivid pink. "There's just something about her that-I dunno what it is-"

"Trust me, I get it," Harry grinned. He washed his plate. "I'm going to head up. We need to be in the office at eight tomorrow."

"Right," Teddy nodded. "Night, Harry."