"I've got it!" Hermione ran down the hall with the old dusty book cradled to her chest. She didn't want to lose any of the loose pages before everyone got to see it.

She checked every room she could think of before stopping in the dining room and sending her patronus to find Fred.

She opened the book and began taking notes again as she waited, knowing with Fred would come George and they would likely know where Severus and Molly were.

"My arse is not bony woman," Fred gripped after apparating in and sitting next to her.

"I'm full aware of that, but it got you here didn't it."

"Oh brother, are you gonna have your hands full with this one."

"Tell me about it."

"Stop talking to me like I'm not here. Now, where are your mother and Severus?"

"Mum said they were going to go and look at Bill's place and the other cottages."

Hermione smiled, "Okay, I'll tell you what I've found and we'll wait until they get back."

"So what did you think of Bill and Fleur's cottage?"

"I think they've done a wonderful job of keeping the integrity of the structure. The patio addition is quite lovely and I'm while I'm sure that Fleur meant well, I doubt the floral theme will be spread through the other cottages."

"So Severus, I was thinking we could have lunch over there," Molly said pointing to a large wild cherry tree just outside the garden entrance.

Severus raised an eyebrow, "Picnic?"

Molly blushed, "Yes. I decided we deserved a little 'no children' time. You can tell me what's really going on between Harry and Draco and then we can figure out what to do."

"How about we just enjoy this lovely meal and not talk about anything other than us," Severus transfiguring a blanket from a leaf.

Molly sat beside him and took out the food, "I didn't realise there was an 'us'."

Severus chuckled, "Well, if you would like there to be, I would very much like to officially court you. Not by the old customs, but by the new standards."

"Which means what?"

"I will present myself at your door for a date once a week, we will hold hands, have dinner, go dancing, whatever you wish."

"I would like that very much," Molly replied leaning over and kissing Severus' cheek softly.

Blissfully unaware of the audience they had, they began to eat and get to know each other again.

"Bill, come away from zere. It is not nice to spy on your muzer."

"I know. Let's go."

"What is that giggling about?"

Three heads snapped up to see Severus and Molly standing in the door.

"Oh Mum, Severus, we were just reading through some information Hermione found and we started talking about some of the pranks we used to play at school. Hermione was thinking we might be able to adapt some of them for combat."

"Did you two enjoy your tour and lunch?"

"We had a lovely time Hermione, thank you for asking," Severus replied pulling a chair out for Molly at the table.

"Hermione came up with a couple great things today. You need to see what see's got," Fred said.

Hermione smiled at the Twin who'd managed to capture her heart over the last couple weeks and began to tell everyone what'd she'd found.

Two hours and six books later, Severus smiled and hugged Hermione. "You really are genius aren't you."

"Yes she is, now unhand my woman." Fred smiled at Severus and pulled Hermione toward him.

"I'll be leaving tomorrow, Hermione would you like to come back with me and tell the boys what you've found?"

Hermione looked at Fred and then at Molly, "I'd love to, but I'll stay here. You can fill them in. If they have questions, they can always send an owl."

Severus looked between the pair and saw Fred shaking his head, "If you change your mind, I'll be leaving at 10."

Fred pulled Hermione into the hall and apparated them to his room. "Hermione, why wouldn't you want to go back with Severus and see Harry? After all the work you've done in the last twenty four hours, you deserve to get the recognition."

"But once I'm there, I won't be able to come back for a week at least and I don't want to be away from here that long."

"I think we can handle being apart for a week, Love."

"I know that silly. I just love it here and don't want to go back. It's quiet, relaxing and so beautiful here."

"I agree but you really should go back. You know Harry's gonna wanna see you."

"Fred, what's really going on? Why are you so insistent that I go?"

Fred sighed and sat on his bed; Hermione curled up next to him and put her head on his chest, "You shouldn't have to be stuck here just because we are. I know you came here because of Ron, but now that you two aren't together, you don't have to stay."

Hermione stretched up and kissed Fred gently on the mouth, "I might have come here because of my relationship with Ron, but I've stayed because I wanted to. Being with you, that's just a bonus. Why don't we see if you can come back with me?"

"Are you sure?"

"Git, would I really sneak in here every night if I wasn't sure?"

"Right, so we'll see if I can pop home too then. How'd I get so lucky?"

"Simple, you made me laugh."

"Just be careful. Please don't take any unnecessary chances."

"Mum, we'll be fine. It's not like I'm gonna be running around advertising that I'm back. I'll be careful and be back here next weekend."

"Hermione love, you're welcome to come back whenever you like."

"Molly, I'll be home next weekend with Fred."

Molly embraced the pair, "I'm so glad to hear that." She kissed each on the cheek and watched as they stepped through the floo to Minerva's office.

"And you, will you be back next weekend?"

Severus brought a small bouquet of daisies out from behind his back with a smile, "I would love to come next weekend and take you to a proper dinner."

"I'd love that."

Severus kissed Molly on the cheek and stepped into the floo.

"Welcome back son, did you have a nice time?"

"Yes I did. Where are the children?"

"I sent them to the kitchen for food for you all to take back to the Manor. It's almost dinner time and this way you can get right to work."

Severus hugged Minerva, "You know me so well."

Minerva walked with Severus to the kitchen chatting about his latest trip and Hermione's idea. "Do you think you have enough food?"

Fred looked up at Minerva and smiled, "I've missed the elves cooking, sorry." Fred had packed two large baskets and a bag full of everything he could get. Hermione was sitting at a table having tea and talking with an elf about the best way to preserve the food for travel and smiling at Fred's enthusiasm.

"We really do need to get going. Fred, that's more than enough, let's go."

"Yes ma'am." Fred waved to the elves, "Thanks for all this."

Hermione and Fred looked around the room as Severus handed the food to Tansie and Dobby. Fred couldn't believe he was actually inside Malfoy Manor and Hermione laughed when she saw the look of awe on his face.

"Hon, what's wrong?" she asked putting her hand on his arm.

"I just can't believe I'm here and not tied up."

Hermione leaned up and whispered, "There's always later," and chuckled at Fred's blush.

"Well, at this time of the day, Harry and Draco are probably in the garden or shopping and Remus will be with Narcissa in the Library. Which way should we go first?"

"You're wrong on both counts Severus," Narcissa said as she glided into the room. "Welcome home. I see you've brought guests."

Narcissa walked to Hermione and smiled as she hugged the girl, "Welcome to our home Hermione. I love what you've done with your hair, it suits you." Looking at Fred she asked, "And which Weasley is your young man?"

"Oh, sorry," Hermione said, uncharacteristically fumbling over her words, "um, this is Fred."

"Mr. Weasley, welcome to our home," Narcissa said offering her hand.

Fred took the hand and kissed the top like he'd been taught to do. Surprised at the ease he felt with the Mistress of the Manor.

"Such a gentleman, Hermione you are a lucky young lady to have such a gentleman."

Hermione giggled and blushed as Fred slipped his arm around her.

"Now, I expect Molly will have feed you quite nicely at breakfast, so how about I show you to your rooms so you can get settled while Severus drags my boys from the basement and so they can freshen up before lunch. We'll meet in the dining room in one hour for lunch and you can bring us up to speed on what you've found out."

Severus had his marching orders and smiled, "As they lady wishes." He spun on his heels and headed for the basement door.

"Now, do you two typically share a room or would you like separate rooms?" Narcissa's answer was Hermione's deep blush and Fred's sputtering so she continued, "No worries, I have a lovely suite that's ready; two rooms with a shared sitting room. That should be sufficient, yes?"

"Yes ma'am that would be nice, thank you."

"Oh Fred dear, you don't have to be so formal. Please call me Narcissa. Now follow me and I'll show you the way there. We don't usually walk, as the Manor is so large, but you should know the way."

Narcissa opened the double doors to the opulent suite and gestured to the doors on either side of the sitting room, "Hermione, the room to the right is set for a woman and each room has its own loo. Why don't you get settled and you can apparate back to the dining room for lunch."

It took a couple of minutes for them to realise that Narcissa had actually left the room. Fred couldn't take his eyes off the gold trimmed picture frames housing several beautiful nature scenes and he wondered if these were the countryside's where the other Malfoy properties were.

Hermione on the other hand, was lost in the view from the balcony outside the French doors. She couldn't stop herself from walking out onto the balcony and inhaling deeply as the perfumes of the garden reached their rooms.

"Hermione love, are you okay?"

Hermione turned with a large smile, "This is wonderful. I can see why Harry's so comfortable here. I couldn't understand when he came to the Burrow, why he was so happy to come back here. Who would have thought the Manor would be so welcoming."

Fred wrapped his arms around Hermione from behind and nestled his head in the crook of her neck and kissed her. "Are you glad you came back?"

Hermione sighed and covered his hands with hers, "I am, but I can't wait to get home again. I already miss it."

"How could you possibly miss the warm clammy nights?"

Hermione turned in Fred's arms and kissed him squarely on the mouth, "Because, here we'll have to wear jammies."

"Oh but you are a tease, aren't you," he responded, laughing at her answer. "Come on, let's see what the rest of the rooms are like so we can go get some lunch."

"Always thinking with your stomach."

Fred smacked Hermione's back side as she walked by him. "Not always," laughing at her squeak.

"Uncle Sev, when did you get back?" Draco stopped the simulation he and Harry had been working on when Severus had walked in.

"A few minutes ago. Your mother has requested I let you know that we will be having lunch shortly and you should freshen up and meet us in the dining room."

"Ah, she wants us to shower, because we stink and she told you to tell us because she knew we'd tell her we weren't hungry and wanted to keep working."

"Harry, you've learned to read Narcissa very well. Yes, I believe that's exactly why she sent me. And she's right, you two do stink." Severus said leaving laughter in his wake.

The boys looked at each other and added their own laughter as they headed up stairs to shower and get ready for lunch.

"Hermione!" Harry yelled when he walked into the dining room. "I can't believe you're here. I'm so glad to see you."

Hermione flung herself into Harry's arms and hugged him tightly, "I'm so happy to see you. I've missed you terribly."

"Where's Ron?"

Draco noticed the ginger head next to his mother before Harry did and realised it wasn't Ron. He looked at Hermione's face and figured out what he was about to hear and stepped up behind Harry quietly.

"Uh, he stayed behind. He's actually been working with Charlie, so we don't see that much of him."

"That must be hard on you."

"Not really. Harry, Ron and I aren't a couple anymore. Being together all the time just didn't work."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Well, he felt guilty for me being a target and having to come with them to…anyway, so we fought a lot the first couple days. Then Charlie offered a chance for him to go to work and he just left. I had a note saying he was sorry and he hoped I could go home again."

"And?"

"Well, I didn't leave and I found someone else who I really fit with."

"So when do I get to meet him?"

Fred walked up and slipped his arm around Hermione's waist and everyone held their breath waiting for Harry's reaction.

Harry looked between the two, smiled and said, "Makes sense. She's probably the only one who can control you Fred."

Fred laughed and Hermione released her breath knowing Harry was okay with the change.

"So, shall we sit and our guests can tell us about what brought them here," Narcissa said gesturing to the table ladened with food.

Hermione and Harry laughed when they saw how wide Fred's eyes got and Draco said, "I see his appetite is the same as Ron's. Must be a Weasley trait."

"Draco Lucien Malfoy!"

Fred came to Draco's defense, "No ma'am, he's right. We Weasley boys have a very healthy appetite." He pulled the chair out for Hermione and smiled as Remus appeared and did the same for Narcissa.

"Twin," Remus greeted.

"Were."

"Ah Fred, glad to see you."

"You too Remus. George sends his best and his congratulations."

Remus blushed and nodded as he sat next to Narcissa.

Lunch was quiet as everyone tucked in and ate their fill. Fred stopped just short of having to unbutton his pants.

"So, now that we're all sated, why don't you tell us what you've uncovered with regards to my boys."

Harry blushed at being referred to as one of Narcissa's boys, but was coming to really like the sound of it.

"Hermione's found some very promising research in one of the libraries where they're staying and I've asked her to be here so she can explain what she's found." Severus motioned the Hermione opening the floor for her.

"Um Harry, if it's not too personal, how close have you and Draco gotten?"

Harry blushed an angry red and quietly said, "We're not…that is to say we…well, uh."

Draco put his hand on Harry's and interrupted, "We aren't in a physical relationship but we are exploring our feelings for each other. I guess that would be called 'dating'."

Hermione nodded and gave a small smile at Draco, "Yes, that's what I thought. So there're two main things to be dealt with here. First is Harry's magic and second is his understanding and control of it."

Everyone nodded their understanding and Hermione continued, "Narcissa, I'm not sure how much you are aware of Harry's abilities prior to the battle, but he had a great deal of magic at his command and had no problem controlling it. His power is undeniable and when I heard about his problems now, I began to look into why the sudden change."

"Harry, when you killed Voldemort you used your wand correct?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Draco, has he been using his wand during your training?"

"Yes he has been," Draco looked confused for a moment and then light dawned, "But, the times his magic has been out of his control, he was wandless."

"Exactly. Harry, I believe that you had two things happen simultaneously when you killed Voldemort. First, the portion of him that had transferred to you as a child fully merged with your magic and was absorbed into your core."

Harry started to turn a little green at that and said, "What else?"

"I also believe that you came into your majority at the same time. The power you were wielding that night was beyond anything I'd ever seen from you and there really is no other explanation."

Harry sat for a moment before saying, "Excuse me" and running for the nearest bathroom.

"Oh Goddess, did I say something wrong?"

"No Hermione, it's just that Harry's been worried that he's going to hurt someone with his power and hearing that it came from Voldemort is probably not setting well with him. Excuse me."

Severus watched his Godson leave the room and then continued, "Hermione, Harry's had two rather large bursts of magic. Both of which could have killed Draco and he's had a hard time with that."

"Oh, if I had known that I wouldn't have been so blunt."

"It's okay 'Mione. You didn't say anything wrong."

"Oh Harry, are you okay?"

Draco waited until Harry was sitting again before sitting down himself. He held Harry's hand firmly so everyone could see it and ran his thumb absentmindedly over Harry's hand.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Now, what were you saying?"

"Well, you wouldn't have known about either power increase because of all the other stress at the time and I would imagine you had a couple of calming draughts or sleeping potions over those first few days. So the first indication you had was the first burst. But here's the thing. Your majority would have given you an increase and would have been very noticeable so it could have been dealt with."

"She's right," Severus interrupted, "we've had contingencies set up for decades for students who come into their majority while in attendance. You would have been taken aside, told about what was happening and training would have been set up to help you with control."

"Right, but because yours came during battle and then you had the additional increase from the link, no one saw the changes in the aftermath. Harry, this is a good thing, no matter what you fear."

Harry nodded and squeezed Draco's hand for support. "How could having Voldemort's power be a good thing? He was pure evil."

Draco answered quickly, "He made it evil. Magic itself is neither good nor evil, it's just magic. It's the intent of the user that makes it good or bad. My Mum always told me that if I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps that was my choice. I didn't understand what she meant until I first met you. I knew what your early life had been like – losing your parents and being placed with muggles – but you were so kind to everyone, including trying to be nice to people like me that I saw what she meant."

Everyone listened raptly as Draco continued as though no one else was in the room, "Last year when you offered to help me get out of whatever trouble I was in, I was floored at your offer. I'd always been an arse to you and yet you still came to offer help. You chose well. I heard Mum's voice in my head reminding me it was my choice and that's when I knew I couldn't follow my father."

"You took in his magic darling, not him. His essence isn't part of that."

Harry looked at Narcissa and saw a tear escape her eye. He nodded his understanding and looked at Hermione so she would continue.

"Okay, so you have all this magic now and there really is no one who can compare to it that can teach you how to control it all. Along comes Draco, who seems to intuitively know just what you need to hear or feel at any given moment to take yourself down a note."

"Draco, let me ask you something, since the battle, what changes have you noticed in yourself?"

"Well, I haven't given it a lot a thought. I've been focusing on Har…sweet Merlin."

Draco looked at his mother, Godfather and Hermione in shock, "I've been so wrapped up in helping Harry, I haven't stopped to think about myself at all. How the hell did that happen? I've always been a conceited prat."

Harry burst out laughing, followed by everyone else. No one could disagree with the statement and were shocked that Draco said it.

"Draco's come into his majority also, but it was overshadowed by the changes Harry was going through?"

Hermione smiled at Narcissa and continued, "Correct. That's why Harry's magic responds to Draco but no one else. They are two halves of a whole."

Remus finally spoke up, "So essentially, the moment Draco made the choice, his magic began to change?"

"Oh Merlin, I see what you're saying. Draco, how did you stop yourself from doing Voldemort's bidding? Your father told me he had you under a compulsion charm so you couldn't deny him."

Draco shivered remembering that night and feeling Harry's strength next to him, explained "I went up there with the intent of killing Albus, but when I got there, I stopped outside the door for a moment and in the second, I realised I didn't want to do it. Albus opened the door and asked me in as though I was there for a chat up, even offered me a lemon drop. I pulled my wand and told him I was there to kill him. He turned to me and left his hands at his side and said, 'If that's what you really want to do son, please do so.' I was shocked at his cavalier attitude and then I had an epiphany. He was offering me the choice, so I took it."

"Draco darling, how were you feeling then?"

"I don't know. I was sweating and shaking and I wanted to vomit." He looked at Harry and said, "I don't handle stress very well."

Harry looked at Narcissa and then made eye contact with each person seated around the table, watching as each nodded.

"Draco, you came into your majority that night. That's why you had the strength to throw off the charm."

"Mum?"

"Harry's right dear, which would also explain why you've been able to help Harry with his magic."

"I don't get this. Why wouldn't I be having the control problem Harry is?"

Remus smiled, "Because of the way you were raised. I'm betting you were taught at a very early age, how to control your emotions and in turn your magic. Harry wasn't. He didn't even know he was a wizard until he got his Hogwarts letter."

WHAT!" Narcissa and Draco both yelled.

Remus put his hand over Narcissa's, "That's a story for another time. When Draco came into his majority, he incorporated it just like he'd been taught and has been trying to teach Harry to control his emotions which would in turn control his magic."

"Our training, that's the focus of our training. Okay, so I get all this but what does that mean for Draco and me?"

Hermione smiled, "Harry, that's why you're drawn to him. He's the only one who can help you with this."

Hermione didn't understand the reason why Harry's face suddenly fell at the news. Or why he got up and left without saying anything. She looked at Fred in question.

"Love, you just made it sound like the only reason Harry and Draco are attracted to one another is because of their magic."

"Oh bollocks! That's so not what I meant, Draco. I was talking about the whole anchor thing."

"I know Hermione. Don't worry he'll come round to that too. Excuse me everyone."

Draco found Harry in the first place he looked, the basement training room. Harry was taking out his frustration on the targets. Draco stood transfixed as Harry pointed his hand and target after target was blown to splinters. He finally stopped and turned to face the stunned blonde.

"What?"

Draco was taken aback by the harsh tone and the glow that surrounded Harry. He could feel the magic rolling off the sweating brunette and was almost afraid to say anything, but one look at the fear in Harry's eyes was enough to give him the courage he needed.

"Harry she was talking specifically about the magic, nothing else."

"How can you be sure? Have you been with other men? I haven't. You're the first and only guy I've ever been attracted to. How can I know that it has nothing to do with the magic? You can't, I can't. There's no way to know."

"Harry, calm down and think about this."

"NO!" Harry screamed and the cinderblock target exploded behind him. "This was the one thing in my life I thought I would have control over. And now even that has been taken from me. No more. I'm done. I will not be anyone's pawn anymore."

The remaining targets in the room exploded with the force of the magic Harry released and though he dodged, Draco couldn't miss being hit by a piece of brick and he fell to the floor.

"Shite! Draco are you okay?" Harry yelled as he dropped at Draco's side. "Drake please, talk to me. Are you okay?" He cradled Draco's head in his lap and brushed the hair from his face.

Draco smiled, "I am now."

HoHo