Does anyone else wonder if Rowling reads the fanfictions and gets a kick out of them? :D Or maybe she cries because there are so many people insulting her works instead of honoring them? Hmm...I wonder how I would respond if one of my own stories got fanfiction attention? :D LMAO...I am frightened by what I imagine... :P

Harry awoke to someone stroking his hair and he peered up to find the most welcoming face in the world staring down at him with amused eyes.

"THEO!" Harry threw his arms around his boyfriend and held onto him so tightly that Theodore finally begged to be released. "You made it! What took you so long?"

"Great question." Sirius' growl turned Harry's head to scowl at the man who had just walked into the sitting room.

"Was busy." Theodore was answering Harry, not Sirius.

"With Death Eater things?" Sirius asked harshly.

"Yes." Theo answered without missing a beat and then returned his attention to Harry. "Missed you."

"I mis..."

Sirius interrupted them. "Cough up anything while serving your master?"

Theo straightened. "Actually, that was Snape."

"SNAPE?" Sirius barked and people came rushing from all over the Burrow, apparently believing the only reason why he would shout like this was because the traitor of the Order was standing in the living room. They were quite shocked to see that he wasn't and that it was Theodore who stood before the man. "How did Snape find out?"

Giving a shrug, Theodore shoved his hands into his robe pockets and took up a lax position, but refused to look at Sirius. Instead he stared at Harry as if he was telling him. "Got it from a source that he and the Dark Lord had discussed earlier. Yaxley got from Dawlish a different story, but Snape seemed to already know that there had been a plan to leave a false trail. Snape also was insistent they attack while you were enroute as he believed there was no way to reach you once you were secured at one of the Order's homes."

Sirius gave a disgusted snort. "So you're privy to Voldemort's meetings?" When he saw Theodore flinch at the name he sneered, "Oooooo, scared of your master?"

Theodore ignored the man's questions and taunts. "Charity Burbage is dead."

"How?" Harry asked, surprised.

"The Dark Lord killed her and fed her to his snake." Theodore answered in the blandest tone Harry had ever heard.

Hermione let out a squeak and turned to hide herself in Ron's chest. Sirius pulled a face. Everyone else was quiet and still.

"And that's my report." Theo gave a sigh and then smiled weakly. "So...want to go for a walk, Harry?"

"Yes." Harry grabbed his friend's arm. "Now."

They exited the Burrow before Sirius could think up something to say and the moment they were outside, Harry spun around and grabbed the front of Theo's robes and pulled him into a kiss. He knew this kiss was not the best he could have given, but with his emotions raging and his mind spinning to a halt the moment his lips pressed against Theodore's he was surprised he'd been able to keep himself together let alone concentrate on kissing. Theodore seemed amazingly in the exact same position, gripping Harry as if he was a lifeline and kissing him desperately and sloppily as if he couldn't focus anymore than this. They pulled away, not nearly satisified enough, but unable to continue with Harry barely breathing and Theo swaying on his feet. Harry had only a single moment to notice this about his friend and help him to the ground before he collapsed.

"Sorry." Theo mumbled, a hand to his head and another to his chest as if there was pain in both of these places. "Am so tired..."

"Have you slept at all?" Harry glanced at the darkening sky and realized he himself had slept all day.

"No." The taller Slytherin admitted, giving a weak smile. "Think I just might..."

"Wait!" Harry tried to keep Theodore upright and awake. "I can't carry you! Come on, let's get you in a bed."

"Too far..."

Theo leaned into Harry and, at a loss for what else to do, Harry let him rest his head onto Harry's chest and they sat like this: Harry with his back against the outside wall of the Burrow and Theodore lying awkwardly against him. It took only moments for Harry to develop a cramp in his back and for his bum to go numb, but he ignored these discomforts for the sake of Theodore, who had begun to snore (more like purr) into Harry's chest. Smiling, Harry closed his eyes and enjoyed this first sleepy embrace of many more to come (he hoped).

With Molly bossing everyone around every two seconds Harry and Theo had no time at all to discuss what they planned to do. No one knew they weren't attending Hogwarts this coming year and Harry had no intentions of telling anyone. Theodore had finally disclosed that he wasn't going to be attending anyways because the Dark Lord had ordered Theo, a member of the Inner Circle, to participate in the war.

"There will be times when I will leave." Theo told him in a whisper as they tended to the chickens. "Because he has summoned me, but he wants us only to contact him if we have you in custody."

Ron came in, interrupting their hushed conversation.

On Harry's birthday, Theo gave Harry a sneakoscope and lots of hugs and kisses throughout the day. There was something needy and honest about the way Theodore interacted with Harry lately. He kept touching him. Always, he had to be touching him, be it a hand in Harry's or an arm around Harry's shoulders. Even at the table, he would nudge Harry gingerly with his foot if they were across from each other or keep a hand on Harry's thigh. As much as Harry bathed in this physical attention, he found he was also frightened by it, knowing that Theodore was absorbing the fear that radiated from the walls of the Burrow.

That evening, Scrimgeour arrived and insisted on speaking to Harry and Theodore alone and the three went into the sitting room together.

"I have some questions for the both of you, and I think it will be best if we do it individually. If you would," He looked at Harry. "Wait upstairs, I will start with Mr. Nott."

"I'm not going anywhere." Harry stated with more bite then was probably necessary as a protective feeling welled up within him. "You can speak to us both together, or not at all."

Scrimgeour didn't seem happy with this, but consented and continued, "Ver well then, together. I am here, as I'm sure you know, because of Albus Dumbledore's will."

Before Harry could be surprised, Theo spoke smoothly, "Ah, yes we were just wondering where that was."

"Dumbledore died over a month ago." Harry snapped at the Minister. "Why has it taken this long to give us what he left us?"

"Thought that was obvious." Theo snorted, his voice holding an air of amusement, but the look on his face the furthest think from it. "Wanted to examine whatever he's left us...as if they had the right."

"I had every right." Scimgeour argued. "The Decree for Justifiable Confiscation..."

"Gives the Ministry the power to confiscate the contents of a will," Theo finished for him. "But only if the Ministry has powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them. Would it then be safe to assume you believe that Dumbledore, of all people, was trying to pass us something cursed?"

Scrimgeour had stiffened. "Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Mr. Nott?"

Theodore's eyes narrowed. "No. My plans focus around doing some good in this world and being useful."

Harry laughed before he could contain himself and then quickly asked, "So why have you decided to let us have our things now? Can't think of a pretext to keep them?"

"The thirty-one days are up." Theo explained in a drawl. "Can't keep the objects longer than that unless they can prove them dangerous."

He didn't ask for Scrimgeour to agree with him because they all knew he was right.

"Would you say you were close to Dumbledore, Mr. Nott?" Scrimgeour asked after a moment.

"Incredibly." Theodore lied smoothly and Harry had to blank his thoughts and emotions to keep himself from smiling. "Were quite fond of each other. Often enjoyed each other's company and discussed our genius. Much like Dumbledore, I am quite brilliant and this provided us with common ground to work with."

Harry had never heard Theodore boast so openly and had to hide the surfacing grin.

"Of course our meetings stagnated in the last year." Theodore continued calmly. "Was busy, he said, but he provided no other knowledge, I am afraid."

Seeing nothing to argue with, Scrimgeour removed a scroll, unrolled it, and began to read, "'The Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore'...Yes, here we are...'To Theodore Maximilian Nott, I leave my Deluminator, in the hope that he will remember me when he uses it.'"

Theodore took the item and turned it over in fake admiration. "A splendid gift really. Valuable...unique...of Dumbledore's own design too. Quite rare."

Scrimgeour, seeing that Theodore knew plenty about this object, thus providing a perfect excuse for why Dumbledore would leave it with him, moved on. "'And I leave also my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in hope that he will find it entertaining and instructive.'"

Taking the book, Theodore seemed now at a loss for words.

"Why do you think Dumbledore left you that book, Mr. Nott?" Scrimgeour asked.

"Well," Theodore took a moment to answer. "When our minds were exhausted from our own brilliance, we would crack this book open and speculate if any of the stories had any hidden or deeper meanings. Was all in fun, but it was these conversations I enjoyed the most. Think he knew this and, thus..." He waved at the book sitting in his lap.

Again finding no argument, Scrimgeur continued, "'To Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill.'"

He pulled out the Snitch, but didn't pass it to Harry. "Why did Dumbledore leave you this Snitch?"

"No idea." Harry replied. "For the reasons you just read out, I suppose...to remind me what you can get if you...persevere and...and..."

"Are skillful." Theodore mumbled.

"Whatever..." Harry smirked.

"You think this a mere symbolic keepsake, then?" Scimgeour asked.

"I suppose so." Harry shrugged. "What else could it be?"

"I'm asking the questions." Scrimgeour scowled. "I noticed that your birthday cake is in the shape of a Snitch. Why is that?"

Theodore snorted. "Is a secret message in the icing, didn't you know?"

Scrimgeour gave Theo a nasty look, apparently not appreciating the sarcasm. "I don't think there's anything hidden in the icing, but a Snitch would be a very good hiding place for a small object. You know why, I'm sure?"

Harry shrugged and Theodore, finally playing dumb, said. "Why don't you enlighten us?"

"You don't know, Mr. Nott?" Scrimgeour appeared skeptical. "After being able to recite portions of the law of the Ministry which most adults don't even know?"

"Am not particularily fond of Quidditch." Theodore answered in his bored tone.

With apparent annoyance, Scrimgeour explained about the skin memories that Snitches possessed. Harry had no answer to this and he was internally panicking because he knew there was no way for him to take the Snitch without it touching his bare skin.

"You don't say anything," Scrimgeour commented. "Perhaps you already know what the Snitch contains?"

"No." Harry replied.

"Take it." Scrimgeour offered out the Snitch and Harry took it without much hesitation as he couldn't think of any other way.

Nothing happened.

"That was dramatic." Harry said coolly and Theodore gave a light laugh.

"That's all, then is it?" Theodore asked.

"Not quite." Scrimgeour appeared especially foul tempered now. "Dumbledore left you a second bequest as well, Potter."

"What is it?"

Scrimgeour didn't bother looking at the will. "The sword of Godric Gryffindor."

Theodore stiffened. Harry eyed the man suspiciously.

"Where is it?"

"Unfortunately," Scrimgeour folded his hands. "The sword was not Dumbledore's to give away. The sord of Godric Gryffindor is an important artifact, and as such, belongs..."

"To me." Harry told him factually. "It chose me. I found it. It came to me out of the Sorting Hat..."

"Reliable historical sources," Theodore cut in, eying Scrimgeour coldly. "Say the sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor, which makes its call to your side all the more unusual and all the more important since you are a Slytherin."

"That does not make it the exclusive property of Mr. Potter, whatever Dumbledore may have decided." Scrimgeour scritinized Harry. "Why do you think..."

"...Dumbledore wanted to give me the sword?" Harry was taming his temper, but barely. "Maybe he thought it would look nice on my wall."

"This is not a joke, Potter!" Scrimgeour growled. "Was it because Dumbledore..."

"Am sure you have many speculations on the matter," Theodore interrupted. "And I am also sure we don't want to hear them. Is that all of the will? If so, then please leave. Would like to get back to the party before the food and cake are gone."

Harry knew perfectly well that Theodore could care less about the party and only wanted Scrimgeour to leave.

Seeing as he had no real reason to be here any longer, Scimgeour dismissed himself and Theodore and Harry, eying each other worriedly, returned to the small celebration.

:)