(a/n): Yep a long delayed update. Had a career change and it's been pretty draining. And my creative writing time has been cut a lot. But here's a new chapter!

Now I had a whole resolution to the H/G snog scene written that would've almost doubled this chapter, or pushed to a next one. But by the time I finished it seemed a little loopy, so I'll think on it, maybe let it be an eternal secret.

In the real world my teeth chatter at old-crow's -24 weather report.

I think I have a good epic battle in mind. You guys deserve that much after this long a delay.

So I'll just get it rolling

38 – Leaving Privet Dr

When Susan woke, it was utterly dark. The only light was that of the Muggle gadgets she knew next to nothing about and they were not enough to see by. What forced her conscious was the overwhelming need to empty her bladder. She noted a hand on her naked hip. "Looking out for me, even when he's out cold." She commented "No it wouldn't do to walk around here in my birthday suit."

"Careful there, Red." Dudley caught her as she half-stumbled/half-crashed into him. Nor did he take offense when she pulled away "No worries. Redheads are Potter's thing. Got my own girl now, anyway. You OK?"

She studied him in the dimly lit hall and replied "Hard to see. Sorry I crashed into you, Dudley."

"I may have lost a person, but I'd have to lose another before a bump like that'd bother me." He answered with self-depreciating humor "Wha'cha lookin fer?"

She couldn't help feeling terribly exposed in just Harry's t-shirt. As nonchalantly as she could, she put an arm across her breasts and answered "The loo. And a candle to light my way would be nice."

"Those other two wizards were like this, too." He said in a somewhat condescending tone "And Kathy said Ginny was clueless, at first. I can find my way with my eyes closed. But here… up is on… down, off. Get it?"

Fascinated by the seeming 'magic' of the simple household fixture, she flicked the lever several times.

"Dad'll have a fit, if you keep it up." Dudley caught her hand with a chuckle "How do you magicians get along?"

Susan shrugged "We think the same thing of Muggles. But… uhh… not to be rude… I REALLY need to GO!" And she was too wrapped up in satisfying biology to be annoyed at being made fun of.

Harry was sprawled across the makeshift bed when she returned. One of the screens was glowing, not enough to read by, but adequate for navigation "Your leaving woke me." He said lazily.

"Not enough for you to follow, though?" she asked as she pulled the t-shirt over her head and playfully threw it at him.

Barely had the discarded clothing hit him, that Harry yanked it from his face "That's about the bloody sexiest thing I ever saw!"

"What?" she asked with a smirk, as she crawled back onto the bed and atop Harry. And she gasped when he tweaked her nipples "Ohh… Harry, I missed this!"

He gave a snort and asked 'What? Me twisting your boobs?"

"Still need more Salazar lessons, don't you?" replied Susan with a touch of sarcasm. He shrugged meaningfully and pulled her down into a kiss. All was apparently right with his world. It shouldn't be necessary to detail the next hour's activities.

x

Harry and Susan had inadvertently kicked everyone out of the main workplace. So at 8AM their slumber was disrupted by Dudley and Kathy loudly entering "Honestly! You'd think some people could sleep their lives away!" she declared.

"What is that sound?!" Susan rasped out. She'd half thrown off the cover, but instantly stopped when she remembered being completely naked. "Do NOT move, Harry!"

He started, then complained "You two do know there are two other computers in this house?"

"Your friend got us to take half of yesterday off." Dudley settled in and was already typing "But we are almost done with this Firewall virus. Once it's done, we'll be able to tap the secret stuff. You know, we do have the plans for a nuclear bomb."

Susan asked "What's that?"

"That's a great idea, Dudley." Harry answered, sarcastically "If all the Death Eaters were in one place. And you don't mind taking most of Surrey with them."

Although she'd had a fair amount of exposure to some parts of the Muggle world, thanks to Aunt Amelia, Susan knew nothing about that. She gasped, turning a horrified look on Dudley, almost forgetting she was nude under the cover "Muggles CAN'T have that much power! Err…can they?"

"And that's just a small one, Bones." In strolled Draco Malfoy wearing a completely un-wizard t-shirt and shorts "Do you know, during what they call World War Two more Muggles were killed than the entire population of Magicals? A lot more?"

Kathy Thomas, who knew as much about both worlds as anyone, argued "And you forget that Hitler was just a puppet of your Grindelwald. And he planned to keep using those gas chambers until there were only Magicals left. Nor is this Voldemort any better. I'll tell you this, if you people DON'T get your act together there's going to be a real war between us. And the odds are long against you. What is it? Ten thousand to one? Twenty?"

"Whose side are you on?" Susan wanted to know. She was conscious of her lack of clothes, but not unduly bothered. She and Harry were sitting, wrapped around each other, and there couldn't have been more blanket covering most every inch of skin.

Welcoming his fiancée to the room, with a royally outstretched hand, Draco answered "That is quite easy, really. Hers, of course."

"My Lord Malfoy speaks most wisely." Astoria Greengrass rested her hand on his and stood beside him.

Kathy blinked at the oversized crowd and asked "Magic?" The room was not meant for five people, let alone the seven it now did, and there seemed space for double that.

"It is solely through your influence, My Lady." Draco was at his charming best

Harry quipped "Well there's a true statement."

"Father would be appalled to see young nobles behaving so irresponsibly as to actually have slept together." Huffed Astoria, this was her first visit to the Dursleys'.

Susan easily retorted "I'm sure that has more to do with what his baby girl does. And does not! Besides, we are adults." She did not go any further as only four people were aware of her miscarriage.

"Now seems a great time to depart." Harry offered slyly "Sue, I picked up a great saying Save water, bathe with a friend. Wanna try it?" And without waiting, he dissapparated them both from under the blanket.

She jumped, frantically attempting to cover her nudity, but realized they were alone "Harry!" she protested, throwing a washcloth at him. Which of course, fluttered to the floor somewhere between them.

"You're beautiful!" Harry said, huskily. He pulled her to him and kissed her.

A couple minutes later, breathing heavily, lips swollen "Got something to do with me… being naked as the … day I was born?" she asked. Trying, but failing, to sound like she was unaffected by the lengthy kiss.

"Got quite a bruise back here." Harry commented.

Susan laughed "Someone bit me, I think." She took up his right arm and began sucking at a fleshy spot above his wrist. Teeth and lips went to work.

"Not wise!" he gritted out between clenched teeth. And reached around, lifted her left breast and squeezed. He then pinched her nipple and teased it mercilessly.

After what must have been their tenth love-making session in as many hours, and in a tub no less, the pair lolled in steaming hot water. Barely awake, Susan idly stroked his leg just above the knee and muttered "You alright, Harry?"

"I couldn't be tireder if I was dead." He answered sleepily. Harry might have stroked her hair if he could have lifted an arm out of the bath water.

She laughed "You know tireder is not a word, right?"

"Shut up, Hermione." He laughed back, then was snoring. Heating charms did wonders, the bathwater stayed steaming hot far longer than natural.

BANG BANG BANG "GET UP POTTER!"

Harry was a very light sleeper, from years of his Aunt and Uncle similarly waking him. So, instantly he jolted awake. "Whaddya want Malfoy?" he growled.

"It seems your library raiding is done!" Draco called back, his tone turned wicked "Besides how long can two people spend in a loo? Move it Potter! Granger and Weasley are here!"

Now, Harry had studied his Hogwarts nemesis for most of a decade. And he could tell which Weasley Draco was talking about just by tone of voice. And thanks to lessons from the Slytherin painting, he was exceedingly grateful that a wall prevented Draco from seeing his expression. Which was probably even more revealing. He felt suddenly trapped by Susan's sleeping form as every sensation of that kiss with Ginny flooded back. All the guilt he'd forgotten in the past couple days hit him like a ton of dragon dung. After thinking a moment, he apparated out from behind Susan and was perfectly positioned to catch her so she didn't fall.

"Glad we had all that time to write search algorithms." Kathy Thomas commented, her dark fingers were flying over a one keyboard. Numbers, symbols and letters appeared at an astonishing rate.

Dudley was just as intense and, as far as the others in the room could tell, typing just as fast. A third screen, which even the least computer literate wizard understood as being filled with progress bars was showing how all the data from Hogwarts was being pulled from the interconnected computers, shared among them and sorted.

"Even I never thought of this!" an awed Hermione gaped at the whole system, unable to follow the details. Doing most of her work at the school, meant she'd seen little of the technological part of Harry's scheme. She could not even perceive an image of one page on a screen before it was replaced by another at the rate of probably hundreds per second.

A still skeptical Draco wanted to know "What good is all this? Who can read that fast?"

"No, you two keep doing what you are doing." Hermione told the technical pair. "This one doesn't seem near as busy. Can I do a search? Right. Malfoy, any magical topic, spell, personage or object."

A smirk spread across the blond Slytherin's face "Ever look up my family history, Granger?"

"No! And it is Weasley!" she snapped reflexively.

Just shaking his head, Draco commented "You're too easy. So find my original family name in the pile of Hippogriff dung."

"I think I remember seeing some books on bloodlines." She said mostly to herself "Let's see …" and typed ancient, noble *snort* Malfoy . "Here we are. Apparently, one Draco Spungen. Not much for originality in names are you? Anyway, Spungen emigrated from Ireland. Just the clothes on his back, it seems. And seduced a noble girl by the name of Luna Malfoy. Only twelve if I'm doing my math right."

Slytherin's painting commented "Twelve was not an uncommon age for marriage in my era."

"Nor does it seem your blood is as pure as you would have us believe." Hermione went on with more than a hint of malice "Felton is not a Wizarding family name."

Draco's wand was coming out and he was snarling "Mudblood Liar!" when it was snatched from behind and clattered down the steps.

"Go get your wand!" Harry ordered and glared unflinchingly.

Ginny was never one to object to Draco being embarrassed "Every lady's hero! Right Hermione?"

"You can do Malfoy history later. Granger." Harry glared just as angrily at her "Right now, all I care about is something to finish off Voldemort and his bunch."

She eloquently lifted her left eyebrow at him, bent her neck about half an inch and spun her chair back to the computer screen. And coldly responded "Yes, My Lord."

Harry didn't let her see him shiver at the retort. And anyway he had bigger concerns. He had been on a high ever since his reconciliation with Susan. Truth be told, much of that had to do with the unending lovemaking. What little extra energy he'd had left was spent on those happy feelings. Now, he deflated, though he hid it well. "Ginny, good to see you again. Been a while." He greeted her with a warmth that felt phony.

"So I hear you two have worked out your troubles." Ginny said "About bloody time. Now we can get on with the war. There are a number of things to discuss. In private."

Dudley pushed his chair into the middle of the room and glared "Not! And I mean not in the loo! Mum and Dad have been having fits!"

What little of Harry's happiness had already evaporated. He did not even raise an eyebrow at his cousin. Ginny, at least, had the decency to make his humiliation private. Yes she was about to betray him, but he had no one to blame but himself. Though not the least hungry, he suggested "We could walk to McDonald's?"

"Breakfast! HAH Goodie!" Ginny declared sunnily, and dragged both Susan and Harry by the hands.

With Vernon at work and Petunia shopping, they were spared any contact on that front. It was really as if #4 Privet Dr. were two houses, with the lack of involvement between the groups.

The Minister of Magic was having a bad day. No, Albus Duumbledore was having a terrible day. And the worst aspect was that it was barely after breakfast. A wrinkled hand pinched the bridge of a wrinkled nose and he groaned in pain. The day started with a cryptic letter.

Brian

You have been most negligent. Criminally so.

And you will pay for your crimes.

An Olde Friend

At his summons a powerfully built black man entered "You need me, Minister?" he asked.

"Indeed, Kingsley." replied Duumbledore "Apparently, someone has a grudge against me. Now while I can take care of myself—"

Shacklebolt reached for the proffered parchment with a growl "It is, sir, the job of Aurors to protect the Minister. AHHGH!" The Auror's scream was due to the letter bursting into flame. In fiery letters it declared SHAME BRIAN! "Well someone definitely has a grudge. I would say we look at the older set, as they were the ones who knew you by that name."

"Perhaps somewhat too obvious, Kingsley." The Minister noted "Picking out my relatively few contemporaries, few of whom are truly powerful."

Shacklebolt shrugged "Never give your enemies credit for brains less capable than your own. Sets up a dangerous overconfidence. That Malfoy on St. Mungo's Board is definitely NOT your friend. And you have had more than one run-in with Harry Potter."

"He is a boy!" Duumbledore chuckled "And I am fully confident he will come to accept my tutelage in due time."

And just at that moment, there was a knock on the door and a witch who looked like what Molly Weasley might in another fifty years entered "Beg your pardon, Minister, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood are outside." She announced "As proxies respectively of House Potter and House Bones."

"Very well." The Minister pinched the bridge of his nose then settled his spectacles in place "Show them in."

Into the brief interlude, the powerful Auror commented, quietly "Speak of the devil."

"Neville. Luna!" Dumbledore greeted them effusively. He wanted this to start on a high note. And perhaps end well.

Luna, first to speak, warmed the Old Man's heart "Lord Minister, I bring cordial greetings from my father. Though, unfortunately I have a regrettable report from House Bones."

"Which our principals agreed would be second." Neville cut her off, he bowed his head perhaps an inch "Dumbledore, my regent has already informed Earl Potter that rumors are in the air. This meeting is to provide facts to the Government and to make plans."

The black man glared at the recent Hogwarts graduate "You might remember to whom you are speaking, boy." His tone was soft but full of menace

"I thought his job was to protect you, not listen to private conversations, Minister." Neville commented, coolly and without looking at Shacklebolt.

The Auror sneered back "How'd you like to spend a week in Azkaban?"

"You just cost yourself your career, Auror." Neville made the last word a curse.

A blinding flash of blue light and a thunderclap "Enough!" Dumbledore commanded harshly, and loudly somehow without raising his voice "Kingsley! Apologize at once!"

"With respect, Minister, no." answered the black Auror "This whole next generation has no respect for their superiors."

Neville snorted in disgust "Senior." he acknowledged "Superior? Don't make me laugh! I you'd done your job, my and Harry's parents would still-"

"Enough Neville!" ordered Dumbledore. "You were not there during that period!"

Neville actually spit at him "And you were useless!" he growled "Holding a bunch of knitting meetings! And nice job protecting my parents! You old idiot!"

"Reducto!" came from Kingsley, blasting Neville into a wall.

Neville was purple with fury, unfortunately he hit his head and was doubly stunned. His wand came out and he growled "Expulso—". Though his wand flew out of his hand halfway through the spell. And as his vision cleared, he focused an enraged glare on his former Headmaster and demanded "Give me back my wand!"

"Are you aware, Mr. Longbottom, that at the moment of casting, your wand was pointed straight at Miss Lovegood's heart?" Dumbledore told him with that tone of grandfatherly disappointment "Now I think you should apologize to Auror Shacklebolt."

The former Gryffindor was shocked "I am so sorry." But he was not addressing Kingsley. Everyone in the room knew it. His eyes were focused solely and only on his former girlfriend. "I would never attack you."

"Not to worry, Neville dear." She replied airily "You would, at most, be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter. Aurors know better, as should the Minister of Magic. Of course, my principal would not know of this, however I can speak with certainty that if Mr. Shacklebolt is not dismissed at once you, Minister, will find yourself facing a Wizengamot vote of no confidence."

Caught up in self-imposed guilt, Neville just stared at her. Dumbledore, on the other hand, stared stonily at the Ravenclaw. And for at least a minute. When Luna did not react, not even a flinch, he yielded "Kingsley, I am sorry, you have gone too far—"

"WHAT!" the massive black man roared 'HOW MANY YEARS OF LOY- AVADA KEDAVRA!" the spell was pointed at Luna. Whether he intended to kill her or not is a question for the future, but the primary result allowed him to easily get out of the Ministry and disappear into Muggle London.

Neville, who had thrown himself at Luna and was now helping her up, spoke in harsh tones "House Longbottom will be putting a price on that bastard's head. But let's discuss the reason for our visit."

"Kingsley Shacklebolt was one of the best Aurors in the last fifty years and a good friend." Dumbledore retorted coldly "You, Mr. Longbottom, would be well advised to make your business with me as brief as possible."

Even this adult Neville was intimidated, he nodded and licked his lips before speaking "We are instructed to provide the story as it unfolded. Nine days ago Kiln Keep, the Potter ancestral home, was attacked. Some twenty Death Eaters violated the wards and ransacked the property. Dozens of irreplaceable paintings of Earl Potter's ancestors were destroyed. Only a handful, thanks to the heroic efforts of the Potter elf Dobby, were saved."

"Harry has my sympathies." Dumbledore said quietly "Please inform him that the Ministry would be pleased to offer disaster relief in whatever form House Potter needs."

At that, Neville nodded, it was unexpected "Thank you" he replied "I will so inform him. Lord Potter states this act of infamy was planned and executed by Severus Snape under the orders of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"I have grown weary of the constant bickering between those two." Again there was a more than displeased expression.

Still uncomfortable, Neville slipped into stuttering "S-sir. H-h-Harry said you would say s-something like th-that." He felt himself wishing Harry was actually here. The former Headmaster had sent chills up and down his spine.

"At this point I am instructed to pick up the tale." Luna announced. Not quite true but necessary "The former Professor's grudge against Harry notwithstanding, there is ample evidence of his illegal presence within Kiln Keep. Further, his crimes do not stop there."

Shaking his head, Dumbledore warned "Be careful Miss Lovegood. There are serious consequences for slander."

"Severus Snape is currently in the custody of House Bones after leading a Death Eater attack there." Luna declared "House Bones-"

Neville added "And House Potter"

"-jointly seek a full Wizengamot session." Luna continued "In order bring their grievances against Voldemort into public view."

Dumbledore shook his head "No. I must refuse. The more public this bec—"

'Evil is like Devil's Snare." Luna seemed to be quoting "It flourishes in the dark. Let Voldemort's acts bare the full daylight of public scrutiny. And more importantly, Lord Minister, you are aware of the number of votes required to summon the Wizengamot without your approval?" She handed a scroll to him that had a handful of family crests stamped on it.

The number was kept small to balance the Minister's power "87½" Dumbledore noted "With 80 required. Very well, I will summon the Wizengamot if you agree not to publish this. And I demand a visit with Severus."

"You will next see the criminal Snape in session." Luna's spacey personality came out in this reply "Lord Potter noted that you capture more flies with Honey than Vinegar."

Dumbledore knew the quote. In fact he was one of the first to use it "The Minister of Magic formally requests a visit with Severus Snape. I wish to see that he is indeed being properly cared for."

"The Spirit of Amelia Bones was consulted on this matter, Minister." Replied Luna quite seriously "And it is with great regret that with the wards around Metacarpus Mansion under repair, and considering your relationship to the criminal, that House Bones must regrettably deny your request. House Bones hopes this will be considered a purely personal matter and not impact the excellent relationship between the Ministry and the Ancient and Noble House of Bones."

Dumbledore's expression was almost a pout. A House's security was sacrosanct under Magical Law, and again he had been outmaneuvered. "Miss Lovegood, you will please take a message to the Countess Bones. It will just take a moment to compose."

"I apologize, Minister, but that is impossible." Luna answered "You see, our principals have withdrawn our Proxies effective with delivery of our messages." She handed over a scroll with the Bones seal and prompted Neville to do likewise. And the blonde Ravenclaw curtsied appropriately to her rank.

And after the events in that room, Neville couldn't help bowing. In fact substantially further than required. Dumbledore, he decided, was much more wizard than he ever thought. And it frightened him. He found an alcove and cursed himself "Bloody Coward!"

"You hurt yourself, Neville." A soft voice interrupted. And caught his fist with more strength than you would credit a small witch with. Luna twisted his wrist and fired a quiet "Episky! Explain."

He looked away from that piercing expression "You took on Dumbledore when I all but pissed myself!" he growled, angry at himself "And I almost killed you!"

"What I said in there, Neville-"she started.

Only to be cut off "Was bullshit! GOOD bullshit. It turned Dumbledore, but not me."

"You will believe what you will." Luna conceded "However you are in no sense a coward. Remember throwing yourself in front of a Killing Curse? As far as I'm concerned that makes you braver than any Death Eater. Up to and including Voldemort."

Neville flinched involuntarily and grumbled "Yeah big brave me."

"Yes, big brave you." She replied and stretched up to kiss his cheek.

He pulled her against him and into a deeper kiss, mumbling against her lips "I miss this."

"Mmmm" Luna moaned slightly and enjoyed it. Then, after just a few seconds, pushed away. "Stop Neville! We had our chance! It's over!"

He gave a sad look, caught some of her dress robe and fondled it "It doesn't have to be. Yea, my grandmother is negotiating a marriage for me, with several Houses. But that's politics."

"And you can have two, or even four, wives." bitterly completing the argument she'd heard before "I have no desire to be second, or fourth. And would you share me with another man? Sirius, for instance?"

Neville responded with a disgusted snort "Old man. Triple your age. And I notice he's not around these days. Signs a deal with your father and runs off who knows where."

"That, Neville, is something you don't need to know." She answered coolly. Every mussed strand of hair was back in place "I sincerely thank you for saving my life. For the rest, we should leave here as we entered. Harry and Susan need to know how our meeting went. A last thought, consider that Father would never have spoken to Sirius without my consent. You are doing what you feel is best for you, as am I. Come." With that, she lifted his hand and placed hers on top of it and they strolled in stately fashion to the Floo Hall.

In the office of the Minister of Magic Albus Dumbledore sat unmoving for an hour. When he was done thinking, he had no better idea what to do, other than adding a protective layer of wards for himself. He canceled the rest of his appointments for the day and returned to thinking.

x

And after a series of furtive contacts, meetings with intermediaries, exactly seven days later Kingsley Shacklebolt was led blindfolded into a dank wet cave "This is foolishness" he looked around unmoved "I an identify every one of you even with your masks."

"They will stay for now." Voldemort ordered silkily "You asked to see me, Auror Shacklebolt. Can I assume you're not here on Dumbledore's orders? Demanding I turn myself in?" The Dark Lord held up a hand to still his tense followers and said "Speak."

Kingsley looked directly and unflinchingly at Voldemort and commented "I wonder if I am choosing wrong here. This place lacks the comforts of London. It seems The Minister has no more use for my services, so I thought I would find out what you have to offer."

"Perhaps I should just let my followers act on their desires." The Dark Lord grinned maliciously.

The ex-Auror looked unimpressed "I can give you four very good reasons. First, I stand a good chance of decimating this bunch of rabble. Second, I planned for this meeting. Third, just because Fudge is gone, doesn't mean I stopped collecting highly useful Ministry info. And fourth, just a moment to prepare… might I impose upon you to try your favorite spell on me."

"I wouldn't think of killing you, Kingsley" Voldemort sneered, then fired the most vicious "CRUCIO!" He could manage on short notice. And fully expecting the black man to crumple into a screaming mass of agony.

The ex-Auror bit his cheek hard enough to draw blood and shook slightly, but he did not go down. The purplish haze finally dissipated "Well that was harder than I thought." admitted Kingsley with a rueful shake of his head. He ignored the blood running off his chin "So? Do what I have to offer interest you? Or should I just go home and pull out the Help Wanteds?"

"We are returning to our main base tomorrow." The Dark Lord decided "At that time you will take my Mark."

x

And back at #4 Privet Dr. Dudley, Katie and Hermione successfully hacked into some semi-secret work being done in a well known project along the Swiss border. "Do you think it could work?" asked Dudley.

"It'd kill a lot of people in a hurry." Katie pointed out.

Hermione looked highly skeptical "The danger is afterward. Assuming I can set up a magical way to keep it intact to get it where it can be used, how do I keep it from destroying the Earth?"

"I absolutely forbid such a thing!" Draco Malfoy burst out. At the urging of his future wife, Draco had obeyed Harry's instructions to learn about computers. More, he'd gone on to learn more about Muggles than all his Malfoy ancestors had ever known. He'd followed along and, though he did not fully understand the nature of the weapon, he did grasp that there was only one logical target.

Hermione was faster on the draw than the blonde wizard, firing an "Obliviate!" which caused him to crumple to the floor, unconscious. Her eyes locked with Harry's who had just returned, and waved a dismissive hand "Oh Pish!" she declared "What if I told you there might be a way to wipe out dozens of Death Eaters all at once, and hopefully Voldemort too?"

"Oh I'm very interested." Harry completely forgot about Draco and sat beside her.

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