A/N: Welcome back everyone. I know you're all champing at the bit for this, so lets get right into it.

EDIT: |This chapter has now been beta'ed.

The next morning Harry noted that the three witches were almost avoiding each other. While they didn't leave the room when another entered, they paused before fully stepping in, and kept their distance from each other. At first he wondered if there had been a fight between them, but the flushes he spotted on their cheeks dissuaded him of that notice. After a lazy morning, he decided to corner Hermione about it. He was missing the closeness from before.

"Hermione… why are you avoiding Susan and Daphne?"

Hermione stiffened, before flushing red. "I'm not…" She began...

"Yes you are." Her mother cut her off as she entered the kitchen. "I've noticed as well. You're not sharing the same space like you were." Her features shifted into one of sadness. "What happened? It was so nice to see you with close friends."

Hermione's blush was almost as red as Susan's hair now. "It's… embarrassing." She half whispered.

"How?" Emma prompted quietly.

Hermione glanced at Harry for a moment before speaking, realizing that neither would let her drop this. "We've noticed that when… one of us… kisses or is kissed by Harry… the other two feel... an echo, of it."

It was Harry's turn to flush, while Emma's eyebrow rose.

"Why?"

Hermione shrugged. "We have no idea, except that something else happened when we cured Harry of his curse."

Emma and Harry exchanged confused looks. "But why is this causing a problem now?"

Hermione's face was now rivalling beetroot; what could be seen behind her hair, which had fallen forwards when she tipped her head down. "Daphne… last night, decided to test if it was just Harry which caused it, or… if…"

"The same would happened if the two of you kissed." Emma finished.

Harry took a moment to think about what had just been said. "Oh…. Oohhhh!" His eyes' widened when he realized what must have happened. "Which two of you…" He stopped, clapping a hand over his mouth. He could not believe he had just asked that question out loud!

Hermione lifted her head to glare at him for voicing that, but the expression of shock and embarrassment on his face cheered her, to the point that she only lightly glared, a tiny smile lurking at the corners of her mouth. "Daphne… well, she took me by surprise."

Emma chuckled at the looks on both teens faces. "Was it a bad kiss?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, I don't think so, was a bit too shocked to really tell. But…" She trailed off, head dropping again. "…the rest of me started to enjoy it. Far too much."

While Harry goggled, Emma just sighed and patted her daughter's shoulder. "How did you expect to maintain a four-way relationship with the same guy?" She asked gently hoping that her own mixed feelings about this strange relationship were concealed. Paramount to Emma Granger was her daughter however, and she had decided to support her whatever she did in this matter, no matter her personal feelings.

Hermione shrugged. "I thought we'd end up feeling sisterly affection for each other. Not… outright lovers."

"Didn't you already become lovers when you cured Harry?" Hermione looked up sharply at her mother's question, before the wheels began to visibly turn in her head.

"I guess your right mum." She sighed. "But what now?"

Emma chuckled lightly. "Only you three can sort that out. But avoiding and denying the issue won't solve things." She looked closely at her daughter. "I'm not saying you three should start sharing a bed, or return to being lovers yet." A look of relief swept across Hermione's face as she continued. "But you have to talk with them about this."

Nodding in resignation, Hermione stood up and started walking towards the lounge, where Daphne and Susan were going through their old textbooks, looking for useful spells or charms that could be used to help them fight Voldemort's followers. She paused at the doorway.

"Harry? I think you should be involved as well."

Harry gulped audibly, but followed her. Emma smiled at her actions. 'Good call. He's going to be your husband someday, if I've read you two right, so include him in everything.'

Harry and Hermione trooped into the lounge, Hermione hesitating for a moment before stepping in. Harry noticed that while both Susan and Daphne were sharing the room, they sat at almost opposite ends of it. As if they were trying to be as far away from each other as possible.

"Susan, Daphne..." Hermione called, prompting both to look up from the textbooks they had been reading. Harry noticed that Daphne was holding a book with a number of math symbols on the cover, while Susan held their Fifth year Charms textbook. He also noted that both blushed slightly when they looked up.

Hermione took a deep breath. "We need to... talk about, and move on from, our current..." She waved her free hand between them "...tension."

The other two looked at each other, and then nodded slowly. Setting her book aside, Susan turned to face Hermione. "Where do we start?"

Hermione flushed red as she sat on the sofa, Harry at her side. "I think... we have to start with, what you were thinking Daphne?" At her look Hermione pressed on. "Harry knows and so does mom. They... just cornered me about this..."

Daphne swore under her breath. "Okay... I uh..." She hesitated. After a few moments she started talking.

"I noticed it first last Monday I think. Harry, whenever you kiss..." Her cheeks went a shade redder. "...anyone of us, the other two feels an echo."

"Hermione already told me this." Harry cut in, but faltered at the hard look Daphne was giving him.

"Just let me explain mister! Anyway, I've been wondering, off and on for the last couple of days if that was just an effect from you, or if it would happen with us too."

Hermione shifted in her seat. "Okay, but why did you just... ambush, me?"

Daphne squirmed in her seat. "I... uh, it was a few things really. I mean, we talked about... you know, alternative relationships, earlier." At his confused look Daphne felt she had to explain. "Homosexual relationships Harry."

Harry's eyes widened. "You mean... a man with another man?"

"Or a woman with a woman." Susan cut in. "It's something that we've both had instilled into us before Hogwarts. There's ... not a taboo per se regarding such... relationships, but it is most certainly frowned on." It was the redheads turn to flush bright red. "The generally expected relationship is a man and a woman, where they are only intimate with each other." She hesitated for a brief moment. "There are circumstances where two women together... that way... is, accepted, but it is never talked about openly. And in all those cases, the women in question would have to be involved with men, or even the same man."

Harry could see that this topic was causing all three witches plenty of embarrassment, especially Susan and Daphne. It was causing him plenty as well, and they hadn't even gone into detail yet!

Daphne appeared to have recovered some composure. "Harry, you'd just given us three wonderful kisses, and I could still feel the tingling in my lips." She flushed red for a moment, but pressed on. "As I said, I had been curious about that and with everything else... I realized that if I didn't bring it up then, when everything was in the forefront of my mind, I never would."

"I think, in the end, Hermione would have." Susan commented.

"WHAT?" Hermione yelped.

"You did not have the same upbringing we've had Hermione." Susan explained. "And remember, you were the one who suggested we share Harry in a long term relationship."

Hermione flushed bright red, but the look on her face showed that she was thinking hard. After a minute she nodded slowly. "I think you're right. It'd bug me not knowing what was going on."

"Like the other things going on between us?" Daphne commented.

Harry looked between the three of them. "Huh? Am I missing something here..."

The three witches looked at each other, questions in their eyes. After a moment both Susan and Daphne nodded hesitantly. Hermione faced him. 'He had to learn sooner or later, I suppose...'

"Harry... when we cured you of that Curse... there were some... side effects."

Harry swallowed nervously as she spoke.

"Nothing serious that we've determined so far, but there are a few things. None of us..." Her hand waved towards the other two "...have been feeling any real sense of jealousy when you're with one of the others. Odd, don't you think?"

"How would I know?" Harry nervously answered. Hermione tipped her head to one side as she studied him.

"How about how you felt in Fourth year, when you were mooning over Cho... and you learned she was dating Cedric?"

Harry flushed, but nodded in understanding. That, while he'd rather not have that brought up again, made sense.

"But we've not been feeling that." Hermione pressed on. "Also, there's the kissing thing we've mentioned." She hesitated for a moment. "Something happened to your scar..."

"What?" Harry was shocked, but then he remembered looking in the mirror lately, and it not being so distinctive. He normally tried to ignore it when he shaved or attempted to comb his hair.

Hermione nodded. "It emitted a shrieking noise, and a dark flame seemed to burn within it. Afterwards, it bleed a little, but now it has healed up like any normal cut would." She lifted a hand and moved aside the lock of hair that he tend to having hanging down to hide the scar in question. "It looks just like an old cut now. Deep and oddly shaped, but nothing magical or strange."

"Harry?" Susan was frowning slightly. "Have you, since... That Night... had any of those feelings or vision from He-Who... I mean, Vo... Volde..." She was unable to finish the name.

Harry frowned, thinking back. "Now you mention it, no, I haven't. No nightmares... at least, none that made my scar burn." His finger traced the scar in question.

Daphne was looking worried. "It seems your connection with him is gone Harry. But..." She shook her head in frustration. "We really need a pensieve to check memories. If the scream we heard when is the same as the one that diary you mentioned made..."

All three of the others were looking at her now. "What is it Daphne?" Susan asked softly.

Daphne shrugged. "I don't know, not really. I know there's something that I've come across once that might be what the diary was, but I can't recall the name of it. I recall it was listed as the darkest magic though."

"But what was it doing in Harry's scar?"

"That's the question, isn't it?" Daphne looked at Hermione squarely. "Anyway, there's one more thing Harry..."

All three girls blushed bright red.

"What?" Harry was feeling lost again.

Hermione sighed. "Harry... what part of a woman's body do boys most talk about?"

Harry flushed bright red. But she noticed his eyes drop to her chest for a moment. She nodded in response.

"And what part of our bodies do you think girls most often wish they could change? Often... increase?" Harry's eyes widened as her cheeks turned Weasley red.

"You mean...?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes. We've all had a... an increase in size." She met the other two's eyes. "Different amounts with each of us, but we've all gotten... larger."

Harry's eyes now had a glossy, dreamy look to them. "Oh..."

Susan giggled. "I think you broke him Hermione."

Despite her embarrassment, Hermione grinned. "I think it's more the thought of you with even bigger breasts before that's broken him Susan."

Harry spoke in a half daze. "Oh yours are brilliant too Hermione..." He then gasped as his eyes came back into focus, face paling.

Hermione smiled bashfully. "Thank you Harry."

For a couple of minutes they sat quietly. Eventually Daphne sighed. "So... how are we going to handle our mutual... attraction?"

Hermione sighed in reply. "In some ways, I guess it'll make things easier in the long run. As my mum pointed out, how did we expect to maintain a fair relationship with the same guy? If we're all intimate with each other, we're not going to be... left out, unless we chose to."

"It's just, getting used to the idea of being... that way." Susan said quietly.

"Technically we wouldn't be outright lesbians; we'd be bisexual." Hermione couldn't help but comment. "But avoiding each other is not going to solve anything."

Daphne sighed again. "You're right, as always. Let's just, take things slow, okay?"

Susan had a sudden urge to lighten the mood with a joke. "So... should I warn you when I get an urge to feel you up, or would you rather I just snog you?"

All four burst out laughing, breaking the tension. While they were not totally over the issue, they were moving forwards with it.

The rest of Sunday and the whole of Monday passed quietly, the four teens regaining their closeness. Emma noted that they seemed to draw a little closer together, now that the girls had accepted the fact that they were attracted to each other. Fortunately nothing major happened in the rest of the world, allowing them to focus on building their relationship dynamic.

Sadly it was not to last.

"OH MERLIN!"

Susan's startled, panicked yelp drew everyone's attention. "Susan... what is it?" Hermione asked, but the red-haired witched didn't respond, just stared at the Tuesday morning Daily Prophet she held with wide-eyed horror. Daphne, the closest, moved to wrap an arm round her while looking at the paper. Emma had just reached the pair when she exclaimed, "Death Eaters attacked the Bones Residence!"

Gasps resounded around the table. Both the elder Grangers had found Madam Bones to be a refreshing, engaging older woman. Her directness and sense of fair play had impressed them, as well as her convictions.

Harry however was really worried. Madam Bones was one of those most likely to be the next Minister of Magic, and the only one that Harry felt comfortable with. She'd tackle the Death Eaters seriously, making up for Fudge and his head-in-the-sand approach to things. Clearly Voldemort had decided to take her out... as they had feared.

Hermione, impatient with Daphne for not revealing more, reached out and pried the paper from Susan's unresisting fingers. The headline dominated the front page above a picture of a burning pile of rubble. Shrouded in the smoke above the burning manor the Dark Mark loomed, like a monster hidden in the mist.

'BONES FAMILY ATTACKED!'

'Bones Manor destroyed as attacks strike across Britain!'

'Last night a series of attacks by supposed Death Eaters were reported across the country. Aurors were dispatched to all locations, many being false alarms or innocent mistakes. However there were individuals, unidentified at this time, who were engaging in criminal acts and resisted the Auror forces.

'During the peak of these nuisances, a group of persons unknown attacked Ossuary Manor, the ancestral home of the Ancient & Noble House of Bones. The first indication of this was the destruction of the wards in a violent manner. By the time Aurors were available to respond Bones Manor was a pile of rubble and flame. Initial Auror investigators suggest that the attackers used a mixture of blasting and incendiary curses to destroy the manor. The Auror's also found and had to disable an anti-apparition ward over the property, laid outside the property boundary.

'The fate of Madam Amelia Suzanne Bones, the Director of Magical Law Enforcement and candidate for becoming the new Minister of Magic, as well as her niece Susan Bones, Hogwarts student and the only remaining issue of the Bones Family, remains a mystery. However the presence of the Dark Mark over the ruin suggests strongly that this truly ancient house has been completely destroyed.'

Hermione lowered the paper slowly, looking across at Susan, her face ashen. "Susan... I..." She began as Harry wrapped an arm around her.

The ringing of the door bell startled them all. Nathan, as the only one not currently tied down, rose to get it. If it was those pesky bible-thumpers... His ire died though when he saw through the pebbled glass that the figure at the door was leaning on – slumped against, actually –the wall to the side.

Opening the door, he was relieved to see it was a battered and smoke stained – but alive - Amelia. "Thank god you're okay!"

She looked up tiredly. "Okay is a... relative term." She replied, broken by a cough.

Helping her inside, he led her to the kitchen. Almost as soon as they entered, their presence was noted.

"AUNTIE!"

Susan almost knocked her aunt over with her tackle hug, tears cutting tracks through the ash and smoke that coated the older woman's clothes. Helping her into a spare chair, Nathan nodded to his wife to get the first aid kit; he'd noticed the blood that was slowly staining her clothing and running down one hand.

Finally, the two doctors stepped back, having helped her clean up and assessing her injuries. Smoke inhalation, several curse wounds and slashes, broken ribs and arm... it was more quantity than quality. Unable to treat her wounds magically, the two dentists used the first aid training they did have to stem the flow of blood and make her comfortable, allowing her to regain her strength before heading to St Mungo's. After they had settled her in a sofa chair Harry voiced the question that was everyone's mind. "What happened?"

Amelia set her cup down slowly, eyes looking in the middle distance. "My first warning was the alarm of the outer wards collapsing. When I reached the balcony and looked out, I saw two dozen figures in Death Eater clothing... as well as him."

Harry's eyes narrowed as the older witch shivered. So Voldemort had made a personal appearance.

I activated the Manor's defences." At the blank looks from Harry and the Grangers, she elaborated. "Most Ancient and Noble Magical family's homes are warded to a higher level than regular homes, including active defensive magic to repulse attack.

"When they saw me, several of the Death Eater's started hurling curses my way, while the rest fought back the animated guardian's." She shared a significant glance with Susan, who paled but nodded. There was no need to mention the fact that those 'Guardians' were animated skeletons, a remnant of a darker time. Though the irony was satisfying, given the masks the Death Eaters wore.

"Then he got involved, destroying one of the two focal nodes for the guardians with a single curse." The look on her face said enough about that.

"I've heard the stories, read the reports... but to actually see him tear through the wards and other measures like they were paper..." She trailed off, the shock still clear in her eyes. After a couple of minutes she continued. "He sent his Death Eaters into the manor, telling them to burn and kill everything..." She hesitated, eyes darting to Susan for a moment, but stayed silent.

Susan gasped. "Oscar and Tilly?" She asked quietly.

Amelia looked pensive. "When he destroyed the first stone, I told them to transfer everything to the Bone's Family vault at Gringotts. By the time the Death Eaters entered, they had emptied everything. They were just informing me of this when they found us." She sighed sadly. "They got Tilly in the back with a cutting curse, a curse intended for me."

Susan started to sob, and both Hermione and Daphne moved to wrap their arms around her.

"Never, in all my years or in any record I have seen, have I ever heard of a House Elf being enraged before." There was an awed note in Amelia's voice. "He was hurling them about like toys. At least three died in as many seconds." Her eyes closed, tears forming in the corners. "Then Voldemort entered. He looked about as if resigned, before he casually cast a string of Killing Curses." She shivered, clearly remembering the sight.

She continued a minute later, in a small voice. "Oscar could have escaped all the curses, but he took the one I couldn't evade, though I was stunned when his... when he fell into me." She breathed deeply for a moment. "I think Voldemort figured I was unconscious, as he just cast Fiendfyre twice to each side before walking out."

On the sofa Susan was sobbing in the embrace of both Hermione and Daphne, who both had tear tracks on their cheeks. Harry found Susan's breakdown a little unnerving, as so far she'd been the truly solid, dependable member of their group.

After a few minutes to allow everyone to regain their composure, Nathan asked slowly. "What now?"

Amelia sighed. "I'll need to alert the Ministry that I'm still alive, before reporting to St. Mungo's. After that..." She trailed off, uncertainty clear on her face.

"That might not be such a good idea..." Hermione's words snapped all their attention to her. She forged on despite the shocked looks. "Voldemort just tried to take you out. What do you think he'll do when he finds out that you're still alive?" At the worried looks her question prompted, she continued. "Maybe it's best to lay low for a bit, until you're back on your feet and have a secure place to stay?"

Amelia looked like she would argue for a moment, but then a twinge of pain shot across her face and she relaxed, nodding in submission.

Harry was preparing for bed that night, a frown marring his forehead as he contemplated the attack on Madam Bones, when he heard Susan speak quietly from the doorway. "Harry?"

Turning his head he looked at her. She was dressed for bed, the lower hem of her nightgown just eclipsing her knees. Her face still clearly showed signs of crying. "Can I... stay with you tonight?" She asked nervously. "I just... need a hug..."

Forcing down his sudden nervousness, Harry nodded. "Sure." He was a little shocked however when instead of cuddling into his side like he'd expected, Susan crawled up on top of him, her head resting over his collarbone. He could feel a tremor running through her, prompting him to wrap his arms around her.

As her breathing eased, a slight sound made him turn his head to the doorway again. He was not that surprised to see Hermione and Daphne stood there, looking in. It seemed that the connection that they shared allowed them all to know when one of them was feeling a strong emotion. Wordlessly both of them moved to join him and Susan, scooting in to cuddle into his sides, arms around him and Susan.

It was a few minutes before any of them spoke. "Thank you..." Susan's voice was partly muffled by Harry's chest. "I'm sorry that..."

"There's nothing to apologize for." Harry told, gently stroking her hair. He was still unsure as to what to do with a crying girl, but he figured, in this situation, he should do what he had always wanted someone to do during his years at the Dursleys. It helped that both Hermione and Daphne were doing the same thing, namely just hold her gently.

It was Hermione who spoke next. "You want to talk about it?"

Susan sniffed, but didn't lift her head. "Oscar and Tilly are... were a young House Elf couple bonded to my family. After my parents died, they raised me. Auntie was my Guardian, but her job meant that she couldn't be around most of the time." She sniffed, but continued after a moment. "I got my work ethic from them, and I promised that when I became the next Lady Bones, I'd allow them to have their own… children…" Susan broke down into tears once more, and the other three just held her tighter, allowing her to cry out the loss and regret.

Two nights later Harry lay awake in bed, eyes staring up at the ceiling but not really seeing it. Around him the three witches were snuggled into him once more, providing comfort and support for the next day. The thought of attending Sirius's will, even if it was just a prelim hearing, it had dragged him down all day. They had all noticed, and finally admitted, that they had all slept much better and sounder Tuesday night, when they had slept together to comfort Susan. She had returned to her normal, positive self around Wednesday lunchtime.

Thinking of yesterday, Harry was happy that he'd managed to keep his actions secret from the three. He'd been ready to beg Emma to allow him to go with her on her shopping run, but she had asked him to come before he could ask. As the three young witches were doing deep research, something that they all knew that would lose Harry completely, no-one had complained or expressed any suspicion.

The trip had allowed Harry to pick up the three items of jewellery he'd reserved on their last trip, but he was surprised when Emma had led him straight to the shop. She'd just smiled and passed over her credit card to the till, though she had winced at the total value. Harry was determined to pay her back for every penny. He just needed to visit Gringott's to instruct the Goblins to transfer enough money into the Grangers' muggle accounts from his trust vault. He hoped that they could do that, handling electronic accounts as easily as any muggle bank. It would make things so much easier for everyone.

Tomorrow… he sighed deeply. His thoughts returned to Sirius, wondering what he'd set out in his will. Harry realized that this would be the last contact he ever had with his godfather... and it hurt. Deeply. The grief and sadness tried to come forth, but he felt the three young women around him murmur and tighten their holds on him briefly, driving it back. It was helped that he knew, deep down, that it was not totally his fault that his godfather was gone. Hermione had pounded that thought into him all day. No, there were others who were much more to blame.

Bellatrix was the obvious one, but… Harry had remembered something about that fight, something he'd not seen the first time. Sirius had been taunting, almost playing, with his cousin during their duel in the Department of Mysteries. While then he'd focused on his Godfather, now he recalled the expression on her face. The dark, sadistic look had faded a little, as if she was truly enjoying herself, playing with him in the same way.

Then there had been the curse that had struck him. It had been red, not green. The only red spells he knew of, and thanks to Hermione he knew a lot of combat based ones, were stunners and disarmers. It had most certainly not been a Killing Curse. And for an instant, when she'd struck him, her eyes had lightened, her features softened. But then her eyes had looked behind Sirius, and had widened, and for a moment there had been a look of… shock, and horror. It was as if she hadn't intended to kill him! The look had vanished when she'd turned to defend herself and flee the area, but Harry saw it once more in his mind.

But what did it mean? Was it true that blood was thicker, stronger than her allegiance to Voldemort? Had they, when they were younger, been close? Sirius hadn't actually said what his relationship with his three cousins had been like before Azkaban. From what Harry had heard, he'd been closest to Andromeda, Tonk's mother, but the others he was strangely silent on. He'd only mentioned that Bellatrix was currently insane.

The others to blame for his loss were much clearer. Voldemort and Dumbledore. The first was the easiest: if the power mad nutcase hadn't tricked him into going, Sirius would still be alive. That and a whole raft of other ills and crimes could be laid at his feet. One day, Voldemort would pay.

Dumbledore however was a little less clear. It was obvious that if he'd not held back vital information Harry would not have been tricked, or at the very least not so easily fooled. But the old Headmaster seemed unable to even consider revealing anything, except in dire circumstances.

The question that plagued Harry's thoughts though was Dumbledore's motives. Was he just as sick and evil as Voldemort, or was he simply misguided, a delusional fool who should have sent to an old peoples care home years ago? His attitude towards Draco and his crimes against the three witches that were with him… Harry felt the anger rise up within him, but ruthlessly forced it down, not wanting to awaken them. Hermione still needed plenty of rest to fully overcome the curse inflicted on her back then, and Susan was still dealing with the loss of her home.

Whichever way he was, Harry swore to himself that he would not let the Headmaster control him anymore. Harry knew it was more than likely that he still had much he could and should share with them regarding Voldemort, but getting him to do so would be the problem. Whatever sick games he was playing had to end, now.

Glancing between the three young women with him, Harry also swore to himself that from now on, he had to listen to them and not go off half cocked any more. Hermione had nearly died the last time. The stakes and risks were getting higher; he could not afford to lose anyone now.

Between the three of them he knew they were working on a way from them and their friends to train up this summer. The regular Hogwarts experience was not going to be enough, not now. They had to become stronger, faster, better, if they were going to get out of this war in one piece.

Until now he had been unable to see a future beyond Voldemort. Ever since Dumbledore had finally shared the contents of the Prophesy, it had seemed that his only fate was death. Now, the chance of a future that he desperately wanted was forming, and Harry would grab it with both hands, Voldemort and Dumbledore be damned!

Friday the 12th dawned clear but cool. Both because of the sombre mood that had fallen over Harry, and the nature of the Magical world, Hermione, Susan and Daphne dressed conservatively with long sleeves and trousers... or in Daphne's case, a long skirt. The low necklines and tight tops were also not in evidence. Although only Harry and Hermione were going to attend the pre-hearing of Sirius' will, between them they had decided to make an outing of the day. While it was too early for Hogwarts supplies and books, both young women would be searching for other supplies... supplies more suited for their long term goal: the defeat of Voldemort. While both Susan and Daphne had trust vaults of their own, Harry had put his foot down and told them that he'd pay for anything used to defeat Voldemort; it was his task, no reason for them to bankrupt themselves helping him. It had been a bit of a fight getting his vault key from Molly Weasley; her first reply was essentially that he didn't need it right then, and how could he use it at the Dursleys? While he was pleased that she had no clue he wasn't with his relatives, he found her patronizing tone quite... insulting, actually. He'd had enough of her attitude at Grimmauld Place, constantly pushing them away from order meetings, telling Sirius what he do or say in his own house, and generally being bossy and controlling, and not in a good way.

There had been a brief discussion about transport: Charing Cross Road was not too bad to reach by car, but parking was a nightmare. After the first visit, Emma and Nathan had used the train and tube to take Hermione. In the end it was decided that Emma would drop them at the station on the way to work. On their return trip they would decide if they should return the same way or use the Knight Bus.

Susan and Daphne stuck close to Hermione, following her every move and action. Harry also followed her lead, as the Durlseys had not taken him anywhere when they could get away with it. Hermione had the various receipts for the shopping they had done the previous week, plus details of the Grangers bank accounts. Harry intended to request the Goblins transfer funds to the Grangers directly. While they could take the credit card bill that would be coming, Harry was determined to pay his share. He'd smiled when Emma had pulled out several highlighter pens and marked out who got what. It was a very Hermione thing to do.

Descending to the Tube made both Susan and Daphne nervous. They were catching the tail end of the 'Rush Hour', when thousands of people who lived in the suburbs commuted to their jobs in London. The four teens all but clung together, desperate not to get separated. The Tube was cramped, standing room only, but Harry wrapped an arm around them both from where he was tucked into a corner, and his touch calmed them even as the train hurtled through the tunnels. Hermione just smiled warmly from where she hung on to one of the overhead hand rails.

They all felt a sense of disquiet however when they stepped into the Leaky Cauldron. Aside from the Bartender Tom, there were only four people in the pub, and they were hunched over their tables. The air seemed darker, heavier.

Diagon Alley was the largest shopping point for Magical Britain. With transportation so easy, there was no need for regional shopping areas. By this time the Alley should have been packed. But it wasn't. Only a few witches and wizards were about, and all were hurrying, almost furtively moving from shop to shop, never lingering. Sharing uneasy looks, the four teens moved down the Alley. They passed several closed shops, while those still open no longer had wares outside. The sense of fear clung to everyone and everything.

About a third of the way down Harry stopped, before turning his head back towards the one shop. Much like other it showed no signs of activity from the outside: the windows were boarded up, the door closed. But above the mantle were three massive 'W's in a row. Bare wood at the moment, but he could easily picture them painted garishly bright colours. The boards had large 'Coming Soon – Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes!' posters strung across them, where they were not covered by Ministry flyers

"The twins?" Hermione asked when she saw what Harry was looking at.

Harry nodded. "I hoped they had something by now." He turned to look at her. "Do we have time?"

Hermione looked at her watch before nodding, biting her lip slightly. While she wouldn't say it, she was concerned about the Weasley family. There were just too many question marks over them for her to trust them all like she used to.

Harry led the quartet over, knocking smartly on the door. After a moment they heard footsteps before a bolt was drawn back... just as a round ball on the end of a string came down from the window above, besides an ear. Both Harry and Hermione smiled at the sight of the twin's Extendable Ear just as the door opened.

"Sorry we're not op..." A recognizable voice started from the door before trailing off as they returned their attention to the door... to see a familiar face.

"Alicia?"

"Harry? Hermione?" The graduated Gryffindor chaser looked between the two of them in surprise, before a smile creased her face.

"I see Fred and George are in." He waved towards the suspended ear and ball, which now opened to form an electric blue eye. It twisted about madly for a moment before finally 'looking' at Harry.

Alicia laughed. "Yes they are, still hiding from their mother."

Harry grinned. "They get a howler?"

The older girl shuddered. "Nearly one a week lately. They've gone as far as getting a silenced trunk to set them off in."

"We can still hear her." One of the twin's voices emerged from a voice pipe next to the door.

"Sets the record for volume."

"And persistence."

"Don't get us wrong..."

"We love her..."

"But she does go..."

"...on and on..."

"...and on and on..."

"...and on..."

"Something you two have inherited." Harry cut them off smiling. Susan was giggling while both Hermione and Daphne were a mixture of amused and exasperated. Alicia just sighed before gesturing them inside.

The inside of the shop was still bare, though they had put up shelving and aisles on the floor. Alicia led them to the rear, past the counter and into the back of the shop. Back here was clearly where the twins made and stored their products. A set of stairs led up to a flat above the shop: Harry tried not to stare at Alicia's bum as she climbed ahead of them. Hermione smiled and winked at him before she went ahead. Harry was sure that she swayed her hips deliberately.

The flat above the shop was only lightly furnished, but enough for a bachelor pad. Though here and there were small feminine touches. The stairs came up at one end of the living space, with two modest bedrooms to his left. Along the far left after the second bedroom was a door, a kitchenette, and another room. The windows at the far end of the living space overlooked the Alley.

And sat in a sofa facing the stairs, wearing equally diabolical grins, were the infamous Weasley Twins.

"Hermione!" they chorused.

"Welcome to..."

"...our delightful..."

"...smashing..."

"Dump." Hermione cut in, though a grin softened her words. The twins affected wounded expressions.

"Hermione..."

"...you wound us..."

"...with such labels..."

"It's true though." Another familiar voice cut in from the kitchen area. They looked to see the other graduated Chaser Angelina leaning against the counter, a smile tweaking her lips. "When we got here, it was a real mess."

"Pigsty, more like." Alicia put in. She was smiling too though as she sat on the right arm of the sofa the twins were on.

Clearly eager to move on from the topic, two sets of devious eyes fastened on Harry. "Harry!"

"Fred. George."

The left twin pointed to the other. "He's George. I'm Fred."

"Nope." Alicia tapped the twin nearest her on the shoulder. "This is Fred."

"How can you tell them apart?" Daphne asked, confusion clear in her tone, though the others could see an amused glint in her eyes.

Alicia smirked. "Fred's prettier."

Harry lost it at the twin expressions of bewilderment and revulsion. His laughter made all of them laugh out too, including the twins themselves.

After they had all collected themselves, the twins looked between their four guests. Harry and Hermione were sat together on the other sofa. Susan had taken one of the armchairs, while Daphne was perched on the sofa arm like Alicia. Their eyes lowered to Harry and Hermione's joined hands, and they both grinned once more.

"It seems, my dear brother..."

"...that we owe these two..."

"...congratulations."

"Not for getting together..."

"...of course not."

"Finally seeing..."

"...what everyone else..."

"...in Gryffindor..."

"...and Ravenclaw..."

"...the whole school, in fact..."

"...you're right brother of mine..."

"...even the staff saw..."

"...how these two were dating already..."

"...but just had not realized."

Suddenly their expressions fell.

"Except ickle Ronniekins."

The other twin – George? – nodded sadly. "Yes. Even Ginny saw it..."

"...she just refused to believe it."

"So when did the happy day occur?" Alicia asked, prompting a blush from Hermione.

"Last Monday." Hermione answered softly.

Fred shook his head slowly. "Ronnie's not going to like that."

George picked up from his twin. "He's been going on how..."

"...this summer be when..."

"...Hermione becomes his..."

"Well he's been told again and again that I'm NOT interested!" Hermione snapped, her anger at Ron flaring up. She looked sadly at Harry. "I'm sorry Harry, but I will not tolerate his behaviour or attitude any more. I know he was your first friend, and I've tried to be reasonable, but he crossed the line when he groped me."

Harry let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her, drawing her into a reassuring hug. "He may have been my first friend Hermione, but you have been the only true one. And my best friend."

The twins however were looking grim. It was clear that their little brother was in for a world of trouble once they got hold of him. Pushing that topic to one side for now, they faced Harry once more. "We hear..."

"...that you two..."

"...plus our younger siblings..."

"...and Neville..."

"...don't forget charming Luna..."

"...had an interesting time..."

"...at the Ministry."

The cheer drained from the room as harry seemed to sink inwards. "Yeah." He answered quietly. "I fell for Voldemort's trick, and Sirius..." He had to pause for a moment before he could continue. "We need to attend Gringotts this morning."

The twins nervously looked towards the windows overlooking the Alley. "Dumbledore outside?"

Harry's face twisted into a scowl. "Dumbledore knows nothing about us being here. Not a word." He looked at the two of them intently. "If it was up to him, we would not know about having to attend."

Both twins nodded slowly. "Sounds like him."

"Ever since we left Hogwarts..."

"...and the Burrow..."

"...things have not been what they seemed."

"We think Dumbledore's trying to control, or even mould, Harry." Daphne spoke up. "For what purpose, though..." She shrugged.

"But with everything else going on in his life, it can't be good." Susan contributed. A round of nods followed her words.

Fred visibly took a deep breath before speaking. "Harry, Hermione... you should know that despite what our siblings..."

"...or our mother..." George added.

"...or her, says or does..."

"...we're with you, all the way." George finished solemnly. That, more than anything they said, reassured Harry.

"Thanks guys." He replied, unable to get anything else out. After a moment he looked back at them. "So, how's business going?"

Both of them looked crest fallen. "Not good." Fred started. "What with Voldieshorts now officially back..."

"...most people are scared to leave home..."

"...several shopkeepers have closed up and fled..."

"...including most of those we need..."

"...and with the lack of shoppers..."

"...we just can't get the income."

"Course, we might get some better trade late August..."

"...Hogwarts supply run..."

"...But we fear the parents will make the kids..."

"...our targets..."

"...stay home, to keep safe."

Harry nodded slowly, not surprised, but disgruntled. "What you making right now? That eye was brilliant!"

The twins grinned. "That's our new companion to the Extendable Ear..."

"...The Extruded Eye. Put the user end over your eye..."

"...and you see whatever the eye end sees!"

"Have to close your other eye though."

"Really confuses you if you don't."

"Takes some time to master..."

"...but you can twist round anything..."

"...or over anything..."

"...like shower stalls or rails when..." The twins froze, expressions paling, before slowly turning to look at the two former chasers who had their arms crossed and stern expressions.

"Been testing them on us, George?" Angelina asked softly, but menacingly.

Harry, with a smile, cut in. "When you punish them girls, don't do too much harm. I need them to make at least a half-dozen." He faced the twins again. "Could you focus on things that we could use in fights and the like?"

"Of course, oh noble benefactor..."

"...our only one, actually..."

"What's this Harry?" Susan looked at him closely. "You're funding them?"

Harry sighed. "I gave them the Tri-Wizard winnings. I didn't earn them, Cedric did, and we're going to need all the laughter we can get."

Hermione rubbed his back, pleased at his reasoning, before glancing at her watch. "Sorry, but we have to go."

Harry sighed once more before standing up. "Later guys. If we can arrange it, you're invited to train with us. I know this shop is your dream..."

The twins waved him off. "Won't be worth anything if Mouldie wins now, would it?"

"You're been a far better brother than Ronald."

"Say the word, and we're there."

Their reassurance buoyed Harry all the way to the doors of Gringotts. Standing before those two great sheets of metal however, reinforced what was about to happen. This was it. He had to face it now: Sirius was gone. He just hoped he could carry out his legacy. Besides him, Hermione stood silently, understanding how difficult this must be for him. Gently touching his arm, the two looked at each other, a whole conversation said without a word spoken. With a short nod he faced the doors once more. Steeling himself, Harry pushed the door open.

A/N: There we go, that's a good point to stop for now. Expect a slightly different take on the Goblins next time, along with some of the manipulations coming to light...