AN: I wasn't originally going to update today but I'm in a very good mood so I decided to give my loyal fans a little treat.

AN: I've also decided on Anastasia's pairing along with a few other characters but that will be saved for a surprise.

Harry Potter and the Heart of Power

Chapter 18

-Susan-

Sighing she glumly pushed her food around on her plate, not feeling hungry. All day she had been forced to stare at Harry's empty seat in her classes, the school feeling hollow without her closest friend. In her lap Canus sat forlornly, her little kitten missing Harry as well, much like Hedwig who sat perched on her shoulder, the beautiful snowy owl having refused to let anyone else but Susan interact with her ever since Harry was hurt. She hadn't wanted to come down to dinner but Cedric had forced her to, dragging her down and saying that Harry wouldn't want her to let herself go…but she couldn't bring herself to do much. The thought of food made her stomach churn with the knowledge that Harry still lay in a coma…and that she had never told him that he still meant everything to her.

Hearing the doors to the courtyard open she simply ignored it, not truly caring all that much…until Hedwig snapped up and flew over to the doors of the Great Hall, the owl pecking at them, screeching for them to be opened. "What the…" she muttered in confusion "the only other person she would get that excited about is…HARRY!" she yelled as she ran towards the doors just as they began to open, each wooden barrier being pushed by one of Harry's guards, as she saw a bandaged and tired looking Harry stranding in the entryway.

All was silent for a moment in the hall, the only noise being the sounds of her feet hitting the stone as she ran towards her friend, before she reached him and threw her arms around him, an act he returned without hesitation as the Hufflepuff table burst into cheers. "Three cheers for Hadrian the Reaper!" Cedric called out, the fourth year student raising a mug into the air "Slayer of Shinigami, Hero of Hufflepuff, and the man who defies death!". That proclamation caused every member of the House of the Badgers, as well as their Head of House, Neville, and her new friend Lilith took their cups and lifted them skyward with a mighty roar.

But she didn't care about all that…she didn't care about titles, or glory, or fame…she just cared that Harry, her Harry, was back in her arms, staring down at her with the affection they reserved for each other. Giving into what her heart was screaming for her to do she stood up on her toes and pressed her lips against Harry's, feeling him stiffen from the contact as the Hall fell silent. She was just about to think she had made a mistake and pull back when he wrapped one arm around her waist and buried the other in her hair, returning and even deepening the kiss as her heart beat faster and her magic began to sing around her.

-Harry-

When he had felt Susan begin to kiss him he had frozen in pure shock, not having expected for it to happen but, after his shock wore off, he wasn't going to complain and quickly began to return the gesture, wrapping his arms around her to keep her close. With his arms around her, his lips pressed against hers, her scent filling his nostrils…his magic sung louder and more joyously than it ever had before.

What he didn't realize though was that it wasn't just their magic singing but taking shape around them as tendrils of brilliant silver fire began to pour off of them, swirling around them protectively, swooping in diving in tune with the song their magic roared to the heavens, not realizing that even the song was taking form in the physical world for all to hear.

The wide eyed hall around them saw the silver fire circle around him and Susan faster and faster, phoenixes shaped out of their flames of their magic swooping and diving joyfully within the merry blaze, going faster and faster as his kiss with Susan grew more and more passionate. Finally, with a powerfully phoenix like cry, the song ended as the flames faded away and he and Susan pulled back for air, each of them staring wide eyed at the other, panting from what had just happened before his beloved Susan summed it up with one word "Wow.".

At that one the all-encompassing silence within the great hall was shattered as the entirety of the Hufflepuff house, as well as several members of other houses that he and Susan were friendly with, burst into cheers and swarmed towards him and Susan, Cedric reaching them first as the fourth year threw them into the air before they landed on the shoulders of the happy mob. Throughout it all though he never once let go of Susan's hand and by the look in her eyes he could tell she planned to never let him go again.

-Lucius Malfoy-

It took every ounce of his self-control to keep from smirking victoriously as he strode down the halls of the ministry, his cane tapping a steady rhythm against the marble floor as he made his way towards the office of that bumbling oaf Cornelius Fudge. While he could easily recognize that any direct attack against Harry Potter would fail due to the boy's resources and allies indirect attacks could very well be the key to destroying the bastard son of a mudblood.

Thanks to his son Draco making himself useful for once he had found out about Harry Potter's infatuation with the young Bones girl and how the brat was in a coma now after saving her. He intended to find a way to force Amelia Bones into signing her niece over in a marriage contract to Draco, that way when the brat woke up from his coma, should it ever happen, Susan would be nothing more than a slave to his house, breeding pureblood heirs for his son.

Reaching the Minister's office he walked calmly past that disgusting woman, Dolores Umbridge, without sparing her a glance as he walked into Fudge's office, the Minister having told him to come in at any time he wished. "Ah Lucius," Fudge said happily upon his entry "what can I do for you today?".

"I wish for your help in convincing Amelia Bones to place her niece into a marriage contract with my Son Draco." He stated, making sure to move in a way that made the pouch full of gold at his hip jingle happily.

"The girl that's infatuated with that Potter brat?" Fudge asked, the bumbling oaf rubbing his chin in confusion "I suppose she's an attractive girl from a good family but wouldn't this cause a problem between you and the families of Potter and Peverell?".

"Those fools need to have their ego taken down several notches," he said with a condescending snort "this will be a good method to teach those two curs their place. Potter is clearly against myself as well as your administration so what better way to crush his spirit than for him to wake from his coma, should he ever do so, only to find out that his 'love' is married off to my son.".

At that notion Fudge grinned widely before pulling out a purple piece of parchment and writing out a notice, turning it into a paper airplane with a flick of the minister's rather small wand as it flew down towards the direction he knew the DMLE offices to be. "I just sent her a notice to come her immediately so that we can…convince her." Fudge said with a smile as he mentally grinned. As useless as Fudge might be on his own the man had no problem using the power of the office of Minister to get his own way.

"Then I'll leave it to you Minister," he said calmly "as you know Madam Bones is…less than fond of me so having my presence here may hinder you. I shall see you tomorrow to make sure everything is finalized.". Getting a nod from the Minister he walked out, passing a scowling Amelia Bones as he made his way down the hall as he mentally began planning out what all to do with the Bones girl once she belonged to his family. He was positive that this was a situation that Fudge couldn't mess up as while the buffoon couldn't come up with any original ideas the man was admittedly effective at carrying out a plan given to him.

The next day he sat calmly at the large table in his manor's dining hall, his wife sitting a few places down from him as his elves began bringing in both his breakfast and the day's papers, both the Daily Prophet as well as the Daily Storm which he had a subscription to so that he could keep up with what the Potter brat's allies were saying.

The prophet contained the usual stories written by Rita Skeeter, vilifying Potter and the half-blood's Ilk but when he got to the Daily Storm a single glance at the cover caused him to nearly choke on his coffee as the hot drink was sprayed against the wall, his elves immediately beginning to clean the mess. Straightening out the paper he read:

Amelia Bones Quits Ministry after Fudge attempt blackmail and possible Line Theft

By: Natalie Blackpool

Now, most if not all of our readers know of Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement (DMLE), current Regent of the House of Bones, and decorated War Hero from the War against Voldemort. But now she has left her job at the Ministry and has given an exclusive interview under veritaserum to prove the validity of what she told us. The interview went as follows:

Natalie: So Madam Bones, you left your Job at the Ministry due to actions of Minister Fudge correct?

Amelia: That is correct Natalie. I was in my office going over some papers when I received an Interdepartmental Memo from the Minster ordering me to his office to discuss an important matter. After putting my papers to the side I walked down to the Minister's office, passing one Lord Malfoy on the way, and got to the man's office.

Natalie: I'm guessing that the 'important matter' was what caused you to quit?

Amelia: Yes, it was.

Natalie: Would you care to tell us what the matter was?

Amelia: Not at all. After getting in the Minister told me to sit before explaining that a private citizen had brought forth a 'gracious' offer and request to have my Niece, Amelia Bones, married off to said Citizen's son. Without hesitating I told him no as my Niece's heart belongs to another and even if it wasn't a fan of marriage contracts.

Natalie: How did the Minister respond to that?

Amelia: Well at first he tried insisting, stating that the Malfoy's were a fine family to marry into and that he was sure that Draco Malfoy would make a fine husband for Susan. When I refused again he told me that should I not agree he would terminate my position at the Ministry.

Natalie: So to be clear he openly tried to Blackmail you?

Amelia: His exact words were "If you refuse to marry off your Niece to Draco Malfoy then I will remove you from your position at this Ministry and do everything in my power to ensure that your name is never respected again.".

Natalie: Well I would assume by you being here for this interview you still said no?

Amelia: Actually I told him I'd give him my answer in the morning, went back to my office where I packed everything up, and then sent a letter via House Elf to Lord Potter as well as my Niece to explain the situation to them. Lord Potter was less than pleased at having heard such news mere hours after waking from his Coma and set up this interview.

Natalie: I doubt the Minster is very happy, but how do you plan to give him your answer or is this interview the answer?

Amelia: This interview along with my letter of resignation.

Natalie: Well I'm glad you're away from such a corrupt man but what are you going to do now for work to support yourself and your Niece?

Amelia: Lord Potter has offered me a position actually. His private security forces, which also accept contracts to act as bodyguards and security details for private customers, are currently being led by his top two agents but they prefer to work rather than manage. I was offered to become the head of his Security forces as well as the private security contractors.

Natalie: I honestly feel safer already at any business Lord Potter owns if someone as experienced as you is running security.

Amelia: Thank you, and to fill up the empty positions we have due to our security force still being a young organization I am putting out this offer. After the war with Voldemort Minister Bagnold, as well as her successor Minster Fudge, put forth heavy budget cuts on all branches of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, firing many aurors and DMLE employees, coincidentally all of the muggleborn and most of the half-blood ones. So to any of them that are in need of employment simply need come to any business owned by Lightning Strike Enterprises to request an application to our security forces and then pass the tests therein.

Natalie: Thank you for your time Madam Bones, it's been a pleasure.

Amelia: The pleasure's been all mine Natalie.

And there you have it folks, Minister Fudge attempting to Blackmail an upstanding member of our community and now she's going to continue to help people in her own way. And I personally wish her luck in her endeavors.

Yelling in rage he threw his mug of coffee at the wall, smashing the ceramic cup as he stormed over to the floo to go chew out the Minister for this screw up. As he vanished in a blaze of emerald flames he never noticed his wife smiling in pleased amusement at the article.