Chapter 28: The Surprise

Dumbledore stood up and stared down at Barty in disgust. He raised his wand and ropes twisted themselves around Barty, binding him tightly.

"Minerva, could I ask you to stand guard here while me, Richard, and Cassie take Harry, Peri, and Eva upstairs?"

"Of course," she said. She appeared slightly nauseous, as though she had watched someone being sick. She withdrew her wand and pointed it at Barty with her hand quite steady.

"Severus, please tell Madam Pomfrey to come down here; we need to get Alastor into the hospital wing. Then go down into the grounds, find Fudge, and bring him up to this office. He will undoubtedly want to question Crouch himself. Tell him I will be in the hospital wing in half an hour if he needs me."

Snape nodded and swept out of the room.

"Harry. Eva," Dumbledore spoke gently, offering Eva his hand. She looked at her father on the ground bound in ropes before taking his hand.

"What will happen to my father?"

Dumbledore pressed his lips together and was quiet for a moment, before looking at her with sparkling blue eyes, "He will receive the dementor's kiss."

She gave a small nod as the group walked out of the office and down the corridor. Richard was helping escort Harry out by gripping his arm to help him.

"We are going to go to my office first. Someone special is waiting for us there. Eva, you will wait in my chamber. You will be safe there until we come for you."

She nodded listening to him, "Yes, sir."

They dropped her off at Dumbledore's chambers, which was just outside his office, "I will be back, Eva. Enjoy some tea. There should be a kettle already prepared for you on the stove."

"Thank you," she let go of his hand before disappearing into the room.

Peri started to think of Cedric, "What about Mr. and Mrs. Diggory?"

"They are with Professor Sprout. She was the Head of his house, and knew him best."

They reached the stone gargoyle. Dumbledore gave the password and it sprang aside, and they went up the moving spiral staircase to the oak door. Dumbledore pushed it open. Sirius was standing there. His face was white and gaunt, "Sirius!" Cassie gasped, nearly bursting into tears seeing her long-time friend.

Sirius' eyes moved from Harry to her, "Cass," he walked over to her shaking embracing her in a hug. "It has been far too long."

"It has. And you are free…sort of, but free. You never deserved that life."

Sirius gave her a weak smile and then looked at Harry, "Harry, are you all right? I knew it — I knew something like this — what happened? Ida? Remy? Are they ok?"

"Sirius, you just left their sides. They are still with their mother. I am sure by now they have returned to their mother's suite in the castle."

He nodded, "Right…right…my children are safe…they have their mother."

Sirius' hands shook as he guided Harry to a chair in front of the desk.

"What happened?" he asked more urgently once Harry was settled in a chair. He began to get a chair for Cassie and Peri as well, completely ignoring Richard. Cassie patted Richard's hand who seemed confused as to why this Sirius was doting on his wife and daughter.

Dumbledore began to tell them everything Barty had done to Peri and Harry. With Peri only half listening, she was exhausted but was becoming concerned over her mother who was beginning to appear unwell. She did not say anything though, keeping it to herself.

A soft rush of wings. Fawkes the phoenix was now landed on Harry's knee, " 'Lo, Fawkes," Harry spoke quietly next to her. He stroked the bird's beautiful feathers. A tear then dropped to his knee healing it.

Dumbledore's voice stopped talking as he cross to sit opposite them behind the desk. He was avoiding their eyes staring at him. He was going to question them. Make them relive it all.

"I need to know what happened to both of you after you touched the Portkey in the maze."

"This can wait till morning," Sirius spoke up, "They need rest. Let them sleep."

Dumbledore took no notice of these words as he leaned closer to them. Peri looked into those blue eyes, unwillingly.

"If I thought I could help either one of you, by putting you into an enchanted sleep and allowing you to postpone the moment when you would have to think about what has happened tonight, I would do it. But I know better. Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it. You have both shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of two young students. I ask you to demonstrate your courage one more time. I ask you both to tell us what happened."

Harry and Peri looked at one another as Fawkes let out one soft, quavering note. It lingered in the air. She took a deep breath and began to tell her side.

"When me, Harry, and Cedric were released into the maze. I followed Harry and stayed with him. I was told to stay with him and work together to win as we did in the lake. We made it through till we stopped to save Cedric from being attacked by Viktor. We reached for the Cup and agreed to all grab it together. But once we did…we were transported to a graveyard. I knew something bad was going to happen this entire time, my mind was being attacked with legilimency by Voldemort. Barty and Peter…Wormtail… approached me on New Year's Eve saying that I was wanted for the greater good. I never knew what that meant. I told my father about it when I had dinner with him one evening and he began to teach me but lied about my grades slipping to not raise any suspicions from my parents. Once in the graveyard, Cedric was killed…"

She stopped to hold back tears.

"Almost immediately. Harry was pushed against a tombstone and I was tied by roots beneath the ground. I discovered Karkaroff's nephew had joined them and was helping Wormtail to bring Him back. They took blood from Harry while leaving me intact."

At the mention of taking blood from Harry, Sirius let out a vehement exclamation and Dumbledore stood so quickly it startled her and Harry. Dumbledore walked around the desk grasping Harry's arm where it had been torn and examined the cut.

"He said my blood would make him stronger than if he's using someone else's," Harry said speaking up. "He said the protection my — my mother left in me — he'd have it too. And he was right — he could touch me without hurting himself, he touched my face."

Dumbledore returned to sit behind his desk, he looked as old and weary as she had ever seen him. Although that was not often.

"Very well. Is that all?"

Peri shook her head, "I learned that He wanted me for breeding. That I would be assigned to a Death Eater He found loyal enough and I was to…" she swallowed, closing her eyes. "I was supposed to bare His heirs simply for the world respecting me because of Richard's fame around the world."

Harry continued this time; explaining the cauldron and the speech. Then how he was untied and they were to duel, but how Peri managed to free herself and come to his aide. Together they dueled Voldemort.

But a golden spark erupted from their wands, Harry stopped talking at that moment. That Peri continued.

"Cedric emerged, an old man, Bertha Jorkins…Ann…Patrick…James…Lily…"

"Ann? Patrick?" Cassie questioned.

"Lily? James?" Sirius asked in disbelief. "The wants connected? Why?"

Dumbledore answered, "Priori Incantatem."

"The Reverse Spell effect?" Peri asked.

"Exactly, Peri. Very good." Dumbledore said. "What is your wand's core, Peri?"

"Phoenix tail feather?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Each of your wands contains a feather from the same phoenix. Phoenix core wands are rare in America, yet at eleven you received one of the rarest cores in America."

She nodded, "Yes…I remember them mentioning that."

"The phoenix used is this phoenix," he looked at Fawkes who was still perched on Harry's knee.

"What?" she said amazed.

"Our wands are the same?" Harry asked in amazement, "They come from Fawkes?"

"Yes," said Dumbledore. "Mr. Ollivander wrote to tell me you had bought the final of the three wands, the moment you left his shop. I questioned what happened to the second, he said he had sold it years prior. Before Voldemort, himself ever bought the wand and gave it to a wandmaker friend of his in America. Once Peri returned to England and had her wand processed to permit it to be in the country. Mr. Ollivander receives a list of every wand that is documented in the country. He sent me a letter notifying me that you, Peri, had the second wand. A wand he nearly forgot about the wand as it had been centuries since he sold it to America."

"So…" Cassie started. "What happened when wands meet that are siblings?"

"They will not work properly against each other. If, however, the owners of the wands force the wands to battle…"

Peri cut Dumbledore off, "A very rare effect will take place. One of the wands will be forced the other or others to regurgitate spells it has performed in reverse."

"Very good, Peri." Dumbledore congratulated her. "You and Harry were working together, that the wands read that and worked together to fight Voldemort's wand. The most recent spell is released first and then the others proceed with it. This means that some form of Cedric must have reappeared."

They both nodded.

"Diggory came back to life?" Sirius asked sharply.

"No," Richard told him. "No spell can reawake the dead. All that they witnessed was a type of echo. Right?" he asked Peri and Harry.

Again they both nodded.

"He spoke to us," Harry said suddenly as he began to shake. "The ghost…or whatever, spoke."

"An echo," Dumbledore corrected. "The last murders performed by the wand appeared to you both in reverse."

Cassie shook her head, "But Ann and Patrick were tortured resulting in their deaths. They also weren't killed by…by Him."

"Do we know for sure?" Dumbledore asked her.

"Um…I don't know. I wasn't there."

She looked to Sirius, "They were captured during the fight and when we found them, they were dead. We only know what the autopsy showed. He could have, we don't know for certain. None of us saw Him."

"What did they do next…the shadows?" Cassie asked them.

They took turns describing the figures and how they guarded the golden web, that Voldemort seemed to fear them, how Cedric requested they take his body back, how Ann asked her to tell Hallie and Holly that their parents were proud of them and loved them, and how Harry's father told them what to do.

Harry was unable to continue at that point, Sirius had his head in his hands.

"I will say it again," said Dumbledore as Fawkes returned to his perch. "Both of you have shown bravery anything beyond I could have expected of either of you tonight. Harry, you have shown bravery equal to those who died fighting Voldemort at the height of his powers. Peri, you as well showed this bravery but you also protected your family from danger this year by pushing them away. You both have shouldered a grown witch and wizard's burden and found yourselves equal to it — and you have now given us all that we have a right to expect. Harry, you will come with me to the hospital wing, I don't want you returning to your dormitory tonight. Peri, you will remain with your parents. Sirius, would you like to stay with him."

Sirius stood up but shook his head. "I would, but I had two children of my own who are terrified and I need to be there for them."

Dumbledore nodded, "Of course."

Sirius turned into the great black dog and walked out.

"Cassie. Richard. Take Peri back to your suite, your other daughters will be there waiting for all of you. I think now would be a good time to bring the girls some good news."

Her parents nodded, "News?" Peri asked.

They said nothing but left with her.

They ran into Severus in the corridor on the way to their suite, "Peri…" Severus started as he approached them.

"Severus, not now please," Cassie said as they stepped around him.

"I want to know her. Cassie this ends now," he spoke in a cold, harsh tone.

"Severus, you can't have custody of her. You lost your chance."

Peri looked between her parents, "I nearly lost her tonight. I already lost her once, I will never lose her again."

Cassie shook her head, "You lost your rights to her when you didn't answer my many letters."

"I will fight this, Cassandra. I will get Peri."

She stepped forward blocking Peri, "You never have her. No court will agree to give you custody when you ignored her for seventeen years. You never acknowledged my pregnancy despite the letters. You never answered my letters regarding her birth or anything regarding her. You do not get to swoop in and be her father. She is choosing to call you dad, but she is also calling Richard papa now. Move on and know her at school."

Richard took his wife's hand and turned them down the corridor. Peri hesitated to watch the expression on Snape's face turn from desire to determination. His dark eyes drifted to her, "I will get custody of you Peri."

She was going to say something, but Richard called for her, "Peri."

"Coming!" she then ran off down the corridor to catch up with them.

They returned to their suite where her sisters were. Hallie was pacing the room, "Oh, where are they? Do you think something happened to her? What if she died like Cedric?"

"She didn't die. Professor Moody took her, Harry, and Eva off. I am sure they are safe with him," Mallory said sitting on the couch with a copy of Asiatic Anti-Venom.

Holly shook her head, "No. Dumbledore was way too concerned with their disappearance. Plus, Professor Moody knows not to take Harry or Peri out of his sight, especially after what happened to Cedric."

"It's just so sad," cried Hallie into a handkerchief that Winky handed to her.

"It is alright, Ms. Hallie. Look."

The four sisters turned to the attention of Peri entering the suite. They all rushed to her side, wrapping Peri in hugs.

"Oh, Peri!" Alicia said. "I cannot believe you are here! We thought we lost you! What would we do without you?"

Hallie examined Peri's tore tracksuit, "I promise I am not mad about my design…my beautiful tracksuit," she sighed, sounding disappointed regardless, "You had to mess it up?"

The sisters gave Hallie a look, "Really?" Holly said, "she nearly died and you are worried about your clothes. Peri, I know we have not been speaking this year. I am sorry…I hate that we didn't speak. If we lost you I don't know if I could forgive myself."

Peri hugged them close, "I love you all. Even you, Hal."

The girls laughed and sighed softly.

Peri looked at their parents, "You had something to tell us?"

Cassie looked at Richard, "Should we?"

"We've known since April."

"Known what?" Alicia asked as they all had looks of confusion.

Cassie went to the bedroom and returned with a small fold of black and white pictures, "We learned some news in April which caused me to be at St. Mungos for a little bit." She handed Peri the stack. Peri looked down at them.

There in the picture was a black background with a white small baby inside it. Peri gasped looking up at them, "Wait…wait…are you? Mom, are you?"

The girls looked up from the pictures in anticipation.

"I am."

The girls squealed, "When is it due?" Holly asked.

"Christmas."

"Oh, my gosh! The clothes!" Hallie squealed.

They ran up and hugged them. Cassie and Richard hugged their daughters close, "We went to see a muggle doctor for the pictures, but we used a potion to learn the sex of the baby."

"You know?" they all asked at once.

"Richard, want to tell them."

He looked at his daughters, "You have a brother."

"A brother!"

Everyone was over the moon with the announcement, it was exactly what their family needed at a time like this. With the death of Cedric, they needed something joyful to make the moment feel better. They had to lose one life to gain another though.

Richard took Peri's hand, "This doesn't change your status in my heart. You are still my heir," he looked at all of the girls," you are all my heirs. You are all equal to my fortune, if something were to happen to me and your mother Peri would be in control of our estate... Just because I have a son does not mean he takes place above any of you. He is equal to you."

"What about your father? He wished Mallory and Alicia were boys," Peri asked.

"My heirs are not up to him. I have six perfect children, all equal in my eyes."

Peri hugged him, "I love you, papa."

He sucked in a breath, "I love you, too, Peri."

She released the hug to look at him. He was her father just as much as Snape. She had two dads and cared for both of them.

Once everyone had gone Peri sat on the window seat in the living room of her parents' suite looking out the window at the clear night sky.

"Peri?" Richard asked, coming out into the room.

She looked up at him, he had a wool robe on as he crossed to her. "What are you doing? I figured you would have gone to sleep."

She returned her attention out the window, "Too many thoughts."

"My refusal to join Voldemort didn't cost me my life. It is going to give me a consequence," she turned to him with teary eyes. "I don't want to lose you, papa."

He sat on the edge next to her pulling her close to him. She could feel his heart, "Peri, you will not lose me for a long time. Then you will be begging for me to go."

She gave a light chuckle, "I've won…but why does it feel like I lost. Harry and I tied. My prize money, whatever it may be since Harry and I tied, I plan to donate mine to Cedric's family. I don't need it and not that money will bring back their child but it's something Cedric should have earned and would have. He was ahead of us but stopped and let the three of us win together. He died for nothing. He should have won but instead, we won."

Richard held her close to him, "It is a tragedy we lost Cedric and that is a beautiful thing you are doing. I don't know how we would have coped with losing you. But we are thankful to have you alive, you will get to know your brother."

She smiled slightly at that, "RJ."

Richard smiled at the thought, "A surprise, but I am thankful for all of you."

Peri sighed softly, placing a hand on her necklace, it was flipped upwards to create a W. "I made a promise to myself. If I survived I would choose George, but Draco had been kind to me. He's been by my side. I feel like I'm disappointing him."

The two were silent for a moment before Richard spoke, "Answer this. Don't think just answer. Do you love Draco?"

"I do, but not as a lover. As a friend…as I told Harry he's my platonic soulmate. I would do anything for him but I don't want to be in a romantic relationship. He's my best friend. I love George though…I love him as a lover…as a partner."

Richard touched the hand on the M/W necklace, "You have your answer. I proposed to your mom a few short months after meeting her and married her within the year. We've been married thirteen years since last month. I would do anything for her. I knew when I saw her with you, Hallie, and Holly on the street of New York City that she was it. I wanted no one else but her. Your mom was perfect even in her distressed, scramble with three small children and just moving to a foreign country. I didn't know if she was a witch or nomaj or anything about her, but it was love at first sight."

"That's George for me."

"Then go find your happily ever after. Life is too short to wait."

Her eyes looked up at his kind, blue ones before hugging him.

She rushed to leave and ran down the marble stairs to find Draco in the courtyard alone. He was staring up at the clear night sky.

He heard the sound of running footsteps that slowed down the closer they got to him. He glanced over his shoulder to see Peri approaching. He said nothing to her and simply continued to stare up at the sky.

"Draco?" She spoke softly, placing a hand on his arm.

He sniffed, "It happened…He's back…my father sent word with a coded message. Peri, we have to stick together even more now. With the Dark Lord back he will come for those close to Potter. That includes Holly…" he turned to look at her with bloodshot eyes from crying. "I can't lose her. We have to protect her."

She took his hands in hers, "Draco…I nearly died tonight because of him…or I could have. If he's going to fight us I want to be with the one I love. I love you. I do, but not the kind of love I want if my life is on the line. If I'm going to die, I want to be with the person I love most."

The color faded more from Draco's skin if that was even possible. "What about protecting, Holly?"

"I can protect her but —" she took off her necklace, placing it into his hands. " — I'll protect her differently."

Draco stared at the silver necklace in his hands, "The M can be changed to be a W for Weasley."

"True, but it's better suited for a Malfoy instead of a Weasley."

The two were silent except for the evening wind. "Weasley is in the Astronomy Tower. He spends a lot of time there as do I...we typically cross paths up there."

She kissed his cheek, "If you choose life you can have Holly."

"I'm not as brave as you, Peri."

She shook her head in disagreement, "I don't believe that. You just need more courage."

Peri then took off running again leaving Draco once again standing alone in the courtyard under the summer evening sky. He looked at the necklace, then looked up at the Gryffindor Tower with tears filling his eyes again.

She ran up the marble steps once more up to the astronomy tower. She pushed open the door and went up the metal steps, she hadn't changed out of her tracksuit yet.

There leaning against the railing of the balcony was George. The moon reflected off of his ginger hair. He didn't turn to face her, "Go away Freddie. Go be with Hallie, I'll be fine. Just thankful Peri is…" he turned around to see her. "Peri…" his voice was full of shock and surprise.

George looked around them, "Peri…I thought…when you returned with Cedric. You were on his body, I couldn't see your face or tell if you were breathing. You lived. You are alive."

She nodded, stepping towards him more, "I am. I am very much alive and thankful to be. I chose my own life, and this past year I pushed everyone away. I don't want to do that anymore. I want you. I want to be with you completely and freely."

This took George back slightly in surprise, "What about Malfoy?"

"Done. No more. I choose you."

With those words, George rushed to her pausing in his steps before her. "I chose you. Now and forever. I love you, George Weasley."

He lifted her and spun her. She laughed as she settled back on the ground, "I love you, Peri King."

She raised herself on her toes slightly to kiss him.