On their very first day of school, the newest students were treated to a never-before-seen spectacle, the aftermath of which left confetti on the floor, afterimages of fireworks in the air, and a merrily burning bagpipe gracing an empty platter as it wailed its death throes to a staccato beat. It may not have been what they were expecting from a school of magic, but it definitely was magical.

The spirited sendoff for their former Potions professor was dying down when Dora came over to the Gryffindor table. She couldn't sit next to Harry but claimed a seat as close as possible. Meanwhile, Professor Flitwick had somehow produced a gavel from what was supposed to have been a shrubbery and was banging it on the podium. "Students!" he called out, concealing his laughter. "Students, settle down!"

As they were doing so, Professor Sprout leaned over and whispered to Professor Slughorn. "We may have underestimated the impact Professor Snape was having on the students," she admitted.

"Students! Your attention!" said the frustrated half-goblin at the podium. "I have one more introduction before we may commence with the sorting. It is with great sorrow that I announce that Professor Kettleburn has opted to go into retirement. However, his replacement as professor for Care of Magical Creatures shall be none other than our very own Rubeus Hagrid."

The students, still high on having a new potions instructor, clapped enthusiastically.

Flitwick paused for a second as a thought struck him. "And since I was interrupted before his introduction, Professor Slughorn shall be taking over as the professor for Potions."

Once again, applause broke out, allowing the new professor to smile broadly and wave.

"Finally, it should be noted," Flitwick announced, "Professor Sinistra shall be taking over as the head of Slytherin house."

The house in green subsequently joined in the clapping this time. It was apparent that they weren't opposed to the change, though many realized that their days of little or no punishment were at an end.

"On that note," Flitwick said, "Professor Edmund, if you wouldn't mind commencing with the sorting?"

The pudgy man smiled as he nodded and unrolled a scroll he had been carrying. He called a name, and the victim was soon headed towards Flitwick, who was standing next to a stool with a hat in his hand.

"Wait!" complained the hat. "I didn't get to sing my song!"

The door to the small house opened. With mixed emotions visibly coursing across her face, the woman answering beheld her visitor. "You came," she stated with surprise in her voice. "I wasn't sure that you'd have bothered."

"Of course, I came," Andi said. "You are my sister. I would never abandon you."

"Like I abandoned you?" Narcisa asked, her guilt evident.

"Would you rather I repeated your mistakes?" Andi countered.

"No." Narcissa wilted while taking a step backwards to make room for her sister. "Come in. Please come in."

"Thank you," Andi said, stepping forward.

There was little fanfare as Narcissa led Andi into a well-appointed sitting room. The décor couldn't be called quaint but it also wasn't as lavish as the home that had recently been abandoned.

"This is nice," Andi commented.

"It is a Malfoy property," Narcissa said offhandedly, gesturing to a pair of comfortable chairs. "One that does not fall under the purview of the Ministry."

"The main reason to own foreign properties." Andi nodded as she sat, crossing her legs. "Plan for the worse and all."

As the women took each other's measure, silence dominated the room. "How was the trip?" Narcissa tried to break the lull.

"It was a portkey." Andi shrugged. "What can I say about it?"

More silence followed until one of them broke. "I can make tea," Narcissa finally stated. "I don't have an elf, but I can still make some tea."

"I'm good," Andi said. She paused with a pained look before adding, "Bella's dead."

"Oh." Narcissa gasped, her hand going to cover her mouth.

"It's just us now," Andi continued. "It is time we made amends."

"Bella's dead." Tears leaked from Narcissa's eyes as she acknowledged the end of her sister. "I suppose it is better than being in that place, but…"

"But she is gone," Andi said softly. "I don't want to lose you as well."

"I am already lost," Narcissa said, picking a linen napkin off a nearby tray and dabbing her eyes. "It is only a matter of time."

Andi gave her sister an almost pitiful look. "I do not think the Weasleys will treat you poorly. You shall merely be diminished in your capacities."

"Words only utterable by someone not in my position," Narcissa said bitterly.

"Were you aware of Lucious' plans for Sirius?" Andi asked, searching Narcissa's face for the truth.

"I may have had an inkling," Narcissa admitted, placing her hands in her lap, making an attempt to look innocent.

"Then you brought this on yourself," Andi said with a sigh.

Narcissa fidgeted where she sat, wringing her skirt between her fingers. "Do you think you could convince Sirius to pay the ransom?"

"You had better hope that he doesn't," Andi said. "Otherwise, you would be open to the traditional punishments imposed on those who have betrayed the family."

"Sirius would not be so cruel," Narcissa insisted.

Andi managed an unladylike snort. "Azkaban has a way of removing the compassion from its residents. Your husband conspired to keep him there; I doubt Sirius shall be overly forgiving."

"There is that." Narcissa winced, looking down at her hands. "What am I to do?"

"Accept your punishment as it stands," Andi said after a second. "Being a man's plaything is a far better fate than your other options."

"There have to be other ways out," Narcissa objected.

"There are," Andi said. "It is the whole frying pan versus fire scenario. Right now, you occupy the frying pan; be mindful how you leap about."

"I need to be there for Draco," Narcissa said, even as she nodded her head in acknowledgment.

Andi hummed thoughtfully. "At this time, he is innocent - regretfully raised, yet still innocent." She looked her sister in the eyes. "No matter how this ends, you will not be having a say in how he is raised from this point onwards."

Another nod met this statement though the woman making it did not look up from her lap. "Would you not petition Sirius to forgive my son?" Narcissa pleaded. "He knew not of his father's misdeeds."

Andi produced another snort. "As soon as he comes out of hiding, I'll be having several words with Sirius." Then, more kindly, she added. "Keeping your son alive will be one of the subjects I broach."

"Thank you," Narcissa said, her voice brimming with emotion. "I would give all that I have left to keep him safe."

"You have nothing left to give." Andi said, a hint of regret in her own voice. "That does not render your sentiment one I do not understand nor approve of."

Continuing to fidget, Narcissa managed to get out, "I had no choice but to send Draco to Hogwarts. It is inevitable that he will anger Heir Potter. I will need you to manage that eventuality when it happens."

"Nymphadora will handle it," Andi said. "Next time I see her I will explain the situation."

"How can she help?" Narcissa asked.

"She is married to Harry," Andi said. "She does have some influence over him. Moderating his anger shouldn't be too difficult."

"Thank Merlin for small favors," Narcissa said, relief evident.

"That's why you called for me," Andi stated, studying her sister. "Not for yourself or our relationship but for the sake of your son."

"My pride is not worth my son's life," Narcissa said, a hint of her former self bleeding through.

"Words that no mother can deny," Andi solemnly acknowledged.

The sorting of the first-years was an unenviable experience. It was the first time Harry was able to witness it from this angle, since his first and only other opportunity had been missed owing to an unfortunate encounter with a tree. He was, therefore, slightly surprised when he made it to the Great Hall prior to the event. After the fiasco on the train, he'd been positive that he'd have to give this year a miss as well. If he were being honest, it was only through the actions of his older wife that he wasn't still stuck in the Headmistress's office.

So, it was mildly remarkable when he was present to witness a new Greengrass being sorted into Slytherin. Before that, he had clapped as Colin's younger brother joined them in the house of the lions. Things were actually getting a bit boring, and the only other first year he truly noted was Dean's sister going to Hufflepuff. That had disappointed but not surprised Dean. With confidence, the boy said something about his youngest sister being bound for Gryffindor when her time came.

The sorting only regained his interest when they started introducing the nonstandard students. It had been found that the book of admittance wasn't as foolproof as once thought. As a result, candidates were tested in person. Ultimately, this netted the student body an additional forty or so new members. The problem was that they weren't all eleven years old - the standard starting age for Hogwarts. This meant that the normal class schedule would not be possible without disrupting the traditional routine. Thus, they were bringing in tutors in an effort to get the individual newbies up to speed for their age groups.

What really interested Harry was Dudley's inclusion among the nonstandard students. There was the possibility that he'd end up in Gryffindor, something to which Harry wasn't particularly looking forward. He had to face facts, though. Potion or no potion, Dudley wasn't the type to take his studies seriously. So, Ravenclaw was out. Likewise, he was as cunning an ambitious as a bull dropped in the middle of a supermarket, if not as destructive. That only left Hufflepuff and Gryffindor - a fact that made Harry acutely aware that Dudley had been brave enough to go to Diagon Alley by himself despite having previously been terrified of magic.

Harry was, therefore, relieved when his cousin followed Dean's sister into Hufflepuff. Maybe Dudley was more loyal than he suspected. Whatever the case, the Hufflepuffs would encourage him not to be a bully. That house was scary like that.

A real surprise came when a girl by the named of Bahiti was sorted into Gryffindor. Harry hadn't been expecting her to seemingly glide over to their table before asking Flora to move over so she could sit next to Ron. Her accent may have been funny but there was no mistaking the steel in her voice when she insisted Flora put some space between herself and the redhead.

While this drama was unfolding, Berenike, who was evidently Bahiti's twin sister, was sorted into Ravenclaw.

"What is it with twins being split between our house and the 'claws?" Lavender asked as Berenike shot her sister a jealous look while making her way to the table of the ravens.

"Dun know." Ron said as the new girl Bahiti shuffled a little closer to him, causing more than one look of bewilderment to be shot his way as he didn't overtly respond to the closeness. "Berenike's dead brilliant though. I'm not surprised she went to the claws."

"You know them," Parvati stated unable to take her eyes off the stranger who was unabashedly marking her territory.

"Kind of engaged to them." Ron's ears were turning red as Bahiti surveyed the people sitting in their group.

Dead silence met this revelation until the girl sitting next to Ron spoke. "Hello, I am Bahiti Sha'arawi. It is good to meet the friends of my husband to be." She shot Flora a warning look when she said this.

"Peace," Dora said. "She didn't know. Now all of you be quiet; the sorting is still going on."

"Acceptable," Bahiti said as everyone tuned back into the ceremony still underway. Despite the novelty of the children being processed, everyone kept sending Ron's fiancé wary looks.

"There are more new old students than there are first years," Seamus noted with some surprise as the last participant made her way to the Hufflepuff table.

"The war decimated birth rates," Hermione informed him. "The incoming class is a reflection of the worst of it. Next year, we'll be seeing the results of a baby boom."

"Witches and wizards did a lot of partying when He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named vanished," Dora said with a knowing smile. "Some of those festivities had consequences."

"Yeah, we know," Dean said shortly before looking at Ron. "What's this? You being engaged and all?"

Ron shrugged. "Knocked out an auror in Egypt. So, their head auror said I was marrying his daughters. Mum said no. Dad said yes. Mum yelled no. Then Dad reminded her he was head of the family. First time I've ever seen him put his foot down like that."

"I have the feeling you are leaving out the important details," Seamus said accusingly.

"Shouldn't you be quizzing Harry about being married?" Ron deflected; for some reason dodging the attention he normally craved.

"Harry showing up married to Hermione isn't as surprising as you catching the interest of a single girl," Dean said, "let alone two."

"Yeah, well, Harry has a whole bunch hanging on him," Ron said sullenly.

"Still, less of a surprise," Seamus said. "Harry just needed to decide that he liked girls before saying, 'I'll take you and you and you and maybe you. Let me see your knickers so I can make a decision'."

"Seamus," several of the aforementioned girls said menacingly.

"Why does everyone keep assuming I had any choice in the matter?" Harry asked as food appeared on the previously empty platters dotting the table.

"Strangely enough, I know exactly how you feel, mate," Ron said reaching for a platter bearing a whole roasted chicken.

"Not to be rude." Dean suddenly jumped onto another train of thought. Looking at Dora, who was starting to fill her own plate, he asked, "But why are you sitting down here with us, instead of up at the head table with the rest of the teachers?"

"I'm not on staff," Dora said. "Harry is my husband."

"Oh, for goodness' sake," Seamus said. "So what color are her knickers, Harry?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Dora asked as Parvati bounced a roll off Seamus' head.

"Black," Harry said, "and blue and red."

The group stared at Harry in surprise before Hermione said, "Harry, you'd best change the subject before you become black and blue and red. Remember what we said about not sharing what goes on in the bedroom."

"Right." Harry nodded. "Sorry, I forgot. Besides, I kind of like the red set."

"I can see we forgot to teach him discretion while breaking down his walls of insecurity," Dora said.

"Harry." A voice came from behind him before he could respond. "Is it true?" He turned to find Ron's younger sister Ginny standing in the aisle. "Did you really get married this summer?" Her face seemed to be nearing the shade of her hair, but she had a determined look in her eyes.

"Go away, Ginny," Ron said around a chicken leg. "We're trying to eat here."

"Be nice to sister," Bahiti said firmly.

"But . . ." Ron started.

"Be nice to sister," Bahiti repeated. "Your mother so commands."

"Fine," Ron said with a huff. "Yes, Gin, he married Hermione and the pink haired lady - maybe a few of the others, haven't gotten a chance to ask yet."

"I'm one of his consorts," Luna helpfully interjected.

"Consorts?" Ginny looked dejected before finding some steel for her spine. "I wasn't planning on sharing, but fine. Where do I sign up? I want in."

"Sorry, little one," Dora said hastily, "all the positions have been filled. Harry's booked up."

Seamus looked Ron dead in the eye. "See?"

"Oi!" Ron ignored his dormmate. "That's my little sister! You shouldn't be thinking of her that way!"

In turn, Ginny ignored Ron. "You have to have room for one more." She pleaded with Dora. "He… He saved my life. We were meant to be together."

"Thirteen is a magical number," Luna opined.

Dora gave the blonde a dirty look before shooting one at Hermione for good measure.

"I am not saying a word," Hermione stated firmly.

Remus Lupin was having a strange meal. Scratch that; he was having a strange day - something to be expected, it was his first day as a professor, after all. However, the revelations just would not stop pounding on the castle walls. Albus had been potioning Minerva. By itself, it was a very hard thought to swallow. It was made worse, once you considered the way she had been so insistent on Remus reviewing his own interactions with the man. The backslide could only mean that Dumbledore had found a way to reinforce his influence sometime after the conversation took place, a foreboding thought indeed.

With that in mind, he didn't bother with subtlety while checking his meal for anything suspicious, nor was he surprised when, upon seeing his actions, the other professors mimicked his efforts. No one began to partake until after Slughorn gave a contented sigh and nod.

Things were not going according to expectations. While the summer started out with them anticipating having to be on the lookout for a fugitive, that fugitive was supposed to have been Sirius. No one could have guessed that the table would have been flipped so drastically that their main concern was now Albus too many names Dumbledore.

Nor could they have foreseen being witness to a pink-haired lass fending off Harry's latest suitor. James would have been proud of the way his son just sat back and let the conquests flock to him. For that matter, Sirius probably was proud. There was no way that the mutt wouldn't be all for exacerbating the situation once he got wind of it.

The occupants of the Slytherin table were steadfastly ignoring the youngest Weasley tearfully embarrassing herself. Despite the rare emergence of that entertainment, they had more pressing concerns to discuss.

"It obviously was a setup," one of the seventh-year boys said softly so that only those at his table could hear. "There's no way around it. He planned for this to happen."

"On that we can all agree," said another seventh- year. "It is way too convenient. Look at how the most… erm, ambitious of us were targeted."

"He'd really had to have believed Dumbledore's tripe about everyone being convertible otherwise," added a sixth-year.

"There is no way he didn't predict this outcome," the first seventh-year adamantly insisted. "He knew that his targets would be quick to anger. He was expecting to be able to demand reparations once his property was damaged. I shudder to consider what concessions would have been conceded to."

"Twins." A fourth-year nodded sagely. "A matched pair of nubile twins. Priceless."

"You lot are thinking with your wrong head," a seventh-year girl seethed quietly. "He didn't send them to be hurt. He sent them to do exactly what they did, eliminate his distractors."

"The Carrows are good, but they are not that good," stated another girl, this one a fifth-year. "At best he could have hoped that one or two targets were neutralized."

"Tell that to Hadley," one of their members stated dryly.

"You don't understand," said the seventh-year girl. "My family has connections. We know he sent them abroad this summer. He snuck them back into the country by mixing them in with the Weasleys."

"Why would he do that?" a boy asked. "There were other matters to attend too."

"Wrong head…" snapped the fifth-year girl. "Again!"

"It's obvious," said the seventh- year girl. "He sent them away for training - special training."

"Where did he send them?"

"I don't know," admitted the seventh-year girl. "Logic dictates out east. Even the muggles tell tales of the magical assassins in that region. Ninjas, I believe they are called."

"Bugger me," moaned a previously silent seventh-year girl. "Potter has a pair of murderous twins and he's not afraid of using them."

The first seventh-year girl grabbed the first seventh-year boy as he tried to rise. "Wrong head . . . again."

George Weasley had ultimately intervened, and with the help of his twin Fred, led their sister away for a private conversation and comfort. It had been a surreal experience as far as Harry was concerned. He did not know why Ginny was being so insistent. The girl had rarely made time to utter a word to him. Instead, she shot him those strange looks, and when confronted made strange sounds in lieu of a proper sentence.

"That was awkward." Dora looked flustered as she turned to her meal for the first time.

"I don't know why you bothered," Flora said looking at the older woman with a hint of exasperation.

"You had better not be taking the same approach as Hermione and Luna," Dora said warningly.

"The one who sees things others overlook, says we are going to number thirteen." Flora gestured toward Luna. "I just don't see why you have to get yourself worked up over it."

"We are stressing Harry!" Dora hissed.

"No," Flora said firmly. "You are stressing Harry. He sees that it makes you unhappy. Thus, he worries instead of enjoying the company of those of us willing to share his affections." She put a hard emphasis on the word share.

"That's not…" Dora started as she ran her eyes over the girls surrounding her husband causing her sentence to end in a weird chirpy whimper.

"You've realized you stand alone with your creed of greed," Flora said. "Understandable, given your muggle views and upbringing. You were lucky enough to have been brought up by two wonderful parents who consider each other their equal."

"Okay, stop," Hermione said. "This conversation is going to get out of hand. Let's not have it in the middle of the Great Hall. At least cast some privacy charms." She said the last looking at Dora, who took out her wand and complied.

"Besides," Luna said once the wards were cast, "we need to ask Harry how he feels about this." She gave the male in question a piercing look. "We all know how hard it is to get boys to talk about their feelings."

"Overwhelmed," Harry said. "I haven't had a chance to breathe properly since I blew up my aunt." He looked around himself. "Is Dora really the only one upset with so many girls in our group?"

"Lav and I were already planning on sharing you with Hermione," Parvati said with a shrug.

"I am happy that you all are mine," Luna stated, "and that I am yours's"

Dora looked around, finally fixing on Hermione with a desperate mote of hope in her eyes. "Hermione, you're muggleborn. You have to understand."

Flora chuckled and spoke before the brown-haired girl could. "Hermione has her own creed of greed. You'll not find support for your position there."

"Dammit!" Dora put her face in her hands. "I'm the problem." She sighed deeply. "You are expecting Harry to take on a big responsibility."

"It is not his responsibility alone," Lavender said. "We are a coven. It is our responsibility, each and every one of ours."

"When did we become a coven?" Dora demanded.

"When we reached seven," Luna said helpfully.

"I feel like I'm being ganged up on," Dora stated sourly.

"How do you think Harry feels all the time?" Hermione demanded. "Let's be fair; he is being ganged up on physically and emotionally. We need to put more focus on the support and love being given."

"He's a wizard," Flora said. "Both his magic and ours will see him through, making him stronger in the process."

"We are attracting a lot of attention." Parvati broke in. "Privacy charms or not we are going to be the talk of the school tomorrow."

"Feels kind of weird being on this side of the looking glass," Lavender opined.

"We'll finish this later," Dora said dropping the charms. "I need time to think of arguments for my clearly losing side, anyways."

The conversation turned to idle chatter about their summers right up until around half way through the meal. Up at the teacher's table, the new deputy headmaster, Professor Edmund, suddenly looked toward a side room before getting out of his seat with haste. He quickly left the room fluttering with whispers over his sudden exit.

He returned less than ten minutes later proceeding several aurors and a measure of witches and wizards wearing familiar green robes. "Children!" he called out making his way to the podium Flitwick had abandoned. "Your attention please. Our security, for this evening at least, shall be augmented by the presence of these fine aurors, on the orders of our new minister. Meanwhile, the healers shall be checking each and every one of us for a condition that has recently come to light."

Whispers erupted into murmurs as the news sunk in. Still, no one in her vicinity missed Dora saying, "That is a remarkably intelligent way to go about this. No wonder she's the boss lady. I already like it better than the 'sticking your head in the sand and hoping the problem goes away' approach Fudge employed." She then slowly worked her way through her meal as the newcomers ended up escorting Professors Sprout, Sinistra, and Vector to St. Mungo's along with a handful of students.

It was no exaggeration that, when the time came to be ushered to their individual houses, the students were more inquisitive than when they had arrived. This had been like no opening feast in recent memory with the discrepancies only becoming more pronounced, a state that was accentuated by the fact that the new coven converged on the head table en masse rather than breaking up as expected.

"Excuse me, deputy headmaster." Dora took the lead. "We must speak."

"Ah," Professor Edmund said resignedly, "The blows keep coming. Do they not? How may I be of assistance? Miss?" He tilted his head, fishing for a name.

"Mrs. Black," Dora said. "I'm afraid there needs to be a desperate attempt at housekeeping, despite the irregularities already endured this evening."

"Does this have anything to do with the young redhead accosting you earlier?" Professor Edmund inquired.

Dora shook her head. "An oversight needs redressed." She gave the man a reassuring smile. "I understand that the summer was hectic; so I'm not laying blame. However, our request for married quarters was misplaced. What makes this more than an inconvenience is, as things stand, my husband can hardly let his mistresses reside in Slytherin house due to the incident on the train."

Professor Edmund deflated. "How did that…" He stopped himself from finishing the thought. "You are correct." He hummed for a second. "They can share his bed tonight. The rest of you will just have to make do with your original accommodations until arrangements can be made." He looked at Dora with a thoughtful gaze. "Which brings us to you. I cannot guess your house, since you are out of uniform. Surely you aren't a Slytherin as well?"

"I graduated last year," Dora said. "I'm here because the Hogwarts's charter allows for my husband to keep his wife on premises for the duration of his schooling."

"It does at that." Professor Edmund nodded. "So much for my assumption of you being a particularly bold seventh-year."

"The solution is rather simple." Luna spoke up. "I will share Lavender's bed. The twins will be in Harry's. Dora will sleep with Hermione. Parvati will have to be alone for tonight."

Professor Edmund keenly surveyed the girls. "Things are more complicated than I was originally informed. It would seem, there is truth behind those whispers of coven."

Dora sighed. "Things happened. Now, appropriate accommodations are required."

"I should say so, if the perpetual look of shock this young man bears is anything to go by."

"You have no idea," Harry stated. "I am either the luckiest bloke alive or the most cursed."

Professor Edmund broke into laughter before managing to get out. "You are far from the first wizard blessed with a coven to utter those selfsame words. Though to be fair, most substituted the word 'bastard' where you used 'bloke'."

"Should you be swearing at a student like that?" Hermione asked disapprovingly.

"With so many lasses to attend to, I suspect he will take his vulgarity where he can find it," Professor Edmund said. "Still, you are not incorrect; professionalism should be maintained and you have my apologies."

It was then that an auror strode up to the group and addressed Dora. "Hey there Tonks," he said with friendly recognition. "One of the patients just returned from the hospital, and I was told that she was to be released into your custody."

"Hestia's back." Dora gave a little jump. "Good. How is she? Did they take her statement? Did they document her injuries?"

The auror held up a hand to pause the assault. "I was just told to come get you, although I would assume that they did follow procedure."

"Let's go get Hestia," Harry said firmly starting to head for the door.

"No," Dora interjected before he got three steps. "They will not appreciate all of us romping around the infirmary. Things are complicated enough as they stand." She smiled and tilted her head in a winning manner. "Don't worry; I'll go get her and meet you back in the Gryffindor tower."

"I should be there," Harry barked at her.

Dora gave him a wan look. "I've got it. Trust me. You can let her know how much you care once I get her back in the tower."

Harry gave her a stubborn look, ready to argue.

"Harry, please," Hermione interjected. "You know Hestia's all right. You were there when Dora insisted on the medical checkup. There isn't a need to make a scene. The anthill has already been kicked, and the adults will only get cross if we add to the mayhem. Besides, Dora has been training to be an Auror; she knows what to do. Be a little patient."

Harry gave Hermione an irritated look before deflating. "You're right, Hermione. Let's hurry to the tower and wait for her there."

"I still need some specifications for your private chambers." Professor Edmund spoke up. "Perhaps you should delay your reunion a while longer."

Harry gave the deputy headmaster an angry look. He was about to give his answer when Luna said, "I know what we need. You go ahead, and I'll answer his questions."

"Do you know the way?" Harry asked.

"I'll stay with her," Lavender said. "You go give Hestia the loving she deserves."

Harry blushed, losing his anger to a stronger emotion. "Um…" he dithered. "That is."

"That is exactly what she'll want," Hermione said, nudging Harry in his side. "No need getting flustered over it."

"um," Harry said.

"He's a work in progress," Dora said. "Well, I'm off. See you in a bit. Ciao." With that, she made her way to the healer's domain.

As he watched his wife leave, Harry pondered, "You don't suppose . . ."

Sharply, Hermoine said, "Wrong head . . . again."