Author's Note: Hello, just a note before we get to the story. First sorry for the long, unexpected hiatus. Work has been insane for a while and my dad isn't doing well. I wanted to assure you though that I won't abandon a fic. I might get distracted, but I'll always come back. I am hoping to up have an update out each week. Although it may not be an update on each story, it will at least let you know I'm still around. Lol! I've gotten a little written ahead, I've new some stand alone fics that will come out as well. Thank you all so much for all the support, the hits, comments and messages. You inspire me!
Chapter Text
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"My cousin is pregnant," Draco said before taking a sip of his firewhiskey.
Ron looked up from the chessboard. "Congratulations?" he responded uncertainly.
The other wizard chuckled. "That was my response as well," he said before taking another drink. They'd finished with the warding and had decided to celebrate their progress.
"Your aunt has to be thrilled," the ginger commented.
"Oh, she is," Draco responded. "Are your friends still looking for her and the mutt?"
"Yeah, took them long enough to realize they were missing," Ron laughed. "They seriously thought they'd eloped. It took over a week before your aunt raised the alarm."
"Ugh!" Draco scowled. "Don't call that woman my aunt."
The other wizard laughed but put up his hands in surrender. "Harry is beside himself with worry." He paused to move his knight. "Man, I can't believe Tonks is having a baby. Crazy."
"Mother says the baby is all Aunt Bella talks about. She's already buying clothes and won't let my uncles anywhere near the half blood. Afraid it would hurt the baby."
Ron laughed. "Women always get carried away when a sprog is on the way," he commented.
"She's not even the one pregnant," the young man responded.
"Doesn't matter," the other wizard returned.
Draco groaned. "I'll be with them all summer. Mother already invited her to stay until the baby arrives. Father isn't pleased."
"That's because he's smart," Ron said before taking a drink of his own firewhiskey.
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With the warding in place, the cabinet was coming along rather nicely. So much so, that the boys had been taking more and more time to discuss how exactly they would get Dumbledor to enter it when the time came.
"He'd come if he thought a student was in danger," Ron commented.
"Yes, but we need him to go alone. We don't want to have to deal with a dozen other professors as well," Draco countered.
"No shit," the ginger shot back as he placed an apple in the cabinet. They'd managed to transport books and other objects, but the time differentials were off. They were taking too much time in transit. They didn't want to shove the old man through only for him to come out as dust. While that would technically fulfill their mission, it wasn't the send off they wanted.
"I guess we could use Potter's map to catch him alone," the other wizard mused. "But, we'd need a bit of notice to get everything in place. No way in Hades, do I want my father to miss this, and you know Aunt Bella will want to be there."
They closed the door and hoped for the best. When they opened it again. They apple was starting to rot. "Well, it's better than last time," Ron commented.
The blond looked down at the sagging fruit. "Looks like we're on the right track though." He clapped his companion on the back with a smile. "It won't be long now."
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Draco closed the door on the dove they'd just placed in the cabinet, and Ron wished it luck. It came back dead, but obviously only recently deceased. "Fuck!" Draco cursed. "I thought we had it that time. I guess it still needs more tweeking."
"At least this one didn't explode," the ginger offered.
The other wizard grimaced. That had been a mess to clean up. It was too dangerous to scourgify the damned thing so they'd had to do it the muggle way.
"Oh, I have an idea on how to get Dumbledor here alone," the ginger said. "I was thinking we could do it on a night he's giving lessons to Harry. They're always alone for that."
"Has Potter told you what those lessons are about yet?" Draco asked.
"No," Ron spat out bitterly. "He hasn't told Hermione or me a damned thing. We're his best friends"
""You are spying on him," the other boy pointed out.
"Yeah, but he doesn't know that," Ron whined.
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They stared down at the alive and seemingly healthy dove in the cabinet after transport. They knew better than to get too excited. So far all the living doves had died shortly after their return, a few in fairly spectacular ways. They both drew a sigh of relief when it flew out with no incident. "At least this one didn't explode," Draco commented with a wry smile. "I think we may have done it."
"Bloody hell, I think we really did," Ron said with a grin.
"Now we just need to get the old fool in it," Draco mused.
The ginger scrunched his face for a moment but shook his head and said, "I have an idea about that."
The other wizard lifted an eyebrow. "Well, do tell," he said and led them to their break area.
Ron fell into his chair with a huff. "We could use Ginny as bait."
"Your sister?" Draco said, shocked. "I don't know, mate. People will question why she was left unharmed."
The ginger took a deep breath and said, "That's why you'll need to take her with you."
"Fuck," the other wizard breathed. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a while now. I need to get her out of this. She's too headstrong, reckless. She let Harry lead her straight into battle with death eaters last year. She was only fourteen." Ron threw his hands in the air. "Now they are together, and I can't have him ruining her reputation. Fuck, she's dating the damned enemy. How will I find her a respectable husband with that attached to her?" He seemed to lose his bluster suddenly. "You'll watch after her, won't you? You'll keep her safe?" he pleaded.
"Of course, we're brothers now. I'll protect her like family," Draco vowed solemnly.
Relief flooded the other boys face. "Thank you, she's my baby sister. I've got to watch out for her."