Chapter 7

Lily and Remus saw Harry's hopeful look at Charlie's pronouncement and smiled at each other over his head. They could see the esteem that the others held for Bill and thought he would be good for Harry.

"Hmph. I would have thought their fifteenth would have been a witch," James said cluelessly.

"No, Da. The fifteenth definitely had to be a bloke, trust me," Harry responded a bit hesitantly, his hand going through his hair.

James looked at his son, seeing his nervous tic reflected in the very familiar face, completely ignoring Lily and Remus who looked ready to banish him to wherever Sirius got sent, and nodded. "Fine with me. Blood adoption is a perfectly acceptable way to have an heir in my family. You wouldn't be the first to swing that way. So, you like the red-heads, too?"

Harry smiled at his father, one of his fears having been completely wiped out by the man's easy-going acceptance. Giving into an impulse, he hugged his father, pleased beyond belief when the embrace was returned. He let go, then turned back to watch the conversation at the table, eager to hear the beginnings of the plans to save him, even if the planners didn't know that was what they were doing.

****

"Fleur never wanted to try anything new. She said I was disturbed because I had been with both men and women. I could feel deep down she was wrong, but we were married, and so I was going to make the best of it."

"There is nothing wrong with acting on your feelings, Bill. If you didn't mind the wrappers on the people you chose to be with, that is your right." Hermione spoke decisively, her hands on her hips and her chin jutting out. Her defiant posture very familiar to Draco, who had seen it often when he had insulted her, waiting for someone to contradict her.

Daphne Longbottom chimed in. "Hermione's right. There are many families who have used blood adoption, or nephews as heirs, if they required a boy. I've heard that for all their reputation as sexual temptresses, married Veela are very traditional and repressed." Daphne was studying xenobiology. She refused to call it Care of Magical Creatures.

"Not really repressed, but very traditional, as though if they give into any sort of deviation, they are proving the gossip correct. It's hard to deal with, but I tried." Bill sighed deeply, his shoulders curving inward and his head bowed.

"Ve know, Bill. Ve saw her reaction to Voldie, and ve know vhat happened after. You tried to rescue her to your detriment. It hurt to vatch." Viktor's words calmed the eldest Weasley.

"Thank you. I would be glad to be your single for the circle. If we are rescuing Sleeping Beauty, it won't matter if its a him or a her." Bill smiled wryly.

"I believe ve vill be finding Sleeping... Harry."

The cacophony of sound and commentary from the table was deafening.

"Viktor, please, don't get our hopes up like that. You have no idea how much I miss him." Neville's voice broke and Daphne wrapped her arms around him.

"Something the elves said to me about a resting place for Hogvarts' Hero makes more sense now that ve are talking." Viktor's comment was almost made to himself.

"Elf-magic!" exclaimed Hermione.

Cho turned to her. "That must be why it felt familiar. We are definitely going to need a full-circle to break elf-magic."

"Well then, we better get Bill's strength up because he's going to need it, if that's the case!" Neville exclaimed, delighted at the thought.

The rest of the table laughed, an inclusive sound of joy that helped strengthen their nascent bond.

****

"Ha! They know!" Harry was dancing around happily.

"You know, Harry, when you get back, you might want to see if you could get private tutoring, and catch up on all that stuff you missed. You might also see if Severus is willing to re-teach you Potions, and you can learn Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Otherwise you will just be Bill's trophy spouse--not that there's anything wrong with that." James chuckled at the look on the others faces.

"Prongs, that's just not right. Harry is powerful." That was Remus.

"Powerful and ignorant, by his own admission. That is like a witch with very little power and big... assets." James got ready to run.

He flinched as his wife smacked the back of his head. "Damn you, James. This--insight is what made me fall for you. You certainly can cut to the chase when you want to. Too bad it had to be at Harry's expense." Lily looked crestfallen.

James looked at a distraught Harry. He walked in front of him and, placing both hands on the younger man's shoulders, said, "Son, this is what you do. First you tell Severus that I apologize. He turned out to be the better man, and I wish him all the happiness in the world. You also go into the Potter vault and make him a copy of a book called Mysteries of the Unknown. Just a copy, mind you. It is a grimoire of Potter males play time with their spouses. He isn't the type to ask for help, so we will give it to him. You keep the original and add to it. There is a spell on the book that keeps you from having to read about your parents' exploits. Then you set up your tutoring. Your friend Hermione, your spouse-to-be and all their friends will help you, I'm sure. Then take your NEWTs. After that you can do what you wish and you won't have to be a trophy spouse. Oh, in the vault is an ancient rune puzzle. It looks like a solid gold globe. Give it to Bill as your wedding gift."

Harry nodded. Lily ran over to her husband and kissed him passionately.

"Bloody hell! I'm going to kill that elf next time I see him. James, what the hell do you mean Snivellus is the better man? How dare you turn your back on the Marauders!" Sirius yelled unthinkingly. He had just found his way back to them.

James looked over and saw his darling son cringing away from Sirius's almost insane rantings and lost his temper.

"You will not touch the elf that saved my son, Black. Nor will you accuse me of turning my back on anyone. You see these people? Lily, my wife and Harry, my son? This is who I owe my allegiance to. I don't know why I ever trusted you to behave like an adult. If you had ignored your insane impulses and taken my boy to St. Mungo's instead of turning him over to Hagrid as though he were a puppy you found, then Dumbledore's plans could have been thwarted. But no, you had to chase after the rat and ignore your responsibilities. Severus, yes, Severus, has never wavered in his support of Harry. Had Dumbledore not conditioned Harry to hate everything Slytherin, then he could have been part of that group of survivors instead of waiting in stasis. But no, the great Sirius Black knows all. Go to hell, Black. That is where you belong." All of the frustration James had felt at not being able to help his son, all the rage he felt at Dumbledore ended up directed at his apparently erstwhile friend.

Sirius blinked, then as James' words registered and he realized that he had pretty much burned all his bridges, he disappeared.

"Where'd he go, Da?" Harry was wide-eyed. He had never expected that sort of defense from anyone except his friends.

"I'm not sure, son. But he better have learned to grovel before he comes back again."

****

Late February 1999

Molly was more than delighted to cook for her son, re-learning his favorites and being the mother she could have been, if Albus hadn't encouraged her shriller nature. Bill was thriving in this atmosphere of care and affection with no expectations. He was very curious about one thing, though. He decided to ask at the next family Sunday dinner.

"Gin-gin, I thought you and Harry were together?"

Ginny looked at her husband and smiled. He had never asked, but she knew he was curious as to the true story.

"We tried, you know? We thought that everyone had to be right, and we would be perfect together. He was really thoughtful and caring. But there was no spark. I know Hermione thinks that he was in love with Ron, but that wasn't true. He loved Ron because Ron was his first friend, and he wanted to have some success at having friends. He could see Ron was very jealous of him and didn't think that would be a good thing for a relationship." Ginny thought back, realizing how Harry's care of his friendship with Ron would look like a passionate love. "He did have a thing for red-heads, though. If that really is Harry in there, it will be good to have him back. When Ron started really believing Dumbledore, thinking Hermione was his for the taking, and that he deserved a better life no matter whether he worked at it or not, Harry became my confidant. He didn't know where to turn; he had been so conditioned to believe that he had to be the savior that Hermione could have tattooed her findings on his forehead and he wouldn't have believed it. He would be glad to know how well I'm being treated now."

Rabastan was secure enough in his marriage to tease his wife. "You would trust him with me, then? Even if I am a good-looking red-head?"

"He knows just how well I can cast a hex, my love. As should you." Ginny poked him in the side with her wand, making him jump and making the rest of the Weasleys laugh.

"It will be nice to have that boy as family for real, won't it, dear?" Molly asked Arthur.

"Yes, it will. I think he and Bill will make a good match," Arthur responded.

Charlie looked at his brother and snickered.

"What are you laughing at, Dragon-breath? Yours is the only girl he ever dated."

Cho blew a raspberry at Bill, making everyone laugh.

"So, Viktor, how exactly do we cast together?" Draco asked, and the rest of the unformed circle nodded in agreement.

Viktor beckoned Hermione over. "Choose the person vho is more accurate vith their spells, as opposed to more powerful. Hermione has a more delicate application of her power, mine is more forceful. That person should cast something that is wery much their own like a signature spell or a Patronus. The other should concentrate on how that feels."

It seemed to be a universal that the women of the pairs were more accurate, while the men were more powerful. The array of Patronuses was beautiful.

"He's a good instructor," whispered Lucius to his wife. "I could feel that. I could also feel where my magic would fit with yours."

"Do you haff something to share, Minister?" Viktor didn't like people talking in his classes.

Lucius looked like a deer caught in headlights. Narcissa snickered. Lucius hadn't looked like that since Minerva had caught him trying to sneak her a note through the window of the Transfiguration classroom.

Lucius tried flattery. "You certainly are Severus' nephew." Lucius swallowed as Viktor continued to glower at him. "I see my attempt to placate you did not help. Very well, I was telling Narcissa that your instructions were quite good. I could feel her magic, and where mine would fit in with it."

Viktor smiled at his misbehaving student. "Wery good! That is exactly right. Now, some of you haff seen Nin and I cast together, amplifying the same spell. But I do vant you to see vhat happens vith something as personal as a Patronus. You know Nin's is an otter. Mine is usually a vinter volf. Vatch closely." Viktor's commanding presence made the others lean closer in anticipation.

Hermione and Viktor each cast their Patronus to show the others what it looked it. Then they took the now familiar posture, Hermione in front, Viktor with one arm wrapped around her waist, the other entwined with hers over their wands. "Expecto Patronum!" To everyone's immense surprise, a huge Siberian white winged tiger burst out of their joined wands.

The rest of the group applauded.

"I wonder what our joined Patronus will be," Draco said to Luna. Her Patronus was a rabbit, and his was a Lynx.

"I think it will be a moon-dragon. Wouldn't that be fitting?" Luna mentioned an animal that hadn't been seen in over 100 years. They were smaller than most dragons, and a pearly, opalescent white color.

"That would be perfect." Draco smiled at his unusual wife. He had grown to love her with a passion he did not believe was possible. He gathered her close, and sure enough, after they cast, there was a moon-dragon playing with the winged tiger.

Lucius and Narcissa had a Quetzocoatl as a joined Patronus.

Rabastan and Ginny had a large Kneazle.

Neville and Daphne had a Hippogriff.

Cho and Charlie had a Norwegian Ridgeback that looked an awful lot like Norberta.

Percy and Susan Bones-Weasley had an Abraxan flying horse.

Bill had a peregrine falcon as his Patronus. "Oi, Perce, I've heard how everyone else got married, but I haven't heard your story."

Percy took a deep breath and looked at his wife, who nodded. "I was helping Dad clear out one of the brothels one night, getting the girls to safety, when I came across Susan fighting off two big Death Eaters by herself. They had really hurt one of the other girls, and had started in on Susan when we got there. They were so intent on raping her they didn't even notice me standing there. I cast a severing spell, and luckily hit my targets dead on. One was decapitated, and the other had wounds that bled him out rather rapidly. I gave Susan my cloak, then we got her to safety. I was quite annoyed when I recognized her as part of the food service staff at the Ministry the next week when I went to visit Dad because I thought she should be recovering instead of working right away, but she ignored me and kept bringing me fresh, home-made biscuits. No matter what, I am still a Weasley."

Bill grinned and turned to Susan. "Won him over with a plate of biscuits, did you?"

Susan nodded. "Too right."

Viktor waited until the story was told, but then interrupted, not wanting his lesson to devolve into a gossip-fest. "Practice this joint casting. You need to make it seamless. As for the spell to push the magic, that is finding the holes or gaps Mister Malfoy mentioned and fit your magic in. Then you push it toward your target. Try it with a Reducto aimed at that debris by the side of the castle."

By the end of the afternoon, the exhausted pairs had a working knowledge of how to combine their magic, and they had managed each spell at least once. Bone tired, they headed into the castle for dinner.

"How is the training going?" asked Severus as the tired group sat down.

"Quite well, Severus. I can see why you do not want Viktor to leave his post. He's an excellent instructor." Narcissa smiled at Viktor and Hermione as she spoke.

Hermione smiled proudly at her husband. She liked having him be so greatly admired. She realized that she needed to broach a delicate subject with her boss, so she turned to him to speak.

"Mr. Weasley, I was wondering when you wanted to discuss my design for the wards at the Department of Mysteries?" Hermione asked her boss. She had been working on them since she had found out about the half-circle.

"Did you turn the schematics in to the goblins?" he replied.

"For the basic design, yes. They approved that part and now the details need to be hashed out with you." Hermione looked hopeful.

"You are asking at this table for a reason, I'm certain, my dear." Arthur looked bemused.

"I think we can use a half-circle to make the wards fairly impenetrable." The rest of the table perked up at that.

"If this works, I may have you ward the entire Ministry," interjected Lucius.

Hermione smiled wryly. "You will find my report on why a half-circle will not work on the entire Ministry on your desk tomorrow morning."

"I take it that is a copy of what you gave the goblins?" Lucius cocked his left eyebrow up at Hermione.

"As per the contract, Minister. My proposal for warding Hogwarts and the Ministry is included as well. But all of that is contingent on how well we do rescuing our sleeping hero," Hermione responded.

"I feel like saluting. Everyone is so proper. Or maybe I should curtsey. Does that make you the Queen, Minister?" Katie Snape caused the rest of the table to laugh with her dry comment.

"We have a lot to do, don't we? It is going to be so much fun!" Luna sighed happily thinking about it.

"You are such a Ravenclaw, darling." Draco leaned over and kissed his dreamy wife on the tip of her nose.

"What would you call learning new ways to use magic, utilizing your best talents and being with a large group of your best friends and family, then, Draco?" Luna was truly confused.

"When you put it that way... fun!" Draco blushed as everyone else teased him good-naturedly.

"Hermione, who do you need in your half-circle?" asked Neville.

"I have the information for Draco to run the calculations. I know he has clearance and he can tell us in the morning." Hermione nodded to herself decisively. "Sound good?" she turned to Draco and asked.

"Yes, fine. Where shall we meet?" Draco asked.

"You may all use the council room connected to the Headmaster's office," Severus responded. "Now, I bid you all good night; my wife needs her rest."

Molly looked up, saw the urgency on Katie's face and the slight blush on Severus's, and jumped to the right conclusion. She nudged her husband with her knee, then jerked her chin at the departing couple. Arthur saw what she was pointing out and grinned, a grin reminiscent of his deceased twins at their brattiest.

"Enjoy your... nap!" he called out.

Severus turned back, his blush deepening, then after a deep breath, decided to wink at Arthur and leave.

Draco looked confused. "What was that all about?"

Molly smiled. "Don't worry, dear, you will find out soon enough, I'm sure."

"Vhat vas going on, Nin?" Viktor asked his wife as they returned to their room.

"I believe that Katie's need to rest was a cover up for more strenuous activities. They do say a woman gets a bit more randy during her second trimester of pregnancy."

Viktor laughed delightedly. "Ah. Uncle vill have to get used to everyone in his business, it appears."

"I think he ended up with more family than he anticipated," Hermione answered. "He's handling the situation far better than I thought he would. He has mellowed."

"Maybe ve should emulate their example, vife. Vhat do you think?"

"I think that's an excellent idea."