Chapter 8

The Next Morning

Draco had done his calculations and decided that the participants required to make best half-circle for warding the Department of Mysteries were: Hermione and Viktor, Percy and Susan, Draco and Luna, and Neville and Daphne, with Arthur Weasley as their single.

Hermione nodded. That is who she would have picked.

"I am the Minister; why was I not included?" asked Lucius. He sneered at his son, clearly insulted.

Draco could not answer because his calculations were for the best circle, not explaining why. He looked horrified at having offended his father. Arthur, on the other hand, smiled. "Because you are Minister, Lucius. The Department of Mysteries has always been kept separate from the general operation of the Ministry."

"Do you have any idea why the rest, Arthur?" Narcissa asked.

"No, I don't." Arthur smile was self-deprecating. This magic was beyond even the knowledge held in his department.

"I do," said Hermione. "Percy represents order and Susan represents nurturing; I represent magic, and Viktor represents air. Draco represents fire and Luna represents spirit. Neville represents earth and Daphne represents knowledge of the unknown. And Arthur is in charge, which makes him the ideal single."

Viktor smiled proudly. "You haff been studying this quite a bit, haffen't you, loff?"

"Yes, of course. Once Narcissa said there were books and treatises, you know I had to read them. She let me study them at my leisure, and they have explained so much. Those elements, with the wizards and witches representing them, are the basics, and then a full circle has some slight redundancy, whatever the magic requires. It's really fascinating." Hermione's lecture was rapturous, a familiar and endearing sight to those who had known her for a long time. It was good to see that the inquisitive young girl was still there, chewing on her lower lip and expounding on facts she had learned just as she used to a lifetime ago.

The group set up their half-circle, using the ward stones from their discovery of Bill as markers. Again, Luna painted the ward runes with the potion mixture created by Hermione, and Daphne and Neville fanned a protective smoke with a fan made of Augery feathers. They gathered together, then Hermione and Viktor cast the base wards, followed quickly by Arthur setting the passwords and permissions. A very bright light emanated from the runes, the cauldron, and the ward stones, and a pulse of magic was emitted, reverberating through the Ministry building, startling those employees that were present. The group was drenched in sweat, their combined magics so powerful that it felt like they had been running for hours, but they were invigorated as well.

"I think our work combining our magic has made this easier," said Draco.

"You call what we did easier?" Daphne was incredulous.

"I would have to agree, pet. It was much easier than last time." Neville nodded as he spoke.

They all looked at Hermione, who had a huge grin on her face. "Now we can figure out what we are going to need to help Harry," said Hermione. She began to bark out orders. "Draco, you find us the best date. Neville, Daphne, see what type of smoke and feathers or fur or scales we might need. Luna, you look up the runes. Percy, Susan, you will need to see if the Ministry is going to have any problem releasing all his possessions to him; I know Voldemort had a 'Museum of Victory' so his things will be there, and I will find out what happened to his vaults and properties. Viktor, you will figure out what I am missing and give assignments to the rest of the circle."

All of them nodded, more determined than ever to make their next miracle work.

"Has she always been like this, Nev?" Daphne was almost overwhelmed by the whirlwind that was Hermione in full research-driven glory.

Neville smiled fondly. "Oh, yes. From day one, going from train car to train car demanding to know if anyone had seen my toad."

Daphne hugged her husband tightly, thankful that the memories being evoked now were fond ones.

The Next Morning

"Does it feel to you as though the castle is holding her breath?" Katie Snape asked her husband as they sat for breakfast.

"Yes, Snitch, it does. I imagine that we will find out why as soon as the others join us." Severus smiled at his wife. To an uneducated observer it would look as though he grimaced less, but it was most definitely a smile, and one Katie had learned to cherish.

It's the little things. He says he calls me Snitch because he felt his happiness was as elusive as one. And that smile, just for me. Katie smiled back at her husband.

"Oi, I must've been more damaged than I thought. I was pretty sure I just heard Snape call his wife Snitch. And he smiled. That's it, the world is going to end!" Bill cheerfully sat down. His healing had gone far quicker than what Healer Solange had thought; he was almost a month ahead of schedule.

Severus waved his wand at Bill, and suddenly it felt as though his mother had smacked him across the back of the head. He turned around but no one was there. "What was that?" Bill asked.

"Just a little something I've been practicing for when you all get Harry back. If it is all sunshine and roses, he may think he actually died." Severus spoke in all seriousness.

Bill goggled at him for a bit, then burst out laughing, a hearty laugh that made everyone around him want to join in, even though they hadn't heard the joke.

As the rest of the "family" trickled in and sat down, Bill turned to Cho. "So, Doll, what happens now?"

"Once Draco briefs us, we will all work on our parts together or separately until we are ready. Then we head out, set up the circle, and rescue your prince." Cho spoke decisively. It was still her lead, even though she had deferred to Hermione on a lot of it. "You like nicknames, don't you?"

"Yeah. People only seem to call you by name when they are angry or don't like you. So, I like giving people nicknames. I hope you don't mind." Bill looked a bit worried.

"Don't worry, big brother, I'm just wondering why doll for me," Cho responded.

Charlie started snickering as Bill blushed before he answered, "BecauseyoulooklikeaChinadoll."

His mumbled response made everyone at the table laugh.

"I shall pretend to be a Gryffindor and jump in to rescue you now, Bill," Draco said, amused. "My calculations say that we should hold our rescue circle on Walpurgis Night. It will roll into Beltane, and that seems to be very appropriate, as it is a time of renewal."

Luna turned wide eyes to her spouse. "Dragon, you realize most of us will end up pregnant, right? That much magic on Walpurgis Night?"

Narcissa turned hopeful eyes to her husband, who looked as though he were about to bolt. She placed her hand on his knee to stay him.

"Lucius, dearest, it will be all right, I just know it. It feels right."

"Lucius, if you are worried about another child, because of the problems she had carrying them before, do not. Hermione had researched it for me because I was afraid of having a child of my own, knowing that many of the problems our contemporaries had conceiving and carrying children to term were probably tied to the Dark Mark. That Draco survived is a testament to both his strength and Narcissa's, together overcoming Riddle's malevolence. Her findings showed that if the Dark Mark was gone, then a child could be carried normally. As you see, Katie is not having any trouble." Severus spoke quickly to reassure his friend.

Lucius sat back down, his fears assuaged for the moment. "Hermione, my dear, please give me your research when you have time, I do believe you and Severus, but I would like to see it on parchment with my own eyes."

"As Lucius, or as the Minister?" she asked, eyes soft. She had grown fond of the man, and to see his fears laid bare before the others was quite touching.

"Both, I believe. If we publish the results, we may stave off any fears of reproduction in part of the populace."

Hermione nodded. She could have a report ready for him quickly.

Draco continued his briefing, all of the pairs making notes as to what they needed to do. All of them were consumed by thoughts of the babies to come.

"Are there any questions?" Cho asked once he was done.

"Will our babies be safe?" asked Ginny, referring to herself and Katie, who were currently pregnant.

Hermione nodded. "Absolutely. Actually, all of our studies show that being exposed to that kind of benevolent magic, especially on Walpurgis Night, will only strengthen their inherent magic."

Rabastan smiled at his wife. "I could have told you that, little one. We have many treatises on Walpurgis Night and benevolent magic at the house. I will pull some out for you to read." At a look from Severus, he continued, "I will make a copy of them for Mrs. Snape as well."

"I guess all I have to do is get better then? Two more months at this rate, and I will be right as rain," Bill said.

"You also need to think about why you want Harry back because your spell, your call, that will be what brings him back to himself. Not just why you want him back; we all have reasons for that, for example, Hermione wants her brother back, Ginny and I want our friend and confidant, the Malfoys want to thank him, Severus and the Weasleys want to parent him, so on and so forth. But why do you want him, Bill? That is what you need to consider." Luna had lost her dreamy quality, and the others could see how she had the capability of being a powerful seer or empath. She was so good at hiding, no one knew what was the truth of her abilities.

Bill nodded. That was actually a tangible assignment.

"I love you, Luna. Thanks so much! I can't wait to see you!" Harry called to his friend when he heard what she had to say to Bill. He wanted to be loved for being himself. He hoped Bill took her advice.

Luna took on that dreamy quality once more. "I think Harry is happy about what we are doing. Don't worry, Harry, we can't wait to see you either," she called out to the ether.