Andrea drank the potion and immediately grabbed her head. "Oh, pain," she complained.
 

"Of course there is, you're using mental lines that you haven't in *years*," Simone reminded her, giving her shoulders a rub. "Just wait and we'll see if it works."
 

Andrea nodded and closed her eyes, concentrating on making the potion work faster. When she felt something like a building, or a running feeling, in her head she opened her eyes. "Whoa," she said. Everything was fuzzy, but she could see more, and out of both eyes! "Yes!" She stood up and looked around. Every few seconds a new level of sight returned. "This is super cool." When she could see totally, she looked at all of her friends, who were staring at her. "Wow, Iggy, you're really tall and skinny." He laughed and hugged her, spinning her around. "Easy! I'm still dizzy." She laughed as he put her down, going over to hug everyone else, including Professor Snape. "Thank you," she whispered against his chest. "This is so great." She blinked. Something more was going. "Um, still working," she noted, pulling back. The walls took on different colors and textures, the people started to fade out and started to look like ghosts. "Things are starting to look funny," she announced. "Iggy, you're looking red and Denver and Simone are kinda pinkish. Melvin, you're looking ghostly and really thin." She looked at Professor Snape. "You too, sir."
 

Tara slipped off the desk she was watching from, coming over to tip the girl's head up and look into her eyes. "What do you see for me?" she asked quietly.
 

"Pretty gold lights like a halo, but you're really thin too." Andrea frowned. "What happened?"
 

"I think you're seeing the astral spectrum," Tara told her. "Can you see any spirits hanging around?"
 

Andrea looked around, nodding when she saw a few people hanging out in the corners. "Yeah, there's a few people over there," she said, pointing at them. "And there's someone with another bright light standing in the doorway."
 

"Yes, dear, I do carry some light of my own," Dumbledore said as he walked in. "What happened?"
 

"It's too strong," Snape told him. "She's seeing the astral as well as the physical." He pulled over the spell and handed it to her. "On there is the word to cancel it should it get too much. It's the same word to turn it on and you only have to think it as far as the spell said."
 

Andrea nodded. "I think I'll turn it off for now," she said as she sat down. "It's all overwhelming."
 

"Can we put some sort of filter on it?" Melvin asked. He *really* liked Andrea.
 

"Maybe on a set of glasses?" Iggy suggested. "Something like a blocking charm?" He looked at Tara. "How do you keep from seeing spirits?"
 

"I have to turn my on consciously," Tara told her. "But the blocking charm on a set of glasses is a great idea." She looked at the two more experienced wizards. "Can you do that?"
 

"We'll have to find out," Dumbledore told her. "But by all means, Ms. Reams, do turn it off for now if it's disturbing you." He watched as Andrea turned it off and slumped a little bit. "We'll hopefully be able to fix this problem in a few days. Ignatius...."
 

"On it," he said, disappearing from the spot he had been standing.
 

"Wow," Andrea said. "He really loves the library."
 

"Oh, and he found a *girl* there," Simone put in with a smirk.
 

Andrea looked toward her. "I thought you'd be more blonde. Everyone says how your brother's blond."
 

"He is," Simone sighed. "But all us girls are true Weasleys. It disgusts dad every now and then." She hugged Andrea. "We can practice and work you up to using it for a full day. 'Kay?"
 

"I'll help," Melvin offered. "I can make all sorts of neat stuff for her to look at."
 

"I'm sure you can," Snape said dryly. "For now, we'll take her up to the infirmary, Mr. Weasley, and have her examined to make sure the spell will stay permanent." Melvin nodded and practically drug Andrea from the room.
 

Simone sighed again. "All I wanted was a sister my own age who understood me. Now she's going to have a Melvin stuck to her. I'll never get to have girl talk." She walked out with Pumpkin.
 

Dumbledore tried to not laugh until she was farther away, but Tara smirking did him in. "At least she'll get more use out of it with some practice," Tara said, snuggling up to Snape's side. She smiled at him. "Would you care for that dinner now?"
 

"Yes, I believe I would," he agreed. "London or Hogsmeade?"
 

"London. I found this cute little restaurant the other day and I want to show it to you. How do you feel about Indian food?"
 

"It's rather spicy for my usual fare."
 

She pinched him on the butt. "You need to live a little, Severus. You can't live on gruel and toast alone." She led him out to the point where they could apparate. "Of course, since I invited you, I'll be the one paying. Now no more robes." She waved her wand, making their robes look like very formal jackets. "And away we go. Catch me." She disappeared.
 

He grimaced and followed her to Diagon, it was the most common apparation point. "Don't do that again," he warned. "I don't like teasing and tricks."
 

She smiled at him. "What tricks? You do need some excitement and teasing is good for you. It makes you lighten up." She grabbed his hand before he could pull away and tucked it under her arm, leading him out of Diagon and into muggle London. "Besides, I like a little spice every now and then. It makes me happy to tease and tempt."
 

He looked down at the dress she was wearing, something she hadn't worn since her first year of teaching. "I remember you in that dress," he said quietly. She looked quite fine in it and it did show her assets to the fullest. She looked like quite the nymph in the corset dress. He swallowed when she smiled up at him. "You are lovely today, Professor Maclay." She pinched his hand. "Tara," he corrected.
 

"That's better." She stopped and looked up at him. "The more you try to get away from me, the more I fight. Fair warning," she finished with a pixie grin.
 

Snape saw the car coming and pulled her out of the way, back against the building as it dove up onto the sidewalk. Instinctively his wand came up and the car was stopped by a force field. He took a deep breath and she held him tightly. "I think we should go back," he said once he was done shaking. They could have both died!
 

The Unmentionable's department showed up with the muggle police men and started the memory charms. One of them came over and gave them a reassuring smile. "Good work, Professor Snape. Would you mind doing the paperwork tonight so I don't have to come in early tomorrow?"
 

Tara smiled at him. "He saved me."
 

"I know," the agent said. "It's a good thing too. I don't know the muggle who was driving, but it's going to get messy. He's fairly drunk and knocked his teeth out." He led them a little way away and started working on the report about this use of magic.
 

At the end of it, Tara decided they still needed dinner so she drug them to the restaurant anyway. Then to a hotel for the night so they could have peace and quiet while they broke down in shock.
 

***
 

Xander looked at the empty spots at the breakfast table, frowning at his boss. "Snape and Tara?"
 

"Are fine, even though they had a bit of excitement. They decided to stay in London last night to break down in peace," he returned quietly. "They'll be in soon."
 

"As long as they're okay," George said from the other side of Xander. "They are all right, right?"
 

"They're fine, George. Quite all right actually. Just a bit shaken up. A muggle lost control of his car and made it onto the sidewalk. Severus stopped it before it hurt them. Very subtly, the muggles didn't even realize what happened." Xander relaxed and took a bite. "If they're not back in time, can you take over Tara's class, Xander?"
 

"Sure. I don't know much about what she does but I can at least babysit." Xander scraped his plate and stood up. "I'll go down to her room. What about Potions?"
 

"I'll take that over," Ron announced. "I have a free period right now."
 

"That won't be necessary," Dumbledore told him. "I'm doing that myself. He's changed the curriculum since you took that class." He smiled at the eager young teacher. "I think you'll be more suited to helping me with registration duties, Professor Weasley."
 

"Cool," Ron said, grinning at his relatives.
 

"I'm going to head to Tara's room." He gave his mate a huge, deep kiss, which got some applause. "You be good today and I'll go get you that treat," Xander promised with a grin before disappearing.
 

"Treat?" Ron teased. "What sort of treat are you getting?"
 

George shrugged. "All he said was a treat. Nothing else. Won't tell me a thing," he admitted.
 

"It's driving you insane, isn't it," Lupin teased.
 

George nodded. "Definitely. The man is such a sweetie, but he's horrible when he wants to surprise you. Won't give you a hint or anything." The doors to the Great Hall opened with a thump and someone walked in. "Harry!" he yelled happily. The students broke into applause, making Harry blush. "How was the vacation?"
 

"More like work," Harry said as he walked up and gave everyone that warranted one a hug. "How's things here?" he asked as he took Xander's seat. "And where's the dynamic one?"
 

"Going to sit in on Tara's class. She's in London right now," Dumbledore told him. "Are you back for a bit?"
 

"For at least a year." He glanced around. "Is today the day for the advanced class?"
 

"Tomorrow," Ron told him. "I get to help with registration this year."
 

"Good on you," Harry congratulated happily. "Did my kids drive your dad nuts yet?"
 

"Oh, yeah," Xander said as he walked in. "Tara's in her room with Snape. I didn't think it wise to interrupt them." He hugged Harry. "Want to come lecture for me today?"
 

"No, Xander," Dumbledore told him. "You can go get whatever fabulous treat you had planned after your class today." Xander grinned at him. "You have to teach your own class."
 

"I know, but Harry does it so well," he said.
 

"I know he does, but you still have to teach today, no matter how much you want to go play in the sunshine," Dumbledore said patiently. "I know how strong the urge is for you children, but you have to attend to your duties first."
 

"Okay," Xander sighed, then he grinned evilly. "I'll just have to make up for the time spent away by getting him *two* presents." George laughed. "Walk me downstairs and snog in my classroom, honey?"
 

"Sounds lovely," George said, smiling at Harry. "Wait for me and you can come to the shop and we'll talk?" Harry nodded so he left with his husband to go be naughty in his classroom.
 

Dumbledore groaned and shook his head. "Those two set such a bad example," he complained. "All play and almost no work."
 

Harry laughed. "They do work, sometimes, Headmaster. They both work very hard so they can enjoy all these little side trips to the darkened classrooms. I've seen them both work until they just *had* to snog."
 

Sirius Black started to laugh and fell out of his seat, grabbing Lupin to bring him down too.
 

Dumbledore shook his head. That couple and their family did liven up the old school if nothing else.
 

***
 

Iggy looked over at Andrea, watching her read her braille textbooks, then he went back to his. He glanced over again, this time catching Melvin's eye. Melvin glared at him so he went back to his studies, but he couldn't concentrate. He stood up and headed over to the house, going to talk to the master of girlie seduction. Draco looked up from watching one of Xander's newest movies, giving him a smile. "Is it wrong to want something that's not yours?"
 

"You're wanting her because you can't have what you really want," Draco told him. "It's a normal reaction, but it will cause problems. I believe Andrea is the one thing that Melvin will kick your ass over." He patted the seat beside him. "Sit, let me hear about the one you *really* want, Iggy."
 

Iggy blushed. "I noticed her staring at me. She's petite, and kinda a little bit older than I am. Reminds me of Aunt Willow for some reason." Draco frowned, he was not happy with that woman right now. "But she was really nice when I talked to her."
 

"Oh-ho, you talked to her. Important conversation?"
 

"Asking her if she'd mind me sitting at her table so I could snatch one of the books she was using," Iggy said with a brighter blush. "And I got a...." He mumbled something.
 

Draco patted him on the back. "Yes, this is your first crush, my boy, and it happens to the best of us. Did you at least find out her name and which colony she adheres to?"
 

"She's Dutch and lives in Belgium as part of her family's flock. Her great-uncle is the historian for the Amsterdam colony. Her name is Raena," he sighed. "She's beautiful. Has bright brown hair and shining green eyes."
 

"Bright brown?"
 

"It shined, Uncle Draco, like the highlights were made of faerie lights. And she had this smile. She likes potions too."
 

"It's an excellent start. Did you ask if you could write her letters?" Iggy shook his head, looking at his hands. "Then why don't you try that next? Introduce yourself again so she knows who you are and tell her about yourself. Suggest that you start a correspondence between yourselves. How old is she?"
 

"Twenty-eight."
 

Draco winced. "She's a bit older than you are, young man."
 

He nodded, looking pitiful. "But it doesn't matter. I'm old for my age."
 

"Of nearly eleven," Draco reminded him. "Try a friendship with her first, Iggy, it might become more once you're older." He patted him on the shoulder. "Other than a friendship and your fathers will harm her greatly."
 

"Which is no fair!"
 

"You're much too young, Ignatius. She's over twice your age." He pinched the boy on the ear. "Write to her for now. See if she's really interested or if she sees you as a little boy who's interesting. Make your decision from there." Iggy sighed. "Trust me, something more accessible will come along some day."
 

"But she's everything that I want!" he protested. "We share interests. We like the same things. We're both borns."
 

"Yes, but she's still twice your age and if she so much as looked at you funny, your fathers would have her thrown in jail. So start a friendship with her until you're old enough," Draco advised. "Then start the hunt for someone closer to your own age."
 

"Yes, Uncle Draco," Iggy said, sounding defeated. "When do I get to be old enough?"
 

"When you finish school," floated down from the lab, sounding suspiciously like Uncle Ron.
 

"Nosy bugger," Iggy muttered.
 

Draco laughed. "It's a family trait, my boy. You've got to learn to put up with it." He gave him an affectionate swat. "Now go write this young woman a letter. I'll help you edit it." Iggy went for a pen and some parchment, starting to write her a letter on the coffee table. "Has Denver shown any desires toward women?" he asked casually.
 

"Only a little," Iggy told him. "He found his first pubic hair the day before Daddy George's birthday party. I've heard him in the bathroom a few times too, but nothing too strong in the actual girl department." He looked up. "Are you hoping he'll follow in your footsteps?"
 

Draco shook his head. "While it was fun, it wasn't always satisfying. Having all those different women was *wonderful* but I find having your Aunt Ginny to be more ...." He couldn't find another word.
 

"Like a full course gourmet meal as opposed to fast food?" Iggy suggested with a naughty grin.
 

"Yes, quite like that," Draco agreed. "While one will fill you up, the other will soothe other cravings and desires besides the hunger. I want all of my children to know what they're getting into before they start a committed relationship, but I don't want them to sample everyone in the school to find it."
 

"Oh. I guess that's cool. Melvin will have Andrea. Denver gets all blushy and shy whenever one of Melvin's housemates show up. Simone just sneers at both of them and says things like 'hands make more sense at our ages', which is starting to piss Denver off recently." Draco snorted, trying hard not to laugh. "And hopefully I'll get her." He went back to his writing, trying to sound mature and interesting instead of ten and boring. When he was done, Draco looked it over for him and made a few corrections in his words, which he took and sent it off with a school post owl.
 

***
 

Two days later, somewhere just outside Amsterdam, a young woman accepted the owl and read the letter, smiling. "Oh, how cute," she said, showing it to her father. "He's this nice little potion master in training and he has a crush on me."
 

Her father shook his head. "I've heard of his father. Quite powerful. Is he any good?" He reread the section on his current research. "He has lofty goals."
 

"Father, he's ten."
 

"Oh." He smiled. Not a possible match then. He handed the letter back. "Be gentle when you turn him down, Raena. Boys that age are often fragile."
 

"I think I'll keep him as a penpal. He probably isn't beloved by everyone at Hogwarts if he's Professor Snape's personal student." She went to write him back, carefully wording it so he knew she wasn't interested in him as more than a friend. He had been cute and would be devastating when he finished growing up. Maybe she'd see him around Braun in a few years.
 

***
 

Xander looked around the Great Hall. Dinner seemed quieter tonight for some reason. All the students were there, but no one was saying anything. He looked around at the teachers, but they didn't notice anything wrong. Except Tara. She was frowning at the Slytherin table for some reason. Directly at Ryan Rosenberg. He caught her attention and gave her a questioning look. She shook her head, then shrugged. So what was wrong? He looked around the hall again. All the kids he personally taught or had anything to do with were all there. Iggy was reading a potion's book he had gotten from the gryphon library. Simone and Denver were arguing but so quietly that it wasn't disturbing any of their housemates. It seemed normal enough, but it felt creepy, like something was going to happen. He saw the door at the other end of the hall open slowly and drew his wand, starting to stand up. Lupin looked at him then at the door, where Xander was pointing his wand. Apparently something registered on him too, he drew his wand, which prompted Sirius and Tara to do so. Snape moved her behind him and stood up as the door crashed open.
 

A lone figure walked in and fell onto the floor, then appeared to stop breathing.
 

"Stay seated!" Dumbledore yelled as the students started to react, racing down with his teachers to see what was going on. That's why they were all there when the small group of people rushed in, balls of flames already in their hands.
 

"Iggy, protect the house!" Xander yelled, firing on the first one. The man went backwards, screaming as he hit the wall. "Prefects, houses now!" he ordered. The kids left in large groups, careful to make sure one of the higher students were with each group. Xander got another one, then punched a third one. His wand was knocked from his hand, but he still had his cane and he had taken the time to train himself with it as a weapon. Two more were knocked out by him, and another went flying from behind him. He spun and took on another group, and his neck was grabbed. He threw that person and stomped them on the throat, incapacitating them. He ducked as someone else went flying. He looked around and his son had stayed. "Iggy, out! Go guard the family!" His son nodded and went to do that, running out with the last students in the hall. Xander got another one before his cane broke, but that gave him his former favorite weapons, stakes. He was *so* relieved that George had all the kids tonight. He noticed a new group coming up behind this one, but they were wearing robes. He thought he recognized someone, but they fired on his group so they must have been bad. He used his little gift with George, sending him a plea for reinforcements. He found a wand on the floor and turned, firing it. It was fortunately his because it sent four people back into the hallway, screaming in pain as the fire hit them. "Fuck this shit," he said at his most evil. He decided now was a good time to lose it. He conjured a firebird and sent it at the attacking group, making them scream and run away.
 

"Xander!" Dumbledore said sharply. "Withdraw it now!"
 

Xander did and looked around. Everyone had been taken care of. The people in the halls were surrounded by Ron, Draco, and Harry. "Did we get them all?" he asked.
 

Black nodded, panting hard. "Someone check Gryffindor and for the kids," he suggested, bending down to breathe easier.
 

"I'm taking you to the infirmary," Lupin told him. "He's got a cut down his chest."
 

"The kids are with George and Arthur," Xander told them. "Don't worry about the little ones." He walked out and lifted one of the idiot's faces. "Who are you and why are you here? Tell me now so we can put it on your tombstone."
 

"The alignment," he whimpered.
 

"Won't happen that way ever again," Xander spat. The man blanched. "Did you have more people with you?" He nodded. "Ron, Gryffindor. The others are coming." Snape came up behind him. "Go check on the kids. Iggy left last. I'll meet you there." Ron nodded so Xander turned and started back toward the Great Hall. "Who's he?" he asked, pointing at the body on the floor.
 

"It's Giles," Tara said, looking up at him with tears in her eyes. "He's living."
 

Xander started to swear in Gryphon. This was just perfect! "When he wakes up, ask him where he dropped Buffy off and if she's still living. Ron'll want to know. I'm going to check the back way up." He headed for the back hall at a fast limp. This was just perfect. He had to come back? He found a few kids and helped them get to the main staircase so they could run up and seal themselves in the Prefect's bathroom. They wouldn't be able to get to their houses yet, the doors would be sealed. He found the painting over Gryffindor's entry torn and hanging by a hinge. He walked in and found the common room empty. "Ron?" Ron came down from the boy's side. "Iggy?"
 

"And Andrea. Denver and Simone have everyone else." He glanced around. "No one saw Melvin."
 

"Then we'd better head out. Did you ever pinpoint a place?"
 

"Stonehenge. On the tomb cover."
 

"Okay." Xander grabbed Ron's hand and teleported him, just like his son had Melvin a few minutes earlier, to the outer ring - a blind spot if you were inside. He landed behind his son and tapped him on the shoulder. "Go get help, both of you." Melvin opened his mouth. "Anger is deadly in a fight, Melvin. Go get help. Iggy, Arthur, now. Melvin, gryphons. They have to let you in." The boys nodded and left, leaving them alone.
 

"We could have used them," Ron said quietly, walking with him to the cover stone. They could see more wizards. "Ready for this?"
 

"Always," Xander quipped. "Fuck them and the bitches they rode in on. They've got a member of the family."
 

"Then I believe it's more my duty," Draco said as he landed behind them with Harry a heartbeat behind. "My daughter adopted her into the clan. Xander, take left side. Ron, right. Harry, you're rear guard. None of them leave walking." They nodded and got into position, walking closer. As soon as they made it to the ring of watchers, the firing began again. Taking them out one by one, slowly weeding through the people protecting the rite.
 

"Andrea, use it now," Xander called.
 

Andrea turned back on the spell. It hurt her head so much to use. She struggled, but she was bound to the rock with iron. "You're not getting me and I'm not blind anymore," she told him, finally getting a foot free when the ancient chain broke. She kicked over all the bowls of herbs and oils, destroying their careful preparations as much as she could.
 

"You'll pay for that," a man said, backhanding her. She cried out, but a large paw grabbed him from above and lifted him, dropping him from about fifty feet up.
 

Xander glanced up. "Hey, Fredericka," he called. "Can we destroy them fully?"
 

"No," Draco grunted. "Maim now, kill later, Xander."
 

Xander shrugged and pulled out a fighting spell he hadn't used in a while. He cast it on himself, turning himself into a force for the will of the power streaking around the clearing. He worked his way through the crowd, knocking people down as he passed. The energy fought him as he made it to the coverstone over the grave and tried to take control, but it wasn't happening. He fought it hard, but it made him grab a knife. He heard Andrea scream and fought it back a little more. He stabbed himself in the stomach, a shallow wound, but it broke up the energy so much that it let him go. He shook himself, then turned and threw the sacrificial knife at someone, embedding it in their chest. The energy in the clearing whipped and wound, creating a beautiful dust storm. He steeled himself against it and unlocked Andrea and the other girl, getting them moving. "Gryphon colony," he told them, pointing at the open portal. "Now." He gave Andrea a light shove and turned back to start working on the army from the front, while they were distracted by the fighters at the back.
 

And, as usual, the aurors showed up at the end, when everything was done with. They got to take out the last few people fighting, and one tried to hit Xander. Ron repaid the head injury he had gotten back in his seventh year by bashing that one with a rock. When the head of the strike team looked at him, he shrugged. "Someone did it to me when we took on the Death Eaters. I thought it fair this time." He walked over to where Xander was wobbling, helping him sit down. "What did you do this time?" he asked in disgust.
 

"Broke up the energy." Xander groaned and pushed on his stomach. Maybe it wasn't as shallow as he had thought. "The easy way to stop the ceremony."
 

"Well it did do that," Draco agreed as he walked toward them. "You badly off?" Xander shook his head and allowed himself to be stood up. "Looks shallow enough. A few moments with Madam Pomfrey's wand and you should be fine."
 

Xander nodded. "Usually." He looked around at the bodies. "Where's Harry?"
 

"He helped the kids into the colony," a deep voice said from behind them.
 

The three men looked at the young gryphon male. "Titus," Xander greeted. He saw the pain in his eyes. "Was one of you hurt?"
 

"Fredericka is gravely injured. Someone cut into her underbelly."
 

Xander walked closer and gave him a hug. "Draco, we need Ollivander. She promised him something." Draco didn't move. "Now!" His 'son' left. Xander looked at Ron. "Tell George I'll be back as soon as possible and leave some of Giles to me."
 

Ron's mouth opened. "That was Giles?" Xander nodded. "Then *I* might leave you a bit." He disappeared, apparating back to the school.
 

"Come on," Xander said, leaning on him. "Since she adopted me, I'll stand vigil for the borns." He walked into the colony and was led back to Fredericka's private chambers, where he had spent the better part of his training summer with them. She was laying on her side in the nest, one of the human healers checking her stomach. "How does it look?" he asked, after giving her a kiss on the side of the beak.
 

"Not good." The healer looked at him. "Are you sitting vigil?" Xander nodded and took up his spot beside her head, stroking it gently. "It won't be long." She stood up. "It damaged her heart." She saw the swallow. "She was old, young man. You knew it would happen some day and this way is very honorable."
 

Xander nodded, but he didn't say anything. This was his adopted mother and it was a hard thought.
 

***
 

Draco pounded on Ollivander's door, waking the man. "Come on, you've got to come," he said once the door was opened by the pajama wearing man. "The Gryphon ambassador is dying."
 

"Oh, my," Ollivander said, looking down at himself. "Give me a moment to gather my things. Are we brooming?"
 

"No, we're apparating. She might not have ten minutes. They got her underbelly during the fight." The older man nodded and left, going back to his workshop. He came out with his collection case and a longer robe to cover his clothing. Draco led him back to the apparation spot and sent them back to Stonehenge. As soon as they appeared, all the aurors looked away and a few turned green. "What? She's generously giving of herself if she dies. It's how we get our wands." He led the way to the portal, letting Ollivander in first. "Fredericka told him to come take from her now," he said to the gryphon blocking their path.
 

"Let others say goodbye first," the gryphon said quietly. "A few more minutes will not matter." He looked at Ollivander. "She is still alive, but not able to speak. What did she offer you?"
 

"Two heart strings and two pin feathers."
 

The gryphon nodded. "I will see that you and her guardian are left alone as soon as we are done." He leaned down and nuzzled Draco. "Xander is well enough. His stomach wound is minor and he has refused treatment for now." Draco nodded, though he didn't look happy. "Is the battle done?"
 

"Unless someone was doing it in another country," Draco agreed. "Most everyone out there is on the ground and begging for mercy."
 

"There should be no mercy," the gryphon hissed.
 

"Exactly," Draco agreed. "Should I join Xander? He has adopted me, or so he says."
 

The gryphon nodded. "It would be good. Where is his mate?"
 

"With the children. The more important guarding task," Draco said as he was led back. He nodded at Xander and took up his position on the other side of the body, freeing the gryphon standing there so it could go cry in peace. It was odd watching the tears stream down the hard beak.
 

The stream of people and gryphons paying their respects continued well into the night. When they were all done, Ollivander was brought in and the curtains were shut. Until George got there, then he walked in and hugged his mate, helping him stay standing while the necessary materials were collected.
 

****
 

Xander walked into the school, tired and ready to drop. One of the ghostly beings was standing in the middle of the entry. "Peeves, what do you want?" he asked quietly. He tried to brush some more of the smoke residue off his clothes.
 

"You're in trouble," Peeves sang. "The Headmaster wants you in his office." He cackled and made a grab for Xander's new cane, but it shocked him. "Hey, no fair!"
 

"Go away, Peeves," George said tiredly as he walked in. "Xander, office?"
 

"Yeah, I probably should. He'll know why Giles came back," he said grimly. He walked up, tapping on the stone gargoyle. The stairs opened and he climbed on, letting them carry him up. "You put Peeves out there to get me?" he asked as he walked in.
 

"It kept him out of the infirmary and made him leave Tara alone," Dumbledore told him. "Sit, dear boy, before you fall over." Xander nodded and sat, accepting his husband into his lap when he came up behind him. "How was the funeral?"
 

"Tiring," Xander told him. He patted his new cane. "I'm back to having two wands again."
 

Dumbledore nodded. "I understand. How do you feel?"
 

"Like I could use a shower, a nap, and a long cuddle," Xander said honestly. "Everything's moved so fast." He looked around the office. "Are you leaving? There's not enough books in here."
 

"I sent some of the ones I had borrowed from the library back so Ignatius and Melvin could use them," Dumbledore said with a faint smile. "Are you prepared to teach your class today?"
 

"Today's one class and the advanced one," Xander thought out-loud. "I can if I have to, but I really don't feel up to it. Do I have to?" He paused to think of his schedule. "I was supposed to give a test I think." George nodded. "I can do that much then."
 

"Good. I know it's been a hard week, Xander, but the best way to deal with grief is to start moving back into normal routines."
 

"I know," George agreed. "Fred's said the same thing." Dumbledore smiled at him. "I think I'll go help him give the test, just to make sure no one's cheating and the like." The Headmaster nodded wisely. "Anything else?"
 

"Murphy left here last night in a snit. Fawkes apparently said something mean to him. I'm sure he's with your family or looking for you." Xander nodded. "Giles didn't die."
 

"Shit," Xander sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Why is he back?"
 

"I don't know. He won't say anything to anyone, not even Mr. Weasley." Xander groaned. "He wants to talk to you."
 

"Then you'd better be putting a non-violence charm on me," Xander said honestly. "What he did to Buffy was betrayal of the group. He doesn't deserve to be in this school, much less being pampered upstairs."
 

"He's not being pampered. He's tied to the bed and fed through a tube. He had quite a few massive injuries."
 

Xander stood up, letting George slide down him. "I want to give him back to the Watcher's. He turned his back on us when Tara needed him most. He shouldn't be here."
 

"I know. As soon as he's well enough, I'll gladly let you take him through the floo and drop him on that nice Wesley's desk." He smiled at the nod. "Before then, do try to get some information out of him tonight. Though, I believe Tara is waiting on you to try and keep you calm." George snorted. "She's more concerned about getting him to tell her why he left her back then. She's spent the last few nights in tears, crying on Severus."
 

"At least he takes good care of her. I'll accept him as her mate if she will." Xander took his husband's hand. "Let me get changed. Can you send up something light for us to eat before class? I really can't do the great hall today."
 

"Of course, Xander. There's two hours before your class so you can collapse in the shower if you want." Xander nodded and left, taking his mate with him. "Oh, dear," Dumbledore sighed. "I had forgotten how close those two were. He's still devastated." He made a note in his journal about the discussion and sent the house elves a message to bring them some soup and toast. When he checked on the boy a few minutes later and found him crying in the shower, he shook his head and blocked him out consciously so he could grieve in private. He checked on the infirmary. Ron was about to beat Giles again and Madam Pomfrey was going to have to semi-sedate him again. He smiled when Ron fought his way out from under it, sending her a message that Xander was back and would she please pull him up to look at the wound on his stomach. Most impressive breaking of the magical continuum that boy had done.
 

***
 

Tara met George and Ron outside the infirmary. George gave her a hug, crushing her to his chest. "It'll be okay," she told him.
 

"Of course it will, once he gives us what we want to know," Ron snorted. He cracked his knuckles. "I'm sure we can convince him to give it all up."
 

Xander walked up, dressed in mourning clothes. "Pain later," he said quietly. He looked at Tara, who gave him a brave smile. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
 

She nodded. "I need to know." She pulled herself out of the comforting embrace and straightened her robes. "He's not as bad as he was yesterday."
 

"Yay. Bad doesn't matter. I'm all for a deathbed confession," Ron put in.
 

"I know, but there's a lot of stuff he has to tell us probably," Xander told him, giving him a reassuring squeeze on the arm. "Let me go in first. If he's being a prick, you can come in and beat him." He walked in the door, knowing that everyone was standing in the doorway. He nodded at the school nurse as he walked back to the curtained off area.
 

"The back one, Xander," Poppy said gently. "Try not to hurt him more." Xander shot her a small smile before opening the curtains and disappearing into the cubicle. She looked at the waiting people. "You could move closer. He won't know." She went back into her office. This wasn't any of her concern, unless Xander tried to kill the man.
 

Xander looked down at Giles' inert form, pasting on his most bored look. "You wanted to see me?" Giles nodded so he pulled a chair over. It took him too much time to stand up these days so it would make him calm down somewhat. His cane was rested against his stomach. "You've got a lot to answer for, Rupert," he said quietly. "You ran when Tara needed you most. You took Buffy and her son, leaving him in that filthy place. Now you come running back as something bad happened and I have to admit that I think you had something to do with them getting into the school."
 

"Water," Giles croaked. Xander handed him the glass and watched as he drank. "Xander, I'm sorry," he said once he had finished it. But he kept the glass to hold and play with, he had to do something with his hands and balling them up into fists wouldn't send the right message. "I left Tara here because I couldn't stand Willow's behavior anymore. I thought that you would all be able to protect her." He looked down into the glass, seeing his reflection in the water. "I'm sorry about what happened to her."
 

"That's a lie," Tara said, opening the curtains. "It's funny, Giles, being in a magical environment has strengthened my psychic gifts and we all know empaths are natural lie detectors." She stared him down. "Why did you leave me here, without any real support, at the mercy of that bitch!" she demanded, sounding nearly hysterical.
 

"Tara, honey," Xander said calmly, patting her on the hand. "Screaming won't make it not happen." She looked down at him. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you the way you needed. He's going to be sorry for that too." She nodded, a single tear running down her cheek. "Why don't you call Severus up here so he can explain it to the both of you."
 

"You like us together?" she asked.
 

Xander nodded. "As the last remaining scoobie here, I love the fact that you've found somebody. The fact that it's such a solid guy as Severus thrills me even more. I can even forgive him for being an evil bastard some days if he makes you happy enough to glow again." She smiled at him. "Now call him up here so he can give this man some truth serum if you want to know that much." She nodded and left, thinking over the offer. He turned back to Giles. "Cute lie. Want to try that again?"
 

"Are you taking over as head of the scoobies now?" Giles asked, looking him over. "You're still a boy, Xander."
 

"I'm nearly thirty-five," Xander pointed out, standing up. He held out his arms, his cane against his thigh. "Not only have I grown up since we came here, I'm an excellent father and husband. Most of your influence has been countered. George has even made me see that I don't always have to fight for the good guys to win," he said as he sat back down. "Not only am I an adult, you gave up your position when you left. When you deserted her, you lost all respect and any right to call yourself one of us." He shifted, putting his sore knee out straight. "Now then, want to try the lie again?"
 

"I was scared of what Willow was doing," Giles spat. "Is that good enough? That I was scared of a little girl with too much power and hormonal fluctuations that would kill everyone if she got upset with me one more time?"
 

"Gee, and yet it was solved," Xander told him. "A few months without her powers calmed her down after she gave birth and during her second one. She's with Wesley now. You'll be seeing her once I deliver you back. Now, next point. Where's Buffy?"
 

Giles turned ashen. "She's dead." He heard a gasp from outside. "Surely he doesn't think that much of her."
 

Xander resisted the urge to slap the man on the bed, if only because Poppy would make his life hell. "He loved her, Giles. They may not have been able to make it official, but he did love her. And he loves all three of the triplets." Giles mouth opened. "And yeah, got a real copy of the prophecy. You'll be happy to hear that I'm training the slayer she gave birth to, along with the other two. They're all happy, well adjusted children who miss their mother quite a lot. As does Ron. Where is her body?"
 

"In that realm. We walked into the middle of a civil war that was going to spread. She was still weak from the birth and died as she should have."
 

"You're not the one to make that decision," George said from the doorway. He patted Xander on the shoulder. "Dumbledore is here. Hurry up."
 

Xander gave him a smile. "Sure. Just one more question." He looked at Giles again. "Can we summon her body back and have it buried here, in her home plane?" Giles shook his head. "Then we're through. You're going to the Watchers as soon as you're able. I'm sure Wesley will *love* to see you." He stood up and took his cane into his hand. "Never come back, Giles. Never come near your sons while they're here. Never come near any of my family. Or else we'll have to talk again and it won't be pleasant."
 

"You want to hit me, don't you," Giles said calmly.
 

"No, actually, I've learned to lean more on my magic than my physical fighting skills since my knee died in the middle of a battle." He smiled coldly. "I'd hex you multiple times until I felt better. Never come near my family, any part of it, or we'll see how I compare to an evil, hormonal Willow." He left with his mate right behind him. Xander noticed Ron walk in, but decided he could wait in the hallway for him. He leaned against the cold wall, eyes closed. "I wanted to hit him."
 

"Of course you did," George agreed. "I wanted to hit him. He'll be gone tomorrow." He patted his husband gently, knowing he didn't want to be held. Right now, if Xander's knee was perfect, he'd be pacing to wear out the anger he was feeling. "Stairclimber?" he suggested.
 

Xander nodded. "Yeah, I think so. Come get me in an hour if I'm not back by then." He blew a kiss and went to work out in his Advanced classroom.
 

George waited on his brother. He heard some shouting and almost ducked back in there, but Ron needed to get it out once and for all. When Ron came out, he offered him a hug but his brother shoved him aside and stormed away, heading outside to go hit something hard and unyielding. George understood that. He was feeling the same way right then. He nodded at Snape as he walked up. "Make him healthy enough to leave tomorrow," he suggested. "Before Xander or Ron kill him." He walked away, going to look in on the kids. Bill was watching them from the house. He picked up Maeve and cuddled her tightly, calming himself with her scent.
 

***
 

Xander walked out of the floo fireplace at the Watcher's Council, thankful that someone had raised the opening a foot. "Here," he said, tossing Giles down onto the desk. "Yours. We don't want him."
 

Wesley looked at the man, then at Xander. "Buffy?"
 

"He had her killed during a fight. Walked her into a battle not three hours after giving birth. Both sides fought her as an invading force. She's buried there and we can't get her body back." Wesley nodded, looking pissed. "Ron wanted him to burn at the stake for it, but Dumbledore decided you should have him before we do evil things to his body. By the way, he probably should go back to a hospital." He looked over as a door opened and Willow walked in. "Look who came back," he said quietly.
 

She walked in and looked down at Giles. Then she slapped him and looked at Wesley. "If you put him in the infirmary, I'm taking a long vacation until he's gone."
 

Wesley smiled at her. "I would never dream of it, Willow. He'll be going off-campus." He looked at Xander. "How are Ron's three?"
 

"Doing good. Walking around being holy terrors, like kids are supposed to be. Minnie stripped off her clothes and went walking down the Slytherin table the other night." Willow snickered. "Ryan tried to say something to her so she peed on his hand." He smiled at Willow. "Your son's calmed down at lot. You'll hopefully see a lot of improvement when you get him in London next month. May tenth, Kings Cross." She nodded. "I'll leave you with this ...being. I've got to teach kids how to deal with vengeance demons." He sighed and left via the floo.
 

Willow snarled at Giles' body, pulling back to kick him, but Wesley's strong arms going around her stopped him. "Make him leave," she requested. "Him or me, Wes."
 

"Him, my dear." He kissed the side of her head. "You're always welcome here. He's not. He betrayed not only you and your group, but also the Council." He pushed a button on his desk, sitting them both down on a nearby couch before the guards came in. "This piece of trash was returned to us. Please send him to a hospital. Give them a reasonable excuse for his injuries. He'll be standing in front of a judgement panel as soon as he's healed." The guard nodded and hefted Giles, taking him away. Willow snuggled into his side and he smiled in contentment.
 

***
 

Xander walked into his classroom and stopped, seeing the woman sitting on his desk and the students staring at her in shock. "Gee, my ex," he said with a fond grimace. "What are you doing here, Anyanka?"
 

"I came to see you," she said, stopping the buffing of her nails to smile at him. "I've been checking on you." She slid off the desk. "Can we talk?"
 

"As long as you make it fast. I'm telling these nice kids how to deal with someone like you today."
 

She grinned. "I know. I can even give them the lecture if you want. I still tell great stories." She led him into the hallway. "Are you happy?"
 

"Happier every day," he told her. "I have what I always wanted, a family who loves me. I'm more than content with my job and my life." He tapped his cane on the floor. "I can even live with the minor injuries and slowing down."
 

She stepped closer. "You're staying handicapped for him?" she purred. Xander nodded but didn't react any other way. She looked down his body, then back at his face. "You're really gay?"
 

"I think it's more person specific. I'd do anything for George. He cured me of ever wanting anyone else."
 

She pursed her lips, then suddenly smiled. "Good. That's what I wanted to know. I'm no longer a vengeance demon. I've been switched to a training demon."
 

"Congrats. Giles came back."
 

"Oh, really?" she asked. He nodded. "Was that a wish I heard your heart making?" She laid a hand over it, but then frowned. "You don't want me to fix it?"
 

"No, I can kick his ass all by myself. But you might want to check with Willow and Tara." He stepped away from her. "Why else are you here? You only show up when you're called."
 

"Actually I was. My last assignment was up here. Some girl getting screwed over by her boyfriend. He's presently getting very sick to his stomach, just like she is." Xander nodded. "You don't want to know who?"
 

"I can probably figure it out well enough on my own. It's a small school," he reminded with his normal cocky grin. "But hey, while you're here, feel free to go frighten my students into never calling on your kind. I can teach them how to kill you guys next class." She pouted, but went back in and introduced herself again, this time starting on some of her favorite stories.
 

Xander leaned against the wall and looked up at the ceiling. "You might want to figure out which kid," he whispered. He heard laughter from down the hall and looked over at Dumbledore walked up to the doorway. "Do we know who?"
 

"Yes, and he's experiencing everything his very pregnant girlfriend is," Dumbledore assured him as he walked past him, going to sit in and listen to this lecture for himself, just in case.
 

Xander pushed himself off the wall, narrowly missing a chick. "Hey, feeling bored? There's a demon in there. Or Tara's doing light spells." The chick cheeped at him and went to Tara's classroom.
 

***
 

Raena looked up as a phoenix chick landed on the library table beside her. "Wow, must be important," she muttered. Her mother looked over at her from her position behind the librarian's desk. She smiled and waved the letter. "Iggy. The chick was bored so he sent it instead of an owl."
 

Her mother walked over and took the letter to read. "My, you're a smart one," she told the chick, who puffed up and sang happily. "Quieter please," she admonished. "This is a library." The chick cheeped and leaned over, nuzzling her. "I didn't know there was more of them at Hogwarts," she said, handing the letter back.
 

Raena nodded. "Iggy said his father's is part of a breeding pair. He and Dumbledore's bird are a nesting pair and he said his cousin's bird has a nest ready too. It's really fascinating." She opened the letter and read it, laughing. "He's such a cute little kid."
 

"How old is this boy?" her mother asked, sitting down to pet the not-often-seen bird.
 

"Ten. He'll be eleven in a few days."
 

"They let him in early?"
 

"Oh, yeah. He's a potion's master in the making. He and his father are part of one of the Stonehenge colonies. Apparently their historian and Professor Snape at Hogwarts are working on his training. His father's more of a builder and mischief maker."
 

"Well, that's certainly interesting," she said with a fond smile. "Is this one his?"
 

"No, she's unbonded." She looked at the phoenix. "If you wanted, you could look around the school. Just stay away from the blue door, okay? We don't want to have to rescue you." The bird cooed and leaned against her chest, singing gently to her. "Okay, or not." She scratched the small head. "I wonder how old you are?" She read more of the letter, finding the section where he told her about this chick. "Welcome to the Braun Institute, Hilda. You're a welcome visitor to our halls." The bird nudged her so she shifted her hand, scratching the eye ridges. The bird's eyes shut and she moaned in pleasure.
 

Her mother laughed. "I think you should start researching them, dear. It might come in handy." She went back to her desk, happy that the young chick had found someone to love. Her husband would jump with joy.
 

Raena looked over at her mother, but the little bird regained her attention with affectionate nips to the fingers. "Thank you. Were those phoenix kisses?" Hilda cooed at her some more, looking into her eyes to send her a mental message of liking her. "Oh, you chose me?" she asked happily.
 

At the desk, her mother laughed. Her daughter could be a bit thick when it didn't concern a potion.
 

***
 

Bill climbed off the exam table, smiling at Madam Pomfrey. "So I'm okay to go back to work?" he asked for the second time. She nodded patiently. "Thank you. I'll get out of your hair tomorrow." He kissed her on the cheek and went to call the rest of the family to tell them the good news. He found Draco hauling suitcases down the stairs. "Use your wand," he teased.
 

"Can't. Spell components," he grunted. He put them beside the fireplace. "The house is officially done."
 

"Wonderful news," Bill said, giving him a smile. He had never thought he'd like the Malfoys, but this one wasn't all that bad. Most of the time anyway. "Are you moving without telling anyone?"
 

"Just the heavy stuff today," Draco told him, sitting on top of the case, wiping his forehead off. "I wish I could magic them, but it could destroy a few of them."
 

"Will the floo hurt it?"
 

"Not that much. They're protected against that. But not apparating or lifting, or even shrinking. It's rather inconvenient."
 

"So pay one of the little bastards in Slytherin to help you," George suggested as he walked in. "There's a few who could use the money."
 

"Good idea," Draco decided. "I'll talk with them tonight." He looked at Bill. "You look extremely proud of yourself."
 

"I've just been cleared to go back to work," he said happily.
 

"That's excellent news,"George said. "We should go out to dinner to celebrate. Let me go find Fred and tell him?"
 

"Sure," Bill agreed. "But you're buying."
 

"I can do that," George agreed, patting Xander's paycheck in his robe pocket. He had been heading to the bank. "Let me pop down to the shop. Come down there in a few." He disappeared through the floo.
 

Draco stood up with a groan of pain. "I'm too old to do things like hauling." Bill laughed. "You don't think so?"
 

"You're only thirty-one, and we live to be over a hundred. You've still got a ways to go before you're too old for anything, Malfoy."
 

"Hmm, good point." Draco buffed his family seal on his robe. "Let me go find some little kid to do this for me." He strolled away, going to his old house. There was always at least one poor one in there. The door opened for him easily and most everyone looked up. "Would any of you like to earn some pocket change? I'm moving into my new house and could use a helper. If not, I could easily go find a Gryff."
 

Ryan looked over at him. "Feeling too good to lift and tote?" he sneered.
 

"Why should I when I can pay someone to do it for me? Three galleons for the day's work, today and tomorrow's worth of work."
 

Ryan sighed. "I guess we should help, with you being part of the house and all." He looked at Draco's large ring. "What's that? Looks ostentatious."
 

Draco held it out so he could see it. "It's my family seal. Created back when Merlin was freely roaming around by a Master Silversmith in Greece for my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather's Uncle, which was passed to my side because that one only had a daughter." He took the opal and silver ring back, putting it back on his finger. "It's the symbol of me running my family now." He glanced around. "Anyone else want to help? I could probably use more than one. Three at the most though." A few more boys stepped forward and he led them back to his room, letting them pick up and carry stuff through the floo while he packed. This was much easier.
 

***
 

George walked into the living section of the shop, stopping when he heard the screaming. He cleared his throat and adjusted himself then went back to his twin's room. Since the door was open, he had to duck a dildo being thrown off the bed. "I say," he called from the safe side of the doorway, facing the opposite wall. "Bill's heading back to work and we're going to dinner to celebrate. Would you like to come?" A pillow was thrown his way. "Thank you, but I already took a nap, Fred. Supper?"
 

"In a minute," Elizabeth called, scrambling for a sheet. She wrapped it around herself and stuck her head out the door. "How long do we have to shower?"
 

"Say an hour?" he said, giving her a smile. "Do I have to warn you to treat my twin right? Otherwise my husband will do very mean things to you."
 

"Your husband's a pussy cat," she snorted. "And I always take care of Fred. I might leave him gasping for air and needing someone to make sure his heart's working right, but I always take care of him." She smiled. "Where are we heading?"
 

"I have not a clue," George admitted. "I think we were going to decide that as soon as everyone got together. I'm heading for Percy's next." She nodded. "An hour, our house." He strolled away. She was a really lovely woman, and did remind him a bit of a female Xander in intensity. But she made his brother happy and that was what mattered to him. He flooed to Percy's, smiling as he walked out of the fireplace. "Bill's headed back to work. Want to come to dinner to celebrate?"
 

Percy dropped his fork onto the takeaway and stood up, wiping his mouth. "Better than that slop. Tananda. Want to go say goodbye to Uncle Bill?" She ran out of her room and hugged George around the thighs. "We're going to dinner if you think you can behave." She nodded and gave him an innocent look. "What were you doing?"
 

George picked something out of her hair. "Playdough it looks like." She smiled, showing off a hint of purple. "Oops, we ate some, Perce." He handed over the little girl. "Our place, an hour." Percy nodded, frowning at his daughter. "They all do it, don't worry too much." He left, going to check on his parents. He found his father watching his mother cook. "Good news, Bill's headed back to work. We're headed out for a dinner in town if you wanted to join us."
 

Molly smiled at him. "We'd love to, George. When and where?"
 

"We haven't decided that far yet. Just be in our house in an hour." He smiled and hugged his mother. She had been returned to her old self. He left, going back in time to see three Slytherins carrying boxes down the stairs. "Draco's leaving without telling us?" he asked them, sounding like he was joking.
 

Draco came out of the back area, shaking his head. "My house was finally finished today so I'm moving some of the extra things back now. The spell components and the things I've bought for the house recently. I was going to officially move this weekend so Xander has time to pout."
 

George laughed. "All right, we can accept that. Are you coming to dinner with us tonight?" Draco nodded. "Good. So are Fred, Elizabeth, Percy, Tananda, Mum, and Dad." Bill perked up. "So pick somewhere. I told them an hour." He looked down at himself. "I'd better shower and change. Hold the fort down for a few minutes." He headed up to the bathroom.
 

Xander walked in a few minutes later and watched the box brigade. "Draco, did you have an announcement?"
 

"I'm moving this weekend," Draco called down from his room. "We're having dinner out so dress in something decent."
 

Xander snorted. "Wonderful. Guess who I ran into today," he called as he walked up the stairs. Draco stuck his head out of his room. "My ex, the vengeance demon, showed up today to help me lecture on her kind," he said with mock-happiness. "Someone shoot me the fuck now before the owls start coming." He heard the shower turn off. "George or Ron?"
 

"George." Draco closed his door. "You can hide behind me."
 

Xander shook his head as he walked in to get a wet and slippery hug. They always cheered him up. "My ex showed up today," he announced in the middle of the hug.
 

"The demon?" Xander nodded. "Well. What did the cheeky twat want?"
 

"To make sure I was happy. She was here to torture a Ravenclaw boy so decided to say hi and help me give the lecture about her kind today." George gave him a squeeze. "Thanks. I'm expecting a blizzard of owls tomorrow." He sighed and stepped into the shower, turning on the cold water.
 

"Dear, your clothes," George pointed out. He went to their room to get dressed, but was nice enough to pull out an outfit for Xander. Something Draco had bought so he wouldn't hear any complaints.
 

***
 

Xander looked around before he stepped into the Great Hall the next morning. He only walked in when Dumbledore smiled at him. "I really didn't call her," he said as he joined the other teachers.
 

"I know, Xander. Don't fret about it," Dumbledore told him. "Fortunately we've found the poor boy she cursed and are treating him."
 

Lupin leaned around Dumbledore. "Was she really your ex-girlfriend?"
 

"Oh, yeah," he sighed as he sat down. "My ex. We accidentally forced her to become human for a while so she picked me to teach her how to be a good human. Not that she ever really got the point of anything besides sex and money." Snape choked. "Not together, separately." He grinned. "She never got that desperate. Back then I was willing to be walked over by a girlfriend."
 

"It's strange thinking of you dating a woman," Black told him.
 

Xander nodded. "Yeah, every once in a while I have to stop and think back too. I used to really like women, until I found out George liked me." He looked down at his suddenly full plate. "Thanks, mom."
 

"You're welcome," Tara said with a smile. "So, how was Anya? She only stopped in to say hi and asked if I wanted her to curse Giles."
 

Xander shrugged. "She said she got a promotion. She's teaching the young demons now. So no more random vengeance, now she's on special assignments I guess." He grimaced. "Can we put something up so she can't come back?"
 

Dumbledore laughed. "If I could, I would do so, Xander. I can't imagine what some of the parents will be saying." Xander moaned. "Don't worry, they'll write me, not you."
 

"No, her," Xander said, pointing at Dumbledore's friend, who was standing with Anya and the former Head Girl of Gryffindor. "Why me? Can't Ron deal with them?" He put his head down on the table, which made the demons laugh. "Make it stop, Albus, please?"
 

Tara stood up. "Anyanka, would you care to eat with us?" she called. Xander batted weakly at her. "If you do, you can't curse anyone. We can block you from doing so while you're here."
 

Anyanka smiled and waved. "Hi, Tara. No, we're just surveying. Therina's student wanted to be evaluated for duty." She strolled up. "You have children?" she asked, pointing at Maeve, who was eating at the kiddie table behind the main one.
 

"Mine," Xander said coldly, lifting his head. "Mine, and you will stay away from them."
 

She backed away from the iciness in his eyes. "I wasn't going to hurt her. It's not my job description," she reminded him.
 

"Yay," he said dryly. He stood up and leaned over. "Go away," he said slowly and clearly. "Take the demon ho and leave. You can even take the student for an hour. It shouldn't take you much longer than that. And if you *ever* come near my children, I will go to the demon plane and track your wrinkly butt down."
 

Tara patted Xander on the back, forcing him back into his seat. "He's very protective of his children. I carried Maeve for him."
 

"Oh. That's wonderful." Anyanka looked at Xander, who was staring her down. "You know I wouldn't ever come near a child. They're not part of my job." Xander started to growl, making her back up. "Oh, I forgot you were one of those. Never mind. Your need to protect your family goes down into your genetics. I won't even come if they call, Xander. I promise, we're going to leave your family alone." Therina coughed and she looked at her. "Oh, tell me you didn't," she begged. "He's gryphon born, he'll kill over his family. Every last one of us if he has to."
 

Xander nodded. "Take the hint. Never touch my mate again." Therina squeaked and left, taking her student with her. He looked at Anyanka. "Thank you for helping me yesterday. It was nice to scare the children that much. I'm sure none of them will ever call on you."
 

Anyanka smiled. "You'd be surprised. I usually get at least one call from the people I've taught. They remember how mean I can be and call on me specifically." She fluffed her hair. "It's a wonderful calling."
 

Xander nodded. "Yay for you. I'm happy that you're as happy as I am. Go away now. Bye-bye."
 

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll leave. It's not like I have any work around here. I can't even recruit?" Dumbledore and Xander both shook their heads. "Fine, I'll work out of Diagon." She disappeared in a flash of smoke.
 

Xander looked at the students. "For those of you who didn't hear the lecture yesterday, that was a vengeance demon. Please, never call her again." He put his head back down on the table.
 

Tara gave him a hug. "I know it's hard to see her again, Xander, but you showed her. She won't be coming back. I'll stomp her if she does, okay?" He nodded. "Why don't you eat and then go call George? It'll make you feel better." He turned and gave her a real hug, then dug into his food. She looked at Dumbledore, who was shaking with suppressed laughter. "Are you going to write Hedre's parents?"
 

"I already have. They've since written back and yelled at me because I was putting my so-called sick fantasies onto the students." Xander snorted. "I'm sure they'll love this development. I'll make Hedre write them herself this time to tell them the good news." He looked at Xander. "Are you all right?"
 

"Just fine," he said. "Did you set the record spell yesterday? I can run it today so everyone knows the same thing."
 

"Yes, I did, and it was quite tame."
 

"Definitely tame. No one got their balls removed, eaten, or cut up in front of them." Black held his mouth and ran out. "Sorry," he called after him. "Didn't mean to make him sick."
 

"We all got very strong stomachs from her," Tara said tactfully. Anya had offered to get Willow for her too. She turned the poor demon down, it wasn't that bad. "If it was tame, it couldn't have been any of her usual stories." Xander shook his head. "New ones?"
 

"All fresh from the last two years," he said. "Then she told them how to summon her, so they could avoid it according to her, and about what a vengeance demon was for. Very thorough, but I think I'm going to have nightmares for a while." He scraped his plate and stood up. "Tell Sirius I'm sorry about his stomach, Remus. I didn't mean to make him sick. But if he wants, I can tell him some really great stories of hers about guys she's cursed for doing what he did last month." He grinned headed down off the dias, going down to his class.
 

Tara burst out in chuckles, leaning against Snape's arm. "That was so mean," she gasped. "I can't imagine what Anyanka would do to poor Sirius for his liaisons."
 

Snape pushed her head off his arm. "I'm sure it would be suitable to his behavior."
 

Tara shook her head. "No, she does what she wants, unless you ask for something in particular. I hope those two never meet professionally." She wiped her cheeks off. "It felt good to laugh."
 

Iggy hopped up and rubbed his butt. "No pinching!" he demanded, glaring at his cousins. Simone looked clueless. Denver shrugged. Melvin shrugged from his seat. "Okay, who pinched my bum!" he called.
 

"Sit down," Snape yelled. "Such behavior is not decorous."
 

"Someone pinched me!" Iggy insisted.
 

"I'm sure they won't do it again," Tara told him. He sat down, but jumped up and stormed out again. "Guys, please," she called. "Iggy's under enough stress right now."
 

"Too true," Remus sighed. "Speaking of Iggy, I have his class in an hour so I should probably go get ready for Simone." He looked over but Denver had his sister in a head lock and was pummeling her. "Should we go break that up?"
 

"Probably," Tara agreed. She looked at Dumbledore, who shook his head and sipped at his tea before standing up. That was apparently the signal because the Prefects got up and separated them.
 

"Bring them up here please," Dumbledore said, walking back out into the back hall. He didn't see Snape sneering at Simone, or her flipping him off very visibly. But he did hear the twenty points off comment the potion's master too. "Children," he said once the door was closed. "What was that about?"
 

"My sister's a git!" Denver said, shoving her. "Hands are better. How would you know? Suddenly got a dick?"
 

Simone patted down her robe, then looked him over. "When did you grow one? Oh, and the girl you're after, she likes girls. You don't stand a chance," she sneered.
 

"Enough!" Dumbledore said sternly.
 

"And another thing, brother dear, daddy's going to have you rendered infertile this summer so you can't do what he did and knock someone up."
 

"Enough!" Draco roared, startling them all. "Simone, you are not only grounded, but it will be the most unpleasant time of your life. You do not pick on your siblings that way. You wouldn't do it to Anastasia and you won't do it to Denver." He patted Denver on the head. "Now, what started this?" He glared at them until Simone looked away. "I'm waiting."
 

"Denver's over the moon over this girl. He's forgetting *everything* because of her."
 

"That's what boys do," her father pointed out. "Some day soon you'll find a boy who'll do the same thing for you." She snorted and looked skeptical. "That is, if you don't drive them off with your mouth. Go to the house and wait on me." She huffed and walked away. Draco tipped Denver's face up. "Go have your eye looked at. Are you all right?"
 

"Was she right, daddy?"
 

Draco grimaced. "I was going to give you an infertility potion so you could explore your natural instincts without having problems, not because I regret having Simone." He hugged his son. "Now go get that checked and we'll take a long walk tonight so we can discuss this in private." Denver nodded. "Really, son, it's not the worst thing, it's to make sure you're safe. There's many things out there that you don't understand yet and a number of girls who will take advantage of you by intentionally getting pregnant to gain the family name." He smiled. "I hope you find someone like your step-mother, but I'd rather be safe for now. It's nothing against you." Denver nodded and headed up to the infirmary, not going through the Great Hall. "I'm sorry about that, Headmaster. I'm going to have a discussion with my daughter."
 

"Please. Also have one about her mouth," Dumbledore suggested. "If she comes back next year swearing in such a manner, I'm going to have to take corrective measures beyond detentions."
 

Draco grimaced. "You can blame that on Xander, thank you. He taught her the first swear word." He walked away, going to yell at his little one. It was just jealousy, she would have to get over it. Soon. He walked in and found Iggy and Simone going at it, watching to see who would need medical attention first. "Stop it," he snarled. Simone knocked Iggy onto his butt

Iggy kicked her feet out from under her and pounced her again, smashing her head into the floor before standing up.
 

He wiped the blood off his mouth. "Never say that to me again, Simone, or I'll do it worse. You might want to thank your father for saving you this time." He looked at Draco. "Sorry, but she needed it. I'm going to get a bandage." He walked away, heading up to join his cousin in the infirmary.
 

Draco sat on the couch and pointed at the other end. "Sit." She moaned as she got up, crawling onto the couch. "I don't know what that was about, but I'm tired of it already. All this crap from you will stop, Simone." She glared at him. "Has it occurred to you that you've just managed to upset the most calm individual on the face of the planet? Has Iggy ever hit you before?"
 

"He's an asshole."
 

"Your language is another matter we will be taking up, young lady," he said coldly. "That's another thing I've had enough of." He shifted some, pulling a foot up under him. "Now, you have one opportunity to tell me what is bothering you before I react and beat you senseless myself."
 

"You won't hit me," she told him. She found herself over his lap and being spanked before the last word came out of her mouth. "Let me go, bastard!" she screamed, fighting back.
 

He shoved her onto the floor, not rubbing any of the places where she had managed to get him. "One chance, Simone, before I turn you over to your mother again. Give me one very good reason for not tossing you out of the family for your recent behavior."
 

"I'm just like you," she sneered.
 

"I managed to change. You can do the same. And saying that you're just like me isn't much more than admitting you're a spoiled little girl. Now, what is wrong. This is your last moment."
 

"They're all too wrapped up in their little lives to see that they're tearing all of us apart," she shrieked. "You're not helping any either by encouraging them. So yeah, I'm pissed. It's wonderful being alone."
 

"Are you really?" he asked.
 

She nodded, getting up and sitting in Xander's chair. "Fuck you and your whoring ways, father. And fuck you doubly for passing them on to the other boys in the family."
 

He stood up and towered over her. "I will not take that disrespect from you, Simone. Not now, not ever," he said calmly. "I am not a whore, nor am I teaching your cousins or your brother to fool around on anyone. I am teaching them how to attract someone suitable. I am teaching them how to enjoy what they'll be doing with those people some day. I am not teaching them anything else." She glared at him. "As for you being alone, that's by your own doing, little girl. It says something when not even your own siblings will be around you."
 

"Yeah, 'cause I've had such a good role model," she yelled. "Like I need this shit." She took off her tie and dropped it on the floor. "I'm done for the year. I'm leaving and going home to mother."
 

"Good luck with that," he called after her as she used the floo. "She won't put up with this either." He sat down in the chair, glaring at the fireplace.
 

"Is it safe now?" George called.
 

"I won't hit you," Draco called back. "You're not my daughter."
 

George walked down the stairs. "She does have a point. She and the three boys have always been closer than anything and now they're finding their own ways. She's being left out and she probably is quite scared that they'll leave her permanently."
 

"Yes, but she's making sure it happens."
 

"Human beings are like that," George said gently. "We often run from what we need most and force the worst things to happen to us." Draco looked up at him. "Besides, she's seen your fighting to stay away from Ginny and that's all she knows, Draco." He gave the younger man a gentle pat on the head. "Give her some time. She'll figure it out."
 

"Or she'll kill someone," Draco noted dryly. "Your son is up in the infirmary."
 

"I know. Poppy will handle it. She's really good at figuring out what the underlying problems are." He smiled. "With that said, I'm going to go make mean things. If you wanted, I can keep Simone from buying any of them and let the boys have some for free."
 

Draco shook his head. "It won't help anything. I'm hoping Ginny will be able to stop her before she hurts someone else."
 

"Like herself?" George asked as he walked away.
 

***
 

Ginny looked over as her floo discharged her daughter. "What are you doing here?"
 

"I quit." She sat down at the table and picked up a piece of melon. "I'll go to a different school, but I won't go back to Hogwarts."
 

"Hmm." Ginny finished her bite of eggs. "What happened?" She took another bite.
 

"Daddy yelled at me and beat my ass."
 

"You probably deserved it," Anastasia told her. "You're a horrible little girl."
 

"Ana," Ginny warned. "Just because she's not like you doesn't make her horrible. Apologize."
 

"Sorry," Anastasia said, looking down at her plate. "Can I go to my room and read? You two probably need to have a long talk."
 

"Sure. Bring your breakfast with you, and Ravena." Anastasia nodded, gathering up both plates and her little sister. "What happened?" Ginny asked her. "Besides your father spanking you."
 

"Iggy and Denver are leaving me."
 

"Uh-huh. Why?"
 

"Because they've got girlfriends," she sneered.
 

"Oh." Ginny nodded. "Yeah, but they'll always come back." Simone shook her head and put it on the table. "Are you sure of that?"
 

"Yup."
 

"Ah." Ginny finished her breakfast and got up, putting her plate into the dishwasher. "Simone, clear the table and we'll talk."
 

"Do I have to?"
 

"Yes." Her daughter sighed and stood up, bringing over the empty dishes. "Do you actually think that the boys will ignore you totally forever?" Simone nodded. "What proof do you have of that?"
 

"Gee, let's see," Simone said dryly. "Let's start with me getting knocked off my broom and no one noticing. After that, we can count the day I got this." She rolled up her left sleeve and showed off a recent cut. "In Herbology, with a poisoned plant. Melvin noticed that one because I smacked him when I asked for a handkerchief. That's how I found out it was poisoned, after class. And did my *loving* brother or cousins come see me in the infirmary during my three hour stay? No. Denver was worrying about his lone pubic hair falling out. Iggy was worrying about a new potion he wanted to try, and Melvin was drooling over Andrea - who doesn't realize he's doing it. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Last night, do you know what happened?" Her mother shook her head, turning and resting against the counter to look at her. "Last night, someone snuck into our room. I beat the shit up. The Prefect and Head Boy both congratulated me. Iggy and Denver looked at me like I was insane. Just because the guy might have been someone's boyfriend, which he wasn't. They think I overreacted. How very nice of them to worry about my safety," she finished with a trademark Malfoy sneer.
 

Her mother hugged her. "I'm sorry you've had such a horrible term. Why didn't you tell me?"
 

"What could you do?"
 

"Beat the boys for you," she snorted. "It's not you, honey. They'll get over it soon enough." She pulled a chair over and sat down, holding her eldest. "Next year will be better. This summer will make them see how horrible they're being."
 

"I don't want to see them. I'd rather die than have to see either Iggy or Denver for the next few years."
 

"Tough. I'm not sending you to France." Ginny looked over as George walked out of the fireplace. "Were you aware that she was nearly killed in Herbology?" He nodded. "Was your son?"
 

"He wanted to go up but Flitwick wouldn't let him out of class." He came over and hugged Simone. "It sucks, but they'll realize they're asses in a few weeks. Once school's out..."
 

"I won't see them," Simone told him, pulling away from both adults. "I could care less if they both end up comatose in a hospital bed, I don't want to see them."
 

"That's a horrible thing to say," Ginny said calmly. She had seen the hurt look on George's face. "You don't want them to get sick, Simone."
 

"Why not? Iggy wants me to shrivel up and die, he said so!" She stomped off, going up to her room. The door slammed, shaking the others in the hallway.
 

"She didn't mean it, George."
 

"No, she did. I think it's time we saw this from the other side. Do you want Iggy or Denver?"
 

"Actually, I think I want Melvin. He's not the most attentive, but he's always watched the group." She stood up. "We're going to yell at the boys," she called.
 

"Good, beat the fucks for me,"Simone yelled back. She kicked her door.
 

Ginny shook her head and followed George back. "How did you know?"
 

"I called and heard part of it," he admitted. "Fred's heard too. He's about to beat Draco for hitting her."
 

"She probably needed it," Ginny said before disappearing. She came out of the fireplace and found Percy in front of her. "Here to yell at the boys?"
 

"Melvin snuck into the teacher's lounge and called me," he admitted, rubbing his forehead. "Said Simone attacked Denver in the Great Hall and then she left the grounds."
 

"She's at my house," Ginny told him. "Really upset. I think we need to talk to the boys. Preferably before she does something stupid." She looked around. "Where would they be?"
 

"Iggy and Denver are both in the infirmary," Xander said from the stairway. Everyone looked at him, they hadn't noticed him there. "Gee, hi. Yes, I do know about feeling invisible. Want me to talk to Simone?"
 

"Do you think it'd help?" Ginny asked.
 

Xander shook his head. "Not until the boys quit panting after women and realize she's still standing there." He stood up. "But I think I understand a little bit." Ginny nodded and got out of his way, letting him head to her house. He walked up the stairs and tapped on Simone's door. "Hey, it's me," he said at the thump.
 

Anastasia peeked out of her room. "Hi, Uncle Xander. Are you here to yell too?"
 

"No, honey, to comfort," he said with a smile. "I've been where Simone is during high school." The door opened and his niece stared up at him. "Really. My friends intentionally tried to shove me away because they decided I wasn't good enough for them anymore. Being normal guy when everyone else was becoming special sucked ass." She let him in and slammed the door before Ravena could get an idea. He sat on her bed and patted his lap. "Come here. You need a cuddle."
 

She crawled into his lap and leaned against his chest. "They really did that to you? Auntie Tara and everyone?"
 

"Tara wasn't part of the group then, but she was there when it happened the second time. She stuck up for me then, even talked to me often. Much more often than my supposed best friend ever, Willow." He gave her a squeeze. Those times still hurt to think about. "You see...."
 

***
 

Ginny walked into the infirmary alone, and closed the curtains around the boys' beds so they could get some privacy. "Tell me why you're ignoring Simone?" she asked calmly.
 

"We're not," Iggy complained. "I don't know where she gets that stuff, but I haven't ever ignored her."
 

"Did you give her funny looks for beating up on the guy who broke into her room?" Ginny sat on the end of Denver's bed. "And did you ask how she was after she was injured in Herbology? Or even quit panting after girls long enough to realize that she fell off her broom recently from very high up?" Denver groaned. "You didn't know?"
 

"She bounced back up and announced she was fine!" he whined.
 

"And did you believe her?" He nodded. "Why?"
 

"Because she doesn't say those things without it being true," Iggy pointed out.
 

"Did you ever think it might have been because she knew you weren't going to pay any attention to her? I bet that if I asked, she got checked out that night and was at least bruised." Both boys hung their heads. "That's why she's so upset with you, boys. Because she's got no one else and you guys have a lot of other friends."
 

"She could have more," Denver pointed out. "She's scared off everyone but Andrea with her mouth."
 

"Which is how she protects herself from people she doesn't know getting close. She's very aware that a lot people would like her only for her father." She grimaced. "Anastasia pulls out her princes act when people come close enough to try and become friends. She's got you guys and that's it. She'll never have a lot of friends because she's very aware people want to get close to her because she's an heiress. The same way people like to get close to you, Denver, for the very same reason. Or Iggy because he's powerful. People are like that unfortunately." She slid off the bed. "I think you two need to think about your relationship with Simone. She's in her room crying on Xander right now because you guys have let her down so badly." She looked at them. "Pick now, boys. Do you want her to be around or not. Otherwise the next time you see her will be on the train back. And that's only if she doesn't talk her father into sending her to France." She left, stopping to give Melvin and Andrea a hug. "You too," she told Melvin, giving him a stern look. "Andrea, she's sorry she's upsetting you because you're the only friend she feels she has left. She'll hopefully be back tonight or early tomorrow." She stopped. "Who was the person sneaking into the dorms?"
 

"One of the pervy town boys," Melvin told her. "Is she okay?"
 

"No. I'm hoping I'll get her calmed down later." Ginny gave him a hug and walked away. She knew the fathers would be talking with each of them later. Draco caught her in the hall and gave her a hug. "Did you really spank her?"
 

"She called me a whore," he whispered. "I feel horrible about it." He pulled back. "Is she all right?" Ginny shook her head. "What's wrong?"
 

"The boys have managed to find a life and she hasn't. Since they're about her only friends, she's quite alone and lonely." She started walking, and he followed her. "Xander's telling her stories about being left out by Willow and everybody."
 

"At least someone understands."
 

Ginny stopped and looked at him. "How many real friends did you have in school?" she asked. He frowned but apparently couldn't come up with an answer. "You've warned her often enough about people who'll want her for her name. That's why she's such a mouthy shit to everyone. And that's why she's so dependent on the boys for friendship."
 

"I guess I can understand that," Draco murmured. He gave her a short squeeze. "Can it be fixed?"
 

"I hope so. If not, she just asked to transfer schools and never see the boys again." She patted him on the back. "How's the moving?"
 

"Decent enough. The furniture makers delivered yesterday. Almost everything is in there. I need some more towels and sheets if you want to go shopping with me tonight?"
 

"No thanks. I think I'm going to be spending the night with Simone. Can you get her cleared for the day?"
 

"I'll do my best." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck. Call if you need me." He walked away and she headed back to leave for home again.
 

***
 

Simone giggled. "Were they really that big of butts?" she asked. He nodded, giving her a look. "Do you think the boys will ever get over it?"
 

"Maybe," Xander said, sounding optimistic. "If not, then you'll find better friends who won't ignore you." He gave her a squeeze. "You ready to go back and face Dumbledore?" She shook her head. "The longer you wait, the worse it's going to be."
 

"I don't care. The worst he can do is kick me out and I'm not sure I want to go back next year anyway. I'd rather go somewhere that they aren't." She looked up at him again. "Are you mad at me for not liking Iggy anymore?"
 

"No, I understand. He's always been absorbed in something, though he used to care that you cracked a rib."
 

"Don't yell at him, Uncle Xander."
 

"Why not?"
 

"Because, like you've said, he's never focused on me like Denver did. I'm used to some ignoring from him, just not that much."
 

"Okay." He kissed her on the side of the head. "You sure you don't want to come back now?"
 

"No," she sighed. "I want more time to calm down." She smiled. "And hey, if I get kicked out, I won't have to worry about them."
 

"That's assuming that the other schools will take you when Hogwarts kicks you out," he pointed out. She grimaced. "They might not want to take a chance, especially with your detention record, young lady."
 

"At least you didn't call me a little girl."
 

"Well, you still are, but you're trying to be adult more often. That too will get better as you get older." He put her onto the floor and stood up, picking up his cane where it had fallen. "You sure? I'll go up with you if you want."
 

She looked around her room. "I know I probably should, but if I have to see them, I'm only going to get into another fight."
 

"I can probably help that too. I'm doubting that you're not going to be grounded to the house, so you only have to worry about that after classes are done for the day." She nodded, looking miserable. "I bet if you apologized and told him, that Dumbledore would understand. He's been a teacher and Headmaster for a very long time. He used to head over Gryffindor too." He gave her another hug. "Come on, I'll walk you up." She nodded and grabbed her robe and jacket. "I'll even hold your hand if you want." He walked her down to the floo, meeting her mother there. "We're going to talk to Dumbledore," he said quietly. "She might be back later." Ginny nodded and gave her daughter a hug, whispering something to her.
 

"Thanks, mum." She held her Uncle's hand while they flooed back to the main school fireplace, letting him lead her up the stairs. Dumbledore smiled at her and she broke out in tears. "I'm sorry."
 

"It's all right, Simone. I know how lonely it can be to be ignored suddenly by those that you considered friends." He smiled at Xander, who sat down and lifted her onto his lap. "We'll talk for now and then I'll have to decide on your punishment."
 

She nodded, stopping her crying. Xander gave her a comforting squeeze. "I'm ready to take whatever you have to do to me, sir."
 

"Good."
 

***
 

Iggy pounced Simone once he walked into the tower. "What happened?" he asked, sitting beside her. He tried to give her a hug but she shoved him away. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize."
 

"Yay." She got up and went up to her room. Two days of suspension to the tower might not be so bad. She found a small tray of food on her bed and smiled, pulling her curtains to eat in peace. She heard one of her roomies walk in but didn't pay any attention to them. She wasn't friends with any of them. So when her curtains opened and Andrea climbed in beside her, she wasn't really prepared. "Did they send you?" she asked.
 

"No. Melvin's so upset that he couldn't eat so I thought I'd see if I could help."
 

"Yeah, you can continue to be my friend, unlike my cousins and brother."
 

Andrea hugged her. "Anything. Can I come over this summer?"
 

"If you can stand my sisters, then you can even stay in my room, assuming Ravena hasn't torn it apart again."
 

Andrea giggled. "Okay. I'll help you clean it if I have to." Pumpkin barked so she let the dog up, petting her until she laid down. "Classes today were boring. You can copy my notes if you want."
 

Simone shrugged. "I'm doing so bad in some of my classes that I don't think I care right now." She looked at the plate, offering her friend a bite of chicken. "Want some?"
 

"No thanks, I ate downstairs." Andrea pulled back and laid on the second pillow. "So, what happened? I know they're ignoring you but I never noticed it."
 

"That's because it started as soon as we got here," Simone sighed. "It's just worse now. Did you know I fell off my broom last practice?" Andrea shook her head. "I did. Cracked a rib. Damn near broke my wrist." She flexed it, it was still a little stiff. "Did you know that neither my brother or my cousin realized I had been hurt?"
 

"I heard you say you were okay," Melvin said, opening the curtains so he could climb in on Simone's side. He gave her a hug and closed the curtains again. "Before you say anything, the two idiots are downstairs and your Head Boy is really nice. He came and got me and suggested I come talk to you." He leaned his chin on her shoulder. "You said you were okay."
 

"Would it have mattered if I hadn't? I said that ten minutes after I fell."
 

"You waved me off," Melvin pointed out.
 

"Melvin, that was five minutes after I fell. I laid there catching my breath for a few minutes. You were staring at Andrea all that time."
 

"Oh." He gave her a cuddle. "I'm sorry, Simone. I didn't realize. I know they didn't realize until your mum yelled at them earlier."
 

"Gee, and that's so helpful," Simone said. "I don't want them to like me because my mom yelled at them."
 

"They won't," Andrea told her. "She pointed out what was wrong, she didn't pay them to like you." She shifted the plate aside and hugged her friend too. "I don't know what I can do about this, but I'm still here."
 

"I know you are." Simone enjoyed getting hugs, relaxing into them. "But I don't want to see them. I don't want to hear them say they're sorry or anything. I'm tired of them and their problems."
 

"So we'll run interference until it gets to us and we lock you in a closet," Melvin told her. Simone chuckled weakly. "You think I'm kidding but I'm not. We were going to lock you guys into Slytherin's library, but Uncle Xander told us we couldn't because there wasn't any air back there."
 

"I don't care enough to fight with them," Simone admitted. "I don't care anymore. Uncle Xander showed me that I don't need them. I can be friends with you two and that should be enough."
 

Andrea smiled at her. "If you say so, but we'll support you finding more friends. After all, one friend is great, but sixteen is really fun for birthday parties."
 

Simone laughed and hugged her. "Thanks."
 

"Anytime. That's what friends are for." She looked over at Melvin, who looked upset. "It'll be okay," she assured him. "Simone wasn't kicked out. Yet."
 

"I asked mum if I could transfer," Simone admitted.
 

Melvin pinched her hard. "You can't do that! That'd leave me with the idiot duo. Then what would I do?"
 

"Get resorted?" Andrea teased.
 

"I'd have to. Otherwise Gryffindor might fall apart if they were left alone." He slid out of the bed. "I have to get back. I have a paper I need to write. Want to meet up in the library?"
 

"I'm suspended to the tower for the next two days," Simone told him.
 

"Oh." He grimaced. "Then I'll just have to come back and have you help me. After all, this is Transfiguration and I suck at it." He blew kisses and hurried away. Denver got in his way and he glared at his cousin. "Would it have been too much trouble to float down and ask her if she was really okay when she cracked a rib?" he asked. Denver winced. "I fully admit, I wasn't paying attention to her either, but you guys are majorly screwed. You used to be so close and she's upset because you guys aren't anymore. I'd fix it before it starts the rest of the family fighting." He walked out. He found the Head Boy on the walkway. "I'll be going back if that's okay with you."
 

Gregory looked at him. "If you're keeping her calm then you're allowed. But if she beats you up, you're on your own, Melvin. I'm not that strong."
 

"I know." He leaned on the railing too. "She's upset because the people who are usually her line to sanity are ignoring her. It'll only get worse before it gets better. I think she'll beat them up the first time they try to talk to her."
 

Gregory nodded. "I figured as much. Are you spending the night in the common room?"
 

Melvin shook his head. "No thanks. I have a great bed with just the right amount of lumps in the right spots. But I'll be doing my homework with her. Can we do it in her room?"
 

"As long as her roommates don't mind and Professor Weasley doesn't find out, you're fine."
 

"He's fine anyway," Xander said from behind them. He smiled at the boys who had jumped. "Ron's stuck with sick kids right now. So go ahead, Melvin. If he yells, tell him I said it was okay. You're keeping her sane right now." Melvin smiled and left. "How is it going otherwise?" he asked, leaning against the railing.
 

"Pretty good, sir."
 

"Gregory," he warned.
 

"Sorry, Xander. The house is okay. I'm not real sure about some things right now, but everything else is okay. I know the others on the house team are worried about her. Did she really get hurt?"
 

"Yup. Madam Pomfrey had to heal her rib that night. It's amazing but the other beater told her to suck it up and deal with it too. Apparently he's finished a game after a bad fall."
 

"I remember. He broke his wrist. Changed hands and went on. I used to wonder what had made him that way until I met his father after that game. His father congratulated him for it." He shrugged. "We're all different, being a Prefect and Head Boy have made me see that. I just don't understand why we're like we are."
 

"Think about studying people," Xander suggested. "College isn't for everybody but you'd probably do okay there." He smiled. "Just think, you're missing the next Malfoy-Weasley coming in."
 

"Yeah, and I'm really thankful for that right now." Gregory waved and headed back inside. He nodded at Melvin when he ran back inside, and decided to ignore the rest of them for right now. He had his own problems at the moment. College? Would his NEWTS count and how would he apply?
 

***
 

It was the last game of the season and Gryffindor had pulled this match in the yearly draw. The team was ranged around the field, Iggy playing keeper and the alternate chaser looking nervous beside Denver. Simone swung her bat, wincing at the stiffness in her wrist. Today might not be such a good day. Earlier, the seeker and pro-tem captain had given them a pep talk about doing what was best for the team, even if they didn't speak to each other. So she focused on the game. She knew she wasn't in her top form because she didn't really want to knock anyone off today. The balls were released and she flew off, banking to hit one of the bludgers away from the alternate chaser. She got into the rhythm of the game and forgot about everything else. Hit the bludger, stay out of the way of the chasers and seeker, watch the score. Hit the bludger away from Iggy and Denver, fly away, get out of the way and hit the other one when her partner falls. Watch the score climb for the other team. She damn near asked to switch places with Iggy, but he knew that position better than she did.
 

Hit the bludger, get out of the way when the seeker nearly ran her over. Hang on for dear life when the wake of his broom nearly made her fall. She ended up upside down for a minute but flipped up as soon as she could. Hit the bludger coming right at her head, then duck because the second one was right behind that one and she didn't have time to recover from her last bat. Smack her bat on her broom when Iggy fell off, swearing mentally at his stupidity. Fortunately he got up and waved that he was all right. She moved to take his spot until he could get back up in the air. Block the damn quaffle and hit the bludger the other team had sent her way, helping her team. Keep from hitting the next bludger at her brother and try to control her anger. Hit the damn bludger at her bother for his stupidity because he had lost the quaffle in a move he had never practiced. Get out of Iggy's way as he got back up in front of the goals. Hit the bludger. Swear at Denver because he had done it again. Get out of the way of the chaser gone off course from a hard shove. Hit the damn bludger at the other keeper with a snarl and a sneer.
 

Hit the damn bludger again, then narrowly miss getting hit by the second one, get into a bludger war with the other team by hitting it directly back at them. Knock one of them off and laugh evilly. Knock the bludger at Iggy, who needed a good crack upside the skull, but there was a chaser between them so no one yelled at her. Duck and weave, swing upside down to get out of the way as Denver tried to run her over. Get hit with a bludger that she couldn't avoid because of her loving brother and nearly fall off, swinging up so she had more than one hand on the broom. Get back on and rub arm, which had no feeling in it. Switch bat to other arm and smack bludger at brother, and seeker on other team gets in the way. Knock him off his broom just as he reached for the snitch, watch it disappear again. Bat away something else, then pause when a foul is called on the other end of the field. Wipe sweat off with good arm and take the time to look at the other one.
 

The other beater came over. "You okay? I noticed you switched hands."
 

"I can't feel this arm," she admitted, flying closer to him. "Check it for me?"
 

He poked and pushed on it, then shook his head. "Dislocated. You need to have it put back in place." The whistle blew. "You want to go down? We can take a time out."
 

"No, I'm fine," she said, gritting her teeth. Her hurt wrist shot a burst of pain down into her hand and she kept the bat by force of will. "I'm fine."
 

"Good girl, Simone. It won't be long now."
 

She nodded so he flew away. She got back into the rhythm of the game. Hit the bludger, wince at the pain in her hand. Try to switch hands but the other couldn't make a fist, much less swing. Other team's seeker flies too close and tries to knock her off. "Missorted bastard," she called after him, gripping her broom with her knees. Duck a bludger, duck a chaser or two, don't duck the next bludger and that's all she knew for the next few hours. She missed Iggy and Denver nearly knocking each other senseless as they rushed to catch her. And the foul that was called on her behalf and even her father storming over and removing her from Madam Pomfrey's care so she could go to a 'real hospital'. She woke up in that same hospital. "Did we win?"
 

"No," Draco said with a shrug. "Or the house cup. Don't worry, you have six more years before you have to give up hope." He reached over and gave her arm a squeeze. "Can you feel your right arm, princess?"
 

"Daddy."
 

"Sorry, Simone, but I do slip. I called you that for too many years to stop now." He smiled at her. "Can you?"
 

"My right arm?" She wiggled her fingers but that was all she could move. The rest was strapped down. "It doesn't hurt right now and I can wiggle my fingers."
 

"Which would be an improvement over when you were examined," he admitted. He shifted closer. "What about your left wrist?"
 

"That still hurts," she admitted, looking down at it. "Why am I in a brace?"
 

"Because you dislocated three of the little bones. When did you do that?"
 

"I hurt it the first time I fell, in practice, but Madam Pomfrey said it was just a sprain."
 

"Well, this time it isn't," he said with a frown. "Can you move anything else? Like your feet? You pulled most of your lower back when you were caught from what the doctors said." She shifted and moaned. "That's what I thought. Do you want some pain medicine?"
 

"No, I'm okay as long as I don't do that again," she told him. "Where's mum? Usually she does hospital duty."
 

"She's helping Iggy settle his stomach. He threw up right after he and Denver caught you between them. The stress got to him. Your mother's holding his hand while he vomits."
 

"Eww."
 

"Sorry. Are you up to visitors?"
 

"If it's Denver, I'll say thank you but I don't want to talk to him."
 

"I know, but it might make you all feel better if you did," Draco said calmly. He hated this rift in his family, hated it with everything in him, evil and good. "Not talking to him won't make you feel any better."
 

"Yes it does," she corrected. "Now they know what I feel like."
 

"I understand, but it's not *helping* the problem any, Simone."
 

She frowned at him. "Why are you being so touchy-feely, father? This isn't like you. Are you possessed like Grandma?"
 

Draco laughed. "No, I'm not possessed. I ache because you two aren't getting along. I only want him to love you and you to love him."
 

"I might have at one point in time, but I don't think I can do that anymore."
 

"Even though he kept you from cracking your head?"
 

"Even though he kept me from cracking my head," she agreed. She looked at the door and saw her brother standing there. "Thank you for catching me, Denver." He turned and walked away. "See, it's mutual now," she told him firmly, rolling to lay on her more uninjured side. "I think I'm going to take a nap now."
 

"All right. I'll be here," he told her, waiting until she closed her eyes to frown at her. He would chase down his son in a few moments, once she was asleep again. He found Denver down the hall, squatted down holding his head. "She didn't mean it."
 

"Yes she did," Denver said quietly. "I fucked up so bad." He looked up. "Help me fix it, daddy?"
 

"I'm trying, son, but I think you're going to have to do most of the work." He pulled him up and gave him a hug. "She still loves you, as I do, but she's pissed at you right now."
 

"No, now she hates me and she'll never like me again," he argued. "This is Simone, father, she's not known for changing her mind about things once she's made it up."
 

"But emotions are different," he reassured him. "She'll change her mind once she sees that you're sorry."
 

"But am I?" he asked. Draco looked down at him. "It feels really nice to have more friends than my cousins and my sister. I don't want to give that up."
 

"No one's asking you to," Ginny said as she joined them. "She's awake again and the nurse kicked me out to check her over. They think she can go home tonight if she can rest in a bed or on a couch."
 

Draco smiled. "Thank you." He looked at his son. "No one's saying that you have to give up your new friends, son, we're saying that you have to spend some time with your sister too if you want to fix this."
 

"But there's not enough time in a day," Denver complained. "I can't choose between them, I don't want to be that miserable."
 

Draco looked at Ginny. "This must come from your side of the family. Xander understands this," he joked.
 

She rolled her eyes. "We're not asking you to choose, Denver. Why can't you compromise and invite her along?"
 

"I tried that and she turned me down," he defended. "Besides, none of my friends like her. She's mouthy and a brat according to them. She cost us the house cup." He took a deep breath. "A lot of the kids think she was missorted. That she belongs in Slytherin, and there are days that I agree, father. She's miserable as a Gryff."
 

Ginny swatted him on the head. "She's miserable because you're making her that way by ignoring her. She's miserable because you're so wrapped up in the newness of your new friends, that you've forgotten about her. Do you and Iggy still hang out?" Denver looked miserable and nodded.
 

"Then why not with Simone?" Draco demanded. "She is your sister and will remain so even after you both die."
 

"Because she doesn't fit in with my friends," he answered, looking up at them. "No one likes her. I'm not even sure Andrea *really* likes her. *NO ONE* likes her, father, and it's starting to show. It's only going to get worse."
 

"If you stuck up for her, the others might accept her," Ginny pointed out. He shook his head. "What makes you think that these friends are so hot, son?"
 

"Because they like me for who I am. I didn't have to be born into a family to be liked."
 

"We like you even though you were born into the family," Draco said dryly. "Most of the time." Denver looked hurt. "Right about now, I'd like to beat you senseless." He stood up. "I'm not dealing with this. Can you make him see reality?" Ginny nodded. "Thank you." He walked back to his daughter's room and found Iggy waiting in the chair, holding his daughter's hand. "Has she went back to sleep?" he asked quietly. Iggy nodded, but he didn't look happy. "Did she yell at you?"
 

"No, I heard what Denver said." He looked up. "And it's true. Aunt Ginny had a point, but it's an unfortunate truth. They really don't like her because of all the house points she's lost and because she and Hedre got into it at the beginning of the year."
 

"All of Hedre's supporters are graduating this year," Draco reminded him, sitting on the end of the bed. "Do you think this will change?"
 

Iggy shrugged. "I don't know. I know I've been horrible because I've been so wrapped up in finally getting to study what I want to do with my life and all this puberty crap. Between that and doing the potion for Andrea, I don't know where I got lost. I realize that I did," he admitted quickly at the frown, "and I want to try and fix it, but I don't know how." He kissed Simone on the cheek and stood up. "I want to go back to where we were when she got kidnaped, Uncle Draco, but I don't know how."
 

Draco gave him a hug. "Easy, you bug her until she forgives you and you keep your promise until she realizes that you mean it, Ignatius. It's that simple. You'll have to show her that you mean to change."
 

Iggy nodded and let him have the room alone. He found the rest of team in the hallway with Uncle Xander. "She's asleep but she's waking up every few minutes." He heard a moan from in the room and smiled. "She's awake."
 

"How is she?" the seeker asked.
 

"In pain," Iggy told him. "Her sore wrist was dislocated sometime during the game, her right shoulder was out of place, and we sprained her back when we caught her. She's going to be spending some time in bed." He got out of their way, going to hug his father. "Can you just smack me really hard and get my priorities back in focus, daddy?"
 

Xander smiled. "It's not that easy, son. You've got to make decisions about how you want to spend your time. Do you want to spend time with Simone or with everyone else?"
 

"I'd rather have her. She understands all my quirks and doesn't look at me like I'm either some oddity or some cute little kid playing dress-up." He pulled back. "I think some of it has to do with the seventh years remembering me running around the school bugging everyone to read their notes. And a few of them told me that they remember me back when you were potty training me, during their first year." Xander grinned. "But it's really lonely most of the time because I am younger and I'm odd. I already know what I want to do and I'm very focused on it."
 

"We warned you that going a year early would be hard," Xander reminded him. Iggy nodded, getting the point. "I think it'll get better next year. First years always have it tough. Adjusting to the new rules, figuring out their place in the hierarchy, dealing with the assholes in the upper classes who think they're so smart because they've had five years of potions."
 

"Even though I can outmake most of them," Iggy conceded with a grin. "Thanks for stopping that fight by the way."
 

"Not a problem, son, that's what I there for. How was your detention with Ron?"
 

"Good. He had me mix him a cleaning potion for the other idiots to use. Something from the sixth year textbook, which pissed them off further because their best potion maker couldn't get his right when Ron had him try. He didn't even bother to measure correctly. I think he's one of the dunderheads that Snape keeps griping about." Xander smiled brighter. "But it went okay. I got to dust the shelves and redo the bookcases." He looked into the room. "Should I go back in there?"
 

"Let them do it for now. You'll have her all to yourself soon enough. It's not like they'll be bringing her notes from her classes and treats from your personal stash."
 

"Oh, I, um, need to restock that."
 

"I just gave you your allowance," Xander said, sounding put out.
 

"Yeah, but I spent it on something, dad. Something really nice too."
 

"For Simone?"
 

"No, for my penpal. She was having a horrible day with a really hard potion, so I sent her a cute little mini-phoenix in jade. Just like her new one."
 

"I think it's really neat that Hilda picked her. She must be a very nice young woman." Xander gave him a squeeze and slipped him some money. "Don't spend it all on chocolate either," he warned. Iggy nodded and disappeared, coming back five minutes later with a large white box. "Cake?"
 

"Sampler pack from the candy shop in Diagon. The woman who was behind the counter was really sorry that Simone got so badly hurt." He pulled out a twizzler to eat and walked into the room, going to share them with his favorite cousin. "Want a chocolate frog?" he asked around his licorice. She accepted one but didn't say anything. He looked at the guys on the team and they left for a few minutes, leaving them alone. "Simone, I'm sorry. I didn't realize. You should have said something sooner."
 

"You were doing important stuff," she said, opening her frog. She handed him the card. "I already have her."
 

"I don't," he said happily, putting it into his pocket. "I may have been, but I wanted to know these things. Remember, I'm a really clueless guy and I don't realize that the rest of the world is around some days. So nudge me the next time, okay?" She nodded, nibbling on her frog. "Are you in pain?"
 

"No." She looked at the box. "What else did you buy? Besides the bag of twizzlers in your pocket."
 

"Oh, I bought some stuff I thought you'd like," he teased as he opened the box. She squealed and grabbed the candy flower, watching as it bloomed in her hand. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll bring you notes tonight, okay?" She nodded, staring at her flower. "And then you can tell me everything that I missed. I'll send back in the guys." She smiled at him. "You're welcome. You deserve it, if only because we all survived this year." He left her alone and shared a few of the treats with his teammates as they walked back inside. "I'm going to put this up."
 

"Have fun," Xander told him, giving him a pat on the back. His kid was amazing. He walked in and gave her a kiss on the head. "I remember being in that spot," he told her. "Just think, tomorrow you get to spend all day on a couch or in bed."
 

"Eww, Uncle Xander," Simone complained. "Can't I at least get up and go to the bathroom?"
 

"Only if you're staying in the tower and not in our living room, young lady. Then you'll have to climb stairs."
 

"Then I'll come over that afternoon," she said firmly. "Nap in front of the tv." He nodded. "When can I get out?"
 

"I think tonight, if your parents are going to get pushy." He walked out into the hall and flagged down a nurse. "She wants to know when she can leave?"
 

"The doctor is in conference with her parents right now," the nurse told him. "It shouldn't be too much longer. Tomorrow morning at the latest." He nodded and disappeared, making the young girl squeal. "At least she's happy," the nurse said, going to check on more of her patients.
 

***
 

Draco walked into the Ministry of Technology's office. "Is this where I come to get one of those boxes?"
 

The woman behind the desk nodded and pulled out a form. "How many did you want?"
 

"Um." He thought hard. Ginny would kill him if he got one for the bedroom and he'd never get anything done with one in the office. "Just one I think, at least for now." She checked a box and handed it over, watching as he filled it out. "What else do I need to do this?"
 

"A television and the spell to run it. A few cables, which you can buy at the same place as the television. We recommend these places," she said, tearing off the bottom of the form and handing it over. "Tell them you're hooking it up to a satellite dish and they should be able to help you fairly quickly and easily. They cost somewhere between one hundred pounds and just over a thousand, depending on what you want." She looked at the name on the form, then at him. "The last on the list is a specialty television shop. If you wanted the most expensive and the biggest, go there first." Draco nodded, deciding to take her advice. "We can come put the thing in tomorrow afternoon if that suits you?"
 

He smiled. "That would be excellent. I seem to have become addicted to a certain game show." He signed his name and sealed it with his ring, then put down the deposit listed on the form and left. One thing down, one to go. First to exchange some money.
 

***
 

Simone sunk onto her bed with a groan. Her back hurt. The walk up from the entry had been a horrible and long one. She closed her eyes, too tired to even kick off her shoes. And her wrist itched under the stupid brace. Someone touched her foot, taking off her shoes for her. "Thank you, whoever you are," she said quietly.
 

"Not a problem," the Head Boy told her. "You rest for a bit. The house elves are bringing up lunch in about an hour." She nodded but didn't open her eyes. "Any medicines that we have to watch?"
 

"Don't turn me funny colors and I can't take pain medicine for another three hours." She groaned as she flipped onto her side, her preferred sleeping position. "Thank you, Gregory."
 

"You're welcome, Simone." He closed her curtains and left her to sleep. He had just enough time to get back to his class before Professor Weasley got him for being tardy.
 

When Simone woke up again, she was warm, being held, and the light was at the wrong angle to be anything but evening. "Who're you?" she asked.
 

"It's me," Iggy whispered. "You didn't wake up for your medicine or lunch so I thought I'd wake you for dinner." He handed over the little flask. "This first, then we'll nibble on what the elves left earlier." He watched as she drank it all. "Professor Snape was really impressed that I could make the pain potion so easily."
 

"You made it?" she asked, rolling carefully onto her other side. Her shoulder was still bandaged down. "Was that why it tasted like grapes?" He nodded, grinning. "Beats the other stuff," she told him, kissing him on the tip of his nose. "What time is it?"
 

"Dinner time. I ate half of your lunch a little while ago so the elves wouldn't be insulted." She nodded. "Want help to the bathroom before they get up here with dinner?"
 

"Please." He climbed out and helped her to her feet, sitting on the bed while she wobbled into the bathroom on her own. One of her roomies walked in and looked at him. "She's in the bathroom."
 

"Are you staying tonight?"
 

He shrugged. "If she'll let me. I promise not to peek." She grimaced. "Really, I have someone I'm interested in. She's in Amsterdam and a lot like me," he said happily.
 

"How old is she?" Simone asked as she came out, drying her hands off on her shirt. "We need more towels again."
 

"Twenty-eight."
 

Simone snickered. "I'm sure she's going to be dating you soon, Iggy."
 

"Yeah, I know, but a guy can dream and grow up. After all, we're long lived creatures so I'll eventually be old enough and she won't be so old." He helped her back into bed, covering her gently. "Did you want your notes now or later?"
 

"After dinner." Simone waited until they were alone. "You don't have to do this."
 

"Yeah, I do," Iggy told her, sitting beside her again. "I have to do this because you're my favorite girl cousin and I adore you, even when I'm an ass and I don't remember that other people exist. You know it wasn't just you. It was Melvin, Andrea, and even Denver who I forgot about while I was working." She shook her head. "Yeah, it was. The only reason Denver saw me at all was because he pulled my books away and forced me to hang with him and his friends." He sneered but quickly lost it. "I'm sorry, Simone."
 

"I know, Iggy, but it hurts."
 

"Of course it does. Being let down that way is horrible and makes you feel lonely. Just like being different does." He shrugged at her questioning look. "There are kids who're scared of me, Si. I don't even know why. They don't know me and I haven't done anything spectacular in years." She gave him a hug. "Sorry, I didn't mean to put that on you while you're sick."
 

"My back's hurt, not my brain," she scoffed. "You really felt lonely?" He nodded. "Then why didn't you come and find me?"
 

"Because you always seemed so wrapped up in being an outcast. You never seemed to want me around." She punched him on the chest. "I guess I deserved that." She nodded. "Sorry, again."
 

"It's all right, Iggy. I was doing that because you guys didn't seem to want me around, so I was acting the same way back. If you had said something, I would have clung to you all term."
 

"I say we quit all this acting and pretending and do something so mean to Denver that he regrets finding those new friends," he said against her ear. She giggled. "Think up something mean."
 

She relaxed and thought, then came up with a brilliant idea. She whispered it to him, making him cackle.
 

The girl in the room with them shook her head. Those two were horrible together.
 

***
 

Iggy tapped on his mentor's door, smiling when he answered it. "Sir, if I mix this potion and this potion, will anything adverse happen?" he asked, showing the two parchments off. His Uncle Fred had agreed that Denver deserved it and had given him the sacred color-changing recipe on a single use scroll.
 

Professor Snape read each one, then shook his head. "Probably not. Why are you changing your cousin's medicine?"
 

Iggy smiled at him. "Because he deserves it." He rolled them back up. "If I added this one, would it change it too much?" he asked, patting himself down until he came up with another one, meticulously copied out of an old book of Xander's.
 

Snape looked it over, then took back the other two scrolls. He finally looked at the boy. "What is this one for?"
 

"So he won't see it but everyone else will." He heard soft, feminine laughter from inside. "I'm sorry I interrupted your private time, sir."
 

"It's not a problem, Ignatius, you should check for counter-indicators when trying new things. Your timing is fairly bad tonight, but you've had worse. There shouldn't be any problem mixing the second two, but the first and the third have ingredients that will counter each other." He handed them back. "Best to leave that third one off for now." He glanced behind him. "What is the second one?"
 

Iggy smiled. "Color changing solution, sir. A family specialty." His grin turned mean. "I haven't been able to do it with a wand since I was five and I got the bitch who told me I was an evil creature destined to burn in her version of hell so I thought I'd do it this way instead."
 

Snape nodded. "I understand. Keep it from getting out, please." Iggy nodded and left and he closed the door, looking at Tara. "That boy is going to follow in his Uncle's footsteps."
 

"Gryphons love pranks," Tara reminded him. "He's being true to his nature." She patted the couch beside her. "You were telling me about his namesake?"
 

Snape sat down next to her and pulled up his mug of tea. "Yes, Ignatius Spenser. Never touched a drop, actually fought for prohibition, but he was the randiest wizard ever seen. The rumors say he repeatedly wore out his many lovers."
 

"I heard somewhere that he rented out a house of ill-repute and wore that one out too," she said excitedly.
 

"Indeed," Snape agreed. "More than one. That's why he was known as the Lord of Licentiousness. Very odd fellow from what I understand."
 

"How did he die?"
 

"He cuckolded the wrong husband." He kissed her hand, putting it back onto her lap. "A very nasty duel, which he never excelled at." He sipped his tea. "An odd man."
 

"Hopefully Iggy will learn from his lessons."
 

"I plan on teaching him how to duel formally next year," Snape told her. She giggled. "I'm sure he'll need it, no matter which profession he takes up."
 

"Just think, Anastasia starts next year."
 

"Yes, and Agatha Potter," he said dryly. "What a joy."
 

"Maybe she'll stay out of your house," Tara comforted. "If not, I'm sure you can handle her. Or you can always ask Simone to bring her down a peg or two." She snuggled into his side. "Are you comfortable?" she asked, watching the fire.
 

"As I ever am."
 

"You could take off your robes," she offered. "I promise not to pounce at the first sight of skin."
 

He laughed and shifted, taking off his starched robes, but leaving on everything else. "Is that better?"
 

"Much," she agreed, snuggling in again.
 

***
 

Bill looked around the site, frowning when he saw all the burned vegetation. This didn't feel right to him, but none of the goblins and trolls he worked with seemed bothered by it. Maybe he was soft from his time away. He glanced around again and noticed a gold, scarlet, and purple body sitting on a nearby tree. "Murph?" he called. The phoenix flew over and landed beside him, cooing up at him. "What're you doing here?" The bird made a disgusted noise then fluffed his wings. "Ah, woman problems," he said knowingly. "I've had a few of those." Murphy leaned against his leg, singing to him, sounding sad. "She'll take you back, Murph. She loves you. Otherwise she wouldn't have put up with you for this long." The bird cooed up at him. "Sure, you can stay for a few days, until you're ready to go back and make her see what an upstanding mate you are." Murphy relaxed. So he called out in Goblin, wanting to know what his assignment was. The head goblin grunted something back, then pointed at the cave opening. Bill told him that he wasn't sure it was safe enough for humans. The goblin sent a troll in there and it came back out a few minutes later. "Fine," Bill sighed. He took a step toward the cave and had to duck suddenly as Murphy took off and flew around his head. "What the hell?" he mused, looking.
 

There was a *huge* dragon flying around the camp and it looked pissed.
 

"Shit," the head goblin said. "I thought it was dead." Bill looked at it. "What?"
 

"You were going to kill her just for her treasure?"
 

"That's what we do here," he reminded the human.
 

Bill crossed his arms. "There's a difference between taking treasures out of abandoned tombs and killing living things for some pretty jewels." He ducked as a talon came near his head. "Murph, leave her alone!" he yelled. "She'll kill you and Xander will hurt me."
 

Murphy screamed and abused the dragon, fighting it over her human's mate's brother. She pulled back, hissing at the tiny bird, but the phoenix wouldn't get out of her way. So the dragon retreated and decided to pick on the other creatures raiding her nest.
 

"Bloody hell," Bill said, grabbing Murphy. "Go get Charlie and get him here now," he ordered sternly. "We need him here now, Murphy." The bird got free and flew off at top speed while he went to hide. The goblins could take care of their own damn selves. They deserved it for taking on a female dragon. This was obviously a nest. Only a nest made dragons attack like that.
 

***
 

Murphy flew into Charlie's camp, panting hard and desperate. The human could be dead by now. He called out for the human mate's brother, bringing a few humans running. None of them were the human he needed so he continued to call out in panic. Charlie came running once he heard, and he landed in front of him, sending him the picture of Bill and the dragon.
 

"I've got to go," Charlie yelled. "My brother's in trouble with a wild dragon. The goblins are trying to take out a nest." He grabbed a rope and some other gear, then looked at Murphy. "Can you give me a clear shot of the ground? Something so I can land there?" Murphy stared into his eyes, flashing all he had seen. The picture of the tree was the clearest and Charlie disappeared, going to help.
 

Murphy slumped and looked around. A large tongue came out and licked him, making him squeal in disgust.
 

"Sorry, she's a bit drugged," one of the handlers explained in a thick Australian accent. "Want some water, you big bugger?" Murphy cheeped and hopped onto his shoulder, making him wince. But he led the poor dear to one of the drinking troughs and let him drink his fill.
 

"She's pretty," one of the younger handlers said.
 

Murphy glared at him.
 

"I think it's a boy, mate," the Aussie said with a grin. "Are you Murphy?" Murphy cooed and went back to drinking. "Then I'll call your da and tell him you're okay." He walked over to the hospital building, going to call the school. He managed to get the Headmaster, and his bird, who apparently decided to cuss him out for Murphy being there. He walked back out. "No wonder you left 'er," he said with a grin. "You want food too? We've got some oatmeal or you can go catch mice or some such." Murphy curled up on a chair and gave him some grateful sounding noise. "Okay, you rest then. Wonder how Charlie is." When Charlie reappeared with his brother, he followed them both into the hospital. "Murphy's fine, had some water. His chit screamed at me."
 

Bill laughed dryly. "Fawkes is a bit upset with him right now. She drove him out of the nest." He reached over and patted the bird. "He saved my life. Drove off the dragon and saved me."
 

Charlie gave him a hug. "Good. You going to call your home office?"
 

"Oh, yeah, I should probably do that," Bill agreed. "Give me a few to not want to piss myself first." His brother hugged him again. "G'r'off," he said with fondness.
 

"Bet me. Guys, do we want the girl? She and her full nest are presently sedated." A few of the handlers nodded so Charlie took them to the cave so they could gather her and her nest up. It wasn't safe there anymore.
 

***
 

Denver took his medicine for his vertigo and paused. It tasted funny for some reason. He shrugged it off, it was working that's all he cared about. He sat down in the nearest chair, waiting for it to work all the way. It usually only took ten minutes. This time, it seemed to be working faster. He stood up and started to leave Madam Pomfrey's office, but her mirror stopped him. Why was he purple, silver, blue, and green paisley? He stepped closer, touching himself to make sure it was him. He opened up his shirt, checking his chest. Yes, it was him. "What the fuck!" he yelled, bringing the nurse. She took one look at him and collapsed against the door laughing. "Did you do this to me?" She shook her head. "Then who did? Who made up my potion?"
 

"Professor Snape delivered it himself this morning," she managed. She watched as he stormed out. Hopefully Snape knew what he was doing.
 

Denver stormed into the Great Hall, Snape hadn't been in his classroom yet. "What did you do to me," he snapped as he stood in front of him. He opened his shirt. "Do you see this?"
 

Professor Snape calmly put down his tea and looked at the boy. "I don't see anything wrong, Mr. Malfoy, outside of the fact that you are half-dressed in front of young women." He looked at Dumbledore, who had been let in on this prank and the reason for it. "Do you see anything wrong, Headmaster?"
 

"No, not a thing," Dumbledore told him. He smiled at the boy. "Could it be that you had nightmares last night and they're carrying over perhaps?" Denver started to shake in anger. "Maybe you should go back to the infirmary and have it checked out."
 

"She laughed so I know you see it," he hissed. "I'll destroy this school if one of you did this to me." He turned and stormed out.
 

Dumbledore stood up. "He wishes you to excuse his conduct, he's feeling a bit under the weather at the moment." He sat back down and sipped his juice, looking at Professor Snape. "Maybe you should mix all his potions from now on."
 

"Yes, I think I shall," Snape agreed. He looked down at Iggy, who was snickering into his oatmeal. "Do finish up. You have that extra lesson in twenty minutes."
 

"Yes, sir," Iggy called, scarfing down his meal. By the time his mentor was done, so was he.
 

***
 

Denver stormed into Ron's bedroom, slamming the door against the wall. "Would you please do something about this!" he commanded.
 

Ron blinked at him, squinting to try and focus. "Why are you funny colored?" he asked finally.
 

"Because *someone* changed my dizziness potion and it did this!"
 

Ron nodded and put his head back down. "Go ask Snape *nicely* for a cure."
 

"He claims he can't see anything wrong," Denver sneered.
 

"Hmm," Ron agreed, starting to fall back to sleep.
 

"UNCLE RON!" he shrieked.
 

"I hunt and kill things that make that sort of noise," Xander warned from the bathroom. He walked over and looked at his nephew. "Gee, Denver, did you *want* to look like that?"
 

"No!" he said coldly. "It was my morning potion! Fix it!"
 

"Denver, I'm not the potions person in the family. You'll have to wake up your Uncle George for that," Xander said patiently. "He spent the night at the shop so you'll have to go down there."
 

"Floo's not working," Ron mumbled. "Notice was sent out last night. On table."
 

"Then he can walk down," Xander said. He looked at the boy. "Put on your shirt fully before you do that and then go ahead down. I don't think Dumbledore will get *too* upset with you for it." Denver stormed out. "Ron?" Ron snorted and opened an eye. "The floo's out?" Ron nodded. "Since when?"
 

"Line repairs, today and tomorrow," he said through a yawn. "Night."
 

"It's breakfast."
 

"Exercises today with Lupin. I can sleep in if you'd shut up."
 

"Oh. Okay. Thanks, Ron." Xander closed the door and went back to his empty room. He smirked once the door was closed. His son was too good!
 

***
 

Fred looked up as the shop's door slammed open, cracking the glass in it. "You'll be fixing that, Denver," he said calmly, going back to his reading. Paisley, he was impressed. George had never gotten past stripes or spots.
 

"Fix this shit," Denver snarled, walking further into the store. "They got the spell off you lot so you know how to reverse it."
 

Fred looked at him. "We guard all of our spells, young man. I haven't let a one of them out. Besides, we figured it out in our sixth year, someone else could have." He closed his book and stood up. "As for the patterns, I'm not sure I can cure it. We do simple color changing, not this complex sort. I'd say this was someone else." He shrugged. "I can change you into a different color, but I can't remove it."
 

Denver stalked over, making himself as tall as he could. "Fix this shit. It had to have come from you."
 

Fred stood up and towered over the eleven year old. "Like I said, I didn't do this and I don't know how to fix it. And if you keep this crap up, I'm dragging you to mum's house by your ear, young man. Wouldn't you love that right now? She'll beat you until you can't sit down if you try to threaten her." Denver stepped back and sulked. "Why don't you ask around at the school?"
 

"Because the teachers are in on it," he spat. "Snape and Dumbledore said they didn't see anything wrong with me."
 

"Then maybe you're supposed to be paisley for a reason," Fred said with a shrug. The boy glared at him. "I can spank you too, kid, remember that." Denver backed away another step, then stopped and thought about it, stepping closer. Fred smacked him hard and took him to see his father. "Dad, problems with this one now," he announced as he came out in the house. He found Molly and Draco waiting on them. "Hmm, you guessed?"
 

"Iggy called," Molly told him. She took Denver and spanked him once, then handed him to his father. "I think you two need to have a discussion."
 

"Another child gone wrong," Draco sighed, standing up and taking the boy into the living room.

"I don't know what's wrong with you, Denver, but I will not have you acting like your sister. I've already had a report of you running around half-naked and screaming at teachers. I won't have it." He sat himself on the couch and paused as the feeling of deja-vu floated over him. "Explain yourself now or face the consequences."
 

Denver held out his arms. "Look at me!" he shrieked. "I'm funny colored!"
 

"No, you think?" Draco asked sarcastically. "And why is that, son?"
 

"Like I have a fucking clue!" he shouted.
 

Molly walked in the door and spanked him. "I will not have you speak like that in this house." She looked at the father. "Do you know why this happened?" Draco shook his head. "Are you sure?"
 

"As far as I know. Unless he's pissed someone off greatly." He looked at his son. "Have you?"
 

"Besides the bratty sister?" he sneered.
 

Draco got up and spanked his son this time. "I won't have you calling your sister names when it's your fault she's like she is at the moment." He sat back down. "Now then, explain yourself and your behavior."
 

"I think it's normal what with me being paisley," he sneered.
 

"I can hit you again," Draco warned. "You do not get hysterical and scream just because you're funny colored. A real man can be any color and stay poised, if he wants to."
 

"I'm eleven!" Denver reminded him.
 

"Yay as your Uncles say." Draco looked him over. "I've had enough of this, Denver. You being paisley is not a tragic event in your life. You getting sent to your biological mother's house in Brazil will be. Do you understand me?" Denver's mouth fell open. "I warned you that I would not put up with such behavior and I will not." He stood up. "Decide now, son. Calm yourself and stop your histrionics or face the consequences of your actions over the summer."
 

Denver clamped his mouth shut. "Fine. What do you suggest I do about this?"
 

"Have you thought about asking someone who knows about these sort of things?"
 

"I asked Uncle Fred!"
 

Draco raised an eyebrow and Denver calmed himself. "You demanded, you whined, and you threatened, that's a bit different than asking politely." He smiled. "And it's George who makes that part of the line."
 

"Where's George then?"
 

"I don't know, probably only Fred does. You might try asking intelligent questions instead of reacting." He gave his son a hug. "Think of it this way, son, you look good in those colors. Whomever did this could have turned you some horrible pattern instead of one that compliments your natural coloring. Now, if you've calmed yourself suitably, we'll go ask your uncle where George is and maybe he can fix it." Denver nodded. "Do you think you can keep yourself calm that long?"
 

"As long as I get to beat the fucker who did this," he grumbled, following his father back to the floo. They landed in the joke shop and ran into Dumbledore. "Sir, I'm sorry I left."
 

Dumbledore smiled at him. "I'm sure you're going to be very sorry, while you're suspended to your tower for the next week."
 

"But I have a test!" he whined.
 

"You should have thought about that before you left the campus."
 

"You never get Iggy for it."
 

"If I could catch him, I would, and I have in the past if you remember." Dumbledore looked him over. "Do your business and go back to the school via the floo. You have one hour." He walked away.
 

Draco coughed, trying not to laugh. He looked over at Fred. "Would you happen to know where George is?"
 

Fred nodded. "He's working in the lab today." He glanced at the door, then at his nephew. "Fix it," he reminded the boy.
 

"Reparo," Denver said listlessly, pointing his wand at the window. It fixed itself and he slumped. "May we go back there and bother him?" Fred nodded. "Thank you." He walked back to the lab, pausing to watch the turtles crawl around. "They changed it again?" he asked as he slipped into the lab.
 

"Last night," George said absently. He looked over, then jumped. "What happened to you?"
 

"I don't know. Someone spiked my morning potion." He grimaced. "You don't think it was Iggy, do you?"
 

"I don't know," George said honestly, though he was quite sure it was his devilish little boy. He pulled Denver into the light, then hurried back to stir his potion so it wouldn't boil over. He pulled the pot to the cooler part of the fire then walked back. "Take off your shirt." Denver stripped off his shirt, showing that it was all over. "Hmm." George walked past him and dug inside a locking cabinet, coming out with a small vial. "Here, try this. It cancels out our version of the color changing potion for those who are allergic." He watched as the boy drank it, but the colors only faded a little. "Well, it helped," he said when nothing more happened.
 

"Would another dose work?" Denver asked. George shook his head. "Then what do I do?"
 

"I'd ask Iggy. He spends so much time in Snape's class that he'd know who took the oak stem mushrooms to do this." He scratched his head. "I don't know what to tell you, Denver. That's much more ornate than anything I can do." He patted him on the head. "Never threaten your Uncle Fred again, kid, he'll swat you harder next time."
 

Denver looked miserable. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry about that, but I was really upset."
 

George shrugged. "You need to tell him, not me, and it shouldn't matter. Threatening your family is not acceptable in this family. Your anger was reasonable, but your focus for it wasn't." Denver nodded, looking more miserable. "Put back on your shirt and go to class."
 

"Can you do a masking charm? Something to hide it?"
 

George shook his head. "It had an anti-charm in it, otherwise you would have faded more." He gave the poor boy a hug. "Do you know why they did it? A prank this elaborate usually has a point to it." Denver opened his mouth, then shook his head. "Have you pissed anyone off?"
 

"Only Simone," he said, sounding dejected. "Do you think she did it?"
 

"With as horrible as she feels, maybe," George agreed. "You abandoned the one person that used to mean the world to you. Of course she would react. The question is, could she had done this?"
 

"She could have paid someone to do this," he pointed out.
 

"Would she do that?"
 

He snorted. "No, she'd want to do it herself but she's not a potion person. Which means Iggy must have helped her. But I haven't been ignoring him."
 

"Sounds like you pissed Iggy off once he realized what you had done." George sat down and pulled Denver into his lap. "Think about the situation being reversed. Simone and Iggy find great people to hang out with, or not so great people to hang out with but they take all their time. How would you be feeling?" Denver slumped. "I think Simone is very pissed and hurt by you right now and I think she's right to feel that way. Don't you?"
 

"But it's not my fault she can't make friends," he whined.
 

"She's not a friendly person. She's not ever made friends easily and you knew that. You had to watch her fight to gain acceptance in the Junior league. You had to watch her fight for friends among the other kids that you've met over the years. Even when her mouth didn't get in the way she didn't really fit in with the other kids. You knew that." Denver started to sniffle. "And then you found some really big assholes and started to hang with them."
 

"They're nice," Denver argued.
 

"Son, they intentionally tried to trick Andrea a few months back. They're not nice, and they're your friends because they like what you could do for them. Watch what they do today when you show up like that."
 

"They'll laugh," he whispered.
 

"Would a real friend laugh?"

"A little."
 

"Will these kids laugh a little or a lot?"
 

"They'll die laughing," Denver admitted. He looked up at him. "Have you been watching them?" George nodded. "So why didn't you stop us from ignoring her?"
 

"Because you need to learn what's important in life for yourself. No one can tell you what should be important in your life, and if anyone tries take their advice but think about it." Denver nodded, but he still looked miserable." He gave his nephew a hug. "Why don't you get dressed and go back to class. The color should wear off soon enough. I've never run into a permanent color-changing potion so it should be gone by tomorrow." Denver nodded and trudged over to his clothes, putting them back on. "While you're up there, you might want to do some thinking, settle some priorities. Because if you don't, Simone's dead set against seeing you until you're both adults and Draco will give in to her eventually. Think about her going to France for school."
 

Denver started to cry. "I didn't mean to hurt her."
 

George pulled him back into his arms, and Draco walked in, getting his other side. "We know," Draco assured him. "But you did and now you have to own up to it and fix the situation before it gets worse. It is up to you to finish fixing it. Ignatius has already groveled and apologized enough to soothe Simone's hurt feelings. It's your turn now." His son nodded and wiped his face. "Finish getting dressed then go apologize for your earlier threatening. I'll walk you back to the school."
 

Denver looked at him. "Dumbledore said to use the floo."
 

"Then I'll escort you and talk to Professor Snape personally to see if he'll make something to counter it for you."
 

"It should wear off by tomorrow," George told him. "I haven't seen a permanent one yet." He patted Denver on the back of the head. "Have fun in school and take the time to think." Denver nodded and walked out to apologize to his Uncle Fred. "Do you think he understood this time?" George asked quietly.
 

Draco nodded. "Whomever did this got through to him. I don't think there'll be more problems of this sort." He walked out and found his son standing in a corner with a mother laughing at him. "It wasn't his choice," he said coolly. He took his son's hand and took him back to the school. They walked out of the staffroom and found Remus Lupin waiting on them. "Is he supposed to go to class or immediately to his suspension?"
 

"Class today, suspension tomorrow."
 

Denver looked at him. "May I still take my test, Professor Lupin?"
 

"I haven't decided yet," Remus told him, looking down at him. "I think that should depend on your behavior from this point on, don't you?" Denver nodded and walked away, it was time for him to be in Potions with his cousin. Simone was still in bed probably. He slipped into the room with a nod for the teacher.
 

"Mr. Malfoy, nice of you to join us," Snape said with a sneer. "Do you feel better now?"
 

"No, sir. I feel worse." Snape raised an eyebrow. "But I'm not going to go into my reasons for that statement in front of the class." He crossed his arms and pulled out his version of the Malfoy charm. "My Uncles said that someone in one of your classes made the potion. Do you know if they made an antidote?"
 

Snape nodded. "You cannot take it if you've already had some. I can't give you any for twenty-four hours."
 

Denver sighed. "Thank you, sir. I'll see you before first period tomorrow." He slid into his seat and looked at the things spread out. "What are we mixing?" he asked his lab partner. He looked around. "Where's Iggy?"
 

"Simone's back went into spasms so she's back in the infirmary, he's with her," Snape told him. "You're making a feather-light potion. Do begin now as you're about out of time. Or you can do it tonight during detention." Denver nodded, he'd accept that. "Then go check on your sister and be here tonight at eight." Denver slid out of his seat and left the classroom.
 

A few of the kids burst out laughing, clinging to each other. They'd never laugh to his face, his sister would pound them into the floor.
 

***
 

Denver slid into the infirmary, and promptly glared at the woman in his way. "Move." She got out of his way and he walked over to where he could hear Simone saying something. He patted the curtain before walking in. She laughed. "Gee, thanks." He looked at Iggy. "Did you make a cure?"
 

Iggy shrugged. "What makes you think I made it?" He turned back to Simone, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to run and ask someone to take notes for us for the next class. Will you be okay?" She nodded and he stood up, getting into Denver's face. "If you make her feel worse, I'm smashing your face and your balls." He left them alone.
 

Denver slid onto the stool beside her bed. "I'm sorry, Simone. I've been an ass."
 

She nodded. "Yes, you have." She shifted and grimaced, but swatted at the hands trying to help her. "I don't want you to help me. Ever."
 

"I'm sorry, Simone."
 

"Yay. Good for you. I hope you and your new friends will be very happy. Now go away."
 

Denver hung his head. "I'm sorry, Simone. I didn't mean to ignore you or to hurt you like I did."
 

"Again, yay."
 

"Can't you just shut up and let me apologize?"
 

"You've done that already, three times. Did it make you feel better? Because it doesn't me."
 

"Just shut up!" he yelled, jumping up. "I'm trying to fix this and you're being a bitch. I'm sorry, okay! I'm an ass and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Do you know how many time's I've heard about how much I've hurt you? Or about how bad of a person I am? Do you know what I'm feeling because of what I did to you?"
 

"No," she said quietly. "I only know what it feels like to be pulled apart by someone who you thought you loved." She pushed herself up until she was fully sitting up. "Do you know what it's like to be abandoned by the one person that you thought you could trust above all others? Or how it feels to literally see your life disappearing, all because the one person you trusted was leaving you behind?" she spat. He backed away from her. "Well, thank you very much, now I do. Go the hell away and leave me alone. I don't want to see you. As a matter of fact, I'm going to tell mum to not let you into the house. I'm going to do my best to not see you again until you figure yourself out. Because if you're not my brother, you're nothing to me."
 

He ran from the room, going to find somewhere to be alone. Melvin and Iggy found him and caught him, pulling him into an empty room to soothe him. "She didn't mean it," Iggy told him.
 

Denver nodded, starting to cry again. "She did. She meant every word. I didn't mean to do that to her!" He pulled back so he could brush his face off. "I want to fix this."
 

Iggy handed him a small vial. "For your color problem."
 

"Uncle George already gave me some."
 

"So take it tomorrow, you can live like that until then." Denver put the vial into his pocket. "We'll help you fix this, but you had better fix it fast," Melvin told him. "There's no way I can stand this to continue much longer. It's making my father get stressed and I won't allow that." Iggy patted him on the back. "How do we fix it?"
 

"We make Simone see how miserable he is," Iggy told him. He grabbed Denver and drug him back into the infirmary, right into Simone's room. She opened her mouth then saw her brother. "He's sorry, Simone. So very sorry that he's doing this. Can we please start working on this now instead of when one of us ends up trying to commit suicide?"
 

"Damn, you're dramatic today," Draco said from behind him. He hugged his son. "Simone?"
 

"All right, I'll conditionally forgive him, until he proves he wasn't sorry." Her brother bowled into her, hugging her as hard as he could. "Owww! Get off!" She shoved at him until he backed off. "I still have a sprained back, jackass."
 

He grinned. "Sorry, but I couldn't help it." He looked at his father. "I have to go to class, but I'll be back as soon as I can." She nodded. "I'll even come up during lunch and our free period."
 

She nodded again so he ran off. "Is he serious?"
 

"I"ve never seen him cry before," Iggy told her, sliding into the bed next to her so he could rest his head against her shoulder. "They think they're going to spring you soon back to the tower." Melvin came in and snuggled up to her other side. "So what are you going to do this afternoon?"
 

"Study for her upcoming tests," Draco said firmly, staring at his daughter. She sighed and nodded. "Thank you. I'm not asking for a turn-around, just for a real result of your intelligence." She rolled her eyes. "Do that again, young lady, and lose your allowance for the summer."
 

She gasped. "Daddy!"
 

"You haven't studied all year," he said with a shrug. "Why should I reward that?"
 

"Because if I don't get my allowance I can't buy things that'll keep me from hurting Ravena for ripping up my favorite books?" she suggested.
 

Draco laughed. "I'll talk with her next. It seems to be the week for it." He gave her a look and she relented. "Thank you. All I ask is that you try." Madam Pomfrey walked him, making him move off to the side. "Is she being released?"
 

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, I'm going to release her back to her tower and her bed. Or to her Uncle's couch and his television if she feels she can walk up the stairs to the bathroom." Simone shrugged. "Do you have a preference?"
 

"Tower," Iggy told her. "That way we can help you study."
 

Melvin coughed. "Uncle Ron yelled at me after breakfast for staying in Gryffindor last night."
 

"Yay," Iggy said with a cold smile. "You leave Uncle Ron to me." Simone laughed. "Come on, let's get you back to bed. I'll stay with you."
 

"Your grades are slipping too," Draco pointed out.
 

"Ha!" Iggy snorted. "I'm so far ahead it's not funny. I borrowed a second year's textbook and worked in it the other day because I was bored. With the exception of transfigurations, I'm doing very well."
 

Draco nodded. "I heard your fathers talking about your grades last night," he told him. He cracked his knuckles. "Come on, I'll carry you back to your tower." The boys moved and gathered up everything she had brought down with her. They followed her up to her room and put her things back into place. As soon as she was comfortable, the boys climbed into her bed and pulled out her books, studying with her. Draco smiled at them and left them alone. His son would be with them later that night. He walked down the stairs and found Ron walking in. "Leave them alone," he said quietly. "They're helping her study."
 

"They're not allowed in the girls' dorm," Ron reminded him.
 

Draco laughed. "How many times did you sneak into Hermione's room?" Ron looked pissed. "You never did?"
 

"No, we managed to deal with everything in the common room. Every plan, every problem, every bit of research we did in plain sight."
 

Draco snorted. "I'm surprised none of your house mates decided to help." He looked up the stairs. "We both know that those rules are made for the older children so there's no sex. It's not like they're going to have sex." Ron looked sick. "Let them be if the other girls don't mind. Or let them into Iggy's room if his roommates don't mind." He looked over as the door opened and the Head Boy walked in. "They're all going to be together," he said happily.
 

"Cool with me," he said, glancing at Ron.
 

"Fine. Make sure no one minds," Ron conceded. "But try to keep them out of the beds. The hallways, the common room, anywhere but in the beds. It'll set a bad precedent that'll haunt us later." Gregory nodded and went up to talk to the kids. A few seats floated up a few minutes later. "I can accept that."
 

"Thank you," Draco told him, giving him a smile. "How are the threesome?"
 

"Nasty and being bad," Ron said with a grin. "Just like we did. Only they've got the wizard flu." He steered Draco out of the common room. "How are they?"
 

"She accepted their apology. Things might be getting back to normal soon." He smiled as his son walked past him with his bag. "Doing your suspension early?" Denver nodded. Then he turned and hugged his father. "Got laughed at?"
 

"Yeah. All my friends." He headed into the tower to his real friends. They wouldn't laugh that much and they'd stop when he started to feel hurt.
 

Draco smiled at Ron. "Yes! Back to normal. Hopefully they've learned that lesson." He smiled at Xander as he walked toward them. "Problems?"
 

"Iggy's skipping class again."
 

"He's studying with Simone." Ron stopped him. "How are his grades?"
 

"Not the point. He has to go to class, just like every other student. It looks bad," he finished with a grimace. "Dumbledore said he has to go to class."
 

Ron stuck his head back into the house. "Iggy, you have to go to class or you're going to be held back!" Iggy came running. "Teacher's kids have to set a good example," Ron pointed out as the boy went running past him.
 

Xander stopped Iggy. "I like the fact that you're so far ahead, but it does look bad to the other kids. Just like you getting to leave campus." Iggy nodded, looking fine with the decision. "Go be bored in there and think up new stuff for your other father." Iggy grinned and hurried down to Transfigurations. "Did he mix the color changing potion?" Both fathers nodded. "Are we sure?"
 

"Unless Snape did it himself," Ron said with a shrug. He took Xander's arm and turned him around. "Come on. We can leave Melvin with her." He walked the other two men back to the Great Hall for lunch. Something made him look behind them. "Xander, why are the tiles behind us green?" he asked.
 

Xander shrugged, but he was smiling. No one was supposed to know about his cane being a second wand. Draco gave him a look. "Aren't you missing a game show?"
 

"Yes," Draco agreed, hurrying back to the house so he could watch tv.
 

Xander and Ron snickered once he was gone.
 

Draco settled in on his new couch with a sigh of relief. Everything was right in his life again. The tv was turned on and turned to the right channel. A small body slipped into his lap. "Hello, Ravena. Are you running away again?" She nodded and curled up to nap on him. She loved her daddy and it showed. Yes, everything was right in his life.
 

***
 

Dumbledore looked at his staff, who were all happy that it was the last staff meeting of the year. They only had two weeks left of this *interesting* year and everyone was quite pleased to have survived it. "We only have one last thing to deal with," he announced, bringing the discussion away from the children. Some days he understood why the Headmaster he had learned under had refused to let any parents teach. Always tired, sick children, and the other assorted problems of having children around. Did he really miss all that from the first time? Xander gave him a knowing look and he smiled at him. The children were delightful eighty percent of the time, he could deal with the sudden emergencies and the naked beings running around the Great Hall. "The last thing of note is to talk to Ms. Ream's parents." Snape and Xander sighed. "I think it should be one of you two, but I also think that you'll have to make it very clear that this spell can't get out, that it has some unexpected side effects and isn't really safe for another person to have it used on them."
 

Xander looked at Snape. "Do you want it or me and Iggy?"
 

"I think you and Ignatius should. He found the spells and pushed for them to be done. He's also done all the research so he can explain whatever needs to be explained." Snape smiled. "Plus, if necessary, you can create a small memory wipe quite well from what I understand."
 

Xander nodded. He was very good with them. He had wiped Giles' memory of Hogwarts' location. "I can do that. At King's Cross?" Dumbledore nodded. "Okay. We'll ride back on the train or pop into London." Dumbledore smiled at him. "I could use something from Diagon anyway."
 

"Plus, you can check and see if your ex really did set up in Diagon," Lupin suggested. Xander frowned at him. "Sorry."
 

"I'm leaving that to the Ministry. I'm not dealing with Anyanka or the demon ho she's been hanging with. Speaking of Hedre, did anyone tell her parents?"
 

Snape nodded, smirking. "We called them in and put her under truth serum in front of them. They were not happy with their daughter."
 

Xander shrugged. "That's all about them, as long as they stay away from my mate." He shifted and popped his good knee. "Anything else?"
 

"Your son is going to actually attend classes next year?" Sirius Black asked.
 

Xander nodded. "We talked about how unfair it was, even though he's ahead in every class but yours. We've decided to give him an extra class during his spare time and give him extra, harder potion assignments." Snape nodded. "Also," he said happily, "Simone and Denver are all settled out and Simone's calmed back down again. We may not have a problem with the mouth next year."
 

"Good," Dumbledore said, smiling at him. "I'd hate to have to expel her for another fight in the Great Hall."
 

"It'll only be in fun from now on," Ron told him. "Less swearing and more bonding moments." He looked over as Xander shifted uncomfortably. "What's wrong?"
 

"Murphy hasn't come back yet," Xander admitted. "Fawkes kept us up all night squawking obscene things about him."
 

Dumbledore sighed. "I know it's hard without your friend, Xander, but Murphy will come back."
 

"Yeah, but where is he hiding? He's not with any of the family that we can tell."
 

***
 

Bill walked out of the fireplace with Murphy in his arms. Xander hopped up and took his bird, hugging him hard. "Where were you?" he asked, cuddling him tightly.
 

"Saving my tired butt," Bill told him, sitting down on the couch. "Took on a dragon for me."
 

Fawkes flew down the stairs and started to screech at her mate.
 

"Shut it," Xander told her. "He saved Bill from a dragon." She cheeped at him, sounding very nice, then went back to haranguing her mate. "I mean it, Fawkes."
 

"She knew," Bill told him. "One of Charlie's guys called Dumbledore after it happened." Xander squeezed his bird again, waking him up. "He's a great bird."
 

Xander grinned. "Good. We've got new chicks in their nest and a few cracks in Glinda's."
 

"Wow." Bill started to get up then decided not to and fell back onto the couch. "I'll go look in a few minutes."
 

"Should I politely ask the elves for something to eat?" Xander asked. "Or call your boss for you?"
 

"Nah, I quit. Having them decide to kill a dragon for her nest was further than I wanted to go. So I'm jobless and sponging off the family for a bit." He grinned. "Can I shack up here?"
 

"Sure, but we're leaving once school's over with for a week-long vacation. You can house sit with Ron." Bill nodded.
 

The door opened and Dumbledore walked in, smiling at the sleepy bird. "How are you, Murphy? Ready to come back?" Murphy cheeped and glared at his mate. "I see."
 

"She yelled at him as soon as she realized he was here," Bill told him. He shook the man's hand. "How're you, sir?"
 

"Looking forward to my summer vacation actually." He looked at Xander. "Where are you heading?"
 

"Hershey," Xander told him with a grin. "George is going to ride the roller coasters with me and soak in hot cocoa at the spa."
 

"That sounds wonderful," Dumbledore said, looking pleased. "Bring me back a shirt or something." Xander nodded. "Why don't you let him go so they can finish fighting."
 

Xander carefully let Murphy go and Fawkes started again, but this time Murphy made just one obscene sounding noise and it made her stop. She paused then cooed at him. He fluffed up and settled back into his human's lap. She flew over and landed on the arm of the chair, cooing at him. He turned his head so she nipped him on the neck, making him squeal. She cooed again and he looked happier. From upstairs something called out pitifully. Murphy called back, then looked at his mate, cheeping at her. She nuzzled him gently. He returned it and nipped her on the neck. They flew off together to look at the new babies.
 

"Wonderful," Dumbledore said happily. "Glinda's nest just broke open with chicks. All but two eggs have hatched and they're busy right now."
 

"Should we move them back to mum's?" Bill asked.
 

Xander shrugged. "She can stay here for a few more months. Simone can borrow one of the other chicks and train it, she's been doing it so far."
 

"Hmm. Maybe she'll follow Charlie then." He stood up. "I should probably go admire the young. Don't tell mum, Xander, I want to announce it myself." Xander gave him a hug but he got free and went upstairs.
 

Xander looked at his boss. "You just showed up to fix their relationship?"
 

Dumbledore shook his head. "No. To tell you that Iggy did pass Transfiguration with an average rating. Simone passed everything, barely. Denver passed Potions and Herbology, barely. And Melvin passed everything, but only did average in anything outside of Herbology."
 

"Cool," Xander told him. "I guess I owe them ten galleons each." The older man gave him a quizzical look. "I promised them last week that I'd give them ten galleons each if they managed to pass everything. After the year they've had it's a good thing to do something normal and pass their classes."
 

"Very good idea," Dumbledore agreed. He stood up. "Your grades?"
 

"Are sitting in Remus' hand so he can factor in the other grades with mine. My other two classes are in the red folder sitting in front of you." He pointed at it. "And only two unpassing grades. One in each class. Two below averages in the fourth years. Six in the third years. Most of them are Ravenclaws so they're going to whine."
 

Dumbledore laughed. "Another wonderful reason to be hiding up here. Did you want me to have dinner sent up?"
 

Xander grimaced toward their minimal kitchen area. "For some reason, one of Draco's house elves has stayed. We're trying to convince her to go back to work for her boss, but she refuses to leave. She said that the house elves here don't feed us good enough. We've argued with her," he said at the opening mouth.
 

"I'll talk with her myself tomorrow. For now, try to keep her out of the main kitchen. We don't want to make the rest of them mad." Xander nodded. "Thank you."
 

The house elf peeked around the end of the stairs. "I's can't work here?"
 

"Well, we do have open positions but it's not fair to let Xander and his family have one of you if everyone else can't have one," Dumbledore told him.
 

"But theys not eat!" the elf protested. "They's all skinny and bony. Must eat!" She walked out, pointing at Xander's stomach. "Needs fat there. Husband likes pudginess. I's heard."
 

Xander grinned. "George was happy that my butt was getting soft again," he told him.
 

"That's more than I wanted to know," Dumbledore reminded him. "I know that they need feeding up, we try to do that all the time but they never gain weight. We can't give him special privileges though. You can come visit but you can't feed them."
 

"Then I's work for you," she decided. "I's feed them greatly." She nodded.
 

Dumbledore smiled. "That would be fine. I'll talk to Draco and have you released from his service into mine." He looked down at her. "Why do you want to serve them so much?"
 

"Theys say thank you," she told him. "Very nice."
 

"I'm sure it is," Dumbledore agreed, smiling at Xander. "Come to my office and we'll call Draco immediately. Then you can help fix dinner for these poor boys and their lack of fat." He led her away, taking her up to call her boss.
 

Xander put his feet up with a groan. All he had done was grade but he was tired! Maybe a nap in his favorite chair.
 

***
 

It was the first day of the next year and everyone was well rested after their summer off. The kids had all come in smiling. Draco had officially taken over Xander's spot in the Advanced Fighting class doing the physical part. Bill had went to work with his sister and Draco. Harry was training hard for the next quidditch season. The new first years were being led in, and Anastasia had already nearly beaten up Agatha. Those two were going to be problematic. Since Anastasia got to be sorted first, she had calmly accepted her assignment into Gryffindor. Her father smiled at her anyway. He had so hoped one of his children would be Slytherin. Maybe Lucien when he was older. He had crawled under the table and pounced his big sister for hugs as soon as she was in line, making a lot of the students laugh. He was a lovely little boy who liked to bite people a lot. Especially the Ravenclaws for some reason.
 

Two students later, Agatha Potter's name was called. She calmly walked forward and put the hat on her head. "Potters aren't Slytherins," she told him, just like her father had. She knew where she belonged though.
 

"Yes, but you are," the hat said. "Slytherin!" it called.
 

"I'm going to stick you to my head until you change your mind," she swore, doing so. The hat screamed and fought but the sticking charm held fast. "Change your decision and you can go on," she said with a haughty air.
 

"Fine, Ravenclaw," it ground out. All the professors were surrounding it, trying to figure out how to help. "Now let me go."
 

"Fine," she said, uncasting the charm. She walked down to her new table.
 

But the hat had other ideas. "No, I changed my mind again. Hufflepuff. That should put you in your place," it yelled after her. It felt itself being picked up and told the Headmaster what had happened.
 

"Agatha Potter, you will join me in the back hall and we will sort you properly," Dumbledore told her. She glared at him but pretended to be obedient. The hat complained so he carefully handed it back. "Give it an easy one next," he suggested to Madam Sprout, who had requested the duty again this year. He dragged the girl into the back hall and glared down at her. "You are in trouble, young lady. You do not abuse the sorting hat!"
 

Xander and Draco walked out, Xander grabbing her while Draco put on the draining bracelet from his vault. "That should help some," Xander said, giving her a cold smile. "I've told your cousins to watch out for you." She sneered. "I think you'll find it very hard to work around that bracelet." She drew her wand, but nothing happened when she tried to cast something so she started to scream.
 

Draco took the direct approach, with Harry's prior approval. He picked the girl up and put him over his knee, spanking he very hard until she bawled. "Don't you *ever* threaten another professor, student, or inanimate object again, young lady. Your father gave me leave to beat manners into you." He put her back onto her feet and stared down at her. "If I hear of you pulling this sort of thing again, I will turn you over to Simone for correction. Do you understand?" he asked in his most deadly voice. She backed away from him. "Headmaster, I believe we should go with the sorting hat's first instinct."
 

Dumbledore nodded. "I think so as well." The door to the Great Hall opened and Iggy stepped into the hall. "Yes?"
 

"The hall's in an uproar, sir. There's a call to not only put her in Slytherin, but to expel her already before she can harm any of the Hufflepuffs. A number of the upperclass Gryffs are ready to beat her for hurting the old hat; it's dear to them." He glared at his semi-cousin. "If you start shit, *I'm* going to be your worst nightmare, not Simone. She'll stand there and laugh." He smiled at his father. "Dad, did my books come in?"
 

"Not yet," Xander sighed. "Go back to your table. We'll be in soon." Iggy nodded and left them alone. "I agree with the call. Slytherin was the hat's first choice." Tara walked out with Snape. "What do you guys say?"
 

"She would do best in my house," Snape told him, one hand on the Deputy Headmistress' shoulder. Tara looked happy about it so no one said anything. "It did sort her there first."
 

"I'm not going. Potter's aren't Slytherins," she said haughtily. Xander kept Draco from grabbing her again, which made her scream and back further away from him. "I won't go. I'd rather be expelled!"
 

"We'll deal with this after dinner. Send her up to my office. I'll call her father."
 

"Harry's sitting on the side of the nest," Xander told him. "He's playing with Tayla and her new mate."
 

"Even better. Have him come down and ...." He watched as Xander unfocused then shook his head. "Problem?"
 

"No, Iggy. It's going to become a riot soon. Most of the Hufflepuffs are afraid for their lives and the Ravenclaws aren't far behind."
 

Dumbledore nodded and led the way back in. "We will take up Ms. Potter's residence after dinner," he announced. "But know this. Precautions have been taken to make sure she cannot hurt a student." The Hufflepuffs stopped cowering and crying. The Ravenclaws bucked up and started to talk to each other. "Let us finish the sorting and then we'll eat. The teachers will tell you where she ends up later."
 

Ryan Rosenberg stood up as the spokesman for his house. "Sir, the precedent is that the hat's decision is final, even if the student doesn't like it. It knows more about us than we do because we're still too young to be able to know ourselves." He glanced around at his housemates, a few of whom nodded. "She was sorted into our house first and we're willing to accept her and guide her behavior as long as Professor Snape is." Snape nodded, giving him a faint smile for his excellent speech. "The hat has always won any argument, just because she threatened it shouldn't matter." He sat back down.
 

"I'm still thinking on it and will take it up with her father," Dumbledore responded. "The precedent is set and we will probably end up following it, barring some unforseen issues that may arise. A very excellent speech, young Mr. Rosenberg, ten points for your house." Ryan smiled at him. "Let's finish this year's sorting," he told Madam Sprout.
 

"Spenser, Lydia step forward," Madam Sprout called out. The young, shaking, girl stepped forward and the hat was placed on her head.
 

"Hufflepuff," the hat shouted. "A true one." The Hufflepuffs shouted and cheered, getting back into the mood of the sorting.
 

***
 

Harry glared at his daughter. "I warned you," he hissed. "I warned you not to act up and I warned you not to start crap on your first day. And what did you do? You threatened the sorting hat!" he shouted. "That just proved that you're evil and should be barred from magic!"
 

She sniffed and sat down, crossing her legs daintily. "I refuse to be a Slytherin. None of the family was."
 

"Actually," Dumbledore said as he walked in. "Your great-grandfather was a Slytherin. A very odd duck for a Potter." He sat behind his desk. "Harry?"
 

"She was sorted into Slytherin, let her stay there," he said coolly. "My daughter and I don't see eye-to-eye on nearly anything and I will not allow her to run roughshod over the fine traditions of this school." She snorted again and he pulled his wand, freezing her. "What do you want to do, Albus?"
 

"I personally want her to go to another institution," Dumbledore said honestly. "I think she needs a firmer hand that we can give her." Someone knocked on the door and walked up, Ryan Rosenberg. "You wanted to add to your earlier remarks?"
 

"Yes, sir. I'm personally willing to take her into hand and guide her in the proper Slytherin ways," he said, nodding at Harry. "We all know my mother's one of the most powerful witches around and I'm almost as good." Harry coughed to keep from laughing. "Besides, I think putting her under someone's direct care and influence might help some."
 

"Ryan, her mother turned her to chaos magic when she was eight," Dumbledore told him.
 

Ryan snorted. "And? My mother damn near killed eighteen people while she was pregnant with me." He looked at Harry. "I'll make her my personal princess if you agree and treat her however she needs to be treated, whether harshly or not. I am still every bit of my father's child and apparently chiding and commanding good behavior are genetic with me." Harry shrugged. "I promise I won't beat her, hit her, or call her names, though I may use Simone and Ignatius as a threat sometimes. However, I will keep her in line. Whatever punishment she merits, give me double if it pleases you."
 

"You're drawn to her darkness," Dumbledore pointed out.
 

Ryan shrugged. "I think she's a suitable consort for one such as myself." He adjusted his robes. "If I'm going to take over Professor Malfoy's place in the hierarchy, which I intend to do, then I'll need a strong consort and helpmate. Together we could rule Slytherin, as soon as she's adjusted herself to being there. And as I said, I can keep her in line. I know what she's like, I've seen others who love to be in command and rule others. It's a common trait among my mother's friends." He grimaced. "I can guarantee her enough people to rule over if she'll change and agree; it should keep her out of trouble for the most part."
 

Harry shrugged. "I'm at my wit's end," he admitted. "Even the present Minister of Magic isn't too fond of her."
 

Ryan snorted. "He's not really getting the whole Slytherin vibe anyway," he noted. "He's never understood what it means to *crave* power and control like a good Slytherin would." He looked at Dumbledore. "If it pleases you, I can start working on her tonight. A fair deal at first should suit. As she proves her loyalty and worth, then more power and control can be had if she's subtle enough. As my mother taught me, I'm more than willing to teach her."
 

Harry and Dumbledore looked at each other. "I feel like I'm making a devil's deal," Harry told him.
 

"I do as well." Dumbledore nodded at the girl. "Bring her back, Harry. It's that or she changes schools to Durmstrang." Harry flicked his wand at his daughter, unfreezing her. "We have decided your fate, Agatha. You have a choice."
 

Ryan stepped forward. "You can learn how to control others in a subtle and satisfying way under my direct tutelage or you can be expelled and sent far away to school in a horrible, drab, prison-like environment." She opened her mouth and he held up a hand. "I can promise not to yell at you, hit you, or otherwise hurt you in a physical manner, but I cannot keep you from harm by the Weasley clan. None of them really like me," he finished with a calm, cold sneer, learned from his Head. "What do you say? An alliance or an exile?"
 

She glared at her father. "You're allowing this toad to do this?" she asked.
 

Harry nodded, looking calm. "He's agreed to keep you from harm for the most part. You do have the option of going away to school, and I think it might be easier if you did."
 

"Would I be coming home during breaks?"
 

"That would depend on your behavior," Ryan told her. "I can guarantee you time at home, or with my family among people who control knowledge and other muggles for a living."
 

"You're a muggle?" she sneered.
 

"No, my mother's a witch. My father's a wizard. My mother is also a Watcher, soon to be married to the new Head of them. They control half of the world's knowledge of chaos magic, paranormal activities, and actively seek to control a select group of powerful young women and men. Your choice of course." He backed away.
 

Agatha looked at Dumbledore. "Will you take the bracelet off me?"
 

"If you show improved behavior," he agreed. "But the first time you act against another student it will go back on."
 

She glared at Ryan. "No funny stuff? I'm not going to be your whore."
 

"Agatha!" Harry shouted.
 

"If you chose to seek my bed once we're both of age, then I wouldn't mind," Ryan said honestly. "But forcing a bed partner will never be necessary for me. I've already had offers and I'm barely into my adulthood." He smoothed down the front of his robes again. "It is your choice," he repeated.
 

She stood up. "Fine. I'll take him up on his offer. You had better keep your deals, the both of you." Dumbledore and Ryan both nodded. "Then I'm officially a Slytherin?" Dumbledore nodded. "Take me back to the house, Ryan."
 

"Of course, my dear." He took her arm and led her down the stairs, going back to their home.
 

"As if there was ever any doubt," Harry sighed. He collapsed into the chair and started to cry. His poor daughter. What had Hermione done to her? Dumbledore came around and hugged him, trying to soothe him.
 

THE END.
 

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