Butterfly Kisses (Sequel to Harry Potter and the Return to Hogwarts)

[Fury]

Chapter 21
Herb Morrison vs. The Wizengamot

(Hermione's PoV)

The next couple of days were some of the toughest days Hermione had ever had in her life. Between Thursday and Friday, Hermione received three letters from Susan Bones. The first letter, told Hermione that Susan had written a letter to Herb's brother, telling him all about Herb's predicament.

In the letter, Susan had told Geoff that Herb had told her his story, and said how much Herb had given up for him in his life, and how much he was giving up for his brother now. She had asked Geoff to come to the Ministry of Magic on Friday and reveal himself to the Wizengamot and stick up for his brother, who had done the same for him all these years. She had also sent clippings from the Daily Prophet of Herb's arrest as proof to what she had said, including a clipping from Thursday morning's edition, which had stated that Herb would be put on trial in Courtroom Seven on Friday at eight-thirty in the morning, and could be sentenced to Azkaban for up to thirty years.

Hermione had read this same article early Wednesday morning. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the number of years, and knew that Kingsley had been behind it all.

The second letter from Susan also came on Thursday. It told Hermione that Bea Haven was indeed the judge who would be heading Herb's case. Susan had tried to persuade her to go easy on Herb during the case, and all Susan said was that she wasn't exactly sure what had been going through Bea's mind.

The third letter came Friday morning with the Daily Prophet, and all it said was that Susan hadn't received any letter back from Herb's brother, but that her owl had come back the day before with empty-talons, so she figured that the owl had found its target.

A good portion of the Daily Prophet was dedicated to the story of Head Judge Herb Morrison's case. One article said that Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt himself would be present for the case, and had also invited much of the media to be in the court room as well. It had also reported that Kingsley and his good friend, the Auror who had been skilled in Legilimens, would be taking the stand against Herb Morrison as well.

“They are certainly holding nothing back,” Ron said, at breakfast, as he was reading the Daily Prophet, “Aren't they?”

Hermione silently shook her head.

“Do you think Herb even has a chance of getting through this unscathed?” Ron asked.

“There is only man who can save Herb now,” Hermione said.

“Himself?” Ron asked.

“Besides himself,” Hermione said.

“Who?” Ron asked.

Hermione was about to answer, when she heard a pecking sound on the window.

“Another Ministry owl?” Ron asked.

Hermione stood up and rushed over to the window. She opened it up and took the rolled up piece of parchment from its talons and read it, her eyes going back and forth in a blur. She couldn't believe her eyes as she read it, and read over it a second time. What was Susan thinking? Could they actually get away with this? Could they be lucky enough?

“Looks like there is three people who can save Herb now,” Hermione said, “Herb included.”

“Who?” Ron asked.

“Lucius Malfoy,” Hermione said.

“Are you joking?” Ron asked, “After what Morrison has put him through?”

“I know,” Hermione said, shrugging, “I can't believe it myself. But it looks like he has made a bargain with Susan, and Susan has found a way to work it out.”

“What do you mean?” Ron asked.

“If Malfoy takes the stand,” Hermione said, “Susan says Narcissa will be free from her duties.”

“Take the stand?” Ron asked, “What could Lucius Malfoy possibly have to give that could be good enough?”

“A lot more than you know, Ron,” Hermione said.

Hermione knew there was only one real reason that Lucius Malfoy would take the stand. He had immunity from anything involving his history as a Death Eater, and if he revealed his story, he would be immune from any penalty.

“So are you going to tell me who this third person is?” Ron asked.

“I shouldn't,” Hermione said, “I don't even know if he'll show up today.”

“Well, whoever it is, Hermione,” Ron said, “I hope he shows up for Judge Morrison's sake.”

“So do I, Ron,” Hermione said, “So do I.”

------------------------------------------
Ding!

“Bottom floor,” the cool voice in the lifts said, “Courtrooms One Through Ten, Department of Mysteries.”

Hermione followed a large number of witches and wizards out of the lifts. Many of them had cameras, and Hermione was sure she had been riding the lifts with many of the Daily Prophet reporters. Hermione immediately saw Susan waiting by the wall in front of Courtroom Seven. Susan saw her at once and motioned her over.

“Any sign of Geoff?” Hermione asked.

“Nope,” Susan said, frowning.

“You've been very busy over the past couple of days,” Hermione said, “How did you get Lucius Malfoy to take the stand.”

“Well,” Susan said, “I was having lunch after my meeting with Bea Haven yesterday and suddenly it came to me. There was one person in Herb's story, other than Geoff, who could help Herb out the most. The only problem is how to convince Lucius to do it. Then I remembered that his wife was working for us when she didn't really want to. I wrote Lucius a letter and asked him to meet me if he wanted to free his wife from her job. This morning, he met me at the Leaky Cauldron. Do you want to know what the first thing he asked me was?”

“Sure,” Hermione said.

“He asked me,” Susan said, “if the little boy that Herb Morrison once was ever came out of that closet.”

“He knew?” Hermione asked.

“He knew,” Susan said, nodding, “And he also somehow knew that Herb had told the story to me. I told him he had, and he told me that he'd help Herb only if I stuck to my promise. I told him that if Herb stayed out of Azkaban and kept his position of Head Judge, that he would definitely give a full pardon to the whole Malfoy family, including immunity.”

“But he has the pardon,” Hermione said.

“I told him that,” Susan said, “He said that as long as his wife was still working for the Ministry, that his pardon would never be official. Well, that is exactly what I had promised him to begin with. He also said that every one of his files that revealed him as a Death Eater had to be wiped clean and vanished into oblivion, and that none of it could ever show up in the Daily Prophet again. I told him that if Herb survived this trial, he would do everything in his power to make that possible. Lucius agreed.”

“Have you told Herb this yet?” Hermione asked.

“Yep,” Susan said, “I told him and his lawyer.”

“Who is his lawyer?” Hermione asked.

“Calvin Peters,” Susan said.

“I knew it,” Hermione said, “Somehow I just knew it.”

“Relax,” Susan said, “Calvin knows what he is doing.”

“Does Calvin also know Herb has a brother who was once a Death Eater?” Hermione asked.

Susan didn't reply.

“I thought as much,” Hermione said.

Hermione and Susan remained by the wall as scores of witches and wizards made their way into Courtroom Seven.

“Susan,” Hermione said, “Those aren't all reporters are they?”

“Herb Morrison has many friends,” Susan said, “Unfortunately, he also has many enemies who haven't made their way into Azkaban just yet. And that isn't the only surprise of the day, I promise you.”

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked.

“Since you started working with the Wizengamot, Hermione,” Susan said, “Have you noticed anything odd? I don't mean with the defendants. I mean anything that hits closer to home, as the Muggles say.”

“You mean with the Wizengamot?” Hermione asked.

Susan nodded.

“Well,” Hermione said, “I was always under the impression that the Wizengamot was a lot larger.”

“Right on the Galleon,” Susan said, “In every case you've participated in, the Wizengamot have always been numbered to a bare minimum. That is until today.”

“Susan,” Hermione said, “You're not saying...?”

“Herb is going to be tried in front of the whole Wizengamot,” Susan said.

“Oh, Merlin,” Hermione said, sighing.

Susan nodded.

“Do we have any chance, Susan?” Hermione asked.

“What did you say to Herb on Wednesday, Hermione?” Susan asked.

Hermione shrugged. Susan put a hand on her shoulder.

“There is always a chance,” she said, “Always.”

Hermione nodded timidly, and as she watched more and more witches and wizards walk into Courtroom Seven, she knew now who many of them were: several members of the full Wizengamot.

-------------------------------
At eight-twenty, Hermione was sitting in her usual seat. Almost every chair around her was filled, and over half of the witches and wizards in the courtroom were dressed in the golden robes of the Wizengamot. Bea Haven, the judge for the trial, was sitting in Herb's chair. As Hermione looked at her, she only hoped that Susan had said something useful to her.

Down in the bottom three rows of seats, on the left side of the room, were a number of witches and wizards, all equipped with either a camera, or a large stack of parchment and a number of quills and ink. Some of the quills, Hermione recognized, were of the Quick-Quotes variety. Directly across from them on the other side of the room was a number of witches and wizards adorned in business suits and dresses. Hermione guessed they were the friends, and enemies, of Herb Morrison. As Hermione looked around, she didn't see neither Lucius Malfoy nor anyone who might have resembled Geoff Morrison anywhere, though she did recognize Narcissa Malfoy sitting a few rows below her. There was an empty seat beside her, and Hermione guessed there was only one person who this seat was reserved for.

The doors of the courtroom opened, and Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt walked in. Suddenly, he was surrounded in a blaze of camera flashes from the left side, and applause broke out from the right side. A few reporters started to ask some questions to him, but he raised his hands toward them and silenced them immediately, then took his seat on the bottom row. Hermione then recognized someone she hadn't seen until then: Cornelius Fudge was sitting in the chair next to Kingsley. On the other side of Kingsley was a man dressed in the attire usually seen on an Auror. Hermione only guessed that this was the Auror who had been skilled in Legilimency.

The doors of the courtroom opened once more, and a few more people arrived. One, and the sight of him made Hermione's throat tense up, was Lucius Malfoy. Hermione looked at Susan, who looked back at her. Susan was smiling, but Hermione wasn't sure. Would Lucius Malfoy go through with his story? Even more important than that, would Geoff Morrison even show up? Because, as far as Hermione was concerned, without Geoff Morrison's story, it didn't even matter if Lucius Malfoy took the stand or not.

Exactly at eight-thirty, the door opened yet again. This time, Herb Morrison walked in. He was being escorted by two Aurors, one of whom was the same Auror who had escorted Hermione and Susan to Herb's cell. Hermione also recognized the lawyer Calvin Peters, walking behind Herb. Hermione grinned at Herb, hoping he would see her. Herb sat down in the front row, on the opposite side of the Minister.

Suddenly, Susan Bones stood up and the entire room went silent as if someone had suddenly used the Silencing Charm in the room.

“The next case is Herb Morrison vs. The Wizengamot,” Susan said, “Honorable Judge Haven presiding.”

Susan sat back down, and Bea Haven leaned forward.

“Would the defendant rise?” she asked.

Herb Morrison stood up, followed by Calvin Peters.

“Herbert Morrison,” Bea said, “You are in front of the Wizengamot today as ordered by Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt, under the charges that you have connections to Death Eaters. Minister Shacklebolt also claims that you have not been entirely honest with him, and hopes that you will give your story today. He also wants the Wizengamot to be informed that Herb Morrison is, in fact, the defendant today, and should be treated as the defendant, and not as the Head Judge of the Wizengamot. Mr. Peters, do you have anything to say in the defense of your client before we start?”

Calvin stepped forward.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Calvin said.

“Bea will be fine, Mr. Peters,” Bea said, sighing.

“Of course,” Calvin said, “Mr. Morrison has informed me that he will be revealing his entire story today, and has also informed me that he has a witness for --”

Herb tapped Calvin's shoulder and whispered something into his ear.

“Pardon me,” Calvin said, “Two witnesses, if the other witness is here on time.”

“I have no wish to wait for your witnesses, Mr. Peters,” Bea said, “Is at least one of your witnesses here?”

“Yes, Bea,” Calvin said.

“Is there anything else you want to say before we begin?” Bea said.

“Yes,” Calvin said, “We request, because the Minister has offered his own participation for the Wizengamot's side of the case, and because he is obviously a very busy man, that the prosecution goes first.”

“Is there a reason for this request,” Bea said, “that has to do with anything besides the Minister's schedule?”

“Yes,” Calvin said, “My client feels that the Minister's statement will help him with his story.”

“I will accept it if the Minister has no objections,” Bea said, “Objections?”

Kingsley stood up and shook his head.

“Very well,” Bea said, “The Wizengamot calls Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt to the stand.”

Kingsley walked over to the chair in the middle of the floor and sat down.

“State your name for the Wizengamot,” Bea said.

“Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic,” Kingsley said.

“Minister,” Bea said, “Can you please state your reason for charging the defendant?”

“I interviewed Mr. Morrison this past Tuesday,” Kingsley said, “during my on-going investigation. That day I had investigated the Wizengamot who had shown up that day, and only Mr. Morrison interested me enough to order him to a second interview.”

“Please be more clear, Minister,” Bea said, “Why was he the most interesting out of all your investigations?”

“I had a feeling that he was hiding something from me,” Kingsley said, “And during that first interview, I asked Franklin Sawyer to assist.”

“Franklin Sawyer,” Bea said, “the man who you've also asked to be a participant for the prosecution?”

“Yes, Bea,” Kingsley said. “He is skilled in Legilimency, and his knowledge in this art helps me, as well as the Auror Department, with many interviews. He assisted me in my interview with Herb Morrison, but he couldn't find anything.”

“Mr. Sawyer, will you take the stand with the Minister?” Bea asked.

Sawyer stood up and walked behind the Minister.

“Mr. Sawyer,” Bea said, “I'm sure many of the Wizengamot are not familiar with Legilimency. It has been quite a few years since many of us have had our education.”

Many of the witches and wizards on the right side of the courtroom laughed softly. Bea looked at them, and they stopped.

“Thank you,” she said, then looked back at Sawyer, “ Mr. Sawyer, as I was saying, could you please tell us about Legilimency?”

Sawyer gave his explanation about Legilimency. He also described Occlumency.

“So Occlumency is used to block Legilimency?” Bea asked.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Sawyer said.

“Has Occlumency ever stopped your attempts of Legilimency before?” Bea asked.

“Of course, Your Honor,” Sawyer said.

“Even when you are at the top of your art?” Bea asked.

“Yes, ma'am,” Sawyer said.

“Mr. Peters, may I see you up here for a moment?” Bea asked.

Calvin stood up and walked up the stairs, then past Hermione and over to Bea. Bea whispered something to Calvin and Calvin nodded. Bea whispered something else and Calvin nodded once again. Bea motioned for Calvin to return to his seat. He did so, and whispered something to Herb. Hermione could tell he looked a little concerned, but then nodded. Calvin looked at Bea and gave her the thumbs-up signal.

“Mr. Sawyer,” Bea said, “Are you aware that Herb Morrison is skillful in the art of Legilimency?”

“I heard the rumor, but I wasn't sure, Your Honor,” Sawyer said.

“So then it would be accurate to say,” Bea said, “That you were not aware that Herb Morrison is also skilled in the art of Occlumency.”

“I was not aware of that,” Sawyer said.

“The Minister says that you found nothing when you used Legilimency on Herb Morrison,” Bea said, “Is that correct?”

“I found nothing pertaining to what I was searching for,” Sawyer said.

“Which is what?” Bea asked.

“Any connections to Death Eaters,” Sawyer said.

“Could Occlumency have been the reason for your failure to find anything?” Bea asked.

“Yes,” Sawyer said, “Absolutely.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sawyer,” Bea said, “You may sit back down.”

Sawyer nodded and sat back down.

“Minister Shacklebolt,” Bea said, “I will ask you the same questions. Were you aware that Herb Morrison was skilled in Legilimency and Occlumency?”

“Not at the time of my first interview with him on Tuesday,” Kingsley said.

“You interviewed the defendant four times this week,” Bea said, “Is that correct?”

“Yes,” Kingsley said.

“You were unsuccessful to get the information you wanted?” Bea asked, “Is that true?”

“If it were not” Kingsley said, “we wouldn't be here today, Your Honor.”

“That is all, Minister,” Bea said, “Thank you.”

Minister stood up and returned to his seat.

“Will the defendant please take the stand?” Bea asked.

Herb stood up and walked over to the chair and sat down.

“State your name,” Bea said.

“Herbert Morrison,” Herb said.

“You've agreed to tell the whole story you've been denying, Mr. Morrison?” Bea asked.

“Yes, ma'am,” Herb said.

“Do you have any connections with Death Eaters, Mr. Morrison?” Bea asked.

“I do not,” Herb said, “But someone very close to me does.”

Many of the witches and wizards started to whisper and mutter about each other.

“Silence,” Bea said.

The whole room went suddenly silent.

“Thank you,” Bea said, “Any more of this and I will ask that anyone who is not a participant in this trial leave the courtroom.”

Bea sighed and looked at Herb.

“Mr. Morrison,” she said, “Are you telling me that the reason we are here today is because you are protecting someone close to you?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Herb said.

“Knowing that you could go to Azkaban for a maximum of thirty years if you are proven guilty?” Bea asked.

“Yes, ma'am,” Herb said.

“All right,” Bea said, “Are you ready to tell your story, Mr. Morrison?”

“I am,” Herb said.

“By all means,” Bea said, “continue.”

Herb started telling his story. The whole room was silent while he told the Wizengamot about his brother, how he had admired him, and how Geoff Morrison could have been a well-respected individual even today if certain events had not taken place. He then continued with the fateful day he had visited his brother at his house. He then explained how he had heard three people apparating into his brother's front yard.

“My brother then pushed me into living room closet and proceeded to the front door,” he said, “I heard three voices. Voices I had never heard before in my life. Voices that scared me.”

Hermione looked down at Lucius Malfoy. She noticed he was shifting uncomfortably.

“Then two men and a woman entered into the living room,” Herb said, “And Geoff followed them in.”

“Did you recognize any of these people?” Bea asked.

“At the time, no,” Herb said.

“What do you mean?” Bea asked.

“As the years went by,” Herb said, “Those two men and the woman's identities suddenly became clear to me.”

“And who were they?” Bea asked.

“Rabastan and Bellatrix Lestrange,” Herb said, “And Lucius Malfoy.”

“Known to the world today as three of the convicted Death Eaters,” Bea said, then turned her head, and Hermione knew she was looking at Lucius, “At least they were at the time.”

“Yes, your Honor,” Herb said.

“Continue,” Bea said.

Herb continued his story. He put in detail how Lucius and Rabastan had held his brother down as Bellatrix applied the Dark Mark to his arm, then dragged him out of the room.

“Did you see your brother any time after the day of his eighteenth birthday?” Bea asked.

Herb nodded and continued his story. He told them how he hadn't seen his brother for three years, and when his brother found him, he asked his brother to leave the Death Eaters and run away into hiding. He also told them about the Daily Prophet clipping and how he had intentionally sabotaged that edition of the paper.

“And I haven't seen him since,” Herb said, “I don't even know if he is alive.”

“I assume you are hoping your brother is one of your witnesses,” Bea said.

“It's a long shot,” Herb said, “I know.”

“All right,” Bea said, “Mr. Morrison, you may leave the stand. As for your other witness, Mr. Peters. I think I know who he is. Would you like to introduce him yourself?”

“Yes, your Honor,” Calvin said, “I call Lucius Malfoy to the stand.”

Hermione stared at Lucius Malfoy. After about thirty seconds, Lucius Malfoy stood up and walked down to the central chair

“Silence,” Bea said, preventing any remarks from the witches and wizards around the courtroom, “Let me make it perfectly clear that Lucius Malfoy has a Ministerial pardon against his charges as a Death Eater, and has promised that his dark days are over. I think this can be seen as Mr. Malfoy has agreed to take the stand. Mr. Malfoy, I assume you are here to back up Herb Morrison's story.”

Lucius looked as if he was swallowing back something fierce.

“Yes, your Honor,” he finally said.

“Were you, in fact, present in Geoff Morrison's house on the day Mr. Morrison is describing?” Bea asked, “Also referred to as Geoff Morrison's eighteenth birthday.”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Lucius said.

“Were Rabastan and Bellatrix Lestrange with you?” Bea asked.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Lucius said again.

“Why did you visit Geoff Morrison on the day of his eighteenth birthday?” Bea asked.

“We were there,” Lucius said, “because the Dar--”

He paused for a moment.

“I understand what you are trying to say,” Bea said, “You may continue the way you want with it. I promise there will be no interruption.”

She looked, with narrow eyes, around at the people in the courtroom.

“Sorry, Your Honor,” he said, “We visited Geoff Morrison because Voldemort requested it.”

“Had Geoff Morrison met with Voldemort before this date?” Bea asked.

“Yes,” Lucius said, “I cannot tell you the details of it, because I was not present for it.”

“Continue with what you do know, Mr. Malfoy,” Bea said.

“Voldemort requested myself and the Lestranges to meet with Morrison,” Lucius said, “And we were to brand him with the Dark Mark. It was an odd request, because Voldemort never allowed many people this privelege unless he trusted them. I don't know what Geoff did to gain Voldemort's trust. After he was branded, we took him back to Voldemort, where he became an official member of the Death Eaters. He--”

Suddenly, the doors of the court room opened and a man walked into the center of the courtroom. Lucius Malfoy looked at him with wide eyes. Hermione looked down at Herb Morrison, who looked as if he was about to cry.

“What is this intrusion?!” Bea asked, standing up.

“Sorry, Your Honor,” the man said, “But I was under the impression that I had been invited here.”

“Will you please tell us your name?” Bea asked.

“My current name is Daniel McMillan,” the man said, “But I was born under the name of Geoffrey Morrison.”

-------------------------------------
Cliffhanger! Okay, I know. Many of you guys probably saw that coming. But I had to go that way. This is getting very interesting. All of this I have written comes from my head, and I will understand if any of it could be too believable for canon, but this is the way I've imagined it.

More to come! Feedback would be wonderful.

[Fury]

Chapter 22
Geoff's Story

(Hermione's PoV)

Like many of the witches and wizards in the courtroom, Hermione stared at Geoffrey Morrison. He did not look like the man, in the Daily Prophet clipping, who was growling at the camera. In Hermione's opinion, he looked like an older version of the boy in the picture that was taken the day of his graduation. His jet-black hair was short once again, and he had no facial hair. The only difference from the Head Boy he once was, was that he had no glasses now. He was wearing a business suit, complete with pants. Hermione noticed that the shirt's sleeves went all the way to his hands.

“You are the defendant's brother?” Bea asked.

“If Herb Morrison is the defendant you speak of,” Geoff said, “Then yes, I am his brother.”

“Mr. Morrison,” Bea said, “Your brother has told us quite an interesting story about you. The man sitting on the stand right now has also confirmed his story. I really have no words for it.”

“I've led a very interesting life, Your Honor,” Geoff said.

“Would you like to tell us about it?” Bea said.

“If it will keep my brother out of prison,” Geoff said, “I would only be happy to oblige.”

“All right,” Bea said, “You can return to your seat, Mr. Malfoy.”

Lucius stood up. He and Geoff traded short glances at each other, then returned to his seat. Geoff sat down in the central chair and looked longingly at his brother, smiling.

“All right, Mr. Morrison,” Bea said, “Tell us your story.”

“I'm not exactly sure what my brother has told you,” Geoff said, “Where should I start?”

“Lucius Malfoy spoke of you meeting with Voldemort sometime before your eighteenth birthday,” Bea said, “Is this true?”

“A week before my eighteenth birthday, in fact,” Geoff said.

“Why did you want to meet with Voldemort?” Bea asked.

“I assume you are asking me why I decided to become a Death Eater, Your Honor?” Geoff asked.

“Yes, Mr. Morrison,” Bea said.

“If I know my brother,” Geoff said, “He probably told you about my days at Hogwarts.”

“He told us a few things yes,” Bea said, “He explained how you were a top student, well-respected by your peers.”

“I'm sure many of my fellow students would have told you that,” Geoff said, chuckling, “Unfortunately, that's not all of it. I don't think they would be as compassionate if they knew the whole truth of my experience at school. It was the start of my seventh year. I was like many students going into their final year. I was very nervous about the whole thing. My reputation was quite well, and I didn't want to ruin it. I had searched for a way to improve my situation. I guess you could say I was trying to cure my anxiety. A couple weeks into the first term, a few students were passing out pieces of parchment, stating that what they offered could provide a brilliant future, not just in Hogwarts, but outside it. In reality, Your Honor, these were the youngest members of the group known as the Death Eaters.”

“Voldemort was recruiting students in Hogwarts?” Bea asked.

“Yes, ma'am,” Geoff said, “I would not discover the truth behind their quest for... oh... many weeks into the second term of my seventh year. I was inspired by their reasons. They told me that many members of their group led very promising lives and were destined to be a part of the high society of the wizarding world. Well, this is exactly where I wanted to go with my life. I couldn't resist. A couple weeks before graduation was our final meeting at Hogwarts. We were all supposed to meet Voldemort some time in the future. Someone would send a message to us. We would be informed where to go and when to be there. When the letter finally came, I met Voldemort. He basically interviewed me. He told me his recruits from Hogwarts had told him about me. He said he was very interested in me. After the interview, he told me someone would come by a week from then. That day was my eighteenth birthday.”

Geoff paused for a moment, then continued.

“That day,” he continued, “I waited and waited for the messenger to come by. I heard a knock on the door, and opened it, thinking it was them. It was my brother, Herb. He had come over to give me my birthday present. I couldn't have told him to leave. He would have asked me why, and I couldn't tell him. So I invited him in, hoping he would be gone from my house before the messenger was sent. During my brother's visit, the messengers came. I only expected one, but three came by. I hid my brother in the closet and invited the messengers in, praying they did not find Herb. They proceeded to give me what are called the Death Eater's Vows, and branded me with the Dark Mark.”

“Could you show us the Dark Mark, Mr. Morrison?” Bea asked.

“I'm afraid that would be kind of impossible,” Geoff said.

“Why is that?” Bea asked.

“The reasons why come later in my story,” Geoff said.

“All right,” Bea said, “Please continue.”

“After they branded me,” Geoff said, “They forced me out of the house and made me apparate with them. I arrived at a place where Voldemort and the Death Eaters were hiding at the time. From that moment on, I had become a Death Eater. Well, as I'm sure you know, later that year, Voldemort met his first downfall. The Death Eaters thought all was lost and that we were all doomed. So we ran. We fled from England, each into different countries, some as far as Russia as I've heard. I, myself, went to Ireland. Three years after my Branding Day, as the Death Eaters call it, fate played an interesting card. I picked up a Daily Prophet, interested in what was going on back home. I guess you could say I was home-sick. What should I find, but my brother's name. He had become an journalist. Around that time, I was once again confronted by one of my fellow Death Eaters, the same who branded me with my Dark Mark, Bellatrix Lestrange. She, too, had recognized my brother's name, and had given me a mission. She thought my brother could possibly become a threat to the Death Eaters. She didn't know he was a witness to my branding, though. She asked me to track down my brother. My mission was to recruit him into the Death Eaters, and he would become one of the Brand-less, those who were in our group, but didn't have the Dark Mark. We could only give the Dark Mark if Voldemort ordered it. Of course, Voldemort was gone at the time. If my brother didn't join the Death Eaters, I was ordered to kill him.”

“How did you find your brother?” Bea asked.

“It was easier than I had imagined,” Geoff continued, “He was still living at our parents' house. Though at the time, our mother and father were on holiday, so they never saw me. On my way to England, I started to have a change of heart. I knew I couldn't recruit my brother into the Death Eaters, and I wasn't going to kill him. So when I confronted him, I told him to run for his life, and said that if I could find him, the other Death Eaters could find him. Well, my brother has always been pretty brave. Brave enough for the both of us. He refused to run. In fact, he told me to run. Well, of course I had been thinking about it for some time, but I could never do it. It was his suggestion that made me do it. But I made a deal with him. Since he was the only person, outside the Death Eaters, who knew what I had become and knew I was alive, I made him promise to learn Legilimency and Occlumency in case anyone ever asked me about my whereabouts. I then said what I thought would be my final goodbye to him and ran off.”

“You didn't go back to the Death Eaters?” Bea asked.

“I couldn't,” Geoff said, “I had defied an order from a superior-ranked Death Eater. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to stop being a Death Eater, especially at the time when the whole wizarding world was looking for you and your group. I ran off back to Ireland, though far from my original hiding space. There I hid for two years, until a couple of Aurors found me and took me to an Irish prison. I escaped before they could take me back to England, and I knew I had to start my whole life over. I became Daniel McMillan and have lived with this name for fifteen years.”

“You said that showing us the Dark Mark would be difficult,” Bea said, “Why?”

“Well,” Geoff said, “After I changed my name, I realized I still had the Dark Mark on my arm. If I was arrested again, they would still know what I was. So I tried to make it vanish. It was pretty painful, and I was only mostly successful. I guess what is left on my arm is my punishment and the proof of what I really was for a portion of my life.”

Geoff rolled up the sleeve of his left arm, and showed his arm to everyone. The original tattoo was gone. What was left was what looked like scar tissue that partially resembled the Dark Mark. Parts of it were grotesquely reddish.

“Silence,” Bea said, preventing another outbreak of murmurs and voices before it could start again.

She then looked back at Geoff.

“That is quite the story, Mr. Morrison,” she said.

“I've lived with this secret for almost twenty years,” Geoff said, “I only reveal it now to help my brother, and prove that his only connection to Death Eaters was that he was once a young witness to a terrible scene, and that his brother had made the wrong choices at a crucial time in his life.”

“Thank you, Mr. Morrison,” Bea said, “You may take a seat.”

Geoff stood up and walked over to the chair beside his brother. When he sat down, his brother grasped him in a hug. Hermione felt a tear come to her eye and had to wipe it away quickly.

“Witches and wizards of the Wizengamot,” Bea said. “We began this day prosecuting a man for his crimes for connections to Death Eaters. It has been revealed that during the Minister of Magic's interviews with the defendant Herb Morrison, Herb used Occlumency to block Franklin Sawyer from discovering a deep, dark secret that he has had to live with for twenty years. We have heard three stories from separate witnesses, one being the defendant himself. All have revealed their details in an event that changed the lives of two men forever. If you were to ask me what I believe, I would have to say this. Herb Morrison has committed no crime. If keeping a secret, locked away in the back of your mind to where even you almost forget about it, is a crime, then I'm sure you could call many of us in here criminals.”

Many of the witches and wizards in the courtroom nodded and sent murmurs to each other.

“Silence,” Bea said, yet again, “Herb Morrison was a very young man when he witnessed a terrible act that someone very close to him was being put through. I guess the only question I have to ask to the Wizengamot is this: is the defendant in front of you guilty of the crime he has been charged with? All in favor of claiming guilt to Herbert Morrison, raise your hand.”

None of the Wizengamot raised their hand.

“All in favor of clearing the accused of all charges,” Bea continued, “Raise your hand.”

Bea was the first to raise her hand, and in a wave around the courtroom, the Wizengamot all raised their hand.

“Cleared of all charges,” Bea said.

Before the witches and wizards in the courtroom could react, Kingsley stood up.

“That is fine!” Kingsley said, “That is good. Herb Morrison has committed no crime. However! There is one man in this courtroom who is guilty!”

Many of the witches and wizards in the courtroom murmured to each other, some in loud voices. Kingsley pointed one hand at Geoff Morrison.

“Three people, including Geoffrey Morrison himself,” Kingsley said, “Have given testimony to the fact that Geoff Morrison is a Death Eater. As Minister of Magic, I order the Wizengamot to judge him of his crimes at this very moment!”

A couple of Wizengamot members near Bea leaned over to her and started talking in hushed whispers. Bea nodded and stood up. Then Geoff Morrison stood up again.

“Your Honor,” he said, “Minister. May I speak in my defense?”

“I think you have that privilege,” Bea said, “Wouldn't you agree, Minister?”

Kingsley visibly sighed and looked around the room.

“Let him speak!” a man's voice said.

“Give him a say in his defense, Minister!” a woman said.

“Order!” Bea said, tapping her wand on the table in front of her, then looked at Kingsley.

Kingsley nodded and motioned for Geoff to continue.

“Thank you,” Geoff said, “I am very aware of the charges the Minister of Magic have set against me. I knew when I came out of hiding that this might happen. But I did it anyway. I came here to help my brother get rid of the terrible charges that had been set against him, and I succeeded. My brother sacrificed a lot for me. He has kept this secret locked away for me. He almost went to Azkaban for me, and would have gone if I remained a coward. Twenty years ago, I made a very bad decision, and unfortunately I had included my brother in that decision. Thankfully, I didn't do anything worse, or this man in front of me, and in front of all of you, might not have even been here to tell you what he had witnessed as a young boy.”

He looked at Herb, then looked around at the Wizengamot, and the Minister.

“Seventeen years ago,” he continued, “a young man just starting down the road of adulthood taught me a lesson. When we were both in Hogwarts, he idolized me. I was the one who was supposed to show him how to succeed. I was supposed to pick him up when he fell. No, it wasn't our father's job. It was my job. I failed him. When he was still in the prime of his youth, Herb Morrison witnessed his brother, his idol, make a very wrong decision. He watched his brother not only fail him, but fail himself. I had quite the burden on my shoulders. As a boy of seventeen, it felt like the weight of the world. I had to show my brother how to succeed, and I couldn't even succeed myself. Oh, I was the Head Boy and the boy everyone looked up to and everyone named as the boy who was most likely to succeed and become Minister of Magic in his life. I let the praise get to me. It basically destroyed me, destroyed my confidence. So I made the wrong choices and set down the wrong path. I say it again. Seventeen years ago, my brother taught me a lesson. When I should have been the teacher, I was, in fact, the student.”

He looked down at scarred left arm.

“My brother taught me to forgive myself,” he said, “He told me 'Run, Geoff. Run and leave the Death Eaters. Run and don't look back.' I did. It took me two more years to run, but I did. It wasn't until my capture and escape that Herb Morrison's words sunk into my brain. From that moment on, I was never a Death Eater. Some people say that you can't stop being a Death Eater, but I say they are wrong!”

He pointed up at Lucius.

“Lucius Malfoy,” Geoff said, “the one-time Death Eater who held my arm down while Bellatrix Lestrange applied the Dark Mark onto my skin, has been pardoned of his crimes. Lucius, be honest with me. Can you honestly say to everyone in this courtroom today that you are no longer a Death Eater?”

Lucius stood up.

“I have been pardoned of my crime,” he said, “Like you said.”

“Oh yes,” Geoff said, “You have been pardoned. But pardon is only a word, no matter how official it sounds. Such as pardon the interruption, or pardon my intrusion. Well, pardon me, Lucius Malfoy, but can you show us your left arm?”

Lucius only stared at Geoff.

“I am not on trial here,” he said.

“I'd like to see this too, Mr. Malfoy,” Bea said, “Please show us your arm.”

Lucius sighed and pulled back the sleeve of his shirt. The Dark Mark was still clearly visible.

“It's only a mark,” Lucius said, to the gasps and murmurs of the crowd.

“Yes,” Geoff said, “Only a mark. A mark that I once had, but have painfully erased, just like I erased my past and started over. I ask again, Lucius. Can you honestly say you are no longer a Death Eater, even if you still have the mark?”

“That part of me was over long before Voldemort fell at the Battle of Hogwarts,” Lucius said.

“You see!” Geoff said, to the crowd, as Lucius sat back down, “You can stop being a Death Eater! It doesn't take a pardon from the Minister of Magic to give you that right. You have to earn it yourself. Fifteen years ago, I set out on that path and earned that right. So the Minister may lock me away in chains, the Wizengamot may call me guilty, but I am no longer a Death Eater. The Minister may say that I deserve to pay for my crimes. Oh, but I have. With this!”

He raised his scarred left arm again, then pointed at Herb.

“And I have paid for my crimes,” he said, “when I no longer became the twinkle in a young man's eye. I may have lost five years of my life due to my terrible choices as a youth, but my brother has lost twenty years of his life because of me. Because he had to hold back a terrible secret. That knowledge, the thought of what I did to him, is the cost I paid for my choices. I say it one more time. The Minister may lock me in chains, and the Wizengamot may call me guilty, but I am not a Death Eater!”

He looked around the room, then looked at his brother.

“Not anymore,” he said.

He sat down in the center chair and looked up at Bea.

“Thank you, Mr. Morrison,” Bea said, “It looks like we have a decision to make.”

Suddenly, one of the elder Wizengamot stood up.

“If I may, Your Honor,” he said, “I would like to suggest that the Minister give Geoff Morrison a full pardon from his crimes. It is obvious this young man is no longer a Death Eater, and no longer a threat to the wizarding world. He made the wrong choices as a youth, but that shouldn't be a surprise. Many of us have made wrong choices in our time. Some of them were made even years past our youth. I vote that the Wizengamot and the Minister of Magic grant a full Ministerial pardon on Geoff Morrison.”

The elder sat back down.

“Thank you,” Bea said. “I actually agree with that statement. Geoff Morrison is a man who realizes his mistakes. Each and every day, I see people come into these courtrooms who are indeed criminals, and many of them never realize their mistakes. They all think they are innocent. Geoff Morrison has already claimed that he was guilty for a period of his life. So, I will say this. Those who feel Geoff Morrison is still guilty for his crimes as a Death Eater, raise your hand.”

A handful of wizards raised their hand. Hermione wanted to yell at them, but she figured that these people probably had family members who were victims of Death Eaters, and they couldn't let their past leave them.

“Very well,” Bea said, “Those who feel Geoff Morrison is innocent of his crimes and feel that the Minister of Magic should give him a full pardon, raise your hand.”

Bea put her hand up, as did most of the Wizengamot.

“Minister Shacklebolt,” Bea said, “It looks like it is up to you.”

Minister Shacklebolt stood up and looked around at the crowd, who were all staring back at him. He then walked over to Geoff and looked at him.

“Stand up,” he said, to Geoff.

Geoff stood up.

“Geoffrey Morrison,” he said, “I, Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt, hereby... give you a full Ministerial pardon for your crimes and hope that you are indeed a changed man. For if you are not, you will be back in here and I doubt even the Wizengamot would claim you innocent.”

He offered his hand and Geoff took it. Most of the witches and wizards in the room, including Hermione, stood up and applauded. This time, Bea Haven did not request order in the court.

-------------------------------
Fifteen minutes later, Hermione and Susan both made their way out of the courtroom, in search of two men. They found them standing against the wall, embracing in a hug. Hermione grinned as she and Susan walked over to them.

“I am going to take a guess,” Geoff said, “And say that it was one of you two ladies who sent me that letter.”

“I did,” Susan said, “But it was partially Hermione's idea as well.”

“Well, then I have to thank both of you,” Geoff said, “You reunited me with my brother after seventeen years.”

“I think it us who should thank you,” Susan said, “If it wasn't for you, Herb would probably be on his way to Azkaban right now.”

“It was my duty,” Geoff said, “I owed it to my brother since the day I pushed him into that closet.”

Suddenly, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy appeared out of the crowd and walked over to them.

“Lucius, my slippery friend,” Geoff said, “I guess I should thank you, as well, for helping my brother.”

“I didn't do it for you,” Lucius said.

He looked at Susan, then looked at Herb.

“This young lady,” he said to Herb, motioning to Susan, “Promised me something in return for my testimony. She promised me that, if you ended this day as a free man, my wife would be free of her duties, and that any file that states me or any of the Malfoy Family as Death Eaters be destroyed, never to be seen again. If I am not mistaken, Herb, you are a free man, are you not?”

“Yes, I am,” Herb said, “And I give my promise to you, Mr. Malfoy, that I will do my best to fulfill your request.”

“Good,” Lucius said, “I believe that is all then. Gentleman... ladies... farewell.”

He stared at Geoff for about ten seconds, then walked away with his wife.

“How about lunch?” Geoff asked the three of them, “My treat. Is the Leaky Cauldron still around?”

Herb laughed.

“Yes, dear brother,” he said, “It is still around. And lunch sounds just fine.”

-----------------------------
Twenty minutes later, they were all sitting around a table in the Leaky Cauldron.

“Here you are,” Tom said, passing around four bottles of butterbeer, “And lunch will be coming right up as well.”

Tom walked away, and Geoff suddenly chuckled.

“I can't believe ol' Tom is still the barman here,” Geoff said, “Do you remember, Herb, the summer before my last year at Hogwarts? I tried to ask Tom for a couple bottles of firewhiskey for us?”

Herb laughed.

“He almost banned both of us for life that day!” Herb said, chuckling.

“We had to scrub the whole floor here just so he wouldn't tell Mum,” Geoff said, then looked at the floor, “Still as grimy as ever. Some things never change.”

“So, Geoff,” Susan said, “What will you be doing now?”

“Well,” Geoff said, “After I treat you two young ladies to lunch, Herb and I are going to visit our parents. I think they deserve to know that their oldest son is still around.”

“Are you going to stay in England?” Hermione asked.

“Oh, no,” Geoff said, shaking his head, “I'm still Daniel McMillan in Ireland. I promised my wife and kids I'd be back in time for dinner. I'm just thankful I get to keep this promise.”

“You have a family?” Herb asked.

“Oh, yes,” Geoff said, “I have a boy and a girl. My boy's name is Herb.”

Herb smiled and wiped a tear from his eye.

“And my little girl's name is Sarabeth,” Geoff said.

“After our mother,” Herb said, grinning.

Geoff nodded.

“Do they know?” Herb asked.

“Do they know my true identity and that I was once a Death Eater?” Geoff said, then shook his head, “No. You're not the only Morrison whose been keeping secrets, little brother.”

Herb frowned, then nodded.

“I reckon this is a secret that needs to be kept,” he said.

Geoff nodded once again. Hermione looked at Susan and smiled. She knew that, not only had they succeeded in keeping Herb out of Azkaban, but they had also succeeded in reuniting two long-lost brothers. For the first time in a few days, Hermione felt better then ever.

-------------------------------------
Chapter finished! Whew, this was an emotional chapter. As I was writing Geoff's speech, I kept picturing as if it would happen in a movie. I didn't expect to write it so well.

Hope you liked it! Next chapter will hopefully be up in a few days. Feedback would be great!

[Fury]

Chapter 23
Harpies vs. Chudley Cannons

Author's Note: First off, I will answer a reviewer's question. A reviewer asked me why Herb Morrison used Occlumency to protect his brother, then revealed his story later. Well, when I thought about Herb's story about his brother, I figured I'd do a nice little storyline where he reunited with his brother, and his brother saved Herb from going to Azkaban. Also, I didn't convict Geoff because he hadn't been a Death Eater for many years, much longer than Lucius hadn't, and I felt he needed to be redeemed for his mistakes. All right. I am going to skip some time once again, and I will describe important events during that time, at the beginning of this chapter.

The day after Herb Morrison's trial, the Daily Prophet recorded their best sales hike since the news broke out about Voldemort's defeat at the Battle of Hogwarts. Herb, Geoff and Lucius Malfoy's stories from the trial all became three different articles in the Daily Prophet. A couple hours after Hermione said goodbye to Geoff, the Daily Prophet had caught up with him and demanded an interview. He accepted. They had asked him if he could identify any of the people who had recruited students at Hogwarts for the Death Eaters. He said he couldn't, but guessed that every one of those former students probably perished some time during the Second War. An article also showed up in the Daily Prophet about Geoffrey reuniting with his parents. A picture above the article showed him hugging his parents, both whom were quiet tearful.

Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt took quite a lot of heat from both the Daily Prophet and the public after the trial. Even though he had granted Geoff Morrison full pardon, the Daily Prophet reporters still recognized the Minister's hesitation to do so. He was also criticized for his excessive interrogations with Herb Morrison during the week prior to the trial. At one point during the day after the trial, as many as three dozen owls found their way into the Minister's office, all with letters addressed to him. The Minister's distraught secretary also told reporters that he had heard quite a disturbance in the Minister's office when the Minister was out for lunch. The secretary rushed into the Minister's office, only to find that hundreds of letters were shooting out of the fireplace as well. The Minister denied rumors that many of those letters demanded his resignation.

Meanwhile, the Minister continued his investigations over the next few weeks, and the Daily Prophet reported that those investigations had been centered right at the Daily Prophet, and at the Minister's own personal staff.

The Monday after his trial, Herbert Morrison was back in his regular chair with the Wizengamot. He had hired a new staff member to replace Narcissa Malfoy as well. He even offered to promote Hermione, but Hermione declined, saying that she was happy being Court Respondent for a while. Herb accepted this, though he gave her a considerable raise. On her next pay statement, Morrison had attached a small note to it. The note read:

The Morrison family hopes you accept this pay raise, but know that all the Galleons in the world could not express our gratitude.

Hermione's handkerchief had been soaked by the time she mopped up her tears.

Harry and Ron's results of their trial exams came a week after their exam. Both had passed with flying colors. The training got more fierce as they had to prepare for the second of four exams that would come the following month. After the end of each day, Harry and Ron were both quite tired from the results of their training.

Meanwhile, Ginny's Quidditch training was just as fierce as ever. Three new plays were created during the rest of training camp. These plays, as well as the twenty-point play were practiced over and over again until they were finally perfected only a couple days before the first game of the season. The day before the game, the team was allowed to rest. According to Gwenog, it wasn't just a request, it was an order. Ginny was thankful for it. She definitely needed it if she was going to do well in their game against the Chudley Cannons.

--------------------------------------
(Ginny's PoV)

Saturday, the day of the Harpies-Cannons game, Ginny was awake bright and early. In fact, she was awake at four in the morning, a couple hours before the sun would even raise. Plain and simple, she was just too excited to sleep. She also had too many thoughts going through her head. She walked over to her closet and took out the large knapsack that was used for carrying her Quidditch uniform and everything else she needed for Quidditch. She opened it up, then rummaged around for something and pulled it out. It was a notebook that was full of plays and strategies. She turned on the small lamp on her bedside table and started to read the notebook.

On each page was a drawing of the full Pitch. There were also seven O's that were supposed to be the Harpies, and seven X's that were supposed to be the opposition. Each O and X were color-coordinated: yellow for the Seeker, black for the Beaters green for the Chasers and Red for the Keeper. The O's moved around the Pitch in a way that was supposed to represent the designated play. Ginny studied these plays until they were locked in her mind, then studied the hand-signals that Gwenog was supposed to signal to the Chasers to tell them what play she wanted them to do.

By the time she was finished, it was a little past six-o-clock. The game would be starting in six hours, and she was due in the Harpies stadium in five. A few days before, Gwenog took the team to the stadium so they could practice at their home turf. She also did this so those who didn't know where the stadium was could apparate there without getting lost. Ginny was also given ten tickets for her friends and family. She had given them to Harry, Ron, Hermione, her parents, Hermione's parents, George, Angelina and Bill.

After she had gone through all the plays and signals in her notebook, Ginny then treated her broom with the Broom Servicing Kit Ron had given her for her birthday. While she was doing waxing the broom, she heard a knock on her door.

“I'm awake, Harry,” Ginny said, “Come in.”

The door opened and Harry walked into the room.

“Just checking if you were awake or not,” Harry said.

“I've been awake for almost three hours,” Ginny said.

“Couldn't sleep?” Harry asked.

Ginny shook her head.

“Too excited,” she said.

Harry chuckled.

“I see you're preparing yourself for the game,” he said.

“As much as I can,” Ginny said, “Want to know something funny?”

“Sure,” Harry said.

“For some reason, I still don't feel it is enough,” Ginny said.

“Oh, you were bound to feel like that, Ginny,” Harry said, “It's pre-match jitters.”

“But I shouldn't feel like this,” Ginny said, “I've been playing Quidditch for a few years now.”

“Yeah,” Harry said, “But this is your first professional Quidditch game. All of the Hogwarts games were small-time compared to this.”

“Yeah, that's what Gwenog said,” Ginny said, nodding, “She said this game will be much different than anything we've ever played before.”

“She's right,” Harry said, “Professional Quidditch is rough. When we watched the Quidditch World Cup a few years ago, I've never seen anything like it. It was different than any Quidditch game I had been in.”

“That's the way the Professional Quidditch League is,” Ginny said.

“Well, I tell you what,” Harry said, “I'll make breakfast. Maybe that will make you feel better.”

“Sure”, Ginny said, smiling..

Harry smiled and left the room. Ginny dressed into normal clothes and picked up her broom and knapsack, then went downstairs for breakfast.
-----------------------------------------

At a quarter till eleven, Ginny magically transported her broom and knapsack to the Harpies stadium.

“You'll be coming soon?” Ginny asked Harry, as they stood in the backyard.'

“Hermione's parents are picking me up after they pick up Ron and Hermione,” Harry said, nodding.

“All right,” Ginny said, “I'll look for you in the stands.”

“We'll be the ones cheering the loudest,” Harry said.

“I know,” Ginny said, “And Ron will be the only one cheering for the Cannons.”

Harry laughed. Ginny kissed him quickly, then backed up. She concentrated on the picture of the Harpies Locker Room in her mind and apparated. A moment, and a crack, later, Ginny appeared just outside the Harpies Locker Room.

She walked in, and saw Gwenog Jones and Big Bertha hunched over in their lockers, and Roxy Waters was doing sit-ups a few feet from Ginny.

“Hey, Ginny!” Roxy said, “Excited?”

“Yep,” Ginny said, though with less gusto then she hoped for.

“Nervous too, I see,” Roxy said.

“A bit,” Ginny admitted.

“It's natural,” Roxy said, “Even the captain gets nervous on game-day. Don't you, Cap?!”

“There you go again, Rox,” Gwenog said, “Admitting my deepest darkest secrets for me again. Thanks.”

Roxy laughed. Ginny walked over to her locker and opened it up. As soon as she did, she heard a big booming sound coming from somewhere nearby, though not in the locker-room, as a result, Bertha hit her head on the top of her locker.

“Oh, damn it!” Bertha said, rubbing the top of her head, “They're going to start that stuff already?!”

“Guess so,” Roxy said.

“What is that bloody racket?!” a voice said in a sharp French accent, from the other end of the locker room.

Chastity, Regina and Liliana all emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in towels, looking soaked. Ginny guessed that the sound must have interrupted their showers.

“It's okay, Liliana,” Gwenog said, staring at the wall, “It's the Cannons pre-game ritual.”

“Banging their hands and helmets and whatever else,” Roxy said, “on the wall that leads to their opponents locker room.”

“Yeah!” Chastity said, “Aren't we lucky?”

“It's partially why they're called the Cannons,” Gwenog said, “They make a racket the sound of a bloody cannon.”

“We're not intimidated!” Roxy yelled at the wall, “You can cut that out!”

“Smooth, Rox,” Bertha said, “Very smooth.”

Ginny started to change into her outfit, trying her best to ignore the noises coming from the Cannons locker room. As she put on her pads, the racket finally stopped.

“Thank Merlin!” Liliana said, “I thought they'd never quit!”

Suddenly another noise was heard. Regina Kavoff started to say something in Bulgarian, and it sounded like curse words.

“It's not the Cannons this time.” Bertha said, looking up at the ceiling.

“It isn't?” Ginny asked.

“Nope,” Bertha said, “That, Ginny, is what we like to refer to as our most loyal fans. First to arrive at every game, and the last to leave.”

“And first to tell you if you're the worst player on the team,” Chase said.

Ginny ignored Chase. It seemed there was still a heated rivalry between the two of them.

“Hey, Cap!” Roxy said, “How many people are we expecting today in the stands?”

“Near full capacity, the last time I heard,” Gwenog said.

“All right!” Roxy said, “The more the merrier, I always say.”

“Rox, when have you ever said that?” Chase said.

“All right, ladies,” Gwenog said, “You know the drill. Let's get out on the Pitch for pre-game warm-ups. Let's give our fans a sneak preview of our season, what do you say?”

Ginny tied her boots up tight and picked up her broom, then followed the other players out onto the Pitch. The Cannons players were already in the air on the farthest side of the Pitch, but as soon as Ginny and the others went into the air, the Cannons dove out of the air and landed on the ground.

“Don't like to share the air, do they?” Ginny asked Roxy, as they watched the Cannons walk back toward the locker room.

“No,” Roxy said, “They want us to think they have a top-secret play system. Part of their intimidation strategy. Well, you have to give them that. If they didn't have intimidation in their strategy, they'd have no strategy at all.”

“All right, Rox!” Gwenog said, “Enough chatter. Get over to the rings. We're going to do two-on-ones. I'll be the lone Chaser.”

Roxy flew around Ginny and over to the rings. One of the ground staff threw the Quaffle up to Gwenog who caught it. Gwenog passed the Quaffle to Chastity, then flew to the end of the Pitch. Chants of “Go Harpies” and Holyhead! Harpies! Holyhead! Harpies!” were started from the fans who were already sitting in the stands. Ginny grinned and waved at them.

“Hey, Weasley!” Chase yelled.

Ginny turned to Chase.

“Are you ready or are you going to sit there and wave your arms?” Chase asked

“I'm ready,” Ginny said, blushing.

“Good,” Chase said, “Because if you do that during a game, you're going to get knocked out by a Bludger and I'm not going to sweep you up off the ground, you got me?”

“Yeah, sure,” Ginny said.

“Good,” Chase said, again, “Can we start now?”

“Sure,” Ginny said again.

“Well, you go first, remember?” Chase asked.

“Oh, right,” Ginny said.

Ginny sighed, cursing at herself mentally for not paying attention. Chase may be strict and a pain in the backside sometimes, but Ginny knew she was right that time. Ginny sped off down toward the rings.

-------------------------

After a twenty-minute warm-up, Gwenog called everyone down to the ground.

“All right,” Gwenog said, after she followed everyone back into the locker room, “Great warm-up, but I have a couple complaints. First up, Beaters! Don't go chasing after the same Bludger, girls. Regina, I kept seeing you go after the one Big Bertha tries to hit. Remember, there are two of them.”

Regina nodded.

“Second,” Gwenog said, “This isn't really a complaint. More of a question. Chase, at the start of warm-up, you were delayed. May I ask why?”

Chastity looked at Ginny, who nodded. Chastity looked back at Gwenog.

“Weasley had a few pre-match jitters,” Chase said, “I was just trying to help her get accustomed to the crowd.”

“Understandable,” Gwenog said, “Professional Quidditch games have a lot more fans than school games. One of the more unknown strategies in Quidditch is home-field advantage, especially with more popular teams. It's a strategy, but it is also can be bad news. The crowds try to help us by confusing the other team and keeping them from hearing themselves. Unfortunately, it can also hurt us as well. It's understandable for rookies, though, so I'll let it pass for now, Ginny.”

Ginny nodded, then looked back at Chase. Why was she sticking up for her, especially when Chase knew that Ginny was a threat to her?

“All right,” Gwenog said, “This is the first game of the season. We got three new excellent players, a whole new strategy, and a new season to look forward to.”

She looked around at the team.

“I have to admit something, girls,” Gwenog said, “When I heard that many Quidditch players were going to go on strike, I wasn't very happy. Then I heard that three of my players, my friends, that I've played with for a few years, decided to join the strike and leave the team. Ginny, Regina, Liliana, I will say this right now. If the strike ended in five minutes, and Ice, and the other two girls came marching in the locker room, I would march them back out right again. The three of you have given me new hope. Over the last month, I've seen you all work your tails off for this team. Ginny, Liliana and Regina, I've never seen any rookies before you work as hard as you did. Every day after practice, I saw you beat tired. But you came back the next day and still did your best. I think we have a superb team this year. Earlier we talked about our fans out there.”

She pointed out toward the pitch.

“Those fans come back every year,” Gwenog said, “They don't care about a player strike. They don't care about money. They care about the game. They care about us. So let's give them what they want. Let's give them the game they've paid to see!”

“All right, Quidditch fans!” the announcer's voice echoed into the locker room, “Let's give a warm welcome to the opposition, the Chudley Cannons!”

Ginny heard a bunch of booing, and some cheering.

“All right,” Gwenog said, “There's our call. Hands together, Harpies!”

The other players stood up and put their hands out and Ginny followed suit. Gwenog was last.

“One, two, three,” she said.

“Go Harpies!” the team said.

Ginny, Gwenog and the rest of the players walked out of the locker room with brooms in hand.

“And now,” the announcer said, “Quidditch fans. Here are your Holyhead Harpies!”

“Go, go, go!” Gwenog said, as she flew into the sky.

Ginny followed Gwenog into the sky, as the rest of the team followed her.

“De Pierre, Kavoff, Weasley, Biggs, Crowe, Waters, and Jones!” the announcer called out.

Ginny followed Gwenog as the team flew around the Pitch. The crowd cheered in an almost ear-piercing roar of excitement. Gwenog then went to the center of the field, across from the Cannons players. Ginny went to her left, and Chase went to Gwenog's right. Ginny looked around at the crowd for Harry and the others, and found them cheering in some seats near the announcer's tower.

“All right!” a voice said below the players.

Ginny looked down. A short man in a referee's outfit was hovering below the players on a broomstick that must have towered over the man when he stood next to it. Ginny noticed a large chest in his hands.

'Captains!” the referee said, “Please shake hands!”

Gwenog reached her left hand out and the Cannons captain, who was also a Chaser, extended his right. Gwenog shook it.

“I will now release the balls!” the referee said, then opened the chest.

He unlocked the Bludgers from their latches, and they flew off in neck-breaking speed in two different directions. He then opened two little doors on the underbelly of the chest's top, and took out the Snitch, then let it go. The little golden ball flew off into the sky and toward the Cannons' rings. Ginny lost it, but when she looked at Liliana, it looked as if she was looking right at it. The Cannons Seeker, however, was looking right at Liliana. One of their Beaters, a female, jabbed the Seeker with her elbow, and the Seeker shook his head and looked as if he had just woken up from a particularly good dream.

“There goes the Snitch!” the announcer said, “Remember, that is what the Seekers have to catch in order for the game to end. Whoever catches it, earns one hundred and fifty points for their team, and it usually wins their team the game! Not always, though. We've seen plenty of games, including World Cup games, where it went the other way!”


“Let me give you a friendly season-opener reminder,” the referee said, “I know there are a few rookies this year. I've been a Quidditch referee for many years. In every game I've overseen, I say this before I even release this Quaffle. I want a nice clean game from all of you. We don't need no injuries or worse today. And with that...”

He blew his whistle and threw the Quaffle into the air. Ginny knew she wouldn't be the one to catch it, so she flew toward the opposing rings.

“And Harpies captain Gwenog Jones takes the Quaffle!” the announcer said, “And she heads down the Pitch!”

Ginny watched Gwenog as she flew in and out of the opposing Chasers, and away from a well-hit Bludger that would have hit her broom if she didn't turn left at the right moment. Ginny waved her arms to say she was open, and Gwenog threw her the Quaffle. Ginny caught it and headed down the Pitch. She ducked the same Bludger that almost hit Gwenog, and headed for the rings. She looked behind her. Cannon Chasers were headed her way, but Gwenog and Chase weren't open. She sped down the Pitch and before she knew it, she was just yards from the rings. She had to make a decision now. She headed for the right ring and faked a shot toward it, then through it toward the left ring. It sailed through!

“And the newest Harpies Chaser makes her first score of the season!” the announcer said, “And its the first score of the game! Great fake too! Harpies lead ten to zero.”

As Ginny flew past Gwenog, she saw the captain give her a thumbs up.

“The Snitch is nowhere to be seen, and the Quaffle is back in play!” the announcer said.

Suddenly, before Ginny knew it, one of the Cannons Chasers had the Quaffle and was zooming right between her and Gwenog.

“Bloody hell!” Gwenog said, “That guy is fast.”

She started down the Pitch and Ginny followed her. Ginny saw Chase get right up by the Cannons Chaser and bump into him. He bumped back and Chase got hit hard as she flew away, looking a little dazed. Ginny knew she had to do something. She flew around the perimeter of the Pitch. Behind her, Big Bertha hit a Bludger toward the Cannon who had the Quaffle. Another Chaser alerted him just in time and he ducked. This gave Ginny the time she needed. She flew toward the rings. The Cannons Chaser threw the Quaffle and Ginny flew right for it as it sailed toward the rings and caught it about seven feet before it could sail through the rings.

“Interception by Weasley!” the announcer said, “What a player!”

Ginny started down the Pitch, but saw the three Cannons Chasers come right at her.

“Ginny!” Chase's voice called out somewhere behind her.

Ginny looked around and saw Chase just below her. She threw the Quaffle to her, then sped under the Cannons Chasers and toward the opposing rings. Gwenog raised a hand up and Ginny saw two fingers raised on the hand. Gwenog wanted the twenty-point play, and Ginny knew she had to be a big part of it. Ginny sped down the field as Chastity was flying toward the rings on the other side of the field, all three Cannons Chasers and a well-aimed Bludger flying toward her. Suddenly Big Bertha hit the Bludger toward the Cannons Chasers and all three of them had to fly out of the way in order for it to not hit one of them.

“Oh! And Big Bertha frees Chase of her pursuers!” the announcer said, “Nice hit!'

Ginny saw Gwenog fly behind the rings, and Ginny flew toward the right ring as Chase flew toward the left. Chase attempted a score... and it sailed through the left ring! Gwenog then immediately caught the Quaffle and threw it to Ginny. Ginny didn't expect this, but caught the Quaffle by her fingertips then immediately threw it toward the left ring! And...

“It sailed through! There it is, Quidditch fans,” the announcer said to the cheering Harpies fans, “The legendary twenty-point play! And just like that, the Harpies lead by thirty!”

Fifteen minutes later, the game was still as fierce as ever. Ginny, though tired as ever, scored two of three more attempts, while Gwenog and Chase each scored an attempt of their own. On the Cannons side, they scored three of five attempts all by the Captain, who was faster than any Chaser Ginny had seen in Hogwarts. The score was now seventy to thirty, and Ginny had the Quaffle again.

She flew down the Pitch, swerving in and out of Cannons Chasers and a poorly aimed Bludger. She saw the other Bludger coming her way and passed the Quaffle to Gwenog who was near, then dove down toward the ground, then back up, sliding her feet across the grass and pushing up into the sky toward the rings. Gwenog and Chase were both passing to each other as the headed toward the rings. Ginny didn't know if Gwenog had signaled for another twenty point play, but it looked like they were going for it. Ginny flew toward the rings.

“After a close crash, Weasley gets herself situated,” the announcer said, “And attempts to catch up to her team mates and – oh! Was that the Snitch?! It is! And the new Harpies Seeker goes for it! And so does the Cannons Seeker!”

Ginny hoped Liliana could catch the Snitch before the Cannons Seeker did, otherwise they would lose the game. But Ginny couldn't think about that now. Gwenog was getting closer to the rings, and the Cannons Chasers were closing in on her. Suddenly, as Ginny flew closer to the rings, Gwenog passed the Quaffle to Chase, and got pummeled by the Cannons Chasers.

“Oh!” the announcer said, “And there's the Cannon's signature tackle! But Gwenog passed it to Chase just in time!”

Ginny didn't have time to see if Gwenog was all right. The Cannons Chasers were now charging for Chase. She had to get up there. Ginny flew as fast as she could up toward Chase and her pursuers. Chase was flying back and forth, trying to avoid the Cannons Chasers, and Ginny saw Chase spot her. Chase threw the Quaffle to Ginny, and Ginny caught it then flew up into the air and over the surprised opposition. She flew toward the rings.

“What speed!” the announcer said, “Weasley, the lone Harpies Chaser, heads for the rings. And on the other side of the field, Liliana De Pierre is in quick pursuit of the Snitch, and the Cannons Seeker is closing in behind her!”

Ginny headed for the rings. Right in front of her, Big Bertha passed her and hit a Bludger away from her, and it sailed toward the Cannons Keeper, who flew out of the way. Ginny attempted a shot right through the middle ring... and it sailed through!”

“Score!” the announcer said, “Nice hit by Big Bertha to get the Keeper away from the rings, and Weasley goes right in for the score! Oh, and the Seekers are going right after that Snitch. Looks like the game is about to end. Who is going to get the Snitch? The Seekers are right by each other. Closing in.... closing in... closing – oh! The Snitch takes a wild dive, and only De Pierre isn't fooled as she dives after it. Getting closer! She reaches for it... and she catches it! The Harpies win! The Harpies win!!”

Ginny cheered as Liliana flew around the Pitch, the Snitch in her hand. Ginny then saw Gwenog and Chase fly over to her. Gwenog looked a little dazed.

“You okay, Cap?” Ginny asked.

“Never thought I'd be on the wrong end of the Cannons signature play,” Gwenog said, “But I'm fine. Come on, let's take a victory lap.”

Ginny grinned and followed Gwenog and Chase around the Pitch as the other Harpies joined in.

------------------------------
About half an hour later, Ginny was in her regular clothes after getting cleaned up. Ginny and her teammates were gathered in the locker room.

“Impressive game, girls!” Gwenog said, “Liliana, I was watching that last pursuit for the Snitch and I must say... great dive! That little golden ball couldn't fool you, could it?”

Liliana shook her head and grinned.

“After every game we win,” Gwenog said, “I get to give out the game ball. Today, I give it to a girl who has impressed me more than any other player out there today. She showed guts. She showed what it is like to be a member of the Harpies! The game ball... goes to Ginny!”

Ginny grinned as Gwenog threw her a small version of the Quaffle. Bertha and Roxy both patted her on the back.

“Just don't ask me for a speech,” Ginny said, grinning, “Not my strong point.”

Everyone laughed.

“All right,” Gwenog said, “One more thing. After every game we win, this has always been my tradition. So, on Monday, you will have a day off. No practice. But our next game is in just two weeks. So on Tuesday, I expect you to practice as good as ever. For now, celebrate with your friends and families. I'm sure they want to congratulate you!”

Ginny grinned and walked out of the locker room. A group of fans were cheering for them all, and Ginny saw Harry, Ron, Hermione and the others talking at the back wall. She immediately walked through the cheering crowd and over to them. They saw her and cheered for her and patted her back. Harry hugged her and Ginny kissed his cheek.

“So what did you think, Mr. Granger?” Ginny asked Hermione's father.

“That,” Richard said, “was much more exciting than the football game I went to!”

“Hey, Ginny!” Roxy's voice called through the crowd.

Ginny turned.

“The girls are going to get a bite to eat at the Leaky Cauldron!” Roxy said, “You want to come? They can come too. Tom has given us the whole bar if we won the game.”

“Sounds great!” Ginny said, then turned to Harry and the others, “What do you say?”

Everyone nodded and agreed. An hour later, at the Leaky Cauldron, the bar was filled with the Harpies players and their friends and family. Ginny grinned as she looked around. Her nerves that she had felt earlier that day had all vanished. She felt like a real Quidditch player now.

-------------------------------------------------
A/N: Sorry for the delay. I had a lot of trouble writing that Quidditch game. It has been a while since I wrote a game, and had to think about it.

Right now, I'm having a bit of writer's block, but I will try to get through it. Hopefully the next chapter will come before too long.

For now, feedback would be great!

[Fury]

Chapter 24
The Greengrass Home

Author's Note: Okay, so writer's block has officially found me once again. I am searching for possible ways to continue this story. The only problem I have is one that usually haunts me. I have plenty of ideas for later chapters in my story. The only problem I have is I don't know what to put in between my last chapters and those future chapters. The next ideas I have for the story don't happen until the middle of September and, right now, the story is at the end of August, so I am going to try to do some filler. I definitely don't want to skip too much time. So, wish me luck, and if the story sways from the storyline, you'll know why. Enjoy.

(Draco's PoV)

Draco woke up on Sunday morning and, for a moment, had forgotten where he was. Looking around the room, he suddenly remembered. He was in the guest bedroom of the Greengrass family home. The night before, he had finally given into Astoria's pleas and had accepted her invitation to come to her house for dinner and spend the night.

He had never visited Astoria's home before and was quite surprised to see that it was measurably smaller than his manor. Compared to Malfoy Manor, the Greengrass home looked tiny. Draco always imagined that the Greengrass family were wealthy. Maybe not as wealthy as his family, but enough money to have the pleasures in life others only wished for. He realized that, in many ways, it turned out that the Greengrass family and the Malfoy family were very different. His parents had associated with the Greengrass family before, but they always visited his house. The Greengrass family were also pure-blood, like the Malfoys and, unfortunately, few other wizarding families in the world.

Draco figured that was why his parents liked the Greengrass family. His mother seemed to have a kind of unwelcoming attitude toward Astoria, but his father had seemed to already welcome the youngest member of the Greengrass family as an official Malfoy family member. Draco wasn't exactly sure what he thought about that. Sure, he was in love with Astoria, though he wouldn't tell very many people that. But was it to the point to already welcome her as a part of his family? It was all very confusing to Draco.

He had never really been in love before. Sure, others would tell you that he and Pansy Parkinson had once had a thing. But to Draco, Pansy Parkinson was always like a sidekick or something. Just another faithful follower of Draco Malfoy. Like Gregory Goyle and the late Vincent Crabbe. But now when he thought of Astoria Greengrass and compared her to Pansy, there was really no comparison.

There was something he felt when he was with Astoria, and it was something strange. Something foreign to him. He was in love with her. Even if she was a little strange and unlike any other Slytherin he had ever met. No, not just that. She was unlike any other girl he had ever met. Sure she was a bit cheery to a point of annoyance sometimes, but he was okay with it. She was a part of him that he thought he had lost.

The days following the end of the Second War had been very strange for Draco. At the time, he was still thinking and dreaming about the traumatic experience of living alone in that safe-house, wondering if his parents were dead or alive. He also dreamed about when he had been captured by Death Eaters and had been their prisoner and then escaping into freedom. Though, to Draco, it was never really freedom. At least not for a while. When he had been forced to return to Hogwarts, he was still in a kind of stupor. A couple weeks into his final term at Hogwarts, Astoria started to spend time with him.

He used to think, back during those first few days of dating Astoria, that maybe she had been forced into it. Hell, maybe Draco's own father had been a part of it. Of course, that had been when he was in a state of depression, and he thought he wouldn't have been happy again. But Astoria's cheery attitude seemed to break him out of the stupor.

It turned out that Astoria was never really one of the popular Slytherin students. She was, in a way, in a solitary state of her own. She never had too many friends, and she was always studying in the dark shadowy corners of the Slytherin Common Room. Astoria had admitted this to Draco a couple weeks into their emerging relationship. She had admitted that she fancied Draco for some time, but her sister, Daphne, always told her to forget it. Daphne had been friends with Pansy, and she had always told Astoria that Pansy always talked about Draco, and that it seemed Pansy and Draco would be together forever. Draco had always wondered why Astoria always seemed so cheery when her own life seemed as depressing as his had been. But her attitude toward it all seemed to brighten Draco and that was probably one of the reasons Draco fell in love with her.

Draco was staring at the ceiling when his thoughts had been broken by a knock on the door.

“Draco?” Astoria's muffled voice called out on the other side of the door, “Are you awake?”

“Yeah, Draco said, still staring up at the ceiling.

“Can I come in?” Astoria asked.

“I guess,” Draco said, “Door's unlocked.”

The door opened and Astoria walked into the room and shut the door behind her, then locked it. Draco turned his attention from the ceiling and stared at her. The sun shone in through the window behind the bed and it made Astoria's blonde hair sort of sparkle. Her pale face seemed a little brighter in the sunlight. She walked over to the bed, leaned down toward Draco and kissed him briefly on the lips. Before Draco could even return it for more than a moment, she backed up and sat on the bed at his legs.

“How did you sleep?” Astoria asked.

Draco shrugged.

“More nightmares?” Astoria asked.

Draco didn't respond. His nightmares had become less and less ever since he had met Astoria, but he had some every now and then, and he never wanted to talk about them with her.

“Sorry,” Astoria said, “I know you hate to --”

“I slept fine,” Draco interrupted quickly, “I guess I'm just not used to sleeping anywhere besides my own bed.”

Astoria leaned into him and Draco thought she would kiss him again.

“You could have slept in my bed,” she whispered into his ear.

“With you?” Draco asked, his eyebrows raised.

Astoria backed up. She nodded, but Draco noticed a tinge of blush rising in her cheeks.

“I couldn't,” Draco said.

Astoria frowned.

“I mean I would have liked to,” Draco said, quickly, “But your sister--”

“Daphne knows to leave us alone,” Astoria said.

Draco's eyebrows raised once more. Her voice seemed to have lost a bit of its cheeriness.

“I couldn't betray your parents' trust, Astoria,” Draco said.

Astoria sighed and looked at him.

“You realize what today is?” Astoria asked him.

The change of subject surprised Draco.

“Er... Sunday?” Draco asked.

“It's the last day of August, Draco,” Astoria said, “I go back to Hogwarts tomorrow.”

“Oh,” Draco said.

“Yeah,” Astoria said, “Oh.”

She sighed and looked away from him.

“I haven't even begun to pack my trunk yet,” she said, “I'm absolutely dreading going back to Hogwarts.”

Draco looked at her. The sudden lack of cheer in her voice scared him.

“I thought you always liked Hogwarts,” Draco said, “And didn't you tell me you are in the running for Head Girl?”

She looked back at him and narrowed her eyes.

“What makes you think I like Hogwarts?” Astoria asked.

“I don't know,” Draco said, shrugging, “You were one of the brightest students in Slytherin. You seemed so happy.”

“Did you forget what I told you?” Astoria asked.

Draco shrugged.

“The only reason I've ever done so well in Hogwarts,” Astoria said, “Is because I've had nothing else to distract me. I never had very many friends. Does that seem happy to you?”

“I guess not,” Draco said.

“I'm happy with you, Draco,” Astoria said, “The only reason I seemed so happy was because I was with you. Be honest with me, do you remember anything about me before we started talking to each other at the start of the year?”

“I don't know,” Draco said, “I noticed you around Hogwarts. And didn't I just say I thought you were one of the brightest students?”

“I was more of the... suffer-in-silence type,” Astoria said, “As corny as it sounds, my only friends, before I met you, were the stacks of parchment in front of me, and the voices in my head. Really, the only person who talked to me was my sister. But as the years at Hogwarts passed by, she started hanging out with friends more than with me. I've always had my eye on you, Draco. You seemed so popular. You always had Crabbe and Goyle and... and Parkinson hanging around you. I was jealous. Then I saw you so alone when you returned to Hogwarts, and I felt a connection.”

Draco nodded. He had felt that connection as well.

“I know you had been taken prisoner by those Death Eaters,” Astoria said, “You told me that.”

Draco nodded. He had remembered telling her. It was the night she first kissed him. After that kiss, he had let go of everything that was hiding inside him. He never admitted it to anyone but, that night, many tears had come out as he had told her his story.

“I understood everything after that, Draco,” Astoria said, “And I knew I was right when I fell in love with you.”

Draco grinned, in spite of himself. Astoria grinned, but it was immediately wiped from her face.

“You'll visit me during Hogsmeade weekends, right?” she asked.

Draco sighed and looked at her. She looked back at him and her gaze bore into his eyes and directly into his mind.

“Sure,” Draco said, “I'll rent a room in the Three Broomsticks.”

“And you'll write to me?” Astoria asked.

“Sure,” Draco said, again, “At least twice a week.”

“If not more?” Astoria asked.

Draco nodded. Astoria grinned again.

“Somehow, that makes me feel a little better about going back tomorrow,” she said.

She crawled onto the bed and up to him. She kissed him, and Draco returned the kiss. Her kiss was so strong that Draco's head bumped into the headboard of the bed. Suddenly, there was another knock on the door. Astoria backed up and rolled her eyes.

“Astoria, are you in there?” a voice said.

“Just talking to Draco, Mum,” Astoria said, sighing.

“You're father and I are heading out early,” Mrs. Greengrass said, “You have everything you need for Hogwarts?”

“If I need anything, I'll get it at Diagon Alley,” Astoria said.

“All right,” Mrs. Greengrass said.

Draco heard footsteps walk away from the door. Astoria sighed in relief. She stood up from the bed.

“Oh, she's so annoying sometimes,” she said.

“I don't know about that,” Draco said, “Your parents are pretty nice.”

Astoria scoffed.

“Can I stay over at your place for Christmas break?” she asked.

Draco raised an eyebrow. That was quite unexpected.

“Why?” he asked, “I imagine this place is great around Christmas.”

“Draco, I'm serious,” Astoria said, “It will give me something to look forward to, and I'm sure it will be fun.”

“I'll think about it,” Draco said.

Astoria sighed, but she nodded. She leaned over to him and pecked him on the lips again.

“I'll just let you get dressed,” she said.

She walked over to the door and unlocked it, opened it, then left. Draco stared at the ceiling again. Was this really what he wanted for the rest of his life?

-------------------------------------
After he got dressed, Draco left the room and walked downstairs. The Greengrass family home was a two-story four bedroom home in the outer suburbs of London. It was definitely smaller than the Malfoy Manor and one of the main differences Draco first noticed was that there wasn't a single house-elf in the house. Usually, in the wizarding world, this was one of the first signs that a family wasn't of wealthy means. Even though most house-elves didn't require payment, most also never worked for low-standard families either. Draco didn't think the Greengrass' family was anywhere near low-standard, but the thought hadn't escaped his mind. Of course, when he thought about it, he also wondered if he really cared. Or if the reason he had thought about it was because he had always lived in the luxurious manor. When he walked downstairs, he heard voices in the direction of the dining room and kitchen. He walked over to the kitchen, but didn't go in.

“I don't think it is any of your business what I do with Draco, Daphne,” Astoria's voice rang out, “I don't ask you what you do with your boyfriends, do I? Though I guess I don't need to, either.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Daphne asked.

“You need to put a silencing charm on your window, Daph,” Astoria said, “I hear it every time you climb in and out of it at night.”

Draco's eyebrows raised. What had he walked in on?

“H-h-how dare you?” Daphne said, her voice shaking.

Draco cleared his throat and walked into the room. Astoria was sitting on a stool behind the bar that separated the kitchen and the dining room. A plate of barely-touched pancakes were in front of her. Daphne was standing in front of the oven. Her hands were on her hips and she was staring at her sister.

“Good morning, girls,” he said, looking back and forth to each sister, “I hope I wasn't interrupting anything.”

“Nothing at all, Draco, darling,” Astoria said.

Draco saw Daphne roll her eyes.

“Hello, Daph,” Draco said to Daphne, “I didn't see you at dinner last night. Were you busy?”

“I was over at the Nott house,” Daphne said, “Theo's family had a party.”

“Theo?” Draco asked, snorting, “You dating him or something?”

“Or something,” Daphne said, “You know, Draco. Pansy was there.”

“Daphne,” Astoria said, her voice dark.

“It's okay, Astoria,” Draco said, holding his hand up, and looking at Daphne, “So what is Pansy doing these days?”

Astoria looked at Draco and narrowed her eyes.

“Brooding mostly,” Daphne said, grinning, “And asking a few questions. She knows you're with Astoria, so she figured I'd talked to you quite a bit. She's worried about you.”

“Worried about me?” Draco asked, scoffing.

“Yeah,” Daphne said, “It's no secret what kind of trouble you've been in since you ended up riding the coattails of the Dark Lord.”

“The Dark Lord's gone the last time I heard,” Draco said.

“Of course he is,” Daphne said, “The stories still fly around, though. You know... Pansy told me she was looking for you after the Battle of Hogwarts.”

“Is that so?” Draco asked.

“Yeah,” Daphne said, “She was quite worried about you. You disappeared after that, and Pansy thought you were dead.”

“I took a holiday in New York City,” Draco said.

“Oh, she knows,” Daphne said.

“How would she know that?” Draco asked.

“You don't read the Daily Prophet, do you?” Daphne asked, “Your parents' story ended up being big news. Their escape from Azkaban and rumors that they were the lead Death Eaters in their plans for revenge on the Dark Lord's downfall.”

“She doesn't know anything, does she?” Draco scoffed, “The Second War is over, Daphne. The Death Eaters are gone and my parents are alive and well, just like me.”

“I know,” Daphne said, “I know more than you think I do. You say the Death Eaters are gone, eh?”

“Of course they are,” Draco said.

“Shows what you know,” Daphne said.

Daphne smirked and walked past him, brushing his side with her shoulder as she passed. He turned, watching her walk out of the kitchen and down the hall.

“What are you talking about?!” Draco asked, shouting at her.

She disappeared around a corner, and Draco heard the front door of the house open and close. He turned back to Astoria.

“What is she talking about?” he asked.

“Who knows?” Astoria said, “She's mental.”

“Right,” Draco said, though he was still unsure.

“What's your interest in Pansy Parkinson?” Astoria asked.

“Nothing,” Draco said, “I was just giving your sister the satisfaction she wanted.”

“Why?” Astoria asked.

“So she'd leave us alone,” Draco said, “It worked, didn't it?”

“You don't still have any feelings for Parkinson, do you?” Astoria asked.

“Of course not,” Draco said, “She's nothing to me.”

“Are you sure?” Astoria asked.

“Yeah,” Draco said, “Astoria, don't worry. I'm not going to leave you for her.”

Astoria looked at her pancakes.

“Hey,” Draco said.

He walked over to her and sat on the stool next to hers.

“Is that what you are worried about?” Draco asked.

Astoria shrugged.

“It is, isn't?” Draco asked, “You're worried that I'll do something when you're gone at Hogwarts.”

Astoria looked at him. He noticed a tear in her eye.

“I don't want to lose you, Draco,” she said, “Ever since we started going out, I've found that I'm happier than I've been in years. These past few months have been wonderful. Now I'm going to Hogwarts tomorrow, and... and I won't see you for a while.”

“Don't you think I'm worried about it too?” Draco asked.

And when he said it, he suddenly realized he had been worried.

“I mean,” he said, “Look at you. You're more beautiful than you think you are. You don't think I'm worried that some Slytherin boy is going to see you and fall for you and hook you in?”

“You shouldn't be,” Astoria said.

Draco raised his eyebrows skeptically.

“It will never happen,” Astoria said. “I won't let it happen.”

He grinned. She playfully smacked him on the back.

“Damn you,” she said, grinning, “You've turned this on me.”

“You see,” Draco said, “You have nothing to worry about, as long as I don't have anything to worry about either.”

“Deal,” she said.

She grinned and leaned over to him and kissed him briefly. Draco looked at the pancakes and realized how hungry he was.

“Any more of those?” Draco asked, nodding at the plate of food.

Astoria shook her head and grinned.

“I can make some,” she said.

“Or I can steal some of yours,” Draco said, grinning.

Astoria pushed the plate away from him and Draco playfully pouted. Astoria rolled her eyes and Draco laughed.

Draco stayed around Astoria's house for most of the day. After breakfast, he helped her pack up her trunk for Hogwarts and she seemed happier throughout the day. Once or twice, he found his mind returning to the conversation he had with Daphne. Something she had said sparked something in his mind, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

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A/N: Okay, short chapter, but I said it was only filler. There was a bit in the chapter that had to do with the storyline I'm planning, but I hadn't planned it before. It does lead to new possibilities for the story. Hopefully you liked this chapter.

When it comes to Draco and Astoria, I didn't have much planned, but I'm starting to like them in this story. I might add a little more with them, even though the main story is with the four main characters.

Feedback would be great.