Contents

Year One: The Beginning.

Year Two: Darker and Darker

Year Three: Another Mystery

Year Four: Crashing To A Head

Year Five: The Year That Things Start to Ease Off

Year Six: The Head Of It All.

Year One: The Beginning.

Halfrek, ancient friend to Anya in the demon circles they ran in, appeared in the middle of Buffy's living room, startling them all.  "I hate to say this, folks, but you've got bad stuff coming and I'm here with an offer."  Anya glared at her as Xander stopped the movie and Buffy sighed.

"What bad stuff?" Buffy asked.  "Another world ending?  Major demon?  World-wide breakout of back and breast zits?"

Halfrek looked at her.  "No, sweetie, worse.  Do you think you can kill a Goddess and then the very First Evil?"  Buffy's mouth opened and Halfrek nodded, making Anya moan.  "It's been put around that it'll happen but my boss, and Anya's former boss, hates that it could.  He likes the bad guys, but not enough to share power if you lose."  Everyone frowned at her for that. "Trust me, it's very possible.  But, there is a way out.  We can change one thing and make a sacrifice of someone and it'll be okay.  They won't happen ever again.  Things will be the normal bad around here.  No Gods."  Buffy nodded slowly at that.  "It'll also help in another place and their problems so he doesn't have to share with their psycho bad guy."  She looked at the current group of Slayerettes.  "But the problem is, one of you has to make the sacrifice and give it up."

Buffy looked at her friends.  "I should."

"No, Buffy, you're more important than we are," Willow said firmly. "I should go.  Tara's a good witch and I know you'll look out for her."

"Yeah, but I've been dead before and it wasn't any big deal," she reminded her.

Anya leaned over to get into their fight.  "Ladies, being dead before doesn't matter.  In this sort of case, it's got to be a heartfelt sacrifice.  That means you've got to want to go on the line for the good of everyone."

"Then it's clearly my job.  That's in the slayer's handbook somewhere.  I'm sure Giles would back me up if he was here."

Willow frowned at her.  "No it's not!  You're already in danger and who would we get if you died?  The world needs you, Buffy, they've got more witches.  You've got Anya and Tara and I *know* you'll guard my witch for me."

Xander got up and walked over to Halfrek.  "Will it hurt?" he asked quietly.

"No, Xander, it won't hurt," she assured him.  "Not for more than a second."

"Will I remember them?"

She stroked his cheek.  "They'll remember you.  You, if you go, will be going to a new life.  You won't remember this at all."

He considered it, then looked at her. "You're sure it won't hurt?"

"As painless as I can make it," she promised, smiling at him.

"Can I say goodbye?"  She nodded so he walked over to kiss Willow on the cheek.  "Let's talk about this rationally," he offered.  "Debate the various points on which one should go."

Buffy pointed at Xander.  "See, he knows we need you here, not me.  There's always another Slayer coming, we don't get witches as powerful as you all the time and you've got a great future.  I can barely pass a class in my native language."  She let Xander hug her too, figuring he was being mushy.

Xander walked over and kissed Anya, making her smile.  "It'll be fine.  Help them make a decision."  She nodded, moving closer to get more involved.  He walked back to the vengeance demon's side.  "Can I take a picture with me?"

"You won't remember them, Xander. You'll have a whole new life with a lot of new friends, and a few twists and turns of your own."  She took his hand.  "Wish granted," she announced, fading out with Xander.

"Hey!  No, not him!" Buffy called.  "Take me!"  She hopped up but it was too late, he was gone.  She glared at Anya.  "Did you know he was going to do that?"  She sniffled and shook her head, starting to cry.

"Shh," Willow soothed, moving to hold her.  "We'll take care of you, Anya.   He did it for the good of everybody, even if he was being a sneaky pete."

***

TWENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

The woman on the table groaned and pushed, letting out a scream of pain as the baby finally came.  "Hellfires!" she shouted.  "Make it stop!"

"Push!" the doctor ordered.  "Just one more, Miss Birmingham, he's nearly here!"  She pushed and screamed as the baby finally came free, and his screams echoed hers.  "Ooh, a beautiful baby boy," he congratulated, cutting the cord and handing him over.  "Hold him for just a moment while I get this afterbirth."  He picked up his wand and cast the charm to speed that delivery up, then came over to check the baby, doing his birth certificate.  "Let's see, what's today?" he asked, checking his calendar.  "July 27th.  Good."  He glanced at her.  "Do you have a name picked out?"

"Alexander Ozwitch Birmingham."

"Not after his father?" he asked, looking at her.  She shook her head.  "I really should put his name on here."

"If you do, he's as good as dead," she panted, pushing a bit to make the afterbirth come faster.

"Oh."  He looked at the baby, then at her.  "He's wanted by You-Know-Who?"  She nodded, biting her lip.  "It won't be more than a few moments, Miss Birmingham."  He looked at the baby, then at her.  "Are you sure?"

"He's got a signed death warrant," she promised.  "If He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named finds out Alex there lived, he'll be dead within a week, as well as me and his father.  Please, I'm begging."

"Fine, it's unusual and an extraordinary circumstance.  I won't put his name on the certificate."   He went back to filling in the pertinent details when the door slammed open and his patient screamed, making him look.  "Who are you and why are you in here?  This is a sterile area!   Get out! Right now!"

The blond man sneered at him.  "I doubt you'll need to worry about germs, doctor."  He pointed his wand at him.  "Crucio."  The doctor fell down screaming.  Lucius picked up the baby and held it out at arm's length, staring at it.  "Well, you're small and already annoying the Dark Lord," he sneered.  "Best get on with this.  After all, you're his."

"Like hell!" she shouted, taking her son back.  "Help!  Intruder!  He cursed the doctor!"

"Oh, do shut up," he sneered, pointing his wand at her.  "Crucio!"  She screamed and fought, holding onto her baby through the thrashing.  The only thing saving her was the pregnancy.  The bleeding she was doing and the last of her hormone, and therefore magic, swings were still coming.  She did the stupidest and bravest thing she had ever done, she repelled the spell and sent it back on the caster.  She tried to get up but she couldn't move.  "Help!" she screamed.  A nurse came running in.  "He cursed the doctor," she panted, pointing at the certificate.  "Give!  Now!"  The nurse looked confused but handed it over, being stopped from checking on the patients on the floor by the new mother.  She filled in something, then found her wand, casting a spell from the baby to the certificate to the nurse.  "Give him to my mother!" she ordered, tossing over her wallet.  "Her business card is in there!"

"I...I can't!"

"You must or we'll all die!" she shouted.  "Take my son and go!  He's a Death Eater!  The father's under a death curse!  The Dark Lord wants my son!  Take him to my mother now!"   She nodded, leaving with the baby but sending in help.

Lucius finally got free and glared at her.  "You'll pay," he warned.  "Avada...."

***

ELEVEN YEARS FROM THEN

Alex looked at the pile of mail that had come.  "Is my letter in there?" he demanded.

His grandmother glared at him.  "What makes you think you're getting one, Alexander?"

"Because I can do magic and it's tradition?" he suggested snidely.  He hated his grandmother.  She hated him.  She had told him repeatedly she hated him and why she hated him and in how many ways she hated him.  And now the feeling was mutual.  "It's also only two days until my birthday and I'm told they usually come about then."

"You won't be getting one. Your magic is weak and barely able to do anything."

Alex stole her wand and pointed it at her.  "Engorgio!"  She shrieked as she inflated and floated up, making him sneer at her.  "Are you sure it wasn't subtlety and not weakness, Grams?"   He heard a new owl flying and let her go, running for the front door.  He grinned and took the letter addressed to him.  "Finally!  Did you get lost?"  The owl hooted and then flew off.  He danced and held it against his chest.  "I'm finally going!  I'm finally going!  I'm going to Hogwarts!"

"Only if you survive that long," his grandmother sneered, making a grab for him.  He glared back and she flinched.  "We'll see if you go."

"You can't refuse to send me, Grams.  It's against the law to refuse to send a witch or a wizard of proper age who has a letter to Hogwarts.  It's in the green lawbook I was forced to read last summer."  He walked off, going up to his room.  "When are we going shopping?"

"You can take the elf and go tomorrow," she said, watching him walk away.  "Too much like your mother, boy," she hissed.  "You'll pay for that some day.  I'll have to make sure of it."  She went back to her writings, pulling out a new piece of parchment to start a letter.  Being a barrister was a good hobby for her.  She felt a twinge in her left forearm and rubbed the spot.  "Yes, he'll be back someday soon and you'll definitely pay for not going as planned to the altar to give him more power."

***

Alex looked around the Great Hall a few weeks later, watching everything while awaiting his turn with the hat.  It was a creepy old thing but he knew what it was for.  His Grams had told him about it a few times.  Especially how it hated his mother.  When his name was called he walked up and parked his butt on the stool, waiting patiently for the hat to come down on his head.  "Hi."

"Ah, hello, young man.  Very interesting in here. Yes, quite interesting.  Very powerful but very angry.  Very strong willed, but a streak of cruelty."  The hat made a humming noise.  "Where should we put you?  You're not in the least bit bookish.  All the knowledge you have was forced upon you."

"Mostly literally," he agreed sarcastically.

"Yes, I can see that.  Well, not Ravenclaw definitely.  You would do well in Slytherin I believe but there would be many conflicts for you.  Power, yes, great power could come to you but also great darkness.  Or I could put you in Gryffindor.  You're nothing if not brave and mouthy.  They appreciate that over there.  Or I could put you in Hufflepuff."

Alex snorted.  "Are you daft?"

"Well, no, but I was asked to put you there, you see.  I don't want to disappoint that person."

"Who asked you to missort me?  Because that would truly be a missorting for the record books."

"The Headmaster thought it would be kinder and easier on you over there."

"I don't know the meaning of the world loyalty.  It was never taught to me."

"True.  All very true.  And still a very impressive pool of anger."

"Do you blame me much?"

"No, not in the least.  I remember your mother and father, boy.  He was always so quiet.  You're a lot like her.  She was a Slytherin you know."

"No, I hadn't.  Do you know who my father is?"

"Indeed I remember him well.  He's in this very school watching you as we speak," he promised.  "Did she not tell you his name?"

"Um, no, rather not.  Unfortunately the bastard with the wand who killed her rather precluded that talk."

"Ah.  I'm sorry then.  No wonder you were raised by *her*.  She alone of all the Death Eaters is still feared and not talked about."

"So I gathered as she tortured me.  So, which side then?"

"That depends.  Do you want to chance the darkness *she* touches?  The one that your mother walked away from?  The one she kept you safe from so far? Or would you rather be safe, mostly unhappy, and find ways to use your skills to the benefit of others?"

"Both sound rather boring and a lot like working with people."

The hat laughed.  "Indeed.  Do you have a choice?"

"Would Slytherin help me more?"

"No.  Neither house will help you over the other.  You would have conflicts either way.  You may heal in Gryffindor.  They're very firm on the theories of healing.  Plus you can find new ways to use your temper, anger, and cruel streak to amuse and entertain your housemates.  The Weasley twins could use your help with some things I believe."

"That's wicked, but agreeable.  If it suits you, I'd rather not turn into Grams."

"Then, Alexander Birmingham, join the ranks of Gryffindor!" he called out.

Alex handed over the hat and walked over there, looking calm and at peace.  "Hi."  He shook hands with the new people over there, watching as the others were sorted.  He looked on as Harry Potter joined him.  "Well, you're not a big shock, mate," he offered, shaking his hand when he came over.  "Alexander Birmingham."

"Harry Potter.  Do I know you?"

"No.  I'm just taking a friendly mood.  They're rare, savor them," he offered with a mean grin.  Harry looked confused.  "Don't worry, you'll understand."

"So, you're a full-blooded wizard?" Ron asked.  "Or are you half?"

"No, full blooded as far as I know.  I have no idea who my father is yet, but the hat just gave me a clue.  See, some unkind and unthinking prat has earned my ever-living ire by killing my mum just minutes after she had me."  Harry flinched at that.  "I'm sure it wasn't you or your father. My Grams complained much too often about both of you for that."  Harry swallowed and nodded.  "Don't worry, I don't side with my Grams.  She made me her enemy long ago.  All her rants about pure bloods and powers telling and all that went right past me and out the window to taint her garden of ugly flowers, especially after I asked her why some inbred people with delusions of torture were worth more than people who worked hard, lived life fully and happily, and who expected happiness to be their reward.  She didn't like that question."

"Wow," Ron said, blinking at him.  "Who was your Grams?"

"Issadora Marianna Birmingham.  Barrister and all around cranky bitch.  A friend of hers once asked if she got enough fun from torturing people for the Ministry and she said no."

Percy, Ron's older brother, looked at him.  "I know of your family."

"Really?  Do I have more than her?"

Percy stared him down.  "You know what I meant, Alexander."

Alex smirked.  "Of course I did.  The hat put me here because I'm a smart ass."  Percy flushed at that.  He clapped politely as the sorting was finished and looked at the food appearing on the tables.  "Well, that's impressive."  Harry just goggled at him.  "It takes a lot to really impress me to babbling, Harry.  Don't worry, I don't pick on people I like."  He looked at the only set of twins at the table.  "Would you be the Weasley twins then?"  They stared and nodded in unison.  "The hat said to come to you to get some of my mean and cruel streak out so I don't torture anyone this week.  Did you need any ideas?"

"Mr. Birmingham," Professor McGonagall called.  "I have a letter sent for you.  Please come here."

He got up and walked up there, taking the letter.  "Who's it from?"

She cleared her throat.  "Your grandmother, boy."  He pursed his lips and looked at her oddly.  "She sent it earlier in the day, said to give it to you after your sorting.  I do have another in my office, your mother left it in my care when she ran off while carrying you," she said more quietly.  "I will see you tomorrow after classes to get that one."

"Can't I have it now?"

"Tonight, read that one and consider it.  Tomorrow is soon enough for emotional outpourings."  Alexander nodded and headed back to his seat. She looked at the Headmaster.  "He is very strong."

"Yes, but very injured emotionally," he said quietly.  "I wish he had other relatives."

Alex sat down and popped open the seal, reading it.  "Oh, bloody wonderful!  Cryptic shite!  Just like Grams."  He looked at Harry, then at Ron.  Then he shook his head and put it down, adding food to his plate and eating properly, not at all like how Ron was doing.  Though he looked like he was having more fun.  He glanced around as he picked up his chicken leg, taking a large bite and chewing. No grandmother suddenly appearing to beat him for lack of table manners.  He took another one and took another look around.  Still no grandmother.  He picked up the letter, reading it more carefully this time.  He looked at Harry.  "Read the cryptic shite and tell me if that doesn't sound like she's taking a long vacation."

Harry read it, then nodded.  "It does.  Either that or she's dying."  He handed it back.  "You really don't like your grandmother?"

"She loathes me.  She made sure I knew she never wanted to have a child.  She was forced into marriage and killed her husband weeks after my mother attained the ability to walk, reason, and feed herself so she didn't have to take care of her any longer.  She made it quite clear that she didn't want my mother, or me, and that we were all doomed since I had been born alive."  Neville flinched.  "Live with yours too?"  He nodded quickly, looking down at his plate. "Hopefully she's better than mine was.  I hope that for any child really."  He looked at the letter again, then at the head table.  His father had been watching his sorting.  "Do we know who any of the people up there are?" he asked, pointing at the head table.

Harry nodded, pointing at the man in a turban.  "That's Professor Quirrel, he's the Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher.  I met him in the Leaky Cauldron while I was shopping.  Hagrid introduced us.  He's the big man there on the end."

Alex looked, then nodded.  "Hmm.  Who're the others?"

Percy cleared his throat.  "The woman who gave you the letter is Professor McGonagall.  She teaches Transfiguration, heads our house, and is the Deputy Headmistress.  Next to her is Madam Sprout, who teaches Herbology."

"The males, mate," Alex said coolly.  "One of them knows who my father is.  That hat said so."  Percy looked stunned so he stared him down.  "The thing said it remembered both my parents.  That my mum was a Slytherin and that my father was usually quiet."

"Well, just the males," Percy said, swallowing hard under that chocolate brown gaze.  "The man with the beard is of course the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.  The one on the other end of the table, next to Professor Quirrel, is Professor Snape.  He teaches Potions and is over Slytherin.  He favors his house above all others so I would advise you watch your language around him."  Alex just looked at him and quirked a small smirk.  "The other male up there presently is Professor Vector.  He teaches Arithmancy.  Professor Flitwick was up there a moment ago but he appears to have disappeared."

"Was he the short one?" Ron asked.  Percy scowled at him and nodded.  "What's he teach?"

"Charms."

"Well, I am quite charming," Alex said with a grin at Ron, "but I doubt that he's my mother's sort if I'm a lot like her like the hat and everyone says."  He looked at the other men.  "Very interesting.  Who would know about the Slytherins in my mother's year?"

"Professor Snape might.  He's probably about the same age and might remember her," Percy offered.  "What did the letter say, Alexander?"

"It's full of cryptic shite," he said, handing it over.  "Either she's gonna commit suicide finally and leave me alone or she's taking a long vacation, has changed the lock spells on the doors, and I'm booted out of the family."

Percy looked at him.  "Please modify your language, young man.  It is not respectful of others to speak thusly.  I'd hate to have to take points off the first night."

Alex beamed at him.  "The only loyalty I know is to myself, Percy Weasley.  That's all she ever taught me." Percy swallowed again.   "That's what talked the hat out of putting me in Hufflepuff."

Ron giggled.  "Why're you over here if your mum was a Slytherin?"

"Because the hat gave me a choice about going to the dark my mother avoided and Gram lived in," Alex said simply.  "I'd rather not become like my Grams.  I'd hate to have to hex myself repeatedly to get my head on straight."  Neville and Harry both laughed at that and he grinned at them.  "I would.  So, Percy, what do you take from that cryptic shite she sent?"

"I warned you," he said firmly.  "Five points from Gryffindor for swearing."

"Boo hoo," Alex said sarcastically. "Should we make it a nice, even number?"

"Mr. Birmingham, I agree with him, please lower your voice," McGonagall called. "I can quite plainly hear you."

He took back the letter and walked it up there, showing it to her.  "You tell me that's not cryptic shite," he said dryly.  "The woman lived in it, it's part of being a barrister and an official torturer for the Ministry."

McGonagall's lips pressed together.  "Still, you may not speak so.  Swearing is not permitted on the school's premises."

He shrugged.  "Yay.  She taught me that too!"  He nodded at the letter.  "Was I kicked out or is she dying?"

McGonagall looked at it, then at him.  "I can't tell by this.  Either may be possible, but I would say the latter was probable."

"Hmm.  Good riddance then.  Thank you, Professor."  He walked back to his seat.  "Good news, guys, she might be dying!"  They all stared at him.  "Hey, no more torture, no more spells being forced onto me so I have to learn them and their counters, and no more shite from the old hag.  I might even get to invite friends over to trash her ugly flower garden.   Hideous things, really.  Pointy, thorny, attacking little nasty buggers who like my ankles."

Ron burst out in giggles. "You're a fun guy, Alex, but you're hell to be around."

"Ronald Weasley!" Percy complained.  "Do not use that language!"

"Sorry, Percy."  He grinned at Alex and dug back into his food.  "Eat like a normal boy since she won't be coming around to beat you for bad manners."

"Yes, I think I rather will," he agreed, picking up more food to eat and enjoy.  Hogwarts was turning out great!  They accepted him!  They humored him!  They even let him do mean and uncouth stuff!  It was great!

***

Alex lagged behind after his first potions class, staring at the teacher.  "May I have a few moments of your time later, sir?" he asked politely.

"Why?" he said, looking the boy over.  "Your tie is crooked."

"Yes, but my grandmother, the wrinkly old cunt, isn't here to correct it so I'm having fun having a crooked tie and not brushing my teeth today."  He grinned.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for swearing," he sneered.

Alex shrugged.  "Yay.  Wanna go again, make it an even thirty this week?"  He put down his books and looked at the older man.  "The hat said that my mum was a Slytherin.  You're about the same age as she would be, I guess.  There's some unanswered questions I have about her and my father and I think you may be able to point me in the right direction.  Would you consent to speaking with me for a few moments later tonight?"  He watched the man's eyes, noticing when they twitched.  "Ah, you knew her then?"

"Very well.  We were housemates. I tutored her in Arithmancy," he said quietly.  "If your behavior would improve, I might consider speaking to you about her sometime."

Alex nodded.  "That's fine then.  Do you know who my father is?"  Snape visibly flinched at that one.  "I take that as a yes.  Thank you, sir.  I'm off to bother another teacher now.  Do have a better day.  Tonight?  During detentions?"

"This weekend, Mr. Birmingham."  He looked at the boy.  "Why aren't you in Slytherin?"

The boy looked over at him as he gathered his books.  "The hat said I could avoid the darkness mother ran away from by being a Gryffindor when it gave me a choice.  Of course, someone wanted me in Hufflepuff for some reason.  Apparently they didn't know the old hag or her broomstick method of teaching young men."

"That's just granted your wish, another five points from Gryffindor."

Alex smirked.  "Like I told the blokes last night, I never got taught loyalty to anyone beyond myself.  This house stuff will take some getting used to.  I'll see you this weekend, Professor.  I thank you."  He walked out, heading for his next class. Charms.  He was stopped by the teacher.  "I had to ask the last professor a very detailed question," he said quietly.  The professor nodded and pointed at his seat.  So he sat down.  And was promptly bored by the things he had learned when he was eight.  He looked at Ron, who was concentrating very hard.  Then at the new witch, the Granger girl.  She was an uptight brat.  He watched her trying to take the teacher's place and rolled his eyes, taking his time pulling his wand.  He noticed the teacher noticed him and floated the feather over to him, then made it explode just past him with a small smirk.  He winked and took Harry's feather, winking at him and showing him.  Harry tried it and got it, smiling back.  "Can we move on if we've got it already?" he called.

"No, Mr. Birmingham. Please stay with the rest of the class."

"Fine."  He practiced, picking up Ron's chair and floating it a few inches, then letting it drop, rattling his teeth and making him groan.  He grinned and did it to Seamus, who was a lot of fun to be around.

"Mr. Birmingham, please stick with the feathers."

Alex took Harry's feather from him and did something to it, handing it to the professor. "I'm sorry, I'm easily bored," he noted, smiling sweetly and innocently at him.

The small Charms professor looked at the feather and hastily canceled all the spells on it, giving him a look.  "You can always doodle.  Maybe you'll become an artist some day with the amount of practice you'll be getting this year."  Alex grinned and took out a quill and some parchment to draw on, leaving everyone else alone.

Across the room, some of the students looked at him, then at the professor, who only smiled.  Ron leaned over to see what he was drawing.  "She's not that skinny," he hissed, making Alex chuckle and add some chins to her face.  "How did you know that?"

"Grams said I had to learn all that stuff a while back," he said quietly.  "She said it's what real wizarding pure bloods did for their children so they weren't stuck in mediocrity."  He looked at Ron. "She also told me I was no better than a squib until I bloated and floated her."  Ron snickered and nodded, getting that.  "She was not amused," he said in his most high class accent - mimicking her basically.  The professor cleared his throat and they moved onto the next Charm, which used the same movements.  Alex knew this one too so he helped Ron and Harry now and then and drew a bit.  His picture tormenting the person who killed his mother was taking wonderful shape, even if it was in stick figures.

At the end of class Professor Flitwick took the balled up picture out of the trash and looked at it, smoothing it out.  "Oh, dear."  He went to tell his fellow teacher.  She had to know the boy was going to cause problems.  They all knew who had killed his mother and it was only a matter of time before someone let it slip.

***

Alex walked out of McGonagall's office with his mother's letter, still unopened.  The professor had tried to get him to read it in her presence but he had assured her he wouldn't be destroying the castle if he was alone.  She left it there and watched him play with it for a moment before walking out. He went up to a small walkway where he could look out on the stars and read, enjoying the night.  He always had enjoyed nights more than days.  He reminded himself to tell the other boys not to wake him unless they had his wand already out of reach, then flipped the letter over to read it.  He slowly read it, it confirmed a lot of what his grandmother had pushed back at him over the years.  It also gave him more clues to who his father was, saying that he'd have heard if she had to send him to his grandmother's by her vigorous complaining.  He heard movement behind him and drew his wand as he turned.  "Parkinson," he sneered.  "You're not usually one to stargaze.  Why are you searching me out?"

"Malfoy and the others wanted to know why you weren't sorted with us," she said, sounding quiet but firm, but not very interested. "You could put that away, Alex."

"Eehh, I think not."  He folded the letter up and looked at her.  "Why can't Draco ask me himself?  After all, he managed to puke on me during my last birthday party."

Pansy blushed and shook her head.  'He's jockeying for position."

"Good for him," he said sarcastically.  "I have little need of petty politics and pleasing games."  She frowned.  "If you must know, the hat said I'd turn out like my Grams if I went with you lot.  I consider that a fate worse than everything bad happening at once and my soul being eaten by something with decidedly dull teeth."  She shivered. "Sorry, did I scare you?" he asked dryly, staring her down.  "We all know who was taught more, Pansy.  It doesn't matter to me at the moment, but I'm not going to follow in Grams's footsteps.  She was a bitchy old hag who wanted me sacrificed and beat me nearly to death when the former Dark Lord died before he could do it for her."  She shivered and took a step back, and a new person joined their group.  He looked at Professor Snape.  "She wanted to know why I didn't join my former playmates."

"Many will wonder that, Alexander," Snape noted.  "You've read your mother's letter?"

He nodded.  "Indeed.  And now I'm thinking about it.  When would be a good time to come talk to you about it and her, sir?"

"Saturday afternoon would be fine."  Alex nodded at that.  "Is there anything you need right now?  Professor McGonagall thought perhaps you should be made to speak your feelings."

Alex handed over the letter.  "She apologized for having to send me to the bitch."  Snape read it, then looked at him.

"That's another five points from Gryffindor," Snape said firmly.  "You must behave.  Your behavior does not speak well of your family."

Alex stepped closer.  "Why would I care what the old bitch likes and doesn't like or how bad my behavior looks on her, sir?" he asked coolly.  "The more upset I can make her, the better chance she has a heart attack and dies sooner."  Snape stared the boy down and he stared back.  "You should ask Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Crabbe, and Miss Parkinson here why that's a perfectly *nice* sentiment about the old hag.  My behavior will probably improve greatly after she's dead."

Pansy looked at Alex, then at her head of house, nodding quickly.  "It should, Professor.  After his last birthday party, Gregory said that Alex was more than welcome to come live with him but he would never step foot in that house again."

"I'm aware of her reputation and her ...problems," Snape assured them.

"Hmm, aware I was her practice toy?" Alex asked him.  Snape shuddered, but you could see he was trying to control it.  "I see. It says something when *everyone* she works with knows she's got the Mark, but they're too scared of her to turn her in," he said quietly.  Snape nodded at that.  "I still want to know why the Headmaster wanted me missorted into Hufflepuff."

"The Headmaster?" Pansy asked.

Alex nodded.  "The hat said he asked that I be sorted there, but found me *totally* unsuitable."  He grinned at her and she giggled a bit.  "It also said that since I take such a dim view of learning that it'd never put me near a Ravenclaw."

"It'd be horrible what you'd do if you actually wanted to learn stuff," Pansy assured him, making him grin.  "You'd be the next Dark Lord within months if you *wanted* to study."  Alex punched her on the arm and took his letter back.  "Should I tell Draco what you said?"

"If it pleases you or you can tell him to try me himself for a change, that you're not the bloody tellyphone company or a messenger."  She smiled and kissed him on the cheek before leaving.  He waited until she was gone to wipe his cheek off and make a grossed out face.  "My Grams wanted me to marry her," he said, shuddering a bit.  "Not my preference in the least."  He looked at the person who he felt he might possibly trust and look up to.  "So, I think your other knowledge was now confirmed.  Would you like to tell me who Lucius is?"

"No," he assured him.  "It's late, you should go back to your dorm."

"I should do many things, including study, but I can't find myself liking books after having it forced onto me for so long," he assured him.  "Then again, I believe I scared some of the poor darlings earlier."  He stepped closer. "Why is Potter bruised?"

"What?"

"Why is Potter bruised," he repeated simply.  "His back, all down it.  I did a quick healing on him last night because he kept moaning each time he rolled to the right and hit his shoulder, but he's definitely bruised.  Badly bruised.  I saw him in the shower this morning."

"I'll tell Professor McGonagall to check on him," he assured him.  "Go to your dorm, Alexander."

"You could call me Alex."  He walked off after having given that bit of permission.  The other kids came by it naturally and he hated that they took the liberty with his name, but this man, something was different about him.  He could feel it and he knew that somehow this man was one he could look up to.  One who didn't like to torture others, just retain and enjoy his power over them, like he did.  He walked back into his tower, watching everyone watch him.  "What?  Did you hear an explosion?"

"No, that was us," one of the twins offered from his seat.  "You should probably do your homework before it builds."

Alexander looked at them, then snorted.  "I hate books, I hate learning, and I hate school.  Besides, I'm already ahead in everything but Potions and Creatures."  He sat down next to him, looking at what he was doing.  "Do you need any ideas?  I'm feeling a bit of cruelty at the moment."

The twin in question looked over at him.  "Are you sure you're not mental?"

"No one's ever checked," he said honestly, then grinned.  "Would it make a difference?"

"They lock up people like you."

"No they don't. They let my grandmother run free for decades."   He stared him down.  Then he suddenly grinned.  "I won't hurt my own house, but I did unfortunately learn at her ankles since I was usually tied to the floor, mate.  It's not to be helped at this late date.  So now I'm sublimating.  The hat suggested you two."

The twin nodded.  "Sure.  Write down some ideas and we'll see if we can make 'em happen."

"That's fine," he agreed, grinning and hugging him around the arm.  "Thank you.  I need that outlet.  I'm off for a bath."  He got up and headed up to his room, finding Harry and Ron in there talking on their beds.  "Don't mind me."

"We ignored you all day since you decided to pet the beast in Magical Creatures," Ron assured him with a grin.  "Was it good news? You seem happy."

"My mother apologized for sending me to Grams, said she thought my father would hear from her complaining about me and steal me back.  It's definitely not his fault at least.  That relieves something I was worried about."  He stopped, then looked at his wand and put it on the table.   "I'm going to pass on a warning.  I'm not a morning person."

"We figured that this morning when we had to shake your bed to get you up," Harry said with a small grin.

Alex looked at him. "You're very lucky I didn't grab my wand," he assured him.  Both boys gaped.  "If you must *ever* wake me up, take my wand first.  That way I can't grab it.  It's instinctive."  They both nodded at that.  He looked at Harry.  "By the way, I healed some of the bruises that were making you moan last night.  What happened to your right shoulder?"  He took off his shirt, showing the mostly unblemished skin on his back and chest.  There were a few scars, mostly longer ones.

"Wizards don't scar," Ron said, staring at him.  "Unless it was a really bad injury.  How?  Um, not to be rude."

Alex grinned.  "Mate, you'll probably hear more than enough about how I got them all some day.  Don't be that impatient.  The only one who ever *asked* about them got sick on me at my birthday party."  He smirked a bit.  "Even if I did get blamed, it was pretty funny.  Malfoy pukes orange and purple."  He headed into the bathroom for his nightly shower.

"When are you doing your homework?" Ron called.

"When the old bitch comes back and forces me to," he called back.  "Just like the rest of my education so far."

Ron and Harry shared a look. "Well, he certainly livens things up sometimes," he noted.  Harry nodded, grinning at him.  "What bruises?"

"It's nothing.  I...fell."

"Uh-huh.  How did you bruise that badly from a fall?"  He moved and Harry shifted away.  "I just wanna check.  I'm fairly good at bruise charms.  Had to learn thanks to the older brothers."  He gave him a wry look.  "The twins are hell, mate."

Harry shook his head.  "I'm fine."

"If you're sure. I could probably heal them a bit more, Harry."

"No, I'm fine. They don't hurt.  Whatever Alex did last night cured the last of the pain."  He shrugged.  "What did you think of McGonagall today?"

"I don't know.  She seemed pretty tough and cruel.  She's obviously never had kids of her own," he offered, making Harry laugh.  Alex came back out.  "Is there anything you don't do well?  You're already ahead in Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense.  Anything you're really bad at?"

"Flying."  He sat down on the edge of his bed, looking at them.  "I suck totally at flying."  Both boys grinned at him.

"I'm not great, but Bill said I had pretty good balance when he taught me a bit the last time he was home," Ron offered.  "We can help you there if we're any better than you."

Alex nodded. "That could be fun.  I could take fun learning, but that Granger witch has got to go!"  They giggled and nodded at that.  "Levi*os*a," he mocked, making them giggle more and him grin.  He shook his head.  "I don't know how people like that stand themselves.  Then again, I guess Grams was like that a bit.  A barrister is hard when you're a woman and she was tops at the Ministry.  Had 'em all scared too."

"Mate, did someone need to take you away from her?" Ron asked finally.  "I could talk to my mum and dad.  He's at the Ministry.  He's in Muggle Affairs."

"I met your dad and he tried once," he admitted.  "I think Grams tortured the person who came and then sent them off."  He turned to face him.  "With the cryptic shite letter I got that first night, there's a very good chance I won't have to worry about it.  At that time, I'll be free to be myself and I might even quit being so angry after I kill the person who killed my mum.  Anyone know who Lucius is?"

"Malfoy?" Ron suggested.  "But you know him."

"No, I know Malfoy's mother," he said dryly.  "Grams always thought it was *amusing* that Narcissa never brought her husband over to the dinners she held.  She always chuckled about him not coming.  Well, that explains so much."  He shifted and stretched.  "I'll have to have a talk with Mr. Malfoy soon."  Someone tapped on the door.  "We're all decently attired."

Professor McGonagall walked in, looking at him.  "I had hopes you weren't a nudist or otherwise odd, Mr. Birmingham."  She looked at the other two boys.  "I need to see you both in a few moments once I talk to Alexander."

"Sure," Ron agreed, getting up and hauling Harry after him.

She waited until the door was closed and watched as he cast the anti-listening charm.  "You're well tutored."

"Not my fault," he reminded her dryly, stretching out on his back.  "What?  More problems with my behavior?  Warning me to try to study?  To not scare the kiddies in the upper years like I obviously do Percy?"

She pursed her lips for a moment then nodded.  "All those would be quite nice," she agreed.  "Please try not to harm Mr. Weasley too much.  His parents were good and gentle.  Even though he is a bit uptight."

"Professor, he's got the broomstick shoved sideways."  She blushed and spluttered.  "Calling it like I see it."

"I can see that."  She sat on the end of Harry's bed, looking at him.  "I'm aware, now, that your grandmother abused you."

"Tortured," he corrected.  "Abused implied a reason beyond having fun."

She nodded.  "I understand."

"Do you?"  She nodded.  "Been there perhaps?"

"No," she admitted, "but I've seen others who have."  She stood up and came to sit on his bed.  "Alexander, you're in a very unique position in this house.  You're one of better taught wizards in this school.  Professor Flitwick said you were doing fifth year charms to show off and prove you knew what you were doing in his class the other day."  He nodded, agreeing with that.  "I also know that you've seen some...irregularities with some of the other students.  Ones who come from nicer, but still abusive homes."  He nodded at that as well.  "What I'd like for you to do is to protect those children.  Mr. Potter is here and there are people who still want him dead," she said quietly.

"Like my Grams."

She nodded.  "Exactly.  Even should she die, as you believe she will be, there are others.  You can help us protect the other students should someone come for him."

"I can protect him and them."

"He's got his own protectors and protections."

He sat up.  "No, he's got people who want to use him," he said calmly.  "We both know it, love, there's nothing that can stop some of them.  So I will make you a deal.  I will protect this house and Mr. Potter.  You keep the political machinations and matchmaking down to a minimum for the poor git.  There's no way he fell and got those bruises like he said he did."  Her face tightened and she nodded at that.  "In return, I won't torture the kids.  I may pick on a few of them and I will be getting back at the person who killed my mum.  Is the Lucius my mother's letter mentioned Malfoy?"

"I don't know," she admitted.  "It's not a popular name but he's not the only one who graduated with that name over the years."  He nodded, accepting that.  "It could well be, but we, meaning Professor Snape, myself, and the Headmaster, would appreciate you not taking it out on his son."

Alex looked at her.  "We'll have to see about that.  I can't promise that. I do take those moments you know."  She nodded, understanding that.  "As such, I'll try to give warning."

"Thank you.  I would appreciate warning about those moments of yours. Professor Snape asked Mr. Goyle and he burst out crying."

"He saw one of my last ones," he admitted gently.  "I did apologize for scaring him."  She nodded at that.  "Is that all you wanted?"

"No," she admitted, standing up.  "I do not want you to spread around the dark knowledge you were forced into learning, Alexander.  It's not healthy for the other students."

"I'd never do that, professor.  Not unless they needed to know."  She acknowledged that with a tip of her head.  "I will be the knight in slightly tarnished armor however for the others."  She smiled and nodded.  "Were you serious about reading the book?"

"I would prefer if you at least glanced over it before tests.  I do test on the theory as well as the practical, Mr. Birmingham."

"Shite, woman, I hate books.  Being forced to sit and read for weeks on end without stopping made me displeased with the little leafy things."

She pursed her lips again.  "Then I'll expect you to do as much as you can stand and slowly start to get over that.  There is much you do not know that could help you with her and the estate which will someday be yours."

"Can't I burn it?"

"No."  She smiled at him.  "Remember, you will outlive her by many years.  Plan for that future you'll have and hide it from her.  Though, do try to regulate your language if possible.  She's not here to see or hear you rebel and sending her a letter about your swearing wouldn't do anyone any good."

He grinned.  "It's innate now. Sorta like how I reach for my wand first."  She nodded at that. "I did tell Harry and Ron to confiscate my wand if they were trying to wake me up.  It's damn lucky I was too tired to reach for it this morning."

"I heard.  I'm very appreciative of you for it.  Twenty points for not killing your roommates that first morning, Mr. Birmingham."  He grinned at that.  "Do you feel comfortable confiding in me about what she did?"

"No," he said honestly.  "I have a real problem with women.  Especially the supposedly nice ones.  Madam Sprout is obviously hiding a dark secret in her past with how nice she is."

McGonagall chuckled.  "The only secrets she's hiding is that now and then she takes an extra biscuit or cookie at tea, Alexander."  He gave her a long stare.  "Really.  I've known her longer than you've been alive."  He nodded once.  "Believe me.  She's perfectly gentle.  Some people are like that."

"None that I know."

"True.  You'll learn that she's not that bad. I'm usually considered the scary female teacher, outside of the Divinations teacher that is."

"No, she's a loony bat," he said dryly.  "We already met.  She looked at me and burst out crying, then hugged me and stunk me up horribly before running away and going to find Professor Snape to talk to me."  He sat up.  "Is he an acceptable person to speak to when I need to?"

She smiled. "He might not think so but I do encourage it.  He comes from a similar background and we were all sure you were going over there."

"The hat said I'd turn dark if I did," he said honestly.  "I'd never stand that."

"I understand and so will he."

"He said he did," he assured her.

She smiled.  "Then keep going to him by all means, Alexander.  Or do you prefer Alex?"

"No, I prefer Alexander to any but those I give permission to.  Unfortunately Malfoy and his crew started out when I was younger.  That's probably why I hate it."

"Agreeable," she assured him.  "Should I talk with the Headmaster?"

"Only if you ask him why he wanted me in Hufflepuff."

"He what?"

"The hat said he wanted me put into Hufflepuff."

"That wouldn't suit you," she said sarcastically.

"No, really?" he retorted in kind, grinning at her.  "Are there any other scary female people I should watch out for?"

"Poppy, the school nurse, can be when you're under her care."  He shuddered.  "If you follow orders she's usually quite pleasant to you."  She smiled at him.  "The only other one you'll be seeing will be Madam Hooch."

"I suck at flying."

She shrugged.  "We can't be great at everything.  Even You-Know-Who had his bad subjects when he was here."

He grimaced. "Pansy said if I actually wanted to study I could be the next Dark Lord."

"There's no way I'd let that happen," she said firmly.  "Should you try you'll soon find out why I'm considered the most scary woman in this school."  They shared a look and he smiled and nodded, reassured by that.  "Now, what was wrong with Mr. Potter's back?"

"It was one big bruise.  I cured his right shoulder because he kept waking me up whenever he flipped over.  The guy's got nightmares like mine."

"Very well.  If Mr. Weasley hasn't cured them, I'll look them over.  Is he one you'll have to protect?"

"He understood better than most what I didn't say," he told her. She nodded at that.  "If they're going to rely on him when the Dark Lord comes back, I'd fix that.  Otherwise he'll only be a pawn to be used and then put away until the next use."

She sighed. "I had hopes no one was going to do that."

"Too late."

She nodded, accepting he knew that from his grandmother.  "If I hear anything about her, I'll tell you immediately."

"Sure, but if she does die, can I hold a massive party?"

She smiled. "We'll see, Alexander."  He nodded and grinned again.  "You are quite handsome when you do that.  Try to smile more often."

"Usually when I try, I'm told I look evil, conniving, and like I'm going to hex you.  Or so Malfoy said when I scared him by doing it the last time."

She snorted. "He's not the best judge of character either."  She walked out, letting him cancel the spells.  "Boys?"  They looked up from the couch.  "My office for that short chat please."  She smiled at them. "You're not in trouble yet so don't worry about it."

One of the twins caught her by the sleeve, looking up at her. "What do we do about that one?" he asked quietly.

She patted him on the hand. "He's agreed to help protect the house and the children like him," she assured him quietly.  "He will calm down.  Especially if he's right and she's planning on dying soon.  Once she does, you'll be seeing a radical shift in his nature."  He nodded, looking less concerned.  "We're aware, now, of what he went through.  We know  and we're helping him calm down.  He has promised not to hurt anyone in the tower."

"As long as we take his wand whenever we're trying to wake him up," Ron told them.

"He reached for it this mornin', but it was under his bed," Seamus Finnigan, another first year, offered from his seat.

Harry looked at him.  "He said grab it first and then try to wake him."  That got some nods from their dormmates.

"Sometimes violent reactions are trained into people, boys.  He can't help his reactions.  It's how he's learned to survive."  She led the other two off after another pat to the twin's hand to make him let her go.

That twin looked at Percy. "Did you owl Mum and Dad?"

"Dad.  He said he's talked to others about her.  He's right, they're scared of her."

"That boy will end up in trouble."

Percy shook his head.  "We can all help him calm down and relax.  He knows we won't be hurting him," he noted calmly.  The other twin gave him a long look.  "He'll be protecting those like him," he said quietly.  "It won't happen to another one of us."  That got some nods and the twins went back to their homework.  "Just think, Ginny will be here next year."

"Mum'll throw a party," one of the twins said, grinning at the other.

"We should help her plan it, give her stuff to celebrate with."

"Please don't.  You know she'll scream at you for the pranks," Percy said tiredly.  "Try to behave, boys."

"Why?" they asked in unison.

"It's not...." the first said.

"Like it's fun," the other finished.

Percy shook his head.  He hated dealing with his twin brothers, he never understood them.

***

Alex walked into the Potions classroom, sitting down behind one of the desks since the teacher was working on something.  "Am I fascinating?" Snape asked finally.

"I didn't want to be rude, sir."

Snape put down his pen.  "These essays are below their usual standard.  Besides, you're known for being rude and mouthy."

"That depends on who you ask."

"Not really," he noted, looking at the boy.  "You wore your uniform?"

"Grams only packed uniforms."

Snape sighed and shook his head. "Fine.  We'll make sure you get some shopping done soon.  Should I send one of my older boys to do it?"

"They might botch it on purpose, sir.  After all, they're now trying to taunt me for being a Gryffindor."  Snape groaned, rubbing his forehead.  "Needless to say, Mr. Goyle and Mr. Crabbe are not among their numbers, and neither are Miss Parkinson, Bullstrode, Mr. Malfoy, or Mr. Flint."  He smiled and nodded.  "The others I assume are fair game?"

"Should they upset you that horribly, tell me.  I will have them stopped."

"That's no fun," he complained. "Can I tell you after I stop them?"

He looked at the boy.  "As long as they come to no real or lasting harm."

He nodded. "Sure, I can play by that rule."  Then he grinned.  "So, tell me something about my mother?"

"She was a kind woman.  Much like her father was I assume," he said gently.

"It surely didn't come from Great-Grandmother, she was where Grams got her cranky streak from."  He pulled out the two letters, letting him have them both.  "So, is she dead?"

He looked at the first one.  "That's cryptic."

"That's why I keep calling it cryptic shite."

"It is," he agreed. "Though you should not swear.  You are lowering yourself to a lesser being's standard."

"No, it's about all I know anymore.  Used to piss her off to no end."  He shrugged a bit then grinned.  "I'm just kinda like that, sir."

"I see.  Could you perhaps try during your class hours?"  Alex shook his head.  "Why not?"

"Because I'm bored."

"Ah.  I'd heard a report from Professor McGonagall that you were a bit ahead."

"The old bitch used to tie me to a chair and force me to read things with the Imperius.   I'd be reading for days straight without a break when I finally collapsed."  Snape shivered at that.  "The only things I'm not up on are flying, Creatures, and Herbology, and I still say Madam Sprout is hiding some deep, dark secret and that's why she's so nice."

Snape snickered, shaking his head.  "No, she's not.  She's just pleasant.  Some women are like that, boy."

Alex looked at him.  "I also got some other advice from other sources, sir.  Is that Lucius a Malfoy?"

He shrugged. "Possibly.  He was not the only Lucius who was a death eater."

"Were you?"

Snape considered it, then nodded.  "I was."

"Ah.  You defected?"  Snape looked alarmed. "Between us, sir.  Most of them say 'I am' not 'I was'.  Especially since the old cunt said he's coming back.  She's been feeling twinges now and then in her mark.  Had me get the heating stones a few times to put on it."  Snape sat up straighter at that.  He grinned.  "So, are you my father then?"

Snape blinked. "That's an abrupt change of subject."

"I find it throws people off balance and makes them give more truthful answers."

Professor Snape looked at the boy, looking at him carefully.  "Your mother and I were in a relationship," he admitted quietly.  "If you are not mine, it was not by her choice."

Alex nodded slowly, understanding what he was saying.  "We should make sure."

"We should," he agreed.  "Do you usually do well in Potions, when you're not goofing off and drawing pictures of torture and pain-giving?"

"Professor Flitwick told me to draw if I was bored and the other teachers agreed, I didn't think you'd mind overly much."

"That didn't answer the first part of the question."

"No," he offered with a grin.  "But that was the answer.  No."  Snape snorted and shook his head.  "Was my mother?"

"She had a fair hand at it," he admitted.  "Nothing great but she could follow a recipe.  She was also an exceptional baker."  Alex looked interested.  "She often was the source of cookies in the house."  Alex grinned and relaxed some. "It will take me approximately a week to make the potion to test for parentage."

"I didn't figure you'd have some already on you," he assured him.  "You don't seem like the sort that women accuse of having fathered their child and then left."  Snape let out another amused snort at that.  "Professor McGonagall said she would welcome me coming to you as a mentor, especially when I was having one of my blacker days.  She said she understood but that you may understand better since you're from a similar background."

Snape nodded.  "It would not upset me.  How would you feel if I do turn out to be your father?"

"Since the hat said my father was watching me be sorted, I was rather hoping it wasn't Dumbledore or Flitwick actually.  Especially since Dumbledore tried to missort me."

"I asked him why, he said he thought being there would help you heal."

"Bullshit."

"Language," Snape ordered calmly.

"Sorry, but true."

"You have a large enough vocabulary to find another word."

"I do?"

"I'm sure you do."  He stared the boy down, getting a wicked grin in return.  "Try to modulate your language, at least around myself and Professor McGonagall.  She will take points off her own house readily if you mess up too much."

"Oh, I learned that my second class with her.  I was muttering about the practice being boring.  She's another who told me to draw.  She didn't like my drawings but said they were probably therapeutic."

"Are they helping?"

"Only in helping me plan which order I'm doing the curses to whichever Lucius it was."

"Can you wait until you're legal?"

"I don't know," Alex admitted quietly.  "I can try."

"Yes, do try.  Doing it underaged won't help you escape Azkaban and they will be watching for magic from an underaged source. Doing it when you're older means that they may not catch you."

"Doing it to a death eater means I may get rewarded."

"Not likely.  Minister Fudge is very touchy on that subject."

"No wonder my Grams loved him so," he said dryly, considering it.  "If I do hold off, and you turn out to be someone I can trust that way, would you help me find someone who can help me plan these things?"

Snape considered it.  "If you need such assistance, I know of people who could do it for you."

"Oh, no, his ass is mine," he assured him with an evil smirk.  "I want to be the one who hurts him for all the pain I've been through."  He licked his lips. "But I do realize I'm not the best planner in existence."

"Indeed?  There's things you don't do well?" he taunted dryly, staring the boy down.

"Flying and planning."

Snape let out a small laugh at that.  "That's all?"

"Well, I don't understand women all that well.  Not shocking really, but then again I don't like women either.  It will be a sad day when the line dies out because I refuse to stick myself into any orifice of any woman in existence today."  Snape burst out laughing at that.  "Hey!"

"You sound so pompous," he said dryly, staring at his son.

"Yes, well, another thing she taught me," he said with a wave of his hand and a grimace.  "What else did you expect really?"

"I find doing the unexpected now and then leads to many reactions I find amusing."

"Hmm, I'll have to try that sometime.  As long as it doesn't include a broom."  He shuddered. "Madam Hooch, who's a strange, strange woman, said that I should be banned from her class."

"Why?" he asked tolerantly.

"Because somehow I managed to end up hovering upside down for nearly ten minutes before she figured out how to help me land without cracking my head or my neck."

He nodded. "I heard of that. I thought it would be Longbottom."

"No, he broke his wrist.  Unfortunately I suck on a broom worse than Granger or him."

"Granger can't fly?"

"No.  Hates it already."  He grinned.  "She's got to be put to rights. "

"She'll learn her place, Alex," he said quietly.

"Um, probably.  She was trying to help me the other day in Charms."  Snape let out another soft chuckle at that.  "I kindly used her and Mr. Finnegan as test subjects of that particular charm.  She was not amused, but Professor Flitwick tuts very well.  Oh, and I got to meet Madam Pomfrey already.  Someone, someone deep in the Ministry as it happens, had her approach me about my mental insecurities.  We had a nice chat over tea and cakes and then she went to floo them and tell them that they should have taken me away from my Grams sooner and then I'd be more normal.  As it was, I had a chance of healing if I wasn't forced back.  The Ministry person said that may not be a problem.  So, is she dead?"

"Would you like me to call and check?"

"Please."

"Fine."  Snape got up and went into his office, going to use the floo in there.  He tried the house, getting one of the house elves.  "Master Alexander wanted to check on his grandmother and see if she had committed suicide like her note stated.  Has she?"

The house elf burst out crying.

Alex came in, looking at it.  "Twirly, what happened?"

"Mistress," he sobbed.  "Hexed herself.  Left note!"

"Did you call someone?"   The house elf nodded.  "Hmm.  I hadn't been told yet," he said, shaking his head.  "What happened?"

"She hexed her breathing, then turned on gas oven and turned off flame," it wailed.  "She dead!"

"Wonderful," Alex said happily, grinning at the Professor.  "I believe I need to call someone."  He grinned at the house elf.  "Once her body is gone, clean the house.  I'll be back this summer."  It nodded and disappeared.  "Who do we call?  The aurors?"

"Law Enforcement probably," he admitted.  "The Headmaster should."

"Yay.  Do I want to trust him?"

"You could.  He is very skilled and powerful."

"So?  He tried to have me sorted into Hufflepuff!"

"Good point," he admitted, considering it.  "Be cautious.  Be very cautious."  Alex nodded.  "We should go to the Headmaster anyway.  He can usually get answers faster.  Is there any other good news?"

"Well, some.  Professor McGonagall wanted me to protect the house."

"That would be worthy of your skills," Snape agreed.

"Should I call you father if you are?"

"We'll come to that bridge when we cross it," he pointed out.  "I hadn't considered it yet."

"Mum's letter said you'd probably have heard about me from Grams ranting and taken me."

"I wish she had let on that she was pregnant," he noted dryly.  "Though I did try to see if you were mine.  Your grandmother refused me entry and spelled the house to kill the both of us if I were ever to come back."

"Ah. No wonder."  He nodded.  "Then I forgive you for not coming for me."

"Thank you.  I wish I could have."

"Me too. Just think what I'd be like as a normal kid."  Snape shuddered so he grinned.  "Fine.  Don't then.  Let's go talk to He-With-The-Atrocious-Wardrobe."

Snape snickered, shaking his head.  "I've seen worse on him.  Believe me."  He walked the boy out, taking him up to the office.  "Headmaster, some news just came to me when I tried to let Alexander call home to see if he could get any of his non-uniform attire.  Apparently there was an accident with a gas stove?"

Dumbledore looked at them and nodded.  "I got word this morning, I was going to tell Alexander tonight.  They're trying to decide if it was an accident or not.  I believe the letter you got indicated not?"

"She had some divination skills," Alexander lied skillfully, just as he had been taught.

"I see."  He sighed and nodded.  "I will tell them that. Would you like to go home to the funeral? From what I've heard you weren't...close."

"I'll need to go back anyway.  All she sent with me were my uniforms."

"That would be wise then," he admitted. "Should I tell your head of house?"

"No, I'll announce it at dinner, sir.  Can I floo home for a few moments?"

"If Professor Snape or McGonagall will go with you," the Headmaster allowed.  "I'll have the officer over the accident sent over as well."  Alex nodded and looked at Snape, who also nodded.  "Thank you, Professor."

"It's not a problem, Headmaster.  He should have been one of mine."

Alexander looked at him, then at Snape, then back at the Headmaster.  "Why did you ask the hat to put me in Hufflepuff knowing that I would never fit in and could never fit in?"

"I thought it would help you heal, Alexander."

Alex stared at him, then nodded.  He knew a lie when he heard it.  "Thank you but I'll be fine now.  I only have one last thing I have to do while being cruel.  Was it Lucius Malfoy?"

"No one can be sure."

"You mean only the nurse who Grams obliviated knows?" he asked dryly.

"What?" Snape demanded.

"Ah, you didn't hear that part.  A few years back when Grams was deep, deep in her cups, I asked her about Mum, hoping for something non-snide.  She said that mum managed to repel the cruciatus back onto her attacker, then she charmed me, the nurse, and my birth certificate with the Fiddelus charm."   They both looked stunned.  "She's the only one who knows what my birth certificate says.  Mum sent her to Grams, as the letter apologized for, and Grams obliviated the nurse."

"Ah, no wonder we never got proof of who it was," Dumbledore said gently.  "I wish I had known.  We could have broken that then."

"Yeah, well, I caused the dark no end of trouble by being born alive.  Mum was supposed to be given as a sacrifice of power while carrying me to give the Dark Lord much more power for something.  But she escaped, I was born, and he didn't quite get around to killing me later as a sacrifice of innocence thanks to Harry."  He looked at the Headmaster. "Interesting, huh?"  He looked up at Snape. "Shall we?"

"We shall," he agreed, following him through the floo.  "That was unwise," he said once they were alone and the connection cut.

"He lied to me.  I won't trust that man," he said seriously.  Snape nodded.  "I can't, I'm sorry."

"We all have our reasons," he noted calmly.  He looked around.  "Open a window," he told the house elf waiting on them.  It did so, quickly even.  He sat down.  "I'll be here.  Go pack whatever you'll need that won't set off any dark arts alarms and wards."

"Oooh, shoot."  He headed up the stairs, finding someone in the entryway.  "Who're you?"  He sneered at the other man. "Oh, Minister Fudge.  How ...pleasant to see you."  He looked at the officer as Professor Snape came out. "Did you know my Grams had a touch of divination?"

"No, we hadn't," the officer admitted.  "Did you know it was going to happen?"

"She sent a note the day I left saying she'd not see me again and to try to be better to the Dark than my mother."  He shrugged.  "She was a bit warped as we all knew."

"You shouldn't speak ill of the dead," Fudge said with a glare.

"Why not?  The old bitch tortured me for years and you let her."  Fudge stepped back and he glared at him.  He looked at the officer.  "She never packed me anything but uniforms.  May I pack some of my things?"

"There's nothing holding you back, son.  A guardian will have to be appointed for the summer holidays."

"Yay," he said dryly as he headed up the stairs.  "What did her will say?"

"We're not sure yet.  It won't be read for two days.  You will have to be in attendance."

"Tell the professor that."

The officer looked at Snape, keeping his face neutral.  "The will states he must be in attendance."

"Give me a letter with the date and I'll get him cleared," he promised.  "The Headmaster has already agreed."  The officer handed one over.  "When is the funeral?"

"She wanted to be cremated.  The burning will be that day."

"Very well.  I'll accompany him."  The officer nodded.  "Was it a suicide or an accident?"

"With him telling us she had some divination it adds enough doubt to make us rule it an accident even if it wasn't."  He looked around, then back at the professor.  "There were many rumors about her, Professor."  He licked his lips.  "Perhaps someone should come and relieve the house of any dark arts materials."

"As I'm sure we'll be doing this summer.  After all, the boy was raised here and tortured here quite often by the old woman. Though you are correct, she was one of the top people in His army."  The officer nodded and wrote that down.  "It was also reported at least twice that she was mistreating the boy.  Yet nothing was ever done."

"What would she do?" Fudge sneered.  "She was a perfectly nice woman."  Something came floating down the stairs and the officer caught it, then handed it back and turned to get ill.  "What is this!" he demanded.

"My picture from after my last birthday party. Ask Narcissa Malfoy if you don't believe me, she had to help Grams heal me that time."  Alex came down the stairs with a real trunk, dragging it with him.  "Sorry, anti-floating charm."  He looked at the officer.  "Did you need anything else?  I'll be clearing her library later this year.  Probably during the holidays.  Did anyone need into her work files?"

"No, those she kept at the office," he noted calmly.  He looked at the boy.  "Are you all right?"

"As the hat put it, I'm a big pool of rage at the people who left me here, those who killed my mum, and those who kept my father from me," he noted calmly.  "One of those is already dead.  You have nothing to fear unless you were in one of those categories."  He looked at Fudge.  "Gibbon!"  Another house elf came running.  "This is the only person outside of myself, Professor Snape here, or Mr. Ronald Weasley who is allowed in this house while I'm not here," he said firmly.  "Make sure of it.  No one else, especially not any of Gram's friends."

"Yes, we shield," she agreed, bowing to him.  "We protect.  You want *those* things?"

He looked down at her and smiled. "I'll pack them over the holidays or this summer.  We'll deal with them with Professor Snape's help.  That's why he's allowed.  That and I trust my fellow student, Ronald Weasley.  He's the youngest son of the family and my age."  She nodded, accepting that.  "This officer seems decent so if he needs something from her office, he can do so."  She nodded again.  "Everyone else, shock the hell out of and make them cry."   The officer raised an eyebrow but he looked amused. "Sorry.  I didn't quite get a lot of sleep last night.  Nightmares you know."  He looked at the Minister for Magic.  "Did you need anything else?"

"Your grandmother was a kind and loving woman."

"Not to me she wasn't.  If she was to you, perhaps she was looking for a new toy. You should ask Mr. McNair about her habits.  He once said his cousin committed suicide by marrying her."  He looked at the officer.  "Yes, the rumors were true."

"That's fine," he agreed calmly.  "Are you in control of it?"

"He has his moments but we are helping him at the school," Snape assured him, putting a hand on the boy's shoulders. "I'm watching over him myself since I came from a similar background."

"Is he a Slytherin as well, Professor?" the officer asked.

"No, the hat said if I went there, I'd go darker than Grams," Alex said dryly.  "Therefore I'm a Gryff."  He shrugged.  "It's suiting me well enough so far."  He headed back to the living room, then went into the library and came out with three books, handing two over and pocketing the other one. "Is that all you needed?"  The officer nodded.  "Thank you.  I'll see you at the reading?"  The officer nodded, giving him a faint smile.  "Then good day."  The officer and Fudge walked out, the officer having to pull him out.  He looked at Snape.  "Why was he elected?"

"A gift for self-aggrandizing."

"Ah."   He pointed at the fireplace.  "Can we leave before this puts me into a giddy mood?"

"If you wish.  No other supplies needed?"

"Well...."  He looked at the house elves.  "I'll be back at the Hols.  For now, can you please send me stuff for a party tonight?"  They all nodded and ran for the kitchen.  "Don't forget the shield, Gibbons."  He went back to the school, dragging his new trunk with him.  Everyone in the tower gave him odd looks.  "She didn't pack me real clothes," he complained as he trudged.  Ron got up and grabbed the other end. "Thanks, mate.  There's an anti-floating charm on here and I never figured out how I had done it."  They carried it up and Alex put it onto his bed, opening it and showing what was inside.  He tossed over a magazine.  "Here, for some reason I get it monthly."  Ron gaped and then stared at him.  He grinned.  "She's dead!  There's stuff coming for a party tonight!"

Ron hugged him.  "It's okay.  Now you can be normal until you can get that one person."

"Hmm, true," he agreed, smirking a bit.  He held up his comic books.  "That's why I brought these.  That's why the stupid trunk was so heavy too."  Someone pounded on the door.  "I haven't jumped him yet, so we're still dressed!"  The door opened and McGonagall got out of the way of the house elves bringing in the other box.  "Thank you, loves.  Now, go clean the house and await for my return."  They nodded and kissed his hand before leaving, just like she had taught them.  He waited until they were gone to grin at McGonagall, giving her a little wink.  "She's dead.  She blew out the pilot on a gas stove but left the gas running."  She stared and he opened the box, pulling out the brandy.  "Well, they obviously thought some older folk would be celebrating as well."  He handed it over.  "Share that with Professor Snape please, ma'am."

"Fine.  Are you celebrating?"  He nodded, pulling out the cold cake and handing it to Ron, who ran it downstairs.  A cheer went up.  "Are you all right?"

"One less stone around my neck.  I've only got one person left on my shit list and we're trying to see if it was Malfoy or not.  Though, Professor Snape wanted me to wait until I was an adult to deal with him."

"That would be for the best," she noted dryly, taking the brandy with her.  "There's more upstairs," she noted as she walked through the common room.  "He's holding a wake for his grandmother."  Someone tried to take the bottle by floating it off and she grabbed it again, scowling around.  "That is not for you."  She left, slamming the portrait behind her.

"Pity, but there's another one in there," Alex called down.  The older kids all went rushing up to grab the box, two of them stuffing Percy in a closet until the party was done with.

***

Alex came down to breakfast Sunday morning, smiling and happy with the world.  He sat down and nodded at Harry, who grinned back.  Then he nodded at Granger, who just gave him an odd look and said, "I didn't know they had wizarding drugs to affect emotions."

He calmly pulled his wand and hexed her then smiled sweetly.  "Why would I need any, ducks?  Now be a good little girl and go bother someone else."  He sent her off, then unhexed her at the glaring he could feel from the head table.  "What?" he asked.  "She earned it."  He grinned at Ron as he jogged in.  "Granger just went for a run."

"Why?"

"She made a joke about medicines affecting moods."

"Ah."  Ron nodded, grinning at him.  "No, I don't think it'd do you any good. You're an evil and cold bastard, we all know that already, Alex."  Alex beamed at him for that.  "So, can you help us prank the Slytherins maybe?"

"I grew up with a great many of them.  Goyle has always been nice to me so he's safe from me.  Parkinson I may allow you to hex since someone tried to arrange a marriage between us.  Turned me off women totally."  He shuddered.  "But Crabbe and Goyle have always been very nice to me."

"That's fine," Harry agreed with a grin of his own.  "If they attack us, we won't let you hurt them.  But how about Malfoy?"  Alex appeared to be considering it, then sighed and nodded.  "Great.  Can I get some ideas?"  Alex handed over the extra book he had carried with him, beaming brightly.  "Whoa."  He flipped through the first few pages.  "This is right neat!"

One of the twins came down to steal it, then went back to his seat.  "Thanks, Alexander."

"We needed that," the other one called.

Alex grinned at Harry.  "Get it from them, mate."

"Sure."  Harry beamed at the twins. "Can I have that after you're done?"

"Sure," they called, waving him off.

Greg Goyle walked over and ignored everyone but Alex, leaning down next to his ear.  "I'm sorry for your loss.  So are Draco and Vincent," he whispered.  "Is there anything we can do?"

Alex grinned at him.  "We had a party last night," he promised.  "Thank you."  Greg nodded.  "By the way, you might tell your father I had a shield put up around the house so *no one* could get into her things.  Just in case they try."  He nodded and rushed back, going to use Draco's owl for that message.  Someone would be trying and they both knew it.  He looked at Harry, then at Dumbledore, then at Harry again.  "We should talk later."

"Why?"

"We should just talk.  Before the funeral."  Harry nodded, accepting that.  "You too, Ron.  You're an exception I laid on the house's new shields in case something happened to me from one of her friends."  Ron's face looked like he had just been hit with a frying pan.  "It'll be fine, but that's just in case something happens.  You and Professor Snape can both get in there.  Him because he knows what some of those things are, you because I think I can trust you not to use them."  Ron nodded hard, swallowing quickly.  "Do not tell your folks.  Someone in the Ministry heard me giving that order.  There's an officer allowed as well."

"Fine.  Thank you for the trust," Ron said, smiling again.  "Does that mean you won't hex me this week?"

Alex grinned.  "I'll try not to. I might even leave you alone in Charms when I'm bored."

"Why are you so bored in there?" one of their roommates, Dean, asked.

"Because I learned all those years ago.  One of my Gram's favorite punishments was a curse that forced me to sit and read for days and weeks on end without a break. I went through quite a lot of her old school books and law books."

"How?" Neville asked quietly.

"It's called the Imperius," he offered quietly in return.  "It's an Unforgivable."  Neville shivered and nodded at that.  "That's why I'm not particularly fond of books and studying now unless something interests me.  Professor Flitwick and a few others already know and they're letting me do a lot more practical things when they can.  After all, I already know most of what we're going over this year in Charms.  Transfiguration.  Potions, though I don't understand them.  And some things in Runes and Arithmancy.  The only subject you'll find me actively studying is Astronomy because I'm very much a night person and I like nights and stars.  It's a wise teacher who doesn't force stupid shit on a bored student."  That got some giggles.  "Was there any cake left?"  They all shook their heads.  "Shoot."  Hermione Granger stomped back in, looking quite peeved at him.  He just grinned and looked at the boys again.  "Anyone wanna take bets on who's going to be my guardian until I'm legal?"

"Fudge?" Ron asked.

"He actually protested multiple times that my grandmother was a nice and pleasant woman," Alex said dryly, smirking at him.  Ron stared, then burst out laughing.  "Yeah.  So I wouldn't put it past her, but she's more into torture than that.  She knows I could get past him.  Any other bets?"

"Maybe she named Snape or McGonagall," Neville offered gently.  "A teacher is usually a good choice and they're usually a safe choice."

"Perhaps," he agreed, considering it.  "That wouldn't be so bad."

"What about your father?" Harry asked gently.

"Another possibility," he agreed.  "I'm not sure if she knows though.  There was a Fiddelus charm on my birth certificate."  He considered it, looking around the hall.  "As long as it's not Malfoy.  I might not care as long as it's not him."

"You don't like him either?" Harry asked.

"Well, Draco and I have an on-going argument at the moment," he admitted.  "Nothing too tragic.  I could easily hex him and end it."  That got some laughs so he shrugged.  "He knows some, I know more."  He looked around the hall again.  "I guess I'll find out Tuesday."

"Hopefully it'll be someone nicer," Harry told him, handing him the bacon.  Alex had always eaten bacon each morning.  Alex grinned.  "Do you go by Alexander or Alex?  I heard Pansy call you Alex during a class."

"Pansy and the rest of them don't have my permission to call me that, and I loathe that they do," he admitted.  "Only those with permission call me Alex. Greg and Vinnie have it.  Draco used to," he admitted.  "Professor Snape does now as well."  He looked at them.  "Let's see how this year goes, Harry, then I might give you permission."  Harry nodded, grinning at him.  "How's your shoulder?"

"Just fine.  Whatever you did worked well," he admitted, giving him a long look, then glancing at Ron.  Alex shrugged slightly.  "Did you?" he hissed.  Alex nodded.  "Why?"

Alex pulled out his wallet and handed over a picture, making Harry go pale.  "That was me when I was eight, Harry.  I can't allow anyone else to be that way."  He took it back and put it away.  "I'm sorry if you feel I breached some ethical or moral or even friendship boundary, but tough."

Harry nodded.  "Thank you. It...it wasn't unwelcome, but I don't think it'll do any good."

"You're more than welcome to come stay with me, no matter who my guardian is," he promised.  "I doubt that even the Dark Lord would be able to get through our shields."  Harry relaxed and nodded.  "And of course, Ron's mum and dad might invite you over too, that way you can calm Ron down and make him a normal child."  Ron spit at him, then went back to his breakfast, but he was grinning.  Harry and Alex shared a look of understanding.  Then Alex dug in like the eleven-year-old boy he was.  It was time to eat, he was hungry.

***

Alex came back from his will reading and took his tie off, flopping down on the couch.  He looked around, finding Ron.  "Where's Harry?"  Ron gave him a long look.  Then a shrug.  "I ask because my Grams made him my guardian."   Ron slowly built up until he was howling in laughter, rolling around on the floor.

"I want to know...."

"What curse you used," the twins yelled across the room.

He looked back at them.  "Harry was named my guardian," he called back.  They looked stunned, then burst out laughing as well, leaning on each other and their friend Lee. He looked over as McGonagall came in, grinning at her.  "Did you get the good news?"

She nodded.  "I had.  Have you told Mr. Potter yet?"

"No," he said with a grin, pointing at Ron, who was still giggling madly.  "Just them."

She rolled her eyes.  "We will have to decide about your holidays."

He patted her on the hand. "Harry can come home with me.  I'm very responsible as you well know."  She looked stunned so he grinned.  "Really.  I can't go live with his and I've got shields on the house.  We'll be fine, even if her thoughts on the returning of some people is true."

"Fine.  I'll tell the Headmaster you said so."  He pulled her down and whispered in her ear, getting a shocked look.  "Really?"  He nodded.  "Would that matter?"

"He asked, the will was written too firmly.  He can sue him for custody of me.  Oh, and Fudge was there for some reason.  He wanted to protest me not being in a hospital for mental maladies."

"Hmm.  Something will have to be done about him," she noted, heading back to tell the Headmaster that new interesting news.  She found Severus already up there.  "Are you all right with this?"

"Those two will get into no end of trouble," he said dryly.  She gave him a long look. "He told you?" he asked, taking a sip of his tea.  She nodded.  "It is not to become common knowledge.  It would prejudice others against him, especially if his grandmother's thoughts were true."

"Very well then.  He has offered Harry the right to go home with him over the holidays, Headmaster."

"There are shields...." he started.

She slapped her hand on the desk.  "I had to heal six weeks worth of bruises on that boy's back," she hissed, glaring at him.  "If you *ever* send him back to that house with those *muggles* I will charge you as well as them."  He looked taken aback and she continued to glare.  "I mean it."  He nodded swiftly.  "Mr. Birmingham assures me there are shields on his house and I'm sure Severus and I can make sure they're safe enough and pop around on occasion."

"More often than not.  Otherwise two Gryffindors alone will get into trouble," Snape noted.

She smirked at him. "It galls you that he's in my house, doesn't it?"

He nodded.  "Indeed," he said calmly, then smirked a bit in return.  "But it's better you who must deal with his changing nature than I most of the time.  After all, he doesn't much swear in front of me any longer."  He took another sip of his tea, staring her down.

She snorted.  "Fine.  Just keep the poor dear calm."  She looked at the Headmaster.  "Did anything come of that mental health exam Poppy was forced to do?"

"Not yet," he admitted.  "Should it, I'll inform you first and then him."  He looked at Severus.  "You as well," he assured him.

"Thank you.  Since the boy has chosen me to mentor him into more proper behavior."  He finished his tea and put his cup down.  "Was there anything else?"

"Who was she trying to torture this time?" McGonagall asked.

"Her friends.  That way they have easier access to the boys, or so she thought.  Alex isn't as dumb as she thought or tried to make him."  Someone knocked on the door.

"Come," the Headmaster called.  Percy Weasley walked in and handed over a book.  He flipped through it.  "Whose is this?"

"Alexander Birmingham's.  He gave it to the twins and Mr. Potter," he reported. "I didn't think it safe and Professor McGonagall wasn't in her office."  He smiled at her.  "That boy is horrible."

"He's safe, Percy."  She took the book to look through, smiling at it.  "Pranks?"

"Dangerous and deadly," he replied.

She handed them to Severus.  "You're his mentor."

He looked through them, then at her.  "He has a definite hand for charms and transfiguration."

"So it seems.  I'm worried about his grades however."

"It's not like he'll have to work for a living," Percy said dryly.  "By that time he'll probably have killed someone!"

"Only the person who killed his mother is left for him to hate," Snape said coldly.  "You would do better to learn the boy's nature before impinging it."

"Fine," he agreed.  "Then you talk to him.  He taught Mr. Potter the 'reflectus' charm just a bit ago."  He walked out, leaving it in their hands.

"They're both quite strong and it would be unexpected," McGonagall noted.

"It would make the Malfoy/Potter battles that have already started more fun as well," Severus agreed.  "It's not a harmful one."

"True, it's not.  Let us have another talk with Mr. Birmingham, Severus, please."  He nodded, getting up and going to do that.  He looked at McGonagall.  "If you're right and they're going to do something with the information they have, will you stand by the boy?"  She nodded.  "Very well then, I'll trust you two to handle that most delicate situation."  She smiled and left, leaving him to groan in peace.  Why hadn't the hat put him in Hufflepuff?  Far away from Harry and the Weasleys.

***

Alexander sent off the letter, then skipped down to his first period class, smiling at the teacher.  Who looked a bit scared.  He winked.  "Sharing some information."  He sat down in his usual spot, grinning at Ron.  "That was a good idea."

"Thanks," he offered.  "Can I have some help if I get stuck?"

"Sure.  Not a problem."

"I believe we'll be doing something you're not familiar with," Professor Flitwick noted calmly.  "You said you learned from her books and this was not in them."

"Cool," Alex said with a grin.  "Still, I'm pretty good at charms."  He shrugged. "If not, we'll help each other."  He smiled as Harry came in rubbing his forehead.  "Another one?"

"Harry," Ron sighed. "You've got to get that looked at."

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine," Alex assured him, moving his hand to look at it.  He muttered and blew on it, then touched his wand to it.  "That should ease a bit of the pain today but Ron's right, Harry, you need to get that looked at.  It could be something really dangerous, like a flobberworm crawled into your ear and got stuck in that empty, hollow spot inside your head."

Harry grimaced, but he didn't look upset. "I'll be fine," he promised.  "It's just a twinge."

"Harry, anything that makes you grab your head and bend over moaning in pain isn't just a twinge," Ron said firmly.  He glanced around, then leaned closer.  "Talk to someone about it or I'm gonna find a way to make Granger go off on you about it," he hissed.  Harry shuddered and even Alex moaned at that cruelty.  Harry nodded, agreeing to it.  "Thanks."  He grinned and pinched Alex on the arm.  "What did you send?"

"A report on that meeting where he said repeatedly she was a nice and kind woman."  Flitwick looked at him, looking really disturbed now.  "Fudge said that about my Grams," he said with a bright grin.  He shuddered and shook his head, turning away and going to start putting the charm on the board.

***

Halloween came, as it usually did, and found Alex in meditation on the roof right outside their room.  Ron stuck his head out. "It's a feast tonight," he called.

"If I don't keep up a banishing, she'll come back," he called back.  "Sneak me some."

"Fine."  Alex flipped him something.  "What's that for?"

"In case my Grams decides to come bother Neville or someone.  It'll lead back to my wand, which is in my lap, so I know to start a new banishing, one for a spirit that's closer."

"Okay."  He nodded, going down to the Great Hall with Harry.  He shook his head at Seamus' odd look.  "He's doing a constant banishing to make sure she doesn't appear."

"Oh."  Neville frowned.  "She can't, can she?"  Ron shrugged and flipped the little button at him.  "What's this for?"

"Alex said to set it off if she comes to bother you.  That way he can do a different sort of banishing."

"Oh, okay."  He put it in his shirt pocket and left it at that.  He still didn't understand Alex, but his grandmother wasn't *that* bad either.  The food appeared and they all dug in, enjoying the holiday quite a lot.  At least until Professor Quirrell came in shouting about that troll.  Then they were herded back up the stairs like little children.  Neville looked around, but no Harry and Ron.  He ran up the stairs, bursting into their room. "Alex!" he panted.  "There's a troll in the school."

"She did come?"

"No!  A real troll!  Quirrell found it!  Ron and Harry are gone!"

"Fine, I'll go," he agreed, climbing back in with his wand between his teeth.  "Use the button if she shows up, okay?"  He patted him on the arm and headed downstairs, looking at Percy, who was standing guard.  "Has it occurred to you yet that your baby brother is missing along with Mr. Potter?"  Percy's mouth opened and he used the opportunity to get past him and out the portrait.  He headed down the hall, casting a 'creature be found' charm he had found in the advanced books someone so foolishly left lying around their common room.  He did like charms enough to study a bit in there.  He ran into the group of teachers and Harry and Ron coming back. "Shoot, I missed it," he sighed, shaking his head.  "You two scared Neville all to hell!"

"Wasn't our fault!" Harry complained, but he was grinning.  "So, did she show?"

Alex looked at his wand.  "It's not lit yet, but you never know."

"Why weren't you at the feast?" McGonagall demanded, staring him down.

"I was keeping up a banishing to keep the old bitch away from the poor, helpless students and me."  She rolled her eyes and his wand lit.  He held it up.  "See?"  He rushed back with Harry, Ron, and Hermione behind him, bursting back in.  There she was.  "Oh, yay," he proclaimed.  "Sir Nicholas, did you want this troublesome quim of a ghost?" he called.  "If not, I'm doing a banishing so be careful!"  He started his chant, wand going into his back pocket, moving forward to banish the stupid woman.  She screamed and he chanted louder, making her fade out.  She came back and he pulled his wand, casting something, making her shriek in misery and break apart.

"Well, at least she was entertaining this time," Ron told him, clapping him on the back before wiggling a finger in his ear.  "You're loud."

"That was even louder than you snore," Harry agreed.

Alex grinned at them.  "Next time I'll let her possess one of you."

"Twenty points to Gryffindor for sheer stubbornness and dumb luck," McGonagall muttered as she walked out.  She ran into the headmaster.   "Alexander banished her."

"The troll was female?"

"No, his grandmother.  Should we send up the rest of feast to the houses, Headmaster?"

He stared after her, mouth open, not sure what to say to that.

***

Snape groaned as he read his morning paper, looking down at his troublesome son.  "Alexander!" he called.  The boy just grinned at him.  "Come here please."  He walked over, nibbling on a piece of bacon.  "What was the intention behind that?"

"To cast doubt on some of her friends."

"I see. What good will that do?"

Alex hopped up beside him, leaning next to his ear.  "Because Harry Potter keeps holding his head each time Professor Quirrell turns his head around," he whispered.  "It's fairly obvious to some of us what's going on and I was charged with protecting the house.  Besides, we deserve better than that slug."  He grinned as he straightened up again.  "It wasn't much of a plan, but we all know I suck at them."  He grinned at Professor Quirrell.  "Hi.  Did I have one of those icky papers due in your class on something?  I can't remember."

"One on boggarts," he said quietly.  "Did..did you need some..some help?"

"No," he assured him with a grin.  "What do I have left to fear?"  He went back to his seat.  He watched as an owl flew in and gracefully landed in front of the Headmaster, raising an eyebrow when he was looked at.  "What did I do this time?" he called, sounding amused.

"It's a summons from the Ministry," he offered, waving him back up there.  It was handed over.  "I don't know why."

"Eh, who cares.  There's only about twenty decent people there anyway and Ron's dad is one."  He went back to the table, reading the message.  "Eww, it'll take me out of charms."

"It's not like you need the work," Hermione said.  She cleared her throat.   "Alexander, may we start over?"

He looked at her. "Maybe.  I still don't trust females."

"Fine," she agreed quickly.  "I can understand that.  I can stick to sociably polite if you can."  He nodded.  "Thank you.  Do you, um, need any help with your defense paper?"

"Hermione, what do I have to fear?" he asked dryly.  "Disappointing someone?  I never cared what others thought anyway. Creatures?  I can probably kill nearly anything one way or another.  My Grams coming back?  I banished her the last time."

"What about what she was inferring about the Dark Lord?" Malfoy said from behind him.

Alex looked back at him and shrugged. "I'm not the one he'd try.  He might eventually get to me because of some of the artifacts in the house, but by the time he returns, they'll be long gone."  Malfoy looked amused at that.  "As in safely stored in Gringotts.  It's not like I need the money enough to sell them."  He smirked a bit.  "What about you?  What do you fear, Draco?"

"My father."

"Hmm.  I don't.  Even if he hates me once he gets to know me better, I'm good by myself most of the time."  He grabbed another piece of bacon and stood up, grabbing his bag.  "I'm off to the infirmary.  Tell Flitwick?"  They all nodded and he headed off.  He was whistling when he got up there, smiling at the nurse, who was scarier than McGonagall in his opinion.  "Someone wanted us to meet with some twerp at the Ministry?"

"They're in my office, Alexander," she said quietly.  He shrugged.  She pulled him aside.  "They want to put you on medicine for your anger."

He nodded and grinned.  "I thought so."  He walked in and shut the door behind him, locking her out of her office.  "If you had my medical records, you would see my grandmother tried that once before."  The woman sat up, glaring at him.  "You would also find that it sent me into a blind rage and actually got me praise from the old, torturing bitch because I tortured someone else."  She opened her mouth. "Until you talk with my doctor and ask about that incident and him having to detox me for two days straight, you do not have my permission, nor my guardian's permission, to do this to me."

"You have a guardian?"

"Yes, my grandmother named Mr. Harry Potter over my custody."

"He's a minor," she noted.

"I also have a father.  You can ask him."

"His name?"

"Ask the Headmaster."

"He's the one who called us."

He turned and unlocked the door, smiling kindly at the nurse.  "Get Professor Snape up here, now," he ordered calmly.  "The Headmaster called them in."  Then he upped the wattage of his grin.

She shivered and went to make that summons from the main floo, getting him immediately.  "Severus, apparently the Headmaster sent for them to try an experimental treatment on Mr. Birmingham? He said he wanted to see you first."

"I am his father," he said quietly, walking into the office and slamming the door.  "You're not touching him."  The woman stood up and backed away from him.  "I was just told what you're trying to do."

"Gee, did you hear about the last time someone tried this one me?" Alex asked dryly.

"Unfortunately I have," he admitted.

"If you do not have custody of the boy, then his treatment is to be decided by the Ministry since his guardian is a minor as well."

Alex froze her, staring her down.  "Sweetheart," he said finally, stepping closer. "Do you want to know *why* there's a reason for my anger?"  He unfroze her head.  "I'm perfectly in control until *someone* extremely *stupid* tries something like this."  He took off his robe and shirt, letting her see the scars, watching her eyes as she looked.  "How do you think I got these?"

"It doesn't matter! You're a danger!"

"I'm not a danger," he said, smirking at her.  "I've never been a danger.  I won't ever be a danger unless you force me to be."  She shook her head. "Now, unless you've got a court order in your hands you have no right to force a treatment on me without parental consent."  She licked her lips.  "And if this came from that moron Fudge, I will go off on him some day soon, probably while someone has me drugged."

"Enough," Snape ordered.  "Release her."

"Fat chance."

"Now."   They stared at each other and Snape glared a bit more.  "Now," he repeated.  Alex sighed and undid her.  "Do you have a court order?"  She shook her head, rubbing her hands.  "Then leave.  Now.  There is ample proof that such drugs cause him to actually lose control as some fear he would normally.  So far we've managed to keep him calm and centered.  You're destroying that for the day."

"Oh, let me, please, let me?" Alex pleaded.  "I wanna go back with her, dad."  Snape glared at her again. "Please?"  He grinned.  "I've got to check on something."

"Fine," he decided.  "We'll all go.  Poppy, please inform the Headmaster we're heading to the Ministry."

"Yes, Professor Snape."  She watched them go, relaxing a bit since the danger was over with.  "Please, let neither of them kill someone," she begged and prayed.

***

Alex came out of the Headmaster's floo, straightening himself out.  "I'm back and I'm more magnificent than Gildroy Lockhart," he announced, smiling and waving a letter.  "For Professor McGonagall.  Professor Snape has a letter on my behalf as well for Mr.  Potter."  He walked out, heading down to her classroom.  He tapped politely and smiled. "You missed it. They tried to have me dosed with something that last time made me kill someone."  He handed her the letter.  "From the Wizengomet."

She unfolded it and looked at it, then at him, smiling and kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you, Alex.  I'm sure he'll appreciate that greatly."  She looked behind him.  "Where is Professor Snape?"

"At Gringotts, filing the paperwork there for both of us.  As long as Harry signs my form," he admitted with a grin.  He waved.  "What period is it?"

"First after lunch.  You missed lunch."

"No, I had lunch.  I ate with the delightful aurors who wanted to know allll about Gram's friends."  He grinned sweetly.  "They were more than happy to make me sandwiches until  I burst."  She chuckled and patted him on the cheek.  "It's Creatures?"  She nodded.  "Thank you, dear."  He headed that way, whistling happily.  He ran into the group and grinned at Hagrid.  "Can I steal my guardian for a moment?  Then we'll both be right back."

"Fine," the teacher agreed, grinning at them.

Alex led Harry a bit off.  "I meddled and you're going to scream at me."  Harry frowned.  "They tried to have me dosed with a calming potion that last time made me kill someone."  Harry groaned and shuddered, hugging himself.  "The only way past that was to have an adult as a legal guardian."

"So I'm signing you over to your father?"

"No, the judges decided that wasn't right since he's not of 'stellar quality and personality' as they put it.  They decided you'd be better for me, even being our age.  And since Professor Snape noted that you did have means of support and livelihood, not that you need it, you now have papers in McGonagall's office that note you as an adult."  Harry passed out so he leaned down to pat him on the face until he woke up.  "Would you kindly sign my papers too?"

Harry nodded, whimpering a bit.  "I should scream."

"Yeah, yeah, do it later," he said with a grin, pulling him up. "So, how does it feel to be officially an adult, Harry Potter?"

"What!" Ron shrieked.  "He's what?"

"She named him my guardian.  A guardian cannot be a minor.  They thought my father would not be the supportive and stellar influence Harry would, so the only right thing they could do by the law was make him an adult.  They also gave him forms for me," he offered with a grin. He turned it on Harry.  "That means you're legal to do whatever you want.  Including move."

Harry sniffled then hit Alex on the shoulder.  "McGonagall has them?"  Alex nodded.  "We'll see about yours, depending on what the Professors tell me."  He grinned at the teacher.  "May I?"

"Go," he said fondly, waving him off.  Harry grabbed his things and ran inside.  "Your idea?"

Alex smirked a bit.  "The old bitch used to force me to read her law books.  What did she expect when she tried something illegal?  Oh, and the aurors were very pleased with me today.  I told them alllll about some of the dinner parties she threw."  He looked at the creature.  "What's that?"

Hermione handed over her notes.  "Here, for today."  He just grinned at her. "He'll be on you about your grades now."

"I'm more a doer than a studier.  I can prove technical mastery.  It should be good enough."  He looked at the current notes.  "How do you write so neatly?"

"Practice.  Perhaps you should take notes?"

He snorted. "Why?  So I had stuff to burn?"

The teacher coughed, bringing them back to the lesson at hand.

***

Harry sat on Alex's bed late that night, waking him up.  Alex groaned and flipped over so he shoved him again, getting one glaring eye.  "We need to talk, son," he joked.  He held out the papers he had signed.  "They're yours if you really want them.  Your father wanted to talk to you first, make sure you understand what's going on and all that.  He doesn't think you're ready yet."  Alex raised an eyebrow.  "He's downstairs."

"Fine.  Thanks."  He took the papers. "You forgot to date it."  Harry dated it and handed it back, still grinning.  "Thanks, Harry."

"Not an issue."  He watched as Alex pulled on a t-shirt over his boxers and headed downstairs, getting back into his bed once the door had closed.

Alex walked down the stairs, grinning at his father. "You don't think I understand?"

"I think you have a good grasp but possibly not a full one.  There's also things you probably didn't stop to consider.  Things like taxes."

"Eww."  Alex flopped down in a chair, pointing at the couch.  "You might as well sit."  Snape sat across from him and he yawned.  "It's late.  I'm going to be grumpy tomorrow."

"Claim a headache and sleep in the infirmary."

"Sure.  Thanks."  He looked at him.  "That means I'd be missing your class."

"You'll learn more this summer when I work on your skills."

"You mean I can't have fun?"

"No, you may have fun," he sighed, shaking his head.  "This is why I think you're not ready yet, Alexander.  You have a means of support with your trust and the family funds.  You will also be expected to take on adult roles and methods.  You will have to pay taxes at the adult rate.  You will have to deal with financial matters.  You will also have to deal with some political consequences of your actions earlier with the aurors."

"No I won't."

"Yes, you will.  Others heard you saying you had lunch with them."

"And what're they gonna do?  They knew before I didn't support Voldemort coming back."  He hissed and shivered.  "Surely you're not afraid of his name?"

"No, but I am afraid of the man.  He could come back."

"Yeah, and now you've got two wizards with hellish skills and a destiny to combat it.  Ones who can actually learn what we need to before it's too late."  Severus looked at him so he went back upstairs and got a book, bringing it back to him.  He sat down while his father looked through it.  "I'm not a normal eleven-year-old, dad.  I never have been.  I have this feeling that I'm much beyond eleven, like I passed my majority a few years ago."  Snape looked at him.  "Plus, someone let slip about a prophecy."  He looked over as someone came down the stairs.  "Arguing about my paperwork to make me legally an adult."

"You're only eleven," Percy complained.

"And?"  He looked at him.  "Can you honestly say I'm a normal eleven-year-old boy?"  Percy shook his head.  "Do you think I'm going to let the power go to my head?  I've been doing harder spells and charms than you do, Percy Weasley.  I've already had three years of intense, forced education in most of the studies.  I took a sample NEWT test and passed in Charms and Transfiguration."  Percy and Snape both looked stunned.  "I'm not a genius, I'm not a book nerd, but I was forced to learn it.  I learned how to throw off the Imperius after too many times of having it used on me.  And yes, father, the aurors know."  He looked at him again.  "I told them everything.  I let them do a pensieve on me.  One of them cried when he watched it.  They all made sure I'm not going dark and I pointed out that I didn't need to go darker, I'm pretty enough as is."  He flipped back some of his dark brown hair, grinning a bit.  "They thought I should dye it green."

Snape shook his head, letting out a small moan.  "That joke was horrible, son."

"Yes, but it proved to them that I'm not going to permanently go dark either. They also realized that I didn't mention everyone because I did slip once.  That's why I talked with Greg earlier.  I excused it by pointing out that Malfoy's father had him under his thumb because Malfoy owned the deed to his house and lands."  Snape nodded at that.  "They said that might be an extenuating circumstance. Greg wrote his father already to tell him I said that."  Snape nodded at that.  "I'm not a little boy.  I'm thinking ages beyond my current age.  I'm thinking ages beyond most everyone in this school.  I'm sure I can get some help from someone with the tax and business stuff.  After all, Grams didn't want to handle hers.  Percy, we're really not going to trash the common room."

"Sorry. Caught in my thoughts."  He hurried up the stairs before the professor could take points off.

Alex looked at Snape.  "Grams once said I had a great destiny and then I tossed it aside to come here," he said quietly.  Snape shook his head.  He nodded.  "Yeah, she did.  She mentioned someplace called a Hellmouth, asked me repeatedly if I knew anything about it.  I told her no. She probably didn't believe me, but I don't.  I don't know what her source was, but she said I had a past life there not too far in the past.  Then she mentioned something about a prophecy as well.  The same something about birthdays and prophecies that the judge mentioned.  We need to have a talk with Dumbledore."

"Do you think that would help?"

"He can't refuse me access to a prophecy about me," he pointed out.  "Besides, if Grams was right, then I'm here to help Harry.  If she was wrong, then she made me into a powerful force for the light for no reason."  He and his father shared a look.

Snape could see the intelligence in the eyes, the knowledge behind them.  He could also see the pain that lived in the boy and the anger as well.  "I trust you, Alex, I just don't want you to make a hasty decision."

"If Quirrell is holding part of the Dark Lord, it's already too late to make more than a timely one, Father."

"He is," he said quietly.  "I believe those two twerps you hang about with know why as well."

"If not, Granger does.  Will I ever quit finding women scary and repulsive?"

"Probably not with your upbringing," he admitted.  He shook his head.  "I wish this were not necessary."

"Yeah, me too.  I'd like to be a little kid.  Hiding behind parents when I do stupid shit.  Making it up as I go along.  But I can't."

"You still can, son.  Nothing says you have to send in that paperwork."

"True," he agreed. "Then again, nothing says Harry didn't put next year on it either."  He grinned at him. "Score one for sleepy people plans."  Snape snorted and shook his head.  Alex yawned again.  "Sorry."

"No, it is late."  He stood up.  "You may do that if you wish," he decided.  "I wish you would not.  I wish it were not necessary."

"If wishes were horses we'd all be neck-deep in shit," Alex reminded him.

"I was not making that sort of wish, son."  He smiled at him.  "I am proud."

"Thanks, dad."  He stood up and punched him on the arm, getting a hug instead.  "Awww."  He pulled back and grinned. "You know you're always welcome at the house."  Snape nodded.  "Good.  Then I'm going to go back to bed.  I'll send that in tomorrow since it's got the wrong date on it.  Hey, maybe I can teach defense some year soon."

"No, son, that would get many students upset. You would be a horrible teacher."  He patted him on the cheek.  "Come down this weekend and we'll discuss your plans since you claim you can't plan or fly."  He walked off, leaving him there.

"Wow. That's a headrush," a voice said from behind him.

Alex grinned and nodded, smirking at Hermione.  "So, what was that creature today?"

"I'll tell you if you tell me about the philosopher's stone."

"Not my area of expertise," he assured her.  "But you can tell Harry his forehead problem is Quirrell for sure."  He headed back to bed, snuggling into his semi-warm spot and getting comfortable.

***

Ron looked at the sleeping guy.  "Accio Alex's wand," he called, summoning it to him.  Everyone looked at him.  "My mum used to do it to the twins."  He shrugged. "Okay, let's wake him."

Harry grinned and jumped on Alex, bouncing on his bed. "Get up!"   Alex took a swing at him, making him laugh and move in to tickle him, which got him shoved off the bed by a foot but he was still laughing.

"Fuckers," Alex muttered, heading into the bathroom.  He came back and got his wand from Ron, then found some clothes and got dressed.  "Gonna go nap infirmary," he yawned, heading that way.  He trudged into the Great Hall, making some food, and noticing Madam Pomfrey was sitting up there. He walked up to her.  "I need a nap," he whined.  "I ache."

She leaned over to touch his forehead.  "You're not warm."

"Which is surprising with how cold your hands are."  He moved it so it was on his cheek, making her smile at him. "Please?  It's not like I'm not ahead."

"Fine," she agreed.  "Go up and wait on me. I'll check you over."  He nodded, trudging that way with his bacon sandwich.  "Too much celebrating?" she asked McGonagall, who was next to her.

"No, his father wished to have a word with him late last night," she admitted.

"Ah.  Hopefully good ones?"  She shrugged.  "That's fine then.  Anything I should know?"

"Remove his wand before you try to wake him," she said seriously. Snape looked down at them.  "He warned me himself and he warned his dormmates.  Move the wand out of his reach."  They both nodded at that and the headmaster cleared his throat.  "I would expect such reflexes from someone who had seen what he had," she pointed out.

"Headmaster, there was something said yesterday that I'm not sure the meaning of.  Would you have a moment before classes?" Snape asked.

"Of course, Severus," he agreed with a gentle smile.  "What was said?"

"I doubt I want it aired in the Great Hall," he said quieter.  Dumbledore nodded at that and let it drop until they were in his office a few minutes later.  Snape looked at the man once he was seated.  "It was said that there's a prophecy about my son and the Potter brat?"  Dumbledore went pale.  "His grandmother also mentioned it.  Neither of us have any idea and we thought it might have some bearing on the children being allowed adult status."

"It could," he admitted.  He looked out his window, then at his professor again.  "There is a prophecy about the end of Voldemort's reign of terror and how a child born during the right time can end it.  It suits him and Mr.  Potter?"

"My son was born on July 27th, Albus."

"I see.  Then yes, it does apply.  To Mr. Longbottom as well," he admitted quietly.

"That boy will never do anything great," he sneered.

"He is a gentle and nice boy, Severus.  There's always a place for children like he is," he chastised.

This new information caused a sudden and painful revelation.  "That's why you wanted my son in Hufflepuff.  So he and Mr. Potter would not meet and not work together."  Dumbledore frowned at him.  "Wasn't it?"

"No.  He needed the healing...."

"Albus, he would have shut those little hugging and happy creatures out within a day," he interrupted.  "You know as well as I do that any child as harmed as my son is would not do well there.  With the way Alex was trained and treated as a youngster, there was every possibility that he'd be in Azkaban by now."  Dumbledore sighed again.  Snape glared at him.  "Leave my son be, Albus.  He's not a tool.  Nor will he allow Mr. Potter to become a tool.  If it must be that they will defeat the Dark Lord, don't push my son into becoming the next one."  The older man looked hurt at that.  "I read it already.  Leave them be, Albus.  As for my son, his papers are already on their way to the Ministry."  An envelope was pulled out of a drawer and handed over.  "I see."  He took them back and walked off.  He found Potter waiting on his first class and drug him off as well, taking him to his office.  He handed him the paperwork.  "Go to the Wizengomet.  Ask them for a new copy of these or to be allowed to change the date," he said firmly.  "Or else you and Alex are both in grave danger."

"Instead of just Voldemort danger?"

Snape nodded.  "Consider this, Potter.  The Headmaster wanted my son in Hufflepuff.  Knowing him as you do, do you think he would have survived sanely to this point?"

"I think it's possible one of the kids might have been accidentally killed," Harry offered.

"My feelings exactly.  Now go. I'm excusing you until my class."  He nodded and took the floo powder tin, heading off through the fireplace. Snape started to relax and then someone tapped on his door.  "Go away."

Malfoy walked in and shut the door.  "I think not."  He leaned against the door.  "Alex turned my father in?"

"Alex turned a great many people in to make sure of his safety.  After all, the Dark Lord wanted him as a sacrifice."  Draco swallowed.  "You must be especially careful, Draco.  Your father killed his mother."  That got a nod.  "I wouldn't put it past him to snap some day and take you instead of him."

"I'd only use him as a lesson," Alex called, walking in.  "Ministry idiots are living in the infirmary.  They're trying again.  Where is Harry?"

"At the Ministry.  Get Professor McGonagall...."

"I already did.   Fudge sent them personally with the Headmaster's blessings."  He looked at Draco.  "Sorry and all that, but your father is my enemy.  It's up to you about us.  Though I do still owe you for that *splendid* haircut."  Draco shivered and shook his head.  He looked at his father.  "I'm heading to the house."

"I sent the floo powder with Potter."

Alex rolled his eyes and summoned something with his wand, grabbing the soft-sided bag he had packed.  He pulled out the tin of floo powder.  "Laters.  Birmingham Hall," he announced, flooing off.

Snape took a deep breath and looked at Draco.  "The future as it was thought to be is changed. You have the chance to make your own decision about the Dark Lord should he come back.  Figure it out."

"I am," he assured him.  "I like the power."

"Yes, but Alex has just as much power as he did.  With more darkness and still no desire to maim and kill except when you wake him up wrong."  Draco snickered at that. "I take it you knew this already?"

"We learned it a few summers back. Crabbe still can't get the colored spot off his back where Alex hit him with the curse."  They shared a look.  "Am I in danger?"

"Not yet.  You're too young to have a Mark."

"Fine.  Thank you for the suggestion and tell your son I'm truly sorry.  That I don't support my father's actions about his mother.  He can have my father for all I care."  He left, going out to his first class.

Snape sat down to consider this new information.  This could get quite messy very quickly.  Besides, what would his son have done on a Hellmouth?

***

Harry and Alex reappeared together on the lawn, dropping the portkey.  They headed up to the office together, handing over the letters from the judges. It was his formal emancipation, Alex's formal emancipation, and Alex's release from the mental health warrant.  That had taken the most time.  Harry looked at the Headmaster.  "We saw the prophecy.   It was self-fulfilling?"  Dumbledore nodded, looking grave.  "That's what the people thought."

Alex coughed.  "Also, there was another bit of news.  Did you know a wizard named Peter Petigrew?"  Dumbledore nodded at that.  "We were told to tell you he was captured last night at Malfoy Manor.  Something about a Godfather to Harry?"

"Harry's Godfather was erroneously imprisoned for his parent's murder," Dumbledore told them.  "Is he free?"

"Getting there."  Harry licked his lips and looked at Alex.  "I left a letter with them to give to him, hoping I could at least get to know them since my parents obviously did."  Alex gave him a hug.  "Thanks."  He looked at him.  "They also said they're coming to talk to Quirrell tonight and nothing and no one had better step in their way.  They're a bit peeved you hadn't figured it out."

"I'm only mortal."

"Which is a really good defense," Alex agreed with a bright grin.  "So, Harry, what're you gonna do when you get bigger?"

"I thought about playing quidditch professionally."

"Figures," Alex teased, punching him on the arm.

"Ow!  You?"  He rubbed his sore arm.

"I was thinking about teaching Defense."

"Then you'd better study, mate.  It takes a lot of knowledge to do that."  Harry hit him back then grinned at him.  "Come on, let's head down to dinner.  I'm starved.  Those sandwiches the aurors gave us didn't last very long."

"They made me more last time," he admitted, following him down.  He grinned at McGonagall since she came out to stop them in the halls, kissing her on the cheek.  "Hello, love.  We're back, it's all set, the Ministry found a few astounding, supposedly-dead people, and everything may be all right by tomorrow.  Is it still class time?  We're starved."

"It's nearly the end, head that way," she ordered, watching their backs.  "Alex, are you all right?"

"Wickedly wonderful, as always," he called, turning to grin and wink at her.  Then he turned to face forward.  "So, Harry.  What should we do over the Hols?  I told my elves I'd be home and start cleaning up the dark arts stuff Grams left."

"If I don't go with them, maybe I'll join you.  Can we bring Ron?"

"Sure, and Granger.  I'm sure she can tell us what something is if we don't know.  Just keep her out of my suite, 'kay?"

"Fine," Harry agreed, grinning at him.  "Some day you'll like girls, I promise."

"Harry, I'm as gay as a float in a parade. I realized this last year when Greg very thoughtfully gave me his father's Playboy."

"Really?  Fancy Ron then?"

Alex looked at him.  "I think he's got a thing for bushy girls. I might be wrong but he was staring at her funny the other day."  They walked into the Great Hall and he grinned at the house elves.  "Feed us?" he pleaded.  "We're starving.  We spent the day at the Ministry without any money and only aurors around us."

The house elves brought a great spread for them, letting them have firsts on everything.

***

Halfrek canceled the viewing portal, looking down at her most unusual call.  She was the Vengeance demon for Lost Childhoods and this adult had called her about his godson's childhood being stolen.  "Are you satisfied?"

He sniffled and looked up at her.  "Thank you," he said hoarsely.  "Whoever that boy is, it's a miracle."

"He was the Power behind the Slayer.  Now he's happy as well."  She reached down and moved some of the dirty hair out of his face.  "Remember this but do not tell him, Sirius Black.  He cannot go back to them.  They believe him dead and gone."  He nodded, it was a small price to pay.  Besides that boy was better now too, even if Snape was his father.  "Be prepared, they'll be coming for you by tomorrow.  Tell them the truth, do not get hysterical.  Do not soften anything.  Tell them what they want to know.  Then arrange for an old friend to help you and the boys."

"Are they, um...."

She smiled and shook her head.  "No, Harry is not for him.  He has some groupie in a few years."  She winked.  "Wait until you see him play."  She touched his forehead again.  "Wish granted, Sirius Black.  A very unselfish wish granted.  Thank you."  She faded out.

Sirius put his head down on his knees, praying in thanks for her.  It had taken him years to be able to summon her but he had finally managed it.  He looked up as his cage opened, staring at the woman standing there. "Cousin?" he breathed.  She nodded.  He stood up, smoothing down his rags.  "Is it time?"

"It is," she said, nodding at the hallway.  "You'll still have to be in chains."  He smiled and nodded.  "I didn't realize."

"It doesn't matter.  Well, it does, but I'll be bitter about my family later," he decided.

"I understand."  She led him out, putting the chains on him herself.  Then she led him off and portkeyed him to the trial room.  "I have the other prisoner," she reported.   The judge looked up, staring at him, then at the newly captured one.  "Do we need veritasium?"

"No," he said simply.  "I doubt Mr. Black would ever lie after what he's went through."  Sirius shook his head.  "Then speak.  What happened before the Potters were killed."

"I'm glad someone finally asked," he replied, standing up a bit straighter.

***

Alex walked out of the train station with Harry beside him and his father behind him.  He looked around, noticing the crowded mess of people.  "Ah, traveling," he sighed, shaking his head.  "I hate traveling."  Harry laughed.  "I don't mind going places, it's the getting there."  He shrugged and looked at his father.  "We should head home."

"We should," he agreed.  "Mr. Potter?"

"I was told to meet my ride out here, sir."  He looked around.  "Do you know who it is?"

"I believe I do," he said dryly, turning the boy in the proper direction.  "Him.  Mr.  Lupin."

"Mr. Snape," he said with a faint smile.  "Thank you for watching out for him for us."  He shook his hand and Alex's hand.  "Sirius said to thank you, young man.  You protected our Harry as well."

"Gee, a threesome?" Alex asked.  "Can I get tape?"

"Alex!" Draco shouted.  "That's disgusting!"

Alex smirked back at him.  "Whine. You'd beg for a copy too, Malfoy."  He tugged on his father's sleeve.  "Harry, Christmas afternoon?"  Harry nodded, grinning at him as they left.

"You could go for more than one afternoon if you wanted," Lupin assured him, steering him off to the side.  "We're going to portkey.  Have you ever done that?"  He shook his head.  "That's fine," he promised with a small smile.  "It's fun, but a bit disconcerting your first time."  He pulled out a newspaper and created the portkey.  "Grab your bag and then this.  Once you touch it, we're gone."  Harry did so and then touched the paper, and they were off.

***

THREE YEARS LATER

Alex came out of the sweetshop in Hogsmeade, smiling at his bag of treats.  At least until he was rudely grabbed by a cold hand and pulled into an alleyway.  "Who the bloody hell are you?" he demanded.

"Whelp?" the blond man asked.  "I just saw you in Sunnydale.  What are you doing here and British?"

"Who the fucking hell are you, pillock, and why did you grab me?"  He got free and glared at him.  "I'll have you know I've been British my whole life, you dancing nancy!"  He dusted himself off and checked his bag of sweets.  "Whoever you think I am, you've just made a near-fatal mistake, boy.  I am Alexander Birmingham.  I am one of the evilist bastards on the face of the wizarding world.  So whoever you think I am, I bloody well doubt it."  He stormed off.

The vampire stared at him.  There was a mystery here and something was not right

Year Two: Darker and Darker

Alex Birmingham looked around his house as he walked down the stairs.  "Food!" he yelled as he walked, giving the house elves plenty of time to put something in front of him.  By the time he made it into the kitchen, a full spread was laid out for him, and for his visitor, who was sipping tea at the table.  "Father," he said dryly, filling his plate and sitting down.  "No bacon?" he asked.

"Store out," one of his house elves said, covering her eyes.  "We sorry."

"Not your fault.  As soon as you can, get more and freeze some as well."  She nodded, cleaning up the mess he had already created and dishing him up some ham, putting it in front of him.  Alex looked at her.  "Thanks, really."

"You boy, you eat," she reminded him.  She looked at the visitor.  "Professor, sir, need anything?"

"Give him some toast at least," Alex ordered.  The elf nodded and got a plate for him as well. Alex dug in, then looked at his father.  "I thought you were coming over tomorrow."

"Your letter came to me today," he said, handing it over.  "I'm not sure why it didn't come here instead."  He went back to his paper.  "When were you planning on going shopping?"

"I was going to let Harry plan that and tag along," he admitted, opening it to look inside.  "Eww, more books," he complained.

"I could wish your grades were a bit higher, Alex," he said calmly, looking over at his son again.  "You're a bright young man."

"Yeah, but I'm also a 'doer' not a theory person.  I could care less why something happens as long as I can do what I want to with the magic."  The house elf poked him so he started to eat again.  "Yes, Twirly."

"Good.  Yous boy, you eat more."  She went back to making some more toast.  "When is Harry Potter coming back?  Harry Potter is nice boy and house elves all like him."

"I'm sure he's thrilled by their adoration," Snape said dryly.  He nibbled on a piece of toast.  "Would you at least try to study this year, Alex?"

"I tried last year, father, and I did study some.  I studied the sixth and seventh year Charms books and the fifth year Transfiguration book."  He grinned and went back to eating before he could be poked again.  "Twirly, please call Harry and ask him when we're shopping."  She hurried off to do that after taking the toast off the fire.  She came back and poked him.  "I'm eating!"

"He and Misses Weasy say they go this afternoon," she told him.  She frowned and piled his plate higher.  "He come over before to get you.  He say you tag along so you not get into trouble and you buy your books."

Snape snickered, shaking his head.  "It seems Mr. Potter has realized your innate nature."  Alex stuck his tongue out.  "That's not very mature."

"Shit happens," Alex told him.  He went back to eating at the frowning his house elf was doing.  "I want to know what Harry told you to make you scowl at me.  I'm the one who protected you guys against Grams."

"Harry Potter is nice.  Harry Potter say you is needing watched for doing stupid boy stuff.  Harry Potter says Master Alexander is prone to stupid boy stuff and must be kept from doing too much stupid boy stuff, so therefore the house elves watch Master Alexander for stupid boy stuff."

Snape smiled.  "Yes, it seems he does understand you," he agreed.  He went back to his reading, holding out his cup.  It was refilled for him and he went back to sipping it and reading.

"I'll tell you what, father.  I'll try to do something about my Herbology grade and you can find me pictures of my mother when she was younger."  He sipped his juice, getting a long stare in return.  "I'm sure you have some."

"I do," he admitted.  "I found my school trunk recently so I could find some for you."  He folded up his paper and put it aside.  "You will try in there?"

"I suck in there, but sure, I'll try more.  I'll even let the little evil-witch-in-hiding pat me on the arm this year.  Last year I flinched a lot each time she came near me."

"Alex, she's a very nice woman.  There is nothing dark about Madam Sprout.  There never was and there will never be anything dark about that woman.  She's a *Hufflepuff*, Alex.  They don't go dark."

"Bet me.  Remember, I almost became one."

"If you had become one of them, I'd have protested until the hat resorted you, son.  You would have killed one of them within weeks."  Alex nodded, digging back into his breakfast at another poke.  "I'm sure he'll eat," he told the elf.

"Him no eat!" she snorted.  "Him needs to eat.  Master Alexander too skinny and school elves is obviously stupid and not feeding him enough.  He come home too skinny!"  She accepted the pat from Alex's hand.  "You eat!" she ordered, adding more to his plate.

"Fine!  I'll have to be rolled onto the train."  He cleaned his plate and looked at her when she came closer.  "I'm fine.  I'll eat in Diagon later."  She snorted, shaking her head and refilled his plate. He rolled his eyes but ate that too.  Teenage boys were known to be bottomless pits.  He was one of those and he could eat more than Ron did. They had proven it during a Sunday brunch in April.

His father shook his head and went back to his own breakfast.

***

Alex prowled into the bookstore, sniffing hard.  He frowned when he ran into Draco's back, walking around him, too intent to care who he had just smacked into.  He looked in Ginny's basket, pulling out the diary to sniff.   He sneezed. "Wicked dark magic," he said in awe.  "Nearly as bad as my Gram's torture diary."  He looked at the group.  "Oh, hi, Draco."  He glared at him, holding it up.  "Do you recognize this piece of dark magic?"

"Not really," he admitted, frowning a bit.  "What is that?"

"Give me that!" Lucius said, snatching it from him.  "She must have taken it from me when she ran into me."

Alex frowned at him and snatched it back.  "Afternoon, Uncle Lucius."  Lucius looked at him, then shivered, taking a step back.  "So, it was you?  If so, I believe we should take *lunch*."  He tossed the book at his father, then smiled sweetly and took Lucius' arm, walking him off into the alleyway and a bit away.  "So, was it you who killed my mother?"

"That's incredibly rude and a dangerous allegation," Lucius sneered.

Alex stopped them then turned and punched him, sneering down at him even as he stood on his wand hand.  "Really?  You think so?"  He kicked him in the side, then pulled his wand.  "Do you want to bet Grams didn't teach me *everything* she ever knew?"  Lucius shuddered and tried to get up but Alex kicked him in the groin, making him groan and grab himself.  He chuckled and smirked a bit.  "I'll see you in hell soon, Lucius Malfoy.  I'll have fun with your demise.  I'll leave your son alone, probably.  No promises of course.  If he turns out anything like you, well...."  He smirked a bit more evilly.  "I'll try to only make him a lesson on your failure as a parent."  He bowed.  "You're on my shit list.  One of the last.  Feel lucky.  You and Grams were both his highest people.  Now there's only you left."  He skipped off, literally, humming happily.  His father caught him by the arm, staring down at him.  So he smirked a bit.  "Just letting him know the lay of the land, dad. After all, even she thought a fair warning was honorable in certain situations."  He walked into the bookstore and smiled at Ginny.  "Hi.  I'm guessing you're the scary little girl that Ron swears is his sister?"

Ginny giggled and nodded.  "Unfortunately I am."

"That's fine.  Get with Granger to learn that I don't like girls.  Don't try to cuddle me or anything and I might even help you in Charms if you need it."  He tossed the diary back at his father, sneezing again.  "That's fairly dark.  Someone really should lock such things up."  He walked over to the counter, sighing a bit.  "I'm told I'm going to be forced to buy the second year books at Hogwarts or else I'm going to be living in the potion's classroom all year.  Do you have any copies that look like they've been read repeatedly so I don't have to fake it as much?"

"You don't study?" Ron's mother asked primly.

Alex looked at the older woman, backing up a few steps.  "Considering I was forced to learn repeatedly by an Unforgivable curse, woman, I doubt it.  Please, back away.  I have a thing against females."  She tutted and reached over to hug him.  He ducked away and hid behind Draco, who was still standing there stonily.  "Draco, love.  Be a dear?" he said, pointing at her.

"Mum, his Grams tortured him," Ron said quickly, stopping her.  They didn't need Alex to have one of his episodes in the middle of the bookstore.  The last one had made a lot of the Gryffindors scared.  "Don't.  He can't stand women.  He doesn't trust any of them and he thinks Professor Sprout is a Dark Lord in hiding."  She sighed and nodded, just smiling at him.  "It's all right, Alexander.  She won't hurt you.  The twins would stick up for you anyway."  Alex stepped away from Draco and someone grabbed him so he turned and kneed them in the stomach, making the man scream in pain and fall down.

"I did not give you permission to touch my person," he said coldly.  "Do not attempt such rudeness again, old fart.  I am quite skilled in defending myself."

Draco shook himself free, then tapped Alex on the arm.  "That's Greg's father," he said quietly.  He helped the other man up.  "This is Alexander Birmingham.  He just threatened my father again."  He looked at Alex, then at Potter.  "You're getting bad influences, Alex.  You should watch that."

"Draco, nibble my bum, I can still outhex you any day of the week and make you beg for mercy in front of the whole school," he said with a cool little smirk.  "Remember that.  Always."  He turned and looked at his father.  "Must I really buy those dreaded books?"

"Yes," he said patiently.  He nodded at Goyle Senior.  "He recently found out who happened to his mother," he hissed.  Goyle shivered.

Alex looked at him.  "Don't worry, Greg's a good friend.  I'd never hurt Greg," he assured him.  "Greg stood up for me, even against my Grams once.  Tried to take me away from her even.  He has nothing to fear and Draco's fear is all up to him and his behavior."  Goyle swallowed and nodded, walking the boy out.  Alex scowled.  "I won't have him turning my few friends against me.  Draco and I are going to have to chat on the train," he decided, looking at the bookseller.  "Yes, I'm incredibly fascinating and a sexual beast, but you really don't have to stare at my arse, mate.  Books?  Please?  Horribly used and all that even?"  A pile was handed over.  "Thank you.  Father, you still have my gold."  Snape sighed and handed it over.  "Thanks, dear.  It'll help me later."  He looked at Ron and Harry, who were snickering. "What?" he defended.

"You're more outrageous than Lockhart," Harry said, punching him on the arm as he walked past him.  "We're doing robes next, right Mrs. Weasley?"

"Oh, yes, dear.  Alexander, if you want, you can come with us."

"Father?"

"Fine," he relented.  "I'll pick up your owl food and paper."

"I've got a ream at home but I need some ink.  May I have purple?"  Snape shuddered.  "Or something equally distracting?" he suggested with a mild grin at the poor man.  "I promise I won't make another spectacle, just let people admire my natural charm, wit, and body."  Snape walked off, handing him most of the bag of gold.  "Thanks muchly.  Get something so I can draw again this year," he reminded him. "And some of those pencils too!  I sharpened mine to death!"  His father snorted but that was all.  He shrugged and grinned at Harry.  "Sorry about that.  He should have known better.  Clothes?  Madam Malkin's?"  Ron nodded, walking out with him, letting Harry and Hermione walk behind him and Ginny and the rest of them follow.  "Harry, the house elves think I'm up to bad boy mischief if they don't watch me and make me eat.  What *did* you tell them?"

"I only pointed out that you were still just twelve and that you had a running, hexing battle in the halls last year," Harry said with a grin.  "Why?"

"Mate, I got *poked* by my house elf," he said dryly, holding the door open for Ron.  He smiled at the women waiting in there.  "Madam Malkin?"  She looked at him, then nodded and came over to fit him herself.

"How do you do that?" Ron hissed in his ear once they were up on the stools.

"Because I know this one won't harm me.  She swore a vow of honor in front of Grams not to harm me," he said calmly.  Ron nodded, accepting that.  He looked at himself in the mirror, frowning. "I really hate the uniform."

"Most of the children do," Madam Malkin said lightly, smiling at him.  "It'll be fine, Alexander.  How were your grades last year?"

"Decent enough," he admitted.  "Father wishes I had higher marks but I still have that thing against studying.  I did well on the practical things."  He shrugged a bit, then winced.  "That's very tight."

"Yes, well, I was asked to make yours a bit tighter," she admitted.  "It was thought that you might hex someone."

Alex snorted. "Fix it, dear, please," he said calmly.  "I'm assuming this comes from the same person who tried to get me sorted into Hufflepuff?"  She raised an eyebrow.  "The Headmaster.  He thought it might be *good* for me," he said, his voice dripping ice.

She snorted.  "Alexander, you'd have too many problems anywhere other than Slytherin or Gryffindor, dear."  He nodded at that.  "I see from your tie you made a Gryff?"

"The hat said if I went with my friends I'd end up too dark, darker than Her."  She shivered and nodded, leaving it at that.  "Fortunately she decided to play games with her will and made Harry there my guardian."

"Is that why we heard you were made a legal adult?" she asked, looking at Harry, who blushed and nodded.  "Well!  That was most unkind!  You're much too young!"

"We'll deal, ma'am," Alex reminded her.  "After all, there's not much that can take me."  She smiled at him.  "Really.  Unfortunately I ended up knocking Greg's father down some.  He tried to grab me."  He grimaced. "I'll have to write a letter of apology later."

"You should, dear," Mrs. Weasley agreed.  "It was really unkind."

"I don't take well to being grabbed."

"With his past, it's reasonable," Harry said quietly.  Mrs. Weasley looked at him so he nodded.  "Really.  We have to remove his wand whenever we try to wake him.  He's not a morning person."

Ron nudged Alex's arm.  "What is with you and Madam Sprout?"

"No one can be that nice," he said dryly, staring at his friend.  "No one has that sort of sugar-sweetened nature without having a hidden depth to it.  Most people use personas like that to hide a darker personality underneath it.  I'm waiting for her innate dark nature to come out to challenge mine and looking out for myself against another wench of darkness."

"She's a sweetie, dear," Madam Malkin assured him, smiling at him as she fixed one of his cuffs.  "Did you want them rolled or folded under?"

"Folded under.  I hate the cuffed look," he admitted, smiling down at her.  "I still say she is.  She's much too nice. No matter what anyone says.  No one is that nice or that sweet without a reason."

"Some girls are like that," Ginny told him, smiling at him. "I'm fairly nice."

"Don't listen to her," Ron offered, grinning at him. "She's a horrible terror on the face of the family.  Steals all sorts of things, like my books."

Alex snorted, shaking his head.  "Maybe it's where I don't trust girls, but I feel the same about men who come off that sweet and innocent and nice.  Speaking of, is what I saw correct?  Are we getting that moron Lockhart as our defense teacher?"  Ron groaned and nodded.

"He's a perfectly good wizard," Mrs. Weasley told him.

He looked at her, then burst out giggling.  "I know more Defense than he does!" he told her.  "Dear Gods, woman!  Those who do know don't have to take out full page ads with their pictures so you know what they've done!"  She looked stunned.  "Really!"

"If you say so, but I still say he's a perfectly good teacher," Mrs. Weasley shot back.  She looked over as Percy drug the twins in.  "Thank you, dear.  Where did you find them this time?"

"Ingredients."  He looked at the young men on the stools, shuddering a bit.  "Alexander, I do hope you'll behave this year?"

"Sure, Percy.  I won't hex you all year.  Then again, I didn't hex you last year," he said thoughtfully, looking at Ron.  "Did I?"

"No," he said, shrugging a bit and wincing.  "I have no idea what he's going on about."

"He's a bloody terror!" Percy complained to his little brother.

"We enjoy..."

"Him immensely," the twins noted dryly.

Alex beamed.  "Thanks, guys.  Did Harry give you that scroll?"

"No, not yet," Harry admitted, smirking a bit.  "It's still in my trunk."

"Hmph.  Hiding my brilliance from the outside world, Harry?" Alex taunted.

"Only from some people," Harry retorted, smirking a bit.  The door opened and Draco walked in with Professor Snape.  "Are you repossessing Alexander?" he asked politely.

"Not yet," he said coolly.  "I believe he said he wanted to talk to Mr.  Malfoy?"

"Yes, but I said I'd corner him on the train as well," Alex called, looking over his shoulder.  He looked down at himself, then at the fitter, who nodded, letting him go.  He walked over and grabbed Draco by the arm, walking him out and to the gap between buildings.  "Listen, Draco.  I don't care if you're your daddy's boy.  I loathe your father.  It will come down to a duel and a hex between us.  Probably unforgivables."  Draco shuddered.  "So, let me state this here and now.  You are you, and unless I have one of those days like when they tried to drug me, I don't see a problem between us.  If you follow him, then we've got a problem.  If you try me, we've got a minor problem and it'll make my father proud to prove I can plan something sometime in my life."  Draco nodded at that, still looking cold.  "I could care less about Auntie Narcissa or you.  All I want is your father.  So, keep up and keep out of the way when that happens if possible.  All right?  Can we agree on that?"

Draco looked at him.  "I am my father's son.  Certain things are expected of me."

"Or what?  He'll disown you?  Auntie Narcissa can't have more kids.  You're the last of the family, Draco.  If he does that, his whole lineage, that thing he holds up as exemplary and special, dies."  Draco looked stunned at that.  "I'll even let you help me.  You plan so much better than I do."  He stepped closer, getting in his face.  "I don't care about you, Draco.  You're sometimes my friend.  You're sometimes my annoyance and boil on the bum."  Draco snorted and shook his head.  Alex tipped his face back up to look into his eyes, the storm color fading back toward blue today.  "We were friends.  All you did was prank me and I still reserve the right to get you back.  That's why I've stayed out of your thing with my guardian and Ron.  I like them.  They try to understand me the same way Greg and Vinnie did."  Draco sighed and nodded.  "Harry and I have a clear understanding of each other, Draco.  I'd ask you not to mess that up for me, but that might seem like begging and we all know that begging isn't done by me."

Draco licked his lips.  "I'll help you get him in a few years, when we're both older and have more experience," he said quietly. "I don't want to be in his shadow.  I'm so much more than he thinks."

"I know you are, mate."  Alex grinned and kissed him on the cheek.

"Eww!  Bloody ponce!" he complained, wiping it off.

"What?  Your mother told me to do that," he said with a smirk.  "What do you say?  We all right after I get you back for that haircut?"

"That depends on what you do to me," he complained, grimacing a bit as he continued to wipe his cheek off.

Alex gave him the most evil smirk he had, making the other boy shudder in horror.  "What would make your father howl at the moon the most, Draco, love?"

"Dating Potter."

"Besides that."

"Oooooh," he said, catching on, shuddering a bit.  "Please don't.  I will beg for you not to start that rumor, Alexander.  Please?  I like girls too much to have them giggle at me.  I'd have to hurt the whole lot."  He moved closer.  They used to be the best friends and able to curl up next to each other for afternoon naps, but that was going a bit too far. His reputation would be ruined if his friend spread that rumor around.

"Ehh.  At least Grams didn't ever get around to finishing the paperwork to have me bound to Pansy," he admitted dryly.

Draco gave him the most horrified look.  "I'm so sorry!" he whimpered.  "That's the worst torture she could do!"  He hugged him.  "I'm sorry, Alex.  I'll tell my mum to discourage Pansy's mum in case she's got any remaining ideas about that.  Pansy said she didn't need me because she had better waiting on her.  I'm so sorry, mate."  He pulled back, looking at him.  "We're still friends, just stay out of Potter's and my battles.  Besides, he's making you odd, Alex."  Alex scowled.  "I'm not allowed?"

"Fine.  You're allowed."  Draco relaxed and grinned.  "No more, Draco.  Harry's my guardian and I went to Gryff because otherwise I'd be darker than Grams.  Pansy said all I needed was a few months of wanting to study and I'd be the next Dark Lord."  Draco's mouth hung open.  "I don't want that.  You definitely don't want that or else you'd be overshadowed again."  Draco swallowed and nodded.  "So let's just leave it as we're friends, and they're my friends.  All right?"  Draco nodded, accepting that.  So Alex grinned.  "I won't give him anything truly evil against you.  I haven't yet but still, I won't if you'll help me find a boy of my own in a few years."

"Sure, Alex, I'll take applications," he offered dryly, smirking a bit.  "How are you carrying on the fine Snape name?"

Alex shrugged.  "Dad knows I'm gay.  He's never said anything about it.  Then again, who would care if I carried on the family name beyond Dad?  He said last year he didn't plan on having kids."  He walked Draco back inside, letting Madam Malkin fuss over him some more.  "Harry?"  He looked over from where he was being fitted.  "In the interest of harmony between my two groups of friends, I can't give you anything truly horrible to use against Draco."  Both twins moaned.  "I'm staying out of your battles with him.  I'll help you with stuff, but nothing truly horrendous and evil."

"So mildly annoying and naughty is fine?" Ron called.

Alex beamed and nodded. "Sure."  The twins both smirked at him so he shrugged.  "I like you two. You're good ways of wearing out my aggression problem until I can find a bloke of my own."  Madam Malkin looked up at him, giving him an odd look.  "It's not like I like girls after Her and what she did to me!" he complained.  "I'll never touch one willingly."

"That's fine, dear.  When you're ready to start courting a nice wizard, come back in and I'll make sure your robes are splendid and fit you properly to make someone drool," she promised, smiling and finishing him up.  "There you go, Alex. Anything for the off-hours?"

"Oh, please yes," he moaned.  "All my pants are too tight."  She smiled and went to get him some jeans and things, bringing them back so he could change into them and get fitted.  He came out and found his father and Draco talking.  "He could use a better role model," he said as he walked past his father.  "I'm not jealous or anything."

Snape looked at his son, then at Draco.  "What was said?"

"That he's staying out of it, that he won't harm me unless he's forced back on that medicine or something like it, and that I'm safe if I'm not like him.  Oh, and I promised to help him find a good wizard to date some year soon, when he's ready."

Snape sighed and nodded.  "Fine. I can only hope he stays out of your battles with Mr. Potter and his friends."

"Alex almost always keeps his word," Draco told him.  "Unless there's a good reason."

"Yes, well, I'd rather not give him any sort of reason."  Draco gave him a smug smirk.  "Fine.  Try to behave, Draco."

"I do try now and then.  Should I calm Greg down later?"

"Have Greg come over tomorrow," Alex called as a shirt was put on him and fitted.

"Fine," Draco agreed calmly.   "Should he bring cards?"

"No, I've got some and poker chips," Alex said, shooting him a wicked grin. "I'm teaching Harry how to play this year."

"Poker?" Ron asked.

"Bid whist," Alex said, looking at him.  "What's poker?  I thought it was the name of the chips."

"We'll show you this year," the twins called in unison.

"Okay.  It's got to be better than writing papers."  His father coughed.  "I said I'd try, not that I'm perfect or going to become like Granger."  Hermione gave him a long stare.  "I'm not!  I can't stand studying."

"Fine.  Should I not plan on you looking at my notes when you're confused?"

"I only get confused in Creatures and Herbology, ducks.  Oh, we'll have to pick electives this year," he said flatly.  He shuddered.  "Can I skip that?"

"No," Snape ordered.  "You could pick what you know and understand."

"I can keep going in Astronomy and have extra Charms?" he suggested.

"Runes, Alex.  Arithmancy?" he sighed.  His son was very trying at times.

"Never and no way in hell," he said firmly.  "I've had more than enough of those subjects, thank you."  He and his father locked eyes.  His father scowled and he relented some.  "Divination?  It's supposed to be easy."

"You'd loathe the teacher," Snape said firmly.  He didn't want to even imagine the rants that would come from that class.

"We met, that's why she came crying to you last year," he reminded him. Snape shuddered and he grinned.  "What did she see for me?"

"Pansy's prediction."

"At least if I ran the world it'd be a better place," Alex said calmly, staring him down.

"We'll talk about this closer to the time to sign up," Snape told him.

"Fine."  He got released and paid for his stuff, then took the package from Madam Malkin and the change.  He walked over to his father.  "Where's left?"

"You've mostly completed the list," Snape admitted. "You need a better trunk."

"And more comics, but for that I'm going to have to sneak out to muggle London," he offered with a smirk.  He walked off.  "Later, Harry and the rest of you."

"Later, Alex."

Ginny sighed. "He's so cute but he's obviously so damaged."

"His grandmother tortured him," Ron told her quietly.  "He's a nice guy who won't hurt you unless you try him.  He's the house's protector at the moment.  You have to leave him alone, Ginny.  He doesn't hang out with the girls."  She nodded, leaving it there.

"He's what?" Draco asked, walking up behind them.  "Since when?"

"Since McGonagall asked him to be," Harry said coolly.  "Butt out, Malfoy.  He may like you but that doesn't extend to the rest of us."

"Fine," Malfoy agreed dryly, smirking at him. "Not having fun as the extra special boy?"

"It's fine.  Most of the time I don't really worry about it."  He smirked a bit.  "Jealous?"

"Of you?  No," he sneered, pushing past Percy to take an empty stool to get fitted.

"Where's your father?" the fitter asked politely.

"At the Leaky getting a drink and an ice pack.  He unwisely took on Alex."  He smirked a bit.  "Alex kindly kicked his arse up the street."  She stared at him so he smirked back.

Mrs. Weasley looked at Percy and the twins.  "I want to hear more about this boy," she ordered.  They moved closer to explain things as privately as they could.

***

Alex looked up as he walked into defense the first day, holding in his sneer with pure self control.  The teacher smiled at him.  He sneered back and took his usual seat next to Ron, leaning closer.  "I'm going to have a problem in here," he decided.  "I'll try not to let it radiate."

Ron looked at him. "You're lucky my mum didn't come get you from the house and make you stay with us for the last few days," he hissed back.  The teacher disappeared into his office since more of the students were coming in.  He wanted to make a grand entrance and only the earliest students had already seen him.  He looked at him.  "Did you glance at the books?"

"Hell no," Alex snorted.  "You?"  Ron shook his head.  "Your mum still think he's brilliant and all that?"  Ron scowled and nodded, watching Hermione sit down and sigh in pleasure at her clear line of sight.  "Oh, make me gag," he complained, cracking Ron up.  Hermione glared at him and he smirked back.  "What? He's a poser!"

"He's not, he wouldn't be teaching if he was."

Alex held in his comments because the teacher was coming down his entryway in a moment of pure theatrics and overblown ego. He walked among them, handing out quizzes.  He looked at it, then at the teacher, then shook his head.  He pushed it aside, not even doing it. The teacher gave him a look and he calmly pulled his wand and hexed something in one of the nearby tanks, making his eyes go wide.  Alex let out a small evil smirk.  Lockhart wisely looked away.  Alex looked at Ron, who was snickering again.  "What?" he asked innocently.  "I'm being good."

"I doubt it," Harry muttered from his seat.  "Quit, Alex.  Behave or I'll ground you over the holidays.  You'll have to spend it in Herbology."

"Fine.  Mean bastard," he hissed back.

"Please do not speak," Lockhart said, staring him down.

"He's my guardian, I'm allowed to answer back meaningless threats from him."

"He's your guardian?" he asked, looking confused.

Alex smiled. "Sir, with all due respect, I believe you should talk to Professor McGonagall before you have us for a second class.  There's much that apparently was never shared that could become quite pertinent in here."

"Really?  Why?"

Harry looked at him, then at Alex.  Then back at the teacher.  "Because he's right. I am his guardian."  He went back to his quiz.  Even he had to give the teacher funny looks at some questions.  Why was it important that they knew his favorite color?

***

McGonagall caught Alex on his way into lunch, walking him off.  "Did you threaten him?" she asked quietly.

"No, I simply suggested it was prudent to ask you about some of us since he clearly wasn't filled in beforehand," he said dryly, smiling up at her.  She had earned his respect and she never really punished too unfairly. Just harshly when she had to.  "His supposed quiz asked what his favorite color was, Professor.  I don't play petty mind games and his theatrical tricks and taunts don't work on me.  For that matter, they're only working on the girls.  Even Granger, which is a bit disturbing when you think about it.  Apparently hormones can override brains."  McGonagall snickered and nodded, smiling at him.  "I'm sorry if I came off as overly dangerous.  I simply pushed the test aside and when silently questioned, appropriately froze one of the creatures he had on hand.  Is there *any* way I don't have to have him?"

"No, but he has requested that you be moved to the Slytherin sections," she offered.

"Then I'd have to rearrange my whole schedule.  Besides, do we really want me, Vinnie, and Greg together?  We used to play horrible pranks on the parents at any social gathering."  She looked stunned.  "I was still young."

"You are still young," she corrected, giving him a gentle squeeze around the shoulders.  "I'll talk with him, tell him a bit.  Just try to relax.  He won't harm you."

"He can't harm me, he's stupid, moronic, and harmless!  I doubt he could hex any of us, even Longbottom!" he complained.  "I'd teach Defense better."

"Yes, but then you'd have to study," she reminded him.

He looked at her.  "I'll study if you let me teach."

She smiled at him.  "We'll see about your last year, Alex.  If there's not one suitable then, I wouldn't mind to put you forward."  She kissed him on the cheek, smiling when he wiped it off, only making a slightly gross face.  "Just try to tone it down in there.  Professor Flitwick said you were wonderful in his class."

"Fine.  I'll make due.  Did you like the purple ink?"

"I prefer it to the pink or the green or even the mauve," she offered, smiling at him.  "Are you planning on drawing again this year?"

"It's either that or I'm going to have to find something to take my mind off things.  Think I could try for animagus?"

"I think you'd be very good at it," she assured him, pointing at the door to the Great Hall. "Go eat.  We'll discuss that later this weekend.  He wanted to punish you but I told him it was futile and would make you show off more."  She looked at him.  "Alex, did you want me to tell him everything?"

"No, just let on that I'm the evilest bastard in this school and I could easily outdo him any day," he offered with a grin.  "You can also mention I dress better."  She laughed and he left on that note, heading in to eat.  He sat down next to Harry.  "He wanted me moved to the Slytherin class for both sections.  I promised to go back to drawing in there."  Harry snickered.  "She liked the purple ink."

"I like the purple ink," Ron assured him, grinning at him.  "You do dress better."

"I do," Alex agreed happily. He watched as McGonagall came in and walked up there to pull Lockhart aside with Snape.  He got a few funny looks from the group but Lockhart looked shaken when they were done.  Apparently the point had been gotten across.

"Mr. Birmingham," Snape hissed.  "Come here please."

"Sure."  He walked up there, smiling at him.  "What?" he asked quietly.  Snape frowned at him.  "Sorry."

"Fine.  Try to behave.  It does look bad on the rest of us.  Even if he is the biggest dolt and incompetent on this island and possibly in this hemisphere, you cannot openly act against him."

He leaned closer.  "I need something to keep my mind occupied.  Would you mind if I turned furry?"

Snape raised an eyebrow, then shook his head.  "That's a serious undertaking, I can see you doing that research."  Alex shuddered. "There is a bit of reading involved."

"Ick."

He gave his son a look, telling him that he'd have to study this time, no matter what he liked.  "Should you undertake it, I will want to know the outcome," he said quietly.  Alex nodded.  "The rest would be up to you."

"Agreed," he said happily.  "I'm going to start drawing again.  By the time I graduate, I should nearly be a Master."  Snape smirked a bit at that.  "I should.  Can you get me an advanced Charms book?  I went through the seventh year one last year."

"You may ask Professor Flitwick to help you choose one," he told him.  Alex nodded, heading down there.

Professor Flitwick smiled at the young man.  "You did very well today as a helper, Alexander.  I'm quite pleased."

"Thank you.  I'm also bored.  I went through the seventh year book last year.  Do you have one I might borrow?"

"I'd like to test you on those first," he noted.  "We'll go over what you've missed first."  Alex nodded, smiling at him.  "Good boy.  Now go eat. Try to behave."  He glanced at Lockhart, then at the boy again.  "You can come to me for extra lessons as long as you behave in your other classes."

"Yes, sir," he sighed, heading back to his seat. He stopped beside Percy.  "Can I bum your Charms books for the last two years?"  Percy looked startled.  "I needed to go back over them again, just in case.  We're trying to see what I can and can't do and what I still need to learn out of the standard textbooks."

"Fine, as long as you try to do some homework.  Remember, your grades are a reflection on your house," he said primly.

Alex grinned. "Percy, a few years ago I took a NEWT practice test and passed it in Charms," he said quietly.  "The enforced learning I did made sure of it.  I'm bored.  That's going to cause more problems than my roving anger issues."  He smiled sweetly.  "I've already promised to try to study now and then.  I can't do more than that."

"Fine," Percy agreed.  "I'll let you borrow the ones I have and I'll try to get the twins' copy  as well."

Alex looked at them.  "Oy, boys.  I need Charms books."

"Why?  Going to try for a bloke now?" one teased, grinning at him.

"No, I'm dreadfully bored."  Everyone around them stared at him so he beamed.  "I'm good in Charms."

"We'll give you what we have later," the other one promised.  Alex patted them on the back and went to his seat.  He looked at Percy, who nodded he would help.  The family and the house last year had decided that trying to keep Alex from being bored or angry was great fun.  Many of them had helped.  They had even tried to figure out why he couldn't fly.  It hadn't helped, but they had tried.

***

Alex walked into the Headmaster's office, pasting an interested look on his face.  "Yes, Headmaster?  You summoned me?"

"I wanted to know what you took from Lucius," he said calmly, hands clenched on the desk.

"Some sort of dark magic book," he admitted. "I didn't look in it but I could smell the dark magic flowing off it.  It stunk to high hell really."  He sat down, considering it.  "I gave it to Professor Snape."

"I know.  He gave it to me for safe keeping."  He pulled it out of his desk.  "This one?"

Alex sniffed, then shook his head, pointing at a bookcase.  "No, the one I gave him is over there.  The book smells like Gram's journal."  Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.  "I was exposed to a great deal of dark magic, headmaster," he reminded him pleasantly.  "I'm quite good at not only defeating it but also practicing it.  Which I don't usually but I have found a use for some things.  Did you know too many 'enervates' can mess up fertility?"  He shook his head slowly.  "It can.  Grams found that out."  He grimaced a bit.  "Fortunately not on me.  Anyway, that smells like her older journals."

"Fine.  It appears to be a blank journal of some sort."

Alex got up and got it, sitting down with it.  He suddenly picked up a pen and wrote in it, then handed it over as an answer appeared.  "Someone higher up needs to hear about this.  It needs to be destroyed, not hidden."

Dumbledore looked at the journal, the answer to the question of 'who did you belong to' making him shiver.  "I believe you're right."  He called the Ministry, getting an auror who smiled and patted Alex on the head.  "He found someone trying to give this to Ginny Weasley," he said, passing it over, open to the page.  "He asked it who it belonged to."

The auror looked at it, then blanched.  "Bloody hell," she muttered, staring at Alex.  "How did you figure it out?"

"I smelled it.  It smells like Gram's older journals."

"Can we get them?  It could answer some questions some people had."

"Sure.  I don't want 'em," he pointed out with a grin. "Professor Snape helped me box them up.  Then he put them somewhere safely away from all his old friends."  She shivered again but nodded.  "The rest of the dark arts type stuff is in the family's new vault in Gringotts."

"Understood.  It's a safe place for it, Alexander.  Thank you."  The boy grinned.  "Now, don't be flirting," she teased.

"Dear, I loathe women," he said, still grinning.  "I'm as gay as some chap sucking out a balloon in the midday sun.  Unless you can change equipment, you're not my type."

She giggled and hugged him, letting go fairly quickly.  "Fine.  I understand.  If I were you, I'd hate women too, Alexander."  She patted him again.  "Good find. Who was doing it?"

He frowned a bit.  Then he sighed.  "If I tell you I can't torture him later."  She stared him down.  "He's the last on my shit list."

"Oh.  The one who got your mum?" she asked gently.  He nodded.  "Malfoy?"

"I'd rather not say.  I'll leave that to Professor Snape to confirm or deny that rumor. Otherwise I won't get to torture him for what his thoughtful actions put me through."

She nodded. "I understand.  May I talk with Professor Snape, headmaster?"  He nodded.  "Thank you.  Alexander, lead me down there?  I'm sure he understands."

"He does.  Thank you for understanding."

"Eehh, we've all got people we'd rather torture than to see publically executed."  She walked him down to the Potions classroom, nodding the teacher outside.  She held up the journal, watching as he faintly shuddered.  "He said he won't confirm or deny who was slipping this to Ginny Weasley," she said quietly. "He referred me to you."

"I know why he did."

"So do I."  She looked at him.  "What do you think his chances are?"

He pulled her away from the doorway.  "Considering he kicked his arse in the alley?" he asked quietly.  She giggled and he nodded.  "He and Draco have an uneasy peace and he's promised not to touch Draco if he can help it."  She nodded, smiling at that.  He looked inside the classroom, catching Goyle's eye and nodding at Draco.  Draco got nudged and motioned out.  He closed the door once they were together.  "She was called about a journal, Mr. Malfoy.  Alexander refused to tell her who gave it to Miss Weasley."  Draco grimaced and nodded, looking down.  "It is up to myself or you to tell her who it was."

"We pretty muchly know," the auror offered, tipping Draco's face up.  "He's under watch, Mr. Malfoy.  We know he's one of them."

"What happens if he's caught?" Draco asked quietly, staring at her.  "We'll lose everything."

She sighed then shrugged. "Possibly.  I can't say one way or another.  I don't have the Sight."  He nodded, accepting that.  "I can say that I'd be bringing him in for questioning later since a shopkeeper at the store told us who was there when Alex found the book and announced it held dark magic.  We were waiting on someone here to call us to get it."  Draco's face tightened and he nodded again.  "It is up to one of you to confirm or deny it since Alexander wouldn't.  Either of you or Miss Weasley could.  It's possible we might get a magical trace off it but your father's known to wear gloves."   Draco groaned, rubbing his forehead.  "I don't want to put pressure on you, Mr. Malfoy," she said, tipping his chin up.  "I really don't.  Alexander didn't, that's why he wouldn't tell me either.  He said you and he were at least at peace."  He nodded, swallowing.  "Let me know by this weekend, all right?  It's a minor bit of evidence but it could be important."  She looked at the professor.  "If one of you doesn't confirm it then I may have to ask Miss Weasley or her mother since she was reportedly there."

Snape nodded.  "Thank you for being so honest."

"Not a problem," she assured him, shaking their hands.  "Thank you for helping Alexander.  He could be one of the best aurors some day."

"He hates to study," Draco told her.  "His Grams used to Imperio him to make him learn."

She nodded.  "I heard.  It's a pity.  He's a smart boy."  She patted Draco's cheek.  "Think about it, Mr. Malfoy.  We can't demand but some people will ask why he didn't turn whoever it was in."  She walked off, leaving them to talk.

"Come to my office tonight," Snape said quietly.  "He was trying to spare you."

"I know.  I'm feeling trapped," he admitted, looking at his head of house.  "I don't know what to do."

"We'll call your mother tonight, Draco.  Go back to your potion."  Draco nodded, going back to his seat and pretending to go back to work.  Mentally he was cursing his son for saying anything, and the Headmaster for calling them.  He stopped his son later, during a long break between classes.  "Why were they called?" he asked quietly.

"Because I wrote in the journal and it answered.  I asked who it belonged to.  It said Tom Marvello Riddle," he replied in a near whisper.  Snape shuddered and he nodded.  "That's why I told Dumbledore to call them.  I'm all for protecting Draco and Aunty Narcissa. That's why I refused to say who gave it to her and referred her to you, Professor.  I'm sorry if I caused him harm."

"No.  It is a situation that was bound to come up."  He looked at the boy.  "Why else didn't you tell?"

"If I told, I wouldn't get to torture him later.  That's why I told her I wouldn't."  He grinned.  "She said she understood.  She has people she'd rather beat than execute too."

"We all do," Snape said, watching Harry Potter walk down the hall.  "If something should happen, I wish to know," he ordered.  "It's imperative," he said, looking down at him.

Alex nodded.  "I will.  I'm not a hero and I don't want to be one."  He hurried off, the first bell had already rung.  He walked into defense, sitting down in his usual spot.  He leaned closer to Ron.  "Dumbledore sent off that journal today," he whispered.  "People are asking questions."

"I'll warn her," he agreed, looking at him.  "Are you all right?"

Alex nodded, looking over at Draco, who was scowling.  "Yeah, we'll be fine.  Give me ten to talk to him."

"Sure."  They both straightened up as the teacher walked in, smiling and beaming at them all, arms open wide to welcome them.  He caught sight of their group and frowned.  "Mr. Birmingham, I've been told you know a bit about this subject.  I'm going to put you with a few of the Slytherins if you don't mind.  They've already done this lesson and that way you can draw or whatever."  Alex nodded, getting up and moving over there.  He smiled at that simple solution.  "Thank you, young man."

"This way I get to watch the forest for invaders," he noted dryly, sitting down at Draco's table, giving him a sideways look and a small shrug.  "Sorry.  Do I smell bad?"

Draco snorted and shook his head.  "Not in the least.  Wearing the cologne I got you last year?"  Alex grinned and nodded.  "At least it's a gift that's in use then," he said pragmatically.  He watched as the teacher got on with the lesson, glancing at him.  "Why?" he asked quietly.

"Because I don't want to apply pressure," he whispered back.  He shifted closer, getting out some paper and a few pens and inks.  Draco watched as a drawing was started, the words formed in it.  He relaxed.  Alex was trying to keep his word and the owner of the journal made him frown.  He knew that name from somewhere.  Alex was covering it up when the teacher announced he was opening the pixie cage.

Alex suddenly looked up and pulled his wand.  "Impedimentia!" he called as the first one came out, hexing the whole cage.

"Mr. Birmingham," he complained. "You are interrupting the lesson."

"Yes, sir, but I heard one sneeze and you know they carry some diseases, don't you?"

"I hadn't.  How did you know this?"

"It's common knowledge, sir," Draco put in, looking a bit smug.  "A sneezing pixie can give a disease that's worse than the flu and a cold put together.  Half the class could be infected by morning from just a single bite."  Well, this lie certainly livened up the class. He could follow Alex's feet on this one.

"And they do so love to bite," Alex finished drolly.  "Therefore I was acting in the public good.  We can always separate out two or three if they're not sneezing yet."

Lockhart nodded, letting out ten of the cageful.  Then Alex swished and the Cornish Pixies came back to life.  They flew around, trying to get everyone.  Lockhart ran off when they tried to gang up on him, then went back to tormenting the students.

"Impedimentia," Granger yelled, freezing most of them.  Harry had to get two or three of them himself.  She looked at Alex.  "I read nothing about sneezing pixies."

"Really? I thought it was fairly well known," he offered with a grin.  "They really should have a bigger cage.  Draco, do you know the expanding charm?  I can't get it off the tip of my tongue."

Draco waved his wand.  "You owe me, Birmingham."

Alex blew a kiss.  "I'll help you pick out an outfit later, dear."  The others laughed and Pansy looked at him. "You knew I was gay.  It should go to help the prettiest of you lot."

Draco looked at him, frowning a bit.  "You're a sick, sad bastard, Alex.  I'm not like you.  I don't like you that way.  I also have impeccable taste in my attire."

Alex pointed his wand at the cage.  "Engorgio."  It enlarged until he moved his wand.  "There you go. Stuff 'em back inside while we have a lover's spat."  He grinned at Draco.  "You wound me, baby.  I thought we were forever."

"This is payback for shaving you bald," he complained.

Alex just smirked.  "Am I like that?"

"Yes," the Slytherins who knew him said.  A few even nodded.

Alex let out a wicked chuckle.  "Awww, that's so sweet!" he cooed.

"Alex, I'm going to barf," Ron complained. "Be gay later and help someone with their hair.  For now, come help with the stupid pixies."

Alex got up and came over to help put the pixies back, even giving them some food he found in the corner.  Then he looked at everyone and the clock on the wall.  "This isn't a double period, right?"  They all shook their heads.  "Wow.  There's nearly thirty minutes left."  He looked around again.  "All right, who actually read anything about Pixies?"  No one raised their hands. "Pity."  He found an older textbook and broke it open, then went to get some of his scratch paper.  He copied the pertinent parts onto it then put the book back and handed the paper to Granger.  "Copy that, hand it out to everyone."  She gave him an odd look. "It's not like I know how.  I don't deal in that area, remember?"

"Yeah, he'd be too dark if he did," Pansy joked.

Draco reached forward and slapped her across the back of the head.  "He's not that way.  He'll never be an evil bastard.  We all know who'd get it first if he took over the world."  They all nodded and settled down.  He took his copy delicately between two fingers.  "Thank you, Miss Granger.  Delightful of you, really."

She smirked.  "At least you're getting something out of the lesson.  Alex, your brown ink runs terribly."

"I was shading, Granger.  It's an art technique."  He sat down again, getting back to his artwork.

Draco looked over.  "Your perspective is off.  If the sun's over here, the shadows are on the opposite side," he noted patiently.

"We need an art class here," Alex complained, balling up that one and starting on a new one.  McGonagall stuck her head in.  "They're already safely up, Professor," he noted, smirking just a bit.  "We're talking about art in this corner.  May we have the rest of this period free?"

"Everyone but you," she said dryly.  He shrugged and finished his latest sketch while everyone went to play in the sun.  She walked over.  "What did you do to him?"

"I kept him from torturing the rest of the students, like a good boy," he said, grinning at her.  "He was going to open the cage without his wand out."  She frowned. "Sorry, but he was.  Besides, didn't you know pixies carry diseases?"

She pinched him on the cheek.  "You're a very bad boy, Alexander.  You did save the students some harm however.  That was very nice of you."

"I'd have to bloody well clean up after them if they all got loose," he complained. "Not many of us knew a thing about them.  Besides, we had to enlarge the cage.  The cage was an owl cage.  A small owl cage."  She looked at the cage, then back at him, frowning a bit.  "That's cruel."

"It is," she agreed. "I'll have a word with him about his caging and restraints.  Very nice work.  Five points to you for fixing the problem before it got out of hand."  She pinched his cheek again.  "Now, go play in the sunshine."

"I hate daylight," he complained, but he did pack up and went to go lurk in the courtyard's shadows.

Greg cornered him and frowned at him.  "My dad said he didn't realize it was you or he wouldn't have grabbed you, Alex.  He said he's sorry."

"Not an issue, Greg.  That's why I wrote the letter."  Greg smiled at him.  "Well, at least today wasn't totally boring.  Our other section of defense is with the Ravenclaws.  A lot of very smart girls and Granger with their brains slowly being rotted away by gold lamme."

Greg snickered, shaking his head.  "You're so bad," he offered with a grin.  "I wish you were with us."

"Yeah, but I didn't want the dark, Greg.  We all know I don't want it."  He patted him on the arm.  "I tell ya what.  You and Draco can help me find a nice bloke some day soon, all right?"  Greg burst out laughing, covering his mouth because he was giggling.  Alex winked and strolled off, going to bug Ron, who was mocking Lochart, his favorite activity.

"Ron, enough!  He's a very good teacher," Hermione complained.

"If he had a clue, he'd have pulled his wand before he started to open the cage and cast a slowing charm on them so they wouldn't have run rampant.  Think about what would've happened if they had all come out, Granger."  She looked stunned.  Alex grinned at her.  "Truth.  I didn't want to clean up that mess in the least."

"Thanks for helping them," Ron said, grinning at him.  "Seen Neville?"

"He probably headed for the greenhouses," he suggested.  He beamed at them.  "I'm doing my own private studying again this year."

"Dark hexes?" Granger asked dryly.

He snorted.  "Sorry, dear, already been through numerous books on that.  No, animagus."  Everyone stared at him and he smirked a bit. "I said I was bored."

Harry nodded.  "If you manage it, we'll copy off you and do our own trials."

Alex nodded.  "Sure, Harry."  He put an arm around Ron's shoulders. "Ron, think you could help Greg and Draco find me a bloke some year soon?  That way I have someone to draw as well?  Otherwise I'll have to practice on other people and they might think I'm drawing them to do an influence charm."

Ron looked at him.  "Sure, Alex.  If it comes up in polite conversation, I'll offer them my help to find you a nice boyfriend."  Alex beamed.  "Just as long as you never share a single detail with me."

Alex snickered and nodded.  "Not a problem.  Though I feel the same way about you guys and your future girls.  All right?"  They all nodded.  "Good deal then.  What's next?  I haven't memorized anything yet."

"Herbology," Granger said, looking at him.  "You're really gay?"  He nodded.  "I mean, it's not a function of the torture?"

He shook his head.  "Not totally.  I might have liked girls more if she hadn't tortured me but I've always found males more pleasing than females.  After all, girls are just so...odd."  He walked off, heading over to Herbology.  He knew he could use some work in here.  He found Neville checking on some plantings he had helped with a few days back.  "Did we trod them down like the poor yet?" he asked quietly.  Neville jumped and looked at him.

Madam Sprout came out, frowning at them.  "Who let you out early?"

"Lockhart managed to free some of his pixies and run away in fear," he told her. "McGonagall let us out early when he went to complain."

"Ah.  Fine. Alex."  She stepped closer.  "I'm really not mean," she said when he stepped back.

"You're female, that's part of the definition," he said firmly.  She sighed and nodded.  "Please.  Don't."

"Fine.  I won't try to soothe you at all.  Do you at least talk to Professor McGonagall?"

"All the time.  After all, I protect the house," he said dryly, smirking a bit.  She nodded, leaving it at that. "Can you help Neville?  I think he was looking at uses for bogroot last night and I don't have a clue about those things."

Madam Sprout smiled at Neville and patted him on the arm.  "Of course I can!  You're very good in here, Neville.  Come along, let's chat about that inside.  What were you reading?  That's in the fourth year book."  She led him off and Alex smiled at his good deed for the week.  Neville needed someone more understanding.  If she was as nice as everyone said, Neville would be fine.  If not, he'd know immediately and get to save the poor guy.  He turned and found Draco behind him smirking. "He's excellent in here and I ask him what I'm doing."  He smiled.  "Getting dirty early today?"

"Hell no," Draco snorted.  He smirked a bit more evilly.  "You thought I couldn't handle it alone?"

"Well, I think you'd find someone who would keep my mind occupied, but Greg would insist that they'd be someone who'd try to play with me now and then.  Ron would make sure they knew I was odd and why, but he'd do it more gently and reinforce the desire for them to tease and play with me so I don't have to pick a new target this year."

Draco burst out laughing.  "Fine, git, I'll find you a playmate."  He rolled his eyes.  "This year?"

"No, not necessary.  This year and probably next I'll use Harry and Ron as my playmates when I can't pick on you two and Vinnie."  Greg smiled at that.  "Fourth year, I'll need one. That's when we usually get balls and things."

"Fine," Draco said, rolling his eyes.  "You really are terrible."

"I'm bored."

Draco raised an eyebrow.  "How can you be bored? I was up until three this morning writing a paper."

"We had a paper due?"

Draco groaned and shook his head.  "Yes, moron, we had a paper due in Potions."

"Oh."  Alex shrugged.  "I'm doing good to understand potions."

"Fine," he sneered. "Disappoint your father."

"No, he pretty well knows I suck in there," he noted dryly. "What was the paper on?"

"The uses of that potion we did last week when we all messed it up," Greg offered.

Alex thought back.  "Was that the vile green one?"  Draco nodded, looking impatient. "Well, the non-working one seemed to polish metal quite well.  The actual one I guess doesn't?"

"No.  Write it on the non-working ones, Alex.  Give him a chance to laugh," Draco ordered, walking inside the greenhouse shaking his head.

Alex went inside and got to work on that, then looked up when the teacher came over.  "Forgot I had a paper due later."

"In what class?"

"Potions."

"Ah.  What are you writing on?"

"Last week's mistake," he said grimly, finishing it up.  He reread it, then looked at Greg, handing it over.  Greg read it, bursting out laughing and taking the pen to correct a really bad grammar mistake.  "I thought that sounded okay."

"Putting it that way sounded like you could clean out bums, Alex."

"Sorry.  I guess it would."

"It was corrosive, but I suppose that's one way to fit a bloke back there," Draco said dryly from his reading.

"It stretches, love.  Didn't you ever notice that?"

"I don't tend to think about such things, Alex.  I'm not some poofy little gay boy."

"Fine.  Bastard.  Don't let me play with you then.  I'll have to pout because my favorite toy was taken away from me."  Draco looked over at him, making Alex smirk.

"This is too evil for me shaving you bald," he said firmly.

"But you used to like to let me play with you, Draco!" he whined.

Greg snickered, shaking his head and handing back the report before heading outside.  He stopped the other Slytherins from walking in.  "No, they're playing."

"I'm much too pretty to ever be a plaything.  I'll be someone's secret lover, but not yours.  I do not like boys."

"Does that mean you led me on?" Alex asked, looking really pitiful.

Draco snorted, shaking his head.  "I told you many times I'm straight, Alex."   Harry and Ron walked in.  He sneered at them.  "Leash your boy, Potter.  He's under the delusion I'm going to let him make me his toy."

"You'd make a very pretty toy," Alex offered.  "I'm very good to my toys.  I protect them and play with them and even hide them from bad people."

Draco looked at him.  "No, Alex.  I can protect myself.  We can mock spar and play like this, but no other way."  Alex pouted even more, adding in the dreaded puppy eyes.  Draco sighed.  "If I suddenly start to like boys, I'll let you know."  Alex beamed. "Until then, I'm firmly straight so play with Weasel there.  Maybe he'd like to be a pampered playmate.  It can only improve his circumstances and you'd probably take over feeding and clothing his family so they weren't such an embarrassment to the wizarding world."

"Ron and Harry said I play too rough," he said dryly.  Ron nodded at that, taking his usual spot.  Neville was in the corner snickering into the wall and the plants. Alex grinned at them.  Then back at Draco.  "Just now and then? Please?  Even in Defense if you want since we're both fully ahead in there."

"No," Draco said, shaking his head.  "My father will torture me if my grades slip."  He smirked a bit.  "Besides, it's an easy class if you've read his shite."

"Why would I want to pollute myself with that?  I'd almost rather read romance novels."

"Eww," Draco noted.

"Exactly."  They shared a smirk.  "Just let me play with you now and then?  I'll even try to draw you sometime soon."

"You need more practice before I'll let you attempt to draw me."

"Oooh!  Statues?" he offered with a grin.

"Fine," Draco agreed, shaking his head.  He liked Alex, he was always fun to be around.  "Now behave, it's classtime.  Goyle, you can let them in.  He's over it again."  The others were let in.

Neville came out of the corner and patted Alex on the back.  "We adore you, mate, but try for Dean.  He might like blokes."  He giggled and went back to his spot.

"I already asked.  He thinks he's straight."  Dean blushed.  "You said so."

"I did," he agreed, shaking his head.  "Later, Alex.   We'll all pounce you later."

Alex sighed and nodded. "Fine."  Madam Sprout looked at him, then smiled and put a plant in front of him.  "What's this?"

"It only works with females and those who like boys.  Therefore you'll get that side if you don't mind?  There's a dreadful lack of females in this group."

"Fine," he agreed, staring at the plant in case it decided to bite him or something.  Neville moved closer and whispered in his ear, getting a nod.  "Okay."  He checked the soil, finding the little teeth.  "I think it's hungry."

"We'll be showing you how to care for it today, Alexander."  She smiled at the class.  "Welcome back, children.  As I told him, we'll be learning how to care for these new plants today...."

***

Ron looked around before sitting in front of the twins, leaning forward to get closer to them.

"Too many onions with the liver," one said, pushing him away.

"I need advice."  They both looked at him so he leaned closer again.  "Alex really does like blokes," he said quietly.  They both nodded, giving him 'so what' looks.  "He wants me to help him find someone to play with.  How?"

The twins looked at each other, then shook their heads.  Sending him to Percy would be too mean and they tried to never be that mean on purpose.  At least to Ron.  "What makes you..."

"Think we have an idea how to start?" the other finished.

Ron snorted.  "At least you two know how to date."

"Point," they agreed in unison.  They looked at each other again.

"We'll find..."

"You the book."

Ron nodded.  "Thanks, guys.  I have no idea how to find him someone."  He got up and went back to his seat next to Harry and Hermione.  "Alex, you stupid plonker, get down here!" he yelled.

"Fine."  He came down the stairs, already grimacing.  "Why?"

"Your plant," he said, pointing at the plant they were all staring at.

Alex looked at it, then fed it more of the plant food they had been given earlier.  It sucked it up and grew a few more inches.  "Do you need water too?"  He went to get some then poured it in too.  The plant relaxed and quit gnashing its teeth.  "There you go.  All better?"  It growled but settled in for a nap.  He grinned at his good work.  "I'm doing okay with it, aren't I?"

Neville came over, looking at the plant.  "It's grown," he said in awe.  "How?"

"That plant food she gave me."  He held up the bottle.  Neville looked at it, then at him.  Then he squeaked and ran off. "What?" he called after him.  A few minutes later Madam Sprout walked in.  "Am I doing something really wrong? You gave me this bottle."

She looked at the bottle, then at the plant.  "Oh, no, dear, I gave you the wrong bottle.  That's Super Grow."  She took the plant carefully back.  "I'll go plant this.  Its going to be out of this pot soon and dangerous if it bites."

"I've fed it about seven times today," he offered, following her out to the greenhouse.  "Did I mess it up really badly?  I don't want to hurt something."

"No, you didn't. You just gave it a growth spurt."  She smiled and planted the pot in the corner of her office, watering it a bit more.  "So far, you've done a wonderful job, Alexander."  She smiled and patted him on the cheek.  "Check on it tomorrow before classes.  I'll have some new food made up for it."  He handed off the bottle then left.  She looked at the poor plant.  Then she went to floo Professor Snape.  They'd have to be careful to feed it but not give the Super Grow too much fuel for extra growth.  "I accidentally gave Alexander some Super Grow and he used it on my newest darling," she sighed.  "Seven times tonight."  He shifted, raising an eyebrow.  "It's grown nearly six times its original size, Severus. I need some new food made up.  Something that won't encourage further growth but will support what it already has."

"I'll make some," he agreed.  "When?"

"By tomorrow?"

"Fine."  He hung up and got to work on that project for her.  He mentally shook his head.  His son didn't get on well with plants.  It was clear now he'd have to accept whatever grade the boy got in Herbology.  As long as he tried.

***

Draco came in from his detention a few weeks later, shaking his head.  "Birmingham!" he yelled near the Transfiguration room.  He was either there or Charms tonight for his roving detentions for being such a dick in Potions last class - Snape hadn't wanted to see him ever again after he had turned the whole classroom bright fuschia when his botched potion exploded.  "Madam Sprout said she needs you right now!"  He came out of the classroom next to him, wand already in hand.  Draco slapped him.  "That stupid plant of yours tried to eat me."  He stomped off.

"Bloody hell, I tried to be good to it," he called after him.  "Sorry, Draco!"

"You owe me a new outfit.  This one has plant spit on it!"

"Fine.  Sorry!"  He looked at the teacher, who waved a hand.  So he headed out there.  He peeked inside, watching his plant smack its lips.  "Where's Madam Sprout?" he asked it.

"Tasty."

"Fuck me," he complained.  He used his wand to check for lifeforms, finding hers inside the plant.  Then he sighed and looked at it.  "Sorry, dear.  I love you dearly but you can't eat the teacher."  He waved his wand.  "Scapulous."  The top of the plant came off, leaving the food chamber open.  He walked over there and helped her out, looking at her.  "Are you all right?"  She burst out crying.  "Here, let's get you upstairs.  I didn't kill it, just cut off the top part."  He walked her inside, past the Headmaster hurrying down.  "Um, my plant seems to like eating people," he called.  "We're going to the infirmary."  He walked her up there, patting and tutting the whole way.  The nurse hurried over.  "The plant I was taking care of became a people eater earlier," he said, shrugging a bit and wilting under her harsh stare.  "All I did was feed and water it!" he defended.  "It ate her and it tried to eat Draco Malfoy."

"I'll have him called up for an examination," she said, leading the poor dear away.  She also called Professor Snape.  He could easily kill a plant.  Alex gave him a sheepish look.  "Severus, your son's plant decided to eat Madam Sprout," she said, lips pressed together.

"All I did was water and feed it," he defended. "It tried to eat Draco too."

"He told me."  He sighed and looked at the boy.  "Lead me back to it, Alex.  We'll go kill it."

"Must we? I cut off the bloom!"

"Yes, we must."

"Take a cutting," Madam Sprout said weakly. He gave her an incredulous look.  "It was the Super Grow.  I mixed it myself, Severus.  I must have put too much charm into it."

"Fine."  He walked out, taking his son out to the greenhouse but letting him lead the way to the plant.  He found the headmaster standing there looking at the bloom as well.  Then he looked at his son.  "Well, you certainly managed to keep it alive and healthy," he decided.  "Five points to you for that."  Alex blushed and whimpered a bit, wilting more.  "I should take points off for allowing it to eat Mr. Malfoy and the teacher."  Alex gave him his most pitiful look, making his father turn away and stare at the plant.  "She wanted a cutting before we destroyed it."

The Headmaster looked at him, looking confused. "Who did?"

"Madam Sprout."

"Why?"

"I have no earthly idea," he said grimly.  "Shall we?  Alex, please take a cutting from the leaf."  Alex came forward and tried really hard not to mangle it.  He sighed.  "Longbottom!" he snapped, catching sight of him.  "Gather a cutting. This plant is dangerous."  He came over and helped Alex, taking him off to the side to work on planting both cuttings with him while they shot the roots of the plant.  "Where is this Super Grow she made?" he demanded.  Alex came over to get it, handing it over with a small wince. Snape tested it, then shook his head.  "It's fifty times more potent than it should be."  He looked at Longbottom, who was blushing.  "Did you help her brew this?"  He shook his head quickly.  "I doubt that.  Detention with me tomorrow night and ten points from Gryffindor for helping a teacher botch this so badly."  He walked out, robes swirling behind him.

Alex nudged Neville.  "He gave me five for not letting it die."

"Thanks," he offered weakly.  "I hate him."

"We survive, that's what's important," he offered gently.  Neville nodded at that.  "Are we done?"

"Mr. Birmingham," the headmaster said calmly.  "What did you do to this plant?"

"I fed and watered it, sir."

"That's all?  No extra charms?  Nothing like that?"

"I do have *some* sanctity for life," he sneered.  "Plants are innocent beings who mean no harm, all they're trying to do is survive.  I rate harming them on purpose like harming children."  The headmaster nodded, leaving them alone.  Alex glared at the doorway.  "Ooooh, you've just crossed a line you shouldn't have," he muttered.

"Alex, don't.  He's powerful," Neville said quietly.

"So!"

Neville sighed.  "I'm sure he didn't mean it that way."

"The man sent the mental health people down to put me on medicine that blatantly made me lose control last time, Neville.  Even though they knew what it'd do to me and that last time I tortured someone under its influence."  The other boy went pale.  "He specifically asked to have me put on that medicine again.  He also tried to have me missorted.  He wanted me to become a Hufflepuff."  Neville whimpered at that.  "You tell me what he's doing."  He knew he was working himself up, but he didn't care!  How dare that man accuse him of that!

"Sorry.  Just don't get into trouble here in school," he begged. "It'll look really bad on the house if they take you away because you went after him."

Alex groaned, holding his head.  "I'm going to talk to my father.  I'll see you later."  He walked off, heading into the castle.  He found McGonagall and the headmaster in the entryway, pulling her away.  "May I finish mine with you tomorrow?"  She nodded, looking at him.  He glared back at the headmaster, then at her.  "He just accused me of harming the plant on purpose.  I find that like harming children.  I'm going to calm down with my father's guidance."  She nodded, patting him on the arm.  He walked that way, silently venting the whole way.  He noticed some paintings fled from him but that was fine.  He was too pissed to care.  He knew they wouldn't be permanently hurt but he didn't want to deal with this.  He found Lockhart down there.  "Do you mind? I need to discuss a grave matter with Professor Snape," he noted calmly.

"It is rude to interrupt."

"Yes, well, it's also rude to pretend to knowledge you don't have.  I need him more I believe.  Otherwise I'm going to hurt someone."  The teacher looked stunned.  "He's the only one keeping me calm and centered.  Now, if you wouldn't mind?  Your bothersome demands can be discussed at breakfast just as easily I dare say.  That would leave the girls in detention to go back to work instead of staring at you.  That way they're not punished more for being blinded by your coat."

"Enough," Snape warned. He stared the boy down.  "My office, Alexander."  The boy nodded, stomping that way. "We can restart the dueling club," he agreed.  "I'll leave the details to you to arrange."

Lockhart grimaced.  "Is he dangerous?"

"Only if you upset him," a third year Gryff cleaning cauldrons noted.  "He protects the rest of us."

"Work, do not speak."

"Fine.  Sorry, Professors."  She got back to work, putting another sparkling cauldron aside to be rinsed.

He stared the teacher down.  "Alexander has perfect control until someone unwisely threatens him or someone near to him.  What you saw was a venting of rage.  I will punish him for it."  Lockhart nodded and left.  He looked at his students.  "Finish up."  He headed into the office, closing the door.  "That was unwise."

"The Headmaster accused me of doing it to the plant on purpose!  That's like harming a child!  Plants are innocent beings who have nothing more than survival in mind and I certainly wouldn't want it eat a teacher!  I'm not that unsubtle!"  His father stared at him.  "Longbottom heard him say it.   He asked if I had done anything to the plant, then asked if I had done any extra charms or anything!  He's got to know he's pushing me!"

"I understand," he said calmly, sitting down.  "I'm sure he didn't mean it that way."

"Bullshit."  Alex started to pace.  "He probably thought I had something to do with that journal as well.  He tried to present a fake one at first, until I found it again.  He's always watching me. I might have a reputation and I might be a bit dark, but I'm not dangerous to the average person. Oh, didn't you know, he specifically asked them to put me on that specific medicine again," he spat.  He stared at his father.  "He's trying something."

"I'm sure he's trying to get you calmed down and no longer dangerous for anyone."

"Bullshit!" he complained.  "He's not. We both know he's not.  For that matter, I'm not sure he's not in league with the stupid dark lord.  How could he not known something was off about Quirrell if he's this supposedly powerful wizard for the light?"

Snape inclined his head.  "I understand your thoughts...."

"If Harry fucking Potter could figure out who it was and Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, then he should have.  After all, two of them hadn't heard of magic before starting here."  Snape nodded, letting him continue.  "That means he's not as pure as you thought, father.  I won't have him coming near me and accusing me of things. That is the fastest way to end up on the wrong side of my wand.  Yes, he's powerful, but so am I."

"You are. You're also very young."

"You noticed it yourself when he tried to screw with our adulthood papers."

"I did," he agreed calmly.  "I do not know why he is doing this, Alex.  It could have something to do with that blasted prophecy."

"Then we need to hear it."  He stopped pacing to look at his father.  "I admire you greatly, dad, but he just accused me of something that would have gotten someone like Draco sent to the hospital.  Grams did it *once*."  Snape raised an eyebrow.  "I waited since I didn't have my own wand.  I was about ten if you remember her sudden trip to the Ministry."

"Not the hospital?"

"Not with what I did to her.  That's why they tried me on that potion."  He sneered a bit.  "I can't allow that."

"I agree.  You can't.  He had no right to accuse you of causing intentional harm.  With as bad as you are in there, I'm surprised the plant lived."  Alex grimaced.  "Sit, Alex."  He shook his head.  "Sit," he repeated.

"I'll blow something up if I can't pace."  He went back to it.  "I'm too worked up.  Neville had to stop me from harming him then and there.  No one accuses me like that!" he yelled.

"Fine. Calm yourself. You can not think logically if you are not calm."

"Fuck calm!"

"Sit!" he snapped.  "I cannot think while you pace back and forth, son."  Alex sighed and sat, for a moment, then he got up and started to pace again.  "Fine.  Would you like a way to wear it out?"

"Please.  I can't go to bed like this, I'll have nightmares about that potion."

"Fine."  He summoned a house elf.  "Bring me Mr. Malfoy."  It nodded and disappeared.  Draco appeared about five minutes later, and he silently pointed at his son.  "Take him and make him wear out this anger.  I have no idea how."

"I haven't seen him this mad since after the potion," he said, closing the door.  "What happened?"

"Dumbledore accused me of doing that to the plant on purpose," Alex sneered, staring him down.

"Bloody hell. You're not the one he has to worry about with that. You'd never hurt an innocent on purpose.  He should know better."  He walked inside and stopped Alex from fidgeting.  "Want to go for a walk?"

"No, I want to hex someone until they scream and lose their cutesy little hat."

"Just don't do it to me," he said dryly, smirking a bit.  Alex sighed and nodded.  "Come on.  We'll go find something.  Besides, I hear there's a missing Chamber around here.  My father was ranting about it needing to be opened again."  Snape snorted.  "He did."

"Your father is less than intelligent some days," he noted calmly.

"Yeah, but we all have days like that, dad," Alex said dryly, regaining a bit of humor.  "Sorry."

"No, I agree that you venting to me was a better alternative than you harming someone on purpose.  Take him outside, Mr. Malfoy.  Create some harder charms or something on the pitch.  I'll excuse you to go blow the grass up."  Draco nodded and pulled Alex with him.  Snape got up and walked out into the classroom.  "Leave."  The students finished up and ran out.  He locked the door and flooed to the office, heading to talk to the Headmaster.  "It was most unwise of you to accuse him of harming innocents.  He nearly lost control of his magic.  Are you more pleased now?"

"I simply asked him if he had cast any additional charms," he told him, sounding bitter.  "He's a dangerous boy, Severus."

"Yes, because the Ministry turned a blind eye to his treatment."  He walked in front of the desk, staring down his boss.  "I will tell you this once.  Alexander has no desire to harm people.  That's why he's in Gryffindor.  The hat offered him a chance for Slytherin but warned him the darkness would come for him.  He didn't want that. That's why it put him there instead of under me.  The boy is in no danger and is no danger to others.  Especially not a child or an innocent.  You nearly made him lose control of his magic earlier.  He was upset enough that I'm sure even the ghosts felt it."  The headmaster nodded.  "For that matter, leave the boy alone."

"He is a student here and it is my job...."

"It is your job to run the school. It is Minerva's job to punish all but the most serious infractions of the school's rules.  The boy did nothing wrong and you accused him.  The same as you intentionally called someone to put him on a potion we all knew caused him to do great harm the last time he was on it.  It was noted in the inquest's notes that you asked for that potion specifically.  Even though you had heard what it had done to him the last time."  Dumbledore looked stunned.  "I do not want you near my son, Albus.  He doesn't trust you and he's about to add you to his list of people he would rather torture than deal with."  He crossed his arms.  "Now then, with that said, he wishes to see a copy of that prophecy.  The one about him, Potter, and Longbottom."

"That boy is...."

"That boy has a name.  He is still no danger to others unless they force him to be.  Even Miss Parkinson has realized that.  You nearly forced him to be.  You might thank Longbottom for trying to calm him down, Albus.  He does know enough to harm someone older."  He quirked an eyebrow up.  "The prophecy?"

"If he's that dangerous to a simple question...."

"You accused him of harming an innocent for shits and giggles," he said blandly.  "He doesn't take well to being compared to his grandmother."  Dumbledore flinched.  "Let Minerva and I handle him.  We do have a good feel for the boy.  We've actually gotten him to do some homework already this year."  Dumbledore sighed and nodded.  "As for what happened, Madam Sprout mixed that potion about fifty times stronger than it should have been.  My son is no genius at herbology or plants.  He overfed it.  Then the food we mixed up helped fuel more growth.  It already had teeth. It just grew larger teeth.  She knew it could do that.  It was her fault in this case.  She could have contained it sooner but I suppose she was studying it for the effects it was giving off."  Dumbledore nodded at that.  "Now then, you've harmed my son irreparably.  He's so mad I had to have Mr. Malfoy help him wear it out.  Leave the boy to mine and Minerva's care.  We do admirably well with him.  We understand him."  The door opened and he looked at Minerva as she walked in.  "I gave Alex and Mr. Malfoy permission to go blow up the pitch."

"I saw.  He was fuming when I saw him earlier.  Thank you for calming him down.  His nightmares have woken his dormmates in the past," she noted.  "Should I get Poppy to give him a bit of dreamless sleep potion?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.  "It might not work on him.  I have no idea if he's been over-exposed to that already."

"Fine," she agreed lightly.  "How is he?"

"Calmer. I did chastise him for sniping at Lockhart again, though he was correct.  He did distract my students in punishment. He is unknowledgeable and he is a moron."  He looked at Albus.  "Where can we find a copy of that prophecy?"

"At the Ministry.  In the Mysteries department," he said calmly.  "Minerva, did you feel my question to him about any extra charms he might have cast on that plant to be unfair?"

"Did you mean to harm the boy?" she demanded.  "You know he's sensitive!  He'd never hurt someone who wasn't hurting him or who didn't mean another innocent harm!  Hell, if he became the next Dark Lord, then we'd see a sudden drop in child abuse, child molestion, and  assholes around the globe!"  He nodded.  "Mr. Birmingham is no more the next dark lord if he isn't forced into it than I am!"

"Fine.  I'll leave the boy in yours and Severus' care.  Any punishments would best come from you."

"And all the praise I bet," she said, staring at Severus.

"I gave him five points for not letting the plant die off.  He's no genius in herbology."

"I noticed."  She smiled at him.  "He's fine now?"

"Once he wears that out.  He knows he's not to attack anyone here in the school who pushes him like that.  I find it a bit comforting that he came to me before doing it."

"As do I," she agreed.  "He stopped me and told me he was that upset and that he was going for you.  I'll let him finish his detention with me tomorrow night."  He nodded at that.  "What did he say to Lockhart this time?"

"The truth, his coat was distracting my students in detention and I could easily punish them more for being so distracted and not doing their chores.  I got him into the office before he could say anything too damaging to the man's fragile ego."  She snorted and rolled her eyes, sitting down.  "It's sad when a student has to help in the class to keep the others safe from such stupidity."

"Did you hear about the pixies?"  He shook his head.  "What incident were you speaking of?"

"He had a small demon in there and Alex had to banish it since he couldn't.  An imp."  She cackled and he nodded.  "Indeed, the harmless things that like to scare people.  He had to banish it because the teacher was terrified of it."

She shook her head.  "When he was doing Cornish Pixies Alex had to step in to keep him from releasing a full cage of them.  He had thirty of them in a small owl cage."  He shuddered.  "Alex told him about how pixies carried diseases and he heard some of them sneezing.  He let out ten instead and they still attacked the students."

"Why do I not hear of these things?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

"Because you don't do anything about them, Headmaster," Snape said dryly.

"You hired him," Minerva agreed.  She looked at Professor Snape.  "He and Mr. Malfoy worked on that disease together."

"That's fine.  They're a good foil to each other," he agreed quietly, smirking a bit.  "They're also old friends and Alexander is staying out of his and Potter's thing in the halls."

"Good!  Can't you control that boy?"

"He needs an outlet. Otherwise I'd have to hear whining from other students about him practicing on them.  It seems he prefers Potter."

"Fine," she snorted.  "Remember, Harry can go to Alex for dueling lessons."

"That was why Lockhart was in my office bothering me. He wanted to restart the dueling club."

"Indeed?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow up.  "After he's gone, you and I could run it."  He nodded. He knew she knew how to duel, she had a championship trophy in her office.

"If it is restarted can we keep Mr. Birmingham from joining?" he asked them.

"I dare say he could monitor it," she said dryly. "I'm sure he was taught those forms as well."  Snape nodded. "You've seen him?"

"Practicing in a mirror.  He's also practicing his dancing and has asked Misters Goyle, Malfoy, and Weasley to find him a boyfriend by the fourth year since that's when balls usually start."  She snickered and nodded.  "Mr. Goyle asked me how one would choose for another."

"You need to make sure his arranged marriage to Miss Parkinson never went through," she advised.

He shuddered and shook his head. "I would not support such an action.  No wonder my son was turned off women."  She giggled and he gave her a long look.  "I'm going back to my office.  I'll excuse those two from curfew if we must."  She nodded, agreeing with that.  "Thank you."  He left, heading back to his office through the floo.

She looked at her boss.  "Leave the boy to us, Albus.  The same as you do Harry and Ron."  She stood up and left him alone to moan in private. She knew what Alex was seeing but she wasn't sure if it was just bad luck or intentional yet.  She sent a note to Severus to ask him if any other incidences had happened that she need to know about.  He sent back the inquest's transcripts.  So she had some light reading that night before bed.

***

Draco walked out of his house the next morning, frowning greatly.  Not only was he sleepy but he had bad news for his head of house.  He found him in the Great Hall and hopped up onto the dias to speak to him.  "You were correct.  She still thinks it's a done deal," he hissed.  Severus nodded.  "She said she did a blood binding.  She thinks he did."

"I'll make sure of it," he said quietly.  "Thank you."  He nodded and headed down to talk to Alex, pulling on his collar until the boy joined him by the windows.  He watched as his son choked on his usual bacon, then glanced at his table.  Pansy was looking very interested.  "Miss Parkinson," he called.  She walked up to face him, looking confused.  "In case you had not heard, Mr. Birmingham is my son," he said quietly making her lean forward to hear him.  "I do not encourage you in mating with him.  There is no marriage.  You can tell your parents I said so.  If there was a contract, it will be broken upon his request."  She glared at him.  "You are not suitable for one who likes the male form," he said dryly. "As my son does.  I believe you know some of his history and I know you know why I will protest this.  Therefore, do not get your hopes up."  She stomped off.  He sneered at her back then at Draco, who was helping his son out of the hall so he could be sick in private.  Poppy was hurrying after the boys, going to help him. He calmed himself, finishing his breakfast before going to write the Ministry's Records office for information on that bonding.

***

Alex was gagging when the nurse came out, casting an anti-nausea charm.  It didn't help any but it did make him quit gagging and get on with the vomiting.  "Sorry," he gasped.

Draco patted his back, safely out of range.  "Miss Parkinson is still trying to force her suit of Alex.  His grandmother wanted them bound."

She clucked her tongue.  "No, I don't believe that would suit you at all.  She's too much like your grandmother if what I hear is true."  She called up a stretcher and helped him onto it.  "Are you coming up, Mr. Malfoy?  You look a bit green and peaked yourself."

"It's lack of sleep," he admitted, following her.  Behind them the house elves were already cleaning up the mess.  "I was helping him wear out some energy last night and then had to talk to Pansy for a few hours, listening to her ideas of their marriage and how she'd be the wife of the next dark lord."  Alex started to gag again.  Draco got out of the way, shifting sides so he was on the other side of the nurse, getting a small smile for that. "Sorry, can't stand that."

"Not an issue, Mr. Malfoy.  You go ahead and nap. I'll excuse you until lunch for your help."  He nodded, choosing a bed and lying down.   She got a potion for Alex, settling him in a bed.  "I know it's a great shock, but you can have it broken," she promised.  "Did you bind blood to the contract?"  He shook his head.  "Are you sure?  She could have taken some and done it without your consent."

"She wanted a full binding," he said miserably.  "I'd have to consent.  She was torturing me to consent when her Mark started to hurt."  She nodded, tucking him in.  "Not my feet."  She smiled and untucked his feet.  "Thank you, Madam Pomfrey."

"It's all right, Alexander.  This is what I do.  I'll talk with your father."

"He knows," Draco said from his bed.  "He didn't support it either.  He called Pansy up to talk to her."  He flipped over to look at Alex.  "That's why he had me talk to her."

Alex nodded, groaning a bit as he flipped onto his side.  "As long as I don't have to.  If I have to, I'll render myself infertile for the next twenty years."  Draco grinned at that.  "Grams found out too many ennervates does it to you."

"Wonderful.  I'll have to remember that when it's my turn to breed for the family name," Draco said sarcastically.

"Hey, you could become my boyfriend.  That solves both our problems."

"I still like girls, Alex. You don't have the necessary appendages."  Alex grinned weakly.

"Sleep, both of you," she ordered, heading back to her desk to fill out the forms for the Headmaster and send them on.  That really was horrible.  Usually she saw headaches when the children found out they were promised to someone.

***

Severus walked into the infirmary after lunch, looking at his son.  "Still ill?"

"She came up to try to cheer me up," he said bitterly.  "I ended up puking on her."  Snape smirked a bit.  "Unintentionally of course."

"Of course."  He held out the paperwork.  "You were never bound to the contract.  She was.  I've got the forms to contest it so you can fill them out tonight."  He nodded.  "I did tell her I did not want this match."

"Thanks, dad.  Means a lot to me," he groaned, sitting up some.  "Ow."  He rubbed his stomach. "I hate being sick."

"I know.  Would you like a book?"  Alex made a grossed out face.  "Sorry, I had to try."

"You do it very well," he noted dryly, smirking a bit.  "I'll be fine."  He looked at the paperwork. He frowned and pointed at one part.  "Does that mean what I think it does?"

Snape looked, then nodded. "Indeed. If you do break it, there's a clause stating you'll give her a suitable child.  I'll include that in the forms so you only have to sign it."  Alex gave him a hug and he felt an uncomfortable mushy feeling starting.  Alex pulled back, looking embarrassed.  "I talked with the Headmaster.  He said he didn't mean to accuse you."

"And I so believe that," Alex said sarcastically.  "What's that Draco was talking about? The Chamber?"

"It's a myth."

"Are we sure?"  Snape shook his head.  "Are we connecting dark things together like polka dots?"

"I was trying not to," he admitted.  "Why?"

"The journal?  Suddenly he gives it to *Ginny*?"

He considered it. "It was unusual.  Perhaps he needed to find it."

Alex gave him a 'get real' look.  "Draco said he's seen it at the house. So why pick on her?"

"Because she's open to the influence?"

"Hmm, or it's darker than we thought. Instead of just answering, could it possess her somehow?"

"It answered?"

"I wrote in it and it answered my question of who it belonged to.  The name Tom Riddle meant a lot to me."

"As it did to me," he admitted.  "Fine, I'll check on the girl.  She's an annoying twit but in detention at least once a month."

"You know, if you treated us Gryffs like you did the other houses, you wouldn't have to see us that often," he teased.

"Then you might think I liked you," he replied, smirking a bit.  "Get better. I'll see you after dinner?"

"Detention with McGonagall then Flitwick tomorrow night.  Saturday?"  Snape nodded. "Thanks, dad."

"You're welcome, Alex."  He walked out, heading down to his classroom.

"Can I try that soup thing again?" Alex called behind him.  "I promise to try to not puke again."

***

Draco caught Alex on his way to classes a few weeks later.  "We need to talk."

"Why?  Defense?"

"He's still watching you too hard.  He's also restarted the dueling club."  He gave him a long stare.

Alex grinned.  "I don't need to learn how to, Draco.  I already know.  Do you want me to sit out and help Harry and Ron behind the scenes?"  He nodded.  "That's fine.  It's something you'll probably do very well."  He flicked him on the arm.  "Come on, we've got to get to classes.  Do you want to join me on my vigil this Halloween in case She comes back this time?"

"No!  I don't want to miss out on the feast," he said, smirking at his friend.  "Is that why you missed last year?"  Alex nodded.  "Did she show?"  He nodded.  "Where?"

"In the tower.  Went after Neville since he likes his Gram.  I went to check on Harry and Ron since they went after the troll."  Draco rolled his eyes.  "Anyway.  I'll be doing that again this year, just in case she tries again."

"You could put a protection on the house."

"It would catch Sir Nicholas."

"Not if you specified her," he said dryly.  "Meet me in the library tonight.  I'll find the book I saw recently."  Alex nodded and grinned again.  "Go to class, you bloody poof."

"I'm not bleeding today," he complained, heading that way.   He had Creatures.  He winced as he walked outside, wishing he had some sunglasses.  He walked up to Harry.  "Remind me to find some glasses over the Hols," he complained.

"Did you need your eyes checked?"

"No, sunglasses.  I have good eyesight."

"You should still get them checked," Hermione said.  "Every few years, just to catch any problems before they start."

"I'd look like a dork," he noted dryly.  "I doubt it'll happen."  He looked at the creature in the pen, then at her.  "What's that?"

"Just pay attention," she sighed, turning back around as the teacher came out of his hut.

Alex tried, he really did, but creatures weren't his thing either.  Any more than plants.  They were interesting and nice to pet, but nothing out here was pettable.  Croonshanks wouldn't let him pet her either, but he understood that.  He didn't understand why the teacher kept the most deadly things in existence.  After all, what good were animals if you couldn't pet them now and then?

***

Alex finished his research and found the spell he wanted. He had even copied it legibly.  He also presented it to his housemistress.  "For Halloween."

"Do you think she'll come back this year?" she asked dryly.

"I doubt I managed to destroy her spirit last year," he admitted.  "That means she could and she seems to like Neville since he likes his Grams."

"Good point."  She looked over the spell.  "I'll consider it, Alexander."

He sighed.  "If not, I'll have to sit on the roof again and it sounds like it'll rain that week."

"You could chant from the common room."

"I'll get distracted."

"Hmm, good point.  I've noticed that about you.  I'll consider it.  I need to make sure it won't harm any of the native ghosts."

"It shouldn't.  Draco helped me find it."

"Well, at least you researched.  Good work."  She smiled at him.  "How are your animagus preparations going?"

He shrugged a bit.  "All right I guess.  I couldn't identify the animal I saw and I'm not sure if it's dangerous or not.  I don't want to go forward if I might eat Neville or someone."

"I'm sure he'd appreciate that," she agreed with a small smile.  "Did you draw it out?"

"No, but I clearly remember it."  She nodded.  "It looked like a wolf, I think.  I don't always see too well inside my head."

"That does bring up another point.  Electives?"

"If you try to stick me in Runes or Arithmancy, I will have to protest and throw a fit."

"They're challenging."

He snorted.  "Not really.  Then again, I've already been through all three books."  She looked like she understood.  "I like Astronomy.  I'm very much a night person. I'd prefer easier classes.  Ron and Harry are talking about Divination."

"It's an interesting class but there is homework.  Things like birth star charts and predictions.  No matter what you pick, you'll have to take on extra homework."

"Can I drop history in favor of it?"  She shook her head. "Crap."

She laughed.  "Thank you for modulating that outburst.  Unfortunately the core classes will stay.  You won't have flying."

"That's a damn blessing," he agreed, frowning a bit as he sat down.  He crossed his feet in front of him and his hands on his stomach.  "What are my options?"

"Well, there's a few really.  There's divinations, runes, artihmancy, muggle studies.  That's usually fairly easy and interesting."  He nodded.  "Astronomy can be taken but it's usually taken by those serious in Divination."

"I'd rather take Astronomy and Muggle Studies.  They sound easy and fun."

"That's fine. I'll see if Astronomy is being taught to the third years."  She smiled at him. "If not, do you have a choice?"

"I guess I'll go bug her in Divination.  She thinks I'm the next dark lord, but oh well."  He sighed as he stood up.  "Let me know please?  I've got to gather some ingredients before then.  That means bribing one of the upper years."

"You could ask Professor Snape."

"He thinks it's foolish."

"He would," she admitted.  "It's not.  I agree, I don't want her in our house either, Alexander."  He smiled and left.  She went back to reading the scroll, smiling at the better than usual handwriting.  "Sir Nicholas?" she called. "May I have a moment of your time?"  The ghost appeared and she laid out the scroll so he could read it.  "One of our house has a spirit who showed up last Halloween.  He'd like to do this on the whole house so he doesn't have to miss the feast."

"I heard his banishing last year.  He was quite thoughtful to not include me."  He read it.  "It doesn't look like it'd hurt.  Can we try it on a single room first?  Make sure it won't hurt me or any of the rest of us?"

"Of course," she agreed happily.  "I'd do about anything to keep his grandmother from coming here this year.  Especially keeping her from bothering Mr. Longbottom."  He nodded, smiling at her.  "Thank you. I'll have him do it later this week and call you down.  Do you think it'd keep Peeves out of my office?"

"I doubt it," he offered with a grin.  He winked.  "Thank you, my most charming housemistress."  He flew off, going to tell the other ghosts about this.

Upstairs, Alex found Harry huddled in his bed.  "What happened?" he asked dryly.

"Harry talks to snakes," Ron said from the bathroom.  "Everyone's scared of him."

"Well, it's often considered a dark arts skill, but he's not.  I can tell them you're not, Harry."

"No, I don't need everyone to know."

Ron came out of the bathroom.  "By tomorrow everyone will know anyway, Harry.  Let him tell them.  It'll ease some of the funny looks."

"Draco must be shitting," Alex noted, sitting on the end of his bed.

"And then some," Ron agreed dryly.  "So, what's up with Halloween this year?"

"Draco helped me find a banishing spell on the house for that night and her.  I gave it to McGonagall to look over. That way I can attend the feast and won't go hungry this year."  Ron grinned at him.  "I don't know why she likes Neville but it's wrong and no one should be exposed to her if they can help it."  Someone tapped on the door.  "We're still decent."

Hermione walked in.  "Harry, I found a reference on Parseltongue."

Alex and Ron both snickered.  "We expected you to do that sooner," Alex teased.

She snorted, looking away from them.  "I might have but I was caught in the jam in the halls when they all bunched up trying to flee.  Can you note to others that he's not a dark wizard?"

"Sure."  He got up and headed downstairs.  "People. A moment please?"  Everyone stared at him.  "I was asked to sniff Mr. Potter for dark magic.  He doesn't have any.  Talking to snakes is rare, but it's a useful thing depending on where you live and all."  Everyone continued to stare at him.  "After all, who would know more than I about dark magic?  Except Professor Snape."  That got a nod and everyone went back to their work and gossiping.

"Alex!" Harry whined from behind him.

Alex grinned at him.  "It's true.  I sniff dark magic very well.  It makes me sneeze."

"Then let's hope you don't catch a cold this year," Harry said dryly.  Alex grinned and nodded, heading back upstairs.  Harry sat next to Seamus and Neville.  "He's found a way to join us at the feast this year instead of doing a banishing all night."

"Good," Neville agreed.  "Will it keep his Grams out?"  Harry nodded. "Is it approved?"

"He said McGonagall's got it right now."

"That's fine," Seamus agreed.  He looked at Harry.  "So, you talk to snakes often?"

"No," he snorted.  "Except that one time in the zoo...."  He frowned a bit.  "That was before I got my letter."

"Ah, accidental magic," Seamus said fondly.  "I remember my first one.  I made a few new toys when I was grounded."

"I bounced," Neville told him.

"I guess mine was when I was trying to get away from my cousin's friends and bounced up to a roof," Harry admitted, thinking back.  "I got yelled at for weeks for that."

Neville patted him on the back.  "Did you talk to your aunt and uncle?"

"Hell no," he snorted.  "I sent them a copy of my paperwork and wished them a happy life."  He looked at him.  "Good riddance and all that."

"How is your godfather?" Neville asked gently.

"He's a nice guy.  Really funny.  He and Remus Lupin are great pranksters."  He saw the twin's look their way and winked at them.  "They kept going on and on about all the stuff they used to do."

"You know Remus Lupin?" one of the twins asked as he strolled over.

Harry grinned, nodding a bit.  "He lives with my godfather, Sirius Black."  That twin's eyes went wide.  "You want introduced?"

"Please," the other called.  "We'll beg prettily."

"You usually do," Alex noted as he came down the stairs.  "I'm starving.  Anyone else?"  That got a few snickers.  "I am!"  He sat down in front of the fireplace with his tin of floo powder, calling home.  "Birmingham Hall."  His house elf Twirly showed up.  "I'm starving."

"I knew those house elfs at school is stupid and not doing their jobs," she said firmly.  "Yous at school?"  He nodded, looking miserable.  "Twirly bring food. You is eating or else."  She disappeared.  He grinned, getting out of the way.  A few minutes later she came out of the floo and floated a large tray to where he was sitting.  "Master Alexander not sit on floor like dog.  You is eating at table."

"They're doing homework."  He patted her and took the tray.  "I'm fine right here.  Thank you, Twirly."

She snorted.  "House elfs at school is being stupid and is not feeding you right.  Even Harry Potter says so."  Alex pointed at Harry, watching as she squealed and took some of the food for him too.  "You is be eating too!" she said firmly.  "You is not be eating enough! Twirly says so!"

Harry grinned.  "Thanks, Twirly.  I was a bit hungry."  She left, going back to the house.  "Thanks, Alexander."

"Welcome.  I told you I was starved."  He dug in, eating his second dinner of the night.  McGonagall came in a few minutes later so he offered her a croissant.  "Twirly made me a snack."

"That looks like more than a snack," she said, taking it to nibble on.  "She's a good cook."

"She gets bacon just how I like it too," he said happily, digging in again.  "She fed Harry too."

"Fine.  Try to keep the intrusions down.  That floo is only for calling purposes except in an emergency."

"With the way Twirly says the house elfs here don't feed me, I thought it better to not let her insult them to their faces."

"Probably true," she agreed, finishing up her snack.  "Send them back through the floo in my office.  You may use that one to call her the next time, or learn how to find the kitchen and sneak down for a snack."

"You can do that?"  She nodded.

"We'll show him," one of the older females said.  "His house elf was cute though.  She said she knew they didn't feed us enough, he and Harry had lost weight."

Professor McGonagall smiled.  "They're in that awkward growth spurt.  They're supposed to be bottomless pits.  It's the first four years who eat more food than the rest of us combined."  She stood up.  "Try to behave, Alexander."

"Yes, Professor.  I try really hard, usually."

"Well, try harder.  Suck up to the house elves here.  They'll feed you until you burst."  He finished off his food and handed her the tray.  "Want me to send it back?"

"If you wouldn't mind," he offered cutely.  She rolled her eyes but gathered up the other plates and took them back to her office, sending them back so she could talk to this house elf and point out the boys only had to find the kitchen to get fed.  All the house elfs there would feed them until they burst if they wanted.  She knew the house elf wasn't convinced, but she agreed the house elves there could send weekly shipments of treats through her office.  It made the poor dear so happy she nearly danced and cried.

***

Alex watched Harry stare at a nearby wall.  "Transligua," he cast at the wall, then looked at Harry, as did everyone else near them.  "So that's what you've been hearing!" he said dryly.  "No wonder you're twitchy and odd this week."

Harry looked at him.  "What is that?"

"It's some sort of snake in the wall."

"Oh."  He nodded.  "Okay.  I guess."  He shrugged and looked at the Defense teacher, who looked horrified.  "Cancel it," he hissed.  Alex canceled the spell and the people slowly quit staring at Harry.

"Mr. Birmingham, how did you know he was in distress?"

"I was drawing him so I was paying attention to him, professor."

"Really?  Are you any good?"

Alex held up his sketch.  "I started out with stick figures.  I'm having a retro moment."  Ron snickered.  "I am!"

"He usually does much better work," Goyle volunteered.  Draco hit him on the arm, so he shrugged and slunk down a bit.  "Sorry, sir.  Didn't mean to interrupt."

"Fine.  I would welcome seeing some of your work."

"Is that a polite way of saying I've got detention?" Alex asked.  Lockhart nodded.  "Fine.  I'll gather some and bring them down.  They're quite therapeutic."  He went back to work on his stick figures playing quidditch, then charmed them, making Harry smile when it was given to him.  He started on another one, this time a real sketch, working one of Ron.  He was easy to draw, he was nearly asleep again.  All the while, his mind was whirling about what sort of snakes lived in a school.  Especially in Scotland.  He glanced up at the teacher, finding him staring at him.  "What?  Did I say something?" he asked.

"No, wondering why you're staring at Mr. Weasley."

"Because I have to draw something when I'm bored.  Or else my mind goes to odd places. Like wondering what sort of snake lives in the school."  Lockhart shuddered and went back to lecturing.  He finished up his drawing of Ron and left it on the teacher's desk at the end of class, since he was so interested and all.   It only took two periods for McGonagall to jump on him about what he had done.  "Harry was clearly listening to something else and I'm nosy!  I only cast the translingua charm on the walls.  Some other kids heard it too."

"Yes, so I was told by Miss Granger."  She stared down at him.  "Very well. You were helping your guardian.  I accept that.  Were you rude after that?"

"Not especially.  He's the one who stopped class to see why I was staring at Ron."

"Did you leave him that drawing?"  He nodded, grinning at her.  "Why?"

"He said he wanted to see some of my work."

She snorted.  "Fine.  Try to stay out of trouble.  It was a very good rendering of a sleeping Weasley."

"It's the only time he's sitting still."

"True," she agreed dryly.  "Fine.  Have fun at detention and see me tomorrow night about the spell."  He nodded, beaming at her.  "Now, go to your next lesson."

"Must I?"

"Yes, Alexander.  Go to Herbology," she sighed.  He walked off, heading in that general direction.  "I mean it.  Otherwise I'll make you spend a detention in the library looking up creatures."

"Yes, ma'am."  He headed out that way, unable to duck out of it now.  Her classroom was too close to the doorway.  He got out there, finding the students milling around the doorway.  "Is it locked?" he called.  Hermione turned and nodded at him.  "Are we hoping for a minor emergency?"

"That's not nice," Neville complained.

"I said a minor one," he reminded him.  "Nothing life threatening or anything."  He walked up and tapped on the door.  "Madam Sprout?" he called.  "We've come to be tortured."  No answer.  He considered it, then looked at the other students.  "Neville, you're her favorite boy.  Go peek in a window."  He walked around to peek inside, coming running back. "Problems?"

"She's either asleep or she's in trouble."

"Okay."

"Alohamora," Granger cast.

"Nice work, unfortunately there's a bigger lock."  He cast his delocking one quietly and snuck inside, going to check on her.  She woke up when he was checking on her pulse, making him yelp.  "You wouldn't wake up," he said at her unhappy look.  "Can we have a study hall?  That way you can nap?"  She nodded and waved him away.  "Thanks, love."  He hurried out, closing and locking the door behind him.  "Study hall!  She's napping!"  The students smiled and walked off.  Granger gave him an odd look.  "I saw you in the doorway.  You saw her."

"You yelped."

"I do that now and then."  He walked off, going to work on a drawing of what he had seen in his head.

Draco walked behind him to snoop, then stopped to stare.  "That's misshapen."

"That's how I saw it.  Maybe my mind's eye needs glasses," he joked.  He looked at him. "You brewed the potion for me, you know it was right."

"I know."  He frowned at the picture again.  "I wish I knew a telepathy spell."

"Pensieve."

"I don't have one of those handy, Alex.  Do you?" He grimaced and shook his head.  "We'll try it again. That way maybe you can see it better."  He walked off, shaking his head.

"Maybe I'm not meant to be a furry," he mused, getting back to work.  He saw Professor Snape walking out and looked at him, grinning a bit. "Madam Sprout is napping on her desk."

"Fine.  What is that?"

"My furry thing dream."  He handed it over.  "I'm working on the fur."

"I can tell."  He considered it, then looked at the boy.  "It's probably a wolf."

"It could be," he agreed dryly.  "I couldn't tell, it was warped. It's like it changed for some reason."

"You only get one form, Alex," he noted dryly.

"I know.  Draco said we could try it again?" he offered hopefully.

"Fine.  I'll watch him brew it this time to make sure it is done correctly.  About that spell?"

"To keep Grams out of the tower this year."

"It's unnecessary."

"You said that last year and she came after Neville."

"Why?"

"Because he loves his grandmother."

"Oh."  He nodded. "Very well.  We will be trying that spell tonight."

"Tomorrow.  I've got detention with the glittery one for being smart enough to figure out what Harry was listening to.  What sort of snake lives in the walls?"

Snape looked confused.  "What?"  He sat down next to him. "Explain that?"

"Harry was listening really hard at a wall.  I cast the translingua charm so I could hear it, along with a few others.  We heard something hissing in snake.  Then it was charmed into English.  It said it was happy to be free and out, that it could hunt now."  He nodded once then stood up.  "So what sort of snake lives in the walls?"

"I'm not sure yet," he admitted. He looked around. "I'll see you tomorrow night."  He went back to his classroom to think.  He hadn't checked Ginny Weasley yet.  He had her tomorrow morning and he could do it then.  He needed a potion though.  He got to work on it, making sure he wouldn't poison the little *dear* creature.

***

"Mr. Birmingham," Professor Lockhart said when Alex walked into his classroom.  "Have you ever fought anything?"

"A few things around the house and my grandmother.  Why?"

"Your...grandmother?"

"Yeah, she was a torturing bitch in case you didn't hear.  Unfortunately she used to Imperious me and sit me in front of her old textbooks."  He grinned sweetly.  "That's why I don't like doing homework now."

"I see.  The drawing?"

"I'm bored."

"You could do your school work.  I'm sure she would be easier on you if your grades were better," he said dryly.

He held in his temper before he started to scream at him.  "I doubt that since she's dead," he said sarcastically.  "Though, I did have a question about the old seventh year coursebook.  Did the Nymph lesson actually happen?"

"In my year it didn't but I heard other years had it," he admitted.  He stared at the young man.

"Like what you see?" Alex asked eventually, staring back.  Lockhart shuddered.  "Thank you.  I like blokes, but not you."  He sat down, patting his folder. "Did you actually want to see some of my work?"

"Your drawing earlier was very decent," he admitted.  Alex handed it over, welcoming the praise.  "In order?"  That got a nod.  "Well."  He got to work looking through them, then looked up at him a few times.  "Your grandmother?"

"The person who killed my mother minutes after she had me."

"Oh."  He went back to looking through them, then handed them back.  "I have been told you have enough dark arts knowledge to probably teach this class."

"That's why I'm bored and I sit in my seat and draw."

"Fine.  I understand that desire.  You're getting very good at it I must say."  He looked at the boy, considering him.  "You could probably test out this year."

"Yes, but I'm also in here to protect my guardian, Harry."

"I doubt he needs it."

"That depends on what sort of snake is living in the walls."

"Good point," he admitted, frowning a bit.

"You'll get wrinkles."  The frown cleared and he smiled instead.  "Just thought you should know you're already starting one.  Teaching doesn't agree with everyone, as shown by your forehead wrinkle."  Lockhart rubbed at it.  "I'm perfectly harmless most of the time."

"Yes, so I've heard. I've also heard you know what you're about in most of the classes.  Including this one.  I wouldn't be immune to the suggestion of you going to do an intense dark arts study session during my class."

"Which defeat two purposes.  One, I loathe books.  Two, that would leave Harry mostly unprotected."

"I'm sure Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger could cover for you for a single class.  As a matter of fact, there's more than one of you who needs it.  You'd have to do a paper of course."  Alex looked horrified at that.  "Ah.  She made you study?"

"For weeks on end."

"Oh, dear."  He nodded.  "I see.  Still, it is really in your best interests to do this sort of studying.  That way you're not as bored.  Also, Professor McGonagall suggested you might like to teach this class some day.  At which time you'll need more varied knowledge of the subject."  He licked his lips.  "Yes, I believe it would suit you better, even though you do hate such work.  I can see a real paper a term?  Perhaps ten feet?  A real research paper?"

"Four," Draco said from the doorway.  "There's almost nothing we could do ten feet on in this library.  We'd have to get into the restricted section or owl the Ministry."  He smirked a bit.  "You summoned me as well?"

"Well, yes, you see you're both in the same circumstances.  Actually, Miss Granger is as well, as is Mr. Potter really.  I can't really teach you anything.  You already know more than the scope of your year's lessons."  Draco nodded, coming in to lean against a desk.  "You should see his drawings of you.  Quite good."

"Thank you, Professor."  Alex looked at Draco.  "Four feet?  It's nearly Halloween."

"How about two before the holidays, four this spring?" he offered.  The boys looked at each other.  "I've already cleared it with the heads of house.  It'll be you two, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, a few Ravenclaws, and one Hufflepuff spread over the years.  There's two other borderline Slytherins."

"If we don't?" Draco asked calmly.

"Well, you're really disrupting things you see.  The others see you children slacking off and think they can.  It's getting so you're getting more attention than I ... I mean their lessons are.  It's disruptive and I find it difficult to teach you children."  They both nodded at that.  "Would you please humor me?"

"Sure," Alex agreed.  "In return, I want access to your Charms books.  I saw them in your office and I'm coveting them.  It's my best area," he said with a smug grin.

"Fine," he agreed.  "Go ahead and take whatever you need from my office.  As long as I get them back by the holidays."  They nodded.  He handed over letters to each of them.  "Mr. Birmingham, yours also has Mr. Potter's and Miss Granger's permission slips in there.  As well as the details of what I want."  They both nodded.  "Thank you for understanding."

"It's not a problem," Draco agreed.  "We could probably do that within a few weeks.  It gives us more time to make plans for the holidays."

"True," Alex agreed, looking at him.  "Having the ball this year?"

"Yes, and Mother wanted to know if you *really* wanted to come."  Alex shrugged.  "She didn't want to force you or your...guardian to attend if you didn't want to."

"We could have a party for our age group at my house," Alex offered as he gathered his folder and walked out with him.  "That way none of us have to go."  Draco smirked at that.  "Would that suit her? If so, I'll let her help me with the plans.  I suck at planning anything but Auntie Narcissa is quite good at it."

"I'll let her know," he offered.  Once they were farther away he burst out laughing.  "Oh, bloody hell, Alex.  Thank you."  Alex just grinned.  "I can do that this weekend. It'll let me sleep in one day a week."

"It'll give me a chance to help train Harry better," Alex admitted.  Draco looked at him.  "If he's trying to come back again, I want my guardian protected.  Merlin knows who I'd get put with otherwise."

"Your father?" he suggested dryly.

"Has his own life.  We agreed on that a while back."  He sneezed.  "Sorry, getting a cold."  He headed up to the house, whistling to get attention. "I have a cold.  I'm sorry if I scare anyone by sneezing next to Harry or Granger."  He looked at Harry and Granger, both of who were grinning.  "We've all been officially kicked out of Defense," he offered with a grin.  "We have two feet of research paper due by break, then four this spring before term ends."  Hermione looked stunned. "He said he can't teach us a blasted thing.  We're *distracting* the other students."  He handed her the letter then grinned at Harry.  "That means you and I get real lessons, mate."

"Of what?"

"Defense."  He snorted. "I'll get Grams old books for you."  Harry nodded, accepting that.  Hermione let out a cackle.  "I know.  Unrestricted access to the restricted section."

"No, he wants the first paper on a rogue, magically hyped bear," she told him.  He raised an eyebrow.  "Apparently someone approached him about killing it since it's now bulletproof."

Alex snorted.  "Finite Incantantum?"  She nodded.  He rolled his eyes. "How do we bullshit that into two feet?  By the way, it's also Draco Malfoy and a few others.  Including one Hufflepuff."  She smirked at that.  "What's on for Spring?"

"It says here to be named, but a creature or a dark curse of your choice possibly.  Four feet?"  He nodded.  "There's plenty to do that on."

"Draco got us down to two feet this semester by noting how little time we had left."  She snickered.  "He gets to sleep in one day a week."

"So do we," Ron said happily.

"Sorry, Ron, couldn't get you sprung."

"Blast."

"Eh, stare at him and I'll give you notes ahead too," Alex assured him.  "Maybe by the hols we'll have you out of there too."  He clapped him on the back.  "For that, I'm off to take a bath.  I'll write Gibbons in the morning to send up the books.  That way we can meet next class in the library."  He headed up to the room, going to hog the bathtub.  It had been nice that the professor had liked his artwork too.  It had even seemed honest.  That carefully went back into his trunk and he grabbed his favorite bubbles, going in to soak.

Downstairs, Ron was looking at Dean.  "Train the savior and then train the masses," he said dryly.  Dean nodded, accepting that idea.

***

Alex accepted the package from his owl, putting out a good pile of treats for her since there were so many books in the stack.  Hermione squealed and took them to look over.  "At least you left my fingers on."  He petted his owl, getting tired hoots in response.  "That's all right, Perchy.  Go up to the owlry and rest."  She hooted and headed off after taking the last of her treats.

"You named your owl Perchy?" Ron asked, giggling a bit.

"He was a gift when I was nine," he defended.  "I was being a bit cutesy I admit, but she's a good owl."  He looked at the stack of books, noticing two were separated out.  "What're those?"

"For you. A photo album and another book with your name on it."  She handed them over, then a third book, another photo album.  She smiled at him.  "I'll give you the rest in a few days."

"Sure.  Happy reading.  I already went through them once."  He looked at the one book, frowning a bit at it.  "Interesting."  That got put aside and he turned to the photo albums.  He smiled as he flipped through them.  Then he brought them up to his father.  "My house elves found these somewhere, probably hidden, and sent them for you."

"What are they?" he asked as he took them.

"My baby pictures."  Snape's hand paused in the act of opening them.  Alex grinned and waved a hand, going back to his seat.  He watched his father look through them, smiling a bit.

"That was really thoughtful of them," Ginny said as she sat across from him.  "Are you okay, Alexander?"

"I'm fine, Ginny.  Much better now that I don't have defense.  If only I could do that in history and Creatures."  She giggled, grinning at him and Harry.  "I only like creatures I can pet."  He shrugged.  "I'm shallow that way."

"I think you're a very deep person," she assured him. "You and Harry both."  She filled her plate and dug in, eating daintily.

Ron looked at her. "Eat like you do normally," he complained. "They've seen you belch and slurp before."  He added more eggs to his plate, handing Alex the bacon.  "Here.  You need to eat before your house elves go off on the ones here."  Alex grinned and dug in, happy to be eating.  He looked at Alex's arms.  "You need refitted.  The cuffs are too short."

"I noticed.  I'm getting chimp arms."  He grimaced, then shrugged.  "I'm a growing boy.  I must accept that fact and keep eating to encourage more growth so I'm not stunted or anything.  I'd hate to be five-foot-six forever with how tall my father is."  He ate another bite, grinning up at his father since he had gone through both books.  He nodded at him when he caught his eye, mouthing 'keep those safe for me'.  Then he ate another bite.  He looked at Harry, who was staring at the other book.  "Go ahead.  Auntie Narcissa got it for me."

"Why did you need to know about party planning?"

"Because Auntie Narcissa generally throws *THE* social event of the holiday season with her ball.   I suggested someone else do one for people our age.  So it's being held at the house."  He ate another bite.  "It's so I don't have to go to the other one."

"Sure," Harry agreed, nodding a bit.  "Do I have to go?"  Alex nodded, beaming at him.  "Damn it."

"Bring your guardians, Harry.  They seemed fairly pleasant and nice.  We'll need chaperones anyway."  He ate another bite then sipped his juice before wiping his mouth.  "I figure first through third years?  Fourth years usually get forced to go to Auntie Narcissa's ball to be shown off for prospective spouses."

"Sure," Harry sighed.  "I doubt we'd know what to do at a ball."

"It'll be a party, that way we don't get so bored and don't have to be sat by the house elves.  Some games, some food, some punch, some music."  Harry grinned at that.  "It'll be like a birthday party, only cooler and in December."

"When is your birthday?" Ron asked.

"July twenty-seventh."

"Wow, that's really close to Harry's," Ginny offered.  Alex nodded.  "Are you two going to hold a joint party this summer?"

"I don't know.  I haven't had one since I was eight."  He looked at Harry, who was blushing.  "We could if you wanted."

"I don't know yet.  Let's leave that off until at least Easter."

"Sure," he agreed.  "Plenty of time for Auntie Narcissa to plan it."  Harry frowned at him.  "What? She's a genius at it.  Besides, let her owls get worn out."

"Fine.  If we have one, Alexander."  Alex grinned at him.  "Any other dreadful plans?"

"Not yet.  But like I said, you can ask your guardians to come to ours as a chaperone.  That way they're even more scared for your safety with me."  Harry laughed and nodded.

"My mum would insist too," Ron reminded him.  "She's pushy like that."  Ginny nodded.

"Will you have to invite Malfoy and all them?" Ginny asked.  "They're so icky."

"Draco and I are best friends," he told her.  "The same as Vinnie and Greg and I are.  They'll probably have to go to the Malfoy event, but Auntie Narcissa might make an exception this year.  Last year, Draco got to hide in his room with Greg and Vinnie."

"Did you go last year?" Ginny asked.  He nodded.  "How was it?"

"I wish I had been upstairs in Draco's room. I loathe dancing with the rich old dames of society."  He looked over at the Slytherin table.  "Oh, shite, Parkinson's staring at me again."  He ducked his head and hurriedly ate.  "Don't wanna get sick," he told them.  "I'll be by the next classroom.  Listen for her screams if she follows."  He ducked out of the hall, heading to safety; far, far away from her.

Harry looked at Ron.  "I think that is a fate nearly as bad as death, him being forced to marry her."

"He is?"

"She's trying awfully hard," Ron told her.  "His grandmum wanted them to marry.  She's bound to the certificate but he wasn't.  He's trying to break it."  She shuddered.  "Exactly.  That's why he got so sick last month."  He watched as an owl landed at Alex's place, hooting at them. "He ran for cover, girl.  Can we take it?"  Professor Snape came down to take it before he could, heading back to his seat.  Ron gave her a few pets and she hooted before flying off.  "I wonder what that was."  He looked up at the head table.  "Should I tell Alexander to come find you, Professor Snape?"

"Please."  He looked at him. "Hopefully less loudly next time."

"Fine."  He grinned and finished up, going to hunt Alex down.  He found him watching Madam Hooch fly.  "Some day we'll figure out why you can't," he offered.  Alex looked back at him, grinning a bit.  "You got an owl after you left.  Your father has it."

"Thanks.  He still in there?"  Ron nodded.  "I'll get it before class."  He looked outside again.  "I just had the scariest thought.  If I end up teaching Defense some year I might end up in line for the Headmaster's job."

"That is a bad thought," Ron agreed.  "You can't run a thing," he promised, patting him on the back.

"I know.  Scary isn't it?"  He grimaced.  "We have Potions first?" Ron nodded.  "I'm heading down there.  See you soon."  He walked that way, his bag over one shoulder and banging against his hip.  He tapped on the door, smiling as his father let him in.  "What owl?"

"Lupin and Black have invited you for the holidays."

"Really?  I was planning on throwing a party for the first through third or fourth years at my place so the parents can go to Auntie Narcissa's party."  He grimaced.  "Hmm.  Well, I wouldn't mind them coming to stay at the manor."  Snape raised an eyebrow.  "Harry says they're nice enough.  That way you can have some of the holiday to yourself as well."

"I think I can manage to find enough time alone while you're goofing off."

"Yeah, but you've got a life and I don't want to intrude on it."  He put his bag down and faced his old man.  "I don't want to be a weight around your neck or the anchor that's holding you from taking a real vacation.  After teaching so many of us, I doubt you ever want to see a child again."  Snape snorted and nodded.  "Therefore you should get a holiday too.  Not that I don't want you, because it'll be pretty cool to have you there," he offered with a bright grin, "but you deserve some time off too.  Consider them babysitters."

"I wouldn't let either of them babysit a kneazle, much less my only child," he said dryly.

"You don't like them?"  Snape shook his head.  "Are they bad people?"  He looked at him. "Or is this the same reason you don't like Harry?"

"The latter," he admitted patiently.  "Nothing you should concern yourself about."  He looked at his son. "I won't protest you allowing them a week over, especially around the party.  I'll be back for Solstice, for the party as well.  We'll spend the rest of the holidays together.  That gives you a few days of overlap from what you were saying but nothing too great or stressful."  Alex nodded.  "Would that be acceptable?"

"It'd be fine, father.  Thank you."

"You should be allowed to get to know them since they do guard your guardian, even though I do loathe them all," he noted sarcastically.  "Sit down.  What happened in defense?"

"He decided he had nothing to teach me and a few others so we've got research time instead.  A two foot paper due by the hols and then a four foot this spring.  He wanted it sone on some magically hyped bulletproof bear someone called him about."

"Indeed?"  He got a nod and a grimace.  "I'll want to look at your paper myself.  Since you haven't written any real papers yet, I can give you some guidance on how to do so."  Alex sighed and nodded.  "Thank you.  Now, onto your last paper.  I did expect you to write it on the potion as it was supposed to be done, not what actually happened when everyone botched it," he said, handing it over.  "Very amusing."

"Thanks, I like to amuse and entertain.  I had the most horrible thought today."  Snape raised an eyebrow.  "If I end up teaching defense and stay, I might be headmaster some day."

Snape groaned and rubbed his stomach.  "Son, I just ate.  Don't say such things."  He sat down again.  "Next time, write the papers on what I really meant, not what I said."

"Does that mean there's a spell to become telepathic?"  Snape quirked an eyebrow.  "Draco couldn't figure out what the creature was either but he wanted to see it."

"There is occulmencary," he admitted.  "That would do that."

"Can I learn that?"

"It's like Divination.  If you have a gift for it, indeed.  If not, no."

"Do I?"  Snape gave him a long stare.  "Oh.  I guess we'll find that out too."  Snape nodded, looking amused.  "See, I told you I like to amuse and entertain."

"You do it very well," he said dryly, getting up to let the others in.  He watched his son start to make plans for his party during his lesson, only smacking him once for not paying attention and not going to get his ingredients.  Alex shrugged and got up.  This was another area he did not do well in, but tolerably enough when he put his mind to it. Another failing he would have to accept from his son.

***

Alex looked at the plans Draco handed over.  "That's a lot," he complained, looking it over.

"You said the entire first through fourth years," he reminded him. "That's a great many students.  Mother was even nice enough to agree to let me go instead of boring me at ours."

"You were bored?" Alex snorted, giving him a look.  "It had nothing on me."  He looked at the attached guest list, marking off a few names.  "I'm not inviting Pansy.  I don't care."  Draco snickered.  "I'm also not inviting Merklie."

"He's probably a fun drunk."

"We'll have chaperones."

"Who?" he demanded.

"Potter's guardians and father."  He looked at him and sighed.  "What is their fight about?"

"My father said Black and Lupin used to prank Professor Snape all the time in school."

"Oh, wonderful.  So someday yours and Ron's kids will go through this?"  Draco nodded, smirking even more evilly.  "Fine.  Whatever.  How are we doing the invitations?"

"Mother said she could send them out once she got the list back. Did you want to add anything?"  Alex went back to the list, adding some food he knew the kids would like more, crossing off some others.  He also added a note to put out some board games and other non- kiddy games.  He went back over the guest list, then the list after that.  He made a few notes and handed it back.  "There.  Send it back.  Remind her I'd like to never see Pansy ever again."

"Sure."  He grinned and tucked it into his bag.  "How is teaching the gutterrats going?"

"Harry's learning pretty quickly.  I go over each one, lead him to practice it.  He does it and then we move on."  He shrugged, then leaned forward.  "Do we think Lockhart will be here next year?"

"I doubt it," Draco assured him.  He looked behind them.  "Shit."  He pulled his book over.  "Okay, what are we doing?"

"Um, more for defense, or are we working on the private research?"  He felt a small, cold hand touch his ear and batted at it, turning, intending fully to punch that person out.  He saw it was Pansy.  "Don't do that.  I don't want to be touched."

"You never used to mind," she cooed.

"Yeah, and I used to like you before you quit protesting the stupid arranged marriage.  It's not happening.  I hate girls.  I have hated girls. I will probably always hate girls.  Unfortunately you're a girl."  She giggled and nodded.  "By the way, did you know your mum wrote in a clause saying you'd be my broodmare when I broke the arrangement?"

"No."  He nodded.  "For what?"

"At least one child."

She rolled her eyes.  "Mummy always thinks about the future," she reminded him.  "So what's this I hear about a party?"

"Just a few friends," Draco told her. "Nothing's concrete yet.  Mother's helping him plan it."

"Fine.  I'll expect my invitation soon then.  That way I have time to shop."  She walked off.  Alex leaned over to take the list back, fully blacking out her name and writing at the top 'casual, non-uniform clothes'.  Then he handed it back and shuddered.

"She'll be disappointed."

"I don't care," Alex mouthed.  He got to work on his files.  Draco saw something and took it, looking in his folder.  "Asking is nice."

"I haven't seen any since that first class," he defended.  "Besides, I hear you got me as well as Weasley.  Why I don't know."  He found his last one and looked at it, then at Alex.  "Where was I?" he asked.  Alex just grinned and didn't say anything.  "Alex!"

"Nope.  You can guess."

"Was I in the common room?"  Alex shook his head.  "Then where was I sleeping like that?"  Alex pointed across the library.  "When was I sleeping over there?"

"Two nights ago."  Alex went back to his book. "Why am I doing all this studying again?"

"Because otherwise your father will get quite upset and we'd have to listen to it."

"Point."  Alex sighed and closed his books.  "I'm bored, Draco."  Draco looked over top of the pictures to look at him.  "What?"

"How can you be bored?"

"I am."  He took his folder back, tucking everything back inside.  "Lockhart said they were decent."

"They are.  You still need some teaching in the formal art skills," he noted patiently at the happy grin.  "You've still got a problem of perspective and shading.  We really should have an art class here.  With as many paintings as we have, someone's got to do it."

"Maybe as a higher elective," he sighed.

"I'd hope so.  What are you taking?"

"Astronomy and muggle studies if they're offering them.  If not, probably divination."

"Eww."

"Sorry, but they're easy and I've already had enough of the other two."

"Still, Alex, you could be so much more," Draco noted.  Alex gave him a long look.  "What?"

"You sounded like your mum complaining about your grades."

"My grades were fantastic last year," Draco said smugly. "You're the one who nearly flunked herbology.  If you remember, she was complaining about *your* grades."  Alex snorted and shook his head.  "What will your father say?"

"Draco, I didn't have him for eleven years.  It's too late for him to really become Super Daddy over my grades," he told him.  He sighed and slumped a bit, looking at his friend. "I respect my father and I like him a lot.  I want to get to know him a lot better.  I don't want to impinge on his free time.  I don't want to obligate him just because I suddenly found out.  Hell, I told him earlier to take a vacation over the first part of the holiday, that way he doesn't have to worry about me."

"I worry about you," Draco said quietly. "You're rattling in that dratted manor house and who knows what you'll do if you're suddenly *bored* again."

"Harry made the house elves poke me," he said grimly, smirk just hinted at.  "He told them I might get into 'stupid boy stuff'.   Twirly pokes me if I don't eat.  Gibbons pokes me if I stay outside too long.  Marsette pokes me if I nap too long."  Draco snickered, leaning back in his chair.  "It's not funny!  Twirly thinks the house elves here don't feed me!  She kept going on about how they don't feed me enough and I'm too skinny!"  The librarian gave him a look.  "He's worried about me being home alone."

"I'd worry about you as well," she assured him.  "Please be more quiet, boys."

"Yes, Madam Pince," Alex sighed, shaking his head.  He looked at his friend.  "Seriously.  I called Twirly up one night because I wanted a snack.  She came over with a full meal and fed Harry too.  She kept going on about how the house elves here don't feed me enough."

Draco shook his head, smirking at his buddy.  "You're insane, Alex.  You don't have to let them boss you around."

"It makes them happy and they deserve it with how long they served Grams.  So what if I get poked to get woken up.  I'm fine with it most of the time.  And the rest I growl.  They come back in half an hour.  It's like a snooze button."

Draco cackled, putting his head down, shaking it on his arms on top of the table.

Harry walked over, looking at them.  "Told him about the meal?"

"About being poked."  He poked Harry.  "I don't get into stupid boy trouble.  I get into smart boy trouble.  You'll have to correct that this summer."

Harry smirked a bit.  "I'm sure I will," he said smugly, slapping Draco across the back of the head before walking off.

"Did he just touch me!" he said, sneering at Potter's back.  "I'll have to get him for messing up my hair."

"Draco, love, your hair?  It could use some messing up.  It looks really stiff tonight.  It didn't shift when he hit you.  Did you use glue?"  Draco glared at him.  "Seriously!  It looks like it."  Draco pulled out a mirror to check his hair.  "And they say I'm gay," he said dryly.

Draco snorted but put back his mirror.  "A Malfoy must always be conscious of how he appears to others.  Does it really look that bad?"  Alex nodded.  "Bloody hell.  I should go fix that."

"Wash it.  Leave it down.  Does it still curl around your ears?"

"Why do you think I put it up?" he asked grimly.  "I look like a girl."

"Soon, none of us will be confused with girls," Alex sighed, looking at his arms. "I don't want to be bigger than Vince and Greg."

"I doubt you will be.  Your father is fairly thin.  The only portrait I've seen of your mother showed her being fairly slim as well.  Neither of us will ever be the biggest boys in the class, just the strongest mentally."  Alex nodded, accepting that.  "Now, back to work before I figure out how to turn you into a troll."

"Ewww, drool."

"Yes, and remember, one drooled quite well on Granger."

"Harry's wand got stuck up his nose," Alex offered with a grin.

"Eww.  How long did it take him to clean it?"

"He was doing that by the time they got back to the tower."  He grinned at his other friends, then at Draco.  "I need to know that you won't cause shit when they come over.  Harry and his guardians are going to be watching me for about a week if my plans are followed."

Draco looked at him.  "Fine. For that night, we'll have a truce."  Alex grinned, a gentle, loving grin.  Draco knew why the girls sighed over him now.  "I'll behave and so will the others."

"Thanks, Draco.  It means a lot to me."  He patted him on the hand.  "When am I going to try the fuzzy thing dream again?"

"Next week good for you?"

"Not on Halloween."

"No, not after the feast.  You'll become some odd piece of candy as a nightmare."  He grabbed the folder and looked at that picture again, frowning a bit.  "I'd say it was a wolf, but that stretched out body isn't."  Alex sighed and nodded.  "You need mental glasses."

"Granger said I should get my eyes checked when I complained about the sunlight."

"You needed to be born a vampire, Alex," Draco said, rolling his eyes.  "I'll brew it for that Sunday.  All right?"  Alex nodded.  "Good.  Now let's get back to work."  They got back to their individual research for defense.  That way they could goof off during that period.

***

Harry looked up from reading his morning mail, smiling at Alex.  "Sirius wasn't too thrilled about your idea but he said it was true, your house is bigger.  He also said it'd be fine and he'd be writing Snape in a few days to assure him they'd take good care of you."

"Sure."  Alex sat down and the plate of bacon was pushed down.  He grimaced.  "I'm not in the mood for bacon."  Harry felt his head so he ducked away. "I'm fine!"

"Are you possessed?  You've eaten bacon every single morning, even the ones you were sick."  Harry stared at him.  "You really are sick, aren't you?"  He nodded.  "What's wrong? Your stomach?"

"Headaches.  Strange dreams all night.  A small redheaded bird in farmer clothes."  He shuddered.  "I don't know what's going on."  He sipped some juice but it wasn't helping. "I'd ask to miss this morning but it's my two weakest subjects."

"Go," Harry ordered.  "Or else I'll tell your father."

"But..."

"Professor Snape?" Harry called. The man in question looked down.  "Alex can't eat.  He said he won't go to the infirmary."

"Alexander," he called, motioning the boy up to him.  Alex trudged and he leaned over to test his forehead.  "You're not warm.  What happened last night?"

"Odd dreams. Some redheaded little bint in farmer's clothes.  A dark haired boy.  I'm not sure what."

Severus looked at him.  "I'll tell Poppy to knock you out.  Head up there."

"It's Herbology and Creatures today."

"I don't care.  Your health is more important," he said quietly.  "Go now, before I have to get mean and assign you another paper."  Alex sighed and grabbed his bag on the way past.  He watched his son trudge, not something he usually did.  "Mr. Potter?"  He looked over. "Come here."  He came over, handing over the letter he had gotten from Sirius and Remus.  He read it, then nodded.  "That's fine.  Tell the teachers he's in the infirmary until we find out what these dreams are about."  Harry nodded, taking the letter back and heading back to his seat.  Severus considered it, then sighed and made a decision.  He went to call Poppy from his office and tell her what his son had said, then went to floo call the annoying duo who watched over Potter.  He knew they were somehow involved, even if he wasn't sure why he knew. "Remus Lupin," he ground out.  His head popped up and he got an irritating grin. "Don't.  Why is my son having dreams about another life?"

"I don't know.  Why would he?"

"His grandmother pressed him about a hellmouth.  He's had a few of these.  He couldn't even eat this morning."

Sirius' head popped into the fireplace.  "I know why, Severus.  I'll try to contact someone about it and help him."

He knew it!  They had somehow managed to harm his son like they had him.  "What is going on?  I can make such calls about my own son."

Sirius looked at Remus, then around the office.  "Shut the door and do a silencing charm.  He's not allowed to hear."  Severus waved his wand and both were accomplished.  "Alexander used to live on the Hellmouth," he said quietly.  "He gave up his life in a sacrifice to come over here and change things.  I... I made a wish to save what little was left of Harry's childhood," he admitted quietly.  "Halfrek came to me in Azkaban.  She said he used to be part of the team over on the Hellmouth, the power behind them.  It saved both their childhoods to be put together."  Snape's face tightened at that.  "That's his last life, which she let slip might be running currently with this one.  If you want, I'll try to get her again."

Halfrek appeared, fluffing out her hair.  "Not an issue, sweetie. I'm here."  She smiled at him.  Then at Severus.  "You can't tell him.  If you do, the wish unravels and he'll end up going back there.  They've accepted him as dead when he gives himself up in the sacrifice."

"To what rite?" Severus asked, his knuckles white where he was squeezing his hands together.

"No rite.  I asked.  He volunteered to save his friends there."

"He keeps seeing a redhead and a young brunette male."

"His former best friends."  She leaned over and gifted him with the knowledge he wanted.  "He cannot know unless you want to lose him to the Hellmouth to fight their battles.  Which would mean that the Hellgoddess coming would show up.  This way, she can't.  Nor can the First Evil.  He sacrificed himself to save humanity, Severus."

"Then you need to reinforce the memory charm."

"Perhaps," she said with a smile.  "I can check. It could be leakage since they're running at the same time.  If so, they'll stop when he's twenty-one."  He bowed his head, nodding.  "It was his choice, Severus.  He pushed his redheaded witch friend out of the way.  He pushed his friend, the slayer, out of the way.  He pushed his former girlfriend, who was one of us, out of the way, to do this for everyone.  He was a generous and caring soul who had a bad rap back there in his childhood.  Here it wasn't any better, but you managed to save what was left of it, and he managed to save Potter's.  Together they're getting to be normal boys again."  He looked up and nodded, lips pressed together.  "You cannot tell him either.  If you do, you will lose him in the fight against either Gloriificus or the First Evil.  He's not as he was then.  He's more skilled now, but more knowledgeable about the horrors of combat then.  The two mentalities won't meet. They can't meet or time will warp and all the bad will come back into your world as well."

"He's not coming back?" he asked quietly.

"He'll try, but your son guards Mr. Potter.  Xander was never as happy as when he was staking vampires or having someone to protect and guard.  At first, it was Willow and Jesse.  They protected each other.  He had true friends but a miserable life.  This time he had a miserable life for a bit, but it's been fixed and he's happier now.  He's got real friends who will stand beside him."  Severus looked at him.  "Now, what might be harming this? I can hear something?"

"He's trying for animagus," he said quietly.  "He started to become a wolf but something was warping it."

"Xander was possessed by a hyena," she said thoughtfully.  "I'll make sure when I enforce the mental shields between the two.  Remember, he cannot know or else all the bad comes back and he'll be back there helping.  Two Xanders the world can't stand.  Time will warp and the bad will happen."

"You let him be tortured."

"Only in theory," she offered with a smile.  "I muted it when I could, Severus.  I protect that boy.  Yeah, he had it bad until she died.  You've got seven years to help him be a happy, normal boy."  She reached over to caress his cheek.  "Even after all that's happened, he's happier now than he ever was there.  It's up to you to make sure of it.  The same way those two make sure Harry's now happier than he had been.  A lot of similarities.  Xander and Harry had the same sort of upbringing, though Xander never got stuck in a cupboard under the stairs.  Otherwise, very similar."  Severus shuddered.  She smiled.  "He'll be fine.  He's resilient.  He was the better choice, Severus.  They'll protect each other."

"They'll end up together?"

She chuckled and shook her head.  "No, Alexander needs someone more tolerant than Harry can ever be.  Someone who has a stable home and wants to stay home more often.  Harry's got a bright future in the big leagues.  Alex needs someone more comfortable with the richness that's his.  By the way, did you know his paternal grandmother?"  She winked and faded out, heading up to the infirmary.  She found the nurse watching her patient.  "Move," she said calmly.  The nurse stared at her, reaching for her wand.  "Don't.  There's a reason for the dreams.  I'm here to stop them.  They're radiating from another life of his.  I interfered in that one.  I can fix this one."  Alex opened his eyes and blinked at her.  "I cannot tell your or many bad things could happen."

"To me?"

"To everyone, Alexander.  Know that your choice was made to spare everyone pain. That's why you were granted this second chance."  She moved closer, laying a hand on his head.  She firmed the barriers, then added some new restrictions on them.  She smiled down at him.  "There, now not even the changing magics that surround you can harm you.  That's what started this bleeding through of the memories.  You're fine to do it now."

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Halfrek, Vengeance Demon over Lost Childhoods."  He nodded, but he caught her hand.  "I cannot tell you about it.  No one may or else others will suffer a worse fate.  Humanity hangs in the balance," she said quietly.

"Then I won't ask.  What else could trigger it and how do I call you if they happen again?"

She smiled.  "I'll be watching.  I've been wandering around here now and then anyway to watch you and a few others."  She smiled more gently, motherly almost.  "You are the most special little boy, Alexander Birmingham.  I just wish she had named you a different name."

"Grams said something about a hellmouth."

She laid a finger over his lips.  "If you try to find out, humanity itself is lost, Alexander."  He nodded, swallowing.  "You must never wonder, not even for a day."

"I'll try."

She smiled, nodding.  "I know you will.  For now, rest.  This will be as a dream when you wake up.  Those who know what's going on, like your father, can't tell you either."  He nodded, flipping onto his side.  "Good boy.  You rest.  The headache will leave soon.  It's all over with, my special little boy."  She crooned him back to sleep, moving the blankets to tuck him back in further.  She looked at the nurse, and the headmaster behind her, and the other person walking in.  She created a card and handed it to the nurse.  "Should they start coming back, call upon me by name, under the moon.  I like to work at night."  The nurse nodded, tucking it into the file.  "The rest of you may not wonder either.  I wasn't kidding. Humanity will wither and die if he remembers.  He is the key and the protector of the savior.  Leave him be.  Permanently."  The Ministry person nodded quickly, bowing to her.  "For your information, Headmaster, just because you're thinking it, I've been here many times.  I'm the Patron Saint of Lost Childhoods.  Someone called on me about his."  He nodded, looking very grave and serious.  "I'm not kidding.  If he knows, you'll lose him and therefore lose to the darkness he can defeat.  He protects the protector.  He alone keeps the darkness at bay.  His last life was a sacrifice and this one was better once he got his letter.  Therefore you'll leave him alone. He's perfectly safe.  He could never go dark.  His soul may radiate darkness but not evil.  I cried over his last life and this one.  I won't let others cry."

"Then we're to keep him and Harry Potter together?" the nurse asked.

Halfrek smiled.  "Not just him, but yes.  When the time comes, don't stop him from saving Harry.  He's already got a good hand at that. Until that year, all the rest are practice runs."  They all nodded.  "So let's let the poor baby sleep, people.  He needs it.  By the way, tell whoever is guiding his transformation that he'll be fine.  I shored the barrier between his last life and this one so it wouldn't matter.  He's a go and he'll be a very cute wolf."  She winked and left.

Dumbeldore looked back at the Ministry person.  "Did you take that down?"

"No, but I remember it well enough," she offered.  "I'll go spread that around the office."  She disappeared through the floo in the infirmary.

Dumbledore looked at the nurse.  "You trust her?"

Madam Pomfrey nodded, hands clenched together.  "I've seen her before, Albus.  She does protect children.  If she's protecting this one, there's a reason.  A good one.  You won't have to worry about him ever again."  Draco walked in.  "Ill?"

"Checking on Alex.  I felt Halfrek."  He walked over and smoothed a hand over Alex's cheek.  "Greg called on her once about Alex's life," he said quietly.  "She told him it would be fixed when he got his special letter.  Then the world would be his and he could bask in the light."  He looked at Dumbledore.  "If you fuck this up for him I will have my father torture you until even your bones scream."  He looked at the nurse.  "What about his animagus stuff?"

"She said she firmed the barrier. It was his last life leaking through?"  Draco nodded.  "You know of this?"

"Yeah, his Grams got the book with the prophecy from our library.  I kindly threw it in the fire once I read that he couldn't know."  He looked at Alex again, then at her.  "If it happens again, Greg can reach her or I can I'm sure.  You won't have to if you feel odd about it.  We like Alex for who he is, evil bastard tendencies and all."  He pulled a stool over.  "I'm going to watch his sleep."

"Fine," she agreed, pulling the curtains.  She looked at the Headmaster.

"How did you know, Mr. Malfoy?"

"I felt her."  He sealed the curtains, locking them out for now.  He patted Alex's hand. "I'm here. You rest safe."

Dumbledore went back to his office to make note of this and send it on.  He also asked Madam Pince to send him any information she had on this demon.  He needed to know that she hadn't been spreading lies. If so that meant that Alexander was still dangerous to others, something he couldn't allow in the school.

***

Draco looked over as Alex joined him on the walkway, smiling at him. "Should I work on that potion anyway?"

"I'm a wolf."  He frowned a bit, blinking a few times.  "What happened earlier?"

"We had to block off some former memories.  You had a past life bleeding over because of the animagus stuff.  That's why you had the headaches.  Now they're sealed off and you're safe to continue."

"It's not that simple.  I remember a woman."  He leaned on the same railing.  "I remember her saying I couldn't ask because it would endanger everyone.  Something about me protecting someone.  That's the part I want back."

Draco looked at him.  "It's a natural function of who you are, Alex.  You already protect him and others.  It'll just be a moment for you to prove you protect him."  He nudged him with his shoulder. "It could be a lot worse."  Alex nodded, sighing a bit.  "I was there for most of it," he said gently.  "Do you trust me?"

"Usually," Alex agreed.

"Then trust me this time. You already protect him.  It'll be natural when the time comes for you to protect him once again.  Just be yourself, that's all we expect."

"Yeah, all but Dumbledore."

"He's an old wanker who can't see the real you."  He turned to look at his friend.  "Trust me.  She told him off too, told him you weren't dangerous.  By now, if he's as smart as some think, he's researched your visitor and seen that she wasn't lying."

"Who was she?"

"Halfrek."

"Over Childhood?"

"Lost Childhoods, Alex," he said gently.  He grinned suddenly.  "Maybe you'll get her part some day."

"No thanks."  He shook his head quickly.  "Too much responsibility."  He leaned again.  "I had a thought the other day.  If I end up teaching defense here, I might end up in line for the top seat."

Draco laughed.  "You as Headmaster?"  He cackled, shaking with laughter as he leaned against the wall.  "Oh, Dear Merlin and his balls!  You'd make a *horrible* headmaster, Alex!  You'd be responsible for teaching and running the students, plus punishing them!"  He laughed some more.  "You'd be a rotten creature!"

"At least I'd be pettable," he said dryly.

"True, you would be," he agreed, giving him a hug.  Then a slap on the back as he backed off.  "Okay, now what were we doing?"

"I wanted to try the spell."

"You don't want to wait?"

"No.  If it's that firm, it should hold.  If not, she's got to be hanging around."  Draco nodded at that.  "Should we go bug McGonagall?"

"We can," he admitted.  He checked his watch. "It's nearly curfew."

"It shouldn't take that long."  They walked down there together, him smiling at her. "I want to try the spell."

"That's getting a bit ahead of yourself, don't you think?"  He shook his head and sat down on a table, pulling his wand.  He started to chant the spell, closing his eyes.  She sucked on her top lip, watching him.  At first, nothing happened.  Longer than she remembered her first one taking.  Then he sighed and opened his eyes, and suddenly he was a wolf.

"I told you to lose the self control when you tried it," Draco said dryly, leaning on another desk.  He walked over, letting Alex sniff him before petting him.  "You're very soft.  You got your wish, mate."  He smiled at the teacher.  "He's very, very soft."

"I can see that."  She came over to stroke over his head, getting a lolling tongue and a wolfy grin.  "Change back, Alexander.  Let's make sure you can do it again."  He changed back, her hand still scratching behind his ear.  "Now down and back please."  He grinned and did it again, tipping his head to get more ear pets.  She chuckled and indulged him, then he changed back when the curfew bell rang.  "Good job," she said proudly.  "Ten points to Gryffindor and Slytherin for mastering this spell so young.  Even younger than Sirius Black and his group did."  Xander beamed shyly.  "Now, back to your dorms.  I'll excuse you both."  They left, heading back to their dorms. She smiled, Alex was such a good student at times!  Even if Draco Malfoy was a boil on the ass of magic, he appeared to care about Alex a lot.  Hopefully Alex could transform Draco as much as they had helped Alex transform.  She went back to her desk, making a note for her personal files.  She had known each and every animagus in this school, even the hidden ones.  She was very proud of this one.  The youngest ever.  She'd have to remind him to register himself.

***

Ron was woken up by a big tongue licking him.  "Eugggh!  Get off!"  He shoved at the beast, sitting up to stare at the gray wolf.  "How in the bloody hell did you get in here?"  He picked up his wand slowly and shot at Harry, waking him up with a yelp.  "Harry!  There's a wolf in here."

"Ron, you're not a pig," Neville complained sleepily.  "He can't blow your house down."  He sat up, rubbing his eyes.  "You weren't kidding!  Harry!"

Harry put on his glasses, looking at the wolf.  "Well, you said you wanted to be pettable," he noted calmly.

"Huh?" Neville asked.

"That's Alexander."  The wolf barked and scratched behind his ears, then tipped his head so Ron could pet him.  Ron reached carefully over and scratched his ear, getting happy growls and a wagging tail.  "Told you so."

"That's insane," Ron said, withdrawing his hand.  Alex growled.  "Hey!"  Alex changed back, grinning at him.  "You did it when?"

"Tonight," he said happily.  "I'm a furry!" he said happily.

"We'll pet you when you've been good," Harry teased, grinning at him.  "Congrats, Alex.  Now, can we sleep?  Before we're all grumpy tomorrow?"

"Sure!"  Alex got off Ron's bed and grinned at Neville.  "It wasn't really that hard."

"I'll take your notes tomorrow," Ron assured him, grinning at him.  "I'll even pet you during breaks if you're good and don't lose us a ton of points."  He laid back down, putting his wand beside him.  "Night, Alexander."

"Night," he called, closing his curtains and stripping off in there.  Within minutes there was snoring.

Neville grinned at them.  "He's stronger than we are."

"Much," Harry agreed with a grin.  "But I'm happy for him.  He's a cute wolf."  He laid back down, closing his curtains.  "Night, guys."

"Night, Harry," they chorused.  They shared a smile and went back to bed as well. It was really late.  Alex must have been getting petted by someone downstairs.

Up the hall, the twins were going over their notes for the transformation spell.  They wanted it so bad and it wasn't fair that Alex had done it when they hadn't.

***

Ron walked into breakfast the next morning, pointing behind him and looking at the head table.  "There's a petrified student out there?" he called.  "Finite didn't work."  McGonagall and the headmaster hurried out to check on her.  He went to the table, shaking his head.  "Really weird.  Totally stiff, like a statue."

"Hopefully they can deal with it," Alex said thoughtfully, eating a piece of bacon.  "Hey, Ron, did I have a funny patch of fur on my back?"

"A bit.  You needed brushed. You shed on my blanket."

"Sorry."  He grabbed a few more pieces then handed the plate down to him.  He shrugged it off.  "I'll figure it out later.  Something's knocking on the back of my head."

"Could that be the Herbology paper?" Ron suggested.  Alex shook his head.  "Did you actually do the herbology paper?"

"Sorta."  He grimaced a bit, then grinned at him.  "I wrote down what my tutor told me."

"Uh-huh.  How do you know he was doing it right?"

"He was writing his own paper at the time."  He beamed at his ingenious way of doing papers.  Then he dug into his breakfast. His father walked behind him, clapping him on the back.  "Hi."   He grinned at him.  "Am I in trouble?"

"No. Your last potions paper was on the subject it was supposed to be on. Why would you be?"

"Not real sure.  You don't usually give a 'good game' pat on the back."

"That was for last night, Alex."  Alex beamed at him.  "It was well done.  Congratulations.  I have those forms in my study as well as the ones about the marriage contract being broken."

"They were?"  He nodded.  "Thank you, Goddess!" he called, looking up.  He grinned at his father.  "Thanks."

"You're most welcome.  Sign them later."  He walked off, heading to help with the stunned student.  It was odd congratulating a Gryffindor, but he was his son.  He could do it for just that single one he supposed.

Alex had a smiling, happy day the rest of the day.  As a matter of fact, during their morning break, he pounced Draco outside, hugging him as he rode around on his back.  "It got broken!" he yelled happily.  "No more marriage contract!"

"Get off me!" Draco yelled, shoving him off and onto the ground, only getting laughs for it.  "Fine.  Congratulations and you probably wrinkled me all to hell and back," he complained, dusting himself off.  "Nasty bugger."

Alex flicked his wand.  Suddenly Draco's robes were very stiff with starch.  He couldn't really move they were so stiff.  He grinned.  "There, all pressed and neatly clean," he offered, getting up and running inside.

"I'll get you!" he yelled after him.  "Goyle, help me move my arm," he complained, trying to move it.  They helped him out of his robe, watching as it stood up on its own. "He'll pay for that."  He carried it inside, taking it to the Charms classroom since that was his next one anyway.  "How do I get the starch out?" he demanded.  "Birmingham was happy."

Flitwick smiled and shook his head. "It'll have to be washed first.  Once it's washed, it'll slowly lessen until it's fully unstarched.  It should be wearable after two washes."

"Thank you."   He sat down, sitting his robe next to him. The professor laughed and shook his head.  "His contract was broken," he said dryly.  "He pounced me and everything.

"At least you know when he's a happy young man."  He heard a whoop and a holler from outside, going to check on it.  "Who did that!" he yelled, getting out of the horse's way.  "Get off him!  He could be dangerous!"

"I'm trying to calm him down!  He's my boyfriend!" the girl on the back of the horse yelled.  "Help!  Rory, stop it!  Someone please change him back!  I can't get down!"

Professor McGonagall came rushing up to help Professor Flitwick clear the obstruction and change the poor boy back.  He came back to himself with his girlfriend on his back, clinging hard.  He was slowly turning purple with the way she was squeezing him.  "What is going on here?" she demanded.

"I don't know!  One minute I'm a boy and then I'm a horse and she's jumped on my back like it's some hunt event, and then I'm back as a boy," he gasped.

"Get off him!" Flitwick ordered, coming over to help her down.  He frowned at the blushing young woman once he had broken the charm on her to ride him.  "What happened?"

"Like he said!  There wasn't anyone nearby but he's suddenly a horse!"

"I'll never ride again," Rory complained, rubbing his lower back.  "That hurt!" he told his girlfriend.

"I was trying to calm you down!"

"Well, you didn't!"  He looked at the Transfiguration mistress.  "What caused it?"

"I'm not sure. I didn't take the time to examine the spell," she admitted.  "I'll call in the usual suspects and question them later.  That's a very hard charm and could have backfired horribly."  She walked him off, taking him to his next class so she could check him over on the way, his girlfriend following behind them.

Draco was snickering when the teacher came back, shaking his head.  "Alex has Potions if that helps. He wasn't anywhere near this hallway.  I did see those grubby, vile twins on the way in."

"That's a seventh year spell," he complained.  "I doubt either of the Weasley twins could do such a thing."  He frowned at him. "Five points off Slytherin for casting such aspersions on your fellow students, Mr. Malfoy."

"Fine," he said, going back to his chuckling in glee.

"Get settled in.  We have a lot to do today," Flitwick ordered.

***

McGonagall stared at the four students in front of her.  "Boys," she said, shaking her head.  "I can't prove it was one of you.  I do know it was one of you."  She looked them over again.  One Ravenclaw who wanted to be a prankster, but his usually backfired.  Alex Birmingham.  The Weasley twins.  "So why don't one of you do the mature thing and step forward?  Hmm?"  She looked at them all again.  "I know Mr. Chelsea and both of the twins had History of Magic, which was just down the hall from Charms.  Mr. Birmingham?"

"I had Potions. I only heard about it from the student who got caught behind it so therefore got counted as tardy," he defended.  "It was pretty cool.  Jumping on his back was the absolute most stupid thing to do."

"I'm not sure that wasn't part of the charm used," she said patiently.  "Boys?"  She stared down the twins.

"It wasn't us...."

"But it did give us a stupendous idea," the other twin finished

"Just what you needed," Mr. Chelsea said bitterly.  "Can I have you help me as well?"  They nodded, beaming at him.  "Where do you get your ideas?"  They both pointed at Alex. "Oh.  Really?"  Alex beamed and nodded.  "Can you help me?  My girl just dumped me."  Alex leaned over to whisper in his ear.  McGonagall cleared her throat.  He smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Birmingham.  I'll enjoy that immensely."  He looked at the twins.  "It was a frightfully hard charm.  Seventh year at least."  They both nodded.  They all looked at her.  "None of us are that good, Professor."

"Bull," she snorted, staring them down.  "I know very well Mr. Birmingham can and has done seventh year charms and transfiguration this year.  The same as I know the twins do."  She looked at him.  "You I might excuse since yours seem to go toes over tits."  He blushed and nodded.  "I'm not mad, boys, but that could have hurt him greatly."

"It still wasn't us," Alex pointed out. "Sorry, Professor.  Maybe he's got an enemy?  Is he maybe cheating on his girl or something?  I heard some girls saying stuff about her trying to ride him that way, being quite vulgar about it."

"No," she sighed, shaking her head.  "I'm sure it wasn't anyone other than someone in this room."

"Then did you do it, ma'am?" Alex asked with a grin.  "It was bloody genius if you did."  She stared him down.  "Well, you *were* a Gryff, therefore you've got to have a sense of humor sometimes."

"I have a very good one, Alexander," she assured him.  "I know it wasn't my doing.  The same as I know that it was most likely a male because of the imagery of the stallion."  She stared them down again.  "I had better not see another incidence like that while any of you are here," she said firmly.  "If I catch one of you doing something so harmful, I will harm you."  They all nodded.  "Dismissed."  She caught Alex, looking at him.  "Did you?" she asked once they were alone.

He shook his head.  "I was down hiding in the dungeons long before that happened.  But I really did hear some quite vulgar suggestions about her riding him that way."  He grinned.  "I'm off to get brushed.  Ron said I shed on his blankets last night."  He got free and headed up to the tower, catching up with the twins.  "Can I help?" he asked cheerfully. "I'm having a good day. The marriage contract got broken and everything!"

One of them turned and captured him, looking at him.  "Did you?" he asked.  Alex shook his head.  "You're sure?"

"Because we know it had to be someone pretty powerful.  Rory's no slouch at dueling in the halls," the other noted.

"Guys, I was in the dungeons long before that.  I starched Malfoy's robes to stiffness then ran."  That got a small grin.  "I promise, it wasn't me.  I swear it wasn't me."  They sighed and nodded.  "It was the seventh year boy in Hufflepuff who wanted to date her however."

They gaped.  "How did you know?"

"He was casting it as I ran past him.  I had to cast a shield against him accidentally hitting me.  You guys were only seven back from him in the halls.  I bumped around you two just in case Draco decided to blame you."

The twins both smiled.  "Good job," they assured him.  They walked him back into the tower.  Everyone stared.  "It wasn't us!" they said together.

"Or me," Alex assured them, grinning a bit.  "I know who but I don't nark."  That got a clap on the back.  "Ooh, guys, I need help being brushed.  Ron said I shed when I showed off."

"Ask Ronniekins," one said.

"He's in trouble anyway," the other said with a wink.

"Don't get Ron in trouble," Alex sighed. "Then I'll have to get involved."

"He's the one who's in detention for dueling outside of Defense," Harry said dryly.  "Mind if Ginny does it?"  Alex opened his mouth then shook his head.  "I promise she'll be nice.  Won't you?" he asked her.  She beamed and nodded.  "She wanted something to pet."

"I don't like girls.  Girls are bad."  He hurried up the stairs and locked himself in the bathroom before anyone could suggest another girl to help him.

"What I want to know is why he calls me Granger and her Ginny," Hermione complained.

"Easy, if he calls her Weasley, it'll get everyone's attention," Harry told her.  She sighed and rolled her eyes.  "Sorry, Ginny, I tried."

"That's okay.  Mum said it'd take time for him to like girls again."

"He's gay," Hermione told her.  "He'll be dating a nice wizard some year soon."

"He asked Ron, Malfoy, and Goyle to help him find one," Harry gossiped.  She shuddered.  "Well, the other two have been his friends for years."

"Yes, but that's still an odd combination."  She looked back at the twins.  "What did you get in punishment?"

"Nothing.  She can't prove it's us."  Percy glared at them so they grinned at him.

"She couldn't," the other twin assured him.  "Alex told us who it was."  They sat down at their usual spot to work on their new idea. It was a really good idea.

***

Alex stepped off the train, waving at Draco and Greg as they headed for their parents. He didn't go over there since Lucius was with Narcissa.  She smiled and came over anyway, hugging and kissing him on the cheek.  "Is it all ready?"

"It's perfectly done and all the invitations went out nearly a month ago," she promised.  "Did your friends get theirs?"  He nodded, grinning at her.  "Then don't worry so much.  It was really a grand idea to do them together so the parents wouldn't have to worry and some who weren't high enough could come to yours and chaperone."  He nodded.  "You behave.  I'll pop around tomorrow to check on the preparations the elves are doing."  She kissed him on the cheek again and headed off.

Alex smiled as Ron and Harry came off with Hermione right behind them.  "Everything's set for the party.  You guys are coming, right?"

"I'd better since I'm staying with you for a few days," Harry told him.  "Hermione?"

"Of course I'm going," she said, smiling at Alex.  She didn't want to be hexed again and if she was nice, maybe he'd fix the last one.  "Casual clothes?  Not a dress?"

"No, just regular off-hours stuff.  I know some of the kids will be dressed up by their parents but don't worry about it."

"Oh, Alex," Mrs. Parkinson called.

"Oh, fucking kill me now," he muttered.  He turned a totally fake smile on her.  "Yes, Mrs. Parkinson?"

"Oh, dear, call me mum."

"No, thank you.  I like boys.  I'm not marrying Pansy.  That's why I had the marriage contract broken."  Her smile slipped.  "I'm sorry, but it's not happening.  I'm not changing my mind.  I'd rather shag Hagrid than her.  At least he's got the right sort of equipment for my likes.  Unless you want to change your daughter into a boy?"  She shook her head and stomped off. "I'm sorry, but at least I'm honest," he called.  He let out a small sigh.  "I hate giving bad news."  He looked around.  "Harry, where are my guardian-in-laws?"

Harry laughed and pointed at someone.  "There's Sirius.  Ron, see you in a few days?"  Ron beamed and nodded, hurrying after his brothers.  Hermione kissed him on the cheek then left them alone as well.  He rolled his eyes.  "They think we'll get into so much trouble alone."

"We did pretty good last summer," he pointed out, following Harry over.  He grinned and shook Sirius' hand.  "Hi, I hear you're my guardian-in-laws."  That got a chuckle.  "We should head home before the house elves go nuts with the decorating.  Are we portkeying or what?"

"I thought a car."

"That's going to take hours," he noted.  Sirius shrugged.  "Sure.  We can do that."  He followed Harry out, smiling at the driver.  "Hello, mate.  Birmingham Hall is in Suffolk."  The driver nodded.  "Have a map already?"  That got another nod.  "You're really efficient.  Thank you."  He put his bag into the trunk and got in.  Harry and Sirius got in after him, Harry sitting next to him and Sirius on the other side.  Alex turned so he could look at them, leaning against the other door.  "Is Mr. Lupin already there?"

Sirius smiled.  "He's the one making sure the elves don't go nuts with the decorations."  Alex grinned at that.  "You're sure we're not an imposition?"

"No!  Not in the least.  After all, everyone thinks Harry and I get into trouble alone."

"We did good the two weeks they forgot about us last summer," Harry said with a wink at Sirius.  "Alexander here is the muse for the Weasley twins, who said they desperately wanted to meet you and Uncle Remus."

Sirius smiled.  "It's good when our plans and traits are carried on."

"Is he muggle?" Alex hissed.  Sirius shook his head. "Really?"

"Really.  What happened?"

"One of the seventh years turned the girl he wanted's boyfriend into a stallion and charmed her to jump onto his back and ride him," he said with a grin. Sirius howled with laughter.  "It blocked the halls for a good while.  We all got called down but she knew it wasn't us.  She couldn't prove it and wanted one of us to take the credit for it.  The next morning McGonagall said either someone took credit for it or she'd have to start taking off points from all the houses until someone did.  He finally stood up and admitted it.  She was quite shocked and he pleaded at the girl's feet until she walked off in a huff."

"It was cute," Harry agreed happily, nudging him.  "You forgot, she got him back later."

"Oh, yeah, made him lighter than air and left him in the main entryway, clinging to the ceiling and howling.  He was a bit scared of heights."  Sirius laughed, patting them both on the head.  "I can't say as I blame her."

"Some day you'll be like that over a girl," Sirius promised him, wiping his cheeks off.

"I like blokes, sorry, sir."

"It's Sirius, Alexander.  Can I call you Alex?"  He saw the hesitation.  "Ah, I heard you had a thing about your name.  I understand."  He patted the boy on the head, smiling.  "There's nothing wrong with liking boys.  Remus might get a bit upset if it's our Harry here, but he'd come around eventually."

"No, not Harry.  I'm sure he'll have a few quidditch groupies some year soon."  Harry blushed bright red and Alex snickered.  "If you flew like I did, you wouldn't have to worry about that."

"I can't fly upside down, I'd get dizzy," he complained.

"Upside down?" Sirius asked.  Alex sighed and nodded.  "Poor thing.  Bad ears?"

"No, just bad on a broom.  I suck at flying and planning.  That's why I let Auntie Narcissa plan the party for me.  She thought it'd be great so none of the younger kids would have to be entertained or be sulking in the corners.  She thinks we should do this until our fifth year."

"Wonderful," Sirius agreed.  "Let's see how this year goes first."

"Oh, there'll be problems.  Parkinson wanted to know why I didn't invite her daughter."

"Because you don't want her to try to cling to you again?" Harry suggested.

"You heard me, I was honest.  I gave her the minor reason I had the stupid contract Grams did broken.  If she's upset that I was honest, that's her problem.  Even if I liked girls I couldn't stand Pansy.  She wants to be the next wife of the Dark Lord.  More power to her in my opinion but it won't be me playing Dark Lord for her."

"You couldn't anyway," Sirius said.  Harry nodded.  "He can?"  Harry and Alex both nodded.  "Why?"

"Because Grams was like that," Alex said simply.  "Good thing she's dead, huh?"  Sirius nodded quickly.  "Old bitch used to torture me by making me read books for weeks on end under the Imperious.  Then Fudge said she's a nice and gentle woman after she died."  Harry snorted, shaking his head.  "Anyway, she thought Pansy was like her, so therefore I should get saddled with her clone when I finally got hitched."

"It's a good thing you never got forced to do the blood binding," Harry told him.

"You can't do it under control. It has to be voluntary and she knew nothing in the world would make me do that.  She even tried threatening the house elves and that didn't work.  She gave up after that and filed it, hoping I wouldn't realize it could be broken.  Pity, but she's the one who made me read the law books."

"You seem like a very interesting young man, Alexander."  Sirius smiled at him.  "I look forward to getting to know my godson's given child."  Alex grinned at that.  "Doesn't that make you feel odd?"

"Yeah, but his Grams decided it'd give the other former Death Eaters more access to us," Harry told him.  "Boy was she wrong."  Sirius ruffled his hair.  "Sirius, we need to get Alex's eyes checked.  Hermione made me promise to get him to an eye doctor."  Alex sighed and flopped backward. "Lock the door, Alex.  We don't need to scrape you off the road."  Alex locked the door, giving him a 'there, happy' look. "Thanks."  He looked at his godfather again.  "She said she caught him squinting."

"It was itty, bitty type," he complained.

"Still, it's a good thing to have done," Sirius offered.  "We can go when we get you shirts that fit."  Alex looked at his shirt and jacket, then nodded quickly.  "I remember those growth spurts.  I had to have stuff fitted six different times in a year."  Both boys gaped at him.  "Really.  I used to be really short and skinny.  Mum hated that I shot up like that."

"I'll try to avoid that," Alex promised.

"Don't.  It's a normal part of growing up.  Like the balance issues you'll have."

"No, not me.  Harry.  Either that or it was where he fell off his broom the last time and Lockhart took out the bones in his arm."

"He did what?"

"He was trying to help," Harry said dryly, looking at him.  "That man is the most ineffectual teacher."

"He's a poser.  He's got a gift for theatrics and only some girls are still stunned by it.  Hell, Harry and I are in a special research class so he doesn't have to deal with our snorts of disbelief.  I mean, seriously.  His first quiz, the first class, had a question that asked his favorite color."  Sirius groaned, shaking his head.  "So I've taken the duty of teaching Defense to Harry, Hermione, and Ron."

"You're what?" Sirius demanded.  "You're...."

"Well trained," Harry told him.  "She made him read her old textbooks and she was the top person in Voldemort's reign of terror."

"She was?" he asked.  Alex nodded.  "So you learned...."

"By it being used on me," he admitted dryly, smirking a bit.  "You have nothing to fear from me unless you make me your enemy, Sirius Black.  You never have."  Sirius swallowed and nodded.  "With that said, Dumbledore keeps trying my patience.  Earlier this year he accused me of charming a plant to intentionally cause harm."

"At least Neville stopped you before you challenged him," Harry said, patting him on the knee.

"Yeah, and then Dad had Draco take me to vent on the pitch. Otherwise there'd be a big smoking hole in the tower by now."  Harry nodded at that.

"Why doesn't he like you?" Sirius asked cautiously.

"Something about a prophecy and our birthdays," Harry told him.  "We can't find out what.  Even writing the Ministry directly didn't get us any help.  He's blocked information and access to it.  He's been trying since day one.  He tried to have Alexander put in Hufflepuff so we'd never meet and get on."

"Bloody hell," Sirius muttered.

"Exactly.  Then again, I told my dad time and again about what was going on so he knows. He knows everything about what's going on."  Harry nodded at that too.  "Did he corner you about something?"

"No.  He cornered Draco the day you had the last really bad headache."

"Draco told me."

"You and Malfoy are...."

"Friends," Alex supplied.  "We've been friends now for years.  Auntie Narcissa helped me many times to heal, and even tried to get Grams to give me to her.  Didn't work, but she tried awfully hard.  I love those two.  Lucius and I are going to have a duel some day and I'll make sure he suffers a lot for all the people he's killed, including my mum."

"You're sure it's him?" Harry asked.  Alex nodded. "How?"

"A few random facts that got fed back to me by Gringotts and the like," he admitted.  "Speaking of, remind me.  Draco said something about my paternal grandmother?"

"Delores Markham," Sirius told him.  "It's a small pureblood world in the UK."

"It is," Alex agreed.  "Did she die?"  He nodded.  "Pity.  I never met the woman."

"Your dad was her only child and you're the only child left in the line."

"Ah.  No wonder.  I'll call them tomorrow or the next day," he decided.  "Remind me, Harry?"

"Sure, Alexander."  He grinned at him.  "What are we doing for fun at the party?"

"Some board games.  Some muggle, some not.  Food, punch, some music.  The usual party stuff."  Harry raised a brow.  "Don't worry, you and Ron can hang all night. It'll be cool."

"Thanks," he said quietly.

"What about your birthday this year, Harry?  Did you want a party?" Sirius asked.  "Remus wanted to know."

"I...."  Harry shrugged finally.  "I have no idea.  Being the center of attention annoys and frustrates me, Uncle Sirius.  I don't like to be stared at."

"Hermione or someone suggested we do a joint one.  I told them I'd decide on that about Easter," Alex promised him. Harry beamed at him.  "That way we don't *have* to.  Besides, my last birthday party was ages ago.  It was more one of her get-togethers than my birthday party.  Fortunately for her since Auntie Narcissa stayed over that night."  Harry squeezed his hand.  "Sorry.  Draco got royally sick all over me at the party," he told them.  "He had gotten into the whiskey stash and had guzzled a good bit.  Auntie Narcissa was even less pleased than my Grams."  Harry snickered.  "Remember, we have a truce, Harry."

"I remember.  I won't hex Malfoy or his crew unless he tries something."

"Thank you."

"Ehh, I can't understand how you're friends with Malfoy," he said dryly.  "I can't see how anyone can be friends with him.  You, I like differently.  You're neat when you're calm and bouncing."  Alex grinned at that.  "Just promise to duck Ginny.  She's got a wicked crush on me and you now too."

"Ginny wants to see you two together?" Sirius asked.

Alex nodded.  "Definitely.  She's of the opnion I'll start to like girls if I'm healed and touched tenderly and softly," he sighed, putting a hand over his heart.  "All bullshit of course," he finished dryly, smirking at him.  "I have a better chance of bedding Draco than I do her and he's been sworn to have an heir some year."

"To some people, bloodlines are important," Sirius said patiently.

"Yeah, but I doubt Lucius really wants Draco to have a son.  That means he gets pushed out of the limelight."

"Knowing Lucius, it'd take a few before one stayed alive," he said bitterly.

"Then you were in school with my mum and Professor Snape?"

"Yeah, we used to torture him all the time."

"I heard that," he admitted.  "Do you remember my mum?"

"Somewhat.  She was a year behind us," he admitted.  "She was a pretty girl.  Fairly smart and quiet until you upset her."  He looked at the boy.  "You look a lot like her, more than you do your father really."  He considered it.  "Remus might remember more about her.  He tutored her in Charms I think."  Alex beamed at that.  "You can ask him when we get home."  He hugged Harry hard. "I missed you, Harry."

"I missed you too, but I'd like to not be squished," he complained jokingly.  Sirius let him go with a chuckle and another fond pat.  "Why can't we turn the car into a portkey?"

"I suppose we could," he admitted.  "I thought I'd give you two time to calm down after the train ride.  We'd catch dinner about halfway there."  Alex nodded.  "Done that before?"

"Last year Dad took me home.  We flooed."

"That is usually faster," he agreed.  "I hope you don't mind, Remus was in the library and he found a few of her books, and sat down to read them.  Remus is excellent in Defense."

"Not a problem.  I learned from them too," he promised with a grin.  "Harry, remember, we've got to do the electives after the hols."

"I remember," he complained.  He looked at Sirius.  "I don't want to take more classes."

"It'll be fine," he promised him.  "What are you thinking about?"

"Divination is supposed to be pretty easy."

"It is. You're only going to take one?"

"I don't need that much more homework."

"Hey!  McGonagall didn't say we could only take one," he complained.

"You can, but it's a loophole in the rules," Sirius told him.  "What were you planning, Alexander?"

"I was thinking Astronomy if they offer it as a continued course and muggle studies."  Sirius looked shocked.  "It's easy and not a lot of homework.  Just what I want.  I hate books."

Sirius smiled.  "You'll get over that some day."

"No I won't."  He shook his head.  "I can't stand books."

"Most of the teachers don't expect him to do homework.  Most of them know he's a practical application person and he's told them all he could care less about his grades.  As long as he can do the work, they figure it's enough until OWLs."

"Not really," Sirius complained.  "Doesn't your father complain about your grades?"

"Some.  He'd like it if I could get past that problem with books too.  Then again, he understands."  He nudged Harry.  "Did you notice he never used to make it specific on the papers?"

"I did, until about our third one.  Why would that be?" Harry asked, smirking at him.

"Because I was writing up what happened not what it was supposed to be.  He was amused."

"I'd be amused too," Harry assured him.  "You're not right in the head, Alex.  You're a very funny little boy."  He patted him on the knee again.  "When I have kids, I'll make sure they're all good and right in the head and if you find out they're not, I'll correct it before they get as far as you are."  Alex burst out laughing, snickering against his shoulder.  He reached over to pat him on the head.  "It's all right.  We all know you're odd.  Let's hope your elves have a lot of bacon handy."

"They kept asking us if we wanted bacon," Sirius offered.  "Why?"

"It's one of the few things he'll almost always eat," Harry told him.  "When he walks in, it's what's passed to him first every morning.  We worry when he's not had bacon, he's obviously ill."

Sirius smiled and nodded.  "Some boys are like that. I've got to say, your elves are very good cooks."

"Who poke me because of Harry," Alex said, grinning over at him.  "He said I'd get into stupid boy stuff so they poke me if I nap too long or if I'm outside too long or if I don't eat enough.  Twirly is the food demon in the house.  She will refill my plate until I'm sick if I don't stop her."

"All I told her was you needed to eat, that you only nibbled the day before," Harry said, holding up a hand.  "I'm a good boy.  I did not get her to poke you or go off on the school's elves because she thought you had lost weight."

"She thinks he lost weight at the school?" Sirius asked.  Harry nodded.  "Why?"

"Part of the growth spurt probably.  His pants were a bit loose but too short when he came home for the summer.  All his gut went down his legs to make his feet grow too."  Alex snorted, rolling his eyes.  "She goes off on the school's elves.  Calls them stupid and lazy.  He even brought her over to feed him a snack earlier this term.  She went off in the common room about the elves.  She fed me too."

"She still feeds me all the time," Alex told him.  "That's where that black forest cake came from."  Harry grinned at him.  "It's a shame Ron ate it all."  Harry nodded, sighing.  "We'll have to tell her that Ron's being starved too."

"She might go to the Burrow and cook for him. Mrs. Weasley wouldn't be very impressed."

"True," Alex agreed, thinking about it.  "Well, we can always make sure that she knows his mum cooks well enough, just not the school's elves."

"Don't you sneak down to get food from the kitchen?"

"We're growing boys.  The last time Alex did that he ate about a dozen hard boiled eggs," Harry complained.  "Farted all night."

"Sorry," Alex said, totally unrepentant. "The sad thing was I was still hungry after that."  Harry gaped at him.  "Sorry!"

"You must spend most of your trust in food," Harry said, shaking his head.

"All boys go through that," Sirius assured him, patting him on the shoulder.  "Your father and I used to decimate the kitchen about once a week during our growth spurts.  The others just stared in horror as we ate."  He smiled.  "Lily used to get on him all the time about how much he ate.  It was the running argument of their lives together."  Harry looked up at him.  Alex suddenly hugged him. "It's all right, Alexander."

"I like hearing about those things," Harry assured him, patting him a bit.  "Thanks though."

"Welcome.  I still think Granger's hex isn't funny."

"Hermione cursed him to be a hugger whenever someone gets mushy."

"I got her back through.  She didn't really like the neon, flashing hair that stood straight up."

"I wondered why she was wearing a hat at the station," Sirius admitted.

"It'll only work for ten minutes and then her hair'll pop it off and start to flash even brighter," Harry assured him with a grin.  "Ron and I hide while those two fight.  She's another who's bound and determined to prove to him not all women are evil."

"She's wrong and she's one of the most evil," Alex said firmly.  "She's an evil wench of torture just like Grams was.  Some day you'll see, Harry.  She'll be forcing knowledge on her kids too."

"Hopefully not the same way," Harry joked. "I'd hate to have to visit her in jail for an unforgivable."

"You and me both," Alex agreed. "But she'll be the same sort of torturing woman.  Just wait.  Ginny may be all sweetness and fluffy filling from a stuffed animal, but I doubt it'll last either.  Grams said puberty changed her into the torturing bitch she was."

"Puberty is where you start to become an adult, boys," Sirius said delicately.  They both looked confused.  "You know, things start to work?  That stuff?"  They both still looked clueless.  "We'll talk about it when we get home."  They all nodded, accepting that. He mentally moaned.  He didn't want to describe puberty to the boys.  Maybe Remus would.  He was a good teacher.

***

Remus smiled as the boys were led inside by Sirius, hugging Harry, then looking at Alex before hugging him.  "I'm glad you invited us over, Alexander.  Thank you so much."

"You're welcome.  This way you can see what a bad influence I am on Harry."  He beamed.  Twirly came out of the kitchen, already scowling at him.  "What?  We drove."

"You is being taking off the jackets," she ordered, tapping a foot on the floor.  Both boys took off their jackets.  "I knew it!  Twirly is knowing that those lazy elves is not be feeding  you properly!"  She drug them off by the hand, taking them to the dining room.

"We just ate an hour ago," Harry assured her.

She snorted. "Twirly is making you a dinner. You is sitting down and eating it or else she'll poke you like Twirly should those stupid, lazy elves at the school!"  She stomped into the kitchen and came back with sandwiches, fries, vegetable spears, and drinks for both of them.

"May I have some of the vegetable sticks?" Remus asked politely.  "If it's no trouble."

"Of course you is eating with the boys!" she said.  She went back to get them a snack too.  She poked her master and then Harry when they weren't eating.  "Twirly is saying you be eating or else."  She went back to the preparations.

"Auntie Narcissa is coming over either tomorrow or the next day to check on things," Alex called before digging in. Harry laughed.  "What?  I'm still hungry. Maybe if you'd eat you could grow some too."

"I'll grow when it's time," Harry assured him, but he did dig in, letting Sirius and Remus steal part of his extra dinner.  Twirly came back to check on them, poking him for letting Remus steal off his plate.  "Really, I just ate.  I'm not like Ron and Alexander.  Fortunately Ron went to his mum's so she can cook for him too."

"Lazy, stupid elves need beaten, Twirly will complain to McGonagall!  Fierce protector of the house, she'll beat stupid and lazy elves so her boys is being fed."  She poked Alex, even though his mouth was full.  "Master Alexander's room smells funny.  Do you want Marsette to air it out or Master Alexander sleep in guest room?"

"Go ahead and air it out," he offered, smiling at her. "Did I leave old food?"

"No, hidden socks.  Marsette is finding hiding socks and stinky stuff.  She is not happy and it is not making Gibbons or Twirly happy either."  She poked him again then went to give that message.

"I see what you meant in the car," Sirius offered, eating a bite of vegetable.   Remus looked at him. "Long and interesting talk.  Somehow Harry convinced her that Alexander would get into stupid boy stuff if they didn't watch him."

"You is better be eating!" Twirly called. "Twirly is making ice cream for dessert."

Alex finished off his plate and half of Harry's, then cleared his throat.  She came out with the ice cream, handing him the biggest one.  "Thanks, Twirly.  If you want to, you can talk to McGonagall about our diets.  I'm sure she'll be happy to help."

"Good!  She is being fierce protector and mother-like person.  She protect my stupid boys."  She patted them both and headed back into the kitchen.

A male house elf walked in and bowed, kissing Alex's hand.  "Master Alexander, Gibbons is finding all your old games and some is being missing stuff."

"Go ahead and buy new ones if it won't break the budget for the party," he said, patting him on the head.  He was an ancient house elf.  "Thank you for helping with this."

"Gibbons is proud to serve Master Alexander.  He is nicer and smarter than last Mistress."  He disappeared.

Alex popped his neck.  "I like praise," he said happily.  "Hey, Harry, can I get brushed again tonight?  My fur's still messy thanks to Draco."

"Sure," he said, grinning at him.

"You're... you're an animagus already?" Remus asked politely.

"A wolf. I figured out how to do it a few months back," he said happily. "I got bored."

"Keeping him entertained is a chore but most of us enjoy watching him go insane when he's bored," Harry told him.  "He gives the Weasley twins wonderful ideas when he's bored."

"What can I say, I make a good muse," Alex offered smugly.

"You are," Harry agreed.  "What're you doing your paper on for Defense?"

"Um, something harmless, but making it sound like a huge threat, so when he goes looking, people laugh at him like he deserves," Alex said before taking another bite of his ice cream.

"Who's teaching Defense?" Remus asked.

"Lockhart," the boys groaned in unison.

"Thankfully Alexander annoyed him enough that we've now got research time," Harry offered. "He's been teaching me from the real defense books in the library. He's pretty good.  He goes over each one with me until I get it, then we move on."

"Sorry I'm not such a theory person," Alex offered him.

"I didn't know you had such an interest in the field," Remus said happily.  "I'd have thought Potions with your father and mother."

"Do you remember her?  Sirius said you might."

"I do," he agreed.  "She was a wonderful young woman.  Always fairly shy but very smart.  She hid it behind her shyness but when you provoked her, the world might as well end until she got done with you.  She got us a few times for picking on your father, Alexander."  He grinned at him.  "I can share what I remember with you tomorrow if you want."

"Please.  Dad told me some, like how she used to always bake when she was thinking.  That's why Slytherin gained ten pounds her fifth year."  Both older boys chuckled and nodded.  "I'd appreciate that, thank you, Mr. Lupin."

"Call me Remus," he suggested, smiling at him.  "We can go over what you've been teaching Harry as well.   Perhaps teach him together over the holidays?"  Alex beamed and nodded, sitting up a bit straighter.  "Eat.  Before it melts."  Alex dug back in as only a young teenage boy could.

"He said we're his guardian-in-laws," Sirius said with a grin.

"It makes sense to us," Harry agreed between bites.  "Alex, where am I staying?"

"Probably the usual room.  Marsette?"  She appeared with a quiet 'pop'.  "Is Harry in the same room?"

"Marsette is putting Harry Potter in the blue room this time.  The other room sprung a leak last week.  Gibbons fixed it."  Alex nodded, smiling at her. "Marsette is airing out your room, Master Alexander.  Much stinkiness.  She is being cleaning it tomorrow.  Other two is being in the purple room."

"That's fine, thank you, Marseette. Did you get our stuff from the trunk?"  She nodded.  "All mine is too small again."

"Marsette is going with you to shop," she said with a frown.  "You boys is not being good about shopping alone.  Marsette is going with you tomorrow!"  She popped out to tell the other elves.

"They really are forceful," Remus offered.

"They are," Sirius agreed. "Harry convinced them he'd do stupid boy stuff."

"As did we at their age," Remus agreed with a smile for him. He grinned at the boys.  "Why don't you two finish up and head to bed?  We'll get you up at a respectable hour tomorrow."

"Not before ten," Alex moaned, finishing his ice cream.  "I'm done, thank you!" he called.  "Going to bed now!"  By the time he got up there, his windows were closed, his bed was warmed, and his pajamas were laid out for him.  He looked at the old things.  "They haven't fit since last year," he called.  He stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed, putting his wand under his pillow.  The house elves came in to put up the pajamas, making notes about what he'd need to get.  They'd have to call the bank for him too.

***

Harry walked up behind his godparents the next morning, watching them watch him sleep.  "Take his wand," he advised.  They both stared at him. "Seriously.  It's a reflex now."  He looked around.  "Twirly?" he called quietly.  She popped in.  "Can you grab Alexander's wand so we can get him up?"

"Twirly is a house elf.  House elfs is not touching wands," she said firmly.  She looked at him.  "Master Alexander is being so peaceful for once.  No nightmares.  Oh, well."  She snapped her fingers and a loud noise went off beside the bed.  Alex just rolled over and pulled the covers back over his head.  "This is not being a good sign."

Remus smiled.  "Accio Alexander's wand," he called softly.  It landed in his hand. "Go for it, Harry.  Let's see a pro."

Harry snorted.  "Make sure I'm not too banged up later."  He ran in and pounced him, making the house elf scream in fear.  He grinned back at her then started to rudely shake Alex.  "Come on!  Time to get up!" he called loudly.  Alex pushed his face away.  Harry laughed and threw the blankets back, staring to bounce on the bed.

"Really, Potter, there's easier ways," Draco said from the other doorway.   "Mother brought me," he said smugly.  He shot a beam of heat at Alex's legs, making him shriek and flail, which knocked Harry onto the floor.  Alex glared and muttered, then pulled the covers over his head.  "Ah, one of those mornings."  He walked in and leaned down, whispering in his ear.  Alex whimpered so he continued until he got a grumbling, complaining, walking zombie headed for the bathroom.  "Twirly, Master Alexander is awake and headed for a bath, keep him up," he ordered.  She nodded, heading that way.  He smirked at Potter.  "How do you manage it most mornings?"

"We jump on him and make him wake up to knock us off," he said, sitting up.  "What did you say to him?"

Draco just smirked.  "He'd have to tell you that."  He looked at the other guests.  "Morning," he said politely.  "Twirly, is breakfast ready?"

"Misses Narcissa is having tea," she reported.  "Twirly is cooking bacon right now."

"Ah, yes, his drug of choice in the mornings," Draco said, heading that way.  "You might as well dress and join us.  We're going over the final plans for the party."  He walked into the dining room a few minutes later.  "Alex is in the bath."  He kissed her on the cheek before sitting down.  "He did shoot down Mrs.  Parkinson gently."

"How?"

"By pointing out he liked boy wizards and not witches," he said delicately.

"Ah.  The honest approach."

"In part. In truth, Pansy reminds him of his grandmother.  She does me as well.  A manipulative little girl who likes to harm others."  He accepted his plate with a nod to his mother's.

"I only need toast, Draco.  Quit encouraging them to fatten us all up."

"Twirly is telling Mistress McGonagall that the school's elves are all stupid and lazy.  Master Alexander is being losing weight again.  They not feed him enough!" she said firmly, adding more toast to her plate.  She went back into the kitchen, coming out with plates for the rest.  Harry smiled as he came in.  He got the biggest plate and the other two seats from last night were plated as well.  Then she went to finish her master's food.  He was good to her and she would make sure he ate enough.  She brought out a plate when she heard him stumbling down the stairs, waiting for him to flop down before sticking the food in front of him, bacon and ham facing him.  He grunted and nodded so she got him some tea as well, patting him on the hand before leaving.

Alex slurped some tea, hissing a bit.  "Hot," he moaned.  He looked at his aunt.  "Hi, Auntie.  How is everything looking?"

"Just fine, dear.  Should I make sure Pansy comes to my event?"

"Please, Merlin, yes," he pleaded.  "She keeps telling everyone I'm going to be the next Dark Lord and that she'll be my wife."

"Have you told her no?"

"Repeatedly.  So has my father.  She refuses to listen.  That's why I'm snubbing her."

"Very well.  The World Cup is in two years.  Would you like to come with Draco and I, Alexander?"

"That depends, can you leave the blond appendage at home?"

"Which one?" Draco asked dryly.

"The other one with the penis, Draco.  You know who I'm talking about."

"Dear, eat more food and have more tea," Narcissa ordered gently.  He nodded and complied.  "Thank you, Alexander."  She smiled at him.  "I'll try but I can't promise.  Should we get you separate tickets?"

"Please," he agreed between bites.  Twirly came out and poked him.  "I'm eating!"

"Not fast enough.  More bacon is being in the kitchen when you need some."  He nodded, letting her refill his tea.  Then she bowed to Narcissa.  "Is Misess Narcissa needing anything?"

"No, Twirly, thank you anyway."  The house elf nodded and went back into the kitchen.  "They've gotten quite fierce since your grandmother died."

"Yeah, that's all Harry's fault," he said, grinning at Harry, who pinched him.  "Ow!"

"Be nicer or he'll have the twins prank you," Sirius teased.

"He already does," Harry complained, frowning at his friend.

"Fortunately not me yet," Draco said smugly.  "Otherwise we'd have to duel."

"And I'd still win, Draco.  Love, you know all I'd have to do is mess up your hair."  He grinned at him.

Narcissa coughed, hiding her smile.  "You're a very strong wizard, Alexander.  I'm sure you could find less tragic things to do to my baby boy."

Alex smirked. "Why?  That's not hard to put up with unless it's Granger's hair."

"I saw her hair.  Very amusing," she assured him with a smile.  "You?"  He nodded.  "Why?"

"She made me want to hug people when they get mushy."

"Ah.  A fate worse than death for a boy your age."

"Any boy of any age I'd say," Sirius joked, making her smile.  "Narcissa, how have you been?"

"Well enough," she admitted.  "Yourself?"

"Much better than I had been," he admitted, smiling at her.  "Where might your husband be?"

"Nope, sorry, he's mine," Alex said firmly.  "Even the aurors know he's mine for killing my mum." Narcissa looked shocked. He stared her down.  "He knows it too, Auntie.  I love you and Draco dearly and Draco is probably safe from me as long as he's like you."  She nodded, relaxing some.  "Unless someone tries to put me on that medicine again."  She nodded at that and he was sure no one would ever try it again if she had her way.

"Mother, Alexander has also asked me to help him find a boyfriend by fourth year.  Greg, myself, and for some odd reason Ron Weasley as well.  Do you know anyone suitable?"

"Only in Slytherin, my son," she promised, smoothing over his hair.  "I wish you would leave it down for a while."

"I like it pushed back, mum," he complained, frowning at her.  She sighed.

"It curls around his ears like a girl's."  Alex popped another piece of bacon into his mouth.  More appeared on his plate.  "I've got to eat the rest too," he complained.

"Dig in," Harry joked.  "She's determined you're going to gain weight."

"She's more than determined, she's stubborn," he complained, eating the fulling breakfast.  "What did I need to do today?"

"Talk to Gringotts about your paternal grandmother, get new clothes, make sure everything's set for the party," Harry replied.

"You make an admirable secretary," Draco joked.  His mother pinched him, frowning a bit.  "Sorry, mother, Alex."

"It's fine," Harry assured her.  "I'm used to him trying to pick on me. You really should get him some new material though.  It's getting repetitive.  My friends and I were looking forward to new insults this year."

"Harry," Alex complained.

"Don't worry, Potter, I've got some wonderful new insults for you. I'm sure it'll be quite fun when we get back."

"There is a truce on this house," Alex said firmly.  "The only person who gets to throw fits and beat people is me and Twirly.  Got it?"  Draco and Harry both nodded, leaving it there.  "Thank you!"  He looked at Narcissa, who was chuckling lightly.  He finished his breakfast, putting down his fork.  His house elf appeared.  "I'm stuffed," he said before she could suggest more food.  "Feed Remus, he looks hungry."  She handed the new bacon to Remus, who smiled and took it, sharing it between him and Sirius.  "Thank you, Twirly."

"Twirly or Marsette going with Master Alexander to visit bank and clothiers."

"I think I can handle it," he complained.  She poked him. He glared and she shrank a bit.  "I can do it.  I'm sure Harry wants the time to catch up and there's a lot to do for the party."  She nodded, heading back into the kitchen.  He shook his head.

"I have to go anyway," Draco assured him. "Mother?"

"I'll go with you boys so Lucius can hide in the study."  She smiled at Alex.  "You have grown."

"I'm trying hard not to get too big too fast," he offered with a cute grin.  "Sirius said he shot up six times in one year."

"I remember," she assured him, smiling at him then at Sirius.  "You should head to Gringotts then call us when you're done, Alexander."

"Sure, Auntie."

"Want me, Alex?  I know you hate paperwork."

"If your mum doesn't mind."  Narcisssa shook her head, handing over a vault key to him.  "Thanks, Auntie.  Harry, spend some time and wander.  There's a great spot out near the gazebo.  It overlooks some of the minor hills we have around here. If the neighbor's cows are in the right field you can see them too."  He smiled and nodded.  "We'll be back probably right after lunch," he announced.  Draco finished up and followed him out.  He had to stop in the study to get a vault key but then headed off through the floo to Diagon.  The boys wandered up the alley, seeing what was new.

Draco pointed at the new brooms and Alex shuddered.  "Some day you'll have to learn how to fly."

"I do it perfectly well upside down right now," he complained.  "I hate flying."  He walked him up to the bank, smiling at the goblin who came out to meet them.  They both had personal vault managers.  "I was told to come in to talk to someone about my paternal grandparents?"  The goblin lead them to its office, pointing at some chairs.  "Also, we need money out to go shopping.  We're growing again."

The goblin looked at them.  "I can see that."  He looked at the boy.  "You're Alexander Birmingham, correct?"

"Yes.  Sirius Black said something about a Markham?  A Delores Markham?" he offered.  Draco looked sideways at him.  "My paternal grandparents, Draco."

"Oh.  I thought they'd be McNair's since he was their cousin."

"No, other side of the family if I remember right," Alex offered, then shrugged.  "I was told repeatedly to ask."

The goblin got up and went to look in a file cabinet, coming back with the family tree.  It was specially marked when someone died and their vaults were unclaimed.  He spread it out on the table, looking at him.  "It appears there's many relatives who you're tied to."

"Man, I thought the Black Family Tree was bad," Draco complained, looking it over. "At least you're only tied into it a few times.  My mum's one and my cousins and then about four generations back again."

"Three," the Goblin said, pointing at that crossover.  He looked at the boys.  "Give me a few moments to check for other heirs, gentlemen.  Would you like to go down to your vaults while I do this?"

"If you wouldn't mind," Alex said politely.  "Thank you for your help."

"It's what I do."  He called in a cart goblin.  "Griphook, bring them to their vaults.  Check their keys as well.  I'm handling an inheritance."  It checked the keys, then led them to his cart, taking them down there to get money.  When he came back, he nodded at them. "Thank you, Griphook."  He looked at Alex's large bag.  "Needed a lot of clothes?"

"We're throwing a party," he admitted with a grin. "I was going to escape and get some more comics as well. My friend Ron really likes them."

"I'm not going into muggle London with you," Draco said firmly.

"That's fine.  I can sneak down the street and back while you bask in the sun at the ice cream shop."  Draco nodded, accepting that.  They both looked at the goblin.  "Was there something else I have to fill out paperwork on?"

"The marriage contract...."

"Was broken, thankfully," Alex assured him.  The goblin nodded at that.  "What about my paternal grandparents?"

"You have one cousin.  Nadalia?"

"She died last year," Draco told him.  "She got hurt in a duel and died of the injuries.  St.  Mumgoes had her."  The goblin went to send someone to check on that, getting a folded up message a few minutes later.  Draco smirked at Alex.  "You're treating me to ice cream if I'm going to wait on you."

"Sure," he agreed, grinning at him.  He looked at the goblin as he came back.  "More bad news?"

"I'm afraid so," he admitted.  "Mr. Malfoy was correct, she is dead."  He tapped his finger on that one, marking her on that and all the other family charts they had in the bank.  "We need to update these."  He looked at the boys.  "There's been a few unclaimed vaults on each side.  We'll have to pull the wills to make sure there's no clauses."

"That's fine.  I'm at the house, you can send it out there to me," Alex promised, smiling and shaking his hand.  "Draco will be out for the solstice party but Narcissa is throwing her usual one.  She's at the house right now if you wanted to talk with her."

"I probably should."  He looked at the forms in front of him, then at Alex.  "I do see your emancipation paperwork listed."  Alex nodded.  "That's fine.  Where is Mr. Potter?"

"At my house.  His godparents are staying with me until after the party."

"Very well then.  Thank you, Mr. Birmingham."  He tipped his head.  "Probably within the day."

"That's fine.  We've got a bit of shopping to do."  He stood up.  "Come on, Draco."

"Fine, Alex."  He nodded politely at the goblin then headed out after him.  "Did you see what I did?" he hissed as they walked over to the money change desk.  He sighed and groaned.  "Alex!"

"I did see it, Draco, give me ten more seconds."  He handed over the second bag he had carried up.  "I need that in muggle money."

"British Pounds?" the goblin asked.  Alex nodded.  "All that?"

"I need to pick up some more comic books before my party," he said with a grin.  The goblin sighed but did it for him.  Alex tucked that into his pocket then they were off to Madam Malkin's.  "Hello, Mistress of the Cloth," he said cheerfully. "I've grown, yet again."

"That keeps happening," she agreed, smiling at him. "You as well, Mr. Malfoy?"  He nodded.  "That's fine then.  Just uniforms?"

"No, the complete kit," he sighed.  "My arms and legs both grew," Alex complained.  "Nearly a month ago."  She clucked her tongue and got to work finding him clothes.  Draco's usual fitter came over to get him outfitted.  "I need something nice for the party," Alex told her.  "I'm hosting and I said casual clothes."

"I saw the invitation you sent me," she promised, smiling at him.  "I always like to get notices of such things.  We've seen a few kids in here getting clothes for them.  Most of the parents were satisfied by the notice that it was casual clothes but some did get some nicer dress robes."  She got him spiffed up, then let him look at himself.

"Good, some length," he said happily.  "How about something soft and warm for that night?"

"I have a very nice cashmere sweater," she assured him, going to get the baby blue sweater for him.  Along with a pair of black dress pants.  She fitted everything and let him kiss her on the cheek before paying her, then she watched as the boys sent the clothes home.  Then they headed up the alley way.  She smiled at their backs.  Those two were so cute!

***

Lucius walked up to where his son was lounging, staring him down.  "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for Alex to get done getting his muggle comics," he admitted, eating another bite of his sundae.  "We're here with Mum's permission."  He sat up when he saw Alex, smiling at him.  "Have fun?"

"More or less.  I'm going to have to go to a speciality shop for some I missed," he admitted, sitting down next to his buddy.  "Ah, Lucius."

"That is not how you address an adult, Alexander.  Your grandmother taught you better manners than that I'm sure.  Or at least she tried to beat them into you."

"You never heard?  I was emancipated last year," he offered smugly.  Draco nodded to back him up.  "My poor Draco here is so jealous, but this just means I can spoil him more."

"I told you I'm not dating you," he reminded him, giving him a little shove.  "Behave, Alex."

"Why?"

"Because I asked?"

"Hmm.  I'll try a bit more then," he offered with a grin.  He turned it on Lucius. "How has your day been so far, Lucius?"

He sneered.  "Why is my wife at your house, Mr. Birmingham?"

"The party I'm throwing so you guys don't get all the kids in my age group."

"Oh."  He shuddered.  "Better you than us.  Draco, come along.  I'm sure your mother meant for you to return hours ago."

"She said I'm to escort him back, Father."  He finished his sundae and the waitress came by to take the empty dish.  He nodded politely at her.  Alex grinned at her.  "Go get your other comics, Alex."  Alex grinned and hugged him then headed off.  "You could sit and chat with me, father.  It shouldn't take him much longer.  Either that or call Mother.  The bank found a few ancestors who had unclaimed things and they said they'd be calling her today since it was on her side of the family."

"When were you at the bank?"

"This morning. We've both outgrown all our clothes.  She sent us to get fitted and find something for the party."

"You are attending the family one."

"Mother said I wasn't," he said calmly.  "I'll let you two decide that and tell me if you don't mind."  Lucius sneered down at him. He put up his feet.  "I'm sure it'll only be a few more minutes.  She doesn't expect us until after lunch."

"You'd only get into trouble and get unsuitable ideas," he hissed.  "Head back there now, son.  Unless you wish to be disinherited?"

"Gee, father, and then who would be the family's heir since mum can't have more kids."  Lucius looked stunned.  "Alex pointed that out.  I'm the last of the Malfoy line.  Unless you've been out spreading yourself around?"  Lucius glared and he swallowed. "I'm just saying that harming me isn't in your best interests unless you plan on having another child and raising it alone since Mum can't and most of the other purebred witches are married.  Unless *you* wanted Pansy Parkinson?  Alex cut her free because he likes wizards."

Lucius glared at his son.  "Home, now.  Before I make your fondest wish of a sibling come true.  I'm sure I can find one somewhere."

"Yes, but will the bank honor it?" Narcissa asked from behind him.  She looked at her son.  "Alexander?"

"Getting muggle comics. I refused to go into the muggle world with him.  He said he had to visit a speciality shop for some of them."

"Fine," she agreed.  "Come home for lunch, Draco."

"Yes, mother."  He stood up and smoothed out his clothes. "Alex already paid."  He smiled at her.  "Was I mistaken in getting clothes for Alex's party instead of ours?"

"No, I want you at his.  That way you won't have to hide this year."  She took his arm, smiling at him.  "Do be careful," she hissed in his ear.  He patted her hand and smiled at her, walking off.  "Lucius, are you coming back with us to Birmingham Hall?"

"No," he ground out.  "I still have business to do today."

"Very well.  We'll be home for dinner, dear."  She smiled gently at him.  "I'm sure I can leave Sirius and Mr. Potter in charge of Alexander for the afternoon."  He shuddered, his face tightening up.  She took him back to the manor, patting him on the back. "That is a very dangerous game, my son."

"He started it and Alex is right.  Unless he can suddenly pull another child out of his arse that's suitable by the will, I'm the last Malfoy heir ever.  If he loses me, the precious bloodline he's worried and ranted so much about is gone."  She nodded, looking complacent. "Therefore he won't ever hex me again without realizing there's a drastic consequence.  After all, I could turn gay like Alex."  Then he smiled sweetly. "He's very tempting."

"He is," she agreed.  "He's also very beautiful, my son.  Just be a bit more careful in the future.  That was too blunt and he'll be in a rage later."

"Yes, but he still can't produce a child out of thin air that would fit the bloodline's requirements," he said quietly.  "It's good for him to think that I have plans ahead of him.  After all, you won't get a grandchild until he's long dead."

She laughed.  "I realized long ago that you would one day rival your father and surpass him.  Make sure I don't make a grieving mother instead of a widow, Draco.  It would not be as pretty for me to be a grieving mother."  He nodded, taking that advice.  "Now, I've got it all set up for Alex.  All he has to do is look pretty and show up.  Which of you got the light blue sweater?"

"Him, mother.  It looks wonderful on him."

"Good."  She smiled at Twirly.  "The light blue sweater belongs to Alexander," she told her.  "Put his things up."  She nodded, taking that package to put away.  She smiled at her son.  "Did you get uniforms?"  He nodded, helping her into her seat.  "Such a good boy, Draco.  Try to stay that way a bit longer, all right?"  He nodded, sitting next to her.

Alex came in an hour later, smiling and carrying a huge stack of comics.  "I'm back," he called.  Marsette came out and took the stack from him.  "Shelve those.  They're new.  I haven't gotten a chance to read them yet."  She nodded, taking them to his study to shelve them.  "Have the goblins called, Auntie?"

"To speak to me. I had no idea I had a cousin who had an unclaimed vault."

"I asked them about my paternal grandparents," he offered as he sat across from her.  "Can I have a snack?  Just something light, Twirly?"  A plate of food appeared in front of him.  "Thank you. This is more than enough."  He handed Draco some of the sandwiches.  "The goblin over our vaults pulled out the family charts."  She hissed and he nodded.  "There were a great many marks on it.  They asked about Harry and Sirius too."

"They headed there a few moments before I left to get you two," she assured him.  "Who were your maternal grandparents?"

"Markham?  Delores Markham was my other grandmother."

Her face lit up.  "I remember her!  She was a very kind woman to me when I married Lucius.  Gave me a wonderful quilt she had made by hand."  She smiled and patted him on the hand.  "I'm guessing that's where your mother's gentler nature came from, Alexander.  She was a wonderful woman."

"I wish I'd known her," he admitted before taking a bite of his sandwich.  "I just wish I'd known mum."  He ate another bite, shaking his head.  "So, it's all finalized?  Everything's good?"

"Just fine.  Did you want to give out party favors?  Or prizes for some of the games?"  He tossed the half-full bag of coins on the table, making her smile.  "That's very generous of you."

"I'm figuring if we keep points, I'll award twenty to the top two, ten for the next two, and five each for the next four."  She smiled and nodded. "I need to count it to make sure I've got enough left."

"There's got to be at least a hundred there," Draco noted, finishing his sandwich.  He dusted off his hands.  Twirly brought him a soda and he opened it, taking a long drink.  He made a face, looking at the label. "How can you drink this?" he asked.  Alex took it and gulped it, then grinned.  "Fine. You're used to bubbling, fizzing, acidic tasting things to drink."

"I like my soda, Draco. It's who I am."  He finished up his lunch and put that and the can aside so the elves could take them.  Then he leaned on his elbows on the table, supporting his face.  "Auntie, I'm sorry if we upset your husband.  Feel free to stay tonight if you need it."

"I won't need that sort of protection, Alexander," she offered gently.  "He wouldn't dare harm me ever again.  If so, he knows I can divorce him and tell everyone everything."  Draco snickered.  "He did make plain that you pointed out that he was the last heir of the family as well."

"Good. It's good for him to be scared.  Draco, watch out for Pansy and Millicent.  He'll try to marry you to one of them."

"Millicent was promised to Flint," he said grimly.  "He's not thrilled with that."  Alex nodded, understanding that.  "Pansy knows she won't get me after pushing me aside for the fantasy you represented."  Sirius and Harry walked in.  "Long lines?"

"No, long family tree," Sirius complained, sitting down.  "Alexander, they said they were ready for you whenever you were."

"Sure.  Draco?"

"Not again," he moaned.

"Oh, come on.  We didn't even visit the sweets shop."

"True."  He looked at his mother, who smoothed a piece of hair with a smile.  "Fine, we'll be back after those two stops."  He got up and headed after Alex, heading back to the bank.  They walked in and walked around Lucius, heading right to their manager. "You said we were done?"

"You are," the goblin agreed, pointing at the chairs.  They both sat down.  "There are only two contentious entries.  Both of them say you must reach the *age* of consent."  Both boys nodded and Lucius walked in.  "This is not for you to hear," he said.

"Surely Alexander won't mind...."

"Yes I do."  He looked at the goblin.  "Remove him or remove the blood stains."  The goblin nodded and removed him with security's help.  Then he came back.  "Sorry, I have been told he's the one who killed my mother."

"Indeed?"  He nodded.  "Interesting.  We had heard the same," he admitted, looking at Draco.

"He's my best friend.  He's in no danger, nor is his mother," he said calmly.  The goblin nodded, getting back down to business.  "Is either of them my grandparent's?"

"No, theirs mentions heirs and a suitable person to govern it if they have not reached their majority, as is usually stated. As you are emancipated, that does qualify.  It has in the past by the legal codes."  Alex nodded at that.  "So we can release those to you.  You do have one more cousin we have found, and it appears to be Mr. Potter himself."

"It's a good thing he's my guardian then, huh?" he asked with a grin.  The goblin nodded, smiling a bit as well.  "So, what do I have to sign?"

"Many, many forms," he admitted, pointing at the stack beside his desk.  "Mr. Malfoy has a few of his own in there.  As does his father."

"I wanted to ask.  Am I the only heir registered in the family?" Draco asked quietly.  The goblin nodded.  "Good.  My father's losing brain cells every day.  I'd hate to see him have to be put into a home or something and then us have problems with the bank."

"No, you are the official and only heir on the paperwork."  He heard the commotion and growled.  "He's back."

"He can come in for this part of it.  I do not want him to know what assets I have."

"It is not his right."

"That doesn't mean he's not nosy and a dead man if he tries anything."  The goblin smiled and nodded.  "Then let him quit bothering the others once you've told us the scope of what we're signing."

"Vaults 115, 128, 445, 668, 1547, 11659, and 55772."

"Anything in the five digits is a complex," Draco said, frowning a bit.  The goblin nodded.  "Alex, I expect a *lavish* birthday and holiday gift this year," he said, looking at him.  Alex just grinned and nodded. "You've already picked it out?"

"Of course."  He grinned at the goblin.  "Hand me a quill so I can get started.  How about Draco's?"

"His mother's family has access to three additional vaults and the children of one of them have their own specifically for their needs in Hogsmeade," he offered, handing those forms to Draco.

"I'll need a vault up there for my use too," Alex sighed.  "I hate being a second year.  I had to go over a month without properly fitting uniforms because I'm only a second year."  The goblin nodded, leaving it at that complaint.

"I don't see why you two can't go," Draco admitted. "You're both adults.  You could both quit school if you wanted."  He signed his name and handed that one over, going further down the stack.  "I hate paperwork."

"You and me both.  That's why I bring you to these things, so you can read questionable things," he said, holding one up.  "This says I have to marry within six years?"  The goblin nodded.  "I'm gay."  The goblin stared at him.  He shrugged.  "She turned me off women for life.  I might marry but it'll be a male."

"Very well then," he said, taking a few other pieces of paper.  "That was only one vault and we'll have to see about the regulations on that with that admission," he admitted.  Alex shrugged and nodded, going back to signing things.

"How old was that one?" Draco asked as he finished up.  He handed the last one over but kept the quill just in case.  The goblin found one spot where he had to initial.  He did so and handed back the quill.

"Nearly six hundred years.  They've been waiting for a very long time.  We may be able to claim it in the name of the rest of the family and then shift it over."

"Mum never married.  She was running for her life so she couldn't," Alex reminded him.  He handed over another paper.  "Fatherhood clause?"  The goblin nodded, putting that aside.  "Which was that one?"

"115."

"Ah."  He sighed and went back to it, Draco helping by skimming things.  "What happens if I sign one and can't do it?"

"The key will disappear," he promised.  "Most of those are quite outdated clauses and wills.  I will get our legal department onto them to make sure.  Such unclaimed wealth does us no good. It's only costing us money."  Alex smiled at him for that.  "We could use those vaults for others."

"I'm sure you could."  He finished his last one and let the goblin have the quill too.  Both were handed back to him and he got to initial a few more places.  Finally he was done.  Alex sighed.  "All right, what about the Hogsmeade vault?"

"I can have one set up and divert a thousand galleons each year?"  Alex nodded.  "Diverting back when you graduate or leave the school?"

"That would be more than acceptable," Alex agreed with a kind smile.  "Thank you."

"You are quite welcome.  I will get these to legal and bring you the keys tonight."  They nodded.  "Along with an accounting of the contents."

"Good, because I need to shift some stuff around.  I don't like the dark arts stuff being in the same place as the gold," he noted.  "It might infect it and harm one of you."

"We put all such dangerous things into a side vault in your complex, Alexander."  Alex nodded, smiling at that.  "Does anything else need to be discussed?"

"No, I think that should do it," he admitted, standing up and shaking his hand.  "Thank you for your help and prompt attention to this matter."

"It is what I do."  He shook Draco's hand, watching as they walked out to be ambushed by the boy's father.  He made the notes for Legal and sent everything down there, then made another note about what he had witnessed to send to the management team.  Mr. Malfoy was quite correct to warn them of possible troubles coming from his father.

Alex walked out of his room at the yelling, coming down the stairs.  "Twirly," he called, ending her shrieking.  "What is going on?"

"The manor is being invaded by goblins!" she said bitterly.

"They're here about the wills, Twirly.  Take him to my study."  She nodded, taking him that way.  "Draco!" he yelled.  "Visitors!"  He came trotting down the stairs.  "We're being invaded by goblins."

"Interesting image."  They headed into Alex's study together, shaking hands with their goblin representative.

"Boys, thank you for humoring me."  He laid out the paperwork.  "There was one other will that was hinging on a child or no children.  Do you plan on having children, Mr. Birmingham?"

"Not a bloody clue," he admitted.  "I'm not sure I can't taint one."

He made a note about that, and about the boy's age.  That got sent back into his briefcase and back to the Legal department through the small portal in there.  He looked at them both.  "The Legal department has decided that the other wills are invalid since there are no other heirs and no way to know if your future includes offspring. Therefore those three ancient wills are now null and void."  Alex nodded, grinning a bit.  "That does leave you with about seventeen vaults however."  Alex winced and he nodded.  "Indeed.  I understand wanting to keep the various vaults separate so you can sort through them but the fees would get out of hand quickly.   We do have a solution.  We do have complexes that each other vault is sealed off.  That way you could separate them out.  Even the ghost in one of them."  Alex leaned back, putting his feet up, waving him to go on.  "It would cheaper on the rental fees.  That could eliminate about ten of them, which would leave your new one and this family's vaults."  Alex nodded slowly.  "Should you consider putting them all into a complex vault, the same could be done. Or we could simply lock one up with the dark arts materials you stored with us."

Alex looked at Draco.  "That last sounds better," Draco admitted.  "What is the rental fee for those?"

"Usually a hundred gold a year."  Alex raised an eyebrow.  "We can waive it for the next seven years, which would give you ample time to consolidate the gold further.  That way you may be down to one complex at that point.  Or we do have the option of a larger complex vault.  We have one that has nine chambers."  He handed over the inventories.  "As you can see, most of the ten inheritances are only gold."  Alex nodded, scanning the list before handing it to Draco.  "Are you naming him manager?"

"No, but helps me.  I don't understand all this stuff.  What's going to be the best option?"

"Personally?  I would move the greater amount of gold in the gold-only vaults into one.  That would eliminate eight of the ten.  The others have things like pictures.  You could put them separately in a single complex along with the others you already have, except for your Hogsmeade vault.  You could shift all the money together and even use a smaller complex if you wanted.  Bigger chambers, but less chambers.  We have one that would rent for fifty gold a year and again, it would be rent free until you graduated due to these circumstances."  He took the list back from Draco.  "It is your choice."

"Draco? Do you think anyone would get really upset?"

"No.  I'm not sure why your Grams didn't do that.  Other than to say I've got six vaults at Gringotts."  Alex nodded.  "I can ask my mum if you want, or Potter."

"Is he still here?"

"Resting," Alex told him. "Twirly?"  She opened the door. "Please get Harry and Sirius up?  They've got stuff to do with this goblin as well.  Also, is Auntie Narcissa available?  I wanted her opinion on something that could piss some people off."  She nodded, going to get them.  He grinned at the goblin.  "She yells at the school's house elves too, says they're lazy since I lost some weight."

The goblin shook his head. "Many house elves are that loyal."  He looked in his briefcase. "Ah, the Legal department has answered.  They're going to vacate that will as well."  He handed over that decision, watching the young man smile.  Harry tapped and walked in, getting a wave.  "Mr. Potter.  We have the inventory and the keys you need."  He handed them to him, then another folder to Sirius.  "Those are for the Black family."

"There's more than me."

"Yes, but you are the head of the family. You decide who does and doesn't have access."

"Ah, wonderful."  He smiled at his godson. "I'm feeling a bit vindictive."

"I would too," Alex assured him. Narcissa knocked then walked in.  "Auntie, why did my aunt have so many vaults?"

"So she could say she had them."

"Would it piss off anyone if I consolidated?  I'm paying atrocious fees for vault rental and they've got a new complex open."

She shook her head.  "I don't see why not, Alexander.  It's wise in the monetary sense.  It costs you much less to do it that way."  She came in further, taking the list once Alexander nodded that she could.  "Oh, my.  No wonder!"

"And those are just the inheritance ones, Auntie.  That's not to mention the seven we have in the family.  What was suggested was that I consolidate into a smaller complex vault.  Put all the ones that are just gold together.  Put the ones with other things into separate chambers, then reserve a chamber for the dark arts stuff I stored down in the family's original complex vault."

"It is a wise move," she assured him, handing it back.  "Her having so many was mostly for status."  Alex nodded, smiling at her.  "Is that why you keep taking my poor son?"

"He's got a much better head for this than I do, Auntie."  She smiled and nodded.  He looked at the goblin.  "Can we just change numbers so we won't need new keys to the larger complex?"

"I'm afraid not, but it can be done tonight," he offered.  "I can get you keys tomorrow.  Nothing should be that desperate?"

"The party is paid for already," Narcissa assured him.

"Then we can do that.  How many are we talking about?" Alex asked, sitting up at her frown.

"The bigger complex would be more reasonable.  The smaller one you'd have to dig to get into the gold chambers."  He scratched behind his large ear.  "That one for fifty gold a year would do for that and a single vault for the dark arts materials would be better anyway since you worry about radiation."

"What's in there?" Sirius asked.

"Don't ask.  It's a long damn list.  It made my father shudder openly enough to shake his robes," Alex said seriously.  He looked at the goblin.  "We could do that and get the new keys tomorrow?"  He nodded.  "Then let's do that.  It does make more sense.  Also, I suppose I'll have to make out a primary will?"  The goblin nodded.  "By when?"

"Within the month if you could.  We do not like to have that sort of gold lying around unclaimed."

"That's fine," Alex agreed, smiling at him.  "I thank you.  Feel free to use my study to talk to Harry and Sirius."  He got up and walked out with Draco.  "Wow.  I'm really rich."

"Nearly as rich as I am," Draco teased, punching him on the arm.

"Ow," he complained, punching him back.

"Boys.  No one looks good in bruises," Narcissa reminded them as she walked out and closed the study door.  "Draco, your father claims you had him thrown out of the bank?"

"No, I had him thrown out when he tried to butt in," Alex told her firmly.  "He's a nosy bastard and he doesn't need to know what I'm worth.  Unless you're giving me Draco for my holiday present?"  She shook her head, but kissed him on the cheek.  "Shoot. I need a boyfriend, someone to talk to and play with.  Someone who cuddles for now."  Draco gave him a hug. "Thanks."  He gave him a squeeze back then let him go, both of them straightening their shirts out.  "Auntie, why did I suddenly want to be petted all night when I learned how to change forms?"

"You did what?" she asked.  He grinned and looked around before changing down.  Then back.  She gasped and hugged him, squealing like a little girl.  "Oh, I'm so proud!  Alexander, that's wonderful!  At your age that''s really wonderful!"

"Draco helped me by brewing the potion and helping me research," he admitted, grinning at his buddy.  "Didn't you?"

"I did," he agreed.  "McGonagall was quite pleased as well."  His mother got off Alex and hugged him, making him a happy boy.  "Thanks, mum," he said quietly.  "Now, why does he like to be petted?" he asked once he was free.

She smiled.  "That's elementary human nature, my boys.  He never had anyone cuddle and pet him when he was younger. Since he's found it, he craves it."  Alex looked stunned, then nodded once, shaking his head a few times.  "It'll work out fine, Alexander.  You'll find a wonderful wizard who likes to pet you as often as you like in both forms."  She pinched his cheek then went to tell Sirius the news.  He knew but wasn't mean about it.

"There is being no shedding on Marsette's rugs," Marsette yelled from the upper hallway.

"Yes, dear," Alex called fondly.  "Sorry.  I need brushed again."  She glared at him and he shrugged. "I do."

"Not you.  Marsette speaks to Mr. Doggy Black."  Draco snickered at that.  "He is!"  She went back to her cleaning.  She hated animal fur in woven rugs.  It always stuck.

"Sirius, it sounds like we both need brushed," Alex called.  "Marsette said she hated us shedding."

"Twirly not seeing any dogs," she said from behind him.  Alex grinned and changed.  She squealed when he changed back.  "You be doggy man!"

"Actually, I'm a wolf," he offered with a grin.  He grinned at Draco.  "He helped me."  He strolled off with Draco.  "Should I even bother trying to wrap your present this year or hiding it?"

"Give it to me after the party. I should be able to hold off that long," he offered with a grin.  His father came out of the floo.  "Mother's in Alex's study talking with a goblin about her family's vaults."  He looked at Alex, then at his father.  "He's decided to consolidate the vaults so he doesn't have to deal with so many keys.  Seventeen was just too much."  He walked Alex off.  "Do you think the black sweater or the blood red one?"

"Either's good for me," Alex promised, grinning at him.  "Lucius, what did I say about coming near me?"

"I only appeared to get my family and bring them home."

"Auntie," Alex called.  "Your spouse is here!"

"Thank you, dear," she called back, coming out of the study.  "Draco, are you coming home tonight?"

"Yes, he is," Lucius said firmly.  "The same as he is coming to *our* party."

"Now, dear, why would he want to be so bored again this year?" she asked, straightening out his collars.  "Draco should come to Alexander's party.  We've always liked Alexander and it was very sweet for him to ask me to help him so we wouldn't have to deal with a group of bored and angry children that night.  I think it's a marvelous idea to carry on until they're truly old enough to come to ours.  After all, even Alexander was bored last year and he's technically an adult."  Lucius sneered at that.  "Draco, I'll expect you to be good and behave until we come back the day of the party.  Alexander, do you know who's doing the reception line?"

"I am.  Harry is since he's officially my guardian.  I thought Sirius, Remus, and Dad could hide in another room until things got too loud.  Or Dad could do the line with me but he'd have to take stuff for the hives he'd get."  She smiled and nodded.  "Are Harry and I enough?"

"Of course, dear.  That's perfectly fine.  Remember to mingle a lot.  I'll try to pop around to check on you during the event, but my dear little boy is quite a good host.  He can help you if you get momentarily stuck."

"What happens if someone comes who isn't invited?  Like Pansy?" Alex asked, taking her arm to walk her back to the floo.  "Do I politely tell her off and tell her to come see you?"

"No, dear. You can hire a guard to check names before you greet them. Maybe even a herald of sorts to announce them so you can greet them by name."  She smiled.  "I like that idea.  I'll find you one tomorrow."  He nodded, smiling at her.  "If she does show up, he'll turn her away and if she raises too big of a stink, let her in but banish her to the garden or something.  Just ignore her like she isn't there.  There's always one or two crashers."  She stroked his cheek.  "Be a good boy and make me proud."  He nodded, letting her go.  "Coming, Lucius?"

"Fine," he complained, staring at his son.  "I'll expect you to come home sane, suitable, and still a virgin."

"I'm one now?" Draco muttered, just loud enough for him to hear.  "Mum, what constitutes a virgin by the family's laws?  Is it groping or not?"

"At your age, groping is too much," she said firmly.  "Tell me I don't have to talk to some young woman?"

"If you wouldn't mind," he offered, giving her a sweet smile.  "Miss Adama?"  She pursed her lips.  "Her second daughter is a year in front of me and keeps groping me.  I know the technical definition of virgin but I wanted to clarify it in for the family's meaning since father warned me to come home one."

She pursed her lips.  "Dear, just don't have sex and that'll be enough.  Not even with Alex."

"Not ready for that yet," Alex assured her.  "All I want is cuddled."

"If he wants to cuddle you, I wouldn't be adverse to it, but I will expect grandchildren some day, Alexander.  Keep that in mind, sweetie."  She disappeared through the floo, Lucius stomping after her.

Once they were alone, they broke down in giggles, leaning on each other.

"And I thought I was a pervert at that age," Sirius sighed from the hallway.  "The goblin left.  He'll be back tomorrow at ten since I told him Alex doesn't seem to like mornings."

"He's a night person.  He always has been," Draco assured him, smiling at him.  "My father told me to come home sane, suitable, and a virgin."  Sirius let out a high-pitched giggle, turning to pound the doorway in mirth.

Harry looked at them, shaking his head. "You're both insane.  Alex, take Ron.  His mum doesn't need grandkids."  He grinned at Draco's glare.  "She doesn't.  She said she wants some in another ten years or so."

"I doubt Weasley is suitable for Alex," he said firmly.  "Any more so than Gregory is.  Though he's not interested."

"Guys, Ron likes bushy haired girls apparently," Alex reminded them.  "Not an issue with the Ron."  Harry just grinned. "Unless he's confessed his deep, dark desire for my bum?"  Harry shook his head.  "I didn't think so.  Neville either."

"You definitely need someone better than him," Draco said firmly, walking Alex off to his room to talk with him about a suitable boyfriend and what one was.  Neither of the mentioned candidates were and he would not see his friend drug down by the wrong mate.

Harry giggled, grinning at Sirius.  "I told you he was jealous."

"Alexander is a good friend.  I'm sure it's staying there for right now.  But how about you, kiddo?  Any girls or boys you like?"  Harry blushed and shook his head. "Are you sure? No deep desire for someone like Hermione perhaps?"

"Eww.  No!"  He shook his head.  "That's gross!"  He walked off.  "I'm not ready for a girl yet.  When I am, I'll brag about my conquests."

"Thank you, godson, you just made me a happy man," he said with a grin, rushing up to tell Remus, hopping over the hair-picking house elf.  "Sorry, I'll have him brush me."  He opened the door.  "Remus, Harry likes girls."

"I'd expect him to like girls," he said dryly, smirking at him.  "Do you think I should?"

"I think you definitely should, especially with the low-brow talent we've gotten so far."  He walked in and shut the door, locking it behind him.

Harry came up the stairs with a plate of cookies and a glass of milk.  "Marsette, if anyone asks, I'm headed back to my room for a read and a nap.  Get me up for dinner?"  She smiled and nodded.  "Thank you, Marsette."  He went into his room and shut the door, laying down on his bed with some of Alex's comics.  He always let them borrow them before as long as they weren't ruined.

***

Draco fluttered past the receiving line, getting pulled in by Alex and hissed in the ear.  "I noticed.  I also called Mum to tell her she was here," he replied quietly.  "Just relax.  Stay with those you know.  She'd never get near your Gryffindor friends."  He walked off, going to compete in the board games.  He was fairly good at most of them.  He noticed the sign hanging up about the prizes, sneering at Ron when he caught him staring at it.  "Hoping for a Christmas dinner?"

"No, but my mum deserves something more than what I got her.  I was thinking a nice bracelet."  He grinned.  "Didn't Alexander tell you about the truce?"

"Oh, I knew long before you got here."

"Been hanging about?" Neville asked with a grin.  "This is a wonderful house!  I can see why you would!  I'm sure there's all sorts of hiding spots and things to do here."

"Usually," he admitted.  "I've been here on and off for years, Longbottom."  Alex came in and hissed in his ear again.  "Really?  Why?"

"She wants to chaperone."

"No bloody way.  Mum said she's to appear at hers."  He walked out with his friend. "Mrs. Parkinson?  I was surprised your daughter showed up but you as well?  I know Mum was looking forward to introducing you and Pansy to a more suitable mate tonight."  She looked stunned.  "Seriously.  I know she found a wonderful young man but he and his parents will be there, not here. That's one of the reasons why we're having this, so those youngsters ready to move up in the world are given more time alone."  Her face brightened. "I can find Pansy if you want to make her go change."

"Please, Draco. That's ever so nice of you," she offered with a smile.  "Mr. Birmingham, nice to see you again."

"Thank you, Miss Parkinson.  I hope you don't hold it against me but I couldn't doom either of us to such a loveless and barren match."  She nodded, patting him on the shoulder.  "Mr. Goyle.  Greg!" he said, moving to hug his friend.  "Come right in.  Aren't you going to Auntie Narcissa's party tonight, Mr. Goyle?"

"I was, but I wanted to look this one over before leaving Greg here," he admitted.  "May I?"

"Of course.  Greg, we're running a board game competition in a bit for some prizes.  That's in the ballroom.  The dining room has food and drinks.  The auxiliary library has some more of my comics set out.   Both studies and the main library are locked.  As are the rooms upstairs but the bathrooms.  Those have signs.  There's going to be a snowball competition right after dusk out back in the gardens, and then we'll have hot cocoa, and there'll be dancing in the ballroom later for those who want to."  He smiled and greeted his next guest.  "Dean, come in.  Put your coats in the closet there," he ordered, pointing at it.  "Don't forget it later, we'll be having a snowball fight."  That got a grin and Dean headed off to find his friends.  Greg and his father were wandering around and Draco brought Pansy back. "I'm sorry you couldn't stay with us, Pansy, but Draco said his mother's got something really special tonight for you.  You have a good time over there."  She smiled and waved, walking out on her mother's arm.  He checked to make sure they were gone, then slumped a bit, getting a pat from both Harry and Draco.  "Did you warn your mum?" he asked Draco.

"I did, and she agreed.  There would be a few decent prospects tonight who wouldn't care to wait until she's old enough, and a few other children as well."  He sipped his punch.  "Am I allowed to compete in the board games?"

"It's open to everyone and there's a few in there you've never seen, Draco."

"Fine.  Thank you, Alex."  He wandered that way.  "I saw Millicent."

"Really?  I thought she was spending the hols with the Flints," he called after him.  "That's fine though, I like Millie."  He checked the outside, then the guest list that was being magically marked off as people handed over their invitations.  He had to mark off a few who hadn't handed them over, but otherwise they were nearly done.  "There's only about ten names left," he offered.  He checked his watch.  It was still twenty minutes before the party should start.  His father showed up, finally, and he hugged him.  "Dad."

"Thank you, son."  He walked inside, looking around.  "You and Narcissa did a very good job."

"Mostly her and Twirly," he admitted with a grin.  "The house elves have been incredible during this."  He looked around.  "Greg's dad is around here somewhere.  He was checking things out before he left Greg with us.  Mr. Goyle?"  He came out of the auxiliary library.  "Professor Snape is here."  Snape shook his hand when he came over, walking off with him.  He looked at Harry again.  "Are you holding up okay?  You can get some punch if you want."

"I will once everyone's here."  He smiled at Hermione as she walked in.  "Hi.  Welcome to Alexander's house."  She kissed each of their cheeks and put her wrap in the closet.  "No parents?"

"No, they let me floo from the Leaky by myself," she admitted, smiling at him.  "It was nice to have the outdoor floo port."

"The indoor one never would have held," Alex said with a grin.  "There's board games that way," he said with a point.  "We're running a competition.  We'll be doing a snowball fight later as well."

"Thank you.  Punch?"

"The dining room," Harry said, pointing past he adults.  "They were in there putting on the anti-tampering charms."  She smiled and headed that way. Then she went to look at the board games.  Harry grinned at him.  "We might just pull this off."

"Yeah, and we've got plenty of soft places in case some kids get stranded because their parents are running late," he offered with a grin for his father.  "Mrs. Parkinson took her daughter to meet the very special people Auntie Narcissa called in to have her meet tonight."

"Wonderful," he agreed, smirking a bit. "Mr. Malfoy?"

"In with the board games, learning the rules."

"Ah.  Offering prizes?"  Harry and Alex both nodded.  "Very well then.  What is the entertainment calendar for tonight?"

"First the board games and the comics, with some music floating around.  A snowball fight after the board games are done, probably right after dusk.  Then some hot cocoa for those who want it while the ballroom is finished so we can dance and hang out in there."

"Very well then," he agreed.  "It should be a nice night."  He nodded at his student walking up with her mother.  "Miss Florian."

"Professor Snape.  Are you a chaperone?"

"Indeed.  Alexander asked me."

"Oooh."  She smiled and hugged him and then shook Harry's hand.  "Where are we starting?"

"Board game competition but I've got to warn you, Draco and Miss Granger are already in there gnawing at each other to win top prize."  She giggled and headed that way and he smiled and shook the parent's hand.  "We do have chaperone's here and all the bedrooms are locked securely against even us."

"Thank you, Mr. Birmingham.  That's very kind of you to reassure me."  She smiled.  "I'd best be off.  It was wonderful of Narcissa to talk you into this so we didn't have to drag Flora with us tonight.  I'll be back later."  She went back to the floo port that went specifically to Narcissa's party.   The other one went anywhere you called.

Alex checked the list.  "That leaves about six people," he noted. Snape snorted and rolled his eyes.  "It's my first event, I want to do it right."

"You're doing fine, Alex," he reassured him.  "In a few moments you can put a house elf here and then go mingle and mix.  Try not to win your own games.  It looks bad."

"I'm only going to cheer."  He smiled at the other students hurrying their way.  Narcissa was strict about her party and most of the parents would be heading there. There'd be a few stragglers, but that was fine.  "Welcome," he said, shaking hands.  "We're starting off with some board games and some food in the dining room.  Feel free to wander around.  Don't try the locked doors I made sure they're staying locked myself."  The parents smiled at him.  "The other floo port heads directly to Narcissa Malfoy's ball if you're going there," he warned.

"I hadn't been, but thank you, young man."  The parents left, heading home.

Alex checked his list.  "One last name."  He looked around. "Harry, it's Seamus. Isn't he coming?"

"He's got a cold so he wasn't sure," he admitted.  "I can floo him."

"Isn't he in a muggle household?" Sirius reminded him.  Harry winced and nodded.  "For now, we'll set Marstte out here and let her see if he comes or if anyone unexpected shows up.  Go mingle, you two."  Marsette was summoned and stationed there then they went to get some punch and some snacks before heading back to mingle and chat with those.

Alex went to chat with the people reading his comics, giving out cards to the place he had gotten them.  Greg just gave him a hang-dog look. "If you stay over tonight, I'll let you in rest of my stash in the study.  I can't let anyone in there, it's got the Gringotts stuff and my temporary will started."  Greg looked shocked.  "Yeah, there's money in the family," he sighed. "They demand it over a certain level.  Especially since we had to move vaults."  He winced a bit.  "So I'll let you in later.  By the way, stay late.  I've got your holiday present in my room."  Greg grinned and nodded, going back to his reading.  Alex wandered on, going to talk to others, regreet some of them, and cheer on the competitors.  Granger had of course arranged how everyone was going to play and who was keeping score on each game.  The tournament was in full swing when he got there so all he had to do was watch and cheer or boo when the Operation buzzer went off.

Periodically he got up to mingle, finding Seamus having a cup of cocoa the first time so he greeted him, nearly getting sneezed on.  He showed him around a bit, then left him to mingle.  The next time he got up to wander around and check on everyone, someone stopped him next to the door.  "Yes?" he asked the man standing there.

"Is this the Malfoy ball?"

"No, this is the Birmingham party for the younger set so the parents don't have to drag their children to a boring society event," he offered with a grin.  "I'm Alexander Birmingham.  Did you have a child here?"

"No, just checking.  I must have gotten lost."

"That's fine."  His danger sense was off the scale and screaming at him.  "Professor?"  Snape came out of the drawing room, coming over to him.  "He needs to go to Narcissa's and you said you wanted to check on her anyway.  Would you escort him? He seems to have gotten rather lost."

"Fine."  He looked at the man, then at his son.  "Behave until I get back.  The others are in the kitchen hiding from the music."

"Fine."  He smiled as the man walked off and paused his father.  "Something's not right," he hissed. His father nodded and left.  Alex closed the door. "Marsette, anyone who wants in, if they're a kid they're good.  If they're parents it's fine.  If not, I need to know immediately or tell Sirius.  That man was not correct somehow."  She nodded firmly at that. "I mean it."  She nodded again so he went to the kitchen.  "We just had an adult crasher who thought this was Malfoy Manor," he announced as he walked in.  Both adults and Draco stared at him.  "You're out already?"

"Getting some more punch.  I won my last game and I can't move to the next for another ten minutes.  What's going on?"

"I don't know.  I sent him with dad because something was really wrong.  That voice that used to scream at me about McNair and Vinnie's original stepmom just went off in my head like a banshee."  Draco went to call his mother from the fireplace in the study.  It was quiet and mostly empty in there.  Alex looked at the others.  "I told Marsette if anyone else showed up like to tell you and me."

They nodded.  "That's pretty wise.  Some people will hurt kids," Sirius agreed.  "Especially if their parents aren't their friends."

"Or just to hurt the children.  Why do you think he wasn't right, Alexander?" Remus asked.

"He was standing up straight, but his hands were stuffed deep in his pockets, even within the warmed area. His coat was open and he didn't have on a scarf or a hat, but his hands were like that.  Besides, he asked if this was the Malfoy ball.  Just like that, nothing else."  They both stiffened and he looked wary.  "What?"

"The Malfoys have more enemies than anyone else," Remus reminded him gently.

"Draco's calling his mother and I sent him with father."

"Your father can spot dangerous people," Sirius said, relaxing a bit.  "If worst comes to worst, can we put everyone up for a few hours?"

"Sure, not a problem.  I expected the dancing and fun to last until their parents started to show up around one anyway."  Both adults nodded at that.  "We've got more than enough rooms to put up my personal friends as well.  Vinnie and Greg both know they've always got rooms here.  Ron and his family are mostly here, but Percy, and they should be fine."

"Everything is great," Ron said as he walked in, grinning at him.  "What happened?"

"Someone odd just showed up at the door so we're making contingency plans," he admitted, frowning a bit.  "Nothing to be worried about.  He wanted Auntie Narcissa's party anyway."  Ron sighed and nodded, grinning again.  "I sent him with dad."

"Mate, your dad is a scary guy.  He's sure to spot any other scary people."  Draco came in.  "Everything okay over there?"  Draco nodded, looking calm. "Hermione and Harry sent me to find you.  Our game got done early."

"I'll be there in a minute," he replied.  Ron nodded, leaving them alone.  "Your father found explosives on him. He was stopped by the wards."  He took the drink Sirius held out.  "Thank you.  The aurors were watching anyway.  He was led away screaming about the Dark Lord returning in my father."

Alex hugged him.  "It'll be fine, Draco.  We can protect the kids and your parents can apparate before anything happens.  That's why we have wards."  Draco nodded.  "Now, go beat Granger at the next game and calm down.  Let us worry.  They know it's going on and so do we."  He nodded, heading that way.  He went to the door, looking down at his house elf.  "Can you tell explosives?" he asked quietly.

"No, but Marsette can tell dangerous people."

"Good.  Tell me and then Sirius if another one shows up."  She nodded and he went to back to watch the games, catching Harry's eye.  Harry came over to sit beside him, so he whispered to him.  Harry nodded and forced himself to relax as well.  "We'll handle it."

"Good.  Because I'm terrified," he whispered.  Harry gave his wrist a squeeze.  Marsette came in and got them a few minutes later and Harry went out, looking at the person in uniform standing there.  "What happened?" he asked, stepping outside.

"We needed to ask Mr. Birmingham about the man who showed up at the Malfoys," he said gently.

"He's inside.  Marsette, go ahead and get him."  She nodded, getting Alex from the games.  He came out.  "He needs to know about that guy who showed up here."

"He asked me if this was the Malfoy ball.  Just like that.  Nothing about the holidays.  He wasn't dressed overly well for the party. He also wouldn't take his hands out of the pockets, even out here."  The auror nodded, writing that down.  "My danger sense started to howl in multiple keys so I called Professor Snape, giving him a head's up and a reasonable excuse to lead him there.  They have more wards there and we've got the kids."

"I understand, Mr. Birmingham.  That's a very good idea..  I agree fully with that."   He wrote that down.  "Is there anything else you remember about him?  Anything that seemed strange?"

"No, just that I have a really good sense of danger.  It was screaming in so many keys, man."

"I don't want you boys to worry.  It should be all right.  No one else should be trying the same thing."  Alex nodded. "We're going to put an officer here and there.  So tell Mr. Malfoy as well since I heard he's here."

They nodded, going back inside.  Alex went to talk to Draco since he was free, getting a nod.  "So we can worry together," he said quietly.  Draco nodded and went to get something to nibble, something he did when he was stressed out.  Alex went to find his other buddies, finding them with the other Slytherins, gathered around Draco.  "It's all right.  They just put an officer there and here," he said quietly, glancing around.

"Why?" Millicent asked.

"A guy just showed up here asking for that party and he was making my danger voice scream."  They all shivered.  "He was caught by the wards there."

"With explosives," Draco finished quietly.  They all gasped.  "He was caught, we're safe."

"We are," Alex agreed.  "We've got an officer and they've got an officer.  We'll be fine and everything should be fine later on too.  Trust me, if someone comes here, they're facing me."  They nodded.  "So let's go pretend nothing is wrong and we'll let you call from the study throughout the night.  Just keep it cool. Not everyone here has parents there."  They all nodded, going to make subtle calls.  The others who knew kids who had parents there talked to their friends so they could get their calls in.

Alex herded everyone out after awarding the winners, Draco taking second place to Ginny Weasley, which shocked him to no end. Everyone got a snack on the way through to the backyard.  Most everyone got a second bite to eat on their way back from getting their jackets.  Then the snowball fight commenced.  The rules were simple, last man standing won.  It came down to the trio of Goyle/Crabbe/Malfoy and the Weasleys.  The other students cheered on their favorite house.  Goyle went down and Alex laughed, tossing a fun snowball at Draco.  Ron pitched one at him.  "Hey!"

"You've got to play too!" Ginny called, pitching one at him.  "Harry did!"

"Fine!" Alex sighed, handing off his mug of cocoa to his house elf.  Then he gathered up some snow and hit Ron.  "Since you wanted me," he said with a smirk.  "Still want me, Ron?  You sure?"  He hit the twins, knocking one down.  "Ha!"  Then he turned and hit Crabbe.  It came down to Ron, Draco, and Alex and it became brutal.  Ron tried to get out of one of them, then got distracted when the other one teamed up on him.

"Come on, Alexander!  Have some house loyalty," Ron complained, pelting Draco and ducking another of Alex's snowballs.  "New friends over old friends!"

"Fat chance!  I know shit on him that if I spill he'll never quit blushing!" Draco shouted, pelting Ron with a snowball in the face.  Ron fell gripping his nose.  He smirked at Alex.  "Do I win?"

"Hell no," Alex snickered.  He pounced Draco, getting him down into the snow to pelt him.  "Give up or else I'm going to tell about a certain dog...."

"Fuck you!"  He flipped over and got Alex on his back. "This isn't a snowball fight!" he complained, getting him back.  Alex bucked him off and made a one-hnaded snowball, getting him in the forehead, making him groan and bend over.  "Bastard!"

"No shit!  My mother was on the run, of course she didn't get married!"  He got him again then got up, dancing around.  "I win!"

The twins looked at each other, then at Ron.  Then they pounced Alex into the snow, making him one sorry Gryffindor for not sticking up for their brother.  "Only we..."

"Get to annoy Ronniekins," the other finished, rubbing snow in his hair and down his collar.

"Hey!  Keep it up and I won't give you any more ideas!"  He got away from them and got one down, then kicked the other lightly in the stomach.  Then he got them both with a bit of help from Draco, who was cackling in glee. Then he got Draco again and stood back up.  "I think I win!"  Everyone cheered.

Draco got up and pushed him down, walking over him as he headed inside. "The cocoa is inside."  Everyone headed that way, chatting and smiling.  Draco smirked back at the guys in the snow.  "Coming?" he asked.  He slammed the door.

Twirly came out and shrieked.  "Stupid boy stuff!   You is be getting inside before you freeze!"  She came out to haul the twins up and swatted them until they ran inside.  Then she got up Ron and then Alex, swatting them both.  "Stupid boys!  You freeze!  Bad yous!"

"I'm going, I'm going," Alex complained, heading inside.  "Twirly, get me that nice purple sweater.  Before I catch a chill."  He let Ron go first, then closed the door.  "Can I have some too?" he called.  Draco handed him one with a smug look.  "It had better not be poisoned.  Or else dad will be really pissed."

"There's no way I want to mess with your father," he assured him.  "Besides, I could easily make any antidote to anything that I could brew up."

"Point."  He stared him down as he took his first drink. "Better not be a love potion either."

"No, no potions of any kind.  Your house elves would poke me again," he said dryly, heading into the dining room.  "Is the ballroom ready?" he called.

"Yes, Marasette is saying it is ready," she called back.  "Music is needing to be started."

"Guys, there's music and dancing in the room where we were playing games," Alex announced. Everyone got more food and headed that way.  Sirius started the music and the kids got together to dance and chat on the floor.  It was clearly not dancing *together*, but the girls were dancing with the girls and the boys were dancing with the boys and it was all making for some happy kids before their parents could come back.  It was nearly one when most of the parents came back, taking most of them home. The core of his friends were still there, except the Weasleys because their mother had come at a decent hour to take them home.  Alex looked around at his friends, grinning and relaxing.  "Millie, call your mom," he called, waking her up.  "That way I know if you need to stay over."  She got up with a moan, heading for a fireplace to call.  He looked at Draco. "You're welcome to stay over," he said quietly.  "You and the guys."   He nodded, going to wake up Greg and Vincent.  He looked around. Harry was asleep in the corner on a stool.  He walked over there, but Remus waved him off, going to get his nephew himself.  He went to check the house, finding a few more kids.  He got them to the fireplace to call their parents at the other party, getting some irritated parents but a very thankful hostess.  He waved at Narcissa behind someone's back.  "I can keep the three twits here, Auntie.  Tell the Goyles and the Crabbes they're good and already sacked out."  She nodded, smiling at him. "I don't see anyone other than Hermione."  He went to wake her.  "Hey.  You're way late if you have a curfew."

"I was supposed to go home with Ron," she said with a yawn.  "I'm in trouble."

"You can try to call," he offered.  "The others are gathering their parents now."  She nodded, going to call, yawning the whole way.  She came back a minute later, shaking her head.  "That's fine. You can squat across from Harry.  Twirly?"  She came out of the ballroom.  "Go ahead and unlock a bedroom for Hermione, Vincent, Greg, and make sure everyone else goes home."  She nodded.  "Draco's staying too."  She nodded so he headed up the stairs.  "Night, all!  It was a great party!  See you at breakfast!"  He unlocked his room, then went inside, laying down.  He barely made it out of his shoes before he was asleep.

***

Remus answered the floo, frowning at the officer on the other end.  "What's happened?"

"It's the Malfoy estate," he said quietly.  "Is Draco there?"  He nodded.  "May I speak with him?"

"He's still asleep.  Let me get him up."  The officer nodded.  "Come through."  He got up and headed up the stairs at a run. He pounded on Draco's door before walking inside.  The boy was starting to wake up so he shook him.  "Draco, there's been something happened and there's a law enforcement officer here."  Draco stared at him.  "I'm getting Severus up.  Find some clothes and come downstairs.  Remember, we're here for you."

"Get Alex up," he said quietly.  "Tell him it's an emergency, it usually works."  He nodded, hurrying to get Severus up and then Alex.  Draco got up and ran his fingers through his hair, then put on his clothes from last night.  He headed down the stairs without his shoes on, frowning at the agent as Snape came down behind him. "What happened?"

"Are your parents here?"  He shook his head.  "They're not at home and I'm sorry, but neither is your home."

"How is that possible?" Snape demanded.  "What do you mean the house isn't there?"

"I'm saying this really bad but it's like the house caved in."  He stepped closer.  "We haven't seen any bodies.  We've done a search magically and in the mundane way."  Draco stiffened.  "We have no idea what is going on. Are you sure they're not here?"

"No," he said quietly.  "My father's not welcome in this house.  My mother might be.  Twirly!"  She came out.  "Are either of my parents here?"  She shook her head quickly. "Get Greg and Vinnie up, have them call home to see if they're there.  They're not at home and something happened to the house."  She popped off, going to wake them up.  "Alex!"  He came running down the stairs.  "Something's happened."

"What?"

"The house was caved in?" Draco asked.  The officer nodded.  "I need to see it."

"You need to put on shoes first," Alex said quietly.  He patted him on the back.  "You're coming back here unless they're found."  Draco looked at him. "Want me to come?"

"Please."  Alex nodded, going to get everything so they could go.  He came back and found Draco putting on his jacket.  He handed him his shoes, then put on his own cloak.  Draco let Alex walk him back to the outdoor floo point, sending themselves to the doorway of the house.  Draco looked at the shell.  Half the walls were gone.  A few of the areas of ceiling were still standing.  He could see parts of the ballroom and the kitchen.  Draco clutched Alex's arm, looking around.  "What the hell happened?" he hissed.

"I don't know anything that could do that," Alex admitted quietly.  Draco turned and hit him.  "Hey!"  He stood up again, looking at him.  "I don't.  Not even explosives."

"How do you know anything about explosives?" Draco asked.

Alex shrugged.  "I don't know.  Probably something I was forced to study."  He dusted the snow off his cloak.  "Okay.  First, there's a person in a higher uniform than the guy who came to get you."  He pointed at him.  "We go badger the fuck outta him."  He looked back.  "Dad, check with Greg and Vinnie?"

"I'll be right back."

"Who are you?' the guy in the uniform called.

"Who the fucking hell are you, idiot!  This is my fucking house!  Where in the bloody hell are my goddamned parents!" Draco shouted, stomping toward him.  The guy looked alarmed.  "Where in the hell are they!" he shouted, grabbing him by the lapels and shaking him.  "Where are my bloody parents!"

"Mr. Malfoy!  Please!"

"Tell me!"

Alex casually strolled over, removing the hands.  "Draco, he has to breathe to answer," he noted quietly.  He stared at the guy.  "Before you say anything about an adult, I am emancipated.  I am Alexander Birmingham and Draco is my best friend.  Now, either you give him something about what has happened or he's going to go off again.  He loved his mother, and occasionally his father."  He stared the man down, making him flinch and take a step back.  He fell backwards.  Alex moved forward and helped him up, giving him his most intense stare.  "What happened and what is going on?"

"We really need someone who's a real adult," he said weakly.

"Dad!"  Professor Snape came back, walking their way.  "He won't tell Draco anything."

"I would tell Mr. Malfoy what happened to his father."  Draco turned to look at him.  "Your mother helped Greg's mother home.  She was quite drunk.  Her husband had shut her out of the bedroom so she stayed to sit up with her to make sure she didn't die of alcohol poisoning."  Draco relaxed, nodding and swallowing.  "Relax.  Question him about your father."

Draco turned around.  "What happened?" he demanded. "Where is my father!"

"We're not sure yet, Mr. Malfoy.  Did you have any dark magic artifacts?"

Draco let out a bitter laugh.  "We're Malfoys!  What do you think!"  The officer flinched and nodded.  He lunged over, catching him by the lapels again, shaking him.  "Where is my father and what the bloody hell happened!"

"Draco!" Snape yelled.  Draco let him go, watching him fall again.  "We will find him."

Alex headed for the house, finding the auror who had come for the journal.  "Name?" he asked calmly.

"Tonks."

"Tonks, I'm Alexander Birmingham."  He shook her hand.  "I have a very sensitive focus on dark magic.  I sneeze.  This isn't dark magic."  She looked at him.  "This wasn't. Not the standard, British wizarding dark magic.  Otherwise I'd be sneezing my head off."

For some reason she accepted that statement and shrugged. "Okay.  What doesn't set you off?"

"Demonic.  Non-British wizarding dark magic.  I didn't sneeze at some Chinese some years ago but I did lightly at some Spanish dark magic."  She nodded, taking note of that.  He looked around.  "It almost looks like someone took a bite out of it."  She looked at him again.  "It does.  The hanging things are like the bits left behind when you take a bite."

She looked at him.  "Alexander, can you watch Draco for a few days?"

"Draco's one of my best friends," he said quietly.  "He'll be my brother."

"Thank you.  Now get out of here so we can test for demonic magic."  He nodded.  She went to get her boss from Draco.  "Sir, Mr. Birmingham told me what sorts of dark magic he reacts to.  He thinks it could be foreign dark magic or possibly demonic."

"We can test for demonic magic," Snape offered.  He looked behind him as Alex came back, handing Draco to him.  "Here, watch him."

Alex turned Draco's head.  "You're my brother in word and deed, you can be my brother in fact until we find him and your mum comes to stay with us.  Got it?"  He nodded, swallowing.  "I'm not sneezing," he said quietly.  "It's not our sort of dark magic."

"Demonic?" he asked quietly.

"It wouldn't be the first time," Snape admitted.  "He made some deals when he was younger.  I believe one was for his hair to always be lush, blond, and long," he offered dryly.

Draco glared at him.  "That's mean!"

"It's true," he countered. "I'm not going to say something nice just because he's dead."

"Point," he said weakly.  "I think I want to sit down."

Alex called up a chair and helped him into it.  "There, you sit, be the princess you are."  Draco glared at him so he smirked a bit.  "What? It's taking your mind off it."

"I agree," Snape noted.  "Sit and wait, Draco.  Let us check for demonic magic."  He nodded, taking a deep breath.  Alex stayed beside him to keep a hand stroking his back and

hair. He looked at the auror waiting.  "Come along, let us check."  He walked off with her, going to the center of the disturbance.  "My son is correct, this looks like something took a bite out of the house."

"I can see what you two do," she admitted.  "The last spell spell?"  He nodded and they picked different walls to cast it.

"No, he would have done it in his study," Draco called, stomping that way.  They let him open it and then he backed out.  "Hell!"

Alex looked at it.  "Stupify," he cast coldly, freezing the demon.  "Dad?  Demon?  Hellhound."

"Points to the demonic definitely," Tonks agreed, heading into the ballroom to check in there.  "I got a positive match for demonic magic in here."

"What was he doing that he needed that much room?" Alex said in awe.  Draco hit him again.  "Sorry!  Just wondering!"  He looked at the hellhound, putting up his wand to start the banishing he had studied last year.  He moved forward carefully, chanting in a strong voice.  Draco and his father stared but eventually it did poof up and disappear.  He relaxed.  "Good.  Just like Grams."

"You ...how did you do that?" Draco complained.

"Easy, Grams showed up my first year.  I made sure I knew how to counter her just in case," Alex told him, giving him a long stare.  He heard a howl and looked around.  "Shit.  Um, back away!  That wasn't a wolf!  That was dark magic!"  He sneezed.  "Oh, bloody hell."  He turned and ran, taking Draco back to the floo to the house.  They fell out the other side, his father tripping over him as he appeared out of the floo as well.  "That's it, I'm learning how to apparate," he groaned, pushing himself up.  "Draco, dad?"

"We're fine, he's on top of me," Draco groaned.  He looked at Alex.  "What was that?"

"Hellhounds.   Nasty creatures.  I can only banish one at a time."  He looked at his father.  "Aurors can apparate, right?"

"I heard her leave as I was running," Snape admitted.  "The idiot in charge I don't care about."  He got off Draco's back and dusted himself off.  "We should call someone."

"Greg, make sure your mom and Auntie don't head there!" Alex yelled.

"I already told them that," he said from the doorway.  "What happened?"

"Hellhounds," Alex moaned as he helped Draco up and stood up himself.  "I ache."  Draco scowled at him.  "Twirly, make some cocoa.  We could use the chocolate."  He helped Draco inside.  "Greg, go get your momma and auntie, bring her here."

"I can't.  Mom's not up yet," he admitted. "She was apparently really drunk last night."

"Draco?" Narcissa called.

"But your mom's here," Greg finished with a grin as Draco ran past him, pushing him aside.  He grinned at Alex, who had been pushed back down into the snow. "The elves have cocoa and breakfast laid out.  Need help?"

"Nope," Alex moaned, standing up and heading into the house.  He found Draco vowing to harm whoever had done that and clapped him on the back, taking off his cloak at the poking one of the elves was doing.  "Here," he sighed, sitting down.  Cocoa and breakfast appeared in front of him.  "Thank you.  Narcissa and Draco can stay here as long as needed," he told Gibbons, who was waiting beside him.  He nodded.  "There were hellhounds there.  Make sure our wards protect against that sort of stuff.  If not, call someone."  The elf nodded, going to check on that.  "And get Hermione up so she can go to the Burrow!" he called after him.

"Miss Squealy one already went there," Twirly said.  "She too skinny too but Misses Weazy seems to cook good.  Ron not too skinny."  She poked Draco.  "You eat."

"His house was just ripped up, Twirly.  Leave him be."

"Fine," she complained, adding more food to the table.  "Others up and waiting."

"They can come down.  I won't bite right now."  She nodded, going to tell them that it was time for food.  "I'm sorry, Auntie Narcissa. I managed one hellhound but I can't do a pack."

"That's fine, Alexander," she said quietly, soothing Draco's back.  "We'll be fine.  Thank you for your hospitality."

"Some of the house is still standing.  The rest looks like something took a big bite out of it."  She nodded, going back to soothing her son.

"I will kill that bastard if he did this to us," Draco growled, standing up.  "How can you all be so calm!"

"Easy. I'm taking a long range plan," Alex told him.  "I'm a fallback position and I told you earlier.  You're like my brother, Draco. You and your mother are more than welcome to stay here."  Draco punched the wall, continuing to growl.

"Draco, don't consider it destruction, consider it a chance to do some redecorating," she offered.  He looked at her like she was insane.  "There are many things I would have changed could I have.  Now I get that chance."  She noticed all the boys and Severus were all staring at her like she was insane.  "What's the downside really?  We have the whole family fortune.  We can make changes.  All the dark arts artifacts are now gone.  We'll both get full new wardrobes," she said, pulling her son closer again.  "We're free of Lucius forever, probably."

"Mother, I have the family fortune, you get the generous widow's pension," Draco told her.

"Surely you're not going to cut me off."

"No, of course not," he admitted.  "Just setting a fact straight."  He sat down.  "Mother, if the Ministry thinks he was doing this stuff all the time, they could try to confiscate the assets.  We could lose everything thanks to that bastard."

"Knocky, knocky!" a cheerful voice called.

"If that's a reporter, get rid of her," Alex ordered Vincent, who was nearer to the door.  He got up and went to do that.  He looked at Draco.  "I'm sure you're not going to become paupers, Draco.  I meant it. You're as close as my own brother to me.  You're always going to be protected."

"Then wouldn't your teasing and playing be incest?" Greg asked, eating a bite of toast.  Narcissa reached over and swatted him.  "Sorry, Aunt Narcissa."  He gave Alex a sheepish look.  "Sorry."

"No, it probably could be taken that way.  Hell, most of us are cousins anyway," he noted dryly.  "There's been too much inbreeding around here.  Inbreeding leads to little brains, little dicks, and irregular powers.  Who needs that?"

"Alex, it's much too early to discuss such things," Draco said calmly.  Then he swatted him.  "Shut up.  I don't want to find a use for mudbloods and muggle born trash."  Alex gave him that same sheepish look.  "You probably won't be breeding anyway."

"You don't know that.  After all, Pansy and Millie were talking about a plan to take some seed and artificially inseminate themselves to get the proper husband.  Then Pansy saw me listening."

"If you never utter another word on this subject for the next two years, I will harm her greatly for you once we're back at school," Draco vowed.  "Just shut up, Alex."  Alex sighed and went back to eating.  "Thank you!"  He rubbed his forehead as Ginny was walked in by Vincent.  "What do *you* want?"

"My mum sent this," she offered, handing it to him.  "She said if she can help, just let her know.  We've got a few trees in our orchard that could be transplanted and some other trees too if you needed some."

"You have trees?"

"We have many trees," Ginny said with a smile.  "We always have."  She looked at Alex.  "She also said to thank you for putting up with a squeaking, panicking Hermione.  She had no idea where the girl got to."

"She was sleeping in the study in the corner."

Ginny nodded. "I'll tell her that. Did you need anything from mum?  She's got a good supply of bruise potions and things laid in so Professor Snape can make more important things if necessary."  She nodded politely at him.  "She thought something more dangerous might need your skills, Professor."

"They weren't home," he assured her.  "Tell her we're fine and I don't need to make anything else at the moment, but I'll keep her in mind."

"Yes, sir.  Thank you for humoring my mum."  She smiled at Alex again.  "Thank you again for a wonderful party and Ron invited you over for the afternoon if you're not needed here, that way Draco can vent in peace.  Should I tell him no?"  Alex nodded.  She smiled.  "I thought so.  I'll head home now.  Mum said to thank you for giving her a night off too."  She smiled and waved, heading out.

Narcissa opened the letter, smiling at the gracious comments.  "She is a very nice woman," she noted, handing Draco the note.

"Why would we need trees?" he asked weakly.

She smiled and patted him on the back.  "In case the garden was destroyed as well."

"Oh."  He nodded. Then he moaned and held his head.  "I think I have a migraine."

"I've got some pain killers in my medicine cabinet," Alex promised.  "Go take some and pass out, Draco.  It's already been a long morning."  He nodded.  "I promise, if he shows up, I'm going to hurt him really a lot and let you finish him off."  Draco gave him a weak smile and walked off.  "Narcissa, you know I love you both dearly, but if Lucius comes back, he does not spend a night under my roof," he said quietly.   "You and Draco can stay nearly forever. Or until I get a boyfriend and gross him out with the sex.  Lucius is not to spend a night under my wards.  I don't care if he'll die without shelter and this is the only one within sixty thousand miles. He's not staying.  He can stay in Vinnie's bathroom or his basement, or in Greg's rec room, but not my house."

"If he comes back I may have to poison him anyway," she promised with a small smile.  "I should take a vacation.  I'm technically a grieving widow now.  I could visit one of the other houses.  I don't want to be a bother."

"I'm going back to school in three weeks.  What would I care if you're staying here?" he asked dryly.

"Good point. Maybe after you leave, dear."  She smiled at him.  "It really was a charming offer."

"True, it was," he agreed with a grin.  "Hey, Harry, are you not eating?" he called.

"Sorry, we were packing."  He came down the stairs.  "Did you need us to stay for an extra day, Alexander?  We were going to leave right before lunch."

"Whatever," he noted, flicking a hand around.  "After this, I'm going back to bed."  Harry smiled.  "Christmas afternoon as usual?"

"Sure," he agreed, hugging him briefly then heading back up the stairs.

Alex scraped his plate, then finished his cocoa.  "Greg, Vinnie, check with your parents before you make any big decisions.  I don't want them to freak out on me."  He pushed himself back. "I'll be up in another few hours.  At a decent hour."  He headed up to his room, finding Draco in there, one arm over his eyes.  "Needed a cuddle?" he asked as he took off his shoes and sweater, laying down next to his friend.  "Draco?"  Draco muttered something.  "What?"

"I said kill me."

"I can't do that, Draco.  Even in the heat of combat, I couldn't kill you.  I'd miss you."  He moved closer, cuddling him.  He even rested his head on Draco's shoulder.  "We should nap.  A decent hour will be coming soon."  Draco snorted but let him cuddle.  "Night."

"Night, Alex.  Don't think this means we're dating."

"Of course not.  You're a one night stand guy right now," he teased lightly.  Draco used the arm behind Alex to swat him on the arm, earning a laugh.  "Fine. I'll be a good teddybear."  He closed his eyes, letting himself drift off again.

Draco looked down at the first snore. "I forgot you did that."  He flipped onto his side, cuddling into Alex's chest.  He was very nicely firm and there. That's what he needed, someone who was there and who wouldn't disappear. Since he couldn't crawl into bed with his mother anymore, Alex would do.

***

Snape came down the stairs, stopping Narcissa.  "He crawled in with Alex."

"Why?"

"For the same reasons he used to crawl in with you.  Alex isn't wearing a shirt but Draco's fully dressed.  Nothing happened."

"Fine."  She walked him back down the stairs.  "We should wake them soon.  It's nearly lunch."

"Alex hardly ever makes it to brunch on the weekends," he told her. "We're lucky if he makes it up by the middle of the afternoon."  She smiled at that.  "They're not up yet," he told the elves.

"They should be.  They nap too long!" Twirly said.

"Do not disturb them.  Neither one got much sleep last night."  They wilted and went back to the kitchen and back to cleaning up.  He sat down on a couch in the sitting room, taking the paper to read.  He glossed past the article on the explosion or whatever.  "The ball was covered.  They called it delightful and nice not to trip over the children."

"I agree, it was," she said with a smile.  "Do you think they'll get together?"

"Draco is straight, Narcissa."

"Pity. He would make a fantastic match."  He looked at her.  "He would.  His mother was of the highest quality.  His father was probably decent.  I remember Lucius saying she was dating a Slytherin."

"She was.  Me."  He went back to his reading, leaving her shocked.  He smiled as Draco came wandering down the stairs.  "It's nearly lunch."  Draco growled and headed for the kitchen.  "Your hair is sticking up as well," he said more quietly.  The mother laughed.  "He's more concerned about his hair than his grades.  You should fix that."

"Dear, come see mommy when you're awake," she called.

"Later, mother.  Much later."  He took his cocoa back up the stairs, heading to his bath.  He heard Alex whimpering and went in there to check on him, finding him curled up in a ball as a wolf.  He sat down next to him, petting him gently until the dark brown eyes opened.  "Nightmares?"  The wolf nodded and let out a 'wuff' noise before changing back, letting Draco pet his friend instead.  "Did you have them earlier?  I don't remember getting kicked."

"No, I don't usually have them when I sleep with someone else anymore."  He put his head on Draco's thigh.  "Are you feeling better?"

"More calm.  If he comes back, I'll let you torture him before I finish him off."  Alex smiled up at him.  "I need to take a bath and so do you."  Alex reached up and smoothed some of his hair down for him.  "Thank you."  He grinned.  "I'll see you in an hour?"  Alex nodded, letting him get up and head back to his room.  Draco came back a minute later, finding Alex down to his boxer and socks.  "You have my present."

"I do," he agreed, grinning and pointing at his closet.  "The blue bag.  Vinnie's is in the purple paper and Greg's is in the blue."  Draco walked in and peeked, finding his present on the shelf.  He grabbed the bag and headed to his room, smiling when he looked inside.  "I like it, thank you!" he yelled before closing his bedroom door.

"Draco, it's not time to open presents yet," Greg called.

Vinnie stuck his head into Alex's room, finding him naked and heading for the bedroom.  "Where's mine?"

"Purple paper, the other is Greg's.  The red one is Ron's and the silver is Harry's."  Vinnie came in and got their presents, going to hand Greg's to him. "I don't need thank you letters," he called after him.  He headed into his bathroom, finding it already run for him. He sank in with a hiss for the really warm water, but dunked his head so he could do his hair.  That was the only thing he liked a shower for, doing his hair.  By the time he was done, some clothes were laid out, his bed was made, and his room was cleaned up.  He walked out with a towel around his waist, giving Marsette a look.  "I can dress myself."

"Marsette was supposed to give Master Alexander this letter when he was old enough," she said grimly, handing it to him.

He opened it with his teeth, then pulled out the letter to read.  He looked at her.  "How many others are there?"  She covered her eyes. "Marsette?"

"One for each year," she said weakly.  "One for each holiday."

"Thank you.  Take this to my father."  He handed it to her then got to work getting dressed.  He was sitting down to put on his socks when someone knocked. "I'm decent."  His father walked in with the letter.  "I'm not overly fond of the woman. Can't we go stomp on her ashes?"

"No.  I've ordered Marsette to bring me the rest of the letters.  She won't bring me the one for when you've reached your majority."

"Marsette, the courts declared me an adult," he yelled.  "The paperwork's with Gringott's."  He finished pulling on his socks and got up, following his father down the stairs.  He took that letter, looking it over.  "Oh, gee, if I sell anything off, she'll haunt me and make my life a living hell," he said dryly, handing that off as well.  He looked at his elves.  "Are there any others?"

"Mistress' closet and drawers had notes like that," Twrirly admitted, looking at her feet.  "House elves is being sorry for that, Master Alexander."

"It's not your fault she was an evil bitch."  He sat down.  "We need to pack up her room anyway," he noted.  They all nodded.  "I'll get to work on that today with Auntie's and father's help.  Draco can pack things neater.  Get some boxes so we can ship her clothes off to the poor."  They nodded, going to do that for him.  He looked at his father, who was scowling.  "All the dark arts stuff are still in a vault all by themselves in the bank."

"I heard.  It's a better idea than leaving them lying around here."  He sat across from him.  "Are you sure you're ready to go in there and pack her things knowing she left little notes about how worthless she thought you were?"

"I am.  If I get too upset, I'll go blow up a tree or two."  Snape nodded at that. "Can you help?"

"Of course.  I know Narcissa would if you asked her as well.  She's in her room."

"Let me get some tea.  I'll get her on the way up."  He went into the kitchen, taking his cup of tea and a few pieces of bacon before heading up the back stairs.  He knocked on his aunt's door, getting a smiling woman who hugged him.  "I'm going to pack her shit and send it to the poor.  Wanna help?  Draco and the guys can pack. You should know that she left little notes to make me feel bad through everything."

"Of course I'll help.  Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"Yeah.  It's not like they left her body in there."  He headed to the end of the hall, pulling his wand to undo the locking charm he had put on the door.  With his hands busy, he kicked in the door, bringing Marsette running.  "Sorry, my hands were full."  He walked inside and coughed.  "Open a window, Marsette.  One that won't make it too cold."  She nodded, opening a small window in the bathroom and putting a fan in front of it.  "Boxes?"

"Gibbons is getting some from the stores," she admitted, looking down.  "Marsette can help."

"It's helping me get over her, Marsette.   This way I can torture her clothes and things since I can't do it in person."  She nodded.  "Did you want anything in here as a reminder of her?  Not as *clothes* but something to put on when that outfit gets too nasty?"

"Marsette is liking this shirt she borrows," she admitted, smoothing down the blouse she was wearing as a dress.  "Master wants Marsette in something else?"

"No, just wondering if you wanted to borrow anything else.  Ask Twirly and Gibbons as well."  She nodded, going to do that and help carry the boxes up the stairs.  Gibbons took one of her old school ties.  Twirly took another shirt and Marsette hesitated but eventually borrowed another shirt as well.  "Good.  Change whenever you need to.  Those are only borrowed.  I'm not giving you clothes."  They all smiled and nodded, disappearing.  He looked over as Vinnie and Greg came in, accepting their hugs.  "I thought you might like those," he admitted with a smile.  "Put boxes together.  We're shipping the crap off."  They nodded, getting down to packing boxes.  Alex finished off his tea and stuck his wand in his back pocket, leaving the cup on top of the dresser.  Once a box was finished he pulled out the top drawer and upended it into the box.  "I'm not touching her underthings," he told the amused looking Narcissa.

"Let me, darling.  Go to her closet.  She had a safe in there as well."  They changed places and he started tossing dresses into the box.  "Try to fold them, Alexander."

"Draco, come fold stuff!" he called.  Snape laughed as he walked Draco inside.  "I suck at packing.  It's my third sucky skill.  Packing, flying, and planning."

Narcissa looked at him.  "You still can't fly?"

"Ten minutes upside down," Draco said dryly.  "We had flying with the twit.  Madam Hooch couldn't figure out how he did it."  He came in to repack the box.  "Greg, make more boxes.  Vinnie, mark what's in them."  They nodded, doing as assigned.  "At least you're not near perfect, Alex.  You'd be boring otherwise."

Snape came in to look around at the artifacts stored in here.  "Alex, you'll have to send some of this to Gringott's as well," he noted quietly.  They all had shields around them so no one who wasn't directly checking would find the dark magic, or so Alex wouldn't sneeze and give her away to others, but there were many dark artifacts littering the room.

"Box it up and mark it," he responded, tossing a few more robes at Draco.  "How could one person have so much crap?" he complained.

"My closet's bigger than hers," Draco told him.  Alex held up a dress, making him shudder.  "Never mind, that's crap."  He took it between two fingers and laid it into the box so it wouldn't wrinkle too much. "Who's doing the unmentionables?"

"I already dumped a drawer of those in there," Alex noted, finding a garment bag with some hangers tied together.  "What's this?" he complained, looking inside.  "Eww."  He took them down and handed them to his father.  "They've got blood and nasty crap."

Snape looked then shuddered.  "Twirly?"  She appeared.  "Burn these," he said, handing them to her.  She nodded, sending them to the burn barrel.  "Bag and all," he ordered.  "Check for anything like jewelry first."  She nodded, following them down to check for anything valuable.  She came back with a wand, handing it to him.  "Thank you. Pile those on the desk."  She shook her head.  "Why not?" he asked patiently.

"Mistress does many bad things there," she whispered.  "Twirly and house elves not touch desk.  Desk evil and nasty, dark."  She put it on the dresser he was working on then disappeared.

Snape went over to the desk, frowning as he tested it.  He opened it and Alex sneezed so he looked inside.  "Her torture and spell journals," he sighed, pulling them out.  "I wondered where they were."  He put them in the box.  "Lupin!"  He came in.  "Since you're so *good* at the Dark Arts," he sneered.  "Become useful. Take these to Gringotts.  They're to go into the dark magic vault of Alex's."

"What are they?"

"Her journals and stuff.  Tell them there's going to be a few boxes," Alex told him.  Remus nodded, heading to do that for them. "Dad, please try to be a bit nicer?  They are basically my in-laws and I like Harry; Remus and Sirius have been nice to me, even knowing I'm your son.  Please?  At least here at the house?"

"Fine.  I'll honor the truce you've requested," he agreed, looking at his son.  Alex sneezed again so he came over to pull him out of the closet, finding the safe had been uncovered.  "Which one helped her dress?"

"Gibbons."  That elf appeared.  "Open the safe?"  He nodded, coming over to open all the safes, then bringing up more boxes.  He left them alone, heading for the sitting room to dust.  "That reeks of dark magic," Alex complained, sneezing really hard this time.

"Come here, Alex," Draco ordered.  Alex sneezed as he walked, going to sit on a hard chair in the middle of the room.  Alex sneezed so hard his nose started to bleed.  "Go back to your room.  We can do this."

"I can," he muttered, but went to find some tissues.

Draco looked in the vault. "Bloody hell, that's cursed," he said in awe, looking at the emerald sitting prominently in front of the boxes and loose jewels.  Snape nodded, pulling it out to test it.  Alex sneezed again from the bathroom.

"Draco, take Alexander, Greg, and Vincent, and go to Diagon," Narcissa ordered.  "I want him away from this magic now."  He nodded, going with the boys to gather their cloaks, shoes, and Alex.  They flooed off and she looked around. "Sirius?  We could use some help.  Have Harry watch the doorway for someone coming."  He stepped into the suite, looking around. "Alex was sneezing from his room once we opened the safe."

"He found her former work attire," Snape agreed.

"Sure.  Where's Remus?"

"Taking a box of things to Gringotts," Snape told him.  "I will honor the truce."  Sirius went to order Harry to watch the doors, then came in to help.

***

Severus found the boys at the sweets shop, pulling his son outside and between buildings, Draco and the others following once they had paid.  "We sent sixteen boxes of clothes to a women's charity," he said quietly.  "We sent twenty-nine boxes of cursed, dark arts, and otherwise harmful things to the vault.   The jewelry can probably be cleaned of the taint and the dark magic if you wish, but you will have to pay quite a lot to do so."  Alex nodded at that.  "I did keep one pin out to see how much it would be and we kept a listing of what we sent.  I can take you to the shop to introduce you."

"Then what would I do with it?" Alex asked.

"Keep it in case you had a daughter?  Gift it to a female in your life?  That last letter was a curse.  I examined it in closer detail.  If you *sell* anything, you'll be cursed to be haunted by her.  Personally, not the house."  Alex grimaced and Greg patted him on the back.  "I can't give you more advice than that, but I would at least get an estimate."

"Sure, that's fine," he agreed, taking the chocolate bar Draco was putting into his pocket to nibble on.  "Can we take the guys?"

"That would be fine."  He walked them down into Knockturn Alley, taking them to an infamous jewelry store down there.  The tinny sounding bell dinged when they came in, making the clerk behind the counter look up.  Snape closed the door once they were all inside.  "I need to see the owner.  We've found some cursed and tainted jewelry."  The clerk disappeared and the owner came out.  He handed over the bag, nodding Draco to pull Alex away when he started to sneeze.  "His Grandmother's jewelry was mostly tainted, cursed, or full of dark magic.  Alexander is allergic."

"I'd heard that said," he noted in a lazy sounding hiss.  He looked at the broach, then at him.  "This is excellent work."

"Yours?" Alex asked calmly.  He shook his head.  "Hers?"  He nodded.  "Can it be removed?"

"Probably.  I can't guarantee with as heavy as this is."

"That was the least tainted," Snape admitted.  "We also found these pieces and wanted an estimate of how much to get them cleaned."  He handed over the inventory.  The man drooled on the parchment.  Snape gave him a vile look and he wiped it off.

"Well, it'll be a pretty penny," he admitted.  He looked at Alex.  "Some might want them in this condition."

"I don't support Voldemort," he sighed, shrugging at the dirty looks he got.  "I don't.  I never have.  Grams turned me off dark magic forever and then some."  The jeweler shrugged and went back to the list.  "I also can't sell them."

"You could give them away and then the recipients could sell them," Vinnie pointed out.

Greg nodded.  "You could.  I saw a ruby that would look good on Ginny Weasley."

Draco looked at him.  "Please tell me you're not going to try for her!" he whined.

"She's a pureblood," Snape reminded him.

"So?  She's a *Weasley*!"

"Still, she is an acceptable spouse," Snape reminded him. "That's why your mother wanted Alexander to date you or Ronald."  He turned his back on the shuddering going on.  "How much and how certain are you of doing a thorough job?"

"Thorough I can do, but I can't be sure I can clear it all off.  I'll have to look."

"Dad, go ahead and get a few things.  Take Draco.  I gave him access to that vault along with you, as long as you're together," Alex said, handing over his keys.  "Just the jewelry.  Those statues, figures, and the whatnots stay."  He nodded, going to get a few more pieces.  Alex sneezed again so the jeweler put the broach back into the bag.  "How much do you think it'll run?  I do have money."

"A pretty knut," he assured him.  "Maybe even ten thousand gaalleons."

"That's outrageous!" Greg told him.

"No, that's business, son.  I'm the only one who can.  With Alexander there being allergic, it's in his best interests to clean them before he gives 'em to a wife."

"I'm gay."  The man looked alarmed.  "So there's a doubtful chance of them being handed on unless I give them away.  Does that lower the price any?  Otherwise they'll just languish in Gringotts forever, until they decide to auction them off some century."

"It could," he admitted.  "You're sure you won't carry on the bloodline?"

"It's doubtful.  I may still end up with a little ankle-biter some day but they won't be allowed to turn out like her."  The other man sighed and nodded.  "How much would that reduce the price?"

"That depends on the amount of work to be done and how bad it'll get.  Some of that's probably demonic knowing her tastes.  She and Mr. Malfoy's father used to worship 'em together."  Vinnie and Greg shuddered and he grinned.  "Not your da's, boys, those two.  It's probably why Alexander there is allergic."

"Actually, it was early exposure to dark magic.  I'm not allergic to demonic," Alex admitted.  "Who else was with them?"

"McNair.  Your own da, Alexander."  Alexander frowned.  "Ask him if you don't believe me.  They all got together with some odd wizards from outside our sort."  Snape came back and he straightened up.  "Alex made a point that might get the price to go down."

"He told you he's not got someone to have children with?" Draco noted as he came in.

The jeweler nodded.  "I also told him how some of these may be demonic since your da, his da, his grandmum, and a few others from outside our kind used to have a coven to do that together."

"I gave it up as youthful stupidity," Snape assured him blandly.  He handed over the roll of a jewelry holder, letting him unfold them.  Alex started to sneeze again so he had Draco take him outside.  He heard Greg's mother screaming so he went out there.  "We were cleaning out his grandmother's things and found some tainted jewelry," he told her.  "The boys have been with me the whole time but Alexander is allergic to dark magic.  That's why Draco is watching over him.  Your son is inside with us."  He let her back inside, giving Draco a look.  He got a nod and Draco walked Alex off.  He closed the door behind himself and looked at him.  "How much?"

"If they're all like this...."

"Those are the lesser pieces.  There's many that are demonic in origin," he admitted.  "That would be easier to clean.  Others were used to capture power and energy."

"Then probably a good thousand galleons," he said, rolling them back up.  "I know some who'd adore those if he could sell 'em, but with that curse I'd doubt he would?"

"No, he can't," Snape assured him. "Give them away he might.  He'd rather give clean jewelry though.  Keep those for a moment.  Vincent, go tell him a thousand."  Vincent hurried off and he looked at Mrs. Goyle.  "As you can see, he's been thoroughly watched this whole time.  As soon as we found the store of dark arts materials we sent the boys off."

"What were you doing?" she demanded.

"We were cleaning out Alex's Gram's suite," Greg said quietly.  "Boxing her clothes up and the like."  She shuddered.  "They found leather stuff with blood, mum."

"I had it burned before you ask," Snape told the jeweler.  "There is a desk that's too large to go into the vault, but right now it's outside in the snow."  The jeweler raised an eyebrow.  "It's also been soaked with blood and blood magic."  The mother looked horrified.  "That's why we sent the boys off."  Vincent came back.  "Well?"

"He said that's fine.  As long as it didn't run too much over that," he panted.  "They're on the benches."  He looked at Greg's mum, then at Alex's dad.  "He said he doesn't want to see that desk either, sir.  He said to give it to someone who could destroy it."

"I'll do so," he agreed.  He looked at the jeweler.  "Once the boys are back at school, we'll be back with the rest.  That way no one might get hurt, including your own daughter."  He nodded, silently thanking him for that.  "Keep those for now and work on them.  I'll bring the rest personally along with the money."  He walked out with the other parent, letting the boys go back up to Knockturn.  "I'm going to the Ministry about that desk," he told his son, whispering it to him.  Alex nodded, looking up at him.  "I left those pieces with him to work on.  I'll bring the rest once school starts.  That way no one can touch them and get tainted.  His daughter's a sixth year right now."  Alex nodded at that.  "Do you wish to give away that desk?"

"Hell yes.  I want no blood magic in my house.  I want nothing of hers that's tainted.  I want that stupid house purged."  He looked at his father.  "I can ask Remus Lupin to do it," he said quietly.  "He identified some stuff we missed, dad."  Greg's mother gasped and he glared at her.  "Yes, he is."  He looked at his father again.  "I'm serious."

"I can agree to him.  He is ...knowledgeable, though annoying and a pain to me personally."

"Is there someone better?"  Snape shook his head.  "Then I'll let him do it.  The rest can go into the vault unless it's too evil.  I know a few of those small statues you wanted me to send to the Ministry too."  He nodded.  Alex waved a hand.  "Please, go give away shit."

"Fine, I shall."  He went to get those things, taking them with him to the Ministry.  The wards went off and he looked at the auror coming running.  "Get me Tonks," he ordered.  The auror glared and he started to pull his wand.  "These are an inheritance and she's expecting to see some of this.  Get her now.  I shall wait."  The auror called her through the floo, getting out of the way as she stepped out.  He handed over the small case of statues and other ...accessories.  "Alexander is purging the house," he said quietly.  "These were too evil to even be allowed in the vault at Gringotts with the rest.  There's also a desk in back of the house.  It's been soaked with blood for blood magic rituals."  She opened her mouth.  "There's a curse that Alexander may not sell them, but he may give them away.  He said to do so."  He nodded politely.  "The rest was minor dark arts things and we'll be cleaning the jewelry soon.  I did have her outfits to torture in destroyed when we found them.  They still had blood.  Remus Lupin and I are handling the rest of the purge and fixing."  He turned and left.

"Whoa!  Wait!"  She jogged after him, catching him by the arm.  "What happened?" she asked, stepping closer. "How bad was it and we need an inventory of what's being kept.  Tell him we can get a court order but he won't have to turn them over since he inherited them and he's keeping them in Gringotts." Snape handed over the copy he had gotten from the bank.  She looked at it, then gaped at him.  "This is bloody dangerous!"

"That's why it's in the vault," he noted dryly, sneering a bit at her.  "He doesn't want it around him ever again."

"Fine.  I get that.  What was he doing this time?  We heard he cleaned the library and stuff."

"We cleaned her suite today," he said quietly.  "We still have two rooms of hers that were sealed off by his hand."  She nodded.  "They're her workrooms and we'll have to do it once he's back in school.  He's already agreed to have Remus Lupin help with this since he identified a few more things before the party," he hissed.  She nodded, shivering a bit.  "Come get that desk before it bleeds into the snow."

"I'll come right over.  How is Alex?  I remember he's allergic."

"He's already had two nose bleeds.  We are trying to clean the jewelry."

"That's fine.  They're things that can be used as money if necessary.  Can I get a list of that too?"  He shrugged and walked off.  "Thank you, Professor.  I'll be at the house in a few minutes if you could head back there!" she called.  She hurried up to the office, handing the first case to her boss.  "Alexander Birmingham was working on her personal suite.  Some things were too big or too evil for Gringotts."  He shuddered.  "There's a big desk that was used in blood magic out in back of the house plus two workrooms.  Professor Snape just handed those to me and I'm headed back now. I could use some big, strong blokes to help."

"Fine.  We'll take a few."  He locked the case in his office.  "Ballings, watch my office.  No one in except to add stuff!" he snapped as he gathered his cloak.  "Tailor, Brents, come."  They followed, being big, dumb, and strong was going to work in their favor this time.  They appeared back at the house, finding the werewolf looking at the desk.  "We were given this?"

"You were," Remus agreed quietly.  "The boys are still in Diagon and Alex told Professor Snape how to open the other doors."  He led them inside, nodding at Snape.  "Have them remove the desk, it's still radiating," he ordered.

"Put it in my office," the boss ordered.  "Then lock the damn door."  He looked at Snape.  "Can the boys stay with you tonight if we have to clean that room once it's opened?"

"Mrs. Goyle said they can all stay with her tonight."  He looked at Remus.  "Sirius took Mr. Potter home."

"Agreeable.  I'd rather not have him exposed to this."  He looked around.  "I knew she was evil, but not this evil!"

"She was more evil than most.  She was the torturer of the circle," Snape told him.  He led them to the double doors.  "Back away."  They backed up and he unlocked the doors, then grasped his arm as pain shot up it.

"Severus!"  Remus got him out of the way and back down to the sitting room.  "Twirly!"  She appeared.  "Get him a warm stone for his arm, a blanket, and some tea.  Get him some chocolate too.  Then keep yourself and the other elves away from the work rooms while we clean it."  She burst out crying.  "What?"

"There's a corpse in there," Tonks said as she looked in.  "A female one."  The elf nodded.  "Two house elves too.  Looks like it was long ago."  She squatted in front of the floo, getting someone in their sister office, Law Enforcement.  "Alexander Birmingham just got around to finishing the cleanup of his Grandmum's stuff," she said quietly.  "We just unsealed the workrooms he sealed without looking in.  We found a few corpses."  She got a nod.  "Come quick.  It's really bad.  Get the rest of us up here but the one guarding the boss's office.  Put more guards on our door as well.  There's some massive dark magic."  The head in the fireplace spun away and she stood up.  "Professor, I know you were a spy," she said quietly.  "Stay down here.  Anything we have to ask you or Alex we'll do once we're done."  She noticed the state he was in.  "Should I call anyone?"

"Call Narcissa Malfoy?  She's at the Goyles," Remus said, going up to help.  He got some funny looks.  "I am a Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher," he noted dryly.  "This is my area.  Plus, Alexander trusts me so I'm standing in for his father."  They nodded, letting him come in to help.

***

Pansy sat down next to Alex in Greg's rec room, smiling at him.  "I heard you found some cursed artifacts in your Gram's things," she said happily.

He looked over at her.  "That's why I'm banished here, so they can clear it out."

"You don't want to play with them?"  He shook his head, looking calm.  "Why not?  They've got to be fascinating and it is your heritage."

He glanced around. "First, Pansy, if you must know, I'm allergic to dark magic."

"How can you be allergic to magic?"

"Easy.  Too early of an exposure. It got into my immune system before it was time."

"Huh?  Potter got zapped and he's not."

"Potter got it when he was over a year old.  I was days," he said coolly.  She looked confused.  "There's a reason why the last Dark Lord didn't have the kids presented to him, Pansy," he said, talking down to her now.  "Not only because he couldn't be sure which children would survive and serve him, but he also knew that parenthood makes a parent protective and he couldn't order them to sacrifice their children if he knew about them at that age.  It's also because dark magic introduced too early in a baby's life, meaning before the immune system is fully set up, can easily warp the child or make it very allergic to the foreign magics.  As we found out, Grams was doing blood and sacrificial magic in the house.  I got exposed when I was days old."  She shivered, wrapping her arms around her.  "As for the other reason?  Because I'm not going to be dark.  I don't want to be dark.  I'm already dark enough and skilled enough in the dark to suit myself and my needs.  Why do I need more?"

"But... you have such a bright future," she complained.

"Pansy!" Draco snapped.

"No, Draco."  He held up a hand.  "Let me."  He looked at her, staring in her eyes.  "Pansy, I don't want to be the next dark lord.  Why would I?  So I can get rid of the people who beat their kids, rape their kids, or taint their kids?  Those sort?  I can do that legally and have a lot less trouble and get praised for it.  There are people whose job it is to take care of those matters.  I could easily join them and that would be a crusade I could get behind.  There is nothing I need that would require me to go *darker* to satisfy.  There is nothing I *want* that would require me to go *darker* to satisfy that lust.  Why in the hell would I need to go *darker* than I already am?  Hell, woman!  I can easily beat most of the teachers except my father!  I don't need more power.  I have more money than everyone in this building, but Draco, combined, and I have more than enough power from that and my personal reserves.  I'm one of the most powerful wizards today, in or out of that school.  I don't need to be feared by some moronic excuse for a witch or a wizard!

"Why in the hell do I want that stress, that fear, or that loathing? I've already been hated my whole life and the people who did it are suffering greatly.  That's what makes me happy, that I'm left alone to be myself.  I may be a bit darker than some, but I'm not some fucking dark lord in the making, no matter how much you and your mum want me to be.  Even if I found a reason that required me to participate in dark magic, do you think I'd suddenly change my distaste of women? You'd better be damn thankful I don't want to be a dark lord, I might start to wipe women off the face of the earth so I never have to get near another one in my bloody life!  I hate women!  All women! Every last one, even the nice ones like Auntie Narcissa and Ginny Weasley.  Even the ones who're so sweet they make others' teeth ache, like Madam Sprout.  I could care less about the dark, what the dark side wants, and what women want.  So, get your little twat the hell away from me and stay away."

"You're mean!" she cried.

He glared, he could tell she was faking it.  "Pansy, do you want to know why my Grams wanted us together? Because she thought you'd make the next great torturer for the last Dark Lord. She saw a lot of herself in you.  That's the other reason why I'm never going to touch you and never going to go for women, because of women like you and her."  She got up and stomped off.  "If I give you something cursed, would you leave me alone forever?" he called.  He got up and grabbed his cloak, heading outside to walk in the woods.

Greg's mother finally got her mouth closed and looked at Narcissa.  "I had no idea," she said quietly. "You and Greg said it was bad."

"That's worse than I usually saw," Narcissa admitted, looking at her son, who looked calm, unruffled, and totally unconcerned.  "Draco, go find him."

"Not a chance in hell, mum.  He's got to vent first.  The next person who touches him is looking to be hexed painfully."  He looked at the older women.  "You didn't want to see.  Greg and I saw plenty and we weren't there as often as you two and the others were."  He stood up and pushed his shirt back down.  "Vinnie, go calm down the bitch.  Promise her one of Alex's cursed necklaces if she leaves him alone forever.  I'll talk him into it."  Vinnie nodded, heading after her.  "Greg, go vent," he ordered, clapping him on the shoulder. "Leave Alex alone though."  He nodded, grabbing his cloak and heading for the front yard to blow up the snow.  He stared at the adults.  "You're lucky he didn't hex her.  By the way, who invited her?  She knows Alex hates her and that she'll never have me.  She's been shoving her former marriage contract in everyone's face, especially mine.  Even if I had a desire for the pug-nosed girl, I wouldn't have her after that."  Narcissa mutely nodded.  He heard an explosion and sighed.

"That means he's probably safe.  All you females need to leave him alone.  Weasley and that mudblood Granger keep trying to 'heal' him too.  Weasley nearly caused him to have a panic attack by offering to brush him."   He looked at the others standing around.  "Leave us," he called.  "I've got Alex.  Go have fun with Greg."  They nodded, hurrying out to do that.  "Mum, make sure that he's left alone.  Women have been the ones to hurt him.  You're all making it worse."  He grabbed his cloak and headed outside, going toward the woods.  He knew Alex liked woods when he was upset.  He could bleed the excess energy through the trees.  He found the wolf form of Alex sitting on a stump licking his paw.  He squatted down, looking him in the eyes.  "I told Pansy she could have a cursed necklace if she left you alone forever.  I figure at least one has an anti-fertility charm or an impotence charm on it."  Alex gave him a hurt look.  "It's the only way.  Her mother heard and pressed her to make nicer with you."  He gently scratched behind an ear.  "Alex, are you okay?"  The wolf whimpered and laid down, leaning into his hand.  "I told Mum you were right and to make sure the mothers left you alone.  I also mentioned the 'healing' campaign some of the Gryffs have.  I think she'll get word back."

Alex licked his paw again so he looked at it.  "What did you do?" he said, frowning a bit.  The wolf yelped when he gently pressed on a spot.  "Change back, Alex, so I can bandage it."  The wolf gave him another sorry look.  "Come on.  I can bandage that like I used to do your arms."  He stood up, looking at him. "If you don't, I can't pet you anymore. I don't like talking to animals. I never got what you saw in petting creatures."  He frowned a bit when the wolf stayed.  "Are you stuck?"  The wolf let out another whimper and moved closer.  "I'm not mad at you, Alex," he sighed, going back to petting him.  "I'd have been more subtle or told her off at the school back in October, but I'm not mad.  She deserved to hear every bit of that, even if you did scare Greg to hell and back.  Greg's wearing out some energy in the front yard.  Want to go play?"  The wolf whimpered.  "You can't change back, can you?"  Alex shook his head.  "Can you walk?"  That got a whimper and the paw being held up.  "What the hell did you do to it?" he muttered, looking at it again.  "The pain is blocking you?"  The wolf nodded.  "Okay.  Well, at least you're fairly light," he offered, picking him up and walking back to the house.   It was farther than he thought. "Greg!" he yelled.  His very strong friend came jogging over.  "He hurt himself and can't change back.  I can't carry him any farther," he panted.

Greg took him.  "I'm not mad at you, Alex.  I wish you hadn't said that in front of my mum, but I agree, she needed blasted with it."  He walked him into the house. "Aunt Narcissa?  Alex hurt himself!" he called, Draco following him.

"What?" she shrieked, coming out of the kitchen.  She took the wolf and laid it on the couch, looking it over.  "Where's hurt, Alex?"

"His left front paw at least," Draco said, taking off his cloak.  "By the way, Greg, you're missing about ten trees in a circle out there.  I found him on a stump.  The Weasley's offered us some trees so maybe you can have some."  He looked at his mother.  "Should I call McGonagall? Or Pomfrey?"

"No," she said, pulling her wand out of her sleeve.  The wolf yelped and tried to move.  "Alexander, I'm only going to do a healing charm," she soothed.

"Not while he's changed," Draco said, grabbing the tip before she could move it.  "It could lock him into this form.  Get Sirius."  She looked at him. "I'm the one who did his research for him, mum.  It could lock him into this form."  She nodded, going to floo Sirius from his house.  He came tumbling out a moment later. "He just let loose and destroyed about ten trees.  He's at least hurt his paw."

Sirius looked at the young wolf, then changed down to his dog form, sniffing him all over before changing back.  "He's also got some stomach cramps and probably a concussion.  Is he stuck, Draco?"

"Yeah.  He went off on Pansy and he can't walk.  Greg and I carried him."

"That's fine.  Go ahead and floo Pomfrey," he ordered Narcissa.  "She's got the most current record of his medical files."  She nodded, going to do that.  "Nice work not getting her to heal him."

"I pointed out it could stick him," he noted calmly. "Is he all right?"

"He's fine.  What happened?"

"Pansy."  Greg shivered and Draco looked at him. "Go play," he offered.  He nodded, heading back outside.  "Thank you."

"I've always liked Alex," Greg reminded him with a grin.  "We were friends before you and I."  He turned back around and headed outside to wear out some teenage energy.

Draco sat down beside Alex, petting him gently.  "Pansy tried to curl up next to him to talk about the dark magic stuff.  He told her off," he said simply.  "Then he told her why women are all evil and bad."

Sirius nodded. "Remus thought he had some lingering issues with girls since he avoided them like the plague at the party."

"You need to get Potter onto the girls in his house so they leave him alone.  Granger and Weasley keep trying to 'heal' him by forcing their affection and help on him.  Weasley made him panic by offering to brush him."  Sirius frowned at that.  "It says something when Halfrek, the demon over lost childhoods, cries over him."

"It does," he agreed quietly.  "You know?"

"I knew.  I saw the prophecy," he admitted dryly.  Sirius nodded.  "I also burned it."  Alex looked at him.  "That memory thing you can't know."  The wolf sighed and put his head down, but yelped and moved it off that paw.  He looked over as Pansy's mother came in the front door.  "Pansy ran for upstairs after Alex told her why he wasn't interested in becoming the next dark lord," he said cruelly.  "There's a bribe in place to give her a piece of the cursed jewelry if she'll leave him alone permanently.  Make sure she accepts it."  She looked stunned.  "Unfortunately Alex can't talk to you himself.  He's off destroying part of the forest after your daughter's unthinking and unkind questions.  The next time she really wants to serve a dark lord, make her find a real one, not try to make Alex Birmingham into one for her own benefit."  She stomped off.  "Bitch," he muttered, watching her go.  Alex nudged his hand so he went back to petting him.  He looked down at him.  "You're taking advantage of this," he taunted, smirking at him.  The wolf growled but settled down at Draco's snort.  "I don't care.  You're keeping me calm and you're not attacking anyone."  His mother came back.  "I told Mrs. Parkinson about the bribe," he told her.  "She's retrieving her offspring."

"You really don't care for her?"

"I'd almost rather she be resorted at the moment," he admitted, staring at her as she came down the stairs.  "Fortunately there's a few weeks left for mine and Alex's temper to calm down."  Pansy and her mother flounced off. "Good riddance."

"She is a nice girl."

"Mother, she told Alex repeatedly she wants him to be the next dark lord.  She keeps prompting him toward it.  Do you really think he wants or needs that?"

"No," she admitted quietly.  "We've already got one of those, son."  He raised an eyebrow.  "As rumors state."

"I'm sure he'll hear about it through Potter," he complained.

"If Harry goes against him this time, he'd better call us first," Sirius told him, making it an order.  "I'm not letting a little kid face that bastard alone."

"Good!  Potter's too stubborn and a bitch already."  Alex growled.  "Fine, I'll leave your other friends alone," he sighed.  "Can I at least pick on Granger?"  Alex shrugged under his hand.  "Thank you.  I didn't think you'd stick up for the mudblood anyway."

"Malfoy, do you mind?" Black asked.  "I don't want to hear that."  Draco shrugged and looked at his mother.

"It isn't very polite and we are in public, Draco," she chastised gently.  "Don't turn into your father."  He grimaced at that reminder, his eyes icy.  "I know I can count on you to be better than Lucius ever was."  She stroked the wolf and Alex pulled away from her hand.  "Fine.  I'm sorry, Alexander.  If you don't want me to, I won't."

"He may not be able to tell it's you," Sirius admitted.  Madam Pomfrey came out of the floo.  "He went off on someone before going to explode in the woods, Poppy.  He's hurt his paw, his stomach's cramping, and I think he's got a small head injury.  No one's done any healing charms yet."  The wolf shied away from her.

"No!" Draco said firmly, stopping him.  He made the wolf look at him. "You trust that woman and my mother, Alex.  It's Pomfrey and Auntie Narcissa."  The wolf whimpered.  "I promise, I won't let them hurt you.  You know me, you know that about me."  The wolf settled down so he let go of his head.  "He's stuck," he told her.

Sirius pulled Narcissa out of the way.  "What really happened so I can tell Remus and he can tell Severus?" he asked quietly.

"Pansy wanted to know about the dark arts things.  The first we knew he was growling about why he didn't need to go darker or become the next dark lord.  He made her cry."

"Good.  From what little I saw of her when she crashed the party and what I've heard from Harry that Alex has told him, she needs help.  She wants to go to the Dark Lord as a wife and bear him babies."  She shuddered.  "She wants the power, Narci.  You need to get her straightened out or get her mother to work on her."

"I think she's done plenty of that already," Goyle's mother said, bringing out a pan of water for the poor thing.  "Here, Alexander.  You drink some water.  It's good for you."  She stepped away, looking at Narcissa.  "He didn't tell me."

"He told you what he could without giving himself nightmares," Draco told her.

"His medical records are spotty on his past if we're discussing that," Poppy admitted.  "What we do know and was reported is more than enough to have him taken away."

"All I knew is that Greg always wanted him to come over."  She let out a small sob.  "I let the poor boy down!"

Narcissa patted her on the arm.  "I tried repeatedly to make that dreadful woman give him to me and I only knew a little more than you did, Beth.  The Ministry was too afraid of her to act and there were too many of Lucius' friends scattered around there to make sure they stayed afraid of her.  Fortunately, Alex has time to heal.  Though I doubt he'll ever like women near him.  The three boys have helped him a lot, even though they're not always together and Alexander is a Gryffindor."

"I'm still wondering why?" Sirius offered, coming over to join them since Madam Pomfrey didn't seem to need him.  "He's got all the makings of a Slytherin."

"The hat said he'd end up going dark if he came with us," Draco told him.  "As you heard, he'd rather die."  Sirius nodded.  "It said he could become darker than his Grandmother had been."  He shuddered at that and so did his own mother.  "Fortunately the hat refused to do what Dumbledore wanted and put him in Hufflepuff."

"Why?" Black demanded.  "That would have made sure one of those kids got hurt!"

"Yes, but that would mean Potter wouldn't have him," Draco said coolly.  Then he shrugged and smirked. "Did you ever find out about that birthday prophecy?"

"No, and we've all asked.  Even Harry, as a legal adult, can't get near it."

"What prophecy?" Narcissa demanded.  They all shrugged. "Draco?"

"Something about their birthdays and the dark lord," he admitted.  "So far only Dumbledore seems to know anything about it.  It's stored at the Ministry."

"We'll be having it soon," she assured him.  "By the end of term."  Her son smiled at her for that.  "You do both know you can come to me for anything, right?"

"Good, someone needs to explain puberty to him," Sirius told her.  "Harry too.  I haven't been able to yet."  He went back to help since the nurse was working on the healing.  He took over Draco's petting, letting him get up and hug his mother.

"He could probably use sex explained to him too, mum, since he's gay and no one really ever explains that stuff to us."

She patted him on the back. "I'll do my best once he's better, son."  Severus came out of the floo.  "He'll be fine. Poppy's working on him, Severus."

"What happened?"

"Pansy," Draco said simply.  Snape growled.  "I promised her a bribe of one of the necklaces or something to make her go away permanently."

"Doable," he agreed.  "Did Alex agree?"

"He's rather stuck," Draco admitted.  "He blew up a circle of trees and got injured."

"Ah."  He nodded, coming over to take over for Sirius.  "How is he?" he asked the nurse.

"He'll be fine, Severus.  His head will take some careful watching.  As long as you keep him away from any violent actions or discharges of magic, he'll be fine by the time they come back to the school."  She finished up.  "Now, let's change you back so you can lie down," she said firmly.

"Come on, Alex, I'll cuddle," Draco offered.  Snape looked at him so he shrugged. " It usually works. He's incredibly tactile right now."  Alex was slowly changed back and he helped his friend up and to a better couch to lay on.  "There, stay there," he said, letting his mother tuck the poor boy in.  He looked at Snape.  "How are things going?"

"It's going to be a while," he admitted. "There's enough there to make me shudder in horror, Draco."

"Ah."  Draco nodded.  "Sure.  Well, if we had a house, I'd invite him home with me."

Mrs. Goyle tutted, getting them some cocoa.  "You're all staying here.  You and Alexander can stay in the same room, Draco.  Vinnie can stay with my Greg in his."  He smiled and took the cocoa.  "Do you favor him?"

"I still like girls," he admitted dryly.  "Just not ones like Pansy."  He saluted her with his mug.  "Thank you, Mrs. Goyle."

"You're welcome, dear."  She patted him on the head and handed Narcissa one for Alex, then went to call the others in so they could have some too.  It was really cold outside.

***

Remus looked at the girls Harry had called over.  "Ladies, we've got to talk about Alexander," he said quietly.  "He's had some rather bad shocks in the last few days."  Ginny's face tightened, just like her mother's.  "We had to clean out his grandmother's things and you know he's allergic to dark magic, right?"  Hermione nodded slowly.  "Well, he had a bit of a reaction to everything.  Plus what's happened with Draco's family and all that."

"Is he all right?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, but you need to leave him alone," Harry told them.  "Remember the night he panicked because you offered to brush him?"  Both girls nodded.  "He had another one thanks to Pansy and her desire to marry the next dark lord.  He went off on her and then apparently went to blow crap up."  They both shuddered.  "He's on Greg's couch with a small concussion and Draco's presently hovering."

"Hovering?" Hermione asked pointedly.  "Like he's found a boyfriend hovering?"

"Draco insists that he's straight," Remus said dryly, staring her down.  "But they're very close, almost like brothers.  Pansy basically sat down next to him to talk about some cursed jewelry we found in his grandmother's things and hinted strongly about it and about him becoming a dark lord for her."

"Needless to say," Sirius said from behind his paper, "he was not amused. Mrs. Goyle and Mrs. Malfoy were both traumatized by his rant and Pansy's supposed to be accepting a bribe to never come near him again.  But you two do need to back off the boy before you make him worse."

"We thought some gentle, positive attention could help him," Hermione told them all.

Harry shook his head.  "He hates women, ladies.  His grandmum screwed him up that badly."  Remus scowled at him.  "She did!" he defended.  He looked at Hermione.  "He's allergic to dark magic because he got exposed when he was days old.  They found out she had been doing blood magic in the house and demonic magic with Lucius Malfoy.  Speaking of, if he ever shows up, tell Alex then send for Draco.  Draco said Alex gets him first and then Draco's ending his life," he said firmly.

"I'd have thought Narcissa wanted him more," Sirius said, lowering his paper, "but she agreed with the boys so she didn't have to get messy.  So do tell them then us if you see him anywhere."

"There was a picture of him in the paper yesterday we thought," Ginny said quietly, looking at Harry.  "Are you sure, Harry?  It can't help him?"

"Just be normal around him," Remus encouraged.  "Like you do Ron and Harry."

"Without the drooling," Sirius offered. Ginny blushed.  "Sorry, dear, but you are."  She wiped off her mouth and blushed darker.  He grinned at Harry. "She's cute."

"I'm too young to date," he said firmly.  He frowned at the thoughtful look Hermione had.  "No trying anything therapeutic," he warned.  "Let those who he feels comfortable with help him.  Don't avoid him, but quit trying so hard."

"Did he say we were annoying him?"

"Hermione, do you remember the hexing contest on the train?" Harry asked patiently.  She groaned and nodded.  "He could have done much worse.  Ron glared at him when he started to cast something different after you made him hug people."  She nodded, looking down.  "So let's let the Gryff nancy boy be and he'll be fine.  He's not a dark lord in the making.  He's not that dark really. He's got a wicked sense of humor if you know him well enough.  He and Malfoy played all holiday long.  He was teasing Malfoy all holiday about being his mate and Draco only grinned and kept pushing him off and reminding him he was straight.  Let the boy be happy and carefree.  Over the course of time, he'll come to accept girls' ability to exist."

"He really hates girls?" Ginny asked softly.

"Ginny, from what Greg told me, he told Pansy he was more than willing to wipe all you off the earth if he was forced to become a dark lord," Sirius told her.  She nodded, hanging her head.  "Last year was good, Hermione.  Even Malfoy said you handled it very well.  Go back to it.  He's just another student, like Neville."

"I've been helping Neville gain confidence.  I've been doing very well with him.  I've also helped Alex with his homework."

"Hermione, unless he tells you to call him Alex, he considers that taking liberties," Harry said firmly.  "He said so to me and Ron.  He said his grandmother had others do it and he had to smack some of them around.  So far, the only of us who have that permission seems to be Snape and his Slytherin friends.  If we take those liberties, he'll turn away from the whole house."

"The twins may have it," Ginny told him.

"Nope," he said, shaking his head.  "At the party they called him Alexander.  Seamus called him Alex and Malfoy and Crabbe about smashed his head in if you remember."   Both girls nodded.  "So let's go back to how we treated him last year.  He's not really a brother but he's someone we can trust and hang with without being annoying and trying to help or change."

"Alexander is a very interesting young man," Remus assured them.  "He's also a very nice young man most of the time.  He behaved very well while we were at his house.  Even when he was getting into trouble and the house elves screamed at him."  Sirius laughed at that.  "Even when he and Harry were out in the back getting into trouble by trying to ice skate on his pond."  Harry snickered at that.  "And nearly drowned," he added, glaring at Harry.  "Don't worry me like that again, Harry.  I'm already gray enough."

"Yes, Uncle Remus."  He grinned at him.  "We thought it'd be okay."

"Well, it's not," he said firmly.  He looked at the girls again.  "Just treat him like you would Ron."

"If Ron started to avoid girls we'd try to help him," Hermione told him.

"Hermione, the only help for that boy is time and exposure.  It says something that he thinks Madam Sprout is a dark lord in hiding."  Sirius burst out laughing at that. "He claims no one can be that sweet and nice," Remus told him.  "I did tell him she was that nice and that most nice women like that weren't really hiding, just men like that.  He agreed with me and said that women were too so we had a long discussion about his rationale.  He made a lot of sense.  If I didn't know the woman, I'd think so too."   He looked at the girls again.  "Just let him be, ladies."

"I talked to my mum about him and she thinks he needs some help getting over this, that his gayness is in reaction to the abuse he suffered."

Sirius coughed.  "You realize he could have been gay all along?" he suggested.  She looked stunned.  "It has been known to happen," he reminded her dryly.  "There's plenty of wizards and witches who like their own sex."

"Besides, with time and positive associations with girls who don't get pushy or try to 'help him'," he said, doing the finger quotes, "he could loosen his stance on hating girls as friends.  I sincerely doubt that boy will ever marry or that he would have without her being into torture that way.  His parents weren't married out of necessity.  The closest he's seen to a loving relationship was probably Draco's family and Lucius isn't the supporting husband sort.  Besides, the boy is happy the way he is.  You trying to hone your amateur therapy skills won't help him any.  You won't change him and you'll only end up hurting him or driving him further toward the path of actually harming women.  You're both very lucky he doesn't want to do violence towards women with what he went through.  Thankfully he's not prone to that sort of violence."

"He's fairly prone to violence," Ginny argued.

"Not that sort," Harry said dryly.  "Alexander would much rather just be left alone unless he chooses to hang out with you.  He and Neville don't get on all that well because Neville likes to cling a bit to his friends.  The rest of us don't mind but Alexander is a solitary sort.  You need to be able to understand the guy before you hang out with him.  We don't know what Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle learned of him when he was younger, but they're very tight.  Ron and I are fairly close to him too.  That's why he feels good enough about us to hang out with us and to share stuff with us.  You two are driving him nuts.  Even McGonagall asked me to have a word with you, Hermione.  She thought you were getting too pushy and you'd undo the good work she'd managed to do."

"He trusts her?" Sirius asked happily.

"Within a few weeks, McGonagall understood him pretty well," Harry told him, turning to look at him.  "She also asked him, not ordered, but asked him to protect the house.  The same as the second day there Alex told her about my bruises, she made a good argument for him to teach and protect those who needed it in the house; other kids like him mostly.  He's spotted six others across the school and has turned them in."  Sirius looked pleased at that. "Including one girl who was mysteriously pregnant when she'd never dated."  Remus shuddered.

"Draco said Alexander told Parkinson if he ever had to become a dark lord he'd take all those sort out first," Sirius admitted. "I'm glad he's helping others.  It helps him to heal a bit more each time he helps another kid."  He went back to his reading.  "I'm impressed with your kid, Harry.  He seems pretty good for all he's went through. Even though he is a smartass and Snape's kid too.  Oooooh, I didn't like the mental images I just got from saying that.  Ick!  Remus!"  Remus kindly reached over to slap him with a grin. "Thanks, Moony.  I needed that."

"Sirius, Professor Snape was perfectly nice while we were all there," Harry said patiently.  "Alexander asked for a truce and we got it."

"We did.  I stuck to it too," he reminded him.  "He and Remus worked very well together on all the dark stuff they found.  Remus, when are the aurors leaving?"

"Tonight.  He and Draco are heading back tonight so they can pack up, then they're spending the next two days at the Leaky with Snape."  He looked at the girls.  Then at Harry.  "Yours and Ron's presents were in his closet."

"I delivered them both," he offered with a grin.  "He got me a really pretty musical snowglobe of the school."

"I saw that, it's a darling present," Sirius agreed.  "Did you write a thank you letter?"

"He said not to," Harry sighed. "Must I write one for the kiss-off I received from my aunt, who *you* insisted I write to?"

"No.  Next year you won't have to."  He turned the page of his paper.  "Ginny, tell the twins I'll see them in Diagon tomorrow.  Have them say they're going to hang with Alexander or something."

"Yes, sir."  She looked at Harry.  "Do you really think being normal around him will help him, Harry?  He's avoiding the subject totally."

"Maybe that's because he's already dealt with it and moved on," Remus told her.  "He may never change his mind, Ginny, but you two are close enough to almost be called friends."

"He calls me by my last name," Hermione complained, frowning greatly now.  "I still say mum was right."

"Hermione, give it up," Sirius told her.  "You're going to ruin him for the side of good and keep him from ever helping others.  Just leave the boy alone.  If you don't, I'll let Harry or Malfoy hex the skirt off you some day.  Or even that boy."

"I doubt he'd hex my clothes off," she said primly.

"It'd get a laugh, yes he would.  We did it often enough to Snape," Sirius told her. He turned the page again.  Remus shot him a dirty look and he smiled behind his paper.

"The boy's not fragile and he doesn't need therapy, Hermione," Remus said firmly.  "Just give up, all right?  You're only hurting him more and making others stare at him.  Even Malfoy's tired of you bothering him.  Even Parkinson was complaining about you at the train station from what I heard."  Sirius nodded.  "You're making the boy stand out and you're making him isolated.  Leave him alone, treat him like you do Ron or Harry."

"She fusses over us too," Harry told him.

"Well, you do need to study more," Hermione said firmly, scowling at him.

"Hermione, you're great, but you're not his mum," Remus replied with a scowl of his own.  "You don't have any children yet, save this stuff up for them."  She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him now.  "Do you really want to isolate Alexander?  Because you are.  You're giving him attention he hates and others are watching him too."

"That's because he's loud and swears," Ginny told him.

Remus rolled his eyes and moved to the floo, tossing in some floo powder.  "Molly Weasley."  She appeared.  "Help," he told her.  "They're trying to cure him and mother him."

She and Hermione's mother came out, coming to explain it to the girls like women would understand.  They didn't get any further than the guys did, but repetition can hammer a point into even the most stubborn and solid substance, Hermione's brain.

***

Alex got onto the train, looking around.  He found a seat by himself and locked the door using a fourth-year charm, then pulled out a comic book to look through.   Hermione blasted the door in and walked in, shutting it behind her with a repair spell.  "Out," he said firmly.

"I only wanted to talk."  She sat across from him, reaching over to touch him on the edge of his knee.  "Alexander, I'm sorry if my attempts to help you have caused you undue stress," she said gently.  "I only want to help you get past that horrible time in your life so you can be happier."

He looked over the edge of his comic.  "What makes you think I'm not now?"

"You still won't do homework."

He snorted and closed the book, keeping his thumb in his spot.  "Hermione, some people do things practically.  We learn better by doing than by reading or listening to lectures.  I'm one of them.  That's why the book approach to torture did nothing more than piss me off."  She looked stunned.  "Seriously, even if she hadn't done that, I probably still wouldn't like books.  You may learn best from a book but I learn best in a hands-on method.  I believe that's generally called different learning styles by those who study education for a living. That's why I don't like papers and homework, they do nothing to help me understand things.  Fortunately most of the teachers understand these things, that's why they let me be more practical.  Even if reading didn't give me a headache from the jumble of unnecessary words and information I have to wade and slog through to get to the point I need, I still would rather do things in a practical manner.  Now, is there anything else?"

"I'm sorry, Alexander.  I don't mean to harm you any more than you've already been."

"Then get out and let me read my comics."

"Fine.  If you need help with studying for the term tests, just let me know.  I've already made up schedules for Ron and Harry."

He shrugged, so she left.  He let out a long, deep breath then relocked the door after repairing it better.  Then he went back to reading.  Someone knocked, which was a nice change.  He looked over then unlocked it.  "It didn't work.  She's already offered to help me with a schedule for tests."

"I heard."  He came in and gave him a hug.  "You all right?"

"Better."  He gave him a weak grin.  "I'll be fine, Harry."

"Good.  We tried to have a talk with her and Ginny about leaving you alone.  Hermione thinks that the abuse you went through made you gay."

"No, I was probably gay all along.  After all, she couldn't do more than say mean things until I could learn how to read and take a beating."  He shrugged and reopened his comic.  "I'll be fine.  I may just shy away from them and hide in our room all the time."

"Sure.  I'll help you sneak out if you want," he promised with a grin.  "I'm off to sit with Ron.  Want to join us?"

"She'll be waiting in there like a predator pouncing prey.  I'd rather be eaten by something more fun," he said sarcastically.

"Sure," Harry agreed, grinning at him.  "If I didn't tell you, I loved the snowglobe."

Alex grinned at him.  "I thought you might.  Hogwarts was your first home."

"Have you ever thought about counseling those kids who need help, like I did?" he suggested.  "Remus suggested you might be very good at it."

"I might, but that's a lot like work and I've still got things I need to get past.  I do it informally when I can," he promised with a gentle smile.  "Go play with Granger, make her snap at your heels."  He heard a meow and looked down.  "Hi, Croonshanks.  Come to save Harry from me again?"  She rubbed against Harry's feet.  "You should go.  Her mistress is summoning you."

"Hmm, I suppose," he agreed, picking up the cat and walking out.  He handed her back to her mistress.  "Hermione, you already jumped him?" he yelled once the door was closed.

"I apologized!"

Draco walked past the door shaking his head.  "Some twats never learn," he sighed, heading to find an open compartment.  He found Alex reading a comic and stared at him, then back at their friends.  "Find somewhere to sit.  I'm going to say hi to Alex."  He tapped then undid the locking charm, sticking his head in.  "Want to sit with us?"

"I'm good."

"You sure, Alex?"

Alex grinned at him.  "I'm perfecting my dark and mysterious act.  How'm I doing?"

"Excellent so far.  You seem to have the broody, poetic loneliness down pat," he offered with a grin of his own.  "We won't mind and we won't even pick on your house too much."

Alex grinned.  "It's time to go back to those roles, Draco.  Go be the Prince of Hell, I mean Slytherin.  I'll be the Dark Gryffindor."  Draco snickered.  "It's fine.  I'll see you in the library for our first defense lesson?"

"Of course.  Did you remember that book for Potter?"

"Yeah, I'll give it to him and Ron later," he promised with a grin. "Thank you for making me get my bag this morning."

"You'd forget your underwear if someone didn't remind you to put some on," Draco teased, closing and relocking the door.  A prefect checking compartments gave him an odd look.  "Birmingham's in there.  It's his choice of lock spell."

"Fine.  I know he can do harder charms.  Go to your compartment, Mr. Malfoy."  He sneered and walked that way, back in role for the rest of the term.  She rolled her eyes.  She hated the Slytherins.  She knocked on the door and Alex waved without looking.  "You all right in there?"

"Fine. I can get it undone.  I taught him that one."

"That's fine then."  She walked on, checking the other compartments.  She found the Weasley twins plotting something and nearly shuddered in horror.  They were terrors on the whole school.  She found Potter and his Weasley engaged in a game of Snap and smiled, walking around Longbottom as he was chasing his toad again.  The rest were snug and the platform only had a few kids left on it.  She yanked the cord, the train whistle blew, and they jumped on, headed back for another term.

Year Three: Another Mystery

Alex came out of the sweet shop in Hogsmeade, smiling at his bag of treats.  At least until he was rudely grabbed by a cold hand and pulled into an alleyway.  "Who the bloody hell are you?" he demanded.

"Whelp?" the blond man asked.  "I just saw you in Sunnydale.  What are you doing here and British?"

"Who the fucking hell are you, pillock, and why did you grab me?"  He got free and glared at him.  "I'll have you know I've been British my whole life, you dancing nancy!"  He dusted himself off and checked his bag of sweets.  "Whoever you think I am, you've just made a near-fatal mistake, boy.  I am Alexander Birmingham.  I am one of the evilist bastards on the face of the wizarding world.  So whoever you think I am, I bloody well doubt it."  He stormed off.

The vampire stared at him.  There was a mystery here and something was not right.  Someone came out of a nearby shop and he ducked deeper into the alleyway, staring after the boy.  Something very wrong was going on here.  He had just seen the boy back in Sunnydale not even three weeks ago.  They said everyone had a doppleganger, but this was going a bit too far.  The kid looked exactly like that annoying twit who backed the slayer.

Alex ran into Draco, taking him by the arm.  He was starting to get one of those Halfrek headaches and he knew he was vulnerable; he didn't want to have to deal with this alone at the moment, even if Draco was being an ass to him so far this year.  "You're walking me back, some blond arse just tried to grab me," he told him.

"Who the bloody hell tried to grab you!" Draco demanded, turning to look at him.  Not even his father would do something that stupid!  This was starting to look very bad and like some idiot friends of his father were around, in which case he wanted to be farther away.  "Alex!"

"He said something about Sunnydale, just seeing me there, and me being American?"

"Forget all about what he said," Draco said firmly.  "That's bordering on that stuff you're not supposed to remember from your last life."  Alex nodded, taking his arm again.  "Show me."  Alex showed him the alleyway and Draco snuck back there, seeming to casually look in the windows of the nearby shops.  He shot a tracing spell at the man, then went back to Alex's side, nodding Greg and Vinnie to follow them.  "Come on, we're going to see your father.  I put a tracker on him."  They hurried back to the castle.  They were already late but that was fine.  Snape met them at the door and he grabbed him by the hand before he could do more than open his mouth.  "Some blond man just grabbed Alex by the arm and said he's supposed to be American, in Sunnydale, and tried to figure out what's going on.  I shot a tracking spell at him."

"Good work, Mr. Malfoy, ten points to you for quick thinking.  Alex, go to my office."

"Dad, Draco said that's stuff I'm not supposed to know."

"It is," he agreed.

"Okay, tell me what you can then.  Let me put up my sweets before I eat them all.  Then I'll head down there."

"Follow him," he ordered the trio.  "Take him to my office and wait with him."  They nodded, heading down there while he went to tell McGonagall and head off to track the bastard who was trying to harm his son.  He found traces of the spell and followed it once his wand had keyed in, leading him back to the Three Broomsticks.  He found the reason in a back room and closed the door.  "Who are you to grab my son?" he demanded coldly.

The blond man stood up.  "Name's Spike.  Who're you, pillock."

Snape sneered at him.  "You'll find I'm asking the questions," he said coldly.  The man's face changed and he hissed.  "Vampire.  Interesting.  Scapulous!" he cast, pointing his wand at the pale neck.  The vampire ducked, upending the table to protect himself.  "You will not harm my son again.  I will know what you know about that other man you thought he was.  I do not allow such people to harm my son."  Someone pounded on the door.  "Madam Rosemerta, call Professor McGonagall.  This man tried to grab Alexander Birmingham a moment ago.  My students reported it to me."  She ran off, going to floo the school.  "We'll see how long you last," he sneered.

"I'm one of the Scourges of Europe.  What makes you think a puny wizard like you can stop me when a slayer can't."  He popped up his eyes.  "Besides, I know that boy's not supposed to be here. I saw him just three weeks ago on the hellmouth.  Cheeky little brat named Xander."

"Hmm.  I've heard of him.  He's got a bright future ahead of him, unlike you."  He raised his wand again and a glow started between them.  "Who the hell are you!" he hissed.  Then he took a step back.  "Halfrek."

"'Fraid so," she said dryly, freezing Spike.  "He's kinda saved Xander in the future.  Protected him a few times while patrolling.  So let's just find out all he knows then send him away with a compulsion to go back to Sunnydale.  'Kay?" she asked brightly.

"He told Alex about Sunnydale, accusing him of being there recently."

"I heard.  That's why I showed up.  I'll reinforce that boundary and take the memory from all but that Draco kid.  He already knows the whole deal anyway.  McGonagall is coming, tell her I'm a big fan please?  She'll help you compulse him.  Send him to Sunnydale after Dru.  His Dark Princess is back there again."  He nodded once.  "He won't come back for a long time."  Someone pounded on the door.

"Let me in, Severus," McGonagall called.  He opened the door and she slammed it behind her before anyone else could help.  "What's going on?  Who's she?"

"I'm Halfrek," she said with a smile, shaking her hand.  "I'm a big fan, Professor. You do my job nearly as well as I do.  I adore watching you work."  She looked at Spike, then back at her.  "I'm off to erase this from Alexander's head.  The other two as well."  Snape nodded.

"Not Mr. Malfoy?"

"He already knows everything," Halfrek assured her with a grin. "He's a smart little boy with a bad streak of want and need."  She looked at Spike again.  "Compulse him to go back to Sunnydale.  I need him there to save Alex from Angelus in a few months."  They both nodded.  "That's Spike, childe of Angelus and Druscilla.  He is a Master Vampire and he will harm others if you don't.  Say he's protected or some such."  She faded out.  Spike unfroze.

"Stupify!" she cast.   She looked at Severus.  "I want a complete report."

"It's about why Alexander was reborn among us," he said quietly.  She sighed and nodded.  "He nearly doomed us all by telling him."  She shuddered.  She had been told about that by Dumbledore apparently. "Which compulsion should we use?"

"A fairly strong one," she noted dryly.  "I'm not sure which would work on vampires."  They studied him. "How about we layer them?  Ones to leave.  Ones to send him back there?"  He nodded and they got to work charming him.  By the time they were done he was so bound that they walked the docile vampire out.  A Law Enforcement agent tried to stop them.  "He's charmed, we can't kill the vampire.  We're sending him where a slayer is," she told him.

"They exist?"

"Yes," Snape said impatiently.

"Fine."  He looked at him.  "The boy?"

"Just shaken.  He's fine otherwise.  Some other students were running late and they came up together for protection."  The officer walked them out to the edge of town and they set the vampire free, watching as he wandered off.  They looked at him, then at each other.  "Alex should be better by now."  She nodded.  He looked at the agent. "What sort of report did you need?"

"Did you catch his name?"

"Spike.  He said he was a Scourge of Europe?  He was identified for me as the childe of Angelus and Druscilla."

"I thought they were myths too," he complained.

"Not hardly," McGonagall told him.  She rolled her eyes.  "I'll go check on the boys for you."  He nodded, letting her go.

"Who identified him, Professor Snape?"

"Halfrek."

"Halfrek?  Do you have a last name?"

"No.  She watches Mr. Birmingham now and then.  She's very competent, has a bit of the Sight."  He scribbled that down.  "She shows up now and then when he's in certain types of trouble.  She's a fairly decent sort to him.  She went to help him forget what happened since we're sending the vampire off."  He decided to have fun with this dolt's mind, it was amusing to him at the moment and letting him ease his worries about his son.

"It's said Mr. Birmingham has a good grasp of Defense, why would you need to charm him to forget it?"

"Because that vampire targeted him for something his family owns," he said simply.  Which was true, the family did own Alex since he was the only member of the family outside of himself.  "I don't want the boy to worry about it."

"Oh, that's fine then.  Why didn't he fight the vampire?"

"He's charmed and I have no doubt he would have done more than flay him verbally if he thought he couldn't get away.  Since he did get away, he left it there and told us."

"Okay.  Which students did he hide with?"

"Mr. Malfoy and his friends.  Halfrek has already charmed them too as Mr. Birmingham doesn't want them involved in a vendetta against his family."

"We're sure the vampire won't come back?"

"We layered the compulsions.  The strongest were to leave, the lightest to go to Sunnydale, which is the Hellmouth and has a slayer in residence."

"Fine.  I'll report that for you after I have a look around.  Let's hope there's no more vampires around."

"Mr. Malfoy thought to put a tracking charm on that one. You could use it to follow his progress out of the country."

"I'll report that as well.  Thank you, Professor, for the timely stepping in."  He went back to the inn to make his report, then went to prowl around the town to make sure there weren't any more of them hanging around.

Snape shook his head and hurried back to the school.  His son probably needed some comfort of some sort.  A session with his memories usually gave him a headache and left him confused.  He found the four boys chatting happily in his office and relaxed.  "Alex," he said.  His son grinned at him.  "Are you all right now?"

"Just fine.  I remember what she told me, that he was out of place and time.  That I'm not supposed to know that yet."  He ate another piece of chocolate with a grin.  "Are we good, dad?"

"We're fine.  The vampire was sent away with layered compulsions and one of the Ministry's officials know about the tracking charm."

Draco nodded.  "I'm just glad I managed it. I don't usually do those."  He stood up.  "I'll leave you with your son."

"You can stay if you wish," Snape offered.

"We spend hours together each week," he noted dryly, smirking a bit.  "You can have him for now.  Then I'll repossess him later."

"How very generous of you," Snape said dryly.

"I know.  Aren't I though?"  He walked his helpers away, leaving the father and son to talk.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, dad.  Really."  He held up an arm, getting the hug he had requested.  "I'm fine.  I got mean and evil on him until I got free, then did the smart thing and didn't take him on because I felt something off about him."

"He was a vampire, son.  That's a wise thing."

"Vampire?"  He looked thoughtful.  "Huh."  He shrugged.  "Oh, well.  I'll tell Remus I met one."  He grinned. "He's giving me and Harry extra defense lessons, did he tell you?"

"No, and I'm not really pleased about that."

"Dad," he sighed.

"Son, I doubt you need them."

"He's filling in some gaps that I missed during my forced reading.  He's also giving me some pretty neat things to look up and learn about.  He's really good at teaching to the general stupidity levels and helping those who are special, like me," he finished proudly.  He ate another piece of chocolate.  "What's this about the dementors, dad?  Harry and I both hate them."

"Why does he hate them?" he asked snidely, sitting behind his desk.

"Because he hears his parents dying."  Snape went pale, grabbing the edge of the wood until he calmed himself.  He looked at him.  "They're working on his defense against them," he said quietly.  "Me, I can't.  I've got happy points, but not that happy.  Usually I'm much better in charms than this and I'm struggling badly."

"Not everyone has something that happy," he said calmly.  "Mostly it's a state of mind or a very strong memory."  He considered his son.  "Try using the ones with the happier times.  The party last year.  Cuddling with Mr. Malfoy after he found out about his house and his father.  Cuddling with me on the couch if you must.  I'm sure you'll find something."

"But what if I don't?" he asked quietly.  "What if I'm vulnerable to this because I'm such a surly and sarcastic bastard?"

"I can create one and I'm much darker than you are," Snape said simply.  Alex relaxed again and nodded, eating another chocolate.  "Eat dinner, son."

Alex snickered.  "Gee, dad, working on your impersonation of Mr. Weasley?"

"I'd hope not.  I did sound terribly parental, didn't I?"  Alex nodded, grinning at him.  "Well it's true anyway. You should still eat dinner."

"It's my night to let Twirly spoil me or else she's threatened to come up here and beat the house elves for letting me lose weight while I grow."

He rolled his eyes.  "Call the thing and eat in here then.  I can eat with you."  He handed over the tin of floo powder.  "What is your special anti-boredom topic of study this year?"

"Birmingham Hall," Alex called once the fire was nicely green.  Twirly came through with a loaded tray and put it on the desk, knocking some books and scrolls aside.  "Twirly, he needs those.  They're student papers."

She snorted.  "Daddy Snape is being eating."  She uncovered the plates and smiled, bowing at him, then kissing Alex's hand before leaving and coming back with a pitcher of milk, a bowl of rolls, and a whole cake for dessert.  Then she left and came back with his usual care package, putting that on the couch.  "There, now Alexander is fed and well.  Lazy elves not keep him from eating."  She disappeared and the floo was shut off.

Snape rolled his eyes.  "I don't know what's wrong with her.  You eat more than most boys," he complained.

"I don't know but it makes her happy and she spent so long miserable with Grams," he noted, digging into his meal.

The headmaster came in a few minutes later.  "Severus, is everything all right? I was alerted that your floo went off."

"My son's house elves are very over-protective and feel the need to feed him because he's lost some weight due to a growth spurt," he explained.  "It keeps her from complaining to Minerva."

"Oh, I don't know, they were scary when they agreed I needed more vegetables and juice," Alex said dryly.  He stuffed his mouth again.  "It keeps her from coming up here to yell at the school's elves too," he said once his mouth was clear because he was being scowled at.  "Humoring her is better than having her frustrated and fussing even worse. It also keeps me in snacks and cakes."

"I've noticed the times Mr. Weasley's coming in with chocolate already around his mouth before breakfast. You can't break her of that habit?"

"She was miserable for nearly all her life under Grams," he said firmly, staring him down.  "She's happier fussing over me and I'd rather be fussed over by her than having her feel unwanted and unloved.  That's just as cruel as what Grams did to her.  I won't torture another being just for giving a damn about my welfare, even if she is female."  The headmaster nodded at that.  "The weekly meals make her happy and I'd rather humor my house elf than not.  I'm sorry if this offends you but Professor McGonagall explained it to the castle house elves so they wouldn't be offended."

"We've humored other house elves with these problems," Snape reminded him.  "They generally calm down once the child's growth is done with."

"I hope I can keep weight on then," he said dryly.  "Otherwise she'll fuss me to death some summer."  He dug back in, eating heartily.

"Are you missing anyone?" the headmaster asked.  "I'm headed to the Great Hall and can send the other party down."

"No, she fully intends for him to eat most of this and I'm sure he will," Snape noted dryly.  "He usually does."

"Ron and I both do," Alex said between bites.  "He said I'm like a muggle hoover machine, whatever that is."  He ate another bite, chewing slowly.

"Fine, as long as you have the problem in hand, I'll leave it to you.  What happened earlier?"

"You should ask Mr. Malfoy.  By the time I got down there, all that was left was the charming of compulsions to make the creature go away."  Alex caught his eye and he looked at the headmaster again.  "All I know is that some vampire tried to take Alexander hostage.  We sent him off since we couldn't kill him.  It was suggested we send him somewhere in America so it's far enough away for safety and to take it out of the general populace.  Minerva and I charmed him that way.  I also did the report with the official Madam Rosemerta called."

"Thank you, Severus.  I'll leave you to dinner with your son."  He walked out, closing the classroom door behind him.

"I don't want him to know," Alex said quietly.

"He already had an idea from last year, son," he replied, starting to eat again.  "She was most generous."

"She's starting on you about your weight too," Alex said with a grin.  "All my elves are very good bakers, especially Marsette.  She does a great puff pastry."  He ate another bite.  "I wonder what everyone else is eating."

"I believe tonight was liver," he offered, digging into his own generous portion.  Someone knocked politely on the door.  "I'm busy!" he called.

Harry walked in and handed over the letter.  "From Professor Flitwick, sir.  Apparently he wanted Alexander to help him with a first year having trouble if you didn't need him tonight.  He even got me to demonstrate a few times."

Snape read the note, then passed it over.  Alex grinned.  "Tell him I'll be up after we've had dinner. Probably around seven-thirty or eight."  Harry nodded, grinning as he stole a roll and left.  "Wow.  That's the sort of praise I like to hear," he said happily.

"I'm proud of you," Snape assured him.  "How are your classes otherwise?"

"Are you *sure* Madam Sprout isn't evil?  She's had us doing stuff with teeth and mouths again."

Snape sighed.  "I'm sure, Alex."

***

Alex laid on his bed later that night, staring up at the canopy, his mind whirling in circles.  He saw a light on across the dorm and sat up, pushing his curtains aside when he saw it was Ron and Harry.  He got up and pulled something out of his trunk, going to hand it to him.  "I got it earlier."

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"That mysterious prophecy," Harry said grimly, reading it over. "That's cryptic as hell."

"Divinations is all cryptic shite," he said dryly.  He nodded at the foot of the bed and Ron shrugged so he sat down.  "But that's what all the fuss is about."

Harry handed it back.  "We'll dissect it tomorrow during our free time."

"We don't have the same free time since I've got muggle studies."

Ron grimaced.  "Why?"

"Because McGonagall talked me into taking two electives since they were so easy."

"Granger dropped Divination," Ron offered.  "She stomped off in a huff."

"Yeah, but she's using a time turner," Alex noted dryly.  He got up and got something else out of his trunk, bringing it back.  "Harry, give that to Remus tomorrow?" he asked, handing it over.

"What is it?"

"My journal."  Harry looked a bit confused. "When I went to Germany for the week.  I wanted to make sure I got all the stuff I identified right."

"Oh."  He nodded and thumbed through it, then tossed it onto his bed.  "I'll give it to him tomorrow after class.  Did you have fun?  Sirius was really happy that you took his suggestion."

"I did," he admitted with a grin.  "I drank a lot of beer too."  Both boys laughed.  "Listen, I don't want to breach this divide, but Draco noticed your thing with the dementors."

"Is he that mean?" Ron asked.  Alex nodded.  "And you still consider him a friend?"

"Between us that would be a prank and I'd get him back," Alex noted.  "We've done this to each other for years.  That's why I owed him for shaving me bald when we started school."  Harry snickered.  "I know.  Dad wants me to grow it longer.  I'm thinking about putting streaks in it."  He ran a hand through his hair, which barely reached his collar.  He hadn't gotten around to having a haircut in three years.  "I really want to stay out of the fight between you guys and Draco, but if he does something like that I'm going to have to pick sides and I'm not sure which I'm going to pick.  Greg and I have known each other since primary school.  Draco I met the year after I met Greg. Draco's always been a mean shit."  He shrugged.  "That's how I like him best."

"But you think he's going to take advantage of my thing with the dementors?" Harry said quietly.  Alex nodded.  "Well, at least you warned me.  Even if you do side with him, I'll remember that."  He punched him on the arm and grinned.  "I understand about being torn.  I have to listen to him and Hermione squabble all the time."  He rolled his eyes.

"She's a busybody, Harry!"

"Yeah, and she's never going to get any better, Ron," Alex noted patiently.  "She still won't leave me alone either.   I don't know why she wants me to be straight, I'd never date a girl like her anyway."  He shrugged, looking confused. "I've got to start looking for a boyfriend for real."

"There's still time," Harry assured him, patting him on the knee.  "Just don't share details, okay?"

"Oh, definitely.  I do that with Draco," he offered with a smug grin.  "He's storing them up for when he finally gets some."  Ron snickered at that.  "His mother wants him to hold off until she can find a nice girl for him to date.  He wants to head to a club for the night.  So far, he's winning this one.  She's fully exasperated with him."

Harry laughed, looking at Ron.  "Usually she seems to be this nice, sweet, caring mum around the house.  Fairly permissive and Sirius gives her dirty looks all the time for setting bad examples for us.  Draco swears up and down she's a slavedriver at home."

"Nope, she's even more light at home," Alex assured him.  "I think she's maybe ordered him ten times in his whole life.  Otherwise it's always a suggestion and he knows what he should follow.  Did Remus say anything about that picture in the Prophet yesterday?"

"No," he admitted.  "I made sure he saw it and he said he's studying it.  He doesn't think it's Lucius though.  Just some other blond, snarling guy."

"No, I nearly got captured by one of them earlier, a vampire."  Ron whimpered.  "They made him go away."

"Fine. Thank you.  Thank whichever professor made them go away if you didn't."

"I was too stunned by the pain in my head," Alex told him dryly.

"Another of those 'you shouldn't know that' headaches?" Harry suggested.  Alex nodded.  "What happened?"  Alex shrugged.  "Again?"

"Again.  All I know is that he was a vampire and that dad and McGonagall compulsed him all to hell to send him far, far away."

"Guys, some of us are trying to sleep," Neville called testily.

"Sorry," they called back in unison.

"Hey, Neville, did you need help in Defense this year?" Alex asked.

"Alex," Seamus called.  "You talk louder than you snore."

"Sorry.  Anyone need help in Defense this year?"

"I do," Dean said, raising his hand.  "But I need sleep more.  Tomorrow's a good day to talk, guys.  Really."

"Fine," Alex said, grinning at his buddies before going back to his own bed.  "Night."

"Night," everyone called.

"If we get eaten by the vampire who was after you, I'm going to have to hurt you greatly," Neville added.

Alex giggled.  "Sure, Neville.  If you get turned I'll let you try to hunt me."

"Boys!"  Percy called, pounding on the door.  "Sleep!"

"Yes, big brother," everyone called in falsetto.  It annoyed Percy all to hell.

***

Remus looked at Alex since this was his period with just him during the week.  "I don't know why you can't even begin to form one," he said, frowning a bit.

"Maybe I'm not that sort of a happy person.  Dad didn't say how he was able to."

"Let's try other memories?"

"I have.  I tried the day I found out about dad.  The day I found out Grams was dead.  The day the will was read and it was all mine.  The day I met Greg, the day I met Draco, the day I got onto the train.  The day I got my letter.  The party."  He considered back.  "Cuddling with Draco the next day.  Nothing."  Remus sighed and leaned against his desk.  "I'm sorry, Remus.  I'm trying!"

"I know you are, Alex.  The same as I know this is just as frustrating for you as it is for me."  He gave the boy a smile.  "By the way, you did get one creature wrong but it's a reasonable mistake with the way you drew it.  It had a hidden leg you apparently didn't see."  Alex nodded, smiling a bit.  "What about over there?  Any good memories?"

"A lot of beer."

Remus snickered.  "No happiness at running in the woods or anything?"

"A lot of beer," Alex repeated, grinning at him.

"You did nothing but go into the woods and drink?"

"And watch a fashion show with many little, gay, fairy boys like me.  Many delicate, little, gay, fairy boys like me.  I got propositioned a few times at it until they found out how old I was, and then I got propositioned by some different people.  Including one of the models.  He said I could be one but I think he just wanted to be my first one."  Remus blushed but he laughed.  "Sorry."

"No, that's all right, Alex. You're at the right age to start thinking about that."  He smiled at him.  "Nothing else happened?"

"A lot of beer."

Remus snickered, nodding.  "I had that when I went too," he promised, grinning at him. "Sirius did too when he went to Russia."  Alex nodded, grinning back.  "He told you?"

"About a lot of very fuzzy nights in the wilderness and some things he wasn't sure of on the other side of his fire.  Apparently he talked to a few ancestors who had been Huns."  Remus burst out laughing and he grinned more wickedly.  "He also nearly killed himself when that bear showed up he told me.  He said he nearly hexed his foot off and he would have bled to death if not for his mentor and keeper."

"He never told me that," Remus said, smirking a bit wickedly himself now.  "I'll have to ask him about that."

"He told me not to tell you."

"I bet he did," Remus agreed dryly.  "He's still going to get it."  They were interrupted by the emergency bell.  "What's going on now?" he sighed, grabbing his wand and following the young man out to the front steps.  The students ran past them.  "Go to your houses!" he yelled.

"Upstairs and hide in your dorms!"  Alex bellowed.  The kids started for the dorms.  They made it outside, looking at the teachers arranged against the wizards standing there.  "Hmm.  Interesting."  He pulled his wand and cast.  "Engorgio!"  One of them screamed as his intestines expanded past the tolerable limits.

"I'd go inside, little boy."

"You have no idea who you're speaking to," Alex shot back in his most evil, vicious, icy voice.  He pointed his wand at him.  "I'm the meanest person of all of them.  Why do you think I'm here and no other students are?"  He pointed it at the other backup wizard.  "Tendare."  The man screamed as every nerve ending in his body came to vivid and instant life, firing off like each had been hit with a bolt of lightening.  He fell to the ground writhing, rolling around, wailing in agony as it continued on.  Alex looked at him again.  "Next?" he suggested.  The wizard backed away.  "Take your toys and go, before I get to play with your toys some more.  After all, I enjoy hurting those who're threatening me."  The man cast a 'finite incantantum' at his friends and they ran away before anyone else could help him.

McGonagall looked at him.  "We had it, Alexander."

"So?  They're ruining my jolly mood.  Remus and I were comparing trip stories from where I went to Germany and had a lot of beer."  He turned and walked inside, finding some first years huddled in the entry.  "To the houses, kids.  What part of 'your house is your safe spot' didn't you understand!"  They ran to their house, crying.  He looked around, then up, seeing a spot on the ceiling.  "Did that guy last year piss up there?" he wondered, shaking his head and walking up to his house, finding a few more people in the halls.  "If I catch you, I'm reporting you!" he yelled.  They scurried off to their houses, secure that he would protect them.  One first year was huddled behind a statue sobbing so he stopped to pull her out, tipping her face up.  "If this had been something other than a drill, you could be very hurt by now."  She wailed and clutched him.  He patted her on the back. "Honey, you've got to follow the order to get to your house before you break down.  You know that.  It's for your own safety.  No one can get into the houses unless they're very strong."  He pushed her back some, nodding to make her nod.  "From now on, when that bell rings, I want you to be the first in your house, then sob in the corner.  Not behind a statue.  Someone could have heard you and gotten you very badly."

"Daddy," she whimpered.

He stared down at her.  "Do you need to call your daddy or do I need to call your daddy out for hurting you that way?"  She shook her head, wiping off her face.  "You're sure?"  She nodded. "Then you can call from your house or write him a long letter.  I won't tell him you didn't make it if you don't."  She sniffled and nodded.  "Now, get back to your house."  She turned and ran off, still drying her tears.  He took a deep breath and searched around.  "I can hear a few more of you.  It's safe," he called.  Two more kids came out and ran for their houses.  He tracked the gasping sobs he could hear to another kid in a closet, hauling him out to look at him. "Come on, kid.  Let's go back to the house.  The closet isn't a safe spot.  Someone could get you in there."  The boy burst out in new tears so he patted him on the back.  "Around here, the house is a safe spot."  He shook his head. "No?  Who's picking on you?"

"Everyone," he cried, clutching Alex tightly.

Alex looked over as Flitwick joined him, the kid was a Ravenclaw by his tie.  "He said he's being picked on."

"I've already chastised a few people for it."

"Oh let me," he said dryly.  "I'm still feeling naughty and badass."  He walked the boy up to the house, tapping on the portrait.  She glared at him.  "He's one of yours, lady.  He was hiding in a closet."  She sniffed.  "Let me the fuck in before I have to get Flitwick."

"Tadpoles and toenails," the boy gasped.  The portrait swung open and everyone stared at them.

He found one of the prefects he knew and liked, even though she was a girl she was fair, and handed him over.  "He got lost.  He was in a closet.  He's only a first year."  She nodded, grimacing a bit.  "Where's the stupid bastards who're bothering a first year?"  She looked stunned.  "He said he couldn't come back, ever, because of them.  That this wasn't a safe place."  He stared her down and she swallowed.  "I can make it a safe place if you want, sweetheart."

"I have it, Alexander," she said softly.  "I'll protect him."

"That's fine.  Are you sure I can't kick someone's arse for you?"

"No, I'm good enough at it," she assured him with a small smile.  "Professor Flitwick and I have already talked about a few of our people."

"What's he gonna do, wet on us?" one boy called, then he laughed.

"Please," she said quietly.  "Don't hurt them too much."

"Of course not."  He strolled over there, then grabbed one and hit him, attacking the next two.  The last one, the one who spoke, was backed against a wall.  He stared him down, then suddenly laughed. "What's wrong, gonna piss yourself?" he asked, pointing at the growing wet spot.  "I may be a third year, but I do not like bullies.  The only way I like bullies is naked, running through the woods with a big, fat, bright target on their asses so I can practice my aim against moving targets.  What do you want to bet I can't talk Professor Snape into humoring me?"  Everyone in the castle knew Snape doted on him, even if they didn't know why.  The boy whimpered and fell to his knees.  He kicked him in the stomach.  "Pick on someone your own size, Nerly.  Before someone picks back.  After all, if you weren't a pathetic excuse for a wizard, you wouldn't be getting your ass kicked by a third year."  He turned around to look at the rest of them.  "Anyone else want to ruin my good mood by picking on a first year or a second year?  Or anyone for that matter?"  They all shook their heads.  "Are we sure?"  They all nodded.  "Good!  I'm going to remember my trip to Germany then."  He walked out, slamming the portrait behind him.  "Watch him for reprisals," he said as he walked past the tiny professor.  "Otherwise it should be stopped for good."  He headed up to Gryffindor, finding Draco outside it. "Morning, dear."  He blew a kiss at him.  "Want to come up?"

"No.  I want a straight answer.  Did you tell Potter about my plans?"

"I told him I overheard you making fun of his reaction to the dementors.  I don't think it's fair that you pick on him about that."

"Why!  It's the perfect thing to pick on him about!"

"Because there's shit you don't know, Draco.  It'd be like Ron picking on you about hair care products.  Speaking of, you're messed up."  He fussed a few strands into place.  "There, pretty again," he said, staring at his friend.  "You and I can do that to each other.  Harry's not you and I."

"So you're protecting him!"

"He's my housemate and I was asked to protect my house," he said firmly.  Draco looked stunned.  "I don't want to step into the middle of your thing with him.  For all I give a damn, you two can dance the fucking tango on the pitch to the full moon, Draco.  There's shit you don't know about that situation.  Leave it alone.  It should be enough that you can gloat without pissing me off and making me get involved.  Because if you do that, I'm honor bound to do that since I swore to protect my house and he's my fucking guardian!"

"I'm your friend, doesn't that count!"

"That's why I've stayed out of this so far!" he yelled back.  Draco took a step back.  "I'm sorry," he said more quietly, sounding a lot more stressed out.  "There is stuff in that situation you don't know about.  Think about it for a minute, Draco.  Think about what his godfather went through being falsely accused and being sent to Azkaban for something one of your dad's friends did.  Think about what dementors mean to some of us.  I don't particularly like them either and if I see one I'll do my damndest to kill 'em, even though I've never had a happy enough memory apparently."  Draco looked really stunned at that, even looking a bit hurt.  "So leave that one alone.  Plan something else since I ruined your surprise.  It should be easy enough for you with how smart you fucking well are!"  He turned and stomped off, heading back outside.  The teachers still out there tried to get him his way so he levitated himself up and over them, then back down on the other side of the steps, heading off for a walk.  "I'm going to vent!" he yelled back.

"Don't change when you're angry," McGonagall called after him.  She walked back inside, finding Mr. Malfoy coming down the stairs.  "What happened this time?"

"I don't bloody well know, woman!  Go ask the imbecile!"  He stomped off.

She pulled her wand.  "Impedimentia!"  He froze.  She walked to the door, casting the same spell on the boy huffing off, then floating it back with a quiet 'moblicorpus'.  She floated them both into her workroom and slammed the door, locking and sealing it from intrusion.  Then she undid them.  "Neither one of you are going to be allowed to get away with that.  Alexander, you should not have taken on the threat when adults who are more trained than you are were present."  He opened his mouth so she sealed it.  "You may know a lot, but some of us have been doing this longer and your father is quite upset!" she snapped.  "Mr. Malfoy, not only are you out of your house, you were engaged in a screaming match with Mr. Birmingham.  I want reasons and I want them now!" she ordered.  Both boys shrank back.  She undid Alex's mouth.  "Right now, Mr. Birmingham."

"No!  Do we need someone to make you a potion for crabby woman problems?"  She looked stunned.  "Draco and I can fight without help.  I promise, we've done it before," he said hotly.  "Whether or not you like it, Draco and I are both big boys who can easily snap and yell at each other.  We have in the past and worked it out.  This time, he's being an ass because he put me in direct conflict."  He glared at Draco.  "That's why I'm going to vent before I go find more bullies and beat your house's upper years' asses!"  He unsealed the door and stomped off.

"Well," Draco said, lips pressed together, eyes cold.  "Fucking primadonna."

"Twenty points off Slytherin for swearing!" she snapped.  He glared at her.  "Try it," she offered. "I can always take more!"

"Enough!" Dumbledore yelled from the doorway.  "Professor McGonagall, are you all right?  You seem a bit upset."

"It's these two boys fighting!"

"Usually you say that about him and Potter," Snape offered, looking at her.  He pointed his wand at her. "Finite Incantantum."  She slumped then burst out crying, running after Alex.  "Leave him!" he snapped.  She straightened up and nodded, going back to her office.  "Mr.  Malfoy, I believe I have a seat with your name on it in the dungeons.  Kindly go sit in it."  He gave him a heated look.  "Now, young man."   He stomped off.  He went back to the entry, going to find his son.  "Accio Alexander," he hissed, making his son come flying.  He landed at his feet.  "My office," he ordered.  "Now."

"No!  You may be my father but I'm not going to fight with Draco again today, Professor.  Unless you want us to start hitting each other or it to get much worse, it's better to let me walk away this time.  Because I will."

"What is wrong with you!" he demanded, coming down the stairs.

"Draco put me in direct conflict by taking on Harry this time and in the way he chose.  To get out of the middle, I warned Harry, knowing that word would get back to Draco.  That way he could plan something else," he snapped, glaring at him.  "That way I'm not drug between two friends.  Draco's pissed and I'm sorry, but yay!  I'm staying out of it.  I don't want between them.  If they force it, I'm getting them both then gloating."  He turned and stomped off again.  "I'll be back by dinner!" he yelled.

"You now have detention and Gryffindor just lost fifty points," he noted coldly.

Alex turned.  "Feel better now?  Did you get off from punishing my house because Draco and I are fighting?"  He looked stunned so Alex went on.  "Stay out of it, father.  This is between Draco and I.  We've fought before and Draco's realized what an asshole he was."

"And yet, you decided to stick up for your new friends over your old one?" he said coolly, coming down to face his son.

"I fucking well vowed to protect that house from unreasonable harm!" he shouted back, pointing.  "This plan puts me in direct conflict between them.  I'm not getting between them!" he screamed. "I refuse to pick sides between my friends, even if you want me to drop my housemates!  I am who I am and fucking well accept me for it!" he finished off, then turned and stomped off again.  "I'll be back by breakfast!"

Draco leaned in the doorway. "Alex."  Alex continued to walk.  He walked past his head of house, going to catch up to him.  He finally made it on the pitch, which was silent and private at least.  He caught him by the arm and spun him around, staring at him.  "What don't I know?"

"That's not my job to tell you," he said coldly.  "That's between Harry and those he told."

"How was I supposed to know about this then?" he demanded.

"Easy, you heard I slipped your plan, you could have easily made a better one.  Because that one sucked anyway.  It's like something I would do."  Draco looked hurt at that and Alex went on.  "I don't like you picking on Harry and Ron.  I never made a secret of that, Draco.  Until now, you haven't bothered with my promise to keep out of it or to protect the others from it.  I am *vowed* to protect my house and the innocents in this school.  McGonagall specifically asked me to protect them since I'm so much more than most students are.  I wasn't even here a week when she did it!" he shouted, pointing back at the school.  "Your prank this time is stepping on my toes and I'm not getting in the middle of my friends!"  He turned and tried to walk off but Draco caught him again.

"I'm not omnipotent."

"So!"

"How was I supposed to know?"

"Easy, Draco, use that over-hyped brain of yours," he sneered.  "Sirius alone should have been reason not to do that.  After all, isn't he your relative too?"  Draco nodded.  "Think about him then, huh?  Do you think Harry needs to be reminded of that or what he missed out because a friend of your father's set him up?"  Draco still looked hurt.  "Usually you think so much more.  Try it this year.  It'd be nice.  That way I don't have to kill you both to save what's left of my fucking sanity."   He got his arm free.  "Until you can decide to either leave them alone or leave me out of it, I don't wanna know you."

"Tough!"  He stepped closer, grabbing him again.  Alex growled, teeth showing.  "That doesn't scare me."  He stared into the other boy's eyes.  "Do you think I meant to put you in the middle?  That this is all about you?"

"No, this is about your dad's pride and his friends' ceaseless pursuit of being inbred," he snapped.  Draco let him go.  "There's only so much pureness a family can take before they're reduced to the state of animals.  All of us have some flaws or else we wouldn't be able to speak by now.  Your daddy went after a fucking pipe dream and now you're following.  I told you before I'm not on that side.  I could care less if you're fucking a skunk or a skrewrt or whatever!  I don't care who your parents were.  It's not like my family was that great anyway, why in the hell would I want to claim them!"

"You like your father," Draco reminded him, trying to stay calm. He was getting more confused than angry, but he was still trying.

"Maybe.  He doesn't preach the pureblood rant."  Draco slumped a bit.  "Think about it, Draco. Do some of that book learning you're so famous for and tell me why there's muggle and half-bloods among us.  Tell me why everything your daddy held dear is why your house is starting to have more and more problems and losing population.  Also tell me why he's back."  Draco gave him a really hurt look.  "I'm not dealing with this.  When you're ready, come find me.  I'll be somewhere having fun without being pushed in the middle of shit I don't want to witness."  He stomped off, going to hide in the forest.

Draco took a few deep breaths, watching him go.  He turned and found Snape standing there.  "Did you understand that?"

"More or less," he admitted.  "Professor McGonagall did ask him to protect his house and those students who needed it.  It was probably the first time he had been accepted for who he was and is.  He was given positive praise for it as he expanded his role of protection.  That's why he just went to beat up the bullies in Ravenclaw for a first year he found in a closet because he decided the house wasn't safe."  Draco groaned, shaking his head. "As for your *thing* with Mr. Potter, whatever that may be, he was correct.  If you're planning on something that requires a dementor, it is unfair and it would bring him into conflict.  He has to protect Mr. Potter, he's his guardian and they protect each other.  That's why certain people wanted him to not be a Gryffindor, so those two wouldn't become friendly."  He stepped closer.  "As for his accusation that it is an unkind plan considering the family's past history with the dementors, I can agree with that, even though I believe the person deserved punished for all the things he didn't get punished for that he had done to others.  Why there's more to that story I do not know yet."

"You won't.  Only Potter will tell you.  Alex won't, he said that's got to come from Potter."  Draco ran a hand through his hair, then uncharmed it and did it again now that his hand didn't get stuck.  "I don't know what's going on.  I didn't mean to upset him."

"It's not often he loses his temper.  How often do you two fight?"

"We've had two of these before.  One was after I shaved him bald.  Even after mum made me confess, she still blamed him for ruining one of her parties and a fake plan to take a family portrait.  She never had before, she had no reason to then."  Snape nodded at that.  "He got punished for what I did, even though I confessed."  He took a deeper breath.  "I don't believe we need more help, Professor Lupin," he called.

"I believe you do."

"It's not..."

"Shut up, Severus.  There's things you don't know about Harry and the Dementors.  Like what he hears."  Snape looked at him.  "He hears the moment he got the scar.  Every now and then he hears Sirius howling in agony.  Even if he did try to sic me on you, without me knowing, he served more time than he should have."  He scowled at the other man.  "You leave Harry alone and leave Alex to me for now.  We understand each other very well."

"He's my son."

"Yes, and you've just helped piss him off even worse.  The boy was hot from two fights.  Draco faced him down and they got into it, then McGonagall got her shots in.  He's hurting.  You're comforting the wrong child.  So let me have Alex for now.  It's clear you've picked your side in this debate, at least to him."

"I was going to speak to him later.  He wouldn't let me...."

"Children at this age think with their emotions, not with their brains."  He looked at Draco.  "I believe he was trying to make another point.  You're becoming more and more like your father every day, Draco Malfoy.  The friend he knew is starting to slip away and he's tried very hard to bring you back.  He gave you a lot to think about and I think you should take his advice on that line of thought."

"What good would it do?" he sneered.

"It might bring you closer together again.  Do you really want to lose your friend for years this time?"

"Like you did?"

"No, like you're going to."

"He's been slipping away since he was missorted," he accused.

"Yes, well, he had a choice to make then. He's made it very clear where he stands in the debate about dark magic.  You knew this a long time ago," he noted quietly.  Draco continued to sneer and he had to force himself not to hit the boy for it.  "I want you to seriously think about what Alexander said to you, Draco.  He had reasons for most of it."

"You were listening?"

"You couldn't help it, you two were screaming," he shot back.  "Go back to your house, Mr. Malfoy, and think about what was said.   You may only have one chance to retain this friendship and if you want to keep him as a friend I would make a careful consideration of the points Alexander made."  He stared him down.  "If any mention of Harry's problems with the dementors gets around the school, Slytherin will be losing a round one hundred points at each mention.  That was confidential information to try to cool your hot headed stupidity.  Alex was trying to be gentle and give you a nicer reason, something you could understand, but I'm not that gentle. You're old enough to start making these sort of decisions for yourself."  Draco started to open his mouth.  "Or perhaps not.  Maybe you're not ready for the decision Alexander made three years ago. We each come into that one at our own rate.  It may not be time for you to face that decision yet.  For now, go think.  You have much to decide and very little time to do it in.  Alexander is probably off trying to find a way to forgive you."

Draco snorted. "You have no idea what he's doing.  He likes to make things explode."

"This isn't frustration, Draco.  This is rage at stupidity.  This isn't what he had when Pansy cornered him.  This is the destruction of what he used to be able to count on in his life."  He walked past him, heading after the other boy.

"That was melodramatic," Snape noted.  Draco nodded.  He looked at the boy.  "He was correct on some things.  Alex did say some things you should think about.  Including whether or not you want to remain friends with him.  My son is hot-tempered, but he should see sense sometime tonight."

Draco shook his head.  "I doubt it.  We're too different now."

"Why?  You weren't yesterday."

"It's been growing since we were sorted apart," he said firmly.  "He's a Gryffindor now.  Fully one of them instead of one of us."

"Yet, he'd still consider you a friend.  Just because he didn't want to get caught in the middle...."

"He wouldn't have cared before!" he snapped.  "He was never like that!"

"Perhaps you were too young to see it, Draco.  He was like that his first year.  That's why he's stayed out of your petty arguments with Mr. Potter all this time, so he wasn't caught between the only friends he had.  Go back to your dorm and think."

"What about what he threatened?" he demanded.

"He is a professor, it is his right to do that," he admitted.  "The same as it is my right to take points off Gryffindor in Potions.  What he told you was told in confidence.  If you do spread it around, it would harm a great many students, including those poor, deluded beings who look up to Mr. Potter as a hero and see him as their savior."

Draco looked at him. "You don't think he's coming back?  That Alex was right and my father's back?"

"I've seen no evidence of that."

Draco nodded.  "Then I guess we'll see."  He stomped off, heading back to his dorm.

"Draco!" Greg called when he stomped in.  "Where's Alex? Is he all right?  I heard he hexed those guys who were threatening the school!"  He followed him up to their dorm, closing the door.  "What happened?"

"Alex and I had a fight," he ground out. "I don't want to hear about him right now."

Greg frowned.  "But we like Alex."

"He's a bloody Gryffindor!" Draco snapped.  Greg flinched so he calmed himself again.  "He's picked his side, Gregory," he said with icy calmness.  "He made that quite clear."

"But I like him."

"Yes, but he has to stick up for Potter."

"So?  That hasn't mattered yet!  Why is this time different!"

Draco stared at him for a moment.  "I don't know, but he said it's tromping on his vows to protect his house."  Greg looked stunned. "He shouted a great many things at me out on the pitch."  He sat down, looking at their mutual friend.  "He's off in the forest somewhere."

"He can get expelled for that," Greg reminded him.

"Lupin went after him.  Snape stopped us to calm us down and chose me to talk to first."

"Poor Alex.  Abandoned by everyone," Greg sighed.  He sat on his bed. "I'm going to talk to him later."

"I doubt he'll talk to anyone, Gregory."

"He always talks to me, Draco."

Draco looked at him.  "Fine. If you do, tell me how he is."  He leaned back.  "Why do you think he feels abandoned?"

"Because you're forcing him into a situation where he's going to be abandoned by one side and made fun of by the other for stopping us.  His father picked you over him out of house loyalty.  We're all he has left, Draco, and you two are the closest of all.  Harry's his guardian and he's got to protect him but we've been friends since we were kids."  Draco nodded, swallowing and thinking.  "What else did he say?"

"He went off on the pureblood thing."  He waved a hand.  "He thinks my father's back as well."

"He is.  He was in the Prophet."

"They can't prove it was him or not.  The picture was too blurry."

"Yeah, but it was him.  I've watched Uncle Lucius a lot of times to make sure he wasn't in the mood to hit me with his cane like he did your house elves."  Draco sat up, staring at him.  "That was Lucius.  Somehow I guess Alex decided it was, but it was him.  He was standing the same way he used to, back when we were still in primary school and he was angry at everyone."

"I studied that picture for three days," he told him.

"Yeah, but he's your dad.  You know him by other means.  You know his voice, how he smells, and all that stuff.  Those of us who had to watch him for social cues and stuff watched his body language, how he moved and stuff.  That was Uncle Lucius in the papers."

"Did you tell Professor Snape?"  He nodded.  "He wasn't sure yet."

"He wouldn't be.  He never studied him like that.  They were rivals."

"Sometimes you say really insightful stuff.  It makes up for those moments when you say totally stupid things."  Greg grinned at him.  "He also said something about the pureblood rant."

"Yeah, he's been thinking about that for years.  He figured it's like inbreeding a dog by now in Britain.  That's why I'm going for a foreign pureblood witch.  To get some new blood into the family, even though we had a problematic uncle about six generations ago."

"You did?"  Greg nodded, looking complacent about that fact.  "Why?"

"Because his sister was so inbred she couldn't close her mouth enough to eat or drink normally."

"Like an inbred beast," Draco said, considering it.  "Greg, what do you think about the stunt against Potter?"

"It'd be nice to see him freak out."

"Alex said something about Sirius Black."

"Well, he was tortured by them.  He and Alex seem to get along okay, like he's an uncle figure.  I guess the same way he feels about Lupin."  He shrugged.  "I don't know.  I guess it's mean in some ways."

"Lupin thought it might cause a panic if Harry got hurt by that, which is what Alex meant by being forced into the middle by his vow to protect his house."

Greg shook his head.  "That wouldn't.  His house knows he protects Harry.  Even if he has to take on stuff that might kill him."

"Like a dementor?"

"No, Alex told me he can't make the counter-charm.  For some reason it's not working for him."

"Find me a sixth year book in Defense," he ordered. Greg nodded, going to get one from one of the upper years.  Alex had shouted so much at him that he hadn't caught it all.  Some things were starting to fall into place however.  Maybe it wasn't so much the vow that was hurting him this time.  Greg came back and closed the door again, tossing over the book.  Draco flipped to the index, then the correct page.  He read the information quickly, then looked at him.  "The counter is called a Patronius.  It's based on a happy memory."

"I wonder if Professor Snape can cast one," he said thoughtfully.

"He can.  I heard him tell Alex he could," he admitted.  "I was listening during part of their dinner."  He closed the book.  "Alex said he can't?"  Greg nodded.  "Which is really odd.  This could be fear.  From Alex though?  He's not afraid of anything."

"My dad used to say everyone's afraid of something or they're already dead because of it.  He told me I had plenty of things that were worse to fear than the dark."

Draco looked at him.  "Alex doesn't have any happy memories strong enough?"  Greg shrugged.  "It says it's got to be a strong happy memory, something to hold the energy of joy and happiness to battle the soul-sucking that the dementors do."

"They suck joy, Draco, not souls," Greg corrected blandly.  "Professor Snape said so."

"Fine.  Joy then.  Alex has happy moments."

"Maybe there's something blocking him?  Maybe he feels they weren't happy enough?"

Draco curled up around his knees, holding them so he could put his chin on them, book in one hand.  "Alex has been such a know-it-all in charms and defense for so long that he's been doing special stuff.  Like helping a stuck first year."

"That's a great honor," Greg agreed. "He used to explain stuff to me too."

Draco nodded, he had things explained to him many times.  He looked at him.  "I think maybe Alex is scared that the rumors are true."

"Why?  He's said often enough that he's a powerful wizard, which he is."

"Yes, and he's a pureblood and the Dark Lord wanted him as a sacrifice before he was born," Draco reminded him.   "That's got to be it, he's got to be scared."

"What would he be scared of?  Whenever he fights, Alex goes all cold and unemotional until afterward. Even the prefects and the Head Girl look at him if something like a fight breaks out. That's why he took on part of Ravenclaw for a first year before you two got into it."

"Why?"

"He found some kids hiding in the halls instead of in their houses.  Snippy the house elf said that kid said his house wasn't safe for him.  Alex went to fix that."  He shrugged.  "He's done it before in Gryffindor for a second year.  He did it for one of our kids when they were bothered."

"Yes, but why *him*?  That's why there's prefects."

"Yeah, but who says the Prefects aren't involved?  Ours was," Greg reminded him. Draco stared at him.  "Did I say something dumb again?"

"No.  You actually said another very smart thing.  I'm starting to wonder if the dumb things are just an act."

"No, but the dumb things come easier.  Alex-watching isn't that hard, he makes it fun when he takes on the idiots who harm those who can't fight back."

"Like he couldn't," Draco breathed.  "That's his vow."

"Uh-huh.  McGonagall asked him personally to help her find and protect all the abused kids in his house, and he took it to mean all the kids in the house.  Last year he added on the rest of the school because of that one Hufflepuff boy nearly dying after the seventh years got him. That's why they gave themselves up the next day.  I sat there and cheered him on.  He grinned at me for it," he offered with a small grin of his own.

"Wonderful.  I still think he's scared of something."

"But what?  His powers?  Being called?  Being turned since a vampire grabbed him that time?  Being in the wrong place at the wrong time?  Not making it in time?  Alex knows most of those happen and he can fight off the first two."

Draco shook his head.  "It's not that simple with Alex.  It never was."

"Maybe he's scared of being alone," Harry said from the doorway.  "Where's Alexander?  Ron's about to yank his hair out since he never showed up."

"He got into it with the guys threatening us and then a few Ravenclaws for a first year."  Harry nodded, coming in.  "How did you get in here?" Greg asked.

"Professor Snape let me in and told the others to leave me alone this time.  He's not sure what's up with him either.  All he really knows is that Alex is worried about something and I'm not sure what."  He looked at Draco, who was sneering.  "I know Lupin told you.  He told me.  I don't give a damn if you spread it around the school, Draco.  What's everyone gonna do?  Look at me funny like they did last year when they thought I was evil?  Pity me for surviving like they used to before they thought I was going evil?"  He shrugged.  "I don't care any more."  He looked at Greg.  "I'm trying to figure out what to get Alex for a holiday gift.  Do you have any ideas?  I thought about chocolate but he's even quit eating that recently."

"He what!" Draco demanded.  Harry nodded.  "No sweets at all or just chocolate?"

"Just chocolate.  He said it's making him bouncy.  By the way, did you give him that dusty defense book?  It's been frustrating him again if you did so can you take it back?  He's having nightmares."

"About what?" Greg asked, looking worried.  "He's had a few good ones over the years.  We used to sleep with him on sleepovers and he still had 'em."

"Last holiday he didn't," Draco admitted quietly, staring at Potter.  "What's he worried about, Potter?  He's not deigning to talk to me recently."

"I have no idea.  I was hoping you did.  All I know is that Lupin is with him and from what we could see out the window it looked like he was about to cry as he stomped off.  It set Hermione off again and Ron had to body bind her to keep her from rushing out there.  Percy's still yelling at him about it."  He grimaced, looking at Greg again.  "No idea what to get him?"

"A gift certificate to where he gets his comics?"

"I haven't seen him reading any in a few weeks," Harry said thoughtfully.  "Is he depressed?"

"No, he's not prone to it," Draco said, frowning now.  "That's not like him."  He stood up, dropping the defense book.  "What's his problem with the patronius?"

"Nothing happy enough.  He said he should be able to but nothing's coming."   He shrugged. "Lupin's worried about him, I know that much."  He scratched the back of his neck.  "I think he's worried about something and that it's probably that picture in the Prophet that they thought was Lucius."

"It was," Greg told him.

Harry nodded.  "I figured as much.  Alex is back to planning torture again."  He looked at Draco as he changed clothes.  "Lupin's with him."

"Lupin has no idea what to do with him when he's upset," Draco pointed out as he pulled on a new sweater.  "Get off on watching me change, Potter?"

"No.  But I'm not sure you know what to do with Alex when he's upset either.  I know Greg does.  He talks about him a lot.  He doesn't talk about you with us so he can't get shoved in the middle of our fights," he said when Draco stared at him.  "We asked him not to really.  It upsets us to think that you're human."  He looked at Greg.  "Maybe you should go to him instead?"

"I can't calm him down.  All I can do is let him rant and pace and scream.  He's already doing that."

"Fine.  Tell him to sneak in tonight.  Percy's looking to hook onto Hermione's idea of therapy for him."  He turned and left.  "How about a music box?" he asked as he came back.  Greg shook his head.  "Shoot.  Sirius thought that'd be nice."

"He likes music," Greg offered.  "I'm not sure you could find a music box that plays popular music though."

"I'm sure you could have one's song changed," Harry told him. "Maybe a gift certificate to Madam Malkin's?"

"No, Potter.  He only shops when he has to. His closet is smaller than Greg's."

"Oh.  Maybe something like a sword?  Or a battle axe?"

"It's practical," Greg offered.  "I don't think he could sneak it back into the school and who would teach him how to use it?"

"Lupin knows how to fence."

"So does Alex," Draco assured him.  "We learned against each other.  The same as we learned how to duel against each other.  He's better at it than I am."  He looked at Greg.  "He kept pushing my intelligence back at me."

"That means he thinks you're dumb," Greg assured him with a grin.  "Temporarily or not."

"Gee, thanks terribly for that," he noted dryly.  "Come on, Potter, I'll walk you out."  They walked out together.  "Next time you go to town, watch what he looks at.  Buy him some of that."

"Last time it was the sweet shop and his shirts being refitted."

"Oh."  Draco shrugged. "I'm sure Granger or Weaslette will think of something," he said dryly, heading outside.  The headmaster and McGonagall were both out there, watching the sun set. "Have they come back yet?" he asked her, ignoring the old man totally.

"Not yet," she admitted.  "It's dangerous out there after dark."

"He's got our defense teacher with him, Professor, plus this is Alex we're talking about."  He headed that way.

"Mr. Malfoy, you may not go with them," the headmaster called.

Draco stopped, turned, and gave him his most icy stare. "Alex is my best friend, even if we are fighting.  It's up to me to go make him calm down and explain the cryptic shit he yelled at me.  He really should drop divinations, it's lowering his ability to argue coherently."  He turned around and continued to walk. "Expel me if you want.  I have things that would better serve my time."  He cast a bloodhound charm once he got to where they had been fighting, following it into the woods.  He found Lupin, but no Alex.  "Where is he?"  Lupin spun around, looking startled. "Where's Alex?" he repeated.

"I don't know.  I haven't been able to find him yet."  He looked at the wand.  "Bloodhound spell?"  Draco nodded.  "Me too."  He grimaced.

"He's shielding.  It's the only thing he ever learned from my father," he said quietly, concentrating to remember the counter curse.  He finally remembered it and chanted it slowly, and the spell picked up his friend's scent.  "I've got him."

"You're going farther into the forest alone?"

"Alex needs me."

"I think he needs someone who he feels gives a damn."

"Which isn't you.  So butt out."  He walked off, following the light on his wand.  He finally found Alex beside a small pool and flopped down beside him.  "If we get lost out here, I'm going to make you lead the way back," he said in greeting.  Alex was silent so he looked at him.  "Were you cursed?"

"Only with former friends."

"Alex...."

"You don't have that right at the moment," he said coldly.

Draco moved the hand he had planned on touching him with.  This was more serious than he thought.  He shifted to face him, making Alex look at him, noticing the tears.  "Tell me.  I only got half of what you screamed at me.  I admit, it probably would have been cruel to Potter to torment him about the dementors.  I'm like that, Alex. You've known that for years.  I haven't changed that much.  You're the one who went off the deep end and became all goody goody all of a sudden."  Alex pulled away and he grabbed him again, pulling him against his body. "Tell me," he hissed.  "Don't make me force you."

"Let go," Alex said coldly.

Draco looked down at him.  He never talked to him that way.  "No."  He wrapped his arms around him, cuddling him.  "If you don't tell me, I'm not going to let you go.  I don't understand what you were yelling and I think you're afraid of something.  Greg just thinks you're mad and you wanted to continue to scream at someone or he'd be out here."

"Oh, grow up!  This isn't a you vs. Greg vs. Harry thing!"  Alex struggled but Draco had him too tightly.  His arms were pinned, his legs weren't going to do him any good.  "Let go!"

"No."  He rested his head against Alex's.  "Tell me, Alexander.  I didn't understand. You gave it to me too fast."

"You're supposed to be the smart one."

"Yes, well, today that was Greg," he snapped back.  He forced himself to calm down again.  "I don't understand," he repeated more calmly.  "I need to so we can fix this.  I don't want to lose your friendship even if I don't understand why you protect those who don't deserve it."

"Everyone deserves to be protected and safe."

"No, not everyone.  Murderers don't."

"I can protect others from them."

"Hmm.  True.  Does that mean you want to be an auror?  If so, you need some major work in Potions and Herbology."  He gave him a gentle squeeze.  "Tell me, Alex.  All I got was that you were mad at me for that prank, but not why.  Yeah, it was mean.  You've always known I do mean things. I don't understand why you went off on the pureblood thing either.  Yes, some families are so inbred some kids are born funny according to Greg.  He said he had an aunt who was."

"Malfoy...!"

"No!  Get over it and tell me slower this time!  Let me work it out at least.  That way I can apologize for the things I need to and remind you of who I am for the rest."

"You're a lot like your father," Alex spat, still struggling.

Draco let one arm move, only to hit him on the forehead.  "No, I'm not."

"Yeah, you are!  Let go!"  He finally got free and stood up, staring down at him.  "You are, Draco.  You're every bit like your father at times.  That's why you're stepping on my vow to protect the house.  You've done noting but pick on our younger kids recently and I'm going to have to stop you some day."

"So stop me.  Yes, I'm a bully.  You've known this since first grade."  He stood up, dusting himself off.  "Why is this suddenly an issue?  Your housemates all know I'm an old friend of yours and that you don't want to fight me."

"You sent three of us to the hospital this week!" he yelled.

"Alexander, there's enough anger in these woods to call something to us," Draco said calmly.  "Calm yourself before we have to defend ourselves."

"You mean me defend you?" he sneered.

"No, I can fight.  I don't like to unless I know I'm going to win but I can."  He looked his friend over, then shook his head.  "Maybe you are depressed.  Are you?"  Alex just glared, one hand on his hip.  The other with his wand ready to hex him.  "Potter said you've decided chocolate is evil.  Any idea why?"

"Because it's a kiddy thing.  It's time for me to start growing up."

"My mum eats chocolate every day of her life," Draco snorted.

"Yeah, but she's a girl. I'm not."

Draco frowned.  "Alex, you're still losing me here.  You're definitely a boy, even though you like other boys."  That got a growl.  "Is someone actually picking on you!" he asked, looking stunned.  Things started to click in his head.  Things he didn't like.  "Who in the hell could do that?"

"No one."  He started to turn but Draco caught him. "Let go!  I don't want to be molested."

"I'm not.  If I was, you'd be on the ground howling for more," Draco said coldly, staring him down.  "Tell me, Alex."  Alex just glared back.  "If you don't tell me, I'm going to have to assume and hex your whole house."  Alex shook his head and turned away again.  Draco spun him around, slamming him into a tree this time.  "You'll bloody well tell me what's going on or I'm going to kick your ass," he said firmly.  "You're a moody fucking bitch today and I don't know why and you're the one who started the fight.  I was only hurt that you were jumping in this time and you spoiled my prank.  Fine, you explained that.  I get that part, Alex!"  Alex's glare chilled even more.  "Oh, get the fuck over it!" he snapped.  "I've known you much too long to put up with this shit."  He stepped closer.  "Tell me what the fuck is going on, Alex.  I don't want to make you but I will."

He let out a bitter laugh.  "You can't."

"I can.  I have in the past."

"You can't cast an unforgivable and I can defeat it now."

"No but I have other ways, things that I've found over the years."  Someone coughed.  "Go away!  We're having a fight!"

"I noticed," a voice said, moving closer, turning into a centaur.  "There are many things that would be drawn by your heat and anger."

"We know that," they said together.

"Ah.  Are you together?"  Alex glared at him.  "Very well then.  I'll leave you be.  I have shown the teacher the way out since he was lost."  He backed off, heading away from the soon-to-be-snacks.

Draco looked at Alex again.  "You're one of my best friends," he hissed.  "I will not let this rot between us because you're scared or something."  He stepped closer until they were pressed together so he could hold Alex still.  "Tell me," he ordered.  Alex shook his head. "You leave me no choice but to hex you then."  Alex sneered so Draco pulled his wand.  "Feathers."  Alex bit his lip and endured, and Draco was at least amused.  "Who's the one who's bothering you, Alex?"

"You're the only bully I haven't hurt this year," he sneered.

"Yes, but I don't usually target you."  He upped the power on his hex, making Alex grab the tree.  "It won't work."

"I'm not telling you shit!  I told you earlier, you should have listened!"

"If I could go steal Granger's time turner, I'd go back and listen closer!" he shot back.  He canceled that spell.  He decided to go silly.  He had to break the anger to get Alex to talk to him.  Greg let him rant, Draco took a more direct approach.  His next curse made it seem like someone was blowing raspberries on his stomach.  Alex shrieked in outrage so he smirked.  "I warned you!"  He doubled it and Alex slumped to the ground, starting to cry again.  He canceled it and squatted in front of him, making sure he wouldn't be hurt if he got knocked over.  Alex curled against his chest so he knelt instead, holding him.  "Tell me," he whispered as he tried to calm him down. He'd never seen him like this before. Alex put something in his hand so he opened it, reading the note.  He sighed.  It was official, his father was back.  "I'm not supporting him, Alex, even if I believe in the cause.  That would be dumb and I'd make a bad corpse."  When he finally stopped Draco wiped off his face.  "I'm not following him even if I do believe he's right about that."

"He's not.  If you think about it he can't be.  We're already inbred.  Think about what your family tree looks like, or mine, and we've been outbreeding for centuries."  Draco nodded.  "We're getting weaker, Draco."

"We're not.  You're very strong."

"I'm a damn fluke and Harry's only three-quarters!  Hell, Voldemort's only a half!"

"What?"  Alex nodded.  "He can't be."

"He was.  His dad was full muggle."  Draco considered that.  "If we keep up this way, we're dooming our people to inferiority.  Permanently.  We're about to the point where we can't keep going forward without having children born wrong."

"Pansy's sister was, but she died in childbirth," he admitted quietly.  He sat on Alex's legs to hold him still, wiping his cheeks off again.  "Is this all that's worrying you?"  Alex shook his head.  "Then what else is it?  Potter thinks you're depressed, I think you're scared, and Greg thinks you're worried.  I get the worried part.  Lucius is enough to do that to anyone."  He glanced around.  "We're armed," he called.  He heard a high-pitched growl and sighed.  "Wonderful.  Unthinking."

Alex put a hand on his arm.  "I don't want to have to kill you or your mom, Draco," he said quietly.

"Then don't.  I told you I'm not supporting him."

"If he's alive, he's in control of everything in the family."

"He has to prove to the bank that he's alive and when he tries, there's a warrant for doing the demonic magic and blowing up the house."  Alex shook his head.  "Yes, there is."

"I called your mum, he's already been there.  She's back at my house since he can't get in.  Greg's dad and Vinnie's dad are at your place being sucked back in.  I'm going to have to kill the only relatives I've ever known."

Draco shook his head.  "No you won't.  Potter, if it comes to that, will stop him first.  You'll be behind him.  I know you will.  I'll talk to them later about it."

"I did.  They said they don't want to make me do it.  They looked so *hopeful* that I could save them.  I'm not God!  Harry's not either!"

"And the pressure builds."  Draco nodded.  "What did the prophecy say?"

"He made one of us his fatal flaw.  Me, Harry, or Neville.  One of us will have to kill him or he'll kill us.  It's specific."  Draco nodded for him to go on.  "I've got it in my trunk.  Remus has a copy too."

"That's fine.  I'll look over it later."  He gave him a hopeful smile.  "Are we better again, Alex?"  Alex shook his head.  "Why not?"

"Because you're still putting me in the middle, Draco.  Between you guys and Harry and Ron.  You pick on my house and I've got to react."

"They're putting pressure on you?"

Alex sighed.  "They think I'm siding with you, with the dark lord rising."

"You're getting what Harry got last year?"

"That and that I'm going to kill him and take over, and a bunch of other shit."

"This is one of those times when I wish I were telepathic," he complained, resting their foreheads together.

"Dad said there's a way but only if you have the skills."

"Legimens.  I know.  I do but I'm highly untrained.  I could get stuck."  He cast a shield around them and the beast snapped at the magic just past their feet.  "What is that?"

"Blind.  Helpless.  Hungry," Alex said bitterly. He pointed his wand at it.  Draco shook his head and forced it down.  "Draco, he'll break it."

"He won't."  He created another shield a bit away, distracting the beast with that.  If it only wanted the magic, it could gnaw on that since it had a weak spot.  Something theirs didn't.  He looked at his best friend again.  "Legimens," he cast, closing his eyes to see better.  He saw it all and growled.  When he was done, the beast was staring at them, head tipped to the side.  "Shoo," he said, casting a blast of heat at it.  It yelped and ran off. He strengthened their shields and looked at Alex again, seeing him with his eyes closed.  "They're wrong, Alex, and they don't deserve your protection."

"It doesn't matter if they do deserve it, everyone deserves to be safe."

"Yes, but that applies to the protectors too!"

Alex opened his eyes to look at him.  "We're protectors, we're stronger, Draco.  We're supposed to be able to take it."

"Who told you that?"

"Everything points to it.  All the myths.  All the stories.  Even the comics.  Good guys are good guys no matter who throws rotten tomatoes at them," he said tiredly.

"That's dumb.  You can't do your job when you're like this."

"I have to do my job and I get to wear crap out because of it."  He hesitantly wrapped his arms around him and Draco let him cuddle so he relaxed.   "Some day you'll betray me too.  After all, you're a good bad guy."

"I'm only mildly bad and I only pull pranks."

"We're both growing up, Draco.  The time'll come when you're called.  He knows not to call me.  Even if Dad's called back he won't call me.  Too many people on his team know I won't go and I'll end up fighting him."  He took a few breaths.  "Then it'll be me and Harry and Ron against you, Vinnie, and Greg.  They'll follow you and their dads when they're recalled and you're called."

"I'm not going."

"It's not like he gives choices.  He'll kill you otherwise."

"Only if he rises, Alex. Have you even talked to your dad about this?"  He shook his head.  "Anyone else?"

"Remus. He agreed that I was seeing a probable future."  He looked at him.  "I don't want to fight you.  Can you please quit picking on my house and the first and second years?"

"Only pick on the older kids?" he suggested with a smile.

Alex nodded.  "It'd prove you were smarter anyway."  He heard another growl.  "Wonderful."  He started to let Draco got but got a headshake.  "It's dark, we're going to have to fight our way out."

"I think we need more time alone," he offered. "You need to get this out.  We've got to talk anyway. You betrayed me, Alex.  To Potter, my enemy."

"Why is he your enemy?" Alex asked quietly.

"Because he's Harry Potter."

"That's your father's reason.  What's yours?" he asked.  Draco looked stunned.  "See, being alone, I get to time to think about these things.  He snubbed you when you were a snot-nosed brat.  Not even Vinnie liked you your first month here.  He said so."  Draco still looked stunned so he shot at the creature running toward them. "Ennervate!"  The shock of the shock made it howl and run away yelping.

Draco shook his head.  "I never thought of using that offensively."  He looked at him.  "Harry's just Harry.  He's a Gryff, and you're the only one of those I like.  He's a pain in the ass who won't follow any rules, even the ones for his own good."

"He can't when they're wrong to follow.  Ginny nearly died last year if he hadn't broken that stupid curfew to go after her.  That's why I helped him."  Draco frowned and shook his head.  Alex nodded.  "Yeah.  That creature was a basilisk.  Somehow the younger Riddle managed to possess her anyway, even without access to the journal."

"It was stolen from the Ministry. That's why they built that new storage area."  Alex sighed.  "It's still loose."  Alex looked up at him quickly, frowning.  He nodded.  "They think it may be back here since they didn't find it in the ruins of the manor."

"Oh, shit, I know who has it," he moaned, holding his head.  "We've got to get back."

"Will it make any difference tonight or tomorrow?"

"It could.  He could hurt someone.  This is my first night out of the tower."

"Potter's there with Weasley and Granger.  Weasley sleeps in your room.  I know because he complains about your snoring."  He gave him a bland look.  "He can protect Potter tonight."

"It's Neville!"

"Longbottom?"

"He's the third one in the prophecy."

"Hell."  He stood up, canceling the shield and hauling Alex up.  "Come on, let's go back.  Room of Requirement to finish this later?"  Alex nodded, leading the way back to the school.  "How many times have you been out here?"

"Ten or twelve.  A few with Remus. Some by myself.  I like walking out here.  I feel comfortable."  They came out of the forest behind the school and Alex grinned at him.  "Dad's passage."  He led the way inside, going straight to his father.  He looked at the Headmaster.  "We need Snape now," he ordered.  "Father, the diary's still here.  Draco said it was stolen?"  He nodded, looking grim.  "I think Neville has it. He's had a severe case of anger and nastiness recently.  Ron sleeps too heavily to protect him."

"Are you sure?"

"It's the top of my list.  If not, I don't know where.  He is in that prophecy."

"You have a copy?" Dumbledore asked.

"I do.  I showed it to Harry and Remus.  Come on, Dad."

"McGonagall should go."

"And do what?  Cry?"  He stared at him.  "Dad, Dark Lord Junior in that diary.  You know what he feels like and can tell me if it's in him."

"Fine."  He stood up and followed the boys up to the tower.  "I'll wait out here."

"Sure."  He opened the portrait, looking at Draco, who sighed.  "We'll change it tomorrow."  He walked inside, looking at the prefect waiting up.  "I need Neville."

"Why?"

"I think he's possessed."  He walked up the stairs.  "Draco and Snape heard the password, change it tomorrow."

"Sure.  Why?" she called after him.

He opened the door as quietly as he could, walking inside.  He checked the beds.  Seamus and Dean were sleeping.  Ron was snoring, and they said he was loud.  Neville's curtains were sealed.  Harry's were closed so he peeked in on him.  Ron snorted and flipped over.  He looked around. Then he pulled his wand.  "Luminos," he whispered.  The wand lit and he stared.  "Shit.  Dad!" he screamed.  "Now!  Madam Pomfrey!"  He moved closer.  "Seamus! Wake Ron, put Neville in the bathroom!" he yelled.

"What is going on!" Percy yelled from the doorway.

"Harry's been stabbed, Percy, you tell me!" he shot back.  Percy went pale.  "Get the fucking nurse!  My dad's outside the door with Draco.  I need him.  Seamus! Dean!"  They both snapped awake. "Find Neville, put him in the bathroom!  Harry was stabbed!"  Snape came hurrying in.  "He's bleeding but he's not gushing."  Draco pulled him out of the way, looking down at him, then moved to help.  "Fuck!"  He walked over to slap Ron but he wasn't waking. "Draco, he won't wake."  Draco came over to check him, then looked up at him.  "What?"

"Dreamless sleep."  He walked over and opened Neville's curtains.  He was out too but there was blood on his hands.  "Get him into the bathroom," he ordered.  The others took him in there.  "Don't clean him up yet, we'll need to check the blood."  He looked at the nurse.  "Weasley's been sedated.  Longbottom has blood on him."

"Harry's pulse is very shallow," Snape told her.

She moved closer, moving to examine him. "What happened?"

"Alex said something abut the diary from last year, the one that got the Weasley girl."

Alex kicked open Neville's trunk, bending down to go through it. Then he went through his dresser.  "It's not here.  I'm sure it's him."

"Where was the last place you sneezed," Draco demanded, helping him up.  Alex looked confused.  "Where?"

"Greenhouse four."

"Then we'll go there and check, Professor."

"I need...."

"The Weasleys can bloody well take care of him, Alex. You're the best magic sniffer we have.  If that diary is here, we need it."  Alex got into Harry's trunk, coming out with a piece of parchment, and they left together.  The Headmaster tried to stop them.  "Not now!  Get the Weasleys to guard the infirmary!"  He ran after Alex.  "What?" he called.

"The map says it's out there! It lists him!"

"Map?" Remus called, running to catch up.  "I remember that map!"  He took it and looked.  "Damn it!"  He ran faster, heading out to the greenhouse.  It wasn't in plain sight.  He tapped his wand on the dot, expanding it.  "It's in here somewhere.  In a pot."  He looked around.  "There's got to be three hundred of them."

"Fine.  We'll do it the hard way.  Tempus Reversus!" he cast, extending it as far as he could in the green house.  All the plants around them receded.  The diary was forced up by the new shoots in one.  He grabbed it and sneezed.

"That's it," Draco said, taking it.  He looked inside.  "No words?"

"You write, it answers," Alex said.  "Dad, now," he said, sneezing again.  Draco nodded, hurrying off with it.  "Remus, Harry was stabbed.  Neville had blood on him."

"Hell," he said, hurrying back to the tower to help.  He ran into the nurse on the way.  "I'll be right up.  Where's Longbottom?"

"Snape has him," she called, hurrying on.  "I'm going to have to send him on."

"I'll be right there!" he yelled.  He found Snape on the map and raced for him, going to stop him.  "Draco!" he yelled.  The diary was tossed to him.  He hurried down to the dungeons, tossing Snape the diary.  "It's in him.  They're taking Harry.  Lock Neville up and I'll help you unpossess him later."  He hurried up to the infirmary, barely making it as the paramedics arrived.  "I'm one of his godfathers," he announced.  They glared at him.  "I'm going.  I can call the other from there!"  They nodded.  "Madam Pomfrey, tell the Headmaster," he called, grabbing onto the portkey.  He saw Alex stumble in but they were already moving off.

Alex looked at the newly blank spot, then called the house.  "Narcissa.  Call Sirius, Harry was stabbed.  They took him to the hospital just now.  Remus is with them."

"I will."  She hung up and made the call from there.

He looked at the nurse.  "I feel like shit."

"You look like shit.  What's going on!" she yelled.  He backed away by a step.  "I'm sorry," she said, calming herself.  "What is going on, Alexander?"

"Remember Ginny last year?"  She nodded.  "The diary came back.  It's in Neville.  Neville had blood all over him.  It was hiding in Greenhouse four.  She's going to be *so* pissed in the morning!" he moaned, holding his head.

"I'll get Madam Sprout up to check her."

Alex summoned the map and looked at it.  "Here she is," he said, finding her and pointing at the dot.  "In the Headmaster's office?"

"I don't know.  I'll be right back.  You sit and wait on me.  Watch my infirmary, answer questions."  He nodded, sitting on a bed as she raced off.

He deactivated the map, looking over as his father came in.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he agreed, giving him a hug.  "I was not choosing him over you, Alex, I merely thought he was calmer and more rational at that moment."

"Fine."

"That was not what I was hoping for."

"Shit happens," he said dryly, looking up at him.

"Use Legimens and ignore the naked men," Draco advised as he walked in.

Alex looked at him.  "That's not Draco."

"It is."

"It's not.  I know Draco, he doesn't move like that."

Snape looked.  Then he pulled his wand suddenly.  "Stupify!"  Draco fell over.  "I still have it," he said dryly, then looked at his son.  "Legimens," he hissed, reading his mind easily.  "We've got to get you some shields and no more naked men calendars, son."  He canceled it and looked at him.  "You are not betraying your house.  You managed to figure it out just in time tonight.  I'm proud of you."  Alex nodded.  "That one boy is in for it though."

"Dad, it's his opinion."

"I don't care."  He walked over to Draco's body, looking down at it.  "Trying to hop out of Longbottom to keep him in trouble, old friend?"

"Dad, if you go back, I'm going to have to kick your ass and tie you up until you're no longer mentally insufficient to make good decisions," Alex said firmly, staring at him.  "I mean it."

Snape smiled.  His son did love him.  "I'm sure you do.  If it happens, we'll talk about it."  Alex shook his head.  "I am invaluable."

"So?" he snorted.  "You're not going.  If you abandon me to do stupid, dangerous, hero stuff then who'll I get my sarcasm kick in with?"  He muttered something, getting a book, which he flipped through.  Then he handed it over.  "Here.  What you need."

"Where did that come from?"

"The library at home.  It's amazing, you seem to have unlocked the books on demonology.  Which Halfrek said I was not to get into except that one and one other one, which would prove it's wrong and not for me to touch."

"A good idea," he admitted, looking at the spell.  It was simple enough.  He cast it, sending the spirit in Draco into the last body it had been in. He took it with him, leaving those two together.  He found the Headmaster coming for him.  "Who else?"

"Madam Sprout."

"Alex said she was dark," he noted dryly, heading to uncurse her.  It flowed back into Longbottom so they went to uncurse him, sending it into the last body it had been in, the buried one.  The book burst into flames and they watched it go.  They did knock it onto the floor to spare the desk and the papers, but otherwise, they watched it burn.  Neville was collapsed against a desk and Snape conjured a stretcher, handing it to Dumbledore.  "You're messing up my office, Albus."

"What is going on?"

"That was the same diary.  People have been pushing Alex and he snapped earlier.  Hence the fight.  Sometime during it the realization hit him when all the pieces fell together.  They raced back, got me, went up to see if they were right.  Alex found Potter bleeding, Weasley knocked out, and Longbottom bloody."  Tonks walked in and he pointed at the diary.  "It burst into flames once we uncursed Longbottom."

"What happened?  We heard Potter was in surgery?"

"It appears the diary from last year came back in Mr. Lonbottom's possession.  He split off part of the spirit into Madam Sprout as well.  While possessed he apparently stabbed Mr. Potter and sedated Mr. Weasley.  When we banished the spirit out of him, it made the book burst into flames."

"Oh, goodie.  Another report I'll get chewed for," she said happily, smirking at them a bit.  "Alex is where?"

"Madam Sprout's contagion briefly jumped into Mr. Malfoy as a more suitable host.  We uncursed him first.  They're both in the infirmary."

"Why didn't he stop it?"

"They were in the forest.  Alex and Draco were working out a tiff they had."

"Ah."  She nodded.  "They're at the age for that.  I had a pretty few when I was their age."  She came in to gather up what was left of the book.  "We'll need to examine all three of them to make sure they're fine.  Should we send a healer to help, Headmaster?"

"Madam Pomfrey would have to answer that," he said quietly.  "She should be back up there."  She nodded, taking the boy upstairs with the ashes.  Her boss met her up there.  She gave him what she knew, handed over the Longbottom boy, then went to get Alex's report since he probably knew more than he was letting on.  "Alexander?" she called, making him look over at her.  "Is he all right?"

"Fine.  Neville was a bit heavy handed for his weight but Madam Pomfrey said he'll be fine."  He patted the spot beside him on the bed.  "Hop up here.  We can chat."  She smiled and did just that.  "How's Neville?"

"On his way in with my boss.  We've got to check to make sure there's no remaining taint."  She looked at the other Weasleys.  "He'll be fine I'm sure."

"Why weren't you in the house?" Ginny demanded, glaring at Alex.  "Why didn't you protect Harry and Ron!"

"I was in the forest trying to cool down from the fight earlier," he told her.  "What makes you think he couldn't have gotten them during a break, or lunch, or something."  She burst out crying.

"He managed to figure it out before anything serious happened," Tonks said calmly.   Ginny glared at her too and stomped off.  "I already called your mum," she called after her. "They're on their way up."  She looked at the others, then at Alex.  "What was the fight about?"

"Lots of stuff," Alex sighed.

"You let a Slytherin into the house," Percy said firmly.

"You'd rather I didn't call for help?" he asked.  "You just stood there and stared and I'm not any good at healing."  They all gaped.  "Draco's very calm in an emergency.  That's because he got used to helping me heal.  He and my dad are very good at it, that's why I brought them.  I was damn sure that Neville was the one once I put the pieces together.  He's been acting odd all year."  The twins nodded, they had seen that.  "I'm sorry I had that fight, but shit like you blaming me for the color in your underwear running builds up!"  Percy stomped off too.  He glared at the twins.  "Get it out now," he encouraged.

"Alex, don't," Draco said quietly from his bed.  "Just don't.  It's not worth it. If they were your friends, they wouldn't have been putting that pressure on you in the first place."  He looked at his cousin, the auror.  "They expect him to be God, leave his real friends behind, and to kill everyone he's ever given a damn about if they're called back," he said simply.  "He broke.  He's thirteen.  He needed to let it out before he went off on someone else.  As it was, he had two fights earlier before ours.  Some bullies who were threatening the school and the imbeciles who got us sent to the houses."  The twins gaped.  "Yes, he did get those Ravenclaws from what I was told.  He also hexed the ones outside while the teachers stared in shock."

"That's not fair, he's a little boy!" Tonks said angrily.

"I've grown since the last time you saw me, Tonks. I'm not that little anymore."  She frowned at him.  "I'm not."

"You are, Alexander.  You're thirteen, not thirty.  I don't want to face another war if one comes.  Too many of my family are on the wrong side too."  He nodded, relaxing some.  "Fortunately my boss doesn't want me in the field unless I have to be.  He knows the chances of running into a relative are too high and I'd come back damaged."

"But that's his job!" Percy said as he stomped back.

"He's a student, boy.  Not God.  If the war comes back like rumors are starting to claim, most everyone he knows will be out there.  People who gave a damn and tried to get him away from that torturing grandmother of his.  People who tried to protect him.  Could you kill your parents if they went bad?"  He went green and got sick.  "Well, that's what he's facing.  Welcome to his world," she said harshly.  Draco clapped.  "You, behave.  I'll be there in a minute."

"Sure."  He sat up and Madam Pomfrey came over to push him back down and tuck him in again.  "Don't you dare," he ordered. "I'm staying by Alex tonight."

"That's fine.  He can sleep in a chair beside your bed."

"Alex can't sleep in a chair.  He'll probably curl up with me on the bed," he said lightly.

"Eeh, boys like him always need cuddles, Draco.  It makes 'em sane and happy.  Same as it does girls like me."  She started to write out notes.  "Okay, so you figured it out while you two were making out... I mean up in the forest?"

"I'm straight," Draco called in a sing-song voice.  "He's the poof."

"Fine, if you say so.  Straight boys don't take as much time and energy on their hair and clothes as you do, cousin."  Draco let out a cold sounding snort.  "They don't."  She grinned at him.  "Straight boys throw on any old thing, like those two."  She pointed at the twins.  She looked at Alex again.  "You figured it out and then what?"

"We came out of the forest, came in one of the back passages.  I went right to Snape's office, figuring he could identify the magical signature of the diary easiest if it was possessing someone."  She nodded, taking that down.  "I drug him and Draco up to Gryffindor, and they waited outside while I went in.  I checked Seamus and Dean.  They're closer to the door.  I checked Ron.  He was snoring heavily.  I peeked at Neville but his curtains were sealed.  I peeked in at Harry, then lit my wand.  There was blood everywhere."  He started to look green.  "I screamed.  I think I screamed for dad.  I don't know.  All I know is he should have been gushing and he wasn't.  They both came in.  I ordered Dean and Seamus to take Neville into the bathroom and not clean him up.  Just in case you needed the blood.  It took a bit to get them moving.  Percy there complained about letting them in, yelled at me from the doorway.  The nurse came in and shoved me out of the way.  I searched Neville's things, then when I didn't find anything I pulled out a map of the school that Harry has. It lists names."

He yawned.  "I figured if the diary was possessed it'd be listed since some other things were that I'd seen in the past.  It was in greenhouse four.  Draco drug me out there when I told him where it was because I'd sneeze when we found it.  Remus joined us on the run out there.  He figured out it was in a potter.  I ungrew the plants.  She's so gonna yell tomorrow about that."  She nodded, smiling a bit.  "The new growth pushed it up and we grabbed it to bring it back to dad since he's the best at unpossessing someone.  Remus came up here to go with Harry, I followed but I'm a bit slower at the moment because I'm tired."  He yawned.  "Madam Pomfrey sent Harry off with the paramedics and Remus.  I called Auntie Narcissa to tell her to call Sirius since I can't remember the code to the house there."  He scratched the back of his head.  Tonks looked and lifted an ant off his collar, then tossed it onto the floor.  Madam Pomfrey glared and burned it, coming over to check Alex.  "It's been a long day," he told them.  Both women nodded.  "She told me to wait and answer questions so I did.  That's when dad came back.  Draco came in a moment later, we figured out he was possessed and I called a book I had brought with me on possessions.  It had a spell to send it back to its last body.  So he did that on Draco.  I'm guessing they got Madam Sprout next since she wasn't the primary contagion.  It makes sense," he offered with a shrug and another yawn.  "I was still up here."

"Lay down, Alexander," the nurse ordered gently.

"Can I nap with Draco?"

"No.  You've got some cuts and things."

"So?"  He pouted.  She frowned.  He pouted worse.  She shook her head and used her wand to remove his shirt and robes.  He searched for his wand, keeping it in his hand.

"Fine."  She got to work healing the scrapes and bruises.

Tonks looked at some on his arms.  "Who grabbed you, Alex?" she asked gently, touching one.  He hissed.

"Petry," Draco called.  "I used Legimens on him.  His mind's full of naked boys, cousin."

"I've seen plenty of those," she said, shifting to face him.  "Legimens," she cast, reading his mind.  She pulled back and grinned at him.  "Naughty, Alex," she teased.  He frowned and she grinned, kissing him on the forehead.  "Okay, you go rest with Draco once she's done.  I'm sure she'll send you back to bed soon enough."  He changed to the wolf and padded over there, hopping up onto the other bed with a tired sounding groan.  He turned around a few times then flopped down on Draco's stomach and chest, falling asleep.

"He even snores as a wolf," Tonks said with a grin, but her eyes were glaring at the twins.  "What did you do?" she asked them.

"Nothing," they defended.

"Uh-huh.  Nothing, including sticking up for him being a little boy still?  Nothing including helping him when you saw him starting to stress out and taking on bullies to get rid of it?  Nothing to help him when he started to flounder at the one thing he's good at?"  They looked embarrassed, looking at their brother.  "By the way, he's been teaching him along with Lupin."  She slid off the bed. "Ron's not looking too bad.  Maybe some year he'll have my job and I'll be behind a desk."  She looked at her boss as he came in.  "Malfoy was possessed for a few minutes too, boss."

"I saw.  I'm here to check him." He smiled at the dog. "Your familiar?"

"Alex Birmingham."  He petted the soft fur.  "He's had a bad few weeks."

"Hmm."  He pulled his wand.  "I might need to move him to get a clear scan."  Tonks came over to pick up the wolf, making him growl.  "We'll put you back in a minute," he assured him.  The wolf continued to growl.

"He's uncomfortable with women," Draco noted calmly.  She handed him off to one of the twins.  "Thank you.  He got stuck after a panic attack last year."

"Yeah, I heard about the missing trees," she agreed with a grin, grabbing Draco's wrist to hold it down.  "Hold still."  He nodded, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.  The wand was run over him and the boss nodded.  "Clean?"

"Absolutely."  He went to check the wolf, then put him back, watching as he curled up on Draco's stomach and chest again.  "He's very cute.  He's how old?"

"Thirteen," Tonks told him.  "And they're wondering why he didn't save Harry sooner, even though he wasn't in the tower."  Her boss rolled her eyes.  "He's been doing good keeping down the bullying though. He's also got some very cute mental pictures of some froofy little boys."

"Germany," Draco told her with a grin.  "That and a lot of beer."

"Sirius said he did that when he went to Russia."  She grinned at him.  "So, are you sure you're not together?"

"I still like women."

"Fine.  Spoil my daydreams."

He snorted. "You're very twisted, cousin."  She just beamed like it was the best compliment. "Even worse than this one and his playing."  He went back to petting Alex.

"Well, you're cute together, he likes to cuddle you, and you play the couple very well," the boss told him seriously.  "A lot of people think you're together, including your mother."

Molly Weasley came rushing in and stopped when she saw her family. "Where's Ginny?"

"Stomped off crying because Alexander isn't God," Tonks told her.  "She'll be back soon.  Ron's just sedated.  Longbottom was possessed and went after Harry."

"I called the hospital, they said he'll be fine," she said, coming over to fuss over her son.  Madam Pomfrey got her a stool and she sat.  She looked at the two on the bed, then at her sons.  "What happened?"  They both blushed.  "Boys?" she snapped.

"It's a long story, mum," one offered.

***

Alex woke up and blinked around him.  Blinding white.  That made him realize where he was and the memory of last night came right after that.  He lifted his head and looked at Draco, who looked amused.  He tried his best to look inquisitive.

"Weasley's awake, Potter's fine, Longbottom's been cleared of the possession, you and I are staying in here today along with the loudly snoring prat over there.  Your father drank himself to sleep last night.  Lupin did the same and they talked while drunk.  If they remember they made up, I'd be surprised. Madam Sprout's scream echoed all through the schools and up the halls when she walked in there this morning.  Dumbledore's all but throwing a fit since the wards didn't catch the diary.  Your whole house is either sorry for what they did or mad at you for not getting back there sooner.  Mine thinks I betrayed the cause.  Greg's convinced I asked you out while we were in the forest and we were making out.  Do you want bacon with your mush or not?"

Alex put his head back down and closed his eyes.  It must be a bad dream.

Madam Pomfrey came over with the morning paper and two trays of breakfast.  "Alexander, you need to change back."  He let out a tired 'wuff' and kept his eyes closed.  She put a piece of bacon in front of him and he sniffed, then licked it before inhaling it but didn't move otherwise.  "You have a full plate of it if you want."

"I'll make sure he eats."

"He still has to change back sometime today."

Draco looked at her.  "He's avoiding conflict and getting the rest he needs.  I'll watch him."  She grimaced but went back to her desk, leaving them alone.  Draco put a few more pieces of bacon down and Alex ate them, then licked his hand, but didn't move so he unrolled the paper.  "Hmm, they have the assault already."  He scanned it.  "Fairly factual and they want Potter to get a medal for surviving and uncovering the new dark lord in the making.  They've decided he wasn't really possessed by the end."  Alex snorted, shifting onto his side, letting Draco have his side to pet.  "You do need brushed, you're shedding horribly, Alex."  He shook the fur off his hand then ate a bite of breakfast.  "You'd better eat before Twirly hears."  Alex lifted his head and stole a bite of egg of Draco's tray, so he grinned and stole half the bacon off Alex's, putting some of his eggs over there.  Then he moved Alex's plate closer to his mouth.  The wolf got up with a groan and started to eat.  "It was the ants they found.  We've got lots of little, aching bites all over.  That's why we're in here today."  He ate another bite.  "You're only mentioned peripherally.  I'm not mentioned much at all besides wondering why we were in the forest together."

He flipped to the last page to get the rest.  "Ah.  We were consorting with evil forces in the forest, so you tainted Longbottom, and Potter found out, that's why he was stabbed."  Alex glared at him.  "The Prophet, Alex."  Alex gave him another heated look.  "I'll have Mother kill them later."  He looked through the rest.  "Ah, a factual report from Tonks in the blotter section.  We're both mentioned positively.  She said you deserve a medal for putting up with some of your housemates and saving Potter's life."  He saw Seamus walk in but ignored him.  "She also said that the possession was cleared and the artifact destroyed.  That's good to know.  Eat, Alex."  Alex finished off his plate and Draco's, then curled up to be petted again.  "Greedy bastard," he said with a fond smirk.  "I'll have to tell Twirly to poke you more often."  He looked through the rest.  "Hmm, Gringotts announcements.  Yup, Father's back.  Arrested for questioning but back in charge.  Fortunately I used a lot of the money to set up another vault he can't get into and Mum's protected the same way."

Seamus cleared his throat.  "Draco?  Is that Alex?  Can I talk to him for a moment?"

"We're supposed to be resting, Finnigan."

"I know, but it'll only take a minute."  Alex looked over at him and he grinned.  "I'm sorry, Alex."

"For?" Draco prompted.

Seamus handed him a note.  "Percy forced a vote of the upper years and scared the lower ones.  Almost no one wanted what he did but he got pushy with some he's tutoring.  He barely won."

"So he gets his own room?" Draco suggested dryly.  They could only mean Alex had been kicked out of the house.  He took the letter and glanced at it before holding it for Alex to read.  Alex growled and Seamus backed up.  "Did he wake up McGonagall to tell her?  If so, I pity her classes today."

"He did and she about smacked the shit outta him," Seamus admitted with a grin.  "We didn't want him out.  None of us do.  Oliver about beat him and he doesn't even play quidditch.  Said he's a neat little dark wizard who was getting better with their influence.  If the twins had been back, it'd have been different.  She'll call for another vote tonight.  He barely got his way."

"It'd almost be better to keep him out," Draco admitted.  "He'd be safer."  Alex looked up at him.  "Percy and his group of zealots could retaliate, Alex.  I'd hate to see you hexed to death in your sleep."

"We were all gonna vote on him for prefect and head boy anyway," Seamus assured him.  "He's the one stopping most of the problems now."

"That's because people have been putting pressure on him to be God and kill everyone he knows if the war restarts," Draco said blandly.  Seamus turned green.  "It's stress relief at the moment."  Seamus nodded.  "Tell McGonagall we're here all day.  Come talk to us."  Alex barked.  "No?"  He shrugged and settled in again.  "She might also ask if my house did the same since most of them decided I betrayed them by helping save Potter's life."

"They did," he admitted.  "Potter got kicked out too.  Ron too," he admitted dryly.  "Percy got really hot to get all the fighters out of Gryff for some reason and your house just decided they hated you.  Crabble and Goyle said if you left, they left.  Pansy led a cheer from what we heard across the hall."

"They did it during the meal?" he asked, looking amused.  "Well, I suppose that means no one could cheat, but really.  Have both our heads of houses come talk to us, Mr. Finnigan."  He nodded.  "Lupin can as well if he desires."

"Sure."  He grinned.  "He's not a happy guy either.  He went and packed their stuff just in case so no one could mess with it.  It's in his office."  He winked and walked off.

"Wonderful.  I hope Greg or Vinnie have the sense to do the same thing and stick it in Snape's office."  He shrugged and went back to the paper.  "Well, mum'll be proud.  We'll almost have to have our own house if we're forced to room together."  Alex let out a snore and he gave him a fond smile.  "Wolfie, I see we'll have a long day ahead of us.  Madam Pomfrey, can I have a book?" he called.

"All I have is a romance," she called back.  "Go to sleep, Mr. Malfoy."

"Fine.  Wake us when our heads of house show up."  He floated the dishes off then flipped over to hold the wolf instead.  He hated sleeping on his back.  It always ached later.  "I wonder how we'll do quidditch."  He closed his eyes, still smiling at that image.

***

McGonagall and Snape woke the boys up together, looking at them.  She was smiling, he was almost smiling.  Sort of.  Draco yawned and she smiled brighter.  "There's good news and bad news," she told him.

"What's the bad news?"

Snape snorted.  "You'll be rooming together."

"And the good?" Draco asked patiently.

"You'll be rooming together," McGonagall told him with a nod toward where Alex was back in human form and napping on him.  Draco looked and shook his head, poking him.  Alex glared at him so he pointed at the adults.  "I'm sorry, Alex, I couldn't get them to change their minds."

"Like I care," he said with a yawn.  "Who're we rooming with?"

"As it turns out, Percy Weasley is very ambitious.  He also had Miss Granger expelled.  So now it's you four, the three from Slytherin, and we've only got one three-room suite to put you in."

"Don't put Granger with us," Draco sighed.  "I'd have to hurt her."  Alex nodded, closing his eyes again.  He patted him on the back, listening as he fell back asleep.  "He's been having a rough time with some people who think he should be God."

"I heard that from Tonks.  She was kind enough to name names.  Is he sure Percy wasn't one of them?"

"No, Percy simply hates him for getting recognition where he thinks he's due it more."

"Ah.  Well, I couldn't get Percy expelled, no matter how much I tried.  It was off by six votes.  At the beginning of next year, we'll take the vote again.  It should change since all the new first years will want them there."

"Perhaps for them," Draco told him.  "Slytherin won't want me back."

"The house will dry up and wither away without you three and the treats you have," Snape reminded him.  Draco grinned at that.  "Six months without cakes, cookies, pies, and their parents getting pressure from your mother is enough to make them change their minds."  McGonagall laughed at that. "You laugh, but Alex's elves are the major supplier of those things for both houses."

"They've done it and can undo it at any time," she noted. "I imagine exams will make many students long for some sugar.  I'll tell the house elves they're not to sneak any to those houses."

"They still won't want us back," Draco told her.  "What happens if history repeats itself and next year has problems?"  She grimaced.  "It would probably look best if you found us an out-of-the-way room somewhere and stuck us there.  That way everyone can gloat but we'll get to watch the teams flounder and die."

She shook her head. "Oliver made sure Harry could still play.  You're both still in your original houses...."

"So we get the privilege of living in our houses but not the benefits?" Draco interrupted.  Both teachers nodded and he snorted.  "Find us some little corner room and put around that we chose it so we wouldn't be bothered by the lesser students."

"Then they'll think you're up to evil deeds," Snape sneered a bit.

"They do anyway," Draco said with a shrug.  "They'll figure we're corrupting the Gryffs to our side of the probable war.  It'll get us thanked by my father."

"He is back?"

"He was noted in the Gringotts bulletin in the paper," he offered, handing it to her. Alex snorted and woke himself back up.  "We're going to move somewhere out of the way.  Do you have a choice in location?"

"Somewhere warm?"  He pulled the blankets higher. "What about quidditch?"

"Your captain made sure Potter can play," Snape told him.

"I'm sure Oliver did," Alex said with a grin.  "He's very focused on that."  McGonagall smiled at him for that.  "Just put us somewhere with a fireplace at least.  I'm chilly."  Draco felt his forehead.  "I'm not sick, just cold."

"You don't feel sick," he admitted.  "Madam Pomfrey?"  She came over to check them.  "He's cold."  She got them an extra blanket and Alex snuggled in harder.  He looked at the heads of houses.  "Where should we go?"

"There is that three room suite," she admitted.  Madam Pomfrey gave her an odd look.  "They got evicted from their houses."

"That's very near most of the teachers."

"True, but we'll need to keep an eye on them."

"Put them in the emerald suite," the nurse suggested.  "That's probably big enough.  It's near Charms so they'll get some supervision for a good portion of the night."

"It's three from each house," Snape told her.  "Crabbe and Goyle came with him."

"Of course they did and the emerald suite sleeps nine if I remember right.  It's also fairly closer to the outside than the dungeons.  It's got some nice windows and a marvelous sitting room to do homework in."  She went to check on her other patient.  "Mr. Zabini can be released for dinner, Professor Snape."

"What happened to him?" he asked, looking at his other student.  He was slowly fading from purple to his normal color.  "Those stupid twins?"

"No, my own doing," he admitted, sounding like he was in pain.

"A partial self-transformation.  Thankfully someone got him up here quick enough."  She bustled off.

Draco looked over.  "Did you vote against my eviction?" he joked.  Blaise nodded, putting his head back down. "Parkinson?"

"Flint.  Watch your back."

"I already knew that," he agreed dryly.  "Thanks greatly though.  Need a hex to return?"

"I already have one," he promised.  He smirked at Draco.  "You still playing?"

"I don't know yet.  Probably.  I like to play."  He shrugged.  "We'll see.  We have a team meeting tonight I expect. Let's see how fast he finds someone to replace the brooms."

"I'd forgotten about that.  I'll have to remind Flint of that," he said happily, getting comfortable. "What's wrong with Alexander?  It's warm in here."

"I'm not sure.  He takes these cold spells."  Snape gave him an odd look.  "He does. Potter said he took one last summer."  McGonagall smiled.  "What?" he asked uneasily.

"I do hope you remember you'll be living with Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley?"  He groaned but nodded.  "That's fine then.  Do we need to arrange for anything else?"

"A truce," Alex said from Draco's chest.  "What about the twins?"

"They about beat Percy to death this morning," she said fondly.  "Ron's back there helping them at the moment.  His mother as well probably."  She smiled at them.  "We'll see you for dinner?"

"Ask the nurse," Alex sighed, looking at her. Then at Draco.  "Tonight or tomorrow?"

"We'll see how the bites are before you're expected down for dinner," the nurse promised.  She smiled at them.  "You should probably go back to classes, Professors.  Let them go back to sleep once they've had some lunch."

"That's fine.  The others wanted to come up and check on them?"  She nodded.  "I'll tell them they may during their free period today."  McGonagall smiled then swept out.

Snape looked at them.  "I'll expect you two to behave properly should this be allowed to go through," he ordered quietly.  "The Headmaster does not like this problem."

"That's because he's convinced I'm teaching Harry dark magic," Alex said blandly, staring at him.  "You can kick him in the ass for me if you want."

"The thought had crossed my mind," he admitted with another small smirk. He walked out, heading back to his classroom.  He found his two students in there, nodding politely at them.  "Can I do something to help you?"

"Find us a decent room," Goyle said happily.  "Are they okay?"

"They got bitten by some magic-sucking ants," he told them.  They both nodded.  "Alex is still rather chilled and she'll be seeing if they can be released for dinner. We'll figure out where you're sleeping tonight."  Someone knocked on the door.  "Enter!"  Longbottom entered, shocking him to the core.  "In a moment," he ordered.  He looked at his boys.  "There have been a few rooms mentioned," he noted.  "It will be decided by after dinner.  I believe Professor McGonagall just went to badger the headmaster over it.  I will expect excellent conduct from you three Slytherins."

"Of course, sir."  Vincent smiled at him.  "Can we see them yet?"  He nodded.  "Are they okay?"

"Alex seems a bit cold."

"He's like that now and then.  Turns blue lipped too," Greg told him.  "We don't know what she did to him but it's like PMS for a girl for him.  He's curled up on Draco?"  He nodded.  "Body heat usually works best.  Twirly used to climb in with him when he had these spells.  Should I tell the nurse?"

"That would be acceptable.  Otherwise she might torture him with tests."  They nodded. "Dismissed."  They grinned and walked out. "Mr. Longbottom, did you need help?"

"I, um, came to thank you for helping me last night, Professor," he said, glancing around then looking at the man again.  "You didn't have to help me but you did and I wanted to thank you."  He swallowed and stepped forward a few more steps.  "I also, um, wanted to know if you knew how I could prevent it in the future?  I got hints from the aurors who examined and talked to me that you might have a way?"

"I can teach you how to protect yourself but it is difficult for the younger mind. It takes a great deal of control and concentration."  Neville nodded. "Do you think you're up to it?"

"Yes," he said quietly.  "I don't know why they didn't kick me out and I'm worried that something's stuck in Percy, sir.  He's been acting odd for the last few weeks."  He licked his lips and glanced down, then back at him.  "I'd mention it to Professor Lupin but he wasn't in when I went to thank him and his classes were canceled."

Snape nodded.  "I knew that already.  I'll look him over. I'll get a book on shielding and have it put in the library for you.  When you've read it, you are to do the exercises and come to me when you start having problems," he said firmly.  Neville nodded.  "I would hope you would do better than you do in Potions or it will never hold.  Not even against Peeves."

"Thank you, Professor," Neville said quietly.  He swallowed, but continued to look at him. "You saved me.  I don't know why they didn't want me gone instead of Harry."  He left, heading to lunch.

Snape considered it.  "Because they got rid of the protectors," he decided.  He went to summon Percy Weasley from wherever his mother was yelling at him so he could look him over.  Since Lupin was...ill with his change, it was up to him to do so.  He looked at the boy as he walked in.  Something was off about him. "Impedimentia," he cast lazily, freezing the boy so he could work on him.  He heard footsteps and looked outside.  "I'm checking him for possession."

"Please," his mother agreed firmly.  "He's not usually this stupid.  This was worse than even Ron could do."

Snape looked at her.  "I take it you've guessed his Potions grade?"  Her lips pursed together to keep from smiling.  He got to work on the boy, finding nothing wrong with him.

***

Draco walked into the Great Hall, and conversation stopped.  "He's pretty but not that pretty," Alex called as he walked in, heading for his table.  He sat down and stared around.  "I want you all to know I'm not thinking in terms of retribution presently.  I will still help those who need it but I am a bit bitter at the moment.  By rights, I should let you all get killed."  They all shrank away from him.  He looked at Neville.  "You better?" he asked simply.

Neville smiled. "Fully.  Thank you, Alexander."

"Welcome.  It's what I do, Neville."  The boy laughed and handed him some food.  "Thanks.  Anything really hot?  I'm still chilly."

"I heard Crabbe and Goyle saying something about those spells you took," he admitted, handing down some soup.  Alex poured some out and started on that.  "Staring means you'll go hungry tonight," Neville snapped suddenly.  They all went back to eating.  "I don't know what's wrong with them," he said quietly.

"Percy's convinced some of them that I've evil.  Notice I'm not sneezing over myself," he joked.  He went back to eating, but forced himself to sneeze when Percy walked behind him.  Then he went back to eating, looking at Ron, who was snickering.  "Where are we living?"

"We don't know yet.  The Headmaster wanted to talk to the house."

"Hmm.  Won't help.  Since there's six boys and Granger, who do you want to room with?"

"I'll take Harry," he offered. "You don't think we'll be sharing one?"

"No.  Most of the rest of the castle is set up in double and single rooms.  I'm just hoping we get a bathroom with the suite."  He poured out some more soup when it was refilled and steaming.  "I don't know why I take these cold spells."

"You had one last summer," Harry reminded him as he joined them.  "Any idea where our rooms are yet?"

"No, not yet.  Where's Granger hiding?"

"She's eating in the library so she won't start crying."  Alex nodded, finishing up that soup.  "If you need someone to sleep with you like you were earlier, I'll let you curl up against me on a couch, Alexander."

"Thanks, but body heat wasn't even helping earlier," he admitted.  Harry nodded, accepting that.  "I don't know why I get these moments, they just happen now and then."

"Goyle compared it to that time of the month for girls," Neville joked.

"Well, I'm not usually crabby," he admitted.  "Tired I will admit to.  For some reason I always want to nap when I'm cold."  Ron reached over to touch his hand, frowning a bit.  "What?"

"You even feel like ice, Al."  Alexander gave him a look.  "It's not Alex."

"It's not.  I'm not sure how I feel about that nickname yet."  He ate some meat since McGonagall was staring at him.  "I need some hot rocks for the bed tonight."  Harry nodded, grinning at him.  "It looks like the six of us and Granger.  Ron said you could be his roomie unless you want me?"

"No thanks.  It'll be nice to only have to hear one set of snores."

"I don't snore," Ron complained.

"You snore nearly as loudly as I do," Alex assured him. Neville giggled and nodded, backing him up.  "So, Harry, still playing for the team?"

"I'm not sure yet," he said a bit loudly.  "I'm feeling a bit betrayed.  Oliver did make me feel welcome, but I'm not sure about anything."  Oliver gave him a hurt look and he stared back.  "Would you if you were me?"  He shook his head, slumping some.  "I'm still thinking."

"That's fine.  We have a practice tomorrow if you want to come, Harry."  Everyone stared at him.  "He's right, I wouldn't play with us at all.  The same as Alex shouldn't tutor those of us who needed help in charms.   We've been bad to our own people and I don't like to think my house is like this."  He started to get up.

"Oliver, sit and eat," Alex ordered.  The older boy gave him a look.  "They were told lies by Weasley.  They're scared.  I understand that.  Remember, I've gotten that all along.  It sucks that they turned Harry out for handling shit they don't want to."  He ate another bite, then stood up, heading up to the head table.  "Have you figured out where we're sleeping yet?  I'm still cold.  I'd like to get a hot rock and curl around it."

"Not yet," she said quietly.  "Thank you for not harming them."

"It'd prove his point, which is what he's hoping for."  She nodded, giving him a gentle smile.  "Give us somewhere with a floo so Twirly can go nuts?"

She smirked a bit.  "She'll still have to use the official floos."

"We'll need help unpacking and things," he offered with a grin.

"I'm sure you can do it without her help."

"Yeah, but if we don't let her help, she won't make us more cookies.  Vinnie would pout."  She chuckled and smiled at him.  "Okay, well I guess I'll be beside a fireplace.  Maybe the one in the entry since it's so big.  Tell us when we have a room."  He walked off, heading to the big fireplace in the entry to get warmer.  He hated these cold spells.

Lavender Brown looked at the boys.  "Was it true that he was curled up in Malfoy's bed?" she asked.

"He takes cold spells," Harry told her.  "Body heat works better to warm him than warm rocks and extra blankets.  He had one last summer and one of the house elves had to sleep next to him to try to keep him warm."  She sighed, smiling a bit. "It probably didn't help that the magic draining ants attacked them last night either."

"Is that why they were up there?" Neville asked.  Harry nodded.  "Wow.  I had no idea there was such a thing."

"There was.  Alex had tons of bites," Ron told him.  "Madam Pomfrey woke me from a sound sleep yelling at them for being in the forest."  He looked at Harry.  "Should you be out of bed?"

"I'm fully healed, Ron, and you know how I hate the infirmary."

"True," he admitted.  "You're sure you're okay?  You were nearly dead as it got told to me." Neville ran from the room, hand over his mouth.  "Sorry!" he called after him.  "Harry?"

"I'm fine, Ron.  I got pushy when they didn't want to let me go.  Otherwise I'd be sleeping upstairs tonight.  Remus didn't like it either but he's got his problem tonight."   Ron nodded, understanding that.  "The house elves were ordered to come check on us later anyway."  He looked over as the door opened but it wasn't Neville, it was Hermione.  "Did you see Neville?"

"Alexander has him," she said as she sat down in Alex's spot.  "Where are we staying?"

"The Headmaster is talking to the house tonight," Ron told her.  "He's going to try to calm them down."

"Yes but he's against Harry and Alex being friends," she pointed out.  "He hates that they help and like each other."  Harry looked stunned.  "You didn't realize that?"

"I'd hope he wouldn't pull that tonight.  After all, Alexander saved my bloody life last night," he said cooly, making some nearby students shivered.  "Another ten minutes and I'd have been dead."

"Then how are you back here now?" Hermione asked.

"I got pushy once I felt better.  I'll be checked on all night."  He dug into more of his dinner.  "Alexander needs checked on too.  He's in the middle of a cold spell."  He saw Greg get up and head out.  "Hopefully he'll go find him."

"He probably will," she said thoughtfully.  She looked at them again.  "I guess I'm not in the same room."

"No," Harry said dryly.  "You may be welcome in our common room if we have one though."  She smiled at that.

***

McGonagall walked out of the house, staring at the students.  "Never have I wanted to take the greater of majority of points away from my own house," she said hotly.  "Those stupid..."

"Children?" Alex supplied blandly.  She forced herself back to calmness then nodded.  "I take it at least I'm not welcome anymore?"

"You're still a Gryffindor," she said firmly.

"Cool with me, but I'd almost rather be houseless."  She stared him down.  "I would."  He looked at Harry, then back at her.  She shook her head.  "All of us are living where?"

"Miss Granger has a former Head Boy's room," she decided.  "It's right next to the emerald suite the headmaster decided would be good for you boys.  That way she can come help you with your homework."  She led them off, taking them to the suite.  The others were waiting in there.  "Did the Headmaster already talk to Slytherin?"

"No, but Snape did.  They won't listen to the Headmaster," Draco drawled, smirking a bit at her.  "Boys."  He looked at her.  "Granger?"

"Two doors down.  She is to be allowed in the common room but nowhere else."

"I'm not the one you need to warn," he noted dryly.  Crabbe and Goyle chuckled at that.

"Hell, she keeps Harry and I from flunking," Ron admitted as he flopped down in a chair. "What about next year?"

"We'll ask next year," she said.  "The first night back.  If not, you can probably keep this suite the whole time."  She summoned a house elf.  "Get their things from mine and Professor's Snape's office.  They're living here now.  Granger is in the former head boy's room up the hall."  She nodded, going to do that.  "I can trust you to still make it to classes and to be mature about this?  Most of the time you do seem to be."

"We'll be fine," Alex assured her.  "Is there a bathroom?" Draco nodded.  "Then we'll work that out too.  Multiple showers?"

"Small tub and one shower," he admitted.

"That's fine.  I take mine at night.  Ron?"

"I'm a night showerer," he agreed.  "Harry?"

"I like mine in the mornings but I usually get up late."

Draco shrugged.  "I don't, it takes me time to get ready.  You can fight Crabbe and Goyle for the last shower."  He flicked a hand around.  "Are there other orders, Professor?"

"Try to stay out of trouble.  Try not to make us regret putting you six together.  I know you won't have a problem with Alexander, but with the other two?"  Draco's face hardened a bit.  "Fine.  You can hold the truce you do at Alexander's house?"

"If I must," he agreed dryly.  The other two nodded.  "With Granger if I must as well."

"Thank you, Mr.  Malfoy."  She looked at Alex.  "I'll make sure the house elves know to bring you some warm rocks."

"I'll get Twirly here.  She likes to warm my sheets for me," he promised.  "That way we can settle in with good cookies.  Did you confiscate all the sweets we left?"  She nodded, smirking at him before leaving.  "Harry, go call Twirly."

"Is that wise with the house elf popping in and out?" he asked.

"Yeah, she doesn't feed us.  She makes our beds."  Harry nodded, getting up and heading for the fireplace.  He looked at the rooms, counting.  "Any singles?"

"All doubles," Draco told him.  "I'm in the one on this end," he said, pointing behind them. "If you share with me, you can't crawl in all the time."

"Fine."  He looked at Ron and Harry.  "You two still want to share?"  Ron nodded and Harry agreed.  "Sure.  Greg?"  He pointed at one on the other side.  "Heard I snore?" he joked.

"We knew you snore from all the sleepovers, you used to keep us up for hours, Alex," Greg complained, grinning at him.  "It's closer to the bathroom."

"Sure."  He looked at the remaining rooms.  "What's so great about your room, Draco?"

"A nice view.  I've got the biggest window."

"Oh."  Alex got up to prowl around, picking the door nearest the exit.  It had a nice view over the forest so he could see the stars, but nothing else really.  "I'll take in here," he decided.  Draco looked a bit hurt.  "I can room with you if you wanted, but this one's got a nice view."

Draco got up and led him into his room, opening all the curtains.  Alex looked and smiled.  It was a nicer view, but it got part of the pitch.  He looked at him. "The sun would help us wake you up in the morning."

"Draco, you get annoyed when we have to share a room.  Remember last year's thing at Greg's?"  Draco shuddered.  "Do you really want to continue that?  You'll be welcome in my room no matter what."

"Fine," he agreed with a small smile.  "We can split up that way."  He led him into the bathroom just as the house elves got there with their things and Twirly came through with cookies.

"Do not shriek at them," Alex warned as he walked.  "It's not their fault we got kicked out.  Kids got scared of us."

"Stupid boys," she sneered.  She focused on one female house elf and pointed at her boys.  "Do you be feeding them?  They be much too skinny and is not being eating like proper boys!  They is being losing weight!"

"We is being feeding all boys and girls," she defended.  "They come and eat."

"They is still being losing weight!" she said firmly.  The other house elf shrugged.  "Fine, I is being feeding them more often then.  You is being feeding food and I is being feeding treats and things to poor, starved boys.  You is not stealing them!"  The house elf covered her ears and shook her head.  "Good!  You is dismissed, I is being fixing up this suite.  Boys need help."  The house elves nodded and put everything in the proper places before disappearing.  She went back to her fussing, calling the other two to come help.  "Master Alexander, is we being throwing the party again this year?"

"Ask Auntie Narcissa," he called from the bathroom, coming out.  "Twirly, I'm chilled.  Please warm some rocks for my bed?"  She nodded, going to do that as well.  "Bring my tapestry too, all right?"  She smiled and went to find that and bring it back.  He flopped down on the couch, taking a cookie to nibble.  She came back and had him wrapped in a quilt and had a hot rock beside his feet within moments, then went back to fussing over things.  "Guys, she makes good cookies."  They all dug in with a smile, especially when the rest of the sweets were uncovered and laid out.  Draco came out and stole a piece of cake, sitting next to him.  "We'll have to ask your mother about the party this year."

"Twirly, is she still at Alex's house?" Draco called.

"Misses Narcissa is going home last night," Gibbons told him quietly.  "She said she had to and that she was being fine."

Draco raised an eyebrow.  "Really?"  He went to the floo.  "Do you need it right now?"  They all shook their heads so he called home.  "Malfoy Manor."  His father's head showed up.  "Father.  There was a question about Alex throwing the joint party again this year for the students.  We needed a ruling from mother."

"She's in bed, Draco.  Where are you?  That's not Slytherin's common room."

"No, they kicked us out," Greg told him.  "Draco was with Alex when he had to become a Gryffindor last night and save someone's life.  They didn't like it, Uncle Lucius.  We're all rooming together and Alex is soaking up the heat."  He looked over as Twirly came back and got him more cookies and a glass of milk then watched as she told Harry and Ron to stay hidden for a bit.  She knew Lucius's type very well.  He nibble on a cookie.

"We've got a suite on the second floor, I have some gorgeous views," Draco told him smugly.  "Beautiful windows, like in the old ballroom."  Lucius' face tightened at that.  "How is mother?  Just a simple headache?"  He nodded.  "That's fine.  Let her give us a clue within a few days.  We can probably go with most everything from last year but we'll need to tweak the entertainment and the like so it's not repetitive."  He waved and turned off the connection.  "Bastard."

"Don't worry, we can take him," Alex said quietly.

"He's going to insist that we not see you again," Vinnie reminded him, leaning over to get some pie and eat it.  "I forgot how good Twirly baked."

"Marsette is making the cakes and pies," she called with a giggle.  She came out and poked Vinnie on the stomach.  "You is not being eating my baking?"

"No, the bigger boys have been stealing it.  That's why we stole it all and brought it with us," he offered with a smile.  "Thank you for making us sweets.  They're going to regret kicking us out when they miss them."  She smiled brightly and went to straighten up his things for him.

Alex finished his cookie and looked at Draco.  "Can you stand him over the holidays?  If not, you can come stay with me and pretend to be here."

"He'll show up and you know he'll force me to come back to prove he's more powerful."

"True," Alex agreed.  "But that doesn't mean you've got to put up with it, Draco."  Draco smirked a bit.  "Good man!  Let me know what I can do if you need my help?"  Draco nodded.  "Even better."  He looked around.  "It's safe."

"So, party again this year?" Harry asked.

"We're not sure yet.  Narcissa's in bed," he admitted.

"Probably safer.  Malfoy has got to be on a rip," Ron admitted, leaning next to him and looking at Draco.  "You okay?" he asked with a frown.

Draco nodded.  "Very.  Mother can't have more children."  Greg choked on a bite of cake.  He smirked at him.  "She nearly lost me and died herself.  The doctors said no more. Otherwise I would have already had a sibling, a spare as it were."  He sat beside Alex again.  "You're still cold?"  He nodded, leaning on him.  "Fine.  Soak up my natural heat."

"I plan on it, you're very hot," he teased.

"Euggh," Ron noted dryly, standing up again.  "Please don't share details, Alex."

"I'm still straight," Draco said impatiently.

"Yeah, but he still shares way too much. He was drawing us on his bed the other day.  Seamus decided he was doing nudes and semi-nudes."

"Alex, where is your sketch folder?" Harry asked.

"It should be in the bottom of my school bag."  He went to look at it.  "Harry!"

"I want to see how you got me last time."  He sat down, flipping through the thick stack until he came to his.  He handed one to Draco with a smirk. Then he gaped at his. "He was right, he got me in my boxers changing from practice," he announced.

"Yeah, you were just too tempting, Harry," Alex said dryly. "I had been doing the view out your window but you decided to strip in front of it so any girls could see you if they wanted to stand outside."  Harry blushed and put the stack back.  "I've got one in my notepad of you on your broom too."  Harry handed him the folder then went to look at that one.

Draco looked at Alex, then he grinned.  "I'd never grow a mustache."  He tucked it back and took the rest to look through. "You're still having a problem with shading, Alex."  He continued to flip.  "You're getting very good otherwise.  You've gotten past your problem of perspective.  I'm getting more and more impressed with..."   The fire flared up with his father's head. "With your art skills," he finished.  "Is mother up?"

"What art skills?" Lucius sneered.  "Mr. Weasley, how kind of you to visit my son."

"Ehh, we got kicked out too.  Alexander was saving Harry's life and Draco got drug along unwillingly since they were fighting."  He grinned at Alex.  "Can I?"  Alex nodded so he took the sketches to find his.  "Wow, I look good in that light," he said happily.  "Why do you always draw me asleep?  Which class was that anyway?"

"Herbology and it's the only time you're still."  Vinnie and Greg laughed.  "You two sit still whenever I ask.  He can't."  He looked at Lucius.  "So, am I throwing the joint party again this year?"

"Narcissa won't be up for a few days.  She's got a migraine."

"That's fine.  I've had those, they suck. Draco pointed out we can use most everything from last year but the entertainment."

"I liked a few of those board games," Ron offered.  Vinnie nodded, grinning a bit.

"They'll be there but like the comics, not a competition."  Alex grinned at him.  "Find the other one yet?"

"I passed over the one from the dorm," he said smartly, handing them back.  "Harry?"  He came out, still bright red.  "That bad?"  Harry showed it to him.  "Well, you're cute and all," he said with a grin.  "You look like that when you're just coasting around too."  Harry blushed brighter and handed it over.

Draco looked then nodded.  "Good job, even nicely shaded in the proper regions," he congratulated. He tore that one off and put it into the file as well, the put it safely away from all the food.

"Are you an *artist*?" Lucius sneered.

"No, I get bored easily in classes where I've already gone over things," he said dryly.  "Meaning everything but Potions, Creatures, and Herbology."  He looked stunned. "Forced learning is bad torture with the way she did it, Lucius, but I did learn some of it at least.  Can't stand books now, but I did learn quite a lot.  Including the fact that I banned you from my house and that's clearly my study wall behind you.  So if you don't leave my house, I'm going to have you arrested."  Lucius glared at him.  "Twirly?  Lucius is breaking into my study."

"You're sending a house elf after me?" he sneered.

"Yeah, the one Grams taught," he assured him right before she got back there and got him.  His head disappeared when he went unconscious.  "Maybe he didn't realize Grams taught the elves how to hurt people to protect her crap?"  He shrugged and grinned. "Draco, should I call or should you?"

"You should. It's your house."

Alex got up with a small moan, heading over to the floo.  He tossed in some powder.  "Law Enforcement."  A head appeared.  "I just got a call from my house from Lucius Malfoy and he's not allowed in my house, ever.  Especially when I'm not there."

"What about your parents?"

"I'm emancipated and they're dead."  He grinned at the shocked look.  "I'm a Birmingham."  The man nodded quickly and disappeared, going to save the poor man before the house elf could destroy him.  They'd all heard and seen what those house elves would do to intruders.  Alex went back to cuddling up next to Draco.  "You really think that was a good one?"

"I do.  You got the sun just right. A bit too heavy on his stomach in one spot but I suppose he shifted some."  Alex nodded, grinning at him.  "There's an art class you can take as an elective in your seventh year."

"Cool.  Is the teacher here?"  He nodded.  "Can you introduce me?"

"I can, she does the appraisals for our house and the school."  He smiled at him.  "I'm glad you're no longer doing stick figures."  He gave him a little pat.  "You're still ice cold."

"I know," he complained.  Twirly came back and added more warmed rocks under the blankets and at his feet.  "Did they pick him up?"  She nodded.  "What did he have?"

"Vault keys. They said goblins would be knowing which ones was which and sending ours back."  Alex nodded so she went back to fussing in all the rooms.  Someone knocked so she got the door, letting the headmaster and Snape in.  "Twirly is being fixing up the rooms," she said proudly, going to do that.

"I can see that," the headmaster said, staring at the sweets laid out.  "Isn't that a bit much?"

"Most of it was stuff we weren't going to leave behind in our houses," Alex said.  "Dad, I'm still freezing."  He came over to check him over. "Draco's dad was trying to steal the family's vault keys," he said quietly.

"Remus and I have the only keys to the dark arts vaults," he replied loud enough to be overheard.  "Mine's safely stored away.  As is his."  Alex relaxed at that.  "If he wants any of them, he'll have to sue and prove it was his in front of the courts."  Alex relaxed further and he ran another check over him.  "What did Poppy say this was?"

"She talked with my healer, Fitzsimmons, and he said he never knew but it wasn't harmful to me.  It'd clear up in a few days."  He shrugged and chattered.  "I just take these spells like I'm frozen in ice."

"I checked for dark magic and the like once," Draco offered.  "I could never find any."

"I can't either," Snape offered.  He stood up.  "Mr. Malfoy, get under there with him.  It should help more than any amount of warm stones."  Draco nodded and unpeeled Alex so he could cuddle him again.  Alex snuggled into his side, and quit chattering but didn't seem much warmer.  "Would another blanket help?"

"It's tropical under here," Draco told him. "I'll die if you add another one."  He nodded.    "Greg, get his other side."  He moved over to get Alex's other side.  "You haven't been this bad in a few years."

"I have, but last time Twirly curled up with me and radiated heat and fever all night on me.  She had a cold."  He sighed as the warmth started to penetrate "Thanks, guys."

"You're welcome, Alex," Greg said happily.  "Just don't tell anyone I cuddle or I'll never got a girl."

"Hermione said girls like to cuddle," Ron told him.  "I'd assume she'd know."

"She is female, if bothersome," Draco admitted.  "I know my mother used to when I was younger."

"That was to keep you out of trouble, Draco," Snape assured him.  He stepped back.  "We were coming to check on you.  Are you settled in?"

"Ask the elves.  Twirly, Marsette, Gibbons, are you guys nearly done?"

"Marsette is grouting the shower," she called.

"Gibbons is making the last bed," he called.

"Twirly is finished with the curtains and the decorating," she said as she came back out.  She looked around before heading home to bring back a few more drinks and the like.  Plus some plates.  She put them and the sweets on a table in the corner, then put a chilling spell on it.  "There, Twirly is being done."  She dusted off her hands. Gibbons came out and nodded that he was done.  Marsette came out a few minutes later with long plastic gloves on.  "Is you being done?"

Marsette nodded.  "Marsette is being done.  All clean for boys."  She smiled at them.  "We go home?"

"Sure.  Ask Auntie Narcissa when you can about the party in case I forget."  They nodded and headed back through the floo.  "I love my house elves," he said proudly.

"Did they really need to show up, Mr. Birmingham?"

"Yup.  Since I can't unpack, I'd rather have her do it.  She knows how to fold stuff so I don't get irritated and have to redo all my laundry."  He snuggled in deeper and sighed in pleasure.  "I'm warmer."

"You're feeling warmer too," Draco offered, touching his hand.  "You're still chilly to the touch but not clammy or icy anymore."  He looked at Snape.  "Are they sorry yet?"  He shook his head.  "Pity.  Mother's in bed with a headache."  He motioned him closer and hissed in his ear, getting a nod.  "Can you get those for me by the holidays?"

Snape nodded.  "I can.  You're probably correct."  He still looked calm.  "I'll talk with Law Enforcement if they don't know why he was there, Alexander."  He got a sleepy nod.  "Try to put him into bed tonight.  Make it to your classes tomorrow."  He swept out.

"I take it you can manage to get along well enough to live together?" the headmaster asked gravely.  They all nodded.  "Very well then.  We'll try this and I'll try to talk your houses into letting you back."

"McGonagall said next year, sir," Ron told him. "When my brother the prat is gone."  He looked up as a ghost faded in, smirking wildly.  "Bloody hell."

Draco looked up.  "None of your things were sold, just a few pieces given away and the rest put away," he told her. She shook her head, smirking even more.  "It wasn't him if they were sold."

"Goblin did," she hissed, floating closer.

"Then that wasn't him and your curse said him," Draco reminded him.  "Headmaster, his father please?"  He went to get her and the Bloody Baron to keep her from doing anyone harm.  "What's wrong, still couldn't get into Gryffindor?"  She glared at him.  "Sorry, he's having one of those cold spells you know," he said dryly.  The Bloody Baron floated in, frowning at him.  "She laid a curse against Alex selling any of the dark arts stuff.  She said a goblin did."

"I see.  That does give him an out, doesn't it?"  He looked at them.  "Are you taking him in?"

"Mr. Birmingham?"  The Baron looked stunned.  "Professor Snape's son?"  That got another stunned look from both ghosts.  "Yes, he's known since about the first weekend here, dear.  We've known all along."  She glared at them.  "Baron, don't let her touch him.  She used to torture him all the time.  Even my mum didn't like her that much."

"Agreed.  She is bothersome.  As she was when she attended."  Snape stormed back in, already working on the banishing.  He floated out of the radius and Draco cast a sticking charm on the ghost to hold her.  The baron snickered at that.  "It doesn't usually work."

"She's more a poltergeist than not," he noted.  He looked back.  "Also, if my father shows up, I need to be warned.  He's trying to harm my mother and Alex."  He looked at her.  "So, Grams, who bought your old crap?"

"Enough, Draco," Snape ordered, going back to his work.

Alex blinked up then around.  "What happened to you?"

"Goblins," she said smugly.

Alex got up and went to the fireplace, calling them.  "Gringotts.  Personal vault division."  A goblin's head popped up.  "I'm...."

"Mr. Birmingham.  Someone broke into the dark arts vault."  He pointed behind him.  "Your grandmother?"

"She laid a curse if I ever sold any of the pieces."

"I'll check on that," he announced, heading off to do that, coming back a moment later.  "Lucius Malfoy did buy a few pieces and the goblin responsible is already very sorry.  He's being tried in our courts.  We've already notified the Ministry and they're bringing them back here to be stored again.  I'm sorry about that."

"That's fine.  Give the Malfoys back the money, put it into Draco's personal vault."  The goblin nodded. "I'll be in over the holidays to talk about increased security for it."

"We've already added a complimentary blood key to it."

"Thank you.  Still, I'll be in then."  The goblin nodded.  "Hopefully we can get her gone."  He hung up and looked at his grandmother, starting another banishing rite, the one he usually used.  She shrieked and pounded on the barrier Snape had set up but she still got zapped back into the afterlife.  He sat down and curled up again, snuggling back into his warm spot.  "Thanks, Dad.  Please feel free to rip Lucius a new one or get me sprung for his trial.  I am pressing charges."  He nodded, going to take care of that for his son. "Draco, I love you, how would you like to be a half-orphan?" he joked.

"It's sounding better and better all the time considering the way he's disgracing the name."  He grinned at him.  "You think we can drive him to suicide, finish off his good name?"

"Sure.  You start dating Harry and make it plain you want to carry his babies," Ron joked.  "That should be enough to drive him 'round the bend for good."

"I'd look horrible pregnant.  I'd have to have Greg and Vincent carry for me," he joked back.

"Twins," Greg said with a grin.

"But I'd get fat, Draco, and you know I'm working on my muscles," Vinnie complained.

Harry snickered, shaking his head.  "You three are so bad sometimes."  He looked at Ron.  "They're always like this on the holidays."  He looked at them again.  "Maybe you should tell your parents about us living together?"

"My mum's drunk by now," Greg admitted.  He looked at Vinnie.  "Call your dad, see if mine's there?"  He nodded, getting up and heading over to the floo to make that call.

"Crabbe Residence," he called.  His father's head popped up and he smiled.  "You might want to sit down," he offered.  "We've been expelled from the house because Alex made Draco help him save Potter's life."  He looked stunned.  "So we're all living together with Potter, Weasley, and Alex, but there's worse news.  Lucius was just arrested at Alex's house for stealing his Gringotts keys and there's a goblin being charged with selling him some of the dark arts stuff from Alex's safe.  How's mum?"

"Smooth, I like that," Alex joked tiredly.  "Hi, Mr. Crabbe," he said with a little wave.

"Are you all right, Alexander?  You look ill."

"I'm having one of my cold days.  They're keeping me warm."

"That's fine then.  Gregory, your father's at home tonight."

"I'll call him next then," he promised.  "Harry suggested you should hear this from us."

"I'd rather hear it this way.  What about your classes?"

"We're still in the house, just not living there," Vincent told him, showing off his tie. "Gryff expelled them for knowing what to do in emergencies and being able to fight."

"Does Mrs. Weasley know?"

"Oh, yeah," Ron assured him with a mean grin.  "My prat of a brother led the charge so she's had an all-day yell at Percy already."  He looked stunned.  "She used words I didn't know she knew. Words my older brothers Charlie and Bill would blush at."  He blushed a bit as well.

"Your mother was not the happiest of girls," Harry agreed dryly. "My godparents probably both know by now as well since Remus Lupin's here."

Mr. Crabbe looked at his son.  "I'll expect you to be on your best behavior, son," he said calmly.

"Mr. Crabbe, if the rumors are true, Vincent's staying with me," Alex told him.  "I'm not joining up and being a numbered idiot in a mask."  He nodded, looking pleased at that.  "He and Greg are both welcome at my house to stay, as is Draco."

"Thank you, Alexander.  I'd heard you didn't want to go darker and I thank you for letting them make their own decisions without pressure.  It's not what I want for him either."

"Dad, you have a reason to step away from Mr. Malfoy now," Vincent said urgently.  "He's been arrested again with dark arts stuff and for theft.  Please!"

"I'll do my best, son.  Relax about it."  He glanced at Ron.  "I'd appreciate some discretion."

"I'm sitting here imagining naked girls playing quidditch, not listening a bit," Ron assured him with a grin.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter."  Harry shrugged and grinned.  He looked at his son.  "Be safe."  Vincent nodded.  "Greg, would you like me to tell your father?"

"He'll yell if I don't."

"That's fine.  Call him next, son.  I'm assuming Lucius knows about this as well?"  They all nodded.  "Very well then.  Behave, all of you.  We will be asking Professor Snape for reports on your behavior."  His head disappeared.

"Vinnie, toss some in and call for my dad," Greg said. "Alex is cold again."  He tucked them in tighter while Vinnie did that and grinned at his dad, who looked really confused.  "He's having another cold day.  We got expelled from the house, dad."

"Why?" he asked calmly.

"Alex made me help him save Potter," Draco told him.

"Ah."  He nodded. "I heard about that incident.  Well done.  Your father was shrieking at the top of his lungs.  That's why your mother had a headache and went to bed for lunch."

"I figured as much."

Greg grinned at him.  "We're all staying together in the same suite.   Alex had his house elves come to arrange stuff for us."  His father nodded.  "There's some news you didn't hear.  Alex had Uncle Lucius arrested for breaking into his house and bribing a goblin to sell him some of the dark arts stuff he hid in Gringotts.  Twirly got him at the house and he was arrested for that and then for the sale as well."  His father nodded slower. He looked at Alex, then at his father.  "Can we talk over the holidays, dad?  I'm not sure if I want to make a decision the rumors state I'll have to some day."

"I wish you could just follow along, son."

"I don't, dad.  I can't kill anyone and Alex has offered me safe shelter if I can't."  His father nodded, looking a bit upset but not totally shocked at the news.  "Will you be mad?"

"No, son.  If you can't follow the orders of the Order, I want you far away from the fighting.  Be aware that he knows about Alex and how he'll challenge him.  His house may not be that safe."

Alex looked over at him.  "I'm teaching Potter defense," he noted calmly.  "He'll be safe or he can visit our villa in Italy on the coast."  Greg's father smiled at him for that.  "If they want it, all they have to do is show up.  No questions asked.  We all know why I went where I did."  That got another nod.  "This isn't going to stop me and Remus Lupin is doing very well filling me in on areas I hadn't thought of before.  Even if I still can't cast a patronius."

"You still can't?" Ron asked.  "Why not?"

"Nothing happy enough yet," Alex said bitterly.

"That's a hard charm, Alex.  I didn't master it until I was nearly thirty," Mr. Goyle assured him gently.

"Uncle, I did a reverse growth spell last night while I had magic-sucking ants on my skin," he told him.  He looked stunned.  "Yesterday was a trip and a half."  That got a small smile.  "If you wanted to step back from Lucius, this would be a good chance," he offered.

"We owe him too much, Alex."

"Then I'm protecting your son from him."

"Thank you. The debt our family owes him is done with me.  My son should be safe.  I hope you can keep him that way."  He looked at his son.  "We'll talk about your feelings over the holidays, Greg.  Be safe and behave.  I'll be getting reports from Severus."  His son nodded, grinning at him.  "Good boy.  Thank you for doing the manly thing and telling me."  He hung up.

"Anyone else need called?" Alex asked, covering up his nose.

"The Prophet?" Harry joked.

"Already did that," Draco assured him dryly, smirking at him.  "Zabini did it to implicate Flint and Parkinson in trying to weaken and destroy the house so they could use dark magic on everyone.  He said that Alex would notice the dark magic by sneezing all over us, so therefore they got rid of us when the first convenient moment came up."

"That might actually be true," Alex said thoughtfully.  "Poor Millie, married to that bastard."

"With really bad teeth," Harry offered.  Ron snickered at that.  "He does!  Even Katie gets on him about that."  He stood up.  "I've got to polish my broom while I think."  The boys laughed.  "What?" he asked, looking hurt.  "I like my broom."

"That's a metaphor for masturbation, Harry," Alex told him.

Harry blushed and shook his head.  "I've got more important things to worry about than wanking off," he announced, heading for his room.

"I don't," Ron said with a grin, "but I'm not going to watch him polish his broom.  He gets funny when he's watched."  The others snickered again.  "Perverts," he joked.

Alex nodded. "It's a house trait, didn't you know they sorted the kinkier people into Slytherin automatically?"

"With the stuff I caught Ginny reading, she's in the wrong house, mate."  He stood up and stretched.  "I'm off for a shower.  Anyone mind?"  No one said anything.  "Bathrobes okay to run back and forth in?"  Everyone nodded.  "Thanks."  He headed to grab his stuff and a cookie before his shower. This truce might just last if Alex could enforce it.

Draco settled in.  "This was not how I imagined this year to go," he noted dryly.

"Me either," Alex sighed, closing his eyes.  "Wake me if I get annoying."  They all nodded and he drifted off, snoring more quietly since he was sitting up.

"I wonder if the Gryff dorms echo like ours do," Vincent asked finally to break the unnatural silence.

"They have windows," Draco told them.  "They probably open them so Alex doesn't fart them all to death when he's been eating stuff right before bed."  They giggled at that and someone knocked politely on the door.  "Vinnie, get that since Greg's wrapped up and being a footrest."  He got up with a sigh, going over to let Hermione in.  "Potter's polishing his broom and Weasley's in the shower."

She blushed.  "Pervert!" she accused.  She held up the vial.  "I made a warming potion and mixed it with a pepper up potion.  Think it could help him?"

"It might blow his ears out," Draco offered.  "But maybe."  He nudged Alex until he grumbled. "Granger made you something," he said gently.

"Eww."

"Tough, take it anyway so I don't have toenail cuts in my thigh tomorrow that I've got to explain," Greg joked. Alex frowned at him but put a hand out and took the potion, swallowing it in one gulp.  His ears smoked for a moment and he did feel a bit warmer, but he went back to sleep fairly quickly.

"He should be fine by the morning," Draco told him.  "Thank you, Miss Granger.  Why don't you help Potter with his project?"

She blushed. "I could never date Harry, he needs a very special and understanding girl.  One who likes quidditch a lot more than I do."  She looked around, noticing the treats.  "Already bribing the house elves?"

"Alex's make him all sorts of treats since they think the ones here don't feed us enough," Greg told her.  "She pokes him horribly if he doesn't eat."

"Harry mentioned that," she admitted, smiling at him.  "Professor McGonagall said I should check on you now and then, as well as coming over to steal some sweets. May I?"

"Take the chocolate brownies," Draco told her.  "We'll keep the black forest cake."  She smiled.  "Anything else?"

"I was going to make sure Alex did his Charms paper.  It's due in two days and I knew he hadn't started on it last night.  Since I have his personal charms journal I wanted to make sure he didn't need it."

"I'll make sure in the morning," Ron said as he came out of the bathroom drying off his hair.  "Hey, Hermione.  You doing okay?"

"I have a delightful little single room with my own desk and bookshelf."

"Just don't bring the entire library down," Ron teased.  She huffed and frowned at him so he turned up his grin a bit brighter, making her relax.  "Are you ready for the charms practical coming up?"

"I am, are you is the better question."

"Yeah, Alex went over that with us already," he admitted.  "Need anything else?"

"No, I'll just snag those brownies and then head back to my room. I'm two down that way," she said, pointing to the right, "if you need me.  I'm sure Ron or Harry can find me if I'm not there."  She smiled and took the brownies.  "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy, for the generosity.  Should I come up to help with homework now and then?"

"If you must," he offered dryly.  Greg looked at him.  "What?"

"She's better in Herbology and History than we are."

"She's got better notes too," Ron assured him.  "Speaking of, Hermione?"  She sighed and pulled some out of her back pocket, handing them over. "Thanks," he said with a grin.  "Do I need to get you more paper?"  She shook her head.  "Cool.  Tomorrow at breakfast?  Make sure we're up?"

"Of course.  I'll see you then.  Keep Harry from turning into a total pervert if possible."  She turned and left.

Ron snickered once the painting was closed.  "She thought he was wanking too?"  Draco nodded.  "Probably not."  He headed back to their room, putting on some comfy flannel pajamas and coming back out to get another cookie, settling in to read the notes and the asides she put into them this time. "I can't see how she finds that interesting," he complained.

Vinnie came over to look, then blushed.  "She was thinking about what during History?"

"What kind of underwear you wear under dress robes and if Snape wears an arseplug to be so uptight during class."  He flipped pages with a grin, going on.  "Ah, here, she's decide he hasn't but he hasn't had sex since Alex was conceived, that's why he's always in such a bad mood.  Must be her time of the month.  We always get notes like this then."  He continued on, then shuddered.  "Eww.  It's going to be a bad month.  She's wondering if Hagrid's ever dated or anything.  Harry?"  He came out of their bedroom.  "Her history notes are wondering about Hagrid's dating life."

"I'll make sure we've got that potion hanging around and slip it into her bag," Harry assured him, shuddering as he went back to his polishing.  "Copy those for me, Ron."

"She already did, Harry."

"It's a good thing we gave her the brownies," Draco noted, looking grossed out.

"Do you always get notes from her?" Greg asked.

Ron looked at him and nodded. "All the time, all the classes we share with her.  We just buy her extra paper and ink.  She uses a copying charm and quill for us.  She probably keeps a tidy sum since she doesn't have to buy paper through the year.  She's got all her notes back to first year in her things, all bound nicely together."

"Think I could pay her for a copy?" Greg asked.

Ron nodded.  "Neville has in the past. I think he paid about four galleons for the complete first year's History of Magic notes right before the tests.  He spilled coffee on his."

Greg got up and went down to her room, knocking gently.  "Miss Granger, Hermione, how much would you charge me to add me to your note making?  I take very bad notes but I study very well as long as the notes I'm reading are interesting.  Yours were very interesting and Weasley said that you made them that way most of the time."

She smiled.  "I charge four galleons per class per year, Mr. Goyle.  Which classes did you need?"

"All of them," he admitted.  "OWLs are in two years and my dad will kill me if I don't get good marks. With how bad I am, I'd better start studying next year."

She patted him on the hand.  "I also make revision schedules for Harry and Ron to help them.  Should I start to include you?"  He beamed and nodded.  "That's fine.  Since we're forced together I'll gladly help you study.  I rather find I like teaching and I'm thinking about doing it professionally.  Helping tutor now means I get better then."  She let him inside, letting him see her notes.  He hugged her and went back to get his allowance pouch so he could get some copies made as soon as possible.  She was definitely going to be able to get herself a good treat next Hogsmeade weekend.

***

Draco looked up from his first morning home's breakfast, licking the butter off his fingers.  He pulled his wand and summoned a folder, holding it up.  "Some things you hadn't considered before you decided to endanger mum's life," he said coldly.  Lucius glared at him.  "Mum nearly died carrying me during her sixth month.  She almost had me then too, much too early to survive unless you go with muggle technology instead of magical means.  Even then it's iffy."  He stared his father down, noticing the desire to hit him.  "The notes said you weren't there.  I believe her doctor's notes said something about you being surprised you had a child on the way when I was born."  He held them up.

"How did you get those?"

"I told her doctor I was taking her to a specialist for a back problem she's been having on and off and he needed them in case it was related back to the pregnancy and the four miscarriages she's had.  Like the one she's presently having.  By the way, I checked on her around dawn when the house elves woke me.  I summoned her doctor already.  She's in the hospital."   He ate another bite of his croissant.  Lucius hit him anyway.  He calmly stood up and pointed his wand at him.  "Crucio," he cast coldly, making his father shriek.  He bent down once he was on the floor, getting into his face.  "There are exactly two people who can get into the family vaults.  You and me, father. There won't be an heir until you're long gone and if you try to harm me in any way, then the family simply won't be carried on.  I have numerous offers from Mr. Birmingham to have him."  He smirked. "He is rather pretty, don't you think?"

He stood up and canceled the spell, sneering greatly.  "You made me this way, father, and I don't support you.  I may believe in the same cause, but I don't support you.  You're a weak and pathetic man who's presently sullying the family name.  If I go talk to the portraits of our ancestors, which I have, most of them suggested I kill you for what you've done to the family name by bringing public disgrace and public interest in our darker side. Your own father suggested I have you killed in public and make it look like a suicide."  He stared down at him, then cast twelve harmless jinxes from his wand to clear the history.  "There, they hardly ever go over ten and I'll be doing them all day to practice," he said happily.  Lucius started to get up so he kicked him in the side.  "How does it feel, father? You're facing the end of your vaunted and much lauded family line and you're not giving me much incentive to do more than become a half-orphan.  After all, Alex would be more than pleased to see you again I'm sure."  He walked off.  "I'm going to visit mother.  You may come for appearance's sake if you wish. I wouldn't try anything foolish though.  After all, I heard one of her distant cousins has been talking to an assassin about the disgrace you've brought both sides of the family."

"How dare you!" Lucius screamed, getting up by climbing up a chair.  "I will have you arrested!  You are not my son."

Draco turned to look at him.  "Really?  Because you made me this way, father.  Remember, you've used the Imperious on me plenty of times.  This comes from that.  Grandad probably laid it to keep you in line."  He sneered at him.  "His will said so if you had bothered to show up.  Why weren't you there again?  Oh, yes, your pitiful war."  He gave him his most cold look.  "While I laud the ideals of keeping a mostly pure bloodline, I have been doing some research.  Did you know ours was tainted about ten generations ago?  Or that if it hadn't, all the children afterward would have been born deformed.  As they were starting to then and they're starting to now.  Genetics, it's a wonderful new field of study.  I also did some research on your much lauded and hallowed Voldemort.  Tom Marvello Riddle was born to a muggle father and a half-blooded mother.  His father tossed him into an orphanage when she left him on his doorstep."  Lucius turned pale.  He glanced behind him, nodding at Snape.  "I'm going to see my mother.  Would you and Alex like to come?"

"I would. I came to see when you were going since he wanted to go with you."

"I do not want our sons to see each other ever again," Lucius told him coldly.  "Your son is giving him bad ideas and teaching him ideas he shouldn't have."

"Perhaps, but I applaud my son's ability to think for himself instead of blindly following along.  After all, I wouldn't wish any demonic worshiping on my son like we did.  Or like what ate your house.  I am very proud that he banished one of the hellhounds that were left behind."  Lucius looked stunned.  "Yes, my son.  As a matter of fact, Alex has asked my advice on the suitability of courting Draco.  The bloodlines don't cross that often for a change.  My son does like yours already and they've known each other since they were children thanks to you and Alex's grandmother.  Draco does insist he's straight but Alex would let him have a mistress on the side I believe.  Plus, Alex has more money than your family thanks to the rebuilding you forced on your family," he finished smugly.  "Draco, get your cloak."

"He'll be marrying Miss Parkinson."

"There's nothing you can say, do, or compel me to marry that skank," Draco assured him coldly.

"You will because I say you will.  Or else I'll disinherit you and have some bastard offspring to put in your place."

"Grandfather's will said that if you tried that he'd kill it like he did the last one, father."  Lucius looked stunned.  "He wrote the curse into the will.  Perhaps you should have been at the reading after all.  I had the goblins pull it for me to look it over for any clauses about me.  They were most helpful in explaining it, as well as finding the unclaimed vaults within the family.  Which all went to me.  So you see, even if my beloved cousin doesn't hire an assassin, I can.  That's if I can't do it myself.  Because no one knows what commands Grandfather put into my head when he used the Imperious on me on his deathbed."  He went to get his cloak, coming back with it on.  "Were you going to make a public appearance for form's sake at the hospital or are we going alone?  If so, I should warn you there's two aurors on the front lawn.  I'll be letting them in when I go out."

"You'll be caught.  I'll tell them to go back farther on your wand."

"Really?  And what makes you think I didn't cast fifty charms going down the hall just now?" he asked with an amused smirk.  "You're so dumb," he said dryly.  "Come along, Professor.  We shouldn't keep Alex waiting.  He might get bored and draw more stuff.  He snuck in to do a fantastic one of me sleeping the other day."  He took his arm and walked off with him, smiling at the women on the lawn. "Cousin Tonks," he said fondly, kissing her on the cheek.  "Dear, it's recently been proven to me that my grandfather did an Imperio on me on his deathbed to make sure his wishes were fulfilled.  I think I blacked out during the school year and at least wrote a nasty note to my father.  Can I trouble you to check me out after I check on mother?  She's in the hospital since father forced a fertility potion on her and is trying to kill her by giving me a sibling."

She looked stunned.  "He did?"

"His will said as much, but it was done subtly.  His portrait said he did as well and he wanted me to have my father assassinated or make him commit suicide in public since he's shaming the family name so much.  That's what got me thinking about that blackout during Potions that one day."

Snape nodded.  "I did witness him writing a letter but I was not aware of the contents."

"Sure, I can check you out after lunch.  Come to the office, Draco?"  He smiled and nodded.  "Tell Narci I'll be there tonight, cousin.  For now, we need your father again.  He's shaming the family even more by openly writing a letter to the Prophet that calls for a new dark lord to rise up, and warns that if one doesn't step forward another will.  We tracked the family's owl unfortunately."

"Have him and keep him.  I'm not bailing him out and I've left orders not to with Gringotts."  She smiled and nodded.  "We'll see you after lunch, dear."

"Of course.  Did you hurt him?  I thought I felt an unforgivable."

He shrugged. "I remember eating breakfast, I remember Professor Snape coming in and telling father that Alex would like to offer for my hand.  He is very sweet and willing to compromise since I like women."  He smiled.

"He's a pretty boy," she assured him with a grin of her own.  "Seems to know what to do with his hands if what I read from his mind was true."  Draco blushed and nodded.  "A bit loud is he?" she teased.

"Indeed and I'm two rooms down from him."  He smiled shyly.  "I'm still considering it.  I would rather have a woman, but he is, as you noted, very pretty."  He walked off with Snape, clearing the apparation wards before they took off.

She smirked at him.  "You cheeky, manipulative little shit," she said appreciatively.  She knew exactly what he had done and why now.  She couldn't prove it and there was probably that prior command in his head, which would give him an excuse as long as he stuck to the story he had given her.  "A Black to the bone.  Just like his mum," she said proudly.  She turned and found Lucius glaring in the doorway.  "Hidey-ho, Uncle.  We're here because we tracked your owl and your letter to the Prophet."

"He cast an unforgivable."

"Yes, but he's also under a prior imperious by his words.  I'll be checking on that later.  Right now, I'm happy for the boy if he tortured you with the way you're shaming the Black and the Malfoy family names.  Even worse than my mum when she married a muggle."  She grabbed him by the arm and took him off. She stunned him before dragging him down to the office for questioning, giving her boss a look.  "His son's coming in later. He said his grandfather enforced his will's contents with an Imperio from his deathbed."

"He did," he admitted.  "I remember looking at it after the funeral.  Narcissa thought it was adorable because he charged the boy with carrying on the better traditions of the family in case his son got stupid or in case Draco had to kill an extra sibling that came from a publically announced mistress or some such."  Lucius glared at him.  "It's a well-worded one.  Why?"

"Lucius here claims Draco cast an unforgivable on him.  Draco said he blacked out earlier this year and wrote a nasty letter to his dad and may have blacked out this morning."

Her boss nodded.  "That would count.  With what I got out of Draco's mouth, he should have tortured him or killed him by now.  He's very strong to resist it."  Tonks smiled at him.  "When is he coming in?"

"After lunch.  He said this one forced a fertility potion on his wife and my aunt's sick.  I'm going to go visiting later with mum if that's all right."

"Sure, once we're done with Draco, you can both go," he promised. "Is she going to be okay?"

"Probably just a miscarriage.  Mum said she about died with Draco and miscarried a few other times too."

"I'm sorry to hear that.  Narcissa seems to love her son and I hope the kid doesn't become  a real orphan."

Tonks grinned at him.  "Professor Snape and Draco said that Alexander Birmingham is offering for his hand, but Draco's still considering since he likes girls."

"That'd be a powerful match," he said fondly.  "Birmingham won't go dark or support any upcoming dark lord.  He's got a lot of knowledge on how to defeat it through.  I heard rumors that he's been training Potter with Lupin?"  She nodded.  "Good!  The boy could use it.  Yeah, that'd be some boon for our side.  Alex would keep Draco out of any nasty dark lord's grip and he might even allow him to work with us on stopping any that suddenly pop up.  That is if Potter and Birmingham leave him living after the first engagement."  He smirked at Lucius.  "Don't worry, if he lets your boy become an auror, I'll have Tonks and her mum train him so he survives and becomes one of the best."  He saw Tonks hide her snickering.  "What's he in for this time?"

"Letter to the Prophet calling for a new dark lord to rise or else the old one's coming back.  We tracked the family's owl."

"Sure.  Toss him into a cell and get your mum.  You can go visit now.  Bring Draco back with you."  She beamed and went to find her mother once Lucius was safely locked up.  He heard Tonks and her mother laughing down the hall at what Draco had pulled and smiled.  That kid was good and giving them everything they wanted.  They could overlook an unforgivable, or six if necessary.

Year Four: Crashing To A Head

Alex looked on in horror as the Goblet of Fire pulled a fourth name, already knowing whose it was.  Harry just blinked in horror as it happened.  "Oh, fuck me," he said in awe. Everyone stared at them both.  "It wasn't him," he told them immediately and loudly.  "It wasn't either of us."

"Mr.  Potter, a word please?" Professor Dumbledore called in the sudden silence.  Harry numbly stood up and stumbled up there.  They walked into another room.

Alex stood up, looking at the other guy.  "It wasn't Harry's idea and it wasn't any of ours."  The other boy, Cedric Diggory, just stared back at him.  "I swear it wasn't."

"Who're you gonna support?" someone called from the Slytherin table.

"Both of them if they need it and Harry isn't disqualified for age," he called back, staring Cedric down.  "You have my help if you need it, as does he if they can't undo whoever did that."

"Harry didn't?" Ron asked.  "Are you *sure*, Alex?  Technically he's a legal adult.  He could have crossed the age line."  He was fighting a stab of jealousy, you could see it on his face.

Alex shook his head.  "It goes on physical age, not legal status of adulthood, Ron.  That means someone had to put his name in there."  He looked at his father, who was looking quite sour.  "Dad?"

"I have no idea, son," he admitted.  Those who didn't have a clue looked stunned.  "You didn't figure it out in four years?" he sneered at one of his older Slytherins.  He looked at his son again.  "We will all do what we must."

Alex nodded. "Yeah, we will."  He looked at Cedric.  "I'm sorry, man."

"It's not your doing, Alexander, but I do want you to find out who did," McGonagall ordered firmly in remaining quiet.  "I will have their name before the first trial."

"If at all possible," he agreed.  "Draco Malfoy, will you help me?"  He nodded once.  "Thank you."  He bowed to the teachers and the other two headmasters.  "I'd best check on my guardian."  He headed that way, going to tell Harry.  He saw Dumbledore had him by the arm and was shaking him so he slammed the door.  Dumbledore glared at him.  "It wasn't him.  He couldn't have.  It goes by age, not by legal status."  Dumbledore let him down.  "McGonagall has charged me with finding out who put his name in there and how.  Harry, I'm going to support your both."  Harry nodded, giving him a grateful smile.  "Now, go back out there and appear to be calm if we can't disqualify this result."

"We can't. Once a champion is chosen it's final," Dumbledore told him.

"That's fine. I'll need that rule book to see if there's a clause that applies to this situation."

"I'll find it for you later, Mr. Birmingham.  Just you investigating?"

"No, I publically asked Draco and he agreed.  Where I have faults in thinking he has strengths."  He followed Harry back out, going over to Draco's side.  "There's a book of rules."

"I'll read it after you do," he agreed.  "Thank you for trusting me."

"Of course.  You have the cunning I'll need for this."  He bowed and headed back to his table.

"Let us toast the champions," McGonagall called, raising her cup.  Everyone in the hall toasted them but she noticed Harry looked ill.  She'd talk to him later. She drank and looked at Cedric.  "Good job, Mr. Diggory," she congratulated.  He smiled and nodded.  "Do not let this bother you.  It was not his doing."

"So I can tell.  He's too young."

"He has powerful tutors behind him," she reminded him quietly.  He nodded, accepting that Harry would be fine.  The rumors were getting faster about the upcoming war and he was still worried about that, but this would still be his glory.  He knew he could beat a fourth year, even Harry Potter.

***

Alex walked into their suite and slammed the door, letting lose with a vile string of swears. Harry quit pacing to look at him and Ron looked horrified.  He finally calmed himself, leaning on the wall. "We've got a traitor in the school.  I don't know who."  Ron sat up farther.  "Greg's dad said they've got a source of information coming back to the other Death Eaters.  Dad agreed with him."  He came in and flopped down.  He looked at Harry.  "First challenge isn't that far off.  We'll work on it *together*, Harry.  Remember that.  No matter what Draco does to annoy you."  Harry nodded, sitting down to think, hands in his hair.  Alex closed his eyes, thinking.  He felt a gentle touch to his thigh and looked at the house elf, taking the book it held out.  "Thank you. Where is Mr. Malfoy?"

"He is in library," she said quietly, then disappeared.

Alex started in the front of the book, working his way through the heavy legal language.  "It's a damn contract," he sighed.  "I hate legal crap."  He laid down and went back to reading, deciphering the code in his head.  Draco came in a few moments later.  "It's in contract speak."  The book was taken and he looked at him.  "Sorry if I embarrassed you."

"No, you gave me a great compliment," he noted.  "It makes it much harder for me to discredit Potter though. Too much glory is bad for a boy," he taunted.  Harry glared at him.

"It's not like he wanted it," Ron reminded him.

"Guys, this is a neutral zone," Alex said coldly.  "I will not have my sleep and what little peace I get interrupted with sniping.  I will hex you all if you bring this argument in here!  Take it into the halls!"  Ron slumped down and Draco quit scowling at Harry.  He took the book back, going back to it.  "Draco, get me a legal pad and one of my pencils?  This is going to take some complex deciphering."

"Why can't we give it to one of the family's barristers?" he asked. "We both have some on retainer."

Alex sat up, staring at him.  "You're a fucking genius," he admitted.  He moved to the floo, calling the house.  "Gibbons, get Mr. Pierce here immediately.  I have a contract for him to look over."  His house elf nodded and disappeared.  A few moments later a goblin came out of the floo, looking quite calm and cool.  Alex held up the book.  "This is the rulebook for the Triwizard Tournament."  The goblin nodded.  "Somehow they were abridged to name a fourth champion.  I need to know how so I can find out who."  He handed it over. "As soon as possible.  It's in contract and I've already got a headache from the first page."

"I told you you needed your eyes checked," Harry told him.  He looked at the goblin.  "Please.  There's got to be a loophole.  Two champions were chosen for Hogwarts."

The goblin nodded.  "I'll have an answer by the end of the week," he promised.  He disappeared.

Alex sat down, rubbing his forehead. "I hate headaches."

"You're going to the eye doctor," Harry ordered.  "Draco, make sure he goes. He's been having a lot of these, even when he reads his comics."

"The ones from Halfrek?" Draco asked.  Alex shook his head.  "Fine.  We'll arrange to get your eyes checked."  He sat down next to him.  "How would you get a second champion named?"

"Maybe the goblet knew one'd die during a trial?" Alex suggested, then he had to swallow hard.  "My stomach's upset too.  I have a bad feeling about this."  He looked at Harry.  "I don't care what happens, you come to me for help, even if Granger does get her claws into you."  Harry nodded quickly. "Even if Ron and you have a fight over this, Harry.  This is important.  The trials are dangerous, that's why it was upper years only.  I heard some of the tarts from France saying that people have died in the past."

"I'll be careful and you can help me, Alex," Harry promised.  He looked at Ron.  "Are you okay now?"

"No," he snorted.  "I want to know how your name got in there and I'm not good at waiting."

"Neither am I," Alex admitted, getting up to pace. "Something is really wrong with this picture.  Draco, did your dad gloat about this a lot?"

"That it was happening, not anything else."  He pulled Alex down with him. "Quit pacing, you're making me nervous."  He scowled at him.  "I wish you had been at the World Cup with us."

"Then I'd have to have killed your dad for his stupidity," he said dryly. "You can't tell me one of those guys wasn't Lucius."

"I can't," Draco agreed.  "I can't tell you one was either."  He leaned back, then got up to get some milk and cookies.

"Toss me one, Draco," Harry requested politely.  One got tossed at his head and he caught it.  "Thanks."  He sighed.  "I'll miss quidditch this year.  It's Oliver's last year."  Oliver had flunked a term test practicing for their last game of the year.  His parents hadn't been amused; that had been the only howler anyone could remember Oliver ever getting

"You can still practice with him.  He'll want to keep in shape too," Alex reminded him.  Harry grinned weakly at him.

"If we could get brood boy there up onto a broom, maybe we could play some pick-up games," Ron offered.

"I still suck at flying," Alex assured everyone.  "I'm sure we all remember Madam Hooch banishing me from flying lessons?"  Draco snickered at that.  "Draco, I'm not that good on a broom.  It's something you do better than me.  That and kissing girls."  He gave him a sideways smirk.  "At least there is something you do better than me."

Draco pounced him to beat the snot out of him. "I do many things better than you!" he assured him as Alex fended him off.

"C'mon, Harry.  Let's go to our room to leave them to their gay spat," Ron told him, heading into his room with a bright grin.  He loved to tease Draco about Alex's teasing him.

Harry shook his head.  "Remember, don't share details," he said, hurrying into his room.

***

The goblin brought the book and the summary back to Alex a few days later.  "The rules were written firmly.  There's no way for two champions to be chosen."

"Then how were two chosen?"

The goblin shrugged.  "Not within the boundaries of the rules.  There's no option left for a second champion."

"If you didn't have to think literally, could you see one?" Draco asked from his seat, looking up from his transfiguration homework.

The goblin considered it then shook his head. "Not that I could tell.  I'm sorry."  He bowed then left.

Alex flopped down next to Draco.  "We're missing something."  He looked over the summary.  "One champion per school."

"Then the obvious was asking what school Harry's representing," Ron said from his chess game against himself.  He glanced at them.  "That's the first dodge, but a childish one.  Something Ginny would pull."

"Yeah, but no one ever said the Death Eaters are mature and smart," Alex told him.  Draco frowned at him, looking confused.  "Draco, coincidences don't really exist."

"Yes they do."

"No, they don't."  He stood up, heading up to the headmaster's office with the book, but leaving the summary behind in case they needed it.  He tapped politely on the gargoyle, getting entry when the headmaster's spell washed over him.  He walked up the stairs, handing it back.  "Do you have Harry's slip?"  Dumbledore dug out the four slips of paper, handing them over silently.  "It doesn't list their schools?"

"They should," he admitted.  He took them back, ending the charm to revert them to the original papers.  He looked at them.  "That's..."  He handed Harry's over.  "It's a different school."

"Ron thought it might be.  It's an elementary dodge.  I think it's connected to what happened at the World Cup.  Do we have any more information?"  Dumbledore shook his head.  "Can you get me some?"

"I can try," he offered. "Why do you think it's not coincidence?"

"I don't believe in them."  He left, going back to the suite.  "Ron's right."

"Pay up," Ron said, holding out a hand without looking.  Greg paid him a sickle.  "Thanks, mate.  My chocolate frog habit thanks you too."  He looked at Alex and grinned.  "What academy was it?"

"Weardown."  He sat down, looking at Draco.  "I say they're connected."

"They could be, but we can't prove that until we can prove who."

"Harry, I need that map!" he called.  Harry brought it out, already activated.  He looked at the dots, frowning at some of them.   He ended up with it two inches from his nose.  "This is interesting.  Pansy and Flint's tag are together, overlapping."

"Eww," Greg said, shuddering hard.

"I wonder if Millicent knows," Draco mused.  "I wonder if she knows Pansy's been sleeping with my dad too."  He shook his head and took the map.  "I agree, you need your eyes checked."  He looked it over.  "This is really complete.  Who did this?"

"The Marauders," Harry said happily.  "They were in our parents' year."

"Sirius was really amused when he found out it had been passed onto you from the twins," Ron reminded him with a grin.  "Anything else juicy going on?"

"Hermione's got O. Wood in her room," Draco noted dryly.  Ron gave him a dirty look so he smirked. "He's not there to talk quidditch with her I bet."

"Yeah, but she's a bit frigid at this time," Ron told him dryly, going back to his chess game.  "Harry, play against me?"

"Hell no," he said dryly.  "I haven't beaten you yet, Ron."  He took the map back to look it over.  "Moody's off campus?"

Alex took it back to look over.  "Who's Couch?"

Draco snatched it back.  "Crouch.  B. Crouch?  He's the head over Qudditch.  I don't know why he's waiting in McGonagall's office unless she's looking for someone for him."  He found her.  "She's near Gryffindor.  Maybe she's looking for a bit of Wood herself," he joked.

"Somehow I can't picture her having sex," Ron noted dryly.  "I also can't picture her being a girl like those in the house right now either, all giggly and girly."

"She was probably the Hermione of her day," Draco noted.

"She's got a duelist's trophy in her office," Alex told them all.  "A Ministry competition.  Not women's champ, champion, period."  Ron smirked at him.  "Yeah, so apparently she was the scary woman of her day too.  Maybe that's why she decided not to marry anyone."  Draco snickered at that. "It could be!" he defended.  "Where is she now?"

"Talking with the Weaslette in the hall."  He rang for a house elf.  "Would you please tell McGonagall there's a Mr. B. Crouch in her office right this moment?  He appears to be waiting or something."  The house elf disappeared.  A moment later McGonagall's dot started moving very quickly down the halls.  "I do believe the old dear is running."  He watched.  "Ah, she's caught him coming out.  Nope, the other dot's moving away, heading to... Drumstrang's Headmaster's room," he finished when the dot stopped moving.  "McGonagall is headed here fairly quickly."  Greg got up to answer the door and he handed over the map.  "We're trying to figure out what's going on."

"Harry's slip had another school name on it," Alex told her.

She looked at the map, then at them.  "Who was in my office?"

"It said B. Crouch.  He was with Drumstrang's headmaster a moment ago if that helps."  She looked, tapping that dot until it expanded.  "Where is he now?"

"Defense."

Alex stood up, taking his wand and walking out behind her. "Something is really wrong," he offered quietly as they walked.  "Do we play him or not?"

"Play him," she told him.  She tapped on the door.  "Ah, Professor Moody, I ran into Mr. Birmingham and he had a question about some special assignments he's been doing."

Alex nodded, grinning at him.  "I'm a bit ahead in case you hadn't noticed."

"Have you ever cast an unforgivable?"

"Seventeen times in my life, sixteen of those while I was under the influence of a calming potion that turned me homicidal for two days."  The man looked stunned.  "The other one to defend myself."  He stepped inside, smiling back at his housemistress.  "Thank you, Professor McGonagall. You're a charming escort."  She smiled and walked off so he closed the door.  "Anyway, I came in already having been forced to learn all my Gram's books from her time in school.  I've already went through the seventh year book in the series you chose.  I'm bored and I can only draw for so many hours a day."  The man looked amused.  "So can we set up some sort of extra lessons?  I'm best at hands-on instead of book education and lectures.  My papers and tests on anything in the book are notoriously low but anything practical I can do mostly flawlessly except for a patronius."

"Why can't you do one of those?"

"Not enough happiness in my life," he admitted.  "At least of the sort needed for it."  The teacher nodded, leaning against his desk. "I don't want to be a bother but Professor Lupin was doing very good expanding my horizons beyond these shores to foreign threats and to other charms and curses that I might have to deal with when and if I teach defense some day."  He smiled at him.  "Charms is my best area, with this and Transfiguration behind it."

"How do you do in creatures?"

"I do much better when have something I can pet.  I do tolerably well in the care and maintenance, I don't like to hurt innocent creatures if I can help it.  I do suck royally at it otherwise."  The teacher snorted, nodding a bit.  "So, do you have anything extra you can teach me?"  Someone tapped on the door.  "I'm not hogging him."  Neville walked in.  "Hi, Neville," he said with a grin.  "I'll be done in a minute.  I just wanted to arrange for something to keep me from being bored."

"Please keep him from being bored, sir," Neville begged. "He's horrible when he's bored.  When he was still living in the house we used to assign keeping him amused to those in disfavor or those with stuff he could learn from.  Either that or to inspire the twins to new heights of annoyance."

Mad Eye Moody looked amused.  "Do you think you're ready to face a real battle, Mr. Birmingham?"

"What makes you think I haven't?"  He looked amused at that.  "Sir, with all due respect, I was with Harry when the Ministry was invaded over that damn statue - which came out of my vault - last year.  I'm fairly glad I was there instead of some people, like his Godfather.  I survived and most of our crew came out uninjured.  Ron had a thing with that brain sucking creature, but otherwise mostly fine."  Neville groaned and shook his head.  "We did!"  The teacher jumped at him and he punched him in the face, then backhanded him and knocked him down, standing in the middle of his chest while he pulled his wand.  Then he smiled sweetly.  "Did I pass?"

"You did okay.  You could use some work."

"Yeah, well, I'm still only fourteen," he noted, letting the teacher up.  "I still need the extra practical lessons."

"I can see that.  I have an auror's handbook in my things."

"Do you have their charms book?" he asked hopefully.  "I don't want the classified ones or anything, but things like the tracking charm for the apparation and that stuff.  Maybe some disguise stuff too some day, but mostly the practical and hunting stuff if you'd be willing to give it to me.  And of course, I usually help Harry and Ron with theirs and Neville if he asks."

"Who was the other one you cast at?"

"Bellastrix Lestrange."  Neville gasped and he looked at him.  "Harry couldn't cast the crucio.  I could.  She was howling before Lucius saved her."  He looked at the teacher again, seeing the pride.  "I was tortured until I came here.  My grams used to imperio me for fun and make me read her textbooks until I passed out days later."  He nodded. "I can throw it off now."

"Good.  Most people can't.  Can Potter?"

"I don't know," he admitted.  "I never put it on him."  The teacher nodded, back to looking amused.  "May I borrow that book?"

"You may," he agreed.  "Give me a minute to get it.  Neville, we'll talk in a few as well."  He went into his office.

Alex looked at Neville.  "Be very careful," he mouthed once Neville looked at him.  "I don't know him or trust him.  The only aurors I know are both Tonks and their boss.  Them Remus Lupin and I both trust, as does my father.  We think this guy's a dangerous person, Hary and I."  Neville nodded at that.  He looked at the teacher as he came back.  "I meant to ask, how is Tonks?"

"You know her?"

"I've met them both in the course of purging the family home of the dark arts and bad magic.  Tonks and Remus Lupin, our last teacher, worked together very well to help me since I'm allergic to dark magic."  He could have hit himself for admitting that.

"That's strange.  Do you know why?"

"Early exposure.  I was only days old.  My Grams was Voldemort's top torturer."  The teacher nodded once.  "You knew her?"

"I feared her."

"Many did.  That's why she kept me and was allowed to teach me," he noted.  "Hence me being bored as hell in here."

"That's fine, Mr. Birmingham.  I understand fully.  As long as you appear to pay attention and help when needed, we'll be fine."

"Can I continue to draw?"

"If you wish.  You tend to stare a lot but it doesn't bother me."  He smiled at him.  "Anything else?"

"No.  Thank you, professor.  Neville, stop in for cookies sometime soon."  He headed back to the suite, tossing the book at Draco.  "Hold that for me."  He headed up to McGonagall's office, finding her in there.  "Did you talk to him?"  She nodded. "Did he believe you?"  She smiled and nodded.  "Good.  I'm borrowing his auror's textbook.  Neville and he are having tea.  I told Neville about my view or aurors while he was getting the book, how I only knew and trusted both Tonks and their boss since they were so helpful during the housecleaning."

"Tonks was an interesting young woman when she was here," she admitted with a smile.  "Not nearly as much trouble as some students."

"I'm trying really hard to be good."

"You are and you've done an admirable job so far this year," she admitted with a smile.  "What of your extra lessons with Flitwick and myself?"

"He's letting me coast and help for now.  He said he's not sure what he wants me to work on. Probably something to help Harry but he's not sure what he can do without giving the trials away ahead of time."

"Ah.  That's fine.  How about for my class?"

"Not a clue," he admitted.  He grinned sweetly at her.  "Find me something to do?"

"If I must," she sighed, shaking her head. "You've done the advanced clothes lessons?"

"Second year."

"What about disguises?"

"That might be nice," he admitted.  "That would probably go well with that other book."  Draco walked in and handed the book back to him.  "Problems with it?"

"It's in Greek."

"Really?"  He looked inside it. "Only to you, Draco."  He closed it and shrugged. "You can have some of my notes."  Draco nodded, smiling at him. "Disguise spells?"

"Are nice," he admitted.  "Very handy things I suppose."

"Then we'll work on those this year for the extra lessons," she agreed, smiling at them.  "I must say, Mr. Malfoy, you are doing quite well with the extra lessons as well as your regular ones.  I've been very pleased with your conduct so far this year.  Please don't use that as an excuse to cause me hell and worry but I've been pleased with your performance so far.  I've even owled your mother about how well you were doing."

Draco smiled.  "Thank you, Professor.  That's very nice of you. Is there any word on what my father's doing this time?"  She shook her head.  "I'll have to ask others then," he noted, walking Alex out.  "Come along, Alex.  You owe me a footrub for putting up with you."  He turned around.  "I forgot.  Mr. Potter says Alex is to get his eyes checked immediately.  He couldn't read the map."

She nodded once.  "Any particular doctor?  I can make him an appointment."  Draco shrugged.  "Then I'll check with his father and see if he has a preference and a set of spare chains to drag him there with."  She smiled and waved a hand.  "Begone, boys."  They left her alone, Alex whining the whole way back to their suite while she laughed.  She flooed Severus.  "Severus, your son is apparently going blind.  He's having trouble reading and he's been having many headaches.  Who would you like him sent to and did you want to drag him or should Mr. Potter?"

Severus Snape stared at her for a moment.  "I'll make him an appointment where I go.  Who noticed it?"

"Mr. Potter first.  He couldn't read that old Marauder's map."  He shuddered, letting out a soft moan.  "The type's the same size as your book's."

"Fine.  I'll make sure it's done quickly.  That way he doesn't fall behind.  What is Moody teaching him?"

"The auror's textbook."  He raised an eyebrow. "I'm doing disguise spells."

"Very well then," he decided.  "Thank you.  Good luck with that as well."  He hung up and flooed his eye doctor's office, leaving a message since no one was in so they could set one up and let him know.

***

Alex trudged back into the school, looking at the floor.  "Your eyes should adjust within the week."

"I look like a dork."

"You do not, son.  Behave," he ordered quietly.  He led him to the suite, stuffing him through the doorway into Greg's arms.  "Put him to bed.  He'll have a headache for the next few days."

"Sure."  He looked at Alex's glasses and burst out laughing.

"See, I told you I look like a dork.  I'd rather go blind." He took off the 'popular' half- moon shades and tucked them into his pocket before sitting down and rubbing his eyes.  "Can't I at least have some headache potion, dad?"

"I'll have some sent down," he promised, walking off rolling his eyes.  He ran into Draco.  "He did need glasses."

"I knew that.  Did you get him glasses like Potter's?" he teased.

"Half-moons."

Draco snickered.  "He's got to look like a dork."

"If you tell him that, he won't wear them, even though he needs them," he chastised.  "I do not wish my only son to be a blind wizard, Mr. Malfoy.  Take better care of him."

"Fine."  He headed back to their suite, stopping to snicker when he saw Alex trying to read a comic book.

"Leave it be, Draco, before I kill you," Alex warned.

"You look like a much older wizard."

"That's it!  I'm not wearing them!" he said, tossing them onto the table.

Draco picked them up and handed them back. "You must wear them, Alex.  Otherwise you're blind and a hindrance during a battle."  Alex glared at him.  "Really.  You couldn't pick out something more fashionable?"

"These were the most fashionable they had," he said bitterly laying on his side.  He found his glasses skewed at that and tossed them onto the table again, going back to reading his comic at nose-length.

Ron walked in and looked at the glasses, then at Alex.  "Mum has a pair of those for reading."  Alex flipped him off so he chuckled.  "Don't like 'em?"

"I can't read lying on my side," he muttered.

"Ask Hermione if there's a muggle alternative then," Ron told him.  "Before someone makes a comparison to a librarian."  Alex glared at him.  "Hermione!" he called.  "Can you come here for a moment!"  She came in a minute later, closing the portrait behind her.  "Are there better glasses in the muggle world or are they all like Harry's?"

"Oh, dear, there's so many better options," she told him.  She looked at Alex's glasses, then at him. "Contacts, definitely contacts.  What time is it?"

"Lunch," Draco told her.  "Why?"

"Alex, get permission to take Harry and me out.  We'll go with your new glasses and look at other styles."

"I still look like a dork."

She walked over and grabbed him by the ear, hauling him up and out the door.  Ron handed her the glasses as she walked off with him.  She noticed Professor Snape coming their way and took the headache potion.  "I'm going to have him fitted for contacts.  Him and Harry both," she said as she drug Alex past him.  "We'll be back by dinner."

"Contacts?"

"Inner eye sight devices, sir.  Very muggle but useful.  He can even read in odd positions."  She handed him the potion, watching as he took it.  She found Harry and walked him out by grabbing his arm.  She ran into McGonagall.  "I'm going to have them fitted for contacts.  I'm tired of their glasses.  We'll be back by dinner."  McGonagall looked stunned but she continued to drag the boys out.  "Besides, Harry hasn't had his eyes checked in four years!  He's squinting too!"  She drug them off, taking them to the apparation barrier.  "Make a portkey for Diagon," she ordered. "You'll need a bit of muggle money."

"I don't have my key," Harry told her.

"You can pay Alexander back," she snapped.  "Now!"

"Granger, have I mentioned you remind me of my grandmother lately?" Alex asked, giving her an odd look.

She twisted the ear she held.  "In this case it's necessary.  Glasses are a hindrance in a battle."  She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it over.  "Now.  Let's go!"  Harry sighed and created the portkey, grabbing onto Alex before he could balk.

***

Alex trudged back into the school, his eyes red and his hands tied to his sides. "Granger!" he complained.  "They itch!"

"It will for tonight.  You'll live.  Don't make me bind you again, Alexander."  She glared at Harry until they came in.  She was met by the headmaster.  "There, they both have contacts that fit and enough for at least a year.  Harry's prescription had changed drastically so his are now correct.  Alexander's was correct from earlier but he can use his glasses when he needs to.  The contacts only need to come out once every two weeks. They both have eye drops and here's a care sheet for the nurse," she said, handing it over.  "I wasn't sure if she had one or not for them."  She walked after them, heading down to their room.  She handed Harry's bag of contact stuff to Ron.  "Instructions are inside."  She handed the other to Draco.  "As are his.  His glasses are now for when he doesn't want to wear his contacts.  They won't be a bother in a battle and he can now see properly."  She walked back to her room, slamming her portrait.

"She very scarily reminds me of your grandmum, Alex," Greg said from the couch with Alex's comic.  "Are you okay?"

"Untie me! These things itch!"

"Where are they?" Draco asked, putting down the bag so he could pull his wand and unbind him.  Alex started to rub his eyes.

"Don't!  Remember, they'll shift and you'll have them on the back of your eye or something," Harry reminded him. "Use the drops like they told you to."  Alex found those in his bag and laid down to put some in, blinking hard and wiping off his cheeks.  He looked at Draco, who looked really confused.  "They're like little glasses on your eyeball, just the lenses though.  You stick your finger in your eye and everything."  He sat down, blinking hard.  "Pass the drops, Alex."  The bottle was closed and tossed over.  "Thanks."  He put some in his own eyes.  "They said they'd take a day or two to get used to and we might still have headaches from the change to seeing.  They're not much work, only being changed once every two weeks.  We can even sleep in them if we want."  He blinked and wiped off the excess moisture then capped the bottle and tossed it into the bag on the table.

"They're *in* your eye?" Draco asked.  He bent over Alex's face, lifting his eyelid to look.  "They are!  There's a little lens!"

"Eww," Ron said, shivering.  "I'd rather wear ugly glasses than stick my finger in my eye."

"Me too," Greg agreed, shaking his head.  "Nastiness."

Professor Snape walked in, looking in his son's eye.  "Are those permanent?"

"I change them every two weeks.  As long as they don't fall out I'll be fine.  The glasses will be for when I lose one or when I change them out or if my eyes need a break from having things stuck on them."  He blinked a few times.  "They feel really odd, dad."

"I'd say they should."  He stood up, looking at Harry. "You as well, Mr. Potter?"

Harry nodded.  "Hermione reminds me of what Alex says about his Grams too.  Drug us out by our ears and arms. To Diagon, into the bank, out of the bank, to the eye doctor with Sirius coming to escort us from the bank since she had them call him.  Now I know why he said some day she'll be just as scary as his Grams was."

"Too late," Ron said dryly.  "Sorry, guys.  I didn't know she'd do this when I asked her that question."  Alex waved a hand.  "You need anything?"

"My ear's surprisingly lacking feeling," he noted sarcastically. His father flicked him on it and he didn't respond.  "She had me by it the whole time."

"I'll give her a detention for doing that, son.  It looks like it should heal fine."  He looked in his eyes again, then shook his head.  "That's sickening to think about you putting in."

"I've got to put the lense on my finger, then my finger into my eye," he whined. "Glasses, even ugly glasses, are almost better."

"This way you can at least read on your side," Greg offered.  "Unless they slide?"

"Only when we rub," Harry told him.  "I can't wear them when I swim but I can fly in them," he complained.  "There's a chance they could fall out so I've got backup glasses as well."  He pulled his new case out and held them up.  Ron shook his head at the simple silver frames.  "I look better in them than I did the last pair," he offered.

"Fortunately."  Ron shook his head.  "I'd still rather go blind than have to do that I think."  He handed over the bag and went into their room.  "I'm clearing the dresser for those things."

"Thank you."  Harry looked at the concerned father.  "The prescription was correct.  In contacts it's much thinner and they said it'll take about a day for him to appreciate them.  They think he'll end up wearing his glasses about thirty percent of the time anyway and he shouldn't need another exam for two years unless he gets spots or something."

"That's fine.  Who was this doctor?"  Harry pointed at the bag so he looked inside, finding the care sheet.  "Remember to wash your hands before you play with them, Alex."  He sat down to read it over, frowning a bit.  "They're not that complicated."

"No, but they're not that comfortable yet either," Alex complained.

"They're also not visible," Greg told him.  "It's like someone did a sight fixing spell."

"We have those?" Alex asked hopefully.

"No, son."

"Shit."

"Son."

"Sorry. Tough, but sorry.  My eyes itch."

"Petrificus totalis," Draco cast.  "There, no more whining."  He gave Harry a meaningful look, getting a head shake and the other boy slumping down some. "Anything I have to know?"

"Make sure he washes his hands."  The nurse walked in and right over to Alex, lifting his eyelid to look.  "They're to stay in two weeks unless they need cleaned and other things."

"I read."  She looked at Harry, who nodded.  "Those can't be healthy for your eyes.  Do they block moisture?"

"Not really, but we have drops to help with that if we need it.  We also have cleaning solution, bathing chambers, and all that stuff.  Plus a year's supply."

"What about flying?"

"I can fly but I can't swim in them.  My eyes might dry out in the air, I'll have to test that.  I have new glasses for when I can't or don't want to wear them.  The nurse said I might have days where I thought it was too much trouble to change them."

She came over to look in his eyes.  "They're in prescriptions?"  He nodded.  "Can you see?"

"Amazingly clearly, and there's no smudges, dirt, or fingerprints.  No blind spots either."

She 'humph'ed and crossed her arms.  "Fine.  We'll allow this trial and then we'll make a decision on whether or not they're healthy for you."

"The nurse said muggles were going to these all the time from glasses," Harry assured her. "They even come in colors, with and without correction, if you want to change your eye color."

"Why would one want to do that?"

"Because some people dye their hair," Ron said from the doorway.  "Toss me the bag, Harry?"  It floated over to him.  "Thanks."  He put it on the newly cleaned spot on the dresser then he came out.  "Are they going to be okay?"

"We'll see," Madam Pomfrey said primly, then she stomped off.

Snape shook his head.  "Usually it takes mass stupidity to get her that worked up."  He stood up as well.  "I will be watching Alex's reaction to these...contacts."  He left as well, going to ask a muggle born in his house about them.  He found out she had some herself and she loved hers.  She informed him of all the benefits and all the problems his son could face, and he was right, most were associated with not washing your hands.

***

Mad Eye Moody looked at Alex as he came in for his private lessons after hours, raising an eyebrow.  "Aren't you supposed to be in glasses?"

"I have contacts.  They're not terrible but not the most comfortable things.  I've got a few brands to try so I'm doing two week trials with them."  He sat down, then looked at him.  "That disguise spell is really easy."

"For some.  You have to be able to visualize what you're making."

"Yeah, but I draw."

"Then it's probably easier for you than for some," he agreed.  "Try it now so I can see."  Alex changed, becoming Draco.  He walked around the boy, looking at everything. "You forgot some hair in the back."  He tapped the spot and it changed.  "Follow that line down your back.  Remember, it wraps fully around you, more than a cloak does.  Like your second skin."

"Then I'd have to be naked," he noted.  He canceled it and looked at him.  "I did it last night in the mirror in my room.  Naked is easier to imagine."

"Yes, but you can't always strip down in the middle of a hunt for you, boy."

"Point," he admitted, making a thinking face.  "How do you get past the barrier of your clothes?  Imagine yourself naked?"

"That works for some.  For some, they change the clothes as well. I think the elder Tonks does it that way."  Alex stood up and concentrated again, closing his eyes.  In front of him stood Draco Malfoy, clothes and all.  He walked around the boy.  "The badge still shows some Gryff colors," he noted.  "Decent otherwise."

"That's charmed, I'd have to counter that and my tie."

"I wouldn't wear charmed clothes while using this anyway," Mad Eye admitted, nodding.  "Good work.  Now change back," he snapped.  The boy let it go.  "Can you hold that?"

"For about ten minutes so far.  How do you stick it to you?"

"That was on the next page."

"The next page was a quick hairdye spell."  He handed over the book at the amused look.

"Hmm.  I tore that page out.  A lot of us do," he said, handing it back.  "You think and make your mind see that as the real you.  Like when you transfigure something."

Alex took off his tie and robe, then did it again, becoming fully Draco, even to the inch of extra height Draco had on him.  He concentrated on making it stick, then opened his eyes.  "Wow."

"Very good," he admitted.  "Down to his eye color."  He nodded. "Very good.  Now release it the same way.  Become yourself."  Alex was suddenly standing there.  "Good!  Two problems you'll have is height doesn't carry over."

"Most of Draco's is hair."

That got a small snort. "I noticed.  The boy's as camp as they come."

"Actually, that's me.  Draco's straight," he offered with a sly grin.  "What's the other one? Weight?"  That got a nod.  "Okay. So the height was like an illusion?"  Mad Eye nodded.  "Can I anchor that?"

"That's an advanced lesson.  You only learn that at the academy."

"Okay.  Can I get their textbook?"  The teacher let out a roar of a laugh, shaking his head.  "Hey, I've got to do *something* this year since I haven't found a boyfriend."

"You're really a nancy?"

"As gay as a float in a parade," he agreed.

"I never would have guessed.  You don't overly fuss with your clothes."

"You know, among the muggles, some of the gayest guys are some of the toughest bikers and the like," he noted dryly, smirking a bit.  "They're called tops I believe.  I'm not sure where I fit yet.  I planned on finding that out over the holidays.  Probably by going out to a bar and propositioning someone and asking them to teach me where I like it most.  Do you think it hurts the first few times like girls claim?"  The teacher just stared.  "Too much information?"

"Much," he said firmly.  "I don't want to hear that, boy."

"Eeh, no one else lets me share either.  So, do you think Granger's into witches?"

Mad Eye slowly shook his head.  "Go away.  Now."  Alex beamed and gathered his stuff, heading out.  He grabbed his head, holding onto it as he took a sip from his special flask.  "Why me, Merlin?" he moaned.

Alex walked into the suite, dropped his robe, tie, and book, then changed into Draco, making Draco choke on his tea.  "Neat, huh?" he said happily. "And I grossed out the teacher by talking about my plans to find out which way I like boys."  He looked at Hermione.  "I wanted to ask, do you like witches?  If so, do you know of a bar I can try that out at and possibly find a good shag who'll teach me that first few times?  Let me try it out as it were?"

Hermione stared at him for a moment, then flounced out, slamming the portrait behind her.

"Sorry," Alex called after her.  "Just wondering if you knew a place!"

"Change back," Draco growled. "I don't not want to hear such things out of my own mouth!"  Alex changed back, laughing now.  "That was evil, Alex!"

"But fun," Harry offered from his seat.  "Good job.  Who else can you do?"  Alex shrugged.  "Is it hard?"

"You've got to be specific about the person you're changing into.  Since I spend so much time watching Draco to draw him, I chose him first."  Draco choked again. "You're fascinating!" he defended.  "Plus you're cute and handsome, it makes the pictures come out nicer than some ugly bloke, like Dumbledore."  Draco put down his tea, then got up and grabbed a pillow, using it to try to smother Alex.

Greg pulled him off, holding him still.  "It's all right, Draco. It was a compliment.  He called you pretty."  Draco continued to struggle.  "Alex, run," he suggested.  Alex ran out of their suite.  He gave him a count of five, then released Draco, watching as he ran after him.  Then he sat down and stole Draco's sandwiches.  "Those two are so cute," he said with a grin.

Vinnie looked at him.  "You just gave me a mental picture that could give me nightmares."

"Sorry, I'm not trying to."  He finished off that food and dusted off his hands, getting up to get a few cookies.  Then he flopped back down, going back to his Charms homework.  "I wonder if Alex finished his homework in Charms.  Maybe he can ask Professor Flitwick if he knows somewhere."

"Eww," Ron noted patiently.  "Now I have a mental image of them together.  Thanks, muchly, Gregory."   He rubbed at his eyes.  "Harry, make it stop!"

Harry pulled his wand and pointed it at him.  "Somulus."  Ron was asleep and snoring within minutes.  "There, now he'll dream of Hermione."  He went back to his homework.  The others laughed. At least until Hermione came back in.  "Draco's chasing him to hurt him."

"For me?"

"No, for him," Harry said, grinning at her.

"Alex told him he was pretty, that's why he drew him so often," Greg told her.

Vincent moaned.  "Harry, could you please knock me out too?"

"Somulus."  Vincent sighed in pleasure as he sank into a nap.  "Greg suggested that if you didn't know a place, maybe Professor Flitwick would," Harry said conversationally.

She shuddered. "That's nasty!" she said, swatting them both. "Behave!"  She stomped off to find Alex and beat him herself.  She found him hiding in Charms and Draco bound to a chair.  "Alex," she growled, stomping in.  She found herself bound to a chair as well.  "Greg said maybe he'd know a place.  Harry had to knock out Ron and Vincent!  You're being very evil and I won't have it!"  She continued to struggle to get free.

Alex looked at his favorite professor, who liked to humor his odd and quirky ways.  "Do you know a place I can go to over the holidays to find out if I like to top or bottom?  Maybe a club or something so I can find a nice teacher who can show me a few times?  I asked Granger if she liked witches and if she did, could she recommend such a place because I figured she wouldn't go to a dirty, nasty, seedy bar where I might catch something unsavory."

Flitwick blinked a few times.  "I don't patronize those sort of places, Alexander," he said patiently.  "I have a special friend I visit now and then."

"Oh."  He pouted.  "Shoot!"  His pout got worse.  "All I want to do is find somewhere I can figure it out."

Flitwick patted him on the arm.  "I'll write my friend to see if he knows such a place," he soothed.  "Now go to dinner."  He nodded, heading that way.  He shook his head and unbound them both.  "Miss Granger, you are scaring the poor, damaged young man greatly with the way you're acting. Calm yourself immediately or I shall have to take points. You as well, Mr. Malfoy.  From what he told me, it was meant as a compliment."  Draco stomped off and Hermione followed him.  He waited until he was alone to giggle, clutching his lectern.  "That boy is going to send someone to the infirmary for what he says.  Poor Poppy!  Someone'll have to tell him how to be careful too!" he howled when he realized it.  He went to the Great Hall, pulling Severus aside once he got there.  "Severus, your son just asked me to help him find somewhere special to ...break himself in.  He didn't appear to have too much of a clue on how to do so *safely*.  He thought he would only catch something...unsavory, his words of course, from the club itself.  Perhaps a fatherly chat is in order?"  He nearly started to laugh again at the look on his face.

Snape turned green.  "I'm sure someone can," he said, fleeing before he had to think about his son having sex somewhere that unsavory.  He didn't want to think about his son and sex at all!  He glared at Granger when she nearly ran into him.  "Watch where you're going!"

"Sorry, sir, your son irritated me by assuming I like witches and could give him an opinion on where to find a club he could find a tutor to teach him the art of having good sex at," she said coolly.  "Someone must talk to that boy!"  She stomped on, right to McGonagall to complain really loudly about Alex and his assumptions.  She even ended on a loud diatribe on someone needing to have The Talk with him.  Then she went to pout at the table.  Ginny tried to cheer her up but it wasn't going to work this time.

McGonagall excused herself from dinner and went to drink herself to sleep in her room so she could forget both images.  She didn't want to see Hermione Granger with a witch or imagine Alex's sex life in the least!

Snape felt better as he retreated.  At least it wasn't just him or Flitwick the boy had damaged mentally this time.

***

Remus answered the floo, smiling at Poppy.  "Yes, dear, what can I do for you?" he asked, smiling at her.

"You can come tell the lecherous bastards Alexander, Harry, and Draco about sex!" she snapped.  "Alexander has sent three teachers to me for hangover cures.  Draco is still protesting what he wants and Harry has no idea why the others were so upset.  It's like he's never heard of the concept," she said in her most clipped tone.  "Since I don't pretend knowledge on how two blokes shag, you're it!  You're a relative or near enough in this case!"

He stifled a smile.  "How about I send Sirius up for a visit, Poppy?  Would that suit you?  He is a relative to Draco and Harry trusts him more.  Alex might even get some firsthand knowledge out of him so he can find a safe spot to explore this image."

"I don't care which one of you does it, just get here and get it done!  So far he's made Flitwick, Snape, and McGonagall drink!  He accused Miss Granger of liking witches and knowing where such a place might be!  Mr. Malfoy's so deep in denial he got upset that Alexander called him pretty.  I don't care which of you explains the process of shagging to those three, but do it soon!"  She hung up.

Remus shook his head, trying to clear that last mental image out of his head.  He didn't want to see the three of them shagging.  He really didn't. "Sirius!" he called.  He came in from the back yard.  "Poppy just called.  Apparently Alexander is traumatizing everyone while trying to learn how to shag a bloke.  He's also upset Draco again by suggested he was pretty and upset Hermione by suggested she liked girls and might know a place where he could try it out.  Poppy said he sent Flitwick, Snape, and McGonagall to drink."  Sirius laughed, leaning on the counter to hold himself up.  "She wanted you to come talk to them since you had firsthand knowledge about both sides.  She said poor Harry might not have realized what they were even talking about."

"Are we sure he's not doing it on purpose?"

"I doubt it.  I don't think anyone ever had The Talk with him.  I doubt Severus would be able to."

Sirius continued to laugh at the image of Severus explaining sex to those three boys.  "Fine, I'll go up today," he agreed, walking off to find something clean to wear.  The longer he knew Alex, the more he liked him!

***

Sirius popped into Potions between classes, closing the door before a student could get in.  "Poppy wanted me to come give Harry, Alex, and Draco The Talk.  Do you mind?"

Snape gave him a heated glare. "Why should it be *you*?"

"Because, unlike you, I've had sex with another man. She didn't think he knew any of the safety instructions or anything."

"Flitwick said the same thing," he admitted tiredly.  "Fine.  You have my permission as long as you answer all their questions so I don't have to.  Did you call Mrs. Malfoy?"

"I called and got Lucius, he sneered. He said if Alex touched Draco he was going to kill them both."

Snape looked at him.  "Indeed?"  Sirius nodded.  "Did you...report it?"  He approved of his son's plan to torment Lucius by having him arrested as many times as possible.  It almost made him...giddy.

"Of course," he promised with a grin.  "Nymphadora is already there."  He smiled sweetly. "She heard him because she was visiting Narciassa.  She suggested it'd be a good idea too.  Alex is too hot to find it out, he'll end up getting hurt."

"Fine.  Please discuss that with my son so I don't have to wade through another night drunk."

"Sure.  Where might they be and can I pull them out?  I know they have you sometime today."

"I had them earlier.  Minerva has them both right now."

"Ah, even better.  Thank you!"  He hurried out, letting the students in.  The bell had rung by the time he got up to her classroom so he tapped gently and stuck his head in, smiling.  "May I please steal Harry, Draco, and Alex for your class and the next one?"

"Why?" she asked primly. "This is a double lecture."

"I needed to talk to them about something very important and private," he said, smirking a bit at her.

She blushed.  "Have them and make it thorough and graphic.  Before we're all traumatized by them *trying* it.  Go, boys.  Now!"  They gathered their things and left, Alex still shading his last drawing.  She sat behind her desk, resisting the urge to put her feet up.   Someone did answer prayers it seemed, otherwise she would have talked to them that night.

Sirius led them back to their suite, sitting all three boys down.  "Some of the teachers have decided you three need a more graphic version of the sex talk," he started.

"I already know more than enough," Draco said, standing up.

"Sit, Draco.  By the way, your father said he'd kill both of you if you touched him or he touched you."  He looked at Harry, then at Alex.  "I'm going to be going over all of it, sorry that some of this might not apply to you ever, but this way at least it's covered."  They all sighed and nodded, settling in.  At least they weren't in class for a while. "Good."  He smiled and pulled a chair over to sit across from them.  "Let's start with the supposedly typical thing, boys liking girls.   A lot of it's in common and I can tell you where it differs from there."

"Do you have first-hand knowledge?" Alex asked, looking really interested.  Harry stole the pillow from Draco before he could try to smother him again.

Sirius nodded.  "I do, of both sorts really," he admitted. "That's why Poppy called Remus and Remus delegated in the finest fashion."  All three boys smiled at that. "Hell, we should have a beer right about now.  That's how my dad did mine," he muttered.

Alex got up and got the bottle of scotch he had and three glasses, pouring them out.  "Here."  He grinned and handed him one.  Draco didn't get one but he got his own glass.  "You're not legal," he called.

"Bite me."

"Your father said he'd kill you both," Sirius reminded him before slugging back the drink.  He had needed that.  "All right, liking girls.  Not so much different than liking guys, only girls are squishy in some spots."  All three boys stared at him.  "They are.  Breasts are nice and squishy, they make nice pillows to nap on too.  Not their primary purpose, but still a nice napping spot....."

***

Alex bounced out with Sirius, hanging off his arm.  "Can you tell me where I can go to find out in person?" he asked happily.  "I really wanna try it out now!"

"Sure.  Let me find a nice, safe seeming spot.  You, however, will promise you will play safely and follow all the rules I gave you earlier."  Alex beamed and nodded, still bouncing.  "Good boy, Alexander."  He clapped him on the arm.  "Go back to class while Harry and Draco sleep it off."  He smiled when the headmaster met him at the door.  "Someone had to have The Talk with the boys.  Poppy called us," he said with a smile as he walked past him.  "I'm afraid I gave Harry and Draco too much graphic information and they're both napping for a bit, Albus.  They should be fine within an hour.  They're young, they recover quickly."  He grinned and headed out the door, strolling down to the barrier so he could apparate home and tell Remus how well he had done.  "Remus!  I'm back!" he called.

"In the study!"  Sirius walked in there and he took a long sniff.  "You got them drunk!"

"No, but I needed some lube," he admitted as he sat down.  "Now I know why my old man gave me my talk over beers."  He grinned at him.  "I gave them more information than they probably will ever need.  Harry and Draco knocked each other out so they wouldn't have to hear anything else about gay sex.  That was about halfway through Alex's questions.  By the way, he's got a really kinky side. Asked all sorts of kinky questions.  I got all the directions and uses out, plus all the safety precautions.  Alex was bounding around the hallway when I left, and I promised I would find him a nice looking place to go as long as he played by the rules I had set."

Remus gave him a horrified look.  "You're unleashing him on the world already!"

"Well, yes.  By the time he gets there, he'll be legal.  Then again, he is emancipated," he offered.

"I don't care!  He'll be trying it the next time he can slip away!"

"He won't," he said patiently, smiling at him.  "He's trying it on himself first so he has some ideas what he wants to try with another person.  We talked a long time about that and being ready and his actual age."  He wiped his neck off.  "He wanted to know all sorts of stuff about spankings and straps and all that stuff."  Remus walked off muttering.  "Sorry.  Too much information?  That's about when Harry and Draco knocked each other out."

"Sleep it off, Sirius!  You just harmed the poor boy's poor mental state!"

"At least there won't be any little illegitimate Alex's running around," he called.

"Sleep it off, Sirius!"

Sirius laughed but did go up to take a nap...eventually.  Those were some good memories he had shared.

***

A few weeks later Ron walked up to Harry in Herbology and handed him a carefully copied charm.  "Here you need this," he said with a fond smile.  Then he walked off.  He needed a nap really badly.  Harry had been too loud to sleep.

"Mr. Weasley!" the teacher yelled.  "Where do you think you're going!"

"To nap!  My roommate so thoughtfully kept me up by being too damn loud last night!" he called, kicking the door shut behind him.  He walked right up to the infirmary and hopped onto a bed.  Kicked off his shoes and covered himself up before the nurse could even protest.  He got a gentle poke.  "Harry's a loud guy," he complained.  "I didn't get any sleep thanks to him."

Poppy sighed.  "I knew it. The moment he found out he'd want to try it out."  She went to make a note to send around to the teachers.

Down in Herbology, Harry was still bright red.  His head was as low as he could make it and he had pocketed the silencing charm. He hadn't thought he had been that loud.

"What did you do to Ron?" Neville hissed.  Harry glared at him and ducked his head again. "Harry!  It's not nice to pick on Ron!"

"He didn't.  He doesn't know what a silencing charm on his bed is," Draco said from down the table, glaring at him.  "You kept the rest of us up too, Potter.  Though, it was amusing, listening to you scream that particular idea that loudly."

"Malfoy!"  Harry glared at him.  "Must you?  You forgot silencing charms before too!"

"Not that loudly I didn't," he retorted.

"Yes, you have," Greg assured him.

"Last Christmas morning," Vinnie told him.

"Hmm, and the first day back from Easter holiday," Greg reminded him.

"And on the train on the way back," Vinnie said with a small smirk.

"Oh, remember on the way back?  Either someone put an echoing charm or he got really, really loud."

"No, that was an echoing charm," Alex said with a grin.  Draco growled and lunged so he ducked behind Granger.  "Sorry, dear.  Draco's in a cranky mood.  Not enough sleep you know."  He pulled his plant further down the table, just grinning at him.  "At least I'm quiet."

"What was he doing to need an echoing charm?" Madam Sprout asked dryly, tapping a foot, arms crossed over his chest.

Alex looked at her and opened his mouth but Hermione whipped out her wand and froze him, glaring at Draco, Harry, and the others.  "The rest of us don't need those mental images either.  We get more than enough of an education living two doors down from you.  Especially from you last night, Harry!  Did you take some sort of potion!  I never knew a boy to last like that!" she huffed.

Harry walked out, bright red all over, and went to hide somewhere.

"Oh, dear, didn't anyone have that talk with you children yet?" Madam Sprout sighed.  "You should be more mature about those things by this point!  Unfreeze Mr. Birmingham and get back to work."  She went to find the poor dear and counsel him.  When she couldn't find him, she had a quiet word with Minerva.  After all, he was in her house.

***

McGonagall pulled Harry out of the line of students trudging in for lunch, taking him to her office.  She closed the door, silenced it, then turned to face him.  "Harry," she started gently.  "Madam Sprout said perhaps I should fill in some gaps that Sirius might have left?" she suggested gently.  He collapsed into a chair, hiding his face in his arms on her desk.  "There's no need to be embarrassed," she said, patting him on the back.  "I've had to give this talk numerous times, including to Mr.  Longbottom, who didn't seem to get much of it the first three times I went over the information."

"I got loud last night when I forgot a silencing charm," he muttered, looking up at her.  "That's all that was.  They were all picking on me, including Hermione."

"Ah.  I see.  You do *know* the silencing charm?"  He glared and nodded.  She smiled.  "I've often thought we should put it on all the beds from the fourth year up, Harry.  Automatically for every student.  Possibly for every year to stop the complaints about snoring, but at least on the fourth years and up."  She pulled down a book and opened it, handing it to him. "A permanent one, that way you don't have to worry about it."

He pouted. "Hermione accused me of taking a potion to go that long in Herbology.  The others have picked up on it now.  They all think I'm a perv like Alex!"

She patted him on the arm. "Get Alex to do the permanent charm on your bed, dear.  That way you don't have to worry about such things again."

"Alex asked about kinky stuff," he complained as he copied it down.  "Ron handed me a silencing charm and then went to sleep in the infirmary."  He handed the book back.

"I know.  It bruised your fragile ego.  At this age, bodily function are funny, the same as they are to a three-year-old who plays with himself in public.  Another boy will have one of those days and his friends will pick on him soon enough.  Or a girl will have one and everyone will pick on her unfairly because she feels as much lust as you do."

"They do? I thought girls felt mushier stuff."

"No, Harry.  Girls can feel lust and we often do feel lust.  Even Miss Granger."  He shuddered.  "Some day, you'll have to watch her date someone."

"Eww.  I don't care to think about others getting some."  He put the charm in his pocket.  "Can you walk me back in there so they don't think I was tossing off?"

"Of course."  She smiled and led him back to the Great Hall, heading up to her seat once he had his.  She looked around.  "Where is your son, Severus?" she asked quietly.

"Perhaps he's taking a nap."

"Ah.  You are aware he asked Mr. Black about straps and such?"  He glared at her.  "You weren't?"

"We had an agreement; he answered whatever Alexander wanted to know and I didn't have to hear about any of it."  She nodded once then dug in.  "What potion did he botch up?"

"It's just natural talent in his case," she said with a smirk at him.  "Some day he'll have a very happy wife."  Snape choked and so did Madam Sprout and Mad Eye Moody.  "Sorry."  She dug in, filling her mouth before she could say anything else.  "Headmaster, have you reconsidered the idea of putting permanent silencing charms on the beds of the fourth years and up?  Or on everyone's so no one has to complain about snoring?"

"I don't believe it would be politically correct to do so, Minerva.  After all, we wouldn't be able to hear if someone's being harmed by a roommate."

"Most of those are because their roommate snore," Flitwick noted.  "I'll happily help with those myself so I never have to hear another complaint like Mr. Weasley's ever again."

"It's like he went from no thoughts about it to every thought about it.  Before the talk, he didn't even understand that other people were talking about it and now it's all he does.  Two *hours* last night," Draco's complaint floated up to them.  "Four times!  In ten hours!  I don't know when he slept because the rest of us certainly didn't!  Granger's down the hall and he kept her up too!"

"Yes, he'll make some woman a very happy wife some day," Madam Sprout agreed.

"Then there's Alex 'I snore so loudly you can hear me on the next floor up' Birmingham," Draco continued to complain.  "He's *louder* and *gay*!   He screams about things I'm not sure can be done!  Plus, gay sex takes *longer*!"

"Ah, there's another good reason to put the charms on the curtains," Flitwick noted, but mentally he was cackling.  Mr. Malfoy had very good timing.

Dumbledore looked around.  "We'll call the Prefects together tonight and instruct them on how to install that charm," he ordered calmly.  He heard Draco's voice starting to climb again.  "Mr. Malfoy! You are quite loud enough!" he ordered, making Draco blush.

"Hey, Harry, how long does Draco take?" Ginny asked.

Dumbledore put his head down and prayed for patience.

"He wouldn't know, I know how to apply a silencing charm!" Draco yelled.

Mad Eye Moody stood up.  "As fascinating as this conversation is, this is more than I wanted to know about any of you!" he yelled.  "So stop it before I hex you all!"  He sat down again.

"Thank you, Alistair, but I don't believe hexing is necessary," Dumbledore told him.  "Detentions usually work just as well in this situation."  He glared at Draco.  "Sit down or have a detention with Mr. Filch tonight and for the rest of the week," he said firmly.  Draco sat down and dug back in, ducking his head down.  He smiled at his defense teacher.  "There, you see?"  The Gryffindors laughed and he looked over there, staring at the blushing boys.  "I said enough!" he called. "That is not an appropriate discussion for public places."

"Oh, I don't know, that's all my mum and her friends ever talk about," a first year Hufflepuff told him.

"Now you have a detention with Mr. Filch as well," he assured her.  "Polite people do not talk about such private topics."

"My mum's not rude!" she shouted, standing up and glaring at him.  "My mum's a hell of a lot nicer than most of the girls in this school, including most of the teachers!"  She stomped off, going to write her mother.  Someone was going to be getting a howler in the morning!

Severus looked at the Gryffindors.  "Mr. Longbottom, where might my son be?"

"He might be in the infirmary, sir, but I'm not certain.  He got a skinned spot last class.  One of the plants tried to eat him again."

"I see.  Thank you."  He went back to eating now that the topic of discussion had been changed so he wouldn't have to listen to it.

"I tell you, he accused me of liking witches!" Hermione Granger ranted. Loudly.

Snape let his fork fall back to the plate and got up, wiping off his mouth.  "I'm going to check on my son," he noted before walking away.  That way he would not have to have that unpleasant mental image.  "Maybe she'll find faith and become a nun," he told himself as he walked.  It was amusing and soothing to think of her that way.

***

The first trial came and went and Harry was handling the second one well.  Alex was still worried though.  He went to talk with McGonagall, finding the object of his worry in there.  "Ah, professors.  Sorry to interrupt.  Professor McGonagall, I need to take a walk, but I may not be back in time.  May I?  Down by and around the lake?"

"Of course, Alexander.  Thank you for asking this time.  What's bothering you?"

"Just odds and ends.  Things that don't add up and the like.  You could accompany me if you wished."  She smiled and shook her head.  "That's fine then, I'll be down there."  He walked off, heading down to think at the lakeside.  Something was still not right.  Moody was still here.  Yes, he taught them stuff, but he could feel bad things trying to come.  He wasn't sure what was coming or what was fully going on but he knew some things and what he knew was bothering him.  Because they had a spy for Voldemort within the school and he was feeding back information.  Even if it was false information, it was still dangerous.  He could realize some things that others didn't.  He knew he had Neville in his grasp.  He only hoped he could save the poor guy.  Something was not right and something was going to happen and he was on the front lines without enough information to make a good plan.  He felt something coming in near him and looked at the woman standing there.  "Halfrek."  He walked over there.  "Am I getting too close to the barrier again?"

"No, I thought I'd stop in and see you, Alex."  She smiled and tested the barriers.  "They're holding, baby."  She led him to some rocks, sitting down next to him.  "You're worried and you're too young to worry about wars and icky stuff."

He looked at her.  "I'm not.  I'm the strongest in this school, including some of the teachers."

"Dumbledore has power."

"He also has knowledge he's keeping and he's been trying to manipulate a prophecy about us and the Dark Lord."  She nodded, agreeing with him.  "He's been manipulating me since I got here, trying to missort me and isolate me."  She nodded.  "Why?"

"Because he thinks it's Harry."

"Is it?"

She shrugged.  "No one can say.  It depends on who gets there at the right time.  It could be all three of you together. This year might not be the right time."

He looked around, then at her.  "Can I trust you to speak honestly?  Are you serving Voldemort?"

"He ruins childhoods, Alex.  He's already ruined so many.  I'm a silent supporter for you and Harry, babe. What's wrong?  What aren't you getting?  Besides in Draco's shorts," she offered with a grin.

He snorted and shook his head.  "I'm not focused on that at the moment.  That'll be in a few hours."  He shifted closer.  "We have a spy here."  She nodded, acknowledging he was right.  "He's feeding information back.  We know that.  We know, or I know and I think the others suspect, that he's the one who entered Harry in the tournament.  He's way too young. I'm way too young."  She nodded, agreeing again.  "Is it connected?"  She nodded.  "You're sure?"

"Definitely.  Do you think they don't realize this?"

"No, they do but they aren't doing anything!"

"True."

"That's got me worried.  It's like we're sacrificing Harry on an altar to him.  I keep getting flashes of dark magic, blood magic, I saw when I was a kid."  She nodded more slowly, testing his shields again.  "We found out Grams was doing it," he admitted.

"I'm sorry.  Did you have to watch?"  He shook his head.  "You snuck down to see?"

"At one point in time I would have slayed dragons for that woman," he admitted quietly. She gave him a hug.  "And now I'm surrounded by her friends and her coworkers.  I want to scream to draw attention to this plot but I know if I do, he'll get away.  No matter what he's sending back, the slightest observation could be harmful.  Just the fact that Harry relies on others could be enough to force his capture and a plan."

"Does he?"

"Sometimes."

She considered what to tell him.  "There are other considerations.  What if the prophecy about your births is this year or next year?"

"I'm ready, Harry's ready.  Neville's in the grip of the spy," he hissed.  She nodded.  "We can but I don't want Harry to have to see that."

She smiled gently.  "That's noble, but he'll see it even if you do the deed, Alexander."  She stood up.  "You have three problems.  The spy in your midst.  The circumstances he's drawing around you like a containment circle.  The aftermath, no matter which side wins that battle.  Remember, there are people who still remember your grandmother fondly.  Not all of them were captured or killed."  He hung his head.  "What will you do if it becomes necessary to protect those other innocents by taking on one of them here?"

"Then I will," he said honestly, staring at her.  "The kids here are too soft, too used to good times.  War is dirty and nasty.  It should only involve those who're ready for it, even if that's idealistic. But I don't want to turn into her!"

"Will you if you do it for those reasons?"

"Get away from her, boy!" Moody yelled, hurrying toward him.

"I don't know, you tell me," he offered with a sad smile. "Is it time for me to act?"

She shook her head.  "Wait.  The trial is soon enough.  Then all hell will break loose.  If you harm him now, He'll be thwarted, but not enough.  There's others in your midst who spy and who know.  Even if they don't swear allegiance, they may have to *appear* to."

"Boy!"

"Oh, shut up!" he yelled, not taking his eyes off her.  "She protects me, Moody."  He tipped his head off to the side.  "If it stops this time, will it come to that?"  She shook her head.  "Can we make it?"

"That's like your question, Alexander.  If you have to kill someone to save a bunch of others, is it bad?"  She smiled.  "Many have an opinion, including the law.  Talk to those you trust.  Outside the family. Otherwise your father may have a heart attack."  She winked and faded out.  "Be safe, Alexander.  Remember, I'm here to watch over your childhood too."

He sighed and turned to glare at the teacher.  "That's the Patron Saint of Lost Childhoods!" he screamed.  "She's protecting me!  How dare you interrupt me talking to her!"

"She's demonic!"

"No shit!" he screamed back.  "She still *protects* me!  She's the one who helped me get away from the bitch who tortured me for nearly eleven fucking years!  Now, get off your high horse and fucking go back too your rooms, you self-ass-licking, smug bastard!  You have no right to get in the middle of my talk with someone who *protects* me!"

"Alexander!" McGonagall yelled, hurrying down.  "Don't!"

"Fuck you!  He drove Halfrek off."  He glared at him. "You're about to have a rude awakening, Moody.  I'm not the nicest of people.  Do you think I can't cast those again?" he asked, moving closer.  "Do you think I won't protect the innocent in this school by casting against *anyone* who causes them harm?  Teacher or not.  Remember, the innocent are *mine* to protect here."

"Alexander!  Leave him be!" she snapped, reaching them.  She grabbed his arm but he shrugged her off.  "Alex!"

"Leave off, Professor.  We all know what's going on here.  I've been watching him retaint Neville.  Teaching him how to do the unforgivables in private. Building him up to it."

"That's a hard accusation to prove."

"Is it?  Then I wouldn't duck."

"Crucio!" Neville cast.  He put his wand up, canceling the spell after a moment of Alex writhing on the ground.  He looked at his headmistress. "I don't need protecting."

"Petrificius Totalus," Draco cast coldly, freezing him.  "Yes, you do, Longbottom.  You just entered the wrong dressing room for the wrong team."  He pointed his wand at Moody.  "I know you from somewhere."

"Don't, Draco," she ordered.  "Take Alex to the nurse."

"She can't help him.  He'll be fine in a few minutes.  It's not his first time under it."  He kept his wand pointed at the teacher. "I think you need to leave, Moody.  Or whoever you are."  She gasped.  "It's amazing.  Alex still talks in his sleep," he told her dryly.  He smirked at the teacher, then pointed his wand at Alex.  "Ennervate!"  He hopped up, holding his chest.  "You all right?"

"Yeah.  Neville's got an anger problem with his self image."  He pulled his wand again, pointing it at the teacher.  "Leave, Mr. Crouch.  Before I vacate you from this realm.  Draco's not crossing into his father's path, and I've already danced on it too many times.  I protect the innocents in this school.  Every last one of them.  Thank you for proving my point, and yours, so well.  Vigilance is very necessary."  The man known as Moody stepped back.  "I wouldn't.  You're not taking Neville anywhere.  Professor, move Neville now.  He's been slowly brainwashed.  I had been hoping someone else was going to stop it."  He looked sad for a moment. "I guess I learned Gram's lesson again.  If you need someone tortured, do it yourself."  He heard footsteps come running and someone grabbed him so he threw them onto the ground, stomping on them, then facing his opponent again.  "You want these students, including Harry, you face my ugly ass.  Duel or not. Draw and declare yourself."

"No, Alex!" Draco ordered. "It's not your fight!  Let your father do it!"

"Fuck my father.  He's stepping on *my* vows now."

"Alex, no.  Let the other teachers," McGonagall pleaded.

"Why?  Because you did such a *stunning* job on Neville?" he asked, glancing at her.  Crouch drew his wand and he shoved her out of the way of the hex, casting one back.  The man started to scream as his bones shrunk under his skin, including his skull.  He stared him down until he was on his knees, wand still pointing at him.

"No, Alex!" Tonks ordered in her best voice of authority.  "He's ours!"

"You're right, he was."  He swished his wand.  "Finite Incantantum."  He turned and glanced at her, then kicked him under the chin, breaking it.  "Because Neville was a nice boy.  You've disappointed his parents terribly."  He turned and walked off, going to walk around the pitch.  He could be found out there.

Tonks looked at the teachers as she rubbed her newly sore spots from Alex tossing her.  "Wanna give some of us a clue?"

"He's taking polyjuice.  We've known he was a spy since right after Potter's name was drawn for the fourth champion," McGonagall admitted.  "We've been feeding him false information.  We thought Neville was smart enough to realize he was in trouble and ask."  She gave him a sad look.  Then she looked at Tonks. "The boy needs help," she said, sounding like she wanted to cry.

Tonks nodded.  "I agree.  All of them.  Draco, put it down."

"Fat chance.  Take him away and I'll put mine away."

"Fine."  She clapped magical shackles on him, binding him to where he was lying for the moment.  Then she looked at McGonagall.  "Where's the headmaster?"

"Talking to Potter about the next trial," Draco admitted.  He looked around.  "I felt Halfrek and I came to check on Alex."  He lowered his wand but didn't put it up.

"She might have shown up to talk to him when he was alone," McGonagall admitted, looking at the two bodies.  She looked at Tonks.  "Take them away, give us a whole Neville back if you can."

"I can't guarantee that, Minerva.  He cast an unforgivable in front of me.  I was watching to see how far it was going.  Was the glowy woman Halfrek?"  Draco nodded.  "Okay, who's she?"

"She's the Patron Saint of Lost Childhoods," Draco said bitterly.  "She watches over Alex."  The Headmaster and Potter came running.  "Late again, Potter."

"Where's Alex," he panted.

"The pitch walking in circles probably," Draco told him.  "Why?"

"Someone set off the dark wards."

"Neville there cast a nice Crucio," Tonks told them.  Dumbledore looked like he had been hit with a shovel in the face.  "It was him.  Alex just shrunk all his bones."  She looked around.  "Draco, be a love and go calm Alex down so I can get a coherent report?"  He shook his head.  "Potter can help me."

"No, Tonks.  It's not right.  Alex is right.  Some of us have danced on that path already and it's not for innocents to do it for us.  It's for us to keep others off it."

"Draco, I'm not that innocent," Harry reminded him.  Draco stared at him.  "I'm not."

"You are," he said dryly.  "Alex was going to kill him."

Harry nodded. "As he probably deserves.  Some day, we'll all have that decision.  I've already made mine.  Let me.  Get Alex.  He's got to be in pain and he turns to you for that stuff more'n anyone."  Draco nodded, putting up his wand and walking off.  Harry looked from Neville, to McGonagall, to the other teacher, then back to Tonks.  "What's going on?" he asked calmly.

"He's Barty Crouch," McGonagall sighed.  "We've known since the night you found him on the map, Harry, and we knew he wasn't Moody since the night your name was drawn. We've been using him to feed back false information about you and Alex, but he's been grooming Neville.  Alex tried to warn him and Neville didn't listen."  She clamped down on the sob that came out.  "He cast an unforgivable."

"He's still redeemable," Tonks reminded her.  "If Alex can stay good, Neville can return to it."  She looked at her.  "What vow?"

"I asked Alex to protect Gryffindor and the others in the school who were innocent and abused."  She looked at her hands.  "I put too much pressure on him."

"No, he needed it to give him focus," Harry assured her, giving her a hug.  "He's fine. Just pissed at himself."  He looked at Tonks.  "Is Alex in trouble?"

"No.  He was protecting himself.  I watched Neville curse him.  I watched Alex be stopped and challenge him.  Crouch there fired on Alex first.  He didn't kill him.  He gave him a chance to surrender by casting that bone shrinking spell.  Sure, he could have died, but he would have passed out first."  She wiped her face off.  "Alex isn't in any trouble, no matter what Fudge and them want."  Harry stared at her and she nodded.  "He hates him, Harry.  Alex has everything he ever wanted, including the power and the money to take control from him if he wanted.  Parkinson had a point. If the boy was so inclined, he could become a Dark Lord.  He doesn't want it and Fudge is scared of him because he's not sure where to  place the kid in his mind.  He's scared because he's not using the power he has."

"That's dumb."

"Yeah, well, if Alex was less powerful or fully dark, he wouldn't be scared of him.  He'd laud him for what he's done.  Right now, you three scare the piss outta a lot of people.  Draco and Alex have the knowledge of how the dark works.  They're training you and Alex made it very clear you're dear to him and Draco's very dear to him."

"So it's like we have their playbook for quidditch and their star seeker," Harry said.

"Basically," Tonks agree.  "A lot of people think they're using you to take over afterward.  If either of them agreed to become aurors it'd help tons.  People think we'll take care of our own if they get out of hand."  She watched as the polyjuice started to make his skin bubble up and change.  "Hmm, you were right."  She bent down to tighten the cuffs and he kicked at her, knocking her onto her back.  She jumped up but he had grabbed his wand and had one hand free. "Stop!"

"Tempore retardis," Harry cast.  He ducked under the slowed burst of magic Crouch shot at him, walking up to him.   He locked the cuffs back on him, then slugged him.  "Finite incantantum."  He sneered down at him.  "You lose again."

"That's why the dark's so afraid of you boy," Snape said as he walked out to join them.  "Because you're powerful enough to cast that.  With their backup and knowledge, they think you're going to take over."

"If Alex ever went that dark, he'd take out the people who hurt kids," he reminded him.  "Tonks, you can quote me."  He walked off, going to help Alex.  He found him crying on Draco and got his back, hugging him.  "Shh.  It's all right."  He looked at Draco.  "You knew?  The reason they fear you and him getting together or him helping me?"

"I figured that's what it was," he admitted quietly.

"Huh?" Alex asked, pulling back to wipe off his face.  "Why are they scared now?"

"Because you're the dark's playbook.  Draco's their quidditch team's favorite seeker.  And I'm the enemy to them so I've got them both, Alex."

"What he just mangled is the belief that we're going to use him to take over.  Those in the know and on the wrong side are worried about your power joining with his and destroying them."

"Tonks said if one of you became an auror it would calm down," Harry offered with a small smirk for Alex.

"My father would eat his heart, literally, before he let that happen," Draco admitted.

Alex grimaced. "I'd rather join the people who go to help kids who need saved."

Harry hugged him. "You'd make a great protector and dad, Alex.  You really will."

"Neville," he sighed.

"Neville made his own choice," Draco said firmly.  "He wasn't coerced into it.  He wasn't under the Imperious or anything else.  He made his choice and he's got to live with it.  The same as you left him living and you've got to live with it."  He made Alex face him.  "The same as I have to live with wanting to kill him," he finished quietly.

"Draco...."

"Alex, I've danced on the same pathway as you.  Nearly in tandem but to a different tune.  I'm not the innocent you think I am and Harry there swears he's not one at all."

Alex broke free.  "No!  I won't have you two dying because I let you out there!"

"Alex, love, that's not your choice," Tonks called, walking up the last few stairs to join them.  He glared at her.  "They've got to make that choice themselves.  Everyone does.  Even Neville and the innocent little kids in this school. That's how you know they don't need your protection anymore.  They make that choice."  He shook his head so she took his arm and walked him to the other side of the viewing box.  "Yeah, Al, they do.  Everyone makes that choice.  They make it by being a bully or standing up for themselves.  They make it by taking part or hiding in this war that's coming.  They make it in a lot of ways.  You've got to be smart enough to realize they've made it and don't always need your protection.  Even kids grow up and parents have to let go sometimes."  She looked him in the eyes.  "Do you get what I'm saying?"  He hung his head and nodded.  "Good boy."

He looked at her.  "If I have to kill someone to stop this war from coming, is that wrong?" he asked her.

"You don't ask the easy ones."  She stared at him.  "Like what?"

"Like, one of us has to kill Voldemort.  Is that wrong?"

"No.  That's saving a hell of a lot of lives.  It'll also make a lot of people insane with worry that you're going to be the next one.  The Ministry will try shit and you'll end up reacting there."  He nodded.  "They'll probably try to put you in jail or some such, maybe try to shut down the investigation so it makes you look evil and bad.  Maybe even try the school."

"But is it wrong?"

"No, not to me.  Stopping a monster is stopping a monster, Alex.  If he's a human monster, then sometimes you've got to.  Even if you have to kill a whole lot of them.  That's what war is.  That's how soldiers cope, with the 'them and us' approach."  He nodded, hanging his head again.  "What brought this on?"

"Something's coming.  I know something is coming," he said quietly.  "That's why I was outside and why Halfrek showed up to help me."

"Sure.  She sounds like she understands a lot.  Probably been and seen a lot being a demon."  She smiled at him.  "Did she help?"

"She suggested I ask others, but if I asked my father he'd have a heart attack."

"Possibly but he's had to go there more often than I have."  She ruffled his hair.  "Come on, let's get a statement. I'll even make a statement to the press if you want."  He nodded.  "Should I ask Draco for that?"  He nodded.  "I thought I might.  He sounds more educated and snotty, which the papers like more."  She led him back to his friends, pulling out her notepad to take notes.  "Okay, from the top.  You knew what when?"

***

Harry looked at the next morning's paper, then at Alex, who was still in bed.  "They quoted you as saying you're supporting me to do what you have to.  That no one has to fear you being a dark lord in the making because all you'd take out would be those who hurt their kids.  Fudge praised you greatly for not killing him.  He'll be snide next week."  He patted Alex on the hand.  "Did you get any sleep?"

"Dad gave me a good dose of dreamless sleep."

"Good.  You still look like hell."

"I'm worried about Neville. Where did I fail him?"

"Nowhere, Alex.   He made his decision."

"Alex, evil is a great salesman," Draco said from his other side.  "Their campaign runs on whatever you fear or long for.  Power, the threat to join them or die, the longing for riches or power, all of it is laid out before each person like a used broom. We each pick it over and take the deal offered or pass it by, even if we come back for it later when the deal becomes stronger and they feel they can't refuse.  Some people pass it by without looking and some people come back time and again for test rides, like you and I.  We're comparing it to what we already have.  Potter there is flying it because his is over-polished and getting worn out."  Harry swatted him with the paper.  "Thank you for putting on that silencing charm."  He cuddled up tighter against Alex, giving him a squeeze.  "Longbottom decided the deal was a good one and took it no matter that other broom sellers were offering him a faster, smoother, and cheaper ride.  You and I compared it and found our brooms better than that one, even if it's by the same company, maybe even the same model in my case.  Potter's found he likes the slick pole on his and decided to keep his broom by another company, even if he did slick down that handle a few times as well."  Harry swatted him again, grimacing.  "You did.  By using their tactics, you made someone on that side wet."

"What happens if we have to act again this year?" Alex asked quietly, plucking at the blanket.  "Tonks thinks if something happens for real then the Ministry might try to arrest us or try the school somehow."

"I'm sure they will," Draco agreed.  "You didn't make Fudge any less worried."  Alex nudged him with his elbow.  "You didn't.  The same as Potter didn't.  That nice quote I gave might ease the fear in the general people but Fudge uses the press to his advantage.  If something happens, you summon my ass so I can make a better statement and bring the press with the aurors or before the aurors."

"Yes, Draco," he said patiently.  "Do I have to?"

"Yup."  Harry laid down on his other side.  Alex gave him a long look.  "Sorry, I'm tired."

"If you slept instead of polishing your broom," Draco started.   Harry gave his head a shove, making Draco laugh.  "You and Alex both need to quit polishing your brooms."

"Consider it strengthening my wand hand," Alex told him.  Draco laughed and Harry looked horrified.  "What?  I like the male form, I'm in my natural habitat, you're temping in the field."  He snuggled in, hearing someone move out in the main room.  "Either we're about to be pounced or the house elves are straightening up."  He held up the blanket, letting Harry underneath with him and Draco.  Someone tapped on the door.  "I'm getting cuddled."

Snape walked in and paused, then shuddered and turned around.  "I don't want to know."

"You can tell my father I wasn't touching Alex, we were both touching Potter."  He put his head back down after a blown kiss across Alex's chest.

"Minister Fudge is here to see you three."

"Yay," Harry told him. "I don't talk to the man.  Is Tonks or someone here?"

"No.  They want to talk to you three without teachers present."

"You can tell him he can kiss my asshole, and use plenty of tongue," Alex told him.  His father snorted and glanced at him, shaking his head.  "Aw, come on, dad."

"No.  As much as I want to, that wouldn't serve my ends."

"Dad, if something happens, are you going back?" Alex asked quietly.

Snape turned and looked down at him.  "If at all possible I will avoid it, son," he said gently.  "If not, I will go back to what I was before and not include you."

"Fine.  What happens if I have to kill someone to make sure it doesn't happen?" Alex told him.

"Are you planning on that?"

"No, but it can easily happen.  If it does, what are we going to do?" Alex asked. "Especially if Halfrek, Tonks, and Draco are right and the Ministry tries the school and I end up fighting them next year too?"

"We'll stomp that bug when it comes to it," Snape said simply.  "Should someone try to attack you for what you have to do to protect yourself or your friends, then so be it."  Alex relaxed and nodded.  "I would like you to let some of the defending fall on, say, mine or McGonagall's shoulders however."  Alex stuck his tongue out.  "Protect those you can, son.  Since Mr. Longbottom's slide we're all on more alert.  Now, get up and please be dressed."

Alex flipped back the blanket, showing him and Draco in boxers, and Harry in sweats.  His father sighed so he got out with his father's help, walking up with him.  Draco and Harry followed once Draco had pants.  Alex had to come back to get pants at Flitwick's look.  He followed them back, going up to the headmaster's office.

"Thank you, boys."  He looked at them.  "What did you think you were doing?"

"Solving shit you didn't," Draco told him simply.  He looked at Alex then at Potter.  "You hold him, your lap is bigger and more sturdy since you're of more stocky background."

"Just make me sound like an ox, especially since I'm shorter than you," Harry said dryly, pulling Alex into his lap to hold him.  "There, kid."

"Thanks, alternate dad."

Fudge glared at them.  "Do not try such cutesy games with me," he spat.  "What did you think you were doing?  You let one boy go to the dark?"

"I warned Neville about him," Alex said coldly, glaring back at him.  "I warned him a lot.  Neville knew he could have come to Harry or I anytime to talk to us."

"Neville did come down a few days ago," Draco reminded him.  "You were in detention and we cleared out to give Harry and him privacy."

"Neville didn't say anything about that stuff.  He didn't even hint at it," Harry told him.  "He seemed kinda sad. I guess he made his decision and wanted to say goodbye maybe."  He patted Alex on the stomach.  "Neville made his decision, Minister Fudge."

"The fact that the teachers knew what was going on and let it keep going means that we were put in the position of having to stop it," Draco told him.  "Crouch attacked Alex first.  He interrupted him while he was talking to someone who was helping him with a personal issue.  He attacked Alexander and Alexander had to stop him or he'd have been hurt."

"So!"

"So?" Harry asked coldly.  "Alexander could have been killed by that maniac. I'm damn happy that my given child was able to protect himself until the teachers got there.  Especially since your auror ended up standing there and watching it too to see what was going on."

"Given child?" he sneered.

"I am Alexander's guardian," he said coolly.  "That makes him my given child."

"You're still a minor."

"Wrong, I'm emancipated."  Harry smirked at him.  "The Wizengomet agreed."  He gave Alex another squeeze.  "Now, why are you here and why did you request this meeting without the teachers?"

"Because I know that you're all going to go dark," he sneered.  "In their cases darker."

"The only people I want to hurt are Draco's father and those people who hurt their children or who let children be hurt," Alex told him, ice coming out of every pore of his body.  He stood up, moving closer.  He saw the fear in the older mans' eyes.  "Why would I need to go dark, Fudge?  I have everything I could ever need at the moment except a boyfriend.  I've got more money than Draco. I'm as pretty as Draco.  I'm stronger than Potter, my father, and at least half the teachers in this school.  I get respect here from a lot of people, especially ones I consider important, like McGonagall and Flitwick. I have everything I need except a boyfriend.  I have people working on that though," he said with a smirk.  "Why do I need anything from *your* side of the battle?  If all you want is power, then the dark must be easy for you.  I don't want the same things you do.  I want peace.  I want to live my life without fighting people like you, Lucius, and Grams.  If I have to help Harry remove them to get some peace, so be it," he offered.  "I'll take a boyfriend from the war prizes. Then I'll go live in peace and help other kids who're being tortured like you let me be."

"Calm down, Alex," Draco ordered.  "Come here."  Alex looked at him, then back.  He found Fudge had pulled his wand.  "Oooh, look, he's got a wand."

"Yay."  Alex punched him, making him scream. "I don't let people threaten me."  He smiled sweetly when the teachers came in.  "He pulled his wand on me.  I hit him for it."  He walked over and looked at the two possible laps.

"Should you do that, I would have to scream, Alexander," Snape said dryly.

"Let me call up a sofa," Dumbledore noted, summoning one from downstairs.  "There, boys.  Go ahead and sit there."  They moved back there, cuddling up with Alex having one arm, Draco next to him, and Harry leaning in the other direction against the other arm.  They all looked bored. Dumbledore motioned at the teachers to sit.  Then he helped Minister Fudge up.  "There you are, Cornelius."  He sat in his desk chair and looked at the boys.  "I will note something now.  Alexander, your vow is to protect your house."

"She asked me to protect the innocents in the school, especially those who're being hurt at home."

"Which you do wonderfully," Dumbledore assured him.  "But the rest of us would have liked to hit that man last night."

"He attacked me," Alex reminded him.  "Halfrek and I were talking ethics of being forced into battle."  Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.  "I'm wondering what would happen if one of these times I'm attacked and I have to kill to get free."

"That would be most grave, but I cannot see that you should be charged for that," McGonagall noted.

"I was going to ask for his wand to see what he cast," Dumbledore noted. Alex shook his head.  "You're refusing?"

"I only hand my wand to an official I trust, like Tonks or her mother, or their boss, or my father or McGonagall.  Flitwick if he demanded it.  We both know I'm not in the right frame of mind today to be so trusting, sir."

"Alexander," Snape said quietly.  "Give it to me."

"Summon it then.  I left it in the bedroom."  Snape gave him a look.  "He was scared of me unarmed and pulled his wand when I turned my back on him, father.  If I had been armed, he'd have done it sooner and probably tried to harm Harry or Draco as well.  Professor Snape may summon it if he feels it necessary."  Fudge started to make protesting noises so he glared at him until he was silent.

"Accio Alexander's wand," Flitwick cast, catching it easily.  He looked it over before casting the 'last known charm' spell.  "Bone shrinking and the one Tonks cast to see what he cast."  He handed it to Alexander.

"What about before that?" Fudge demanded.

"Probably to float over some pie," Alex said, casting it himself back ten spells, letting him see.  "As I thought, nox, floating pie over.  Floating paper over.  Two charms from class.  The disguise spell to practice."

"Why are you doing those?" Fudge sneered.

"Because Grams used to make me learn her old texts and law books with the imperious," he replied smartly.  "I've already done all the work in charms, transfiguration, and defense.  I'm doing extra lessons on my own so I'm not *bored*."  Fudge shivered and backed away.  "You're really not on my threat list, Fudge.  My shit list, but you're down it to the level of dealing with you in the press and the courts."

"You can't hurt me in either," he sneered.

"Really?  Tonks?"  She and her mother strolled in.  "I'm sorry, when I was giving statements on Gram's old parties and dinner guests, I forgot him.  He who called my Grams 'nice, sweet, and kind' repeatedly in front of me.  I charge him with being a Death Eater.  If you could check?"

"You're willing to make formal charges?" the elder Tonks asked.

Alex nodded.  "In front of the courts if I have to. His remarks and his frequency in my house, plus how he used to cheer my Grams on to punish me for the act of breathing and sleeping, literally twice."  Draco looked up at him.  "It was his idea to choke me that day, Draco.  Thankfully you and Greg showed up in time."

"I thought it was an allergic reaction."

"Yeah, well, your mum didn't know enough yet to protest," he noted coldly.  "If she had, she would have kidnaped me that night.  By the way, if you need to have official records of it, she took me to a doctor named Koret in Sutton when she did the really bad things."

The younger one went to look him up in the directory.  He was quickly found and the file commandeered. She came back about ten minutes later to find Fudge in chains.  "Find it, mum?" she asked.  She looked at Alex, giving him a hug.  "I'm glad you survived, Alex. You're right neat and I'd miss having you around.  You sure you won't join us?"

He grinned sadly.  "I love you and your mum, Tonks, but if I join the Ministry I'm going to be the guy who goes to take kids away from bad parents.  If I don't, I'm going to file to be a foster parent."

"Sure, Alex.  You'll make one hell of a dad."  She handed it to her mother, already held open.  "His name's listed repeatedly by her own admission.  He did file with the Ministry but it was listed as 'guardian too dangerous, do not touch, just note and help where possible'."

"He did.  He called Lucius and got Auntie Narcissa," Alex told her.  "He's the one who told Auntie Narcissa and let her have that file."  She nodded, leaving it there.  "By the way, Narcissa and Greg's stepmum tried repeatedly to take me.  Grams threatened their kids if they kept trying.  The same as she told my father she'd kill both of us if he tried to see me or claim me."

"At least you found him," the elder Tonks noted, smiling at him. "You better now?"

"I could use a boyfriend and Lucius said he'd kill both of us if I touched Draco here. Lucius is tiring my patience out.  Can't I have him yet?"

"No," the elder Tonks said gently. "Let us, kiddo.  We like to hurt him a lot."

"He killed my mother," he said quietly.  She stiffened.  Snape nodded.

"Really?" the younger Tonks noted.  McGonagall and Snape both nodded.  "Draco, love, where's his Mark?  Being his son I assume you've snuck a few hugs now and then."

"He's never undressed in front of me," he told her.  "I wasn't allowed into his room.  I do know that his pants are really loose."

"It's on his right upper thigh," Snape told her. "I have my own reason to hate him."  He looked at his son.  "Let them.  You can be there and cheer them on."

"Must I?"

"Yes," Snape said.  They locked eyes and he saw his son give in.  "You have more problems at this moment than Lucius Malfoy."

"Yeah, like the Ministry trying to hurt the school for attacking Harry and I or them trying us just because we're standing against the dark."

"If they should come, we will take care of them," Dumbledore assured him.

"And if they attack me directly?" Alex asked.  "I'm not living here, Headmaster.  I like my house now that it's been cleaned of dark magic."  He inclined his head at that.  He frowned and looked at Draco, then his father.  "Did you two pay Pansy her bribe to stay away from me?  She hasn't tried to get near me yet."

"I did," Draco agreed. "She's wearing it to the ball."

"Eww," Harry sighed.

"Hey, lil' Tonks?  Take Harry to the ball?" Draco asked.

"I might not mind.  Can ya dance, Harry?"

"Alex and Sirius have been trying," he admitted. "I'm not sure I can."

Tonks kissed him on the cheek.  "Sure, Harry.  We'll be cute.  It'll give me a chance to clean up and be pretty."  She winked at him.  "What'cha wearing?"

"Black," Alex told her.  "We had to fight about that one."  She smiled and nodded.  "Should we help him pick out a corsage or anything?"

"Nah, flowers are for delicate girls."

"She likes knives and stuff," her mother offered, grinning at her daughter.

"Really?  Dad, didn't we get something like that cleaned up?  I thought you were giving them to Harry," Alex offered.

"He did," Harry agreed.  He grinned and summoned them, smiling as he smoothed over the leather case, handing them to her.  "Here, decorations."

She opened the box and squealed at the jeweled bodice daggers.  "Ooh, Harry!  I love 'em!  Can I wear 'em that night!"

"Sure.  They'll be the perfect jewels for your beauty," Harry agreed with a shy grin for her.  She blushed and locked it up, putting it under her arm.  "I'll see you then?"

"Of course."  She yanked on Fudge's arm.  "C'mon, you dark lord wannabe.  You're keeping me from picking out somethin' pretty ta wear ta the ball."

Her mother smiled at Harry.  "I'll expect you to either be a perfect gentlemen or make her squeal and come in sore and tired the next morning from all the fun she had."  She nodded at the headmaster.  "Always fun."  She trotted after them.

"Quite a show," McGonagall said once they were alone.

"He started it," Alex said.

"I meant getting Harry and Tonks together," she said with a smile. "They are quite a lot alike."  She stood up.  "Are we done, Headmaster?  The boys need to eat and I want them back in their room today since some of my dumber Gryffindors are being stupider than usual."

"They blame me for Neville," Alex said flatly.  She shook her head.  "They don't?"

"They blame me," Harry told him.  He sighed.  "It sucks, I wasn't even there.  I was up here getting told to 'buck up' and 'it'll be fine, just do what you have to'."

"They're being really damn unfair," Draco complained.  "We're not that petty."

"Yeah, but I'm supposed to be the savior," Harry said bitterly.  "I didn't save my friend."  He stood up.  "We're going back down there.  We're all tired."

"Go," McGonagall told him.

They went down together, leaving the teachers to speak.  They had to walk through the crowds since it was a change of class moment, but most of the kids gave them a wide berth.  One kid got in their face, standing in their path and refusing to move. "Seamus," Alex said quietly. "Leave Harry alone.  Neville and I were there, not him."

"Why wasn't he?" he asked coolly.

"He was being berated by the headmaster for being a Gryffindor and not paying attention," Draco told him.

"Why were *you* there then?" he demanded of Draco.

"Because I felt someone I care for come in.  I've shown up all the other times she's shown up if you knew anything about it."  He shrugged.  "I got there after the supposed teacher pounced him.  For that matter, I'm the one who froze Longbottom after he cast the unforgivable.  I'm the one who stopped him from killing Alex."  Seamus nodded, getting out of the way.  "Come down later.  The guys and I can clear out for a while so you can yell at him in private."  He tugged on Alex's sleeve.  "Come on, you're supposed to be in bed since you didn't get any last night."

"Why not?" Millicent asked quietly from behind them.

"He still has nightmares, Millicent," Draco said.

"He also had aftershocks from the cruciatus," Harry told her gently.

"Harry," Alex sighed.

"Sorry, Alex.  I know she's a friend.  I didn't think you'd mind."

"I don't care.  I ache.  I'm going to go to bed.  You guys can come talk later too," he told her, walking off through the gathered students.

"Are you and he dating, Draco?" Millie asked.

"I still like girls, we're just very close," Draco told her.  She sighed, then hit him on the arm, making him moan and grab his arm.  "Bloody hell!  Bitch!"

"Idiot!  He cares for you more than anything."  She stomped off, then came back.  "I got your letter, Draco, prove it."

"They meet each Wednesday in the third floor west, last room on the right," Harry said quietly next to her ear.  "Come see the map if you don't believe me.  It only takes ten minutes or so."  She nodded, backing off and heading to class.

"You should already be in your classes by now!" Snape yelled as he came toward them. Students scattered.  He looked at the two remaining boys.  "Why are you still here?"

"Setting the story straight," Draco told him.  "Inviting some of them down to talk to us in person."  He turned and walked off, still rubbing his arm.

Harry looked at him.  "Alex already headed down there.  Is it really over?"

"For now.  More is coming but not at this moment. For now, enjoy what you can."  He walked past him.  "Go back to bed and have my son make sure you won't embarrass yourself."

"Yes, sir."  He walked off, going back to their rooms.  He found his robes hanging up and pulled them out to try them on.  They fit so he looked at himself in the mirror in his room.  "Are we sure I look okay in this?" he called.

"Yes," Draco and Alex called back.

***

Alex looked around the ball, looking bored. He sipped his punch, hanging on the wall.  He hated this sort of event.  If it weren't for Draco and Harry he'd be napping at the moment.  Draco walked past, Pansy clinging to his arm.  She had tricked him into agreeing to take her.  He handed a house elf his empty glass and looked around again. He saw Ron gaping at Hermione and Vicktor becasue he was heavily jealous.  He still thought she was into witches, but she had a good cover at the moment.  He was too tired to even try.  He was still worried that something would happen and the worry was driving him insane.   He stiffened when someone touched his arm, but he relaxed when he saw it was Millicent.  "Hi."

"Dance with me, Alex?" she asked quietly.  "I hate my future spouse."  He nodded, walking her out there.  The last dance ended just a few steps after they got out there so they danced the next dance.  "Why don't you go steal Draco from Pansy?"

He snorted, shaking his head.  "He's still straight, Millie.  He likes the softer sex.  We're very tight, he's like my mate, but he'll never be mine.  I realize that, it's all a game and tease between us.  Of course, if she keeps pissing him off, I might go smack her anyway," he offered.  He looked at her and switched her off, ending up with Pansy a few minutes later.  He looked at her.  "Do you mind not being so blatant?  You're embarrassing yourself, Draco, and the Slytherins."  She sneered so he sneered back, making her shiver.  "You're acting like a whore.  I'm going to send pictures of that dress to your mother.  After all, Snape took a house picture."  He spun her off, then got Millicent back a few beats later, smirking at her.  "Make sure dad gets a piccie of her to send to her mom."

"He took a house picture when he saw her and one of the seventh years."  She pointed at the young woman who you could see the crack of her ass hanging out of her dress. She didn't have the body for it and it was hanging out of the bottom of the skirt in a jiggly mass.  "I'll make sure he sends it to her mother as well."  A Ravenclaw came up to her, so she bowed to him and went with him for the next dance.

He started to vacate the floor but Tonks smiled as she grabbed him, spinning him off.  "Why so glum?" she cooed, dancing with him.  "You do this very well."

"Practice," he offered with a grin.  He led her through that dance, then spun her off when he noticed Harry looking around.  Harry caught her, smiling at him before dancing her off.  He gracefully walked off the floor, heading for more punch.

"Alexander," McGonagall called, coming over to him.  "Dear, are you all right?"

"Just worried."  He smiled at her.  "Would you like to dance with me, Professor?"

"No dear. It's been a long time since I've danced."  She patted him on the cheek.  "Quit worrying.  It won't be during the regular year.  He has too big a feel for the dramatic."  He stared at her.  "He does.  Ask Mr. Malfoy.  That's who Lucius learned it from."  He fully relaxed and smiled for the first time in weeks.  "Does that ease your worries?"

He nodded.  "That means it'll be during one of the tests."  She nodded.  "The second one is underwater?"  She nodded.  "Does he like water?"  She shrugged and walked off, smiling.  He walked over to where his father was.  "Father, a question."  He looked over at him.  "Does your former boss like water or will it be the third trial he'll act during?"

"He's not fond of water and so far he's acted during the spring each year."

"Then it'll be the third trial, I have time to help him prepare."  Snape nodded.  "Good."  He clapped him on the arm.  "Now all I need is a boyfriend," he sighed, looking around.  Hermione walked over to him.  "Dear, you're not my type."

"I only want a dance, Alexander," she offered.  He nodded, taking her out to dance with her, formally correct.  At the end she curtseyed and then smiled.  "Thank you, Alexander."  She walked off, rejoining her date.

He went back to the punch bowl, finally getting another cup.  He noticed Draco lounging against the wall.  "Your whore off making you money?" he joked.

"Making her mother money," he said, taking another sip.  "Do I have enough house loyalty to leave her already?"

"Yeah.  You're more than handsome enough to bag anyone on here, except maybe the veela."

"I'm more than good enough for her."

"Yes, but she's looking for something different."  He nodded at the girls walking past them.  They giggled and blushed.  "I'm gonna go head."

"No, stay.  Be bored with me."  Draco looked at him.  "I don't want to be stranded here."

"Neither do I."  He nodded politely at Ron as he walked past with a girl.  "Go steal her."

"I'd rather not."

"Millie's looking for someone to beat Flint."

"With the fight they had, I'm not surprised," he noted, finishing his punch and putting the glass down.  It disappeared from his hand.  "They're being very efficient tonight."

"If they aren't, they'll be cleaning all night.  Even house elves need to sleep."  He finished his punch and put his cup down.  It disappeared too.  "I'm bored."

"Me too," Draco agreed.

"You can't leave yet," Harry said as he walked Tonks past them to get her some punch.

Draco looked at her.  "I like the daggers, cousin.  They glitter nicely from your cleavage."  He looked around again.  "I'm so very bored.  Are you throwing yours this year, Alex?"

"No.  Narcissa said she's not throwing hers either."  Draco smiled at that.  "That doesn't mean one can't spontaneously start," he warned. "Some people might assume and show up anyway."

"If so, I'll be at your house within moments," he assured him.  "I plan on spending my whole vacation in either flannel, cashmere, or velvet."  He nodded at McGonagall as she passed by to break up a groping couple.  "Do you really want to teach defense and have to do that?"

"No.  Not really at the moment."  He looked around again, then shook his head.  "I'm tired.  I'm going to bed."

"Don't," he complained, catching his arm.  "Please, Alex.  Don't abandon me here."

"Draco, there's no one here for me to hang out with. You're going to be stolen again and why do I want to be surrounded by women?"  Draco gave him a hurt look. "This is your scene, you're king here.  You like girls.  They're all pretty for you and guys like you.  Guys like me are few and far between; there's almost none here.  Those who are...."  He pointed at the only other gay students he knew - who were a couple.  "It was dumb of me to come."  He looked at his friend. "Go be the king stud you are.  Have fun and find a damn woman to keep us up with tonight."  He got free and walked off, heading out to enjoy the night.  He was a night person.  The stars were his family and the dark was his home.  He stopped outside, looking up and sighing in pleasure.  He was cold, but oh well.  He pulled his wand.  "Accio cloak," he cast, catching it a moment later.  He swung it around his shoulders, deciding on a walk.

"Where are you going? You're supposed to be inside," a gruff voice said behind him.

Alex turned to look at the real Mad Eye Moody.  "For a walk.  I'm a night person."

"Why aren't you inside, kid?"

"I'm gay.  That's for kids who like the opposite sex."  The teacher looked stunned. "By the way, I've still got that textbook your stand-in gave me.  I'll hand it back after the holiday."

"Then you're Alexander Birmingham?"  Alex nodded, stepping closer.  "You any good?"

He grinned.  "Test me after the break, professor.  I'll need more to do then anyway."

"Fine.  Don't let those out."

"Only to Potter and Malfoy."

"He's a bad guy."

"Is he?  Are you so sure of that?"

"His father is."

"He's not his father," he said calmly.

"His mother is."

"His mother's not.  She's incredibly caring and tried to save me from the torture the Ministry allowed my grandmother to do," he said coolly.  "She and Draco are my family. I would watch your step against them."  He nodded, accepting that.  "Maybe if you watched Draco as much as you keep harping on us about doing, you'd see the real Malfoy, not his father's shadow.  Some of us have."  He turned and walked off.  "I'm for a walk."

"You still shouldn't be out here, boy."

Alex laughed.  "I'm a lot better than most people think," he called.  "You'd know that if you were watching me."  He continued on, enjoying the night, ignoring the old man behind him.  He walked past a few kids out for their own walk.  "Moody's on the doorstep," he called to them.  They looked alarmed and headed inside.  He had to warn a few other couples, then he got the winter night alone.  He pulled up his hood to keep the wind out of his ears, and pulled it over far enough to try to warm his nose back up.  He headed for the lake, wandering along his usual path.  He paused to stare at the stars and heard a step in the snow nearby, glancing around.  His only blind spot was behind him so he looked in the water.  That's why he turned and shot a blast of light at the person trying to sneak up on him.  "It won't work."

"You're to die!  Traitor!" the man hissed. "Blood traitor!"

"You first."  He pushed his hood back to clear his peripheral vision.  He saw another dark shape and calmed himself.  If he had to fight, he'd fight.  If he could get away without it, he'd do so.  The other dark shape came out of the woods and turned into someone he felt like he recognized but he wasn't sure why.  He was watching so he ignored him for now.  Instead, he focused on the real threat.  That had only taken a moment, but the guy in front of him was still posturing. "Aren't you done pumping yourself up yet?  You're interrupting my enjoyment of the night air."  The man glared and shot off a hex.  He reflected it and sent another one back at him, making him scream in pain as the heat hit him.  They were in the snow and it was really cold, any heat would cause pain.  He did it again, then switched to another light blast, blinding him.  He ducked the wide hex he sent and sent a simple jelly legs, then walked over to take the other wand, putting it in his pocket.  "Who are you?" he demanded coldly.  The man continued to scream in pain.  "Oh, give it up!  It's not like I hurt you."  He leaned down and pulled off the hood he was wearing, looking at him.  "I don't know you.  Good."  He looked at the teachers rushing his way, waving the hood.  He looked for the other person but he was back in the shadows.  "Professor, there's another one, he's there," he said, pointing at the shadow.  "There."

McGonagall looked, then cast a spell to freeze him. The shadow continued to move.  "What was it, Alexander?"

"I don't know.  I feel like I should but I don't."

"Severus, I think that stupid vampire came back!" she called, pointing him out.

"Me?" he called, walking out of the woods, smoking.  "Nice work, Xander."

"Who?"  He looked at his father.  "Is he the one who tried before?"  He nodded. "Fine.  I'm heading off on my walk again then."

"Why?" the vampire asked.  He moved closer. "I know you.  You're not even curious?"

"No," he said.

"Why not!  This should be eating you!  I *know* you!"

"Yes, but if I get curious, I'm told humanity hangs in the balance," he said simply.  "I can't threaten it for curiosity."

"You can't...."

"I can," he said coldly.  "Now, disappear.  When I can know, I'll know.  Until then, I'm being a good boy," he sneered.  He nodded at the teachers.  "I'm being good.  I'm going back to my stroll."

"Go inside," the headmaster ordered.  Alex started to open his mouth.  "Mr. Birmingham!"

"No!  I'm out here legitimately. It's not like I'm snogging someone!  I'm out here to enjoy the night!  I like the night and the stars!  He pounced my ass!  I only stunned him and shot some low grade heat at him."  He walked off, heading back around the lake.  "There's no curfew tonight," he reminded them.   The vampire moved to head him off and found a wand in his throat.  "I will cut your head off.  That'll stop the threat to humanity by you trying to tell me shite I'm not supposed to know yet," he said coldly, staring in the blue eyes.  "Come back when I'm twenty-one.  I'm told it'll be fine then."  The vampire slowly stepped backward.  "Now, you're trespassing and this is a school full of wizards and witches.  Everyone here knows how to kill you if they're over thirteen.  That's about four hundred children.  Do you really want to risk humanity and what's left of your existence?"

The vampire shook his head.  "No, I'm good with living a bit longer."  He looked around, then back at him.  "Your birthday is when?"

"Come back on solstice in six years, vampire.  Meet me in London at the Leaky Cauldron if you can find it.  If I'm alive, I'll be there," he said simply.  The vampire nodded and turned, running off.  "Use the road, the woods are dangerous," he called.  He rolled his eyes, heading off again.  "Night, all."

"Alexander, head inside so we can get an account," Snape called.

"It's self-explanatory," he called back. "I paused, heard a footstep, looked in the lake, turned, ducked, fire, ducked, fired, got his legs, then walked over to dehood him."  He waved again.  "I'll see you before I get on the train in the morning."  He put his hood back up, then turned and threw the wand back at them.  "His."  He continued on, going back to enjoying his night, forgetting the vampire totally except to remind himself to tell his elves to remind him.  He took a few deep breaths and went back to his enjoyment of the night and the stars.  He continued wandering on, ignoring everyone else out there with him.  Though he did end up interrupting one couple in the middle of things.  "Teachers by the lake," he said in a sing-song voice.  They yelped and got dressed, hurrying inside.  Okay, so maybe he was wrong, she did like boys after all.  By the time he went back inside, it was well past midnight.  His friends were all asleep in the living room.  He smirked and shook his head, walking past them.  He did slam his door, knowing it would at least wake Ron and probably Greg too.  Then he did the locking charm and got undressed before sliding under his covers.  He closed his eyes and finished relaxing, just about to go to sleep when someone tapped on his door.  "I'm trying to nap."

"Let me in, bitch," Draco hissed.  Alex found his wand and undid the door, then Draco slammed it, harder this time.  Draco relocked the door at least, but stared down at him. "What did you think you were doing!"

"Going for a walk, Draco," he said as he flipped onto his other side. "I was enjoying the night air.  Remember, I like nights.  Nights are good.  Stars are nice.  Winter is pretty and snow doesn't glare under the moon."

Draco gave him a shove with his foot.  "You got into a brawl!"

"No, someone tried to jump me," he said tiredly.  "I used minor things, like shooting warm air at him.  Then I sent the vampire off again, told him I'd meet him in six year on Solstice at the Leaky."  He yawned for show, his eyes still closed.  "Get me up in time to get home."

"I should kick your ass!  You left me there!"

Alex sat up, glaring at him.  "Draco, I told you.  That's not my thing.  It's not my field of play.  Those people didn't want me there anyway.  Why in the hell should I dress up to impress girls, which I don't like, and dance with girls, which I still don't prefer?"  Draco looked hurt.  "I left you able to hunt and find a prize.  If you didn't at least score some groping, you weren't trying very hard."  He glared at him.  "You're ruining my happy mood.  You do realize this, correct?  I came in fairly happy and content and now I'm not?"  Draco started to glare again so he got up and put on something warmer, something he could sneak out in.  He put on his hiking boots and did them up, then grabbed his cloak and wand, heading back out, slamming the portrait.  He ran into Filch, who opened his mouth.  "There's still no curfew tonight."

"You're staying then?" he sneered.

Alex glared at him.  "I can and will kick your ass.  You're helping ruin the good mood I came back in with. I'm going back for another walk.  I can always sleep on the train."  He stomped off.

"Boys," he sneered.  "Prissy little boy."  The other one shoved him on his way past. "I'll see you in detention in the forest!" he called after him.

"Do it if it gets you off," Draco called, trying to catch up to Alex.  He found the front doors still locked and glared at the man in front of them.  "Where is your son!" he demanded.

"Did you misplace him again?" Snape asked dryly.

"He walked away from me."

"He didn't head back outside."

"He dressed for it...."  He hit himself on the head and headed up to the Room of Requirement.  It could be anything he wanted.  He paced back and forth but it wouldn't create a doorway for him.  He pounded on the wall and focused harder.  Alex must be doing something with an outside theme. He was dressed for it. The door finally opened and he walked inside, slamming it behind him.  He immediately shivered.  It was really cold and it looked like Alex's field at home that he liked to walk in.  He headed the way Alex usually did, finding him sitting on a log. "Not walking?" he asked snidely. Alex handed him his cloak, then disappeared.  "How did you do that!" shrieked.  He looked around. Nothing. Completely blank. A blank field.  Snow.  A few hidden logs.  He went back to where he had come in, heading out and then through a back passageway outside.  Alex wasn't that sneaky. He must have had the room create an exit out of the school before he laid that scene.  He found an open back door and snuck through it, heading outside.  Absolutely nothing.  He walked further out and listened to the door slam and lock behind him, but at least he had his wand.  He walked around, looking for footprints.  He found pawprints and a light dawned in his head. Alex was still an animagus.  He followed them, watching the newly returned human wandering off. "You'll die of cold."

"I don't need a mother."

"Obviously you do."

Alex looked back at him. "You're the one who planned to go out without a cloak, idiot."  He shapechanged down and then headed off at a trot.  This way smelled interesting.  Nearly untouched except by Hagrid and Fang.  He found a nice place to wander and started there, staying in the shadows to avoid Draco.  He saw him huff off and smiled, heading off to calm down again.  At least Draco hadn't frozen or forgotten his wand.  He continued to wander, not thinking, not planning, not anything but enjoying it.  Whenever he got cold, he changed into his wolf form and found a new path to wander on while he got warm again. It had been a long time since he'd spent all night outside like this and he had missed it.  He decided he'd go camping while he was home, no matter how much the elves complained.  By the time dawn came he was back at peace and happy.  He stayed until he heard the carriages, then went back into his room to get his bag.  He found everyone still asleep on the couch, smiling at them.  He grabbed his carpetbag and snuck back out, heading for the first carriage.  It willingly took him to the train.  There was always a first year eager to go home who would have run all the way.  He was really about the sixth one on there when he boarded. He nodded at the conductor, getting a smile.

"Anxious?"

"No, just tired of the castle.  I'm looking for some peace and quiet for a bit.  I'm going to nap."  That got a nod and a grin.  "I'll be in the last compartment on the right.  Don't tell anyone looking for me, okay?"  He hopped on and headed back, smacking one kid on the back of the head when he backed into him.  "Watch where you're going," he ordered.  The kid yelped and headed back to his compartment, all ideas about a mock duel in the aisle forgotten.  He found his compartment and glared the girl out of it, getting it to himself.  He sealed the doors, pulled all the shades, then settled in for a quick nap.  The noise of the other students arriving nearly woke him but he was tired. He snuggled deeper into his cloak and used his bag as a pillow.

Draco stood outside the door of the carriage, staring at the handle he couldn't open.  He knew Alex was inside.  He could tell Alex had done the locking spell.  Greg yanked on his arm.  "What?" he hissed.

"Maybe he's sleeping, Draco.  You said he ran off when you bothered him."

"I don't understand what went on last night."

"Draco, balls aren't for gay men without boyfriends," Ron said tiredly as he came out of his compartment and found a pillow.  His chair hadn't been comfortable.  "What was Alex supposed to do?  Play nice and dance with girls he either hates or is scared of?"  He closed his, Harry's, and Hermione's compartment door and went to lay down.  The others could share a seat.  "Night.  Alex is across the hall."

"I saw," she admitted.  She got up and looked out the door.  "Is it the seventh year spell?"

"No, it's something else.  The one he uses on his personal jewel safe."

"Most people pick codes they can remember.  Try numbers or words he might use as a combination."  She shut the door and sat back down, pulling out a book.  "Which house are you spending the holidays at, Harry?"

"Sirius'.  He thinks Alex might want to try to find a boyfriend this holiday and I don't want to have to witness that."  He grimaced.  "I'm sure I'll hear more than I ever wanted to know about gay sex when he does start dating."  Ron snored and they shared a smile.  She shook her head, but continued to smile when the explosion went off.  Draco walked past, looking unconcerned that he was tangerine orange.  At least until one of the twins shrieked in horror.  Apparently he knew who had done that to him.

***

Draco came out of the floo, dusting himself off, finding three worried elves staring at him.  "Where's Alex?"

"Hims say he be going out last night and hims not having come back yet," Twirly complained. "Him is being in big trouble!"

"He's probably walking out in the field and fell asleep in wolf form," he soothed.

"We checked whole estate," Marsette said urgently.  "He is not being here!"

"Have you checked with the bank?" he asked patiently.  They shook their heads. "Fine, let me call."  He went to the office, calling from in there since there was a direct line tin of floo powder.  "Apparently Alexander went out and never came back," he explained.

"He's fine.  The blood key on the dark arts vault is still intact."

"Did he call you or say anything when he made a withdrawal?"

"He said something about camping but not where," he admitted.  "He looked tired."

"He's been worried recently.  The rumors of the war restarting and things.  Thank you."  He hung up and looked around the office, finding the crystal that could always reach his ear.  He had a small chip embedded in his right ear so you could reach him in case of emergency.  "Alex," he called over it.  "Your house elves are ready to declare you stolen or dead."

"I'm camping, Draco," the answer came back.  "I told Marsette when I called. I said I'd be back in a few days.  I'm going back to bed now.  Night."

"Where are you?"

"Camping."  The crystal went dead.

Draco reignited it. "Alex, I'm worried about you and your fragile mind going wrong.  We are still friends."  He heard a sigh.  "When are you coming home?"

"A few days.  By the holidays. I mailed your present.  Night."  The crystal hung up again.

Draco glared at it, then got up and headed back to the kitchen.  "He said he told Marsette he was camping?"  Marsette slowly shook his head. "He said he called and told you that?"

"Him is not talking to me."  She elbowed Gibbons, who woke up.  "Is Master Alexander calling here?"  He shook his head.  "Him is saying he called. Said he camping?"

"Gibbons not talk to him," he defended.

"Twirly not either," she said.  "What is this camping?"

"It means he's enjoying the stars for a few days.  He said he'd be home then," he instructed.  "He'll probably need some laundry done and the like.  He'll be fine. He's got his wand."  They all wailed.  "He's not abandoning you!" he snapped.  "Get over it!  He'll be home by Christmas!"  They sniffled and nodded so he went home, glaring at the house elf who was waiting on him.  "What?"

"Mistress is waiting in study for her son," he reported, then disappeared.

He scowled and went that way. "Yes, mother?" he asked as he walked in.  He found Pansy and her mother waiting on him.  "I'm not marrying her either."

"Son, where is Alexander?"

"Camping."

"Where?" she asked patiently.

"He didn't say. He said he'd be home by the holidays."  He glanced at Pansy again and held in his shudder of revulsion. "All he said was camping."

"Did you two fight again?" Pansy sneered.  Draco broke her nose for her.  Then he waved his hand to make it quit hurting.

"Son, you do not hit girls."

"No, I won't hit my wife or my children.  I'm not marrying her so that makes her fair game to hit.  I'm tired of her shit.  She tricked me into taking her to the ball."  He sat down next to his mother.  "What did you need Alex for, mother?"

"We were wondering if he was throwing his party anyway," she said patiently.  He shook his head.  "Why not?"

"Because he's tired.  He didn't stay at our ball, much less be in the mood to throw one of his own."

"Pity.  That night I want you to go there and reroute anyone who shows up here. You may have one if you want."

"Mother, I'd rather just relax.  I'm tired of my fellow students.  It's been a long, strange year.  I'm tired.  Alex is very tired."

"Why?  Fuck him too hard?" Pansy sneered.

"I can hit you again," Draco reminded her.  "Also, did your mother see pictures of your dress and how you hung out of it and it was the wrong color for you?"  Her mother glared and got up, stomping off. "I'm sorry, mother.  I don't mean to pick on your friends."

"You used to like Mrs. Parkinson."

"Yes, well, her daughter used to be a human being instead of some tramp with spread legs for Millicent's boyfriend too."  Narcissa raised an eyebrow.  "Mr. Potter has this delightful map that shows where everyone in the castle is.  No matter who they are or where they are."  She looked stunned.  "We've watched Pansy and Marcus get together a number of times on the third floor, last room on the right if I remember correctly.  As has Millicent."

"Oh, dear," she sighed.  Draco showed her the pictures Snape had taken of the house before the ball and she stared at it, then at her son.  "You looked quite handsome."

"I did," he agreed.  "As did Alex and everyone else I dressed, including Potter.  He took cousin Nymphadora."

"I heard.  I saw a picture of her before she left.  Interesting jewels."

"A pair of jeweled bodice daggers Alex gave him.  Potter gave them to her because she appreciates weapons.  They looked quite suitable, but Alex left fairly early.  He was rather bored since there's no other gay boys at the moment who aren't unpaired."

Narcissa sighed, shaking her head.  "Is he still on that?"

"Yes and I doubt he's changing his mind.  He danced three dances.  Millicent, Tonks, and Granger."

She sighed again, shaking her head.  "Pansy's mother thinks he'll consent to the marriage contract now."

"Considering if she comes anywhere near him again, she's going to lose that necklace he bribed her with?" Draco said dryly.  "The one her mother used to secure the loan on their estate with?"  She looked horrified.  "It was a bribe for her to leave him alone permanently.  I take it she needs to look up the meaning of the word?  I also believe her mother knows that."  He looked over at her when she finally came back.  "What makes you think Alex wants your daughter?"

"She said so."

"He hates her.  He won't speak to her.  He hates all women but especially ones like your daughter and his grandmother."

"She said he gave her a present for the holidays."

"No, I saw his present list.  There wasn't anything in there for her."

"She got some earrings."

"Yes, well, she's been spreading her thighs for a great many people at the school. I'm supposing one of those sent them."

"Draco!" his mother snapped, horrified.

"If the truth hurts, she's doing something wrong," he said simply, leaning back to get comfortable.  "Alex would rather shag Filch than her," he assured the mother.  "He was planning on finding a nice boy to try things out with over this holiday so he's got a boyfriend lined up over the summer holiday."  He stared the mother down.  "Alex no more wants your daughter than I do, Mrs. Parkinson.  She's got a good bloodline but familiarity has bred contempt among some of us.  I know of at least three other boys, one of them a Ravenclaw pureblood, who say they've have her back hole but not her front.  Those are the ones bragging in the halls.  Considering two of them described her birthmarks on her arse cheek?"  He shrugged.  "I'm disinclined to ignore that sort of reputation."

"You will civilize your tongue or be grounded," Narcissa ordered coldly.

"Sorry, mum, I'd rather tell the truth in this case."  He stood up.  "That way she can't get her hopes up.  Any Malfoy wife has to be of the highest quality, disposition, and reputation."  He walked off, going up to his room to sulk over Alex not sharing things with him anymore.  It's like he wanted to dump him as a friend.

***

Alex walked into his vault manager's office, handing over his key. "Just a quick stop to be changed into muggle money."

"Are you finished camping?" he asked, filling out the forms.

"I am.  I'm going hunting."

"Oh, did you find game?" he inquired politely.

"No, I'm going to do that tonight."

"Some dark creature?"

"No, a boyfriend," he admitted.  The goblin looked at him so he grinned. "It's not like they suddenly show up at the school."

"No, I don't believe they would."  He carefully copied down an address from his rolodex.  "Might I suggest this place?  They are of the highest quality."

Alex looked at it.  "A brothel?"  The goblin nodded. "I'll keep it in mind but I want a real boyfriend. Someone to cuddle, that I don't have to pay."

"That is very rare among your class, Alexander," he cautioned.  "That is why marriage and mistress contracts were invented."  Alex grimaced.  "Keep them in mind.  They are very clean and very expensive, but also quite discreet."  He got a nod.  "How much?"

"Enough for a good night on the town.  Say a hundred gold?"  He nodded and wrote that down so he could send someone to get it for him.  It came back already changed over.  He stuffed his bankroll into his pocket, then looked down at himself.  "Do I look okay?"

"I would probably bathe and find fresh clothes," he advised.  Alex beamed and left.  The goblin shook his head.  The young humans he helped were odd. It wasn't often he got called on to give dating tips.  Suitability of marriage partners's finances, but not dating tips.

***

Alex came out of his room, frowning at his elves. "I'll be back tomorrow."

"Wait, you must eat!" Twirly demanded.

"I just ate!"

"You must eat again!"

"Twirly," he snapped. She whimpered and he modulated his tone.  "I love you, Twirly, but I'm a big boy.  I'm going to go find myself a date.  I'll be back tomorrow.  You can feed and spoil me then, when I'm in the bath most of the day.  I'll be back tomorrow probably by lunch."  He walked out, heading down the stairs at a trot.  "Hi, dad.  I'm going to go find a man." His father caught him by the hand, making him look at him.  "What?"

"Where were you?"

"Camping.  As I told Marsette."

"She had no idea.  They were quite worried and you didn't answer any summons."

"Sorry.  I was enjoying that vacation thing.  And now I'm going to go find my ass a man to cuddle with for at least a few hours.  Hopefully longer.  Stay over and I'll be back tomorrow."

"I am your father, do not speak to me that way."

"Dad!  I don't need a chaperone this time!  I'm going to go to a club and get laid if I have my way."  His father looked stunned. "Why is it that everyone but me gets a damn vacation!  This is my vacation and suddenly I'm wanted by the whole damn world to do everything!  Yes, I want to spend time with you but you look really tired too.  I'm still really tired.  Draco interrupted me."

"What's wrong?  You should have liked the ball."

"What good is a bunch of heterosexual people looking to mate with their own kind going to do for me?" he asked sarcastically.  His father looked stunned.  "The only other gay people at Hogwarts are a couple in the sixth year. They're Hufflepuffs.  I'm not breaking up a couple so I can get some ass.  I do deserve to be wanted by someone who wants *me*.  Just me.  Not my vaults, not my knowledge, not my wand.  Just me.  You love me because you're my father and you're worried.  That's why I'm coming back tomorrow.  That and I'll probably need a soak.  This way we both get a night away from people who expect us to be too much for our fragile mortal lives.  Tonight I'm just going to be Alex, slightly slutty and kinky, looking for a nice boy.  You're going to be Severus and sit around and read while my house elves spoil you.  Then tomorrow, we'll come back to being Alex Birmingham and Severus Snape, when everyone and their fucking mother expect us to play roles we've built up over the years. All right?  Can we go with my plan tonight without too much pouting?"

"I do not pout."

"You do pout, you're pouting now."  His father scowled instead.  "See, I told you you were pouting.  Can I go?"  He nodded.  "Thank you.  I'll see you when I get back.  Hopefully with bruised knees and needing a long soak."

"Son, those would be details I should protest."

"Fine.  I won't share with you either.  It's not like I can share with anyone else!"

"Draco doesn't want to know?"

"No.  He couldn't understand why I didn't want to stay around and watch the horny boys try to get the slutty girls.  He's much too het for that."  He walked off, heading for the floo and Diagon.  From there he could exit though the Leaky and be in muggle London.  He had plenty of cash and he could easily find a nice gay club from there.  After all, a few had moved into the neighborhood.

***

Draco came out of the floo late that night, looking around the quiet house.  "Twirly?  Did he come home yet?" he called.

"Alexander has been home and gone again," Marsette answered. "He be home tomorrow to soak his butt."

"What?" he asked, looking amused.

"Hims tell Father that he being coming home with bruised knees and a sore butt."

Draco rolled his eyes.  "That stupid boy," he muttered.  "Where's Severus?  I need to talk to someone intelligent who doesn't nag."

"In library reading."

He headed that way, tapping on the door first.  "My mother's still nagging me about telling Pansy's mother what a slut she is. Want some company?"

"If you wish," he agreed.  "Alex is out getting laid at a bar."

"Wonderful.  Wish I could."

"You are the right age to do that."

"Can't you hear my mother if she found out?  She'd be screaming long after she died of a stroke.  I'd hear her ghost wailing forever that I wasn't finding a wife."

"All young men need stress relief."

"So?  It doesn't matter to her."  He settled in across from him.  "Where did he go?"

"London."  He looked at him.  "He said you didn't understand why he didn't want to stay at the ball either."

"I was as bored as he was.  I knew everyone there and there's no decent conversation there that I haven't heard a million times.  I did hear Miss Lovegood got a new butterbeer cork."

"She showed me," Snape admitted, sounding unimpressed.

"That feeling is why I didn't want to stay.  But would Alex help me not be bored?  No!"  He snorted.  "He decided to go off and play wounded nancy and wander around until he nearly got jumped.  Then when I hear and wait up, he slams into the room to wake me up.  He yelled at me when I tried to talk to him and ran away again."

"You seem to keep misplacing my son," Snape noted sarcastically.  "Did you intend to claim him as your possession?  Perhaps like a security blanket?"  Draco scowled at him.  "What will you do when he's got a serious boyfriend?"

Draco snickered.  "Alex won't be holding onto one person, Professor.  Alex can't figure out what shoes to wear with what outfit.  He's paying lip service to the idea of a boyfriend.  A real one would take effort and caring.  Not just the cuddling and sex he envisions."

"There are many people who aren't looking for an emotional tie, they seem to be more prevalent among young men than women.  He could find one of those."

"Yes, but they're mostly straight men who find slutty little girls who don't mind if they don't cuddle afterward.  Alex would never settle for someone who didn't cuddle and pet him."  He sat up. "He went to muggle London?"  Snape nodded. "Is he totally stupid!"

"He thinks there's almost none like himself here."

"Well, there's not, but if he goes to Paris, there's a whole section of the wizarding part of town with gay little wizards for him."  Snape raised an eyebrow.  "My father warned me."

"I'll advise him of that."  He opened his book back up.  "You never answered.  What will you do when he seriously starts dating.  He said you didn't want any details either."

"None of us in the room want details, Professor.  The same as we don't want to hear each other wanking off, we don't want details of each others' sex lives.  The same as we don't want any from Granger, even if it would fuel a few fantasies of Vincent's if I'm reading him correctly."  Snape grimaced and shuddered, then went back to his reading.  "I'm fine with Alex dating.  Even if I don't want details I'm fine with him dating."

"Really?  He'll have to have someone to talk to.  The same as you will.  If his friends won't he'd have to find a different friend."

"For some reason I just got the image of him and Lovegood chatting about boys over butterbeers at the inn."  Snape reached over to slap him.  "Thank you!"  He shook his head.  "Do you think Alex is avoiding me because of that?"

"I think it's more giving you time to decide if you want to dump him since you can't possibly understand any relationship he'll ever be in and he feels the same," he admitted quietly.  "I also think that Potter is putting him under a great deal of stress."

"No, that's the fact that he knows there'll be an attack and Potter can't cast an unforgivable yet and Alex can't take out a dementor but he could kill a dark lord."  Snape dropped his book.  "One of them will have to.  The prophecy was quite specific.  Longbottom's out, that leaves them.  Potter doesn't want to kill.  He'll hesitate.  Alex and I both see him struggling with that concept.  He keeps hearing his name put as 'that murderer'."  Snape nodded slowly.  "Alex thinks that if they do manage to defeat whatever's going on, the Ministry will try to get him back for outing Fudge and the others by attacking the school more subtly and that he might have to kill someone else next year. Probably to protect everyone from some horrible freak taking over to Defense."  Snape sighed and nodded. "His track record isn't good and he asked Tonks if killing someone who was evil was ethical if it saved the school."  Snape nodded again.  "He thinks it'll happen again next year and he'd have to deal with it at the beginning instead of waiting."

"It's possible.  The Ministry is trying to move to block off Dumbledore."

"They can try, but if they do too much it'll hamper our education."

"Which means those who need the knowledge won't get it," Snape reminded him.  "Most of them don't think Alex is really teaching Potter, just tutoring him.  Him actually teaching him means that their worst fears were realized. There would be no hope of them raising the Dark Lord should those two truly work together."

"They're going to try that then?"  Snape nodded.  "We're sure?"  He nodded again.  "During the third trial?"

"It would be the optimal time," he admitted finally.  "Potter would be alone.  No one could go to him.  He would be free of Alex's influence and couldn't get help from him."

"Is there a way to track a portkey or apparation?"

"Yes," he admitted patiently.  "Aurors can."

"Would Moody know?"  He shrugged.  "We should ask?"

"You'd have to tell him why."

"True," Draco sighed.  Slytherins didn't do anything that openly.

***

Alex knocked on the younger Tonk's door, grinning at her. "It'll only take me a minute."

"How did you find out where I live?"  She blocked him entry.

He held up her earrings.  "Harry asked me to return these since he didn't want to put you in the spotlight by sending them to you at work."  She rolled her eyes and reached for them.  "But I need a major favor anyway, that's why I offered."  He handed them over and she let him in.

"What did you need?  Have to hurt someone else?"

"No.  I need access to a certain class of charms."  She made 'go on' motions.  "I need to know how to track, especially things that were taken by portkey or apparation."

"Those are auror-only spells," she said firmly.

"I'm not suggesting you just hand them over.  I want you to ask your boss.  I think we'll need his help."  She blinked at him.  "When's the perfect time to take Harry from the school, Tonks?"

"Um..."

"The third trial," he supplied.  "Dad thinks I'm right.  The rumors say there's going to be a body raised then.  Harry couldn't have my help while he's in that maze."

"How do you know it's a maze?"

He grinned.  "The rulebook.  It lays out what each trial is supposed to be.  Not exactly but what sort. The last one is to be a puzzle or a maze. I figured we'd do that since we've already had the *really* dangerous one with the dragons."  She groaned, holding her head. "We think he's going to try during the third contest sometime.  It'd be easy to hide a portkey in the maze somewhere.  By doing so...."

"It'd cause panic.  Harry would be alone because you couldn't help him while he's in there," she agreed.  "I get that.  Why you?"

"You know that birthday prophecy?"

"By heart."

"Do you know when my birthday is?"  She slowly shook her head.  "Three days before Harry's.  Mine's the 27th."  She bit down on the swear she started to say.  "It fits him better and I'm admitting that, but," he swallowed.  "Harry can't, Tonks.  Halfrek said it best.  We'd have a few practice runs leading up to the main event.  We can't stop him from competing.  We can't help while he's in there.  We can damn sure get to him if he's taken though.  I intend to be there to back him up. So I either need to learn those charms or I need one of you that *you* trust there to make sure I can go.  And that someone summons the good guys to the right spot and the press gets there first to head off any further action by the Ministry trying to say we're lying."

"That's a really bad plan.  How do you know I'm not a spy?"

"You spend way too much time in the headmaster's office, Tonks," he said dryly.  "You're always up there so either you're *special* to the headmaster in that *special friend* way or you're working for him.  You knew way too much about the situation to react like you had no clue.  You believed me when I said it was Crouch, even though he looked like Moody.  A real auror who had just came in, even knowing me, would have demanded proof or that we wait until he changed back.  You guys are known for demanding evidence first and then jumping.  You're always there just in time.  Besides, we know there's another spy, we're just not sure who yet.  We know it'll happen.  Even Dad said I'm the most right guess he's heard so far."

"I still have to run it by my boss."

"Good!  I want him there!  I trust your boss so far.  He was good during the cleaning.  He's been good to me through all that.  He could have doubted me or tried to arrest me long before now.  But if I'm right this will cut the upcoming war down to a few minor cleanup battles.  Plus whatever the Ministry tries to do to the school."

"So you need me, my mum, or our boss to give you access to those charms," she sighed.  He nodded, looking pleased that she got it.  "Who else?"

"Me, Draco, Harry, Ron.  Greg and Vincent are staying out of it.  Granger can want but she's not going this year.  She'll be a bit too busy protecting Vicktor."  He said the guy's name like he did.  She smiled a bit at that.  "Since you know the plan, if he won't agree, I'm trusting you to help me.  Otherwise I'm going to have to go around you guys and I don't want to do that."

"I know.  I agree, it's a sound theory.  I'll talk to mum and the boss tomorrow, Alex.  Tonight I was going out."

"Cool.  With Harry so I can tease him?"

"No," she snorted.  She looked him over and smiled. "Did you dress up for me?" she teased.

"No, I'm going to go hunt down and catch a boy of my own," he said with a wicked grin.  "Of course, I'm not allowed to share the details with anyone since all my friends are firmly straight and don't want to hear it.  Draco's also pissed that I didn't stay at the ball."

"Why didn't you?  I'd have danced with you again."

"Sweetie, balls like that are het people mating and courting rituals.  Not my sort.  That'd be pity and I hate pity dating and dancing."  She nodded, accepting that.  "So I left and got jumped."  He shrugged.  "Then Draco and I had a fight and I went for a wander before going camping when I got back.  My elves are pouting because I haven't been home to be spoiled."  He grinned.  "I'm off to find a nice gay bar.  You have a nice night.  If you find a nice boy, send him my way please."  He smiled and let himself out, heading to where he had found a nice local gay club.  A wizarding one even.  Of course, when he got there they decided not to let him in because he looked too young.   So he sighed and went to a muggle teen place. Maybe he'd find someone there about his own age.

***

Draco woke up and went to check in Alex's room, finding him lying in his bed, looking like he had a very bad night.  He frowned and crawled in beside him, fingertips gently moving over one bruised cheekbone.  "What happened?"  Alex shifted closer to him, rubbing against his thigh.  "Hey, put that away!" he demanded.

"Why are you in my bed?" he muttered, still half-asleep.  Not even opening his eyes.

"What happened?"

"Bigot.  I protected a few younger kids."  He yawned and moved closer.  "If you don't like my cuddling, then you shouldn't be in here, Draco.  You knew I was gay when you climbed in."

Draco sighed. "I'm fine with you being gay, Alex."

"If you were, you wouldn't complain about me waking up with a stiffie."

"I wasn't. I was complaining that you were using me to work yourself off on."  He tipped his face up.  "You need at least an ice pack."

"Yeah, well, I won."

"You used magic on a muggle?"

"No.  I used my fists and a foot on the muggles.  Plural.  As in gang. Some of the kids said I should have left them alone because they clearly wanted them but were in denial, and some worship me now because I knew what kinky sex was and noted that they didn't seem to want to use the chains for that purpose since they were swinging them at us."  Draco hissed.  "I'm fine.  They're mostly fine.  The cops said I did a good thing.  The Law Enforcement guy said I did fine since I didn't use my wand.  He was impressed and offered me a job."  He yawned and curled up on his friend's stomach.  "I'll soak my bum later."

"What did you do to it?"

"You said you didn't want details."

"Eww.  Off!"

"See, if you were fine with me being gay it wouldn't matter to you."  He flipped over onto his other side, hissing a bit more.

"Were you at least *safe*?"

"I cast a disease spotting spell on my contacts last night," he said patiently.  "I didn't even dance with the guy with the cold.  I'm sure as hell not going to face Sirius down and tell him I fucked up that first night."  He yawned again. "I'm going back to sleep.  If you're staying you're going to be a body pillow."

"Just don't rub anything from anyone else on me, especially not a muggle!" he said in disgust.

"I showered!  God, how much of a slut do you think I am!" he said, kicking him out of the bed.  "Go away.  Go find some straight person and share the horror stories."  He pulled the blanket over his head.

"Alex, I don't mind but I don't want that sort of information."

"If you actually gave a damn about me it wouldn't matter!  Go find some whore and shag her senseless or something."

"You know my mum won't let me."  He stood up, looking down at him.  "Do you need a potion?"

"I only got in an hour ago, Draco.  This is still my vacation.  I'm entitled to sleep in," he said impatiently.  "I can't do that with you making gross faces or anything else.  Go be straight somewhere else until you're my friend again."

"I am your friend."  He climbed back in, staying on top of the covers.  "You wouldn't want to let me cuddle if I just out of some girl's bed."

"Again, I'm not the skank in this pairing. I showered."  Draco swatted him so he slapped him back.  "Go away!  Go be straight somewhere else!"  He pulled the blanket back over him and curled up in a little ball with a hiss.

"I'm getting you a pain potion."  No answer.  "Alex?  Can you stay awake that long?"  He ducked the punch thrown at him and scurried off, finding Snape at the table.  "Did you know your son is bruised?"  He stood up and hurried up there.  "Alex will be up late today," he called. "Bring him soft stuff first."  He headed back up there, finding the door locked.  He took the direct approach and kicked it in.  Snape gave him an odd look before walking in and grabbing his son by the scruff of his furry neck, which made him change back because it was uncomfortable. "He said there were some bigots who came after the muggle boys he was playing with.  He said something about chains.  He said he only hit them.  Everyone said he did a good job."

"Fine.  Get me my bag, Draco."  Draco hurried off.  "Son."  Alex glared at him.  "I'm disappointed."

"For protecting a bunch of kids?"

"For getting into that fight."

"Whine, dad."  He moved his face from the hand.  "I'm fine."

"You're obviously not."  The blanket got moved so he grabbed it, pulling it down.  "Sit up."

"I'm fine, father."

"You're not.  Sit up."  He hauled his son up to look at him.  "Did you drink?"

"No and I cast a disease seeing charm on my contacts too.  I was very safe, father.  I even bathed before coming home, unlike what my friend thinks of me.  Now can I please *sleep*?" he ground out.

"Once you've taken a potion."

"Not everything needs a potion! It's just a few bruises from a fist fight!"  Snape glared at him.  "It is!"

"You'll take it or I'll force it down your throat and then take you to the emergency room."  Draco brought back a pain potion and one to help the boy sleep.  "Thank you.  Very good choices."

"I thought about the blue vial but it'd poison him and I want to keep him."

"You're still straight, that means you can't keep me.   You'd have to sleep with me if you kept me.  I'm apparently a very high maintenance lover. You'd get really bored after a few days."

"Whatever," Draco said, climbing back in with him.  He held Alex's head while his father forced the potions down his throat, then tucked him back in. "I'll stay with him.  Apparently we need to have another of our wonderful talks."  Alex slurred something that sounded like 'I hate you' but passed out afterward.  "We'll figure that out too."

"When he wakes up, put him in the bath, Draco.  Have the house elves feed him soft food. I'm hoping he was smart enough to take other precautions and not have tears."  He stormed out, going to yell at Sirius for what he told his son.  He had obviously forgotten to cover something!

Draco stroked Alex's arms and stomach, keeping him calm so he could sleep.  He glared at his mother when she came in, taking the paper she held out.  He read it and shook his head.

"There wasn't any magic.  It was a fist fight with a gang of bullies. He's got bruises from that."

"Fine."  She checked him over.  "Did you tear him?"

"Mother, I did not have sex with Alex.  Alex went to a gay club, like the paper said.  I'm still straight.  That's why we're fighting this time, because I don't want to hear details."

"Son, if you expect to be able to share things with him, there must be reciprocation.  We all expect it.  Why would he want to stay friends with someone he can't talk to?"

"All of us, mother.  None of us want details of his sex life.  We don't want details of each other's sex life.  I could care less that Greg's found a very nice girl and he's asked her out to lunch next week."  She looked amused.  "He said he was telling his parents."  He looked at Alex, then back at her. "I love him, mother, but not enough to give up breasts.  He doesn't have what I want in a lover.  We're not that close."

"You are, you're simply stubborn."  She left him alone, going to check on Severus.  He was pacing back and forth in the study so she handed him the paper. "Their usual semi-factual account."

He balled it up and tossed it into the fireplace.  "He stopped some bullies from taking on some younger children where he was from what Draco told me," he said coolly.  "I have no idea what got into him."

"He's always done this, Severus.  He used to protect Greg from Draco as well.  Did he at least get rewarded for his gallantry?"  He shuddered.  "I wouldn't do that in front of your son, Severus.  He's already hurting since he can't talk to anyone but Sirius. My son is being hurtful and stupid.  The others refuse to hear anything about his relationships either."

"I'm sure that's because they're doubting themselves or something," he noted snidely.

"No, Draco admitted Greg's found a nice girl and they're not talking about that stuff.  Alex may end up separating himself off from everyone if he doesn't have friends who listen to him.  I doubt my son is seeing that yet."  Sirius came out of the fireplace and dusted himself off. "Your tie is crooked."  He straightened it.  "Better.  He's fine."

"I saw the paper.  Is he really?"

"There were a few bullies."

"And like the stud he is, Alex got his just rewards for protecting the other little boys," he finished blandly, smirking a bit.  "I came so he could brag and I could make sure he remembered to be safe."  Snape went pale.  "I'm sure he did.  He in the bath yet?"

"No, he's asleep.  He was a bit bruised and he only got home a while ago," Snape said quietly.  "Draco is presently trying to be supportive without having to hear anything about the relationship."

"It's only a relationship if it lasts more than one night, Severus.  Then again, your son might have a date from last night."  He shrugged and headed up the stairs to check him over, using his wand to do a checking spell.  "Draco, give him some air, I caught you too."  The boy backed off and he checked him again. "He's fine.  I see he took all the precautions I told him about as well."

"He said he put some sort of disease detecting charm on his contacts."

Sirius smiled.  "I used to do that with my sunglasses when I was playing the field."  He ran the check spell again.  "He's just fine.  A few bruises, a sore rib that's not even bruised, and some apparent nice times.  Did he at least get a date for later this holiday?"  Draco looked horrified.  "Draco, I'm going to give you a word of advice," he said quietly.  "His friends, especially his *best* friend, are going to hear a lot of details they don't want.  The same as yours will.  They'll be hearing about the cuddling, the fights, the makeup sex, the regular sex, techniques, and methods of preparation and positions."  Draco curled up in a little ball.  "At this point in time, you dumping him will seem like a betrayal but if you can't stand his dating and sleeping around that much, I'd do it now instead of later.  At least he'll have time to make many new friends."

"He's my friend!"

"Then you're going to have to get over your reaction, boy."  Sirius grinned.  "A real friend hears it all and only tells him when he's being dumb.  Or dangerous.  Going to a muggle club wasn't a great idea but not too bad considering the only one I knew of was really for older wizards."  He shrugged.  "The way you react to him today will haunt him for a very long time.  You knew he was gay for a while now.  You knew that meant he'd be sleeping with other boys and men.  You knew that some day you'd have to hear about them.  If you're the same friend he had before yesterday, you wouldn't care if he came in covered in sperm and other things as long as he was safe and he had fun."  He straightened up.  "He looks okay.  Have him take a bath later, he'll have some residual soreness.  Tell him it gets easier after that first time and next time he won't be as sore back there. Also get him some juice.  He's getting a cold with the way his throat's sore and he's sniffling in his sleep."

He walked out, repairing the door and closing it behind him.  He was smiling when he rejoined the parents.  "I reamed Draco a new one for his reactions and how he'll be hurting Alex.  Gave him some basic care instructions for later.  He's perfectly fine, Severus.  The worst is the bruise on his cheek and a mildly sore spot on his chest.  He'll be fine. He followed my safety instructions to the letter by what I saw on the checking spell.  Now it's up to Draco to decide what he wants.  I did advise him that dumping him as a friend now if he couldn't handle it would be easier in the long run.  I also reminded him of what a real friend was."  He looked at Narcissa.  "Your boy's a prude, Narcissa.  I don't know why.  You've never been one."  She glared at him.  "Really.  I'd get that boy fixed soon.  He didn't even want to hear about oral sex when I gave him The Talk."  He sent himself back home, laughing once he was safely away.  Remus came in to see what was going on.  "I had to talk to Draco again.  He's mystified and horrified that Alex now has a sex life and that he might share details."

"I remember that for about four days," he sighed, shaking his head.  "Then you tried to kill me while we fought and I realized how stupid I was.  Is Alexander all right?  If so, go remind Harry of a friend's place.  He's another who's going to shy away from him."

Sirius headed up to his godson's room, going to talk with him and make sure he wasn't going to be a prude either.  He sat on the foot of Harry's bed, shaking him gently awake.  "Did I ever tell you about the orgy your dad started in our sixth year?"

"If you continue that story, I'm going to be ill," Harry assured him tiredly, flipping onto his other side.  "I take it someone got some and you're making sure I'm not going to be a prude or hurt Alex?"

"Yeah.  Draco's still not understanding very well."

"I'm wondering if he's got a spell on him.  Those two have been fighting all the time recently."  He yawned and closed his eyes again.  "Hopefully it was good for him.  Maybe he met a nice girl for me to date."

"He went to a gay club, Harry.  The only girls there like other girls or they were boys dressed up as girls," Sirius said dryly.

"Another thought I don't need."

"Tough, kiddo.  Welcome to the real world."

He twirled a finger in the air.  "Yay.  I'll stick with my hand."  Sirius laughed and hugged him then left him alone.  He shook his head, mentally preparing to get assaulted by the images of gay sex thanks to Alex needing someone to talk to.  Draco needed fixed but he wasn't going to get in the middle of that argument.

***

Draco looked down as Alex woke up, giving him a long stare.  "Back among the living?"

"I was living before," he pointed out as he moved, hissing a bit.  "Ow."  He sat up.  "Still scared?"

"No.  Kiss me."

"No!"  He got up, heading for his bathroom.  "You don't want me to do that, Draco.  You don't really want it, you're just proving you're open-minded."  He slammed the door.  By the time he came out, he had a lunch tray with a large glass of juice.  "Thank you," he called.  "I'll take a bath later."  He sat down and pulled his tray up, digging in.  "It wouldn't solve any of your problems to go through with that, Draco.  I'm not turning you out that way."  He ate another bite and glanced at him while he was chewing.  "Anything else you wanted to know?  If not, figure out what I'm wearing on a date tomorrow night."

"You're going out with one of them?  They're muggles!"

"Actually I found a very nice wizard among them and yes, we're going out to dinner tomorrow night."  He finished off that plate of food and gulped the juice before standing up, stretching with a wince of pain.  "I'm going to bathe.  Stay in here and panic if you want."  He walked into the bathroom, slamming the door again.  Someone tapped a few minutes later.  "I'm naked and not in the water yet," he called.  He sank down into the bubbles with another hiss.  "Enter!"  His father walked in with another glass of juice.  "Do you think I'm ill?"

"Sirius Black said you're catching a cold," he said, putting it beside him.  "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine and I've got a date for dinner tomorrow night," he offered with a grin.  "He's a very nice seeming wizard.  A few years older at nineteen."  He picked up his juice and took a long drink, then put it back down.  "If we decide to keep dating after that first one, I'll introduce you during the Easter holiday."  He looked up at his father.  "I feel better now."

"You should.  Do I need to warn you to be careful?"

"Ya know," he said bitterly.  "Draco thought I came home covered in spunk. You think I'm out being a whore.  That's not exactly creating a happy son or friend, or a healthy mental image at this moment in time."

"My father gave me the same lecture."

"Did you resent it?"

"Yes," he admitted.  "It seems to be a rite of passage to hear it."  He shrugged. "I was not going to ask you for that intimate of details.  I don't care if you shagged the whole bar, son.  If you did, I might wonder which side of the family you got it from, as I never could.  Your mother was never like that either."

"Grams didn't have sex after getting pregnant with mum as far as she said," Alex said with a grin.  "I'm a teenage boy, father."

"I know.  As I was saying, I would prefer you not shag an entire bar full of young men, or old men, or a combination of those two," he decided, then shook his head to get back on track.  "I do, however, want you to continue to be safe.  Do it discreetly and do it gently if possible.  I do not need intimate details but you can come ask me questions on ethics and morality.  I would also prefer that you not come home with Draco's issue being reality.  I do not wish to see you like that or with any paramour you might choose."

"But I can talk to you about all the other stuff?" Alex teased.  His father nodded.  "Sure. Do you think that new place in Diagon is a good first date?"

"It could be," he admitted. "I have heard that a number of people from the Ministry and the Daily Prophet seem to enjoy eating there for lunch."

"I'll keep that in mind," he agreed with a shy grin.  "I'll try to be discreet enough to make sure I don't have my name splashed all over the papers."

"I would appreciate that.  That sort of reputation seems to follow you out of your youth until everyone expects you to be that way."  He looked around, then back at his son.  "I'll leave you to bathe.  If you're taking him there, I believe it requires reservations."  He left, going to find Narcissa again.  He had gotten out his speech, even if he had gotten sidetracked with mental images he didn't want or need.  He found her and Draco in the study, curled up on a couch speaking quietly.  "I'll have the elves bring you lunch in here."

"Please," she agreed with a smile.  "How is he?"

"Bathing."  He left, going to talk to the house elves.  Twirly started to cry about Alexander being all grown up and soon she'd have to watch babies, so he had to remind her he liked boys.  She finally quit wailing over that and got back to work when Draco came in and ordered her to stop it.  He looked at his godson.  "He's probably still in the bathtub."

"He is. Would you, um....."  He shook his head.  "Never mind."

"Anything between you would probably be youthful exploration on your part but I will not have my son hurt and I doubt he would give in just to satisfy your curiosity."   Draco nodded at that wisdom.  "Should it be more than exploration I will expect good conduct with my son.  Otherwise I will have to make your mother grieve for a very long time."  He got a piece of fruit and went to the library to gather his book and go back to reading.  His parental duties had been discharged.  He could enjoy the sight of his son trying to figure out how to be a man and date...men.  He hoped.

***

Alex came home early from his date, looking around the house as he hung up his cloak.  He could hear the noise in the kitchen that meant the elves were working on the holiday dinner, but not tell-tale chatter that meant Narcissa or Draco were there.  Or even his father.  He shrugged and went up to his room, finding Draco on his bed.  He nearly sighed in frustration, but Draco had left his hair down and he was in a pair of loose pajama pants.  He was clearly waiting for him.  He coughed, getting his attention from his book.  "Lonely?"

"Yes."  He put his book aside.  "Come tell me how it went?"

"That would be giving you details, which you said you didn't want."  He leaned against the doorframe, watching his best friend's reaction.  Draco actually looked hurt.  "Those were your rules."

"I'm changing them.  Black was right, I can't be your friend if I don't listen to you babble about what a good time you had."

"Mediocre."

"Really?"  Draco's face lit up. "What did he do wrong?  Snogging in public?"

Alex rolled his eyes as he came in, taking off his tie and tossing it on his dressing table.  His robe followed it and then his shirt and pants, leaving him in his flannel boxers.  He laid down on his bed, taking the throw to curl up under since there was a breeze coming from his bathroom.  "Were they bleaching again?"

"No, the window got cracked by a bird.  They had to replace the pane.  It's in there just not anchored and caulked or whatever."  He shifted to face his friend.  "What did he do wrong?"

"He wasn't very interesting.  He liked to talk about his job, which was as a breeder of cats and dogs for familiars, but he wasn't very witty or cute.  Well, he was cute but not witty and it didn't come out in his conversation."

"So he was pretty?"  Alex nodded.  "Do I know him?"

"He's older. Nineteen.  A former Hufflepuff actually."  Draco frowned at that.  "He was nice and sweet, which was what I wanted."

"It's good he was sweet to you, but was it good in bed?"

"I didn't shag him, Draco, I had some other guy at the club that first night."  His face fell. "I went to find someone to teach me and I got one."  He shrugged and shifted but didn't move closer like he usually would.  "We both realized what was going on."

Draco moved closer, snuggling in.  "So, how was it?  Painful?"

"A bit.  That's why you stretch them and use some slick stuff," he offered carefully.

"They make stuff for that?"  Alex nodded, cuddling him.  Draco smiled into the warm chest.  "That's good at least.  You know, there's a nice area in Paris according to my father.  He warned me not to think about going there the last time we went shopping for his clothes there."

"Your father probably knew the area by heart," he teased.

"Possibly.  Mum agreed with that the last time she heard you say it."  He smiled up at him. "I'm sorry I was such a prat."

"Eh. You have those days."  He gave him a squeeze.  "Does this mean you're over your shock and horror that I shag blokes and take it up the ass?"

"You do take it?"

"I found out I rather like it both ways," he admitted happily.  "Feels incredible."

"Maybe someday I'll have you show me."

"You like girls."

"I think."

"You like girls," Alex assured him, patting him on the back.  "You always have liked girls.  You only play at being the poof of Slytherin, love.  Mostly it's the hair.  Speaking of, I need a trim.  This mop is driving me nuts."

"We can do that tomorrow," Draco offered softly.  Alex nodded, smiling down at him.  Draco snuggled back in, liking this.  "Are you sure I like girls?  I've never been this comfortable with a girl."

"You covet girls, Draco.  You, and the rest of the guys in the suite."

"Okay.  How are you going to get on at the school?"

"I don't know.  Someone teased me about blackmailing someone but it's not what I want."  Draco gave him a squeeze.  "Maybe I'll find a nice wizard around our age and he'll transfer in for a year."

"That would be nice. Girls transferred in to be with Potter."  He put a leg over Alex's.

"Being tempting?" he teased.

"You're the one who told me no."

"That's because you don't really want it, Draco."

"No, but I'd rather find that out for myself and the only real way to know is to try it.  That's why you went out and tried it."

"True.  Well, after you've shagged a girl, I might let you try your moves once or twice on me.  By then I'll be desperate."  Draco snorted, pinching him.  "I will be.  Once we get back, I won't be able to have anyone until April this year."

"Plenty of the girls at school will only allow boys up their backsides.  You could...make due."

"Eww.  Why would I want to do that?  I don't want touch girls, Draco, nor do I want to pleasure one.  I never want to pleasure one and I didn't pay attention when Sirius was telling you other boys about that part. I don't want to make due or settle.  I'd rather use my hand."

"There's that bloke they said was in Hogsmeade," he offered, sounding serious.

"He's not into young men. He's into older men.  Unless I go in disguise spell, that won't work either."

"I'm trying to help," Draco defended.

"And I love you for it, Draco.  Just no more bad ideas.  Think up *good* ideas."

"You could shag Potter."

"As we all found out, Harry likes girls.  He's screamed Tonks' name often enough for us all to know that."  Draco nodded that was true.  "Ron still likes Hermione, even though I caught her and Vicktor out fooling around in the snow.  I'm not sure if she told him that or not, but she probably will some day soon.  Don't you tell him either.  She'll know who told you since I'm the one who warned them about teachers being outside."

"They were in the snow?" he asked, looking amused, looking up at his friend.  "When?"

"The ball."  He grinned.  "Vicktor was kinda cute if you ignore the way he walks."

"What other boys have you stared at?  Besides me of course," he teased with a small grin.

"Oliver.  He was kinda hot.  The twins were cute.  They're growing again at the moment so they're not as bulky as they were.  I like boys with nice muscles, but not overly big like Greg.  Then again, Greg likes Amelia."

"Vincent isn't seeing anyone."

"No, but he only likes the little boys like the models I saw on the runway.  He wants an effeminate little boy, which I'm definitely not.  I might see if he wants to fool around now and then if I'm too desperate."

"You're sure he likes boys?"

"He's bi.  He likes them tiny, giggly, and effeminate.   He's drawn to the blushing and giggling."

"When did he tell you this?"

"When you were in detention and we all went down to the Chamber to play truth and dare with Harry."

"Oh."  He shook his head.  "I'm not sure whether I should be upset that I missed that."

"Ron suggested we get together when Harry asked him if he liked girls or boys.  He told Ron what he liked."

"Eww."

"He's got a thing for Lovegood too.  Likes her softness.  He thinks she'll be the kink queen of the school if Ginny Weasley isn't."

"Was I even mentioned?"

"Yup.  Ron thinks Ginny likes you.  He caught her staring at your ass one day in the halls.  She and Lovegood were giggling over how nice it was."  Draco groaned and hid his face and blush.   "Remind me to tell Vinnie he'd love where I went.  There were a bunch of blushing boys."

"Sure.  No one else mentioned me sexually?"

"Ron asked Harry if he ever shagged any guy, who would it be.  He said you because at least you'd make it quick and probably good.  He said I'd cuddle afterward and if he ever tried it he wanted it to be quick and not romantic like that."

"We've got to see them tomorrow," Draco moaned.

"Harry figures Ron already taunted you about that and that's why you were ignoring him again."

"No, I can honestly say I was busy studying."  He shook his head and gave his buddy a squeeze.  "Thank you for turning me down this morning, Alex."

"It was a reaction request, Draco, I understood that.  Though, you might talk to my dad.  He thinks we'll get together."

"You'd have to promise me a mistress," he joked.

"Weasley?"

"No!  Eww!"

Narcissa walked in, smiling at the boys.  "Oooh, how cute!" she said happily.

"I'm still straight, mum."

"Draco, dear, you're as bi as your father and Sirius ever were," she assured him.  Alex snickered into Draco's hair.  "You should show him that, Alexander."

"I don't want to ruin our friendship," he said dryly, giving Draco a squeeze.  "Besides, he likes breasts."

She laughed and patted them both on the head.  "I'm sure he'll get curious some day and it'll come to him that he doesn't mind flatter chests, Alexander."  She shivered.  "That window still isn't fixed?"

"Nearly.  It needs the caulk or whatever," Draco said, yawning a bit.  "Were you heading home, mum?"  She smiled and nodded.  "Be safe in case father comes home tonight."

"Of course I will, son.  You behave as well.  Severus is coming to stay with me tonight."  She walked out, closing the door behind her.  She heard the locking spell be applied and smiled at her son's idea.  Well, at least they were well-suited to each other and Alex did love her son.  Her son was just being stubborn she was sure.  She headed down to the library, smiling at Severus.  "They're talking on Alex's bed," she said with a happy little smile.

"He's back already?"

"I don't think his first date went as well as he had hoped," she admitted.  "They're curled up together so my son has finally gotten over his reluctance to talk about such things."  She took the tin of floo powder from him and headed back to her house.

Severus looked at the house elf waiting to turn off the floos.  "Lock the house tightly tonight.  Let the boys talk and sleep."  She nodded.  "Good, Marsette."  He left, heading after her.  He came out and found Lucius standing there.  "Sorry, she invited me back so we could work on some plans for the summer holidays and Alexander's birthday."

"Whatever," Lucius sneered.  "How is your son?"

"Well enough.  He's getting a bit of a sniffle but otherwise happy and fine.  His grades were what I expected them to be."

"Is he still having problems in Herbology?" Narcissa asked, frowning a bit.  "Maybe I'll pop around tomorrow and give him a bit of a tutorial.  I'm an excellent gardener."

"He does fine feeding and watering, though I'm told he's a bit...generous," Snape said dryly.  "It's the identification and the like.  The same as he is in Potions."

"Ah."  She nodded.  "That can be hard, especially since that is your field. How was his grade in Charms?  I know he's been taking extra lessons."

"As...stimulating as this is, I'm going out with some of the boys tonight, Narcissa. I'll be back late."

"Of course, dear.  I'll leave the main floo port open, shall I?"

He shook his head.  "I'll apparate."

She nodded, watching as he left. Then she shut off the floo.  "The boys?"

"Probably some of the old gang getting together."  He walked her back to her sitting room.  "He got an excellent in Charms and Professor Flitwick praised him on his marks and in person.  He's trying to find something to continue teaching him.  He called him a challenging student who was making him better in his own area."

"Ooh, that's wonderful!" she enthused.  "Maybe he'll take over for him when he retires?"

"Perhaps.  I know he did talk to McGonagall about teaching Defense some year with the disasters he's had to sit through.  Especially Lockhart." He rolled his eyes.  "I don't know what Albus was thinking."

"He was probably the only applicant besides you and you know he *needs* you in Potions, Sev.  You do so well in there."  She sat down, ringing a bell.  "Tea," she ordered the house elf when it appeared.  It disappeared and came back with a tea tray for them.  She fixed his and handed it over with a smile.  "What is he learning from McGonagall?"

"Disguise and things helpful to that.  Moody's working with her. He cornered all three of us to talk to us about that boy.  He thinks he's dangerous.  Alex apparently told him off when he accused you of being a dark wizard and advised him to take a long look at Draco; as he keeps preaching vigilance he's not been paying enough attention.  He thought your son was the poof."

"Many people do," she admitted lightly, flicking back a piece of hair.  "It always shocks them that it's your son."  He nodded, sipping his tea.  "Now, what should we do about Alex's birthday this year?  His holiday gift was fairly difficult for me to find."

"I took Vincent Crabbe's advice and got him a gift certificate for his favorite comic book store."  He put his tea cup aside and got comfortable.  "Do you think they'll arrest Lucius again tonight?"

"I don't know," she admitted.  "That depends on which version of the 'boys' he's going out with.  I know they've got a tracking spell on him.  Nymphadora is watching him and Alex both.  They've got her stretched so thin."

"Hmm.  I'm not sure why they're watching my son this time," he admitted darkly.

"Because they know the dark wants him, Severus.  He's made public declarations about not being on their side and they can't tolerate that from a notable pureblood family.  Especially not with the woman his grandmother was and how his mother got away from Lucius.  Did he turn him over along with Fudge?"

"He's agreed to help Nymphadora beat him now."  He picked up his tea and took another sip.  "What did you get him?"

"Some new music.  I heard some when I went shopping.  One of the muggle born students was humming some and I asked her the name of the band.  She told me where I could find their album.  Draco got him a charmed player for the music."

"Really?  That's a very thoughtful present. I'm sure we'll be seeing it in the suite soon."  She smiled and nodded. "I've yet to convince Twirly that she's sending too many sweets to the school for them," he said, looking exasperated.  "In the last month she's made six pans of brownies, eight cakes, and about twenty types of pie.  Including a mince one for Gregory, which was nice of her, but that's too many.  Not counting the cookies that it seems to rain over there."

"Have any went stale?"

"Yes, and she wailed that they didn't appreciate her or Marsette."

"Ah.  I'll have a talk with her tomorrow.  I'll even remind her of proper nutrition for growing boys."

"Thank you.  He's spoiled those elves horribly."

"They were his only real companions and where he learned how to protect others, Sev.  They love him for that much alone," she said gently.

"I know but he's even gotten frustrated.  They wailed when he came home to clean up before going out that first night.  Twirly was whimpering because she only got to feed him once."

"I'll talk with the dears, make sure they realize that he's a growing boy."

"I did that.  I had to disabuse the notion that they'll have babies to watch," he noted dryly.

She snickered.  "Those poor elves have probably never had to serve a gay wizard, especially not like our Alex."

"Indeed," he sighed, shaking his head, taking another sip of his tea.

***

Severus was woken by a hand going over his mouth.  He glared at the woman doing so, releasing his wand when he figured out who it was.  "What happened?" he ground out.

"Lucius."  She let him sit up, sitting beside him.  "The boys are fine.  Draco got slapped around a bit.  Alex beat the snot out of the intruders.  Masks and all, Severus."  She pushed some hair behind her ear.  "Lucius went to separate the boys.  He was screaming that his son would never see Alex again or else he'd kill his son and make Alex watch, then gut him and let him bleed to death like that in the middle of a field."  His eyes narrowed.  "The house elves had to be taken to St. Mungoes.  They hurt them badly.  I think they were trying to protect the boys.  Alex called us from their fireplace.  He went with them all."  She stood up. "He's back in our office at the moment.  Our boss was not happy to be woken but when he saw the blood and bruises, and the two cuts, and the other stuff on him, he flew into a rage.  I didn't want to wake Narcissa.  She hits," the elder Tonks, Narcissa's sister, admitted.  "Can you wake her and bring her to the office to get Alex, then to the hospital?"

"Of course.  The boys are fine?"

"Just fine," she promised with a smile.  "Alex is still snarling and pacing.  When we got there he went back to the office to wail on Lucius until he begged to be arrested.  Then he handed him over and said we could have him.  He'd just stand there and cheer my daughter on."

"Thank you.  We'll be there soon.  Floo to the Ministry itself?"  She nodded, heading off.  He got up and put back on his clothes, heading down to Narcissa's room.  He tapped loudly then walked in. "Narcissa, Lucius went after the boys to separate them."

She sat up and removed her sleep mask.  "Am I a widow?"

"Nearly.  Alex made him beg to be arrested.  Draco's a bit banged up but fine according to Andromeda."

She swung her feet around.  "Give me five minutes.  I'll meet you at the floo."  He nodded, leaving her to get dressed.  When she met him, her hair was still unbound.  She was wearing robes that on a man would be dueling robes, and she was in practical shoes.  She didn't even have any makeup on.  That's when he knew he was going to witness a homicide.  He followed her to the Ministry and they were escorted up immediately.  Alex launched himself at them, hugging them hard and babbling.  "Dear," she said calmly.  "Stop."  He looked at her and flinched, backing away.  "Where is my former husband?"  He pointed with a shaking hand.  "Good boy.  Go back to the hospital with Severus, dear.  I'll be right there."  She kissed him on the cheek and walked into the office he had pointed at, slamming the door.

Severus walked his son off as the screaming began.  "He is paying, my son."

"She's scarier than I thought," he said quietly.  "I've never seen Auntie as a scary woman, but that was scary.  Her hair wasn't even done. It had tangles!"

"He did the unforgivable thing.  He touched you two."  He took the floo back to the hospital and a nurse rushed out to meet them.  "How are the house elves?"

"The older male one won't make it.  I'm sorry," the nurse told Alex.  He bit his lip and nodded. "The other two will be all right in a few days."  She took his hand and squeezed it.  "Mr. Malfoy is presently ripping my sisters up there a new one.  Might you calm him down a bit, Alexander?"

He grimaced and nodded. "Let me see my elves first.  Dad?"

"I'll come with you."  He walked him back into the house elf ward, going to check on them, soothing them by telling them that they were doing the right thing and they weren't in trouble.  Alex gave each one a hug then he fled up to the next floor to see Draco.  He followed more slowly, hearing the shouting his godson was doing.  It suddenly stopped and he smiled, walking in to find Alex sobbing on him.  "Two of them will be fine," he assured Draco.

"When is my father's execution?"  He stared as his mother came in, eyes wide.  "Mum?"  She nodded, coming over to give them both crushing hugs.  "Mum, your hair has knots."

"Dear, I wasn't about to take the time to do my hair when you're lying here injured."  She looked around.  "I WILL KNOW MY SON'S CONDITION AND SEE HIS DOCTOR WITHIN TWO MINUTES OR ELSE I'M GOING TO HEX EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!" she yelled.  Draco looked even more stunned but she got to work soothing him, helping Alex onto the bed so she could fuss over them both.  "You don't worry about your father, son.  He's just made a fatal mistake," she assured him, stroking away Alex's tears.  "Dear, Gibbon was over three hundred, he was getting ready to pass on anyway.  He would have been happy to go knowing he helped protect you and my son.  He loved you, Alex.  Remember that.  I'll help with the burial."  He nodded, sniffling a bit.  She got him some tissues from the bathroom, coming out to find the doctor standing there with the folder.  "Did you examine them both?"

"I did," he admitted, looking at her.  "Mrs. Malfoy I presume?"  She nodded, looking as regal as ever.  "That's fine.  Where is Alexander's guardian?"

"I didn't even think to call him."

"You can tell my father, he's standing right there," Alex said coldly.  "I am also emancipated so I can make my own damn decisions."

"That's fine," he agreed, looking at the professor.  "Professor Snape, I didn't realize.  It's not listed."  He cleared his throat and looked at the folder again.  "Draco had a hairline fracture in his chin and a broken wrist, plus a dislocated shoulder.  I've already healed all those, Mrs. Malfoy.  I am keeping him overnight to make sure his head doesn't have any other sort of injuries.  Professor, your son has a multitude of bruises, both old and new?"

"He got into a fight at a nightclub when some idiot muggles attacked.  He took them on with his fists."

"Ah. That explains the old ones then.  I've healed all those and the new ones.  He had a broken foot and a sprained wrist as well that I've healed.  He should be fine with some rest."  He looked at the boys, then at them again.  "The three house elves are in varying conditions.  Twirly is in poor condition really.  Someone kicked in part of her skull.  We've fixed it already.  She'll be off duty for at least a month with that injury.  Marsette is mostly bruised.  It looks like they hit her instead of kicking her.  Gibbon probably won't last the night."  Alex started to sniffle again and Draco rolled to hold him.  He smiled at the parents, who only smiled.  "They shouldn't have sexual contact for at least a week.  They're both going to be rather sore and I don't want Mr. Malfoy to do anything strenuous for a few days at least.  No flying for a week."

"Is there a nurse we can hire for my elves?" Alex asked quietly.

"There is," he agreed, handing over a card.  "They've got house elf specialists."   He smiled at him.  "Most people would say to leave them here and come visit often."

"We protected each other when I was younger," Alex said, sounding emotionally dead.  He looked at his father.  "What the nicer Tonks woman didn't tell you was that I had to kill two of the people who were trying to kill us, father."  He grabbed onto the chair next to him.  "One was going to rape Draco to prove he wasn't going to go for boys.  He was taking off his clothes."  Draco gave him a squeeze.  "The other had me at wand point and got to the K in the AK."  He turned pale and Narcissa sat him down.  "I'm presently under house arrest."

"That's fine.  They can't hope to charge you under those circumstances," she said firmly.

"Fudge has supporters, mum," Draco said quietly.

"Not anymore he doesn't," she said firmly.  "You rest here, heal and hold Alex, baby.  Mummy's going to have a long discussion with someone.  Alex, you let me worry about the burial and getting someone in to help with the elves.  Is the house to be sealed?"

"Only for tonight," the younger Tonks said from the doorway.  "Alex, you were cleared.  They gave Lucius Veritassium for a deathbed confession sort of thing.  He stabbed himself."  She looked at her aunt. "Stole mum's boot dagger, the one you got her for Christmas last year."  She shrugged.  "Oh well."

Narcissa cracked a smile.  "You're coming with me to make a statement to the press tonight?"

"If you wish," she agreed.  "That's why they sent me, because I'm the cuter auror of the bunch'a us."  Draco gave her a weak smile.  "You okay, cousin?"  He nodded.  "He okay?"

"He'll be fine.  I'll make sure of it.  Mother, don't overload the house with people."

"Greg and Vincent, Sirius, Remus, Harry, and Ron?" she suggested.  He nodded and Alex burrowed down to be held.  "That's fine.  Severus, stay here.  I'll be back in about an hour."  She walked out with her niece, going to get someone out of bed.  The editor did nicely since she knew where he lived. He used to be a society reporter and she had given him many interviews about the Malfoy events.  She pounded on his door, bringing a house elf.  She pushed past the poor thing.  "Get your master up.  Tell him Narcissa Malfoy is a widow and there's one hell of a story coming.  He's to report it truthfully this time."  She squeaked and disappeared.  He came running down the stairs pulling on a robe, his notepad and quill in hand.  "So help me Merlin if you mess this up I will have you flayed," she warned.  He nodded quickly, leading her into his office so she could sit down.

Tonks followed, looking really amused.  "I thought I got the cranky tendancies from mum," she joked.

"All Black women are forces to be reckoned with," she assured her, smirking a bit evilly.

***

Minerva McGonagall spat her juice when she opened her paper, waving it.  "Oh, dear, those poor boys!" she said angrily.  Flitwick snatched it to read it.  "Tell me something was done so they received justice!" she demanded, trying to get it back from him.

He swatted her hands.  "It says Lucius committed suicide in the office last night by dagger to the lung.  The others...."  He looked at her.  "It says Alex defeated two of them," he said, handing it back.  "Those poor boys."  He looked over as Moody came in.  "Have you seen the paper?"

"That trash rag?  I don't read it."

"This time, Narcissa Malfoy gave a direct interview about Alexander being attacked during the night," she said, turning to catch the last page of the interview.  She and Flitwick shared their meanest smiles.  She handed it to Moony.  "You thought Alexander was too weak because he was gay?"  She stood up and went to wake Dumbledore up even if she had to shake him by his ankles hanging out the window.  She pounded on his door, and he opened it, partially dressed. "You need to see the paper.  Lucius Malfoy is dead.  Alex had to kill two people when he was attacked by a band of death eaters."  Then she gave him that same evil smile.  "The boys are fine."  He hurried down to the Great Hall to take the paper from Moody.  She went back more slowly, considering the situation.  Alex had told her when the last problem was coming.  She walked in. "Finius, what other charms has he asked you for?"

"The head of the aurors wrote me and told me to teach him how to track apparations and portkeys," he told her simply.  "He said it'll be needed from what they've heard."  Moody looked stunned and took the paper back.  "I'll also need to teach him how to apparate."

"Very well. Let me know what I can help you with.  We'll need to include that whole group."  He nodded at that.  "Good.  I didn't see a mention of Crabbe or Goyle?  Did you?"  He shook his head, looking angry.  "Perhaps they weren't there."

"I remember Goyle senior.  He was forced to go along with Lucius.  Crabbe owed him too much not to follow.  Perhaps the boys will be safer?"

"Alexander said they're staying at his house if there's any sort of war," Severus said as he walked in.  He wasn't wearing a robe, just pants and a shirt.  "Minerva, I need the book on house elf burials for Narcissa."  She hugged him.  "They're fine," he assured her, patting her awkwardly. She nodded, summoning the book from her office.  "Thank you.  Draco will be released from the hospital today.  The house elves will have a private mediwitch at the manor until they're better.  Albus, the boys are coming back a week late," he announced.  He walked off, heading back to the manor through the floo.  He ran into Potter, literally, and glared at him.  The boy was still half-asleep from what he could tell so he simply shoved him into a chair and walked back to the kitchen.  He handed over the book.  "Minerva hugged me," he told her.

"She does seem to care for Alexander," she reminded him.  "She's been very good to him as well.  She could have not accepted him for his past.  She's been a great help to him."

He nodded.  "She has.  I told Albus the boys were coming back a week late.  We'll apparate with them to Hogsmeade and walk them up."  He looked over as Crabbe and Goyle walked in.  "How did you get here?"

"Portkey," Goyle said, handing it over.  "We're here to guard Draco and Alex," he told them.  "Where are they?"

"Not back yet, Gregory," she said gently.  "Thank you for your support during this trying time."

"I'm just glad our parents weren't here," Vincent said quietly.  He saw Remus.  "They're here too?"  She nodded.  "That's fine.  Should we go fix Alex's room again?"

"Please, dear.  It's a great mess."  The boys nodded and headed up the back stairs.  She went back to the manor to get one of her house elves.  She couldn't cook and the people in the house would need to eat.  She brought her back.  "The house elves here are injured.  You are here to fill in until they are better.  One will be buried in a few days."  She nodded, looking scared.  "You are not to bother the ones here, just help them when they're brought back with the mediwitch."

"Twinsy help other house elves.  Other house elves were brave and deserve rest to heal."  She looked around.  "Twinsy clean?"

"Clean and cook breakfast, Twinsy," Severus told her.  "Leave Master Alexander's suite to the boys working on it.  Also prepare six rooms, including the twin room."  She nodded, going to do that first and take bags up there.  "Twirly is going to scream at her," he said dryly.

Narcissa smiled.  "I told her before we came back that I'd have one of my house elves in to help out until she was better, then she would be going back to Malfoy Manor.  She was so sore she agreed that one could stand in and she'd just boss her around so Alexander wouldn't be bothered or fed wrong.  We also had the vegetable talk," she said with a small smile.  "I reminded her that vegetables were what made Alexander so strong and able to defend them all.  She agreed to keep it down to a cake, a pie, and all those cookies each month."  He smiled slightly and nodded.

Sirius walked in, slamming open the door.  "What can I do to help?"

"Go help the boys," Severus told him. "We have a house elf from the Malfoy household to help around here until Marsette and Twirly are able."

"Sure. Remus is reshelving the library in frustration.  He thought he heard someone talking about Alex in the Leaky the other day but he wasn't sure so he only called over to warn him to be careful."  He shrugged and headed upstairs to help with the cleanup.  "Why doesn't he take the main suite?" he asked the boys.

"He's always had this room," Greg told him, giving him a faint smile.  "I doubt he'd want that one anyway.  Not with the reminder of her being in it."

"We could always redecorate," he offered.  Vincent shrugged.  "Vinnie, go ask him if he wanted to come back in here.  Sometimes you don't want to go back to where you were traumatized."  He nodded, jogging down to the floo.  "If not, we'll fix up the end suite so he won't recognize it.  I'm pretty good at the house building spells."  Greg looked at him.  "I am.  I helped put the Burrow together."  He shrugged.  "It's still standing.  We can totally transform that room within hours so it's nothing like it was."

"I didn't know you could do that much without physical labor."  He shivered. "There's a chill."

Sirius walked in, walking over some strewn sheets and blankets, looking around.  He found the unglazed window and fixed it, then pulled Greg down to the suite to look it over.  He could teach the boy a lot since he hadn't taught Harry this stuff.  Of course, Harry and Ron would be learning it as soon as Ron got there and Harry finished waking up.

***

Alex came out of the fireplace then turned to help Draco out, waving at the parents.  "Let me tuck him in."

"I can rest on a couch," Draco complained.  Alex took the direct approach, picking him up and carrying him up the stairs.  He noticed Alex hesitated before opening the door to his room.  "We can stay somewhere else," he noted from his inverted position.

Sirius jogged up the stairs.  "I didn't think you'd want to stay in there, Alexander. I took the liberty of redoing the master suite."  He got Draco down and walked him down there, letting him open the new light oak doors.  Alex frowned at him for a moment.  "It gave me, Greg, and Vincent something to do.  Harry and Ron helped too.  Even Hermione when she stopped by.  That's why she didn't stay," he said smugly.  "Your father picked out the furnishings and bought them for you while Narcissa arranged for Lucius' funeral."  He clapped Draco on the back. "I'm sorry, Draco."

"I'm not."  He pushed the door open further, looking inside.  "This is amazing.  It doesn't even look like the same room."

Alex walked in and looked around, mouth open in shock.  What had been cherry paneling and heavy, dark furniture was now done in shades of blue with touches of teal and purple.  The former heavy, leaded windows were now four times the size and very open.  They even opened when Draco tried one.  There was a new balcony and he tested it out before coming back inside and closing that door.  Alex walked into the bathroom and stared in awe.  The bathtub was bigger than the prefect's one at Hogwarts.  He came back out, throwing open the old closet.  It was now on the other wall.  All his clothes were hung up with plenty of room for more.  There was also a second closet that was empty except for some hangers.  He went to his dresser, noticing it was his old one.  "Didn't want to do the underwear?" he teased, smiling a bit.

"Greg suggested we toss them all out," Sirius offered with a smile.  "He thought you'd get over their loss and it might attract you a boyfriend."  Draco frowned at him so he smirked a bit.  "It was just a suggestion, Draco."  Severus came in and forced Draco to the king size bed, tucking him in.  Alex walked over and bounced on it, grinning like a little boy.  "Do you see anything that needs to be done?  The carpet will be here tomorrow."

"No, this is great! I love this!" he said happily, smiling at them.  He got off the bed to hug everyone in the house, then came back to give Sirius and his father another one.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome, kiddo.  You've got to have a proper love nest to bring a lover back to," he said airily, grinning at him and Draco, who was growling again. "No matter who it is."  He ruffled Alex's hair. "You need a trim."

Severus nodded.  "You do."  He put him into the bed and tucked him in as well.  "Stay there.  Draco's elf Twinsy is here to fill in.  Twirly's already talked to her twice about her duties and how to treat you.  We'll be downstairs?"

"You could stay, dad," Alex said quietly.  He nodded, pulling a chair over to sit closer to them.

Sirius smiled. "I'm going to wake Greg, Vinnie, Ron, and Harry.  They wanted to come sleep in front of the door because they wanted to guard you two."  He went to find the boys, who were having a snowball throwing accuracy contest in the backyard.  "They're home and in bed.  Snape's up there with them."  All the boys dropped their snowballs and raced inside to check on their friends.  He walked back inside, finding Molly Weasley in the drawing room, talking quietly with Narcissa.   "Ron just ran up to hug Alex and Draco," he offered.  "I can get him if you need him back."

"No, let him stay until he's a bother," she told him.  "He was swearing when Arthur handed him the paper.  He vowed to kill whoever was left if Tonks didn't," she said dryly.  "Are the boys really all right?"

"Thankfully," Narcissa agreed quietly.  "Thank you, Molly.  I know Lucius was never nice to your family."

"Yes, well, you're not Lucius, Narcissa, and we used to be friends. Anything you need, you just tell me.  I can even take Draco for a few days if you need time alone in the manor."

"He'll probably be here.  Alex hasn't let go of him yet," she admitted with a small smile.  "They're very close."

"So Ron's said.  He says they keep waking up in the same bed."  She shrugged.  "I'm happy if they are. I wish one of my boys could find someone that made them as happy as your son makes Alexander."  She patted her on the hand.  "Come over for tea after the wake, Narcissa.  Don't be alone that day.  You're welcome whenever you need an ear."  She got up and left.  "Send Ron home when he gets annoying."  She went back through the floo.

"She's always been a very nice woman," Sirius noted.

"She has.  Especially after all that Lucius put her family through."  She smiled up at him.  "We should throw a party as soon as it's suitable to celebrate me being a widow."

He grinned.  "I like the way you think, Narci.  Whenever you're ready.  Do you need me to be a messenger?"

"No, Sirius, go play with Remus in the backyard.  Maybe the boys left some snowballs."  He grinned and went to get Remus, dragging him out to play in the snow.  "He'll never fully grow up," she sighed, but she looked pleased.

***

McGonagall opened the doors, smiling and hugging both boys as they trudged up with Professor Snape. "You're all right," she sighed. She pushed them back to look them over.  "You're really all right?"

"Except for the hangover where they celebrated the funeral last night," Snape offered, stiffening when she gave him a hug of his own. "Thank you.  Let go."  She chuckled and let him go.  "Let me put them back in their room."

"Of course.  The Headmaster said they could take today off to unpack and rejoin everyone at dinner since it's nearly lunch."  She closed the door once they were inside.  "Everything should be as you left it, with the exception of that cake and that plate of cookies.  I'm afraid the elves ate those."

"That's fine. Marsette is sending more tomorrow," Alex said lightly, grinning at Draco.  "Let's go unpack."

"Sure."  He nodded politely at the teachers.  "Thank you for your kind words after the funeral."  He walked off, following Alex up to their suite.  He walked in and sniffed.  "Someone really cleaned."

"Twinsy," Alex offered.  "She was worried so Narcissa sent her over."  He headed to his room, leaving the door open.  A few minutes later someone came in and gave him a hug.  "Are you okay, Draco?" he asked quietly, turning to look at him.  Then he screamed, pushing Pansy away.   "Get out!"

"No!  You're mine, Alex.  All mine," she said smugly.  "Mum's going to fight to reinstate the marriage contract."

Draco walked in and grabbed her by the hair.  "Too late, my mother's already filled one out for us."  He forced her to the door and shoved her out, right into Flitwicks' arms.  "She came in and hugged Alex then claimed he was hers."

Alex came out and hugged Draco. "His mother gave me her greatest treasure," he said with a happy grin.  "I might give him a mistress now and then, but otherwise consider Draco and I off the market."  She shrieked and stomped off.  He glared after her, letting Draco go.  "I'll go along with whatever you want," he hissed just loud enough for the teacher and Draco to hear.

Flitwick smiled.  "At least you're all right, boys.  I'll tell Severus about her claims?"  They nodded.  "Very well then.  Alexander, you have a new set of charms to learn sitting on my desk.  Come down tonight with everyone."  He smiled and walked off, going to floo the Potions's office.  "Severus, I hear congratulations are in order.  Mr.  Malfoy just had to tell Miss Parkinson about the new marriage contract since she walked in and pounced your son."

He raised an eyebrow.  "Really?"  He sneered a bit.  "How very nice of her to show her concern."

"She told Alex, quite loudly because I heard it through the portrait, that her mother is having her contract reinstated, that's why he had to tell her.  They are quite cute when they cuddle."

He nodded. "I have to register the contract, but they are working out the details.  A tentative agreement is in place."  He smiled.  "Thank you for letting me know it's now common knowledge."  Flitwick smirked and signed off.  He went up to the boys' room, frowning at them.  "She did what?"

"She walked in and hugged Alex," Draco said coldly. "She said her mum's having the old contract reinstated.  I had to tell her something."

"True," he admitted.  "We'll have a tentative contract registered by tomorrow."  Alex looked out at him, coming into the main room, still folding the shirt he was carrying.  "Does that bother you?"

"No," he admitted, shrugging a bit.  "I'm good with that.  All the way if I have to be.  Draco's the squeamish one about boys."

"I'll be fine, Alex.  Just remember that you've promised me a mistress if and when we get married some year."

"Sure.  I'll pick you out someone with a nice rack and good legs."  He went back into his room.  "Don't shock Auntie Narcissa, dad."

"I won't, son."  He went back to his office to call her.  "Narcissa, sit down."  She slowly sat down, her head changed angles.  "Pansy Parkinson just tried to pounce Alex and told him her mother is reinstating the marriage contract.  Your son thoughtfully told her about the tentative agreement we'll have to register tomorrow.  Your son wanted you reminded that Alex promised him a mistress some day if they made it through the negotiations."

"I'll have one drawn up tonight," she assured him. "Thank you for the warning.  Did my son agree?"

"He's the one who told her and Alex said he wouldn't mind as long as the contract was fair to your son.  He didn't specify anything about the wedding or the honeymoon but he said he was only worried about Draco's reaction to spending that time together.  That's why

Draco wanted you reminded of the mistress clause."

"Of course," she agreed more quickly.  "I'll have it for you after dinner, Severus."  She smiled and hung up, then said a few choice swears, which made her sister, brother, and niece all giggle.  "Parkinson," she growled.  She picked up the floo powder, throwing in a handful.  "Gringotts, Personal Vault Division."  His head spun into being.  "We have to work out a tentative marriage contract between my son and Alexander Birmingham."

"I have just the thing you'd want.  I noticed they were quite close," he admitted, bringing it to her.  He nodded at the others.  "Were there any particular clauses you wanted?"

"Draco wants a mistress clause."

"We have one of those standard in some same-sex contracts," he admitted, snapping his fingers to amend it.  "Are you going to bind them?"

"No, that slut Parkinson is trying to reinstate the old contract with Alexander," she said grimly.  She read back over a section.  "What's this?" she asked, pointing at it.

"A penalty for breaking it."

"Don't worry about that.  It'll stay tentative until one month after graduation and then we'll either vacate it or make it formal."  He snapped and that clause disappeared.  She looked at some numbers.  "Alexander has more money than we do?"

"After the rebuilding, yes.  You were almost even until then," he admitted.  She nodded, continuing on.  "Did you want to specify grandchildren?  They are the last of the lines."

"No more than three but not required," she noted.  That clause was changed.  She continued on, smiling at the last one.  "A fidelity clause.  Mine was missing that."

"It wasn't," he assured her, going back through the floo and coming back with her marriage contract. "It's the last clause.  It's in very small print."  He handed her a magnifying glass. "His father put it in there, expecting you to have to enact it."

"If I had known I could kill him legally for that, I would have done it when Draco was three," she noted dryly, handing that and the glass back.  She signed the one for the boys.  "Here.  Take that to Severus Snape. He's Alex's father.  He can find Mr. Potter to sign as his guardian as well."  The goblin nodded and left.  She relaxed, looking at her relatives.  "I'm going to get that cow."

"Draco handed me this," Sirius said, pulling something out of his wallet.  "He thought I was mean enough to enforce it if something happened or that I would give it to Snape.  I never got around to it."

She unfolded it and smiled.  Then she cackled her most evil cackle and called the banker back, handing it to him.  "Pansy just jumped my future son-in-law while telling him that their marriage contract was being reinstated."

"I'll enforce it and send that piece on to be cleaned of the curse," he agreed, bowing cordially and disappearing again to explain that contract to everyone involved.

***

Alex sat down at the Gyrffindor table that night and looked at Ron.  "Don't freak."  He put down his fork and chewed the food in his mouth as fast as he could, swallowing it too.  "Pansy wanted the old marriage contract to be reinstated so Auntie Narcissa had to register our temporary marriage contract."  Ron choked anyway.

"It's well written," Harry said, clapping him on the back.  "I didn't know you could specify a mistress that carefully."

"How carefully?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"Blonde or brunette, no redheads because Draco doesn't like them," Harry told her.  "At least a 36-B chest.  She has to be between five-three and five-ten.  Graduated an accredited magical education institution, preferably near the top of her class.  Be of a suitable bloodline.  He has final approval and can vacate the rules if no one suitable is readily available and he gets a new one every five years."

Hermione gaped.  "That's barbaric!"

"No, that's pureblood wizarding marriage contracts," Ron said with a bright grin.  "Just a temporary one?"

"The final draft won't be registered until one month after we graduate," he said with a grin for him.  "Dad laughed when he read the amendments and his mother just kissed him on the cheek and said he had good taste in mistresses.  Then she pointed at the fidelity clause that said it was me, his mistress, his hand, or else."  The guys laughed at that and Hermione scowled.  "Granger, I saw my Grandmother's for my mum if she was going to marry dad.  She got down into what sexual aids and helpers were allowed, by name and description.  There's nothing that's not covered in those things so there's no dispute if the marriage is broken.  Ours includes the allowable number of grandchildren if we have any.  It has widow's stipend and alimony both.  Hell, Draco has to take me shopping at least once a year and buy all my clothes, jewelry, and shoes.  In the lawbooks I was forced to read was one of just marriage contract examples.  That's an individual class.  Some of the examples had what sort of lingerie she'd wear on the honeymoon and what sort she could wear after that, or the marriage could be broken and she'd be at fault."

"My mum and dad's had fidelity and support clauses but they didn't need to get that specific," Ron admitted, picking up his fork again.  "Did yours go into helpers and positions?"

"No, just that Draco expected sex at least once a month.  That's standard though."  She was still looking horrified.  "You get to fill out one when you marry too, even if you end up marrying a muggle.  It's got to be registered with Gringotts and the Ministry.  It's got to list any and all assets both parties have.  It'll cover every single topic.  Ours even states that if one of us has to cook, it's Draco because I can't cook.  The contract states I can't cook and am not allowed to cook unless I'm spoiling him.  In that language."  She swayed.  "Ours is fairly short by comparison to some.  Auntie's was thirty pages.  Greg's present stepmum's one was a hundred and eighty so his dad could outline things he would not put up with in his present wife.  Our is only seven.  Yours, since you're not pureblood and not rich, should probably be about three or four.  It's considered a necessity to be so firm and cover everything because they don't want to leave anything to chance, nothing that could lead to lack of protection for either family or any offspring.  It's considered protecting the couple."

"My mum's stated how often her mother-in-law could come visit and her own mum too," Ron said before eating a bite.

"Even the muggle borns have to do that?" Seamus asked.  Alex nodded.  "Even if we don't have a vault or anything?"  Harry nodded.  "Why?"

"Because divorce in the wizarding society is very difficult to get.  You can't without a contract and proof that something was broken in it unless you can prove abuse.  The wizarding divorce laws were written back during Victorian times to standardize the contracts.  If a contract is broken, you go and report it to the Ministry and they vacate the marriage.  No judges, no custody disputes, nothing.  Because everything is in that contract.  It's required to register a marriage."

One of the seventh year females nodded.  "You'll get a small lecture on those right before you go home for the holidays in your seventh year, Seamus.  Before you get home, a letter's already there for your parents' understanding.  It's the law to have one if you're a practicing witch or wizard."  She looked at Hermione.  "If you register in the muggle way that's fine, but if you don't register a contract, you're not legally married in the wizarding world.  Which leads to a lot of problems.  Everything from reputation problems to employers aren't required to hire you if they find out you've done it since it's illegal."

"That's still barbaric!" Granger complained.

"No, it's for your own protection," Ron told her.  "That way you have a set of boundaries around your relationship.  It gives you less to fight about and all that stuff too.  You can't come back in ten months and moan that you didn't know what you're getting into."

"Or the incompatibility excuse," Harry added.  "That's a big one in the muggle world."  Hermione frowned at him.  "It's quaint but it is really for protection.  You've heard stories about horrible divorces.  It can't happen this way.  Think about a couple of wizards having one of those bitter custody disputes you hear about in the media, Hermione.  We could destroy towns if we got into those."  She shuddered, curling up some. "It's considered protection for everyone.  By spelling everything out, including the sex stuff, your spouse will know what not to ask you for."

"Narcissa's told Lucius not to expect oral sex," Alex admitted dryly. He grinned at her.  "Really, it's for your own protection.  It's like a prenuptial, Granger.  Only a very explicit one."

"That's still barbaric!"

"Imagine what would happen if Narissa and Lucius had divorced," Ron told her.  "Without the contract, they'd have been fighting over every little thing, down to the last brass knut of the family fortune. Fighting over Draco.  Fighting over Draco's friends being allowed to visit.  What books he could read and what music he could listen to.  His dad was that vindictive and it would have gotten messy.  If there had been a vacated marriage due to the contract being broken, it would have been done within an afternoon, quietly, calmly, and no hurting anyone else, including Draco."

"There was a clause in hers that said she could have killed him for cheating on her," Alex told him.

"Mum has one of those," he agreed. "Hers listed the humane methods she's allowed to use."  Hermione whimpered.  "This way you have a base for any arguments."

"The goblin that explained it to me said that it could be renegotiated if both sides of the couple wanted," Harry told her.  Alex nodded.  "Alex has a temporary one so they can figure out any special clauses that might be needed after they've been together for a while."

"I've got to find Draco a mistress within the year," he admitted, looking around.  "There's no one here.  That means I'm going to have to interview and set her up in town."

Hermione let out a wordless shriek and stomped off.

Alex snickered. "She'll understand some day. Especially if she stays with Vicktor."  Ron nodded, eating a bite of meat, winking at him.  "I'm very generous to him.  If I have the marriage vacated, I give him the villa in Italy and a hundred gold a week for the rest of his life."

"What happens if you go broke?" Ginny asked.

"When you get the marriage vacated all that stuff is looked at and the support dictated is set into a special vault and doled out into the spouse's vault.  If you can't afford it, it's renegotiated on the spot.  That's what usually takes most of the afternoon, any renegotiations of support and additional furnishings and things that have appeared since the marriage."  She nodded wisely.  "It's also a built-in will.  Which means I don't have to make one now," he said happily.  "Speaking of, Ron.  I need to see your mother."  He raised an eyebrow.  "I have a lovely necklace that would look wonderful on her."

"You're still giving away that stuff?" Harry asked.

"It's nasty, Harry.  It's not my sort of thing even if I had a person to give it to.  It's all old fashioned and I don't know anyone who would look nice in it.  Ron's mum is one of the few who could pull off this necklace I have in mind.  McGonagall's getting a few pieces too.  Besides, what am I going to do with is?  Anything left will be remade if I end up having a daughter."  He pulled over food and dished stuff out.  "I've got half a small vault full of jewelry that was cleaned up."

"I thought the list was only a few pages long," Harry said, frowning a bit.

"No, that was the cursed stuff, not the other stuff.  There's *family* jewelry too. Narcissa and I agreed about some of those pieces."

"I'm not sure our mum won't fuss," Ron told him.

"Do I care?" he asked, shrugging.  "Really?"

He nodded, leaving it there.  Ron could be amused for months watching his mother fuss about it.

***

Alex smiled at Molly Weasley when she walked into the suite.  "Come sit, Molly."  She sat down and he walked into his room, coming back with a black leather case.  He handed it to her.  "Unfortunately by the dictates of the curse I have to name it 'charity'," he said, doing the finger quotes, "but I want you to have this.  It's all older stuff and Narcissa and I agreed it'd look good on you.  You can do anything you want with it but I can only give it away in that sense or as a bribe and I couldn't figure out anything to bribe you for.  Therefore I have to name it that way but it's not really."  He kissed her on the cheek and sat back down, opening his notes to go back through them.  "You can look."

She undid the latches, looking at the pieces lying on the velvet.  "They're beautiful, Alexander.  Are you sure?"

"Who would I give them to, Mrs. Weasley?  Draco would look really horrible in them."  She giggled at that.  "I don't care if you have some of them reformed or anything.  I won't make any conditions on it, but I can only give it away in those two instances."

"That's fine, dear.  I understand fully."  She closed it, stroking the top.  "Ginny will look wonderful when she finally marries."

He grinned at her.  "I got to tell Hermione about marriage contracts."  She snorted, shaking her head fondly.  "She stomped out ranting about how barbaric it was."

"How did your temporary one go?"

"Seven pages," he said fondly.  He grinned at her.  "There's a very detailed mistress clause.  I've got a year to find him one from this point."  She giggled again, stroking the case.  "Do something with those.  I've got half a vault of really old jewelry from about ten generations ago.  Speaking of old stuff," he said, pointing at the fireplace.  "Twirly?"  She came across, staring at him. "Did you ever look at those old gowns we found in the attic?"  She nodded quickly, smiling.  "Are they in good shape?"

"One is and would look good on Little Missis Weazy."

"That's what I was thinking.  Bring it for her mother, dear."  She nodded, going to get it and bring it back.  She handed over the bag and handed him some juice.  "Thanks, Twirly.  How's your head?"  She smiled and patted him before going home and the floo cut off.  "I can't wear it and it's another thing Draco would look horrible in.  That way you can find Ginny a nice young man."  She looked and squealed, then zipped it back up.  "I know, but that was the fashion of the day.  I'm sure it can be modified to cover her breasts instead of baring them."  He shrugged.  A book came flying out of the fireplace.  "Ah, she found it."  He floated it over with his wand.  "Granger!" he yelled.  She stomped over, glaring at him.  He handed it to her.  "That book on marriage contracts.  It explains it even better and has a lot of examples."  He looked at Molly, grinning at her.  "Shoo, go coo over your kids."  She smiled and kissed him on the cheek before leaving with those things.  He looked at Granger. "You shoo too."  She walked off, taking the book to look over.

McGonagall came in fifty minutes later, pointing down the hall.  "Why is she looking at marriage contracts?  Is she that serious about Mr. Krum?"

"No, she was horrified by them, called it barbaric," he said with a grin.  He flicked his wand.  "Accio McGonagall's bribe."  A small case appeared and he handed it over.  "For an extra point on my next non-practical test.  After all, I can only give them away as charity or bribes," he said with a grin. "You're under no obligation to do so however."  He went back to his reading.  "This doesn't sound that hard."

"It's not really."  She opened the case, staring at it.  "This is...."  She looked at him.  "Are you sure?"

"Can you imagine Draco wearing it?" he asked dryly.  "I'm reducing my taxes this year."  He gave her a dry, bland look he had learned off his father.  "Find something pretty for the next ball or something, Professor."  Draco and Harry walked in arguing.  He zapped them both.  "No arguing.  There's a truce in place."

"Why is Hermione reading up on marriage contracts?" Harry asked, looking nearly fearful.  "Draco said she's writing her own?"

"I gave her the book so she'd have something to rant over instead of the mistress clause in mine."

"It nearly caused me chest pains too," she assured him, giving him a pat.  "Are you *certain*, Alexander."  She showed them to Draco.

"I thought you were giving her the rubies."

"I gave those to Molly since there's so many Gryffs in her family.  Oh, go get the blue box from my dresser, professor."  He turned the page.  "That's your holiday present and it was running late."

She walked in there and came back with a carved gold and ruby Gryffindor lion cloak pin, sniffling.  "I love this, Alexander.  Thank you."  She hugged him and walked out, going to try it on her favorite cloak.  She might need a new one to go with it.

"I liked her present," Draco noted. "I'm glad you argued me out of the other one."

"Me too," Alex admitted with a small grin.  "This apparation stuff seems pretty easy.  We'll have to practice this weekend."

"Sure, Alex," Harry agreed, sitting down on the other end of the couch Draco was on.  "Have you started interviewing mistresses?"  He nodded.  "Any luck?" he teased.  Alex nodded.

"Really?" Draco asked smugly.  "Is she pretty?"

"Very.  I got a recommendation in that letter earlier from our vault manager.  Including a profile from the agency she works for."  He pointed at it on the table.  Draco grabbed it and got comfortable to read it, chuckling now and then.  "If you like her, he can set up an interview next weekend and we can find her a suitable spot to live our next time in town."  He turned the page.  Then he put down the notes.  "I need to try that before going further."

Draco grinned at him.  "I like the sound of her.  Thank you, Alex."

He blew a kiss. "Anything for you, honey.  Does this mean I get cuddles tonight?"

"If I must," Draco sighed with a grin. "At least you're warm at the moment and I don't have to worry about needing more covers.  My windows have a draft."

"That's another thing about my windows being small.  Less area to leak air," Alex said fondly.  "What's for dinner?"  He picked up his juice and sipped it, snickering when he heard the girlish squeal in the hall.  "Harry, go head Ginny off."  He got up, going to hug and dance around with her so she'd leave them alone.  "So, dear, anything special tonight or just cuddles?"

"I wouldn't mind a kiss," he offered, smirking a bit at him when Alex blew one. "A real one, Alex."  Alex got up and came over to kiss him, and somehow they ended up with him on his back, hands tangled in each other's hair, out of breath.  "Wow," Draco moaned.

"More than I wanted to know," Greg said as he came in.

"He wanted a kiss," Alex said, grinning down at his boyfriend.  He gave him a shorter one and then had to get up and try to straighten out his hair.  "Isn't it nearly dinner?"  Draco let out a small moan.  "Draco?  Food?"

"I'll need some," he agreed weakly. "No wonder my mother wanted me to wait a few more months until the summer holidays."  Greg snickered from his doorway.  "You, shut it."

"Sure, Draco."  Greg came over and lifted him up, dusting him off and straightening him up.  "You need to fix your hair."  He looked at Alex.  "You too, tart boy."  He headed out, smiling at Harry.  "Draco wanted a kiss.  You managed to miss it."

"I bet it was hot," Ginny said, sounding like she was ready to purr.

"Ginny!" Ron said from out there, sounding outraged.

Alex walked out with Draco, kissing him again for her benefit.  Then he helped Draco straighten out his hair on the way to the Great Hall.  By then Draco had even quit blushing.  It was the curse of being so pale.  Alex noticed Ginny hadn't followed them down and smirked a bit at Harry when he sat across from him.  "She not eating?"

"Nope," he said fondly.  He looked around.  "Looks like Dean's not eating either."  They shared a smirk.

"Did you have to do that?" Ron complained as he came in and sat down.  "I knew she was a perv but really!"

"I liked it," Draco called.  "Ignore him, Alex."

"Sure."  He grinned at Ron.  "At least she's being a semi-good girl sometimes."  Ron choked and spluttered, ending up leaving the hall to calm down.

***

Epilogue: The third trial:

Draco appeared in the cemetery with both Tonks, two reporters from good places, not the Prophet, and looked around at all the frozen bodies.  "Alex?  Potter!" he yelled, starting to move.  Both aurors stopped him and pulled their wands, heading over to check bodies. They found Harry fighting with someone and Alex hexing the person he was fighting with.  Alex turned and hit the person Harry was fighting with, making him scream and fall down.  Harry cast the Crucio, Alex cast the Avada Kedavra, and it was over.  They leaned on each other, letting the aurors lead them away.

Tonks called for some backup, noting it was a battle, there were bodies, and some were still alive. Then she went to debrief the boys.  Her mother started to bind bad guys.  The reporters took pictures, including one of Draco hugging Alex as hard as he could and whispering to him, which looked romantic, and Harry getting his own hug from the couple.  More aurors appeared and started the clean up process.  The boys were taken back to the school by the younger Tonks, and everyone there burst into applause.  She looked at the Headmaster. "He's dead."  She looked at Cedric's body, then at him.  "Harry said he was dead almost as soon as they appeared and he was bound."  He sat down suddenly.

"McGonagall!" she shouted.  She hurried over, checking on the students, then looking at the body. She broke down crying and the nurse came rushing down as well with a few stretchers floating behind her.  Tonks looked at the reporters.  "Back, you vultures!  You'll get a full statement in a minute!  Let's clear out the wounded and dead."  They took a few steps back because Hagrid came down to make sure of it.  She tipped Harry's head up.  "You did good," she promised quietly.  "It was necessary and you never have to do it again."  He nodded, bursting out crying in McGonagall's arms.  She led the students away with Poppy's help.  Tonks nodded Snape to take the headmaster and she stepped forward. "I'm not the information person at the ministry. I'm Nymphadora Tonks, auror."

Everyone started to write.  "We responded to a call from Mr. Draco Malfoy approximately twenty minutes ago.  He was responding to the incident with the portkey.  When we got there, two of the three missing students were engaged in a battle with death eaters."  That got a massive gasp and a lot of eyes staring at her.  "As we got there, Harry Potter cast the curse that killed Voldemort, who had been raised tonight while he had Mr. Potter captured.  Mr. Alexander Birmingham assisted in the battle by taking on the various death eaters while Mr. Potter and Voldemort battled.  Myself and another auror appeared with two reporters who grabbed onto us at the wrong moment.  They have pictures of the battle and you may ask them for them."  That got more scratching quills and a long look around to see who was missing from the group.  "At this time, a fuller report is being completed and you can wait back at the Ministry for it."

"Who died!" someone called.

"It'd be cruel to tell you before we notify their relatives," she said coldly.  "I wouldn't want it done to mine!  I'm not doing it to another's!"  That got taken down verbatim.  "You'll find out later from the real information manager.  Now, head off, you lot."  They ran off, going to file their preliminary reports and tell their Ministry reporters to be ready for a briefing from someone.  She shook her head.  "Vultures," she said dryly.  Alex and Harry had agreed to the story already.  Harry would get the credit for the kill so no one would be as scared of Alex as Harry and Harry was going to play professional quidditch, which was harmless and people would ease up around him soon enough.  She sent herself back to the Ministry to be debriefed by the information person, who had the reporters already.

She grabbed both their chins.  "Harry Potter killed him," she said firmly.  They looked stunned.  "Alex said so, ladies.  Harry's planning on playing quidditch and no one's gonna be scared of him.  Alex is tired of being looked at funny for being powerful.  So Harry killed 'im."  They nodded, taking that down.  The information minister glared at her.  She got to do what she had always wanted to do, knocking him out.  "I feel better now," she told her boss.  "Have them make the report.  It'll be more factual."  She wandered off, going to get a cup of coffee and some candy.  She deserved it.  It had been nail-biting watching the kids leave and then waiting on Draco to find her. She handed her mother one when she was led back for her debriefing.  "Harry killed him," she told her.

"So Draco told me," she agreed.  "Very nice of him, I've got to admit."  She sipped her coffee and broke open her candybar.  "No reporters?"

"They're going to do the briefing.  The information slut's on the ground."  She held up her hand.  "He's got a really strong jaw."  Her mother giggled and kissed her bruises like she had when she was a little girl.  "Who's telling the poor boy's parents?"

"McGonagall.  They were there watching," she said sadly.  Her daughter nodded, accepting that.  They went to be debriefed by their boss, snickering at the questions the reporters were giving to their own people.  "How many are we keepin', boss?" Andromeda asked.

"All of them.  Where are those boys?"

"Hogwarts, where they're supposed to be," Nymphadora reminded him with a small smirk.  "You heard what I told them, you can list it however in the private files."  He nodded, smirking a bit at that.  "Alex said he wants to be a foster parent by the way.  Once he graduates."

"Bet he's gonna be cuddled tonight," her mother suggested, winking at her daughter.

"If I was Draco, I'd never let Alex dress," her daughter said smugly.  "He's a cute boy.  Harry's cuter though."  She grinned at her mum.  "You mind?"

"No, dear, he's too young for me.  If he likes you, tie him up and have fun."

Their boss groaned and shook his head.  "Ladies," he whined.  "Not now!  Not with reporters in the building!"

"Fine," they sighed, shaking their heads as they sat down to get with the reporting in.

***

Ron looked up from his reading, smiling at the guys coming out of their rooms.  "Tonks wrote, Harry. She wanted to know if you'd take her out this summer.  Draco, she said she's surprised Alexander is allowed to wear clothes and allowed out of bed."  He handed the blushing Harry the letter.  It included what had been told to the press by the reporters Draco had brought with them 'by accident'.

Harry looked up.  "She did say that, Draco."  He went back to his reading, moving so the house elf could put down breakfast.  They were grounded to the suite, just in case someone wanted to try something.  He had spent a few hours last night with Cedric's parents. Alex had too.  They had left with their son probably around dawn to escape notice. The judges had awarded the money to Cedric's parents but they had shoved it at Harry before they left the room they had been talking in.  It was under his bed at the moment.  Alex had spent all night on Draco's chest being comforted.  Harry had spent all night being sick in the bathroom.  That's why he didn't do more than sip some tea once the house elf had left.  He handed the letter back to Ron, deciding to write her later. He did like her.  She was the reason Ron had handed him the silencing charm.  He looked around.  "Now what?" he sighed.

"I'm all for hiding," Ron told him seriously.  "Dumbledore sent down a letter saying he banished the reporters so the Diggories could leave with dignity. He said we're staying in here until our next test."

"Which is today," Alex pointed out dryly.  "In Potions."  He pulled his wand and summoned a house elf, writing out a note.  "Give that to the headmaster," he ordered with a small smile.  "Can you bring some milk and some more tea too?"  She nodded, disappearing.  Someone knocked on the door a few moments later.  "It might be open," he called.  His father walked in after a few tries.  "It figures he locked us in here."

"Yes, until your next Transfiguration test."

"That's in two bloody weeks," Ron complained. "How are we supposed to pass the term tests!"

"Miss Granger is making all of you notes," he told him.  He looked at his son, then at Potter.  "She said usually she gets rewarded?"

"Must be time for her potion then," Ron said dryly.  Snape looked at him. "If we don't make the stupid girl potion she won't and then she'll make our lives a living hell," he complained.  "It may be the only one I can do, but I do it bloody well!"

Draco nodded.  "It's necessary," he assured him.  "I knew they were giving it to her back in the second year.  We noticed when she needed it and stayed away from her during those times."

"I wondered about that," Harry said dryly, continuing to sip his tea.  The house elf brought more milk and tea.  "Thank you."  She nodded and disappeared.  "What're we doing for these two weeks, sir?"

"We really don't care as long as the school is allowed time to calm down and settle itself again," he told him.  "Dumbledore's words.  Personally I believe you should study, Mr. Potter.  Your grades seem a bit deflated this year."

"Gee, I wonder why," he said dryly.  He finished his tea and poured himself some more.  "Guys, eat."

"I'm not hungry," Alex complained.  Draco made him a plate and handed it to him. "Draco!"

"You have to eat, Alex.  Even if you don't want to.  We'll talk some more later, but you've got to eat now for me."  He nodded, nibbling on the scrambled eggs.

Ron handed over the bacon.  "Here, it's strange to see him without it."  He looked at the professor again.  "Can we at least see our families?"  He nodded.  "That's fine then."

"Warn me if Ginny comes in," Draco told him.  He nodded. "Are there any other orders?" he asked his head of house.

"Not as of yet," he told him.  "For right now, just stay in here.  We'll send food regularly.  Try to study, Mr. Malfoy.  I will expect you to know the contents on the test for today when the final test comes.  It will be included."  He looked at his son.  "If you want, we can speak later."

"I'm worried what the Ministry will pull," he said quietly.

"By taking the information out of their hands and bringing a few reporters to take pictures as it happened, they can't do much.  The current Minister has suggested he'll be sending an appropriate defense teacher."

"Can I scare them off if they're not?"  He nodded.  "Can we take bets on how long it'll take?"

Draco snickered.  "Within a day, Alex.  We all know you're brilliant at being scary when you need or want to be."  He gave him a gentle kiss. "Now eat."  He looked at Snape again.  "You'll keep us informed?"

"As soon as we know something, one of us will write you at his house.  Your mother expects you to be there most of the holiday this summer."  He left, sealing the door behind him.

"Wow, that's really cool," Vinnie said finally, looking at the couple.  "You're so cute!"

"I know," Alex agreed with a grin. "The real question is am I cuter than Draco?"

Draco pulled his wand and cast the charm that made it feel like someone was blowing raspberries on him again, taking the plate before he rolled around laughing.  "It's a different type of cute, but I'm cuter."

***

Alex smiled as the new teacher walked into the school, shaking her hand.  "Alexander Birmingham, ma'am.  Nice to meet you.  I was told to take you to your room."

"Why are *you* here?" she sneered.  "School isn't in session yet."  She straightened out her sweater.

"Yes, but I'm taking advanced charms lessons while I'm waiting on my father to do something so we can go birthday present shopping."  He smiled sweetly. "Or didn't you know my father was Severus Snape?"  She took a step back, looking alarmed.  "As a matter of fact, my bond mate is down there helping him with the potion in question since it's for my birthday."  He waved a hand at the hall.  "Shall we?  The headmaster is out and Professor McGonagall told me where she was sticking you."   She grimaced and let him lead her away.  They ended up very high up in one of the towers, in a very drafty room.  "Sorry, we had to open the windows to air it out.  No one's lived her in a while but when he got your note saying you wanted a room with a pleasant view we decided this should be perfect.  I had the house elves change the sheets."  He handed her the key to the door.  "There you go, ma'am.  By the way, I'm told to warn you that I've already gone through all seven years of books so I've been taking special defense, transfiguration, and charms lessons.  That way you could prepare something for me to do.  Otherwise I'm afraid I'll just end up taking over your class and helping those who need it."

"My books aren't like that," she assured him.

"Really?  I rather enjoyed the Vongurt book year-before-last.  Now that was a fine defense textbook.  Plainly easy for those who need it and with plenty of information for those, like me, who'll end up teaching it or charms some day."  He grinned again.  He noticed she shivered.  "Also, my father wanted you told not to come down and bother him this week.  He's doing a long-term potion that requires absolute silence and only the maker anywhere near it, otherwise it can explode. That way you don't stumble into something and have to fix it."  He bowed.  "I'll leave you to unpack.  Most of the house elves are at the farm picking stuff to can from the early harvest, but there might be a few around if you need anything.  Just follow the hall we came up to get back to the entry.  The headmaster will be back sometime tomorrow."

He left, closing the door behind him.  He also locked it with a spell that was outside of every charm book that had ever been in this school, except for a theoretical one that Professor Flitwick had bought him for Christmas.  He fingered her wand as he walked down the corridor, smiling when she screamed because the owls were coming in.  It was the room the owls went to whenever they weren't in the owlry.  He handed the extra wand to Flitwick as he walked past him.  "She's in the top of the West Tower.  I warned her the headmaster and most of the elves were gone at the moment.  I warned her to leave dad alone for at least a week, citing a possible explosion.  I may not have warned her that it takes a wand to open the door from the inside or that I was locking her door for her."  Someone pounded on the door at the top of the hall and he shrugged.  "Ooops."  He skipped down the stairs, smiling at his father.  "She's in the top of the west tower," he said fondly.

"Is that the best you can do?" Draco asked.

"Honey, didn't you know she's got a fear of owls?" he asked with a small, evil smirk.  Draco looked alarmed and he glanced behind him. "Headmaster," he said happily, smiling at him.  "I put the new defense teacher into her room at the top of the west tower.  I gave her the key and everything.  I did think you were still gone so I told her you'd be back tomorrow.  I also told her most of the house elves were going to be gone for most of the day with the picking and harvesting."

Dumbledore frowned a bit.  "What did she do?"

"You mean besides having a history of cruelty?"  He smirked.  "You'll find out.  By the way, she's not allowed near Harry.  She's the one who called for him to be arrested for casting that curse."  The headmaster moaned and walked off.  "Draco, I believe it's time you fulfilled the shopping clause because I've outgrown most everything yet again."

"Fine," he agreed tolerantly.  "Severus, we'll be at the house in a few hours if you'd like to join us tonight."  He walked his mate out, smiling at Tonks as she walked past them.  "She's here."

"I heard her shrieking for help from outside," she admitted.  "Where is she?"

"Top of the west tower."

"But the owls use that when they don't want to sit in the owlry...." she started, then burst out laughing.  "Ooops.  Oh, well, I'm sure she'll get over that phobia.  Where's Harry?"

"My front room taking a nap the last I knew," Alex offered with a grin.  He heard something break and snickered.  "Oh, well," he sighed, shaking his head.  He and Draco cast the disguise spell, becoming Filch and his cat.  She stormed past them and into the dungeon, and the boys took off running, Tonks right behind them. They made it outside and watched as the fireball came out the roof of the school, right from the headmaster's office since it was directly over the dungeons.  "Oooh, pretty," he cooed, changing back from the cat.  Draco changed and looked at him.  "I told her not to bother dad or his potion could explode."

Tonks fell to the ground and rolled around, laughing so hard she was crying and wet herself.  "He's gonna make you pay for that," she gasped.

"I warned her," Alex said as his father and Dumbledore came out.  They looked unharmed.  She came out singed and barely walking.  "I told her it could explode," he told the headmaster.

"And the reason she is babyshit yellow?" Draco asked him.

"Oh, the twins left her a surprise," he said with a grin. "That way she would know if anyone broke into her room."

"I want that boy arrested!" she shrieked, pointing at Alex.

"I told you not to go down there or it could explode," he told her, his whole voice saying how stupid he thought she was.  "I know better than that and I'm abysmal in potions, woman!"  He looked at his father, fussing some dust off him.  "There, pretty again," he said with a grin.  "Wanna come shopping with us?"

"No, son.  I believe I'll be supervising someone reconstructing my classroom."  He glared at the woman.  "Did he tell you not to come down?" he demanded coldly.  She whimpered, looking hurt.  "Did he?" he demanded.

"Severus, I was in the school and I heard him say so," Dumbledore soothed. "He told her it would explode if anyone not in on the making of the potion entered the area around it."  He gave him a gentle pat on the arm.  "It'll be all right.  We were going to replace most of those tables and stools anyway.  The ceiling and History classroom weren't planned.  Nor were my office and my desk, but that's all right.  We'll manage it before the students come back. I have, or possibly had, a wonderful catalog for you to pick new tables from."  He looked at the new defense teacher as she fell onto her face.  "Oh, dear.  I think she's badly hurt.  Madam Pomfrey!" he called.  She came from the greenhouses, then screamed and raced for the downed woman.  "She was warned not to go into the dungeons and she did it anyway," he told her. "Severus was working on something delicate and explosive."

"That's fine.  Can I get to the infirmary?"

"Oh, yes, it went straight up.  Took out the center of my desk even; a stool went crashing up right before the fireball."  He looked at Alex, who shrugged.  "Thankfully I know you're horrible in potions, young man."  He dusted himself off and helped her get the poor woman inside and up to the infirmary.  They ran into McGonagall and she followed them up the halls.  "Sorry about the noise, Minerva."

"I was wondering what it was.  I was reading in my office when suddenly everything shook for a moment.  I didn't think we were prone to earthquakes.  We haven't had one the whole time I've been here."

"No, Severus was working on something delicate that exploded if gotten near by someone who wasn't in on the making of it.  Alexander had warned her but I'm afraid she ignored him."

"That's a dangerous thing to do.  He often knows more about dangerous and dark magic than anyone here."  She helped lift the poor woman onto a bed looking at her.  "Should I call the Ministry, Albus?"

"Please.  They can come pay for what she ruined and can't replace personally, like my desk and the History classroom."  She snickered a bit.  "The fireball thankfully went straight up.  It sent an old stool in front of it as a harbinger.  I believe even dear Professor Trelwany couldn't have foreseen that incident."  He walked off, continuing to dust himself off while she called the Ministry to complain about what they thought 'suitable' teachers were like.

***

Albus smiled at the paper the next morning.  It had a nice story about the explosion and no one being really hurt.  He turned to the editorials, he had been told to read them today by Severus.  There he found a letter signed by 'the students of Hogwarts' that demanded a real teacher, like Remus Lupin, be installed by the Ministry if they were going to muck with the school this way.  It listed out many reasons, including his 'flaw' of being a werewolf, suggesting that gave him a better feel of what to teach the students who would one day be voting for the Minister of Magic's titleholder.  The letter nicely reminded everyone that the students going through the school were the ones who would someday be running the world, including taking on any unnatural things and healing the sick or taking care of those unable to work due to old age.  It almost gave him chills thinking about the imagery they gave for the future if the students weren't taught properly.  He certainly didn't want someone like Pansy Parkinson to take care of him in his old age.

He read on, steeling himself for more 'reasonable' articles. Another letter, this time anonymous, noted that it was teachers like Remus Lupin who had taught Harry Potter enough to be able to defeat the Dark Lord and save them all.  That the Ministry hadn't supported Harry nor had they helped him learn what he needed to.  It also noted that some of the agents at the Ministry had to bend orders to give him the information he needed to be able to fight him at all since only two of the last four years' teachers had managed to teach anything.  They made a strong case that Remus Lupin was the only one who had made such an impact on the students that the defense grades had been the highest in ten years across all the years.

He smiled at that, continuing on.  The next one was written by Tonks, calling for Remus Lupin to go back.  She cited the fact that Lupin was the only teacher in the last four who had prepared the next generation of aurors and law enforcement officials.  That she trusted the people trained by him but not by any of the other teachers.  She apologized to her former coworker but reminded him he was a bad teacher and always had been.  He left too much to the students themselves, whereas Remus guided the students to what they needed to know.  It was generally quite nicely written. He looked up as Narcissa Malfoy walked in, impeccably dressed as usual, smiling gently.  "My dear," he said, rising to kiss the back of her hand.  "What can I do for you today?"

"You can hire Remus Lupin back, Albus.  The Board of Directors said so."  She handed him the letter.  "They're aware you have a plan in place for his changes and the praise they've gotten after the paper this morning was quite encouraging.  Especially since half of it came from Slytherins and Ravenclaws."  She smirked a bit.  "We expect you to have him rehired and notify the paper before we can."

"Of course.  I wasn't aware you're on the board."

"Draco can't take Lucius' seat yet, he's not old enough.  I needed something to do, and those old farts needed someone to remind them that half the students are female, weaker, or both.  I find that soaping their mouths works quite well when they go off on the witches in the school.  Molly agrees with me since she was elected to hold another person's seat."  She gave him a half-smirk again.  "Therefore I would call on them soon, Albus.  We'll be announcing he's rehired tonight.  I believe that even my brother should be up by now."  He nodded.  She looked around.  "What happened?  That explosion took out your office?"

"It went straight up," he admitted, moving the cardboard over the frame of his desk.  "It took out the potion's classroom, the history classroom and my office in part."

"Well, you just leave that to me.  I'll talk to them about replacing things."  She bowed.  "I'll leave you to figure out how to tell him."  She left, going to tell the others he hadn't complained and what was going on with the destruction.

Molly smiled at her.  "The person I'm doing the work for said he would gladly pay to fix the damage since he favors the Potion's Master and History needed new seats anyway.  Shall I call him to tell him you all agree?"  They all nodded quickly.  One less thing to come out of their budget.  She sent off an owl immediately.

***

Severus came back with the students on the train.  His son had spoiled him horribly and kept him longer than he had intended.  He didn't make it to his classroom until long after dinner.  He stopped to light the lanterns in there, staring at the new iron lanterns that gave out bright light.  Not fully bright but they were frosted glass.  More than enough light to light the tables but leave shadows in the corners and around his desk.  He noticed the desks, all green and white marble with steel accents.  He walked around one to pull out a stool, noticing it was padded!  How dare his son!  He went to speak to him but found him and Draco necking on the couch so he had to flee before he saw more than he wanted to.  He had done that at least twice in the last week alone.   He tried to transfigure one of the stools but it popped back to its original form and the seat changed from black to blood red. He tried again.  Now it was medium blue.  He was a smart man, he got the point.  If he kept going they would end up sunny yellow or pink or some such vile color.  He sat down in his new desk chair, moaning at the feel of the leather as it molded to fit him.  Maybe he could get used to it given enough time.  He got up and decided to check on the History classroom, peering in there.  He found a group of couches and individual chairs that looked like it could have come from any common room, but they all had pop-up trays to write on.  He looked at the ghostly Professor.  "You let them do this?"

"I like it," he admitted.  "Maybe they won't sleep so often.  The old seats hurt your back terribly."

"I remember," he admitted.  "Mine's marble, metal, and leather."

"I saw.  It looked quite nice.  Comfortable but functional.  Your son?"

Snape grimaced and nodded.  "Definitely.  Fortunately I only have him this year."

"Unless he wants to keep going."

"He hates potions."

"Yes, but you are his father," Professor Binns noted smugly.  "He could want to impress you finally."

"He did. My desk chair is better than the ones in my suite."

"Ah.  You didn't know he redecorated in there as well?"  Snape looked alarmed and headed to his rooms, finding the old, fading, worn furniture had been replaced with furniture like his desk chair.  All but his desk.  He ran a hand across it as he had many times and sat in the chair in front of it.  Not as nice as his other one, but comfortable to work in.  He headed into his bedroom, finding a new bed with new curtains.  He tested it.  Firmer than his old one had been.  "No more backaches," he said appreciatively.  Alex had noticed he had complained after all.  He couldn't decide if he was upset or not, but he figured he could at least make fun of the gloating he was sure to be doing.  He set his alarm clock and got ready for bed, having the first good night's sleep in quite a while since no moaning children woke him up.

***

McGonagall smiled as Albus came in the next morning, picking one of the flowers coming out of his ears.  "What's going on?" she asked.

"My desk," he sighed, sitting down.  He looked at the two who had made his desk. Then he smiled.  Those twins!  He wondered what it would do tomorrow.  He looked around.  "Is Severus still asleep?"

She smirked a bit.  "He went to make sure his son was up."

"Hmm.  I hope they're not fighting."

"I doubt it. I tried his desk chair for comfort.  He's probably reminding his son not to gloat."  She smiled at Remus as he walked in. "Good morning."

"Good morning," he agreed, smiling at everyone.  Especially the flowers.  He and Sirius had worked with the twins for weeks on that desk.  It appeared to be working just fine.  "Minerva, have you seen the History classroom?"

"I hadn't, no.  Is it nice?"

"It is.  They found some nice couches and chairs that look like common room furniture, but they've got these neat little tables so you can take notes easier."  She smiled at that. "I tried one last night, very comfortable.  The worn look is part of the design itself.  Even Binns said that the students might not sleep now."

"I'll have to stop in there before class," she said happily.  "If it's that nice, I might have to put in to have mine redone by the board."  Dumbledore gave her an amused look.  "Mine's next on the list, Albus.  Mine and Defense are both about ready to cave in."

"You know who engineered it, go to them," he suggested before dishing himself up some food.  Everyone's head popped up as trumpets went off and Draco walked in with Alex on his arm. "Do we have a ruling couple?" he asked patiently.

"Yes, you do," Draco agreed with a wicked smirk.  "I'm more magnificent than Lockhart. If he can use such petty theatrics, so can I."

"Don't look at me, people, all I did was give him a nice, long backrub."  Alex sat down with a smirk for his mate.  The school wouldn't know what hit them this year.  Draco was now legal by wizarding law and the sky was the limit.

"At least he's happy," Remus said with a gentle smile.

"And no longer bored," Flitwick pointed out happily.

"Yes, but we won't be either," McGonagall noted sadly.  She recognized that look all too well from many generations of pranksters in her house.  "Oh, and look, the twins are getting ideas off him again this year."

"Don't worry, Minerva, the Marauders are helping them with their upcoming projects as well," Remus assured her.

She looked down at him.  "I'm not amused," she said dryly.  "Really, I'm not."  She pulled over some food for herself, shaking her head at the trouble she'd have to deal with soon enough.  She might as well eat for energy and strength now.  She'd need it to deal with them later.

Year Five: The Year That Things Start to Ease Off

"Mr. Menace, I mean Mr. Birmingham," McGonagall yelled down the hallways.

Alex stuck his head out of a room down the hallway.  "Me?" he asked innocently.  "I'm being good."

"Then why is Mr. Malfoy green with silver polka dots?" she asked, looking really frustrated.  "And why can't I change him back!"

"Um, wasn't my doing, and I'm betting he did it with that experimental potion he was working on?" he offered sheepishly.  "It wasn't me, Professor."  He ducked back into the room he was in detention in, snickering a bit.  He bet Draco looked very cute.

"I'll get you for this," Draco snarled from the doorway.

Alex looked at him and burst out laughing.  Draco was the perfect Slytherin colors.  "Wasn't me," he gasped.  "Cute look, dear."

"If you didn't do it, I'll make sure you'll get whoever did," he sneered, stomping off.  He heard a few more laughs and turned to glare at a few younger Slytherins who were coming in from their own detentions.  "Do you know who did this to me?" he demanded.  They all grinned and shook their heads before running off.  His snarl turned into more of a growl.  "I will kill someone this time," he vowed, heading down to the Potions lab.  He slammed open the door. "Do you see what someone did to me!" he yelled, slamming the door shut behind him.

Professor Snape looked at him, blinking a few times.  "I don't care what color you are, you may not damage my doorway that way, Mr. Malfoy.  Twenty points from Slytherin for doing such damage and screaming at me."  He looked the boy over again.  "Have you talked to Professor McGonagall and your mate?"

"Alex swears he didn't do it and McGonagall can't change me back!" he complained.

"You can lose more," he offered calmly.

"Bugger the house!  Someone did this to me and no one can bloody well fix it!"

Snape looked at his future son-in-law and sighed, getting up to mix him something to end all the spells on him.  He handed it over and Draco gulped it, grimacing and shuddering.  Nothing happened to the coloring but....  Draco's face suddenly changed, becoming as happy as Hufflepuff in a field of flowers.  He even sighed happily.  "What happened to you?"  He checked the potion, it was correct.

"I don't know.  Maybe my daddy did it," he said with a bright grin.  He looked at his skin and whimpered.  "I look *horrible*!"  He ran out of the room, heading for his bedroom to hide.

Harry and Ron both looked up at the streaking green blur, then at each other.  "Alexander?" Ron suggested.

"Swears up and down he didn't do it," Harry assured him.  He got up and went to find him anyway, finding him still in History class.  "Um, Professor Binns, I kinda need Alexander for a moment.  Draco just ran past us crying?"

"Crying?  Draco Malfoy?" Alex asked, looking at them.  "Why?  What did you do to him this time, Harry?"

"Go," the ghostly professor said tolerantly.  He shook his head and took the paper Alex held out, then watched him leave. "What's going on now?" he complained as he went down to see Snape.  "What happened to Mr. Malfoy?"

"I mixed him a potion to remove all spells on him and he turned into a crying, withering Hufflepuff."

The ghost looked at him.  "Did you make your first mistake in twenty years?"  Snape glared at him.  "I had hopes."

Alex stomped in and slammed the door shut behind him, glaring at his father.  "What did you give him!"  Snape handed over the book so he looked at it, then at him.  "So are there more layers?  Because otherwise you fucked up somewhere, dad."

"Son, I'm going to beat you."

"In what?  Making Draco sob?"  He handed the book back, then snatched it back and headed back to the dorm, going to hand it to Granger.  "Here," he said, handing it to her.  Then he grabbed her by the arm and drug her off.  "Dad made it, it turned Draco into a girl and I can't stand him now. Therefore you're going to fix it."

"Could it have something to do with where you turned him green?" she suggested as she was drug along.  She shut up at the glare he sent her way.  "We all know it was you."

"I didn't turn him funny colored," he shouted.  "It wasn't me!  Now get your ass in there and fix it, Granger!  I *know* who brewed that potion."  She blushed and headed in to fix this.  He glared at her back until someone tapped on his shoulder.  He glared at McGonagall, making her give him her best 'patient teacher' look.  "Weasley."

"Ron?"

"Ginny," he sneered.

"Leave her to me then, Alexander."  She patted him on the cheek.  "Go sit with Draco.  He probably needs some support."

"I can't, he's so girl like I'm sickened," he sneered, then shuddered.  "I gave Granger the potion since it said it would only remove a single layer of spells on him.  I figured it had to be that and Dad's lacking common sense today."  He stomped off, going back to Gryffindor, but she froze him and floated him back to his room, letting him silently rant as a statue in the corner.

"I said I'd deal with her, Alexander, and I meant it," she ordered, staring his frozen self down.  "You leave those girls to me."  She looked at Ron.  "Expect to see your mother soon."  She walked out, looking very calm and sedate.

"My sister?" Ron asked, looking really confused.  "Ginny did...that?"

Harry unfroze Alex, giving him the 'expectant' look.  "Who did it?"

"All I know is that Ginny's behind the color change.  Draco's ...crying thanks to my father.  Which is why Granger is bothering him."  He went to check on her, catching her mid- sentence telling Draco that he was never going to get Alexander for himself, that he had a much brighter future.  "And you're now on my shit list, Granger," he said dryly.  "Ron?  Harry?  She's your friend?"  They got up and came in to bind her, Ron going to get someone in the upper years to brew the potion while Alex kept watch.  Snape came back with the potion already mixed up.  "Will that take off more layers?"

"No, this one will take *all* spells off him.  We'll have to have Narcissa up to reapply the protective spells."  He looked at the boy, then at the frozen girl being leaned in a chair.  "She did what?"

"Told Draco he wasn't going to have me, that I have a brighter future producing heirs."

"It's not true!" Draco shouted. "She's not right!"

"No, she's not right," Alex assured him, sitting down next to him to cuddle him.  "Here, let Dad give you something to fix that horrible color."

"It's my house colors," he protested.

"Yes, love, but it doesn't really go with your eyes at the moment.  They're much too dark a gray for that shade of green," Alex soothed, stroking his back.  Draco nodded and took the potion, grimacing and shuddering.  "I know.  Now just rest while it works, Draco."  He got him lying down and took off his shoes for him.  Draco went rigid then relaxed.  "Are you back to being your snarly, mean self?" he teased, smiling at his friend.

"I loathe you, Alex."

"I didn't do it."

"Then who did?"

"Weasley, the female one."  Draco glared at Snape, who shrugged.  Alex tipped his face back.  "I heard her bragging to Lovegood after you changed.  They had detention with me."

"I'll kill them."

"McGonagall went after her.  Granger's in the other room if you wanted to hex her," he offered with a mean grin.

"Oh, she's going to get it," Draco swore, glaring at him.  "You really didn't?"  Alex shook his head.  "And you couldn't comfort me?"

"Draco, I nearly had a girl flashback," he said seriously.  "You were that bad."  Draco shuddered so he curled up next to him.  "Shh, it's all right.  You're back to being all male and all hot again," he soothed.  "You're even mostly normal colored, just a bit funny as an undertone."

Snape rolled his eyes.  "By morning he'll be back to normal.  Mr. Malfoy, have your mother reapply any defensive charms on you as soon as possible."  He walked out, letting McGonagall and the girl she was dragging in.  "He said Miss Lovegood may be involved as well," he told her.  "Miss Granger was thoughtfully telling my son-in-law how Alexander was worth so much more than him and how he was going to start breeding an heir so Mr. Malfoy was going to be dumped."

"He was in a very fragile mental state!" McGonagall complained.

"Exactly.  Should I get Miss Lovegood?"

"Please," she said with a mean smirk.  "To my office, Severus.  Did Miss Parkinson have anything to do with this?  Ginny was figuring up something about how she owed her some money."

"I have no idea.  I'll be finding that out," he assured her, heading out to get Miss Lovegood and drag her there by the hair if necessary.  Unfortunately it wasn't, and then he went to get Miss Parkinson and have another... discussion with her.

Female screams were heard all around the castle for a few more hours. From multiple sources.

***

Draco glared at their suitemate the next morning. "Did you help her, Weasley?" he demanded.

Ron shook his head slowly. "Not a bit.  I've decided you're fairly tolerable as long as Alex has you well in hand," he said with a small smirk.  "You're always so much nicer after you've curled up with him all night."

Draco sneered.  "I doubt it's anything to do with sex."

"You sure about that?  If he were mine I'd have bedded him each and every night."

Draco smirked a bit.  "Who says I haven't?  That doesn't have anything to do with the nights I spend sleeping with him."

"Hmm, then he must be cuddly.  Always a nice thing.  Anyway, Ginny did it all on her own.  McGonagall said she caught Ginny outlining what she'd do with the money Pansy owed her."  He smirked a bit.  "Lovegood got it too by the discussion they had last night while you were resting."  He looked him over.  "You're normal colored at least.  Back to being the bitchy Draco Malfoy?"

"Always," he snarled, heading out to talk with Pansy himself.  She wasn't at breakfast so he ate quickly and headed up to the infirmary, but she was locked in a room in there.  It was marked 'demonic possession' on the sign.  Which he doubted.  No demon would want Pansy Parkinson.  She was too mean already.  He stomped off, going to find the other three tormentors.  They were also missing.  He glared at McGonagall since he had her first today.  "Where might they be?"

"They might be in the Ministry getting unpossessed," she told him.  "I can't say for sure."  She smiled slightly at him.  "Do you feel better this morning?"

"Not until I kick their bloody arses, woman."

She laughed. "I believe Mr. Birmingham has stated a prior claim for them touching you," she told him.  "Now, take your seat, Mr. Malfoy."  He stomped back there, sitting down and smouldering at the chalkboard through the whole class.  She's never tell him but he looked like an angry elf when he pursed his lips that way.  He must be thinking up something truly evil to restart the old house wars.

***

Alex eavesdropped on his former roommates as they sat around the main courtyard during their afternoon break the next day, smirking a bit at what he was finding out.

"You know a relationship between houses never works," Justin Felch-Finchly complained.   "I don't even know why I tried with her."

"They can work," Dean Thomas corrected. "Look at Harry. He's dating an auror and she was a Slytherin by what I heard and saw when I looked her up to see what she looked like."  He leaned closer.  "Besides, look at Alexander and Malfoy.  They're separate houses. They seem to be okay together.  No major fights in public that we've seen."

"Alexander might as well be one of them," Seamus complained as he joined them.  "Of course they get along.  They used to all play together in some rich kid primary school with Crabbe and Goyle."  He shook his head.  "I agree with Justin, it doesn't work, Dean."

"Well, there's still Harry and what's-her-name the auror."

"Yeah, but he's been warped by the Slytherins he's staying with," Seamus reminded him.   "He even stuck up for Malfoy against Ginny and Hermione."

"Well, he wouldn't be warped if we hadn't cast him aside," Dean said angrily.

"It wasn't us, mate, it was Percy who forced the vote and made them all leave. It's warped them all," Seamus reminded him. "Even Ron didn't stick up for his sister.  The twins did."

"They probably gave her the stuff she used," Justin said dryly.   He glanced around and leaned closer since he saw Alexander sitting nearby.  "What was their problem with them this time anyway?  Was Malfoy and his ilk bothering them?"

"Granger's back on her 'fixing' and 'healing' kick again," Seamus snorted, shaking his head.  "She's gone totally nuts to fix Alexander again. She wouldn't listen to anyone, not even the twins or their mother when they tried to tell her to stop it."

"I think she just likes the poof," Dean said bitterly.  "Why can't girls like the straight blokes?"

"Because you dress funny," Alex called, looking at them.  "You're right, she is trying to fix me again.  I'd never have her.  She's much too much like my Grams.  Her and Weasley both."  He stood up and came over.  "As for why we all get along so well?  I enforce a truce in the rooms.  Otherwise I get to hex you.  They all learned to talk things out before it became another screaming match that kept me up."  He looked at them.  "As for Ginny?  What's this I hear that Parkinson was paying her?"

Seamus swallowed. "You're going to hurt her, aren't you?"

"No, I want the root cause," he said with a comforting grin.  "I want the people at the top of the food chain of stupidity this time.  If it was Pansy, then that'd be her and her mother."

Dean shook his head.  "We don't know, Alexander.  You could ask Ron."

"He's forbidden us to speak about her.  He got to witness the unfortunate side effects the whatever-it-was they gave Draco.  Now, I'd *really* like to know," he offered with a grin.

Justin looked at him. "Promise you won't hurt us this year?"

"Have I yet?" Alex said dryly.  He shook his head. "I'll help you trim your hair so you can get a better date.  Abbott stares at you for some reason or another all the time."  Justin perked up at that.  "Now then?  Who?"

"Pansy," Seamus said.  "Think you could help me before the ball this year?"

"Sure," Alex agreed, smiling at him.  "Just her you think?"

"No, I think she's had some prompting but I'm not sure it's from her mum or not," Seamus told him.  "She's never said anything to *us* about it."

"Point," he said with a grin.  "Thank you, boys.  Feel free to come down and bug Harry and Ron all you want, especially if you're worried about them being so warped."  He grinned and spotted Millie, grabbing his bag so he could walk over there.  "Millie, I need advice on what to get Auntie Narcissa for the hols this year.  Walk with me for a few?" he asked.  She smiled and nodded, walking off with him.  "You think a pin?"

"I think she'd love anything you gave her, Alex."  She smiled at him.  She knew that look in his eyes and knew if she told him what he probably wanted to know she'd be rewarded instead of somehow included in the destruction.  She might even be protected when it went off.  "Yes, it was Pansy, no it wasn't her mother's doing, and no, she wasn't really possessed this morning.  Just claiming it. But try a traditional mother gift.  Something fun and irreverent.  She's been much happier since her late husband passed on."

He grinned at her.  "I adore you.  How goes the thing with the cheater?"

"I had mum put in a fidelity curse.  If he ever touches another girl or guy, even with a fingertip, I'll know.  He'll be one pitiful wizard by the time it's finished with him," she said with a mean smirk.  "I got help from Draco with writing it."

"He's good at that," he agreed, blowing a kiss.  "Thanks, Millie.  A charm box?"  She nodded so he grinned and headed off to his next class.  Fortunately it was Defense and he had it with the Slytherins.  He sat next to Draco. "You've got to help me shop for your mum this year, Draco.  Millie just gave me a very good idea. Do'ya think she'd like a charm box or a broach better?"

"Probably a charm box," he said after a moment's thought.  "We'll go in together if you want.  How is Millie?"

"Good.  She said Pansy's not really possessed and her mother's not been here this year."  Draco raised an eyebrow so he smirked and nodded since they were alone but for the teacher.  "She's being prodded but not by her mum."

"Really?" he asked with a smug look.  "What else did you find out?"

"Pansy did pay Weasley for the spell, the twins were involved, and we're horribly warping poor Harry and Ron, but I cleared that up and invited Dean and Seamus down to talk to the poor boys whenever they wanted to unwarp them."

Remus looked at them.  "Who's pushing Miss Parkinson?" he asked as he got up and shut the door, coming over to sit in front of them.  "Any ideas?"

"If it's not her mother, it's probably not my mother," Draco said firmly.  "She only wants to see me happier than she was."  He looked at Alex.  "Your top three usually include Dumbledore and Granger."

"Who was trying to 'heal' me again," Alex sneered.

"I'll have another talk with her, Alexander," Remus promised gently.

He grinned.  "Don't bother, she's been at the Ministry all morning.  They're probably talking her into forcing that stupid calming potion on me to make me go violent again."  Remus raised an eyebrow.  "Dumbledore tried that my first year.  Hence us being legal adults."

Remus stood up. "Let me pass this onto Sirius.  I think he can get Ron's father to look into that for you."  He smiled at them.  "Remember, some of us like you for the mean, sarcastic little bastard you are, Alexander."  He went to open the door since the bell was ringing and went to call Sirius from his office floo.  He smiled at his mate.  "Sirius.  Did you know Hermione's been at the Ministry all day because of that attack on Draco Malfoy?"

"I hadn't heard a thing about that," he admitted. "Is Alexander all right?  Our grandson is pretty neat and I like the kid."

"I think this is going to be a long chat.  There's a few things you hadn't heard.  Come up for dinner tonight."  He hung up and went to greet his class.  "You all know what day it is.  Quills and parchment only," he ordered calmly.  He used his wand to put the quiz on the board.  "Please use real sentences and try to get it closer to essay format this time, Mr. Birmingham."

"I tried last time. My thoughts were circling around.  Sorry, Professor."  He got to work on the first question.  It wasn't that hard, it was the ordering of his thoughts that was the problem.  His mind didn't seem to work in an 'essay' format.

***

Sirius came out of the main floo and smiled at Remus, hugging him.  "Come on, let's go eat and talk."  They both smiled at the headmaster as they passed him. "Just up for dinner, Headmaster."

"That's fine.  What is Mr. Birmingham accusing me of this year?"

Remus looked at him. "That depends.  Were you behind the bribing of Miss Parkinson and the funding of Miss Weasley's attack on Draco Malfoy?" he asked.  The headmaster looked stunned.

"I'd say that's a yes," Snape said from behind the couple.  He looked at the headmaster.  "Narcissa Malfoy is coming up for a moment to see her son, Headmaster.  She also said she'd be dropping in on you after dinner with her son and son-in-law."  He walked around the couple.  "I'll make sure dinner runs smoothly tonight."  He walked on, going to talk to McGonagall.

Remus tugged on Sirius' sleeve.  "Come on.  We've got a lot to discuss, including this year's holiday plans.  Alex wants to throw his party again this year."

"It was fun but he's at the age to go to the real balls now," Sirius noted as he followed him.  "We'll be talking, Albus."

"I had nothing to do with that," he called after him. "Make sure that boys know that."

"Tell it to Narcissa.  She'll reassure them.  They won't listen to us for that," Remus reminded him.  He walked Sirius up to his room and smiled at the nice dinner laid out for them.  "Ah, the twins.  They're trying to get back on my good side again."

"What did they do?" Sirius asked, sitting down when Remus gave him a gentle push in that direction.  "That bad?"

"Ginny did the actual pranking but they helped.  First they changed him so he was Slytherin green with silver dots.  Then Miss Lovegood helped her by layering on charms to change his moods.  He nearly drove Alexander off when Severus gave him a potion to end the spells on him and it turned him into a sobbing girl."  Sirius' mouth fell open.  "Then, when Alex grabbed Miss Granger to get her help in remaking the ending potion, she told Draco that he wasn't worthy, that Alex was going to be breeding for the family, and on and on while he was in a fragile mental state.  As we've found out, Miss Parkinson was paying Ginny.  Hermione did it for fun and because she's trying to fix Alexander again.  Plus Alex found out that her mother wasn't behind it, someone else was."

"Narci said something about that coming from within the school.  Some of the teachers wanting to break them up for being so very wrong and dating outside their houses.  Do you think Albus had a hand in it?"

"If he didn't have it directly he knew it was going on, Sirius.  Nothing gets past that man."

"Then what we need is a plan to get to the person behind this plan," Sirius decided.  Remus gave him a panicked look and he grinned.  "What those girls need is a female influence.  Someone who they'd never expect."

"Madam Sprout?" he asked, knowing what his friend was thinking from long association with his warped and dirty mind.

Sirius smiled.  "She's perfect.  Think we can convince her?"

"She adores Alexander. Ever since he saved her from the teacher-eating plant."  He smirked back.  "I'll talk with her tonight after you go back."

"Sure.  I plan on sitting behind Narci and cheering her on.  Now, let's eat.  Think it's clean?"

"It had better be or the twins know they'll suffer as only we can make them," he said with a fond grin.  Sirius laughed and pulled his wand to stop any charms, hexes, and/or potions.  After all, a prankster always wanted to be challenged and measure themselves against someone better.

***

Madam Sprout came out of the classroom she had been borrowing and smiled at Remus, hugging him gently.  "I enjoyed that," she said happily.  "I had forgotten what being so naughty felt like."  She pinched his cheek.  "Albus knew and allowed Professor Trellawany and Professor Vector to initiate their plan.  By the way, Miss Granger handed me this," she said, handing over a small vial.  "You might ask Severus what it was since she was supposed to dose his son with it."  She smiled again then strolled off, going to check on her plants.

Remus shivered.  The boy was right, she was scary when she wanted to be.  He went to find Snape, holding up the vial.  "Madam Sprout just got this off Miss Granger."

"From?"

"The Ministry wanted your son dosed with it."  He handed it over, glaring at the student who had just gasped.  "Spread any of this around, young lady, and you will be in detention and the rest of the Defense tests for everyone will be true essay tests.  They will also know the cause."  She nodded, going back to her scrubbing tables.  He looked at Severus again, shrugging a bit.  "She got really scary.  All the girls ran out crying."  He smirked again.  "A certain set of professors were behind Miss Parkinson.  Vector and a certain seer."

Snape sneered.  "Oh, really?"  He nodded.  "Does Mrs. Malfoy know of this yet?"

"I just happened to run into Madam Sprout a moment ago.  I rather doubt it, but the person she had the chat with earlier did know about it in total, including the potion I suspect."  He grinned. "I'm off to grade the quizzes from earlier.  Do have a good night, Severus.  By the way, did you want to cover for me this month or not?"

"It doesn't really matter to me," he noted.  "Alexander thinks he wants to teach, let him."

"He's not ready to stand up in front of others yet," he told him.  "By the last month in school he will be," he decided happily.  "He's a brilliant student in his areas, Severus, you should be very proud."  Snape inclined his head at that.  "He even suggested using defensive herblogy, though he admitted he wasn't sure exactly *how* to use it against that creature."

Snape smirked a bit. "At least he's applying himself to something other than Mr. Malfoy."

"Oh, they had a mock duel the other day for the privilege of taking on Lockhart's picture."  He strolled off, leaving a happy father behind him, one who was happily scheming.  He was sure Sirius and Narcissa would both know within the hour, including what that interesting silver potion was.

***

Severus walked into his son's room, shaking him roughly, grabbing the wand when it came up in Draco's hand.  "Son."  Alex glared at him.  "We need to speak."  He nodded and got up with a moan of complaint, heading into the living room after his father, flopping down on a chair to face him.  "Miss Granger was given a potion to make you do what someone at the Ministry wanted."

Alex nodded, yawning a bit.  "Harry said she had one but he wasn't sure what it was.  What was it?" he asked once he was done.  His father handed him a copied section from a book.  He looked at it, then his father.  "You're kidding," he said flatly.  He shook his head.  "This should have done what?"

"Make you quite grouchy," Draco said as he came out.  He took the paper to look at, then at Snape.  "That's illegal, even by the Ministry."

"I know," he agreed.  "It's banned from all countries by international law."  He looked at his son.  "You have three options."

"Is there a counter potion?"  Snape nodded.  "Can I have it?"

"It could make you dreadfully ill. One of the ingredients is something that you're allergic to."  Alex groaned a bit, shifting position to pull Draco down to cuddle. "I'd be dosing you both in the morning in the infirmary.  The real options are to let the Ministry handle itself or not."

"Let," Draco said firmly.  "They can make their own people suffer *and* put them in prison for it."

Alex yawned again and put his head on Draco's shoulder, nodding a bit.  "I like that idea and I like both Tonks.  They're about the only good women I know.  How did you get the potion?"

"It seems Madam Sprout had a bit of a temper earlier," he told them.

Draco gave him a horrified look.  "She went off on them?"

"According to your defense teacher, it was quite a sight. All the girls ran crying for their lives."

"Hmm.  Maybe I won't have to torture them so much," Draco said dryly, patting Alex on the back when he heard the first snore.  "I agree with him, Severus.  Let one of the Tonks women handle that."

He nodded. "Very well then.  I'll be gone the rest of the night."  Draco nodded and his eyes drooped.  Severus watched as he fell asleep, calling a blanket out to tuck around them. Then he left, gathering the book and the potion.  He made a call first, a former Death Eater who hadn't been caught but was a reporter.  Rita Skeeter was most useful in this circumstance and she even met him at the entrance to Diagon while they waited on Tonks.  Tonks appeared, yawning and in flannel pajama bottoms and a t-shirt, with her hiking boots and wand in hand.  He held up the potion, making her pause.  "Someone at the Ministry gave this to Miss Granger to dose my son with," he said dryly.  He handed over the letter he had found on his desk from Miss Granger and Miss Weasley.  "From their own hand."

"What is it?"

"Banned by international law," Rita said smugly.  She handed over the book she had been browsing.  "I do so like Mr. Birmingham, he always makes *interesting* news."

"Reporting the truth this time?"

"Of course.  It's more than good for our sales this time."  She smiled at her and pulled out her special quik-quotes quill.  "Got a statement, Auror Tonks?"

"Someone's gonna pay," she noted dryly.  The quill took that down.  "Especially for doing this so late at night.  My boss is going to have a fit for being woken up. It's his anniversary."  She looked at Severus, holding up the book.  "May I?"  He inclined his head.  "Is there a counter, Professor?"

"There is but I'm worried about the side effects.  I'll be dosing *both* boys tomorrow."

"Dose Potter and Weasley too," Tonks ordered.  "Just in case someone gets a bright idea. How long does it last?"

"A week."

"Make two doses.  I should be able to arrest a lot of people and beat some sense into 'em by then," she said dryly, heading off with the book, the vial, and a very bad feeling about this.  And yes, her boss was unhappy when his house elf got him up.  So she presented him with the book. "I just got ambushed by Snape and Skeeter," she told him.  They both shuddered at that odd combination working together.  "I promised to beat someone for getting me up this early."

He read it, then looked at her. "That's illegal."  She handed it over.  "Who gave it to who?"

She opened the letter, then smirked and handed it over with a grin. "Miss Granger and Miss Weasley were trying to clear their conscience before Alex and them got 'em again."  He read it and shuddered so she got to chuckle evilly for a moment, she had been missing that recently.  "The professor said he'd dose both dark ones and I told him to dose Potter and Weasley in case someone got a bright light up their bum."

"That's an image I didn't need tonight, Tonks.  Go put this in the lockbox at the office," he ordered, handing the potion back.  "We'll have it destroyed tomorrow morning when I come in.  Write a report while you're in there and I'll let you nap in the break room for a bit tomorrow."  She nodded and headed off.  He sat on his stairs, holding his head.  This was going to make for some very unhappy Ministry people but some very strong newspaper sales.  Those two just seemed to go together for some reason.  He climbed up and went back to his wife, snuggling into her for comfort.  She was good to give it to him.

***

The four boys sat on their assigned beds the next morning, all yawning and unhappy.  Madam Pomfrey had already found the potion in Ron's system.  She was testing Harry's now. She nodded at Snape that it was present and tested the other two.  They tested clean so far.   She looked at him.  "What are we doing?"

"I'll give it to the boys who haven't had the potion.  If given afterwards it can cause painful and disfiguring seizures," he noted calmly.  "We'll have to quarantine the other two for the month it lasts just in case more aberrant behavior surfaces."

"A month!" Ron complained.  "Hermione's not even making our notes any more!  We can't pass like that, Professor!  My mum will kill us both if I can't pass some OWLs at least."

"Since it was partially her fault, she'll be supplying all your notes for free this year," Snape told him firmly.  "Poppy, call the other two boys."  She nodded, going to have them summoned by a house elf.  "If they don't have it, we might have to remove them until we're sure the potion is out of their systems," he told Draco.

"What happens if I'm allergic to the counter?" Alex asked.

"Then you'll have to protect yourself, son.  There's no way to tell what was programmed into their potion or the one that was intended for you."  He nodded, he accepted that and realized what it probably had been for.  "Would you rather we move you or them?"

"Moving them would be easier," Draco admitted as his friends walked in.  "We may be quarantined for a month thanks to the Ministry and their potions."

"What?" Greg demanded, stomping over.  "That's not fair!"

"No, but the potion is dangerous," Alex told him. "It's like Imperio in a bottle."  Greg paused, then shook his head and backed off.  "They wanted to dose me, gave some to Granger to do so.  They've already gotten Harry and Ron there."  Greg let out a small whimper.  "So get tested then we'll see if you get the antidote as well."  He looked at his father.  "We'll have to keep them.  Everyone knows they guard Draco and sometimes me.  They know they'd have to take them out unless they thought I'd be doing it to get Draco weaker."

Snape considered it.  "It may well be a moot point," he decided, seeing the look on Poppy's face.  "Them both?"  She nodded, looking quite mad at someone.  He was glad it wasn't him.  She was the scariest woman he had ever met.  "That's fine.  I wish we could tell what it was for."

"Halfrek!" Alex yelled.  The blonde demon appeared, blinking at him.  "They're trying to fuck with me majorly.  They've given every one of us but Draco and I a potion to control minds.  They tried with me.  Can you tell what it's for or what's it's to make them do?  I figured you could read intentions and things like that in people so maybe you can find commands that have been input into their heads."

"I can try, Alexander."  She smiled at him.  "That's a very wise question."

"I spent the summer being a wise ass, it must have transferred up somehow to my head," he offered with a small grin.

"Alex, it's too early for that," Draco complained, holding his head.  "He's allergic, Halfrek.  We're fairly certain it'll make him at least ill if he has to take the counter."

She nodded, going to test each boy, then sighing when she was done with Ron.  "They've all been made to attack Alex some night when he's having a bad time with his studies.  It's been worded so it could happen any time this year."  Ron went pale and shook, shaking his head.  She hugged him.  "It's not you, pumpkin. I'm sure it can be removed somehow."

"We'd have to find the maker of the potion and have them rescind the orders," Snape offered quietly.  She sighed and nodded.  "Can you tell?"

"That she's female and still under my aegis," she offered.

"Granger," Alex sneered.

"Who?" Halfrek asked.

"The bushy haired one," Ron said bitterly.  "She was to dose Alexander."

"To do what?" she asked, coming over to test him.  "Spike came back?" she demanded.  He nodded, grimacing a bit.  "Fine.  That's a brilliant idea, Alex, but you've got to be at least twenty-one, not twenty.  I'll make sure he knows it's the next year, not that year."  He smiled at her for that.  "Good boy.  You handled that very well."  She patted him on the cheek and looked at the adults.  "Who has the one he was supposed to get?"

"Tonks," Snape told her.  "Auror Tonks, the younger one."

"Ah.  I know Nymphadora," she said happily.  "Another woman I'm a big fan of. Alex, you know someone else who needs my help?"

"They gave Cicily back to her folks," he offered.

"I'll be heading there tonight," she promised with a bright smile.  "Thank you, dear."  She faded out.  "I'll be right back, Severus.  Wait before dosing him."

Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat.  "Cicily Jennis has been up here to be treated," she noted quietly.  "I did report the new bruises.  Someone may be watching them since she has a younger sister."  Snape nodded at that.  "Should I summon Miss Granger and Professor McGonagall?"

"Now," he agreed.  She nodded, going to send that summons.  The headmaster came with them.  She glared at him and he backed away from her.  "How dare you let them dose your students to harm others!" she shouted.  "Alexander is a perfectly nice little boy when he's left alone!  Even if he does have a bad sense of humor and tried to climb the outside of the astronomy tower this summer.  You're to leave him alone, Albus!"

"Someone was dosed?" he asked quietly.

"You knew they were!" she said firmly.  She glared at Miss Granger, who was cowering away from everyone in the room.  "Did you make that blasted potion?"  She shook her head.

"Did you have any part in making it, Miss Granger?" Snape demanded.  She shook her head quickly.  He pulled his wand.  "Legimens!" he cast, getting into his head.  He pulled out with a sneer. "The younger Fudge fancies himself in my job," he told Minerva.  McGonagall smirked back.  "He made it with his assistant.  She's only seventeen.  If he rescinds it, the others should be fine.  It was worded so they'll attack Alex and Draco sometime this year."

"Really?  Why?"

"To make everyone have a new dark lord to fight," Draco said simply.  He glared at Hermione.  "You're in so deep right now, I'd confess before you run out of time to do so."

"They just asked me questions," she defended.  "How close you were, whether or not you were still fighting.  That stuff!  I told them you were tolerant toward each other and hadn't sniped in a while but that you weren't really fighting thanks to Alexander.  He pushed me on that point repeatedly.  I'll put it into a pensieve if I must so you can watch and see what he learned."

"That would be a tolerable idea," the headmaster noted.  "Alexander, I had nothing to do with this.  I knew there was a minor plot to break you two up by two of the less tolerant teachers, I had no idea they were going to do something like that or that this plan was afoot.  I thought it better to let the teachers try because you two are strong enough to avoid it and it would keep them from harming other students."

"For some reason, I don't believe you," Alex noted coldly. "I don't know why.... oooh, maybe it's because you've been trying to harm me since the first day I got here and you tried to missort me," he finished with icy calm.  Halfrek came back and he hugged her.  "Did you find it?"

"I did," she admitted.  "He's dead.  He committed suicide after brewing it."  She pushed him back, smoothing down his hair with a sad smile.  "Yours was to use whatever darkest magics you knew to attack and defend against them," she said gently. She handed Snape a piece of parchment.  "I found that in his desk.  I thought it might be relevant."  She looked at McGonagall.  "You try so hard to protect them."

"I know," she sighed.  "Sometimes people seem to get in the way of it however."  She looked over as Remus came in.  "Are you all right?"

"I worried most of the night," he admitted, looking at the group.  "Is everyone all right?"

"No, they got everyone but Draco and Alexander with that potion so we'd attack him sometime this year," Harry told him. Remus muttered something that made the lights dim, making Ron one impressed young man.  "They're figuring out what to do with us now."

"I feel the need to kill," Alex offered.

"If you do, it proves their point, dear," Halfrek chided, smiling at him.  "Come now, let me read your mind to see any others who need me."  He nodded, dropping his shields.

"Alexander, even without the spell I can see the naked men in your head," Draco complained.

Halfek giggled. "Only you, sugar.  I can only see you."  She searched and pulled back, smiling at him. "Good observation.  I've already contacted someone about two of those and I'll check on that new first year.  I'm not sure if he was or not either."  She stroked his cheek.  "Remember, proving them right is a bad thing, baby.  Just relax and let the other adults deal with it this time.  This is the year for you to have fun and prank those twins until they plead for mercy."  She winked at Draco, then gave Alex a smug smirk.  "I'll talk to Spike later tonight, when he's awake."  She looked at McGonagall again.  "I charge you with watching over them, my dear.  I've always been impressed with how you've defended the students and made sure they were as safe as possible.  Let Severus be a worried father and the rest just panic."  She faded out, heading to find Spike and talk to him.  For some reason he was in Brazil.

Severus looked at her.  "I'll be helping."

"Of course!  A worried father makes sure there's no lack of protection."

"Oh, you'll have me too," Remus assured her.  "Sirius and I both like Alexander and Harry is ours.  Should I tell Molly?"

"Oh, dear, I hadn't even thought about that," she admitted, one hand drifting up to cover her throat.  "Severus, do you have any calming potions?"

"Not on hand," he admitted.  Poppy handed one to her.

"Thank you, dear."

Remus took it. "I'll give it to Sirius and Narcissa.  They're working together on this."  The teachers nodded.  "Can I help any other way?"

"I might need to go over the less offensive defense spells," Alex admitted. "I don't want to hurt them if they do it anyway."  Remus smiled and nodded.  "Thanks, Remus."

"Not a problem, Alexander.  Some year soon you'll be taking my spot so I can go back to lounging around Sirius' house."  He left, going to floo the house from his office.  By the time he came back, he had helped Sirius tie up Molly and force the potion on her before he told her.  Not that it had helped much but she hadn't destroyed the house - only the living room and the kitchen.  So it was working.

***

Alex smiled as Narciss stormed into their suite.  "Auntie Narcissa...."  She glared at him.  "Sorry, mum, can we please hold my party again this year?"

"Dear, you're old enough to come to mine," she said, giving him a hug.

"Yeah, but why would I want to?" he complained.  She frowned at him, looking a bit hurt.  "I don't want to go somewhere where I have to watch all sorts of het people plan who they're cheating with for the next year or those who're there to suck up for power, influence, and favors.  Besides, I look really terrible in dress robes."

"I'm sure Draco can help you with that," she said patiently. "That way he can show you off."

"But I already have Draco, that makes it a moot point for us to go," he offered. "We don't need to suck up to prospective and future spouses.  All I have to do is make sure he's got enough chocolates for the next month."

She smiled at him. "We'll see, Alexander.  I don't think anyone's asked so far."  She smiled at her son as he came in. "How are you?"

"Calmer since I can take the counter potion.  I wish Alexander could so we wouldn't have to worry so much."

"Draco, tell her we want to host my party this year," he begged.

He looked at his mother, then at his boyfriend.  "As much as I'd love to host our first event together, Alex, I hate disappointing her more.  Besides, with us there, mum can brag about how good a matchmaker she is and how special of a boy I am."  Alex gave him his most pitiful puppy eyed look.  "Don't do that," he moaned, flopping down.  "I hate it when you do that to me, Alex."

"I love you," he whimpered.

Narcissa felt her heart break.  "There really won't be anything for you to do, Alexander, but you could take him around for a few turns on the floor.  Show the other children how a real couple dances."

"Everyone says they don't want details about that," Alex told her, giving her the puppy eyes look.  "We're really too young to get much out of it.  We're too young to join in on the cheating spouses game and too young to really need to curry favor.  Unless our parents are giving us away as party favors."

"No, I stopped the two mothers last year who tried that to get their daughters married off," she admitted.  "We'll see.  I'll ask around.  What about the younger children?  Last year you didn't include any of them."

"I'd like to keep it in the years around us, mum," Draco offered.  "The fourth, fifth, and sixth years?  That way those who won't be going to the party for not needing a spouse or not being good enough to come have somewhere to look at the better half and see how we live."

Alex grinned at him.  "Someone told me they put Twirly on their wish list.  I had to explain to their father why."

"I would too.  She spoils you horribly," Narcissa admitted with a smile for him. "We'll see, sons.  Now then, about the rest of that.  Draco, dear, someone's suggested I should start dating soon."

"Mum, by the will if you remarry you have to move," he warned.  "But go ahead and shag some real men.  That way you get as many happies and Alex and I get now and then. At least you'd get to forget what a bore father was in bed."

She blushed like a young girl and shook her head, patting her deranged son on the head before leaving. "I'll be back shortly.  Let me discuss the party with Severus, boys."

Alex snickered. "That's so bad! I've never seen your mother blush before."

"Neither have I," he said smugly, smirking a bit. Greg and Vinnie came in.  "I just made my mum blush."

"Did she catch you two on the couch?" Ron asked as he followed Crabbe and Goyle in. "Like we have all too often?"  He sat down, looking at Alex.  "What did he do this time?"

"His mother warned him some people want her to move on and start to date a nice wizard.  Draco suggested that she just shag a bunch instead so she got as many happies as we do."

Ron blushed bright red and so did Greg.  Vinnie just snickered and headed to his bedroom.  "She's a pretty woman, Draco.  Mind if I try my hand at charming your mum?"

Draco stared at that doorway.  "I doubt she'd go for it, Vincent.  She used to change your nappy."

"My stepmum said something about needing a younger man to give her thrills," Greg mumbled, heading for the bathroom to hide from this topic.  Ron fled to his room to avoid getting involved.  "Why do I have friends like that, Merlin," he muttered, resting his head against the cool outer wall.   He could still hear those two cackling and slammed the bathroom door before they came in to bother him again.

***

Narcissa sat across from her big brother, looking at him.  "At least you look happy," she said smartly.

He smirked a bit.  "What happened?"  He poured her some tea.  "Which boy was it?"

"Mine!  He suggested I shag some blokes to get pleasure instead of dating so I didn't have to move."

Sirius nearly dropped the teapot, she was blushing again.  She hadn't done that since she was twelve.  He almost wanted to coo over the cuteness.  "Well."  He smiled at her. "You're a widow, Narci, as long as you're discreet, who would *dare* say a word against you?"  He poured himself some tea and added a cube of sugar.  "Any other interesting news?"

"Oh, unfortunately.  Greg's getting a new stepmother. His father's bringing her to Hogsmeade the next weekend they're allowed down.  I think I may need to step in to counsel the poor boy this time."

"Why?  Is she hot?"

"She's only a year older than Gregory," she shared, picking up her teacup.  He spluttered and she nodded, smirking a bit. "He caught Beth in bed with a young Russian wizard. It violated one of the massive list of rules he had in their contract. He had it done with by that afternoon and left her without much of anything but within a week he had a mail-order bride from somewhere foreign."  She took a sip of her tea.  "She's absolutely obedient to him.  I've seen their marriage contract.  It states he had total rights to dress her each day as he sees fit, down to the underthings. Not that she needs them.  At her age, breasts stand up and bounce."

"I wonder if Remus would mind if I ordered one of those," he mused.

"Do it and watch me tell Alex on you," she said smugly.  "He'll call back James and Lily to nag you to the afterlife to join them."

"James might like that if he's bored by now," he offered, smiling at her. "Besides, Harry might like that as well.  It'd give him a chance to talk to them."

"Sirius, you are disgusting," she complained.  "Really!  James Potter would flay you if you tried that!  If he doesn't, I'm sure Lily would!"

"I think he'd like to talk to his son."

"Yes, but that's still cruel.  It's not like he's floating around haunting Harry is it?"  He shook his head.  "I thought not.  Pulling him back from his reward is mean and nasty.  More like our mother."

He shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "It was only a suggestion.  Alex does stuff to keep his grandmother away each Halloween."

"That's necessary.  If he wants to commune with his father, I doubt anyone with some sense would let him."

"Harry asked if it was possible," he offered more gently.  She put down her cup and stared at him.  "We're good, Narci, but we're not his dad and he's worried that his dad won't like him dating Nymphy."

"She'll hex you if you call her that to her face."

"True," he agreed with a grin.  "But then I'd get to help prank her.   Harry really does adore her and he wanted his opinion on that and a few other things."

She considered it.  "It's still not a good idea, but I'll find a reference for Alexander. That way he can read it."  He smiled and nodded, saluting her with his cup.  "What am I going to do about my son?  They want to hold Alex's party again this year."

"What desire do they have to watch men and women get together to screw?" he retorted.  "Alex left the school ball last year because of that and Draco couldn't understand why."

"He's fully aware of why now," she said sarcastically.  "I should take on a toy wizard just to irk him."

"Why not, dad had six or seven," he reminded her.  "We all got his lusty nature, Narci.  Even in Azkaban, I still had thoughts about that stuff."  He took a longer drink of his tea.

"I suppose that's not the same as *happy* thoughts so they must not have fed on them?" she asked, smirking at him.

He shrugged.  "No, I think it was more amusement so they couldn't. It's not like I had much else to do in there."

She snorted, rolling her eyes.  "I'm sure you thought up plenty of mean things to do to Peter and them."  He smirked and nodded.  "Did you get to do any?"

"A few times," he agreed happily.  "I even changed to dog form and pissed on his leg."

"Then I'm sure mother would be proud of you," she said with a smirk.

"No, her portrait is still shrieking at me. That's why I'm not living in the old dump in London.  Besides, this way Remus and I can run free together without worrying about others."

"Good point.  Remember, this year's is on the full moon."  He nodded, mentally making a note of that.  "I'll excuse you for that reason."  She stood up. "I'd best tell Greg about his new mother."

"Let Alex or Harry, see how they handle it.  If Alex truly wants to teach, he'd best learn how to deal with emotional outbursts from kids."

"I'll owl him once I get home," she decided. "Good idea, Sirius. It's nice to see the non- pranking version of your mind still working."  She smiled and left, heading home to write that letter and a few others about Alex's party.

***

Draco sat down beside Greg, holding out the letter from his mother.  "Greg, it's bad news," he noted as he took it.

Greg read it, blinking hard.  "My father did what!" he yelled.  Madam Pince looked up from her desk and he glared back.  "My new stepmum's eighteen months older than I am."  She shuddered and continued frowning.  "Fine, I'll keep it down."  He glared at Draco.  "When is he showing her off?"

"The next time we're in town."  He shrugged.  "Continue reading. She had some notes on the contract she thought you should know."

Greg read on, reading about what a daughter from them would be getting and how a son would be measured against him and if found better would be considered his heir.  He dropped the paper, looking at his best friend.  "I want to hurt him."

"So did my mum, Greg."  He reached over to pat him on the arm.  "It'll be fine.  I'm not sure he can still have kids.  After all, the last five didn't have any."

"That's because most of them liked me," he complained, getting free of the comforting hand.  He glared at his friend.  "I'm going to call my father.  Can I hog our floo?"

"Of course.  Alex is the only one in there as far as I know.  Mum sent us that letter."  He grinned at him.  "Don't worry, if necessary we'll help you find a nice girl. You won't be like him."

"No, I'll never be like him," he agreed, getting up and heading up to their suite to call.  He found Harry in there.  "I'm going to scream at my father."

"Take the floo powder into my room," Alex ordered quietly.  "That way you can lock the door."  Greg nodded, going to do that.  A call could come from any fireplace, it was traveling that required an open floo connection.  It was probably better if he couldn't get there to hurt his father.  Alex looked at Harry.  "His father just got remarried."

"I hear that's tough.  I know he liked his last mother."

Alex nodded.  "He's liked most of his stepmothers.  This one's our age though."

"What?  Isn't that illegal?"

"No, she's just barely legal," Alex said bitterly.  "He's pushing for kids too."  He shifted position.  "Ron's waiting."

Harry walked into Alex's room, giving Greg a hug around the shoulders.  "If you need to talk, I'm here, Gregory."  He left, closing the door behind him.

Greg's father looked a bit confused.  "What's happened now?  Suspended?"

"No, father, someone just told me about my new stepmother.  I think he thinks I'm a bit scary in my anger."  His father looked stunned.  "Draco gave me a look like he thought I'd cast an unforgivable in the library."  His father shuddered.  "You married someone *my* age!" he demanded.  "How filthy of a pervert are you!"

"She's older than you, Gregory, and you'll never speak to me again in that tone of voice."

"I'll speak to you however I bloody well want!  She's only eighteen months older than me.  There's girls in the house that are that age in my year, father!  How dare you shame me this way!  I had to hear from Narcissa Malfoy because she didn't want you to suddenly spring it on me by just showing up during our next weekend in town!  How dare you!"

"Son!" he snapped.

"Oh, shut up, father!  You married some little girl.  You're trying to have more kids with her to get rid of me.  I tell you what, father.  I'm going to have Draco start working on something to help me.  I'm sure he and Alex can make sure that this trend stops before you're arrested for the next one being illegal."  His father looked stunned.  "Not only are you shaming me, you're shaming all the other women you married, including my mother. I will tell my mother and the rest and have them bloody well help me ruin you for this!"

"She's a perfectly nice girl, Gregory."

"That's half the point, she's a *girl*, not a woman!  You fucking moron! You're bringing the Ministry to our doorstep, father!"  He went pale at that.  "Not to mention I'm going to be laughed at for this!  Shit, why didn't you just take up with someone like Pansy if you wanted someone that young.  Remember, father, girls like that often want something and you're not as rich as others."

"Yes, but if she cheats like the last two, then she'll be gone just like them," he said coldly.  "I will not ...."

"Father, did you ever think you're the reason they cheated?" Greg asked coldly.  "That it wasn't the women?  That it was something in you?  Even Alex treats women better than you and he's got a hatred of them deep enough to kill them some days.  You've just made a fatal error, father.  I don't care if she's the nicest person on the face of the bloody planet, you've just brought scorn, shame, and attention down on the family for being such a whore and marrying a little girl.  I hope you're happy."  He signed off and called his actual mother, something he didn't often do.  "Alicia?" he asked, sniffling.  "He married someone nearly my age."

"Oooh, baby," she cooed.  "Damn it, can I come through?"

"I'd have to switch floos."  She nodded, reaching out a hand.  "Mum, I love you. I'm sorry I've been ignoring you."

"I understood, Gregory. It's often that way and you had some good substitutes for me.  I liked the last one."

"This one's eighteen months older than me."  She looked stunned.  "Narcissa told Draco so he couldn't pop it on me by surprise the next time we're in town."

"Baby, we'll come up and take you out tomorrow afternoon.  All of us that you've loved.  We'll figure something out."

Alex leaned in the doorway.  "I'll tell Professor Snape.  You can come up through the main floo if you wanted."

"I probably should.  Go tell him, thank you, boy."

"That's Alexander, mum."

"Really?"  She smiled at him.  "Well, you've grown up a bit since the last time I saw you.  How are you doing, dear?"

"Better than average."  He grinned.  "Let me get Professor Snape to meet you."  She nodded.  "I'll help with whatever you need me to, Greg."

"Can I come live with you?"

"Sure."  He smiled and headed out, going to interrupt his father's detention.  And apparently a talk with Remus.  "Dad, Greg's mum's coming up to hug him."

"Why?" he asked patiently.

"Because the latest stepmother is Millie's age."  He looked up, eyes wide.  Remus choked on his breath.  "Yeah. He's so mad he shouted at his dad from my room so his mum's coming up and the rest of the stepmums are coming to take him out tomorrow."

"Of course.  I'll go get her and walk her up," he agreed.

"I can wait and watch the kids in detention," Remus promised.  Snape nodded and headed up there while Alex went back to tell Greg it was done.

***

Greg came back from town with a big bag of treats and a smile on his face, smirking even at Draco.  He handed over a piece of parchment.  "Here's what my mums want to do.  Can you help them?"

He looked it over, putting down his fork.  He nodded.  "I can.  They can borrow our lawyers, and if not, they can borrow Alex's.  Alex!" he called.  He looked up from his dinner and came over to get the letter, reading it over with a mean smirk. "If mum can't openly help them, can your lawyers?"

"Of course," he agreed happily.  He smiled at Greg.  "Get spoiled?"

"Yeah," he said happily, sitting down.  "Thanks, Alex."

"Not a problem.  I don't like what your father's doing either."  He handed the paper back.  Then he winked.  "Tell dad, see if he'll help.  It'll definitely look bad on a great many of your dad's friends."  He went back to his seat, shaking his head even though he was grinning.

"What's going on?" Ron asked.

"Greg's gotten another stepmum.  She's a sixth year."  Ron choked.  "She basically is.  She's sixteen and a few months."

"Bloody hell," Ron said in awe, mimicked by Seamus.  "How?"

"Foreign.  Even if she adores Greg we can't stick up for this one.  Even if she's a very nice witch."  He considered it.  "I'm gong to have the lawyers do a background check on her.  There's no way she was willing to do this for no reason.  His dad doesn't really have a lot of money or anything."

"My mum would scream if one of us guys brought home someone like that," Ron said, looking stunned. "I didn't even know you could do that."  Alex grimaced and nodded.  "Where was he earlier?"

"With his stepmums, they took him for tea."  He shook his head, picking up his fork to eat something.  "That poor boy."

"Man, I'd have killed someone," Seamus said, shaking his head.  "My dad would still be hearing it."

"Oh, he heard about it," Alex assured him. "Now he's going to be hearing about it for all different reasons.  If she's a really nice witch maybe Narcissa will help her find someone more appropriate than Greg's dad."  He ate another bite and chewed slowly, then suddenly dug in and went back to their room to call around to start helping Greg. His lawyer.  His mother-in-law.  Sirius.  After all, Sirius went to some of the same whorehouses for fun that Greg's dad did.  The rumors should be spread there as well.

***

Narcissa came out of the fireplace, dusting herself off with her wand.  "Ah, much nicer," she said with a fond smile for Remus.  "Kisses, dear.  How are you?"  Once Lucius was gone, she had taken a long look at the people around her and decided making peace with this man would at least get her Sirius back, and she had been right, but she had also found out what a good friend Remus was.  It had been the best decision in her life, after agreeing to a fertility potion to have her baby dragon.

"Just fine.  The boys are in their rooms today.  It was another day to do the counter potion."  He smiled at her.  "So, what's she like?"

"She's actually very sweet and shy.  Just the most delicate little thing."

"Then Vinnie might like her, mum," Alex said, looking over the back of the chair at her before putting up his book and standing up.  He walked over and gave her a hug.  "I snuck into the sacred teacher space."

"I can see that," Remus said tolerantly.  "Take her back to your suite, Alexander."

"Yes, sir."  He walked her off by taking her arm properly, earning a smile.  "He likes them to be delicate and blush, on either side of the fence."

"She's the proper age for him too.  I can't believe Greg's father, a sixty-one-year-old wizard, picked up a sixteen-year-old witch. It's absolutely shameful."

"Yes, but we've been working on it now and then," he reminded her.  "Did my lawyers get in touch with you?"

"They did, dear, and it was most kind of you.  I'm sure those women he married will make him see how very mean they can be over this. It was also quite mean to write a suicide clause into it, Alexander."  He just beamed at her.  "Don't give Draco such mean ideas.  I doubt he needs more."

"No, he has no idea I specified that."  He opened their portrait and let her in, smiling at the others.  "Greg."  He looked up and grinned at them.  "Did you bring the profile, mum?"

"I did."  She sat down next to Greg, pulling it out of her purse and handing it over. "That's your stepmum, dear.  She is a very nice and sweet girl.  I have nothing against her."

"Me either, just my father's bad taste in marrying someone her age."  He looked through it.  "She's a pureblood?"

"Back three generations," she admitted. "Then one of her grandparents had the misfortune to marry someone who was half.  Close enough for today's standards around here."  She smoothed down some of his hair for him.  "She is the most sweet and delicate little thing.  I called her over for tea with your mum once I got that and talked with her. All she was trying to do was escape a bad place to live and a very poor family.  Her family basically was farming for their existence in a place where crops didn't grow so well."  He nodded, frowning a bit.  "We assured her that we liked her and that she could stay if the marriage was dissolved, that we'd support her in that, but even she agreed the marriage was a bad idea.  Your father's a bit controlling, Greg."

"I know."  He looked at Vinnie.  "She seems like one you'd like," he offered, handing over the profile.

Vinnie smiled at the picture, looking it over.  "She is really pretty."

"Yeah, my dad has good taste in women he covets. None of my stepmums have been ugly."

"True. Your last one was really hot," Draco agreed with a grin.  "Was she a lush when they married?"

"No, that was his father's doing as well," his mother assured him.  "Did you know that Alex wrote a suicide clause into the suit against him, Greg?" she asked gently.

"I saw that."  He smirked at Alex.  "That's mean and evil."

"That way you're not hurt if he decides to end it."

"Thanks for looking out for me, Alex."

"Not a problem.  Has Beth quit drinking yet?"

"She was fully clean and sober when we had tea," Greg admitted happily.  "She didn't even order one."  Alex looked stunned at that.  His mother always had a shot for tea.  Greg nodded, still grinning.  "Really. She's back to the girl dad married."  He looked at Narcissa.  "What can I do to help her, Auntie Narcissa?"

"I assured her you didn't hate her, just him.  You need to reassure her of that. She'd like to restart her education here but she'd have to go back a bit.  They had to take her out of Italy's school because they couldn't afford it."  Greg nodded. "So she's dreadfully behind.  Probably about fourth year level."

"I can gift her with my old books," Greg offered.

"You can have mine too," Alex offered.  "This year's too."  Greg smirked at him.  "It's not like I'm using 'em.  Does she still have her wand?"

"We're not sure," Narcissa admitted.  "She rather teared up when Alicia asked her."  She frowned a bit.  "Alex, I think you and Draco might need to help the poor dear over the holidays."  She smiled at him.  "Your party will go on however."

"Thanks, mum," Draco said with a smile.  "We'll plan it as a bridge to yours next year."  She nodded, accepting that.  "So a school-like dance?" he asked his mate.  Who shrugged and nodded. "Cool.  And some fun things for those in the lower years."  He smiled at his mother.  "What can we do to help her?"

"Alex, what day do you have all those classes you're ahead in?"

"I have Tuesday with the best chance of skipping.  I have herbology in the afternoon but she's still fond of me since I saved her from the plant."  Draco shuddered at that.  "Sorry, dear.  Should I take her to Diagon?"  She nodded.  "That's fine.  Should we ask to have her instated here?"

"I'm going to talk to Severus about that tonight," she admitted, patting Greg on the knee.  "She is a *very* nice young woman, Gregory.  Probably a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff."  He smiled at that.  "We'll do whatever we can to protect her while we ruin your father but not your good name."  She blew kisses at them and left.

Ron peeked out of his and Harry's room.  "Safe to come out?"  Draco nodded.  He looked at the folder.  "She's pretty.  That her?"

"Yeah," Vinnie said, handing it to him.  "She's Millie's age."

"I thought Bulstrode was our age," Harry asked as he came out.

"Her mother held her back a year because she caught some muggle disease the year she was supposed to come," Draco told him. "She's fourteen months older than me."

"Oh.  I guess that's understandable.  I know mum wanted to hold Ginny back a year since her birthday falls in November."  Ron sat down with the folder.  "She is really pretty."

"Auntie Narcissa said she's really nice," Alex told him. He looked at Draco.  "Should we spring you too?"

"No I'm good with not going on that shopping trip," he admitted.  He grinned at him.  "Remember, Greg's dad gets full approval of all her clothes."

"No, he gets to dress her each morning," he corrected with a small smirk.  "Maybe she will be coming here after all.  By British law she's supposed to be in school if she's underaged."

"She's barely legal, that gets around it," Harry reminded him.

"Not to quit school. That's eighteen," Alex countered.  Harry looked amused at that and he nodded.  "Really."

"I'm sure mum and Snape will do whatever's best for her," Draco noted.  "After all, she could just floo in for some limited classes."

"True," he agreed happily.  "Then she'd need uniforms."

"Which would piss my father off," Greg noted dryly, smirking at them.  "Thanks for that, Alex. Get her one anyway, just in case."

"Sure.  I hear they wear silk down there."

"We do need to update our uniforms," Draco agreed.  "I hate wool sweaters."

"I was thinking cashmere next year.  Silk robes or good cotton ones.  Good shirts and pants."

"That'd be nice, but can we get away with it?" Draco asked.

"Then I'd look really shabby next to you and so would Ron," Vinnie reminded them all.  Alex just smirked at him and he knew they'd be taken care of this time as well.

***

Alex adjusted his formal robes and smiled at the man coming in, who was giving him a quizzical look.  "Narcissa's taking me out so I can take Greg's new stepmum shopping for her wand.  She's got an appointment and double scheduled."

"I heard.  You're out of uniform for it?"

"I don't want to embarrass the poor dear. I look older than she does."

"How old is she?"

"Sixteen.  Barely."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.  "Indeed?"  He nodded, pursing his lips.  "I gather that's why Mr. Goyle has been meeting with his former stepmothers?"  He nodded smugly at that.  "That's fine.   Does she need an acceptance letter?"

"Ask Father.  They've been talking about that with her.  She might like to take some classes since she was forced to stop her education due to monetary concerns.  I'm also buying her the last two years' worth of books."

"That's fine.  Be back by curfew and do not be drunk or otherwise disruptive."

"I don't usually drink."

"It's a standard warning, Alexander.  Thank you for informing me."  He left, going to pull Professor Snape out of his class to look at him.  "What is the word on this new young woman?  Should I write up a letter for her?"

"We haven't decided yet.  Alex is to ask her today."

"Ah.  Does he know that?"  Snape nodded.  "Very well then.  He's leaving dressed quite well from the main floo."

"I saw. He was wearing it earlier."  He smirked a bit.  "She's Miss Bulstrode's age."  He sighed and shook his head.  "I heard Mr. Goyle is very unfond of his father at the moment.  He's still planning on coming up next Hogsmeade weekend however."

"I see.  That's fine.  I'll alert Madam Rosemerta that she may be witness to a brawl.  If she's to be admitted, tell me what I need to send her."  He nodded and went back to his class while the headmaster went up to find his stash of formal stationary for this task.

***

Alex smiled at the young woman Narcissa introduced him to, bowing cordially to her.  She giggled and blushed and he knew she wasn't going to be a problem to him.  "Come along, Nary.  We'll head to Diagon to get you some books on how to deal with the local magical areas."  She took his arm and walked him off once Narcissa had left for her appointment.   Narcissa had mentioned she had a translation charm on one ear so he made sure he was on that side of her.  Once they were in the crowded area and no one was paying attention to them he leaned closer.  "Narcissa thought you might like to see Ollivander's, Nary.  Was she correct?" he asked gently.  She sniffled and nodded. "She also wanted me to ask if you wanted to go to Hogwarts with us, even for selected classes."

"Yes, please.  I ...like that," she said in heavily broken English.

"Well, first thing's first, dear. You need to speak better."  She gave him a grateful smile.  "We'll hit Ollivander's first. Narcissa's already plotting with my father about you taking classes with us."  He steered her that way, smiling at the old man who came out.  "Ah, Mr. Ollivander."

"Mr. Birmingham.  Dragon's flame and holly, thirteen inches. Very swishy if I remember right," he greeted.  He smiled at the young woman.  "Who might this be?"

"This is the present Mrs. Goyle, Nary."

"Ah.  Did she need a wand?"  He nodded.  "Was hers snapped?  I'm not really supposed to fit one to someone who had their snapped you know."

"She'll be taking selected classes with us, that gets her around the educational requirement."

"Ah, wonderful!" he agreed happily.  "Let me see.  What was your last wand made of?"  She handed over the pieces and he looked.  "Hmm.  Unicorn horn and rosewood.  Very pretty, Mrs. Goyle."

"Thank you."

He looked at her and switched to Italian, making her smile and babble at him.  He looked stunned at something and nodded, going to get her fitted.  It took four tries but he got her the right one and smiled at Alex.  "She's pregnant," he said quietly as the young man paid him.  "She said one of the boys there tried to kidnap her.  I don't like to gossip but with the language barrier there's a good chance no one else knows yet, Mr. Birmingham."

Alex nodded at that, his face going cold and impassive.  "I'll tell him if he doesn't know," he agreed.  "How far?"

"Just barely registering.  She found out this morning."

"Very well.  Nary, does your present husband know?"  She shook her head, looking down.  He tipped her face up.  "Then I'll tell him and keep him from screaming at you."  He gave her a gentle smile.  "Come.  We'll go to Madam Malkin's next.  That way you can get a school uniform and all that stuff."  She smiled and nodded, waving at Ollivander.  "Thank you," he mouthed, walking out with her.   He walked her down the alley, nodding at those he knew.  One woman looked stunned.  "She's Greg's new stepmum.  Nary, this is Vincent Crabbe's mother.  He and Greg are best friends.  Mrs. Crabbe, this is Nary Goyle."

"Ah, the new one," she said, shaking her hand.  "I heard he married some delicate little flower from overseas."  Nary blushed and she smiled.  "You're just a young thing," she said, frowning.  "How old are you, Nary?"

"Just barely sixteen," Alex told her grimly.  "She'll be attending Hogwarts for a few classes now and then.  Also, you might call Narcissa tonight.  Greg's other stepmums like her greatly, but not his father at the moment."

"Fortunately my own husband doesn't take ideas from him.  Nary, if you *ever* need any help getting away from him, you come directly to my house."  The girl smiled and nodded, kissing her on each cheek.  "There, that's a good girl, Nary.  It'll be fine. Alex there is a treat at making people suffer and if he says you're okay Greg's gonna love you too."

"We agreed, including Greg, that we like her.  Narcissa said she's very nice and I agree.  Greg said he has nothing against her or his other stepmothers.  He's always liked them and he liked how Narcissa described her," he told Nary. "He just hates his father for marrying someone his age."  Nary blushed.  "He does understand why you chose to go this route to escape.  Narcissa explained it to him, dear.  By the way, Mrs. Crabbe works with a witch and family relief group and a witch's abuse shelter.  Perhaps you could tell her about your area and they could help?"

"We're always sending food and seeds around to those who need it," she agreed happily.  "We'll have tea sometime soon, Nary, and you'll tell me about your people to see if I can help, dear.  I heard some places had a *dreadful* drought."  She nodded, looking upset at that.  The woman cooed and hugged her.  "You're such a little thing too.  Much too young to be put in this situation.  Well, you just come have tea with me this week, dearie.  I'm sure we can arrange to at least help your family if not others as well."  She bustled off, going to tell her circle of friends about this new stepmother of Greg's.  So young!

Alex smiled at her.  "See, Narcissa told you no one would be mad at you.  They're not.  They're mad at the circumstances that made you take this escape route and your husband."  She smiled shyly at that.  "Don't worry, Greg and her son will protect you.  They're very good at that.  As is Narcissa's son, my betrothed."  She blinked at him.  "We've got a temporary agreement in place."  She looked confused.  "I like wizards, dear.  That's why I'm a safe person to escort you around.  Even your husband knows that."  She nodded slowly.  "Don't worry, it's accepted here.  I'll get you a book on that too," he said with a grin.  She smiled again and nodded.  "Good.  Now, let's go to the clothes place. I need my cuffs lengthened on this robe anyway."  She nodded, taking his arm again.  He noticed no hesitation, which was nice.  He knew some places didn't like wizards who liked other boys.  She was at least judging him on the person he appeared to be for her.  He walked her into Madam Malkin's, earning a confused look.  "This is the newest Mrs. Goyle."

"Another one, already?" she complained, coming over.  "Should I fit her for a uniform, Alexander?"

"She'll be taking selected classes with us."  He put a hand on her arm.  "None of us blame her, but her husband is toast when her stepson gets hold of him," he said dryly.

"I'd say so!"  She smiled at the young woman.  "Come along, dear.  I'll make you pretty in your uniforms and all that."  Nary looked at Alex.

"Go ahead. Even I like her and I hate most women."  Nary frowned at him.  "My Grams was a torturing bitch.  Got me all the time.  I hate most women, but I like you enough to protect you and I trust her."  Nary nodded firmly, apparently understanding that.  She let the woman walk her off.  "Ollivander talked to her in Italian.  Her English isn't great on speaking, Madam Malkin.  Make her stunning. She's got to meet Greg this Saturday and I need my robe refitted."

"You need everything refitted, Alexander," she chided.  "Can I get one of the others?"  He nodded, allowing that since she'd be close enough to slap them if they upset him.  "Doris!"  She came jogging out of the back.  "Please refit that robe to Mr. Birmingham."  Nary gasped, looking at Alex.

He smirked a bit.  "Yes, I'm that Alexander Birmingham, dear.  What did you hear?"  She babbled at him in her native language, crossing herself.  "I'm not evil," he assured her, smiling gently at her.  "I'm actually quite nice as long as you don't try to attack me."  She blinked and he pulled his wand.  "Translingua," he cast on himself, explaining it to her in her native language.  She finally nodded and hugged him, then looked at Madam Malkin and asked shyly if she could have something pretty for her husband.  He uncast the spell and cast it on her instead, looking at his fitter, who was frowning.  "It wasn't her fault," he said coolly.  "She was escaping horrible things."

"I've had to do that when my husband tried to kill me," she admitted quietly.  "Did you introduce her to Mrs. Crabbe yet?"

"On the way in here.  They're going to take tea."  He let her refit the robe and smiled, handing over the money for both their things when they were done.  "You remembered uniforms, right?  She'll be taking classes with us."

"I did," Madam Malkin assured him.  "Did she know...."  He nodded.  "That's fine.  Does *he* know?"

"Not yet.  I've promised to let him know."  She nodded wisely. "We're off to the bookstore."  She took the package. "Draco and I wanted to know if you could spiff up uniforms for us too.  We're really tired of wool."

She chuckled and shook her head. "I'm not allowed, Alexander.  I'm sorry."

He shrugged.  "Maybe in Paris," he offered with a grin, walking her off. "Thank you, Madam Malkin."  She turned and waved like the girl she was.  He smiled at her as he walked her back to the bookstore.  "After this, how about some ice cream?" he suggested.  She beamed and nodded.  He smiled at the clerk coming over to help them.  "This is Mrs. Goyle.  She needs some refresher sets in all areas plus the textbooks for the third years and up.  Also, is there something to help her learn English a bit better?"

"Of course," he agreed happily, going to start pulling books for him.  They worked on commission and he loved it when people had big orders.  He put them all in a bottomless bag and Alex paid him, both of them smiling.  "Did you need anything else, Mr. Birmingham?"

"No, all I'm missing are my muggle comics.  I have to go into London itself for those."   He smiled and took her arm properly, walking her out.  She dropped her clothes into the bag as well, smiling at him.  "See, there's a lot you can do and I'll work a translation spell for you tonight so I can send it to you."  She nodded and pointed at her husband.  "Ah.  Mr. Goyle!" he called, waving a bit.  "Ice cream!" he called, pointing.  He got a scowl in return so walked her that way, smiling at the waitress as she seated them.  "I want a small sundae.  Chocolate.  Nary?"  She babbled something.  "Strawberry?" he asked.  She nodded. "The ice cream or the topping?"  She nodded at the second one.  "And some coffee for me please.  Water, Nary?"  She nodded and smiled.  "Get Mr. Goyle's as well."  She nodded, going to get him and his order as she walked him that way. "Mr. Goyle.  Nice to see you again.  Narcissa asked me to take her shopping to show her around."

"Why you?"

"Because I'm mated to Draco."

"Ah."  He had forgotten about that and quit frowning.  "Where did you go, Nary?"

She held out her wand proudly and he smiled, so she pulled out her books and showed them off, then her package of clothes as well.  He patted her on the hand and smiled so she repacked everything and squealed as he ice cream came.

Alex looked at him, then cleared his throat before digging in.  "Mr. Goyle, my father has noted that she is still supposed to be in school by wizarding law."  His face tightened up again.  "They've worked out a way for her to take selected classes with us, that way it gets around that and she can finish her education since it was stopped due to family concerns."

"Really?  Starting when?"

"That'll depend on Madam Pomfrey," he noted calmly.  Mr. Goyle looked at him oddly.  He got up and smiled at Nary.  "We'll be right back."  She nodded, continuing to eat and watch everyone while he walked the man a few feet away, off to the side of the crowd and out of hearing.  "Did she tell you she had been kidnaped and raped three months ago?" he asked quietly.  "That she and her sister had been from what I heard at Ollivander's."  Mr. Goyle's face went solidly cold and emotionless.  "It wasn't her doing.  She didn't know until this morning."

"She's what?"

"Ollivander found it out when he was fitting her.  It's from the bastard who hurt her there.  The one she was escaping from."

He calmed himself.  "I can't hold that against her.  Why didn't she tell me!"

"How could she of? It's hard enough to do that when you speak the same language," he said sarcastically.  Goyle frowned at him for it.  "I'll be working with Draco on a translation charm for her until she's up to snuff with her English skills.  We'll send it on this week."  He sighed and nodded, running a hand through his hair.  "I will tell you this.  Narcissa, Draco, my father, and I all agree.  We like her. She's a very nice girl.  We'll be protecting her fully.  As will Mrs. Crabbe since they were going to chat about the drought around her family home soon."  He started to frown again.  "I'm supporting Greg and Nary in this, Mr. Goyle.  She's an innocent who shouldn't be hurt.  That's what I do.  Another reason Narcissa had me take her shopping.  Now, you've got a pregnant wife who's unable to speak the language and she's going to be taking classes.  It's up to you to decide if she's fully enrolled or not.  That is still an option and it would give you a way to dissolve the marriage thoughtfully and considerately.  Greg's going to like her as a friend and I think she and Vincent Crabbe would get on great.  She's the sort he likes and the right age."

"She's old enough...."

"For your son," Alex finished blandly.  The older man glared at him and he stared right back, making him shiver.  "Not even Lucius' mistresses were that young, Mr. Goyle.  Really!"  He walked him back. "Nary, dear, he said he's not mad about what happened to you," he said quietly, patting her on the hand.  She blinked up at him.

Mr. Goyle sat down again, patting her other hand. "I can't blame you for what people did to you, dear.  I won't do that.  I'll accept the child if that's what you want.  I'll also let you attend the school full time if that's what you want."  She cried and hugged him around the neck.  "There, there, precious, it's all right," he soothed, stroking her back.  Alex finished his coffee and put some money down on the table before walking off.  "I'll call Severus tonight."

"Do that," he agreed.  He sent himself back to Malfoy Manor through a nearby floo port, dusting off on the other side.  "We've got to talk," he told Narcissa, Alicia, his father, and Dumbledore.  "She was kidnaped three months ago.  She found out this morning she's pregnant.  She is frightfully nice though and we ran into Mrs. Crabbe in the alley.  They're having tea later this week."

"Did you tell her husband?" Snape asked calmly.

"I thought it better coming from me.  He can't attack me for it and he might have done it to her.  She is refitted for her wand."  He sat down and took the cup of tea his mother-in-law held out.  "Thank you, dear."  He looked at his father.  "She'll need something to help her translate into her native language for a while.  I told her Draco and I would work on that for her.  Ollivander talked to her in Italian, she knows that fairly well.  He's the one who found out and Madam Malkin knew as well.  I did a translation charm between them."  He took a sip of tea and looked at Narcissa.  "She's frightfully sweet and delicate.  Her old wand was unicorn horn and rosewood.  Her new one is charmed sapphire and bonsai tree wood."  He took a sip of tea.  "She wants to take classes and finish her education.  Father, Mr. Goyle will be calling you later to see about that.  He did offer to let her attend fully if possible. He asked me when she could start and I said that was up to Madam Pomfrey, that's how I opened that delicate talk."  His father relaxed and nodded.  "If Madam Sprout isn't evil, they're almost exactly alike, father."

"She is very shy and delicate," Narcissa agreed.  "She blushes as the slightest thing."

"I had to reexplain the liking wizards thing to her.  Apparently it's not as accepted over there," Alex told her.  "But I did clue her in as to why I was safe to take her shopping.  I got her refresher sets and books for the last few years, plus an English learning system."

"So she'll be able to fully speak and understand by the end of the year," Snape agreed.  "Good idea, son."

"Thanks, dad."  He grinned at him.  "I got him calmed down and noted that I was protecting the innocent in this case, her.  Plus I was standing up for Greg.  I also suggested that sending her to Hogwarts would be a delicate and subtle way of breaking it off with her."  He finished his tea and put the cup back down, smiling at the adults.  "Can I go grab my comics? I had planned on that anyway."

"Of course, dear," Narcissa smiled.  "Thank you so much."

"Not an issue.  She reminds me of a hurt little first year in many ways."  He got up and sent himself off, back to Diagon.  He saw the couple walking toward him and paused to dust himself off.  "My father and Dumbledore are at Malfoy Manor," he noted quietly to them.

Mr. Goyle nodded.  "Thank you, Alexander."

"Eh, it's what I do, protecting my friends and innocents.  Where's her bag?"

"In my pocket, boy."

"Remember, I am a legal adult," he said with a smirk.  Mr. Goyle's eyes went wide and he looked at him. "I have been since the Ministry tried to put me on that calming potion that turned me homicidal."  Then he smiled sweetly.  "That means I have full access to everything of the family's now.  So do treat her right.  Let me know if we're going to need to come get her to have her sorted or not."

"We'll be going to talk to them now, see what's best for her in that condition.  You'll be telling my son?"

"And keeping him from going over there with Draco to kill whoever hurt her."  Nary smiled at that.  "Greg is frightfully protective, Nary.  You'll like Greg.  Don't worry about Greg and you getting along."

"He has all the others."

"Yes, and he's still mad at you."

"How many others?" she asked him quietly.

"You're number nine that I know of," Alex told her honestly.  "Seven after Greg was born.  All the others get along and they'll support you too.  Alicia, Greg's mum, said you've already met?"  She smiled and nodded.  "Then you'll like the rest.  They'll like you.  Don't worry about them being grumpy at you, Nary.  They'd never hurt you."  She nodded, accepting that.  "With that I'm off to get comics from muggle London, with permission.  Call us later to let us know, Nary.  We'll start work on that charm tonight," he said with a wink, heading off.

"If he didn't hate women, I'd worry about that boy," Mr. Goyle said dryly.  His wife looked up at him.  "Come, let's got to Narcissa's and talk about you going back to school, dear."  She relaxed and smiled, nodding a bit.  Maybe the others were right and he was disgracing his family name by dating her, but he did like her.  She was very pretty and sweet, innocent even with all she'd seen.

***

Alex came into the suite and dropped the comics on the couch, then looked around. "Greg?"  He came out of the bathroom.  "She's very sweet and innocent.  She blushes at everything."  Greg grinned at that.  "Three months ago she was kidnaped and hurt though."  Greg stiffened.  "I got your father calmed down but she wants to attend here.  You'll like her.  She's *exactly* like what Bertha was when he married her."

"Then I'm sure I will," he agreed, coming over to look through the comics, finding the stuff rubberbanded for him.  Alex grinned at him.  "Is she all right?"

"She only found out this morning, Greg.  They're figuring out whether or not she can attend school like that today.  The Headmaster and my father were at Malfoy Manor when I left her back with your dad.  I also told him I'm sticking up for you and helping her.  By the way.  Draco?"  He shrugged. "Fine.  We need to get a language charm for her to wear.  She speaks Italian but has broken English."

"But I'll like her?"

"You'll want to pull her into your lap and cuddle her to protect her.  Even I did, Greg."  Greg smiled at that.  "She's very sweet and nice.  Just the sort Vinnie would go for and I've already introduce his mother to her since we 'ran into' her in the alley.  She was lurking a bit, probably thanks to Auntie Narcissa."  Draco came in with Harry.  "Draco, love, we need to work on a language charm for Nary.  She can barely speak English and her understanding isn't perfect yet either."

"Nary?" he asked, looking confused.

"My new stepmum, Draco," Greg told him. "I'm still going to kill my dad."

"She's nice then?" Harry asked.

"I think Greg'll want to pull her into his lap and cuddle and protect her," Alex admitted.  "I did after seeing her and Madam Malkin giggling like naughty school girls over a pink dress."

Draco snorted.  "Fine.  What's she speak?"

"Albanian and Italian.  She went to school in Italy.  She and Mr. Ollivander spoke in Italian."

"That's fine.  Is she coming here?" he asked.  Alex shrugged.  "We're not sure she wants to?"

"No, she wants to, but...."  He glanced around. "This goes absolutely no further, Draco.  Ever."

"Millie's outside," Harry told him.

Alex walked over to hiss in his ear.  "That's why she's so fragile.  So we've got a chick to protect until she can fledge and fly on her own."

Draco looked at him and nodded. "Did you calm his father down?"

"Yeah, that's why it took me so long."  He grinned.  "He's said it's up to her what to do about it."

"That's fine.  I couldn't pick on her about it."

"No, but you might tell someone and if they let it slip to someone like Blaise, he might."

"Point," Draco admitted.  "Fine.  We'll protect the little foreign flower and do a translation charm for her.  On what?"  Alex pulled something out of his pocket, holding up the small necklace and the charm on it.  "That's cute."

"Yes, and I thought the megaphone would make it easier, more sympathetic.  Pure silver," he said as he handed it over.  "It's muggle so totally no magic around it already for strength or anything."

"I can do that as well," Draco decided.  "It'll be a nice wedding present."

"She needs it.  She can't understand everything he tells her to do," he said dryly.  "She looked so *happy* about starting classes again."

"I'm sure she'll be with us soon then," Harry said from his seat.  "Alexander, did you get any more Superman?"

"Bottom of the stack, Harry, it's alphabetical."  He grinned at Draco.  "You're sure?"

"We can protect her and I'm sure Vinnie will too.  He's every bit like his mum."

"They're having tea later this week.  She was lurking in plain sight in Diagon."

"Ah, my mother strikes again," Draco said fondly, smirking at him.  "Come on then, let's get the books for the language charm."  They walked out together, heading to the Charms classroom.  Those would be in the restricted section because they were so difficult.  The teacher was gone so they headed to the next likely source for permission, McGonagall.  She was coming out of her office and locking her door.  "We need to do a language charm for the new Mrs. Goyle."

"From what I hear, she's in the infirmary getting checked over for admission," she said with a small smile.  She walked them to the library, talking to Irma Pince personally.  Once they had the book it only took a moment to fix it on the necklace and hand it back, then they headed up there, Draco handing over the necklace.

She looked at it, then at them.  "What this?" she asked.

Alex took the direct route, putting it on her.  "There, can you understand better?"  She squealed and hugged him, then Draco.  He smirked at Mr. Goyle.  "It might need a strengthening charm sometime soon, but it should be fine.  Pure silver."

Draco peeled the girl off him and put her back onto the table.  "Welcome to Hogwarts, Mrs. Goyle."  She beamed at him.  "Does it work?"

"It works well," she said, her lips moving in her native tongue and the words being translated into English.  "Thank you both!"  She hugged them again then her husband then the nurse.  "I speak better now."

"I can tell, dear," she said happily, smiling at them.  "Should I call up Gregory so you two can meet up here in private?"

"Please.  Everyone says I'll like him a lot."

Alex walked over to the doorway.  "Vinnie, go get Greg."

"He's pacing down the hall, trying not to beat Granger again," he noted patiently, walking in.  "Greg," he called.  Then he came over, holding out a hand.  "Hi, I'm Vinnie Crabbe."

"I'm Nary," she said, shaking his hand.  "I met your mother earlier."

He smiled.  "I'm sure she'd love you.  She always likes to hear about foreign places, especially if she can help with a drought or some families that need help.  She's like that."

Nary nodded.  "She asked to have tea later this week to speak about such things."

"That's fine then.  Try the cream biscuits.  She makes excellent ones."  Nary beamed and nodded and he felt his chest tighten at that.  "Greg!" he called again.  She looked over as the other boy came in, her eyes widening as she looked from the father, who wasn't as big as the son was, and back. "Yeah, Greg ate too much and grew too fast," he teased, making her blush and giggle.  He realized he still held her hand and released it, looking at Greg.  "This is Nary."

"Hi," he said shyly, shaking her hand.  "So, do you want me to call you by your name or should I call you stepmum or what?"

She looked stunned.  "My name," she said.

"Well, it's a bit freaky when you speak.  Your lips move and it doesn't match the words.  You'll be a big hit in class," he said with a grin, hugging her.  She blushed so he let her go.  "That's fine, Nary.  Alex and everyone thinks we'll get on fine.  I'm a nice boy most of the time, unless you're attacking Draco or Alex there.  We can be friends."  She nodded, hugging him again.  "Aww, there now, it's all right," he soothed, patting her on the back.  "We'll be better friends than my dad and I are, Nary.  He can become a bludger and we'll both get bats.  How about that?"  She giggled and blushed.  "No?"

"What's a bludger?"

"You don't know about quidditch?  Well, we should talk about that.  Madam Pomfrey, are you done?"

"Not yet, Mr. Goyle.  Sit and wait.  You can have her at dinner to tell her about quidditch," she said patiently. "Have Mr. Weasley help you explain it.  After all, he explained it to Mr. Potter and look what he became."

Draco snorted.  "Overblown of ego?"  Alex pinched him.  "Ow!  Mean snot! I'm telling mother you abuse me!"

"She'll just pat me on the cheek and remind me that spanking can be done in fun and punishment, love," he said with a wicked grin.  Even Draco blushed at that.  Dumbledore turned away so his wasn't showing.  "Now that I've shown where my mind's going tonight instead of trying to do the impossible and work in a linear fashion for a certain potions paper, I'm headed to eat.  Draco?"

"I'll follow to make sure I get food," he muttered, glaring at his spouse as he walked off.  He looked at Snape.  "For some reason he can't gather his thoughts.  Even Lupin's noticed it.  Isn't there a potion to calm that down, Professor?"

"I'll try," he said dryly.  "Go eat dinner, Mr. Malfoy."

"You're Narcissa's son?  She brags about you quite a lot," Nary told him with a shy grin.

"As she should, I'm perfect in nearly every way," he agreed with a smug grin back, making her laugh.  "Come join us once you're sorted.  Even if you're not in our house, I'll let the others know you're allowed at the Slytherin table so you can chat with Greg and Vinnie."  He waved and walked out, going to spread around the news to his house. Pansy glared at him so he ended up backhanding her, but stepped over her body and went to tell the upper years as well.  They all agreed Greg's new stepmother was welcome to sit and chat with him at their table, even if she was a Hufflepuff, which was where Draco thought she should be.

***

That Saturday, Vinnie sat down with his parents, looking around to make sure no one they knew could overhear.  "Mum, dad, I've got a quandary," he said.  His father frowned.  "Sorry, Alex taught it to me last week."  He grinned at them and leaned closer.  "Mum, is it supposed to feel tingly when you get that chest-squeezing feeling because a girl smiles at you?" he asked quietly.  She squealed and hugged him.

"Son, there's no problem with love," his father said cautiously.  "Unless it's Potter or someone unsuitable."

"It's Nary Goyle."

"That's a situation," he agreed, nodding.  He looked at his wife, who was still beaming.  "That could be a bad thing."

"No, dear. We don't see them sticking together very long.  What about the rumor I heard?"

He shrugged.  "It doesn't matter to me, mum."

"Good point."  She patted him on the hand.  "I would be most upset if you became more than friends while they're in a relationship, son, but I cannot find it in me to dislike that girl. I found her very sweet and nice when we had tea.  That translation charm works very well too."

"It does," he agreed with a shy grin and a small blush.  He glanced around again.  "I don't want to, mum, but I've got her stuck in there.  I put her in my potion's paper and Professor Snape caught it.  He laughed, during class."  His father moaned.  "He didn't say why until later, when I got it back and he noted, in big red letters, that she was not an acceptable component in that potion nor a good choice to study."

"I agree, that could be rather dangerous."  He waved the waitress over.  "Butterbeers."  She smiled and got them some, then left.  "Well, if they do break up, I'll expect you to be a full gentleman, son.  I met your mother when we were third years and fell in love with her."  She blushed.  "We've been more stable than most because of it.  So if she's the one, as long as she's single, then I don't have a problem."  He took a sip.  "Any other problems?"

"Yeah, they still found that potion in us after a month.  Snape thinks they made it wrong."

"What potion?" his mother asked gently.

"You never told her?" Vinnie asked his father.

"I didn't want to worry her."  He looked at her.  "Someone dosed everyone in their suite but Draco and Alexander with a compulsion potion so they'd attack Alex some day soon.  It was only supposed to last a month."

"And you didn't tell me why?"

"Because you'd go tear down the Ministry by hand, mum.  Alex and them wanted some of it too, especially Narcissa and Professor Snape," he said dryly.

"Why would *he* want it?' she asked calmly.

"That's something you should have heard from the gossip, mum.  He's his dad."

"Who's?"

"Alex's."  She wobbled and her husband steadied her.  "Mum, are you all right?"

"You're going to have a sister soon, Vincent," his father said proudly.  "That's what we came up here to tell you."

"Well," he said, smiling and happy.  "I'll be the best big brother ever.  I'll take lessons from Weasley so mine doesn't turn out like his sister, the torturing little brat."  His mother moaned, holding her head.  "Sorry, mum, but she did."

"She's been a bit tied to the house recently, son.  Be more gentle with her," his father ordered.

"Sorry, mum."

"That's all right, dear.  What happened?"

"She turned Draco funny colored and had Lovegood put emotional charms on him."  He grinned and leaned closer, hissing all of that matter to her, making her hiss in horror and giggle at Madam Sprout being scary.  When his parents left, he got up and went to find everyone else, finding Greg across the Broomstick with his stepmothers.  He hugged his buddy. "I'm going to be a big brother. I'm going to have a sister!" he said happily.

"Oh, congratulations!" Beth squealed, hugging him.  "You're going to be an excellent big brother, Vincent!"  She patted him on the back and grinned at him.  "Want to join us?"

He blushed and shook his head.  "I'm going to spread the good news.  Nary, want help with Herbology later?"  She blushed and nodded.  "That's fine, come down then.  It'll be all of us in the suite."  He ran off before he could embarrass himself further.

Greg looked at her.  "If you and dad break up, I won't mind if you date Vinnie. He's a really nice guy.  You make him fluttery and blushy.  I like that about you."  She blushed bright red so he looked at the women in his life.  "What should I get Auntie Narcissa this year, mums?"

"What's Alex and Draco getting her?" his actual mother asked.

"A Charm box."

"Ah.  Get he something to put into it.  You and Vincent both, dear," the third-to-last suggested.  He beamed and nodded, liking that idea.  She smiled at Nary.  "I believe you're the only Gryffindor among us, dear.  Don't worry though, we won't let old house fights get in the way of liking you."  The girl gave them a shy smile and she knew all the other former Mrs. Goyles there were making their own plans to help the poor dear.  They'd have to get with Narcissa to see what she was planning.  After all, Narcissa is THE bitch of society on these matters.  Everyone went to her about things like ex-wives and ex-husbands.

***

Hermione sat down next to Nary, smiling at her.  "Nary, wasn't it?"  The girl looked over and nodded, smiling at her slightly.  "Where are you from?  Harry said you went to school in Italy?"

"Albania," she said quietly.

"I've never heard much about your country.  Were you from the city or the more rural areas?"

"Rural," she offered.

"Ah.  Farm folk?"  The girl nodded slowly and Hermione smiled.  "Don't worry, dear, my parents are muggle.  I'll like you no matter who you are.  My parents are dentists."

"Leave her alone, Hermione," Ginny said from her seat.  "Mum says that her country's having a civil war right now and I doubt she wants to chat much about that stuff."  She smiled at Nary.  "Ignore her if she gets too pushy, we do."

"Ginny!  I'm being perfectly nice to the new girl in the house!"

Ginny closed her book.  "Hermione, my mum said to leave her alone.  Especially us so we don't give her the wrong impression about Alex and them."

"I wasn't going to mention His Evilness."

"He's not evil!" Ginny shouted, throwing her book at Hermione and standing up. "If he were evil he wouldn't protect those kids who can't!  We've all benefitted by him protecting this house and the other houses!  This whole school and world was protected by him AND Harry.  Not just Harry, Alex was there too!" she shouted.

"Girl fight," Seamus said, putting his books aside to watch them go at it.  It'd get to hair pulling soon he was sure.  Then they'd be rolling around and maybe he'd get a glimpse of torn clothes and panties.

"I always like girl fights," Dean agreed, watching by leaning on top of his books.

"Alex is so evil!" Hermione shot back.  "How can he not be!  He needs help, Ginny!  Not patted on the back and told 'good job for not killing them'!"

"Please, is he evil?  I've heard some about his family," Nary offered quietly, breaking into the fight.

Ginny shook her head.  "He's not. He's never been evil, Nary.  He'll never be evil.  He chose to come to Gryffindor instead of Slytherin because he didn't want to go bad.  He's allergic to dark magic so if you catch him sneezing he's just ran into some."  Nary relaxed and smiled at that.  "Draco has his moments of snarky evilness, little boy and annoying pest evil really, but Alex is much nicer.  Alex protects the little kids in this school who can't do it on their own."  Hermione snorted, crossing her arms.  "She just wants a test patient to learn therapy off of. She thinks she can fix Alex and make him straight because she wants in his panties and he likes boys.  He has *always* liked boys, even before his grandmother could really torture him," she shot at Hermione.

"She did other abuse I'm sure."

"And the fact that his father used to have a bloke too?" Ginny shot back.  Hermione scowled at her. "Your prejudices are showing, Granger.  Just because he's gay doesn't mean he needs fixed!" she spat.  "He's fine the way he is.  My mum was right, if the boy goes evil it's because you and Pansy shoved him to it.  At least I apologized for trying to hurt Draco."  She looked at Nary again.  "Ignore her except in classwork," he said quietly.  "She's a good tutor but her views are a bit skewed at times.  Liking wizards is totally acceptable here to us, but she wants in his drawers so she refuses to give up on that point yet.  Besides, we just got rid of one evil and even if people are trying to turn Alex into one," she said with a glare at Hermione, then smiled at Nary again, "he won't turn into one.  He said if he was ever forced, all the child abusers would be gone within a day.  He's a protective sort.  He's one of us."

"Then why does he live separately with some Slytherins?" she asked quietly.  "I don't understand."

"A few years back my big brother Percy, who's a massive man twat, decided to force them all out of the house for protecting Harry Potter.  See," she said, sitting the girl down, "we had someone who had been possessed in the house and he stabbed Harry.  Alex figured it out and came running back from a long sulk in the Forbidden Forest to save him, but he brought Draco and Professor Snape with him.  Draco hates us and Professor Snape hates us even more.  They saved Harry but my man twat brother Percy decided the house was safer without all them here.  So he had our brother Ron, Harry, and Alex all kicked out.  Along with Hermione since she was helping Harry and Ron protect us all.  Alex had a choice and a chance to go dark and evil.  He could have went to Slytherin with all his friends and the Sorting Hat said he would have went bad.  He chose to come here instead so he wouldn't.  You don't have to worry about Alex unless you turn into some torturing bitch of a woman like Hermione is and I was to him.  I apologized and my brother's at least speaking to me again, but Alex was very hurt by women."

"He told me."  She nodded a few times. "I understand such things happen."

"Then my mum was right, you're having a war?"  She pursed her lips and nodded.  "I'm sorry, honey, I don't mean to bring up bad thoughts," she offered, hugging her gently.  She pulled back with a smile.  "Have you at least written them and told them you're all right?  We can get a muggle letter through that way if you'd rather it not go by owl."

"I should.  She was worried," she said quietly, glancing around.  "Why are they all staring at me?"

Ginny laughed. "They're staring at Hermione and I because they think we're going to get into a clothes tearing fight so they can see naughty stuff.  After all, I've got five older brothers," she said with a wink. "I'm very good at fighting dirty."

One of the twins looked over. "You also...."

"Got us in trouble with Alex," the other complained.

"Yeah, yeah.  I apologized, go make your own!" she ordered firmly, glaring at them. She smiled at Nary again.  "Just ignore the prats over there.  They like to prank people.  If they get you, you tell me and I'll make them more miserable."  She sat down beside her.  "Now then, what're you studying?  You're in my year so I can help with some of it.  Alex and Draco are *really* good in some of the classes too."  She looked upset for a moment then forced it away.  "There was a really good kid in Herbology around here but he went bad."

"I doubt...." Hermione started.  Ginny slapped her.

"Neville Longbottom cast that curse without coercion, Hermione Granger.  He admitted so before the Wizengomet.  He made his choice to curse Alex and did it!  He did it knowing teachers were there!  That may take balls but it certainly didn't take brains!"  Hermione stomped off.  "And stay out! You were kicked out too!" she screamed after her.  She glared at the boys.  "Anyone else?"  The boys all shook their heads and the girls in the common room smiled at her.  Nary gave her a look like she was scary so she smiled. "Sorry, I'm turning into my mother again."  She sat down, smoothing out her skirt.  "What're you working on, Nary?  Let me help you get caught up?"

"I wouldn't mind.  Is...Vinnie any good at any subjects?"

Ginny smiled at her.  "He's cute enough but I don't know.  I never sat down and talked to him.  I try to stay away from the Slytherins since we kinda have a house war going on.  Since you're Greg's stepmum, you're gonna be left out but I'm not.  You could ask him."  She blushed and hid her face.  Ginny patted her on the back.  "I like him much better. He's your age and Ron says he's got a good sense of humor."  The twins glared at her again and she glared back.  "He did.  He should know since he's forced to live with them.  I'm surprised he gets any sleep since he says Alex snores worse now."  A few of the fifth year boys laughed at that.  "Ron said he does.  Said he kept up him and Harry the other night.  Even Draco couldn't get him to stop."  Nary blushed bright red at that.  "It's all right.  We accept liking your own sort around here, Nary.  They're cute together.  Alex is such a poof some days," she said with an eye roll.

"He's good at helping me pick out clothes."

"Yeah, that's part of it," she assured him.  She smiled at her.  "You're safe with Alex. Not even your husband can say he'd hit on you.  He's never liked girls.  Hermione even tried a lust potion on him and it had no effect."

"She did...."

"What!" the twins shouted, turning to both glare at her.

"Last month.  Didn't you know?"  They shook their heads.  She nodded. "Yeah, she mixed it in here even.  Gave some to Lavender too."  They got up and hurried out.  That was something that could get one expelled.

"Fortunately I dumped mine since I didn't need it after all," Lavender said from her couch.  Her seatmate nodded at that.  She grinned at Ginny and the new girl. "I almost pity Granger when Alex grabs her this time."

Seamus shook his head.  "His protection is Draco's now.  It'll be those three together," he said wisely, then shuddered.  "Eww, she's gonna be hurtin' bad.  We'll need to abandon her to stay safe."

Dean summoned a house elf, smiling at it.  "Tell Mr. Malfoy to sit on Mr. Birmingham for the next few hours.  Otherwise he's going to have a fit soon."  The elf nodded and left, and the girls all burst out in giggles.  "That way they'll have time to plan it so we can watch."

"Naughty boy," Nary teased, smiling at him.  They both grinned and nodded. "My sister would like you. She thinks the same way."

"Hey, bring her up too," Seamus agreed with a bright grin.  "We're always happy to have new witches around here and your husband should help your family if they're in danger."

"True," Ginny agreed. "Or ask Vincent's mum.  My mum works on her with some of the charities.  My mum's good at planning things like dinners for charity events."

Nary smiled and nodded, pulling out some paper to write to Mrs. Crabbe.  She had been ordered to write her weekly anyway. Then she wrote a letter to her mother, telling her what had happened and how well she was doing.  She gave that to Ginny, who winked and took them both up to the owlry.  Her mother could mail a letter the muggle way from her house. It was so much safer when an owl might be shot down for food.

***

McGonagall walked in after a quick knock on the suite's portrait, smiling at how Draco was sitting on top of Alex this time.  "That's probably a good idea."

"Thomas sent word that he was going to have a fit."

She nodded.  "Probably."  She sat across from him, licking her lips a bit.  "Alexander, about a month ago, did you feel anything...odd?"

"No," he said slowly, cuddling Draco to stay calm.  "Why?"

"Because someone, a female, tried to dose you with a love potion.  Ginny let on tonight in the common room that they had tried and you hadn't reacted."

"Who is this walking corpse?" Draco asked with a sweet smile.

"I'd rather not say."

"Was it my sister?" Ron sighed.  "Mum's gonna have a fit of her own if it was."

"No, it wasn't.  Apparently Miss Granger brewed it and gave some to Lavender, who flushed hers by her account when we talked with her.  She's under house suspension for even having it in her possession for a bit."

"And Miss Granger?" Alex asked bitterly.

"We're trying to decide whether or not to expel her for putting it on you," she admitted gently.

"I'm for expulsion at the moment," he noted dryly.  He looked at his mate. "Aren't you?"

"No, I'm more for bodily harm and screaming actually," he admitted.  Vinnie and Greg both growled and nodded at that.  "Nary?"

"Ginny was having a fight with Miss Granger about leaving her alone and not telling her that you're evil, Alexander."

"You could call me Alex, Professor.  We work together too often for you to stay so formal."

She smiled.  "Thank you, dear.  Your father wanted it noted to you that you had been exposed.  He did point out to her, quite meanly actually, that it meant you were gay long before the torture started."

"That was awfully nice of him," Ron said with a smirk.  "Can I tell Harry?"

"Oh, yes, dear.  He'll throw a fit and he's still leaking magic now and then.  I believe he's with Remus tonight."  She looked at Alex.  "We don't want any of you to harm her if they decide not to expel her."

"If it was any of us, they'd have us out of here with the pieces of our wands and crying by now," Ron said coldly.

"Yes, but people remember how you and she helped Harry.  These are the same people who want someone new to fear and are trying to make Alex into it.  Since they've turned her to their side...."  She shrugged.  "She may get to stay since it's the current Minister."

"And Dumbledore," Alex sighed, giving Draco a squeeze.  "Thank you for sitting on me."

"Not an issue," he agreed. He looked at the professor.  "If she stays, I want her far away from all of us.  Move her room, take her out of our classes.  Resort her if you must."

She nodded.  "That's being looked at as well.  She'll be suspended to her house or to her home for the rest of this year and have to come back next year a year behind."  They all nodded.

"Could I, as being in the same situation as she was, help by saying expel the bitch?" Ron asked.

She smiled.  "Probably not.  They're on her side at the moment and that would look like you're sticking up for their enemy, Ron.  I wish it would though.  Never have I seen someone in my house get so off track after such a promising start."

Alex licked his lips.  "Professor, Minerva, what can and can't we do to her if she does stay?"

She smiled and shook her head. "You're not allowed to punish her at all.  The Ministry would consider it done and over with once her punishment was served."

"A year's free study time isn't punishment," Draco said bitterly.

"No, it'll make them more on their side," Ron agreed.  He looked at her.  "Get Harry into this. He'll hate it, but he needs to know."

She stood up.  "I was about to do that, but I thought to tell you first so you wouldn't hear tomorrow at breakfast."  She swept out, going to find Potter.  They'd still be arguing over keeping her or not.  The Minister was a long-winded bastard and he was making a grand speech when she left. She smiled at Harry when she caught him in the halls.  "Harry, dear.  We've got to talk."  She pulled him out of the way and spoke in his ear.  He glared up and her and she nodded.

"She's dead to me," he said quietly, heading up to the office.  He slammed open the door, watching as Hermione flinched.  "How could you!  You know very well Alex supported me!  If it weren't for him, I'd be dead by now!"

"We could have...."

"Oh, shut up!" he shouted.  She flinched.  "I'm tired of this, Hermione.  You've hurt Alex time and again, reinforcing what his grandmother did to him.  You're making it worse, not better!"  He stomped over to get in her face.  "Not only are you hurting him and Draco, you're hurting Ron and I because we're his friends.  You've hurt him so much he doesn't like to go to the library anymore.  At least not alone.  You've hurt him just as much as that torturing bitch ever did!"  She flinched again.  "You're an evil, sadistic woman, Hermione Granger, and I don't know where this is coming from!  Headmaster, I want her checked for possession and the Imperious and the like, but if this was her, she's dead to me and all my family.  Remus and Sirius, along with Alex and all them."  He glared at her again. "How could you!"

"Now see here, Mr. Potter," the Minister started.  "You may be a great hero, but Mr. Birmingham is dangerous!"

"No he's not," he snorted.  "Not unless you force him to be," he corrected when he saw the sneer. "Since you're behind him being forced to be dangerous, I'm not surprised you think he is."  The man took a step away from him.  "If it wasn't for Alexander, I wouldn't have been able to defeat the Dark Lord."

"You cast the killing curse."

"Wrong, asshole, *he* cast the killing curse," Harry spat.  "I've never been that angry and hurt in my life.  He has.  I cast the crucio that distracted him.  Alex didn't want anyone to know so he wouldn't have to deal with people like *you*," he sneered.  "I'd run from Britain were I you.  Not only are you trying to destroy a young man's happiness and life, once he's finally started to heal from torture *you* *personally* allowed to continue, knowing it was going on and probably enjoying the hell out of it being him instead of some other poor sod, but you're now treading on my toes and I've fucking well had enough, mate.  If you think I don't have the anger in me now, well, you're wrong.  Watching you idiots and morons at the Ministry attack Alex for being tortured, the same torture you allowed to go on and watched on occasion, has made sure I'm now angry enough to cast it again and again if necessary. You're not making him want to denude the planet of people.  You're making me want to kill Ministry officials!" he finished.  The man whimpered and ran into the wall as he backed away.  "Now, get you and your puss-sucking toadies the hell of this property.  Take Miss Granger with you.  If she comes back next year, that's up to you and the Wizengomet.  I'm sure they'll have a lot of fun with this case.  I'm also sure that I know about ten reporters who I'm going to be visiting tonight."

"You're a minor..." one of the toadies started.

"Wrong, moron, I'm emancipated.  I have been since the end of my first year here."  He looked stunned.  "I had to be to protect Alex and he was to protect me.  I also know who was behind that stunning little compulsion potion and how you 'talked' the brewers into committing suicide.  I would run and hide in some third world country where they don't get newspapers.  You've just touched my family and I've had enough!"  The men ran and he glared at Hermione.  "I'd go with them."  She ran out too.  He glared at Dumbledore.  "The same goes for you too, Headmaster.  You leave my given son alone!  He's perfectly nice until he's forced not to be.  Well, you're forcing him to defend himself.  Do you like what you've created?"  He turned to the floo, then back to McGonagall.  "I'm going to see Sirius.  I'll be back by Third tomorrow."  He headed off through the floo before any of the shocked people could move.

Snape cleared his throat.  "I find I like that boy now that he's grown up," he confessed.  "Not nearly as bad as he was when he came in."  He stood up and McGonagall glared at him.  "It is his right to protect those he was given custody of and I can't fault anyone for wanting to protect my son from such stupidity," he sneered.  "Any others in your house, Minerva?"

"No, Ginny Weasley apologized," she admitted.  "She's realized she's stupid and she reamed Miss Granger out about trying to defend Mr. Longbottom."

"That was kind of her.  Is she tainting Mrs. Goyle?"

"No, I was told she told Granger to get away from her," she admitted.  "She also said that she wasn't going to say a thing if their relationship dissolved and Nary decided to take up with Vincent Crabbe instead."

"Indeed?"

She smirked a bit. "You mean you didn't mark his potions paper after all?"

"No, I had," he said smugly.  "I agree, they do suit each other.  She's exactly like his mother.  Tell me if I need to convene a hearing board, Headmaster.  I'm going to take something for my headache and check on my son."

"Mr. Malfoy was warned to sit on him for a bit," McGonagall said with a small grin. "He was doing that when I told him."

"Thank you."  He left, banishing that mental image as well.  He didn't need to see his son having sex in his head.

***

Sirius woke up from his nap in his chair when Harry came out of the floo, hopping up and pulling his wand when he saw the rage in those green eyes.  "What happened?  Did someone try to raise him again?"

"No, Miss Granger thoughtfully tried to use a lust potion on Alexander," he sneered.  "It didn't work."  Sirius relaxed at that.  "The Minister for Magic has decided to reward her by not expelling her for it because he believes Alex is dangerous."  Sirius frowned at him. "They're still going after him and that potion still hasn't dissipated."

"What did you want to do?"

"I want to make them run for their lives.  I suggested they go somewhere the papers don't."

"Sure."  He hugged him but the boy pulled back and went back to pacing.

"I didn't have the anger before to cast the killing curse I think I do now," he admitted. "I think I could gladly kill them over and over and over again until every last moron at the Ministry is dead and gone and I'm the newest Dark Lord, Sirius.  I don't want to feel this way."

"Let me call Narcissa...."  Harry glared at him.  "She can get you an interview tonight, Harry."

Harry snorted.  "Do you really think I can't do the same?"  He slowly shook his head.  "Good.  Then let's do that. I may just calm down with that.  I'm damn sick and tired of this and if I don't let it out, I'm going to hurt someone."

"Sure. Let me call Narcissa to see who I should call."

Harry picked up the papers lying next to the fire, then called out the editor's name with some floo powder.  He held up the paper.  "Is this rag yours?"  He glared.  "The Ministry is fucking with me and Alexander.  You want a story?  Bring others."  He hung up and looked at his godfather.  "I'm sorry if I embarrass you," he said more calmly.

Sirius hugged him again.  "I'm glad you came here instead of going there and hurting others, Harry," he soothed.  "Your mother would have went there first."  He heard some popping noises and looked outside.  "Hey, aurors," he said dryly.  "Go get some of the reporters and bring them," he called. "Harry wants to give an interview."

"We were sent to prevent that," one admitted, coming inside.

Harry pulled his wand and pointed it at them. "I'd leave.  He pissed me off too much this time."  They backed off.  "By the way, the only aurors I deal with are both Tonks and the boss.  I trust them not to be Death Eaters.  The rest of you."  He snorted.  "I don't know, I don't trust, and I don't like.  You're sticking up for the bastards trying to turn myself and others into a convenient dark lord."  They gasped and he turned, finding a few reporters coming out of the fireplace. "Find a comfy spot and sit, people.  I'm tired of some things that have been going on and you're the method of my destruction instead of doing it in person."

"We've been ordered to stop this from going any farther," the second auror suggested.

"You can try," Harry told him. "Your Minister just decided to piss me off enough to allow me to cast the killing curse.  I'm still there.  Try it," he suggested coldly.   They both backed away and all the reporters were now taking notes to capture this scene. Harry got free of Sirius and looked at them. "This is only a tiny part of this, ladies and gentlemen.  Unfortunately the Ministry has decided that they're *bored*," he sneered.  "They've decided that they need a new dark lord to rise immediately so they're trying to turn people, some students, into one."  That got some horrified looks.  "It's not only me by the way.  They've been trying since day one to get Mr. Birmingham to become one.  They've been doing everything they could to try to make him go darker.  Well, guess what, people, Alex came to *Gryffindor* so he wouldn't!" he snapped. "He made his choice and he's apparently very happy with it.  The boy may know some dark stuff since *someone* over there in the Ministry *allowed* his torture to continue perpetually, but he's not going to become evil.  He's said so, he's proven so by backing me."

"Mr. Potter," one auror complained.

"He was there, moron!" he snapped.  "Alex was in that same battle with me.  We were double-teaming Voldemort.  We had to, we're fucking fourth years at the time!" he shouted.

"Harry, calm down," Sirius said quietly.  "I'm the hothead, not you."  Harry gave him a grimace.  "I mean it."

Harry took a few calming breaths.  Then he glared at the aurors. "Let me guess, you didn't see the pictures?  Why did you think Draco Malfoy *accidentally* allowed the reporters to come?" he sneered.  They looked stunned.  "We've known all along that you lot were trying to groom and force Alex into the role.  And if not him, me.  That's why some of you so brilliantly brewed the compulsion potion that was given to myself, Ron Weasley, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle so we'd attack Mr. Birmingham and there was one for him that was stopped to make him kill us, his best and truest friends."  The group moaned at that and quills scratched. "By the way, whoever did it, botched it.  It's lasted a bit more than a month and I doubt I'm going to be attacking the boy I guard."

"You what?" one of the reporters asked.

Sirius looked at her. "Harry got named Alexander's legal guardian by his grandmother's will.  She was the top of the Death Eater's inner circle, their torturer, and she decided it would give her friends and cohorts easier access to both boys.  Since she knew Alexander wasn't going to go to the dark either with where he was sorted."  He looked at Harry.  "There's stuff he'll get mad at you for telling," he said quietly.

"He'll forgive me if they stop trying to kill or turn him."  He looked at the reporters again.  "It's been like this since he was sorted, before really.  The Headmaster tried to send him to Hufflepuff.  Then he tried to get him forced onto a potion that last time made him lose his mind."  They wrote that down.  "I stuck up for him then and they started trying to include me in it.  Discredit and harm me as well.  Well, guess what," he sneered. "It hasn't worked yet."  He sat down in Sirius' chair, glaring at everyone.  "Let's start back from day one, shall we?"  They all nodded eagerly.

"I'll put on water for tea and coffee," Sirius offered, going to do that.  He looked at the aurors.  "Go get your boss up, gentlemen.  He'll need to know this is going on.  He's always supported Harry and Alexander."  One ran off to do that and the other stayed to monitor and take notes about what was being said.

***

Greg looked at the paper the next morning and winced at the four inch headline 'Potter Decries Ministry, Claims They're Trying to Make Him New Dark Lord'.  "Oh, hell.  Potter," he moaned.  He handed it down to Draco and drank some tea for his stomach.

Draco looked at it, then over at the Gryffindor table.  "Alex, don't read the paper," he called without having to read it himself.

"Too late," he called back.  "Harry's not in trouble, people.  It was rather sweet of him to help me this way.  The people who did it to me and him are in deep shit however.  If you've got insane cousins who want to be Minister For Magic, tell them to start campaigning now."

"Enough," McGonagall called.  "Boys!"

"It'd be better than what we've got," Alex called, flipping the page to continue reading.  It was all there, in graphic detail.  Everything except who cast the killing curse. At least Harry had protected him that much.

"Maybe Alexander should run," Millie called a moment later.

"Then I wouldn't have time to lounge around and order my house elves to spoil me more," Alex called back.  "We're holding my party this year for the fourth through sixth years who want to attend instead of Narcissa's, with notable exceptions.  Just nice clothes, no dress robes needed, people. Invitations are coming out next month."  That got some smiles in his direction. "You can bring dates if you want.  I know I am."  Draco choked on that, glaring at him so he grinned over at him and blew a kiss.  "Calm down. He was being a good boy, Draco.  It says he nearly destroyed two aurors who were sent to stop him."

Draco took the paper back, reading the article.  It was actually factual.  He knew he looked stunned, everyone was staring at him.  "They got it right for a change," he said in awe.  Everyone started to chat about that now.  He looked over at Alex, who shrugged a bit.

"Bloody hell, Potter was helpful?" Millie hissed to Greg, who nodded.  "Damn!"

Draco looked down at her.  "He's very protective over his given son.  He even glares at me for groping him instead of helping him with his homework."

"Think I could get adopted by him?" Pansy asked.

Draco rolled up the paper and reached down to beat her with it.  "Go away!" he ordered coldly.  She whimpered and tried to look pitiful.  Vincent got up and grabbed Pansy, dragging her out of the hall and tossing her down the hallway. Then he came back and got back to eating.  "Does nothing stop your appetite?" he asked.

He considered it, then ate a bite of roll and shook his head.  "No," he said once he had swallowed. "Not much."

Greg looked at him. "You amaze me, even after all these years, Vinnie."  Vinnie grinned at him.  "If you go for her, I'll like that," he assured him.  "Just let my dad realize he's an ass first."

Draco looked at the head table.  "Professor McGonagall?" he called.  She frowned at him.  "Are we having a ball this year?"  She nodded.  "It was never announced so I wasn't sure."

She tapped her glass.  "Attention!" she yelled over the babble.  Everyone stared at her. "Yes, that was quite important news today but a question was just posed about our own ball and Mr. Birmingham's ball.  His is at the traditional time, Solstice.  Ours is as usual the night before you leave on the train."  A few of the girls smiled.  "The normal rules apply so please make your outfits tasteful.  Now, let's finish eating. You can gossip later, once the news has settled into your brains."  They went back to gossiping but quieter now.  She looked at Severus, who was taking something for his stomach.  "Are you all right?" she asked gently.

"I'd like to skin the boy," he admitted tiredly.  "Alex seems to think it's all right however. So I probably won't be allowed to."

She smiled at him.  "He gave me that right last night."

"To skin Potter?"

"No, to call him Alex."  He nodded, smirking a bit at her.  "It will be fine. It was rather nice of him to say that Arthur Weasley, both Tonks, and the head of the aurors were the ones in the Ministry who had *always* stuck up for him."

"It was," he agreed. "It as even factual.  I'm impressed he made them tell the truth."

"Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction and sells even better.  After all, Ministry scandals always raise newspaper sales."

"Yes, and I believe we'll be seeing a lot of suddenly unemployed wizards and witches," he noted dryly.  He looked at Remus as he came in.  "Have you seen the paper?"

"I just got back from the house," he admitted quietly, sitting down and pouring some tea, adding a shot from the flask in his pocket.  He handed it to Snape.  "Here, Harry thought you might like it too.  He acted just like Lily normally would," he said proudly, saluting them with his cup before he drained it.  He pulled out another flask to fix another cup.  McGonagall took it from him and he smiled. "I'll need that back at lunch."  He looked at Snape again.  "The aurors were in fear for their lives last night when they came to stop him, Severus.  They were also obliviated by their boss.  Harry was truly mad enough to kill everyone last night.  Then he started to feel regret about twenty minutes after everyone had left so Sirius knocked him out so he couldn't beg to retract it."  He drained that cup too and filled another one the normal way with a sigh.  "Minerva, he'll be back tomorrow.  He's puking his toenails up at the moment in worry."

"Alex said he was safe from him," she offered.  He smiled at her for the ease of the nickname.  "He allowed me to use it last night."

"Congratulations."  He looked at Severus.  "We need to talk about Alexander's papers, Severus.  For some reason he's not able to concentrate this year.  His essays have all been jumbled and babbling, like when he's had too much chocolate and he's babbling at you happily.  I don't know why and neither does he."

"I'll have Poppy examine him later," he promised. "It could be that she's dosed him with something else or he's got the normal puberty hormone rush with Mr. Malfoy ...cuddling so much this year."

"No, nothing's been added about sex or Mr. Malfoy, not like you'd normally expect in those," McGonagall admitted.  "I've seen the same problem but I was going to talk to the boy."

"I tried.  He's doing it more in person too," Remus offered.  "Even during our private lessons."

She nodded.  "Have him examined today, Severus.  If it's a problem it's best handled sooner.  Let me know.  Dumbledore should be back sometime this afternoon."

"Alive?" Remus asked dryly.

"I'm not sure yet," she admitted, sipping her own tea.  "Eat, Remus, it's going to be a rather long day."

He nodded. "That's why I'll need my flask back at lunch," he said sadly.

***

Severus watched his son during his class with him.  He wasn't concentrating.  He wasn't even drawing, which was odd. He wasn't staring off into space, he looked confused for some reason.  Since he was brewing something and it was going right, he wasn't sure why.  He let it go for now, stopping him from leaving after class by grabbing his arm.  "Mr. Birmingham," he said quietly.  "Why were you confused?"

"I don't know.  I just felt odd and jumbled and mixed up again."  He looked at him.  "It's almost like the headaches I got when I'm near that barrier of Halfrek's, but she strengthened it again."

"How long has this been going on?"

"Nearly all year now, father."  He leaned against the first table.  "I've asked Madam Pomfrey, she couldn't find a charm or a hex on me."

"That's fine.  We're going to do a thorough exam since you've got a free period. The other teachers have noticed it too so she's expecting us today."  He nodded, shifting his books.  "Let me check the room and then we'll go."

"Someone left theirs on," Alex said, pointing at one in the corner.

Snape walked over there then froze the potion and the fire, going to call someone upstairs.   "Minerva?"  She came through the floo and he pointed.  "Our mystery explosives person struck again."

"Who was sitting there?"

"Um, Millie was at that table," Alex offered, "but she was on my end."

"I'll ask her then," she said with a smile, patting him on the cheek. "Go with him, Alex."  He nodded, following his father out of the classroom.  She took the potion and walked it outside, unfreezing it could explode safely.  Hagrid looked over from his class and she shrugged. "Again," she called. "Is Miss Bulstrode with you?"  He nodded.  "I need to see her."  She walked over and she gave her a gentle smile.  "Alexander said whoever did that was at your table."

She frowned.  "Who was I just working with?"

McGonagall sighed.  "We get this every year, they always erase the memories of whoever they were with.  Let's try to undo it, shall we?"  She led the student off, going to cast the counter to the oblivius.

***

Severus walked into the teacher's meeting and put down a single sheet of paper. "He's got power confusion," he announced.

Remus sighed.  "I was hoping it was something simple."

Minerva frowned.  "Mr. Malfoy asked if he'd had another of his cold spells and I realized he hasn't had one this year."

"Poppy noted that as well.  She thinks he gets them when he's too tired or too drained of magic."  He sat down.  "As such, we've got to devise a way for him to wear out more energy.  Puberty has given him a boost and he's had the normal love boost as well."  They all groaned at that.  "Does anyone need anything destroyed?"  No one said anything.  "How did we deal with this before?"

"The last time I remember him going without a lot of cold spells was while he was doing the animagus research and trials," McGonagall noted.

"Well, you can only do that once," Remus reminded her. "Is there anything else that could make him use that much energy?  Or should we just continue with the extra lessons?  I'm about out of things to teach the boy."

"If he was anyone else, we could give him theoretical stuff," Madam Sprout offered, "but he can't do that.  Not really."

"He could if he's interested enough," Snape noted calmly. "We know from various sources not to let him near anything demonic."

"We know he's allergic to dark magic," Remus added with a small smirk.  "We also know he's become a decent artist."

"He wasn't even drawing in my class," Flitwick complained. "He just had that horribly confused look."

"As he did in mine," Severus agreed.  "That's because there's too much power in him and it's clouding his mind."  He looked around.  "Any topics we could suggest?"

"What are Mr. Malfoy's top three areas?" Madam Sprout asked. "I know it's not mine."

"Potions, Transfiguration, and Arithmancy," he admitted.

"Alex knows Arithmancy," McGongall noted.  "He admitted as much to me."

"Have him working on magical designs?" Flitwick offered.  "House, charm boxes, anything like that?"

Halfrek appeared and shook her head quickly.  "No, no construction stuff, ever," she said quickly.  "Never, ever."

Flitwick blinked at her.  "Who are you?" he asked mildly.

"Halfrek, she's the Patron Saint of Lost Childhoods," McGonagall noted with a smile for her.  "No construction like the castle or no construction like charm boxes and things?"

"I'd prefer none at all.  That's really close to who he was."

"Huh?" Madam Sprout asked, looking at her.  "I saw you in my house the other day.  Why?"

"Miss Jennis," she said honestly.  "Reporting to her that her sister was safely living somewhere else."  She smiled and nodded at that.  She looked at Snape. "Nothing construction and I reshored up the barriers in case it was bleeding over to Xander somehow.  Because he was just possessed."

"Any other subjects we shouldn't touch?" Flitwick offered.  "Possessions for instance?  Why shouldn't we touch them by the way?"

She sighed.  "No one can tell Alexander, ever.  I mean truly ever.  As in humanity will all die permanently.  He has a past life.  I'm responsible for giving him to you guys.  Yeah, I know his former life sucked but it had to happen and I took over majorly once he got his letter and blew up his grandmother on purpose.  Otherwise you'd be at war at the moment."  Snape shuddered at that.  "We can't let any of his past life interfere into his current one or else he'll snap and time will twist and things'll go back to being bad guy central around here, okay?"  Everyone nodded at that.  "But we can't tell him or else he'll start to get curious and then the mental blocks between the two will break and things'll go back to being bad guy central around here."

"Okay," Flitwick agreed, nodding and looking at Severus.

"I knew," he admitted. "She's shown up a few times, including the incident with Mr. Longbottom.  She was here earlier that night and Crouch went to drive her off."  He looked at her.  "Possessions?"

"Nothing and nowhere near the demonic.  No construction stuff," she reported.  "Posessions are kinda iffy.  Lycanthropy," she told Remus and shook her head.  "He knew one of you there too.  You're actually an anchor of the shields on him.  Now, we only have to keep them steady until he's twenty-one," she offered.  "By Solstice of that year, he'll be free of this."  They all nodded, liking that better.

"What about ancient things?" Remus offered.  "Some of the curse breaking stuff?"

She shrugged.  "As long as it doesn't touch on the demonic in any way.  No hellmouths especially.  No vampires especially.  That's why I gave him a headache for that class, Remus Lupin."  He nodded, accepting that.  She stared him down.  "You've seen his other life."

"I have?"

"Yes, you've seen Xander."  He stood up, staring at her.  She smiled.  "Now you know why."

"All right.  I'll make sure of it.  You don't have a problem with that any longer."  She smiled and faded out.  He sat down, looking at Severus.  "I had no idea I was so involved, Severus, I'm sorry."

"I'm not.  The more I learn the less I like his last life."  He looked around.  "Again, humanity will be destroyed if he knows."

"Are we...serious about this?" Professor Vector offered.  Everyone who knew nodded. "We're taking the word of a demon who just admitted he had to be tortured for a bit?"

"She had to leave him there, not let him be tortured.  She did mitigate it where she could," Remus told her.  "Halfrek is bound in this situation as well.  Harry needed someone to help him.  It's Alex in case you hadn't noticed."

Snape looked at him.  "When did he give you that right?"

"Two Christmases ago, but only in private usually," he admitted.  He looked at her again.  "If Alexander knows about his last life, he'll end up going back to it.  If he goes back to it, he'll either warp the fabric of time and space because there's some overlap with the two lives, or he'll end up dead to a Hellgoddess coming to destroy the world. If he's there, the plan to defeat her won't go off as flawlessly and we'll all be sucked into hell.  Fancy that?" he asked drolly.

"That's all right, I rather prefer snow," she admitted sarcastically.  "We're sure about this?"  Severus nodded.  "Then I'd rather be obliviated so I can't let it slip."

"We can do that," McGonagall agreed. "We probably should do it to all of you so you don't overcompensate."

"What about the headmaster?" Remus asked quietly.  "He knows."

"He'll keep his mouth shut, he knows why he has to," she assured him. "All right, nothing construction, nothing demonic, Severus, do a charm on the room so we only know when we're all gathered and have to discuss the subject."

"Allow me," Flitwick offered, getting up to do that on the room as a whole, then on himself.  He didn't want to know about such things.

***

McGonagall smiled as the two boys walked into her classroom, waving at the chairs in front of the teachers.  "We've been discussing your extra lessons."

"I'm not really up to it at the moment," Alex warned as he sat down.

"You will be once we've got you started. You need to wear out more energy and magic, Alexander," Snape reminded him. "Therefore we've been designing some special studies for you and Draco to do during your remaining time here."  Draco frowned a bit at that. "You are the better researcher of you both.  It'll take skills you possess as well."

"Just like you did with the animagus stuff," McGonagall noted calmly.

Flitwick smiled at them and handed over a scroll.  "This box...."  He waited while Alex sneezed.  "I know.  It is dark magic, but not ours.  It was turned into our sort.  We want you to unwarp the dark magic.  I think it would be something you both could do, learning how to uncurse dark magic artifacts.  There's a potion to help with the sneezing and Mr. Malfoy can make it to his heart's content for you, Alexander."

Alex handed it to Draco.  "So I'm getting practical application on how to fix all the stuff in the vault?"

Snape nodded.  "That as well.  We expect you to go further than that however.  At the upper levels, this takes Potions, Arithmancy, Charms, and Transfiguration at times.  As well as Defense.  Some have creatures imbedded.  Some are chaos magic so you'd have to learn some theories on the various types of magic.  Including chaos.   Which I do not want to see you practicing, son."

Alex looked at him.  "Okay," he said, looking really confused.  "That sounds like a lot of research."

"Not all of it," Draco said, looking at him. "There's some theory at points, but you get past that to do the practical application, Alex.  Basically, I'll learn a subject that's needed somewhat and start to teach you the practical parts of it so you can practice.  It uses both our strengths."

Alex looked happier at that.  "Okay.  How far should we go?"

"As far as your demented little minds can take you," McGonagall said with a small smirk.  "Next year the twins will be gone so you won't have anyone to help you prank the stupid or the bullies.  That box itself was a prank before it was warped."

Draco looked at it again, nodding slowly.  "It's an interesting area of study."  He looked at her.  "Can we dump divination for it?"

"Certainly," Snape assured him dryly.  "That hack doesn't appreciate you anyway."  He smirked at them.  "There's a complex report on that box in the library.  It will stay in the library."  They both nodded.  "You may not get Mr. Potter into this."

"He might be really good at it," Flitwick offered. "At least the finding of dark magic.  I can support him and Mr. Weasley learning how to sense and find dark magic, Severus."

"As can I, before they get bored and start to cause trouble."

"Are you sure that's wise with the call for him to be examined?" Malfoy asked dryly.

"What better way to prove he's not a dark lord?" Flitwick offered.

"Some of the more paranoid will think he's hunting it to learn from it," Alex reminded him.  "Start him in alternate magical theories first."

"Well, they *are* a thing of chaos together," Draco admitted.  Alex frowned at him. "They are.  They're also loud, noisy, and they belch."

"All boys can be like that," McGonagall assured him.  "I've seen every single boy in this school be that way sometimes.  Even you, Mr. Malfoy, though I've never heard you belch."

"I have, his mum swatted him hard for it," Alex told her.  He looked at Draco.  "You know, I remember your dad used to come over until I was about six."

"Is that what gave you the nightmares for the last week?" Draco asked, giving him a bland look.  "He probably figured at that age you'd start to ask questions and you were coming into accidental magic so you'd be more dangerous to him."

"Point," he sighed, shaking his head.  "I still hate your father."

"Join the club, there's many of us," Draco quipped.  He looked at the paper again.  "Fine.  I can accept his area of study if Alex can.  How long before he'll start wearing out energy?"

"By the act of studying it could help some," McGonagall noted.  "The restricted books you got into during your animagus research leeched some of the energy off you both.  These will be doing the same."

"That's why it's to stay in the library?" Draco asked.

"That's one of the reasons why all the restricted books stay in the library, Mr. Malfoy.  It's part of their protection from the younger students."

"Because most of the younger kids would be too drained to cast anything out of them by the time they tried," Alex agreed. She smiled and nodded.  "I can agree with that.  Some of the bullied first years would cause hell if they could cast fire charms and the like."

"Son, can you accept this area of study?"

"I think I can," he admitted.  "It'd be nice not to have to deal with paying to clean that stuff.  Can I also learn some about ghosts so I can banish the one who's going to keep me from selling any of her assorted shit?"

"I don't see why not," McGonagall said, looking at Snape.  He shrugged and nodded.

Flitwick smiled. "That's a very easy area to study, Mr. Birmingham.  I'll add those to the list of books you're allowed from the Restricted section.  We're submitting a list to Madam Pince.  That way she doesn't have to let you into the books on say, long distance flame charms."

"Over too quick for Miss Granger," Draco assured him.  "We'd rather torture her for a bit before we turn her into charcoal."

"Can't we turn her into charcoal and then light her and put her out and light her and put her out and light her again?" Alex offered.  "While leaving her conscious?"

"That's mean, Alexander," McGonagall said firmly.  "Remember, you wanted to stay a good boy."  He gave her his best wicked grin and she smiled. "I know.  I was fairly tempted to do the sample collection spell and start to pull each hair from her body, one by one over a period of days."

"Eh, grow 'em all super long, then release her into the mountains," Alex told her with a smart smirk.  "Then start doing attraction charms on her since she tried a lust potion to get me to sleep with her nastiness. Start simple with frogs or something.  Work up to a yeti or a troll."

"What did the troll ever do to you?" Snape asked sarcastically.

"Hmm, point," Alex admitted, frowning a bit.  "That would be hurting innocent creatures."

"We have time to decide this," Draco reminded him with a pat on the arm.  "She's not coming back until next year."

"She's down in the dungeons in a room, Draco," he said dryly.

"I know.  I locked Pansy in there with her after the last time she started shit," he said with a fond grin.  Alex smiled and kissed him for it.

"We don't need to see that," Snape noted patiently.

"They're very cute," Flitwick told him with a grin.

"They are," McGonagall sighed. "They were also groping in my class last week."  She frowned at the boys.  "Behave.  Or at least try."

"Why?" Alex asked.

"For the same reason a few of the teachers have called you six the Six Menaces of Society," she shot back with a smirk of her own.

Draco looked at Snape.  "Should I be impressed or insulted?"

"We've known you were a menace to society since the day you said your first word," he assured his Godson.  "It's official confirmation."

Alex snickered at that.  "Man, it's a good thing you didn't know me when I was younger."

Snape nodded. "I heard.  Twirly and the house elves told me stories about you as a child, Alexander."  His son beamed at him.  "Try to behave just a bit more often if you can."

"Sure.  Can we go?"

"We'll be looking at your schedules," McGonagall noted. "Alex, it was also noted that you're going into the art class next year instead of seventh year.  She demanded."  He beamed proudly at that.  "Draco, I'll expect weekly reports from you on your progress.  Even in note form if you wish.  Keep a separate binder of them if you want."

"Yes, Professors.  When can we get that book?"

"Tonight if you wish," she offered.  "The list is already with Madam Pince."

"Thank you."  Alex hugged them all then pulled Draco off. Not only would his head quit hurting but they had just given them permission to get into books that could help them be mean, snarky bastards while they pulled pranks on the others.

Draco gave his lunatic a fond look, knowing what he was thinking from such long association with him.  The teachers might regret this by the end of the year.  He cleared the look before they made it to the populated halls, that way no one would know he felt like that.

***

Alex looked up from his reading as someone sat across from him, expecting it to be Draco.  Instead it was Parkinson.  "What?" he asked, going back to his reading.

"Are you doing research?" she asked.  "I thought you hated studying."

"I've been taking extra lessons since my first year, Parkinson.  Where I had already learned other things ahead of our year, I got bored."  He looked at her. "This is this year's.  Father decided I should know how to clean the artifacts we've got in Gringotts."  He went back to his books.  "If you must know, I'm working on Auntie Narcissa's present this year."

"Oh."  She fidgeted for a second.  "Can you put charms on things by studying that?"

"I already knew how to do that.  I learned that before school."

"Oh."  She frowned a bit.  "Can I help?"

"No.  It's a book from the Restricted section and only Draco and I can check it out without permission," he said blandly.  "It wouldn't help you anyway if you want to plant a curse on something.  It's a different process than taking it off something."

"Oh."  She pouted at him. "Can you teach me?"

"No.  Ask my father, he's excellent at it."

"Really?"  She perked up at that.  "Thank you, Alexander."  She got up and headed down to the dungeons to talk to him. "Professor Snape?"  He looked over from his grading, nodding that she could come in.  She walked in and stood in front of him, her hands clasped behind her back.  "I want to learn how to put curses on things, like that stuff Alex has in Gringotts.  Can I do that for a living?"

He considered it.  "I suppose," he said cautiously.  "Why would you want to do that?"

"Because there seems to be a market for it and cursed and charmed things are usually much more expensive.  Even if the original product was rather cheap and ugly."

He nodded slowly.  "I have noticed that.  Alexander's grandmother's things had many ugly statues and the like."

"See, and I could do that, right?  I'm passable in charms.  Nowhere near Draco or Alex of course, but not all of us had the dark arts poured down our throats from the time we could talk.  I'm getting good grades in there.  I'm average in potions.  I'm decent enough in defense I suppose.  Would that be a suitable career?"

He blinked a few times.  "That depends on what you mother would say about such things."

She nodded.  "I thought to approach you first since Alexander said that you knew how to do things like that.  He said you're excellent at it and I wanted to know some information before going to my mother about it.  It would only raise my level in the marriage stakes going around if I had such specialized skills."

"It would," he agreed.  He considered quickly, seeing his son's plan for what it was. A way to distract her from him and Draco while they worked, but also a way to keep an eye on this venomous pit viper of a female in his own house.  "Talk to your mother first.  If so, I could test you to see if you had the skills needed.  If you did, I would not be against teaching you the basics."

She smiled at him. "Thank you, Professor Snape.  I'll owl her tonight."  She skipped off to do that.  Her mother would be proud that she'd found a way to make such a good reputation for herself.  It was her old one that was keeping her single after all.

Snape shook his head, thinking about everything that could go wrong with this, but then he'd know where it had come from.  Yes, he could keep her under his thumb and out of contact with his son and Mr. Malfoy for months, if not the remainder of her school time by doing this and he didn't have to teach her anything harmful.  She might even decide she could earn more prestige with a career than on her back, though he doubted that, but it was possible.  He made a note to warn Flitwick, Lupin, and McGonagall about that.  That girl would probably bother them with her attempts.

***

Alex looked at the guest list for his party, only marking out two names this time.  "It's nice, she didn't include the ones she knew I wouldn't want," he told Draco.  He looked over at him.  "Should we include Ginny Weasley?"

Draco looked at him, then sighed. "Is she likely to come as a date?" he asked bitterly.

"She did apologize," Ron pointed out from where he was reading a book on quidditch, again. "Mum'll understand though.  What's this year's gonna be?"

"A dance," Draco told him.  "Sort of a bridge between ours and Mother's."  He looked at Alex.  "You can if you want, but I reserve the right to snub her.  As do you."

"Fine," Alex agreed, adding her name to the list. "That makes her and Ron the only two Weasleys coming this year."

"Hallelujah," Draco muttered.

Ron smirked at him.  "Does this mean I'm supposed to find a date?"

"Or just ask random girls there to dance, unless you want to dance with a guy, Ron," Alex assured him.

"So, we'll be seeing Tonks again?" Greg teased from the bathroom.

Harry came out of his bedroom, looking alarmed.  "Why?  Is there another attack?"

"No, Harry.  This year's party," he said, waving it.  "Unless you're dragging her to Auntie Narcissa's?"

"No," he said slowly.  "What's yours going to be?"

"A school dance sort."

"Oh."  He blinked a few times.  "I'll ask her opinion on it," he decided, going to write her immediately.  That way no one else would ask her before he could.

"He does know her actual age, correct?" Draco asked. Alex nodded, giving him a small smirk.  "Well, he aims high."  He went back to his reading.  "Who else?"

"I'm debating on Lovegood."

"She'd be Seamus' date," Ron said.

"They are?" the couple demanded, both looking at him.  Ron nodded, turning the page and smirking a bit.

"Since when?" Draco demanded.

"Since about a week ago when he stopped her in the halls, kissed her, and asked her to wander around with him."  He grinned at them.  "It was kinda cute.  She slapped him and told him next time be more of a gentleman or be on his knees and begging."

Draco gagged. "Eww! I did not need to imagine that!"  Alex kissed him, giving him a small smile. "Thank you!"

"Always happy to help," Alex said happily, going back to his list.  Since he knew she'd be coming anyway, her name got put back on. He handed it to Draco, who went down it, checking two names off and handing it back with a grimace.  "We're not inviting Millie?" he asked with a frown.

"She's got to go to Mother's."

"It's still polite to ask her," Alex reminded him.

"Yes, but if we do that, they might show up and then I'll have to deal with Marcus Flint," he said bitterly.  "I'd rather keep the fist fights down that night."

"Point.  I'll talk to her tomorrow," he said, checking the other name.  "Tabbernish isn't coming?"

"He'll be moving to Pakistan with his parents over the hoidays," Ron reminded him.

"Then I'll see if he'll be around and would like an invitation.  He brought some fun the last time we held it," he decided.  "I'm going to talk to Millie."  He stole another kiss and headed down to Slytherin territory, running into one of the prefects.  "Hi," he said with a grin.  "Is Millie out and wandering?  If not, can I talk to her for a moment?"

"You know where the common room is," she sneered.  "Why did you need her?"

"To see if she wanted an invitation to my party of if she was already confirmed to go to Auntie Narcissa's."  He headed that way, tapping on the doorway.  It was opened by a second year.  "Is Millicent in?"  He nodded, going to get her while Alex leaned across the hall from the doorway.  She came out, frowning. "We're doing the guest list for my party. I wanted to know if you wanted one to mine or if you've already decided you're going to Auntie Narcissa's party."

"Unfortunately Marcus doesn't do well around the younger kids," she reminded him.  "He wanted to hang out with the adults and make favors."

He stepped closer.  "Are you okay?"

"I don't know.  I have a really bad headache," she sighed, rubbing her forehead.  "Can you take me to the infirmary, Alex?"

"Sure."  He took her arm and walked her off, ducking when she tried to kiss him.  "Huh.  I think someone got you with something," he said dryly, freezing her.  The prefects in the hall came running.  "She's fine, she was dosed with something.  She lunged over to grab me.  I'm taking her to the infirmary."

"We can handle it," one said, reaching for her.

Alex pointed his wand at him.  "I'm taking her to the infirmary," he said more firmly.  "Just in case it was something worse than a childish hex or a prank.  Especially with that compulsion potion book being missing from the library."  He floated her off, with a prefect following him.  He didn't care if they followed.  He floated her inside and the nurse jumped up.  "She tried to lunge over and either kiss me or grab me right after complaining of a severe headache."  He put her on the bed and then unfroze her, ducking out of the way when she tried again.  "See?" he asked the prefect.

"You're right, that's not one of us," the prefect admitted.  He looked at Alex.  "Am I on the list?"

"Fourth through sixth years this year or as a date, Tom."  He nodded at that.  "It'll be a dance, just not as formal as the ball.  Nice clothes, not dress robes."

"Sure," he agreed, sounding happier.  "I'm dating a sixth year.  Ellory's going?"

"I've invited her.  She's on the list.  Invitations are going out early next month."

"Sure."  He walked off, going to report this to Snape.

Alex looked at the nurse, who was giving him an amused smirk.  "Some of us don't want to or aren't ready for the Malfoy ball."  He hopped up next to her. "Millie?" he called softly, smiling at her since she was restrained.  "What's going on in that big head of yours?"

"I don't know," she sobbed.  "Make it stop, Alex?"

He swished his wand and she fell asleep again.  "I think it's kinder," he said quietly.

"It is.  Thank you, Alexander."  Professor Snape charged in.  "She's under some sort of thing to make her attack your son and kiss him."

"Probably not just me," he warned. "Can we test for the usual suspects since she's betrothed to Flint?"

"I've already started the test for the potion," she promised.  "Severus, start one for the Imperious and lesser hexes?"  He nodded, starting that.  She sighed at the sight that met their eyes.  "She wasn't happy with him?"

"Nope," Alex said dryly.  "He's a mean and evil bastard."  He slid off the bed. He pressed on Millie's shoulders.  "Go ahead, Dad, she can't thrash now."

"We need to know what the compulsion was for."

"To give herself to people who are powerful so Flint can blackmail them," Draco said from the doorway, walking in to help.  "I saw Tolers.  He found it the other day.  He was watching to see if she tried for Alex or me.  He asked if that's why you floated her off."  Alex nodded at that.  "Good.  Can we trash Flint?"

"I'm sure someone can," Alex said with a grin.  "Can we notate this for the officials?" he asked sweetly.

"Let me get one here," the nurse said, going to her fireplace.  "Should I get Mr. Potter's girlfriend?"

"Harry was writing to her so why not," Alex said with a small shrug.  "Her or her mum."

"Of course."  She smiled and tossed some floo powder into the fireplace, smiling at the young woman.  "We just found the Imperious, dear.  Since Mr. Potter wanted to talk to you tonight anyway, we thought we'd call you directly."

"Really?  Why?"

"I'm not sure.  Alexander said he was writing you."  She smiled.  "He's also making out certain guest lists," she shared.

"Ah."  She nodded.  "I'm still considering that.  He's still really young.  Step aside so I can come through after I turn down dinner."  She disappeared and then came through a moment later.  "Caught me at a good time.  I just put water on to boil pasta."  She came over to look at the girl on the bed.  "Yup, that's what it is.  Hold her down, boys."  They moved to grab her again.  "What's it for?"

"To go after those who could give Flint influence or favors so he can blackmail them," Draco told her.

"How do we know that?" she asked him.

"Toler."

"Hmm.  Sounds like the sort I could recruit then," she said happily.  "We always need nosy bastards around the office."  She flicked her wand and started the charm to unravel the curse, finally getting her free.  "I'm seeing a few others.  A fertility one?"  She tested it.  "Same person too."

"That would give him excellent blackmail forever," Snape reminded her.

"True.  Evil bastard.  Who cast it?"

"Her betrothed," Snape noted.  "Marcus Flint."

She grinned and let the nurse uncast that particularly bad curse.  They checked again, the rest that were left were protective charms.  "I'll leave those.  They look okay and mostly like a mum's doing."  She grabbed some paper to make notes, handing it to the three witnesses to sign.  Then she went to floo from the main office since she had to report it to the headmaster anyway.  She smiled when she ran into Harry, pinching him on the cheek.  "Wotcher, Harry."

"Hi, Tonks," he said with a blush.

She felt her heart melt.  He was so young though!  "I hear you were writing to me?  Walk me to the office?"

"Sure."  He walked beside her, swallowing hard.  "Nym....  Um, were you going to Narcissa's party this year?  Or, um, I'm thinking about going to Alex's if you're not," he offered in a rush, his face and neck bright red.

She grinned at him.  "You do know I'm about a decade older'n you, Harry?"

"So?"  He pouted at her.  She melted and smiled at him.  "Whichever you want to go to is fine with me," he offered quietly.  He moved closer and gently kissed her.  "Besides, we live a really long time if Dumbledore's any indication.  A decade's not so long.  I don't mind the experience.  I think you're cute, funny, and nice."

"At least you didn't say sweet," she teased.

He grinned and blushed even darker, feeling it move down onto his chest and arms.  "I think you are but I like the aggressive girls.  I don't know fully what to do on a date.  Aggressive girls take charge and let me enjoy myself while they have fun too."

She burst out in giggles at that, swatting him with the paper.  "You're so naughty, Harry Potter.  Fine.  Which one did you want to go to?"

"Either one's fine with me," he promised.  "Alex's is going to be a dance, just not as high brow as Mrs. Malfoy's."

"Hmm.  I'll let you know within a week.  Auntie might get upset if I didn't go, but she might understand too."  She winked at him and walked on. "Coming?"

"Sure.  I wanted to ask you a question anyway.  Do we know why the potion hasn't worn off and is there some way to do that?  Or can we find out if there's another spell on us or on anyone else around here?"

"That's a very good question," she told him, stopping to look at him.  "I'll talk to my boss tomorrow.  It'd give the cadets practice in finding spells on others."  She put an arm around his shoulders.  "You're just brilliant tonight, Harry.  Any other questions?"

"Ummmm," he said, blushing again, but grinning up at her.  He leaned up to whisper in her ear, making her blush.  "Is that possible?  I got that image stuck in my head last week and it's been all I could think about.  It even somehow made it's way into my transfiguration essay.  McGonagall said it's not."

"Well, I'm a bit flexible," she admitted, still blushing, "but not quite that good.  We'll definitely try though."  She kissed him again. "Forget the age gap, Harry.  You're more than qualified."

"That's why we had to hand him a silencing charm," Ron said as he walked past them.  "He kept all of us up calling your name for eight hours."

"Eight hours?" she asked, grinning at him. "I'm impressed.  Hey, Ron. How?"

"Two hour intervals, a short nap, then more," he called back.  He shook his head.  "He even woke Granger up a few times when she lived down the halls."

Tonks blushed, matching Harry's red face very nicely.  "Well.  That shows a lot of promise.  More than most guys I've dated."  She stole another kiss.  "Business before pleasure, and then we'll go for a stroll, how 'bout it, Harry?"

"Sure," he agreed, taking her hand to hold until they got up there.  Then he let her go with a grin so she could be the scary auror she was.  Once she had made the report, he took her outside and told her what he was learning and what he was thinking about doing with it during the off season from quidditch.  Or instead of quidditch if he didn't make a team.  She was really excited, he could tell when he kissed her later.

***

Tonks looked up as the owl landed on her desk, smiling and stroking the snowy white feathers. "Hello, Hedwig.  He said he sent it off too."  She took the letter and handed over some of her muffin, getting some hoots and then the owl took off.  She read it, smiling at the shy questions about the balls and dance.  She'd have to ask her aunt today about that.  The letter got handed to her boss as he walked past her desk.

He read the first paragraph.  "Well, I hear he's a very nice boy," he said with a grin, handing it back.  "He keep up with you?"

"More than," she said smugly.  "Not that part, boss.  The later questions."  He took it back with a grin and read them, then looked at her.  "He wanted to know if we could find a way to see if the potion would ever go away and if anything like that was on anyone else.  I figured the cadets could use the practice, along with mum and a few others."

"Sure," he agreed.  "I'll see if I can arrange it.  We could recruit too.  It's not this year that's going to be rushing to fill the open spots."  He handed it back and walked off. "Go to the younger dance, Tonks.  You're like a little girl playing dress up most of the time anyway."

"I already told him yes.  We're trying to figure out which one we're heading to now."  She got up to floo her aunt, smiling at the sleepy looking woman.  "Auntie Narcissa?"  She got a smile for that.  "Am I coming to yours with my date or Alex's with my date since I'm going with Harry?"

"Harry Potter?" she asked, noticing the blush her niece sprouted.  "Well, dear, with the way Draco complained about that night he needed the silencing charm, I'd say come to mine.  That way you can be rather naughty and no one will realize it."  She smiled at him.  "We'll be outside in the gardens this year."

She blushed harder.  "Yes, Auntie.  What did Draco say?"

Narcissa smiled.  "I'll show you.  I saved it down to show to Alex and their children some day.  It was so cute!  He was complaining about being kept up all night by Harry wanking off in another room.   All night."  She smiled at her. "Come to mine, dear.  Alex won't mind.  Wear something fantastic.  I'll help you shop even.  Stop by within the week."  Tonks nodded and cut the connection, sneaking back to her desk to blush in private.

Her mother caught sight of her when she came in a few minutes later and grinned.  "A naughty proposal?"

"No, your sister saying I can get naughty at her party instead of Alex's."

"Why would you.... Oooooh," she said, sitting next to her.  "Tell momma everything, baby!" she cooed, patting her on the hands.  "How was Harry?"

"Mum!  We only took a walk!" she complained, trying to keep it down.

"Was that *your* idea or his, dear?" she asked fondly.  Tonks blushed and pointed at herself.  "Why was that?"

"He about sucked my brains out twice before we made it outside," she told her.  Her mother giggled and hugged her.  "Mum!"

"Dear, I don't care.  He's legal. You're happy.  That's all I care about.  Besides, from what Alex complained about to Sirius, he's going to make you call off work some mornings, the same way mine did me when we were younger."

"Mom!" she complained.  The aurors around them grinned at them. "Go away!" she shouted.  That got some giggling.  "Mum, you're ruining my image," she whined.

"Dear, Harry obviously likes your image and likes to see you be the scary and wicked auror you are. Think he'll join us?"

"No, he wants to play professionally and help with stuff that's got alternate magical problems otherwise."

"That's ambitious," she said happily.  "Is he studying alternate magic styles?"  She nodded.  "Excellent!  What's Alex studying?  Sirius wouldn't tell me."

"How to uncurse all the stuff in Gringotts and how to destroy a soul so it goes away for good and he can sell the tawdry crap," she said dryly.  Her mother smiled at that. "I got called up there because someone put an imperious on Millicent Bulstrode.  We've got to tell her parents today."

"Of course.  I remember her father.  I'll call them in to talk with them."  She nodded.  "Did you remove it?"

"That and the blasted fertility curse her betrothed put on her."

"Really?" her mother asked, turning into the mean, scary auror she was.  "That's very interesting.  Yes, we'll have a chat with all of them today."  She went to notify their boss and make the call from the official floo.  She'd have to get with Narcissa to make sure her baby looked hot enough to be jumped on sight.  She wondered what figure she'd be going in.  Being a metamorphagus was rather kinky while you were dating but fun.

***

Draco looked up from the couch in Slytherin's common room when Professor Snape walked in, nudging Greg awake.  "What's going on?"

"The aurors are here as a training and bragging exercise," he announced.  "As at least two cases of imperious were found already, the headmaster has decided to let them test everyone in the school as practice for their cadets and as a way to recruit some of you.  So feel free to bother them while they're testing you.  You're to go to the Great Hall now.  All of you."

Draco stood up.  "Prefects, get the first years moving first so we can herd.  Each of you take one of the other years and sexes to keep them in line."  They stared for a moment and he scowled, but they ran to do it.  "Goyle, Crabbe, go herd the first years.  Be scary and mean if you must."  They nodded and got up to gather them and herd them that way.  Draco walked out straightening out his shirt. "That should solve anyone trying to hide."

Snape nodded.  "Good work.  Ten points to Slytherin for leading the charge effectively."  He watched as each dorm was walked out by a senior student, the last ones by Draco himself.  He smirked as he followed them.  It was rather cute seeing Draco Malfoy order his whole house around and them obeying with only an odd look for him.  Not even a question about his right to rule. He followed Draco into the Great Hall, noticing the Gryffindors were being done.  With a few notable absences.  He went to get his son and the other two, finding them lounging about in their suite.  "The Great Hall, now," he ordered.

"We considered that," Alex said, looking at him.  "They'll find out about the compulsion on them and announce it."

"Everyone knows anyway, it was in the paper.  Go. Now."  They groaned and got up, heading down there.  He followed, glaring at them. "I should take points off."

"We didn't want to cause a panic," Ron complained. They ran into McGonagall.  "We're coming."

"Fine.  Severus, they want to see Miss Granger as well," she noted calmly.

"I'll retrieve her."  He turned and headed down there to get their detainee.  He knocked on her door before opening it, sneering at her.  "The aurors are testing everyone for spells, hexes, and other things.  They wanted your presence as well."

"Why?  Did Harry make Alex do it for him?' she sneered back.

"You can go or be dragged.  It makes little difference to me," he noted in a hiss.  She stomped off and he followed, glaring at her back.  He nodded McGonagall to check the girl's room.  He'd seen library books in there and she wasn't allowed anything that hadn't already been in her possession.  If they weren't on the list that was made when she got put in there, they might finally expel the brat so he'd have some peace and less work to do from monitoring her.  He walked her to the fully accredited auror watching the trainees, handing her over.  "Here's one that's in punishment.  Miss Granger."

"We've got her specially marked for the boss to do, Professor," he assured him.  He looked at the girl, then at him.  "How's she been?"

"I believe she's been snuck books."  The auror whistled, bringing his boss over to do the check himself.  "I believe she's broken the rules.  I told McGonagall to check."

"That's fine," he promised with a grin. "We can always get it from her later."  He pulled Hermione aside and cast the checking charm, coming up with an odd result.  It came up as magicless.  He frowned at her. "Where's her wand, Professor?"

"In the headmaster's possession.  Why?"  He moved closer, doing the check himself.  Then he sneered at her. "Doing wandless magic now?" he suggested.  She crossed her arms and sneered at him.  "That is a definite violation of your probation, young lady. You're not to be doing any unapproved magic."  He looked around, finding the headmaster and catching his eye.  He walked over, smiling and happy.  "Test her yourself."

Albus tested her, then frowned. "Interesting.  Mr. Malfoy!" he called.  "I believe you're studying wandless magic as well? In relation to breaking it?"  He nodded, coming over to help.  "Can you break whatever shield is on Miss Granger?"

"It might cause her pain," he said with a small sneer for him.  "I wouldn't want to get into trouble."

"We can dose her for a headache, boy," Snape noted dryly.

Malfoy nodded. "That's fine then. The only way I know is this way."  He pulled his wand and cast the charm, making her scream and grab her head, trying to hold it together.  He finished off in the same cool, calm voice and stepped back.  "There, that should have fractured it.  Now we remove it.  Alex?"  He came over and laid her out, then started to work on undoing it.  Finally she was glaringly bright with the magic being pent up inside her.  "There you go," he noted.  "And she can't really resist the scan either."  He smiled at his mate.  "Did you get checked yet?"

"Yup.  They found Halfrek's mark on me and one other. They're not sure about that one and I didn't let them touch it and neither did the elder Tonks.  She said there's a reason and she's got to see if it's related by talking to Halfrek."

"We'll call her tonight," Draco said, leading him back to his line.  "I'm still waiting."  The elder Tonks smiled at him and motioned him closer, doing it on him herself.  She smiled at him.  "Find many?"

"What are you studying?"

"The same thing Alex is.  I'm helping him.  Potter and Weasley are studying alternate magics."

"Interesting.  That second mark is on you as well, Draco.  It's semi-demonic magic, but not totally."

"Hmm."  He looked up. Then at her again.  "Let's adjourn somewhere more private."

"The back hall, gentlemen and Auror Tonks," the headmaster called with a smile for them.  "I believe the answers are back there."  They nodded, walking her back there.  She smiled at her daughter and Harry chatting happily so he looked and smiled.  What an unorthodox pair!  But the boy was happy so he wouldn't do anything as long as Sirius and Remus knew.  He caught Remus' eye and nodded that way. He smirked a bit and shrugged, going back to watching his students as they worked.  He had the ones who wanted to talk to the aurors.  Including two Harry had pushed over from the Slytherin side, saying they'd make good ones.  It seemed he was right as well.

Alex came back, looking upset, walking out of the room.  He walked outside and headed to the pitch to vent.

Draco walked in more calmly, heading to Remus' side.  "Do you remember a witch while you were there?"  He nodded.  "She reached back through time to mark him, and me for some reason, so her younger self would find him and come see him.  Halfrek removed it and went to bitch her a new one."

"Oh, good," he agreed.  "What does he know."

"That.  He called her an interfering busybody.  Halfrek agreed."  He followed his mate, going to cuddle and have sex with him out there to calm him down.  It worked every time with Alex.  By dinner they were both in much better moods.

***

Alex smiled as his aunt came into his dining room their first morning back on break, shoving over a wrapped gift.  "I can't wrap nearly as good as you do," he admitted shyly.  "I cleaned it myself with Draco's help.  Vinnie and Greg added to it too."

She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Draco told me what you were learning.  Are you sure you're ready to say you can do this?"

"That was fairly easy," he admitted.  "Not one of the harder pieces, Auntie."  She scowled at him.  "Sorry, mum," he said with a renewing blush.

She smiled and sat down to unwrap it, cooing at the small charm box.  She opened all the drawers, looking at the charmed charms in it.  "Oooh, that's adorable!" she cooed, holding one up. It was a teddy bear charm and she could feel a calming charm on it.

"That was Greg's," Draco said as he joined them.  "He thought you'd need it when he had kids some day."  She smiled and went back to the others.  "The horse is Vinnie's.  He said you'd need it with ... a personal project later in life."  She blushed when she found that one and the lust the stallion charm was radiating.  He ran a hand over the top of the box.  "All we left on was the self-polishing charm and the strengthening and magic dampening ones.  All the harmful charms were taken out and put back when we couldn't clean them."

"I adore this, boys!"  She kissed them both on the cheek.  "I'll hug the other two later," she said happily, putting it away.  "Can I shrink it?"

"I'm not sure," Alex admitted.

"Then I won't try, boys.  I do adore this!"  She stroked over it again, smiling at them.  She smiled as Sirius, Remus, and Harry came out of the floo.  "Come see what my sweeties gave me," she cooed.

Sirius kissed her on the cheek, looking at the box.  "That's very pretty."

"They did a good job taking the bad charms off it too," Remus said, smiling at the boys.  "Good work."

"Thank you," Alex said, beaming at him.  "Greg and Vinnie got their own."

"I know.  I checked their applications," he said as he sat down.  "I hear we uncovered a basement last night?"

"Um-huh," Draco said bitterly.  "Twirly went down to uncover some older decorations for the tree that were left over from Alex's grandfather.  She found a doorway to a new complex of workrooms.  One in stone, one in earth, one in wood with tree roots growing in it.  No remains but I don't want to chance it and I nearly had a seizure getting close from the dark magic coming out."

"That's fine, I can have a look with Severus," Remus assured him.  "How goes the plans for the dance?"

"They're wonderful," Alex assured him with a grin.

"Took a potion, kid?" Sirius asked as he sat down next to Draco.

"Draco found one for my allergy to dark magic and it makes me loopy and kinda high."

"Ah."  He nodded. "They can do that," he agreed.  "My dad used to have to take one now and then.  He was allergic to demonic magic."  Alex grinned at that.

"Hopefully we won't have to evacuate the house," Draco offered.  "I think they go toward the garden but I can't tell."

"I still say that doorway is a portal and you go elsewhere," Alex admitted. "There were other properties in the will and we don't have any pine trees near the house for those roots."

"Pine roots?" Remus asked.  Alex nodded.  "Interesting.  There's no pine trees on the property that I'm aware of."

"Two in the furthest field," he admitted, pointing that way.  "Neither are very big.  Only about fifty years old and these roots were the size of my wrist."

"Very interesting," Remus noted.  "Mind if I go look now?"

"Dad's still in bed," Alex said, looking at Sirius.  "He said if you woke him up, he'd give Potter a book of evil pranks and have him do them all to you.  Since he's got the St. Germaine and Rosenburg book...."  He grinned at the shudder.  "Why does that name seem familiar?" he asked Draco.  "Did we read something by them recently?"

"No.  Forget the name, Alexander."  He blinked at him.  "I mean it."

"Just obliviate it," he ordered.

Draco nodded and pulled his wand, thinking about what he wanted him to forget, then.... "Obliviate."  Alex sighed and relaxed.  "Good boy," he praised as he put up his wand.  He looked at the adults.  "Twirly, we need food."

"Twirly is coming," she called, carrying out a huge tray slowly.  She put it onto the table and smiled.  "Twirly brings."

Narcissa motioned her over, looking at her eyes and ears.  "Twirly, is your head still hurting from last year?"  The house elf looked scared.  "If so, he can get a new one to help you with the workload.  I know Marsette is still in pain now and then when it gets too cold in here."  Twirly slumped and nodded, looking down.

Alex picked her up to hug her.  "It's all right, Twirly.  You're not leaving the family.  I'm not giving you clothes.  We'll just have to get you a house elf to boss around and teach the right way to be a proper elf."  She perked up at that.  "We'll go pick out one today, all right?"  She nodded quickly, then grabbed her head. "Right after we get that checked out.  When did it start hurting again?"

"When Twirly got hit in head by falling shelf in library," she said pitifully, rubbing the spot.

"Why didn't you call!" he demanded.

"She called me and I took her back to St.  Mungoes," Narcissa assured him.  "They said she'd be fine within a few days.  I think they need to see that specialist again."  Alex nodded and put Twirly down, stroking down one ear.  "Get the card from that specialist last year, Twirly."  She went to get that and she took her breakfast to make the call.

Draco looked at Alex.  "I'll help you pick out a new one," he promised. "We'll even pick out cute outfits for them to borrow."

Alex smiled at that, taking his hand to hold.  "Thanks, Draco."

"It's all right.  She'll love to boss someone around like she used to do you, Alex."  They shared a kiss.  "Get your father up so they can look over that basement."  He nodded, getting up to do that by going into the kitchen.  He was going to talk to Marsette first and tell her she was getting an exam. He looked at the others.  "He's probably still beating himself up about not hearing it."

Harry nodded.  "I heard him having a nightmare during his nap last week about that.  I carefully poked him until he woke up."

"Thank you, Potter."

"Welcome.  No one should have nightmares like that."  Narcissa came back and he handed down the food to her.  "There, we should eat before we upset Twirly."  They all dug in, knowing she'd cry if they didn't, thinking they weren't needing her.

***

Alex and Draco walked Twirly into the house elf agency.  "Oh, are you selling her?  We've got such a demand right now," the receptionist said with a smile.

"No, we need help for ours. One's getting arthritis and this one's had two head injuries in a year."

"Is your house that dangerous?" she asked hesitantly.

"No," Draco said firmly, staring her down. "Unfortunately we were broken into and then she fell and managed to pull a bookshelf down on her head. We need two new elves to be under our original ones."

"Okay," she agreed, smiling at them.  She pushed a button on her desk, bringing out an older woman.  "These two nice wizards need a pair of house elves.  They had a break in and their old ones were damaged a bit.  So they need someone under their original ones."

"Of course."  She smiled and led them into her office, taking Twirly to look over.  "What happened to her?"

"Twirly got dizzy and tripped, so she grabbed a bookshelf and tipped it on her head last week," Alex said as he sat down.  "My other one, Marsette, has the beginnings of arthritis thanks to our house being broken into last year."

Draco looked at the pictures on the wall.  "I know this one," he admitted, tapping a picture. "That's the Goyle's house elf, their old one?"  She smiled and nodded.  "She was a bit mouthy."

"Twirly mouthy," she reminded him sheepishly, smiling at him.

"Yes, you are," Alex agreed, stroking her ears while he pulled Draco down with the other hand.  "Sit."

"Fine."  He looked at the placement specialist.  "We are both young and we do minimal entertaining but we do have family in and out through the house when we're back from school.  Usually about seven people at the most."

"You already have two?" she asked, filling out a form.

"Twirly's been restricted back to cooking duties and Marsette to light cleaning," Alex told her.  "We had another one but he died after the break-in.  He used to do the heavy cleaning."

"I see."  She smiled at them.  "Who broke in?"

"Lucius Malfoy and some of his buddies.  Lucius committed suicide shortly after I got done with him," he admitted cooly, staring her down.  She shivered and nodded.  "The house has been cleared of dark arts materials, though now and then we trip across something hidden somewhere.  Twirly tripped over a doorway to Canada last night."  Twirly nodded then grabbed her head.  "He told you to quit doing that," he reminded her gently.  She nodded slower and rested against his side so he went back to petting her.  "My original house elves were the ones I learned to protect others on, keeping them away from my grandmother.  I let them spoil me horribly.  Twirly here likes to poke me if I don't eat enough and spoil us by making tons of cookies for us in our rooms."

"Hmm.  It sounds like you have a happy household."  She opened the file on her desk.  "We have about ten left, they're very popular gifts at the holidays," she admitted.

"How are yours bred?" Draco asked.

"We only go through reputable breeding firms."  She stared at him.  "Why? Have you heard something differently?"

"I often wondered how one got extra house elves."

Alex looked at him.  "Gibbons said he used to have a wife but she died and their son stayed with his old family when they gave him clothes for aging."

"I didn't know they formed marriage bonds."  Alex nodded.

"We don't *encourage* that," she chided.

"I do," Alex told her simply.  He stood up.  "I'd prefer my house elves to be members of my family, not a slave.  Come, Draco."  He nodded, following along with Twirly beside him.  Alex fumed up the alley, heading to the other, less reputable place to get house elves.  Down in Knockturn alley.  Twirly whimpered and he looked at her so she stopped.  He smiled.  "We're going to save one, how about that?"  She nodded slowly, taking hold of Draco's belt. She didn't like the house elf pound.  Alex walked in, sneering at the woman behind the counter, who snapped to attention at the sight of them.  "I need two house elves to work under my ill ones.  They're mostly for cleaning and laundry duties.  My house elf Twirly will be making the final decision."  She nodded and showed them back to the pound section.  "Twirly, I want you to pick ones you and Marsette can work with," he ordered.  "Someone you won't fight with."

She nodded, walking off down the rows.  She opened three cages and pulled them out, then a later one, who was dirty and bruised. She looked at her masters, who nodded and waved her to go on.  She stood in front of them, moving that other one back.  The keepers put four more down in front of her from another section and she looked them over, waving one to be separated.  "He ill," she said, pointing at that one.  "Him need doctor."  She looked up at the higher cages and snapped her fingers, bringing most of them down too.  One of them was quickly put back when it growled.  She looked at them.  "I's is Twirly.  Those are being Master Alexander and his Mate, Master Draco.  We is being needing two house elves to work with us.  Marsette is being at home, she is being limpy thanks to Master Draco's former father.  He was being mean and tried to kill Master Alexander and Master Draco."  A few of them covered their ears.  "You is being responsible for cleaning.  I is being over the kitchens.  Marsette is being over the baking and little stuff."  The bruised house elf gave her such a hopeful look.  She stared at her, then at her masters, making a small whimpering noise.

Alex came over, looking at her.  "Draco, this one needs some help," he offered quietly.  He looked at the handler.  "Who did this?"

"She was dropped off at St. Mungoes and they released her but her master had given her clothes," he said callously.  "We've been treating her."

"Then why are some of them infected?" he asked dryly.  He looked at her.  "Which family were you with?" he asked quietly. She looked down and whispered a name.  "You're Rosemary?  Their library elf?"  She nodded, looking at him.  "Draco, come get her.  We'll take her even if only to get her healed.  We'll share her with your mum."  He nodded, coming over to get her.  Alex stood up and looked at Twirly. "Pick the two you want."  She walked up and down the rows, pulling out four.  "I said two, Twirly."

"Any of these," she said.

"I'll check with mum," Draco told him, going to the floo.  His mother glared at the one in his arms.  "She was abandoned after being beaten and given clothes.  Alex said she's a library elf and her name was Rosemary?"

"I know her former master.  We'll have to talk to him.  That's shameful!" she complained.  Draco nodded.  "You bring her back anyway.  We can split her.  How many is he pouting about?"

"Twirly pulled out twelve," he said dryly.  "She's got it narrowed down to four."

She sighed.  "Why are you at the pound?" she demanded.

"The other place bred them like familiars."

"They do?"  He nodded.  "Well!"  She huffed.  "Sirius!"  He came over.  "Go help the boys!  They're in the house elf pound.  They're down to twelve."

"Sure, Narci."  He stepped through the floo and came over to look at them.  "Wow.  Good choices, Twirly."  She beamed at him.  "What did the doc say about your head?"

"To quit banging it around," Alex said dryly.  "No more fast nodding or anything."  He grimaced.  "We need two. Marsette's only to do light lifting.  Twirly's not to lift and only to cook.  And of course spoil us with tons of cookies and cakes at school," he added with a grin for her.  She hugged him.  "I don't mind, Twirly.  I'd never let you come here."

Sirius looked around.  "This is a bad place."

"The other place treats theirs like breeding animals," Draco told him.

"I'd heard that rumor."

"They also said they had a shortage," Alex told the nearest keeper. "Maybe you should talk to them."  She smiled and nodded, sending someone to do that.  He waved a hand.  "These ones are the ones Twirly picked out."  He pointed at one giving him a pitiful look.  "That one's making me feel sorry for myself," he admitted, looking back.  "It looks like Remus when Harry shouted at him last time."

Sirius looked and nodded.  "It does."  He looked at the house elves, then sighed.  "Okay, who here can do heavy lifting and cleaning?"  All but one raised her hand.  She tried and winced.  "She's got broken bones?" he asked the keeper.

"Our doc said she'd be back to perfect in two weeks."

Alex growled and she backed off. "I don't like how this place is run," he told her.  "I don't care if they are house elves, they shouldn't be kept in small cages and in misery."  He looked at the twelve again, then at Sirius.

Sirius sighed and shrugged.  "How much do house elves cost?"

"Fifty galleons and table scraps," one of the keepers told him.  "I'd rather not keep them this way either, but we've got too many and that other place hasn't come to us in years because they begun breeding them like hunting dogs."  She pointed at the four Twirly picked out.  "Those four are the most neutral ones, sir.  They can be whatever you want them to be."

"I like mine with some spirit.  My house elves spoil me and sometimes poke me.  I learned how to protect with my elves," he told her.

She touched two of them on the head.  "These two would never find a home.  They're mouthy.  They're smart too."  Alex looked at Twirly, who led them and the others aside to talk to them.  She came back with the two and then tugged on the keeper's pantsleg, whispering to her.  She smiled and stroking over the soft head. "She said one of them would go excellently with someone named Ron?"

"Weasley? Have a house elf?" Draco snickered. "They could never afford one, Twirly."

"I can," Sirius reminded him dryly.  "Besides, she's right, Molly and Arthur are getting older and could use the help around the Burrow.  Especially with the gnoming."   The keeper snickered at that.  "They're running them out of the house."  He stood up.  "All my family's got is one really ancient one that we should put out of our misery," he admitted. "Kreacher is miserable and old."  Alex and Draco both nodded. They had both run into Kreacher.  "Okay, give me the moping one and Twirly can pick out one other for the other house.  Alex, what about the villa?"

"I haven't been there since I was seven," he admitted.  "It could be falling in by now, Sirius."

Twirly slowly shook her head.  "Marsette is being looking after it now and then, Master Alexander.  She is being saying it needs dusted again probably."

"Since you're never there, a house elf should do," Draco noted.  "It can do shopping and stuff through our house if it needs to.  Is it in a muggle area?"

"Grams?  Live near a muggle?" he joked.

"Point," Draco admitted dryly. "So it could shop easily, right?"  He nodded.  "Then send one down there."  He noticed two were holding hands.  "Or the pair of them."  He pointed at them.

"They've formed some sort of alliance," the nice keeper offered.

Alex sighed and nodded. "Sure, I'm blowing all my holiday money."  He looked at them, then his new two.  "At my house, you will be *borrowing* clothes," he ordered.  "We keep a basket of them in the kitchen, under the stairs.  We'll be picking up more for it today.  Understood?"  They all nodded, smiling at him.  "Good.  Twirly, gather your elves, dear."  She gathered the ones.  "I wish we could take the others," he sighed, watching them be put into other cages.

"We'll suggest them first if the agency comes," the nice keeper agreed.  They walked them out to the front to fill out the paperwork and get vault information for payments.  While they were there, the other keeper came back with the receptionist.  "Pull out the remaining of the ones that their elves didn't want," she ordered.  "I think they'll do best."

"I see they took the smart-asses."

"I'd rather have family members, not slaves," Alex told her as he filled out forms.  He handed it over and she put it through their system, getting a receipt of payment.

"Thank you, Mr. Birmingham and Mr. Malfoy.  You as well, Mr. Black.  I hope your new house elves suit you.  If not, there's a ten day return policy."

"Fat chance," Draco told her.  "He'll cry."  He pointed.  "Up the alley.  Twirly, take them where they're supposed to go, including the one going to the Weasleys.  We did get that one, right?" he asked Sirius.  Who smacked him across the back of the head with a grin.  "Don't mess up my hair!" he complained.

"Every now and then try to do something nice for someone else, Malfoy.  It makes you feel warm and mushy."

"Why would I want to?" he sneered.  "Twirly, make sure my mum sees that one to treat her injuries."

"Call the specialist to the house," Alex told her.  "We'll pick up some clothes for the basket.  Then they can go wherever once they're dressed and checked over."  She nodded, taking them with her.  He scratched the back of his head.  "Was that Madam Malkin's or not?" he asked Draco.  "Usually I let them borrow my old t-shirts."

"Madam Malkin has a fine line of uniforms," the receptionist offered.  "There's also a line at the same place you get cats and toads."

"Thank you," Draco told him.  "Come along, Alex."  He walked him out with Sirius following behind him.  He walked him into Madam Malkins a few minutes later, shaking his head.  "We were just at the house elf pound," he muttered when one came near him.    She smiled and pointed. "Thank you."  He drug Alex there so they could pick out clothes. Alex got them some new t-shirts too.  He spoiled his elves horribly.

***

Molly Weasley saw a gnome go flying past the window while they were eating dinner and got up to look, frowning a bit.  "Arthur, there's a house elf degnoming our garden," she said, looking confused.  He got up to look as well, frowning a bit.  She opened the split door, leaning out.  "Um, excuse me.  What are you doing?"

"Bready is being told to come degnome because boy sons is not being doing it," she said happily.

"Who sent you to do that?" Arthur asked, thinking it had to be one of their sons.

She shrugged. "Bready is not being catching his name.  He is saying that Molly and Arthur is being needing help since almost all babies gone and they is getting older, could use Bready to help around the house like boy sons used to."  She smiled at them. "He is being sending me after giving me clothes to borrow."  She spun another gnome and threw it off toward the forest with a giggle. "Bready is not having this much fun since Bready's former mistress was drunken and dizzy and dancing with Bready."

"Where did you come from?" Arthur asked.

She covered her ears and shook her head.  "Bad place.  Bad, dark, many cages."  She gave him a pitiful look.  "Please not send Bready back to bad place?  Bready not eat much!  Much less than boy sons."

"You can finish with the gnomes tomorrow," Molly said, smiling and opening the door. "Come inside, Bready."  She nodded and skipped inside.  She looked at the t-shirt, which had a Gryffindor crest on the pocket.  "Is your former master letting you...borrow that?  Is  he a Gryffindor?"

Arthur patted her on the back. "Ron!" he called.  He came downstairs, staring at the elf. "Which one was it?  Harry or who?"

"Harry wondered how long you'd take to realize it, she's been here since before lunch.  He said it wasn't him, it was Sirius."  He shrugged.  "Hi, Bready.  I'm Ron."  She waved and smiled.  "You're to watch mum and dad while we're away at school and work, understand.  If anything happens to them, I want to hear it from you.  I'm a Gryffindor at Hogwarts.  So's Ginny."  Bready nodded fiercely at that.  "How many did Alex take home?"

"One badly injured one and four more," she said happily.  "Two go to Italy to live and dust down there.  They hand-holdy ones."  She giggled.  "Two more goes with man who sent me."

"Sirius was saying Kreacher was a bit old," Ron agreed.  He patted her on the head.  "Good Bready.  Look around, learn the house.  Learn how mum cooks today and tomorrow so she can find something for you to do besides the garden."  She nodded, going to look around.  He kissed his shocked-looking mother on the cheek. "I'd have gotten there first but I didn't have the money to do that, mum.  They were at the house elf pound in Knockturn because Alex told Harry that they breed them like dogs at the agency."  He walked out after stealing a snack off the table.

Arthur shook himself and helped his wife sit down.  "Well, you can clean the rugs again," he said pragmatically.  She swatted him with a scowl.  "Molly, love, he probably couldn't have left her there. The pound is horrible place.  Even the house elf is scared of there."  She sighed and nodded.  "Besides, she's got to eat less than Ron or Charlie ever did."  She gave him a look and dug back into her dinner.  "Bready?"  She appeared at the end of the table.  "Can you please introduce yourself to Ginny?"

"Miss squealy one is not liking being bothered," she said seriously, shaking her head slowly.  "She looked very upset with Bready."

"I'll go," Molly said, heading up the stairs.  "Ginerva Weasley!" she yelled a minute later.  "You're marrying that boy!"

"Hmm, looking like you'll get to help clean and cook for a wedding, Bready," he said with a smile.  Bready clapped and bounced around.  "Now all we need to do is marry off the sons," he sighed.

"Sorry, dad, I can't stand Hermione that much," Ron called.  "Maybe you should ask Nary Goyle if her sisters are up yet.  She's pretty and one's about Bill's age."  He came down the stairs chuckling.  "I wonder if his last girlfriend knows he broke up with her."  Arthur choked and shook his head.   "Should I call Miss Lovegood?"

Ginny came stomping down the stairs.  "We're sharing him, thank you!" she sneered, glaring at the house elf.  "Don't come in my room."  Ron swatted her and she hit him back.  "You either!"

"Sit down, Ginny," Arthur ordered.  "We're going to have a long talk.  Bready, please go help Molly clean Ginny's room."  She nodded, going to do that.

Ginny sat down, pouting.  "When did we borrow a house elf?"

"Sirius, Alex, and Draco were at the house elf pound today," Ron told her.   He swatted her again.  "You have better taste than Seamus," he assured her. "I'm sure you don't want Pansy's reputation."

"No, Luna and I are together, we just pick some funs toy now and then," she complained.

Arthur took a deep breath and looked at his daughter.  "You're going to send me to the hospital soon, Ginny.  Do quit now."

"Sorry, dad," she said sheepishly.  "Can we work on a tentative agreement for me and Luna?"

"Luna and I," Molly corrected as she came down the stairs.  "I called her.  I'm not sure her father wants to discuss that.  They'll be over tomorrow."  She glared at her daughter.  "Either way, we'll be talking, young lady."  Ron snickered. "And you!"

"What? I'm single, mum!  I'm allowed to have dirty magazines and things in my room."  She glared at him.  "You'd rather I went and tried out a lot of girls instead of my hand?" he asked dryly.  "Come home with four or five and go 'ooops, but it's a lot of grandkids, mum' or something?"

"Since when have four girls looked at you, Ron?" Ginny asked snidely.

"Since I slept with about ten this semester," he said dryly, smirking at her.  "Nearly as many as you," he offered with a grin when she glared at him.

"I'm going to start having chest pains now, stop it!" Arthur ordered.  "You're worse than Percy!"

"No, I don't think he's ever shagged anyone," Ginny told him.  He groaned and held his head.  "Sorry, dad.  At least I'm marrying mine."

"Yeah, well, mine was more oral sex," Ron told her.  "Just in case those stupid fertile genes came into play. I wasn't about to come home and tell mum that bad news."  He poured himself some milk and sat down at the table.  "I think there's a girl I like," he offered his father.  "It's mostly been her for the last month."

"That's got to be a record," Ginny muttered.  Her mother swatted her, making her shriek and grab her hair.  "Sorry!"

"Ron, when am I meeting this girl?" Molly demanded.

"Easter hols, mum. That way you can't get your hopes up if we can't make it work.  We agreed on that already."

"Who are you seeing?" Ginny demanded.

"Patrice Abbott.  Hannah's just younger sister."

"You smutty perv! She's a cow!"

"I like a woman who's got some curves.  Too skinny little twits like her sister and Lavender annoy me," he shot back.  "She's a nice girl with brains and good grades.  She's got a good future in the Ministry probably too."  Ginny slunk down at that.  "She's the smartest of your year, Ginny.  She's a very nice girl and most of that is baby fat.  I can see the potential for when she'll be eighteen and gorgeous.  That's why I've only had oral sex with her, because she's your age."

Molly looked at him.  "The second day back during that holiday, Ronald."

He nodded. "Sure, mum.  We had planned to get everyone together for lunch.  That way you and dad could meet her parents and her at the same time.  Make things a bit easier.  If it helps any, even Draco says she's nice.  He taunts her by calling her a sweet little fairy princess."  He scratched a spot on his upper arm.  "We agreed to hold off on the real sex until the Easter hols too.  Her mother's apparently a shrieker on that point."

"Hannah isn't even dating," Ginny reminded him.

Ron nodded.  "I know.  I've met her mum once.  She snuck up to Hogsmeade and her daughter gushed and introduced us."  He grinned.  "She demanded that her daughter stay pure until it was official and at least a temporary contract was signed.  She agreed to give us until Easter before telling her dad, who's even worse on that point."  Molly smiled a bit at that.  "Really, mum, I'm being better than Bill was," he offered.  "He was dating triplets and shagging them all in my year.  And then he switched down to a pair of twins because they were too high maintenance."

"I remember," she moaned.  "If it had been legal, I'd have made him marry the twins."  She sighed.  "Ginny, you and the Lovegoods will be having tea with us tomorrow.  Make sure you've got something clean, pressed, and appropriate for then."  She sighed and nodded.  "If you *ever* bring home another boy, I will make sure you're married on the spot, young lady.  Then I'll be casting a fertility spell on you during the wedding so you end up just like me."  Ginny whimpered and nodded, looking at the table. "Arthur, are you feeling better now?"

"Much," he said, giving her a gentle smile.  "I was never mad that you snuck me in and your mum caught us, Molly."

"Me either.  It's the only way I could get her to agree to you."   She kissed him on the cheek.  "They get it from you."  She sat down and went back to eating.  "Are you two hungry?"

"Not really," Ron admitted. He snuck another piece of vegetables.  "I've got the nibbles."

"You could go to Alex's.  I'm sure his house elf has made another ton of cookies," Ginny said dryly.

"Harry said they had to take them to the healer's earlier," Ron told her. "Marsette's got arthritis after the attack last year and Twirly's still dizzy.  That's why they went to the house elf agency and the pound. They had to get two for Twirly and Marsette to boss around while they rested and took on lighter duties.  Twirly's only cooking now and Marsette's only allowed to bake and do minor cleaning stuff.  Bready?"  She popped back in, looking attentive.  "How are Alex's two new elves settling in?"

"Blister and Pumba is both being happy there.  Even if Twirly is a bossy house elf who pokes her master.  They is saying that Master Alexander is nice and lets them speak and things.  He treats house elves like peoples."  She smiled at him.  "Yous needing laundry done?"

"Probably," he admitted. "Ginny definitely does.  She needs something to meet a prospective bride in for tea."

"Bready fix," she said happily, going to look through her things and arrange one of them to be more suitable for that.  Then she gathered the rest of the laundry and went down to do it, enjoying being in the garden.  She got to toss a few more gnomes and giggle while she let things soak.

***

Draco smiled as Tonks came to the door, letting her in.  "You look splendid, cousin," he offered, looking over her dress robes.  They were a bit low cut, but it flattered her flatter figure and made it look more generous.  He did come over to tuck a curl back under one of her hairpins then smiled at her. "Potter!" he yelled.  Harry came down the stairs brushing some lint off his new dress robes.  He nodded and finished on his shoulders. "There, now you're suitable to be with my cousin, barely."  He looked at them together.  They were cute and clearly ready to hump right there in the doorway. "Off with you," he ordered, shooing them away.  Harry grinned and shook his head. "Fine.  Sirius!  He's leaving."

He came out with the camera, smiling and taking a few pictures.  "You look splendid, Nymphadora. Even prettier than your mother.  Be good to Harry tonight and have fun.  Be careful and all that, Harry.  Make her laugh and giggle like the girl she is."

"Yes, Sirius."  He led her off, taking her arm like Alex had shown him earlier.  She smiled at him for it.  "I had to take dance lessons from Alex," he admitted.

She giggled.  "I took some from Aunt Narcissa.  Don't feel bad."  They went through the special floo, coming out the other side still spotless and pressed.  She checked them over and he put a curl back up for her.  "It's determined to come down so I end up inhaling it."

He smiled and kissed her.  "That minor imperfection only highlights the beautiful nature of the rest of you."  He kissed her again and then walked her up to the front door, presenting their invitation.  "Harry Potter and Nymphadora Tonks," he announced to the herald.

"Mr.  Harry Potter and Miss Nymphadora Tonks," the herald announced.

Naricissa smiled at the cute couple as they came in and moved to greet her.  "That one curl is still coming down," she complained.

"It's there for me to tease," Harry said with a wink, playing with it while he walked her off.  It'd be his distraction so he didn't have her there on the dance floor with everyone watching.  He spun her out, smiling at her as she came back and they moved off to dance.

Narcissa smiled at the woman coming up to her.  "My niece," she told her.  The other matron smiled and nodded. "They are so adorable."

"They are, but he's still in school."

"Yes, but you don't wait when you're that way together," Narcissa reminded her with a small smirk.  The other matron tittered and walked off to tell the others how cute they were. Narcissa turned to greet her next guest.

***

Draco danced Alex out onto their dancefloor, smiling at him.  "You look nice."

"I should, you dressed me," he teased with a grin.  He spun Draco out then brought him back, giving him that sexy, smoldering look that made so many girls around the room sigh.  "You are hot enough to be on the buffet.  Too bad I won't share."

"You'd better not ever share," he reminded him.  As soon as the next song started, he took over the leading.  That was the agreement, he got to lead three dances to Alex's one.  Of course since it was his party, the first dance was his.  "It's going well so far."

"It is," Alex agreed, resting his head on Draco's shoulder.  One of the chaperones coughed and he looked over at her.  "I am all-but married to him, Mrs. Weasley."  They went back to dancing together. It was so comfortable between them.  They didn't have the fire and need that Harry and Tonks had but theirs was so much more satisfying and calming for them.  They grinned as Nary glared at her husband and danced off with Vincent.  "Looks like that's another stepmother gone to the wayside," he whispered, nodding at them.

"Yes, but she looks exotic and cherished in Vinnie's arms," Draco said quietly.  He danced them closer.  "Remember, she's still officially married until tomorrow probably," he cautioned quietly.  "Welcome to the group, Nary."  He danced Alex off, going to show him off.  A more lively song came on thanks to the chaperones wanting to break up the snogging.  He knew asking Sprout and McGonagall to chaperone had been a bad idea.   Still, he and Alex looked fantastic together no matter what they did.  Alex's darker hair, Draco's fairer skin.  It was a match to make the unpaired girls all sigh in longing.  He heard a great many of them do it when he dipped Alex with a smirk and Alex giggled back.  Well, their tough luck.  Alex was all his.

***

Harry came in the next morning, looking at his Godfathers.  "We stayed at Narcissa's," he defended before Sirius could open his mouth.  "I was a perfect gentleman."

"Pity," he sighed, shaking his head.  "I thought you had more promise than that, kid."

Harry snorted and rolled his eyes.  "I want Tonks as more than a one-night stand, Sirius, and what makes you think I wasn't talking about in bed too?"  Remus burst out giggling, turning to laugh on Sirius' shoulder.  Harry gave him a very smug look.  "Ron's lessons on what girls really like was very informative.  She was quite limp when I finally let her get to sleep about thirty minutes ago."  He yawned.  "Now, I'm off to bed," he offered with a grin at his shocked godfather.  "Night, all," he called.  He headed up to his room and stripped, missing his godfathers dancing around in joy that he'd found a girl to like.  He barely made it under the covers.

Draco came out of the dining room. "I take it Potter finally came home?" he asked dryly.

Sirius spun him around, grinning at him.  "Nymphy just barely got to sleep."

"And I thought he kept me up," Draco said bitterly, getting free.  "I'm off to help my poor mate soak. I'm afraid I was a bit energetic with him last night.  Don't expect us for a few hours either.  Go play like naughty little boys," he suggested.  He headed up the stairs.  The bath would be run for them and breakfast waiting in the bathroom so he could get Alex into the bath so he could soak off the exertion.  Not that they'd gotten to bed much earlier than Tonks or Harry had.  Still he had been a bit rough last night and Alex needed the soak.  He helped him up and into the bathroom, stripping down to climb in with him and hold him.  Alex smiled and fell asleep on his chest, which was nice.  He was comfortable and at peace.  He wondered if his parents had ever been like that.  And just like the wind summoned her, he heard her knock on the bathroom door.  He pulled a hand towel down to cover Alex.  "Enter, he's covered.  She came in and smiled at him. "Did you see the paper? Ours hasn't come yet."

"I did."  She handed it to him with a smile.  "You two are so adorable!"  She kissed him on the forehead then kissed Alex's forehead, getting a sleepy mumble.  "Son, I thought you were exaggerating about Potter's loudness.  I'm sorry I thought you fibbed, dear."  She smiled and patted some of his hair down then left.

Draco cackled into Alex's hair, shaking his head.

Naricssa walked down the stairs and straight into the study, lying down.  Remus grinned at her.  "You need to teach your godson silencing charms again, Remus.  He kept me up and I'm on the other side of the house from where I put him and Nymphadora.  Draco said they were loud but I had no idea that we had an echo or that he could make any woman scream in pleasure that way.  Lucius certainly didn't do it to me," she said sarcastically.

He giggled.  "He told us she'd just gotten to sleep when he came in.  What time did they retreat?"

"Which time?" she demanded dryly.  "Twice in the garden.  I caught her putting her hair back up the second time.  Then later in their room.  Oh Merlin!" she sighed, closing her eyes.  "I want to know what he did."

"He said Ron Weasley enlightened him to oral sex," he offered with a smug look.

"If Lily got that from James, it's no wonder she used to walk funny," she said, frowning a bit.  Then she shook her head.  "Never mind.  I didn't say that."

"Yes you did," Sirius said as he came in. "And you're right, but that's beside the point.  James never really practiced oral sex."

"No, that was Severus and his girl, Elani," Remus reminded him. "That's why she used to sigh over him."

"True," Sirius agreed. "How were the boys, Narci?"  She snored and he shared a smile with Remus.  "Breakfast is ready."

"Sure, I could eat."  They retreated to let her nap in peace.

***

Tonks wandered into work that morning, very late and still in her finery.  She sat down at her desk and her head hit it.  Within a second she was snoring.

Her mother and her boss shared a smile.  "Narcissa went to nap at Alexander's house," the elder Tonks told him. "Harry and she kept her up from across the house.  Me too, I might add."  She sipped her coffee.  "I don't know what the boy did to her, but I want help drawing up a marriage contract for them," she said happily.  "The last time I made noises like that I was on my honeymoon."

"That's much more than I needed to know," he noted.

Tonks lifted her head, glaring blearily at her mother.  "Bugger off," she told her firmly. "You and dad are still that noisy!  Serves you right having to listen to me and Harry have fantastic oral sex.  And other stuff."  She put her head back down and went back to sleep.

The males all around the cubicles all stuck their fingers in their ears and wandered off humming, trying to get that image out of their heads before it stuck.  Though one did leak it to the press.

***

Harry woke up to someone poking him, blinking at the house elf, who held out the paper.  "What time is it?"

"Seven, Harry sir," he said quietly.  "Harry is being sleeping all night."

Harry grinned at him. "I needed it.  My girl's a wonderful thing."  He took the paper and sat up, rubbing his eyes.  He opened it and stared at the headlines, and that's when the flash went off.  He groaned as the house elf disappeared, putting down the paper that said 'Harry Potter Dating!!!!!' in ten inch letters.  He got up to take a bath and relieve himself.  He wandered down the stairs, blushing at Alex and Draco's knowing smirks.  "Sorry I slept all day yesterday.  My fault totally."

"So we saw in the paper, Potter.  So, was it as good as it said?"

"It's not like I read the article after I saw the headline," he noted dryly.  He pulled over some cocoa and served himself, looking at Alex.  "Can't you snog him brainless or something?"

"I've been trying," he complained. "I'm sore."

"Can't you switch it around or something?" Sirius suggested.

"No," Draco said firmly.  "Drop it."

Alex shrugged and pointed at him.  "He didn't like the trial."  He dug into his bacon.  "You really should read the article.  She praised you to the other aurors."  Harry moaned and he nodded at Twirly to get the paper for Harry.  She handed it over with a smile and went back to her cooking.

Harry unfolded it and read the article. "It was only seven hours?" he mused, then shrugged. "Not like I kept track."  He continued to read.  "I doubt she's pregnant. I should help her hurt them for that comment.  I do know what a contraceptive charm is.  Thank you for reminding me last night, Sirius."

"Welcome, Harry."  He grinned at the boy.  "Anything special you want in the contract?"

Harry blushed.  "I'll let her make the demands and ask for corrections or things," he mumbled.  He continued on, then went to write his girl.  He came back to the table and dug into the food.  He was hungry.  It had been a long time and a lot of energy since the last time he'd eaten.  Alex grinned and handed down the extra bacon.  "Thanks, mate.  I need protein."

"Especially since Draco's mum is coming with hers in an hour to talk about the contract," Remus assured him.  Harry moaned and sighed but nodded.

"Remember, Harry," Sirius said, smirking wickedly.  "Some mornings she's got to be able to get up to go to work.  She can't sleep in every morning.  So save the marathon sessions for her days off."

Harry looked at him.  "Bugger off, Sirius," he said lightly, smirking back.  "Who said I can't do better?  That wasn't a marathon session by any means, I was just enjoying the licking thing. Hell, five hours of that was me being buried up to my chin in her."  Sirius blushed at that and Remus snickered.  "Ron gave me all sorts of helpful stuff you never said during the oral sex part of the talk you gave us."

"Weasley would know," Draco agreed dryly.  "I hear her and the younger Abbot daughter are very cute together."

"Yeah, he and Patrice are pretty cute," Harry assured him.  "They've agreed to not have real sex until after all the parents have met and they've signed a contract.  So he's practicing his arts on her."  Alex snickered at that.  "Many times, in our room.  I've got to find him a better place."

"We've got a spare bedroom, Harry, whoever's got a roommate who's shagging can sleep in there," Alex reminded him dryly.  "Vinnie has a few times."

Harry nodded. "I heard.  They're cute together too."  He grinned.  "What about Nary and Vinnie?"

"Together now," Remus said happily.  "His father refused to let her dance at the dance here so she walked away from him to dance with Vincent.  He just sighed and called the next morning.  She's already moved out and into Narcissa's.  If you had been up, you'd know that."

"Sorry, I wore myself out," he said smugly, grinning at him.  "I had fun though."  He dug back into his food, taking the rest of the scrambled eggs too.  He looked over as Twirly poked him, smiling at her.  "Can I have an Alex sized breakfast?"  She squealed and went to bring him more food.  He grinned and dug into his mound of food, knowing he'd need it to help his girl beat the reporter for suggesting she was pregnant.

***

Alex sat down in his compartment on the train, sighing in relief.  The holidays were over.  No more parties.  No more listening to Harry have sex all night.  He still wanted to know what energy potion he used though.  No more Draco being fussy about being equal in their relationship.  He looked over as his compartment door opened and then was closed and locked, with both curtains being pulled.  "My husband might mind, sir.  He might think I'd be cheating on him."

Draco smirked at him.  "I know you'd never cheat on me, Alex.  Or else I'd tan your ass like you deserve."  He sat next to him.  "I...."  He swallowed and Alex kissed him, making him relax.  "I'm being unfair to you, aren't I?"

"A bit, yeah," he agreed, cuddling against him. "I like being on top now and then.  The same as I'd like it if you could give oral sex now and then too and not just handjobs."

Draco swallowed.  "I went to visit my mistress last night and had a talk with her.  She thought I was being silly."  Alex looked up at him, shifting to lay with his head in his lap.  He stared down into his chocolate brown eyes.  "I'm sorry I'm being unfair, Alex.  Maybe I'm just scared that this is for real."

"You can have a temporary contract broken without penalties, Draco," he said quietly. "I'll have to find another little boy who'll let me pound into him for a bit, but we'll still be friends."

Draco shook his head.  "No, I can't let you do that," he said, staring down at him.  "I'm...comfortable with you, Alex.  Like you understand me.  You've known me forever.  You've never told me to play nicely or be nicer.  You only protest if my fighting with Potter gets too extreme or I'm about to hurt someone or a bystander."  Alex nodded, that was true.  "You've never punished me for having thoughts.  You've always cuddled me, even when we were younger.  I... um... I."

"I'm here if you want me, Draco," he said gently.  "All yours if you want."  Draco relaxed and nodded, grinning down at him. "But things are going to have to go both ways.  I'm not the bitch in this 'ship."

"Point," he agreed.  "Can you, we, try it again?"

"Sure."  He grinned at him.  "Which part?"

"It just felt so odd last time."

"I know, it did me too."  He stroked up his chest.  "You've got to relax though. We've got until tomorrow morning.  I'm not looking forward to your first time being on the train."  The whistle blew and the train started to move, rocking them gently.  He could feel Draco getting hard. "You like the train?"

"This seat vibrates," he said, biting his lip and trying to move.

"No, stay," he ordered, not letting him move.  "Or better yet, strip while I lock everything."  He pulled his wand and locked both doors with spells that no one on this train knew how to break, then he turned, watching Draco strip off.  He cast an obscurity spell on all the windows as well, then a silencing charm. Draco was wiggling to get back in the same spot so Alex pulled his hips forward some, like they had been.  "Your usual sprawl, Draco.  Relax."

"I'm naked and you're dressed," he complained.

Alex smirked and took off his tie, watching as Draco relaxed and that vibrating spot had been found again.  He had his shirt unbuttoned and hanging open by the time Draco was moaning at the vibrations running through his body.  He knelt between his legs, teasing and licking him gently, making Draco's breath hitch and one hand come up to hold him down.  "Let me, Draco.  Just feel for now."  The train sped up so the vibrations got better and Alex went back to teasing him.  Draco came and he swallowed it, then moved down to lick and play with his balls and perineum.  Draco shifted his legs apart, resting his head against the back of the seat, his e yes closed.  "Can you scoot forward some?" he whispered.  Draco shifted his hips out, moaning when he found a new spot that carried the vibrations.  With the way he was sitting he could feel the cheeks of his ass wiggling a bit, jiggling that tender spot.  Alex went back to licking him and he liked that.  He could feel it being jiggled and teased that way.  Every now and then a finger would come back wet with spit and he'd let it tease him.  The wetness just made it feel more naughty for him.  He came again and a finger was slipped inside.  It felt odd, he felt full.  "Alex," he moaned.

"Shhh.  I've got you.  Let me find something, Draco."

"You're blocking the vibrations."  He nearly shrieked in pleasure when that thick, tree- trunk feeling finger found a spot inside him.  He bit his lip.  "Silencing charm?" he pleaded finally.

"Already done, baby.  Let it all go for me," he soothed, leaning up to kiss his stomach.  Draco let go of his lip and let himself feel what he was doing.  Alex was waiting for something.  They were coming up on a rougher section of tracks and it was usually the time when the vibrations got worse.  That's why the cart lady came just after that section, so they could replenish from the shagging.  Or at least that was his opinion.  He felt them switch over and Draco's cock started to bob in front of him.  "On your stomach, Draco," he ordered quietly.  Draco moaned and flipped over so Alex had time to find the lube while Draco found a spot that vibrated both his cock and his nipples.  He loved having his nipples played with.  Alex found his lube and got behind him, spreading some out and working that finger back inside.  He kept that up until the tracks ran smooth for a bit, then switched to two, making Draco moan as he found that spot again.  Then the tracks got rough.  So he got to play and start to stretch the tender area.  Draco moaned, clutching the covering on the seat.  "Just feel, Draco.  I've got you.  It's only me back here."  Draco nodded and spread his legs wider.  "Shh, nearly there.  I'm adding another one," he assured him, puling out to do that.  Draco whimpered but Alex slid them back in once they were slick again.  Draco moaned for a different reason but it was soon good again.

"Alex," he pleaded. "I can't wait."

"Get off if you want," he soothed, leading down to lick some sweat off his back.  "I want to feel you clamp around my fingers like I do to you, Draco, please?" he whispered.  Draco moaned and came and Alex pulled out his fingers, making him tighten up.  "Shh, just relax. It's going to get better in just a minute."  He wiped his hands off on his underwear, then lubed himself from the tube before sliding in.  Draco tensed, so he rubbed his back.  "Relax for me, Draco," he moaned.  "So tight, so good.  Remember your first time in me?"  Draco moaned and relaxed again, letting the action of the train sooth him.  Alex finished sliding in and waited until Draco let out a small whimper.  Then he moved slightly, taking the rhythm from the train.  In and out on every three sways, just a slow, gentle making love, hitting as far inside him as he could so he could hit that prostate again and again.  He could feel Draco getting more involved so he sped up to every two sways of the train.  Draco shivered and bucked back.  "Babe, do you want to go to your knees?"

"No," he moaned.  "Need the vibrating things."

Alex smiled.  He'd prove him wrong later.  He sped up a bit more, going counterpoint to the train now.  They were about to hit the smooth tracks again and Draco was going to be squealing like a girl on him soon.  Draco made complaining noises at the loss of his vibrating couch, but Alex sat back and pulled Draco onto his lap, moving a bit easier as he held him, licking and sucking on his shoulders.  He found the nape of his neck was sensitive and teased that, earning little gasps and his arms being clutched.  "Ride me, babe. It's nearly as good."  Draco started to move again, slowly building up to where he was in complete control.  "That's it, ride me, love," he encouraged.  "Take me and make me beg to put you over a couch later.  Or to tie you to our bed and have you on your back."  Draco whimpered and worked harder so Alex teased his cock, letting him get off with a moan.  Draco went limp in his arms so he put him down on his back, smiling down at him as he reinserted himself and went back to having his way.  "You're so pretty," he told him.

"I'm handsome," Draco said, reaching up to touch his cheek. "I didn't know we could do it this way."

"We are," he said, pushing in really hard, making him gasp and arch up.  "You looked so beautiful riding me, Draco.  Just taking charge and making me do what you wanted."  Draco moaned at that.  "All I ever wanted was seeing you like this, baby."  He sped up, making Draco bite his lip.

"Alex, please," he pleaded.  Alex went gentler again.  "No, more," he begged, grabbing onto his arms.  "I need more."  He smiled and sped up.  "Touch me?"

"Always."  He freed one hand to tease the wet cock, making Draco moan and push up into his hand.  "Do you think you could have another one?"

"I don't have anything left," he complained.

"Who said you need come to come?" he teased, working them both off this time.  Draco moaned and came, even though nothing came out.  Alex came in him and Draco let out a small whimper as they kissed.  "I've marked you know, Draco Malfoy.  Only my seed can have your backside."  He stole another kiss. Then smiled and stroked his cheek. "You look wonderful with me in you, Draco.  Tonight I'm going to have you in our bed in my room and I'm going to tie you down so I can have you every which way I can."  Draco swallowed at that.  "You can beg if you want.  Anything you and I want tonight, Draco."

Draco moaned and licked his lips.  "Clean me up?" he whispered.

"Of course."  Alex pulled back to lick his cock clean, making him smile.  "You taste so wicked, love."  Someone pounded on the door so he growled and found his wand, using it to shoot a hex at whoever was out there.  He'd find out later he'd turned McGonagall's hair to snakes.  He went back to pampering his baby for now.  Draco deserved it for the excellent performance of his first time. Draco had done much better than he had.

***

Draco walked into the suite later that night, flopping down on the couch, looking at his roommates as they wandered past and headed for bed.  Harry had apparently snuck Tonks onto the train from how he was nearly asleep again.  Ron had apparently had another go at Patrice.  Crabbe and Goyle both looked very smug and happy.  Alex followed them in and locked the door, smiling at him.  Draco held up a hand.  "Are you sure, Alex?"

"You're mine, Draco.  All mine," he said with a wicked grin.  He hauled him up, holding him to hum and dance with him.  Draco smiled and let him lead.  "Can you still feel it?" he whispered in his ear, making Draco shiver.  "Can you feel me dripping, Draco?  Can you feel how I branded your hole as my property and how I'm going to put a padlock over it so no one else can ever get in?"

"That'd cause trouble if I had to go," he said lightly.

Alex smiled at that and shook his head.  "One way only."  He stole a deeper kiss.  "I should clean you so I can do that back there," he whispered, continuing to dance around with him. Draco shivered and clutched to him.  "There's so many things I can do to you back there and you'll love them all, Draco," he moaned.  "Mine."

"And you're mine.  Remember, I get to reciprocate."

"Hmm," Alex moaned shivering a bit.  "I'll never do anything I wouldn't agree to having done to me too," he promised.  Draco nodded and kissed him.  "Do you want me to clean you out, Draco?"

Draco whimpered and nodded.  "Please.  Earlier I felt nasty afterward."

"Come with me, baby.  We'll do that in the bathroom."  He walked him that way, stripping his poor little boy off.  He prepared the cleaning solution and device, then bent Draco over and made him hold the wall for him.  He stroked his back while the water ran into him, making him shiver.  "Clamp down," he reminded him. "You don't want a leak."

"That... Alex, it feels odd," he pleaded.

"Shhh," he soothed, leaning down to blow across the vulnerable hole.  Draco whimpered and clamped down so he removed the hose and let him eliminate the water.  He even let Draco hold him while he did it, stroking through his hair.  Draco had uncharmed his hair on the train for him.  It was so soft, like the soft fur around Draco's navel.  When he was done he pulled him up and started it again, making Draco's breath hitch even as he clamped down so he wouldn't get any leakage.  "Good boy," he praised, stroking the firm globes of Draco's ass.  This time he bit him on one when it was time to remove it. Draco let it out and he put everything up after cleaning it off.  Then he got them into the shower and washed every inch of his mate, making him shiver and shake in his hands.  He let Draco wash him then dried them both off.  He led his baby back to their bed in his bedroom, making sure the silencing charms would stand up to even Draco screaming in pleasure, because he was going to make him reach new heights tonight.  He got him down onto the bed and tied him down at the wrists, smiling at him.  Then he got some special lotion from his bag.  That got used in a massage of the tensed chest and arm muscles.  It had something in it that made it feel like it was warming on contact.  Draco liked that, especially when he blew across his nipples and they got warmer.

"Alex," he moaned, lifting his hips.  "Please!"

"Of course."  He went down there to play, using the lotion on the squirming legs, slowly working his way up to using it as lube.  Draco gasped and shifted up to meet his fingers, making him chuckle.  "Pretty neat, huh?" he teased, just slicking up the outside.  Draco nodded, banging his head on the pillows.  So Alex slid a finger in.  Draco moaned and arched up to meet it, using it to prepare himself.  He switched to two without warning and Draco tightened up but relaxed once he found his prostate.  He was back to fucking himself on Alex's fingers, which he liked.  He added more lotion to the hole, then to himself before sliding in.  He was still loose from earlier.  Draco screamed in pleasure as he sank home.  He gave him a kiss while he calmed down.  "Shh, baby.  Mine all mine," he reminded him.  "It's just me.  All of me."  He pulled back and slid in slowly again.  "We'll have to do the train on the way back," he moaned as he pushed back in. "Maybe take a rail trip this summer through Europe."  Draco banged his head in agreement and Alex sped up some, knowing Draco was insane by now.  Draco had done this to him after their party.  So he sped up just a bit for a few strokes, then went slower than he had been before.

"Alex," he pleaded. "Please!"

"Shh, you're taking all of me, Draco, and you're beautiful."  He found his wand and cast a charm to turn the curtains around them into mirrors.  "Look at yourself, love.  Watch your face."  Draco stared up, then around.  Alex shifted and his eyes caught at how he was being slid into, locking on that picture.  Alex sped up when Draco's breathing sped up.

Draco was watching his hips move and writhe underneath his mate.  Then he looked up, seeing his face, how the sweat made him glow.  "Silencing charm?" he pleaded. "I'm going to end up being embarrassed."

"I put it on the outside and I only changed the inside, Draco," he soothed, casting it again to ease his worries.  He knew Draco wouldn't want to be embarrassed and he would be if anyone knew he was taking it from him.  He dropped his wand.  "Maybe later I'll use that instead," he said with a sultry grin, suddenly giving one good, hard slam into him.  Draco arched up and came, watching himself.  "Mmmm, so pretty."

"Handsome.   You're pretty," Draco told him, panting hard.  "More, Alex! Much, much more!"

"Of course.  Whatever his lordship commands," he teased, pulling back to only use his head on him.  Draco clamped around it and bucked up to get more, that's when he realized what the restraints were for.  Draco let out a muttered swear and twisted, trying to get more.  So Alex helped him flip onto his knees, taking him that way.  The side mirrors reflected the view from the top.  Draco was back to watching every little move he made.  Alex charmed the bed to reflect as well, just where they were joined so he could see it right under his head.

Draco moaned and pushed back, then tightened down, trying everything to see how it looked.  He watched as Alex sped up, taking him faster and harder, then slowly and tenderly, then pounding into him suddenly until he came, watching as the drops of cum were reflected up too.  "Alex," he whimpered as his lover pulled out, then he got to watch as his mate moved down to lick him there, making him shiver and shake at what he was doing.  Then suddenly he was back, riding him hard and fast, just like how he did to him most nights.  He was going to have to watch himself as he went into Alex's body.  Alex suddenly came and he let out a moan of complaint but he watched as the hand came down to stroke him off.  Then it was over and he was limp in the wet spot. The cuffs were removed and his wrists checked, but he was too tired to help.  Alex smiled and canceled the spells before getting them both under the covers and holding him.  "Tomorrow night, I get to do that to you," he whispered, clinging to him.  His ass was open, it was full of his mate, he could feel it in there.  "I should clean up."

"In the morning, Draco.  Clean it in the morning, that way you think about me all day as your butt slowly tenses back up."  Draco moaned and gave him a squeeze so he cuddled back.  "I do that many nights after you've had me.  That way I'm hyped and more than willing for the break quickies we sometimes have.  That's why I nearly jumped you in Transfiguration that day.  And that day in Potions.  Nearly on top of the Draco-eating plants too because only I should be able to eat you."  Draco moaned, feeling himself respond.  "In the morning I'll give you a wonderful blow job and then you'll bathe and get squeaky clean again, love."

"Then tomorrow night I get to have you in the handcuffs?" he asked.

"I told you I'd never do anything I wasn't willing to have done to me."

Draco smiled at that and closed his eyes.  He could ignore his growing hardness. It'd be better in the morning when he wasn't so tired.  Alex had promised he'd get pleasure then.

***

Professor Snape watched as his son sat down at his usual table.  Then as Draco Malfoy sat down rather more delicately.  Apparently his son's complaint about giving instead of always taking had been fixed.  He was glad he'd never have to hear it again.  It had been embarrassing but he was sure his son would be whining soon about Draco only taking it now that he looked like he enjoyed it so much.  He changed his mind about which potion they'd be doing today, putting one on the board for a muscle relaxer.  He was sure someone would need some soon with the way they went at it.  Probably his son with the way Draco was leering at him across the room.   He rolled his eyes mentally and watched who else was looking happy to have it.  Potter was.  The rumors must be true then, Tonks had been on the train.  Weasley looked like he needed a drink.  Crabbe was blushing at Draco's back so apparently he didn't want Mr. Malfoy to know he had scored as well. And Mr. Goyle was just smug so apparently his dalliance had been good as well.  How any of them slept with all the sex going on in that suite he wasn't sure, but at least they weren't polluting the others.

That's when the light went on in his head.  He knew what was keeping the potion hanging around.  He could even mix the antidote while the imbeciles brewed their relaxants.  He got to work in his office, coming out to pace around while it had to rest, then handed each one a tiny vial with a nod.  They took them on their way out of class, handing back the vials as they passed his desk.  The brewers had polluted the potion with something of theirs.  By neutralizing it, it allowed the potion to finally break down and the compulsions to end.  Thankfully they hadn't needed to quarantine them or his son would still be tied to a bed.  He saw Draco pull out a set of handcuffs and reevaluated that based on the smirk on his face.  So, his son was good at tying people up.  It was another commonality he and his mother shared, which reminded him of many more happy memories, fortunately it was his free period as well.  He sealed his classroom and went to remember in private.

Year Six: The Head Of It All.

Alex looked up as someone opened his compartment on the train ride to Hogwarts for his sixth year, giving the boy standing there an amused look.  "Mr. Finnigan."

"Mr. Birmingham," he said with a smirk. "Did you read the paper over the last week?"

"No.  It's been mysteriously vanishing from the house for the past week and a half.  I figured I would talk to the root cause of that tonight after dinner.  Why?  What's being said about me or Harry this time?"

Seamus closed the door and handed over the papers.  "Dean and I talked, Alexander.  We figured if you hadn't blown up the paper by now you probably didn't know."

Alex looked at the first one, then waved at him to open the carriage door.  "DRACO MALFOY, GET YOUR BLOND ASS IN HERE NOW!!" he yelled, then licked his lips and nodded that the door could be shut again.  He went back to reading the news, mentally working on which order he wanted to kill people in.

Up the train, Ron stuck his head out of his and Harry's compartment.  "I thought he snored loudly," he complained.  He saw a first year and smiled.  "What's your name?"

"Sally Engleworth."

Ron smiled at the sweet sounding little hellion, or future Hufflepuff, one of the two - no one else ever sounded so sweet.  "Miss Engleworth, can you please go up two cars and find a kid about as big as I am?  One wearing a green and silver tie?"  She smiled and nodded, happy to be trusted with such an important task.  "Tell whichever one you find that Alex is looking for Draco.  He just yelled for him.  Okay?"  She nodded and skipped off.  Ron pulled his head back in and shut the door, locking it.  "I guess someone just showed Alex the papers."

"What papers?"

"The ones that say he's behind Neville turning bad, Harry.  Don't you still take the Prophet?"

"No.  Remus does."  He shifted some.  "Should I yell, hide, or go kill someone?"

"No, he's going to be destroying them," Ron assured him.  "Mum figured he either doesn't know about it or he's letting Malfoy handle it.  Since he just yelled that way...."  He shook his head. "Pity those reporters."

"Mm, me too," Harry agreed.  Someone tapped on the door so he got up to answer it, smiling at the sweet-looking young girl. "Yes?"

"I found one of the boys about your height, sir, as requested.  He said Draco isn't summoned like some house elf."

Harry handed her his spare chocolate frog.  "Thank you, Miss Engleworth.  That was very good of you."  She beamed and went back to her compartment.  Harry waved at Ron and walked down there, strolling really.  A few people saw him and decided to run and hide, so apparently this was going to be another year of the Scary Harry Potter rumors.  He walked into the Slytherin part of the train and looked at Zabini.  "Alexander just screamed Malfoy's name," he noted dryly.  Zabini sneered.  "We think Alexander just saw the paper for the first time."

"Oh, bloody hell," Draco muttered.  "We've been hiding it from him," he noted as he came out of his compartment.  "Where is he?"

"Next to last, left side," Harry told him.  "Who did she talk to?"

"One of the seventh years," Zabini admitted.  "She's a cute little Hufflepuff in the making."

Harry smirked.  "Remember, Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger both started out that way, as did Neville Longbottom."  He went pale.  "Now, what was said?  Since I know you've got some contacts."

"What's it worth?" he sneered.

"Hmm, how about me not telling Mrs. Weasley Ginny used Sirius' house as a rendevous with you most of the summer?  Since she's only got to fill in the name on the marriage contract and she's promised a fertility spell being done during the wedding itself.  With a forced ritual breaking-in during it."  He smiled sweetly.  "Or how about I don't tell Alex you guys conspired not to tell him?"

Zabini shuddered.  "Don't tell Mrs. Weasley."

"Done, mate.  What's going on?"

"Alice Longbottom woke up," he said quietly, glancing around.  "She couldn't believe that her son had done that.  She swore up and down that it's something to do with that prophecy that included you three.  Going on family reputations....."

"She knew my parents and knew James was a prankster but not that bad but Alex's Grams bites him on the bum from beyond the grave."

"Yeah," Zabini agreed.  "It's *said* that the Headmaster is somehow involved."

"Then Dumbledore and I are going to be having another of those infamous chats where he needs a new office, huh?" he asked with a grin.  "Anything else?"

"Yeah, Neville's going to be released next month.  The headmaster wants him back in the school."

"That'll be more than interesting as well.  He and Granger can team up since she's back as a fifth year.  Thanks, Zabini. I never saw you."  He walked off whistling, going to lean in Alex's compartment.  "Draco, how much more do you know?"

"Everything I know Zabini probably told you."  He looked at Alex.  "We were going to tell you tonight."

"I'd rather have known a week ago," he said firmly, staring his boyfriend down.  Draco swallowed and nodded.  "Harry, anything else to add?"

"Did he tell you the Headmaster's somehow involved and is trying to get Neville back when he's released next month?"

"Who told you that?" Draco asked.

"Zabini."  He looked at Alex.  "I suggested he can team up with Granger since she's a fifth year."

Alex considered quickly, then looked at his mate.  "When we get in, I'm going to call my lawyer.  I'm suing the hell out of everyone for this, for a start."

Draco shuddered, he knew that tone of voice.  It was the only thing his Grandmother had ever taught him.  "Need Mum's help?" he offered.

"Oh, no.  I shouldn't," he promised with a small grin. "I'm going to enjoy the destruction and sit back while cackling pleasingly as the Prophet burns."

"I'll make popcorn," Harry promised.  "Need me? I'm gonna go hide with Ron."

"Go," Draco told him, frowning at his back.  "You're going to let him help and not my mum?"

"No.  This time I'm going to enjoy burning them down myself.  Narcissa and Harry can both have ringside seats for it."  He patted the seat next to him.  "Want a cuddle?"

"Sure."  He locked the compartment and sat down next to him, letting him cuddle.  Maybe he could calm him down so the destruction was minimized or his mother was allowed to help.  She really did love destroying things.

***

Alex walked into the Great Hall for the feast, nodding at his father.

"Mr. Birmingham, why were you tardy?" the headmaster called.

"Because I had to file a suit against the Prophet and all the idiots who decided I somehow had something to do with Neville Longbottom going dark," he announced.  "I'm going to own the Prophet by the time I get down with them and their supposed sources."  He looked alarmed.  "And anyone who helped with that shite!"  He sat down, smiling at the first years.  "Don't worry, it's all good," he promised calmly.  "The Daily Prophet prints anything as long as they sell newspapers. They haven't printed the real and full truth on anything since Harry gave that interview and scared them half to death."  They nodded and dug back in.  He smiled at Harry.  "They think you're going to protect them.  I offered them a chance to interview me and retract their prior trash.  They refused.  There's now a ten billion galleon lawsuit against them, the Ministry, and unnamed conspirators and sources."

"Is there that much money in the world?" Ron asked. "I can't even imagine that high."

Alex smirked.  "There is, it's in the bank in Diagon.  I pointed out in it that the unreasonably high amount was because they had now tarnished my family's good name, what was left of it, and in doing so had caused irreparable harm that no money could make up for.  Since I'm the one restarting the family's good name....."  Then he smirked a bit.  "I also named a former Minister For Magic that's had his paranoid little hand in this whole thing."

"I'm glad it wasn't me," Ginny said blandly, looking at him.  "So, what'll you do with the Daily Prophet once you own it?"

"Make them either print the truth or burn to the ground.  Those will be their choices," he said firmly.  She giggled at that.  He glanced around, then at her.  "Where's your mentoring case?"

"In her room.  She had a headache."

"Hmm.  Still in the dungeons?"

"No she's back in the tower," she sighed.  She looked at Nary Goyle, Greg's former stepmother and now girlfriend of Vincent Crabbe.  "Don't take any shit off her and I want to know immediately if she tries to insult you or starts doing suspicious stuff.  You're a good watcher, Nary."

"Of course," she agreed, smiling at her.  "You think she'll try something?"

"Within days," Ginny assured her.  "She always has."  Nary nodded at that and went back to eating.  She looked at Alex again.  "You okay?"

"No.  But I'll be happier in a few days when it goes to trial."

"Already?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, when you call the Ministry out in public they either put you off as long as possible or, if they know they're wrong, they want it done with as soon as possible to minimize the scandal and keep your barrister from finding out the still-hidden stuff.  So I'm predicting by next Tuesday since the amount I'm suing them for would bankrupt them and destroy all the reputations and the trust in that building."  He ate a piece of chicken.  "Oh," he said, looking up at the head table.  "I've got to tell McGonagall a few particulars tonight."

"Like what?" Harry asked.

"I'm calling the Sorting Hat as a witness about why it wasn't me."

"You can do that?" Ron asked.

"They've called paintings before, legally.  The Sorting Hat is just as sentient and it's not likely to be suddenly misplaced."  He cut up another bite and ate it.  "I have no idea what I want to do after I graduate.  Do I really want to work?"

"No," Harry told him.  "You want a hobby that you occasionally get paid for.  Working for real means that you do it all the time, every day, for the rest of your life."

"Yeah, that sounds bad," Alex admitted.  "How about you, Ron?"

"Mate, some of us *have* to work or we'll starve and be homeless," he reminded him patiently.  "Unless you're suddenly going to give my family a large endowment?"  Alex shook his head.  "I didn't think so."   He grinned at him.  "Bready is doing fantastic. She and mum were making preserves yesterday.  She did the garden this summer and we had so much stuff I'm surprised some didn't get sent your way."  Alex grinned at that.

"Sirius bought her for your parents, Ron."

"I know, but I'm sharing the good news.  She's taken to wearing one of Bill's old shirts.  He's due in next week."

"Cool.  Is he coming up for a visit?"

"Mum said she'd try really hard to keep him away," he offered with a grin.

"You can use our common room," Alex assured him.  "I'll be in there working on my newest project.  Oh, we're adding a second layer of security starting tonight.  The artifact I'm undoing is under goblin custody tonight and then tomorrow it'll be in our rooms in a locked case.  The headmaster and McGonagall already agreed. We're going to have a password and a locking spell.  I'll teach you both the release tonight.  It'll also keep certain wenches from our rooms."

Harry nodded.  "As long as you don't change it without warning," he agreed.  "What are you working on?"

Alex glanced around, then leaned closer.  "I'm working on something called Merlin's Chest."  He sat back down, watching their stunned looks.  "It's got a special locking spell on it and none of the curse breakers can do it.  We think it's another form of magic, Draco thinks Chaos.  We're unraveling it after studying it. We've made two attempts and managed to fray the protection around it.  We think about four more good sessions will have it open and bobbing in front of us."

"What's in it?" Ron asked.

"His grooming kit," Alex said with a grin.  "Plus one of his diaries it was thought.  It's his old traveling kit bag."  Ron nodded, digging back in.  Since it wasn't dangerous it didn't matter to him.  "If we get this, then we get the rest of the set to work on." Harry choked at that, giving him a long look.  "We'd have to go there to work on his component case, Harry.  The goblins would never let that out of the bank."

"Point," he admitted, wiping his mouth.  "Do you think you can?"

"I do.  Draco and I did very well together fraying it.  It only took us a day so we're thinking we can do the rest over the holiday."

"If you do, I want my picture taken with you, just once," Ron begged.  "It'll look good to others."

"You can take notes or something," he offered with a grin.  "We bored Greg and Vinnie all summer."  Harry nodded at that, he had been too.  "See."

"Sure, mate.  Thanks," Ron said with a grin.  "Would that make me an assistant?"  Alex nodded.

"Please, don't include him," Draco called.

"Just to take notes.  An assistant, Draco."

"Fine," he complained. He shook his head and looked up at his head of house.  "Save me," he mouthed.  Snape shook his head.  "Bastard," he muttered.  Snape smirked and nodded.  Draco looked at him and then blatantly put his wand on the table.  Snape got up and left.  Draco went up to the head table. "So, who was that since it wasn't Professor Snape, and can Alex hunt him down?  He needed something to do tonight other than teach Potter and all them the new locking charm on our suite."

"That was Harry's girlfriend," McGonagall said dryly.  "Professor Snape is still in London for tonight with the case."

"The goblins have it."

"There was an attempt to keep it from being removed," she said honestly.

"Because of the paper?" he asked.  She nodded.  "He's suing them and everyone involved.  Down to unnamed sources and others who've had a hand in this theory of idiocy.  He named the figure of a billion or more galleons since they're trashing what little of the family's name he's managed to clear."  He smirked a bit at her, she had been good to them.  "We need to go over our notes with you lot as well."

"Tomorrow night?"

"That'd be fine. You can come down and touch the old bag too," he offered with a cheeky grin before walking off, leaving her snickering at the pun.  Alex was his wife and she did like to hug him...

***

Alex looked up as the door opened, waving a hand at the redhead standing there with the teacher behind him. "Ron's in the loo.  Come in, sit down."

"Who're you?" he asked as he walked in.  "I'm Charley.  Bill's behind me somewhere."

"I'm Alexander Birmingham," he said, shaking his hand.  "Sorry, I'm working on our special project and I just found the section I think we need.  Ron, one of your brothers is here!"

"In a minute!  I'm removing that fluff stuff Harry covered me in!"

Alex shrugged and grinned at the teacher, who looked amused.  "I don't know how Harry did it," he admitted.  "Not a clue. I think he was learning house elf magic."  Professor Flitwick nodded.  "You might want to yell at him before I turn him into one for doing it to me?" he suggested dryly, smirking at his favorite teacher.

"I've already had a talk with Mr. Potter," he assured him.  He came in and left the door open.  "What did you find?"  Alex handed him the book.  "We tried that."

"Yeah, but if we warp the chaos spell that way, it'll undo the bands around the stupid thing.  Then we can get the latch open and it'll be done."  Flitwick looked at him.  "I'm actually very good at designing stuff like that.  Draco does amazing at designing hexes and curses and I'm good at warping rites, rituals, and spells.  Plus the odd charm now and then.  Did that one I gave you work?"

"It did.  It managed to clean all the old stuffing out of the pillows without harming the fabric, and then refilled it with new.  What would you use that on?"

Alex shrugged.  "I don't know.  I got the idea after sex."

Flitwick smirked a bit.  "I've often had odd thoughts myself after that institution."  He patted him on the arm as he handed the book back.  "Good boy, Alexander."

"Thanks, Professor.  Want to stay while I make an attempt?  Since my note taker is going to be busy?"

"You won't need to think about it?"

Alex grinned. "You know very well I don't think about things before I do them.  Didn't you hear McGonagall screaming that at me after breakfast?"

Charley grinned at him.  "You sound like one of us."

"The families haven't intermixed in about three generations," Alex assured him with a wicked smirk.  "Ron!  Your brother just suggested I dump Draco and have you instead."

Ron came out of the bathroom.  "I like girls, Alexander, not poofters like you," he said fondly, smirking back.  "Charley?"  Charley grinned and nodded.  "I thought Bill was coming up.  Or was Mum's memory going?"

"No, I'm a surprise.  McGonagall's got Bill and is walking him up."

"Ah."  Ron flopped down, looking at the professor and his suitemate.  "Go play."

"Fine.  Make me go crack that," Alex sighed, getting up and heading to the case.  He opened it and Flitwick came over to help him move the silver tray it was sitting on back to a corner of the suite usually reserved for sweets.  "Can I get a workroom?" he asked as they moved it.  "Twirly was really mad that I took the sweets table to work on and Harry's littering the coffee table too much for her to leave food there."

"We'll see. If you can do this, perhaps."   He watched as Alex lit out the candles on the temporary altar, noticing his precision while working.  "If you manage this, you'll have to celebrate."

"Sirius promised me dancing boys and liquor," he said with an impish grin at the people coming in.  "Give me ten.  Don't interrupt."  He closed his eyes.

Bill stared.  "I know that thing," he said in awe.  "I helped dig it up."

"He's breaking the charms so it can be opened," Ron said proudly. "He got bored so they had to make him study other stuff too."  He got up and hugged him.  "Welcome back to civilization."

"Thanks," he said, grinning at him.  "Why are you down here?"

"You want the long or the short?" Ron teased as he sat down, letting Bill have Alex's chair.

"Not the blue one. That's mine," Alex ordered.  "Ron says it holds gay boy cooties."  Bill snickered but got up and switched to beside Charley.  "Thanks, mate."  He got back to his silent chanting, then suddenly smiled and flicked open the closure, waving a hand.  "Tada," he said simply, grinning and walking back to his seat.  "Dobby!" he called.  He appeared, looking astonished.  "Hey, Dobby, can you tell the Headmaster to call Gringotts about the bag?  Have the overseer come *right now*?  As in it's an emergency?"  He grinned. "Then can you bring me some milk and some toast?  My stomach's upset."  Dobby nodded his head and disappeared.  The toast and milk appeared about five minutes before anyone else.  Alex pointed at where Flitwick was looking at the bag.  "Done," he announced, stunning them all.  "It's open."  He nibbled on a corner of his toast, watching as the goblin ran over, dragging Bill up and over to see it with him.

Ron stared a minute.  "What should I put in the notes?"

"Bergman theory of compassion and compulsion warps the chaos spell to open the bands and it dissolved.  He made it so only he and his girl could open it."  He ate another bite of toast, grinning at the stunned headmaster.  "When am I due in court?"

"Tomorrow at ten," McGonagall reminded him, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek.  "I'm very proud of you, Alexander," she said with a smile.  "Should I tell your father?"

Alex shook his head with a smirk.  Dobby came back with another goblin so he pointed at the bunch of people over there.  It nodded and headed over to look, then stared at him.  He grinned at his vault manager.  "I just opened it."

"Congratulations," he praised.  "Well done.  The Wizengomet has asked for a summary of certain finances.  We were wondering why."

"Because I'm suing their asses.  I'm tired of them," Alex said firmly, staring him down. "Or don't you read the Prophet either?"  He shook his head.  "They've accused me of being the reason Longbottom turned dark."

The goblin arched an eyebrow up.  "Really?"  Alex nodded and ate another bite of toast then drank some more milk. "How much should I expect in your account?"

"I'm suing for ten billion galleons.  So somewhere near that hopefully," he offered with a grin.

"We'd have to move your vaults again," he noted.  "Anything over six thousand and we'd have to move it.  That would mean you'd have to start paying vault rental fees."

"Mate, if I get a million or more, I'm going to roll around it in for a bit," he promised with a grin. The goblin quirked a small smirk and nodded once at that.  "Grenthor, I need to know when I can come for the rest of it."

"Come back early from the holidays," he offered.  "We'll be doing the inventory and evaluation on this until then."  He held up a crystal.  "Can you tell what's in this?"

Bill felt it.  "It feels like that nasty chaos stuff."  He handed it delicately to Alex, who was holding out a hand.  Then he gasped as he tossed it back to the goblin.  "That's got to be fragile."

"It's a quartz crystal, relax," he ordered.  "Yeah, it was chaos, something dragon feeling."  The goblin nodded, making note on the bag it put it into.   He grinned at Bill.  "Relax.  That was his shaving kit."  Bill nodded and went back to looking.  He grinned at Charley.  "Sorry to have interrupted the reunion.  I can go jump my boyfriend if you want."

"You're gay?" Charley asked.

"As any Auntie's hat at Easter," he offered with a wicked smirk.  Charley giggled at that.

"Please don't get started on aunts and hats," Ron pleaded.  "Patrice has an aunt who *always* wears this hat with a cow on it."  Alex snickered, finishing his milk.  "Go play and brag, Alex.  Be a good Gryff.  Keep the Slytherins out."

"Sure."  He got up and handed the headmaster his plate and empty glass with a grin at him.  "I'll be at dinner, I promise."  He headed out and downstairs.  Draco and Snape were brewing something together so he stuck his head into the classroom.  "Honey, why would a wizard keep a crystal with dragon feeling chaos magic in his shaving kit?" he asked.

Snape dropped his spoon, turning to stare at him.  "You got it open!"

"Just a few minutes ago.  By the way, there's two spare Weasleys in the suite, honey.  Plus two goblins."  He grinned and waved.  "I'm off to play in the sun.  Wanna come?"

Draco walked over and kissed him.  "I'll reward you later," he said with a smirk.

"Good, the trial starts tomorrow.  Take notes for me, 'kay?" he offered.  He headed off, going out to the courtyard.  He found Harry talking with Granger and ignored her.  "Harry, two of Ron's brothers just showed up if you wanted to chat with them.  Where are Greg and Vinnie so I can give them some space?"

"Greenhouse two."

"Good afternoon, Alexander," Hermione said firmly.

He ignored her.  "By the way, I opened it so there's also some goblins and I'll be gone for a few days starting tomorrow for that trial," he reminded him, heading that way.

Harry grinned at Hermione. "I'm off to see which brothers showed up.  Want to come?"

"I doubt I'm allowed."

"That's fine then, I'll make sure they stop up to say hi and see Ginny too," he promised, heading back to the suite at a happy run.  No one panicked because he was grinning.  He ran into Charley, giving him a hug.  "You're leaving already?"

"No, they're removing it and needed some room," he offered with a grin, patting him on the back.  "At least you've grown some."

"A bit," Harry offered, grinning at Ron.  "She just tried to talk to Alexander.  He ignored her."

"Good!  I'm not sure I don't want to slap her senseless," Ron assured him.  "Even after all this time.  How stupid was she, Harry?"

"I'm checking to make sure she's back to normal, Ron."

"I doubt it's possible.  She should be resorted."

"Draco said she's not allowed near the Slytherins."

"For all I care, she can go join Vicktor at Drumstang," he said firmly.  "I'm going to have Alex make it so she can't walk into the rooms.  I'm sorry, Harry, but I don't want to think about her trying again."

"Who?" Charley asked. "What's going on?" Charley asked.  "You never told me why you're down here, Ron."

"Percy," Harry told him.

"Percy?  Our brother Percy?" Charley asked.  Ron nodded.  "What did *he* do?  I think I need the longer explanation."

"Had us kicked out of the house," Ron told him.  "For saving Harry's life from Neville."  Charley blinked, looking really confused.  "Once we can get back inside, I'll tell you all about it, Charley.  After this court case I doubt it'll flare back up again."

"It had better not," Harry promised.  He saw McGonagall coming out of the room smiling.  "Professor, I heard a nasty rumor that Neville's coming back when he's released. Is he?"  She nodded, pursing her lips.  "To the house?"  She nodded once.  "Should I plan on moving back?"

"No, I think it'll be fine," she assured him, smiling and patting him on the cheek.  "You can go back in now.  They flooed and everything reached the bank.  Where's Alex?"

"He was outside telling Greg and Vinnie to give Ron and I some space," he offered with a grin.  "Then again, Granger tried to talk to him and he ignored her."

"Oh, shit," she muttered, heading out at a dead run.  She found Madam Sprout restraining the girl and Alex being held by Greg.  "What's happened now?" she demanded, panting a bit.  She looked at Alex, then at Granger, then back at Alex.  "Gregory?"

"Granger came up and touched him on the shoulder.  He told her, literally, to bugger off.  She gave him a hurt look and started to chastise him about how she was trying to help him.  He called Madam Sprout and told her if she wasn't an evil woman could she please remove the one that was.  She tried, Hermione hexed her.  Lovegood unhexed her and she grabbed Granger to drag her off, and now they're both frozen thanks to a rebounding charm Granger cast.  Alex has shields up and I can't let him go.  We're rather stuck."  She moved forward and bounced into his shields.  "He's stunned, professor."

"I'll get Mr. Malfoy," she promised, heading back inside.  Then she got wise.  "Winky, I need Professor Snape and Mr. Malfoy immediately," she ordered when a house elf appeared at her summons. She nodded and hurried off.  Those two came strolling up.  "Alex has up a shield.  Granger tried him."  There was not much that got either of them to run, but that simple sentence was more than enough.  Draco hurried to his mate.  Snape hurried to try to get poor Professor Sprout free.  She called Flitwick down from his happy dancing and floating around in his classroom.  "Alex knows how to create firm shields."  He came down and ran out as fast as he could.

She got out there in time to see Alex let his shield go and turn to hug Greg and Draco holding him from behind. She relaxed and they went to help Professor Sprout, who was finally uncursed and let free.  She burst out crying and came over to hug Alex too.  That told her all she needed to know.  "Gentlemen, please take her to the headmaster's office," she ordered calmly.  "Frozen is fine.  We can undo her up there."  They nodded, carrying her inside.  She was resisting all magic done on her.  She walked over and smiled at Alex.  "It's all right," she soothed.  "I'm going to be screaming all night at that girl."  He looked up at her and she nodded.  "I promise.  Draco, take him back to bed.  Greg, Ron's two brothers are in."

"That's fine.  They can have our common room.  Come on, Alex."  Draco helped him get the poor boy inside.

Madam Sprout wiped off her cheeks.  "At least he didn't attack her," she offered.

"No, I didn't think he would," she admitted, giving her a brief hug.  "It's all right.  Do you want to get some yelling in as well?"  She shook her head.  "Then you should probably have Poppy check you over, just in case, dear."  She nodded, heading that way, still sniffling a bit.  McGonagall looked around, feeling magic around there.  "I can feel you," she called. Neville came out of hiding.  "How did you do that?"

"A light shield.  I learned it off Hermione."  He walked forward.  "I'm the reason she's frozen.  It's wandless magic."  He looked at her.  "Is Alex pissed?"  She nodded.  "It wasn't me."

"I doubt you're going to be able to tell him that in person," she admitted dryly. "Up to the office, Mr. Longbottom. Special accommodations will be made available."  He nodded, following her inside.  They met the headmaster.  "He said he froze her."

"I'm sorry, sir, but she was going to cast another hex even though that one rebounded and froze Madam Sprout.  I didn't want her to kill anyone and she was at the second 'c' in crucio."  He nodded, looking grave.  "They released me early for the trial and I was told to report here.  An auror made me a portkey."

"As you should have been," he agreed.  "Upstairs, Mr. Longbottom.  We'll be talking tonight."  He nodded, heading through the door Professor McGonagall had opened.  Dumbledore looked up.  "I'm retiring," he told the painting up there, one of Merlin.  Who nodded.  "Thank you."  He walked up his own stairs, looking at the assembled people, including the reporter.  "Why are you here?"

"I heard Mr. Birmingham and Mr. Malfoy managed to unblock Merlin's Traveling Chest."

"They did," he agreed.  "They're in no state to offer a statement.  Call back later so Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley can.  Mr. Weasley has been their assistant and taking their notes."  She nodded, leaving through the floo.  He sat behind his desk, looking at everyone.  "Mr. Longbottom, please uncurse her."  He nodded and waved a hand, making her go limp, then burst out crying.  "Where is Professor Sprout?"

"I sent her to the infirmary," McGonagall offered quietly.  "I thought she'd need it."

"That's very wise of you," he agreed.  "Thank you."  He looked at the two male professors.  "Professor Snape, please do the preliminary interview for Mr. Longbottom's file."  He nodded once and walked the boy off.  "Professor Flitwick, did you want to stay?"

"No, that's fine.  How is Alexander?"

"Fine.  Alex is being taken care of by Draco and Mr Goyle," McGonagall told him.  "Draco is putting him to bed."

"That's fine. I'll pop in on them later," he promised, nodding at his colleagues.  Then he left, going to write an entry into his journal.

***

Alex came back two days later, wearing the Sorting Hat and giggling.  He smiled at the teachers meeting him, taking it off and presenting it to McGonagall.  "He said it's not often he gets out of the school, and some of the Ministry officials were quite rude, as he knew they'd be when they were younger."  He presented her with a letter.  "I'm going to figure out if one can actually bathe in gold."  He walked off, going to present his honey with the official ruling, that had just been a copy of the announcement for the paper.  He grinned as he walked into his room, everyone staring at him.  "Longbottom, why are you in here?"

"I'm sorry, Alexander.  I never said that."

"So you said yesterday.  That's fine.  I don't blame you.  I blame the people responsible.  Namely Fudge."  He handed Draco the ruling, sitting down in his usual chair and pulling Draco onto his lap.  Draco smiled and kissed him, making him grin back.  "Not only was the Daily Prophet to run a front page, headline only, retraction, they were to run a special announcement from the judges.  They are also to pay me three year's profit for ruining what remained of the good name of the family and what I had been trying to rebuild.  The Ministry is now forfeiting a hefty sum as well," he said with a fond smirk for Harry.  "You were included in that since Fudge started going off that he was going to pit us against each other.  Then he was going to kill the winner and be the new hero of the wizarding world.  He admitted, under truth serum, that he had planned the compulsion scheme and all that. He's going to be kissed by a dementor within a few weeks.  My lawyer asked him if he was behind Sirius not getting a trial, at Sirius' request, and he admitted he was."  Harry's mouth fell open.  "I allowed the judge to give his forfeited estate to Sirius and his family.  I think he gave it to Remus.  His testimony lasted ten hours yesterday.  He admitted to duping and pressuring the headmaster or else he'd have Hogwarts closed and all that good stuff."

"He couldn't do that," Ron complained.

"Yes he could," Draco argued.  "Fudge was a death eater.  Three-quarters of the school's board are death eaters.  He could and would have, Ron."  He grinned at his mate again.  "I'm so proud of you."

"That's good because we've got to switch vaults again, and now I'm going to have to start paying vault rental fees.  Can you actually swim in galleons?"

"Probably not, they're not very fluid.  They're too hot when they're melted," he said thoughtfully.  "We can ask mum.  She wanted you to call so she could pout because you didn't let her attend and sit with you."

"I told her why not," he said firmly.  "She's got to listen sometimes," he complained.  Draco snickered and shook his head.  "Yes, she does.  We're not working on the other stuff.  Bill got it open once he found out how we had."  He stole a kiss and grinned.  "Longbottom, do you like watching me kiss my betrothed?"

"Well, you are pretty together," he offered dryly.  "Can you help me study Charms?"

"I'm not tutoring this year," Alex said, looking at him.  "Not anyone."

"Alex..." Harry started.

"I don't have time, Harry.  My special projects are taking all my time right now."  Draco gave him another kiss.  "Fine, ours."

"I have free time."

"I don't seem to.  Even my last Transfiguration paper was on that stuff."

"So was mine, but we can figure that out later.  It's possible, Longbottom, but we'll need to see."  He nodded and left them alone.  He looked at Potter once they were alone.  "A new charity case?" he asked sarcastically.

"He's trying to return to the side of good, Draco," Ron reminded him.

"Trying."  Greg shrugged.  "He seems kinda normal but unless I hear it from an expert, I'm not going to trust it."

"Ask Dad, Greg," Alex ordered.  He nodded. "He'd know."  Ron and Harry accepted that. He looked at Draco again.  "You know that remaining cursed jewelry stuff?" He grimaced and nodded. "Should we work on that next?"

"We can," he admitted. "We'd have to have it remade into something nicer.  I don't think I could stomach seeing anyone wear most of those.  They're hideous."

"No one ever said evil had good fashion sense," he said blandly, grinning at his mate.  "You sure?  It'll mean we'll have cursed artifacts in here all the time."

"What were you thinking about doing?" Draco asked.

"That one leather jewelry box."

Draco considered it then nodded.  "Fine.  We can do most of it over the holidays while in Gringotts."  Alex grinned and nodded.  "When is it coming?"

"As soon as I call and they announce it to Dumbledore.  Probably with our vault manager tonight."

"Fine," he agreed again, stealing another kiss. "You deserve a reward."

"I do, don't I?" he asked with a grin.  "I have slain the evil in the land and made it safe once again for unwitting Hufflepuffs and baby Slytherins."  Draco snorted and stole a real kiss, making him moan and grab him.  "Bed," he ordered.

"Yes, please," Harry said tolerantly.  "I don't need to have a practical demonstration of gay sex."

"Why, think you'd enjoy it?" Draco sneered.

"Well, not really.  I seem to like funny haired aurors," he replied smugly, leaning back and getting comfortable again while they went to Draco's bedroom.

"At least they use a silencing charm," Ron teased.  Harry blushed and slunk down some.  Then he got up and ran out to head to the Great Hall for dinner. Ron snickered and put up his things before heading down.  "We're going to dinner," Ron yelled.  Greg and Vinnie joined him, leaving the couple to get loud for a bit.  He ran into his girlfriend in the hall, crying. "What's wrong?" he asked, pulling her into a hug.  "What's happened?  Did someone pick on you?"

"No!  My dad hates yours," she sobbed against his chest.  "He's trying to stop us from being together."

"Bugger," Ron muttered, earning a pinch.  He grinned down at her, wiping her cheeks off.  "Don't you worry.  My mum and your mum are scary women and scary women rule the world.  Just like you will some day."  She smiled a bit at that.  "You tell your mum and my mum tonight.  You can come use our floo if Draco and Alexander aren't making too much noise."  She blushed and nodded.  "Good girl, Patrice.  Why doesn't he like my dad?"

"He hates Harry because he's thinks Fudge was a great man."

Ron blinked, holding back the comment he wanted to make by biting his tongue.

She kissed him on the cheek.  "Thank you for not insulting my father, Ron."  He nodded, kissing her.  She licked her lips.  "You bit too hard," she teased with a grin.  "I can really come down and call them both?  I like your mum, she's a neat woman."

"Yeah, you can," he agreed, walking her inside, arm around her shoulders. He saw her older sister's heated look but shrugged and helped her into her seat, then went back to his own while the sisters talked. From the looks of things, Hannah had gotten the letter first so he looked at Ginny.  "Patrice is coming down to call both our mothers tonight."

"Giving bad news?" she asked hopefully.

"No, her da liked Fudge."

Ginny raised an eyebrow.  "Then I take it the daughters have more sense?"  He nodded, hissing as he drank some juice.  "Bit your tongue?"

"I didn't want to insult her father, Ginny.  She'd hit me."

"Don't you mean hate you?" Dean asked.

"No, she'd hit me, mate," Ron assured him dryly.  "I've got a girl like my mum."  All the guys laughed at that.  "Since we'll be calling mum anyway, you wanna come down and chat?" he asked his sister.  She shook her head.  "You sure?"

"I just sent her a letter, Ron."

"Fine."  He smiled at his girl when she looked over.  She grinned and ducked her head, getting back to eating.  He pulled over some soft food so he wouldn't have to use his poor tongue too often.  Harry pulled his wand and cast a healing charm, making Ron grin at him.  "Thanks."

"She'll probably expect more kissing later," he noted.  He looked at Ginny.  "Alexander's back."

"I heard the rumors.  How did it go?"

"He about owns the Prophet," Ron told her.  She giggled.  "It's coming out tomorrow."  She nodded, smiling at him.  "We'll have to read the announcement."

"We should save him a copy if he doesn't get up in time," she offered.

"I doubt he's going to make it to class tomorrow," Ron agreed dryly, eating a bite of dinner while Harry coughed.  "You okay, Harry?" he asked with a grin.

"I don't think he'd make it to the infirmary for those sort of injuries, Ron."

"He might not have a choice," Ron reminded him.  "I take Draco as a kinky guy who likes straps and cuffs and stuff."  Harry choked again and Ginny had to clap him on the back until he calmed down.  "You okay there, Harry?"

"I'm going to smother you in your sleep, Weasley," he warned hoarsely.  "Don't do that to me!"

"Sorry, Harry," he offered with a grin. "You don't think he's like that?"

Harry moaned and refilled his plate and his glass of juice, then got up and to sit in the hall and eat.  That way he didn't have to think about those thoughts.

"What did you do, Mr. Weasley?" Professor McGonagall asked as she came down.

"Suggested Alex might not be able to walk tomorrow.  Do you think Draco's a kinky sort who likes straps and the like?  I know I've caught handcuffs," he offered.

She blushed and shook her head.  "I don't think about such matters," she noted, going to join Harry in the hall and check on him.  He would help banish that image before she extrapolated and started to wonder about Severus and it being part of the family.

***

Alex wandered into the infirmary the next morning and laid down on a bed, hissing a bit.  The nurse walked over to look at him.  "No more sex?" he whispered.  "Please?"

"Are you all right?" she asked patiently.  He shook his head. "Why not?"

"I've got a sore bum," he said pitifully, barely raising his head.  "Draco's an animal!"  He wished he could take a picture of her face.  Ron had suggested this.  "Can I please nap?  I need a nap and a soak."

She ran her wand over him and blushed bright red when she got the results.  "Mr. Birmingham!" she said, looking shocked. He gave her a sheepish grin.  "What did you do?"

"I don't know what it's called, but it was awfully fun until I woke up," he admitted.  "I only got an hour of sleep, ma'am."

"Go back to your room and soak in the bathtub.  At least you're not torn or anything like that."  She swatted him as he walked out, noticing how he was walking.  You couldn't fake that sort of walk.  That poor boy!  She'd have to get onto Sirius to remind Draco to be more gentle with his lover!  She went to her office and slammed the door, flooing him immediately.

***

Draco looked up as the owl floated down at dinner that night, looking at it.  "Hello, Flirt."  He took the letter.  "Thank you."  She hooted and flew off.  He opened it and read it, then burst out laughing.   He'd have to make Alex pay for that later.

Vinnie looked, then blushed.  "What did you do to him?" he asked.

Draco smirked.  "A lot.  How's Nary?"  Vincent blushed.  "Good."  He got up and walked over to his mate, ignoring the other Gryffindors.  He handed him the letter.  "She complained about what I did to you.  So I suppose that means I should....."

"The proper word is apologize," Ron told him.  "I know it's a foreign concept, but it's where you say 'I'm sorry' and mean it," he offered with a smug look.  "Did your mum throw a fit about the kinky sex?"

"No, Pomfrey called Black and he reminded me how to treat those sort of things so Alex wouldn't traumatize the nurse again.  Apparently she was still blushing while she ranted at him."  He gave his boyfriend a knowing look. "He complained that he only ever talks to us about sex stuff."

"She ran the check spell, I didn't have to describe anything," Alex defended.

"Yes, but you probably enjoyed showing off your ...wounds," he said with a smirk.

Alex just smirked at him.  "I'll apologize when I bring you in tomorrow," he promised.  Draco smirked and went back to his seat.

***

Draco moaned as he wandered into the infirmary, falling face first onto a bed.  The nurse came over and tried to help him onto his back but he hissed and swatted at her.  She did the check spell and grimaced, covering him up before going to complain once again.  This time Sirius came over to look at him.  He snickered a bit and leaned down, whispering in Draco's ear.  His answer was a groan and a small nod.  Sirius looked at the nurse.  "The best thing for him is for his mate to pamper him while he lounges in a bath.  I'll talk with him myself once you get him."

She glared at him.  "How much longer will this go on?"

"If they're lucky, their whole life," he said happily.  "Where is the little Casanova now?"

"In Potions," she said grimly.  "I can't keep treating these sort of things."

He smirked a bit.  "You'd think you'd never seen anyone having good sex before," he teased.

"Not with those sort of..of...of complications!" she complained hotly.  "That's not normal!"

"Poppy, I've had the same thing many mornings," he said patiently.  "Sure, they're very energetic.  They're probably going much harder and longer than most of the kids since they're not worried about being caught by a teacher."  She blushed at that.  "Poppy, how did you think two men had sex?" he teased.  She blushed and stomped off.  "I'll talk with them later, just let him sleep and then send him for a soak later.  That's what he really needs.  That and better timing."  He patted Draco on the back, waking him up.  "Are you okay with what happened last night?"  Draco looked at him and nodded. "Any complaints?"

"Even I need sleep and I'm a sex god," he whined.

Sirius smiled.  "I'm sure you are.  Take a nap then go soak.  I'll talk with Alexander about timing."

He glanced around then leaned closer.  "He got me for *hours* because of how I got him so good the night before last."  Sirius grinned at that.  "I'm missing Herbology and Creatures," he said with a small grin, putting his head back down. "Tell him no more hickies."

"I will," Sirius promised, looking at the nurse as she came back.  "When should you be releasing him to soak so his mate can be properly punished for having sex all night with him?"  Draco smirked a bit at that so he blocked it by tucking him in.  He turned to look at her.  "When?"

"Third," she said, looking at the young man's back.  "He should only rest and soak?"

"Oh, yeah.  Alex and Draco are very careful not to tear each other.  They're very careful, just young men and energetic.  If the school allowed more spouses to stay together you'd see more of this between couples.  Especially the male-on-male couples."  She blushed again.

"Give her the talk you gave us," Draco said, flipping onto his side facing away from them.  "That way she doesn't have to call you every time a new gay couple comes out."

"I think I have enough information, young man."

Draco looked back at her, then snorted.  "If you did, you wouldn't have blushed at the sight of my open ass on the diagnostic spell."  He waved a hand.  "Go learn something to help students before you get someone clueless who does get torn, woman.  Let me sleep."

"I can send you to class like that, young man."

"You can try," he snorted.  "I can always sleep through them too."  He snuggled in and closed his eyes, letting himself drift off again.  He'd have to figure out how Alex had created the train-like vibrations last night.

Sirius smiled at her.  "I wouldn't mind. That way some idiot kid doesn't try it and you have to wonder how.  Come on, we could use a good snort.  It's the only way I know how to do this."  She blushed and nodded, walking him into her office.

***

Professor McGonagall looked up as her classroom door opened, giving the man lounging in the doorway a dirty look.  "Did you need something, Mr. Black?"

"Yes, Professor, unfortunately I do.  I need Mr. Birmingham for Madam Pomfrey.  She wanted him to come make up for his mistakes last night by taking care of his mate."  She pursed her lips, obviously trying not to laugh.  "Unfortunately his ...actions last night got a bit...over the top and Madam Pomfrey has asked for his attention to this matter so she never has to see it again."

"And what did he do?"

"Do you *really* want me to share details?" he asked with a small smirk.  She shook her head.  "So I need Mr. Birmingham upstairs and then I'm off, back to my playboy lifestyle."  He grinned at Alex.  "At Draco's suggestion, I did inform her what was normal and what wasn't.  That way she never has to worry about such things again."  Alex nodded, packing up his things.  "Thank you for your prompt attention, young man."  A few of the Slytherins chuckled at that.  He looked at them, then at her.  "I also noted what was normal when you had access to your spouse."

"That is something we don't usually deal with outside of vacations," she agreed.  She gave him a long look.  "Go, Mr. Birmingham.  I'll be expecting a foot of parchment on your misdeeds last night."  He nodded and followed Sirius out.  He had been bored out of his mind anyway.  She could just barely hear the laughter from the hall and knew it was a plot to get out of class.  Well, he had won this one but she doubted it could ever happen again.  She'd have to talk to Poppy later, make sure she was okay.

***

Professor Snape looked up as something made him shiver, some sort of dark magic that was calling out to him.  His arm and the mark on it started to tingle, making him grab it.  It didn't hurt, it wasn't the same dark source as what had caused his mark, but he still ached.  He glanced around the class, noticing Potter was looking queasy and Longbottom was holding his head, rubbing his forehead.  "Work quietly," he ordered, heading to see why the dark wards weren't screaming at them.  He made it up to the main hall when the feeling stopped.  He paused, looking around, then he hurried back to his classroom.  He found Potter and Longbottom holding someone on the floor at wandpoint.  "Back!" he ordered.  He moved closer, looking at the person on the floor.  The hood was removed and he sneered at the person.  "Mr. Potter.  Where is my son?"

"Behind you," Longbottom told him, nodding at Alex.  "We have him."

"Good.  I got another one trying to break into the muggle studies classroom," he said smugly, looking at his father.  He looked down.  "Hmm.  I know him."  He looked at his father.  "The male upstairs is begging for mercy to the Headmaster."  He glanced around.  "There's another around here.  Potter, with me," he ordered, heading off.  He heard footsteps and turned, finding Longbottom.  "Not you."

"I know where every dark artifact in this school is," he noted calmly.

"Um-huh, all but the ones I'm working on," he noted.  "And you're not allowed in our suite without escorts, Longbottom."

"Harry sent me."  He moved closer.  "We're wasting time."

Alex stared him down.  "Did it feel good?" he asked.  Neville swallowed and shook his head.  "Liar.  I know very well it did, Longbottom.  Until you quit pretending, I'm not going to trust you."  He turned and walked off, heading to his suite.  He noticed someone working on the doorway and sighed, pointing his wand at them.  "Ennervate!"  The woman shrieked and jumped, starting to cry.  "Pity," he noted dryly, moving closer.  "Looking for something?"

"You aren't worthy to own even her underthings!" she screamed, glaring at him.  "How dare you!"

He punched her, knocking her down.  He rubbed his knuckles.  "Since it's my family heritage and those things were passed down to me from the last good members of the family I dare a lot."  She started to sit up so he hit her again, then got down to beat her for real.

"Whoa!" Neville yelled, trying to separate them. "Don't, Alexander!"

Ron jogged up and grabbed Alex, pulling him off and away.  "Quit!" he ordered, pushing him against the wall.  "Let the others have a few hits too," he said, scowling at him.  "Calm down!"  He let him go and hauled the woman up to her feet, looking her over.  "I should let him rip you apart," he assured her.  "We don't wanna hear it when he has to get cuddled for the nightmares though."  He drug her off, crying and wailing about the pain she was in.  The teachers in the nearby classrooms came out but he waved them off.  "Another person trying to break in.  This is the third."  He hauled her down the stairs and up to the office, dumping her on the floor.  He stepped over her.  "Alexander beat her sorry."  He looked at the other two in the corners.  "Any others?"

The headmaster looked at him.  "Why were they here?"

"We're not sure. I know she was trying to get into our suite."  He shrugged.  "We've got some jewelry those two are working on but they're locked up so tightly not even Alex can sense it."  He nodded back at them.  "Where were they?"

"One was in Potions and one in Muggle Studies," he said patiently.

"Huh.  So, going after Professor Snape or something he's got.  Muggle studies because they're like that and she hated Alex for having the family stuff."  He nodded once.  "Pitiful morons.  Well, I'm off to Herbology again unless you needed me, sir?"  He shook his head so Ron grinned.  "Thanks, sir.  We're going over slippery stuff plants."  He headed down the stairs, grinning at the teachers converging on the office.  "Alexander found an extra one trying to get into our suite," he told McGonagall.  He noticed his teacher coming in.  "Are we released to the Great Hall or our houses?"

"Go back to the suite, Mr. Weasley.  Such a thoughtful boy," she praised, patting him on the cheek.

Ron grinned.  "Thanks."  He went back upstairs, finding Alex looking over the pieces.  "They okay?"

"Yeah, I'm doing something to keep myself from going up there to kill the brats again," he noted impatiently.  "Come hold this, Ron."

"Will it taint me?  'Cause if it does, Mum might really mind," he offered, but he did come to help hold the stuff he was working on.  Draco stormed in and he shrugged.  "Sorry you missed all the action."

"Who was it?"

"Greg's uncle, Miss Breckinridge, and Mr. Poles," Alex said blandly.  "Greg's uncle went for dad or something in there.  Mr. Poles went for the muggle studies classroom.  Tabitha came for this stuff and said I'm not worthy to even touch her nasty underthings."

Draco snorted and gave him a hug.  "You're more worthy than any of them," he noted patiently, nodding Weasley out of the way so he could help him work.  Potter came in with the other two Slytherins.  "Greg, I'm sorry."

"Dad?" he asked, looking worried.

"Your uncle that gave you the teddy bear," Alex sighed, looking at him.  "He went after my dad or something in there."

"Fuck," he growled, turning and storming out.  He headed up to the headmaster's office, finding his uncle groaning in there.  He pulled him up, staring into his eyes, then he hit him.  He beat him a few more times then sneered at him.  "How does it feel, Uncle?  As good as serving the former Dark Lord?  How did it feel to be beaten by a little boy!" he sneered.  His uncle whimpered.  "You can tell everyone else in the family that if they continue on this path, the family's going to change starting with me.  Especially since your daughter is leaving her spouse for being such a bastard.  Even if I have to help her kill 'im for hitting her the next time.  I'd rather have no family than have ones who did this!"  He kicked him in the side, making him curl up around the aching spot on his hip.  "What were you going for?" he demanded coldly.  "Alex's father or a potion?"

"He has elixir of life," he moaned.  "We need it.  We needed it and some victims to give their bodies up."  He looked up at him.  "You won't win, nephew. You're on the wrong side."

Greg leaned down, tipping his face up.  "I'm not following him.  I can get my kicks helping Alex beat you all.  Why do I need to torture others to get that when I can help him beat all you and laugh."  He stood up again, kicking him again.  "Confess and they might not have you kissed."  He glared at the person who dared to lay a hand on his arm, making Madam Sprout give him a pout.  "I'm sorry, my uncle and I needed to have a talk."  He looked over as a few aurors came in.  "Have him."  He walked out, going to call his father.  His father looked scared when he saw him. "I just beat Uncle Bert bloody.  It felt really good.  How stupid are your former friends!" he demanded.  "They attacked the school!"

Alex came over, hugging him.  "It's all right, Greg.  Everyone has to make their own decisions.  Your uncle made his.  You have the right to yell because he made one that you can't appreciate, but you can't make anyone make this decision."  He looked at Greg's father. "You might tell someone that Miss Breckinridge was quite impolite before I beat her."  He shivered.  "I hope you're not involved.  I've usually liked you, Mr. Goyle.  You were good to me when I was a child."  He clapped Greg on the back and went back to work.  "Greg, do you think this would look good as a single pendant and earrings?" he asked, holding up the necklace he had just finished.

"That's cursed!  You're allergic!" Mr. Goyle said hotly.  "How...?"

"Easy, we're cleaning them, dad," Greg told him.  "They're ugly and annoying him, so therefore he's studying how to clean such things."  He stared at him.  "I'm sure he's looking at other ...areas to clean dark magic from."

"You can do that, but we'll have to destroy the spirit totally," Alex warned.  "If we can destroy Voldemort's soul, we can remove the marks," he said quietly.  "I'm looking for sources," he assured his friend.  "Not only for my dad and yours."  Greg nodded, relaxing and turning off the floo.  "If you want to help, Greg, I need six books out of the restricted section and two of them out of the vault of dark stuff."  Draco looked at him.  "Seriously."

"Give me the titles, I'll see what I can do," Snape said from the doorway. Alex went into his room, pulling the list out of his bookbag.  Then he handed it over and got back to work.  He only had one thing left and then the box.  He smiled when he got done, scooping everything up and handing it to Vinnie.  "What's that?"

"Ugly jewelry."  He and Draco got to work on the box, getting a bit frustrated when it didn't work.  He looked around the edges, finding the hidden stone.  He cleaned it and tossed it to Vinnie, then finished the box, sighing in pleasure.  "There.  Done."  He grinned at his father, handing Vinnie the box.  "Stuff it all back in there."

"What was that?" Snape asked, taking the box from him to look at the contents.  "Already?"

"I'm bored," Draco said sarcastically.  "What did you expect us to do?"

Snape looked at him, then at his son.  "How long have you been working at it?"

"A few days.  You didn't hear the swearing when it was brought because it twitched the dark arts wards?"  He slowly shook his head.  "Seriously."

"I see."  He looked in the box.  "That's not all that was in there."  He looked at Draco, who went to get the rest of the jewelry and pour it back in there.  "It's completely done?"

Alex nodded.  "Yup."

Snape gave him a sudden hug then let him go just as suddenly and walked out.

"I'm thinking that's an 'excellently done, son'," Ron offered. Someone tapped on the portrait.  "Enter!"  Draco gave him an unamused look.  "It's not like you'd lower yourself to opening a door."  He looked over at the people coming in and snorted.  "More?  How did you get past the others?"

"Who cares?" Alex asked, picking up his wand and pointing it at them.  "Out, or else."  They moved closer.  "Fine, have it your way.  Distortum mucosa!"  They screamed as their mucus membranes grew and distorted.  It was hard to cast a hex when your nose was swelling and making your eyes water.  He followed it up with a tried and true.  "Manus oral permanente!"

They screamed as their hands were forced to stuff their mouths, most of them their wand hands.  He choked as some of them gagged and some even threw up.

"Eww," Harry said as he walked in.  "Professor, we found some more!" he yelled.  He walked over one bent over and trying to expel his hand.  "That's gross, go into the hall!  Morblicorpus!"  He floated them out, then shut the portrait.  "Eww!  Dobby!"  He showed up.  "Can you please clean that up and freshen up the room?"  He nodded quickly and did that for them while Harry sat down.

"I haven't seen that one since I was seven," Draco said, smiling at his friends, who nodded. "I remember when you pranked the teacher with that.  We got most of the week off."

"Yeah," Alex said proudly.  "I was very happy with myself. Even if Grams did scream all week while making me read the books on marriage contracts."  He sat down, smiling at the clean carpet they had.  "Thank you, Dobby."

"Dobby is always happy to help Harry Potter."

"Well, you do it very well," Alex assured him.  "If the headmaster doesn't know about these ones, you can even tell him that Harry put them in the hall for him."

"Others outside," he said pitifully.  "Dobby can't interrupt."

Harry walked into Draco's room, opening the windows and looking down.  "I don't have a good shot from here," he complained, closing it and heading out with Alex and Draco, Ron following casually behind them.  They found a room with a good view and made the window disappear, then they leaned out it and hexed the stupid bastards until they were screaming in misery.  Then they replaced the windows and went back to their suite so Twirkly could give them cookies and take the clean jewelry back to Gringotts.

Professor McGonagall walked in, looking a bit amused.  "Was that you?" she asked, taking a cookie from the plate Ron held out.  "Thank you, Mr. Weasley."

"It was mostly Alex and Harry.  The window wasn't big enough for all of us," Ron assured her with a small smirk.  "He got the ones in the hall too."

"Yes, those were the ones I was wondering about," she assured him.  She smiled at Alex.  "Naughty."

"So?"  He nibbled a bite of quiche and grinned.  "I'm a good boy part of the time."

"Only when we force you to be," she chided.  He snickered and nodded, making everyone else laugh.  "Try a bit more often, Alex.  That was incredibly mean. Them swallowing their wands means we can't break them."

"Then cast a banishing charm on the wands.  They'll come out somehow," he promised.

She kissed him on the temple.  "That's a really mean thought but I'll see what your father thinks.  Did you have anything to do?"

"No, we finished it," he said smugly.

"Good!  Now, I believe you had a foot of parchment for me today?"

"Oh, yeah."  He pointed his wand at his room.  "Accio McGonagall's smut."  A roll of parchment flew out and she caught it.  "All yours, Professor."

"Thank you, Alexander."  She left, chuckling a bit.

"Why are you writing her smut?" Greg asked.  "Should I pout?"

"She wanted a foot of parchment on what I did to make Draco need the infirmary," he said with a small shrug.  "I had to write really small to fit it all in."  He ate another bite of dinner.

"You gave her details?" Draco asked, looking horrified.

"It's not like she's getting any, sweetheart.  She's got to need a kickstart now and then.  I figure she gets it from us students who're particularly naughty."  He smiled at his father as he came in.  "Hi, dad, have some food."

He picked up a plate and sat down to eat as well.  It was polite and it seemed to be the easiest way to talk to his son.  He was always open and happy when he was eating.  "Why you're not rotund with the way you eat I have no idea."

"We get plenty of activity exercising my bitch there," Draco nodded, pointing his cookie at Alex.  Snape choked and glared at him.  "Sorry, sir."

"As you should be."  He looked at his son.  "Why was McGonagall cackling?"

"She had me write a foot of parchment on why Draco was in the infirmary and why I had to go take care of him. I had to write really small to get all the details in there.  Either that or the suggestion to do a banishing charm to get the swallowed wands."

Snape looked at his son for a moment.  "There are days when I worry about your mental state, son," he admitted finally.  "Perhaps if you ate less sweets and more vegetables it would straighten it out."

"No, then I'd be a miserable Alex and a pouting Alex and then Draco would never make it to class for trying to keep me happy and take the place of the sugar and chocolate."

"It would be bad if I was to be held back a year for all the sex I'm getting," Draco agreed.  "Mum would probably shit a hippogryff."  Greg and Vinnie both snickered and nodded at that.

Ron looked at Draco.  "My mum said if I got held back it had better be for a reason that will make my dad stop her from killing me.  Ginny and I decided to think up reasonable excuses this summer while we were both grounded for having sex.  Tell her you're working on a way to give her grandkids and testing the spell, maybe she'll just squeal and hug you."

Harry looked at Ron, then pulled his wand.  "Somulus."  He took Ron's cake and handed the plate of cookies down to Vinnie through Snape.  "He needs a nap," he noted.  "I'll float him into bed soon."

"I'm sure certain folks would appreciate that explanation more than others," Snape said, blinking a few times.  Maybe it wasn't the Slytherins being warped by this odd exercise in friendship....  "Alex, you're not allowed to carry on the family name."

"But dad, Narcissa will want someone to spoil and dress up sometime."

"Son, the thought of a grandchild is making me have a migraine.  I believe I'll go torture the intruders for a bit to clear my head."  He got up, taking a cookie with him.  He could talk to his son later, when he was sane again.

Draco smirked at Alex. "That's one excuse that I could probably get past mum."

"Mmm-huh.  Especially if you promised a granddaughter."

"Guys, you're making us sick," Greg complained.

"Harry, knock me out?" Vinnie requested.  "All I can see is a pregnant Alex waddling around complaining how Draco knocked him up instead of going to charms."

"Somulous," Draco cast, shuddering a bit.  His whiny poof of a boyfriend would get worse should that happen, but the idea still had merit.

***

Dumbledore looked at the boys sitting across from him, mentally shaking his head.  "Boys," he said sadly.  "It was not necessary for any of you to do that."

"Yeah it was.  No one else in Muggle Studies did more than cry," Alex told him.  "I wasn't about to let someone kill everyone."

"I doubt he would have," Dumbledore reminded him.

"No, he was going to. He said he was and that he'd be killing everyone but the teacher and a few good 'specimens' to help them with a sacrifice."  Alex shifted some, stretching out and crossing his feet.  "I wasn't about to not protect them considering the teacher was frozen and crying.  I gave her a chance to react first but she just started to sniffle.  I thought it better to not expose the children to the act of horrifying torture and death at that moment in time.  I would have left it to her if she had acted."

"Fine, that I can understand.  As I can them stopping the one who came into the Potions classroom after Professor Snape went to investigate the disturbance," he offered, nodding at Harry and Neville.  "I can even understand the one getting into your suite.  You should have called about the later ones.  You should have let us handle the ones on the doorstep."

"We called Dobby and he said you were busy, I figured there had to be more," Alex said with a small shrug.  "Besides, I was tired of that.  These people should know by now that they're not stepping into my house.  They know better than to attack my house.  They should know about that here as well."

"Yes, well, Twirly did call and say someone tried to break in," he admitted, handing over the note.  "That's why I called you up.  Professor Snape went to check on them for you."  Alex raised an eyebrow.  "He said so, Alexander."

"Ah."  He glanced at the note and handed it to Vinnie.  "Here.  Your family this time."

Vincent looked at it, then snorted.  "Mum'll see him skinned."  He put it into his pocket.  "If your elves didn't."

"It's possible.  Grams did teach them to defend the house by killing the bad wizards," he admitted, looking at the headmaster again.  "By the way, that jewelry box is clean and gone back."  He sighed and nodded.  "Did they come for that specifically?"

"No.  They had a tip that it was here," he told him.  "They wanted the small philosopher's stone in it."

"That's got to be the single gem in the top lining that you threw at your father when we got it cleaned," Draco said thoughtfully.  He shrugged. "It might still be with him."

"Uncle Bert said he was after some elixir of life," Greg offered.

"So they're going to try to raise him again," Harry said bitterly.  "We need to know how to stop them this year, Headmaster."

"As far as I know, that was about the remaining death eater force," Draco offered.  "Most of the rest of the supporters were wives, who didn't do hardly anything, and silent supporters like Fudge."

"Should we hear of a new reason for you to get involved, we'll be telling you all," the headmaster assured them.  "Until then...."  The boys all nodded.  "I am proud that you managed to save us, boys, but I'm still most upset that you did what you did.  Especially since you put the window in upside down."

"Ooops."  Alex snorted.  "It's not like any of us know how windows are put in."

"Point," he agreed.  "Perhaps you should learn?" he suggested, staring him down.

"That would go against the ban of me learning anything about construction that Halfrek imposed," he noted calmly.  The headmaster shuddered.  "Sorry, Headmaster, but I'm not killing off everyone so I can learn how to replace windows the right way.  Not while I'm able to pay for a contractor."  He stood up.  "Was there anything else?  My father said I needed to eat more normal food. He thought my unique hyperactivity was due to an influx of cookies today."

"Go," he sighed, shaking his head as all the boys left.  He'd never get through to them with Alex there.  Perhaps individually....  Ron just smirked a bit and shook his head.  He stared the young man down.

"Stopping Alex when he's got a mind to do something is like stopping the tide," he said quietly.  "Or like stopping Ginny from buying out Honeydukes."  He headed after Harry, going to chat about the current quidditch team.

Dumbledore put his head down, moaning a bit.  Those boys were going to drive him insane.

"One more year after this one," one of the paintings reminded him.  "Then they all graduate."

Dumbledore looked at her.  "Are we sure?"

"They're sixth years," she reminded him.

He smiled.  "Thank you. I needed that."  He got up and headed to dinner himself.  He needed to eat so he had the energy to deal with those students. And McGonagall's giggling while she read a student essay.

***

Alex looked up as Flitwick sat in the seat next to him, handing over the drawing he was working on.  "Need help?"

"You were muttering, Alex," he said with a fond smile.

"Sorry, sir."

"That's okay."  He looked at the drawing, then at his favorite student.  "Well, I'm sure it's very realistic, but please try to keep to more...mundane matters in my class?  I doubt the people sitting behind you want to see such things."

"No, let him go on," Millicent Bulstrode offered.  "I'm enjoying the hell out of it, sir."  He gave her a dirty look and she grinned.  "Why do you think we sit back here?  It's the only way we get to see naked boys."

Flitwick sighed and looked at his student.  "No more doing figure drawings in here."

"The art teacher said I was to do them," he pouted, making the teacher sigh.  "I'm doing it for her class."

"Fine.  From this point on, no more.  I'll talk with her about adjusting your schedule of studies a bit so we don't have to see it."  He patted him on the hand.  "We're doing fire charms.  Did you want to demonstrate?"

Alex pulled his wand.  "Corpus ignito arch."  A fire sprung up from the small piece of wood in the middle of the floor, arching up to form a pretty arching structure that one could walk through.  He smiled at the teacher.  Then he concentrated and made the shapes shift and dance a bit, making the roof dip and wave then settle looking like it was twisted around itself.

"Impressive," Draco called, casting a water charm to put it out.  "Show off."

"Draco, did you tell him to not include your birthmark on any of the stuff he does of you?" Millie asked.  Draco went bright red and shook his head, getting up muttering something about water.  She chuckled and patted Alex on the back.  "Because I owed you one."

Flitwick looked at her.  "Try to behave.  Five points from Slytherin for the fairly dirty minded comment."  He looked at the student next to him.  "That is your fault."

"So's McGonagall giggling like she's had 'shroom tea," he admitted.  "She wanted a foot of parchment on why I had to take care of Draco in the infirmary that day."  He blushed a bit so Alex grinned.  "I did just what she wanted."

Flitwick patted him on the hand.  "Go to the art classroom, Alex.  Draw in there.  I think you've been wonderful today for the demonstration.  Ten points to Gyrffindor for that."  He nodded, getting up and heading there. Flitwick looked at the classroom.  Then at the clock he had hidden from most student's view.  "All right.  Everyone read up on this section and we'll be doing a practical demonstration next time.  Write down a form you wish to try with the charm, designing it out means you can picture it more clearly."  He stood up.  "Dismissed a few minutes early since there is a break after this."  No one bothered to tell him they already had that assignment done.  Who'd tell the teacher he didn't give them homework?  Flitwick walked into his office and laid down on his settee for a quick nap.  Some days he wondered about his poor students.

***

Draco stomped up to where Alex was sitting and drawing, giving him a shove.  "You were drawing what?" he demanded.

"You in bed the other night," he admitted absently.  "And I never include your birthmark."

Draco glared at him.  "Where is it?"  Alex didn't answer so he swatted him, making him mess up.  That got a glare but his mate fixed it.  "Where is it?"

"Hanging up to encourage the others."

"WHAT!" he shrieked.  He hauled him up, taking his quill and tossing it.  "Show me," he growled.

"Sure.  It's not really that naughty."  He led him up to the room they had art class in, pointing at the painting a female was standing in front of.  "Having fun?"

"I'm wondering at this bit of shading here," she offered, pointing at a bit under Draco's elbow.  She smiled at him.  "Mismatch of shadows?"

"No, odd lighting in his room," he offered.  "The only scone he had lit was above and behind him but slightly off center."

She nodded, turning back.  "That explains why he's shadowed on both sides and that way on his face too.  Nice work, Mr. Birmingham."  She smiled at him.  "How did you get your subject to agree to let you draw him in that state?"

"I snuck in."

"Ah. I tried that but my roommates got rather pissed.  Think I could use yours?"

"No," Draco snorted.  "Try bribing, that usually works."

"Ooh, I hadn't thought about that," she said happily.  "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy."  She smiled and glanced at the picture, then at him.  "You got his nose perfectly, Alexander.  I have a lot of trouble with those.  Really good job.  You deserve the grade and the extra points."  She gathered her bag and walked out.

Draco looked at him.  "Extra points?"

"Yeah, I earned an extra twenty points for the really good job."  He smiled proudly.  "The teacher thinks I do beautifully capturing beautiful things."

Draco nodded.  "You usually do."  He moved forward, looking at himself.  He was on a bed, sheet half falling off his hips, sprawled on his back with one arm over his head, his head turned to the right, and smiling just a hint of smirk. He could just make out the disturbance from the sheet tenting.  It had obviously been a very good dream. He looked at some of the other works around the room, finding his boyfriend's things easily enough.  The bell rang and he looked back.  "What do we have?"

"Herbology."

"They're good," he told him, coming back to his side.  "At least it wasn't me fully nude."

"No, that's hanging in my room," he said with a grin.  "Come on, we should get to class."  He walked out, smiling a bit at the teacher coming up.  "He hadn't gotten to see that drawing yet."

"Ah.  It is a very nice one.  Did you pose him with a particular thought?"

"No, I snuck in to watch my future husband sleep and dream about me and ended up sketching it," he admitted.  She twittered at that, making Draco blush.  "Sorry, dear."

"You need to sleep more often," he muttered, pulling Alex off.  "We're going to be very late."

"The stairs just abandoned us to go to Divinations so yes, you will be," the teacher agreed dryly.  "Could you pose for him? I'd stay in my office but Alex needs more standing figure work done.  It's a matter of perspective."  She saw the heavier blush.  "I don't mean to embarrass you.  I just thought it'd be good for him to draw such a familiar form."

"Sure.  Draco?"

"What do I have to do?"

"Stand still," he told him.  "Or sit still."  He led him back into the classroom, getting him a chair and putting it where he wanted it.  "Lounge there."  He sat at his usual table, watching as Draco shifted to look at him.  "You'll have to hold that exact position for a bit."

"I'm comfortable enough."  He watched as Alex flipped to a clean piece of parchment on his pad and got to work.  He had never watched Alex work on things before.  Every now and then the chocolate brown eyes would come up and meet his, sending shivers up his spine.  He could feel the dissection in that look but also the love and the desire.  It was turning him on in ways he hadn't realized he could be.

"Cross your legs, Draco.  That shouldn't shift you too much," Alex ordered. Draco crossed his feet at the ankle and he nodded, getting back to work.  "No, don't move," he ordered.  Draco shifted back.  Alex finally smiled and looked up.  "It's rough, no facial details or anything but I can put them in later."

Draco got up and came over to look at it, then at his mate. He could see the startings of another drawing that would gain his mate praise and kissed him.  "All you have to do is ask, Alex, but no more naked stuff of me," he ordered.  "Someone might try to steal me."

"Only if they want hexed," Alex said with a small smirk.  Draco nodded that he agreed with that.

"Do just his face," the teacher called from her office.  "You need work on that."

"Sure."  He put Draco down beside him and shifted him around a bit, then got to work on his face.

Draco waited until he started on a new one.  "You have a naked portrait of me in your room?  I've never seen it."

Alex kissed him.  "Shh, Draco."  He went back to drawing, glancing at him now and then.  "It's safely stored so no one can find it."

"Hmm."  He pursed his lips and got another kiss and a grin for it.  Then that expression was drawn.  The bell finally rang and they got up, but the staircase was still gone.  "How are we getting to potions?"

"Floo?" he offered.  "House elf?"  One appeared so he wrote out a quick note.  "To Potions please."  It nodded and disappeared.  "That way Dad knows."  He looked around, then over the edge of the platform.  "Well, how about a floating charm?  Slowly drifting down?"

"Those work on *things* not on people, Alex," Draco reminded him.

"I'd float you and you'd get me from the bottom.  That way I'd land on you when you dropped me like you did that vase this summer."  Alex pulled his wand.  "That way you'd at least get to Potions."  He saw a shadow moving closer.  "I think that's Professor Snape."  He waved and pointed at the lack of stairs.  "It's at Divination."

"Get down here."

"We've been trying to figure out how.  I offered to float him but he has this nasty tendency to drop fragile and delicate items."

"Are you *never* going to let me forget that?" Draco complained.

"Some year," he promised with a small grin.  "When you repair it."  Draco rolled his eyes and nodded.  "Thanks, babe.  Want floated down?"  Draco nodded so Alex flicked his wand.  "Wingardium Leviosa."  He floated Draco down, wincing at the angle to land him on the main floor beside the teacher.  He smiled when Draco only bumped.  "That's a hard angle."

"I noticed," Snape said, looking up at him.  He pulled his own wand but Draco stopped him, shaking his head.  "Mr. Malfoy, are you *touching* me?" he asked sarcastically.

"Yes, sir, it's my second most favorite thing to do.  There's a statue in the way at this angle.  He'll crash into it and bash his head in."  He looked at him.  "Since you complain whenever I misplace your son I doubted you wanted him in the infirmary or brain damaged."

"No, I wouldn't care for that," he admitted.   He moved around a bit, watching his son sit on the ledge.  "Don't do that.  You might fall."

"Well, it's not like I can fly," he complained. "How am I getting to class?  Or even lunch?"

"Mr. Malfoy, head to class," Snape ordered.  "Let me see if anyone can move the staircase back."  He looked up.  "Just wait, Alexander."

"Sure."  He watched them go, shaking his head with a sigh.  His teacher came out, smiling a bit.  "The stairs are still gone and they're trying to figure out how to levitate me down or something."

"If the stairs start to come back, you'll have to move.  There's a spell to stick whatever's on the landing in place."  Alex stood up, pulling his bag back. "You really have a naked picture of him in your room?"

"Yeah, hidden.  It was a trial attempt at oil paintings.  He's got a bit too much neck and there's a small flaw on the right pec, but otherwise it's a beautiful fifteen-year-old naked Draco.  Smirking, sneering, and all that."  She stared him down so he blushed.  "Yeah I did the charms," he admitted quietly. "Now and then I want to talk to Draco about stuff and he gives good advice.  I've got a head-only shot done too.  Every now and then the full body of him goes and puts a hat on the other's head.  He hates the sombrero he found in a portrait in Ron's room."  She giggled, turning to hide it against a wall.  He noticed his father coming back and looked down.  "I'm still here."

"The Headmaster is gone with Filch to look at a problem in the forest," he said grimly.  "I could try to float you down but that statue on the floor under yours blocks part of the trajectory."

"I noticed.  That's why it was such a bad angle for me."  He shrugged.  "So not only did we miss Herbology by being stuck, I've got to find my own way down?"  He nodded. "Cool.  Isn't there a back passage up here too?"

"There's a small one but you've got to go through one of the outer storage rooms, plus around the walls of the Hufflepuff house," the art teacher offered. "Then you'd be coming down behind the Slytherin's top floors and out near the old classrooms past Professor Snape's office.  It took me about four hours the day I tried.  Or you could ask a house elf."

"Nope.  Grams did a hex on me so none of them can remove me from anywhere.  It's still in effect," he admitted, looking down at his father and shrugging. "Up to you, dad."

"Go the long way.  I'll make sure you get some lunch."

"That's fine.  Can I have something to drink on my trek since I doubt there'll be a handy fountain."

"Actually there is in the crawlspace of Hufflepuff's walls," she admitted.  "It shocked me but you'll have to climb over it."  Alex gave her an odd look.  "Don't ask me, Alexander, I didn't build this maze."  His father floated up a cup and he smiled and waved.  "Oh, Professor Snape," she called before he could stomp off.  "I wanted you to come up and look at some of your son's works with me tonight.  I'm trying to pick what to show in the student show and he's being bashful.  Would you mind?"

"As long as I don't get trapped as well," he said grimly.  "As soon as you can, Alexander."

"It's not my fault," he complained as his father walked off.  He sighed and went to fill up his cup from one of the house elves. They were at least nice enough to give him a bottle of butterbeer as well. He walked off drinking his water, shaking his head at the strangeness of this trek.  The storage room was probably the only dusty spot in the whole castle.  He had to weave between old tables and a few really creepy things that he wasn't sure weren't skeletons.  He made a mental note to tell his father to check them, just in case they were students who had gotten lost or locked in while snogging.  Because no one else would ever think about coming up here.  He found the opening to the walls where the teacher had pointed out and moved around two footstools and a table, nearly tripping over some wood in the process.  He picked it up and pulled his wand.  "Ignius," he cast, making a torch.  His cup was emptied and put in his robe pocket so nothing could drip from it.  Then his wand in one hand, torch in the other he headed into the walls.  It was a slim staircase and it was going to make him nauseous he decided.  It was going in circles downward, turning every few feet.

Then he came to a warmer section, which was nice and he could hear some limited voices beyond the walls.  So apparently he was directly behind Hufflepuff now.  The stairs were still narrow but not as much as they had been.  He noticed a window and gave it an odd look, but the magic apparently made it so you could look outside from inside the house without catching sight of the stairs.  He moved on, finding the fountain, as promised and decided to take a break there.  He carefully set his torch down and sat on a the few pillows scattered around the small fountain, admiring it greatly.  It was beautifully done.  It had one of the fairytale elves spouting water.  He was naked and trying to cover himself with one hand, the other being held up like he was telling someone to 'stop'.  He fingered his wand, considering it.  He cast the check charm and groaned.  "Okay, Mr. Naked Elf guy.  I'll show McGonagall how to get up here so she can change you back.  All right?"  The water seemed to sigh in pleasure.  "I'm sure if someone knew, you'd have been released long ago."  He looked around, noticing three doorways off the area and one not-fully-closed doorway in the side of the fountain itself.

He moved to check them.  One led to another storage area, he wasn't sure where it went to.  It felt odd, like it wasn't in Hogwarts any more. Another led to another storage area inside Hogwarts, one of the house elves Harry knew overlooked him as it dusted by the opening.  Apparently it was like the window and could be seen through one way.  He moved to the third, having to walk along the edge of the fountain.  That got a moan from the water.  "Sorry, ma'am."  He looked in that doorway, it was probably the way down.  He looked at the crack in the base of the statue, smirking a bit.  It opened the backside of the elf, making him snicker a bit.  "Were you caught buggering someone?" he teased, heading over to look.  The water chilled when he touched the opening.  "Relax, I'm just making sure this isn't the way down.  I don't really want to walk into your ass, mate."  He peeked and heard voices, so he looked up.  "Let me check."  He grabbed his torch and walked down, finding a small cavern.  His torch went out and he muttered a bit but kept walking.  He found a small pit and a brazier, plus a stash of herbs lying around and a journal.  He glanced around before moving closer, picking up the journal to snoop.  What he saw made him mentally moan.  He carefully put it back in the same spot it had been in then hurried back up through the elf's ass, picking up his bag and nodding as he closed it like it had been.

"Thank you for your indulgence I'll tell the Transfiguration mistress you're up here."  He headed down the doorway that looked most promising, opening the butterbeer so he could drink while he thought.  He found a few more areas to investigate, including a room full of humming crystals and another room with more statues.  He checked a few magically and they were all alive under there.  "Someone had a bad temper," he complained as he walked, heading down to the cold, damp, clammy area he could feel coming up.  That was definitely around the Slytherin territory.  Probably against the old moat too.  He hurried past a small leak, shaking his head.  He finally found the way into the Slytherin common room and pulled a chair over with his wand to block the door open.  "Twip!" he called.  The Slytherin house elf appeared and grabbed the chair so he grabbed it by the ear.  "I need this to stay open for now."

"No, 'tis bad!  Twip will not!" he shouted.  That brought Professor Snape, who didn't look amused.  "He wants Twip to do bad things!"

"There's a leak and a number of changed humans into statues up there," he noted.

"Leave it open," Snape ordered.  The house elf shook his head.  "I, as head of this house, order you to leave that doorway open!" he said firmly.  The house elf shook his head, his ears flapping with how hard he was doing it.

"I can sit here for a few more," Alex offered.  "We need McGonagall and there's a leak from the moat."   The house elf tried to move him but he wasn't being moved by them.  "Did I beat her old time?"

Snape checked the clock on the wall, then nodded.  "Three hours and a bit.  I'll have lunch brought to you here.  Twip, go do that."  It shook it's head.  "Headmaster!" he yelled.  Dumbledore walked in a few minutes later, looking a bit stunned.  "Alexander got caught up in the art classroom."

"Ah, so you found that old passage," he noted, smiling a bit.  "How was the fountain?"

"Still changed from someone, as were a whole roomful of statues.  Also, there's a leak from the moat."  He shrugged.  "We really need a way to call the stairs when we're stuck."

"Most of the landings have one," the headmaster noted.  "The one near the art classroom is one of the few that doesn't."  He looked up at the staircase, noticing the water on it.  "I'd say the leak needed fixed."

"As do the former students," Alex reminded him patiently.  "I promised to tell McGonagall and I'm sure we can find a way in there."  He nodded, going to find Filch and her.  His father got another house elf to bring him a few sandwiches, which earned him a hug.  "Thanks, Dad."  He took a bite and looked at him.  "Can I come talk to you later?"

"You know my office is always open to you, son," he said quietly.  "Is there a problem in your relationship or work?"

"No, an ethical situation just bit me on the ass."  He ate another bite, watching his father be confused.  "We're about to be interrupted, tonight?"

"Would be fine.  Come down near curfew or whenever you get back.  I'll excuse you."

"Yes, sir."  His father let the others in and pointed at the chair he was sitting in.  "Hey," he said, nodding, eating another bite.  "Two problems.  There's a leak and a lot of changed students as statues."  McGonagall gave him an odd look.  "Including a fountain that groaned and an elf looking guy trying to not spout water."

"Oh, dear!  We wondered where they had went," she complained, hurrying up the stairs.  "Come, Alex."

"Yes, mistress," he called, heading after her, leaving his bag there.  "Twip, that goes to my suite and is put on my bed or else," he called as he hiked after her.  "If you or anyone get into it, I'm going to have to get very angry and bring Twirly back to beat the house elves here."  The house elf 'meeped' and did as ordered.  The teacher gave him an amused look. "She nearly did last year."

"I remember."  She walked over the small hole in the wall, then turned to make sure Filch was already there.  She looked at it, then at him.  "Will you need my help for that, Argus?"

"No," he said bitterly.  "Not the first one.  Go beat the students.  Remember, I've got my handcuffs in the office.  Shackles even," he said, staring Alex down.

"I'm sure I've got better sex toys than that," he said with a small smirk.  "Mine are very soft and well conditioned leather with stretchy cords so I can't get hurt when I tie my toy down."  Filch gave him a horrified look.  "Or were we talking about the shorter pair?  Which are also leather....."  His mouth was covered.

"No more traumatizing the staff today," she ordered gently.  "He doesn't keep his for that reason, Alex.  Now, quit being naughty and show me these nice students."  He nodded, walking off, taking her hand to walk her up the stairs.

Filch shuddered.  "He ain't right," he told the stairs.  "Dark bastard's worse'n Riddle."

"I heard that," Alex called back.  "And no I'm not.  I'm better but less dark!  I also don't screw snakes or feed off them!"

"Alex!" she shouted.

"Sorry, ma'am."  He continued to walk, noticing he was walking past where he had marked.  He made her go past it by ten steps, the traditional key spot, and then turned and walked back down, opening the area.  He waved a hand with a smile.  "There's this one."

She looked inside and sighed.  "Oh, dear.  Albus, I'll need some help," she called out.  "There's got to be twenty of them!"  She walked into the room, lighting the torches on the wall.  She noticed a few students she knew and shook her head sadly.   "This is very bad," she complained.

The headmaster walked up the stairs and past Alex, then came back down, walking in there.  "Ah, this is where they are.  Let's open the outer door so we can get them out of here without having to float them down the stairs and possibly break someone," he offered, pointing his wand at a hidden doorway and opening it, making the student in the bathroom squeal in fear and pull his pants up, hurrying out.  "Sorry," he called genially.  She swatted him.  He shrugged.  "I had no idea where it came out.  Dobby!"  A house elf appeared, looking around, looking very confused. "Take the statues and put them into an empty classroom so we can unfreeze them please.  The NEWT transfiguration and charms classes will be working on these poor sods."  He nodded and gathered some more elves to help him tote the students.

"Do be careful, Dobby, they're still sentient," she ordered calmly.  He nodded and more carefully lifted the statue he was helping carry.  He didn't bang this one on the doorframe on the way past the toilet.  She came out and Alex led her up to where the fountain was, letting her see it.  She noticed the opening and looked at him.  "That leads to where?"

"An empty cavern area," he said with a small shrug.  "Not *the* Chamber, but probably nearby. Empty. Just an old firepit."

"That's fine."  She closed the door and then walked around the fountain to get to work on it.  It was skillfully done and nearly a masterpiece but the poor students didn't need this.  She smiled at the students as they returned to human form, hugging the young lady.  "We thought you had run off to get married," she chided gently.  "Come, we'll lead you out and up to the infirmary."  Alex pointed at the other storeroom and she looked, then looked at him.  "Can you break that without breaking the charm on the stairs?"

"Probably," he admitted.  He looked at the former elf, now a normal student in a Slytherin tie, and his girl in a Hufflepuff tie.  No wonder they had hidden their trysts.  The current ones would throw fits if it happened to one of them.  "Sorry about earlier and your arse and all," he offered.

"You're not the first," he said grimly.  Alex grinned and winked so he blushed and grabbed his girl to hold.

Alex pointed his wand at the spell and slowly unraveled the magic, leaving an opening in it.  "We'll have to crawl," he offered.  "Ladies first?"  McGonagall nodded and hiked up her robes, climbing through the hole he had created. She came out the other side and the boys helped the girl up, then he helped the guy up, then he climbed up and through, coming out the other side.  He held the guy back a bit as they headed to the infirmary.  "Is there another opening?" he asked quietly.  He nodded.  "Where?"

"The Cavern of Delights," he offered quietly.

"The humming room?"  He nodded.  "Where?"

"Behind the blue crystals.  It's a tap pattern like to Diagon."  Alex nodded so he hurried to catch up, letting the odd boy follow behind him, wondering why he cared.  They had looked at that old cavern and it was just dirty and gross down there.

Alex waved at the teacher and pointed back down the halls.  "I'm going to find dad."  She nodded and he hurried off.  It was dark outside and he was starved!  Plus he wanted to have that talk before they closed that area again.  He walked into his father's office without knocking, looking at Remus Lupin.  "If you two get together, I'm not calling you mum," he joked.

Remus smiled and shook his head.  "I wouldn't expect you to," he promised. "We're barely friends again, Alex."  Alex nodded.  "Did you need him?"

"Yeah, I kinda did find something in there that the head of slytherin needs to kinda know about."  He nodded and got up, giving him a pat on the back as he left them alone.  Alex closed the door and sealed it with silencing charms and impervious charms. He looked at his father.  "If I caught someone doing dark magic for a better than usual reason, is it bad?"

"You don't ask the easy questions," he said calmly.  "Who?  And why didn't you go to the usual person, Professor Lupin?"

"Because if I told him what was going on, he'd be disappointed in himself," he said honestly.  "He'd also instantly realize who it was.  You have a good chance of figuring it out but not that much."  He sat down, looking at his father.  "While I was trekking around the outside of the castle, one of the places I found was that fountain. There was an opening in the ass of the male of the statue," he said calmly.  "I investigated to see if that was the way out, logical really.  Down there was a cavern. I noticed it wasn't as dusty as it should have been so I took a quick look.  I found a brazier, some herbs, and a journal."

"A brazier like something to burn the herbs on, not a female's foundation garment?" he asked, just to make sure.

"I would've said a bra if it was one of those," he noted dryly.  "A little gold or brass brazier.  In the journal, which I only flipped through, was a deep seated desire to bring someone back to life.  Not a bad thing, I wish the same about mom, the same way you probably do."  Snape nodded lightly at that, but he was having a very bad feeling about this.  "Well, this guy wasn't as good as others.  It was part therapy and part research journal.  And it wasn't like it was a theoretical point of view."

"Fine," he agreed. "So you think someone's going to try a resurrection?"

"I do," he admitted.  "But I think they're doing it out of grief, not out of the desire to raise something evil.  I'm not really sure if I should *help* him, because I think he'll fail and create more chaos and pain, or if I should turn him in."

"Were it you, I would think that would be a desperate plea for help," he said quietly, leaning back a bit.  "Who?"

"I'm not telling you yet," he admitted.  "Unless he knows another way into that cavern, he's been paused at least.  There is another way in however."

Snape nodded once.  "What did you hope me to do?"

"To give me some sort of advice.  Should I turn them in or not?  Or should I talk to someone closer to this kid?"

"Is it a slytherin?"

"No, but out of all the teachers here, you know that sort of grief better than anyone, save Remus Lupin, and he's closer to the source.  It could hurt him a lot more."

Snape sighed.  "Potter," he said bitterly.  Alex nodded once, pursing his lips a bit to press them together.  "Which one?"

"Either, both, his father if he has to choose from what I got at my quick glance."

Snape considered it.  "You're correct that it would cause more pain," he said finally.  "But it must be dealt with.  I know they're trying."

"Very hard, but you can't replace a parent."

"Which is why you came to me?"  He tried to keep the hopeful tone out of his voice but at his son's grin and nod he knew he had failed.  "I would talk to Remus or Sirius, but not both."

"Which would you think could handle it better?"

Snape considered it.  "Black.  Lupin will blame himself.  That's the sort of man he is."  He handed over the small tin of floo powder he kept on hand for emergencies.  "Go now.  Talk to him and make him see it's not a desperate need, nothing for him to run up here about, but something he should start to subtly ease up on."

"In other words, get Auntie Narcissa there?" he asked, looking confused.  "Can he do that?"

"No."  He shook his head.  "Perhaps you should have gone to Minerva," he complained.

"No, you've helped.  Should *I* maybe talk to him?"

"It could help, but he may feel betrayed."  He shrugged a bit.  "Should I leave?"

"No.  I can do that later.  I have an idea."  He stood up and hugged his father briefly. "Thanks."  He walked out, going to the Great Hall since it was nearly dinner time.  He found Ron and Harry joking in there.  He pulled Harry up.  "I want you to check something I found.  There's a lot of crap up there."

"I can't get into Slytherin," Harry complained as Alex drug him off.  He led him to the main floo and through it, pushing him into the fire and ordering where it was going.  Then he stepped through and led Harry down to his new workarea in his house.  He closed the door and silenced it, then looked at the house elves.  "Out!  We're having a private talk.  No food needed yet.  Maybe later."  They left, heading back to the kitchen.  Alex called two chairs over and flopped down, pointing.  "Sit."

"Why?" he asked quietly.

"Because I got stuck up in the art classroom and had to come down a staircase past Hufflepuff."  Harry sat down, looking stunned.  "Of course, I found the door you left open and made sure it wasn't the doorway out."  He leaned forward, tipping Harry's face up again.  "Listen, I understand."

"How could you!  You've got a father who gives a damn.  Draco's got his mother.  Ron's got two of them.  Even Greg and Vinnie have people who give that much of a damn!"

"And while Sirius and Remus are great, they're not perfect," Alex agreed gently.  "Do you think I didn't wish every day of my life to bring my mother back?  That was the only real research I ever did voluntarily, Harry."  Harry slumped further down so he let him go.  "My grandmother screamed that it was dark magic so evil she wouldn't touch it, but that she was proud of me," he said quietly.  "It was one of three times she ever told me that.  One was when I blew her up after I got the letter because I got revenge.  One was the day that the calming potion made me psycho and I killed someone with the AK."  Harry looked at him.  "The other was the day she caught me trying to raise my mother," he offered quietly.  "I wanted it so bad, Harry.  I wanted it enough to feel the magic coming at my command.  Wandless, powerful, ancient magic from Egypt."  Harry shivered a bit.  "I was about halfway there and I had to reabsorb the energy, no matter that I nearly killed myself with it.  She made me see it wasn't right and it would be better to kill myself than do that."

"Who did you tell?"

"My father.  I didn't start out telling him it was you but he did figure it out.  I wasn't sure if I should confront you or if I should talk to someone like Sirius."  Harry glared at him.  "I wasn't going to go to Remus, Harry.  I figured he'd be more likely to blame himself for failing you.  Remus is a nice guy and I didn't want him to blame himself for you feeling a totally natural urge.  That's why we're here instead of that nice little cottage Sirius is lounging in."  Harry nodded, leaning forward to hold his head.  "Harry, talk to me," he begged.  "I understand!  I've been there!"  Harry looked at him.  "Damn it, if I wasn't sure it was such a bad thing, I'd probably help!"  He leaned forward, making the kid stare him in the eyes.  "Listen.  I'm all for helping you call them back for a chat. I'm all for calling a spirit back to talk to them.  I have *no* issue with that.  And if they want to come back like that, I'll gladly help you pull off that spell.  My stuff's in my old hiding spot inside my bed.  The full ritual, all of it."  Harry swallowed.  "All I'm asking is that you talk to him first.  Call the spirits to help you, Harry.  We can do that during the hols.  That way we won't be bothered."  Harry nodded slowly.  "But until then, you've got to drop the other one."

"I wasn't ready to start yet.  I still needed two more herbs," he said quietly.

"Cool," Alex promised.  "I'll help you do a seance.  Here, there, anywhere you want.  I won't tell Draco or Ron or anyone, but I think you should at least approach Sirius about talking to him *that* way.  That way he's not going to manage to suddenly 'find us' while we're doing it."  Harry looked confused.  "The easiest and best place to do it would be where they died. All spirits retain a link to that area," he said gently.  "I know he's been out there a lot to talk to the walls, as he called it."  Harry nodded, hanging his head again.  "He might understand and he might help us."

Harry looked up at him and all the pain was showing now.  "I can't ask that of him.  He said it was wrong to even do a seance.  Can you help me, Alex?" he pleaded.

"Sure.  I already told you you've got my help. I'll gladly do the seance any night you choose."

"Halloween?"

"Traditional and sure," he agreed.  "We'll just have to keep my grandmother out."  He shrugged.  "It'll be fine."  Harry relaxed and nodded.  "Do you want me to deal with Sirius?"

"No."  He shook his head and leaned back again.  "I need to have that talk myself."

Alex smirked a bit.  "That's a good idea.  Want me to hold him down?"

"No.  I'm going to... um, maybe have dinner with him or something."

Alex pulled something out from behind his ear, handing it over.  "I've got a small hidden spot," he admitted.  "That goes in the right bedpost.  If you decide to do it, bring it to me.  If not, bring me back the key.  If he tries to get into it, it'll burn his hands off because that's got an intent clause."

"I'll remember that," Harry said dryly, smirking a bit.  "He wouldn't do that."

"Yeah he would. With the way he reacted when he saw me reading a book on necromatic magic, yeah, he will," he assured him.  Someone tapped on the door.  "No!"

"Let me in!" Remus called.

"Fuck," Alex muttered, looking at Harry, who shrugged and tucked the pin-like key into his shirt collar.  Alex undid the door.  "Sorry, we had to have a talk."

"Albus was wondering why you took off that way."

"Stress," Harry told him.

Remus stared at him for a moment, then at Alex.  Then he slammed the door. "You both know you can come to me for anything," he said calmly, leaning on the door.  "I can see the essence of pain running around.  Tell me.  I'm not going to be upset or anything."

"I want to do a seance to talk to my parents," Harry said quietly.

Remus stiffened.  Then he forced himself to relax.  He sighed and nodded.  "I know and understand.  I don't want you think I don't understand.  I do, I'd like to have them back as much as you do, Harry."  Harry sighed and nodded.  "That's why I'll help you with that and make sure your ritual is not going to hurt them or you."  Alex looked back at him.  "Did you know anything about these before?"

"Yeah.  Grams stopped me halfway through a ritual to bring my mother back."

Remus looked at him, then suddenly hugged him.  "I understand. I'm so glad that you found Severus."  He hugged Harry too.  "Don't tell Sirius.  He'll blame himself."

"We figured you would," Alex told him.

Remus let out a bitter laugh.  "Guys, I've been losing people since I was your age," he reminded them. "No one really wants a werewolf as a friend.  James, Lily, and Sirius were about the only ones I had."  He leaned against the worktable, looking at them.  "I lost people when I was a kid, when I was older, and then when I wasn't too much older than you two I lost James and Lily, then Sirius in a week," he said quietly.  "I'd have given *anything* to have them back.  If I thought I had it in me, I'd have done the ritual that next day and brought them back."  Harry got up and hugged him.  "You're trying that?" he whispered.  Harry nodded.  He looked at Alex.  "How did you know?"

"I had to take the back way down from the art classroom.  There was a fountain and the ass-portal in it.  I was making sure it wasn't the way out when I saw a small brazier, some herbs, and a journal.  I looked and found a familiar spot."

Remus nodded. "How were you doing yours?"

"Egyptian.  You?"

"I was going Celtic or Norse, but I realized I couldn't because I didn't have the power."

"I was about halfway through when Grams stopped me and congratulated me."

Remus nodded, patting him on the shoulder.  "When are we doing the seance?"

"Halloween," Harry offered.  "At the old house."

Remus nodded. "That's fine.  I'll have Narcissa get Sirius drunk that night."  He smiled at the boys.  "You're both missing dinner.  That's not like either of you."

"Twirly feed!" she yelled from outside.  "Open stupid door!  Bad elves not be feeding boys!"

Alex got up and opened the door for her.  "How many times did the doctor tell you to quit lugging around half the kitchen?" he demanded, staring her down.  She shrugged and put the food down on the table, then poked him and left.

Remus shook his head. "She's so spoiled."

"Yeah, but so is Alex," Harry admitted, handing a plate to Alex.  "Are you sure?"  Alex nodded.  "Which book is it?"

"My journal and about four scrolls are up there.  You'll need the scroll that says seance."

Harry nodded, going up to get it.  Then he came back to nibble while he read it.

Alex and Remus shared a look.  "Who did you go to for advice?"

"Dad.  That's why I kicked you out earlier."

"I thought so. You looked guilty when you saw me in there."

"I thought you'd take it worse."

"Sometimes, but sometimes Sirius is the more fragile one.  He and James were almost brothers."  Harry gave him another hug.  "Thanks, kiddo."  Someone knocked on the door.  "Hmm, another interfering relative.  What?"

Twirly opened the door and stuck her head in.  "Misses Narcissa is here looking for her son."

"He's not here," Alex told her.

"Misses Narcissa is saying Master Draco is sneaky and around here since he left the school.  She is being thinking he is sneaking around here."

"Well if he is, you can hand him over and I'll spank him later.  If not, he probably snuck off for treats and snacks."

"Twirly is being telling her," she complained, heading back upstairs.  She came back a minute later with a bottle of wine.  "Twirly is thinking this being a drinking moment with the way you three boys is looking."  She disappeared, closing the door behind her.

Remus opened the bottle of wine and emptied his water glass, pouring it in, then handing it off to the two boys.  "You're old enough.  With all you two have done, you're more than old enough."

"People, Albus is steaming!" Sirius yelled.

Alex pulled his wand and pointed it at the fire.  "Ignus."  He used his wand to float over some floo powder and drop it in, then cleared his throat. "Albus Dumbledore."  His head spun into the grate.  "We're doing therapy.   And since we missed dinner, we're eating while talking about grief and loss."  Dumbledore sighed and nodded. "Plus, we're both legal adults.  We can sneak off.  It's not like I made it to any classes after charms."

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because I got stuck up in art class when the stairs moved. That's why I had to use that back passage and found that leak before it engulfed the Slytherin dorm."

Dumbledore nodded.  "Fine.  Is Mr. Malfoy with you?"

"No.  I'm supposing he snuck out for some snacks or chocolate."

"Thank you.  I'll try to catch him sneaking back in.  You three should return by curfew."  He looked at Alex.  "What else did you find?  I was wondering why you went to your father and blocked the office off."

"I found a small matter that led me to remember my wanting to talk to my mother."

"I'm sorry.  I had no idea it was like that."  Alex shrugged a bit.  "I'll leave you to your counseling, Remus.  Try to get them back by curfew."  His head disappeared.

"It's nice, he finally agrees we have some sense," Harry offered.

"Now and then," Alex agreed, saluting him with his glass.  "Drink up, we're back to house elves at the school tomorrow morning."

They both gave him an odd look but drank up and ate.

***

Alex looked up from his reading as Draco came in and shut the door.  "Dumbledore sent half of everyone looking for you."

"I went to talk to my father's grave and tell him that I was much happier and he had failed."  He laid down beside him.  "Where did you go?"

"To talk to someone who needed some counseling."

"Longbottom?"

"No.  He's still lying to himself about casting that curse.  He's even refusing to even admit he felt a bit of pleasure."

Draco nodded.  "I remember that lie but it made me want it more."  He snuggled in, looking at the book.  "What's that?  Seances?"

Alex gave him a quick kiss.  "You can't ask and I can't tell you."

"Your mother?"

"No and you still can't ask and I'm not going to tell you."  He stared him down.  "You can't help either."  Draco rolled his eyes and nodded. "Thanks."

"You're welcome.   You could trust me."

"It's not my thing to tell, Draco.  We're not going to be talking to my mum."

"I'd like to sometime," he offered gently.  "Snape called her sweet and nice."

"From what I understand she's where I get my goofy and fun side."  He shrugged and put a piece of string in his spot then tucked it under his pillow.  Then he stretched out next to his mate, letting him curl up next to him. "Did you need comfort?"

"No, but I thought you could.  You didn't even help turn all those people back."  He put his head on Alex's chest.  "Did you want to talk?"

"No, I got this out when I was nine," he admitted.  He let his mate snuggle.  "What else was going on?  I thought maybe you went out to get a snack."

"No.  Not really."  He stroked down the relaxed back, smiling at him.  "I don't see a naked me hanging up anywhere."

"That's because I'm cold so he put me behind the nasty, itchy wool stuff," his voice called.  Alex groaned.  "Swat him and get him to paint me some clothes?"

Draco looked down at his mate.  "You put me in the closet?"

Alex looked at him.  "I didn't want just anyone to see you naked."

"Or just my head since you messed up my hair and it's curling around my ears," another version of Draco's voice, a younger one, called out.  "Don't let me put that stupid hat on me again, please!"

"I won't.  Baby me!"

Draco got up and opened up the closet, looking at the portrait hanging on the door, then at his mate.  "How old was I?"

"Fourteen.  I've done one each year, around the holidays."  He sat up.  "The other was last year."

Draco moved the cloaks and robes out of the way, looking at the portrait of himself.  He noticed something was wrong but he wasn't sure what.  "I looked like that?"

"You were in the middle of that growth spurt that seemed to give you a giraffe's neck," Alex sighed, holding his head.  "I made it a bit too long and I messed up an angle on your right pec."

"He did it okay in the drawing but it got messed up with the painting."  The naked Draco shifted to show off his body more.  "The spells aren't that bad, but a bit on the thin side."

"I said I'd charge you when I did the one this year," Alex reminded him patiently.  "That way I don't have to do it three times this year."

"Sure.  Just paint some clothes on me, huh?"

Alex grinned at him.  "This year's will be.  I'll do a real portrait now that he knows."  The naked Draco gave him a look, as did his mate.  "You like flashing others and that's why I've been keeping you in there."

"I wouldn't mind being near the fire," he offered.

Draco pulled his portrait out, walking it out there.  Ron and Vinnie were playing chess but he just hung his portrait near the fire and walked back into the room, hanging his head out in the open as well.  "Since I know," he said smugly. He curled up next to his mate, getting comfortable to look at his head.

Ron tapped on the door and leaned in.  "Mates, you guys are determined to turn the rest of us gay, aren't you?" he asked sarcastically.

"No, just showing off my skills.  That was last year," Alex said proudly.  "There'll probably be a naked Draco in the student art show too."  Draco and Ron both stared at him. "Some of my best work has been drawing you," he promised.  "I try harder on yours."  He blew a kiss and Draco pounced him, play fighting with him until he screamed and tried to get away.

Ron shook his head and closed the door.  "More than I needed to know."

Vinnie looked at him, blushing hard.  "What was he thinking?"

"That was last year and there's a Draco head in there too.  He warned us not to go to the art show unless we wanted to see a naked Draco from this year."  Vinnie moaned, getting up and heading to his room.

Ron headed to his room, saluting the naked, smirking Draco who was warming his bum on the fire next to him.

***

Harry came out of his room the next morning and ran into Greg's back, walking around him with a pat.  "You're in the way," he noted.  He looked where the other boy was when he heard the whimper, blinking a few times.  He took off his glasses and cleaned them on his boxers, then put them back on.  "It didn't change, damn," he muttered.  The Draco smirked at him and turned to flash his butt at them, looking over his shoulder.  "Why is that out here?"

"I got cold," Draco told him.  "I'm very good to myself."

"You are," Harry agreed. "Why are you naked?"

"Because Alex is just like that," he said with a wink.

Greg groaned and headed back to his room, hiding in his bed.

Harry just sighed and went to take his shower.  When he came out the Draco was back to warming his front side at the fire.  He got dressed and walked out doing his tie, but gave it up on the way down there.  He walked into the Great Hall and walked up to the head table, looking at the teachers who lorded over their lunatic friend.  He looked at the teachers, and sighed.  Then he looked at the art teacher.  "Is Alexander allowed to make living paintings?"  She choked and shook her head.  "He has at least one in our rooms.  There's a naked Draco hanging next to our fireplace.  Um, Professor Snape, Goyle went back to bed and I haven't seen Crabbe yet."  He looked at the art teacher.  "Can't you bring him somewhere warmer? He claims he's cold since he's naked."

"Naked?" McGonagall asked.  Harry nodded.  "How naked?"

"He's uncircumcised," he assured her quietly.

She blushed.  "I'll have him put it somewhere more appropriate," she assured him.

"Thank you.  I don't mind seeing all sorts of things. I've even seen them having sex before.  I just can't stand staring at a naked Draco night and day for the next year and three- quarters. He can have any quiet corner of the room, just not next to the fireplace?  Please?"

"I'll have him move it somewhere better," Snape assured him.

"Thank you."  He headed down to eat, looking at his roommates.  "Can't we ship Alexander back up there to bother you guys?"

"No," Seamus said happily.  "No one snores now.  We like that."

Dean snorted, shaking his head.  "Sorry, mate, we'd have to complain."

"Damn.  We have a naked Draco portrait hanging next to the fireplace.  It seems to have appeared last night to get warm.  Apparently he was cold."

Seamus spluttered, staring at him in horror.  "He does naked people!"

"Well, that is how you have sex," Ginny said as she sat down.  "What naked people?"

"They have a naked Draco painting," Dean said.  "Beside the fire."

Ginny looked at him and grinned.  "I can find one sure way to make sure it's stopped.  Walk it up there to hand to the art teacher during class change so *everyone* can see it."

Harry blushed.  "That would require me touching it," he noted.  "His painting's just as big a perv as he is."  Ginny cackled at that.  "Really.  He was showing off."

Ginny cackled, leaning on Seamus' shoulder to laugh into it.  "I can see that!"

"And Alex is very good.  The only thing I noticed was that it was done during his big neck period last year," Harry sighed, shaking his head.  "Totally naked, but without a birthmark he's got."

One of the Ravenclaws looked over.  "Can we come visit the painting?" she called.

"Hell.  No."

"Fine."  She smiled at him.  "Not even a peek?"

"Alex said he's got stuff going in the student art show.  Maybe there'll be one of those since he likes drawing Draco."  She tittered and talked to the person next to her.

"I'll go see the show for that," Ginny agreed.  "It might get the most people yet."

"True," Dean agreed.  "I've got to finish my submission piece."  Seamus grinned at him.  "No, not yours.  I need to redo it.  I messed up on your hair."  He shrugged.  "Sorry, but I couldn't capture that level of messy bed hair."

"Ehh, you'll get it right by next year," he said philosophically.  He pushed Ginny off his shoulder.  "Don't do that."  He wiped the slobber off and dug back into his breakfast.

"Mr. Birmingham," McGonagall called as he walked in.  "Come here please?"   He grinned and walked in there.  "Why are some of your roommates missing this morning?"

"They're probably tossing off due to Draco's new portrait from last year," he said with a small grin.  "He's the one who put it out there.  I had it in my closet so he could stay warm and out of sight."

She looked down at him.  "I see. Perhaps that one should go up to the art classroom?"  He shrugged. "Or your house?"

"Then Twirly would stand and stare."

"She'll get over it some day, she'll have to," Snape assured him.

"I could give it to Auntie Narcissa."

"You could," he agreed, pressing his lips together.  "I think she would appreciate that gift, son."  Alex beamed and bounced a bit.  "We'll call her during the class day today."  Alex hugged him and went to his usual spot to eat.  He looked at Draco when he strolled in.  "Boy!"  Draco smirked at him but didn't come any closer.  "Now, Mr. Malfoy."  He crossed his arms, staring him down.  "That ...portrait may go into the student art show, but otherwise it will go to your mother's house."

"I'll call her personally," he promised.  "He said this year's will be a real portrait."

Snape shook his head.  "At least you're keeping him unbored.  Eat."

The Art teacher looked down at him.  "You don't think he'd mind?"

"No, and I believe many students would come to see him being so naked."

"I've got better naked Draco pictures to put in there," Alex called.

"Since when?" Draco called.

"Since about four this morning."  He shot his mate a grin. "I'll show you later, sweetie."  He stuffed his mouth at the shocked and horrified looks he was getting.

***

Narcissa walked into the suite behind her friend, smiling at the plate of cookies on the table.  He pointed and got out of the way, so she turned and stared. "He does good work," she said, pleased with that. "I remember that growth spurt.  I thought for sure he'd have a long neck like my mother."  She walked closer, touching the painting.  "No birthmark?" she pouted.

"He told him he couldn't include it," Snape said dryly.  "It's distressed Mr. Goyle to the point where he won't leave his bed until someone removes it.  We've all decided that the art teacher wanted to look at it for inclusion into the student show, but otherwise it was going home with you."

"Just somewhere warm, mum, please?  I'm a bit chilly and Alex *refuses* to paint me clothes," he said with a pout.  "He's being mean and doesn't even laugh when I put a hat on the other me."

"Other you?" she asked.

"Um-huh.  In his room," he said, looking even more pitiful.  "Just my head though.  He said I could have a real portrait this year so I get to molest myself," he said with a wicked smirk.

She stroked over his cheek.  "Where's this other you?"

"That was fourth year me and he's on the back of one of the curtains Alex never opens."

She walked into Alex's bedroom, finding the picture easily.  She squealed and patted it.  "Oh, I adore this one!"  She brought it out and gathered the one from next to the fireplace.  "Is the art classroom in the same spot?"  He nodded, following her out.  She shifted the paintings, letting the students they were passing catch glimpses of the naked Draco.  The art teacher had a lot of Alex's drawings out already so she could look them over, which endeared her to the poor young woman.  She took another one home to have mounted properly and the two portraits since she had three very good naked and semi-naked Draco paintings already.  She dropped the portkey and walked in the front door, past her sister and niece, who stared for a moment before following.  "Oh, Sirius!" she said happily.  She handed him the paintings.  "Find somewhere to put my baby.  The full one needs somewhere a bit warm."  She went to call her favorite painting appraiser, holding up the portrait.  He choked.  "My son-in-law did it," she said proudly.  "Isn't Alex so good!  It needs mounted immediately."  She hung up and went to pick out a place of honor for it in the dining room.  "Here you think for the drawing?" she asked them all.

Sirius looked at the painting and blushed.  "I didn't need to know that much about Draco, Narci."  He walked off, going to hang the other two up for her.  He turned and found both Tonks women staring at them, then walked around them. They could be perverts, he needed something to take his mind off that image before he started to drool like the dog he was. The painter showed up with a frame and mat, settling in at the table to do that for her.  He blinked at that drawing and let out a small moan.  She smiled at him.  "Did you need more help, Narcissa?"

"No, dear.  Thank you.  Where are they?"

"Follow the drool trail," he noted, heading home.  "James would have understood why I'm running," he muttered as he walked.  "Lily would have perved too but James would have shared a butterbeer with me."  He walked into his house and up to his room, going to find his stash of porn to find a better picture to relieve his tension with than his nephew.

***

Pansy looked over at Alex in Charms, shifting closer to where he was sitting.  "Alex, can you make me a private painting of Draco?" she asked quietly.

"I don't take commissions. I draw because I like to draw."

"But I can pay you for it."

He looked back at her.  "I don't do it for money.  I do it because I like to draw. I'm not taking commissions and if you want to see a naked Draco, go to the student art show.  I'm told there'll be a few of them."  He went back to his current drawing when Flitwick looked his way.  "She started it," he defended.

"You have how many in the student art show?"

"Three kinda naked Draco pictures and two others," he said proudly.  Draco smirked at him.  "His mum took the naked Draco portrait and his head home."

"Thank you!" Greg called.  "Really, Alex, I love you, man.  I'll let you cuddle me the next time you get cold again.  Thank you!"

"Blame Harry.  He narked.  It made McGonagall blush for nearly an hour when she saw it."  Flitwick gave him an odd look.  "It was Draco last year."

"Ah."  He shook his head.  "Go away, Mr. Birmingham."  He got pouted at. "Now!  Before I have to see that image mentally.  Now, please."

"Yes, sir," he sighed, getting up to go find a good spot to draw from.  It was raining outside so one of the walkways got a summoned chair and he settled in to draw the woods.  Which was why he saw the man coming out of it stumbling and falling over.  "Shit!"  He jumped up and ran out, only taking his wand.  He skidded past the Creatures class and hurried on, finding him behind Hagrid's cabin.  Hagrid came after him, stopping before he tripped over them.  "Hagrid, get the nurse," he ordered.  "He's out, but stable."  Hagrid nodded and ran off.  Alex got the man onto his back after checking him over, looking at his face.  He looked familiar.  He did the check spell again, grimacing at the results.  "Damn.  Someone get Lupin!" he yelled.  "He's been attacked!"  One of the kids ran off.  He looked at the rest.  "Inside to the entry!"  The rest ran off, leaving the animals there.  A few howled in anger and fear but a shot of light past them made them all get back into their cages or burrow to safety.  The nurse ran out.  "Broken ribs and one arm, plus he's been bitten and attacked, scratched and slobbered on it looks like," he called as she came closer.  "He's out."  She nodded, settling down next to him to check him over herself.  He helped her get him onto the stretcher and got out of the way so she could handle it.  "I told someone to get Lupin for you."

"Thank you, Alexander."  She hurried off, glancing at the animals.  "Hagrid, I think you've got some escapees."

"Some burrowed. I shot some light past them to keep them in there," Alex said as he walked past him, brushing off his pants and hands.  "They're fine."

"That's right nice'a ya, thanks," he said, watching him go.  Alex grinned back then broke into a jog.  Hagid went to gather up his animals, finding the few burrowed but that was fine.  They'd come out to eat.  Well, one might come out to eat a student, but they'd all come out to eat.

Alex walked up behind the person looking in his bag.  "My art folder's upstairs under my bed," he noted.   The caretaker jumped.  "Sorry, I saw someone collapse and ran to help."  He cleaned up his stuff and gave him a gentle grin.  "You might want to tell the headmaster to head to the infirmary. Someone just came out of the forest after being attacked."

"Did it did you?" he sneered.

Alex looked at him. "Don't think your position is keeping me from beating you physically, Mr. Filch.  It's not."  He backed up and Alex put his bag over his shoulder.  "Did I create too much of a mess for you?"  He walked off, heading to change.  He was filthy and he knew it.  He had mud all over him, he might even need a new shower.  He walked past Flitwick's class, earning the teacher coming out to stare at him.  "Someone came out of the forest and collapsed.  I ran out to help.  I'm showering."

"Fine.  Did you tell the headmaster?"

"No.  I told Filch to tell the headmaster since he was being a nosy bastard and looking through my bag to steal my candy."  He walked into his suite and headed to bathe and change clothes. He came out to find someone looking at his artwork, snatching it back.  "That is by permission only.  You have no right to go through my things."  He stared the old man down.  "I give very few that permission."  The headmaster nodded.  "You can tell Filch I said going through my bag was probably not a good idea either.  It tends to put me in a bad mood."  He walked around him, going to put on clothes. "Who was the guy?"

"I'm not sure yet.  He's still unconscious," he admitted.  "What happened?"

"I was drawing the forest and saw him come out."  He zipped up his pants once they were on, turning to look at him.  "I ran out when I noticed Hagrid hadn't noticed.  I sent Hagrid for the nurse, I sent another student for Lupin and told the rest to head inside. Then I came back and found the snoopy old man in my things."  He pulled out a shirt and put it on, buttoning it up.  He shrugged once it was done.  "What did you want me to do?  Stand and scream like a first year girl?"

"No, I expected you to handle it as you did.  I didn't expect you to physically threaten our caretaker."

"Yeah, well, snoopy old man was taking a great deal of pleasure from looking at my homework and it wouldn't be fair to hex him."  Dumbledore snorted, shaking his head.  "That comes under 'that puts me into a bad mood' and he's known for years.  He asked me if I had done it."  He found a tie and slid it on, doing it up but leaving it loose.  "Am I suspended?  I could use a day to fit my uniforms again."

"I should suspend you to your suite, but you'd probably enjoy it."  He stepped closer.  "I should also ground you to the library."

"Madam Pince would be very upset when I snored in there.  I'm told I do it quite loudly."

Dumbledore considered it. "I'm going to suspend you to the suite for the next two days, and your art supplies will go to your father. Your elves may not visit and you may not leave.  You may only do homework."

"I would, but I'm usually drawing on the same parchment I do my homework on.  It's all the same to me."

"Really?  Most artists have dedicated materials."

"Yes, but as I told Miss Parkinson, I do art for my own pleasure, not for commission or for real."  He grinned at him.  "I'll gladly take the punishment.  What do I care?"  He shrugged.  "Can I at least ask Dobby for snacks?"

"Fine."  He walked out, taking the folder of artwork with him.  He handed it to Professor Snape when he got down there.  "Your son is suspended for two days," he said quietly.  "He threatened Mr. Filch."

"For?"

"Going through his things."

"Hmm.  One would think Mr. Filch knew that Alexander is about the only artist around here and that any time you see certain materials it's got to be his bag.  Therefore he wouldn't need to search for an ID."

"He claims he was cleaning it up."

"And I believe that," Snape said dryly.  "He's suspended?"  Dumbledore nodded. "Very well.  I'm sure he's taking a nap by now."

"He's to do his homework."

Snape looked at him.  "I think he's already done, Headmaster.  It's not like he's taking many classes where he's *learning* anything."   The headmaster raised an eyebrow. "He's dropped his second elective for his off-topic studying that we all agreed on him pursuing.  That takes over every class but herbology and creatures. He's no longer in Potions because he's abysmal in here.  Why was he overlooking something out in a hallway?"

"He got expelled from Charms again."

Snape rolled his eyes.  "I'm sure he had a good reason."

"Fltiwick said Miss Parkinson was asking him to make her some commissioned artwork and Alex refused.  She was about to throw a fit.  He said it preserved the peace."

Snape looked around, then rang a bell, bringing a house elf.  "Get Mr. Malfoy here immediately.  You can transport him if you must."  It disappeared and came back with Draco, who was holding his wand like he had been about to hex someone.  "Did you know Miss Parkinson was asking him to do commissioned artwork of you?  He got expelled from charms for refusing."

"That's more than enough," Draco ordered, holding up a hand.  "You've now made sure I won't sleep well for months on end and I'll need weeks of special attention to cure that mental image. I may never eat again," he said with great distaste.  "Thank you very much, Professor Snape.  I do adore you and some day I'm giving you grandchildren who'll come bother you incessantly."  He walked out shuddering, going back to Transfiguration.  He walked in and slammed the door, then shuddered and turned to Pansy, turning her into the creature he had been trying to change his frog into earlier.  "You may not have any artwork of me, especially not any of Alex's *special* artwork!" he said coldly, sitting down and glaring at the teacher.  "He refused to take a commission.  That's why he's not here."

"He's suspended to our suite," Harry said as he walked in. "He threatened Filch when he found him going through his school bag after he ran out to save the poor bloke who came out of the forest."  He looked at the creature in Pansy's seat.  "Wrong fur color, Malfoy.  The wings are out of proportion too."  He shrugged and sat down.  "Nice try.  Nearly as good as Alex did."  Draco glared at him so he grinned.  "Not that I can do better than your boy can."

McGonagall cleared her throat to break up the petty argument.  "Change her back," she said calmly. "Now."

"I haven't quite mastered that yet," Draco admitted dryly.  "Sorry, Professor.  Perhaps Mr. Potter would like to try?"  The bird-winged cat tried to fly away but it wasn't going anywhere.  Draco had made its tail quite heavy, though he had put it into proportion.

"Sorry, Professor, Alexander didn't tutor me in that part."

She pulled her wand and tried to undo it but it was still sticking.  "Apparently you haven't mastered the change yet either.  We'll have to undo it with a potion instead of a reversal," she said, staring him down.  He slumped a bit but didn't look displeased.  "Miss Bulstrode, please take her up to the infirmary.  I'm sure I can trust you to make sure she arrives safely?"

"Oh, yes, Professor.  I'm not stupid enough to ask Alexander openly for naked pictures of his boyfriend."  She picked up the tweeting bird and carried it up to the infirmary, handing it to the nurse, who was giving it a horrified look.  "Mr. Malfoy found out that Miss Parkinson, that little bird, had asked his boyfriend to make her some naked pictures of him.  He refused and Mr. Malfoy hasn't quite managed the art of transforming people into animals yet."

She sighed and put the bird down into a cage, going to call someone to have a talk with those boys yet again.

***

Sirius knocked and was let into the suite.  "Why is it I get called about you two about every month?"

"We're not sure since we're not your kids," Ron assured him with a grin.  "Which one this time?"

"Mr. Malfoy, since his mother is off gushing at some social event in Paris for the weekend."  He sat down and sighed.  "What happened?"

"Oh, a few things," Alex said bitterly.  "I'm suspended so did you bring cookies?"

"I did," he agreed, pulling them out of his pocket and resizing them. "I was checking on your elves for you when Twirly was told that she couldn't come up for the next week."

"He said two days," Alex said forcefully.

"Yes, but the headmaster told her a week.  She went a bit off on him and then went to complain to the Ministry that he was mean and cruel to her poor boys.  I'm sure your mother will find it amusing that she included you, Draco."  He smirked at Harry.  "You as well."  He looked around again.  "So....  What happened this time?"

"I got asked to leave charms because Pansy was pressuring me for naked Draco pictures.  I went upstairs to draw the forest for a bit, saw someone coming out after having been attacked, ran to help him.  Came back, found Filch in my things and told him off, threatening him if he did it again.  Got into it with the other snoopy old fart in this castle when I found him going through my art folder. Got suspended in here for *two* days, and Draco changed Pansy into a something so she's presently stuck."

"Which means I've got detention tonight and tomorrow to help brew the restoring potion.  Plus our beds seem to have shrunk," Draco offered, looking at his relative.

"The headmaster wanted you reminded that you could back out of your temporary contract for embarrassment as well," Sirius offered with a small, evil smirk.

"Why would I be embarrassed?" Draco asked tolerantly.

"Because of all the naked pictures of you running around."

Draco let out a sarcastic sounding snort.  "I have nothing against that.  People stare at me anyway.  I've always been admired for being cute or handsome and charming.  Half the children in this school want me more than they do Harry.  Why would some art embarrass me when I'm so used to being stared at?  As long as Alex keeps doing such a good job of drawing me, then we're fine with it. The first time he fucks me up majorly and enlivens it, we'll have problems, but until then I like being his favorite subject.  He's just jealous I suppose," he finished with a small sigh of regret.

"You are so full of it," Ron taunted, shaking his head.  "There's no way half the girls want you more than Harry.  Or want Harry for that matter."

"Bet me," Vinnie offered, looking up from his reading.  "Draco used to have us beat the girls out of our room so he could take a nap."

Greg nodded.  "We removed Lavender at least five times the year we got moved up here."

Ron stared at him, mouth slightly open. "Why?" he asked finally.

"Money, power, I'm good in bed, I'm fairly handsome, though when I was that age I was more cute."

"Bragging rights," Harry reminded him.  "Which is why most of the girls come after my bum," he noted impatiently.  He looked at his godfather.  "What's he doing now?"

"I'm not really sure, Harry.  It does seem a bit off with all the other stuff."  Someone knocked so he got up to get it, letting in the art teacher since she was carrying some rolls of parchment.  "Good afternoon."

"To you as well, Mr. Black," she said, smiling at him. Then she smiled at Alex.  "I had to rout the old goat to keep you in the show but he did say nothing too indecent could be shown. Therefore McGonagall wanted you to come show her that night."  She handed them to him with a wink.  "I think she's a bit pissed at the old goat as well."  She blew a kiss at Draco.  "The most risque thing in there is now that one where you were sleeping that he showed you."

"Pansy will be destroyed," Harry said with a cold smirk. "She wanted to see naked Draco."

"Well, since McGonagall wanted him to show off to her that night, she might be able to come in and see some," she said with a smirk of her own.  She handed a list.  "Here, that's what I think you should show her, or anything along those lines.  They're quite good.  Are you sure you won't pursue art as a career?"

"I'd like to keep it a hobby but I never minded if others liked it," he offered with a shy grin.  "Which ones are going in?"

"That sleeping one, the one of him slouching the other day, and one of him flying."

"You should see the one he did of Harry flying," Ron offered.  "He did it last year but it was fantastic."

"I haven't been privileged enough to see most of his artwork.  He got picky about what he showed me."

Draco pulled his wand.  "Accio Alex's artworks."  A few more scrolls and his folder flew out, along with a new one.  He handed them to her. "We haven't look at them since he did that flying picture of Potter either."  Harry was red now and hiding his face in his arms.  "As long as there's no more in there that could be deemed 'odd' I'll let you admire my portraits all you want."

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy."  She sat down to look through them, making Sirius blush at some of them.  A few more pieces were taken out and set aside, including one of the larger scrolls.  The rest got handed off to the boys, then she kissed Alex on the cheek and headed out with the new ones.  No one told her how to run her class or her showings and she was the master of what her students drew. She smiled and nodded at Ginny as she walked past her, heading back to hang those up properly as well and to find the perfect spot for them in the hallway she'd be using later that week.

Ginny tapped on the door and was let in by a blushing Sirius Black.  "Should I bring bad news later?"

"No, it's the time for it," Ron called, waving her in.  "Guys, Ginny."  Draco shrugged and critically looked at the picture of him outside, then at his mate, holding it up.

"Break just after school started.  There should be a date."

Draco nodded and looked, smiling a bit before putting it back.  "What did you want, Weasley?"

"We've just had a visit in the house.  I'm guessing Slytherin had the same.  McGonagall said the headmaster called a special teacher's meeting and suggested, very firmly, that you six be moved back to the houses.  Seamus pointed out that moving you back would make the little kids scared and we voted to keep you down here."

"I do believe he's trying to break us up, Draco," Alex said, rubbing his forehead.  "I'm having stress keeping myself from yelling. Did you want to?"

"No, I'm afraid this'll have to wait for my mother's delicate touch," he offered with a sly grin.  His mother could flay someone with her tongue and make them whimper in mercy within moments.  He'd have to floo her later.  He looked at Weasley.  "What about my house since you look like you still have news?"

"It was noted by McGonagall that Snape said your house said that they enjoyed having you safely up here.  That way they could plan against you, though Professor Snape said you knew what they were planning and plotting anyway.  He thought it wiser to leave you up here, forgotten and out of the way of harm and chaos."  The two heads of their houses smirked at each other and she cleared her throat.  "McGonagall also wanted to talk to you, Alex, about some practice NEWTs that're being tried out by the Ministry.  I have a nasty suspicion you're taking them by what she said."

He got up, then looked down at himself.  "I'm suspended.  Oh, well."  He walked out, heading to his head's office, tapping before walking in. "You gave Miss Weasley permission to release me to come here for a moment?"

"Why are you suspended?" she asked dryly.

"For threatening one snoopy old fart for going through my bag in the hallway and reminding the other one doing things like looking at my art without permission upset me and made me have a bad day.  By the way, I'm suspended for *two* days and he told Twirly a week.  She's at the Ministry from what Sirius said."

She giggled and nodded.  "She did indeed file a complaint and they're up there right now."  She smirked a bit. "Dumbledore hates you."

"I noticed our beds had surprisingly shrunk back to a child's size, so we barely fit.  Did he want us to sleep and shag on the couch instead?"

"I think he wanted to stop the shagging."

He snickered and shook his head.  "I doubt that would happen.  We can always find other spots to shag in.  It's not like he can stop us."  She nodded at that.  "Also, he tried to tell Draco to break the contract through Sirius."

"Oh, dear," she sighed, looking at him.  "I had worried about such a thing.  Is he all right?"

"Fine.  Draco was very amused."

"I meant Sirius."

"He's fine, they laughed."  He smirked a bit with her.  "What's this about practice NEWTs?"

"Yes, they're revamping the NEWTs and they needed test subjects to take it. With your proficiency, you were nominated."  Alex crossed his arms, staring her down. "By the same person.  However, all the classes that you pass them in with an Average or better, you don't have to take.  That person may be hoping to let you graduate this year."

"So I've got to brush up seriously in herbology, creatures, and what?"

"Potions."

"He can't make me take a Potions NEWT, I'm not in there!" he said hotly.

"That was argued on your behalf," she noted patiently.  "Especially by your father.  He called it a way to discredit his teaching."  She licked her lips and looked at him.  "They're also not being given at the normal time, Alex," she said quietly. "They're being given in three weeks."  He let out a string of swears that made her flinch and grab the arms of her chair.  He finally stopped and hit the wall, then turned to look at her, his face an impressive mask of coldness.  "I'm not sure what he's doing or why," she said quietly and calmly.  "All I know is that you're taking them in all the subjects, even the ones you've never taken here."

"I haven't picked up an Arithmancy book since I was ten!" he complained.  She nodded.  "Are they still here?"

"No.  It was arranged by floo during the teacher's meeting.  He also tried to suggest separating you boys if your houses wouldn't take you back."

"Dean and Seamus said they were enjoying not hearing Ron and I snore."

"So I heard," she assured him with a faint smile.  "Do you think you can at least pass a few of them?"

"I can probably pass all of them but we'd have to do the bloody spell again!" he complained, stomping off.  He walked into the suite and slammed the door, then looked at everyone, including the blushing Ginny.  "I'm taking my NEWTs in three weeks in *all* subjects."

"You haven't taken all the subjects here, mate," Ron offered. "Why so soon?"

"Dumbledore."

Sirius swallowed.  "Okay.  What's going on?"

"The Ministry was updating the NEWTs and they needed practice subjects.  I'm to be excused from any class where I get at least an average.  But I have to take things I've never taken, like Runes.  Yeah, Grams made me study those when she punished me, but I haven't picked up a Runes book since I was seven and an Arithmancy book since I was ten!"  Sirius nodded quickly.  "I'm having a bit of a temper."

"I can see that," Draco agreed calmly.  "Would a hug help?"

"No.  It wouldn't.  I might end up hurting you by accident."  He ran his hands through his hair.  "The *only* way I can see to get me ready for them in three weeks is to put me back under the Imperious and make me study the books again."

"Fat chance," Harry told him.  "You can break it."

"Yes, but I'll know I won't want to."  He flopped down and stared at his mate.  "Even if we aren't taken back, he's pushing to have the two of us separated."

"Wonderful.  My mother's coming tonight," he assured him.  "Maybe she can do something to give you more time."

"They arranged it by floo during the teacher's meeting.  Dad and McGonagall and probably others protested already.  I'm also taking a Potions NEWT."

"You can't. You're not in there, that's against the rules," Ron told him.  Alex shrugged.  "If you're excused from anything you pass, does that mean you'll end up back in anything you fail that you haven't taken?"  Alex nodded. "You sure?"

"Not yet."  He looked around. "Dobby!"  He appeared.  "Get my father the hell up here now, and relay that message exactly."

The house elf cowered but went to do that.  He also brought back some milk, milk always seemed to calm him down.  He went to the Potions classroom, clearing his throat. "Professor Snape, Dobby was ordered to get his father up here now," he said timidly.

"I take it heard about his testing?"

"Dobby not know, but he was frightful.  Alexander is being radiating energy.  Him is not a happy student."

Snape looked at him.  "Radiating how?"

"Like all paintings vacant, Professor sir."  He bowed his head.  "Dobby not want to stick around.  Alexander would never hurt Dobby but Dobby still scared."

"It's probably a wise thing," he sighed, standing up.  "Thank you, Dobby.  Did you bring him something to eat?  He's suspended to his suite tonight."  Dobby nodded and went to do that, making sure it was something the boys liked.  He headed up to talk to his son, hearing the ranting going on again.  His son seemed to have quite the impressive handle on swearing.  Flitwick was staring at their portrait in horror.  "He heard about the testing," he noted as he walked around him.

"I tried to make them see reason, but they wouldn't, Severus," he said quietly.   "They refused to see sense this time.  He was just shouting about having to undergo the same torture he had when he was a child to get through this and how the headmaster wants to separate him from any support.  Is he right?"

Snape swallowed. "He did want to separate him from Mr. Malfoy.  He's also trying to make me take more control over him when we've already established a comfortable relationship."  Flitwick sighed and nodded.  "As it stands presently, he's probably ready to kill someone.  Dobby said he's radiating.  You might want to work on shielding techniques again."

"I can hear you!" Alex yelled.

"Good, then settle down," he ordered, looking at the older, smaller teacher.  "Do you want him to pass yours?"  He nodded.  "Then I'll make sure he does yours and mine."  He walked inside, looking at his son.  "You're scaring house elves and paintings, son.  Think rationally for the moment."

"Usually he blows shit up when he gets like this," Draco reminded him, nibbling on a roll. "Unfortunately he's suspended."

"That was probably the only fair thing that happened today," Snape admitted.  His son scowled at him.  "You should not threaten the staff."

"He shouldn't have been snooping in my shit."

"While true, you should still not threaten the staff.  You have more brains and subtlety than that, Alexander."  His son glared at him.  "You do.  There are other ways to make your displeasure known.  Use them."  Alex continued to glare but nodded.  "Thank you."  He sat down, looking at him.  "Can a refresher help you with the subjects you already know?"

"I don't remember enough Arthimancy to realize what Draco was doing during some special work we were doing."

"What happens if he takes them like he is?" Ron asked.  "If he flunks Potions, would he have to go back into it?  Even though he didn't pass his OWLs?"

Snape nodded.  "That is what Dumbledore arranged."  He looked at his son.  "There are things that can enhance your recall of past events.  That could help you with everything you've known.  It's not unheard of for students to use such potions before their testing.  The testers know of its use."  Alex quirked an eyebrow up.  "It would allow you to remember how to do the problems and such."

"Can I brew that?  So you don't get accused of helping him cheat?" Draco asked.

Snape nodded.  "It's actually one of the ones covered by the NEWTs."  He looked at him.  "You're taking them all as well.  Though I will accept you back in Potions, even if you do pass."

"Will these count as my official scores?" Alex asked.

"They said anything you felt you did well enough in, you wouldn't have to retake them next year," Snape offered.  "They also said that anything you passed with an Average or above you can be allowed out of. They're thinking about that for other students who are advanced as well."  Alex sighed and nodded, slumping some more.  "Your back will hurt if you keep sitting like that."

"It's going to hurt anyway since my bed won't comfortably fit a house elf."

"Can you not fix that?"

"Not without tapping into the magic of the school.  It's charmed like the rest of the school's property.  That fundamental of a change would have to come with the authority to do so."

"That's fine.  We'll fix it."

"It's all our beds," Harry told him.  "I sat on mine while I changed my shirt and it gave me barely enough room to sit."

"I'll take that up with Professor McGonagall," he promised, looking at Draco.  "How are you standing it?"

"I called mum," he assured him with a sweet, nasty smile. "She's coming in tonight.  I got yelled at but I pointed out I wasn't suspended and he hadn't taken away floo calling privileges since Alex couldn't call *his* mum."

"There are days I wish he could," Snape said quietly. "Elani would have ripped him apart that first year.  She is where Alex gets his protective streak."  His son looked a bit happier at that.  "I'll give Mr. Malfoy the potion.  I'll get you notes and the book for seventh year herbology, creatures, and Divination."

"Eww."

"It is one of those things you must take, son."

"Yay."

"That one you should pass, that way you're not forced to go back," Ron reminded him.  "She hated you, claimed your evil was blocking her inner eye and that you're the reason Harry was going to die so much."

"Oh, I remember her being another evil bitch in the world," he said flatly.  "Are we sure Dumbledore's not a female?  After all, he's acting like an evil bitch, just like Grams."

"No, as far as I know he's not," Snape admitted.  Though that would explain so much he'd seen over the years.

Draco looked at his mate.  "Evil is an equal opportunity employer, dear. Maybe he has something like dear Professor Snape has against Potter.  Your grams was probably about his age."

"He started teaching her second year," Alex said grimly.  "Minerva asked him."  Snape looked at him.  "She thought it might be the same thing too."

"You call her by her first name?"

"Well, she did offer me that right," he offered blandly.

"Fine.  That's between you and her."

"Was that for all the help she's given you, the coddling she does of you, or the drinking you two did that night?" Harry asked, grinning at him.

"Mr. Potter," Snape started.

"She offered it while she was drunk but the next day she said I might as well," Alex shot back.

"You went drinking with McGonagall?"

"Yeah.  She's funny when she's had a few.  Haven't you went out with her?"  He shook his head quickly. "Pity. You should. She's a nice lady.  She's one of the very few evil half of the universe that I trust not to fuck me over."

"One of these days, son, you will appreciate the difference between a woman and an evil woman."

"One's open about it and one cackles in private over her devious plans to destroy the world?"

Snape stood up, leaving it there.  "I'll hand you that potion tonight, while we're working on the one to return Miss Parkinson to human form.  For now, eat dinner and relax.  Detention starts at eight, as usual."  He left, leaving the giggling Sirius behind him to deal with his son's odd mental problems.  At least he was just as warped so he understood his son where he himself did not.

***

Draco smiled at the headmaster as he came into the potions classroom, stirring the potion.  "As ordered, I'm working to turn her back into the disgusting bitch she is."

"Ten points from Slytherin for such vulgar language," Snape ordered. "You could have found other words, Mr. Malfoy."

"Well, she does look like a female dog, sir," he offered.  Snape gave him his 'I'm not amused' look.  "Sorry."  He looked at the headmaster again.  "Did you need something?  I'm competent to do this by myself for a moment."

"Add the moth wings," Severus ordered.  Draco turned and went back to that.  "What did you need, Headmaster?  More punishment being handed out?"

"No. I was wondering why none of the suite's residents who were supposed to be at dinner were."

"We were having dinner with Alex in a show of solidarity.  After all, it's not like his punishment was *fair* or anything."  He shot a quick glare at him.  "By the way, my mother will be putting in a protest about my bed shrinking so much that not even a house elf could get comfortable on it.  It's not like I can get proper rest sleeping on something the size of my pillow."

"That was done to stop the carnal...."

"He's my marriage partner," Draco overrode coldly, turning to glare at him.  "I have every right to fuck him night and day, per our marriage contract.  Temporary or not, it is still binding and if I want to uphold it, I'll keep the happiness levels of my spouse up.  After all, I'm the one keeping him happy and calm so you don't have to deal with him being mean, evil, or vulgar while he tries to find relief from his restless energy another way.  He *could* go back to pranking others.  I'm sure we'd enjoy all the women in this school being tormented for the rest of his tenure here.  Wouldn't you, Professor Snape?"

"Not particularly.  I believe he might leave some of them alone.  He seems to enjoy the occasional company of Miss Weasley and Miss Bulstrode."

"Not really," Draco told him.  "Now and then, when he needs advice on gifts and things.  Otherwise, never unless they come to bother him."  He nodded once at that.  So Draco glared at the headmaster again.  "I could easily give up my weekly sex, but our contract does state it must be done at least monthly.  I'm not about to break it and lose him.  Remember, we temper each other."  Dumbledore nodded and left.  He glared at the doorway.  "You will get what's coming to you," he vowed.  "Are you sure he's not a girl?  I think Alex is right, he's got to be one of the evil wenches of the universe.  He's even taken to PMS moments when he's been doing like he was today."

"I'm fairly sure he's male, Mr. Malfoy, but I don't care to check. You're forgetting to stir."  Draco went back to the potion, making little corrections in what he had done to it.  He glanced at a nearby vial of bubotuber puss and considered it.  It would make her keep the wings and the tail at least, if not the fur. "Do not consider it, Mr. Malfoy.  Find another way for that devious plot you're hatching."

"Damn," he muttered, going back to his stirring.

Snape put down his wand and shook his head.  Draco needed much better shields.  He was much too easy to read.

***

Alex smiled as a few students came in to look at the works he was exhibiting in McGonagall's classroom.  "She's off getting some cider," he told them. "Go ahead and look."  They all gravitated toward the naughtier pictures while Draco moved over to kiss him.  "Did you like the one I got of you flying?"

"I did," he admitted, smirking a bit at him.  "I'll reward you for this later," he hissed, making his mate shiver and nod. "Whatever shall I do with such a naughty mind?" he teased, stealing another kiss.

"Let me show you the room Sirius showed me and have me every which way you can?" he offered quietly, grinning a bit.  He winked at him as the teacher came back in.  "They wanted to see naked Harry and Draco."

Draco walked over there, blinking a few times.  "Did you get Potter to pose for you?"

"Yup.  I bribed him."  Draco looked at him.  "A night in a real bed."

"Did his break?" McGonagall asked.  "I've noticed he's been a bit dour recently."

"No, all our beds are too small for the house elves to fit into," Draco told her.  "Including the others'."

"That's inhuman," Granger said from the doorway.  "Why would you do that to Harry?"

"Because the headmaster did it to all of us, Granger," he replied, sounding a bit more snippy now.  "Go away."

"I wanted to see the other artwork."

"Not while I'm in here," Alex assured her.  She huffed and walked off so he looked at the teacher.  "Please."

"I have no problem with that," she assured him quietly. "We're going to be running a quick lesson in how to charm paintings to life," she called.  Most of the students fled.  She smiled at the boys.  "Now, let's work on this, Alex.  You really were too weak when you were doing the naked Mr. Malfoy portrait."

Alex raised his wand and animated a picture of Draco scrubbing his back, watching the simple motions, getting caught in the soaping and resoaping of the firm shoulders. Draco walked over and kissed him to get him free.  "Nicely done," he praised.  He animated one of him sleeping, watching it shift and curl up on his side like normal.

McGonagall smiled at him. "You as well.  Very nicely done."  The headmaster walked in with Miss Granger.  "I'm working on the animating paintings lessons.  Alexander has a horrible time putting enough energy into them."

"He's done one?"

"He's done two and I'm waiting on the paint to dry on the third one," Alex assured him. Draco looked at him.  "It's hidden up there."

"Fine," he agreed with a small smirk.  "I can wait, for a few hours."  Alex grinned and nodded, knowing he hated waiting for presents.

Dumbledore looked around.  "Why are you working on these?"

"Because it's easier to learn and work on a painting or drawing you've bled some emotion into as you worked on it," she said firmly.  "The art teacher agreed, these were some of the best to work on.  I'm working him up to charming his third living portrait so it's much more lifelike and less whiny."

"I can't say as I like being cold that much either.  It makes things shrink, especially when you're naked," Draco reminded her.

She looked at him.  "Mind *out* of the gutter please, Mr. Malfoy."  She looked at Miss Granger, then back at the headmaster.  "I do wish you hadn't brought her, headmaster.  She has upset Alex again and it's harder for him to concentrate when he's fearing for his life."

"I'm sure Miss Granger would never hurt him."

"Then why did she attack him already once this year?" she asked simply.  "If you remember right, we ended up with a teacher in the infirmary afterward and Alexander being so drained from the shield he put up he could barely eat."

"I was trying to help him," she said coolly.

"Helping someone when they don't want or need it is called interfering or harming," Alex shot back, his voice like ice.  "I think if you looked them up, you'll find your picture next to their dictionary entries."  She glared at him, crossing her arms.  "I cannot and will not work with her in here.  I'm sorry, Professor."

"I understand.  This is an emotional trigger for you.  Albus, get her out of here."

"What is he doing in here?  He's supposed to be suspended."

"My suspension ran out a day and a half ago," Alex replied, giving him his most nasty sneer.  "You said two days and it's been four."

"I said a week."

"No, you erroneously told my house elf a week. You told me two days and I can prove it with the paintings on my walls. After all, *you're* the one who put them in there to spy on what Draco and I did consensually and as part of our marriage."

"You're not old enough....."

"I am a legalized adult, Dumbledore.  Draco is also beyond his majority.  Before that I had his mother's permission to curl up and sleep next to him."

"That is beside the fact that we have both overcome the technical age of majority," Draco reminded him snottily.  "For many things.  Including our board positions."

"You can't until you've graduated."

"And yet, you're making us take our NEWTs in three weeks," he noted dryly.  "I'm sure both our seats will be open to us then."  Dumbledore gave him a horrified look.  "That's right, Molly Weasley serves in my seat.  My grandmother may not have cared and may have hired Mr. Flint to sit for her, but I chose someone with a more genteel air. I trust Molly Weasley to only plot and plan evil things in the most dire of circumstances, when her family's in danger.  The same as I do Professor McGonagall."  She smiled at him for that.  "But then again, we'll see what next year brings.  I may actually have a very light schedule of Potions, Creatures, and Herbology.  I could almost floo in two days a week for that since I don't care about further NEWTs. After all, it's not like I'm going to be *working*," he sneered.  He wanted to tell the old fart that his plan had already been conquered, that he had lost, and that he was going to pay but it wasn't time for that yet.  Every instinct he had ever inherited from his father and Draco's silent looks were telling him not to show too much of their hand, so he left it there.  "By the way, what *other* reason did you come in, Headmaster?  To complain about the complaints my house elf filed against you?"

"I don't see depriving you of your elf's services to be a major complaint," he noted.

"Yes, well, you don't do it to others and you did distress the poor dear horribly," he noted nastily, staring him down.  He glanced at Draco, who lifted an eyebrow.  "You know," he said, turning back to the headmaster.  "I've been wondering why you stuck up for my grandmother.  Was it because she was blackmailing you and the evidence could still come out?  Perhaps you're a bit more like her and female and evil yourself? Or would it have something to do with the canceled, attempted contract between you two?  Which I did find in the family's file while I was going over it with my barrister.  Draco, did you know he filed to have my grandmother?  That her father turned him down?  It seems her mother agreed but he didn't and it couldn't go through without his consent.  He's the one who pushed the contract with McNair's cousin."

"Really? I hadn't known.  When did you find that?"

"Last holiday, when Gringotts was going through their files to find unclaimed vaults."  He smirked a bit.  "I wonder why he refused you, Dumbledore.  What did you do to set him off?"

"Nothing.  That was her doing, not mine.  I had only respect for her."

"Hmm.  Respect for the top Death Eater in Britain.  The one who was higher than Lucius.  The one who was higher than Snape.  The one who was higher than Fudge and all the rest combined.  Interesting. If you had such *respect* for her, why didn't you have *her* spy?"  Dumbledore's eyes narrowed and he smirked.  "Ah, the bane of true love.  Not wanting to change the one you're with because you think they're perfect that way.  Pity some of the rest of us had to suffer for you not trying to make her see the light."

"Are you challenging me, Mr. Birmingham?"

"If you wish a duel, you only had to ask," he noted, pulling his wand.  "I have nothing against honorable combat against my enemies."  Dumbledore took a step back, forcing himself to look calm.  "Ah, that's why he refused you then," he said smartly.  "Her father was a champion dueler.  He was a world champion twice if I remember right.  That's why he survived Great-Grams that long.  I'm supposing he wanted the same for his daughter's spouse, knowing she was just like her mother, and passed you by for someone who might have helped her.  Pity Markum didn't realize she could also brew the occasional poison.  She said it helped her with her work by making people scream and beg when she wasn't really in the mood to play physically."

Granger ran from the room.  "Good.  Now that the not-so-innocent is out of the way, I will let you know this," he said, moving closer.  "You will leave me and mine alone, Dumbledore.  I could care less about your past with her.  Or why you supported her torturing me and others.  I could care less that you encouraged her to go to Voldemort, which her diary said you did," he hissed, looking perfectly calm and reasonable again.  "I will make sure you don't touch the rest of us however.  You've had your shot at carrying on her work using me.  You've failed four years running before you could do more than start and it just took longer the fifth, my first year.  You won't get me to take classes that I hate after my NEWTs either.  Nor will I do more than ease up my schedule for next year, leaving me plenty of time to jump my spouse and draw him.  It is up to you, however, to call the truce against me and mine. I could care less about you.  But if you continue, Draco and I can take up our seats on the Board of Governors within days of when we graduate.  Consider the future of the wizarding world, Dumbledore.  Do you really want this battle in the school?"

"You're very much like her.  As was your mother," he shot back.

"Really?  Because everyone says my mother was rather nice.  Especially my father.  Since I trust his judgement of others....."  He smirked a bit.  "Maybe you should have listened to him about me as well.  I wouldn't be like this today if you and she hadn't forced me to be.  So I suppose I should thank you for it.  I'll be taking all but a few NEWTs in two weeks time and have a fairly open schedule next year.  I might even tutor again."  He backed away.  "Now then, you need to decide what's more important to you?  A long lost love who was on the wrong side of the battles for the wizarding world, one who raped, tortured, and killed for fun, or this school, which you hold sacred and holy to the rest of us.  Remember, what goes for defense teachers, goes for you as well.  Some day soon, our generation will be in charge.  I may be teaching Charms then.  Draco may be teaching Potions.  Or he may be Minister for Magic Malfoy."

Draco snickered a bit at that.  "Hey, I could be a good society wife," he teased with a kind, loving grin.  He looked at Dumbledore again.  "You're not taking him from me, Dumbledore.  We're as strong as we ever were and nothing's tearing us apart.  If something should try, we react together.   The same as the Ministry included Draco in the NEWT test."  He stepped back.  "It is your choice.  I would be most happy to be left alone and leave others alone.  You're the one forcing me to react."  Dumbledore walked out of the room, trying to appear not to flee.  He sneered at the empty doorway until Draco hugged him, letting him turn to get some comfort.  "I hate having to out those things," he said quietly.

"I understand," Draco agreed, soothing him.  Someone stuck their head in.  "Come in, Weasley," he sighed.

"I needed to see you both.  We just got an emergency owl from mum.  Someone handed her a baby and said that you two were only allowed to be uncles to it."  She handed over the letter, glancing around, staring at the picture of Draco bathing.  Draco covered her eyes and she blushed.  "It's very lifelike," she praised, looking at the frowning Alex.  "The way she described the blonde lady who dropped baby Summer off, Ron thought it might be that Halfrek demon."

"It could be," Alex admitted quietly.  "Professor?"

"Go, I'll tell your father so he can clear it.  Take Harry with you, dear."

"He's already headed with Ron.  Mum said I'm to gather them and go with them," she offered.

"Go," she agreed, smiling as the trio left.  She finally sat down, allowing herself to relax.  She didn't know who'd win that fight if it had come to a duel.  Alex was young, but he was powerful and skilled.  Probably as much as Dumbledore was.  That drew a parallel in her mind and she had to shake it off.  Alex would not be the next Dumbledore.  She would keep him from that fate.

***

Alex came out of the floo and dusted himself off, walking over to look at the baby being held.  "Well, you're a tiny little thing," he praised, picking her up from Arthur's arms to hold her.  "Hello, sweetness.  How are you today?"  The baby cooed at him and he grinned.  "I love you too, Summer."  He looked over as Draco came out, letting him see.  "She's got Halfrek's mark, I can feel it on her back."

Draco ran his wand over her, nodding slowly.  "She is.  She's also very powerful."

"We had her tested after she showed up," Molly said as she joined them.  "She broke the machine, the same as you two and Harry did."

Alex beamed at her.  "That's fine, Molly.  What's her name again?"

"Summer.  Summer Aurelia."  She rang her hands.  "We weren't sure why she would give us her, especially with as powerful as she is."

"Relax.  Halfrek is over Lost Childhoods," Draco told her simply.  Molly sighed and nodded.

"What did she say, Molly?"

"She said that the child's guardians were almost all dead, that we had to protect the child.  She was to grow up normally, just being a normal witch and to not be forced to realize how powerful she really is.  That it would come if and when the time was right, which wasn't for another millennia minus a month of her birth.  She said she was born too late for the power to be used for the side of evil, that her birth heralded another millennia of peace on earth."  She gave them a desperate look.  "Then she said that if we couldn't raise the child ourselves, it could only go to you two, but it'd be better if you were uncles.  Narcissa and your father, Alexander, had touched too much of the dark and it would taint her before she could decide that for herself.   You two knew the dangers and the dance so very well, she said, and that you could help Summer make her decision."

"It sounds like her last guardians weren't her parents," Draco noted, checking her over again.  "She's got to have shields.  She's leaking more magic than Potter and Alex combined."

"I think we can do that," Ron promised.  "Just our sort?"

"No, I can feel other power, chaos and wandless, ancient power in her," Alex admitted, glancing at him.  He handed her off and pulled Molly aside.  "Molly, she's powerful.  Halfrek warned you that she *could* turn dark if not raised right.  If she's raised like you raised Bill and Ron, she'll be perfectly normal, happy, and powerful.  We'll help tutor her when she's old enough even."  She relaxed and smiled at that, nodding a bit.  "If she's raised by someone who knows the dark intimately, they'll lead her to be a bit more confused, making the decision harder.  Then she'll become like Draco and I.  I can't find any evil in her, just power.  That alone is worrisome but not totally.  Have you had her checked?"

She nodded.  "The baby doctor at St. Mungoes said she was perfectly healthy.  I explained her as a cousin's child and she couldn't take care of her, that she was ill."

"With what you said Halfrek told you, it's possible her guardians were protecting her and were due to die soon, so that's not much of a lie," he admitted.  "Did they tell you where she came from?"

"Italy, or around there.  She was being watched by some monks.  She did say they defended her and that's why peace would come."  Alex smiled and nodded. "You're sure?"

"I'm very sure. Just treat her like you would any other witch in the family, Molly.  That's why you got her, to make up for how the twins warped Ginny."  She swatted him but only frowned a bit.  "She just needs a good family to love and protect her, treating her like normal."

"Of course," she agreed.  "I don't know what to do to register her though.  I've never had a baby dropped off like that."

"That's fine.  We have friends in the ministry and Harry hasn't seen Tonks in a bit.  He can call and ask her if she knows who to call."  She nodded, going to tell Harry that.  Harry went to make the call, coming back a few minutes later looking a bit pissed.  "She find a temporary toy?"

"She said she's trying to make sure it's real between us."

"Ehh, women always have to comparison shop," Draco assured him.  "Mum does it all the time."  He looked at the baby.  "You're very tiny and very fragile so I don't think I'll try to hold you just yet."  He wrinkled his nose at the growing smell.  "Eww.  Bready!"  She appeared.  "Change her!"

"Bready not know about things that small," she wailed.  "Bready only know about crawling babies."

Alex coughed.  "Okay, so call Twirly.  She knows about babies and you have my permission to have her help you learn about babies, Bready.  She'll also go shopping for whatever the baby might need right now, like nappies."  Molly and Arthur both stared at him.  "She wanted babies to take care of.  Yours could use the teaching.  That solves both problems."

"I think I know what to do with an infant."

"Yes, but there's times when you're going to be exhausted and he's got to be at work.  Let the elves help so I don't get nagged and forced into having one.  Twirly all but stated she was going to make sure Draco got me pregnant some day soon so she had a baby to take care of."

"Mum agreed with her," Draco offered.  Molly and Arthur both shuddered.  "Someone call Twirly."

Bready popped over there, yanking on Twirly's arm, making her drop her spoon and her soup.  "Bready just got baby!  Bready not know anything about littler than crawling babies!  Master Alexander say to get Twirky because Twirly know about babies!  Come now!  Baby stinky and not crawly!"

Twirly smiled and nodded, following her back.  She searched the house for baby things, then yanked on her master's arm, getting an amused look.  "Twirly is needing to shop for baby."

"Then Twirly can take the household money from the desk and use it," he agreed.  She nodded and went to get it, then she and Bready went baby shopping.  They came back and arranged everything, even taking the baby to change and bathe her. They brought her back down when they heard someone coming in, smiling and holding up the baby for Molly to take.  Then Twirly pulled Bready into the kitchen to teach her how to make bottles and how to clean diapers and spit-up.

Draco looked at Tonks, who was giving the baby a happy cooing noise and a tease to the belly.  "Her name is Summer and we're uncles."

"That's fine then.  I can be an auntie?" she asked Molly, who smiled and nodded. "Good!  Then let's get to the paperwork.  What story have you used already?"

"A distant cousin who was ill and couldn't take care of her."

"Hmm.  Good enough.  Birth certificate or anything?"

"Halfrek?" Alex and Draco called. A package appeared at Alex's feet so he handed them over with a grin.  "Here, I think that should be most everything you could need."

Tonks sat down to look, smiling at the nice forgeries.  She knew a magical artifact when she sensed one and that baby was one she had been taught about by Bill Weasley.  Boy, was he gonna be shocked soon.  She felt something touch her head and the knowledge faded.  It left her knowing that the baby was real and whole and nice.  As long as Molly and Arthur did their usual bang-up job of raising her.  She got to work filling in the paperwork, having the new parents sign it. Then she went to distribute it to the various offices.  By the time she came back, little Summer was napping.  Harry and Ron were on either end of the couch napping and looking very happy.  Draco and Alex were curled in front of the fireplace.  Molly and Arthur were looking at the boys, shaking their heads.  "What did he do this year?"

"Turned their beds too small to sleep on," Molly sighed, looking at her.  "All of their beds are no bigger than their pillows."

"Hopefully that's fixed soon, before they get reported for torturing them this year."  She looked at Molly.  "Did they tell you that Draco and his boy there are gonna be taking NEWTs in just under two weeks?"  She looked alarmed and shook her head.  "New trial ones.  Dumbledore arranged it since Alex knew so much."

Arthur groaned, holding his head.  "Why him?"

"Alex said he found an attempted contract between his Grams and Dumbledore, but her father refused it," Ron said, looking at his parents.  "This is much nicer than our couch, which means Greg and Vinnie can catch a real nap tonight."

"Of course, dear," Molly agreed, leaning down to kiss him on the forehead.  "You rest. We'll send you back after breakfast."  She went to call the school to make sure he knew what was going on.  "Albus!" she said happily, smiling at him.  "Halfrek just handed us an infant and we needed the boys to come arrange things with us.  We'll send them back after breakfast since they're all crashed somewhere comfortable."  He opened his mouth.  "I heard what you did," she warned sweetly.  "They'll be back after dropping off a few announcements for us, Albus."

"Fine. Thank you for telling me.  Minerva mentioned a new baby and that you had summoned them.  Is she all right?"

"Just fine.  A distant cousin was rather ill and couldn't take care of poor little Summer anymore.  She interceded with Halfrek to bring her since she couldn't.   Poor little Summer was leaking magic so strongly that we needed them to shield and sooth her, plus we needed one of Alex's elves to teach Bready what to do with babies."

He nodded. "That's fine, Molly.  How is she?"

"Just perfect," she said happily.  She carefully picked the baby up to show him.  "See?  This is Summer Weasley.  Alex thinks she'll be a light brunette with stunning brownish gold eyes."

"She is adorable," he offered.  "I look forward to seeing her enrolled."  She smiled at that.  "Keep her safe, Molly."  He hung up and went back to his headache tonic.  He had some thinking to do.  If that boy had been right, he was the reason the boy was so strong.  He was the reason Harry had won their fourth year, and was the reason behind Harry living.  He took another drink.  His plans might have to change.

A pale glow started behind him and he never saw the woman who took all that information from his mind, leaving behind the genial, happy personality he had always pretended to have.  Then she faded back out, leaving him alone.   "No one hurts my Xander," she whispered as she left.

***

Draco walked up to his father-in-law's desk after a potion's class, laying out his assignment, his quiz, and another, folded piece of paper.  "We thought it appropriate to give you this now," he said quietly.  "He saw you smiling at Summer and he adores her as well.  She might be the only female he'll ever stand."  He strolled out.

Snape's hand came over, taking the folded piece of paper to glance at.  The look on his face as he read made every remaining student flee for their lives.  "Mr. Malfoy!" he bellowed.  No response so he summoned a house elf, glaring at it.  "Bring me my son, Mr. Malfoy, and Professor McGonagall."  It nodded and headed off.  He went back to reading the carefully printed rite and spell, glaring at McGonagall as she came in.  "They'll need a female's egg to change over.  Are you participating?" he asked, handing over the notes.

She read it and sat down, staring in shock and horror at the rite.  "Alexander!"  He stuck his head in, looking sheepish.  "What is the meaning of this?"

"That depends on what that is," he said cautiously.  He inched inside.  "What is it?"

"A fertility rite to give you a child."

"Really?"  He glanced at it and grinned.  "Draco said he was designing one for us so his mum had someone to spoil rotten and coo over."  He gave her his best shy boy grin, watching as she melted a bit.  "It's not really that hard looking.  I know Dad didn't plan on having grandkids but Narcissa wants a granddaughter to dress up and shop with so bad!" he offered.

Draco strolled in and smirked at his mentor.  "Mother did say she wanted grandchildren from us.  She said she'd accept us adopting since Alex wants to be a foster parent, but that she demanded we have at least one of our own if at all possible in any realm of magic.  It's not really that hard.  We'll have to have a female donor, but they'll only have to give it up for about an hour."

Snape spluttered, looking at them.  "No!  No children!  No grandchildren!  Ever!"

"Calm down, daddy.  You know I want to be a foster parent," Alex said, pouting a bit. "I want to save some kids who have it nearly as bad as I did."

Snape calmed down and stared at his son.  "I will not have you being pregnant.  I refuse to see my son's stomach bulging with a child! It had better not have already been done!" he shouted.

Alex flinched.  "No not yet. I hadn't even seen what he devised until today."  He gave his mate puppy eyes.  "I love you."

"I love you too, Alex.  Some day we'll have a little you to love and so you can be a good daddy, much better than mine was."  He stroked his back, staring at the teachers.  "We only gave that to you so you could make sure the potions were balanced properly.  We are both very powerful wizards and it's not unheard of to use a donor and a surrogate, this takes away the need for a surrogate."

McGonagall looked at them.  "It could also seriously damage his health!"

"I'd never let anything harm him, that's why I wanted the potions checked," Draco said smartly, smirking at her.  "Does it look balanced in your area?  We were going to present it to Flitwick later for his appraisal."

Snape got up to get himself a drink, handing one to Minerva.  "Son, you may not do this.  I refuse to see you pregnant.  You may hire a surrogate.  You may knock some mistress up.  You can even adopt all you want, but if I ever see your stomach stretched around a baby I may die of a heart attack."  He slung back the drink and poured another one.  "Out!"

Draco smirked at him. "What about if he bribes me into carrying it?"

"I'm telling your mother.  Out!"  They walked out, kissing and cuddled together.  He shuddered and whimpered.  "My mind just went to places it shouldn't."

"All I could see would be how spoiled Mr. Malfoy would be if he did manage it."  She took her shot and poured herself another one.  "I'm canceling classes.  You?"

"Bloody hell yes," he muttered, taking a fourth drink.  He was determined to drink until he passed out so he could forget this morning ever happened.  "Take it with you."  She nodded, taking her drink back up to her office.  She had enough liquor in there from confiscated sources that she could drink herself to death.  But first she was nice enough to call Flitwick and hand him the spell.  "From Mr. Malfoy's hand."

He looked at it, then closed his eyes and shuddered, coming over to steal one of the bottles from her.  "Canceling classes?" he asked before tossing in some floo powder.

"Oh, yes.  He presented it to Severus."  She knocked back another shot.  "Tell Poppy since I'll be drunk shortly."

He nodded and hung up on her once he was back in his office, flooing the infirmary.  He handed over the spell.  "It looks fairly right on our end but Mr.  Malfoy just created that.  We're drinking, stock up on something for headaches, please?" he offered with a slightly manic grin before disappearing to drink straight from the bottle once he made it to his settee.

Poppy looked at the spell, studying it.  She even did the magical calculations for it and it came up correct.  She called the Ministry's office of Charms, Hexes, and Spells.  "Here, this was just given to Severus Snape by Mr. Draco Malfoy.  Apparently he and his husband are thinking about children.  Some of us are canceling classes for the day."  She hung up and called her night person, having her come in early to take over for her.  She'd like the overtime, probably.  When she got there, she mentioned the spell, then went to lay down in her rooms and get royally drunk.  She needed to erase that image from her mind.

***

Dumbledore looked around the students at lunch, clearing his throat. "Since four of the teachers have decided today is a holiday, I cannot but help to agree with them. Classes are dismissed for the rest of the day.  Mr. Malfoy, the Ministry would like you to call them about your new spell."

"I thought it was rather brilliant," Alex called, grinning at his mate.  "I think we could use it year after next?  Or is that too soon, love?"

Draco smirked a bit.  "Whenever you're ready.  After all, you and Twirly will be doing the majority of care for it."

Dumbledore suddenly realized *why* five of his staff members were critically drunk.  He decided to join them after lunch.  "Do remember to call them after lunch, Mr. Malfoy.  Have a nice day, children.  Madam Sprout, I have some urgent paperwork to do," he offered, going back to his office.  He had a house elf raid Minerva's stash of confiscated liquor for a bottle of his own.  Dobby was most helpful.  He didn't even realize the Ministry representative had shown up.  He didn't remember seeing Percy Weasley at all.  Nor did he remember Alex making him run to get drunk in town and then call his mother crying that night for forgiveness.

The time came for Halloween.  Harry and Alex were at his old house.  They had come up that morning to give him time to walk through the wreckage, getting out the emotions he held so tightly at times.  He had sobbed for hours in Alex's arms when he had found the nursery, seeing the blood on the old carpet.  Now they were in the dining room, one that still had some pictures on the walls.  He had laid out the capturing circle and everything was ready.  Alex lit the candles with his wand while Harry started the chant, calling on his mother to appear.  He didn't think he could face his father yet, but he wanted his mother terribly at the moment.  She slowly faded into view, giving him an impatient look.  "Mum," he whispered.

"Was all this really necessary, son?"

"Alex, can we remove the circle?"

"It's so she doesn't have to use up any of her remaining energy to stay and talk.  If we did, she could fade out before you're done," he offered.  "Sorry, Mrs. Potter."  She looked at him.  "I'm sorry if it hurts you.  I'm trying to keep you from fading completely away."

"I understand.  Who are you? You look so familiar."

"I'm Alexander Birmingham."  She looked stunned.  "The son of Severus Snape and Elani Birmingham."

"I remember your parents.  Is at least one still alive?  We all feared you being raised by your grandmother, Alex."

He grimaced and nodded.  "My father is but she still raised me.  He didn't even know."  He shrugged.  "It happens and I've had him since I started school and started protecting Harry here.  You'd be proud of your son."

"What were you protecting him from?" she asked, looking at her son.  "Harry?"

He knew that tone of voice, Molly Weasley used it on the twins when they were really naughty.  "Voldemort," he sighed, slumping down until he was sitting, staring up at her.  "But we defeated him together, mum.  I don't wanna talk about that."

"No, I think we'll be talking about that later."

"You can haunt our suite," Alex said quietly. "I'm told by my father you were a very nice lady in life and I'm sure you won't perv on me and Draco when Harry's off with his auror girlfriend."

"You're dating an auror?" she asked, floating closer.  "Oh, release me!  I've got more than enough energy for this."  He blew out the candles and opened the circle, letting her out.  She floated closer to her son.  "You're dating?  Already?"

"I'm dating Nymphadora Tonks, though she's comparison shopping at the moment to make sure she wants to keep me," he offered, smiling a bit.  "She's a great girl, mum.  A bit older than me but I don't see that it matters much."

She smiled, moving closer to place a kiss on his cheek.  "You're so much like your father.  He knew he wanted me in our third year and I had no clue until our sixth."

"I'm a sixth year but I took her out for the first real time last year," Harry offered.  "I wish I could have gotten you both but I wanted to talk to you first.  Just in case dad was disappointed in me."

"Dear, I'm sure James would have no cause to be disappointed in you, dead or not."  She looked at Alex, then at her son.  "May we?"

"Sure. I'm going to go guard against my Grams coming.  Watch out for the gold stuff," he warned as he strolled off.

"He is so much like Sirius," she said with a faint smile. "I can see why you're friends with him."

"We help each other, mum.  I protect him from the evil sort who like to hurt him and he helps me in class and helps me when something comes up and I have to fight.  He was beside me when we took on Voldemort and killed him again."

"Again?"

He lifted the curtain of hair, showing the scar.  "Somehow I survived."

"I saw," she admitted. "I saw him turn into a ghoul too."  He nodded.  "He came back?"

"Three years running and the fourth he was raised," he sighed, looking at her.  "Merlin, mum, I wanted to," he pleaded.  "I wanted to so much."

"I know, Harry."  She stroked his face.  "I wish I was there for you, son.  The same as I wish your father could see you now."

"He's passed on?" he asked, looking miserable.  "Or is he stuck?  Can we free him?"

"Dear, your father's not dead.  He can't see me for some reason but he's not dead.  He's in Germany, or possibly Lisbon this week, but he's not dead."

"Alex!" he called.  He came jogging back and Harry pointed at his mother. "She said he's not dead."  He looked at his friend.  "She said he can't see her but he's not dead!"  He got up, hauling Alex closer. "My dad's not dead!"

"Calm down, Harry.  We can easily find him," Alex soothed, getting him sitting again, holding him for a bit.  "Do you know why he can't see you, Mrs. Potter?"

"I'm not sure. It's like he doesn't remember me."  She moved closer to him.  "I've never seen your mother either."

"Interesting," he said, holding in the rage.  "Where are they?  I can send my father to them immediately."

"They're in Germany, but he may be in Lisbon on a business trip.  He's selling cars."

"Is he aware he's a wizard?"  She smiled and nodded.  "Cool.  It'll make it easier.  Should we send Remus and Sirius or just my dad?"

"Send your father.  I made an old picture appear one day from this house and he got the most blinding headache while saying Remus' name.  I'm not sure why."

"I am," he assured her.  "Oh, I so am."  She looked amused.  "I rather found it in Gram's journal and I wasn't sure what it meant or who she was talking about.  It was experimental."  She nodded once.  "As I said, you're more than welcome to visit with your son anytime.  He's a good boy."  He looked down at Harry, who was asleep now.  "Nice job," he told her.  She pointed behind them and he gently put Harry down before turning and opening the locket he wore, sucking the spirit inside Sirius Black out.  He had known she was haunting someone and he had been acting cold and distant recently.  He redid the seal and took it off, looking at it.  "Pity, bitch."  He put it in his pocket and sat down again, waving Sirius closer.  "Come on, you can come over too."  He looked at her.  "Would a piece of the house be enough for you to cue in on him?"

She nodded. "It has been in the past.  James has bits and pieces embedded in his legs from the explosion."  She gave Sirius a sad smile. "I saw you.  I wish I could have come, Sirius."

"How are you here now?" he asked, sounding choked up.  She pointed at the boys.  He looked at them.  "Explanations before I kill you?"

Alex looked at him.  "A seance.  Harry needed to speak to his mother.  We got permission from Remus.  He said you'd get really upset so we left you out of it."

"You...."  He glared at him.  "That's not right, Alexander!"

"Hey, I talked him out of raising her!" he said angrily.  "I told him we could call her, so he could talk.  Sometimes, no matter how good the substitute is, you can't beat the real thing, Sirius.  The same as I can't.  The same as I'd give *everything* to bring my mother back.  He's worried that his parents are disappointed in him.  No matter how good you do, it's not the same as your mother hugging you when you get nightmares from killing someone to save everyone else."  Sirius sat down and hugged them both.  "There's news, did you want to hear it?" he asked more calmly.

"What news?" he asked, looking up at Lily.  "If I take a piece of the house home, will you come visit me too?"

"Of course.  I've tried, but you've been sleeping with someone each time I pop in."  He blushed and she giggled. "I see so much of your influence in them, Sirius.  You do very good.  You're enough most of the time, but you know the bond that exists."

"I do," he sighed. "I'd have given everything to have you both back."

"James and Elani are in Germany," she told him.  He went stiff, staring at her.  She nodded. "He can't see me."

"Gram's journal mentioned a new trial of a memory charm," Alex admitted. "I'm sending dad tonight since he's the key they decided on."

"They?" Sirius asked.

Alex looked at him.  "Dumbledore wanted to marry her."

Sirius shuddered.  "I thought the old guy had better taste."

"No he thought she was perfect the way she was," he told her.  A light came near them.  "Go away!"

"What are you doing here! This is protected territory!"

Harry was nudged until he woke up, then he glared at the person pointing his wand at him.  "I can hex you eight ways to Sunday until you see Merlin in every bit of light," he warned.  "Step off.  She's my mum."

"Mr...Mr. Potter," he said, sounding fearful.  "I'm sorry, Mr. Potter.  I didn't realize."  He bowed a bit, backing away.  "I was told to watch the old place, just live up the road a bit.  We've saved a few things that got wet on when the roof started to go the second time if you want them back."

"Please," Harry agreed more gently. "Send them to Alex here.  I'm going to visit him during the holidays."  The man nodded and turned, running back to his house.  He looked up at his mother. "Sorry about that, mum."

She frowned. "Why is he scared of you?"

"Voldemort," Harry said simply.

She frowned.  "Huh?"

"Oooh, it's a long story," Sirius told her, shaking his head. "And now that I have a few final pieces in place it makes more sense than ever."  He gave Harry a squeeze.  "Alex, go play."

"Sure."  He got up and dusted his pants off as he walked outside to guard them.  He walked down to the road, starting a small fire, and threw some floo powder in. "Severus Snape."  His head appeared, looking none too pleased. "Before you start...."

"Where the bloody hell are you?"

"Helping Harry talk to his mother.  I need Gram's journal from the year I was born and you're going to Germany."

"Why?" he demanded.

"Because Lily said James is alive but doesn't remember her," he said simply.  His father started to splutter.  "It's in the journal I was browsing last holiday, father.  An experimental memory charm.  They're in Germany.  We should be able to break it."

"But...but...but...how!"

"One guess."

"Whatever saved Potter saved his father?"  Alex nodded.  "Fine.  Any other news?"

"She said the last time she popped in, mum was alive."

Snape stared at him, looking confused. "His mother?"

"My mother."

"I saw her body!"

"Then let's go grave digging!  According to the journal, you're the weak link they put in. They couldn't take you from mother's mind and they knew you'd never go searching for James," he said firmly.  "You're going to Germany and we can figure out the rest later!"

"Fine," he said shortly. "Where is the journal?"

"You have it."  Snape raised an eyebrow. "It's puke green, with maroon bindings? Like dried blood on puke?"

"That one," he said, turning away.  His face came back and he held it up.  Alex nodded. "Where?"

"About page twenty or so."  Snape flipped through it, then looked at him. "I think someone can undo it."

"A good finite incantantum by the castor should work," he offered. "However she's dead."

"She wasn't alone, father.  We can let Dumbledore do it."  He looked a bit surprised.  "He thought she was perfect the way she was."

"How ...how do you know that?"

"The refused marriage contract in Gringotts. They found it while they were searching for heirs and lost vaults.  Our vault manager gave it to me as a warning."

"Mmm.  Fine.  Where in Germany?"

"Can't we do a tracing using part of the house? She said he's got bits and pieces in him from the explosion.  Either that or blood does call to blood."

"Very well.  I'll be there soon.  Stay there."  His head disappeared.

Alex extinguished the fire and went back to watching the woods.  He knew why they had picked this spot, it was peaceful and nice up here.

***

Severus Snape appeared on a doorstep in Germany, noticing the architecture of the house gave him that clue.  He glanced around then rang the doorbell, looking at the haggard man who answered it.  He pushed back the hood of his invisibility cloak.  "Let me in, James. Your son sent me."

"I don't have a son," he said tiredly.  He took the picture Snape held out and grabbed his head.  "What's going on!  I had one of these before!"  He wobbled back to a couch, falling down onto it, looking at the picture.  Someone showed up and the odd man trapped her, making her shriek.  "She's stopping the pain."

"She's enforcing a memory charm on you," Snape said as he shut the door and walked further inside.  "Anyanka.  I thought you only worked for women scorned."  She sneered at him. "I know of this man's wife.  She died trying to protect him and their son."

"It's a favor, all right?" she demanded.

"No, it's not.  You're keeping one of Halfrek's chosen away from his father."

"Halfrek? How do you know Hallie?"  She appeared and she pointed at Snape.  "He said this one is the father of one of your knights."

"Sorta.  More like the guardian and guardee of one of my knights," she admitted.  "That's Harry Potter's father, Anh."  She looked stunned.  "So let's remove the memory charm, huh?"

"I can only weaken it.  I didn't do it in the first place."

"Then weaken it and if we must, my son can finish it."  He looked at James, then around.  He saw a picture of his woman, his beautiful girl, and walked over to it, holding it up.  "Where is she, James?"

"My name's Rudy."

"Your name is James Potter," Anya told him, looking down at him.  "I can see the information behind the blockade now that I'm looking."  She undid what she had once done and looked at him, shaking her head. "She died last month."

Snape closed his eyes, then nodded.  "Thank you.  How?"

"Muggle."  James sat up.  "One was shooting up the store she was shopping in.  How did you know my wife?"

"She wasn't, James. That's part of the memory charm.  She was meant to be my wife, she bore my son before she was supposedly killed.  You were supposedly killed not even a year later."  The man on the couch stiffened.  "Pack.  We're going to Hogwarts to have that removed."

"Um," Halfrek offered.  "I kinda didn't catch Willow in time.  Dumbledore's been kinda, sorta fixed," she offered.  "She got really pissed that he was upsetting her Xander."

"I know that name!" James said, sitting up straighter.  "He works with the slayer."  He looked at the man.  "He kind of looks like you."

"Wonderful.  You can't tell Alexander anything about that," Snape told him. "Not yet anyway.  Pack.  We're removing this memory charm."

"You'll need a chaos sorcerer much stronger than Draco can ever be," Halfrek offered quietly.

"My Xander?" Anya asked.  "The one I just took to his prom?"

Halfrek looked at her.  "Remember when I said we'd be talking in about a year and a half?"  She nodded, looking confused. "There's been a time switch, Anh, honey.  Xander died and has a new life now.  You'll only have him until he's twenty.  So enjoy the hell outta him, okay?"

"Why?" she demanded.  "He's very good in bed!"

"Yes, but he's also very important and he's the one protecting this one's son."

"He's your knight!"

"A sacrifice had to be made!" she shouted back.  "To save us all!  Or did you want to face Glory!"  Anyanka shuddered and shook her head.  "Then get with the program.  The new life of Xander doesn't know you.  He knows nothing of his old life until he's twenty-one here or everything could start going back to pot. It's bad enough I had to warn Spike off, repeatedly!"

"Sorry," she said meekly.  "A year and a half?  He's only nineteen."

"That'll give you a final year to enjoy him.  Now go see the boss.  That way he can tell you what you need to know.  You have him until three months before his twenty-first birthday."  She nodded and faded out.  She tipped James' face up.  "Remember always who Xander was, but do not tell him.  Ever.  Or else the First Evil prophecies will come to pass.  As will the Glorificus one.  As will the Voldemort one and your son is in the way of that one," she said quietly.  He whimpered and grabbed his head again.  "Take him.  I'll send on his things later or he can come back and pack once he's clean and thinking."

Snape nodded and took a picture of his girl, creating a portkey out of it.  That way he could have at least that for himself and his son.  He brought them directly to the infirmary, he had long had permission to do that.  Poppy gasped, running over to help him.  "He's under a heavy memory charm.  We need Draco Malfoy, and we need a chaos sorcerer to help."

"I know of one," Harry said from behind him.  He walked over, looking at his father.  "Dad?" he whispered, touching him.

"He's under a very heavy memory charm, Potter.  Leave him be until it's fixed.  He's lived a second life since it was implanted."  Harry looked at him.  "Once he's clean and remembering, you can come back.  Until then, he will be shouting and ranting at everyone for making him go through that," he said more gently.  Harry nodded and left, going back to find Draco and get that sorcerer for his father.  He looked at Poppy.  "No one else is to know except Dumbledore.  He's part of this, he can help clear it."   She nodded, closing the curtains around him.  He took the picture down to his office so he could sit and stare at it.  He had been so close. If he had known he would have saved her.  If he had known....

***

The hooded man stepped into the castle and pushed his cloak's hood back, showing inky dark hair and a smiling face.  "How can I help you, Mr. Malfoy?" he asked the boy there to meet him.  He had known his father.  He looked behind him at the man slinking out of the shadows, gasping.  "Boy!" he said, looking horrified.  "How...what!"

"It's not him," Draco assured him dryly.  "That's to be explained at a later date.  For now, we have this memory charm," he said, handing over the copied pages.  "We think we have an original caster.  If not, we have the blood of the other."  Ethan looked at him, still looking confused.  "Potter's father."

"Oh, dear heaven," he murmured, looking at the parchment again.  "Lead me to him.  I'll study the spell on him and then figure out which we need."

"Good.  I don't want to keep hurting Harry any more than we have to," Alex said softly, following him.  He felt a pull from this man and felt himself yawning suddenly.  He never realized he fell asleep in the middle of the hallway, floating there.

Granger sneered.  "You won't be hurting Harry at all, *Alex*."

Ethan turned and waved a hand, taking her wand from her and knocking her into a wall.  "Stupid bint.  Don't touch him!  We need him to free a curse on Harry's family."

"She's obsessed over him," Draco said with a negligent hand wave.  "First she wants to fix him so she can have him.  Then he's evil to her so she's got to fix him so she can have him.  Then he's gay and evil so she's got to fix him so she can have him," he finished sarcastically.  "We've been trying very hard to keep Mr. Birmingham, my spouse, away from her."

"That's Alexander?" he asked, pointing at the boy.  Draco smirked and nodded. "Oh, it's all starting to make more sense," he moaned, holding his head.  "Oh, damn."  He walked back to the boy.  "Float him with us please.  We'll need him."  Draco nodded, ordering his body to follow them.  The nurse gave them an odd look but put him down on the bed.  "There was some bushy haired brunette girl," he offered. "Where's my patient?"

"Are you a healer?"

"No, I'm a chaos sorcerer, woman.  Where is he?"  She pointed.  "Thank you.  You might check him for Miss Rosenburg's taint again, Mr. Malfoy.  I was recently told to block her from astral travel so she couldn't come here again."

Draco sighed and got to work removing all the marks on his mate and himself.  It was getting tiresome, but only three more years to go and then they'd be free of this.

"Twenty-one, Mr. Malfoy, not twenty," Ethan called. "Yes, I think we'll need both.  Get the supposed caster?"  The nurse went running to call him.  Ethan came over to wake the boy up, looking down at him.  "You don't know me and you never really did, but I had wondered why I got sent instead of dear, old Ripper."  He stroked his cheek.  "It'll be fine.  Four more years, Mr. Birmingham."

"So you're involved in that too?"

"A few times. Are you a shapeshifter?"

"I'm an animagus."

"I'm the reason it was messed up.  Halfrek said I could tell you that much since Summer landed here."  He smirked a bit.  "Soon you'll know more."

"My mother?" he asked quietly.  Ethan shrugged.  "Can you get my father?"

Draco gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead.  "She died last month, Alex," he said gently.  "She was shot by some muggles holding up the store she was in."

Alex pulled him closer, clinging to him.  "We were so close," he whispered, crying now.

Ethan pulled the drapes around them, shaking his head at the nurse. "He asked about his mother."

"She died years ago."  He pointed at the other patient and she nodded.  "I see.  When?"

"Last month."

"So close and yet so distant," she sighed, shaking her head.  "Do you need him today?  Would a calming potion help you any?"

"It might disturb it," he offered.  "Later, Sister Pomfrey."  He nodded at the man walking in, noticing who he was by description alone.  "Professor Dumbledore.  Ethan Rayne."

"Yes, hello.  Why are you here?"

"Because I got called to help the memory charm on James Potter," he said quietly. "We'll need you and Alexander to uncast it after I do a bit of unraveling.  Then watch out for the emotional storm."  Dumbledore nodded and so he went to work, stripping the charms and hexes off the poor man, getting to the root of the curse he was under.  "All right.  First you, professor.  Then the boy."  He grabbed onto the spell and prepared to yank the final strings apart.

"James?"  James gave him a very drugged-up look. "I'm sorry this was done to you, James.  We never meant to harm anyone.  Finite Incantantum."  James writhed, grabbing the hands on his head.  "Alexander?"

Draco led Alex over, handing him back his wand.  "Free him," he soothed, stroking his back.

Alex looked at him.  "I'm so sorry Grams got another one," he whispered. "I wish it hadn't been like this.  Finite Incantantum!"  The man just stared at him.  "What?"

"Don't wish," Ethan told him.  "Never wish, boy.  There's demons who grant those things."

"Sorry!" he defended.

"No, the fault is mine. You don't have much knowledge of this sort of thing," he admitted.  He took Alex's hand, then slit his fingers open to use some of his blood, taking the power from it to destroy the memory charm.  Again.  This time it unraveled more peacefully and just let him go, drifting off.  Madam Pomfrey came over to grab the boy to heal him and Ethan stepped back.  "There, it should be cleared.  James?"  The man looked at him. "Do you remember me?"

"You're Ripper's boy," he said quietly, sitting up, still holding his head.  "Madam Pomfrey, do you have something for this elephant stomping around?  Worse than Sirius' hangovers after his homebrew, I swear."  Dumbledore smiled at that and he looked at him.  "I wouldn't," he offered.  "I really wouldn't."  He nodded, backing off.  He looked at Draco, then at Alex, then at Ethan.  "Where's Lily?"

"Floating around your son," Alex said.  He looked at him.  "Did you love my mother?"

James looked at the kid, then nodded. "I did.  In my own way.  It wasn't a deep love.  It was a friendship sort really."  He got up and slowly walked over.  "I remember everything, kid.  I'm sorry.  I tried to save her."  Alex nodded, staring at him.  Draco gave him another hug.  "He's good at that?"

"He is.  He's been there for me a lot.  Dad's down in his office probably getting drunk again.  He brought a picture."

"I'll talk with him tonight," he decided.  "My son first, then Severus."  He looked around.  "Where is he?"

"We decided to give you some space to remember first," Draco said quietly.  "It was humane for your son."

"You care about my son?  Then you're very unlike your father."

"It's Alex's fault," he said with a nod for his mate.  "He makes me go gooey and stupid.  It's nauseating really, but sometimes I can't stop myself from giving a damn about your boy too."

James nodded, smirking a bit at that.  "At least someone gives a bit of a damn about my son.  It's good someone watched out for him."  Alex raised his hand. "You?"  He nodded. "Why?"

"Because I refused to follow the torturing bitch's footsteps," he said simply. "I've protected Harry since we got here. I'm the one who maintains the truce in our suite when Draco becomes a bastard to him and Ron Weasley."

"Who raised my son?" he asked suddenly.

"Remember the fat bastard and the chicken-necked muggle bird?" Draco asked him.  James glared at Dumbledore, who had the sense to leave quickly.  "Yeah, that's why Alex protected him."

Harry walked in.  "Don't tell him about that yet.  Mum's off haunting her sister anyway."  He looked at his father.  "You remember me now?"  James nodded and pulled him closer, hugging him. Harry relaxed and hugged him back.  "Dad."

"Son."  He pushed him back to look at him.  "Well, you've grown since the last time I held you.  You were barely standing then."  Harry blushed at that.  "We should talk, kid."  Harry nodded.  He made Harry look at him.  "I don't know what I'm doing yet, Harry.  But I'm not abandoning you.  You go back to those muggles over my redead body."

Harry grinned a bit. "Since Sirius got out of jail, he and Remus have had me.  Along with the given son there," he said, pointing at Alex. His father looked confused. "His grandmother decided it'd make it easier for the Death Eaters to reach us both if we were together."  He gave him a shy grin.  "I'm a pretty good dad, dad.  Alex is turning out okay.  Even if he is a pervert who draws a lot of naked Draco stuff and makes us look."

James snickered, hugging his son again.  "I would have missed you if I had known," he said quietly.  "You're almost exactly like Sirius."

"Yeah, but he claims I look too much like you for him to have been my dad," Harry teased. James roared with laughter at that.  "So, can we talk?"

"Go, use the suite, kick the boys out," Alex told him.  "They can go find a softer spot in Slytherin for a bit, or Vinnie can go join Nary in Gryffindor maybe."  He shrugged. "Shoo."

James smiled at him. "We'll be talking later.  Go for a fly?"

"I can't fly."  James raised an eyebrow.  "Really, I can't fly."  Harry and Draco both shook their heads.  "See, both seekers agree, I can't fly. I got banished from the lessons even."

James smirked a bit. "So did your mother."  He walked his son out, heading to a nice suite as it turned out, where Harry kicked out an obvious Weasley and two Slytherins.  He looked at his son.  "What's this?"

"We got kicked out of Gryffindor for knowing what to do in an emergency and they got kicked out of Slytherin for being drawn into the emergency.  So we share here and Alex maintains a truce."  He flopped down and rang a bell, getting Winky.  "Get us something to chat and have dad/son talks over," he ordered quietly. "Plus some cocoa.  We're not to be disturbed by anyone."  She nodded, going to do that for him and pass on the order to the other elves.  The food appeared without the house elf and he served his father some lunch.  "Here, I find I like to eat while I talk.  Alex corrupted me that way."

"Yeah, the Malfoy brat said he did the same to him," he admitted, looking really confused.  "I don't understand, Harry. What's going on?  I heard of you in the press and stuff...."

"Mostly lies," Harry told him.  "Did you read my rant last year?"  He nodded, picking up a brownie to nibble.  Harry grinned.  "That was the actual truth."

"Then why is Dumbledore against him?  Or me for that matter?"

"He loved Alex's Grams."

"How?"

"We're not really sure," he admitted dryly.  "I can't see how anyone could, but he nearly married her."  He shrugged and picked up his own brownie to nibble on, taking a large bite first.  Someone knocked.  "Unless it's Voldemort, go the fuck away!" he yelled.

"No, but someone in the press heard about Summer and mum's going off," Ginny called.

"Alex and Draco were in the infirmary, go get them.  I'm having a private discussion."

"Sure!"  She ran off, they could hear it.

"Sorry, Ron's little sister Ginny."  He ate another bite, looking at his father.  "I'm dating an auror, kinda.  She's test shopping at the moment."

"Do we know her?"

"You remember Sirius' sister Andromeda?"  He nodded once.  "Her daughter. Nymphadora Tonks."

"Tonks?  Never heard that name," he admitted, thinking back.  "Where is he from?"

"London.  He's a muggle."

"Oh.  That's fine then.  Is she nice?"  Harry nodded.  "They why is she test shopping?"

"She said I'm very intense and needy, plus I keep her from making it into work, plus I'm a bit younger than she usually likes but she doesn't want to need me as badly as she does so therefore she's finding if it's real or not by trying out a few other blokes."

"Did you agree to this?"

"Nope, but there's no contract between us, we were just dating.  I pouted and she vowed to quit and make a decision."  He ate another bite of brownie, looking at the house elf who appeared. "Yes, Dobby?"

"Headmaster needs to see Harry Potter immediately.  Floo call from Gringotts."

"Tell him to put it down here, Dobby. I'm not moving from my father's side for a while."  Dobby nodded and disappeared and Harry gave him a grimace.  "Sorry."

"No, it's okay.  It's got to be important."  The goblin's head appeared in the fireplace. "Hi.  Matter of national security?"

"Relatively not," he admitted. "Just personal security."  He stared at him.  "Then the rumors we heard from Germany were true?"  Harry nodded.  "Good.  Should I send up new keys along with the dark artifact someone sent to your vault?"

"What dark artifact?"

"I'm not sure," the goblin admitted. "All I know is that it was sent to your vault instead of Mr. Birmingham's.  I thought he should have a look at it.  It set off even some of our wards."

"Sure.  If the headmaster doesn't mind I'm all for it.  And please, get my father a set of keys as well."  The goblin nodded.  "Don't tell anyone else though. Please?"

"We do not spread around rumors."  He disappeared.

Harry looked up. "If this has something to do with Alex's other past, tell me now!" he called.  Nothing happened so he shrugged. "Okay then.  That's good."  He grinned at his father.  "We can't tell him anything we might find out."

"I know why."  He frowned a bit, then ate another bite of his brownie.  "Is your mother...did she...."

"No," Harry sighed.  "She's off haunting her sister for locking me in a cupboard under her stairs."

"Excuse me?"

Harry nodded.  "Oh, yeah.  Mum's a bit pissed.  Said she's gonna go off like Alex's mum would have.  So, what was she like?"

"Sweet, gentle.  Had one hell of a temper.  She used to throw things when she got mad at you," he said with a slight grin.  "Are you...freaked out?"

"Greatly.  Then again, I'm not dating Alex so it's not incest."

James snickered and hugged him. "That's so Sirius."

"I know.  He said the same thing about me and Nym."  He shrugged and snuggled in harder, liking the hug he was getting.  It fulfilled a spot no other hugs had ever filled and it made him really happy.  Like he could cast a patronius so strong it could eat through a dementor.  Someone tapped on the door.  "It had better be really important!" he yelled. "Or else I'm hexing someone!"

"Just me, Harry," Granger called.  He pulled his wand and a moment later she shrieked and ran off.

"I warned her."  He looked up at the laughing man beside him.  "She's kinda obsessed with Alexander.  Oh, unless he gives you that right, it's Alexander.  He's really touchy about that."

"Elani was too.  Snape was the only one who got to call her El."  He shrugged and cuddled his son again, needing this.  "Where are my boys anyway?"

"In Somerset.  Hiding.  Sirius is basically lounging around and sleeping with a lot of people.  Remus is teaching here but he's back there for two days on a Dumbledore-ordered vacation."  James nodded, that was nice of him.  "We should talk, huh?"

"Not yet.  We've got a bit of time."  He gave him a squeeze.  "I'm satisfied with this for however long I can have it."  Harry grinned and snuggled back in, giving him a squeeze back. "Your mother would be so proud."

"She said so but she said if I had tried to raise her, she'd have kicked my bum," he said dryly.

"Yeah, she's not the only one, kiddo."

"Alex talked me out of it and into a seance instead.  That way I could ask if she wanted it.  She's the one who told us where you were and that you couldn't see her."

"She came?"

"Yup, lots of times."

"Oh."  He pouted a bit. "Lily?" he called, just like he used to when he wanted her to spoil him rotten.  She appeared behind him, giving him that same look she used to give him.  "Damn, you're so young," he said in awe, smiling at her.

"Yes, but you're not," she chided, smiling a bit. "Harry, dear, Severus would like him later tonight, after he's slept it off.  Would that be okay?"  Harry nodded. "Good boy."  She blew a kiss at him.  "I am very proud of him.  He survived Petunia for eleven years and two summers."

"She that bad?"

"I can't destroy her but I'm sure as hell gonna try," Lily assured him.  "She knows each and every grandchild of theirs will be a wizard and they'll be loving it by the way they do it around the house."  Harry chuckled at that. "My porker of a nephew has already started on that goal as well. She's already screaming at him."  She smiled at her boys.  "We need Remus and Sirius."

"Tomorrow, mum.  Tomorrow.  He's mine for now.  I'm not gonna share yet."

"Fine, dear. I understand."  She blew another kiss at her boys then faded off to talk to Alex's house elves.  They did so adore her boys and they had all sorts of stories to tell about stupid boy stuff they did.  Alex might as well be hers after all.  Her son had adopted him.

***

Harry came out of the fireplace at Sirius' house then got out of the way.  "Sirius?" he called.  The big, black dog trotted in and licked him, making him laugh, then he sniffed the air, looked from Harry to the blank spot and back.  At least until he changed.  "Sit," Harry ordered.

"I'm not in that form now and I don't take orders from you, brat," he teased, ruffling his hair.  "Who's your invisible friend?"

James pulled off his invisibility cloak.  "We need to talk about what you know about Dumbledore moving against us, old friend."  Sirius stared, then slowly sank down to the carpet, holding his chest. "If you die, I'm letting Alex raise you."  He stared down at him and suddenly grinned.  "At least I'm not the only old one, Sirius Black."

"Remus!" Sirius called, sounding strangled.  He pointed at the apparition.  "The seance brought the ghost back," he said, his hand wavering.

Remus stared, just stared.  "James?" he whispered finally.  James nodded and grinned at him so he launched himself at him, hugging him as tight as he could.

"If you become my new stepmum, I'm not calling you mother, Remus," Harry said as he sat down.

Remus chuckled. "Alex said about the same thing when he caught his father and I talking."  He wiped his cheeks off.  "James.  How is this possible?"

"Dumbledore and Alex's Grams used a memory charm on him," Harry said dryly.  "We released it with Alex and a sorcerer named Ethan Rayne's help?"  Remus looked stunned.

"He was allowed near Alex?"

"Yeah.  He couldn't really tell him anything and he got the point of the silence order immediately once he realized who he was."  He looked at Sirius, helping him up.  Then he shoved him at his father, looking at Remus again. "Alex is fine, but his mother's gone.  She died about a month ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that.  Is he okay?"

"Nope.  He hasn't drawn since he heard and he's perpetually cold.  Not even all of us snuggling into him is helping any.  Not to mention Granger's latched on to this as a new way to heal him."

"Someone needs to stop that girl."

"Really, dad?  What gave you that idea?" Harry asked sarcastically.

"Oh, I don't know.  The unlimited hexing barrage you and Ron have against her?  I was never that mean to Severus when we were your age."  He looked at his friends.  "We're... okay with Severus, right?  I mean, he found me, he's saved my son's life, even if he is a mean bastard still, his son and our son are friends."

"Yeah, he's pretty decent to the grandkid," Sirius assured him.

"Grandkid?" James asked.

"Well, Harry there got given Alex. That makes him our grandkid sorta since we take care of Harry."

"He's the closest some of us will ever come," Remus noted bitterly.

"Remus, you could go take over my house in Germany.  It's not illegal there and I was friends with a very nice female werewolf.  I worked with her selling cars."

"You sold cars?" Sirius asked.  "Why?"

"Because that's what I got a job doing.  Since all I knew was that I was a wizard with fairly decent marks, I tried to find one in our world, but I couldn't so I went muggle and sold cars.  I'm top salesman in Germany at the moment.  All the pretty women come to buy from me," he said with an impish grin.

"So that's where Harry gets that look from," Tonks said from the doorway. "I wondered which side it came from.  Uncle Sirius, mum's a bit pissed that you left her like that.  She said to come arrest your mangy hide."

"Your mother needs to go make another of you so she's got someone to fuss over," Sirius assured her, smirking a bit.  "This doesn't shock you?"

"Hell no.  I was talking with Draco's portrait and the new one told me and Auntie Narci about it.  She's hiding until you tell him alllll about Alex and Draco."

"Those two have more sex than Lily and I *ever* did," James told her.

Tonks beamed and looked at Harry. "So you got that tongue thing from Alex then?"

"Ron taught me," he offered with a grin.  "Dad, the girlfriend.  Nym, my dad."

She walked in and shook his hand.  "Nice to finally meet you in person."

"You'll treat my son right and quit playing with him or I'll let Alex and Draco get you for me," he said with a sweet smile.  "Then our group will finish you off."

She laughed and hugged him.  "I like you already, mate."  She kissed Harry, making herself moan.  "Fine, I was dumb."  Harry nodded, smirking a bit. "Be smug, wait longer, Harry."

Harry grabbed her, pulling her into his lap to kiss her again.  She tried to get them to move to a more discreet location but he wasn't letting her so she had to give in and let him molest her mouth in front of his father and her uncle.

"That he gets from Lily," James said once they came up for air.  "She taught me how to kiss."  Remus and Sirius both laughed at that, nodding.  He flopped down beside Remus, giving him another hug.  "So, guys, tell me what I missed.  The news is dreadful around here.  I thought Skeeter made a holy vow to tell the truth in school.  Or else she'd allow herself to be forever cursed by wearing hideous clothes."

"She got seduced by the lure of an easy story, easy money, and someone doing the work for her," Sirius told him.

"She's scared senseless of Harry," Remus offered.  He cleared his throat at the first sign of a groping hand.  "Nymphadora Tonks!  Take my godson upstairs now!" he ordered.  She grinned back at him and quit trying to grope Harry, dragging him with her up to his room.   Remus rolled his eyes. "I don't know how he did it but he kept it going for eight hours once, James."

"Yeah, but he slept the next day, as did she," Sirius said proudly.  "Even if they did keep everyone at Malfoy Manor up after the solstice ball."

"Why were they there?" James asked, looking really confused now.  His son, at the Malfoy ball?  Even if he was friends with Alex, who was the boyfriend of Draco, that didn't seem like his son as he knew him.

"Nym wanted to go to Narci's thing since Lucius was dead and she was celebrating being free."

"He's dead?  Since when?"

"Since he attacked his son and Alex, plus their house elves," Remus told him.  "Alex continued to wail on him until the aurors begged to take him in.  Then he gave him up and Narcissa got him at the Ministry.  He decided to kill himself instead of face her."

"She's been really happy ever since but Merlin is my sister a pervert!" Sirius complained. "She and Alex talk about sex all the time, comparing lubricant spells and the naked Draco paintings.  She walked one through the school and made me hang it up in her study.  Her toy of the moment got jealous, thinking he was the last toy.  She had me explain that it was her son after I kicked his ass."

"You were nicer than she was about it," Remus assured him. "The toy before him went for a fly out a third story window without a broom for lusting over her son and Alex both."

James looked at them, then shook his head.  "We got strange as we got old, didn't we?"

"Yes, old friend, we did," Remus said, patting him on the arm.  Tonks let out a yell of pleasure, a whoop really, and he groaned.  "Not again. Sirius!"

Sirius got up and headed up tell them to quiet down or use a silencing charm.  He found one in place but broken and opened the door, leaning in. "Harry, if you make that much noise ever again, we're going to have to tell you about the orgy your father planned for our whole year on the train home," he called, not looking anywhere near the bed.

A pillow hit him, making him yelp.  "Get out, you bloody bugger!  I'm enjoying it like I should!" Tonks assured him. "If you don't like it, well, go outside!  You're a dog, go lick yourself or something!"  She was cut off by a pair of soft lips.  "Harry," she moaned.

"She's sorry, Sirius, but you interrupted her getting off and you know how much she likes it."

"I'm applying a permanent silencing spell on your room, kid," he complained.

"Ya know, they did it to the entire school because of me," he said proudly, looking at his lady.  "Since Draco, Ron, and Hermione were all complaining about me calling your name one night, the teachers got a bit embarrassed.  I think it was the thought of that topic following past the lunch we were in."

"I didn't need to hear that," Sirius complained, slamming the door and applying a better silencing charm.  Harry may be all powerful and all but the mundane often slipped past his grasp.  He wandered back down the stairs, shaking his head the whole way.  "That should hold."  Tonks screamed in pleasure and he sighed.  "Or maybe not."

"We can go outside," Remus offered, standing and pulling James up.  "It's going to be a few hours.  Should we go steal on of Alex's elves?"

"Why?  Ours is back from the market," Sirius complained, leading the way outside.  They put up a shield to keep off the threatening rain and pulled the couch out of the house to use.   They all knew each other well enough to know that any lawn furniture would be a prank and probably sink you into the lawn.  "Tab, Rabbit, bring us something to nibble," he called.

"Make it real food please?  Harry and I ate nothing but brownies and cookies yesterday thanks to a house elf named Twirly."

"Yeah, she's Alex's," Remus said with a grin.  "She spoils him horribly.  You should see her on the holidays."

***

Snape looked around the small apartment, then back at his tormentor.  "Are you sure?"

"Take whatever photos you want, Severus.  Elani was yours.  I should go kick Dumbledore's arse for what he did to us."  Snape nodded, looking around and picking out a few.  He choked when he saw one, noticing which one it was with a sigh.  "She miscarried about two weeks after that was taken," he said quietly.  "She thought we needed a baby to tie us closer together.  I wasn't going to argue with her since we were financially stable and the like."  He moved closer.  "We weren't really that close, Severus.  We had separate rooms except for about a month of it all."  Snape looked at him.  "Really."

"Why?"

"Because we were friends but we were never sure why we got married.  We weren't in love, only decent friends.  We were really tense around each other and I never understood why. The only times I did more than hold her were few, far between, and usually after a string of nightmares on her part about something she could never tell me."

"Why were the muggles able to kill her?"

James shrugged.  "I don't know," he admitted.  "I think she may have seen a picture of Alex in the paper, or maybe Harry.  Each time she saw one of him she'd get the same splitting headaches I got when I saw something about Sirius or Remus.  We, um, figured we memory charmed each other to forget a terrible tragedy and they were related to it but we were too scared to work on a cure.  If I had known," he said, his voice breaking.  "I'd have broken it that first year, Severus. You, Harry, and Alex all deserved better than to be puppets to someone."

Snape nodded, putting down that picture.  "I don't think Alex should see that one."

"I understand fully," he agreed.  "Is he any better?"

"No.  He's back to being the cold bastard he was his first year.  He's going to snap soon and I can only hope it's on someone deserving, like Longbottom."

"His family was always so nice.  How did he go dark?  Was it the people who wanted your son?"

"One of the death eaters came to the school in disguise as the newest defense teacher," he said bitterly.  "The boys found out and told McGonagall.  Dumbledore decided to use him to give false information back, which worked wonderfully.  Voldemort and his followers only knew how powerful my son was and not yours.  But he latched onto Neville as being like him.  Mr. Longbottom was warned a few times by my son but he made a decision.  Then when his teacher faced down Alex about Halfrek being on the school's property, they got into it and Alex challenged him since Crouch was threatening him.  Longbottom jumped in and cast the Cruciatus on my son."  He looked down then at his former enemy again. "Draco stopped him and released Alexander. Tonks showed up in time to arrest them all."

"Where was my son?  He said they had been friends."

"Dumbledore was having tea and reminding him of his duty in the office.  McGonagall was out there before anyone," he said quietly.

"I love that old girl," James said, looking very serious.  "She's been as good as she could be to my son.  She helped him a lot."  He looked around.  "She's not the softest around but at least he had some female care between her and Molly Weasley."  He looked at him again. "How did you stand knowing and not taking him?"

"I didn't know.  I assumed and I was blocked.  I watched and he turned out so very much like his mother, but I was cursed if I came near him.  Both of us would have died by his grandmother's curse."  He sat down.  "The Sorting Hat told him since she hadn't.  He got enough clues to know she had been a Slytherin and Ronald told him to come see me, that I was about the right age and over the house so I could find any records.  He figured it out that night and faced me down about it a few days later."  He let out a very sad smile.  "My son came in so damaged, James.  Even more so than yours.  He came in vowing to torture Lucius for killing his mother."  James gave him a squeeze on the shoulder.  "It took him months to relax around McGonagall.  He still claims Sprout is a dark and evil beast in hiding."  James smiled a bit at that.  "Your son and others have helped my boy as much as they could.  Even Granger until her obsession got carnal and out of control.  They're both very strong boys."

"What happened?  How did they face down He-Who-Shouldn't-Be-Named?"

"The Triwizard tournament.  The same year Longbottom dove off the side of the chasm.  They knew it was coming.  Alex helped prepare Harry for all his tasks since Granger was starting to show instability.  He knew that they'd try something during the last trial.  He learned how to track apparations and portkeys to follow him.  They had it all planned out and all the rest of us could do was worry.  At least they planned with Mr. Malfoy so they could get the press there.  They knew the Ministry was going to discredit and shove them aside.  Since they were trying to make both or one of our sons a dark lord to take the place of the last one they had killed...."  He shrugged.  "You son has always stuck up for mine and mine has helped yours when the whole world gave him evil looks."

James sat down.  "I can't understand how we got here."

"Nor can I," Severus admitted.  "All I know is that we're lucky the boys have survived. Alex has been one step ahead of everyone the whole time."

"Then I need to thank that boy for saving my son and his sanity."  He looked at him.  "I'm going to pack my clothes.  Would you like to get hers? I put it into boxes but I hadn't been able to do anything with it yet."

Snape nodded, heading to do that.

***

Alex hit the wall next to him and stomped off in another direction.   "Alex!" Millie called.  "Come back!"

"I can't, I'll blow someone up," he called back.  "Tell Flitwick I'm going for a stroll."   He headed out through a back corridor, finding a hidden passage.  He thought it lead to one of his father's hidden exits from the school but instead it led down to a staircase.  He slowly walked down it, looking around.  He had never been down here before.  At the end of the staircase was three doors and a dark red line across the floor in front of him.  He stared at it, then cast a checking charm.  The line was a threshold.  The doors led to somewhere.  They were dark magic, he wasn't sneezing or anything like it.  He glanced down at the line again, biting his bottom lip while he thought.  He could retreat but he had to go somewhere else.  He had to get away from this place and he had to do it now.  He walked forward, feeling the magic of the threshold wash over him.  He tried one door, noticing it went to an underground river.  He tried the second door and shuddered, closing it on the dead and rotting bodies.  He opened the third door.  It went to a small garden grotto.

Upstairs, in the office, Dumbledore felt the magic of the threshold go across one of his students and hopped up, going to stop them.  Most students didn't come back from there.  He hurried to the staircase, noticing it was locked.  He couldn't get in. He tried everything he could, and he knew who was down there now.  He could feel the pain of that one room and the oblivion the other offered.  Either cavern would eat you and deposit you in it's stomach, but perhaps he could save this one student.  He owed it to him.

Harry came jogging out and stopped at the doorway.  "What's going on?  Millicent Bulstrode said Alex went this way."

"He did?"  He looked at him.  "I thought for sure it'd be Neville."

"No, he's still ignoring it."  He laid his hand on the closed doorway but it wasn't opening for him either.  "Fuck."

"Language, Harry."

"Bugger off, headmaster.  What's down there?"  The older man looked at him.  "I'm going to save Alex so therefore I need to know!"

"It's two caverns.  Two mouths to the same creature," he said sadly.  "One offers a calm oblivion and the other a more dangerous one.  Nothing and no one has come back once they've entered a room."

"Then someone should really try the doorknob," Draco said, joining them and walking around them to open the door.   He headed down the stairs, finding the door to the river open.  His mate needed to wear off some energy but really.  He carefully walked across the threshold, following him to the edge of the doorway.  "Alex, come back!  It's a creature!  It's going to eat you!"

"No it won't."

"Yes, it will."

"No it won't."  He came into view.  "It's dead."  He looked at the headmaster, then pulled Draco in and slammed the door shut.  "I don't like things that come after me."  He started to walk.  "I'm not good company."

"You haven't been for many weeks," he admitted, following him around the monster's body.  He saw a twitch of movement.  "It's regenerating."

"It'll take some time since I dissolved its brain.  We're safe."  He found another doorway and looked inside, then back at his mate.  "I need to disappear for a while Draco.  I can't handle it."

"It's only another few weeks until the holidays."

"Draco, I love you, but I almost killed someone earlier.  I can't be responsible for that.  I'm sorry.  I'll be back by tonight if I can."  He pointed his wand at him.  "Shoo, before it wakes up."

"So!  It could still eat you too!"

"It won't eat me.  It's now scared of me."  Draco glared at him, moving closer and Alex pushed him back.  "Go, Draco."

"No!  Bugger off!  If you're going I'm going."

"This isn't some kid's expedition into the forest!"

"No, if it was we'd be safer!" he snapped back.  Alex looked hurt.  "You're not rational."

"Why in the hell should I be!" he yelled.  "What part of this is rational!"  He ran a hand through his hair, dodging the attempt to touch him.  "No, Draco. I need to be alone!"

"If you do, you won't ever come back!"

"Bull!  Have I never come back?"

"There's a first time for everything and you're not yourself.  You're slow on the draw and you're depressed.  You should be but this is going a bit too far!"

"I don't care!" he shouted.  Draco took a step back and Alex panted.  "I've got to get this out of me and I can't do that here.  There's too many people I can harm.  Too many little kids who could end up dead when I destroyed this place.  So just let me go and I'll be back as soon as I've worn some of it out."

"I can't do that, Alex," he said more quietly.  "I can't let my husband or my friend go that way."

"We only did that to get me free of Pansy."

"Have you noticed me having to pretend very hard?" he demanded coolly.  "I'm having mother make it a permanent one as soon as we get the stupid test results."  Alex looked at him.  "I'm not going to lose you!  You're the first one who didn't see me as some evil bastard prepared to take over for the last dark lord!  Why in the hell would I want to let you walk off and commit fucking suicide to wear out the anger and the grief!" he finished at a shout.

"I promise, I'll be fine."

"You won't be and if you're going, I'm going."

"Draco...."

Draco slugged him, then rubbed his sore hand.  "If you're going I'm going."  He turned and hexed the creature, making it die again.  Then he looked at his mate.  "That's the end of this argument.  Understood?"

"You hit me."

"I had to, you're not rational."

"You hit me!"  He stood up.  "You promised to never hit me."

"Yes, well, I also promised to help you protect yourself and you're being an annoying ass about this.  We go together or you don't go."

"Boys, come out while you can," Dumbledore called.

"Bugger off!" Draco yelled.  He stared his mate down.  "That's the only way you're leaving, with me.  Your choice.  We can go back to the forest and do it there."

"I'd destroy the forest."

"Yes, well, maybe it could use some redecorating."

"This isn't a room!"

"No.  It's not."  He moved closer, healing the spot he had hit.  "You scared me and I'm sorry but I'm not letting you out alone.  You're a danger to yourself.  You just admitted it when you said you needed to destroy things.  So let's go."  Alex stared into his eyes then nodded, taking his hand and walking off with him.  He had no idea where they were going but he was sure it'd be fine.

***

McGonagall looked up as Harry stomped in, slamming the door and glaring at the students who glared at him for it.  "We need to talk.  Two of the students have went for a hike and we can't find 'em."

"Who?"

"Alex and Draco.  He's still really pissed and tried to burn it off.  Draco wouldn't let him go alone.  They found an alternate exit out of that creature thingy downstairs."  She moaned.  "It's dead by the way.  They killed it a third time and it won't be moving again."  She nodded slowly.  "The headmaster says they're not on school property.  There was something like a portal that took them off property and he hasn't found them yet.  I need leave of absence papers for them."

"I'll fill them out immediately," she offered.  "Where is his father?"

"With mine.  Somewhere."  She nodded once.  "I have no idea."

"Very well.  I'll be setting the wards to look for them to return and I'll tell him myself.  Do you think he's safe?"

"He walked off before he destroyed something. He's angry, he's grieving, and he's thinking stupid thoughts.  But he's got Draco with him."

"Then I'll trust one of them to have enough sense to come back here as soon as humanly possible."  Harry nodded and left, slamming the door again.  She looked at the students.  "Give me a moment to fill those out.  Go back to your reading, then we'll restart the lecture."

"I didn't know we had a creature downstairs," one of third years noted.  "Was it in that Chamber place that was opened a few years back?"

She shook her head.  "No, this one was someplace only very hurting students could find."  She hurried into her office to fill out the paperwork, sending it upstairs and a copy down to Severus' desk.  Then she told a house elf to stand in the doorway and watch for them.  As soon as Snape got back she had to see him, to tell him it was about Alex.  She came back out to finish her lecture, waiting impatiently for any news.  Snape got back before dinner time, slamming the door just like Harry had with James behind her.  He waved the papers. "I had the house elf try to stop you so I could tell you before you read those."

"I came back by portkey, the same as I usually do."  He put them on her desk.  "Where are they?"

"Harry said they killed the suicide creature and found another way out of that cavern," she said quietly.  "There was a portal or something.  They're together."

"My son and his?" James asked.

"Draco and his," she told him. "Yours is fuming in the North Tower."  James groaned, rubbing his face.  She looked at her fellow teacher and friend.  "He said he was going to destroy something.  He went for a walk before he could," she said quietly.  "I've filled out paperwork for both boys as soon as Harry told me."

"May I see it?"

"If you can get down there."

"I have many times in the past," he admitted, heading that way.  He found Harry staring at the line and walked past him, heading into the cavern.  He knew his son wasn't one for passive suicide.  He would have been looking for a fight or a very long, arduous walk.  He found the back cavern and the spot where the portal had been but it was closed.  He ran every spell he could over it, but he couldn't tell a destination.

"Let me," Sirius offered, coming closer.  Severus sneered at him.  "I like your son. I don't want to see him harmed either.  He's as close as I'm ever coming to a kid of my own."  He tried his own check spell.  "They're in Russia, the southern part."  He looked at him.  "Nowhere near Drumstrang.  Near that small magical research center."

"Could they have went there?"

"Is Alex going to search out people?"  He shook his head.  "Then I doubt it.  At least Draco's with him."

"He left without anything but his school bags!"

"At least he had his wand.  Draco's usually got a few galleons and I know both boys can apparate and create portkeys."  Snape slumped a bit at that. "They'll be fine.  They'll come back when your son is calm. Now let's go.  You need to have a long drink, Severus. It's starting to show wear on you too."

"I've drank too much already."

"Fine.  Remember, the soonest they could probably get back would be tomorrow morning."

"And the latest?" he sneered.

"How long will it take Draco to calm your son down and make him cry?" he said honestly.

"It hadn't helped yet."

Sirius nodded.  "I didn't figure it had.  Narcissa felt them go as well.  She's already calling all the other major areas.  She also called Gringotts.  If they show up at any branch to remove money, then we'll be told instantly."  Snape nodded, stomping off.  Sirius calmed himself and followed him.  He found Harry still staring at the door and hauled him up.  "You're not going anywhere near there, even if the creature is dead, Harry."  He walked him up the stairs, taking him to Remus, who was helping James cope with today.  Harry grabbed his father to hold.  "Good boy."

"Why couldn't Alex do this?" Harry asked miserably.

"Because Alex isn't the sort to be cured by hugs," Remus reminded him.  "He's the sort who needs to work it out of his system before a hug would help.  It showed some courage to walk away from everyone trying to support him because he knew he was going to hurt them."  Someone tapped on his office door.  "Enter!"  Neville walked in. "Yes, Mr. Longbottom?"

"Harry's owl just dropped a letter," he said, handing it to Harry.  Harry opened it and Neville looked at Remus.  "When you've got a few free minutes, may we talk?"

"Of course," he agreed.

Harry looked at him.  "Does that mean you're willing to quit lying to yourself, Neville?"  He looked hurt.  "Alex, Draco, and I have all been there, Longbottom.  We know exactly what you felt and the more you lie about it to yourself the more likely you are to do it again.  It just keeps getting easier, mate.  Just look at Alex."  Neville looked down, nodding a bit.  "Are you ready to quit lying?"

He looked at him.  "I can't admit to anyone I liked it, Harry.  I didn't."

"You cast the crucio, it feels damn good at first," Sirius told him.  "Until the screaming starts."  Harry nodded.  "Can you at least admit that?"

"I....."

Remus looked at the boy.  "When we've settled other matters, Mr. Longbottom."

He tipped his chin up, looking at Sirius. "It may have but that doesn't mean I wanted to do it again."

"No, a swift punishment can be a deterrent but there's always that voice in the back of your head telling you how easy it was and how easy it is to do it again.  How there's only a five percent chance of them catching you doing it.  How, even here with all the wards and spells, they probably won't catch you and haven't before."

Neville sniffled then nodded. "I have one of those.  I can control it."

Sirius shook his head.  "Not while you're lying to yourself, kid.  It only makes it stronger.  You'll slide.  It'll be too easy or you'll run too hot tempered and then it'll happen and you'll hate yourself but it's already done and all you can do is hide and wait."

Neville broke and sobbed, nodding at him.  He walked over to hold him.  "I nearly cursed Alexander for making me fall," he sobbed, clinging to him.  "I need help!"

"Shh, you do, but we can only walk you through it and offer advice.  This is a hard thing to come back from, kiddo," Sirius offered, patting him to calm him down.  Neville finally pulled back and wiped off his e yes.  "Go clean up.  We'll talk later tonight.  It'll take our minds off the two missing students."

"Another attack?" he asked, looking so young and scared.

"No.  Alex walked off before he could destroy anyone," Harry said quietly.  "He's grieving, Neville.  He just lost his mother all over again."

Neville nodded.  "Then I'll take over as your back up," he promised, walking out to clean his face off and blow his nose.

"That's a dodge that's very familiar to me," Sirius sighed.   He looked at Harry.  "You don't do that, right?"

"No, Sirius.  I hate fighting.  I just have to now and then.  I always act to stop them as soon as humanly possible.  I loathe fighting."

"You don't *fear* it though, right?" James asked.  "Like you're avoiding it?"  Harry shook his head and he relaxed. "Then someone's done a good job raising you for me.   I'm proud if I haven't mentioned it recently."

"You have."  He handed something to Remus.  "Alex's."

Remus flipped through it then put it into his desk and locked the drawer.  "Thanks."

"I know it's on his mind."

"Of course it is."  Someone knocked.  "Enter!"  Severus walked in.  "Hey. Are you all right?"

"Not yet.  Any word yet?"

"Not yet," Harry told him.  "Did you find out where it went?"

"Southern Russia."

"Why?" Remus asked.  Sirius shrugged.  "Fine.  Can we call around?"

"Narcissa already has.  Plus called Gringotts in case they go to get into the vaults."

"Is there anything else we could look for?"

Harry looked at him. "There's nothing saying that they're still in Russia, Professor.  Draco would have moved him closer to civilization.  As far as I know neither can camp for long times."

"Alex can," Severus said quietly.  "He took off to camp a few holidays ago.  He likes to stare at the moon."

"Alex has always been a night person," Harry agreed.  "I've caught him more than once on the roof staring at the moon.

"Where the portal went, it would be a good spot to do that," Remus offered.  He looked at the calendar on his wall, then at everyone else.  "Guys, I hate to break this up but I have to kick everyone out within the next hour."

"I'm staying," Sirius and James said in unison.

"I"m going to calm down Ron and the Slytherins.  I'm hoping we can hold the truce for a few more weeks."  Harry stood up with a groan and his father hugged him again.  "Thanks, Dad.  I'll see you guys in the morning."  He headed back to the suite, finding everyone in there with Ginny.  "Out."  She got up and huffed off.  "Thank you."  He looked at everyone.  "Draco followed Alex off campus," he announced.  Greg moaned.  "You've heard rumors about the suicide cavern?"  They all nodded.  "Alex killed the creature and stomped off but Draco made him take him as well.  They found a portal that Sirius said went to Southern Russia."

Vinnie shifted.  "It's gonna be a while, Potter.  He was so hurt he was blowing stuff up and it wasn't helping.  We tried everything to help him."

Greg nodded.  "It's going to be a long time.  Draco's going to have to make him scream at him first and then release the anger and pain, and then stop the stupidity. Then they'll be home."

"So, when, March?" Ron suggested.

Greg and Vinnie both nodded.  "Possibly," Greg agreed.

Vinnie shook his head.  "Draco doesn't have that much patience."

"So, next week?" Harry suggested.

"Probably closer to January," Vinnie told him.

"Oh, wonderful.  I'm staying away from Narcissa's party this year."  Both boys nodded at that.  She'd be frantic by then. She'd be fussing them to death long before then.

***

Draco landed, dusting off his new jacket and turned, finding his mate behind him.  "Come," he ordered, holding out a hand. "It's time."

Alex sighed and nodded.  "Can we run away again?"

"No, love.  It's time to face the family again.  They'll understand even if they do scream."  Alex sighed and nodded, taking his hand and allowing him to walk him up to the doorway.  The herald looked at him.  "It's not like I need an invitation."

"Everyone needs one."

"I'm the son, duffus."

Alex stepped forward.  "There's a standing invitation.  Alexander Birmingham and spouse."  The herald looked alarmed.  "Announce us.  Now."

He had been told not to make too big of a fuss if someone got pushy so he turned around.  "Alexander Birmingham and spouse," he announced.  He let them pass, watching as the young man walked down to the receiving line, noticing the woman hugged him and cried a bit, on both of them.  Then they walked off and the blond one spun the dark haired one out, leading him off to dance. He turned to the next person, taking his invitation.  "Sirius Black."  He put the invitation into the bin and watched as he walked down. He learned a lot by watching these people party.

Sirius kissed Narcisa on the cheek, looking at the couple in the center of attention.  "They show up now?"

"Clean, presentable, and Alex trying to run away again," she admitted dryly. "I don't know what we're going to do."

Sirius watched them.  "We won't have to."  He kissed her on the cheek again and walked out, going to join his family.  Tonks and Harry were showing off on another part of the floor. He smirked a bit, shaking his head at his godson, the showoff.  He grabbed Tonks when he spun her off, catching her with a grin and taking off with her.

Harry pouted.  "Hey, that's my woman!  Stealing my woman means I get to prank your butt or make sure you don't ever sleep again!"  Tonks grinned at him so he let it go for now.  He looked around, spotting Alex and Draco.  They were smiling that secretive lover's smile at each other and Alex looked much better, if a bit thin.  He walked over and blatantly cut in.  "Sorry, I need my given son.  Mind much?" he asked with a grin.

"Actually, I do," Draco complained.  His mother walked over and let him dance with her instead.  "Mother, you look lovely."

"Thank you, son.  Is he better?" she asked gently.

"Much," he offered with a smile.  "I had to scream and rant a bit but it worked.  He's better."  He backed away at the end of the song, bowing politely.  Then he grabbed Alex to take him away from his grabby relatives.  He smiled at him.  "Are you still all right?"

"I am," he agreed.  "I'll be fine.  I'm calm.  I'm still upset, but I'm fine."  He moved back to clap at the end of that song, then felt someone grab him by the shoulder and looked, nodding politely at James.  "You're here too?"

"I figured Draco's got his father's flair for the dramatic."  He walked him off, dancing with him.  "Are you better, Alexander?"

"More or less.  I swear I thought I saw her."

"With what happened, I wouldn't put it past them," James admitted grimly, "but even if it were true, the new memory charms would have eliminated any chance of her remembering you or him," he said quietly.

"I know.  He said so.  We put a tracker on her through Halfrek.  She said it wasn't her."

"We all hold hope," he reminded him.  "You're not going to try something stupid, right?"

"Draco talked me out of it."

"Good boy.  The death would have locked the memory charm in."  He stepped back as the music stopped.  "We're here for you, kiddo.  Since my son adopted you, I can consider you an odd grandkid like Sirius and Remus."  He winked and walked him back to Draco, handing him off with a nod to him.  "There you go. Good job, Mr. Malfoy."  He walked off, going to hang with the other bachelors. Sirius was being groped by some older woman on the floor so he had a corner to himself, watching his son flirt and tease his lady.  His son was better than he had ever been.

Draco pulled Alex closer, kissing him gently.  "Still all right?"

"I'll be fine," he promised.  "I'm still calm and good."

"Good.  Tell me if it gets too much and we'll stroll in the gardens."  Alex nodded, taking this dance to lead, making Draco smile.  "You're still taking it tonight, Alex."

"Like I mind," he said with a small smirk.  "Thank you, Draco."

"It's what I do for the ones I love."  He smiled as his mate blushed.  "No more talk about dissolving this contract?"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "No more.  Never again."

"Good."  He let himself be dipped and clutched at his mate's shoulders afterward.  "What are you getting me for the holidays?"

"Not a clue.  Can it wait until January?"

"I'll expect it as soon as you find it," he teased, smiling a bit.  He stole a kiss and let Alex dance him off toward the doors.  "Had enough of being stared at?"

"I need to go to the bathroom.  The shock of lack of cold."  He adjourned to the bathroom and locked himself in for a moment.  He made sure he was calm before he relieved himself and cleaned up again, walking out into an ambush by his family. "Hi," he said weakly.

Draco coughed.  "Get off him, mum.  Remember, this is Alex, he still doesn't like women."  She sniffled and let him go, wiping off her cheeks, retreating to check on her makeup before coming back.

Sirius looked at the boy.  "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm pretty good.  Still a bit sad but I'll be fine."  He wiggled free of the new hug. "Hey!  You're wrinkling me."

"Sorry," Sirius said, grinning a bit. "Can't have you looking better than me.  Someone might try to steal you instead."

"No," Draco moaned, holding his head.  "Alex has somehow managed to activate an old curse for literalness, Sirius.  So you get to hex her."

"How long will this last?" Tonks asked.

"We're not sure," Draco admitted bitterly.  "Feel free to remove it, I couldn't."  She nodded, walking Alex off to try to remove it for him.  He came back a bit singed around the edges but maybe it was gone. He used his wand to spiff him up again then walked him back to the dance floor.

"We're related to very many worrywarts," Alex said quietly in his ear.  Draco smiled and nodded.  "I'm sorry I worried them."

"They'd have to be worried.  With the way you took off, I'd have been worried too.  I'm surprised we haven't seen your father yet."

"He might not be here.  He could be working."

"I doubt it," Draco said dryly, looking toward the door. Then he glanced at his mother and nodded at Alex. She smiled and nodded, going to berate Severus until he showed up.  He heard his name be announced and smirked a bit, taking control of their dance and spinning Alex out, then pulling him back, making Alex giggle and blush a bit.

"He's mine and staying mine!" Pansy shouted.

"It's a curse that was on Alexander," Sirius yelled at her mother.  "Don't make me ruin her hair."  Her mother pulled the girl off, going to cure her of that problem immediately, before anyone else noted it.  He nodded politely at Severus.  "They showed up earlier."

"That figures.  Mr.  Malfoy hates to disappoint his mother and them missing would have," he noted sarcastically.  He looked at his son, catching him when he danced past, making Draco glare at him.  He raised an eyebrow and Draco huffed, being taken by his mother again.  He looked his son over.  "You've lost weight," he greeted.  "You've also lost that hopeless look in your eyes."  Alex hugged him and he relaxed.  "You're fine?"

"Mostly.  Still kinda sad but not too bad," he said quietly, walking him off.  "Draco and I ended up getting into real fist fight once.  I needed it, it made me break."  He looked at his father.  "I'm sorry I ran that way."

"I'm not.  I obviously couldn't help you and our misery was feeding off each other.  Therefore it was good he could handle your grief while I handled mine."  Alex nodded and Severus gave him another hug.  "You're truly fine?"

"I'm fine, daddy."  He rested against him. "I thought I saw her over there but Halfrek told me I was wrong," he said quietly. "Draco and she agreed even if it was her, she couldn't come out from under it."  Severus nodded at that.  "I'm sorry, dad."

"I'm not, son.  It wasn't meant to be."  He stroked his cheek with the back of his hand.  "I'm satisfied that I got you back."  He looked at him.  "Are you still satisfied with Mr. Malfoy, even after your fights?"

"I needed it, dad."

"I understand, but should he ever even think about such an action again I have the right to the first hex and I will make him suffer for a very long time."

Alex gave him a sheepish grin, nodding.  "Thanks.  I figured you'd have to hex his mother first."

"No, she's agreed I get the first one and then she'll make him more pathetic than his father had been when he died."  Alex grinned at that. "Should it ever happen again...."

"I'll come sobbing to you."

"Good.  I'm glad you're back."  He gave him another hug.  "Your mate dresses up even the most bland people," he noted dryly, letting him see his mate dancing with Ginny Weasley.  He looked at his son again. "Granger was invited by her new boyfriend.  Unfortunately."

"Does he know?"

"It's Longbottom."

"Ah, so he does know."  He nodded, going out to repossess his mate, smirking a bit at Ginny as he stole him.   "Thanks for keeping him warm."  He smiled at Draco as he took charge.  "I told dad we had to have that fight.   He won't hex you this time."

"I'm never doing it again, Alex. You know that."  He smiled at him.  "Did I see the dark ones together?"

"Dad said Neville asked Granger."

"Wonderful.  Who asked Weasley?"

"Blaise apparently."  He dipped Draco and then pulled him up, giving him a steamy look.   "Walk in the gardens?"

"Already?" he teased.

"Forgive me for being so wanton and desiring you, Draco."  He walked him outside, going to walk in the cool air with him.  They giggled when they heard Tonks chastising Harry to not tease.  They stopped under a bunch of mistletoe to share a kiss. Then they walked on, disappearing into the darker shadows for a quickie.

Narcissa walked out, sighing a bit.  "Boys," she called.  "You're panicking Harry and the others by disappearing again."

"No he's not.  Harry's only panicking because you keep trying to get a peek of his bum."

She giggled, looking at where her niece's voice came from.  "Nymphadora!  So naughty!"  She walked on further, hearing Harry sigh in relief.  She found her son and son-in-law in an ardent clinch.  "Some things never change."

"Mother, I'm about to suck him off, did you want to watch?" Draco asked, stealing another kiss, not stopping in the least.  If she wanted to watch, she'd be getting an eyeful.   He moved down to suck on his mate's neck, one hand teasing the hardness he was trying to uncover. He finally got to his goal and went down to tease him.

Narcissa blushed and walked off, hoping to clear off her blush before walking inside.  She ran into Sirius and shook her head, turning him around so he couldn't go watch them.   "You don't want to go out there."

"Why?"

"I walked out and found Draco about halfway down his mate."

"Really?" he asked, smirking a bit.  "Was it good?"

"I'll beat you, Sirius.  They didn't even stop because I was there."

He blushed at that. Those boys were still so bad about that.  He heard a feminine giggle and realized who was worse than those boys.

***

Alex walked into his house the next morning and was pounced by a crying lump of house elf.  "Hi, Marsette," he offered, stroking over her head.  "We're back."  She looked up at him, smiling through the tears.  "Let m guess, Twirly is throwing a fit and scared you again?"  She nodded, sniffling and hugging him.  "Twirly!" he called.  "I'm back!"  Draco walked in, shaking his head.  Twirly popped in and looked at them. "Were you scaring Marsette again?"

"Twirly not mean to but Marsette cry."  She pulled Marsette away, hugging her.  "Twirly sorry, Marsette."  Marsette nodded, hugging her.  They looked at their masters again.  "You leave?"

"No, not until we go back to school," Alex said, squatting down to get closer to their height.  "We're home for the rest of the holidays."

"No, Misses said you leave," Twirly told him.  Alex frowned and she moved closer, leaving Marsette alone.  "Goblins calling, saying you leave?"

"I left school for a bit, but I didn't quit. I had to leave.  I found out what happened to my mother."  Twirly hung her head, nodding.  "What Misses said we're to leave?"  She pointed at the study.  "What?  The old bat's painting?"  She nodded.  "I'm burning that."

"Send it to Dumbledore," Draco ordered quietly. "Let his decisions torment him."

"Goblins say can't," Marsette told them.

Alex headed to his study, finding the floo powder and calling his personal vault manager.  "What the fuck is going on?  I come home and my elves tell me I'm supposed to leave my house?"

"A clause to her will appeared just after your birthday but it was only spotted a few days ago," he said calmly.  "It states that if you're over the age of majority you can only be in the marriage contract she created for you.  If you were to file one before that age, it was revoked unless it was one she would find unsuitable."

"She found Lucius and Draco very suitable.  She said he was one of the more suitable people for me to be friends with."

"Yes, but the will also states that it had to be a fertile union."

"Draco figured out a spell for that."

"That wouldn't matter."

"So I've lost everything?" he asked dryly.  "Who would it go to?  We don't have any family left."  He held up the list, letting him see who had been marked off.  The house would go to Dumbledore.  "Wonderful.  Can we kill him?"  The goblin slowly shook his head.  "Then you're helping to vacate the will?"

"We are.  We needed your help to do so."

"I'll be right there with Draco."

"Thank you. You may want to change and come up with a good excuse for your recent absence from school."

"Easy, we found out Grams and Dumbledore charmed my mother and James Potter to forget us and live in Germany together."  He looked stunned.  "Mom died about a month before we found them."

"I'm sorry."

Alex nodded.  "Me too, that's why I took off and Draco made me bring him.  I'll be there within an hour."  He hung up and headed upstairs, finding Draco already changing.  "We've got to go vacate Grams' will totally.  You're not the one she wanted me to marry.  If we don't get it vacated, I'm going to be your husband and nothing else."

Draco frowned at him.  "We can always live at the manor.  Even if I did marry you for your library."  Alex frowned at him.  "Just teasing."

"You'd better be or else you're going to be finding me a massive holiday present to make me quit pouting.  The house goes to Dumbledore.  Since there's no relatives she wrote out a list.  Including your dad and mum above him but she was crossed out since he's dead and that leaves Dumbledore and Greg's stepmum that no one liked and we banished from the country."  He pulled down an outfit but Draco pulled out something else, handing it to him and putting the other back.  "This doesn't fit."

"You just had it fitted before we left."

"Yeah, and all my sleeves were too short by the time we got back."  He put on the shirt, showing it off.  Draco rolled his eyes and got him something else, handing it over. "Thanks."  He went to clean up and change, coming out with damp hair and his shirt collar undone by two buttons.  Draco looked up from fixing his hair, leering a bit, so he smiled back.  "Mind out of the gutter."

"Sorry.  Can't help it when you look like that."  His hair was uncharmed and fingers run through it, tousling it so it looked like bedhair.  "Don't!"

"Hush!"  He pulled on a robe and shoes, then headed down the stairs after grabbing his wand and one other thing off his dresser.  "We're going to Gringotts to solve this before it gets even worse."  Twirly brought him a sandwich and he smiled.  "Thank you, Twirly.  You've always known when I was hungry."  She beamed and nodded.  "I wish I could've brought mum home," he muttered, stroking over her head.

"Mistress Elani alive?"

"She had been.  Grams memory charmed her and Harry's dad.  She died a month before we found James."  She looked down, nodding.  "That's why I took the long vacation.  You can grieve as well.  We're not doing anything for the holidays."  She nodded, heading back to tell the other elves.  Draco came down while he was finishing his sandwich and they both apparated to Gringotts, landing as he finished his last bite of food.  Their manager gave him an amused look.  "Sorry, had to eat.  Too much wine last night."  They headed into his office, noticing the human in there.  Alex shook his hand.  "Alexander Birmingham."

"Judge Scorlian.  Mr. Malfoy," he said with a cordial nod.  "Are you his solicitor or his manager?"

"Actually, I'm his spouse."

"Ah!"  He nodded.  "I see."  He looked at Alex. "Would she approve?"

"Would I care since she's the one who tortured me so much I hate women enough to kill them all?"  The judge raised an eyebrow and Alex looked at the goblin.  "We need that file."

"I have it already," he offered, handing it to the judge.  "There is also the matter of her will hiding clauses like this without our knowing, which we do not allow for matters of inheritance.  It leads to situations like these."

"Which is why they were banned.  His grandmother was a barrister, she should have realized that."

"She didn't deal much in contract law.  She dealt with criminal punishment cases.  Preferably where she could help with the questioning and/or punishment."  Alex sat down, looking unconcerned.  "There's also the matter of a curse that was sent as a letter to me for me to open upon my majority.  It says that if I sell any of her tacky crap she'll haunt me until I die."

"How did you get that already?"

"I've been emancipated since shortly after she died. With the Ministry trying to force me to become a dark lord for them and all that stuff, it was thought it safer.  The Wizengomet agreed with myself and my guardian, Harry Potter, attaining it at the same time."

"The clause in question is based on age however, so it appeared after his last birthday," the goblin pointed out.  "Mr. Birmingham has been instrumental in changing some of the darkest artifacts back to light ones again.  He's been slowly clearing the taint from the dark arts vault."

"And I'd still sell half that tacky crap if I could."

"You plan on working?"

"I hadn't," he admitted.  "I planned on having a few good hobbies that I did more often than not.  I also paint quite well.  I've already done three living portraits of my husband, one each year since we've signed our contract."

"Is your contract a permanent one?"

"My mother demanded a temporary one until we were one month past graduation," Draco said calmly.  "We agreed that would be for the best.  Even though we've been friends since childhood, people do change over their years in school.  Alex has only gotten nicer and calmer.  Less hurt from what she did to him."

"Hmm."  The judge looked over everything, then back at the boys.  "Well, it's a borderline case really," he decided.  "It could go either way with the evidenced presented.  If the other two parties would fight you over it, it would come to a trial."

"Narcissa Malfoy said she did not want it," the goblin told him.  "As did the goblin named."

"That leaves the Headmaster and he was what to her?"

"A failed suitor.  Her father refused his request for marriage and even after she was widowed and her parents died at her own hand she didn't take him up on it.  He's also the one who was helping the Ministry try to turn me into a dark lord."  The judge sighed.  "There is something that was not formally stated in any of that paperwork.  Grams was a death eater.  You have vacated wills on that stipulation alone.  She was actually higher in the hierarchy than Lucius Malfoy was. She was his left hand. She was his torturer."

"Can you prove that?"

"The death certificate lists her dark mark.  Other death eaters who may still be alive would tell you where she was placed.  As long as they were around during the first run of idiocy."

The judge nodded and turned to the floo, calling to the aurors.  "I need the file you kept on Issadora Marianna Birmingham."

"All of it or just the summary pages?"

"All of it."

"Back up," he said, lifting something thick and tossing it into the fireplace.  It came out the other side a bit thinner.  "Sorry, some of that was Ministry eyes only.  I'll send it another way."

"That's fine.  This may be more than enough."

Alex waved.  "A hidden clause appeared giving everything to Dumbledore if I didn't marry Parkinson or have kids with an acceptable brood mare."

"I have a spell worked out for that," Draco noted with a small smirk.

The judge looked at him.  "How?"  Draco pulled it out of his pocket and handed it over.  He looked it over, then at him.  "Would it work?"

"It has.  We tested it on someone's familiar in Slytherin since she wanted kittens so bad. They came out very healthy."

"I see."  He went back to reading, glancing at Alex now and then.  When the auror walked in, he took those documents to read as well, outright staring at Alex.  "You were tortured by her?"

"Numerous times.  Including the use of the Imperious to force me to study and learn her books until I collapsed.  By the time I could break it, I was up to about a week and a half in stamina."

He blinked and went back to reading.  "When did she die?"

"About four days after I was sorted."

"I see."  He continued on.  "Was it a suicide?"

"We're not sure.  It could have been but I did witness her saying she had some divination skills so that did preclude the note she sent me saying she would never see me again."

"He walked around for the first week of school calling it cryptic shite if I remember right," Draco said with a smirk for his mate.  He looked at the goblin. "Did you get that special file Severus found?"  He nodded and handed it to the judge, who sat down, staring in horror at the confession that Dumbledore had been forced to write out about his involvement in the disappearance of James Potter and Elani Birmingham.  "She was his mother.  That's why we had to take some time off.  We found out she actually died about a month before we found her."

"Oh, dear."  He looked at Alex, then back at the paperwork. "This is more than enough to vacate the will totally, but you should give Dumbledore something so he cannot contest."

"I'll gladly give him every charmed painting of the old bitch, her old wand, all of the stuff that remains of her personal collections except the cursed stuff, the jewelry, or any clothes that got confiscated by the adults helping when we cleaned the house of dark artifacts.  I'll gladly hand over her spirit since I trapped it this year.  I wish like hell we could have her haunt him and break the curse she laid too."

"We can if the will is vacated," the goblin assured him.

"Thank you!  I'll let you guys come gather that today and send it to him. I do not want that man in my house.  I don't like how he treats most of the school's house elves and we've got two fragile ones.  I'd give them clothes and send them to Narcissa before I let him near them."

"She agreed that would be reasonable and you two would have your own house built," the goblin noted.  "We did call her about this when it was found.  That was the backup plan."

The judge smiled a bit.  "I'm seeing a lot of reasons to vacate it but I should, by law, talk to Dumbledore to see if he wants to protest it."

"Mrs. Parkinson would since she believes it would force Alexander to marry her pug-ugly daughter," Draco offered.  "She's still trying to force it."

"No, Pansy and her mother signed a contract last night," Alex told him.  "Your mother told me when we had that next-to-last dance.  They didn't even get to complain about any of the stipulations but she's taken by a Saudi wizard."

"Hmmm.  At least we won't have to deal with her socially very often then," Draco said happily. "Is she coming back?"

"Until she graduates, unless she goes closer for next year."

"Oh, well, can't have everything I guess," he noted dryly.

Alex just grinned at him.  "Be nice.  We also have to find out about an Indian wizard who wanted Ginny's hand.  She asked me to look in the books your mother's got since she's scared of your mother."

"Fine," he said, rolling his eyes.

The judge laughed.  "Go have lunch, boys.  Let me make sure there's no legal challenges to the plan to vacate the will. Come back in an hour."  They nodded and shook his hand, walking out.  "They seem nicer than you'd think."

"They've helped each other grow up.  Mr. Malfoy just got Mr. Birmingham over his greatest grief yet.  They left school for the last month.  There is also the matter that Dumbledore is still trying to work against Mr. Birmingham."  He handed over sealed envelopes.  "Their NEWT results."

"They're the ones who tested the new tests?"  The goblin nodded.  "Why?"

"Because of the forced learning and Dumbledore wants them separated for some reason.  He may have known about this clause in hindsight."  He shrugged.  "They're to take whatever they didn't pass next year."

The judge looked at the copies of the results, which the goblins always got a record of for higher profile families since the grades often factored into wills and access to vaults.  "That speaks of the forced education he received being true torture to him then," he sighed, putting down Alex's marks.  "What will he have to take over?"

"Anything under an average."

The judge shook his head and opened the other one, smiling at the less high marks, but still quite decent.  He turned back to the floo, calling out for Dumbledore.  "A petition has come to me today to vacate a will of one Issadora Birmingham."  Dumbledore looked pained. "It has been worked out that the heir will be giving you all of the paintings of her, all of her remaining personal possessions that cannot be claimed by the family, like her jewelry and art collections, and her wand.  Plus the heir has stated he has the captured spirit which he was more than happy to transfer to you once the curse on it was broken.  Did you want to issue a legal protest of this vacating?  If so, I need to know before I rule today."

"I would like some time to think about it."

"Unfortunately they have moved to follow through in a timely manner," the judge told him.  Dumbledore frowned a bit. "I believe they were going to be cleaning a few more of the artifacts today and that's why they needed to know, so they had time to do that and come back to school on time."

"I see.  Are there any other beneficiaries?"

"No.  Just you and Alexander."  The man flinched at that name. "Unfortunately her will contained clauses that were illegal and the goblins did move to start vacating it before telling the boys today.  They've been presenting evidence on the goblin's behalf.  Alexander has agreed to give you those items without a qualm, feeling that your involvement was emotional and so therefore you should have the paintings of her and her wand.  I should also tell you that some of the evidence is quite damning of your relationship and I will have to file it with the Ministry if you do protest."

Dumbledore looked at him. "Was that a threat?"

"No, a statement of legal fact.  It would be required that I file all this information with the Ministry's legal department should you decide to openly challenge this action.  That is legal precedent and law."

"Which means it would be open to the scrutiny of the public?" he asked bitterly.

"Indeed," the goblin agreed.  "As such, you would be receiving all her animate portraits and all other portraits of her, her wand, a few remaining pieces of clothing that were confiscated while they were cleaning the dark arts materials from the house, and things like her personal correspondence once a copy had been made in case any other...irregularities existed like the one for James Potter and Elani Birmingham should show up."  He shivered at that. "You do have the choice of challenging this vacation, but you must know what it entails legally first."

"I see. What about her personal elves?"

"One died during the attack on the manor a few years back and the other two are very frail and are down to ceremonial and cooking duties," the goblin told him.  "Neither are fit for real work and are protected by the old and disabled house elf statues since their master agreed to keep them."

"I see. What about the items in her work areas?"

"Those were either put into the vault to be cleaned by Alexander or were given to the Ministry if they were too dark to be safely stored here."  The judge looked at the goblin.  "We also found blood magic and other things so polluted we couldn't risk having them in a vault together. Was there something of that mess you wanted, Mr. Dumbledore? I can approach the boys on your behalf."

"There was a jeweled silver dagger and a gold dagger.  A matched set."

The goblin pulled out that file, looking through it.  "It went to the Ministry.  They're presently at the auror academy from what I hear, being used as training tools to teach the cadets about dark magic and what it feels like."  He looked at him.  "Anything else of that set found on that altar, including her grimoire, is in the vaults."

"I want that grimoire.  I want the rest of that set, and I want the emerald robes she kept down there, plus I want control over her gravesite."

The judge considered it, then nodded slowly. "If the boys agree."

"Without them being cleaned."

"The bowl already was.  It was one of the first things he did this summer," the goblin said, looking at the list again.  "He's tried with the crystals but they weren't working for him."  Dumbledore nodded so he summoned a lesser goblin, writing out a note.  "Find Mr. Birmingham, see that he agrees to that. Anything else before I send him on?"

"Her working attire."

"Was burned," the goblin told him.  "If you mean those leather outfits?"  He nodded.  "Those were burned upon Severus Snape's orders by the account he gave to us."

Dumbledore hung his head.  "Then I'd also like the ashes of that if possible and the bronze urn on the mantel."

"Agreed."  He added that to the note and sent him off.   He came back a moment later and whispered in his ear, but gave back the note.  "Thank you."  He looked at him. "Alexander was talked into it by his spouse, but it was noted by the goblin that the urn contained material artifacts and remains so they'd have to have it examined to make sure there's no prior claim on them."  Dumbledore nodded at that. "Otherwise that would be acceptable."

The judge nodded, taking the notes the goblin wrote down.  "Then I'll have my formal ruling drawn up this afternoon and sent to you with those artifacts, hopefully by the start of school.  Should we send them there?"  Dumbledore nodded.  "Thank you for your understanding."

"I bear no real ill will toward Alexander, just that he should have followed his family more closely."

"Yes, well, we can't all be evil bastards," the goblin noted dryly.  The floo was cut off and he looked at him. "I'm rather glad he isn't like her.  She used to scare the younger goblins and me when she came in."

"So I can tell.  How did they let her get away with this?"

"They were too scared of her to act."

The judge sighed and took the notes, heading back to his office to write his final decision and send it on to the interested parties. The next day the newspaper had pictures of the couple dancing and laughing in celebration and it made him happy.

***

Alex stepped off the train and pulled his hood over his head, wrapping his cloak more tightly around him.  "Damn, I'm freezing," he complained to Greg.  Draco had been held up by family business for his mother and his estate for a day.  He looked over at the teachers waiting on him.  "Professors," he said, nodding pleasantly.  "Are you here to yell at us for singing off-key?"

She smiled and hugged him.  "No, dear, but your new bed has arrived."  She tweaked the tip of his nose.  "Such a naughty boy."

"Hey, I need my beauty rest to be as pretty as Draco," he said with a small grin.  "I'm sorry I couldn't come back sooner."

"I'm not.  You're happy again."  She patted him on the cheek.  "Head up to the feast, young man.  Where is your spouse?"

"Estate crap.  He'll be in right after breakfast tomorrow."

"That's fine."  She let his father have him and watched as they walked off together, the Slytherins guarding them like they did Draco. She smiled at the sight of them, it was rather touching how much love Crabbe and Goyle had for her poor little fledgling.  She grabbed the two miscreants off the train and drug Harry and Ron by their ears off to the side.  "What were you thinking!"

"It wasn't us!" Ron complained, rubbing his ear.  "We were both napping.  Alex can verify that for you."

"He woke us up," Harry agreed. "Someone cast that charm to create the two not-uses who ran up and down tormenting others.  They were ghosts or something like it anyway!"

"Fine," she said, frowning at them.  "My office, now, boys."  They nodded, heading that way.  "Grab Alex as well."  They both nodded, catching a carriage back up there.  She moaned and held her head, going to get the probable suspect, Miss Lovegood.  "Did you do that?" she asked.

She giggled and nodded.  "It was rather fun to see a naughty Harry and Ron.  Who knew they could be worse than the twins!"

"My office, Miss Lovegood!"  She nodded, skipping that way.  She looked up at the full moon.  "Why do I teach?" she muttered, heading back herself.  She walked to give herself time to calm down and think up something truly horrible for that girl this time.

***

Draco strolled into breakfast and over to his mate, stealing a kiss.  "Mum vacated father's will.  Now if she wants to she can remarry and keep the house.  That means I'm shacking up at your place until she dies.  That good with you?"

Alex stole a real kiss.  "Sure, baby.  You can have the spot next to me.  I'll make sure all the handcuffs are really soft," he teased.  Draco smirked a bit and went back to his seat.  "Any other news?"

"Yeah, my mum's found another toy.  He's Italian," he called back.  "She's very happy with him."

"Oh, good."  Alex grinned and went back to eating his breakfast, ignoring the gossip.  "So, how was your holiday, Ron?"

"Less happy when you told Mum he had three other wives and Ginny would be the fourth of his harem.  She's still probably ranting about that.  She even called to rant at him about that and he assured her she'd be a treasured jewel to him.  I'm doubting it's going to go through."

"Did you ever find Draco something for Solstice?" Harry asked between bites.

Alex stole a piece of bacon and nibbled it, then shook his head.  "No.  Not really.  I found him a little something but nothing spectacular."   He looked at his mate, giving him a 'sorry' look.  Draco raised an eyebrow.  "Present," he mouthed.  Draco rolled his eyes and shook his head, digging in again.  "Apparently he doesn't mind."  He finished that piece of bacon then stood up.  "I need to pack my bag.  Same schedule?"  Ron nodded.  "Cool.  Any word on our results?"

"Waiting on the table this morning," Harry told him.  "You were too asleep to see them."

Alex beamed and headed back to the suite to get his bag and his results.  He sat down, staring at the pair of letters until the bell rang.  Then he grabbed them and took them with him to Charms.  Draco sat down next to him so he handed him his letter and watched him open it, smiling at the results.  Draco had passed basically everything he had taken with at least an average.  He was going to have to take Runes, Creatures, and Divination next year.  Plus Potions because his father would complain if he didn't.  Alex opened his own while Flitwick chatted, looking at the grades.  He frowned at one, then pulled his wand and uncharmed the paper, making Harry and Ron chuckle.  Flitwick looked at him so he handed over his results.

"We only charmed his, Draco," Harry offered with a smirk.  "How did you do?"

"Quite well."  He handed his to Flitwick as well, earning a smile before they were handed back.

"Mr. Birmingham, I'm very impressed," he said happily.  "If you can demonstrate the charm we're doing today, I'll let you find your father and relieve the first year Gryffindor and Slytherin class of his presence for a bit."

"Which charm?  I wasn't paying attention while I opened that."

"The Patronius."

"Um, I can't," he admitted.  "I can cast the charm but I can't even get a cloud."  Flitwick raised an eyebrow. "It's not my fault," he muttered.

"You're more than powerful enough."

"Yeah, but I'm not happy enough."

"Oh, I see.  That's fine then.  That problem is one we can work on later tonight, during your special class. I have a book that has other ideas to take the place of those memories."

Draco whispered in his ear, touching Alex's hand gently.  "Try it now, Alex.  Concentrate on that," he said gently.

Alex closed his eyes, concentrating on that image, and pulled his wand.  "Expecto Patronius!"  A cloud formed, but that was closer than he normally got.  He sighed and let it go.  "Closer but still no go."

"Fine," Flitwick agreed, smiling at him. "We'll work on that later. You have unique circumstances.  Go find your father.  Mr. Potter, I believe you can demonstrate it?"

Harry nodded, waiting until Alex was gone to cast his.

"Well done!  Ten points to Gryffindor for it being fully formed and so very detailed!"  He clapped and bounced a bit.  "Very well done.  Let it go now."  He let it go.  "Thank you.  Normally you would go over this in defense, but Professor Lupin is feeling under the weather and asked me to help you with this lesson.  Now let's pull our wands and one at a time do it.  Those who do, can be released early as well."

Alex walked into his father's classroom and handed him the results.  His father stared him down.  "I got released early since I still can't conjure a patronius.  Professor Flitwick said he's got some ideas about how to help me."

Snape nodded, looking at the results.  Then at his son, then back at the results.  "You passed Potions?"

"I have no idea *how* but apparently I did," he agreed with a small grin. "Amazing, huh?"

"Very."  He looked at the rest of the grades.  "What did Mr. Malfoy not pass?"

"Creatures, Divinations, and Runes."

"Hmm.  I'll be seeing him anyway I'm sure."  He looked at his son. "I'm very impressed," he said quietly. "Good work, Mr. Birmingham.  Fifty points to Gryffindor for exceeding even my high expectations of you."  Alex gave him a shy grin with a hint of a blush.  "Tell your head of house, that way she can figure out what you're doing since you're only taking Herbology and Creatures.  Plus mine if you wanted," he offered graciously.

"Dad, you said it yourself, I sucked in here.  Did you want me back?"

"Not particularly.  I'm still trying to remove the spot on the ceiling from when yours and Mr Longbottom's potions mixed."  Alex looked up and grinned at the pretty rainbow effect in the splatter.  Then at him.  "I won't make you but I will expect you to comport yourself reasonably and decently during all those hours you'll have free."

"Thanks."  He gave him a brief hug and headed up to McGonagall's classroom.  He peeked inside, the fifth years had her.  He waved his results and she hurried up to get them, then squealed and hugged him.  "Thank you.  Dad said you could have the frustration of figuring out what I'm doing next year."

She smiled.  "I think you deserve a bloody award for doing so well, especially in things you've never taken," she muttered next to his ear.

"Dad gave me fifty points."

"Wonderful, I'm giving you another twenty for passing Potions and Divination."  She handed it back.  "You know you don't have to take those two over next year?  Just the classes?"  He grinned and nodded.  "Then go be a good boy, Mr. Birmingham.  Somewhere other than my class."  He grinned and ducked out, heading toward his next classroom.  It was Defense and he was sure Lupin was still recovering.  He listened, no classes and the sign on the door said no classes.   He tapped and Sirius opened it so he held up his results, getting a shocked look and a strong hug.  "Dad was really impressed that I passed Potions."

Sirius let him in, smiling as he led him back to the office.  "He failed yet again to knock the boys down," he said proudly.  "Narcissa, they've got their results."

"Ooh!  Where's my son?"

"In Charms unless he got released early for being able to conjure a patronius."

"Can you?" Remus asked.

"No, I think he released me out of pity.  I finally got a cloud," he offered with a small grin.  Remus shrugged.  "He said he's got a book with alternate ideas and he'd help me later."  He presented his marks to his teacher, smirking a bit.  "Thank you for helping us get what we needed to study."

Remus grinned at him.  "I'm rather proud of you, grandson.  Very well done.  How many did Draco get?"

"All but three.  Creatures, Divinations, and Runes.  He got just barely under an average by the remarks for Runes, one point under."

Remus passed them to James, who patted him on the back.  "Help my son study, okay?"

"Of course."

"Thank you."  He handed them back.  "You should have those framed, kid."

"I probably should but I got a letter this morning saying I wasn't even allowed to go to Hogsmeade and that the bed would have been switched back, I didn't have to provide my own."  He looked at them.  "Did you hear about the will being vacated?"  They all nodded.  "Did you hear what else he wanted?"  They all nodded.  "Good, then I'm going to leave that in your hands to watch while I'm a happy boy all day."  He grinned and headed out, casting a charm to find Draco for him.  He found him coming out of Potions. "Your mother is with Remus."  Draco smirked a bit and headed up there to brag and show off.  Alex headed to his next class, Transfiguration, and waited outside the door, being polite.   For now.  They'd be celebrating later, when he told Twirly and Marsette. Some good wine, some good food, some good cuddling with his Draco snuggly later, and he'd be a totally happy boy.  Even if he did have a hangover and was walking funny in the morning. Which he hoped he would be.

***

Epilogue 1:

***

Alex looked up from his seventh year Transfiguration textbook, sneezing.  He was bored and going over something he still had a bit of problems with, helping Harry study really.  He sneezed again and Ron gave him a worried look.  "Dark magic," he offered, sneezing a third time. His nose started to bleed so Ron and Harry went to get some tissues and check the halls.  Harry found a small box outside and it was radiating dark magic.  He watched as Ron led Alex back to bed before floating the box up to eye height.  He wasn't touching it.  He looked around, then at the nearest painting.  "Tell Professor Snape I need him immediately at the Room of Requirement."  He hurried that way, the box floating in front of him so it couldn't be stolen.  By the time the room formed what he needed, Snape was stomping up the halls.  "Alex has a nosebleed from this," he offered, opening the door.  He and Snape walked inside, sealing in the natural stone room.  He put the box on the stone table.  "It's all that was around the suite, sir.  Even I can feel the bad magic on it and Alex started to sneeze as soon as it was put down we think. I didn't see anyone there though."

Snape nodded. "Step back.  I want you next to the door.  If I'm frozen or hurt, get Lupin." Harry nodded, getting back to the doorway, one hand on the doorknob, tensed to run out.  Snape carefully unwrapped the gift, looking down at what the box contained.  Harry waited then ran out, slamming the door behind him.  Snape picked up the small ring, holding it up in front of him.  He knew what it was.  It was the symbol given to a family's heir upon their birth.  Draco had one he was sure.  He carefully put the ring in the box, then stepped away from it, casting a discernment spell.  The magic he saw confused him but it couldn't be right.  Elani's magic was surrounding the ring?  Remus walked in and locked the door behind him, looking at the small box. "It's an heir's ring."

"And that's Elani's magic showing in your spell, but on this side it's her mother's."  Remus turned the box around and Snape shuddered.  He looked in the box, using the tip of his wand to lift out the small silver ring.  Sirius had one so he'd seen one before. It would grow with the child.  He looked at Severus.  "Did Alex get one?" he asked quietly.  He shook his head.  "Are you sure?"

"I am.  I asked him and he said he didn't have one."

"Then this could have been his," he noted calmly, putting it back into the box.  He sealed it in some of the stone from the table, transfiguring it into a box of keeping.  Then he looked at him again.  "What does it mean to you, Severus?"

"That he raised her," he said, looking at him.  "Somehow he raised one of them."

"Or all of them," Remus noted.  Severus rushed out, going to check his son.  Remus took the direct route.  "Halfrek?"  She appeared.  "Was Alex ever raised from the dead?"

"No.  You can tell the big guy that.  He wasn't.  His mother was.  His grandmother has been, but she's wrong somehow.  She's not going to be able to stay over a year.  Each day of her life leaches a month of Dumbledore's."  She looked at the box, then at him.  "What's that?"

"We think it's Alex's heir's ring."

"Can't be. His is in the vault of dark arts stuff.  She placed compulsion spells on it but I made sure the ring repelled him."

"What?"  He blinked a few times.  "Does that mean there's a new heir?"

"Think, Remus, what does a silver ring mean?"

"A daughter," he breathed.  "Summer!"  She nodded and faded out.  Remus ran, going back to the suite.  "It's not him.  Halfrek said it's about Summer."

"Then I'm about to kick some ass," Ron told him.  "When and where?"

"Maybe now."  He looked at Alex, whose nose was still bleeding. "He raised her.  She's leeching off his lifeforce."

"Pity."

"Son," Snape sighed.  "We're going to the Burrow.  Now."  They sent themselves there, Remus going to get James and Sirius, which got Tonks and her mother plus Narcissa.  They found the Weasleys frozen solid and Bill having tea with an older woman.  "Get away from her!"

"I'm protecting Summer," Bill told him.  "She can't defeat me. I can unravel the spells holding her up.  We're at stalemate."

"Oh, let me," Alex sneered, pulling his wand.  He started to cast a very complicated charm, letting Draco and the others guard him from her attacks while Bill got the baby and his family safe.  She shot one last one at Harry but died, dissolving back into dust.  He saw a glittering thing in the dust of her ashes and picked up the solid gold egg, looking at it.  "What are you?" he whispered.  It opened and he stared at his mother's picture.  He dropped it and backed away, his mate turning him away and taking him outside.

Snape picked up the picture and closed the egg, pocketing it.  He looked at Bill.  "We're sorry."

"I'm not.  She wanted Summer to be the sacrifice Alex should have been or she said."

Snape nodded. "He was scheduled for it."  He let the others coming in check the baby while he went to protect his son.  He neared him and Alex sneezed.  So he put the egg carefully down and stepped closer again.  This time no sneeze and he mentally sighed.  He'd have to keep that locked away.  His son hugged him, clinging to him as only he could, sobbing at this injustice.  "Shh.  All is well again.  He didn't get Summer.  She won't turn into you."  Alex just hugged him harder.  "All is well, son."

"He's nearly hysterical," Harry said as he joined them.  "Somulous."  Alex went limp in his father's arms.  "Molly said you could use one of the beds here, Draco.  There's a cot in Summer's room if you think it'll help."  He nodded, floating his mate inside and up to the baby's room to tuck him in.  Harry looked at the professor.  "There's a wonderful spot by the pond, Professor," he offered quietly.  "Head down the path between the birch trees.   You can yell and scream there and no one can hear you."  He nodded, heading that way, taking the egg with him.  Harry went back inside.  "Professor Snape went to scream.  He took the egg with the picture with him."  James and Sirius headed after him, shocking Harry a bit but they had been getting closer.  "I had Draco put Alex in Summer's room," he told Bill.  Bill nodded and started to relax.  "What was going on?"

"She was telling me about baby Summer there.  How they had both been waiting for her to show up.  That even if her power wasn't attainable as a key, it was still there and useable for sacrificial purposes."  He turned green and Harry hauled him up, letting him run to get sick.

Ron sat down with his baby sister, stroking her hair.  "I doubt anyone's ever going to try that ever the bloody hell again," he said calmly, stroking he brown hair. "You didn't start as one of us but you're damn sure one of us now.  Harry, call Ginny?"  He nodded, heading to do that while he and Remus held the baby.

"She makes you want one," Remus offered.

"She made Draco want one enough to make a spell for it," Ron joked.  He glared at his brother Percy's still-stunned form.  "Get them."  Remus nodded, going to uncharm his family.  Molly burst out crying and Ron looked at her.  "Bill stopped her, mum, and Alex undid the raising spell."  She nodded, holding them both.  "Mum," he soothed, kissing her on the cheek.  "It's all right.  We knocked Alex out.  Snape's off screaming his head off in rage.  We've still got Summer and we'll be warding her so no one and nothing ever comes near her again.  I'm sure Bill, Charley, and I can help."  Bill came back, nodding and wiping his face off with a damp cloth.  "Want to hold her?"

"Please."  He took his baby sister, smiling at her.  "We love you, Summer.  You're safe and protected here."  She cooed at him and wiggled a bit. "Yeah, you're one'a the family.  It was bloody brilliant of you to call me, love.  I'll always protect you."  He kissed her on the forehead and handed her to his mother, watching as she sat on their father's lap and they held the baby together.  "We'll be layering shields on her like should've been done to Harry and Alexander," he promised her.  He uncursed Percy, watching as he hugged his parents too.  "Everyone all right?"

"I was wondering if we should blow the remains our or sweep 'em up," Ron offered, pointing at them.  He got up and kicked through them, coming up with a small red stone and a galleon, a silver one for some reason.  He put both of them on top of a copy of the day's paper, then got a broom.  He didn't want to look at it anymore.  Draco came down the stairs, helping him a bit.  "Where's Dumbledore?" he asked quietly.

"Halfrek said she was leeching off his energy," Remus offered. "She'd only live for a year total before he died and freed her again."  He looked at the things on the table, then at Draco. "Did you get into his journal?"

"No," Draco said.

"I did the research too," Harry said quietly, looking at them.  "Philosopher's stone.  Two physical elements, opposed magically: silver and gold, plus the money and the wrongness of it being in silver.  An emotional tie that held power and things of the blood to call to the older, dead blood."  He looked at Remus.  "We need that egg to keep it safe."

"It had his mother's picture in it," Remus told him quietly.

Harry nodded.  "Snape has it right now.  Why would it leech from him?  Dumbledore's powerful enough if Alex is."

"What?" Molly asked.

"Alex tried to raise his mum when he was younger," Harry told her.  "His Grams made him stop and congratulated him on it."  She shuddered at that.  "He knows now that it's darker than even she was."

"But that rite would have brought her back whole and healthy," Bill said, looking confused.  "I've seen it in a few tombs and in a few things we've found.  They're always confiscated immediately."

Harry nodded.  "Alex hid his journal.  Remus has it.  So why was she leeching off Dumbledore?"

"Because he didn't have enough energy left to do it?" Remus suggested.  He suddenly looked alarmed and hurried out to where Snape was sitting, staring at the picture, snatching it away to cast a tracking charm on it.  "Oh, bloody hell.  She's alive."  Severus took it once he turned it into a portkey, watching him disappear.  Remus looked at his friends.  "We've got to stop Dumbledore."

"Agreed," James assured him. "How?"

"If he's not dead," Sirius noted.

"Issadora was leeching off him," Remus told him.  "It's possible.  We're heading back to the school right now."  They nodded and sent themselves as close as they could, heading up at a dead run.  The school was relatively quiet.  Almost no students were laughing and joking.  Remus spat the password at the gargoyle and they headed up, finding him in his seat.  He was already dead.  In front of him was a quill on top of a letter, apologizing.  He knew they'd stop Issadora and that the taking of her life had been enough to bring back Elani, which was what he wanted.  He wanted to do it in reparation for all he'd done to Severus and his family.

James turned and hit a wall, then looked at the body again. "Fine.  Remus, McGonagall.  Sirius, the aurors.  Get Tonks personally if you have to. I don't trust outside the family for this."  They nodded while he stood guard, mentally swearing at the old man for hurting them again.   Someone came running up the stairs and he stopped Bill, shaking his head.  "Too late."

"Bugger!"  He looked around and pointed at something.  "That's where he cast it.  It's Fawke's ashes.  He'll be raising soon."

"Cool."  James walked over, finding the egg.  It was cooler than he thought it should be so he heated the pot over the fireplace and stuck the egg in there, scooping out the ashes to put around it.  They both had to duck when the door exploded and the phoenix came out a moment later to attend to this threat.  James looked at the men standing there.  "It's handled."

"You killed him?"

"No, he killed him.  Get out," James told them.  "Now."

"Now see here!  We're with the Ministry...."

Tonks pushed them aside.  "Out!" she yelled.  They scurried away.  She looked at the note, then at them.  "We'll want a full set of reports, boys," she ordered calmly.  "Now."  She glared at the Unmentionable's people.  "Get in here.  The risen one?"

"Dead."  Sirius came back and he nodded at Narcissa.  "Severus took off after Elani.  This was all to bring her back."

"Then I'll have to check her to make sure she's normal," Tonks pointed out.  "Before Alex can see her."

Sirius nodded.  "Good.  He probably doesn't know yet.  He broke after having to kill the old battleaxe to protect Summer."

"What is going on!" one of the ministry people demanded.  "We were called because we felt someone raising the dead!  The necormatic energy reached us in London!"

Tonks nodded, handing over the note.  "And we're keeping it quiet. Or else I'm letting Harry Potter have you lot."  They shuddered and shrunk away again. "Good boys.  Now call someone."  She looked at the phoenix.  "You good?"  It cooed.  "Good.  Go watch Summer Weasley.  She's important."  The phoenix flew off.  Tonks looked at Bill.  "You left her alone with them?"

"Draco, Ron, and Harry can call if it's something they can't handle."

"Which is damn few and far between," she noted with a hint of a smile.  "Where was she?"

"You'd have to ask Remus.  He's the one who turned it into a portkey," Sirius offered. "Narcissa, as part of the board, take over here."

"This will be kept quiet," she told the Unmentionables and her niece.  Who all nodded, some more scared then others.  "Good.  We'll let his reputation fall wherever it may without this incident being known.  Where are the things he got from Alex as part of the vacating of the will?  And where is McGonagall?"

"Remus went to find her," James offered.  "Why is the school so quiet?"

"Hogsmeade."  They all winced.  Remus came in with McGonagall a few minutes later, while they were tidying up.  "Dear, they need his workroom.  He raised Issadora and then caused Elani to be raised."  She shuddered. "Severus went to find her."

"Of course."  She pushed on a bookcase and it opened, letting them into the hidden rooms of the tower, including his bedroom and other work areas.  She looked at the body, then at Tonks.  "Is this going to be known?"

"Not if I have my way, and I will," she noted.  "Harry and I are scarier than that whole department," she offered with a small grin.

"Good.  I'll gather the teachers.  Narcissa, the board?"  She nodded, moving to the floo to push James out of the way and call them.  "James, be a dear and send someone to Madam Rosemerta, have her tell the kids to stay in town until a late dinner tonight.  That way they don't have to see such things."  He nodded, looking at Sirius, who nodded and left.  She smiled at him. "You always did delegate very well."

"Sirius lies better."

She smiled and nodded.  "So I remember.  He came up with some fantastic excuses when you three were playing hooky."

***

Sirius walked into the Broomstick, smiling at all the students.  "Attention, students!" he yelled.  Everyone stared at him. "There was a small explosion up in the school in the entryway.  Professor McGonagall said you're having a late dinner tonight so stay in town until dusk at least. We need time to clear the rubble.  We need this spread to each and every student because no one's getting in until dusk.  Prefects in each house are asked to go guard the road back to make sure of it.  The remaining students up there are going to be confined to the library and their houses until the way is clear."  The older kids hurried out and the younger ones gossiped.  He walked over to the bar and pulled Madam Rosemerta over, whispering the truth in her ear, sorta.  Just that Dumbledore was dead.  She sniffled and nodded.  "So they need to stay."

"I'll do what I can and tell the others," she agreed, going to do that.

Sirius walked out and found Harry guarding the way with the Prefects, giving him a short hug.  "You okay?"

"We warded Summer so much you can't see an aura.  She'll read as non-magical until she's ten.  We put a time-stop on it."

"Good."  He kissed him on the temple.  "Your girl is handling it."

"Elani?" he asked quietly.  The Prefects all looked at him.  "Don't ask."  They sighed and turned away again.

"I'm not sure yet.  You'd have to ask James if he's called."

"I hope she's all right. Neither of them need that sort of thing," he said quietly.  "Alex might cling to her more than he does Draco."

Sirius smiled.  "I think his dad at first.  He's still not too sure any woman is safe.  Even her."  He walked off, glancing at the kids coming out of the school.  "I thought they'd put you lot in the houses and the library."

"They did, but they gave the option to those of us who are old enough to come down," Hermione told him.  "What's going on? I didn't see any destruction."

"You'll find out later. For now, go have fun. I told the others dusk."  He headed back up to the office to see what else he could do and report on the reason he gave.

Harry nodded at Granger when she stopped next to him.  "Granger."

"Harry.  What's going on?"

"It's a bit complicated and I can't tell you," he told her.  "Not until someone else announces it."  He looked at the Prefects as the students walked past them. "Until dusk, guys.  Go have fun."  They all nodded. "You as well."  She huffed off and he looked at the Prefects again. "Dumbledore's dead," he said quietly.  They slumped and a few started to cry.  "We can't tell the others until they announce it.  That's why the stall."  They pulled themselves back together again and transfigured chairs from a few nearby stones and logs, sitting down in the way so no one got past them.  The younger kids didn't need to see that, the same as they didn't.  Harry sat on the ground, hoping and silently praying that Alex would be okay.  Some days he was still so fragile.

***

Alex woke up to someone stroking his brow, frowning at the woman standing there.  "Halfrek?" he whispered.  She nodded.  He sat up, looking at her.  "Is it true?"

"It is, precious."

"Why do you call me a pet name?"

"That way I don't slip and call you by the other one," she offered with a faint smile.  He nodded, accepting that.  "She's alive.  Her memories are totally gone.  They can be returned and I've sent the person over tragedies like this to your father."  She stroked his cheek.  "Trust her, Alex.  This is just as hard for her as it is for you."  He nodded quickly, giving her a faint smile in return.  "Good boy.  Go eat, you need to eat."

"I can't eat."

"Well, try.  Let Draco feed you a bit.  He's worried and fussing over you eases that, all right?" He nodded so she smiled.  "By the way, that spell?  Really big hit with my boss.  He said if you did it, he'd make sure none of us ever came at their call." She winked and disappeared.

"Their?" he called.

"Their," she called back.  "As in three total over the years.  Cute ones too!"

He grinned at that, resting his chin on his knees.  Summer cooed at him from her crib so he got up to check on her, changing her diaper because it was stinky.  Then he sat down on the cot with her in his arms, just holding her and appreciating her.  She was so small and fragile, but she was so good.  Draco stuck his head in and he gave him a half-grin.  "Halfrek woke me.  She said if we went through with the spell we'd have three total and they'd never come at their call.  Can we name the girl after her?"

Draco sat down next to him.  "I wouldn't mind."  He looked at the baby.  "She's cute."

"She's also so heavily warded she'll never cause accidental magic," Alex joked.

"True.  Not that it'll matter.  We made it so it'll come off when she's ten.  Then the house'll probably explode but I'm sure it'll be fine."  He stole a kiss and went back to looking at the baby.  "If you want, after you're twenty-one.  Not before you have that meeting with the vampire."

"Sure."  He smiled at the girl playing with his hair. "You are adorable.  You're going to break hearts for decades, sweetness.  I'll teach you how to duel with Draco here, that way you can defend yourself from all the icky boys."  She squealed and babbled at him, making him smile.  "We love you, Summer."

Arthur coughed from the doorway.  "Molly's put out stuff for sandwiches, boys.  Can I have her?"

"No."

The father smiled.  "That's fine then.  Bring her down to come eat."

"I'm not really hungry."

"You'll eat, Alex, or else I'm tying you down and spanking you tonight," Draco ordered.  He stood up and helped his mate up, walking him down the stairs once he had his shoes on.  He fixed him a sandwich and a glass of milk, putting it in front of him.  "Eat."

"Yes, dear."  He nibbled a bit, then softened a piece of bread in his milk, letting her suck it off his finger.

Ron took the baby, shaking his head.  "She's not ready for that yet. Cereal starts at six months old."  He took the bottle from the house elf and plugged the babble.  "There, you eat too."  She sucked happily, kicking and waving at him.  He grinned at her.  "Don't worry, we'll make sure you like to be pretty, unlike your big sister. She's horribly boyish and that's why most blokes don't go for her."

"I'd hit you but you're holding the baby.  Expect it later, Ron," Ginny said, glaring at him.

Molly coughed.  "Dear, you could be a bit more feminine."

"Mum, the last time I was, I nearly got taken as part of a harem."

"She has a point," Arthur admitted with a small grin for his wife.  He heard the crack of someone appearing and smiled at Harry and Tonks, who were kissing already.  "Come eat," he called.

"Harry!  You're traumatizing the baby!"

"And me," Draco announced.  "I don't want to see straight people at the moment."

"Does that mean I can take out the mistress clause?" Alex asked him.  "Make it an every now and then night at a whorehouse?"

"Hey!" Ron said, covering the baby's ears.

Draco considered it, then sighed.  "Fine.  If you want."  Alex kissed him and he smiled. "That's not getting you out of eating.  Eat."

"Yes, dear.  Can I put in a clause that says you get to fuss and spoil me?"

"As long as it's reciprocal," he agreed patiently.

"Thanks."  He blew a kiss and finished his sandwich, stealing the baby back.  "Hi again, Summer.  It's the unclie."

"You need some of your own," Ginny complained. "You're always stealing her when you're over."

"After he's had that talk with the vampire and he finds out what he's not allowed to know," Draco said firmly.

"Fine."  She nibbled on her sandwich.  "Mum, did he send another letter?"

"No, but his wives did," she offered, handing it over.  "We were going to burn it but Charley laughed too long."

Charley stuck his head in, grinning at her.  "At least then you'd get to play with other girly girls."

"I can kick you in the shins again," she reminded him. "Harry, Tonks, come eat!" she bellowed, startling the baby, but Alex got her calm and eating again.  "Sorry, Summer."

Tonks walked Harry in and patted Ginny on the head. "You're nearly scary enough to come work with us.  Wanna?" she asked with a grin.  "Wotcher, Charley."

"Hey, Tonks."  He looked at her, then at Harry, then at her.  "An announcement in the making?"

"They've known."

"Mum, you never tell me the *good* gossip," he complained.

"I didn't want to put that level of naughtiness in a letter, dear.  Eat, all of you."  Alex hopped up and took the baby outside when his father appeared, making her frown a bit.  "Alexander, bring that baby back!  She's not yours!"

"Bet that's a relief," Charley teased.

"No, I'll knock him up some year soon so he can have one of his own," Draco assured him, smirking a bit.  His mother appeared, staring at the people in the back yard, then she hugged the woman.  He got up, wiping his mouth before heading out there.  He got a hug from his mother, smiling at her. "Is everything okay at home?"

"And at school.  We've got a board meeting to attend and I need Molly."

"Molly, board meeting," Draco called.  "An emergency one."

"I'm coming, let me change!"  She hurried up and then came out, letting Narcissa take her to the meeting.

Arthur peered out the door.  "Alexander, we'd like the baby back in a bit if you could," he offered with a small grin. "Whenever your arms get tired or thereabouts."

Draco took the direct route, taking the baby, talking quietly in her ear on the way back to her father.  He handed her over, rolling his eyes.  "He'll have his own by the time he's twenty-three."  He went back to the small pairing, watching his mate cling to his father and stare at his mother. So he took the direct route, peeling his mate off and handing him to his mother.  She slowly hugged him and he slowly hugged back, then it was like suction pulled them together.  He looked up at his mentor.  "We need somewhere more private but around people."

"We can go home," Alex offered, looking at his mother.  "Twirly and Marsette missed you, mum."

She smiled. "What happened to Gibbons?"

"Lucius.  He's dead now," Alex told her.

She blinked.  Then looked at Severus.  "You?"

"Our son and Narcissa."

She looked at her son, seeing his eyes and the pain they held.  "She got to raise you?"  He nodded once.  "Why?"

"A death curse on both of us if dad got near me. I found him once I got to school. She committed suicide fairly quickly after I got sorted into Gryff."

"You're a Gryff?" she asked Draco. Who shook his head quickly, then shuddered.  She looked at her son. "I think we need to catch up."  He nodded, hugging her again.  "Come on, let's head home.  Portkey, Severus?"

He snorted.  "Apparate, boy."  He took him and his mother.  He looked at Draco. "You might as well come too. You'll keep him calm and centered."

Draco smirked.  "And tired and sore and stretched open I have no doubt.  I'm hoping you cleared this one.  Hate to get detention for it."  He disappeared.

Snape looked up.  "Why do I have him as a son-in-law?"

"Can you think of anyone else who could heal your son, make him calm down, and make him a nice guy?" Ginny asked from the doorway.  "No one else, not even Greg and Vinnie together, are strong enough for that."

He nodded at that miniature wisdom and disappeared as well.  He would have to put up with a son-in-law and some possible grandchildren some day.  It made his son too happy for him to complain...much.

***

Epilogue 2:

***

Alex looked up as he walked into the Leaky Cauldron, smiling slightly at the old bartender.  "Ton, I need a private room for a meeting.  My guest is...unorthodox."

"That'd be the stupid vampire who showed up and tried to scare everyone until Hagrid said he's to be here?" he asked.

Alex nodded.  "Yup.  How long has he been here?"

"Two days.  Said you'd pay for his room."  Alex handed over two galleons, making him smile a bit.  "Thanks, sir. Crimson room at the top of the stairs.  He's been well behaved at least."

"Good.  That's always good."  He walked up there, tapping on the door before opening it, staring at the vampire before closing the door.  "I had a dream about you the other night," he noted.  "Then one of my house elves poked me to remind me to come here."

"You said you could know what's going on now," Spike admitted from his seat, sucking on a smoke, curled up next to a sleeping Halfrek.  "This bint here did it ya know."

"No, I don't know, but I know her and she said humanity was hanging in the balance."  He took off his cloak and sat down across from them, looking at Halfrek.  "Is she all right?"

"Nah.  Had a wish undone, she'll fade after this."

"Pity."  She woke up and gave him a weak smile. "I don't want to see you move on."

"I'll haunt you now and then," she promised. "I'll be fine."  She leaned forward and removed all the blocks between the two lives, releasing all his memories of his past one.  Alex groaned and held his head, then looked up at her.  "If I hadn't, Voldemort would still be around.  Glorificus would have come for Summer in her other form.  The First Evil would have shown as well."

Alex nodded, looking at her.  "And I realize I accepted the burden and the sacrifice."

"You did," she agreed, smiling sadly.  "I wish I had been able to put you somewhere else, Alexander."

"Yeah, but it probably had to be.  Everything's worked out okay. I'm happy.  I've got my mom back.  I've still got dad, even though I had to save his life the other day."  He glared at Spike.

"How was I supposed to know?  Looked like one'a us!"

"Shut it, Spike.  I mean it," he said firmly.  He looked at her.  "Am I to go back?"

"If you want.  You don't have to.  Things will stay calm, the sacrifice sealed this timeline."  He nodded at that.  "Do whatever makes you happy, baby.  You've earned it."  She faded out, then disappeared.

Alex rubbed his head, looking at Spike.  "What's going on over there, fangless?"

Spike smirked.  "Red wants ta see ya."  He lit another cigarette off his old one and mashed that one out.  Then he took a deep drag.  "Buffy doesn't understand. Anya wants you back."  He shrugged.  "They want you to come home, whelp."

"I am home, Spike."  He looked at him, staring him down. "I've got a family who loves me.  A husband who spoils me rotten and lets me spoil him.  I've got hobbies that I'm good at and that I adore.  I've got friends and family here that're supportive and people who love me.  I've got my own people to protect, including Summer Weasley.  I might visit to see it and put it behind me, but I'm not staying."

"They'll be hurt."

"I can sense Willow scrying anyway," he said dryly.  Spike raised an eyebrow. "I am a wizard, Spike.  I'm one of the most powerful ones today.  Even if I wasn't happy here, people need me.  I'm helping some kids escape very bad homes with Mum's help.  She and Mrs. Crabbe work on that together.  Draco and I are planning our first kid next year, once I'm over this revelation."

"Then you won't come back?"

"I might visit, but they'll never know. I might even bring Draco with me to show and tell him what he's known and the rest not even he could know," he said quietly, standing up.  "I've had twenty-one years here, Spike.  I've got everything I could ever want.  And some things I don't, like fame.  All I really ever wanted was my family and my mate.  I've got that now. I've also got power dripping out my arsehole and an offer to teach Charms as soon as the old teacher gives up."  He smiled at him.  "I know it's raw for them, but I can't go back to being Xander."

Spike nodded.  "I get that. You gonna stake me now?"

"No, I'll make you a portkey home.  You can swat Willow and tell them that I died upon hearing the news, as soon as the sacrifice was made here.  That the world is safe and that the Xander they knew is only in their memories."

Spike put out his current smoke. "You sure?"

"If I come back to show Draco all of it, I'll be in disguise.  Not even you'll know."  He shook his hand.  "Thank you for keeping them safe.  Try to protect Tara, okay?"

"She's become a feisty one," Spike said with a grin.  "Gives Red hell all the time, Glinda does."  He stood up, looking at him.  "At least you grew up only bent a little bit."

"No, I'm fully bent," he offered with a wicked grin.  "As I'm going to go home and prove to my husband, Draco."

"Poofter then?" Spike said smugly.

"And then some."  He winked.  "Draco does the most incredible things to me."  Spike held up a hand and shuddered.  "Sorry.  Did you want to talk to him?  I know he's downstairs.  I felt him following me.  Then you can explain some things to him and shock the hell outta him. I used to wonder why he felt so familiar when we just met."  Spike raised an eyebrow so he opened the door, smiling at the house elf standing there with two mugs.  "Thank you, dear.  Can you get the blond one up here too?"

"Nip get Mr. Malfoy for you," she agreed, taking the knut of a tip.  "Thank you, Mister Birmingham, sir."  She disappeared.

Alex handed over the blood and sat down to drink his butterbeer, leaving the door open.  Draco walked in and shut it, then stopped to blink at Spike.  "I didn't think you got a good look at him before," he teased.  "Spike, this is Draco Malfoy, my husband.  Dear, this is Spike, from my former life."

"I remember you from when you grabbed him our third year," he admitted, nodding politely and sitting next to his husband.  "What's going on?"

"Halfrek just removed all the blockages.  Spike's from my old life.  The one as Xander."

"Oh.  I see.  And what was he?"

"An annoyance who had a casual friendship with my old group."  He looked at his mate, seeing the worry.  "I'm not going back, not even to visit.  Not unless you wanted to?"

"I...."  Draco found himself at a loss for words.  "I thought you'd want to, take some time off to go there, close things."

"I closed things before I died.  They didn't really need me, Draco," he said quietly, taking his hand to hold.  "If we go back, it'll be in disguise and hidden.  Otherwise I'm putting it all in a pensieve tonight and leaving it there."

Draco looked at him. "You're not going back?"

"Why would I?  Everything I ever wanted or needed is *here*, Drac.  My family.  You.  Our future kids."  Draco relaxed and grinned at that.  "I don't need a former life.   So unless *you* want to visit, I'm considering it a true past life.  I've had twenty-one years here, away from there.  I don't need to go back to that battle."

Draco stole a deep, searching kiss and felt the truth in his mate's response.  He wasn't being abandoned for the former life.  "You're not even curious?"

"I figure if I am, we can go visit in disguise and I'll tell you about it."

Draco nodded, squeezing his hand.  "Not today, but maybe next summer."

"Sure."  He grinned.  "Won't I be pregnant by then?"  Draco blushed and nodded. "Then you'll have to protect me from the big bad menaces there, like Spike."

Draco smirked a bit, looking very wicked and slightly evil.  "That's not a problem.  No one touches what's mine, Alex. You know that."  He stole a deeper kiss, hearing the vampire moan at that.  He looked at him.  "We're sending you home, right?"  He nodded.  "Where?"

"Sunnydale.  The hellmouth."

Alex pulled his wand and created the portkey out of Spike's pack of cigarettes.  "If they truly need me to fight something, something so major they'll all die, come for me here.  Have someone here summon me through the floo.  The same goes for Angel.  Otherwise, I'm just Alexander Birmingham, son of Severus and Elani Snape."  Spike nodded.  "Tell them I'm dead, Spike, and make Willow grieve.  Before she does another will spell."

"Agreed," he said quietly.  "Oz is still around somewhere."

"If I run into him, I'll tell him."

"Sure.  Any other messages?"

"Do they know you found me?"

"That'd be crueler than I usually am.  Peaches knows."  Draco snickered at that.  "Bigger poof than you two are.  And only half as cute."  He looked at Alex again.  "His bird might, she's a seer now."

"Shit happens and I'm sure the Powers will tell her to contact me if they *need* me that way.  Not for anything less than the fate of humanity though.  I've got my own people to guard now."  He kissed the back of Draco's hand.  "Later."

"Later, whelp," Spike said, smirking a bit.  The portkey activated and took him home.  He landed in the old library, looking up at the ruined ceiling, what was left of it.  He lit another cigarette and put the pack into his special pocket so he'd never toss it away.  Something crunched near him and he looked at Tara.  "He thought he felt Red spying."

"He did, but I made her stop.  How is he?"

"Alive.  Dead to us but alive.  He's happy."

"I saw."  She gave him a gentle smile. "The portkey?"  He patted his pocket.  "You could be dust, Spike."

"Make a new one 'en," he offered with a grin. "He's only over in England."

She nodded. "True. I'll take the signature from it later."  She walked over and helped him sit up, staring at him.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Glinda.  Red'll be howling."

"I took it from her.  To her and everyone, Xander's dead."  Anya faded in, glaring at her. "To you too."

"I doubt he'd be calling on her anyway considering he's as gay as any float I've ever seen."  Tara blushed at that. "Hot too.  His little nancy poof looks a bit like me," he said smugly, smirking at Anya.  "Very protective of him too.  Wanted to stake me on sight.  You could tell by his body language.  Xan is his and staying his no matter what comes for him."

Anya pouted. "It's not fair!"  She looked up. "D'Hoffryn!" she whined.

He appeared and laid a hand on her head.  "He's earned his reward by saving humanity," he ordered, taking it from her.  All she knew was that her mate was dead and he had allowed her to come back. He looked at Spike and Tara. "You can wish the same for the others."

"I would, but Ethan knows," Tara told him.  "He had to help him a few years back.  So Giles knows."

"No, Giles has heard of Mr. Birmingham but he thinks he's an evil bastard like the Malfoys are."  He smirked a bit.  "His family's reputation was very handy for that."

"Hallie hated where you stuck him," Spike reminded him.

"She got to mitigate what she could and the rest was solved when he was eleven.  It made him strong enough to help Potter save the world."  Spike nodded at that.  "It also gave him the desire to search out his own happiness instead of letting it come for him.  Something your Xander lacked."  He moved closer.  "Neither of you should remember."

"Sometimes we've got to.  He's promised to help if there's that big of an emergency," Tara told him.

D'Hoffryn considered it then nodded.  "Very well, you may remember, but you may not speak of it, except to write out a letter to Angel tell him about the sacrifice and how it was necessary.  It solved the end of days coming for him as well."  He laid a hand on both their heads, smiling at Tara.  "You are so cute, daughter of Rayne."  She blushed and nodded.  "You knew?"  She nodded.  "Interesting."

"He told me the first time he saw me.  He showed up to find me and my mother tried to kill him."

"With your parents, I'd have clapped and cheered him on," D'Hoffryn assured her.  He disappeared in a small burst of flame.

Spike looked at her.  "Does Ripper know you're the spawn of his old fuck buddy?"

She pinched him.  "No and he'd better not ever find out if you want to remain unstaked."  She smiled and walked out, dragging him with her to write the letter to Angel and Cordelia.  She'd put it more kindly than he would.  And someday she'd gloat at Giles when her dad showed up again.

***

Draco took Alex home, putting him to bed once he had put everything into the pensieve and let him watch it. He stared down at his man, aware of what a gift he had.  He had known before but now he was even more certain that this was the real savior of their world, not Potter.  He found the spell he had devised, sitting down to read it over again, mentally thinking about who they could ask to donate for them.

Alex rolled over, hugging him gently.  "We're asking Tonks."

"She's not a pureblood," he said quietly.  She was just up the hallway.

"It won't matter.  We're taking out her stuff and turning it into one of ours. We could even use a muggle for it, Draco."

"I designed it to use a pureblood," he told him.

"Then ask Millie. She doesn't want kids.  This'll make sure she won't have one for at least another three months."

"Point," he agreed, happier about that.  He stole a kiss and snuggled in to hold him.  "Are you *sure*, Alex?"

"Ask me again and what I did to you on the train that first time will seem like nothing this time," he teased.  "I'm fine, Draco.  I'm over it."  Draco nodded, giving him a squeeze.  "Some day, we'll go watch them.  Otherwise I'm fine."

"Good.  When did you want to go?"

"Next Solstice so we can ignore the ball?" he asked hopefully.

Draco snickered and shook his head.  "Mum would be most upset."

"Yeah, but we'd have the baby by then so she'd get the granddaughter to introduce."

"She'd skin us."

"Point."  He licked over Draco's chin, making him shiver. "Can you maybe pound me into the bed tonight?"

"If you want.  I was going to slowly and gently remind you who you belonged to and make you scream louder than Potter."  Alex grinned at that and nodded.  "Get up and strip for me, Alex.  I need to see you come to my side willingly."  Alex gave him a kiss and got up, stripping off everything but his wedding band.  Even his socks went, though he did have cold toes.   He moved closer and knelt beside where Draco was sitting, just as he had on their wedding night.  Draco sat up and pushed his face up, kissing him deeply.  He stripped off, showing his mate what he was getting, then helped his mate into their bed.  He looked at the spell, then at him, then smirked and went to talk to the Weasley brat since she was up the hall as well.  Their house was being fumigated and Alex had offered them a spot so he could spoil Summer some more.  He found her and Summer curled together in a chair, looking at her.  "I'm taking one of your eggs to make our own.  You care?" he said lazily.

"That's a hell of a way to ask," she said blandly.  "Will it hurt?"

"A bit.  Your cycle should start tomorrow.  It won't be yours."

"I'm not planning on using 'em," she said with a shrug.  "As long as you're not making mum a grandmum I don't mind.  I like and appreciate Alex."

He smirked.  "Good."  He went back to their room, laying out the candles while his mate stroked himself on their bed, making him harder than he had ever been.  He cast the spell, feeling it take in his mate's body, then climbed in with him.  It was a glorious feeling, knowing what he was about to do.  He kissed and caressed every inch of his lover's body.  His cock got lavished with attention and love, but not allowed to release, not yet.  Draco spread him out and mounted him, staring down at his face, panting hard.  "One for now, one for later," he promised.  Alex nodded, biting his lip, giving him such an adoring look.  He kissed him and they both let go, moaning as the magic washed over them.  He felt it, he knew.  It hadn't been Ginny's, it had been Summer's.  She had been holding the baby, but she was fine.  It wouldn't hurt her either.  Once the magic cleared, Draco got to work pleasing his mate for coming home to him.  "You're the one who makes me nice," he whispered as he worked himself in and out of his husband's body.  "You're the one who keeps me in the light and on the slightly good side."  Alex moaned at that, arching up.  "You're the one who makes it all okay every time something prompts a dark thought or a dark desire.  You're the one anchor I have," he whispered.

Alex flipped them over, riding his husband, smiling down at him.  "Ditto."  Draco laughed and held him, helping him pleasure the both of them.  "Are you carrying one of these?"

"Bloody hell, Alex.  No!"  He grinned at him and pushed up really hard, making Alex moan and clutch at his arms.  "You're much more suited to being so soft and gentle.  Summer likes you more anyway."

"Fine, I'll be the mommy and you'll be the daddy, but the mommy had better get lovin' every single night for the rest of our lives or else daddy's going to be hexed into being on the bottom and having the next one."

Draco laughed.  "I don't mind being on the bottom, but I'm not carrying one of our children, Alex."  He stroked over his stomach.  "What did you want?" he asked suddenly.

Alex blushed.  "A girl.  Halfrek?"

"I can agree to that," he promised, flipping them back over so he could get back to work, stealing a deep, breathing stealing kiss before plunging back into his husband's body.  "Mine?"

"Yours," Alex moaned, arching up into him.  "Please, Draco!"

"All yours," he vowed, stroking him until he got off, getting off in him.  He rested on his mate's shoulder, one arm over his chest.  "We've got to tell your father tomorrow so he can get the drinking out of his system."

"Hmm," Alex said sleepily, yawning a bit.  "After you suck me off before breakfast.  We'll announce it then."

Draco smiled, stroking the soft skin as his baby slept.  His hand moved down, stroking over the firm stomach.  He'd have to make sure Alex didn't get *that* big.  Someone knocked on the door and he growled. "Go away!"  He used his wand to blow out the candles, but the door opened anyway.  "What?"

"You got Summer."

"I noticed. She fine?"

"Yeah, and I told mum already.  She's presently sobbing that she doesn't have grandkids, so I'm going to go stay with the twins for the night."  He waved and she floated the crib into the room, putting it beside their bed. "Practice," she said with a smirk, heading off after she closed their door.

Draco checked the baby, then settled in to nap as well.  Summer still got up some nights but he was sure she'd be nice and let them sleep tonight.

She smiled at her uncles.  They were so cute!  Even naked!

***

Alex wandered into the dining room the next morning, seeing their entire family there.  He flopped down and looked at everyone.  "Coffee."  A cup appeared, along with his usual breakfast.  "Twirly, Marsette, come out here please.  Draco wants to tell you something," he called after taking a sip.

Draco walked in with Summer, smirking at bit at the mothers in the room.  "Ginny was holding her when we stole her eggs.  She's got a mild tummy ache but nothing else."  She handed her off.  Snape was blinking.  His wife was looking very confused.  Molly was sniffling and dotting at her eyes with her napkin.  His own mother was giving him a speculative look.  Sirius looked like he needed more coffee, which Remus was pouring onto the table.  Harry and Tonks were both smirking a bit, but looked like they were ready to go back to bed.  Ron shuddered and Greg and Vinnie both choked at that news.  He kissed his mate and looked around again.  "Yes, he's having our child, we're hoping for a daughter. If you so much as make him have a mood swing I'm taking him and hiding him from all you lot until she's born.  He's mine."

Alex beamed at him. "I love it when you get overprotective."

"It's what a good husband does."  He stole another kiss then sat down to start his own breakfast.  "Lupin, you're burning your leg," he said patiently.  He quit pouring the coffee onto the table and down his thigh, just blinking.

Twirly squealed.  "Twirly and Marsette have babies!" she screamed, hugging first Marsette, then Elani, then Alexander's stomach.  "Oh, Twirly and Marsette must start on nursery for baby!   Must have many things!"

"Not until we're sure what it is," Alex said, staring her down.  She sniffled and looked pitiful.  "I just got pregnant last night. You've got nine months."  She let it go, still looking hurt.  "Pick out a space for the nursery first."  She nodded and they went up to examine each room and write down their favorites.

Severus looked at Narcissa.  "Well, you got your wish. You'll have someone to spoil."

"I'm much too young," she said, pouting at her son. "You didn't want to wait a year?"

"No," he said simply, taking Alex's hand to hold.  "Sorry, mum, but you're going to be a grandmother soon."  She sniffled and burst out crying, so Severus handed her his napkin.

Elani smiled at her son.  "I hope you have better morning sickness than I had, dear."

He grinned. "It doesn't matter to me."

She smirked a bit. "You say that now.  Just wait."

Draco smirked a bit more wickedly.  "I wrote it so it'd be an easy, mostly painless, uncomplicated pregnancy. All he'll do is gain some weight and look stunning."  He stole another kiss.  "Eat," he ordered.

Sirius put down his cup of coffee.  "I'm not sure I can."  He looked at Harry.  "Are you planning on that?"

"Nym said she doesn't want kids until she makes sergeant.  Then she'll take the year off to have our baby.  Our only baby."

She beamed at him.  "True," she agreed happily.  "We're only having the one so you boys can spoil him to death without nagging for more."

Molly patted her on the hand.  "I said the same thing," she said, still crying a bit.  She looked at Ron. "Where's Patrice, dear?"

"Rome.  I'll call her later. It's still early there, mum."  She smiled at him and wiped her eyes off. "Patrice said she doesn't want any for the next two years, mum.  Nag the twins, Charley, Bill, and Percy.  Or even Ginny."

"She took off to stay with the twins last night," Draco told him.

"That'd be a child who would end the school," Remus said, shaking his head.  "Sorry, bad mental image."  Alex snickered at that.  "You know Flitwick wants to retire in five years.  Are you bunching any others together?"

"No."

"We've got a house by Hogsmeade or we can floo in each day from here," Draco assured him. He occasionally substituted for Severus. He looked at his father-in-law.  "You could have another one."

"No, one's enough," he assured him.  "I'll get bothered by messy hands soon enough."

Elani coughed and looked amused. "Ooops?" she offered.  He passed out.  "He did that the first time too."  Alex snickered and leaned over to hug her.  "Oh, Alex, we'll work it out.  Everything will be fine.  She'll be beautiful and have my hair."

"My hair," Draco ordered.

"What about mine?" Alex asked them.

"Our son, dear, our son."  Draco patted him on the hand and smiled at him. "Say, five years from now?"

"If I start teaching then, that'd be really hard."

"Not really.  You could lounge all day while teaching charms," Ron told him.  "Flitwick leaned most of the time."  Harry nodded to agree.  Tonks giggled.  "He did."

"He did in our year too."   She smirked at him.  "You're going to be fat and round soon, Alex.  Then what'll Draco do for sex?"

Alex looked at his mother.  "You can't have sex?"

"I did, right up until the day Draco was born," Narcissa assured him.  "That's why Draco was born when he was."  Draco blushed at that. "Didn't your father tell you that?"

"It's not like we talked about such things," Draco said sarcastically, staring her down.  "Quit picking on my husband please.  Congratulate him later."  He dug in, handing Alex the milk.  He got a grin for it.  His mate would tell him if he was overcompensating or being too pushy.  He might wake up a Weasley, but he'd know.

Severus woke up and looked at his son. "I'll stock up on common remedies," he promised, going to do that and hide in his lab.  That way he could drink in private.  He called Minerva, getting a smiling, happy woman, who was probably slightly tipsy.  "Draco did the spell.  It worked."

"Good thing it's the holidays," she said happily, tipping her flask at him.  "I'll tell Flitwick."  She hung up and told him, clinging flasks together.  It was going to be a merry holiday this year.

The End.

Table of Contents

Year One: The Beginning. 2

Year Two: Darker and Darker 38

Year Three: Another Mystery. 143

Year Four: Crashing To A Head. 195

Year Five: The Year That Things Start to Ease Off. 271

Year Six: The Head Of It All. 343