Gender Blending

Warnings: Transgender hijinx.

NOTES: DEFINITE OotP SPOILERS!!

Ron gave his big brothers a wary look. "It's only two days until your birthday, you won't get into trouble," Fred assured him.

"You can just hand us stuff," George agreed. "We'll do all the magic."

Ron sighed and slumped in on himself. "Will it hurt?"

"It shouldn't," George told him, giving him a smile and a pat on the shoulder. "Relax, it'll be very helpful."

"What does this new prank do?" Ron asked, looking at the ingredients. Not that he could identify most of them.

"It'll turn you into a girl for a day or two," Fred told him with a bright smile. "Lets you know all about them."

"Why would anyone want to do that?" Ron asked, inching backwards.

"How many times have you tried to figure out a girl? Or even a girl's body?" George asked.

"This way, you'll understand first hand. It can only help in most relationships."

"Besides, most boys have wondered what to do with girls anyway, this way they can figure it out in private," George finished happily. "Come on." He grabbed Ron's leg and pulled him closer again. "It won't hurt."

"If you say so," Ron said, giving him a skeptical look. "Have you tried this out before?"

"On mice," Fred assured him. "Worked perfectly. We're working on the dosage now."

"What are you going to do if mum notices she suddenly has more than one daughter?"

Fred smiled at him. "It shouldn't be that noticeable. Wear big shirts, it'll be fine." He went back to mixing. Finally he held a hand out and the last tray of ingredients was handed to him by Ron. "Thank you." He mixed those in, crushing them in the mortar with the other stuff. When he was done he pulled up a gob and formed two balls. "Here you go. I, of course, will write down any comments you make so we have proof that it works."

George handed one ball to Ron. "Just swallow, don't try to chew it. We'll work on flavoring it later." He swallowed his ball with a grimace. "Tastes bad."

"I know. I was thinking a grape flavor," Fred told him, making a note. He looked at Ron and his eyes bugged out. "Well, it does work on humans," he said, nodding at him. He looked over the firm, yet smaller body. "Oh." He looked at Ron. "Feel about yourself for a moment," he suggested.

"Why did we keep our dangly bits?" George asked as he looked past his small breasts at his own equipment. He patted himself down and found the extra opening. "The rest is there."

Ron started to shake, flopping backwards. A small seizure. "Damn!" Fred said, jumping up to get the antidote. "He shouldn't be allergic to any of this," he said as he poured it into Ron's mouth, watching and waiting while George forced his swallowing reflex. He sat down to make notes on everything they'd done.

George looked at Ron. "It's not fading," he said quietly. Fred looked up in alarm. "Did you vary the formula at all, Fred?"

"I increased the dosage by one half," Fred admitted. "It had to be done because of the differences of mass." He looked at Ron again and swallowed. "Mum's going to kill us."

"I think we'd better wake Ron up and get him back to the house," George agreed. He looked down at himself again. "This isn't right. I'm shrinking again."

Fred watched as his brother turned into his sister with some trepidation. "Hopefully it'll wear off. Did you swallow the whole thing?" George nodded, looking a bit miserable. "Calm down. It'll last a day, two days at the most."

"Hopefully," George said, looking at Ron again. The antidote still hadn't worked. He stood up and Fred followed his lead, waking Ron up and taking him back to the Burrow between them. By the end of the apparation, Ron was awake again. "Go to bed and try to sleep," he whispered. "We'll be back in the afternoon."

Ron looked at him, then at Fred. "What happened?" he asked. Neither twin said anything. "What happened?" he asked a bit louder.

"Shh." Fred hugged him so he could talk next to his ear. "There was a small problem, Ron, you just had a small seizure. We've given you the antidote and it hasn't worked yet," he whispered. "You'll be fine."

"How long was it supposed to take to work?" Ron whispered back.

"By now, but we're sure it'll work soon," George offered. Ron looked at him, starting to look a bit shocked. "Fred?"

Fred looked at Ron. "Go wake up mum and send her down, we'll go with you to the hospital," he decided. "It's our fault after all." Ron nodded, walking unsteadily up the stairs. "We are in such trouble," he told his twin.

George hit him on the arm. "This had better wear off or I *swear* you're going to wish you were a bludger."

"There are days when I already do," Fred sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "This is our first mistake."

"It'll be fixed. I'm sure someone can fix it," George told him.

Ron knocked on his parent's door. "Mum?" he called quietly.

"Go away," Arthur called back.

Ron walked in. "Mum, it's important." Both parents looked at him. "I was helping the twins with their latest prank."

"What's wrong?" Molly asked. "Do you feel ill?"

"No, mum, I think it's a bit worse than that," Ron squeaked, starting to feel nauseous. "I think it's very bad and the twins said I should see someone soon." He wobbled and his father lunged, catching him before he could land on the floor.

"Dear Merlin, he has breasts," Arthur breathed.

Molly grabbed her bathrobe and put it on as she lit the lamps around the room. She checked her last son over, starting to get very angry. "He's got both," she said finally. "Boys!" she yelled.

Fred and George came up the stairs. "We gave him the antidote, it's not working yet," Fred told her.

Arthur was staring at George and eventually nudged Molly. "Put on some clothes, I think we need to see someone stronger than we are." Molly headed for the closet to pull both of them clothes to wear, then went to get something more comfortable for George and Ron. "What happened?" he asked while she was out of the room.

"It's supposed to change you for a day or two, so boys can know what girls are like," George told him.

"He had a small seizure and we immediately applied the antidote," Fred agreed, starting to nod. "Then we brought him right here."

"We'll talk about this later," Arthur said calmly. "Go wake up Ginny and let her know we'll be back soon." He stood up and got dressed, letting them watch over Ron.

"Do you have your notes?" Molly asked as she walked back in, handing George one of her old dresses and folding the other set of clothes up for Ron.

"A full set," Fred agreed. "I took notes on everything."

"We're always very careful, mum, you know that," George reminded her as he put on the dress. She snorted. "We came back here as soon as he was awake."

"Fine. You'll be coming with us to explain yourself," she said firmly. She got dressed in the bathroom and came back, letting her husband lift Ron so they could start to the hospital.

***

The mediwitch smiled as she came in, then looked at the twins, clapping. "You screwed it so very badly," she told them, still smiling. "His change is permanent."

"The seizure?" Fred asked.

"Yes, unfortunately it set it in," she said, walking over to where Ron was awake now. "I'm sorry, young man, we can't reverse this one. There's a good chance it will wear off in a few years."

"YEARS!" Ron shouted. "What am I supposed to do until then!"

"Well, the wonderful news is that you're in a state of flux," she explained, pulling out a chart. "This is how you're going to be until this wears off. Six days out of the month you'll be fully female. Six days out of the month, you'll be fully male. The rest will be a transition. It looks like you'll spend four days in each transition period being fully both, then slowly shrink the inappropriate ...organ as you change to fully one or the other." Ron gaped at her.

Molly coughed. "There's no chance of it dissolving sooner, like before he has to start school?"

The mediwitch shook her head, looking sad. "I'm sorry. I've asked everyone, even the reproductive people can't figure out how to fix this." She looked at the twins. "Your notes were a big hit though. They've taken them to look over."

"It worked on mice," George offered. "What about mine?"

"It should wear off," she said with a shrug, "with the wonderful side effect of you'll change randomly. Just out of the blue sometimes probably, no set schedule that we could find."

George blinked, then looked at his twin. "Do run," he suggested pleasantly. Fred hugged him and George shoved him. "How am I supposed to date like this?"

"Find someone very understanding," Arthur noted dryly, glaring at the twins. "We'll be discussing this later," he promised them. He looked at Ron, then at the nurse. "What about....children and things?" he asked, putting it delicately.

"As far as the reproductive person could tell, there's only a slight chance he'll ever be fertile." Ron sighed and seemed to slump in on himself. "If he does have a female cycle it may not synch with his change cycle so he might only have it once every three months. If he starts to have one, he'll definitely be fertile that way. If he doesn't, there's a good chance he may be fertile as a male, when he's fully male."

"What about the in-between times?" Ron asked quietly.

"As far as we can tell, you're not going to be fertile then. As of this moment, that is a guess," she said seriously. "So take all precautions if and when you decide to try things out." Ron shuddered. She gave him a reassuring smile. "Consider this, young man. You will be about the only man alive who can understand what a woman is saying when she yells at her boyfriend, what she's thinking about, and understand exactly why most boys take a long time to figure out a woman's body." She patted him on the foot. "It could be much worse."

"How would we handle feminine clothes and that sort of thing?" Molly asked.

The mediwitch shrugged. "I don't do much with clothing. Mostly I wear my clothes for here and a few pairs of jeans. You might ask someone like Madam Malkin herself." She smiled at the whole family. "Is there anything else we can do for you?" They shook their heads. "Ron, remember that schedule. Take it with you to school and put it up beside your bed. I'm sending notice to Madam Pomfrey so she can watch out for you, especially to see if you start having monthlies." He shuddered. "It'll be fine," she promised, patting him on the leg again. "At least they didn't turn you into a half-human or an animal."

"No, they just turned me into half a man," he said, glaring at the twins. "After dad's finished with you, I get a chance."

"We'll let you pummel them later," Arthur soothed, stroking his son's arm. "Is there anything else we have to be wary of?"

"Try to keep him from trying everything at once," she advised. "Go slowly with your experimentations. Don't go wild one weekend and decide to get it all done at once, Ron, you won't enjoy it as much and you'll find you'll be disappointed." She signed Ron's release order and left them alone.

Molly took the chart and put it into her purse. "Boys, home," she said firmly. Ron looked at her. "We'll floo over to Madam Malkin's right now, Ron," she told him. "Let your father yell at them for now." She took his hand and helped him off the bed, letting him lead the way to the floos.

Arthur looked at the twins, shaking his head. "I'm disappointed in you boys, you should have done more testing first." They nodded, looking at the floor. "Apparate home, I'm right behind you." They left and Arthur gathered up any stray bits of things they had left lying around, cleaning up the balled up tissues from Ron's crying and things like that. It wasn't good to make the mediwitches clean up after them. He headed home.

***

Ron looked over as Harry appeared in the backyard with the twins around him. "Hey, Harry," he called, waving from his seat.

Harry walked over and stopped, looking at him. He licked his lips. "What happened?"

"The twins backfired," he said bitterly, glaring at them.

"Want some juice, Ron?" Fred asked, hurrying into the house. George scurried after him, his dress flowing around his ankles.

"I thought they had done something very odd to George," Harry said as he sat beside his friend. "What did they do to you?"

"Same thing. Only now I get to be *both*," Ron said bitterly, adjusting the tubetop he had on under his shirt. "I'll tell you tonight," he sighed. "I'm in the middle of a mood swing and I'd really like to sulk for a bit."

"Okay," Harry agreed. "Am I sharing your room?"

"Yeah, you are." Ron gave him a hug. "I'm sorry I'm such a bastard, but this is horrible," he said quietly.

"Whatever it is, we can get through it," Harry assured him, patting him on the back. "You rest and we'll talk tonight after everyone's gone to bed."

"Can you help me plan on how to get back at the twits?"

"Sure," Harry said with a grin, heading into the house with his trunk. "Hi, Mrs. Weasley," he said, giving her a hug. "Thank you taking me in again."

"It's not a problem," she assured him with a smile. She patted his clothes smooth. "Did Ron tell you anything, dear?"

"Not yet. He said he'd tell me tonight."

"That's fine then. Just don't stare at him or George, it tends to set them off a bit." Harry nodded, looking confused. "You'll understand soon enough," she promised, handing him a sandwich. "Eat up, you look like they starved you again."

"Not quite," he said with a smile. "But nearly. Dudley's on a diet again. He's in *training*." They shared a laugh and he went to put his things in Ron's room. He walked back downstairs, eating the sandwich. He found George sitting in the living room looking miserable and Fred nowhere nearby. "You look nice in that," he said as he sat in the chair across from him. "It's a new look though."

George looked at him. "Ron didn't tell you?"

Harry shook his head. "He said tonight."

George laughed bitterly. "We botched up our latest trial run of a new prank. We're stuck this way for a bit." He hung his head, covering his face with his hands.

Harry looked him over, and the gears inside his brain suddenly slid into place. "You're a girl!" he said suddenly.

George looked up at him. "Yeah, I am. Ron's a half at the moment."

"At the moment," Ron agreed as he walked in. "Come on, Harry. I'll explain now. Otherwise things are going to get strange tonight. Mum said you're taking the fuckup's room instead of mine."

"Language," Mrs. Weasley yelled from the kitchen.

"Okay, Ron, whatever she says," Harry agreed, following his friend up the stairs. "What's going on?" he asked as soon as they were safely locked in Ron's room.

Ron flopped backwards onto his bed. "The twins were trying to make something so blokes could change into girls for a day so they could figure them out."

"That sounds helpful. Not everyone has someone like Hermione to explain women to them," Harry agreed, starting to frown. "So?"

"They botched the formula badly." He pointed at a nice chart on the wall. "That's now my life. George suddenly turns into a girl for no reason and I'm stuck changing back and forth, like the tides."

Harry stood up and walked over to the chart, finally squeaking and pointing at what he saw.

Ron nodded. "Yup, that's me. That's why mum decided it wasn't proper to have you in here this summer." He gave a bitter laugh. "This is not fun, no matter what they thought it would be. George has nearly lost his girlfriend over this and I'm not sure what Hermione's going to say." He pulled his pillow over his face. "I just want this to go away."

Harry laid down beside Ron and hugged him. "It'll be okay, we'll get through this together, Ron," he said quietly. "I'll even help protect you from the mean bastards at the school."

Ron hugged him back. "Thanks, Harry. Will you protect me from myself too?"

Harry pulled back. "You aren't going to try it out?" he asked with a grin.

"Oh, probably, but I'm not ready to think about doing that yet," Ron said, making a disgusted face. "Maybe not ever."

"Then I'll gladly protect you," Harry agreed, "even from yourself." He stood up and gathered up his trunk and the few things he had taken out of it. "Per...the fuckup's room?"

"Yeah. Next door." Ron pointed. "Ginny's in her room already."

"Thanks." Harry grinned. "Think about how confused Malfoy's gonna be when he sees you. You're going to be mid-female on the ride up."

Ron laughed for the first time in weeks. "Thanks, Harry, I needed that."

"Anytime. Let me drop this off and we'll go fly, okay?"

"Sure. I need to work on my balance . Madam Malkin said I'd need to." Ron stood up and readjusted the tube top again. "I don't like this thing."

Harry peeked at the spot Ron held out. "Tube top?"

"Alternate bra."

"Oh." Harry nodded. "For when it changes sizes?" Ron nodded. "Decent idea. The muggles have those in a lot of colors and fabrics. We could look when I have to go clothes shopping, if your mother agrees."

"She should," Ron admitted. "I'll ask her." He hurried downstairs to tell his mother the good news. "Mum, Harry said the muggles wear these sort of things all the time," he told her.

She smiled. "Good. Then I'll change some money over and we'll see what we can find," she agreed, giving him a hug. "How did he take it?"

"Wonderfully. Made a joke and all. He's right though, Malfoy's face is going to be priceless." He grinned and ran to get his broom. "We're going to practice."

"Have fun, dear," she called, watching as both boys ran out the door with their brooms. Molly smiled. "Trust Harry Potter to find a solution to even the worst things," she sighed in contentment.

***

Ron looked at the small rack then at Harry. "At least it's more than Madam Malkin had," he offered.

"It's the end of the summer. There's always more at the beginning," Harry admitted. He smiled at a saleswoman. "My friend here uses tube tops as bras under our uniforms. Do you have any more than that?"

She looked at the masculine looking young woman. "We have a few more on another rack, or we have sports bras," she offered.

"My weight fluctuates," Ron told her.

"Ah." She nodded. "Sports bras are still practical." She led her over to the rack and showed the few they had off. "These will flatten you down and give you a bit more support than those others do, young lady."

Ron looked at them. "What about when my weight fluctuates? I have this horrible time losing a cup size and regaining it." Not exactly a lie. He was only a 'c' cup by muggle standards, as the woman in the last store had told him.

"That's not a problem with these. This particular style is meant for a few cups." She handed one to Ron. "Go ahead and try it on." Ron nodded and walked into the changing room. So she went to help Harry. "Did you or your girlfriend need more help?"

Harry held up a shirt. "Would this be too girly for me?"

"Not in the least," she said pleasantly. "Are you gay?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm more not dating so I don't have to deal with attachments at this time," he admitted.

"Oh, you poor thing," she said, giving him a brief hug. "Yes, you could wear that easily. It should fit you."

Harry leaned closer. "I want to buy her something as well, can you help me with that? I've got three hundred pounds left on my shopping trip and only one more stop for me."

"We have modestly priced outfits over here," she said, leading him over to where some of the nicer outfits were. "Something like this?"

"I want her in something that'll make the other boys in school shut up. She's like my brother," he explained.

"Ah." She pulled out a small, gauzy, pearl gray and blue strapless dress. "How about this?"

Ron walked out and saw the outfit. "Putting my sister in something?" he asked suspiciously.

Harry grinned at him. "Something for the entering feast," he admitted. "Just to shut Malfoy up."

Ron walked over and looked at the dress, then at Harry. "Not a chance are you getting me into a dress, Harry. You know it won't happen for a while."

The salesgirl coughed. "Then let's try something like this," she said, holding out the more respectable pants and tiny top. "You do have an extraordinary body, it's clear you work out."

Ron looked at the pants, then the top. "Jeans?" he suggested. "Anything I get has to last me for a while." She nodded happily and pulled out a pair of hip huggers in his size, handing them over. "Thanks. Oh, the bra thingy fit." He walked back into the changing room, putting on the outfit. He came out and Harry whistled, then blushed. "I look good?" he asked, looking in the mirrors. He had to admit, he had a fantastic rear and since he was close to being all female he looked wonderful in the outfit. "I like this. But only for those special days," he decided, tugging at the top. "I think I need one a bit bigger."

"Oh, I know just the thing," the saleswoman said as she hurried to pull something off one of the sales racks. "It's still warm enough to wear this for a bit longer," she announced as she handed it over. "Try that one."

Ron walked into the changing room and changed shirts, coming back out in the tight tank top with the scoop neckline, which made the most of his tits. "I think this is a bit much."

"Put one of your uniform shirts over it," Harry suggested.

"Layering is always fashionable," the saleswoman agreed.

Ron looked at himself again, tucking in the tanktop to show off his flat stomach. "Okay, I guess I can splurge a bit."

"I've got this, consider it a breaking-in present," Harry said with a grin. "I'll take it, and the bras he'll need."

"I've got those. Mum gave me money," Ron said firmly.

"Then you get some more, that way you don't run out." Harry grinned and went to help him pick out some colors.

"We wear white shirts, Harry," Ron complained. But he accepted the two real bras, the few sports bras, and the three tube tops he liked, paying for as much of it as he could. Harry even let him carry the bag and wear the new clothes out. "You get to tell mum."

"I'm sure she won't be too upset with me," Harry said with a nudge. "Come on, I need jeans." He led the way to the department store, going to find himself some clothes that actually fit him. Since he was never going back to the Durselys, he could do that now. He came out with two bags of his own, enough to give him a week and a half worth of clothes, including sweats and pajamas. They called the knight bus and got on, heading back to the Burrow. "Mrs. Weasley," Harry called as they walked in. "I got Ron an outfit if that's okay."

"That's fine, dear," she called, coming out to meet them. Her smile faded a bit when she saw Ron's chest, but she started smiling again quickly. "I had no idea you were going to be that well formed," she said, hugging Ron. "You're adorable. And those clothes look wonderful on you, Ron. Don't forget to pack them." She kissed him on the forehead. "Did they have many?"

"They had those and something else," Ron said, taking off his shirt to show her. "They had these. They're meant for a few different sizes at once so it can expand and contract on me," he said happily. "And it gives more support. Now I know why Ginny complains about her back sometimes."

"I'm afraid that's more her monthlies," Molly told him, still smiling.

"Will you have those?" Harry asked.

"We don't know yet," Ron admitted, looking disgusted. "That's just icky."

"Sorry." He blushed. "I got myself some very nice clothes too," he said proudly. "And a shirt from the same place," he said as he dug it out. "See?"

Molly looked at the metallic blue shirt and smiled at him. "That looks like a girl's shirt, dear."

"It is, but I liked it and I couldn't find another one so I got it for myself," Harry admitted, grinning. "I dare anyone to say anything."

"I'm sure we can fix it so the buttons are on the right side," she assured him. "Go put your things away." She put a hand on Harry's arm. "You didn't have to."

Harry nodded, still grinning. "Yes, I did. He's wearing it on the train so we can shut Malfoy up about it from the beginning." Molly opened her mouth. "Really, it's better this way, otherwise it's going to get worse and he'll end up getting into a lot more fights. Plus, the girls will be behind him if they can *see* that he's going to be like them part of the time."

Molly relaxed. "That's good thinking, Harry, thank you." She kissed him on the cheek. "Did you have fun?"

"Lots. Besides, that whole outfit was on sale," he lied. "It's fine. I have the money to spend. Think of it as a reward for putting up with my bad taste all afternoon." He winked and hurried upstairs. He found Ron trying to put on one of the regular bras. "Sorry," he said, ducking back out.

"Get back in here and help me," Ron whined.

"Ron! I can't do that! You're partially naked!" Harry pointed out. "Ginny!" Ginny's head popped out of her room. "Ron needs some technical help."

"Fine," she sighed, coming down to help her sister. "Ooh, a bra." She showed him both ways of putting it on then stepped back and watched him. "Good job! It's nice to know someone else has a good rack in the family." She hit him on the arm. "George has those little tiny tits and he gets away without having to wear a bra." She strolled out and smirked at Harry. "You'd think you were scared of them," she scoffed.

"It's not like I see a set every day," Harry reminded her. She laughed and went back to her room. "Are you decent yet, Ron?" he called.

"Yeah."

Harry walked in and flopped down on the end of Ron's bed, watching him try on his new female clothes, the stuff his mother had bought him. "I have what may seem like a silly question. Are you going to change your name during your exclusively female times?"

"What?" Ron turned to look at him, and quickly remembered he didn't have a shirt on. He pulled on the first one he found. "What gave you that idea?"

"Well, when the muggles who change sex with an operation do it, they change their names," Harry offered. He shrugged. "Just a random question."

"I think that'd get confusing," Ron told him, laying down facing him. "Can you imagine Snape's face the first time he gets confused?"

Harry laughed. "Yeah, I can." He reached over and nudged Ron on the arm. "What are you going to do first? On the train?"

"Well, I got a letter from Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey already saying they knew and were going to try and protect me. I guess I'm going to talk to Hermione first, since I'm dating her and all, then see what happens. Maybe go talk to the ladies in the house, get their support up front." Harry nodded. "You wanna come with me?"

"I think someone had better. Has it affected your magic?"

"I find doing some things easier in my completely one or the other phase, but not in the center stuff. I think I'm getting overloaded, but we'll have to see about that." He grinned. "Wouldn't that be great, for me to have finally figured out why it takes me so long to learn everything?"

"Hopefully it won't make you go off badly," Harry told him. Ron giggled. He reached over to touch the more delicate nose. "You're so different like this, Ron," he said quietly. "It'll take some getting used to, but I can see that you're still you."

"You bet I am," Ron said, batting at the hand touching him. "Stop that. It makes me feel funny."

Harry grinned. "More than you usually do?"

Ron punched him on the shoulder. "Grumpy. Making fun of me will only get you beaten up. I'll have to tell Malfoy that you're my big protector and he has to go through you to hit me."

Harry gave him a serious look. "He's going to know that anyway," he said firmly.

"I can still take care of myself," Ron said, looking serious. "This changes nothing else, Potter."

"I know, but it'll be one less thing that you'll have to worry about. Give you at least a week to get settled in and all that." Ron nodded, he could understand that. "Besides, we all know I'm a *hero*," he said bitterly. "I protect people, that's who I am. Accept it now or we'll have to get into it soon. Even when you're a guy I try to protect you."

"Good point, but no more than usual, I'm not helpless," Ron said firmly.

"Okay." They hugged, then pulled back at the knock on the door. "What?" Harry called.

Arthur walked in with a large box. "For you, Ron," he said with a smile. "Your new robes finally came in."

Ron tore open the present, smiling at the tailored look of the robes. "These are great," he said, hugging his father hard. "Thanks, dad."

"You're welcome." He smiled at Harry. "Molly said you bought him an outfit?"

"Ron, put back on that other shirt, show him," Harry said, turning his head to look at the wall.

Ron shared a rolled eye with his father and changed his shirt, showing it off once it was tucked in. "How is it?"

"I think you look very darling in it," Mr. Weasley told him. "It shows off your figure very well, Ron." He patted him on the back. "Anything else happen?"

"No, dad. Not yet," Ron sighed. "Hope it's not going to."

"I am, son. I know how much worse it will be if you suddenly start having female problems." He clapped him on the back again. "It's almost dinner. Put those in your trunk and clean up, boys." He walked out, not closing the door behind him.

Harry grinned at Ron once Ron nodded that the coast was clear. "He knows I'm not going to do anything with you."

"It's standard. He does it to Ginny all the time," Ron said with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it. We're all getting used to this." He tucked the new robes into his trunk, then followed Harry downstairs to dinner. They talked about the mall and everything he had seen in it, including the people with the multiple piercings and the funny-colored hair.

***

Hermione found the boys in their usual compartment, frowning at them as she walked in. "What are you doing back here, Ron?" she demanded. "You're supposed to be up with the other Prefects." Ron looked up at her and she gasped. "What happened!" she yelled.

"The twins," Harry said calmly. "Sit, Hermione, there's a bit to discuss." He looked at Ron. "Want me to leave?"

"Nah, you already know the story," Ron told him, giving him a smile. He turned to look at his girlfriend. "Get the door, Harry." Harry stood up and locked it, then shielded it and pulled the curtains. "Hermione, this isn't all of me. I'm going to be changing back and forth throughout the month." Her mouth opened. "I wanted to tell you face to face because I didn't know how to put it in a letter. The twin's latest project misfired." She closed her mouth and shook her head. "It's all me, not some joke." He took her hand and put it on his breast, making her turn pale as she felt it. "See? I'm going to swing back and forth, spending most of the time as both. I don't want you to freak, but I had to tell you now."

Hermione swallowed hard. "How long?" she asked.

"Two weeks now. Like I said, I thought I should tell you in person." She pulled her hand back and put it in her lap. "I want us to stay together. There's a good chance it'll change back someday."

"Ron, I don't like girls," she said finally, looking at him. Her eyes started to mist up. "Oh! I've go to think!" she said, running out of the car.

Ron slumped. "That's that then."

"You broke up?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, we did. She can't stand me this way and I doubt she's going to come around soon," he said, looking upset. "I thought she'd be able to handle it."

"There's plenty of other girls and women out there who'll be more understanding."

"How? I can't date a lesbian and I can't date a straight one!"

"There's ones who're both," Harry told him. Ron looked stunned. He grinned. "Never thought about that?"

"No, I didn't know that," Ron admitted, licking his lips. "That'd be perfect though. I like breasts too much to ever give them up." He stood up and heaved Harry up with him. "C'mon, let's go face down the rest of our lovely Gryffindor ladies. They should know before they hear it in rumors." He straightened his tanktop and his overshirt, letting Harry proceed him. They found a knot of their yearmates in two side by side cars and tapped gently on the one on the right. "Can we come in?" Ron asked over Harry's shoulder.

"Sure," the girls said without looking. Ron flopped down next to the one who had spoken and she smiled at him. "What the hell!" Parvati yelled when she looked at him. The girls in the other compartment came over and stopped, staring at them.

"The twins did it," Harry said gently, shooing all the girls inside and closing the door on the cramped compartment, casting a spell so no one could listen in on them either.

"Technically," Ron said, reaching into his pocket. "This is going to be what I'm going through every month," he said, handing it to Parvati. "That's why we came down. I'm gonna need some major help," he admitted.

The girls passed around the chart, each of them looking at him afterwards.

"Where's Hermione?" one of the girls in the back, near Harry, asked.

"She broke up with me," Ron sighed, leaning back. It gave everyone a clear view of his new breasts.

Parvati, being closest, reached over and squeezed one. "It's real!" she said in outrage.

Harry shifted closer. "The twins wanted to create something that would allow guys like us to be female for a day so we could understand you better," he told her. The girls muttered some very uncomplimentary things about the twins. "It went wrong. Ron's now cursed to move back and forth between a man and a woman. Hermione's just broken up with him, and he's going to need some female help now and then. Can we count on you guys?"

The girls all nodded, looking faintly confused, but supportive.

"We'd do anything for you and Ron, Harry, even strange stuff like this," the girl in the back told him. "What do you need?"

Ron looked grossed out. "The mediwitches said it might be possible that I'll start getting monthlies sometimes," he admitted. "I have no idea how to handle that. I just couldn't ask my mum or sister."

"We can sit you down and tell you all about being female," Parvati assured him, patting him on the thigh. "It sucks that they did this to you."

Ron beamed. "George tested it too," he admitted. "He suddenly changes into a girl now and then. No warning most of the time." He shrugged. "At least he's mostly built the same, but it's very disturbing because he keeps changing into skirts each time he does it." They all giggled. "Besides, he doesn't have to put up with a bra." He shifted in his uncomfortably. "How do you girls stand it?"

"You get used to it," most of them said in semi-unison. Harry laughed.

Ron groaned. "It's only six days out of each month. Who has that schedule? I haven't memorized it yet." It was handed back to him and he tucked it into his pocket as he stood up. "Like it? Harry bought it for me as a breaking-in present."

"Hermione really broke up with you?" one of the girls asked.

Ron nodded. "She said she didn't like girls and ran away crying. I'm guessing that's breaking up." They all nodded and gave him hugs. "Thanks. So we can count on you to help out now and then? Give advice and all that good stuff?"

"Sure," Parvati agreed. "We'll give you lots of advice. We'll have a slumber party before you change back and we'll talk about everything, including boys." Ron blushed. "Ron!"

"I don't know about that stuff yet," he told them. "It only happened two weeks ago."

"I'm in charge of his libido and protecting him until he's used to this," Harry told them. "So if anyone tries to force him, or you ladies of course, I want to know." They all nodded, giving him patient looks. "Thanks. Ron? Prefects?"

"Malfoy will still be down there," he said bitterly. "I'd like to put that off."

"Then let's go tell the guys," Harry suggested. "Dean and Neville were back by us. Justin and Seamus were up further, I saw Justin's head as he ducked into a compartment."

"I'd rather go back and hide," Ron told him.

"Sure, we can do that too. Come on, I'll buy you a chocolate frog," Harry told him with a grin as he let himself and Ron out. "Thank you, ladies, you're very understanding." He followed Ron back to their compartment and locked them in. When the trolley came around, he bought them lunch and a lot of chocolate. "Remus said chocolate cures most of life's ailments," he told Ron as he handed over the first frog.

"It seems to. My body's been craving it today," Ron agreed as he ripped it open. "Shoot, Morgan LaFey again," he sighed, handing it to Harry.

Harry grinned. "We'll give the ones we both have to Ginny," he said with a wink. Ron laughed.

***

As soon as the first years were sorted, Dumbledore stood up. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts," he said, smiling at all the students. His eye caught Ron's and he groaned. "In addition to the usual announcements, we have one particularly strange one. Mr. Weasley?" he called. "Please stand up and come here."

"Do I have to?" Ron called.

"Yes."

"Fine." Ron stood up, his feet loud in the silent hall, and walked over to stand in front of him, then was motioned to turn around so he did. Many students gasped. "Try it," he warned.

Dumbledore reached down and patted him on the head. "Mr. Weasley was the victim of an unfortunate prank gone wrong, you will not pick on him," he said firmly, staring particularly at the Slytherin table and the new Head Boy. Then back at Hermione Granger, the Head Girl. He lifted his chin. "Ron will be switching back and forth throughout the month. We will try not to make this more difficult for him."

One Ravenclaw stood up. "This is real?" she asked.

"It is," Dumbledore assured her. "The twins were testing a new prank and it went horribly sideways on them." She nodded and sat down. "Mr. Weasley is in a fragile mental state and anyone who picks on him about this will be dealt with most severely, if not by the staff, by his friends. As such, Gryffindor will be having a meeting after dinner tonight to talk about the housing situation."

Ron looked up at McGonagall. "I'm getting my own room?" he asked hopefully. It'd be a first.

"I don't know yet, it will depend on your house," she said, giving him a smile. "You are most welcome to come to any teacher for advice," she reminded him. "As are the rest of the students who may find themselves confused by such incidences."

Dumbledore smiled at her. "Thank you, Professor. You may sit, Mr. Weasley." Ron hurried back to his seat. "The other announcements are the normal ones. The Forbidden forest is just that, off-limits to all students. There will be no pranks set off in the hall or our caretaker, Mr. Filch, will punish you most generously." He smiled at them and clapped his hands. "Platypus, fizzbang, lolligagger," he announced and the food appeared. He sat down and smiled at Ron. "He's going to have some problems," he whispered.

"We'll deal with it," Minerva McGonagall said firmly. "He's a strong boy, as proven by his not breaking down mentally yet.

Over at the Slytherin table, whispered plans were already being made to test Ron's new stuff. Draco looked amused at the pranks being planned. "Be sure to watch out for Potter and Granger," he warned quietly. Everyone looked at him. "It was the rumor on the train. Potter has officially taken Weasley under his protection, and Granger broke up with him," he said, giving the Gryffindors an amused look. Hermione caught his eye and glared, stroking her wand. He laughed. "Yes, they're going to stand by their little freak," he told them. He looked at his tablemates again. "Make sure that nothing you do reflects badly on the house, or on myself and Professor Snape," he warned. They nodded and went back to their planning, while Draco mused about how Weasley had seemed to glow in the candlelight as he had stood there. It was definitely an odd thing to have happen, something his mother would get a kick out of he was sure.

***

Ron faced the whole of the house. "I told our year earlier," he told McGonagall. She had put an arm around his shoulders and was supporting him.

"We've agreed to help him," Parvati told her. "But you can't really put him in with us, he's going to be a guy six days out of the month and partially a guy all but six."

Ron held up a schedule. "Can anyone copy this?" he asked. Hermione copied it for him, a few times over. He got free of the teacher and put a copy up on the announcement board. "There, now you can all see," he said dryly. "That way I don't have to answer so many questions."

Harry grinned at him. "One's going beside your bed, right?"

"Definitely," Ron agreed, nodding. He smiled at the guys in his room. "I guess it's up to you. Are you going to try and molest me?"

"No!" Justin snorted. He crossed his arms. "We talked during dinner, we don't see a problem with Ron staying in our dorm."

"He is not always male and that could cause some controversy," McGonagall noted. "We want to protect him, yet make sure you're all safe."

Ron looked over at her. When had he gotten so tall? She was his height, and he had shrunk three inches down to his female size. "I may try it out, but I can promise you I won't jump them in the middle of the night," he said with a raunchy grin.

She shook her head. "That is not in question. I have no doubt that you can find ways if you want to try those new parts out, young man. You students always manage to, no matter what the staff does to try and stop you." She looked at Harry, then at the other young men. "Would having Ron among you bother you?"

"No," Neville told her firmly. "He's still one of us, only now he has ...breasts," he finished with a blush, proud of himself for not stuttering over that important word. "We don't care. We don't like Ron *that way*."

Ron laughed. "Thanks, Neville, love you too." He blew a kiss and Neville blushed. "See, nothing's changed. Though if you want to give me my own room," he offered, letting it trail off. She frowned at him and he winked. "What?" he asked innocently.

Harry coughed. "I'm sure we'll all get used to it soon enough. Ron can retreat to the bathroom or change in his bed if he feels uncomfortable about his new...equipment. We're not going to suddenly turn into great pervs and start staring at them." He waved a hand at Ron's chest. Ron blushed. "Sorry, Ron."

"No, that's okay. I'm still getting used to them. Personally, mum said it'd be better if I carried on like normal so that's what I'm going to do. Yeah, it'll be uncomfortable for a few weeks, all that taking my shirt off in front of you guys, but I'm still a guy inside. No matter what cup size I wear." The girls clapped. "So?"

"We want him," Neville told their head. "It'll only get worse if you move him, make it seem like something dirty. Some of you have sisters and have walked in on them. And if not, you've probably got girlfriends." He glanced at Harry, who was blushing. "Or have walked in on Ron already," he said with a grin for his friend. "We'll deal with it like the...."

"Immature bastards you are?" Ginny suggested. McGonagall glared at her. "I agree with Ron, but even Harry still checks them out."

"Even I look," Ron told her. "So do you!"

"I know, and like you said, it's going to take a few weeks to get used to it. I want to know one thing, why doesn't he have to wear a skirt when he's fully female? If he can wear pants, we should be allowed to too." The other girls nodded.

"The school's dress code is not under discussion. It was thought that it would cause a hardship on your family to force him to buy more clothes if you must know." Ginny and Ron both glared at her. "Other than that, we agree with his mother. He should act like normal, as much as possible."

"But he's not," Hermione put in quietly. "Earlier, when we talked on the train, he sounded female. Gave me female reasons why nothing should change."

Ron shrugged. "I was trying to talk your language. Give me some credit at least," he sighed, sitting down. His back hurt.

"You did very well too," Hermione said with a faint smile. "I'm sorry, Ron."

"Not a problem. We're still through?" She nodded. "That's what I thought."

"Are you going to start dating guys?" one of the first years blurted out.

Ron looked at him. "Probably not. I'm waiting on all that stuff." He frowned at the boy. "Besides, you're much too young to think about such things. Most of us didn't get to that stage until our third years." The new fourth years laughed nervously. McGonagall chuckled herself. "Any other questions?"

"What do we call you?" Neville asked.

"Ron."

"Okay." He grinned. "Just wondering."

"No, I'm not changing my name. Harry asked the same bloody thing," he noted as he stood up. "So, can we go off to bed now? I want out of this contraption that men force women to wear."

"Panties?" one of the sixth year girls asked with a wink.

"No, the bra. Panties aren't much different. Just briefs instead of boxers," he said with a shrug, heading for the stairs. "Talk about me now, while I don't have to hear it."

Harry waited for Ron to close the door before looking at everyone. "Ron's asked me to protect him," he said quietly. "He doesn't know how far the Slytherins will go. If you hear something, I want to know about it. Send it up through to the upperclassmen if you can't find me directly," he told the younger kids. "Or see me in class," he told the upper ones. "I hate to sound paranoid, but Malfoy was staring at Ron hard during dinner."

Hermione nodded. "Me as well. I will protect Ron from *everyone*. Got it?" They all nodded. "Any other questions?" Most of the kids shook their heads. "Then go find your beds." They disappeared up the stairs, talking to their friends about this extraordinary occurrence. "Professor?"

"Very well handled," she admitted with a smile. "Five points to you both." She patted Harry on the head. "Your schedule is finally done, you'll get it tomorrow. We've made allowances so you're with Ron most of the time. I figured he could use the extra charms and defense work anyway." Harry gave her a grateful smile. "Now go to bed, the both of you. I'm sure Ron's waiting on you, Harry." He jogged up the stairs. "Hermione, do be careful how you enforce things. Remember, Malfoy has equal power to you," she warned before leaving.

"Not if I hex him into next year," she snorted before going up to her room. She pulled on her nightgown and settled in with a defensive charms and hexes book, just a little light reading in case they needed it.

***

Ron walked into Defense and took the seat next to the wall, letting Harry take the outside of their seat. This class was with Hufflepuff so it wasn't too big of a problem. Some whispers around them made him focus on the other students. "You can ask me questions," he noted quietly.

"Does it feel strange?" one boy from the table in front of them asked.

"The switching does. It comes and then it goes away again," Ron said with a shrug. "Itches kinda. I do most of the changing during the nights so I don't have to see them growing." He gave him a smile. "It gets worse when my John Thomas shrinks out of sight. Get a bit panicky about that." The boys shuddered. "It's gonna come back, the nurse promised it'd be back in about six more days." He straightened up as the teacher walked in.

The Defense teacher looked at Ron. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel pretty good most days, sir," he told him. "Not a bit of a problem so far. Trust me, you'll hear me screaming all the way from my room if I have one."

"Good," he said with a smile. "That's what we like to hear." He looked at the rest of the class. "As fascinating as Mr. Weasley's condition is, you can talk to him after classes and ask as many questions as you want then. In here, we will be working on advanced defense techniques and strategies this year." He nodded to Harry. "Some of you are already familiar with them. How many of you know how to conjure a patronious?" All the members of DA raised their hands, a good number of the class. "Well," he said happily. "Then I think we can start with a mild review today. Everyone take out some parchment and a quill, write down the defensive spells you know. The person with the least experience will set our starting point for review." Everyone wrote down what they knew, and of course the students Harry had trained had over two pages of spells. Harry put down some of the better hexes as well, just in case those were going to be relevant, making his the longest yet. The teacher had to wait on his paper. He smiled at Harry. "Good job," he told him. "Even remembered the more common hexes you use." He read through them as he walked around the room, nodding and switching to the next one. "I see most of you are capable up to and including the standard disarmament, the unforgivables, and the standard fourth year stuff. Your sixth year was spent on creatures?" he asked. They all nodded. "Good. What happened the fifth year?"

Ron raised his hand. "The prig Umbridge," he told him. "Some of us had to study on our own."

"Ah! I heard about that. I shall expect many more people that Mr. Potter trained among the higher levels then." He smiled at them. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, take these six students and work with them in the next room. Bring them up to at least the level where most of your cohorts started," he commanded, handing over the lesser trained witches and wizards. "The rest of you will do a short review, starting with stunning spells."

Harry stood up and pointed at the kids, a few of whom already knew they were going to be called, and took them into the next room. "Ron, pillows, Neville, take these two," he said, handing out assignments. Ron gathered pillows and Neville took the two least gifted, nervous looking students off to a quiet corner to talk to them first. "Ron, these two," he said, pointing them out. He smiled at his two. "Okay, let's start with the usual, the expelliarmus." He raised his wand and so did they. "Ready?" he asked with a smile. He pointed his wand at Neville and cast. But Neville fended him off by ducking and shouting it back. The students watched, clapping when Harry finally won, but Neville had Ron's wand. "Now you guys get to try it on each other," Harry said, handing back Neville's wand. He grinned at Ron, who shook his head. "Problems?"

"Show off," he said fondly.

Harry beamed. "Me?" he asked innocently. "You know I'm only trying to help."

"Good point. Better get them up to speed than to have them left behind. Even rear guards are helpful," Ron agreed. He looked at his students. "If something happens, we're going to get you up to the level of being able to fight well enough to get away. Fighting for real comes later." They all nodded and started to work.

When the professor walked in to check on them, he was pleased that they had gotten through so much of the work. "Very good, all three of you. Five points each. Are you restarting your little club?"

"No, we figured you'd do it for us," Harry told him, giving him a serious look. "How are they doing?"

"Most of them are doing wonderful," the teacher told him. "A few have forgotten some things, but realized what it was after seeing someone else do it." He smiled at Neville. "Mr. Longbottom, I was surprised that you knew so much."

"Sir, I trained harder when I heard Lastrange was out of prison." He blushed a bit. "I won't have her kill me the way she tried to my parents."

"That's fine, my boy. You've done very well. Next class, we'll be doing the same thing. I want to get them through the standard defense spells by three classes?" Harry nodded. "I know that's a bit much, but you've made excellent progress so far."

"Thank you, sir." Harry smiled at them and then walked out. "Guys, you blew him away. Do you want to set up a regular practice for DA?" His people nodded. "Fine, everyone free Fridays?" The Hufflepuffs on the quidditch team shook their heads. "Thursday?" Everyone nodded at that. "Good. Meet me in the courtyard an hour after dinner." Someone opened his mouth and Harry shook his head. "Not yet, later. When we see if we need it." The DA members nodded and Harry looked at the teacher. "That fine with you, sir?"

"Just fine, Mr. Potter. I'll be around to watch you now and then, informally of course." He smiled at Ron and Neville as they led the others out. "By the end of this term, before you go home for the holidays, I want you all to be proficient enough to be able to get away from a fight and protect your hiding spots. As soon as everyone's at the same level, we'll work on shielding, blinding, and protection charms. They're useful against many creatures and against an attack by the Dark." He smiled. "Dismissed." He grabbed Ron and Harry's arm. "I was asked to tell you that Mr. Weasley will need more work. Magic reacts differently to a man's call than a woman's call. It also reacts differently when one is both."

"I feel overwhelmed as both, easier in transfiguration and herbology as a female, and charms and hexes as a male," Ron admitted thoughtfully.

"That is as expected. Mr. Potter is to tutor you heavily until you are back to your former skill level. Do you understand?" Ron nodded, looking complacent. "Good. Go to it." He let the boys go, watching as they grabbed their things and left. "Why did I take this job?" he muttered as he cleaned up the classroom. "I don't like children, even if I am good. An auror, teaching," he sighed, sitting down. He had an hour now, best use it to recover.

***

Ron looked up as he heard footsteps coming up behind him in the library. He frowned when he saw it was Malfoy. He felt something in his lower parts go 'twang' and start to feel odd, but he ignored it. He had ignored it earlier as well, he could ignore it now. Though he'd be having a talk to one of the girls about it. Why was he attracted to that slime? "Couldn't wait?" he said snidely.

"What did you do to yourself?" Draco asked in an amused tone of voice. "Couldn't figure women out?" he smirked.

Ron looked at him. "No, actually, it's for people like you and your father so you understand that there's a difference between rape and sex," he said, looking very serious. "That way, women don't scream automatically when they see you." He smiled sweetly. "Just think, in a few weeks, I'll be back to a guy again."

Draco leaned down. "And then the cycle continues," he sneered. "Remember, we can track it, just like you do. I'd be careful what insinuations you make."

"Why? Gonna try something?" Ron sneered back. "If I decided to try these new things out, I'll make sure I pick a real man." He glanced around. "Hey, Neville, wanna come help me experiment with this new stuff?" he called. Draco looked flabbergasted, pissed and appalled at the same time. Neville looked stunned and Ron grinned at him.

Neville hurried over and gave him a hug. "You're serious?"

"Seriously thinking about it," Ron told him. "I figure you know what you're about and all that. Gentle and nice." He grinned. "You in, whenever I get ready to figure that stuff out?"

"Sure!" Neville said quickly, then at the librarian's glare he hurried back to his table.

"You will pay," Draco hissed, then he stormed off.

Ron looked back at the stunned and awed Crabbe and Goyle. "I'd follow him, before he does something dumb," he pointed out. They rushed out after their boss. Ron gave Neville a smug look and got one in return. They had worked this out earlier in Herbology, expecting this sort of thing sometime soon.

Madam Pince, the librarian, walked a large tome over. "I think this might help you figure out some things, more than Mr. Longbottom would," she said with a faint smile. "Very nicely done, now I don't have to deal with those two throwing books," she said before walking away.

Ron beamed and winked at Neville before opening the book. "There's a book on this!" he shouted. The librarian smiled at him. He checked the copyright date. "Oh, I've got to have this," he decided, walking it over to check it out. "Thank you," he said with a very nice smile, then he hurried up to the common room. Maybe Hermione would help him sort through the harder parts. He flopped down next to her. "I destroyed Malfoy," he said with a grin.

She hugged him. "I'm proud. How many hits did it take?"

"Just words," he said with his meanest smirk. "Look what Madam Pince found me," he said, showing it to her.

"Oooh! I knew there had to be a book!" she said, frowning at the wall. "She told me there wasn't!"

"I think she wanted me to have it first since I'm afflicted," Ron noted. She gave him a 'sorry' look and took it to flip through. "Can you help me with the more technical parts?"

"Of course, Ron. I doubt you'll need the more medical parts though, since you're not a true one."

"I am during at least eight days a month," he pointed out. She nodded, not saying anything. "Does it have an answer to me having monthlies?"

"That would probably be individual, but let me read it a bit and I'll see," she said, patting him on the knee. "Are you still playing this year?"

"Yeah," he said with a grin. "I'm going to continue to cream Malfoy, here and out on the field."

She laughed and gave him a one-armed hug. "I'm proud of how you're handling this, Ron. I really am." She flipped back to the medical section, reading quickly. "Ah-ha!" She pointed at a section. "Right here, under the frequently asked section. Most hermaphrodites do not have monthly cycles, but only about half can get pregnant. Muggle ones can't at all it seems, and then there's a section on why they can't and why most of you can't, and oh, look here, a pretty diagram about how it all fits inside you." He looked over her shoulder at it, nodding as he traced the various systems. "I guess that you have both and it's only the external that changes. Did the person who examined you say anything?"

"Not a bit," Ron said glumly. "She wasn't sure I'd get monthlies or be fertile." He took the book to look at the pictures.

"You could ask Madam Pomfrey. I'm sure she'd be able to tell."

Harry walked in and hugged Ron hard. "That was so wicked," he said with a grin. "He told Malfoy that he'd want a real man when he thought about trying his stuff out, then called Neville." Hermione laughed, falling onto the floor she was going so hard. Harry kissed Ron on the top of the head. "For that, you deserve the most wonderful treat. Wanna help with tryouts this year?"

"Sure," Ron said, holding up the book. "Get your lips off me and read this."

Harry sat on the back of the couch, reading the section Ron had been reading. "Well, that's not very helpful, is it," he said finally, handing it back after checking the next page. "But I guess it's a starting spot. Any new clues?"

"Not a one," Ron told him, relaxing against the arm of the sofa. "You all right, Hermione?"

"Fine," she said, climbing back onto the sofa. "Harry, you kissed him."

"I did?"

"It was an unconscious action," Ginny said from her spot by the fire. "He's had a few of them." She looked at her brother. "It's happened to a few of the guys. It's nothing sexual, he'd do the same to me."

"Gee, thanks, little miss psychology," Ron said with a grimace. "Any other insights?"

"Yeah, your bra's crooked, that's why it hurts," she said with a smile. "Do this." She straightened her back and pulled on the bottom. Ron did the same and sighed in relief. "Better?" He nodded. "Good, next month you'll know." She went back to her book. "When is DA starting, Harry?"

"As soon as I figure out if it's needed or if the teacher's going to do it for us," Harry told her, standing up and walking around to tip her head up. "It was unconscious. You never have to worry about me and your brother."

"Harry, if you want to shag Ron, mum'd be pleased. Go for it," she told him with a grin. "She suggested as much to me this summer before you came because she remembered my crush on you." She stood up and kissed him on the cheek. "Unless you turn out to be fabulous in the sack, you're safe from me." She strolled away, only stopping long enough to pinch Ron on the ear.

Ron and Harry both blushed. "Is everyone going to force me to try this new stuff out?" Ron whined.

"It might make you feel more complete if you did," Hermione offered gently. "More like a real woman during your female times." Ron glared at her. "Sorry, just a suggestion," she said smoothly, taking the book back. "Do you want me to summarize it for you?"

"No, I'll read it later," Ron told her, yawning. "I think I'm tired."

"Practice tomorrow," Harry warned, taking Ron's spot when he left. "I'm really not."

She smiled at him. "I know, you're scared. It's normal."

"Hermione, I can't very well take up with someone when I'll either be killed or have to emulate my worst enemy and murder him. It's not fair to expect a mate to put up with that uncertainty."

"I understand," she agreed. "I think you're missing out on a lot of the fun of youth; all the important social connecting and life skills you'll learn. If you live, you'll probably want to court someone someday and this is the age when you're supposed to learn how to do that, Harry. No one says you have to get married to anyone you date." She stood up. "I'm going to read this book so Ron can have it back tomorrow." She skipped up the stairs to her room.

Harry stared at the fire, thinking about that. He hadn't seen anyone since that single, disastrous, date with Cho in his fifth year. That was nearly a year and a half ago, and he was lonely. Plus, Ron would understand.... He shook his head, stopping that thought right there. He would not do that to his best friend. Never. Even if she was cute. He groaned and laid down, covering his face with a pillow.

Justin came over and lifted the pillow, looking down at him. "Scar?"

"Bad thoughts."

"Ron," he said with a smirk and a nod. "Can't quite wrap my mind around the whole 'rack' thing either." He let the pillow drop and went back to his books. "Harry, Potions paper," he reminded him.

"Damn," Harry muttered, getting up to retrieve his books and start working on that stupid paper. Though, with Ron being what he was, would learning how to use blood in spells really be so difficult? He could use Ron as an example, might make it a shorter topic. He hurried to the library to find the books he'd need. Madam Pince was happy to hand him one of them and let him copy sections out of the other, restricted, book. He found a lot, this would be a wonderful paper.

***

Ron walked into the Potion's classroom, nervous as anything. "You summoned me?" he asked the teacher, not looking at him.

"Mr. Weasley," Snape said, looking him over. "Did you know that you were the subject of two papers in my advanced NEWT class?"

Ron looked startled, looking at the teacher. "I was?"

"One, by your best friend, on the uses of your blood, and the other a poorer version of the same topic using you as a sacrifice." He handed them over. "I thought you should read them."

Ron looked at Harry. "Find anything interesting?"

"Yeah, I figured out why you're having that problem in the in-between time with transfiguration," Harry said smartly, losing his smile when Snape glared at him. "It was worthwhile since I'm helping him with it." He looked at the other side of the room. "At least I'm not intending to tie him to a stone altar and bleed him to death."

Ron finished the lesser paper and turned to Harry's. His eyes got wide, then narrowed and he glared at his friend, then his eyes got big again. He looked at the teacher. "May I copy this one for my own research, sir?" he asked finally.

"Just Mr. Potter's?"

"Like Mr. Potter, I don't particularly want to be someone's virgin sacrifice," Ron said dryly. "And I'd like to see them try," he said, looking at the Slytherin side. He handed back both papers and took the copy of Harry's. "Meet me in the library, Harry, we'll talk then," he said, nodding at Snape. "Thank you for sharing this interesting research with me, sir. Have you found a way to counter their potion?"

"I wasn't aware that I was supposed to be looking."

Ron groaned. "They said they sent it to you to see if you could tell if anything would reverse it," he complained. "I'll write the twins tonight. If that's okay with you?" he asked as an afterthought.

"It would be *amusing* to see their base formula," Snape admitted, crossing his arms and staring at the petite woman. "Did it ever work correctly?"

"On a mouse. They said they increased the dosage by weight," Ron said with a shrug. "They keep good notes."

"Have them send them on. At the very least we might be able to lock you into one or the other gender."

"Thanks." He walked out, silently telling himself that Harry would never do any of those things to him. He was his friend. Even the part about mother's milk wasn't going to happen, no matter how ...alarming, or arousing, or even astonishing the collection method was. He walked up the owlry, sending a quick note to the twins. Then he went down to the library to wait on Harry. He found him already in there. "You're not, right?"

"I'd never do it, but I thought, since we were researching it anyway, it'd be an easier paper," he said with a grin. "Did you mind?"

"Only if you thought about doing those things to me," Ron said firmly. He saw the blush and groaned. "Harry!"

"Sometimes a thought pops into my head, but I contain it," he explained, pulling Ron's chair closer. "I try very hard to not even consider it. It's dying off."

"Good. I like you, but not that much." They shared a look, then Ron shook his head. "Never happen. I don't get that tingle with you."

"Good," Harry said happily. "'Cause I think of you like a sister, er, brother," he corrected. Ron giggled. Harry laughed. "Thanks, Ron."

"Not a problem," he said, giving him a hug. "We done with me being the subject?"

"I did find two books with references," Harry pointed out. "Maybe they'd have something else."

"Maybe, but it seems more real if we're researching it," Ron said, slumping down a bit. "Like it'll never go away."

"I'm sure it will," Harry said, patting him on the arm. "Come on, I'm hungry and we've got practice tonight." He stood up and carefully pushed his seat in, like the librarian liked, then headed out with Ron beside him. "You're not angry?"

"Not at you. Yours was set in the theoretical. The other." He shuddered. "You should have read it. He was very graphic about what he wanted to do to me. How each thing would affect my blood and therefore give him greater strength in a potion to raise power." Harry stopped him, staring at him. "That's the one I was supposed to read, yours was just extra humiliation he could heap on top of us."

"Who was it?" Harry ground out.

"Don't go all 'man' on me," Ron whined. "It's handled. He can't touch me."

"I can make sure of it," Harry reminded him. "Who was it?"

"Someone who thought I was still a virg, Harry, relax. They can't do it and they wouldn't dare try with all the house breathing down their neck." He pulled on Harry's arm. "Damn, I hate this shrinking stuff almost as much as I hate the breasts and the extra parts. Come on, I can't pull you like I usually do."

"Coming," Harry said, silently vowing to shadow Ron if he had to so his friend would be safe. No one was going to hurt his Ron that way!

Ron beamed at him. "Think there's pudding tonight? I've been dying for some chocolate today."

"Hopefully," Harry agreed.

***

Harry looked up as Ron came into the library with a group of the Ravenclaw sixth and seventh year girls, talking about girl stuff. Ron was on the transformation back, you could tell by his face, his height, and his chest going back to normal. But still, he was talking in girl-language with girls about girly things. He mentally groaned. Ron was too much as a girl! Much too much.

One of the boys raced over and pulled Ron away, asking him if he could interpret for his girlfriend back into boy-language. There was apparently a blockage in the communication path called 'girls speak funny'. Ron gave him a wave and went to talk with them while his girlfriends went to their own table. Harry shook his head. Hermione would have loved this one if she had been here. When Ron finally came back, the couple was explaining themselves to each other and Ron was beaming. "Good work," Harry told him, pushing out a chair with his foot. "Starting to feel better?"

"Oh, yeah. My tits'll go back down to barely being there within a few days. I won't have wear a bra again for another twenty days or so," he said happily.

"What about the other stuff?"

Ron shrugged. "It's there, I don't pay it much attention. It itches a bit now and then, but I'm firmly ignoring it most of the time." He leaned closer. "No matter what the popular phrase says, you can't do yourself," he confided.

Harry knew he looked stunned, but he was. Then he burst out laughing, having to run from the room to keep from getting kicked out.

Ron smirked at the girls around him. "It's not true, when you tell someone off. You can't do that." The girls burst out in giggles as well and Ron relaxed. Until he saw Malfoy staring at him, then he ran a hand along his stomach, pretending to scratch an itchy spot. Malfoy glared more and looked away. Ron smirked. "Gotcha." Harry came back in and he took out his books to work on their defense paper.

***

Malfoy managed to get Ron alone in a hallway after Herbology a few days later, trapping him in a corner. "Back to having balls I see," he said snidely, looking over Ron's body. Ron shoved him, stepping away. "Not going to say anything?"

Ron yawned. "You're keeping me from a nap, Malfoy. What do you want? More teasing? Yeah, I've got balls again and the rest of the tackle to use with it. And?"

Malfoy sneered. "How delighted your parents must be in you and your *sister* George."

Ron shrugged. "Accidents happen. Nothing to be done now but fix it and live with it until a cure is found. Did you actually want something or are you trying to figure out how to ask me out for a snog and grope?" he asked dryly.

Draco's mouth fell open. "You hideous beast!" he yelled. "How dare you insinuate that I'd touch a thing like you!"

"You're the one who stared at my breasts for a week straight," Ron pointed out, noticing Snape coming toward them. "Now, anything else or are you going to leave me alone?"

"I'll get you," Draco warned. "You won't be so complacent." He turned and ran into Snape. "Sir, he was making fun of...my hair," he finished quickly with the best lie he could.

"Why would I pick on your hair, Malfoy? Besides the fact that you keep the gel business in business and that it looks like a dead animal asleep on your head by dinner?" He smiled at Professor Snape. "We were having a friendly discussion about balls and breasts, sir, apparently Mr. Malfoy has never seen any so has been staring at mine for the last few weeks to figure out what they were."

Snape kept himself from laughing. This change had helped Weasley's temper and insults greatly. He was nearly a match for him now. "Really? And yet, I've seen Mr. Potter doing the same thing, Mr. Weasley. He doesn't seem to bother you."

"Yeah, well, Harry's in high-repression mode. That whole 'gonna die or have to kill' thing is just sucking the steam so his mind's doing it for him now and again to show him how wrong he is." He grinned at Malfoy. "If you're that interested in dangly bits, I'm sure I could talk Harry into a three-way, get all those nasty questions about holes and what to do with dangly bits, and what they can do to you, out at once," he suggested. Draco went pale and spluttered. "Oh, well, your loss. If I may go, sir? I really would like a nap before dinner."

"Go," Snape said, getting out of his way. He grabbed Draco by the back of the neck. "This is your only warning. Dumbledore is protecting that boy like he is the Holy Grail," he hissed. "Leave him be. You will not like what happens to your reputation if you continue this program of harassment. Not to mention what it will do to mine, as I'm considered your guardian."

"He insulted me!" Draco reminded him.

"Suck it up. What he said had some truth in it. Your hair does look somewhat like a rug by the end of the day." He let him go. "Go back to the house or to the library. Go nowhere near Mr. Weasley or any of his friends." He waited until Draco had walked off in a snit to laugh. Really! That boy!

***

Ron watched as Malfoy watched him, then he looked down at his sister and Neville, who had been helping him plan things. "We ready?" he asked casually, taking a bite.

"Yeah, we are. I even got mum to help alter the dress," Ginny told him. "It'll look stunning on your figure, even if I do say so myself," she said proudly.

Hermione looked up from her reading. "What are you doing, Ron?"

Ron smirked and blew a kiss at the people watching him eat. "Playing," he said innocently. Harry choked. "You okay?"

"Just fine," Harry said, trying to breathe. He finally got his airway cleared and looked at his best friend. "Does this have something to do about you offering Malfoy a three-way with me?" Those who heard goggled, and the rest stared at them to see what they were doing now.

Ron smirked. "Since he seemed so *interested* in my new equipment, I offered him a pleasant chance to see what the things did," he admitted in his most sickly-sweet tone. "Since he obviously didn't know what to do with them, or with himself in relation to them." Harry spluttered again, starting to cough. Ron thoughtfully pounded him on the back. "Snape was standing there for most of it even," he said fondly. "He didn't say a word about it."

Hermione shook her head. "Thank you for not involving me in that one. I have no desire to be hexed this week, Ron." She looked at Harry, shaking her head. "Try taking a drink and long breaths," she suggested. She closed her book. "What's this new plan?"

"Oh, we're going to do it up a bit next month," Ron said with a wink for her. "Wanna help?" He sipped his juice.

"Ron, that's horrible," Hermione said, but she was smiling. "How high are we reaching?"

"Dress, heels, a bit of makeup maybe. Exploring my feminine side as it were." He grinned down at his new partner in crime, Parvati. "Isn't that right?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, some of us would *love* to get the lothario back," Parvati agreed, smiling at Ron.

"You know, with the way you guys are smiling at each other, they're going to think you're Ron's helpless love slaves," Ginny told them. Harry choked for a third time and left the room so his coughing wouldn't interrupt anyone's dinner. She smiled at her brother. "That was rather nice of him to not spew on us." Neville coughed himself and she patted him on the back. "There, there," she soothed, "it'll be okay. Harry can swallow his own tongue if he wants to." She and her brother shared a look. "In all the time we shared school with the twins, you'd think I would have noticed your naughty streak, Ron."

"The twins covered it up nicely," Ron assured her. "Less trouble for me that way." They laughed and the people at the next table shivered in fear.

"Mr. Weasley," McGonagall called. He looked up at her. "I want to discuss something with you. Please come here."

Ron got up and walked over until he stood in front of her. "Yes, ma'am?"

"What did you say that sent Mr. Potter from the room in a coughing fit?"

"Just that I was going to be ...exploring my feminine side next cycle, ma'am. I had planned on wearing a dress if that's all right with you?"

"That would be fine," she agreed, giving him a gentle smile. "Do not overplay your hand," she warned quietly. He looked a bit shocked. "You and your sister are nearly as bad as all of your older brothers combined."

He jumped up and hugged her across her plate. "That's the nicest compliment anyone's given me in years," he sniffled, heading back to his seat. "Ginny, she said that the two of us were worse than all the rest of us put together."

Ginny ran up and hugged her too. "Thank you, ma'am." She went back to her seat as well.

"Well," McGonagall said, straightening her hat. "I should compliment them more often. They've got very strong arms."

Severus looked over at her. "What are they planning?" he asked, sounding interested.

"Young Ron is planning on seeing if the feminine side is suitable for him to embrace," she told him, picking up her knife and fork to cut up some of her pork chop. "He plans on being dressed appropriately next month as a test."

"I see." Snape frowned at Ron, then looked at the members of his own house. He nearly swore. Malfoy was staring again. "We may have some problems," he admitted quietly.

Dumbledore saw where he was looking and nodded. "It will be taken care of," he assured his professor. He looked at Ron and noticed Harry had snuck back in. "Ah, good, he's decided to eat some more." He smiled at McGonagall. "You may want to check that outfit before he leaves that morning." She nodded, smiling back. He looked at Snape. "At least you don't have him for a class this year."

"Thankfully," Snape agreed, settling in to eat more of his dinner. Loud laughter came from the Gryffindor table again and he dropped his utensils, wiping his mouth as he stood up. His napkin dropped onto his plate. "I believe I'll finish dinner somewhere more quiet," he announced, leaving the hall.

Dumbledore and McGonagall shared a look and both groaned quietly. "This could get interesting," the Headmaster noted.

"Indeed," she agreed, watching the troublemakers in her house a bit more carefully. "Oh, dear, they've sucked in Longbottom," she sighed. Dumbledore stood up and left the room as well, going up to his office to lay in a supply of headache medicine by his grumbling as he left the table. She finished her dinner, watching over the little beasts.

***

The next female part of the cycle started on a rather dreary fall day. A bit of a sprinkle and some fog. Perfect for the outfit he had chosen. Ron slid out of bed and went in to take a shower, getting everything ready. He even forced himself to shave his legs and armpits. No use ruining it with the more boyish qualities he had. By the time he was done, he had only nicked himself a few times and they had been easily healed with a simple healing charm. He stepped out and grabbed his towel, not caring that Dean was using the toilet next to the showers. He walked out, going to put on real women clothes. That's why he missed Dean's groaning and lean against the wall to hide his rampant blush. He sat on the side of his bed facing Harry's, since he wasn't awake and wouldn't be until Ron shoved him probably, putting on first his undergarments, then his stockings, then the small slip dress Ginny and his mother had gotten for him. It was silky and smooth, fit every curve of his body but ended in a short flared skirt, and the bra straps were showing. He took off the bra and tossed it on his bed, deciding it looked just as well without it. It was the dull gray of the school uniform so he could probably get away with just a shirt over it. Unbuttoned he decided after looking at himself. He carefully slid into the heels Parvati and Ginny had helped him practice in, taking only a moment this time to catch his balance. Then he sat down to brush out his hair. When he was finally done, he reached over and shoved Harry until he woke up.

"Wha?" Harry asked, opening his eyes and squinting. "Today?" he whined.

"Today," Ron said with a grin. He stood up and twirled around. "What do you think?"

"I think Malfoy's going to be tripping over his tongue," Harry said honestly. "Neville?"

Neville came out of the bathroom, his toothbrush in his mouth. "Wow," he said, the toothbrush falling out. "Ron, that's stunning on you." He walked around him, nodding. "Wonderful look for you." He grabbed his toothbrush and hurried back into the bathroom.

"That's what I forgot," Ron said, heading that way.

"No!" Justin said, catching him. "Let the guys have a moment first." He and Ron shared a look, and both blushed. "With the way you look right now, it's going to take a few."

Neville handed Ron his toothbrush and a small cup of water. "Here. To save some modesty." He winked at Ron and headed over to get himself dressed for the day.

Ron brushed his teeth, then spit everything into the cup before handing it off to Justin. "Thanks. I'm gonna go bother the girls now. Gotta finish the look." He strolled out, his bag carefully across his chest, the strap between his breasts.

Justin fell onto the floor, whimpering. "Maybe this was a bad idea?" he suggested.

"He's just playing," Harry pointed out. "It's not with us."

"Yeah, but he looks like a girl!" Neville pointed out.

"For five more days," Harry reminded them. "Then he'll be good old Ron again."

"Yeah, Good Old Ron," Neville said, nodding. He looked at Justin. "You okay?"

"Gotta go," he announced, crawling into the bathroom, leaving the toothbrush and cup there. The other boys came out laughing, one of them being nice enough to put Ron's toothbrush back into its usual holder.

***

Ron tapped on Parvati's dorm room. "It's me," he called. There was a female squeal. "It's not like I don't know what you have," he said dryly. The door opened and Hermione let him in. "Thanks. I just need a touch to finish this." He was sat on Parvati's bed and the girls got to work on his hair, nails, and makeup. By the time he was done, everything was subtly highlighted, shadowed, or buffed perfectly. He stood up and let the girls see. "Do I pass?"

"Oh, you do," Hermione agreed, looking a little sad. "Breakfast?"

"Yeah, let's go," Ron agreed, taking his girls' arms and leading them down to the common room, where Ginny was waiting on them. She tipped her head to the side. "Too much?"

"No, perfect," she decided, following them down to the Great Hall.

McGonagall looked up as the doors opened, her mouth opening a bit as she gripped the Headmaster's arm hard enough to crush it.

Dumbledore smiled at Ron, then looked down at Severus, who was hiding his shock behind his napkin. A subtle look at the Slytherin table showed most of them, and most of the other gentlemen not in on today's escapade, staring at Ron as he moved. "He's very graceful on those little points," he said quietly.

"The ladies must have helped him," Madam Sprout offered. "His makeup is flawless." She watched how he sat. "So very graceful that way."

"Indeed," McGonagall said, eyes narrowed as she watched the Slytherins' reactions. Malfoy had paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. "Severus?" she asked quietly, nodding at the table.

"Malfoy," he snapped. Malfoy dropped his fork and stared at him. "Have you had word from your mother?" he asked in a gentler tone of voice.

"Oh, yes, sir, it came late last night. The creme you sent her worked wonders and she thanks you," he said absently, staring at Ron again. One of his bodyguards hit him on the arm and he glared at them both. "Leave me be," he warned.

"That's still Weasley," Crabbe pointed out.

"Yeah, and we hate him," Goyle seconded.

"Leave, now," Draco ordered. They sighed and stood up, leaving with whatever of their breakfast they could carry and their books. He picked up his fork and tried to be less obvious about his watching. What was Weasley playing at? He saw her laugh and clutch her sister's arm for support, and decided that there was definitely something going on. Weasley hadn't seemed to want to talk about his other side to anyone, now this? Potter came rushing in and Ron gave him a brilliant smile, making Potter freeze in place. Well, the rumors might have been true after all he decided with a smile of his own, albeit a bit colder and more cynical. He finished his breakfast and stood up, noticing his Head of House staring at him. He walked up there. "Is there another problem, sir?" he asked.

"Quit staring," Snape ordered. "You know the punishment if you bother him."

Draco gave him a tolerant and amused look. "Of course I do." He left the Great Hall, going to gather himself for this day. He had three classes with Weasley today and his patience was probably going to be strained.

***

Hagrid looked over as the seventh year class came out, looked stunned at who was walking beside Harry. "Ron?" he asked, mouth open. "What're you doin' in that?"

"I wanted to try it out for a day," Ron told him with a small shrug. "How do I look?" He did a small turn for him.

"Wonderful. Like a real girl," he said, nodding. "Those shoes can't be comfortable though."

Ron looked down at the heels. "They're not, but they go with the outfit and mum said that was important," he said with a grin. "What're we doing today?"

"Somethin' messy," he sighed. "You'll have to sit out."

"He can wear my robe over his front," Harry offered.

"No, I can watch," Ron told him, giving him a pat on the arm. "I have no doubt I won't be alone watching." He glanced at the Slytherins, most of whom were still staring. He smiled at Hagrid again. "How messy?"

"Kneeling in the mud messy probably. Wouldn't want to hurt your pretty dress. You lean on the fence and watch for today, I know you know animals well enough to be able to do this one." He walked to stand in front of the rest of the class. "Today we're gonna go over blessed creatures. Things that are said to be blessed with magic. Break up into groups, they're little, fast, and there're only six of them." The class slowly broke up and each group took up a station near a box. "Now be ready," he warned as he released the first one. The silver raccoon got free of the attempted grab and ran straight for Ron. "No, you leave him alone and get back here," he shouted at the little creature.

Ron squatted down daintily, reaching out a hand and making sucking noises. He hadn't planned this part, but this position gave Draco's group a stunning view of his excellent legs - even if he did say so himself. The raccoon sniffed him and moved closer, nuzzling his hand gently. "Good girl," he crooned, picking it up but not letting it get near his clothes. "I believe this is yours?" he asked Harry, handing it over.

"Thanks," he said, swallowing again. Ron grinned and he shook his head. "We're going to talk after class," he hissed, going back to the group with the raccoon.

Ron watched as the other animals were released and caught, looking at each one. He made what notes he could, managing to not spill any ink on himself, or so he thought. He realized later that he had a small blot of ink on him when Harry stared at it, or his chest, one of the two. He used the standard cleaning charm to get it out, dropping the ink onto the ground. As soon as the class was done, Harry took his arm and walked him back to the school.

"What are you doing? You're affecting the rest of us too," Harry warned.

"I'm not trying to," Ron noted, glancing around. He saw Malfoy a few people behind them. "Play," he hissed, kissing him on the ear. Harry turned bright red and Malfoy turned even paler. Ron watched as the other boy pushed past him. "Now that we're safer," he said with a grin. He checked, none of the other Slytherins were near them. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, but it'll only be for today, I promise."

"Fine, but you nearly sent Justin into shock this morning and I about had a heart attack when I saw you squatting down like that. I could see the tops of your stockings," he said, slightly outraged.

"I could be wearing less. Ginny did suggest that," Ron reminded him, walking him to their next shared class, Defense. He took his usual seat, ignoring Malfoy and his bastards. The other class section, the one they shared with Hufflepuff, was much more fun than this one. The auror teaching them usually wanted to strangle someone by the end of this class. He had even left off forcing the two houses to work together.

The teacher walked in and looked at Ron, licking his lips. "Mr. Weasley?"

"Trying out this side, sir," he said. "I wanted to know what a dress was like."

"That's fine. Can you fight in that?"

"My mum has, and I'm sure I'll have to learn anyway," Ron said pragmatically. He grinned. "If you want, I can try. I can't run," he offered, "but I can still duck and weave."

"Good." He looked thoughtful. Then he looked at the other side of the class. "Since so many of you are abysmal in this section, I'm going to try to breach the Great Wall of China again with a teaspoon and mix up the houses." There was a groan. "That means that the better trained people will take a group and work with them." He looked around, counting heads. "Where are the rest of the males?"

"In the bathroom, sir," one of the Gryffindor females said politely, smiling at him. "I think they're washing off the mud from Magical Creatures."

"I see. That's fine. Everyone up, the desks are about to be pushed back." As soon as everyone was up, he pushed the desks out of the way. "Wonderful. Weasley, since you're dressed today, take a that group of Slytherin males. A bit of a distraction is good to work against. Yes, Malfoy, your group." He smirked at the disgruntled noises that came from them. "Keep it up, I can assign Potter as well."

"If you wouldn't mind," Harry offered nicely.

"No, I believe I'm going to have you working against the females of that house. Hermione, you work with Ron today, you as well Neville. The rest of you work with Potter." They broke up into two groups, Ron taking this room while Harry dragged his into the next. "By the end of class, I want to have a threat assessment from each of you on who you wouldn't like to run into down a dark hall, and a general assessment of threat and ability about everyone else. Do you understand?" Ron nodded and Neville straightened up, nodding as well. "Good, begin."

Ron swung his wand around. "How did you boys want to do this?"

"I want to rip your clothes off and hurt you," one of the boys told him, glaring at him. "Pissy bitch. There's only one place for things like you."

Ron hexed him before he could do more than blink and the fight was on. Of course, Ron and Neville were the last ones standing. "Good work, Neville, let me unhex your stone arm." He cleared that one and looked at each student, walking around to see what had caught them. "Jelly legs, inefficient in a real fight. Stone, very nice. Bonelessness hex, very nice and efficient." He stopped at Malfoy, whom he had cursed personally to have overgrowing bodyparts, thus throwing him off balance. An odd curse that was in Harry's books from Remus. "I'd say that was practical. Can you still fire?" he asked pleasantly, standing just near enough that Malfoy got a good look up his leg. When the oversized hand on the normal wrist tried to come up, he leaned down a bit. "Hmm. I'd say this one worked very well in a fight. You?" Draco hissed something through his oversized lips. "What was that?" he asked, leaning closer. He smiled. "Yes, unfortunately it wouldn't fit under the dress this morning, kept showing." He stood up and continued on the circle, eventually taking half the paper Neville was writing on to make his assessments. They stayed like that until the teacher came. "We're done," he announced, handing it over.

"So I see." He looked at them. "Nothing hit you?"

"Neville had a stone arm, I restored it so he wouldn't have circulation damage, unlike that one," he said, kicking a foot at that student. "His'll be all over so it's not a problem."

"I see," the auror repeated, walking around to check each hex, smiling when he got to Malfoy's. "An odd choice. Which one of you?" Ron raised his hand. "Wonderful. Wherever did you find that one? I haven't seen that one since I attended school."

"Remus Lupin gave Harry a set of books on defense spells. It was in the third level one." He smiled. "It was a weak powered one, so I'm able to cast it a few times, it seemed to off-balance him, and it seems to have had the desired effect. Alive, but unable to cast for himself."

"Yes, wonderfully thought out," he praised. He freed everyone. "How about the rest of you?"

"It's not fair that he's working from other books!" Crabbe complained.

"Just because I study," Ron told him in his most sultry voice. Then he had to cough. "Doesn't mean you can't as well. Those books are available in the library, you too can read." He slid off the desk, smiling at the teacher. "Did you want them to try and hit us again?"

"No, I think that'd be pointless. Short of nailing your ...heels to the floor, I doubt they're going to hit either of you. Excellent work. Are you sure you won't join Potter in his training?"

"If you think I'm still qualified," Ron said, blinking. "Am I?"

"I'd have to check your grades, but we'll see," he said with a wink. "Go ahead and relax, the other class is nearly done as well."

As soon as the teacher had left, Malfoy grabbed Ron's arm, forcing him to face him. "What sort of game are you playing?" he demanded.

"I'm not. I'm simply trying out my other side." He got free. "Don't wrinkle my shirt, Ginny might get pissed and kick your ass for me. She can you know." He took Neville's arm to help balance himself on the way up the stairs to where the desks were, sitting on top of one and crossing his legs. "Might as well make the best of it after all," he noted when he saw Malfoy glaring at him.

Malfoy stomped up to stand in front of him, trying to menace him by being bigger. "I will get you yet, Weasel."

"No, you'll try," Ron reminded him. "As just shown, working with Harry has some advantages." He lifted his wand when Draco opened his mouth. "I can do it again," he warned with a snarly-smile. "Wanna go again?"

Malfoy sneered. "Duel?"

"Sure, why not." Ron slid off the desk, pushing the back of his shirt down as he walked down the stairs again. He faced off with his enemy, wand at the ready. "Full duel or just a standing one?"

"Standing," Draco said, opening his mouth to cast.

Ron was still faster from all the practice. "Luminos humanis." Draco lit up, blinding himself, and Ron ducked his curse easily. "Go again?" he asked in a bored tone.

"Enough," the teacher said as he walked in. He looked at Draco, then at Ron. "Going for humiliation?"

"I'm not taking it off," Ron pointed out, walking back up to his seat, followed by Harry, Neville, and Parvati. "He wanted a standing duel, he can be bright and shiny, just like his newly gelled hair in the morning. Blinds some of us when he sits down under a window with direct sunlight." The Slytherins laughed a bit and Draco raised his wand.

The teacher grabbed it. "I think I've had about enough of this. You can go to your next class that way, young man." He nodded at Ron. "Your observations were apt. I take it you've had to face him before?"

"A few times a year," Harry said dryly, sitting beside Ron. He nudged him. "Don't your feet hurt in those?"

"Yes, but I don't have any other shoes that fit during this time," Ron reminded him. He looked at the teacher again. "Are we dismissed?"

"Go," he said with fond tolerance. He watched as Ron and Neville walked out together, they had Herbology with Hufflepuff next. The Slytherins, especially Draco, had Potions. How very appropriate. He walked out into the hall, listening for the bellow.

Draco walked into Potions like nothing was wrong, but Snape grabbed him immediately. "What did you do?" Snape asked once they were in the hallway.

"I challenged Weasley and he lit me up in Defense," he defended.

Snape groaned and slapped the boy, just a gentle one. "You stupid idiot. He's setting you up."

"He may be, but he's also going to get it for what he did. How do I cancel this? The usual doesn't work, sir."

Snape glared at him. "I should leave you like that, but you'd give me a headache during class." He canceled the spell, then let the boy go sit down. He looked up the hall and shook his head at the waiting Defense teacher. At least the man knew what he was doing, even though he wasn't worthy of the spot. He walked in and slammed the door, but Potter happened to open it. "You're late," he snarled. "Twenty points off."

"Bell hasn't rung yet," Harry reminded him as he sat down, looking a little smug. "There's a new rating, sir, from Defense. We had to rate our fellow students. I was asked to give you these," he said, handing over the copied evaluations.

Snape dropped them on his desk. "You are late if I say you are late," he sneered.

"Fine, sir." The gong rang. "Then can I go and come back in ten minutes?" The other Gryffindors hissed and glared at him. Harry smirked at Snape and winked. "Ron laid a delayed charm on him during the fighting," he said when Snape moved closer. "I want to leave or want him to leave, sir. Before the bad things happen and you have to punish all of us, including your own house. You know it makes you more upset with the rest of us when you have to punish your own house," he said with a sweet and innocent smile.

"Leave, Malfoy," he said quickly. Draco ran from the room and started to not only glow, but spew this time, spraying liquid from every orifice. He looked out into the hallways, then glared at Potter. "Anything else?"

"I'm not sure, that's one of Ron's creations."

Dean walked over and looked out the door, then shook his head. "He'll blimp soon too," he told him, hurrying back to his seat.

"Why was he attacking Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked in a deadly voice.

"Because the defense teacher wanted us to see who was the better prepared. I got the ladies of your house, Ron and Neville and a few of our ladies took on your boys," Harry explained. "That's also why you have the ratings, sir. So you'd know who needed more work."

Snape snatched them up and read over them quickly, then went to stop Malfoy from crying out in pain as he expanded and his clothes ripped. He canceled the curses bundled together, waiting for any other nasty surprises while the boy lay panting on the floor. "Go change and come back," he ordered, shutting the door. "Any other nasty surprises, Potter?" he asked.

Harry looked around. "Did anyone else get hit by Ron directly?" Everyone shook their heads and mumbled. "What was that?"

"Neville," one boy said a bit louder.

"Longbottom!" Snape said, incredulous.

Harry looked at him. "Yes, sir, he was one of *my* prize pupils. In DA of course." Snape looked flabbergasted. "He's in Herbology if you wanted or needed to speak to him."

"No, I'm sure this is done with," he said bitterly. He pointed his wand at the board and the potion appeared. "Figure out what's wrong with that one," he demanded, sitting down to reread the remarks. Perhaps he would speak to Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Weasley after lunch. They had a free period as did he.

***

Ron looked up as the Transfiguration door opened, admitting the late Slytherins. "Not have a good class?" he mocked as a few of them glared at him.

Malfoy stopped near him. "I should make you pay for the clothes you ruined."

Ron gave him an innocent look. "How would I have ruined anything of yours, except your good day?" he asked nicely, even smiling a bit. Malfoy stomped to his desk and Ron looked at the teacher, who was staring him down. He shrugged and adjusted his straps a bit better. "The Defense teacher told us to hex each other," he told her when she walked up nearer to him.

"I heard, the same as I heard you did very well," she said, looking down at him. "Do you wish to be an auror?"

"I'm not sure," Ron admitted. "With my condition is it even practical?"

"It could be a help, but we'll see how you stand," she told him, walking back down to the front of the classroom. "Today will be higher animate transformations for those of you who have mastered it, and for the rest you'll be doing what you did last time." She handed out the animals to the various tables, smirking when Malfoy started to curse at his because it turned its tail and hissed. She sat down to watch Weasley work, aware that his powers were fluctuating. Fortunately this seemed to be one of his 'on' days because everything started going right for once. He managed to change three creatures to her satisfaction and had surpassed most of the class by doing so. She smiled. "Ten points, Mr. Weasley, for that fine performance." He beamed and shifted, crossing his legs in the aisle instead of under the desk. "Not comfortable?"

"It's cramped under there," he pointed out. "I have long legs." He stretched them out for her benefit, and so everyone else could admire them as well.

"I see." She looked over, noticing Mr. Malfoy was still fuming and hadn't managed to change that creature yet. "I'd work if I were you, you have a practical exam on this very subject in two weeks." Ron groaned. "I know, but you have proven that you can do it. I'm sure we'll figure out a way for you to take that exam," she soothed, heading back to her desk.

Ron looked at Malfoy. "Need help?" he asked.

Malfoy stood up and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

"Well, aren't we a drama queen," he snorted. Harry glanced at him. "I was trying to be nice after what I did to him earlier." He checked his nails, forcing himself not to pick at a chipped spot on his left ring finger. He saw Goyle looking at him and shifted, crossing his legs in the other direction. The boy's eyes bugged and he caught his eye, shaking his head. Goyle frowned and went back to his work. Ron waited for class to end, taking the time to check his makeup, just a little smudged under his eyes, and to recheck his nails, cleaning a bit of dirt out from under them. When the gong rang he stood up, grabbing his bag and wand. "I'll see you tonight," he told Harry. "Have fun in class." He grinned and hurried out. He wanted to spend his free time leaning on the balcony watching the first years struggle through flying class. There was a wonderful vantage point that he had found last year. He dropped his bag but kept his wand in his hand, leaning slightly over the railing. He heard footsteps but knew who it must be. "If you push me, I'm going to kill you," he warned quietly.

"Why would I do that?" Malfoy sneered. "Just because you're in the perfect position? Because it would humiliate you like you did me earlier?" He stepped closer. "You won't be that lucky when I deal with you."

Ron turned to look at him. "You've already lost, Malfoy. Seven years and for all the times you've made me lose my temper I've still managed to come out on top. This year isn't any different, breasts or not," he said with a small wave at his own. "If you hadn't stared so hard, you might not be in this predicament. So fix your head and leave me alone. I'll even call the truce myself," he said when the other boy's face hardened. "Personally, I'm enjoying this look. A lot of people think I look very cute in it, no matter that the shoes *do* hurt my feet." Draco backed off but that was mostly because there were a few muddy students coming up the hall from Hagrid's class. Ron gave them an encouraging smile. "He did it to our class too," he assured them. They giggled and ran past, going up to change. He looked at his enemy again. "This is entirely your own fault. You attacked first back in the beginning and I've retaliated. We've moved back and forth now for years. Grow up already."

Malfoy sneered. "You even sound like a girl."

"Really? Ginny and Hermione both noticed that but I hadn't thought I had it that down yet," he said, turning back around. "Leave, Malfoy. You're not my type."

"Oh, really? I think the lady doth protest too much," he said, stepping closer again.

"One more step and I'm dosing your whole house with what the twins did to me. I have the recipe and some of the leftover you know." He glanced back to see the shocked look and smiled sweetly at him. "They don't know this, but it's in a jar marked for the house elves and around its neck is a letter asking them to please give it to your house one morning during breakfast."

"They would never hurt a student," Malfoy noted, but he looked very unsure.

"Who said anything about them knowing what it does? I wrote it so that it says it's to help them calm their grief at what happened to me." He grinned again. "If I have to suffer, others can too," he said quietly. He straightened up. "Besides, maybe this way I'll find someone who's on the opposite schedule as I am. Someone to be male when I'm not and to be female when I'm not." He winked. "That's one way to solve the whole 'who do I choose' problem."

"You're insane," Malfoy breathed, starting to look scared.

"No, not really. A bit demented because of all this." Ron beamed. "McGonagall said Ginny and I together are worse than the rest of my brothers combined." Malfoy's mouth fell open. "You're playing a very dangerous game, Malfoy. Not only do I have the emotional calm that women have when fighting, but I also have my own brain and the memories of everything you've done to my house and my family. Combined, they give me the determination that not even Hermione can get past on one of her good days. That makes me twice as stubborn, doubly ready to cause you and yours harm, and more than evil enough to pull it off and laugh afterwards. Your choice." He bent back over, watching the students take careful zips around the field.

"You're not going to try and take me to bed?"

Ron snorted. "Furthest thing from my mind. I have no intention of putting a dick anywhere near those parts of me for a very long time." He glanced back and saw the speculative look. "You're not that hot."

"No, but I've noticed how you react when you catch me staring. It's fairly obvious," he said, waving a hand at the erect nipples he could see under the thin dress. "Cold?"

"A bit. Don't try to offer me a jacket." Ron turned back around. "You have no idea and it still wouldn't happen, Malfoy. Even if you were God's gift and it could turn me back." He heard footsteps approaching. "The kids are coming back." Malfoy moved so he was leaning against the railing, staring at the far wall. "Why did you even bother to come up here?"

"Snape forced me to. Said if I didn't he'd make my life a living hell by giving me to You-Know-Who as a playtoy."

Ron shook his head. "He wouldn't. He's seen too many go himself." He watched the kids file past, missing a few of the earlier group. "They've got to go to class too. I am still a Prefect," he noted for the students who didn't know.

One of the boys grinned at him. "They're trying to find clothes, Mr. Weasley. They should be along soon."

"As long as they are along soon," Malfoy said bitterly. The kids ran off, going back to class. "Snape's decided we're to be forced together until I get over my staring problem."

"Make it less obvious, I'm sure he'll relent."

"He's adamant. We're to meet him for dinner in his rooms tonight." He looked at the dress, then at the pretty face. "I don't suppose you'll change?"

"If I do, I'm wearing sweats and slippers. My feet hurt." Ron stood up and stretched, ignoring the small moan that came from the man beside him. "What time?"

"Sixish. Dinner."

"Fine, tell him I'll be there if he really wants me to be."

"Good." Malfoy stomped off, going to give in with apparent grace and humility, all the while fuming inside.

Ron went up to his rooms and took off his shoes, sighing in relief as he wiggled his toes enough to get feeling back into them. The door opened and he waved at McGonagall. "Come on in, I'm just getting the feeling back again."

"I understand. Women's shoes are not that comfortable for anybody, especially us." She sat beside him. "Professor Snape has decided that you will attend dinner with him and Mr. Malfoy."

"Malfoy told me but I had wondered if it was a joke."

"No, it's not. He thinks it's the fastest way to get the boy over his obvious staring problems. Though today was rather funny, even if it did affect your roommates." Ron groaned, flopping backwards. "They hadn't said anything to me," she offered.

"They know it's nothing different," Ron pointed out.

"Yes, but they're seventeen or eighteen and their hormones are just as randy as yours," she reminded him with a pat to his thigh. "Real stockings? My, you really were proving a point," she said with a smile. "The only thing worse are pantyhose. They cover everything and no air gets about there." Ron moaned again. "Sorry, Ron."

"Not a problem," he squeaked. "What am I going to do about that stuff?"

"You either ignore it or you try it out once or twice. Though if you do try it out, I'd suggest a long talk with Poppy first." She patted him on the thigh again. "Are you going to change before dinner?"

"Should I?"

"I think that outfit you wore off the train should do just about as well, especially if you leave off the bra," she offered. "Plus, you could wear sneakers."

"All mine are too big now. My feet shrunk with the rest of me."

"Then borrow Mr. Potter's. With the abuse he suffered he'll never get any bigger and he is about your present size."

"Maybe. Thank you, Professor."

"I am here if you need to talk about anything. Remember, boys are still fragile creatures and you shouldn't play with them too hard, they break." She left him alone to change.

Ron stood up and stripped down to his underwear, digging in his trunk to find something suitable for dinner. His jeans weren't in here, but he did have those tailored robes and pants that had been fit to this new form and shape. He pulled them out and went to wash his face, no sense in wearing the full kit for dinner. He came out and got his shirt on just in time, the door was opening. "Hi, Harry," he said as he sat down to pull on his pants. "Can I borrow some shoes?"

"I have a pair of loafers that are too small," Harry offered, digging in his trunk to find them. "Here you go, keep them if they fit." He sat next to Ron. "You're having dinner with Snape?"

"He's trying to break Malfoy of his bad habits."

"Like teasing?"

Ron smiled at him. "It was fun."

"It was," Harry agreed, "but I thought I might have to kill him to save you."

"Nah, it's okay. He's figured out now that he's not gettin' any. He'll calm down and I warned him to leave me alone. He seemed a bit...scared of what this new thing has given me."

"Which is?"

"The determination of a woman," Ron said fondly, patting him on the thigh.

"Ron, don't do that when you're in that form," Harry said quietly. Ron looked at him, looking a bit upset and hurt. "I'm sorry, but you do that and I keep seeing this really pretty girl, not you, and the girl is touching me, and I'm not sure how long I'm going to be able to hold off doing something dumb that'll drive us apart."

Ron shifted over, hugging him. "I know you're lonely," he said against Harry's neck. "But I'm still just Ron."

"But you're not," Harry said, getting free. "You're not Ron all the time and it's ..."

"Confusing?" Ron suggested lightly. "Try living it from this end, where each day you wake up and you look different and your body does strange things, and all of a sudden people who hate you think you're wonderful because you have breasts that stick up and bounce." He stood up and walked over to stare at his friend, eye to eye with him for now. "Trust me, the confusion and mixed-up feelings you have are *nothing* compared to what it's like on my side. I'd love to have another one of me to talk to about this, but there aren't any. You can't know what it's like to change genders until you do it. Being stable is fun, no matter how much we complained and whined about balls getting stuck to our legs, or the inconvenience of having hanging stuff, or even the problems we thought we had." He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Harry, that this disturbs you. If you and the others want it, I'll move out. McGonagall is about to force it anyway."

"No!" Harry said firmly, grabbing him to hug. "No, you're not going. We'll figure it out, Ron. We'll stop reacting soon enough."

"We'd do a lot better if it was just a natural thing," Neville said from the doorway. "Like everything was really normal. For the last few weeks I consciously forgot that you were going to hit this point again, until you started to sprout breasts." He grinned. "Can I get a hug too? You look comfy to hug."

"Sure, pile on," Ron said with a grin. "If it'd help, I'd run around naked in front of you guys again. That's not a problem."

"You're usually just as embarrassed as we are," Harry reminded him. "Maybe we should talk to one of the girls and have them help us."

"Parvati said she and her sister are trying to figure out how to desensitize us now," Ron admitted. "I keep trying to remind myself it's just a body, it's what's inside that really counts, but I keep getting flustered every time I feel wetness down there or I see my own breasts. It's really weird being a girl sometimes." Harry and Neville both laughed. "Now, we'd better stop this. I've got dinner with Snape and Malfoy. You two have got to jump Parvati and get her to figure out how to help us fix this. Got it?" The guys nodded so he tried on the loafers. "These are really comfy."

"I got them at the beginning of last school year but my feet outgrew them before my old ones wore out," Harry told him. "Go ahead and keep them." Ron beamed and grabbed a robe, leaving the room. He looked at Neville. "You too?"

"You wouldn't *believe* how many times I've heard the guys call out Ron's name recently," he said quietly, glancing at the door. "It's even beat Ginny's record."

"Wow," Harry said, sitting down on the end of Ron's bed. "You think we can straighten this out?"

"Hopefully. I don't like feeling awkward around Ron. He's always been really nice to me." He sat on his own bed then looked at the clock. "We'd better go or we'll be late for dinner."

"Yeah, I guess we should. We can talk to Parvati later tonight." Harry walked behind Neville, comforted that it wasn't only him having wet dreams about his best friend and his new breasts.

***

Ron looked across the table at Draco, then at Snape, reminding himself he had to be pleasant - he was a guest and the whole purpose of the dinner was to make Draco quit staring at his tits and ass. He could be a pleasant dinner companion for a while. "You know, this is really nice," he noted. Snape looked interested, putting down his wine glass. "For a few moments I had this horrible vision of you telling me I had to go to the Dark Lord as some sort of virgin sacrifice." Draco choked on his sip of water and Ron grinned at him. "Strange, huh?"

"It's probably all the sexual tension running around your dorm room," Snape assured him. "Not even Dumbledore would be that cruel."

Ron gave him a 'get real' look. "We both know that's a lie, sir."

Draco laughed. "You sound like that's a serious possibility," he pointed out.

"In the first war, it did happen," Snape admitted. "No one has suggested we try that trick again as of this point. Though I assure you, Mr. Weasley, you aren't the one who would be sent. Your nature would make him too wary."

"That's good to know," Ron admitted, relaxing again.

"You're a virgin?" Draco asked.

"Only in some ways," Ron admitted, blushing slightly. "I've only had the things for two months now."

"Good point," Snape agreed. He looked at his charge; he had taken over Draco's care since his father had went to prison. "Do apologize for that lapse in good taste and manners."

"Sorry."

"That's all right, that's not the worst or most rude question I've had yet," Ron assured him.

"What was?" Draco asked. Snape cleared his throat. "If you'd be willing to share?"

"I think the worst one personally was 'do you ever wonder how you'd use both at the same time', but then there's the beautiful one from some girl who asked if trying me would make her a lesbian." He picked up his glass of water to sip. "Hadn't asked her to do anything, didn't even know her, but she still asked." He frowned and shook his head. "Some of the Ravenclaws are strange little creatures, let me tell you." He shifted, rubbing his arm against his left breast.

"Nipple itch?" Snape asked.

Ron nodded. "It happens after they've reached full ...girth I guess is the right word."

"Why did you change?" Snape asked him.

"Because those shoes hurt," Ron said firmly, smiling at him.

"I see. Perhaps not so great a plan?"

"No, I felt comfortable enough, except on all those stairs. The balls of my feet went numb and even now it feels like my feet are still in that same arched shape. It's decidedly strange."

"My mother often soaks her feet when hers hurt," Draco offered quietly, looking at his plate.

"She would know what heels felt like," Snape agreed. "A foot massage is also comforting to that problem."

"I was going to take a long, hot bath tonight anyway," Ron admitted. "Most of the other Prefects are out of the big bathroom by ten."

"Curfew is at eleven," Snape reminded him. "You do fall asleep in there."

"I'll have Hermione come get me on her last roundup," Ron said with a shrug.

"You really should be more careful of your skirt," Malfoy put in. "It raised quite provocatively a few times today. Especially when you were leaning over the railing." He stared at Ron, then smiled. "If you hadn't been you, I might have taken it as an invitation, which one of the young men who had to shower thought it was. He stopped me to ask if I was now with you." Ron groaned and shook his head. "It seems he idolizes Potter as well and wanted to make sure he wasn't hurt by all that. Again, a strange little Ravenclaw."

Ron nodded. "I figured as much. If people knew what Harry's life was like, they wouldn't idolize him, they'd look on in fear and wonder if he was going to snap some day." He glanced at Snape, but saw he hadn't realized by the stony look in his eyes. "Sorry, shouldn't have spilled that one if you didn't already know." He sipped his water, then took a bite of his salad. "This is really nice, thank you, Professor Snape, for having me."

"You're welcome. It seemed the most suitable way to cure this problem of Mr. Malfoy's."

"Next you'll be telling me I'm going to have to sit with Goyle?"

"Was he staring?" Draco demanded. Ron nodded. "You're to stay away from him, Weasley, I mean it." Snape smacked him hard.

"No, leave him," Ron said. "He has got a violent streak, I'm more than well aware of that, Malfoy."

"No, I mean he's got more than you realize," Draco said seriously. "Do not let yourself be trapped alone in a room with him. It won't turn out well and you'll never want to be yourself again. As one other girl has found out," he finished, a bit more quietly.

"That was him?" Snape asked.

"I couldn't prove it or I would have told you already," Draco sighed. "Please, don't let yourself be captured by him. It's almost as bad as what you think it could be."

Ron nodded. "That's why I've asked Harry to be a bit more protective of me. Of course, he's treating me like I used to treat Ginny, but I guess that's fine." He sighed and shifted, trying to get comfortable. "I think I'd better head back to my room, my stomach's a bit upset." He stood up. "Thank you again, Professor Snape. Malfoy, if I catch you staring at my breasts again I'll simply slap you next time." He nodded and left them alone.

"Is he starting a cycle?" Draco asked once they were alone.

"No, he wasn't. That's something else entirely," Snape assured him, giving him a knowing look. "Occasionally young women have ...feelings that they're not willing to admit. It seems to churn their stomach."

"Me?" Draco asked, looking shocked and hopeful.

"I would hope it would be you instead of me," Snape said dryly. "Finish up."

"Yes, sir." Draco poured some more dressing on his salad and dug in. "This is really good."

"I'll tell the house elves you enjoyed it."

***

Later that night, Ron woke up and swore he had heard his name. He sat up, rubbing his eyes to clear them. He checked the other beds but each of them had a lump of blankets. He climbed out of his bed and headed to the bathroom, thinking maybe someone was wanking off to him again. He'd caught one of the younger guys earlier and had sicced Hermione on them for an 'earnest and personal' talk. He grinned at the memory of the boy's face when she suggested they talk about his feelings about sex. The bathroom was empty too. He frowned and walked back to his bed, but there it was again. It was coming from outside. He walked over and peered out the window, frowning at the man standing down there. "Hagrid!" he said quietly. "What are you doing?"

"We need you to come down here, Ron, it's important. Somethin' wrong with the animals and I can't wake no one else."

Ron blinked a few times. Hagrid hadn't sounded like himself. "I'm not wearing any clothes, give me a few," he told him.

"Thank you, Ron. That's real kind of you." He lumbered off.

Ron watched the movement and frowned, seeing the different shadow. He felt warmth moving close to his back and glanced back. "Something's going on," he told Harry.

"You can't go out, I won't let you have my cloak," Harry pointed out.

Ron smirked. "Think it's Filch on night duty?" He closed the window and walked over to look at Harry's map. "Oh, Snape, perfect," he purred. He grabbed the pants outfit from earlier, putting everything back on. "Follow," he ordered, giving him a small wink as he slipped out of their room and down through the common room. It was deserted at this time of night so he was all right there. He walked out into the hallway and found himself caught. "Sir, I was going to call someone for help. Someone looking like Hagrid at my window saying he needed me because some of the animals were sick."

Snape frowned. "Really?" Ron nodded. "Then let us see to Hagrid," he said, pushing Ron a bit. "Walk, Weasley. You know better than to be out of bed." He heard the slithering behind him. "You might as well come out, Mr. Potter." He turned and Harry appeared, still in his pajamas, but with shoes and a robe on. "Are you in on this prank too?"

"No, there really was someone at our window," Harry told him. "Yelled up. It didn't sound like Hagrid, not the speech or the way he talks, but it did look like him."

"I see." Snape looked at them both. "Let's play this out, shall we?" he suggested. "I'd rather get all of you."

Ron frowned. "If we help you we're still going to get detention?" he said bitterly.

"Perhaps. It depends on how well you play your part," Snape informed them. "It would seem natural for Potter to follow you. Stuff that blasted cloak somewhere safe and follow." He walked off, trusting the boys to follow him.

Harry let Ron put his cloak into the Prefect's bathroom, in the hidden cupboard that was only his, then followed discretely behind Ron, pretending to be more asleep than he was. His wand was up his sleeve, just in case. They were met outside by someone who looked like Hagrid, but didn't move or talk like him. Ron stepped down a few steps. "What's wrong? Why didn't you just come up and wake us?"

"It was easier that way," he said, glancing at Harry. "Hey, Harry. It's not that big a problem."

"He woke me anyway," Harry said with a shrug. "Come on, let's go help." He followed Ron and 'Hagrid' down onto the grass, not surprised in the least when a few of the Slytherins came out of the shadows. "Gee, an ambush," he said dryly, going back-to-back with Ron. "Who would have expected this?"

"Me, last month," Ron told him, smiling nicely at the guys. "Leave us alone, guys."

"I don't think so," Goyle said as he canceled his illusion, becoming himself again. "You've managed to infect some of us and we want it to end. If we have to, we'll end you," he sneered.

"That's really brave," Harry snorted. "Come on. We've been in duels before."

"Against all of us?" Goyle sneered.

"Against more than you," Ron reminded him. "Harry and I both did combat stuff the last few years, Goyle." Goyle glared but lifted his wand. "Ready?"

"Sure," Harry agreed, sliding his own wand down.

"Do not even think about it," Snape said as he walked out of the doors. "Gentlemen, what *are* you doing?"

"He's got a spell on Draco and a bunch of us," Goyle shouted. "We've got to end it!"

"It's called lust, nitwit," Ron said snidely. "It's no more a spell than your height is." He saw the flash of fear and stepped forward. "Your height's a spell?" he asked. Goyle growled and started to raise his wand, but Ron caught his arm, squeezing in the spot that brought pain. "Don't even think about it. Just because I have tits doesn't mean I'm suddenly anyone but me." He stepped closer. "If you thought what I did to Malfoy today was mean, just you wait," he warned in a deadly hiss. Goyle got free of him and backed away. "Now then, are you going to stop?"

"You're a freak!" Goyle shouted, turning around and running.

"Inpedimentia," Ron said, freezing him. "You don't run *toward* the Forbidden Forest, Goyle!" he said in exasperation. "It'll only make you wet yourself, again." He got out of Snape's way when he was pushed, glaring at him. "I didn't hurt him."

"I noticed." He looked at Ron, slowly taking in his appearance. "It's the confusion," he told him. "You've managed to upset their orderly world and this is them trying to right it. Kindly quit picking on Mr. Goyle and the rest of my house, Mr. Weasley."

"I only picked on Draco," Ron said, crossing his arms over his chest. A few of the guys went slackjawed. "What?" he yelled. "I'm not that cute! They're not that big! And they're the same things your females have! Get over it." He turned and stormed back into the school, Harry behind him.

"Good work, Ron. I haven't had a chance to watch you in action in a while. You handled that with a lot of style."

Ron stopped and looked at him. "Harry, if you're waiting for me to pass out in your arms with a chorus of 'my hero' and a longing sigh, you're going to be waiting forever." He glared at his best friend, who was blushing. "What is it with you guys?"

"It's the newness," Harry said quietly, not looking at him. "I start to get over it, and then you come back as female and prettier each time." He glanced up. "I really don't mean to stare sometimes but you are very pretty."

Ron snorted. "You need the prescription on your glasses checked. I'm not that cute. My nose is still too big, my hips are too wide, and my tits aren't that bouncy, no matter what the bras make them seem like. It's just me, Ron. Really, it is."

"I know, but sometimes you move a certain way or you do something so not-you that it takes our breath away and we're stunned. Like today, with the dress. Or the heels. Even Hagrid was stunned because it's so not *you*, not the Ron we're used to."

Ron slumped a little. "I'm sorry, Harry, I'm trying really hard to be me."

"Just be you, don't try. We expect a little weirdness from you, just because you're a Weasley," Harry said with a grin. Ron scowled and shoved him, making Harry laugh. "See, that's the usual Ron we're used to, breasts and all. That slinky and sultry thing that came to breakfast this morning was scary." He put an arm around Ron's waist, turning them both toward their house. "Besides, they've got smaller brains," he said quietly. "You'd expect them to take longer. The guys in our house are mostly over it."

"Harry, I know you've wanked off to me. I caught a fifth year earlier. Hell, I caught one of the girls in the fifth year earlier." Harry looked stunned, mouth open, eyes wide. "I just want to be Ron, okay? Just me, the same as always. No matter that I do go all 'woman' each month."

"Then I'd stay out of the dresses, you looked like an evil Ginny." They shared a laugh as they walked back up to their rooms. Ron remembered to get Harry's cloak and brought it up, not noticing Snape lurking in the shadows near the Prefects bathroom himself. Nor did he hear the cursing for not getting Harry's cloak. He rejoined Harry in their room and found most of the guys were awake. "I'm sorry if I disturb you guys."

Dean grinned. "Wanna snog, Ron?"

"Dean, when I want to try that stuff out, I'm going for a real man. Neville," he said with a grin. "I know he's going to be gentle and sweet about it."

"We'd probably be sweet and nice," Seamus joked. "Might lose control though."

"That's why I'm not going to make your lives stranger," Ron said, smiling at them. "So, what's up?"

"What was that?"

"That was the Slytherins trying to get him for bewitching them," Harry said dryly, leaning back on his pillows, arms behind his head.

"Have they never had a wet dream before?" Justin asked bluntly. The other guys laughed. "Though I think they're right. Ron, you are different. Especially like that. You're not kicking and screaming about it."

"I did that the first time," Ron admitted sheepishly, looking down at his legs. "I raged and cried and screamed in the back yard for hours that first day. Mum was the one who got me calmed down and told me it'd be all right, that I should act like nothing's happened." He looked at the guys. "I'm sorry if you guys are uncomfortable."

"We're getting used to it, it's just you in full-woman garb was a bit much," Seamus offered. Everyone else nodded.

Ron beamed. "Thanks, guys, that means a lot to me. I probably won't be repeating it all that often. Those shoes hurt!" He got hugged and laughed on by everyone. "So are we okay now?"

"We'll be fine," Justin assured him. "Just ignore us if we drool and we'll ignore you when you do things like touch yourself."

Harry nodded. "Or reach down and scratch between your legs."

"Or even shave your legs," Seamus offered with a grin of his own.

Neville woke up. "What's wrong?" he asked, rolling onto his side. "Ron?"

"Slytherins."

"Are you okay?"

"Not even a curse thrown," Harry assured him. He looked at Ron. "What was that thing with the dinner with Malfoy and Snape?"

"Snape was trying to break him of his staring habit," Ron explained, scooting back on his bed. "He thinks that if he can break Draco then the others will fall in line faster. Besides, I think Draco acting like that upset him somewhat. The always cool and calm Malfoy being besotted over me?" He grinned sadly. "It was just a nice, friendly meal. Malfoy was on good behavior. Snape got us salads, then I left early because my stomach was churning."

"Probably sitting there with them," Neville said.

"No, I think it was something else," Ron admitted. "Did you know that girls get fluttery feelings when someone stares at them for too long? It was really odd feeling. I couldn't deal with it then so I came back up here to calm down. Hey, anyone got any chocolate?" Harry dug into his stash of chocolate frogs and tossed one over. "Thanks," he said with a weak grin. "This is still really odd to me too, guys, really. I'm not one of the guys anymore. I have *no* idea how I'm going to regain my balance for quidditch. I'm off-center even as a guy."

"I know where Katie Bell is," Harry offered. "I got an owl from her."

"Yeah, maybe I'll ask her. I'm built about like her," Ron said thoughtfully, snapping off the head to eat it first. He stared at the bathroom. Then at the other guys. "I'll make a deal with you. You guys can do whatever you want to to get over all this breasts on me stuff. You can wank off, you can get one of the ladies to help you. Anything. Just don't let me hear it. It was really odd hearing the fourth years earlier." He ignored the blushing. "I'll keep my dresses down to once in a while and we'll go back to ignoring it all, okay?"

"I don't think we can ignore it, it won't make it any easier," Harry told him. The guys nodded. "It's like earlier, when you touched my leg. All I could see was this pretty girl touching me. I couldn't get past that to the Ron/friends part."

"Starting to hug him more often might help us all," Neville offered. "A hug now and one in a few days, to get used to the feel of Ron again. We used to walk up and slap him on the back and stuff and we haven't been." He stood up and padded over, hugging Ron tightly. "They do feel a bit odd, squishy even, but you still smell like you," he told Ron, earning a grin. He pulled back and looked at him. "That wasn't so bad." He got another one and Ron squeezed him like he normally would. "That's a Ron hug," he said happily. The other guys lined up to hug him as well, Neville beaming at Ron. "Do we feel better?"

"A bit," Harry agreed. "I'm still going to have to get past the visual."

"We use the same changing room, I'm sure you're going to see them all the time," Ron told them, then he decided to take off his shirt. "See, breasts," he said, waving at them. "Large, heavy, painful, nasty things." Seamus stepped forward and got a closer look, laughing nervously. He gave Ron another hug and dove back onto his bed. "Feel better?"

"Yeah, I kinda do. They're real."

"That was my first remark too," Ron agreed. He grinned at the others. "Want to touch?" They all bounced forward to get in a small touch, nothing like groping, then went back to their beds. "We all good now?"

"Very," Harry agreed, smiling brightly for the first time in a few days. "Thanks, Ron."

"Hey, I had to touch them a few times myself," Ron admitted, grinning at the renewed groaning. "Not like that! Pervs."

That got some laughter and they laid down, chatting more quietly as they fell asleep.

***

In the morning, Ron walked into the Great Hall feeling much better. McGonagall caught his eye and he walked that way before sitting down, standing in front of her. "Yes, ma'am?"

"You were very good last night, Ron. Thank you for helping with that little problem."

"Which?" he asked. She raised an eyebrow. "The guys and I got more comfy with each other again," he admitted. "We're better now."

"Good. I like that idea. Continue." She looked at the men at her house's table then at Ron again. "Do try not to turn them into your drooling parade," she said dryly.

"I'm not trying to at all," Ron defended.

"Good. Go eat. You'll need it. That changing takes a lot of out of body."

"Tell me about it. I just wish I had the dangly stuff back already. I miss it when it's gone." He trudged back to his seat and sat down next to Harry. "She told me we did good last night with the Slytherins and to not turn you guys into a drooling parade after me." The guys in his dorm all laughed. He looked around the hall, frowning when he saw the emptiness of the Slytherin table. "Do you think they kicked them all out?" he asked, nudging Harry and nodding with his chin.

Harry looked over, then at the Head Table. "Snape's not there either." He looked at Ron. "Maybe they're having a wank session to get over you too?" Ginny spluttered from her seat. "Sorry." He grinned at her.

"Is that why you guys are better this morning?"

"No, we got hugs," Neville said with a grin for his friend. "Ron hugs almost as nice as you."

Ron looked at Neville. "Are you two going to announce yourselves as a couple soon?"

"Prat," Ginny warned, her voice going colder. "I can have male friends, the same as you have Hermione now."

"Yes, but they passed through that dating thing first," Harry reminded her gently. He liked Ginny, and Neville, they would be good together. He put a hand on Ron's leg under the table and squeezed. "I think your mother would be really proud if you took up with a great guy like Neville. He's steady, he's great in his areas. He's a good defender. Plus he's a really nice and sweet guy. Right, Ron?" Ron nodded, smiling at them, a nice, pleasant smile not the look of death he wanted to give them for being together.

"Really?" Neville asked Ron, looking into his eyes. "Are you sure?"

"He's being a big brother again," Ginny assured him, patting him on the hand. "I agree, he's a very nice guy, but I'm not ready to go steady with anybody yet."

"Yeah, you are," Ron decided. "You're dating Neville and we noticed this summer that you were mooning over him." Neville and Ginny both opened their mouths to protest. "No, I'm not going to say a thing if you start to date Neville, but you'd better treat him right. I don't want to see any playing around on your part, Ginny. Neville deserves better than that."

"All right," she said slowly. She looked at Neville and smiled at him. He looked over the moon about it. She relaxed again. If he knew, and was happy about it, then it made her happy, right? She looked at Ron, who nodded, then back at Neville. "Okay," she agreed, nodding and relaxing. "We're dating."

Neville lunged over and hugged her. "I'm going to be the best boyfriend."

"That would include letting her eat, Neville," Harry said, nudging him. "Dumbledore and McGonagall are both staring." Neville sat back down and gave his girlfriend a bright smile. "Thanks."

"Dating for now, no more," Ginny warned.

"That's fine with me," Neville agreed happily. He beamed at Ron. "I've been wanting to ask you if I could ask her out," he told Ron. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You two are cute together," Ron pointed out. "Take her around Hogsmeade this weekend." Ginny gasped. "What?"

"I forgot that was this weekend," she hissed. "I...um...promised to walk around with someone." She looked at Neville. "I'll break it later today. I have class with him." Neville gave her another grin. "If I had known I wouldn't have accepted," she said, kicking him under the table. "Next time, give a girl some clues, Neville!"

He laughed. "Sure, Ginny. Want to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?"

She beamed. "Sure. I like the straightforward approach. I'm not that complicated." Ron and Harry both snorted. "Shut it, the both of you, before I put around the rumor that Ron's Harry's escort this weekend."

"I can do that," Harry offered to Ron. "That way you couldn't be jumped."

"I was thinking a larger group than two," Ron told him. "Hermione too?"

"Sure," Harry agreed, pulling some food over and dishing it out one-handed.

Ron cleared his throat. "Harry, remove your hand from my leg before McGonagall comes over and takes it off for you," Ron said in a normal tone of voice, noticing the older woman still staring at them. Harry pulled back and looked at his hand like it was some alien. "Thanks." He patted Harry on the shoulder. "Not ready for that yet."

"You know, now you can't tease Malfoy with Neville," Ginny told him. "Who're you gonna use now?"

"Oh, pick me," Justin said in a high falsetto from further up. He grinned at them. "Then I could get more hugs."

Ron snickered. "Justin, you'd cop a feel and you know it. Besides, aren't you supposed to be dating that Hufflepuff staring at you?" Justin blushed and looked at his girlfriend, who stormed out. "I'd follow before she blows, mate." Justin quickly followed her out of the Great Hall, going to explain what he meant. He looked at Harry. "I guess it's you and me after all."

"Okay," Harry said with a small, nervous laugh. Ron punched him on the arm. "Ow! Grumpy prat!" he said a little loudly, rubbing his sore arm. "What was that for?"

"For that look on your face," Ron told him. "That dreamy expression that said you're not going to be doing anything in class today and I'll have to take all the notes."

Harry blushed. "Sorry, Ron."

"That's okay, just leave it there, Harry." He shared a look with his sister and shook his head.

"Mum did say that she'd love it if I took up with Harry," Ginny pointed out. "I'm guessing it applies to you."

"I think of you both like my sisters," Harry said in his most hurt voice. "Or brothers, something! It's like thinking about snogging Charlie!" He shuddered.

Ginny snorted. "Mum was praying we didn't end up like Charlie. He must have snogged half the school."

Ron nodded. "He even had to give mum the bad news that he might have knocked someone up three different times, for two different girls," he agreed. "Mum was hoping so very much that we didn't turn out like him."

Seamus leaned around Neville. "After yesterday, you probably could," he pointed out.

"I'm not ready for that yet," Ron reminded him. "When I am, I'll put out an announcement and tell everyone how it went, but for now I think I'd better stick with the lighter stuff."

"Hey, we can do that too," Seamus offered, wiggling his eyebrows.

"In your dreams maybe," Ron snorted. "Oh, yeah, that was one, wasn't it?" He grinned and they laughed.

"Let's not talk about icky boy dreams," Ginny put in. "I don't need to know what you guys dream about...unless it's me." She grinned. The other boys laughed and Neville blushed. "Really?" He nodded, blushing brighter. She picked up her bag and patted his hand. "Come along, Neville, let's discuss these interesting dreams of yours. Dreams are fascinating things." He followed her out of the hall, ignoring the laughter.

Harry leaned against Ron's side. "That was too cute."

Ron pushed Harry off. "It was," he agreed. He looked over as Dumbledore cleared his throat then stood. McGonagall's glass rang when she tapped it. "Shit," he sighed.

"It has been suggested that we have another Yule Ball this year," Dumbledore announced. The entire room groaned. "I see." He smiled. "Are you sure?"

"Yes!" came back the various replies.

"Good, then we'll set it for three days before you leave for the holidays." He smirked and sat down. "I find them quite amusing."

"That's because you don't have to find a date," one boy at the Ravenclaw table yelled.

"Ten points off," McGonagall snapped. "You will address the Headmaster with respect, Higgins."

"Yes, ma'am. Sorry, sir, but you still don't have to find a date."

"No, I don't," Dumbledore agreed happily. "It was much the same during my time as well, young man. It's a rite of passage."

Ron pulled out the copy of his chart he kept with him and groaned. "Bloody hell, I'll be in the middle of a female phase," he sighed. He moved his plate and hit his head on the table a few times. "Why me?" he yelled.

"I'm sure you can go as part of a group," Harry offered, patting him on the back. "I won't be going with anyone and I'm sure Hermione hasn't picked up someone new yet. We'll go together, as a trio or something." Ron looked at him. "I promise, it'll be fine, Ron. Just remind your mother not to buy you pink."

Ron blushed. "Yeah, I'd better tell her that." He sat up, brushing some food out of his hair as he ran his fingers through it. "I'm gonna head up and do that now."

"Pig's at home, why don't you use Hedwig," Harry offered. "Tell her I'll send her my key to my vault if she'll take out some money for me too," he said as an afterthought. "I didn't buy any dress robes at all."

"Sure," Ron sighed, standing up and taking some toast with him up to the owlry.

***

Malfoy glared at Ron during their next Defense class together. "So, who are you going with? I know you have first choice of most of the school, outside of my house that is." He lunged at him and Ron kicked his feet out from under him, knocking him onto the floor by using his own momentum against him. "What was that?"

"I kicked your feet out from under you and watched you fall," Ron said. "I thought it was self-explanatory why you were lying on the floor." He stepped back and crossed his arms over his shrinking chest. "I'm not taking anyone if it matters to you. I really don't want to have to think about dating. Hopefully my mother agrees with me."

"I doubt it," Harry snorted as he walked over. "She sent me a letter today asking if that darling rose pink velvet number you saw in the shop was all right with you." Ron groaned and went to bang his head against the wall. "Leave him be, Malfoy," he warned quietly.

"I'm trying to be pleasant, as I was ordered to," Malfoy said warmly.

"Still, I don't want you upsetting him." Harry walked over and patted Ron on the back. "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine," Ron admitted. "No, the pink number isn't good for me. If I have to go, I want to go in style, not in pink." He nodded at the hall for the teacher's benefit and got a nod in return so he went to get a drink. This was just horrible. Plus, Harry was still acting worse than he ever had toward Ginny. Part big brother and part angry, jealous lover. And they weren't! He didn't feel like that about Harry, mostly. Though he would be good to him he supposed. Plus, he could take care of himself. Hell, it'd take someone like him to live in Harry's life. Anyone else would be flattened by the stress and all the other crap that came with dating Harry Potter. He slid down the wall, thinking hard. He hated being forced to do anything. Maybe he should write his mother tonight before practice.

"Weasley, the teacher wants you back," Crabbe called as he stepped out of the room. He looked Ron over. "You look sick," he said eagerly.

"Just a headache," Ron admitted as he stood up. He walked past the larger student and went back to his seat. "Neville, tell Madam Sprout I headed up to get something for a headache," he said quietly. "I'll be in, but late." He nodded, giving him an encouraging smile. "Thanks." He tuned out the teacher, which was a mistake since everyone around him was taking notes. He glanced at Harry's and found they had a paper due next week. Dirt!

***

It was the perfect day. It was warm enough to be on the mezzanine without a jacket. He was in that perfect inbetween spot where everything was balanced out. His breasts didn't hurt. The first years were zooming about happily, squealing in joy as they caught the quaffle Madam Hooch was tossing around. A perfectly wonderful day and he was happy. Until he felt the incredible pain to the back of his head and passed out.

***

Harry looked up as the Potions door opened, eyes widening at the scared look Neville had. "Excuse me, sir," he said, rushing out. "What's happened?"

"Ron's missing," Neville told him. "Didn't show up for Herbology at all." He looked at Snape as he walked out. "Sir, Ron Weasley is missing," he explained.

"I'll start searching this level. You search your house."

"Professor McGonagall already did," Neville told him. "I've searched all the places he likes to lurk."

"Including the one where he overlooks the flying class?" Draco asked as he joined them. "I've caught him off guard up there more than once. That's where he seems to spend most of his free period."

"Show me," Snape ordered. They followed him and Neville had to run and get sick at the spots of blood on the floor.

Harry looked at them. "They're still fairly fresh, not dried at all," he said thoughtfully, looking around. "Can we trace using these?"

"How would you know?" Draco demanded.

"Easy, I've seen enough of my own to know what coagulating blood looks like. That's still liquid so it hasn't been over a half-hour. Professor Snape?"

"I'll perform the search, go back to class and wait. Tell the rest of them to sit quietly then go on," he ordered Malfoy. Harry looked like he wanted to stay. "I will handle this, Mr. Potter."

"Ron's my family, sir."

"All the more reason to let me handle it. Go back to class, now!" Harry turned and jogged off. "Infuriating boy." But inside he was a bit afraid. The boy had been right, this was fresh blood. He cast a small tracing charm and followed the lights that picked out other spots of blood. Someone had been carrying him. He found a locked door. "Headmaster," he called. "We'll need your keys."

Dumbledore came jogging down the hall and handed over a special set of keys. "Here you are, I had to get them back from Argus." He pulled his own wand while Snape opened the door, walking in first. Ron was lying on an unused bed, his arm and chest bleeding from a few cuts. "Oh, dear."

"Potter and someone else had the sense to do a report on what to do with his blood," Snape reported as he picked the young man up. "Is he in the center of his change?"

"Exact center," Albus said sadly. "Take him upstairs. I'll tell Harry to join him."

"Shouldn't you be calling his mother?"

"Do you want to tell Molly what happened?" he asked quietly. Snape shook his head. "Neither do I. Search around for someone doing a power raising formula, Severus. A changeling's blood is most useful for those." He followed him up to the infirmary, telling Poppy what they suspected. Her lips tightened and she pulled the curtains around them so she could do a full examination. Twenty minutes later she walked out and shook her head, making both men slump in relief. "Find out who did this, Severus. Send Potter up. I'm going to do some discrete watching of my own." They left, both going to talk to people.

"Potter," Snape snapped as he walked in. "You're wanted in the infirmary." Harry's mouth opened. "He's fine. Living. Just a few shallow cuts." He saw the fire start in the main fireplace from the corner of his eye and nearly backed away from him. "I repeat, he is fine," he said calmly and slowly. The boy still leaked magic and he was dangerous when he was that upset. Harry nodded, catching the hint, and grabbed his things so he could sit beside Ron. "If *anyone* has knowledge of who did this, I will have it," he ordered. "Attacking another student in that manner is not only obscene, but strictly forbidden."

"You act like it's your own house," Malfoy said bitterly.

"It probably was." Snape looked at them. "Ron Weasley is, at least temporarily, a changeling." His more knowledgeable students stiffened at that. "That is why we are protecting him. I will know who did this by dinner tonight if at all possible." His house members, those who understood, nodded, including Malfoy. "Dismissed." They ran from the room, heading back to their house. It took all of ten minutes for Malfoy to find someone had packed some of their things and left the school. He nodded at the boy to leave, then picked up a beaker and threw it. This could only go wrong. Word would get back to Voldemort and that boy would be more wanted than Potter was.

***

Ron woke up and rolled his head to the side to see who was patting his hand. "Harry?" he asked, moaning slightly as he tried to sit up, but the firm hand in the middle of his chest stopped him. "What happened?"

"Someone bashed you on the head and cut you a few times," Harry said quietly. "Ron, do you feel any different? Like something else happened?" Ron shook his head slowly.

"Nothing of that sort happened," Madam Pomfrey assured them. "He didn't have enough time. He only drained a few pints of blood off him." She handed over a goblet. "Drink this, it will replenish the blood faster than a potion will," she encouraged with a gentle smile. Ron sat up with some help and drank all the juice. "Thank you. You'll be staying overnight, but are physically fine."

"They didn't...." Harry asked.

Ron shook his head. "No, I'd feel it if someone had tried something like touching me," he assured his best friend. He looked over as the Headmaster walked in. "Who attacked me?"

"The person who did it has been punished," he said in his most serious voice. "He finished his power potion and tried to claim his rightful place among the Death Eaters, citing his new powers. He lost his third duel. Voldemort was very impressed with him from what has leaked back." He grimaced. "Ron, you'll have to be even more careful. If word gets out of what you are, then Voldemort could well come after you for the same reasons."

"His blood?" Harry asked. "What'll happen if it mixes with mine?"

"Then he could possibly make a potion that would not only make him stronger, but also give him some defense against Harry," Dumbledore said gently. "I do not want you out of each other's sight. If that means that it has to appear that you're dating, then so be it." Ron nodded once. "Good. Harry?"

Harry swallowed. "I can do that, sir. I ... have some strong feelings for Ron anyway."

"Harry," Ron groaned, slumping back down. "I thought we worked that out."

"I know you don't want me that way, but..." He grinned. "I can't stop it anymore, Ron, and I'm not sure I want to."

"The best thing for you to both do is to take a quiet dinner tonight, alone, and talk this through," Madam Pomfrey advised. "Even if you don't have those fluttery feelings for him, it might not mean you don't like him. Many girls find that their most compatible person is their best friend." She patted the blankets smooth over Ron's prone body. "Try to rest. You should be a bit dizzy but otherwise fine." She led the Headmaster away. "What about the warnings not to consummate anything?"

"I don't think it will be a problem. Ron won't let himself be taken and neither will Potter," Dumbledore assured her. "Even if they don't end up together, it will still be fine." He left her alone with the boys, going to talk to Severus and tell him the bad news.

***

Ron was escorted into the Great Hall by his sister, Harry, and Neville, but paused when he saw the empty Slytherin table. "What happened?"

"They're in quarantine," Ginny explained. "Snape wanted to make sure that no one else got any bright ideas." She helped Ron into his usual seat. "There you go. Still feel dizzy?"

"Yeah, and craving meat," he said as he snatched the plate of bacon before anyone else reaching for it could grab it. "Thanks." They looked at him. "I'm fine, just got bled a little."

"Did the guy really die?" one of the third years asked in a timid voice.

Ginny patted him on the head. "Don't worry about it. This was their stupidity. Nothing to do with you or something that you'll do." She sat across from her brother. "I wrote mum." Ron paused in the act of piling his plate high. "She's not going to worry more because she was told. She already knew."

"That's why you've been so clingy?" Neville asked. Ginny smiled at him and nodded, a faintly sad tinge around her eyes. "Is it that important?"

"Ron's considered a changeling," Harry said quietly. "Changeling's blood is used in power potions mostly. The more corrupt you can make them the more power you can raise with it," he finished on a near-whisper. "Mrs. Weasley has the right to worry."

"I'll help watch out for you," Neville offered.

"Thanks, but I think I can do most of it myself," Ron pointed out, taking the juice his sister handed him. "Thank you." He poured himself some and drank most of it, then refilled his glass before putting it down. "I don't need watched like I'm some precious artifact."

Harry leaned closer. "Ron, the guy went and took on Voldemort. At the very least, let us worry for now, okay? If it makes the user think they're that strong then there's at least a dozen people who will want some." Ron blanched and Harry laid his hand on top of his. "So let us worry with you. It'll make us feel better and we won't have to hide it while we stalk you around the school and Hogsmeade." Ron nodded. "Thank you. Now, would you still like to go with me?"

"Sure," Ron agreed, nodding. "Since we were all but ordered." The doors opened and Malfoy strode in, sitting at his table by himself. "I wonder what that's about?"

"I think Snape's cleared him of anything to do with it," Ginny said thoughtfully. She looked at her brother. "He was taught how to treat you. Maybe Snape's giving you some extra insurance?"

"Eww," Ron noted.

"Oh, please. Every girl in this school, including you, gets wet panties over him sometimes, Ron. Even me too, no matter what sort of git he is. He's still rather sexy and hot sometimes. When he's not being a prat." She smiled to ease Neville's uneasy look. "It's a mass phenomenon. Some of us have better taste than that."

"Thank you," he said, kissing her on the cheek. "I knew you had better taste but I had no idea it happened to everyone."

"Why, Neville," she teased. "You too?" He shook his head quickly. "Just teasing, Neville. If you have squishy feelings for blokes, then just tell me."

"I like you more," he said firmly.

"That's good to know," Harry offered. Neville's eyes went wide. "Don't worry, I like you mostly as a friend, Neville. The same as I think I do Ron."

"Another nice thing to know," Ron said dryly. "We're going to talk about this perception problem of yours yet, Potter." The morning post came in and Ron's eyes widened when he saw the package coming in with Hedwig. "Mum!" he said in disgust.

"I think it's cute," Ginny said, looking at the pale pink velvet robe trimmed with lace. "We can probably work with that and make you look stunning in it, Ron." She beamed at him. "Anything in there for me?" Ron handed over the bundle with Ginny's name on the string. "Ooh, purple." She smiled at Neville. "What do you think?"

"I think lavender is a wonderful color for you, Ginny. We'll have to look around this weekend to find me something to match," Neville offered shyly.

"Okay." She patted him on the hand. "Then we're going to teach you how to dance." He laughed and hugged her, kissing her on the cheek again.

"Some of us are already dizzy, we don't need to see that," Ron pointed out. He looked at his outfit again, then picked up the note. "Mum said it's not the most wonderful, but something could probably be done with it," he announced. "Said we should be getting that lesson soon."

"Hopefully," Harry agreed. "Will you go with me, Ron?"

"Sure," Ron agreed, smiling at him. "We'll shop for you this weekend." He tossed over the small bag of cash that had been tucked inside his robe. "I'm assuming that's for you."

Harry looked inside, mentally counting the money and checking the key that had been put in there. "That should be more than enough," he agreed, looking at the remains of the package. "Any more notes?" One was found and handed over. Harry laughed and showed it to Ron, the admonishment to treat her 'very special son' right making him laugh too. "So, pink huh? Flower on the lapel?"

"No, we'll have to get you something that coordinates," Ron told him. "How much did you ask her to take out?"

Harry handed over the bag. "I didn't ask for anything. Just to get some."

"Oh, that's right. I included it in my missive of doom." He looked inside the bag, then at Harry. "That's a lot."

"It's only a handful," Harry said quietly. "I have it to spare at the moment, Ron." Ron handed the bag back. "Sorry, but it wasn't that much. It just seems to be because the inside of the bag is shiny."

"It's more than we usually spend all year on clothes," Ron reminded him.

"I know, and I didn't tell you that to piss you off." He took his hand to squeeze. "Help me shop for something stunning?"

"Sure, Harry. Just don't try anything with me."

"I won't, but I reserve the right to feed your chocolate frog addiction," he said with a grin. "It is only proper."

Ron shook his head. "We're not dating."

"You never minded before."

"Before no one was saying that we should be dating."

"So we're friends who escort each other places," Harry said with a shrug. "I hear that's fashionable."

"Practical as well," Ginny told him. "How much?" Harry handed over the bag. "Wow." She handed it back carefully. "Give that to McGonagall or someone to hold for you so it doesn't get stolen," she suggested.

"Yeah, maybe I will," Harry agreed, letting Ron go so he could walk up to her. "Professor?" he asked quietly. She looked down at him. "I asked Mrs. Weasley to take some money out of my vault so I could do a bit of shopping this trip to Hogsmeade. Would you hold it for me so I can't misplace it?"

She smiled and took the small bag, tucking it into her pocket. "Of course I will, Mr. Potter. Are you still going?" He nodded. "Is that your...date's new robe? Pink?"

"His mother picked it out. He's going to help me pick out something appropriate to go with it," he said with a shy smile. "I don't know what I'm doing."

"We'll talk later," she assured him. "I'll also move the clothing lectures up a bit." He nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Potter." He went back to his table. She patted the bag to feel how full it was. "A bit of goodly amount," she told herself. "Molly must think he'll need it."

"She probably went happy when she saw all the money in there," Albus said quietly. "He has a bit you know. Half a medium vault full." She looked impressed. "The rest comes to him on his twenty-first. I'm not sure if he knows that yet or not." He smiled at Draco. "I want to know what Severus is planning," he decided.

"Mr. Malfoy would be the perfect one, outside of Potter, to protect Weasley. He knows what the blood can do, and all it's uses most likely. His father was adept at potions and the Darkest of the Dark Arts. I wonder what he's doing to the rest of them."

"Probably some gentle questioning." He caught Draco's eye and motioned him up. "Why were you released early?"

"I'm to approach Weasley in the halls and tell him that I'm to protect him," Draco said in a calm voice, but you could see in his eyes that he didn't like it. "Professor Snape made sure I knew it was my duty to do so since it was my father's knowledge that's putting him in danger." Albus nodded but McGonagall opened her mouth. "Please don't," he said quietly. "I already have a headache and a half after last night. My father's journals, kindly stored in the library, on how to make someone like Weasley were found in the boy's things. Along with the spell the twins used, which was a take-off of something he did."

"That's fine," McGonagall said finally. "Mr. Weasley?" He walked up to them, his juice cup in hand. "There's been some news on your attack last night. Would you like to hear it now or later?"

"Later, Professor, if that's all right." He glanced at Draco. "May Harry come so I don't scream and rant?"

"Of course," she said kindly. "My office, ten minutes, boys." They nodded and went back to their respective seats. "I don't like this," she told Albus.

"Nor do I, but it does make sense. Who else would understand his father's workings better than the son."

"We don't know where Malfoy stands."

"For right now, Severus is holding him in check. If he slips his leash a bit, I'm sure Harry and Ron will knock him back for it," he said with a small grin. "They're known for it after all."

"Good point but I still don't like it." She sipped her juice. "Does this mean they'll have to form a threesome? We haven't had one of those in this school for ages."

He chuckled. "It very well might, but I wouldn't push it. Ron's not feeling that way about Harry, no matter how infatuated the boy is with him." He glanced around again, noticing one girl staring at them. "Go back to your breakfast and ignore us," he mouthed, remembering she could read lips. She shuddered and turned around, taking a big bite of eggs. "Watch that one, Minerva. She reads lips." He stood up and left her to handle the situation.

***

Harry and Ron walked into McGonagall's office, Harry pausing when he saw the other occupant. "What's going on?" he asked as he shut the door and locked it at her nod.

"Professor Snape has asked me to help you protect Weasley," Draco announced with distaste coloring his voice. He looked at Ron. "The spell that changed you came directly out of a journal my father left in the library. He had a full journal of what to do with a changeling and a great many plans written out for the eventuality of finding one." He lifted his chin. "We also found out this morning that he was planning on using it on me, or if he could force my mother to bear one, a sibling of mine."

"Being a pure blood would make it stronger," Ron finished. Draco nodded. "Harry?"

"I can protect you myself," he said coolly, stepping closer to Ron. "We don't need your help."

"Actually you do," Draco said, shifting in his seat so he could cross his legs. "Mathers messed up the incantation. There's been pages torn out and we're not sure who has them. Snape is presently going over every inch of Slytherin to see if anyone else has them. Since it was my father's works, I'm researching to see what else my annoying ancestor came up with." Ron went pale. "I was supposed to ask, do I have to guard your virginity still?"

"Malfoy!" Harry snapped.

Ron put a hand on his arm. "It's a fair question. The more corrupt I am, the more powerful it makes the blood," he quietly reminded. "Nothing's changed since Hermione and I broke up."

"That's fine then." Draco stood up and faced off with them. "This makes me no more happy than it does you two," he said in his usual deathly calm voice. "Unfortunately I owe Professor Snape my life and my sanity. I have to do this." He looked at Potter, then at Ron. "I'll leave you to figure out how best to do this but I will have to be there."

"Harry's been pushing to date him," McGonagall noted from behind her desk. Harry glared at her. "Do not give me that look, Mr. Potter, I can and will take points off you for it."

Ron swallowed. "I don't want this."

"Severus is working on the formula to see if it's reversible," McGonagall soothed.

Ron turned to look at her, head already shaking. "I had a small seizure after swallowing the potion," he said quietly, then he slumped. Draco caught him but it was Harry who sat him down and handed him the glass of water off the desk. "The nurses said it might wear off but the seizure did funny things. Even the antidote didn't work when the twins gave it to me."

"I see. I'll inform Severus and Poppy of this, Ron. For right now you need to calm down."

"How can I be calm!" he shouted.

"Ron, go sit and think somewhere," Harry offered. "We'll go to class and you'll tell us what you want." Ron looked at him. "I'm serious. Go find a quiet corner somewhere and sit. Think everything through. Write the twins and have them explain everything they did."

"Their notes mentioned the seizure," Draco admitted. "Snape does know. He showed them to me so I could compare them with my father's notes," he said when Weasley looked at him. He noticed the disgust. "I don't want to be here either," he said again.

"Go think, Ron. We'll be in class. Join us later." Ron nodded, putting the glass of water down and walking out. As soon as the door shut, Harry pushed Draco against a bookshelf. "If you so much as make him upset I'm going to beat your pansy ass, Malfoy," he warned. "Ron is special to me and I won't have you hurting him. No matter what." He stepped closer. "If you thought I was hard on you before you've seen *nothing* of what I can do. Do you understand?" Draco nodded, not looking perturbed. "Good." He looked at McGonagall. "May I go for a quick run through the edge of the woods?"

"No, but you may take a small walk down and sit behind Hagrid's cabin if you so wish," she offered. "I know you have him today." Harry nodded. Draco nodded eventually. "Then go and consider your options. I will agree, it is up to Mr. Weasley how best to manage this. It is his life that is being ruined by this." Draco nodded again. "Good. Dismissed." They left her alone and she slowly relaxed every muscle in her body. She had been ready to jump between Potter and Malfoy, but Potter had finally learned some self control it seemed. She heard an explosion and stood up, but it had been outside. She hurried that way, joining the Headmaster on the front steps. "What happened?" she asked, staring at the burning bushes.

"Harry tends to leak magic when he's upset," he told her. "Usually it's little things. This time it seems something upset him that much." He looked at her. "The situation?"

"Weasley's thinking about what he wants. I sent Potter to Hagrid. Malfoy is...."

"Behind you," he noted. He looked at the bushes. "Potter?" Dumbledore nodded. "Snape warned me he sometimes leaked magic. Can't he control it?"

"How could he? He wasn't aware that he needed to when the training would have done him the most good," she said smartly, making him flinch. "I assure you, Mr. Potter has all the control he can given his life. We're lucky he didn't blow up part of the school."

"Indeed," Dumbledore agreed. McGonagall looked at him and he nodded. "He is that strong. The same as I was at one point in time. We'll work on that during his training. He'll have to learn to shield better." He walked inside, letting the fires put themselves out.

McGonagall looked up at Malfoy. "You will not upset either of them. I won't lose everyone in the world because of some petty jealousy, Malfoy." She pushed past him, leaving him to consider his options and his attitude.

Draco put out the burning bushes with a water spell, then went to his usual spot to think, unsurprisingly near Weasley's since it had the best view of the playing field.

***

Ron strode into Defense as if nothing had happened that morning. He nodded at Harry, then glanced at Malfoy. "Harry, I think it's time we had a talk," he said, taking his usual seat. "Arrange to have a group mostly to ourselves today."

"Okay, Ron," Harry agreed, smiling hopefully at him. Ron shrugged and glanced at Malfoy. He nodded subtly. Harry caught the clue and his smile fell a bit, but he was still hopeful. "Want the back room?"

"Sure." Ron straightened up as the teacher walked in, raising his hand. "Sir?"

"Yes, Mr. Weasley?" he asked tolerantly, giving the boy an encouraging smile. He was so good, getting the boy to put forward a suggestion that he'd have to make anyway.

"Sir, Harry and I need to practice against each other. We don't have the push to get better against the kids we're teaching. May we break up our groups that way today?"

"Of course," he agreed easily. "That's a wonderful idea. That does mean that you'll be with Mr. Longbottom and a few of your former groupmates, plus Mr. Malfoy. Would that be all right?"

"Yes, sir, we can hex Mr. Malfoy into unconsciousness if need be," he said with his usual impudent grin.

"Very well. Go to it. Misters Longbottom, Malfoy, Potter, Weasley, and Misses Granger and Patil in the other room. I'll take on the rest today." They filed that way and shut the door. "Does anyone know what that was about?"

"Probably in reaction to Ron getting his head nearly caved in yesterday from behind," one of the Gryffindor females told him.

"Ah. I heard about that. I'll have to check on him later. Thank you. Let's work on those stunning spells, shall we?" He moved the desks out of the way, bringing over a pile of pillows. Some days, he thought, this might as well be remedial defense.

Ron looked at the group, then nodded at Hermione to block the door. "Okay, we've got to talk," he announced. He crossed his arms and looked at Hermione when she opened her mouth. "He needs to be included this time. Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall said so." He looked at the others. "Who here knows what a changeling is? Beside it being me?" Only his two friends and Malfoy raised their hands. "Okay, then you get to explain it, Malfoy, since your father did most of the research."

"A changeling, one who changes form or shape by definition, is a powerful entity," Draco informed the group. "The blood of a changeling is used in power raising formula, including a power raising potion that will give the user a temporary energy boost." He started to pace. "I didn't know this but my father did most of the research and left some journals in the library."

"One of which the twins got the potion that changed me out of," Ron added for good measure. The other Gryffindors, but Harry, winced.

Draco looked at the group. "When Weasley was attacked yesterday, the person cut him. Then they packed a bag and walked out to face down Voldemort to get a high position within his hierarchy. He died during his third straight duel." The other Gryffs looked sick. He shrugged. "It was his own stupidity. He should have read the next page that said it was temporary and how long it lasted based on the purity of the subject." He coughed. "In fact, the less pure, the stronger his blood becomes."

"Malfoy's been asked to help guard Ron," Harry told them. "Ron?"

Ron shrugged. "I need other options. Parvati?"

"Unless you're going to look like you're dating Harry and Malfoy," she said with a shrug. "I don't know how you can do that. Harry won't let you off by yourself with him?" Harry shook his head quickly. "And the rest of us, now that we know, will be on the lookout but we can't do everything. There's going to be times when you're alone or just with your ...significant other I guess you'd say."

Ron smiled. "That thought's occurred to me," he told her. "But I really don't want that. I'd have to warn my mother and Ginny, something might leak out."

"It may be the best option. Short of you taking up only with Draco and Harry stalking you around the school. Of course, that means that you'll end up shunned by some of the other Gryffs, Ron."

"I could say that I'm studying your condition," Draco offered. "Snape let slip that my father did the majority of the current research out about changelings. It wouldn't seem that odd for me to be shadowing you around, Weasley, but it would give me the pretense to not have to act like I adore you in public."

"That would limit the amount of time spent with him," Neville pointed out. "Yeah, you could get away with that for a while, but how often would you really need to check on him if that were the case? Would you need to be constantly around him?" The doorknob rattled. "Go away!" he called. "DA business, sir."

"Fine. I'll be back in five minutes. I'd better see evidence of spells." The teacher left them alone.

Neville smiled at Ron. "Whichever you decide, but there's going to be problems either way."

"I was hoping for a new option," Ron told them, pulling his wand. "Shall we?"

"We should," Hermione agreed. "Neville?"

"Of course," he agreed. "I've been practicing." They faced off and he won, stunning her so badly she fell backwards like a board. "Oops, sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to hit you that hard." Her lips tried to move but failed.

Malfoy looked at the group, horror clearly showing on his face. "What did you do to him? He never used to be able to do that!"

"Umbridge," Ron said with a smirk. He nodded at Parvati. "You're next, deary. But tonight you've got to help me explain it in a way that won't get out."

"We'll tell the little ones that you're taking up with the slut because he can gently break you in. None of the rest of the guys can promise that or have the experience to give it gently."

"Plus, Justin and Seamus are together," Neville said happily, pointing his wand at Harry, but Harry got him first. "Ow!" he shouted, hopping around when his feet lit on fire. "Harry!"

"Sorry, I've been pissed all morning." He uncursed his friend. "I'm sorry, Neville."

"Meditate or something," Neville complained. "Or better yet, go beat up on the teacher. Ron?"

"I'm not in any better shape." He looked at Harry, then at Parvati, then at Malfoy. "Neville, take Parvati, then Malfoy, I'll work with Harry." He faced off with him and gave him a jaunty salute. "Come on, I know you can do better than a hotfoot hex," he taunted.

Harry grinned back. "I'll get you for this, Ron. If I have to pretend to kiss him, you're going to be sorry. I'm going to get you with tickle hexes in the halls." He raised his wand, but Ron fired first. He ducked and shot one back.

Neville and Malfoy watched the deadly dance with some trepidation. "Just think, they like each other," Neville said quietly. He looked at Malfoy. "If you hurt Ron, I'll have a go at you. I'm actually very good now at stealth maneuvers. I'm sure I can get Harry's cloak and special books as well." Draco swallowed. "Shall we? Parvati, uncurse Hermione and work with her?" he suggested.

"Sure. I know you're better, Neville. You wanted it more last year." She uncursed Hermione and helped her stand up. "You all right?" They both had to duck a random curse thrown from Harry, Ron was running now and laughing. "Boys!" she called. They cursed the both of them then turned back on each other. Petrified, what a way to spend a few minutes.

Neville laughed and shot a random one at Harry, trying to even the tide for Ron, but Harry sent one their way. Malfoy retaliated with a smirk and got his butt hexed into bigness again. Neville joined in with the laughing pair, chasing them around hexing each other. He managed to partially get Ron, one of his legs got the leglocker hex but not the other. Ron got him back and managed to hit him. That's when the teacher came in. He had to duck too. Harry had just fired off a royal blast, a breeze/fireworks combination spell that was meant to push people back and frighten them off. It was an instinctive reaction at best, but Ron saw his opening and got Harry where it hurt, making his head swell and followed it up with a gibberish hex. Ron danced around. "I won!" he crowed.

The teacher shook his head, smiling at the mess. "Well." He unfroze the girls, then helped Malfoy and Neville, then got Harry. "That was entertaining. Is that how you trained them?"

"No, that was stress relief," Ron admitted with a grin. "I hate my life."

"I heard." He patted Ron on the back as he walked past him. "Very nice work. Harry, you tried to curse me, I should have hit back."

"Sorry, sir, all I saw was the door opening and I reacted. It wasn't one meant to hurt you at least," he offered, hopeful that he wasn't going to get detention.

Malfoy shook his head. "Perhaps I should train a bit more," he said quietly.

"Yeah, you should," Neville agreed with a grin as he slipped past the teacher. "Ron won!" The class clapped. "Harry nearly got the teacher!" The class laughed and clapped, patting them both as they walked past to their seats.

The teacher cleared his throat. "I believe I should probably give out new partner assignments. For the next month, I want you to work in groups of three. Parvati, Neville, Hermione, I want you three to work together. You seem evenly matched. I hate to do this, but Potter, Weasley, and Malfoy, you three are together." He smiled at the remaining students. "The rest of you break up. You're about even at this point." That got some quiet talking going while people arranged groups. "Those who don't have one will have to join in on another, higher, group," he said when he saw one girl left out. "A group of four is acceptable."

Malfoy raised his hand. "I don't want to say this, but I haven't seen some of the ones they used."

"We have the books in our room," Ron told him grudgingly. "I'll give back the library's copy so you can check them out." He looked at the teacher. "You're sure?"

"I am sure, Mr. Weasley, if only because you and Mr. Potter need a threat to settle you down and make you quit running about."

"Real fights aren't fought standing still," Harry reminded him.

"No, they're not, which is a good point. Everyone else will be catching up to that one by the holidays. I want you to move on to concealment charms and various hexes for eavesdroppers and snoopers. By the holidays I want you three to be able to find any listening devices and disable them." Ron nodded, seeing the point. Obviously he had been told. The small smile told him that he was right. "Good. Mr. Longbottom, your group I want working on defensive strategies. I can't see you on the front lines, but home defense is a wonderful area for you it seems. Most of the ones you do best at are meant for close range fighting or for small groups. Therefore your group will be studying home defense. Ways of fighting in small groups, ways of defending a house. Spells and hexes to protect a retreating group." Neville nodded. He smiled at the other groups. "The rest of you I want up to their level by the holidays. Your grades are going to depend on it." He tipped his head as the bell rang. "One more note. Each *group* will be doing a paper each week on their area. I'll want a topic by next class, the paper the class after that. Do try to pick different areas instead of just getting more specific. Specific is wonderful, but you'll need more varied knowledge. Next term is for specifics and specializations. Dismissed." He grabbed Ron and Harry as they moved past him. "You two are just dangerous," he pointed out. "You could have hit the girls or Neville with another hex."

"We knew where they were," Ron told him. "We practiced this way against Malfoy in the halls."

"I see. I thought there was something going on there."

"Does that mean you were told, sir?" Harry asked respectfully.

"I was, Professor McGonagall told me before this class. I want you to work closely with him. It can only help you to get him up to your level. Also, if you wouldn't mind, no more wild cursing in the back room. Running games are fine, but I'd rather you did them outside so I don't have to fix the walls. Got it?" They nodded. "Good. I want a topic by next class." He let them go. "Oh, Ron, your grades look barely good enough. We'll meet tonight during your free time?" He nodded and hurried out. "Good." He sat down and put his feet up. "That was a nicer class. I like this idea. I'll have to give Minerva a box of chocolates or something for suggesting it," he said happily.

***

Ron looked at the Slytherins in the library with them and the dirty looks they were sending at Draco. "What do they know?"

"That we're being forced to work together on this," Draco admitted. "That part was let around. Between that and the knowledge that I'm the fount of all things changeling around here there's a few suspicions and suggestions on what should be done about me." He looked at Harry. "Any topic yet?"

"Since we're supposed to be working on concealment charms and anti-eavesdropping charms, why don't we do a general overview of the area?" Ron suggested. "I know practically nothing about them, besides those ears my brothers made."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, there's those, but there's got to be other means. This paper we'll do an overview." He looked around. "You notice he didn't give us a length?" Draco grunted in annoyance. "Then we can each pick an area and work on them," he suggested. "I'll do concealment. Ron, you take eavesdropping and privacy ones. Malfoy, you take hiding spots and how to conceal a hidden area or an object?" Draco nodded, writing it down and standing up to pull books. Harry looked at Ron. "And?"

"I don't know," Ron told him. "Like I didn't know at dinner. I have no clue."

"I'm still leaving it up to you. It would appear natural for you to work up to it after all we've been through," he suggested quietly. Ron smiled and nodded. "Just let me know what you want me to do."

"You're taking me to the stupid ball and this weekend we're shopping for you," Ron said firmly. Draco came back with a small stack. "That's all there were?"

"I prefer going through two or three at a time and most of the other books referenced these," Draco told him. "Well?"

"I think we should just work together for now, and if necessary we can add in what Parvati suggested later," Ron said quietly, leaning closer. Draco looked relieved.

"It would probably appear suspicious any other way," Harry agreed. "Plus, then you could use your idea as well."

Draco nodded. "That seems reasonable enough. Along with new assignment we'll have to spend some time together practicing."

"Yeah, because you suck and blow, Malfoy," Ron said with a grin. He pulled his bookbag up and took out the first few books in the set he had checked out. "This is the set Remus gave Harry. There's a whole series of them, I'm working through level four."

"I've gotten through six," Harry put in.

"Thank you. Have you checked them back in yet?"

"Not yet. I figured I'd do that when we figured out which books we were taking back to our rooms for the night."

"Thank you." Draco took the top one to flip through. "This is much more comprehensive and almost a manual in how to fight dirty."

"That's why Lupin gave it to him," Ron pointed out. Draco shot a glare at him. He grinned back. "There's many things you don't know so far, Malfoy, and I'm sure you'd be blown away from by some of it." He felt a hand touch his thigh. "Harry, I swear I'm going to cut off your fingers," he said coolly.

"That'd be wonderful but it's me," Ginny said from behind him, kissing him on the cheek. "What's going on?" She pulled a peppermint mouse out of his pocket and opened it, popping it into her mouth. "Gross taste after dinner."

"Too true," Ron agreed, popping one himself. "Defense."

"The teacher assigned us into small groups to focus on an area that we're going to need," Harry explained. "We got given Malfoy and concealment, privacy, eavesdropping, and hiding as ours."

"Plus they've just explained their wonderful method of learning all those unusual hexes," Draco told her, holding up the book he was flipping through.

"I went through the first one. Chapter six was especially helpful but we got most of the rest of them by our third year." She straightened up. "What else is going on?" Ron looked back at her. "Neville was stammering so I know he was lying."

"We'll be having a short talk with the house tonight," Harry told her. "That way we don't get hexed in our sleep because we have to work with Malfoy." She gave him a steady look.

"Later, Ginny, not out in the open," Ron assured her. "You and mum will both have to know." She accepted that and went back to Neville's side to help him. "Do you think Parvati let on?"

"I think Hermione and Neville did most of it," Harry offered. "She's been talking to a lot of the other girls about you." Ron opened his mouth. "She's still upset with herself because she couldn't accept who you are." He winked. "Unlike some of us."

"Potter," Malfoy warned. "Some of us don't need to be diabetic. Lay off the smarm." He glared at the person he was forced to work with. "If Weasley wants to take you to bed, he'll tell you. Women are like that, trust me." He went back to flipping through the book, shaking his head. "Why weren't we given these?"

"They're ten years out of date," Ron told him. "Besides, the teachers determine the books. Remember Lockhart's books?" They all shuddered. "Okay, what am I doing again?"

"Privacy," Harry told him. Ron nodded and got up, going to search for his own books, while Harry looked over at Malfoy. "I meant what I said."

Malfoy looked up at him. "I know. I believe that's up to Weasley, not you though." He closed the book and got comfortable. "I realize that you're socially inept because of your upbringing in the muggle world, Potter, but even they have to know that you don't force a partner into anything. Pushing them to go faster than they want to go means you'll lose them. Let him set the pace. It is his body after all, and his life." He opened the next one and sighed. "Another set of hexes I could have used over the years."

"The bed bindings?" Harry said with a smirk. "Did someone over there try something," he taunted.

Draco looked at him. "Books make excellent weapons. I suggest you never talk to me in that tone of voice again," he warned coldly. Harry shivered. "Shouldn't you be researching?"

"I've got the top three levels of that set and there's a lot in there. I thought I'd start with those," he admitted. "Using that as a stepping stone to see which areas were left out and if there's anything more generalized that is implicated."

"Always look at the references. They'll give you the other books you'll need to use." Draco stood up and walked up to the desk with his books. "Weasley wanted to return these so I could check them back out. Plus these."

Madam Pince looked over at Ron, who nodded and brought his own selection up. "Very well. Tell me first, young man."

"I had planned on it."

"I'm not sitting at that table with Potter any longer and you probably want to talk with your sister," Malfoy pointed out. "Start again tomorrow after dinner?"

"Again tomorrow," Ron agreed, nodding slightly. "You're not going to come up with a questionnaire, are you?"

"No, that would be reserved for the researchers themselves, unless something astonishing comes up," Draco told him. "That comes after a review of my father's works." He looked at the librarian. "Have they all been moved?"

"Professor Snape sent me the note earlier. I put them in the restricted section in one of the reading rooms, Mr. Malfoy. Whenever you're ready I'll let you back there and only back there." Draco nodded. "Very well." She finished stamping his books. "Two weeks." She took Ron's stack and smiled at him. "How are you feeling?"

"My head aches a bit but otherwise fine," he told her, leaning on the desk. "This new assignment has renewed my earlier headache. Do you have anything else on privacy spells? I'm one who likes most of the books around him."

"There are a few more but I believe your ...partner is working from them, Mr. Weasley," she said with a smile. "Now then," she leaned closer. "Did that other book help you? I've managed to find one but it's a bit more technical."

"It did actually," Ron admitted. "It had all sorts of stuff in there that I hadn't thought about. I had to have Hermione help me with some of the medical stuff though. How technical is this one?"

"Geared more toward teaching and people who would have to deal with it. Somewhat more medically based, but also a good section on powerflows and the problems associated with that condition. Also, since the changeling thing came out, there's been one book that I've noticed has perked up. It's in the restricted section, but we should be able to get you access if you ask nicely."

"I'd better figure it out now, just in case it is permanent," he agreed. "May I have the slip?" She handed it over and went to pull the other book for him, signing it out for him as well. "Thanks, Madam Pince. You're a dream." He walked his stack back to the table. "She said your stack had some of the stuff I'd need."

"Wonderful." Harry looked at him and the large stack of books. "There's that much on privacy spells?"

"I guess. I'll be right back, gonna pop down to Professor McGonagall's office." He winked and strolled off, heading down there. He found her locking her door and presented the slip. "On changelings," he said at her confused look.

"Oh!" She smiled and signed it. "I'm glad you're taking an interest and studying it, Ron. It will probably make so many things easier. Especially that flux that you keep getting."

"That's what I'm hoping to negate," Ron told her. "Thank you for putting the Defense teacher on our case. We destroyed his backroom for him," he said with a grin before walking off.

She chuckled. "I figured you might. You and Mr. Potter needed to blow off some steam," she told herself as she walked toward the staffroom. There was a meeting soon on what to do about Weasley and his tests.

***

Three weeks later, Ron looked down in his trunk and sighed. "Harry, I'm out of clothes."

"The house elves said the laundry would be done today," Harry reminded him. "Their machines broke." He looked at Ron, who was back to his female side. "You don't have anything?"

"That dress."

"Oh." Harry shook his head. "Better not." He looked around. "You could borrow something."

"None of the ladies wear my size," Ron sighed, sitting on the edge of his bed. "I heard back from Katie Bell. She was very helpful on the matter, even said she wanted to hit the twins for me," he said with a smile. He stood up and put on his last pair of underwear and then tightened his bathrobe. "I'll be right back. Maybe the ladies have a suggestion." He walked out, heading over to their side and knocking on their door. Hermione answered it. Her bed was closest to the door. "I'm a victim of the house elf machine problems," he told her. "I have *no* clothes outside a pair of undies."

Hermione let him in. "I'm not sure we can help you, Ron. None of us wear the same size, especially not bra size. You're a bit bigger than most of us." She looked at the other ladies, who looked clueless. "What about borrowing some of Harry's older clothes?"

"I'd like to, but with my chest?" Ron asked.

"Good point. Parvati, you've been helping him the most, any suggestions?" she called.

Parvati came out of the bathroom with green stuff on her face. "Let's go look in Harry's stuff, there's got to be something. Even if you do look like a little schoolgirl playing dress-up for a boyfriend," she said with a wink and a nudge. He laughed and followed her back. "Oh, Harry," she called from the doorway. "We're going to have to raid your clothes. You have more than most since you kept all those oversized nasty things." The guys let her in and she knelt in front of his trunk, pawing through it.

"What's that stuff on your face?" Justin asked.

She looked at him. "Do you think flawless skin is easy?" she countered. "This sucks the crud out of my pores and leaves my face feeling clean and soft." She smiled at Ron. "We'll work on that after the holidays, dear." She sighed. "Okay. Harry, you're dressed, right?" He nodded. "Then we're taking your spare clean shirt and tie." She handed them over. "Ron, pants?"

"They all disappeared," Ron told her. "Look if you want."

She opened his trunk and looked at the dress, then at him. "Not going to try it again?"

"Not without proper undies," he told her. "I'm wearing my guys' underwear again."

"Oh." She nodded. "Good idea. They're probably a bit baggy at the moment." She came up with a robe. "Okay. Harry has an extra pair of faded pants," she said as she found them. "There, put these on." She stood up and shook her head. "No bra and your nips will probably show through a bit, but it's the best we can do under the laundry crisis. Make sure your robe's fastened across your chest, just one button at the very apex, and it should be fine. Need socks too?" Justin tossed over a pair. "Thanks, Justin." She smiled at him. "Go ahead, I'll meet you downstairs in a bit." She winked again and left the room.

Ron cleared his throat. "It's unintentional if I make some of you hard or horny today," he told them, taking off his shirt. They laughed, used to it by now. "Hey, Harry, for Halloween can I go as something that takes a lot of clothes?"

"Sure, Ron, I'll help you find an outfit. Halloween is on a Saturday and we're allowed into the village that day too." He watched as Ron got dressed, wincing at the tightness of his shirt. He looked at the other guys, none of them had really big chests. Neville was the next to biggest after Ron in his male phase. "Neville, do you have a bigger one?"

"Not really," Neville told him. "Mine's bigger around the gut, not the chest." He looked at how the buttons were gaping. "Undo the top two, it might help some. Leave off the tie for now. You can claim you're stricken and laundryless, the teachers will understand."

"At least I don't have Snape anymore, he'd be taking off points by the minute," Ron pointed out as he undid the top two buttons and handed back the borrowed tie. "How's that?"

"A bit better," Harry said, fighting down the image of him resting his head between that awesome set of cleavage. He shook his head to clear it and noticed Ron grinning at him. "Teasing again?"

"No, just wondering what you were thinking," Ron said with a laugh.

"I was thinking that there's a spot that would fit my whole head," Harry told him honestly. He had promised Ron to try and work on these feelings and being honest with him when he had jolts like that was part of it. Ron groaned. "Sorry."

"No, you're right, it's much too tight. Mum would say I looked like a harlot on the prowl." Harry mumbled something. "What was that?" he asked, sounding shocked.

"I said even if you were, you wouldn't have much of a chance or a need to go out. There's plenty here who would support you," Harry admitted, hanging his head. "I'm sorry, Ron."

Ron sat next to Harry, forcing his face up. "It's not getting any better, is it?" Harry shook his head miserably. "Then we'll have to have another talk." He kissed him gently and this time that tingly feeling started. "Huh." He did it again.

"Hey, no snogging if we can't take pictures," Justin joked. Ron flipped him off and continued to kiss him. "Anyone got a cold water spell?"

"Don't you dare, this shirt will shrink," Ron panted as he pulled back. "Wow."

"You never felt it before?" Harry asked. Ron shook his head, staring into his eyes. Harry grinned. "Good. Now you know how I feel." He peeked down the top of Ron's shirt. "That really does show them off splendidly."

"I guess I'll spend today being stared at," Ron sighed as he stood up. He pulled on his socks and the loafers he had gotten from Harry a few months back, then the borrowed robe. "This is hopeless," he announced. "This won't even button." He handed it back. "I'm going against the dress code today, might as well get detention for all of it," he decided, taking Harry's hand to walk with him. Parvati's mouth fell open. "The robe wouldn't even go around them," he told her. She giggled. "So, how trampish do I look?"

"Very," she agreed. "Come on, McGonagall will you give you a slip at least." She walked behind them, smiling at the hands being held openly. "You two are so cute."

"Thanks," Harry said with a grin. "It all started because I got stuck in his cleavage and noticed my head would fit in there." She laughed, having to lean against a wall to hold herself up. "Sorry," he said when he saw Ron blushing. Then he noticed why. Malfoy and Crabbe. "Morning," he said tolerantly. He and Malfoy had learned how to tolerate being in the same room, and he was in a rather excellent mood that morning, so he could be nicer. "The house elves laundry machine is broken."

"So I can see," Crabbe said, licking his lips. "You look better than most of the girls in the school." Malfoy hit him on the chest. "Ow!" He saw the glare from Harry and remembered Snape's orders to not pick on Weasley or face Snape's wrath. "Sorry."

"That's all right," Ron told him. "I expect a lot of it today."

"Change shirts with me," Draco announced. "I'm a bit bigger than Potter is. At least you won't look lewd, which would look horrible on me of course," he justified when he saw Crabbe's speculative look.

Ron turned to face Harry, handing off the shirt over his shoulder and putting on the other one. This one did fit a little bit better. At least he could do up another button. "Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome. We do have that paper due today in Defense." He walked away, tucking in the too-tight shirt.

"You gave Weasley your shirt," Crabbe hissed. "Why?"

"Because we're working as a group and him being that distracting would ruin my concentration in class," Draco hissed back. "Did you take a long look at him?" Crabbe nodded slowly. "Imagine having to stare at that while trying to hex him."

"Oh." He nodded sympathetically. "Better you than me. Good idea, Draco."

"Thank you." He walked in and sat down in his usual seat. "Not a word, Crabbe."

"Never, Draco."

"Excellent."

Ron walked in a moment later and right up to his Head. "Ma'am, I'm a victim of the laundry not working," he said as she opened her mouth. "It's borrowed, I have nothing." She pursed her lips and nodded. "I'm really sorry in advance."

"That's fine. No under things?"

She shook her head. "And no one in the house wears my size. This is mostly Harry's and his spare robe wouldn't even button around my chest so I couldn't hide it."

"I see. I'll make an allowance today and make sure the elves get something of yours done today," she told him. "Go eat." He nodded and walked off, ignoring the looks the tight pants brought to his rear. "Dear Merlin," she sighed, ringing the bell to summon a house elf. She leaned down to get near it. "You must do something of Mr. Weasley's today, Winky. He's out of clothes and the ones he's borrowing aren't fitting correctly. He's about to pop out of his shirt." Her eyes went wide, house elves were very proper about hiding parts of themselves. "Can you please find some of his female clothes and do them today?" She nodded and disappeared. She looked over at Ron, watching his sister stare at him. That shirt couldn't be Potter's. The boy wasn't that big in the chest, even when he did buy all his shirts too big. She glanced at Malfoy and noticed he looked a bit shabbier than usual. A clue started in her head but she wisely kept it to herself.

However, Severus came in late. He took one look at Ron, then at Draco to make sure he wasn't staring again, and groaned. "The laundry?" he asked her. She nodded. "Weasley couldn't borrow something...bigger?"

"Not from his housemates," she told him quietly as he sat down. "Is that shirt Malfoy's?" she hissed. He nodded. "That's what I thought. Potter's never been that big in the chest."

"If he's hanging out of this one, then the other must have been nearly obscene. He was doing the school a public service," Snape decided. "Have you ordered it fixed?"

"I talked to Winky and ordered her to find more of Ron's female clothes and get something done. Hopefully it will be done soon."

"Hopefully before the whole school tries to touch them," he added. He caught himself staring and looked down at his plate. Who would have thought they were that...large. His sister and mother were more modestly built. "I wonder how he changed."

"In the halls probably, hopefully with someone shielding him." She smiled at her coworker. "Impressive, aren't they?" Snape nodded. "Any luck on curing certain people's staring problems?"

"For the most part," he admitted. "I think today they're going to backslide." He cut up his eggs. "Very badly."

***

Ron looked up as he walked out to Care of Magical Creatures, giving the stunned Hagrid a shrug. "I'm a victim of the laundry being down," he explained. "It's borrowed."

"I can see that. The tag is hanging out," Hagrid told him as Ron walked past him.

Harry quickly cast a concealment on that part. "Should I do one over the top button, Ron?" he asked, really wanting to do it. He wanted to be the one to look at them, not the nasty pervs in the school. And it seemed like there were a lot of them today.

Hagrid took off his overshirt and handed it over. "Here, put this on too, Ron, before you get hurt by some boys." He looked directly at Harry, then at Malfoy. "You never know what boys are up to when a pretty girl's around." He turned back to the rest of the class. "We're workin' with the younger kids' stuff today. They managed to botch up their flobberworms and skewrts so it's up to you, since you're supposed to be so good by now, to help me fix it. The flobberworms are by the sheds, the skewrts are in the back of my hut." They trailed off, most of them going for the flobberworms. Ron was rolling up the sleeves. He would have to talk to the boy's mother about this. Laundry or no, he couldn't go around like that. It wasn't proper for a girl to do so. Yes, Molly would have to hear of this. He made Ron keep it at the end of class so he'd have something decent to wear later on. Those nasty little boys weren't going to cause his favorite ones no end of trouble, especially that Malfoy. Why was Ron wearing his shirt when he was with Harry? "Harry!" he called, bringing him back. "What's up with him and the shirt?"

"Malfoy saw us in the halls and nearly bugged over my shirt on Ron's body," Harry admitted. "This one's nearly two sizes looser."

"Oh." Hagrid blinked a few times. He had been wearing worse? This one was *better*? "Well then, that's fine. Good of him for once. You make sure Ron keeps that overshirt on. You don't want all those nasty boys staring at her do you?" Harry shook his head. "Then you make sure to protect her today. You and Neville both. Especially from Malfoy, he'd take this as a sign that a favor was owed. I know his type."

"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry said, hurrying off because the gong had just rung. He ran into Defense and took his seat.

"A bit late, Mr. Potter," the teacher said tolerantly. "I expect better."

"Sorry, sir, Professor Hagrid wanted to speak to me privately."

"That's fine. Take your group into the back and *try* not to hide my filing cabinet again please." He smiled at Ron, then noticed the shirt he was wearing, following him back to the back. "Take it off, you can't fight in that." The overshirt came off and his eyes bulged. "Oh, dear." He quickly looked up. "Laundry accident?"

"The machines are down," Harry told him. "This was the bigger one."

The teacher looked at the three of them, ending up on Draco. "So I can see. Well, you can't wear that bigger one to fight in, just stay back here until you put it back on please. I don't need the other boys that distracted." He forced himself to not stare and walk away, locking the door behind himself.

Draco clapped. "Good job. You entranced him as well. A new snaring charm?"

"No, just cleavage," Ron said with a grin. He waved at it and Draco's eyes drifted down, getting a stuck. "See, not a charm," he said when Draco shook himself. "What are we doing today?"

"I was going to try and eavesdrop at the door, or make the sounds from the other room project. Then set up a shielding spell around us so we could talk," Harry offered.

"Go for it," Ron agreed, leaning against the wall. He unconsciously arched his back to take some of the strain off his sore muscles. These tits were annoying! He growled and scratched but Draco stopped him. "Don't do that!" he complained, getting free. "They itch!"

"It's the laundry soap. Nipples are very sensitive things. If you scratch them, they'll stand up more." He forced himself to quit staring, thankful to Professor Snape for his training in controlling his body's reflexes. Now if only he could control the other one. He watched as Harry worked on the charm. "Let me, Potter," he said, moving away so he'd have something to do. "I was eavesdropping last night from my bed. There was a bit of a debate going on about who would have to wear nothing due to the laundry." He glanced at Ron. "I think you won." He cast the charm and the sounds of fighting from the other room came through clearly. "There, how's that?"

Harry walked out and closed the door. "Say something," he said through the portal.

Draco leaned down. "I wonder if I can get away with touching them."

Harry walked in and slapped him. "You can't. Don't try." He looked at Ron, who was laughing. "Think you can do better?"

"Yup. Harry, you left off a term and Draco, you added a term. The limiting is an 'aho' sound, not the ' aha' sound you used." He smiled gently. "Come try the shielding spell so I can snap, Harry."

Harry blushed and walked over, casting the shielding spell around them. "I'm sorry, Ron, but I don't want him to touch you." Ron smiled at him. "Forgive me for being a jealous man?"

"Sometimes. But I don't think it can be helped today. I mean, look at me. I look like I'm suggesting someone pay me for it." That got a weak laugh. "Leave him alone. Nothing will happen that will make you uncomfortable."

"You're wearing his shirt, I'm already past that point," Harry pointed out.

"I could change back," Ron suggested dryly.

Harry shook his head quickly and stepped closer. "No, no changing back! I won't let that happen, please, I'll quit being so jealous, just don't change back. I might go off on someone and hurt them." The shield came down around them and he timed it. "Not bad, two minutes."

"I wasn't trying until thirty seconds ago. I agree though, please don't suggest we change back. I might have to do something inappropriate and I'd hate to have to beat your boyfriend." He sighed and looked at his own watch. "How much longer?"

"Probably the rest of the class," Harry said glumly. "We could work on something new since we have this section down pat. Home defense?"

"Done that," Draco and Ron reminded him.

Ron saw the glance again. "Oh, quit it," he said warmly. "They're breasts, with your reputation you've seen plenty of them! You don't need to stare at mine!"

"Yours aren't exactly like everyone else's," Draco reminded him. "You're bigger for one, and you're much more ...unique. That's what keeps most people entranced." He couldn't pull his eyes away from them, he really was trying but he couldn't. Not even the shove he got dislodged his gaze. "Damn hormones."

"Yeah," Harry agreed, staring as well. He glanced at the door and added a lock. "Can I, Ron?" he whispered.

"No! We're in class." Harry gave him a pathetic look. "One hug, that's it." Draco opened his mouth. "Don't even bother." He let Harry hug him, smooshing him painfully close. "Breathing is good," he reminded him. Harry let up some. "Feel better?" Harry whispered a dirty thought into his ear, making him blush. "Maybe later, Harry, definitely not with an audience." Harry let go of him and straightened himself out. "Thank you." He looked at the door. "Someone's coming, your warning is purple."

Harry unsealed the door. "It's open," he called. The teacher walked in. "Are you continuing to banish us back here?"

"Unfortunately I just got a message," he said, walking over and handing it to Ron. "He knows."

Ron read the short note, then handed it to Harry. "Now what?"

"Dumbledore said you're going to have to pretend harder, Ron. There aren't many who have the ability to stand against his wishes, it takes a lot of power to do so."

Draco walked over and took the note from the limp hand, reading it for himself. "Shit," he announced. He looked at the couple. "Well?"

"If you can protect him that way, do it," Harry said, slumping down.

"There is the idea of a threesome. We'd kill each other otherwise," Ron offered. Draco looked at him. "You're both powerful, each in your own way."

"Good point. Between them there's not many who would stand up to them, or against them," the teacher admitted. "Harry?"

"I just want him protected. I realized today how much he meant to me." He scrubbed his face with his hands. "He's mine, Draco," he decided. "You can be there though."

"That's fine. I doubt we'd spend much time together." He fiddled with his family ring then carefully pulled Ron closer. "This will sting," he told him, pressing the ring to the other man's neck, just below his ear. "This marks you as Malfoy property," he told them all as the ring ignited and burned a small mark onto Ron's neck. It was easily hidden by his hair. "Anyone who looks will see it and know what it means."

"Do you carry one?"

"I carry two," Draco told him, showing both his off. "The bottom one is for the heir. The other is for the intended or property, depending on the generation and the leanings of the person doing the marking." He watched Ron rub it. "Do a numbing, it'll be fine." Harry cast the numbing charm. "You as well, Potter, just in case. It will give you an extra help against Voldemort. My father was his, but I am not. My mother's too sick to be in the fight," he said at the questions starting from Harry's mouth. He marked him as well. "There." He adjusted his ring, turning it mute again. "That should help a bit for now, until you're more comfortable."

Harry and Ron looked at each other. "Only if you feel like it," Harry told him.

"I could use a hug," Ron admitted, holding out his arms. Draco gave him a long one, pressing gently closer. "Thank you." He got free. "Then that's really it?"

"For now. It can be removed. That will hurt more," Draco told him with a small smile. "When will you tell your parents?"

"Later today. I told her about the stuff earlier and she said it might be for the best. My father nearly threw a fit but my mother seemed to understand." Ron ran a hand through his hair.

"Don't do that, you look like you just rolled out of bed," Draco told him. "This will have to come out sooner." He noticed a glow on the door and flicked his wand at it. "Impenetrate." There was a scream from the other side. "Who else was doing privacy work?"

"I think I should find out," the teacher agreed. "You could use my floo to call your parents, Ron. There's about twenty minutes left." He walked out and found the person screaming about being deaf. "It serves you right for eavesdropping on them," he told her, uncursing her. "Go see the Headmaster." She walked out, still trying to get her full hearing back. "You will leave Mr. Weasley alone, he's just gotten some very bad news." Ron came out, dressed in the large shirt again, and headed for his office. A few minutes later there was a shriek and a large burst of flame came out of the room. "Ron?"

"Fine," he called back. "My mother's here."

The door shut after Harry and Draco walked out. "He'll be fine," Harry announced. "Some family business." One of the Slytherins shrieked and grabbed him, tipping his head out of the way.

"Get off him," Draco warned. "Leave them both alone." She backed off, eyes wide. "Now." She ran back to the other side of the room, cowering with a few other girls. "You will *all* leave Weasley and Potter alone. Their fates are now in *my* hands, no matter what that sickly, nauseating creature calling himself the Dark Lord says. Do you understand?" The Slytherins nodded. "Good." He stared at Crabbe, who flinched. "Tell them now," he suggested smugly.

"Earlier today, he changed shirts with Ron Weasley," he said quietly, staring at his boss. "His other one was tighter and Potter's. He's wearing it himself now. Draco, are you sure?"

"For now," he agreed. "Weasley's uniqueness is something that needs to be protected. For those of you who didn't know, Voldemort will never touch Weasley, either of the changed ones. If he does, he'll die instantly. Not just because of me, but because of what they are." The other Slytherins nodded. "Therefore you will leave them alone as well. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Draco," most of them agreed.

"Crabbe?"

"I protect you," Crabbe said miserably. "I guess I can protect them when you're together."

"We don't really need it, but thank you," Harry told him quietly. "It's not a pleasant choice, it's a necessary one. Right, Malfoy?"

"Fine, but I happen to think we'll do fine hovering around Weasley." He looked smug as he looked toward the office. He saw the rage building in Potter's eyes and raised an eyebrow. "What?" he asked innocently.

"I think we should have a talk with your supervisor," Harry told him. "Along with mine."

"Dinner? I'm sure I can talk Professor Snape into it."

"Fine," Harry agreed. Ron came out looking a lot more tired. "You all right?"

"Mum agreed, it's the only way," Ron told them. He saw the scared looks. "You already told them?"

"Someone was listening," the teacher said quietly. "Then someone noticed Mr. Potter's red neck." He looked at Ron. "Are you sure, Ron?"

"There's no other way. To protect everyone everywhere I have to do this."

"It won't be that difficult. It's not like I'm going to demand things from you," Draco soothed, holding out a hand. "Come, stand between us so we don't fight. Did you invite your mother to dinner?"

"I did, I don't know why though," Ron said, looking confused.

"We'll talk about that later," Draco said gently. "Why don't you and Potter go take a long nap until then. Let me handle the rest of the school." They nodded and grabbed their bags, heading out. Draco looked at his classmates. "Any remarks?"

"I'll kill you if you hurt him," Hermione told him.

"I have no intention of it," Draco sighed. "You really don't understand, Granger. Which is surprising. Some of my housemates I would expect that from. From you? Have you not researched his condition at all?" He turned and walked out, trusting Crabbe to get his things for him. He headed to Snape's side. "It's done," he told him as soon as he walked in. Snape dropped the spoon he had been using to fish a wand out of a cauldron, turning to stare at him, his back stiff. "He knows. Dinner tonight?"

"I'll expect them and the Headmaster."

"And possibly his parents," Draco corrected. "The Defense class knows as well. Someone recognized the mark."

Snape looked at him. "Was that wise?"

"Can you think of another way?"

"No," Snape admitted. "I can't. Seven, be dressed. Weasley will have clothes by then or he can wear that little dress of his. Leave." Draco left, going up to the Headmaster's office. "That was a private conversation," he said at the first hint of gossip. "You don't know what it was about and will not discuss it."

***

The Headmaster escorted Molly, Arthur, and Ginny downstairs to Severus' room, tapping politely on the edge of the painting. It opened for them, making him smile at the Potion's master. "Ginny needs to know as well. She'll be leaving before dinner."

"Very well. There is enough if she wanted to stay. We've had to add a plate for Potter as well." He ushered them into the sitting room he was using for this occasion. "Sit. Draco and I can explain everything."

"I certainly hope so," Arthur said, looking over at Ron, who was back in that little gray dress. "You look very nice in that, Ron," he said with a smile.

"Thanks, Dad. The laundry machine's still broke, it's all I have left." He shrugged at his mother's critical look. "Yes, it's that dress, mum. The one we used to desensitize Gryffindor and drive the staring Slytherins insane."

"It certainly did," Draco agreed, handing out drinks. Ginny looked at hers. "You'll probably want one before this is done with." He sat down on Ron's other side. "First off, let me say we know who told Voldemort now. One of the young ladies in the second year admitted it earlier in a fit of tears. Apparently she has decided that I'm scary," he said dryly. "My father told Voldemort enough for him to want to learn more. There was a promise of making a changeling to restore the Dark Lord to even greater glory but of course my father was arrested before he could make that happen." He sipped his wine, looking at Ron. He ran a finger over the mark under his ear. "This really is the only way to keep him safe, and to give Potter an edge and some protection. Since those two are together, I couldn't break them up." Molly's breath hitched.

"As of this morning," Harry told her. He touched his own mark. "You know I'd do anything to protect Ron, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. You too, Ginny. This was the only way we saw."

Mrs. Weasley drained her drink and took Ginny's. "I understand the reasoning, but to mark him, Draco?"

"It was necessary." He looked at Ron, still stroking the mark with his fingertip. "This mark will let me know if something's wrong with either of them. It will also give me some access to their minds. Traditionally it was used as a way to make sure a wife was faithful," he told his new mates. They shuddered. "I have no such needs, nor do I want to know what you two do when alone. I may get some bleedover from it, but I won't try to *force* my way onto either of you." Harry slumped a bit and finished his drink, which refilled itself automatically. Draco looked at the Weasleys again. "There are few families who can stand against Voldemort if they wanted to. It takes power, wealth, and influence to do so. For him to attack my family would be unthinkable; my father was one of his first converts because he would bring in others." Snape nodded at that. "I will not force anything onto them, other than my protection. And the occasional shirt when Ron runs out of laundry again," he finished wryly.

"He traded shirts with me this morning because I was borrowing one of Harry's," Ron admitted. "It was a bit tight."

"You looked like you had just crawled out of bed and were going trolling for another," Ginny countered with a smile. "Is this like a marriage?"

"If he chose to enforce it," Arthur told her, patting her before putting an arm around her shoulders. "Thank you for protecting our son, Draco. I know it bothers you as much as it does us."

"Technically I do have a small fascination for Ron when she's in this state."

"He," Ron corrected firmly.

Draco smiled at him. "Technically," he said again, "all changelings that change gender are considered female by nature, no matter what they started out as. That's the more powerful side, the one that makes them more dangerous and deadly, even if you had started out female."

"The whole conception and carrying thing?" Ginny asked. Draco nodded calmly. "Mum, can we please make sure the twins destroy that formula?"

"They already have," Arthur assured her. "I made sure of it."

"I have a copy of their notes, it's being added to the journal Draco's starting now. He's pulled all his father's research on this matter and will be moving it to an even more restricted area of the library. The Dark Arts Special Collections room." Snape sipped his own drink.

"We wish this hadn't been necessary, but we couldn't find another way, Molly and Arthur," Dumbledore told them. "Severus has been unable to find a way to change Ron back."

"There was a way, but he would have had to of come into this as a total virgin," Draco offered. "Most people do this on the very young, so they don't get conflicting senses and input. It lends a more natural feeling to the blood they'll need some day and allows them to control the actions of their new changeling. That way they can be sure of exactly what she does and does not do." He stroked over Ron's mark again. "Would it bother you if I bought Ron clothes?"

"Yes," Ron told him, brushing off the finger. "I'm not your playtoy, Malfoy."

"I never said you were, Ron, but I do have certain standards to maintain. What are you wearing to the Yule Ball?"

"I got him something. It's light pink and velvet," Molly defended.

"The clothes transfiguring lessons are going to happen the week before," the Headmaster told him. "Ron can fix the collar and sleeves then."

"Potter?"

"We found a dress robe the last Hogsmeade weekend," Harry told him. "I coordinate very well with Ron."

"Good. Then I'll check yours and take it into account when I go shopping for myself," Draco said, sipping his wine again. "Ginny? You have a question?"

"Why now?" she asked.

"Word got to us today that Voldemort knew," Severus explained.

"Doing so now sets a precedent for future behavior. The longer lasting the bond is, the more people are going to respect it. Newlyweds are fair game, older unions aren't." He smiled at Arthur. "Didn't your family mark their mates at one point in time? Most of the old bloodlines did."

"We gave it up as barbaric a few centuries back," Arthur admitted.

"It can be, depending on what you use it for," Draco agreed. "In this case, it's extra protection." He looked over at Potter. "I know your parents left you funds. Correct?" Harry nodded, looking bored. "Then I have to ask, why do you dress like that?"

"This is new," Harry told him.

"Really?" Harry nodded, smoothing down his metallic blue shirt. "That looks muggle."

"It is, but I like it anyway," Harry told him. "You don't need to know about my past."

"It would effectively keep the Dursleys away from you for good," Ginny offered as a counter-argument.

"He'll still have to go back there for a few days," Dumbledore told her. "Right, Harry?"

"Yes, sir. Only a week, right?"

"That should be long enough, yes. The others can stay at the Leaky Cauldron or something similar if they wanted to. That way they'd be nearby if something happened again."

"What would happen?" Draco asked. Dumbledore looked at him. "It's not like I don't need to know."

Molly sighed. "Tell him, Albus. He does need to know. Or Harry could." Harry shook his head and drained his drink, starting on the next one. "Come with me, Draco, I'll tell you since no one else will." She led him into the bedroom, telling him about what she had seen and witnessed. He slowly stiffened up, nodding when she was done. "That's why you don't pick on Harry," she warned.

"After hearing that, I'm surprised that he didn't turn out wrong somehow," Draco said thoughtfully, staring at the other room. She turned his chin around. "I won't use that against him. I know he'll fight back if I do."

"No, you'll never use it because if you do I'll free my son the old fashioned way from your mark. If anything happens to Ron, I'll make sure he's a widow. Do you understand?" she asked quietly. He shuddered. "Good boy. It's smart to be wary of me. Your father underestimated me a few times and nearly died because of it most of them. Don't make that mistake with me or my family." He nodded. "Thank you." She walked back and sat down, stopping to give the boys a hug. "It'll be fine."

"Did you tell him about the tail incident?" Ron asked.

Molly groaned and Arthur laughed. "I'm sure he doesn't need to hear that one," Harry told him, frowning at him. "I think he knows enough already."

Draco came back out, in control of himself again. "I've seen worse among the wizarding community."

"Yes, there have been a number of students who have come in already under the Imperious curse," Dumbledore agreed.

"On their own children?" Harry asked. "Why?"

"Because children are noisy and messy by nature," Severus told him. "That way the parents have perfect little creatures who do as they're told, never cause problems, and never cause a disturbance that would take them away from their petty lives. Isn't that correct, Mr. Malfoy?"

"My father only did it once and got found out. He blamed it on a mysterious gardener," Draco reminded him. "I always wanted to see the asskicking the Headmaster would give him if I had come to school with it on me."

"Too bad that never happened," Arthur muttered. He finished off his drink and the glass refilled, unlike his wife's. "Thought I'd need it more?"

"Your animosity toward my family is well know, Mr. Weasley. I thought you'd need it before the night was done," Draco told him. "The same as I thought Potter might." Harry put down his glass. "Go ahead and get drunk, you wouldn't be the first who did that their first night in the family."

Ron took Harry's glass and drained it dry, then put it back down. "I needed it too." He licked his teeth. "What were you drinking, Harry?"

"Brandy in the wrong glass. It tastes better in the large snifters." Draco put down his own glass. "Are there any other concerns?"

"I'm going to say this now," Ron said quietly. "I'm not your toy. I'm not your plaything to dress up or down, I'm not some little doll you can order and badger, and I'm not your happy fucktoy either. *IF* I take you to my bed, it will be on my terms and my terms alone."

"Agreed," Draco said, nodding. "An unwilling partner isn't fun and not my thing. That was my father." He looked over at Harry. "The same goes for you. I won't push anything."

"Then we'll keep them in their own dormrooms," the Headmaster told everyone. "Harry, Ron, your house has already had a discussion about what's happened. Neville told them." Ron groaned and held his forehead. "He was decidedly eloquent in your defense. He was also very thorough about what could happen if you fell into the wrong hands. Most of your house assumes you now are, but a few of the older families in there told the others about what was going on, how this would protect both of you from Voldemort for longer." They nodded. "They've decided that it's fine for you to stay, though most of them pity you for having to go this far to protect each other. Oh, and I believe you'll find a small gift of some sort on your bed, Harry, for your earlier agreement to date Ron." He looked at Molly. "That nice Longbottom boy told me. Ron finally figured out that he felt something for Harry this morning when Harry admitted that he wanted to ...snuggle up to his chest."

Molly nodded. "They're the sort boys like to do that to."

"Fortunately mine aren't that big," Ginny agreed.

Ron covered his chest. "Don't talk about them," he whined.

"They are magnificent," Draco told him. "They're worthy of discussion, if only because they're still standing up. Usually by our age, any that large start to sag." Harry glared at him. "Just a comment."

"You spent every month since school started staring at them," Harry told him. "Did you plan this ahead of time?"

"No. When I figured out what had to have happened I started to consider my options. Knowing the Death Eaters, someone would remember all the times my father bragged about his plans to make a changeling of his own. I had thought there were other options until that Hagrid stunt."

"Hagrid stunt?" Molly asked.

"A bunch of the Slytherin guys decided to bring me outside by pretending to be Hagrid and asking for my help with a few of the animals," Ron explained. "They decided I had bewitched them because they were feeling lust."

"Some of those boys haven't felt a thing since their first words," Draco told him. Ron looked stunned. "Feeling leads to thinking your own thoughts. It's done by the same parents who would Unforgivable their own children. Dissidence is not allowed."

"Yours?" Harry asked.

"No, in mine you were allowed to feel certain things. Pride, vanity, pleasure, pain, not much else." Draco looked at him. "We'll compare stories some day, Potter. I think you'd find it enlightening at the least." He stood up and held out a hand. "Dinner?" he suggested to Ron. She let them both help her up. "I'm not the ogre you think I am."

Ron looked at him. "I've spent seven years fighting you, prove it."

Draco laughed. "I think I can do that. Are you still craving chocolate? I had the house elves make some special mousse for you." He pulled out Ron's chair for him, watching as Potter helped him into it. "Shall I do the same for you?"

"I can do my own," Harry said firmly. "I'm not femme or feeble."

"Just trying to be polite." Draco took his own seat on Snape's left hand. The remaining Weasleys sat across from them with the Headmaster and Snape on each end. Snape rang the bell and they were served.

***

Later that night, after a small shouting match and understanding finally hit their dormmates, Harry and Ron lay cuddled together in Harry's bed. "Ron?" Harry whispered. Ron snuggled in. "Ron?" he asked again.

"What?"

"I thought about asking the twins to do it to me too, so you wouldn't be the only one," he confessed.

"Don't, it's horrible," Ron said as he forced his head up. "This changing is really not the greatest." He smiled at him. "Really?" Harry nodded, biting his lip. "You were willing to screw up your life totally so I wouldn't be lonely?" Harry nodded again, pulling a small baggie out from under his pillow and holding it up. Ron's breath caught. "That's the potion," he said.

Harry tucked it away again. "I thought you might like me better if I did," he admitted, wrapping Ron more firmly in his arms. "I want to be yours."

"Harry," Ron sighed, laying back down. "You didn't have to do that. I came around."

"I've had it now for two months." Ron pinched him, making him wince. "Sorry."

"Promise me you'll hand that to Professor Snape tomorrow."

"Yeah, I think I will," Harry agreed, yawning. He felt better now. "I remember how you said you wouldn't mind having someone on the opposite schedule from you. I figured I'd take it halfway through your female phase so we wouldn't synch up."

"Harry, never, *ever* think about that again. It's not nice. It's not healthy. I don't want to lose you."

"I didn't want to lose you to someone who stares down your shirt. I wanted to be the one who got to see it all and who could enjoy it." Ron looked up at him, shifting so they could look at each other. "I guess it's part of the jealousy I get blinded by, but I wanted to be the one you clung to when things went odd. I figured we could help each other through it all. And maybe you'd even let me worship you now and then," he finished with a shy smile.

"Really?" Harry nodded. "Wow. I'm stunned." He kissed him. "There's no worship needed, but I'm stunned. No one's ever been willing to change themselves for me, especially not that much." He kissed him again.

Harry grinned. "I thought it was necessary." He wiggled a bit to get closer, wrapping an arm around Ron's waist. "Is this okay?"

"Yeah, I'm comfortable with that." Ron relaxed, starting to drift off again.

"Ron, can I...touch?"

"Harry!"

"Just a bit? Please?"

"Fine." Ron flipped onto his back and snorted at the tentative touches to his chest. "They're not breakable, Potter." Harry grinned and started to grope. "Ow!" he said when his nipple got pinched. He did it back to Harry. "None of that."

"Yes, Ron." Harry laid down next to him, head on his friend's shoulder. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Anything else?"

"I can wait until you're ready."

"Good. Sleep now. We've got another classday tomorrow." Harry fell asleep, face pressed against the things that had drawn him. Ron shook his head. "Boys!" he muttered. Then he hit himself on the head. "What am I saying?" he moaned. He gave himself a good mental shake then closed his eyes, forcing himself to go to sleep.

***

McGonagall looked around her classroom, taking in Ron's changed appearance. He was back in fully male form at the moment, the last time he would be before the holidays. "Today we will start working on a different sort of inanimate transformation," she announced. "Doing this sort takes more concentration and a more vivid imagination, that is why we've waited so long to take on the task of changing our clothes, and later our persons." She smiled at them. "In front of each of you is a shirt. You should have read the chapter on how to do this last night. I want you to start with colors, the move to patterns once you have that part down." She walked back to where Ron, Harry, and Malfoy were sitting closely together. "I know you're at a weak point for this skill, Mr. Weasley, but try your best." Ron nodded, unfolding the shirt. "Try for the simplest things first. You can practice this later."

"There's a way around that problem," Draco informed them. "It's a matter of willpower to change your state." He looked at Ron. "I found the entries last night, I'll show you them later."

"How do I do that?"

"Concentration, like always," Draco said quietly. "By bringing up your feminine side it will even you out."

"But I have problems when I'm both."

"I know, but it's better than being blocked, isn't it? For now it should do."

Ron concentrated on his body, remembering the feeling of the breasts weighing his breathing down, the feel of the lighter frame and smaller parts. He pointed his wand and muttered the command to change colors, getting a half result. It was only half as dark as he hand wanted ti to be, light blue instead of navy. "Wow."

"Excellent. With some more practice you should be able to master that," McGonagall encouraged. "Continue this until you get it right, then move on to add patterns. Stripes or dots are easiest I've found."

Draco leaned down from his seat behind them. "This is entirely in your head. That blockage, all of it," he told them. "You can get past it with some work and effort. Try for something amusing, like plaid, she'll give you extra points if you can mimic her clan tartan." He worked on changing his own shirt. Color, pattern, and form were all completed. He had learned this one last summer when his mother had been stressing over a social event to help her. McGonagall came back and he held out his shirt with a smug look. "My mother taught me," he said at her skeptical look. "For a formal event."

"Oh." She nodded. "I understand that such things are important to people like her. Very well done, Mr. Malfoy, you even changed the internal color. Five points." She watched as Ron tried it again, getting plaid, her plaid. "Well done, Mr. Weasley," she said happily. "Ten points for getting past that and doing splendidly." She took his shirt to show off. "You see, if you concentrate hard enough, it can be most spectacular," she told the others.

Harry grinned at Ron. "Nice work." He looked at his shirt, trying for something equally as nice. A funny picture popped into his mind, a pair of pants he had seen in Muggle London when he and Ron had been shopping for him. The shirt in front of him changed to fit that pattern. Dark blue background, with silver paisley and red accents. He laughed and held it up. "I mimicked it," he told the teacher when she looked at him. He turned it around since he had only gotten the front half.

"My, that's ...good," she said, trying hard not to laugh.

"Fond of paisley are you?" Hermione teased.

Harry nodded. "It's got something to trace when you're bored." He worked on the back of the shirt, making them match, even matching the seams. McGonagall took it from him. "How's that?"

"Very good. Five points, Mr. Potter." She handed them a new set of shirts. "Now try to lower the neckline, hopefully without making it disappear." She went to help a few of the students who were stuck.

Ron chuckled, leaning against Harry's side briefly. "Paisley? Is that what that one's called?" Harry nodded. "Good job." They grinned at each other.

Malfoy clapped. "Wonderful job of showing off. You're not wearing that the Yule Ball, correct?"

"No, mine's a darkish medium blue," Harry told him. "It compliments Ron's nicely."

"Good." He looked at Ron. "Bring them down to my rooms tonight and we'll see if I have anything that matches," he said quietly.

"I think you're taking it for granted that we're going together," Ron told him.

Draco leaned forward. "I think you misunderstood what was said at dinner, Weasley," he hissed. Ron blushed. "Thank you. After dinner? We can figure out our next paper topic."

"I wanted to do one on what sort of defense can be done when you're captured," Ron said firmly. Harry shrugged and nodded. Draco shrugged. "Good." He turned back to his new shirt and looked at the normal collar, then squinted and bit his top lip, lowering it down to a large scoop.

"I think that'd show everything you had," Harry said gently. "Bring it back up by a few inches."

Ron held the shirt up against him and nearly squeaked. It did uncover all his breast area. He changed it back until it was more covering, but still lower. Then he changed it to Harry's pattern with a smug look at Malfoy.

"Very nicely done," Malfoy agreed. "T-shirts are easier than other fabrics though."

"We have a large piece of velvet for those who get to it," McGonagall said as she took the shirt to look at. "Paisley again?"

"I thought it was cute," Ron defended. "Plus, it's not got a plunging neckline."

"Very good. We'll be trying these on later, over your present clothes of course," she noted at the shocked sound from one of the females. She smiled and handed over some tougher fabric, gauze. "Try that one, Mr. Weasley."

"And do what, ma'am?"

"The same series. Each fabric resists differently due to their weave and what type of fibers were used to make it. Start with colors and move onward." She walked away, going to mark that Ron had finished that exercise as well.

***

Draco looked at the two robes, then at the boys. "Potter, make yours a few shades darker. Not navy, but a deeper blue. It should go better and make Ron light up." He walked over to his large closet and pawed through the robes in there. "This one I think," he decided, pulling out a dull gray, patterned one. The waves were woven in so it looked like oddly colored water. He held it against the other two and nodded. "Yes, this should do."

"That looks too small," Ron pointed out from his seat on the couch. He pulled Harry down next to him. "He does have better taste than either of us," he admitted. Harry grumbled something but quit glaring. He ran a finger across the back of Harry's neck, making him shiver and give him a kiss.

Draco rolled his eyes and changed Potter's robe for him, tramping down the urge to make it too dark. He was going to have to get over this animosity. He tried on his and found it to be too small. "I'll have to order a new one in this fabric," he decided, laying it aside for the next trip into town. He noticed that the couple were still kissing. He cleared his throat, breaking them apart. "Thank you. Ron, how is the topic looking?"

"There's enough subsections for each of us," Ron admitted, pulling his bag closer and handing over the list of things he had found.

"Wandless magic?" Draco asked, looking at him. "You mean like leaking?"

Harry shifted on his comfortable lap seat. "In the muggle world, there's stories about people who follow Nature and they use wandless magic supposedly. I owled Flourish and Blotts and they said they had a book on it, it's on its way now since we didn't have it in the library."

"Oh." Draco looked stunned. "Is it hard?"

"I don't know," Harry admitted. "It seems damn handy though. Especially if you're without your wand."

"You could just let go and leak some more," Ron gently reminded him. "You did yesterday and nearly sent all the dishes at lunch onto the floor, Harry." Harry frowned and looked at the carpet. "I know, it's your temper, but you've got to control it a bit better. Even if someone did try to pinch me on the butt."

"Who?" Draco demanded. Ron looked at him, one eyebrow drifting up. "Those marks mean that you're mine, Weasley, no one else should ever think about touching you. The appropriate thing for me to do is to hex them into better behavior."

"It was one of the fourth years in our house," Harry admitted. "He's got a crush on Ron." He leaned closer into Ron's body. "Hermione and Ron handled it."

"Good. Tell me the next time." He looked at Harry, who shrugged. "I think there's something around here that could help you with that leaking. How are your occulmentary lessons going, Potter?"

"Not very well. Why?" he asked cautiously, taking Ron's hand to hold.

"Because there's a book I found for you on meditation and shielding," Draco said patiently. "Not only will it keep you from feeling anything from me, but it will help the leaking, keep our game against each other fair, and keep you in a more even temper. Would you like it?" Harry nodded, looking at him. "Will you practice? Snape said you never did for him."

"I did, but I couldn't do what he said," Harry admitted. "All he ever did was attack me and expect me to put up barriers."

"Ah! That's the problem. Fortunately it can be cured. The red book on my second bookshelf," he said, pointing behind him. "Zen magic."

Harry stood up and retrieved the book, flipping through it. "This works?"

"It did for my mother in her youth," Draco admitted. Harry stared at him and Draco gave him a confident smile. "My mother has bad hormone swings with her cycles. She often leaked magic until my father forced that book onto her. I was about three and she had me do the exercises with her. Boring as hell, but necessary." He shifted in his seat and rang a bell, bringing a house elf. "Drinks," he ordered.

"I'm fine," Ron corrected. The elf left, not looking at him. "You didn't have to."

"It's a host's job to offer refreshments. Since we're working on that paper, we should probably get comfortable." Harry looked at him. "You can drink in here around my books as long as you're careful, unlike the library."

"Good point," Harry agreed, sitting down again. "We didn't bring down those books though."

"Use your wand, Potter," Draco sighed. "Not everything has to be that difficult. Summon the things."

Harry pulled his wand and summoned them, staring at Draco. "Sometimes doing things the ordinary way is more fulfilling."

"In this case it would waste valuable time," Draco pointed out. "We only have two days to write this one." The house elf reappeared with a tray of drinks and snacks. "Put it on the table."

"Thank you," Harry said, taking the tray. The elf gave him a smile and disappeared. "You could be nicer to them."

"Or else we'll sic Hermione on you for a lecture on elf rights," Ron said wryly.

Draco laughed. "Elf rights?"

"She wants to free them and let them form a labor union," Harry agreed, smiling. "We keep trying to tell her but she doesn't listen."

"What will she think of next? Forcing us all to quit wearing robes?"

"Just pants for women," Harry told him. "She and Ginny are both tied up in that idea."

"I agree. Skirts are uncomfortable," Ron agreed. "You have to watch how you sit, what you wear under them, who's behind you. You have to be very conscious of your clothes."

"That's why some women wear the long, flowing skirts. They can sit cross-legged on the floor and no one can see anything," Harry pointed out. "Like what George was wearing."

"I look short in them," Ron told him. "I tried, but I looked bad. My legs are my best point."

"They even out your chest," Draco said as he took a glass. "All right, let's start this thing. What order?"

"I think we'll have to go in page length again," Harry suggested. "We each pick a small part and go with it?" They nodded, opening a book and picking a topic to write about. Three hours later they had two feet of parchment written, but now they needed to join it together. "Mine flows into Ron's, but you've got that half-page," Harry said, frowning at the papers.

"Either we recopy it or we trim a bit," Ron agreed, looking at his section.

"Or we put chapter headings on them and put all these papers into a binder," Draco suggested. "A simple copying spell to put things into the proper order should be good enough." He dug out some clean parchment and started copying sections over, putting them into a logical order. "There, how's that?"

Ron pointed at his. "You forgot one."

"That one's so broad we can use it for next week's paper," Harry suggested. "Get a headstart on it."

"Okay." Ron grinned at him. "One less thing to worry about next week."

"Then two weeks from now we have to fit your robe to you," Draco reminded him. Ron looked skeptical. "Fit it to your assets and take into account your unique shape. That way we all look our best. I'll help Potter fit his as well." Someone knocked on his portrait and he walked over, letting the young female in. "What do you want, Patil?"

Parvati looked at Ron and Harry, blatantly ignoring him. "Aren't you coming to dinner?"

"We're working on the defense paper," Ron said dryly, pointing at it. "Are we still on for our talk tonight?" She nodded, smiling at him. "Then we'll work through dinner and meet you upstairs in about two hours?" She hugged him then left them alone. "Harry, I may not be back tonight. The girls and I are having a slumber party. Hermione may come over and sleep on my bed if we drive her to distraction though. I gave her permission."

"Why didn't she take her own room?" Draco asked. "It was her right. You could have been together down there."

"Because she thought she wanted to be around us more often than not," Harry told him. "This way we didn't have to make excuses to work with her."

"Besides, when she turned it down we were dating and McGonagall said I couldn't visit her in her rooms without a chaperone or another student. This way we could sneak around and snog without getting her into trouble," Ron added.

"Thankfully I don't have those restrictions," Draco sighed, standing up. "What about this new book? Will we need it right now?"

"Not yet," Harry told him. "I can do that part myself if necessary."

"Do you have those journal entries?" Ron asked. "Since we're taking a break and all."

Draco snapped his fingers and found the book on his cluttered worktable, handing it over. "The yellow ribbon," he noted, heading for the bathroom. "I'll be right back." He closed the door behind him, leaning on the sink and taking a few deep breaths. "Those two are going to be the death of me yet," he muttered, finding that minuscule spot of control. "Don't they realize that they're bleeding through the bond and it's echoing?"

Out on the couch, Ron had pulled Harry closer and kissed him senseless. "For being so polite," he whispered. "A reward for both of us." Harry grinned and stole another kiss before curling up with the new book. Maybe it would help. He had horrible control some days and this seemed interesting enough.

***

The day before the ball found the girls and a mostly female Ron tweaking his robe to make it perfect. The sleeves had been fitted, but weren't too tight. The hem was now an inch shorter than it had been. They figured his heels should do well enough for this outfit as well. Now they were working on the neckline. "You need something stunning," Hermione argued. "Something that dips a bit to entice and keep both your men out of trouble." The other girls tittered and giggled.

Parvati shook her head. "No, if he does that he's going to be at the mercy of Harry the lech all night. Have you *seen* how often he tries to stare down Ron's shirt?" That got more laughter.

Ron groaned. "I just want to look nice," he put in. "Something that maybe minimizes them but still makes me look decent enough." He looked down at the pink robe. "Not that I think I look good in light pink, but still."

"You do," Hermione assured him. "It suits your coloring. It even reduces your freckles." She ran her hands through Ron's hair. He hadn't had it cut in nearly three months. "We'll have to do something about this as well. It's not long enough to style classically or to pull back dramatically."

"You shouldn't pull it away from his face at all," Ginny put in from the corner she was inhabiting. The ladies were going to help her as well. "It makes his forehead look big." She gave her brother a critical look, noticing how his chest was flatter at this point. "Ron, are they going to grow tonight?"

"They should. Tomorrow's my first day as a full girl." He looked down. "Hey, I can see my feet," he said happily.

"At least until tomorrow. What about underthings?" Parvati asked, making Ron blush deeply. "You know, that goes nicely with the robe. Let Harry give you naughty thoughts all night, Ron."

Ron's blush got brighter. "He bought me things to wear under it," he admitted. The girls laughed again. "Really. Light pink to match." He reached for his bag and held them up. "See?"

"Those will hold you up," Ginny told him, looking at the bra. "Expect to be standing proud tomorrow."

"My back will kill me."

"At least you can breathe when they're up like that," Hermione told him. "One of my mother's friends had to hitch hers down because she couldn't breathe in a push-up bra. The breasts nearly crushed her windpipe according to her." She twitched the back of the robe around Ron's rear, making it fall better. "We're going to need a bit of fitting here, it's riding high on his butt." She frowned and lengthened the back by an extra inch, nodding when she was done. "That's good." Parvati helped her fit the back to his figure. "Even better," she said, sharing a look with her friends. "Okay, now we get back to the neckline."

"If he's going to grow tonight we should probably leave it," Ginny offered. "That way he doesn't end up lewd or off-center."

"Lower it another inch and leave it," Ron decided. "We can fix it again tomorrow if necessary." It was lowered for him and he took a long look at himself, nodding because he liked what he saw. "Decent." He hopped down and took it off. "Thank you, ladies. Can I run over and get help with my makeup and hair again?"

"We're having a day of beauty in the afternoon," Hermione told him, giving him a brief hug. "You're going to come over and we're going to do the whole lot of us." He grinned and hugged the other girls, leaving his sister for last. "What's Harry wearing?"

"A dark blue color."

"What's Draco wearing?" Parvati asked.

"A medium gray with subtle patterns in the weave. Looks like water." He shrugged. "He picked it out, not me. I only helped pick Harry's out." He gathered up his things. "Need my help?"

"No, I don't think we're going to go in McGonagall's tartan," Ginny said dryly, winking at him. "Go snog Harry so he leaves everyone alone." He hurried out. "Is it me or are they terminally cute?"

"They're terminally cute," Hermione said, staring at the door. "It's odd, but Draco's keeping them in line most days." The girls laughed. "Seriously," she said, turning to look at them. "He's stopped them from nearly shagging in the hall last Sunday. He's their voice of reason and sense."

"That is scary," Ginny agreed. "Malfoy has common sense?"

"Must have been all those curses Ron and Harry threw his way," Parvati suggested. "Okay, Ginny, you're next, dear." She put on her robe and stepped up onto the stool. Parvati clucked. "That is much too long. What was your mother thinking? And it's the wrong shade of purple for your hair." She and Hermione got to work on the robe, making her as stunning as Ron was. Neville would appreciate it greatly.

***

Ron and Harry walked down to the doors of the Great Hall, meeting Draco there. Draco immediately took out a lint brush and used it on Potter's robe. Then he stared at Ron's breasts. "Are you trying to stun everyone in there?"

"We fixed it before they finished filling in," Ron explained. The neckline was a bit daring, but he thought it was good enough. "I think it's okay," he defended at the raised wand.

"Weasley, I can see your nipples," Draco said firmly. "Every time you breathe. Just an inch higher maybe." He raised the neckline, then raised it another inch. "There, how's that?"

"I can still see them and most others can't," Harry said happily, smiling smugly. He had known Draco was going to do that. It saved him from having to try and messing up Ron's robe. "Any other changes?"

"No, I think we should be fine," Draco told them, putting away the lint brush. "Do you want left or right, Potter?"

"You could call us by our first names," Ron said bitterly as he took Harry's left arm. Draco offered his right. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I thought you didn't want me that close," Draco said quietly, glancing around. "If you do, then I'll gladly call you both by your given name."

"Please," Harry requested. "At least in public."

"Then I shall. Let's go in and stun everyone," he told them. "Harry, door?"

Harry opened the door, letting them all in. There was some muttering going on but he ignored it. Ron did look stunning. He shot him a smile and held out a hand. This was swaying music, he could do that. "Dance?"

"Love to," Ron agreed. "Be right back." He let Harry take him out into the crowd, moving slowly with him. "This is nice."

"You look stunning," Harry whispered. Ron blushed. "There's this glow around you and you look like a fairytale princess."

"Thank you." He clapped as the dance ended, stepping back from Harry to do so. A firm arm went around his waist. "Get off," he warned, still smiling. He turned his head and found Crabbe behind him and Draco right behind him. "Off. Now."

"May I have this dance?" Crabbe asked. "And a short discussion?"

"If you must," Draco said firmly. Crabbe blanched. "Ron?"

"Sure, why not," Ron said with a shrug, letting the big goon lead him off a few steps. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I wanted to make sure you knew to treat Draco right," he said as they moved slowly. He wasn't much of a dancer and had little grace but he didn't step on toes. "Others have noticed that you're not that...intimate with each other and rumors are starting." Ron looked at him. "You know I'm bound to Draco by my father's promise, I'd do anything for the guy, but I won't see him hurt."

"I have no intention of hurting him. I'm not playing, Crabbe."

"Vincent. Since you're all but married to him you might as well call me by my first name. No matter the reason." Ron nodded, giving him a small smile as well. "Try to cuddle up to him. Plenty of us know why Draco took you in, we figured it out with a little bit of careful questioning to Professor Snape, but most of us figured you'd be closer by now." The dance ended. "Thank you," he said, bowing, leading her back to the two scowling mens' sides. "Draco." He nodded and went back to his date, Pansy.

Draco led Ron off. "What did he want?"

"He wanted us to be closer, said there were rumors." Ron envied him the grace he had, he felt like he was going to trip.

"Quit concentrating on your feet, let me lead," Draco commanded gently. "Did he say anything else?"

"Just that there were rumors started about why we weren't closer. It seems that they've been asking questions and think they understand why you, and I quote, took me in. He was very gentlemanly. Told me to call him by his given name even."

"Hmm." Draco twirled Ron around, surprising him before pulling him back in. "I like Vincent. He's steady. He does think and he knows what's going on. He watches things and people. Like the best professional bodyguards he's always alert for danger." He smiled down at his partner. "Though the closer thing is still up to you, we could make a decent show of it later."

"A kiss under the mistletoe?"

"Or something closer," Draco agreed. "Do you think Harry would mind?"

"Probably. He's a tad bit jealous in case you hadn't noticed," he said with a smile. "What did you have in mind?"

"Come, let's get you something to sip on and we'll discuss it together. Since it is the three of us." He led her back to Potter's side, getting drinks for them and heading to a table to watch the crowd go by. Many other girls walked up and gave him a shy smile, but he only nodded at them until Ginny came over. "May I?" he asked, standing up and holding out a hand. "Always good to get on with the in-laws." He smirked at her shocked look. She let him lead her out onto the floor.

Ron looked at Harry. "Vincent said that people are wondering why we're not closer," he whispered. Harry groaned and kissed him on the cheek. "Not us."

"I understood before, I'm not ready for that yet."

"A kiss under the mistletoe?"

"If I have to. I'm not sure I want to do that with him."

"You kiss me."

"Yeah, but you're not him." Harry grinned at the laughing Ginny was doing. "She's got her planning face on again."

"Oh, dear," Ron sighed. He looked down at himself. "Does this look too low to you?"

"If I could, I'd put you in turtlenecks," Harry reminded him, taking his hand to play with. "If that's what you want, Ron, I can't argue with you."

"Harry, the both of us or nothing."

"Yeah, I know." Harry considered it. This had been done for practical matters, nothing else. He watched Draco, trying to stay objective, but nothing was happening in his mind. "It's not like he's unattractive."

"No, he's very attractive and suave, he's even been gentle with us." Harry looked at him and Ron smiled. "I've been thinking too."

"We'll see how it goes," Harry decided. "If we have to, then I will."

Draco walked Ginny back, she was still laughing. "Thank you for the lovely dance."

Ginny looked at Ron's dress robes. "That's much better. I had worried that we'd gotten it too low."

"It was, I adjusted it up two inches," Draco said dryly, sitting down again. He patted Ron's hand. "Ready for another go?"

"Let me finish my punch. I didn't get a chance to eat earlier." He looked at Harry, who shrugged. "You could go out with Potter. He's about as good as I am."

"That's my cue to find Neville and pull him away from the guys," Ginny announced, walking away.

Draco looked at Harry. "Would you like to dance?"

"Sure, why not. Ginny looked like she had fun." He stood up and let Draco walk him out there. "Who's leading?"

"This is a formal dance. Do you know the steps?"

"Not a one," Harry admitted.

"Then follow my lead and skip every other person when the time comes," he said, taking their place in the line. They bowed to each other and started off on the waltz. "You do well enough," Draco decided after a few moments. "Remember, every other one until the end." They switched sides and Harry's side moved up so he got a new partner, Dean Thomas. Draco watched as Harry repeated the same steps, mindful to continue dancing with his partner, Pansy.

She took a step closer when it was time. "Are you together finally? I notice the mark hasn't lowered itself any." She stepped back.

He grimaced, clapping. "I'm taking my time. Doing so any other way would make them more of a target, as you well know if what I heard is true." She nodded, and then his side got to skip down to a new partner, back to Harry. "Sorry, had to talk to her."

"That's okay," Harry said as they walked around each other, free hands on their hip. Then they stepped back. "And?"

"There's more I've found out, I'll tell you later, when we're all together again." They clapped and changed partners again. He got back Pansy. "Well?"

"Why not?"

"Because innocence determines the strength of the blood," he reminded her. That was common knowledge since that one stupid person had done the potion.

"I hadn't thought of that," she admitted, walking around him. "So? Is he a good kisser? Or should I say she?"

"They're both excellent at it, but we tend to be more platonic while they get used to the idea. After so many years, we're slowly mending some fences." The clap/skip maneuver happened and he ended back with Potter at the head of the line. "I need to know how you feel about certain things."

Harry blushed and watched his feet. "I feel very well about a lot of things, it's just the person attached to the thoughts that's hanging me up," he admitted, stepping forward. They moved around each other again, hands clasped.

"Look at me," Draco commanded. Harry did so and he smiled. "We can fix those. Tonight, my room. It won't look odd at all and I've already received permission if necessary since we have to talk." Harry nodded and the dance ended so he gave Draco another bow. "This one's less formal, more like what you did with Ron. Would you like to continue?"

"I think we should hash this out now," Harry agreed. "I'm trying to stay honest," he noted as he moved into Draco's arms. "Am I leading?"

"If you like. The first time you step on me that's changing." He let Harry lead them this time. "Very nice."

"It was an option for gym class," Harry admitted. He shrugged at the amused look. "It got me out of soccer and lacrosse." He glanced around, smiling at Ron, who was dancing with Justin. "He looks so happy."

"He is happy. Things are finally settling themselves into a pattern." Harry looked at him. "I know what Ron is thinking, I need to know what you are."

"I don't know. It's ...different with Ron."

"Because I'm not female all the time?"

"Yeah." Harry forced himself not to touch his pocket. "I lied to Ron," he whispered. "And I think I should tell you why."

"You have some of the potion?" Draco said flatly. Harry nodded. "Why?"

"Because I adore Ron and I was willing to go through all that for him."

"Do you still have it?" Harry nodded. "In your room?"

"On me. It's usually in my bookbag. I didn't want to leave it lying around in case the house elves found it."

"I see. What did Ron want you to do with it?"

"Give it to Snape. I promised him I wouldn't take it."

"If you did, there's no guarantee that you'd end up like him. He had unique circumstances, Harry. You could do like the mice the twins tested it on and just change for a few hours."

"At least then I'd understand and be what Ron needs when he's different."

"Good point, and charming, but you could also die. That formula is three times stronger than it should have been. Weight wasn't the issue for dosage, moon phase was. Ron was allergic," he said at the clear question in the green eyes. "That's why he had the seizure." He stepped back as the dance ended. "I won't make you give it to me, but I don't want you to take it either."

"Yes, Draco. Is it really that dangerous?"

"For you, yes, it is," he said, looking totally serious. "Even if you were to change, the cranky one would have much more reason to hunt you down. You make him drool now, you'd have him salivating if you took it."

"Then I'll hand it over tonight," Harry said, heading to the knot of teachers. "Professor Snape?" he asked quietly. "May I have a word with you?" He got a nod and was let into the back hall. He pulled out the bag and handed it over. "Ron told me to give you this. I got it from the twins myself."

"You were going to use it to give Weasley an opposite?" Snape asked. Harry nodded, looking down at his feet again. "I see." He looked at the crumbled mass of herbs. "Thank you for turning this over. Is this all of it?" Harry nodded again, not looking up. He forced the boy's chin up. "It wouldn't have turned you for more than a day."

"At least Ron would have me that way for that long," he said quietly.

"You do love him," Snape said, sounding faintly amused. Harry nodded, swallowing. "Then Albus should be having a discussion with you soon, Potter. There are a few family things you don't know."

"We had a mark?"

"Weasley does. Your family didn't that I know of. However, the ruins of your parent's home, and your father's childhood home, were rummaged through and saved for you. You'll get it on your majority." Harry looked stunned. "We weren't allowed to say anything until you had found your perfect mate by your parent's wills. I believe you think you have."

"I have," Harry said, smiling. "Can I tell the others?"

"If you wish. Albus has in his possession the keys to those vaults. Mr. Malfoy would be one to ask what to do with the money you'll be receiving." He opened the door. "I'll be destroying this tonight. Tell Weasley he was wise to discourage you from doing this, no matter how ardent you feel about him." Harry nodded and left him alone. Snape walked back over to the Headmaster, showing off the bag. "He was willing to suffer for him," he said simply.

"I'll tell him what was found tomorrow," Albus agreed. "Remarkable that such a little thing would cause so many problems."

"Can you imagine what would happen if he had taken it and changed fully?" Snape asked quietly. They both shuddered. Voldemort would have come after them all to get his enemy if that had happened. There would have been nothing that could have stopped him.

Harry sat down next to Ron. "I gave Snape the rest of the potion," he admitted.

"Just now?" Ron asked. Harry nodded. "I thought you were going to give that to him months ago, Harry. How could you even think about doing this to yourself!" he asked angrily.

"Easy, Ron, for the same reason as he's already told you," Draco informed him. "He wanted to be everything that you'd ever need. It's a foolish, yet heartfelt wish." He looked at Harry. "It would have also endangered everyone within six miles of him because Voldemort would have done *anything* to get him if he had changed. Then he would have broken him in to make the perfect solution to gain power." Harry blanched. "You were right to hand it over and not try it."

Ron gripped Harry's hand. "I can't lose you so don't even think about it. Wait until after the fight if you absolutely have to, Harry, not now." Harry nodded again, looking miserable. "I understand and I'd welcome it if it wasn't so dangerous," Ron said in a gentler tone of voice, hugging him. "We have time for that. I'm not losing you, no matter if I have to kill old stinky snake guy myself." Harry looked alarmed, opening his mouth to protest, so Ron kissed him. "Deal with it, I'm not hiding. He won't take me during whatever fights you have against him."

"You won't be fighting," Draco said firmly. "He is devious enough to get you kidnaped during the battle. We'd hate to have to destroy a good portion of the countryside to find you." He and Ron shared a look. "For the same reason he couldn't take it and join you, you can't fight beside him, Ron," he said calmly. "That's part of why I'm here, to take your place during those fights. You'll be protecting the others, which is something you're excellent at. Not in the middle of the battle being risked." Ron opened his mouth and he grabbed Ron's hand, squeezing it hard. "Think about what will happen if you're lost," he hissed. "How devastated Harry will be, or your family. How the rest of the world may be in ruins because even if you die your blood will still have power."

"It will?" Ron asked quietly, glancing around.

"There are special funeral procedures to muddy your blood when you die so your remains aren't dug up to retrieve any of it."

"Do his parents know?" Harry asked, starting to turn green. "I can't lose you, Ron."

"I know, Harry." Ron gave him a hug to calm him down. "Do they?"

Draco nodded. "I sent them a copy of everything pertinent since they're on the forefront of the battles. Your powerflow issues, your burial hazards. All of it." Ron nodded. Draco smiled. "One other thing you have to think about is the fact that you absolutely should never get pregnant. No matter what. If you do, not only could you lose control and destroy a good part of the country, it's thought that the child will be doubly vulnerable while it adds another layer of corruption to your energy streams. That's one of the last anyone thinks about, but it's still a factor."

Ron shuddered. "Eww. I don't want to go through that anyway."

"Excellent." He smiled at them. "Now calm down and put that out of your mind until later, Potter. Sorry, Harry," he said at the dirty look Ron shot him. "Would either of you want to dance?"

"I think I want another turn with Ron," Harry said quietly, helping Ron to his feet and out onto the floor. "I'm glad I didn't go through with it now," he admitted after a few minutes of calm in Ron's arms.

"Me too. Hey, if cranky ass can hear your thoughts, can you tease him with the idea of doing it?" Ron asked suddenly.

Harry laughed. "We'll see. I don't know when he's in there and when he's not. It'd probably drive him into a frenzy of preparation and then disappoint him greatly at the least."

"Hopefully it'll depress him so much that he'll be incapacitated for a few weeks," Ron suggested, giving him a pinch on the butt. "Think about how he's got to be swearing. You're too ethical to use my blood to raise your levels. His greatest desire is in the hands of his greatest enemy."

Harry beamed. "I like disappointing Voldemort. Gives me the warm fuzzies. Just like you do." They shared a kiss and the kids around them clapped. "Thanks," he said with a bright blush. He took Ron back to their table. "Sorry, couldn't resist."

"That's all right," Draco agreed. "It's good to see you happier."

"I reminded him that his worst enemy's fondest wish is in the hands of the creature he loathes most," Ron said smugly. "It gave him squishy feelings."

Draco laughed. "I'm sure Voldemort is presently throwing many fits about wanting what Harry has. Or even what I have." He held a hand out. "Continue our discussion on the floor?"

Harry stood up and pulled Draco up, kissing him gently. "You treat Ron very well," he noted, taking Ron while Draco was still stunned. It was another waltz. "Do you know this one?" Ron nodded. "Good, you lead," he said changing places with him, much to the amusement of the girls he was now with. "I was never taught most of these," he explained. "Waltzes were taught as an alternate gym class," he said as he followed the movements of those around him.

"Muggles waltz?" one of the Slytherins down the line asked.

"They used to. Our composers wrote the music for most of them." He shrugged at her look. "They did. Mozart was a muggle."

"Hmph." She turned to the person beside her, moving with them now. "At least you got some classical education with them."

"Not really. It was that or soccer and lacrosse," Harry noted, following his new partner's lead. "I suck at this," he decided with a smile, making her laugh and nod. "Sorry."

"You have enthusiasm," Ron told him as they rejoined together. "That's what's important in these things. If I want to waltz I know to ask Draco," he finished with a grin.

"Yeah, he knows all these old dances," Harry agreed. "I wonder if all social gatherings are like this."

"Yup," Ron told him. "That's why my mother forced us to learn all these dances at a young age, just in case we needed them." He winked. "She'd be proud, I'm doing it in heels." The other girls laughed. "She never expected this when she taught me."

"At least you can lead," Harry offered. The dance ended and he hugged Ron. "A slow one?" he asked, listening to the music.

"Nope, another waltz." Ron looked around and motioned Draco over. "Harry doesn't know most of these. Do a few with me?"

"Of course." He nudged Harry out of the way. "Sorry." Harry walked off, watching them go at it. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, I like to dance. Mum used to dance with us in the living room." He smiled at his sister, who was laughing with Neville. "Even she learned."

"I'm glad it brings up happy memories for you. I had an instructor, of course," he said dryly as they started to move, a stroll then breaking up into four lines instead of two. "My father demanded I become proficient so I wouldn't embarrass him at events we held." He spun Ron around and took him back again, bowing to him. "We should hold an event after graduation." Ron stumbled and he covered for him. "Sorry."

"Does that mean what I think it means?"

"It would look odd if you didn't stay with me," Draco pointed out, giving him a faint smile. "You'll have your own rooms. I won't intrude."

"Yeah, sure," Ron agreed, his head starting to spin. "I hadn't even considered that. You remember Harry has to go home for a week each year?" Draco nodded, his face hardening. "What did mum tell you?"

"A few things. Things like you having to send food to him and how small his room is." He glanced at Potter, who was dancing with Parvati's twin sister. "Why he was so small compared to the other males in the class," he said quietly, looking back at Ron. He saw the anger there. "I haven't said anything."

"I'm not mad at you. I routinely rant about his Aunt and Uncle. They don't deserve his protection, not even for what little they did give him in protection and a place to sleep."

"I'm sure we'll have to go over that some day. Those sort of wounds fester and keep you from being your best." They did another stroll and went back to the two lines. "Were you wanting to visit my house this season? We could go for the holidays. My mother's in the South of France for her health. The snow makes her sick."

"Ask Harry. I didn't really have anything planned," Ron told him.

Harry's answer a few minutes later was, "Wouldn't that be tempting fate for an attack?"

Draco shook his head. "Not in the least. If we split up it would, but not if we all went together." He looked at Ron's form. "I noticed you didn't have any sweaters that fit this form. I need some and so does Harry. We could make a trip of it or stay here and shop in town," he offered.

"I don't want to accept presents," Ron said quietly, glancing around.

"It wouldn't be. I'm making sure you'll be safe and warm, not gifting you with outlandish things like jewelry." He gave them both a look. "Or you could have Potter buy you some," he said with a touch of bitterness in his voice.

"My family can buy our own clothes," Ron said more firmly.

"Fine." Draco leaned back in his chair. "You and your stubborn pride."

"My stubborn pride kept me from being humiliated by you more than once," Ron pointed out. He looked at Harry, who looked torn. "Not you too!" he said in disgust.

"Just on the sweater things," Harry offered. "Your mother said she sent you boy clothes because she wasn't sure what you would need as a female." Ron groaned and hung his head, shaking it. "Sorry, Ron, but it is a practical thought. Besides, Ma...Draco's right." Draco looked stunned, glass halfway to his lips. "I do need some more sweaters. I didn't buy any winter clothes when we went shopping before school started. I don't want to keep wearing Dudley's old castoffs and I'd like some new clothes of my own. But I won't force you to do more than come with me."

"Fine," Ron sighed, giving in. "I'll let you help me shop for sweaters, but I'm buying them."

"Fine," Draco agreed, putting down his cup. "May I get you a Yule present? Something nice, like a gift certificate to a store that sells clothes perhaps? In a reasonable amount," he said at the opening mouth, holding up a hand. "To supplement whatever your parents can spare. To all looking on, you are my spouses and I should be doing things like this," he explained at the hurt look, leaning forward. "I don't mean to be rude at this moment, but it is something to consider."

"I didn't want to consider that sort of stuff," Ron admitted, pouting.

"I had noticed that when I suggested we go to my home earlier," Draco said, smiling at him. "Come on, quit pouting. I'll buy you a pretty dress that stuns Harry speechless." He held out a hand. "There's another waltz coming, the pattern's about to repeat."

"Okay," Ron sighed, taking his hand and allowing himself to be led back onto the dance floor. "I really can buy my own clothes."

"I know you can. This is about upholding an image and the idea that we're official," he reminded him. "Usually I'd be expected to purge your wardrobe and buy you all new things, including jewelry and shoes." He smiled at the disgusted look. "For both of you."

"Harry's turning into a regular clothes horse. You'll have to spend a lot more on him than you would me. Besides, when I start working I'll be filling in my own closet."

"If you start working," Draco corrected.

Ron beamed. "I've been accepted into the auror training program with Harry." Draco looked stunned and actually missed a step. "You all right?"

"I hadn't known you wanted to do that. Congratulations, Ron." He shook his head. "Of course your wardrobe would be limited by that sort of activity and training. Still, I can afford to buy you new clothes until you start working. There's supposed to be a few years' training after graduation."

"Three," Ron agreed.

"Three? Really?" Draco shrugged. "No matter. Hopefully within three years this war will be finished and there won't be much need for you to go into the field and endanger yourself."

"You care?" Ron asked.

Draco looked at him. "I wouldn't have offered all this if I didn't have some feelings for you. They aren't as strong as Potter's, but I do have a bit," he admitted.

"Beyond the fascination with my chest?" Ron asked with a grin.

"Yes, even beyond those," he said with a smirk of his own. "I underestimated you for years until this forced me to take a look at you. You are very special in your own right, even without those," he said with a nod for the exposed chest. "Pull that up please, before I try to touch you and get beaten for it."

"We need to talk about that, don't we?" Ron asked quietly as they waited on the next dance. Draco nodded. "Is it important that we do?"

"It will solidify the marking, making it shift down to your stomach. Someone has asked why we haven't consummated anything and I had to point out that we'd have to move very carefully not to make you more powerful." He smiled as the dance started. "The Slytherins have been asking some very interesting questions about what you can do."

"Gee, more threats?" Ron asked.

"Probably not. Most of them are ambitious but realize that too much power is a bad thing, it brings the wrong sort of attention." He bowed to Ron and started off on this pattern, making Ron laugh. "What?"

"Ginny got tripped by Dean," Ron said, pointing that way.

"Ah." They switched sides. "Oh, dear, she did, didn't she? Did you want to help her repair that rip?"

"Nah, she's got it," Ron said with a smile for him. "Hermione's converging on her with McGonagall anyway. It'll be fixed quickly. Plus, no one's looking at her panties but Neville. I like that." Draco chuckled. "You think I'm overprotective?"

"No, I think that most brothers probably feel that way," he assured him. "So, my house for the holidays or here?"

"Here. I'm not ready to face your huge drafty house yet," Ron teased.

"There's only a draft on the third floor," Draco defended, but he was smiling as well. "We'll tell Potter in a few." Ron blew a kiss. "What was that for?"

"For trying to understand. If we've had to change our thinking, you've had to do double that."

Draco shrugged. "It happens. Most of what you saw was a facade, a set of armor if you will. It kept people away until I was ready to deal with them. I can't do that to you or Harry now so I had to let you closer faster. How is he holding up?"

"Well enough I guess. You should ask him. You two look really nice together."

"Thank you. Next dance probably. I'll even teach him how to dance a waltz properly so we can both escort you around." He winked at the laughter from beside them. "Harry never learned and Ron does so love to dance," he pointed out as he led Ron off the floor by taking his arm and tucking it around his. "Come along. I could use some punch. Harry," he said as he helped Ron into her seat. "Next dance is ours." He gathered more punch and brought it back, enjoying the shocked and confused look. "Don't worry, I'll teach it to you. It's not that hard, there's a full set of movements that are repeated in each dance, you only have to know which ones goes in which order for each piece of music." He smiled gently. "You seemed to have some basics already."

"Thank you, Draco." Harry sipped his punch, watching the crowd, noticing the sly glances they were getting. "We're being watched." He looked at Ron, who was fanning herself. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, just a tiny bit sweaty." Ron fanned Harry as well. "You're red. We've decided to stay here for the holidays since I didn't think either of us were ready to face Draco's house."

"Okay," Harry agreed. "Then I guess we'll be going that way next summer?" Draco nodded. "I'll have to spend a week with my former guardians. It holds the protection on their house steady."

"Then we'll stay in London so you have somewhere to run, then go home," Draco decided. "I could use the time in the city and Ron could probably use the time to get with the people training him. As could you." Harry nodded, looking happier. "Of course I'm going to give you a notification amulet so you can call us in emergencies. Just in case there's another dementor attack," he justified to ease the hurt look. "Would I need it for another reason?"

Harry glanced around. "Molly told you a lot."

"She told me a little," Draco corrected gently. "Not everything and definitely not the worst. She told me about you having to owl for food. About you needing to be rescued. Something about bars on the windows once. Your uncle's bad attitude about us. That's about all. If you need to tell me more to protect you then by all means we'll talk over the holidays," he offered. "We can even swap stories. Mine was never physical neglect, just emotional, but I think you'd probably understand better than Ron could." Harry nodded. "Thank you. Now, come along, let's join this next dance and we can make plans to go shopping in the village." He held out a hand as he stood up, taking Harry with him.

Ron waved McGonagall over, smiling at her. "What did you do to Harry to make him agreeable?" he whispered in her ear.

She blushed. "Nothing, Ron. He's doing it all for you. Do wield the power gently." She patted him on the shoulder. "Also, please adjust your bustline up a bit if possible. You've managed to stun a great many young men tonight. Their girlfriends are a bit worried about them." She wandered away, allowing the Headmaster to force her to join in the dancing. "Mr. Weasley thinks that we did something to Potter to make him more agreeable."

"Really?" Dumbledore asked with a smile. "I know I didn't."

"Neither did I," she said firmly. "I told him it was Harry doing it for him, he seemed satisfied. Have you heard if they're staying?"

"I overheard them making plans for shopping in Hogsmeade over the holiday break as I walked over to get you," he told her. "I don't believe they realized until tonight that they'd be expected to live with him as well." She laughed. "At least by the looks on their faces." He winked and spun her off, making Severus catch her. "Good job, Professor Snape, you dance with her for a bit, I'm going to break up the snogging Weasley," he said, heading to break up Ginny and Neville's clinch in the corner behind a drape. "Now now," he chided, but was smiling. "None of that on school property. Wait until the train at least." They broke apart and gave him sheepish looks. "Go dance, children. Enjoy the night," he encouraged with a smile. He looked back and saw that Severus had obeyed his orders, even though he was glaring in his direction. He waved gently and smiled back. "Now all I have to do is find him someone," he mused, heading to patrol the tables.

***

Christmas morning came and found Ron and Harry sharing Harry's bed again and Draco on Ron's old bed next to them since they had the room to themselves. They woke up to presents sitting on the foot of the beds, gaily wrapped and bedecked with many bows. Ron sat up and pulled his and Harry's joint pile over, frowning at some of them. "Why is your mother giving me things?" he asked Draco, holding up a small, flat package.

"My mother was happy when I told her what I was doing," he said with a smile. "She's a very thoughtful gift giver. Wraps beautifully as well. I wish I were half as nimble." He opened his first present, smiling. "My mother and her bookmark fetish," he said happily, holding up a hammered pure silver one.

"That's beautiful," Harry told him as he found his first present. "A Weasley sweater," he said with a smile as he opened it. His was green this year.

Ron found his and opened it, smiling at the new color. "Gryffindor red," he said happily.

Draco found a similar package and opened it. "Mine's blue," he announced, holding it up. "I take it your mother's now accepted me into the family?"

"Yup," Ron and Harry said together, giggling with each other.

"She gave me one my first year," Harry told him. "That and a bit of candy usually." He found the other present from the Weasleys and opened it, staring at the belt with the multiple cases on it. "Wow. This is not candy," he said as he pulled it out.

"A utility belt," Ron said, starting to be envious. He'd found his other one and it had chocolate frogs in it. "Wow."

"I'll get you one for your birthday since we're both going to need one," Harry told him, stealing a kiss. "Come on, let's open up the Malfoy half of the presents." He opened the first one carefully. Draco had been right, his mother wrapped beautifully with tasteful paper. He found a pen set. "Cool," he said, holding it up.

"Expect either stationary or a journal with that," Draco warned. Ron looked at him. "She gifts in groupings. If you get pens, you get things to write on. If you get jewelry, you get a complete set. If you ever find clothes, watch out," he said with a smile. "She's been on a rip at my father and tends to go a bit naughty and overboard. Last time that happened I got see-through boxers and a red silk set, along with a suggestion that I put them to good use and give her grandchildren early."

Ron laughed and opened his, hissing at the small chain. "Jewelry," he pronounced.

Draco slid over so he could see. "Is there a pendant already on it?" Ron shook his head. "Open that one next," he said, pointing at a tiny one. "It's either earrings or a pendant." Ron opened that one with shaking hands. "No need to be nervous, she's been wanting a daughter-in-law so she could share some of these things with another female," he soothed, stroking Ron's back to calm him down. Harry was staring at him. "It can be lonely being Mrs. Malfoy, Harry. All friends were carefully checked and only allowed at certain intervals so you couldn't get too close. She's never had anyone to really go shopping with." He saw the earrings and nodded. "I thought that was that set. My mother received those on her sixteenth birthday," he explained. "She always said she'd give them to a daughter or my wife if she didn't have a girl." He shifted over to look. "Open that one next." He looked at Harry's stack. "Open the green one," he ordered.

Harry picked it up and rattled it, then carefully tore it open. His breath caught. "It's a leather journal."

"Hmm." Draco looked at it. "She's very happy with you being in the family. I've never received one that nice." Harry looked stunned. "Usually I get cloth covered ones. Apparently she is very happy with me having both of you."

Ron opened the third box and took out the bracelet, breathing hard. "Wow," he said finally. It was a very fine chain, only a hair's width thick. "This is much too delicate for me."

"There's a protective charm on it," Draco assured him, giving him a small hug. "Are there others?" Ron held up one last box. "Open it."

"You do it, I can't take many more shocks," Ron told him, trying to hand it over.

"She gave it to you, Ron, you have to open it." They both watched as Ron opened the present with shaking hands. "She must adore this whole situation," he said at the sight of the picture book. "Those are my baby pictures."

Ron laughed and wiped one of his cheeks. "This is a great gift but why give them to me?"

"Because she wanted you to have them." He kissed her on the ear. "Harry, anything else?"

"Just one," Harry said, holding it up. This one rattled. He opened it carefully and stopped. "Huh," he said finally, pulling out the small necklace with the Malfoy crest on the pendant. "In case we needed more marking?"

Draco shrugged. "I've never seen that one before. It might have been a gift from my father to her on their wedding or an heirloom from my father's mother. You'll have to ask her when you officially meet her." He reached over and patted the shaking hand. "It's all right, they were meant to welcome you, not alarm you. We're not one of those muggle cults, really."

Harry laughed and put on the necklace, wincing as it burned him for a second. "What's that?"

Draco lifted the chain. "It's now part of you. I'll write her myself tonight." He nodded at the remaining presents. "Open those as well."

Harry got up and dug around in his trunk, coming up with a small box. "From Ron and me," he admitted as he handed it over.

"When did we go shopping together?" Ron asked, frowning at him.

"You said that would be a nice one the last trip into town," Harry told him with a wink. "Open them. I'll do mine afterwards."

Ron grunted but he did pick up his next present, opening that one. "Wow. That's a nice store," he said, smiling at the gift certificate. Not too large, but big enough that he could get a few things. "Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome, Ron." He opened his and smiled at the small silver box. "This is very nice. I even have something to put in it," he noted, putting it onto his bed.

"You're welcome," Harry told him with a smile. He opened his first from Draco, gulping when he saw it. "Malfoy! Explain!" he said, holding up the sex toy catalog.

Draco gave him one of his most irrepressible grins. "I thought you could use something in there to figure out that last few things that you were wondering about so you didn't have to fumble around in the dark. There's a gift certificate in there if you want to use it. Together or not."

"Seriously?" Ron asked, taking the catalog to look through it. "Wow. This is some kinky stuff. Handcuffs?"

Draco and Harry both looked over his shoulders. "Fur lined handcuffs," Harry whispered hoarsely. "I think that's enough of a present in itself."

"Whatever you want from there," Draco reminded him. "No pressure to use it soon, that certificate is good forever." He nodded at the other two presents. "Get those as well. I'm proud of those."

Ron opened his and squeaked. "Leather?"

"For a coat, Ron," Draco said with an eye roll. "If you really want you could buy a leather pair of pants but I doubt Harry's going to let you out of the room with them on." Ron giggled, hugging him. "You're welcome. I noticed your coat was a bit tight. Leather will last for a long time and it might even come in handy during your training if you find the right one." He looked at Harry, watching him open his last one. "Do you like it?"

"I do," Harry said, holding up the keyring. "What's it for?"

"For your vault keys."

"I only have one."

"I snuck into Snape's office. That inheritance they told you about is in a few different vaults. This way you won't lose one." He smirked. "You can even hide them among your regular keys once you have some."

"Wow." Harry reached over and hugged him as well. "Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome." He stood up. "I think I'll run down and change. Meet you at brunch?" They nodded so he gathered up all his presents, including the silver box, and left.

"Wow," Ron said, looking at the gift certificates. "He even rode the line between pushy and generous."

Harry pulled something out from under his pillow. "Those go with the ones I got you," he said with an impish grin.

Ron opened the envelopes. "The candy store. Flourish and Blotts. The clothing store in town?" He looked at his lover. "Really, Harry, you didn't have to. I didn't get a chance to buy you anything."

"Ah, but I have my present," Harry reminded him as he stole another kiss. "That's the one I want, along with another shot at touching you sometime soon."

Ron blushed. "Like this?"

"Any of the time," Harry said, his voice turning deeper. "Even during those few hours when you're basically neither."

"I don't have one of those," Ron told him. "There's that overlap." He carefully piled his presents on the bedside table. "I think I can give you that for a present. Just be more gentle this time." The curtains fell around them and he gave Harry and odd look. "No lights?"

"I don't think I could take being watched," Harry admitted, shifting closer.

"I'll let you go this time," Ron teased, stealing a long kiss. "Next time I want lights on so I can look at you." He felt the blush pop into being. "I don't care about the scars, Harry. I want to see you. See who's touching me."

"Next time," Harry agreed, leaning down to kiss the things he had touched the last time. Ron gave a surprised squeak. "Not good?"

"Very good, continue with that thought," Ron ordered, pushing his head back down. "Do a lot more."

Harry laughed and decided to do a lot of exploring this time.

***

Since there was only one table during the holidays, Ron took his usual spot between Harry and Draco, smiling at Draco. "Thank you," he said since Draco had held his chair for him. He looked around the table. "No teachers yet?"

"Dumbledore got a floo call and they all followed him," Draco announced, handing down the food since it was on his end of the table. "Did you have a good nap?" Both men blushed and he laughed. "I could only tell what was going on and that you enjoyed it, no specifics," he assured them. The teachers walked back in and he shuddered at the looks on their faces. "What happened?" he asked.

"Draco, I hate to tell you this," Dumbledore started.

"My mother?" he asked. Snape nodded. "No! She wasn't even in the country!" he said angrily.

"How?" Harry asked. "Was it an attack?"

"We don't think so. She was on a boat and it had a collision. The muggle on the other boat was also killed," Snape told Draco, forcing him into his seat. "Of course you'll be released for the funeral."

Draco nodded mutely. Ron looked over and tentatively reached out but Draco shook off the hand. "Don't, not yet." He put his elbows on the table and held his head. "What about the arrangements?"

"Her will was specific and I'm sure it will be followed," Snape said quietly, patting the boy on the head. "You'll need to travel home tomorrow to accept delivery of the body." Draco nodded. "Do you want them to go with you?"

"They'll have to," Draco whispered. He looked at the other two. "I'm sorry this is going to ruin your holidays," he announced. "I'll see you at dinner." He stood up and walked out, going to grab his jacket and broom, then fly off for a bit.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "That wasn't the end of it I'm afraid. Harry?" Harry's eyes went wide. "Your Aunt and Uncle were attacked. This was an attack but they survived it. It looks like they were playing with them, not really attacking them. Your uncle has a fracture in his neck. Your aunt has a broken arm and a shattered collarbone. Your cousin was the worst hurt. He's in a coma."

"But the protection," Harry sputtered.

"They were out shopping," Snape told him. "You've been summoned to the hospital as their only living relative."

"Uncle Vernon has a sister," Harry said slowly. Snape shook his head. "What do you mean no? I know he does, she's the one I blew up before my third year!" he said angrily.

"They were with her," McGonagall explained. "They threw her into the street and she was hit by a car. She didn't make it. I'm sorry, Harry."

Harry went numb, his hands limp at his sides. "What do I do now?" he asked.

Ron pulled Harry's chair closer, wrapping him in his arms. "It'll be okay. I'll go with you and we'll figure it out," he soothed gently. He looked at the teachers. "Are they expected to live?"

McGonagall shrugged. "We don't know about the two men. His aunt will." Harry stared at her. "You'll both be leaving late tonight on the train and be in London tomorrow early. Ron, which one did you want to go with?"

"Whichever one needs me most," he said firmly. "Did anyone tell my mother?" Dumbledore nodded. "Then I'll pop around on her if they don't need me the whole time," he decided. He stood up. "Come on, Harry, let's pack you a bag." He walked him away, talking quietly to keep him anchored to the here and now.

***

Draco looked up as the train's door opened. There was only one compartment and he was sulking in it. "Why did you come?" he asked.

"I thought you might need the support," Ron lied. "Harry is spending a few days in London then he'll join us for the funeral."

"Fine," Draco allowed with a wave of his hand. He went back to his sulking and staring out the window. He noticed how Harry was leaning against Ron but figured it was their normal cuddling. He didn't pay any more attention than that. When they finally got to London, they split up, Draco handing Ron the portkey he had planned on using. "Use that on Sunday. We're burying her at the house," he said flatly, walking out through the barrier.

Ron tucked it into his pocket, then led Harry out to the cabs. They had gotten some money changed last night through one of the teachers. He got Harry into a cab and pulled out the address. "Royal Free Hospital & School of Medicine please," he said.

"Sure thing. He okay?"

"His guardians were in a bad wreck," Ron explained.

"Okay then," the cabbie agreed, taking off. "You've got money, right?"

"Yeah, some," Ron admitted. "How much is it gonna be?"

"Maybe five pounds?" the cabbie guessed. "Not more'n that. Only about five kilometers." He sped up to merge with the traffic. "You sure he's okay?"

"He's had a lousy holiday," Ron told him. "We got the news yesterday." He patted Harry's hand, making him look at him. "We're almost there," he soothed. "It'll be okay and I'll stop them from bothering you if they get snappy." Harry nodded and leaned against his friend's side.

"I don't got nothin' again' you doin' that, but the cops might if they see you, so be careful," the cabbie warned, switching streets.

"Sure thing," Ron agreed. "He's mine and he needs a hug." He paid the fare when they got to the hospital, letting Harry get out first. Then he took Harry's hand and their shared bag inside to the main desk. "We're looking for the Dursleys?" he asked. "Older man Vernon and a young man Dudley? The last was supposed to be in a coma."

"They're on family only wards," the nurse told them.

"I'm their nephew," Harry whispered. "They have custody of me."

"That's fine then," she said with a reassuring smile. "The older man is on the third floor, ward B, and the younger is still in the Intensive Care unit. Are you over 18?" Harry shook his head. "Then you'll need your aunt to accompany you. She's probably up there, hasn't left his side."

"Thank you." Harry led the way to the elevators. "Ron, are you sure you want to go with me?" he asked suddenly.

"I'm sure. We're all but married, Harry. Besides, you'll need the support." He took Harry's hand as the doors opened, walking out a step behind him. They heard Petunia before they found the right room, so followed her voice. "Hello, Mrs. Dursley," Ron told her.

Harry hugged her carefully. "You're all right," he breathed.

"What's this? Coming to soak up more of our money?" Vernon asked.

Harry looked at him. "I have my own now that I'm nearly an adult. They told me last night." Vernon humphed and shifted a foot. "How's Dudley?"

Petunia sniffed. "There's no change."

"Don't you start that again, the nurse said she'll have to put you back in a bed if you do," Vernon said gruffly. "Who're you? You look familiar."

"I'm Harry's fiancé," Ron told him. "And yes, you've seen me before. I'm a Weasley."

"You brought another of them here?" Petunia asked.

"I offered to come with him," Ron explained. "He shouldn't be alone. He's still in shock. They broke it over the meal." She nodded stiffly. "Should he go to the house and straighten it out so you can go home, Mrs. Dursley?"

"No, it should be fine. Vernon can't leave yet," she said coolly. "Thank you though." She looked at her nephew. "Why weren't we protected?"

"It only works on the house," Harry said hoarsely. "They didn't think there was a need for more." He looked at her. Then at his uncle. "I heard about Aunt Marge, sir, and I'm sorry about that as well."

"Thank you," Vernon said gruffly. "Isn't there something you can do?"

"I'm not a mediwitch," Harry told him. "I don't know more than how to fix a scrape or a small cut. Sports injuries."

"Oh." He looked at Ron. "Weren't you a boy?"

"Before," Ron agreed. Vernon opened his mouth. "My twin brothers botched a spell," he told him calmly. "I switch now. We're still engaged." He shrugged. "Harry's been the pillar of strength I needed through all this and he accepts me."

"You freaks must get along," Vernon said stiffly. "Go visit Dudley. Petunia, take them."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I can't take any more fussing. Get them out of my sight."

She led the boys away. "Thank you for coming and explaining to us why it failed," she said as she led them upstairs. She swallowed when she saw Dudley's form on the bed. "He's wasting away, but the doctors don't say anything when I complain," she said, glaring toward the nurse's station. "The sisters keep saying he's fat."

Harry wisely kept his mouth shut as he walked over to look at Dudley. "What did they do to him?"

"They bounced him about, hit his head on the pavement," she said, starting to sniffle. Ron pulled her closer and gave her a hug. "Thank you, young man," she whispered. "Even strange comfort is some."

"I'm still a full woman six days a month," Ron quipped. "I understand about crying now." He patted her on the back, letting Harry pay his respects. From what he could see, there wasn't anything that was going to happen to the boy's body. "Have they said anything yet?"

"Just that he seems to be stable and not getting any better," she said, pulling back and wiping her face off. "Potter." He looked at her. "You didn't have to come."

"I did," he reminded her. "You did raise me and you're about the only family I have left. You would have done the same when my mother was hurt if you had known." He latched onto Ron's hand again when he saw the truth in her eyes - she wouldn't have gone. "When is Marge's funeral?"

"Two days. She didn't want any visitation or a viewing." She pulled herself back together. "I don't know what I'm going to do without my Duddykins."

"Life has to go on," Harry reminded her.

"That's cold," she said hotly.

"That's survival," Harry pointed out. "That's what I had to do before." He squeezed Ron's hand. "We'll be in London until Sunday if you want us to go to Marge's funeral." She shrugged. "Where?"

"At the funeral home out by her house. You'll have to take a train out there. I have a card here somewhere," she said, digging into her purse. "Oh! I can't do this!" she said.

Ron held the purse so she could dig. "Being without an arm is hard," he agreed. "I had a broken one when I was three, I couldn't do anything for weeks because everything needed two arms. Climbing trees, playing with my brothers outside in the garden, all that." She gave him a look then found the card. He took it and tucked it into their bag. "We'll be there, Mrs. Dursley. What about your husband?"

"He's not to be moved. They said there's a risk of paralysis if he is moved wrong," she told them.

"Then we'll go and support you," Harry assured her. "I'll see you then?"

She nodded. "Noon."

"Fine." He gave her a careful hug. "Get better, Aunt Petunia."

"Are you coming back?"

"For the protection to stay on the house I have to come back for a week each year."

"Why bother?" she asked bitterly.

"Because the leader of the people who did this knows who you are and they like to attack in the middle of the night," Ron explained. She gasped. "Professor Dumbledore had thought that they didn't know who you were at all. Unless this was a fluke and they picked you randomly, the protection on your home will still stand. Especially if your husband is bedridden for a while." She started to tear up again. "I'm sorry, but if you don't want it we won't come back."

She shook her head. "One week."

Harry nodded. "One week each summer. That's all." He led Ron out, going back to the lifts. "This is hard," he said once they were alone outside. "Dudley did look horrible."

"I was watching his monitors. Weren't they supposed to have squiggly lines? The movies dad took us to when we were younger all had squiggly lines." Harry nodded. "Then the one attached to his head is going bad. It had almost no squiggle in the lines."

"Brain dead," Harry said quietly. "That's going to be hard for her to bear." He cleared his throat. "Maybe we should take a room at the Leaky."

"Yeah, I think we should," Ron agreed, fingering the wand in his pocket. The Knight Bus stopped in front of them with a squeal and they got on, Ron paying the fare for them. "The Leaky please," he said.

"Of course," the driver said with a smile. "Is there a problem?"

"Harry's muggle relatives had an accident," Ron told him. "Nothing major. We'll figure out how to get around tomorrow."

"Sure thing." The bus took off with a bang and a shudder.

Ron pulled Harry down beside him. "It'll be okay," he crooned, putting Harry's head on his shoulder. "No problems," he soothed, patting him gently. Harry closed his eyes, allowing the comforting for now.

***

Draco looked up as Ron and Harry walked into his house on Saturday morning. "Get everything done?" he asked snidely.

"I don't need this right now," Harry told him. Ron touched him on the back, calming him again. "I'm sorry your mother died, Draco."

"Are you?"

"Yes, I am. I would have given anything to have had a mother." He lifted his chin.

"Leave him alone," Ron said gently, forcing Harry into a chair. "Sit."

"Why should I?" Draco lashed out. "Because he lost his when he was a year old?"

"Because his uncle's sister and his cousin just died too," Ron said firmly.

"Ron, don't," Harry said, touching him on the side. "It's not important. He's angry and it's normal."

"What?"

"They were attacked by some of your father's friends, Malfoy. His aunt was shoved into the street after being tossed about, his cousin just bounced off the pavement a few times."

"Oh." Draco sipped the drink in his hand. "I'm sorry then."

"It's not a problem," Harry told him. "You're in pain, I'm in shock and Ron's apparently on the rag." Ron punched him on the arm. "Sorry, Ron."

Draco looked at him. "You do look a bit pale. Why didn't you come here and stay?"

"Because we had to be in London for them," Ron pointed out. "His direct uncle and aunt were both injured as well."

"Who was killed then?" Draco asked, starting to look confused. "He had two wives?"

"No, the one who was killed was my Uncle's sister."

"Oh. Multiple children, no wonder," Draco said, shaking his head. "I'm not used to that."

"That's okay, it gets confusing even when you are used to it," Ron pointed out dryly. "I have cousins I don't even know the names of."

Draco clamped his lips together. "I won't say it," he said quietly and took another long drink. "Thank you for attending this with me."

"You're welcome. It's the least we can do," Ron reminded him, stepping closer. "Are you all right?" Draco shook his head. "Do you want help with anything?"

"No, everything's taken care of. I hate the waiting."

"Then go outside and fly, Draco," Harry told him. "It'll help you kill some time and the practice isn't going to hurt you any." Draco glared at him. "I didn't say that you need it, just that it wouldn't hurt you any," he defended.

"Fine. I think I will. Let me show you to your rooms."

Ron looked around. "If you want, we'll go back to the Burrow and wait until tomorrow."

Draco shook his head. "That's not right. You'll be upstairs in my old room." He led them up to his former room, opening the door for them. "Most of the other rooms have maiden aunts so it's not going to look suspicious if Harry sleeps on the sitting room sofa. Or if they don't realize he's not on the sitting room sofa," he said with a sigh. "I'll see you both later."

"Of course," Ron agreed, watching him stomp off. "Come on, Harry, you look like you could use a nap."

"I don't want to sleep," Harry said petulantly. "I've done enough of that for a year."

"I know, but I'll lay beside you. That way we don't have to face the family without Draco with us." He laid Harry down and hugged him close to his chest. "Relax," he whispered. "We'll go back to school soon." Someone knocked on the door. "Enter," he called imperiously. Draco walked back in with a small tray. "We're fine, really. You didn't have to get us breakfast."

"It's a restorative. I needed one as well," Draco told them, handing over the champagne flutes. "Drink." He used his wand to lock the door then curled up behind Ron. "May I?" he asked as an afterthought.

"Sure, go ahead. I'm very cuddly like this," Ron said before drinking the potion. "Eww."

"Sorry, had to mix it myself. Snape won't be in until tomorrow." He held on tightly, overlapping Harry's arms. "We could all use the rest. Nap, Potter."

"Fine, Malfoy." Harry closed his eyes, ignoring the restorative for now. He'd take it later.

"You should take that," Ron told him.

"Please. The wake is later and she always did want an Irish one."

"I thought your mother was Nordic," Ron said, looking confused.

"She was," Draco said into Ron's shoulderblade. "She envied those people who could celebrate the life, not the death. So we're having an Irish wake. Hopefully without all the drinking, but with some of my aunts that's not looking too promising." Ron sniffled. "Don't cry."

"I'm not, I'm going to sneeze," Ron said, sneezing on Harry's hair. "Sorry."

"That's okay," Harry said from his favorite position, face pressed into Ron's breasts. "I can shower before the wake."

"Yes, we should have enough time for that," Draco agreed sleepily. "You would make one hell of a mother, Weasley," he muttered.

"Thanks, I think," Ron told him, smiling as he got comfortable. "You two cuddle all you want." They nodded and hugged harder. Harry fell asleep first, but he hadn't slept in a few days, blaming himself for what had happened, just like his relatives did. Draco apparently snored when he had been drinking. He also left wet marks on his back from the drool. He'd have to talk to him about the amount he drank later. He would not put up with a drunken Malfoy for very long. No matter what reason.

***

Harry woke up and noticed the light was on the other side of the room. "Draco, we overslept," he said, forcing himself to sit up. Draco blinked at him. "We overslept. It's morning I think." Draco craned his neck to look at the clock and muttered something, putting his head back down. "Come on, we have to get up. The funeral's in a few hours and we've still got to bathe and get dressed."

"Fine," Draco said with disgust. "I don't want to get up yet."

"We missed the wake?" Ron asked, eyes still closed as he stretched. "How?"

"I must have botched the potion," Draco told him.

"I didn't take any," Harry reminded him. Draco stared at him. "I didn't."

"You haven't slept in three days, Harry, I'm surprised you got up at all," Ron yawned. "Go bathe, I'll go last." They headed into the bathroom, then Draco went to his own room. Ron slid out of the bed, walking in to join Harry in the shower. "Morning," he said with a kiss.

"Morning, Ron," Harry breathed. "Want me to scrub your back?"

"No, just share the water. We need to hurry up. It doesn't look right for us to be up here sleeping." The outer door opened and Ron got back out of the shower, grabbing a towel. "Professor Snape," he said with a frown. "When did you get in?"

"Last night. Where is Potter?"

"In the shower. We're saving time. How long do we have?"

"About two hours. Enough time to take separate showers. Where is Malfoy?"

"His room, he just left."

"Good. That looks much better at the moment," he said, looking down Ron's towel-clad body. "Finish up. The sleeping potion I gave you fixed the exhaustion the women downstairs noticed."

"You drugged us?" Harry said from the bathroom doorway. "Ron, you have the only towel."

"Sorry." Ron looked at him. "Why?"

"Because the women downstairs said you were too tired to be moving. They weren't sure how you got here, but they all hoped it wasn't by apparation." He looked at Potter. "How are they?"

"Dudley died late Tuesday, sir. He was buried Friday since my aunt decided she couldn't grieve without throwing herself onto the casket. My uncle's all but paralyzed. He'll be staying in the hospital for at least another few weeks before going to a care facility for rehabilitation and training in the use of a wheelchair. My aunt will have to have some work done on their house to make it ready for him."

"Fine. Finish bathing and come downstairs. There's a light brunch in the dining room." Both boys nodded so he left, going to find Draco. He found him leaning against a wall in the shower. "Good morning."

"With all respect, sir, fuck off," Draco said quietly, turning to look at him. "I don't want to be here."

"I know, but it is now your job to hold over all family events. Your others are showering together."

"How did Potter go along with this dead spot inside?" Draco asked him.

"He doesn't remember her. All he knew was his aunt." He shrugged at the stunned look. "You cannot miss what you haven't had. Now finish up. There's a light brunch downstairs."

"I don't want to eat." He grabbed his shampoo and started on his hair. "How long?"

"Just under two hours." Draco nodded so he left him alone.

Draco rinsed the shampoo out of his hair, ignoring the bald spot he usually covered up. He did it every morning, today was no different in that part of his routine.

***

Ron looked over as Draco walked into the dining room, giving him a tentative smile. "At least have some toast. To counter the dry heaves." He held out a small saucer with a few pieces of buttered toast. "It will do your stomach good."

Draco nodded and sat down, picking at the food for something to do.

Harry looked over, flinching at the ungelled hair. He reached out but his hand was slapped away. "Sorry. When did that happen?" he asked quietly.

"When I was six. My father ripped part of my scalp off. That's why I gel it," Draco said in a bored tone of voice. "You don't have to be here."

"Yeah, we do," Ron told him. Draco glared at him. "If you want us to leave early, tell us. I think it's only respectful to be here with you since she acknowledged we existed."

Draco shook his head. "Whatever." He ate a small bite of toast, then pushed the plate aside. "I'll see you out back."

Ron stood up, catching him before he could leave. "Don't, Draco. It doesn't make it any easier if you don't let it out." Draco stared down at him. "It doesn't. We've seen others who couldn't let it out and they died inside. That isn't doing her memory justice." Draco shook his hand off. "Be pissed, at least that will make you feel better. I'll even let you yell at me if you want."

"No, I don't want," Draco ground out. "I want this to be some perverse and obscene dream!" He stormed out, slamming doors behind himself.

"There's nothing you can do to stop that pain," Harry told him. "Losing your mother is one of the worst things you can go through. I still want to grieve for mine and it's been sixteen years." Ron gave him a hug so he patted him on the arm. "I know you want to nurture and make everyone feel better, but now's not the time. Wait until the trip back, let him have his grief for now." He swallowed. "You did really well at Sirius' funeral for me. You can do the same for him when he's ready." He pushed back and walked out, heading outside. He saw the gardens and went to sit among the flowers, hoping for some calm.

Ron frowned at the doorway. "I want my mother," he decided, heading for the nearest fireplace to call her. She always told him the right thing to do.

***

As soon as the train moved, Ron switched seats, pulling Draco closer. He was silently crying and it was disturbing to watch. He even fought back when the other guy struggled, holding him tightly until Draco gave up and cried on him. "It's all right," he soothed. "You survived this and you'll carry her memory with you. At least one person will remember her how she truly was." Draco nodded, relaxing against him. "Harry, want one too?"

"No thanks, Ron, he needs you more right now," Harry said as he laid down. "I think I'm going to rest. I had that dream again last night." He closed his eyes, using the bag as a pillow. "Wake me before we cross the border."

"Sure, Harry," Ron agreed gently. He stroked Draco's back until his hand was removed. "Sorry."

"That's okay. It's not that upsetting, just unusual." Draco sat up and scrubbed his face hard. "I'm sorry about that."

"A man always looks up to his mother, even if she's not nice, even if she's a mean and cruel bitch like Harry's aunt," Ron reminded him. "Especially if she's nice."

Draco nodded, pulling his knees up to rest his chin on. "She was to me. She had this invisible wall that came up whenever we weren't alone, but to me she was always nice and gentle." He touched his scalp. "She nearly killed my father when he did that."

Ron stroked the bare spot. "That's what mothers do. I can't even imagine losing mine." Draco nodded, resting against his side again. "Remember her, that's the best thing you can do. Don't hide the bad parts and don't overly think on the good parts, but remember her as she was."

"Where did that come from?"

"I called my mother yesterday and that was her advice," Ron admitted with a small grin when Draco looked up at him. "What? You think I'm that wise all the time just because I can speak 'girl' now?"

Draco shook his head. "Not now." He looked at Potter. "What happened to him?"

"He's still having nightmares about his godfather's death."

"I hadn't heard he died with his parents."

"His godfather was Sirius Black," Ron said quietly.

"Oh." Draco looked up at him again. "Did he ever meet him?" Ron nodded. "After he escaped?"

"Yes, he did. He and Harry got very close. We were trying to clear his godfather's name as well." Draco snorted. "That wasn't him, the explosion, he didn't do it."

"No, Pettigrew did. He's bragged about it a lot. That's why he was hexed nearly to death at least once that my father mentioned." He put his head back down. "When did he die?"

"Didn't read it in the paper?"

"Would I ask if I had?"

"He died when Voldemort attacked the Ministry our fifth year. A bunch of the members of DA followed Harry there because his godfather was in trouble, or so we thought." Draco nodded. "Heard about that?"

"That's when my father got captured. I asked the Headmaster for the truth about what had happened." He stiffened as he heard footsteps. "Snape." He sat up and wiped his cheeks again. "I don't want him to know."

"I'm sure he'd think it was natural," Ron noted, but he supported him in it. Reputation was everything to someone like Draco. When the door opened he waved. "Harry's taking up most of that side, but we've got a bit of room if you want to join us," he said pleasantly.

"I'm checking on you, nothing further," Snape told him. "Why are you so cheerful?"

"I'm not, I'm practical. Life has taught me that much," Ron reminded him. Snape nodded. "Do the other students come back Wednesday or Thursday?"

"Thursday, Friday's a free day," Snape told him. "You'll have a few days to yourself again." He glanced at Harry, then at Draco. "Why is he still tired?"

"He's having nightmares about his godfather dying," Ron said honestly.

"I see. I'll make sure the infirmary has something for that if it gets worse. Mr. Malfoy." Draco looked up at him. "You left your broom, I have it in my things." Draco nodded. "Whenever you're ready for it."

"Thank you, sir," Draco said quietly. Snape left them alone.

"I think that was supposed to be comforting," Ron said with a frown.

"It was. He reminded me he's looking out for me," Draco admitted, curling up against Ron again. "Thank you for this."

"I've always been a nurturer. That's why I started helping Harry, because no one else was."

"Why didn't you leave after you nearly died?" Draco asked. "He had Hermione."

"Yeah, but I figured I was on a roll. I had survived, my mum didn't hex me to death, and we won the house cup because of it. Besides, I believed in what he was doing. I hadn't thought that You-Know-Who would ever come back. Then there he was, and I was already involved because it had started out as a puzzle. I couldn't back out or Harry couldn't have stopped him. Plus, I survived, I thought it'd be okay, we defeated him. Then the next year my sister was the victim."

"But ... you're pure," Draco breathed. He hadn't made the connection before.

"Yeah, that's when I figured out that it wasn't just the ones he didn't like, it was everyone who was in danger, even the ones he did favor. I decided then it was worthwhile and if Harry needed me that I was there for him." He pointed at the hand lying on the other seat. "Look at the back of his hand. That nearly made him give up," he said quietly. "I'm the strength he leaned on to get through everything."

Draco sat up and leaned over, staring at the scars. "They're scars."

"They're words," Ron corrected. "Umbridge had this pen that took it out of your body when you did lines." Draco shuddered. "Why did you help her?"

"Because I could be a bully, I didn't have to face anything bad if I followed my father's orders," Draco admitted, leaning back again. "It was easy. My father told me to support her and it meant I would keep all my privileges, plus get a few new ones. It meant I was the special one." Draco glanced at Harry again. "If I had held off or went to another school I would have been the top student, no matter what. I'm bright, enthusiastic, I can play quidditch. I'm socially capable and superior to most students that would be around me. Then I started the same year as Harry Potter," he said dryly. "It took all that should have been mine and twisted it. Suddenly I wasn't even a pale shadow of second, I was reviled."

"Yeah, but you did it to yourself," Ron pointed out.

"I realized that later. Crabbe told me I was a bitch in our third year and it made me think about it. I was a bitch to be around. I was a sulky and pouty little boy. I had no friends and I was basically alone in Hogwarts."

"You could have changed."

Draco shook his head. "My father kept reminding me of what happened to little boys who disobeyed their fathers. Fortunately he didn't have anything to do with me that year or I could have seriously screwed up the tournament. Then, two days before we left for London, he came into my room without knocking and ordered me to support Umbridge, no matter what she did and said. Even if she instituted corporal punishment and killed someone, I was to support her. Even if it meant my own life." He shrugged. "So I went along because I knew what would happen if I didn't."

"Then he got arrested and all the threats were removed?"

"More like I saw how much of a bully he was and how little he could do to hurt me," Draco admitted. "The one to be afraid of wasn't my father, it was my mother when she was on a rip." He grinned sheepishly. "That summer she sat me down and told me everything. Graphically. How the torture went, what it looked like, what the victims felt, everything. Then she told me it was up to me to decide if I wanted to join my father in prison or if I wanted to stay with her and protect her. So I changed a little bit, but not dramatically. Then you happened," he said wryly. "Snape told her before he told me I was to guard you. She thought it was an excellent idea because she knew you were a good boy, as she put it, and could make me see the stupidity that was my father. And here I am," he said, waving a hand around.

"She got to see you change and she apparently approved," Ron reminded him.

"Oh, she did. She accepted you fully. She wrote me a letter before she left and forgot to mail it. It was on her dresser. She said that she was thrilled that I had, as she said, hooked up with you and were taking care of you. That I needed something to give a damn about that would like me back. Then she said she knew I should have had a pet as a child," he said, smiling slightly. "Sometimes my mother was a bit odd."

"A pet would have loved you back and taught you how to be loving," Ron pointed out. "Merlin knows I clung to Charlie's cat often enough when it was home." Draco chuckled. "See, you did what she wanted and it made her happy."

"Yes, I suppose so," Draco sighed, looking out the window. "Thank you, Ron."

"Not a problem. I'll expect you to return the favor when my parents go." He glanced at Harry, watching him thrash. "Potter!" he called sharply, waking him. "You were about to thrash yourself onto the floor, Harry," he said in a gentler voice.

"Thanks, Ron," he mumbled, flipping over to face the back of the seat. He sniffed a few times and switched back. "Butt smell."

Ron giggled. "I'm sure it does. I bet Goyle sat in that same seat a few times."

Draco broke out in laughter. "Probably," he agreed. "He did have a gas problem."

"I remember. He killed a few plants last year in Herbology," Ron reminded him. Draco nodded, laughing some more. "What happened to him?"

"His father had him taken up and he got the Dark Mark a week after he was expelled. He's a flunky there now. Still probably ranting about you and your bewitching breasts of doom." Ron snorted. "He did, he swore up and down that you had cast some sort of spell on him. From what little I've heard, his father seemed to think it was an odd power of being a changeling and was hoping his master didn't fall under the same spell when they caught you." Ron stiffened. "It won't happen. They won't get you."

"No, they won't," Ron agreed. "I've got to believe that or I'm going to let Harry hide me somewhere far away." He looked at Draco. "He was thinking about setting up a hidden muggle identity. Buy a nice house somewhere, act like we were going to university. Learn to drive and do things the muggle way, just to have a safe place to hide if necessary."

"That would be hard to do," Draco told him, starting to frown.

"No it's not," Harry told him. He sat up with a groan. "I have a birth certificate and ID cards. We can find someone to make some for Ron and you if you wanted one. There are schools to teach nearly everything we'll need to look normal. Driving, computers, everything." Draco was still frowning. "It really isn't that big of a switch and we could still use magic inside our house as long as the muggles didn't realize. Besides, it'd help me hide from all the stupid reporters."

Draco shrugged. "It's a worthy plan, but how would you hide yourself?"

"Easy, I put things in my name," Ron told him. "No one really expects us to stay together after graduation. Most Death Eaters wouldn't think to look for us in the muggle world either. They think we're afraid or sneering down at the lowly creatures."

"We do," Draco reminded him.

"No, you do," Harry told him. "Ron's father is obsessed. I grew up in there. It really isn't that hard, Draco. The driving thing maybe," he admitted at the incredulous stare.

"And who would think Harry Potter, boy who will save everyone, would be there?" Ron finished with a smile.

"How would we get papers?"

"I'm sure Dumbledore knows someone. If we had to, we could even appoint a secret keeper to hide the house's location. Not that I'm that paranoid yet, but if necessary."

"Pick Hermione or Ginny," Ron put in. "Girls seem to be more resistant."

"Possibly, or Neville," Harry agreed. "If we did it right, we could even have an area to practice our training in plus have a secure house."

"What about mine? I have to be there," Draco reminded him.

"We could switch back and forth," Harry admitted. "Set up an identity in the muggle world, go in weekends to uphold it?"

"That might be better," Ron agreed. He looked at Draco. "We could make you a skills list."

Draco shuddered. "Having to live around them is a sickening thought."

"Yeah, but it'd help protect us better," Harry pointed out. "We'd only have to pretend around the neighbors."

"Still." Draco glowered at the man across from them. "It's a sickening thought. To do things their way."

Ron leaned closer with that impish, troubling grin of his again. "Cars go fast," he told him. "Very, very fast." Draco looked a little more interested with the idea. "Like the cars the Ministry uses, only there are faster ones. Sleek little cars whose sole purpose is to look good and go fast."

"Like the Nimbus line," Harry put in. "Then we'd really have to pretend to be trust fund kids, but I'm sure we could do that."

Draco sighed. "We'll see. I don't like the idea though."

Snape opened the door. "What idea is that?"

"I was thinking about setting up a muggle identity just in case, so I'd be able to hide in plain sight," Harry told him.

"You would have to be careful about how you did things."

"We'd buy a house, sir," Ron told him. "The exchange rate is favorable right now. The neighbors might be able to look in the windows, but we could protect against that and they'd never know."

"Good point," Snape agreed, considering it. "There are many advantages to that plan, but for someone like Mr. Malfoy it would be a great shock."

"Then we'll stay at a real hotel this summer," Harry decided. "Let him see if he could live with it on weekends for a while, until it became necessary to hide."

Draco slumped down. "You're going to force me to do all sorts of nasty shit, aren't you?" he asked dejectedly.

Harry beamed at him. "You have no idea what the muggle world is like, Draco. There's a lot that you haven't seen yet. Fortunately, I can show you some of it. Not that I'm all that experienced," he admitted at Snape's look down at him. "I do know some things though. Entertaining things, fast things, heady things that will make you think it's not *all* bad."

"There won't be any servants," Draco pointed out quickly.

"Says who?" Harry asked. "We take on a squib as a housekeeper, pay them a living wage, and our secret's safe."

"Oh." Draco frowned again. "You've got this all figured out, haven't you?"

"I started thinking about it during my fifth year," Harry admitted. "Hiding in plain sight seems pretty nice when you're being hunted and reviled."

"Besides, you might find out that there's fun things to do there too," Ron reminded him, pinching him on the neck. "Things like strip clubs." Draco and Snape both looked shocked. Ron beamed at them. "Knew that'd get your attention."

"Women take off their clothes?" Draco asked.

Harry nodded. "So we've heard. Usually you spend money to have ten minutes to talk with them. There's rumors about being able to do more, but then there's more that you can't." He shrugged. "I don't know that much about it."

Ron beamed. "But we can check it out, right, Harry?"

Harry nodded, giving Ron a tolerant smile. "Sure, we can check one out this summer."

"That and those fast things, cars?" Draco suggested.

"Even those," Harry agreed. "I plan on buying something more practical than fast, but if you want fast you could buy something fast."

Their teacher groaned and left them alone. He'd report this later, after he got that vile image out of his head. Draco Malfoy driving a car. It nearly made him shudder.

***

That night Draco sat up on the bed he was borrowing. "You really were serious about that idea, weren't you?" he asked. Harry looked over at him and nodded, he wasn't moving since Ron was so comfy on his chest. "There really are advantages to living outside the community?"

"Some. There's more to living inside it, but having a life outside it as well would be the best option. It'd give us somewhere to send Ron if trouble started, plus his family. Besides," he said with a grin. "Think about all the stuff we can do there that we can't here. All we'll need is a convenient story and it'll be fine."

"If you say so," Draco said, lying back down. "How would we, as someone not fully adult, buy a house?"

"We are fully adults. Or at least you are. I will be next summer." He chuckled. "I can just see the look on Dumbledore's face if we proposed this plan."

"Did you know that half the point of the attacks the Ministry were doing on you was to make you give up?" Draco asked quietly. "So that when they were ready to be open, you'd be not only disgraced, but disgusted as well. That way Fudge would be the honored and cherished hero."

"I figured it might be. For right now, I'm not going to worry about that." He touched his scar, it hadn't hurt recently. "All I want is to fade into obscurity after Voldemort's gone. Not a hero, no fans, nothing like that. Just a nice, simple life where I can be myself and not have to worry about people finding me," he replied in his most gentle voice. "I want them to leave Ron alone too but I'm not sure how he feels about being a hero."

"I'm sure he'll tire of it after a while," Draco pointed out. "As much as it would set him apart from the others, it'd also wreck their lives as well as his. He wouldn't want that for his family."

"Hopefully," Harry agreed. He yawned. "What did you want us to show you when we sneak out?"

"Who said we were sneaking out?" Draco asked in an amused voice, turning on his side to look at him. "That would be foolhardy."

"It'd be practical," Harry countered. "Besides, there's hidden tunnels. We could get beyond them and find a floo. I'm sure we could make it to London easily."

"Think of the detentions," Ron sighed, lifting his head to look at his boyfriend. "Dumbledore might like you, Harry, but he won't stand for it."

Harry winked. "I think he's always expected me to be a bit like my father, everyone else does." He smiled at Draco, who laughed. "You see, it would set a wonderful precedent. Yeah, the twins flew out of here, we could run an underground of goods back to the school. It'd give us something to do besides think about our futures and all that crap."

"You don't want to be an auror?" Ron asked quietly.

"No, I do, but I want to have a life as well," Harry pointed out. "I want to be me, not the living legend, and definitely not the guy-who-hides-all-the-time that everyone wants me to be. I'm simply more careful in how and what I plan than my father was."

"Snape would kill me," Draco pointed out.

Ron snorted. "Only if you confessed or we're caught," he said smugly. "Tunnels?"

"Tunnels, cloak, floo," Harry told him. "Small smuggling business." He winked at the shocked look Ron was giving him. "What better way to set ourselves apart than to fill in a need that hasn't been filled recently? Yeah, the twins do a great business up here, but they don't get things that the other half and full muggle kids crave. Chips. Sodas."

"Porn," Draco put in.

"Do you ever think about anything else?" Ron asked.

Draco nodded. "At least twice a day."

Ron groaned and threw their extra pillow at him. "Behave." He looked at Harry. "That's very risky. My mother will kill us worse than anyone here will."

Harry kissed him. "Only if you confess or we're caught," he said sweetly. "Come on, Ron," he sighed at the stony expression his boyfriend was giving him. "I want to go out. I want to play and have fun. And hey, if we get caught, what are they going to do? Kill me? I doubt it."

"There are Death Eaters in London, Harry," Draco pointed out. "Dumbledore and Snape won't have to kill you."

Harry looked at him. "Voldemort knows that he'll have to kill me personally. Why would he let one of them do it for him? My lifeless body would only give him more support. Having one of your father's friends do it would give them that support, possibly even over their boss. Riddle was smart enough to realize that."

"If you say so." Draco shifted, turning onto his back again. "When should we go?"

"Tomorrow night?" Ron suggested. Harry looked at him. "I'm not letting you go alone. It'd look odd." He winked. "Besides, I saw a car in a picture while we were in for the funerals that I want to see in person. Ferrari."

"Oooh," Harry said, shivering. "Fast and sleek. Meant to be run fast and put away wet." He stole another kiss. "If you get one, could I go for a ride?" he teased.

"One of these days you'll have your ride," Ron reminded him, pinching him on the throat. "Behave or I'm going to take what's left of my tits and make Draco sleep over here instead of me."

"Sorry, Ron," Harry said, nibbling on a spot he had found on Ron's neck two weeks earlier, making him moan and go limp. "Want more?"

"No," Draco told them. "Not without some preparation. Something to shield you. Something to drain away any power surges. Even somewhere special if we can manage it. This is not the time nor the place for that."

"I think it's a wonderful time and place," Harry said petulantly.

"It would be, if we want everyone to know what he's just done," Draco replied sarcastically. "If you want to keep him safe, I'd wait until we can get you an anonymous location."

"Don't fight," Ron groaned, pulling the pillow out from under Harry's head and covering his own with it.

"We can't always hide!" Harry said warmly.

"You won't have to," Draco replied, shrugging at the looks he received. "Just that first time, and if possible the next few as well. The first times are always more special, and therefore give off more energy that can be seen. Your choice, Potter."

"My choice," Ron corrected. He kissed Harry until he went numb. "I say I want my first time to be somewhere other than the dorm."

"Yes, Ron," Harry agreed, smiling at him. "Hotel? A good one?" he corrected at the hesitant look. "One with room service and all that so we don't have to leave for the weekend?"

"I might like that," Ron agreed. "As long as it's still ...special in some way." He glanced at Draco. "He did have a point, Harry, and you know it."

"I know, but it sucks and I'm sick of worrying! I hate this fucking war!" Harry shouted.

Ron laughed, hugging him. "Me too. I'd rather it was all over with and you had already won. Then we could find what was normal for us and be happier than we are with this waiting . Until then though, we've got to be careful."

"And include me," Draco reminded him.

"And include him," Ron agreed, smiling at Harry. "Maybe he'll show us something," he whispered, stealing another kiss. The pillow was taken and hit him on the back, making Ron giggle. "Thank you, dear."

"You're welcome. Let's sleep since I can't do what I really want," Harry said glumly. "How long?"

"For you to find the perfect spot and to make it special?" Ron asked. "I don't know, how soon can you figure that out?"

Draco laughed. "There's an excellently shielded inn for wizards in Brighton, near the sea. It's a small community, but it's very touristy. The town caters to the sea trade."

"Is it nice there?" Ron asked sleepily.

"Very," Draco noted. "I've been there twice. It's as restful as you want it to be, but if you want to go exploring there's a bit of the muggle world there. The water is very calming and you can sit all day watching it from the inn's windows if you're on the water side."

"Sounds nice," Harry agreed. "Expensive?"

"Not very," Draco told him. "Why are you worried about that?"

"Because I hate carrying around money," Harry told him, cuddling Ron closer. "Would it be busy soon?"

"No, the holiday season won't start for a few months yet. Take him in the early spring, when the gardens start to pop up. Or take him now and watch the few boats. You'll have most of the inn to yourselves."

"Thank you, Draco."

"I live to serve," he said ironically.

Harry made a decision and patted the bed. "Come tell us what you saw?" he asked hesitantly.

Draco stood up and slid in next to him. "Is this all right?" he asked.

"Good with me," Ron said sleepily. "Are there big boats? Can't stand little ones, I get sick."

"There are many large boats. It's got one of the biggest yacht harbors in the UK." Draco stroked Ron's back, putting him to sleep. As soon as the snoring started, he looked into the green eyes. "I'm recommending this place because they're already shielded. It's a favorite place to take an affair so it's unscryable. There can be no eavesdropping in there," he said gently. "It's the perfect place to take in some vacation time without being recognized. Of course, you'll have to do a few things to hide who you are, but that shouldn't be so hard."

Harry nodded. "Thank you. Do you have a contact or should I send an owl?"

"Send an owl, your personal one," Draco advised. "Do not let his mother know or she'll start planning a real wedding and we'll all be trapped in tons of lace." Harry snickered. "You think I'm kidding, but the people I have watching over his parents said that she's hot on the subject. Said she's trying to make the most of a bad thing." He shrugged and curled up behind Ron's back. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I can't hate anyone who's helping Ron, even if I dislike them a lot."

"That's very nice," Draco said with a smirk.

"Say more and ruin it," Harry warned.

"Of course." He put his head on Ron's back. "He is very comfortable."

"I know. We do this a lot these days. The other guys don't mind." He smiled down at Ron's back. "They've taken all this really well, even better than Ron himself has. Though Ron was more amused than anything by the guys wanking off to him."

"They did?"

Harry laughed. "All the time. He's very pretty in his female times and we get to see a lot of him during those times. Even Neville's seen more than he wanted to. Said he's trying hard not to compare Ron and Ginny." He gave Ron a squeeze. "I think she'll straighten it out in the end. She might scream but she'll make him see she's better for him." Ron mumbled something and shifted, burying his face in Draco's chest, but clinging to Harry. "I like these times the most," he admitted. "The quiet, warm ones."

"They're to be cherished because all too often the world intrudes," Draco agreed, taking Harry's hand to squeeze. "Can we work together at least?"

"Yeah, I think we can. You're trying to understand and I think that's the most important thing," Harry agreed. He closed his eyes. "Night, Draco."

"Good night, Harry," Draco said, watching them sleep until he drifted off, hand still clenching the others.

***

Dumbledore looked over as the students filed in, smiling and waving. "Welcome back," he said once everyone looked to be in their places. "I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, for now the end is near for some."

"Not near enough," one of the Slytherins called.

Dumbledore laughed. "Yes, I know, there is the anticipation of all students to go home again. Five more months," he soothed, holding up a hand. "We can persevere that long I'm sure. Now, eat and be happy." He waved a hand and the food appeared and he sat down. "I wonder what Mr. Potter is up to," he told McGonagall.

She frowned. "I'm not sure I want to know. I know that look all too well, I saw it nearly every day on his father's face." She glanced at the Slytherin table, seeing the unconcerned manner that Draco was giving off while chatting with his friends. "Either he's not involved or he's already signed off on the plan."

"The portrait in their bathroom did say there was some talking going on but he couldn't tell what," Dumbledore admitted. "It did say Harry noted he hated the war and wanted it to be over. That's all he said."

"Hopefully he isn't going to do something stupid," she said dryly. "A surprise attack?"

"He said he wasn't restarting DA because it wasn't necessary. With an adequate teachers everyone was getting proper lessons." He sipped his wine. "Perhaps we're overreacting. He could just be planning on getting some snogging time in with Mr. Weasley."

"Or he could be planning something much worse," she reminded him. He looked at her and she sighed. "We'll have to wait and see."

"Yes, we will," Dumbledore agreed, patting her on the hand. Later that night, he pounced on Severus before he could escape into his suite. "What is Mr. Malfoy planning?"

"I think he's planning on showing the irritating duo some ways to have fun," he noted dryly. "I have no idea about anything he's doing. He wouldn't tell me because he knows I'd catch him and punish them all." He crossed his arms. "What makes you think they're up to something?"

"Potter had the exact same look his father had when they had figured out how to become animagus," Dumbledore said quietly. "I thought it better that we figured it out now instead of after whatever has happened."

"I'll ask him tonight."

"Will he answer?"

"He will if he wants my protection or my help in their crazy schemes," he said dryly. Snape disappeared into his rooms, leaving the Headmaster standing there.

Dumbledore frowned, tapping his fingers on his thighs. "Well." He turned, heading to Gryffindor to talk to Harry personally. Maybe he could talk him out of doing whatever it was. He smiled as he walked in, not wanting to alarm everybody. "Harry, a word?" he asked. Harry gave him a dirty look. "Nothing terrible, my boy, simply a small discussion." He led the boy out of the house, positioning him against the wall opposite his own. "What are you and Mr. Weasley planning?"

"Nothing much. Our next trip into town mostly." He shrugged, losing his frown. "I'm trying to talk Ron into letting me buy him some more sweaters. I found one that would look stunning on him but he won't relent."

"I see." Dumbledore looked the boy over. "You do know I can tell when someone's lying?" Harry nodded. "And you know all the portraits report back to me?"

"I had noticed," Harry agreed. He leaned on the wall, pulling one foot up to rest flat against it. "So? I've nothing to hide."

"Are you sure you want to stick to that story?" Harry nodded. "Very well then. I will have to watch you harder I suppose." He started to move but Harry stopped him.

"We removed the portrait our fourth year for a reason, Headmaster. Young men often do things they don't want their teachers to know," he reminded the old man. "The young's entire purpose at our age is to get around the older generations and you should remember how very ingenious some of us are." He let the headmaster go, grinning at him. "With that said, I'm going to go get snogged within an inch of my life and then we're going to plan how to get a naked women who's not Ron into the boys' dorms." He walked inside, leaning down over Ron's head. "Dumbledore thinks we're up to something," he said quietly.

"What does he think you're up to?" Hermione asked, not looking away from her studying.

"He's not sure, just something. He doesn't know a thing, and he doesn't really remember being our age," he added with a wink for Ron, who relaxed under him. "But I did promise him I was going to be snogged within an inch of my life soon, so wanna take a walk, Ron?"

Ron snorted and shook his head. "You're a wanton beast, Potter. I should tie you down and make you beg first." He stood up though, taking his boyfriend's hand. "We're going to go punish him," he told their friend, who was trying hard not to stare in shock. "We'll be back in a few." He let Harry lead him out to the room they had used to practice Defense in their fifth year, whistling when he saw what was on Harry's mind. "Well," he said fondly, smiling at his boyfriend. "You still can't have anything."

"I only wanted to cuddle and touch," Harry pointed out, walking Ron back onto the big pile of velvet pillows and forcing him down onto them, his mouth already on Ron's neck. "If nakedness comes into it, that's all up to you, Ron. Remember, you tell me when to stop or I'm going to keep going."

"Hmm. Have to remember that, you have self control," Ron said, pushing Harry's head lower. "Try some more. You seemed to do really well before."

Harry laughed and undid the dress shirt as fast as he couldn't without tearing it.

***

Three days later found a few students missing at breakfast. McGonagall looked down at Snape. "Where might Mr. Malfoy be?" she inquired gently.

"I don't know. I thought he was already down here, his room was quiet when I walked past it," he said thoughtfully. He looked at the Gryffindor table. "Potter and Weasley?"

"Not in their beds," Dumbledore said as he walked in. "The house elves never had to make them this morning." He clapped his hands together. "Where might Misters Potter, Weasley, and Malfoy be?" he asked pleasantly. "They seem to be missing."

Hermione stood up, her movement loud in the silent hall. "I have no idea, sir. I haven't seen them since about eight last night. They were giggling about something and did not inform the rest of us." She looked at the boys, who shrugged or shook their heads. "Do you think this is serious or just Harry getting some exercise?"

Dumbledore laughed. "I'm sure they decided to play hookey for the day, nothing serious," he told her. "Thank you, Ms. Granger, five points." She nodded and sat down again. "If anyone should see those three, please tell them we'd like to see them," he said with a brighter smile. He sat down and looked at the two heads of house. "I get them first," he reminded them in his most pleasant tone of voice.

"If they live that long, you can have them," McGonagall told him, nodding as Severus made assenting noises. "How dumb can those three be? They're in no way capable of handling a real battle."

"I thought Potter and Weasley had fought in a few of them," Snape offered. Her face tightened and her lips turned white; it was the look that made many students fear her more than him, that 'scary bitch' look as most called it. "Never mind. If I see Mr. Malfoy, I'll send him to you first, Minerva. I'm sure he'd get quite a lot out of your lectures."

Dumbledore laughed. "I repeat, *I* get them first, then their heads of house." He picked up his fork and selected a pancake, dragging it over to his plate, where it was instantly fixed how he liked. "We should probably eat a lot, it's going to be a rather long day I suppose."

McGonagall snorted and Severus looked at him like he was insane. As usual.

***

Draco was led onto the car lot by a panting Ron and an interested Harry, but he saw something he wasn't sure about. "What is that?" he asked, pointing at the little roundish thing.

"Economy car," Harry said with a wave. "If I get one, I'm getting a Jetta," he said, pointing it out. "Safe, fuel efficient, but still fast and sporty."

Ron pointed at his dream car. "I want that one," he said with a goofy grin. The other men followed him over so he popped open the door. "Sit, Draco." Draco obediently sat and moaned as the leather conformed to his body. "According to the books, top speed's about three hundred kilometers an hour. Brakes on a dime. Has a kick-ass stereo system." He grinned at the salesman giving him an interested look. "My sugar daddy," he said with an impish grin. "He wanted to know what I wanted in a car."

The salesman laughed. "You certainly set your sights high, young man. That's a beaut, but she's a bit pricy."

Draco stood up and touched the warm metal. "How expensive?"

"About a hundred-ninety thousand pounds," the salesman told him.

Draco looked at Ron. "My car," he purred. Ron beamed. "You may ride in it."

"You'd give me rides?" He leaned closer. "Long, fast ones?"

Draco smirked and touched him on the lips. "I might even be persuaded to let you drive once you get your license," he said gently.

Harry cleared his throat. "We still have to find a place to park it, Draco."

"There's a wonderful garage down the street. High security." The salesman moved closer. "They're fairly inexpensive but they take care of the cars in their care." He looked from Harry to Ron to Draco. "How long have you been driving, young man?"

Draco shrugged. "Not long. Fortunately I'm a quick study. Would you show me how this one runs?"

"Of course," he said, hurrying back to get the keys. "You'll have to leave the other gentlemen here," he pointed out when he noticed how Ron was salivating.

"We'll go for a ride soon," Draco said, winking at Ron as he got into the passenger's side.

"Buckle up, sir. We don't want to break any rules, now do we?" he asked with a smile.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "If you say so." He watched how he put on the belt and mimicked it. "Can we go fast? I prefer speedy transport."

"If we can get a clear street, I can show you up to a hundred kilometers an hour. Any higher and the police are likely to stop us. But if you get them out into the country, especially on some of those unused roads, you can go flat out. 0 to eighty K's in under ten seconds," he noted proudly as he started the car.

Draco watched intently, smiling at how easy it was. Between this and the book Potter had gotten him he should be able to drive fairly well by the next day. "What levels do you shift at?" he asked.

"I listen to the engine. If it sounds like it's running high, I shift up. Of course it only goes to fifth," he explained at the longing look. He found a clear street and laid down on the gas pedal. "Watch out," he warned. "Going fast now." The car sped up more and more, and even Draco had to grab the bar on the door. "Do you like?" he asked as they slowed back down, traffic was just ahead.

"I like," he purred happily. "Ron may get his wish yet." He nodded. "Let me go to my bank. Hold it for a few hours." They went back to the dealership and he got out, putting an arm around Ron's shoulders when he jogged over. "Done," he said with a challenging smirk at Harry.

Harry snapped his fingers and pulled out two bags of money. "For my new Jetta," he said with a smirk. Draco groaned. "Want to head to the bank now or later, Draco?"

"Now," he decided, walking after Harry to watch him sign forms. This wasn't so hard. They came back later and he repeated these actions, having the cars sent to the garage until they could find a better place to store it. After they were done, Draco looked around the bleak cityscape. "Now where?"

Harry checked his watch. "We can either go check into the hotel, go eat breakfast, or go shopping for clothes." Draco's eyes lit up. "Let's check into the hotel first and then we can send everything back," Harry suggested.

"That would be prudent," Draco agreed, putting an arm around Harry's shoulders as well. "Where should we shop?"

"What do we want?" Ron asked. "Formal stuff, leather, regular jeans, shoes?"

"Yes," Draco decided, nodding. "Come along, Harry. Let's see if you can keep up." He winked at Ron. "You will not complain or I will turn you over my knee, Ron."

"Yes, Draco, but I get to talk to the girls."

"Fine." He led them out to where they could catch a cab. He wasn't quite ready to drive yet. It would take some trial and error on the dirt road at home before he was ready to show off.

***

Two nights later, Harry led Ron back into the castle, singing along with him. Draco, who was following them, managed to get everything hidden before they were found. "Filch!" Harry slurred happily, giving him a hug. "How's it hangin', dude?"

Filch shoved him off. "Dumbledore wants you three," he sneered. "Gonna get it now. They might even let me use my thumb screws again."

Ron laughed. "Screws," he giggled.

"You're drunk!" Filch accused.

"Yes, the lovely ladies at the strip club *insisted* that we continue to buy for them," Draco said, patting him on the chest. "We'll show ourselves up and see him tomorrow." He burped and kept down the alcohol by sheer force of will. "Ooh, that didn't feel good. Potter, bed," he ordered, pointing toward Gryffindor's tower. He noticed Ron was limp against Harry's side. "He all right?"

"Just 'sleep," Harry slurred, grinning at him. "Come on, you can sleep on his bed." He slung Ron over his shoulder and walked up to their tower. "Flubberbutt," he said firmly, nodding.

"Oh, it's you," the Fat Lady said, sneering at them. "You look like you're drunk. And him again?"

"The guys said we could," Harry said with a shrug, leading the way up. He got into their room unharmed by a miracle and flopped Ron onto the bed, making him wake up. "Get undressed, wanna cuddle," Harry said.

Draco shoved him face down onto the bed. "You need to cuddle the blankets, Potty. You're slacking."

Neville sat up and moved his curtains aside. "Are you drunk?" he asked in disgust.

Draco opened his robe and pulled out a large paper sack, disturbing his pocket of holding. "Here, have some. Then maybe you'll shag Ginny into the rug," he said, tossing over a bottle of sherry. "We've got plenty more." He stuffed the bag back into his pocket because he heard footsteps on the stairs. "People," he warned.

Ron stood up with a little help from Draco. "Help me get undressed?" he asked nicely, grinning at him. "I'll show you what I learned."

The door slammed open and McGonagall walked in with Filch behind her. "What is the meaning of this? Malfoy, you're not allowed in here."

"They said I could as long as I kept it rare," Draco defended. Harry giggled. He spanked him, making him yell and arch up. "Get up and strip. Then we'll do Ron."

"You will not!" McGonagall said, sounding shocked. "There will be no stripping in front of me!"

Ron beamed at her over Draco's shoulder. "I know how to do that now," he said happily. "The nice women were very happy to talk to me about girl things and what to do with the girl things, and even how to dance." His smile got brighter and sillier. "I promised I'd do it for Harry and Draco one night."

She growled, but the boys all giggled.

"We'll get you a pole and you can show everyone, Ron," Harry said, flipping onto his side and tugging on the back of Ron's pants. "Get out of those!"

"Pole," Ron giggled. "Yeah, I can do poles now," he agreed. "They taught me all sorts of neat stuff to do with poles."

Draco put a finger over his lip. "Don't spill it all yet," he whispered hoarsely. "Surprise us."

Ron hugged him hard, making him go 'oof'. "I can do that." He shimmied out of his new clothes and flopped down on top of Harry. "No fair, you're still dressed."

"We can fix that, just like we can fix that nasty hole in the wall," Draco reminded him, pulling his wand. "Fly away," he said, swooping his wand around. Harry's clothes flew off and landed on a chair, nicely folded and cleaned. He grinned at McGonagall. "My mother taught me that," he said happily, falling backwards onto Ron's bed. He did the same for his own clothes, ending up totally naked. He snuggled under the covers and sighed with pleasure. "We'll have to go back there soon," he told the couple.

"Yeah, wanna go back there," Harry agreed. "Have to win back my money at pool now that I understand it."

"You drank and gambled?" Neville asked, sounding even more shocked.

Harry put a hand in the air and wiggled it. "Played billiards. Lost fifty muggle pounds. Not much. Was very happy though. Strip pool the last few games." He sighed and closed his eyes. "Night."

"Night," Ron said against his neck. "Dream of me."

"Every night," Harry said contentedly. "Night, Draco."

"Sleep, Potter, or I'm going to show you graphically what to do with a woman the next time you get hit on by one and blush or stammer."

Harry laughed. "You already did that!"

"It was impressive, I didn't know women could scream like that in pleasure," Ron agreed.

Draco laughed. "I am good," he noted, then he closed his eyes and started to snore.

McGonagall shook her head and stormed out, going to wake the Headmaster.

"Thumbscrews, definitely the thumbscrews. Maybe even the headscrews," Filch said happily as he walked out, slamming the door behind him.

"What the bloody hell is going on!" Justin yelled.

"Not bloody yet," Ron mumbled. "Just happy and lucky. Pretty women." Both men groaned and shifted toward the sound of his voice. "Very pretty women who thought I was cute."

Justin groaned. "Someone cast a silencing charm on them," he whined. "We've got a test in Potions tomorrow." Draco cackled. "You're here too?" he asked, sitting up and pushing aside his bed curtains. He waved at Neville. "What happened?"

"They just came back and they're drunk," Dean put in.

"Plus, they had loose women and were gambling," Neville said, tossing him the bottle of sherry. "Draco pulled it out of a pocket in his robes."

The other guys got up and went to see if they could find it. They found it locked and had to settle for that single bottle, sharing it around the room. Neville even had some, and quickly got drunk. He wandered over to the girls' side and into Ginny's bed, giving her a strong hug.

"Neville?" she whispered. He kissed her. "Eww, you taste like liquor."

"Had to so I'd be brave," he explained patiently. He snuggled in, mimicking Harry's favorite position. Breasts *were* nice for napping on. "Thank you, Ginny."

"You're welcome, Neville. You rest." She stroked his back, laughing internally. She'd hear about it in the morning. "Is Ron back?" she whispered. He nodded. "Good. I want to know where he's been." He mumbled something about loose women and alcohol, but she was sure he was dreaming. Ron wouldn't do things like that.

***

Hermione drug Neville out of the bed and out of their room by his ear, dropping him in the Common Room. "You are *not* allowed to do that!" she said loudly. "You may not besmirch the girls just because you want to, Mr. Longbottom." She noticed him holding his head and smirked. "Sore head?" she asked snidely.

"Draco gave us some sherry," he said, holding his head. "Is Ginny all right?"

"I'm sure she's fine, she's still dressed. I *suggest* you go back to your room before I report you." He nodded, trudging that way. "Was Ron with him?" she demanded. Neville nodded again so she followed him, finding the guys looking at the threesome. Sometime during the night they had all drifted back to Draco's side, and were tangled up nicely. "What is going on!" she demanded. The boys parted, letting her see. She gasped and turned around. "They're naked!" It was easy enough to see since they weren't covered. She would not dwell on how hard they were or how much she missed Ron clambering over her when he passed out after sex.

"No shit!" Justin said, shoving her. "Get out of our room, before we report you!" She stomped off. "We should probably wake them up," he pointed out in a gentler tone of voice. "Before McGonagall gets up here again."

"What did they do for two days?" Dean asked in awe. "And is that a tatoo on Ron's rear? Their initials?" Everyone tipped their heads to look at it.

"I think it is," Neville said, starting to blush. He hurried into the bathroom. "I've got to talk to Ginny and apologize."

"Only apologize if it wasn't good," Justin called after him, making the other boys cackle. They heard heavy feet on the stairs and scrambled toward the bathroom themselves, though Seamus did cover the trio before ducking out.

McGonagall slammed open the door. "Get up!" she roared. One head, a blond one, lifted up and she was given the two-fingered salute before it fell back to the pillows. "What are you doing now?" she squeaked when she saw movement under the sheets.

"Going to rub off on them," Ron grumbled, shifting to get Harry's thigh. "Nice you," he said, patting him on the back. "Should sodomize you later." Harry laughed and arched back against him, making him groan. Draco swatted both of them. "Shut up, I'm getting some."

"Keep it up and we'll see how practical the knowledge those strippers gave you is," he said blearily. He looked at the door and saw a great, hulking, dark shape. "Oh, Severus," he said fondly. "Congratulate me, I own a car. It goes very fast," he purred, then he pounced Ron, making him shriek giggles. "Do not rub up against me unless you're going to finish it, tart boy. Or else we won't take you back there and I won't give you any more rides," he hissed, working himself off quickly.

"I'm not a sex toy," Harry complained. "Give me some Ron too." He stole the Ron, putting him under him to work himself off. He felt a hand come over to help and sighed in relief. "Thanks. I needed this." He started to snore as soon as he was done.

"No stamina, we'll have to fix that, Harry," Ron complained. "Draco, a hand if you please?" he pleaded. The sheet shifted and he squealed, arching up. "Thank you," he panted. "Bless you. You're very nice and good and sweet, plus nasty and reviling and revolting," he added when he saw the scowl.

"That's better. For that I should give you a short ride." He growled and bit Ron's ear, then Harry's neck. "Mine."

"Yours," Ron agreed dreamily. "Sleep again. Play later. More women?"

"We're back at the school," Draco reminded him. "That's why there are teachers staring at us."

Ron looked up and waved. "Hi. Good show?" He giggled and buried himself under Harry again, getting comfortable. "There, better," he sighed, drifting off again.

Draco gave a happy sigh and settled in to nap himself. He needed this after the last few days. They had been very busy. Ron squeaked and shifted away from his hand, waking up. "Then you should have done a healing spell like Potter did. No pain no gain," he taunted.

"Keep it up, I did learn that cockring spell," Ron reminded him. "It'll stay on until I take it off."

Draco shuddered. "Fine, what do you want? Jewelry? Horses? A new house so we don't have to fix the hole in the wall?"

"More later," Ron suggested slyly. "Sleep now, more later." He yawned and fell back asleep again.

McGonagall looked at Severus, who was scowling worse than she had ever seen him. "Your turn," she said, getting out of the way.

He flicked out his wand, sending a shower of ice over the boys.

"Not the ice dildo again!" Harry complained. "I didn't like it the last time, Draco!"

"Not me," Draco grunted. He shifted and grabbed his wand, tossing a harmless hex at the people watching them. "Go away," he said in his most deadly voice.

Snape grabbed the blond hair. "We'll see what you have to say when you face down the headmaster," he taunted, pulling him out of the bed.

Ron stood up and slugged the professor, mostly still asleep, and stole his Draco back from the stunned fingers. "Mine!" Ron growled. "Get your own walking sex encyclopedia and teacher." He snuggled between the men this time, falling back into a deeper sleep now that he was really comfortable.

McGonagall handed him her handkerchief, shaking her head. "Give them until school starts," she advised with a cruel smirk. "We'll come back and drag them through the halls in their present condition then."

"Not ashamed of my body any more," Harry said proudly, biting Draco on the shoulder. "The women said I was cute."

"What women?" McGonagall asked in disbelief. He was still a little boy, what woman would have said that?

"The strippers," Draco mumbled. "Night."

"Night."

"Pole," Ron mumbled in his sleep, then he giggled. Draco poked him. He laughed some more. Harry shut him up with a hard kiss and he found a different dream to enjoy.

The teachers shook their heads and stomped out, slamming the door.

The other boys carefully peeked out of the bathroom, then hurried to get dressed and leave for the day. Showers could be had that night, they didn't need to be caught up there.

***

Draco complained as he was drug through the school naked, but the other two were right behind him. He was shoved into a chair and glared at the man across from him.

"Headache potion?" the Headmaster asked pleasantly, if a bit loudly.

"No, not necessary," Harry said with a shrug. "Sleep cured most of it after we were so rudely awoken this morning." McGonagall made a shocked noise and he turned on her. "What part of 'I'm still a normal bloke' didn't you get?" he asked angrily. "Yeah, I needed some time off, I did what most guys my age do, I drove really fast, talked with loose women, and got kinda lit. Happier now that I've done all this?"

"You also got tattooed and managed to scare the wizarding world to death," Dumbledore said patiently. "Do you feel better, Mr. Potter?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, for now." He smirked at the professors. "Did you actually miss me or was this a worry that I'd be captured?" They went pale. "Thought so." He looked at the Headmaster. "With all due respect, this is my life. I'm still training but even *I* need time off now and again. Life can't be about training, it has to be about life." Draco clapped. "You're a lot more tolerable when you've had a few," he said snidely.

Draco reached over and patted the small happy face on Harry's chest. "Don't worry, it's the effects of the hangover."

Hagrid came in and groaned, covering his eyes. "I didn't need to see that. Harry, how could you?"

"How could I what? I'm seventeen, Hagrid!"

"Yes, you are underage, aren't you?" Dumbledore said calmly. "How did you buy alcohol?"

"My ID said I was twenty-two," Harry defended, with a gleam in his eye. "Think my dad'd be proud since it was his?" Dumbledore choked. "Anything else? I'm a bit chilly and I'd like some underwear if nothing else."

McGonagall cleared her throat. "You could very well have lost this war," she said primly. "You could also have upset your chances at being an auror."

Harry gave her a steady look. "Really?" he asked dryly. "Are you so sure they're not going to overlook a few things because they want me that badly? Because if not, I have other things I can do."

"You used magic around muggles," Dumbledore said.

Harry shook his head. "Did not! She's a wandless witch, we were comparing styles. We even wrote a paper on it."

Ron nodded. "It might need some revising, I think it's got a couple of fart jokes in there, Sir, but it is done."

Draco patted him on the shoulder. "I warned you that a quick-quote quill was a bad idea," he reminded him. He picked up the Headmaster's wand and summoned their clothes for them, then tossed the wand back so he could get dressed. "There, much better. Potter?" he asked.

"Why do I have a thong?" Harry asked, staring at it in disgust.

"You let Ron buy it for you and force you to wear it," Draco reminded him. The adults stared at him. "What? I talked him out of the leather underwear."

Ron giggled, snorting through his nose. "It was so cute, the look on his face," he laughed, curling up in his chair. Harry dropped a shirt over his lap. "Fine, I'll get dressed," he sighed, standing up to do so. "There, better?" he asked once he had on a pair of pants.

"Shirt as well," Hagrid said firmly. "Your....things may have shrunken away but you're still a girl sometimes and it's not right. I'll tell your Ma."

"Tell her, I'll probably brag about the stuff we did," Ron told him, giving him a smile. "We had fun, Hagrid. We're young men and we did what comes naturally, we released some stress."

"You had us worried," Snape hissed. "We had no idea where you were."

"Did you try to do a tracking spell?" Harry asked. He crossed his arms and looked at the teacher. "If you had you would have found us pleasantly engaged in having fun. We rode a big ferris wheel. We tripped up and down the Underground. We even ate some disgusting African cuisine I'm still not sure I want to know more about." He shuddered. "Are you sure they said that was pig, Draco?"

"As far as I could remember," he admitted. "If not, I'm very sorry for all of us." He saw Ron turning green. "You promised," he snapped. Ron choked it back down. "Thank you." He looked at Harry again. "It had to have been. What else could it have been?" He looked at his head of house again. "You never answered, did you try to track us?"

"We thought it wisest not to, in case you had been captured," Dumbledore said calmly.

Harry frowned, looking at him. "Why would it have tipped anyone off? The one we were taught is unnoticeable unless you're in a shielding building."

"Yeah, and the muggle theatre being shielded was a big surprise to me," Ron admitted. "What was the name of that movie again?"

"Warriors of Virtue," Harry said with a touch of disgust in his voice.

"Who would have thought muggles could get kangaroos to do that sort of fighting without an Imperious," Draco added, shaking his head.

"Kangaroos?" Snape asked, looking alarmed. "What did you do to him, Potter?" he growled as he advanced on the wandless boy with a hand out, ready to choke him to death. "He was a normal boy until you kidnaped him!"

"I went willingly. They promised to show me things that would make me think that the muggles are only half as bad as I thought before, which they did. They even showed me some of the bad sides so I'd have a clear view." He looked at Ron, then at Harry. "I accept," he said simply as he stood up. "I think I need a shower and some food. You should probably feed Ron as well, I think he's about asleep again." He nodded at the headmaster. "Do you want my Head Boy status revoked?" The older man shook his head. "Am I in detention?" The old man nodded. "With?"

"Me," Snape demanded. "I want them all!"

"Fine," Dumbledore said, waving a hand. "I'm sure you'll find creative uses for all of them for the next month or so." He glared at Harry. "We really were worried about you."

"Then you would have done a tracking spell, called Mrs. Weasley or the twins to see if we were there, and you would have asked us what we had gotten into instead of this mass interrogation and attempt at raising our fear of you."

"I think that's quite clear," McGonagall told him, staring at him. "Your comments last night left very little to the imagination, as did your activities this morning."

Ron looked at her. "We were only at the strip club for four hours, ma'am. We also did some shopping, took care of some necessities, and dealt with a few future issues, all while bonding closer. Which was the wish of some people," he said, first looking at Snape, then at Dumbledore. He stood up. "Right?" Dumbledore nodded. "Then why are you complaining about us having some fun? Yeah, we skipped classes. Yay. If you get us for it, you've got to get all the other students who skip by the lake and in the village. Not to mention the ones who simply hide in the storage rooms and read fantasy novels all day." He pulled on a shirt and popped his neck. "I think I need to go back to that chiropractor person. I undid all his good work on the dance floor."

"Was that the one with the pole?" McGonagall asked snidely.

Ron looked at her. "No, that was the strip club. Fortunately the ladies took pity on me because Harry told them that I was a transexual turning into a girl. They gave me all sorts of lessons on how to walk in heels, how to move my body when I get it again, things like that." He grinned. "Plus they taught me some of the easier pole tricks they use at work. Really nice women, ma'am. A few single mothers, a college student, and the wiccan we interviewed for our next defense paper. Oh," he snapped his fingers and pulled something out of Harry's pants pocket, the balled up version of their first page. "Here, for you, ma'am, since you were so worried about what we'd be learning." He took Harry's arm and walked him out of the room. "I'm famished."

"Me too," Harry agreed. "Draco?" He walked out after them. "Meet for detention tonight?"

"Of course," he said with a cocky grin. "Go soothe the frazzled tempers."

"That is one advantage of having no one to call and whine to about your behavior," Ron sighed. "How long do you think it'll take my mum and dad to get here?"

Harry laughed. "I'd be surprised if they weren't on their way now. Come on, race you to the kitchens?" He took off, Ron running after him.

"No fair, you got a head start. You're a sneaky, cheeky brat, Potter."

Draco laughed. "Yes, he is," he agreed quietly as he headed for his room. He needed a shower and to fix his hair.

***

Snape looked at the three men scrubbing his office floor. "How would you like to never fly again, Potter?" he sneered, feet up on the desk as the boys cleaned under him. "Weasley, you missed a spot."

Draco stood up and dropped the brush, pulling something out of his pocket. He held it up and then held it over the bucket of water. "Give me similar or ease off them," he warned in his nicest possible tone of voice, "or I drop the narwhal horn." Snape made a grab for it, but Draco stepped back. "I mean it. You wanted us to bond, and we did. You wanted us to get along, and we mostly do. Now either treat them like you would me, or treat us all like you do Weasley. Or else I won't show you what else we bought in town," he said suggestively, wiggling the bottle. The cork was coming loose and the Potion's Master barely caught it before the powder fell onto the floor. "Thank you."

"This doesn't get you out of trouble," Snape warned, sniffing the ingredients. "Where did you get this?"

"A Chinese herbalist near Piccadilly Circus," Ron told him. "Along with the herbal viagra, the julienned bear testicles and pancreas, the supposed unicorn horn, or even the bull's hooves in a vodka solution." He smirked at the interested look. "We had to find out where we could get all our necessary ingredients in case we implemented Harry's plan, sir."

"You're an annoying prat, Weasley," Draco warned. "That was most of our bargaining chips." Ron stood up and whispered something, making Draco go stiff. "You may not, I will not allow it. Potter, talk some sense into him."

Harry looked at Ron and Ron mouthed the suggestion again. "No," he said firmly, "I won't allow it either."

"What?" Snape drawled, complacent for now. They came bearing gifts? Then they knew they were going to get into trouble. "His blood?"

Ron beamed. "What an excellent idea, sir, but no," he sighed dramatically. "I was going to suggest that I knew where you could get virgin veela hairs." He winked and stretched again. "I'm heading for the loo. Be right back."

"I didn't dismiss you."

Ron looked at him. "What are you going to do, expel me for needing a piss?" he said with a shrug. "Yay." He walked out, going to use the bathroom.

Harry nodded. "That's a very good point. Even if Ron doesn't get into the auror training program, he's still got plenty he can do, including work with the twins," he reminded Draco.

Draco considered it. "I'd pay him to keep the house up," he offered. Harry beamed. "We'll discuss it if it has to happen."

"You found a muggle house?" Snape demanded.

Harry looked at him then shrugged. "Yeah, very nice place. Little isolated. Nice roads around it."

"You won't be able to fly there," Snape sneered.

Harry pulled out his wallet and the picture he had taken of him next to his baby. "So?" he said as he handed it over. Snape's face went pale. "I see you recognize the machine."

"Those are dangerous. People get killed in them every year." He stood up. "You won't be allowed to endanger everyone's lives by being stupid and young, Potter."

Harry looked at him, then burst out in laughing. "I'm a better driver than Draco is," he blurted out, laughing at the sour look on Draco's face. "At least it was only a pothole."

"Yes, but I was doing near two hundred at the time. Fortunately we were both capable of fixing the thing," he pouted. His poor car. He had nearly broken an axle.

Harry gave him a pat on the back. "Don't worry, it's fixed and it goes as fast as it ever did," he soothed.

Ron walked back in. "Is he pouting about his car again!" he demanded. Draco nodded, giving him a wry look. "I promise, it not only runs as good, it runs better," he soothed, clapping him on the back. "It even goes faster since we changed it to run on mostly magic instead of that inefficient gas."

"Yes, and all the potholes are fixed now thanks to Potter leaking magic," Draco said happily. He winked at his guardian. "I believe we're done for now?" he suggested.

"I think not," Snape hissed, stepping closer. "What car, boy?"

Draco pulled out his own picture and showed it off. "Pretty, isn't it?" he smirked. He took the picture back and strolled out. "I'll see you both in Defense tomorrow. Don't forget to revise the paper."

"Sure, Draco," Harry called. He took back his own picture. "Headmaster!" he called. Dumbledore came running. "I wanted you to see the picture of my baby," he said happily, showing it off.

"Harry, that's a car, not an infant," the Headmaster noted, looking at him. "Yours?"

"Mine," Harry said happily. "It goes up to 241 Kilometers an hour with good fuel efficiency and wonderful safety features," he said proudly. "We tested it out on the roads outside of London."

"You drove!" Snape yelled. "How dare you risk yourself that way!"

Harry looked at him. "You're giving me a headache," he said blandly. He looked at Dumbledore again, taking back the picture and putting it into his wallet. "It's a wonderful little car. I got it in teal with tan leather inside. A bit extra but very nice. It's also got a great sound system. Ron said he'd help me pick out music for it."

Dumbledore took Harry's arm carefully. "Come along, young one. I think we need to get you seen to." Ron started to chuckle. "You as well, Mr. Weasley," he said calmly. "Come, let's see Madam Pomfrey." He kept up a comforting stream of words all the way up, ignoring the way the boys looked at each other. "Poppy, I think Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley may have a touch of alcohol poisoning. Harry said he now owns a car."

She clucked and herded them into a room together, checking them over. "What sort of car did you get, Mr. Potter?"

"A Volkswagen Jetta, Wolfsburg Edition," he said proudly, pulling out the picture to show her. "See? It's a nice combination of speed, safety, and efficiency. Malfoy got a sports car," he confided.

Ron snickered. "Yes, and he loves the fast, shiny thing."

Madam Pomfrey stepped out. "Headmaster, if I may see Mr. Malfoy as well?" she suggested.

"Of course, I hadn't even thought he might be ill as well," he noted as he hurried away to get the poor boy. He pounded on the portrait before walking in. "Draco, my boy, I believe you should head up to the infirmary so we can take care of whatever poisoning or curse or whatever it is on you three," he said calmly. "Come along now, no arguing."

Draco groaned as he stood up.

"Are you sore? In your joints?"

"No, that was a moan of disgust," Draco noted. "You didn't like Potter's car?" He pulled out his own picture. "Mine's faster and sleeker," he said proudly. "I nearly ripped it up yesterday afternoon, but it is a beautiful ride."

Dumbledore took him by the hand. "Come along, Mr. Malfoy. I'm sure we can cure whatever ailment has befallen you," he soothed, leading him up to the infirmary also. "Here he is, Poppy, with a car of his own."

Ron looked over at him from his bed. "He wouldn't buy me one, Headmaster, tell him he's mean," he teased, winking at Draco to show he was kidding.

"I'm sure you'll get one of your very own soon enough," Dumbledore said graciously, leaving the obviously demented youths there. He ran into Severus and McGonagall in the halls, stopping them. "Minerva, there's been a small problem. Potter and Malfoy have *cars*," he said quietly, glancing around.

"Whyever for?" she asked. "They're dangerous!"

"They're young men, we thrive on danger," Snape noted, walking around them.

"No! Severus, we don't know that it's not some sort of curse. Malfoy seemed very pleased to be driving a muggle contraption of death. You can't go near them, it might be contagious and I'm not sure what it would do to you."

"Fine," Snape agreed, mentally shuddering. "You say Malfoy's enjoying muggle things?" The Headmaster nodded. "Weasley and Potter as well?" The Headmaster nodded again. "I'll have one of Malfoy's friends come up and talk to him. Whatever it was clearly came from outside." He strode off, heading for the library. He found Crabbe and pulled him up by the back of his neck. "I have a job for you," he ordered, taking him out to the hallway. "You know how Malfoy was missing?" Crabbe nodded, frowning. "They apparently went to muggle London, did some shopping, watched a movie, and bought cars."

"Cars, sir?"

"Cars. Transportation devices that go very fast and kill thousands of them each year. We need to know if this is a curse or a disease. You will talk to him and see what is going on."

He had a wonderful opening, and did what Draco had suggested earlier since he had foreseen this conversation. "Sir, if I may be so bold, we could send him home for a few days," Crabbe suggested. "Put Potter and Weasley with him to keep them out of the way? That way no one else can be contaminated? I heard Potter talking Granger into going for a ride with him earlier, and she did relent eventually. It must be contagious, Pansy was saying that she thought they were cute cars."

He shuddered, he couldn't lose any more of his students to this odd behavior. "That is a good idea. Fifty points for it," he said grudgingly. "Go up to the infirmary right now and check on them. It was bad enough they visited clubs, strippers, and a wandless witch of all things." He strode off, going to sanitize himself.

Crabbe shook his head, but he did as ordered, with only a stop to get his books first. He walked into the infirmary and went right to Draco's side. "A car?" he asked, looking shocked.

Draco beamed and showed it to him. "In first gear it goes twice as fast as my broom," he confided happily.

"You'll have to show me. Professor Snape seems to think that a weekend at your house would do you and your mates good."

"If you want to come, you may. We'll have to floo over," Draco told him, putting his picture away. "Where's my robe!" he demanded. It floated over to him. "Thank you!" He dug into the hidden pocket, coming out with a small bottle of scotch. "Want some?" he asked, handing it over.

Crabbe hissed and put it into his pocket. "Not in here!" he squeaked. "We'll get caught. Later, when we're at home."

Draco sat up. "Potter's idea," he smirked. "To fulfill needs." Crabbe's mouth opened. "He's bored."

"Oh!" Crabbe backed up a few steps. "I hope this isn't contagious," he whined. "Madam Pomfrey, they'll be moved tonight to Malfoy Manor. Professor Snape said all of them were to go, just in case it's contagious."

"I'll let them get dressed once I have the orders," she told him, giving him a smile and a discrete check. "You seem just fine. No desire for cars or strippers? Though why they would want things to take the finish off wood I don't know," she admitted.

Crabbe cleared his throat. He wouldn't tell her, he wouldn't! No matter how much Draco was smirking at him. "Professor Snape said I was to accompany them," he told her in his usual firm voice.

"That's fine, Mr. Crabbe. Sit down and talk to Mr. Malfoy for a bit longer. I'll get the orders soon most likely." She went back to her desk.

Harry moved the curtain and put a finger to his lips. "We're hiding," he hissed. Crabbe nodded and Harry laughed. "We'll show you," he promised. "Draco trusts you to keep your mouth shut."

"He's very good at it," Draco agreed. "Aren't you, Vincent?"

"Yes, Draco. You know I'd never betray you," Crabbe said quickly. He didn't like the looks of this at all but he would get his friend through this, even if it meant his own life.

Crabbe followed Draco out through this new house's front door and hissed when he saw the car. "Just get in before you make noise," Draco ordered, popping open the door with his keys. "Get in," he ordered again. "It doesn't bite."

Crabbe slid into the seat and nearly moaned as the leather molded around his back. "This is nice," he admitted.

"Shift over, I'm dying to go again."

"You won't go too fast, right?"

"I'll have to work up to go really fast," Draco told him. "Over!" Crabbe slithered over and Draco slid in, closing the door and starting the engine. "Buckle up. We learned that lesson the hard way." He did so himself, showing Crabbe how to. His bodyguard did so as well and he took off down the driveway. They headed for a little-used stretch of road, and he sped up, shifting much smoother now that he was used to it. He hit fifth and pushed down the accelerator as far as it would go, holding on as the car jumped at his command. Crabbe whimpered and held on, but this was fun! "See!" he shouted, flicking on the stereo to a hard rock station. "Fun!"

"If you say so!" Crabbe yelled back. "Can we slow down please? That car's coming on awfully fast."

"Shit, forgot we drive on the left," Draco noted as he switched lanes, just in time. He flipped off the driver and sped up again, swerving in and out of traffic. He spied the turn back toward the house. "Hold on," he yelled over the thumping music, making the sharp turn with only a bit of grass blown up under his back tires. He sped toward the house, liking this feeling a lot. He parked and turned off everything, turning to look at his very white bodyguard. "Do not get ill in my car," he warned.

Crabbe opened the door and fumbled with the belt until he fell out, heaving on the ground. "Thank you for letting me live, sir, I promise I'll be a better bodyguard in the future," he groaned.

Draco laughed. "Sissy! That was fun!"

Crabbe looked up at him. "If you say so," he said unemotionally. "Did...did Weasley talk you into this?" he asked finally.

"No, Potter did. He got a slower car," he sneered. "With more safety features. Ron likes mine best though because he appreciates fast and sleek things."

"The... car matches your personality, Draco," Crabbe assured him. "Can we go back now? I really need a drink."

"If you want," Draco sighed. "We're going out tonight, back to London." He saw the hesitant look and nearly rolled his eyes. "Potter's driving, he can fit more in his car."

"Thank you, sir," Crabbe said, following him back through the floo to Malfoy Manor. He fell onto the bar like it was his lifeline and had a few drinks until he quit shaking. Maybe Goyle was right and Weasley was enchanting them somehow to do his bidding? No, he decided, Draco was too strong willed for that. He'd never let that happen.

What would Lucius say if he knew? He was still in prison awaiting his death sentence being carried out. He would kill his son for all this, but especially for the car.

***

Snape flooed over just in time. He had found Potter's invisibility cloak where they had hidden it on their return. He looked out the window as the car started, his eyes going wide. A car, at Malfoy Manor? A Jetta from the name tag on the back. "Potter," he sneered. He cast a tracking charm on the car before it could get very far, determined to follow the boys and see what was poisoning them. Whomever it was would pay, even if he had to sneak the cause in to Lucius himself! He cast a floating charm and tethered himself to the car so he could float after them, mentally counting the occupants. They had sucked Crabbe in as well it seemed. It was no matter, he could cure four as easily as three. Then more people would take notice of him in a positive light. He floated for a long time, but soon the lights started to pick up. He wrapped the cloak tighter to himself as they started to pass more and more buildings. He recognized one about an hour later, they were going into London proper. His sneer gained force as the car parked outside a brightly lit club. "Pussycat?" he read. "Why would they go into a place that held cats?" He landed, heading inside with the next customer to open the door. What he saw made him stop and stare in shock, barely out of the flow of traffic.

This had nothing to do with cleaning up wood furniture!

There were naked women dancing around and on a gold pole!

He considered it. So much made sense now. It must be one of the women. He trailed the boys to their table, hissing at the woman who sat with them. Harlot.

Harry looked over at the blank spot, then at Draco. "Kindly hex him," he whispered. "Before he blows his cover."

Draco reached over and grabbed the cloak, taking it off the hidden man. It got bundled up beside him. "I'd transfigure if I were you," he said, glancing at the woman kissing Ron as if her life depended on it and then at the people around them.

Snape transfigured his robes into a long coat and joined them. "What is going on here?" he asked. He slapped Crabbe to force him to quit staring at the woman doing lewd things on the stage. "Stop that!"

"It's why men come here," Harry told him.

The woman smiled at him and licked her lips. "Welcome to the Pussycat Club," she purred. "You look rough; just get out of prison, honey?"

Snape pulled himself to his full height and prepared to tell her off, but Malfoy intervened.

"He's one of our teachers," Draco informed her. "Doesn't get off school grounds much." He grinned at her. "Of course we're supposed to be studying right about now, Kiana."

She laughed and waved the waiter over. "Drinks, boys?"

Harry held out three one-hundred-Pound bills. "This one's on me," he told the waiter. "Whatever our lovely hostess wants. Fosters for me. Draco? Sex on the beach?" He nodded. "Ron? The usual?" Ron nodded. "Scotch neat. Crabbe, what do you want?"

"Can I have some rum?" he asked. "I got a taste for it on my family's trip to Jamaica last year."

"Sure," the waiter said, looking at Snape. "Anything for you, sir?"

"He'll have a beer," Harry told him. "Local, light, complicated. He's a chemistry teacher." The waiter nodded and moved off. "Sir, if I may ask, what did you hope to prove?" he asked.

"I wanted to know why you were acting so strange," Snape said darkly. "Now I find you in this den of iniquity and I know it's your fault Mr. Malfoy is here."

Draco groaned. "I picked the club. This one looked cleaner than a few of the others we found. Besides, it's Ron's fault we're in here this time, sir. He wanted to come back and interview the lovely Kiana here. She's the one in our Defense paper."

Kiana looked him over. "What do you really teach, Professor?"

"Potions," he said, still glaring. "Would you mind getting off his lap?"

"I want her here," Ron defended, smiling at the lovely woman. "She's not doing anything immoral and we're rather cramped at this table." He saw where Crabbe was staring. "Kiana, dear would you teach Mr. Crabbe some etiquette about such places the way you did us?" he asked nicely.

"Sure, Ronnie." She stood up, her long gown's slit showing most of her leg. "Come on, babe. Let's go see Hilda. She'll like you," she said, holding out a hand. Crabbe climbed over the table to join her.

Draco pulled out his wallet. "Crabbe, here, you can pay me back next allowance day." Crabbe looked at the mass of bills and Draco waved him off. "Go, she wants to dance for you." He hurried away, following her orders when she told him he couldn't hold all the bills out at once to her. He looked at his guardian. "Now you know what led to us staying out for three nights. She's actually managed to make Harry quit leaking magic," he said quietly. He paused when the waiter came back. "They'll be back in a moment," he said, taking the two extra drinks. He tipped him and the waiter scurried off. "Kiana," he called, waving her drink. She strolled back to their table, her four-inch heels clicking on the wood floor. "Be gentle on him, he's a nice boy underneath it all," he encouraged.

"Of course, Dracie. I *love* your friends. You tip well." She winked and took their drinks back to Crabbe's side, teaching him how to put money into a garter and a g-string.

"She's a very nice woman," Harry put in to break the silence. Then he sipped his beer.

"You're not supposed to do that," Snape pointed out.

"Then kick my ass out," Harry said with a shrug. "Yay." He grinned. "I'd get a normal life with normal responsibilities and all that." Ron chuckled. "And you," he said, punching him on the arm. "No pole tricks tonight."

Snape looked alarmed. "You did what?"

Ron gave him a sheepish look. "It looked like fun. Trust me, it's a lot more work than those women make it look like," he explained. He sipped his own drink and grimaced. "Remind me to specify the good stuff, not the well water," he told Harry.

"Sure, Ron." He put an arm behind Ron's back. "Now that you know, you could go back and report us," Harry suggested nicely.

Snape frowned. "I'm sure more proof would be necessary to kick you out, Potter."

Ron grinned. "Staying then?"

"No, I'm bringing the Headmaster here," Snape sneered.

Harry pointed behind him. "Bathrooms are that way, so are the foggy mirrors. Go for it," he encouraged, taking another sip of his drink. He looked at Ron's chest. "Aren't you supposed to be in a downswing?" Ron nodded. "Then you've got some swelling, Ron."

Ron looked down his shirt and 'eeped'. "Shit!" he said suddenly. "It's not time yet."

"Sometimes stress can mess up the schedule," Draco said wisely. He slammed his shot and took Harry's held-out beer to chase it. "Thank you." He looked Ron over. "I think you're going to need to go shopping tonight, Ron. You're nearly at full blow now."

Ron sighed and stood up. "Fine, let me grab Kiana. Sir, we're going to have to leave for the night. Would you like to come back with us tomorrow night?" Snape growled and he shrugged. "Your loss. There's a famous dancer coming in tomorrow." He strolled over to Kiana and whispered in her ear. She looked down at his shirt and said something back. He shrugged, following her.

"I hope she dresses him well," Draco mused. Harry frowned at him. "Not in her leather outfit, Potter, get your mind out of her panties. Perhaps in that nice red silk number she was wearing last night though," he said with a grin.

"Oh, yeah, I liked that one," Harry agreed, finishing off his beer. Another dancer had come on and Crabbe was carefully sliding a bill into her g-string, right in front. "How much did you give him?"

"About fifty Pounds, all in fives." Draco smirked. "I thought we should have this discussion without him." He looked at the Professor. "You were going to call Dumbledore?"

"Yes, I am." Snape got up and walked into the back.

Draco looked at Harry. Then at the manager, who was frowning at them. He waved the waiter over. "Tell the scowling bastard that Kiana is helping our friend, who's a drag queen, to find her look," he ordered, tipping him another five. "And bring me a beer."

"And me another," Harry ordered. "Your round." Draco paid and the waiter hurried off, coming back with their drinks and change, all in ones. "Thanks." He sipped his beer, watching for Ron. When he finally showed up, he kicked Malfoy under the table as hard as he could. "The red number," he said, nodding that way.

Draco's mouth fell open. The slinky silk clung to each of Ron's curves, nearly exaggerating them to the point where everyone who looked wanted to touch them. The heels weren't helping either. Small ankle-high boots in a matching color with the same four-inch heels. He swallowed and gulped part of his beer. "Ron," he said, looking her over. "That is a stunning outfit. Think she'd let us buy it off her?"

"It's one of my old ones," Kiana admitted as she came back. "The manager wants to know if your friend paid the cover."

"I guess so," Draco said with a shrug. "Ask him when he comes out. How much was it tonight?"

"Ten." He tossed over twenty. "What a lovely present, Dracie, thank you," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "You're so good to us, even though I know it'll dry up once I've got the leaking one under control and Ron's tits tamed." Ron laughed, holding down his tits so they wouldn't bounce.

"No bra?" Harry asked, peering down the top. "Oooh, I like that," he said, looking over at Draco. "Built-in bra." Draco stood up to peer down them. "Nice, huh?"

"Very," Draco agreed. He got out of the way so Crabbe could slide back in. "Not to your liking?"

"She smelled funny and her eyes were glazed," Crabbe said miserably.

"Honey, I'll be dancing again in about thirty minutes if you want to wait and tip me," Kiana offered sweetly, giving him a small pout. He swallowed and nodded. "That's fine, you just cozy up to the stage like I showed you and you'll get one hell of a show." She looked over as Snape came out, making room for him by sitting in Draco's lap this time. "Comfy?" she asked him with a wink.

"As always. You're light as a feather, Kiana." He pulled a large bill out and stuffed it down her top. "For the dress," he whispered, then he nipped her on the ear. She swatted him but accepted it.

Snape noticed Ron had changed. "What are you wearing, Weasley?" he demanded.

Ron stood up, confident on the small points. "I look good," he noted, running a hand over his stomach, like Kiana had taught him. Snape swallowed. "Think mum'd like a picture of me in this one, Harry?"

"I think she'd adore one, probably put it on the mantle next to the one with you in that little gray dress of yours." He pulled Ron back down and against his side, making his claim known. "I don't want to have to beat up someone tonight for staring at you," he told Ron at his curious look.

"That would get you banned," Kiana agreed. She felt some magic going off nearby. "Would that be your headmaster?"

"Probably," Harry agreed. "Get him a beer," he said, handing over a large bill. "We didn't reorder for you either." She leaned over and kissed him on the tip of the nose. "Thanks." She climbed across Snape's legs, accidently-on-purpose brushing her tits against his arm, and went to get them two beers. When the white haired old man walked in she *knew* he was with Harry. She handed him the beer. "Come on, Harry's this way," she told him, walking slowly in front of him. "Okay, Ronnie, scoot onto Harry's lap for now, babe, so we can all sit around."

"I could pull over a chair," Dumbledore said kindly, doing so and sitting at the edge of the table. "Weasley, Potter, Malfoy, Crabbe," he greeting, nodding at each one in turn. "Severus," he said with a smile.

"I wanted to see if I could trace the toxin doing this to them," Severus said dryly. He nearly picked up the drink but forced himself to leave it there.

"It's safe," Harry told him. "It's how the girls make the majority of their money." He looked at the Headmaster. "Did you think we were talking about furniture too?" he asked with a small smile.

"Indeed," Dumbledore admitted as he sipped his beer. He glanced around. "I now see what was meant by the pole jokes last night as well." He saw the dancer and drank some more beer.

"She's high, sir, not that great," Crabbe informed him. "They get tips. You stick them in their panties."

"G-string, babe, panties are for off-work hours," Kiana informed him. She held out a hand. "Kiana McAllister, Wiccan."

He shook it. "Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster," he told her. He looked at Ron again. "You're off schedule," he noted.

"It happens that way sometimes," Draco reminded him. He looked at Ron. "I'm going to have to visit my father in prison soon, Weasley, want to come with me wearing that?" Ron snickered and shook his head, hugging Harry harder. "Pity. Potter, would you like to wear that dress and help me visit the shithead?"

"Maybe not the dress, but I'll gladly go and help you make fun of him," Harry offered. He pinched Ron, making him squeak. "You should go. You look stunning in that and I can only imagine Lucius' face when he sees you and realizes it's you."

"I believe you three are going to be prohibited from leaving school grounds again," Dumbledore said gently. "Aren't we?"

Harry smiled. "Yay. Kick me out." Dumbledore choked on his present drink. "If I want to sneak out, sir, you're going to have to punish all the other students who do so. Including those who visit Miss Kailynns's outside the village. Or else we can create quite a stink about how you play favorites."

Dumbledore shook his head. "Severus, those are mostly yours. Can't you stop them?"

"I've tried," Severus reminded him. "I'm about to put an anti-sex spell on the house anyway." He saw Dumbledore's look. "This is the subject of their defense paper," he told him.

"Oh. Really?" A small fairy glow appeared on the table and was quickly canceled. He looked at this odd witch. "How interesting," he said with a smile. "May I talk with you a bit?"

"Sure, as long as you don't bitch me out for paying my way through my History Masters." She slid off Draco's lap and next to him instead. "I'm also helping certain people with their leaking problem since it's more like what I do. He's a very quick study."

"Wonderful!" Dumbledore said happily. "If I could find a way around the rules, I'd bring you in to finish his training. That way you could pay your way through school doing something less...unclothed," he decided was the proper phrase in that situation.

She laughed. "I make between two hundred and six hundred a night, Headmaster. Can you beat that?" He shook his head. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to turn you down. I need the money I'm getting now, or else I can't go to school. Maybe some day, but not right now. Unfortunately," she sighed. "I'd love to quit, but the money's too good." She shrugged her impressive chest and clapped as the dancer got off the stage. "Finally." She looked at the DJ, who gave her the 'you're next, get ready' sign. "I'll be back in a few, sweeties, I've got to get ready to dance."

"Wear the blue number?" Ron asked hopefully.

She appeared to consider it. "Sure thing, Ronnie. You make sure that big one's near the stage for me." She strolled away.

"How do women walk on those little points?" Snape asked.

"It's hard, it takes a lot of balance and coordination, plus some natural grace," Ron told him, holding up a boot. "See?"

"I had seen. Put down your leg. I can tell you're not wearing underwear."

"Really?" Harry asked, running a hand up Ron's thigh. "Shoot, you are." Ron kissed him. "Thanks, Ron." He put both hands back into plain sight, but his wand was now in that former spot. He watched this new dancer. "She's someone we didn't see before," he noted.

Draco watched, critiquing her moves. "Fairly decent, but a bit tired and out of breath I think." He handed Crabbe some more money. "Save the majority of it for Kiana. She's been wonderful to us." Crabbe nodded and left, going back to sit beside the stage. "So, we're grounded to the school?" he asked.

"I should take all village trips from you as well," Dumbledore agreed. "Harry, I'll be needing your cloak." Harry opened his mouth but he held up a hand. "Just until graduation. I can't have you risking yourself. Not to get drunk and look at naked women. Also, we'll be setting all the floos in the castle to exclude you unless you've got a special token from a teacher. You as well, Mr. Weasley. We can't risk any of you three and you knew it before you left the last time." He finished off his beer. "Really, this is most unbecoming."

Harry shrugged. "We're young men, Headmaster, what did you expect?"

Dumbledore laughed. "Believe it or not, I heard that same excuse from Sirius Black once," he admitted. "He had just been caught raiding the women's changing areas during a game." He shook his head. "We can't kick you out and you know it."

Harry leaned forward. "I would appreciate being treated like everyone else, Dumbledore, and you know it. If that means that I'm keeping my father's cloak until you can stop all the others from sneaking out then so be it. I don't care about my education at the moment."

Ron put a hand on Harry's chest. "Calm down. He's trying to understand but he never had a purpose in life until he stopped Grinderwald way back when. He doesn't understand what it's like to feel like you're wrapped in cotton wool and slowly being suffocated to death." Draco nodded. "We do. We're tired of it by the way. We'd like to be normal students, one way or another. Harry's right, treat us like everyone else or don't treat us at all, sir. Favoritism is great but it gets wearing after a bit."

"Fine, we'll treat you like everyone else, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said with a smile. "In addition to your month with Professor Snape, you now have a month of detentions with Mr. Filch and are suspended for one game each." He saluted them with his mug. "Need anything else, boys?"

"Have you stopped the others yet?" Harry asked. Dumbledore shook his head. "Then you'll have to catch us this time, sir."

"You can't obliviate him, Potter," Snape said with a laugh.

Harry held up a small hourglass. "That's okay, I have another idea." Both teachers' mouths opened. "Consider this a declaration of independence, like the Yanks did," he said with a smile. "Again, family's. Not the one from the Headmaster's desk," he said with a nod toward Dumbledore. He handed it to Draco, the most unethical and the one who would best use it. "Go for it," he encouraged. Draco disappeared and walked back in a few moments later. "Done?" Draco nodded and handed it back, then handed a small pile of papers over to the Headmaster. He took his seat and went back to his beer.

"Excellent," Ron breathed when he saw what was written on there. "Our official papers. Even if we get kicked out, they can't bump us from the program."

"Plus permission slips," Draco announced, taking the time to pull out some money. He tossed Harry a new wallet. "I went for you as well, Harry. I figured you'd need it if this was going to turn into a marathon session like last night." He waved the waiter over. "Two beers, and have one waiting on Kiana when she gets off the stage," he ordered, handing over the money. The waiter nodded and bounded off, coming back with the change, which got given to him as a tip.

"Thank you, sir," he said, bowing and leaving.

Draco looked at Harry. "Do I look different?"

"No, not at all," Harry said, looking him over. "You look like the same horny bastard you were earlier when you helped us off." Ron blushed and sipped some of Draco's beer to cover it.

"Greedy bitch, if you want one, you should ask," Draco said as he took it back.

Ron batted his eyelashes at Draco. "Would you please buy me a beer, Dracie?" he asked in imitation of Kiana's purr.

"Try it in your normal voice," Draco encouraged with a smile. "And lean a bit closer, Ron."

Ron leaned over. "Please, Draco?" he asked, sounding breathless because his chest was against the edge of the table.

"Yes, I will," Draco agreed. He motioned at the waiter and pointed at Ron, getting a nod. "There, how's that?"

"Excellent." He looked at the waiter. "The good stuff and a beer," he called. The waiter nodded and made a motion with his hand. He blew a kiss at Draco. "You spoil very well."

"I try," Draco agreed. He winked and giggled at the shocked sound coming out of Snape's mouth. He had just drank some of the beer and was now spluttering. "Not to your tastes, sir?"

"It's alcoholic," Snape hissed.

"That's half the point," Harry agreed. "Not at all like butterbeers." He smiled at the Headmaster. "Is my permission slip in there as well?"

"It seems Molly was nice enough to write you one, as was Remus Lupin," he sighed. "They're allowed off school grounds as long as they're safe and in the company of an adult."

"Which I am," Draco reminded him. He smiled at Ron. "Two words. Birthday. Party." Ron shivered. "Good. Perhaps we'll hire the wonderful young woman to work it?" Ron beamed and bounced a bit.

"Ron, careful, you're going to break my wand," Harry chided, shifting a hand down to play with the wand. Ron squealed and Harry kissed him on the neck. "What did you want for your next birthday?"

"I'm sure you'll find something spectacular that won't embarrass me, Harry," Ron told him. He gave him a kiss. "Try really hard."

Harry laughed. "I'm sure we can," he agreed.

***

Ron strolled into the school, unconcerned about the clothes he was wearing or their impact on the people they passed. He did notice a few people staring at his legs, but he was in a good mood so that was fine as well, especially since Harry was walking next to him. They made it up to their room, more quietly than the last time they had come in, and walked over to the window.

"Are you drunk again?" Dean asked quietly.

Ron looked back at him, shaking his head and smiling. "We had a few with a wonderful woman, but we're not lit."

"Let's not forget seeing Snape actually drink and Dumbledore having to order another beer so he could quit staring," Harry said lightly.

"You went drinking with the Headmaster and Snape?" Neville asked, sitting up and moving his curtains out of the way. "Wow. Ron?" Ron nodded. "Where did you get that?"

"From the wonderful woman we were having that drink with," Ron said happily. "We bought if off her when we realized how good we looked." He winked at the other guys staring at them. "Well?"

"You look wonderful," Neville told him, nodding and drooling. "Can you, um, maybe let Ginny wear that a few times?"

Ron walked over to stare down at him. "I doubt my sister could wear the shoes," he said with some humor. Everyone looked at his feet and most of the guys hissed. "Kiana was really nice, she taught me how to walk in them and how to take care of my feet afterwards."

"Yeah, she suggested I rub them for you," Harry snorted.

Ron grinned at him. "You offered."

"Good point," Harry agreed, flopping onto his bed. "Yes, we went to play with our new things again."

"I thought you guys were sick," Justin asked.

"So did the Headmaster. Couldn't understand why Malfoy likes his fast, shiny car." They giggled. "So we were sent back to Malfoy Manor to 'recuperate'," he did the finger quotes, "and we snuck out to go back to the strip club."

"What sort of club makes you refinish furniture?" Neville asked. Ron leaned down and whispered in his ear. "OH!" His eyes went wide. "Can you take us this summer?" he pleaded.

"We'll have to see," Harry told him. "Dumbledore's about flabbergasted by our escaping yet again. He wants to ground us and suspend us for a game." The guys all opened their mouths. "All three of us."

"The next game's against Slytherin," Dean pointed out. "If there's not a seeker, how will we know who wins?"

Harry laughed. "Easy, we reactivate Ginny." The guys laughed.

"We may also have some detentions," Ron added for good measure. He looked down at the foot of his bed. "Wasn't my trunk here last night?" he asked.

"Ginny has it," Neville explained. "She said you were going to have to make due tomorrow because your mother needed a bunch of your stuff sent home to be mended." He licked his lips. "Aren't you supposed to be fully male right now?"

"I am," Ron agreed dryly. "For some reason I'm changing off schedule this time." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm going to sneak over and beat Ginny into finding me something to wear tomorrow." He walked out, sneaking down to the common room.

"Oh, good, you're not drunk," Hermione said dryly when she saw him. She looked over his outfit. "Gone out whoring?"

"Strip club," he admitted. "I'm changing off schedule." She groaned. "Did Ginny send all my female clothes home?" She nodded. "Can I sneak up and talk to her?"

"Go ahead. I know you won't touch another woman."

Ron strolled over and tipped her head back, kissing her gently. "Why would I want to touch another woman when I had you?" he asked quietly, grinning down at her. She hopped up and ran up the stairs crying. "Sorry," he called after her. The portrait door opened and McGonagall walked in, her robe tightly belted around her nightdress. "Morning, ma'am. I've got to talk to my sister."

"Fine. See me after you're done, Mr. Weasley," she said firmly, sitting in a chair. "Where did you get that outfit?"

"The wonderful woman we were interviewing for our defense paper."

"Yes, I heard about that place," she said, her voice dripping with ice. She watched him walk. "Her doing?" He nodded. "Very well then, I believe we'll have to have a discussion on proper female etiquette. You can not go to places like that without sullying your reputation."

"Being with two men at the same time won't do that?" he asked dryly. She glared at him, giving him her 'I am not amused' look. "Yes, ma'am, let me talk to my sister and I'll let you swear at me. She may have sent all my female clothes home." Her eyes widened. "At least I have this," he pointed out before heading up to Ginny's dormroom. He put a hand over her mouth to wake her up, putting a finger to his lips. She nodded and followed him to the hallway. "Why did mum want my clothes?" he hissed.

"She wanted to see what you had and what needed to be expanded upon," Ginny told him. "I would have told you yesterday but you were a bit out of it when you came back." She hit him on the arm. "Stupid git, Mum got told!"

"And we went back today, but didn't get drunk. We're young men, Ginny, we do stupid things. Just ask dad." He put his hands on his hips, drawing her attention to his outfit. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she finally squeaked. "Yes, I changed off schedule, which is why this topic is being discussed now. If you sent everything home all I have is this and McGonagall is going to fry my butt in a few minutes."

Ginny walked around him. "Tasteful. A bit suggestive. Whose is this?"

"Draco bought it for me off the stripper we were working with," he admitted. "We were interviewing her for a paper in Defense," he said at her disgusted look. "Besides, she taught me how to walk in these heels. I don't stomp anymore and I don't have to stare at my feet." She giggled. "Thanks for the approval."

"Just thinking about everyone's face at breakfast because that's all you have," she giggled. She hugged him. "Have fun with the big lady. I'll be listening for swearing."

"She's going to go off about my reputation," Ron said with an eye roll. "Make sure we're up for brekkie. I'm going to face down the lioness." He strutted away.

Ginny watched him walk, shaking her head. "Hermione may be panicking but there's a number of women in this school who're going try for him." She went back to her bed, still laughing. Wait until her parents heard about this one!

Ron walked down the stairs and regally sat down, making sure his skirt was in the right places. "There, all done. These are all the female clothes I have." She shuddered. "We could do the borrowed clothes thing again I guess," he pointed out. She shuddered harder. "I'll leave that up to you since you're more concerned about my body than I am."

"That much is evident," she agreed. "As you have shown by your reckless actions recently, the true adults have to be more concerned about your activities and reputation for you."

Ron leaned forward. "Professor, with all due respect, stuff it," he said quietly. "I'm eighteen. I still think like a young man. I'm not going to let myself be hampered by some stupid restrictions that have been outdated for centuries. I can wear pants, they're very comfortable no matter what the men want women to think. I can even wear a dress, now, and be comfortable in it. Though I do miss having the fabric between my legs so they don't brush together," he admitted with a smile. "Harry and I agree, we're nearly adults. If you shelter us then you're going to lose us. With what little may be left of our lives, we'd like to experience some things, possibly even lead a mostly normal life. If we don't, we're going to go insane. I'm not putting up with the crap that you layer on Ginny."

"You're still young, you need sheltering," she said calmly. She could understand what he was saying. "That is beside the point that sometimes you have to be protected so the rest of us aren't fighting in vain."

Ron laughed. "Ma'am, I doubt Harry's going to kill himself, unless you continue to put him in cottonwool. He's never had a chance to be a young boy, or a young man, and now he's doing so. The harder you press us to act like inmates, the more we're going to vent. This is all up to you." He stood up. "Now, what am I doing for clothes tomorrow?"

She looked over his outfit. "I believe that's more tasteful than you borrowing a shirt again," she admitted. "Wear that." He nodded. "We will be discussing this tomorrow. Not even you can get drunk every night."

"I only had two scotches and three beers. I'm not drunk yet," Ron told her. He giggled suddenly. "You should have seen Snape's face when he saw where we were. Then he had to drink to get the naked woman images out of his head." She burst out laughing as well. "Dumbledore even had to drink a few pints to hide his astonishment at the women dancing on the stage."

"Dancing? I thought you went somewhere to do furniture? Everyone else convinced me it must have been."

Ron giggled. "Everyone's been saying that. No, stripping in this case is a strip club. A place where women dance with little or nothing on for money." Her mouth opened and her eyes went wide. "The woman we were interviewing for the Defense paper works in there. She even proved it to Dumbledore. Makes good money but she says the job wears you down and makes you want to die some days too. Apparently muggle men have all these lines they give out to pick up women. She says it's *horrible* having to deal with them when they're drunk." McGonagall clamped her lips together. "She's a very nice woman who's working there because of the money. She said her top night was about six hundred-seventy pounds for five hours work."

McGonagall shook her head. "I had always assumed the women in those places were forced to work there by coercion." She stood up. "I want to look at this paper of yours, Mr. Weasley."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll have Harry copy it for you. It's him who's rewriting it so it's legible. She's fairly stunning. Does her magic without a wand. She only does little things but still fairly impressive. Oh, and get this, she's curing Harry's leaking problem," he said happily. "She spent those first two nights with us talking to him and he hasn't leaked yet, not even when I got propositioned earlier. Though why the bloke wanted to go for a spin on the pole with me I don't know," he said with a shrug. "Now I understand why women think men are strange."

She patted him on the shoulder. "Keep that knowledge, young man, and try to correct the species." She walked out, going to the Headmaster's office for another impromptu meeting. She looked at Severus, then at her boss. "Did you enjoy the dancing?" she asked. They both coughed and shook their heads. "Good. The boys do have a point, if we continue to try and keep them out of life, they're going to react more harshly. A bit more escaping to less harmful destinations would be the ideal solution really."

"Mr. Potter now owns a car," Snape told her.

"Really?" she asked. He nodded. "Was it the one in the picture?" He nodded again, looking smug. "Is it safe?"

"It is and he went a fairly consistent speed as well. Nothing at all like the way Mr. Crabbe described Mr. Malfoy's driving." He looked at their boss. "What shall we do?"

Dumbledore sighed. "We'll unpunish them." He held up a hand at the outraged noises the teachers were about to make. "The game against each other is the next game. Do either of you realize what will happen if we take one keeper and both seekers out of the game?"

"It'll never end," McGonagall said swiftly. "I'm sure they were going to reactivate Ginny."

"Probably, but Slytherin has no such backups. We'll have to go slowly and carefully at this point. Harry was correct in saying that he deserved to experience life, just in case he died. I'm sure Mr. Weasley feels the same?" She nodded. "Very well then, we'll watch them but let them go a bit more freely. They are not allowed to go back to that club, and they are not allowed to sneak off to London without letting us know, but as adults we really can't stop them. They have permission slips."

"Potter's not eighteen."

"I think the Ministry considers him an adult anyway," McGonagall pointed out. "The boy's been in battles, let him be, Severus. No more clubs, no more unauthorized trips to London. Anything else?" The men looked at each other then shook their heads. "Then let me bring up something. I believe that we should discuss proper female attire for Weasley," McGonagall offered. "His mother requested his sister send home all his female clothes." They opened their mouths. "It was either that red dress he's presently wearing or borrowing a shirt again."

"That dress was more decorous," Dumbledore decided.

"That's what I told him. How can he walk in those heels?" she asked. "He seems to have found some grace and ease, but still! How high are those things?"

"Four inches," Snape sighed. "That woman told us earlier." He looked at Dumbledore. "At least I don't have to have him this year," he said firmly as he stood up. "Was there anything else of note?"

"Tomorrow's probably going to be another day with many men walking around in a daze," Dumbledore reminded him. "Try to be a bit more considerate and careful with them, Severus. They really can't help it." Snape glared but left without promising anything. "Minerva, isn't tomorrow their day with you, Defense, and Hagrid?" She nodded slowly. "Warn Hagrid. He's very upset that Ron's not being a proper girl like Ginny is."

She laughed. "I don't think he ever will, Albus. That boy will be the death of my nerves yet." She walked out, leaving him there.

Dumbledore shook his head. "I don't know what to do about this," he told the paintings around his office. "Do any of you have any ideas?" They all mumbled and shook their heads. "If only Harry had been allowed a more normal upbringing," he sighed. "The boy wouldn't need to be wild now to see what it was like to have fun."

"Loose women are fun?" one male painting asked.

"You should remember, you did enough of that in your tenure as headmaster," a female one snapped back.

"Please don't fight. My head rather hurts." Dumbledore looked at Fawkes, who regurgitated. "Thank you for that," he said as he stood up. "I believe I'll turn in. Tomorrow will no doubt be trying and I'd rather be fully rested." He left them there, talking among themselves about these extraordinary events.

***

Ron walked into breakfast the next morning and waved at the whistles. He had even remembered to shave today, he was proud of himself. Ginny had attacked his hair, now he had hair that she said made him look like he can crawled out of bed in a good way whatever that meant. He sat down, nodding at the girls. "Morning."

"Did you sneak out again?" Parvati demanded.

"Yeah," he admitted with a grin. "We had a lot of fun. We didn't even get drunk this time." He winked at her and she relaxed. "I'm being good, Oh Great And Wonderful Teacher of Womanly Things." He stood up and let her see his outfit. "So? We got me it last night and it's all I have thanks to my mother and Ginny."

"How are you balancing on those?" Parvati asked, looking at the shoes.

"It's a matter of finding my center of balance and ignoring them," he told her, sitting down next to her but facing the opposite direction. "I'm sorry if you're disappointed in me, but Harry and I have decided we want to live a real life, especially if ours is going to be cut short by the war. " He hugged her gently. "Thank you for all your help, Parvati. You're an extraordinary woman, if only because you haven't blinked once at all this crap that's been going on."

She laughed. "Ron, you're not a problem and it's a great thing to correct the beginning women problems. I'm practicing for when I have a daughter of my own." She kissed him on the cheek. "Of course, you'll have to live so you can teach her to walk in heels that high." He laughed and she leaned closer. "Hermione was stupid to give you up, Ron, and we all know it. If you had been mine, you wouldn't have had to go trolling for Malfoy. There wouldn't have been a single person who would have gotten within a foot of you." He hugged her harder. "Now go eat, you'll need your strength to beat the boys off your butt since that dress does a marvelous job of highlighting your good spots." He went back to his seat, piling on the food. She looked at Hermione, who looked troubled. "You know what, I think maybe we should all bring beater clubs to class today," she told the other girls. "Just to beat the boys into submission again." The other girls laughed. "Ron, what're you going to do for clothes tomorrow?" she called.

"We're flooing mum this afternoon and I'm sure she's sending some of it back," he told her. "If not, I'm going to have to either sneak out and force Harry to buy me another outfit or I'm going to have to borrow one of his shirts." The men around them groaned. "Sorry, guys, it can't be helped this time," he reminded them. "I don't know why I changed off schedule. It's freaky, I should be in the center of my in-between spot right now." He ate a link of sausage, watching the guys at the next table drool. "It's a sausage, I don't play like that," he told one who was staring. The boy blushed and ducked his head.

Harry put a hand on his. "Mine," he said firmly. The boys quit staring and only glanced at him to watch him eat. "I can't wait until we can head home," he whispered in Ron's ear. Ron laughed and kissed him on the cheek, then wiped off the grease. "Thanks." He nibbled on some of his own food, glancing around the room. He caught Malfoy's eyes and rolled his. Malfoy licked his lips and then wiped his mouth. He picked up his books and left the room. Harry looked at Ron, who was grinning. "Meeting him?"

Ron leaned closer to him. "I think he's going to wank off," he whispered. "Crabbe's still here."

"Wonderful. I'm sure he'll enjoy thinking about what I got to see last night," he said with a wink and a squeeze to the hand he held.

Ron laughed. "I'm sure too."

***

Hagrid had been warned earlier about Ron's lack of clothes, but that dress was nearly as bad as the shirt incident, as he had taken to calling it in his head. "Ron," he said, nodding. "Want a shirt? You look chilly."

"No, I'm fine. I found a nice robe sitting on my bed this morning and it's very warm," Ron assured him, stroking the sleeve of the velvet robe he wore. It matched his outfit splendidly, making him seem much more regal than trashy in his opinion. He looked down at where Hagrid was staring and hit him on the arm. "Quit that!" Hagrid blushed. "The normal boys can't see down them!"

Hagrid shook his head. "You look like you're cold," he repeated.

"Mum had Ginny send all my girl clothes home for a while. No one's sure why I'm changing off schedule, but I am. And unless some of it comes back today, I'm stuck wearing this or begging Harry to let me borrow more of his clothes tomorrow."

Hagrid shook his head. "Girls shouldn't do things like that, Ron."

"I'm a man most of the time, Hagrid, not some delicate girl. Trust me, I can still do things that most of the guys can."

"Not in those shoes," Harry reminded him.

Hagrid looked at the shoes. "Little tiny points," he said in awe. "How do you wear those?"

"With more ease now," Ron said with a grin. "Come on, I believe that's a unicorn," he said, pointing at the creature in the distance. He walked over confidently. Malfoy had told him that his female virginity being intact meant that he could pet it and it would only seem a little shyer. Plus it would stop some of the rumors. This was a Slytherin/Gryffindor class and word would get back that he was still mostly pure. He clicked and whistled through his teeth, getting its attention. "Hello, precious one. May I pet you?" he asked quietly, moving carefully closer.

"Ron, that's a bull," Hagrid called. "He'll lunge."

"We won't have a problem," Ron said gently, putting out a hand. The unicorn stretched his neck and sniffed it. "I know, I'm partially corrupt, but not nearly as much as some." He stepped closer and the unicorn held still. He could hear the indrawn gasps. "May I pet you, wondrous one?" The bull unicorn stepped forward, resting his nose between Ron's breasts and his horn just above Ron's shoulder. "Thank you," he said as he lovingly stroked the mane. He didn't try to touch the horn, only the perfectly pure could touch those, but he found an itchy spot on the bull's neck, scratching it gently. He got some soft nuzzling and then the unicorn backed off. "Thank you, great one. You're a wonderful bull and I'm sure your herd will grow greatly under your influence and breeding." He bowed to it and backed out, smiling at the pretty beast. He felt a hand grab him and glanced back. "Hey, Crabbe." He winked at the sour look, letting him help him out of the field. "Thank you." He strolled back to Harry's side, leaning on the fence again.

"Well," Malfoy said, looking over at Ron. "That was a surprise. I notice you didn't touch the horn," he smirked.

"I haven't been that pure since I started school," Ron snorted. "You probably haven't been that pure in nearly a decade, Malfoy." Draco laughed. "Are we going to learn unicorn care today, Hagrid?"

"No, he's here for another class. You're going to be learning how to take care of dragons." He pointed in the other direction. "We thought we'd surprise you by letting your brother come up."

Ron brightened up. "Charlie? Cool!" He walked that way. "Come on, guys!" Harry and Crabbe both jogged after him, Draco not far behind but taking it more casually.

"Dragons now?" one of the Slytherin females complained.

"How did he touch a unicorn is what I want to know," another girl whined. "With two of them and he's still somewhat pure?"

Ron ran up and hugged his brother hard. "Charlie!"

"Ron?" Charlie asked, pushing Ron back to look at him. "What happened to you? Potter! What did you do to my brother!"

"It wasn't me, it was the twins," Harry said patiently. "That's why George is female sometimes too." He grinned at Ron. "It's a long story and you should ask your mother."

"Oh, we'll be talking ourselves," Charlie assured him. He looked down at Ron. Then he shook his head. "You're a girl," he said flatly.

"Not all the time," Ron admitted. Charlie's mouth flopped open. "Yeah, long story."

"I suspect it is," Charlie agreed. He swallowed and looked at Hagrid. "How long?" he squeaked.

"The beginning of school," Ron told him.

Hagrid nodded. "There have been some times when Ron's not worn good clothes too," he told him.

"I've always done my best," Ron defended. "There's been a few laundry incidents. Mum has most of my clothes right now."

"Oh, tell them what you did last night," Neville said with a grin.

"We went to a strip club," Harry told him. "Us, Snape, and Dumbledore by the end of the night."

Charlie squeaked. "You took my brother where?"

"That's how I learned how to walk in heels this high," Ron told him before moving around him. "I'll skip something to talk to you or are you staying for a bit?"

"I'm not leaving until we have a long talk," Charlie assured him. "Don't touch the dragons, they only like pure things."

"Then why can you handle them?" Ron snorted. He did the sucking/whistling/clicking noises again, getting some attention. "Wow, you're a big'ne," he said with a smile. "Yes, I'm a tasty maiden. May I pet you?" He moved closer carefully and the dragon breathed warm air on him. "Don't muss my hair!" he complained. "It took Ginny forever to get it right this morning." The dragon put a paw around Ron's back and pulled him closer, curling up around him. "I think this one's satisfied if you want to come closer," he announced.

Malfoy stepped up to the dragon. "Mine," he snarled. "Don't make me get a sword."

"Hey now!" Charlie started.

The dragon released his hold somewhat and licked Ron's bare neck, seeming to grin at Draco. "He's fine," Ron assured him. "It's not like the old days. Maidens are hard to find these days."

"Too true," Charlie muttered. "As you can see," he said a bit louder, "dragons do like Maidens but today's dragons are smart enough to realize that they're hard to come by. They won't attack the purer females, but we'd better have a male standing there to help keep them safe. Just in case." The students came closer and he enjoyed his brief stint of teaching, but at the end he grabbed Ron before he could be escorted off. "Do you have a free time today?" he asked quietly, staring at his brother's eyes.

"Yeah, after Herbology and before Transfigurations," he noted. "Second period this afternoon." Charlie nodded. "Meet you in the common room?"

Charlie smiled. "Yeah, that'd be comfy and you could get off your feet. Don't those hurt?"

"Only a little. It's much better now that I've had a few chances to wear heels. The first time was horrible." He grinned and winked. "I'm going to be late for Defense. Are you staying for lunch? I can skip Herbology."

"That'd be better," Charlie agreed. "Give us more time to catch up." He watched as Ron walked off, shaking his head. "I'll kill the twins," he muttered as he rechained his charge and walked up to the school. He ran into the Headmaster coming down the stairs. "May I use the local floo to call my mother, sir?"

"Of course. Where are you meeting your brother?"

"During lunch, in the common room."

"That's fine. Come along, we'll let you in and have lunch sent up to you. Quite an interesting adventure your brother has had this year," he noted as they walked side by side down the halls. Charlie grunted. "Didn't anyone tell you?"

"No, and I'm about to find out why."

"Could you possibly ask your mother to send Ron some more decent clothes?"

"Oh, yeah, I was going to do that too," Charlie agreed, nodding. "I hate to say it, but my baby brother looks hot in that dress. I'm feeling very weird at the moment."

Dumbledore opened the portrait for him. "I'm sure you're not alone. I noticed Fred reacting when he popped around for an afternoon of selling." He chuckled as he walked away, listening to Charlie talk to his mother.

Charlie tossed some floo powder into the fire as he got comfortable on the floor. "The Burrow." His mother's head popped up. "Mum, why does Ron have tits?"

"Now? He's off schedule," she complained.

"That was a more general question," Charlie said patiently. "Why, at all, does Ron have breasts?"

"The twins botched up something and it turned him into a changeling," she sighed. "It really is the most horrible thing, he changes back and forth and he had to go to the Malfoys for protection, along with his interest in poor Harry."

Charlie held up a finger. "Slow down, mum, I just saw Ron."

"Did he sneak out again!" she asked, outraged.

"No, I was invited to bring a dragon up for the night. I was going to pop around tonight to surprise you. Imagine my shock when I saw Ron in a black velvet robe and a slinky red silk dress, with *heels*, mum, high heels!" he noted a bit frantically.

She sighed. "Calm down, Charlie, it's not *so* bad. At least Ron's a pretty girl."

"Mother!"

She laughed. "Fine. Are you comfortable?" He nodded patiently. "You see, the twins were trying to make something to change you for a day or two," she started. "Something so boys could understand women."

Charlie nodded. "That's a good idea."

"It backfired. Ron was allergic, had a small seizure, and it sent in motion a change cycle. He moves from being both to one or the other and back around."

"Like a circle?"

"I suppose. The chart is up by his bed hopefully."

Charlie stood up and glanced around. "Which is his room?"

"Check the board," Nearly Headless Nick said, popping his head through the top of the fireplace. "The Headmaster said to tell you that Ron will be up directly after Defense. He'll send lunch up in one hour. Ron has to go back for Transfiguration because he has a practical examination today." He pulled back and disappeared.

Charlie shook his head as he walked over to the board, finding a large paper printed with a calendar and Ron's name on the top. He looked at the cycle, shaking his head slowly and thinking about it on the way back to his conversation. "That's just odd, mother."

"It is," she sighed. "He's such a pretty girl though. Recently his innate mischief senses have been guiding him."

"Mum, does this officially make him a changeling?" Charlie asked. She nodded. "You mentioned Malfoy and Harry?"

"Lucius was the person who was obsessed with changelings. He wanted to turn Draco into one. It was from one of his journals that the twins got the formula they used on George and Ron."

"George too?"

"He changes now and then, very suddenly. A very proper girl too, always in a skirt as soon as possible." Charlie nodded slowly. "We've had some problems with Ron and his wearing pants. I was going to get him a few skirts, but he said not to." She sighed again. "This is difficult, Charlie. Draco is protecting Ron, he's marked him and poor Harry."

"Marked? Like the brand?" Molly nodded and Charlie groaned. "I thought I was hallucinating," he said, leaning forward. "It's still on his neck and he was playing with a bull unicorn earlier, mother."

"Excellent," she said with a smile. "His blood has to remain pure you know, so much more powerful if it's not. We've even gotten some burial instructions from Draco. He's trying so *hard* to be a sweet dear to Ron and Harry."

"Together?" Charlie whispered, a glazed look appearing on his face.

"Oh, dear. Just you wait there, Charlie and I'll be right up," she soothed. "We'll tell you all about it." Her head disappeared but a few minutes later Molly walked out of the fire carrying a bag. "Here we are, for Ron tomorrow." She helped him up and over to a couch. "It was nice that so many boys have called and suggested that Ron have more clothes. Apparently they think he looks stunning and isn't dressing to his best effect."

"Not with the outfit he's wearing today," Charlie assured her, patting her on the hand. "Tell me details, mum. That way I can warn Bill before he comes back next summer."

"Oh, I had forgotten about him coming in," she said, frowning slightly. "I think we'll have to rearrange the house a bit. Having the threesome together in one room wouldn't be appropriate at all since they're not formally married in Arthur's eyes."

"Mother, focus," Charlie said quietly. She looked at him. "Details."

She patted him on the side of the face. "Of course, dear."

***

Ron walked into the house and smiled at his big brother, who was kicked back on a couch. "Comfy?" he asked.

"Very. Mum sent you some stuff and a large hug, though she did say you were going to have a discussion about your drinking recently." He sat up, putting his feet back onto the floor. "Apparently there have been about fifty calls to the house encouraging mum to get you clothes that showed you off better. I put the bags on your bed. She said she'd send over more stuff later after she's sorted through them for more naughty items."

"Thanks." Ron sat on the other end of the couch, curling up decorously. "Did she tell you everything?"

"Up to and including you going out with strippers," Charlie agreed dryly. "Have fun?"

"Yeah," Ron agreed, pulling the preliminary copy of the paper to him. "We interviewed her there, sorry I was a bit drunk when I was writing that."

Charlie read it quickly. "They exist?"

"They do. The teacher tried to tell us the same thing but she taught Harry a bit of something. I had his wand and Harry produced a small candleflame. Very cool effect of making half the room run for their lives in fear, but still very nice. I was allowed to leave early once he got everyone back since I obviously had more important things to do." He beamed. "What did you want to know?"

"Oh, let's start with everything," Charlie told him, looking at him. "Can you pull that up a bit?"

"Huh?" Ron looked down and adjusted the bra part. "Better?" he asked, looking back up. Charlie's eyes had glazed over. He picked up a pillow and swatted him across the face. "Stop that, you're my brother. You like amazing women with small tits, which I'm neither of."

"Good point, it's just so odd," Charlie said, shifting closer. "I'm so used to you being that brawny little dickhead most of the time."

Ron laughed. "And now I'm a more sensitive one." He leaned closer, telling him everything, especially the stuff that his mother and no one else knew, but quietly enough that none of the portraits could overhear.

***

Ron looked over as Harry opened the door. "Charlie said he'd talk to you tomorrow, he wanted to ask you a few questions." Harry grunted and laid down on his bed. "Do you know that seventy-three guys called my mother to beg her about my clothes? Pretty evenly matched, she thought, between getting me more showy stuff and getting me into normal stuff." Harry grunted again. "What's wrong?"

"Someone decided I wasn't doing my job because I was out having fun. That's not how heros are supposed to act," he mimicked a high female voice. "You're supposed to give up your life for the cause." He shuddered.

Ron slid in next to his boyfriend, giving him a hug. "It'll be okay. Even if a few don't understand what it's like to give up your life, the important ones do and we support you having a real life," he soothed. Harry liked hugs a lot, they usually calmed him down. This time he was near vibrating. "Is there more?"

"She wasn't the only one. A few of the kids in Defense said the same thing after you had been dismissed."

"Ours?"

"Not really. Mostly theirs. One of ours. Neville agreed, I should be training harder, but he didn't see the need to have me locked away from the world totally."

"Shit," Ron sighed, putting his head on the warm shoulder. "Did you get into it?"

"Not yet. I'm trying really hard not to yell and scream." He rolled onto his side, hugging Ron for all he was worth. "How did Charlie take it?"

"A glazed expression on his face and some interest. Mostly curiosity. He wanted to know what being a girl was like and did breasts really hurt like Ginny complained hers did. Things I could mostly answer. He admitted that he might have taken the potion if the twins had gotten it right. Then he told me he'd probably have tried it out within a few hours."

Harry laughed. "You would have too if you could have," he reminded him.

"I will some day, once I'm sure we'll be safe. I don't want to cause more problems by trying out new things. Once we're safely away," he soothed, stroking Harry's back. Someone knocked on the door. "We're dressed," he called. Ginny walked Draco in and waved. "Charlie said hi."

"He said he'd get to me tomorrow, after our class got the dragon lecture." She peered at the bags on the bed. "She bought you more clothes?"

"No, someone bought me clothes and had them sent to her," Ron corrected. "Seventy-three kids here snuck to a floo and called mother," he said dryly, looking at Draco. "Half wanted me to dress more sluttishly, and half wanted me to be more proper."

Draco laughed. "I'm sure they'll leave you alone soon. Potter?" Harry grunted. "She's decided she's sorry and that she won't say another word to you. She had no idea."

"I know," Harry sighed. He stretched, keeping hold of Ron. "It still bites that one of your little minions would make remarks like that."

"I know you're talking about a Slytherin female, but which one?" Ginny asked.

"Millicent," Draco told her, getting comfortable. He picked up the top, flimsy looking piece of material to look at it. "What is this?"

"A top," Ginny said firmly. "Very comfortable usually."

"It won't even fit over her breasts," Draco said, scandalized.

"I was going to wear it as a bra anyway," Ron said with a shrug. "Ginny, can you keep Neville downstairs while we talk?" She nodded. "Thank you." She took the hint and left. "Okay, what's really going on?"

"She pounced Harry while he was trying to teach the others a new hex, that light one you did on me. Said he wasn't supposed to be out having fun because he was the hero, he was supposed to suffer and die."

"And moan about not having a life because no real hero could ever have a real life outside the good fight," Harry added bitterly. "She got me again later in Transfiguration too. McGonagall stuck up for me, but she's still bitter because I'm not fighting yet."

"Did something happen to her family?" Ron asked.

Draco shook his head. "Not at all. There's been no attacks for three weeks. Not a thing has happened to set her off. We think it was the rumors about us escaping to have fun but nothing can be confirmed." He pawed through the other outfits, coming up with a very nice green silk shirt and pants outfit. "I dare you to wear this," he teased, holding it up.

"I don't have the underthings for that," Ron said with a blush. He looked at Harry again. "Should we plan on going for a walk by the lake tonight? Just to calm down?"

"I don't know," Harry sighed. "This is horrible and I don't know what's going on inside my head. It's like there's this little voice telling me to tell her exactly what it's like to be me, but you know I don't want to share that stuff." He buried his face in the nice cleavage, hanging on for dear life. "Can we skip dinner?"

"Only if you feed me some other way," Ron snorted. Harry groaned and he wiggled. "Do that again," he encouraged.

"Not right now, Ron," Harry complained. "Maybe later I'll make you squeal again."

Draco looked at Harry in alarm. "This is bad." Harry never gave up a chance to play with his favorite toys, Ron's breasts. He put down the silk outfit, reaching over to touch Harry's back. "I'll make her see sense. She's already broken down once. She really doesn't understand. Pansy stuck up for you." Harry laughed bitterly. He looked at Ron, who shook his head. "Potter, get up and get redressed. We'll eat in my rooms tonight. As much as I would love to show Ron off, we can do that some other time." Harry lifted his head to look at him. "I promise, just a quiet dinner in my rooms. Nothing expected of you and we won't even talk about the new paper topic we were given."

"What topic?" Ron asked, looking a bit worried.

"He wanted us to do a paper on what might happen if we used your blood. Explain it out for ourselves in case we were unaware of the consequences," Draco said quietly. Someone knocked on the door. "Enter!"

Justin walked in and stared at them. "Bullstrode?" he asked hesitantly. Harry nodded, putting his head back down, but no longer trying to suffocate himself in them. "She's a clueless wench, Harry, you know she doesn't understand."

"Do you?" Harry asked. Justin opened his mouth, then shook his head. "I didn't think so." He stood up, looking at the pile of clothes. He picked out the green silk shirt, a bra, panties, and a pair of black velvet pants from it. "Here, wear this, Ron. We'll eat in the Great Hall," he told Draco. "Listen for the screaming to start though. I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with this yet." He swallowed. "We'll work on the other paper topic later, when we can get into the special collections area." Both of them nodded. "Hurry up, Ron, it's nearly dinner." Ron took the things into the bathroom and he looked at Draco. "Can you stop her?"

"I'm doing my best. As I said, even Pansy's stuck up for you this time." He shrugged. "They can't understand. They've had every material need met from their first breaths, and nothing gentle given to them to sand down the rough edges." He looked Harry over. "Get dressed in something other than that. You apparently had a bloody nose earlier," he noted, making a motion toward the dark spot on Harry's chest. Harry nodded and grabbed some clothes for himself, taking them into the bathroom. "I'll see you both at dinner," he called.

"You could wait," Ron said as he walked out, tucking in the shirt. It was fixed for him, the top two buttons undone but the collar allowed to close as it wanted to. "Thanks," he said with a gentle smile.

"You do look good in my house colors," he said with a wink. "Potter?"

"Coming." He came out wearing a light blue shirt and a pair of jeans. "Come on, let's go eat. Are you changing, Draco?"

"Not yet. I'll change before we go sit in that dusty and awful room in the library," he said, following them out of the room. When they got down to the hallway, he took Ron's other side, patting her on the hand. "Was your brother impressed?"

"Very," Ron admitted with a small smile for him. "Thought that he should talk to you tomorrow after talking with Harry." Draco raised an eyebrow. "Threats to treat me right, keep me out of trouble, things like that probably," he admitted. "Charlie's the nice one, I'm more worried about what Bill's going to say."

"Bill's going to say that you're a wonderful young woman and he happens to adore you in either form," Harry said firmly. "I could tell Bill really liked you, would even if you weren't his brother sort of affection. I'm sure this won't make a lot of difference." He opened the doors to the Great Hall and let Ron step in first, ignoring the sudden silence. "We're not royalty," he pointed out at the continued quiet.

"Speak for yourself," Draco snorted. "I'm a distant cousin and a Lord, Potter."

"Oooh, long live the queen," Ron teased. Draco burst out in giggles. "Eat!" he shouted suddenly. The kids went back to their food, talking quietly with each other. He let Harry sit him down, watching as Malfoy found his own seat at his table, then accepted the food from Neville. "How did Defense go after I left?" he asked the other boy.

"Rotten. I suppose you heard?" Neville asked. Ron nodded. "I'm sorry, Harry, it slipped out."

"The truth often does," Harry retorted quietly. "It doesn't matter, we're still friends, Neville."

"It does suck," Neville told him.

"Drop it," Ron said quietly. Harry touched him on the thigh. "No, this isn't a dinner conversation, Harry. This is for later tonight, when we're in our beds and ready to get deep. For right now the only deep thing I want to talk about is the pudding bowl." The kids around them giggled nervously. "Oh, give it a rest," Ron sighed. "Yes, I heard about all of it already." They nodded and went back to their food. He glanced at Harry, who shook his head. "Want to have an impromptu picnic?" he asked quietly. Harry nodded so he filled a few plates. "Grab glasses and some juice. We'll eat on the front walk and stare at the stars." They carried their dinners outside, going to be alone for now. Let the other kids talk about them, it would die down soon enough. He settled himself against Harry's chest, holding up some meat to let him bite it. Then he ate the rest. "Better?"

"Much," Harry agreed, smiling at him. Someone coughed. "Go away, we're getting away from everyone else before we do something rash," Harry warned without looking.

"I'd say," Snape agreed. He walked out and shut the door. "You aren't to take dishes out of the Great Hall."

"I'll walk them to the kitchen when we're done," Ron told him. "This way they can gossip while they eat their dinner and we can eat without beating someone." He shifted, sitting up on his own. He picked up a spear of asparagus, licking and nipping off the tip before feeding it to Harry, earning a smile. "Better?"

"Much," Harry agreed, nodding. He looked up at Snape, who had that 'stone' look about his face. "We're not doing anything wrong, simply letting the others get it out of their systems."

"You still cannot do such things. The next thing you'll know each dinner will be a picnic. It would harm the bond the students form with each other."

"Don't you mean it'd be a bitch to find the plates?" Ron asked dryly. "We'll go back inside in a bit."

"You'll go now, Mr. Weasley or I'll start to remove points."

"I'll go where I bloody well want," Ron said firmly. "If I want to eat on the front steps then I will. If I wanted to listen to people talk about us like they're trying not to let us hear then I'd go back in there and start on my first ulcer." Harry opened his mouth so Ron plugged it the usual way, with a kiss. "No, we won't go. I like it out here. It's a bit nippy, but fairly quiet and peaceful. The Great Hall is loud and noisy even on the best days." The door opened and McGonagall walked out. "We're eating out here," he said firmly. "Harry and I don't need that stress."

"The Headmaster told me to tell you that you could this time. After the earlier incident he said it's understandable. He had almost thought you would miss the meal all together." She lifted her chin. "In the future, you are not to take plates from the Great Hall, nor are you to walk out that way. It was most rude to the other students."

"Up theirs," Harry muttered, taking a bit of roll to nibble on. "We'll be in later, ma'am," he said firmly. "When I'm more calm and in control of myself." The teachers left them. He looked at his boyfriend. "I'm not handling this very well."

"No, you're not, but I can almost guarantee that they're going to be watching us to see if we sneak off tonight," Ron pointed out. The door opened again and Ron looked at the young man standing there. "What?"

"Sir, the Headmaster said that you really should come inside again, there's a storm coming and he didn't want you to get hurt."

"Fine, we'll be in when we're done," Ron told him. The boy nodded and left. Ron looked at Harry and smiled. "Wanna send the plates back in and grab a snack later."

"He'll probably have anticipated that and tell the house elves not to let us sneak food," Harry muttered, pulling Ron closer again so he could be cuddled. "I'm not really hungry."

"We have that stash," Ron pointed out. Harry mumbled something. "You ate what?"

"The granola bars."

"That's fine, you forgot what he put into that pocket," Ron teased, poking him on the stomach. The door opened and Draco walked out with a small bag. "Tell me there's more left of the supplies than that."

"There are, even though I accidentally sent some of it through the wash. The covering we erected held." He put down the bag. "A lunch," he said with a wink. "Go hide now, before they come again." He accepted the plates, watching as they left. He shook his head, walking back inside and down to the kitchens. His old elf was standing there. "They've gone for a walk down by the lake," he told him, knowing he would hunt down Harry to keep an eye on him if he wasn't told something and Harry really didn't need that at the moment.

"Thank yous, sirs. We likes Harry Potter. Hes not hungry? Weasy too?"

"They probably are, but they're tired and upset. They'll be fine later and eat a good breakfast I'm sure." Dobby nodded, disappearing into the kitchens. Draco rolled his eyes. That boy and his version of helpers. He went to his room, going to break into the store of goodies. He quickly found the one he wanted and broke open the seal, wincing at the water that came out. Yup, that one had gotten wet. He unpacked the rest and resorted it, putting the things that were still good back together in new packs. The bad things were disposed of and the containers destroyed. When the knock came at his door, he expected it to be Potter and Weasley, but it turned out to be his guardian. "What did you want, Professor?"

"Where are they?"

"Out by the lake. Their dishes are back in the kitchen already."

"I see." He walked around the room, ignoring the contraband for now. "What are you planning for this latest paper?"

"A realistic look. I've got most of the research already. Harry's done a bit as well, you saw the results of that. I know it's important that Ron understands, I figured that's why we were given the topic." Snape nodded, looking down his nose at him. "The paper after that I'm not sure about. We could find a more specific topic or do something else." He crossed his arms. "Was there anything else, sir?"

Snape stepped closer. "You serve because I stood up for you," he said quietly.

"And I'm doing a decent enough job of it I'd say." Snape raised an eyebrow and looked directly at the two bottles of scotch. "I know from the pictures that you and my father had a much more extensive bar in the house in your own day," he said coldly. "I'm only living up to expectations." Snape backed off. "Now if you wouldn't mind, I have to arrange things for a long study session with my mates." Snape walked out, slamming the door behind him. "Git." He sat down, using his wand to hide things in unsummonable containers. A few things were kept out. The plum liqueur was kept out because Ron liked it thickened over vanilla ice cream, which was in his portable freezer. A handy invention that. He smiled at his vanity. Then he checked on the stock of chocolate and nuts. Both of them liked those.

While he waited he considered his two mates. They had come a great way since the holidays. They were carefully closer, almost close enough for him to let down his guard with them. He had seen the vulnerabilities both men carried and it saddened him in a few ways. The wizarding world was dependent upon a young man who had never had the chance to grow up or to be himself. Potter sometimes had days of deep depression and an intense desire to never be around people that he didn't already know and trust. Unfortunately he could see it was ready to come to a head. Potter had been having violent nightmares now for weeks. The nightly drinking was getting a bit heavier because it let him sleep. This problem with Millicent would only make it worse. He was going to snap and Draco sincerely hoped someone with a bit of sense was around, or someone went running for Ron. Harry wouldn't let him help him yet, but he was almost there. If this had happened in a few more weeks, things would have been fine. Now though, he wasn't sure the boy wasn't going to snap and do something stupid. Even Snape had started in on him it seemed, always onto him about his duty and the rules, which no one really followed. To be pure and upstanding. Blah. Horrid confinement for someone their age and even worse when all you knew was confinement and the cage was shrinking. Yes, something bad was going to happen. He stood up to make sure everything was in order, and that the books were still there. He wouldn't put it past someone to steal one of them. He heard the screaming and flinched. "Harry," he groaned, heading out to deal with that.

***

Harry walked into the Potion's dungeon, following the house elf's orders. "You wanted to speak to me without Ron?" he asked.

"Yes, I did." Snape walked behind him and closed the door. "Mr. Potter." He looked the boy over. Small for his age. Determined look on his face. "You cannot be allowed to continue in this manner, Mr. Potter. There is nothing that can be done to stop fate."

"I'm well aware of my future and its limited possibilities," Harry said firmly. "I don't need a lecture on taking up my responsibilities either. There's nothing that I'm not doing now."

"Really? Have you trained?"

"Yes, and I've trained others to be just as good."

"Yes, but it will be you and him, not you and all of your friends," he sneered.

"I doubt that when the time comes it's going to be a straight duel, Professor." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Most likely it's going to be a battle and even if it's not, there's going to be a need to have better trained fighters running around. To that end, I've trained a number of people and have been helping the Defense teacher now and then with the other year groups when he asks." Snape gave him that look again. "What? You think I'm not training?"

"I haven't seen any evidence of it. For some reason, your schoolwork seems to have improved this year. I would take that to mean that you have too much free time on your hands, time that could be spent in better ways than dreaming about Mr. Weasley." He sneered at the boy. "Thousands of beings look upon you and see a hero. Some of us see a scared little boy."

"And some of us could give a rat's ass," Harry interrupted. "Yeah, I'm young. Yeah, I've been scared. Yeah, I've worked through it before. Where were you when we were fighting at the Ministry, sir?" Snape stepped back. "Or even during last year's fights? Hmm?" He glanced around, then back at Snape. "You know what? I'm doing the best I can, but I'm tired of this. I train every day. People expect me to be able to work miracles and I can't. No matter how much people might want me to be something else, I'm just me. Just one guy with a few problems and a small issue with authority when it tries to constrain me to a cage. Now, if you don't mind, I have homework to do, sir."

"Oh, but I do mind. You see, you could be taking some of that time as well. You're obviously thinking about changing your mind, Potter, and I know what you've planned."

"One, you don't have a clue," Harry told him. "Two, you're being an ass." Snape opened his mouth and Harry felt something inside him snap. "Seventeen years of hell, all because I was born and my parents had the misfortune to die. What makes you think I want to save anybody?" he asked suddenly. Snape stepped away from him. "What makes you think I want someone to stare at me and pin all their hopes on me? Or even to have to add my name to their future plans. 'If Harry Potter wins, then we can go on vacation'," he mimicked.

"That is a foolish statement."

"I heard it last week," Harry said in a deadly calm voice. He stepped closer. "You know what else I heard, *sir*? That I'm the only reason some people aren't going to fight. They believe I'm going to be the only one fighting. How ironic. There'll be a battle and no one on the side of good will come but me. I'm supposed to win that way?" Snape took another step back. "Now, either back off of me or I'm going to walk out of the school right now and disappear. Hang your war. I'll show up when it's time to kill him and then disappear again."

"You can't do that. You're the one who has to lead the fight, the figurehead."

"You want it?" Harry asked. "I'll gladly give you the ability to be the figurehead." He picked up a boning knife and looked at it. "What'll it take? My blood? My skin? Some hair? Oh, I know," he said bitterly, taking the knife and using it to look at his scar. "That thing." He glared at him. "Want it? I can give you one."

"You will do no such thing!" Snape said hotly.

"I'll do what I want, you overgrown prat!" Harry shouted. "You have no idea what things go on around me and there you stand, wanting to do everything and deep down I bet you even fantasize about it being you killing him. Well, here you go," he said, digging the tip of the knife into his forehead, trying to remove the scar. Snape screamed and lunged forward, but Harry had managed to free some of the bottom edge. The knife was taken from him just as the door burst open.

"You idiot!" Draco shouted, pulling Harry over to the sink to get a cloth on the wound. He glared at his professor, who looked stunned. "You knew he was having confinement issues, felt like he was trapped in a bad horror flick. Yet you still pushed more, didn't you?" he sneered. "Come on, Harry, we'll get that fixed right up." He led the boy away, taking the shortest way to the infirmary, which took them past where Filch was chewing out a student who had been pushed into a suit of armor. He heard some gasps but ignored them. As soon as he walked him into the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey took over. "Snape pushed him, trying to make him feel guilty for not training harder," he said coldly. "He took a knife to the scar."

She nodded. "I've expected something like this for the last year. Those men will never get him to help willingly that way."

Draco pulled her away from her patient. "What do you mean?" he growled.

She shook a bit, never having seen that sort of anger in a student before. "I mean that he could leave and let us all fight this ourselves. A lot of people who know something about his upbringing expect him to walk away and never come back once he's got some freedom." She looked at the bleeding. "I need to stop that." He released her. "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. Perhaps you should get the other one?"

"Ron's probably already on his way up. We passed some students in the halls." He leaned against the wall, watching her work. "You knew?" She nodded. "Dumbledore knew?" She bit her lip and nodded again. "Snape and McGonagall?" She looked at him and nodded again. "Then they deserve to be left. Harry should leave them," he said simply.

She shook her head. "It's never that simple."

"It is. They knew they were pushing him over the edge and probably planned it this way. They deserve what they get."

"No," Harry whispered. "I still have to fight."

"No, you don't."

"I do, or he'll never die," Harry said, looking at Draco. "It'll be fine. I'm not going to be their lapdog."

Draco felt a wave of protectiveness smooth over his mind, and he knew what his new calling in life was. Just like that. In the end, it was easy to make the right decision, and he wouldn't have to hide what he really wanted to do while he did it. "No, you're not. I won't allow that. No one outside the most critical and Weasley's family will know where you're at, not at any time. We can hide you a bit and still let you have your training."

"Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome. Things like this irk me," he admitted. "It's foul and I won't have it going on around me." He snorted. "No wonder my father said that Dumbledore's seeds of destruction were in his own hands." He took Harry's hand as the nurse slowed the bleeding further. "Will there be more scarring?"

"Probably," she agreed grimly. "At least it was a clean knife." She knocked Harry out so he couldn't complain, he always complained when he was in there being treated. "I know you were volunteered, Mr. Malfoy, but I can see that you have come to at least like Mr. Potter and...Ron. You will take care of them?"

"Someone had better. Ron will take care of Harry and I'll take care of both of them," he said at her intense stare. "This should not happen."

"No, it shouldn't," she agreed. "I'll seal the wound once it stops bleeding. Put your hand over the bandage while I get some more of them." He did so and she walked away, fuming mentally at the stupidity of her boss.

***

Ron looked up as the portrait slammed open. "Harry's bleeding!" the girl sobbed, falling into Hermione's arms. "From the head."

"Bloody hell, what now?" Ron asked as he stood up. He looked at Hermione, who nodded. "I'll tell you what went on later," he announced. "It wasn't an attack, I'm sure of it." That calmed some of the younger students down, but those who had seen Harry's scar turn red because of the link he had through it still worried. "I'm sure it was nothing, probably a small accident."

"Malfoy had him," the girl sniffled.

"Then I'll go up to the infirmary. Hermione, keep everyone calm." He walked out, heading up there at a dead run. This had to be bad. If he was right, there wasn't any way to explain this. He found Draco standing guard on the sleeping Harry, a large bandage on his head. He knew instantly what had happened by the look on Draco's face. "He snapped?"

"Snape started on him about the time he spent on his homework and with you," Draco said calmly. "He tried to cut the scar off to present it to the prat." He looked at the door at the gasp. "Granger," he said politely. "Longbottom. Patil," he said with a nod. "Needed to see for yourself?"

Hermione walked up to them and looked down at him. "He looks like he's fine."

"Snape tried to make him feel bad for doing well on his homework," Draco told her. She glared at him. "Truth. He decided to take off the symbol of what made him famous and hand it over. Got the bottom half free before the knife was taken from him."

"I guess it's a good thing it wasn't his wrists," Parvati suggested lightly. Draco nodded and Ron frowned at her. "Some of us have noticed he was closing in on the snapping point," she admitted. "I had thought Dumbledore was smarter than that."

"Me as well," Neville said quietly. "Will he be fine?"

"He's fine, just with a new scar." Neville nodded but he touched Harry's sheet-covered leg to reassure himself.

"He probably won't want to see anybody for a while," Ron told them. "Go back and spread around the *truth*." They nodded and left. Ron was Harry's second in command, his word was law when it came to Harry and his conditions. Ron pulled the curtains and looked at Draco. "How bad?"

"He used a boning knife. He really did lift up the bottom half of the scar. Madam Pomfrey went to chew Snape and Dumbledore a new one for you." Ron relaxed but jumped when the curtain opened. "Vincent," Draco said in greeting.

"Was this Millie's fault?"

"It was all of them doing it," Ron told him. "Snape was the final straw though." Crabbe nodded and pulled a chair over for him. "You don't have to."

"I do. You're his mate, this is part of my job, to take care of you. Draco said so," he said firmly, pushing Ron into the chair. "Want one, Draco?"

"No, I think I'll stand. I'm letting my anger wash through the wall and drain off." He stood straighter when he heard footsteps. "Adults it sounds like." Ron snorted. "Be nice," he said with a small smirk. "We don't want to scare them with the truth, now do we?" He nodded at Crabbe to pull the drapes back further, showing the Headmaster. "Ah, the person who let it get this far," he said with mock-fondness. "Go away."

"I'll talk with Harry alone," Dumbledore told him.

"You're going nowhere near him," Ron retorted, standing up and moving the chair out of the way. "I think you and your band of rules have done enough for now. *We'll* take care of Harry. You can wait on him to get better and see if he wants to talk to you then, *sir*." He stepped back, taking Harry's hand to hold. "You rest, I'm right here." Harry's other hand searched and Draco took it. "And you were worried," he scoffed. Draco glared at him. "With all due respect, you can only make it worse, Headmaster. He doesn't need that right now. After someone telling him that he was spending too much time doing homework and not enough training, I'm not sure he should be here at all."

"He'll heal," Draco told him. "Feel lucky."

Madam Pomfrey walked over and took the Headmaster's arm, leading him away. "I will not have that boy bothered, Albus. He's much too fragile right now. You should have known better," she snapped. "You don't cage a wild animal in a dog kennel and you don't do the same with constrictions around a young person. It's the same feeling to them." She glared at him. "You may come back tomorrow, when I let him wake up." She walked off, going to look in on Harry again. "There's a small room across the hall for serious illnesses. Should we move him over there so you can have some privacy?"

"Please," Draco agreed. "It would probably be better for him at the moment."

She nodded and lifted Harry up, transferring him over with her wand. The others followed and locked the door after she was gone. She returned to the infirmary and called out the best weapon she had. A mother. "Molly Weasley," she said into her fireplace. Molly's head popped up. "Harry just snapped and tried to cut his scar off to present to Severus, Molly. I think he could use a mother, someone who saw him as a human being, not a tool." The other woman looked astonished. "Severus got onto him about spending too much time doing homework," she said bitterly. "That was only the third incident today by the gossip going around the school."

"I'll be right up," Molly told her. "Is he all right?"

"He managed to cut under the bottom half of it," Madam Pomfrey admitted. "He was totally out of it though."

"Fine. I'll come up and stay for a bit, how's that?"

"I'm sure you can stay in my rooms if Albus doesn't agree," she agreed, signing off. "I pity that man because I wouldn't want to be him at the moment, but I will not allow this to continue to harm the health of one of my patients," she told herself as she tidied up the mess from earlier. An hour later she got her first student asking for something to combat nightmares. She dosed them and sent them back to their room, but kept the medicine out. There would be many more she bet.

***

Molly Weasley walked into the Headmaster's office and up to his desk, slapping him. "How dare you hurt that boy further!" she yelled.

Arthur ran up and stopped his wife. "Albus, we're concerned about Harry's mental state," he told him more calmly. His wife struggled in his arms. "Stop it, it won't help if you lose your temper," he warned.

"I'm as concerned as you are," Dumbledore told them. "I hadn't thought he was that badly off."

"He told you he was!" Molly said, finally getting free. "He told you that he wanted a real life and you ignored him. Did you sic that girl on him today? Or Severus?" Dumbledore shook his head. "You had better believe that Harry is wanted and loved by someone, us, even if you don't!" she screamed "I won't let you hurt him further, even if I have to withdraw him from this institution myself!"

Arthur caught her again. "Albus, where is the boy?"

"He's been moved to the special cases room in the infirmary. Your son Ron is there with him, as is Mr. Malfoy," he said quietly. "Severus feels horrible."

"He's going to feel worse once I get done with him," Arthur pointed out. "May we stay?"

"If you can help calm Harry back down, I wouldn't mind in the least," Dumbledore agreed with a smile. "He does look upon you as his real family."

"The only one he has. His uncles aren't standing up for him at the moment so someone had better," Molly said angrily. "How could you? You always said you wanted what was best for him, and yet you've let him stay in that house for years. You let him be trod upon here. And now you've let him be forced into a situation where he'd rather run back and be a muggle again, forgetting everyone and everything here!"

"For someone who has the boy's best interest at heart, Albus, you do seem to be failing a tad," Arthur agreed. "He's nearly eighteen, has never had a life of his own, and the time when he might die is coming closer. Of course he acted out."

"We made allowances for that."

"And I bet you piled on the guilt as well," Molly said bitterly. "How could you go out and nearly get yourself killed...how could you run away and not tell us...how could you make plans without telling one of the responsible adults...how dare you have fun when there's training to be done. He's a boy, not a convenient tool," she spat. "Those of us fighting in the war know that he's not going to be alone."

"Molly, love, calm down. We don't need you sick," Arthur said gently. "Harry's been training a bunch of students whenever possible to at least protect themselves. He's made sure that Ron's safe and that Ginny can take care of herself as well. He's a good boy and we'll coddle him as soon as possible."

"He may be leaving the school for a few days," Dumbledore admitted. "Your son told me earlier they had planned a small trip this summer and he wanted to take it sooner. Plus, Mr. Potter now owns the means to get around on his own. He bought a car and we think a house." Molly gasped. "He's been doing a lot of planning, Molly. We were correct to remind him of his duty, but we were a bit heavy handed I admit."

"Heavy handed," she scoffed. "Heavy handed? The boy took a knife to his own forehead to get rid of the thing that marks him as your tool, Albus. You were a bit more than heavy handed." She turned and stomped off, going to check on the children.

Arthur shook his head. "She'll calm down."

"I wouldn't were I her," Dumbledore admitted. "I had no idea Severus was going to go off on him again. He really does feel terrible, Arthur."

"I'm sure he'll get over it," Arthur said, leaving to follow his wife.

Dumbledore groaned and put down his head. "How did I not notice this?"

"The boy sat in your chair and told you," the portrait of the first Headmaster reminded him. "No, you thought it was all drama, but the boy told you a few times I bet."

"Do shut up now, thank you," Dumbledore told them. He sat up again. "I did my best for everyone. Sometimes toes have to be stepped on."

"What will you do if he leaves?" the first Headmistress asked. "He can and will leave you. I've seen his type before. He'll go hide and come out for the fighting, but he'll cut himself off from the rest of the world."

"He already has," Dumbledore told them. "He refuses to associate with most everyone."

"Another thing you could have cured," the first Headmistress reminded him. "If you had kept your promise on his parents' graves and treated him like a son instead of a magical creature, you wouldn't be in this mess."

"I know. I should talk to him tomorrow." Most of the paintings made scoffing noises. "You don't think he'll listen?"

"I think it'd be best if you sent him a letter and tried to explain yourself," the Headmaster before him suggested. "There is no way that boy will talk to you tomorrow, nor will his guardians let you. If that boy walks out of that infirmary alone I'd be very careful how you treat him and watch him to do something rash. If he simply walks out with his mates, he'll be fine eventually, but his anger will cloud his sight for many years. You always were bad at emotional ties, that's why you never kept a girl in school. If only your own parents had been a bit more stiff with you, you could have the emotional control necessary for confident interaction with the students on a meaningful level."

"Thank you for the critique," Dumbledore told him.

"I'm not finished," he said firmly, snapping a ruler against the frame of the picture. "You may have done your best, but you didn't listen to the boy. You didn't see him when you nearly destroyed him in his fifth year. You didn't see him when you nearly sent him packing in his sixth year. You don't see the real him now. You have to *look* and *desire* to see the boy, Albus, not think that he's as old as you and sees the whole picture. He doesn't. He sees his part and the pressures and expectations that have been laid on his very small shoulders. What did happen to make that boy that small? He should be at least three inches taller judging by his father's height."

"His caretakers mistreated him some," Albus said thoughtfully. "He's clinging to two people, one he used to hate, and they seem to understand them."

"Those Weasleys always were an emotional and understanding lot," the last Headmaster pointed out. "Probably took him in as an extra child and gave him everything that he ever wanted. Besides, that Malfoy boy is very intuitive. Knows people. He can find their weaknesses and can figure out which buttons to push. It's good to see him using them positively for a change, but still. The manipulative bastard seems to genuinely care for him, or at least he cares enough to see him work through this. Let him guide your interaction. He's studied Potter for years now, he can see all the weaknesses he has and how best to use them if necessary. That Weasley child will help Potter in any way he can, up to and including dying for him. That's the one thing I think Malfoy underestimates, the power of affection and love. Hardly surprising considering his family of course. Still, let them be the buffer between you for a bit. Maybe they'll help you keep your promise to protect the boy and do what was best for him."

Dumbledore nodded. "I think I will. Thank you." He stood up.

"Not now, you ninny. They won't let you near him for at least another few days. The boy's much too fragile at this moment." He sniffed in disdain. "I knew I should have forced you to take up with that Wilhelmina. She would tell you the same thing and swat you to boot."

Dumbledore laughed. "That's why I didn't take up with her. She was too fond of swatting me." He sat back down and nodded at one of the paintings. "Will you check him for me?" She shook her head. "No?"

"No, they're talking it out. Molly and Arthur are having a concerned parent moment. Harry's telling them many things that he never wanted you to know." She sat down in her chair and got comfortable. "He'll talk to you when he's ready."

"I'll have to wait then. What about Severus?"

"Drunk," another painting said firmly. "You might go talk to him. He's mixing something foul."

Dumbledore stood up and headed down to the dungeons, going to stop the man from doing something stupid.

***

Harry was walked into breakfast the next Monday and the room quieted. "Leave me alone," he groaned. Most of the kids turned away and left him alone. A few ran over and gave him hugs. He smiled at them and hugged them back. Ron finally got him seated and put food on his plate for him. "Thanks, Ron," he said quietly, giving him a smile.

"That's what I do best, Harry," Ron reminded him. "I like to nurture and all that." He winked. "It means I get you to myself more often." Harry gave a light laugh and a ripple went through the crowd as everyone relaxed. "See? They're happy you're better too," he whispered, then he stole a kiss. "Eat. You have Potions today." Harry groaned but dug in.

Hermione cleared her throat. "We haven't seen Draco yet this morning. Isn't he coming to breakfast?"

"He's sore and opted to do something about that instead," Ron told her. "He said he'd see us in class later." She nodded and gave him a tentative smile. "Did my mother rip you a new one too?"

She nodded. "Very loudly, in front of the whole house," she admitted. "I realize how dumb I've been, Ron, I'm sorry."

"That's okay. Our minds are funny things. Besides, you blowing me off means I found Harry and I'm really happy now." He took Harry's hand to hold between their plates. "I don't know what I would have done without him so far this year."

"And Draco?"

"And him," Ron agreed. "He's found so much stuff about this condition of mine that I'm really in awe of him. Did you know his house has *four* libraries, all full of books?" She shook her head slowly. "He does. He's a monster in the library when he's researching."

"As long as he's interested," Harry offered. "Plus, he's got a sense of humor. Kind of dry, but it's there. He laughed at Ron's joke last night."

She smiled sadly. "Then I'm glad you're happy. Are you going to formalize your union?" Ron shrugged. "He hasn't said he wants to?"

"It's not necessary when we're wearing his marks," Harry pointed out. "It's the same thing, only without the party afterwards and the sweating beforehand." He smiled a little bit. "He thinks it should be fine."

Hermione looked down. "He's better because he has you," she told her plate, but meant it for them. "He's turned tolerable and even I can see his good side now."

Ron nudged her with his foot. "I'd tell him you said that but he'd probably hex you in the halls to keep his reputation intact." They both laughed. "Eat, Harry. You can snuggle up to Draco later."

"Sure." He took a bite of food and nibbled contentedly. "Do you think your mother really liked the house?"

"I think she adored it. She said it had charm and beauty, high praise from her. Though she did say she wanted to give you our ghoul for your attic." Harry chuckled. "She liked it, calm down. Mum and dad both thought your plan was brilliant and that you're taking very good care of me and Draco. So relax about it and enjoy what's left of this year, all right?" Harry nodded. "Good. Now about that paper," he said with a grin. "When do I get to read it?"

"Tonight. We'll hand it in tomorrow," Harry told him. "Draco's found some amazing stuff that can be done with you and he wants you to know the whole truth."

"Good, I like that," Hermione agreed. "How long is this paper?"

"It's approaching textbook length," Ron told her. "They've traced back Lucius' original sources." He winked at her. "Should at least be interesting."

"Or nightmare producing," Harry muttered. Ron gave him a hug. "I didn't need that, but okay," he agreed, lightening up some more. "We have practice today."

"I'm all for a fly soon," Ron agreed with a wink. "Want to sneak into town tonight?"

"Nah, I think we managed to sneak enough stuff in for now," Harry told him.

"You've been sneaking stuff in?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, but we can't tell that official side of you," Ron teased.

"That's right, we can only tell people who need things like Godiva and Mars bars," Harry agreed.

"Or something sweeter or more naughty," Ron finished with a catty grin. "Think you know someone like that?"

"Oh, I think I do," she agreed, smiling at him. "I won't even turn you in if you've got some of the good Godiva pieces."

Ron beamed at her. "Orange truffles?" She started to drool. "Draco liked the fruit ones so that's mostly what we brought back."

"And three of the candybars but I think we only have one left," Harry offered. "Did you know that there was a chocolate liqueur?" She shook her head. "There is. We made some wonderful milkshakes out of some last night."

"You have ice cream?" she asked, looking like she was begging.

"Only chocolate and vanilla. It's good though," Ron offered.

"How much?" she asked.

"Make a deal with Draco, it's his ice cream. The chocolates are mine," Ron told him. She nodded, patting herself down. "He's in his room under the massaging showerhead he bought."

She stood up and walked out, heading down there. She tapped politely on the door, then used her Head Girl authority to open it. "Draco?" she called. He groaned from the bathroom. She peeked in but didn't look at the shower curtain. "Ron said you have ice cream," she told him.

"Granger, out. I'm bathing," he pointed out.

"I have PMS," she told him nicely.

He walked out of the shower and grabbed a towel, walking her over to the freezer and small cooling unit. "Ice cream?" She nodded and wiped her mouth off. "Don't drool. Chocolate or vanilla?"

"Chocolate," she said happily, digging out her small amount of money. "How much?"

"Two sickles a bowl, toppings are an extra one each," he told her.

"Toppings?" she asked helplessly. He showed her the shelf with the toppings and she whimpered. "Butterscotch please?" she whimpered.

He smirked as he added a generous portion to it and took the three sickles. She took the bowl and the spoon, heading for the door. "Don't forget to put the bowl back in the kitchen when you're done," he called after her, then he licked off his messy fingers and stored everything. He was walking back to his shower when he heard the knock. "I'm naked!" he yelled.

"It's never bothered you before," Pansy yelled back.

"Enter." He put his hands on his hips and stared down at her as she walked in. "What?"

"I got a letter from my mother," she said grimly, handing it over. "The Dark Lord's spies have noticed the mark hasn't moved. He thinks you're playing games."

Draco read the letter, then nodded. He pulled out a chocolate covered spoon and handed it over. "Thank you," he said, putting the letter into his bookbag. She had left him alone with the door open. He walked over and looked around, waving the kid jogging down the hall closer. "What?" he asked patiently.

"Do you have any creme de menthe?" the boy whispered. "I want some so bad, Mr. Malfoy, sir."

Draco patted the fifth year on the head. "Come by after dinner and we'll see what we can scrounge up. It'll be five sickles because it's more illegal than everything else."

"Do you have mints, especially the chocolate mints?" he asked hopefully. "For a small glass with a few mints, I'd be willing to pay a galleon." He showed it off.

Draco patted the hand. "After dinner. As a wonderful dessert." The boy nodded and ran off. Draco made sure his door was locked before going back to his shower. "This was an excellent idea," he told himself. "The exchange rate is high right now and I'm making money. Perhaps I should buy them something delicate and fun," he told himself with a smirk. "I'm sure they'd like something fun."

***

Ron looked up from reading the paper, accepting the glass of wine with a smile. "Thank you, Draco. Did you do good business today?"

"Four glasses of creme de menth and those Andes mints Harry likes, at a galleon each. Granger bought some ice cream, as did six other girls. Plus I ran out of most of the chocolates earlier," he told them. They clapped. "We should sneak out and go shopping again."

"This weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend," Harry pointed out. "We can go then."

"That reminds me, we have something more serious to take care of this weekend," he said firmly, grabbing Pansy's letter and handing it over. "She got it this morning."

Ron read over Harry's shoulder, his mouth falling open. "The woman wants to know what we do in the bedroom?"

"Her mother's a watcher, she adores to watch people going at it," Draco noted dryly. "That's not the point. We may have to consummate this relationship. How do you feel about that?"

"Does that mean you'd have to...be in me?" Harry asked hesitantly.

Draco nodded. "For at least a second. I can make it pleasurable of course. For both of you."

"I really wanted Harry to be my first," Ron told him.

"Hence us doing it this weekend. Harry, you both have a room reserved for most of Saturday in Brighton at that little place I told you about. Check-in's about noon." Harry nodded, grinning at Ron before kissing him. He cleared his throat. "Then we'll come back here and finish it?" The guys nodded. "That's wonderful. I'll make sure I have plenty of the necessary things on hand. An extra stop on our usual route should accomplish that." He saluted them with his glass of wine. "To us?"

"To us," Harry agreed, grinning at him. He stood up and leaned down, giving him a kiss. "Thank you for helping Ron save my sanity."

"You're welcome." He smiled at Harry as he sat down between him and Ron. "Just think, this weekend we'll have quite a lot of fun."

"Yeah," Ron said happily. He scratched at a nipple. " I hate that thing."

"It's fine, Ron. It'll stop in a few, when you quit growing again," Harry soothed, leaning down to kiss that spot. Ron had a shorted male cycle this time so he was on his way back toward female again. He would be two days before fully female when they went to Brighton. The tiny breasts were adorable to him, just as tasty as the bigger versions he sprouted. He contented himself with playing for now.

Draco cleared his throat. "Let Ron finish reading."

"I can read and let him play," Ron told him. He picked up the paper and went back to his former spot, shaking his head. "I hope I never get pregnant."

"We do as well," Draco reminded him. "That would make your blood the most potent ever if you carried fully." He saw Harry's look over at him. "None have carried fully. One miscarried, one was killed while pregnant, and one had a stillbirth due to a famine going on at the time. Ron's only the fourth fertile changeling out of seven like him." He sipped his wine as Harry moved lower and Ron let him have access to his stomach. "You could borrow my bed," he pointed out. "It wouldn't be the first time you touched him in it, Harry."

"I know, but I'm enjoying this. The couch feels naughtier," he said with a small smirk. Then he bit Ron on the stomach, making him shriek. "Didn't like that?" he asked innocently between licks to the sore spot.

"Not really, even that isn't enough to make up for being bitten." Ron pushed his head off his stomach. "Explore lower."

"You're wearing pants," Harry pointed out.

"Perhaps we should take this into the bathroom," Draco suggested.

"Your tub isn't any bigger than ours," Ron reminded him.

"Ah, you've never seen the real bathroom," Draco told them as he stood up. "Come along." He pulled Ron up and led him to the closet. "It's a small opening, but it should be big enough." He moved his clothes aside and showed off the painting in there. Three dogs swimming in a pond with a few ducks. "Silverfish," he told it. It opened with a small bark and he led the way through, getting out of their way.

Harry gaped at the large pool. "This is wonderful," he breathed. "Is it warm or cold?"

"Warm thermal water," Draco said proudly. "I considered being held back a year so I wouldn't have to lose this." He pointed at the other painting. "That one leads to the traditional Head Girls' rooms." He crawled back through to get them some towels, snacks, and other things, coming back to find them floating in the water. He stopped to admire them. Ron was sleek in this phase. Harry was always small and sleek, plus he looked at home in the water. He dropped everything on the stone path and stripped himself off, wading down to join them. "A few feet further in and there's a drop-off," he warned.

"I found that already," Ron said happily. "I like to swim. I wonder if we can set up another entrance to here from the new house." He felt a finger sliding up his thigh and spread his legs for Harry. "Now you can play all you want." He felt a warm tongue touch him and nearly quit floating.

"No, stay," Draco told him, touching him gently. "I always wondered what you looked like with both."

"I'm a bit small at the moment," Ron said, blushing fiercely.

"It doesn't matter, it's still a thing of beauty." Draco laughed suddenly. "I bet if Goyle could have seen you this way, he would understand the meaning of the word enchanted."

"It is?" Harry asked, swimming over. "Wow. That's really pretty, Ron."

"The rumors say that the first one to take his female virginity will be linked with him permanently," Draco told Harry, pushing him closer. "Touch it." One shaking finger came up and Ron moaned as it traced his outer lips. "Doesn't it feel good?"

"It feels soft, yet a bit scratchy where the hair is," Harry told Ron. "This really is a wonderful thing." He moved closer, touching here and there. He noticed the shivering. "You don't want me to?"

"No, I'm enjoying it a lot," Ron admitted. "But I want somewhere more firm to be laying on at the moment. I don't want to drown when he does to me what he wand did the last time we were at the Pussycat." Harry laughed and stuck his finger inside him, making him thrash. Draco caught him. "Harry!"

"Sorry, I couldn't resist. It's slick," he told him. "Very nice."

"Come over here, there's a large, shallow shelf formation, perfect for this activity," Draco said as he pulled Ron with him. The water was only about three inches deep, they could do this and still get some of the effects of the water. "Touch him now, Harry," he encouraged. "I want to watch his reactions."

Harry gently touched Ron, leaning down to kiss him. Ron mumbled something. "What?" he asked with a grin.

"There's supposed to be a nub, find it," Ron encouraged. "It's supposed to be great."

"Right now, it's your penis. The penis and the clit are the same organ with the same amount of nerve endings," Draco told him, touching what was left of it gently. "We are shielded in here," he said, smiling at Harry. Who shivered and leaned down to lick across Ron's nipple while staring at him. "Pay attention before Ron swats you again," he commanded. "You'll see more than enough of me soon enough," he promised.

Harry explored the soft body, making Ron groan and writhe underneath him. "Can I lick there?" he asked. Draco and Ron both nodded. "Thank you." He started by licking the small penis, getting a taste of it. Then he went lower and licked there as well. Ron pushed up against him that time. "How do I do this?"

"What do you want to do?" Ron asked.

"I want to dive in and never come back out," Harry admitted.

"Start gentle and work you way up," Draco encouraged gently . "Do what you would like done to you if you were on the bottom. I'll judge what I should do to you by what you do to him." Harry nodded and dove back down to get a better taste of everything, licking and tasting all he wanted. Ron gasped something and arched up under Harry's inexperienced tongue so he lent a helping hand and mouth on the firm breast nearest him. Ron came with a long, drawn out moan and went limp. "Very nice," Draco told him. "Harry?" Harry looked up and licked his lips off so Draco thoughtfully kissed him to finish cleaning him up. "Is he still slick?" Harry nodded hard. "Then line yourself up and push in *gently*. There will be a small barrier but you'll be pushing past it." He took Ron's hands to hold, stroking the backs with his thumbs as Harry broke the barrier. "Good," he encouraged. He saw the fast stroking. "Slow down," he snapped. "Slow and gentle."

"I can't hold on," Harry complained.

Draco pulled him back and held him captive until he quit shaking. "You always want to go slowly unless your lover asks for it otherwise," he whispered in his ear. "A considerate lover gets laid more often." Harry nodded so he let him go, watching as he went slowly into Ron's body this time, being as gentle as he could. "Very nice." He waded over to their things, bringing back the lube he had decided to bring. He slicked his fingers and then touched Ron's other hole, making him arch up. "Gently," he soothed. "It'll have to happen sometime and it's better to be prepared for a while."

Harry came with a groan and went limp across Ron's chest. "Give me mo and I'll help you along again," he promised.

Draco leaned down to lick at Ron's cock, making him groan and come. "Done. Ron?"

"Please," Ron agreed, rolling the both of them onto his side. He felt the entrance into his first hole and his eyes widened. "Both?" he hissed.

"Both and everywhere else," Draco promised, whispering in his ear. He went slowly, stroking gently as he learned this new body. He knew this meant that the marks could never be removed, but he did like them quite a lot. He felt a twinge of guilt. "Ron, Harry, if I flood into you, then you're mine permanently. The marks can't be removed," he warned them. "You're mine." They nodded and kissed each other, then him. "Good." He went a little faster, stroking Ron lightly. He felt some precum dripping out and noticed the mark wiggling, so decided to pull out. "Relax," he warned, adding more lube to himself. He slowly slid into the back hole, gently soothing Ron's heaving body. "Just relax and it won't hurt."

"Do more now," Ron ordered through gritted teeth.

Draco finished sliding into him and paused but Ron shifted, starting to ride him. "That's for next time," he teased, starting off but still going gently. He knew how fragile this system was. Ron started to pant, grabbing Harry's hands to squeeze. "Take him again," he encouraged Harry. He positioned Ron just right and shared his this with his lovers. Harry and Ron both moaned at the feelings of being together this way. "Whenever you want," he swore. He moved a little faster and felt Harry synch himself up with his movements. Soon he was going full-tilt and Ron was howling with pleasure. "Hang on," he warned. He thrust a few more times and came hard, moaning Ron's name.

"More!" Ron demanded. Harry pulled out and gently licked him again, but Ron forced his mouth open and inserted himself. "Suck." Harry did so, staring up at him. Ron came quickly and passed out.

Draco smirked. "Very well done. We'll let him lay there," he said as he pulled out, rolling Ron onto his back. He looked at the mark, watching as it wiggled down to Ron's stomach. "Hmm." He smiled at Harry. "Give me a few moments to clean off and then we'll work on your initiation." Harry swallowed so Draco gave him a stunning kiss. "Help me clean up, Harry," he encouraged, moving to the edge of the shelf. He felt the tentative touches. "Go ahead. Ron's got one that's nearly the same size when he's fully male."

"He grew more since this started," Harry admitted. "I peeked last year and I noticed it last month." He helped him clean off. "Draco, does it hurt?"

"Not if we're careful," Draco soothed, stroking his back. He had never worked so hard at making it good for his lovers, and he found he enjoyed this part. "Lay across my lap." Harry carefully spread out on him and he grabbed the lube again, slicking up a finger. "This will feel a bit odd. Just relax." He slicked up the outside and slid into the virgin hole for the first time. Harry moaned. "I see you like it?" he asked as he hit the other guy's prostate. Harry nodded and splashed around as Draco added two fingers. He felt himself start to get hard and cheered mentally. Usually he took a half-hour to recover, but this time would be fine, as long as he sent some seed into Harry's body. He took his time so by the time he was done, Harry was humping his leg. "Do you want to crawl on and control or not?" he asked.

"Not," Harry said quietly, not looking at him. Draco forced his face around. "I'm not sure about this."

"It won't happen again until you're ready," he promised with a smile. "I'll hog Ron until then." He patted the firm backside. "On your hands and knees, Harry." Harry shifted off him and got into the desired position, far enough away from the edge so Draco could comfortably get behind him. "Good boy, Harry," he soothed as he started to push in. "Relax," he warned. His head popped in and he groaned. Harry must be clinched. Draco reached around to stroke him, making him go limp. He pushed in steadily, burying himself in the warm body. "Ready?" Harry nodded, biting his lip. "You can scream and yell, no one will hear," he teased. He started to move and pushed back in. Harry moved back against him. "Move back on the in-stroke," he encouraged. Harry got it right this time and together they moved for quite a while. He felt himself ready to blow and sighed in relief, pushing them a bit faster. Harry whimpered as he came and Draco released due to the insistent pressure. He felt the few drops fall off him and watched the mark. When it only wiggled he squeezed himself, sending more out. It wiggled harder. He did it again and this time the mark moved down to Harry's stomach. "There," he said. "All mine now."

"Does that mean we can do it to you?" Ron asked quietly, watching them.

"If you want," Draco agreed. "I haven't been taken many times, but you can certainly talk me into it." He pulled out and cleaned them both up, making sure Harry wasn't going to drown before he got back to Ron's side. "Go lay on the breasts," he said quietly. Harry crawled over and flopped down on top of Ron, making him groan. "Gently, Potter." He joined them, tossing away the worthless tube of lubricant. "Did you want to?"

"Sometime soon," Ron agreed with a smile. "Mum asked around and found our family's mark," he said casually.

"Really?" Draco asked, smiling at him. "Was that a hint, Ron?"

"Definitely, but we'd have to wait. It's upstairs in my trunk."

"It's in my bookbag," Harry admitted. "I wanted to ask you to do me too, Ron," he said, lifting his head. "Would you mark me as well?"

Ron sniffled and hugged him tightly. "I'd adore it, Harry. You know I love you." Harry nodded and clung to him. "Wand?"

"I'll get it. Which pocket?"

"That small zipped one," Harry told him. "Inside back." Draco nodded and walked out, going to retrieve the ring. He looked at Ron. "You're going to do him too?"

"I am," Ron agreed, stealing a fast kiss. "I want it to be mutual but your family doesn't have one." He pinched Harry on the nipple, making it stand up. "Think you could go again tonight, Potter?"

Harry laughed and dove down to lick Ron into hardness. "We can always do this until you're ready." He looked toward the doorway. "I wonder what's taking Draco so long?"

"I think I hear a voice," Ron said quietly. He stood up and walked over to the doorway, looking through the viewing holes on the duck. He groaned quietly as he backed off, covering Harry's mouth. "It's Dumbledore and he looked upset," he whispered. "We'll have to wait in here." Harry pointed at the other portrait and Ron shook his head. "No, we'll wait." They waited against the wall until Draco came back. "Is everything all right?"

"Dumbledore thought he felt a power flux," Draco admitted, handing over the ring. "I told him we had taught you how to touch yourself." He locked the portrait firmly. "There, now we won't be bothered." He went to his knees in front of Ron. "Go ahead. Do you know how?"

"You twist the crest and blow on it," Ron said as he did so, then he touched a spot approximately where his had been. "Here?"

"There's fine," Draco agreed. "It'll show if we don't consummate it the other way."

"Can we do that when I'm so shrunken?" Ron asked as he laid the white hot crest against the pale skin. He winced at the burning noise and lifted it off. "Fully there," he announced. "Harry?" Harry mimicked Draco but he decided to lick Ron's cock to get him hard while the mark went on him. He winced a bit but that was fine. "Who's first?"

"I think it's only fair that you take him first since he took yours," Draco said casually. "Besides, he's still lubed." He held up the other thing he had brought in. "It's the best I can do on short notice."

"Fine, can you get yourself ready?" Ron asked as he pulled Harry up and turned him to face against the wall. "I always wanted to do it this way," he whispered in Harry's ear.

"Don't compare me to her, Ron," Harry complained.

"I'm not, simply stating a fact. Yeah, I worked out a few fantasies but she never seemed to enjoy it like I did." He slid into the still-slick hole, making them both groan. "Damn, I wish I was in full male mode," he complained as he started to move. He felt a wet finger touch him and spread his legs. "Tongue, Draco, not finger," he pleaded. A tongue wet him and he thrust harder. "Oh, that's so nice," he said, pushing harder. "Oh. Oh! OH! OOOOHHH!" he said, coming quickly. "Damn, that was excellent," he panted, turning around to face Draco. He grinned. "On your knees, my new possession," he teased with a smirk. Draco wiggled his butt and Ron fell onto it like there was no tomorrow. "Good boy, Draco," he encouraged as he slid in. "It's a good thing I'm not at full girth or we'd be here all night," he noted as he started to push himself. He came quickly and sat down, smirking at the men who were now his. "Come here, Harry, I can take care of that for you," he whispered. Harry shifted closer and Ron latched on, sucking hard. Harry groaned and went limp, landing on the walkway as his eyes rolled back into his head.

"That's very good," Draco told him. "I've never seen anyone pass out during, only afterwards." Harry came with a groan and he found himself in a similar position, getting his brains sucked out. "Strong suction," he hissed, but he liked it a little rough. Ron breached him to play in his rear and he came with a drawn-out moan. "We'll have to do this again soon," he pleaded, resting against Ron's chest. "More?"

"I doubt I could do more. The last one during the first round was only those neat contractions." He felt a finger touch him and spread his legs. "Oooh," he said, smiling brightly as Harry and Draco both worked at making him join them in unconsciousness.

***

The next morning Neville caught them first. He squealed and pointed at Harry's neck. Ron looked and smirked, then shrugged. Neville beamed and thumped him hard on the back, making him move. "Thanks."

"You're really going to stay with them?" Hermione asked quietly.

"We are," Ron agreed, kissing her on the cheek. "How did you like your ice cream?"

"It was wonderful, thank you, Ron." She smiled at Harry. "Congratulations. I'll stop by and see your other husband to tell him the same later." Harry hugged her. "I am happy for you," she reminded them. "Now eat, I'm sure you're going to have a busy night tonight." Both boys blushed but they did eat hearty breakfasts.

***

At the Slytherin table the students looked from the loud people on the other side of the hall to Draco and back. He gave them a tolerant smile and sipped his morning juice. "What?"

"Did you...move them?" Pansy asked finally.

"Go see for yourself. It was your mother's letter that led to it," he told her with a small smirk.

Crabbe walked in and sat on Draco's left, his usual spot. Then he looked at his boss. "Did they give you a hickey?" he asked, pointing at the red spot. Draco frowned at him and he grinned. "They did, didn't they?" he teased.

"I bet one of them sucks in their sleep, Draco would never allow himself to be marked," Pansy told him.

Draco snorted. "Not like that," he agreed. He touched the spot on his neck, the reason it was red. "It's nothing, Vincent."

Vincent looked at Ron as Harry tipped over his seat trying to get away from someone. A hand on his arm stopped him. "Are you sure?"

"Very," Draco said quietly, staring at the young man. "He's a fan of his and Ron's." He frowned when Harry looked over and snorted at the helpless look.

Vincent stood up and walked over, tipping Harry's neck off to the side so he could see the clear skin. "Well," he said finally. He looked at Ron, who moved his hair. "Good! It's about time!" He glared at the boy, watching as he sat down again. "My father wanted me to congratulate you on your good taste, Potter," he said formally, giving him a reason for having come over. "He said that anyone who could stand a Malfoy had to be strong enough to beat nearly anyone. Except, of course, him," he finished with a grin. Harry laughed. "Good man." He walked back and sat down again. Draco looked at him, one eyebrow raised. "He did."

"I'm sure he did. Your father has been generous in his compliments to me since he figured out who I was." He finished his juice and decided he'd had enough of breakfast. Vincent grabbed him by the wrist. "You needed something?"

"There's a line left," he said quietly.

"It wasn't fully done. We were a bit exhausted," Draco retorted with a smile. "Soon enough, there's time for that." Crabbe nodded and let him go, watching him leave the room.

"What line?" Pansy asked sweetly.

Crabbe grabbed his breakfast to go and ran after his boss, not wanting to be interrogated by her. She was a scary woman when she wanted to be. She should be an inquisitor, no one would ever hide anything from her. He ran into Draco in the library. "Pansy heard," he panted.

"I figured as much," he sighed. "It's fine, Crabbe. She can learn to live with it as well." He selected his book of the day and took it to check out.

"Light reading?" Madam Pince asked. He nodded. "Wonderful. Not many take those theories seriously, Mr. Malfoy." She stamped his book and handed it back. "Two weeks, as usual."

"Two days is more like it," he noted as he walked away to find a quieter spot to hide from Pansy.

***

Ron looked across the table in Herbology, frowning at the woman staring at him. "What?" he asked patiently.

"I was thinking you should have a ring by now," she admitted with a shrug. "Draco would buy you one if you wanted."

"I don't want to inconvenience anyone," Ron told her, hoping this subject wouldn't continue. He felt something move up his leg and squealed, jumping away from it. "Stupid tentacles," he said angrily.

"Mr. Weasley," Madam Sprout said as she hurried over. "Did it stick you?"

"No, it tried to feel me up," he said indigently. "Can't you tie it up?"

"No, but you could switch sides of the table," she offered. Ron looked at the other side of the table, all Slytherins. He looked at her and opened his mouth. "Ms. Parkinson, work with Mr. Weasley today and be nice about it," she said briskly, putting him in the spot. "There you go, it won't attack you again." She looked at Harry and clucked, looking up at the line that ran under his scar, making it look like the shelf holding the lightening bolt. "They should have put more healing sap on that," she told him, walking away. Another tentacle was reaching for someone.

Harry rubbed his forehead. "I hate it when people look at that thing," he muttered.

Ron looked down at him and grinned. "Dirt," he said, pointing. Harry groaned and pulled his shirt up so he could clean it off with his collar. "You got most of it."

"I'll deal with it later," Harry decided. "Why did I get volunteered for this?"

"Because Neville wanted your help, this is his project," Ron reminded him.

"Yeah, now I remember." He felt something touch his ankle and looked down, frowning. Then he swooped and caught it, holding the rat by the tail. "Ron, wasn't he yours?" he asked dryly.

"Oh, shit!" Ron said, freezing. "Dumbledore, now," he said, pointing. "Right now! He's liable to bite, Harry!"

"Fine, I'll take the shit to Dumbledore," Harry sighed, walking out of the greenhouse, the rat still being held by the tail. It was squeaking indignantly. "Shut up, Pettigrew, before I stuff you." He paused at the gargoyle. "Lollipop." It opened and he climbed onto the stairs, going up. He tapped briefly before walking in. "He showed up in the greenhouse and tried to bite me," he said, holding up the rat. The little silver foot glinted in the dim light. Behind him, a male gasped so he turned around to show off the rat to Snape. "Yes, it's him!" He shook it. "Change, bastard, before I decide to change you myself. I may not be good at transfiguration but I'll certainly change you into something." The rat changed and he let it go, glaring down at it. "I will see you dead," he sneered. "You destroyed my family."

Pettigrew swallowed. "I want to change sides, for some consideration," he said quietly, looking at Dumbledore. "No Azkaban and not a life sentence."

Harry grabbed him by the throat and squeezed, making the man wet himself. "You destroyed my family," he hissed. "Not even he will save you from me." Pettigrew started to cry and Harry let him go because a hand was on his wrist forcing him to. "Take a deep breath and tell us everything and I promise I'll make it a fast death. No torture involved."

Pettigrew looked at Dumbledore. "I want to change sides," he repeated. "Please?"

"Harry, leave us," Dumbledore decided.

"Like hell!"

"Now, boy," Snape said coldly. He found himself crashing to the floor without having been touched. "Did you training break down?" he sneered.

Harry glared at him. "No, I did it on purpose." He looked at Pettigrew again. "This had better be something excellent or else your life really was a waste," he said coldly. "I will see to it that you die."

"Better you than *him*," Pettigrew yelled, starting to shake. "He's going to attack Hogsmeade tomorrow night."

Harry shook his head. "No, he isn't." He looked at Dumbledore, who looked stunned. "So you really can't tell when a student is lying?" he asked calmly.

Dumbledore gave him a look. "That's beside the point. I'm wondering how elaborate this plan really is."

"There is no plan!" Harry said firmly.

"I meant the one to bring us to Hogsmeade," Dumbledore assured him. He looked at them, then at Harry. "Go find Mr. Malfoy. I want him to be here for you," he decided.

"Not Ron?"

"Ron is still vulnerable. It would be too easy to trap him in here and cut him." Harry nodded and stuck Pettigrew to the floor with an ever-stick charm. Dumbledore looked at Snape. "That was an admirable idea, sticking him to the floor," he agreed. Snape shook his head. "As was yours of getting Malfoy," he admitted with a smile. He turned it on Pettigrew, making him start to cry again. "Why don't you tell me everything?" he suggested lightly.

Harry knocked on the Charm's classroom door and walked in, heading straight to the teacher. "We need Malfoy in the office," he whispered.

"More problems with his family?"

"Pettigrew just showed up," Harry said blandly, just loud enough to be heard by a few people, most of whom hissed. "Draco? Office, now," he ordered, walking out. Draco followed along behind him. "I believe you're going to be keeping me from killing him. I don't know why I let go earlier," he mused.

"Because you wanted answers more?" Draco suggested, moving up beside him. "It's really him?" Harry nodded, reopening the gargoyle. He heard running feet and got out of McGonagall's way so she had time to stop. "You as well?"

"The Headmaster sent for me," she told them, sounding like she was trying hard not to pant. "What's happened?"

"Pettigrew just walked up to me in Greenhouse Six and tried to bite me," Harry told her. "He said he wants to switch sides." He stomped up the stairs and flung open the door. "There, now I have someone who can grab me so I don't kill him," he announced. Draco patted him on the back. "Thanks."

McGonagall walked in and went pale. "It is you," she agreed, sitting down.

"Gee, what a shock, did you think I was wrong?" Harry asked coolly.

"Sometimes seeing it for yourself is the only way to believe," Draco said calmly, staring down at Harry. "Relax." Harry shook his head. "You can torture him later," he said with a small smirk. "I can show you the room with the chains already set up for you. There's even a few toys in there for you to use, but you have to calm down." Harry looked at him and he could see the truth in his eyes. "We'll help you if you want. Hold him still and the like," he said with a cool smile. "Agreed?"

"Yeah. Ron's still outside."

"That's probably better. We don't know if Pettigrew would try to hurt him."

"My master will," Pettigrew snapped. "He will get the changeling."

"The changeling has a name," Draco said, looking at the pathetic being. He saw the sneer and lifted Harry's shirt up to show his mark. "Mine. The both of them." Pettigrew's eyes went wide as Draco lifted his own. "As I am theirs."

McGonagall looked away from him. "I had no desire to know that much about your lives," she noted. "Tuck it back in, Mr. Malfoy." She looked at Snape, then at Pettigrew. "What do we do about him?"

"First, Harry had a few questions I believe," Draco said briskly, stepping forward. "Then whatever you wanted to do would be fine I believe?" he asked, glancing back at Harry. He looked at Dumbledore again and smiled. "By your leave of course," he said smoothly.

"I don't think Harry needs to learn how to torture people," Dumbledore said quietly. "Nor do I think he'll have the answers that Harry wants."

"Bet me," Harry snorted, stepping forward. "What was so damn important that you had to kill my parents, Pettigrew? Power? Fame? Money? What was the thinking behind the action?"

Pettigrew looked down at the floor. "I was envious. Like I told you that night in town. The power sang to me and I could get anything I wanted with it, including someone to love me." Harry snorted. He glared at the boy. "You have no idea what your parents were like," he sneered.

"You'd be surprised," Harry told him. "I've been told some very damning things about my father over the years. Beyond that, I've been allowed to look inside the vault that holds my parent's effects." He pulled a small gold box out of his pocket and enlarged it so he could take out the book, letting Draco hold the box while he opened it. "Does it look familiar?" he asked snidely. "I am just like my mother."

"That book is obscene," Snape said harshly. "Put it away this instant!"

"Fuck you," Harry told him, carefully putting his mother's book back into the box and relocking it. It was shrunken and put back into his pocket. "My mother did wandless things as well. She came from a long line of witches who had that gift. Almost all of her line was first-born daughters, with the exception of myself and my great-great-great grand-grandfather Servan. Both of these males showed the same gifts as the female first borns, the deep ability to produce magic without a wand. As noted by their leaking magic while under stressful conditions and while under attack." He looked at Draco, then at Dumbledore. "It's also where I got my ability to talk to snakes," he continued, tipping his head to the side. "Someone tried very hard to hide my mother's family history in the library, but not quite hard enough. Madam Pince came across it while we were working on that last Defense paper, the one about Ron's blood." He smiled at the Headmaster. "You knew though, you helped deliver me so that none of my innate skills could leak through."

"I was there," Dumbledore agreed. "Your mother was incredibly shocked to find out you were a male. You were nearly named after your great-grandmother Cassandra." He smiled. "That doesn't change the fact that you're not to have that book until you reach twenty-one."

"Which may well be a moot point," Harry reminded him. "It also is irrelevant because the gifting ceremony can't be done since none of my mother's line are alive. Thankfully the book seems to understand that and manages to translate itself most of the time." Dumbledore opened his mouth and Harry shook his head. "The more I find out about my family, the more I wonder how they were killed. James was a normal wizard, my mother's family was so powerful it was blinding according to the person who wrote the family history. Oh, and you'll be pleased to know that I sent a copy to my aunt Petunia as well, just in case something happens. She may have been adopted, but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve the right to know." He looked at Pettigrew, who was as pale as the light coming through the windows. "Now then," he said with a smile. "We've gotten the pissing contest out of the way. Tell me what I want to know and I might back off and only let Draco torture you, instead of letting Ron, Draco, and I do it." He crossed his arms. "Now!"

Pettigrew slumped in on himself and turned back into a rat but he was still stuck in the same place. He grew into a man again and looked at the adults. He shivered when he saw the look in Draco's eyes and how he was stroking Harry's back. Then the door slammed in and Ron walked in, making him wail and cover his face. "I'll tell you anything you want to know, don't let him touch me," he sobbed. "Please! I'll tell!"

Harry looked at Ron. "Hi. Hug?" Ron hugged him and Harry relaxed against him. "I admitted to having the gold book," he whispered.

"'Bout time, Harry," Ron said with a smile. He moved between Harry and Draco, leaning against Draco's side but pulling Harry closer to hold him as well. "Can we kick his ass yet?"

"I'm sure we can," Draco agreed, smiling at him. "If you want a torture victim, all you have to do is ask, Ron."

Ron beamed at him. "Pansy suggested you were delinquent in getting me a ring," he told him.

Draco snorted. "She likes rings. I was thinking about a nipple ring for each of you."

Harry frowned at him. "No."

"I don't need more holes in my body, I think I have more than enough," Ron agreed.

"I asked a muggle about them when I saw she had one. She said they didn't hurt and they could be fun," he suggested lightly. Ron shook his head. "No? Not even if I get one?"

"Not even if you pierce your cock for me," Ron said with a grin.

"People do that?" Snape asked with a shudder of revulsion.

"There's two possible ways to do so," Harry informed him. "Width-wise, and a small one that ends right behind the head and comes out the hole. Both are fairly popular but the PA style, the second one, is more widely used."

Snape curled in on himself and shuddered again. "I didn't need to know that."

"How do you know?" Ron asked, pinching Harry on the arm. "And why don't you share these tidbits more often?"

"I read about it in a magazine while I was waiting on a haircut," Harry told him. He shrugged and smiled. "It sounded interesting, but fairly painful."

"It does," Draco asked, clearing his throat. "I think I'll give up the nipple ring idea before Harry gets any more ideas." He looked at the scared Pettigrew again.

Ron had noticed the look Pettigrew was giving Harry again. "Harry, did you ever think about getting one of those?" he asked, playing it for all it was worth. He nudged Harry and gave him the 'play along' sign. He caught Draco's eye and smiled at him. Draco tightened his hold on his waist to show he understood. "I know you have a scar down there."

"I thought about it and tried to pierce it myself, but I decided I didn't like the look so I gave it up," Harry said with a shrug.

Pettigrew went to his knees, bowing to Harry. "Not even the Dark Lord can do that to others," he whispered. "You are more evil and deserve my support."

Harry kicked him, breaking his jaw. "You still killed my parents," he said coldly. Pettigrew nodded, bowing his head. "Tell the nice Headmaster and us all you know and I might just send you to the Dementors without branding you as one of my victims." He unstuck the man and then forced him to turn around. "Now, spill, or I find the large bore needle."

Pettigrew babbled incoherently, but they got most of it through the spittle and the blood. When he had run out of words and was lying limply on the carpet, Ron remembered something. "Draco, aren't you supposed to go visit your father soon?" he asked, smiling brightly at him.

"I am," Draco agreed, stroking down Ron's back. "Should we escort this creature to the prison ourselves? Is that what you're suggesting?"

"Possibly going and making sure his cell is more secure than the ones that have let people out," Harry agreed. He looked at Draco and smiled. "Wanna?"

Draco smirked at him. "You'd both have to dress up."

"No fair, I'm not there yet," Ron complained.

"Your chest is more than ample enough to get the point across," Draco said, giving him a short kiss. "Now go put on something slinky and I might even buy you some nice chocolate tonight. Harry, you change as well."

"I don't get a treat?" Harry asked.

Draco looked over at him and winked. "A treat of what?" Harry shivered and grabbed Ron's hand, dragging him up to get changed as quickly as they could. Draco looked at the other adults in the room. "Shouldn't you be calling someone about him by now?" he suggested lightly.

"You're going in your school uniform?" Snape asked.

"Father always hated it," Draco said lightly with a wink for him. "I'm sure he'd be most happy to see me in anything but. Unless of course I was wearing a 'The Light Rules' shirt." He shrugged and straightened out his clothes, spiffing himself up for the upcoming meeting. When the aurors rushed in with Remus Lupin behind them, he stepped between them. "Not yet," he cautioned.

"Malfoy," Remus growled. "Move!"

"Harry would not like that," Draco said quietly, staying in the way. "Besides, Harry was promised him if he didn't cooperate in a timely manner."

Lupin looked at the boy, backing away slowly. "What happened to him? What have you done to Harry?"

"Marked him and Weasley as mine," Draco said smugly. He heard footsteps. "Lupin's here," he called.

Harry jogged up the last few steps and hugged the older man. "Hi, Uncle Remus."

"Harry, is what he said true?" Remus asked. He saw the stunning redhead and blinked a few times. "Ron?" he asked, stunned into silence.

"I like that, where did your mother get it?" Draco asked, strolling around Ron, twitching the deep green velvet dress a bit to make it fall better off the impressive rear.

"I don't know. Mum said it was sent to her, but the store wouldn't say who had bought it. She said there wasn't any harm in it."

Draco frowned, but he let it go. "From now on, I believe I should go shopping with you. I want to see you in more dresses like that during your female times." Ron beamed at him and Draco touched his lips. "You forgot something."

"Oops." Ron used his wand to clean his mouth and brush his teeth. He smiled again and Draco kissed him. "Thanks. Harry, let's go. We can follow them."

"Bloody unlikely," McGonagall noted, standing up. "You may not go touring the wizard's prison! Do you know what will happen if they try to attack you?"

Harry looked at her. "I'll kill them," he said, then he looked at Draco. "I get to do that still, right?"

"We'll do it together," Draco assured him, taking the spot between them. "My I am lucky, and I look horribly shabby next to you two. But I'm sure my father will appreciate me all the less because of it." They laughed as they followed the aurors out and grabbed their portkey at the last moment. Much too late for anyone to say anything to them about it. Draco ignored the yelling and led his mates to the public floos, sending them to the prison office. "I'm here with my spouses to see my father," he announced. The witch in charge looked at him and he smirked. "Family news, the announcement of our union. I'm sure it will...thrill him to no end." She laughed and handed them a special key. "Thank you. Come, my pretty ones. Let's go make him choke on his tongue." He let Harry take Ron's arm until they got through the door, then took up his position between them. "Remember, let no one touch you," he warned quietly, smirking at the inmates. "Oh, Auntie," he said with a wave. They followed the directions on the key, going up to the solitary tower rooms. Lucius was in a small cell with a window overlooking the sea that confined them. "Father," he said in greeting, his hands tangled with Harry and Ron's. Lucius turned and choked. "What's wrong? Do you not appreciate the announcement of our union?" he asked pleasantly.

"Weasley," Lucius said as he stood up and walked over. He gasped when Ron looked at him. "You're not her!" he shouted.

"No, I'm her brother most of the time," Ron told him with a smile. "Thanks to some of your journals my brother botched a potion and now I'm your daughter-in-law for six days a month." Harry laughed. "Well I am," he said with a smile for him.

Draco patted Ron on the rear. "Yes, you are," he said with a smile, the hand behind Ron shifting to trace over the small mark on her stomach. "Such a wonderful wife as well. Beautiful and talented in this form."

"In any form," Harry argued. "Ron's wonderful no matter what form he's in."

"She," Lucius corrected absently, still staring at Ron. "You really do change," he whispered.

"And she's still mine," Draco reminded him with a smile. He bit Ron on the neck, making her moan. He did the same to Harry, making him go limp against his side. "As you can see, we only came up to share the good news. That and to announce that Pettigrew was captured." He looked down at Harry. "Should we skip tonight and have dinner in London?"

"I'd like to eat with my parents and possibly the twins," Ron offered. "We've only had that one dinner with my folks and the twins deserve the right to get to know you so they don't try anything against you."

"I think I'd enjoy that," Draco agreed. His father screamed in outrage. "What?" he asked innocently. "They are my in-laws. It wonderful that Ron felt the need to mark me as well." Harry giggled. "Fine, the both of us," he said with an eye roll. "You hate to be left out, don't you, Harry?"

Lucius looked at Potter and frowned, reaching a hand against the shield keeping him in his cell. "Your scar."

"Dumbledore wanted to lead him down the wrong path, he tried to cut it off," Draco said with a shrug. "Amazingly enough, he swears I'm the reason he's sane at the moment. Ron and I." He squeezed Harry's rear, making him jump and laugh with pleasure. He smiled back at Harry's true smile of happiness. "I believe we're done sharing the good news. Do have fun rotting since none of the dementors like you enough to ask you for a dance and a kiss. Farewell, father." He walked his lovers back down, smirking at the screaming and ranting going on upstairs. "Well, that was pleasant. Were you serious?" he asked Ron. Ron nodded. "That's fine, we'll call the school from their shop I suppose." He turned in the key to one of the human guards. "We're done."

"You could A-K him," Harry suggested. "Put all of us out of our combined misery?" He led Draco to the floo, taking some of the powder and tossing it into the fire. "3W's," he called out as he stepped in. He disappeared.

"After you," Draco said regally, helping Ron into the fire. Ron disappeared and he waved then went off himself. He was helped out of the fireplace by a strong male hand. "Ah!" he said happily, hugging him. "Brother-in-law."

"Git," Fred said, pushing him away. "I really don't understand this, Ron, but mum said it was for the best."

"We're here to explain it all," Harry said from his position leaning on the counter, fanning the unconscious George. "He's coming around."

"She," Draco corrected, putting an arm around Ron's waist again. "Good job, you didn't even get nasty from the floo."

"Ours isn't that dirty yet," Fred told him, going over to help his twin off the floor. "Are you all right?"

"I saw Ron and it was a shock," George admitted, looking at their baby brother. "You do look hot."

"Charlie said the same thing," Ron assured them, running a hand over her stomach. "Dinner?"

"Is on us," Fred told him. "Go clean up, we'll eat in the alley. Should we call the parents?" Harry nodded as he took Ron's hand to help him clean up.

"No snogging," George called.

"Or shagging without me," Draco added. The twins looked at him and he shrugged. "I like that, sue me." He glanced around. "You seem to have done very well for yourselves." He looked back and found both twins trying to loom over him. "Do stop that," he said quietly. "I can kick your asses. I see no need for it since I haven't hurt your brother and I only have his best interests at heart, but we don't really need to get physical."

Harry cleared his throat as he came back. "He's right. Didn't your mother tell you they found the Weasley crest and Ron's used it on us?"

"Crest?" Fred asked, eyes going wide.

"On you?" George seconded.

"On both of us," Harry corrected. "The same as we wear his. The only problem is that my family doesn't have one."

"There isn't much use commissioning one," Draco said as he examined his hands. He looked at Harry, who nodded. "Do you boys have any lotion? I'm dry today for some reason." George stomped off and came back with a sample bottle. "Thank you." He neutralized it before putting it onto his hands and rubbing it in. "Ron?"

"Adjusting her panties," Harry said with a groan.

"Maybe we'll talk her into wearing those thongs," Draco said with a small wink. Harry laughed and hugged him. "Thank you."

"You two hated each other," George said quietly, staring at them. "What's changed?"

"For once, Harry has someone who's concerned about his well-being over the war," Draco told him. "I also recognized his innate abilities and desire to attend to Ron."

Harry nodded. "Added to that, he understands about needing a real life, not some rule-created cage of hell that I had been living in." He smiled as Ron came out. "You look wonderful, but you're showing a bit, Ron." Ron adjusted his bosom and then grinned. "Perfect as usual, even though I won't get to stare at them all night."

"You can see them later," Draco reminded him patiently. "Ron?" Ron walked over and hugged his other side. "Where shall we eat?"

"We have to call the school," Ron reminded him. "Plus the folks."

"Dad's at work, I'll call him," Fred said as he headed for the second floo line. "George, you get the school and mum. Tell her it's causal and she doesn't have to change." George nodded, going for the main fireplace. "Dad," Fred said happily. "Ron, Harry, and Draco are here asking us to dinner. We're treating of course. Want to come and berate them for snogging in public?" Arthur apparently said something because Fred laughed. "I don't know, but Ron does look stunning in his green dress." He hung up and looked at his brother. "Father said you should be wearing red or gold," he chided, but he was smiling.

"Green goes so much better with his hair, and looks lovely against the rest of us," Draco pointed out smugly.

"I did not need to hear that much," George said as he stood up. He looked down at himself. "This you think?"

"Change into that blue number I saw you in last time," Ron encouraged. "You looked good in it."

"Sure, Ron, whatever you want," George agreed, giving him a small hug before going to change. "Mother's on her way."

"Wonderful," Fred noted, leaning on the counter. "So, marked?" he asked.

Harry pulled up his shirt to show him. "Marked," he agreed happily. "Ron would show you but his is in the same spot."

"We don't need Ron to expose himself any more than usual," Fred agreed. He moved Harry's hair aside. "What happened? I don't remember the shelf."

"I snapped," Harry admitted.

Draco stepped forward but Ron hugged Harry first, hogging him to herself. "Snape got onto him about spending too much time doing homework and not enough training," Draco said quietly. "Harry went off and suggested he lead the fight , then tried to cut it off so he could hand it to Snape. He got halfway," he said easily, smiling at Harry, who pulled him in for a hug. "We got close over the holidays, with shared grief, but that cemented our lives." He stroked down the shaking back. "I think you need to eat something, Harry."

"I could eat," Harry agreed, smiling weakly at him. "I have a headache."

"I have something for that," George said as he walked out. "Ron, have you started a cycle yet?" Ron shook his head. "If you do, there's a wonderful potion made by the nice witches up the street that works wonders. Helps it go very quickly and easily." He retrieved the headache medicine and handed over the bottle. "Two good slugs and it should cure it."

Harry gulped a bit of it and handed it back with a grossed-out face. "Eww."

"Medicine isn't supposed to taste good," Fred reminded him. The fire erupted and their mother walked out. "Mum," he said, waving. "Come see what Ron's wearing. Draco dressed him in his house colors."

"Actually, someone bought it for him and sent it to the house," Molly corrected gently, giving everyone a hug. "I still haven't figured out who, but there was another outfit just yesterday."

"Send it back," Ron told her. "It isn't right that I'm accepting presents that way. You'd ream Ginny a good one," he said at her amused look.

"That's true, I would," Molly agreed, looking at Draco. "But that's his job."

Draco nodded. "Send the rest back and refuse any more. If I want my mates to wear slinky things, I'm more than capable of buying them something." He patted Harry's pocket. "Box?"

"Both of them," Harry agreed with a smile. "Where are we eating?"

"Up the alley," Fred told him. "It'll be packed soon so let me go ahead and get us a table. Just the seven of us?" Everyone nodded. "Good deal." He took some money out of the register and made a note on the pad beside it, then headed up to get them a table.

George took his mother's arm. "I think Father knows where we're going. He can follow behind," he said lightly, escorting her out. "I want to know why I don't get admirers that way," he pouted at his parent.

"Because my breasts are bigger," Ron told him, giving him a little shove. "You did a really good job making me this way."

"It was inside you," Draco reminded him. "He had nothing to do with the sculpture that is your body." He saw people looking at them and pulled Ron closer. "Let's not talk about them in public," he hissed. "Harry might get embarrassed." Ron blushed. "Thank you, Ron."

"Sorry, I forget that not everyone knows," Ron sighed, leaning over to smile at Harry. "Sit on my other side?"

"As always," Harry agreed, smiling. He pulled Ron against his side and smirked at Draco. "My turn, greedy bastard."

Fred met them outside the restaurant. "I managed to get us a back room so we could have some privacy," he told them happily. "No dad?"

"Not yet," George agreed. He followed Fred inside, smiling at the homey feel of the room. "This feels like a kitchen table," he said as he took his seat.

Draco felt a hand touch his arm before he could enter the room and looked at the man who had walked up to him. "Mr. Crabbe," he said with a smile and a handshake. "How pleasant to see you. I'll have to tell Vincent we ran into you tonight."

"Are they..." he asked nodding at Ron and Harry. Draco nodded. "You have excellent taste, as always, Draco. Be good to them?"

"I'm going to do my best," he assured him. "Potter and Weasley are very safe with me. Nothing and no one will get them." He saw the doubt in the clear eyes and shook his head. "You don't have to worry about him either," he said gently. "I swore on my life to protect Weasley."

"Then you won't be joining?"

Draco shook his head, smiling brightly. "Why should I? I have everything I could ever need. He has nothing to offer me."

"There's power," Crabbe senior suggested.

Draco laughed. "I have access to one of the most powerful beings in the country, why should I shackle myself to that old, insane thing and destroy everything that I've built?" He patted him on the arm. "Your son was most eloquent in his statement of how happy you were for me."

"My Vincent?" he asked, but he was smiling again.

"Yes, came out of nowhere," Ron agreed as he joined them. "Very nicely stated and very sincere." He shook the man's hand. "Draco, not to interrupt, but my father's on his way in."

"Of course." He shook hands with Mr. Crabbe again and led Ron back to their room. "It is very sad that my father got him into this mess. He used to be frightfully nice until my father accepted him into his service." He sat down on Ron's other side, looking over at Harry. "I just ran into Vincent's father. He said again that I have very good taste."

"Of course you do, you took up with Ron," Harry agreed.

"And you," Fred said firmly. "We're tired of you putting yourself down, Harry."

"That's right! You're very special, even if you are an insecure prat some days," George agreed.

"We'd like to hear you say as many good things about yourself..."

"As Ron does about you," they finished.

"I would as well," Molly agreed. She smiled at Harry. "You are a wonderful young man, Harry Potter, and I expect you to start appreciating yourself."

"We're slowly building up to that," Ron assured her. "Since his incident he's started to enjoy his life and has even told Snape to fuck off a few times." His mother laughed. "Plus another for Dumbledore earlier I believe?" he asked, looking at Draco. Who nodded. "See?"

The waiter walked in. "Your husband is coming up the alley," he told Molly. He smiled at everyone. "What would you like to drink?" He did a double-take at seeing Draco and hurried out, coming back with a wine list. "The owner was very sorry he pissed off your father," he said respectfully.

"My father was easily annoyed, that's why he's in prison," Draco assured him. "Ron's keeping me more even tempered." He looked at the wine list. "What are the specials tonight?"

"We have a wonderful prime rib dinner. We also have veal and lamb on the meat menu. There is a pasta dish for the ladies," he said with a nod toward Ron, "so they can watch their figures."

"They watch mine just fine," Ron assured him. "I want the veal."

"Me too," Harry offered. "I've never had veal."

"It's baby cow," Ron told him.

"I know that," Harry retorted with a grin. "Draco?"

"I believe I'll have the lamb so we'll take that bottom bottle," he said, pointing it out. The waiter nodded and looked toward the others. "Don't worry, I have dinner."

"No, *I* have dinner," Harry told him.

"No, *we* have dinner," George reminded. "You get to buy your own wine though." He looked at Ron. Then at Harry. "Since when do you drink?"

"Since my nerves were shot and it keeps the nightmares away," Harry told him. "Even better than sleeping on Ron."

Ron laughed and blushed. "Harry! Not in mixed company!"

"Sorry," he said with a light blush of his own.

"I've been drinking wine since I was six," Draco told them. "A single glass every few days isn't going to hurt either of them." Arthur came in and Draco stood up respectfully. "Just in time, sir. What do you think you'd like tonight?"

"I'd say something with seafood," Arthur said as he moved past his wife and sat on her right, giving her cheek a kiss. "Small problem at the prison," he said, looking at the trio. "It seems Lucius nearly killed himself trying to get out, yelling the whole time about how stupid he was." Draco smiled and patted Ron's hand. "I heard you had went to visit."

"We did, just to share the good news," Harry told him. "Pettigrew came up to me in the greenhouse today." Molly gasped. "That's the other reason we went."

"We were proving to my father that he is easily annoyed," Draco noted. "Order, we're hungry. Ron and Harry both got run out of lunch by their friends."

"Again?" Molly asked.

"The girls wanted us to help translate for their boyfriends," Ron said with a shrug. "It happens." He smiled at the twins. "I'm not as mad at you as I used to be."

"Thank you," George said, smiling back. "We are sorry, Ron."

"Eeh. I like this form," he admitted, running a hand down his thigh. "Like I told Hermione, I wouldn't have gotten Harry or Draco if you hadn't." Fred beamed. "You're still probably going to get into trouble for doing it," he reminded him.

"Oh, we already have," Fred agreed.

"We're under the careful eyes of Law Enforcement." Arthur nodded at them and George sighed. "How much longer?"

"They'll probably always keep an eye on you two," Arthur assured them.

Molly cleared her throat. "We should finish ordering," she pointed out delicately. The twins ordered the pasta dish, and she ordered the large chicken caesar salad. Ron looked at her. "I'm not that hungry, dear, I was nibbling as I cooked earlier."

Ron nodded. "I've had days like that."

"Why hasn't he started a cycle yet?" George asked. "Mine's been about for nearly three months."

"It's the nature of the change. If it does happen, it would be suddenly and probably at the worst times," Harry told him. The twins looked at him, staring. "Draco and I had to do a paper on what could be done to Ron, mostly so he'd know and understand what sort of trouble he could be in," Harry told him. "We traced back the sources Draco's father used and found a lot of things."

"I'll send you my copy," Ron promised.

Draco looked at him. "You're going to throw away all our hard work?" he asked lightly.

Ron kissed him gently. "It's three hundred feet long, Draco. I'd rather have you and Harry tell me than have to read it all. I'm sure it'd be more pleasant anyway." Draco nodded. "Besides, he does need to know, just so he can be careful," he added quietly, for Draco's benefit only. Draco took his hand to squeeze. "We'll owl it out tomorrow, guys."

Draco squeezed Ron's hand. "I wanted to talk to you in front of others about a few things."

"Not the 'you shouldn't say that in public' talk," Ron sighed. Harry laughed. "You'll get one too."

"No, not that one, though talking about feminine problems over dinner seems strange to me. I was going to tell them about our plans." Ron looked clueless. "The rest of the things besides the house?"

"Oh, that," Ron said, nodding. He looked at his family. "It can't get out," he told them genially, smiling at Draco. "Someone has come up with some wonderful ideas to help Harry and I."

"Yes, you'll be leading the group away from the fights and Harry will be fighting with me," Draco reminded him. Ron shot him a glare. "Tough. You're too valuable to risk that way. We can't have you bleeding all over the field." He looked at the older people again. "Harry and I, while researching for defense, have found a way to attach hexes and curses to inanimate objects. Such as weapons that are thrown," he said at the opening mouth on Arthur.

"Things like arrows and bullets," Harry put in.

Molly opened her mouth, then closed it and shook her head. "Harry, that's not the way we fight, dear."

"No, but he's not expecting it, is he?" Harry asked dryly. "It'll make the whole bloody thing go faster and we'll all hopefully live to a ripe age." Arthur started to shake his head but Harry patted him on the hand. "Think about how many people could be saved if we thought outside the normal ways of doing things," he pointed out. "How many families wouldn't be wiped out. How many children won't end up like me. Hell, how many children won't end up like Draco," he said, giving his lover a small smile. "If we think outside the normal ways, we might find a way to sneak up on him and take him out faster." He frowned at the door and put a privacy shield on it. "I forgot to do that earlier," he admitted. "Just consider the implications."

"That might help," George agreed, his voice quiet. "You cast it wrong."

"I did not."

"You did what you usually do and forgot the last vowel," Ron told him, recasting it for them. "There, much better," he said with a smile. "Harry's right, and I'm going to stick up for this idea. If only so that this thing is done with faster and we can move on with our lives."

"Ron, you know the prophecy," Draco gently reminded him.

Ron's back stiffened. "I have to have faith that Harry will win, Draco. The other option is unthinkable to me. If Harry doesn't win, then the world goes to hell quicker. If he does, we might be able to hold some of it off for at least another few years." He shrugged. "There is no other option to me but Harry winning. And you never know, that prophecy can be taken a few ways."

"If you say so," Draco said carefully.

"I'm sure it will all work out for the best and Harry will win," Molly said firmly.

Draco nodded and gave up on the topic, for now. "We've also thought about how to best camouflage our non-wizardly interests. That way Ron and Harry would be better protected from the staring that will come their way."

"I doubt many people would look for Harry and Ron at your house," Molly reminded them. "Not unless they knew that you were there."

"That's what I thought," Harry said bitterly, "but I've already gotten one letter by owl saying that I was more than welcome to come to her for decorating advice for me and my mates when we started on the nursery."

Arthur cleared his throat. "I'm sure it will be fine, boys. Things will settle down soon enough." They sighed. "They will," he repeated. "The battles are starting to get more intense and people won't have time to wonder about you three."

"Arthur, there will *always* be time to wonder about people you idolize," Harry pointed out dryly. "If only for the escape from stress." Someone knocked on the door and he unlocked it. "Enter!" He stood up and launched himself at the man standing there, hugging him as hard as he could. "Oliver!"

"Harry," he said, patting him on the back. "I went down to the shop to see if my boys there can fix my broom again and I saw the sign that said it was a family dinner." He smiled at the rest of the family, though it slid a little when he saw Draco and the unknown redhead. "Hi, sorry to intrude."

"Pfft, intrude away," Fred told him. "It'll lead to happier dinner conversation. Harry, let the poor guy breathe." Harry led Oliver in and summoned the waiter to bring an extra chair and a drink, plus he ordered him a large dinner.

Oliver looked down, frowning when he saw Ron's face. "I swear I know you," he said gently.

"Ron," Ron said, shaking his hand. Oliver's mouth opened and he straightened up so Ron pointed at George. "I was the other tester."

"Oh, dirt!" Oliver breathed, looking him over. "At least they made you stunning."

"And because I'm so stunning, I found myself two wonderful protectors," Ron said, pointing at them.

"Malfoy?" Oliver asked Fred.

Fred nodded. "Apparently Malfoy does it for him."

"In more ways than one," Harry said sweetly, "as I do, thank you."

Draco laughed and gave Harry a hug. "Calm down. They're not saying you don't do it for him." He shared a look with Molly. "He's been having a problem with not being included recently, though we never leave him behind." Ron pinched him. "OW! Harridan!"

Oliver chuckled. "At least it won't be a boring relationship," he pointed out. George giggled, covering his spitting with his napkin. "I see someone else's had that same problem. You make a prettier girl at least, George." George laughed some more. "Think I'm kidding?"

"No, I think you're right actually," George told him. He looked at Draco. "We should toast your father."

"Tell me about it," Ron groaned. "He went nuts when he figured out who I am," he told everyone.

Harry nodded. "He only asked about my forehead." Oliver cuffed him on the back of the head. "Ow!"

"You deserved it. You could have written to me and vented, Potter."

"Fine, I'll tell you the next time I want to hex Snape into a wall," he agreed, grinning at him. "That should be at least one owl a week."

Oliver laughed, shaking his head. "Say it with me, thirteen more weeks."

"Thirteen more weeks," the trio repeated, smiling and nodding. They clinked glasses.

***

As soon as everyone was back in the shop and seated, Ron got up to call the school. He decided to call the house instead of the official line, hoping to get his sister. There'd be less whining that way and they might be able to do a bit of delivering for the twins. "Gryffindor," he called out. Dennis Creevy's head appeared. "Is Ginny or Hermione there?" he asked.

The boy shook his head. "Sorry, Ron, Ginny's locked in her room so she can't go help and Hermione's guarding the doorway on the other side."

"Why is anyone guarding the doorway?" Harry called.

"Um, there's a small insurgence in the main entryway," Dennis admitted. He looked at Ron. "I'm sorry, Ron."

"That's all right, Dennis. Is everyone in the house accounted for?"

"Everyone but Crabbe and Pansy," he agreed quickly. "I heard someone yelling for them in the hallways; I think it was McGonagall." He swallowed. "Don't come back, Ron, they're looking for you."

"And they'll find me too," Ron said firmly. He looked at his men, then at his parents. "We'll be back in a few."

"Yes, *we* will," Draco agreed as he stood up. "You will be here informing your older brother what the worst of the dangers are." He took Harry's hand and apparated off.

"Shit," Ron complained, grabbing more floo powder. "Stand back." Strong arms grabbed him. "Let me go! I have to go help!"

"If they're looking for you, you absolutely cannot go," Arthur argued from behind him, holding him more tightly. "If it's you they want then they'll go wild seeing you. You can't do that to Harry and Draco." Ron slumped so he led him over to his wife. "Here, you hold him, I'm going to let someone know. The rest of you stay here!" He disappeared, heading back to the office.

George reached behind himself and pulled out a book. "This one, Ron?" Ron shook his head, moving to sit beside him and whisper in his ear. "Eww." Ron nodded. "And this is a power thing?" Ron nodded, slower this time. "Shit!" He looked at Fred. "As long as I change, you're in danger too," he announced. "Power raising potions are made from us."

"Our blood," Ron corrected. "The less pure you are, the more powerful the blood solution is according to our research." Someone knocked on the door and he stood up, heading that way. The twins tried to stop him but he knew it wasn't someone after him. He found someone on the ground and the person behind him in a cloak. "Yeah?" he asked dryly. The hood was pushed back. "Come on in, Vincent. Draco and Harry went back to the school." He looked at the body. "Who's that?"

"My uncle. Stupid fuck tried to tell me no." He led Ron away, following Molly. He pushed Ron onto the couch. "Draco sent me, he told me to keep you here even if I had to stun your stubborn ass." Ron shook his head, smiling. "He's serious. I can't let you go help them, Ron, there's three Death Eaters that decided to break into the school." He swallowed. "Pansy's missing."

Ron stood up. "That's exactly why I should be there," he said quietly. "Harry and I have been all over that school."

Vincent took the easy way out of this one, sitting down and forcing Ron into his lap so he couldn't get free of him. "No. They've already taken her off. You won't be of any help and they'll do anything to find you. You're staying here, even if I have to hurt you a little bit. Got it?" Ron shook his head so he squeezed him, making Ron moan in pain. "You're staying!"

"He is," Molly agreed.

"Let him go," Oliver suggested. "We can keep him here." He put a shield around the room and nodded. "He can't get out." Ron was set free and stood up. "You can't go. This time it's their fight."

George pulled Ron into his arms. "I know this sucks, but you're different now. You can't fight like you used to."

"No, now I'm more sneaky," Ron told him, getting free. "It's my fight, I should be there."

"Ron, think objectively," Oliver pleaded. "If it was anyone else, would you send the person the Death Eaters wanted into the battle?" Ron groaned and held his head. "See? We're right."

"No, pain and anger. Draco," he said quietly, allowing himself to be sat down, this time next to Crabbe. "Oh, no, calm down," he whispered, thinking calming thoughts. The pain on the other side flared so he pushed it back, hoping he was sending calming waves back to Draco the same way the pain was coming to him. The pain receded and he slumped against the warm bodies around him. "He's fine."

"He marked you?" Molly said. "Fully? It's moved?" She brushed his hair aside, looking for the mark.

"Harry's is on his stomach," Fred told her quietly. "Ron, didn't you know about that?"

"No," Ron whined. "I didn't. He said he'd explain but I...." He winced and held his stomach. "I hate stress."

"I know. You lay down," Vincent said gently, shifting down so Ron could use his thigh as a pillow. "You rest and we'll call the school in about thirty minutes to check on everyone." Ron nodded and laid down, letting his brothers cover him. "He really doesn't know. Draco doesn't know much about his either, just that it bonds them and it can have some influence on the less-dominant partner." Molly opened her mouth. "Malfoys never marry anyone complacent," he told her with a smile. "Narcissa was a bitch and a half most of the time. I'm really surprised Draco came out so well."

George dipped his finger in a bottle his twin had retrieved and leaned down, stroking it across Ron's neck. "You rest," he whispered. Ron nodded, closing his eyes.

"I always thought Narcissa Malfoy was a cold woman," Fred put in.

"Draco said that was an act," Ron whispered. "Thank you, Vincent."

"You're welcome, Ron." He patted the firm shoulder. He looked at the family members. "It's fine, they were getting it solved. By the time I left there was only one missing Death Eater. All the kids were safe, but Pansy and I were up in the mezzanine talking. Her mother's been missing for three days and she didn't want to say anything," he told everyone. Molly looked horrified. "She's the one who tipped off Draco that the Dark Lord was eyeing Ron because the marks hadn't moved." Ron giggled. "Are they fine?"

"Harry put a bubble around the idiot and he's bouncing him down the hall," Ron explained. "I've never heard some of those phrases."

Vincent patted Ron again. "They'll hopefully be back soon."

"If not, you can have the couch," Fred offered.

George nodded. "I think it's wonderful that Draco told you to babysit Ron. He's too fragile to be left alone."

"He's an auror candidate," Molly snorted. The twins looked flabbergasted. She nodded smugly. "The auror teaching Defense suggested him and his boss liked him." She looked at Oliver. "I'm sure you could head home if you wanted to."

"He can stay with us," Fred told her. "Don't worry about it, Mum. You take the guest room. Ron and ...Crabbe was it?" Vincent nodded. "Can sleep out here. We have plenty of extra blankets." He led everyone to their rooms, settling them in. "Oliver, pick a bed. We're used to sleeping in the same bed."

Oliver looked at them. "George is female, Fred, that's not right."

"He's my twin, I know that."

George coughed. "I think he's trying to be gentlemanly, Fred. Oliver, don't worry about it, I've crawled in with him a number of times in the last few months thanks to the nightmares."

Oliver turned and hugged him. "It'll get better."

"It had better, this being female stuff sucks some days," George sniffed, letting himself be comforted. "Fred looks at me like he's studying me and we weren't talking to Ron for nearly two months because he was so mad at us."

"You needed someone to comfort you about all this," Oliver agreed. "Don't worry, it'll be okay. Even if I get to kick Percy's ass for you, it'll be fine." The twins laughed. "Now let's settle in for the night. How would you really like to do this?"

"I call his left," Fred offered, "or his back."

"That's fine. I let you guys crawl in with me more than once," Oliver reminded them, pushing the beds together and merging them. It could be fixed back in the morning. He laid down in the middle and let the twins curl up around him. "What did Ron tell you?"

"Just that we're now considered a magical creature. If I bleed anywhere it can be picked up and used in a power-raising formula," George said, wiping his face off. "I hate feeling girly."

"I wouldn't worry about it while you're in that form, it might be natural," Oliver soothed, giving him a backrub. He liked this, the twins comforted him when he had a really bad loss and the twins got their comfort when things went haywire in their lives and nothing could be counted on.

"He really married Malfoy?" he whispered. Both twins giggled and hugged him. "Harry I could see, but Malfoy?"

George gave him a squeeze. "Apparently Draco's reputation was true. Ron glows."

"I noticed. Malfoy was even laughing, I'm very shocked."

"Consider our reaction," Fred told him. "Ron is one of the most watched people in the wizarding world and is now married to one of the others. They'll never get any peace."

"That's why they bought that house," Oliver reminded him.

"How did you know?" George asked.

Oliver smiled and stroked over the longer hair. "A little bird told me." Fred pinched him. "Harry sent an owl to tell me," he admitted. He felt the snuggling start and held still so they could get comfortable. "Night, guys."

"Night, Oliver," George sighed against his chest, falling asleep there.

"Fred?" Oliver asked. He heard the quiet grunt. "Try to quit staring at George. You're going to make him mad soon."

"I only wanted to know what it was like," Fred admitted.

"Then fix the formula and try it on yourself, Fred," Oliver suggested. "Don't tell anyone though, I want to see their faces." He felt the smile. "Even if you do like Ron did, you'd still be prettier." Fred laughed and snuggled closer. He felt that all was right with the world again, the twins had quit fighting.

***

Draco and Harry came out of the floo just before dawn, yawning and leaning against each other. Draco nudged Harry and pointed at the couch. Harry peered over, stepping closer. He smiled at the picture of Ron asleep on Crabbe's thigh, smiling at the other student. "Why didn't you fall asleep?"

"He's been having nightmares," Crabbe told him.

Draco nodded. "He has since he found out why people would want him. They're slowly getting better as he works through it." He picked Ron up. "You rest, Vincent, you did excellent in keeping him here." He walked Ron over to where Harry was, then back to the center rug. It was comfortable enough. He let Ron curl up against his side and Harry got his back. He gave him a look and Harry shrugged. "Fine, let's sleep."

Harry used his wand to call a blanket from somewhere, covering them gently. "There. Now we can sleep." He snuggled in. "You were wonderful."

"Thank you. I seem to have had a bit of practice over the years." Harry laughed. "Sleep, we'll need it tomorrow."

Ron lifted his head. "You're back?" Draco nodded. "Is it fixed?"

"All three of them," Draco assured him, stroking over the fine hair. "Go back to sleep, it's still early. We'll go shopping today." Ron nodded and put his head back down. "Good boy, Ron." Ron giggled. "Shh. Let Harry sleep. He almost fell asleep on Snape during the argument in the Headmaster's office."

"Again?"

"Yes, again," Draco agreed. "This time it was even about things that weren't in our control." He settled in to nap, comfortable with being held this way. At least until they got too clingy then they'd put Harry under them again.

***

Molly walked out and smiled at the trio on the floor and the bigger boy on the couch. She shook her head as she headed for the kitchen, finding the twins and Oliver already up. "Give me a moment to wash my hands and I'll cook," she offered.

"We've got it, mum," Fred told her, giving her a hug. "Not like you're used to but some eggs and sausage and the like." He pointed at the table. "Sit and eat."

"Weren't they cute?" George asked, grinning at her.

She laughed. "Yes, they were. When did they get back?"

"Just before dawn," Oliver told her, then he yawned. "I hate early morning practices."

"You forced us through *how* many?" George teased.

"I think that was to see the girls in bedhair," Fred reminded him. "We used to like that sight too."

"I remember. Seen any of them?" Oliver asked. Both twins blushed. "Really?"

"Katie got a letter from Ron about balance problems so she came to yell at us for doing that to him," Fred told him, sipping his coffee.

George laughed. "Until she saw me in full girl gear, then she passed out for a good twenty minutes. I had to wonder if my magnificence had overloaded her and caused a stroke."

Oliver hugged him. "I'm sure it was the sight of you grabbing yourself instead of trying to play with her set," he told him. He gave Fred a hug. "I'll be back tonight?"

"Sure. We've got late hours tonight."

Oliver waved a hand. "And? I want you guys to unhex my game broom. Someone laid a jinx on it and you're one of the best at that." He waved a hand at Molly. "I'll see you sometime soon, Mrs. Weasley." Then he walked out the door into the sunlight, squinting hard.

Fred closed the door and looked at George. "He's right, it probably was the sight of you not trying to play with her breasts that made her pass out."

"Keep it up, Harry kept that sample," George taunted.

"He gave it to Snape," Vincent groaned as he walked in. Fred handed him his coffeecup and smiled as he drank it. "Thank you." He looked up. "No pranks."

"Not yet. It's too early for that. Go ahead and eat, we'll let them sleep a bit longer."

"We're supposed to go back to school today," Vincent told him.

"I'm sure they will eventually," Molly said tolerantly. "I think Draco wanted to do a bit of shopping."

"Probably wants to drive around a bit," Fred noted.

George nodded. "That boy loves his speed."

Crabbe nodded. "Definitely. He's scary like that too." The twins laughed. "You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. He gave me a ride around and I was terrified. We nearly hit a truck. There was loud and scary music that felt like it was trying to pound its way through your body. I couldn't even make out what were trees and what were houses." He shuddered. "At least Potter goes slower. I don't think I could ever drive around."

"It's not so bad if you have an experienced driver and you're in the back," Molly noted, patting him on the hand. "Most people in Draco's situation have a driver so they don't do things like crash themselves into trees."

"I'll suggest he get one," Crabbe said, giving her a genuine smile. "You're very nice."

"Thank you, dear." Fred put down more food and she looked at him. "More?"

"The trio is waking up. Ron's whimpering and Harry's already talking him down out of the nightmare," George told her.

"He's had a few of those," Vincent agreed. "They usually handle them pretty well." He grabbed a pancake and fixed it. "Thank you, gentlemen."

"You're welcome. You're guarding our brother, we like that in a being," Fred pointed out.

"Of course, the first time you don't protect him, you'll be seeing us on your doorstep and will surely try to run away screaming," George added.

Vincent smiled. "If Ron gets hurt then Draco's probably already dead and I might welcome it." He stuffed his face.

***

Ron walked Harry into the Great Hall at lunch, waving off the clapping. "Stop it." He sat down at their table.

"Mr. Weasley, where is Mr. Malfoy?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"He'll be back in an hour. One of his family retainers had some business for him to deal with," Harry called.

"Thank you."

Ron felt a hand touch his back and looked at Hermione. "Hi." He gave her a hug. "How are you?"

"Better now that you two are back," she noted dryly. "Harry was like some avenging angel last night."

"The teachers were struggling before you came, Harry," Collin Creevy told them. "Then Harry and Draco come in the front door and the Death Eaters break the lines and run. It was so cool. I have pictures."

"I bet you do," Harry said tolerantly, giving him a gentle smile. "It was the added numbers, not me specifically, Collin." Everyone gave him one of those looks. "If the Death Eaters scattered because of us appearing, it was because they had heard horror stories about how cruel Draco can be." Collin opened his mouth.

"Really, Collin, let them eat," Hermione told him. The boy blushed and grinned at them. "You can bother them later since Dumbledore assured us that they were staying for a few days." She gave them a bland look. "Aren't you?"

Ron nodded. "Yup, and we did some shopping before coming back too." She whimpered. "He'll be back in an hour," he promised, patting her on the hand.

"Did you bring back more ice cream?" one girl asked quietly from Harry's other side. He nodded, giving her a grin. "Cool." She whispered to the person next to her and got a giggle.

"We brought back more chocolates and ice cream, plus Harry forced me to get some new robes."

"You needed them, Ron, your old ones weren't fitting this form," Harry reminded him, letting one hand disappear under the table to tease Ron's thigh. He heard the squeak. "Remember, Rons who let themselves be spoiled get treats," he said quietly, staring at him. Someone squeezed the back of his neck and he let go of Ron's thigh. "Thank you, sir," he said, turning to find Snape standing there. "Draco will be back in an hour, a family retainer had some business for him to attend to," he told him.

"I see. Where did you three spend the night?"

"On the twins' living room floor," Ron offered. "Crabbe was on the couch. Our mother was in the guest room."

"Very well then. You do realize you are now grounded to the school for the rest of the term?"

Harry nodded. "That's why we made sure to bring back plenty of things for us to do," he said smartly. He grinned at the evil glare he received. "For all those nights when the training's done and the homework's done, and it's either a treat or sex, sir."

"Yes, you probably needed something of that nature," Snape sneered before moving off. "Do not touch her that way again."

"I'll bloody well feel up my wife if I want," Harry snorted, but he did it quietly.

Ron kissed him, bringing him out of his anger. "Don't worry, you can grope me later. We have Defense today with Hufflepuff." Harry moaned. "So be a good boy and I might even reward you." He winked and dug into the hamburger in front of him. "I don't know why I've been craving steak," he complained after the second bite.

"I usually do that near my cycle," Hermione offered.

"I haven't had one of those yet," Ron told her, then he shrugged. "I'm hoping I'm one of the half that doesn't."

"Fat chance," Hermione told him, patting him in sympathy. "You're too much one of us to get away with that one. We'd all have to kick you about if you missed that privilege."

Ron groaned. "Fine, if it happens it does." He gave her a sideways grin. "If I do, can I come screaming to you?"

"Of course. Any of us really." She gave him a hug. "Now eat, you'll need it. I have no doubt you had chocolate frogs for breakfast."

"Actually he had a chocolate sundae for breakfast," Harry told her with a wink. Draco strolled in and he sighed. "He looks like he went for another drive."

"You could have," Ron reminded him. "You're the one who set our return time." He looked over and smiled at Draco, who winked at him. "He's playing with you, Harry."

"I know, but I can't wait for school to be over with," Harry told him.

"Yeah, us too," Hermione agreed. "Your summer plans are set?"

"One week at the Dursley's. The rest at the new house," he said absently. Ron touched his hand. "What?" he asked, looking at him.

"You're looking upset again," Ron whispered. "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine. I guess we missed Remus' departure."

"Maybe he left you a letter," Ron soothed. He picked up his spoon and loaded it with bread pudding. "Open." Harry ate it, giving him a smile. "Now relax. You can question McGonagall later about where he might be." He held onto Harry's hand, giving him some comfort. He looked at Draco again and got a small nod. They'd be talking later.

***

Draco leaned against the wall as he met Ron in the hallway between classes. "I don't know what to do for him, Draco. He's sliding back again. Remus didn't leave even a note of 'glad you're fine'. Dumbledore's back to ignoring Harry for being audacious enough to have been out of the school. The only person who stood up for us is Snape and he stood up for us, not for Harry - all because he's Harry Potter."

"I can try to talk to Snape, but it won't help," Draco said, pulling a foot up to rest against the wall as he tipped his head back. "I don't know what to do about this, Ron. It's like he's never had a relationship with anything."

"He hasn't," Ron reminded him. "No pets, no siblings, only the bloated family from hell." Draco gave him a curious look. "You guys didn't bond over grief, it was more shock on Harry's part. Guilt and shock," he corrected himself. "He doesn't actually like his relatives."

"Interesting. So how was he able to .... Never mind, he still mourns his parents," Draco said, shaking his head.

Ron stepped closer, shifting some of the gelled hair over the bald spot. "It was uncovered," he said gently. "Have you thought about having someone look at that? There's all sorts of adverts in the muggle world about getting hair loss fixed."

"I did that earlier," Draco admitted, pulling him closer. "The physician said they could minimize it by cutting it out. Or they could do a few hair grafts, planting my own hair into that spot. Whichever I wanted."

Ron gave him a hug. "It'll be okay, but if you get it fixed I'm hiding your hair gel on you permanently."

Draco smiled. "Fine. Make me have bad hair."

"You have good hair when it's not gelled," Harry said as he joined them. "Why are we having a meeting?"

"I don't feel right," Ron said quietly.

"I think he's about to have a monthly cycle," Draco told him, holding out an arm. "You can hug too," he said when the offer wasn't taken.

"I'm too wound," Harry admitted. "Dumbledore just summoned me up to his office."

"Maybe he'll have something from Remus," Ron suggested.

"I doubt it," Harry told him. He shook his head, then shook out his hands. "If I don't make it to class, please take notes for me." He got a short hug between them then headed up to the office. "You wanted to see me, sir?" he asked as he walked in, exuding confidence.

"Harry," Dumbledore said happily. "Wand?" Harry held it up. "I wanted to see if you could truly follow your family's lead. I hadn't thought you could," Dumbledore told him.

Harry shrugged. "It's slow going. I'm learning more each night." He sat down with a sigh of relief. This wasn't the chewing out he had expected. "I'm working my way through the basic lessons and then I'm going to do the minor offensive spells next. It may not be the most helpful but the books were quite clear on me learning things in order."

"I see. Books?" he asked.

"Books," Harry agreed. "Safely hidden. I've copied the pages I need for now." Dumbledore put two boxes, one gold, one silver, onto his desk. Harry took them and shrunk them further, putting them back into his pocket. "If you know that I had both then you know that you can't open them or use them, sir," he said stiffly. "I won't let you kill me and everyone by opening the books and breaking the bindings." He stood up. "Anything else? I'm due to change classes in a few."

"No, go ahead," Dumbledore told him, frowning at his back. He waited until he was alone before looking at the portraits. "What do you think?"

"I think you've overplayed your hands and lost him," was the male opinion.

"I think the boy's still depressed," one female portrait pointed out. "He seems to have been upset about something."

"You always did read the students the best, Arabelle. Thank you," Dumbledore said, staring at the door. "You think he won't do what I need?"

"No, I think he'll do what he needs," Arabelle said gently. "That might include similar things, but they may well not match."

"He'll be an auror, he'll fight, but he won't be the lapdog he was before," one of the Headmasters agreed. "He's found his life and he's going to do everything he can to keep it, Albus. That includes fighting for it."

"I suppose I should be happy with that," Dumbledore said quietly. "If only the twins hadn't done that potion," he said in disdain. "Things were going according to plan but they screwed those to hell and back."

Arabelle laughed. "Albus, you know very well that no war follows a plan, especially not a precise one. It was unrealistic to expect it to. Why didn't that nice werewolf leave Harry anything? Do you know?"

"No, I don't. I don't think he thought about it," he admitted.

"If they're close then I bet Harry was expecting something," she said thoughtfully. "You might get onto him about that." She turned her back and went to her other painting.

Dumbledore frowned. "I'm not sure I should mention it," he said quietly. "Remus has been in a mood recently."

***

Ron led Draco into the pet store he had found the last time. "It drew me before," he explained. "I want to see." They had snuck out early for a dinner alone, with permission, and Ron had wanted to see in here. "See, animals," he said happily. He heard an excited yap and was drawn back that way. "Oh, you're precious," he whispered, picking the puppy up.

"Hi, welcome to Run's Sanctuary. How are you today?" a pleasant woman asked.

"Just fine, and yourself?" Ron asked. He continued to stroke the puppy. "What's this one?"

"That one is a black labrador, with a touch of wolf somewhere in him," she told him. "About three generations back. He's a bit of an upstart, that's why we haven't been able to find him a good home."

Ron looked at Draco, then grinned. "You know what? I know someone who had a dog nearly this color, but he was a grim."

"Really? Are you thinking about adopting him?" Ron nodded. "It's a small form and a thirty quid fee. We'll even fix him for you if you wanted."

"I'm not sure what I want in that way, but I know he'd be loved."

Draco held up a finger before pulling Ron away. "A dog?"

"Harry's godfather was an animagus," Ron whispered. "A big black dog." Draco's face lit up with understanding. "It'll give him someone to talk to, Draco. Something to love beside us."

"That's a good idea," Draco agreed. He looked at the woman as he pulled out his wallet. "We'll take him." She clapped and went to get them the forms and a carrying box. He looked at Ron. "The first time he chews on one of my shoes, it's your problem," he told him.

"Sure, I'll even walk him," Ron agreed, smiling happily. "Harry will love him."

"Why doesn't he play with Fang?"

"He does, but not all the time," Ron told him. "Hagrid gets possessive when people play with Fang, says they'll ruin his training." They worked together to fill out the form, giving them his mother's address for the form. "I don't know why, but we were drawn in here and right to this one," he chatted. "It seemed like it was fated."

"It could have been, his mother belonged to a wiccan I know," she told him, smiling at him. "The mother died in a car wreck last week and I was left the dog."

"Her name wasn't Kiana, was it?" Ron asked. She shook her head quickly. "That's cool, we know Kiana and she's a very nice lady. Yes, she is," he said as he rubbed his nose in the soft fur. "She even likes your other father very much."

"Hmm. I've heard her talk about you three," she admitted. Draco looked at her. "It's a small wiccan community, Mr. Malfoy. We all know each other." She took the form and the money. Then she pulled up the cage. "Come on, spud, into it."

"Is that his name?"

"No, it's what I've been calling him. When you decide on a name, you'll have to tell it to him each time you want something. Call him with it, pet him while using it, give him a lot of attention while using it. After a few weeks he'll start to realize it's him." She carefully put the dog into the carrier and closed the doors. She handed over a package. "In there's some flea medicine, his shot record, and a bit of food. You'll want to find him a large water bowl, he drinks like a drunk." She smiled at the bark. "Yes, I know your mother was a drunk." She rolled her eyes. "Try to be good to him, or else I'll know, boys."

"Sure," Ron agreed, taking the carrier out to the car.

Draco walked behind him, slowly shaking his head. He hoped Potter enjoyed this gift. He didn't need to care for a puppy, they were hell on the clothes. "That mutt will not sleep with us," he said as he climbed in to drive.

Ron leaned his head on Draco's shoulder. "If you can train him that way, that's fine with me," Ron agreed lightly. Draco stole a kiss. "Pet store then takeaway by the lake?"

"I think I'd enjoy that," Draco agreed. He started the car and shifted into gear, pulling out into traffic. The dog barked. "Hush, you, we're heading to get you real food."

***

Harry looked up as Ron called his name, waving him over to the library table he was sharing with Hermione. "How was dinner?" he asked, stealing a kiss.

"Good, we decided to pick up a present for you and then take our private dinner by the lake while you squealed in joy." He nodded at the books. "Pick up and come on."

Harry picked up everything and followed Ron back to Draco's room, dropping his bag into the chair. "Why did you pick me up a present?"

"Because we thought you needed someone to talk to when you felt you couldn't come to us," Ron said, giving him a hug. "So we got you another friend to talk to." He turned Harry around so he could see the sleeping lump on the bed. Both of them since Draco was laying there snoring. "Oh, how cute," Ron cooed. The dog lifted his head. "Harry, this is.... well, you're going to have to pick a name, but he's yours." He watched as Harry walked over and knelt in front of the bed, smiling. "I was drawn to him and I thought that maybe you'd like to talk to him like you used to do with Snuffles." Harry lunged over and hugged him as hard as he could. "Hey, now. I knew you needed something."

"No one's given me anything like this before," Harry said against the firm stomach. "Thank you, Ron."

"You're welcome, Harry. Thank Draco as well since he went along with me." He pulled Harry up and made him look at the dog again. "His former owner died in a car crash recently. She was a wiccan, and we found out tonight that they know who we are because everyone seems to know Kiana." Harry laughed and walked back over, getting down to play with the dog again. Ron laughed as the dog cleaned Harry's face repeatedly. "I think he loves you."

"I will not kiss you until you wash that slobber off," Draco said from his pillow. He lifted it off his head and looked down. The dog walked up and tried to kiss him too. "No!"

"Let him have your hand," Harry told him, moving up to get closer. "You're going to be big," he said appreciatively.

"The nice woman said he's mostly a lab, but he's got a bit of wolf thrown in a few generations back," Ron explained. He held a hand out for Draco to take. "We're going to eat dinner, you play with your new friend and name him." Harry nodded, hugging his dog hard. So Ron hugged him. "Just remember, you can't love him more than me," he teased, then he stole a kiss and led Draco out. "Come on, I'm starving."

Harry looked at his puppy, grinning at him. "What should we call you?" he asked. The puppy flopped over as soon as the ear scratching started. He looked around and saw the equipment in the corner. "Ooh, I can take you for a walk," he said, hopping up to get the collar and leash. He clipped them on the dog, earning a sad and disgusted look. "Come on, we'll go explore," Harry offered, trying to pull the dog off the bed by the leash. "I promise, there'll be more petting. Come on, boy. How about Snickers for a name? Not quite as good as it could be, but you do sort of remind me of Snuffles somehow and it's a close name." The dog hopped down and drank for a while before allowing himself to be led off for a walk. Harry had to keep him from going into each and every room. "I promise, we'll get to all those soon," he cooed. "Let's find Hermione first, I'm sure she'd appreciate you very much too." He led the dog to the doorway of the library and waved to catch Hermione's attention. "Come with us," he called. She nodded and packed her things, walking over. He saw her shocked look. "Ron found him, his name's Snickers," Harry said proudly.

"You're a beautiful puppy," she said, bending down to let it sniff her hand. It licked her and she scratched it gently on the head. "Come on, let's head out so he can find the outside. It is a male?"

"Yup, a male." Harry walked toward the front door, and the dog took off suddenly. "No, don't chase Mrs. Norris," he cried. "We'll get eaten!"

"He's not," Hermione called. "He saw the outside." She laughed as the puppy pulled Harry out the door, walking slower to catch up. "That might be a problem. We'll want to introduce him to Filch and Mrs. Norris tonight probably, just to make sure they won't have a problem."

"Yeah, but I wanted to hog his attention tonight," Harry said happily. "He's very cuddly." The dog finished peeing and came back to lick him on the face. "Very good boy, Snickers. Yes, that was a good boy," he cooed, petting his new friend. "Wasn't that nice of Ron and Draco to find him for me?"

"It was wonderful of them," she agreed. The dog shifted over so she stroked down his back. "I wonder how old he is?"

"Ron brought back some stuff for him, it might be in there," Harry said with a shrug. "He can't be too old."

"Is he fixed?"

"I don't know," Harry admitted.

"Harry, you'll have to get him fixed. It's important."

"Eventually. I'm going to enjoy having my very own dog before I start thinking about that sort of stuff," he told her, hugging the dog to his chest. "You're a good boy, Snickers, and we'll be the best of friends."

Hermione watched him, seeing what a happy, young Harry might have been like. She smiled and accepted sloppy kisses when the dog lunged to attack her again. "It's a good thing I don't wear makeup or you'd be grossed out by now," she told him, scratching his ears. The puppy groaned and flopped onto his side to let her have more access to the good spots. They both laughed and leaned against each other, petting their new friend.

Down by the lake, Draco canceled the scrying spell. "It seems you were right," he said before kissing Ron. "They both like it."

Ron leaned against Draco's stomach, head in his lap. "He looked like he was eight," he said quietly. "It was the right thing to do."

"Hmm. I wonder if we can make him chase Mrs. Norris?" Ron pinched him. "It'd give us a chance to sneak out again." Ron looked up at him. "We forgot lube."

"Speak for yourself," Ron said as he snuggled in. "I didn't forget a thing." He ran his fingernail across Draco's thigh, making him moan. "And I plan on using most of the things I got today on you two tonight."

Draco picked up a piece of chinese food and fed it to his mate. "We'll try our best for you, as usual, Ron." Ron licked his fingers and he groaned. "Remember to put the dog in the bathroom tonight."

"He won't watch," Ron assured him. "He's a puppy, he'll sleep."

***

The next morning, three sleepy men and the excited puppy walked into the Great Hall for breakfast. McGonagall cleared her throat. "Familiars do not come to class, Mr. Potter."

"He's just gotten here, ma'am, I'm making sure he's acclimated. Besides, this way the house elves don't get bowled over when they come into our rooms. He's very well trained." He sat down and pointed. "Sit." The dog sat, something they had found out he could do last night. "Good boy," he said, snitching a piece of sausage to feed it to him. "There you go. Stay there." He smiled at the teacher's table.

Dumbledore smiled at Harry. "I believe today will be a test to see how well he acts," he said gently. He looked at McGonagall. "I haven't seen that smile in years, Minerva. Let it go this time," he whispered.

She nodded. "What's his name? So I know what to yell when he misbehaves?" she asked.

"Snickers." Ron smiled up at her. "We found him last night."

"Good. Hopefully he behaves in an acceptable manner." She looked at Severus, noting the look on his face. "Though I believe you shouldn't take him to Potions yet. It might scare him."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'll take him with me since we have Herbology," Ron told him. Harry beamed and hugged him. "Eat, you big goof." Harry loaded both their plates and tucked in. Ron smiled at Draco, who saluted him with his juice. "Hey, Harry, maybe you should take him to Potions," Ron suggested quietly. "Just to see Snape's face." Harry giggled madly, leaning against him. Ron patted him on the back. "Just a thought for the future."

"I think I'll do that," Harry agreed. "Not today, but sometime soon." He tossed down a bit of egg, making his dog lunge for it. "Sorry, Snickers, didn't mean to toss that so far afield. I'm not a chaser."

"Who's going to watch him during practices?" Neville asked.

"I thought I'd bring him out and tie his leash to the stands," Harry told him.

"We got him a long tie-out line," Ron told him. "Just in case you wanted to tether him during classes. Fifty feet." Harry beamed again, straightening up. He looked down. "I think he's snuck off already."

"He's here," Hermione told him from across the table. "I dropped some food by accident and he's presently eating it and my ankle."

Harry looked under the table. "Whenever you're done, come back here," he instructed. The dog barked and spotted another bite of food, going to eat that too. Harry laughed. "At least he's cleaning up after us," he suggested.

Hermione shook her head, whistling to bring back the dog.

"Snickers," Draco called. He came trotting over and accepted the treat. "Go see Daddy," he told him.

"Oh, let him stay for a moment," Vincent said, looking down at him. "I've never seen one like him." He let the dog sniff him then petted him on the head. "Get used to me, kid, I'm your family's guardian too." The dog licked his hand, staring up at him, getting a smile. Then he ran back to his dad's side, laying down with a bark to show how good he was. Harry dropped some pancake and he snarfed it quickly.

"Potter, do not feed the dog human food, it's not good for them," Snape ordered.

"It's good enough, Fang eats lots of people food and look at him," Hagrid argued. "May I?"

Harry stood up and walked Snickers up to the head table, letting him greet the other dog on the premises and Hagrid. "Ron found him last night," he repeated. "He's very loving. Didn't even try to interrupt...homework," he finished when he saw the teachers looking his way.

"Oh, be truthful, you were getting in a snog, Mr. Potter. With two husbands, I'd probably be doing the same," Madam Sprout said with a fond smile. The dog licked her hand as well. "You are beautiful. Very finely conformed. Labrador?" Harry nodded. "Wonderful. I'm sure he'll learn to respect the plants?"

"I'm going to teach him today not to dig," Harry assured her. "And to stay out of Greenhouse Three." She laughed. "You don't mind?"

"I don't mind," she agreed. "Now go eat, you're too thin, young man." He took his dog back down to the table, feeding him more sausage as he sat down. "A delightful creature. Fang used to have that same sort of energy," she reminded Hagrid.

"Used to drive us all nuts," McGonagall reminded her. "Chasing that puppy all over the school at all hours."

"I'm sure Harry's gonna train him right," Hagrid said firmly. "He and Ron are good with animals." Fang barked to show his support. "Besides, he's good for Harry. You noticed he was grinni' to beat anything? That's good for a boy." He picked up his tea, slurping the rest of it. "I'm off for the mornin' feedin's, 'scuse me." He stood up and walked out, his dog barking at the other before leaving. "Yes, I'm sure Harry'll let you play with the new dog," he said tolerantly. "I know you've been lonely for other dogs, Fang, and he seems nice. We'll arrange some playtimes for ya."

***

Harry and his dog became features around the school. They were almost never separated. He had even learned how to ignore Snape after that first ten minutes in potions, especially after Harry had threatened Snape back for saying he was going to use the dog in a potion or three. Considering Harry's was much more graphic and had made one student get sick, everyone decided he had won that argument. There weren't any problems at all until three weeks before school ended for the year. That was another fateful potion's day, and everyone was in a bad mood. Test anxiety was high in the seventh years and even Harry had snapped at someone earlier that morning. So of course that's when his dog would decide that it needed to hone his sexual prowess.

Snickers waited until his father was involved in his smelly thing, then casually stood up and stretched. No yelling. He sniffed the legs of the people around him, but none of them smelled like a bitch. He found his other father and received some ear scratches, which he loved, but he was busy too. He traced the smells around the room. This room was always interesting. Humans, not-humans. Smelly things. That big smelly thing in black. He sniffed his way around casually, making sure no one would say anything. He'd done this before and he was always careful since his father had told him he'd have to leave if he couldn't behave. He found the big, dark thing nearly asleep in his chair. He smelled like a bitch. He even smelled like he was in heat. Snickers sniffed him more, then mounted his leg, humping away.

"What are you doing!" Snape yelled as he came out of his light doze. He started to strike at the dog, but a hand caught his.

"Naughty, he's not like you," Draco chastised, frowning at the dog. It got off the welcoming leg and sat beside his feet. "Naughty, go sit beside the other daddy." He slunk back to his father's side, his tail between his legs. "Do not hit his dog," he hissed. "You won't like it back." He sat down again. "Put his leash around the chair's leg," he advised.

Harry, still shocked, looked down at his dog. The first thing that came to his mind managed to pop out. "Was it good?" The students cracked up, laughing long and hard about that one. Harry put the leash around his ankle and went back to his potion. "Sorry, sir, it slipped out," he said, trying hard not to smile. He couldn't believe he had said that! He looked at Draco, who was laughing just as hard and shaking his head. "It really did, I couldn't stop it."

"I can sew your lips shut, that would stop all such comments," Snape said angrily. "Leave, Potter," he said through gritted teeth. "Now!" Harry cleaned up and quickly took his dog for a walk. "Stop laughing!" Snape demanded. The students slowly calmed down. "Finish those potions or flunk for the term." He went to change clothes. He would not stay in the outfit he had been molested in.

Draco looked at the few Gryffindors, then burst out laughing again. "Damn, I want a video of that," he told them. They burst out in more giggles.

***

Harry led his dog up to the Headmaster's office. "It really did slip out, sir," he said in greeting. "I didn't mean to say that."

Dumbledore nodded. "I know, a young man's mind is an odd and strange place. I have no doubt you didn't mean to vocalize that sentiment, Harry. But the dog will have to stay with Ron during your Potion's classes." Harry nodded. "Thank you. Feel lucky, he was to flustered too take off points."

"Or give detentions," Harry said happily, petting his dog. "You are such a good boy," he cooed. "Come on, let's go to Defense." The dog barked, he got to play with the other students during defense, hassling them. The teacher said he was good at it. He waved and walked downstairs, going to wait by the Defense classroom's door. The teacher waved him in so he walked in. "Sorry, we got kicked out of Potions early," he explained.

"That's fine. Go sit down. The rest of the students can soothe their nerves by petting Snickers." He smiled, having heard about the dog already. Snickers came down to greet him then went back to his father's side. Harry was careful to make sure the dog was out of the way. "You have five minutes left on your quiz," he announced. "Harry, move him a bit more out of the aisle. I have the feeling that they're going to run," he said with a smile. "How did he like Potions today?" he asked. Harry burst out in laughter. The students gave them an expectant look. "I'm sure you'll hear later, it will make up for the abysmal grade on this quiz." He walked around, accepting quizzes. "You can go when you're done," he announced. As predicted, most of the students ran out the door. The last three left as the gong rang, and as Neville ran in. Snickers barked and Neville waved. "Take your seat. Remember, you have a quiz today as well, Mr. Longbottom."

Neville walked up to his usual seat. "Hey, Harry? Was it true?" Harry shrugged. "About Snickers and Snape doing it on the desk?"

"Not quite," Harry said with fond tolerance. "Snickers decided to hump his leg, nothing further. Who said they were going at it on the desk?"

"Draco."

Harry laughed. "No such luck, Neville. Besides, I know for a fact that Professor Snape likes women, he was staring at the strip club." The Defense Professor's eyes went wide. "You didn't hear that he tracked us to one and had to sit there with us? Him and the Headmaster?" Harry asked. The Professor choked back a giggle, running into the other room to laugh his ass off. "I like spreading that sort of stuff," he said happily. "It makes others happy." Neville laughed and hugged him. "Thanks. You'll get to play with him a lot since he's got to go to Herbology with you and Ron from now on."

"That's fine. The whole school adores Snickers now, Harry," Neville said with a grin.

Ron strolled in. "Snickers," he said with a smile, petting him. "You've got to get better taste in mates, boy. You really do." He took his usual spot. "Humped his leg?" he asked pleasantly. Harry nodded. "And what came out of your mouth?" he teased.

"Was it good?" Harry said with a blush. "It slipped out!" he said at the raucous laughter.

"I want film of that," Ron said between laughs.

"Draco told me that Snape did the dog on the desk," Neville told him. Ron burst out into further giggles.

The teacher came back, still chuckling but more lightly now. "You guys are too much. I'll miss you."

"You don't train aurors?" Ron asked.

"Well, I do some," he admitted. "You'll be seeing me on and off, don't worry about that, Ron." He patted the dog gently. "You are so special," he told him. "That was wonderful. Do it again, during dinner," he whispered. More of the students filed in and petted the dog. "You can admire his stress-relieving capabilities after your quizzes are done," he announced. "Pull out a quill and parchment."

Halfway through the quiz, Ron felt something was wrong. He was wet, and he shouldn't be - quizzes didn't make him happy that way. He shifted uncomfortably but it wasn't getting any better. This was a bad feeling. His stomach hurt a bit too. He raised a hand and pointed at the hall when the teacher looked at him. He got a tolerant look and a nod so he slipped out of his robe, it had things that jingled in the pockets, so he could sneak out. He saw the dark spot and knew what had happened. He stopped at the teacher's desk. "Female problems," he whispered. The teacher nodded and let him go. He went to the bathroom to clean up, using a cleaning spell on his clothes. Once he was as clean as he could be without a real bath, he looked at the machine that held the feminine products. He only knew about these things in theory. He looked around, this was Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. "Hey, Myrtle?" he called. She came out of her stall. "What do I do with these?"

She floated closer. "You're not fully a yucky boy?" she asked.

"No, I change back and forth and now I think I need one of these. How do I do this?"

"I was too young," she whined. "I never had to use those." She sniffled. "They killed me too young, I don't know anything about those!"

"Okay, thanks then," Ron told her, giving her an encouraging smile. "We'll learn together, all right?" She perked up a bit, until the bathroom door opened, making them flinch. It was Pansy Parkinson. "Pansy, I know you hate me, but can you give me some practical advice?" he asked, pointing at the machine. Her eyes opened wide and backed away from him. "Oh, don't do that," he begged. "I'm stuck, please?" She shook her head and ran out. Ron slumped against the wall. "Great." He found the knut he'd need in his pocket and put it in the machine, selecting the tampon option. The girls who had told him about this stuff said they were better. Less bulky and nasty feeling. He heard footsteps outside and walked over to the door, grabbing the girl walking past. A fourth year Ravenclaw. "Do you know who I am?" he asked, starting to sound desperate.

She nodded, noticing the thing in his hand, then her face lit up. "You finally started one?" she asked. He nodded, looking miserable. "Welcome to real womanhood," she said, giving him a hug. "Do you know how to use one of those?" He shook his head. "Okay, you open it, you hold it by the joining spot." She watched as he opened it and pointed at it. "Hold it there, insert it string side down, and press on the bottom half until it's all the way in."

"I can't get it in too far?" he asked.

She shook her head. "You can only go as far up as your fingers allow you, Mr. Weasley. Don't worry about that. Though if you're a virgin, it might hurt some." He blushed and muttered 'not an issue'. She beamed brighter. "Go ahead and try it, I'll wait right here." He nodded, going back into the stall to affix it. When he came out, she looked happy. "Go okay?"

"Yeah, I guess," he said, holding up the toilet-paper wrapped thing. "What do I do with this, and the dirty one?"

"Well, the dirty one I usually flush, even though you're not supposed to. They fall apart eventually," she assured him. "That gets tossed in the trash and then you wash your hands really well because the blood smell will stick to them." The door opened and Hermione walked in. "He started!" she said happily. "He really is a real woman part of the time." She waved and walked away.

"You'll be a school legend almost as much as the dog," Hermione said as she watched him clean. "Hold still, you missed some blood," she told him, flicking her wand at him. "Clean."

Ron hugged her. "I want to go back to bed now," he admitted, walking out with her. "Why did you come in?"

"The teacher moved your robe and saw the blood. He suggested that one of us go and I was already finished," she told him, opening the door so they could go inside. She leaned closer. "I cleaned up the mess too, with Harry's help." He nodded. "After this, go change." She went back to her seat, sitting there patiently.

Ron sat down on his robe and went back to his test, weathering Harry's sideways glances. He punched him on the thigh, making him groan and Snickers give a small bark of protest, but it would be fine for now. When he was done, he was excused to go change. He saw that the chair was clean so he bundled his robe up and hurried up to change clothes. In front of the stairs, he ran into McGonagall. "Ma'am, I need to change," he said as he walked past her.

"Why?"

Ron looked at her, then glanced around. "Because I couldn't tell I was gushing blood in class," he said honestly. "I got it fixed with the help of a fourth year Ravenclaw. Oh, yeah, ten points to her for helping me," he called out, using his Prefect powers. The clock changed. He grinned at her. "She deserved it, she saved my sanity." He ran up the stairs, going to change before his next class.

McGonagall walked back to her office, making a mental note of what to send in the care package she traditionally sent to each girl in the school who started their periods. She packed the nice bag and had a house elf bring it to Ron's bed. It gave her a funny look, but did as she was told.

Ron walked up to the Ravenclaw table during lunch and smiled at the girl who had helped him. "I gave you ten points for helping me," he told her. "I forgot earlier, but I did give them." He gave her a short hug. "Thank you." He walked back to his table, letting the girls squeal and talk about him. It was only fair. He sat down carefully, looking around and seeing the curious looks. "She helped me earlier," he explained. "She deserved the points." They nodded and went back to their lunches.

Harry leaned closer. "I'm sorry, Ron, I know you didn't want it to happen."

"It's okay, Harry, just another thing to have figured out," Ron sighed. Harry gave him a hug. "Thanks." He was let go and Snickers stuck his face in his lap. "Don't you start with me. Go molest Neville or someone," he said, giving some short ear scratches. "Lay down." Snickers laid at his feet, giving him adoring looks. "Harry, your dog's giving me looks like I'm his wife, not yours," he said nervously.

"We'll talk to Hagrid, make sure we don't have to be careful," Harry said quietly. Ron nodded, blushing. "I'll do it without you if you want."

"Please," Ron begged. "I think I'm going to go hide after this." He looked around. "How many should I plan on buying?"

"Buy the big box the first time and see how many you use," Hermione said practically. "Or ask Ginny how many she uses. It's usually similar within families."

Ginny's head popped up from further down the table. "Ask me what?" Ron stood up and walked down, whispering it in her ear. She blushed. "Buy the big box," she encouraged. "You're going to go hard and fast for the most part. Shorter than mine, but worse." Ron shuddered. "Just three days," she promised. "Most likely."

He slumped but went up to talk to McGonagall. "I think I need to go out for an hour tonight," he said quietly. "Ginny told me I'm going to need a box." She nodded, giving him a smile. "May I skip you today and do that?"

"I'll allow that this time," she agreed. "Find yourself some chocolate too, it'll help. Believe me." He nodded. "Go back to lunch, Mr. Weasley, you'll still need to eat, no matter how much you don't want to." He nodded again and went back to his seat. She noticed he had to push Snickers off his lap. "Hagrid?" she asked. He looked down at her. "Perhaps you should take a moment and talk to Harry about some further obedience training with Snickers," she said delicately. He nodded, looking confused.

"Yes, he should," Snape butted in. "That blasted dog attacked me earlier."

Hagrid beamed. "It means he likes you, professor. They only do that to the ones they like." The students who overheard, and knew, laughed, clutching each other. "But I'll talk with Harry about Snicker's training." He smiled at Harry. "After this?"

"Sure thing, Hagrid," Harry agreed. "I don't want a repeat performance either."

"They'd be ugly babies," one of the Hufflepuff males said, just barely loud enough to be heard. The whole hall burst out in giggles, that had been enough of a clue as to what had happened.

"Fifty points off," Snape ground out. The kid saluted him, Hufflepuff was already in third, it couldn't get any better. "Mr. Potter, you now have detention," he said snidely.

"Sir, with Draco having practice and Ron needing to run out for something, that means I'd have to bring my dog with me," he said politely. "If you'd wait, I'd gladly do it tomorrow night."

"Fine! I never want to see that dog again," Snape demanded. He looked down and noticed the dog was creeping toward him. "Get him out of my sight!"

"Snickers," three voices called at once. The dog looked at each father.

"Come here," Harry called. Snickers walked over and plopped down on his feet, accepting the treats from the rest of the table. "Don't overfeed him, he'll start to expect it," Harry warned. "The house elves already spoil him rotten."

Ron sneezed and groaned. "I think I'm done, I'll see you guys later," he announced. He leaned on Harry's arm. "Do you have a knut on you?" he whispered. Harry handed it over with a confused look. "For the machine," he whispered.

"Oh. Definitely. I'll give you a galleon later to change into knuts," he said with a smile. Ron nodded and left the Great Hall. Harry waited until he was gone to look at Hermione, then at Parvati. "Is it always like that?" Both women nodded. "Okay then, I'll adapt and learn how to deal best with Ron's mood swings," he decided. He decided silently that he was going to warn Draco before he heard about it from someone else. He stood up and took Snicker's leash, leading him over. "I might be late to class, can you take him for a bit?" he asked pleasantly.

"Of course," Draco agreed, accepting the leash. "What happened to Ron?" Pansy bit back a panicked chuckle. He looked at her. "What?" he asked impatiently.

"Um, Ron's started," Harry said quietly. Draco's eyes went wide. "In the middle of the Defense quiz earlier. He's going to sneak out soon."

"I'll tell him if I need anything," Draco agreed, nodding. He smiled. "It'll be fine. I'm sure it will be fine, there's no need to be scared of this."

Harry leaned down next to his ear. "Having seen Ginny nearly take apart the Common Room looking for the hair ribbon that was in her hair one day, I'm going to continue to worry," he whispered. He walked back and grabbed his books, walking over to stand in front of Hagrid. "Nearly done?" he asked mock-cheerfully. "I really don't want a repeat performance."

"Sure, let me finish my drink." Hagrid smiled at him before quaffing his drink and standing up. "C'mon, Fang. You can play with the puppy this afternoon. We'll take him off Harry's hands." He looked at Draco. "Send him over, we'll play with him today." Draco let go of the leash and Snickers ran back to his favorite father's side. "Good boy, come on." He led them out to the back hall. "What happened? Besides the humping?"

"Ron's started having a female cycle and Snickers seems to like his lap," Harry said delicately.

"Yeah, dogs bleed when they're in heat. You'll have to train him not to do that," Hagrid agreed. "You can also train him not to hump Snape's leg again. I agree, those would be ugly babies," he said with a smile for Harry's benefit.

Harry chuckled. "Snape was dozing in his chair and Snickers snuck up and attached himself to his leg. Snape got so flustered," he said, smiling brightly. "Then my mind went funny and the only thing that I could say, instead of 'sorry' or something equally nice, was 'was it good'?" Hagrid roared with laughter, clapping Harry on the back. Snickers barked in protest, his father had nearly fallen over.

"No wonder he's so pissy 'bout it," Hagrid said finally. "I'd say that was great, even though it was an accident."

"Yeah, me too, in hindsight," Harry agreed, walking outside with him.

***

Draco walked into his room, where Ron had been hiding most of the afternoon. He found the tray of chocolates in the cool area and brought it over to the bed, presenting it to Ron as he laid behind him and wrapped an arm around his mate's stomach. "How do you feel?"

Ron picked up a chocolate and bit into it. "Rotten," he admitted. "I'm pouring blood and I feel horrible."

"I know. At least yours is shorter," he said calmly. "Are you being careful?"

"I was told to flush each one after I remove it."

"Good. The water will dilute the blood's power," Draco said, starting to smile. "You couldn't tell?"

"No, I thought I had wet panties," Ron said bitterly. "I noticed it was bad during the quiz earlier and I got up to go to the bathroom. There was blood on the chair. Harry and Hermione had to clean up after me."

"At least they're good enough friends to do that and do it quietly," Draco soothed, stroking over the firm stomach. "We'll have to be a bit more careful from now on, infertility charms and the like," he said as the snort. "We'll also have to chart this so you know when to expect it again," he said quietly.

"Parvati told me how to do that," Ron admitted. "She gave me her spare calendar." He ate another chocolate. "Can I bathe like this?"

"Yes, and it might help some of the pain you're in if it's a warm bath," Draco offered. "Since this is your first one, I'll even run it for you." Ron smiled at him. "Did you get to run out?" Ron nodded. "Good. Did you get more chocolates?"

"I got the generic stuff," Ron admitted. "Harry forced chocolate money on me. I only got to go to the village."

"That's fine. I can sneak out later with Potter's cloak and get more of the good stuff. You eat all you want," he said casually. He stood up and went to run the bath for Ron, smiling as he added just a touch of his cologne to it. He'd enjoy it hopefully. Ron came in a few minutes later, already stripped. "Get in," he said, helping him into the warm water. "How's that?"

"It's nice," Ron said with a smile. "Thank you."

"Harry's freaking at the moment," Draco admitted. "He was bouncing around earlier and wondering what he could do to make you feel better. Snickers thought they were playing." Ron giggled. "Want the chocolate?" Ron nodded. "How about some milk to go with it?"

"Yeah," Ron agreed with a smile. He watched Draco walk out, wondering why he was getting those fluttery feelings again. He'd have to ask about those he guessed. When Draco came back, he put a hand on his arm. "Sit and talk with me?"

"If you want," Draco agreed, summoning a chair and planting it next to the tub. "Are you feeling odd?"

"Those fluttery feelings came back, the pre-sex ones," Ron admitted, opening his mouth to yawn. Draco popped a chocolate into it, surprising him. He chewed slowly. "Thanks, I was yawning but that sort of service can only get you jumped when I'm better."

Draco laughed. "Many women have sex during their cycles. They say it can help cramps." He stroked over the softer chin. Ron was two days before the onset of his female time and it showed. "There are many things you can do that don't require penetration."

"I'd like that," Ron agreed. He looked at the tub. "If we were in the other tub, we could cuddle."

"We can both fit in there with some maneuvering," Draco informed him. "Sit up." He quickly stripped off and climbed in behind Ron's back, pulling her back to rest against his chest. "There, how's that?"

"What if I bleed in the water?" Ron asked quietly, getting comfortable.

"Then we both shower off afterwards and nothing is going to happen," he assured her. He kissed her on the scalp. "I have an appointment for my spot Saturday. I managed to get us all sprung that day."

"Cool," Ron agreed, smiling up at him. "You make a very comfortable pillow, Draco Malfoy."

"Thank you, Ronald Weasley." They shared a kiss. "Do you think Harry will be jealous?"

"Probably, but we'll have time for him to take a bath with me this cycle as well." They both had heard the barking. "I hope he's cured Snickers' reaction to blood."

"Most animals bleed when they go into heat. He's probably expecting you to start putting out pheromones," Draco said quietly, picking up a chocolate to take a bite out of then feed the rest to Ron. "What did you do to Pansy?"

"I was in the bathroom trying to figure out how to do that stuff, fix it and the like, and she walked in. I asked her for help and she looked really scared."

"I see. I'll talk with her later," he said gently. "I think she's under a compulsion to tell Voldemort if you started this." Ron shifted. "He had her for a good three hours, Ron. I'm sure she's under the Imperious somehow. Most everyone is but we're not sure what the trigger is for her." He stroked over the warm stomach. "We will definitely need an anti-fertility charm from now on," he whispered.

"What happens if I do get pregnant?" Ron asked, looking up again.

"Well, first of all, it would make you one of the most powerful changelings in history," Draco told him gently. "As soon as you were more than four weeks along, your blood couldn't be used." Ron opened his mouth. "Not even by your desire. It taints it, Ron, and there are many complications associated with it. It's not a good idea." Ron nodded, settling back in to listen to him. "Once you reach that four week mark, your body has accepted the future baby and it starts to adjust itself. Your blood would sing with the power of the energy running through it. You would blow things up without meaning to, possibly even Harry and I. Of course, your magic would go funny, so even if you wanted to you probably couldn't do a simple levitation spell," he noted dryly. "Then comes the problem of the birth. Since you change on a cycle, your body won't automatically change when it's time for birth. That means you could die because the child wanted out. If you were more like George, then your body would not only adjust but probably stay female all the time, definitely before giving birth." He gave him a squeeze. "It would be a great deal less of a worry, but the risks aren't that great."

"What if I miscarried?" Ron asked quietly. "You said there had been one that did."

"And she was driven insane by it," Draco told him. "Again, not an option I want to contemplate." He considered it. "If we had to, and you wanted to, we could do it and then do an abortion I suppose." Ron shuddered. "I didn't think you'd be open to that." He smiled sadly. "My mother confessed a few years ago that I nearly had an older sister. Father had tried to do the changeling spell in-utero and she had aborted it so it wouldn't be tortured." Ron squeezed his arm. "Not that I'd mind, some day, but definitely not until after the war's over with." Ron nodded. "I wonder what's taking Potter so long?"

"He's probably playing with Snickers in the hallway. He looked a little scared earlier."

"He did," Draco agreed, smiling and kissing him again. He picked up another chocolate and handed it over.

In truth, Harry was trying to get away from Hermione and Parvati, who were telling him what to expect when he walked in there. He was nearly sick and shaking in fear, but he would have to go in sometime. "Maybe I should volunteer to do my detention tonight," he said finally.

"It won't be any different tomorrow," Hermione reminded him.

Parvati nodded. "You should get it over with, Harry. Be supporting and take it for now. Ron can't help it." He nodded and opened the door. "Want us to take Snickers with us?"

"No, we'll be fine," Harry said with a smile. He walked through the doorway and shut the portrait. "It's me," he called.

"Bathroom," Draco called back. Ron giggled. "The main one, no matter how much Ron wants to be in the other one."

Harry and Snickers both headed in there, one to get pets and the other to drink from the bathtub again. "Hi." He sat on the chair and fed Ron a chocolate. "The girls pounced me," he said with a smile. "They think I need a hard hat."

Ron laughed. "Not yet," he assured him. He grinned. "If we moved this to the other room, we could all cuddle me."

"I'll get my cuddles later, you can have Draco cuddles for now," Harry told him. "C'mon, Snickers. Let's go sit and do the homework for tomorrow." The dog barked and followed him.

"You were right, that was the perfect friend for him," Draco said quietly. "I've never seen him that happy."

"Me either," Ron admitted. He looked up then at the doorway. "Harry, did you send your aunt an owl?"

"No, I'm avoiding it," Harry called.

"Do it now, that way we can correct any grammar mistakes," Draco called.

"Fine," Harry said from the doorway. "I'm sure they don't want the protection."

"Yeah, but Dumbledore promised that you'd do it for them," Ron reminded him. "It's only for a week, Harry, and we'll be at the nearest hotel." Harry nodded, giving them a brave smile. "Think of it as a distraction from the decorating plans," Ron suggested. Harry laughed and went out to write out the letter. Ron looked up. "Your job is to find us somewhere to stay," he said with a pinch to the thighs around his. Draco nodded, smiling at him. "Room service isn't necessary, but no bugs would be nice."

"Some places have insects?" Draco asked, a clear 'eww' look on his face.

"Some of the more sleazy places," Harry said from the doorway. "You could stay at the Leaky. I know how to get there by the Underground and busses." He sat next to the tub and put the parchment on the edge. "Dear Aunt Petunia sound okay?"

"Sounds good," Ron agreed, giving him a smile. "Harry, did they say anything to you about being horny during this?" he asked. Harry's quill tip broke, spreading ink out onto the paper. "Sorry."

"No, they didn't," Harry said, tossing both away. "I guess I can put that off for a while." He looked down at Ron's body. "How would we.... while you're bleeding?" he asked.

"Anally," Draco offered. "Blow jobs. Touching. There are rumors that you can penetrate vaginally during menses but I'm not sure I want to contemplate it outside of water." He looked down at Ron. "It's up to you, it's your neediness."

"You're not horny?" Ron asked, wiggling some. "This lump against my lower back says differently."

"Ron, we're all about eighteen, we're *always* horny," Harry reminded him. "This time would be about you, so you get to set the boundaries." He winked. "I call next time."

"That's fine," Draco agreed. "I win no matter who starts it." Ron pinched him again, this time on the inside of his thigh. "Ow," he said playfully.

"Behave then," Ron said, scowling at him. "Or else I'll beg and plead until you give in and do that tongue thing again."

"Not this week I'm not," Draco noted in his most dry voice. Ron pouted, but he held firm. "Not until you've stopped, then I'll give it to you for hours on end if you prefer." Someone knocked on the portrait. "Get that, Harry."

"Sure." Harry got up and walked out, looking outside. He saw the majority of the Slytherin seventh year so he opened the portrait. "He's in the bath with Ron," he announced. Crabbe pushed past him. "Something bad? Where's Pansy?"

"She just freaked," Millicent Bulstrode said as she pushed past him. "Draco, get your naked ass out here, we've got problems," she called. She smirked at Harry. "You could stay or go. We don't care anymore."

"I was nearly put into your house," Harry told her. Everyone stopped and stared at him. "I begged the hat," he explained. They sighed in relief. "With what I had heard about you guys, I knew I didn't want to be in there."

Draco walked out with a towel around his waist. "You mean I could have molested you sooner?" he teased. Harry blushed. "Close the door, unless Pansy...." He saw the hard looks. "Close and lock it, Harry," he said quietly. "What happened?"

"She started going all house elf and beating herself on the head," Crabbe said, looking at his feet. "I punched her to knock her out."

"I'm sure she's thankful for it," Draco assured him. "Sit." They sat and stared at him. "What was she saying?"

"That she had to tell him, but then her voice changed and she said she wouldn't. That's when she started to hit herself," Millicent offered. "That's when I screamed and Vinnie came in and stopped her. She's in the infirmary."

Ron walked out of the bathroom. "Let her tell him," he suggested.

"No, that'll make him drool more," Harry said firmly. Ron opened his mouth and Harry walked over and pushed him against the wall. "I'm not losing you," he hissed. "Never! Understand!" Ron nodded, looking scared. He let him go and backed off, running his hands through his hair. "I'm sorry, Ron, I don't know what came over me," he apologized, looking at him. "I won't force you to do anything you don't want."

Draco watched Ron comfort him and an idea started in his head. "Harry, you speak snake, right?" Harry looked over Ron's shoulder and nodded. Draco looked at the rest of them. "When is he free?"

"Tomorrow night around ten," Vincent told him. "Dad said tomorrow's a night off, he wanted to know if I wanted to have dinner with him. He usually feeds his friends around ten though." He looked at Draco. "I said yes."

"Then go, we'll be fine," Draco assured him, smirking confidently. "Ron, bathe. Harry, go with him. I'll go talk to Pansy." He looked at the seventh years. "You were correct in bringing this to my attention."

"We were also going to ask a question," Millicent told him. "You're not taking it?"

Draco shook his head. "Why would I want to destroy everything I have left by joining the insane in his quest to wipe himself out?" he asked quietly. They hissed.

Harry walked back out. "I've seen his history. He's a half-breed himself," he put in. Draco put an arm around his shoulders. "He's committing suicide using others. It's a common thing in psychology according to Hermione." He sighed and leaned against Draco. "In the muggle world they call them hate crimes. Hurting someone else to take out your insecurities on them. It's sad and tragic that so many have to suffer because no one's shot him." He got free of the warm arm. "I have one ready," he told Draco. "Ready for a test at least."

"We'll try that tonight," Draco said, looking a bit awed. "How?"

Harry shrugged. "It's not hard. If it works, I'll show you. Can we use them tomorrow?"

"To make sure we're not bothered," Draco agreed, giving him a kiss. "Go plan and plot. You know what I want?" Harry nodded. "Good. Go figure out what you want to bring and wear. Remember, we're going for impression and fear." Harry walked into the bathroom and shut the door. "Have you told anyone else what she was doing?" he asked.

"Just Madam Pomfrey. She recognized it because she gave Pansy the saddest look," Vincent told him. "I carried her up there, I figured it was only fair since I was the one who knocked her out." He shrugged lightly. "Are you sure?" Draco nodded. "Okay, but I want to know immediately when you get back. I'm only allowing an hour, Draco." He stood up and walked over. "I won't let Ron be hurt."

"Good, because she's staying here," Draco said quietly. He looked at the women. "I want you to stay with Ron, and possibly the women usually around him. Can you?" They nodded. "Good. Then it's settled. You leave Pansy to me and ignore this whole situation, just keep Ron here tomorrow night." They nodded and filed out, only one of them handing him a few sickles for the shot they had taken. He smiled as he put the money away, going to find clothes quickly. He headed up to the infirmary, knocking as he walked in. "Is Parkinson awake yet?"

"She is, but she can't be bothered," Dumbledore told him.

"I don't want to bother her," he snorted, walking around him. He smiled at Pansy as he walked in. "We understand," he told her. She lunged up and hugged him. "If it hurts that badly, give in." Everyone hissed. "He'll know anyway. He has spies around here," Draco pointed out. "I know at least one house elf reports directly to him." Dumbledore groaned. "You learn things listening to my father rant about the stupidity of spies," he said, looking directly at Snape. "How's your arm?" he asked finally. Snape reared back. "We've known."

"Does he?" Dumbledore asked.

Draco shrugged. "That I don't know. You'd have to ask my father whether or not he thought it was politically expedient to tell." He looked down at Pansy again. "You can give in, we don't mind," he assured her. "I won't let you near Ron, but I know it's not you. We'll break you free soon enough. Got it?" She nodded quickly. "Good girl. You stay up here for now." She nodded again. "Good," he said with a smile, patting her on the side of the face. "I'd best get back. I left a panicking Harry with a chocolate needing Ron. He's probably shoving them into her mouth by now." He strolled out, stopping to get a pain potion for Ron. He walked back downstairs, looking unconcerned to all who saw him. He found a few members of his soon-to-be-former team and stopped to chat with them. "Ron's started her cycle, I can't attend. I'll be at the next practice," he told next year's captain. He got a quick nod. "Pansy's upstairs. Do be nice to her." He walked away, heading to his quarters. Harry was indeed trying to force Ron to eat more chocolate. "Let her decide, Potter," he sighed. "You always want to go fast. Take your time and enjoy it. This is a rare occurrence. Let her enjoy it with you." He held up the bottle. "In case you get cramps." He put it down and stripped, getting back into the tub. "We'll have to teach you to appreciate the slower things," he said with fondness and a smile for Harry.

"Rushing makes sense when you don't have time," Harry pointed out.

"Ah, but we do have time, Harry," Ron reminded him with a grin. "The war's started but you're not on duty yet. Take the time to enjoy it, it'll mean more later."

"Okay, I'll try."

Ron reached over and stroked his hand. "It's okay, really, but taking your time means that I enjoy it more too," he said gently. Harry gave him a weak smile. "I tell you what, you get past this and we'll show you how to take it slowly this weekend." Harry nodded and relaxed.

"Good boy, now go get more chocolates," Draco ordered with a wink. Harry rushed out to get them more chocolate. Ron had apparently trained him well already.

***

Back in London the next morning, Percy looked up as the paper finally came. It was over three hours later and he should probably complain, but the picture on the front page made him choke and wheeze. He glanced around, then straightened up and went on his break. He was entitled to it, the office wouldn't run without him, he could take fifteen minutes. He sat down in the break room, reading the story, and the ones mentioned on the other pages. "Oh, no," he said quietly, reading about his brother Ron. He went back to the front page, frowning at the picture of his youngest brother and, according to the caption, his husbands. Why hadn't he been informed of this? Ron may not like him but that sort of information usually filtered back to him. He stared at the picture for a few moments longer. Ron looked wonderful in the dress he was wearing. Harry looked happy. Even Malfoy looked happy. He noticed the date on the picture and frowned. "Nearly three months old," he said in disgust. Then he hit himself on the head. "Of course, they're in school. They were released for the night. There wouldn't have been a more recent picture." He turned back to the content of the article, shocked by all that had happened that he hadn't heard about. Yes, this should have filtered down to him, so someone was hiding the truth from the general world.

In the back of his head, a small fact hit him. He smiled. "So that's why," he said, nodding calmly. He had noticed that the cause was given for his brother's miraculous change, and that one of the twins was also affected. He stood up, deciding he had had enough of this, this would give him a legitimate reason to talk to the twins. He walked into the Minister's office. "I need the rest of the day for personal business," he said quietly. Minister Fudge looked at him like he was some monster. "I haven't taken one before but I believe that I should do something about my family situation," he said quietly. Fudge smiled, probably hoping he'd patch it up so he could spy on his parents for him. "Thank you, sir. I'll be in the usual time tomorrow." He went to his desk to get his robes and his wand, taking them out into the alley. He looked up and down Diagon. Where was the shop again? Oh, there it was, it had a large black cloud coming out of the door. Must have blown something up again. He strode that way, looking purposeful. He walked in and whatever Fred had been explaining dried up. He shrugged and waved the paper, heading for what appeared to be the back room.

Fred cleared his throat and finished giving the young girl instructions on her prank. "We'll be right back," he told the kids in the store. "GEORGE, VISITOR!" he yelled as he headed to the living room. He walked in and glared at his older brother. "What?"

George jogged in and stopped. "Percy," he said dryly. "What the blazes do you want?" He walked over. "Ah, today's paper. And that's a wonderful picture of Ron," he said, glancing at his twin.

Percy sat down. "There are things you don't know, and I know that Malfoy doesn't," Percy told them simply. "I can get you access into the archives." He raised an eyebrow. "Ron is in more danger now that he's started."

"Started what?" Fred scoffed, picking up the paper to glance at. His face went pale. He looked at George. "Just like you."

"Shit," George muttered, taking the paper to read. "That is a stunning picture. Whomever bought him that dress had excellent taste." He dropped the paper onto the table. "Give and then leave."

"Boys, there's more than you think," Percy said gently.

"We found out a few things," Fred said, closing the door behind him. Then he reopened it. "George, go call lunch or something," he said. He waited until his twin was gone. "Why did you come?"

Percy stood up, walking over to stand in front o him. "Because I figured out why Ron's been left this long," he said quietly. "There's a symbolic moment, Fred, and it's critical. If George has started his cycle, his has passed." George walked back in. "Did you have any funny feelings your first month? Dizziness, lightheaded feelings, something like that? Especially if it was during a dark moon?" George nodded slowly. "Were they together?" George shook his head. "Has one dark moon while you were bleeding gone past?" George nodded slowly, looking confused. "Then you're safe." He waved a hand at the paper. "If the two coincide, that is the *perfect* moment to make Ron bleed. The height of his power, no matter how corrupt or innocent he may be. That would be tonight," he informed them. They both opened their mouths. "I know Malfoy won't, I found Lucius' journals myself. It was something I glanced through a few times," Percy admitted. "I figured it was a myth, because otherwise anyone could have done it. Now that I've seen some of the higher research I realize I couldn't have done it and almost no one else could. You have to be very powerful to do so. You worked together?" he asked.

Fred swallowed. "What's going to happen?"

"Is Ron at the school?"

"We can make sure he stays there, if not we can bring him home or here," George told him. "What's going to happen?"

"If he's still bleeding, and the article suggests he only started yesterday, then there will be an attack to try and get him. If they succeed, then they'll tie him out, do an arcane and ancient ritual, and pierce his heart. If not, he won't be vulnerable this way ever again." He ran his fingers through his hair. "There is another factor. Is he fertile?" Both twins shrugged. "It happens that only half are. George, are you?"

"Not in the female sense," George said, sounding baffled. He looked at his twin. "Why?" he asked finally.

Percy sighed. "Because the other version of the ritual is to impregnate him and then kill him once the power takes hold, just short of one month later. A lunar cycle to be exact. Two days before he becomes invulnerable." Both boys winced. "Now you see why I broke our silence this way?" They nodded. "Thank you." He found a piece of parchment and pulled it over, writing them out a pass. "Whomever's doing Ron's research, Hermione or Harry, give them this. You can go with them," he told them, handing it over.

"Draco is," Fred told him. Percy's mouth opened. "He seems to adore Ron."

George nodded. "We saw Malfoy giggle because of Ron and Harry. He took up their protection without a lot of browbeating since his father was the problem."

Percy groaned and shook his head. "If he knows, then Ron may be in trouble with him. This will give the user nearly unlimited power."

"Harry'll be with him," Fred pointed out.

"How easy is it to distract Harry?" Percy snorted. "How many times did he look at a girl and go numb?"

"Good point," Fred and George agreed. They looked at the pass.

"We can go visit," Fred decided.

"I'll get the new sample case together," George agreed, heading back into the store.

"Thank you, Percy."

"You're welcome," Percy said stiffly. "I don't want to see Ron hurt, nor do I want to see that sort of power in anyone's hands, not even Dumbledore's or Potter's. That sort of power does corrupt." He walked out, leaving his family to rally themselves. He felt his chest tighten but it had to be done. Maybe something good would come out of this in the end. Hopefully not with his brother's death to hype Potter's powers, but still something good. At least they wouldn't let Voldemort have him.

***

George walked into the Defense classroom and waved, then grabbed Ron by the arm and dragged him out. "More testing," he said pleasantly. "He'll be right back." He closed the door and walked his brother away. "Percy came to us earlier," he said as he walked Ron toward the room Dumbledore had agreed they could use. Ron's mouth opened. "Not out here." He opened the door and pushed Ron in, then locked and sealed it. "Tell him."

"Percy had an interest in the changeling myths," Fred said, waving a hand so Ron could sit near him. Ron sat, looking at both of them. "He found a 'but' that you may not know and wanted us to warn you directly."

"That's good, I wouldn't have listened to him," Ron snorted.

"He looked really worried," George admitted. He walked over and sat across from Ron. "You have started bleeding?"

"That bloody paper," Ron sighed. "Yeah, I have. Yesterday. Why?"

"Because tonight's the dark moon and the innate response is to take your blood tonight," Fred told him. Ron's mouth opened. "Listen."

"There's apparently a ritual. The first month, the first cycle, the dark of the moon."

"And your heart's blood," Fred told him. "Or if you're fertile, you getting raped and impregnated, then held hostage and killed on the next moon dark."

Ron jumped up, staring at them. "Shit!" he said, wiping his palms off on his pants. "How?"

"That's what we don't know," Fred told him.

George stood up. "We know Draco won't, but we'll need him to watch you particularly closely."

"They're not here," Ron breathed. "They had a plan to protect me from the big stinky arsehole." He ran his hands through his hair, messing it up. "Who else knows?"

"Just us and Percy, though we did get a pass into the archive out of it," George said with a grin. "Where can we hide?"

"We can go to the new house," Ron decided. "Let me get the dog and Vincent. Draco said he was staying, that something funny had come up with his father canceling their dinner or something." He looked at the door. "Wanna walk with me?"

"Sure," Fred agreed as he stood up. "We've already cleared it with the Headmaster. He suggested you take all the contraband out of your room before it was searched." Ron giggled nervously.

"Oh, really?" George said, grinning at him. "Pranks?"

"Chocolate, liquor, and ice cream," Ron told him. The twin's looked impressed. "Harry's idea but Draco's running the business end." He nodded at the door. "Let's go." George unsealed it and Ron was escorted down to Draco's room. "The contraband locker is over there," he said, pointing at the hidden cabinet.

Fred felt along the wall, finding the pull knobs for the doors. He whistled and let George see. "That is impressive," George agreed. "Bring it?"

"We could just shrink the whole cabinet and bring it," Fred offered.

"Draco said that's how he got it here," Ron told him. "Seal it first, and put something up so nothing shifts. Some of those are opened." He packed a small bag, including the bag of dog food, then whistled to bring Snickers to him. He had been napping in the bathroom. It would have looked suspicious if Harry or Draco had dropped him off. He clipped on the leash and the dog's tail started to move. "Yes, we're going to for a ride," he said happily. "Let's see if you can track. Find Vincent." Snickers took off with him, George following while Fred cleaned up their presence. By the time he found them, George, Ron, and Vincent Crabbe were in the front hallway. "We set?"

"All set," Ron agreed. "There's a floo if you want to use it," he said quietly, glancing around. "We can use Hagrid's fireplace. He's got class right now."

"Fine," Fred agreed, walking out after them. They made a strange parade. He noticed one girl standing up on the mezzanine staring after them. "We have spies."

"Pansy's under the Imperious," Ron said firmly. "It'll be fine. They won't be able to follow us." He looked at Crabbe, their secret keeper. "You can tell them, they'll need to know so we don't have to double floo with the dog." He looked at Hagrid and pointed at his cabin. Hagrid frowned but nodded. Ron winked at him. "We'll be safe," he told him as he walked past him. "Relax." They walked into the hut and started the fireplace. Ron looked around as Vincent told them the address. Then they headed out, whispering the name into the fire. Ron came out in the middle of the group and looked around the house. "Someone really needs to dust," he said with a snort. Even the dog sneezed. "I know. Put the cabinet down beside the bookcase," Ron said, pointing out a blank spot. "That's where it was heading originally." He let the dog go. "You stay near me, got it?" Snickers barked and wiggled until George sat down to pet him. "Thanks." Ron dropped his bag onto the couch and flopped down on top of the dust cover. "Where's Fred?"

"Coming," Fred called. He came back with some glasses of water. "To take the dust out of our throats," he said, glancing around. "What is this place?"

"Harry's house," Vincent said quietly. "Ron, I'm going to look around. Draco didn't give me the tour last time."

"Go for it," Ron agreed. "I'll show you our stash later." Vincent nodded. Ron looked at the water. "Pranks?"

"Not a bit," Fred sighed. "We're in serious mode now."

"We should reassure mum," George offered.

"Not from here," Ron told him. "Draco had the floo rigged so it'll only go to the school, his house, and to anyone who knows the place exists. We drove mum here." He sipped the water. "The floo's the secret entrance."

"Good job," George praised. "You three together are a bit of a pain in both sides I imagine."

"Yeah, well, we had to. Harry didn't have a life, I was quickly losing my right to one, and we freed Draco by giving him the obligation of me." He looked at his dog and put the glass down. "Here, have some. You're usually thirsty." Snickers walked over and slurped out of the glass.

"What about neighbors?" Fred asked.

"About two miles away, and they know we have small inheritances. Well, Draco seems to have a bigger one. The whole sports car thing gave it away." He grinned. "It's a beauty. I love riding in it."

"Cars?" George asked. "Do they fly?"

"No, normal cars," Ron told him. "Look outside, they should be out there." Both twins looked outside, then at Ron. "What?" he asked, standing up. "Hmm. Have to fix that." He walked out and took down the 'for sale' sign, deciding to call the person on the listing. They had two prepaid cellphones lying in the study for things like takeout. He dialed. "Hi, I saw your sign in my front yard?" he asked. "Yes, that's our house. No, I'm not, I'm Mr. Weasley," he sighed. "Yes, him. Yay." He laughed. "Good! I like that! What? I thought we had bought the surrounding grounds. How much more for it?" He sighed. "I'll tell him. Well they can wait! We have first call, our house is sitting in the middle of it, lady." He hung up and dialed the other cellphone. It was missing so one of them must have it. "Hi, it's me. Did you see the sign in the front yard? Yes, Percy found out of all people," he said dryly. "No, twins." He laughed. "I'm sure we can. We have the cabinet too, Dumbledore warned that he was going to do a check. Yup, and him." He chuckled again. "Good. No, I told her I'd talk to you about buying the surrounding lands. No, apparently we only bought the acre around the house and then everything else is still on sale." He giggled. "If you say so, Harry. Yeah, the sign's on the ground. Thanks. You be careful! I am being careful, I have the fucking arsenal," he pointed out dryly. He laughed. "Sure. Wonderful." He blew a kiss. "Come home and crawl in with me tonight and I'll reward you both." He grinned as he hung up, then went back to the living room. "It'll be fine. It's about the surrounding lands. They've been on the market now for six years according to Harry's research. He said Draco can scare the woman tomorrow." He clapped them both on the back. "Vincent, come see," he called. "Draco said I could show you all one of the many secrets the house holds." He led the way into the kitchen, waiting until Crabbe joined them. "C'mon." He touched a certain tile and a door popped open in what had looked like a decorative panel. "It's a little small," he warned as he walked through it. He flipped on the lights as he walked down the stairs. "We found this hiding spot already in here, along with most everything down here," he told them as they joined him. "Apparently the last guy had been paranoid." He grinned as he removed a sheet from a crate and kicked it open. Everyone's eyes bugged out at the sight of the bullets. He picked up one, holding it up in the light. "Harry, thanks to some of his mother's things, figured out how to put a hex or a curse on a weapon that you were tossing," he said, tossing it at Crabbe. "It works, they tried it last night on something that was already dying. Hagrid agreed and watched, so he knows that it works, but nothing else. A non-killing wound that killed instantly," he said with a smile.

"What's on this one?" Crabbe asked, looking it over. "And what do you throw it with?"

"That goes in this," Ron said, opening another crate and picking up a 9mm handgun. "It has the Cruciatus on it." Crabbe dropped it. "It's inactive until it's fired," Ron told him gently.

Fred picked up the bullet, looking it over. "Ingenious."

"And with this you can get at the most six hundred yards away and still be useful," Ron told him. He put the gun back and closed both crates. "We have longer distance ones as well."

George hugged him. "They really want the war to go quickly, don't they?"

"They figured it has already gone on long enough," Ron agreed.

Crabbe coughed. "They're going to visit people tonight," he admitted.

Ron beamed. "I know, I helped Harry pick out his clothes this morning." He grinned at his brothers. "Tonight's a night off. Or at least it was until the paper came out today."

"We warned the Headmaster why we were taking you," George told him.

"Just the generics, not the specifics," Fred added.

"That's good. Dumbledore would do it if he thought it'd help," Ron told them. He shrugged at their shocked looks. "It shows in how he's been treating Harry. I've caught him giving me a few speculative looks as well." He looked at Vincent. "We're going to have you taught how to use these," he told him. "Harry already knows. Draco and I are in the middle of our training." Vincent nodded quickly. "Don't worry, it won't make you less of a wizard, just more of a threat," Ron teased. Crabbe relaxed and laughed back. "Let's go find food. Otherwise we'll have to break into the safe for money." He followed everyone up, making sure everything was off and the door was sealed before looking around. "Dog?" Snickers barked from the other side of the panel. He sighed and reopened it, letting the dog out. Then he sealed it again. "Food, then we'll figure out how to kill time."

"I bought my textbooks and stuff," Vincent admitted with a small blush.

Ron patted him on the back. "We'll study together. Harry hasn't won the argument yet and gotten a satellite dish put in." He checked the refrigerator, frowning at the contents. "We have sealed juice, juice boxes, Harry's, and some really old cheese," he said, tossing that out. It was the wrong sort to have mold showing. "That's all that's in here." He checked the freezer. "Hey! Food!" he said happily. "What do we want to eat?"

"What's vegetarian lasagna?" George asked.

"Something Draco decided sounded good," Ron admitted. "No meat, just veggies." He handed it over. "We also have frozen mashed potatoes and frozen pizza," he rummaged around. "Oh, and here's the frozen vodka." He shook his head as he put it back. "Just what we don't need tonight." Vincent laughed from behind him so he grinned at him. "Not tonight, tomorrow night if we don't head back tomorrow afternoon."

"I doubt Draco wants to share his special liquor," Vincent pointed out dryly.

"He won't care, it's Harry's and he'll be in a sharing mood after the first shot," Ron said tolerantly. "Hey, maybe we can talk them into letting us visit Kiana." Vincent groaned and walked away. "What?" he called after him.

"Ron, that's mean."

"But she'll protect us," Ron pointed out. Vincent came back into the kitchen. "She will. She's a wandless witch, she's the one who's been training Harry, Vinnie, she will protect us."

"All right then," he sighed. "Force us to go to the strip club. Want me to call?"

"Sure. Then see if you can pop the safe? I only remember the last two numbers."

"Sure, Ron." He walked that way.

"Strip club?" the twins asked in unison.

Fred looked at George. Then down at his outfit. "You may not try it out," he warned.

Ron giggled. "I won't either if it makes you feel better," he said sweetly. "Even though the girls were very nice and helped me a lot. They even showed me some of the pole tricks." The twins whimpered and let him deal with the food.

Vincent came back. "She's working tonight, now. The boss called her and told her we were asking about her. She's coming in special for us." He looked at the food. "Are you sure it's good?"

"Draco seemed to think so," Ron said with a shrug. "If not, that's what restaurants are for. Any luck on the safe?" Vincent nodded. "Good, grab a big handful. I'm sure she'll appreciate us more if we bring a lot of money."

"Can I tip that one dancer again?"

"Sure," Ron said, giving him a pat on the arm as he walked around him. "Pull out the potatoes. We'll have them too."

"Sure, Ron. You do know how to use the stove, right?"

"Mum made sure all of us could cook enough to feed ourselves," Ron assured him. "Besides, it's got directions on it." He winked. "Even Percy could do it and he was helpless. Couldn't boil water." Vincent laughed. "Where's the dog?"

"Staring out the front window at the trees. Every once in a while he growls then yips happily and wags his tail. I think there's another dog out there."

"There may be," Ron agreed. "Who knows." He glanced back at the hallway. "My personal weapon's upstairs in the bedroom. Can you bring it down?" he whispered. Vincent nodded. "Thanks. If there's another up there, I'll show you what I know. If not, I'll get one of the ones from the basement." Vincent opened his mouth, then simply walked away. "Thanks."

"It's your safety," Vincent called back.

Ron opened the first thing and set it into the oven, then started on the rest of the meal. "Not as great as mum, but good enough," he told himself. As soon as Vincent was back, he handed him the spoon. "Stir that." He sat down at the table to check it, loading the two extra clips and the gun itself. "There." He put it on and did a concealing charm. No one would see it unless he pulled it. Well, possibly Kiana, but they could explain it to her. She'd understand.

***

Draco and Harry got out of Harry's car, strolling casually through the large park. They could feel the magic sliding around them, so they followed it. They had already gotten a call from Ron saying they were going out and decided that was a good idea. So when the cellphone rang again as they walked into the clearing full of snakes it surprised them. "What?" Draco asked. He laughed. "That's fine, Ron. Do you have money?" Pause. "Use it all if you took more than five hundred." Harry took the phone.

"Ron, be good," he said with a grin. He listened and burst out laughing. "Thank you, that might embarrass the both of them. Come home looking splendid for us tonight." He hung up and handed it back. "He promises not to dance."

"Good," Draco agreed. He looked at the snakes. "Unless you want to crush them...." he suggested.

Harry looked at the snakes, hissing at them, "Let us pass." They slithered out of the way, all but one large one. "Nagini," he said, smiling at her. "How are you, dear?" She hissed something and he laughed. "Because I've dreamed of you." He got down on her level. "I can free you," he whispered.

"Shouldn't you ask her master first?" an amused voice asked as he walked into the clearing.

Harry stood up. "Why would she want to stay bound to a sleazy, diseased, suicidal person?" Harry asked with a shrug. "I'm offering her a safe spot as long as she doesn't bother my dog."

"We can't have her in the house's backyard," Draco reminded him.

Harry looked at him. "I figured she's seen your backyard and could probably get on fine back there," he said with a grin. He looked down at her, hissing again. "It's up to you. Servitude to the evil one, the one who will kill you some night, or a nice resting spot of retirement. Nothing asked or expected outside of you leaving my animals and mates alone. All you have to do is come with us and tell them the names of the others you've seen."

"No!" Voldemort said, raising his wand.

Harry pulled his gun. "It's amazing what you can do when you embrace your heritage," he said dryly as he walked forward. "Not only is it amazing, but then you get to scare the shit out of others, like you and Dumbledore." He stared at the wizard, smirking hard. "You never should have thrown over my mother, Tom. That was your fatal mistake." He shot him, making the man scream. "Sorry, I'm not in the mood to kill you today," he said with a special smirk just for him. "But I'm sure you'll enjoy the Cruciatus just as much as I did since I figured out how to put it onto things." He backed off, sneering at him. "You're old."

"I'm experienced," Voldemort sneered as he forced himself to stand up. "There's a difference, Potter."

Harry laughed. "Not really. It may be because of my age, but your experience doesn't do anything if I can find ways around it." He looked at his gun, then at the Dark Lord. Then he looked at Draco. "I'm bored," he complained.

"I know," Draco said, holding in his shock. Where was the usual Potter? This one was a touch psychotic and scary. "We'll go find Ron soon and then you'll have the pretty one."

"Okay." Harry shrugged and looked at Voldemort again. "You really should have tried to court my mother. I'm glad you didn't, because then I wouldn't be me, but you really should have paid more attention to those around you when you were in school."

"Why?" Voldemort raised his wand. "Expelliramus." Harry's wand flew over to his hand. "You're powerless."

Harry flicked the safety on his gun and handed it to Draco, nodding to their right. "Incoming," he said lightly, then he raised his hand. "Digitalis," he cast. It was the spell he had learned last night. Voldemort grasped his chest and screamed in pain as the Death Eaters started to gather. They stood still, watching this be played out. Harry causally walked over and grabbed his wand, then broke the other one. "Did you *never* watch my mother, Tom?" he asked with a sneer. "There are more forms to magic than this puny one, and she knew that too." He looked at the other Death Eaters, then back down at his quarry. "I find you too boring to live. Not only can't you get past your own birth, you can't get past yourself. Maybe if you meditate it would help," he advised seriously. He shrugged. "Until you either die or surrender, the war is on." He walked back to Draco's side. "Since I've been so good and I didn't kill anyone, can I have Ron *and* Draco cuddles?" he asked as he turned him around.

"Malfoy," Voldemort hissed as he stood up.

Draco turned to look at him. "You have no right to even speak my name, old man. I and the other pure bloods know that you're not one of us." The senior death eaters all started to mumble. He laughed. "He didn't tell you? His father was a muggle, his mother a witch. He's a mudblood himself." He tilted his chin up and gave a triumphant smirk. "As if any of us would follow you knowing that," he scoffed. "None of this year's graduating Slytherins need you to attain power and control. We can follow Potter here and get it faster. At least he's less of a mudblood." He smiled at Harry and kissed him. "That's why I chose him as one of my two mates."

"Yes, the changeling," Voldemort hissed, screaming in pain as he tried to move. "Take it off."

"Why?" Harry shrugged. "I could add more. Unlike you using the spell, I can layer on spells." He took his gun back and undid the safety. "Want another to prove it?" he asked happily. The senior Death Eaters wavered. "Don't try it," Harry said derisively. "Bullets are faster than apparation." He glanced around. "I won't tolerate this. This is official notice that the war is on and I'm going to win." He shot Voldemort again, this time in the knee. "Oops, I meant to hit you in the dick to make sure you couldn't breed." He stepped up to him again, kicking him in the injured limb, making him fall in screaming pain. "The changeling is mine, Tom. Ron always has been and always will be. And now I'm going to go find my Ron and fuck him into next week in each way possible. Then Draco's going to join in, as is his right since he agreed to join the both of us. Maybe, if you're *really* lucky and I'm feeling generous, I won't transfigure you into a woman and set you loose in Azkaban, I'll only kill you." He strolled away, flicking the safety on his gun and taking Draco's hand as he walked away.

"You're scary," Draco noted quietly. They stopped to look at the snake. "Fine, she can live in the manor's backyard," he sighed. "It can only help the war effort." He looked at the Death Eaters staring at them. "I've already told your children, they know what's going on. It's too bad Dumbledore wound up Harry earlier, he's in the mood to play instead of killing mercifully."

Harry hissed at the snake. "Well?"

She wound herself around him until she got his waist. "I am yours. He has already tried to hurt me, he does not deserve my support."

"Nagini! NO!" Voldemort yelled. "Stop them!" No one moved.

Draco opened the car door with the keychain remote and got them inside, starting the car to speed away. "Where to now?"

"Ministry. I believe we should have a talk with her," Harry said as he lovingly stroked the snake. "Remember, do not go near my dog or my mates."

"Or the house elves, we'll never replace them," Draco added. "If that's all right with you?" The snake nudged the hand shifting. "Thank you. Potter, you were a scary bitch tonight. Would you warn me the next time?"

Harry grinned. "Sorry, but I wanted to show my ass and it was rather fun."

Draco nodded. "True. And the fact that you've announced you're a side unto yourself?"

"We'll make a treaty with Dumbledore's side."

"It's good that you have a plan." Draco shifted down as they entered city limits. "Where is the Ministry?"

"Down by Diagon." He looked down at the snake. "Soon, just a small talk and then we'll release you."

***

Ron paid everyone's cover and led the way to their usual table in the corner. The waiter rushed over. "Beers all around, good ones, and change," he said, handing over three hundred-Pound notes. "When is Kiana due in?"

"She's just gotten here, sir, she's changing." He looked at them. "Are you the ones she came in for?" Ron nodded. "Then she said to wait here and she'd be right out." He hurried off, going to get them what they needed. When he brought back the drinks and the change, one of the big guys walked over to the stage, watching the dancer go for it. The waiter watched the others, there was something odd about them.

"They're my family," Ron told him. The waiter nodded and moved away, going to another table to check on them. Ron leaned over. "He's a bit of a gossip hog," he said quietly. Clapping started and he looked toward the stage. "Wow. You go girl!" he yelled. She smiled at him and then down at Vincent. "That's who we're here to see," he told them. The twins nodded, stunned stupid by her stage act. Ron nearly laughed, but he remembered being that stunned for his first hour in there. When she was done, she strolled over to sit with them, tying the belt of the robe she had been handed. "Hi, Kiana. These are my next older siblings. Fred and George."

She looked at George. "You did this to him," she noted, holding out a hand.

"It was an accident and I administered it," Fred said as he shook her hand.

"Hmm." She made room for Vincent, then looked at Ron. "Do you have a permit for that thing?"

"No, but if I have to use it, we're all in deep shit," Ron told her. She nodded and relaxed. "Harry and you were right, it worked."

"That's wonderful." She accepted Ron's folded tip. "You're a wonderful tipper, Ron."

"And you dance like nothing ever seen before," he assured her, giving her a real hug. "They're off facing down the stupid plonker."

"I thought they were the smart ones," she sighed, shaking her head. "So, why did you come running?"

"I started," Ron said happily. Her mouth opened and he nodded. "It's moon dark tonight."

"Oh!" Her eyes widened and then she nodded. "Understood. Hey, I'll take myself off rotation and we'll get blintzed," she offered.

"He's the driver," Vincent told him. "But we'll gladly share some drinks with you and get you lit," he said nicely. She laughed and reached over to hug him. "Thanks. You're very good."

"I try but sometimes that wicked streak of mine comes out," she said with a wink. She looked at the twins. "You definitely don't dress to impress, sweetie. You either."

"We own a prank shop," Fred told her.

"Ah! See, now I thought all you blokes dressed like businessmen to throw people off when they made things explode." Fred's eyes lit up. "You'll have to invite me down some time, see if it works with me."

Ron hit himself on the head. "I forgot to tell you. Harry has a dog. We found him at a friend of yours' shop."

"I heard. What'd he name the little mischief maker?"

"Snickers."

"Ah. Is he active?"

Ron smirked. "Better than that. Yesterday, he decided to hump Snape's leg in class." She started to giggle so he put a hand on hers. "No, that's not the best part. Harry was so flummoxed he couldn't think of an apology. 'Was it good' slipped out instead." She cackled, leaning against him. "Thought you'd like that," he said with a grin.

"He did?" George asked. Ron nodded. "I thought the dog had good taste," he sighed, looking at his twin. "I would have wanted film of that."

"Draco got so annoyed at Snape for nearly hitting Snickers that he started the rumor that he and Snickers had been doing it on the desk." Fred spluttered in his beer. "Sorry, had to share," he said with a grin.

"As long as the dog doesn't do it to me," Vincent told Ron. Kiana laughed. "He's a strong little dog!"

"I know, I gave him a bath the day before you guys showed up." She kissed Ron on the cheek. "I'd offer you a private dance, but I doubt you brought that much without having the financiers along."

Ron pulled out his wallet and showed it to her. "Can it get you out of dancing? We only need you to help protect me for right now."

She smiled. "Honey, for that, we can sit upstairs all night and drink champagne." She snapped her fingers, bringing the waiter. "Have them escorted up to the blue room. They wanted a few privates." She stood up. "I'll meet you up there," she said with a wink. "Gotta go put on something more indecent." She strolled off.

"I want to know how she wears heels that high," George breathed as they followed the waiter.

"It's not hard, Ron can do it," Vincent told them. He brought up the rear of the group.

Ron blushed. "She taught me," he told them. He whistled when he saw the room. "This is a nicer place," he agreed. He pulled the cellphone out and called the guys. "Hi, I'm doing a private with Kiana. Yeah, Vinnie popped the safe." He laughed. "Of course, Harry. No, I won't snog Vinnie or her into the plush fabric or do a turn on the stage," he sighed. "Not without you guys being here." He laughed and hung up. "Did we take more than five hundred?"

Vincent nodded. "Probably a thousand, why?"

"Draco said we had to spend whatever we took if we took that much and they expected me to look fabulous when they showed up later." He sat down on a couch and looked at the waiter. "Beer or champagne, guys?"

"Beer," the twins and Vincent muttered.

Ron grinned. "I think I'll have whatever Kiana wants me to have. Ask her." The waiter nodded and collected the money for the first private session. "Sit, guys, don't stand around. They are watching," he said with a nod toward the camera. Everyone found a seat, the twins next to each other. Ron leaned forward. "Can you think of a better place to hide?" he asked the twins. They laughed and shook their heads. "I can't really imagine anyone like Draco's father coming in here and not causing a ruckus."

"I can't imagine Lucius coming in here," Vincent corrected. "He never was one for playing with his victims that way, Ron. He was more of a mental fucker." The door opened, admitting their gracious hostess in her see-through robe and teddy. "Wow." He wiped the drool off.

She sat down next to him. "Don't worry, I won't jump you," she said with a grin. He laughed. "Good boy. Ron, tip the nice man." Ron tipped the waiter and took the tray of drinks from him. "I ordered you the good champagne. Draco would have my head if I did otherwise." She accepted her glass and saluted them. "Here's to an easy night." She smiled at Ron. "I should have brought you something to change into so we could all see what you've remembered."

"I'm still going off," Ron said with a blush.

"They make protection for that," she said with a wave of her hand.

"Yeah, and I nearly panicked when I had to figure out how to use it for the first time," he countered. She laughed, leaning over to give him a hug. "Thanks, but figuring out a tampon is really hard!"

"Just that first time," she soothed, patting his arm. She saw George's confused look. "Don't have one?"

"What's a tampon?" George asked.

"Internal bleeding protection," Ron told him.

"There are *internal* ones?" George asked. Ron nodded, smiling at him. "Damn, I'm going to have to figure that one out for myself." He slumped a little. "I need to have a girls night with you, Ron."

"Why not? I had one with Parvati and Hermione. I have some back at the house. I've slowed a bit." He put an arm around Kiana's back, not minding in the least when she shoved him off. "Sorry."

"That's okay, but the bosses are watching."

"Let 'em. We're paying good money to sit here and chat," Fred told her.

"And with the length of time we're spending up here, he can't say you're doing anything improper," Ron pointed out gently. She smiled. "Besides, aren't you nearly done?"

"Definitely," she agreed. "One more class and I'm totally done, then I get to go onto my Ph.D. at Oxford. They've already accepted me."

"Congrats," Ron said happily, clapping her on the back. "That is wonderful." He handed her his wallet. "Here, send them money for however long we can get. Draco said I had to spend it all if I took that much out." She grinned and kissed him on the cheek. "He said I was to hug you once for him if he didn't make it here before we left."

"When can we leave?" Vincent asked. "Not to intrude or impinge, but how late does the danger run?"

"Probably not much after two, which is when we close anyway," Kiana told them. She counted the money, then handed a small wad of it back. "There. Let me stroll down there and hand this in and put some of it on the tab, then I'll be right back." She stood up and moved to the doorway, looking outside since she heard giggles. "Great, the pro's up here," she said dryly, walking past the girl and her client. She walked up to the bartender. "They're old friends and they've bought three hours worth of privates," she informed her. "Plus about six rounds, depending what they're getting." The bartender smiled. "Hey, I like the old friends," Kiana said with a wink. "Less dancing that way." She looked over her shoulder. "You might watch Cindy, she had her hand down the guy's pants in the hallway, in clear view of the bottom of the stairs."

"I'll point out that the rule is no whoring," the bartender agreed. "Or at least to make it to the private's room if she has to. Sorry they had to see that."

"They know I'm not like that," Kiana said with a shrug. She strolled back up the stairs, waving at a customer she knew on the way up. She walked in and locked the door. "Whew." She saw the stunned looks. "What?"

"The noise next door," Vincent said, clearing his throat. "Either she's a screamer or there's a small problem."

Kiana stepped out and went to listen to the next room, then frowned and knocked. "Is this one open?" she called. She heard a grunt and opened the door, frowning at the mess and the body. "Bobby!" she shrieked, getting out of the bouncer's way. "My clients said they heard a scream while I was downstairs," she told the boss as he came running. "I came over to check."

"Go back to the blue room," the boss told her, getting her out of the way. "Good, she's still living. Get an ambulance." He looked at Kiana. "Go back to your privates."

"Yes, sir." She walked back in and shut the door, shaking her head. "Thanks for that. She'll probably live. You didn't happen to see who it was, did you?"

George nodded. "I saw some blonde guy with red streaks when I looked out to see who was knocking on the door."

Kiana opened the door. "She knocked over here and it sounded like she was with her ex," she told them.

"He was here," the bouncer agreed. "I warned her, sir." He put a fist into the wall. "I knew we should have banned him."

"We will from now on," the boss sighed. "Kiana, aren't you busy?"

"Mine are old friends buying me privates, they won't mind," she told him. "Will she be all right?"

"She'll be fine, she's still living. I'll pop out the tape for the cops so they don't bother you." He looked her over. "You put on the special outfit for them?"

"One's the guy that I helped find his female persona," she said with a grin. "Him, his two older brothers and that really sweet big guy."

"Where's the blond and the brunette?" the guard asked. "You never see the redhead in here without him."

"Out doing something, they sent him ahead," she said with a shrug. "Send them up when they get here." She smiled at the paramedics. "She wouldn't have voluntarily went with the guy, you might want to tell them to check for drugs in her system. It was her ex as far as we can tell."

"Blokes can be bastards," the female paramedics agreed.

Kiana closed the door again and looked at them. "Gee, Ron, it's going to be one of those nights all the way around."

"I had to bring the sports car," Ron said with a grin. "Harry has his. Those two had to cuddle up in the little cubbyhole," he said with a nod for the twins. "You could ride in Vinnie's lap on the way back if you want."

"Nah, I'll do the cab thing. It's much nicer." She curled up next to George this time. "Okay, hot stuff, show what I taught you."

Ron groaned. "Do I have to?" She nodded. "Fine, I'll get up there and *try*. You can always teach me more."

"Honey, I've taught you most of the real woman's secrets already. I've got to start work on this one." She patted George on the knee. "Try a spin." She looked at George, then at his body. "You're definitely going to be a leisure suit sort," she decided. "Tougher fabrics. Maybe chinos."

"Our women don't wear pants," Vincent said, looking scandalized.

"Yeah," George agreed, nodding.

"I do all the time," Ron reminded them.

"Yeah, and people stare at you," Vincent told him. Ron shrugged. "Really, you should wear skirts, Ron, be a proper woman."

Ron snorted as he shimmied his way up the pole. "Yeah, right. Vincent, how often have you seen me being a so-called proper woman?" Vincent's mouth hung open. So he slid down, twirling a bit. "Yeah, so, unless I'm wearing lingerie to school, or something slinky to draw attention, I'm wearing pants."

"You could wear those flowing robes," Vincent told George.

"I wear the big skirts so I can put some of the material between my legs," George told him. "I can't do that with them."

"That's why there's these grody and out of date things called coollots. They're shorts that look like a skirt. Unfortunately they're coming back in our world, so you could probably find some in yours, or have some made." She watched as Ron worked the pole. "Damn, I am good," she announced. "Ron, arch your back more, it makes your tits stand out." He did so and Vincent whimpered. She smiled at him. "That's right, you weren't here when I taught him that. Harry nearly attacked him after the first trick. Show them the good one." Ron humped the pole as he slid down it, simulating really wild sex by the way he was throwing his hair around. Then he licked up it and smiled at her. "Good boy. Come sit." He walked over and curled up against her side. Vincent reached over and handed them each a hundred pound note from his pocket, making them laugh. "Thank you."

Ron tucked his into his pocket. "Since I don't have a g-string on," he said with a wink. Vincent nodded. "Oh, like that, would you? And what would Harry say?"

"Probably nothing until he castrated me," Vincent pointed out. "Then I'd hear about it and have to hope that Draco knew I was teasing."

"Harry's the possessive one?" Fred asked.

"I would have thought that Draco had that edge."

"It depends on the circumstance," Ron told him. "Harry's very fond of my tits and he considers them his property. He's even growled at Draco for nipping one once. Draco wants me to be a showpiece. Slinky, sexy, and totally untouchable. It leads to fights."

Vincent nodded. "A number of fights," he agreed. Everyone laughed. "Ron, if I beg, would you wear that silvery/blue number that your mother found you?"

"In public?" he asked, sounding shocked.

"You are a woman right now," Kiana reminded him.

"Good point." He considered it. "Vinnie, it dips really low on both sides. Harry would kill me."

"Besides, silver?" Fred asked. "With his hair and skin?"

"It's stunning," Vincent told him. "Molds itself just right and he looks stunning in it. Ron did a show when it came and Harry nearly drooled himself to death."

"Draco nearly drooled himself to death," Ron said dryly. He rolled his eyes. "I didn't bring it, Vinnie."

"Tomorrow?" he asked slyly. "As a reward for them coming back? You could be ending tonight."

"Yeah, I could, couldn't I?" Ron agreed, considering it. "I'll wear that one or the new light green one, how about that?" Vinnie whimpered. "Cool idea. Thanks." He winked and looked down. "I don't have shoes for either of them."

"We can fix that," Vincent reminded him.

"That's true, we can," Kiana agreed. Someone knocked. "Occupied."

The boss walked in. "No dancing?"

"She was teaching me how to," Ron told him. He smiled nicely at him. "We did pay for a few hours."

"And we appreciate that, but I have to warn the girls that the cops are downstairs." He looked at her. Then at her outfit. "You might want to change."

Ron sighed. "Can we take her home? That way she can help us shop for shoes?"

"You're a drag queen?"

"He's my side project, he's a trannie," Kiana told him. "I'm helping him find his female side. These two are his brothers, and this is his bodyguard for the night," she said, waving at each of them. She stood up smoothly. "Since I only came in for them I can disappear if you want. You know the local cops hate me because I don't bow or blow."

"Go for it," the boss sighed. "Will they want their money back?"

"Only for the last hour," Ron told him. "She deserves the rest, this job is really hard." He stood up and pulled Vincent up from the too-soft couch. "That okay with you, Kiana?" She nodded. "Cool." He looked at Vincent. "You want to sneak back to get those dresses? I packed the dark green one for tomorrow."

"Sure, Ron, be happy to." Vincent gave the twins a look. "Protect him. I'll be back."

"We'll be outside against the car," Ron told him. Vincent nodded and led the way out, heading down to the bathrooms to apparate from there.

***

"May I leave?" Nagini hissed at Harry.

"If you wish. I will not keep you against your will, but you are under my protection if you stay. The blond one's father was one of the bad ones. So bad the dementors wouldn't touch him. I'm sure you've seen his house." She nodded. "Then you can decide for yourself where you want to go. Even if we have to ship you somewhere." Harry pointed at a road. "Go there." They went that way, going past his old house. "There's a for sale sign," he noted.

"You can owl them or talk to them tomorrow," Draco said dryly. "Not tonight, it's late." He shifted down again as they encountered traffic. "Come on!" he said in disgust. "I have a lover to shag!"

"Me? Really?" Harry teased.

"It'd better be you, just to wear you out." They finally got a green light and headed downtown. "How do we get there from here?"

"Left, two blocks, then a sudden right. Go to the blank shop." He stroked the snake some more, keeping her calm. He only hoped that they had another Parsletongue there. As soon as Draco parked they got out and walked over to the phone booth. Draco smooshed in behind him. "Ministry of Magic."

"Please identify yourself."

"Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, plus a guest," Draco told her.

"Please go to the guard's desk and register your wand." The phone booth shifted down, bringing them downstairs.

Harry led the way to the guard's desk, startling him. "Is Arthur Weasley in? And could you call the aurors for us please? This young miss wants to have a discussion with them," he said pleasantly. The guard registered their wands then made the call. Someone came running. "Hold up, don't grab us!" Harry said in disgust when hands reached out. "She's not a problem, she's decided to switch sides. Nagini, meet some of the aurors I'll be training beside," he introduced. He looked at Arthur and smiled. "She decided to change sides, Voldemort hurt her one too many times. Oh." He took out his pistol and showed it to the guard. "We're registering it." He looked at the stunned people. "Doesn't anyone else speak snake?"

Arthur looked at Draco and opened his mouth but Draco shook his head. "It wasn't me, he talked to her. I'm only offering her my backyard if she wants it," he noted. The aurors walked them to their department, getting them set up in a meeting room. "This is nice."

Harry patted him on the hand. "I'd doubt they'd accept you, Draco, they'd hold your father against you," he said with a smile. "Even though we know you're better and have a working dick, unlike him." Draco laughed, giving him a short kiss.

Arthur cleared his throat. "Not now, boys, please." He looked at the head auror as he walked in. "They decided to not follow orders."

"It seems that Mr. Potter has that reputation," he noted as he sat down. "The parsletongue we have on standby is on her way in. Why don't you tell us what you did, Mr. Potter. Or Mr. Malfoy," he offered with a small smile. "It's nice not to have the battleground in the building this time."

Harry laughed and let the snake uncoil, laying her on the table. "We were warned something would happen because of what Ron is," he explained. "So I announced a formal start to the war." He pulled out his gun and slid it down the table. "My mother was a wandless elemental witch." The others hissed and looked away. "Each first child in my family is somewhat. My own gift is nature, changing the formal nature usually." The head auror and Arthur stared at him. "I was given custody of my mother's books this year," he admitted with a smile. "I'm not through them both, but I am learning. I figured out how to implant a quiescent curse on a bullet, or an arrow if you want to go less technologically advanced." He gave them a bland look. "Those are Cruciatus."

"Oh, my," Arthur breathed, picking it up. He looked down the barrel. "It won't fire, right?"

Harry looked at it. "Don't touch the little switch or the big lever," he told him. "It shouldn't fire even if you do touch the lever, but I don't want to take that chance with you, Arthur." He looked over as the door opened. "Hello," he said in snake.

She nodded. "Hello," she replied in kind. "Who is our honored guest?"

"Nagini, I've had dreams about her," Harry told her. "She's the Dark Lord's snake and personal assistant."

The woman bowed. "We are honored. Did he hurt you?" The snake nodded. "If we could get a list of names, it would help us stop them sooner, my lady. But whatever you feel able to give us would be wonderful."

Draco cleared his throat and looked at Arthur. "You might want to talk to Dumbledore about establishing a formal treaty between himself and Harry. With the way he worded things, it may have sounded like he was starting a third side," he said carefully.

Arthur looked at Harry and saw the truth in his eyes. "I'll floo him as soon as we're done, boys," he said with a smile. "It was foolhardy, but I for one appreciate it, Harry."

"You're welcome. I figured we'd make this one on our terms since our last meeting went so poorly," Harry said with a sad smile.

"Yes, well, things like that happen in war," the head auror said briskly. "There will be time enough to grieve at the end. Can she give us names?"

"She can, I let her set what she wanted to give," Harry told him, "as did your interpreter." Their cellphone rang and Draco answered it. He stole it at the shocked look. "Hi?" He smiled. "Hi, George. What happened?" He waited. "Hi, Kiana. Where are you?" He smiled then heard something that made him drop the phone. He looked at the worried Draco. "Silver dress," he said. Draco grabbed the phone and his arm, pulling him out of the room and out to the car.

Arthur smiled. "It is a stunning dress. Ron must have promised to wear it for them," he said with a sad smile. He looked at the snake. "Does Voldemort want my son Ron?" She nodded. "Please, we'll do whatever we can if you'll help us protect him."

The translator smiled at him, translating the latest hisses. "She says the time has passed. Her master can't hurt him now unless he wants to bring a blood debt onto his head." She pulled over some parchment and a quill. "Would you please give us names, my lady? If we could arrange to pick them up tonight or tomorrow, your safety would be ensured." The snake bowed her head and hissed out a stream of names, which the interpreter took down. "Thank you, my lady. We'll put you into Mr. Malfoy's backyard if that is what you want, or we do have a wonderful conservatory that has a few mice." Nagini said something and she nodded. "That would be true, you would be safer, but bothered by humans. Your choice." The snake hissed something. "Of course, my lady." She looked at the waiting people. "She wants to go to Brazil. That's where he found her, in an ancient temple."

"We'll send one of the recruits down there," the head auror told her. He took the list of names and read them over. "There's a lot of them."

"If you get one each and/or do a midnight raid on each house you could pick them all up relatively quickly and in one night. I'm sure Veritassium would solve their vows of silence." The head auror nodded. "Plus, I'd even be willing to go back out on assignment myself if you needed me to."

"No, I think we have enough. Pair the recruits with a trained auror." He looked at Arthur. "Where is your son?"

"Apparently they sent him to safety. Harry's very possessive of Ron when he's in his female stage." The head auror looked concerned. "No one told you," he said bitterly. The man shook his head. "The twins decided to try and make a candy that would give men a chance to be women for a day, to see if they could understand them better," he said with a sad smile. "The tests on mice worked, but the ones on humans left George changing randomly and Ron changing on a cycle. He's in the middle of a female phase right now and just started his monthlies."

"That's why they did it tonight. So You-Know-Who couldn't catch your son," the head auror said, nodding. "A solid distraction plan, if a bit foolhardy." He took the gun. "We'll look this over before sending it back to him. We might be able to use it." He stood up. "I'll let you handle her arrangements. Tell me what you'll need." He walked out, ending the meeting. He needed to call in everyone for an early morning briefing.

Arthur smiled at the snake. "Thank you, Nagini. You have saved my son's life and his sanity." He left the translator with the snake.

"You did very good and we will make sure you are as safe as can be," the translator told her, stroking gently over the regal head. "You're magnificent, you shouldn't have had to serve him."

***

Ron walked out and leaned against the car, looking up at the nearly moonless night. "At the house you can see the stars," he noted.

Fred gave him a nudge. "You're too domestic for your own good. Those men of yours are going to expect you to cook and clean for them."

Ron looked at him. "Draco threatened me if I didn't let him spoil me," he told him. "Harry's decided that if I don't allow him to spoil me too then I don't get good treats, only the spoiling stuff. They've both decided that they're getting a squib to do the housework." George coughed. "You okay?" he asked.

"What did he threaten you with?"

"With allowing me to get really drunk again and doing a table dance in Slytherin." Vincent showed up with the two dresses and immediately gave him a funny look. "That was the threat if I didn't give in and allow them to spoil me. It was either that or they were going to be sneaky and get Ginny drunk and have her do one for the Slytherin quidditch team." The twins frowned. "I convinced him that wouldn't be a good idea," Ron said with a grin. "Did she tell you she's dating Neville?" They shook their heads. "Huh. She is." He put the dresses into the back then held the seat. "In you go, don't worry about wrinkling them." He heard the sounds of discomfort. "Sorry, there are a few days when I think Draco should have gotten a bigger car; he got this one because it's sleek and fast." Kiana walked out in jeans and a flannel shirt. "I don't know where you'll sit, unless you want Vinnie's lap or between the seats," he told her. She wiggled her way into the back. "Okay then. Vinnie?" He pulled out the keys and walked around to get in and drive.

"Slowly this time, Ron," Fred pleaded.

"He doesn't drive like Draco, feel thankful," Vincent told them, shutting his door. "I wish I knew a spreading charm," he told Ron.

"Harry's book has one but he's not there yet," Ron said as he started the engine. "Okay, where are we going?"

"You're going to get back here and I'm going to drive," she told him. They switched places, Ron getting the small space between the seats. She took off. "Mall, Ron, or speciality stores?" He shrugged. "It's a matter of money, sweetie, how much do you have? We only have a little while before everything closes."

Ron pried out his wallet and looked in it. "Maybe a few hundred," he decided.

"More specific?" she suggested dryly.

Ron countered and a hand edged the hundred pounds out of his pocket. "Thanks." He recounted. "Four hundred fifty-six pounds," he said finally.

"More than enough," she said, heading for the big department store. "You're lucky we're doing this early, these guys close at nine sharp." She glanced at the dashboard clock. "That gives us an hour, Ronnie."

"Okay," he agreed. "Will we have to bring in the dresses?"

"Yuppers. Oh, but they have a wonderful lingerie section. And thanks to you, I can splurge. Next time, tell them you have a private party and request me. That'll cost less and I can come out to the house." She pulled up into a parking lot and turned off the car. "Pile out. We're here."

"Where is here?" George asked, slithering out as soon as possible.

"Harrod's," Ron said with a smile. "Which floor?"

"The first. Most of the ladies' things are there," she said as she took his arm. "Come on, we'll go have some fun." She took the wallet. "Don't you worry about it."

"Ron, shouldn't you call the worrywarts and tell them where you are?" Fred suggested, following behind the two women.

"Maybe," Ron agreed. He handed back the cellphone. "Go ahead."

George took the phone and looked at it. "How?"

"Hit send," Kiana told him. "It'll dial the last number. Do it quick since we can't really call inside."

George hit the button marked 'send' and put it up to his ear. "Harry? No, Draco, it's George. No, something happened at the club to another dancer so she's taking everyone to Harrod's. No, I don't know." He handed the phone to Kiana before crossing the street.

"Hey, cutie. Shoes. Because Vinnie convinced Ronnie to wear that silver dress." She laughed and hung up. "Harry dropped the phone," she told him, giving him a pat as they walked across the street. "Inside, to the floor marked 'one'," she called after the twins. She smiled at the door guard and walked to the first escalator. "To the right," she said as they were about to exit. "The escalator marked 'ten'." They followed behind her, going up this one as well. She got out of their way. "Welcome to the Ladies' Department, gentlemen, and George." She grinned at him. "Shoes are in the back left corner, lingerie is on this side in the back. Everything else is clothes. Vinnie, take Ron, he usually has decent taste, I'm going to get George started." She pulled him and Fred with her, going to investigate the more suitable clothes.

Ron carried his dresses to the left, rear section, smiling at a saleswoman. "I need shoes to go with these?" he asked, handing over the bag. "I can wear heels, up to four inches, but I prefer solid shoes instead of sandals."

She looked at the outfits. "Very unusual colors. This one's more a spring and the silver's more a winter," she said thoughtfully. She looked at him. "When are you wearing them?"

"One of them tomorrow, then they're in general practice depending on the weather."

"All right then, let's see what we can find." She led him back to what should be his size. "Do you wear about an eight?"

"I know I wear an eleven in mens," he offered. She clucked her tongue. "I have big brothers."

"Oh, you poor dear. Did your boyfriend buy these?"

"Husband," Ron corrected, smiling at her pointed look at his hand. "I refused to let him decorate me that way. He tends to go a bit overboard sometimes. Threatened me if I didn't let him spoil me."

She laughed. "Some husbands do enjoy the spoiling. Most women give in graciously as long as it's tasteful. Perhaps you should try." She heard running feet and looked over. "Which is yours?"

"Both of them," Vincent said, nodding at her stunned look. "They made sure of it."

Ron nodded. "They adore me, but they couldn't decide between each other and me."

She laughed. "I *adore* you non-traditional couples. Let's see what we can find for you and your men." She looked at the selection in the eight and a halves, and then the nines. She pulled down a pair of black ones, a tan pair, and then a silver pair. Ron added a blue pair and she decided on a slightly darker green pair with his nod. "Try these on and then we'll see." She looked at the light green dress. "I don't have a thing to wear with that one," she admitted. "This spring we might have, but..." She trailed off. "The wedding stuff," she announced, going over there. She came back with a simple white pump with a three inch heel. "These are dyed to match any color."

"That's the only dress I have in that color," Ron told her. "How much are they?"

Draco covered his mouth. "He'll take it," he said with a smile, taking out a card. "Try on the shoes, Ron." Ron nodded so he let him go. "He has the worst time accepting being spoiled."

"I don't want to become rotten," Ron taunted.

"Too late," Harry said with a grin. He watched as Ron tried on each set and nodded that they fit well enough then he took her with him to the ladies clothes. "Kiana, I need something spectacular, yet stately, for Ron," he called when he spotted her. "George?" George shrugged. "Not that," he said with a headshake.

"Is he gay?" the saleswoman asked.

"Trans," Kiana said as she joined them. "Define special and stately."

"Um, special enough to be taken out after graduation and stately enough to go nearly anywhere?"

She nodded and took the saleswoman away. "Ron's about my size, and I'm sure you can find something like that better than I can."

Draco had found the lingerie section and was loading a basket in Ron's size of everything he had ever wanted to see on a girl. He paid for it and came back for the shoes. Harry was forcing Ron to accept a new outfit, so he stopped and kissed Ron. "Stop it or I'm going to make you sleep with the snake." He walked over to pay for those as well.

"Snake?" Ron asked.

"It's a long story," Harry said with a hesitant smile. "Really a long story."

***

Ron was pushed onto the bed and bounced with a smile. "How did it go?"

"Harry pretended to be psychotic," Draco told him. "He scared even me." He stole a kiss as he undressed Harry slowly. "We'll appreciate her together," he said against the soft lips. "Give her a reason to sit around tomorrow looking wonderful."

Harry's answer was a moan. He loved being the plaything.

Draco looked at Ron. "He also shot the idiot twice, neither fatal wounds."

"Too bad," Ron put in, holding up a hand. "Harry?" Harry fell down beside him, giving him a kiss. "We need to bathe me really well, I did stop."

Harry grinned. "Good. I'm going to appreciate you for as long as I can stay awake." He stood up and heaved Ron up, putting her over his shoulder as he walked into the bathroom. He saw the look Draco gave him. "I had to do some weight training. It's required that I can lift another auror if necessary."

"Now I know to run screaming from them if they offer me a spot," Draco said dryly as he followed them, taking off his own clothes. "Are you sure, Ron?"

Ron nodded. "The last one came out with nothing." He let himself be placed into the large bathtub, the real selling point that had made them choose this house, and watched as Harry tore off his clothes. Oh, no, he was in eager mode. "Slow down," he ordered. Harry gave him the 'deer in the headlights' look. "I want to see you strip slowly and carefully, Harry. I liked that shirt."

"I'll have it fixed," Harry promised, but he did go slower. As soon as he was done, he climbed in with Ron, picking up the bath sponge to play it over Ron's skin. A hand grabbed the back of his neck so he slowed down again. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I can't control my speed."

"It's the whole 'may die' thing," Ron assured him. "You want to get so much shoved into this little space that you're hurrying, but you don't have to do that with us, Harry. We like things done slowly and you still get everything you want." He gave him a slow and gentle kiss. "Put the motor on idle and take a few deep breaths." He accepted the sponge from Draco's hand and stared on his arms, making them moan. "What is it about me and doing normal things?" Ron asked them.

"We're eighteen and you're touching yourself," Draco said honestly. He stripped himself and squeezed in behind Ron, taking the sponge to do it for her. "Let us." They carefully bathed Ron for their pleasure, making sure to get all the right spots and clean her very well between her legs. By the time they were done, Ron was more than ready and Harry looked like he might have a stroke if he didn't get some soon. "Harry, you get out first and help Ron," he ordered. Harry scrambled out of the tub, grabbing a towel for Ron and helping her out. Draco climbed out and dried himself and Harry off, the poor boy still looked too flustered for words. "Bed?" he asked Ron's neck before kissing it.

"Bed," Ron groaned, allowing Harry to lead them all out to it. He was pushed down and Harry immediately buried his face in her crotch. Ron looked at Draco, then down at Harry, tapping him on the head. "Not yet." Harry looked up, looking hurt. "Slowly, Harry. Slow and gentle. So I can pleasure you too."

"I get plenty from this," Harry told him.

Draco grabbed some lube and decided to do this the most practical way. He slicked himself and Harry up, making him moan and go limp on top of Ron's body. "Let me show you," he whispered in his ear as he slid in. Harry stiffened. "We'll do it together. Insert yourself, Harry." Harry started to pant, but he did as he was told.

"He's going to blow within seconds," Ron pointed out.

Draco leaned back and drew Harry into his arms, holding him still until his breathing evened out "Are you ready now?" Harry nodded. "Good. Now let's try this again. They watched as Ron shifted over to join them, Harry getting her while he got Harry. He pulled out and Harry instinctively followed him. He pushed in slowly and Harry did the same. He smiled. "Like that. That is how she likes it. It takes a long time to get a woman off and her orgasms are powerful and wonderful things," he whispered in Harry's ear. "Touch her," he ordered. Harry reached out and gently stroked Ron's body until he made her moan, then concentrated on that area. "You can suck as well," Draco said with a smile for Ron. Harry did what he usually did, latching onto her nipples. "Now try her stomach. You can pull out if you want to."

"No!" Ron shouted, grabbing Harry's hips. "More, then he can pull out.

Draco took one of Harry's hands and led it to the perfect spot. "Touch her there, very gently." Harry breathed harder, gently teasing the little ball of flesh. Ron screamed under them and arched up into his fingers. "See? Take it slower," he whispered, stroking Ron's stomach, there was a known hotspot there that he liked to tease. "See where I touch her? She likes it there too."

Harry nodded, giving Ron a kiss. Ron pushed up against his fingers, making him start to pant. He trampled the urge to go faster, this was for Ron. Draco had been right, this was much better. He hardly ever got to see Ron looking like this. He played some more and Ron screamed again. "It doesn't hurt?" he pleaded.

"Merlin, more!" Ron shouted. She finished coming by going limp. "Damn, never so close together before," he mumbled.

Draco laughed as he pulled Harry off her. "That is a sated and happy woman, Harry Potter, and you did it for her." Harry tipped back his head, allowing a kiss. "Each of those screams was a peak. You did very well. You should be rewarded. Of course, if you go back to your too fast ways, we may have to punish you," he whispered in his ear, getting a wicked shudder. "Perhaps tie you to the bed and force you to watch while I send her into that state again?" Harry came, moaning and going rigid in his arms. "Good boy, Harry," Draco said as he sped up. He came with a hard bite to Harry's shoulder, making him groan. Harry disengaged and turned to get real kisses, which Draco delighted in giving him. "Do you feel better now?"

Harry nodded, cuddling closer. "Much. Thank you for taking me in hand that way."

Draco stroked down his back. "There are times and places for quickies, Harry, the bedroom is not one of them. Unless you're at a friend's house borrowing theirs." Harry looked up at him, starting to smile. "Really. It can be very energizing. I tend to prefer bathrooms, there are more handy surfaces and no one can tell if you're careful." He shifted back. "Pull Ron up and we'll sleep under the covers."

"Can I... lick her clean?" Harry asked.

"If you want to start her off again, by all means go for it," Draco encouraged. "I enjoy watching you two go at it, most of the time," he said smugly. They got Ron situated on the pillows and Harry decided to lick all of Ron clean, taking off all the sweat and assorted bodily fluids. Ron woke up in the middle of him torturing her stomach. Draco stole a kiss. "He requested the right to clean you up."

"Better than a wet spot," Ron quipped, holding Harry's head down. "There!" She moaned hard, arching up into the teasing tongue. "Harry, more!" he demanded. Ron shivered as nimble fingers found that spot again, going slowly. "This time faster is good, just not your normal speed," Ron panted. Harry sped up a bit and the next coming crashed over her, making her go limp. "Damn, you're good."

Harry laughed and went lower to clean up after himself again. "You know I enjoy you like this, Ron. You look marvelous after you've just gotten off." He slowly and carefully licked her clean then moved up to join them. "May I have a helping hand?"

"For that you can have a helping mouth," Ron offered, shifting down to help them along. She had noticed Draco was hard again so she shifted just right, giving him free access to her lower half while she sucked on Harry. She nearly swallowed and bit when she was thrust into but remembered not to in time. "Draco!" she said, scandalized.

"What?" Draco asked. "I enjoy it, you enjoy it, go back to what you were doing and enjoy that some more while I play down here." He grinned at Ron and got a shrug and a return to the sucking in response. Draco decided it was his turn to play and her being on all-fours just made it easier. He decided this one should take nearly forever because he loved a good, long tease, and started slowly rocking into her body. She swatted at him but he laughed. Draco pulled out once and slid back in slowly, making her arch back against him. "Like that do you?" he teased, leaning down to nip at the spot just above Ron's right hip. Of course he had to pull back some to hit that spot, but that was fine for right now.

Harry came with a long groan, so Ron untangled her hair from the clutching fingers and pounced Draco hard, pushing him back into the bed so she could ride him this time. "Do not tease," she chastised. "I hate being teased. It's mean and I stay wet for a very long time, which isn't all that comfortable," she pointed out as she bounced up and down on him. He only held her hips to steady her, letting her set everything that they were doing. Then one of Harry's fingers came in to help and she screamed in pleasure, tipping her head back. That's when Draco lunged up, feasting on her neck like it was a delicacy. She came with a shudder but he wasn't done yet, flipping her over on top of Harry's body. She could feel the semi-hard cock brushing against the small of her back. "You wanted to do it together?" she teased.

"If you want," Draco agreed, bending down to feast on her nipples now, making her wiggle and squirm. "Harry, do lube the darling for us." Harry summoned the lube container over and swiftly stretched Ron. "I would chastise you about your speed issue again but I find I can't wait this time." He pulled out completely, going down to lick her clit for her while Harry finished up. "Do you want front or back?"

"I want back," Harry said with his most evil smirk. "Like this?"

"If you want, or me on my back, either way." Harry's eyes lit up so Draco flipped onto his back, bringing Ron over top of his hips, making her straddle them. He inserted himself and watched as Harry positioned himself. He felt the finger easing past him and shook his head. "Let her," he said gently, smirking back. "It's her turn to get herself off. Ron, do whatever you want," he encouraged as soon as Harry was deeply seated.

Ron pushed herself up and looked at them both. "Really?" They nodded. She tried a few experimental thrusts. "This won't work for me. Sit with your dicks together." She climbed off and got them into the position she wanted, sitting facing each other with just enough space between for her. She slowly slid down, trusting them to insert themselves again. "Ahhhh!" She braced on Draco's shoulders and started to ride again.

"Touch yourself, Ron," Harry whispered hoarsely. "Let us see it." One of Ron's hands was pushed down there and the button found, making her moan. "Come on, I know you can do it," he encouraged, playing with her stomach since Draco was sucking on her breasts. That meant he got the hot spots on her neck though and he liked those nearly as much. Ron moaned and whimpered as she thrusted unevenly, clearly ready again. "Come on, Ron, I want to feel it," Harry encouraged. "Bring yourself off."

Ron gave one last touch and screamed, going limp in their arms. "Shh," Draco whispered, pulling her closer and nodding at Harry to go get a cloth and water from the bathroom. He laid her down, tending her gently. "That was spectacular," he whispered in her ear. "Truly rousing."

"Finish yourself," Ron whispered hoarsely.

Draco smiled. "I'd love to. Harry?" Harry came back with the bowl of water and cloth, setting them on the tray table they had left the last time. "Clean me as well, then finish us both off," he ordered. Harry looked at him. "Ron would like to see it."

"Sure," he said, licking his lips. "I'm not that good."

"I'm sure you'll do fine," Draco encouraged as he was gently cleaned off. Each touch of the rough cloth fought his control, but he managed to hold off. Together they got Ron cleaned and under the covers again, then Harry cleaned himself and put the bowl aside. He pushed the dark head down into his lap, humming at the gentle licking. "Do to me what you would Ron," he encouraged. "We do like the same things."

Harry looked up at him. "Are you sure, Draco?"

"I'm very sure," he said confidently. "It seems to soothe her nerves, I'm sure you'll do fine."

"Can we reciprocate?" Harry asked eagerly.

"If you want. Scoot around." They got into position and Draco carefully sucked the hard, dripping piece of flesh in front of him. Harry groaned and sucked harder so he gave it back. Their lust was feeding off what was being done to them, they didn't even realize when they went in for prostate play, or that Ron was slowly stroking herself off again while she watched them. They were evenly matched, perfectly in-sync and timing each other's orgasms for them. Harry came first, pulling back to scream, but he licked up all the come that flowed out, greedily lapping at it. He heard Ron whimpering and shifted over there, giving her one last one for the night, then he fell limply across her body.

Draco forced himself to move, scooting up to join them under the covers. "He's good at that," he whispered.

"He is," Ron agreed, sharing a kiss. "Let's sleep, Draco, I'm exhausted."

"Hmm. Was it five or seven?"

"Seven," Ron admitted with a little purr. "You both are wonderful lovers." Draco curled up behind Harry's back, one arm going across her stomach. "There, there, we'll sleep and I'll give you the blow of your life tomorrow." Draco fell asleep with a smile on his face. Ron drifted off, comforted by being the body pillow to two wonderful lovers.

Down the hall, the twins finally pulled the pillows off their heads. "Are they done yet?" Fred asked.

George nodded. "Sounds like it. No more grunting or groaning."

"Or screaming," Fred reminded him. "I've never heard so vocal a lover in my life!"

"Not even on those muggle tapes," George agreed. They settled in to sleep, now that their baby brother had quit having sex.

Across the hall, Vincent finally managed to find his calm spot so he could sleep. "I've got to put something in their food to hold that off," he muttered. "They'll never let me sleep otherwise. Dawn is in four hours," he complained. "They had even called it an early night!" He flipped onto his side and ignored his own dick. It wasn't right that he wanked off to the sounds of his best friend being fucked into the afterlife. Even though Ron wouldn't mind, he still didn't think it was right to do that to her. "Maybe one of the dancers," he decided when he couldn't fall asleep.

***

The twins clapped when Harry stumbled in to breakfast, but stopped when they saw the embarrassed looks. "Are you all right?" Fred asked, helping him into a chair. "Did Ron suck you dry?"

Harry looked up at him. "Both of them," he admitted with a weak smile. "We didn't keep you up, did we?" Everyone at the table, including Vincent, shook their heads. "Thanks. We're sorry if we got a bit loud. We...enjoy Ron's body very much when she's like this."

Ron strolled in and messed up Harry's hair, her dressing gown tied tightly around her middle. "Harry, I think I'm changing back a day early. My chest doesn't seem as big."

Harry stood up and walked over, slipping his hands underneath to measure them. "No, they're bigger," he said with a grin. "They're a bit squishier today, but still firm and full." He stole a kiss. "They clapped, Ron."

Ron looked at them and shrugged. "What can I say? Three days without sex." The twin's mouths hung open. "Oops, sorry," he said with a grin. "Didn't mean to share too much."

Draco wandered in and took Harry's former seat, flopping down on it and putting his head on his arms. "Potter, don't start her off again, we'll never wake up," he complained to the table.

"She thought she was changing back too soon," Harry explained as he withdrew, making sure Ron was covered. He sat in the free chair and patted Draco on the back. "It's all right," he soothed. "I'll take care of her while you take a nap. Now that I learned how to do the five-minute orgasm trick on her, it'll be fine; I'll do it every few hours to spare you." Draco turned his head and looked at him. "Just to keep her primed for tonight?"

Draco smiled. "I might like that." He looked at Ron, who was sipping coffee. "Come sit," he said, forcing himself up so Ron could sit in his lap. He saw Harry's opening mouth. "You just got laid, get over it. My turn to have her in my lap." Both twins gasped.

"Draco, you're embarrassing them," Ron said with a blush. But he did sit in his husband's lap. "Which dress should I wear?"

"The silver one," Draco decided. "I've got to run home for a few moments, but then I'll take you out and we'll restock the chocolate supplies." Ron beamed. "Good boy, Ron." He stroked over the hard back. "Do you feel better?"

"Much," Ron agreed, putting down his coffee to stretch upwards. He saw the glance at his chest. "Harry swears they're the same size."

"They're softer," Harry put in, "but the same size."

Draco shifted the edge of the robe out so he could see. "I think you're going to have a longer female time this time," he decided, then looked up at her shocked look. "It'll cut down on the in-between."

"But you like those times," Ron said with a pout.

"Hell, we like you in every stage, Ron," Harry pointed out. "Not even the sex god there does me like you do as a bloke."

George stood up. "I think we'll leave you to discuss this without us."

"No, stay, we'll quit talking about sex," Ron said, giving him a hopeful look. "I never get to see you guys."

"Ooh, did you miss us?" Fred teased, giving him a hug. Ron nodded against his shoulder. "We're sorry, Ron, we've been really busy but we should have written at least each week."

They all stiffened as the fireplace went off. "In here," Harry called.

Arthur walked back and smiled at everyone. "Good morning, children." He patted Ron on the head. "Your mother wanted me to tell you that you made the paper again," he said, handing it over. Ron giggled as he showed off the photograph of them coming out of the strip club. "As did Harry and Draco," he said as he flipped the page. He patted Draco on the back. "The Dark Lord was actually howling last night when the aurors found him, though he barely managed to get away. Harry, you left your gun."

"I was going to let them look at it anyway," Harry said with a shrug. "I can always load another one."

"Good point," Arthur said quickly. From what the Death Eaters they had captured last night had said, he didn't want to upset the boy. "Are you feeling well this morning? You look a bit tired. Nightmares?"

"Sex with Ron," Draco said honestly. Everyone else nodded.

Arthur laughed. "I remember those days fondly. Don't worry, it won't slow down for years," he told Ron with a clap on the back "The Headmaster wanted you back in school today sometime, something about exams next week?" he said tolerantly. The current students sighed. "Remember, you and Ron both have to pass everything if you want to stay in the auror training program."

"Yes, sir," Harry sighed. "Today? Can it be stretched back to tonight? That way Ron can visit the twins?"

"He'll be out soon and he can go stay with them while you're at your Aunt's house," Arthur reminded him.

"We passed by there last night and there was a for sale sign," Draco noted, taking Ron's coffee to sip. He made a disgusted face. "Too much sugar."

Ron winked at him. "It's what makes me sweet, Draco."

"I'll have to remember that," he said dryly, flipping through the rest of the paper. "Ah! Here we are. The Death Eaters claimed that you were, and I quote, psychotic and a danger to yourself and others," he said, looking at Harry. "They say that you should be more closely monitored and it was obviously all my fault."

Harry snorted. "More like Dumbledore's fault," he said snidely.

"Yes, that point was put forward by one as well," Draco said as he continued to read. "McNair," he told Vincent, who shuddered, "suggested that his descent into partial madness was because Dumbledore was trying to, and again I quote, strangle you with cottonwool and rules. Your sneaking out and other things were totally in line with the desire to escape the horrible fate that has been handed to you. He's only sorry that he's not going to be there to witness it because he says people like you should be put down," he finished with a smile.

Harry laughed. "I'd like to see him try!"

"Considering he got kissed this morning, so would I," Arthur agreed, smiling at him. "Harry, are you going to finish out your school year?"

"I have to, I'm not eighteen yet," Harry reminded him. Draco groaned. "Not for another month and a bit," he told him. He stood up. "Let me call my aunt, see if we can arrange something for this summer." He walked into the study, going to use the cellphone. He leaned on the desk, listening to it ring. "Aunt Petunia, how are you?" he asked quietly, sitting down to listen to what she wasn't saying. Her voice sounded tired. "Yes, that's why I was calling. Really?" He frowned. "I might be able to help a bit, but I don't know how much," he offered. He sighed. "If that's what you want. Yes, ma'am. I'm not sure, but I'll gladly check that out and write you tonight if you want. No, I won't force myself on you, or the protections," he promised. "Of course, hiding is the best option. Whatever you want," he assured her. He smiled. "That's fine. No, my owl can find you anywhere, Aunt Petunia. I might be able to do that. If not, I'll start sending regular letters, say once a week?" He smiled brighter. "Yes, ma'am, I am happy. How did you know? Oh, the Daily Prophet comes to you now? Oh, that one was mailed. Yeah, we are. All three of us," he told her. He rode out her disgust. "I know, but they're very fond of me and we do happen to adore each other. I know, but among us it's not so bad." He listened. "Of course. Is he going with you?" He laughed. "That's fine then. I'll owl you tonight about the protection being moved. Yes, ma'am. A big white owl. Hedwig." He laughed. "That's fine then. I can probably use Ron's Pig, it's a tiny thing." He smiled. "Yes it was nice to hear you this way as well. Of course I'm behaving. Good bye." He hung up and walked back into the kitchen. "Aunt Petunia's selling the house and moving to the islands. Since my uncle can't work and the doctor said it'd be better for them, they're going to transfer him down there to a care facility. The cost of living is lower so they'll be able to live more comfortably on his pension." He looked at Arthur. "She's not sure she wants the protection to continue, but she wanted to know if it was transferable."

"I'll ask Dumbledore when I talk to him in a few," Arthur promised. "When were you going back?"

"This afternoon," Ron told him, glancing at the clock. "In time for our last class."

"That's fine then. Make sure the twins get to their shop," he reminded them. "I'll see you at King's Cross?"

"Sure," Ron agreed, giving him a hug. "Thanks, Dad."

"You're welcome, Ron. You're a wonderful son, even in this form," he said with a wink. He walked out, going to report for them.

Draco clapped his hands. "We have four hours. What shall we do?"

"I'm all for getting dressed," Ron offered. "Silver? Since the green shoes have to be picked up."

"Go for it," George encouraged. He watched as Ron jogged out of the room. "How did you guys talk her into dressing up for you?"

Harry grinned. "It stared as a ploy to make Malfoy beg," he told him. Draco groaned and shook his head. "Draco had been staring for months and Ron decided to make him sorry for it. So he put on this little silverish dress and these cute one inch heels and went to class that day."

"Let's not forget the stockings," Vincent put in. "They were clearly shown when Ron squatted down to catch an escaping animal."

"At least he managed to keep his thighs together, I don't think any of us could have stood it if she hadn't," Draco told him. "Plus there was the laundry incident."

"That was the day he marked us," Harry said, touching Draco on the thigh. He got his hand slapped. "Not a good memory?"

"Back then I thought I was doing it to protect her," Draco said, shaking his head again. "Now I know differently. Ron is very special to me and will hopefully stay that way." Harry looked hurt. "You are as well," he promised, giving him a gentle kiss. "Where is your dog?"

"Staring at the woods again," Ron said as he walked back in with his hairbrush. "I can't do a thing with it this morning."

Draco sat her down in his lap and worked on her hair, clipping it back on one side so it fell on her shoulders. "There, now take off the robe so we can see," he teased.

Ron took off the robe and put on the shoes, standing up to do a small turn for them.

Harry wiped his mouth off. "Ron, would you be really hurt if I pounced you?" he squeaked.

"No, but you would be," Ron assured him. "Come on, if we have to take them back to the shop and go for chocolates, we'll have to hurry. This will not stand up to floo travel."

"That's what cloaks are for," Draco reminded him, standing up and looking down at himself. "I feel underdressed," he muttered, going up to change. Harry followed quickly, spiffing themselves up to match her radiance.

"Draco, why is she taking longer on each side?" Harry asked quietly.

"It's a common side effect of having monthlies. She'll still only have them for three days, but now she'll spend ten each month on either side and the other eight in the center." Draco fixed his tie. "It's limiting her more dangerous times now that she's passed another stage." He messed up Harry's hair so it looked better and walked him back downstairs. He found the cloak he had bought for Ron, handing it over. "Put this on over it, we'll go through Diagon," he promised.

"But the chocolates aren't near there," Ron complained.

"We really don't need many," Harry offered. "One of us can run out for that." He snapped his fingers. "I noticed the cabinet was here."

"Dumbledore was threatening to search Draco's rooms," George said as he joined them. "Can we floo out?"

"It's set so you can once you know," Draco agreed. "We'll go to the shop with you. Harry can go to the bank, I'll escort her through the alley, then head for the muggle stores. Good enough?" Everyone nodded. They headed for the floo. "Vincent, with me," Draco ordered.

"Is Harry going to be enough of a guard for Ron?" Vincent asked as he snapped to attention.

"Dear Lord, I hope so," Harry said with a grin. "Nothing's taking Ron away from me, and I do mean nothing. I'd die or go really insane without Ron kisses." He kissed her gently and they headed off. As soon as they opened the door to the shop, people came in and the trio walked out. "Ron, can we spoil you some more?" Harry asked. Ron shook his head. "Please?"

"I think the new clothes last night were enough," Ron said gently.

Draco snorted. "This summer we've got to go through my mother's room, Harry, he can have whatever he wants from in there." Ron opened his mouth. "It's called an inheritance and you will not fuss," Draco said firmly. "There are times when you're going to have to appear to be the Mrs. Malfoy. The same as you're going to have to be the Mrs. Potter sometimes."

"We enjoy dressing you up for those times so we can say things like 'wear the blue one'," Harry added.

"You hated the blue dress," Ron pointed out.

"I hated the attitude you copped as soon as you put it on," Harry corrected. "You seemed like his mother in it."

"Yes, she did have the hint of bitch about her that day," Draco agreed dryly. "Of course, my mother was only like that in public, at home she was very pleasant - to me at least." He grinned back at Vincent, who had snorted. "She didn't like your mother," he confided. "That's what all that was about. Your mother refused to see my mother as a higher being worthy of worship."

Vincent laughed. "I'm sure they got along well enough most of the time." He looked at Ron, who was looking in a shop's window. "I can't wait until you have to host your first event, Draco."

Draco groaned. "That would be a graduation celebration this summer," he agreed. "Mother had started to plan it, I'll have to make sure plans are still underway."

"I got the invitation two days ago."

"Good. Then I'll have to check in on the house elves tonight from my room." He pulled Ron closer. "Don't get too far away, we don't want to have to hurt anyone for trying to look down your top." Ron beamed and giggled. "Bank, and then we'll split up for a bit."

"Yes, Draco," Harry and Ron agreed in unison.

Vincent laughed. "You two aren't that meek."

"Hey, it gets us wonderful sex," Ron said with a shrug and a naughty grin. "I can be nice for that."

Draco burst out laughing. "You naughty wench," he said, kissing her, then Harry. "I'll have to reward you for that later."

Vincent gently nudged Harry to make him walk. "They're leaving you behind," he whispered when Harry didn't move. Harry jogged to catch up and Vincent shook his head. "I don't know what Draco's gift is, but I want to know if he'll teach it to me before I have to find a wife," he muttered, catching up.

***

Dumbledore met them at the front door, looking at the three young people. "Harry, my office. Ron, Snickers, class. Mr. Malfoy, there's someone here to see you," he said quietly.

"It's not my father, is it?" Draco asked. Dumbledore shook his head. "That's fine then. I'll see you after dinner."

"You've all got detention for endangering the world by being so foolish," Dumbledore told them, scowling at them. "What part of protection didn't you get, Mr. Weasley?"

"I was safe. We had Kiana, Vincent, and my two older brothers with me," Ron snorted. "I'd like to have seen anything get within a few good hundred feet of me."

"Fine. Take the dog and go to class. Since you weren't the one who foolishly went to face down Voldemort, I can't really punish you."

Ron stared him down. "They did what you wanted them to do," he pointed out in a quiet voice. "They might not have killed him, but they started the war off in style, made the old fuck afraid for his life, and got a good number of Death Eaters captured. What else did you want him to do?"

"He could have died," Dumbledore pointed out.

"Harry's got skills that Voldemort can't counter," Ron pointed out. "The old fuck's running, scared for his life hopefully." He shifted his stance, letting the leash go. Snickers headed for Hagrid. "Behave," he called after the dog. He got a bark and a tail wag, but Snickers continued out to greet Hagrid. "What did you want them to do? Wait for an attack?"

"They played a very dangerous game, young man. You may not realize this, but Harry's wand was taken from him."

"Yes, and he still had his specially charmed gun and his other magic," Draco put in. "Not to mention the fact that none of the Death Eaters came near us. Between us, we demoralized the old order and pointed out that they were going to lose. Voldemort barely got away. Over thirty minor and major Death Eaters were captured. We even got his snake friend away from him," he said with a smile for Harry. "Sorry if we're not running the war in the old ways, but to some of us they're not exactly suitable for this. A long line of an army isn't going to help very much."

"Guerilla warfare," Ron agreed. "We're going to have to be adaptive and cunning, it's the only way to beat him, sir. Harry pointed out last night that we can do that. Harry, remember the formal truce with him." Harry nodded and Ron checked Draco's watch. "Is it last?"

"Yes, and we do have Creatures," Draco sighed, taking Ron's arm. "Send whomever out, they can talk to me outside." He walked Ron out, shaking his head at Hagrid's open mouth. "It's a treat for us being audacious," he said with a smug look. He looked at the unicorn in front of them. "Again?"

"He's got a split hoof," Ron pointed out, pointing at it. "Has it been bandaged yet?"

"We've been poulticing it," Hagrid assured him. "Want to put on the bandages?"

"I think he'd probably run from me," Ron said, giving Draco's arm a subtle squeeze. Hagrid's eyes went wide. "I think you'll have to get someone else, Hagrid, sorry."

"That's all right, Ron, if that's what makes you happy." He stared down at Draco. "You had better keep him happy as well," he said darkly, heading over to one of the girls who had pet the bull unicorn earlier. "Ron said you'll have to do it," he told her.

"Okay," she said happily, slowly walking over. "I won't hurt you," she crooned. "Just put the nasty smelling stuff back on your hoof so it feels better." The unicorn looked at her, then looked around. It whinnied at Ron. "He can't touch you anymore," she soothed. "He said so. He's got husbands now." The unicorn bowed its head and let her bandage it. "See, all better," she soothed, standing up and giving it a kiss on the forehead. "Weasley, come closer, let him see," she called. "He seems a bit hurt."

Ron moved around the edge of the paddock fence, stopping a bit away. The unicorn sniffed in his direction and flattened his ears back. "I told you so." He grinned and reached out a hand. "Smell me, know I'm still okay, but I can't touch you." The unicorn put out his nose and sniffed the hand, then sneezed and backed away. "See, I was right to send her, huh?" The unicorn threw his mane back and snorted, stamping an uninjured foot. "Calm down, I'm not your herd. Draco and Harry are my herd stallions." Draco moved to the edge of the fence. "He took me in," he said quietly. "I'm sure you have a wonderful herd." The unicorn glared at Draco then stamped another foot, and Ron started to back away. "Walk away slowly," he encouraged the other girl. He laughed hesitantly. "I'm pretty sure those are fighting motions." She bowed to the creature and backed out as well. "Don't go near Draco," he hissed when she walked toward him. "He's challenging Draco over me. Go to Hagrid." She nodded, walking far around Draco's side when she got to the fence and hurrying to Hagrid's side. "Hagrid, we've got a small problem," he called.

"What's wrong?" Hagrid called, looking up from his playing with the dogs. "What did you do?"

"I showed him that I was unsuitable to touch him, he's challenging Draco."

"Weasley, I won't be speared for you," Draco said dryly.

Ron looked at him. "I thought you liked me enough to do anything," he teased.

Draco pulled Ron closer, kissing him gently. "I do, but dying isn't high on my list today." He looked at the unicorn. "I didn't steal her."

"Stop it now," Hagrid warned the bull. "She's not yours. She's my student, my herd." The unicorn snorted and pawed the ground in his direction.

"Stop it now," Ron warned. The bull ignored him so he pulled his wand, blowing up a small divot of dirt in front of him. "I wasn't your mare, great one, just one who cared for you." The bull moved closer, sniffing at her again. "No, you did not mark me. And I'm his."

Harry came jogging out and stood on Ron's other side. "Ours," he corrected, staring down the unicorn. He got snuffled as well then the bull seemed to pout as he walked off. "That was close." He looked at Draco. "What happened?"

"The unicorn wanted Ron to come in and bandage it, but she refused," Hagrid told him. "Then I was playin' with the dogs since this was routine and Ron walked in there to talk to him. He decided Draco had poached his herd." He gave Ron a look. "When I retire, you may be called. Arragog likes you, the unicorns like you."

"He's a magical creature in his own right," Draco agreed, touching Ron's back gently. She glared at him. "You are," he said with a smile. "As magical as that creature out there is."

"We'll see," Ron told Hagrid. "I might have stopped changing by then."

Draco shook his head. "You started a cycle, this is most likely permanent, Ron," he said gently. He let Harry walk her off, only sending a frown at him. "I was enjoying my time with her."

"Now it's my turn, I want to tell her what the auror said. By the way, that's who's looking for you."

"Fine," Draco said, waving a hand. "Where?"

"Your rooms."

"I'll go that way then," Draco sighed. He shrugged at Hagrid. "Prove to one Dark Lord that he's an idiot and the whole world comes bawling to you," he said disgustedly as he walked back to the school.

Hagrid gaped at his back, then looked at Harry and Ron. "What did you do last night?" he demanded. "I thought the paper was a lie."

"Well, not quite," Harry said, giving him a shrug and an innocent looking smile. "I did go officially start the war. I made him piss himself too I think," he admitted with a brighter smile.

"Then we went shoe shopping for Ron. Do you like them?" he asked, pointing down at the ones Ron was wearing now.

"You took her to see 'im?"

"No, I went back to see our friend at the strip club," Ron told him. "She took us shopping and then the guys joined us." He linked his arm through Harry's and walked him back over. "Don't worry, Hagrid, we did know what we were doing. I was safe all night long and Harry decided to act slightly miffed off. It was a brilliant plan and netted thirty death eaters being caught." He gave him a pat on the arm. "How much longer? I'm hungry. Harry and Draco forgot to feed me lunch."

"Go ahead so the unicorn can calm down," Hagrid said, staring at them. "I don't want to have to tell her mother," he told himself. "She'll kill 'er."

Crabbe cleared his throat. "Since his father joined us earlier this morning, I'm sure she knows, sir," he said before following the twosome into the school. He saw Ron look at him and shrugged. "I am supposed to protect you, I can't do that from another classroom."

"Thankfully there's only one more week," Ron sighed, smiling at them both. "Then what?"

"Well, I sent a message to Aunt Petunia about being able to move the protection with her. Pig was very happy to go," Harry assured him. "He's less noticeable," he said at Ron's opening mouth.

"Good point. I'm sure she'd like that better than your snowy one." He squeezed Harry's arm. "What else did the auror say?"

"That usually we'd be in different classes, so we bonded more closely to the Ministry than to each other, but they couldn't do that this year, they're only running one large group to try and get us trained faster." He coughed. "He warned me to expect to need some headache potions over the first week because we're together. Plus, no one's told the trainers what you are," he said gently. "We'll start classes in late August so we'll have most of the summer off."

"Good," Ron decided. "I could use a break between the two." He looked back at Vincent. "Should we have a room made up for you at the manor house?"

"I already have one," Vincent admitted. "Goyle and I shared a small room off Draco's."

"Yeah, but now we'll be sharing one with him and I'm sure you don't want to have to listen to us," Harry pointed out. "Maybe Draco's old room?"

"We'll talk to him about it later." He heard the squeal and looked around. "Hi, Hermione," he called. She came out of the bathroom covered in water. "Did it explode?"

"Yes!" she said shrilly. "The faucet came shooting up and nearly brained me," she complained. She caught sight of Ron's dress and pursed her lips. "Don't you think that's a bit much for the school day?"

"It's a reward for me and Draco," Harry said firmly, walking Ron off to the Great Hall. It was nearly dinner time. "Come sit with us when you're drier."

"We'll share how last night went," Ron said with a wink.

Vincent Crabbe took out his handkerchief and handed it over. "Here you go, Ms. Granger. If Ron had had one I'm sure he would have handed it to you." He bowed and walked off, following them. He was a bit hungry. Dinner had been a long time ago.

Hermione looked at the cloth, then at the large back, her mouth working hard but all that came out was a squeak. She did use it to dry herself off, promising to send it back later, once it had been cleaned. She ran up to the tower, going to change clothes. For some reason, she even made sure she looked impeccable. She wasn't sure why, but it was a nice thing she supposed. She found one of her own handkerchiefs and brought it down to give it to the thoughtful man. "Until I can get yours cleaned," she said with a blush before heading to her table. The other Slytherins had been watching.

Draco gave Vincent an expectant, mouth open look, like he was going to say something. "The faucet exploded and she was drenched," Vincent said quietly, staring at the cloth. "I gave her mine."

"I see." Draco smiled and patted him on the back. "You reach very high, my friend," he whispered. "But for a muggle she's not half bad."

"That's high praise," Millicent noted for Vincent's benefit.

"Stay out of the conversation," Draco warned. She shrank back into her own seat. He looked at Crabbe. "Is that what you want?"

"She's interesting," Crabbe admitted. "Too smart for me, but interesting."

"Then let me be the first to congratulate you and to warn you that she likes to be thought of as a woman, not as one of the guys. You'll have to tread very carefully not to go overboard and irritate her feminist leanings." Crabbe blushed. "We'll discuss this later. While those two decide where you're living in the house."

"They suggested I take over your old room," Crabbe pointed out.

"It is a suite and would be most suitable. We're going to renovate my parents suites and make them one room again. You're free to it if you want."

"Thank you, Draco."

"Besides, it would make an excellent room for a couple," he said with a wink.

"Draco!"

***

It was finally leaving day and the final house points had been given out. Gryffindor and Slytherin had tied this year so everyone was walking away mostly happy. Ron had already packed everything and shrunk it down into one of Harry's trunks, so he was snuggled up on Draco's chest. "It seems odd," he said quietly, playing with an open button.

"What does?"

"That I came in a woman and I'm walking out a man," Ron said, looking up at him. "I guess this is how people who have the surgery feel."

"Possibly, but for you it's a normal change of life."

"Gee, fun," Ron said dryly. He cleared his throat. "Draco, can I ask you something?"

"You sound like one of the girls," Draco teased.

"It's probably going to keep sounding like that," Ron admitted. He looked up again. "Do you love me?"

Draco frowned. "You're right, that did sound girlish." He gave Ron a gentle squeeze. "I don't know," he said honestly. "I know I'm in lust with you, but I don't know about farther."

"So it's just in the bedroom?"

"I didn't say that," Draco corrected gently. "I said I wasn't sure how much farther it went. The only thing I have to base that question on is how I felt about my mother." He swallowed. "I worshiped her, Ron."

Ron shifted up, giving him a hug. "I know you did, Draco. Have you mourned any since the train?"

"I give myself ten minutes each morning to think about her, then I have to be what I appear."

"You never have to pretend with us," Ron reminded him. "We both understand grief and we'll support you mourning her." Draco nodded, letting him cling. "Where are we sitting tomorrow?"

Draco snorted. "That's an abrupt change of subject, Weasley." He rolled them over so he could look down at his wife. "I know I feel somewhat about you like I did her. I am in awe of you, I want to worship you because of who you are, not only what you are. Most people faced with this would have run screaming into the hills and never come back out until someone found them." Ron's mouth opened. "It's a statistical fact. Most changelings done as an adult have run screaming somewhere to hide." Ron pinched him so he smiled at him. "I know you're stronger than I am emotionally. I have few, but they're walled up. You let yours out and you laugh so easily."

"You've gotten better," Ron reminded him. "I guess I can live with that answer."

"Hmm, good, because it's about the only one I have." He stole a kiss. "I feel about half as worshipful as Potter does about you, how about that?"

"That's a better answer," Ron agreed, smiling at him. "We have to finish packing your things."

Draco looked at the wands lying on the bedside table. "It won't take that long."

"Packing always takes longer than you expect," Ron reminded him. "Last year you nearly missed the train."

"I overslept," Draco defended. "If I hadn't been hexed nearly to oblivion last year, I wouldn't have needed to sleep in." He poked Ron on the stomach. "If I remember right, that was your fault."

"Yeah, it was," Ron said with a grin. "We'll have to find a new someone to pick on." He gave him a hug. "I'll miss hexing you in the hallways."

Draco laughed. "How about we let you pick on some of the auror candidates? They should be able to defend themselves well enough by now. If not, I'm sure you'll be correcting that." Ron nodded. "You and Harry can share hexing duties again even."

"I kinda like that idea," Ron agreed, biting him on the tip of the nose. "Where are we heading tomorrow?"

"Back to the house. We've got to oversee some renovations before the party in two weeks." He kept his secret to himself, for now. "Do you and Harry want to share a compartment with Hermione again or would you like us to find one together and invite her?"

"I think it should just be us. It started out as me and Harry, then she joined in, it should end that way."

"That would be fine." Draco kissed him again. Then he sighed. "We should pack, shouldn't we?" Ron nodded. "Where are Potter and his dog?"

"Gryffindor. He's still trying to force everything into his trunk. I'll have to check and make sure he didn't take my things out later." He wiggled until he got free, walking over to the wall of cabinets. "We'll have to empty all these, right?" Draco nodded, sitting on his bed. "Well come help me. The sooner we get done, the sooner you get shagged."

Draco stood up and strolled over, casting a 'servant' spell - an advanced one he had found in the defense books Harry and Ron were working from. "Pack everything gently," he ordered. "As few boxes as possible and as securely as possible." He winked at Ron. "You have to give them specific orders." A wine bottle broke and Draco canceled it. "I guess we are doing it by hand," he said dryly at the smirk.

Ron reached over and rang the bell to bring a house elf. "Hi, Winky. Is Dobby around?" he asked when she appeared. "We're having some trouble packing and wanted to know if he'd help us." She nodded and disappeared, bringing back Dobby. "Dobby, can you please help us pack? We've already broken stuff," he said with a point at the broken wine bottle. "We're horrible at this, my mother yells about my trunk every year."

"Dobby pack," he agreed happily. He called up some boxes and started things dancing into them. "Yous gos home, Harry Potter's Weasey?"

"We're going back to Draco's since we're married," Ron said with a smile, getting down to write on the boxes. "Harry and I are both going back with him."

Dobby looked at Draco, giving him a fearful look. "Fine," Draco sighed. "Potter and his helpers. First a dog, then a snake, and now a house elf."

Dobby hugged him around the legs. "Thank you! You are very nice! We serve Harry Potter faithfully!" He quickly packed everything else and looked at Ron. "Harry Potter needs help too?"

"He might," Ron agreed, giving him a pat on the head. "Thank you, Dobby, you are a great help and a wonderful house elf." Dobby teared up and hugged him before leaving to help Harry. Ron helped Draco shrink everything into a special case with drawers so nothing would shift until they got home. "That was nice of you," he said, giving Draco a kiss once they were done. "You deserve a reward."

"Hmm. I suppose I do," Draco agreed smugly. "Whatever should I ask for?"

"Since there's just me here," Ron said seductively, "I should hope it's not an audience." Draco laughed and hugged him hard. "Or I could tell you Harry's suggestion for the house." Draco raised an eyebrow. "He wants to recreate the thermal spring. He said there's one near there, and that he can arrange it so it comes up near the house. He wanted to know where you wanted it."

Draco pulled Ron closer. "We'll figure that out soon enough. I almost forgot." He wrote out a small note and put it in the wardrobe, on the top shelf where it wasn't likely to get lost. "I had one left for me. It's the password to the lake." He checked everything, packing the clothes that had been lying in the bathroom. The trunk went into the pocket of tomorrow's pants, then he led Ron back to the bed. "What are you wearing tomorrow?"

"Those obscenely tight jeans and a t-shirt?" he suggested.

"I like that idea. Remember not to flash anyone when you unzip them for comfort."

"Do you really think Hermione and Vincent will go for each other?"

"I don't know," Draco admitted. "We can only put them together and see." He stroked down Ron's back. "About my reward?"

"Yes?" Ron asked, smiling into Draco's side.

"I believe I want handcuffs," he said in a sultry voice. He pulled a set out from under his mattress and held them up. "Are you game?"

"As long as we can get me out of them. Do you know how many horror stories there are about people getting trapped and having to call for help?"

"That's not a problem, you would call and Granger and Crabbe would both come and they'd be embarrassed together," Draco said with a smile. "But I can easily unlock them, they've got a switch."

"That's fine then," Ron agreed. "What else do you have stored down there?"

"A few sex toys, a penis whip, nothing major," he said lightly. Ron's mouth opened and Draco kissed him, attaching him to the bed during it. "I think it spices things up now and then," he said softly. "I wouldn't dare use one on you without your permission."

Ron nodded. "Good. I don't think I'm ready for that yet."

Draco laughed. "Tell me when you think you are and we'll gladly try it," he offered. Ron's clothes were removed via spell and he looked down at the fine male body. "I do believe I happen to like this view," he noted, leaning down to lick down the hard body. Ron arched up into him, then swore when he realized he couldn't reach him. "That's the fun of handcuffs," he said with a smirk. "I'm in total control."

"Draco, lick me or let me go so I can do myself," Ron warned.

"Or you'll do what?" Draco teased.

"I'll yell for Crabbe and tell him that you're being mean to me."

"He'd only shake his head and walk out after giving me another warning," Draco told him. "The same as he did the last time you tried that." He did lean down and lick across the hard cock a few times, giving in slightly. "There, that should do it," he said, standing up.

"Draco!" Ron screamed in outrage. "Get back here!"

Draco smirked at him. "I can't leave you like that for a few hours in retaliation for taunting me all these years?" Ron shook his head. "Pity." He heard a dog barking. "Well, this might get interesting yet," he said smugly, going over to let Harry in. Harry had never asked him for the password to the door, he knocked and waited patiently for him to let him in. "Come in, send the dog into the bathroom," he ordered. Harry walked in and saw Ron, then looked at Draco. "He was teasing," he explained at the weary look. "Are you tired?"

"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "Do you want to be left alone?"

"Harry, make him let me go," Ron complained.

"Go ahead and see," Draco offered, locking the door and making sure the dog was in the bathroom. This was not a time when a cold, wet nose would be appreciated. He came out of the bathroom and found Harry all the way down on Ron, making him very happy. "You're supposed to draw it out, that's the fun of handcuffs, Potter."

Harry pulled off and looked at him. "Then he retaliates," Harry reminded.

Draco considered it. "Then this first one can be rather fast, we'll tease later." Someone knocked on the portrait. "Hold on," he called. "The switches," he noted before turning around and walking back to see who it was. He saw it was the Headmaster and glanced back, but Harry had Ron free so he opened it. "Yes, sir?" he asked, getting out of the way.

The headmaster walked in and glanced around. "All packed?"

"Yes, we convinced Dobby to help us since we're horrible at it," Draco admitted. The headmaster looked at him. "We broke things before we talked him into it. He was amazingly fast."

"Yes, he usually is." Dumbledore looked at the other two boys. "Harry, your Aunt and Uncle...."

"Are moving and they're not sure if they want the protection moved or not," Harry reminded him. "Pig was sent with the letter."

"I know, she just came back with it, looking very confused." He moved further into the room, glancing around again. "Wine?"

"To calm my nerves, sir. You now how upset I get sometimes," Harry admitted.

"Ah." He smiled. "It's nice that you cover for him, but I believe that bottle may have come with him his first year. I was hoping he would have cleaned out his stash in the basement by now." Draco groaned and hit himself on the forehead. "I'll leave you to finish packing." He smiled at Harry. "We will miss all of you, but you two especially because you livened up my life so very much."

Ron snorted. "You mean gave you more headaches than the twins, right?"

"That as well," Dumbledore agreed, giving him that same smile. "I doubt there will ever be another class like yours, boys. Or at least one hopes that there won't be more classes with roaming hexing parties in the hallways, or such violent animosities between the houses."

"It's Draco's fault, Headmaster. He was a nasty shit to us that first day," Harry said, giving Draco a smile. "Now that he's reformed, he's pretty decent."

"Yes, well, we all grew up over the years, Harry, even you. Thankfully you've become more tolerant and less like your father. Your mother would have been very proud." He looked at Draco. "I will hurt you if you hurt them," he whispered. "Now go clean out your father's storeroom of favors." Draco nodded, watching as he left.

"That was odd," Harry said in the silence.

"Indeed," Draco agreed, grabbing a few more boxes. "Do we have any more of these?"

"If not, we can use socks to cushion things," Ron reminded him, sliding out of the bed and putting on some pants. "Where is this storeroom of favors?"

"I'm wondering what it is."

"It's left over from my father's days, though he did add to it in my first year. It's how we were supposed to pay off favors and bribes. Come, we'll show you. I could use the help anyway," Draco sighed, walking down to the basement. He heard Snickers and looked back at Harry.

"It would be mean to leave him," Harry pointed out. "He loves to explore."

"Good point." Draco glanced around before ducking into one of the girls' bathrooms. "Hello, Myrtle," he called. "Just going to the store room."

"Icky boys," she sneered. Ron waved. "Oh, and you," she said happily. "Why are you going with him?"

"Because he needs help packing," Ron told her with a grin. "He's my playtoy so I probably should help him. He doesn't look all that good sweaty." She laughed. "Harry, wasn't this..."

"The Chamber of Secrets," Harry agreed, pointing at the sink. "Draco?"

"What?" Draco opened a doorway on the wall between the two rows of stalls. He waved. "In here. Where's the Chamber of Secrets?" Harry walked over and patted a sink. "Huh. I never knew that. Have to speak to it?" Harry nodded. "It figures. What was down there?"

"A big, huge snakey thing," Myrtle told him. "It froze people, that's how I died," she said with a smile for Harry. "You figured it out."

"And speared the sucker too," Ron agreed, patting Harry on the back. "Thank you for saving my sister that year." He waved as they followed Draco into the storage area, whistling as he looked around. "We're going to need a lot more boxes if we're bringing this home."

In the cavern were kegs of beer, boxes, barrels of scotch, even some single bottles of wine. There were also bolts of cloth, a large covered box, and numerous things that they couldn't see. It was a huge cavern.

Harry's mouth fell open. "Well, shit!" he decided. "I wish I had found this when I was looking for the chamber of secrets." Draco laughed. "You think I'm kidding, but there were a few times when I could have used this." He walked over to one of the barrels. "Thirty-year-old scotch," he said in appreciation.

"How in the hell are we getting this back to the manor, Draco?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out." He pointed at the fabric covered thing. "I don't even know what that is."

Harry walked over and looked under the sheet, coming back rather pale. "Dumbledore!" he called. The Headmaster came strolling in a few minutes later, smiling at everyone. "Would you like the basilisk egg?" he asked as he removed the sheet.

Draco looked impressed. "I didn't know that was here."

"It's on top of the boxes, it might have been laid recently," Harry offered.

Dumbledore looked at the egg, showing him the broken spot. "It may be loose."

"Okay, first you blind it, then you stab it," Harry instructed. "It's immune to its own gaze and it'll take a sword." He looked around and Draco hefted one. "That looks heavy."

Dumbledore laughed. "Don't worry, we'll capture it."

"Sir, with all due respect, if I see another one, I'm killing it," Harry told him. "Even if it's during the final battle, I'm killing it."

"Good point. Let me get Severus and Hagrid onto this." He glanced around. "I'll give you an extra day to fly up tomorrow night with more boxes. Whatever's left after that stays." He strolled out. "I'll have the unstiffening potion mixed, Harry."

"Thank you, sir." Harry gave Draco a look. "How in the hell do we get all of this home?"

"Easy," Draco said, waving his wand to start shrinking things. "A bit of magic and a few extra trunks." He paused at one container. "And a few old friends. Be right back." He floated two of the barrels out, taking them to his former house's common room. "Pansy, Crabbe, the rest of you lot," he called. They came running. "I'm ripping down my father's storeroom. A treat if you have any extra space in your trunks." He patted the barrels and a few of the future drunks drooled. "Oh, Potter found a new basilisk's egg that's recently hatched."

Crabbe's eyes went wide. "I love you like my brother, Draco, but I'm not being petrified for you."

"No one's asking you to," Draco assured him, giving him a smile. "They're sure it's went into the Chamber of Secrets to come out in a generation or so." Pansy laughed. "That's what was in there the last time." She quit laughing. "But if you have a bit of room in your trunks that we may borrow, I'll gladly leave the scotch here."

"Hell, I've always got room," Crabbe reminded him. "What about their friends?"

"They haven't said anything yet about a bribe." He shrugged. "Come help. We're in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom." He strolled away, trusting at least some of them to come out of curiosity, and the desire to steal a bit of the stuff. He and Crabbe walked in first, and found Hermione Granger halfway inside a box of books, her rear sticking out of it. "There's your chance," Draco noted, smiling at him. "Go steady her." He walked over to where Harry and Ron were shrinking more barrels. "How did you get her?"

"We're letting her see if any of the books are good," Harry said quietly. "I said that she could beg you to borrow a few." He grinned. "She loves books. She's shrinking the layers as she searches."

"Wonderful. Crabbe likes to sit and read as well." He glanced over at her squeal, finding Crabbe behind her and saying something quietly. "Yes, that's quite the position," he said as she went back into the box with him steadying her. Ron grinned and giggled. "Your doing?"

"Just the box. She went in head first." He looked around. "What is some of this stuff?"

"Some of it is parchment. There are some special inks and a few boxes of pens," he said, pointing in that direction. "There's some coins, some food, some treats," he said, pointing at another section. "Then there's my father's side, he apparently kept most of his house drunk." He belched. "Excuse me." He saw a slithering movement and nodded at Harry. "Do your worst," he suggested.

Harry picked up the sword Draco had freed earlier and carefully moved back that way, stabbing the thing in the back of the head. It quit moving and he tossed the bag Ron threw at him around it, picking it up carefully. "It's dead," he announced. Crabbe let go of Hermione to clap. "I'm going to present it to Snape, maybe he'll be happy to see me go." He walked out, carefully carrying the bag and the sword, and found the Potion's Master in a book about the little snakey things. "Sir, I killed another one, would you like it?" he asked, holding up the bag.

"You killed another what, Potter?" Snape asked, looking over at him. He saw the size of the bag, then the sword. "The basilisk?" Harry nodded. "The new one?" Harry nodded again. "*That's* what was down there!" he shouted. Harry nodded again, looking happier now. "Very well, I'll see what I can do about it." He snatched the bag and felt it. "Are you sure it's dead?"

"Its eyes quit glowing and it quit moving. I got it in the neck." He handed over the sword as well, hilt first. "Just in case, sir. It was in Draco's father's storeroom."

"You're tearing that down?" Harry nodded and Snape stood up, securing the bag in a locked box. "Very well, lead me to it. I have always wanted to see what his father guarded so very carefully."

"Oh, the egg's down there too," Harry noted, walking back that way. "Just us, Myrtle," he called as he opened the door. He pointed at a sink. "That's the entrance to the Chamber, sir. For future reference it's more dark and dank than even your classroom is." He walked into the back. "Snape wanted a look see."

"I'd have thought my father had let him in before," Draco noted dryly, waving at him. "Come in, we have until tomorrow night to move all this."

Crabbe looked at Draco. "I'll take your mates home for you if you want," he offered.

"Funny," Draco taunted. "I'm not leaving you alone with Ron; he's horny, he might jump you and scare you."

Crabbe laughed. "I promise I won't let it happen, Draco."

"Shit, if he's that jump happy, I'll take him," Pansy offered.

Ron blew a kiss her way. "Sorry, I only really like men it seems." He shrugged at hers and Hermione's looks. "I do. I like it quite a lot." He smiled at Crabbe, making him swallow. "The same as I love you, big guy, but I couldn't sleep with you. You'd smoosh me." Crabbe burst out in laughter and Ron jogged over to give him a hug. "No hard feelings?"

"Not a one, but if you start making noises like the last time I reserve the right to burst in and tell you to stop it."

"That's fine. Or you could wank off to it, either one," Ron suggested with his naughtiest grin. He went back over and pounced Draco for a long, hot kiss. "Hurry up. You interrupted my sex time."

Snape looked appalled. "You're corrupting him?"

"Without the pain and fear," Ron told him. "That way my blood is corrupt in a good way. Harry, help him," he ordered. "Let Snickers hunt rats, he does it very well."

"There might be another in here, Ron," Harry sighed.

"Then let him go play with Myrtle," Pansy suggested.

"Good point, go back to the bathroom, Snickers," Harry prompted. His dog gave his hand a lick and went to drink out of a toilet, making Myrtle squeal in fear. "He's a good dog, Myrtle, he won't hurt you."

Hermione stuck her head out the door. "Besides, think of the new stories you'll have to tell."

"I guess," Myrtle agreed. "I wish I could pet him."

"If I see a ghostly dog, I'll try to get him up here for you," Hermione promised. Myrtle perked up. She went back to the box of books, diving back in.

Pansy nudged Crabbe. "Does she know that she's doing suggestive things?"

"She's enjoying the books," Crabbe reminded her. "I doubt the suggestive nature of her pose is anywhere in her mind." He didn't get a chance to see the blush, but he did appreciate the view quite a lot as he steadied her.

Snape looked around the storeroom, shaking his head. "No wonder he never let anyone else in here." He pointed at a barrel. "What is that?" he demanded.

Harry looked at it. "It's labeled 'Finnigan's Best, 1683'," Harry read. "I wonder if it's Seamus' family." He looked at Draco, who shrugged. "We have to move it anyway, sir, so he said you could have it."

Snape floated it up and out with him and the egg shell. "Do clean all this up so no future years can get into it."

"Yes, sir," the Slytherins all called. Then they burst out laughing once he was gone.

"I guess he's celebrating you being gone after all," Ron said, slapping Harry on the back. Harry giggled and kissed him, hurrying over to the treat section to work on those things. He walked back over to his section and started shrinking things again. He heard a squeal and looked at Hermione. "Hold her tighter, Vincent, or else she'll fall in and never get up," he called.

"My hand slipped," Vincent called back. Pansy giggled like a hyena.

"Parkinson, work or no liquor," Draco warned.

"Fine," she called, going over to help Harry. "What's this stuff?"

"Treats. Canned meat, olives, things like that," Harry said, writing on the box. Then he shrunk it. "Want to help me?" She nodded. "Cool. Get that side," he said, pointing at the other side. "It's got the more delicate stuff and I noticed you do this spell very well." She blushed and walked over to work on that side. He briefly wondered if she thought it was a come-on, but decided she wouldn't try anything even if she thought it was.

By dawn, they had the majority of things shrunken and packed into boxes, leaving only the heaviest stuff for last. Including the box Hermione had fallen asleep in. She woke up when he lifted her out, giving him a sleepy smile. "Thank you, Vincent," she murmured, falling asleep on his chest.

Draco smiled at his bodyguard. "Sit down with her somewhere," he instructed.

Vincent sat against the wall, holding her tightly. When she woke up again, he smiled at her because she looked confused. "You fell asleep in the box of books," he said quietly. "I rescued you from being shrunken and packed up." She shifted off his lap and straightened herself out. "Are you okay?"

"A bit stiff from the books, but I'm fine. Thank you, Vincent," she said, not looking at him. She glanced at him and smiled, then hurried back to help some more.

He beamed, stunned by her smile, as he sat there for a while longer. The dog came over and sniffed him so he stood up. "Harry, I'm taking Snickers outside," he called.

"Okay. Is his leash on him?"

"Yeah." Crabbe walked the dog outside, letting him anoint the bushes again. "I think she likes me too," he told the dog. Snickers barked and licked his hand before picking another spot and dragging him. "Yeah, we can go there too," he decided.

***

Ron, Harry, and Hermione flopped down into their usual compartment, smiling at each other. It had been a long night, but they were done! The cavern was clear and everything was cleverly hidden inside other things. Now if nothing broke, they'd all be happy people. As they pulled away, Harry looked back at the spires on the school. "I'll miss this place," he decided.

"We definitely came out better than we went in," Ron agreed. "No one's mentioned the freckle on my nose in years." He rubbed a finger over it.

Hermione laughed. "Neville's not looking for his toad this year," she agreed.

"Malfoy won't come up and pick on us this time either," Harry added.

The door opened and Malfoy and Crabbe walked in. "Potter," he said with a sneer. "Crying over leaving?"

Harry looked at him. "Keep it up and don't get blown for a week," he warned.

Draco laughed. "I tried to make it seem like old times." He sat between them, getting comfortable while Crabbe got comfortable next to Hermione. "Our compartment was overrun by the first years having a party," he admitted at the curious looks. "Otherwise we would have let it be just you three. There aren't any others free." He yawned and looked at his mates. "Which of you would be more comfortable?"

"Harry's got the better padding since I'm fully male," Ron reminded him. "Too bad these seats don't pull out."

Draco fiddled with something under his section and the seat snapped, shifting. "Says who?" He stood up and pulled the sleeper out. "There's been many a child conceived on these seats." He laid down on top of Harry's chest, snuggling in. "Good night, Ron. Wake me when the trolley comes and I'll buy lunch."

"That's fine," Ron agreed quietly, smiling at the other, shocked, couple. "He hadn't slept well the night before," he said quietly, with a wink for Crabbe.

"If you didn't holler like you were being killed, he'd probably get to sleep more often," Crabbe pointed out. Hermione blushed a bright red. "Sorry, but he's rather noisy sometimes. You should have heard him the night before we came back the last time. Embarrassed the twins to no end. They were still blushing when they came down for breakfast."

Hermione looked at Ron and laughed. "I never imagined you'd be a screamer."

"Howler's more like it," Harry said, nudging Ron with his foot. "Come nap, let them talk. Our best friends should get along." Hermione opened her mouth. "Just sleeping, nothing indecent," he assured her. Ron snuggled in as well. "We'll do the indecent stuff later, when we're not so tired."

Ron laughed. "Wake up knob shiners?" he suggested.

"Later," Draco grunted. "Sleep now, Ron, or no getting laid at all during your female times."

"Grumpy." Ron laid on Harry's chest as well, comforted by the arms that were flung over him by both men. "Good night."

"Night," Draco said.

"Good night, Ron," Harry agreed.

Hermione waited until they were asleep before taking off her robe and using it to cover them. "There," she said, looking at the man she hardly knew. He did the same and sat facing her. "I think Harry's right, we should be able to get along, it will make them happier."

Crabbe leaned forward and gently kissed her. "It'd make others happier too." He saw her blush and smiled. "Sorry for being so forward, but even Draco's agreed that you're not the average ...."

"Mudblood?" she suggested.

"I didn't want to use that word," he told her. "But basically. Yeah."

She smiled. "Being a genius is rather like that sometimes. I've had many teachers that have had to rearrange their thinking because of me. Both in Hogwarts and outside of it." She got comfortable. "So, do you read?"

"A lot. There's a lot of quiet times in our house so I pick up anything at hand."

"What do you prefer?"

"I think I like mysteries the best, but I have a soft spot for fantasy novels." He grinned and ducked his head. "Some of the best ones are muggle. They have no idea about some of the creatures of course, but they tell the tales very well."

"I prefer science fiction, but you're right," she agreed, smiling at him when he looked at her. "Really. My parents would throw fits if they ever found my collection, but I have a large one at the moment. Nearly fifty books carefully hidden around my room."

"I'd like to see them some time," he offered. "My old room at Draco's is nearly full of books. Aunt Narcissa made me store them up there and hide them from her and Uncle Lucius because they were disgusted."

"That shows a lack of respect on their part," Hermione said firmly. "They're not bad just because a muggle wrote them."

"No, they only saw the wizarding ones, they considered fantasy and anything like it beneath them. They used to make sure I wasn't corrupting their son. That's why he reads textbooks for fun."

"I'm sure Ron can break him of that habit. Ron has a wonderful comic book collection started. Not a real one, for investment purposes, but a nice one nonetheless." She shifted in her seat and he pulled her closer, kissing her again. "Well." She licked her lips. "You like me?" He nodded. "Why?"

"Because I got to see Ron as a real person so I started looking around at the people he liked because we get on so well," he said quietly, glancing at the trio. Then he looked back at her, seeing the understanding. "I think you're ...."

"Neat?" she supplied with a smile. "All that?"

"That fits," he agreed with a grin. "Even if you can't dance like those women at the club." She choked. "Sorry." He hung his head. "I'm not great with women."

She tipped his head back up. "Most of those women would leave those jobs if they could," she said quietly. "And you don't know what I do in my free time, I might be just as wild." He shook his head. "You don't think so? Come with me to the science fiction convention this summer," she offered. "We'll see if we can redefine wild for you in a better sense." He beamed. "We can even wear robes if we put on pointy ears and go as elves."

"I don't look like an elf."

"No one will care that you're large and strong," Hermione said gently, shifting closer. She looked at the men again then at him. "I believe this is the longest conversation I've ever had that didn't mention schoolwork."

He laughed. "Mine's usually sports with Draco," he admitted. She laughed as well. "You are neat."

"Thank you. I think I could come to like you as well, Vincent."

"Vinnie," he corrected. "Only to my close friends, but I think you're going to qualify." She patted him on the hand. "What does one do at a convention?"

"We celebrate the fandom and the spirit of the works."

On the bed, Draco smiled and let himself fall asleep. Those two were rather cute.

***

The quintet walked off the train and gathered their belongings, then Hermione gave them a sad look. "I guess I'll see you soon?" she suggested.

"Actually," Draco said, putting an arm around her shoulders, "I took a rather large liberty and wrote to your parents, Granger. They agreed that you should help Harry and Ron settle in at the new house. Seeing as you're their friend and they'll be mostly alone, you should probably spend some time out there with them, get accustomed to it and all. They said they'd see you in a few days, right before that convention thingy they said they sent in the registration form for." He walked away. "Come along, boys, or I'll tie you both down and do myself." Harry and Ron walked after him, grumbling about him being mean.

Hermione looked at Vincent. "Is he always like that?"

He nodded. "When he gets determined that things should go a certain way, he tends to get a touch manipulative." He cleared his throat. "He forgot to mention something as well. The rest of the house is under renovation. We'll have to share Draco's old room. Of course, I have my own room in it," he said at her opening mouth. "I wanted to warn you beforehand so you wouldn't have a fit on him. He's trying so hard to be nice."

"I noticed," she agreed. "Come along then, let's go to his house. Does he really have four libraries?"

Vincent nodded. "Big, huge libraries, and he's nice enough to occasionally let people borrow books too." He put a hand on her back to steer her toward the wall, letting her go through first. His own father had told him what being a gentleman was about, even if Lucius did sneer at the simple courtesies. He could get to like this, she leaned back against his hand.

You're A Good Boy, Harry Potter

Harry glanced at where Ron was waiting in line, and mentally sighed. Ron had been right that they shouldn't be standing next to each other during this first inspection by the aurors, but he wanted him closer than four people away. He saw the Captain they had been introduced to earlier and noticed the mischievous look he had. Oooh, it was going to be one of *those* initiations.

A man with corporal markings walked up to their line and sneered at them. "I am *Corporal* Withseon. You are now *mine*," he told them, starting his inspection. He walked down the line, frowning and making pithy comments at each one, coming to Ron first. He looked this female over and sneered harder at her. "Thinking you can get past all these men, girly?"

Ron shrugged. "You have no idea what I can do, so save your judgement until I fuck up, thank you," Ron said back, smirking slightly.

"Ooh-ho! A *feisty* one, gentlemen. We'll have to watch out for this one. Thinks she's as good as a man." He looked Ron over again, staring particularly hard at her small tits. Then he looked in her eyes again. "You have to do what I say."

Ron laughed. "No, I don't. I have to do what *he* says," he corrected, pointing at the Captain. "He never said a thing about following you...sir."

"Really? Do you see these?" he asked, pointing at the stripes.

"No, I'm actually seeing the fact that it's not your shirt," Ron told him blandly. "The name you gave us and the name on the shirt's tag don't match...sir." He grinned. "Anything else you wanted me to observe? Like getting your ass kicked for staring at my tits?"

The Captain laughed and walked up to him. "He is not who he said he was, very well done, Weasley." Ron nodded his head. "This is actually Sergeant Witherspoon, he is in charge of training."

"And I already don't like you," he sneered at Ron. He snapped his fingers. "You'd be the wife," he said with a cold smirk.

"Yes, mine," Harry said as he stepped forward. "Stare at my wife's breasts again and we're going to have a problem," he told him. The Sergeant looked at him and Harry crossed his arms over his chest, giving him his best psychotic look. Incidentally, the Sergeant couldn't see his nametag now either. Best to set this off as an anonymous person for now. "Do continue, please, sir, we're all looking forward to the spell training we're supposed to be receiving after you get done. Much more so than standing out here in the sunlight getting sneered at. Oh, and you might want to see Professor Snape, he does that *so* much better than you."

The Sergeant walked down and looked down at the boy. "What was that, runt?"

Harry removed his arms. "I said there are others who sneer better and you should probably take lessons. My other husband can even do better and he's in a good mood today." He smiled his best impudent grin. "Anything else, sir? I'd really rather be in classes by now. Time's wasting."

The Captain coughed. "Potter, calm down. I don't need you to destroy him because he stared at Weasley." He pointed at the spot next to Ron. "You should be there."

"I thought so too," Harry admitted as he walked down there, "but Ron said not to." He kissed Ron on the cheek. "Don't fight him, it'll only take longer."

"I know, but he's an ass and I've had enough of that already today," Ron pointed out. Harry and the Captain both looked at him. "What? The other husband was in a bad mood this morning, you try dealing with him when he's like that."

The Sergeant licked his lips. "Three husbands aren't legally bound." Harry opened his mouth. "And she doesn't look like a husband, so I know something's going on." He walked back to look at Ron. "You're not a normal human," he sneered. "We don't teach *creatures* here."

Ron punched him, knocking him onto his ass. "I'm still not a creature, don't start. I haven't had my midol yet this morning, or chocolate." The men around them backed away as Ron glared at him. "Now then, we were accepted. We're not asking you to train us, but we are here for training. If you want, you can run back to your barracks and cry into your pillow because Harry and I are here. We don't really care."

The Captain laughed. "I like that. Boys, my office." Harry opened his mouth. "We'll have to send you two through some special testing to gauge your abilities," he informed them. "Is there anyone else who Misters Potter and Weasley have trained?" he called. A few people stepped out.

Harry looked at one of them. "I don't know you," he told her.

"No, sir, but my father was an auror and he taught me everything he had already. I want to be tested." She looked at the Captain. "Please, sir, if possible."

"Of course." He looked at a few of the other candidates, knowing some weren't telling the truth. He'd leave them for now. "Those of you who stepped out, head to my office," he pointed at it. "Sergeant, please give them the usual spiel since your devious plan to put them off balance has failed." He walked after the group, silently laughing. No one had done that to him in six years, not since Tonks had come in. He got them into his office and gathered around his desk. "I was led to understand that Mr. Potter was given the right to give you lot some extra training?" Everyone nodded. "Good. Which books?"

"Remus Lupin sent us the Defense set from when he went," Harry told him quietly, sitting calmly next to Ron and holding his hand gently. "Most of the people in here I've led through at least the fifth year book."

"Very well. I always enjoyed those." He smiled at them. "We'll begin your testing this afternoon. For now, wait across the hall. Not you, Mr. Potter, or you, Mr. Weasley," he said when they stood up. He smiled once the door was closed. "I know you had to do it, but to show him up like that demoralizes his command ability."

"He's an ass," Ron pointed out. "And if he thinks they're big now, he should wait and see them at full girth," he said with a small smile. "I don't put up with shit from anyone, sir. Training is one thing, outside of that I don't deal well with it."

"That's fine. Mr. Weasley, do you know if you're fertile?" the Captain asked.

Ron shook his head. "Not by all indications," he lied. Draco and Harry had both warned him. "Let me make this very clear from the start. No one's getting my blood. Not unless I *want* to give it to them." He opened his shirt to show the device Draco had gotten for him. "If anyone tries anything, this is set to deliver enough opiate into my bloodstream to kill me and muddy it."

The Captain pushed a button on his desk, bringing a mediwitch. "Is that what I think it is?"

She looked at it, then grimaced and nodded. "It's a suicide patch, sir, properly applied and linked into the superior vena cava vein." She straightened up. "You're a changeling?" Ron nodded. "Good placement. Opiate?" He nodded again. So she looked at her commander. "The patch is set to flood his heart with opiate, sir. It latches on right before the vein enters the heart, so the last few pumps will muddy his blood thoroughly. Whoever did this did their homework."

"I'll tell Draco you said so," Ron said quietly. He looked at the Captain. "As you can see, we are prepared."

"I do see." The Captain looked at Harry. "What about you? Are you prepared for this, Mr. Potter?"

"I've faced him each year, sir, this is only formally training me for the next time." He squeezed Ron's hand. "I know this is highly unusual, but Ron's supposed to be training for defensive magic, not offensive. I thought he was supposed to be in a different working group."

"He was to be, we forgot," the Captain admitted. He looked at Ron. "Is that what you want?"

Ron shook his head. "No, I've already been on the front lines. I can see the point of me not dying on the field or being captured but with this it shouldn't matter." Harry looked at him. "It shouldn't. If anyone tries to bleed me, I have a small switch I can push to set the patch off. No one knows where it is but Draco and I."

"If that's what you want," Harry said quietly. Ron nodded and gave him a reassuring kiss. "Then I won't argue since you can't be taken."

"What if he's knocked out?" the nurse asked.

"It'll go off and I'll have really vivid dreams, but no one can use my blood," Ron told her. She nodded. "Is that all right with you, sir?" he asked their commander.

"I can't argue with it," the commander admitted. "Mr. Potter, I was asked to remind you that you still have to set up formal truce relations with your former Headmaster?" Harry nodded. "Why?"

"Because Dumbledore's fatal mistake was trying to make sure I didn't have a real life," Harry said simply as he stood up. "We should join the others, it looks like favoritism." He hauled Ron up and they walked out.

The nurse looked at him. "I got Poppy Pomfrey's notes about them," she said quietly. "There's a reason his scar is now bigger."

"I noticed," he sighed. "He snapped?" She nodded. "Very well, we'll keep it subtle."

"I think it's a bad idea, sir. He'll do what's necessary without being pushed into it. You might want to train him the regular way." She walked out.

The Captain considered it. "That might help him win, but even so," he decided, "it won't assure that he fights that battle the correct way." He stood up and walked across the hall to watch over the testing. This whole section was very well taught already it seemed.

***

Harry flopped on the couch after his first week, this was their time off and he wanted to enjoy it. The only problem was that Ron was already asleep in the big, comfy chair he had staked out as his. He looked around. "Draco!" he yelled. "We're back!"

Hermione walked in. "He's outside on his broom," she said with a smile. "How did it go?"

"Didn't Tonks say we were supposed to start in on charms and hexes immediately?" Harry asked. She nodded. "We've gotten ethics lectures all week. That and physical fighting tests."

"Oh. Well, you could write her and ask her," she suggested, leaning down to give him a hug. Then she grimaced. "Harry, you smell, go bathe," she encouraged, stepping away from him. "Take Ron with you."

"Ron, Hermione says we smell," Harry said loudly.

Ron waved a hand. "Later," he mumbled, curling up on his side as best he could.

Vincent Crabbe walked in and shook his head. "Asleep already and stinking up Draco's favorite reading chair?" he asked. "We'll have to fix that."

Draco walked in and stole a kiss from Harry, then bent down to wake up Ron and get one from him. "Up, the both of you need a bath. I'll even wash your backs," he encouraged at the mutinous look Ron gave him. "Come along, let's bathe together," he soothed, pulling Ron up.

"I'm tired!" Ron whined.

Vincent took the direct route and lifted him up, carrying him up to the master bedroom for Draco. "You can sleep once you don't smell," he retorted, setting Ron into the bathroom. "There, start the water." He gave Ron a hug. "I'm proud of you," he whispered before walking away.

Ron gave the empty doorway a goofy grin, but started the water as ordered. Harry and Draco walked in together, quietly talking. He stripped off for them and kissed Draco. "I'm home," he announced.

"I noticed," Draco smirked, leaning down to kiss the hard nipple. "Into the water so I can taste more of you." That got them moving like no other incentive would have. He stripped off to join them, settling into the warm, bubble filled water to scrub the sweat and dirt off them. "How was your first week?"

"Full of ethics lectures," Harry told him, grimacing.

"With a lot of words like 'sacrifice' and 'duty'," Ron agreed dryly.

"Are they going to pull what Dumbledore did?" Hermione asked from the doorway. Ron nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Harry agreed. "I'm waiting to see how long it takes them to get to the real training." He grabbed the extra sponge and started on Ron's back for him. Ron looked at him. "To get you done faster; I haven't touched you since Sunday night," he reminded him.

"Good point," Hermione said with a smile. "I'll see you three at dinner." She closed the door to give them some privacy, and to shield the rest of the house from the incredible noise those three could make.

"I think she was embarrassed," Ron quipped.

"I thought us having sex at the dinner table would have cured that," Draco agreed, then he pounced. He hadn't had any since Sunday night either. It wasn't fair. It really wasn't.

***

Harry walked back into the camp Monday morning feeling much better. Ron was behind him and they nodded at the guard. "Where are we supposed to meet?" he asked as soon as they were checked in.

"Field. You're getting more physical training," the guard told him, looking at Ron. "Didn't you used to be smaller?"

"I change around a bit," Ron admitted. "In a few weeks, I'll be male." He shrugged and followed Harry to the meeting area. He hated this physical stuff, he already knew how to throw a punch and a hex. "When do you think they'll start the real training?" he asked as they walked.

"As soon as the rest of you can meet the required physical standards," the Sergeant told him from behind them.

Ron looked at him. "That's wonderful, when?" he asked happily. "I do better at hexes when I'm in male form."

"Next week sometime," he said with a sneer. "What should we do with you next week? You can't stay in your current tent," he noted.

"He can," Harry told him. "The other female in the class knows he's gay." He walked Ron on, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. "You'd think he was a twelve-year-old Malfoy," he said bitterly. Ron burst into giggles. "He acts like it," Harry defended.

"I'm telling Draco you noticed that," Ron teased, then jogged to the group since it looked like they were about to start. Harry joined him at his side, facing the Captain.

"This week, we'll finish your physical training. By the end of the week, you'll have routines to keep you in shape," the Captain announced. He smiled at the two on the end. "Though some of you probably don't need the exercise." The group looked at them then burst out in laughter.

Harry shrugged. "It is cardiovascular training," he agreed dryly. Ron snorted. "Running again, sir?"

"No, Potter, not today. Today we're going to be teaching more hand-to-hand. Break into pairs." He stepped back, watching as the group matched themselves against the others. Interestingly enough, they all picked their equals. Most groups tried to pick people weaker than themselves. Potter even broke off with Weasley to go to someone his own equal, Ron was weaker in this form physically and he knew it. Interesting. He'd have to do an evaluation and put them with people that would make them work later in the week. "Begin," he noted. A few lackluster punches were thrown. "For real, gentlemen. And ladies," he admitted when he saw the other woman's harsh look. Surprisingly, Ron attacked first, knocking her opponent onto the ground quickly and making sure he stayed there. "Weasley, don't damage them," he called.

"Sorry, sir, I didn't like his insinuation about unicorns," Ron said with a shrug. He looked at his fighting partner. "Get up already," he said dryly. "Before you get both of us in trouble."

His partner stood up. "Didn't get any again this weekend?" he taunted.

Ron punched him in the nose, breaking it. "Yeah, I did. Multiple, satisfying times," he said with a smirk. "The same as I do most nights." He kicked the guy in the knees and watched him fall, then shrugged and went to butt in on the person who had already knocked their opponent out. He didn't know him, but he looked tough enough to be a challenge and a workout. "Care for a dance?" he asked with a grin. The bigger guy smirked and they faced off. He was pulling his punches though. "I've got five older brothers, mate. Go for it. I can fight." One more hesitant swing then Ron hit him as hard as he could.

"You hit like a girl," he laughed, then took a real swing at him.

"Only for the next five days," Ron noted. "Then I get to hit like a bothie, then like a guy again," he said happily. The guy laughed and it was on. The other pairs stopped to watch them, and to get out of their way as they danced around.

"You're good," the guy noted.

"I've been practicing with Crabbe," Ron panted, ducking under a swing. "You must run or something."

"Or something," he said with a grin. Ron nailed him with a heel strike to the chest and he grunted. "Ow! Grumpy bitch." He swung again and Ron laughed, getting him again. "No fair!"

"Give me a few days for this to be fair," Ron pointed out. "I'll grow three inches soon." He was tagged on the arm, but had shifted so his arm was the only target so he was mostly prepared for it. He got the other guy with a heel sweep but found himself on the ground as well. "Wow." He lifted his head to look at the other guy. "Truce?"

"Truce," he panted, holding out a hand to shake it.

"Very well done," the Captain said happily. "Henderson, how was she?"

"Good sir." He stood up and hauled Ron up with him. "For a recruit, she's damn good. I guess it's having five brothers," he said with a smile for Ron. He stepped forward. "From now on, I am your personal trainer," he called out. "I am Staff-Sergeant Henderson. I run the gym!" The group groaned. "I will see you at least once a week in there. Some of you will need more," he said with a look at the person who Ron had started out with. "Some of you need less," he said with a smirk for Ron and Harry. "We will be checking to make sure you come see me often enough," he said then he fell back. "Weasley," he said as Ron moved past him. "Who's Crabbe?"

"My other husband's bodyguard," Ron told him.

"Ah! No wonder. Professionals are often better trained. Good job. Keep up your breath training though, you'll want it in a real fight."

Ron nodded. "I remember." He went back to find his spot in the line.

"Huh?" he asked quietly, looking at his captain. "Sir?"

The Captain looked at him. "They've been in a few real battles already," he said quietly. "Weasley ran into a few things that distracted him and Potter was trying so hard. They were fifth years during the first real one."

"Oh. Damn!" He shook his head. "Potter, appear here," he said, pointing at a spot he was walking toward. Harry walked over. "I'm also the combat instructor. I'll be testing you and Weasley tonight, son."

"And a few others," Harry said quietly. "They've been there too."

"That's fine, point them out to me." Harry whispered the names in his ear. "Good boy. Go back to your wife." He looked at the Captain and opened his mouth, but the older man shook his head. "Fine. I'll be doing combat testing tonight," he announced. "After dinner instead of your run." He walked away, going to plan out a mock battle sequence using the next group higher. They needed it. These new kids were already better.

The Captain smiled at the group. "Good work, you impressed him. He's moving you ahead."

"Can we start on spell training?" Ron asked.

"Next week, Weasley," he said tiredly. "For now, we've got more rule and introductory instructions to give you. Report to the mess hall." He watched them walk away and grabbed Weasley. "Why do you keep insisting on that?"

Ron grinned. "Because the aurors we've talked to and worked with told us that was supposed to come first," he said quietly. "Not this sacrifice crap. Because that will make some of us leave very quickly." He got free and walked after the rest of the group, going to find a seat and hopefully some water.

The Captain frowned. "Which ones have they worked with?" he muttered, going to make a note to check up on that later. He had their files and only one was mentioned.

***

Harry finished writing the letter and sent Hedwig on her way, smiling at Ron as he finished his. "Letter to your mother?"

Ron shrugged. "To Bill. He's due in this summer and Mum hasn't told him anything yet. I don't want to have to fight with him." He looked up. "Bill's almost as protective as you are." He grinned to show he wasn't being mean. "It'll be a fight no matter what, but this way might make it easier and go quicker." He finished it by signing his name and read over it, only inserting one word before tying it to Pig's leg and letting her go off. "There, all done. What should we do now?" he asked nicely.

"Ron, we can't even cuddle," Harry groaned, leaning back on his bed. "The rules forbid it."

"I know, but I don't want to cuddle. How about one of those five minute thingies?" Harry leered and started to get up but someone opened the door. "Dammit," Ron muttered. "Yes, sir?" he asked the combat instructor.

"Boys, you're to get special training," he said quietly. He looked at Harry. "It's been noted that your file was incomplete so we want to debrief you both about your real combat experiences and that'll be your test. We want you to be honest and realistic about how badly you messed up and what you did right." The boys nodded. "Good. Come with me." He walked them to his office in the gym and sat them in comfortable chairs. "We can do this two ways: pensieve or orally."

"Both," Ron told him. "That way they can be compared. Humans remember things funny according to our friend Hermione."

Harry nodded. "There's probably some things I'll want to forget about each fight," he agreed. "The pensieve would pull them out anyway, right?"

"Yeah, that would work," Henderson agreed, pulling out the official pensieve and putting it in front of them. "Do either of you know how to work one?"

"No, but I'm a quick study at the moment," Ron said lightly.

Henderson laughed. "Keep that sense of humor, you'll need it by the end of next week." He activated it for Ron, letting it make copies of everything in his head from the last two years. Then he sorted through it to find all the fighting incidents, stringing them together. "Didn't you say he was your other husband, Weasley?"

"Yeah, he reformed," Ron said with a grin. "He learned how to use his tongue to do more than say nasty things to us."

"Ron!" Harry said, scandalized.

"I meant he gives compliments now," Ron sighed, rolling his eyes. "Perv!"

Henderson laughed. "Don't worry, we don't have a sexual harassment statue in the auror corps. You can say things like that and not usually get into trouble."

"He will when I tell Draco he said it," Harry told him. He frowned at Ron. "He'll tease you to no end."

"He'll do it anyway," Ron pointed out. He grabbed a general rubberband off the desk and pulled his shoulder-length red hair into a ponytail. "He's been dying to tease us for weeks now, Harry."

"Yeah, I know," Harry sighed, slumping down some. The watching was complete and it was his turn. It felt like someone was rummaging around in his head with fingernails, but he guessed it was all right.

Henderson looked at it, then at him. "What's that?"

Harry looked. "My cousin. He's dead now."

"I see. Bully?"

"That's putting it mildly," Harry told him.

The Sergeant nodded and went back to his viewing. When he was done, he saved them both down to show his Captain. He was on the *wrong* track with these two. Weasley would protect Potter and make sure he won, no matter what it cost him. "I see you've both had some problems keeping your focus."

Ron nodded. "That giant brain thingie wasn't that fun," he agreed. "Then again, we were younger and less experienced in real fighting."

"Good point. Harry, that was dumb."

Harry beamed. "Thank you, sir. I enjoyed it immensely though." He stood up. "Did you really want our oral accounts?"

"No, not since I saw all that. I'm going to suggest that a few of you enter combat training sooner. As soon as you start learning your spells and hexes. I'll also talk to your last Defense teacher to see how you learn best." The nodded and Ron stood up. "Dismissed, thank you both." They walked out and he flooed his boss. "I've got a pensieve full of both of their heads, sir, and you're mistaken," he announced. "Ron'll do it because he loves him, of his own free will."

"I'll be right there," the Captain announced.

***

Harry looked up at the morning mail, smiling as his owl came flying down in front of him. "Hey, Hedwig, did you enjoy your trip, girl?" He scratched her gently and fed her a treat before taking the large envelope. "From Moody?" She hooted and nuzzled him before taking off for the rafters. Harry opened it and looked inside. "Two letters," he said happily, pulling them both out, silently hoping one was from Remus. No such luck.

"Who's the other from?" Ron asked.

"Tonks." He handed Moody's over after he had read it, it was general and a bit of praise from the rumors he had gotten. Tonk's on the other hand, it made him quietly fold it back up and put it into the envelope. "I've got to put this in the trunk," he said quietly. "I'll be right back."

"Finish breakfast first," Ron commanded, holding out a hand. Harry shook his head. "I can take it from you."

"She said not to tell you," Harry countered.

"All the more reason to." Harry handed it over and Ron read the letter, then folded it back up and put it into the envelope. "My mother doesn't know, right?"

"I shouldn't think they'd have told her," Harry agreed, glancing around. "Why?"

"Call Hedwig, this is going to mum." Harry called down his owl and Ron handed the envelope to her. "Take this to my mother," he said quietly, scratching her neck ruff. "Molly Weasley and no one else." Hedwig hooted and took off, going to take the letter back. Ron looked at Moody's letter and shook his head. "He hasn't heard obviously."

"He's out of the loop that way," Harry reminded him, putting a hand on his arm. "Whatever you want," he promised. "I'll support you."

Ron looked at him. "I want this shit to be over with," he said simply. "I want our lives to be normal again." He stood up. "I'm going to beat up on a heavy bag. Finish my breakfast for me." He walked away, going to do what he said. How dare they! He was not a tool!

Harry looked at the head table, trying to figure out who was pushing to call for a formal duel with Voldemort.

***

Molly looked up from her breakfast with her son-in-law, smiling when she saw the owl. "Two letters?" she said happily. Bill grunted on the other side of the table. She took the letter from Hedwig, watching as it was petted by Draco. The envelope was opened and she was smiling up until she read the third sentence. Then she handed it to Draco. "I don't want them there."

"Mum, aurors get into danger," Bill pointed out gently.

Molly looked at him. "Read yours again, Bill."

Draco used his wand to summon the paper they had written on what to do with Ron's blood, handing it to Bill. "For your further edification," he said as he read. He had expected this. He looked at Molly and nodded. "He's wearing a suicide patch," he said simply. Molly relaxed.

Bill looked at the paper, then at Draco. "Why do I need to read this?"

"That's what Ron is," Draco said patiently.

"What?" Bill shouted, standing up. "What did you do to my baby brother, Malfoy!"

"Nothing, the twins did it," Draco said calmly. He looked at Molly. "You didn't tell him either?"

She pursed her lips and shook her head. "I thought it'd be better to show him first, or to let Ron tell him," she admitted. She looked at Bill. "The twins decided to make a candy that would allow young men like you to be a woman for a few days," she told him. "It backfired."

Bill's mouth fell open and stayed that way. He started to shake his head. "No!" he said finally, walking out into the garden.

"He'll be home in three days," Draco called. "He'll be at the inbetween spot again."

"Can you get him home sooner?" Molly asked. She looked at Hedwig. "I'm wondering which one sent her?"

"Ron did," Draco told her. "He's still furious. That would explain why." He stood up. "Perhaps I should talk to him?"

"No, I'll get George to do it." She stood up and walked out, taking him to the twin's store. "George, Fred, look who's in," she called over the crowd of returning students. Fred and George both smiled and pointed at the doorway behind them. "We'll wait for you for a bit," she agreed, pulling him that way. "Now you listen to them, Bill, and try not to lose your temper. Ron's mostly happy now." She put him onto the couch and left him there, going back to Draco's. She was enjoying helping him plan the next party he would have to throw.

Bill was scowling when the twins walked in. "What did you two do to Ron?"

Fred shut the door. "We've only got a half-hour," he said quietly, glancing around. "What have they told you?"

***

Bill looked up as Harry and Ron apparated in and the shields closed again. He looked over Ron, still frowning. Then he looked at Harry and his hand on Ron's back. "Go away," he requested.

"Sure, we'll talk later," Harry agreed. "Draco?" he called as he walked away.

"Hi, Bill," Ron said, giving him a hug. Bill scowled at him. "What? You expected me to still be sulking after a year?" Bill opened his mouth. "In another six days, it'll be a year. We're going to celebrate it with the twins if you wanted to join in."

Bill shook himself. "At least it's only warped you slightly," he admitted. He shook himself briskly. "You're not bothered by this?"

"I had a few crying jags," Ron admitted as he sat down, staring at his big brother. "That first day found me throwing a royal temper tantrum in the backyard at home. The day I started my monthlies. The last time Harry and Draco refused to have sex with me." He shrugged. "I try to control it. It has warped me, but mostly in good ways. I can now translate between couples." He pointed at the chair next to him. "Sit, I can answer questions."

"I got the long lecture from the twins, from your...mate, and from mum," Bill admitted. "Ron, that's just odd, even for us," he decided.

Ron looked down at his shrinking chest. "I'll understand if it creeps you out. Charlie couldn't quit staring the whole time he was up." Bill lunged over and hugged him. "Thanks."

"I'm not going to abandon you, Ron, but it's still weird and I need time to think about it."

Ron hit him on the arm, but he was grinning. "You're my brother, you're not supposed to think about them."

Bill laughed. "You're definitely still yourself." He gave him a hair ruffle. "What's with the hair? Mum always tries to cut mine, why hasn't she gotten to yours yet?"

"Because she thinks it's only proper to have me grow it out," Ron said with a naughty grin. "Keeps trying to get me to wear a kilt all the time so I'm never out of a skirt too." Bill burst out in giggles. "Sure, yuk it up, but I don't have the legs for it. I look better in slinky gowns, which is good because Harry and Draco like to see me in them." He beamed. "With high heels of course."

"Of course," Bill agreed. He noogied his younger brother before standing up again. "You're really okay with this?"

"I've learned to be philosophical about it," Ron corrected. "I can't change it so I might as well go with it." He stood up. "Besides, I look hot in my dresses. Come on up and I'll show you. They've *forced* me to allow them to spoil me, Bill. Threatened to tickle me and things if I didn't."

Bill patted him on the back, smiling at him. This was the Ron he was used to. "They like you to be pampered. It's not such a bad thing." He followed Ron up to their room, quickly heading into the closet with him when he noticed the two sucking each other off on the bed.

Ron looked at him, then at the bed. "Wait for me, you greedy bastards," he shouted.

Draco pulled off and looked at him. "We're entertaining ourselves until you're done talking with your brother."

"We'll get you after dinner," Harry agreed, going back to what he had been doing. His wand flicked, drawing the curtains around the bed closed.

Bill shook his head to clear away the bad images. "You put up with that?"

"Yeah, they'll lick me until I'm unconscious later. Harry likes it that way," he said with a smirk.

Bill patted him on the back. "I revise my earlier statement, you are very warped, Ron."

Ron beamed. "Just wait." He glanced around then shut the door, losing his smile. "Bill, I need advise about the training program," he said quietly. "I really do."

Bill lost his smile, nodding. "What's going on?"

"You know that I can be used as part of a power raising potion?" Bill nodded slowly. "The Captain over our training group wants to try and brainwash me to let them kill me."

"But a freely-given bit would have more power," Bill pointed out.

"And he doesn't think I'd do it for Harry," Ron told him, opening a small box to show him the three vials of blood. "But I have."

Bill closed the top of the box. Seeing the contents had made him queasy. "I'll stand behind you no matter what, but I won't put up with you being in danger, Ron. Neither will the folks. Do they know?" Ron nodded. "Then I'd drop out. You and Harry both." He scratched the back of his neck. "Mother told me about how Dumbledore made him snap and all that. If they're going to press it, I'd say leave. You're both well trained already and you can probably mimic the training here just as well."

"I guess," Ron agreed. He glanced at the door again and pointed his wand at it, sending a small burst of energy at it, making Draco yell. "Yes, we're talking about that stuff." The door opened. "I was going to tell him about the gun, just in case."

Draco nodded, rubbing his arm. "If you think he's trustworthy," he agreed. He closed the door and went back to the bed, considering what he had heard. He nudged Harry. "Are they doing it to you? Like Dumbledore did?" Harry nodded slowly, giving him a trusting look. "You can quit."

"I shouldn't. I could use the training."

Draco touched the scar. "We don't want a repeat of this, especially not if they're going to break you two apart," he said quietly. "I want you to drop out."

Harry sat up. "Draco, I can't. You know I can't. It could mean the difference between winning and losing that fight. The difference between dying and not having to see the world go to hell quickly, and living to make sure it changes in a good way." His eyes pleaded for understanding even as his hands stroked over Draco's chest and he arched up to give him a kiss. "You know I won't let them hurt Ron."

"I'm worried about the both of you," Draco told him, giving him a hard kiss. "There isn't much we can't train you to do here at the house, Potter. I don't want to have to get an owl saying you're in the hospital because you snapped again. Besides, your dog misses you."

Harry sighed and leaned against him, getting comfortable. "I promise, if it gets to be too much I'll quit. I won't let myself snap and I won't let myself go odd either. We need the training though."

"If you insist," Draco said bitterly. Harry hugged him. "We do have an extensive Dark Arts library in the study," he noted.

"We get our spellbooks on Monday," Harry soothed. "Next weekend, we'll look through it and compare notes." Draco nodded, relaxing some. "I swear, nothing's going to hurt Ron."

Draco pinched him hard. "I'm sure she'll be protected, you won't protect yourself, Harry."

"Yes, Draco."

Draco groaned and tipped Harry's face up so he had to look at him. "I'm starting to agree with the twins. This low self-esteem of yours is wrong and damaging. Where is that cocky boy who teased me back?"

"He's tired."

"I know," Draco soothed, understanding it now. Ron wasn't the only one getting pushed into sacrificing himself. He laid them down, cuddling Harry closer. "We'll have to work on your occulemencary lessons this weekend," he said quietly.

"If you think it'd be fun," Harry agreed in a lighter tone of voice.

"I do. That way I can get into your head and rearrange things in there," Draco noted, giving him a squeeze. "Maybe I'll even bring out that side that you showed the Dark One when we faced him down."

"I've gotten yelled at so many times about that," Harry said quietly. "All the 'how could you's are coming back."

"Then we'll handle it," Draco assured him. Ron opened the curtains and crawled in. "Are they being pushy with you too?" Ron nodded and cuddled in behind Harry. "Done with your brother?"

"Until after dinner. He's thinking." Ron yawned. "I think I want a nap, I'll jump you both later."

"Sure, Ron." Harry patted his hand and waited until he heard the snoring. "This isn't good for him," he said quietly. Draco nodded. "I want him to drop out, just so he's safer."

"We'll see what we can do," Draco promised, giving him a kiss. "You rest as well. You could probably use the nap too." Harry nodded and snuggled in, falling asleep while Draco thought and made possible plans. He would not allow this to go on. He wouldn't see the world ended because someone was getting desperate.

***

Draco walked into the Captain's office, sitting himself down across from him without being told to. "I decided it was about time for us to talk," he said complacently. The Captain looked up at him and started. "Yes, it's me." He looked around the room while the man put down his pen. Then he looked at him again. "I know you did a pensive reading of Potter's history. Do you understand what you've seen?"

"The boy's a loose cannon," the Captain told him.

Draco held up a finger. "He's not actually. He is not going to be pushed into anything. He knows what he'll have to do. He's accepted it and made plans in case the worst happens. He's also made a long-term goal to give himself something to look forward to." He crossed his legs. "On the other hand, you've about sent him back into the state where he tried to cut off his scar and present it to someone. I can't allow that. Nor can I allow the world to end simply because you're in a blind panic because your numbers are too low. If you continue to push Potter and Weasley, you will find yourself in the same place Dumbledore is at the moment, without him." He stood up. "This is your only warning. My mates and I know about, and have many plans for, the next few battles. Potter has had to rely on himself for too long, and you're making sure he knows he can't trust you. Do the math and then choose wisely, because I can and will train him better than you ever will." He walked out, leaving before his husbands knew he was there.

Outside the bugler started Morning Wake Up. The Captain frowned and looked outside, then shook his head. "I can't do that, Mr. Malfoy," he said quietly. "I can't risk the world on the whims of a damaged individual." He picked up his pen and went back to writing in his journal, including this incident for future note.

***

Draco walked up to Molly Weasley in Gladrags after a short nap and tapped her on the shoulder. "He is," he said quietly. She looked at him and he nodded. "Both of them are emotionally weary."

"Then they'll have to drop out," Molly told him. "They'll kill him and he won't win. Why can't they see that?"

Draco shrugged. "They're panicking and they don't understand." He pulled a robe down and handed it to her. "For Ginny. She'll need something spectacular this year to make sure Longbottom comes back for the Yule Ball." He paid the salesgirl for it and then went up to make his other call, checking on Severus. He walked into the dungeons and saw the man working on something. "An interesting case?" he asked, making him jump. He leaned against the counter with an assured air. "What are you doing?"

"I was asked to brew something for someone," he told him. "How are you liking your life so far?"

"It's decent enough. So far I've hosted Bill Weasley for a few days so he and Ron could discuss things. I've had to talk Potter back from the edge of the path that led to his last snap. Ron as well." Snape flinched. "If you're brewing for someone over there, you should know I installed the suicide patch myself," he said blandly, glancing around the room. "When were you going to get around to cleaning up the ink on the walls from last year?" He looked back at his guardian again and saw him staring him down. Or attempting to. He smiled, a disarming attempt that worked well on Weasley when he was in a bad mood. "Yes, they're doing the same thing. Perhaps you, as someone who had experience in causing it, should send them a letter suggesting that they not force another one," he said quietly. "Because he will leave. Or he'll do something brash and crazy. You of all people now realize how he can be." He nodded at the military-issued pensive in the corner. "Theirs?"

Snape pressed his lips together and nodded. "I've already told them they're on the wrong path with him. They haven't listened."

"I noticed the good Captain didn't seem very interested in my opinion either this morning," he agreed. "But it will happen if it has to." He push off from the counter. "Would you like to take lunch with me?"

"If you want. In an hour?"

"That's fine. I'm sure Ron and Harry could use some treats," he said with a smile. "I'll meet you in town." He walked away, heading out through one of the hidden doorways Harry had shown him.

Snape leaned his head against the wall and took a few deep breaths to calm himself. He couldn't finish the compulsion potion now. The boy was right, it would cause another incident. He took it off the fire, adding the last few ingredients anyway. He could always store it for later use on a student. It took too long to make if he didn't have some on hand.

***

Harry flinched as their cellphone went off, knocking his opponent out before grabbing it and silencing it. The number came up as 'home' and he looked at the person putting them through their hand-to-hand drills. "It's probably an emergency, sir, may I?"

"You're not supposed to have muggle technology here," he said harshly. "What are you? A muggle!"

"No, but if it's the only way for me to stay connected with home, then I'm going to do it." He walked away, calling Draco. "What happened?" He listened, then groaned and one hand drifted up to grab his forehead. "I'll be right there." He hung up and looked at the Corporal. "Sir, Weasley and I need to head home immediately."

"Why? Can't live without sex?" he sneered.

"No, actually it's my dog." Ron looked at him as he walked over. "Apparently Snickers was so bored he got free, walked to the nearest neighbor, and picked up their dog like it was a toy to play with. They're talking about having him quarantined." Ron snorted but followed him back to the floo point. They headed for Malfoy Manor then for the new house, just in case they were being spied upon. Then Harry led the jog down to where he could feel Draco getting ready to snap. "What happened?" he asked as he joined them. "Snickers, put that dog down!" His dog put down the little beagle and gave him a pathetic look. "I know," he soothed, getting down to pet him. "I'm not paying enough attention to you, and I'm sorry." He gave him a good, long pet before looking at the people around them. "He has had his shots," he promised. "He's usually such a good dog, it's only because I've been at training so much."

The owner of the beagle sniffed. "Can you prove he's had his shots?"

"I can," Ron agreed. "His records are somewhere back at the house." Draco looked at him. "He came with his shot records."

"I had forgotten about that," Draco admitted. "We would be willing to get him another one if it'd make you feel better." The woman nodded. "That's fine."

"It won't hurt him?" Harry asked. One of the spectators shook his head. "Then that's fine. We'll do that this afternoon." He stood up and his dog gave him an adoring look. "Come on, let's go back to the house and then we'll head to the vet's this afternoon." Snickers trotted after him, happy that his master was home.

Ron grinned at the woman, one of his innocent, 'trust me I'm cute' look. "He really was looking for a playmate." He jogged off after Harry.

Draco shrugged. "It wasn't an attack, I tried to tell you that." He walked after his mates. There wasn't any way he was going to run. He walked into the house and found Harry kissing his dog. "I'm not kissing you until you've cleaned your face."

"That's fine," Harry agreed with a smile for him. "Thank you for the call."

"You're welcome." He patted Harry on the head. "Thank you for showing up. He nearly got taken in to be watched over for two weeks." Harry glared. "Standard procedure." He walked away, finding Ron in the fridge gulping juice. "Are you all right?"

"Fine," Ron panted during a breathing break. "Tired." He got a hug. "What's happened?"

Draco leaned against him. "I had a talk with Severus. They've asked him to make a compulsion formula." Ron dropped the carton of juice in his shock. Draco nodded. Snickers walked in and started to clean it up for them, Harry not far behind.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

Draco looked at him. "I learned earlier in the week that they're trying to get a compulsion formula mixed." Harry's mouth opened. "It's so complex that no one with skills less than the most well-trained master can make it, Harry. They couldn't do it themselves."

"I see." He looked at Ron. "What did Bill advise?"

"To get out. Tonks?"

"To run away and hide." Harry leaned against the counter, watching his dog slurp the spilled juice. "I want to talk to Mad Eye. He's been doing this forever, he knows the Captain personally." Ron nodded. Draco opened his mouth. "We've been aware that they're trying to brainwash us, Draco, and we've been fighting it. I simply need his opinion in the matter." He walked away, going to call Dumbledore. If anyone could find Moody, it'd be him. And possibly Remus as well.

Draco looked at Ron, who shrugged. "He's torn. He's got to fight, and he could use the training, but he doesn't want to give up what little he's managed to achieve so far."

"I'm little?"

"No, but in the grand scheme of having a life, picking your own spouse is an issue." Ron kissed him. "To the both of us." Draco hugged him. "I hate this patch."

"You only have to wear it while you're in training or if you think you're going to be attacked," Draco soothed. "The faster the Dark Lord dies, the sooner you can take it off." He kissed him gently. "Come on, we've got to plan for Harry's birthday party. It's a surprise," he said with a wink.

"All right." Ron followed him back to the living room so they could make plans.

***

Harry walked up to the muggle restaurant and sat down in the booth, smiling at the waitress as she walked over. "I only need a small salad and a coke." She nodded and walked off. Someone sat in the chair next to him and he looked over. "Moody," he said with a sigh of relief. "I need your opinion."

"How bad is it, Potter?"

Harry leaned closer since there were people around. "We were right to protect Ron," he said quietly. "The same as we were right to worry about me being considered a tool and not a soldier." Moody stiffened. "Then I found out today that they've tried to get Snape to make a compulsion formula."

Moody relaxed slightly but Harry could see his magic eye scanning the surroundings. "That wasn't the Captain."

"It wasn't?"

Moody shook his head. "That was the big man himself." He smiled as the waitress came back. "Tea?" She nodded and got him a cup, bringing it and leaving them alone. "That's a healthy and small lunch."

"It's my afternoon snack," Harry admitted. "I had lunch before we had to leave to care of a problem with Snickers."

"What's your dog doing now?"

Harry grinned. "He got loose and went to find a friend. Picked a beagle up by the back of the neck and carried it around like a lunch pail." Moody laughed, clapping him on the back. That's when Harry knew something was up, Moody never would have done that. But Moody was sneaky enough to have sent another member of the Order in his place, so it was still probably worthwhile to ask. "So we're going to vets to prove that there's nothing wrong with him in about an hour." He dug in, spearing a large bite of salad. "What do I do, Moody? Tonks warned me, Draco's pushy, and even Ron's worried."

Moody thought for a second. "There's no better training for combat," he said quietly. "But to risk you having another...episode means that we will all lose."

"I think we've all pointed that out to him, and he's not listening. I'm starting to feel put upon again," Harry admitted between bites. He looked at his mentor, who was looking disturbed. "I slept both of my weekends off so far. Couldn't get out of bed. I'm starting not to get up in the mornings again too." Moody nodded. "And I don't know what to do. I want to stay to get the training, but I can't stay with that going on." He quieted himself and shrugged. "Is there another option? Draco said he'd help us train."

"He probably could. You have some training, they were going to refine it for you." Moody leaned closer. "If it were me, I'd do whatever was going to bring back that cocky kid for the end of last school year." He grinned. "There's nothing prettier than the Headmaster when he's fluttering about complaining about your taste in friends. Though I should probably smack you around a bit for that stunt you pulled with *him*. It sent *him* into a rage of epic proportions." Harry grimaced. "That going to the strip clubs probably wasn't the most pure thing you could do with Ron."

"I thought you were going to yell about me going to see Voldie," Harry sighed in relief.

"Hell, no! That was inspired!" He laughed, clapping Harry on the back again. "Remus was right proud of you, Harry. The strip clubs made him groan and moan a bit, but then so did Ron's condition."

"Where is he? He didn't even leave me a letter the last time we ran into him at the school. I haven't heard from him in ages."

"He's safe and we're working on it. I'll tell him to send you a letter."

Harry looked at him, then he pulled something out his pants pocket and handed it over. "A muggle post office box," he said quietly. "I check it every few days." Mad Eye put it in his pocket with a nod. "Thank you."

"It's the least I can do, kid. You needed the help. If only so you don't try to remove the scar again. Head injuries bleed like crazy." He stood up and walked away.

Harry finished his salad and soda, thinking about the problem. He paid his check and went out to his car, finding the parking ticket on the hood. He frowned as he got in and looked at it. "I didn't think it had been," he said quietly. "I wonder how they got the polyjuice and fake eye though." He put the warning aside and started the car, following the directions on it to the new meeting place. He found the real Mad Eye waiting in the park on him and walked over, giving him a hug so he could whisper in his ear. Mad Eye laughed. "I need advice."

"You need the training," Mad Eye corrected.

"Without the added shit coming down, which I can't handle," Harry pointed out. The auror, the real one, nodded. "So?"

"I still say you need the training, but if they're pushing you like Dumble does, then I'd dump them." He stood up. "What else did you two talk about?"

"I wanted Remus to write me. I haven't heard from him in forever."

"He said he ran into you at the school, before you went and plagued Malfoy senior. Walk with me, Potter." They walked around the park. "Better to be a moving target."

"I know, and understand, but I can't stand some of the shit, Mad Eye. The whole first week was about sacrifice and duty. All while staring at me and Ron."

"Do they know about the patch?" Harry nodded. "Did the fake know?"

"I only mentioned us protecting him. It can be taken multiple ways."

"Good boy, Harry." He nodded at the far group of trees. "I'd go that way if I were you, and I would find out if I could do the same training on my own."

"That's part of what I needed to know," Harry pointed out. "You know what sort of training I'll need and I've only got vague ideas."

"Ah." Mad Eye gave him a smile, making him shudder. "Yes and no. Yes, you can be trained and you can learn the same things, but training with them means that you're going to have them at your back."

"No, they're not," Harry said, stopping to look at him. Mad Eye turned to look at him. "They're not behind me. There's only been one person who's tried to teach us anything and that's the combat instructor, Henderson. Everyone else has decided that we're tools of the system and should be treated like machines." Mad Eye nodded. "Is it supposed to be like that?"

"No, they're supposed to be telling you how to work as a team. Getting you up to speed and willing to go fight. The sacrifice thing is not standard, not even with the new rules. That's all the Captain's doing. Have you talked with him?"

Harry nodded. "I have, Draco did, everyone did. Um, did Dumbledore request the compulsion potion?" Mad Eye nodded. Harry smiled. "They're treating me just like he did last year."

Mad Eye shrugged. "Then I'd take the spellbook and run personally. You've got enough balls to get through most everything and a lot more combat experience than most recruits." He looked around then stepped closer. "I am proud of you, if not one else is," he said quietly. "You've become an incredible young man, Harry, and your mother would be very proud, even if your father would write you off as being too stiff to be fun." Harry's mouth opened. "Trust me, he would have. And remember, vigilance is everything." He walked away.

Harry walked toward the trees and found Remus sitting under one reading. "Hi."

Remus looked up at him, putting the book away. "How's the training?"

"It'd be better if I was getting trained," Harry said as he sat down. Remus frowned. "I've been told all about sacrifice and duty." The other man's face hardened. "That's why I wanted to talk to Mad Eye."

"I know it's hard, Harry," Remus said quietly, patting him on the hand. "Take the training and run."

"I'm about ready to just run."

"Can you train without them?" Harry shrugged. "Figure it out first." He gave him a hug. "That's for Ron when you see her next."

"She's mostly male today," Harry told him. "And hates being called a 'she', Remus." He grinned. "But I'll pass on the hug." Remus laughed, patting him on the hand again. "You're awfully calm."

"Molly made me drink a calming potion so I wouldn't go off on what happened to Ron," he admitted.

"That was the twins."

"Yes, but it was so very obvious that you've broken Ron in," Remus pointed out.

"Yeah, and the both of us are marked as well," Harry told him. Remus looked confused. "You didn't hear it all, did you?" He shook his head. "Dumbledore and Snape's big plan was to have Malfoy protect us since his father was the main changeling researching in the longest time." Remus opened his mouth. "He does an excellent job. He cares for us now." Remus swallowed and nodded. "He marked us first, then Ron's father found their family crest." He lifted the hem of his shirt and shifted so the marks were exposed. "See?"

Remus fought down the bout of panic that seeing the marks brought up. Now he knew why Molly had fed him the potion. He patted him on the hand. "Watch out for him, Harry. He's not changed that much from what some people have said," he said carefully, judging Harry by his response.

Harry shook his head. "He kept me from walking off after I snapped this spring, Remus. He does care for us."

"Still, can you trust him with Ron?" Harry nodded. "Are you sure he won't use it to his own ends?"

"How could he?" Harry asked. "He hasn't taken the Mark. He's gone with me and reviled the idiot with me. Hell, he's even gotten me drunk a few times and likes to spoil Ron with me." He grinned. "We're happy together, Uncle Remus. Even if you don't like him because of who his father is."

"I'm more worried about the blood telling, Harry," Remus pointed out. "He's still a crafty boy and he could be meaning to do you both harm to take over once the final battle's fought. Being beside you would get him there faster."

"You're being paranoid."

"Sometimes it's necessary, especially in today's life."

"He stuck up for me, Uncle Remus, even against Ron sometimes. Would he be nagging me about my low self-esteem if he wanted to toss me over?" Remus nodded. "Now I know why you haven't written," Harry said as he stood up. "It was nice seeing you again."

Remus caught him by the pants leg and pulled him back down, catching him before he could fall. "It's my job to watch out for you, Harry, you know that. With Sirius gone, it's only my job now."

"Then where have you been?" Harry asked quietly, getting free. He looked at the older man and saw the worry. "Ask Molly, Remus, she's talked with him a number of times so far. She knows he's not going to harm us."

"If you say so; I'll keep my opinion on the matter to myself for now," Remus said gently, giving him a smile. "Don't be mad, Harry, I'm only trying to do what's best for you."

Harry leaned closer. "He cares for me, Remus, which is more than I can say about nearly everyone else in my life." He saw the pain and corrected it. "Most people see me as a tool or some tragic hero, you and Ron, plus most of his family not counting. At least Draco and Ron want to get to know me as a person. Draco is very sweet to me and he's constantly on me to be myself because it makes me happier."

"Then I'm happy for you," Remus told him, giving him a pat on the cheek. The boy looked so sure so he would keep his own council for now, until he had watched them together for himself. "Now, tell me about what's been going on in your training."

Harry settled in to explain it to him. Remus usually gave decent advice.

***

Harry looked up from his plate as someone rang the bell. He glanced at the clock, then at Draco. "Friends?" he suggested.

Draco wiped his mouth off and got up to answer it. The house elf was staring at the man, jabbering that they were eating. "It's fine," he told it. It bowed and ran off. "What do you want?" he asked, looking over the uniform. "Potter and Weasley are eating, they weren't supposed to show up until after dinner."

"That would be rather hard to do since the camp got attacked," the auror said as he walked in and shut the door. "Where are they?"

"In the dining room," Draco said with a frown, leading the way. "The camp was attacked," he announced as he walked in.

"Is everyone all right?" Harry asked, putting down his water glass. "Was anyone hurt seriously?"

"No, there were a few people killed, but no one had any serious injuries beyond that," the auror said. "I'm with Internal Affairs, boys."

Ron swallowed his present bite of roast. "We weren't there."

"I know. I need to know why." He sat down across from them. "What was so important that you had to break the 'no muggle technology' rule?"

"The Captain knew we had the phone," Ron told him, pointing with his fork.

"It rang because I had to come explain my familiar," Harry said, pointing at his dog. "It decided to kidnap a neighbor's dog."

"Your nearest neighbor is over three miles away."

Draco cleared his throat. "Harry has another residence and we were there earlier," he said. "The dog got loose there."

"They flooed here," the auror told him.

Ron snorted. "Yeah, so we can hide that place. Think about how many people will try to bother Harry and me if they knew where we lived in our off times." He sipped his water and looked at Draco, then at the auror. "Who attacked?"

"A group of people wanting initiation. They weren't looking for Mr. Potter, they were looking for you, Mr. Weasley," he told him. Ron looked stunned. "Why would that be?"

"He's a changeling," Harry breathed. "They know that though and haven't tried anything so stupid before!" He stood up and started to pace. "This makes no sense. Voldemort wouldn't risk his newest candidates that way unless he wanted them gone. The attack on the school this spring made some sense, though it was a futile gesture. That doesn't make any sense at all. Draco?"

Draco shook his head. "It doesn't to me either. Nothing about this jives with what my father used to say about him or his cohorts." He sipped his wine then put the glass back down. "Are you sure they were Death Eater candidates?"

"He could have sent them there to make sure they died," Ron pointed out. "Getting rid of the useless. Sending candidates against a bunch of aurors would let them take out some of the enemy while wasting their lives. It's almost efficient if you want to look at it that way."

The auror nodded. "We thought that might be the case. We have one person who still needs identified. They're about your age."

"I'll go," Draco told him. He looked at Harry, then at Ron, both of whom looked sickened. "They've got weaker stomachs."

"Are we to report back tonight?" Ron asked. The auror shook his head. "Then tell us when."

"It'll be a few days," he said as he stood up. "Go ahead and floo the new Captain. He'll need to know how to get in touch with you." Harry nodded stiffly. "Thank you, gentlemen. Try to stay here." He followed Draco to the floo.

Ron looked at Harry, watching him pace for a few moments before putting in a few quiet words. "That's fishy."

"It is," Harry agreed thoughtfully. "Very fishy. I'm wondering if he has spies there."

"He probably does," Ron agreed. He looked around, then grabbed Draco's wine to take a long drink, handing the rest to Harry. "Here, you look like you need it."

Harry looked at him. "Mad Eye, and the fake Mad Eye, both encouraged me to quit," he told him. He finished off the wine. "Remus went off on Draco and warned me to watch him." Ron snorted. "He thinks Draco wants to become the next Dark Lord, using us to defeat Voldemort so he can take over."

"That's ridiculous," Ron pointed out.

"That's what I said," Harry agreed as he sat down. He took off his glasses so he could rub his eyes. "I'm just so tired, Ron. I don't know what to do."

"We'll see if this has made anything change. If not, then we'll quit," Ron soothed, reaching over to touch his arm. Harry nodded but didn't look at him. "If it does change things, it might get better. We might actually get the training we need."

"Hopefully," Harry agreed in a near-whisper. "I don't think I can take much more of this, Ron. This whole war needs to end."

Ron nodded. "I know, Harry. We could always plan some sort of preemptive strike. Maybe attack him one night like the last time, only this time with fatal wounds?"

"Why didn't I kill him then? I could have."

"Because you're a decent sort and killing someone is wrong," Ron noted. "It's a fight you'll have to win with yourself some day, but not yet. Soon though, huh?" Harry looked at him and smiled. "We'll do whatever we have to, Harry. Don't worry about that." Draco came back and fell into his chair. He was pale and shaking. "Harry, brandy," he ordered. Harry went to get it while Ron wet a napkin and wiped Draco's face for him. Draco's eyes shifted to look at him. "Who?"

"Goyle," he whispered. Ron hugged him. "Thank you." He accepted the large snifter of brandy and gulped it. "We're going to have to do something."

"We are," Harry agreed. He straightened up under Draco's look. "We need to talk anyway. Some people seem to think that you're going to become the Dark Lord after I defeat him."

Draco laughed bitterly. "Why would I want every petty wannabe in the universe gunning for me?" he asked derisively. "Ron, get off." Ron quit hugging him. "Who decided that?"

"Remus," Harry told him. "I defended you," he said at the opening mouth. "I told him that you cared for us and that there wasn't any hint that he was right. He's decided to give up and just watch us for now." He shrugged. "I thought you'd want to know."

"I do," Draco agreed, pulling him closer to give him a kiss on the cheek. "He's wrong of course, but thank you for giving me more bad news." He stood up. Harry opened his mouth. "I know, you're trying to be honest, but I can't take much more tonight. I'm going to take a long, hot bath. If you want, finish dinner. Send Vincent up to me when he gets home so I can tell him." He walked away.

Harry hung his head. "I'm sorry, Draco," he called. "I didn't mean to add to it."

Draco came back and hugged him. "I know, it's the same problem as you not being very good with people." He walked away again, this time heading for the door that had just slammed. The new couple was standing chatting in the doorway. "Vincent."

"Draco," he said, turning to look at him. All the happiness fled. "Ron?"

Draco shook his head. "No, an attack earlier while they were here. Goyle." Vincent went limp and Hermione had to support him. "And his father. They had them laid out together."

"That fucking bastard!" Vincent yelled. "I'll kill him myself!" Hermione let him go when he started to struggle. "Why?" Draco shrugged. "We don't know anything?"

"Not yet. We just found out ourselves. The auror came to tell Harry and Ron," he told him blandly. "I went to identify so they didn't have to." Crabbe nodded, starting to sweat. "Run and get sick," he told him, getting out of the way. "We'll plan what to do about this later. After we make arrangements for their burials." He looked at Hermione. "The others are in the dining room."

"Thank you, Draco." She gave him a short hug. "I'm sorry for your loss." She went to talk to Harry and Ron, knowing they were upset and needed her too. She found Vincent leaning against the bathroom door first. "Occupied?"

"I'm trying to keep it inside, it's not manly," he said, pulling her closer. He buried his nose against her neck and took deep sniffs. "I'm sorry we ended our date like this," he whispered when he was more calm.

She patted him gently, then stroked down his back. "We're in the middle of a war, Vinnie. It happens to everyone at least once. We'll all end up losing someone we care about. We can only hope it's not those closest to us." He nodded and clutched her tighter. "It's all right, I promise. I'll help make the arrangements if you need it and I'll be beside you the whole time." He nodded again, clutching her tighter.

Ron walked out of the dining room and gave them a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Vinnie." He got shrugged at. "I know you guys were friends for a long time and it's got to be hard. If you want to talk, you can always find me."

"Thanks, Ron," he mumbled into her neck.

Ron walked off, going to find Draco. He found him in the study having another large brandy and put his arms around his waist, cuddling up to his back. "I'm sorry, Draco."

"I knew it would probably happen. He relied on the wrong things during fights. His father was the same way," he admitted, turning to hold his husband. "I'm not the bad guy."

"I know. So does Harry, he didn't mean to tell you like that."

"No, it was right to tell me. And doing so now gives me another thing to think about instead of berating myself over how I could have gotten him free of them." He leaned his head on Ron's shoulder. "I don't like war."

"Neither do we," Ron soothed. "We'll do whatever we can to help you through this, Draco. No matter what."

Draco nodded. "Thank you." He gave him a squeeze. "How is Vincent?"

"Cuddling Hermione close enough to crack ribs," Ron said with a smile. Draco smiled back. "Go lounge in the water, let Harry apologize. He feels rotten."

"It's not his fault," he noted, walking away. He found Harry drawing him a bath and gave him a hug as well. "I'm sorry I snapped at you," he whispered. "You were only trying to tell me that there were other problems." Harry nodded, turning to hold him. "We're still fine, everything will go back to normal in a few days."

"I hope so. That and I hope they kick us out," Harry whispered.

Draco pulled back. "Instead of quitting?" He got a nod. "Well, that might happen," he agreed. "Bathe with me? You're very comforting in the water."

"Are you sure? I can get Ron for you," Harry offered.

"If I had wanted Ron, I'd have asked him," Draco said dryly. "Why do you do that?" Harry turned to fiddle with the faucets. "No, look at me," he demanded, turning off the water and forcing Harry to look at him. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

Draco frowned. "Don't think about escaping this conversation, Potter. I want to know why you always put yourself down."

Harry opened his mouth. Then he shook his head and closed it. "It's stupid."

"Probably, but in order for me to counter it, I've got to hear it. So give."

Harry looked down again. "You're only with me because I was with Ron, he forced you to."

Draco snorted and shook his head. "You dumbass." Harry looked at him, looking a little hurt. "I had no intention of taking you on but I did it only because Ron would have felt more comfortable with me?" Harry nodded. "Then you really aren't as smart as everything thinks you could be." He sat on the edge of the tub and forced Harry to sit on his thigh. "Would I have taken you to bed if that were the case?" Harry shrugged and nodded. "You think so? I would have treated someone I did that to the same?"

"I guess," Harry admitted.

"Then perhaps you should go talk with Vincent." He pushed Harry up. "He can prove to you that it's not like that. Go." He shooed him. "Go talk to him and come back when you've got your head straightened out. I'll expect an apology for such insulting thoughts." Harry opened his mouth again. "Go!"

Harry walked out, trudging down to Vincent's room. He knocked gently and Hermione opened the door. "Is Vinnie in here? Draco ordered me to talk to him."

"He's in the bathroom. You can wait in his room and I'll get us something to nibble on," she decided after having seen the defeated look on his face. "Whatever it is, I'm sure he understands, Harry."

"How can he when I don't?" he asked.

"I'll take a long time." She closed the door behind her.

Vincent came out and looked at him. "What happened now?"

"I told Draco I thought he only liked me because Ron insisted," Harry admitted, still looking down at his feet. "He ordered me to talk to you."

"Those relatives of yours should be shot, Potter," Vincent decided as he walked over and dragged Harry to the settee he had stolen from downstairs. "Sit!" Harry sat and looked at him. "If Draco had only done it for that reason, he wouldn't have taken you to his bed, wouldn't humor you when you're in one of your odd and bouncy moods, and he definitely wouldn't be sharing Ron with you."

"But it makes Ron happy."

Vincent laughed oddly. "Trust me, it's not true." He took off his shirt and pointed at a scar on his shoulder. "If he only wanted you around because of Ron, and Ron insisted you come into their bed as well, you'd have marks like this. Draco gets ...harsher when he's in it for the stress relief. He draws a clear and distinct line between his personal enthusiasms and stress relief, and the line is physical contact. He doesn't touch *anyone* he's sleeping with for that reason except when necessary. No cuddling, no kissing, none of it. Stress relief is in and out, and then you're done and gone to him." Harry nodded and looked down again. "Why do you think that way?"

"I don't know. It's the little voice in the back of my head I guess," he said as the tapping, irritated foot started. He looked up at him, seeing the understanding. "It's like everyone wants something from me, except for a very few people and I have a hard time distinguishing sometimes."

"Yeah, I can see that. You're you and you're a hero. Big whoop." Harry smiled at that. "So? Has Draco done that?"

"The second time we met," Harry told him. "The first time he tried to chat me up, just in case I was the right sort."

"Pfft. At eleven Draco was as much a tool as people are trying to make you." He sat down beside him. "I think you need professional help. Draco may not always be the nicest creature in the world, but if you think he's with you out of some sort of obligation to Ron, you really need a professional to talk to."

Harry shrugged. "Maybe I do. Everyone seems to think I'm crazy anyway."

"Have I said that?"

Harry looked at him. "Not recently."

"See, not everybody." He gave the guy a shoulder squeeze. "I don't know what they did to you, Harry, but they were wrong. One hundred percent wrong. Everything they told you was wrong. The same as nearly everything Aunt Narcissa said about me was wrong. Get over it already and move on. Their opinion shouldn't matter." He smiled as Hermione walked in. "Did you have to deal with this often?"

"Sometimes." She set the tray of drinks down. "Harry, they were wrong. You are loveable, worthy, and very normal. You're only lazy when the mood takes you and you can't fight it off, or when Ron's got the ice cream out, and you're worth more than nearly everyone. Now go apologize and let Draco talk you out of this current funk." He nodded and walked out, leaving them alone. She sighed. "There have been a number of days when I wanted to slap his aunt, this is just another to add to the tally," she told herself.

"She was that bad?"

Hermione looked at him, then at the door, casting a shielding over it so they couldn't be eavesdropped on. Then she snuggled in beside him. "Harry Potter the early years consists of tales of child abuse, child neglect, and being locked in a closet." He opened his mouth and she kissed him gently. "He has these moments for a reason, but he's getting better. He was shocked his first year at school during Christmas because someone gave him a present. The boy never had a friend until he got to Hogwarts. He also never had anything that wasn't a hand-me-down until then either. And his cousin was twice your width and then some." Vincent swallowed. "So, yes, we've had this sort of discussion before." She hesitantly touched the mark on his shoulder. "What's that from?"

"Draco's teeth." She looked concerned. "Stress relief, nothing more," he assured her. She nodded and relaxed. He smiled and kissed the side of her head. "Most girls would have run away screaming if they knew I had been used that way."

"I figure he didn't know any better and that was in the past," she said firmly. "If it happens again, I'm going to beat him up." He laughed and hugged her. "You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I'll wear out all my anger at Potter's Aunt and Uncle on him."

"I'm sure he'd be shaking if he heard you," he soothed, gentling her back into their earlier cuddling. "Thank you for telling me, Hermione."

"You're welcome. You're working with him and I think it's only fair that you realize how fragile that boy can be." She snuggled in closer, leaning against his chest. "I hope Draco understands."

"He will. Aunt Narcissa was a bitch, even to him sometimes." He kissed her hair again. "Thank you for deciding to stay until after the funeral."

"You need me, Vincent, that's all I need to know," she said, patting him on the thigh.

***

Harry walked into the Master Suite and stripped, then padded into the bathroom, slipping quietly into the water. "I'm sorry, Draco."

"I know you are. Do you realize now?" Harry slid closer, nodding against his chest once he was cuddled up to him. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, Vincent told me off." He closed his eyes. "Hermione got into the act too."

"I thought she might." He put an arm around Harry's waist, holding him in place so he could look at him. "Look at me." Harry looked up at him. "Do you want to talk about it?" Harry shook his head. "You should."

"If I do it hurts more. I'd rather forget it."

"If you try, then it crops up at odd times, like earlier." He gave him a soft kiss on the forehead. "Tell me," he encouraged. Harry shook his head again. "I'll have to ask Hermione then."

"She'll rant."

"I've lived through one of those aimed at me, I'm sure I can survive this one." Harry shook his head. "Fine, then you should tell me."

"I don't want to talk about it." He started to move but Draco held him in place. "I'll let you bathe."

"No, you're staying. We'll talk about something else for a bit." Harry shifted so he kissed him. "What did you want to do if you don't become an auror?"

"I was going to train until that fight, then decide," Harry admitted. "That way I don't have to disappoint a boss too."

"That's fine," Draco agreed, starting to look concerned. If Harry had been watching him, he would have been frowning at the frown Draco was giving him. "I'll show you where the Dark Arts section is tomorrow if you want." Harry nodded, curling up on his chest. "You nap," he soothed, stroking his back. That was the fastest way to make him go to sleep. When he heard the snores, he rang the little bell, bringing one of the house elves. "Find Ron and tell him to come up and bring me a drink," he ordered. The house elf nodded and disappeared, going to do that.

Ron walked in a few minutes later, looking at Harry. His curled up, protecting-himself position said it all to him. "Another bout of self doubt?"

Draco nodded, continuing to stroke Harry's back. "I think it's time you told me everything."

Ron skimmed off his clothes and climbed in beside him, curling up on his free side. "I only know some of it, Draco. And most of that my mother probably told you."

"She told me things, a list of what she knew. Not details."

"Oh." Ron nodded and kissed the top of Harry's head, making him shift. "Harry, I'm going to tell him why we were in the flying car," he whispered. Harry patted him and he smiled. Ron looked at Draco. "That summer, Dobby left here to stop Harry from going back to school. He knew that your father was going to try and hurt him. So Dobby did things like do magic in the Dursley's house, which got blamed on Harry of course." Draco nodded, shifting a little bit. Ron waited until Harry had shifted himself and started to snore again. "After that happened, the Dursleys locked him in his room, putting bars on the windows and a little cat flap on the door so they could shove food in. Which they did infrequently." Harry mumbled something. "Sorry, they fed him regularly, but mostly a sandwich at best." Draco stiffened. "When we went to get him, we were in the flying car, me and the twins. We had to break the bars off the window and had to nearly beg Harry to come out. He was scared of his uncle, Draco. Too scared to move." Draco shook his head. "The next year, Dudley went on a diet, so everyone in the house went on it."

"Harry didn't need to lose weight after his second year," Draco pointed out.

"They decided it would avoid temptation. Harry lived on basically a sliver of grapefruit three times a day until he wrote to us and we sent him food." Draco groaned. He kissed him. "That's not the worst." Draco looked at him. "You know those confinement dreams he has?" Draco nodded slowly, he'd been thrashed off the bed a few times by them. "Until he got his first school letter, he was living in a small cupboard under the stairs," Ron said quietly. "Being their house elf basically." Harry was handed over and Draco got out of the tub, pacing out into their bedroom. "It's still for sale if you wanted to look," he called.

Draco came back. "It hasn't sold yet?"

"The housing market's down," Ron reminded him. "We could call and go around it, I can show you if you want." He stroked and petted Harry, making him let go of his chest. "Shh, Harry, you sleep." Harry mumbled something and eased up a bit. "It won't help getting mad now, Draco, but you've got to understand how his mind works."

Draco nodded. "I want to see this house."

"We'll head over tomorrow. What did you want to do?"

Draco climbed back in. "There are scene recreation spells," he said quietly, looking down at Harry. "I'm going to show him the Dark Arts section tomorrow morning and we'll go out then."

"Sure." Ron let him snuggle in again and got comfortable. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm pissed at a few different sources at the moment," Draco admitted. "I'm trying to decide which ones I want to smite first."

"I meant about Goyle."

"Greg was gone a long time ago," Draco pointed out, leaning his head on Ron's shoulder. "I miss the friend I grew up with, but he's been gone for a while. I'll mourn him with the others. He and Vincent were closer."

"I'm sure Hermione has him well in hand." Draco snorted but he smiled up at him. "I'm sure she does. She's very pushy when she thinks it'll do someone good." He shifted Harry up onto his other shoulder, waking him. "Hey. Do you feel better now that you've had a nap?" Harry nodded and yawned. "Why don't you crawl into the bed, Harry, we'll be in soon." Harry nodded and got out, padding in to climb in, barely taking the time to dry himself off.

"Good thinking, the sheets will be dry by the time we get in there," Draco said happily.

Ron kissed him harder. "You can't tell him you went there. He doesn't like to talk about it."

"I noticed."

"Promise me, Draco."

"I won't tell him I know more. Only that you told me about the flying car if he gets suspicious."

"Thank you." Ron leaned against him, getting comfortable. "His birthday's in two days."

"We need to get him something that shows we want him here," Draco agreed, knowing what Ron was thinking.

"I'm sure we'll find something tomorrow." He smiled. "No chocolate though, I'm tired of chocolate."

"If that's what you want," Draco agreed, stroking Ron's back gently to calm both of them.

***

Harry waved as his two husbands walked out together, going to find him a birthday present. He had a large book of spells to look through and he was content for now. At least he was until Vincent came in. "Hi."

"Morning," he said, handing over the paper. He watched as Harry read, then as the paper was dropped. "I think you might want to do something about that."

"I'm sure I do, but the pensieve only caught my last two years," Harry told him, staring up at him. "When did that come?"

"A bit ago. It hadn't been read yet."

"Vincent?" Hermione called.

"In here," he called back. "Discussing the paper." She walked in, looking confused. "During the attack, someone stole the pensieve from the auror training camp."

"That makes more sense than randomly attacking it," she pointed out, picking up the paper to read. "Oh, Harry," she sighed, hugging him immediately. "Where are Draco and Ron?"

"Heading to town," he told her. "To get me a birthday present." He shook himself. "There's nothing really damning is in there, Hermione, it's all right. I'm simply going to hide here until it's over with." She nodded, giving him a pitying look. "Don't look at me like that," he said coolly as he went back to his reading. "Go eat or something."

"Sure, Harry," she agreed, pulling Vincent with her. She reread the article and shuddered. "They didn't get much information," she agreed. He looked at her. "There's worse, Vinnie, trust me." She walked over to the other floo fireplace and bent down, tossing in some powder. "The Burrow." Molly's head appeared. "Have you burned the paper yet today?" she asked. Molly grimaced. "They didn't get much," she pointed out.

"Arthur said Fudge is already up in arms about this," she said gently, glancing around. "Where is Harry?"

"Reading in another room. He got his usual horrified look when it was shown to him. Said he's not moving for the day."

"I can understand that." Molly nodded a few times. "I'll talk with Arthur but we may be over later. Where's Ron?"

"Out shopping with Draco for a birthday present according to Harry," Vincent put in. Molly smiled at him. "Harry insists that we can't have a party but Draco said we are."

"I've gotten an invitation already," she assured him. "We'll be up in a bit probably." Her head disappeared.

Hermione stood up. "This is bad," she said quietly. Vincent looked at her. "That was fake cheer from Molly Weasley. This is really bad."

He gave her a hug. "We'll survive and fight on," he promised.

***

Draco smiled at the realtor. "We'll just wander around ourselves," he told her. She nodded and retreated to the front stoop to let them look in peace. He looked at Ron. "Where should we start?"

Ron pointed at a small door on the side of the stairwell. "Start there, that's where his day normally started."

Draco pulled out the copy of the scene recreation spell, casting it on the door. They watched as a young boy slid out of it and went into the kitchen, following him. It stayed with only him in view until Draco did the spell for this room, then they saw the rest of the family. Ron turned away after a few moments, going to look around and make sure nothing of Harry's had been left. Draco watched with clinical interest, frowning as the boy's image wavered, becoming an older shadow. According to the spell that meant that this scene was repeated at least once exactly. He canceled them both and walked up the stairs, frowning at the catflap still on one door. It had to have been Harry's room. He walked in there and recast the spell, noticing a flickering again. Him hoarding food. Bars on the windows faded in an out, but the boy shifted age back and forth. He canceled it because he was now sick and went to find Ron. Ron was staring in the small cupboard, not moving. "We'll help him," he said quietly, patting Ron on the back. He glanced inside then closed the door for him, walking him away. He smiled for the realtor's benefit. "We'll consider it. It does need some renovation," he pointed out.

"Yes, that room upstairs was used by a problem child," she admitted. "Bad behavioral problems and the like."

Ron looked at her. "I know the kid who used to live in that room. He's never been a problem child." He walked over to the car and got in, buckling himself in.

Draco looked at the shocked woman, pulling his wand stealthily. "Obliviate," he said before hurrying to the car. He climbed in and they went to the park to wander around and talk. "Ron?"

Ron looked at him. "Now you know." Draco nodded. "And you still can't let on that you know."

"I realize why he had that bout last night too. We'll have to do something about that soon."

Ron leaned over to hug him. "We need to get him something to prove that he belongs to us, Draco. Nothing else will do this time." He saw an owl winging their way. "Mail," he said, pointing at it.

Draco got out and sat on the hood, waiting on the owl. It dropped the letter and flew off. He opened it to read privately, frowning at the contents. As soon as he had sat down, Ron stole it from him. "We won't have to pretend that hard."

Ron blanched. "We should head home." He crumpled up the letter from Arthur Weasley about the content of the morning's paper and tossed it onto the floor of the car.

"Ron, can I suggest something outrageous?"

"Sure. What?"

"Let him handle it for now. He's probably fuming and doesn't want to be around anyone. He gets like that when people find out what his home life was like. For now, we'll take an hour and find him the perfect birthday present, then go home and act like we just got it. We'll be very sorry that someone invaded his privacy that way and vow to help him fight back." Ron nodded. "Nothing further unless he asks. If he wants to be soothed, he can come to us this time. It'll make him feel like he can trust us." Ron slumped down but nodded. "Good boy. Where should we go shopping?"

"Harrods? Or Diagon?"

"Or both," Draco decided. He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, heading for their first destination. They missed the person who took their picture as they got out of the car in front of the Leaky.

***

Ron walked into the manor and found Harry in the same spot, still reading. He walked up and kissed him on the forehead. "I just found out," he whispered. "Are you okay?"

"I'm pissed," Harry told him, giving him a clearly attempted brave smile. "How was your trip?"

"Informational," Ron said with a grin. He sat in Harry's lap, giving him a real hug. "Is there anything we can do? Beat them up for you, send nasty letters, anything?"

"No, I'm hoping it'll die down," Harry admitted, taking comfort from the holding. "Where's Draco?"

"Looking for Vincent. He's now more determined to give you a real birthday party." He smiled at the frown. "Give it up, it's his way of trying to coddle you."

"I guess that's fine, but I don't want people to stare at me," Harry told him.

"I know, and they won't." He stole a kiss and stood up. "Come see what the naughty git bought me this time?" Harry put down the book and allowed himself to be led upstairs so he could see the new lingerie. Ron laid it out on the bed and waved a hand. "See? He's got bonkers."

Harry laughed, looking at the harem outfit. "Where did he find that?"

"In Knockturn, that's why the trip was so informational," Ron told him. Harry laughed and hugged him hard. "There's a whole shop down there with costumes in it."

"Maybe we can talk him into one," Harry said with a wink.

"Maybe," Ron agreed. He smiled at Draco as he walked in. "He likes the outfit you decided on, but he wants to see you in one as well."

"I could dress up like a sheik I suppose," Draco agreed. He walked over and hugged Harry between his and Ron's bodies. "Should we plan a raid on them as well?"

"No, I've already sent off a howler to the editor," Harry admitted. "Citing privacy and them stealing information from Death Eaters. Of course I insinuated that they were Death Eaters. I'm sure that'll go over well," Harry said with a small smirk. "Did you buy him any other costumes?"

"Just this one for now. He's to wear it after your birthday party." Harry chuckled and nuzzled Ron's throat. "I thought you might like that."

"It'll be a good end to all those people staring at me," Harry agreed. Draco picked him up and tossed him onto the bed. "Hey!"

"I didn't get any sex this morning, Harry, and it's your turn to pleasure me." Draco stripped down and let Ron move his outfit out of the way, then climbed in and stuck his cock in the waiting mouth. "Much better," he purred.

Ron shook his head. "You're amazing, Malfoy. One of these days you'll find that you're impotent from having too much sex in your youth."

Draco looked over his shoulder at him. "The human body doesn't work that way," he countered with a smug smile. "No matter what your parents tell you." He looked down at the light kiss. "Aren't you enjoying it?"

"I'd enjoy it a lot more if I were made to howl and thrash," Harry offered.

"I believe I can do that," Draco agreed, pulling back so he could take Harry's clothes off him. The metallic blue shirt's buttons gave him some problems so he ripped it. "It's a good thing I never liked that shirt," he said with a faint smirk and a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Draco! I liked it," Harry reminded him.

Draco leaned down and captured his mouth. "Yay. I'll buy you something more pleasing to the both of us." He nipped the lower lip then shifted backwards to deal with the stubborn pants.

Ron helpfully did the stripping charm and got out of the way. He laughed all the way down the stairs, going to find Hermione. "I take it you saw?" he asked as he joined them in the kitchen. Vincent nodded. "So did we." He sat down between them. "Harry's birthday is still on," he said quietly. "Draco's putting him into a better mood right now, and we're going to be noisy that night. Fair warning," he said with a grin when Hermione looked at him.

"I'm sure he'll be too busy to protest much," Hermione said, patting him on the hand. "We'll make sure we can't listen."

Ron beamed. "Draco decided I needed costuming for after Harry's party."

Vincent shivered. "Ron, don't share that much. I'll get mental images and have to talk Hermione into it."

She smiled sweetly at him. "Fantasies are for bored couples," she assured him. "By the time you talk me into bed with you, we won't need them." He choked and stared at her, so she gave him her most innocent look. "What?" she asked.

Ron giggled like a hyena on crack. "You are so bad sometimes, Hermi." He kissed her on the cheek. "Go for him girlfriend, he could use the run."

She licked the jam off her lips. "I can do that," she agreed. Vincent stood up and ran off. She took one last sip of her coffee and got up to follow after him, walking sedately. He'd run out of steam soon enough.

Ron leaned on the table and laughed some more. Those two were so cute sometimes!

***

Dumbledore walked into the auror's meeting room and paused to look at the man in chains sitting behind the table. "You had me sent for?" he asked calmly, sitting across from him.

"I'm only the messenger," the girl said, smiling like she was insane - which was quite possible. "The messenger to remind you that you're falling behind in your end of the war," she said in a sing-song voice. "You haven't made a truce and the Dark One thinks you're kidding." She laughed like a hyena at the disgust on his face. "You're not the danger you think you are. That boy's all alone," she sighed in happiness. "All for us." He let out something that sounded like a growl. "You can't help him, only hurt him, and we all know you're not going to get him back." She giggled again because the disgust came back. Then she crunched on something. "Just the messenger, just the messenger, just the messenger. Bang!" she said before falling over dead.

Dumbledore stood up. "She did something," he called. Aurors rushed in and checked her over, shaking their heads at their boss. Dumbledore looked at the head auror. "Did you hear?"

He nodded. "It was noted that Potter did declare his own side to the war," he said gently. Dumbledore's mind must be going, this man used to count heavily on the boy during their meetings. "Albus, what changed?" he asked once they were alone. "Why did the boy quit?"

"Because we imposed a bit too much and he decided he'd rather be alone," Dumbledore told him, walking out to go sulk and think.

The head auror shook his head, staring at the doorway. "You mean you pushed and he snapped, just like he did at the camp," he said grimly. "Now I know we were dumb and why. I can't think of a way to fix it though, not without compromising the training program." He frowned as he walked back to his office. He walked back to his secretary's desk. "Send Mr. Potter two complete auror training sets," he ordered quietly. "Everything, all the field manuals." She looked stunned. "Now." She nodded and wrote the note, sending it to the person in charge of the stores. He went to his office and had a large, strong drink.

***

Dumbledore walked into the present house the Order was using, slamming the door. He was in a foul mood now and not in the mood for crap. He saw Remus and glared at him. "Find a way to get Potter back," he ordered.

Remus chuckled. "Not a chance, Albus; that boy was never taught to give second chances. I'm surprised he's still writing me after I impinged Draco's honor." He curled up a bit more. "What was said?"

"Voldemort sent someone to tell us that we needed a formal truce with Harry and his family," he said quietly, still upset. "That we weren't considered part of the fight because he had left us."

"Molly warned you," Arthur pointed out gently from further down the hallway. Dumbledore looked at him. "She warned you time and again not to push the boy, to nurture and make sure he was treated like a real boy, not like a toy." He gave a little shrug. "Harry said he's going to set up a formal truce, we can ask Ron if he knows when. It can only help us to share the information we have."

"Fine, talk to your son. He may be the only Order member that will ever see Mr. Potter again."

Arthur smiled and shook his head. "We see him during meals quite often. Draco makes sure Ron spends a lot of time with us so we don't storm his house." He walked off, going to write his son about this. It probably wasn't a good time with that article being put out, but then again maybe it would give the boy some stability.

Dumbledore sat down to brood, worrying over his past mistakes. "How did I not see this coming?" he asked himself.

Molly walked in and handed him a mug of tea. "Because you saw the war, not the boy," she said firmly. "If you had seen the boy instead of the boy-wonder, then he'd be here and we'd be training him ourselves." She left him with his thoughts.

He stared at an ugly picture as he thought. He had truly messed up and the war might be lost because they couldn't work together. The boy would never trust him now.

***

Draco woke up from his post-sex nap at the yell, frowning at the doorway. "What the fuck was that!" he yelled.

"Sorry, Draco!" came floating from the hallway.

He got out of the bed and grabbed his robe, walking out to see who had been screaming. "Did you step on her?" he asked his best friend. Crabbe gave him a grin and a wink before opening his door and carrying her in there. The lock was clearly thrown and he felt a silencing spell go up. "Well," he said with a frown. He walked back into his room, but he had been alone in the bed apparently. So he went hunting for his lovers. He found them together in the kitchen with Ron's mother and all the older brothers, except Percy. "Excuse me," he said, tugging Ron up and towing him off. "I'll bring him right back." He walked Ron into the nearest bedroom and slammed the door. "I just saw Vincent carrying Hermione into their room. She was over his shoulder and laughing," he reported.

"Good," Ron said with a smirk. "Sometimes she needs someone to hold her down and force her to feel the pleasure." Draco's mouth fell open. "We were involved for a bit," he reminded him. Ron looked thoughtfully at the ceiling. "She always hated it when I got her off by licking or nibbling. Thought it was odd." He shrugged. "I hope he can break her of that thought. She does deserve to have the multiple times that I get."

Draco stopped him by kissing him. "Suck, now," he demanded. Ron smirked at him as he slowly sank to his knees and sucked him into his mouth. He sighed and tipped his head back. "Much better," he decided. Ron laughed. "You, do more or I'm going to rev Harry up and watch him attack you tonight." Ron swallowed him and all was right with his world.

Someone knocked on the door a few minutes later. "Draco, Ron?" Charlie called. He opened it and peeked inside. "Ooh! Sorry!" He walked out and jogged back to the kitchen, his face so red it matched his hair. "They're involved."

"They usually are," Fred agreed.

George saluted him with his mug of tea. "At least there's no screaming this time."

"Screaming?" Molly asked.

Fred nodded. "Ron's a vocal little fellow," he told her.

"Very loud, we couldn't even sleep through it," George agreed. Someone screamed, but it sounded female. "Oh, sounds like Hermione just got off," he said with a wince.

"You'd know this how?" Bill asked, starting to look alarmed. "What have you guys been doing while we've been working?"

"Ron brought her over to hide one night while they were dating," Fred told him. "Ron grunted and groaned even then, but she only let out one single scream as she got off. Ron, now he screams a lot."

"Bloody fire engine," George agreed.

Charlie turned redder. "I don't think he'll be doing it this time," he told them.

"Good on Draco. Ron should learn how to give," Bill agreed. Molly stared at him, mouth starting to open. "It's only fair, mum. 'Specially since there's three of them. One of them has to bottom now and then."

Charlie looked at him. But it was George who answered. "Ron's a bottom. Adores it apparently unless his men aren't going fast or hard enough."

Charlie looked at his mother. "Knock me out or obliviate me please?" he begged.

Ron came back in, looking a little more rumpled. "Sorry, Draco woke up alone and horny." He sat down and sipped some of his tea. "Where did Harry go?" Hermione let out that scream again. "Good on her," he said with a fond look at the ceiling. "Hopefully he'll get her to like being like that." She screamed again, louder this time. Then everything was silent. "Excellent," Ron said with a smirk.

"She's not nearly as loud as you are," George said with a pat on Ron's hand. "Trust us."

Ron blushed. "I enjoyed it," he said with a smirk. "I have two gorgeous men who like to boff me into the middle of next month. I consider it a perk of this whole changing thing." Molly burst out laughing. "Sorry, mother, didn't mean to embarrass you."

"Oh, you didn't," she said with a smile and a blown kiss. "Your father came back and told me that the boys had complained about you keeping them up."

"What can I say?" Ron said smugly. "Draco has incredible stamina and he's managed to slow Harry down when he's in bunny mode." He sipped more of his tea. "Charlie, did you need something?"

"No," Charlie squeaked.

"The bathroom's the third door down the other hall if you wanted to go hide," Ron said with a smirk as soon as his brother took off to go hide. "It's not like he saw more than my knees and Draco's back," he scoffed.

Bill looked at Ron. "Did this changing thing make you hit your head?" he asked conversationally.

"Not yet," Ron said. "Why?"

"Because you're now odder than the twins, Ron." Ron beamed and blew a kiss. "Are...um... are you changing?"

Ron looked down his shirt, then nodded. "I guess so. Draco said he was going to try and make me change off schedule so Harry could get a real present for his birthday." He finished his tea, and noticed his mother's look. "I should probably go change, huh?" She nodded. "Yes, mother. I'll be right back." He walked up to their bedroom and kissed Draco senseless. "I'm changing off schedule and fast again."

"I'm glad it worked," Draco said smugly. He looked as Ron took off his sweatshirt. "Take a few minutes, I'll try to make it finish before you finish dressing."

"Want to pick out my clothes again?"

"Wear the red silk," he said with a smirk.

"The twins have seen me in it," Ron reminded him as he strolled over to the closet. "I could wear the light green I guess."

"No, you were photographed in that. Wear...." He walked over and looked in the closet. "Wear that red one," he said, pointing at the other red dress in the closet. Ron pulled it out to look at it and gave him an 'are you crazy' look. "I adore you in it and you're not leaving the house."

Ron put it on the bed, shaking his head. "If my mother says anything, you tell her you picked it out." He went into the bathroom to shave while he finished changing, and came out to a new dress lying on the bed. Thin straps. Sleek design. Very naughty of his husband. "Draco, when did you buy this one?"

"Harry did," Harry called, coming out of the closet. "I think I'll like you in that one. Put it on for me, Ron?" He winked and went back to finish changing.

"Okay," Ron said with a shrug, slipping on the cool dress. The fabric stayed cool to the touch, even after he had sat down to put up his hair and work on his makeup. When he was done, he found the matching shoes waiting on him and a necklace. "Harry, you're not supposed to give me gifts for your birthday," he called as he put it on.

"It was my mother's," Draco called from their sitting room. He came to the doorway, purring in pleasure. "I like that one," he noted, watching as Ron put on the high heels. "Perhaps we should go out today for something." He stole a quick kiss, not wanting to mess up her makeup yet. "Go downstairs, we'll be right down." Ron nodded, giving him a pat on the crotch before leaving. "Harry, you naughty beast," he called. Harry came out and fell to his knees, enjoying it enough for the both of them.

Ron walked into the kitchen and everyone stared at him. "Harry picked it out," he told them, sitting in his former spot. "He wanted me to wear it. Draco liked it as well."

Fred looked around George to look at Bill. "Now you see why we think Draco's corrupting him. He turns into this slinky, pseudo-kitty Weasley when he's female."

"I enjoy my body in all it's forms," Ron assured him.

"I want tits like that," George sighed.

"They're heavy and they get in the way," Ron assured him.

Harry strolled in and grabbed Ron, pulling him after him. "Excuse us, Ron's got to help me with something."

"Charlie's in the bathroom," Fred called after him, making George and Bill both giggle.

"Boys!" Molly sighed in disgust. "You and sex and fart jokes."

George beamed at her. "I'm much more like you, mum," he reminded her.

"Yes, I know. That's why you're like that," she reminded him. Ron's screams of pleasure floated down from the nearest bedroom. "Oh, dear, you weren't kidding."

"Share, Potter!" Draco yelled. "You can't have all of her!" A door slammed and Ron's screaming reached all new heights.

Bill shook his head. "At least he's enjoying it." Molly swatted at him. "I'd like a girl to make those sort of noises some day for me," he assured her.

"If you'd date, that might happen," she told him.

"Yes, mother." He sipped his tea.

Charlie came back into the kitchen, looking down the hallways. "What are they doing to him?"

"You probably did the same thing to half your year," Bill teased. Charlie gaped at him. "Wait until you see the dress."

"Harry picked it out," George told him.

"I'm rather glad it's not that silvery one," Fred told him.

George nodded. "Indeed. That would be a bit embarrassing. Someone fell at Ron's feet in that one if I remember right."

"With his tongue out," Fred agreed.

"Boys," Molly warned. Ron strolled back in, still looking marvelous. "That was fast," she said, then she covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, Ron."

Ron hugged. "That's what quickies are for, mum, don't be sorry." He smiled at Charlie, making his poor brother moan. "Do you like this one or the red one better?"

"Turtlenecks," Charlie told him. "You need more turtlenecks."

Ron laughed as he sat down. "Harry says the same thing, then he puts me into things like this."

Bill gaped at him until George thoughtfully closed his mouth for him. "Ron!"

"What?" Ron beamed at him. "My men want me to be slinky and they reward me for it. Often."

Bill shook his head. "If you'd change, we could go eat."

"If he changes, I'm putting him into the blue velvet number I found today," Harry said as he walked in.

"Velvet, in the summer, Harry?" Fred asked.

Harry nodded. "Very cute dress. Ron, it's in the special closet if you wanted to change. You've got a spot," he said, pointing at it. Ron looked and got up, going to change. "Don't worry, that one's more tasteful, yet very pleasing to the eye." He hugged Molly. "I finally have good taste."

"I'm sure Ron appreciates wearing naughty clothes for you, Harry," she agreed, patting him on the arm.

Ron came back in the just-above-the-knee dark blue velvet strap dress and showed it off. "This one?" Harry nodded. "I think I can wear this." He sat down in Harry's lap since Draco was coming and there weren't any more chairs. "Look what else he bought me."

"I saw," Draco said appreciatively. "You should wear stockings with that." Ron shrugged. "Please? For me?"

"Fine, I'll put on stockings," Ron sighed, heading up to go change.

Draco sat down and smiled at his mother-in-law. "She does female so very well, don't you think?"

"I think it's much better than the sweatshirt and jeans earlier," Molly agreed. "Very feminine." She smiled at him. "We should take a picture of the three of you with her in that dress."

Ron came back a few minutes later and endured the photo taking. He had to slap the hand playing with the back of his thigh a few times, but that was Harry on a sex rip.

Hermione walked in and looked at Ron, then at Draco and Harry. "Can't you let her wear normal female clothes?"

"No," the boys said in unison.

Vincent groaned as he walked in. "It's better than the silver one," he decided.

Hermione looked at him, then at Ron. "Think you could let me borrow that one?"

"I think the red silk would look better on you," Draco told her. "You can borrow it as long as it comes back."

She smiled at Vincent. "Deal. We're having dinner out again tonight. I think I'll wear it then. I even have shoes to wear with it." Vincent groaned and kissed her passionately, knocking her back against the refrigerator. "Vincent!" she said, looking shocked.

"If you wear that red dress, we won't make it to dinner," he promised. Then he kissed her again.

"I approve," Ron called as he was led away by his mother for some planning. Ginny was getting married and they needed to look at bridesmaid gowns.

***

Arthur Weasley looked up as his door was knocked on. "Enter," he called. Ron walked in and his mouth fell open. "They let you out in that?"

"They insisted I wear it," Ron told him, handing over the sealed envelope. "From Harry and Draco. I am simply the messenger." He winked and sat on the edge of his father's desk, watching as he read it. "Besides, mum and everyone was with us."

"That's fine I suppose. Though I think that skirt's a little short."

"It nearly hits my knee, dad!"

"I'm your father, Ron, everything shorter than that silver dress is too short," he said as he read. "Thank you for bringing this. Was there an oral note as well?"

"Tell Remus Harry said hi, and that he's still wrong. Tell Moody he was right. And tell them both that I agree with Harry," he said, kissing his father's cheek and standing up. "We're going back to the manor. Hermi's going out for dinner with Vinnie and the boys are treating us all to take away. You're more than welcome to join us."

"I'll be there," Arthur agreed with a smile. He watched his son walk out in that stunning dark blue dress and sighed, remembering when his wife would have fit into it and looked just as amazing. Maybe he should stop off somewhere and buy Molly something that would make her look that wonderful. He thought he heard a scream so he stood up and looked out his door, but there wasn't anything out there. He shrugged and went back to his desk, going to call the Order of the Phoenix.

***

Ron woke up and blinked at the unusual wall coverings. Wallboard with a wood trim. This was definitely not any house he had ever spent a night in. He stood up and looked at the bed he had been lying on. "At least it's not a stone and there's no knife wielding idiot," he noted as he stood up. He patted himself down, nothing was horribly out of order. Nothing felt like it had been touched. He slipped on his shoes and walked to the door, surprised when it opened under his hand. What sort of kidnaper let you roam freely about? He walked out into what was obviously a living room. And found his captor. "Percy," he said quietly, glaring at his brother. "What are you doing? Where is this? Where are Harry and Draco?"

"Far away from you so they don't put you into more danger," Percy said firmly. He stood up and looked Ron over. "I know they're working their way up to doing things to you, but that would put you into even more danger. It would make He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named pant with longing and I won't have you killed because they can't touch each other."

Ron shook his head. "Huh?"

Percy frowned at him. "I thought I had made myself clear, Ron."

"Percy, we've been having sex together for a while now," Ron told him. Percy gasped. "Draco's been very good about making sure we were shielded and careful. There's been no pain, no horror, and nothing that would create fear, unless you count the look on Harry's face when he sees me in his favorite bra and panties set," he said thoughtfully.

Percy groaned, walking over to shake Ron. "They're putting you into extreme danger! You must break it off with them, Ron! I cannot allow you to be hurt!"

Ron slugged him, knocking him on his ass. "Percy, I'm not going to be hurt."

"The auror camp was attacked so they could get you. Your school was attacked so they could get you," Percy reminded him as he stood up, wiping the blood off his lip. "You still hit rather hard."

"I should." Ron crossed his arms over his impressive chest. "I wasn't at either spot when the attack happened, Percy, not that it's any of your concern!" He walked over and sat down, curling up in the chair. "My men take very good care of me. Even mother and father agree that they do."

"They let you out wearing that!" Percy argued.

"Yeah, and Harry picked it out," Ron agreed. He shrugged at the shocked look. "Mum saw it and thought it looked cute, though she did say she liked me in the longer things, the same as father did. I could have worn one of my usual dresses I suppose but no one bowed at my feet this time." Percy opened his mouth. "No, we're not discussing this," he said warmly. "You're going to let me go and we're going to act like this never happened."

"I most certainly will not," Percy said firmly. "We're not leaving until you're safe. I can make a renewal potion if necessary," he said, staring at the small fireplace. He noticed Ron's look. "Don't even try, there's no floo powder anywhere in the apartment. The door is gone. We are staying until you are safe again," he said, managing not to stomp his foot.

Ron touched the mark on his stomach, thinking about his men saving him. He felt something but it was quickly squelched when Percy moved his hand. "Get off!" he shouted, shoving him away.

"I don't care what you think you're doing, Ron, you will not contact them. I will be a proper big brother and protect you. I should do the same to George, but I can't leave you long enough to retrieve her." He straightened up as Ron slowly got to his feet. "It won't work, I won't let you out."

"Percy, are you aware that I could kill you?" Ron asked, his voice deceptively quiet. "I can not only kill you, I might enjoy it soon. Harry's birthday is tomorrow!" Percy flinched at the yell. "Now, let me go and we'll walk away. I'll even make sure Draco doesn't murder you for this." He heard pounding. "I'm in here!" he shouted. "Help!"

"The room is soundproofed," Percy scoffed. The pounding came closer. "Even if they could find the way in, they can't hear you, Ron. Those are the muggle neighbors. You might as well sit down and relax. I'll get you some more decent clothes later, once you're asleep again." Ron lunged but he managed to catch the fists this time. "No!" He forced her back, putting her into the chair. "Stay!" he said, casting a sticking hex. He brushed back his hair. "You should be thanking me."

"For kidnaping me and holding me hostage!" Ron asked, sounding incredulous. "Harry! Draco!"

"It won't work, you might as well save your energy. Your wand has already been sent back to them. You are here so I can protect you from those nasty boys you've taken up with, the ones who want to see you in more danger." He sniffed.

"Did you ever think that what I am could *help* Harry so Voldemort dies?" Ron asked casually. Percy glared at him. "They already have some of my blood, I told Bill where it was."

"I'm sure it'll be destroyed soon enough," Percy said firmly. "You won't even need that device I took off you."

"You took off the suicide patch?" Ron asked, looking stunned. "You could have killed me, you idiot! That was hooked in not even an inch from my heart!"

"Better death than being used so horribly," Percy shouted back. "Now sit there and calm yourself like a proper woman!" He stomped off, going through the only other door.

Ron touched the marks on his stomach again. "Guys," he whispered. "Percy's gone nuts."

***

Harry looked up from his sundae, frowning at Draco. "Is that Ron?" Draco nodded, licking off his spoon. "You're not worried?"

"It's mild anxiety," Draco pointed out. "If she doesn't show up in exactly ten minutes, I'm siccing the twins onto this." Someone patted him on the back and he looked up, smiling at Arthur. "Did Ron already find you?"

Arthur sat down. "She did," he agreed. "She also looked quite stunning and told me it was Harry's fault," he said with a smile. Harry shrugged. "Why? I thought she was coming back to you."

"We thought so too, but the bond just sparked some anxious feelings," Harry told him, eating another bite. "Ten minutes?"

"That's when she said she'd be here," Draco pointed out. "She could have gone shopping or gone to bother the twins."

"Or she could be in the middle of a dangerous situation," Fred said as he walked up behind Draco. He handed the letter he was carrying to his father. "From Percy of all people." He sat down and took the sundaes so they wouldn't choke.

Arthur had the note snatched from his hand by Harry. "I'd like to read it also," he said gently, with a small smile for the worried looks it was getting.

"What?" Draco asked.

"Percy's gone nutters and taken Ron for his own good," Harry said, outraged. "I'm going to stomp his white ass!" He stood up but Fred caught him. "Let go!"

"We don't know where he is, Potter. We'll need to do a location or something." He handed the note to Draco and his father. "George is presently hiding because it says he should do the same to her. Or that I should lock George up in some sort of tower to keep him pure and safe."

Draco went pale and handed the letter over, then stole his sundae back to eat it while he thought. "He wants her to be safe, that should give us enough time to get the arsenal loaded up." Harry's eyes glinted and he nodded. "Arthur, can you find him for us?"

"Of course. Molly has a tracking charm for each child at the house in case something happened. I'll get to her right away." He stood up and walked off. Then he turned to look at Fred. "Take them to the shop. Call the others."

Fred nodded so he jogged off. "Come on, let's calm down George while we wait." He walked both men to the shop, making sure they didn't break away and do something foolish. "At least it's not the Dark Lord," he soothed. "Percy's not that bad in comparison."

Harry bent over, clutching his stomach. "She's pissed," he noted. "Percy's demanding she change."

Draco patted him on the back. "Into the living room. Weasley, work while we figure out a plan." The store was still open and everyone was looking at them. "Come on, Potter." Harry nodded and walked into the back room, going to flop onto the couch. "Can you get a location? We might be able to through the bond."

"No," Harry said weakly. George came out of the back room. "She's fine, just pissed."

"I have no doubt Percy's going to be bruised by the time we find Ron," George agreed. "What's the plan?"

"Draco, I want my gun," Harry ground out. "With the Cruciatus bullets." Draco nodded and went to get it. "George, did you want to help?"

"I'm not sure. Do you think you'll need me?" George asked. "I can beat him to death, but I figured you'd want that pleasure," he said at Harry's look.

"No, the killing blow comes from me, but Fred said you were scared so I thought it'd be nice to let you get in a few blows of your own."

"Thanks, Harry, you're quite charming when you're gallant. Now I know why Ron adores you both." He walked into the front, noticing how everyone was gossiping. "Our next oldest brother stole our youngest brother," he told them. "Nothing too unusual. Just against his will." The crowd nodded and thinned a bit.

Fred looked at his twin. "Percy has very bad timing."

"That is so true," George agreed. "We should kick his butt on general principles because of that."

"Yes, you should," Harry called. "We're going."

"That's fine," Fred called back.

"Hit him once for us, dears," George called after them.

Fred looked at his twin again. "You're sounding more and more like mum every day, George. Stop that. Before you scare me."

George laughed and hugged him. "She is the only female role model I have," he pointed out.

"Keep it up and I'm calling Bell and Johnson." George shivered. "And I mean it." He got away from the insane one and went to help a few kids decide what they wanted.

George walked over to ring people up, happy that they were doing such good business.

***

They had found the wall that Ron was on the other side of, but no entry. Draco looked at Harry. "Blow it," he decided, getting out of the way.

Harry raised his hand, touching the wall, then he smirked. "I know where it is," he announced. "My mother's gifts are very handy sometimes." He walked over to where the invisible portrait was and opened it, glancing at everyone before he slipped inside. He found Percy sulking on his bed, facing away from the entry. He snuck over and pounced him, putting him onto the floor. "I should kill you for taking my Ron," he hissed in the man's ear.

"Harry, no killing this time," Draco said calmly, heading into the living room. "Ah, Weasley," he said with a smile. "You yelled for help?" He unstuck him and helped him up. Harry was pushed out of the bedroom by an arm that looked like it belonged to Charlie. "Come hug her, it'll make you feel better."

Harry walked over and hugged Ron as hard as he could, making her squeak. "I want to hurt him. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ron soothed, looking at Draco. Draco shrugged, looking smug. "Does this mean I should say 'my hero' and pass out into your arms?"

Harry blushed. "Only if you feel like it," he said with some embarrassment. Draco patted him on the back. "Ron, where's your dress?"

"Percy used a stripping charm and made me put this one," he said, glaring down at the house dress. "It's ugly, Harry."

"I know," Harry soothed. He summoned one of Ron's most spectacular dresses, helping her into it. "There we are," he cooed, patting it into place with a few kisses to help it stick.

"No sex," Charlie said as he walked out. "Wait until you get home." Ron grinned at him. "Are you all right?"

"Mostly. He made me put on ugly clothes, Charlie," he said, pointing at the house dress. "He kept saying it was for my own good and all that rot."

"He has a point, your blood is more powerful now," Bill reminded him as he walked out. Ron's mouth opened. "Mum has him," he said with a smirk. Ron shuddered. "I'm sure he's going to be rather sorry." He looked at the new dress. "That's not hideous."

Draco used the tip of his wand to pick up the house dress. "He had her in this one. We thoughtfully redressed her since he took the other one." He flung it onto the couch. "Shall we go? I'm sure Ron could use a treat to calm herself."

Ron stole a kiss from each of them, and kissed each brother's cheek. "Thank you. You kept me from committing murder." She walked out between her men, sauntering in the new shoes. Harry stopped her and picked her up, carrying her outside. "Harry! I can walk!"

"Bet me," Harry countered. He got them into the Ministry car and looked at her feet. "I think you twisted something," he said gently, stroking over the swollen flesh.

Draco looked at the usually trim ankles and nodded. "Either that or she's changing back." He laid a hand over Ron's mark, concentrating. Everything female firmed up and he smiled. "There, how's that?"

"Still swollen," Harry told him, continuing to stroke it. Arthur got into the front and looked at them. "She twisted her ankle," he told him.

"That's fine, have her sit sideways so we can't see up her skirt." Arthur turned around and looked out the front window. "We're all going back to the Ministry. Ron, did you want to press charges?"

"I don't know, dad. Should I?" Ron asked. Draco nibbled on his neck and he swatted him. "Sex later, talk now. Should I press charges?"

"He was trying to protect you," Arthur pointed out gently. "It's up to you, Ron."

"You decide, dad, I'm feeling a little faint," Ron told him as he was leaned back against Draco's chest.

"You didn't get lunch," Draco murmured. "We'll feed you in a bit, Ron." Ron nodded, closing her eyes. He muttered an incantation and smiled as he felt it take hold. "Harry, for your birthday, I've found a small, *temporary* gender sticking charm. Ron will stay like this for the next month to even back out her cycle." Harry's eyes lit up.

"Draco!" Arthur sighed. "That's not nice."

"She's changing out of time again," Harry told him. He looked at Ron's chest. "It's not as big as usual."

"I'll fix that in a moment. You have to cast them five minutes apart," Draco told him. Harry nodded and went back to stroking the injured ankle. He muttered the second one, then the third, turning Ron fully female for a whole month. He drooled at how the perky breasts seemed to bounce up toward his mouth with each sway of the car. He noticed Harry staring at them. "Take a room in town?"

"Birthday party," Harry reminded him.

"That's tomorrow, I was talking about tonight. She can recover tomorrow."

"You could come back to the Burrow," Arthur suggested. He shot them a smile. "Of course, you'd probably have a better chance of getting cuddled by her if you weren't in her childhood bed."

Harry kissed Ron's stomach. "I think we'll crowd into the other house tonight," he said quietly. "Just so we don't keep anyone up." Ron moaned so he kissed him on the stomach again. "Calm down, we'll feed you soon." The Ministry car stopped outside the Leaky. "Should we head into the shop?"

"Go ahead. I'm going to deal with Percy," Arthur said grimly. He watched as the boys got out and Harry carried Ron into the inn, shaking his head. "That boy," he sighed.

"It's a good thing your ...daughter can keep him sane," the driver noted. "With his past, he'd have to have someone very loving. Now he's got two."

"He does," Arthur agreed with a smug smile. "Draco doesn't always understand, but I know Ron always does her best to soothe Harry when he has a sudden down mood. Let's go deal with my other son," he decided. "I guess we won't press charges." The driver nodded and took off, heading back to the office. Arthur walked into the meeting room where Percy was being held. "I talked Ron into not pressing charges against you," he said coolly. Percy looked up at him. "I can't say that I'm not disappointed, Percy. How could you think that they would hurt Ron?"

"He said he's already given some of his blood." Percy looked at his father. "I thought I was protecting her."

"You nearly caused her to be hurt, Percy. Ron and George are a lot more fragile than anyone seems to think they are. You nearly sent Ron over the edge into a blind panic, which would have affected Harry and Draco. What were you thinking! They could have really attacked you!"

"I'm sorry. I was trying to protect her. Did you know she's sleeping with them?"

"Yes, I did," Arthur said patiently.

"Do you know what that means?"

"More than most," Arthur said dryly. "After this happened, I did go to the archives and search out all the information. I noticed your name on it as well," he conceded at the look Percy gave him. "The same as I noticed Lucius' name and later Draco's. They treat her very well and are protecting her."

"That boy had a suicide patch on her," Percy sniffed.

"It was necessary. Up until a few days ago, Ron was at the auror training camp. Unfortunately they decided to do the one thing that neither he nor Harry could stand." Percy slumped. "You were already despised by Ron for what you said," he said quietly. "This will not help you gain any favor."

"I was trying to save her from being sacrificed once that ...thing gets done with her!" Percy shouted. "You may not care, but I for one do!" He stood up. "I will not see Ron killed because she's joined with a psychotic boy forced to be a savior or someone using her for their own ends!"

Arthur shook his head. "Draco's not using her and Harry's not got mental problems," he said quietly. "He's much more stable than what he could be considering his home life." He stood up. "You overstepped yourself. Had you come to me, I might have had a word with Ron, made sure she knew what was going on and the like. Instead you decided to kidnap her. You had better be very thankful that Ron had me decide not to charge you." He walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Percy sat down, holding his head. "Why can't they understand?" he complained. "I'm doing the best I can." The door opened and someone else walked in. He looked at them and froze. "You!" he said angrily, standing up to face Lucius. "What are *you* doing here? You should be in prison!"

Lucius sneered. "I came to welcome you to fold," he said, holding up his wand. "You have knowledge of the changeling."

"You'll have to get me to speak from the dead," Percy spat. He saw a flick of a cloak outside the door and suddenly there was shouting. He grabbed his wand and started to hex the creature in front of him.

"No!" Arthur shouted. He stopped Percy by grabbing his wand. "What are you doing?"

"Lucius!" Percy panted, pointing at a bare spot on the wall.

"Sir, I think he needs a spell check," one of the guards said respectfully.

"So do I," Arthur agreed. "Take him." He kept his son's wand, giving him a look of pity as he was led away. "Why?" he asked the ceiling. Fortunately it didn't answer.

***

Fred looked up as the door opened. "George!" He ran around the counter, coming to take Ron. "He hurt her!"

"I sprained an ankle and Harry won't let me walk," Ron complained.

George came out and helped Fred steal their baby brother, letting her hop into the back. "That does look like a nasty sprain. Let me pop around and get you something for it," he said quickly, as soon as Ron was on the couch. He hurried off.

Fred looked at Harry. "You scared me."

"She can't walk on it, it's swollen double," Harry explained. "Your father has Percy in custody."

"Good. That's where he belongs after a stunt like that," George said as he passed by again. "Going to the pharmacy."

"Bring me back some stomach mints," Fred called after him. He let Harry go into the back, but looked around. "Harry, where's the other one?"

"Draco went to get Ron some lunch," Harry called.

"Oh, good." Fred shook his head at the student staring at him. "Sprained ankle. A suitable problem after a kidnapping." The tiny Gryffindor female hugged him. "Thank you, dear. What did you want today? You know we give our own house a small discount." She smiled and handed over the stack of items. "All these?" he asked with a smile. "All right, if you think you can sneak them past Filch."

"I'm sure he won't care," she scoffed. "He's just grumpy because he's a nasty old man that no one likes. Not even Harry Potter's dog when it was there."

"Thank you for reminding me," Harry called. He walked out and to the floo, going home to get his dog and tell everyone Ron was fine. Vincent looked a bit shocked at that pronouncement, but once he heard the whole story, he calmed down. Harry came back with Snickers and led him into the back. "Draco isn't back yet?"

"Not yet," Fred agreed, shaking his head. "Him and his dog. At least Snape isn't around." Half the store giggled. He pulled out the new item's tray. "And here we have something to spike the old man's drink with," he announced. "To bring back that feeling." A few of the kids, including a Slytherin, took some as soon as he put it down. "Just a drop into any liquid and he'll feel like it's happening again."

Harry popped his head out of the back. "And remember," he said with a grin, "look innocent and ask him if he's okay after he drinks it and it's happened. Then make some reference to him looking good like that." He winked and withdrew. The kids who had laughed before laughed again and the others asked for it to be explained to them. The lone Slytherin told the story and the rest of them cracked up too.

Fred shook his head. "Definitely our influence," he said proudly. George came back with Draco in tow. "I put out the memory pops." George beamed. "Snickers is here." Draco laughed, shaking his head, so Fred rescued the food. "Thank you." He walked it back there and presented it to the poor dear. The princess looked like she could use the food with the way Harry was trying to talk her into bed, she'd need the energy.

Draco walked back and kissed Harry, making him go limp. "Let her eat first, then you can make sure she's fine," he said soothingly. He looked at Ron. "Eat faster," he suggested. "He's back in one of his bouncy moods." Ron stuffed her mouth as fast as she could.

The twins looked at each other and shook their heads before going back to work.

***

Harry looked up from his cuddling of the Ron as the door to the store opened. "Hey, Oliver," he said in the most mellow voice he had ever heard. "She's fine."

"I'm glad. What was Percy thinking?"

"Trying to turn her back into a virgin and protect her from them," Ron told him, holding out a plate of cookies Harry had baked. "Want one? He's in guilt baking mode."

Oliver took a cookie and nibbled on it. "At least he's good at it." He sat down looking at them. "So you're fine?" Ron nodded. "Nothing really wrong?"

Ron shook his head. "A small sprained ankle. Why?"

"Special edition of the paper," Oliver said between bites. Ron held out the plate so he took a few more. "Not that I should, I shouldn't gain more weight," he said with a smile for Harry. "The paper said Percy was taken to the hospital because he was hallucinating."

"That wasn't me," Harry told him.

"Or me," Ron agreed. He stroked through Harry's hair. He saw Oliver's glance around. "Draco went to blow up the paper."

"Ah!" Oliver nodded. "I saw that." He saw Harry's shudder. "Then it was true?"

"And weak," Harry agreed. "Don't ask."

"I wasn't going to," Oliver said gently. "I always wondered why you had those moments when it looked like you had found a place to belong." He finished off the next cookie. "It explains a lot about all the little things you noticed in the common room. How you sat and all that." He ate another cookie.

"I thought I was pretty normal," Harry defended.

"For the most part. Just little clues. That's all." Oliver smiled at him. "Are you three staying over?"

"No, we're going back to my house to make a lot of noise and make sure Ron's fine," Harry said smugly. Ron pinched him, making him moan. "Meany, I can't do a thing about that now."

"No, you can't," Ron smirked. "Save it for later."

"Okay. But I get first taste."

"You two can fight over me," Ron reminded him. "I'm going to be lying on the bed watching you and Draco fight over me while I do it for myself." Harry moaned and shifted so he could get a kiss before heading into the bathroom. Ron waited until they were alone. "So, which twin are you dating?" he asked. Oliver looked stricken. "Both times we've been here, you've shown up unexpectedly because of a family thing. I figured it was one of them."

Oliver blushed and mumbled something.

"Come again?" Ron teased.

Oliver glared at him. "You're pushy, Ron."

"I know," he said with a grin. "That's because I enjoy the hell out of embarrassing the twins." He beamed at Oliver's shocked look. "McGonagall said Ginny and I were as bad as all the older ones together," he said proudly.

Oliver looked stunned. "What had you done?"

"I was planning on how to get Malfoy to quit staring at my tits. He had, every single time he saw them. So she saw my planning and called me up there. I told her I was planning on trying out my feminine side, wearing a dress and all that. She told me Ginny and I were worse than all the older ones combined."

Oliver swallowed. "What dress?"

"Have you been to the Burrow recently?" Oliver nodded. "You saw the picture of me in the gray one?" Oliver nodded again. "That and little one inch heels."

Oliver smiled. "Did it work?"

"Malfoy stared so much he got into trouble," Ron said proudly. Harry came out of the bathroom. "I was telling him about the dress incident."

Harry rolled his eyes. "He's very proud of that. Wore this little flirty dress all day, with stockings and heels. He made every bloke in the school too hard to concentrate and Malfoy got into serious trouble for it. He had to have dinner with Snape and Malfoy." Oliver spluttered.

Ron grinned. "To try and break him of the nasty staring habit."

"And it worked, up until the laundry thing," Harry reminded Ron with a nudge as he sat down.

"True," Ron agreed.

"Do I want to know?"

"The laundry machines went down. I had to borrow some of Harry's clothes. The shirt only buttoned halfway up my cleavage," Ron said happily. "Draco was so stunned by it that he demanded I change shirts with him because his was bigger."

Oliver looked at Harry's chest, then at Ron's. "That must have been obscene."

"Hagrid forced one of his shirts on Ron," Harry told him, hugging Ron a little. "That was after the shirt change. He got this stunned look on his face and couldn't quit staring."

"And hey, the people who thought I had a charm before were really shocked that day," Ron reminded him.

"Yeah, it's too bad Goyle's gone. He'd have passed out if he had seen you in Draco's shirt."

Oliver shook his head. "You enjoy being naughty, don't you, Ron?"

Ron nodded. "Definitely." Oliver chuckled. "Hey, I keep Harry and Draco in line and happy. And all I have to do is not wear one of those nasty, horrible bras." Snickers woke up and trotted over to get ear scratches. Ron gently played with them, making the dog's head fall into his lap with a groan. "Did they tell you about Snickers and Snape?" Oliver shook his head. "Harry brought his dog everywhere when we were in school. Classes weren't any different."

Harry kissed Ron on the cheek. "He found me Snickers and he's my bestest buddy. About a month before the end of school, Snickers decides he wants to be a big boy dog. In Potions." Oliver's eyes went wide. "Snape was napping in his chair. Snickers managed to sneak up on him and attack his leg."

"Happily humping away," Ron agreed.

"Yup, and when Draco saved him from being hit and brought him back to me, the only thing I could say was 'was it good'." Oliver squeaked. Harry nodded. "It slipped out, honestly, but it was so funny."

"Draco got so mad at Snape he spread around a rumor that they had been going at it on the desk," Ron hissed. Oliver got up and ran to the bathroom before he had an accident. Ron smirked at Harry. "I think he'll fit in well in this family."

"Yeah, Oliver always was a nice guy," Harry agreed. He kissed Ron again. "How much longer before we can go home and have fun?"

"Not until Draco comes back."

"Ah." Harry slid his hand into the slit of the skirt, teasing Ron's thighs. "Are you sure he can't follow?" Ron swatted his hand. "Please?"

"Maybe in a few if he's not back," Ron relented.

"Hands," George said, covering his eyes as he walked in.

Harry removed his hand. "Sorry, trying to tempt her into a quickie."

George removed the hand. "You should take your time."

"He's learned that lesson," Ron defended. "I approve." George looked like someone had hit him with a pie in the face. "I do. Oliver's really nice and I approve."

"Thank you," George said quietly. "It means a lot that you approve." He hugged Ron. "I just saw Draco stalking into the pharmacy. He didn't look happy."

"He must have run out of explosives," Harry quipped. Oliver came out of the bathroom. "We're almost out of your hair."

"It's not a problem," Oliver assured him, smiling at George. "Did you hear about Snape and the dog?"

George beamed and nodded. "Isn't it funny? We even made something that can create that feeling so it can be slipped into his drink," he said happily, pulling him out into the shop. "Did they bother you?"

"Ron told funny stories. Did you know McGonagall told him and your sister that they were as bad as all you older ones?" George perked up even more. "Because he was going to wear a dress and make certain staring people sorry."

George giggled, leaning into his body. "Good on him. Ron deserves his fair share of the naughtiness."

"Oh, he got it, he just shows his in his clothing." He heard the giggling. "Sounds like Harry's getting his way."

"Not on the couch," George called.

"Just kissing," Ron called back. "Nothing naughty."

"I'm sure," George muttered. "Fred went to get dinner. Ah, Draco," he said happily as he walked in. 'They're giggling."

Draco shook his head. "Boys," he called. "I've been to the drug store." Harry, Ron, and Snickers all came running to land on him and give him a hug. "Home," he panted. "Now." They piled into the floo and headed for Harry's house.

Oliver shook his head. "Ron must be sore some days."

George looked shocked. "Our brother? Sore? From a little bit of playing?"

Oliver snorted. "Little bit? With those two I'm sure he's worn out nearly every night."

George leaned closer. "And he yells his head off," he confided. "We stayed with them one night and couldn't sleep they were so loud." Oliver patted him on the back and kissed him on the forehead. "Thanks." Fred walked in with the bags and flipped over the sign. "They're gone!" he said happily.

"I saw Malfoy in the drug store," Fred admitted. "I got the last tube of slimy stuff too." He smiled at Oliver. "It comes in useful now and then."

Oliver leaned over and kissed him too. "I'm sure it does, Fred." He walked them back into the back, letting them pick their spots to eat from.

***

Ron was pushed back onto the bed, naked and willing, but Harry was being stubborn. Draco finally got him stripped and decided to tie him down. Ron helped by distracting him, but Harry started making pitiful noises. "This means I can do whatever I want to you," Ron whispered in his ear. "Just lay there and take it, Harry. You know you want to."

Draco climbed in on the other side, mimicking Ron's position. "Think of all the delights you'll get while we tease and play with you," he agreed. Harry whimpered and gave in, laying limply where he had been put. One of the cuffs was pulling but he didn't care. Ron shifted him. "Good boy," Draco praised. He spanked Ron lightly, making her jump. "Give him a good view," he encouraged. Ron got on all fours sideways from Harry's orientation, then had to grab on as Draco licked up her crack. "Good Ron," Draco encouraged between licks. Ron started to pant so he paused to look down at Harry. "See?"

"Not well enough," Harry moaned. "I want some of that."

"Once I have her dripping and off once," Draco agreed with a smirk. He went back to his feast, enjoying all the little wiggles and noises Ron had. He nipped her clit once and brought her off. "There. Now you can have some." He carefully guided her into position over Harry's face. Harry groaned and Ron shivered, clutching his arms for strength. "Do more," he encouraged, getting himself ready. As soon as he was slick enough he slid down the dripping cock, making Harry arch up and scream into the wet space. "Ohhhh," he groaned, kissing Ron. "See, I told you this was a good idea."

"Let me watch," Ron pleaded. Draco nodded, moving slowly at first. Harry started to breathe hard into his so she spread her legs to give him better access. He took full advantage of it by expanding his area to include her clit. She was really enjoying this position. She felt it building again and leaned down, being just the right height to latch onto Draco at the same time. She felt the groan against her body and sucked harder. Draco started to work harder and she let him force as much as he wanted down her throat. Harry's tongue set her off and she screamed around the hard cock, making Draco get off as well, which apparently sent Harry over the edge because he groaned into her again. "Oh, damn," she panted, rolling off to the side.

"Hey! I wanted more of that," Harry complained.

Draco cleaned Harry off and helped Ron get into his former spot. "I'm sure you'll get it in a few," he said tiredly, laying down beside him to watch Ron get more of him. "Is he going limp?"

"Not a bit," Ron told him with a big smile. She braced herself on Harry's stomach, pleasing herself this time.

"Touch it, Ron," Harry encouraged hoarsely. "Please?" He started to babble as her fingers teased her flesh and Draco kindly stuck something in there for him to plug the noise. He moaned and groaned around the soft cock, bringing it back into play. Ron threw her head back and Harry thrashed under her. Draco came again and flopped down onto Harry's chest. Ron pinched a nipple and her clit, then screamed the highest note yet, getting off and clenching every muscle in her body. Harry screamed as well, coming so hard he thought he had went blind.

"Oww. Muscle cramps," Ron complained. Draco got up and helped her lay back down, then got Harry unhooked so they could rub them out for her. "Oh, thank you," she sighed in relief. "That's so nice."

"What did Percy want to do to you?" Draco asked. Ron looked at him, looking a bit lost. "You said earlier he wanted to do a spell. What one?"

"A renewal spell." Draco and Harry both stopped to stare at her. "I didn't say he did it."

Harry looked at Draco. "Can you?"

Draco nodded. "It's been done before."

"I like myself this way," Ron put in. Both men kissed her slowly, making her go brainless again. "If I get a new barrier, you're not breaching it," she breathed when Harry finally let her lips go.

"Then we won't even suggest it," Draco soothed, laying his head on Ron's stomach. "I'm exhausted."

"It's all the stress from earlier," Harry agreed, mimicking his position. He yawned. "That was a wonderful birthday present, guys. Thank you."

"Just wait until you see me in the costume," Ron warned. Harry laughed and kissed her again. "We should tie him down more often."

"We should tie both of you down more often," Draco pointed out. "You're both wonderful like that. You thrash and Harry seems to be natural for it."

"I might like that occasionally," Harry admitted with a cheeky grin.

Ron patted him on the back. "Tomorrow, after the party so you have to appreciate me in the outfit." Harry snuggled and fell asleep on her chest. "It was a good thought," she told Draco. Draco looked up at her. "The spell. I don't think I could go through that again."

"That's fine. We won't force it, Ron." He stroked a hand over Ron's flat stomach. "Just relax and we'll play again later." She nodded and closed her eyes, joining Harry in his dreams about her. Draco shook his head. "I wouldn't want it to be that way either," he noted, lying back down to sleep as well. This was the life he wanted.

***

Ron looked up at the loud noise, frowning at the twin coming toward him. "What's wrong, George?"

The twin leaned down. "I'm Fred," he whispered in her ear. "We're directly opposite." Ron looked gobsmacked. "Yup, I did it to myself," he said happily, twirling around. "What do you think?"

"That you should hide from the parents," Ron told him. Fred giggled. "Okay, it's your life. Are you sure?"

Fred nodded as he sat beside him. "We did it last night and we've been opposite ever since. Sudden changes but still fun." He beamed. "This is really cool. Now I understand George again."

Ron nudged him, giving him a smile. "What does Oliver think about this?"

"He thinks it's really cute. He took a real shine to George in her female phase." He patted Ron on the hand. "We've got to talk, little sister. There's things going on down there that I don't understand. That 'twangy' feeling and things like that."

"Okay, do you want to do it out here or up in our room?"

"Your room if it's empty." Ron nodded and led the way upstairs, grabbing Hermione from Vincent's desperate clutch on the way. "This is Fred," he said at her confused look. Her eyes lit up. "They're directly opposite all the time now."

"That is so odd!" Hermione told him, walking around him. "Well, first of all, we've got to do a few things. Stand up straight, Fred." Fred stood up straighter. She looked at Ron. "The beginning female lessons?"

"Yuppers. Before she finds out the hard way that it hurts the first time."

"It does?"

"A bit, but if your lover's good and gentle it goes away quickly," Hermione assured him. "Ron made mine wonderful."

"Draco let Harry take mine and he tried so hard to be sweet. Of course, I had already gotten off once," Ron admitted. "You missed out, Hermione. If you had taken that special room, there was a portal to a hot spring. A huge lake of warm water."

"Damn!" she sighed. "I knew I was missing out on something." She frowned. "Was it good?" Ron smirked. "In the water?" she asked. Ron nodded. "Then I probably would have walked in on you at least once." She pulled Fred over to the bed so they could sit and chat. Ron bounced over to join them. "I adore these talks. I should ask McGonagall to let me come up and give the new girls one each year."

Ron laughed. "She didn't give one?" Hermione shook her head. "Then write her, maybe you could do it for all the houses."

She laughed. "Maybe. Some of those Hufflepuffs needed it I bet." She patted Fred on the hand. "All right, where should we start? Basics of physical nature?"

"Huh?"

"What it looks like," Hermione told him. Fred blushed. "Oh, you're going to be an adorable woman when we get done with you, Fred."

Fred smiled. "Good. I want to knock George's socks off." They shared a laugh and got down to the serious stuff, telling him *everything*. Ron even showed him how to walk in heels and how to strut around.

Downstairs, Vincent walked into Draco's study, looking fairly confused. "Ron and George just stole Hermione from me to talk," he said.

Draco looked up at him. "Girls are odd, Vincent. You knew that already though." He shrugged. "Girl talk. I'm supposing it's what they do when they go to the bathroom in groups." He looked at the book he was reading. "How did I let Granger talk me into reading this one?"

"It made her so happy she danced?" Vincent suggested smugly. Draco grunted in irritation. "My woman is one hell of a girl and not even you and your Ron can resist it."

"Ron had better not be turning lesbian," Draco grunted in annoyance. "That I won't tolerate. It would take away from my time with her." He got a truly evil look on his face. "I'll tell Potter and have him convince her that we're just as good as any woman could be." Vincent backed away from him. "Where is he?"

"The back yard," Vincent said carefully.

"Excellent." Draco stood up, leaving the book there, and headed out to talk to his other husband. "Harry?" Harry looked up from his wrestling with his dog, narrowly missing the big tongue going up his nose. "Ron just stole Hermione out of Vincent's arms again and he's worried that she's going to try women now."

"Oh, hell no!" Harry said, getting up and hurrying into the house. He flew into their room and pounced Ron, heading right down to lick her. "No women, Ron. Naughty you. Only us and our tongues and fingers." He started on his favorite pattern, then switched back to the one Draco said he used, and then back again.

Ron squealed and wiggled. "Harry, people!" he shouted.

"No women, Ron, promise me," Harry said against the firm thigh as he nipped it.

Ron arched up. "I swear, I'm not going to try girls! You're doing me in front of Hermi and Fred!"

Harry looked up at their guests. "Hermione, your boyfriend thought that Ron wanted you to try lesbianism. Maybe you should correct him?" He smirked at Fred. "Glad you crossed over. I promise I won't touch you at all." He went back to what he had been doing, making Ron squeal and wiggle.

"Damn, I need to take notes," Fred muttered, patting himself down.

Hermione laughed and pulled him up. "We'll go to my room, hopefully Vincent was playing." She walked him over there but was grabbed as soon as she walked in the door. "Vincent!" she said, swatting him on the chest. "There are other people around."

Vincent looked at Fred. "You wanted to join in?" Fred spluttered. "Then you can have more girl talk in a moment. She's mine." He pushed Fred out the door and closed it, attacking his girlfriend's sensitive shoulder spot. She moaned and let him play, forgetting totally about Fred and his questions.

Draco walked up to Fred and patted him on the back. "What did you still need answered?"

Fred shook his head. "Never mind," she squeaked, hurrying back to the floo. George needed to hear about this! He found Oliver in the shop and pounced him.

"No fair!" George called. He flipped the sign and looked at the customers. "We'll be back after a tea break," he announced. He saw Bill. "Check them out, please?" he begged before rushing into the back.

"Young love," Bill sighed fondly. "I'm so glad I've grown out of that stage." The kids all laughed. "You think I'm kidding, but it'll only be a few minutes." He went to fill in on the cash register, checking everyone out. He even turned the sign back around when he saw a few kids coming their way. He couldn't let the business suffer for a sex maniac like that. Though he did wonder what had happened. Hadn't Fred gone to talk to Ron?

***

Ron wove his way down the stairs, dizzy, hungry, and exhausted. He raised a hand. "Draco?" Draco came out of the study and caught him before he fell. "Thank you. Harry was an animal. What got into him?"

"Vincent said that you had grabbed Hermione from him and thought that you might be wanting to try women," Draco said with a smirk. "Was it good?"

"Good?" Ron let his tongue hang out for a moment. "I need fluid. Nine times, Draco! Nine!" Draco led him in and put him into his comfy reading chair. "I need a drink."

Draco rang the bell, bringing a house elf. "Get him a snack and some juice," he ordered. He smirked at Ron. "That way I can have my turn to make sure you don't turn back to liking women."

Ron shook his head. "No, no women," he promised. "I swear I'll be good, Draco, no more sex."

Draco laughed, giving him a kiss. "I'm sure you'll remember this for a very long time, Ron." Ron nodded. "Did he only lick you?" he teased as he sat by Ron's feet, working on the limp leg muscles.

"Licked, nibbled, touched. Wouldn't go in me though. Wouldn't even let me touch him," Ron pouted. Cutely of course. "Damn, it was good." He smiled at the house elf and took his snack. "Thank you. I needed this."

"Mistress noisy, of course needs," the house elf agreed, then it hurried away before anyone could say anything to it.

Draco shook his head. "I'm going to have to forbid Hermione from going into the kitchen." He waited until Ron had eaten and looked more sated, then he began his campaign with a subtle kiss.

"No more sex, Draco, I'm tired," Ron whined.

"Just one more?" he begged. "I promise to nap with you. It's only fair," he said soothingly as he moved down to nibble on *that* spot on her neck. "Please?"

Ron moaned and tipped his head off to the side. "I don't think I have anything left, but it's your tongue that's going to go numb," he agreed. This felt too good not to allow to happen. Damn, his husbands were talented!

Draco moved lower, showing that patience and training did pay off in this area as well. Ron moaned and shifted under his skilled tongue, urging him to do more. She was wrung clean, but he was enjoying himself immensely. By the time he had enough, Ron was woozy again. "Would you like more, Ron? Would you like a dick?" Ron smiled and slid down onto his lap, freeing him and taking it from him. He gently played while he got off, sending Ron into a badly needed nap. "There, precious one, and the next time you steal a woman from Vinnie's arms, remember this." She smiled and went limp in his arms. "Good girl." He got them rearranged and stood up, bringing her over to the large napping couch so they could nap. It woke her slightly but that was fine. "Maybe you won't remember and we'll have to do this again." She blew a kiss and patted his lips. He laughed. "Yes, next time I get you first."

She shifted, putting one of her legs over his and holding him down. "No more sex or I'm going to retaliate," she said hoarsely. "I'll open you so wide you'll feel like I'm falling in." He stroked her back. "Nice."

"I'm glad you approve. Just four more hours until the party." Ron snorted. "You can sit if you want, Ron." Ron smiled and put her head back down so she could nap.

Harry walked in an hour later and smiled at the cute couple on the couch. He hunted down a camera and took a picture, giggling madly as he went to share it with Hermione and Vincent. He wasn't as jealous as Draco had told him, but that was fine because he had enjoyed his birthday so far.

***

Harry looked up as the auror walked up to his table two days later. "Want to sit?" he asked her with a smile. "How are you, Tonks?"

"Just fine, Harry." She sat across from him. "How was your birthday? Get a lot of presents?"

Harry beamed. "I got a lot of sex."

She laughed. "Good for you, kid." She reached over and ruffled his hair. "They want to know if you want to come back."

Harry shrugged. "Are they going to see Ron and me as real recruits or just tools?" He sipped his juice. He was still tired from his birthday and the *presents* he had received. That costume had been something else on Ron's elegant form. "The last I knew they only wanted me to give up and die during the battle and for Ron to juice me up by dying before it."

She shook her head. "It's not like that."

"Bullshit," he said quietly. "That first week, we got ethics lectures." She looked stunned. "All about duty and sacrifice. With them looking right at Ron and me. Ron had to show them his suicide patch sooner than we had wanted to because of it."

She nodded. "I understand your revulsion, Harry, and I agree in this case. What about your training?"

"I've been learning a lot," Harry assured her. "Not a lot about stealth because Draco's family never expected to need it, but definitely a lot of the practical fighting styles. Vincent's been good about working with Ron and me so we keep in physical shape."

"And the battle readiness stuff?"

"Is something you can only get in a real battle," he pointed out. "Which I've been in. I hate this war, Tonks. Ron hates it more than I do because he's considered a prize now, but we're both ready for it to be over with."

"You look much happier than what Moody said you did when you talked," she admitted, looking him over. "New shirt?" He nodded, smiling. "Someone has excellent taste."

"Draco dressed me this morning," he said as he brushed a hand down the sleeves. "It's his, but he said I looked better in it." He looked at her and saw the sad look. "Not you too."

"No, I don't think he wants it. I don't want to see you lose it all, Harry."

He nodded. "I know. And with that prophecy, so does everyone else." He got a sudden flash and grimaced. "I'll kill him," he snarled suddenly. She leaned back. He looked at her. "Scar flash. They're going to try for my dog." He tipped his head to the side. "How do I push back a nightmare?"

"You find his shields and push past them with a bit of stealth," she said slowly. "Why? Why would *he* want your dog?"

Harry's smile dripped ice. "Because Snape suggested it as a warning shot." He stood up and tossed down some money. "I'm heading home. Coming?"

"Sure, why not?" She followed him to the floo, thanking everything she held holy that this was a wizarding establishment. Harry left for a moment and she was left looking at Draco. "I'm going to help him send back a vision. He said he got a flash about Snape offering his dog as a warning shot?"

Draco nodded. "Definitely something to argue about," he decided. "This way." He led her to their workout room, settling her inside. "I'll get you something to drink. Where did he go?"

"A butcher's."

"Really?" She nodded. "I wonder why," Draco mused as he walked away. "Ron! Snape suggested the dog as a warning shot," he yelled.

Ron came running. "What?"

Draco nodded. "That strange one with the odd hair is here. Harry's on his way back."

"We'll have to kick his ass for that," Ron announced. Draco nodded. "When and where?"

Harry came out of the floo with a small package. "Don't worry, I have it," he said with his most evil smirk. He paused to write out a letter then handed it to Draco with the package. "Send this to Snape for me, would you please?" he asked nicely then went to the workout room. "Okay, I know I calm myself. I've been practicing that a lot recently." He sat down near her, getting into the correct mindset.

***

Voldemort was rocked by a vision, making him scream in agony as the pain lanced through his skull. He watched as Harry Potter walked in with his new toy and sneered up at him before taking a few careful shots. Each of the Death Eaters around him fell before they could even get off a curse. Snape's body, one of his most loyal followers, was shot more than once, once even in the crotch. Then the boy turned to face him. He did something, dropping something dark onto the ground and sliding a new one into the gun. Then he shifted the top and pointed it at him. He couldn't move.

"Do not touch my dog," he sneered. "That's the one thing I won't stand you doing." He emptied the gun into Voldemort's body, then changed the clip and emptied that one as well, all of these were Cruciatus and Voldemort saw himself writhing in pain and agony as each bullet slammed into him and magnified the pain from the last one by ten times. Harry walked over, loading a different clip, sneering at the bad guy screaming in agony. "For all the pain you've caused." He fired one more, this time with the killing curse on it.

Voldemort woke up as he died and shook in real fear. The boy not only got past his shields, but he could feel the rage and the anger. He could feel the satisfaction that such an act would give the boy. He looked at the gathered Death Eaters, all of whom looked concerned. "We will leave his dog alone," he hissed. "Or else we will all die by his hand." A few of them laughed. He struck them down. "I foresaw it happening!" he yelled. "He will kill over his familiar or his spouses!" That ended the laughter. "We will not put that plan into action. Someone warn Severus." He waved a hand and disappeared.

One of the Death Eaters looked at another. "Over a dog?" he asked. "Not over his parents and friends?"

"Maybe he likes his dog more," that one suggested. "The boy doesn't really like people all that much from what people say."

***

Later that night, during dinner, Severus Snape accepted the package from the owl, taking it to hold for a moment before he opened it. Out of the package fell a fleshy mass and a letter onto his plate. The students who could see stopped talking and looked at him. He opened the letter with shaking hands, reading the enclosed message.

"The next set you'll see will be yours if you touch my dog."

He let the paper drop and looked at the bull's testicles on his plate. For the first time in a very long time he felt real fear. He ran from the room to get sick. He knew Potter was capable of it.

McGonagall looked down at the plate, then at the Headmaster. "Did someone give him a present?" she asked. "They look like potion's ingredients."

"He probably ran to find the potion that uses them. They must be special if he left them on the plate," Dumbledore agreed. He didn't bother picking up the card, it was private after all. Severus would tell him if he wanted him to know.

***

Harry looked up from his favorite position, the middle of Draco's chest. "Do you think they got the message?"

"I'm sure they did. Otherwise we'd have seen an attack by now," Draco soothed, stroking down Harry's back. The boy couldn't sleep because he kept getting nightmares about his dog, normal ones from his own head. "Harry, do you think Snickers could use a friend?" he asked quietly. "Another one to play with when you're not there?"

"I think he'd adore it," Harry agreed, giving him a bright smile. "Of course I intend on winning."

"I meant during the usual daily things," Draco agreed. He hadn't wanted to bring up that point, that he might not win. "What sort would he like?"

"I think we should bring him and let him pick out his new friend," Harry told him. "I'll call the local pound tomorrow and see if we can do that." He yawned. "I'm tired."

"I know. Try to sleep. Ron'll be out of the bath soon." Harry nodded and looked down again, closing his eyes. "You rest," he soothed, still stroking. "Everything will be fine."

"Hmm. Can I shoot him again?"

"If you want," Draco agreed with a smile. "Are you planning another surprise attack?"

"Sure, why not? We'll need to plan for a time."

"I'll see what I can find out." Though he doubted they'd be able to do it again. Voldemort was never totally alone. Not since he had been shot. "Are you going to try and kill him this time?"

"Yeah, maybe I should," Harry mumbled into Draco's stomach.

Draco smiled. "We'll work on that part of the plan later," he soothed. "Maybe a sniper rifle to get all the others?"

"Hmm. Have to register for a license. We don't have a good rifle."

"We'll figure that out as well," Draco assured him. Ron joined them, giving each of them a kiss on the temple. "We're planning another attack."

"Good," Ron agreed with a smile. "Harry, kill him this time."

"Okay, Ron. Anything for you," Harry mumbled. Ron and Draco grinned at each other. "Want his heart?"

"No thanks," Ron said, shaking a bit. "Not something I want to think about." He snuggled in behind Harry, looking up at Draco. "Do I get to come this time?"

"You could use the long-range rifle," Draco suggested. "You're a much better shot than either of us are with a stable target." Ron nodded. "Then we'll work on that tomorrow." He kissed Ron on the forehead. "You rest as well. Tomorrow will be another long day and we'll have to get through it."

Ron put his head down and closed his eyes. "Night, Draco."

"Good night, Ron," he said quietly, watching them sleep. His own nightmares weren't going to let up tonight so he might as well enjoy the dark and quiet by making plans for after the Dark Lord died. He really didn't want to take over, no matter who thought about it, but there were going to be a few new opportunities to bolster his family's image.

***

Harry looked at the woman behind the counter, handing over the forged letter that Draco had produced. "We need to register for professional's weapons licenses," he said confidently.

"For what purpose?"

"The big guy and I are bodyguards, the blond's our client and the redhead's his wife. They've gotten death threats."

She looked him over. "You're young for that spot."

Harry smiled. "We're old friends. Vincent has been his bodyguard since his childhood." He pointed at him. "I do the planning and he does the muscle." Vincent looked at him and Harry shot him a naughty grin.

Vincent snorted. "I'm going to beat you later, Harry."

Harry walked over and looked up at him. "You are much better at being the big, strong guy than I am," he pointed out, his eyes showing he was teasing.

Vincent smirked, but it was clear he was playing now. "Of course I am, you're tiny!"

"Gee thanks." Harry walked back to the window. "So? What do we need? I know they're hard to get, but the death threats have been coming faster and we can't trust their security to just anybody."

"Do you have training certificates?" she asked. "Professional licenses require them."

Ron pulled up her briefcase, resting it on the counter so she could open it. Out came the certificates from the people who had done their weapons training, thoughtfully found by Draco, and a list of their current weapons. "We found them in the basement of our new house," she said at her look. "The old owner was paranoid and hid them."

"That's fine. There is a small loophole for found weapons if the new people can register them." She looked over everything, nodding as she came to each piece of documentation. "Now all I'll need is your ID's. I noticed that you didn't hand those over yet." Harry whipped his out, Draco got the rest of them. "Why were you carrying them?"

"We had to get them redone with the new address," Ron told her. "We've had to move because of this." It wasn't really a lie, they had gotten the ID's that morning with the other house's address.

She looked at each one carefully, then stopped at Draco's, looking up at him. "Lord Malfoy?"

He nodded. "My father's in prison, I'm now the official title holder. That's what makes this situation suck so very badly."

She nodded and filled in something on the form. "I understand that." She looked at Harry again. "If you want to carry concealed, there's another form, Mr. Potter. Plus we will pop around now and then to check on you and your weapon. If we request it, you must present it and let us examine it." He nodded. "Very well. Which is your personal weapon?"

"The nine second down on the list," he told her. She started on his paperwork. "Will this allow me to carry it if he decides to take a sudden trip?" he asked.

"That depends on the airlines and the country you're going to. Mostly, yes," she told him. She smiled at Draco. "You should have registered them in Canada and done an out-of-country form with us, it would have been easier."

"I don't like Canada. I loathe playing in the snow," Draco said with a shrug. He walked up and kissed the back of Ron's neck, making the woman blush and look away. He smiled at Harry and winked then looked at Ron, whispering in her ear. "After this is over with, I'm having you in the backseat," he whispered in Ron's ear. She shivered.

"Not while I'm driving, you're not," Harry told him. He frowned at them. "I'd get distracted."

Draco beamed. "It's about time Vincent drove us around anyway."

"Not a chance," Vincent said firmly. "I don't have my license yet."

"Good point." Harry beamed at him. "That's next." Vincent groaned. "That way you can take Ron and hide if we need you to, Vinnie."

"Fine, Harry, I'll do that this afternoon," Vincent sighed. The woman looked at him. "I know how, I haven't passed the test yet," he told her.

She smiled. "London has a lot of public transport, I don't see why everyone needs a license, but I guess it would be easier for you than waiting on a bus if something happened."

He nodded. "I know. Like I said, I know how, I simply haven't licensed myself in that area yet."

"You and me both," Ron agreed. Draco whispered in her ear and Ron shivered, smacking him on the chest. "Naughty! No race cars and if I get my license, I'm taking your car without you in it for suggesting that."

Draco shrugged. "You can't fault me for trying, Ron."

"I know, and I adore you for your libido," Ron pointed out with a grin.

The woman laughed. "You young couples are always so cute." She handed over the first form. "Mr. Potter, sign the bottom three pages please?" She handed over a pen, watching as he signed. She stamped them and moved on to the next one. "If I may ask, why didn't you go with an established firm, Lord Malfoy?"

"Because they wanted to put in a lot of unnecessary precautions that would have driven us nutters," Ron told her. "No walking in the garden and that sort of thing."

She nodded, filling in the next one. "I understand. It's got to be hard having someone shadow you around all day." She glanced at Vincent. "You were trained as a young boy?"

"His father was a professional serving mine and lent me his son," Draco said smoothly. She smiled at Vincent and finished the next one, handing it to him to sign. Draco looked at Harry, who smiled at him. "Do you feel better now?" He hadn't liked this idea, but Harry had a point that they wouldn't get into any trouble for it.

"Much," Harry admitted. He gave Draco a hug. "I didn't want to see us get into trouble just before something happened," he reminded quietly. "Jail isn't a good place for us, even if we were protecting."

"I realize that, but I had plans for this morning that included the both of you," Draco said quietly.

Harry beamed. "We'll have most of the afternoon." He winked and went back to his to-do list, checking things off. "Um, I needed to ask, I do a bit of hunting as well. Will this cover if I buy a good rifle for our hunting trips?"

She looked at him, then at Draco. "Where do you hunt?"

"We go up to the Arctic Circle and get some elk," Ron told her, remembering his uncle used to do that. "Legally of course, population regulation sort of hunting."

"Of course." She pulled out a rule book and looked it over. "It says it should," she told him. "You'll have to bring in your license and explain it to the retailer to make sure." Harry nodded. "Then that's fine, young man." She smiled and handed Draco his form. "Sign please?" He signed and she dated and stamped it for him. "Now for you, young lady. Are you sure? Guns and women aren't the best combination."

Ron nodded. "I'm sure. I'm the reason they're getting death threats." The woman's lips pursed and she shrugged. "I didn't want anyone else."

"Oh!" Her eyes got big. "They want to kill you over that?"

"Some people are very possessive," Draco reminded her.

"That's fine then." She quickly got Ron's form filled in and handed it over, watching as she signed and dated it, then stamped it as well. "It'll be about a week before the licenses are sent, or a letter's sent if we need more documentation. We'll be doing background checks before then." Harry nodded, expecting this. "Is there anything else you need to know?"

"We went to a private school that trained us but didn't give us more than Brit level equivalencies," Vincent told her.

She frowned, but shrugged. "You have a certificate saying you graduated?" Ron pulled those out as well, forged by one of Draco's other friends. "Then it should be fine. Let me copy these and make a note. What sort of school was it?"

"A finishing one," Draco told him. "They're of my social class, but untitled." She nodded and wrote out a quick note while they were copying, stapling it to the copies. "Was there anything else you needed?"

"Not as far as I know," she told him. "You're lucky, a new professional license is easier than a personal one." Draco nodded and patted Ron on the back. "I hope you don't need to use them."

"As do we," Harry agreed, walking over to make sure they had everything, then walking out behind the group. He smiled at Ron as he got in to drive. "So?"

"A week until we can get the rifle seems like a good enough time to plan," Draco agreed.

Vincent coughed. "They didn't even ask to see our business license."

"That's because we weren't starting a company. We're free-lance, that means we don't have to be part of one," Harry pointed out. "We had one made just in case."

Draco nodded. "That was the easiest yet." He smiled at Harry. "Lunch, now."

"Yes, Draco." He turned around and started the car. "You're driving later so I get to cuddle Ron."

"Fine, Potter, just find somewhere to eat, I'm starved," Draco ordered. Harry laughed and pulled into traffic, heading for one of their favorite places to eat. With the twins.

***

Harry blinked a few times, then decided he'd had enough of the eye strain. He looked over at Draco, who had his book held about as far as his arm could reach. That gave him an idea, which Draco wouldn't like in the least of course. He slid to his knees and crawled over, laying his head in his husband's lap in a silent request to have his hair played with. His husband complied, making them both happier. "Draco, would you go with me when I have my glasses checked?" he asked quietly. Draco looked down at him and nodded, his book put aside. Harry climbed up into his lap. "I was thinking we could get ours done together."

"My eyesight is fine." Draco frowned at him when Harry shook his head. "It's perfectly fine, Harry, I don't need glasses."

Harry kissed him on the tip of the nose. "You do. Otherwise you wouldn't have been holding the book that far away," he said gently. He gave him a smile. "Lots of wizards wear glasses and there are a lot of frame options, things that'll make you look just as good as you do now. Like jewelry for the face."

Draco grimaced. "I don't need glasses."

"I noticed you squint now when you're trying to catch the snitch," Harry said gently, playing with one of his husband's shirt buttons. "I'm worried that you'll fall or that you'll start getting really bad headaches, like the ones I have."

"How long has it been since you changed your glasses?" Draco asked, starting to frown for a whole different reason.

"I snuck out and got new ones when I was sixteen," Harry admitted with a naughty grin for him. "My relatives never knew. I kept the same frame."

Draco shook his head. "I'll make sure you get something that flatters you better than those frames do."

"You could get checked, it doesn't mean that you'll need them." Draco opened his mouth to counter that one so Harry kissed him, making him stay quiet. "I hate going to the eye doctor, Draco. They put in these drops every time and I have blurry vision for nearly an hour. Usually they only do that to old people. Plus they always spend so long with the equipment. I hate going."

"I'll go with you," Draco sighed. "But I don't need glasses."

"So what's the harm in getting checked?" Harry said lightly. "They can tell you that you're perfect if you are, and if not, they might be able to help you some."

"Fine," Draco sighed. "We'll both go. Ron as well?"

"He only needs a pair of regular sunglasses. He squints in the light."

Draco gave him a gentle squeeze. "We'll make a day of it if you want." Harry beamed. "How soon do you think we could do this?"

"There's got to be one that has an opening this week. That would give me time to adjust to them before we go off and do something rash about the big cocksucker and his army." Draco laughed. "I can call around if you want."

"Go ahead and do that," Draco said, giving him a light spank. "I'll allow your manipulations this time, Potter. Next time I might request a punishment in return for going along with it." Harry laughed as he hurried to the other house to call around and make them appointments. "Glasses," he said, shaking his head. "My father would be peeved." He smiled. "What an excellent reason to get some, even if I don't need them." He picked up his book and adjusted his reach until he could see the letters clearly again.

***

Ron looked up as Draco walked out of the back of the office, adjusting the slim silver frames on his new glasses. He grinned. "Those look good on you, very scholarly, yet cute," he said firmly, standing up to give him a kiss, and to share the chocolate bar he was nibbling on. "Do you like them?"

"Mostly," Draco admitted. He looked over his shoulder as Harry trudged out. "It's not that bad."

"It is. I still can't believe they wanted me to have bifocals at my age."

"If you need them, you're getting them," Ron said firmly. "You can afford them, Harry."

"I know, that's not the point. Bifocals are for old people." Harry pouted until Draco gave him a hug. "Thank you for suggesting I get separate pairs for different things. I'll try not to get them mixed up."

"There is that laser surgery," the receptionist suggested.

Harry shuddered. "No thanks. I'd almost rather go with contacts."

"They do make bifocal contacts," she told him, pointing at an advert on the wall for them. "They're not that bad, I use them."

"How does one put those in?" Draco asked.

"You put them onto your eye," Harry told him. "They stay on your eyeball." Draco looked horrified. "They're supposed to be comfortable."

"Still!" Draco said warmly. "That's not very sanitary." Ron whispered something in his ear which made him blush. "Yes, but I insist on bathing that before I touch it," he reminded him.

"If he got some, he wouldn't have to wear any glasses," Ron told him.

Draco looked at him. "If I need glasses, he needs to wear some as well, or you do."

"My eyesight was better than normal," Ron said smugly.

"Ron, quit picking on him. Your first set of glasses are just as hard as your first set of bifocals." He looked at the receptionist. "Are they really comfortable?" She nodded. "No pain?"

"I get some itching now and then."

The doctor walked up behind her. "They don't make them in his prescription. We could do one for his near-sightedness, but he'd have to wear glasses to read, or we could do it the other way around." He looked at Harry. "Your choice of course."

"If you do, I don't want to see you putting them in," Draco told him. Harry looked at him. "It would appear...icky."

"It does," Ron agreed, "but he likes to play with his glasses while he reads." He looked at Harry, then at the doctor. "What about driving?"

"I'd recommend he wear glasses until he's used to the contacts."

"I can stick with the glasses for now then," Harry decided. He took Ron's hand to squeeze. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. I like those frames. Tortoiseshell?" Harry nodded. "I've never seen it in green overlay before."

"I found them for him," Draco put in. "Harry, did you want contacts?"

"I think they'd be convenient every now and then," Harry admitted. "No more safety goggles on the target range."

"Then we'll discuss it tonight," Draco soothed, leading him out of the office and into Harry's car. "There's a wizard optician. We'll see what she can do about it," once he had started the car. He looked around, then frowned. "These really do make things clearer." He turned them around, heading for a small shop on the other side of London. As soon as they walked in, a large owl flew toward them. "We're here to talk about glasses," he told it. It flew back into the office and a wizened old woman walked out, slowly tapping her cane. Her own glasses were thick and very big and round, making her look like she had enormous eyes. "Mr. Potter was just told he needs bifocals."

"So I can see," she agreed, looking Harry over. "Come this way. We have self-correcting ones you know." She looked at Draco's glasses. "Give them a week, they'll feel much better by then." She took Harry's hand and led him back to her workshop. "Mr. Potter. What are your main activities?"

"Shooting targets, flying, catching a snitch, fighting, and playing with my dog mostly," he reported.

"He spends a lot of time reading as well," Ron put in.

"I see." She looked him over again. "You use muggle weapons?" Harry nodded. "Are you going to use a scope anytime soon?"

"I was thinking it'd be handy to know how to use," Harry told her, shifting nervously.

"That's fine," she agreed with a smile. She pulled down a box and dug through it, coming up with a pair of frames like his. "Give me yours," she instructed. She looked them over. "Muggle," she snorted.

"They worked for years for me," Harry told her. She looked at him. "Those are my new ones, but my last were muggle too."

"I suppose they do good enough, but the magic ones can be made to adjust themselves to what you need to view."

"Like a magic eye?" Draco asked.

She shrugged. "Not quite that good. Just adjusting the view in and out depending on what he's doing." She touched the pair of frames she had found. "Try those on."

Harry did and winced. "They're a bit tight."

She took them and put them into the box, pulling out an identical pair, his old ones, and put them on him. "How's that?" He nodded, liking this fit. "Then we'll put the lenses into there and charm the frames for you." He beamed. "Remember me when you have children."

"That's not looking like it's going to happen, but I'll gladly spread good words around about you," Harry offered.

She laughed. "One never knows about children. They seem to crop up in the oddest places." She walked into another room and came out ten minutes later with his glasses, shiny and clean. "There we are, try those again, young man." He did so and the side adjusted so it was how he liked it. "Good," she said happily.

Draco cleared his throat. "Can you put an ever-clean charm on mine?" She nodded and took them to charm them. "I've noticed how often Harry cleans his," he told Ron, putting an arm around her back.

Harry peered around the room, grinning madly. "I love these!"

"You should, they're horribly expensive," Ron told him, but he was smiling as well. "Those look wonderful on you."

"Thank you." Harry looked at the old woman. "How much?"

She laughed. "For the cleaning charm, six sickles. For your glasses? They're free as long as you win this war, young man." He nodded solemnly. "Go," she shooed. "You're interrupting my nap." The boys left and she shook her head. "Such power in such a small frame," she sighed. "With bad eyes thrown in to boot." She tucked the money into her pocket and went back to her nap.

***

Draco walked into the manor house and held up a finger as Hermione opened her mouth. "Do not laugh or I will banish you and forbid Vincent to see you ever again," he warned.

She smiled. "I was going to say those looked excellent on you, Draco." She gave Harry a hug. "The same as yours do on you. Are those ever-correcting?" Ron nodded. "Wonderful! I thought you had went muggle."

"We did, but he needs bifocals now," Ron said dryly as he walked in. He showed off his new sunglasses. "I only needed these."

"I'm sure you look dashing in them," Hermione told him. "Vinnie, they're back!" she called.

Vincent came out of the hallway leading to the kitchen and stopped to look at Draco. "Subtle, very nice," he said quietly, smiling at his best friend. "You as well, Harry." Harry grinned. "How much were those?"

"Free as long as he wins the war," Ron told him.

"That's good," Vincent told him. "He's got to win, otherwise his dog will mope, so it's an added incentive. My dad's cost him nearly thirty galleons." Harry winced and looked at Draco.

"They'll last your lifetime and beyond," Draco assured him. "As long as the frames are changed regularly and they don't break. That's going to add some cost." He clapped Harry on the back. "Go play with Snickers. I'm going to try these out on my latest book."

"How are you liking the one I got you?" Hermione asked.

"It's interesting, but not my usual style," he said smoothly, getting out of that conflict before it started with a steady retreat into his personal space.

She stared at his back. "Was that a compliment meaning he liked it or was he running away?"

Ron laughed. "Probably a bit of both. So, what should we do now?" he asked, smirking at them. He looked at Harry, who groaned. "You did say we were going to do something tomorrow that would require me to dress appropriately."

"I put the bag in the closet," Draco called. "We're going to work on your target skills."

"Really?" Ron called as he walked toward Draco's study. He met him at the door. "Why are we doing targets?"

Draco kissed him. "Because Harry wanted you to have the honor of the sniper rifle position." Ron's mouth fell open and his eyes went wide. "He said he wants you there for backup."

"Just in case I decide to torture him again," Harry agreed as he walked up behind Ron. He slid an arm around Ron's waist. "Don't we have that party tonight for your friends, Draco?" He groaned and hit his head on the door. "I'll help Ron get ready," he said with a grin.

"I can do it myself," Ron pointed out gently.

"Not on your life, Potter. If anyone's crawling into a bath with her, it's me." They continued to argue all the way up the stairs, leaving Ron standing there smirking at their backs.

Vincent walked over to him. "Weren't they wanting a personal moment with you?"

Ron gave him his naughty grin. "Yup, but they seem to have wanted each other more." He waved and ran out the back door, heading out to play with the new flowerbeds he was putting in. Harry got him a few minutes later, floating him up and into the house with his wand without letting him change positions, and right into the bathroom. "Finally figured out I wasn't here?" he teased as he was set down.

Draco gave him one of his dry looks. "It was rather obvious that we were missing someone." He patted the bubbles. "Get in here, before I let Harry strip you and toss you in." Ron stood up and put his hands on his hips. "Harry?"

Harry looked at Ron's clothes and grabbed Draco's penknife to cut the clothes off their wife, making her shriek. "Hold still, naughty." He finally got done and dropped the knife, then picked Ron up and tossed her into the water, climbing in after her. "There, I feel more manly now," he admitted with a grin for Ron. Ron dunked him, but he accepted it.

"I liked that outfit."

Draco rang the bell for the house elves, bringing one popping in. "Fix those," he said, pointing at the clothes. It nodded and scampered off.

"Draco! You should be able to do that yourself by...." Hermione yelled, but for some reason she stopped.

"Nice work, Crabbe," Draco yelled. He heard laughter in the wrong key and got out, grabbing his wand as he stalked out into the hallway. "Who *dares* bother me during my bath!" he said angrily.

"Sorry!" Blaise Zabini yelled from Crabbe's room. "We'll be more quiet. Happy bath, Draco!"

"Fine!" he shouted. "Keep it down, I'm having a good shag and need the quiet."

Hermione stuck her head out of their room. "Because you want to hear all the noise Ron makes or because you think he'll be able to deafen you this time if we're quiet?" she asked with a grin and a wink, then she withdrew and closed the door.

"Bloody women!" Draco muttered as he walked back into the bathroom. "Ron, I forbid you to become like Hermione is." Ron giggled. "You will not become a cheeky and mouthy brat, no matter how hard she tries to make you one."

"Yes, Draco," Ron agreed, simpering up at him. Draco dunked him before getting back into the large tub. He came up and shook his hair. "Now I'm going to have to wash it and redo it."

"You should have planned on doing that anyway," Draco pointed out. He looked at Ron, then at Harry. "How many more girl days do we have left?"

Harry felt up Ron's chest. "I'd say maybe a week? They haven't started to soften again."

"I'm not going for another month like this," Ron said quickly. "I want my own tools back, thank you."

"Hmm, a sexy, male Ron," Harry whispered in her ear as he shifted closer. "I could do a lot of things with one of those." Ron blushed and tried to shift away, but the hand under the water was keeping him in place. "Can I ask for a favor?" Harry whispered. Ron shrugged. "I want you to have long hair." Ron turned her head to look at him, giving him a skeptical look. "I want to be able to wrap myself in it some nights."

"I don't think she needs hair that long," Draco remarked as he got comfortable. "Perhaps a few inches more though." He went for his wand, but Ron caught it faster. "No?" he asked with a smile.

"I don't need longer hair. This is a fashionable length and my mother said I look stunning."

"You could cut it again once you change back," Draco offered, sliding his wand out of Ron's fingers while Harry had her distracted.

"If I get a trim, I'm getting a bloody crew cut," Ron told him.

"You could do those transfiguration that McGonagall taught us," Harry offered. Ron shook his head. "Draco was really good at them, he could help you."

"You always did work better in female form for those sort of things," Draco agreed. Ron started to shake her head but Harry kissed her. "I'd like to see you with elegant hair to match tonight's outfit," he said when Ron came up for air. "We can always trim it back again tomorrow."

"This length is fashionable," Ron reminded him again.

"Yes, but it doesn't do your face and neck justice," Harry said as he stroked his index finger up the side of her neck. "I'm impatient, I want you to have another three inches of length." Ron shivered as he caressed her gently. "I'd love long hair on you, Ron, in either form."

"You'd look like one of those storybook heros on the cover," Draco offered. "Or the heroines during your female times."

"They wore corsets, I'm not doing that, even for you guys," Ron said quickly. Those two would get ideas if she didn't immediately set her foot down.

Draco gave her a little smirk. "We'll beg for that some other day," he said gently. Harry moaned and buried his face in Ron's neck to kiss it. "See, he likes the idea."

"They're uncomfortable."

"We'll find you one that makes you look so stunning, you'll forget," Harry promised as he moved lower, laving the top of her breasts as he played, giving a nip now and again.

Draco snuck his wand up and lengthened Ron's hair by four more inches, putting it at the middle of her shoulderblades. Ron looked at him and he grinned. "I'll even help you do something with it," he promised.

"Yes, you will be," Ron agreed, pushing Harry off him. "We can't get too messy, we only have two hours before people officially start arriving."

"I'll be fast," Harry said as he shifted closer, pulling Ron onto his lap and impaling him. Ron squeaked and Harry went back to his fun, shifting gently in and out of her. "Tell me if you want more," he breathed against her skin.

Draco shifted up behind Ron's back so he could put his arms around her and help her along. "It'll give you a wonderful glow," he agreed. "Us as well."

"Draco! You're encouraging the sex beast."

"I'm going to do more than that later," Draco promised against her neck. Harry looked over at him. "You didn't see the dress?"

"The blue or the green?"

"Green, of course," Draco said smugly, playing gently with the hot little nub of flesh Ron so enjoyed. "The blue is for special occasions, though we will have to fit it tonight." Ron looked at him, starting to pant. "Finish up and sponge off, then we'll get you ready," he encouraged.

Ron panted harder, arching back against Draco's chest, letting Harry have better access to her nipples. "I...have...the right...of...refusal," she reminded them. She shrieked as she was pinched there and came hard, digging her nails into Harry's chest. "Shit! I hate quickies!" she complained.

"Think of it as foreplay for the one during dinner," Harry said with a grin, kissing her neck then moving up to get a real kiss. He pushed a little harder and came.

"And for later," Draco agreed. He pinched a hard nipple then grabbed the sponge, handing it to Harry. "Clean her up and let her do her hair in the shower. I'm going to finish my bath." Harry nodded, helping Ron out and over to the large shower, while he scrubbed himself clean.

***

Ron looked at the two things lying on the bed, then at her men. "Not a chance," she scoffed.

Harry wiped the drool off. "Just try them and if you don't like them, you don't ever have to wear them again," he promised. "Please? The saleswoman said they weren't any less comfortable than the pushup bras you like."

Ron pointed at the blue one. "That won't even cover everything!"

"It's for under an outfit," Draco soothed, picking up the long-torso corset and putting it around her. He let Harry adjust it for her, then worked on the lacings. "Once we have it fitted properly, then you can undo it by the front straps," he promised, tightening it down. Ron hissed and arched up. "No, stand normally. I don't want to make this too tight."

"Besides, you said you wanted to quit slouching," Harry said happily. "This'll help that, Ron."

"That's because I won't be able to bend," Ron retorted.

"This is a more modern one, not nearly as stiff as the ones our mothers wore to their balls," Draco instructed as he tied the last knot. "There, sit and tell us how it feels."

"Can she put on the panties? I'm horribly distracted," Harry admitted, staring at her. The top portion barely covered the nipple area but was giving her wonderful support. The bottom peaked just above her hairline and he couldn't decide which end was nicer. Draco handed Ron the panties and they both sighed as she climbed into them. It was a stunning and arousing sight. "Can't she wear that tonight?" Harry pleaded. "Put a skirt on and just wear that?"

"No," Draco said firmly. "We'd never make it through dinner." He adjusted a strap for her. "How does that feel?"

"It feels better than I thought it would," Ron admitted, sitting down again. "I feel naughty in this."

"You look naughty in that," Harry agreed, falling to his knees so he could crawl over and suck on a nipple. "I like this," he whispered against her flesh.

Ron gave Harry an alarmed look, then gave it to Draco. "What's wrong with him?"

"He likes it more than even you naked," Draco said smugly. "Get her out of that, Harry, and we'll dress her in tonight's outfit." Harry moaned, continuing to suckle gently at their wife's breast. One of his hands drifted down to stroke her thigh. Draco pulled out the small whip he liked to use to scare off Hermione and cracked it against Harry's rear, making him flinch. "Get off her so we can dress her appropriately. I'm sure if you ask nicely she'll put it back on with stockings and heels the next time." Harry whimpered, giving Ron the best begging look he could.

"Later," she promised. "If I'm not too tired. If I am then I'll wear it all day tomorrow for you." Harry nodded eagerly and helped her undo the front clasps, then step out of the panties. The other was a bit more decorous, and emerald green, but cut along the same lines generally. She waited patiently while Harry and Draco got her into it, Harry helping her on with her stockings and panties, Draco doing up the laces. She adjusted the top some. "This still dips pretty low, Draco."

He kissed the back of her neck. "I'm considering it incentive to interact with the boring people that we had to invite," he informed her. "It shows just enough for me to get through that with you as our reward." He tied the last of the laces and helped her on with her skirt, then sat her down to work on her hair. He had recently gone through his mother's jewelry box and found the emerald beads she used to put up her hair when she bunned it, so he carefully used them in Ron's hair the same way. Then the new necklace that went with the outfit was slipped on for her. "There," he said, letting her look in the mirror. "How's that?"

"I look like a society wife," Ron told him.

"You are a society wife," Harry reminded her.

"Good point." She smiled. "Let me do my makeup and where are my shoes?"

"In front of the bed, beside the bench," Harry promised, heading to find himself something glamorous to match her. Draco followed and put him into the outfit he had chosen for him. "Thank you, Draco," he said, giving him a gentle kiss. "You're very good at making me look decent."

"You look more than decent," Draco reminded him. "Now finish dressing so we can go downstairs." He headed for his own dressing area to fix himself up for the night.

Hermione knocked and stuck her head in, unafraid of what she might see after all the times the trio had jumped each other in front of her. "Ron, need any help?"

"Not really," she admitted. "You can come in though, they're hiding from my magnificence." She gave one last brush to her lips and then stood up, showing off her outfit. Hermione looked stunned. "Draco bought it."

"Obviously, it's green," she agreed dryly, shaking her head. "I could never pull off a look like that," she sighed sadly. Then she shrugged. "At least you have the figure for it. Shoes?" Ron walked over and put them on, raising herself by three inches. That made Harry the smaller one. "I think those are a bit too high," Hermione suggested. "You'll dwarf Harry."

"Ron usually does," Harry said from his closet. He came out and had to wipe off more drool. "Ron, can I beg for another preview during dinner?"

Ron smiled. "No." She took his arm. "Draco, are you ready?"

"Nearly." He came out and used Ron's vanity to finish his hair off, then stood up and cleaned off his hands. "There." He looked Ron over, nodding slowly as he walked to stand beside her. "Harry, reach into the fold beside you." Harry looked down and found the small slit, sliding his hand inside. Ron squeaked. "You can have whatever you want," Draco promised them both with a smug look. "Are we ready?" They nodded. He looked at Hermione and turned her around to refix her hair. "You'd think that women would know how to do this," he muttered as he tightened the french twist for her.

"I do, I was leaving it loose so it'd come down easier later," she complained. "Vincent liked it."

"That's because he was going to take it down for you later. Now all he has to do is pull two pins and it will cascade down beautifully over his hand," Draco told her, setting the last pin. "There, excellent as are my usual efforts. Let's go." They walked down the stairs together, joining Vincent and Blaise, who were talking in the small ballroom that had been set up for dinner.

Vincent saw them first and looked like someone had hit him with a heavy frying pan when he saw Ron's outfit. "You're letting her wear that?" he exclaimed.

"I like it," Harry defended.

Blaise blushed, not wanting to be on anyone's shit list for staring. "You can see quite a lot of cleavage," he pointed out gently.

"It's an incentive not to kill some of my father's friends during dinner," Draco said with a smile and a pat to Ron's rear. "I picked it out."

"And she looks stunning," Blaise agreed, "but still, Draco! She is your *wife*. Not your mistress."

Harry looked at Draco. "You have a mistress?" he teased. "Ron and I will have to try harder."

Draco shook his head, accepting the glass of champagne from the house elf serving. "No, Harry, I don't. I don't have the energy after sending you to sleep each night." Harry blushed and Blaise laughed. "You think I'm kidding?" he asked them, taking a sip. Which he spit out. "This is horrible," he told the elf. It held up the bottle. "That's not even fit for Potter's dog, get something else and wash the glasses quickly." It nodded and hurried to get the good stuff from the cellar. "I don't know where they got that nasty shit from but it was horrendous," he said with a shudder. He glanced around, then looked at Harry. "Your dog's not attending?"

"He's napping in the study," Harry told him. "I'm sure he'll come sit on your feet during the meal." He helped Ron to a chair when she shifted. "Here, you sit until people come so your feet don't hurt as much. I want a dance later." Ron smiled and he gave her a kiss on the cheek so he wouldn't mess up her makeup. "I love this view," he whispered.

"That's why I put her in the higher heels, so you couldn't stare down her cleavage all night," Draco interrupted. Harry frowned at him. "Teasing, Harry, it's a good thing for lovers." Harry nodded and went to get his own glass of wine since Draco had one for Ron. "Here you are, red as you like." He watched as she sipped it and smiled. "You do look stunning in that dress," he admitted quietly. "A bit daring, but I'm young and so are you." He winked and went over to talk to the boys, chatting quietly of inconsequential things. The first guest soon arrived and the three of them got together to play host.

***

Harry walked in after taking his dog for one last walk, Draco right behind him, and they found Ron lying on the bed in the green dress without the skirt, napping soundly. He smiled and nudged Draco. "Should we let her sleep?"

"Get her out of all that and we'll sleep naked tonight," he promised. He stripped himself then moved closer, helping get Ron out of her shoes. She woke up a little bit. "Shh. Just getting you ready for bed, Ron," he soothed, gently stroking her ankles. She nodded and spread her legs, letting him undo her stockings as well.

Harry finished getting undressed and came over to unclip the corset, smiling as everything popped out. He slid it out from under her with Draco's help then got her settled up on the pillows, covering them all up. "Good night, Ron," he whispered.

She blew a kiss. "I'll pleasure you tomorrow," she promised, then flipped over to snuggle in on Draco's chest. "My tits hurt."

"I know they do," Draco soothed, stroking her back. He patted his other side, letting Harry know he was welcome to switch over. He got a headshake and Harry flipped onto his other side. "Now, Harry." Harry did as commanded, getting in on his other side to cuddle up to him too. "Thank you. I enjoy being the one everyone piles on top of," he reminded him. Harry gave him an adoring look. "Sleep," he said with a sweet smile. No one ever gave him that look. "We'll play tomorrow." Harry nodded and put his head down next to Ron's, matching her position and quickly falling asleep as well. Draco stared up at the canopy over the bed, considering his life. They really had to finish straightening Harry Potter out before he drove him nuts.

***

Ron woke up and stretched, then patted herself down. "Draco, how did I get undressed? Did you guys play with me while I was asleep?"

"No," Harry promised from the foot of the bed. "We only stripped you and snuggled. We're going to play with you today," he said with a smile. He handed over the paper. "There's a call for me to get mental help."

"Wonderful. I think you could use some straightening out and some confidence, but I don't think you need real help," Ron said as he read the short plea for him to seek a professional. "I didn't know we had a minimum security facility."

"We do, it's small and mostly psychiatric," Draco said as he rang the bell to get breakfast sent up. Ron looked behind her to see him, giving him a smile. "You didn't realize I was still here?"

"No, I didn't feel you," Ron admitted. She went back to reading, nodding at a few of the points made in the plea. "Someone does have your best interests at heart, Harry."

"Ron, I'm not going to be incarcerated!" Harry said, outraged. "I may have some issues, but I don't need that much help!"

"I know," Ron soothed, giving him a bright smile. "But it couldn't hurt to talk to them, clear this all up?"

"No!"

"Fine." Ron sat up and gave him a slow, gentle kiss. "Hermi and I don't mind being your counselors at large, Harry, I was just trying to make this all go away faster."

"I'm sure it will go away," Draco told them. "If we have to, we can invite the person up here to beat them nearly to death, they'll see he's not needing their help."

Harry frowned at him, pulling back just long enough to do so. Then he went back to his kiss.

Draco rolled his eyes. "We'll figure it out after you've gotten your fill."

"It's like I'm in Tartarus and this is my punishment. I can't ever get my fill of Ron kisses," Harry replied between kisses. Ron giggled, pulling back to hug him. "I can't!"

"I know, but I'm hungry and if you want me to play with you later, you've got to let me eat sometime."

"You're all the meal I need," Harry said with a charming, sweet smile. He licked her neck and started lower but Draco pulled him off. "Hey!"

"Eat first so you have the energy to make a meal of her," he sighed. "You are a beast, Ron was right about that."

"I'm eighteen!" Harry pointed out.

"As am I, but I don't jump her every moment of every day."

"Your mother taught you more self-control," Ron reminded him, stroking through Harry's hair. "He's okay, Draco, really. He'll get tired of it and I can push him off if I don't want any."

"As long as you know you have that right," Draco said calmly. Harry glared at him. "You are a bit stronger than she is in that form."

"Draco, a kick to the nuts stops all men," Ron dryly reminded him. Both men winced. "No one's doing anything to force me, outside of picking my clothes and putting me into them." He touched his hair. "It didn't come down."

"The beads have a sticking charm on them," Draco admitted as he undid them, letting her hair fall down her back again. "There, how's that?"

"Heavy," Ron noted. "How much more hair did you give me?"

"Four inches." He stroked over it. "I thought you'd have thicker hair."

"I wish," Ron snorted. Harry kissed her hard then got out of the bed. "Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom to wash up," Harry said as he left them alone.

Ron looked at Draco. "Do not force the issue," he hissed. Draco frowned. "I mean it. This could backfire horribly."

"Fine. I only invited him up so he could see that Harry was mostly normal, that way this whole episode would end."

"Fine, as long as he can't take Harry with him using some ancient warrant or something." Draco shook his head. "Thank you."

"He's coming up?" Harry asked from beside the bed.

Draco looked over at him. "I thought it best to end this problem quickly so I invited him up for tea. At which time he'll see you're mostly normal and don't have more than self-esteem and clinginess issues. That means he'll have no reason to bring you in and neither will anyone else. No arrests, no warrants, no wizardhunt of great proportions because you're a little clingy." Harry was still frowning. "You wanted to ignore it?"

"Yes!"

"It won't go away this time, Harry, not with them printing that shit from the pensive," Ron said gently. "Father's said there's been some worry that the wizarding world has pinned its hopes on a suicidal wizard with an inferiority complex, which they think means you'll lose. This way they'll be able to see how wonderful and mostly normal you are."

"I'm perfectly fine."

"I'd say within average parameters," Draco corrected. "Everyone has a few problems now and again. Even I have a small complex about being the perfect creature I obviously am." Harry shook his head and groaned. "I promise, they won't be taking you anywhere, but he'll be able to see you and tell the others that you don't need help. Hopefully in tomorrow's paper."

Harry slumped and Ron dragged him back onto the bed. "If I have to," he said finally, in a tiny voice.

Ron gave him a kiss. "Think of it as another hoop, and a way for people to see that you're not a tool, you're a human being," Ron whispered, giving him a long hug. The house elf brought in their morning trays. "Put them on the other side, we'll eat in a moment," he requested. Harry snuggled in and Ron smiled at Draco. "I think it'll be fine."

"I hope so," Draco mouthed, lifting lids to find his usual breakfast. "Harry, did you want those muggle poptarts?"

"Yeah, I asked for some last week," Harry admitted.

"They're on the farthest tray," Draco told him, setting in to eat and finish the paper.

Ron let Harry go, watching as he pulled over his tray, laying on his stomach while he ate. "Does that mean I shouldn't dress up all day like you said I was going to?" he asked as he pulled over his own tray. Draco spanked him lightly, making him jump. "I almost dropped it," he scolded.

"You can wear a robe over it," Draco said smugly. "I've got a matching one for you even." He took another bite of eggs and winked as Harry's appetite seemed to instantly pick up. Ron rolled his eyes but went along with it.

***

Harry looked up as the fireplace discharged the twins. "Day off?"

"We announced earlier in the week that we're working on something new and special today," Fred told him, giving him a hug while trying not to squish him against her enlarged chest.

"I take it you got the paper this morning too?" Harry asked dryly.

"Oh, we did," George agreed. "What are you doing about it? Mum and dad wanted to know." Ron peeked in. "It's just us."

"Welcome back," Ron said as he walked in, his robe carefully closed over his outfit. Fred tried to peek and he slapped his hand. "Naughty brother!"

"Sorry, I wanted to know what they were putting you in now," Fred said, waving his hand to take the sting out of it.

"Show 'em," Harry said with a wink.

"Not on your life, Potter. I'm more undressed than not, they don't need to see that."

"We watched your nappies being changed," George pointed out.

"I wasn't in revealing clothes then," Ron retorted.

Draco walked in and undid the bow of the robe, making it gape. "I picked it out," he said smugly. "And I have excellent taste." He watched as Harry's eyes became glued to the cleavage and pushed Ron at him, letting him get a taste.

"A corset?" George said. "I'll never be able to wear one of those."

"Dito," Fred agreed.

Draco laughed. "You don't have the body that Ron does either. You're a little more square than she is. They do make stunning lingerie for your shape though." George looked interested and Draco picked up Harry's pencil, writing out the name of the shop for them. "Go there, it's relatively inexpensive." He pulled Harry off Ron's breasts and his hand out from under her panties, making her quit moaning. "I'll never get any work done like that."

"Like you didn't just have her on her knees," Harry scoffed.

Fred coughed. "Lose a bet, Ron?"

Ron looked at him. "No, they've been so sweet recently and holding back on the whole 'pamper the Ron' campaign that I told Draco I'd give him a treat. This is his treat." He took off the robe, letting them see the outfit. That's when Hermione and Vincent walked in. Vincent whimpered and turned away. Hermione looked stunned. "Hi," he said with a wave. "Their treat." He put back on the robe and tied it tightly, making sure Draco couldn't undo it easily this time. "Sorry."

"That's all right," Hermione said with a grin. "Vincent, did you want to spend some time with me this afternoon while they figured out how to solve this problem?" He picked her up and carried her off, muttering about teases.

Draco snorted and shook his head. "At least she makes him happy. I wonder if I should take him shopping the next time I go for Ron...." he said thoughtfully as he left the room. "Half an hour, Harry."

"Fine," he sighed. "Fucking bastard's coming here and I have to play nice."

Ron kissed him. "No pretending to be bad," he chided. He smiled and got a kiss in return. "If you play nicely, I'll give you a whole *hour* to lick," he promised.

"An hour?" Harry said before swallowing. "A whole hour?" Ron nodded. "To just lick? Anywhere?" Ron nodded again. "Deal," Harry said happily. The twins looked at him. "I'm getting the better end of the bargain."

"Bet me," Ron scoffed. "Your tongue is very talented."

"Ick," George noted.

"Sorry," Ron said, totally unrepentant. He took both twins by the arms and led them upstairs to their bedroom. "So what's really going on?"

"Percy's not hallucinating, or they can't find a reason why," Fred said as he locked the door. Ron bit his lower lip. "So that means that he might have seen Lucius. There's been no response from the prison when someone asked if he was still there."

Ron nodded. "Thank you for the warning."

George opened the robe, looking at the outfit. "How do you get out of that?" Ron undid the bottom hook, making him smile. "I see. Perfectly fitted it seems. Comfortable?"

"More than you'd think. Plus the bottom boning is more flexible so I can bend," Ron noted. Someone knocked. "What?"

"It's me," Hermione said. Fred let her in. "Can I borrow something to tease that man of mine?"

Ron nodded, leading her to their special closet, the place where she stored all the naughtier outfits. She pulled out a long green and silver dress that she didn't like and held it up against Hermione's less generous figure. "I think that'd look stunning on you," he decided. "My tits fall out of it but yours would do fine. Go change and we'll fix it to you." She nodded, heading into the bathroom to change. "And lose the bra," Ron called after her. Vincent peeked in. "Out!" The door shut. "We're working on your birthday present, Vinnie, you can't see!" Ron shouted.

"Thank you, Ron, don't give her any ideas though," he called back.

Hermione came out and the gown looked like it had been fitted to her body. "I like this. Are you sure, Ron?"

"With that neckline, I fall out. Literally fell out," Ron admitted with a grin. He looked at her. "Lose the underwear too. Those aren't that sexy." He pulled down a box and pawed through it before tossing something with a tag over. "We're probably about the same hip size," he said at her shocked look.

She went back into the bathroom and came out in the dark green thong, smoothing the dress back down. "Those really aren't comfortable."

"No, but they drive men wild," Ron reminded her. He smiled and pointed at her bare feet. "Are you going like that or not?"

"I think he'll like the heels I have," she said with a naughty smile of her own. "Your feet are smaller than mine." Ron pulled out a pair of lower heeled mules and held them up, they matched the dress and nothing else in his wardrobe. "Thanks." She slipped them on and looked in his mirror, gasping at what she saw. "Well!"

"You do look stunning," Fred agreed. She beamed and walked over, opening the door. She glanced around, but her boyfriend wasn't anywhere. She laughed and trotted out, going to surprise them.

Ron listened at the door. Draco saw her first. "Hermione?" he asked loudly. She giggled and it sounded like someone went running. She squealed and slapped at something. "Not in front of me!" Draco complained.

"I've seen plenty of your sex life, you can watch mine," Hermione retorted. "But not against the stairs. Appreciate what Ron put me in, dear. He gave it to me."

"And I'm going to worship at your feet because of it," Vincent told her as he led her up the stairs. He smiled at Ron. "I'll get you for this."

"Just wait," Ron said smugly, closing the door again. He laughed as he went to lounge on the bed. "There's absolutely no news from the prison?" he asked, losing his smile.

"Not a word that Dad's heard," Fred agreed, looking at their brother. "That was good work."

"They deserve each other, they're both very nice people," Ron told him. "Besides, they make a great couple. They keep Draco from pouncing me all the time because Vinnie reminds him of work." He laughed at the male moans from down the hall. "I'd say he either found the shoulder clasps or she's just shown him what she's really wearing for him."

Vincent pounded on the door and stormed in. "Why do you do this to me?" he asked, sounding desperate. "You put her into an outfit guaranteed to make me blow and set her on some seduction mission. That's not fair, Ron! I'm not old enough to hold off!"

"Who said you have to hold off?" Ron asked. "I didn't." Vincent scowled at him. "We've been over for a year and a little over a month, Vincent, she's lonely. She's chosen you and she's going to stick with you. Now go treat her like the Goddess she is so I don't have to pout at either of you." Vincent sighed and shook his head, standing his ground. "You can't or you won't?"

"I promised not to push her," he begged.

"She put on the clothes, I don't think you're pushing her," George pointed out. Vincent's face lit up. "Go for it, Crabbe, she wants you enough to have put on a thong." Vincent let out a small whimper of defeat. "Go!" He shooed him out, but Fred walked him to the door and closed it behind him. "Okay, you're right, he's a very nice guy," George agreed, smiling at Ron. "Do you want to tell Draco?"

"Yeah, I will," Ron agreed, standing up again. "Thanks for that."

"You're welcome. I figure he might be able to get some information that we and dad can't. Send us or him a line when you find out."

Fred pointed at the doorway. "What about Harry and that mental health warrant?"

"There's a warrant?" Ron asked. The twins nodded. "Shit! We thought it was a cry for him to get help. The guy's coming here to interview him in about twenty minutes. I'll get Draco before he gets here." The door opened and Draco walked in, not looking happy. "Did he show up early?" Draco nodded. "Harry's not been arrested, right?"

"No, he agreed that this warrant was out of hand without proof," Draco said quietly. "They're in my study." He looked at the twins. "Tell me," he sighed.

"There's nothing wrong with Percy that they can find," Fred told him.

"And?" Draco asked.

"He thought he saw your father," George told him. Draco spun and hit the wall.

Ron stood up and walked over to calm him down. "There's no proof either way, but the prison's not saying anything," he said quietly. "Dad couldn't find anything."

"Then we're sending you and Harry to the other house tonight," Draco decided.

"We're not leaving you," Ron said firmly.

Draco turned to grab him by the arms. "My father, if he's out, wants you and Potter. Having you *here* is like an invitation."

"Having us there without you is as big a one," Ron retorted calmly. "There we'll be without someone to protect us." Draco slumped. "He's not out, I'm sure he's not, and if he is then we'll let Harry kill him too!"

Draco gave him a hug. "It's not that easy."

"It is too," Ron reminded him. "We'll have to get him worked up to killing He-Who-Shouldn't-Be-Named. Getting him to hit the rest of them won't be that much harder." He smiled suddenly. "And the answer to both may be talking with him right now."

"Let's go down and tell Harry this," Draco agreed, giving the twins a smile. "Thank you for not owling this."

"Not a problem," Fred said, smiling as they supported each other.

"Robe!" George called after them. Fred snickered. "I doubt he wants just anyone to see him in that getup." He took his twin's arm and headed down to go back to the shop and to their planning boards.

Draco tapped on his study door. "Harry?" He got a noise of assent and walked in. "We've got to say something before you get finished."

The therapist stood up. "Actually, I think we should be." Ron looked startled so he gave her a smile. "No, I'm not going to bring him in. I think he could use a bit of therapy to get over the traumas he has suffered, but I don't think it's a critical need and he said he's working it out between yourselves."

"Good," Ron said, giving Harry a smile. "And you were worried," he teased. Harry beamed at him and Ron's smile fell. "Since you're here and we just got some news, we need your opinion in the matter." The therapist sat back down, waiting while they closed the door.

Draco looked at Harry. "According to the news we just got, there's no evidence of Percy hallucinating. The prison's not answering questions." Harry stood up slowly.

Ron walked over and gave him a hug. "We don't know either way, Harry, and we don't want to worry you that you'll have to face Lucius as well." Harry shook his head.

"I think you're expecting a bit much of the boy," the therapist said gently.

Harry cleared his throat. "The prophecy said neither one of us could really live unless one of us killed the other," he said with a touch of bitterness in his voice. "Draco?"

"If he's back with them, then he's fair game," Draco said quietly. "I lost my father a long time ago, Harry, and if you have to kill him, you do."

The therapist stood up. "He will have to kill?" Draco nodded. "Then he's going to need some work."

"I know," Draco agreed, looking at Harry. "And there's two ways to do that. We can be subtle, or we can be stronger." Harry flinched. "Hypnotic suggestions most likely. It can't make you do what you wouldn't normally, but I think you have the hate in you." Harry shuddered, wrapping himself in Ron's arms, but he did nod. "And I'm not going to push you, but the time's coming closer."

"I'm not sure I can stand there and kill him in cold blood," Harry admitted. Snickers barked, getting up so he could soothe his master.

Ron kissed him on the neck. "No matter what, we're here for you, Harry. Even if I have to man the sniper rifle to help you along." Harry nodded again, looking down at his dog as he petted him. Ron looked at the therapist. "That's why we needed to talk with you in here."

The therapist smiled. "He does have it in him, he's admitted as much to himself, but he rather loathes that part of himself."

"Then he can purge it once all this is over with," Draco pointed out, walking over to tip Harry's face up. "It's hard, but others have done it and you're strong enough not to become what you fear."

"No, I don't believe he'll have a problem with continuing in that fashion. Though it may save a lot of lives if he does it sooner." He pulled out a sealed letter. "I was asked to give this to you if you passed my examination, Mr. Potter." He took it and popped it open, letting them read the letter as well. "I see." He tugged on his waistcoat. "If you wish, I will be on call for you once you're done, to soothe you back into a normal existence."

"I'd like to have one of those," Harry said bitterly. "No press, no newspaper articles, nothing of the sort."

"I fear you'll have a small party and a few weeks of fame, but then you should be able to hide very well," the therapist assured him. "Your mates will make sure no one comes near you." Harry looked at them and they nodded. He looked at Draco. "As for the matter of his mental health, I'd say he was very healthy for someone who had gone through what he had." Draco's right eye twitched. "He told you?"

Harry looked at him. "Only what was in the paper."

Draco cleared his throat. "I forced Ron to show me where you grew up and did a spot recreation spell," he admitted. Harry gaped at him. "I didn't want to hurt your further but I had to know how to handle some things, Harry. I didn't do it to hurt you." He moved closer but Harry glared at him, making him stop. He'd never seen that look before. "I didn't do it to hurt you."

"He didn't see much, I was with him," Ron said calmly, stroking Harry's back. Harry glared at him as well, making him flinch. "You have to admit, you do have your down moments. We went the same day as the paper came out, before we saw it. And he didn't see much. Your bedroom. The kitchen. The little cabinet. The spell only showed you coming out of it and cooking breakfast."

"And doing some homework in your room," Draco agreed. "Nothing further." Harry sat down, forcing Ron to go with him. "I promise I won't pry again, but I did need to know enough to help you when you have those moments."

The therapist looked at Harry. "They were trying to do what was best to help you, young man."

"They could have tried asking," Harry said angrily.

"We did, you refused to say anything," Draco countered. Harry glared at him again. "I didn't do anything bad enough to warrant that look, Potter, stow it!" Harry shuddered and curled up against Ron's side. He hurried over to get Harry's other side. "I'm sorry, but it did help me to understand," he said quietly, taking Harry to hold against his side. "I wouldn't have done it normally, but you were starting down one of those moments again and I didn't know how to handle it. That's the only idea I could find short of calling in help from Ron's mother."

Harry went limp. "I forgive you, you didn't see anything really bad."

"Just the average morning scene I guess," Draco agreed, lightening up some. "I didn't mean to pry."

"I know. I realize I have problems."

"That's the first step to fixing them, young man," the therapist said gently, giving him a smile. "You should be happy that they want to help. Most people aren't strong enough to stand up to someone's bad past and help them come out the other side more healthy. You have some very special mates." Harry nodded and his men clutched him tightly. "As for the other matter, I don't think it will be a problem. I think the biggest problem will be the fear going in, but as soon as the fight starts he should be able to sublimate it into anger and rage. Use that rage on others, not on your mates and not on yourself, Mr. Potter. If you do, then your tasks will be easier and the aftermath will be nearly painless because you'll realize it's not you."

Ron looked at him. "Auror training?"

The therapist smiled. "I did take some but I dropped out because I decided I'd rather heal than destroy. That was during the last bout of this war." He gathered up his notepad. "Should I make a statement that I find you more than healthy enough?"

"Please," Harry agreed, sounding more firm again, more like he was before the bad news. The therapist smiled and showed himself out. "Draco, I'm still mad," he announced, "even though I understand it."

"Then walk me through it," Draco offered. "Tell me. I can't help you or understand you enough if you don't tell me." Harry looked at him, staring into his eyes for a long time. "We can even do it in a pensieve if you want. I'll borrow one and we'll empty it afterwards." Harry nodded quickly. "That's fine, I'll arrange one for tomorrow, then we'll work on the plans the next day." Harry nodded again. "Now, as for you, Ron, I should spank you for dressing Hermione up for Vincent. Though I'm sure he's appreciating it more now than he has in the past." Ron beamed.

"What did you dress her in?" Harry asked, looking up at Ron. Snickers barked so he let him up in their combined laps to pet his best friend.

"That green dress I can't wear without falling out of," Ron said smugly. "Plus a pair of thongs that I hadn't worn yet and the heels that we bought to go along with it. She looked stunning."

"I'm sure Vincent will finally get what he's been desiring." Both men gave him a look. "He's kept his promise and used only his fingers so far," he explained. "He said he wouldn't rush her."

"He came and complained because I had done that to her," Ron told him. "The twins pointed out that she was wanting it because she played along."

"Hopefully we'll see a wedding soon then," Draco told them, giving Harry a squeeze. "Why don't we go eat?"

"I'm not hungry for food, I need cuddles," Harry told him, laying his head on Ron's breasts. He noticed the calendar on the wall. "Draco, it's been a month and three days since my birthday."

"What?" Ron asked, looking at the calendar as well.

Draco quickly pulled his wand for a check and smiled. "Don't worry, the spell is taking longer, but it will wear off, you'll start a normal schedule in another two weeks," he said confidently, smirking at Ron. "I made it a bit too strong, sorry." Ron hit him on the arm. "Ow!"

"Sorry my ass! You enjoy my girl parts too much," Ron said, frowning at him.

"I enjoy all of you," Harry said with a small smirk. "Breasts are my favorite, but I enjoy your dick too because it does amazing things to me." Ron laughed and kissed him. "Can I spend some time between you two?"

"If you'd like," Draco agreed, gently stroking Harry's stomach. Snickers licked his hand. "Yes, hello to you too," he said, petting the dog's ears for him. "You're a good boy."

Harry laughed. "Give him a few minutes and then we'll go."

"We could stay in here if he'd get off us," Ron pointed out.

"No lube," Harry and Draco said together, then they grinned and laughed.

"I guess we'll have to do it the old-fashioned way then," Ron said with a smug look as she shooed the dog off Harry's lap. "Go sit and watch, Snickers. I want to play with the daddy. He'll play ball with you in a while." Snickers barked and laid down to stare at his father. Harry picked up his ball and tossed it, making the dog scramble for it, while Ron was undoing his zipper. "Good boy, Harry, continue. That way you don't go off too fast," Ron said smugly.

"Oh, my," Draco said as he watched. He tossed the ball a few times himself, Ron had learned how to do that *very* well.

***

Draco decided to invite his former school friends over for another meal a week later, mostly because he was bored and Harry and Ron were deep in the planning stages of the assault so he really didn't have anyone to talk to. He smiled as they came out of the floo, showing them into the informal dining room that the family used most of the time. "I'm glad you could make it," he told them. Pansy laughed nervously.

Harry walked in and stole a sandwich, smiling before taking a bite. "Ron says we're not going be able to come in, he's having a bitchy day," he said before taking another one. The group laughed and Harry shrugged. "It happens to the best women." He waved and then left them alone, but came back to look at Pansy. "Still?" he asked. She stood up and backed away from him. "Pansy," he said calmly, moving carefully closer. "You know I won't hurt you. I know how bad it is," he said, like he was taking to his dog after a thunderstorm and he wanted Snickers to come out from under the couch. "Come on, take my hand, we'll get that nasty curse removed," he said, holding out a hand. She shook her head. "I promise I'll beat them up until they remove it."

She looked at Draco. "Go on," he encouraged. "I don't like to see you like this, it's hurting you."

She nodded and gripped Harry, letting him steer her out of the room. "We'll be back," Harry promised, taking her to the Ministry's offices. He had been told to bring anyone who might be cursed up there directly, so he drug her into the offices. He smiled at the receptionist. "General Blank wanted me to bring her to him, she's a bit cursed at the moment," he said quietly. The secretary nodded and hurried off, bringing the head of the aurors. "You wanted to see anyone who was under the Imperious, correct?" The general nodded, nearly salivating. "She's been under it since the night Hogwarts got attacked." He walked Pansy into the general's office, seating her and standing behind her with his hands comfortingly on her shoulders. "We're pretty sure that she was instructed to report when Ron started having a cycle. There was a minor blip and she nearly killed herself. She had that panicked look when she saw me tonight."

"I can handle it from here. It'll take a few hours to remove it and debrief her," the general said, giving him a winning smile.

Harry shook his head. "Not a chance." She looked up at him and he gave her shoulder's a squeeze. "This is hurting her and I'm not going to hurt her farther. I refuse to let her be used as a pawn. She's a human being, and while not usually the nicest to me in the past, she still deserves to be treated well."

The general laughed. "No wonder you and old Dumbledore don't see eye-to-eye most of the time."

Harry nodded, giving him a small taste of his glare. "He wanted to use me as a tool as well. That's why you lost me and Ron if you remember." The general nodded. "So let's fix her, and if you wouldn't mind teaching me how to undo it as well?" The general shrugged. "Thank you. It may come in handy."

"When are you going to sit down with Dumbledore?"

"Soon," Harry evaded. "Not yet though." He patted Pansy again. "Are you ready? It'll probably sting a bit and you'll want to cry about some of the things you've probably seen, but we'll get you free and I'll even let Draco give you a backrub if it'd help." She laughed, starting to look hysterical again. "Not that way," he said with a teasing smile. "Those are mine now." She nodded and the general stood up. "Oh, is there any word on if Percy Weasley is under a curse?"

"We never thought to look," the general said thoughtfully. "I'll check him personally tonight, you can tell Ron I said that."

"Thanks. We still can't figure out if Lucius is missing or not. We're getting contradictory reports." The general opened his mouth. "He's the one who started all that mess with Ron, it was *his* notes."

"Oh, dear." Harry quirked an eyebrow up. "No, as far as we know he's not, Mr. Potter. You can tell your other husband I said so. Of course, we've gotten a few reports of sightings as well but we're not sure exactly what is going on. So be patient with that." Harry put a hand on his arm. "If you do see him, he is considered a fugitive," the general told him. "You are to react as if you had to destroy him, even if you only knock him out for us." Harry nodded and let him go. "I'm sorry to put you through this, Pansy was it?"

"Pansy Parkinson."

"Oh! We did get a report on you. We've been looking for you, naughty girl," he said with a smile. "Come along, we'll get you fixed right up and immediately debriefed so Mr. Malfoy can shelter you from the big asswipe." She laughed and let herself be led to a room down the hall with a chair that had straps on it. "If you'd sit down," he said, pointing at the chair. "We don't want you to thrash, the straps are only for your own good. We won't hurt you or Mr. Potter will kill us as well." She looked at Harry and he nodded so she sat down and let them strap her in. He looked at Harry. "You were joking, correct?"

Harry shrugged. "I think that depends on you, doesn't it?" he asked cheerfully. The general shuddered. "Ooops, I forgot." He looked at Pansy. "Let me in, princess, I have to send the nasty shit a message." Her eyes went wide and he gave her a wink. "I'm good at that, I've been sending him nightmares every single night so far. So let's see how he likes this one." He put his hands on her temples, like the book had instructed, and linked with her mind. She was wide open because of the link Voldemort was using, so it was easy to send him an image of Malfoy Manor in ruins and Draco going insane with grief, then one of him coming out of the rubble and grabbing a wand, intimating that he was coming right then. She whimpered as he withdrew. "There, that's all there was," he soothed. "Knock her out?"

"Knock her out," the general agreed, doing so.

***

Draco looked up as Pansy was led back in by Harry's tugging hand. "Is she all right?"

"Just fine," Harry said with a smile. He turned her over. "She was most helpful with some very interesting information which I think I can use."

"He sent back an image of the house being in ruins and him going after the skeezer," Pansy said, staring at Draco. He nodded, giving her a wink. "You let him do that? He's winding him up! He's killing some of his best people!"

"Less I have to kill," Harry said nonchalantly. He grinned at her look. "I'll gladly accept their surrender so I don't have to. And Voldie's as well if he wants to give up already. Though it does say one of us has to die so I don't think he'll last too long." He shrugged, looking happy. "I'd adore it if they gave themselves up. After all, we might not kill them and we certainly wouldn't torture them the way he does." She shuddered and clutched at Draco.

"He's not as insane as he sounds," he soothed. "Potter, you're scaring her," he snapped, frowning at him.

"She's got an active link they can't close," he said, nodding at her arms. Draco's mouth opened and Harry nodded. "It's not as strong since she didn't take it of her own free will, but it is there and it's a lot of fun taunting the asshole." He waved and walked away. "I'm going to have Ron for dinner."

"She's in the baths," Draco called after him. "Shh, Pansy, don't worry, it'll be fine."

"The Order was using me too," she told him.

He laughed. "Then they're as big of assholes as we thought and Potter was right to leave them for his own team," he told her. She was sat on the couch and he called out to his guardian through the floo. "Snape, old man, guess who just got free of the Imperious." He nodded behind him. "She'll need a safe place to stay because of the thing on her arm."

"I'll be right there," Snape agreed, cutting the connection.

Draco sat down and let her curl up against his side. "It'll be all right. I won't let anything happen to you. If someone there tries to hurt you, then you come tell me and I'll make them stop. Or even just show up if you can't tell me and we'll figure it out and stop them even more harshly," he promised as Snape stepped out of the fireplace. "She about had another self-chastising moment during dinner so we freed her."

"She was an invaluable weapon in giving him misinformation," Snape told him.

Draco glared at him, a cold, mocking look. "She's still a human being and had no choice in the matter. Perhaps if you had *asked* her permission, it might have not turned out this way. But as my husband agrees with me about not involving those against their wills, we had her freed. The aurors were most happy to do so." He saw Snickers trot past the door. "Ah, your admirer, shall I call him in?" he asked dryly.

"One of these days, Malfoy."

Draco held up a finger. "Harry?" Harry came in with Ron. "Did you learn anything about my father? I believe we should share anything on that subject we've learned."

"The aurors think that he's still in prison but the general over them admitted that they've had Lucius sightings. I'm to treat him just like I would Voldie when and if I see him and either knock him out, make him beg for reincarceration, or do away with him."

"Thank you." Draco smiled at Snape. "Thought you should know."

"And I asked them to check Percy for curses since nothing's been found." Ron started. "Yup, I thought it might be something like that but I couldn't be sure. We know Percy was all but in Fudge's underwear with him and Lucius was a frequent playmate of Fudge's. So it's a thought."

"A damn good one," Ron agreed. "Professor, how goes your end of the war?"

Snape sneered at him. "I had heard that you got stuck." Draco waved his hand. "Your doing?" he asked, sounding outraged.

"Draco suggested it as a birthday present for Harry," Ron said with a small shrug of his large chest. "It'll even back out my cycle where it's been screwed with before."

Snape shook his head. "He obviously has no idea what he's doing."

"Bet me," Draco scoffed. "I have every idea. Plus a few extra ones that may yet come in helpful." He stood up and heaved Pansy up. "Do you want to go with him?" She shook her head.

"I will set you somewhere away from the order," Snape offered. She slumped a little and let him take her hand. He looked at Potter. "At least you give enough of a damn about the people," he admitted before leaving.

"I'm not taking over either!" Harry said in disgust. He shook his head. "I'm going to rinse that nasty thought off myself in the baths. Ron? Join me?"

"Sure. Let me finish making my snack." He turned and went back to the kitchen.

Draco walked over and hugged Harry gently. "I know you're not going to take his place, you'd hate to have everyone look at you," he said gently. "We'll take a long vacation once this is over with." Harry nodded, relaxing against him. "Good boy. Now go play with Ron but save me some." Harry beamed and went to pull Ron away from the stove. Draco sat back down with his book, wondering what he had gotten himself into this time. "I wonder if they actually think he'd do that," he muttered as he found his spot and went back to his story.

***

The plan was set and it was finally time. They had decided to set up a small trap to split up the Death Eaters into more manageable groups. That left only one thing. Harry sent himself via floo to the Order of the Phoenix's headquarters, looking around until someone noticed he was there. It wouldn't be right for him to just breeze in like he owned the place. Molly Weasley noticed him first and he smiled at her. "Ron said to give you a hug and a pinch, and that I'm to set up the official truce now," he told her confidently. He was shaking with fear over what might happen later, but he could handle that. "Oh, he wanted to know of Professor Snape would talk to him for a moment." She hurried away and he sat down, getting comfortable. Snape walked past him without acknowledging him, sending himself to the manor house. Dumbledore and Molly walked back in to talk to him. He shook their hands. "Ron said I was to hand you this," he said, pulling out a letter. "We worked it out over the last few nights."

Dumbledore sat down and read the official agreement, looking at the boy everyone hoped would be strong enough. "I had a moment of shock when one of the Death Eaters said you had chosen your own side," he said with a faint smile.

"Yeah, I did, because I'm the one who can ensure that I have a life," Harry agreed.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Molly asked.

Harry looked at her. "Yes," he said patiently. "Otherwise I'm still only a tool, and then what happens when I win?"

She gave him a hug. "I never meant to criticize you, Harry, dear. You're a wonderful young man and I'm rather glad that you joined with Ron, even if you did also bring in Draco for added protection."

Harry had her sit next to him. "Mrs. Weasley, Draco adores Ron and me. He proves it every day to the both of us. What might have started out as a necessity has moved into something a lot more special. Draco is going to keep us, and we're keeping him." She kissed his cheek and gave him another hug. "Don't worry so much, Mrs. Weasley, we're very happy. Ron gets to indulge himself in all sorts of general naughtiness and even makes us laugh with it. Draco lets us both run wild and we appreciate it because he calms us down when we need it." She nodded. So he looked at Dumbledore. "As for you, I'm still not a tool. You tried to make it so I'd be conditioned to do what is necessary; if you had bothered to get to know me, you'd know all you had to do was ask. I'm not hard to get along with, Headmaster, nor have I ever been, but I did learn I had to rely on myself and nearly learned to never care for anyone other than myself. I could have easily turned out like Draco was starting to." Dumbledore shifted. "Ron said those were the terms and only the terms. If you're agreeable, we're having a small get together tonight." He tipped his head off to the side. "If not, well then we'll need some aurors and Draco went to inform them of what's going on so it doesn't get contaminated by my anger with them."

Dumbledore reread the petition, finally nodding. He signed his name and handed it back. "I admit, I did underestimate you, Harry," he said gently. "I only hope that you've kept yourself ready for anything."

Harry stood up. "I'm almost sure I'm ready for anything. My training has made me very aware of how lax I can be." Dumbledore winced. "By the way, I know it was you who suggested the mental health warrant, Albus. Don't do it again." He flooed off, heading for home. He handed the paper to Ron, then went to get a small glass of brandy. He needed the calming effect it had on his system.

Snape looked at Ron, then at the paper. "The formal truce," Ron said, handing it over. "How's Pansy?"

"I had to stop her from committing suicide the other night," he said calmly. "Her experiences weren't good for her."

Ron looked at him. "You think it'd be different if you had gotten her free all those months ago?" Snape nodded. Ron shrugged. "Good. Harry and I agree, you've had enough of a life of hell to date. We hope you can find some peace eventually. Hopefully where you can't torture students while finding it," he finished with a grin. Snape glared at him and he grinned brighter. "I had to say it, sir, it's the Gryff in me you know."

"I know." He tapped the side of the cauldron. "This was done perfectly. At least you managed that much." Ron nodded. "Your idea won't work through. It says only one time's for a reason. Not done over a period of time." Ron slumped. "But I applaud your desire in this case. It only makes it stronger."

"I know. It's too bad the aurors couldn't see that in us, and neither could the Order. If they had learned, then we wouldn't be in this pickle." He capped the potion and looked at the older man. "I wish you full luck tonight, sir. I know I'll probably be here and hidden, but I hope you come through. You're a very strong man for all that you've been put through and survived. I see a lot of you in Harry." Snape nodded his head in acceptance of the compliment. "Happy hunting." He put two vials into his hand, one of potion and one of blood. "Since it works." Snape looked stunned. "I don't know who to give it to, but I figure you'd be a bit more objective since you've seen the harsh realities of the lengths some would go through."

"I'll guard it and give it to whomever needs it," Snape agreed, then he left.

Ron sat down, waiting on the potion to finish cooling. Then he could add the blood.

***

Draco looked up as Ron walked down the stairs, frowning at him. "You're not going."

"I know." He held up two vials. "For you both." Draco looked stunned. Ron smiled. "I can't let you die in the fight, I'd miss you." He kissed him and watched as he drank one, then went to find Harry. "Harry?" Harry looked up from the final board, smiling at him. "Drain this." He handed over the vial.

"Ron, I don't...."

"You'll take it or I'm going to force it down your throat, Potter."

"Yes, Ron." He drank it and received a kiss for luck. "They're starting to mass. Do you have the golem ready?"

"Already on its way," Ron assured him. "Hermione's running it." Harry nodded and gave him a long hug. "Come back to me," Ron whispered. "I won't accept any other alternative." He gave him an extra squeeze. "Otherwise I'm going to kill the bastard myself." Harry laughed as he pulled back. "Be careful and watch Draco's back, Harry." Harry nodded and left, going to apparate with Draco. Ron leaned against the table, refusing to look at the clearing where supposedly he was going to be broken in that last little bit. As soon as he felt Vincent leave, he closed off the house, layering shields on with Hermione. No one and nothing was getting in without their knowing. He went up to help her and Neville work on their part of the plan.

***

Draco and Harry appeared in the clearing, smiling at the Ron golem, each holding out a hand like they'd normally do. They had to treat this just like they would Ron or someone would realize something was wrong. Draco knew a few of his friends had taken the mark on threats of death from their parents, so they'd know if he was acting oddly toward Ron. They helped the Ron golem onto the stone slab Harry had erected earlier in the day, then started by setting out the things they would need.

A twig snapping made them look at each other, but they continued on, each taking deep breaths to calm themselves. This had to go perfectly or someone would escape and more Death Eaters would appear. Harry glanced at Draco and got a small nod so he set down his wand, looking helpless. That's when someone walked out, clapping. Harry looked at him. "Hello, father-in-law. You might as well bring the rest out."

Lucius sneered at him. "If my son is widowed, he can remarry," he pointed out dryly. "That way I can banish you from the family history."

"True," Draco admitted. "But why would I want to? I have everything I need in these two." He waved a hand and more Death Eaters appeared. "Oh, look, you brought reinforcements." He looked at Harry. "They think they're scary, love."

Harry giggled, going back into his 'evil' persona. "I'm sure they do," he said patronizingly. Lucius gave him a funny look. "You didn't know what happened?"

"I do," Lucius said, stepping closer. "I know more about your family than you do, boy." He sneered at him. "Though I suppose you've probably found a bit out."

Harry raised a hand and flicked a finger at the woods. "Incendio," he hissed. The gas he had laid earlier jumped into high flames, startling the Death Eaters. "Encage." The flames bent, joining around them. "You'd be surprised, Lucius." His wand was back in his hand with another blink and the first curse thrown. Interestingly enough, Lucius stayed out of it, getting out of the way but staying out of the general fight. By the time all the Death Eaters were finished, Draco was in pain but that was fixed quickly. Harry looked at Lucius again, smirking at him. "You don't approve of our marriage?" Lucius shook his head. "Pity."

Draco pulled himself to his feet, gritting his teeth as the pain slowly faded. "Father, I was asked to ask you, how are you in both places?" Lucius smiled and pointed at the golem. "Ah, I thought as much." He shrugged and lifted his wand. "Just us, for the family fortunes?"

"No, my son, I won't fight you. Unlike most of those creatures," he said, waving a hand at the bodies, "I don't attack my young or use them for more than alliances." He looked down at Harry. "You are an ...interesting choice my son made. One which I don't agree with." He crossed his arms. "Surely you can't think you'd win, a young boy like you against someone with *decades* of experience with the dark."

Harry laughed bitterly. "I know more than enough about the dark that haunts people, Lucius. I lived it." Lucius lost some of his sneer. "You see, it's not just you who can't figure out how to not use your son, it's others. You have *no* idea what I've seen in my life, nor what I've done to others. Now, let's end this." Lucius regained his lost sneer and raised his wand. Harry pulled his gun and shot him in the stomach, a Cruiatus bullet that made him keen in pain. "Draco, should I hurt him again?" he asked.

"Just a few more, I'm enjoying this immensely," he dryly pointed out. Lucius glared at him. "You used to send me into every little plan hoping I'd die."

"Not true," Lucius panted, holding out a hand.

Harry leaned down next to Lucius' face. "How does it feel to be brought down by a muggle weapon?" he asked snidely. He felt the rage start inside him and kicked Lucius in the balls. "Just so you can't make another one." He shot him in the chest, a clear lung shot. Then he was pulled back by Draco. "Let's go," he said calmly.

"End the fire," Draco reminded him. "I'll get the golem home." He turned but it had disappeared. "I hope she took it," he muttered, watching as Harry ended the fires. The aurors walked into the clearing, starting the cleanup. "Have him," he said, pointing at his father. "He's of no use to me anymore. I have what I want." Lucius wheezed, giving him a shocked look so he got to give one last glare to his father. "As you taught me," he pointed out, walking Harry away. "Now?"

"Now." They apparated to where Voldemort had his nightly gatherings, noticing how few Death Eaters were standing around. Harry shot most of them, having to change his clip halfway through, but they all seemed too stunned to do anything. "Oh, asswipe!" he called cheerfully. "Come out and meet your maker."

"Me?" Voldemort asked from behind them. Harry turned to look at him, letting Draco guard his back. "They were worthless anyway." He held up a hand and more came out of the dark.

Harry shrugged and whistled, bringing his troops. "Yay. We've both got big sets." Voldemort looked shocked. "You'd be surprised at what not having a so-called proper upbringing does for one's vocabulary. My mother would probably be shocked, but yay. You killed her and she can only haunt me now." He shrugged and pulled his wand. "Shall we dance?"

"Dance?"

"It's an expression meaning to fight in the popular usage," Harry explained, like he would to a particularly slow child. "Now, shall we?"

"We shall," he agreed, stepping closer. "A real duel?"

"If you want. Or a standing one if you'd prefer."

"Toss away your gun."

Harry sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you, dumbass? I'm more than the sum of my wand and my gun." He tossed the gun, and his wand, pulling out the one he had gotten specially for this occasion. "This time there won't be any ties." Voldemort looked impressed. "Come on. Let's do this so I can go home and get shagged into the carpet." Draco groaned and he grinned. "Sorry, couldn't resist the pun." He looked at his opponent, noticing the rage and the fear. "What? You didn't like the nightmares I sent?"

"Incendio," Voldemort said, sending a flame.

Harry put up a shield with a negligent wave of his hand and lifted his wand. "Scalpere!" Voldemort screamed as his unused arm was cut. Harry smiled at him. "You'd be surprised what I've learned over the years. Having to fight you has made me quite aware that I'd have to be nearly as evil as you some day," he said, shaking his head. "It's turned the nice little boy that Draco found so fascinating and irritating into this young man. How do you like him?" he taunted, flicking his wand again. "Relegare crus!" Voldemort tried to get off another curse but his leg being cut off stopped him.

"Nice shot," Draco told him. "Don't try that with me."

Harry blew a kiss. "Why would I have to, Dracie poo?" he asked with a naughty grin. Draco frowned at him. "Sorry, couldn't resist. You know how fighting affects me." He looked down at Voldemort again, this time ducking his thrown Avada Kedavra. "Oops, better pay attention," he sighed. "I'll shag you and Ron into unconsciousness later." He threw the Cruiatus back at him, making him writhe and scream in pain, then used the removal spell to cut off his other leg at the knee. "What? You don't like it given back with all the times you've dished it out?" He looked at the surrounding people. "Any one of you who want to surrender, I'll accept it and won't torture you," he called. He threw the curse again, taking off the rest of Voldemort's left leg. A few of the Death Eaters threw down their wands and got to their knees. "Oh, we left Lucius barely living," he called out. "You might look for a new wife of his, he looked a bit too smug when he saw us." He looked down at Voldemort. "Want more?"

"You'll have to kill me to get me to go away, Potter," he sneered, inching forward. "Ava...."

"I know," Harry said, kicking his wand out of his hand and pointing his down at the thing on the ground. He hesitated, seeing the fear in the red eyeslits.

"Now, Harry," Draco warned. "Before he can recover."

"Avada Kedavra," he hissed, ending the miserable reign of fear. Then he moved away and right into Draco's arms. The rest of the Death Eaters went wild, and the fight continued around them. Harry glared at the backs of the people around him, lifting a hand but Draco lowered it for him. "Make them stop," he whispered.

"Come along, we'll go home. They can mop up the rest of this shit," Draco soothed, picking up Harry's old wand and his gun, but he didn't hand them back. He actually took the second wand from Harry before leading him over to where Vincent was fighting. He killed the person fighting his bodyguard, earning a grateful smile. "Take him home, let him get sick," he ordered. Someone threw a curse their way and he fired one back, noticing it was one of the aurors. "Now, before they kill him too," he said, ducking and taking Harry's spare weapon from him and as many of the clips as he could. He started to fire into the group, stopping all the Death Eaters he could see, and anyone else who fired off a curse at him. He spat on one of the auror's bodies. "You do not harm him or me," he sneered, looking at Dumbledore. "You've got your victory, leave us alone, permanently." He apparated home and immediately they all left for their hidden house. He and Ron had thought something like this might happen, they had been prepared for it. Everyone in the house left from there and went to their homes. Crabbe and Granger went upstairs, the house would move to their ownership in two days time. Harry and Ron went downstairs into another of the hidden rooms and Draco brought down their supply packs, closing the nuclear bunker behind him. No one could find them down here and it was shielded so heavily nothing they did could get out. Harry was throwing up in the toilet with Ron rubbing his back when Draco joined them. "Is he all right?"

"He'll be fine soon enough," Ron noted, giving him a grateful smile. "They tried?"

"One of the aurors, but I'm not taking any chances," Draco reported. "Voldemort is dead."

"And I killed him," Harry moaned. "I killed people."

"Shh," Ron whispered, giving him a hug. "You did what you had to do and nothing more or less. Now you're free."

Harry looked at him. "I killed someone."

Ron gave him a kiss to the temple. "I know, Harry. We'll get over this too. I promise you won't be going through this alone." Harry nodded, allowing Draco to knock him out with a swab across the back of the neck. "What is that? The twins used it on me."

"A sleep potion used on children," Draco said, holding up the marked vial. "I made some last week just in case. I knew it was going to be hard on him."

"He'll come around eventually," Ron told him, accepting a kiss. "I'm sorry about your father, Draco."

"I'm not, he won't ever put me in danger again," Draco whispered.

Ron smiled and kissed him again. "I think we all need some time to recuperate and think. Were you serious about a vacation?"

"How can we go have fun when I killed someone?" Harry muttered.

"Shh," Draco soothed, stroking over his hair. "I was. Where?"

"America, or somewhere we can get lost," Ron whispered. "Just somewhere out of the country." Draco nodded. "Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome, Ron. We could all use the time to process, you're right about that much." He sat down on the cot he would claim as his, staring up at the metal ceiling. Ron settled Harry on another bed and crawled in with him, giving him a long cuddle until Harry started to wake up. "Go nap with him," Draco whispered. "He needs you more." Ron looked at him so he smirked. "I'm more used to death than Potter is. Go cuddle him." Ron nodded and slipped over there, calming Harry back down. "How about the Carribean? Crabbe's family went and said it was very nice."

"That'd be wonderful," Ron agreed. "I've never been out of the UK so anywhere is good for me."

"The world is an amazing place, we'll see some of it for a while," Draco assured him, turning his head and giving him a smile. "He's going to have another bout, isn't he?" Ron nodded. "Good, you deal with it. I'll lose my temper." He flipped onto his side and closed his eyes. "Wake me when Potter starts being able to speak or if the light goes off." The light was a lightbulb attached to a switch upstairs to be used in case of an emergency. He let himself drift in his head, forcing himself to stay calm. He had never killed anyone before, but this wasn't going to be so hard on him, not like it was on Potter. Nice boys always got hit worse during tragedies like this.

***

Two weeks later found Harry waking up on a beach. Or more realistically as part of the beach. He looked around as he tried to shift, and found Draco lounging beside him. "Please dig me out," he pleaded.

Draco looked over at him. "Ron and I have come to an agreement, we're going to leave you there if you don't quit whining." Harry opened his mouth and Draco picked up a handful of sand. "Continue by all means," he encouraged warmly. Harry shut his mouth. "You did what you had to do. Nothing more and nothing less. By doing so, you saved a great many people a lot of heartache and a lot of agony. Now get on with your life and leave it in the past."

"I killed someone!" Harry hissed, glancing around them. He saw the shield and relaxed again. "I'm sorry I'm bringing you two down, but it's the truth."

"Do you think I didn't?" Harry shook his head. "Then why is it that I'm not as upset as you."

"Because your father was a cold and heartless bastard who conditioned you to be that way, even though you've broken through most of it?" Harry suggested. Draco frowned at him. "He did."

"Not the point," Draco said firmly, still frowning. "You're staying there until you come to terms with what you've done. Ron's agreed to come lounge in the sun with you later, once it gets too hot for me, but you're not getting undug until you can admit that you did what you had to do."

"I can admit that now, but I still killed people," Harry reminded him.

"And as soon as you quit adding that last part, you can get free," Draco said harshly. Harry blinked a few times and he frowned. "It's impossible to stay mad at you for too long, you look like I kicked your dog," he said in defeat, turning away from him. But he still didn't undig him.

"Draco, I have to go to the bathroom," Harry said, blushing faintly.

"You're in sand, pretend you're a cat, Potter."

"You are going to leave us, aren't you," Harry said bitterly.

Draco turned to face him. "Do you think that I couldn't have already left you?" he hissed. He saw Ron coming and decided to end this now, before he was hurt by it too. "You thoughtless bastard, Potter! How dare you say such shit to me. You know very well I'm not leaving. Those marks on your stomach are permanent, no matter what happens. Even if I die, you'll still carry them." He got to his knees to glare down at him. "Do you not think I could have left you back in England to face this alone if I had wanted to? Or that I couldn't slip away while you're down here? Think hard and fast, because I am not putting up with this shit."

"I'm sorry, it slipped out," Harry sighed.

"Then perhaps we should cut out your tongue," Draco suggested. "That way nothing else can slip out."

Ron walked through the barrier. "Draco," he warned. He looked down at Harry. "Asked him if he was going to leave?" Harry nodded, looking miserable. "I wondered how long it was going to take you to jump to that conclusion." He sat down on Harry's other side. "This is what happens when you raise yourself without any attachments to a real person," he told Draco, acting like Harry wasn't there. "You believe that everyone's going to leave after the fun is over and things get a little hard, because that's all you know. In his case, I'm surprised it waited this long and didn't come out during the battle planning." Harry muttered something and looked down at his lumped body. "Thought so," he said smugly. "Mum said I could kick your ass if you asked me. She said we need to do what she saw in that kink magazine Dad picked up by accident and regress you so you have to act like an infant." Draco gave him a curious look. "Apparently it's for people like him and a subset of the dominance/submissive thing. You put them in diapers, you treat them like an infant, it makes them feel secure." He grinned. "Think we should?"

"I think a few days as an actual infant would work better," Draco offered.

"Then we'd have to take care of him," Ron reminded him.

"Which would be the point, Weasley, to prove to him that we're not leaving him. Now, what do we do about this?" He sniffed and backed up. "Took my suggestion to heart?" Harry gave him a miserable look. "You're staying there, I don't give a damn otherwise. I won't be insulted that way."

"It wasn't him, Draco, it was that damn insecurity complex he has. He doesn't know that people aren't going to leave him. In fifty years he might still think about it now and then." He shifted over, kissing Draco gently to calm him down. "Don't be mad at him. Pull a Hermi."

Draco laughed, hugging Ron. "I thought we were."

"We are, but now we need to teach him that he's not being abandoned with his anger and pain." He used his wand to summon a few drinks out of their cooler. "Here, there's a straw in my bag." Draco pulled one out and popped open the first bottle of juice, letting Harry sip from it. "Until you can honestly admit that you did what was necessary, without any addition, then we're not letting you up."

"Ron, I'm a mass murderer, I'm supposed to be repentant and upset," Harry reminded him. He tried to get the straw when Draco pulled it away and it came back. "Thank you," he said before taking a sip. He nodded and Draco put it away. "I'd almost prefer being deaged instead of this confinement. I want to struggle."

"Struggle all you like, we didn't pack the sand that hard around you, just enough so that you couldn't get up," Ron said with a shrug. Harry's head shifted but nothing else did and he let out a frustrated shriek of rage. "Calm down. We're right here and we can get you out of there within a few minutes."

"Let me out, please?" Harry asked. "I don't like being confined!"

"If I do, I'm putting you to bed like an infant," Draco told him, glaring at him. "Are you ready to drop the other stuff?"

"I'm supposed to be like this! I killed people! They're dead because of me! No matter what the reason was, I still ended their lives prematurely and mostly in a painful fashion! I have to take responsibility for that."

"No one's suggesting anything other than you being put into the mental ward," Ron told him. Harry blinked a few times and Ron shrugged. "We're not sure which auror but one wrote a letter to the Prophet suggesting that you get professional help now that we didn't need you as much. That way you couldn't hurt others and take over in the power vacuum." Harry groaned and his head shifted again, some of the sand shifting around his neck. "So you see, we're actually doing this for your own good."

"Ron, you don't understand. Maybe I do need the help."

Draco shook his head. "I doubt you'd like being institutionalized. It's not pleasant from what I've heard. A bland diet, medicines, and nasty people hounding you all day long to fundamentally change who you are."

"I am what I am, but that doesn't change anything."

"No, it doesn't," Draco sighed. "You're still more concerned about the aftermath."

"If I'm not, then I become like him, Draco," Harry said coldly. "I don't want to lose my humanity because I had a duty to perform."

"He's got a point there," Ron admitted. Draco glared at him. "He does. If he didn't feel some angst over it, he'd be like Voldemort. A cold bastard whom we could never love. If he didn't dwell on it now and then, I'd also be worried." He looked down at Harry. "That doesn't mean you can't start working through it, which you haven't. You're wallowing in self-pity and that's why I went along with this. You're no worse than any other veteran of any other war, Harry, so let's move on with life and heal as we go instead of dwelling and being angry for the rest of our lives."

"Let me out," Harry pleaded.

"Later," Ron told him. "Lie there and think." He flopped onto his back, staring out at the waves. "I like it here."

"As do I. It'd be a lot better if we could go out and do things though," Draco noted.

"Draco, this is somewhat normal," Ron warned.

"I don't see why!"

"They were still human!" Harry reminded him. "I'm not a cold bastard and I'm not going to suddenly turn into one!"

"Which I'm sure will comfort you when you're sleeping alone tonight," Draco countered. Harry sighed. "Oh, let him up, he'll come back if he runs away," he said in disgust.

"No."

"Please? I won't run."

"No," Ron repeated. "You're staying until I hear you start to work through it." He and Harry shared a look. "I mean it."

"Ron!"

"No!"

"Fine." He settled back into his thoughts, he hadn't really left them that far behind when he was sleeping anyway. Why couldn't Ron understand? And why was Draco being such an ass? It wasn't like he hadn't killed people too. Were they just objects to him? Harry mentally shuddered. He couldn't take that viewpoint, he'd end up a cold, unfeeling bastard and he didn't want to be that way. He wanted to be the fun-loving kid he had become. He wanted to run and jump and pounce Ron on the sand. He really did. He felt some more of the sand shift and his breath caught, mostly because he couldn't breathe. "Ron!" Ron and Draco looked at him. "Heavy!"

Draco uncovered part of his chest. "There, now it can't shift down and make it so you can't breathe," he sighed. He stood up. "I'm going to swim."

"I'll go down when you come back," Ron said with a small smile.

"You could leave him with his thoughts for a few moments," Draco pointed out.

"That would prove to him that we all leave."

"Fine, be that way," Draco sighed as he walked away.

Ron laid down so their heads were together. "I know what you're thinking."

"You're a mind-reader too?"

Ron pinched him on the nose. "No. But I know you're wondering why he's not affected." Harry nodded. "Because he blocked it out. You can do that too, Harry, we wouldn't mind."

"Ron, I don't want to not feel things. They were people. Bad people but still people. I want to feel bad about that. Otherwise I'm the same as Voldemort and I run the risk of losing myself to the dark. I don't know why you don't get that, but please let me go."

"No." He sat up again and then stood up. "Maybe I should leave you."

"Fine, leave me," Harry said bitterly, watching him go play in the surf. He could barely see the water and them, but he saw them playing and splashing. The shield caught his eye, and he watched as it wavered, then dropped. He blinked a few times, not seeing what he thought he saw. "Don't you die?" he asked.

Lucius sat down, only his face visible under the invisibility cloak. "No." He smirked. "My son's idea?"

Harry tried to shrug. "Not a clue. I only woke up here. How do you deal with killing people, Lucius?"

"They mean nothing to me," he said simply.

"That's what I thought. I'm glad I can still feel. It's what makes me human."

Lucius laughed. "I'm every bit as human, Potter, only more special."

"Bully for you," Harry said dryly. "Why are you here?"

"To torment you."

"Obviously." He looked at the surf again but he couldn't see his mates now. He looked at his tormentor. "Where did they go?"

"They swam out. It's just you and I." Lucius played with a bit of sand. "I could uncover you, but then I'd have to deal with you. This way is so much easier and less messy." He stood up and smirked down at him. "Perhaps I should leave something here? To prove to my son that he's not in charge?" He pulled out a bag and dropped the snake down. "It's deaf by the way," he said with a smirk before leaving.

Harry looked at the snake, who was staring at him. He tried talking to it. "Don't eat me," he pleaded in Snake. "I'm in enough pain." It flicked its tongue. "I'm a good guy usually," he pointed out. "Draco! Ron!" he shouted. "Help!" Nothing. He looked at the snake again, noticing it was looking a bit upset with him for screaming. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, trying to soothe it. It reared back and hissed more menacingly. He decided it wouldn't do any good to say anything, it really wasn't responding to him. He settled in to wait it out. He didn't know what type it was, but he was sure it was poisonous. Lucius wouldn't have put a harmless snake on him, especially not a harmless, deaf one. He saw Ron's body. "Ron! Help!" Ron didn't pay any attention to him. The snake however was getting more agitated. "Sorry." He looked away, not staring at it. Snakes were uncomfortable when you stared at them. He heard movement and looked at it, noticing it was moving around his head. Hopefully it was leaving him alone.

His hopes were dashed when he felt the fangs sink into his ear. "Shit!" The sand held him trapped and he couldn't move. Then the nerve toxins started. "Help! Draco! Snake!" A few people on the beach looked at him, but they didn't come any closer. His breathing started to shallow out and the world started to narrow to a pinpoint. He saw Ron and opened his mouth, or tried to, but nothing came out and the world finished going black.

Ron came up to check on Harry and noticed the marks. "Draco!" he screamed. "Snake!" Draco hurried up, capturing the snake. "What do we do?"

"Uncover him, we'll get him treated," Draco said, looking at it. It hissed at him and tried to strike. "Why didn't he talk to it? Is he suicidal now?"

"Maybe it decided he was helpless," Ron said bitterly, working on uncovering Harry. He glanced around but people were looking at him. "Our friend got bitten by a snake, can someone please get an ambulance or something?" he requested. Draco looked at him. "The shield's down. Dig!"

Draco killed the snake and helped him dig Harry out, noticing the people running toward them with badges on their shirts. "Cops?"

"Probably." Ron looked at them. "He got bitten by a snake," he said, not minding when he was pushed out of the way.

"This one was near his head," Draco said, handing it over to one of the people carrying the large plastic box. It was put into a bag and Harry was lifted off the sand and carried to a waiting ambulance. The boys gathered up their things and ran after them, Ron getting on to go to the hospital with him. Draco got everything back to the hotel and paused long enough to call Molly and tell her. She'd want to know, she had always liked Harry. By the time he got to the hospital, they were arguing about what antidote to give him. "How about the one from the snake which was beside his head?" he asked snidely.

"Are you a relative?"

"I'm his bloody housemate!"

"That's fine, but only relatives are allowed here," the doctor told him. "Remove him."

Draco stunned him, shocking everyone. "He was bitten by the snake beside his head," he said calmly. "I don't know where it came from, but it bit him. His blood was still on the snake's fangs when I killed it. So give him whatever antitoxin belongs to that particular breed so he doesn't die!" he finished in a shout.

"Draco!" Ron said, hurrying over to calm him down. He unfroze everyone. "He's sorry." He walked Draco away. "We'll have to wait."

"I don't like waiting," Draco pointed out coldly. Ron glared at him. "I'm sorry, Ron, but this isn't right!"

"I know. Calm down. It doesn't do him any good if you scream at the doctors or if you expose things to them," he said quietly, glancing around. "Now sit and wait with me." He pushed Draco into a seat and sat beside him. The nurse looked over at them every few minutes to make sure there weren't any more outbursts, but no one came to tell them anything.

Arthur walked in with Minerva McGonagall trailing him. "Where is he?"

"The bloody doctors are not only stupid, but said we can't know anything," Ron said bitterly. "We're not family."

Arthur smiled. "I have that solved. You wait here and I'll tell you everything myself." He walked into the back, finding a nurse in Harry's room. "I'm his father-in-law. I want to know what's going on and I want to know now!" he demanded. The nurse hurried off, bringing the doctor back. McGonagall was examining him. "Is he still living?"

"It looks like they've tried to treat him but he's fairly weak," she told him. "I want him back in Poppy's care immediately, Arthur. I won't allow him to stay here." She looked over as the doctor came in. "Are you over his care?" she demanded. The doctor smiled and nodded. "Have you given him anything, even a general antitoxin?"

"Are you a doctor?"

"Not officially, just a battlefield healer," she admitted. "He's one of mine and I'll be taking him as soon as we can move him."

"He's not breathing on his own," the doctor pointed out, pointing at the respirator. "And no, we don't know what bit him. The young men with him said some snake that isn't even from around here bit him but it's clearly impossible." He smiled at Arthur. "You're family?"

"I'm his father-in-law, it's the closest you're getting. He's an orphan and married to one of my children."

"Fine. We need you to sign forms. We don't know what to give him."

"Then we're moving him somewhere better," Arthur said calmly.

"Nowhere in the Bahamas can treat him."

"That's fine, we're English," Arthur told him. The doctor looked stunned. "He'll live that long."

"I doubt it."

"I don't. Boys?" he called. "We'll want the snake as well, or at least a good picture. Ron, Draco, go pack everything, we're bringing you back to the school."

"He's stuck in that mind loop still, dad," Ron told him.

"I know, son, it'll be fine," Arthur said with a smile. "Your mother and Poppy are waiting on him." The boys nodded and Draco ran off to get everything packed. "Now," he told the doctor. "We'll want the snake and the transfer orders now." The doctor nodded, going to get them for him. "Ron, we can't apparate him to the school."

"We can portkey in," McGonagall pointed out. "I've got one on me. Poppy made sure it'll reach the infirmary." Arthur smiled at him. "She's already talked with one specialist." Ron slumped. "You, Mr. Weasley, need to tell me *exactly* what happened," she said firmly.

"Once we've got him somewhere better," Ron told her. She stared at him and he shrugged. "I'm not going to waste time arguing, ma'am, you might as well deal with it."

"Fine." She pulled out the small portkey, laying it on Harry's chest. "I'll activate it once we have everything. The local Ministry people are coming in a few minutes to do a mind-wipe." Ron nodded and moved closer, taking Harry's free side. "What happened?" she asked in a gentler tone.

Ron stroked Harry's limp, cool cheek. "We buried him in the sand so he had to deal with the thoughts he was having, the fight and wondering if Draco was going to leave us now," he said, staring down at Harry. "And he was getting really upset so we left him for a few to play in the water. I thought I heard something so I came back up," he said, his breath hitching. "I saw the snake next to his head. It bit him on the ear," he said, starting to cry.

Arthur reached over to pat him on the shoulder. "A few more minutes and he'll be just fine."

Ron looked at him. "They didn't even think it could be that snake. It's not local, dad." Arthur hissed and Ron glared at him. "What?" Arthur shook his head. "You know something so fucking well give, Father!"

McGonagall gave him a look. "Calm yourself, we'll share stories as soon as he's back." Draco apparated in. "That was risky," she scolded.

"It was necessary," Draco countered. "The local Ministry's here." He took Ron's hand to hold. "How much longer?"

"Not long." Ron looked at the monitors. "Those look really bad, worse than his cousin's did."

"It's the poison, it's basically putting him on hold," Arthur assured him. "Once the antitoxin is delivered, he'll perk back up. We won't be losing him."

"Until someone else decides to prove a point by killing him," Ron said bitterly, staring at his father, daring him to argue.

"Not many would do that at this point," McGonagall said gently. The doctor came back in, with one of the Ministry people behind him dressed as a cop. "May we go now?"

"Your transport?"

"Already on it's way," she said firmly. He handed over a copy of their chart and the remains of the snake. "Where's the head?"

"In the smaller bag," he said with some distaste. "I know it didn't bite him, it's not local."

"Then why was it lying on his head?" Ron asked. The doctor backed away from him. "Leave."

"Fine." He walked out but the Ministry person stayed.

"We've got it," McGonagall pointed out. He shrugged. "Out!" He jumped and backed out, used to following orders in that tone of voice. "Let's go." Everyone grabbed onto the portkey, Arthur putting Harry's hand on it as well, and off they went. They landed in the infirmary, with McGonagall and Ron catching Harry between them. "Poppy!" she snapped. A bed rolled underneath him. "The snake." She handed it over and dragged Ron and Draco past Snape's silent form and out into the hall. "Now then. Tell me everything."

Ron swallowed. "Harry's gotten stuck in the 'I killed them' part of the thought," he explained. "I know he was thinking that we couldn't stand to be around him so we buried him in the sand this morning and waited until he woke up to talk to him."

"That way he couldn't move," Draco said tiredly. "We got through to him that he was staying and he managed to set both our tempers off so we went to splash in the surf for a few moments. Ron said he heard something so he went to check on him." He left out that he had tried to stop Ron from going, thinking that it was Harry complaining and wanting to beg some more for release. He ran a hand through his hair. "Ron found the snake and yelled for me. I caught it and killed it."

"Why didn't he talk to it?" Ron asked.

"I'm not so sure he wanted to," Draco told him. Ron punched him, knocking him into the wall. "Weasley," he warned.

"No," Arthur said as he came out. "Harry's many things, but actively suicidal isn't one of them. Otherwise you would have seen it in other ways." He looked at McGonagall. "Severus thinks the snake's deaf. He said there were burns near the tympanic membranes." She shuddered.

"Who would hurt him that way?" Ron asked. He looked at Draco. "I'm sorry."

"We'll discuss it later," Draco said coldly. Ron tried to hug him but he pushed him away. "Later," he repeated, even colder.

"I'm still sorry," Ron mumbled, looking at his feet. Then he looked at his father. "Why did you

come?"

"Draco called us," Arthur told him. He gave Ron the hug he was wanting. "It'll be fine, Ron. I promise. If he's lived this long under substandard care, then he'll continue to live."

"They did everything but give him the antitoxin," Ron defended. Snape walked out and he stopped him. "Is there an antidote?" Snape nodded. "Was it that one?" Snape nodded again so he let him go. "Thank you, Professor, I know how much you hated him."

Snape looked at the boy. "I don't hate him, I hate his attitude and the way everyone automatically treats him," he corrected, then he walked away, taking the snake with him.

Draco looked at McGonagall. "You know who might have done this," he accused quietly. She blanched. "Who?"

"Your father wasn't among the bodies at the first site," she told him simply. Draco frowned. "We haven't found him yet."

"Harry shot him in the lung, he said he did," Ron told her. She nodded. "How would he have survived that?"

"There are a few ways," Arthur sighed. "Someone at the Ministry was working on a super-healing potion and it was stolen a few months back. Either that or he's got a changeling of his own, Ron." Ron's mouth hung open and he looked at Draco.

"That's a myth," Draco said firmly. "There's no evidence that their blood heals."

"Whatever," Ron decided. "We can ask him when we find the bastard!" he said coldly. Draco nodded. "How much longer?"

"Give Poppy a few more minutes then you can sit beside him," McGonagall said quietly, walking away to report to the Headmaster. Arthur gave his son another hug and offered Draco one but he stiffened so he followed Minerva up to the office so he could report to Molly.

Ron looked at Draco. "I gave Snape a vial of the potion and one of my blood, it was too hot to add it," he admitted. Draco looked at him, looking cool but interested. "I'm sorry, okay? I reacted, I'm angry and you were an easy target! I didn't mean to hit you but you said that and I couldn't stop myself. We can argue over that later!"

"Yes, we will." Draco glanced into the infirmary. "There is no evidence that it can or does heal injuries. There are rumors that it can but no proof." Ron nodded. "Why did you give some to Snape?"

"Because I thought someone there might be willing to back you and Harry up so I wouldn't have to worry," he admitted, slumping down to squat against the wall. "I hate this."

"I agree," Draco said, unfreezing some. Harry meant more to Ron than to him, he could understand that. He could objectively see that he might have done the same thing had it been someone saying those things about Ron. Still, he would make it clear that Ron would never hit him again or he would suffer horribly. "If it was my father, we may have proof," he decided. Ron looked at him, opening his mouth. "Don't say it," he warned. "I'm still angry."

"I'm sorry." Ron stood up and hugged him. "I shouldn't have taken it out on you, Draco. You've been so good to us and I'm sorry. I know you care for us."

Draco relaxed and patted him on the back. "If you do it again, I'm going to put back up some of my father's favorite equipment and make sure you never touch another being again," he said quietly. Ron nodded. "Good. Now let's go sit beside Harry and see if he remembers anything." They walked in but Madam Pomfrey tried to stop them. "We're his husbands, woman, let us by," he said harshly.

"I can't treat him with you two hovering around him. Being like this is being on the brink of death and having to sit there and watch it is cruel."

"I'd rather have to watch it than wonder," Ron said, pushing past her. "You remove me by killing me." He sat beside Harry, watching the magical respirator work. "He can't breathe on his own?"

"Not yet. The toxin should wear off in eight hours if Severus can't make an antidote or nearly immediately if he can." She softened her tone when she saw the grief. "He's strong, Mr. Weasley, he'll live a long and celebrated life."

Ron looked at her. "He doesn't want to be celebrated." She walked away. Draco took the other side of the bed. "If it was your father, it's my turn," Ron told him.

"I'm sure he'd delight to have you," Draco said bitterly.

"Yay. He'll see exactly what he has if he manages to capture me," Ron said coldly. Draco looked at him. "I won't put up with this again. Have you called Vincent and Hermione?"

"Not yet," he admitted. "I was going to wait until we knew something."

"They should know, Draco."

"They don't need their happiness ruined by this," he retorted.

"Call them or I will. Hermione would want to be here, the same as I do."

"Fine," he sighed, walking away. He walked up to the nurse. "May I borrow your private floo to call the house?"

"Go ahead," she said, pointing at her office. He walked in and shut the door so she went to talk to Ron. "Mr. Weasley, we have to know, has he eaten or drank anything for the last few hours?" Ron looked at her. "It will determine the strength of the potion."

"We gave him some juice while we had him buried in the sand," he admitted. "He was asleep when we buried him up to his neck." She nodded, keeping her calm demeanor. "He got stuck in the killing part of the fight."

"Of course he would. He is a gentle boy. He rightly fears that he could get stuck in that mindset and wouldn't be able to come back." She patted the sheet over him and checked Harry over again. "I have no doubt that you wanted what was best for him but this is something he'll have to work on for himself. A war changes many things." She walked away, leaving him with his thoughts, and his mother when she came in a few minutes later. "He'll be fine, we're mixing a counter now, Molly."

"Good." She wiped her tear-stained cheeks. "What happened?"

"A deaf snake bit him on the ear while he was buried in the sand." Molly shook her head and went to sit with her son. "Hopefully she reams him a new one," she said quietly, going to check on Draco. She found him curled up in her chair so she closed the door and gave him the hug he obviously needed. "You'll work it out," she soothed. "It won't go back to the way it was, but he won't blame you."

"I blame me," Draco admitted, looking at her. "It was my idea."

"To drop the snake?"

"No!" He wiped at his face. "How is he?"

"About the same. We have to wait on Severus or on the poison to leech from his system."

"Would leeches help?"

"They'd die very quickly with the poison. In this case, only time will cure him, young man." She gave him another hug, not minding when he shifted to get away after a second. "You blame yourself, Ron blames himself, and Harry will add another tally to his list of things that are his fault," she said quietly. He looked up at her. "I have always thought you were an odd choice because you could not understand young Mr. Potter's mind or the way he views the world. He knows nothing of care or of happiness outside of what you've shown him, and for that I'll allow that you're trying, but this will haunt him forever. Forcing him to sublimate it will only cause sleeplessness and nightmares, then the bitterness you see all too often will start. The *only* way for him to get better is for him to work through it to see that he had no choice. He won't do that if you force it, young man. Only he can make himself see it." Draco nodded. "Now go back to the cubicle. Ron's mother is out there." Draco went to sit with his family. She sighed as she sat in her desk chair. "That poor boy." Though she wasn't sure which one she meant.

***

Severus walked in with a small vial. "He drinks this," he told Weasley. Ron looked at him. "He drinks it."

"He's gotten colder and the respirator is working harder."

"Then time is of the essence. Do I have to pour it down his throat myself?" Draco took the vial and Ron tipped Harry's head back, so he slowly poured it down his throat. Molly helped by ticking his adam's apple, making him swallow. They watched the body, but nothing seemed to change.

"Was it too weak?" Ron asked, his voice having no emotion to it anymore.

"No, it will take a bit. He is stronger, give it time to circulate," Snape advised. Draco looked at him. "It is a popular poison," he admitted. Molly gave him a smile. "Do we know anything more?"

"Not a bit," Molly sighed. "The boys don't remember seeing anyone, only that the shield they had put around Harry was down."

"It was down?" Snape asked. Draco nodded. "How would that have happened?"

"We thought it had fallen due to failure," Ron said, stroking Harry's forehead. "Come on, Harry, I'm waiting for you to wake up and glare at me again," he said gently. He saw a finger twitch. "Was that a good sign?"

"Most likely," Snape agreed. He looked at Draco. "It failed?"

"I didn't stop to think what could have brought it down," Draco admitted. "It'd have to be someone stronger than the both of us. We wove it together between us. We thought the emotional turmoil must have weakened it."

Snape rolled his eyes. "They don't work that way," he reminded them.

Draco gave him a cold look. "We nearly lost our husband, I don't think this is the time for that discussion, do you?" he nearly shouted.

"Calm yourself. If he hears you shouting, he won't come back," Madam Pomfrey said gently as she stepped in to check him. "Is it working?"

"He had a finger twitch," Ron said, getting out of her way.

She ran her wand over Harry's body, frowning. "It's not fully working. He's still paralyzed in some major systems, but it has eased some of the nerve paralysis," she assured them. "He'll recover in a few days time."

"Days?" Molly asked.

"Days," Poppy agreed. "Professor, get them a room."

"Their old one is taken," Snape told her.

"I'm not leaving," Ron said firmly.

"You'll at least take a nap in a bed and a shower somewhere other than here," Madam Pomfrey ordered, raising her wand. "I can make it an order if you wish."

"You can come back to the Burrow," Molly suggested lightly.

"No!" Ron said, shaking his head. "I'm not leaving him! If he wakes up and we're not here, he's going to freak and I don't think that's good for him!"

"We'll take turns," Draco said quietly, settling in for a while. "Go bathe off the salt water and change, Ron," he said at the harsh stare. "I'm not moving." Ron and he shared a look. "Go," he repeated, gentler this time. "He's safe with me." Ron nodded and let Professor Snape show him to a room.

"You were fighting?" Molly asked. Draco nodded. "He doesn't know any better, Draco."

"He's an adult, he should be able to realize that I hadn't sent him away yet," he retorted. "I'll have to make sure he knows that he's coming home with us again." She nodded, relaxing. "You can go comfort your son if you want, or report in. I'm not leaving until Ron comes back."

"Thank you, but I think I'll stay for a bit longer." He nodded, turning to stare at the body on the bed. "It was an inspired plan, Draco." He pointed at Harry. "Oh. No wonder." Draco looked at her. "How much harder is it to plan to kill someone and then follow it through when all you know is that you're capable of it and you don't want to be?"

"I hadn't considered that," he admitted gently. "Nor am I ready to. For now, I think we should reassure him, not me." He put his feet up, letting his ankles unswell. Salt water had dried to a crust on him but he didn't really care. He would be there until Ron came back or until Harry woke up and told him to go away.

***

Harry woke up and couldn't move, but his eyes did shift around a little bit. He saw Ron and tried to make a sound, but it was enough, Ron jumped.

"Harry," Ron said with a smile, giving him a hug. "You made it, mate." Harry looked around again. "He's taking a nap. Snape knocked him out." Harry's eyes held another question. "He's sorry, Harry, and so am I. My mother did one of those quiet and gentle talks where she rips you a new one because you're an idiot and she's disappointed in you. We understand how hard this must be for you and we'll be here for you." Harry's head shifted side to side. "Yeah, we will be. No matter what, even if you wanted to run away for a few weeks to think in private." Harry's head shifted again. "No? You won't leave?" He got his lips to work and whispered something. "Harry, stop it or I'm going to hit you and I don't want to do that," Ron warned.

"What's going on?" Poppy asked as she breezed in. "I know you weren't threatening him."

"He said he wanted to leave us so we'd be safe from him."

"Ah!" She smiled at Harry. "Fat chance." He seemed to go limper. "I can send for Mr. Malfoy if you wanted to hear it from his lips?" Harry's head shifted again. "Good, then Mr. Weasley can leave and go wake him up while I examine you." He whispered something else. "I know it was. We figured as much. They heard you," she said with a smile for the boy. "Relax for now and tell me if you start to feel tired from breathing. We'll reattach the fake lung." He blinked a few times. "Good boy. Go, Mr. Weasley. He'll want to know." Ron nodded and left them alone. She closed the curtain, cutting off all possible noise. "I have to inform you that you were bitten two days before yesterday." Harry's eyes widened. "You're back at the school because the doctors down there didn't want to give you the right antivenom serum." Harry's head shifted again. "Ron and Draco are run nearly ragged with guilt, but they do understand now." Harry shook his head again. "I'm sure they do." He whispered something and she gave him a sad smile. "I thought it might be something like that, Harry, and they will understand. Molly put it into terms that they could understand. They're very sorry for leaving you alone." He said something else and she frowned. "No, you shouldn't have died to save them the pain." The curtain opened and Draco walked in. "Where's Ron?"

"I forced him to take a nap, he was getting ready to cry again," he said bitterly. He looked down at Harry. "Repeat that please?" he requested. Harry told him what he was thinking. "Do not say such shit again in front of me or I'll be forced to deal with you, Potter, I won't put up with this self-recrimination. You're not normally like that!" A hand pulled him out of the room. "Fine! I'll calm down. Even though he just said he should have died so he couldn't kill me."

Snape looked down at him. "Of course he did. He thought it felt right somehow." He walked in. "Leave." Poppy gave him a look. "I assure you he'll continue to live until you come back." She left them alone and he blocked off any and all possible sounds leaving the cubicle. "What is your problem now?" Harry mouthed something so he moved closer. "Repeat that?" he ordered. Harry did so. "I see. And you believe that would have been better for them?"

Harry's whispering got a little bit louder. "I know you've killed, did you enjoy it?" he hissed. Snape shook his head. "I did," he said simply.

Snape considered him. "It's a harsh slap of reality when we find out that we, as supposedly civilized beings, can kill another being that is conscious of its state and able to think above the level of survival. That reality has caused many people in the past to kill themselves, especially if they find that somewhere in them a part of them took pleasure in the act. In this case, you not only took pleasure from it, but you felt the weight of the world lifting off your shoulders. That doubled the pleasurable feelings for you. I doubt we have to worry about you doing it again though; your spate of conscience has shown that you abhor your actions and you aren't likely to repeat them. The only thing you can do is come to terms with the realization that you did what you had to do and it felt good to finally be rid of the responsibility, and come to peace with the reality of your life." Harry blinked at him. "Do I need to use smaller words?" he sneered.

"No," Harry whispered. "But I keep seeing Draco and Ron...."

Snape interrupted before that fully got out. "I understand, that's normal. Trust me," he said with a grim look. "I've had many visions of Dumbledore lying dead by my hand. The thing that separates you from those who are truly psychotic is that you can control that impulse. Like occulemencary, the more control you have over it and yourself, the easier it becomes to fight it off. Now, shall I send in Mr. Malfoy?"

"Tell him I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to go back to sleep," Harry whispered.

"Fine. You lay there and think with your eyes closed. I doubt he's going to stay out there." Harry nodded and closed his eyes so he ended their protection and stepped out. "I believe he's fallen asleep again." Draco nodded, going to take the seat beside Harry's head. "Do let him think this time, Mr. Malfoy. For some, killing is something that will haunt us forever, the same as your friend Pansy had it haunt her until she couldn't take it any more." He walked off, leaving him there.

Madam Pomfrey walked in and examined Harry closely, then smiled at him. "He'll be fine. Everything appears to be working normally, just a bit slowly. What we expected really."

"Should we send him to the real hospital?"

"Do you want to be mobbed by people looking to shake his hand, talk to him, and name their children after him?" she asked. He shook his head. "Then he can stay here. We'll move him across the hall later if he stays stable so you can have some peace and quiet from the other students. They haven't heard that you're here yet." She left him there, going to report the good news to Molly and Arthur, then to the Headmaster. Whatever Severus had said, it seemed to ease some of the worst of it.

Draco leaned over and looked at Harry. "I know you're awake," he whispered. Harry opened his eyes and looked at him. "Would you rather have Ron?" Harry shook his head. "Be alone?" Harry shook his head again and tried to move a hand, managing to lift a finger. Draco took his hand to hold. "I know I was an ass, I'm sorry."

"Who hit you?" Harry whispered.

"Ron. We've already worked through that." Harry nodded, slowly shifting away from him. "What?"

"Side?" he pleaded.

"Fine." Draco helped Harry onto his side, facing him of course. "How's that?" Harry nodded, giving him a tentative smile. "Yes, we do still adore you, Harry, even though you're having bad mental problems." Harry blinked a few times. "Molly reamed us very well over fighting with you and trying to push you faster than you were ready to go. Whatever you need, we'll be there with, except to punish you or let you punish us."

"I want to talk to someone," Harry whispered.

"Fine. Whomever you want. Anyone in particular?"

"Someone who wrote the book I trained with?" Draco smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. We'll arrange it as soon as you're better." He gave the hand in his a little squeeze. "You rest. Ron's been knocked out and I'll be here when you wake up again."

"I still see them."

"Molly thinks you always will, the trick is to make yourself not care because there wasn't anything else you could do. As a wise person once said, sometimes bad things happen to good people, Potter. Now nap, before I have to pull out my bitch act." Harry nodded again and closed his eyes. Draco leaned closer. "This more than anything proves that you were not created to be some tool to be used and thrown away after your purpose was done with," he said quietly. "No tool has emotions or self-doubt." Harry smiled but kept his eyes closed. Draco settled in to help him sleep, hoping that no nightmares would come. He hated to hear them, they disturbed him deep inside.

***

Harry woke up and smiled at the man sitting beside him, earning one back. He did feel better, he could move more freely and without a lot of pain. He reached a hand out and Draco took it to squeeze. "How much longer?" he asked.

"A few more days." Draco shifted closer and gave him a light kiss. "Ron's taking a shower, do you want me to interrupt him?"

"No, I like a freshly cleaned Ron," Harry admitted with a faint smile. "Thank you."

"We each have our own problems that we deal with, Harry. Mine seems to be not being able to understand."

"You kinda had to live through it to really get it," Ron said as he walked in wearing a sarong and his bikini. "Yes, I'm back fully female again," he sighed at the looks he was getting. "Remember, you said we were going to buy all new stuff?"

Draco laughed and pulled Ron into his lap. "I do remember, I'm sorry life got in the way of us making you wear decent clothes." He adjusted a strap, making Ron shiver. "Are you cold?"

"Fairly, it's September in Scotland, not September in the Bahamas."

McGonagall walked in, already scowling. "What are you wearing?"

"The only female clothes they allowed me to pack," Ron quipped with a smile. "Good morning, Harry, how are you feeling?"

"Better." Harry got a kiss which made his toes curl. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Ron felt Draco shifting under her and stood up, smiling as the robe was handed to her. "Thank you, nice and toasty warm." She slid into it and buttoned it across her breasts, which gave a magnificent view of her bare stomach. "Ah." She settled back into Draco's lap. "I'd cuddle you but Pomfrey said she'd toss me out again, Harry."

"That's okay, I understand." Harry reached out and Ron took his hand to hold. "Spring me sooner?"

"Out of the question," McGonagall said firmly. "You're not fully better yet and you need protecting."

Harry looked at her. "Lucius had a cloak like mine," he told her. "I only saw his face." She scowled and he shrugged. "Sorry!"

"Fine, I'll pass that along. He did put the snake on you?" Harry nodded. "Did he say it was deaf?" Harry nodded again. "Thank you." She walked away, head up and trying hard not to blush at the unorthodox clothing the temporarily young lady was wearing. She met Snape in the hallway. "You'll not want to look at Weasley. They didn't allow him to pack girl clothes. He's barely covered."

"Then it's like last year," Snape said. She scowled at him and he smiled. He enjoyed pissing her off, it was his favorite game. "Is he awake?"

"And chatting with his husbands," she sniffed. "He said Lucius had an invisibility cloak, he only saw his face."

"That could have been the only way it happened," Snape agreed. "Otherwise everyone would have seen him." He breezed into the infirmary. "Mr. Potter, once again you have proven a challenge to my skills. I haven't had to make that particular potion in many years." He looked down at the boy and saw the easing of the grief that had been in the green eyes. "Are you better?"

"And I'd like to get out of here before we get pounced by someone," Harry admitted. "Please?"

"Out of the question," the nurse called. "Two more days at least."

"Shit," Harry sighed. He looked at Ron. "Maybe Hermione could bring you some clothes, Ron?"

"I'll call her and tell her she can," Ron said with a grin. "That way I don't have to stun any of the horny upper forms with this outfit."

"That would be pleasant," Snape and Draco agreed.

Snape looked over the outfit in question. "Do stand up," he said with some amusement.

"We were in the Bahamas," Ron groaned as she stood up. "Draco wouldn't let me pack anything else for my female times."

"I expected to spend most of it on the beach," Draco agreed.

Snape flicked open the button and looked at the bathing suit and sarong. He raised an eyebrow and nearly smiled. "I see what they wanted to, but that is not appropriate attire. Feel thankful this didn't happen while you were a student."

"Nearly," Ron reminded him, buttoning the robe again. It only had two buttons and the second would make him look heavy and pregnant, he didn't want to give that impression. "Blame your godson, sir, not me."

"I'm sure you could have won your way through that argument," Snape pointed out dryly.

"We unpacked his other things," Harry admitted. Draco looked at him. "You were right beside me, don't give me that look," he teased.

Snape did crack a smile. "It's good to see you're back to your former self."

"Until I can find someone to help me work through it, I'm pushing it out of my head," Harry told him. "Thank you, sir."

Snape inclined his head. "It was enough for me to know that you're not going to plague me any longer. Do get better. Mr. Malfoy, you left your room a mess again."

"I'll clean it when I go to shower," Draco said with a handwave. "Why hasn't anyone else come up?"

"It hasn't been announced that you're up here, nor shall it be. The Headmaster was made aware that you would need complete bedrest to recuperate and heal. Therefore you're being ignored upon his orders." Harry sighed and relaxed. "I doubt it will stop him though."

"I can deal with him, I can't deal with a whole group of students at once," Harry told him.

"I do understand that. Though your former house may know," he said with a look toward Ron.

"Ginny," Ron groaned. "The parents told her."

"I believe so, yes. I'll let you rest, I have first years to flunk already. Though none are as bad as your year. Thankfully." He strolled off, impressed with himself and their bond. He walked up to the Headmaster's office, barely stopping to knock. "Our talk did him some good and he's set himself on a path to healing. He was most thankful that you haven't let the gossiping hordes descend upon him for autographs. And Mr. Weasley is yet again without proper clothing. He's sending someone for Ms. Granger." Dumbledore looked at him, blinking. Snape gave him a smug look. "Who got the potion you took from me?"

"No one. I destroyed it," Dumbledore told him. Snape raised an eyebrow. "I thought it wouldn't be worthwhile to put that onto someone's shoulders," he told him.

"I see. Good enough. Weasley wanted to know." Dumbledore nodded. "The others don't know that he gave one to me." He turned and walked out, going to grade some essays.

Dumbledore sighed and looked at the paintings. "Don't say it, it was necessary at the time, or so I thought."

"And it's your fault the boy was harmed," the first Headmistress snapped. "We should beat you senseless once you're one of us, Albus Dumbledore."

"In war many distasteful things happen."

"Yes, and they happen to people, which means that they're not animals to be used for your purposes. Not Mr. Potter and his mates, not Ms. Parkinson, may she rest in peace, and certainly not that nice Professor Snape. When are you going to take the Imperious off him?"

"Tonight. I'll dose him tonight and remove it after dinner." Dumbledore leaned forward, holding his head. "He'll see that it was necessary."

Arabelle looked down at him. "I'd be surprised if he didn't already break it."

"I've put it back each time he did," Dumbledore admitted. "I'll have to talk to him." The door creaked open and he looked at the figure standing there. "Molly. Harry's up."

"I heard." She looked at him. "Resign, Albus, retire into notoriety and write a few books. I'm sure we can find someone to take yours and Fudge's place soon enough." She walked away, going down to the dungeons. She remembered the way from her own tenure as a student. "Professor Snape?" she asked as she walked in. He looked at her and smiled, taking something out of his ear. "You knew?" He nodded. "Do you want him to remove it or me? I am fairly good at it after all this time." Someone coughed behind her and she smiled. "Hello, Minerva. Did you hear? Harry's awake and doing much better."

"I've already seen him today," she admitted. She patted Molly on the back. "I don't want to run the school, I'm satisfied in my present job."

"As am I," Severus agreed. "Draco is on the Board now."

"I know," McGonagall admitted with a smile. "Are you presently under it?" He shook his head. "Are you sure?"

"I had myself checked. How is Percy?"

"Much better now that he's out from under his own curses," Molly said happily. "He apologized this morning for everything. Arthur nearly cried in joy." She sniffled. "What's going to happen?"

"Mr. Potter will be taken back to Malfoy Manor if I know Mr. Malfoy. Lucius is even now hiding somewhere making his little plans for the future. We'll have to deal with him I'm afraid," Severus Snape pointed out, leaning back in his chair to get comfortable, his hands crossed over his abdomen. "Who has seniority at the Ministry, Molly?"

She walked farther in to lean against a desk while she thought. "Arthur said General Blank did. He died during the battle though, it's how he would have wanted it. The head of Curses and Spells has been there for ten years." Her face lit up. "It's mostly Arthur I believe." Minerva chuckled. "I doubt he'd take it though," Molly pointed out.

"He would if you reminded him this might be the only way to make sure this doesn't happen again," Snape told her. She nodded, agreeing to that. "Anyone else?"

"There's one person who may be, I can't remember if they came in at the same time as Arthur or if they got hired first, though I know they got a Minister's position later." The other adults nodded. "I think we'll have to wait for the vote."

"It's today, isn't it?" Minerva asked. Molly sighed and nodded. "Then I hope he gets it. At least he has sense." She patted Molly on the back. "Now about the next Headmaster. I believe we'll need a strong person in that role, someone who can run the school gently, but with skill. A proven leader, yet someone who can relate to the students and do whatever's necessary to help them." She looked at Snape and he nodded so she glanced at Molly and he smirked. "I believe I'll discuss that with Mr. Malfoy when I go back up there. Did Mr. Weasley put on anything else?"

"Just a robe," he said with some humor. "It's nearly as bad as the borrowed shirt day."

"That would be something I would change if I were Headmistress, giving students in that circumstance a study hall all day instead of forcing them to go through the ridicule of attending normal classes. It can't be good for one's self-esteem if you're forced to expose yourself in front of others."

Severus and Minerva shared a look and smiled. "That is a change I'd like to see made as well," Severus said smoothly. "Your son's attire at times has been very distracting. Especially in that red dress when you had the rest of his clothes." Molly snorted and laughed. "It was. I found half of one of my fourth year classes that day in the bathroom wanking off to her name." Molly laughed harder.

***

Minerva pulled Draco out of the infirmary. "I need to speak to you as a member of our Board of Regents, Draco." He nodded and leaned against the wall. "I know you're aware that Albus did many things for the benefit of the war that weren't....suitable, or possibly conductive is a better word at this point, to the well being of certain students."

"I know you both knew what Harry's home life was like," he agreed. "What of it?"

She cleared her throat. "I did what he did, Draco, what was best for everyone at large. I trusted Mr. Potter to find someone who could soothe all those aches, and he did in you and Ron. I have no problems admitting I was wrong in that matter. I don't want Albus's job either." He started to look interested. "Severus and I wanted to suggest something more radical than that. We wanted to put someone in the job who was more of a nurturer, someone who would put the students ahead of her own needs for once." He nodded, looking more interested. "The one person he and I thought of, together mind you, is your mother-in-law."

"I see a slight problem with that," Draco said dryly, but he was smiling. "She's not a trained educator."

"No, she's not. She's a mother and what better sort to soothe everyone when necessary. There are a lot of changes coming, Malfoy, and we both know it. The students will need someone they can cling to and hold onto, someone who can understand what it's like to be unsure. Besides, look how she ran her family on a tight budget, in a full house, and they still turned out rather well. Severus and I can't think of a better person."

"She's still not trained and most of the Board would probably want that."

"Then remind them that the first and greatest Headmistress ever was a mother as well. Not since Arabelle Malfoy has there been a Headmistress who could steer the students *gently* where they needed to go." He laughed, nodding. "Please put in her nomination?"

"Does she know?"

"No, but I doubt she'd balk much. Arthur's in line for Minister of Magic from what she knows. It can only help the both of them and it would save the school and the students a lot of problems for the Ministry and the school to be so closely linked."

"I'll call the other board members," he said, smiling for her benefit. "I believe she'd at least shake up the school." He nodded at the room. "Are you going to visit?" She nodded. "Then let's do that while I call about." He let her enter first, smiling at Ron.

"I heard and I really don't want to know why it sounded like you wanted my mother to be the next Headmistress," Ron told her.

McGonagall gave him a hug. "Can you think of a better person to steer the school through the rough times of change we're going to go through soon?"

"You're joking," Harry said flatly. McGonagall shook her head. "Then I am very glad I'm not a student now. Molly is very good at finding unique punishments at times."

Ron shivered. "Oooh, I'd hate to be a prankster in this school if she takes over."

"All the more reason, so we don't have anyone like the twins ever again," McGonagall agreed happily.

Draco laughed as he squatted down beside the prepared fire, calling out to the Board of Regents. "Hello. I believe it's my turn to sit now?"

"Your father isn't dead."

"No, he's a fugitive," Draco pointed out. He smiled. "McGonagall and Snape just approached me about Dumbledore, who they think might be retiring soon." The Regents looked interested. "They had in mind a rather quirky choice, but one they think will be able to steer the school gently in a more proper direction, yet be able to handle the students with a velvet-armored glove. Molly Weasley. They believe her husband is also going to be the next Minister of Magic, thereby solving the problems between the two institutions." The Regents looked stunned, then nodded at each other, smiling and talking about how she could easily fix the school's budget woes. "Then can I give Dumbledore the good news?"

"Go right ahead," the new head Regent, by the pin on his cloak, said with a magnanimous wave of his hand. "We'll see you soon? At the next meeting?"

"One of my husbands is ill at the moment or I'd be doing this in person."

"I had noticed you appeared to be in the school's infirmary. Tell me, who did you marry?" the head Regent asked.

"A Weasley changeling and Potter." He cut the connection and stood up, smiling at them. "Done." He strolled out, going to tell the old Headmaster the good news. He tapped briefly and walked in confidently, like he owned the place, which in a way he did. "You'll be retiring soon," he said with a patronizing smile. "But don't worry, we've picked your replacement on the suggestion of some of your staff and I'm sure you'll want to help Molly Weasley make a smooth transition." Dumbledore looked at him and his smile got more pleasant. "Soon if you wouldn't mind? The Board did agree after all and we want to get her settled in and announced before the Ministry shakeups occur."

Dumbledore looked at him, then at the paintings. They were laughing and cheering. "She isn't an educator."

"No, but we decided to go in the vein of our first and finest Headmistress, my many times removed aunt Arabelle Malfoy." He smiled at her picture and bowed. "You'll be happy to know, Auntie, that Harry is on his way to a full recovery, both physically and mentally. Ron, on the other hand, wasn't allowed to bring any clothes so he's in a bikini, a sarong, and my robe." He smiled. "She is rather fetching in my clothes."

"Good for you, boy," Arabelle said with a fond smile for him. "I knew you could do well enough once you pulled your head out of your rearend. I'll expect to be carried to the baby shower when you get around to it." She looked at Albus. "At least you can say you've trained the next one and that she knows how to deal with children. A born mother that one, I always thought she'd do well with children of her own. How many were there again? Six?"

"Seven, one was a bit stiff and you probably never saw Percy," Draco told him. He looked at Dumbledore. "You're free to give whatever reason you want, we won't dictate that." He waved and walked out, going back to the infirmary. He was stopped in the hall by one of the current seventh year Gryffindors, whom he smiled at. "Yes?"

"What's going on with Harry?"

"He's much better. The toxins have worn off. We'll be leaving soon."

"Do you think he'd like to have a party in the dorm?" she asked.

Draco shrugged. "You can come up and politely ask him, but the toxin he was exposed to has sapped all his strength. I expect he'll be in bed for the next month no matter what." She nodded. "Send Ginny Weasley up if you wouldn't mind, dear. Her brother has something he wants to tell her." She nodded and jogged off, heading for an outside class. Draco finished his trek to his mates' sides and sat down again. "Done," he announced.

Harry laughed. "You're so bad sometimes, Draco. If I turn bad, can I be bad like you?"

Draco smirked. "I'll start your lessons in corruption as soon as you're well enough to stand on your own for ten straight minutes, Potter." Harry beamed and Ron laughed. "Any Ministry news yet?"

"Not yet," Ron told him. "Why?"

"Your father's one of the senior staff," Draco reminded him. "Most of the other high Minsters quit when the scope of Fudge's corruption was leaked. That means there's ten open Minister spots at the moment, including the top one."

"Dad wouldn't take it," Ron said firmly. "He'd hate it."

"Perhaps, but someone may think that the stability of a known person is necessary and make him take it for a few months," Harry said gently. "You know how touchy things are, Ron."

"Speaking of touchy, one of Ginny's yearmates will be coming up to ask if you wanted to hold a party in your house tonight," Draco told them. Harry shuddered. "I told her you were still very tired but I left it up to you."

"I don't think I'm ready for a celebration yet," Harry admitted. "I'm still in shock."

"That's fine," Ron agreed, patting him on the hand. "We'll deal with it when the request is made." Ginny stuck her head in. "Come on in, we've got to tell you something."

"Is there news on Bill?" she asked as she walked in.

"Bill's missing?" Ron asked. She nodded. "Since when!"

"Since about the night of the last battle. He walked out after the fight and left." She shrugged. "Mum and Dad are worried sick but I guess they didn't want to add to your present stress." She looked at them. "What did you need to tell me?"

Draco pulled her closer, standing her in front of Ron. "Tell her," he encouraged.

"You did it, you tell her."

"You're pregnant?" Ginny asked, sounding hopeful.

"Not going to happen," Ron told her, sounding firm. "I can get my mind around a lot of stuff but not that. No, Draco thinks that Dad may be the next Minister of Magic."

Ginny gasped and looked at him. "Really?" He nodded. "Why?"

"He's about the most senior person who's untainted by Fudge," he said with a shrug. "We really wanted to tell you that your mother has been nominated for the next Headmistress of Hogwarts." Ginny's eyes went wide and she bobbled a bit, forcing Ron to steady her. "You're not pleased?" Draco asked with a grin.

"No! Mom's the bad one about punishments. This'll be hell on us!" she said frantically. "Undo it, Draco, please?" she begged. "Pretty please?"

"It's a done deal," Harry said gently. "I'm sure she'll be too busy to deal with that sort of thing, and anyway you're a good girl, Ginny, you won't have to worry about it. It's the guys who do things like we did who'll get into trouble."

"I can see Mum going down to Ms. Kailynn's and asking her very politely to turn back any students that sneak down there," Ron agreed, starting to laugh.

"I can see her burning the whorehouse down," Ginny snorted. Ron nodded, he could see that too. Harry even giggled at that. "I'm glad you think it's funny, but still! I'll be in hell for the rest or the year." She pouted at them.

"Don't give me that look, it was her or Snape."

"Then I like mum just fine for the job," Ginny said quickly, nodding frantically. She smiled at Draco. "Can I ask you something odd?" He nodded. "Neville started me thinking. How are you going to produce the heir to the Malfoy name?"

Draco considered it. "It's happened in the past that the heir has married an infertile person. In that case it's usually the heir and the nearest relative. So I guess I'll have to knock one of the twins up," he said with a shrug and a smile.

Ron shook his head. "Won't work. If one of the twins goes through something and the other doesn't, it puts them off balance and they nearly rip themselves and each other apart, Draco. I can't let you do that to them." He looked at Ginny, who was blushing. "That means you're an option," he told her.

She blushed brighter. "Neville suggested that it might have to happen that way," she admitted, looking at her brother. "He said you and he have to have a talk if that's the case, because he's heard things about a special ceremony and he wants to know now. He doesn't want any surprises and he doesn't want me to carry for you first."

Draco nodded. "That's fine, I'll invite him up soon if you'd be willing to do that for us," Draco told her.

"I'm not ready to chase kids around yet," Harry put in.

"It wouldn't be for a few years yet, Harry. Malfoy heirs are conceived during a special ceremony, where all the augers are read beforehand and the birth date will be a good one. That reminds me, I'm going to have to take my father out of the family lineage." He pulled something off the necklace he always wore these days and fiddled with it. Then he took off his shirt and looked at the scars on his side. "By doing this, I remove my father from the family lineage, the family fortune, and as the heir and master of the family name for he has disgraced us. Let his name be struck from the records, except in cases where children have to be noted, and let his being be struck from the line." He twisted and blew on the crest of this new seal, pressing it exactly opposite, yet on top of, the heir's seal he had already on him. He winced as it burned into him. "I hate this part. It never feels good until afterward," he complained.

Ron slid to his knees and licked over the reddened flesh, making Draco hiss. "I'm proud of you," he said, giving him an adoring look. Draco kissed him. "Want another?"

"Later, when it's numb," Draco promised. He smiled at Harry. "That's incentive for you to get better too."

"Yes, Draco," Harry said, giving him a smile. He held out an arm. "Can I have a hug, Ginny, since they're involved."

"As long as you don't try to feel me up," she agreed, giving him a long hug. He smiled at her. "Mum's really going to be the next Headmistress?" Harry nodded. "I'm going to have to share this."

"Only with the family. They can't tell her until the official announcement," Draco ordered. She nodded, beaming happily. "I'll see what I can find out about Bill." She nodded and hurried off, going to sneak into a floo-ready room. Draco kissed Ron hard. "Naughty you, Ron. I should fuck you quite hard for doing that."

Ron grinned. "I could use the relief and so could you."

"No fair," Harry whined. They smiled at him and he grinned back. "I'm not supposed to be getting hyper." He shifted closer. "I'm better enough to help get Draco off," he suggested.

"Fat chance," Madam Pomfrey called.

"I'm so much better that I could even give a blow," Harry suggested, giving them a hopeful look.

"She'll kill us, Harry," Ron reminded him.

"As soon as you get home, we'll pamper you and give you quite the night," Draco agreed. His head shot up. "I didn't know we had those," he said with a happy smile. "Nor did I know that the seal let me know what constitutes the family fortune. I believe I'll have to make a statement to get my father turned in," he said with a smile for Ron. He smiled at Harry. "Should I answer any questions about you?"

"No, not unless you want to," Harry offered. "Does that mean I get Ron cuddles?"

"And gropes if you can do it without moving too much," Ron agreed, winking at him.

"No!" Madam Pomfrey called. "No sex, boys. Not until he's fully better or I'm keeping him here for the next month!"

"Now that's evil," Harry said, getting some laughs for that.

***

Harry looked around the house as he was helped inside, nothing much had changed if you put all the items on the floor back. "Someone searched the house."

"I think I know who did it," Draco said smugly, picking Harry up so he could be put into bed. "You have to rest, then we'll play with you later." Harry nodded, letting himself be put into bed. Draco turned and found Hermione in the doorway. "How was your vacation?" he asked pleasantly.

"Much better than yours. Harry, how are you feeling?" she asked, coming in to sit on the foot of the bed.

"I'm better, Hermi. A lot better." She smiled and patted him on the leg. He yawned. "I could use a nap I think."

"Then you do so. Vincent and I have moved back down to our room." She pulled something out of her pocket and enlarged it. "I found this in the basement of the other house. Ring it and we'll hear." She slid off the bed and looked at Draco. "You should have told me immediately. I had medical power of attorney papers drawn up for you and Ron." She left, going to finish unpacking.

Draco shook his head. "I suppose I'll have to get used to her," he sighed. "Maybe I'll buy Vincent a gag for her as a present," he said thoughtfully, leaving Harry there. He smiled at Ron as he walked down the stairs, using his wand to finish cleaning everything up. "Where are the house elves?"

"Dismissed," Vincent said bitterly. "There's only Dobby in the kitchen and he's bouncing around because Harry's back." He looked up the stairs. "Did Herm give him the bell?" Draco nodded, giving him a small smirk and a patient look. "She really was worried, Draco."

Draco walked down to stand beside him. "I'm buying you a kink set so you can bind her down when she irritates you," he said with a pat for his best friend's chest. "I'm sure you'll put it to good use within a few days."

Vincent groaned. "I love the girl, but there's a few times when she gets on my nerves."

"All marriages start out that way," Ron pointed out as he joined them. "Another house elf just popped in." Draco looked at him. "Not one of yours. Knuppy, from the school." Draco sighed and nodded. "Who did all this and released the house elves?"

"I suppose Father did when he was searching for the family seals," Draco said bitterly. "Either that or the aurors did so." He heard a popping noise and went to investigate who had just appeared outside the front door. He sneered at them. "Vincent, it's Cornelius Fudge and a reporter," he said with great distaste. Vincent walked over to stand behind him, mostly to keep him from hexing them into painful spasms or odd shapes. "What do *you* want?"

"I want to interview Mr. Potter," the reporter said happily. "Now that he's better."

"There will be no reporters allowed *near* Mr. Potter until he asks to see one," Vincent said firmly in his best menacing voice. "You will get off Malfoy property or be removed."

"I can remove the Malfoy from this property," Fudge sneered. "His father was one of the top Death Eaters."

Draco yawned. "Crabbe, take care of them," he said with a wave of his hand. Ron walked up behind him and pinched him. "Ow!" He glared at her. "Do not do that."

Ron smiled at Fudge. "Leave or I'm giving Harry some more of my blood in the potion to make him stronger so he'll come after you." Fudge backed away, looking fearful. Ron smiled at the reporter. "Out! Before I bring Granger down as well." She shifted nervously. "Hermione!" She came jogging down the stairs. "Go for it," he said, getting out of her way.

"Ah, Fudge," she said happily. "I had expected something like this." She pulled a paper out of her pocket and enlarged it, handing it over to him. She waited until he had it in his hand before releasing her most evil smirk, worthy of their host if anyone would dare to make that comparison. "I have just handed you a summons to appear in civil court to answer a lawsuit seeking damages in the amount of seventy billion galleons for the defamation of one Harry Potter, one entire clan of Weasleys, one Draco Malfoy, and one Vincent Crabbe. As you were served, now you must appear, you are so bound," she told him, watching his mouth fall open.

"There's not that much in all the banks in the world," the reporter snorted.

Hermione gave her a cruel smirk, one only Ron had seen before. "As for you," she said, tipping her head a bit to the left. "I do believe that the Prophet granted Harry the right to recover in peace and offered to send someone to talk to him *after* he was fully recovered and back on his feet. That time has not yet come and you are in violation of your editor's promise. I think you might want to tell him before I complain and have you fired." She apparated off before Hermione could call her out further and involve her in the lawsuit.

"You can't do this," Fudge told her, waving the paper. "I am the Minister of Magic...."

"I believe the vote was taken earlier and you're not," she informed him. She smiled at Ron. "We heard it before coming over. Congratulations on both parent's new positions, Ron." Fudge's eyes bulged. "Now then, former Minister Fudge, if you would read that you'd see what the various charges against you are, including nearly letting the whole of the wizarding world die because of your ego and your bribe-taking. If you hadn't tried to have Harry declared insane, or sent Umbridge to try and drive him insane, and if you hadn't had him discredited in such a manner as happened, then you might not be libel, but you did. You nearly cost everyone everything they've always held dear and I believe that I can prove that in court without breaking a sweat. I'll let them decide if any criminal charges will be filed for following the person paying you's orders." He backed down the stairs, staring at her. "Also," she said, moving in for the kill. "I have started proceedings to have all your assets, legal and illegally acquired, frozen and audited. Your theft from the banks is well-known and the Goblins of Gringotts have added themselves to this suit. I do hope you have fun with it."

Draco looked at Hermione. "If you go into law, I'll appoint you the family attorney," he offered. She beamed at him and looked up at Vincent, who kissed her gently. "Good, I'll see that you're admitted soon." He looked at Fudge, but Hermione put a hand on his arm. "You don't like that idea?"

"I'll get in myself, Draco, I don't need those sort of strings pulled," she said firmly but quietly.

"That's my girl," Vincent said happily. Draco looked at him. "She's a fierce protector of what's hers and I rank top of the list in that category," he said proudly.

Draco smiled. "Then we'll hold the wedding in a month. The conservatory or the music room?" The couple looked stunned. "I won't have Vincent hurt by your playing around, Hermione Granger. Either you marry him or I'll have you killed and obliviate him to your memory so he won't grieve."

"The music room," she said, swallowing. "A month?" He nodded. "That's not enough time to plan anything!" she wailed.

Draco patted her on the head. "They have people who do that for you. You tell them what you want and they find all of it and get your approval. That way you can concentrate on tying Vincent down until he's willing to dress up for you." She smiled and nodded, smirking at her soon-to-be husband. "Good, that's settled. I'll have admittance papers sent to you so you can fill them out," he said, turning to look at Fudge. "When is the date to appear?"

"Three days, the goblins pulled some strings," Hermione told him.

Draco smirked. "I'm happy we could corrupt you to our side finally, Granger. You may be the only non-pureblood I'll ever be able to stand." She raised an eyebrow. "Harry's father was pure enough for my tastes," he told her. She hugged him then dragged her finance inside to tell Harry the good news. "Fudge, leave, before I have you killed," he said simply. Ron coughed. "No, you can't help me kill him, Ron. That's my fun. He let my father go free." He smiled at Fudge again, making the man babble and wet himself. "Leave. Now." Fudge left. Draco laughed, hugging Ron. "I enjoyed that. You?"

"You get your rocks off in odd ways, Draco Malfoy, but some of them are quite fun. I didn't think I'd enjoy seeing that sort of fear on someone's face, but he did deserve it," he said at the shocked and hurt look Draco gave him. He gave him a kiss. "Let's try the more traditional way of getting off, shall we?" she suggested, shifting closer to brush her chest against Draco's. "Then you can deal with the house elf problem and the house?" Draco nuzzled her ear, kissing it. "I like that, but I want more! I've been without for too long and I'm going to get demanding soon."

"I might enjoy that," Draco reminded her, leading her into his study. It was mostly intact and the sofa was just fine for what he wanted to do.

***

Two weeks after getting out of the hospital, Harry walked into the small Buddhist temple, bowing at the priest standing there. "I need counseling," he told the receptionist. He got a nod and was motioned to follow, so he did. They entered a small garden and Harry was shown to a bench. He sat and looked around, enjoying it. This garden exuded calm.

"What did you need counseling on, young man?" a kind, elderly male voice asked from down the path a few minutes after Harry felt the calm work its magic on his frayed nerves.

Harry stood up and walked down there, sitting in front of the wizened man on the wooden bench. "I fought a war and I killed, sir. I don't want to do it again and I know it's in me." The man looked at him. "It wasn't a general war, but people did die."

"I understand," he said gently, giving him a smile. "Many wars are fought without involving an entire country, Mr. Potter." Harry's mouth started to open and he laughed. "We have one here who is like you. He thought you might be seeking help from someone." He held out a hand, which Harry took. "Did you like it?" Harry nodded, looking down at the pebbles under him. "Do you wish to do it again?"

"No," Harry told him, looking at him again. "I don't want to ever do it again. I want to fade into obscurity and I want to stay there. Nothing more."

The priest nodded, standing up with Harry's help. "Walk with me. We will discuss this. You need a non-judgmental ear and I could use the exercise."

"Thank you for listening to me."

"I listen to many things, you are simply one of them," the priest told him. "Nature is full of things that don't want to be what they are." He patted Harry's arm. "Tell me."

"Yes, sir," Harry said, recounting the battles he had fought, being brutally honest, like he was with himself. By the end, he was worn out. They were near a small fountain so he sat on the edge of it. "I can't get past the fact that I liked it."

"Satisfaction and relief are not joy, Mr. Potter." Harry looked stunned. "Even if it set off some chord in you, the fact that you're seeking answers means that you won't do it again unless it is necessary." He patted the young boy on the head. "You need to heal, young man, there is much you need to talk about. Tell your mates everything, let them carry some of the burden."

"I don't want them to be burdened by me. I don't want to add to what they already have. They already have to shift their thinking to deal with me."

"It's always like that when you have to deal with other people in intimate settings," the priest advised. "Each person brings their own problems and joys into a relationship. You bring a trunk, while someone else brings a handbag. But without our bags, we would not understand the happiness we find in others. It is the depth of that pain that shows us how high we can climb. In time, it will ease. The insecurity will fall aside. It is too new to do more than fret about it now. But do not dwell. Think on it for ten minutes each day. Do you meditate?" Harry nodded. "Then meditate to each issue you have for a week, see what answers you find within yourself."

Harry nodded, standing up. "Thank you, father."

"You are a good boy, Mr. Potter, I don't think we'll be seeing more of you in the paper from bad things." He smiled. "Now go shag your mates into the carpet if it's in you. They're worried about you the same as you are." Harry smiled, nodding at that advice. "You may come back any time. I do not mind visitors."

Harry gave him another brief hug then headed back to the car. Once he climbed inside, he realized he was too tired to drive. His vision was starting to blur. He took the priest's advice, calling home. "Draco?" he asked gently. He heard the worry. "No, I'm better, I'm just worn out emotionally. Can you or Ron come drive me home? Yeah, I'm outside it." He smiled and hung up at the promise to be right there. Draco appeared and he scooted over, letting him get in to drive. "Thank you."

"I don't want to wrecking, that's why I suggested someone else drive you earlier," Draco said, giving him a smile. He saw the tiredness. "Should we call home and say we're getting a room tonight?"

"Ron won't like it," Harry told him.

"So? We have to spend time alone together as well." He picked up the phone, calling home. "Vincent? Yes, it's me. No, I'm picking Harry up. We're going to spend the day in town. Yes, tell Ron I said it was fine for her to spend tonight helping Hermione and you." He hung up and started the car, turning it around to head for a wizarding five star hotel. They checked in and Draco had room service send up a light snack, which he made sure Harry ate most of. Then they curled up in bed together, talking quietly about what the priest had advised.

When they did come together sexually, it was slow and gentle, healing the both of them and making the other think that they were wanted and needed. Harry knew that he belonged, he wouldn't doubt it very often again.

Draco smiled at that pronouncement. "I didn't know one could screw bad thoughts out of another's head," he teased, pinching him on the stomach. "You're starting to gain some fat there, Harry, we'll have to see that you get more pleasurable exercise in the future."

"I'll burn it off the next time we jump Ron," Harry said, grinning at him. "If I ever get my stamina back."

"You will. I'm positive of it." He gave him a gentle kiss and pulled him closer. "Rest. We'll treat you tomorrow."

"I can buy my own treats," Harry pointed out.

"You won't. Besides, where's the fun in treating yourself?" Draco teased, giving him a long squeeze. "You nap and I'll figure out what I want to find that will make you squeal like Ron during an orgasm."

Harry giggled, fitting himself against Draco's chest. "My own set of toys?"

"I'm sure we can accommodate that desire, as well as a few others," Draco soothed, stroking Harry's back to put him to sleep. He was smiling, the mirror across from him proved it. This had been one of the best afternoons of his life. "I believe I love you, you fluffy git," he whispered.

Harry kissed him over his heart and snuggled in harder. "I ... ditto, Draco."

Draco laughed. "We'll work through that obstacle together, letting Ron lead us." Harry nodded, kissing his chest again. "Keep it up and I might do something that would send you back to the hospital," he warned.

"As long as there's no reporters or fans," Harry whispered.

"I'll guard your privacy, Harry, don't worry. They won't come near you." Harry nodded, allowing himself to sleep with that promise.

***

Hermione looked at the people who would be most involved in her wedding. "Ron, what phase are you going to be in?" she asked.

"Female, fully by three days."

"Good, then you're on my side." She smiled at Vincent. "We still need to pick colors. We've each got two attendants. Anything else we need to discuss?"

"I want green," Draco suggested with suppressed glee. He loved screwing with her, she got so mad and threw fits.

"No!"

Vincent cleared his throat. "It's only fair, you are marrying into the house, Herm."

"No," she said slowly and clearly. He shrugged but she noticed his hurt look. "Gold and silver?" she suggested. "Each house is represented and I don't have to force Ron and Harry to wear your house colors?"

"I like that," Harry said from Draco's side. Ron stuck his tongue out at him.

"None of that," Hermione snapped. "We don't need sex." She wrote a note on her notepad. "Vincent?"

"White and gold would be good enough if it looked shiny," he offered, willing to compromise.

She smiled and kissed him for it. "We can do white, gold, and silver," she agreed. He beamed, having won one argument. The first one yet! "All right, then gold for my side since Ron and Ginny would look more stunning in it with their hair. Silver for yours?" He shrugged. "Draco, any objections? Or Harry?"

"None," Draco assured her, giving Harry a kiss on the head because he didn't say anything. He was under the delusion that if he piped up it would ruin her dream wedding. "How many guests?"

"Sixty at the most. Most of the teachers, my parents, my paternal uncle and his wife and three children. School friends," she noted quickly, making that note as well. "I've already gotten my list made. Vincent?"

"Nearly," he admitted. She looked at him. "I'm looking up addresses."

She smiled. "That's wonderful! I hadn't even started that yet. You're so great to take some of the stress off me." She gave him another kiss. Then she noticed Draco's smug look. "As for you," she said firmly. "There will be no sex during my wedding or during the reception after my wedding. Are we clear, Mr. Malfoy?" He laughed, a happy and tolerant sound. "I mean it. If you so much as think about having sex and ruining my wedding with that noise, I'll put Ron in a full chastity belt. The kind with plugs for each hole so she's still amused and a catheter so it doesn't have to come off. Then I'll find an impotence potion for the both of you." She looked at them all. "If I see so much as one touch, one deep kiss, one attempted stroke of breast or buttocks, one snuck grope, or even one suggestive look, you will all pay the penalty and I won't remove them until after our honeymoon. Do you understand me?"

Harry gave her a disgusted look. "We do know how to act in public, Hermione. Give us *some* credit, please."

Ron snorted. "This from the guy who thought the slit in a certain skirt was a *good* idea to explore during dinner," he pointed out. He smiled at his best female friend. "If you try to put me in a chastity belt, you're getting married with a black eye, no matter which phase I'm in, dear."

"As long as you behave it won't be a problem," she said primly. "It's bad enough I'm getting married in this den of iniquity. When I described you three to my mother, they wanted to know which one of you was the hired one." Harry burst out in giggles.

"I think we have our answer," Ron said, shooting a glare at Harry. Then he smiled at Hermione. "We'll behave, I promise. Ginny and Neville will behave as well. There won't be any passion potions in the punch, nothing that would make you look bad on your wedding day."

"Please don't say you're planning ours," Draco mock-pleaded.

"I was thinking somewhere exotic," Ron sniffed, but he couldn't hold the routine so he grinned at them. "Back to the Carribean?"

"No," Harry negated. "I don't want to get married where we'll have to pick sand out of things." He looked up at the husband he was snuggled against. "You never did tell us how Malfoy heirs were created." Vincent whimpered and banged his head on the table. "That bad?"

Draco traced his lips. "It's very ritualized by now," he said with a gentle smile. "First the parents are checked out, to make sure that a child between them would be worthy. Then the appropriate time is picked. A spring month for a girl, a fall month for a boy. Then the clearing out in the woods is prepared." He gave him a kiss. "Under the full moon, the couple comes together, chanting the incantation that really does nothing but distract them and force them to focus on the conception. The moonlight gives us our silver hair and pale skin, the wooden altar our strength of character, and being outside frees us from the things most mortals consider imperative," he said gently. "Then the child is conceived and the rest of the heirs, if the mother is willing to bear more after carrying the first one, are done the normal way. There was actually a spate of black-haired daughters a few generations back after the one silver haired son."

"Your mother refused?"

"She nearly died while pregnant. Hemorrhaging," Draco informed him. "The doctor had her fixed as soon as I was taken from her body so she wouldn't be risked. He thought my father would ruin me you see," he said with a fond smile for Ron.

"I'd hate to see you if your father had raised you alone," Vincent told him.

"Me as well," Draco agreed, smiling at him. "Where am I sending you on your honeymoon?"

"To the science fiction convention in Vancouver," Vincent said happily.

"Very well. Tell me the details and I'll have arrangements made," Draco assured him. "I did pay off the muggle credit card I believe." Harry nodded. "Then it should serve you well."

"We've already made the reservations and paid for them," Hermione told him. "You're reimbursing us." She checked her list. "Draco, house elves?"

"Are back," he noted. "Full staff plus two."

"Good. We're not having them prepare the wedding cake, they said they didn't want to do anything that delicate." She looked at him. "Find us a baker?"

"There's an excellent one in the nearest village and they'd deliver it," Draco said with a hand wave. "I've already talked to them and gotten a catalog for you. It's sitting in my study on my desk." She nodded and went to get it. "Vincent," he said, once he was sure she was gone, the catalog was in a stack of things. "Do yourself a favor, take her tonight in an interesting way to relieve her stress."

"Draco!" Ron said, sounding shocked.

"It will make her slow down and enjoy it, Ron," Draco said simply. "Take her into my study and use that extra reading chair. Have her sit on your lap facing away, stripped or not is up to you, and free yourself, then take her and make her pass out. She'll thank you for it later." Vincent nodded, even though he was blushing brightly. "Trust me, old friend, she will enjoy it. Clothes will make it seem more indecent, but if you strip her and stay clothed yourself it will make it all the more naughty to her. She really could slow down and enjoy this a bit more."

"Yes, Draco," Vincent whispered. "The tan chair?" Draco nodded. "How would we fit?"

"Have her facing away so you can play with her and tease her neck," Draco said with a smile, stroking over Harry's neck with a fingertip. "She seems to enjoy it. Tell her you want to cuddle or something." He nodded and got up, heading in there to do that. "There, now she'll enjoy this stage a lot more," he decided. "Gold, Ron?"

"It's her wedding. Though if we get married somewhere warm, I'm putting us all in bikinis and doing it during my female time. You'll have to stick George and Fred."

"That's fine," Draco agreed smoothly. "Shall we have some fun?"

"No, we can wait," Harry said, leaning into the touch. "I like this."

"If you want to be teased, we'll tie you down again," Draco whispered, making Harry shiver. "Would you like that, Harry?" Harry bit his lip and nodded. "Then head upstairs and we'll follow along behind you." Harry stood up and rushed up the stairs. Draco stood and held a hand out for Ron, helping him out of his chair. "Come along, I promised to tie him down again and tease him."

Ron beamed. "What an excellent idea," he agreed with a wink.

***

Vincent walked into the study and locked the door behind himself, walking over to sit in the large tan leather reading chair. "Come sit, Herm. I want a cuddle." She opened her mouth. "Now? Please?" She gave up her search and came over, starting to side sideways. "No, face away from me, I want to play with your neck while I hug you." She looked confused but did as he asked, straddling his lap and letting herself lean back against his chest. He kissed and licked her neck, hitting the spots that made her moan, his hands stroking her stomach. "I think we need to calm you down," he whispered against the damp flesh. He used his wand to strip her, making her squeal in alarm. "Shh, you're very pretty like this. Calm down," he soothed, making her relax. One of his hands reached down to free himself and he lifted her slightly, entering her with ease. She moaned and arched back against him. "Just relax, precious one, let me pleasure you," he pleaded. "It's time to relax, we have a while yet to plan and things." She dug her fingernails into his arms, it felt so good. "Relax," he whispered as he worked. She went limp against him with a soft cry, her eyes closed. "I'll have to tell him it worked," he said with a smile. She turned her head to look at him. "This is why Ron and Draco enjoy their quickies, Hermione. Because it's good sometimes. It makes you relax and remember to enjoy life." He kissed her cheek before summoning over a blanket, covering them. "Rest, Hermione, we'll continue later. I'm sure they've decided to take a break themselves."

She laughed and slid around to face him, replanting herself to help him along. "You aren't as relaxed as I am," she pleaded when he tried to stop her. "Please, Vinnie?"

"Yeah," he said with a grin, letting her go for it.

"I feel rather naughty, you being dressed and me not." She stroked her fingers over his shirt, then ripped it so she could touch the warm flesh. "There, much better," she decided, then reached down to finish moving his pants out of the way. "Next time, do this in sweats, no zippers."

He laughed, hugging her tightly as he humped her. He bit her on the shoulder, making her groan. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. But I'm still putting a chastity belt and impotence spell on them."

He laughed again, shaking his head. "I'm sure they won't appreciate it, but Ron said if they're doing one, you're going to be in a bikini on a beach somewhere." She looked shocked. "Somewhere dramatic and special for them."

"Hmm. I can see that, but we'd have to be careful about local codes so we wouldn't get into trouble."

"Let them deal with it. We'll deal with ours. What else can I do to help?"

"Help me take a nap?" she suggested.

He pulled her closer, holding her tightly until she drifted off. "I will have to thank him and remember this for some other time," he whispered against her hair.

***

Hermione looked stunning on her wedding day, everyone generally agreed that it was a beautiful ceremony and she shone brightly. The reception was going off without a hitch, everything was running just wonderfully. Even if her mother did nearly scream at her first sight of a house elf. Everything else was going very well. Then came the presents. Draco put one into Crabbe's hands and nodded at him. "For you," he said.

Vincent opened it slowly, then gaped at his boss. "Draco?" he breathed.

Draco gave him a smile. "Yes, those are the papers that your father used to bind you to the family, Vincent Crabbe. I'm freeing you of the obligation."

"Is that like slavery?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"Usually it's used to raise a lower class child into the upper classes, turning them into lady or lord in waiting," Molly assured her. She smiled at Vincent. "He's freeing you of your obligation."

"You can come or go as you choose," Draco informed him. Harry whispered something. "That is true, I'd also have to pay you now," he said with a smile for his mate.

"Pay me?" Vincent asked. "To be your bodyguard?"

"Of course. I can't pay you for all the other things you do," Draco scoffed gently, still smiling.

"Would this have obligated me as well?" Hermione asked.

Draco looked at her but Vincent gave her the easy lie. "Of course not, my father couldn't do that without your parent's permission," he told her. He set the box in the middle of a clear spot on the floor, staring down at it. "Harry, does this mean we can buy your house for real?"

"I can even set some easy payment terms," Harry assured him. "The worth of your first two paychecks over the course of a year for the house and the surrounding lands we ended up buying. But we get whatever's in the hidden rooms."

Crabbe nodded, smiling at his wife as they set fire to the box together, watching it go up in silvery flames. "Thank you, Draco. I had been going to ask for it for an anniversary or a birthday present."

"I suppose I'll have to find something else for that now. How about a fertility spell?" Draco quipped with a wink at the shocked Hermione. "My mother used to threaten to fix him but I don't believe she ever got around to it," he told her.

"Draco!" she shrieked. He laughed and she shook her head. "You naughty creature! Ron, hit him!" she demanded, nearly stamping her foot.

Ron goosed Draco, making him squeal. "Quit picking on them in public, Draco, we'll pick on them in private. Mine's the gold one," he said with a wink to her.

Hermione rolled her eyes and opened that one, then quickly closed the box and glared at him. "Ron!"

"You wouldn't let us tease you before," Harry pointed out. "Mine's normal," he said with a smile, pointing out the small envelope. "It made me happy so you can't complain." He sipped his champagne, leaning against Ron's side this time. He was still so tired. Ron gently eased him into a chair, giving him a pat and a kiss on the temple. "Thank you, Ron."

"You're welcome, Harry," Ron said with a fond smile. "Draco?" Draco sat on Harry's other side, letting Ron take his left. "Open Harry's," Ron ordered. "We're best friends, ours come first."

"I'm not sure I want to," she pointed out. The guests laughed, figuring what was most likely in Ron's box. She and Vincent slid open the envelope, looking at the small brass key. "It's a vault key," she said, holding it up. "Harry?" she asked patiently.

"Get over it, Hermione. Besides, I left a gift certificate to the bookstores you liked in there." She walked over and hugged him gently. "Use it wisely, like for a nursery," he whispered. "You'll need it soon." She pulled back and looked at him and he winked. "I heard."

She walked back over to Vincent, giving him a look. "He gave us a book certificate and a nest-egg to help redecorate the new house." The crowd cheered and clapped. She moved on to the more mundane presents. Dishes, appliances. The obligatory cappuccino machine from Arthur and Molly, a muggle present of course. From her parents they got some new luggage and some event tickets for the convention they were heading out to that night.

One of the house elfs slid up beside Harry. "Guest at the door," it said quietly. "Official, pretty badge. Wants to see guns." Harry nodded and stood up, going to see who it was. Draco looked at it and it touched the weapon Draco was wearing, just in case. "Someone to see these."

"Harry can handle it," Ron hissed.

Harry met the official in Draco's study, closing the door. "You've come at rather a horrible time, we're hosting a wedding reception," he told him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, we can't call first. I'll be as quick as I can. I only need to make sure you have all the weapons listed."

Harry grimaced. "Draco's wearing his personal one and mine was lost in a car crash," he semi-lied. He hadn't recovered it after the fight and he didn't know what had happened to it. "We crashed about sixty miles north of here after being chased off the road."

"Yes, that's the reason for the visit." He opened his case and pulled it out. "This was mailed to us. Someone found it in their field." He smiled at the young man. "How bad an accident was it?"

"I'm still recovering," Harry told him. He saw the look over his body and the official nodded, apparently he could see the exhaustion. "I can let you see the others and send for Draco."

A house elf walked in with Draco's personal weapon on a pillow. "He said to show you and then bring it right back," he said reverently. No one touched the fabled guns, especially not a lowly house elf. They had helped defeat the dreaded Dark Lord, and Voldemort. Because of them, Lucius was no more.

"That's Draco's personal one," Harry noted. The official picked it up and the house elf hissed, turning its head so it wouldn't have to see the sacrilege. "It's all right," he soothed. "That's his job, to check them." The elf took the gun back and carried it off quickly. Harry opened the gun safe, letting him look at the other weapons in there.

"This one's not registered," he said, pointing at an old rifle.

"It was Draco's father's and it doesn't work," Harry informed him. "He used to threaten people off with it."

"Are you sure?"

"I am, I tried to fire it once to see if it worked," Harry told him.

"Where is the owner?" he asked as he opened it to check it out. "The firing pin is missing." Harry nodded. "I see." He put it back. "I suppose it's just a show piece now, harmless." He checked everything else and came up one short. "We have another rifle listed."

Harry nodded and relocked the gun safe. "It's upstairs in the room I use to clean it. Follow me and be quiet," he ordered, walking him up to the room he used to clean them. He found his spare wand and tucked it into a pocket, letting him look at the disassembled weapon.

The official checked the numbers and the style, then his sheet, then nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Potter. I'll leave you to your happy occasion. Did they marry here? I ask because usually you have to have a permit to allow marriages to take place anywhere outside a church."

"It's more a bonding ceremony," Draco said as he walked in. "Not official, simply private vows between each other." The official smiled. "A statement of what the rest of us knew for her parent's sake."

"Thank you, Lord Malfoy. Any news on your father?"

"He's presently on the run for his life," Draco said blandly. "After trying to kill my mates and myself."

"I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?"

"He's touched in the head," Harry told him. He smiled and shrugged. "He's also a bastard and an asshole. Kept saying Ron was a boy sometimes." The official laughed before being shown out. Harry took Draco's arm. "Sorry, but they did say they could do spot checks."

"At least he was decent about it. I thought I might have to come make him go away." He walked Harry back into the reception and smiled at the people looking at them. "Simply an official wanting to check on our weapons."

"Someone turned mine back in," Harry said quietly as he was seated. Draco kissed him on the top of the head. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Draco sat himself. "Who turned it in?"

"He said it was mailed in by someone who found it in their field."

"We'll get show boxes for them later," Ron said, smiling at Harry. "Now eat, you'll need it." Harry smiled and obediently took a bite of roast beef. "Good boy, Harry." Ron winked. "Just wait. I've got the blue set laid out upstairs." Harry ate faster and Draco tapped him on the hand.

"Slow down, anticipation is half the fun, Harry," Draco reminded him. "Slow means you can be teased again."

Harry took large bites but he did so slower. "Thank you," he said between bites. "Many thanks to the both of you for everything."

"What else could we do?" Ron teased, pinching him on the thigh. "Leave you alone?"

Harry kissed her cheek. "No, but I still appreciate it all. You're sure you want to put on the blue one?"

"With the way you drooled, I'm very sure," Ron said smugly.

Draco chuckled. "I'm sure we'll enjoy it quite a lot, Ron. A few more hours and everything will be fine." He looked at Ron. "She didn't put you in one, correct?" Ron shook his head quickly and Draco and Harry both sighed in relief. "Then we'll have quite a lot of fun later."

"Yes, I will," Harry agreed smugly.

Aftermath

Draco was walking down the stairs when the door was knocked on so he got there first, shooing away the house elf. No one they didn't know would ever think of walking up to his front door and knocking, unless it was a reporter - in which case he often got to have fun ranting at them and making them fear for their very lives. He opened the door and looked at the bland man standing there. "Professor Lupin," he said in greeting, letting him come in. "If you stop Potter's sense of humor, we'll put you up for a few days and you can visit. If not, take him with you," he said as he shut the door. "Harry! Visitor!" he yelled, heading for his study.

Harry trotted down the stairs, then paused and smiled. "Came to see if you were right?"

"Not really, but it's a thought," Remus Lupin admitted with a smile. "I more came to check up on you. Molly and Arthur said you were feeling better." He opened his arms and Harry came down to hug him. "What are you doing to Draco now, Harry?"

Harry beamed at him. "Having fun," he said innocently. "Burning some excess energy that I used to use in training." Remus laughed and gave him a back pat. "So, why else did you show up today?"

"I thought I'd check up on you and look in on Ron for his big brothers."

"Did you finally find Bill?"

"We did. He was out in the Forbidden Forest knocking things down to try and control his temper. A lot like you did when you were in your depression," he said with a tweak for Harry's nose. "That and I brought some papers for you." He winked. "Do you have somewhere we can sit down and look them over?"

"Sure. We can commandeer Draco's study or the dining room." He led the way to Draco's study. "He has papers for me to look over, wanna help?" he said, bending down to kiss Draco's cheek. "I'll be nice later and let you get a head start."

Draco pulled him down to hold him still so he could look at him. "Either you quit bouncing or I'm going to put you and your dog out in the dog house you built yesterday," he said quietly, making sure Harry got the point. "I have things to do for the Malfoy estate, so I'll help you later. Go find Hermione." Harry nodded and kissed him on the nose before getting up and going to find her.

"He used to use it all training," Remus pointed out.

Draco nodded, looking at him. "I remember, but that doesn't mean he can't adapt to a quieter life."

"Then give him something to do. Surely you could use someone to sort things or catalog things. It's boring and that tends to wear him out."

"Good point," Draco said with a smile. "Thank you, I think I'll have him do an inventory of the libraries." He chuckled evilly, making the other man shudder, which he adored of course. "Ron," he called. "Professor Lupin's here."

Ron walked in and gave him a hug. "Thank you for calming him down," he said quietly.

"You're welcome. It'll be okay soon enough. Remember, he never got to have an idea about what he wanted to be when he grew up." Ron sighed and nodded. "So help him figure it out. Send him to that new career guy, the one who's helping the extra aurors find new jobs."

"That's a wonderful idea," Ron said happily. He smiled at Draco. "Why have I been in male form for a month now?"

"Because your schedule has thinned out some," Draco told him. "You'll get a month in each phase it seems." He smirked before getting pounced. "Yes, I am wonderful. A month in each state means that we each get what we want." He patted Ron on the butt. "Now get off so I can do some work I've been putting off so I could play with Harry."

"Sure." Ron walked the former professor into the dining room and went to stalk Harry. He had taken too long to find Hermione. He found him waiting outside their door. "What's going on?"

"She's in the baths, her back hurts," Harry told him. Then he shrugged. "I guess it's normal with all the extra weight running around her middle."

"I'm not fat," Hermione yelled.

"No, you're not," Harry called back. "It's all the baby and you'll end up more slender afterwards, just a bit of extra skin from the stretching," he agreed. She waddled out of their bedroom and he hugged her. "Remus is here."

"I heard you the first time," she said with some exasperation. "Let me get dressed, Harry, while you introduce him to Snickers."

"That's a wonderful idea!" Harry said happily, going to do that. His dog was napping in the sun but was more than happy to get up and be played with, even by this new person who smelled like a dog. "This is Snickers, Ron and Draco found him for me. Isn't he great? He keeps me sane."

"It was the last time I was did a good deed," Draco said dryly as he walked in. He handed over a ball. "Here, play fetch." Harry tossed the ball out, watching as his dog ran out into the hallway to get it, and to pounce the house elf for a treat, they always had treats. He sat down with a groan. "I'm tired."

"Being a good guy is often like that," Remus agreed with a smile. He could get to like this Draco Malfoy. He was a lot different than the little shit he had taught so many years ago. "It's all the ethical decisions."

"It's not that, it's more that everyone wants me to save them. I'm not a knight in shining armor."

Remus saw Harry's eyes light up with unholy glee and watched as the wand flicked at Draco, then winced as the armor appeared on him. "Are you sure of that?" he asked, starting to laugh.

"Potter," Draco groaned, forcing himself to stand up and get his mate for that. He knocked him down and tickled him until he screamed and begged for mercy, and the extra weight and protection helped him get there faster because Harry couldn't retaliate. "I didn't need the extra clothing," he said, making Harry look at him. "Get me out of this bloody walking soup can." Harry gave him a begging look. "Or else I can't have sex for a very long time."

Ron walked in and paused to look at them. "Harry, he doesn't look good in that sort of armor, it's heavy and you have to have help taking a tinkle. Put him in chainmail." Draco got up and Ron giggled, running *long* before Draco could catch him.

Vincent walked Hermione in and helped her to a chair before looking at his best friend and employer. "Trying out a new kink?"

"It's self protection from the rampaging madman!" Draco said stiffly, going to find his wand so he could get out of this mess. How did the Ancients wear these contraptions all day for months on end during wars? And some had learned to sleep in them! He came up with a devious plan to get Harry's wand away from him and lock it into the safe. That would show him! He summoned it from wherever Potter had left it this time and locked it in the safe drawer in his desk. Harry didn't even know it was there. Then he got himself free and sat down to look over the monthly budget and bank statements. Something wasn't right and he wasn't sure what.

Harry patted his back pocket, then frowned at the study. "I'll get you for that later," he muttered, then he smiled at his Uncle. "So, what's up?"

"I have these papers from the Ministry. They said they wanted me to give them to you so you wouldn't hurt them again." He pulled them out of a deep inside pocket and handed them over. "The good one is that we've gotten Sirius cleared. Having Pettigrew show up brought about a call for a new trial and we got to reasonable doubt at the very least. The bad one is a charge form for some reason."

"Probably from the auror's training where we dropped out," Harry muttered as he found that one. "Hold on, these are legal charges!" he said, handing them to Hermione. "They want to charge me for hurting people who were trying to kill me during the battle."

"We'll see about that," she said firmly. She read through them. "I think I know what this is, the rest of those people who thought you needed help, Harry. Trying to prove it again." She grimaced and stood up. "I'll handle this with the attorney I'm interning under. This is not right." She went to make a call through the floo, bringing all of her outrage into it.

Remus smiled at Vincent. "What are you going to do when she screams at the baby the first time?" he asked. Vincent looked worried. "All mothers do it at least once. Even Molly. She used to holler at Charlie because he wouldn't let her sleep."

Vincent sat down in his wife's seat. "I guess I'll calm her down or take the baby from her," he said quietly, glancing at the doorway. "I'm sure she won't be that bad, Professor."

"I'm not a professor anymore, Vincent. Don't worry about it." He patted the big man's hand. "You take very good care of Harry and Ron so you can call me by my given name, Remus." Vincent smiled at him. "Of course, if you could calm Harry down, we'd be most thankful, but his father used to have these bouts as well. As a matter of fact, Harry was conceived during one."

"Ron takes stuff so that doesn't happen to us," Harry informed him. "Draco said we can't have any kids for a long time." He got comfortable. "Which is really nice because when we do, we'll have to straighten up and I won't be able to jump Ron and Draco whenever and wherever I wanted to, plus we'd have to plan things out more carefully, no more sudden trips into London." He smiled at Vincent. "He did say we'd occasionally babysit so we knew what to do when we finally had to produce heirs."

"You'll get your chance the first time Herm and I want to snuggle," Vincent said firmly. "That way the baby won't wake us up afterward."

Harry beamed. "I'd enjoy that." He looked at Remus. "My dad had bouncy moods?"

"All the time, usually when he was ignoring something," Remus agreed. "The one time he missed Lily's birthday he bounced for weeks until he figured out how to make it up to her." He put a hand on Harry's shoulder, holding him still. "What's worrying you?"

"I honestly don't know, but I feel like something's missing still, or maybe that something's not finished," Harry admitted quietly, glancing at the door. "Like almost everything's in place but our lives are a puzzle and that last piece is missing and no one can find it to complete the stupid thing."

"Ah." Remus nodded. "Then you're worried about what you'll do now because a life of leisure was never something you could do. You're probably worried about Ron's future as well because he's another who likes to work for a living."

"He could do charity work," Vincent suggested. "It's real hard sometimes but you don't get paid for it."

"But I want to show off my first real paycheck and all that stuff," Harry admitted, frowning at his knees. "I want to be able to cash it and take Ron and Draco out to dinner with it some night, but I'm not really trained to do anything."

"Then go work for the Ministry," Vincent sighed. "Plenty of people there don't have a clue about what they're doing, Harry."

"Maybe," Harry sighed. "I guess I'll figure it out."

"There's someone helping the extra aurors now that they're downsizing. Maybe you should call her and see if she's got anything for you," Remus suggested gently. "You fought as much as some of them."

"Maybe, but wouldn't that be the equivalent of pushing my weight and fame around? I'm not an auror and I couldn't handle the training because of the way they treated me," Harry reminded him. "I don't think it'd look right."

"Perhaps, but you could always ask," Remus suggested.

Ron walked in with a small piece of paper. "The person doing the job counseling is open to everyone, but aurors have first pick," Ron told him. "You're going in tomorrow. We're going together, so work on a skills list. They said so." Harry smiled at him. "That means you can't bounce around anymore, right?" Harry nodded. "Good." He gave Remus a look. "Draco's out of his armor now, fortunately, so I'm going to help him for a bit. The budget isn't adding up right."

"Is my salary listed?" Vincent asked. "Last month's had to be adjusted because of it."

"I'll make sure that's not it," Ron said with a grin and a back pat. "Your wife's cussing out someone over the fire. You might want to calm her down."

"The doctor said I couldn't do that anymore," Vincent complained.

"Then give her a backrub," Remus suggested. "Ron's mother got one every night from her sixth month on. And ask her about that," he said with a knowing look. "Sometimes doctors get a bit hyper for no reason."

"Good idea," Vincent said happily. "I'll go do that now." He stood up and walked off, going to help his wife calm down, before her heart burst from all the stress. He sat behind her and started working on her shoulders, making her moan and lean back against him. "You're upsetting my very pregnant wife," he pointed out grimly. "I should hurt you for that."

"What?" the man on the other side shouted.

"You heard me," Vincent snorted.

"She called me!"

"Yay. You're the one doing awful things." He sneered, doing his boss proud. "Otherwise she wouldn't be on a crusade to see you like Fudge, broken and begging for mercy." He cut the connection. "Would you like more?" he asked, moving over to stroke their baby. "I can always give wonderful massages. I got used to it from sports."

"I think I would," she agreed with a smile. "I can rally the troops later." She snuggled back against him, letting him work on her constantly aching legs. "Thank you, Vinnie."

He grinned. "You know I like touching you in every way," he teased. "This way's nearly as good as the old way." He gave her a gentle kiss. "Now relax and let my fingers do the magic." She nodded, looking very content.

***

Harry trudged out of the second office he had been sent to, looking a bit more dispirited. "What's wrong?" Ron asked, reading the pamphlets he had been given. He noticed Harry wasn't carrying anything. "He didn't think you could do anything?"

"He said I'm too smart and weak for menial labor and too energetic and strong-willed for office work," Harry sighed, leaning against Ron's side. "Let's go home."

"Sure. You can tell me all about it once we're there," Ron soothed, shooting a glare at the office. "I'm sure you can do lots of things, Harry. You tutored very well. You could teach little kids," he suggested as they exited the building rented for this office.

"Ron, I don't like little kids. I'd either end up with a classroom full of Dudley's or a classroom full of kids like the twins." He shuddered. "That's just a disturbing thought, me teaching a bunch of little hellions."

"Okay, so what about tutoring?"

"I don't know," Harry sighed. He brushed his hair off his forehead. "I just want a nap right now. He said he wanted to give me a personality test, but that I might take offense at it because of all this current crap and that mental health warrant attempt. I told him it'd be fine but he didn't seem to think that I knew if I was sane or not."

Ron gave him a kiss on the cheek. "We'll figure it out, Harry. Trust me we will." He got Harry into his car and got in to drive. "Home?"

"Yeah, home. I want a nap."

"You can nap on the way," Ron reminded him, starting the engine and pulling out into the street. He flipped on the radio to hum along with as he drove. He was much more careful than either of his husbands. "Harry, what's that?" Ron asked, pointing at a vehicle ahead of them. He'd never seen one of those before.

Harry peered out the front window. "A motorcycle. Why?" he asked as he leaned back again.

"Just wondering. It looks like something Draco would like."

"They're very dangerous, Ron. Very, very dangerous. We don't want to lose him."

"Yeah, I guess," Ron agreed, pushing it to the back of his mind for now. They could check out the safety factor later, Harry could be a bit overprotective. After all, he was the guy who had chained Hermione to her bed after she had fainted the first time. He glanced at Harry, seeing him asleep, and smiled sadly. "We'll have to do something about that," he decided, considering his options. He would have Draco help him plan. He was more muscle than a planner, more like Vincent. Maybe he would even get Hermione into the act. She would help Harry as long as he didn't try to pat her stomach again.

***

Draco looked up as Ron walked into his study and shut the door. "Something exciting suggested?"

"They wouldn't give Harry anything." Draco groaned and dropped his pen, leaning back. "They didn't really want to talk to him. Shuffled him to a different office and all that rot." He sat down in Draco's lap, making him grunt. "I did get some wonderful ideas, but some of them might be a bit hard with me changing. I have my stuff in my jacket pocket. Now, how do we help Harry?"

"First, we'll send his forms in with a made-up name, see if anything changes," Draco promised, stroking his back. "Then when they ask, we'll tell them the truth. Either that or you're going to have to ask your Father for a favor, Ron."

"Dad doesn't know many people."

"No, but he does have a few odd research topics floating about on his desk. He could easily assign Harry to do those. He could do them here and still work, but not have to deal with people, which he doesn't like."

"I might suggest that," Ron agreed, giving him another kiss. "Thank you, Draco."

"You know I love solving problems. Would you like me to call your Father for you?" Ron nodded, giving him a begging look. "That's fine." He patted Ron on the butt. "Slide off and put Harry to bed."

"I think he's out in the backyard with Snickers by now. That's where he was heading, to lay in the sun with him." Ron slid off his lap and went to check on Harry and Hermione. She was watching him. "Any luck?"

"A bit," she admitted. "The aurors admitted in front of their counsel that they were trying to kill him to save their reputation, so he couldn't put it around that they tried to use him and make sure he died." She looked at him. "It was an accidental admission, but it is on record." She shrugged. "We'll have to wait and see."

"When does he have to do something?"

"Next week is the deposition, that's basically a lot of inane questions being tossed at him that he has to answer. After that, we're set for a court date in three months." She sighed and stroked her stomach. "I wish I could sit second-chair."

"You'll be there, Hermione, that's what's important to Harry, you know that." He kissed her on the cheek. "Draco's going to ask my father about some of those research things he's got floating around." She looked stunned. "He thinks it's about the perfect solution."

"It might be. Harry wouldn't want to deal with a lot of people, he shies away from shopping now." She squeezed Ron's hand. "We'll manage. Harry's getting back closer to normal. What did they say?"

"They shuffled offices and told him he couldn't really do anything." Ron grimaced at her hurt look. "Too weak to do menial labor and too willful to do office work."

"That bites," she decided, walking in to talk with Draco. He always had a plan. She smiled when she saw Arthur Weasley's head. "Hello, Mr. Weasley."

"Hermione," he said happily. "How is the baby? Do we know what it is yet?"

"I think it's a boy, but we're waiting for the official pronouncement," she said with a smile for him. "Draco, do you need to know about the deposition today?"

"Only if you think it'd help," he offered.

"They slipped and admitted they were trying to kill him to save their reputation and so the stupid idiots couldn't be told on. This is going to be a media circus of the highest pitch. There was already a request for an interview through the lawyer's office." Draco and Arthur both grimaced. "Harry's deposition is next week, then the trial's in another three. It would only help if he was gainfully employed or at least searching hard."

Arthur groaned. "I wish I had control over that, but I really don't."

"You do so," Draco snorted. "There's that historical look at changelings on your desk, I know for a fact that there is." Arthur frowned at him and Draco gave him his best shark's smile. "I was informed that whomever did it might want to talk to Ron, just in case I wanted to kill them first."

Arthur laughed. "I'm sure you'll have Ron pouting at you for that, Draco. You are right, that is on my desk somewhere, as is something along the lines of a personal project of mine, retracing family lines. The records office here at the Ministry has a lot of people who have parents listed that aren't part of a family. There's a push to find out which families cheated the most often and had rogue children. Including yours, I saw you had a half-sister at one point in time."

"She died ten years ago," Draco reminded him quietly. "We did meet, and I thought her wonderful, but she died in an accident." Arthur nodded. "If you wanted, either one of those would be wonderful for Harry to do, and your own people are still stretched too thin."

"Besides, he could use it to take his mind off the trial, Mr. Weasley," Hermione pointed out, stroking the newly kicked spot.

"Sit!" Draco ordered. She glared at him. "It's obvious you're in pain, so sit your ass down, Granger." She grimaced but did as he ordered because her feet hurt. "Thank you! I don't want to have to deliver this child myself because you're being stubborn." She shot him a short glare and he turned back to the fire, rolling his eyes so only Arthur could see him. "Please?"

"I think could do that. Which one do you think he'd like more?"

"The changeling thing," Hermione offered. "He's already done a lot of research on it and we know he's not going to be negatively biased, sir."

"Good point," he said with a smile. "I'll have the paperwork sent over, Draco. I'll be listing the both of you as researchers, just in case." Draco nodded. "Thank you for your help, son-in-law." He cut the connection.

Draco leaned back in his chair. "He adores calling me that," he said, sounding confused. "Why?"

"Because you're the first son-in-law," Hermione pointed out. "He's getting practice in for Neville." She heaved herself up, making it on the second try. "I'll tell Harry and Ron?"

"No, I'll tell him," Draco said with a wave of his hand. "You're going to go to bed, young lady."

"I'm the same age you are," she snorted, sounding upset.

"My birthday comes first in the calendar year, and you are younger than I am. Besides, it's obvious the child is exercising again so you probably need it. Now go nap before I tell Harry to tie you down again." She opened her mouth. "Protest, make me lock you out of the library," he warned. She stomped off, but did go up the stairs to their room. "Good girl," he said with a small smirk. He rang the bell for a house elf. It popped in, giving him an expectant look. "Find Potter, bring him here. Bring me some nuts as well," he ordered. It nodded and ran off, going to find Harry.

Harry walked in with the requested bowl of nuts and put them on the desk. "Did you need some help?" he asked, sounding a little hopeful.

"More than that," Draco said smugly, patting his lap. Harry fit very nicely in his lap, he was just the right height to cuddle; unlike Ron who was his height, Harry was smaller. "Ron's father just called."

"Really? What's wrong?"

"Not a thing. He wanted to know if we'd undertake some research for him. It seems someone's suggested we find out about changelings in a more in-depth manner. Of course, since we know so much, we got given precedence over the stodgy historians."

"How long did you have to beg?"

"Not very," Draco admitted, Harry always could see through his plans. "I think he expected us to ask anyway. Since we are nearly experts in the subject and all." Harry looked up at him. "It'll give you something to do while you look for a real job that you like and it can only help Ron," he reminded him.

"I know. Are we doing a historical look or just restating what's in the current books?"

"All the current books, outside of my father's and Ron's journals, are over fifty-years-old, Harry." He gave him a squeeze. "I'm not promising anything, but it might even get published as a book of it's own." Harry lit up at that. "Do you think you could help me with that?"

"I adore your devious mind, Draco," Harry assured him, giving him a kiss.

"I adore yours as well, Harry, and one of these days you'll quit following Ron's hormone swings," he teased. Harry laughed and hugged him. "He's sending over the request tonight, we'll look it over after dinner if you'd like." Harry nodded. "Good boy. Now go play with Snickers."

"He's lonely, Draco. He doesn't want to play."

"Then we'll do what we talked about before and find him a friend," Draco offered. "We'll even go back where we found him." Harry beamed and went to get his dog and his dog's leash. Draco shook his head and groaned. "Let's hope this one isn't as hyper as Snickers. Or else I'll never get anything done," he pouted.

***

Harry peeked into the sanctuary shelter and smiled at the woman behind the counter. "We're looking for a friend for my best friend. Can we bring him in?"

"Sure, Harry, bring the dog in. I'd like to see him." She smiled as Snickers walked in with his master. "Hello, you. Remember me?" Snickers barked and sat, going up on his hind feet to beg for a treat. "You're so good," she cooed, tossing him down a piece of her lunch. "There you are." She smiled at Harry. "How has he been?"

"He's been really tired recently, but otherwise we get along really well," Harry told her. "I think he's been lonely for company, either that or he's been depressed."

"Or you've played too hard and worn him out finally," Ron snorted as he walked in. "Draco's staring at one of those motorcycle thingies, Harry." Harry handed over the leash and headed out to stop him. "I don't know which, but Snickers didn't want to play this morning at all."

"Bring him into the back, we've got our vet in looking at our new ones. She'll be able to see if it's anything serious." She led him into the back. "Virginia, this is Ron and Snickers. Snickers is his boyfriend's dog, they're looking for some companionship because Snickers has suddenly stopped wanting to play."

"I'll get to him in just a moment," she said with a smile for Ron. And with a doubletake. "I know you."

"I'm Ron Weasley."

"Ah! That's where I know you from! Kiana has a picture of you."

"How is she liking Oxford?"

"Quite a lot. Not a bit of dancing or heels to be found," she said with a smile for him. "Where is his father?"

"Out trying to talk Draco away from the big, black motorcycle on the corner."

She laughed. "I wish him luck."

***

Harry walked up behind Draco. "They're dangerous," he explained.

"Not if you know what you're doing, or at least no more dangerous than a broom," Draco told him, looking at him with a feral smile. "Just for playing around on?"

"You'll have to get a separate license and all that insurance," Harry told him. Draco shrugged. "I don't want to be a widow," he tried. "They're *dangerous*, Draco." He pouted. "I don't want to have to scrape you off the pavement."

The owner of the bike two down from the one he was looking at laughed. "It's not that dangerous, kid." He looked at Draco. "Your boy seems like a worrywart."

"He is, but it's usually for my own good," Draco admitted. "Can one learn how to ride one?"

"Sure. But the best way is to try it out and fall a few times. Doing it slowly of course," he said with a nod for the scowling Harry. "No scraping needed."

Draco shrugged. "Where would I go to find one for myself?"

He patted his handlebars. "I had this imported from the US. Harley, a great company. Specially made for me." He grinned at the salivating Draco. "Until you're ready for that, try the dealership down near Covington Station. He's pretty knowledgeable. He even has safety classes so your boy won't worry so much."

Harry glared at him. "I worry about Draco! He's precious to me! And besides, he's *my* boy, not the other way around," he said firmly. Draco kissed him on the forehead and gave him a look, forcing him to calm down. "Fine," he sighed, "but I'm not going to your funeral. If you die, I'm going to do something horrible to your corpse then bring you back." He stomped off, going back to the shelter.

Draco shook his head. "He's a bit upset with me anyway," he said with a smile. "Covington Station?"

The other guy nodded, not bothering to hide his grin. "Or there's a nice one on Raymouth Road. It's got the training you'll need for your licenses anyway," he offered, more to appease the guy's mate than anything. "It's not that far from here."

"Where would it be in relation to Charring Cross Road?"

"'Bout six and a half kilometers probably. Not that far. Here," he said, digging out his wallet and handing over a card. "They did my wife's bike," he told him.

Draco tucked the card into his back pocket. "Thank you." He walked away, thinking about the fun he could have on that machine. It would be much closer to flying than his sportscar was, and if this one suited him better than he might even give his precious car toy to Ron. He walked into the shelter and found Ron patting Harry on the back and giving him a frown. "I only wanted information," he pointed out.

"If you're getting one, you're taking all the safety precautions and you're going to be good on it, no going too fast and crashing into trees," Ron told him.

"Yes, Ron," he said, nodding in compliance. Two worriers it seemed. Maybe Vincent would be happy for him. Snickers and a strange woman came out of the back. "Is he all right?"

"Perfectly fine, just wanting a girl dog and a pack of his own," the vet assured him. She looked at Harry. "You understand him very well."

"He's my best friend outside my mates," Harry told her. He smiled at his dog. "Would you like to find a friend in here?" Snickers barked and wagged his tail fiercely. "Then let's go look." He took the leash back and walked his dog around to look at all the other dogs. Snickers came back to a long haired cat and another dog, making Harry beam at him. "I think he wants two friends."

"Granger will kill you, Potter," Draco pointed out as he went to look for himself.

"She is married," Ron pointed out dryly, following them.

"She'll always be Granger to me," Draco admitted, giving him a slight smirk. "She's not exactly the epitome of Mrs. Vincent Crabbe."

"Good point," Harry said happily, pointing at the animals. "He liked those two."

Ron looked at the cat, then at the dog. "You wanted a familiar of your own?" he asked finally. Snickers barked and wagged his tail some more. He picked up the cat and pulled it over to the little weenie dog, setting them in the same playbox. Then he barked again as they both looked at him like he was crazy.

Draco burst out laughing. "He's recreating his family," he announced. "I'm the cat, the fussy one, the little dog is you, Ron, and Snickers is Harry."

Harry grinned. "Isn't it cute?" he asked, smiling at the owner.

"I'll get two boxes and gift packets ready," the owner agreed.

"Hold on, I'm allergic to cats," Ron told them, giving Harry a look. But the begging one he got back won. Both Harry and his dog turned their big, wet, shiny eyes on him and begged with just enough pout to make you feel miserable about denying them anything.

Draco looked at Harry. "You're good," he said in admiration. He pulled out his wallet and handed over the fees, then helped pick up the two animals to put them into the crates.

Harry bounced in place. "Do you think Hermi's going to like the cat, Ron? After all, her cat ran away after our fight in our sixth year."

"Hopefully," Ron agreed with a smile.

Draco looked at them. "Her cat ran away?" They nodded. "Why?" he asked patiently.

"Because it kinda, sorta chased after the Death Eaters that year," Harry admitted, blushing a bit.

"It always did detect evil," Ron agreed. "Always tried to pounce Scabbers before we found out he was Pettigrew in disguise." He shrugged. "I'm sure she'll love the little squashed-nose darling, Harry. As long as I don't need medicine for my allergies, we'll be fine." He patted Harry on the back as he walked past him.

"I thought you used to play with Charlie's cat," Draco said, sounding confused.

"I did, but I nearly sneezed my head off," Ron said with a smile. "Percy used to say that's what happened to my brain, I sneezed it out a few times. Hermi doesn't know, but I took allergy medicine all the time while in school because of her Croonshanks."

"Hmm, maybe we should talk to Percy," Draco muttered as he followed behind Ron. He noticed Snickers staring at one cage and flicked his wand to open it so the dog could sniff. Instead Snickers picked up the little black dog inside it and trotted back to the car, not caring that he hadn't paid for that one yet.

Ron beamed and Harry giggled. Draco pulled out his wallet and handed over more money with an eye roll. "Any special care instructions on that one?" Harry asked.

"Change the foot bandage at least twice a day for the rest of the week, then it should be fine. Tell your vet to call us and we'll send over her records," the shelter owner told him, handing over a card. "Your Snickers is even more troublesome now than he was when he lived here." Harry laughed as he carried the new carriers out to the car. She looked at Draco. "Does he think I'm kidding?"

"Probably, either that or Harry's becoming more like him," Draco said dryly, taking the gift bags. "Thank you." He walked out to drive them home, letting Harry play with his new friends in the back.

Ron leaned over. "At least the snake went somewhere else," he said quietly. Draco kissed him and started the car, taking off for home.

***

Hermione looked up as a soft something interposed itself between her book and her chest. She smiled at the cat. "Where did you come from?" It kneaded her stomach and settled in for a nap. "Fine, you can rest there," she agreed with a smile for it, putting her book aside so she could go back to her nap. Snickers trotted in with his new friends and bounded up to curl up around her as well. "What did you do, rob the pound?" she asked the older dog. Snickers licked her face, his big tongue going up the center. "Eww." She wiped the slobber off. "Fine, we can curl up." She moved the cat and shifted onto her side, letting it lay against her stomach that way. "Thank you for helping me nap," she said pleasantly. "Let's sleep now." One of the dogs sniffed her rear and she swatted at it, so it gave up and she settled in to go back to sleep.

That's how Vincent found them later. He frowned at the animals, then went to Draco's room since he was soaking. He pointed at his room. "Why is my wife covered in animals?"

"Snickers picked out some new friends," Draco told him with a smile. "Are they all curled around her?"

"There's three dogs and a cat in my bed."

"Snickers picked them out," Draco said with a brighter smile. "I'm sure they're very cuddly. She's probably using them as a teddy bear."

"I'm her teddy bear, Draco," Vincent said firmly, starting to pout.

"So go force your way through the pack and snuggle up to her," Draco suggested. "And do not pout at me. Pout at Harry."

"I'll do that later, after I reclaim my mate." Vincent walked back into his bedroom and shooed the dogs out of his way, carefully helping the one with the bandage on its foot. He laid down behind his wife and the dogs curled up around him. "At least you're not taking my place," he told them. "I wouldn't allow that." The little dog with the bandage problem barked and stood up to hobble up his side. It licked him fervently, like he was a chocolate frog or something. "None of that, nap for right now," he told it, letting it curl up on his side.

They came to an easy agreement, the animals deciding to guard the new one and the humans enjoying their fuzzy bedwarmers when the baby quit kicking a few minutes later.

***

Draco walked into the motorcycle shop, looking at the bikes available. He frowned when he saw the ones unlike the one he had seen outside the shelter. "I want one I can sit up on," he told the salesman. "The man I talked to said you sell those?"

"A newbie?" the man asked. Draco nodded, supposing that sounded right. "Come this way then." He led Draco to their less fancy and non-racing bike section. "These are used, but good for starters. Some blokes do have a problem with the racing models because you're all stretched out on your stomach." He scratched his forehead as Draco sat on one, smirking at his purring. "You like then?"

"I do," Draco agreed, getting off. "I want one that fits me." He turned the full force of his personality on this man. "You'll find I'm very dangerous and deadly," he said with a small smirk. "I like speed, and I happen to enjoy zipping around."

"Hmm. Let's try one of the racing bikes then," the salesman told him, walking him over. He noticed how Draco went toward anything silver or green and pointed at one in the back row. "Not as fast, but for a beginner's bike it'll do," he said proudly. "New model from Honda. A few street racers started out on that sort."

Draco walked back and sat on it, getting comfortable. "It's a bit wide," he offered. He climbed off and shifted his hips. "I'll have to get used to it." He saw one that was drawing him and went over to it, sitting down on it. "I like this one."

"That's not really a good one for beginners," the salesman told him gently.

"Yes, but I'll learn better on the one I'll end up riding. Does this one come in silver?" The salesman nodded. "Good, I'll take this one and one of the more upright models." He handed over his wallet, getting comfortable on his new toy. "I do like this." The salesman walked a sturdy looking bike over. "What's that one?" he asked.

"Good for doubles," he said with a smile. "I bet you've got a sweet piece waitin' on you at home."

Draco shrugged. "Two really, and they both worry."

"Then show them this one, it's rather safe," the salesman told him. "When can you come do the training?"

"Can I do it now?" Draco asked.

The salesman looked at the back office. "Not really. It's by appointment usually and we're full up for the next few weeks." He tossed back the wallet. "Let me get my boss to schedule you. This one's used so it's not as expensive, but it's a good place to start." He walked into the back and gave his boss a grin. "Got one for ya, sir. Really anxious. Walked in and said he wanted a bike."

The manager looked up at him. "Why?"

"He's a rich kid, carryin' around a lot of dosh."

"Ah." He smiled. "When did he want to do his training?"

"Now."

The manager laughed. "I'll set him up a time as soon as we've got one free." He grabbed his appointment book and walked out to where Draco was lovingly stroking his new bike. "You look good on that," he said with a smile.

"Thank you." Draco looked at him. "When can we get this training out of the way?"

The man flipped open his book. "We're full up for a few weeks, but I can get you in soon after that, sir. What's your name?"

"The name is Lord Malfoy," Draco told him. The man's eyes bulged and Draco pulled out two hundred-Pound notes. "I'm a quick learner if you have a few hours today, and I'll take the full kit that goes with it, including the manuals."

The man looked at the money, then at him. He took the money. "I've got one hour free right now, you're lucky you caught me, I was about to head to lunch. Let's see what we can teach you in that time."

"As I said, I'm a very quick learner," Draco assured him. "Both or just one?"

"Let's try that one. It's the harder bike to get used to." He helped free the bike from the platform and took him outside, going back to get them both helmets. He started the usual instruction, and Draco had mastered the basics in his hour. Fast learner indeed. "You'll want to practice a bit before you go for your license," he advised at the end of their hour. "Tool around your driveway. Don't go on the roads without your license. The bobbies can get quit peeved about that and then they'll take your new bike."

Draco nodded. "Understood. Now about how much should I spend on gear?"

"Well, there's the leathers. Your helmet is mandatory. Some gloves would be worthwhile. The more safety equipment you get, the more you'll get used to using it. Like airbags and seatbelts in cars."

Draco nodded. "I always wear my seatbelt after my near-death wreck." The man looked at him. "I was going rather fast and hit a pothole." The man winced. "Fortunately we fixed the axle and neither I nor my mate died."

"Good on you, mate. Let's get you signed out and all that stuff. Did you want us to deliver them?"

"Please," Draco agreed, following him inside the shop to sign all the necessary paperwork. It lightened his wallet a lot, but he was kind enough to get three helmets, just in case.

***

Harry looked up as Draco walked in, waving the packet Arthur had sent them. "I'm going over this and they want more of a historical tracing than anything else."

"That's fine," Draco said, giving him a kiss on the head. "I was good, I even got the training," he told him. Harry scowled fiercely, making Draco grin and laugh. "You look so cute like that."

"Draco!"

"I said I'd get training and I have. If you want, I'll support you getting training as well so you don't feel so nervous. It really is more like riding a broom." He winked. "You'll adore it; I bought you a helmet so you could go for rides behind me. You more than Ron will enjoy it, Harry."

"Fine, I'll let you take me for a ride," Harry agreed. He pouted. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"And I won't be, but this is rather great fun. Like flying, only faster and on the ground." He winked. "Now give me the notes and start pulling books down for us." Harry handed them off and stole a kiss before going to do as he was told. He sat down to consider the quagmire of Ron and Harry. Ron was more like him in many ways, fun-loving and outgoing, but Harry and he shared a lot in common as well. Not that Harry was as studious, but he could do the research and he enjoyed the flying parts. Not that Ron didn't, but Harry *understood* his need to fly. Even if he did worry. It was a good thing they hadn't been together before their last game against each other. Harry would have let him have the snitch most likely and that wasn't the fun of the game.

***

Ron looked outside at the honking. "Draco, why is there a muggle delivery truck outside?" he asked.

"My new toys are here," Draco said, pulling him up so they could go look at them. "Vincent!" he yelled. "Come see!"

"Coming," drifted down the stairs.

Ron looked at the things being offloaded, then at Draco. "You've gone barmy," he decided, walking over to examine them. "How do you protect yourself?"

"That's half of the point," Draco sighed. He knew Ron was going to kick a fit over this. Harry walked out and gave him a hug before going over to look at them. His herd of beasts followed behind him like he was the Pied Piper. They sniffed and jumped up on top of the motorcycles. "Get off there!" he said, shooing off the cat. The delivery driver laughed and handed him a clipboard, letting him sign for delivery. "Are they gassed up?" The driver nodded. "Thank you. And our gear?"

"In the front. Let me get it for you," he said with a nod to Harry and then to Ron.

Vincent and Hermione walked out, and then Vincent looked at his boss. "Your father would shit bricks," he said blandly.

Draco smirked. "Just wait until I take you for a ride around the driveway."

"No!" Hermione said firmly. "My husband is not going to be killed for your pleasure, Draco Malfoy." They got into a short glaring contest, but she won because she started to stroke her stomach. He gave in gracefully and she knew it. She saw Vincent's look and sighed, giving in to him. He did have to know how to use one, in case Draco needed him in the bodyguard capacity. "You may take lessons," she relented. "Until you are fully certified, you're not to touch the back of one of those beasts." She went back to her study, working on her homework.

Ron nodded. "I agree. Draco, lessons?"

"I took the class," Draco told him, showing his certification papers. "I need more practice before I go for my license. Harry?"

"I'll let you give me a ride on that one," Harry said, pointing at the non-racing bike. "The other sort is only for single riders and they scare me." Ron gave him a hug. "Please be careful?"

"I'm going to be very careful," Draco agreed, turning to accept the package and rolling his eyes at the fussy people he was married to.

"Many mates feel that same way at first," the delivery driver noted. "I've heard so many couples rowing it's nearly amusing," he said with a grin. "Have fun, Lord Malfoy. And please be careful." He got in his truck and started off, going back to the shop.

Draco put the large box on the steps and pulled out two helmets, making sure one was his. "Here, Harry," he said, handing it over. "We'll go for a short ride around the driveway." Harry nodded and let him show him how and where to sit, wrapping his arms tightly around Draco's middle. "This has some unexpected benefits," he noted as he turned the key. They roared off at a safe speed, both of them moaning at the feel of the vibrating seat underneath him.

Harry leaned forward. "Draco, I do enjoy it," he admitted. Draco stopped the bike and looked at him. "I do. You were right."

Draco gave him a smug look. "Of course I am." He started off again, showing off by going a bit faster. Harry whooped and wiggled so he went even faster, enjoying this quite a lot.

On the steps, Ron sat and pouted. He didn't like dangerous things. At least not things that dangerous. He was happy enough with a broom. Why couldn't they be happy on brooms? Vincent patted him on the head. "You really want to learn?"

Vincent shook his head. "Not really. Draco likes his slightly dangerous and naughty things though, it's part of who he is. Dangerous and slightly naughty set him apart from his father. That and his sex drive." He winked then walked inside, going to pet his wife while she studied.

Ron waited until Harry and Draco came back, then got up and walked over, giving Draco a hug. "I guess I'll let you take me around as long as you're careful," he said gently. Draco beamed and Harry handed over his helmet, getting out of the way as they zipped off.

Harry jogged inside the house, going to the floo to call for advice. "Molly, do you think it'd be okay for me to get a motorcycle like Draco's if he's keeping his?"

"You are an adult, Harry," she said tolerantly. "If you wanted one, then you should get one." She smiled. "Does Ron like this new thing?"

He grinned and shook his head. "He thinks they're more dangerous than I do after riding one." He signed off and went to plead Draco to take him in for training and his own toys. He found Ron bent over the racing bike and walked up behind him, rubbing up against his rear. "I like you like that," he purred in his ear.

Ron looked back at him. "No." He stood up and got away from him. "No, you can't have your own. You can share with Draco. Two of the death machines are enough, Harry." Harry pouted. "I mean it, or I'll tell mum."

"She said I could have one," Harry said proudly. He looked around and waved at Draco as he sped back. "Teach me this one too?" he begged, giving him his best attempt at begging. "I'll be your sex slave for the next few weeks."

Draco took off his helmet and shook his hair back into place. "You are anyway, Potter," he said with a small smirk. "I take it you have no more objections?" Harry shook his head quickly. "Then I'll start your instruction," he agreed, smiling at him then at Ron. "You as well?"

"I'll ride behind one of you," Ron said, quickly heading into the house. He went to call his mother for support. "Don't let him have one," he whined. "Those things don't have a safety cage around them like cars. You can tip over on them!" he complained. She smiled and chuckled, not easing his fears at all. "Please, mum, stick up for me on this one, okay? Harry's already planning on adding onto the garage."

"I'm sure it'll be fine, Ron. Those things have to have safety features, you know how muggles are about their safety." She signed off and shook her head at the teachers in her office. "I never thought I'd see Ron being the cautious one."

Snape shifted in his seat. "What are motorcycles?"

"I guess they're like a small car if you can tip them over," she said, giving him a fond smile. "I'm sure they're perfectly fine, Severus. Draco won't get into too much trouble. He is a young man and he always did enjoy his flying." He nodded, giving her a tolerant look. "Now then, what sort of problem are we having with this year's new crop of students?"

"I've found one I want to be removed. I begged to have Longbottom removed, but Albus never did. This one is worse, much worse."

She nodded. "I can see why you'd want to be careful, but isn't there a reason why the students take potions?" He nodded, not looking happy. "Can't you put up some sort of barrier around them? Or have some sort of protective device around their seats? I know you have a special corner for the worst brewers."

He stiffened, then slowly smiled. "I believe I can do that," he agreed.

"Remember, it cannot get in the way of their learning, but can be protective for the other students. Nothing *too* thick, Professor." He nodded. She smiled at Minerva. "What sort of problems are you having?"

"I'm afraid it's the same student. I'm not sure why, but the boy's an absolute waste of space most days, Molly. He tries so hard, but nothing is going to go right for him I'm afraid. The boy has no skill, and no class in which he happens to do well enough in. Besides, he's miserable here. He doesn't get on with the other students. I've asked his Head of House to talk to the Prefect and they've all said that he doesn't talk to anyone."

"He could be shy," Molly pointed out. "Not one to make friends easily. I feared Percy was going to do that."

"He's at least doubly as bad as Longbottom in everything," Snape put in. "It's nearly Halloween and he hasn't had a passing grade yet, even when we're being generous. The boy is nearly Longbottom squared." Molly hissed and shook her head. "We may have to hold him back."

"We can do that," she agreed. "Perhaps we should call in the boy's parents for a conference first though?"

McGonagall shook her head quickly. "They're fierce in their protests about their son being brilliant. It won't go well."

"No, but that should always be the next step. Maybe we can come up with a solution, a tutor possibly or something, and ease their own fears. Most parents like that are afraid that what's being said is true." McGonagall sighed. "We can do it via floo Saturday if you want?" she suggested gently. "If it were mine, I'd want to know if they were flunking already."

"While that's a good point, I doubt they're going to be receptive."

Molly smiled. "Yes, but that means that they can't barge in here when and if we have to hold the poor dear back, Severus. Letting them know now prepares them for such blows in a reasonable manner. Then we can all have a drink." They laughed and nodded. "Excellent. Minerva, talk with the boy."

"He's not my house, Molly."

"No, but I'm sure Madam Sprout will be most happy not to have to handle this sort of thing. She is rather sensitive and might cry, which I don't want to see. You can sit him down with the both of you if you want." They shrugged. "Or I can sit him down and bring you in."

"I think that's the better idea," Snape agreed. He stood up. "I'll get to work on that barrier." He left the ladies alone. Things were running much more smoothly for him with Molly in charge. She didn't have any suggestions and the only time she tried to *persuade* him she was very subtle and agreeable about it. She even smiled at him like he meant something to her. He enjoyed this level of calmness and wondered if the school had been like this under Arabelle Malfoy.

Minerva and Molly gossiped a bit about Ginny's scores then Molly got to do the unenviable task of talking to the boy. She had a house elf go for him and gave him a smile as he walked in. "Sit, Trevor," she said gently. "I think it's time we had a meeting about your grades." He nodded, sighing as he sat down. "I know you're trying, but there seems to be a few problems. I'd like to hear your take on the matter since I've talked with a few of the teachers."

He nodded. "I try," he told her, telling her just like he would his mother.

***

Draco walked Harry into the bike shop and handed him over. "Train him," he said, going to look at the accessories. He could see Harry wanting his own and wanted to help him pick out his jacket. Something that made him look wonderful and worthy of riding beside him.

Harry smiled at him. "My mate got me hooked," he told the person behind the desk. "Is the training hard or does it take a long time?"

"That all depends on you. Have you taken any spins around by yourself?" Harry nodded. "Ready to get your license then?"

"I think so, but I'm all for safety lectures," Harry told him. "I was against this idea in the first place because of the lack of safety features on most motorcycles." He leaned on the counter. "Then Draco took me for a ride and I realized I loved the feeling of not having a car around me." He beamed at the smile he got for it. "Please?"

"Well, we have an opening later today," he admitted. "A cancellation." Harry started to bounce. "Hey, now, none of that. If you bounce too much, we'll have to push you back until you're calm." Draco walked over and kissed Harry until he went limp in his arms, then released him and went back to his browsing. "Well now," he said, giving Draco a new look. "I never figured him for one of those. We figured his mates were girls."

Harry shrugged. "One of us is," he said with a wink and a grin. The salesman laughed. "Can I get in sooner? I want my very own one." He pouted briefly.

"The guy's out on a lesson right now," the salesman said, giving the book a look. "He should be done in about ten minutes. What sort did you want?"

"I like his upright one, though there is something really naughty about his racing one," Harry admitted, starting to blush. "I think our woman would like something a bit more sturdy though when we ride together."

"There are touring bikes," the salesman told him, walking him over to the only one they had. "This is a Beamer touring bike. A bit old and very heavy, but steady like an RV." Harry walked around it, pressing on the seat. "It's meant for highway cruising and touring about on the weekends. Even has some storage space."

Harry smiled at Draco, who was giving him a frown. "For when we have to bring Ron about," he noted, patting the seat.

Draco walked over and looked it over. "It's very...sturdy," he decided was the right word.

"Yes, and Ron'll love that. Hermi would even adore that feature," Harry pointed out.

Draco nodded. "Good point. Then she'd quit yelling at me for corrupting you." He gave Harry's temple a kiss. "Is that one going to be Ron's?"

"I'll only use it when it's Ron and I. You know he hates both of yours." He winked and opened the compartments to show him. "We can even go for picnics on this one."

Draco looked at the storage space and nodded. "That's an excellent feature. I miss being able to go shopping on my bike. Even saddlebags wouldn't help that much." He went back to his browsing.

Harry beamed. "I want ones like his and this one," he told him, pulling out his wallet. "We'll work on building an addition to the garage tonight."

The salesman laughed. "I'm so glad I work on commission. My own woman'll adore you two since it'll be paying for her ring." He went to ring him up and start the necessary paperwork for Harry's training.

Draco smirked at Harry, getting a wink in return. He looked out the door as the trainer came back with a crying person and nodded. "That's him."

The crying person rushed off and Harry grinned at the trainer, holding out his hand. "I'm Lord Malfoy's husband Harry," he said, shaking it. The man laughed. "He's gotten me hooked, and I've even decided to buy something *safe* for our wife. Teach me as well? He's shown me a lot and I'd like to go for my test when he does."

"I've got an opening in an hour, kid. Go have lunch and then we'll do you." Harry beamed at him and dragged Draco off for a long snog in a cheap motel. "Those kids are fun," he said, smiling at the salesman.

"Buggerer bought three bikes," he said, handing over the forms. "Their wife doesn't like not having the car around her so he bought a touring bike to ride with her."

"Good job," the manager said with a smile. "And in cash so you won't have to wait for your commission either." He clapped him on the back. "Let me get a drink and I'll go off for my next lesson." He went into their staffroom, getting himself something from the machine.

***

Draco and Harry pulled up outside the Leaky Cauldron, him on his racing bike and Harry on his used Harley. They parked and warded the bikes against theft, then went through to get the twins so they could show off. Little did they know someone had taken their pictures. When they came back out, Harry was beaming like a loon and their pictures were snapped again. The reporter for the Daily Prophet snuck off, going to tell his manager this juicy news and search through the old photos for something else he thought he remembered.

Fred looked at the bikes, then at Harry. "There is no way you're getting me on one of those," he said firmly, looking every bit like his mother at that moment. Harry gave him a hug. "Get off!" He pushed him off. "They're dangerous, Harry."

"They're fun," Harry retorted. "They go fast and it's like riding a really fast broom. Just a spin around the block? I've got my license."

George looked at Draco. "Don't even suggest it," he said quietly. "I'll sic Oliver on you." Draco chuckled. "I mean it. How did Harry corrupt you this way? It used to be that your father didn't like brooms because it wasn't under his own power."

"They really are like a faster version of a broom," Draco assured him. "Very safe if carefully ridden. We've both had lessons."

"What about Ron?" George asked while keeping an eye on the other two's fight.

"He hates them, thinks they're unsafe."

George sighed and looked up. "Thanks, mum, for the common sense being passed on. I won't tell Percy on him." He winked at Draco. "Dad's about to come over so you might want to hide before he sees them."

"Your father will shit with envy," Draco said lightly.

Fred barged over. "You will not allow my father on these death traps, Draco Malfoy, or I will swat you myself. Even if he survives," he said firmly, dragging George with him before he somehow got corrupted by being near them. "How dare they! Those aren't safe and we need those two around! Ron will be miserable without them!"

"Too true," George agreed, smiling at his twin's back. He could be the righteously indignant one, it saved George from having to complain too much or pace about. Wait until Charlie heard about this one. He already wanted to save Ron from the over-sexed duo.

***

Draco opened the morning paper and burst out laughing. "Harry, apparently I'm corrupting you again," he said as he handed it over. They were eating on the bed, as usual, and Harry was leaning on his legs while he ate.

Harry grinned at the pictures. "Hmm, I'm being corrupted because you figured out that muggle transportation goes really fast," he said as he read. "Ooh, there's a call to separate us before it can be finished." He looked up. "Apparently you're also the cause of my mental health issues now as well," he said with a grin. Ron snatched the paper to read.

"Your mother won't complain, Harry already told her about them," Draco offered, rubbing the tense back. Ron was switching back now and had been up most of the night with muscle cramps. "Why don't you stay up here today, Ron," he gently suggested, earning a smile. "You could use the rest."

"Then we can pounce you for one last blow later," Harry agreed with a wicked grin. "My bikes are coming today and I got you a surprise."

"Harry, I'm not learning how to ride."

Harry crawled up Ron's legs, sitting in his lap so he could steal a kiss. "I got one of the big, heavy, *safe* ones to ride with you on the back," he whispered, stealing another kiss. "One with luggage space even." He stole another kiss, and could see that Ron's eyes were dilating. "Nearly a car, only without the roof. I even helped pick out your protective gear," he said before stealing another kiss.

Draco stole Harry and kissed him senseless. "Let her rest. We'll impress her later, Harry," he said patiently. Harry leaned down and sucked him in, making him moan. "Damn, I should corrupt you more often," he decided, sliding down to give him more room to work himself down the hard cock.

"Hmm," Ron said, watching Harry. "You definitely trained him to do that very well." He spanked the wiggling butt. "Don't tempt me, Potter, or you won't be sitting later." Draco pushed the loose sleep pants off Harry's backside, letting Ron have access to it. "Maybe we should wear him out, I could use a teddy bear while I nap," Ron agreed. He grabbed the lube and slicked himself up. Harry had jumped them both last night so he wasn't fully unstretched, it only took a second before Ron could slide in with a groan of delight. "I think we should chain him to the bed today, Draco. At least until his new toys come. That way he'd get something done on the research paper."

"Let him be," Draco advised. "He's upset about how the deposition went last night. They asked a few very stupid questions and he nearly went off on the interviewing lawyer according to Hermione. Fortunately the man didn't realize how close to death he came." He stroked through Harry's hair. "I'm proud of the way you held yourself back, Harry," he said gently. Harry came with a moan, still wrapped around him. Draco smiled down at him. "Did I do that?" He pulled Harry off and gave him a real kiss. "You handled that man very well and you deserve a reward. What would you like?"

"You to flood into me," Harry said with a wicked grin before going back to what he had been doing.

"I like it when he's easy to please," Ron pointed out as he stroked in and out of the taunt body. "Harry, relax, you're crushing me back here," he complained. Harry went limp and he came. "Ooh. Much better." He kissed Draco while still in Harry, putting pressure on Harry to swallow Draco fully. Draco came and pulled back to continue breathing. "Very nice. Now let's finish breakfast so I can jump you both later for the last time in a month."

"Yes, Ron," Harry said, using Draco's lap for a pillow. He yawned then ate the piece of toast Draco held down to him. "Thank you, Draco."

"You know you're my favorite toy of all, Harry," Draco said smugly, smirking down at him when Harry looked up at him. "Seriously. You're much more versatile as a toy than my new ones. I always go back to my favorite toys." Harry lunged up and kissed him, then went back to his lap.

"Maybe we really should tie him to the bed today," Ron put in. Draco nodded. Harry moaned, closing his eyes. "You rest, Harry, we'll decide what to do with you in a few." Harry nodded and snuggled in. Ron and Draco shared a smile, that was the Harry they had grown to adore.

Hermione screamed from down the hall and they clapped.

***

Molly looked up as someone squealed in outrage, smiling at the girl stomping up to her. "Yes, dear?" she asked, taking the held-out paper from the young Slytherin girl. She saw the pictures and frowned. "Well, Harry looks happy," she admitted, passing it down to Snape. He looked at it and his eyes bulged. "I guess we know what motorcycles are now."

"Potter and your son need to be stopped, ma'am, before they fully corrupt Mr. Malfoy and he's no longer the Slytherin Prince he once was," the girl demanded, stomping her foot. "My mother will think that it happens inside the house somehow and will withdraw me."

Molly gave her a look. "Now that's just foolishness," she pointed out gently. "I will be talking to Ron later though." Everyone who had a mother in the room shivered at the look on her face. They doubted Ron would be walking straight after she got done with him.

***

The twins looked up as their fireplace burst out in a gout of flame, admitting Charlie and Percy. "They showed us that day," Fred told him dryly. "We refused to go for a ride."

"We'll have to put a stop to that before they get Ron," Percy said firmly, wanting to stomp his foot so bad. A wizard like Ron and Malfoy, playing with such muggle toys!

"And I thought the gun was bad," George said dryly.

"Guns too?" Charlie asked.

"How else do you think he took out Voldemort?" Fred asked him. Charlie glared at him and he shrugged. "He figured out how to put curses on bullets and shoot wizards! It wasn't me!"

Charlie stomped off, going to tell his father. He would support their taking Ron from that perverted being, Draco Malfoy. He walked into his father's office and slammed the door. "Have you seen the paper today?" he demanded.

Arthur gave him a smile. "I did. Harry hasn't looked that happy in a long time," he agreed. Charlie's mouth fell open. He laughed. "Ron's not enamored of those machines, he does it to humor Harry and Draco a bit."

"We need to remove Ron, dad! There's no telling what they're doing to him!"

Arthur looked at his clock. "They're probably having sex," he put in gently. Charlie blushed and started to cough. "It's all right, Charlie, I had a long talk with Ron the other day when he ranted about Harry and Draco's desire for fast things. You and that nice boy Oliver played quidditch to play the sport, Draco and Harry played because they love the feeling of flying. Give them this one indulgence. Harry looked quite happy for once. He's being careful, he always is."

"Still, father! He's corrupting Ron horribly!"

"Not you too," Arthur sighed. "Charlie, there's corruption and then there's corruption with pain and fear. The first is mostly fine, it will make Ron more powerful but not harm him. The second will harm him and those two regard Ron as the greatest treasure. If we tried to take Ron, or even suggest that he leave them, there would be serious repercussions. The least of which is Harry's mental health would deteriorate rapidly. Ron and Draco keep him happy and not brooding on what he had to do. It's good to see him smile that way again, so please leave them be. Tell Percy it's an order." Charlie opened his mouth. "Now."

Charlie sighed. "Fine!" He stomped off, going back to the joke shop. "Dad said that if we even suggested Ron leave them then Harry's mental health might break. He said Ron's ranted about them so he's not liking it, but he's humoring them," he said grimly. "Told me we can't rescue Ron at all."

Ron slapped him hard across the back of the head. "That's for thinking I needed it!" he said angrily. Charlie winced and looked at him. "Do not even think about that, Charlie Weasley, or you will be sorry. Harry's not the one you have to look out for, he'd break now. Draco would have to help him. Hermione and Vincent would get you for me if you ever tried anything like that." He crossed his arms and glared at Charlie, making him realize what sort of danger he was in.

Charlie swallowed. "I'm sorry, Ron, I was worried about them hurting you on those machines," he said gently. "I'm a big brother and I adore you, even when you're mad at me."

"Oh, give it up," George sighed, shaking his head. "Ron, we know you're not into speed things like those two, but what happens if you wreck?"

"To reassure ourselves," Fred put in at the glare sent at his twin.

"Harry and Draco have both gotten me protective leather outfits, then we treated them with a solution to make sure that they wouldn't wear through and would always make me look quite decent," he sniffed. He shot another glare at Charlie. "Unlike some, they *ask* me what I want." He stomped into the back to sit and pout.

"I'd apologize," Fred suggested.

George nodded. "Before he decides this is a grudge that needs retribution."

Charlie hurried into the back to beg and plead with Ron not to be mad at him. He more than anyone other than Bill knew that Ron could make his life a living hell. He ended up holding Ron tightly against him while he apologized repeatedly, just to get it through his thick head.

The twins looked at each other, then at Percy, who was browsing. "Feel lucky," George told him.

Percy smiled. "I do. Ron would never forgive me after what I did last time, though it was for the best. I wonder if he's going to have the Malfoy heir."

"He can't," George said with a frown.

"They arranged for Ginny to carry it once they've had their first," Fred added for good measure.

"Neville doesn't want kids right off," Percy pointed out gently. "That means a wait and that's not a good thing. Malfoy has to produce an heir within five years of marrying or the family fortune is broken up among his maiden aunts. That is the rule set down by the inheritance." Ron walked out and stared at him until he continued on. "I checked it out to see how Malfoy was going to have to take care of you. You see, there's a part in there about spouses," Percy told him. "What they were to be given if they were a widow and the like. Did you know he's violating a clause of the will because you're big-chested?"

Ron groaned and shook his head. "He knows, but we're not doing anything about it. That's a stupid rule, Percy." He shook his head as he went back to the counter. "Do you have the things for Draco's birthday?"

"Definitely," Fred told him, pulling a package out from under the counter. "That'll be thirty sickles, Ron."

Ron raised an eyebrow. "I don't get a discount anymore?"

"That was with the discount," George told him.

Ron sighed and paid for it, taking the package with him when he left. "Draco, my brothers think I need saving again," he noted as he walked into the house.

Draco laughed from somewhere down the hall. "Tell them I'm siccing Potter on them," he called back.

"Draco!" Harry squealed. There was the sound of laughter.

Ron groaned as he went to find Vincent to help him hide the treats until Draco's birthday.

***

Hermione looked at these new toys, then glared at Draco. "Do you see what you've started?" she demanded. Harry was presently hugging his favorite bike.

"No, I see the happiness that this caused," Draco retorted. She grimaced but dropped the argument. He watched as Harry talked Ron onto the back of the touring bike and took off with him, shaking his head. "Ron's even more paranoid about safety than Harry is," he said in disgust. He went to rev up his racing bike, it needed gas anyway. He roared past them with a wave.

Harry leaned back against Ron's stomach, getting comfortable. He stopped and grinned at him. "Better?"

"Much," Ron admitted. "But I want this to be rare, Harry. No living on it like Draco does. It doesn't offer any shelter in case someone tries anything."

"Yes, Ron," Harry sighed.

Ron hugged him. "I'm not nagging, mate, but I need you to be safe. What would I do if you got hurt again?" he asked. Harry nodded and started them back to the house. "Think we could take this on a picnic this weekend?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed with a smile. "I even bought you a jacket that'll look stunning with this bike since I figured you'd like this one more." Ron gave him a squeeze. "Thanks."

***

A house elf appeared with a silver tray bearing the morning mail, the bright red envelope laying on top of the stack. "Misters, sir, message," he said, holding it up.

Draco looked at the howler, frowning at it. "Who would dare send one of those to me?" he said in disgust, tossing it off the side of the bed. He waited for it to open itself, he wasn't getting near it until it went off.

The flap exploded. "How dare you sully the family name by playing with muggle toys!" Draco's father, Lucius, shouted via the letter. "You are not only sullying the family name, I will have you removed, you misbegotten imbecile! You are destroying generations of Malfoy purity by taking up with *Potter* and a *Weasley*, not to mention that you are breaking a few of the family's long-standing demands. I will see you removed and me put back in your place!" The howler exploded.

Draco looked at the elf, who was cowering next to Harry. "Is the owl that brought it still here?" he asked casually. The elf nodded quickly. "Then keep it here for now. We'll send back a message in a moment," he said with his coldest look. He slid off the bed and went down to his study, pulling out the small charm he had Hermione look up and make for him. He wrote out a quick note and went to attach them both to the owl, letting it go back to her master. He would have to remember to check on it soon.

***

Harry walked into the auror's department and smiled, holding up the mirror charm that Hermione had created for them, well the spare mirror charm anyway. "Draco Malfoy wanted to know if you wanted the tracking charm he had put on his father?" he asked the receptionist. He was shoved into the General's office, still holding the charm up. "Lucius got a bit ...disconcerted wtih his son when he saw our last picture in the paper. So we sent back a tracking charm. Would you like it?"

"What will it cost us?" the General asked, looking at the boy.

Harry leaned down, putting the charm between them. "You dropping the ridiculous charges against me for protecting myself," he snarled, losing all good humor. "Otherwise, we'll get him ourselves, get the reward for it, and then beat you in front of the Courts."

"Now see here," the General started.

Harry glared worse, making him suck in a breath. "Your people tried to kill me to save their own asses. You have to get rid of some of the force anyway, get rid of them," he suggested coldly. "Because if they *ever* come near me again, I'm going to kill them. Including the one that's been watching the house recently." He stood up and looked at him, then smiled again. "Draco didn't send that with the charm, that's just my fee for delivering it."

"Do you really think you should be wandering around with *decent* people, boy?" the general sneered.

"The last I looked, I did what I had to do, and you and Dumbledore turned me this way," Harry said quietly. Then he shrugged. "I had to go through a lot of soul searching to see that I wasn't going to do it again unless it was to protect my family. Be thankful none of the brainwashing your people did worked."

"If it had, you wouldn't be here, you would have died during the follow-up battles," the General told him.

Harry nodded. "That's probably true, and another thing I have to thank Draco and Ron for." He grinned. "Maybe you should send them a card. The first people I would have continued with were the people who came after me. Meaning you." He left, leaving the charm there. He did drop by his lawyer's office and drop off the tape he had recorded while in there, Ron's idea, then went to pick himself up a treat. The candy store salesgirl didn't even bat an eye at him when she sold him the seventeen pound box of chocolates, only took his money with a smile. He waved and walked away, going to use the Leaky's floo to get home since he hadn't rode up. He presented the box to Hermione. "Here, for the little creature so it calms down," he said with a smile. "I taped it, the guy admitted it."

"It's probably not admissible," she warned.

"No, but it's a warning all the same," Harry said sweetly, then he went to find Ron and Draco, finding them together in Draco's study. "I was just reminded that I have to thank you both for negating their suicide switch in my training." He gave them both hugs then went to play with his animals.

Ron looked at Draco. "I knew I should have went."

"You're not getting anywhere near those creatures," Draco said firmly, giving her a squeeze. "I should probably wade into this matter."

"You'll become like your father to a lot of people," Ron warned.

"It's better to be seen as manipulative than to be manipulated," Draco said gently. He stole a kiss and pushed Ron off his lap. "Go play with beast boy while I finish off this last challenge to the will my father filed." Ron nodded, leaving him alone. Draco groaned as he stood up, going back to his desk. "I want to kill the man," he decided.

***

Draco looked at the judge a week later. "That caveat is senseless," he pointed out, using a nice, neutral, calm voice instead of the one that showed he wanted to rip his father's friend's throat out with his teeth. "My great-grandfather was ninety at the time and I don't particularly care for that body part. I prefer the nether regions on my wife's body. I have no intention of suffocating in her bosom."

"Be that as it may, it was a demand for your inheritance."

"I was married before I received it," Draco reminded him. The man did nod at that. "Besides, most of my maiden aunts are barren due to my father's accidents and schemes. My own heir hasn't been born yet and won't be for a while."

"It says five years."

"I've arranged with Ron's sister Ginny to carry it for us, since we don't want Ron carrying for certain reasons. The only request that they made is that this child not be their first because first children are nearly impossible to give up. I foresee it being at the five year limit or shortly afterwards. Definitely on the way by then."

"That would be acceptable, but the problem remains that you've breached the contract the will represents."

"I never agreed to that caveat," Draco pointed out. "For it to be a contract, both parties have to agree to the terms. Personally, I think my former relative was suicidal. He climbed into bed with an eighteen-year-old courtesan of his own free will, a highly trained one because he had talked with her about her training. From all viewpoints, it was an act of suicide that has regulated the family for a few centuries. Plus, my mother didn't fit the cup requirement either when they first married. No one said anything to my father and his father was still living."

"If it were possible, we could call your grandfather. But we can't."

"Actually, we might be able to do a seance and call for him," Draco pointed out with a small smile. "I believe he's a ghost somewhere, possibly in his childhood home."

"No. That is not legal in this court, Mr. Malfoy."

"Then be reasonable," Draco snapped. "This is my father's attempt at trying to regain the family money to restart his crusade against anyone who's not like him. Do you really want to see a new Dark Lord rising? It's bad enough the man wouldn't die when Potter got him in a lung."

"Yes, there is that," the judge agreed, looking down at the papers as he thought. "Can you guarantee that none of the other terms will not be violated?"

"I can guarantee that I'll try but some of them are ancient and unreasonable. Some of them have been cut out of the old will, or even just eroded since we're using the same copy of the will and simply changing names. For all we know, me being a male might break it. There was a rash of double heirs since the first one came out female for nearly six generations in a row."

"That's a good point," the judge agreed with a small sigh. "Fine, I'll find the will's contents invalid and award you full custody of the estate as you're the only real heir. Do make sure that your aunts are all taken care of and be generous with your donations."

"The reward money for turning in my father will be going to the charity of Harry's choice," Draco said, looking a little bit smug. "Thank you." He bowed and left, letting Ron pounce him. "We won."

"Good." Ron snuggled against his side. "The judge called Harry's case a day early." Draco groaned. "Want to walk over there and support him?"

"We probably should, before they make him snap." He walked Ron down to the Wizzengomit's chamber, taking a seat in the public section. This trial was open because of the ramifications of the events. Draco smiled at Harry when he was looked at and Ron gave him a thumb's up. "Should we implement something to take him on holiday after this is over with?" Draco whispered.

Ron nodded. "Definitely, especially if it's not good," Ron whispered back. The judge looked at them and Ron smiled.

"I believe our last witness has arrived from his own hearing," Harry's lawyer announced. "Mr. Malfoy, would you care to give testimony first?"

"I wouldn't care, but I will," Draco agreed, letting Ron go so he could walk down there. He looked back when he heard the movement. "Ron, with me," he said firmly, pointing at the extra chair from Harry's table. "There. Just in case."

"There's no need for that," the judge noted.

Draco lit up the back of the chamber, showing the armed guards who had just come in. "Really?" he asked pleasantly. "Then ask them why they just entered and they have their wands drawn." He sat down, watching Ron until she was beside Harry. "What did you want to know?"

"Is your name Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes," Draco said patiently.

"Did you save the life of Harry Potter during what has been commonly known as the follow-up battles?"

"Yes," Draco repeated.

"From whom, young man?"

"From a few aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix. A number of them fired shots at Harry's back while I was trying to calm him down. He didn't take well at all to killing and was nearly hysterical at that point."

"I see." The lawyer grimaced. "How many aurors did you kill that day?"

"Any of them that were firing on me. I didn't think to keep count."

"More than five?"

"Probably," Draco agreed. He got comfortable, his wand resting in his lap. Just in case. He had seen one of the aurors flinch at his statement. "I rightly don't recall. I was a bit busy defending my own life. You'd think they had planned it that way or something," he said dryly.

"Do you think they did?" the lawyer asked, jumping on the offered statement.

Draco nodded. "I do believe so. There was evidence that the aurors wanted Harry to die during or directly after the fight. That's what went wrong when he tried to train with the aurors."

"You said tried?"

"Mr. Potter was becoming depressed by their insistence that he sacrifice himself and our mutual wife to the battles. They repeatedly told him that he was to offer up his body as a sacrifice and do his duty."

"Challenge, your honor. Hearsay. He wasn't there."

Draco snorted. "Actually, I was there. You see, I have them marked. I can access his memories if I want to."

The judge and opposition attorney looked at him like he was insane. "You did what?" the judge asked. "I'm not overly familiar with that ritual."

Draco stepped off the stand and walked over to Harry, giving him a small smile. "May they see yours?" he asked, holding out a hand. Harry let himself be pulled up and his marks shown to the court. "Often called branding one's mate in the older families. As you can see, both Weasley and myself have done Mr. Potter, for his own protection and because we wanted it to be so." He helped Harry sit back down again. "It does let me know what's going on inside them. It's not too refined on our part, none of us have wanted to pry into the other's mind, but I have had the occasion to listen to a few of the *lectures* given by the aurors training them." He sat back down again, looking cool and composed even as his mind raced. His mark was fading for some reason. Ron's was overly strong but his mark was fading. Perhaps he would have to kill his father after all to remove him from the family lineup. He saw the lawyers pulling themselves back together again and paid more attention to them than to his family plans. Ron winced and grabbed his side. "What's wrong?"

"The mark is burning," Ron said, still wincing.

Draco stood up and walked over, shielding him so he could look at the mark. His was completely gone. "Somehow my father's gotten hold of the family crest." He touched the ones he wore and smiled, then nodded at the judge. "May I have five minutes?" The judge nodded. "Thank you. I believe I have to harm my father." He walked out, finding a small, unused room down the hall. He pulled out the crest and smiled when the heir's one was dark. His father was trying to remove him using the main crest in the bank. "Really?" he asked, checking the link the crests gave him with the 'family fortune'. What he saw made him cackle. He apparaated over to Gringott's, looking down at the goblin in charge of that vault. "My father was just here?" he asked gently. It looked up at him in fear. "You do know that you turned over the master crest to a wanted fugitive and a madman who should not have access to any of it?"

"He had a key."

"No, he didn't," Draco informed him. "It's a blood key and he was taken out of the succession. That means one of you had to let him in. That means you're liable." He turned when he heard the door opening and fired at the man standing there, a strong stunning spell. Lucius screamed in pain, grabbing his chest. "We'll see, father, won't we?" he sneered, following him out into the main bank. "Someone get an official, this man is a wanted felon and just broke into the family's vaults." A few goblins went running and Draco smirked at him. "I've promised the reward money for your capture to Harry, for a charity of his choice. I suppose, with his nature, he'll give it to the shelter we got his dog from." He smiled then turned to a goblin. "Do call my house for me and suspend all elves." It nodded and ran off to do that. All house elves had to listen to Gringott's goblins because they could determine who was the actual heir of the family, who the elves had to listen to. The goblin gave him a look when it came back. "The animals?"

"Are protected," it told him. "One of them is hiding them. The rest are waiting on orders from whomever wins."

"Good enough," Draco agreed. He looked at his father, then at the auror coming in. "Since none of the dementors will touch him, is he mine?" he asked.

"We need to know how he did it, kid," the auror in front noted.

"Golem. He put a pensieve in the family's first vault, the one protecting the master crest." He looked down at his father. "Good bye." He cast the killing curse and stepped back, taking the knife the goblin held out on a platter. He stuck it into the man's heart and followed the goblin back to the special vaults to smear it on the family's main crests, the one that charged the ones he wore. It glowed white then his glowed. He could feel his connection to Ron and Harry again so it had reverted back to his control. He sighed in relief and slumped, then went to talk to the aurors. "There, all fixed. No more nasty family business I hope," he said lightly. The aurors looked at him like they were next. "He did try to take my mates and everything away from me," he pointed out, hoping they saw the subtle threat. A few shuddered so he knew they did. "Please pay the reward to Mr. Potter as I've given it to him to give away." He walked past them, going to get a drink before going back to the court. He walked in, slamming the door. "Sorry, had to deal with my father." Harry walked over and hugged him before he could sit down. "I'm fine," he whispered, "it's all over with. He was the last strong one."

"I felt you kill him," Harry whispered back. "I'm sorry you had to." He looked up. "I would have if I could have gotten there."

Draco smiled at him and gave him a short kiss. "I know, Harry. Go back to your seat. We'll talk later." Harry nodded and they both returned to their seats. "Sorry. I needed a drink." He saw the head auror in the public section and nodded at him. "You'll find my father is dead," he announced. "He just tried to remove me from the family." The man blanched, shaking like a leaf in a gale wind. He looked at the judge. "Where were we?"

The opposing lawyer coughed. "I believe your side was nearly done," he admitted. Draco nodded.

Harry's lawyer shook his head. "I can call him back if necessary. Your turn."

The opposing lawyer looked at Draco. "You killed him? Your own father?"

"The dementors refused to go near him when he was in prison the first time. He was under a death sentence. The warrant did say dead or alive. He's no longer a threat to my family."

"Do you think such attitudes are good for Mr. Potter and his delicate mental condition." Harry snorted. "We'll get to you, don't worry, Potter."

Draco laughed. "Harry's no more mentally fragile than you are. Than a great many of the older family's children are. His was physical abuse by his remaining family, mine was emotional, and yours put you under the Imperious when you were probably about five," Draco retorted. "He's as normal as can be under the circumstances. With people telling you that you're to commit suicide after that one great act, and you've had the sort of life he had, then one has to break away hard to not do so."

"Don't you think it might have been better if he had?"

"No." Draco sneered at him. "Why would I think that the world would be a better place without him? He's the one keeping me calm." The lawyer backed up a few steps. "Not only that but Harry's been seriously underestimated in all this jockeying for position. The man who talked with him when *someone*," he looked at Dumbledore, "filed a mental health warrant on him said he was perfectly fine." He looked at the lawyer again. "Since then, he's talked with a counselor about what he had done and has come out the other side with an appreciation for the finer things in life, like happiness. I don't think the world is better off, I think you'd be better off if you gave up this crusade."

"I don't like that insinuation," the judge noted.

Draco looked at him. "One of the family's attorneys has filed a civil suit against the aurors for their actions that day," he told him. "Harry's told them that if this one goes away, he can make that other one go away as well. That's all I meant. I have no desire to see anyone begging me for their lives." He smiled at Harry, who wiggled in his seat because Ron was stroking his thigh. "Do behave," he chided gently. "I'm not there with you."

Ron laughed. "Pity, I guess he's mine tonight then, huh?" he quipped. The lawyer looked at him like he was odd. Ron winked at him. "What?"

"Do leave his leg alone, Mrs. Malfoy." Ron groaned. "Sorry." The judge looked at Draco again. "When was this filed?"

"The same day this ridiculous suit was started in the first place. Did they expect to win the right to kill him?" he asked, looking at the pale opposing lawyer. He was clutching the edge of his table. "I see." The judge looked and frowned at him as well. "Fat chance. If you try, then I will be forced to publish my father's diaries." The lawyer shook harder. "Yes, I do believe you were in there. Something about a favor owed. Is that still true?"

"Your honor!" the opposing lawyer shouted. "I am not on trial."

"No, but your reason for being here is," the judge agreed. "Did you take this case as a favor to one of the top Death Eaters?" The lawyer opened his mouth but nothing came out. "Then answer this one," he said coldly. "Are they the ones behind trying to kill Mr. Potter?" The lawyer moaned and sat down. He saw movement in the back of the public section and stopped everyone from moving. "I will not allow such machinations to be the court's purpose. We are here to determine law, gentlemen, not to punish those who did what you couldn't do the first time," he said coldly. "Mr. Potter is awarded his freedom and this transcript will be sent to the civil courts."

Harry coughed. "That's not necessary. I just want them to leave us alone," he put in. "I want to have my own life and have them not do things like tell the career counselor employed by the Ministry to refuse to help me. I'd like to be a normal boy again."

"Fine, Mr. Potter." He smiled at him. "Stay after this is over with. We'll do something about that for you." Harry nodded. "As for the rest of you, leave. Never try such tactics again through the courts. What you are doing is as evil as Voldemort ever did!" He banged his gavel and freed the room, letting them run for it. He noticed someone out in the hallway. "Come in, Minister," he said genially. Arthur Weasley walked in. "I'm surprised you weren't here."

"I wanted to be, but I had to deal with the matter of a dead Death Eater," he said with a nod for Draco. "Economical. I'll have it forwarded to Harry's accounts so he can disperse of it." He looked at the judge. Then at his head Auror. "You're fired," he told him, smiling kindly. The man stood up. "There will be a review. I had to wait until this case was over with, the law said so, but now that it is, you're gone and your whole department is being redone by someone who knows what they're doing." He smiled. "I had a wonderful few talks with a Sergeant named Henderson." Ron and Harry both sighed in relief so he smiled at them. "Ron, no feeling up in public. Your mother taught you better than that, son." Ron shrugged and removed his hand from Harry's thigh again. "Thank you." He looked at the man. "It seems you knew what was going on. He explained the whole idea to me and I have to say it made me quite ill." The smile never left his face the whole time, scaring the man. "Now, go to my office and wait on me," he ordered, pointing at the door. "Before I make it an order." The man walked out, not doing as he was told. That's okay, there were people waiting on him. "I have a petition to make. It will not please Harry, but will accord him a lot of protection." He pulled out a small scroll and handed it over. "This is to put Harry Potter on the list of national treasures, as the old ones back before Dumbledore were. That means that he is immune from most reporters, immune from such plots because killing him would be a national tragedy, and therefore a conspiracy to commit treason against the wizarding world, and it would lend him the status of being able to hide in his house if he wanted." Harry made a protesting sound. "I know," he said, walking over to give him a hug. "But you do deserve it. With what you did, even with how you did it, you do deserve it." He looked at the judge again. "I doubt many could object."

"No, I don't think so." He smiled at Harry. "It will actually fit very well into my own plans. I have the ability to give you a second identity in cases where your life is in jeopardy, young man. As such, I am giving you an official one, to be added to the records under a birthday your father-in-law shall choose. James Weasley all right with you?" Harry nodded, looking dumbfounded. He couldn't say a thing. "Good." The judge smiled at Arthur. "That all right with you and your wife?"

"Definitely. We've considered Harry like our own since that first time we took him in. As long as it won't hurt him and Ron?"

"It shouldn't." He considered it, looking at Draco. "Yours?"

"My mother's family," Harry offered, finally able to open his mouth. "Evans."

"That's a wonderful idea," the judge agreed. "James still, in honor of your father?" Harry nodded, starting to smile. "That's fine then. Do arrange everything, Minister Weasley. Dismissed." He banged his gavel gently, watching as the trio hugged each other, with Potter in the center. Then they shifted to put Malfoy in the center and Arthur got into the hugging. He smiled. A very strong family.

***

Arthur looked up as the judge walked into his office. "Did you hear the real reason they were so worried?" he asked when he saw the confused look.

"You'd think someone like former Minister Fudge would be better able to read people. How could he think that Potter would take over the Dark Lord's spot?"

"Because everyone was right, they chose to put the boy in an abusive family environment. Then they found out a few things that made them decide that he was going to become abusive as well." He shrugged. "They decided that the boy being a parseltongue meant he was evil and weren't going to be swayed." He clasped his hand on the desk. "I had some doubts about Draco myself, but I can see that he wouldn't do that more than to benefit himself."

"Thankfully. At least he can read people. Is he really good to both boys?" Arthur nodded, giving him a cheerful smile. "Then I wish them the best of luck getting away from the reporters." He handed over his official judgement, newly finished. "For the records, Minister."

"Thank you, Judge. I'll have it copied and sent to them."

"I already have," he said with a smile. "Tell them I wish them every happiness and a large, protective family." He walked out, leaving his boss alone. Arthur was so much nicer to work under, there wasn't any pressure to decide a case a certain way.

Arthur smiled at the door, fingering the parchment roll.

***

Hermione pounced them as soon as they walked in the door that night. "What took you so long!" she complained, hugging Harry and Ron first, then Draco. "Vincent's in your study, there's been a rash of reporters calling. Most of them about your father, Draco. Harry, I have dropped the civil suit as per your orders. Are we finally free?"

Ron nodded, patting Harry's butt for him. "Not only that, the judge accorded him a second identity." She gasped, looking at Harry. "For times when things start to look bad again, so he can disappear."

"That and the status of a national treasure," Draco said with some amusement. He goosed Harry. "Go lay on the bed, I want to make sure this doesn't go to your head, Harry." Harry hurried up the stairs, going to do as he was told. He winked at her. "Carry on and tell them to fuck off." He strolled casually up to his room, taking off everything as soon as he walked in the door. Harry had ripped off his clothes and was laying on the bed trying to get a handcuff around one of his wrists. "Do you think you'll need one of those?" he asked as he moved closer.

"No, but I want one," Harry said with an impish grin. "Does this mean we can go shopping soon for Ron?"

Draco laughed. "Of course you can spoil Ron in reward for yourself. We might even have to get her a new costume in appreciation for all she did beside you." Ron opened the door and walked in, shaking her head. "No?"

"No, spoiling me is not the way to celebrate this victory. Getting Hermione to the hospital might be though. Her water broke an hour ago and she's being stubborn. Vincent just begged me to knock her ass out and drag her off."

"Definitely," Harry said, giving up on the handcuff so he could get redressed. Draco was already flinging back on his clothes. "My car?"

"It is bigger," Draco agreed, taking the thrown keys. "I'll start it; Ron, get Hermione and Vincent; Harry, you're with me." They nodded, following him down the stairs. He saw Ron and Harry grab Hermione between them and drag her away from the fire, smirking at their ignoring her complaints. "Vincent!" he snapped. Vincent came running, getting in to hold his wife. The trip to the local hospital didn't take that long, it was only a few miles down the road and Draco was driving. They piled into her room with her, Ron going to tell his mother to get some help in case she got stubborn again. Hermione's parents were on vacation and Molly was the only mother they all listened to. He came back with her and Molly started to fuss.

"Did those mean men drag you off, dear?" she soothed.

Hermione nodded, panting through the current contraction. "I had it planned out to the last minute," she gasped. "They dragged me off in front of a reporter!"

Draco shrugged at Molly's look. "Her water broke an hour ago, mum."

Molly laughed. "I'm sure it was for the best. Children come in their own time, not on a schedule." She felt along the girl's stomach. "It should be soon, not more than an hour and a bit I think." Ron looked at her and she laughed. "You get to know these sort of things when you've done it a few times."

The nurse walked in and smiled at Molly. "Are you a trained midwife?" she asked.

Molly shook her head. "I had seven children." The nurse nodded, accepting that sort of authority. "Hermione, did you want medication for the pain?" she suggested.

"There's drugs for this sort of thing?" Hermione asked, looking at the nurse. "Hell yes I want drugs! Get them for me now!" she demanded. The nurse laughed and walked out. Hermione looked at her husband. "If you want more, you're doing this part," she said, starting into another contraction.

"Of course he will," Draco soothed, taking her hand to let her squeeze. "Just try to float, let the pain do it's work," he suggested. She glared at him and he smiled. "I know it's hard, but the pain is necessary."

"That's why some woman invented the pain killers," she sneered. "Ron, you're next," she warned. "Don't let him do this to you." She screamed, arching her back up. "I want drugs!" she shouted. The nurse came back with a doctor, and they hooked her up to the nice IV. "Oh, thank Merlin," she said when they started to work.

"The pain is a good thing, Hermione, it's pushing your son down," Molly soothed, stroking her forehead. "It will be fine. At least you weren't dragged up to the school, dear. We don't have this sort of thing up there." Hermione gave her a look and she smiled. "I'm surprised Ron didn't try."

"Draco gave the orders," Harry said sheepishly. "He drove too." Molly winced.

"We made it in good time," Draco agreed. "I've never made it this far in under twenty minutes, even in my car."

Molly laughed. "Take it slower on the way home, Draco, or let Harry drive." She walked over and hugged Harry. "I'm proud of the way you handled that today, Harry. I really am. You did very well." He blushed but hugged her back. "Good boy, now go get them something to drink."

"I didn't even think to bring my wallet," Harry admitted.

"I have mine in my purse, but I don't suppose you grabbed it?" Hermione asked, starting to wince. "Yes, this is much better, I can barely feel it now," she told the nurse. She smiled at her. "Thank you. How many have you had?"

"Myself, none, but I've delivered hundreds," she soothed, patting the girl's hand. "Which one of you is the father?" Everyone pointed at Vincent. "Then you come closer and let her break your hand. The rest of you go find an ATM or something."

"I can run home and get a wallet," Draco offered. Harry smiled at him. "Good, I'll be right back." He popped off, going to pack a bag and all that good stuff.

The nurse looked at Molly. "Did he just disappear?"

"No, he runs rather fast," Molly explained. The nurse accepted that and left to check on the other women on the floor. Molly shook her head, laughing. "And I thought Arthur was bad." She gave Vincent a hug. "I'm sure the baby will be wonderful, young man. A true credit to my good care of her during the summers." Vincent blushed. "She's as much mine as Harry is, so therefore I am a grandmother as well and can spoil the child. Right, Hermione?"

"Don't spoil it," Hermione begged.

Molly laughed, giving her a hug. "Of course all the grandparents will smother it in attention. It's the first grandchild."

"You mean the only one," Hermione told her. She looked at Vincent. "I want you to feel this."

"There's no need to be nasty," Ron offered, staring her down. She went limp. "Women went through this for centuries without the painkillers. Even in fields and then they went back to work." Hermione nodded. "So let's think positively because I want to see my Goddaughter or Godson."

"You're a pushy lot," Hermione complained. "What if I had someone else picked out?"

Ron frowned at her. "Then I'd slip a potion into your next dinner so I could have a Godson or a Goddaughter," he told her. She whimpered and clutched Vincent's hand. "See, pushy is sometimes good."

"After all, we're going to be the main babysitters outside of Ginny and Neville," Harry pointed out. "You live with us half the time."

"Good point," she sighed. "Fine. There'll be three Godfathers and two Godmothers." Ron raised an eyebrow. "Technically you are counted as female," she said, then her back arched again. "I think that's the baby demanding it's cue."

"Most likely," Molly agreed, ringing for the nurse. "She's just finished another one and is pushing," she said calmly. She smiled at the girl. "We can work out all the honorary titles later, dear, after you give birth." Hermione nodded and clutched her hand, while the guys spelled Vincent so he could watch. He had wanted to watch. Up until he passed out at the sight of his son's head. Molly laughed. "Arthur did the same thing with our first," she sighed in happiness. The nurse laughed and helped bring the baby out, holding it up. "Oh, it's a girl!" she said happily.

"A girl?" Hermione asked, peering at the child. "You're not what I expected."

The nurse laughed. "I'm sure it'll be fine. Even if you do have to redecorate." She put the baby on Hermione's stomach, letting her check it over while she helped the afterbirth come out. Ron, in loco parentis for Vincent, cut the cord. The baby girl wailed and screamed at this indignity.

Harry smiled when he got to hold her. "Hush, you," he said gently, still smiling. "No more drama from you tonight. It's time for a tit and a nap." The nurse laughed and took her back, handing her off to Hermione to see if she could feed yet. The baby sucked and sucked but nothing came out so a bottle was gotten for them.

Draco walked in with Arthur, smiling brightly. "I missed all the nasty stuff?" he asked happily. Ron smiled and hugged him. "Good. I brought your bag, Hermione, and some money." He handed a wallet to Vincent. "For the little things, like spoiling both your girls rotten." Vincent smiled a watery smile. "Go ahead and cry, this is an occasion where it is more than acceptable."

"I wish my father could see her," Vincent said quietly.

"He's only incarcerated, Vincent, you can bring a picture to him," Arthur said gently. "He cooperated wonderfully and helped us nail Lucius' case shut, along with a few we didn't know. So you take a nice picture or three and bring them to him."

"They'll suck the joy off."

"Yes, but at least he'll be able to see her," Harry pointed out. "You can always make more happiness, but grandchildren are a bit harder." Vincent nodded, accepting that reasoning. Harry took the baby to burp it, doing what the nurse was trying to tell Hermione to do. "You rest," he told her. "That's got to wear a woman out."

Hermione nodded, smiling sleepily at him. "Hand my daughter to her father, Potter, you don't get to hog her."

"Fine." He handed her off, smiling at the look on Vincent's face. He leaned back against Draco's chest, getting a hug for being so good. "She is adorable," he noted.

"We'll spoil her as our reward for being so good today," Draco whispered in his ear. Harry smiled at him. They watched as Arthur took a few pictures of Vincent and the baby, then of the baby in her crib. "May I? I know Vincent's father well enough to deliver them."

"Go ahead, Draco," Arthur agreed, handing them over. He checked his watch. "It's nearly midnight, but I'll give you a pass to let you in. The humans running the prison are very happy with Mr. Crabbe's conduct so it shouldn't be too much of a problem." He wrote out a dispensation and handed it over. "There you go. I'll watch Harry until you get back."

"I think that's my job," Ron pointed out lightly. "You can't claim him as a full son, that'd be incest, dad."

"Good point," Molly agreed. "That's why they changed his name to Evans." Arthur nodded, smiling at the strong family.

Draco walked out more calmly this time, sending himself to the apparation point for the prison, now that he knew where it was. He hadn't learned until they found out Lucius' had escaped, but it came in handy now. He gave the note to the door guard, getting entrance without a fight. The note was handed to the warden and she nodded, taking a look at the pictures. "She's adorable, very demanding already. You can tell Granger's influence in that." The warden laughed and had someone take him down to the cell so he could get in. "Mr. Crabbe?" Draco called quietly. Vincent's father looked up at him and the door was opened. "Vincent sent me with these," he said, handing over the photos. "Your granddaughter is very strong willed and infinitely impatient already."

Vincent's father looked at the pictures, then smiled at him. "Even if I only keep it for a while, it's a wonderful gift, Draco. Thank you. Tell him I'm happy for him." He put the pictures on his pillow and looked at the boy. "Are you watching out for him?"

Draco nodded, squatting beside him. "I am. I've freed him from his obligation, that was my wedding present to him, and I'm paying him an enormous salary." That got a gentle smile. "He did wish you could be there today, but he understands and is grateful that you did turn over evidence so he didn't lose you." He touched the man's cold hand. "Be as well as possible. He'll send you more pictures as time allows." He stood up and left, going back to the house for a small nip before going back to the hospital. He hated that place, it made his skin crawl. Maybe Vincent's father could get out sooner, there was an appeal in place already. He went back to the hospital, hugging Vincent. "He said thank you and that he wanted them, even if he only remembered for a bit," he said against his ear. "Work on the appeal." Vincent nodded, pulling back. "I also told him about your current salary. He smiled at that as well."

"Good on dad," Vincent said firmly, smiling at his wife. "He'd adore you. You'd remind him of my mother while they were dating. She always stood up to him during the early days, Herm." He walked over to sit on the side of her bed, holding both his girls. "Draco, Harry, don't spoil my daughter." He looked at them. "We don't need the help spoiling her and you don't need to spoil her. Really, have your own if you want a baby."

Ron laughed. "I wasn't included?"

"You're pushy, but she'll let you have some authority," Vincent said with a shrug. "We've already agreed on that. Speaking of which, you're not Godparents over this one." Draco looked stunned. "You're getting the next one, we promised this one a long time ago to someone else. Blaize saved me that time and I promised him."

"I had forgotten about that," Draco agreed, stroking Harry's back. "We'll accept being uncles, but you can't take away our fun, Vincent. We will spoil that little girl, even if you move with her. That's what owls are for."

Vincent laughed. "We thought you'd say that. A little bit, no overly generous things. Nothing that we'll have to explain later. And no clothes like you'd put Ron into."

"She's a bit young for that," Harry pointed out with a smile. "And we'd only buy her those if she looked good in them and wanted one, when she's of an age to come to us directly," he added for good measure, to ease the frowning.

"That's fine, once she's graduated," Vincent agreed. He looked at Draco. "I'm not indenturing her to your first born," he said quietly. Draco shrugged. "You're not hurt?"

"Why should I be hurt? They'll play together anyway," Draco pointed out gently. He walked closer. "It's an ancient practice and far out of date," he pointed out. "Unless it's necessary to protect her, I wouldn't have suggested it. I'm not my father, Vincent."

"I know, Draco, but I felt I had to say it."

Draco hugged him. "The only reason your service was demanded was because your father was already in service and it could be. You're not now. You're here because you want to be here. I'm not going to make anything of that. Though I will expect the children to be close so that my own spoiled brats will have decent role models to learn from." Vincent grinned. "Good enough?"

"Good enough," Vincent agreed, giving him a hug. The baby protested and tried to suckle on Draco's tit, but she was gently removed by her father. "That's not for you, dear, he's not your mother." He looked at Ron. "Don't let her try on you either," he said with a faint smile.

"I don't want mine to do that leaking stuff," Ron pointed out dryly. "She's not getting near mine. Harry does enough of that for two babies."

Hermione rolled her head and opened her eyes. "Good." She looked at her husband and the baby. "Why don't you let her sleep in the crib, Vincent? I could use a hug too." He nodded and pulled the crib closer, laying her beside the bed. Then he climbed in and snuggled his wife. "Thank you. The rest of you go home." She waved a hand. "We'll be back in a few days, you can make faces at her then."

"Yes, Hermione," Harry said, smiling at her. He shooed Ron and Draco out in front of him. "We'll have to come pick them up. She won't be able to travel home otherwise," he pointed out at Draco's astonished look. "I'm driving." He stole the keys from Draco's pocket and climbed in to drive.

Ron laughed, pulling Draco into the back with him. "We'll cuddle back here. Go slowly, Harry."

"I'm always careful with either of you in the car," Harry retorted, starting the engine. He pulled out of the parking lot and aimed the car for home.

***

Hermione, Vincent, and baby Eterna came home to a stack of presents from Hermione's parents and just one from Molly Weasley, a well-thumbed-through book of practical advice for new parents. On it was a note that said 'it even worked with the twins' and a small piece of chocolate inside. Hermione settled in to read the book, letting Vincent unpack and see what her parents had given them. It had checklists of things to look for when the baby wouldn't quit crying, and things to amuse them when they were fussy and wouldn't fall asleep for you. It even had a developmental chart in the back so she could track progress, marked with each Weasley child's first initial and a date as they passed that one. She had to smile at the missing one for Ron beside 'sitting up by itself' and smiled at her husband. "Anything really good?"

"A stroller, the big kind that you change around as the baby grows. A car seat. Six or seven toys. A lot of baby jumpers," he said, holding one up for her approval. Hermione smiled and nodded. "That and a letter saying they'd like to come out soon."

"That's fine," Hermione agreed. "We'll go to the other house?"

"No, we'll bring them here," Draco said as he walked in with a present of his own. "For the little one."

Hermione put down the book and carefully opened it, smiling since Draco's wrapping had gotten much nicer over the years. Inside was a baby's motorcycle jacket and leather pants. She looked at him and started to open her mouth but Vincent laughed. "No."

Draco grinned. "Just in case. I promise to take out Harry's heavy and safe bike if we do go for a ride around the driveway. Nothing too fast, and the outfit's good for brooming as well." He winked at Vincent before leaving them alone.

"No," Hermione told her husband. "She's much too young to go for that sort of activity or brooming." She looked at the doorway when she heard footsteps. Then Ron's head peeked in. "You might as well come in as well. No Harry?"

"He's still wrapping his," he said with a naughty grin, one that usually made her wish she hadn't met him by the time he had talked her into doing something. He handed over his own present. "For the little one and her mum." He winked at Vincent then walked over to help him assemble the stroller.

Hermione opened that one more delicately, then sighed. "Ron!" He laughed. "My daughter doesn't need a tape on Yoga and neither do I."

"It's good for the baby and for you," Ron told her. "Makes sure that you're all flexible for Vincent and it's good to get her moving early. It'll make her stronger and make her walk faster," he said, looking completely trustworthy now. Vincent punched him on the arm. "Ow!" He hugged him. "It's as much a present for you as it is for them. It's supposed to be calming. Harry does it now and again when he gets worked up." He handed over the tool he had carried in. "Thought you might need a screwdriver, big guy." He got out of the way since Harry was carrying in a large box. "If you need more help, yell."

Harry set the box in front of Hermione, giving her an expectant look. "Well?" he asked when she didn't dive to open it.

"I'm not sure I should," she told him. "After Ron and Draco's."

Harry laughed. "I was trying to be thoughtful, not naughty, Hermione."

She opened it and smiled at the large stuffed owl inside the box. But it only filled up half the space. Underneath it was a real owl in a real cage. She pulled it out to look at it. "It's tiny!"

"It's young," Harry countered. "It'll grow. It's one of Hedwig's brother's last clutch, I asked specifically. Fully trained and all that, but it'll have to grow for nearly a year before carrying anything more than a quick note. This way we don't have to worry about you not writing if you deprive us of the baby's company too often."

She hugged him. "You cheater," she hissed. She pulled back. "Guilt-tripping won't work."

He pouted. "I'm sorry, Hermione, but I want to enjoy *someone's* normal childhood. Please?" he pleaded. "I'll even help with the nasty stuff like diapers. You've seen how good I do with the animals."

"I have," she relented. She saw Vincent's smug look. "Did you put them up to guilting us into staying around?"

He shook his head. "Not at all, Hermione, but I knew Draco would try. He's never seen a baby before." He sat down next to her, picking up the baby to hold her. "Good morning, Eterna. How are you, sweetling?" She cooed at him and then wet herself, all down his arms. "Thank you, dear. Here, Harry." Harry beamed as he got the honor of changing her first diaper home. He went to clean himself up, leaving Hermione with her new presents.

"Those men," she sighed, shaking her head. She picked back up the book and the piece of chocolate to nibble on while she read. She couldn't put together a stroller to save her life, and she would have to find a few charms later to help them move it around. A floating platform charm and the like she supposed. But the library was massive and it'd have to be in there somewhere. Surely Narcissa had used something similar. She'd ask Draco she decided, it was his library and he should know. After nearly an hour she went to repossess her daughter from her uncles. It didn't take that long to change a diaper.

***

Draco looked up as the mail came in, they were actually eating in the dining room this morning since he and Harry had been working on their research paper all night. He accepted the Daily Prophet and paid for the paper, then gathered the other mail up. One of the letters was for Harry so he tossed it over. "Yours." He flipped through the rest of them, ending up with the hospital bill. "Vincent," he called. He had just been in the kitchen, he should be nearby. His friend and bodyguard walked in so he handed over the bill. "Let me know how much it was after you've ranted a bit." Vincent nodded and walked away, taking it to show to his wife. Hermione's scream confirmed what he had thought, it was dreadfully high. He found another letter for Harry and handed it over as well. "Why is the shelter sending you mail?"

"I don't know," Harry admitted, opening that one. He smiled as he read. "They really appreciated the gift I gave them, and wanted to know if we needed more animals. They have a snake in there."

"No," Draco said firmly.

"Yes, Draco." He folded up the letter, fully intending to go check up on them. The other one was a bill from the aurors. "They billed us for the spellsbooks," he said, looking amused as he handed it over.

Draco looked at the amount. "Pay them for it so this will end." He opened the first house's bill and groaned. "The grocery bill's still enormous. We'll have to keep Ron out of the refrigerator before his butt gets as big as this is." He put it aside and opened the next one, snorting. "There's a request to interview Ron and I."

"Not me?"

"About the changeling stuff, and no they don't seem to have mentioned you," Draco told him, handing it over. The next was the bill for landscaping, since the elf that used to do that had died a few years back they had to hire muggles. "They've raised their rates as well." He put it aside and opened the last one. "Ah!" He smiled and showed it to Harry. "Ron's test results." Harry read the small lines and grinned. "Aren't we wonderful?"

"Definitely. I'm sure he'll like a month in each spot." Harry leaned over to give him a kiss. "Can I tell him that there was a few back in his family line?"

"If you want," Draco agreed lightly. He didn't want that task. Ron wandered in a few minutes later and got kisses from them. "Harry's got something he wants to tell you later," he told her as she settled into her usual chair on his other side.

Ron looked at Harry. "After tea?"

"Yeah, you'll want it," Harry agreed. Ron raised an eyebrow. "Two things really. The aurors charged us for the books." Ron snorted but did fix her tea and take a few sips before he went on. "And as part of our ongoing research, we've been doing a historical survey of past changelings and what became of them. Did you know there were three Weasley changelings back during the Middle Ages?" Ron spit out her next sip and stared at him. Harry nodded. "Really. All in your dad's family too. Two official Weasleys and one married in. She was a distant cousin."

Ron blinked a few times then looked at Draco, who nodded. "Is that why I had the seizure?"

"Possibly," Draco agreed carefully. "We've also gotten the latest schedule updates. They were addressed to me so I opened them," he said, handing them over.

Ron looked at them, then looked up. "Why me, Merlin?" He looked at them. "A *month* in each state? That means I'll spend two months as both each cycle."

"Ron, we adore you in every form," Harry said honestly. Ron looked at him and he grinned. "I do. I love you no matter which form you're in. I may like your breasts, but I appreciate the rest of you too."

"I know you do, Harry, it's just that this is getting longer and longer. What next? A year as each?"

"Hopefully not," Draco said, smiling at him. "Then we'd have to build you your own wardrobe."

"We could change over that small dressing room you had left alone," Harry offered.

"I'll have to clean it of spells first," Draco told him. "My father used to cast some of the most vile things in there and I don't want that sort of taint to spread throughout the rest of the house again." He sipped his own tea. "We could do that. You don't have enough clothes right now for a whole month in either phase."

"That's what laundry is for," Ron pointed out dryly. "I don't need more clothes."

"Ron, we want to buy you clothes and we will," Harry said firmly. "Whether or not you come along with us is up to you." Ron groaned and shook his head. "Please?" he begged. "I haven't spoiled you recently. It's not like I have an heir to pass on any of my family's money to anyway."

Draco smacked him on the hand. "Don't say such things."

"Yes, Draco." Harry pleaded with his eyes, making Ron sigh and slump down. "Thank you, Ron."

"Just one day, Harry Potter, and we'll go muggle since most of the outfits you've liked so far came from there." Harry nodded eagerly. "Thank you." He looked at Draco. "Why don't you take his vault keys from him? You're good at handling money."

"He hasn't even worn out the interest for the year yet," Draco told him. "Much less started in on the principle. He's fine." He looked at Harry. "I will watch your spending though, that's the wrong reason to spend."

"I know, but it seems like I should do something worthwhile with it. Whatever's left when I go will be left to charity, or to Eterna and any brothers or sisters."

"You could have a child," Draco pointed out. "To carry on at least one of the names." Harry shook his head. "Why not?"

"Because that means I'd have to cheat," Harry said simply.

Draco knew there was more to it than that, he could see Harry's eyes. "And?" he prompted.

Harry sighed, giving him a dirty look. "I don't know if there's special rituals in my family, or if there's anything special I have to do to make sure the power passes on. Nothing like that. I've looked through the books, but nothing's popped up yet and I'm doubting anything will."

"So?" Ron asked.

"Ron, only the first born in each generation has the gifts I have. How do they not get passed on to the others?" Harry asked.

Ron frowned at him. "Maybe it just happens. If you can't find anything in the books it can't be that difficult."

"It'd still be cheating," Harry said firmly. "Unless you get it accidentally."

"No, we don't want that," Ron said firmly. Harry grinned at him. "Good point. Fine, I'll accept your reasoning, but I'm going to protest every now and then. You'd make a great dad."

"So I'll fill in when Draco has to produce an heir and he's busy," Harry pointed out.

"Yes, I'm going to have to talk to Ginny and Neville about that," Draco noted. They looked at him. "The old will said five years and with our lives waiting longer seems a bit foolish."

"That's true, your dad could come back from the dead for a third time," Ron joked. Draco frowned at him. "Sorry, had to say it."

"I know," Draco agreed, smiling at him. "If he does, I'm siccing your mother on him." He looked at Harry. "You could ask Hermione. There are muggle technologies to go about that without having to touch someone."

"I'd still consider it cheating," Harry said firmly.

"Fine," Draco sighed. "I won't interrupt this on-going fight." He looked at Ron's outfit. "Go get dressed suitably. You're in full female form now so we'll do your female shopping today." Ron nodded, taking his toast upstairs with him. "Harry," he started.

"No, Draco, I'm not cheating. That's one of the worst things in my mind. I will not cheat on you or Ron."

Draco felt a little thrill that he had been placed first in that sentence, but let it go. "Fine. Do you think your mother would agree?"

"Yes. That was in her diary." He blushed. "I stole it out of the vault with the books when I was allowed to tour around it."

Draco reached over to give him a small pat on the cheek. "I know it's hard, Harry, but we'll have to figure out something. You're too wonderful to be lost to the world." Harry shook his head. "Argue with me about that statement and I'm taking you to Arthur," he warned. Harry smiled at him for it. "Thank you. Simply consider it. We will understand and it isn't cheating if we agree to it. Many society marriages have a lover for at least one spouse on the side, openly known by their spouses."

"Draco, that's just nasty first of all, and to me it is cheating. No matter what society wives and husbands do. I'm not one of them."

"You are so."

"No, you are," Harry pointed out. "I'm your consort. Ron is your legal wife. I am the lover on the side for the both of you."

Draco frowned. "No you're not. Among wizards, a consort is a valid choice of spouse legally."

"That wasn't how I was raised. If we were muggles, we wouldn't even have the legal right to live together, much less be considered married."

Draco now saw the problem. "They're stupid then, I adore you as much as I do Ron and I'm keeping you, legalities for the muggles or not. Among the community you live in, wizards and witches, we are all but married. We have been bound, Harry, and are the same as being married only without the ceremony. If you want, we could do that." Harry shook his head quickly. "Are you sure?"

"Leave him alone, it's a lot to wrap your mind around," Hermione said as she joined them with Eterna in her baby carrier. "Harry's right, there's a big fight over giving lovers of the same sex legal standing in the muggle world. His guardians were probably homophobic beyond that." Harry nodded. "Be lucky that he's gotten his mind around this much."

"It's been over a year," Draco pointed out.

"I know, and so does he." She smiled at him. "What brought this on?"

"I let it slip that I intended to spend most of my fortune since I didn't have anyone to pass it along to and I wasn't planning on having one," Harry admitted.

She frowned, then reached over and hit him hard. "Stupid bastard," she noted. "You can do it without having to touch a person, Harry."

"It's still cheating," he said firmly. "I agree with my mother, that's the most evil thing one can do in a relationship outside of abuse." He stood up and walked out.

"Then the argument you heard while you were lurking outside the doorway started," Draco finished with a small sigh. "We're taking Ron shopping today. Would you like to come or do you three need anything?"

"Not really," she said with a smile. "I'd find him, Draco, before he starts to sulk."

"I tried to get him to see that he should have one, he's not going past that cheating part," Draco admitted. He finished off his breakfast and went to find Harry. For some reason, he liked to sit beside his mother's grave and sulk near her. He sat next to Harry on the damp grass, pulling him into his arms. "We won't force you, we simply think it's a shame you've determined to let your family line die," he said quietly.

"Maybe if I hadn't married you two I might have," Harry admitted quietly, "but I can't do that to Ron and I won't do that to Ron. There's no other options that I can see that won't violate the cheating thing." He hissed when he saw the smoke rising from the ground. "That's what I saw before," he whispered, pointing at it.

Draco looked at the ghost. "Mother," he said with a sad smile. "I'm sorry if we disturbed your rest."

She frowned at him. "You haven't. I enjoy hearing so much about your life, Draco." Narcissa Malfoy looked down at Harry. "I knew your mother, Potter. She was that way because your grandfather cheated all the time. There is a difference between duty and necessity." Harry shook his head. "Yes, there is."

"Don't argue with her, she'll only throw a tantrum," Draco warned. "Mother, he really is concerned about this, no matter what we say."

"That's because those stupid muggles raised him."

"They did the best they could," Harry defended.

Draco made Harry look at him. "Do you really believe that?" he asked.

"With how my cousin turned out, yes," he said honestly. "Some of their methods were wrong, and I fully agree that they treated me badly, but they couldn't do any better, Draco."

"Your cousin wasn't treated like you," Narcissa pointed out.

Harry shrugged. "He still turned out to be a bully and a creature as dark as your husband in his heart. If only for different reasons. I doubt even if they had treated me correctly I would have turned out decently." He curled up, pulling his knees up to his chest to rest his chin on and hugging them. "The only moral guide I have is my mother's diary. She said cheating was wrong, and Aunt Petunia used to warn Dudley about the same thing, so therefore I know it's really wrong." He looked up at her. "Even if I didn't enjoy it and I didn't have to touch her to do it, it'd still be cheating to me."

Narcissa sighed. "Fine, have it your way. Let your line die off and vanish into obscurity. It's not like your mother's powers would help the world or anything."

"So?" Harry demanded.

"Give it up, mother. He's determined and we won't change his mind."

"Please," Harry agreed. "It's not like I can do anything about this one." He got up and walked off, going to sit under a large tree a little way away.

Draco sighed and looked at his mother. "Please don't say anything."

"I wasn't going to say anything bad, only that he obviously loves you quite a lot to give up that fundamental drive for you," she said gently, looking down at him. He looked back and she smiled. "You might ask Ron what she wants, Draco. Every woman, somewhere inside her, has a small kernel of nurturing and yearning for a child."

"It's dangerous, mother, Ron's not exactly a normal woman."

She laughed. "I know. I've watched you three for a few years now, son. Since before your marriage. I've decided that I like your Ron enough to show her the special hidden room in the house, to see if she wants to follow through with tradition." She floated closer. "There's a reason why the marking was done first, my son, and that reason is very special. I will show her and Harry, though he won't get too much out of it I believe."

"There's a consort's room somewhere but I'm not sure where," Draco told her, smiling gently.

"I know where it is. Shall I show him?" Draco nodded, giving her a brilliant smile. "That's fine, dear. I do try to stay out of trouble for you." She floated toward the house. "Oh, tell that witch that her daughter is very special and I would appreciate her knowing who I am so I may talk to the darling as she gets older."

"I'll tell her then I'll hide while she throws a fit," Draco said quietly, going to talk to Harry. "Come on, mother said she knows where the special room for consorts is," he said, heaving Harry up. Harry looked at him. "She agreed with you. I won't push." Harry nodded, giving him a hug. "Do you regret joining with me?"

"No, it's just the realization of what could have been if I hadn't," Harry admitted quietly. "I could have started a family before all that shit with the war started. I might have even had a chance to hold my first born." He shrugged. "I'm dealing with it, Draco. Reality has set in and I'm not going to dwell on it."

"Dwell if you want, it might change your mind," Draco said lightly. Harry looked at him. "I said I wouldn't push and I'm not, I'm encouraging," he said with a faint smile. "I'll only do it when you bring it up though."

"Thank you." Harry let Draco walk him into the house, smiling at the noises Ron was making in their bedroom. "What's in there?"

"Beyond the family wedding dress I don't have any idea," Draco told him, sitting him down to wait on his mother.

***

Ron looked up from doing her hair when she saw the filmy shape in the mirror, looking behind her. "Narcissa," she said with a frown. "I'm sorry if we disturbed you."

Narcissa laughed. "It's not a problem, daughter-in-law." She moved closer. "Come, let me show you the room Draco doesn't know about." Ron nodded, following behind her. "I hid many things in there after Lucius devoted the family to Voldemort," she informed her. "Things that won't fall into his hands, no matter what. It's said that even if the house was destroyed this room and the consort's room will both still be standing until the next Malfoy bride or consort comes in." She stopped in front of a wood panel. "Touch your mark and then the wall, young lady." Ron did so, wincing as a small shock connected them. Then the door opened and she gasped. "Yes, I hid most of the family jewels in here so Lucius could not squander them away," she agreed, floating in behind Ron's stunned body. "Look in the corner, dear. That is the wedding dress used by all true and accepted Malfoy brides. It fits itself to any of us, making us look most special on our formal day." She floated over, reaching out to touch the ivory lace. "This should be yours if you ever marry, or your duty to show Draco's future heir's wife or her where it is." Ron nodded, still looking around. Narcissa laughed. "These are mostly Malfoy jewels," she told her, floating closer. "They stole quite a lot during the crusades." She pointed at an ornate crucifix against the opposite wall. "They stole that out of Rome itself as a statement against the Church. They had to go along since we are landed gentry, but did not like it in the least." She pointed at small wooden trunk. "Those are my family's jewels. I would be most honored if you would wear them now and then to keep them in good shape until a Malfoy heir is born." Ron walked over and fell to her knees so she could open the trunk, gasping at the large necklace on top. "The traditional bride's dowry," she said fondly. "The rest are my mother's pieces." She floated over to look at the contents. "Wear them well, young woman, for I am watching."

Ron looked up at her. "Does that mean you approve?"

"Most definitely," she said with a gentle smile. "You make my son so frustrated at times, yet you and your Harry make him *live*. I was so worried that he would lock himself up in a tower somewhere to study. Death brings so much insight into what you did wrong. Don't die for a long time, dear." She floated out. "Put on the dress and stun them if you want," she offered. "Your father could do the ceremony." She winked and floated away, going to find Harry. She found him curled up against Draco's side, both of them nearly asleep. "Come, Harry," she said, smiling at the boy when he looked up at her. "Let me show you the consort's room." He stumbled after her, still mostly asleep. "Don't let him keep you up all the time," she chided. "He may love his research but living life is more important." Harry nodded, watching her. "Good boy. Your mother would be proud of you, if only because you did what you wanted to do. She was rather headstrong and willful." He laughed. "You think I'm kidding?" she teased. He shook his head. "Good. You're not scared of me." She stopped before a panel identical to the one upstairs. "Touch your mark and then the wall." Harry did so, having to switch marks when he didn't get the right one. The panel opened and he walked in. This one hadn't been used in a while, but apparently the last one had decided to store some things in here as well. Mostly old books and a few pieces of armor. "I didn't think it had been that long since there was a consort in the family," she mused. She pointed at the suit, very old fashioned. It even had pantaloons. "Try that on, it's made to fit any true consort of the family's heir," she told him.

Harry walked over and looked at it, touching the delicate lace. "It's very girly," he said, giving her a smile.

"Men were like that way back when," she pointed out gently. Harry laughed and decided to try it on.

Narcissa smiled and went to find her in-laws. They needed to be here when Ron appeared and Harry joined them. She floated into the school's office, startling a crying Molly. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Just a bit sad. Charlie's girlfriend died last night," Molly sniffed, wiping her face off. "What's wrong, Narcissa?" She looked the ghost over. "You look a bit smug. What woke you?"

"Harry was upset about not having an heir of his own. He's been reading his mother's journal and she said cheating was wrong."

Molly nodded. "I remember her statements on that subject. So?"

"I've shown them the bride's and the consort's rooms," she said smugly. "Get your husband, he is authorized to do weddings, isn't he?"

Molly hopped up. "Do you think?"

"I know. The dress has a compulsion woven into it for the more reticent brides. It worked on me, I was put into it and left to sleep in it overnight," Narcissa told her.

Molly smiled. "I'll gather the family and Draco's guardian. We'll be right there." She moved to the floo, going to call her husband first. "Arthur, something wonderful's about to happen. Narcissa Malfoy woke up and showed Ron and Harry the bride and consort's rooms." His mouth opened. "There'll be a wedding before the day's out!" she said.

"I'll call Charlie and Bill, you get the twins and I'll get Percy since he's just up the hall," he agreed. "You get Remus and don't forget Snape and McGonagall." She nodded and hung up. He called his oldest sons. "Charlie, I know this is a bad time, but it's a bit of a happy occasion. Ron's about to be married. Narcissa Malfoy woke up and showed them the traditional bride's gown."

"I'll be there," Charlie agreed, smiling faintly. "Should I tell Bill?"

"Yeah, if he's there. I've got to get something from downstairs. I haven't performed one of these yet." He hurried off, stopping in Percy's office, his old one. "Percy, Narcissa just woke up and showed them the traditional wedding attire," he said happily. "We've got to hurry to the manor."

"Coming," Percy agreed, putting down his mug of tea. "I wonder if the rumors are true and they do have a gown that each bride wears," he said as he followed his father.

"They do. Narcissa told Molly that once." They hurried into the records office, getting all the necessary things taken care of.

***

The twins looked up as their mother joined them. "We can't find clothes," they said in unison.

Molly quickly picked out an outfit for each of them. "There, hurry up and get your Oliver." They blushed as they rushed away, and it was only then that she realized the twins were both girls. "When did you change?"

"A few minutes ago. It felt like someone stuck us," Fred called. He came out first, showing off. "How's this?"

"Good. Find shoes. George?" George came out and found her shoes as well, hurrying off with her. She did remember to turn the sign and put up a note about a sudden family wedding to explain it, then she flooed off after the rest of the family.

***

Snape looked up as McGonagall barged into his classroom. They both ignored the students. "We've got to go to Malfoy Manor now," she said firmly.

"What's happened?" he asked as he carefully stood up. His feet were swollen for some reason.

"Molly sent me the message, she was going to send you one as well. Narcissa woke up and showed them the bride's and consort's chambers." Snape gasped, eyes going wide. "We're their witnesses from outside the family."

"We'll use my floo," he decided, looking down at himself. "I need to change."

"Only if you hurry." She followed him to his rooms, waiting while he changed. Then they flooed together.

***

Draco looked as people started to appear, frowning at the excited babbling. "I wish someone had told me about this family event," he said gently, frowning at Molly and Remus when they both appeared in a double-floo. "What's going on?"

Bill pulled Draco up and hugged him. "Congratulations. You can't fake us out," he said with a bright grin. "Ginny, twins, upstairs," he ordered. "Go help Ron with her hair. Guys, go find Harry and help him. Mum, you handle the rest." He walked away, following the ghost to Harry's present chamber. The outfit looked really silly on him, but he seemed to glow. "You ready then?"

"I don't know," Harry admitted, looking at his hands. "I'm shaking!"

"It's all right," Charlie soothed, giving him a little hug. "It'll be okay. Ron's going to be stunning and Draco's already clueless enough." He grinned at him. "Come on, most of the family's here, including Remus and Snape." Harry nodded and walked out with them around him.

***

Ron looked up as the girls burst into his present room, giving a little squeal. "I can't get my hair right!" she said in frustration.

"You need Draco to finish sticking you in female form," Fred noted, coming over to help. He did hair the best. Hermione came in a few minutes later and helped as well, working on Ron's makeup for her. Neither he nor George really did much that way.

"Oliver!" George said, slapping himself on the forehead. "I'll go call and make sure Draco will stick Ron in fully female."

"I'm not due for a change yet," Ron called.

"The dress is pretty deflated," Hermione told him. "Give it a few more."

***

Draco was hustled into his room by Arthur after it was explained to him what was going on. He was too tired to protest, and too amused to really say anything. He noticed one of the twins go running past. "I hope that's not a problem." He found an outfit he liked and felt comfortable in, but the cold hand on his back stopped him. "Not that, mother?"

"No, dear," she sighed, like he was being slow. "Something wonderful." She led him to what had been his father's dressing room. "You'll have to clean this up. There's a reason why it was your father's dressing area." She pointed at the chain around his neck. "Your heir one goes on the wall behind that ugly goat Lucius painted." Draco did so and a panel opened, giving him a new closet to paw through. "The dark green I should think. It will go wonderfully with Harry's outfit." She watched as he walked out with it, going to get dressed in a non-tainted area. "I hope you rot, Lucius, for all the things you've done to this family." She went to check on Ron, noticing she was filling the dress again. "Don't worry, it'll stop soon," she soothed. Ron was looking a bit hysterical. She heard/felt a small pop and Ron was suddenly in fully female form, looking glamorous in the dress. "There," she agreed, smiling at her daughter-in-law. "Come. Draco's nearly ready and Harry's already been lead down there. Guard her well. Don't let them get near each other yet." She floated down to order the house elves around a bit. There had to at least be canapes and champagne. By the time she floated back into the ballroom, Draco was down there with Vincent and Hermione beside him. She smiled and nodded at Arthur, who used his wand to turn down the lights. "By all rights, I as the Malfoy matriarch, declare this wedding will go on," she announced.

Ron and Harry both moaned as a sudden desire flowed through their bodies, stepping forward. Draco didn't have to be pushed because he was reluctant, just because he was stunned. Ron looked stunning and Harry seemed to glow in that outfit. Draco took their hands and led them before Ron's father. "They are mine, make it so," he demanded as the magic flowed out to him as well.

Arthur smiled. "Of course, Draco." He opened the book he had gotten from the Record's office, smiling at his Ron. "We are gathered here to celebrate this union, and I say it's about time." The others laughed. "Over a year after marking them, the clan's matriarch has taken matters into her own hands and started the proceedings we are here to witness. Narcissa, you approve?"

"I do," she agreed, smiling at the trio. "They make my son enjoy life, he is much happier for having them."

Arthur nodded. "Good. Draco, do you vow to protect and help them in daily life? Do you swear to take care of and cherish them as if they were more than your pets, as full mates and spouses?"

"I do," Draco breathed, staring at each one in turn. Each had their own shining quality. He felt he looked plain next to them. It was a humbling experience not to be the special and radiant one today. "They are mine and shall stay mine. No matter what. Their upkeep and protection are mine from here forward."

"Harry, do you vow to protect Draco and Ron, no matter what? To take care of them and treat them as well, if not better than, you do your pets?" Arthur asked.

Harry nodded. "They're mine and I will take care of them and let myself be taken care of," he said, then he swallowed as he looked at them. "I adore them, Arthur."

"I know you do, Harry. Ron? Do you swear to protect and cherish them? To defend them, to help them in their daily lives, and to take care of them as only a nurturing Weasley can be?" he asked using the older Weasley family vows he had given when he had been married.

Ron nodded, smiling at her mates. "I do," she agreed. "They're mine and no one had better try to hurt them. A Weasley is a force to be reckoned with at the most calm times, in adversity we're akin to Nature and just as powerful. Even when they don't want it."

Molly sobbed, hearing the vows she had once spoke. Her son Bill hugged her and handed over a handkerchief. Vincent did the same for his wife.

Arthur smiled at them. "Since this is the quick version I should pronounce you now but I would like to see a statement of their binding that's not on my daughter's stomach. Draco?"

Draco pulled out the box his mother had found for him. Her wedding ring and the one from her mother. She floated closer and whispered in his ear, making him nod. He pulled out his mother's band and slid it onto Harry's finger. "Mine," he said simply, getting a smile and a kiss in return. He turned to Ron and slid out his grandmother's ring. His mother had sworn that Ron was a lot like her, only with red hair and a bigger chest. He slid it on her finger. "Mine as well," he said with a small smile. Ron nodded and kissed him, making him groan.

"None of that yet. That's for after the luncheon," Arthur chided, smiling at Ron. "After your nap as well if Harry and Draco are any indication."

"They worked all night," Ron said with a shrug.

"I'm sure you'll be stopping that," Narcissa told him firmly. She nodded at Arthur, her conditions were met.

"Then I now pronounce you mated and married. Kiss briefly because some of us were at work." They kissed, each in turn so no one was left out.

Draco felt he was the luckiest wizard there was because they were his. He let Harry lead him out but felt he had to say something. "That coat is comical. We'll have to take a picture of it on you," he teased. Harry hit him on the arm, making him laugh.

"Your father wore it on his wedding day," Narcissa pointed out as she floated past. "We have something to nibble on so you can talk with the happy couple before going back to lunch." She clapped her hands and music started, played by some of the house elves. "Thank you for attending." She smiled at Ron, who was blushing at something Percy had said. She floated down. "That makes you the official hostess of any event and Harry guardian of the family name," she informed them. "Try not to wear something so revealing at the next event."

Ron pointed at Draco. "He put me into it."

"My son has excellent taste in everything but showing his spouse off," she agreed.

"Mother, quit nagging about my motorcycle," Draco said, frowning at her. "I like it."

"As did I, son. In my youth I enjoyed a fast ride around as well. It's not like your father ever took me for a fly. He hated flying, said it made him ill and weak as a wizard." She smirked at him. "Try not to have sex on it though, all right? At least not where you can be photographed. He might come back and haunt you and yell like he did me." She floated off to talk to Molly and Arthur.

"You can have sex on a bike?" Harry asked, leering at Draco. "Can we try that soon?"

Draco kissed him until he was stunned. "Later this week, Harry, not right now." He let him go and danced Ron off, going to have a short snog with her as well. Harry pouted so he changed out, taking him out for a dance and a snog afterwards, then they got together so the Weasleys descended en masse to pick on him and give him advice. He managed to get past it by looking at them and saying, "But we've already done that," after the first shagging suggestion. They blushed and clapped him on the back, going to tease Ron some more. Really! Like he needed suggestions on how to snog Ron into unconsciousness.

Harry looked over as Professor Snape grabbed his arm. "Yes, sir?" he asked, allowing himself to be led away. "Did you want to threaten me now?"

"No, I wanted to give you something. Albus left in my possession the rest of your inheritance and the ability to release it to you early," he said firmly, pulling something out of his pocket. "This is the release form and the permanent keys, not the temporary ones you have." Harry took them, holding them to his chest. "Treat my Godson right, Potter, or you will be seeing me as your worst nightmare."

"I try very hard to treat Draco right," Harry defended. "Even when he's irritated at me."

"Then you have nothing to fear from me," Snape told him. He walked off, going to threaten Ron as well.

Ron danced with the stodgy man, smiling up at him. "Going to threaten me now, sir?"

Snape nodded. "Indeed I was."

"That's fine. No hard feelings and all, right?"

"Why would I have, Weasley?"

"Because if you ever piss off Draco by harming one of his friends and not sticking up for them, I'm going to kick your ass," Ron said quietly. Snape inclined his head in silent agreement. "Thank you." She stepped back and bowed to him, walking over to pull his father onto the floor with him. It was traditional, Hermione had said so when they had planned her wedding. He smiled up at his father. "Sorry this was a bit sudden. You can send a card in a few days."

Arthur smiled and kissed Ron on the forehead. "We've got a small something for you, Ron. Don't worry about it. That raise I received is wonderful for us with all you kids out of the house now."

"Ginny isn't married yet."

"No, she's not," Arthur agreed lightly. "But we have hopes that they'll set a date right after school ends." He smiled and winked. "I think it's going to be necessary."

"Oh, really?"

Arthur nodded. "Really. Neville agrees with me. Though he's leaning toward an elopement right now." He winked at his wife as they passed her. "I'm sure we'll figure it out and break through to get you out of your marriage bed."

"Dad!" She swatted him on the arm, but they were both smiling. "Don't say such things. I get out of it every morning; it's only a problem on holidays and weekends. And the occasional Thursday." Her father laughed at that. "Dad, Harry and Draco found something astonishing last night. Did you know George and I weren't the first changeling in the family?"

Arthur stopped moving. "Really?" She nodded. "Boys?" All his boys looked at him. "The two new ones," he said with a smile. "About their research?"

Harry jogged over, getting away from McGonagall. "We did find three others in the family history," he agreed. "Two genuine Weasleys and one married into the family," he told him. "Back during the Middle Ages."

"The last was somewhere before 1590," Draco agreed as he joined them. "The family used to be known for having them."

"That's interesting," Arthur said, looking at Ron. "Does that explain your problems?" Harry nodded. Arthur smiled at them. "I can't wait to read this, boys."

"Another month to prefect it," Draco assured him. "The trial made us lose time." He took Harry's hand and led him off to dance with him. "Did Snape threaten you?" he teased.

"And McGonagall. She wanted me to treat Ron correctly and get her some decent clothes."

Draco laughed, hugging him closer. "Tomorrow, after we have a nap and a long shag." Harry's eyes lit up again. "Would you like that, Harry?"

"I'd adore it," Harry agreed. Arthur walked over to them. "What's wrong?"

"Which name do you want on the certificate, Harry?"

"My own."

"Very well." Arthur finished filling it in and handed it over. "File this within four days, boys." He winked at them. "Owl post is fine for that." He walked over to his wife and led her out to dance about with her. He missed having her by his side all the time. "Molly, are you enjoying your new career?" he asked.

She laughed. "I adore it, Arthur. Those children are always finding new and challenging ways of driving the adults mad." She kissed him. "I found the twins' file. Albus didn't write us about at least half of the incidents." She kissed him again. "When you're ready to retire, you'll join me at the school, Arthur, and we'll be a good couple for the students. We'll share the job." He smiled and nodded. "I've missed you. So many times I wanted you to diffuse some of the students. They're all so angry at that age."

"I know, Molly, love, but we'll get through it soon enough," Arthur assured her. "Do you think the board would accept us doing your job together?"

"Yes," Draco said as he walked past. "They're expecting it some year soon."

Arthur smiled at his back. "That boy is quite fun sometimes. I hadn't realized how strong his personality was. No wonder he and Ron used to have those rows in the hallway."

"And he and Harry used to loathe each other," Molly agreed. "I talked with the hat. Did you know Harry was almost a Slytherin?" He shook his head. "He was. He would have been put over there but he begged the poor thing not to send him there. He wanted to be friends with Ron."

"Hmm. I've always said Ron was special among our lot," Arthur reminded her, giving her a peck on the cheek. "We should be getting back to work. The boys stayed up all night. Plus Charlie's got the funeral today."

"True, I had forced myself to forget about that. The poor thing. Should I go with him?"

"I'll go. I don't have much to do today," he promised. "It'll take me an hour, but I'll bring him home tonight."

"Of course you will," she agreed. "I'll come home tonight myself." She smiled at Charlie and they walked over to talk to him.

Draco looked around the crowd, then at his spouses. "Do you think they'd mind if we snuck off for a nap?"

"Not in the least," Ron agreed, leading the sneaking off. He stopped a house elf. "We'll cut the cake later for whomever's still here after our nap," he told it.

"No cake, cake at next party, ghost lady Mrs. Malfoy say so," it told him, looking worried.

"That's a wonderful idea. Thank you," Harry told Dobby. "We're going to nap if anyone asks." The elf nodded so they ran up the stairs, stripping out of the formal outfits. "I can't believe I wore that this long," he said when he looked at the outfit.

"I can't believe you didn't look silly in them," Ron teased, pulling Harry onto the bed to rest on her chest. "There, now you and Draco nap while I tease myself into a nap. We could all use one, don't you think?"

Draco kissed her. "There will be no teasing yourself unless we fail or we're involved," he said firmly. "You'll nap because you need one as well." He took the necklace off her and dropped it onto the bedside table. "I've never seen that one."

"It's your mother's, the traditional one the bride wore on their wedding day," Ron said, yawning because Harry was. "Those things are contagious."

Harry nodded, snuggling his head into the soft breasts. "They are, but it's a nice thing to nap with you and Draco, Ron." He closed his eyes. "I'll molest you in a bit."

"See that you do," Draco agreed, laying on Harry's back. He felt the shiver and pulled the blankets higher. "There, now we'll rest and get up and have wonderful sex, then we'll plan the reception party."

"If we have to," Ron agreed with a sigh. "Your mother said to dress me better. She objected to the corset dress earlier this year."

"I'll have to find new ways of making you look suitable but naughty," Draco noted. He yawned and closed his eyes. "Wake me before dinner." He fell asleep on Harry's back, comforted by his warmth.

Ron grinned, allowing herself to drift off into a nap as well. Her men were cuddly enough to be used as teddy bears, and they certainly inspired her to rest up for later activities.

***

Draco led Harry and Ron into the house and snapped his fingers for an elf to come help them carry packages. "Unload the trunk and the backseat. The backseat goes to the baby's room and the rest to ours," he ordered, following Ron's rear up the stairs. She was still pouting because they forced so much onto her today. "Tough, deal with it," he said firmly, ignoring the pout. "Before I dress you in that leather outfit Harry liked and send you to the twin's shop."

"Fine, Draco," Ron sighed. "But I didn't need that many new clothes. I have enough."

"We like dressing you up, the same as you like dressing us up now and then," Harry pointed out as he slid into their bed. For having done nothing but shopping all day he was extremely tired. He patted the mattress. "Lay down and I'll play with you in a bit."

"I'll need to put things up," Ron said dryly, grinning at him. "I'll climb in soon, you rest." Harry nodded, sneezing again. He had only started that this morning. Ron looked at Draco. "Didn't I tell you that I'm not your dressup doll?"

"Yes, and I'm still ignoring that fact," Draco assured him. "You can dress us up as well. The position of wife comes with a shopping allowance."

"I'd rather not," Ron told him. "Running this place is really expensive."

"It is, but not horribly so. My father used to throw gala events every two months, just because he wanted to dress up." Draco stripped down and joined Harry on the bed. "Let the elves unpack," he said calmly, holding out a hand. "I want to nap with you too, Ron."

"Fine. I'll tell them to put everything in a pile and I'll unpack later," Ron said, going to tell the elves that. He saw the bags from the stores he hadn't visited and frowned. "Put everything in my dressing area," he told them. "I'm going to unpack it myself to see what else they've gotten." They nodded, giving him a fearful look, so he smiled gently. "I'm not mad at you guys, I'm pissed at Draco and Harry, who think I'm a doll for them to play with. Oh, and the baby's stuff was mostly in the back seat. I think I threw one bag in the trunk. If it's obviously a baby thing, go ahead and toss it to Hermione." He walked off, going to humor the buggers he had married. "I'm still not a doll."

"So dress us up to counter our loving you that way," Harry whispered, nearly asleep. "I could use some help with my wardrobe anyway."

"I was going to suggest that," Draco promised. "We'll let Ron pick out your clothes." He patted Ron's rear, making her wiggle. "Nap for now and then we'll play." Ron nodded, laying down so she could cuddle in too. Draco was a very good person to cuddle. Almost as soon as she was asleep, the house elves brought in everything. "Put it away for her," Draco quietly ordered. They nodded and did so, putting it all into the new dressing area Draco had renovated while they were gone. Fully spell cleaned and everything, a room that they didn't use because it would have belonged to a concubine or a baby. Ron's entire wardrobe had been moved in there, along with a new vanity setup and a large mirrored wall for her to look at herself in. She would adore it later. That would give her old space to Harry, who was going to need it by the time he got done with him. And the rest of the space was all his. Draco smirked at the canopy over their bed, delighting himself in his plans.

***

Ron woke up and frowned. It was clearly dinner time since Harry's stomach was growling, even though he was asleep. "Harry," he called gently. It was just them in the bed.

"Let him rest," Draco said quietly from across the room. "Come see my surprise. I had it done while we were out." Ron let Draco pull her out of the bed and into the room they never used, stopping to look around, then to glare at him. "It's only fitting that you have this space," he said gently, pulling her closer to hold against his chest so she could lean against him while she looked around. "I had everything moved in here, including the special cabinet. Do you like it?"

"I don't need a room for all my clothes, that's when you know you have too much," Ron nearly whined.

Draco kissed the back of her neck. "Complain again and I'm spanking you for real." Ron got the point and quit complaining. "I like dressing you up. I used to help my mother dress herself and I adored it so now I'm doing it to you. It's a fine family tradition and we're going to have to get Harry involved as well because I'm tired of his jeans."

Ron turned in the loose arms. "I like the room, it's very pretty, Draco, but I'm not used to this."

Draco smirked and kissed him gently. "Then it's time you do get used to this. You are my wife, legally in all senses of the word. People will expect you to be glamorous when the occasion calls for it, and yourself the rest of the time. I had all your old things brought over as well." Ron nodded. "Plus, I had Mother's jewelry box brought in. You left the door open to the bride's chamber and I appeased my curiosity by having a look around. For that matter, I had a look around the consort's chamber as well and had those books moved back to the library." He stole another kiss. "Come, let's bathe you and put you in something comfortable that I like."

"I'm still not a doll," Ron reminded him.

"No, you move of your own free will," Draco said, starting to get upset.

"I'm sorry, Draco, but I like to dress myself."

"I'm not putting the clothes on you!"

"I know," Ron said, looking around again. "It's just that I never wanted to be the Fairy Princess and this looks like it was made for one of those."

"Ah." Draco gave her a hard squeeze. "You are my princess. You will allow me to dress you up. You will also allow Harry to dress you on occasion because you like to humor us in our little demands and you could care less about your clothes as long as they're comfortable." Ron nodded, that was true. "So let me dress you and complain when I put you into something uncomfortable, which I probably won't. I even let you keep those nasty things that you dig in the garden in. All right?" He was nearly pleading, he adored dressing Ron up, it was like some sort of kink for him.

"Fine," Ron sighed. "Bathe me and put me into something you like." Draco beamed and Ron knew he had just lost this war. It made him so happy. "Now?"

"Yes, we can shower you off now and then dress you. I'm thinking the velvet and silk lounging pajamas for tonight," he said as he led Ron off to clean her up for him. The shower didn't take too long even though they had a quickie in there. Then Draco dried Ron carefully and walked him back through the new door into her dressing room, sitting her down in the armchair he had the workers put in so she could stare at her clothes. He pulled down two sets, holding them up for her inspection. "Which one? Blue or teal?"

"Blue," Ron said, earning a smile. "It'll look better against Harry."

"Yes, it will," Draco agreed, nearly purring in delight at that thought. Those two did look very good together. He heard Harry start to cough so handed Ron the clothes and went to help him. "Harry?" he asked as he walked toward the bed. Harry leaned over and coughed more, sounding like he was trying to breathe. "Shh," he said, calming him down. "It's all right, it's me. I've got you." Harry leaned against him once the coughing was done, just breathing for now. "Was it a bad dream?"

"No," Harry croaked. "Chest cold. I hate them."

"Then we'll have you seen tomorrow," Draco assured him, stroking over his back. "Would you like something to eat?" Harry shook his head, flopping back down onto his pillow. "Some soup maybe?"

"That would be nice," Harry agreed. He smiled at Ron. "I'm sick."

"I heard." She leaned down to kiss his forehead. "I'm calling mum to ask for advice. I've never heard you cough like that before."

"I was going to force him to the healer's tomorrow," Draco told him. Molly was a busy woman and they couldn't continue to run to her for the littlest thing. Ron looked at him. "Really, he should be fine."

"I doubt it," Ron scoffed. "Harry's never sick." Draco frowned. "Never, in all the time I've known him has he even had a case of the sniffles. Not even after playing in the rain."

"I've had this cold before," Harry offered. "It's just a cold," he lied. He didn't want to go back to the hospital. Draco and Ron both looked at him and he knew he was busted. "It turned into pneumonia the last time," he admitted weakly. "I'm not going back."

"You are if the healer bloody well says so!" Ron said firmly, hands on her hips.

She really did look like a pissed off and older Ginny, Draco mused. "Let me call the family healer and see if she'll come now," he offered. "Maybe he won't have to go back to the hospital." It did worry him that Harry, who was apparently never sick, had moved from light sneezing to a chest cold so quickly. He didn't like this at all. He went to his study to find his book of addresses and called out to her through the floo. "Healer Jacobs, are you busy right now?"

She smiled at him. "I haven't seen you since you were fourteen. What's wrong?"

"My consort has moved from a case of the sniffles to a chest cold where I honestly thought he was going to cough up bits of his lung in under a day." She frowned. "Our wife says he's never ill. Hasn't been in six years at least."

"I'll be up within an hour. Feed him some hot soup and let's see if that helps." Draco nodded. "Have someone looking for me, I've heard you've done renovation."

"We're in the Master Suite if Vincent isn't down here," he said, cutting the connection. "Hermione! Vincent!" he yelled as he headed for the stairs. They both came out of the dining room. "Harry's very ill, the healer's on the way. Keep Eterna away from him for a bit and watch out for her."

"Your healer?" Vincent asked. Draco nodded. "Okay. We'll keep the baby down here."

"What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked, coming closer.

"It started as some light sneezing now and again this morning and now he's coughing up stuff," Draco said with a frown. "Send us up some soup please." He hurried back up the stairs, he could hear Harry starting on another coughing fit. "Shh," he said as he walked in, helping Ron hold him still. "It's all right, the healer's on the way." He summoned a bucket, it sounded like he was going to need one soon if he didn't quit coughing. They settled in to wait, taking the tray of soup when the elf brought it up.

"Harry Potter sick?" Dobby asked.

"Very sick," Ron agreed. "The healer's coming." Dobby nodded and left, bringing back some juice in a spelled containing to keep it cool, along with three glasses. "Thank you," Ron said as he took it. "He'll appreciate it when he quits coughing." Dobby nodded and disappeared again. Ron arranged everything on the bedside table because Harry seemed to thrash a bit when he started to cough, handing over bowls of soup and glasses of juice. "I hope it's not contagious. I don't want the baby to get it," he said quietly.

"I'm sure the baby will be fine," Draco soothed. "He hasn't been around her all day." He grabbed Harry's tray when he started to cough again, shaking his head. "Maybe we should eat surrounding him."

"He needs to be able to lean over, it seems to help," Ron pointed out quietly. "Harry, are you okay?"

"Fine," he croaked, then started coughing again. This time he did get sick. "Ow." He flopped backwards, holding his head. "Shoot me?"

"No, Harry, we're not giving up that easily," Ron soothed, moving over to test his forehead again. "His fever's going up."

"The healer said she'd be here within an hour," Draco reminded him. "It's only been fifteen minutes."

"Fine, I'll wait. But if this is really serious, I'm calling my mother."

"I'm sure she'll want to baby him, but she's busy with the school. It's nearing exams and she'll have a lot of paperwork to do right now," Draco said gently. Ron nodded, looking upset. "It must have been nice when your mother took care of you."

"Yours didn't?"

"My mother was sickly, if I got seriously ill she couldn't come near me or she risked getting it herself. That's why we keep the healer on retainer, so nothing got that serious." Ron nodded, he could understand that. "Just think, a few more weeks and your mother will be free for the summer." He stole a kiss. "Eat your soup. Harry, are you ready to try soup again?"

"Not yet," Harry said, eyes still closed. "I just want to lay here and appreciate breathing."

"That's fine, it's here whenever you want it." He cast a warming charm on the bowl and put it aside. His own went in with it, he didn't feel like eating. He hated it when people were sick. Ron hugged him, stroking his back. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I figure you've sat vigils like this before with your mother," Ron whispered, holding him tighter when Draco nodded. "It'll be okay. Modern medicine is a wonderful thing, full of miracles."

"Hopefully this is something they can cure." Draco allowed himself to be put under the covers and held, only holding onto Harry's hand since squishing him wouldn't help him any. The healer and Vincent walked in together. "Out, Vincent, we don't want the baby to pick it up." His friend nodded and left, going to tell his wife the bad news and send her to their other house. He was going to stay there, Draco couldn't handle long illnesses. "He's trying to rest," he told the healer once she had her things out. "He's thrown up once from the coughing."

"I can see that," she agreed, shifting the bowl out of the way. "Mr. Potter?" Harry opened his eyes. "I'm Jamilia Jacobs, I'm the family healer. May I examine you?" He nodded. "Would you like the worrywarts to leave or would you like to tell me everything in front of them?"

"I've never seen him sick and I've known him since our first day at school together," Ron told her.

"I'm sure you have, Mrs. Malfoy, but for right now, there are things that must be asked, and they could get upsetting." Ron shrugged. "All right." She smiled at Harry as she listened to his chest. "When did you start sneezing?"

"Late last night," Harry croaked. He rubbed his throat and tried to sit up, but Draco held him down and tipped the glass of juice for him. "Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome." Draco gave him a quick kiss on the forehead. "You're burning up."

"It's often this way," the healer pointed out, knowing how Draco was going to react. "Mr. Potter, have you taken anything recently? Any pain killers, cold medicine, other drugs of any sort?"

"I took something for my headache earlier," Harry told him.

"Something called Tylenol," Ron agreed. "And he had a bloody nose earlier too."

Okay, so she had two worriers on hand to help her. She could handle those odds, she'd had much worse. "Did I see a baby in the house?"

"Vincent's daughter. I've told him to not bring her up, just in case she gets sick as well," Draco assured her quickly.

"Good thinking, Draco." She smiled at him. "Go get me a pan of water and a cloth? He could use some sponging off." They nodded and took the hint, going to do that for her. "Now, Mr. Potter, have you taken anything that they didn't know about?"

"The Tylenol was Tylenol Cold, " Harry admitted. "It didn't do much good."

"I didn't think it would. Most wizards don't work well with muggle medicine. I'm going to undo your shirt and listen to your lungs. Have you had this sort of rapid onset before?"

He nodded. "Once. I ended up with pneumonia and in the hospital. My uncle hated it."

She pulled back, frowning. "I'm not so sure you're not moving that way this time. Fortunately I have a remedy that may work. Which one of you brews the best?"

"Draco does," Harry told her.

"I was worried about that. How about if I call Ron's mother? I know she's good at home remedies."

"She's the new Headmistress," Harry said quietly. "We don't want to bother her. Draco can brew it."

"Draco tends to get a bit panicky when someone around him is sick," she said gently. "He might overbrew it."

Ron stuck his head out. "I can get one of the twins, they know how to brew very well."

"That would be wonderful, that way Draco can fuss." She smiled at them. "Please call them and I'll give them detailed instructions." Ron nodded, going to call in the family. "Draco, come sit with him and sponge off his face," she called. He came out and climbed back in, holding Harry close. "Good boy." She stroked his forehead. "It seems like he and the cold virus don't get along well. I'm having someone come in to brew something for his congestion. It'll be strong enough, but if it continues after *three* doses of the medicine I want to see him again. All right?" Draco nodded quickly. "Good boy, Draco." She helped Harry sit up when he started to cough again, not liking this in the least. "Is that the coughing?"

"It happens every once in a while," Ron agreed as he came back with one of the twins. "George said he would, he's better at it." He came over to help support Harry, patting his back to help loosen some of it.

"Then I want you to prop him up so he's sitting up most of the way. A mound of pillows so he's not flat on his back. Sitting up will help his breathing. George?" she asked with a smile for the twin. George nodded. "That's fine. Draco, is the lab in the same place?" He nodded, stroking Harry's arm so he would calm down. "Come on, let's start this medicine for him," she said, leading him away. "He gets three doses before I'm to be called back, unless there's bleeding, or there's a change in color." George nodded, looking worried. "Yes, this is unusual, but it's not contagious. It's simply a very bad cold." She let him into the lab and pulled out her book, copying the recipe for him. "This is what you're making him. Can you make it double strength?"

George looked it over. "I've helped mum brew this."

"Good boy." She patted him on the back. "Draco has my floo address if you need me sooner. I'll be back in two days. He gets that once every ten hours." George nodded. "Thank you. Those two were going to worry themselves ill." She walked off, leaving it in his hands.

George started the water boiling then went to call his brother. "Harry's coughing up light green nasty crud," he explained. "The medicine's not that complicated, it's what we used to make for Ginny with her summer colds. The doctor's worried though so I'm staying here."

"That's fine," Fred agreed. "Oliver's here and still ranting at his coach for not letting him know about the wedding." He smiled. "Don't catch it yourself."

"Hopefully not. She said it's a severe cold, nothing more so far." He shrugged and went back to his brewing.

***

Draco looked up as the doctor walked into the room a few hours later. "You said you wanted to see him again if there was blood," he said before she could open her mouth.

"I did," she agreed, stifling her yawn. She hadn't had one of these sort of sessions in a long time. "Harry, is it getting worse?" she asked as she came over to listen to his chest. He nodded, still coughing. "That hasn't loosened at all. George, did you make it double strength?"

"Yes, ma'am. I even let it brew longer so it'd be stronger."

"That's fine," she agreed. She stepped back and looked at him. "I have one last potion to try, but I doubt any of you can brew it."

"I can get Severus up," Draco said, getting up and heading that way before anyone could stop him.

The doctor looked amused. "I'm glad they're close. Severus will undoubtedly calm him down." She looked at Harry again, testing his forehead. "Still a bit higher than I like," she noted, starting a full exam. Maybe she had missed something. At least the other one was asleep. "Did you knock Ron out?"

"Yes, ma'am," George agreed with a smile. She smiled back, and he laughed. "Ron tends to get a little flustered when things start to go wrong. He rants and yells a bit. I didn't think it'd be good for Harry to have to listen to that."

"Have before," Harry said weakly.

"I know you have. I'm sure Ron ranted at you many times about all those things you couldn't talk him out of helping you with."

Harry gave him a pitiful smile. "I tried, George, I really did."

"I know, Harry, no one blames you. Hell, if it weren't for you, Ron probably would have done it on his own. The boy can be that way."

Harry laughed, but it started off another coughing fit.

***

Draco burst into Severus' classroom, hauling him to his feet. "Come on! Harry's ill! He's about to die!" He dragged him after him, not caring what they looked like. He saw Molly and paused to give her a hug. "Harry's sick but he'll handle it," he assured her, not wanting her to worry. She gave him a skeptical look but let them pass, sharing a look with Severus. He rolled his eyes as he was dragged off again.

"What's wrong with him?"

"He started sneezing late last night, it's in his chest and the medicine's not working. He's started coughing up blood!" Draco said in near hysterics as they got to the staff floo. "Come on!" He shoved him toward the fire. "The doctor said they needed someone better than George Weasley to make the potion."

"Yes, you probably should have someone better to do that," Snape agreed dryly as he sent himself back to the manor. He walked up, following the sound of coughing. "Oh, dear." He looked Harry over himself and took the recipe from the doctor. "Are you sure you want this one instead of the other?"

"I made the usual congestion potion," George told him, glaring at him. "It didn't work and I made it double strength on her orders. And yes, I do know how to brew it, we had to do it every summer for Ginny for ten years!" She stomped her foot.

"Fine, I'll go brew this," Snape agreed, heading down to the lab he had taught Draco elementary potions in. He shook his head once he was behind the closed door. Such fussy people. He found the old potion and tested it, it was correct. He started on the new one, frowning when he looked at the stores. Draco hadn't been keeping up his lab, so he had to call out for supplies. He would have to talk to the boy after this about not keeping up his lab.

***

Harry woke up and was in a hospital bed. He groaned and looked around, but neither of his mates were there. He searched for a call button but there wasn't one. He coughed to test his throat and found it too sore to yell so he'd have to wait. It only took a few minutes for a nurse to walk in. "Husbands?" he asked, barely making a sound.

"We sent them home," she said, giving him a smile. "It's not good for them to hover near you."

"I want my husbands," Harry said, trying for a more firm, commanding sound. It was still a whisper. "I don't like hospitals. They come back or I'm walking out."

She laughed. "I'm sure you'd like to think that, Mr. Evans, but for right now you're very sick and they don't need exposed." He glared at her. "They'll be back soon enough, young man, settle down or you won't get released."

"Give me back my Ron and my Draco or I'm leaving!" he said, trying to shout. Still a whisper.

She frowned at him. "I'll have to make a note that you're not cooperative if you don't stop. You'll find the nurses don't treat you as well if you're not cooperative."

Harry forced himself to sit up. "I want my mates now," he repeated. "I need them, otherwise I'm not staying. I'm not staying anyplace with strangers."

"My, you're paranoid."

Arthur breezed in. "Harry," he said with a smile.

"His name is James," the nurse said, frowning at him. "What are you doing in here, it's not visiting hours." She didn't care who he was, he was going to leave.

"That's Harry Potter, the James Evans is his second identity," Arthur told her. "Where is Ron, my daughter?"

"Oh." Her eyes went wide, it made much more sense now. The boy was paranoid for a reason! "We sent them home, they're coming back during visiting hours. That's in about two and a half hours from now, sir."

"That's fine," Arthur said with a smile. "I'll be here or someone else will be here with him the whole time." She nodded and finished checking Harry, making a note on his chart before leaving. He smiled at the boy. "How are you feeling? The doctor had you knocked out because you didn't cough while you were asleep. It's been two days and Draco's ready to pull out the rest of his hair."

Harry grimaced. "I ache," he said. "My chest hurts."

"Yes, well, we had to go in and drain off some of that stuff in there. Professor Snape was very unimpressed that his potion didn't work." Harry smiled, shifting so he was on his side. "You can't do that, you cough more," he chided gently, putting Harry back onto his back and raising the bed a bit. "There, how's that?"

"Better, thank you," Harry told him. He yawned and closed his eyes. "I think I'm going to nap."

"That's fine, Harry, I brought paperwork to amuse me. Some of the lower Ministers send up some of the most amusing requests." Harry laughed and coughed lightly. "None of that now," he said fondly. "We don't want to have to keep you."

"Where's Draco?"

"Shopping probably. It's how he wears out his worry. I think you'll find he's gotten you a whole new wardrobe and most of another one for himself. He's also taken a few very long drives in your car, saying it smelled like you. Somehow he even managed to find a road into Hogsmeade." Harry snorted. "Don't ask me how, he simply did. Brought his racing bike up. He makes a very pretty picture on it." Harry nodded, nearly asleep, so he settled in to read some of the amusing requests. Paying for a whole wardrobe for a visiting Minister from France? Ridiculous.

***

Ron noticed the looks they were getting when they walked into the hospital. "Either he's in surgery again or they know who he is," he said quietly as they took the elevator up to Harry's ward. "Hi," he said as he walked in, giving Harry a hug. He opened his eyes, giving them a weak smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Harry croaked. "Less stuffy." He held his arms out and Draco gave him one as well. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Draco agreed, giving him a kiss on the cheek. He sat on the foot of the bed, curling up to get comfortable. "You'll be happy to know that Hermione yelled at me for dragging Severus home that way." Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Vincent shut her up pretty quickly," Ron added, pulling a chair over. "No one else is here?"

"Percy just left," Harry told him. "Said he didn't want to get beaten up."

"I haven't hit him yet," Ron reminded him. "I'll go find him and make him get it out later." He grinned. "So, less congestion? Does that mean you can come home and we can fuss over you there?"

"Yeah," Harry said with a grin. "Spring me now, please? I hate hospitals."

Draco laughed. "I doubt they'd let us today, but maybe tomorrow. I'll start suggesting it later." He grinned at the nurse, who looked very scared as she walked in. "Problems?"

"The healer's doing rounds now," she said, not looking at them. "You can ask her his status yourself. I'm doing a vital's check." Harry let her then she scurried out.

"What did you do to her?" Ron asked patiently.

"She woke me up," Harry said with a light blush. "I screamed and tried to hit her. Percy was in the loo and he had to make me let her go."

"I'm sure she understands now," Draco soothed, patting Harry's foot. He gave him a smile. "I'm sure it'll be fine." Harry shrugged. "Soon, we'll let the doctor tell us when."

The Healer walked in and stopped to smile at the concerned looks. "He's getting better. He can't leave for another five days, or until his congestion is completely gone, and please don't scare the nurses again, Harry."

"She woke me up," Harry defended. "I didn't know what was going on, only that there was a needle."

"I understand and so does she," the healer agreed, giving him a pat on the head. "How's the chest feeling? Still sore?" He nodded. "That's to be expected with what we had to do to drain off the mucus." She ran her wand over him, smiling at the results she got. "Good, you're getting a lot better. It may only be four days."

"I hate hospitals," Harry told her. "Please?"

"I'll take good care of him," Draco agreed.

She shook her head. "We need him here in case the congestion decides to flare back up, Draco," she said patiently, knowing he wanted to fuss so badly. "In case we have to go in again. Remember, the floo out your way has been going out recently with the line repairs. We can't risk you being stuck at home with him if that happens."

"I could take him to the Burrow," Ron offered. "They aren't working on the lines out there yet and mum and dad could pop in at random intervals to check on us."

She looked at Ron. "You're worse than he is, I didn't think it was possible," she said with a grin for him. "Why don't you want him here, Ron?"

"Because he's seen the inside of the infirmary too many times and it's usually after something's happened," Ron pointed out. "He hates being sick because of it."

"Hate being weak," Harry agreed. "Please? I'll be good and let them fuss, I won't even yell at them."

She patted him on the hand. "Not today, Harry. Possibly tomorrow if you're much better. You can all wait that long." They sighed in unison. "When was the last time you were in a hospital bed?"

"After Draco's father put the snake on me," Harry told her.

She blinked and looked at Draco. "What?"

"My father, after escaping the last fight somehow, put a deadly, deaf snake on him and it bit him. It was one of those that had venom that paralyzed. The doctors where we were didn't believe it was that snake so they refused to give him the antivenom for it." He shuddered and Ron moved quickly to hold him.

"Harry was brought back to the school and Professor Snape made the antidote personally. He spent nearly three weeks in there then. Before that was the fight before that."

"Ah. Gotcha." She nodded and looked at Harry. "I'll get you out as soon as I feel it's safe enough for you to leave, but not before. We don't want that congestion to come back and you not able to get back here." He nodded, looking sad. "I know it sucks, but it'll have to do for now. Maybe three days?" He shrugged. "That's a good boy, Harry. The more you rest the faster you get out. Got it?" He nodded. "Draco, come cuddle him so you calm down as well. I don't want to have to sedate you." Draco shifted up until he was firmly planted under Harry's weakened body. "Good boys."

Ron looked at her. "Are you a child's doctor?" She nodded. "I thought so. You talk to him like Harry does to the cat."

She laughed. "It seems to work best with him," she admitted with a shrug. "I don't mind taking care of your family, you're wonderful patients." She kissed Draco's forehead. "I saw him delivered." He blushed. "I've also seen the baby that's living with you guys. She's more than healthy. Vincent got worried because she sneezed and he called me out of bed last night. It doesn't look like she's caught his cold at all. Just a baby case of the sniffles. Her mother went into fussy mother mode as well." Ron giggled. "I take it you like that?"

"A lot. Hermione is a fussy mother," he agreed, shifting up so he could lay on Draco's exposed chest, and put an arm around Harry's.

"Not too tight," she warned. "It might set off more coughing and we don't want that." She smiled at them. "You three behave and I'll get you out as soon as I think it's feasible." She left them there, going to give orders to the nurses, including one that said they could stay for as long as they wanted.

Draco kissed Harry's neck. "We missed having you with us," he whispered. Harry smiled at the mirror so he could see it. "You rest, we'll talk when you're better and Ron will undoubtedly tell you all about me wearing out my stress."

"Arthur told me some," Harry admitted. He squeezed Draco's hand. "Nice job with the bike."

"Thank you." He gave him a light squeeze around the stomach. "You rest, we'll make sure you don't beat up on the nurses."

"Yes, Draco." Harry closed his eyes, comforted by the familiar weight around him.

Ron kissed Draco's cheek. "I told you it'd be okay. You get to tell him about the naughty clothes though." Draco smiled and gave him a real kiss, then they settled in to wait on Harry to wake up again.

***

Vincent met the car at the front door, opening up the door where Harry was laying and pulling him out to carry inside. He was stronger. The others followed. "Eterna's fine," he told them. "The doctor diagnosed her sniffles as an allergy to dust." He put Harry into the bed and tucked him in, giving him a grin. "Hermione said you can watch her in a few days, when you're stronger. She sat up the other day."

"Good for her," Harry said, giving him a smile. He looked at what had been Ron's dressing room. Then at the space that had been his. "Where are my things?"

"In my old space," Ron said as he walked in with the mail. He opened the door to show him. "Draco went a bit wild in his worry shopping. You now have a leather outfit." He climbed in on Harry's side. "Draco will be right up, he's getting us a light lunch." He stole a kiss and grinned at Vincent. "Did I hear Eterna's mobile going?"

"She's asleep," he admitted with a grin. "Her and Hermione. I think she's pregnant again." He shrugged and turned, nearly running into Draco. "Hi, boss."

Draco gave him a pat on the arm. "Again? Already?"

"We kinda slipped up a few weeks ago," Vincent said with a blush and a grin. "So yeah, I think so."

"I hope this one's a son then," Draco assured him as he climbed into the bed. "Send any problematic things up here so you don't have to deal with them. I kicked the reporter out." Vincent nodded and Harry groaned. "Not for you, for Ron. With the publishing of our paper, we garnered her some notoriety." He gave each of them a kiss. "Now you rest, Harry, so I don't have to worry."

"Who knows where you'll be shopping next time if you do," Ron teased.

"That costume shop, for when Harry's more than healthy again," Draco said firmly. He snuggled into Harry's side. "I got kicked out of Madam Malkin's for being fussy with her. She said I should be fussing over you, not over her clothes." Harry chuckled and Draco gave a little sigh of contentment. "I didn't hear a rattle at all." Ron mimicked his position, making Harry hiss a bit, that side was still sore. So Ron shifted down, smiling because he couldn't hear any rattle either.

"You guys rest. I'll make excuses. Blaize is coming over tonight." Draco waved a hand. "Night, guys." He walked out, closing the door behind him. Down the hall, his door was open so he walked in and kissed his wife soundly. "Harry's fine. Draco couldn't hear a bit of rattle from his position on Harry's chest." She rolled her eyes. "Herm, when can you take one of those tests?"

"Next week," she said, reaching up to stroke his face. "I already know the answer. I started this morning."

"So? You bled until your third month before," he said with a shrug. "Take one for me anyway?"

"Of course." She pulled him down to hold him. "The house elves can handle everything for a few minutes." Their daughter snuffled but didn't seem to wake up so they relaxed and held each other.

***

Harry woke up four days after getting out of the hospital and found Ron on top of him again. He liked being Ron's pillow. He liked being Draco's pillow as well, but he could shag Ron in this position and he had missed sinking into her body. He wiggled a bit, gaining entry since they were both naked. Ron moaned in her sleep, but shifted so he was deeper in her. "Thank you, Ron," he whispered, starting to move slowly. The urge to cough was fought down, that would have Draco stopping him. He felt a kiss against his neck and smiled at Draco. "I missed this," he said with a naughty grin.

"Have her and I'll have you in a few," Draco agreed quietly, stroking over Harry's ear with a fingertip. Harry nodded, working a little harder.

Ron opened her eyes and looked at him. "Desperate?" she joked. Harry nodded hard. She laughed as she sat up, riding him gently. "Let me, Harry. You're still not in any condition for the way we usually do it."

"Can I watch you and Draco later?" he teased, reaching up to play with her nipples. They were deflated, she was back in her in-between phase and it excited him to see that hard dick bouncing against his stomach. One hand drifted down to tease it, earning a gasp and Ron throwing his head back as he got into it. "I want to do more," he said as he got off, a gentle coming for once. "I wish I was healthier right now."

Ron leaned down to kiss him. "That was wonderful, Potter, and I adored it. You'll get back to the point where you can bend me over the dining table and I'll accept it." He winked and gave him another kiss before shifting up. "Think you're up to a bit of sucking?"

"Not yet," Draco said, pulling Ron over to do it himself. "Not with his breathing problems," he said before sucking her hard. She shivered and came quickly, going limp against him. "Good girl, now let me have our darling one for a bit." She crawled onto Harry's other side, rolling him to face her and settling him against her chest. "Yes, I like that position," he agreed, grabbing the lube. He slowly worked his way up to taking his husband, enjoying the mewing sounds he was making. Harry definitely needed this to rebind him to them. He slicked himself up and slid in, nearly coming right then. He had missed this. Ron preferred to top most of the time in male form and in female form she didn't seem to like anal sex that much, but he adored this feeling of tightness and squeezing. He groaned, leaning in to kiss Harry's neck. Harry was busy playing with the tempting breasts so he got busy playing with Harry. He forced himself to go slowly and not his usual rate of thrust. It was getting to be too much, Harry was moaning because he and Ron were rubbing off and Harry was squeezing him with each rub. He came with a growl, nipping the side of Harry's neck. "Thank you," he whispered, wrapping an arm around them as they got off again. "We'll nap now."

"Yes, we will," Harry agreed, smiling at Ron, then back at Draco, what he could see of him. "You can hug tighter, I don't mind." They both snuggled in closer and held him tighter, making him feel like he was back to normal already. He settled in for a nap, content for the first time since he had gotten sick.

***

Blaize Zabini stuck his head in. "Hi, Ron, Queen of the Noisy Orgasm." Ron blushed. "Is Harry up? I've got a prezzie for him."

"Come in, he's in the baths with Draco," Ron told him, covering up his bare parts. "I didn't think you had stayed."

"I wasn't going to but my mother kicked me out of the house again," he said with a shrug and a grin. "I've been hogging one of the guest rooms for the last week."

Draco came to the door of the bathroom, scowling at him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you had more important things to worry about than my mother being cranky," Blaize pointed out gently. He held out his gift. "For Harry. To make him feel better if he has to go back."

Draco shook his head but he took it in so Harry wouldn't have to get out of the baths. Just because he was getting stronger didn't mean he had to move. He watched as Harry opened it, coming up with a blond teddy bear. Draco burst out in giggles, bringing the other two. "To remind him of me?"

"To remind him of me," Blaize said cockily, giving him a wink and a small leer. "Why would he forget you?"

Draco punched him on the arm. "Git," he said, still smiling.

Ron shook his head. "Did Hermi say you couldn't give it to the baby?"

"Yup," Blaize admitted, winking at Harry, who was hugging it. "I figured he'd need one, just in case you two had to do something out of town and I wasn't available to cuddle." He ran out before Draco could get him.

Ron laughed, kissing the top of Harry's head. "I think you look adorable with the bear, Harry. Keep it with you." He kissed Draco, earning a moan. "Hurry up, it's my turn with Harry."

"You could join us," Draco offered. "I've had him for an hour and you can have equal time with him."

"I promised him a backrub," Ron reminded him smugly.

"Would both of you get in here and fuck me into next week?" Harry asked, setting his new friend aside so it couldn't get wet. It was pathetic, but he had already named it.

Draco climbed in next to him, getting next to his ear. "You and your helpers, Harry. A dog, a snake, an elf, and now a bear," he whispered with tolerant fondness. Harry gave him a weak smile. "It sleeps on the dresser."

"Yes, Draco," Harry agreed, giving him a smile for understanding.

Ron climbed in and straddled Harry's lap, stealing a long kiss. "None of that, you can't play with him when I'm in here. Besides, you have a bear that looks like his hair, not like mine." He kissed him again, earning a moan. "Should I do something naughty, Harry? Are you ready for that sort of thing?"

"I'm more than ready for Ron naughties," Harry agreed with a smile. Ron slid against his body, rubbing against his lightly haired chest. Harry shifted up to get more of it, so Draco slid underneath him, putting him up high enough to reach Ron and still get some teasing in. Ron laughed, shaking her head at Draco for his blatant moving in on his time, but that was okay. "Ron, can I have you do really naughty things, just to make sure I only breathe hard for you?" Harry asked. "Would you dance for me?"

Ron smiled and nodded. "Tonight, after I get some good stretching in." Harry blushed and nodded. "That would be after a good dinner and a wonderful massage of course."

"Of course," Draco agreed. "Wear that new gold outfit I got you," he said with a wink. Ron rolled his eyes but nodded. "Thank you." He squeezed Harry. "It's a Gryffindor outfit," he promised, making Harry shiver and wiggle. "I bought it for him to wear with you."

"I adore you, Draco," Harry told him, giving him a wet kiss. He turned around to kiss him, leaving himself open to Ron playing with him. That's why he squeaked when Ron entered him. Draco pulled back and laughed, but Harry looked back at Ron. "That doesn't feel like a massage."

"It will by the time I'm through with you, Harry," Ron promised, giving him his most wicked grin. Even Draco shivered at the sight of that grin. He laid against Harry's back, letting him get them into a comfortable position. Then he started to thrust, rubbing his tits along Harry's back, making him groan in delight. "Do you like this, Harry, or should I switch to my hands?"

"If you remove those breasts, I'm going to complain," Harry told her. She laughed in his ear, a light, refreshing, lusty sound that he had always equated with having sex with Ron. She pushed in deeper, making him wince but he was loving this. He pushed back, forcing her to go in deeper. She relented and let him have it full force, but did keep rubbing him with the swollen breasts. He started to groan out loud, making noises like Ron usually would. Draco tried to quiet him down by kissing him but he couldn't get enough air so he pulled away, shaking his head. He screamed as he came, arching back into Ron's tender mercy, making her come as well. He flopped down, letting Draco catch them. "Damn, you're good," he panted, falling asleep with the goofiest smile on his face. "Love you both," he said before snoring.

Draco looked stunned. "He's never said that to me before," he whispered.

Ron kissed him. "It's special, he hardly ever says it to me." He winked and snuggled into Draco's side so he could hold Harry in his lap. "I think he's recovered."

"Me too, but I'll humor him for a few more days before I get too rough on him again," Draco said with a small smirk. Harry teasing was his artform and he enjoyed it. He moved the teddybear farther away. "Put that onto the dresser? He said it could sleep up there until we were away some night." Ron nodded, getting out to do that, and picking up the juice the elves had left on the way back. Draco took his mug, sipping gently.

"I guess he needed the nap," Ron said with a wink as she started to get back in.

"Hold on," Draco said, putting down his mug. He reached out, touching the small belly Ron was getting. "When did this happen? I haven't seen an ounce of fat on you yet, Ron."

Ron looked down at his stomach and shrugged. "Not a clue. It's new." He stroked it. "It's firm."

"You're going to the doctor tomorrow, I want to be wrong," Draco said, staring at him. Ron's eyes widened. "If so, we'll have to make some plans for your uncontrolled times."

"According to your own research, I shouldn't since it's in my heritage," Ron reminded him, sliding into the water. "Your own research said that the historical ones didn't have a problem, it's only the newer ones where people tried to hurt them, and even the power surges weren't that bad if you had it in your blood. Something about Melissa the Elder of Comstock."

"I remember," Draco agreed, stroking the small pad of fat, "but I don't want to have a problem." He smiled and kissed Ron. "I know it's not mine."

"I guess that would depend on when," Ron reminded him gently. He saw Harry peering up at him. "We think I'm pregnant." Harry shifted over, kissing him gently. "Are you excited?" she asked.

"Very," Harry agreed with a smile. "I hope it's Draco's."

Draco pinched him. "Even if it is, it's probably not going to qualify as an heir because the rituals weren't done." Harry looked stunned. "So let's hope it's yours." He coughed gently. "I've heard back from the person doing the auguries. Ginny won't work." Ron's face fell. "There's too much relation in the past and it'll create a weak heir according to them."

"Then what do we do?" Ron asked. He let Harry snuggle against his chest. "If Ginny can't, then I can't. And what if this one is yours?"

"It'll still be a wizard, it'll just be weaker. The formal heir is always the strongest child, in case the others get upset and try to overthrow him or her," Draco informed him. "If I had a sister or brother, they'd be all but powerless within the family, only doing what I allowed."

"That sucks," Harry pointed out.

"It does." He shifted closer, touching Ron's stomach. "I wish there was a way to tell."

"What about your heir?" Ron asked.

"It happened once in the past, we had to adopt because the heiress was sterile," Draco said with a shrug. "I can always adopt this one, no matter which one of us is the father." He smiled at Harry. "I still hope it's yours."

"Draco, what would be the perfect mother for the heir?"

"Someone blooded but not too close. That means we'd almost have to take a foreign bloodline due to all the inbreeding."

"Or a strong half-blood," Ron reminded him.

"It couldn't be a half-blood, it'd have to be a three-quarters." Draco said firmly. "The family wouldn't accept one that weak. My aunts would get rather pissed and try to harm it." He kissed the side of Ron's neck.

"What about me?" Harry asked quietly. Both of his spouses looked at him in shock. "My mother wasn't exactly the unblooded witch everyone thought," he pointed out. "Just a different sort. My father was fully blooded though."

Draco considered it. "*IF* there were some way, that would probably work," he admitted. "But I'm not letting you take that potion, Harry. Not even for a day's worth of being female. It's dangerous and I won't allow it." Harry nodded, looking down at Ron's stomach. He tipped Harry's face up. "Promise me, Harry. I mean it. It's much too dangerous. Your body could well reject it totally and just have seizures. Even that supposedly safe one we found could harm you since it wasn't meant for wizards and witches like your mother."

"Besides, having two of us with a cycle could be disastrous," Ron pointed out. He smiled at Harry. "I know you like being on the bottom better, but promise me as well, Harry."

"What if it's the only way?" Harry asked.

"Then I'll adopt," Draco said firmly. "According to the family records it worked out all right, the next generation was born the usual way and they turned out fine."

"Draco, that's the line that started down the wrong path," Harry pointed out gently. "It took your family seventeen generations to come up with you and you're much like the older version of the family than your father was." Draco nodded, accepting that point. "It could make a child worse than your father."

"Harry, no," Ron said firmly. "No using that formula, even for a day. I'm not losing you, ever. So get over it and forget about it."

"Yes, Ron."

Draco knew that look, Harry was still in planning mode. He'd talk to him later, knowing this had something to do with the cheating thing. In truth, the auguries did say Harry would have been perfect, it would have created a new, stronger line of the Malfoys. They had praised him for marrying him and had suggested many ways of inseminating a female with the both of their seeds. To him, it sounded like breeding animals and he didn't like that idea so he had dismissed it. Maybe now was the time to tell him about that. Well, later, tomorrow when they could get some time alone. Ron thought Harry was going to comply but he knew better.

***

Draco tugged Harry into his study the next morning, sealing them in. "Harry, you can't," he said gently, sitting him on the couch. "You know that I've done more of the family line tracings and it's not in your family, and there's probably a reason why they broke off two engagements with people who had it in their bloodlines." Harry looked startled, he hadn't seen that. "We really don't know how this would react with your odd powers; your mother's line is very stringent about some of the powers. A few generations back they wouldn't let a daughter marry anyone except someone underage because he was the only one who would give them good enough heirs." Harry slumped down some. "Listen, if there was a way, I'd call back your mother, or even your grandmother." He frowned. "Mother?" he called. She floated down the chimney, coming from the nursery apparently. "Do you know if Harry's mother or grandmother are floating around somewhere?"

"His grandmother is. I met her once during a school event." She shrugged. "Why?"

"Because Harry's got some wild idea about doing the heir summoning with me."

Narcissa smiled. "That would be perfect," she told Harry. "Both lines would combine to form a strong son or daughter." Harry smiled sadly at her. "He won't let you?"

"He'd have to take that changeling potion and we're sure it'd hurt him, mother," Draco said, sounding slightly irritated.

"I'll see if I can find her or her mother. Or possibly earlier in the line. The closer to the source of the information would have more knowledge." She floated out, going to search among her fellow ghosts for some help. She'd tell her son what this was about later. Really, the boy should have been born a girl. Didn't he listen?

"Draco, I don't want to, but I do on some strange level," Harry said quietly, looking at him. "Like it'd feel right."

Draco hugged him. "It might, but you'd drive me batty during your monthlies," Draco whispered. Harry laughed. Draco pulled back. "I'm serious, Potter, you would."

"Did you really trace my family's line?"

"Just your mother's. With each of the ones like you being born female, you're interwoven with most of the weaker lines in existence. Including the Weasleys about four generations ago. You didn't hit Molly's until about three ago." He shrugged at the happy look. "I haven't found anything else that might tell you what you've always wanted to know, just the family listings and some odd facts about betrothals broken because of the blood not being decent for that family." He pulled Harry closer again, holding him tightly. "Even if it's the only way, Harry, I don't want that. Promise me for real, not the one you gave last night."

"I promise I won't do it if there's another way," Harry agreed. Draco gave him a squeeze. "That's it, Draco, accept it."

"Then I'll have to find another way," Draco agreed. He gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"What happens if your heir is a girl?"

"Then her husband or consort female would be expected to change their last name to Malfoy."

"Really?" Harry asked with a grin. Draco nodded. "Isn't that a bit arrogant?"

"Yes, but our name and nature is the main one that will be passed on," Draco pointed out dryly, giving him a squeeze. "According to the family motto, all families are weaker than we are. All bow down before us." He grinned and winked. "Including yours. With so many girls, your family name is lost in antiquity." Harry giggled and leaned closer, resting his head on Draco's shoulder. Yes, he was going to have to find another way. He would not allow that. Not in the least. He hoped Ron's was Harry's.

***

Narcissa floated into the bedroom, waking Harry up by making him flinch. She smiled at him. "I found a male in your family line if it would help," she offered. He nodded, following her down the stairs. He curled up on the couch while the ghost looked around the room. "Evert, this is Harry. He's Lily's first and only child."

The male ghost looked at him and smiled. "Harry, you look just like your father." He floated closer. "You are very much like your mother though." He smirked. "Used it already? Couldn't wait?"

"I'm the last one, great-grandfather," Harry said gently. "I had to take the books to defend everyone."

"I know, lad, I was just teasing. It was a brilliant move, with the muggle weapons."

"You watch over me?"

"Now and again I check up on you. Those relatives of Lily's had me worried." He winked. "Now then, what sort of information do you need?"

"I need a lot, and some advice," Harry admitted. He looked at Narcissa. "Can you wake Draco but keep him up there for maybe half an hour?"

"Of course, young man." She floated off, giving them privacy. She knew what they needed to talk about.

Harry looked at him. "Are there any special rites to having the first born?"

"Oh-ho! You're thinking about that?"

"I think it may have happened," Harry offered. "Our changeling wife is pregnant."

The ghost paused to look at him. "Changeling you say?" Harry nodded. "Would that be the redhead?" Harry nodded again. "I knew the Weasley blood would tell," he said smugly. "I'll have to get her to pay up on that bet."

"Actually, the twins did it to themselves and to Ron," Harry put in.

The ghost waved a hand. "They'd be more attuned to it, it could only have been done by them. I bet they got it in a dream." He looked at Harry. "The only real ritual is that the child will have the temperament of whatever it's conceived on. Most of us were conceived outside, but nothing as standard as the Malfoys was ever used. You were conceived on a picnic blanket if I remember right, that's why you're so comforting and needing care." He floated closer again. "You want to do like she has," he said quietly. "It's the urge to be female. All of us males have had it. There's been three now. One turned and was removed because his mother was phobic. I had that same desire and I only wore women's clothes because I couldn't make myself take the potion to change me. Now you've got it. It's the power, boy, it does that to us men." Draco opened the door and he smiled at him. "Good morning, Mr. Malfoy." He smiled at Harry again. "I do approve. Look for a small black diary. That was mine and it'll help you through this time. Though, if you do what the power's calling you to do, and you do it with Ron, you'll have a natural one."

Draco fell into a chair. "He can't."

"He can," the ghost retorted. "It works well with our powers. Only comes out when we want it to." He moved closer to him. "Do you take care of him?"

"He takes good care of me, Great-Grandfather," Harry said with a smile for his husband. "He's trying to talk me out of it though."

"Ah." The ghost nodded. "Mr. Malfoy..."

"You might as well call me by my given name. We are now related and he'll have to go to you for help."

"Draco then," the ghost agreed with a nod. "There's a reason each of the power holders has been *female*, but three."

"Three? I only found two."

"One's lost to us. His mother was phobic and kicked him out when he took the changeling potion." He shrugged. "The powers want us to be female, to be more natural and in tune with the Earth. I felt it the same as Harry here has. After times of great stress, it helps us to connect with the earth. For him, apparently it's with the dead since he's been surrounded by it and tainted by death." Harry hissed and he smiled at the boy. "Your parents, Harry, not the war you fought. It felt natural though, didn't it?" Harry nodded. "That's because you and Death have a connection through the Earth. Your mother had a connection with the time of rebirth, with spring, but you were tainted by that stupid asshole." He gave Draco a gentle smile. "This need is something that will always pull him, Draco. He will always feel empty unless he follows it. I managed to fight most of mine off by having a few kids, each time the itch got too bad, and by wearing ladies' clothing. Harry doesn't have that outlet."

"I'll gladly buy him some women's clothing if he wants," Draco offered.

"Son, you don't understand. For us, it's natural. This is the way we are. Horatio himself didn't know if he had gotten the potion right or if an extra hole just happened to open up that night. Harry here is a lot like him, more like him and his Ma than me. With the way the family split, the other side had a male this time too. He's presently gay and insane as well."

"You mean that's why I like men?" Harry asked.

His Great-Grandfather nodded, giving him a sad look. "Yes it is, my boy. It's also the reason for you liking to take instead of give. Most of the women in the family were submissive during relations. That's a problem we've never solved," he said with a frown. "My own wife used to complain all the time about having to do all the work."

"So see, it's natural," Harry told Draco.

Draco frowned. "No."

Evert shook his head. "Boys, stop this petty argument. It is natural, Draco, it's the need to reconnect in a fundamental way with the earth. It's this or burying him in a hole for a few weeks." Draco glared at him. "Don't give me that look either, I'll send every misbegotten creature in the universe to haunt this house." He gave him a smug look. "Harry might be able to manifest one out of thin air, no one's sure. He is stronger than most of the line in a long time. Since the split. As I said, Horatio never knew if the potion worked of if one suddenly just started coming open when the need hit. If he does take it, it'll only happen when the need gets too strong. He won't have tits or nothing, just an extra hole. Nothing to embarrass you or anything like a cycle."

Harry curled up on the couch. "Draco, it is the answer we've *both* been wanting." Draco looked at him. "Ron's stomach's not hard, I don't think he is."

"The appointment is tomorrow," Draco said firmly.

"I can do it by going around you," Harry warned.

"Then you'll be leaving," Draco said firmly. He looked at him, seeing the little boy he felt like most of the time. "Harry, it's not healthy. They can use you if they find out!"

"Not us they can't," the ghost told him. "No one can use us against our wills. Not even you, young man. I wish like hell Lilly's mother was still alive. She'd be smacking sense into you fast enough." He looked at Draco. "This is something he feels he has to do, something that his magic is demanding, young man. Are you going to stand in the way of that?"

"It'll only cause him more pain," Draco said firmly.

"Draco, it's causing pain because I'm not," Harry told him. "It's like this itch all the time, to join in that fundamental dance, to egg on the power so it can reach out and spread. Great-Grandfather, what about other children? Since I'm a wizard like him will it matter?"

"The rest will be like your father and your mates. The first will be like you. Only with blonde hair probably," he said with a smile. "Yes, Draco, this is the best way to soothe both needs. The Malfoy crest is screaming at you to produce an heir since you started the telling process. Harry's blood is screaming at him to do this so he can connect with the energy and be one with it, so it can do to him what a lover does, soothing and calming him back into his former state. If he does, then he'll have one night as a changeling, one single night to get pregnant, and then everything will return to normal. All those worries and the pain that the killing caused in him will be eased. All of it pushed to the back of his mind until Death comes again and he has to fight again."

"Again?" Harry asked, looking ill.

"Death is a circle, the same as life is, Harry. Evil never truly dies, it only gets handed off to the next generation. The next one isn't born yet, but it will be someday soon. You know the mother and the telling is starting to give you dreams."

"Dreams?" Draco asked.

Harry blushed. "I only hear a voice, a quiet, soft, judgmental voice, Draco. Nothing like what I used to get off Voldemort. I can't even tell what it's saying."

"It's one of the bad coming for you, Harry. He's like me and he's ready to rip you a new one. You have to tell him when it comes. Death is a gift that comes to you and you alone, but you can push it back for now. Until your own. Then you'll have a daughter to do that for you." Harry swallowed. "Not the first one, it was foretold." He looked at Draco. "I mean it. Do not force him or you will lose him."

"It's still dangerous," Draco said quietly. The ghost shrugged. "You don't care?"

"I know the risks, I studied them myself, boy. I couldn't take the potion, I wasn't strong enough to make myself do it, but Harry does have that thread of steel through him. His mother must have been on the silverware." He winked and Harry laughed, so he faded off. "Call out for me, I'll try to be closer now and again."

Harry shifted on the couch, looking at Draco. "Now you know."

"I still don't like it."

"Yay."

"Harry." Draco stood up, shaking his head. "I need time to think."

"That's fine. It's only summer." Draco looked at him. "It's a factor, you said so yourself."

Draco leaned down to get in Harry's face. "If you go through with this without my permission, I will banish you," he said as plainly as he could. "I will take the child and never speak to you again. Do you understand me, Harry Potter?" Harry nodded slowly, staring into his eyes. "There are other ways."

"You're not burying me," Harry said simply, standing up and forcing him back. "This would be my decision, Draco, not yours. I can talk Ron into it." He walked back up to their bedroom, slamming the door. Ron woke up slightly so he crawled in next to him. "Narcissa found my great-grandfather."

"Did he stop you from doing the potion?" Ron asked.

"No, he told me it was natural. I should have been born a girl," Harry said lightly. Ron finished waking up so he could look at him. "The potion doesn't do what it did to you, it'll only give me that hole when the need to reconnect with the Earth happens. Like after disasters and times like the war."

"Oh, Harry," Ron sighed, giving him a hug. "I'm sorry. Is there any other way?"

"Burying me alive for a few weeks."

"Not an option, I'm not doing without you." He gave him a squeeze, feeling the trembling. "What? Something else happened, what was it?" Ron asked, pulling back to look at him.

"He knew, the need's still there, Ron." Ron opened his mouth. "It won't show externally, nothing unusual to mark me, just that opening every now and again. That and there'll be another battle. He all but said Voldemort was coming back, that I knew the mother."

Ron pinched him on the arm. "You've been having dreams again."

"Nothing concrete enough to worry about. He explained that as well," Draco said from the doorway. "Tell him he won't talk you into it, Ron."

"Draco, it is his body. If it's not going to hurt him or put him into danger, then I don't care."

"He'll try to talk you into it instead of me," Draco said coldly.

Ron looked down at Harry. "I really don't want kids yet, Harry."

"I know, Ron, I'm still thinking."

Ron gave him a gentle squeeze. "Don't think so hard okay? It might happen with your luck."

"That's been done before in my family too, we think," Harry admitted.

"What?"

"There's a reason why it's only been girls in my position, Ron," Harry said, getting away from him. "The power reaches out, that's how we reconnect. If my mother had lived through that night, she would have had another one."

"Oh." Ron blinked a few times, then looked at Draco, who looked like carved marble in the moonlight. He was tense and angry and it showed. He looked at Harry again. "Any other insights?"

"We're said to take on the nature of whatever we're conceived on," Harry told him with a small shrug. "Apparently I was conceived during a picnic. Great-grandfather said the stubbornness in me is from the silverware and the rest is from the blanket." Ron chuckled, but he noticed Draco wasn't unstiffening. "Draco?"

"No. It won't happen," Draco said firmly, sitting down beside the bed. He was too angry to climb into it. He would hurt someone unintentionally. Someone knocked on the door. "Go away," he called.

"No." Vincent walked in. "Narcissa's talking to the baby again, Draco, can't you stop her?"

"She said she wanted to talk to it," Ron told him. "That she wanted to get to know the child." He shrugged. "Ask her why, maybe that'll solve it."

"I don't think she's old enough to understand any of it and Hermione's getting pissed, Ron. I've got to humor her first. Draco, please?"

"Fine. It'd calm me down to scream at her for a bit." He stormed out, going to stop his mother.

Vincent ran after him, not sure what was going on, but he knew he needed to protect someone from Draco when he was like this. "What happened?"

"Harry's great-grandfather showed up and told him it was natural for Harry to want to be like Ron and to get pregnant," Draco said, his voice dripping with ice. Vincent shuddered. He opened the door to the nursery. "Mother, leave the baby alone." She looked startled. "It hasn't been a good night so far so please, talk with the mother so she quits screaming at her husband." He stomped out, going back to his room. Harry wasn't in the bed. Ron pointed at the bathroom. "What's wrong with him now?" he sneered.

"Give me that look again, Draco Malfoy, I can and will take a damn long vacation at my mother's," Ron warned. Draco took a deep breath and calmed himself. "Thank you. Maybe you should research what they said? Make sure it's true? It might make you feel better." He started to move but Draco backed away from him. "You don't want a hug?"

"I'm angry enough I'd hit you," Draco admitted, walking away. He went down to his study, pulling out the pile of research he had compiled already. Nothing in here was like that.

Ron walked into the bathroom, climbing into the shower behind Harry to hold him. "Give him a few days, don't spring this on him," he whispered. "Don't do it without him knowing, Harry." Harry turned to look at him and Ron gave him the most crushing hug he could. "I know, Harry, it's hard and it's getting harder. A few more months won't matter." He led him out to the bed, putting him inside it and snuggling up against him so he couldn't move.

***

Draco joined them for breakfast the next morning. "There is absolutely nothing about that Great-elder of yours, Potter," he said stiffly.

"I doubt he'd make up relatives," Ron said, trying to keep this from becoming a real fight. Harry stood up and walked out, taking his animals with him. "Are you happier now?" he asked quietly.

Draco looked stunned. "You'd rather see him hurt?"

"Like he's not now?" Ron retorted.

Draco glared at him but did slump down. "Seeing common sense isn't hurting him."

"It is this time. You're making fun of everything he's feeling, Draco. We don't do it to you when you're feeling odd and you don't do it to me when I feel off. Don't do it to him." He went to get dressed for the day, he had that stupid appointment in a few hours.

Draco sat and brooded. He touched the mark he wore around his neck, trying to tune in on Harry but all he felt was an overwhelming rage. And fear, sudden fear. He let him go, not sure what that was about or even if he had caused it. Before he knew it he had jumped on the back of his racing bike and sped off, going to check on him. Harry was still afraid. He found the car off the side of the road and stopped, moving down there to check on him. "Harry?"

"Go away!" he shouted. "You're trying to kill me now?"

"I'm not," Draco said, trying to calm him down. "I had no idea what was going on, I was only trying to see how you were feeling."

"You blinded me and there was a truck," Harry said, rolling up his window. "Go away!"

"Fine." Draco backed off, glancing around. He used his wand to lift the car back onto the road, grunting with the strain. "There." Harry was gripping the wheel so hard his knuckles were white. You could see it through the window. Draco tried the door but it was locked. He walked around to the other side, but that door was locked as well. "Let me in."

"No! Go away!"

"Now, Harry, I need to make sure you're all right. You're in no shape to drive."

"Go away!" Harry tried to start the car but it whirred and died. He beat on the steering wheel until his dog Snickers jumped the seat to calm him down. He clutched his dog, hugging it for all he was worth. "Go away," he repeated, more calmly this time.

"I'm not going anywhere. You're not seeing sense! Now let me the fuck in before I rip this fucking door off, Potter!"

"Fine." Harry unlocked the passenger's door, but didn't move from his own seat. Draco climbed in. "Make sure the little ones didn't escape." Draco counted noses and retrieved the cat, putting it into his lap so he could close the door. "Do you feel better now that you tried to kill me?"

"That wasn't my intention and you know it." Harry glared at him, making his chest tighten. "I didn't mean to blind you, Harry, only to see if you had calmed down," he soothed, reaching out a hand. It was batted away. "Fine, I won't touch you." He flinched, feeling Ron trying the same thing. He sent calming thoughts at her, then looked at Harry. "You've worried Ron."

"Fuck off, Malfoy."

"No!"

Harry let his dog go, turning to look at him. "Go away. I don't want to see you ever the hell again," he said, finally not sounding hysterical. Draco went white as a sheet. "Not only don't you want to understand me, you're making fun of me, and then you tried to kill me."

"I did not!"

"It sure as hell seemed like it!" Harry shouted. "Now get out and go back to your perfect house and to Ron, since you like her a hell of a lot more than you apparently do me!" He got out of the car and went down into the field to sit in the high grass.

Draco leaned forward, pushing the dog's tongue away from him. "Not right now, Snickers. I fucked up so very badly." He straightened up and walked down there, making sure none of the animals escaped before the door shut. He grabbed Harry and pulled him to his feet, making him look at him. "Look at me," he hissed. Harry looked over his shoulder. "Into my face if you wouldn't mind," he ground out. Harry stared at him. "I did not purposefully try to harm you. I haven't yet and I have no intention of ever doing so. Harming you is the furthest thing from my mind most of the time."

"You do it a lot, Draco, especially recently." Draco let him go so he stepped back. "The cops are coming, I can hear them."

"Fuck them, we're having this argument." Draco crossed his arms. "Explain that comment, Potter."

"You sound just like Snape," Harry taunted.

"I should, he taught me how to speak English." Harry blinked a few times. "My mother was ill most of my third year, he taught me to speak in complete sentences." He shrugged. "So?"

Harry shook his head. "Have you even stopped to consider what my great-grandfather told you?"

"I researched it, there's no mention whatsoever."

"I'm not a research topic!" Harry said in disgust, stepping back. He nearly stumbled but swatted at the hands trying to keep him upright. "It's not like you give a damn, so don't even try."

"We're back to this again?" Draco asked, his voice a deathly hiss of anger.

Harry glared at him. "If you did, you wouldn't have immediately decided I didn't know what I was feeling. You have no idea how I feel!" he shouted. "And then you pull that cheap stunt!" He stomped off, going to his car to try and start it again. He felt the hex flow past him and turned to glare at Draco. "Still trying not to hurt me?" he asked snidely.

"I was making it so your car wouldn't start so you couldn't run away!" Draco shouted, stomping after him. "How dare you accuse me of that! I've done nothing but take care of you since I entered into this relationship to protect you!" He grabbed Harry by the arms and shook him. "What the hell is going through your thick little skull? I can no more hurt you than hurt myself!" He let him go when he heard the sirens get closer. "The muggles are coming, we'll deal with this incident and then we'll go home."

"I don't live with you anymore," Harry said quietly, glaring at him. "You don't respect me or my needs."

"There's no evidence of that at all!" Draco shouted.

"Yay! Is there evidence of anything else beyond that about my family!"

Draco backed off, he could feel the magic starting to flow out. "Harry, you're leaking," he said quietly, still backing away. "You're going to hurt your animals and you'd hate that. Ground yourself," he instructed. "Get away from the car and ground yourself. Now, before you get the cops coming up the road."

Harry glared at him and stomped off, going to kick the nearest scrubby tree he could find.

Draco took a deep, calming breath. He turned to watch the cops pull up. "My husband's having a headache and his vision blanked out," he told them. "We had just had a fight. He's down hitting the tree." He pointed at Harry's moving back.

The cops looked at him, then at the bike. "Fight?"

"A fight about something minor that's gotten blown out of proportion," Draco agreed calmly. "His vision blanked. It was still gone when I found him."

"The lorry driver said the car was off the road."

"It was, but I helped get it back up here. The engine's dead." He looked at the animals, touching the window. "He's very sorry about this. He isn't sure what it was that made his vision go but it scared him. That's why he's not yelling at me, he's going after the tree." His sportscar pulled up and Ron got out, heading down to stop Harry. He glared at Ron's back. "Bastard," he said calmly. Vincent got out and walked over to him. "Not going to calm him down too?"

"Harry's exit made the nursery shake, Draco," Vincent told him quietly. Draco nodded, understanding the comment. "Ron went to stop him before he hurt himself."

"It scared him. He lost his vision for a moment. I'm having him checked out today."

The cops nodded, taking down all the particulars of the accident. They handed Draco the form, letting him sign it in lieu of Harry, who was sobbing on Ron's chest. Then they left, going to file it. Only the car was injured, it'd be fine.

Draco and Vincent walked down to the couple. "Is he feeling more secure now?"

"Back off," Ron warned. "I won't have him this hurt again." He turned Harry over to Vincent and faced off with Draco. "Haven't you learned anything in the last year?" he asked calmly.

"I didn't meant to get him that hard," Draco said quietly. "I was checking on him through the bond and it blinded him."

"I'm talking about deciding he wasn't feeling what he was," Ron told him. Draco went limp and shook his head in defeat. "I know you're more of an evidence person, but sometimes magic doesn't create evidence, Draco. Nothing about his mother's family's gifts are written down. Not a single bloody thing!" Draco flinched, he didn't like it when Ron yelled at either of them. "Nothing was ever said about his gifts, the things he could do to change the nature of things, none of it. You have no idea what he's going through because you won't ask him and let him explain it!" He took a deep breath. "We're all going to go back to the house and we're going to sit down and talk about this like civilized people. Do you *both* understand me."

"No."

"Harry, what part didn't you understand?" Vincent asked, sounding like the patient father he was turning into.

"I'm not going back. I'm not wanted there." He walked away, going to get his animals and apparate off. He had to come back for one of the dogs, but that was quickly done and he disappeared again.

Draco shrieked in frustration and hit the tree himself. "That stupid bastard!"

"Shut it," Ron warned. Draco looked at him so he glared at him. "I mean it. You've just hurt him more than anything, Draco. I won't allow that. The same as I won't allow him to hurt you. Now go back to the house and wait. There's only a few places he could be." He stomped off, going to apparate to the twin's house first. Fred pointed in the back, nodding and rolling his eyes. "It was a bad fight," Ron murmured as he walked past him. He found Harry curled up in the guest room, all but one of the animals with him. "Hey, where's the cat?" he asked as he sat beside Harry's thigh. He stroked him but Harry swatted his hand. "Fine, I won't touch you. Did you miss one?"

"She's following George around, apparently he's going to feed her some fish," Harry said miserably.

Ron tipped Harry's face so he had to look at him. "He didn't mean it."

"Bullshit."

"Okay, so he probably did mean some of it, but he wasn't trying to make you wreck and he wasn't trying to hurt you. Snape raised him part of the time, remember. He's got to go on the evidence and the research. No one's written anything about your Mother's family, Harry, and there's nothing he can grasp onto that's more than a feeling."

Harry got his face free. "My feelings should be enough."

"They should; but remember, Draco's not really used to those pesky emotions." Harry shrugged, hugging his little black dog harder. "That's fine, you wait here, we'll come see you tonight." Harry shook his head. "You don't want to know how the doctor's turns out?"

"Not right now," Harry said honestly. "I want to sulk and be alone with my friends."

"Am I not one?" Ron asked. Harry shrugged. "Harry, explain," he ordered calmly.

"You're taking his side, Ron, how am I supposed to feel?"

"Harry, you two are putting me in the middle, I'm trying to calm you both down." He stood up. "I'll be back afer I'm drug to the healer's. You stay here with the twins. I'm going to tell them not to let you out of their sight. If you disappear on me, I'm going to go ballistic and hunt you down to hurt you." Harry shrugged again. "As long as you understand you can't run away from me, Harry. Not in the least." He walked out, going to talk to his older brothers. "We had a fight," he said at the opening mouths. "Harry's mother's family has girls every first generation but him and two others."

"So he wants to change?" George asked.

"It's more than that," Ron sighed. He accepted their hugs. "It's more like his family has this tradition of having a child to reconnect after the bad things happen. Things like wars." They nodded, understanding that much. "Harry feels the need to do that as well. Draco's throwing a fit about how dangerous it can be. There's no evidence so he's frustrated. Harry's emotional. I'm caught in the middle and I have an appointment today to be checked to make sure I'm not pregnant." He pulled back his hair for a moment then let it go. "Draco was checking on Harry through the bond and it blinded him while he was running away in his car." Fred's mouth opened. "Fortunately he didn't hit the truck and only went off the side of the road. Can you two watch over him today, without doing the formula on him? That would only infuriate Draco more at this point."

"Sure, Ron. He can stay in there and think all day if he needs to," Fred agreed, with George nodding.

"Do you think he'd like to talk to someone more objective?" George asked. "Someone like Percy or Father, or even Charlie?"

"They're all working and he won't want to bother them," Ron said, hugging his brother. "If they happen to stop by you could ask him, I'm not sure what sort of mental state he's in at the moment." He went to the floo, heading back to the manor house. Draco grabbed him as soon as he came out of the fire. "Let go," he said. Draco let him go. "He's at the shop with all the animals. The twins are going to try and talk to him today. Tonight, we're going to have a talk."

"He ran away," Draco sneered.

Ron balled up his fists but kept them at his side. "Haven't you figured out a damn thing about Harry yet, Draco? Why should he stick around? Because it's so pleasant? Because he had role models that fought and worked it out? His aunt and uncle never fought, his uncle ruled the house and his aunt gave in." He sneered at the confused look. "What makes you think he wants to come back to this argument? You've recently told him that everything he feels and is desiring is a waste of time, impossible, and worthless, not to mention all in his head." Draco groaned. "Good! Now you know how I feel watching you two go at it!" He faced off with his husband. "Get over it! *Nothing* has been written down outside of his family's books. There's not a damn thing we can do about this. If we don't support him, what makes you think he won't do it and leave us? Permanently this time?" He walked off, leaving him alone to think about it. He found Hermione blatantly listening and glared at her. "Out!" She smiled and raised a brow. "I mean it, Hermione. Your clinical and reasonable attitude towards everything in life can only hurt one of them, most likely Harry. So stay out of it or go visit your mother for a few days."

"Ron, leave her be!" Draco yelled, walking out to get into it here too.

"Are you sure you're not pregnant?" Hermione asked gently.

He glared at her. "Go away," he said. She nodded and walked off. "I mean it, you leave Harry the fuck alone, Hermione. If you hurt him worse, it is going to come down to a fight between us."

"Fine, Ron."

Ron looked at Draco. "What? You're done thinking already?"

"You can't dismiss anyone, Ron. Not without my authority."

"I didn't, I simply told her to stay out of it. Something you weren't going to do." He walked off, going up to their room. He slammed and locked the door, then started to scream to get rid of the frustration and rage.

Vincent walked down the stairs. "Draco," he said calmly. "Should we take a short vacation while you fight?" Draco shook his head. "Are you sure? Hermione's about to cry because of him."

"He has a right to be upset. Leave us alone while we fight, it should be fine by tomorrow."

"Draco, you're misreading him," Vincent warned. Draco looked at him. "Even I can see that and I don't know people like you do. If Harry was mad enough to leave, you've got one hell of an uphill climb to get him back. And if he leaves, that leaves Ron taking the brunt of your anger and she'll leave too. Not to go to Harry probably, she'll blame him for wrecking what had been a nice life up until a few days ago. She'll leave and go live with her family again until you spend a lot of time begging and pleading. Do you really want to have to do that?"

"Vincent, you don't even know what started all this," Draco pointed out.

"I do so. Harry's obviously wanting something of his own to link him to this life. The need's been burning in him since back in school. That whole 'trying to live a lifetime in a year' thing that you three did." Draco blanched. "And you're telling him it's not worth it, Draco, that he isn't feeling it. You fucked up, and you've got one hell of a fight coming. So Hermione and I are going to the other house for a few days, until you work it out." He went back up the stairs, telling her what was going on.

Draco went back to his study, sitting down in the most comfortable spot to think. Vincent was right. Harry Potter had always wanted to be a normal boy and having a family was part of it, no matter how the need came about. The end result of a war was often a baby-boom, just look at all the children born in the last year and soon to be born in the coming year. "Oh, damn," he sighed. He went to fix himself a small drink while he considered how to fix this. First, he had to get Ron onto his side. Putting her in the middle wouldn't help matters any at all. Then probably the twins. Someone in the family would be guarding Harry like he was one of them. It was the way the Weasleys were. He sipped his scotch, considering his options. This was worse than planning battles.

***

Draco walked into the twin's shop. "Is he still here?" he asked. The twins glared at him. "I only want to talk to him."

"He's only recently gotten to sleep without the nightmares, Malfoy. Leave," one of them told him.

"I'm here to fix it," Draco told them. "I know what I did was wrong. I know why. I want to talk to him."

"Then you can come back in a few hours, when he's awake," the other twin told him. Someone in the back yelled. "He doesn't need more stress after nearly dying this morning."

"That wasn't meant to happen, I was only checking on him," Draco explained, moving closer.

"It still happened," one of them noted. "Even if you didn't mean it, you nearly got him killed. He's having nightmares about you and a knife to the heart. So leave and come back when he's awake." One of the dogs trotted out and barked at Draco, begging for some attention. He got down to pet it, letting it lick his face. "Not even sucking up to his family will help you now," the twin noted.

"I'm not, this one adores me the way Harry used to." He stood up. "I promise I won't hurt him, but the only way to cure his nightmares is to hold him and wake him up gently. He has them all the time because of everything else. Plus, he's getting new ones, ones about Voldemort being reincarnated." He pushed past them, going into the back, following the dog back to Harry's side. He walked into the bedroom and slid in behind Harry's back, touching him gently. "I'm here and you're safe," he whispered. Harry stiffened. "I want to talk to you, Harry, to apologize. I had no idea what I was saying or how much it upset you." Harry turned his head to look at him. "Ron was correct, there's nothing written about your family other than their journals." Harry shrugged. "I'd like to look through them. Even if I don't want you to do that spell. Being pregnant is hard on a changeling, no matter what type it is."

"Ron?" Harry asked.

"Isn't. You were right about that." He put an arm around Harry's chest, holding him tightly. "I didn't mean to tell you that you were wrong to feel that way, or to make you feel like you should never have one. This scared me, Harry, and I'm man enough to admit this sudden turn-about in attitude and the drastic solution you wanted scared me worse. I'm not ready to be a father. If you're clinging to me or Ron then you're probably not either, no matter how satisfying it would be to be a father. It's hard. Ask Vincent when he comes back."

"He left?"

"Ron suggested that Hermione take a short trip to stay out of this argument." Draco kissed him on the back of the neck, making him shiver. "Yelled at her and told her to go away, that she could only hurt you by being so clinical and reasonable."

"Just like you do," Harry agreed. He felt Draco stiffen. "I'm not a research topic, Draco, I'm a human being."

"I know, Harry. I don't deal well with real people. I'm used to more cardboard models of humanity, ones without much depth and character. People like my father and my mother, who was deeper but didn't let it show. You and Ron are harder to understand because you're so complicated. My father would be laughing his ass off at me right now for admitting how scared I am about what happened this morning." Harry patted his hand and the cat licked it for him. "Thank you, dear one," he told it, giving the cat a smile. He kissed Harry again, making him shiver. "Am I repulsive to you now?"

"No," Harry said quietly. "Not at all." He carefully flipped over so he wouldn't hit any of the animals. "You piss me off like no one else, Draco." Draco nodded. "I'm a normal human being with normal feelings and this strange urge. Why can't you accept me for that?"

"Because I don't understand it," Draco said gently. "I've never wanted to be a father, much less carry a child myself." He gave him a hopeful smile. "May we talk, Harry? So you can help me to see where I'm going wrong?"

"It's that instant negation," George said from the door. The nametag on her shirt said so. Which meant it was probably Fred. "That and the researching to try and understand this. It's an emotion, a feeling. There's nothing reasonable about them. Just ask Ron, he'll explain those nasty emotion things to you."

"Ron's not speaking to me either," Draco admitted with a little sigh. "She's locked me out of our room until I've figured my ass out and have apologized to Harry. Plus she's demanded that I fix this before she is able to look at me again." He looked at Harry. "I'm trying."

"For Ron?" he asked.

Draco felt that chest-tightening feeling again. "No, not for Ron, for you and I. We need to work this out. I'm not losing you because I don't understand. Make me understand."

"Draco, I can't explain it to you!" Harry said, starting to get upset again. "If you don't already know, I can't explain it. No more than I can explain why it hurts to have this fight or even why I'm not mad at you for nearly getting me killed this morning." He slid off the bed and grabbed his shoes. "I'm taking the dogs for a walk. Fred, would you please try to explain that to him?"

"I'm George, Harry, and I doubt I could. They're your feelings." He shrugged at Harry's dirty look. "I don't necessarily understand the need for a family myself, but then again I had one." Harry nodded, pointing at her for Draco's benefit. He gathered up his animals, taking them for a walk down the alley to the small park at the end so they could use the bathroom. Snickers looked up at him. "I know it's not the garden, but it's the best I can do for right now. Try them, they're still bushes."

Back in the shop, George sat down beside Draco. "Draco, he hasn't ever had a family. That's the one thing that has always been his dream. To be a normal boy with a real family of his own. Ours is wonderful to him, but we're Ron's family, not his. He had a family with you and Ron, and then he started to realize all the dreams he was giving up by being with you."

"I remember that discussion," Draco admitted. "I thought he had solved it."

"You can't solve that sort of thing," George told him. "The same way you can't solve a deep-seated desire for having a lover by your side or to be official in the eyes of the community. You've given Harry a lot, but he wants that little bit extra. He's even willing to let it be your kid and he'll be a part-time father, but he wants to be a father."

Draco groaned and pulled a pillow over his head. "I can't do that to him, George. It's dangerous. Having a child for a changeling, no matter what type is dangerous for them and for the world at large. They do things like lose control of their powers."

"Then how were you going to get an heir?"

Draco moved the pillow. "We were going to do it with Ginny, but the auguries said it wasn't a good match. They said Harry would have been a perfect match, but doing that to him is wrong."

"Even if his mind and body want it?" George asked.

Draco sat up, looking at him. "George, it's bad for the body and for the baby. Eight out of ten cases of changeling pregnancies, no matter what type of changeling they are, are miscarried, and half of the mothers die in the process. I have to think about that before anything because I don't want to lose them." That feeling was coming back. "I can't lose them."

"Then explain that to Harry and Ron," he advised. "Tell them what has you worried. Is Ron?"

"No." Draco gave him a sad smile. "I'll still have to deal with having an heir some day, but I can't do that now," he said gently. "Harry wants a family to be reconnected to the circle of life. I have to have one someday soon, I have four years to produce one. Even if Harry wants it and goes ahead with it, it could kill him and I don't want to lose him." Harry opened the door and Draco looked up at him. "You heard?"

"Most of it." He walked in and gave Draco a hug. "Calm down. You're getting hysterical."

"I can't help it, Harry! You're trying to commit suicide and leave me with less than a ten percent chance at having a child of yours instead. I'm not supposed to be calm!"

"Then you'll figure it out," George pointed out. "You're supposed to be a genius, put that big brain of yours to work, Malfoy."

"George, I can't outside the family. Cheating is wrong."

"Which is the other problem," Draco said, pointing at Harry. "Even if I could produce one that way, he'd have an extreme reaction to me doing so."

George tapped him on the forehead. "Then adopt another child genius and raise it, dumbass." He stood up, smiling at them. "Go talk with Ron. You've taken up space here long enough without offering an idea in exchange.

"How about a pill or a potion that made you think you were pregnant?" Harry suggested dryly.

"That's mean and we try to stay away from the mean pranks, Harry. You know that." He tweaked his ear. "Take the beasts home and calm Ron down. She's probably shredding clothes by now." Draco looked horrified. He took most of the animals with him when he apparated back to the house, leaving Harry and Snickers. The cat was simply missing. "We'll send the cat on when we find her, Harry. Go soothe Ron and try to explain this to him. He's getting a lot of pain from this." Harry gave him a pathetic look before hugging him. "He loves you, Harry, it shows in his eyes. Let him figure this out, he'll deal with it and you'll have your family some day."

"But the itch and need," Harry explained.

George tipped his face up. "It is in your head. You were doing fine until this family thing popped up." Harry shook his head. "You weren't?"

"I was still feeling it, it's gotten stronger," Harry explained.

"Then find some way to ground yourself so you can reconnect," George said gently. "There's got to be a technique somewhere to make you feel like you're one with nature for a bit. Maybe in that Eastern stuff you've been doing on and off." Harry shrugged. "You could ask." He pinched Harry's nose. "Take Snickers home. We're going to close early to watch Oliver play." Harry nodded, taking his dog home with him. George shook his head. "Oy, George, we're clear," he called, walking out there.

"Brilliant work, Fred. Simply smashing," George agreed with a smile for his twin. They laughed.

***

Draco finally got the bedroom door opened and stormed in, intending to stop Ron from whatever she was doing. She was laying on the bed eating chocolate and that made him pause. "No ripping clothes?"

"I thought about it, but I decided ripping into you was more satisfying," Ron said between delicate nibbles. "Harry?"

"Is on his way back so we can have a real talk," Draco said as he slid into the bed. He stole a kiss and the last of that piece, giving her a small smile. "I'm trying, Ron, I really am."

Ron saw the pain in his eyes. "I realize that, Draco, but I don't like being stuck in the middle while you two fight. It's ripping me up as much as it is you two and I don't like it."

"I'll try not to fight with him," Draco agreed, giving her a kiss. Harry coughed from the doorway. "Get in here, let's finish this talk since she's not ripping clothes."

Harry walked in and sat in the chair beside the bed. "Okay." Ron looked hurt. "I can't cuddle and fight, Ron, I get confused."

"Then don't fight, explain instead," Ron encouraged. "I know I only understand part of it." He patted the bed on his other side. "Please?" Harry sighed but he got up and walked over, crawling in behind Ron. "Thank you, Harry."

"You're welcome." Harry kissed him gently. "How many chocolates did you eat?"

"Nearly three pounds," Ron admitted. "I was worried about you."

"I was worried about the both of you," Harry assured him. "I'm sorry, Draco, I know you didn't try to kill me this morning." Draco relaxed some and nodded. "You did?" he asked.

"No, I was agreeing with you," Draco said quickly. "Can I tell you what I think and you tell me if I'm right?" Harry shrugged, settling in with his dog and Ron to hold onto. "I know that you want what supposedly normal people do, Harry. You want a family, something that's yours and that will carry on your name. This need has only increased that and the signs that Ginny can't bear my heir only made it ache badly." Harry nodded slowly, he had apparently gotten that much right. "You're willing to do what you don't really want to do, no matter what the powers are telling you to do, so I'm provided with the one thing I have to have, an heir, which is the one thing you need to make you feel like you're normal." Harry was frowning and so was Ron. "I know this is going to be hard, but there are other ways to connect to the Earth, older ways that you should be able to follow. You've probably felt it when you meditate." Harry was still frowning but he nodded again, slowly this time. "Does that help?"

"Some."

"Have you done that since the whole heir debate started?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded. "I've been trying but this keeps getting in the way."

"Harry, I'm not willing to lose you over this. You're too special to me to ever want to see you dead. And you will probably die from it. There's no guarantee that carrying will be any easier on you than it would be for Ron." Harry shrugged, shrinking down against Ron's back. "Did this thought come from the nightmare, that voice you can't understand yet?"

Harry looked hurt. "No!"

"He's just checking, Harry. I think it's somehow connected too. This problem and the need to have a child started around the same time," Ron said gently, stroking his back. "He doesn't think it's causing it, only making it stronger."

Harry closed his eyes and shook his head. "I can't remember anything from it."

"That's fine," Draco said quickly. "I don't need you to remember anything from it right now, I only need to know if it's making it worse. If it's making it worse, then we have to solve it and get back down to the basic problems of starting our own family. I can't think about that until you're free of this." Harry looked at him, looking stunned. Draco smirked. "I told you there was a way around it, you only had to kick me in the ass to make me look for it." He leaned over and kissed him, the first one in days. Harry moaned against his lips. "Trust me this far?" Harry nodded, pulling back to look at him. "Ron?"

"I guess so," Ron admitted. Draco looked at him. "There's things you aren't telling us, Draco, and it seems shifty."

"I know, Ron, but if I'm right then we'll need some help. This is a grand plan and you'll have a small part to play. It might even get Vincent's father out of prison for a bit." He gave them both a smile. "Give me two days to work everything out and we'll see what's about to happen. All right? Truce?" They nodded, giving him a trusting look. "Then can I have a cuddle? I missed having cuddles." They shifted apart so he could get between them, making them all happy and content. The animals jumped onto the bed, getting comfortable, even though Ron wouldn't let them have any chocolates.

***

Later that night, Harry woke up panting and sweating. "I remember," he gasped. "It was God." Ron looked at him like he was crazy. "He said he was God." He shoved Draco until he got a grunt. "I remember this time. It was God."

Draco sat up and lit the candles around them. "God. As in the muggle's God?" Harry nodded frantically. "Well, what did he say to you?"

"Do you really believe it was him?" Ron asked.

"No, but we've got to put it into context. This is all a game to someone and them thinking they're God is a big clue," Draco informed him. "Go on, Harry, tell us what you remember."

"First I saw a judgement. Voldemort's soul. Whomever was doing it only looked at the last few weeks of his life, the pain I gave him when he died. Then the voice looked at me and said he was being reborn for being so horribly punished." Harry rubbed his eyes with his fists. "Then the voice said that it deserved a new chance at life. I protested, pointing out that he had killed hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent beings. It said I had killed one and it was the same!" he said, starting to sound hysterical. "Then it said that the crimes were the same but I was going to be punished more because I had interfered in some grand scheme of his!" He started to shake. "It's going into Ginny!"

"No," Ron said, shaking Harry. "Her baby's not him returning. It takes years to return a soul if it's possible, even the good and just ones. No God, not even the one egging on all those holy wars, would do that to humanity. Not to a humanity that it liked." He looked at Draco because of his simple comment.

"Interesting."

Harry looked at him. "How can you say that!" he asked, clearly panicking now. "I'm going to have to fight Ginny's daughter!"

Ron looked like he had been slapped. "How did you know it's a girl? She only found out today and I haven't told you."

"Whomever is sending this awful *dream* knew," Draco said calmly. He pulled Harry into his lap to hold him and soothe him. As soon as he calmed down, he smiled at him. "That was a very good remembering, Harry. Do you remember anything else? What the voice sounded like? Anything like that?"

"It sounded like Sirius' voice after he had been laughing for a long time," Harry told him, looking into his eyes. "I don't want to have to fight her daughter, Draco!"

"I know," Draco said, soothing and calming him down again. "You won't have to. This is some elaborate practical joke, Harry. I promise you won't have to fight Ginny's daughter, not to do more than to train her." Harry nodded, resting against his chest. He looked at Ron. "Now is the time to call your parents," he said calmly. "Do so now. Get them, Snape, and McGonagall here. Tell Snape to bring the thing I sent him." Ron nodded, looking confused. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out." Ron nodded, getting out of the bed to go make the calls. "Harry, do you remember anything else, pet?" he asked, stroking Harry's hair to keep him calm.

Harry shook his head. "I went numb after that, all there was was laughter."

"That's fine, you did excellent," Draco said, giving him a smile and a short kiss. "Now stay calm and we'll stop this nasty joke soon enough," he told him, settling him back under the covers. He summoned over some pajamas for the both of them. "Here, put these on, that way Molly and McGonagall aren't shocked to see you naked."

"Ron isn't wearing anything," Harry pointed out as he slipped into the bottoms under the covers. "Is it really just a joke?"

"It is," Draco said firmly. "Someone's deliberately trying to drive you insane, Harry. Mother!" he snapped. She floated in through the external wall. "Is there a ghost around Harry?" She nodded. "Is it the bastard?"

She nodded again. "It is Lucius' touch," she agreed. Harry opened his mouth. "It's been on you since you came back."

"When I was trapped in the sand?" Harry asked. Draco nodded. "But why?"

"Because he's an asshole and this is his idea of funny," Draco said, giving him a smile. "Good thing I got my sense of humor from my Godfather, huh?" Harry nodded, giving him a hopeful smile. "We can unpossess you, and we will, but first we're going to hypnotize you to see that we've got all of it. All right?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed, relaxing against his side. Draco had it and would protect him. Just like last time. "Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome, Harry," Draco said as the door opened. "Come in, we're dressed." His mother looked at his lap. "Okay, he's dressed and I was getting there," he said as he slid into the pants. He even put on the robe McGonagall handed him. "Didn't like seeing it the first time?" he teased.

"Now is not the time for that," Snape said firmly. "What's going on?"

"My dear father is trying to take over Harry's mind after running him out of it. He's been slowly working up to showing Harry a scene that is You-Know-Who's reincarnation." Snape's eyes went wide. You didn't say that name in front of him unless it was serious, everyone knew that. "It said that Voldemort deserved it because of the pain that he had been through in his final weeks, not to mention the fact that it said Harry was as guilty of atrocities as the asshole was and that Voldemort was being reincarnated into Ginny's unborn infant's body." Molly gasped, only hearing the last part as she walked in. "It's my father," he told her. "Mother confirmed what I've been thinking. He was partially responsible for pushing the fight we had earlier as well I believe." His mother shook his head. "No?"

"No, son, that was all your doing. It's nice to know that you did find a partially sensitive side within you." She looked at Molly. "He is right about the first part. Lucius is tormenting Harry. It's his idea of fun and games."

"Plus revenge most likely," Molly said firmly. She walked up to Harry's side of the bed. "Harry, can you tell us what you saw in detail?"

"We have the means to hypnotize him," Draco offered. "Zabini! Present yourself!" he called. Blaize strolled in a few minutes later. "Good, you're up."

"You scream like a girl, Malfoy, and of course I'm up. Now what's wrong?"

"Harry's being tormented by my father in his dreams. Can you do what you did to us that one night we were drunk?"

"Sure, probably. Why?"

"Because we need him to recount it exactly as it happened and he tends to get a bit hysterical when he hears what the voice says. Especially since it says it's God and it's reincarnating Voldemort." Blaize's eyes went wide. "We need you to hypnotize him so we can get a full account of the dream. He's been having it now for months, but he's only just started to remember it. Even knew Ginny's going to have a girl." Molly glared at that bit of news. "Harry, will you let Blaize mess around in your head a bit? I promise he'll only help you."

"Sure, Draco. Will you stay with me?"

"No, sweetheart, I have to go calm down Ron and the rest of his family. But you can have the bear that looks like me." Harry grinned at him. "Someone hand him the teddy bear off the dresser. It was Blaize's gift to him and it reminds him of me." He slid out of the bed, letting Arthur take his place. "Ron having a drink?"

"Or three," Arthur agreed, giving him a smile. "Thank you, Draco. This is something we wanted to stop immediately."

"Yes, I want it stopped as well," Draco agreed grimly, heading down to calm Ron down. He gave him a hug and Ron shook in his arms. When the family started to show up, that's what they saw. "Gather around, it's not a pretty story," he told them.

"God's been talking to Harry," Ron told them. Charlie blinked a few times.

"In truth, it's my father taunting Harry saying he's God, who's reincarnating Voldemort into Ginny's future daughter," Draco told them. They all sat down and stared at Ginny's bulging stomach. "It's not true, but this is my father's idea of shits and giggles."

Fred reached over and patted Ginny's stomach. "Even if it is, we'll teach it right from wrong really fast," he assured her.

"And a sense of humor, you can't kill people if you can laugh," George added, nodding firmly. Bill gave him a squeeze around the neck. "Thank you." He looked at Draco. "Why won't your father die?"

"I don't know, he's a ghost we think," Draco offered, sitting Ron down beside him. "They're putting Harry under hypnosis to get an accurate and full account of the dream, then they'll work on fixing him." Ron started to nod. "It's all right."

"It had better be," Ron said firmly. "Was he egging on Harry's fragile family thing?" Draco shrugged. "Yes or no?"

"I say yes, mother says no."

Narcissa floated in. "Did you call, Draco dear?" she asked with a smile.

Draco looked at her, then at her outfit. "You got it wrong. She was wearing her light green dress, father." The ghost changed, becoming him. "Now leave. I don't have the energy to pick on you. Harry and Ron wear me out every night." He ignored Severus Snape walking in with a capture urn, going back to taunting the old man. "I was thinking about adopting this time, Father, how would that suit you?" Lucius opened his mouth but nothing came out when his lips moved. "Really? It's a good thing I don't read lips, huh?" he said with a smug smirk. "How would you like to see Hell, father? I think it'd suit you. You always did like warm places." Severus positioned the urn and opened it, working on trapping the spirit. Draco waved, but the ghost fought, not going into the urn in the least.

"What do we have to do to kill you?" Ron shouted, standing up and tossing his glass at the ghost. It went through it and hit Snape on the nose. "Sorry." He pulled his wand off the table and aimed it at him. Lucius seemed to be laughing at him. "Banishment?"

"Take out his legs," Harry said as he walked in. "Like I did, Ron."

"Scalpere!" Ron shouted, aiming the magical blade through Lucius' legs. His support weakened and he started to get sucked in. He cast it again and again, letting his anger out on that thing. It finally was in wisps and was sucked in. Ron panted, letting Draco hold him and guide him back to the couch. "I hate that bastard. Draco, why did you have to come from him?"

"There's every evidence I was my uncle's child," Draco assured him, giving him a smile. "He was the first heir. My grandfather had Lucius just in case." His mother cackled and shook her head. "No? He said so."

"He was a liar and I know you realize that, my son." She floated closer to Ron. "Good job, daughter-in-law." She looked at Harry. "Is he free of taint?"

"Not quite yet. It will take days to finish the ritual cleansing," Snape said from behind his handkerchief. "Mrs. Malfoy, do not hit me again."

"Sorry, sir," Ron said with a blush. "And can you please quit calling me that!"

Harry leaned down so he could get a kiss. "How about Mrs. Potter then, Ron?" he teased.

"All families take the Malfoy name," Draco said firmly. "That means you're a Potter-Malfoy now, Harry." He got a grin and a wink in response. "Do finish cleaning him. He's not upset about that."

"Fine," Snape agreed, dragging Harry off. He let Molly fix his nose so she would quit trying to do it behind his back.

"Okay, that's one less family crisis," Bill noted, standing up. Draco shook his head. "No?"

"No. We'll have to all put protections on the child. My father wouldn't have used her unless he had something planned. I figured you'd want in on that since it's the first niece."

"What about the heir thing?" Ginny asked, clutching Neville's hand. He had been stunned stupid the entire time so she was trying to bring him back around to support her.

"I have three and a half more years to figure that out, Ginny. Don't worry about it." She smiled at him. "Neville, you'll be happy to know the auguries said it can't be her. The twins will be delighted to hear it can't be any of your family. Too much intermixing through the ages," he said with a grimace.

"You mean our great-something ancestors shagged yours?" Percy asked, looking distraught and ill at the thought.

"It was all on the Black's tapestry," Ginny told him. "But you weren't there. Lucius and Dad were something like third cousins and Mum and dad are about the same amount."

"There's only so much blood to go around," Draco agreed. "Besides, it was Harry's grandmother and one of your mother's family three generations back." They all looked shocked.

"Oh, and the generation before it was another of Harry's great-somethings and Dad's," Ron added for good measure.

"Dear Merlin, we're all incestuous," Percy said, nearly wailing. "What have we done!"

"Go find one without any history at all and spawn with her," Charlie told him, smiling at his frown. "It's the only way." He looked at Draco. "So, since you can't breed into our family to make it stronger, how are you going to do that?"

"I plan on going to Marissa Morel's family and asking if I can adopt hers when they're born," he said honestly. "Somewhat in the family since she's fully pure-blooded and related to my mother. The father's related to you lot." He beamed. "Plus, they're geniuses so their children will be brilliant and they're both ill from magic poisoning so they're looking for adoptive families."

"How many are there?" Ron asked.

"Three so far. The oldest is six and I've met her before. Fairly precocious. Reminds me of me at that age. Reading Shakespear no less."

Ron chuckled, pinching him hard. "Won't that defeat the purpose of having an heir?"

"Not really. This latest one isn't born yet, we can do some sort of tainting ritual to make it a blonde. I hear it's even a son." Everyone shook their heads. "You don't like it?" he teased.

"Morel," George said thoughtfully. "Aren't they the one with the water tricks patents?" Draco nodded, smirking at him. "Then they could be pranksters?"

Draco nodded. "Definitely, only smart ones. Besides, the mother was a Slytherin. I was going to ask Ron and Harry if they'd like that tonight. Only to take them over when they die of course. That way they can have their children there in the last few months or however long."

Vincent stuck his head around the door. "There's Goyle's sister, Draco. She's nearly dead herself from losing her family and the disgrace but she's pregnant. She was the smart one if you remember."

"I do," Draco said happily. "That's another option." He winked and grinned. "Do you like that one better?"

"I think Greg would have loved it because it meant the child wouldn't follow his bad example."

"Good point," Draco agreed.

"Did you know Blaize did adoptions?" Ron asked. Draco looked stunned. "He works with a wizarding adoption agency. There's a few war babies that need good homes. Including a blond one he said looked just like you." He pinched him hard. "I've been meaning to ask you about that."

"It might be a sibling," Percy sniffed. "Lucius did brag that he had another family started during his trial."

"Yes, it could be," Draco agreed, grinning happily. "I'll have to talk to him about that. Is that why he's been hanging around?"

"No, his mother really did kick him out," Ron told him, patting him on the thigh. "Burned all his stuff too, just because he was dating a half-blooded wizard."

"Which didn't she like?" Ginny asked.

"He said it was the wizard part. His father was all over the half-blooded part." He shrugged. "So he's looking for his own place."

"He can stay here and be the nanny," Draco suggested lightly. Ron and everyone looked at him. "It's obvious he likes children and this would allow us some time alone and Hermione some time alone with Vincent."

"If I do I'm bringing your little sister," a male voice said as it passed by the doorway. "And six others."

Ron laughed. "Harry would adore it. He'd treat them like they were the dogs."

"Speaking of Harry's pack, the cat's staying with us," Fred put in. "She took to Oliver and won't leave his lap when he's there."

"That's fine," Ron said with a grin. "I'm sure Snickers can visit now and again. Or else Harry will let him pick out a few more friends."

"I'm not running an orphanage for animals or children lost in the war," Draco said firmly.

Molly walked in. "Your mother's been telling Harry everything you say and he said he'd like all of them," she said with a smirk. "But the Morel's do have a foster family in mind." She patted him on the head.

Blaize stuck his head in. "I've been meaning to talk to you, Draco. Your father's second heir is really pretty and her mother had three other children. So when he bugged out, he left them in a lurch. They've only recently gotten hold of us through the Ministries and they're demanding you take care of the children she had."

"Why are you talking about her in the past tense?" Ginny asked.

"Because he killed her after she gave birth to the little girl and left the other three there in the house while he took the heir. She was picked up a few weeks ago and is in my custody presently. She's with my mother."

Draco's mouth opened. "Why me?"

"We told him he wasn't legally married to her, she was a Jamaican witch by the way. They were told that he was already married to a wonderful woman, under a death sentence, and his former wife had recently died as well. They said you should be held liable for the kid's upbringing since you're the nearest relative and it's your father's fault. Fortunately all but the little girl are in school. The oldest two are really pretty and one's engaged as soon as she graduates. The younger girl is really stunning and is presently fighting off everyone so she can keep her girlfriend. The little boy is an angry snot, but then again he's fourteen. Your call of course. I'll need an answer in about two or three days time." He pulled back, going back to making himself a snack.

"I didn't want that many!" Draco complained. "Three at the most so they can each have a person they can cling to. No more than that!"

"Tough, deal with it. They're going to move to have you given custody even if you don't accept it," Blaize yelled back. "The little girl's a darling, she sneers more than you do."

"That means you can make her your heir, right, Draco?" Ron asked. Draco nodded, looking confused. "Then there's no problem." He kissed him. "We'll ask Harry as soon as he's cleaned up."

"Where are they going to school?" he called.

"Cuba," Blaize said as he walked in with his sandwich and drink. "They're doing very well. Marlene, the oldest, is the equivalent of a Prefect. She and the little boy want nothing to do with you."

"That's fine. I'll want to talk with them but I see no reason not to support them."

"We'd have to have them in for the summer holidays," Ron pointed out.

"And?" Draco said with a shrug. "My mother would have taken them in without a question. It's the way things are in society families when the concubine dies and leaves children behind." He looked at Molly. "Did you wish children on us?"

"No," she said with a smile, "but Harry's been hoping so hard it had to come true." Her kids all laughed.

Harry ran in and hugged Draco hard. "I love you," he said, giving him a deep kiss. Then he did the same to Ron and ran back out.

Draco shook his head. "That was rather sudden. Blaize, is she anything like me?"

"Smart, deadly, and cutting with the beauty and grace that only a Malfoy heir can have," he quipped, taking a drink. He ate a bite of sandwich. "I wouldn't mind being the live-in nanny, Draco, you know I adore kids even if I can't have any of my own."

"You can't?" Percy asked.

Blaize looked at him. "My mother cursed me that way because I bugged the shit outta her as a five-year-old," he said honestly. Molly started to glare. "I'm over it, really, Mrs. Weasley. But I do want to remove Cedra as soon as possible." He ate another bite of sandwich. "Besides, with Hermione being preggers again, I can only do really good work with the kids."

"Deal," Draco agreed. "We'll discuss duties and salaries tomorrow." Blaize winked at him. "I'm not paying you that way, Zabini. The same as I'm not letting you get near Harry's trim rear either." He patted Ron on the arm. "I don't have to worry about you, he never dreamed about you, Ron."

"That's good to know," Ron said, still stuck on the whole 'new family' part. "Draco, where are we going to put them?"

"In the family wing. It's that closed off section I still have to have the workmen fix." He kissed her on the temple. "Is it safe to go back to bed?"

"Not yet," Molly said gently. "You could curl up down here if you want, or you could open that section back up."

"It hasn't been cleaned in forever," Draco pointed out.

"I had Dobby clean it yesterday," Blaize assured him. "I was going to have to move Cedra soon, mother said so." He finished off his snack and put the dishes aside, watching as they disappeared. "Come on, I'll show you up to your rooms. The end room is going to be mine. I've been staying in there anyway." He led the rest of the family up, showing them to their rooms for the night.

"It's like this place expands so there's always at least an extra fifty rooms," Percy said in consternation.

"It does," Blaize agreed, smiling at him. "I'm down behind the blue door if anyone needs anything. The pull cords beside the beds summon a house elf. Good night all." He disappeared into his room, going to call his mother. She sent the girl on right then, tired of taking care of children. Blaize looked at the little girl and her bags. "Cedra, this is your brother's house. Would you like to see your room?" She nodded, giving him the totally adorable big eyed innocent look that was such a lie. "We have visitors tonight, but they're mostly nice. They're your brother's wife's family." Her eyes went wide. "Really. Including her mother. Come along, let me show you to the nursery. Your other siblings will be up for the summer holidays in a few weeks." He showed her into the nursery, letting her search around while he put up her clothes. He saw one of the house elves and nodded him in. "Dobby, this is Cedra, she's Draco's half-sister. Lucius did a bad thing to her mother so Draco has custody of her. Would you please look out for her."

Dobby looked at the little girl, who pulled on his ear. He hugged her, making her wail in fright. "Yous be good and I makes cookies," he told her. "Harry Potter likes cookies and he shares with good girls." He nodded a few timed and looked at Blaize. "Master knows?"

"Not yet. She just arrived. We'll introduce them tomorrow, Dobby." He nodded and disappeared.

Cedra sat down in a chair and crossed her arms, pouting at him. "Cookies!" she demanded. He laughed and summoned Dobby back. "Cookies?" she asked, sounding more polite this time.

"I's bring right up." He disappeared and came back with a large plate of cookies and some milk. "For you." He presented them and she giggled, taking the plate and the glass very carefully to put down. He poked her on the nose and left again.

She laughed and held out a cookie. "Cookie?"

"Yes, thank you, dear," he said, taking it from her. "He's very good at making cookies, they're still chewy," he said in appreciation. House elves were amazing. He let her finish the plate and got her into a bed, making sure she was tucked in. "I'm through the blue door, Cedra. If you get scared or anything, come crawl in with me. Okay?" She nodded, giving him that same big eyed innocent look that was such a lie. He smiled and patted her on the head. "Sweet dreams, Cedra." He extinguished all but one light and went back to his room to unpack. He was going to enjoy this. Someone knocked and he opened it, smirking at Draco. "She's in the nursery. My mother got fed up. Dobby fed her a plate of cookies and some milk, charming her completely."

"Thank you, Blaize. You're a big help," Draco said, giving him a short hug. "Is she sleeping?"

"Not yet. You'll see her tomorrow. She's been told that most of Ron's family are here as well." He yawned. "Draco, would part of my salary include a hot man to date?"

"If I find one, you can have one," Draco promised, smirking at him. Blaize grinned and laughed. "We'll see what I can find to keep your innate sense of mischief down. Tell me if you have any problems but don't force them. Father's personal vault in the Caymans will be given to them for their expenses. If they'd rather, they can rent a house for the holidays so they're all together." He looked toward the nursery. "Do they like her?"

"Not really. The boy blames her for killing their mother and the youngest daughter cries whenever she sees her."

"That's fine, then we won't push it. Are there any others?"

"One," Blaize admitted. "Unborn. Conceived the night before that last fight where Harry wounded him. Mother's a wreck and a half. Muggle, rich, dark skinned. Beautiful woman, but so very against his usual tastes. She's a genius though, and married. Her husband knows. My agency talked with her about the child when we found out. He was rather stunned but Dumbledore was handling the introduction so he made him believe." He shrugged at the incredulous look. "Really, I'm not making it up. If she's a witch, she's like Harry's family, Draco. I don't know anything else."

"Find out for me. If she's a true heir then she and Cedra can be mine."

"I think that one's going to be a boy. Oh, I did bring the folder." He pulled it out of his bag and handed it over. "I stole it from the office yesterday."

Draco looked at the profile and suddenly smiled a beautiful smile. "She's Lily's cousin," he said, handing it back. "The child could well be like Potter." He strolled away, going to tell Ron everything.

"Huh?" Blaize asked, looking at the name again. "That never showed up in the background check." The door to the nursery opened and he put it away, smiling as he let the girl climb into his bed for a bit. He loved children, he was going to enjoy this job.

***

The day that Harry was declared free of taint was named a celebration. Draco and Ron gave him the usual presents, a blow job and some stunning sex, multiple times throughout the day. That day also brought him knowledge and meeting Cedra and the new twins: Brighid and Teutates. Needless to say, Harry had to ask who they were named after.

Draco pulled down the book of Celt mythology. "Their mother named them," he started, finding the correct page. "Brighid was the goddess of fertility, therapy, metalworking, and poetic inspiration. She is the wife of Bres. She is known as Caridwen or Cerridwen in Wales. There are three sisters by the name of Brigit in Irish myth, daughters of In Dagda, who are the patron-goddesses of learning and/or poetry, healing and smithcraft." He looked up and smiled. "Quite a name for her to live up to."

"Let's hope she doesn't like wearing armor around the house," Ron joked.

"Those are Valkaryes, Ron." Draco smiled at him. "Teutates was the Gaul god of fertility, war, and wealth. His name means "the god of the tribe". Human sacrifices were made to him - usually they were drowned in giant cauldrons. He is credited with inventing all the crafts of mankind." He closed the book with a snap. "He is the equivalent of the Roman god Mars."

"Then maybe we can help him find a peaceful side," Harry suggested with a smile. "A smith and a war god, how very appropriate for you, Draco." Draco pounced him to use the oldest form of torture, tickling. Ron helped because it had been an awful joke.

Cedra poked her head into the study. "Play?" she asked, walking over to help tickle Harry. He laughed and they attacked the girl instead, making her squeal in joy. Blaize came running at the noise, he had been hunting her down for a bath. She grinned at him and patted him on the nose. "Play!" she said firmly, smirking up at him.

"Damn, she really is a Malfoy," Ron said in amazement. "That's your smirk, Draco, only with a few less teeth." Draco smirked at the little girl and she laughed, smirking back.

"You are very pretty," Harry told her, straightening out her shirt. "Can you say Harry?"

"Harry!" she said happily, hugging him.

"I believe you've won over another Malfoy, Potter," Blaize said as he separated the girl from Harry's neck. "Come on, Cedra, it's time for a bath." She spit at him and decided to try Ron's lap. He summoned over a book, making her clap. "Ron!" he said in disgust. "The water's getting cold or the dogs are drinking from it!"

"Snickers," Harry called. His dog trotted in and licked the little girl to clean her up. She had been a messy eater. "Will you help her take a bath? We'll read to her when she's done." He tipped Cedra's face up. "I'll let you take Snickers this time for your bath, but you have to bring him right back when you're done. Okay?" She nodded, patting the dog on the nose. He licked her fingers and backed away before one found his eye. She got down and let Blaize help her up the long staircase, the dog beside her, and the rest trailing her.

"Gogs!" she said happily, pointing for Blaize's benefit.

"Yes, I know, those are Harry's dogs and he's letting you play with them for a bit. You have to be good to keep them though. Okay?" She nodded and went to take her bath. One of the dogs even fell in to help her get clean. It liked the bubbles, it kept flapping it's ears to make them fly for her amusement. Blaize laughed and continued to scrub her clean of the jelly the house elves had let her play in. "You are going to be so spoiled," he assured her with a grin.

"Play!" she said, kissing the bubble infested nose. She came away with dog hair attached to her lips and tried to wipe them off.

He gently cleaned them off for her. "Of course you can play. You can even tell Harry all about how his dog Blackie helped you take a bath." She patted the good dog and got barked at for it. He smiled. "Let's finish up so I can check on the twins, okay?" She happily cleaned between her toes because the doggy was watching and the big person had said doggies like clean toes.

***

Draco looked over as Harry slid onto the couch next to him. "You're looking thoughtful. What's wrong?" he asked as he pulled his husband closer.

"I was going through the attic of 'what if's," Harry admitted. He smiled up at him. "What would have happened if the hat had been insistent and all that stuff."

"You really did almost get into Slytherin?"

"I had to beg the hat to not put me in there. It really wanted to but I was begging and chanting not to because Ron and Hagrid had both said that your house was full of bad guys." Draco laughed. "Okay, bad *wizards*," Harry admitted, rolling his eyes.

"And now that you see we're not all so bad, you wanted to know what might have happened?"

"Yeah. Like would I have saved Ginny in my second year? Would I have defeated Quirrel in my first? Things like that."

"Hmm." Draco summoned over a book. "There is a way to view alternate time lines, but you have to be very careful not to interact with it. You can't even cheer yourself on because it can change things drastically over there and destroy their lines." He gave Harry a slight kiss. "We could try it if you wanted. It's very difficult to do."

"I don't know if I want to know that much," Harry admitted. He blinked at his husband. "Who have you watched?"

"I do time line ones. I watch old games to see where I messed up." He grinned. "It seems that I was watching you a lot more than I was the snitch." He gave him a squeeze. "We've been invited to try out for a professional spot."

"I love flying, but I'm not sure I want to play professionally. I like staying at home and taking care of Ron and you."

Draco gave him a light kiss. "I understand. Will you be upset if I go?"

"Go ahead. I know how much you've missed flying." Draco looked down at him, the question clear in his eyes. "You've been riding your racing bike every day, Draco. It's kinda obvious."

"You mean you think it's that instead of getting off on the vibrations." Harry blushed. "Tell me you've felt it."

"I have. I came the last time we raced," Harry admitted shyly. He grinned at his husband. "Can we try that sex on the bike thing? Maybe today?"

"Possibly, when the heirs are down for a nap," Draco said tolerantly. Harry poked him. "Fine, when the children are down for a nap," he said, fixing his earlier statement.

"Thank you, Draco."

"You're welcome, Harry." They shared another kiss, interrupted by a head butting Draco's leg. He looked down at her. "Hello, Eterna. How are you this afternoon?" He picked her up to look at her. "Where is your mother?" Eterna made happy baby noises and slapped at his lips. He kissed her fingers and let her go, watching as she crawled around the room.

Vincent ran in. "Baby?" Draco pointed. "No, *BABY*!" he shouted.

Harry stood up. "Come on, Vincent, we'll check her over. It's not time yet. Draco, pull my new car around?" he suggested as he went to get Hermione up off the bed she was lying on. "Oh, dear, you are in labor already," he sighed, helping her up. "Come along, Hermione. Let's take you back to the nice hospital."

"I want to have this one here!" she said firmly.

"No," Vincent snapped. "No babies at home! Hospital. Here, ours, but a hospital."

"Fine, St. Mungoe's then," she sighed. She let Harry help her down the stairs. They met Draco in the foyer. "St. Mungoe's. No more muggle facilities."

"Fucking hell, woman. You can't floo in that condition," Draco snorted. "You're going where we take you and no backtalk. Next time you if you want to go to the one in London, you go faster, at the first labor pain, not at the last one." He bundled her into Harry's SUV and they took off, going back to the hospital. Draco had helped Harry pick it out, but he had treated himself to the gas guzzling monster to replace his dead car.

Ron peeked down the stairs and went to tell his mother the good news. Molly laughed and shook her head. "She's a bit early but they were arguing about her flooing. You really can't floo in that condition?" She shook her head. "Huh. Mum, do you know a handy midwife for Hermione?"

"Yes, dear, I'll send you her number in a letter in a few days." She gave him a gentle smile. "I'll be up tonight to check on the baby and your babies, Ron." She signed off and went back to her staff meeting. Severus was shaking his head and McGonagall was holding hers. "We all knew Granger was stubborn," she reminded them with a smile. "Now she has to butt heads with Malfoy, the king of stubborn." They laughed and got back to work.

The End.