Knotted by Hgfan1111

8/13/2019 Knotted by Hgfan1111

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Knotted by hgfan1111

Storylink:http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7294075/1/

Content:Chapter 1 to 15 of 15 chapters

Source:FanFiction.net

Summary:hen !ndesirab"e #$%ber &ne hides in a strange cottage' the "ast thing hee(pects to find is )inny' a %ysterio$s' spirited yo$ng wo%an with %agica" abi"ities. *n

+, twist on -ang"ed. *! +arry/)inny and other canon pairings

*Chapter 1*: Chapter 1: Once Upon A Time That's

How I

Author's Note: +eres %y "atest foray into +arry ,otter fanfiction. ts based on the

isney %oie -ang"ed' a"tho$gh on"y $st the f"aor %ore than fo""owing the story "ine

e(act"y. had a great ti%e writing this one and hope yo$ enoy it. 3""a' $"ie Kathy

were the betas on this and thin6 they had $st as %$ch f$n with it as did. +appyreading

isclaimer: *"" stories in this archie are based on characters and sit$ations created and

owned by K 8ow"ing' ario$s p$b"ishers inc"$ding b$t not "i%ited to "oo%sb$ryoo6s' cho"astic oo6s and 8aincoast oo6s' and *&; -i%e arner' and hae been

$sed witho$t per%ission. 8ights to these characters and their i%ages is neither c"ai%ed

nor i%p"ied. t is not endorsed by any of the afore%entioned parties.

*"" recogni


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-he baby' who% they na%ed )inera ?o""y' grew and grew' despite the odd things

s"ipped to her by her %ischieo$s o"der twin brothers' and was a wonderf$""y char%ing

todd"er before anyone 6new it. +er father enoyed "etting her ride on his sho$"ders andwo$"d s"ip her sweets anyti%e her ery>obserant %other wasnt watching. +er %other

doted on the "itt"e gir" and wo$"d br$sh her red hair eery night and te"" her stories abo$t

their wor"d. +er brothers treated her "i6e a princess' and waited on her hand and foot.

)inera wasnt an ordinary baby' howeer@ she was %agica". *nd whi"e her abi"itieswerent $n$s$a"=her entire fa%i"y were witches and wio"d twins' and %arched into &ttery t. Catchpo"e. -he "itt"e ?$gg"e p$shchair that

*rth$r had fi(ed $p to carry both )inera and 8ona"d wor6ed we""' a"tho$gh ?o""y sti""wished she co$"d $st "eitate it oer the r$ts in the road. ,ercy 6ept hi%se"f between the

twins' their hands c"$tched fir%"y in his' and they fo""owed behind ?o""y.

?$%' can we get a treatD Fred as6ed.

f yo$re a"" good boys' ?o""y said' then perhaps can %a6e yo$ a tart for p$ddingtonight. e"" "oo6 for so%e good app"es at the grocers. o$"d yo$ "i6e to he"p %e pic6

so%e o$tD

* A$ic6 g"ance oer her sho$"der and ?o""y ch$c6"ed at the disgr$nt"ed "oo6 on the

twins faces. #o do$bt they wanted so%e of the "itt"e sweets in ars that decorated theshop windows co"orf$""y. $t there wo$"d be no s$gary treats this trip. ith i"" abo$t to

go bac6 to +ogwarts for his second year' %oney was tight. t wo$"d be eno$gh of a

sp"$rge to get so%e app"es' b$t the ones in the orchard werent A$ite ripe eno$gh for atart. *rth$r wo$"dnt %ind a cheaper c$t of %eat in faor of a "itt"e ind$"gence@ he was

a"ways good that way.

-hat wo$"d be "oe"y' ?other' ,ercy said. +e bea%ed at her and ?o""y patted his head

of red c$r"s. +e was a"ways s$ch a good boy' a"tho$gh a bit rigid when it ca%e to so%ethings. *t ti%es ?o""y wished hed p"ay %ore "i6e the others' b$t ,ercy was often content

by hi%se"f' reading a boo6. ?aybe that ca%e fro% being st$c6 in the %idd"e of a "arge

fa%i"y@ ti%e a"one was a treas$re.


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?orning' ?r. *rno"dson' she greeted with a wide s%i"e. hope yo$ hae a good

b$nch of app"es in' this "ot hae been c"a%oring for an app"e tart.

+ae not' Freddie gr$%b"ed. e wanted sweets

-he %an pa"ed and ad$sted his g"asses before c"earing his throat. #ew cases $st ca%ein. -heye $st been $n"oaded. ,erhapsBperhaps yo$ng ,orter here can gie yo$ a

handD +e %otioned toward a spotty>faced yo$th who was "eaning against the co$nter.

#onsense' ?o""y said A$ic6"y. e"" be $st fine. )ies $s a chance to practice o$r

co$nting s6i""s. he t$rned the p$shchair down the ais"e' chi"dren trai"ing a"ong' and o$tof his concerned ga


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)eorge were sent to their roo% to p"ay A$iet"y=so%ething that rare"y happened' b$t

?o""y had gotten $sed to the noise@ if it was A$iet' she had a harder ti%e 6nowing what

they were $p to.

-he c$p of tea on"y "asted ten %in$tes before i"" and Char"ie ca%e ho%e' coered in

%$d' ta"6ing abo$t how %$ch f$n theyd had. -he %$ddy %ess had ta6en "onger to c"ean$p than it sho$"d hae' as 8onnie had todd"ed into the 6itchen and thrown hi%se"f into

the s"ippery' s"i%y p$dd"es with igor.

y the ti%e fie oc"oc6 ro""ed aro$nd' ?o""y was %ore than ready for her h$sband to

co%e ho%e. he rea"i


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odd wo%an fro% the grocer and how fascinated she see%ed to be with )inera. $t there

was on"y a ag$e i%pression in her %ind=an aged face' eyes of a non>descript co"or' a

ha


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or the stac6 of boo6s at her des6 in the corner of her roo% %ade her sA$ir% in

disp"eas$re.

t was a"ways the sa%e: the sa%e ro$tine eery %orning when she wo6e=coo6 andc"ean' get ready for the day' begin her st$dies' %a6e "$nch and do so%e chore aro$nd the

s%a"" ho$se she shared with her %other' perhaps a bit %ore st$dying or reading a boo6'and then %a6e dinner. n the eenings' she wo$"d %a6e the de"icate "itt"e g"ass f"owers

that her %other so"d in the %ar6et whi"e her %other br$shed her hair and sang songs.

-here was "itt"e ariation to her sched$"e and the dr$dgery of it a"" was wearing her thin.

*rno"d sc$ff"ed a"ong the shiny windowsi"" where )inny sat eery day d$ring her sto"en

%o%ents' and n$dged her hand. +e hated when she got a"" %e"ancho"y and sighed

deep"y.

6now' *rno"d. wish we co$"d get o$t of here' too. he whispered the words' fee"ing

the betraya" of the state%ent deep down inside her. he was here' 6ept hidden in thisperfect "itt"e a""ey for her own safety. +ow %any ti%es had she "istened to her %other go

on and on abo$t how $nsafe the wor"d wasD +ow scary and threatening the ogres' tro""s'and hags wereD *nd how any of the% wo$"d capt$re her and try eerything they co$"d to

stea" her specia"ness away fro% herD

*rno"d r$bbed against her fingers once %ore and )inny absent"y r$bbed his "ong p$rp"e

f$r bac6 and forth' s%i"ing at the "itt"e tittering so$nds he %ade.

&ne day it"" be safe eno$gh to go so%ewhere' she whispered. &ne day we"" be ab"e to

e(p"ore a"" these hi""s aro$nd $s' to sp"ash in the strea%' and to see the p"ace where the

s$n %eets the earth.

he didnt spea6 a"o$d her fondest drea%' b$t *rno"d probab"y 6new a"ready. +edcertain"y heard her ta"6 abo$t the spar6"es in the night s6y "ong eno$gh.

&ne day shed see those' too' and not $st as they b"ew into the s6ies and disappeared as

the s$n rose. )inny wanted to see where they ca%e fro%' to see what they were.

-he war% s$%%er bree


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to dig her hair o$t of her wor6' p$""ing "ong strands fro% her coo6ing when it wo$"d get

in the way' and constant"y getting it p$""ed when she sh$t a door too A$ic6"y.

)inny sighed as the shadows of the trees s$rro$nding their cottage ho%e stretched acrossthe bright green fie"d. -he f"owers in the %eadow c$r"ed their peta"s c"osed and the birds

A$ieted down in their nests for a "ong nights rest.

3(act"y on sched$"e' )innys %other appeared' wa"6ing $p the narrow' worn path that "ed

fro% the thic6 forest. )inny hopped $p fro% her seat and darted across the ho$se. hes6idded into the 6itchen and began banging pots and pans aro$nd. +er %other wo$"d be

disappointed there wasnt food prepared' b$t if )inny helpedthings a"ong' it wo$"dnt

ta6e too "ong.

+ow was yo$r day' %otherD she greeted cheerf$""y when the stooped wo%an enteredand refastened the array of "oc6s=c"ic6ing and "atching and sec$ring' $nti" they were a""

safe"y she"tered away.

+er %other t$rned a weary face and A$ic6 eyes scanned the e%pty dinner tab"e.

3(ha$sting' she said with a heay sigh.

)inny frowned' b$t contin$ed to stir the white sa$ce in the pan before her. he stared

hard at the chic6en and the water began to b$bb"e a "itt"e faster.

Eo$ hae no idea what its "i6e o$t there' )inny. -he bas6et that her %other carried

each day to se"" )innys f"owers at the %ar6et dropped to the f"oor and the wo%ans"$%ped into a chair. )inny eyed the weary "oo6' and the dar6 circ"es that %ade her "oo6

so ery o"d. -re66ing to the i""age each day'slavingaway to be ab"e to proide for

yo$B

* spas% of g$i"t roc6eted thro$gh )inny as she finished preparing the %ea". hesho$"dnt be wasting her ti%e daydrea%ing abo$t isiting far away p"aces when her

%other was wor6ing so hard to gie her a safe p"ace away fro% the horror of the o$tside

wor"d.

,erhaps if yo$ "et %e go one day' )inny ent$red in a A$iet oice. Eo$ co$"d ta6e abrea6' %other' and co$"d=

-he o"d wo%an "eapt to her feet and grasped )innys sho$"ders tight"y' giing the% a

s%a"" sha6e. Eo$ %$stnt say things "i6e that' )inny e to"d yo$ what its "i6eBhowdreadf$"Bhow terrifyingB Eo$ muststay here in this ho%e' where yo$ wi"" be protectedfro% the i"est of creat$res who on"y want to do yo$ har%.

*"tho$gh she 6new her %other was right' )inny sti"" fe"t her hopes dashed to pieces.

Ees. B 6now' %other' she said A$iet"y. Eo$re right.


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&f co$rse a%. +er %other p$""ed bac6 and narrowed her eyes at )inny. -he wor"d is

a horrib"e p"ace. &$t there they wi"" on"y $se yo$ for yo$r specia" powers' they wi"" on"y

cr$sh yo$ "i6e the de"icate "itt"e f"ower yo$ are. swore to protect yo$ when yo$ ca%e to%e' and e a"ways 6ept that pro%ise' haent D

)inny stared down at her hands' %ethodica""y finishing off the wor6. Ees.

*nd in ret$rn' yo$ pro%ised to stay here' and to he"p yo$r poor o"d %other.

Ees' )inny agreed once %ore. inner is ready.

+er %other h$ffed and snatched the p"ate. *bo$t ti%e. Eo$ need to %a6e %ore f"owerstoday. % a"%ost so"d o$t.

)inny ate the food' bare"y tasting a thing' as her %other reiterated a"" the i"e' horrific

things that happened to bea$tif$" yo$ng gir"s o$t in the wor"d beyond their a""ey. -here

were no songs as she br$shed )innys "ong hair and )inny he"d $p her hand and begantracing her fingers a"ong i%aginary "ines' sc$"pting intricate' de"icate f"owers o$t of thin

air. -he first few creations were as d$"" as )inny fe"t inside and she winced when her

%other t$gged especia""y fir% with the br$sh.

-ry again' )inny.

*fter "etting o$t a sha6y breath' )inny c"osed her eyes and i%agined the spring b$ds onthe trees that s$rro$nded their cottage. +er fingers ting"ed and she fe"t the %agic co$rse

thro$gh her as she concentrated. hen she opened her eyes' she co$"d a"%ost see the

f"ower she wanted to create. -he %agic f"owed fro% her fingertips as she created' tracing

each "ine and watching as it g"owed brief"y in the air before g"ass f"owed "i6e water fro%the stro6e' b$i"ding each peta". -he g"ow %ade her happy' and it re%inded her of the

"ights in the s6y: the "ights that wo$"d appear in on"y a few days' on the night of hertwentieth birthday.

-his is ridic$"o$s' +arry %$ttered to hi%se"f as he "eered o$t between b$i"dings'

watching the ebb and f"ow of the s$rprising crowd in iagon *""ey. +e shifted in the

robes that fe"t too heay' too "arge' een tho$gh they fit his a"tered for% $st right. -he%irror in his poc6et ibrated and he co$"d practica""y hear +er%ione sco"ding hi% for

wasting ti%e=they on"y had a s%a"" window of opport$nity. &ne ho$r.

For a %o%ent' he was start"ed when the $g"y' sA$ashed nose' pa$nchy chee6s' and dar6

eyes of 8o"doph$s ;estrange stared bac6 fro% the ref"ectie s$rface of the %irror' b$tthen +er%iones fa%i"iar face was staring bac6 at hi%.

H$it hesitating she said. -his wasyourp"an' after a"".


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+arry brist"ed' b$t then "et the irritation ro"" away. 6now' he sighed. % going. $st

fee" ery e(posed. wishB +e trai"ed off' 6nowing there was no other way to get the

c$p@ theyd ta"6ed circ"es aro$nd the iss$e for far too "ong "ate"y.

Eo$re fee"ing that way=

eca$se % !ndesirab"e #$%ber &ne' +arry said b"and"y. eca$se eery eath 3ater

in the co$ntry is h$nting %e' and if theyre not' eery *$ror is.

+er%iones forehead creased in concern. $t yo$re in disg$ise. Eo$"" be fine. ,o"y$ice

on"y "asts so "ong' re%e%ber.

% going. +e said it forcef$""y and shoed the %irror bac6 into his poc6et. -his was

their on"y iab"e shot at retrieing the +orcr$( safe"y 6ept in )ringotts. +ow often did

they e(pect to st$%b"e on a dr$n6 8odo"ph$s staggering down the street in +ogs%eadeD

-here was no way they were going to get anywhere near e""atri( to snatch a bit of hair.

+arry wo$"d neer a""ow +er%ione to go thro$gh that again. &r #ei""e.

i%p"y p$t' it was their on"y option right now.

$t that didnt %ean +arry was entire"y co%fortab"e brea6ing into )ringotts on his own.

t wo$"d be better to hae one of his friends with hi%' at "east. +er%ione was o$t@ shewas sti"" recoering fro% the horrors of ?a"foy ?anor. +arry sh$ddered $st thin6ing

abo$t what his friend had gone thro$gh. t was the st$ff of his night%ares=not that his

drea%s had everbeen p"easant. *nd they needed #ei""e stationed in iagon *""ey as a"oo6o$t' co%p"ete with escape p"an if things went horrib"y wrong.

-heir on"y option "ay before +arry. +e too6 a deep breath and stepped into the a""ey.

#ow or neer' he %$ttered and tried to "oo6 fierce and i%posing so that no one wo$"d

approach hi%. #ot that it wo$"d be an iss$e' +arry decided' ;estrange was a nasty %an

with a habit of going days witho$t washing' it see%ed. +arry gagged at the s%e"" waftingfro% the disg$sting robes he wore.

#ei""e was "eaning against the o$tside wa"" of the e%pty Fortesc$es' trying to "oo6

cas$a" when +arry passed. -he sto"en *$ror robes he wore were too short and +arry

co$"d see the sc$ffed' battered shoes beneath the he%.

ith a s%a"" s%ir6' #ei""e inc"ined his head and +arry "et his eyes scan the area' sett"ingon the e(act thing #ei""e had been pointing o$t: a wanted poster for hadow ,hoeni(.

-he "i6eness to +arrys tr$e "oo6s was s6etchy at best=the hair"ine was far too high' eyes

too wide"y spaced' and the nose was a"" wrong. t "oo6ed "i6e +arry and that $g"y p$g,ansy ,ar6inson had %ated and this was their $nfort$nate offspring.


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+arrys sto%ach heaed=both at that tho$ght and the fact that his distorted face was

p"astered a"" oer iagon *""ey. $t it had been "i6e that for a "ong ti%e.

+arry peered at the poster in disg$st' and read the botto% portion=a reward of oneh$ndred ga""eons was being offered for infor%ation "eading to his "ie capt$re.

Thatwas $st ins$"ting

+ed been a thorn in the side of both the ?inistry and Io"de%ort for "ong eno$gh that a

%eas"y one h$ndred ga""eons was ridic$"o$s. $re"y it sho$"d hae been c"oser to a

tho$sandD

f brea6ing into the ?inistry of ?agic had on"y garnered a h$ndred' +arry wondered

what todays "itt"e escapade wo$"d net. f he was s$ccessf$"' that is.

ith one "ast g"ance at #ei""e' who s%ir6ed and to$ched his finger to his eyebrow in

sa"$te' +arry wa"6ed $p the steps of )ringotts' pointed"y ignoring the warning to a""thiees posted right there at the doors.

8on eas"ey was not a happy %an. +e sho$"d be' he s$pposed' considering how hard

hed wor6ed to achiee his p"ace as an *$ror -rainee' and was fina""y wearing the robes.

-he *cade%y hadnt been thri""ed with his "ac6 of officia" acade%ic record when hedapp"ied' b$t 8on co$"dnt he"p that his parents had been too tro$b"ed to ship hi% and his

brothers off to +ogwarts for apropered$cation. *nd his %ar6s on the ad%ittance e(a%s

were certain"y high eno$gh.

?aybe it was the fact that he was wor6ing for thisad%inistration that $nsett"ed hi%.hi"e the ?inistry wasnt in the c"$tches of Eo$>Know>ho $st yet' there were %any

who fe"t it was on"y a %atter of ti%e. $t so far' ,i$s -hic6nesse was ho"ding strong.

t co$"d a"so be that A$estionab"e sa$sage hed nic6ed fro% Freds p"ate that %orning' 8on

decided has he c"$tched his r$%b"ing sto%ach.

$t his $nrest was %ore than "i6e"y a prod$ct of the fact that it was his day on the

rotation to patro" iagon *""ey. #or%a""y' he "oed to co%e to ;ondon to see the shops

disp"aying bright' co"orf$" things' to s"ip into H$a"ity H$idditch $pp"y and see if

#i%b$s had re"eased a new %ode"' or een to spend a few %in$tes chatting with Fred and

)eorge at their shop.

$t patro""ing was a who"e different %atter. ,atro""ing %eant wa"6ing $p and down the

a""ey' seeing eerything b$t conte%p"ating "itt"e' and waiting for his senior partner'

aw"ish' to correct so%e %inor f"aw s$ch as how his steps were far too "oping' or that hisrobes didnt swish a$thoritatie"y eno$gh. &f a"" the partners for hi% to draw' 8on hadto

get aw"ish. 3en inti%idating Kings"ey hac6"ebo"t wo$"d hae been better than

Dawlish.


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-he a""ey was A$iet' b$t s$rprising"y b$sy. itches and i


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3rB%aybe we dont want toB 8on c"$tched his partners robes and st$%b"ed

bac6wards' o$t of the path of the %assie sca"ed foot that was c"o%ping down' the

shac6"es swinging dangero$s"y behind. aw"ish er6ed away' g"ared at 8on and sentanother st$nner.

*ss' 8on hissed and banished the swinging chain away fro% a gro$p of witchesh$dd"ed at the entrance to Knoc6t$rn *""ey. -heyd ta6en $p ref$ge against the b$i"dings

when the dragon bro6e o$t.

aw"ish contin$ed chasing after the dragon as it "$%bered away fro% the )ob"ins

%a6ing a rac6et with their %eta" instr$%ents. ,ops of apparition so$nded a"" aro$nd the

*""ey as *$rors and ?inistry wi


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?aybe his "$c6 was changing. %agine the acco"ades and praise hed receie if he' 8on

eas"ey' were the one to drag hadow ,hoeni( bac6 to the ?inistry

-he dar6ness of the shadows didnt he"p in trac6ing the two %en' b$t 8on dogged"yp$rs$ed the%' weaing in and o$t of o"d storage bins' going deeper and deeper into a part

of the *""ey 8on neer i%agined e(isted. +e s$pposed perhaps it eent$a""y "ed o$t into?$gg"e ;ondon' b$t he wasnt e(act"y s$re how that wo$"d wor6. asnt the on"y way to

get into iagon *""ey thro$gh the ;ea6y Ca$"dronD

+e sho$"d hae paid %ore attention when ,ercy "ect$red abo$t things of that nat$re. -hen

again' that wo$"d hae ta6en away fro% his dai"y 6ip. ,ercy wasnt the %ost e(citing

instr$ctor' een if he c"ai%ed to 6now %ost eerything there was to 6now.

8on ca$ght sight of the *$ror p$rs$ing the ,hoeni( c"ose"y=on"y an ar%s "ength away=and fo""owed. +e "ost sight of the% when they doe bac6 between two shops.

+oweer' 8on 6new he had the adantage now as they were nearing his brothers shop=

)eorge had once tossed a pot of orange paint o$t an $pper window and 8on co$"d see thesp"atters down the bric6 in the bac6 of a b$i"ding co%ing $p. ,erhaps if he co$"d force

,hoeni( into a corner' he co$"d bind hi% and actiate his ?inistry ,ort6ey. -he parades

and firewor6s co$"d begin at s$ndown

hen he ca%e aro$nd a corner that was s$re to be b"oc6ed by crates=Fred oftenco%p"ained abo$t the% c"$ttering $p the space ne(t to #$%ber 9J=8on was shoc6ed to

find the *$ror had a"ready ca$ght ,hoeni(. &n"y he wasnt sec$ring the cri%ina" at a""@ he

was grinning and "oo6ing into the "eather satche" that ,hoeni( was ho"ding o$t' a si%i"ars%i"e painted ,honei(s face.

Eo$re $nder arrest 8on b$rst in and shot a spe"" that the ,hoeni( def"ected with a"ightening>fast shie"d.

-hey doe to opposite sides of the corridor behind the c"$tter and both shot spe""s at 8on'

which he bare"y def"ected. 8ons head sp$n. -he trainee wasnt an *$ror at a""' he washe"ping hadow ,hoeni( *n acco%p"ice

hadow the %an ye""ed and died be"ow the "ee" of crates that 8on shattered with a

st$nning spe"". Co%e on

,hoeni( d$c6ed a spe"" that f"ew fro% oer 8ons head. aw"ish had entered the batt"e'

bac6ing 8on $p.

$stB$st go ,hoeni( to"d hi% after sending an $n6nown b"$e "ight 8ons way.

Bwi"" 6i"" %e if show $p witho$t yo$


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)o ?andra6e ,hoeni( sho$ted once %ore and e(p"oded the side of the b$i"ding aboe

the *$rors' showering the% with d$st and s%a"" bits of debris. "" %eet yo$ at the

p"ace

-he %an dressed "i6e a trainee=who on earth wo$"d na%e their chi"d ?andra6e'

anyway=gae a concerned "oo6 before he screwed $p his face and *pparated away.

Co%e on' b"o6es ,hoeni( ca""ed o$t fro% where he was pinned down behind a

dwind"ing stac6 of wooden bo(es. #o har% done' rightD Eo$ can $stB"oo6 the otherway' yeahD

aw"ish stood straight $p and 8on ro""ed his eyes at the %ans st$pidity. ,hoeni( %ay not

ai% to 6i""' b$t he wasnt aboe doing a "itt"e da%age if it was necessary to escape.

!nder the a$thority of the ?inistry of ?agic=

-he cri%ina" pee6ed o$t' staring incred$"o$s"y and gaping at the *$rors. 8on bit bac6 his

own a%$se%ent and tried to foc$s. +e was going to st$n ,hoeni( the %o%ent he co$"d'aw"ish be da%ned.

ith a resigned' "o$d sigh' ,hoeni( began swir"ing his wand in a tight circ"e. -he debrisand d$st in the passageway began to swir". t was $n"i6e any spe"" or stor% 8on had eer

seen and he stood transfi(ed as the %iniat$re tornado too6 shape and began to obsc$re his

ision. +e shie"ded his eyes as aw"ish=sti"" standing $pright "i6e a foo"=too6 the br$nt

of the wind.

-he ,hoeni( "a$ghed and A$ipped a a$nty sa"$te before he stood $p f$""y' the satche"

draped oer his sho$"der. 8on 6new he was preparing to *pparate and doe toward hi%'

$st %anaging to get a hand aro$nd his an6"e as they disappeared together.

*Chapter +*: Chapter +: That's %otter ou,le Oh %ott

Author's Note:;ots of f$n and a "itt"e action in this chapter. e get to %eet so%e o"d

friends and get a "itt"e +arry and 8on interaction before +arry %eets so%eone yo$e a""

been waiting for hi% to %eet. % dedicating the code na%e scene to $"ie who not on"yhe"ped %e research na%es b$t a"so %ade that scene co%e to "ife and %ade %e "a$gh

harder than hae in a ery "ong ti%e. *nd than6s to 3""a who crac6ed the whip and

de%anded scene after scene' and Kathy who was so ery patient waiting for %e to finishbefore she pic6ed it a"" apart. Co$"dnt hae done it witho$t yo$ three. @ o...enoy

reading

Chapter +: That's %otter- ou,le Oh %otter To .ou/ Sir


16/143

#ei""e appeared in the e%pty roo% they $sed to *pparate into and bent oer' resting his

hands on his 6nees to catch his breath. -he d$st in the roo% a"ways %ade his nose itch

when he ret$rned to the dingy )ri%%a$"d ,"ace.

+e swore io"ent"y' a"tho$gh A$iet"y' and tried to wipe the i%age of +arrys fierce batt"e

face o$t of his %ind. +e hated "eaing +arry that way. t "eft hi% fee"ing ho""ow inside'"i6e he was a coward. *nd een tho$gh it was probab"y the right thing to do=+er%ione

certain"y wo$"dnt be ab"e to brea6 bothof the% o$t of ?inistry c$stody if they gotpinched=it sti"" %ade #ei""e fee" horrib"e.

*nd to top it a"" off' hed gone and "eft the +orcr$( with +arry' at the ery "east' #ei""e

sho$"d hae snatched it and bro$ght it with the%.

-he diary' the ring' the "oc6et' the c$p' #agini' so%ething of 8aenc"aws or )ryffindors.-he diary' the ring' the "oc6et' the c$p' #agini' so%ething of 8aenc"aws or )ryffindors.

-he diary' the ringB

t had beco%e their %antra oer the past few years. -hree +orcr$(es were now destroyed

and +arry had one %ore in his c"$tches.

+er%ione b$rst thro$gh the door' too6 one "oo6 at #ei""e' sti"" c"$tching his 6nees' and

her tri$%phant s%i"e %e"ted away.

s heBD

ho$"d be fine' #ei""e said. ;eft hi% bac6 in iagon *""eyBfight with *$rorsBhe

to"d %e to goB

+er%ione set her aw and #ei""e co$"d practica""y hear her teeth grinding. -heyd both

tried a"iant"y to dea" with +arrys saing peop"e co%p"e( that +er%ione had acc$sed

hi% of haing years ago. t was tr$e=+arry was nothing b$t a tr$e hero' inside and o$t=

b$t that didnt %a6e it any easier to "ie with when yo$ were the one he sacrificed for.

% s$re hes fine' said +er%ione' a"tho$gh it didnt so$nd co%p"ete"y conincing. +es

gotten o$t of worse scrapes before. -hey both winced' thin6ing of the things +arry had

narrow"y escaped in the past.

+e "eads a char%ed "ife' rightD

-he o6e wasnt near"y as f$nny witho$t +arry saying the "ine and #ei""e on"y fe"tworse.

Co%e on. +er%ione t$gged on the s"eee of his robes' p$""ing hi% toward the ha""way.

Kreacher %ade s$pper. f we dont sit down and eat it' he"" start to cry again.


17/143

#ei""e fo""owed b"ind"y' b$t the dar6ness of the ho$se=een tho$gh it was the %idd"e

of the afternoon=had neer fe"t so s$ffocating. ,erhaps it was the way +arry had been

cornered when #ei""e *pparated o$t' or $st the fact that the *$rors had been bearingdown on the% fierce"y' b$t #ei""e fe"t a ba"" of fear deep in his be""y. o$"d +arry

rea""y escape this ti%eD

-hey sat at the tab"e after e(p"aining to Kreacher that +arry wo$"d be co%ing ho%e "ate'

and pic6ed at the food. t tasted $st fine' #ei""e tho$ght' b$t it was i%possib"e to eatwhen he was so worried.

f on"y they co$"d try and contact +arryB

$t that was the n$%ber one r$"e of these %issions=do not' $nder any circ$%stances' try

to initiate contact if yo$ didnt 6now where the other person was. f +arry had beensnatched by the ?inistry' he was probab"y doing his best to either ta"6 his way o$t of the

sit$ation' or biding his ti%e $nti" he co$"d escape. f one of the% $sed their %irrors and it

was a partic$"ar"y tric6y sit$ationB

#o' it was better to wait.

&h id he get the=

#ei""e per6ed $p and n$dged his p"ate of bare"y eaten food away. Eeah' he did. -he

c$p' $st "i6e we tho$ght it %ight be. o%e sort of nasty c$rse on it' tho$gh. 3ery ti%e

he to$ched it' it wo$"d b$rn his hands. Eo$"" need to hea" the% when he gets bac6.

+er%ione scow"ed' b$t gae a fir% nod. -e"" %e eery detai".

+e sighed and "a$nched into the story' trying to re%e%ber eerything. +er%ione a"ways

wanted co%p"ete"y thoro$gh reports of their %issions=eery detai" they co$"d reca""=

$st so she co$"d fatho% what they were $p against ne(t. t was so%ething that tended to

irritate #ei""e' and witho$t +arry here to %a6e o6es he fo$nd hi%se"f beco%ing %oreand %ore annoyed.

+er%ione was great' dont get hi% wrong' and theyd a"" be dead witho$t her A$ic6

thin6ing and detai"ed research' b$t #ei""e didnt thin6 he wo$"d hand"e being with her

constant"y. +arry was the needed b$ffer in the friendship@ and +arry had confided in#ei""e that whi"e he adored +er%ione' he wo$"d s%other her in her s"eep at ti%es if

#ei""e wasnt there to ta6e the edge off. o%ehow' the friendship wor6ed.

% worried abo$t )ran' he %$sed dar6"y at the end of his tai". o far wee been "$c6yand no one has connected $s with +arry' rea""y. % s$re if they paid any attention to what

went on at +ogwarts theyd hae fig$red it o$t by nowB

&n"y if they were rea""y "oo6ing' +er%ione ass$red hi%. *nd % s$re yo$r )ran is

fine.


18/143

-he *$rors saw %e' said #ei""e. sho$"d hae been wearing char%s. sho$"d haeB

done so%ething different. $st didnt thin6B +arry was a"ways the one in danger'

brea6ing into )ringotts pretending to be so%eone e"se.

+er%ione chewed her "ip tho$ghtf$""y b$t then sighed. +e was s$ccessf$"' so the p"an

wor6ed' $"ti%ate"y' een if the e(ec$tion was a "itt"eB

#ei""e s$pp"ied the %issing word. +a"f>assed.

he "oo6ed as if she wanted to sco"d hi% for his "ang$age' b$t the words died on her "ips.

t see%ed si""y to sco"d a twenty>one year o"d %an for swearing' especia""y consideringthey were hiding in a secret hideaway' waging a c"andestine war against an ei" dar6 "ord

bent on %ayhe%' %$rder' and deastation.

Eo$r )ran wi"" be fine. he patted his hand aw6ward"y and then $sed her wand to

begin c"eaning $p dinner. Kreacher appeared i%%ediate"y and the two arg$ed A$iet"y

oer +o$se 3"f d$ties. +er%ione "ost' as she a"ways did.

#ei""e "eaned bac6 in his chair and "et his %ind wander oer their operation. +ed to"d

+er%ione eerything he co$"d re%e%ber' down to the penetrating b"$e eyes of the *$rorwho had 6ept $p with hi% and +arry as they dashed aro$nd iagon *""ey.

o%e "oo6o$t hed been. +e didnt een hae ti%e to warn +arry that the *$rors were at

the base of the )ringotts steps before the dragon had bro6en o$t. +ed been $st as

bewi"dered and shoc6ed as anyone in the *""ey. -he dragon was certain"y not in any of+er%iones detai"ed sche%es for a stea"thy entrance and e(it fro% the *""ey. #ei""e had

to ad%it' tho$ghB+arry had sty"e.

f on"y #ei""e had been ab"e to be the "oo6o$t he was s$pposed to be and gie a sho$ted

warning. +arry %ight hae *pparated right fro% the steps' rather than waiting. *nd theneerything wo$"d be perfect.

+arrys words sti"" echoed in his ears. Go Mandrake!

t %ade hi% a bit sic6 to his sto%ach' especia""y at the idea that had he acted"i6e a

?andra6e and screa%ed his warning' +arry wo$"d hae gotten away co%p"ete"y.

t was +er%iones idea that they a"" hae code na%es when they went on %issions. t had

been a "ate night and one of the fondest conersations #ei""e co$"d eer re%e%ber withhis friends.

#ot "ong after ,rofessor $%b"edore had been %$rdered by the traitoro$s eer$s nape

=s"i%e s$c6ing sna6e=+arry had dec"ared his intention to "eae +ogwarts and finishh$nting for the downfa"" of Io">Io"de%ort. L#ei""e sti"" had iss$es with saying the

na%e. +er%ione was going' of co$rse' and #ei""e had stood $p' chest to chest with

+arry and dared hi% to te"" #ei""e to stay behind.


19/143

#ei""e ;ongbotto% wasnt 6nown for his braery' b$t he certain"y wasnt going to "et his

best %ate traipse off thro$gh the co$ntry a"one. +e didnt care how "ong it too6 the%' or

how %$ch they had to sacrifice' #ei""e wo$"d be there with +arry eery step of the way.

ee6s "ater' theyd secreted the%se"es away in )ri%%a$"d ,"ace and began p"anning

their assa$"t on ritain.

I think we should have code names," ermione said "Its not practical at all to be

running about, shouting each others names #ot if we want to stay hidden"

arry perked up from where he was lounging on the sofa, head hanging over the side"$ike%superhero names&"

#eville chuckled and took a bite of the thick sandwich 'reacher had made for him when

theyd arrived "Do we get powers to go along with them&"

ermione had glared at both boys, which only made them laugh harder It was well pastmidnight and they were all getting a bit silly "#o $ike something practical, that we can

remember easily"

arry sat up and scratched his chin thoughtfully "(ell, since )oldemort is already

taken%"

ermione threw a book at his head

e caught it and tossed it to the sofa "(hat about%"

*ours should be commanding," ermione rode right over the top of him "+omething%imposing, that will be solid and firm"

nd will strike fear into the hearts of the bad guys," #eville said with a smirk

arry scrunched his face in thought "Darth )ader is out I cant do the voice, and allthat heavy breathing%urgh!"

#eville inhaled part of his sandwich but managed to cough it back up

re you going to be serious, at all&" ermione demanded

(hy&" arry asked "*oure serious enough for all of us"

+he frowned, but #eville could see the corners of her mouth twitching upward arry

wasnt normally this funny, his humor tended to be much darker and self-deprecating, buthe had his moments e was on a roll tonight

I have it! (ell call you +hadow .hoeni/"


20/143

The boys e/changed a glance before breaking out in laughter "It sounds like a barmy

character on one of Grans daytime wireless programs," said #eville

#o," arry said once he could breathe again "#ot that"

ermione glared and straightened her robes primly "Its perfect, you know *ou want tobe secretive0stay in the shadows, but youre also fighting for the light, thus the

phoeni/"

It was better than some of the things she could have come up with0she wasthe one who

had come up with +.1(, after all0but #eville sincerely hoped they could talk her outof this idea completely

nd what will we call you&" asked arry "1ncyclopedia&"

Miss $ibrarian," #eville said with a smirk "+ince you spent so much time in there at

ogwarts I thought Madam .ince would have to throw you out fifth year"

+he did!" arry roared and ermiones cheeks flushed

+he did not!"

*es, she did," arry said "The week before 2($+, did you or did you not get asked

to leave so she could close the doors&"

ermiones blush darkened and #eville snorted in amusement "I lost track of time! It

wasnt my fault!"

(hatever," arry said, biting his lip to keep in the laughter "*oure a miscreant,

ermione, admit it"

Its sad, really" #eville shook his head pathetically

shame," agreed arry "(hat would everyone at the library say& *our study group%

bunch of rule abiding 3avenclaws&"

ermiones face was getting redder, but she was also starting to crack "I am not a

miscreant nd that study group was available for everyone, not 4ust 3avenclaws"

Troublemaker," #eville chided

arry picked up on his line "5irebrand"

2kay, thats enough" ermione shook her head, but she was fully smiling now andlooked rather proud of their accusations +omewhere deep down inside, she was thrilled


21/143

when the boys dragged her along on their adventures "(ere sticking with +hadow

.hoeni/ for you, arry"

#o, we are not," he grumbled under his breath, but ermione continued

#ow, we need one for #eville"

The amusement from the situation fled as #eville stared wide-eyed at ermione Itcertainly wasnt funny now that shed set her sights on him, although arry now had a

rather evil smile on his face

1rm, no, we really dont *ou can call me%something not secret at all"

erbology 6oy," arry burst out "*ou can be +hadow .hoeni/s sidekick"

#eville glared at him

#ot your best suggestion, arry," ermione said, "but I like the idea of using plants,

since youre so fond of them, #eville" +he summoned a book from her stack and opened

it right up

Mimbulus Mimbletonia!" she crowed and arry e/ploded in laughter

1r%too long," #eville said "I thought it had to be something wed remember&"

I like that," said ermione with a grin "*oure the only one we know who ever had one

They didnt even have one in the greenhouses"

#eville stared down at his sandwich with very little appetite left "(hy cant it be

something cool, like arrys&"

Mine is not coo"," arry protested hotly "It makes me sound like some sort of%ruffian,

or a gigilo, or something"

+omething deadly," #eville said, ignoring arrys grumbling "$ike%#ightshade or

Devils +nare&"

arry nudged him "7actus boy"

6ird boy," #eville 8uipped back

They started to playfully shove each other and ermione 4ust rolled her eyes ".erhaps

something else%"

9ust make sure you dont spray me with stink sap, 7actus 6oy"


22/143

#eville hit arry in the arm "It would serve you right"

That can be your super power"

+taphylea," ermione read straight from her book, "more commonly known as

bladdernut, responds well to clipping and is not only ornamental but0"

The boys stopped wrestling and stared at her

6ladderb$tt&" arry asked incredulously "Did she 4ust say%"

#eville shook his head "1r"

ermione was getting far too much pleasure out of this and sighed dramatically "5ine

(hat about choke cherry&"

arry slugged him in the shoulder "*ou wanted deadly, mate"

1ach time ermione called out a name :shagbark hickory, glory vine, honeysuckle,cockscomb, spike gayfeather; arry would make some acidic comment that would leave

him rolling on the floor :shagging& #eville&, I dont want to know why they call your

vine Glory, mate, Take your honey somewhere else to suckle, Gayfeather& +omethingyou need to tell us&; until everything was one big dirty 4oke

ermione raised her eyes over the top of the book, looking right at him "byssinian

shrivel fig&"

#o," #eville said "9ust no"

arry, the traitor, was laughing so hard he could barely breathe

#eville summoned the book from ermione, shut it firmly, and stuffed it under his

backside "(ell find something, but it wont be any of those"

-heyd neer rea""y sett"ed on a codena%e for #ei""e' %ost"y beca$se there were far too

%any p"ant na%es that co$"d be twisted' and both he and +arry had wic6ed"y dirty %indsat ti%es. -hey st$c6 to ca""ing hi% p"ant na%es' b$t the ariety depended on his tas6 for

the %ission.

?andra6e had been todays designation beca$se he was to send $p a "o$d cry if there was

tro$b"e. hich he had fai"ed to do.

ont thin6 too %$ch abo$t it' #ei""e' +er%ione said sy%pathetica""y. % s$re hesfine.

#ei""e stared at the %irror sitting on the tab"e and prayed she was right.


23/143

-he worst part abo$t side>a"ong apparition was the draining fee"ing that it had. +arry

co$"d %anage $st fine with hi%se"f' +er%ione and een #ei""e' b$t it was tiring@

+er%ione co$"d ta6e a"" three of the% as we""' b$t #ei""eBhe had a"ways hatedapparition and rare"y was the one to initiate %ore than his own trae".

*nd ta6ing so%eone $nwi""ing"y on"y %ade it a"" the worse. +arry appeared in the

bedroo% at )ri%%a$"d ,"ace for "ess than a second' on"y eno$gh to ta6e a breath and

"eap once %ore' ta6ing the persistent *$ror wrapped aro$nd his "eg with hi%.

-hey "anded in a heap so%ewhere not far fro% +ogs%eade. +arry groaned and forced

hi%se"f to stand. -he *$ror was so disoriented that he "ost his grip on +arrys an6"e and

swayed on his 6nees.

ti"" p"anning on arresting %eD +arry as6ed chee6i"y.

-he *$ror shoo6 his head' not to indicate his ref$sa"' b$t to c"ear the f$


24/143

egetation rose $p fifteen feet high and +arry doe into it' s$re he was going to co%e o$t

worse for wear with scratches oer eery part of his body. -he hiding p"ace wor6ed as

the *$ror=a "an6y' redheaded b"o6e with a "ong nose=%oed right past hi%.

+arry grinned tri$%phant"y and %enta""y patted hi%se"f on the bac6. *nother win for

hadow ,hoeni(.

+e was $st abo$t to p$"" his %irror to ta"6 to his friends when the *$ror do$b"ed bac6.

+arry swore and he"d his breath whi"e wigg"ing si"ent"y bac6 into the bra%b"es. -heyscratched his e(posed s6in and p$""ed at the h$ge robes he wore. 3ent$a""y' he beca%e

so entang"ed he had to abandon the robes co%p"ete"y. -han6f$""y' hed worn a pair of

tattered eans and an o"d shirt of $d"eys $nderneath' so he wasnt co%p"ete"y na6ed.

*s he p$""ed his ar% free and grasped the "eather strap of the satche"' it' too' beca%etrapped by the thorny b$shes. +e gae a %ighty t$g and fe"" bac6wards' hee"s oer head

thro$gh the hedge and down a s%a"" e%ban6%ent.

a%%it +arry hissed as he A$ic6"y chec6ed in with a"" his body parts to %a6e s$re

they had co%e with hi% on the "itt"e trip. -he *$ror %$st hae heard his $ngracef$"escape' as the b$shes started ratt"ing and he hissed in pain.

+arry gathered his wand and the satche" before hobb"ing f$rther into the trees. +is 6nee

had twisted s"ight"y on the "anding and +arry 6new hed be easy to catch if he co$"dnt get

away fast eno$gh. +is ar% br$shed the worn "eather of the bag and he cried o$t in pain.o%ewhere a"ong the way in his escape' the bag had beco%e torn and the si"er of the

c$p shined thro$gh. hateer c$rse had been p"aced on it ca$sed a %ean we"t to rise

where +arry had to$ched it. +is hands were sti"" stinging fro% haing to grab the da%ned

thing in the a$"t raid

hat he rea""y needed was a p"ace to stash the +orcr$( $nti" he co$"d co%e bac6 for it. f

he co$"d "ead the *$ror away and then circ"e bac6B

*s he conte%p"ated the best p"ace to store it L$p a tree' in a d$g>o$t e%ban6%ent' $nder aroc6 he contin$ed wa"6ing' wincing eery ti%e he needed to p"ace weight on his "eft "eg.

+is 6nee was going to swe"" tonight if he didnt get off it. +er%ione wo$"d be ab"e to

soothe the pain' b$t on"y if he co$"d escape.

efore he 6new it' +arry fo$nd hi%se"f in a %$ch "ess dense part of the forest. +ed neer

been on this side of the i""age or +ogwarts before' so he honest"y had no c"$e what toe(pect. $t the pict$resA$e "itt"e a""ey shoc6ed hi%.

t was bri""iant"y green' with a s%a"" cree6 r$nning a"ongside a ra%shac6"e tiny cottage.

-he who"e p"ace was bea$tif$"' b$t "oo6ed co%p"ete"y abandoned. -he garden wasoerr$n with weeds and the paint on the sh$tters was chipped and decades o"d.


25/143

t was the perfect p"ace to stash the +orcr$( and then "ead the *$ror far away fro%'

+arry decided. +e co$"d easi"y *pparate bac6 "ater in the eening' or een to%orrow if

needed' once his 6nee had hea"ed. -he c$p wo$"d be $st as safe here as anywhere e"se.

ith an apprehensie "oo6 bac6 at the dar6er trees' +arry %ade his way across the open

area' right $p to the door. +e tried the hand"e' b$t it was "oc6ed. &ne of the windows wasopen and +arry c"enched his teeth against the pain in his "eg and c"i%bed inside.

-he cottage hard"y "oo6ed abandoned fro% the inside and he too6 a deep breath's$reying the s%a"" tab"e' the neat"y organi


26/143

)inny A$ic6"y s"a%%ed the sh$tters c"osed and "oc6ed the window. he chec6ed a"" the

other windows and b"oc6ed the door by p$shing the tab"e in front of it. -he ogre sti""

didnt %oe. he stared at it for a "ong ti%e' trying to decide what to do with it' b$teent$a""y her eyes sett"ed on the s%a"" c$pboard $nder the stairs. t was the perfect p"ace

to st$ff it $nti" she co$"d fig$re o$t what to do@ she didnt thin6 she co$"d rea""y killit' not

$n"ess it was trying to har% her. $t she a"so didnt want to "oo6 at its $g"y face when itfina""y wo6e $p.

-he ogre was %$ch heaier than she e(pected' and odd"y wearing boots' b$t )inny

%anaged to t$g and heae it across the f"oor. hoing it into the c$pboard was %$ch

harder' and )inny fo$nd herse"f fr$strated when its gang"y "egs and ar%s wo$"d f"op o$theed"ess of her effort. ith a h$ff of fr$stration' she c"osed her eyes and wished it into

the cra%ped space. he wasnt s$re how it %anaged to fit' b$t the "itt"e door fina""y c"osed

with a satisfying c"ic6. )inny p$shed seera" pieces of f$rnit$re in front of it and stared atit' pan he"d high.

*s she ca"%ed down' she noticed a "eather satche" $nderneath the window' a"ong with anodd bit of stic6. t certain"y wasnt hers' so it %$st be"ong to the ogre. Ca$tio$s"y' she

pic6ed the bag $p and g"anced inside. * si"er c$p "ay in the botto%' and )inny stared atit c$rio$s"y. ith a sha6ing hand' she reached in to to$ch the side where a pict$re of a

strange ani%a" was cared into it.

-he instant her finger pressed to the %eta"' a shoc6 co$rsed thro$gh her ar% and she

screa%ed' dropping the bag. +er fingertip was bright red' as if shed to$ched a f"a%e.

ts a weapon of so%e sort' she %$ttered' warning *rno"d to stay away fro% it. *fter

s$c6ing on the tip of her finger' )inny $sed a broo% to p$sh the satche" and the stic6 into

a corner where she threw a b"an6et oer the%. hed dea" with it "ater.

+er finger sti"" throbbed' so she sat and concentrated on the b$rn $nti" her fingertipsting"ed and the co"or began to fade fro% red' to pin6' to her nat$ra" co"oring. -he pain

eased' as we"".

*s the shadows began to shift on the f"oor' )inny rea"i


27/143

e(p"ained her p"an to *rno"d' he did an e(cited "itt"e dance and then sc$rried to a safe

p"ace.

)inny %oed the f$rnit$re away fro% the door and prepared her pan before opening thedoor.

-he ogres bright red' p$ffy hand f"opped o$t onto the f"oor and it groaned.

)inny c"$tched the pan so tight"y that her fingers ached' and she inched forward before

wishing it o$t of the cra%ped space. t spraw"ed hapha


28/143

% not here to do anything b$t escape fro% the ?inistry. f yo$"" get %e %y bag' "" be

o$t of yo$r hair in no ti%e.

)inny narrowed her eyes at hi%. +er %others words of warning had neer inc"$dedso%ething abo$t how pers$asie ogres co$"d be.

he stepped fro% the shadows' sti"" ho"ding her pan high.

Eo$ didnt co%e to find %eD

-he ogres eyes=as bri""iant"y green as the s$%%er grass in the %eadow=foc$sed on

her as she %oed c"oser. -hey widened and he stared.

3rBno. didnt. needed a p"ace to hide and didnt thin6 anyone "ied here.

*nd yo$re not here to drag %e bac6 to yo$r cae to be yo$r serantD

-he ogre "a$ghed' b$t that on"y %ade )inny conf$sed. t didnt see% threatening at a""'

b$t %aybe the danger "ay in the way it was trying to cao"e her into "istening. #o' it

said. pro%ise. f can $st get %y bag and %y wand' "" "eae yo$ a"one' pro%ise.

-he weapon in yo$r bagBhow do yo$ $se itD

eaponD

t b$rned %e' )inny contin$ed oer it' coninced that its powers were its words. o

yo$Bthrow it at peop"e to s$bd$e the%D

-he ogre pa"ed and fro


29/143

-he c"ang of the pan %ade her wince' b$t there was no choice. he had to hide the

%onster before her %other finished opening the door. +$rried"y' she waed her hand oer

the restraints and forced the ogre into the c$pboard $nder the stairs $st as the 6ey t$rnedin the "ast "oc6. -he door opened' b$t )inny hadnt re%oed the tab"e fro% in front of it.

)innyD

Co%ing' ?other she ca""ed and st$ffed the ogres escaping foot into the c$pboard and

"oc6ed the door.

hat on earth are yo$ doingD hats b"oc6ing the doorD

orry' ?other' )inny said as she %oed the tab"e and tried to catch her breath.

wasBerBsweeping the f"oor.

+er %other gae a disgr$nt"ed "oo6 and s$reyed the dar6ened roo% before h$ffing. #o

dinner ready yetD

)inny groaned interna""y. hed forgotten a"" abo$t dinner what with the ogre batt"e anda""B

er%B% sorryD she said. Bforgot. got b$sy reading and then needed to do the

f"oorsB

+er %other sighed heai"y and set her bas6et down on the tab"e. "" neer $nderstandhow yo$ can be so $ngratef$". *fter a"" do for yo$.

)inny bit bac6 her g$i"t and tried not to "et her eyes stray to the c$pboard too often as sheh$rried to prepare their %ea". "" hae it ready in no ti%e. was thin6ing' ?other' do

yo$ 6now what to%orrow isD

-he o"d wo%an %ade a so$nd in the bac6 of her throat b$t )inny wasnt s$re what it

%eant.

ts %y birthday' )inny contin$ed. f she 6ept her tone bright and cheerf$"' perhaps her

%other wo$"d act$a""y "isten to her reA$est. *nd was thin6ingBperhaps yo$ co$"d ta6e%e to see the "ights in the s6yD -he ones that are on"y on %y birthdayD

+er %other started and g"ared at her. -heyre $st stars' )inny.

)inny bit her "ip. #o' these ones are different. -hey appear at s$nset and "ast a"" night'

twin6"ing in the s6y before fading with the dawn. $t theyre not "i6e the stars.

ee ta"6ed abo$t this before' her %other said. Eo$ 6now what awaits yo$ in theo$tside wor"d.


30/143

)inny fo$ght the $rge to ro"" her eyes and she bit her tong$e to stop herse"f fro%

infor%ing her %other that she was perfect"y capab"e of ta6ing care of herse"f. *fter a""' if

she co$"d stand $p against a s%ooth ta"6ing' attractie ogre' what %ore co$"d bother herD

Eo$ can see the "ights perfect"y we"" fro% the window.

-he words were so ery fina" and spar6ed a fire deep inside )inny. he wantedto see the

"ights. he wantedto see the o$tside wor"d. *nd %ore than anything' )inny wantedto

proe that she co$"d ta6e care of herse"f.

Eo$re right' she said %ee6"y.

+er %other' who had been swe""ing $p for an arg$%ent' peered at her.

Eo$ are' )inny said. B 6now yo$ are. o%eti%es $st getB #eer %ind abo$t the

"ights' ?other. hat rea""y want for %y birthday isB he cast abo$t for an e(c$se to

get her %other o$t of the ho$se. f she co$"d on"y achiee a "itt"e freedo%' shed be ab"eto find the "ights on her own.

*rno"d n$


31/143

"" gather yo$r things. )inny tried not to "et the g$i"t of her "ies oerwhe"% her. t was

better to as6 for forgieness than per%ission' shed "earned oer the years. esides' a p"an

was for%ing in her head that %ight $st a""ow her to see the "ights and be bac6 before her%other was een aware she was gone.

-he on"y thing he had to show for his trac6ing was a body co%p"ete"y coered in

scratches and the shredded' disg$sting"y fi"thy c"oa6 that had been b$ried in the briars.

-he ,hoeni( was gone' disappeared into thin air' once %ore.

8on was f$rio$s' both at hi%se"f for "etting the da%ned croo6 get away' and at aw"ishfor not responding to the ca""s for bac6$p 8on had sent periodica""y thro$gh the p$rs$it.

+is fist tightened down on the c"oa6 and he "oo6ed aro$nd' %a6ing %enta" note of the

forest so that he co$"d ret$rn here and bring an entire sA$adron of *$rors with hi%.hadow ,hoeni( had see%ed to 6now right where he was *pparating to=perhaps his

hideo$t was so%ewhere aro$nd here.

*t the ery "east' it was a iab"e "ead for the% to chec6 o$t' rather than sitting aro$nd the

?inistry' doing nothing.

*n $neasy fee"ing sett"ed in the bac6 of 8ons %ind' b$t he forced it to stay p$t'co%part%enta"i


32/143

brand new thread to the ta"e: apparent"y *$g$sta ;ongbotto% had been harboring a

who"e ho$se f$"" of cri%ina"s and had gien a war>cry whoop before shed p$""ed a sword

on aw"ish. -he *$ror was "$c6y to hae s$ried.

8on %ade a note to te"" that partic$"ar ersion of the story to his father. #o one enoyed a

good e%be""ished ta"e "i6e *rth$r eas"ey.

+e t$ned bac6 into his partner' wondering if the %an co$"d t$rn any redder. Btraipsing

aro$nd the co$ntryside with no bac6$pB 8on wantedto point o$t that aw"ish wasg$i"ty of the sa%e thing' and hedon"y gone $p against an o"d witch=for%idab"e as she

was@ 8on had been after the s"ippery ,hoeni( and had co%e o$t with on"y so%e scratches

and a po$nding headache fro% the forced apparition. +e he"d his tong$e instead.

Ba wee6s s$spension o$ght to teach yo$ a thing or two abo$t fo""owing orders.aw"ishs itrio" ended and he g"ared at 8on' a satisfied s%ir6 on his face. itho$t pay'

of co$rse.

8on seethed inside. ?ore than eer before' he wanted to "ay into this po%po$s windbag

of a %an and te"" hi% what he rea""y tho$ght of the enior *$ror' b$t 8on on"y noddedinstead. #othing he co$"d say right now wo$"d %a6e the sit$ation any better.

#othing to say' eas"eyD

8on stood and straightened his r$%p"ed' dirty robes. +e c"enched his aw tight"y. #ot to

yo$' he said before wa"6ing o$t.

aw"ish er$pted' b$t 8on didnt ac6now"edge his tirade. f 8on was a"ready on

s$spension' then he didnt need to be at the ?inistry a %in$te "onger. hat he rea""yneeded was to get to a p"ace where he didnt hae to ho"d bac6' where he co$"d say what

he rea""y tho$ght and not hae to $stify any of it.

+e wanted to go ho%e' to the $rrow.

-he sA$ee


33/143

%agic and he %enta""y added the i%age of hadow ,hoeni( to the pi"es before he shot

%ore and %ore spe""s their way.

-ho$ght yo$ %ight be in here.

8on was sweating by the ti%e his father appeared' ?inistry robes $ndone at the co""arand worry etched on his face.

#o one een "istened to %e 8on roared. +e sho$"dnt be ye""ing at his father=?er"in

he"p hi% if his motherheard hi%=b$t he had the fee"ing his father $nderstood %ore than

anyone. 3eryone $nderesti%ated *rth$r eas"ey' the easy>going' ?$gg"e>"oingb$ffoon' and his sons hadnt had the easiest ti%e sett"ing at the ?inistry.

$t there was no one 8on respected %ore than his father@ %ost of the "essons hed needed

to be ta$ght were "earned in A$iet %o%ents with the %an' wor6ing side by side' ta"6ing

A$iet"y' or si%p"y watching how *rth$r reacted to circ$%stances beyond his contro".

+ow c"ose did yo$ get to -he ,hoeni(D

-here was no do$bt in his A$estion' no wondering whether 8on had act$a""y done what

hed said he did.

8on s%i"ed and shoo6 his head. C"ose eno$gh to 6now that the posters are way off on

what he "oo6s "i6e.

*rth$r nodded his head s"ow"y. Eo$ 6now' so%eti%es wonderB hat if wee a""

%is$dged the wi


34/143

t was a"%ost ti%e again. 8on was start"ed to rea"i


35/143

F"e$rs not so bad' he defended A$iet"y. %eanBshe see%s to rea""y "i6e hi%B

Fred and )eorge pic6ed $p on his so%ewhat f"$stered state and began ta6ing the piss.

,ercy as6ed their father a A$estion abo$t the ?inistry' and their %other set off on herdesire to hae grandchi"dren one day.

8on s%i"ed and shoo6 his head. +is fa%i"y wo$"d neer change.

+e "oo6ed $p to the %ante" aboe the firep"ace' crowded with photographs of the% a""

thro$gh the years. -here was one that was $s$a""y 6ept toward the bac6' bro$ght o$t ery

se"do%. t was allof the% gro$ped aro$nd a bea%ing' fire>headed todd"er.

8on wondered where his sister wo$"d hae fit into this fa%i"y if shed not been ta6en so

%any years ago. o$"d she be "i6e Fred and )eorge' carefree and care"essD o$"d she

be confident and coc6y "i6e i"" and Char"ieD o$"d she be "i6e ,ercy' a"" abo$t boo6s

and 6now"edgeD &r wo$"d she be %ore "i6e 8on' $ns$re where she fit into the fa%i"y

so%eti%es b$t 6nowing that they were a part of who she rea""y wasD

?ore than anything' he wished that he co$"d discoer the answer to that A$estion.

*Chapter 2*: Chapter 2: 3ate Ni#ht Conersations

)rom

Author's Note: hort chapter this ti%e. 6now. GsighG +ow abo$t if pro%ise another

one ery' ery soonD i"" yo$ sti"" "oe %eD Gbats eye"ashesG

Chapter 2: 3ate Ni#ht Conersations )rom Un$er The Stairs- A#ain-

+arry wo6e with his 6nee pressed into his chest and his sho$"der ra%%ed $p against a

hard piece of wood. hereer he was' it was dar6 with on"y a s%a"" so$rce of "ight > too

s%a"" to i""$%inate anything > e%anating fro% so%ewhere c"ose to his right foot.

+e s"ow"y too6 stoc6 and tried to piece together what had happened to hi%. &n thepositie side' his 6nee didnt throb near"y as %$ch as it had when hed twisted it ear"ier.

-he tenderness when he probed it was nothing co%pared to the po$nding in his head. +e

fe"t "i6e hed been hit withBwe""' a frying pan' to be honest.

-he sit$ation ca%e bac6 to hi% in ch$n6s' f"ashes of ti%e that he tried to piece togetherwhi"e rearranging his body as %$ch as he co$"d.

-he redhead was going to pay for this' he owed. o%ehow' hed %a6e her regret both

the in$ries to his head and st$ffing hi% inB


36/143

&h' da%n. +e was in a c"oset $nder the stairs. *gain.

+e sighed dra%atica""y to hi%se"f and then $%ped in fright when the %irror ibrated.

#ei""e and +er%ione were $nder strict orders not to contact hi% for anything +e c$rsed

si"ent"y and tried to wigg"e it o$t of his poc6et. -he fact that they were een tryingnowwas a testa%ent to their concern. -hat or theyd been capt$red by eath 3aters and this

who"e operation was fa""ing apart aro$nd hi%.

+e hadntseena dar6 %ar6 on 8eds ar%' and she didnt necessari"y act "i6e a witch'

een. ,erhaps she was si%p"y a ?$gg"e who was start"ed by hi% craw"ing into herwindow' start"ed eno$gh to s%ash his face in with a pan.

hadow

+er%iones incessant whispering annoyed +arry' b$t he fina""y %anaged to free the

%irror. +e co$"dnt see her in it' b$t rep"ied in an eA$a""y "ow oice.

% here.

* %$ff"ed sA$ea" answered and +arry i%agined +er%ione c"apping a hand oer her

%o$th to ho"d in her re"ief that he wasnt dead.

(here are you&"

+arry considered that A$estion. t wo$"d be f"ippant to answer with the tr$th' honest"y'

and wo$"d probab"y %a6e +er%iones a"ready fra


37/143

esides' +arry honest"y had no idea where he was@ hed traipsed thro$gh the trees and

hadnt been trac6ing his position we"" eno$gh to e(p"ain it to her.

#o' no' he said fina""y. "" $stB"" fig$re it o$t.

#ei""e grabbed the %irror and +arry heard his sigh of re"ief. -here yo$ are' %ate. Btho$ght d gotten yo$ capt$red.

+arry forced o$t a s%a"" ch$c6"e' since they co$"dnt see hi% s%i"e. #o worries. $st a

s%a"" setbac6. % $stBdea"ing with an iss$e and then "" be bac6.

Fact: the ?$gg"e had the +orcr$(. hed een been b$rned by to$ching it' which %ade+arry fee" horrib"y g$i"ty' b$t there wasnt %$ch he co$"d do abo$t it fro% his cra%ped

position in the c$pboard.

Fact: he needed to fig$re o$t a way to conince her that he %eant her no har%' that he

wo$"d g"ad"y be on his way if she wo$"d gie hi% the satche" and his wand bac6' and thathe respected her coo6ware brandishing s6i""s eno$gh to neer set foot in her part of the

forest again.

$t he had no idea how to do that.

*"right hadowD #ei""e as6ed' concern fi""ing his oice. Eo$re awf$""y A$iet.

+arry bit his "ip. #ecessity. % erB% sort of in a tang"e here. -heres this %ad?$gg"e' yo$ seeB +onesty was a"ways the best po"icy' he decided. &r' partia" honesty

at "east.

+er%ione snatched the %irror bac6=+arry heard #ei""e ye"p in protest. hy didnt

yo$ say so%ethingD

hes not a threat' +arry said' g"ossing oer the i%age of the pan co%ing at his face.

$stB$st an annoyance. he ended $p with %y bagBand %y wand.

+er%ione h$ffed and he heard her %$ttering so%ething to #ei""e' b$t he co$"dnt %a6e

o$t the words.

Eo$"" $st hae to get the% bac6.

+e refrained fro% ro""ing his eyes' $st in case she rea""y co$"d see hi%. e""' yeah. *ny

s$ggestions wo$"d be he"pf$" at this point. d prefer not to $se br$te force' b$t % not

r$"ing it o$t co%p"ete"y.

8ed %ight be deter%ined' b$t she was sti"" a tiny "itt"e thing. +arry had no do$bt he co$"dst$ff herin the c$pboard if she eer "et go of her weapon. -he idea had %erit' he decided

as he tried to %assage the cra%p o$t of his thigh.


38/143

e""' +er%ione sighed' there are seera" approaches. Eo$ co$"d try reasoning with

her.

+arry' again' pict$red the pan co%ing toward hi%. +%%' not so good on the reasoningthing.

&6ay' what abo$t tric6ing her into giing it to yo$D as6ed +er%ione. Eo$re not the

best "iar' 6now=

&i

+er%ione contin$ed on' as if +arry hadnt said a thing' =b$t % s$re yo$ can %anageto thin6 of so%ething.

+arry sighed and ginger"y to$ched the bridge of his nose' testing to see if it was bro6en

or si%p"y da%aged. can try' he agreed.

&rBwe""' there is another option. +er%ione so$nded hesitant' and there was a s"ight"y

odd tone to her oice.

Ees' ,rofessorD +arry co$"d pict$re the s%ir6 on her face when he $sed her code na%e.

ehind her bac6' he and #ei""e often ca""ed +er%ione -he rain' b$t they wo$"d neer

"et her 6now that. +arry was fond of a"" his parts right where they were' than6 yo$ ery

%$ch' fo"ded as they %ay be at the %o%ent.

Eo$ co$"d try to char% her into giing yo$ what yo$ want.

+arry stared into the dar6ness of the c$pboard b"an6"y' his %ind whir"ing. 7harm&+ehonest"y had no idea what she was ta"6ing abo$t.

3rB

&h' co%e now' hadow' yo$ can be ery char%ing when yo$ want to be.

+e fe"t his face heat b$t sti"" had no c"$e how he wo$"d een go abo$t getting 8ed to giehi% his things $singBcharm.

hat do yo$ do when yo$ want %e or #ei""e to do so%ething for yo$D +er%ione

as6ed. he so$nded a tad bit e(asperated with hi%' b$t +arry co$"dnt he"p it. +e wasr$bbish with gir"s. ts not "i6e hed had years of e(perience dating at +ogwarts. &6ay' he

had noneat a"". +is one 6iss $nder the %ist"etoe with Cho and the disastro$s date had sent

hi% sc$rrying bac6 to the shadows where hed re%ained free fro% ro%antic

entang"e%ents. ,"$s' there was a war going on. ating opport$nities were a "itt"e thin onthe gro$nd.


39/143

% not going to beather' +er%ione' he sighed. $stB% trying to thin6 abo$t how

to approach it.

s she prettyD

+arry grew f"$stered by her A$estion and een %ore e%barrassed when he heard #ei""ech$c6"ing in the bac6gro$nd.

hesBer%B +e tho$ght bac6 to the s"ip of a gir" with the f"a%ing hair and fiery spirit.

Ees' he co$"d ad%it she was p"easant to "oo6 at' with her bright brown eyes' c$rio$s

e(pression' perfect"y pin6 "ips' s%ooth s6inB

+er%ione pro%pted hi%. EesD

hesByeah' d say so.

*nd yo$re a handso%e %an' +arry. +is chee6s grew war%. ont yo$ thin6 so'?andra6eD

-he pict$re of #ei""e f"eeing as he ca""ed o$t' o notdrag %e into this' ,rofessor%ade +arry s%i"e.

Eo$re a"ways te""ing $s to $se o$r assets' hadow. $stBwoo her a bit and ta"6 her into

giing yo$ what yo$ want.

o%ething abo$t her state%ent %ade +arry fee" f$nny. t didnt see% rightB $tBisnt

that sort of $nderhandedD

+er%ione h$ffed' b$t +arry co$"d te"" she wasnt rea""y annoyed with hi%' $st the

sit$ation. Eo$re notseducingher' hadow +arry near"y cho6ed at the tho$ght.

Eo$re $stB$sing yo$r assets to the best of yo$r abi"ities. #ow' get o$t there and get onwith it so yo$ can get bac6 here and eat. Eo$ haent eaten for %ore than eight ho$rs.

-he shift in the conersation %ade +arrys head spin. &ne second she was ta"6ing abo$t

sed$ction' the other she was %othering hi%.

Fine' he gr$%b"ed. +e co$"d hear 8ed ta"6ing to so%eone $st on the other side of the

door' now that he was "istening for her' b$t he co$"dnt %a6e o$t e(act"y what she was

saying. "" ta"6 to yo$ "ater.

+arry st$ffed the %irror bac6 in his poc6et and tried to i%agine how on earth he was

going to get hi%se"f o$t of this sit$ation: both the being>st$ffed>in>a>c$pboard one and

the gir">has>the>+orcr$( one. #either see%ed pro%ising at the %o%ent.


40/143

*Chapter 4*: Chapter 4: Charmin# .our (ay Out O&

Stic

Author's Note: ;oo6 at how spoi"ed yo$ a"" are -oday yo$ get a two>for>one offer.

L*nd it "i6e"y has nothing to do with the fact that %apped o$t the posting sched$"e andrea"i


41/143

-he ogre sighed and s"ow"y inched $p $nti" it was standing' "oo6ing down on her. %

not an ogre. pro%ise.

)inny "ifted the pan and the %onster f"inched. &gres "ie. -hats what %y %other ta$ght%e.

% notan ogre. % not a beast' a %onster' a giantBor anything b$t aB$st a %an.

Eo$ s%e"" horrib"e' )inny pointed o$t. &gres s%e"".

-he %onster was "osing patience' she co$"d te""' b$t he too6 a s"ow breath in and s"id its

feet forward $nti" it was standing right in front of her. -hats beca$se was r$nning fro%an *$ror.

)inny scow"ed at its de"iberate %oe%ents. -he green eyes were A$ite stri6ing' and

especia""y piercing when this c"ose. hats an *$rorD

t sighed and r$ff"ed the f$r on its head' wincing and probing tender"y at the p"ace )inny

had hit it. * i"e ani%a"' it said' that h$nts down %en "i6e %e and capt$res the% todrag bac6 to its ei" "air.

)innys ar% "owered a fraction of an inch and she gaped at thisB%an. he sti"" wasnt

s$re a"" of this wasnt a tric6' b$t hed had p"enty of ti%e to grab her' throw her oer his

sho$"der' and carry her away to his cae. +e hadnt done so yet' so %aybe he was te""ingthe tr$th.

t so$nds horrib"e' she whispered.

-he %an "oo6ed at her for a %in$te before %oing a fraction of an inch c"oser. Eo$ hae

no idea. ts barbaric. *$rors are the worst sort of %onster o$t there.

o yo$B )inny g"anced oer at the c"osed window' wondering if the *$ror was sti""

o$tside waiting for its prey. s it sti"" o$t thereD

-he %an see%ed start"ed by her A$estion and then shoo6 his head. #o. "" bet its gone

ho%e now. *$rors are %ean' b$t theyre not partic$"ar"y s%art' yo$ see. % pretty s$rewere safe now.

+e so$nded so s$re that )inny fe"t herse"f re"a(. espite his s%e""' and the way hedbarged into her ho%e' there was so%ething abo$t this %an that )inny "i6ed.

o yo$ 6now where the "ights in the s6y co%e fro%D

-he A$estion start"ed hi% and he stared at her. -he starsD


42/143

#o. -he "ights. -hey co%e eery year on the sa%e day=to%orrow' in fact=and fi"" the

s6y with spar6"es that hang in the heaens.

&h -he firewor6s d co%p"ete"y forgotten abo$t those. +e ch$c6"ed and )innywondered what was so f$nny. 3rB% not s$re' e(act"y.

)innys heart san6 and she "owered herse"f onto one of the 6itchen chairs. &h. was

hopingB he shoo6 the tho$ght away and stared down at her feet. ?aybe she sho$"d

$st te"" the %an to "eae. +e was probab"y safe fro% the nasty *$ror o$tside' and heobio$s"y hadnt co%e trying to stea" her away.

hae yo$r bag. "" gie it to yo$ and yo$ can go.

+e "oo6ed gratef$"' b$t he didnt atte%pt to "eae. hy do yo$ want to 6now abo$t the

"ightsD

)inny "oo6ed $p and saw that his A$estion was gen$ine. *"" %y "ife e been waiting$nti" co$"d see the%. *nd not $st fro% %y window' b$t $p c"ose. want to "ie in the

grass and watch the% twin6"e in the s6y aboe %e' b$t %y %other wo$"d neer "et %e. t

probab"y so$nds st$pid' b$t tho$ght if yo$ 6new where they were' yo$ co$"d ta6e %ethere.

;oo6' 8ed=erBGinny' % not s$re where they co%e fro%' b$tB %ight be ab"e to

find o$t for yo$=

)inny $%ped o$t of her chair and threw herse"f at hi%' sA$ea"ing happi"y. -hen yo$

can ta6e %e there

-he %an "oo6ed start"ed and patted her bac6 rather fir%"y' stea"ing her breath. &h' erB

% not s$re thatsB Eo$ see' hae so%ewhere need to beB 3r%Bwhen said co$"d

=

e"" %a6e a dea"' )inny said as she p$""ed bac6. Eo$ ta6e %e to the "ights' and ""gie yo$ yo$r bag bac6. t was the perfect so"$tion +e certain"y wanted that odd

b$rning c$p and stic6 eno$gh to persist in as6ing for the%. *nd )inny 6new it was easier

to get what she wanted by withho"ding so%ething he wanted.

#ow "isten here=

e hidden it' yo$ 6now' she "ied. Eo$"" neer find it.

-he %an "oo6ed irritated and rather inti%idating' b$t )inny he"d her gro$nd. +e was

going to ta6e her to the "ights.

Eo$ cant be serio$s.


43/143

wont be a bother at a""' she pro%ised. $st ta6e %e to see the "ights to%orrow night

and "" gie yo$ the bag bac6. pro%ise.

-he %an "oo6ed $p at the cei"ing and r$bbed his eyes harsh"y whi"e %$ttering so%ethingabo$t char%.

hy %eD he as6ed. hy not as6 yo$r %otherD

he wo$"d neer ta6e %e' )inny dis%issed. t"" hae to be yo$. Eo$ can protect %e

fro% a"" the ogres' %onsters' and *$rors o$t there whi"e we search for the "ights.

-his is insane +e sto%ped aro$nd the 6itchen' %$ttering odd things and h$ffing eachti%e he ca$ght sight of )inny' b$t she was p"eased@ the "onger he spent here' the %ore he

was act$a""y considering accepting her dea".

ts the perfect so"$tion' )inny said. e both get what we want.

Eo$ dont een 6now %e' he said. co$"d beB co$"d be an ogre$st "i6e yo$

tho$ght' on"y % a tric6y ogre.

he too6 in a s"ow breath and considered his words. e decided to tr$st yo$.

-hey "oo6ed at each other for a "ong %in$te before the %an sighed and his sho$"ders

san6. #ot yo$r best decision.

"" bring %y pan' dont worry. f yo$ get o$t of hand=

+e scow"ed. Fine. *nd bring %y bag. e"" need it where were going.

$t yo$ dont een 6now where the "ights are' she pointed o$t.

+e "oo6ed %ore annoyed. can fig$re it o$t. +e p$""ed a s%a"" piece of %irror fro% his

poc6et and p$t it in front of his %o$th. ea"ing with thesituation' ,rofessor. #eed the

gen on where can find the firewor6s in the s6y that wi"" happen to%orrow night.

)inny peered c"ose"y at the %irror. t was a professorD hat sort of %ischief was thisD

&h' hadow' erBwe""' % not positie' the %irror answered in a fe%inine oice.

f yo$ had toguessD the %an h$ffed. *pparent"y the %irror %ade hi% een tetchier.

o$th' it answered. eon' perhaps. thin6 e heard abo$t a fa%i"y down there that

=

-he %irror wasnt done ta"6ing when the %an shoed it deep into his poc6et. e""D Eo$

heard the ,rofessor' 8ed. ;ets get going.


44/143

Bwhere is thisBeonD *re yo$ fa%i"iar with itD s it a town or perhaps a A$ant "itt"e

i""age where the inhabitants ce"ebrate so%e grandB

-he gir" hadnt sh$t $p. #ot once since they started on this "itt"e i%pro%pt$ adent$re.

+arry co$"d fee" the energy "eeching o$t of his body as they wa"6ed. +e had to fig$re away o$t of this sit$ation. +e co$"d fee" the %irror in his poc6et ibrating=no do$bt

+er%ione trying to gie hi% the rest of her "ect$re' or $st te"" hi% off for being r$de=

b$t there was no way to ta6e the %irror o$t again witho$t a"erting 8ed to it. hed a"readysee%ed fascinated the first ti%e he was forced to $se it.

f on"y he co$"d tric6 her into setting that r$ddy bag down' he co$"d snatch it' p$"" his

wand' and *pparate away. hed be f$rio$s' b$t shed eent$a""y get oer it. +arry didnt

owe her anything' anyway' other than %aybe a few reciproca" whac6s to the head. -heidea %ade hi% s"ight"y $nco%fortab"e' "i6e cheating' b$t he hadnt rea""y agreed to her

dea". ,"$s' he was $nder d$ress' and that sho$"d n$""ify eerything' sho$"dnt itD

B%y %other a"ways to"d %e how bea$tif$" %y hair wasBperhaps sho$"d 6eep it

hiddenD hat do yo$ thin6D o yo$ hae a na%eD fee" bad for ca""ing yo$ %an in %yhead' when yo$ probab"y do hae a na%e. *"tho$gh' did te"" yo$ %y na%e was )inny

and yo$ contin$e to ca"" %e red. H$ite r$de' if yo$ as6 %e.

+arry straightened his croo6ed g"asses and bit his "ip to 6eep fro% e(p"oding infr$stration with the chatty gir". ts hadow' he said s"ow"y. hadow ,hoeni(.

+is words' the first hed spo6en other than giing her directions thro$gh the forest'

see%ed to start"e her' b$t soon she was s%i"ing.

hadow ,hoeni(. "i6e that. s it "ong now to eon' hadow ,hoeni(D on"y as6

beca$se %y %other wi"" be gone $nti" the day after to%orrow' and d "i6e to be bac6before she ret$rns. he wi"" not be happy when she rea"ieyes. Eo$ thin6 sho$"d go bac6' hadow ,hoeni(D

+arry ignored the way his heart th$dded in his chest. +e neededto do this. +e had to get

bac6 to )ri%%a$"d ,"ace with the +orcr$( before the *$rors capt$red hi%' or he wasdiscoered by eath 3aters. 8ed wo$"d si%p"y hae to "earn to "ie with the

disappoint%ent of watching the firewor6s fro% her window.


45/143

can on"y say that d be worried sic6 if was yo$r %other and arried bac6 ho%e after

trae"ing so far and the ho$se was e%pty.

o%e of her pratt"ing %$st hae soa6ed into his brain beca$se +arry was ab"e to $sethings fro% her words to b$i"d the arg$%ent against this insane idea. -here was no way

for the% to get fro% cot"and a"" the way to eon witho$t being seen or capt$red. *ndsince +arry co$"dnt get to his wand to *pparate away' he was st$c6 $nti" she handed

oer the bag. -here was abso"$te"y no way he co$"d ta6e a ?$gg"e a"" the way to eonright now. #or did he want to.

)inny "oc6ed her aw at his words and p$""ed the hood $p on her robe to coer her

spectac$"ar"y red hair. #o. % going. -he b"a


46/143

)inny scow"ed and c"$tched the bag tighter to her side $nder the c"oa6. -hats not what

we agreedB

6now' +arry sighed. $t its i%portant. t"" get $sBinside the p"ace we need to go.

he see%ed to thin6 abo$t that before her eyes "it $p. &h' its "i6e a 6eyD

3(act"y' +arry said. * 6ey. -here was no way he was going to traipse into

+ogs%eade=which was craw"ing with eath 3aters and natchers=witho$t his wand at

the ready. ?$gg"e or no' +arry needed to protect )inny.

Caref$"' he ca$tioned when she began to r$%%age aro$nd in the bag. -he c$pBitsB$%%%B

wrapped it $p' )inny said practica""y and he"d his wand o$t to hi%. +eres yo$r 6ey.

t was %$ch easier to breathe with his wand in his hand' +arry decided. +e fe"t so %$ch"ess e(posed and $"nerab"e. ;ets go. ?a6e s$re to 6eep yo$r head down=dont "oo6 at

anyone=and dont say a word.

+er eyes widened fearf$""y. s the i""age f$"" of tro""s and ogresD

*nd *$rors' +arry said with a nod. +e he"d o$t his hand and tried to ignore how soft'

yet fir% her fingers were as they s"id into his grasp. $t yo$ can tr$st %e="" protect

yo$.

+er s%i"e was da


47/143

do$bt one of these peop"e was an $ndercoer *$ror. +arry 6ept his head down and p$""ed

a re"$ctant )inny thro$gh the crowd.

Eo$ %$st be a b"oo%in idiot' *berforth hissed when he saw who was beneath the hoodof the c"oa6 +arry had snatched off a "a$ndry "ine on the edge of town.

anct$ary' was a"" that +arry whispered and *berforth gro$nd his teeth noisi"y. +arry

6new that if the bartender hadnt %ade specific pro%ises to his brother' +arry wo$"d be

o$t of "$c6. *berforth had no "oe for Io"de%ort or the ?inistry' b$t he a"so didnt ta6e6ind"y to ,rofessor $%b"edores idea"s. +e a"so tho$ght +arry was a foo" for not f"eeing

3ng"and when he had the chance' and to"d hi% that eery ti%e they %et.

)inny d$tif$""y 6ept her face down the entire ti%e they were in the %ain part of the p$b'

and didnt %a6e a so$nd. +arry co$"d fee" her tre%b"ing tho$gh' and pict$red her otherhand wrapped so tight"y aro$nd her pan that the hand"e defor%ed.

hat the hellwas he doing dragging a ?$gg"e into this p"aceD

Eo$ can stay here tonight' *berforth gr$nted and indicated a ric6ety door. Eo$ need

to be gone before daybrea6. -hey patro" the streets starting at seen.

e wi""' +arry pro%ised. +e ignored the way *berforth stared at )inny and p$""ed herinto the d$sty' cra%ped roo% that on"y offered a sing"e narrow bed.

&nce the door was c"osed and a si"ent "oc6ing spe"" set' +arry a""owed a nero$s ch$c6"e.

?ade it safe.

)inny was staring at hi% with wide' tear>fi""ed eyes. +er who"e body shoo6. s thatB*re they a""B

?ost"y %en and wo%en' +arry said' s6irting aro$nd the tr$th a bit. * few hags and

war"oc6sB

*ny ogresD +er oice was bare"y a whisper and +arry fe"t bad. +e was e(posing her to

s$ch a dangero$s wor"d si%p"y by being with hi%.

&n"y the bartender' he said gr$ff"y. % teasing. +esB$st gr$%py. #o ogres. #o

tro""s. #o %onsters of any 6ind.

)inny watched hi% caref$""y. *$rorsD

#one' he "ied. #one at a"". he wasnt going to be ab"e to s"eep if she was $p a"" night

c"$tching that pan' and neither wo$"d +arry.

he "et o$t a deep sigh and fina""y "oo6ed aro$nd the roo%.


48/143


49/143

+arry s"$%ped f$rther into the seat and watched )inny as she s"ept. 6now. e were

caref$". +e winced as he rea"i


50/143

f yo$ fee" thats the right thing to do' hadow' we"" s$pport it. ;et $s 6now if yo$ need

anything e"se.

i"" do.

-he %irror went dar6 and +arry sat in the f"ic6ering "ight of the cand"e. t was going tobe a "ong co$p"e of days. ?aybe he needed to confide in )inny that he was %agica" and

%a6e eerything so %$ch easier on both of the%.

?aybe.

*Chapter 6*: Chapter 6: Cast Iron/ %lease7 Thank .ou

Author's Note: had so%eone as6 in a reiew why a% spending %y ti%e $sing

so%eone e"ses ideas for a story' rather than co%ing $p with %y own. co$"dnt answerthe% direct"y' b$t did want to answer that A$estion. First' writing fanfiction is %yescape fro% rea" "ife' fro% stress' fro% eerything e"se. econd' write for a%$se%ent'

not for acco"ades' awards' or anything e"se. -hird' write when a story idea co%es into

%y head and stic6s with %e "onger than a few passing daydrea%s. For %e' its eno$gh. do get origina" ideas' b$t tend to sae the% for %y origina" fiction rather than $sing

the% on fanfiction. Gshr$gsG &6ay' now fee" better. hope yo$ enoy the ne(t chapter.

*s a"ways' than6s to the wonderf$" betas' and d "oe to hear what yo$ thin6.

Chapter 6: Cast Iron/ %lease7 Thank .ou 8ery 9uch

iagon *""ey was a"ways A$iet ear"y in the %orning. -he rising of the s$n see%ed towa6e it inch by inch: doors wo$"d $n"oc6' sh$tters wo$"d fo"d bac6' and the dai"y

b$siness wo$"d co%%ence.

$t ear"y=ery ear"y=it was a"%ost as if eerything was fro


51/143

#o worries abo$t that today' he %$%b"ed to hi%se"f and set o$t toward Fred and

)eorges shop' hoping his brothers wo$"d be $p and %oing. -here were "ights on in the

$pstairs windows' so 8on was hopef$". +ed "earned his "esson "ast year abo$t *pparatingdirect"y into the brand new shop. Fred and )eorge %ight be f$nny' b$t they were dead"y

serio$s abo$t sec$rity@ on"y 8ons A$ic6 instincts had saed hi% fro% bodi"y har% when

hed tripped a few of their he(es.

-he door wasnt $n"oc6ed' b$t he co$"d see )eorge sh$ff"ing down the ais"e in his$nifor%=and ho$se s"ippers=directing bright"y wrapped prod$cts onto the she"es. 8on

rapped his 6n$c6"e against the window and )eorge pretended to thin6 abo$t it before

$n"oc6ing the door.

$st in ti%e' he said with a tired s%i"e. co$"d $se another pair of hands. Fred see%s

to be haing a hard ti%e getting going this %orning.

heard that' yo$ git Fred ca""ed fro% the bac6 roo%.

)eorge s%ir6ed. %eant for yo$ to hear it' prat

8on refrained fro% ro""ing his eyes. +e was $sed to the banter' b$t they both %$st betired as the creatie na%e ca""ing $st wasnt on yet.

8onnie6ins ca%e to he"p )eorge said as he tossed a bo( of -ong$e>-wister -offees $p

in the air and banished it to the top she"f with a f"o$rish of his wand.

id not 8on ca""ed bac6. % $st dropping by before head bac6 to +ogs%eade.

n a"" honest"y' 8on wasnt s$re why hed co%e to iagon *""ey anyway. +e s$pposed itwas %ost"y o$t of habit that he fe"t co%pe""ed to chec6 on eeryone as often as he co$"d

=theyd a"" dee"oped the co%p$"sion oer the years. t was ingrained fro% a ery ear"y

age' eer since )inera had been ta6en right fro% her cot. 3en tho$gh i"" was %arried'

he sti"" chec6ed in with his parents once a day' and his brothers seera" ti%es a wee6.Char"ie was "ess worried abo$t s$ch things' b$t he wrote often. -he rest of the% fe""

a"ong the sca"e at arying degrees of protectieness=8on and ,ercy' s$rprising"y' were

the %ost igi"ant' Fred and )eorge' the %ost cas$a" abo$t it a"".

-ho$ght yo$ were on s$spension' said )eorge as he %oed down the ais"e. Fredwandered o$t and handed 8on an ar%f$" of bo(es. 8on scow"ed at the%' b$t then began

p"acing the%. ?ight as we"" be he"pf$"' he s$pposed.

a%' b$t that doesnt %ean cant go for a walkin +ogs%eade' yo$ 6now.

&r the forest aro$nd it' Fred said with a s%ir6.

*nd if yo$ happen to find a stray phoeni(B


52/143

8on s%ir6ed and gae a fir% nod. +e was "oo6ing forward to seeing aw"ishs face when

he' 8on eas"ey' was the one to drag hadow ,hoeni( into the ?inistry. *"" the rest of

the %$c6ity>%$c6s at the ?inistry wo$"d be green with eny.

Fred sat on the edge of the co$nter and yawned wide"y. Eo$ rea""y thin6 his hideo$t is

aro$nd thereD

+e see%ed to 6now the p"ace pretty we""' said 8on. *nd he disappeared the %o%ent

he was o$t of %y sight=no so$nd of *pparition.

+e %ight be $st that good' )eorge pointed o$t as he "eaned on the co$nter. -he threebrothers were A$iet for a %in$te' conte%p"ating.

ad saysB 8on trai"ed off' scow"ing down at his shoes. +e sti"" wasnt s$re what the

who"e conersation abo$t %otiations had been abo$t' b$t he co$"dnt stop thin6ing abo$t

it. ad says that %aybe the ,hoeni( is a decent b"o6e $stB$st ca$ght $p in so%e sort

of %ess.

oth Fred and )eorge scow"ed. +es ta"ented' "" gie hi% that' Fred said.

)eorge added' ith so%e serio$s spe"" 6now"edge' b$t hae no idea what hes abo$t.

efinite"y a %ystery' that one.

Eeah. 8on nodded and they went si"ent' a"" conte%p"ating. esides the officia" fi"e onhadow ,hoeni( at the ?inistry=which was painf$""y thin and s6etchy=there wasnt

%$ch 6nown abo$t the thief' other than hed $st appeared one day o$t of the b"$e. -here

was no indication as to who he rea""y was' where hed co%e fro%' or what he %eant by

brea6ing into p"aces a"" oer 3ng"and and stea"ing odd things. ?ost of it was a"" r$%orand inn$endo' anyway.

-he f$nniest thing 8on had read in the fi"e was the ada%ant state%ent fro% one bar%y

witch in Kent who swore $p and down -he ,hoeni( had sto"en eggs fro% her chic6encoop and that he "oo6ed re%ar6ab"y "i6e +arry ,otter. -he other theories were $st as

"oony=esDumbledore, in disguise! es really a group of people running an

underground ring of secret thieves! e really doesnt e/ist at all!8on had heard it a"".

oes ?$% 6now where yo$re off toD

8on shifted $nder Freds 6nowing ga


53/143

)eorge stro6ed his chin in tho$ght. e co$"d $se a good bott"e of Firewhis6y' yo$

6now.

&r so%eone to test the newBahe%B Eo$ 6now the one % ta"6ing abo$t. Fred and)eorge shared a "a$gh and 8on winced. +ed been an $nwi""ing test s$bect %any ti%es

oer his growing $p years' and een offered when he needed a few ga""eons now andagain' b$t the prospects werent good when they went a"" secretie "i6e that. t didnt bode

we"" for his hea"th or appearance.

hae an a$tographed Ch$d"ey poster' 8on offered with a sigh. +e rea""y didnt want to

gie that $p' b$t he was wi""ing if theyd coer for hi% with their %other for the rest of

the wee6.

hy wo$"d we want thatD Fred as6ed. +e scr$nched his nose $p in distaste. #ow' ifyo$ were ta"6ing abo$t the +arpiesB +e wagg"ed his eyebrows sa"acio$s"y.

e""' dont hae that' said 8on he"p"ess"y. $stB$st do it' a"rightD

+is brothers e(changed a "ong "oo6 with each other before nodding. Fine. $t she""

wonder why yo$ ta6e so %any "oo brea6s when cant prod$ce yo$ at the f"oo...

8on near"y cheered with tri$%ph. -hey were going to do it and he hadnt needed topro%ise b"ood' %oney' or his first born chi"d e""' that is' ifhe eer had a chi"dBerBor

een dated a gir" proper"yB

)eorge c"apped hi% on the sho$"der. Eo$ can sp"it the reward with $s.

8on opened his %o$th to arg$e' b$t c"osed it with a snap. -hat wasnt too %$ch to as6' hedecided. *fter a""' the -wins had he"ped hi% pay for the *cade%y and gien hi% A$ite a

bit oer the years.

Fine. "" chec6 in with yo$ "ater.

*n ho$r "ater' 8on was e(ha$sted' both %enta""y and physica""y. +ed traipsed a""

thro$gh the woods s$rro$nding +ogs%eade and hadnt been ab"e to find any sort ofeidence that -he ,hoeni( was in the area. ?agica" signat$res were faint and probab"y

resid$a" fro% the a"">i


54/143

+ogs%eade was fascinating' b$t in a %$ch different way than iagon *""ey. ,erhaps it

was beca$se 8on hadnt eer been to the town $nti" he was an *$ror -rainee' and by that

ti%e the %ore shadowy e"e%ents of society had ta6en ho"d' b$t it see%edB"ess'so%ehow. o%e of the storefronts were boarded $p per%anent"y' whi"e other %erchants

dogged"y he"d onto the s%a"" tric6"e of b$siness that re%ained.

*n *$ror patro" passed hi% as he wa"6ed' b$t 8on 6new they were nothing b$t -rainees.

-he riff>raff that traersed these streets didnt ta6e we"" to *$rors po"icing the%@ it wasbest to hae a isib"e' yet si"ent presence.

n one shop window' the ear"y %orning s$n ca$ght so%ething spar6"y and 8on stopped to

"oo6 at the de"icate g"ass f"ower that sat on a she"f. t was rea""y bea$tif$"' intricate"ycrafted and so ery thin. t was probab"y %ore than he co$"d eer spend' b$t the idea of

b$ying so%ething "i6e that for his %other for Christ%as popped into his %ind. he "oed

bea$tif$" things "i6e that' een tho$gh his father co%p"ained that they had far too %any

trin6ets c"$ttering eery s$rface of the "iing roo%="opsided ashtrays sc$"pted fro% c"ay

by h$rried "itt"e fingers' pict$re fra%es %ade fro% dried nood"es and stic6ing char%s's%a"" cared dragons that Char"ie %ade in his spare ti%eBthe ho$se was f$"" of gifts

fro% her chi"dren. $t the f"ower was different. +ed seen so%ething si%i"ar when hewas ery yo$ng and was isiting re"aties. +e co$"dnt A$ite re%e%ber the story abo$t it'

b$t he tho$ght so%eone had to"d hi% his grand%other %ade the%.

8on was $st abo$t to *pparate bac6 to iagon *""ey when he tho$ght abo$t ta"6ing to

the bar6eeper at the +ogs +ead -aern. -he )oat was what the *$rors ca""ed the gr$ffo"d %an. 8on wasnt s$re the significance of the na%e' b$t eeryone 6new who they

%eant when one

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