Ron tried to keep himself awake, stuck next to a sixth year Ravenclaw prefect so he didn’t have to endure Draco Malfoy for the meeting.

He’s as bad as Percy Ron thought, stifling a yawn. Hermione looked focused, as if she was in the middle of a test and doing her best to use the exact words the professor’s did. Ron blinked for a few seconds.

‘Mr Weasley I’d like you to patrol with Mr Malfoy,’ the head boy said, drawing protests from both of them.

‘I’m not patrolling with that,’ Draco shouted. ‘I refuse to.’

‘Not the only one,’ Ron muttered, his thought turning to the vast number of accidents Malfoy could suffer on patrol. Especially what the twins could do if they had a bit of inside knowledge.

‘Miss Granger, would you patrol with Mr Weasley then?’ the head boy asked.

‘Certainly,’ Hermione replied quickly.

‘Now that is settled this meeting is over,’ the head boy started, Ron tuning his words out entirely.

‘This is going to be a good year,’ Hermione said, the moment they left the meeting room.

‘I don’t think so,’ Ron countered. ‘Look at Malfoy, we all know who got him that badge.’

‘I’m sure that he earned it,’ Hermione countered.

‘Harry would agree with me, I bet he’s already gone to find our cabin,’ Ron said, only to have to duck to the side, the previously mentioned prefect ran by screaming, bats made of mucus circling him like vultures. ‘Told you so.’

‘I was wrong, okay?’ Hermione asked. ‘Ginny shouldn’t have cursed him though.’

Better her than me Ron thought. He wondered for a moment, looking up at the sky the final traces of London disappearing from his view. He hoped Harry was okay, wherever he was.

Nym looked at the suitcases, the last days of their holiday passing like hours. Again, they had gone to clubs, the only difference was that the number of drinks they had each. Another passed with the two of them doing little more than swimming and relaxing by the pool, the final one spent on the beach, both of them taking on all comers in a volleyball competition. They enjoyed the game, but not enough to consider playing it when they were back in England. Harry looked distracted for a moment, he seemed to be trying to think about something, but couldn’t place it.

‘Harry, you look scattered,’ Nym, said, touching his shoulder, surprise etched on his face. He would have jumped through the ceiling if he had the strength.

‘Yeah, I kinda miss not going back to Hogwarts,’ Harry said after a moment. ‘It’s... I’m glad where I am, but I can’t help but think of what could have happened if I was elsewhere.’

‘No, I understand,’ Nym said. ‘How much longer?’

‘We could leave now, if you want.’

‘A drink or two at the airport?’

‘One or two, we could do with the sleep, red eye flight back,’ Harry commented. He rubbed the thumb of the same hand along the ring, his eyes shut for a moment.

‘Almost makes me like portkeys,’ Nym said looking at Harry’s deep green eyes. She felt like he was searching her soul for a moment.

‘Almost?’

‘Almost,’ Nym repeated. ‘Still prefer to fly. So much more comfortable.’

‘Brooms or plane?’

‘Either, especially business class.’

‘Me too,’ Harry said, hugging Nym. She placed her head on his shoulder, she could feel his breathing, slow and steady.

‘What is it?’ Nym asked.

‘I just need a moment to process everything I guess, it just sunk in I’m flying back to England and a muggle life.’

‘It did?’

‘Yeah, after everything, the money, the house, the holiday, you, it just all sorta hit me at once. I was going on getting everything ready and now that it’s here, I don’t know anymore.’

‘Don’t what anymore?’

‘Anything, everything, well, cept one thing, I love you. Always will.’

‘Love you too,’ Nym replied quickly. ‘What do you think we’re going to find when we get back? Lots of boxes?’

‘I err, as strange as this sounds, I hired someone to build the flat to the plan I gave them. We can literally walk in and crash on the bed.’

‘People do that?’

‘This person does,’ Harry said, checking his watch. ‘We really should go now.’

‘Yeah, sure, I’ll check the room.’

‘I’ve done that, five times.’

‘Well, you might have forgot something,’ Nym countered. ‘Like a box.’

‘For what?’ Harry asked.

‘The balcony,’ Nym shouted from the bathroom. Harry was confused for a moment, but finally worked out what she meant. He chuckled softly, the skirt Nym was wearing stuck out of the doorway, clear she was still checking the bathroom. He crept up behind her, one hand trailing along her thighs, slowly moving its way to her hips.

‘But I still have that, technically,’ Harry countered pulling her up so he could kiss her.

‘Plenty of that time for that later,’ Nym said, the rest of her words lots to Harry’s kiss. They pulled apart after a few seconds, both of them lost in the other. ‘Come on, we’ve got to go.’

‘We do,’ Harry said, collecting the heavier of the three suitcases.

Percy walked back to his office, the dozen scrolls he was presented by Gringotts on behalf of their director and managing council desperate to escape his grasp. He finally made it into the elevator, knowing he’d have lot of reading tonight. A few moments passed, the elevator reaching the floor he needed.

He dropped the scrolls onto his desk, three falling onto the floor, and another falling into his bin. He barely saved that from the bins shredding charm, one end of the scrolls a little worse for wear. He looked to fireplace, the soft flames emerging from it providing too little light for the moment. A second later, and two flicks of his wand a roaring fire appeared. He rubbed his eyes, looking at the back of the fireplace. Another few more seconds passed, deciding to call Penelope to speak to her, at least for a moment. He saw her face appear in the fire, almost seeing her actual face in front of him.

‘Penelope, is this a good time?’ Percy asked.

‘Oh, hello Percy, I didn’t think you’d call,’ Penelope said. ‘How have you been?’

‘Good, thank you, I was wondering... if we could have lunch, together?’ Percy asked, stuttering the last part. ‘I’d like to get your opinion on some things.’

‘Not more work Percy,’ Penelope started to complain. She looked shocked when Percy coughed to get her attention.

‘No, not work, something else, actually,’ Percy said. ‘The Leaky Cauldron?’

‘Sure, I’ll find you there around midday?’ Penelope said, her smile warming his soul.

‘Yes, thank you,’ Percy replied, watching the fire return to normal. He walked back to his chair, dropping in it heavily. He pulled out the secret draw, the order within still something he didn’t believe. On the other hand he wasn’t as skilled in charms as Penelope was, her current status as a trainee auror would mean he could confirm the document.

He read the order again, ordering the Dementer’s Kiss to be given to Harry Potter and anyone with him. Potentially if what he heard through the auror corps was true, that could have meant the whole street, nearly fifty souls taken for one. On the other hand it could just be propaganda made by Dumbledore to discredit the Ministry. He wasn’t sure which idea he preferred. The idea that Dumbledore decided to take over the Ministry was bad, but the idea that Fudge and Umbridge would work together to actually kill Harry was something else. He was no fan of the Boy-Who-Lived, but owed him for saving his only sister. If only for her, he would find the truth about everything that was going on. He rolled the scroll up, the ministry decree disappearing into his sleeve with a practised ease. One minute later as Minister Fudge entered the office there was no sign of anything except the scrolls Percy had just collected from Gringotts.

‘Weatherby, did the goblins do as I ask?’ Fudge demanded.

‘No Minister, they gave me these scrolls, I’ll give you a report on their contents this afternoon,’ Percy said flatly.

‘Very well, I’ll expect it hand delivered before I leave,’ Fudge said, then walked out of the office. Percy caught the edge of the Minister’s words, something about having to tell Lucius something. Percy shook his head, knowing he’d have to read very quickly to get the report done. He checked the clock, seeing it was only ten in the morning he reached for the eagle feather quill and inkpot, starting on his report of the goblins attitude at the bank.

Harry and Nym staggered from the elevator, the keys almost falling from Harry’s hand.

‘Not drinking on flights that late again,’ Harry complained, leaving the suitcases by the door. Nym followed him, dropping hers away from his and then pushing the door shut behind her. She opened it again, seeing the keys still in the lock. She pulled the keys out, and shut the door softly. As she turned around she saw Harry rubbing his shin.

‘Stupid glass coffee table top,’ Harry muttered, walking around the sofa, heading straight for the bed.

‘Thanks for the warning,’ Nym said, moving around Harry and going straight for the bathroom. She washed her face, still feeling like the victim of a herd of hippogriffs, unicorns and gryphons, she walked back to main bedroom, seeing Harry already asleep and in bed. She saw his clothes on the small ledge than ran around the bed, enough for a good size book, even some of the larger spell books, not that they were allowed any, would fit quite comfortably. She, like Harry, stripped off as she walked towards the bed, not even her underwear surviving the trip across the bedroom. She climbed in, even in his sleep one arm snaking around her waist, holding her close. She dozed off quickly, equally as tired as Harry was, but couldn’t fall asleep.

‘Thank you Harry,’ Nym whispered, lying on his chest, his heartbeat lulling her into a deep sleep. One filled with dreams of children, each one having the wildest colour hair she could think of.