Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers apply.

This is an Alternative Universe story and is not Canon Compliant. If you do not enjoy Sev/Lily fiction, do not read.

Chapter 86

Rufus received the news from Madam Bones that Minister Bagnold had approved the civilian medal of honor and the goblins were already casting it. It would have around it the phrase, 'Auxilium Est Communis Ritus Hominum' which translated, read 'Assistance is the common rite of humanity' and there would be a dark blue Sodalite crystal in the center of it.

"I like the saying on the medal," Mad-Eye remarked. "Fits the situation perfectly."

"As soon as I receive them from Madam Bones, we will award them to Lord and Lady Prince," Rufus stated.

"I'm assuming we'll need to do the ceremony at their home as I'm certain they do not want to come into this office with Potter here."

"Most likely," Rufus agreed.

When all the Aurors had arrived, Mad-Eye handed out their assignments. "Auror Longbottom and Auror Diggory, Auror Black and Auror Crockford, I want you patrolling around the old Riddle Manor just in case any left-over Death Eaters decided to take refuge there. There's still too many of them running free." He looked down at the list he'd made. "Auror Longbottom, Auror Greenwald, and Auror-trainee Kemble, will patrol around the edges of the Forbidden Forest. While I believe any suspicious activity would be reported by Hagrid to Dumbledore, I can't rely on Dumbledore to report it to us. Aurors Knightly and Masterson, Auror Shacklebolt, and Auror Potter will check out the old Schlossberg Mansion outside of Hogsmeade. We've had some tips from people around Hogsmeade that they've seen lights there at odd hours. Could be just kids messing around, but best to check it out."

"Hot damn!" James exclaimed, rubbing his hands together in glee.

Mad-Eye ignored James. When he had finished handing out all the assignments, he said, "Everybody stay sharp and keep your eyes on what's going on around you. Remember, constant vigilance!"

Before they left, Mad-Eye pulled Senior Auror Knightly aside and said in a low tone, "Keep your eyes on Potter. I don't want him sneaking off and going into Hogwarts to harass the kids in the houses he doesn't like."

Knightly nodded and returned to his group. "Let's head out. Potter, you're with me."

The only Aurors left in the office were the older ones near retirement or the ones who had been injured and were on light duty. They were all busy, reading scrolls about reported sightings of Death Eaters or reports of another possible dark cult starting up. Scrimgeour had stated that they all needed to be checked out no matter how trivial it might sound. If there was another dark cult starting up, they wanted to be able to nip it in the bud.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Severus pulled up in front of Jatan. He and Lily had decided that morning that he would pick up the kids from school He waved at the kids who were waiting inside the shop and they came out and got into the car. Jamie sat in front and Harmony and Harry sat in back. "How was school today?" Severus asked as he pulled away from the curb.

"Mrs. Patel said today that Professor Slughorn is coming to visit again tomorrow," Harmony replied. "She said he's really impressed with the students that are coming to Hogwarts from Jatan."

"That's impressive," Severus said. "If you see him, tell him your mother and I said hello."

When they got home, Tita insisted on preparing a snack for them before they went upstairs to start their homework. Jatan didn't assign a lot of homework, the faculty preferred to check their students progress during class so they could catch any mistakes early and correct them.

Severus decided to have a cup of coffee and read the Prophet while he waited for Lily to arrive home. He rarely had time in the morning to read it, not that there was that much interesting to read. As Lily often said, it was more useful for lining the bottom of an owl cage. The floo sounded and Severus who was expecting to see Lily, was surprised to see Rufus Scrimgeour's head sitting in the flames. He got up and knelt before the fireplace. "Rufus, what can I do for you?"

"Madam Bones would like to thank you and Lady Prince personally for helping us to retrieve that last horcrux with the potion you invented. Auror Moody and myself will be accompanying her for her protection. We thought Sunday if you are not going to be busy with something else."

"No, other than dinner with Lily's and my parents, we don't have any plans."

"Will eleven o'clock be alright for you?"

"Yes, that should be fine." Severus chuckled. "I'd better let Tita know so she can make Alistair those cherry tarts he loves so much. He tries to bribe Tita to come and work for him every time he sees her."

"Alright. We will see you on Sunday at eleven o'clock."

No sooner had Severus ended his call with Scrimgeour then Lily came through the floo. "We're you talking to someone? I tried to use the floo, but it was busy and I couldn't get through."

"Yes, Rufus called." He went onto explain what Rufus had said.

"That's awfully nice of Madam Bones, but it isn't necessary." Lily remarked, taking off her white coat and folding it over her arm.

Severus shrugged. "Apparently, she thinks it is."

"Tita can prepare a brunch for them." Lily replied. She went upstairs to check on the children and change. When she came downstairs, she called Tita.

Tita popped in. "Yes, Mrs. Lily?"

Lily explained what they would be needing for Sunday.

Tita nodded. "Tita and Amarantha can make biscuits, muffins, bread, quiches, deviled eggs and of course, Mr Mad-Eye's favorite cherry tarts."

"That sounds delicious and should do fine," Lily replied.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

James looked bored and tried to focus on what Tiffentoller was saying. He suddenly recalled the adoption form he and Marlene had found when they had been looking for the name of his father's barrister. "Hey, I've got a question."

"Yes, Lord Potter?" Tiffentoller asked.

"How long have you been working at this firm?"

Tiffentoller was a bit taken aback by James' question. "Nearly fifteen years. Why?"

James shook his head."I have a question about my childhood, but you haven't been here long enough to answer it."

"No. You will need to speak with Mr. Wiggenworf."

"Is he in?"

"No, Mr. Wiggenworf is on the continent and will not be back until mid-week at the earliest."

"Damn!" James muttered.

"Shall we continue on, Lord Potter?"

James shrugged. "I suppose."

"What would you say if the head of another house, let us say for example, the House of Longbottom, approached you with a possible law he wanted your house and its allies to support, what would you do?"

"I'd tell him to go to hell! The Longbottom's are allied with Snivellus' house and nothing they want to pass could be anything good."

Tiffentoller sighed. "No, you would politely thank him, accept whatever documentation they offer you on the matter, and tell them that you and your allied houses will study the documents, discuss it, and give him an answer within a week."

"Why bother doing all that work?" James snorted and then yawned widely. "It will be something dark anyway."

"Because there may come a time when you and your allies may want to pass a law that you do not have enough votes to pass and you will need to reach out to other houses in order to garner their votes and if you are kind when they reach out to you, they will be likely to remember that."

"So, in order to pass a law I want passed, I have to agree to pass all their dark laws?"

Tiffentoller rolled his eyes. "No, you will still have the option of telling them...politely...that you cannot support the law they are proposing and why you cannot."

"I still don't see why all this is necessary," James complained.

"Because the Wizengamot is not Hogwarts and Professor Dumbledore though the Chief Warlock is not going to automatically side with you or your allied houses. This would also be an excellent time to consider becoming allied with other houses such as the Longbottom's and the Diggory's perhaps. They are considered to be strong Light families."

"Who are the Potter's currently allied with?"

"You are allied with the McKinnon's, the Bone's, the Peverall's, the Prewett's, and the Weasely's. Of course, the last Peverall died some time ago."

"What people is Snivellus allied with?"

Tiffentoller frowned at James' use of the ill-gotten nickname for Lord Prince. "You would be best to watch your language as you are still under Judge Overgood's ruling," he advised. "I believe the Princes are allied with the Malfoy's as both Abraxas Malfoy and Tiberius Prince were astute businessmen and saw the financial advantage of an alliance. Also, the Greengrass family but only one branch of the Black family which would be Orion Black's branch. They have been allies with the Longbottom's since the 15th century and the Diggory's since the 17th century. They are also allied with a powerful Italian family in Tuscany by the name of DeLuca who own several vineyards and raise Pegasus. Together Lord Prince and Lord DeLuca worked to create wines that are praised across the Wizarding World and have won many awards in both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds."

"Snivellus' father was a drunken bum so it figures he'd be involved with making money off of alcohol," James sniffed.

Tiffentoller sighed. "My best advice is to drop your prejudices and try to expand the Potter alliances."

"I'll talk it over with Marlene and we'll decide if we need anymore allies than we already have."

James arrived back at Potter Manor in a crabby mood. "Tiffentoller's pushing us to form new alliances. He said we should form an alliance with the Longbottom and the Diggory's."

"After the way the Longbottom and Diggory treated you at Hogwarts, I don't see any reason to give them our support," Marlene sniffed. "Any family that willingly allies with Snivellus, isn't one the Potter's should have any contact with."

"I'm inclined to agree," James replied nodding. "I'm going back next week to see Mr. Wiggenworf. I want to find out more about the adoption my parents were considering."

"Why? I told you what your mother told me...that they were considering it, but then your mother found out she was pregnant with you." Marlene said in an exasperated tone. Why couldn't James just let it go?

"I just want to know for sure...that I'm not just some mutt like that Snape kid. Will you still love me if I am adopted?"

"Yes, because you're a Pureblood Potter and your mother wouldn't lie," Marlene answered with a roll of her eyes.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

The elves were doing an extra good job of cleaning the house on Saturday for the visit of Madam Bones on Sunday.

"Do we have to get all dressed up?" Harry asked at dinner that night.

"No," Lily replied. You can wear what you normally wear on the weekends."

"But no t-shirts with rude messages on them," Harmony added.

"Merlin no!" Severus agreed. "The Bones family have been allies of the Prince family since the 16th century and it wouldn't do to insult them in any way."

"Why do families ally, Dad?" James asked.

"Well, in the beginning it was for protection during the times when Muggle legal and religious officials were bent on wiping out every witch or wizard they could find. Unfortunately, most of the people they executed weren't even magical, they were other Muggles that probably had mental health issues or were just considered strange by their neighbors."

"Magical people kept a low profile during those times," Lily added.

"Draco said our families are allies," Harry said.

Severus nodded. "Yes, Draco's grandfather Abraxas and my grandfather allied later than most of the Prince's other allies which were made in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. They were both smart businessmen who saw the financial sense of working together rather than against each other. Lucius has inherited his father's skill in the financial "arena" and continues to be an asset to the Prince family."

"Families ally for a variety of different reasons especially in today's world." Lily explained.

"This is not anything we'll learn about in History of Magic though," Harmony remarked.

"Unfortunately, no," Lily agreed.

"Both Lucius and Augusta are on the Hogwarts Board of Governors now," Severus said thoughtfully. "I should talk with them about convincing Dumbledore to send Binns through the Veil and hiring a new Professor of Magical History."

"It's long overdue," Lily said. "But I suspect it's something Dumbledore is going to have to be forced to do.

"I think you're probably right," Severus agreed.

After the kids were in bed, Severus went back to his study and sat down at his desk and grinned. His billboard and the wall in front of him were covered in crayon drawings Harmony and Harry had done as little kids. There was even one Harmony had drawn of Dumbledore.

"I think we're ready for Madam Bones' visit tomorrow," Lily said coming in.

"I was thinking when the kids were asking about the Prince alliances at dinner that we have an ally I've never met and maybe it's time I did."

"Who would that be?" Lily asked, puzzled.

"My grandfather allied with a wealthy, powerful Italian family in Tuscany, the DeLuca's."

"Of course! The Prince-DeLuca Wines," Lily said, slapping her head.

"I don't know much about them, except that they have several vineyards and they raise Pegusus. I'll have to ask my grandfather more about them tomorrow after Madam Bones, Rufus, and Mad-Eye leave. I had an idea about the wines. We produce excellent wines, but they are very expensive. I was thinking we could produce a quality wine that the average wizard or witch or even Muggles could afford to buy."

"That's a really good idea. Dad certainly loves the Prince-DeLuca Wines," Lily said wryly.

"Yes, and that's why I always swap out the wine in those meat and cheese baskets we give him for Christmas."

"Will we have time to visit them this summer?"

"I was thinking we could visit them as soon as school is out and then go on to visit Uncle Timaeus in Texas and go to Florida from there."

"The kids will certainly enjoy it. Harmony was only about five and Harry was just a baby when we visited Uncle Timaeus the first time. Jamie's never been outside of Potter Manor."

At exactly 11:00 the next morning, the floo sounded and announced that Madam Bones, Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour, and Auror Moody were requesting permission to come through.

"Allow them through," Severus replied. Harmony, Harry, and Jamie stood quietly beside their parents.

All three stepped out of the floo after removing the ashes from their robes. Lily spotted the slim, light blue boxes Madam Bones carried, nudged Severus, and nodded toward Madam Bones.

Severus nodded, wondering if they were being awarded a medal for inventing the potion that made it possible to retrieve the last horcrux.

"First things first," Madam Bones said. She gave one of the boxes she held to Rufus and opened the other. "In the Aurors, we have a medal of honor for an Auror who goes above and beyond their duty, but we are unable to award that to civilians who are a great help to us so Auror Scrimgeour and Auror Moody did devise a civilian equivalent and insisted the very first ones be awarded to Lady Prince and yourself."

Severus smiled and bent so Madam Bones could place the medal over his head. "This medal is to honor your diligence in inventing an antidote so we were able to get that last horcrux."

"Thank you," Severus said.

She then handed the empty box to Harmony and took the other box from Rufus and opened it. She placed the second medal over Lily's head. "This medal is to honor your willingness to never give up in a difficult situation and to find the answer that helped us to retrieve the final horcrux."

"Thank you for this honor," Lily replied.

"Yea Dad and Mum!" Harry said. All the kids clapped loudly and Jamie called out, "Speech!"

"Well, it's not often you get a medal for inventing a potion, but Lily and I are thrilled to be the first to be awarded these medals for our combined efforts in inventing that potion that helped to retrieve that last horcrux. It is a very great honor."

"We are thankful that together you invented that potion that allowed us to close this case permanently," Madam Bones replied. "We no longer have to worry about the possibility of the Dark Lord returning."

"We have refreshments if you'll follow me," Lily said and led them into the dining room. "And of course Tita did not forget those cherry tarts you like do well, Alistair," she joked.

"Those are well worth the trip, Lily," Mad-Eye replied with gleaming eyes. They all filled their plates including the children. He looked around at Harmony, Harry, and Jamie. "Any of you kids interested in becoming Aurors later on?

"I'm interested in wand crafting," Harmony answered.

"Mr. Ollivander will be happy to hear that," Madam Bones said. "He is beginning to think wand crafting is a lost art."

"Luna Lovegood is interested in it, too," Harry said. "She's interested in discovering new wand cores like hair from a Thestral's tale."

"What about you, young man?" Mad-Eye asked Harry.

"Me? I think I want to be a Child Protection Officer like Reg Black," Harry replied.

"I want to be either a Pediatric Healer like mum or work with kids that suffer from Lycanthropy like Healer Lupin does. I haven't quite decided yet," Jamie said.

"All fine careers," Madam Bones said. She peered curiously into the glassed-in room off the dining room. She could see a long wooden box with what looked like grass growing in it.

Severus noticed her interest and come over. "This is my conservatory where I grow many of my potion ingredients. The Head Gardener at the Chelsea Psychic Gardens across the street has been kind enough to allow me to take cutting from some of the plants they grow there. They grow magical and non-magical plants."

"It looks like you have an interest in grass also," Madam Bones pointed out.

"I'm working with the dairy elves at Witches Moon, Professor Sprout and Lady Alice Longbottom to see if we can invent a better quality of grass for the cows that will produce richer milk and cream," Severus explained. "In addition to being a Potion Master, I am also a Master Herbologist."

"If things work out as we hope they will, we're going to be selling our milk and cream through the greengrocer's that has opened in Hogsmeade," Lily said. "We're also thinking of selling them in the Muggle grocery stores."

"Lily suggested calling our dairy products 'The Prince's Choice' which is a good name, but if we sell them in a Muggle grocery store we're going to have to place 'Prince Family Farm' prominently on the label somewhere otherwise people might think they have something to do with Prince Charles and Buckingham Palace might not be too pleased," Severus laughed.

"Please let us know when your products will be ready for distribution," Madam Bones requested.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Wiggenworf was studying a case file in front of him with a frown. This client wanted to sue Gringotts because the Goblins refused to allow his fourth year son to withdraw funds from his Trust Vault without his father's permission. The Goblins had recently opened up a branch of Gringotts in Hogsmeade and the incident had occurred there. He sighed and sat back as there was a knock on his door. "Yes?" He called.

The receptionist came in and announced that Lord Potter was waiting to see him. "He says it is urgent," she added.

"Everything is always urgent with Lord Potter," Wiggenworf muttered then asked, "Does he have an appointment?"

"The receptionist shook her head. "I told him you were very busy and I could make him an appointment for next week but he is not satisfied with that."

Wiggenworf sighed again and replied, "All right let him come through but please make it clear to him that since he does not have an appointment, I am doing this strictly out of courtesy."

The receptionist nodded and closed the door again. A few seconds later she opened the door and said, "Mr. Wiggenworf will see you now, Lord Potter."

James strutted in. Wiggenworf motioned to a chair in front of his desk and said, "Sit down, Lord Potter. What is it you need. I must tell you if you are planning on suing someone, I will refer you to one of our other associates as I do not have time to get involved with a lengthy lawsuit." He motioned to several folders on his desk.

James shook his head. "No, I just need some information."

"What kind of information?"

"When Marlene and I were searching my father's office I found an application for adoption and I want to know if I am a real Potter or some mutt my parents found in an orphanage."

"As you probably already know that the Potter's are not anywhere as fecund as other branches of your family such as the Weasely's for example. Your parents tried for many years to have children and were thinking about adopting a baby. They insisted the baby be a Pureblood with an excellent lineage. Those standards were almost impossible to meet, but nothing came to fruition because your mother found out she was pregnant with you."

"So, I was born at St. Mungo's and there's a record of my birth?"

"No, you were born at Potter Manor because your mother's healer insisted she stay in bed and off her feet for the majority of her pregnancy, but there is a certificate of your birth at the Ministry as I filed it there myself when your father owled me about your birth."

Why did my father keep those adoption papers then?"

"I do not know. Perhaps in the excitement of finding out about your mother's pregnancy he just forgot to throw them away."

James smiled widely. "So, I am a Pureblood Potter and not some mutt. Merlin! I can imagine what that Death Eater Snivellus would say if he found out I wasn't really a Potter!"

"I suggest you do not refer to Lord Prince by either of those names, Lord Potter or you may end up paying a large fine or even spending a time in jail for disobeying Judge Overgood's directive, and this firm will not defend you if that happens," Wiggenworf warned.

"What!" James exclaimed. "The Potter's are your biggest clients and you can't refuse to represent us!"

"We can refuse a client representation no matter how large if they continually refuse to listen to our advice," Wiggenworf retorted.

James looked nonplussed by his answer. "If you expect Marlene and I to bow and scrap to those worthless Snape's…"

"I did not say that, but if you are going to make it a point to violate Judge Overgood's ruling every chance you get then you cannot depend on this firm to get you out of whatever trouble you or Lady Potter get yourselves into. Now if we are finished, Lord Potter, I do need to get back to my work." He summoned the receptionist. "Please show Lord Potter out."

James flooed back to Potter Manor in a miffed state. As he stepped out of the floo, Marlene asked, "Did Wiggenworf confirm what your mother already told me?"

"He said I was born here at Potter Manor and he filed my birth certificate at the Ministry himself," James said grumpily. "I asked him why they kept the adoption application and he said my father was probably so excited that my mother was pregnant that he just forgot to toss it into the fireplace."

"So, why are you angry?" Marlene asked mystified.

"Wiggenworf said if we kept disobeying Judge Overgood's order regarding Snivellus and we got into trouble, we couldn't depend on their firm to act as our representative."

"Why does Wiggenworf think we're paying him that large retainer for every year? It's to represent the Potter interests," Marlene snapped. "If he won't do that then we should fire him and find another firm that will do what we want."

"I don't know any other firm of barristers. We've always had Wiggenworf and Tiffentoller."

"I'm going to floo my parents and see if they have any suggestions."

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Sirius and Reg were in their kitchen, preparing for company again. Hal, Remus, Frank and Ned were coming over to watch another Manchester United game on the telly. Alice was also coming and her partner Glenn decided to come too, as did Frank's partner, Chea Diggory and her husband Amos.

Every since Sirius had taken cooking lessons from Rose and had accompanied her grocery shopping a few time, he couldn't stop raving about all the different groceries found in the Muggle grocery stores. "I mean I couldn't believe all the different crisps, crackers, crisp dips, and cheeses they have."

"Not to mention the aisle that's just completely already made desserts," Reg said lifting the lid on the Crock Pot to check the chili and give it a stir.

"I know and then those aisles with just candy and cookies," Sirius added. "And the one with all the ice cream that's almost as good as Fortescue's."

Reg opened a cupboard to get out a spice he needed and a box of crackers fell out and hit him on the head. "You've bought so many boxes of crackers, we'll never use them up before they get stale," he complained, rubbing his head.

"I bought them for the cheese platter I'm going to make up," Sirius said. "Anyway we can cast a preservative charm over them."

"Is that why our refrigerator is filled to the brim with different kinds of cheeses almost to the point where you can't open the door without a cheese brick falling out on your foot?"

"Well, I've never heard of a lot of them so of course I had to try them out" Sirius replied good-naturally. He was just finishing up his cheese platter when the doorbell rang.

Reg answered it and found Hal waiting, carrying several cartons of Guinness Stout. "Hey Hal, come on in. Here, let me have your jacket." Reg hung it up on the coat rack. "Come out into the kitchen."

Hal followed Reg into the kitchen where Sirius held up his cheese platter proudly and said, "Duh Daa."

"Looks delicious," Hal said. "And I recognize the smell," he said nodding at the crock pot.

"Yeah, I borrowed Rose's recipe. The thing I like about it is that you can add all different vegetables to it, leave the beans in or out…" He pointed his finger at Sirius. "No fart jokes, Siri... or you can make it hot or mild. Siri and me like it hot, but I made this milder."

"Sev likes his hot, too, so Rose always makes a separate portion for him that's really spicy."

"How are you and Rose doing with your magic and lessons?" Sirius asked.

"Well, Professor McGonagall told me that I have a definite talent for Transfiguration while Rose shows a lot of talent for Charms. Petunia does, too. We figure that's where Lily got it because Professor McGonagall told us we had to have had witches or wizard in our family somewhere for Lily to have been magical when she brought Lily's Hogwarts letter." Hal laughed. "Unfortunately magic doesn't help with grading tests or essays."

"Or forms in the Auror Department," Sirius added.

"What does Rose do while you're here? Reg asked.

"She uses the time to bake or to read. Actually, she just got an invitation from Augusta and your mum to join something called the Witches Aid Society?"

"Really?" Sirius said. "I guess WAS doesn't have a problem with anyone taking the Magical Access Potion." He went on to explain, "The Witches Aid Society is a group that does a lot of charitable works."

"That's right up Rose's alley then. We both do a lot of charitable work at our church." He frowned. "Petunia has mentioned that a great deal of the discrimination suites they file are on behalf of people taking the Magical Access Potion."

"Yeah, unfortunately the magical world is very slow to change," Reg admitted. "You saw how Sev had to bribe those countries that didn't want to stop Werewolf hunting with giving them the formula for his Werewolf Potion if they agreed to stop it and make it illegal."

"In the good news department, we'll be breaking ground this coming weekend for the third complex. It's going to be the biggest one yet and it will house at least 300 families."

"Scrimgeour mentioned it," Sirius said. "He's going to send some Aurors just in case there's some disagreeable people."

"You mean like Death Eaters?" Hal asked. "Are there any of them left especially now that their leader has permanently bit the dust?"

"No, we've caught the majority of them. The ones were dealing with now are definitely third tier," Sirius chuckled, but then got serious. "Fenrir Greyback is still around though and he hates everything to do with the Werewolf reforms."

"I understand he was the one that bit Remus as a child," Hal said.

"Yeah, Greyback bit Remus in revenge for something he thought Remus' dad did."

"I think everyone in Slytherin was lucky when those Death Eaters attacked them in 1978, that Fenrir Greyback got left at home."

"No kidding!" Sirius agreed.

The doorbell rang and Reg went to answer it. "That will be Ned, I'm betting."

Hal helped Sirius get the rest of the food on the table and Sirius cast a warming spell over the Crock-Pot.

Reg followed by Ned came into the room. He took a sniff. "Wow! Something smells really good!"

"It's Rose's chili," Hal said.

"Wait until you taste it," Reg replied.

Pretty soon everyone started to arrive. Alice, Frank and Remus arrived along with Alice's partner Griffin Greenwald. Chea and Amos Diggory arrived. Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived last. "I kind of invited myself after hearing the lads talking about this football club," he confessed somewhat sheepishly.

"Doesn't matter," Hal assured him, taking his arm. "The more the merrier."

Everyone filled their bowls and plates and found seats around the television. Guinness's were cracked open in anticipation of a great game.

"This is a lot like Quidditch," Alice remarked after watching the first quarter of the game. "You have the guy guarding the net which is like our Keeper and the guys moving the ball nearer to the nets are like our Chasers and the big guy in the middle, keeping the other teams from getting the ball is like our Beaters. Maybe somewhere along the line a Muggle accidentally saw a Quidditch game and decided to invent a similar game, only one played on the ground."

"Possibly true," Hal agreed.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

After the Aurors had finished searching the abandoned Schlossberg Manor and much to James' disappointment, found nothing, Auror Knightly ordered everyone to disapparate back to Headquarters.

When the last crack of disapparating Aurors had faded, an individual removed the Disillusionment Charm and stepped out of the room where he'd been hiding. He was young, in his mid-twenties with thick, longish auburn hair and strangely, compelling blue eyes. He smiled widely.

The British Aurors were even more stupid than the ones in Austria and he didn't think that was possible, but still, he would need to be more careful about keeping the lanterns shielded from outside view, possibly he could surround the entire mansion with a Notice-Me-Not Charm. He took a few wooden crates out of his pocket, set them on the floor, and cast an enlargement spell on them. Once they were their normal size, he opened them easily with his wand and began pulling out books and stacking them on the floor. There were books about Gellert Grindelwald, Grigori Rasputin, Vladimir Lenin, Lord Voldemort, Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Caesar, Caligula, Chenggis Khaan, all extremely powerful individuals. He would learn from all of them and learn from all their mistakes as well.

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