An Unlikely Coven

*

"HARRY POTTER!"

The sheer volume of Hermione's voice almost shook the pictures off the walls.

Harry dropped one of his cufflinks, which he had been trying (in vain) to fasten for the last fifteen minutes. "Hermione?"

He received no verbal answer; instead, a few moments later, Hermione Potter came storming into the bedroom. She was wearing a simple black dress, and high heels- and, Harry thought, would have been breathtakingly gorgeous if not for the look of sheer anger on her face.

"Herm, what's the matter?" Harry asked, although he was pretty sure he knew.

Hermione crossed her arms. "Have you had a good look inside your daughter's bedroom in the last, oh, half-hour?"

Harry tried not to smile. "Maybe. Why?" He got on the floor and began to search for his runaway cufflink.

"Did you notice anything..... unusual?" Hermione asked, pursing her crimson lips.

"Ah, no, I didn't." Harry pulled something out from under the dresser. "Found it!"

Hermione grasped his arm. "Come with me."

Obligingly, Harry followed her down the hallway.

A sign hung from Linda Potter's door, reading Band Geek's Parking Only: All Others Will Be Towed. As Harry suspected, the sign was moving and bumping against the door in time with the thumping bass emanating from the room.

"I'll let you do the honors, Mr. Potter," Hermione said icily.

Suppressing a laugh, Harry opened the door of his daughter's bedroom.

"And what do you call this?" Hermione asked sharply.

Indeed, Harry didn't know what exactly to call it. "Ah, Hermione......"

"She said that I'm not the one that she thinks about and/ she said it stopped being fun, I just bring her down/ I said don't let your future be destroyed by my past/ she said don't let my door hit your ass," Linda, decked out in a long green dress, crooned along with Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge.

".....it seems that Linda's sponsoring an impromptu Blink-182 concert, dear." Harry was quaking with internal laughter.

"I see." Hermione surveyed the scene before her. "And, pray tell, how is it possible that a fifteen-year-old witch was able to reach into the past to pull a turn-of-the-century punk band into her bedroom?"

"Well, sweetie, I'd say that she couldn't."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Of course. But, how about you tell me who would be able to do something like that? It would have to be a very powerful sorcerer..... now, who do you know like that?"

Harry laughed. "I don't know."

Linda stopped singing just long enough to say, "Thanks, Dad! This is the most awesome present ever!"

Harry turned to Hermione, who was almost smoking at the ears, and shrugged.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry Potter, do you have any possible explanation as to why you deemed it prudent to transport Blink-182 into your daughter's room?"

"Herm, honey, she did save the wizarding world as we know it," Harry pointed out. "I think she deserves a bit of a reward, don't you think?"

"Harry, she, Joey, and Bobby have been all over the Daily Prophet for the last week. Actually, so have we, come to think of it. They're each getting the Order of Merlin- First Class, a thousand-Galleon Savings Bond, and international recognition." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I think she's gotten a reward already."

"Don't forget this blasted formal celebration," Harry reminded her, smiling slyly.

"Harry Potter." Hermione raised her eyebrows expectantly.

Harry groaned. "All right, all right. Linda, Blink-182 has to go into the closet for a little while."

Linda stopped dancing. "Aw, Dad, why?"

"Because," Hermione jumped in, "you have to finish getting ready and Apparate across the Atlantic Ocean in....." she looked at her watch, "...fifteen minut- FIFTEEN MINUTES! Linda Felicity Potter, get in the bathroom, and dry your hair! Hop! Hop!"

"But Mom, why?" Linda asked innocently, twirling a lock of perfectly dried hair around her finger.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Linda, your hair was sopping wet just a second ago- only a Whirling Spell- wait." She cut herself off, and turned around. Of course, she found Harry trying frantically to cram his wand back up his sleeve.

"Don't bother, dear. Just put the band in the closet," Hermione said with a sigh. "I, for one, am going to pull down the shades."

"We'll be right there, honey," Harry told her, kissing her on the cheek.

Linda grinned as her mother left the room. "So, Dad, how about that little proposal I had for ya?"

Harry smiled at his daughter, and picked up a pen and paper off her dresser. "All right, kid. Shoot. But I'm setting a few rules. Number one: nothing that'll attract too much attention. We can't have all the kids in town running to your room. Number two: if your mother tells them to get out, they get out. The last thing we need is an angry Hermione Potter. Number three: only one a week. All right?"

"Uh-huh." Linda nodded enthusiastically. "Let's see. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Three Doors Down, Incubus, Matchbox 20, Republica, The Beatles, Strawberry Alarm Clock....."

*

Linda, Bobby, and Joey gazed around the Ministry Ballroom in awe. All the prominent witches and wizards were there, dancing to the band, eating food, gossiping amongst the lavish decorations.

"Wow," Joey commented. "Are you sure this is all for us?"

"I dunno, Joey," Bobby replied sarcastically. "Um, were there three other kids that captured the Dark Lord Nilock and had him locked up safely in Azkaban?"

"Shaddup," Joey said, smacking him.

Linda rolled her eyes. "Dude, are you guys fifteen or five?"

"No," Joey responded mischievously. "'Cause you're the same age as us, and I don't know any five year olds that look like that in a dress."

Linda swung her purse at him.

"Linda, it was a compliment!" Joey whined, as he ducked.

"Look," Bobby said suddenly, "there's Perri! And Kaites!"

Joey groaned. "Oh, boy, here goes Romeo," he muttered.

"Hi, guys!" Persephone exclaimed. "Can you believe this? God, you three are the most famous teenagers in the wizarding world!"

"Yes, and we have the misfortune of being the ultimate damsels in distress," Kaites chimed in.

"Hey, at least we got publicity," Persephone reminded her twin. "Listen, Stars, there's someone who's dying to meet you all. Especially you, Bobby," she said, with a wink.

"Really?" Bobby replied, with interest. "Who is it?"

"Hang on, I'll get him." Persephone raised an arm in the air. "Oy! Mark! Get over here!"

A tall, handsome boy came over to the table where the small group was standing. "Hi, baby," he said briefly, putting an arm around Persephone's shoulders. "So, these are the Famous Three, are they?"

"That they are," Persephone confirmed. "Everyone, this is Mark Wood, my boyfriend. He lives in London- seventh year, Gryffindor. Beater for Quidditch. Mark, this is Bobby Weasley, Linda Potter, and Joey Malfoy. I expect you know my sister Kaites."

"Hi, all," Mark said, with a friendly wave. "Nice meeting y'all- Perri, how about a dance?"

Persephone smiled. "Of course, Markie. See ya later!" she called, stepping onto the dance floor.

"Well, he seemed nice enough," Joey remarked. "Hey, buddy, are you okay?" he asked, looking at Bobby.

"Uh..... yeah," Bobby responded weakly. "I guess."

Kaites looked him in the eye. "Hey, listen, Bobby, my sister's a fickle girl. She has a new guy every month- you're too deep for that. You two- well-"

"Just wouldn't be compatible?" Linda suggested.

"Yes, that is what I was looking for," Kaites agreed. "You'll be all right, Bobby."

"Oh, I suppose," Bobby agreed, gazing at Kaites. "Say, would you care to dance?"

Kaites blushed. "That would be delightful, Bobby," she said, taking his hand.

Joey and Linda watched the two walk away. "It figures," Joey commented. "Bobby Weasley, on the rebound, goes for the twin sister."

"Would you expect him to do anything less?" Linda inquired. "He's completely girl crazy, and you know that."

"Yeah, I guess I do," Joey concurred. "Now there's nothing to do, though!"

Linda's eyes twinkled. "Oh, yes, there is."

"What?"

In reply, Linda pulled him out onto the dance floor.

"Linda! What do you think you're doing? I can't dance and you know it!" Joey protested.

"Well, then, I guess I just have to teach you," Linda replied. "Although you aren't that bad of a dancer. I've seen you, and you're not as terrible as you think."

"Not as good as you, though," Joey said, resting his hands on her waist.

"It's one of the advantages of being very short," Linda explained, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Your partner has to do all the dance work."

"What's this? Linda Potter, slacking off?" he joked.

Linda hit him lightly. "It'll happen some day, Joey Malfoy. I'm going to act like a normal person, and our little world will be thrown into chaos. You just wait and see."

Joey laughed, as they settled into the song. "I guess I will, Linda Potter. I guess I will."

*

"Oh, look, Harry," Hermione pointed out. "Over there."

Harry turned his head, and looked where Hermione was pointing. "Is that Linda over there? With Joey?"

"You're stepping on my toe," Hermione reminded him.

"Oops. Sorry, dear," Harry apologized.

She stretched up and kissed him. "All forgiven. Anyway, what do you think of that?"

"Linda and Joey? Well, we know him. We know his parents." Harry glanced over to where Ginny was trying unsuccessfully to explain to her parents why she'd married a Malfoy. Ron and Lavender were behind them, smiling at poor Draco. The entire Weasley clan- all of whom had reunited during the past week- was giving him awfully suspicious looks.

"Don't jump to conclusions, Harry Potter," Hermione scolded him gently. "It's just a dance."

"Yes, but it's so..... familiar," Harry replied with a smile.

Hermione grinned back. "What? The idea of two best friends falling in love? I didn't think that happened to anyone these days."

"Now you're jumping to conclusions," Harry teased. "Of course it does. I think we actually know some people who found themselves in that situation."

"Oh really? Like who?" Hermione asked innocently, gazing into his green eyes.

Harry tilted his neck to kiss her. "I don't know, Hermione."

Hermione's grin grew wider as their lips met. "It could happen, Harry Potter. It could happen."

*FINIS*

Thanks:

To the reviewers.

Katie Bell, Meghan, Virgo, Mimi, Aemilius, Ryci, NS, Jaxx, Sierra, Champion Flamer, Blaise, yea, Carrie, Moondream, WeasleyTwinsFan, Gemini, Laura Nolan, avali, Krist, <*}>, Padfoot, *1*3, An "Unlikely Coven" Fan, Jena, a human being, Nemo, Jen, J, Remus Lupin, Person, Anne, Stevie, Rebecca, Alexandra, she-who-must-no-be-named, Marissa, Molly, Jen, Torch, Alexa, Farie, Twilight Wolf, Margret Ferran, Amy G., Chandra, Daphne, Megs, lavendar, macy, Kat, Curls, Portia, Flying, Bumblebee, Firebolt, Emiri, Scott Riddle, Vanessa, reader, <|'cHiLL'|>, @, Samantha, Arrabella Arithmancy, Orie, Me, Magiceanna, Delia, Lunard, Dan, Khab, Cloe, Sunrise, sam i am, Siffha'h, Brooke, rusty, Shakira, and Trinity. Your praise, criticism, and faithful readership have made this story possible.

Special thanks go to:

Kate S., for archiving this crazy fic and just being a great writer;

Draca, for archiving this (remember our little deal!);

Someone the First, for archiving and recommending;

Melisa, for being so exactly like me that it's scary;

Caesar, for being a great reviewer and for that anticipated 8k email you sent me a few weeks ago :);

Wren, for being incredibly overenthusiastic about this fic;

and pixxi/Gina, for her terrific encouragement.

Also:

To two of my unwitting best friends- Matt, for being the basis for Joey, and Zeke, for being the basis for Bobby. Hell, they'll never see this, so what do they care? :)

And thanks to everyone in real life who's made it a point to tell me just how annoyingly perfect I am, even though I'm not. There's no other way I could have written Linda's angst. I guess being picked on constantly can have an upside.

I had a blast writing this, and you're the ones that made it possible! Well, as summer approaches, I hope to have more time to work on fics. What do you think of continuing in this universe? Prequels? Sequels? Tell me what you think!

Thanks to you all.

Out for now,

*a/s.*

*