The Price of Peace

Chapter III

"So . . . he's . . . dead?" Neville was the first of the three teens who managed to say anything. Ginny and Ron were clearly speechless. Luna, Harry, and Hermione, who were seated together on a love seat facing their friends, each nodded.

Harry had said little to the group, as they met in the early-afternoon of Christmas Eve. Edward had done most of the talking. "Yes, he's dead," Edward told the group again. "Dumbledore got confirmation of that yesterday. The Ministry and the Pure-Bloods are still trying to figure out how that affects their negotiations, so it's not being released at the moment. There's a good chance our participation will never be formally acknowledged, although The Truth will say something Friday if the news hasn't been released by then. Now, for some information which no one but myself, Carole, and Dumbledore has, as far as I know."

If it were possible to have closer attention than he had had before, Edward now had it.

"While Harry was distracting Voldemort, I managed to extract some information. The so-called Associate is Regulus Black, just as he said, and I managed to get a very general idea that he's still very involved with some wizarding crime families in North America. The Pure-Bloods plan to split into two associated groups. Black and Malfoy will lead the political group, who will condemn violence while funneling money, partially from Black's criminal operations, to support it. The three Lestranges will lead the terrorist side of the group, publicly calling the political group traitors. Right now, there are only about a dozen committed to the terrorist side, but they think that will grow."

"Sounds like the old IRA," Hermione said, although only Edward and Harry really understood the reference.

"Exactly. Any one on the political side that goes over the line will be killed by the terror side. Black, Malfoy and their group will be under some sort of probation, and under some restrictions as to employment and political activity. The hope is, the actions of the terror side won't anger people in general, but show that the political side are really moderates."

"Are people that stupid?" Ginny asked.

"Well, most Muggles fall for it," Hermione admitted. "Why not us, too?"

"But what about The Truth?" Luna asked.

"If you mean the newsletter, we have to go slowly. Printing the whole situation as we see it would merely make most people think we're the war-mongers."

"That sucks," Ginny said.

"It does. War is nasty, but at least you usually know who the enemy is. In this type of situation, everything looks gray to most people."

"What about the dementors and zombies?" Ron asked. Black had accumulated a zombie attack force and helped win the dementors over to Voldemort's side the year before.

"Half the zombies have already been turned over and destroyed," Edward said. "Malfoy is already using the pretended potential split to drive a harder bargain. The Lestranges will no doubt be keeping at least a few of them. As for the dementors," Edward shrugged. "Who can tell if they'll keep their alliance or not?"

"Why doesn't Fudge believe you about the split?" Hermione asked.

"Because all I could report is what Voldemort thought. It's not necessarily the truth, is it?" Edward answered.

"But how could he have been lying?" Luna asked.

"He couldn't have been lying," Edward explained, "but he could have been wrong. It's not like I could shift through his mind and find all the evidence. He was far too powerful for that, even with his entire mind fighting Harry." He shrugged. "It's even possible Voldemort was wrong, although I doubt it."

"So are things better or worse?" Neville asked.

"Voldemort was an amazingly powerful and evil wizard," Edward said. "Probably only Dumbledore, Harry, and myself had any real chance of surviving an encounter with him. In that respect, we're better off with him gone. However, he couldn't get a grasp on the current realities, about his followers even more so than about us. Black seems to be better suited for current realities, and in that respect we're worse off than we were last summer, when Voldemort was doing the planning."

"But that would have been true even with Voldemort still alive," Hermione pointed out.

"Very true," Edward agreed. "If Voldemort had been surrendered, then sometime in the future, he would have somehow struck again. If not in our lifetimes, then whenever this generation was gone and he could find people willing to do anything for power."

"I'm glad I didn't murder him for nothing," Harry muttered.

"We killed him," Hermione reminded Harry.

"So please don't blame your self," Luna added.

"Quite right, we all had a hand in it." Edward stood up. "Please dress for dinner. Come to the solarium at Six. Dinner will be at Seven."

The six teens were quiet for a long, agonizingly-silent few minutes after Edward left. The only movement was Luna putting her arm around Harry, resting the hand on Hermione's shoulder with a reassuring grip.

Finally, Neville stood up, and pulled Ginny up with him. They went over to Harry. Ginny knelt between Harry and Hermione, putting her head on Hermione's lap and her arms around Hermione and Harry's waists. Neville went behind them, and put his hands on Luna and Harry's shoulders.

"I imagine it's a hard thing to live with," Neville said. "Thank you, for doing it."

"We still care about you three," Ginny added, hugging Hermione and Harry.

Ron got up and stood behind Hermione. "Come on. We can't ignore what happened, but we can't let it rule our lives. Cynthia and Louise will be here for a holiday dinner. We should do something special for them."

"Cynthia and Louise?" Hermione asked.

"Uncle Jacob's granddaughters," Ginny said.

"The war already hit them," Ron reminded the group. "Cindy is going to be eleven soon; she'll be at Hogwarts next year. Lou is even younger. Harry, you always said how much bad Christmases hurt you before you came to Hogwarts. Let's make it nice for them."

"If we can't make the world better, we can at least make the world around us better?" Luna asked.

"Exactly," Hermione stated firmly.

Luna raised an eyebrow at Hermione. "I never figured you for a follower of Zeno the Stoic any more than I really am."

Hermione shrugged. "It's still good advice."

"And you have two girls to tell the legend of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack to!" Ginny teased Luna.

Luna smiled, which made Harry smile as well. "Oh, by the way," Harry said. "I rearranged the rooms."

"Rearranged?" Ron asked.

It was Harry who now shrugged. "There are a couple of configurations possible. By taking out one of the WC's, two bedrooms can be joined as a suite. That one is for Hermione and you, that one is for Ginny and Neville."

"Now wait a minute. . . ." Ron protested.

"Luna has the bedroom next to me upstairs," Harry went on, cutting Ron off. "While Edward can override any command, no one else can come in to this area without my permission, and only Luna and I can get upstairs, once the doors are shut. I think we all need naps to face tonight."

Harry rang a small bell, and a house elf appeared. "Harry Potter rang?"

The elf was dressed in a Santa hat, mis-matched wild red and green socks, green shorts, and what looked like a miniature maroon Weasley jumper. "Dobby!" Hermione said in surprise.

"I arranged to hire Dobby for the holiday," Harry told them. "While the elves here assured me they could easily handle the workload, they accepted Dobby's coming to help as my Yule present to them." Harry turned to Dobby. "It's Two-ten. Dobby, could you please wake us all up between Four-thirty and Four-forty-five?"

"Of course, Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby bowed and disappeared.

"The WC's between the rooms now have showers; you only need to use the bathroom if you want a bath." Harry stood and held his hand out to Luna. The others disentangled themselves, and Harry led Luna up the stairs. Ron looked ready to lecture Ginny and threaten Neville, but Hermione yanked on the back of his jeans and Ron followed her into one of their bedrooms.

Ginny smiled. "Your room, or mine?" she asked.

Neville turned bright red and gulped. "Oh, Neville," Ginny said, "it's just a nap. Honestly!"

"I'll follow you anywhere," Neville said.

Dobby woke the nappers, or at least reminded them of the time, since none were actually asleep at the time. At 5:50, Harry and Luna walked down to the open area where the other four were staying. Everyone was ready, and all six were in their dress robes.

"We look good," Ginny stated.

"So we do," Luna agreed. She linked her arm to Harry's. "Shall we proceed?" Ginny took Neville's arm, and Ron took Hermione's. Harry grinned, and they marched out of the area.

Harry led the procession to the floor below, where the twins, Bill, and Fleur had rooms in the turret. Seeing the six teens linked in pairs arm-in-arm, Fred and George linked arms and fell in line. Laughing, Bill and Fleur did the same.

The procession exited the turret and went along the main corridor. The Weasleys and Grangers all smiled and joined the procession, and Mr. Lovegood escorted Tonks (who sported light-orange hair to match her flaming red-and-orange robes). Although not in robes, Mr. Granger's dinner jacket seemed to fit right in, as did Mrs. Granger's formal gown.

It was not a solemn procession by any means (not that many could be, with Fred and George in it). Harry dimmed the torches by a word of command, and they sent different colored sparks from their wands. George conjured up a pair of long-lasting sparklers for the Grangers, so they wouldn't feel left out.

The other Weasleys were waiting just outside the solarium, talking to Edward and Carole. The two little girls burst into 'oo's and ah's' when they saw the procession. Edward and Carole, poking their heads around the door, smiled and laughed.

There were more presents under the tree than anyone had ever seen in one home before. While no one knew what the future might bring, at least they would try and make this a happy Christmas to remember.

Dinner was a huge success. Edward escorted the Weasleys who were leaving to the reception hall at the end of the front bridge. Since it was a full moon, they would portkey back to their cottage to avoid Lupin. They would return for breakfast at 8:00, and to open presents immediately thereafter. (Breakfast was set for 8:00 to allow them to finish their early farm chores.)

While Fred and George made a few rude comments to the sextet and Bill and Fleur, they were ignored. Ron did give Neville a few nasty looks, but since Neville only had eyes for Ginny, they made no impact.

Dobby would knock on their doors between 7:15 - 7:30 the next morning.

Ron woke up at little after 6:00. Although he was never an early riser by inclination, Christmas was the one day of the year he always tried to make an exception for. He leaned over and kissed Hermione awake.

"Brush your teeth and go back to sleep," Hermione murmured. She rolled over.

Ron brushed his hand over Hermione's bare thigh. "Ron, we're not ready to go farther," Hermione growled.

"I know," he said. "But I like to touch."

Hermione sighed. She knew that Ron would likely grow up to be the type of parent who would wake up the children if they slept too long on Christmas morning. She sat up and stretched, and Ron reveled in the sight of her lush, compact nude body. Potter Place had good heating charms for the bedrooms.

Hermione stood and held out her hand. "Come on, we might as well face the crowd squeaky clean." Ron grinned and shot out of bed.

Harry and Luna slowly woke up in each other's arms. Harry had not slept well for years, although his worst nightmares had slowly receded the previous summer. He rarely woke up feeling refreshed. He did that morning, and so did Luna.

Like Hermione, Harry and Luna did not feel ready to make love. Unlike Hermione, however, they had discovered nearly as satisfying substitutes. Like Ron and Hermione, they also took a shower, although a much quicker one than Hermione and Ron were indulging in. Then, they went back to bed to give each other pleasure.

Neville and Ginny woke up with fewer qualms than the other two couples, having made love for the first time the night before. They woke up early, made love for the second time, and got out of the shower just in time to answer Dobby's knock on the door.

It was in many ways Harry's most memorable Christmas, one that he would always think back to in the years ahead. The Christmases he had spent with the Dursleys had been uniformly awful. The previous Christmas had been over-shadowed by his fears about being possessed. His Christmases spent at Hogwarts had had their own difficulties, some great and some small (his first had the mystery of the cloak and the Mirror, the second the polyjuice potion and Hermione's transformation into part-cat, the third the joy then grief and anger over the Firebolt, the fourth by the Christmas Ball). This year, while the shadow of Sirius' death still haunted Harry, while the death of Voldemort and the worry over the negotiations with the Pure-Bloods hung over the students and the adults in the know, it was still the happiest Christmas Harry could remember to date.

Dumbledore, Moody, and a very tired Remus Lupin came to the breakfast, and stayed for the opening of presents. Dumbledore received a dozen books, plus a pair of socks from his brother Aberforth. The Headmaster really did look very pleased with the socks. Harry wondered what he would have looked like had Harry given Dumbledore a pair anything like the ones he had given Dobby.

Mrs. Weasley was not crying this year. Percy had not returned the jumper she had nervously sent him, and Percy had even sent his parents a small Christmas card. Arthur Weasley especially liked the set of Muggle DYI books Harry, Hermione, and Edward had given him, although Molly Weasley looked worried he might actually try to Do It himself.

Luna loved the amber scraying necklace she had admired the previous August in Diagon Alley. She was even happier that Harry had remembered how much she liked it, and that the rest of his presents to her were the 'junk' jewelry she loved. Her father had given her the crystal ball she had wanted as well.

Harry was pleased that all his presents were well-received. He of course liked getting presents (his favorite was from Edward and Dumbledore, who had given him the pensieve he had seen the previous August; his second favorite was the Wizard Wireless Luna gave him), but liked giving them more.

Hermione had, unsurprisingly, given books to her school friends (N.E.W.T.s are Nearer than you Wish for Harry, Ron, and Neville; Last Minute O.W.L. Studies for Luna and Ginny) and the others she gave gifts to. Most people gave her books in return.

Ron and Neville's minds worked in similar ways. Both had given their girlfriends silver rings. The four present Weasley brothers then started giving Neville such looks that he was beginning to get very nervous by the time the presents were finished.

Most of all, everyone liked watching the two young girls opening their presents. There was no doubt that Cynthia would be accepted to Hogwarts; her magical ability was well-marked. She received gift certificates for most of what she would need to equip her for Hogwarts: books; wand; clothes; and even her trunk. Louise got more childish presents, but seemed at least as happy with them. They would remember this Christmas as one of the best of their lives.

Jacob and his family left around 10:00 am. At that point, the gathering turned serious. Dumbledore stood and addressed the group. "The Ministry has announced the death of Voldemort. Wizarding Radio will be announcing it in the Eleven o'clock news cast. The official cause of death will be the injuries he sustained in his attack on Hogwarts."

"So Harry will get all the credit, or blame," Hermione said.

"Exactly," Dumbledore agreed. "The will also announce that the negotiations with the Pure-Bloods are likely to bear fruit, perhaps as early as New Year's Day." He shrugged. "Fudge has assured me that the conditions will be much more favorable than those originally proposed, but gave me few details. Before anyone may be pardoned, however, they must confess to their crimes. If there is a known crime they do not confess to within a set time-limit, they may be charged with it. It is therefore unlikely that people like Lucius Malfoy will ever regain all their old influence, but I dare say they will regain some, perhaps most, of it."

"Furthermore," Dumbledore continued, "Fudge acknowledged that some of the group are likely to remain a serious danger. Therefore, precautions will not be lessened. He does not believe that the two branches are working together, however."

"Man's a jackass," Moody muttered loudly. He snuggled into his new winter cloak, a present from Harry and Edward.

"I doubt anyone in this room would argue with you, Alastor," Dumbledore assured him. "We have no idea if the terror wing will attack soon, or if they will try to lull us to sleep. The Lestranges and their associates may take their pardon, then attack, or they may attack before the agreement goes fully into affect, to highlight the so-called split."

"What can we do?" Tonks demanded. "What can we do to these people without proof? We aren't being allowed to hunt them down while the negotiations are this active."

"What?" Harry demanded. "I mean, I can almost understand not arresting them, but you should be able to locate them, just in case they don't ask for a pardon!"

"You're right, but that's not the order," Tonks said. "The most we can do is to try to prevent any attacks. We're of course going to keep looking for them, justifying it by saying we're trying to prevent attacks."

"Speaking of which," Moody said standing, "I have a stake-out to return to. Despite the conditions out there, I want to thank you all for making this the warmest Christmas I have had for many a year. I wish you all well."

"I also must leave," Dumbledore said, standing as well. "Aberforth is joining me for a very light luncheon, and of course I must prepare for Christmas dinner at Hogwarts." He walked over to the Grangers. "The battle within the wizarding world will likely continue, but I believe there shall be much fewer attacks on Muggles and even the Muggle-born. We have won a battle, and the war is shifting to other fields." Dumbledore and Moody left.

Tonks stood, and changed her red-and-green spiked hair to long blondish gray, matching Remus Lupin's. "I have the day off," she told Lupin, eyes looking shyly down.

"And I promised to show you the grounds," Remus agreed, also standing.

"You'll both be here for supper at Eight?" Edward asked.

"Oh, yes," Remus said, blushing slightly. "We have Christmas dinner already covered." Fred leaned over and whispered something to George, which made them both snort, and Remus, with his excellent hearing, to blush more. The pair wished the group a 'happy Christmas' and also left.

Edward stood just as they were almost out the room. "Christmas dinner is at One-thirty. I suggest we take our hauls back to our rooms."

Ron would be spending the remaining vacation with Hermione's family, and so he and Ginny's situations were reversed (Neville had left after supper Christmas night, while Ginny went home with her parents the next morning).

The Grangers left after dinner Christmas night, and Ron went with them. On Boxing Day, the rest of the house party broke up. Mr. Lovegood was going back to the office to work on The Truth. Luna would stay until New Year's Day, and then spend the remaining few days of the vacation with her father. Harry would spend some of his free time filling his pensieve, and sharing his memories with Luna, despite that being a mostly-painful process.

The efforts of the Movement for Pure-Bloods still over-shadowed the holidays, but it was still the best Christmas season Harry had experienced so far.