Harry Potter and The Heirs of The Founders

Chapter Eighteen

Frustration and Impulsiveness

Harry slammed his broomstick into the wall. It was all getting too much to take.

'Can't do this, can't do that,' he said in an agitated voice. 'What am I Hermione? A child? Is that what I look like?'

'Of course not Harry,' she said in her attempt at a soothing voice. 'They're just worried about you.'

'Aren't you sick of them treating you like a child?' he asked her. 'Honestly, we're married and having our first child and its go home. It's not safe. They might be after you.'

'They're just worried Harry,' she said again. 'They don't want you to get hurt.'

'I have to face Voldemort Hermione,' he said bitterly. 'Of course I'm going to bloody-well get hurt. I don't think he's going to stand there and say "Here I am Harry, come and kill me" do you?'

'Calm down Harry,' Hermione said placing her hand on his shoulder. 'They just want you to have the time to prepare yourself. You know, for what's to come.'

He looked at his wife intently. She had sounded nervous and anxious. He didn't care.

'Do you realise how Lavender's coping with this Hermione?' he said. 'She drinks herself to sleep. She tries to dull her gift so that she doesn't see the future. The future scares her Hermione. And as for Chrystal, she's wasting away.'

'Harry be reasonable. She's been sick,' Hermione said. 'And Lavender was always strange.'

'The world is not kind,' Harry said angrily. 'Voldemort rules our world and he is a cruel master.'

*~*

They had searched everywhere. There was not a single sign of her. Ron had never been so scared in his life. His heart thumped against his chest. Where could she possibly be? He glanced at the ground as a glimmer of gold caught his eye. He lent over to get a closer look at the shimmering. It was a chain. He picked it up and brushed the dirt off it. His heart sunk. It was Rose's. Her Muggle parents had given it to her for her birthday last May. They had wanted her to know that finding her real parents didn't mean that they were no longer there for her.

Ron felt a hand upon his shoulder. He turned his head to see Sirius behind him.

'That's Rose's isn't it?' he said. Ron couldn't speak. He slowly nodded his head. He knew what disappearing Muggle-borns meant. 'We'll go straight to the Ministry. Do you think you can apparate Ron?' Again Ron just nodded and following his acknowledgement they headed straight to the offices of Magical Law Enforcement.

Alastor Moody was there waiting for them.

'I heard about the Quidditch match MacLeod,' he growled the way only Moody could. 'I assume you're here to file a report. I just don't understand why you have brought the other two.'

'Rose Heaney is missing,' Sirius said.

'Oh' Moody said. 'One would assume she's Muggle-born, wouldn't they?'

The three nodded.

'Only a few of the Order know who she really is,' Sirius continued. 'You're one of the few people who do. You can understand the other reasons why we are concerned about her disappearance.' Sirius explained to Moody the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

'I shall get some people working on it immediately,' Moody said.

'What do you want me to do?' Chrystal asked.

'You can go home and get some rest,' Moody said. Chrystal began to protest, but before Ron knew what was happening Moody had shoved a portkey into their hands and they were whirling towards Hogwarts.

*~*

Rose cowered in the corner of the room. She was having trouble breathing due to the smelly rag that was tightly bound around her face. Her wand had been stolen and her hands had been tied behind her back. Her face was dirty with tear streaks where she had been unable to wipe her tears away. She had never been so frightened before. She had heard Ron telling her about the Muggle-borns they had found on the weekend. She hoped that they weren't going to do that to her.

At long last the door opened. She could barely see who it was, but somehow she just knew who it was. The man was tall and thin. Somehow her instincts told her that this was Voldemort. She tried to gasp for air but it was difficult to breathe. She could feel her heart pounding against her chest wall and sweat running down her back. She could only think of one reason why he would possibly want her.

He was going to use her as bait to get Harry!

*~*

His parents had overheard his yelling and had dragged him into their rooms.

'Do you want everyone to know that you're hiding here?' James asked in a loud whisper when he had shut the door. 'Calm down Harry and let me know what has gotten you so worked up?'

Harry explained what had happened at the match and how he had practically been ordered to leave. Harry wasn't very impressed when his parents expressed the same sentiment as Hermione had. In fact they went a step further suggesting that perhaps he shouldn't be playing Quidditch at all. Harry was about to explode when Sirius, Chrystal and Ron came hurriedly in the room. I guess this isn't good he thought as he saw the look on their faces.

'Where's Rose?' Lily said immediately when she noticed who had returned.

'Sit down Lily,' Sirius said. Harry could see that he was nervous. His face always got sweaty when he was nervous. 'There's no easy way to tell you this but it appears that she may have been taken by Death Eaters.'

'What do you mean taken?' His mother's voice sounded almost hysterical. 'How could you let this happen?' she asked Chrystal.

'I'm sorry Lily,' Chrystal said softly. 'I should have kept a better eye on her. It's my entirely fault. I'm not fit to be a mother.'

Sirius ignored Lily's hysteria and Chrystal's confessions.

'Hermione, can you tell us what happened?' Sirius asked Hermione. Harry glanced over at her. He could see she was shaking.

'Well we were watching the game and Rose said she was going to the bathroom,' Hermione began. 'I asked her if she wanted me to come with her, but she said no. I think she just wanted a bit of fresh air. She left and then I guess everything happened with Marcus Flint and I just figured that she was with you.'

'Calm down Lily,' James said. 'It's clearly not their fault.' Harry felt his chest tighten as he glanced at his mother. She was in tears.

'We searched the stadium for her and there was no sign except for her necklace lying on the ground just outside. We've reported it to the Ministry,' Sirius continued. 'The only thing we can do now is wait. I'll go and speak to Dumbledore and we'll get some of the Order on it immediately. We're hoping that she's been taken because they think she's Muggle-born and not for another more sinister reason.'

'You can wait if you want Sirius Black,' Chrystal said, 'but for now I'm going to keep looking for her.'

'I'm going to help you,' Harry said. 'We've got to find her.'

'No you're not,' Sirius and Hermione said at the same time.

'You're going to bed Chrystal,' Sirius said. 'You haven't completely recovered yet. You're still not very strong.'

'But it's my fault,' she said. 'I should have been keeping a better eye on her.'

'No it's not Chryssy,' James said. 'Rose is sixteen years old; she doesn't need someone to hold her hand every second of the day.'

'Come with me,' Sirius said as he picked up his protesting wife and carried her out of the room. 'Ron can you find Snape, tell him what has happened and ask him to give me a potion for dreamless sleep.'

Ron, looking slightly bewildered agreed before leaving the room, as the shouts of put me down gradually got softer.

'Well I am going to look for Rose,' Harry said. 'And you should all come with me. Anything could happen to her.'

Lily looked as if she were about to agree before James opened his mouth.

'As much as the thought of Rose being thrown into one of these Muggle-born camps is distressing, the thought of losing you both in as many days is worse,' he said. 'Harry, I know you feel frustrated but it's just not safe for you to be out there at the moment. I'd prefer you to be safe and I will hide you and Hermione myself if it means that you can't go searching for her.' Harry began to protest but his father interrupted. 'I'm sorry, but it's simply not safe.'

'You're father's right Harry,' Hermione said. That was not what he needed. He needed someone at least to be on his side, but it didn't appear that it was going to go that way. How could he expect them to listen to him if his own wife wouldn't back him up? 'Now I can force you to come to bed with me the way Sirius did to Chrys, or you can just come with me quietly and maybe we can be of some use in the morning.'

Harry begrudgingly followed Hermione. He did however notice that his mother had forgotten to hide them. That was somewhat pleasing to him. He stormed into their quarters and turned to Hermione.

'You didn't have to agree with them,' he said. She looked hurt.

'Yes I did Harry,' she said. 'If a Death Eater had seen you, you would have been of no use to Rose. And personally I prefer you alive.' She turned her back on him and walked into the bathroom. When she emerged she was clad in her nightgown, she got into bed ignoring Harry and turned the lights off.

*~*

He glanced carefully at the piece of paper.

Character = reduction of birth date

Double that of the Founders; From Arithmancy text Founders triangle = 3, triangle therefore equals 6.

Hermione says first names = 5; but 3 is not a perfect triangle

Using full names Chrystal = 4, Harry = 5 and Lavender =6

This equals 15 which reduces to 6 = a perfect triangle.

Harry = 31^st July 1980 = 31+7+1980 = 2018

Reduces to 11, reduces 2

Harry = 2

Lavender = 24^th May 1980 = 24+5+1980 = 2009

Reduces to 11, reduces to 2

Lavender = 2

Chrystal = 10^th November 196?

For a perfect triangle Chrystal must equal 2.

He looked at his watch. It was the 9^th of November. He wondered if Ginny knew how old Chrystal was turning, because if her number wasn't two; then her character was not the same as Harry's.

*~*

'Remove the gag,' the man whom she thought was Voldemort instructed. Rose felt a smelly young man come and remove the gag. She recognised him instantly; he was the man who had taken her earlier. He was a seventh year last year. He used to be one of Malfoy's friends. Was it Crabbe or Goyle? She couldn't remember but for some reason it seemed important to her to know her attacker. He undid the gag and placed his hand on her face. She immediately withdrew from him. He was revolting.

The thin man walked towards her. He appeared intimidating, but Rose was determined to try and keep her cool.

'Do you know who I am?' he asked.

'You're Voldemort,' she said shaking. Not doing well so far Rose.

'You do not fear to speak my name then young Mudblood?' he asked her, somewhat amused.

'Why should I?' she asked, still shaking. Do not make him angry Rose. 'Your father was a Muggle.'

'DO NOT MENTION MY FATHER, YOU MUDBLOOD,' he yelled. She began to shake in fear. She hadn't intended making Voldemort angry with her. At least he thought she was a Mudblood. He was not using her to get Harry. 'Have you worked out why you're here?'

'No,' she said. She honestly was clueless. She could not think of any possible use he would have for her if he didn't know her relationship to Harry.

'You will be somewhat useful to me,' he said snickering. 'But for now I'll leave you to work out the reason why. It's better for you to sit here wondering why I want you.' He turned and walked out the door. The man she thought was Crabbe or Goyleshoved something down her throat that felt as if it were scolding her throat. Then she felt her head spinning...

*~* 10^th November *~*

An owl soared into the room and dropped off a copy of The Daily Prophet. Chrystal begrudgingly paid the owl before she threw the paper on the table. Hermione went over and picked it up.

'Oh my gosh,' she said staring at the front page. 'Harry have a look at this.'

'What is it Hermione?' Chrystal asked. 'It better not be the Prophet announcing how old I am.'

'It's about Rose.'

That comment brought both Harry and Chrystal over to read the paper.

Muggle-born spree ends.

The Muggle-born kidnapping spree ended last night with the disappearance of a young witch of wizarding parentage.

Rose Heaney, a sixteen-year-old Gryffindor student, disappeared from the Puddlemere United and Chudley Cannons Quidditch match, held at the Cannons home ground yesterday. Miss Heaney was one of the more prominent Hogwarts students. She is currently the Gryffindor Quidditch captain and has played the role of Chaser for the past three years. One must wonder, however why Miss Heaney was watching the Quidditch game in the first place. The usual protocol for students leaving school grounds for Quidditch matches has traditionally only been for students watching relatives play. This would not appear to be the reason Miss Heaney attended.

'It raises questions indeed,' said Chrystal. 'Who would know that Rose wasn't Muggle-born, that would actually know that she was missing?'

'It means that people are going to start asking questions about her parents,' Hermione said. 'They're going to want to know why she was at the game yesterday.'

'That's easy,' Harry said. 'She was there to watch Ron.' Harry glanced over at his friend who was sitting in the corner. He was pale. Harry could see the worried look on his face.

'It's not that simple Harry,' Chrystal said. 'My dad played for the Prides and I was allowed to go and watch him play. But he was also like a father to Sirius. The only father Sirius from the age of ten. But he wasn't allowed to go and watch. And I wasn't allowed to go and watch Sirius play when I was in seventh year.'

'Sirius played Quidditch?' Harry said surprised.

'There were a lot of things Sirius did,' Chrystal said. 'Many of which he doesn't or can't do now. Quidditch was something Sirius really enjoyed. He can still fly and he remembers some of the moves as you would have seen at your seventeenth birthday but there's no way he could play competitively anymore. And he didn't really want to play without your father. They were a fabulous team on the pitch together.'

'Going back to who would have known that Rose wasn't Muggle-born,' Ron said. Everyone else in the room was quiet. Ron hadn't said a word since he had picked up Rose's necklace at the pitch last night. 'Well you asked,' he said when he saw the surprised look on their faces. 'She never lied about who she was. She was not ashamed of the fact that she had been adopted and she always said that she would find out about her parents. And then when she discovered who they were, she was a little more quiet about it. She was very confused. I know you told her not to tell anyone she was related to Harry Chrystal. As far as I know the only person that she actually told was Ginny and I think I can be fairly certain that Ginny did not tell anyone. But I'm fairly sure that anyone who knew her well would have noticed a change in her manner. I know you all did. If someone asked Rose if her parents were magical she wouldn't have lied. She would have told the truth without revealing who her parents were. That article is worrying. Because if she was taken because they thought she was Muggle-born they'll read that and start asking her who her parents are. She'll resist at first but eventually they will make her crack. They will break her.'

Ron was right. They all knew it.

'The question is how can we save her before it's too late,' Harry said.

'Well given that we're locked in this room without wands we come up with a strategy,' Ron said. 'For once Harry, they're not going to let you jump in head over heels without thinking first. I guess over the last eight years they've learnt what you're like.'

Harry agreed with Ron's suggestion and the four of them spent the afternoon considering the possibilities of where Rose could be and how they could rescue her.

*~*

Sirius entered the room late in the evening. Chrystal got stuck into him immediately.

'How could you leave us locked up here all day?' she asked. 'I've been going absolutely crazy.' She glanced at Harry. 'No offence meant you guys but it's my birthday and I've been confined to this stupid room.'

'None taken,' Hermione said. 'It's been nice to actually have some company for a change.'

'Well we think we know where she is,' Sirius began. 'Lily gave her a charm for her birthday that allows us to track her if she's missing. We've tracked her to a town in Ireland. In fact we know her exact location, we're just assessing the situation.'

'You couldn't tell us this last night?' Harry asked aggressively.

'We need caution and not haste Harry,' Sirius said.

'If you don't mind me asking Sirius, how do you know she isn't dead?' Ron asked.

'The reciprocal charm goes black,' Sirius explained. 'At the moment it's orange. That means that she's not safe, but that she's not in any immediate danger. It's if it turns red we have to worry.'

'And are we going to sit around and wait for it to turn red?' Harry asked.

'No,' Sirius replied bluntly. 'There are currently operatives working on it. We are keeping you out of it for other reasons. Given the Prophet this morning, I think it is important that you are not seen to be overly concerned about her.'

That made sense.

'But what about Ron?' Hermione asked.

'We've asked the media to leave Ron alone,' Sirius said. 'We've told them that Ron is upset and is unable to answer their questions.'

'Are they asking questions about who Rose is?' Hermione asked.

'Naturally,' Sirius replied. 'But as you would be aware only the members of The Covenant, as well as Moody and a few of the other operatives know who she really is. We don't think any of the members of The Covenant will talk.'

*~* The next morning *~*

Rose awoke feeling groggy. She was unsure how long she had been asleep but from the few rays of sun that had made it into the room she realised that it was daytime. Her arms were still tied behind her back, her back felt bruised, as did her stomach. She felt a huge pain run up her thigh as she stood up but besides her head hurting there was nothing else to worry about. She knew she had to get out of here. She tried to gather up some strength. She could possibly need every single bit of strength she could she muster.

First things first she had to release her hands from the rope. That would be difficult. She concentrated with her mind and tried to snap the ropes. At first it didn't work, so she concentrated harder and harder until she heard the rope snap and felt her arms free. With the effort she collapsed on the ground. Okay Rose, be strong and brave. She breathed in deeply and stood up. The pain seared down her left thigh but she managed to steady herself. She glanced around the room again and ensured that she couldn't see anyone. She couldn't hear anyone either. The headed over towards the door. She tried to push it open. She was unsuccessful. It was locked. It shouldn't be too much of a problem. She concentrated hard and pointed her hands towards the lock.

'Alohomora!' she whispered. She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the click of the lock. She cautiously pushed the door open and walked into the sunlight. It was so bright that it almost stung her eyes. She glanced around to make sure that there was nobody in sight and locked the door so that no one would realise she was gone. Then she ran. She headed towards the surrounding woods and ran for her life.

*~* The next day *~*

Harry sat down on the sofa in Chrystal and Sirius' rooms. He knew his parents would be here anytime. He knew what they were going to say. He had been waiting for it since Monday evening and now it was Thursday and he knew the time had come. Hermione had already suggested it. But to him the thought was unthinkable. He heard the door open and in walked his parents and the Blacks. In full force they were here to demand him to shatter his dreams.

'Hi Harry,' his father said. 'Listen son, we've been thinking that perhaps it's not a good idea for you to continue playing Quidditch.'

'It's just not safe,' Sirius added.

Harry looked at the four of them.

'I'm sick of this,' he said. 'I'm leaving.' Harry stood up and walked out of the room leaving the four of them behind him dumbfounded. He summoned his broom and went flew out the window of the tower heading for Hogsmeade. He didn't stop flying until he hit Weasley'sWizarding Wheezes.

He opened the door of the store he had only entered a few times since its establishment the year earlier hoping that he would run into Fred or George. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw George and Katie at the counter.

'Hi George, hi Katie,' Harry said as if there were nothing wrong.

'Harry,' George said in reply. 'Why don't you come upstairs with me while Katie takes care of the store?' Katie nodded and Harry headed upstairs with George.

'Harry what are you doing here?' George asked when they reached the top of the staircase. 'Have you gone mad?'

'Listen George I had to get away from them,' Harry explained. 'They're driving me crazy with what I'm allowed to do and what I can't. I need somewhere to stay for a couple of days.'

'Have you and Hermione had a tiff?' George asked. 'Because I've heard pregnant women can be temperamental and if that's the case then you'd better make up with her.'

'It's not that George,' he said. 'I'm feeling stifled and it's not Hermione that's the problem. It's my parents and Sirius and Chrystal. They're too worried about me. I feel like I'm being wrapped up in cotton wool and they're trying to protect me from the big bad world. But in truth they can't. I have to face my destiny one day and them delaying it is not making life very easy for me at the moment.'

'Okay Harry,' George said. 'As long as it's not a problem with Hermione then I'm happy to help. It's probably not a good idea for you to stay here as Katie's still trying to make this place into a home but I'm sure you could stay with Fred.'

'Fred?' Harry asked. 'Isn't he still at The Burrow?'

George laughed.

'I forget that you aren't always up with the latest news and information,' George said. 'Fred got sick of living at home without me. He's moved in with Angelina. Mum's having kittens. She doesn't like it too much. Anyway Angelina's away for a few days, so I'm sure he wouldn't mind some company. Anyhow I'll fill you in on what's been going on while we wait for Fred. He shouldn't be more than a few hours and Katie's going to close up in an hour, so I'm sure she'd love to chat with you Harry.'

George explained to Harry what he hadn't been told about Marcus Flint.

'He went to see Chrystal on Saturday,' George began. 'He had received a letter telling him he had been recruited to the Dark Lord's service. He didn't want to conform and wanted advice, so he went to Hogwarts to ask the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Chrystal advised him to try the Fidelius Charm if he knew of someone with whom he could trust his life. On Monday he asked Ron to be his Secret Keeper before the Quidditch match. Ron agreed. But as you know Marcus didn't make the end of the game. And Rose disappeared. Sirius has asked to work on reasons why Rose was taken but so far we can't work it out unless he knew she's your sister.'

'That's just unthinkable because it means that he's using her as bait,' Harry said. 'Sirius knows where she is, did he tell you?' George shook his head.

'All I know is that this will lead us to her,' George said opening his hand to show Harry a bracelet. 'Ron acquired this and has gone to try and find her. Unfortunately the git left this behind. Shall we go and find her Harry?'

'Give me the bracelet,' Harry said. George handed it straight to Harry.

'I assume you know how to work it,' George said. 'Because I certainly don't. If I did, I would have gone and got her myself.'

Harry glanced at the bracelet. He knew his mother had enchanted them so that she could always find Rose, but he wasn't quite sure how. He pointed his wand at the bracelet.

'Revalo Rose,' he said. He stepped back and watched as a map appeared from the gem. Harry took one look at George before the both of them apparated to the location.

They found themselves in thick scrub.

'She should be somewhere here in the vicinity,' Harry said. 'Do you think it would be best if we called for her?'

George nodded and began calling for her. Harry did the same and started searching for his sister.

'Rose?' he called out. He called out again and again. Each time there was no response.

'Rose, are you there? It's Harry,' he called louder and louder until finally he heard a small voice call out his name. Harry ran toward the voice with George on his heels. Nothing else mattered. He ran so quickly that he almost tripped over Rose, who was lying on the ground. She had covered herself with leaves.

'Harry, thank goodness,' she said. 'I can't move, it's too painful.'

'What's too painful?' he asked as he brushed the leaves off her.

'My leg,' she replied. 'I don't know what happened to it, but I just know that when I woke up it hurt. And I got away and tried to run and the more I tried to run the more it hurt until finally I couldn't move anymore.' Harry looked down. His sister was in tears. Her clothes were tattered and torn and her leg was badly bruised. He got George to help him pick her up.

'Now the question is how are we going to get her home?' he asked George.

*~*

Hermione had been looking for Harry for the past hour and a half. She couldn't find him anywhere. She had just been to see Molly Weasley. Molly was a trained midwife and was more than happy to answer some of Hermione's questions. Hermione had found the afternoon just what she had needed after being confined to Hogwarts since Monday. She realised that they had made her stay because Harry had been acting irrationally; nevertheless she had found it frustrating. She would have liked to go and help look for Rose, but she understood the dangers a little better than her reckless husband.

Now she had been looking for Harry for over an hour she was seriously worried about where he could be. She thought that it was probably best to seek the advice of her elders. She wandered into Lily and James' rooms where she saw four adults in deep conversation.

'Hello Hermione,' Lily said. 'Did Molly ease your mind a little?'

'Yes thanks,' Hermione said. 'You haven't seen Harry perchance have you?'

The four of them exchanged looks.

'We suggested that Harry stop playing Quidditch,' James said. 'He didn't take it too well.'

'He stormed out,' Sirius added.

'Great,' Hermione said. 'And that's supposed to make me feel better is it?'

'We were just thinking about trying to find him, but he's very difficult to be found if he doesn't want to be,' James said.

'Well I can tell you that he will have headed straight for somewhere unpredictable,' Hermione said.

She heard a door slam and she heard Harry's voice calling out for Sirius. She felt a sigh of relief when she heard it. At least he was still at Hogwarts.

Sirius opened the door and Hermione was surprised to see Harry and George there with rose in their arms.

'Rose,' Lily screamed with delight. 'Harry, how did you find her?'

'You didn't tell me you had lost your charm did you?' he said to his mother. Hermione watched as Lily glanced at her arm seeing that her bracelet wasn't there. George immediately handed it over to her.

'I'm sure you want to talk to Rose,' Harry said. 'But for now I think she needs to go to the hospital wing.' Harry handed his sister to his father and allowed his parents to take Rose to Madam Pomfrey. He glanced at Sirius who had a questioning look on his face. 'I'll explain what happened later. For now I need to talk to Hermione.' Sirius nodded and Hermione followed her husband towards their quarters.

'I understand your intentions Harry, but do you think that was a wise thing to do?' she asked.

'No,' he said. 'I was angry and I reacted. I was feeling frustrated being couped up here and had to get out. I went to see the twins. George had the bracelet. Ron had taken it to try and find Rose and had left it behind. I acted on the moment. The gem was yellow so I figured that it was fairly safe to try and find her. She's really been hurt Hermione. She couldn't walk anymore because it was just too painful.'

'I do understand Harry,' she said. 'But you're just so impulsive. I just don't want you hurt.'

'I understand Hermione,' he said. 'But I can't give up Quidditch. I need to do something with my life. Give me your hand.' She gave her hand to Harry immediately. 'I swear to you Hermione that if I no longer have protection from the Animagus charm I will go into complete hiding. I love you and don't want you to be hurt.'

Tears welled in her eyes.

'Thank you Harry,' she said.

*~* 19^th November *~*

She woke up again in the middle of the night. The nightmares had woken every night for the past week. As nice as everyone had been to her when she was found, as much as her parents had smothered her with love, she couldn't shake the thought that there was something she couldn't remember.

In her dreams she saw herself beaten. Every time it was by the boy Crabbe or Goyleor whatever his name was. He could see the bruises forming on her body. The thought of why she had been taken tormented her dreams.

*~* 25^th November *~*

Chrystal cautiously knocked on the door and was relived that when it opened that only Lily was there.

'Do have a few minutes?' she asked.

'I was just about to have a cup of tea,' Lily replied. 'Do you want to join me?'

Chrystal nodded and sat down on the couch.

'Have you noticed the way Harry's been acting lately?' she asked.

'If you mean his frustrated manner then the answer is a loud yes,' Lily replied as she brought over the teapot and sat it on the coffee table. 'He's clearly not coping too well and I don't think Hermione's doing much better.'

'Did Sirius and I do the wrong thing by advising them to go into hiding?' she asked.

'I would have done the same thing,' Lily said. 'It's really the only advice you can give in that kind of situation. It was the advice we were given and if Peter had been trustworthy then we wouldn't have had a problem. We're lucky you were looking out for us.'

'Yes, but you and James had been married a while before you went into hiding,' she said. 'You're relationship was different to Harry and Hermione's. I think they're struggling to be so isolated which given Harry's childhood is surprising.'

'Hermione's got it harder,' Lily said. 'She barely gets out at all and when she does it's only for appearances. I think that's the reason she wanted to have a baby. So that she wasn't so lonely.'

'That's not a good reason,' she said pondering the thought. Sirius wanted to have a child so that he would have a piece of her if she died. Personally she thought that wasn't such a good reason either yet she had agreed to it.

'Neither is my son marrying her because of it,' Lily said breaking Chrystal's train of thought. 'And I suspect that is why he has. They may have known each other for over seven years but you learn a lot about each other in the first couple of months of marriage. And Harry and Hermione are with each other almost twenty-four hours a day. It's a huge demand on anybody. I know for certain James wouldn't have been able to cope the last month if we had been forced to go into hiding again. It's difficult for him to have so much human contact as it is after being isolated for so long.'

'How are things going there?' she asked.

'Slowly and steadily,' Lily replied. 'This may sound awful but we're still getting to know each other again. James has had an awful lot to deal with on top of what's happened with Rose. And the incessant questions about who her parents are. To be honest I'm not sure how much longer she can take it.' She looked at the photo of Harry and Rose on her coffee table. It was at Chrystal'swedding. They both looked so happy. So much had changed. 'Do you have a solution to Harry's predicament? Because I know my son is suffering.'

'They could stay at Dunvegan,' she said. 'Before you can comment, hear me out. First of all the Dunvegan Christmas Ball is happening this year and as Harry is Sirius' godson he will be expected to be there. But do you remember that I told you, that you should always ask me before you came to visit me at Dunvegan?' Lily nodded as she picked up her teacup. 'Well that was due to the wards of the castle. I don't if you've heard the rumours about my fairy relative?'

'Rumours of a fairy relative?' Lily said in a disbelieving voice almost dropping her teacup.

'Well I am yet to form an opinion,' she continued. 'You have seen the fairy flag no doubt?' Lily once again nodded. 'One of my father's favourite heirlooms. Anyhow it has been rumoured that one of my distant relatives married a fairy. The legends say that she was very superstitious about visitors and placed these wards on Dunvegan as a precaution from unwanted guests using fairy magic. As a result only her direct descendents can allow people to enter the grounds of Dunvegan, and only if they've been allowed using an incarnation.'

'But Sirius can come and go as he pleases,' Lily said.

'Well some people can have a permanent invitation,' she explained. 'Sirius, Heather and Maddie can come and go as they please. But they're the only ones with a permanent invitation. So if Harry and Hermione were to stay there, it would be impossible for people to just drop in on them unexpectedly.'

'Ah, I see,' Lily said. 'And they would have your father for company.'

'My father doesn't have too many guests,' she said. 'And all of them are trustworthy. Heather and Maddie would be there occasionally. Sirius and I drop in quite frequently, and it could be arranged that you and James could be allowed to enter whenever you liked.'

'But how safe is it?' Lily asked. 'For them to come and go as they please.'

'As long as they are protected using the Animagus charm it seems almost ridiculous for them to remain hidden as they are,' she said. 'Hermione really needs a midwife's advice, she has no idea what she's going through and Molly Weasley would be the perfect one, especially as Hermione knows her well. And if we keep Harry caged up the way we have been, sooner or later it's going to backfire. What do you think?'

'Lets ask them,' Lily said. 'It sounds reasonable enough.'

They took a deep breath in and headed for Harry and Hermione's rooms.

*~*

'Revalo,' Harry heard as he turned around. His mother and Chrystal had entered the room.

'What do you want now?' he asked somewhat cautiously.

'Got time to have a chat?' his mother asked. Harry nodded and invited them to sit down. Ever since they had suggested that it may not be safe for him to play Quidditch he'd been very reluctant to take their advice.

'We've got an idea for you,' Chrystal said. 'How would you like a little more freedom?'

Harry was completely taken aback.

'What do you mean?' he asked.

'What if there was another option for you than being under the Fidelius? His mother said.

'At the moment I'd jump on it straight away,' he said.

'Well you might want to talk to Hermione about it first,' Chrystal said. Harry doubted that. She would probably over analyse it and be worried about their safety.

'Now we're still not that keen on you continuing to play Quidditch, but that has to be your decision,' Lily said. 'But I also realise that it has been frustrating for both you and Hermione being so isolated from everyone else. So we have a suggestion.'

'Dunvegan is protected my extremely strong wards,' Chrystal said. 'It's impossible to go there unless you've been invited by either me or my father. Then Sirius and his family can come and go when they please. But that's it; no one else can come onto the protected grounds without an invitation. And as far as I am aware this spell has not been broken since it was cast. It's fairy magic.'

'The idea would be that you and Hermione receive a permanent invitation so that you can come and go as you choose,' his mother said. 'Then people can drop in and see you, and you can have a bit more freedom. Additionally you can come and go without having to bother me or get frustrated at me when I won't allow you to do things. Hermione could have Dunvegan'slibrary at her disposal and could go and see Molly at anytime if she's worried about the baby. She's with Molly at the moment isn't she?'

'That's what she told me,' Harry said.

'You didn't want to go with her?' Chrystal asked with surprise.

'I got the distinct impression that she didn't want me to come,' Harry replied. He watched as the two women raised their eyebrows at each other. 'Do you think we will be safe there?'

'I believe so,' Chrystal said. 'Why don't you talk to your father and Sirius, or even Dumbledore? Let us know in a few days when you and Hermione have talked about it.'

Harry nodded before asking them to leave. Harry knew he had been rash and had jumped into things. He hadn't tried to think about the full consequences of his actions. Now they were becoming apparent. The constant threat hanging over their heads was one thing. Harry knew he could deal with that, but it was the monotony of being with Hermione all the time except when he played Quidditch that was getting to him. He loved her but it was too difficult to be with her all the time and with no other company than his parents. He missed his friends and his freedom. He needed them back. He had already made his decision and he didn't care if it had been made with haste.