Chapter Text
Luna stared in horror as the darkness swept towards The Compound, swallowing up everything in its path.
As it came closer, and closer, she thought about her friends, her family, and realised she'd never see them again.
xoxox
"HONEY!" Tara shook her wife, then, taking a deep breath, slapped her across the face. Luna's eyes shot open, and a moment later, Tara covered her ears as Luna let out a loud scream.
"Mom?" Tara looked across to the door as LJ pushed it open and peered inside.
"Your mother just had a bad dream" She said soothingly "Go back to bed, and I'll be through in a minute"
"Okay" LJ let the door close, and Tara turned back to her wife.
"Hon? What's wrong?"
"Something's coming" Luna whispered, staring up at the ceiling "Something bad"
xoxox
The Western Sky
Staring
Harry Potter, Sally-Ann Potter, Luna Lovegood and Tara Maclay.
Prue Trudeau, Andy Trudeau, Andrew Wells and Pansy Wells.
with
Hermione Krum-Potter, Viktor Krum and Hallie Potter.
Amelia Bones, Nymphadora Tonks and Sirius Black.
and
Pandora Trudeau, LJ Lovegood,
Robert Krum, Elwyn Moran,
Sirius Potter, Susan Potter and Ella Potter.
Episode 1 : The Omen
xoxox
(act 1)
The Journal of Hallie Potter.
It's been eighteen months since The Wolf, Ram and Hart Trio escaped from Ministry Custody, and - for reasons that aren't entirely clear to me, or The Western Sky - there haven't been any attacks. After Future Ella's warnings, all of us were expecting an avalanche of demons, but so far - nothing.
There's even been a drop in general dark activity, but - after the arrest and total collapse of Draco's supremacist group, that's less surprising.
The aftermath of those events is still going on, even after a year and a half. The majority of the members of the group (that has now been dubbed "The Children Of The War") were - not surprisingly - pure-bloods. Which has thrown the British Establishment in to utter chaos, because almost every member of The Wizengamot, The Ministry and "the elite" (as they think of themselves) now has a child serving a sentence in Azkaban.
Minister Bones, Director Tonks and The Western Sky have all gone out of their way to make it clear that no one suspects the parents of knowing what their children were doing, and that to suggest otherwise is a bad idea. But the simple fact that most of the first and second born of these families are now convicted criminals has severely undermined the authority of the pure-blood power block.
Which, I guess, explains why Griselda Marchbanks was so insistent in attempting to punish Harry, Sally and Hermione, along with the rest of The Order Of V, for their adventure at Hogwarts.
It wasn't any great feat of skill to work out who had done it, and the very next morning Marchbanks issued warrants for the arrest of Harry, Sally and Hermione, and subpoenas for the testimony of the other members of The Order, all related to the murder of Draco Malfoy.
Both Minister Bones and Director Tonks protested these warrants, but Hermione - acting as spokesman for The House of Potter - said they were happy to answer the charges, and that they had done nothing wrong.
Two days later - less than a week after they killed him - Harry, Sally and Hermione appeared before a Wizengamot hearing, and testified, under veritaserum, that they gave him a chance to surrender, and he attacked them using all sorts of nasty curses. Having proved they were acting in self-defence, Marchbanks was forced to admit they had done nothing wrong, and - half an hour later - Minister Bones gave them all the Order of Merlin and the thanks of a grateful nation.
Pansy suspects that part of Marchbanks drive to punish The Order also stemmed from a fear of what would happen to The House of Malfoy. Lucius is dead, and Draco is dead. Narcissa is ineligible, but hasn't been seen in Britain since before Voldemort fell over twelve years ago. And by the ancient laws under which the various houses operate, Harry, Sally or Hermione would have been well within their rights to claim House Malfoy and all the rights and privileges that entails.
However, none of them wanted it. All three of them felt that The House of Malfoy was so tainted and tarnished by the actions of its last two heads, that it would be best for House Malfoy to be permanently dissolved, and for The Seven Houses to become The Six. None of the other Heads objected, and a day after they were acquitted, Marchbanks announced the end of House Malfoy to the general public.
And, much to their surprise, the anticipated death-threats and attempts at revenge haven't appeared. With the weakening of the power block, and the fact that Draco was so obviously a potential dark lord ascending, it seems that the majority of the nation was in fact grateful he was dead.
Since then, life has been sort of peaceful. The Western Sky have continued to deal with a few problems as they came up - after two children, three dogs and a heard of cows had gone missing, Andy and his merry men traced it to a colony of acromantulas in the south of Essex, and they went in and exterminated the lot. And after reports of a vampire terrorising Blackpool made it in to the muggle press, Harry and Sally teamed up with Xander and Dawn, only to find it was a guy who liked dressing up and murdering women. Needless to say, he wasn't dealt with the same as the spiders, but he is going to spend the rest of his life at Broadmoor.
But a year and a half without dark wizards, breakouts, sieges and other things have been good for them.
Which is why I feel so guilty that I have to disrupt their lives again. That I have to go to them - on Christmas Eve and Robbie's second birthday party - to tell them that I have been lying to them ever since we met.
Normally I would put it off, but Andy has been investigating me, and his friends are getting close to discovering I am not who I claim to be. I'm not who he thinks I am - why he suspects me of being that evil witch-bitch is beyond me - but I still have secrets and a past that will not stand up to the level of scrutiny he can bring to bare.
The other reason for doing it now is I have seen Him. He is here, and I think He knows I am here as well. Which means whatever He is planning....
No - I don't have a choice. I have to go, and tell them who I am, where I come from. And, if The Founders are smiling, they will forgive me.
xoxox
"....And so say all of us" The room broke in to applause and cheers as the song finished, even though they all knew the child in the middle of the room - the birthday boy, Robert Krum - probably didn't know exactly what was going. As the song ended, he did burst in to giggles, causing everyone else to laugh.
"So why didn't we sing Happy Birthday exactly?" Sirius asked as the group broke up.
"The people who own the copyright are very strict" Andy grinned as they sat down "I'm sure they'll give him a song when they get home"
"Weird" Sirius shook his head, then looked around the room "I can't believe it's two years since I came back"
"Time flies when you're living in absolute terror of global genocide" Sally said, sitting down next to him and giving him a hug "Is it wrong that it just makes me sick that Ginny is the one we have to thank for your return?"
"I don't think of it as being down to her" Sirius smiled at her "After all - she only saved my life. It was you who brought me back to the real world"
"So you admit she saved your life?" Sally smirked.
"After murdering you, your mother and Luna" Sirius smirked back "Hardly makes her a candidate for sainthood"
"Do you have wizard saints?" Andy asked, causing both of them to turn and stare at him "Hey - I was just asking"
"Not as a rule, no" Sirius shook his head "At least, not in Great Britain"
"There's Merlin and The Founders" Sally added "But they're not so much saints as historical icons" She paused, then sighed "And there is a good possibility that, in a hundred years or so, Harry, Hermione and I will be added to that list"
"Not Albus?"
"Fifteen, twenty years ago, maybe, but after the way the last war ended, and his manipulations and machinations since then...." Sally shrugged "It's possible. In the same way that, in a hundred years time, Voldemort and Draco will be considered martyrs by some"
"In the same way Hitler and Stalin are" Andy nodded, then looked around "I could've sworn this place was full of Christmas decorations yesterday"
"It's a favour to Minnie and Viktor" Sirius glanced over at the birthday family "With Robert being born on Christmas Eve, they want to get in to the habit of making sure he knows his birthday is not connected to the day after"
"Makes sense" Sally nodded "I used to hate it when my mum combined Christmas and my birthday" Andy stared at her for a moment, frowning.
"Isn't your birthday in July?"
"Why do you think I hated it so much?" She grinned at him, causing him to laugh.
xoxox
"Thanks for this" Hermione sat beside Harry, watching her son play with a small, floating ball.
"Our pleasure" Harry smiled "As much as I love Hogwarts, I know it's not the most inviting place over Christmas" He glanced over to where Viktor was talking to Tonks "Have you considered getting a house?"
"Pardon?" Hermione looked up from her son to look Harry in the face "A house?"
"You know - a place to live. Four walls. Roof. Door" He smiled "You could get a secure floo to your office, Vik to The ICW. It would give Robbie somewhere to play"
"But no other Headteachers have lived away from the school" Hermione replied, though she looked thoughtful.
"How many of them had young children?" Harry turned back to where Robert was batting at the ball, giggling every time it changed colour "We could put you up a house here, in The Compound, if you wanted. We've got plenty of room, and it would mean you'd be protected"
"I suppose" She glanced over at Viktor "I'll talk to Vik tonight, and see what he says" She paused "This wouldn't mean I have to join The Sky?"
"No" Harry grinned "Not that we wouldn't welcome you with open arms, but you are much more suited to running the school and teaching the kids" He saw Ella and Dora walking out of the room "Which will include my daughter pretty soon"
"And then the twins the year after" Hermione nodded "And let me tell you, we are ALL looking forward to that" She smiled "I don't suppose you have convinced Pansy to take the job?"
"Sorry" He shook his head "She is happy being a crusader for truth, justice and The American Way, and also she doesn't want to teach Elwyn. Maybe in ten, fifteen years time when all our kids have gone through the school...." He shrugged "Are you having problems with your current potions teacher?"
"No" She sighed "Not really. But, and you have no idea how much it pains me to say this, she isn't a patch on Severus, or Draco"
"What about recalling Professor Slughorn?" Luna asked from behind them.
"He won't come back" Hermione sighed "After Dumbledore and The Board unilaterally replaced him with Paul... with Draco, he was somewhat pissed off. And - since Paul was revealed as a mass murdering Death Eater - Horace is taking this time to gloat and basically laugh at The Board"
"Don't blame him" Harry said under his breath, then smiled as they laughed "Don't get me wrong - I think he would be great, but after the way The Board treated you, I am not one of their biggest fans" Hermione paused, then smirked.
"Me neither" She admitted.
"I'm sure you'll find someone who will rock your socks, Min, but for now you'll have to live with Miss Bates" Harry turned back to Robert, who was now forcing the ball to change colour "That's pretty impressive"
"Another reason I like living at Hogwarts" Hermione gazed at her son with obvious pride "I think the background magic that pervades the school is making him learn faster than normal"
"Quite" He smiled, then looked up as Viktor walked over and leaned down to whisper in his wife's ear. Hermione nodded, then stood up.
"We should be going. It's way past Rob's bed time, and since we'll be back for another celebration tomorrow...." She smiled as Harry nodded.
"Do you want me to walk you back?" He offered, but she shook her head.
"I know it might not seem like it, but we can take care of ourselves with your help, Mr Potter" She grinned, then, after kissing him on the cheek, she swept Robert up in her arms "And you, my little darling, are coming home with all your presents" She turned and waved goodbye, then she and Viktor walked over to the door.
She reached it, then turned back.
"I forgot to ask - is Hallie coming over?"
"I'm not sure" Harry replied, but then they both turned as the fireplace burst in to life. A second later, Hallie stepped out of it, carrying a small bag "Okay - I think I might have a better idea now"
(end of act 1)
xoxox
Coming soon
An eleven year old Harry Potter wakes up in the cupboard under the stairs. He looks, around, then music starts playing in he background.
Harry (singing) : Every single day, the same arrangement. I get up and make them food. Still I always feel the strangest strangement - why are they so mean? Why are they so rude?
The scene changes to Harry stood in front of The Mirror Of Erised, watched by Quirrell
Harry (singing) : I got the damn stone out!
Voldemort (singing, hissing voice) : He got the damn stone out!
The scene changes to Ginny Weasley staring at a little black diary
Ginny (singing) : I'm under your spell. How else could one so young, speak in parseltongue? You charm was oh so strong that I didn't know I was doing wrong.
ONCE MORE WITH MAGES - COMING SOON TO A FANFIC SITE NEAR YOU
xoxox
(act 2)
"Andy, Prue - can we talk to you?" Luna and Tara stood at the front door of The Trudeau house, both looking worried.
"Of course" Prue stood to one side and let the two women in, glancing at her husband questioningly. He shrugged, then took her hand, and followed them in to the lounge.
"So - how can we help you?" Andy asked as they sat down.
"I had a bad dream" Luna said quietly, not looking up "So bad I woke LJ up when I screamed my way out of it" She looked up at them "This wasn't like the dreams that Tara and Prue had, nor the dreams that The Trio had at Hogwarts"
"Tell us" Prue said quietly.
"I was dreaming that it was midnight, the day after tomorrow" Luna screwed up her eyes "The 27th, not the 26th" She paused "I couldn't sleep, so I was walking around the grounds, hoping the fresh air would put me to sleep" She realised they were both looking sceptical "Yeah - I know, but in my defence, it was a dream" They laughed, but she didn't join in "Anyway - while I was stood there, I saw...."
"Saw what?"
"I saw the darkness coming" She looked up, staring straight at Andy "Even though it was pitch black - a completely moonless night - this was a different type of darkness. It swallowed up everything it touched" She paused "Harry's, Andrew's and your houses all vanished, destroyed by the dark. Then mine fell as well" She shook her head "It was then I woke up, and screamed the house down"
"So what do you think it means?" Prue leaned forward "Something's coming here?"
"Something bad" Luna nodded, taking Tara's hand "In just over 48 hours, something terrible is going to happen" She glanced at her wife "I wish I could be more... precise"
"Don't worry" Andy held up his hands, then smiled sympathetically "This is more warning than we usually get, so I am rolling in puppies" He paused "I've been spending way too much time with Harry and Sally recently" He shook his head, then continued "We'll tighten up the wards over the next twenty four hours, then - after tomorrow, we'll tell the others, and make sure everyone is protected"
"Then we'll wait and see" Prue continued.
"And if.... if the darkness comes?" Tara asked.
"Then we'll leave a candle in the window" Prue replied with a fond smile.
"Are you there?" The fireplace burst in to life as Harry's head appeared.
"What's up?" Andy asked, but Harry glanced at Luna and Tara.
"Anything wrong?"
"No - we were just talking about birthdays and Christmas" Andy smiled.
"Oh - okay" Harry shrugged, which looked very odd since his shoulders weren't visible "Hallie's here, and she says she needs to talk to all of us"
"We'll be over in a minute" Luna replied, standing up "Is it important?"
xoxox
"Minister, do you have a moment?" Tonks looked round the door. Amelia waved her in, still reading the parchment in her hands. Tonks entered the office, and cast a dozen silencing charms.
"Dora?" Amelia raised her eyebrows curiously.
"I didn't want Percy overhearing this - I'm not certain we can trust him" Tonks leaned forward "I think it's time" Amelia stared at her, then slowly put the folder down.
"Are you sure?"
"It's been a year and a half since she burned the files, Minister" Tonks said quietly "I am pretty sure that she now has Arthur in her pocket - the reason why I can't trust Percy"
"But still - if we are found out, and can't defend ourselves, we risk being arrested for treason" Amelia looked her friend in the eye "Are you willing to put everything on the line?" Tonks stared back at her, then nodded "Good" She held up the folder "Do you know what I love about irony?"
"That it's more solid than goldy and less dangerous than bronzy?" Tonks smirked.
"Very amusing" Amelia handed her the parchment "It seems that, during Voldemort's first rise, a number of Wizengamot members became worried about their fellow members being subverted, or outright betraying them"
"I can understand that" Tonks smiled.
"So one of the more... precocious members got a law passed that allows covert surveillance of members of The Wizengamot by The DDMLE" She smiled as Tonks burst out laughing.
"Let me guess - Griselda Marchbanks was the up and coming member who got the law passed" Tonks continued laughing "So we can spy on her?"
"We can do it legally and without committing treason" Amelia nodded, then sighed "Of course, that will be no help if we lose, or if Marchbanks gets more power"
"Either way - we have to do something. Otherwise we might as well just hand it all over to her now" Tonks shrugged "I say we do it"
"Okay" Amelia nodded "Since it's Christmas tomorrow, we can start the day after" She paused "You're going to The Compound?"
"A good old family Christmas" She nodded "My parents are on a second honeymoon, otherwise they'd be joining Sirius, but he invited me" She paused "Do you want to come?"
"Thank you, but Susan, Terry and I have other plans" Amelia smiled "Merry Christmas, Director"
"And to you, Minister"
xoxox
Hallie stood in front of The Western Sky, and took a deep breath.
"When I first met you, I told you that I was Harry's sister, and that I had been sent away by James and Lily on the day I was born to ensure my safety" She looked around the group "This was true, but - I am afraid to say - was also a complete lie"
"But you took Veritaserum" Luna said, glancing at Harry.
"I know" Hallie replied contritely "But, if I am remembering my history properly, some of you lied under veritaserum to Madam Marchbanks" She paused as Luna and Harry both nodded.
"But we have an antidote - one that lets us...." Luna started, then her mouth fell open "We were the only ones had access to it"
"That's also true, but a lie" Hallie paused, then shrugged "I can explain all this, but it will take me a little time. So, if I can continue?" Luna nodded "I guess that, after Sally's adventure with Ginevra, you all understand the concept of alternative dimensions?" She looked around as they nodded "The one that Ginevra created was because she killed Sally as a child, and - from a certain point of view, it still exists"
"I'm still married to that cow?" Harry's eyes went wide.
"In that dimension, yes" Hallie nodded "But you aren't in that dimension - you're in this one" She paused "You also exist in hundreds of other dimensions. Ones where you are married to Ginny, ones where you are married to Hermione..."
"Ones where there are no shrimp" Tara said with a slight smile, causing Hallie to laugh.
"You've met Anya then" She said, causing Tara's eyes to widen in surprise "I'll explain later" She turned back to face the group "The triggers that create these dimensions can be the tiniest things, or major, earth shattering events. Ginerva's spell, for example, created a whole new dimensions that, as I said, split off at the moment of your mother's death"
"But...." Sally started, then trailed off.
"But what?"
"But even before she cast her spell, she was a cat" Sally glanced at her husband, who nodded "I mean - we encountered her as a cat during our third year, which was over fifteen years before she cast her spell"
"A paradox" Andy said with a smile "Two things that contradict each other, existing at the same time"
"Normally impossible, but once you add time travel in to the equation, anything can happen" Hallie nodded "But we are getting off the point, because - along with that dimension, there is another one. One where Lily was named Lilith, and where instead of having a son, she had twins - a boy and a girl" She turned to Harry "I am the sister of a Harry Potter, but not this dimension's Harry Potter"
xoxox
"So - what do you think?" Hermione flung the covers back and jumped on to the bed next to her husband, grinning at him "Moving out of married quarters?"
"You don't like it here?" He raised his eyebrows in surprise "I thought these were the best quarters in the school?"
"Oh - they are" She turned on to her side and pulled the covers up "But what about Rob? Growing up in Hogwarts?" Viktor paused, then nodded.
"I suppose. There are probably a few houses in Hogsmeade - we could look after the holiday"
"What about Harry's offer?"
"Live on The Compound?" Viktor tilted his head to one side "It would make work slightly easier, and I guess while we're both out of the house, there would be someone around to look after Rob"
"But..."
"Why do you think there's a but?"
"You have but face"
"You know if we heard Rob saying that, we'd punish him" Viktor grinned "But The Compound does tend to attract a fair amount of trouble"
"Compared to the school that has been the target of Death Eaters, Infiri and..."
"Okay - okay" He slid his hand over her mouth "How about we sleep on it, and then we can talk to Harry tomorrow after lunch" She nodded "And we can also look at houses in Hogsmeade as we go down to The Compound" She nodded again "Are you going to say something?" She shook her head "Why not? Ewwww!" He pulled his hand away and wiped it on her arm "You licked me!"
"You wanted me to talk" She grinned, then leaned over and kissed him. A moment later, the clock on the wall chimed "Hey - it's midnight. Merry Christmas"
"Merry Christmas darling"
xoxox
"You're from an alternate dimension?" Tara asked in surprise.
"Yes" Hallie nodded.
"How?" Sally asked.
"Because of you" Hallie grinned at her.
"Me? What did I do?"
"When Ginevra completed her ritual, it opened up a portal to the past. A single, complete tunnel that allowed her to go back, kill you and your mother, set her younger self on her path, then come back" Hallie continued "However when you put your time-turner on, you caused a massive rip in the fabric of time. To the point where portals were opening all over the place"
"Really?" Sally leaned back in her chair.
"Yes. And around the time that Draco murdered Albus, I came through one of those portals" She paused "It closed almost at once, and I couldn't return to my world, so I thought I'd make a life here"
"Makes sense" Andy nodded "But why do I get the feeling there's something you're not telling us"
"Because there's something I'm not telling you" She paused "About a month before my brother and I were born, there was a prophecy - it predicted that the one who could vanquish the dark lord was about to be born"
"Same here" Harry nodded.
"But it also said the son would become famous and the world would know his name. So my parents sent me away, to make sure I was safe and because they thought Harry would be the one to fulfil the prophecy" She sighed "Unfortunately, they were wrong. The killing curse backfired, but Harry was then kidnapped by Uncle Peter, and raised as Voldemort's child. And, when he grew up, he killed Voldemort, and took his place"
"Good lord"
"The Dark War lasted seven years after that, and ended when I confronted him in battle. I was the one who vanquished him, but sadly, I didn't kill him"
"Well - he was your brother...." Harry started, but Hallie shook her head.
"I don't mean I couldn't - I was ready, willing and able to send him to the hell he so richly deserves. No - I mean he escaped before I could land the final, killing blow" She realised that Andrew, Prue and Tara were all staring at her, mouths open "And I guess you three know to where?"
"He's here?" Prue asked "In this dimension?"
"For nigh on four years" Hallie nodded "After the beating I gave him during the war, he knew his days were numbered in our world. So he came here instead, and now has designs to rule this world" She paused "He tried building an army, but after the way The Order brought Voldemort down, no one wanted to start another war. So instead, he has been launching several covert strikes at the people he thinks can stop him"
"Me" Harry said with a frown.
"You, your wife, Professor Krum, Director Bones..." Hallie trailed off "Anyone who is obviously on the side of light and in a position of influence. He was the one who broke out Severus and the rest of the Death Eaters, and he was the one who sent the Infiri against Hogwarts. And while I can't be sure, I think he is also behind Madam Marchbanks' attempts to weaken The Houses of Potter and Black"
"Oh my" Sally looked around the room, then turned back to Hallie "So why tell us now? Why not tell us the truth when we first me?"
"That's a good question" Hallie blushed "But back then, I didn't know you - any of you. If I had just told you all this, would you have believed it? Even with veritaserum?"
"Maybe..."
"And what would you have done?" She continued before Harry could finish "Told the world there is an evil Harry Potter out there?"
"She has a point" Tara admitted.
"My original plan was not to tell you at all" Hallie confessed "To take care of him in secret, by myself, and keep you out of it completely" She smiled "I was hoping to spare you any more pain and problems"
"But something changed?"
"Harry - my Harry - arrived a long time before me, and I managed to hide my arrival and cloak my presence since then. But two days ago, I learned from my friends that he knows I am here - and he knows I am going to try to finish what I started" She paused, then sighed "But now that he knows I am here, I can't do it alone. So I am asking for your help to kill him" She looked around "I know this has come as somewhat of a surprise, and I will quite happily give you time to talk about it in private, and decide what you want to do" She took a step back, then sat down. Everyone remained silent for a moment, then Luna raised her hand.
"Lu?" Harry turned to her.
"Since we're in the mood for sharing, there's something I should tell you" She paused, then glanced at Andy "We were going to wait until after tomorrow, but with what Hallie's told us, I think it would be better to know now"
"What is it?"
"There are good odds that in forty eight hours, we'll all be dead"
(end of act 2)
xoxox
(act 3)
"Hallie - I believe I owe you an apology" Andy had asked the young woman to talk privately, and they were in the kitchen.
"Because you thought I was Ginevra?" Hallie grinned as Andy's mouth fell open in surprise "As I said - I have made a few friends in Australia, and they've been informing me about the inquiries being made about me by members of The Watcher's Council"
"You aren't annoyed?"
"Well - being compared to that evil little girl wasn't my most flattering moment, but no - I am not annoyed. You thought I was lying to you, that I was hiding something, and you were right" She smiled "I promise I have told you everything you need to know, and that I will keep you informed from now on"
"Everything I need to know?" He raised his eyebrows curiously.
"Well - do you need to know I lost my virginity at the age of..." She trailed off, laughing, as Andy held his hands up.
"I get it" He grinned back at her "So - you're going back?"
"Harry has invited me to stay for Christmas - I'm going to go back on the tomorrow" She paused "That's assuming we aren't all killed 14 hours from now"
xoxox
"Harry's asked if he can bring the kids over tonight for a sleep over" Hermione said as she, Viktor and Robert walked back towards the school after lunch at The Three Broomsticks.
"I thought The Compound was the best place to raise children" Viktor replied with a smirk.
"Don't start" She grinned "But apparently Luna had a dream that suggests The Compound is going to be wiped out at midnight tonight, so he, Sally and the children of The Sky are going to be staying in Hogwarts"
"They're not going to be there?" Viktor asked in surprise "I thought if...."
"Well - Harry's a little worried that with Hallie's news, there might be.... confusion"
"They think this.... this Dark Harry is going to turn up?"
"Possibly" Hermione nodded "And, until they can work out how to tell the difference, he thinks he shouldn't be there" She paused "Plus, after we went off to fight Draco, they promised their children they wouldn't leave them again, at least for a little while"
xoxox
"Are the wards prepared?" Andy looked around the room.
"Yes" Andrew nodded "I've put extra concealment charms around the four houses, and a number of... protection spells around the ward boundaries" He paused "Once Harry, Sally and the children leave, I'm going to put some more vicious spells around the garden, and temporarily remove Harry's signature from the main wards"
"What if we need him back? If the fight turns serious?" Prue asked.
"I've put a fail safe in to the modifications - they can be cancelled at any time, with an incantation I will provide later" He paused "It will also activate if we are all knocked unconscious"
"Or dead?" Tara asked with a grim smile, and Andrew nodded.
"Excellent" Andy smiled "Amelia has promised to send some extra Aurors if it looks like we'll need them...." He stopped as Luna raised her hand "I didn't tell her about your dream, Luna - I just said that we had intelligence about a possible attack, and that while we could deal with it ourselves, we thought she should know"
"Okay" Luna nodded "It's not that I don't trust them, but..."
"But if they thought you were a true seer, then they might not be able to restrain themselves" Andy smiled "I understand" He looked around "Okay - we meet back here in six hours. Until then - get some rest, have some fun"
xoxox
"Another fun day in paradise" Ginny pulled her jacket on, and opened her front door "Maybe I could fake my own death and come back as a girl named Paula" She paused for a moment, then tilted her head to one side "Nah - no one would believe me"
xoxox
"Why are we going to Hogwarts?" LJ shifted the backpack on his shoulder as they walked along the main street of Hogsmeade.
"Because Aunt Minnie and Uncle Viktor invited us" Harry smiled down at his nephew "And since Ella and the twins will be starting soon, they said they'd show us around, let us play a few games"
"Cool!" LJ bounded ahead, followed by the other kids. Ella started to follow them, then turned around.
"Is that true, mum?"
"Doesn't it sound true?" Sally asked with a smile.
"I suppose" Ella stared at her for a moment, then shrugged, and bounded away up the road.
"Is it just me, or is she getting far too smart and inquisitive for her own good?" Sally watched her catch up with the other kids "Have we taught her too well?"
"Possibly" Harry returned her smile "But since she's leaving us in a year or so, isn't it better she can take care of herself?"
"I suppose" Sally sighed, then looked back down the street to The Compound in the distance "I don't like running out on them"
"I know, but if my evil twin is going to show up..." He shrugged "Andy discussed it with me, and if they need us, they can get hold of us"
xoxox
Ginny walked across Mendleson Park, then stopped and sat down. She'd spent most of the morning making random plans to return to the United Kingdom, but in the end had decided that she could wait a few months.
"A few more weeks won't kill me" She said to herself "And who knows - maybe the thing with Michael might lead somewhere" She leaned back on the bench, and looked around. The park wasn't busy at the moment, but in a few hours - as it came up to noon - it would be flooded with students from the muggle university, and people taking their lunch breaks in the sun.
"I can wait a couple more hours" She decided "Maybe I'll catch Mike on a break"
xoxox
"Time for bed, kids" Harry called out to the various children, who - after a little bit of moaning and complaining - all went off to the various rooms they'd been given. Sally smiled, then turned back to him.
"So - what do you want to do now, my darling?" She asked, waggling her eyebrows suggestively. He looked at her sheepishly.
"Honestly? I was thinking of bed" He paused "I'm not feeling that well, and if we are going to be called to action...." He sighed "You could go find Minnie - see if you can finally talk her in to moving on to The Compound"
"You don't want me to come with you?" She looked him up and down "Just to tuck you in?"
"Nah - I don't want to ruin your evening" He gave her a soft kiss, then pushed her out of the room "Go - have fun"
"Yes, sir!" She smiled, then turned and skipped out of the room. Harry watched her go, then turned towards the room Hermione had set aside for Sally and him.
xoxox
"No Harry?" Hermione looked at her curiously as Sally entered the Headmistress' office.
"Said he wasn't feeling well" Sally slipped in to the chair in front of Hermione's desk "He's gone to bed"
"And you didn't offer to play nursemaid?" Hermione asked with a smirk, but it faded when Sally frowned "What's wrong sweetie?"
"He turned me down, Min" She sighed "He's never turned me down before" She paused "Am I becoming unattractive? Too old for him?"
"Yes" Hermione nodded with a dead pan expression.
"I'm being serious, Min" Sally snapped.
"No, you are being ridiculous" Hermione grinned at her "You are as attractive, cute and sexy as you were when you married him, and, given the events of the past few days, there is every chance he is just starting with something" She started at her friend "Now - are you going to sit here and mope, or would you like to raid the kitchens for ice-cream?"
xoxox
"It's time" Pansy looked up as Andy and Prue walked in "We're assembling in the garden"
"We'll be there" Pansy smiled, then stood up as the other two turned and left. She walked out of the lounge, and up to the bedroom. Poking her head in, she called out to her husband.
"Murf?" She smiled as his head came in to view, with his hair all mussed up.
"Time to go to war, love of my life" She said "We're meeting outside"
"Mkay" He pulled the covers back, and ambled in to the bathroom. She waited until she heard the shower turn on, then turned back to the stairs, and went down them, two at a time.
xoxox
"Bed time" Sally said to herself. She and Hermione had eaten a tub of ice-cream between them, then Hermione had bidden her good-night.
She pushed the door to her room open, and walked over to the bed.
"Harry?" She walked over to the bed, and realised it was empty. She frowned, then walked over and knocked on the bathroom door "Hon?"
xoxox
"Three. Two. One. Zero" The six members of The Western Sky looked around, then five of them turned to stare at the sixth.
"Maybe we forgot to account for the time difference" She suggested with a sheepish smile.
"Between your bedroom and here?" Andy raised his eyebrows. She stared back at him, then waved her hand and flumped down in the chair she'd conjured.
"I don't know" She looked at him with a slight blush "I swear - the dream was so realistic. I was absolutely certain that something terrible was going to happen" She paused "I guess I was wrong"
xoxox
Ginny looked up in surprise as someone stood in front of her, blocking out the sun. A moment later, her eyes went wide, and a smile formed on her lips.
"Harry?" He smiled back at her, then, very gently, leaned down, and kissed her on the lips.
(the screen fades to black, then a number of short film clips appear)
Ginny, lying in bed, watching Harry dress.
Twenty four demons flying over Hogwarts in formation.
Marchbanks standing face to face with Amelia, both with wands in hand.
Dora Trudeau trapped in a cage.
Elwyn crying in a toilet cubicle.
Sirius Potter facing a young girl with a gun.
Sally, Susan Potter and Sirius Black are all fighting a large, gold dragon.
A building exploding in a huge ball of flame, while Ella Potter looks on, blushing.
Harry and the three Potter children surrounded by Aurors, all with their wands drawn.
Susan, Remus, Sally and Luna looking over maps and blueprints.
Harry and Hallie duelling, with spell fire everywhere.
Hallie staring in horror as an army of demons swoop down on The Compound.
(the screen goes dark, then two words appear)
Coming soon
(four more clips flash up in sequence)
Harry and Voldemort standing side by side, cursing Hermione, Sirius Black and Sally.
Tonks being hit by a killing curse.
Ginny casting a killing curse at Sally.
Harry pointing his wand at Ella.
(the screen goes dark again, then more words appear)
Everything changes in the final series of The Western Sky
(one more image appears)
"Harry Potter - in two days time you will suffer The Dementors Kiss for your crimes, and may whatever god you believe in have mercy on your soul".