Year 7-18: Great Expectations

"Good show the other day, Harry! Color me impressed."

The voice called out after Harry as he exited the Great Hall after breakfast. He groaned, turning to see Grindelwald heading towards him, back in his Professor Gorschev disguise.

"I've always been appalled by the barbaric methods with which Muggles exert power over one another," Grindelwald tutted. "But I cannot deny their effectiveness. I imagine no student will ever look at you sideways again."

"It was necessary to maintain order," Harry said simply, already wishing for this conversation to end. "I took no pleasure in it."

"Give it time, my boy," Grindelwald winked. "You'll come to realize that such displays of power are necessary in this world, and you may even come to enjoy them." And with that, he turned to walk away, heading for his first lesson of the day. Harry couldn't help but notice the man was no longer using a cane to walk around...his strength was returning by the day, a reminder of the danger he posed in the near future. He would have to check in with Luna at some point to see what she might know.

But Harry had far too much else on his plate to worry about Grindelwald at the moment. He headed for his own morning classes, wading through the sea of students clamoring for their own lessons. Students practically dove over one another in their haste to get out of his way, looks of terror on their faces. It caused him great sorrow to know that this was his reputation now: a sadistic overlord, here to terrorize anyone who stepped out of line. But he stifled the feeling and continued on as normal.

Harry had not heard a peep from the Hospital Wing since the whipping incident the week prior. It seemed that Ginny had indeed realized what Harry's intentions were, as did Dahlia and Madam Pomfrey, all of whom remained silent on the matter as she 'recovered' from her wounds. According to Damian, the rumor mill was abuzz about Ginny for the first day or two, but quickly moved elsewhere as the students adapted to the new normal. His threats of punishment for any Ginny supporters had thankfully worked – no further demonstrations or protests took place, as everyone was too afraid to step out of line and meet the same fate.

It still pained him to see the looks of hatred and betrayal from people he cared about. The majority of Gryffindor House glared at him resentfully everywhere he went, unable to forgive him for what he'd done to one of their own. Even many of the professors, especially McGonagall and Flitwick, looked at him with sheer disappointment and regret. But thankfully, nobody confronted him or made a bigger deal of the incident, which was the best Harry could have hoped for, even if the isolation was taxing on his mental health.

Contributing to his loneliness was the curious absence of Daphne from his morning classes. She was typically his seat mate during lessons, the only seventh-year willing to associate with him, but she had now missed a second day of lessons in a row. She'd spent much of the previous evening in the bathroom – Harry presumed she was just feeling under the weather. But when the lunch bell rang, he decided to stop by their shared dorm to check on her.

The bathroom door was shut when Harry entered. "Daph?" he called out, knocking softly on the door. "You alright in there?"

After a moment's silence, the door clicked open, and Daphne emerged. She looked pale but otherwise well, though the wide-eyed look she wore gave Harry pause. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Harry," she breathed, holding out her hand. "Look."

She handed him a small metallic instrument he did not recognize. It was like one of the contraptions he'd expect to see at St. Mungo's, or on Dumbledore's office desk. The cylindrical object was glowing, and a small propeller whirred quietly at one end. Harry had no clue how to interpret it.

"Er...what is this?" Harry asked.

"Harry…" Daphne muttered. "I'm pregnant."

Harry blinked in surprise. "But...that's impossible," he muttered, wracking his brain for any sort of explanation. Then, it hit him. "Ron?"

"Merlin, I knew it was stupid!" Daphne groaned, flopping onto her bed in despair. "Mother always taught me to use the Protection Charm, but in the heat of the moment that night I just...forgot, and it was all so very unexpected, and, oh, what are we going to do?"

Harry stood stunned, looking down at the trinket in his hands. This certainly complicated matters...a pregnancy at Hogwarts was sure to raise a lot of eyebrows, and not just within the castle. But he knew that was not the most important thing right now...Daphne was clearly freaking out, and he had to calm her down.

"Hey, no need to panic," said Harry, sitting beside the trembling Daphne to comfort her. "A baby isn't the worst thing in the world, is it?"

"Oh, Harry, this is the worst thing imaginable!" Daphne sighed. "I can't have Ron's child! Think of what people will say! I know Muggles are more relaxed about these things, but a pure-blood child born out of wedlock will destroy my reputation!"

"We have a lot of time before we have to worry about that," said Harry. "And, er...not to be blunt, but are you certain you are going to keep it?"

"What? Oh...I hadn't even thought…" Daphne said distantly. "The timing is awful, but, well, it is my own flesh and blood...Ron ought to have a say as well...and oh, I've always wanted to be a mother…"

Harry didn't know what kind of pure-blood customs existed surrounding the termination of a pregnancy. But based on the way Daphne was looking down at her own stomach, cradling it protectively, he knew at once that this was not an option. The thought had never crossed her mind, and he strongly doubted she would want to be rid of something that promised such joy in these harsh times.

"Never mind that," said Harry. "We can work around this. We do have the perfect cover story, after all."

"What do you mean?"

"You and I were meant to be trying, weren't we?" Harry shrugged. "Well, now we can say we succeeded. I'm sure Witch Weekly will have a field day...they've been speculating on how long until I produce an heir, and the bettors who put money on 'before the turn of the century' will make a fortune."

Daphne gaped at Harry, clearly not amused by his humor. "Are you mental?" she demanded. "People will know it's not yours once I pop out a red-headed baby! The Weasley genes are too strong to pass one off as a Potter."

"That will only be a problem once the child arrives," Harry pointed out. "With luck, all of this madness will be over by then."

"Nine months is not a long time, Harry!" Daphne groaned. "You really think this war will end before then?"

"I do," Harry said firmly. "And you and your child will get through this in one piece."

Daphne searched his face desperately, clearly wanting to believe him. "Please tell me you have a plan," she muttered.

"I do," said Harry, wrapping a reassuring arm around her. "And we're close, Daph, I can feel it. It might get messy, but I'll do everything I can to protect you."

Daphne nodded forlornly. "Merlin, how are we going to break the news?" she groaned. "It will be all anyone talks about!"

"We don't have to tell anyone just yet," said Harry. "Keep it quiet for now. We can use the news strategically if we need to."

"I don't want the news of my baby being used for strategy!" Daphne protested.

"It's going to be weaponized by somebody anyway," Harry shrugged. "Might as well make it on our terms."

"What about Ron?" asked Daphne nervously. "Surely he'll get the wrong idea if he hears of the news in the Prophet."

"We'll find a way to tell him soon," Harry promised. "I was planning to call another resistance meeting soon anyway."

"Do you think I can come?" asked Daphne. "I'd like to break the news to him myself."

Harry hummed a little under his breath, pretending to consider her request. Of course he would allow her to come, but it was fun to toy with her a little first. "Normally I would object to a pregnant woman traveling so late at night," he sighed. "But I suppose present circumstances warrant it."

"Thank you!" Daphne beamed, wrapping Harry in a hug.

"I just have one condition," said Harry.

"What's that?"

"If we all get through this war alive, you have to name the kid Harry Junior."

Daphne gave him a bewildered look. Then, a very un-Daphne-like snort escaped her nose, causing her to clap a hand over her mouth. "What if it's a girl?" she giggled.

"Harriet is fine," Harry shrugged. "I'm not picky."

"You are incorrigible," Daphne chided him, with a light slap on the shoulder.

"Better get used to it," Harry quipped. "I'm nothing compared to the chaos a household of Weasleys will bring you." And he burst out laughing at the bewildered look on Daphne's face. The poor girl had no idea what she was in for as a Weasley matriarch.

Harry knew logically that this development would cause major headaches for him in the near future. Still, he couldn't help but feel elated by the prospect of somebody new entering the world. For the past seven years, all he'd done had been in service of keeping everyone he cared about alive through this war. Now, for the first time, it was like he was seeing a glimpse of the future, of life after the war. Children. Families. A generation following his own, able to thrive in the world he'd fought so hard to build for them. It renewed his focus and energy to carry on, knowing that if he could just ensure a better life for those to come, it would all be worth it.

He broke the news to Fleur that evening via enchanted journal. I received some delightful news today, he wrote.

What is it? Fleur wrote back almost instantly.

Daphne's pregnant.

There was a long, unusual pause before Fleur wrote back. Congratulations, she wrote back over a minute later, punctuated with a single period.

Harry realized at once how she must have interpreted his excitement. It isn't mine, he hastily added. It's Ron's, from over Christmas. We're waiting to announce it until after we're able to let him know in person.

Fleur took another minute to process this. Then she wrote, How wonderful for them! The timing is odd, but I am certain they will make for wonderful parents.

We have to make sure this is all over before it arrives, said Harry, getting straight to business. Once people realize it isn't mine, our entire story will unravel.

Truthfully, though, his timeline hadn't changed much at all. He had no intentions of letting Dahlia marry Pettigrew when she came of-age in June, nor did he want to find out what Voldemort had in store for him once he graduated from Hogwarts. Time was running out either way – this new development was just another reminder.

Shall we pick another target for assassination, then? Fleur asked.

You read my mind.

They spent the next hour comparing notes and determining who might be a viable next target. Despite Crouch's death, he got the sense that the Death Eaters weren't taking the threat of Phantom seriously enough. They were getting more complacent in their positions of power, believing themselves untouchable thanks to their proximity to Voldemort. Sure, the recent murder had rattled them a bit, but they likely believed it to be a fluke, one that a few additional wards around their homes would easily prevent. But nothing short of a Fidelius Charm would be able to keep Harry out, and somehow, he didn't see a Death Eater considering that option. Trust did not exactly run deep in those circles.

The recent meeting at Malfoy Manor had updated his plans somewhat, changing much of what he knew of the Death Eaters and their habits. For one, Voldemort and the other Death Eaters had moved out of Malfoy Manor, making that a potential target once more. The fact that Nagini roamed the grounds freely meant he could potentially take out one of the horcruxes and get his revenge on Lucius Malfoy in one fell swoop. Of course, killing Nagini might alert Voldemort to his horcruxes being in danger, so he probably had to hold off on that plan for now.

Lockhart remained his biggest priority, as killing him would mean freeing his father and others from frequent mental invasions. He would love to enlist James' help with the horcrux hunt, and reassure the man that the war was not in fact lost. His plan at the moment was to give either James or Sirius the Sorting Hat in order to retrieve the Sword of Gryffindor, a plan that wouldn't work if Lockhart was able to witness the memory and alert Voldemort. But Harry did not know where Lockhart lived now after leaving Malfoy Manor, and asking around might seem suspicious, so that would also have to wait.

Beyond those two, the options were less enticing. The Lestrange brothers were of course on his list, but he had to make sure it wouldn't have unintended consequences for the horcrux in Rodolphus' vault. There were lesser targets he could go after, like Yaxley, Dolohov and Nott, though they held less importance to Voldemort's regime and likely weren't worth the immediate risk. He and Fleur eventually retired for the night without settling on a proper target, planning to do so the following evening.

But the news cycle had other ideas for Harry's plans. The next morning, Harry arrived at breakfast to find the Great Hall buzzing with discussion. Students were huddled over their morning copies of the Daily Prophet, animatedly discussing whatever it entailed. And based on the many looks his way, it had something to do with him.

"Harry!" said an excited voice; Luna rushed up to him and gave him an excited hug. "Congratulations! You must be so thrilled!"

"Er…" Harry stammered. "Sorry, Luna, but I don't know what you mean."

"It's in all the papers!" Luna beamed. "Another Potter coming into the world...how dreadfully excited you must be!"

A knot formed in Harry's stomach at her words...news of Daphne's pregnancy must have already broken to the press. But how could they have known? Had she gone to the Prophet herself? Or had she accidentally let it slip to somebody who leaked the news?

Harry rushed up to the Head Table, half-expecting Daphne to be freaking out in her own seat over the scrutiny. But to his surprise, she was calmly reading her own copy of the Prophet, looking unperturbed. "Congratulations," she said neutrally, handing over her own copy of the paper. Harry took in the front page, expecting the worst, but the headline was not at all what he expected:

MINISTER POTTER AND NEW WIFE EXPECTING FIRST CHILD!

By Regina Hornsby, The Daily Prophet

"Minister James Potter made waves late last year with his announcement of new marriage laws and subsequent betrothal to Andromeda Black. The Prophet has now learned that the newlywed couple is expecting their first child together after just two months of marriage.

'James and I are thrilled to be welcoming in a new member of the family,' the newly-minted Lady Potter told the Prophet in a statement. 'It is an exciting new chapter in both of our lives, and we simply ask for privacy as we prepare for our latest arrival.'

This is not the first child for either of the two Potters. James previously had two children with Muggle-born Lily Evans, Harry and Dahlia, both of whom are currently studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Andromeda shared a single daughter, Nymphadora, with Muggle-born Ted Tonks, who died in the Battle of London. Nymphadora is currently on the run from authorities for her affiliation with terrorist organizations plotting to overthrow the Ministry, and has been disowned by her mother for her actions.

The news raises interesting questions about inheritance and the continuance of the Potter bloodline. Will James' eldest son Harry remain the Potter heir, or will this newborn usurp that position? The current laws support Harry's claim to the Potter fortune, but legal experts say that his status as a half-blood may complicate matters, as this new arrival will outrank its half-brother in blood status.

'This could prove to be a landmark case for inheritance laws in the coming century,' said our Gringotts correspondent Allen Derwent. 'The Minister may choose to sever ties with his previous-borns and make the pure-blood Potter child his true heir. If the elder Potter child contests this with the Wizengamot, it could spell trouble for the already-fractured family.'

'It wouldn't surprise me to see the Minister cut ties with anything to do with his ex-wife,' said Muriel Prewett, writing in about the latest development. 'That [censored] ruined his marriage and nearly killed his career. Why should he want anything to do with her or her tainted offspring? He would be better off starting fresh, and frankly, so would the Potter line.'"

Harry set down the paper, deep in thought. The speculation over inheritance and nasty comments from the public were not unexpected, and a large part of the reason he'd held off on announcing Daphne's pregnancy. But that wasn't the main thing on his mind right now.

Was Andromeda actually pregnant? He had good reason to doubt. As Amelia had attested, she and James were not intimate and had no intentions of reproducing. So why announce news to the contrary to the public? Harry suspected he knew why...Amelia must have managed to speak with Andromeda and convince her to help the cause. But did she know what Harry was planning? How much had Amelia told her?

Harry knew he needed answers that he could not get inside the castle. So that night, he pulled out his enchanted Galleon and rearranged the digits around the edge to call for a meeting that Saturday night at midnight. He tapped his wand to the coin, causing it to glow and burn brightly for a moment before fading. He heard Daphne gasp and drop her coin from beyond the divider, telling him it had worked. Now it was a matter of waiting for the day to come.

Meanwhile, the Hogwarts rumor mill churned along, quickly finding new targets of gossip. Ginny Weasley returned to the student population the following day, bringing much fanfare in the Great Hall. All of Gryffindor table stood to greet her, giving her gentle hugs and pats on the shoulder for support. However, as Harry walked by, they quickly scattered, afraid to be openly showing her support. He said nothing, merely watching them impassively as they returned to their seats, feeling awful about it all the while.

He and Ginny met eyes briefly before he moved on. Gone was the anger and resentment she'd long regarded him with, replaced with worry, confusion, but above all, gratitude. She clearly did not understand why he had done what he did, and could not ask him openly. He merely gave her a small jerk of the head before heading to his own seat, hoping she would continue to keep quiet on the matter.

It did warm his heart to see that Ginny's relationship with Dahlia was on the mend. Perhaps that week of isolation in the Hospital Wing had given them time to reconnect and hash things out between them. Harry even spied Ginny, Dahlia and Astoria on the Marauder's Map studying together that afternoon – the Terrible Triplets, reunited at long last. It warmed his heart to see, and gave him hope that even if his own reputation in the castle was tarnished, Dahlia's would at least survive.

His eyes trailed to the other side of the Map, where he spied Luna Lovegood's dot still in close proximity to Gellert Grindelwald's in the man's classroom. It was a sight he'd grown accustomed to seeing, but it caused him no less discomfort. How much strength had he truly regained in recent months? How much was he attempting to manipulate the poor girl into doing his bidding? Was he using her to gain insight into Harry's motives and actions?

He caught up with Luna that evening after dinner, rushing ahead to follow her from the Great Hall. When the coast was clear, he gently grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty classroom, locking the door behind them. If Luna was surprised or alarmed by the act, she did not show it.

"Evening, Harry!" she said brightly. "Is everything alright?"

"I was going to ask you the same," said Harry. "How are you doing? Has anyone been giving you a hard time since the Quibbler article released?"

"Not at all," said Luna. "In fact, people are treating me much nicer lately. I think they view Daddy as some kind of hero for his reporting of the facts...I never thought people cared so much about Mooncalf fighting rings!"

"...Right," Harry chuckled. "Well, that's good. What about your meetings with Grindelwald? How have those been?"

"Gellert is an excellent teacher," Luna said excitedly. "He has shown me so much about how to access my Sight. I have seen such incredible things!"

"What kind of things?" Harry asked. "Can you see the future?"

"Not exactly," said Luna, frowning slightly as she searched for the right words. "More like...perceiving the endless possibilities that are out there. Not all of them come true, but Gellert says the more you refine your Sight, the more you can judge which ones are likely to come true and which aren't."

"Does Gellert try and guide your Sight or ask you what you see?" asked Harry.

"Oh, yes," Luna nodded vigorously. "He's very interested in you, Harry. He often asks me to focus on you with my Sight and tell him what I see."

"I see," Harry muttered, a chill running down his spine at this confirmation of what he already suspected. "And, er...what have you told him about me?"

"Nothing that he cannot already See himself," Luna shrugged. "That you're constantly shrouded in darkness. Surrounded by Death. A thunderstorm destined to destroy all in its path, if it doesn't collapse in on itself first."

That certainly sounded dire. Harry had never imagined himself in such terms, but he could see why Grindelwald was so threatened by him if that was what Luna was feeding him. But then again, did it matter what Luna said? He was going to have to go through Harry to get the Elder Wand even if she told him he was as innocent as a puppy.

"Listen, Luna," said Harry firmly. "Grindelwald is a dangerous man. If you ever feel unsafe being in his presence, say the word, and I can protect you. You don't have to risk your future over me."

"Oh, I'm not worried," said Luna. "Gellert means me no harm. In fact, he has offered me his hand in marriage."

"He what?!"

"I have not yet accepted, of course," said Luna matter-of-factly, as though she was simply discussing the weather. "But there are worse fates I can imagine. He will never lay a finger on me, or allow anyone else to cause me harm."

"That's all well and good, Luna," said Harry. "But you realize what he's after, don't you? He wants me dead, and he's using you to get to me."

"I know that," said Luna. "All of my visions lead to you and Gellert crossing paths – that is unavoidable. So why not make myself useful and keep you informed when the time comes?"

Harry saw the sense in it. This was the same conversation they'd had a few weeks prior, but things felt different somehow. Grindelwald was healing at a much faster rate than expected, and Harry's frequent outings from the castle put him in far more danger of exposure to Voldemort than before. Luna's safety was just one more factor he didn't want to have to worry about, and he suspected that she knew this and was simply trying to assuage his fears.

"Promise you'll come to me if you feel unsafe," said Harry, pulling in Luna for a hug. "I'd hate for anything to happen to you because of me."

"I will," said Luna. "Don't worry about me. Focus on taking care of your pregnant wife, who is in far more danger than me."

They departed from the classroom soon after. It dawned on Harry later that he hadn't actually announced Daphne's pregnancy to anyone yet...Luna's insight must have helped her arrive at the truth. And whether it was meant as a distraction tactic to deflect from herself, Luna was right – he had to make sure Daphne was taken care of. Though their marriage was just for show, he was the primary person responsible for her safety now, and he had to treat her as his own family until all of this was over.

Saturday night finally arrived, and Harry and Daphne prepared for their excursion to the Shrieking Shack. "Are you able to Apparate while pregnant?" Harry asked.

"It's not advisable," said Daphne. "It's acceptable only in emergencies, but most Healers recommend avoiding it."

"We'll have to take the long way to the Shack, then," Harry decided. "Are you okay to walk?"

"I am not a helpless lamb that needs rescue, Harry," she said indignantly. "Of course I can walk."

Daphne seemed to regret this statement a few hours later, as they crawled their way through the one-eyed witch's passageway to Hogsmeade. "Who bloody designed this tunnel, anyway?" she complained, sweeping away yet another spiderweb caught in her blonde locks. "It's like it was meant more for a four-legged animal than a human!"

Harry had a sudden vision of the four Marauders traversing the tunnel in their Animagus forms and laughed aloud. Daphne, who interpreted this as a laugh at her expense, shot him a dirty glance until he stifled the giggles.

They emerged in the cellar of Honeydukes and quietly stole their way out to the dark streets of Hogsmeade. Disguised under Disillusionment Charms, they made their way up to the Shrieking Shack and slipped through the front door. The entryway was deserted and quiet, but Harry felt a familiar presence nearby, lurking just out of sight.

"It's Harry and Daphne," he announced. "You can come out."

Fleur emerged from the shadows, wand trained upon them. "You are late," she remarked, pocketing the wand. "Come, we 'ave a new visitor tonight."

She led the way into the adjacent living room. Amelia was present, still nursing a sizable belly; beside her was Andromeda, looking nervous and out of place in such squalid conditions but as prim and proper as ever.

"Lady Black," said Daphne, greeting Amelia with a hug and a kiss on the cheek before turning to Andromeda. "And Lady Potter! Congratulations on your pregnancy. Now there are three of us all at the same time!"

Both of the other women looked startled by this statement, for different reasons. "Apologies, Daphne, but you are aware I'm not truly pregnant?" Andromeda asked her softly.

"What?" Daphne frowned. "But...I saw the announcement in the Prophet!"

"Wait a moment," said Amelia. "Did you just say 'three of us'?"

"Is this another ruse I was unaware of?" Andromeda asked, turning to Harry.

"Er…" Harry stammered. He'd intended to break the news all around at the meeting, but realized there was a lot to catch everyone up on. "Sorry, Daphne, but Andromeda is not actually pregnant. She is simply pretending to be, in order to avoid mental invasions by Gilderoy Lockhart."

"Oh," Daphne said softly, reddening a bit in embarrassment. "Well...all the same...never mind, I suppose."

"Speaking of which," said Harry, turning to Andromeda, "how did my father take the news? And how did you convince him it was real?"

Andromeda looked somewhat embarrassed with herself. "There was a late night where James and Sirius went out drinking in Muggle London," she muttered. "I told him that we were together that night, and he did not remember. We have not spoken about it since...I believe he is ashamed."

Harry could imagine why. James still held the torch for Lily and never had intentions of honoring his marriage with Andromeda besides appearances. He likely felt as though he had cheated on Lily and the rest of his family with his (non-existent) actions. Harry felt badly for allowing James to believe this falsehood, and hoped that it would not be for too much longer before he could come clean.

Amelia, meanwhile, still looked preoccupied with what Daphne said earlier. "But why did you include yourself, dear?" Amelia pressed, looking between her and Harry suspiciously. "What did you mean by 'three of us'?"

Daphne and Harry exchanged a look. "Because Daphne is pregnant," said Harry.

"Goodness!" Andromeda gasped, clasping Daphne's arm. "How wonderful!"

Amelia also looked shocked but pleased with the news. "I don't understand," she muttered. "You two have been intimate?"

"Merlin, no!" Daphne giggled. "Harry is a perfect gentleman. We do not even share a bed."

"Now I'm also confused," Andromeda frowned. "If you and Harry have not been together, then how—?"

They were interrupted by a quiet pop, as three more people materialized out of thin air into the middle of the room. "Sorry we're late," Cedric Diggory muttered. "Got held up with the twins asking too many questions."

"Always too clever for their own good, those two," Ron Weasley groaned good-naturedly. "They know we're conspiring with someone in the Ministry, but we can't tell them who—"

He was interrupted by Daphne, who launched herself across the room and peppered his face with kisses. "Oh, Ronald, the most wonderful thing has happened!" she said gleefully.

"Has it?" Ron mumbled, looking down at Daphne with confusion.

"We're going to be parents, Ron!" Daphne breathed. She gently took his hand and placed it on her own belly. Ron stared dumbly down at it for a moment, then his eyes went wide.

"Come off it," he said incredulously. "You're pregnant? And...you're certain that it's…?"

"Yes, of course it's yours, you idiot!" Daphne laughed, hugging him tightly. Ron took another moment to process this, then whooped loudly with joy and lifted Daphne off her feet, kissing her passionately. Andromeda looked astonished by the display; she alone had not known the true nature of Harry and Daphne's sham marriage until now.

It took Harry a moment to register the third new arrival in the chaos of the moment. "Wotcher, everyone," Tonks greeted the room. "Hoped you wouldn't mind if I crash this party…" She trailed off at the sight of her mother, who stood awkwardly off to one side of the room.

"Hello, Nymphadora," Andromeda said tightly. "You look well. I hope that y—"

She too was interrupted as Tonks flew across the room to engulf her in a hug. "I've missed you, Mum," she muttered. "I wanted so badly to reach out after Dad died, but Ced convinced me not to—"

"He was right to stop you," Andromeda said, still maintaining her neutral pure-blood demeanor but clearly overjoyed to see her daughter alive and well. "I am so very proud of you, my dear. You have done your father proud."

The next few moments saw the two tearful pairs – Ron and Daphne, Andromeda and Tonks – reconnecting and speaking quietly with one another. Harry, Fleur, Cedric and Amelia stood awkwardly off to one side, before Amelia finally cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.

"I know this is an emotional day for us all," she announced. "However, I fear we must move on to more pressing matters. I am much too far along to be meeting this late into the night."

Indeed, Amelia's belly had grown larger than ever – Harry reckoned she must be well into her eighth or ninth month of pregnancy by now. It was certainly no time to be traveling long distances for midnight rendezvous, and a testament to the gravity of the situation that she had done so anyway.

"I take it you've agreed to help us, then?" Harry asked Andromeda.

"Amelia made it sound like it was important," said Andromeda. "But I fear I still don't understand what this is about. Is this to do with the underground smuggling operation?"

"Not exactly," said Harry. "Though I am curious how things are going with the refugees. Are they still being taken care of?"

"We've begun moving Muggle-borns and their families to the continent again," said Tonks. "Though we have to be careful not to move too many around at a time. We're pretty sure we got caught last time because we were using dozens of Portkeys at one time and leaving behind large signatures that could be followed."

"It's lucky that Crouch Jr. is out of the picture," Cedric added. "He had eyes and ears everywhere, but now that he's gone, we can move around more freely."

You're welcome, Harry thought grimly. "Fred and George aren't in danger, I hope?" he asked.

"Nah," Ron chuckled. "They get inspected every couple of months, but they always find ways to distract the officials. Leaving odd contraptions around that go off whenever they get too close to a secret entrance...they get fined every time, but it's worth it."

Harry too found the mental image of this amusing. Despite the risks involved, picturing an irate Death Eater setting off some Weasley contraption by accident made him chuckle. It warmed his heart to know that even in this timeline, the twins' sense of mischief was undiminished.

"There may be another surge in refugees when the summer comes," Amelia said, bringing the conversation back to a serious tone. "The Book of Admittance automatically informs the Ministry of all registered first-years on the first day of summer break. That means Umbridge will have a fresh list of Muggle-born targets to go after."

"Then let's plan to end this before that happens," Harry said firmly. He hadn't known this about the Book before, but it frankly didn't matter much to him. Summer was already his deadline, as too many things could go wrong by then if the war was still ongoing. There would be far more to worry about in June than incoming first-years.

"What does any of this have to do with me?" asked Andromeda, looking puzzled. "I have no power in any of these matters. Why have I been summoned?"

Harry turned to give Andromeda his full attention. She was the person he most wanted to talk to, as she would be crucial to planning his next moves.

"I need your insight into how your family finances work," said Harry. "Specifically when it comes to marriage."

"I am no longer involved in the Black accounts," said Andromeda. "I am a part of the Potter line now."

"I know that," said Harry. "And I'm actually not asking about the Black accounts at all. I need to know about the Lestrange accounts."

Andromeda arched an eyebrow. "What about them?" she asked.

"When your sister Bellatrix died, her assets were transferred to her husband Rodolphus, right?" asked Harry. "So they should be still sitting in his vault at Gringotts."

"I would assume so," Andromeda shrugged. "What does it matter to you?"

"Bellatrix owned something that I need," said Harry. "It was given to her by Voldemort for safe-keeping in her vault. I need to find a way to retrieve it without raising any red flags."

"You intend to steal from a Gringotts vault?" said Andromeda, aghast.

"Not if there's a legal avenue to gain access to it instead," said Harry. "Which is where I would need your help."

"I'm afraid I can't help you there," Andromeda muttered. "Marriage supersedes bloodline, so I have no legal claim to Bellatrix's belongings. Not even Sirius could access the vault if he tried as Lord Black."

"And what if Rodolphus Lestrange were to die?" Harry asked pointedly. "Who would be able to claim ownership then?"

Andromeda's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Theoretically, his brother Rabastan would be next in line, since Rodolphus and Bellatrix bore no heirs," she said.

"And if Rabastan were to also meet an untimely end?"

"I don't like where this is going, Harry," Andromeda said nervously.

"Yeah, me neither," Cedric said, looking troubled. "What you're implying would be murder."

"Wait…" said Ron, suddenly looking thoughtful. "You didn't have anything to do with Barty Crouch's death, did you? The Prophet said it was Neville, but I know he would never do something like that."

"That was me," Harry confirmed. Everyone in the room looked shocked by the revelation.

"Oh, Harry, you didn't," Amelia sighed forlornly.

"It had to be done," Harry said determinedly. "And he won't be the last, either."

"I don't feel comfortable with this," Cedric muttered, looking deeply pained. "This is not what I signed up for. This feels wrong."

"Well, I made your lives easier, didn't I?" Harry said hotly. "Sorry, Ced, but not everything can be accomplished through diplomacy. Sometimes violence is the only answer."

"I don't like it," Cedric said flatly. "I don't know if I want to be a part of this."

Harry opened his mouth to defend himself, but surprisingly, Andromeda spoke up first. "My husband Ted didn't sign up to be murdered, either," she snapped, looking fiercely at Cedric. "Nor did those children you are currently sheltering from a brutal fate. Are you unwilling to do what it takes to defend them?"

"I didn't say that," Cedric stammered. "I just meant...I just think we should strive to be better than they are, that's all."

"You can take the high road once this war is won," said Harry. "Until then, I'm going to make sure we don't lose it. Sound good?"

Cedric still did not look pleased. He looked like he wanted to say more, but Tonks rested a calming hand on his arm and he fell silent, simply shaking his head and muttering grimly under his breath.

Andromeda turned back to Harry. "Assuming Rodolphus and Rabastan were to die simultaneously," she said diplomatically, "the Lestrange line would end with them. Their assets would then pass on to Ministry control, unless a legal claim is made within ninety days by another surviving relative of either party."

"So you could claim ownership of the vault as Bellatrix's sister?" asked Harry excitedly.

"Not exactly," said Andromeda. "I would be unable to enter the vault during the 90-day probate period. Then, if I am able to justify my claim to Gringotts, and no disputes arise, I would gain access."

"Disputes?" Harry frowned.

"I am not Bellatrix's only remaining sister," Andromeda pointed out. "Narcissa would have equal claim to the vault as I do. And I'm guessing this mystery object is important enough to warrant such a claim."

Harry frowned...he had not considered Narcissa Malfoy's potential role in this scheme. If she placed a claim on Bellatrix's assets – whether by her own accord, or on Voldemort's orders – it would massively complicate matters. Besides, ninety days was far too long to wait to retrieve the Cup...Harry needed to dispose of it quickly and quietly, before Narcissa or anybody else could check the vault for its contents.

"There must be some way to get into that vault before those ninety days are up," said Harry thoughtfully, turning to Fleur. "Have you heard of anyone getting around that restriction before?"

"I have not," Fleur muttered. "I only know of one instance where a man tried to access 'is ex-wife's account after her death, by bribing a Gringotts official with gold. He was promptly arrested and sent to Azkaban. Ze goblins do not take property theft lightly, and always follow the letter of ze law to a T."

Harry frowned...that was not the answer he was looking for. A wild idea was starting to form in his mind, but he didn't like it one bit.

"What if we bribed the goblins with something they couldn't refuse?" he wondered aloud.

"There is nothing you could offer a goblin to be worth zat risk," said Fleur adamantly.

"What if we promised them the Sword of Gryffindor?" said Harry. "We tell them they can have it back, in exchange for an hour of access to the vault while they look the other way?"

"The Sword of Gryffindor?" Ron scoffed. "Come off it, Potter, that Sword has been missing for centuries."

"Wrong," said Harry. "Peter Pettigrew stole it from a goblin grave two years ago. And I know where it is. Or, rather, I know how to get it."

"But you haven't managed to retrieve it yet," Fleur pointed out. "What if you are unable to? What if ze goblins believe you are attempting to trick them?"

"Then I'll have to convince them," Harry shrugged.

"I don't understand," Andromeda sighed, looking deeply perturbed by this turn of events. "What could possibly be so important in that vault that you would risk a lifetime of Azkaban to steal it?"

"Something that will win us the war," Harry said firmly. "Something that must be kept out of Voldemort's hands, or he will crush Britain under his boot heel, and the rest of the world to follow."

A dire silence followed these words. Finally, Andromeda said, "What do you need from me?"

"At some point in the weeks to come, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange will die," said Harry, ignoring Cedric's uncomfortable squirming beside him. "When that happens, you and I will go the Gringotts and get what we need from the vault. With luck, we will be in and out before anyone realizes we were there."

"But why would you need my help?" Andromeda frowned. "If you plan to bribe your way in illegally?"

"As a cover," said Harry. "Once we get what we need, you can place your claim on the vault so nobody suspects anything was taken when you visit. Then, even if Narcissa or anyone else shows up, they won't be able to get in until the ninety days are up."

Andromeda looked deeply concerned by his plan, as did several others in the room. Harry knew he was taking a lot for granted, assuming that all of this could be pulled off without a hitch. It relied on him killing the Lestranges without issue, the goblins accepting his bride, and Voldemort not sending someone to check the vault before they could access it...not to mention the Cup of Hufflepuff still being in the vault at all. But he knew it was the only viable path, and he had to project confidence in order to convince the others to go along with it.

"There's one other potential problem," Amelia chimed in. "Rodolphus and Rabastan have taken new brides. Won't they have superior claim to their husbands' inheritances?"

"Not if they have yet to wed," Andromeda corrected. "I was present when Bellatrix signed her marriage contract to Rodolphus at age sixteen. It stipulated that no claim to the family fortune can be made until both parties are of-age and legally wed. It prevents families from signing contracts then attempting to murder the other party to claim their wealth."

"When do the Carrow twins come of-age?" Amelia asked, looking to Harry.

"April," said Harry, remembering his conversation with Rodolphus over winter break. "That gives us about a month to pull this off. Are you willing to do this, Andromeda?"

Andromeda considered this for a moment, looking troubled. "Such a heavy burden for such a young man," she sighed, giving Harry a look of profound sadness. "Of course I will help."

"Thank you," said Harry. "I'll find a way to alert you so you'll know when the time has come."

"Perhaps using ze coins?" Fleur suggested. "The next date you set will be ze night of your attack, and Andromeda can meet you at ze bank the following morning."

"Good idea," said Harry. He fished into his pocket for a spare enchanted Galleon and handed it to Andromeda. She stared down at it, confused, and Amelia gave her a significant look that said, I'll explain later.

"This is all well and good," Ron frowned. "But when do we actually get to fight? I'm sick of slinking around in hiding and not actually accomplishing anything."

"We can't bring the fight to Voldemort until my mission is complete," said Harry. "But we're getting closer by the day. Have you had any luck finding Neville?"

"No," Ron grumbled. "I've checked damn near every spot we stayed before, and several places we talked about going next, but there's been no sign of them."

"Keep looking," Harry told him firmly. "We need to find him before we can end this." Ron nodded forlornly in agreement.

Harry turned next to Fleur. "Have you heard from your father lately?" he asked. "Is he still recruiting allies to help in the fight?"

"Yes," Fleur nodded. "We exchanged enchanted diaries, like ze one you gave me, so we can communicate more freely. 'E has recruited several hundred private soldiers to 'elp when the time comes, and he expects Viktor Krum to convince a few hundred more from Eastern Europe."

"Tell him the time is coming soon," said Harry. "Possibly before the summer."

"That soon?" Tonks piped up. "You think it will all be over by then?"

"We have to end this quickly," said Harry. "Before Voldemort has time to consolidate power. With me chipping away at his top lieutenants, and you lot preparing for the invasion, he'll be spread too thin. If we can strike him all at once with a large enough force, we might just stand a chance."

There was a grim silence at these words. "What about Grindelwald?" Amelia asked quietly. "Will he become a problem?" The rest of the group stiffened at this reminder...as if one Dark Lord was not enough, they now had two to worry about.

"I'm working on it," Harry muttered. "He's biding his time until he's strong enough to fight me. For now, you don't have to worry about him."

"But what if he does come after you?" asked Cedric. "Will we be in danger?"

Harry considered this. He was concerned about Grindelwald disrupting his plans and making his move before Harry was ready. If the worst was to happen, it seemed prudent to have a back-up plan in place.

"Tell you what," said Harry. "We'll establish a retreat protocol. In case any one of our covers is blown."

"A retreat protocol?" said Daphne shakily. "What's that?"

"If any of us is compromised," said Harry, pulling out his own enchanted Galleon and holding it up for all to see, "you should change all of the serial numbers to zero. That will alert everyone else that they need to take immediate shelter to protect themselves, in case Voldemort or Lockhart has discovered the existence of our group."

"What should we do next if that happens?" asked Ron.

"Gather as many allies as you can and warn them that Voldemort is coming," said Harry. "Amelia, Andromeda, take your husbands into hiding, wherever you can. Ron, Ced, Tonks, warn Fred and George and have them spread word to their family. And Daphne, if you could, find Dahlia and Damian and get them out of Hogwarts to the safe house as soon as possible."

"Not your mother, too?" Daphne frowned.

"She'll have Snape to protect her," Harry said grimly. He didn't like the idea of trusting Snape with Lily's safety, but he knew the man would never let her come to harm. Protecting Dahlia and Damian was far more important, as they were the two most vulnerable targets that Voldemort would likely use to gain leverage over Harry and the other Potters. In the worst case scenario, Lily could at least fend for herself.

"And what should I do?" asked Fleur.

"Contact your father and tell him the time is nearly here," Harry said grimly. "If the fight comes before we're ready, we'll just have to adapt. No sense in giving the enemy time to prepare."

"So this is really happening?" asked Tonks nervously. "We're going to fight You-Know-Who and his army? Again?"

"Yeah, how can we know this won't just end like it did the last time, at the Ministry?" Cedric piped up.

"Because Voldemort will be weaker this time," said Harry. This would hopefully be true in multiple contexts. Not only would he have fewer Death Eaters alive to protect him and augment his magic, but he would no longer have horcruxes tethering his soul to this world. Harry would be free to fight fire with fire and use every tool in his arsenal to defeat him, knowing that a killing blow would actually be final.

"And we will be ready," Fleur said firmly, standing tall alongside Harry. "We only 'ave one chance to get zis right, so let us prepare. Agreed?"

The group was momentarily stunned. "I'll be ready," Ron said resolutely, looking inspired.

"Me too," Tonks nodded, as Cedric nodded his agreement.

"Very well," Amelia muttered. Andromeda and Daphne also nervously nodded along.

"Good luck then, everyone," said Harry. "Keep going strong and be ready for anything." The rest of the group looked reinvigorated and full of purpose as they filed out of the Shrieking Shack to return home.

Harry wished he felt the same. In truth, he was terrified. The end was in sight, but so much could still go wrong...what if Grindelwald struck early? What if Voldemort discovered his treachery? What if he could not locate and destroy all of the horcruxes in time? What if Andromeda's (or Daphne's) pregnancy was exposed as a farce? What if Neville remained in hiding and could not be contacted? He felt like he was balancing on a razor's edge, with one wrong move threatening to send him teetering over the edge into oblivion.

But having the support of his friends and family kept him going. People were relying on him to guide them out of this mess, and he could not let them down. Even a simple gesture like Fleur standing to support him at the meeting meant more than words could express. He knew if he was going to get through this war alive, it would be with her support, and everyone else's.

It's almost over, Harry reassured himself. We're in the endgame now. No more mistakes from now on, and you just might get through this in one piece.

A/N: According to my notes, we have roughly 10-12 chapters to go before this story reaches its epic conclusion. That number may change slightly for pacing purposes, but as Harry said, we are most definitely in the endgame now. Buckle in, because it's going to be a wild ride!