The Phoenix Prophecy

Chapter Eleven: The Well

Tuesday- July 15th

Ron

As we rode back to the surface in the rail cars, I was never more thankful to be leaving anywhere, as I was this place. I just sat there, completely exhausted and drained from our ordeal. My hand was throbbing but was bearable now that I knew we were going to survive.

I turned around to look at Sirius and Madelyn sitting behind me. Sirius had his arm around Madelyn’s shoulder and was hugging her to him. He looked as if he was never going to let go of her again. I smiled at the two of them and they both smiled back at me.

“Ron, are you in a lot of pain?” Madelyn asked me, indicating my hand with a nod of her head.

“It hurts, but I will survive,” I answered, looking over their shoulders to make sure the other car was still right behind us. I wasn’t going to relax until we met Gawain and he ported us back to the Blyth’s farm.

We rode the rest of the way in silence. When the cars pulled to a stop, we quickly disembarked and started making our way out the tunnel to the entrance of the cave. Harry was having trouble walking on his sore ankle so Madelyn quickly repaired it with her wand. She said the rest of our injuries would have to wait until we got back to the farm so that she could fix them properly. I sure hoped she was going to be able to re-grow my missing fingers.

We quickly reached the entrance to the Goblin caves and started back along the path through the woods. It was late afternoon but the woods were just as they were in the morning, dark and spooky. We were all dying to know how Madelyn had survived a fall to certain death but she said she would tell us all about it once we were safely back at the farm.

Hermione and Harry were walking side by side, hand in hand. I was so happy that Hermione had finally gotten over being mad at Harry. He had been absolutely miserable when she wasn’t speaking to him.

Gretchen was as close to me as she could get without actually being inside my flying suit with me. Not that I minded, the closer she was the better I liked it.

We were all keeping our eyes peeled for anything threatening as we retraced our steps back to the edge of the woods where hopefully Gawain would be waiting. It took us longer to travel from the caves to the edge of the woods, as we were beat up. After twenty-five minutes, we emerged from the woods to see Gawain standing there looking at us.

“You look as thought you encountered some difficulties on your journey through the Goblin caves,” he said calmly, as if that was to be expected.

“You could say that,” Sirius answered him dryly.

“Did you obtain you objective and retrieve some liquid from the Well-of-Light?” Gawain asked him.

“Yes, we have the liquid,” Sirius answered sarcastically. “It damn near killed us, but we have it.”

“Well in that case we should be getting back to the Blyth’s farm,” he said holding out the portkey.

As soon as we were all holding onto the portkey, we were traveling back the way we had come to land in the Blyth’s front yard several seconds later.

It was late in the afternoon; probably around five or six, I wasn’t sure because my watch was under the bandage on my left hand. We made our way over to the table and sat down. We were totally drained.

“I need to be getting back to check on Iseult,” Gawain said to us. “Before I go, is there anything you need Madelyn?”

“You wouldn’t happen to have any skele-grow, would you?” she asked him.

“Not on me of course, but I will bring some back later this evening,” Gawain answered her. “And now if you will all excuse me, I must go,” he said and with a small ‘pop’, disapparated.

No sooner had Gawain left than Martha and the girls came running out to see us. They took one look at us and stopped dead in their tracks.

“Oh Lord, what happened?” Martha gasped, placing her hands over her mouth.

“We ran into a little trouble,” Sirius answered her.

“A LITTLE!” she shrieked. “You look like death warmed over.”

“You have no idea how true that statement is,” I said to her, looking directly at Madelyn and waiting for an explanation of how she could possibly be still be alive.

We were all looking at her, as Martha and the girls sat down beside us. Katie took one look at my hand and started to cry. I hugged her with my good arm and told her not to worry; Madelyn and Gawain would be able to fix me up. As I sat there with my arm around Katie and sitting next to Gretchen, Madelyn related her miraculous survival.

Madelyn

“When I fell into the sinkhole and started falling, I was frozen with fear. For several seconds all I did was scream as I fell. Then my subconscious took over and I suddenly realized I had transfigured into a falcon. I was still falling but I managed to slow and finally stop my decent. I must have been almost a five hundred feet down by then. A bird does not fly well trying to go straight up. I had to stop about every fifty feet and cling to the side of the shaft to rest. It took me over an hour to reach the top of the sinkhole. And by the way, to whom do I owe the pleasure of nearly being knocked unconscious by flaming rats?”

“That would be me,” Ron said rather sheepishly. “Sorry about that. I lost my temper and just wanted to kill them all.”

“It’s ok Ron. I would probably have done the same thing if I had been in your place. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes, after I reached the top of the sinkhole I stayed in my falcon form and quickly flew to the cavern, which contained the Well-of-Light. From the thousands of torched scorpions I knew you had been there. It took me several minutes to pick up your trail of blood that led into the tunnel on the opposite side of the cavern. From there I flew to the entrance of the cavern where you had been trapped by the rogue Goblins. I quickly returned to human form and waited for them to leave. The rest you know.”

When I finished telling my story Martha just looked at me disbelievingly. “I sure hope this protective charm you are trying to acquire is worth the risk, or worse, someone’s life,” she said to me.

“So do I, so ... do ... I,” I replied, trying to convince myself that it was indeed worth the risk.

Just as Martha asked us if we would like something to drink, as supper wouldn’t be ready for about an hour, we heard Alec scream ‘DAD, DAD…’

We all jumped up from the table and started running for the barn. As we neared the barn, Alec, who was in the corral saw us and yelled ‘Over here’. We raced to the edge of the corral and stopped dead in our tracks. Walt was on his knees cradling Tom in his arms. Tom’s body was jerking in spasms. Lying a few feet away, spared through the head with one of the tines of a pitchfork was a snake about eight feet long with diamond shaped markings along the length of its back.

I knew instantly that Tom had been bitten by a very poisonous snake because of the way his body was jerking uncontrollably. I ripped my backpack off as fast as possible and found the anti-venom potion. Just as I reached Tom, his body went rigid, and then limp as his head flopped back and his lifeless eyes started up at the sky. The life that had been Tom was gone from us forever.

For several seconds we all just stood there, too stunned to move or speak.

“Martha, Tom..s … gone,” Walt said looking up at his wife, with both his voice and heart breaking.

As Martha staggered forward and dropped to her knees beside Walt and Tom, everyone started crying. Katie turned and buried her face against Ron as he and Gretchen knelt down to try and comfort her, as well as themselves. Harry and Hermione pulled Annie, who was standing beside them, to them and wrapped their arms around her. Hermione and Annie were looking as if they were going to pass out at any moment. Sirius had his hand on Alec’s shoulder. Alec was dazed beyond belief that such a thing could possibly happen. I stood up and went to stand by Sirius. I pulled Alec to me and wrapped my arms around him as he finally succumbed to the realization that his brother was dead. I held him while we both cried and Sirius stood behind me with his arms around the both of us. Walt and Martha were both crying as Martha closed Tom’s eyelids with the palm of her hand. Martha bent down, kissed her son, and then collapsed against Walt sobbing in agony and despair.

After several minutes Walt stood up and carrying Tom’s body, he and Martha started walking towards the house. Sirius let go of us and quickly walked up to Walt.

“Walt, where do you intend to put Tom while we can make a casket for him,” Sirius asked him as gently as he could. Walt just looked at him unable to speak. “Why don’t you let Harry and I set up a makeshift table on the front porch?”

Walt just nodded at Sirius. Sirius told Harry to come with him and headed for the barn. Alec and Ron followed them as they went to get boards and sawhorses to make a temporary table to lay Tom’s body on. Sirius and the boys reached the porch almost as quickly as Walt did. They quickly set up a table and placed a blanket from one of our packs on it. Walt laid Tom’s body down and stepped back to place his arm around Martha.

Martha and Walt gathered their children in front of them and for several minutes just stood looking down at Tom’s body. We stood behind them while all of us tried to come to grips with this terrible tragedy. We know from a very early age that eventually we will all die. We expect that to be when we are old and have lived a good long life. When a young person dies without warning, it shakes you to the very core of your being.

After several very long minutes, Walt turned to Sirius to ask for his help in making a coffin for his son.

“Walt, why don’t you stay with your family. They need you right now. Let Harry, Ron and I make the coffin,” Sirius said quietly and sympathetically.

I asked Martha if she would like me to place a blanket over Tom, but not cover his face. She just nodded and mumbled ‘Thanks’. Hermione and Gretchen pulled chairs over so that Martha, Walt and the kids could sit down, as I went and got another blanket from my backpack to cover Tom’s body. I gently draped the blanket over Tom as Sirius and the guys headed for the barn to make a casket.

Harry

We walked in silence to the barn. I don’t think any of us knew what to say. Once we reached the barn Sirius and I started getting boards from the pile of leftover floorboards while Ron went to get the saw, hammer and nails we would need to build the coffin.

“Sirius, do you think Walt and Martha will want to bury Tom tonight?” I asked him.

“I think so Harry, but I’m not positive,” he answered me. “People who live in frontier conditions usually bury their dead very quickly. Normally it’s the same day, but they may have other plans.”

I could tell that Ron’s hand was giving him a lot of pain. But he refused to take a break. I hoped Gawain would get back soon so that Madelyn could start to re-grow the fingers that he lost.

We worked for about an hour making a pine box coffin. I think it was the last thing Ron wanted to build with his newfound carpentry skills, but he was determined to help us finish it. Because Tom did not weigh much over one hundred pounds, we only attached four rope handles to the coffin’s sides. When the coffin was finished, we headed back to the house to see how the others were holding up.

We found them all still sitting on the porch. Hermione and Gretchen had prepared some food but no one had eaten very much. Sirius, Ron and I each grabbed a quick bite to eat and something to drink. After we finished we pulled up chairs and sat down next to our gals.

I held out my hand to Hermione and she quickly took it in hers and squeezed my hand while smiling weakly at me. I could tell the she felt as helpless as I did. I think we both knew that no matter what we did or said it really wouldn’t help much right now.

“How are they holding up?” I asked, leaning close to her ear, whispering softly.

“About what you would expect,” she whispered back. “They break out into cries of anguish and sorrow every so often. All we have been able to do is stand behind them and place a comforting hand on their shoulder.”

After we had been sitting with them for about fifteen minutes, Sirius asked Walt what he and Martha would like to do and when.

“Sirius, Martha, the kids and I think it would be best if we buried Tom before sundown,” Walt managed to say without falling apart. He seemed to be past the initial state of shock. I knew he was numb from the ordeal, but he was able to think and function. The next several days would be the longest and hardest the Blyth family had ever spent.

“Walt, have you picked out a spot for the gravesite?” Sirius asked as gently as possible.

“Yes we have. We want to make a small cemetery just the other side of the large oak tree,” he answered. “We think that will be far enough from the house but not too far.”

“Harry and I will attend to digging the grave if you will just show us where you want Tom’s grave,” Sirius said softly.

“Ron, you look pretty played out. Why don’t you sit here? Harry and I will dig the grave with our wands as well as shovels,” Sirius whispered to him so that none of the others would hear.

Ron just nodded and stayed in his chair next to Gretchen as Sirius and I followed Walt to the place where he wanted to bury Tom. After Walt showed us exactly where he and Martha wanted Tom buried, Sirius suggested that he go back and wait with his family.

“Harry, one of the toughest things to bear when burying a loved one is watching them dig the grave or seeing the grave filled in after the coffin has been lowered into the grave,” Sirius said to me.

“Sirius was that how it was when my parents were buried?” I asked him on a hunch.

“Yes Harry, burying your parents was the hardest thing I have ever endured in my life,” Sirius said, his voice cracking.

“Even though it may not have helped them, I’m sure my parents would have been glad to know that you looked after them in the end,” I said to him, meaning every word of it.

Sirius dug the grave very quickly using an ‘Excavatus’ spell. When he finished removing most of the dirt, I squared up the grave with a shovel. When we were satisfied that the coffin would fit cleanly into the hole we headed around back to wash up and then rejoined the others on the porch.

Walt and Martha had decided what clothes Tom should be buried in while we were digging the grave. Alec had fetched them for her. Madelyn suggested that it might be easier on them if she and Sirius dressed Tom in his burial clothes and laid him in the coffin, and then we could proceed with the burial.

Martha and Walt agreed. After they, the kids went into the house, Ron, and I went to fetch the coffin while Madelyn and Sirius changed Tom’s clothes. Hermione and Gretchen came with us, as they weren’t up to watching what was happing on the porch.

When we returned to the porch with the coffin, Sirius and Madelyn had finished changing Tom. Sirius picked Tom up from the makeshift table as Ron and I placed the coffin on the table. Madelyn placed the blanket Martha had given her to use in the coffin and Sirius gently laid Tom into his coffin, straightening out his legs and folding his arms so that his hands were resting on his stomach.

Once Tom’s body was settled in the coffin Madelyn called for Walt, Martha and the kids to return to the porch. Martha and Walt had decided that it would be better if Tom’s coffin was closed on the porch rather than at the gravesite. Each of the kids placed a favorite item, which had belonged to Tom in the coffin with his body as they said good-bye to their brother.

Ron and Gretchen supported and helped Katie with her good bye and said their own as well. Hermione and I helped Annie to get through the ordeal. Hermione softly said that she would keep her promise and always remember him for all the days of her life. Sirius and Madelyn stood behind Alec as he said farewell to his younger brother and life long companion.

Walt and Martha stood beside their son’s coffin for several minutes talking gently to him, telling him how much they had loved him and how much they were going to miss him. Finally, Walt bent down and kissed Tom’s forehead, choking out a ‘Good-bye my son.’ Martha was the last to say good-bye. She stood over his coffin with tears streaming down her cheeks for several moments. Finally, she bent down and kissed her son, her own flesh and blood, for the last time. She tried to speak but words just failed her. She gently pulled the cover over Tom’s face and turned to tell us that they were ready.

When everyone had finished saying his or her good byes to Tom, Sirius and I placed the lid on the coffin. Sirius had told Ron and me that we, along with Madelyn’s help, would carry the coffin to the grave. But Alec said that he wanted to help carry his brother to his final resting place and Walt agreed, so he took Madelyn’s place.

We lifted the coffin from its resting place and slowly headed down the porch steps and then to the gravesite. Walt and Martha were directly behind us with the others following behind them. It took several minutes to reach the gravesite and lower the coffin into the grave. After the coffin was laid in its final resting place, we all stood around the edge of the grave, our heads bowed in silent prayer.

After several minutes, Walt bent down, scooped up a handful of dirt, and poured it on top of Tom’s coffin. He then gathered his family around him and led them back to the house. Hermione, Gretchen and Madelyn followed after each of them had dropped a handful of dirt into the grave. When the gals had left the gravesite Ron watched as Sirius and I filled in the grave and smoothed the mound of dirt that covered Tom’s final resting place. We bowed our heads, each saying a last good bye to a young boy we had come to know and cherish over the past several days.

Gretchen

When we got back to the house Walt, Martha and the kids were sitting on the porch, completely at a loss for what to do.

“Have any of you had anything to eat since lunch.” I asked them, trying to take their minds off Tom for a few moments. “It might help if you at least ate something, no matter how little.”

They agreed to try to eat. Hermione and I went into the house to prepare some sandwiches and other easy to eat food, while Madelyn stayed on the porch with them. By the time, we returned with the food the guys were back on the porch. Katie was sitting on Ron’s lap, leaning against his chest. Annie was sitting next to Harry, holding his hand.

Hermione and I fixed plates for everyone and passed them out along with some apple juice to drink. No one talked much while we ate. Sirius managed to get Walt and Alec to talk a little about the new addition. Madelyn and I tried unsuccessfully to get Martha to talk about much of anything.

Just after we had finished eating, I heard the twins fussing in their beds. Annie went with me to fetch them. They both needed changing, which we did quickly.

“Annie, these kids are hungry,” I said to her. “Your mother is going to have to feed them pretty soon.”

“Yes I can see that,” she replied. “If Lazarus gets himself all worked up, it will take an hour to calm him down.”

“I’ll go and ask you mother whether she wants to feed them in here or on the porch,” I told her and carrying Lazarus went back outside.

“Martha, the twins need feeding,” I said gently, squatting down beside her, still holding Lazarus. “Do you want to feed them here or in the house?”

I had to ask Martha twice before she stopped staring off into the distance and paid attention to what I was asking her.

“I think I’ll feed them here on the porch,” she finally answered me.

I handed Lazarus to her and she began to nurse him. I went back to the front door and called Annie to bring Laurie outside.

Martha never said a word the entire time she was nursing the twins. After Martha had finished nursing the twins Annie and I took them back into the house for bathing and changed them into clean outfits. When we finished we wrapped them in light summer blankets and went back out on the porch to rejoin the others.

As we walked out the front door I head a small ‘pop’ and looked up to see Gawain standing in the front yard. Sirius and Madelyn went to join him immediately so that they could tell him of the tragedy that had befallen the Blyth’s without upsetting them even more. Annie and I went and sat with the others while Sirius and Madelyn talked with Gawain.

Ron

Katie had fallen asleep in my lap while Gretchen was helping Annie with the twins. She was still upset over my damaged hand and would start to cry every time she looked at it. I was starting to feel drowsy myself. It had been a very, very long day and my hand was still throbbing.

After Sirius and Madelyn had been talking to Gawain for ten minutes they all came back to the porch.

“Walt, Martha I very sorry to hear of your tragic loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences,” Gawain said to them, his voice soft and full of compassion.

“Thank you Marcus,” Walt replied, his voice shaking and his eyes beginning to tear. “We appreciate your kindness in our time of sorrow.”

“Why didn’t your dumb old bird come and save Tom?” Katie shouted angrily at him, having woken up when Gawain spoke to her parents.

“Katie, I am very sorry that Iseult could not come and save your brother,” Gawain answered her sympathetically. “She was still weak from having just been reborn and won’t be able to help anyone for several days.”

“Well I still don’t think it’s fair that she was able to save Ron and not Tom,” she added defiantly, getting down from my lap and climbing into her dads lap.

“Kitten, life is not fair, it just is,” Walt said to her, hugging her and kissing the top of her head.

“Ron, would you please come with Marcus and me so that we can begin the healing process for your hand,” Madelyn said, getting up from her chair.

I got up, quickly kissed Gretchen who was still holding Lazarus, and followed Madelyn and Gawain from the porch. Madelyn led us to the tent where she had me lay down on one of the beds.

“Ron, I am going to put you under a sleeping charm while we repair your hand,” she told me.

I closed my eyes and pictured Gretchen’s face smiling at me. Her blue eyes were sparkling and her mouth was turned up at the corners with that impish smile that melted my heart.

….

I could feel Gretchen’s lips, soft and moist, against mine. I opened my eyes expecting to see her face. Instead, I saw Madelyn looking down at me, telling me to lie still and not try to get up.

“Ron, Marcus and I have cleaned the wounds and fashioned a glove for your injured hand that will protect and nourish your new fingers as they are regenerated. The process will take about twenty-four hours to complete. You will need to leave the glove on until your fingers are completely healed. You will experience some minor pain and considerable itchiness while they are healing. I would like you to stay lying down for about an hour. After that you may get up, but be careful not to hit your hand against anything.”

“Can I take a bath?” I asked her.

“Yes, the glove is water resistant. Just try and keep your hand from getting too wet,” Madelyn answered, standing up to thank Gawain for his help.

“Thanks Gawain,” I added as he prepared to leave the tent.

“You’re quite welcome Ron,” he replied smiling warmly at me, and then left the tent with Madelyn.

Several minutes after they left the tent, Gretchen came to see me. She still had Lazarus with her. She sat down on the edge of the bed, leaned down, and kissed me warmly on my lips.

“And how is my future husband doing tonight?” she asked me, smiling and brushing my hair with her free hand.

“He is feeling much better,” I answered, touching her cheek with my good hand.

“Would you like some company?” she asked, grinning at me.

“Sure, Madelyn said I have to lay here for the next hour. Then I desperately need a bath.”

“Yes, I think a bath would be in order,” Gretchen said, pretending to sniff me.

“You don’t smell very yummy yourself dear,” I said, wrinkling my nose.

“Is that an invitation to join you in the bath?” she said, sounding very serious, but smiling devilishly.

“I could use some help. I am not supposed to get this hand wet,” I said holding up my gloved hand.

“I’ll consider your invitation,” she said, laying Lazarus down next to me and lying down next to him.

Lazarus looked at me with his big blue eyes for several seconds as I just looked back at him. I tickled his cheek with my finger and he tried to start sucking my finger.

“Does this kid want to do anything besides eat?”

“Well he does seem to be preoccupied with anything he thinks might be a nipple,” Gretchen said matter-of-factly.

“Well I can’t fault him for that,” I said grinning at her.

“Later tiger, you’re supposed to be resting, remember?”

“You know I could get use to this. Having a child to love is a lot more fun than I thought it would be,” I said, cuddling Lazarus to me and kissing his forehead.

When I looked up at Gretchen, she had tears in her eyes.

“What’s the matter dear? Did I say something wrong?”

“No Ron, you said everything just right. I love you so much,” she said, as she leaned forward, being careful not to squash Lazarus and kissed me very passionately.

“Ron?”

“Yes dear?”

“I think tonight is going to be the right time and somewhere around here is going to be the right place,” she said to me with love and passion written all over her face.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I am very sure. I want to make love to you and spend the entire night wrapped in each others arms.”

“I am glad you are ready because I feel exactly the same way. I want to spend the whole night with you safely wrapped in my arms. I love you.”

“I love you,” Gretchen said, kissing me warmly and laying back down to play with Lazarus who had been watching us with unusual interest.

Hermione

After Madelyn and Gawain came back from fixing Ron’s hand, Gawain said the he should be getting back to Iseult. He bid us a ‘Good Evening’ and disapparated with a small ‘pop’. Shortly after Madelyn sat down, Gretchen stood up and said she was going to go and check on Ron.

“Gretchen, I just left him. He’s doing fine,” Madelyn said teasingly.

“Lazarus and I just want to make sure,” she shot back.

“Oh ok, since its Lazarus that needs to be sure, then I guess it will be all right,” Madelyn replied, looking just a little skeptical. “Try not to get Ron all wound up; I want his hand to start healing.”

“Yes doctor,” Gretchen said grinning, as she left the porch with Lazarus cradled in her arms.

“Hermione, did anything but your hair get burned earlier today?” Madelyn asked me.

“The back of my head is a little tender but other than that I am ok,” I replied. “Unfortunately I am going to have to cut off quite a bit of hair because it is so badly damaged,” I added, looking at my hair and making a sour face.

“Would you like me to cut it for you?” Madelyn asked me. “I used to be pretty good at cutting and styling hair,” she added.

“Oh could you? I don’t think I can stand the smell of this burnt hair another second,” I replied. Harry looked a little embarrassed when I mentioned my burnt hair. “Harry, don’t fret over a little hair, I’m still alive thanks to you and your quick thinking,” I said, kissing him as I got up to go with Madelyn so she could cut my hair.

I followed Madelyn to the tent. Gretchen was lying beside Ron with Lazarus in between them. They each had one of Lazarus’s tiny hands wrapped around their little fingers and were playing with him.

“I’m glad to see you’re resting Ron. How is the hand feeling?” Madelyn asked, smiling down at the three of them.

“Actually, it’s starting to feel much better already,” he answered her.

“Gretchen, I am going to cut Hermione’s hair. It’s the only way to get rid of the damage caused by the flames Harry used to kill the scorpions,” Madelyn told her. “After I finish with Hermione I want to fix up your ear.”

“Sure thing, just let me know when you’re ready,” Gretchen answered her.

“Hermione, you have quite a bit of damage,” Madelyn said to me, as I sat down in a chair and she began inspecting my hair. “The only real way to fix this is to cut your hair quite short.”

“How short,” I squeaked somewhat panicky, as I had not worn my hair short for as long as I could remember.

“Well I should cut it so that it just barely reaches your neck. I think it’s what’s called a ‘pixie cut’,” she answered me.

“I sure hope Harry doesn’t have a fit, he really likes my long hair,” I said to Madelyn.

“I’m sure Harry won’t mind. He loves you no matter what length your hair is,” Ron said to me.

“That’s easy for you to say Ron. Gretchen will still have her long hair and Harry likes long hair just as much as you do,” I replied, shuddering as Madelyn was just getting ready to start cutting.

“Hermione, if Gretchen wants to cut her hair I would tell her it was ok by me,” Ron added, quickly glancing at Gretchen.

“Ron.”

“Yes dear?”

“Why don’t you shut up before you put your other foot in your mouth,” Gretchen told him.

“What ever you say dear; I think I’ll take a little nap now,” Ron replied, laying back down and closing his eyes pretending to go to sleep.

Gretchen rolled on her back so see could watch Madelyn cutting my hair. Thankfully, she didn’t make any sour faces as I lost ten years worth of growth. I just kept my eyes shut as much as possible. After fifteen minutes, Madelyn told me to open my eyes and handed me a hand mirror. I was scared to look in the mirror but finally summoned the necessary courage and looked at myself. At first, I was feeling like I might cry, but the more I looked at my new face the more I liked it.

“Oh Madelyn, I love it, you are really good,” I told her, smiling over my shoulder at her.

“Thanks Hermione, I rather enjoyed cutting your hair,” she answered me. “Now why don’t you go and show Harry. I’m sure he is going to like it.”

I was feeling wonderful until I remember Tom. All of a sudden, I felt guilty for feeling so good about my new hairstyle. Madelyn must have sensed what was troubling me.

“Hermione, no matter what we do, we can’t bring Tom back. So don’t feel guilty about looking good,” she said to me. “Life goes on. That is going to be the hardest thing for the Blyth’s to accept.”

“Ok Madelyn, I’ll try and keep that in mind. I’m sure the next few days are going to be difficult for all of us as well,” I replied.

As I walked past Gretchen and Ron on my way out of the tent, Ron let out a wolf whistle. When Gretchen turned to look at him, he was smiling ‘in his sleep’. I wasn’t insulted; it made me feel good that Ron thought I was deliciously attractive. I accepted his complement in the spirit he intended. Harry Potter here I come, ready or not.

Gretchen

“Ron.”

“Yes dear?”

“Now that you are awake, would you mind taking Lazarus and giving him to Martha or Annie to put to bed?” I asked, knowing full well that he had never been asleep and besides I thought Madelyn and I needed to talk privately.

“Sure, I’d be glad to. Besides I have a sneaky suspicion that this is just your way of getting me out of the tent,” he said grinning at me. “And you can have Madelyn cut your hair as short as you like. It’s your body that I love not your hair.”

“Ron, for that wisecrack you will be lucky if you ever see either of them again,” I said, trying to look fierce as I handed a sleeping Lazarus to him. “And don’t wake him or you will be the one up with him all night, and you know what that means,” I added, smirking at him.

Ron kissed me and left with Lazarus safely cradled in his good arm.

“Ron is going to make a wonderful father,” I said to Madelyn as I sat down in the chair so she could tend to my ear and shoulder wounds.

“Are you planning on making Ron an expectant father tonight?” she asked, standing in front of me, as though she was asking me what color to paint my nails.

“Madelyn, how did you know?” I asked her after several seconds had elapsed since she asked me her question.

“Gretchen, do you remember yesterday when I told you I would treat you as a woman?” she asked.

“Yes I remember.”

“Well it helps if we don’t play cat and mouse with each other Gretchen. There are times, like right now, when one woman can help another.”

“Alright Madelyn, I told Ron that I was very sure that tonight was the right time and that somewhere around here would be the right place for us to make love for the first time.”

“If you’re sure Gretchen, that’s fine. I wouldn’t attempt to try to convince you otherwise. However I do have a few suggestions, if you are interested in hearing them.”

“Absolutely I am interested in hearing anything you have to say.”

“Well first, drink some of this,” she said, handing me a small vial of green colored liquid. “Now that you have made up your own mind and are comfortable with the decision I have no misgivings about providing you with this anti-conception potion.”

“How much of this should I take and how often should I take it?” I asked holding up the vial to look at it.

“Take about a third of it each night for the next three nights and you will be protected for the next month or so depending on your cycle.”

“How does it taste?” I asked.

“A lot better that throwing up each day for three months with morning sickness,” she replied grimacing.

“You just convinced me,” I replied, quickly opening the vial and swallowing about a third of it. Actually it didn’t taste all that bad, just a slight aftertaste that quickly went away.

“Gretchen, your ear lobe is pretty well chewed up. I will clean it up for tonight. Tomorrow I will make permanent repairs.”

“Thanks Madelyn. What were the other suggestions you had for me?”

“Well this one is entirely up to you but I think the best ‘Right place’ is in one of the two sleeping wings of this tent. My reason is that you and Ron are not going to be happy with an hour under the stars. You are really going to want to spend the whole night in each other’s arms. Anything less and you are going to feel like you cheated yourselves in the morning.”

“Gretchen, I suggest that you and I move two of the beds into one of the sleeping wings before we leave the tent. That way whenever you and Ron decide its time you won’t have to mess with moving the furniture.”

“Madelyn, I hadn’t though of using the tent. I’m sure you are right about wanting to spend the whole night together. I was trying to think of some place we could do just that. The only place I came up with was the barn, but that wasn’t very appealing. Anything else?”

“Yes, one small request. Please try to be as quiet and discrete as possible. Harry and Hermione are going to realize what is going on. I would not want them to be embarrassed by what they might hear. It might put undue pressure on them to make love when they are not quite ready for that yet. Their time will come. But it should be at a time and place of their own choosing, without any outside influences.”

“Other than that Gretchen, all I can say is relax and enjoy yourselves.”

“Thanks Madelyn, I really appreciate all that you have done for me. I have one small favor to ask if you are not too tired.”

Harry

I was sitting on the porch talking with Alec and Annie when I heard someone come up the porch steps. When I turned around to see who it was I nearly fell out of my chair.

“Hermione you look absolutely stunning,” I said to her, my mouth falling open. I suddenly remembered that Alec and Annie were sitting next to me so I didn’t say anything more about how beautiful Hermione looked. I was sure she realized why, as she sat down with us and started talking to Alec and Annie, asking how they were doing and was there anything she could do for them.

We continued to talk until Ron showed up with Lazarus, who was sleeping peacefully. Ron gave him to Annie who said she would put him in bed. Katie had just taken Laurie into bed a few minutes before. Annie said she was going to go to bed and try to get some sleep but she didn’t think it was possible under the circumstances. I hugged her ‘goodnight’ as Hermione volunteered to go with her.

After the girls left, Ron and I continued talking with Alec. He was doing ok, but it was going to be hardest on him because he and Tom did everything together. When Hermione came back from helping Annie and Katie get settled for the night Alec said he was going to see if he couldn’t get some sleep as well. We all hugged him goodnight and he went to tell his parents that the girls and twins were in bed and he was headed there himself.

After Alec had gone into the house, I had Hermione show me her new hair cut from all sides.

“Hun, I really like it. It looks very good on you,” I told her quietly so as not to disturb Walt and Martha.

“Thanks Harry, I’m glad you like it. I’ve already received one wolf whistle for it,” she said grinning at Ron, who just bowed his head politely.

We continued to talk quietly until Walt said that he and Martha were going to try to get some sleep.

“Sirius, we can’t thank you enough for all you have done for us in our time of sorrow and need. With friends like all of you I know we will be able to get through this terrible ordeal,” Walt said to all of us, as he led Martha into the house.

Just after Walt and Martha went inside, Gretchen and Madelyn came up onto the porch. Ron’s head snapped around so fast I thought he might have broken his neck.

“Smashing!” he stammered looking at Gretchen in a short hairstyle similar to Hermione’s.

Gretchen wrapped her arms around Ron and kissed him lightly.

“You two girls sure look awesome,” I said to them.

“Thanks Harry,” Gretchen replied. “This sure does feel different.”

“You got that right,” Hermione added. “I didn’t realize how much weight I was carrying around from all that hair.”

“Sirius, I was thinking that we should spend the next two or three day’s right here with the Blyth’s,” I said to him. “They are going to have a very rough time and we could help them get past the worst of the grief.”

“Madelyn and I had discussed that possibility,” Sirius answered me, looking at Madelyn for her thoughts.

“We have enough time to complete all the quests and get back to Earth with a week to spare. I agree with you Harry. I think we owe it to them for all the friendship and hospitality they have shown us,” Madelyn said to me, and the others.

“We could help them finish the addition,” Ron added. “Having something constructive to do will help take their minds off their loss.”

“Martha seems to be much more devastated that the rest of them,” Gretchen offered. “She didn’t even seem to be interested in the twins.”

“Gretchen, I not surprised that Martha is taking this harder that everyone else. Tom was her second child,” Madelyn answered her. “She is going to need your help in particular. Martha has developed quite an attachment to you.”

“I’ll do everything I can to help her,” Gretchen answered, sounding very thoughtful and a little sad.

“I know you will Gretchen. We all will be here to help all of them,” Sirius said to all of us.

“Madelyn, has it been long enough since you fitted this glove to my hand so that I could take a bath?” Ron asked hopefully.

“Yes it has, but try not to get it any wetter than you have to,” Madelyn answered. “And while we are on the subject of baths, it might be nice if we all took one tonight. I know I don’t smell nice enough for anyone to want to crawl in bed beside me. I suspect that goes for the rest of you as well.”

“I think a polecat would turn up its nose at me,” Sirius said, sniffing himself.

“Alright, Ron and Gretchen go first and second, followed by Harry and Hermione and last but not least Sirius and myself,” Madelyn decreed. “Also if each bather would limit their bath to fifteen minutes and then drain the tub and start it refilling for the next bather, we should be able to finish before morning.”

Everyone agreed that the plan proposed by Madelyn would work. As Ron got up to head for the tent, Gretchen stood up as well.

“Ron is a big boy now,” Sirius said to Gretchen. “He can get his own bath.”

“Ron might need some help, to make sure his bandaged hand doesn’t get wet,” Gretchen replied, looking at Madelyn.

“It’s ok Sirius,” Madelyn said, patting his knee as she looked at him.

Hermione looked at me as if to say ‘what’s going on’. She didn’t have to wait long for her answer.

“Hermione, Harry I have something I need to tell you,” Madelyn said, looking at both of us, smiling warmly. “Under normal circumstances what two people do together is strictly their own business. But we are not living in conditions anything close to normal. Ron and Gretchen have decided that they want to spend the entire night totally by themselves. The only reasonable and safe place for them to do that is in one of the sleeping wings of the tent. I just wanted you to know that, so you wouldn’t be shocked when you discovered they had moved their beds into the sleeping wing on the left side of the tent.”

“Oh, ok,” was about all I could think of to say at the moment.

Hermione had been holding my hand since we sat down. She squeezed it a little tighter as Madelyn was telling us about Ron and Gretchen.

“The four of us will be sleeping in the main room as usual,” Madelyn added. “When their allotted thirty minutes is up then it will be your turn to go and use the tub.”

“Thirty seconds is probably all the time they will need with ‘The Tub’,” Hermione blurted out.

“I will bet you anything you like Hermione, that they will use all of their allotted time,” Madelyn said to her. “And I don’t mean for sex either. After everything we have been through today, a hot bath is going to seem like a luxury beyond belief.”

Ron

Gretchen and I walked hand in hand back to the tent. We would just look at each other and smile warmly.

I started to fill the tub with hot sudsy water. The tub was just big enough for one person; the sides were about three feet high at the back and two feet at the front. It was roomy enough so that you could bathe comfortably, but it wasn’t anything like the pool-sized tubs back at Hogwarts. Don’t ask me where the water came from; I don’t know that much about plumbing magic. In addition, I’m not interested either, as long as it works. The tub was completely filled in five minutes.

“Gretchen, would you help me get this shirt off, so I don’t mess up the healing glove,” I asked her.

“Sure Ron,” she said, grabbing the sides of my shirt and pulling it up over my head and down my arms as I bent forward to make it easier for her.

“Find me a towel, would you dear”

While she was getting a couple of towels out of the storage bag, I kicked off my shoes, got out of my pants and climbed into the tub. She returned with the towels, washing cloths and bar of soap just as I sat down and leaned back, resting my injured hand on the side of the tub.

“I’ll bet that feels good,” she said, as she walked up to the side of the tub.

“It certainly does Gretchen. I’ll be lucky if you ever come out once it’s your turn.”

“Since either Harry or Hermione is going to be knocking at the door fifteen minutes after I get in, I won’t have much choice but to get out and come and join you.”

After I had soaked my aching bones for five minutes, I asked Gretchen for the soap and washing cloth. Five minutes later I was squeaky clean, even my back, which Gretchen had washed and rubbed some of the kinks out of.

“Would you hand me a towel, please?” I asked her, as I stood up and climbed out of the tub.

“Here you go,” she said, as she handed me a towel, which I wrapped around my waist and then another that, I used to start drying off with.

I pulled the plug on the tub so it could start to drain while I finished drying off. Gretchen took the towel I was using to dry off with and dried my back. When she was finished, I turned around to face her, wrapped her in my arms, and kissed her tenderly.

The tub was completely drained so I rinsed it out and started filling it up again. While I was getting the tub ready, Gretchen got out of her clothes and wrapped a big towel around her.

While I was brushing my teeth, the tub finished filling. Gretchen stepped up to the side of the tub, dropped her towel, climbed in and sat down.

“Oh Ron, you were right, I am never getting out. Hang out the occupied sign and lock the door, would you?” she said, leaning against the back of the tub, neck deep in the water.

“Dear, you have about five minutes to soak before you need to start washing. That will leave just enough time to dry off, drain the tub and refill it for whoever is next.”

“Ron, would you mind …”

“Waiting for you in the bedroom?” I finished her sentence for her.

“Yes. How did you know that’s what I was going to ask?” she said looking at me questioningly.

“Just a hunch,” I said, smiling down at her. “But don’t take too long or I might fall asleep. It has been a very tiring day you know.”

“Ron, kiss me and get out of here.”

“Yes dear,” I answered. I quickly kissed her and left the bathroom headed for the sleeping wing.

Gretchen

The hot water felt so good I could have spent hours and hours soaking if I hadn’t had something better to do. I washed quickly and wrapped up in a towel as soon as I stepped out of the tub. I started the tub draining while I dried off.

My hair took just a few seconds and it was pretty much dry. I brushed it out quickly. I could get used to this I thought. Not having to spend a minimum of a half hour on my hair after washing it would save me hours and hours every month.

After I finished brushing my teeth, I took care of this and that; then I got out the negligee Madelyn had made for me. I slipped it on over my head and stood looking at myself in the mirror. It was blue, the same color as my eyes and reached half way down my thighs. The material was soft and sheer but you couldn’t quite see through it. The only thing that showed distinctly through the material was my nipples. I stuck my tongue out at them and grinned. I was happy, it was time to go and find my man.

Ron

I knew Gretchen would want a few minutes alone before we got into bed. I was guessing that my lovely little witch had whipped up something sexy to wear and wanted to surprise me. I lit the candle someone had thoughtfully left on the small stand by the door to the room. The night was going to be warm, so I didn’t figure we were going to need blankets. Sheets would probably be enough, but I set the blankets next to the bed just in case. When the room was ready, I chucked the towel I was still wearing and climbed into bed to wait for Gretchen.

Sure enough, fifteen minutes later Gretchen entered the room wearing the sexiest blue nightgown I had ever seen; of course, it was also the only one I had ever seen personally modeled just for me. She seemed a little nervous as she walked up to me.

“Gretchen, you are to die for. I have never seen a more beautiful sight in my life,” I said, my heart overwhelmed with love and anticipation.

“Aren’t you going to invite me to lie down,” she asked me very softly.

“Gretchen, nothing would make me happier than for you to lie down beside me,” I answered, lifting the sheet so that she could climb in next to me.

Gretchen

All of my bravado disappeared as I stepped into the sleeping room. I wasn’t scared or afraid that I wasn’t ready for this. I was nervous with excited anticipation and not at all sure what to say or do.

I climbed into bed beside the man I loved and looked into his loving eyes. I gently touched his cheek with my hand. Ron took my hand and kissed the back of it very softly, all the while our eyes still locked on each other.

“Ron.”

“Yes dear?”

“Do you really like my negligee?”

“I love it, you look adorable.”

“Ron.”

“Yes my love?”

“I have never been happier since you proposed to me.”

“Gretchen, I feel exactly the same way.”

“Ron.”

“Yes?”

“Does your hand still hurt?”

“Gretchen, you talk too much. Kiss me and everything will be wonderful.”

I did and it was.

Harry

After Ron and Gretchen had been gone for about fifteen minutes I asked Sirius and Madelyn if they would mind Hermione and I going for a little walk.

“I don’t see why not, Sirius answered. “The chances of two snakes lurking about are highly remote.”

“We will only be gone for about twenty minutes. By then it will be our turn to use the bath,” I replied as Hermione and I stood up and walked down the porch steps and out into the almost dark yard.

When we reached the ground Hermione wrapped her arm around my waist as we walked in the direction of the table under the oak tree. When we reached the table, Hermione turned to face me, placing her other arm around my waist and kissed me very passionately.

“Harry, I feel just a little awkward. I am very happy for Ron and Gretchen. At the same time, I’m envious of them as well. I know that just because they have decided to make love to each other, doesn’t make it right for us to do the same thing. It’s true that they are older than we are, but not that much older when you come right down to it. Damn it, what it really boils down to is that they are doing something I want us to do as well, but know we shouldn’t just yet. I go from being delighted for them one moment to loathing them the next. I guess that makes me a first class bitch.”

“Herm, stop torturing yourself,” I said, forcing her to look right at me. “You are not a bitch, and could never be one as far as I’m concerned. I feel just as awkward as you do. I too am very happy for Ron and Gretchen. I love you so much that sometimes all I want to do is wrap you in my arms and never let you go. Our time will come, maybe even sooner than we think.”

“I know it will Harry. Maybe this wouldn’t be so difficult if it hadn’t been for the very erotic dream I had about us last night. Harry have you ever had an erotic dream about me?”

“Of course I have Hun, I dream about you every night,” I said, putting my arms around her, pulling her to me and kissing her very deeply. We continued kissing each other for several long and wonderful minutes.

“Hun, you know what they say about dreams.”

“No, what do they say Harry?”

“Dreams do come true.”

“Oh Harry, I think I’m going to cry,” Hermione said, sniffing back tears as she laid her head on my shoulder. “Let’s go and get ready for bed. I want to snuggle up next to you as close as possible.”

“Well in that case, I better have an extra long bath, because I don’t smell too sweet,” I said, thinking back over the days events.

“Neither do I Harry. We should be able to use the bath as it’s been over thirty minutes since Ron and Gretchen left.”

We walked back to the porch where Sirius and Madelyn were sitting on the love seat. Madelyn was leaning against Sirius and he had his arms wrapped around her.

“We are going to go and use the tub now,” I told them. “We will make sure we are finished on time.”

“That’s fine Harry,” Sirius replied. “Madelyn and I are just going to sit here and enjoy the evening for a while longer. Take your time.”

We quickly hurried back to the tent. The bathroom was empty and the tub was empty. I started to fill the tub for Hermione. When it was full, I started to leave the room so she could bathe first. As I got ready to leave, Hermione wrapped her arms around me and kissed me as though it was our last kiss.

“Harry, I would love to have you stay and wash my back. If I did that, I would not be able to contain my desires. I am not telling you this to tease you. I want you to know how much I love and want you. I want us to have our very own special night. This night belongs to Ron and Gretchen and we should not try and compete with that.”

“Hun, I feel exactly the same way. Take your time as I won’t need all that long when it’s my turn,” I told her, kissing her lightly and shutting the door on my way out.

Hermione

I wanted Harry so badly I could almost taste him. I knew that if I let him stay and ‘wash-my-back’ there would be no turning back. But even more than I wanted Harry, I wanted our first time to be perfect. Something we would both remember for the rest of our lives as ‘absolutely perfect’.

I quickly undressed and climbed in the tub. It felt absolutely luxurious. I just soaked for several minutes then quickly washed my hair and the rest of me. Five minutes after climbing out of the tub, I was dried, combed and dressed for bed.

I felt more refreshed than I had in days. I quickly checked that tub had refilled before leaving the room. Harry was lying on his bed waiting for me.

“You smell delicious,” he said, kissing me as he got up off the bed to go and bath. “I’ll be back faster than you can say ‘Quidditch’.”

Well I could have said ‘Quidditch’ about a thousand times, but Harry returned in just under fifteen minutes clean and smelling pretty good himself. I was already in bed when Harry emerged from his bath and he quickly turned down the lamp and climbed in bed next to me.

“I love you,” I said, snuggling next to him, gazing into his beautiful green eyes.

“I love you too,” he replied, kissing me tenderly and placing his arm over my shoulder, with his hand behind my head.

While we were cuddling together Sirius and Madelyn quietly entered the tent, gathered their bedclothes and entered the bathroom shutting the door behind them.

Sometime shortly after that I drifted off to sleep safely cradled in Harry’s arms. It had been the most exhausting day of my life.

Ron (middle of the night)

“Ron, are you awake?”

“Yes I am.”

“I was just wondering …”

“Gee that’s funny; I was just doing the same thing.”

“Since we are both awake, is there anything you would like to do?”

“Well dear, we could try out some new Chess moves.”

“Such as …”

“How about ‘King ravishes Queen’”, I said rolling Gretchen onto her back, starting to kiss her neck.

“Oh Ron …”