Chris had been checked by Madam Pomfrey and given a clean bill of health. She prescribed him dreamless sleep potion and ordered him to stay in the Hospital Wing.

“But if he is healed he shouldn’t need to,” Piper had told Madam Pomfrey.

“He is still in shock from everything that happened. His dorm where all this roommates will harass him is not the best place to be,” Madam Pomfrey said crisply.

“We’ll take him to our quarters. He’ll have peace there. Besides you have your hands full with Moody,” she looked at an emaciated form slumped on one of the beds. He had been found on a magical space in a trunk in the fake Moody’s office. “Please Madam Pomfrey, we care a lot about him. He’s one of Wyatt’s best friends and his mother was Leo’s charge.”

“She was, was she?” Madam Pomfrey looked at Leo speculatively and Piper remembered she was one of the people who had aided in the adoption potion and realized that she also must have figured it out. This secret would be out soon. Voldemort must have realized too after Chris orbed out of his grasp so there really wasn’t much more reason to keep it a secret, except to avoid public harassment as long as possible. “Fine Mrs. Halliwell. But please, any question you might have, leave it to the morning. The boy is magically and physically exhausted.”

“Of course.”

After talking to Olivia’s parents and reassuring them that the man they thought responsible for stunning her and Fleur and putting Krum in an Imperious was detained and awaiting the Aurors and Dumbledore, they had taken Chris to their quarters, pausing to fetch Padfoot, and given him the dreamless sleep potion. He had slept all night long in Piper and Leo’s bed. After giving Wyatt, who was also restless, a drop of the potion, he too slept next to Chris in the bed and Piper, Leo and Sirius watched both of them, just as when they were little. Except now they weren’t and they were about to face dangers no one should.

Paige and Phoebe had orbed home to start reinforcing the wards around all of the Halliwell homes. They didn’t want to waste time. By putting Anti-orbing wards around that cemetery it was clear Voldemort knew that this time around the Wiccan World would not remain neutral.

Right before dawn Dumbledore and Remus knocked on the door. Piper closed the bedroom door gently and they arranged themselves in the living room.

 “Peter was caught by a stunner that the Death Eaters were throwing at Chris. Scrimgeour administered Veritaserum. They are issuing an apology tomorrow in the Prophet pleading for Sirius to show up so they can apologize formally. And they’ve formally dropped all charges. Since everyone knew we were together Scrimgeour gave the papers to me. There will also be compensation since they held Sirius unlawfully for so long. Fudge is blaming it all on Crouch to save face oh, and they decided to let your illegal status as an Animagus go as long as you register,” Remus explained rubbing his eyes. Sirius rubbed his back gently. The news of his freedom, so expected for, dampened by the fact that they were once again at war.

“At least he didn’t try to make it go away.” Piper snorted.

“He couldn’t with me and you there,” Dumbledore said and sighed. “There is also the problem that Fudge is resistant to the idea of Voldemort being back.”

“What!” Leo shrieked “He can’t-“

“No, he can’t,” Dumbledore tried to calm him down. “At least I hope so. There were too many witnesses. But that doesn’t mean he won’t try. He tried to make it sound like it had been all a mad plot from two crazy Death Eaters who were supposed to be dead. But every Auror in that graveyard saw Voldemort. Not to mention you and me.”

“Which lays a problem too,” Remus said grimly.

“What?” Piper asked.

“Fudge accused Dumbledore of trying to undermine him with your help.”

“How exactly did we do that? We helped the Aurors he sent in,” Leo said annoyed.

“Fudge is worried about what another war is going to do to his image,” Remus said disgusted. “That’s all he talked about. He even said it when Chris had been abducted, remember? He couldn’t have cared less for Chris, he was worried that The-Boy-Who-Lived being abducted under his nose would look bad. I’m worried Fudge will be more preoccupied in making sure his job is safe than in attacking Voldemort. He refused to send envoys to the Giants, to get the Dementors out of Azkaban and he came very close to wanting to lock me in-“

“WHAT?” Sirius shrieked and Remus put a calming hand on his.

“Dark creature, remember? But don’t worry, Dumbledore very subtly reminded him that locking up your lover after everything they had to atone to you wouldn’t be wise.”

Sirius snorted, “He wants me to agree that it wasn’t the Ministry’s fault, just Crouch’s and stay quiet so he’ll do whatever I want.”

“Basically,” Dumbledore agreed.

“And Crouch Jr.?” Piper asked.

“He was questioned with Veritaserum. He was the one to put Chris’s name in the Goblet and he was trying to make sure Chris got through the Tasks and be the first to the Cup so Voldemort could use Chris’s blood in the resurrection ceremony. He was also the one who activated the spell to break the poison capsule inside his father. He did it nonverbally as he was closing the door of the room we had put Barty in.”

“That’s also why he stunned his father. So he couldn’t talk,” Leo added and Dumbledore nodded grimly.

“You’re theory was right, his dying mother used Polyjuice to change places with him and Barty kept him under house arrest with an Imperious all these years. Apparently Winky, their house-elf, had convinced Barty to let Jr. attend the world cup and when she lost him in the mayhem and he managed to conjure the Dark Mark Barty severed the bond with her. That is when she came to Hogwarts.”

“So Jr. turned the favor around,” Piper said. “Was she helping him?”

“No,” Dumbledore said. “Since she wasn’t bonded anymore Jr. couldn’t order her, and Winky is good at heart. She cared for him since he was a boy but didn’t like the things he did. She loved him but knew what he was doing was wrong. He said he tried to get her to spy on Chris but she refused.”

“Which is how he never found out about Chris and us,” Leo nodded. “He said as much.”

“Yes, according to Peter, Crouch Jr. had warned them that there was some truth behind Skeeter’s articles and that Chris was getting very close to you. That is why Voldemort put up the wards. Which brings us to our other problem,” Dumbledore sighed. “Both in Peter’s interview as in Crouch Jr.’s the only people present were Auror Shacklebolt, who is a member of the Order, Rufus Scrimgeour the Head Auror, Amelia Bones the Head of the Law Department and myself. They have all given me their word they won’t breathe anything of what was said. Rufus and Amelia aren’t stupid they know that not only Chris is obviously important to this war but that if they want your help they’ll need to be in your favor.”

“Pettigrew and Crouch mentioned the fact that Chris is ours,” Leo stated shrewdly.

“Well, Crouch Jr. did and Peter just said Chris orbed out,” Dumbledore nodded. “But as I said, those two aren’t Fudge. They are planning for the war even if Fudge isn’t. They also plan for Pettigrew’s and Crouch Jr.’s trials to be closed, and if they are we’ll be in luck because even though the sentence will be public the records won’t.”

“Including their testimony,” Sirius said.

“Yes,” Dumbledore agreed. “And the people that are involved in the trial will be under a secrecy vow. They won’t be able to divulge anything. The problem is if Fudge decides he wants a public trial.”

“He won’t,” Remus shook his head. “That would mean not only bringing more attention than he wants to what they did to Sirius but he won’t be able to keep the war under the radar.”

“I’m counting on that, but you should be ready for the fact that Chris’s secret won’t be a secret for long,” Dumbledore said to the Halliwells.

“We already figured as much,” Piper said. “And now, really, it’s a mute point. If we can keep it a secret long enough to take Chris home for the summer so he won’t be harassed by the press and the student’s we’re happy.”

“Yes, hum,” Dumbledore said uncomfortably. “About that.”

“The last day of school Dumbledore, Chris will ride the train for appearances sake,” Leo said firmly. “Sirius and Remus will be waiting for him and from there he will be orbing to San Francisco.”

“The blood wards need to be renewed-“ Dumbledore tried faintly.

“Chris didn’t say much of what happened,” Piper said. “We’re waiting for him to wake to talk to him. But he did say Voldemort can now touch him because Chris’s blood runs through his veins. Which basically means you’re blood wards are null, because Voldemort can get past them. He can’t get past the ones in Halliwell Manor though. After years of getting attacked in our own home we’ve developed wards that will keep any being with harmful intentions out.”

“Fine,” Dumbledore conceded. “I didn’t think you would be amenable. Just had to try. You do realize what Voldemort using Chris’s blood means for Chris though don’t you?”

“Yes, that he lost the blood protection,” Remus said exasperated but Leo and Sirius were shaking their heads.

“Nope,” Sirius said with a smirk reminiscent of their pranking days. “That Chris might be anchoring Voldemort to life but now, Voldemort is anchoring Chris.”

“So our theory has just gained a lot more potential for working,” Leo matched Sirius’ smile. “We should do it as soon as possible. This summer. Sam told Paige the last time they talked that he was close to getting the information we needed about Lily. As soon as we get home, we should see how close.”

“We could also try summoning their spirits,” Piper said. “And you know, the Halliwells past generation spirits for a power boost wouldn’t be so bad either. Maybe this time Prue will get off her lazy ass and come too.” Piper said. She had gone past the sad part about losing her sister to the annoyed one that after almost two decades Prue had yet to come when summoned.

“If you need me for what you have in mind,” Dumbledore said. “Feel free to call me.”

Leo opened his mind to explain what they had in mind realizing Dumbledore must not have understood what they were talking about but Dumbledore rose a hand, “No, don’t tell me. I pride myself on my Occlumency shields but considering the people I’ll be dealing with best if I don’t know in advance,” the others nodded in agreement. “An Auror will be here tomorrow to collect Chris’s testimony. Pettigrew gave the names of who was there too, but I tell you. I highly doubt Fudge will let anything happen to his collaborators unless they are caught in the act.,” he said grimly. “He’ll do everything in his power to keep them out or else the fact that they have been giving him gold for his campaign all these years will look bad for him.”

“Yes,” Remus said angrily. “And Lucius Malfoy is so certain of that that he was there, faking concern about hearing there had been a spot of trouble at Hogwarts,” Remus faked Lucius voice. “Walked out just as we did.”

“I’ve sent Severus in,” Dumbledore said gravely. “I don’t expect him to report soon. Voldemort will probably test his loyalty.”

“Will he be okay?” Piper asked. Snape was unpleasant but that didn’t mean she wanted him dead.

“Severus knows how to play his part,” Dumbledore said calmly and gave Sirius who had just snorted a pointed glare. “I need you two to contact the old crowd. The Order needs to be reassembled. We’ll also need a Headquarters.”

“Grimmauld Place is empty if you want it. It’s clean. After getting rid of the locket Kreacher did a 180 turn. He’s been the most perfect and dedicated house-elf. With the protections my father put in, if you add yours, it will be extremely safe.”

“Can’t your cousins get in?” Leo asked and Sirius smiled.

“Nope, my father was paranoid. He was Lord Black, the Head of the Family. There are a lot of powers that our archaic society gives the head of the family. So he was afraid someone else in the family would try to murder him in his sleep. The house is warded against them. They can only come in when the Head authorizes and he has to authorize every and each time. And speaking of Lord Black, I think I’m due a visit to the bank,” he finished happily.

“Just let the papers run the story about your freedom first love,” Remus chuckled as he got up. “Sirius and I should go. Round everyone up. We’ll be in touch and I’ll be in class later today if you need.”

Piper and Leo nodded and Piper hugged both men, “Be careful.”

“We will. Voldemort has to regroup. He won’t start attacking yet,” Sirius tried to calm her.

---

Chris was the first to wake with a start. He was shaking horribly, having just seen the green light of the curse hit Cedric. He had been too slow.

“It’s okay, you’re safe,” he heard a soft voice say and felt arms involve him. He looked up and saw Piper holding him. She kissed his forehead.

“Mom,” he whispered snaking his arms around her and just letting her hold him. She just rocked him back and forth in silence until he calmed down.

---

It was the first time he had called her mom. She had waited years to hear that sound again, but this wasn’t how she had wanted it to be. She didn’t want him to be waking from a nightmare, scared out of his mind. She relished in the word nonetheless. He had called Leo dad the previous night too, even if he hadn’t registered it. In the heat of the moment, Chris had been the fasted and had saved Leo’s life, calling him dad for the first time. But the night had been so full of sadness, and nervousness and planning for what was coming next that the moment hadn’t been savored.

“Cedric?” Chris asked. He hadn’t the previous night, but honestly. He was so out of it that night that no one could blame him.

“He’s fine. He wasn’t hurt. He’s parents will take him home today. They didn’t want him on the Hogwarts Express. He’s just waiting because he wanted to talk to you. He stopped by earlier but we told him to come later.”

“He knows, I- I orbed an Acromantula out of the way- he saw-“

“We know,” she said calmly. “Don’t worry. He talked to us. Said he wouldn’t even tell his parents.”

Chris nodded into her chest. He raised his eyes a little and saw Wyatt who was still sleeping, then his eyes met hers:

“I’m a Horcrux.”

It wasn’t a question, just a statement. And it wasn’t desperate or even resigned. Just a fact.

She nodded not able to form the words over the lump in her throat, “You don’t have to worry about that. We are working on that. You’ll be fine.”

Chris nodded into her chest looking down again, “I know. I trust you,” and that little word, trust, meant the world to Piper, meant that Chris had accepted he wasn’t alone in the world anymore. “Wyatt knows. He’s known for a while hasn’t he?”

“Yes, we didn’t want to burden you. Wyatt found out-“

“Because of the bond we share,” Chris said. “I didn’t understand it before but I do now. It was always Wyatt’s presence that was stronger. S’okay. I wouldn’t have told me either.” he looked at her and smiled sadly, “I trust you and dad to get us out of this, mom.”

She smiled and kissed his forehead.

“I love you peanut, very, very much.”