"How was everyone's day?" I asked as I glanced around the food-filled dining table of 12 Grimmauld Place.

     "Good," Ron said.

     Harry nodded and moved food around on his plate with his fork.

     "What did you do today, Baby? More coffee runs?" Draco asked Harry.

     Ron rolled his eyes and shoveled food into his mouth.

     "Oh, um...yeah. Pretty much." Harry's eyes darted around the room.

     "Okay." Draco looked at me. "What about you? Anything exciting happen at work?"

     "Well, actually." I took a deep breath. "I have something I have to tell everyone."

     "What is it, Mione?" Harry asked as he perked up in his seat.

     "I had a meeting with Severus Snape today. Of course, I'm not supposed to tell anyone about this, so you'll have to keep your mouth shut." I stared at Draco.

     He covered his chest with one hand. "I can keep a secret."

     "I know it's why I've decided to include you in this conversation." I nodded. "Bear with me, it's rather complicated to explain since I don't think I really understand it myself."

     "Just spit it out," Ron said, his tone made me wonder if he even cared about me anymore.

     "My parents are in Australia."

     "Really, that's brilliant. I'm glad you know where they are," Harry said.

     "Yeah, that's great news, Hermione." Draco smiled.

     My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. "Well, not exactly the specific location. The problem is, they are with Fenrir Greyback."

     "That's not good." Draco became paler than his usual ghostly white.

     Harry's fork froze halfway to his mouth. "I thought he was dead."

     "Apparently Greyback lived through the war and kept a low profile until recently. And to top it off, my parents can wield magic now."

     "What?" Weasley bellowed.

     Finally, he says something! I tucked some hair behind my ear that kept falling into my eyes. "Do you remember that Severus was hospitalized earlier this year from an attack?"

     "Yes, back in March or April, I think. It was on a job up in Norway," Harry said.

     "April. It was my father that hurt Severus." My stomach rolled.

     Ron kept eating, chewing his food harder and harder.

     Draco laughed. "You're barking. There's no way he did that. Severus was down for weeks from that attack."

     Harry glanced between his boyfriend and me. "I would agree with you, Dragon, but Mione never lies."

     "I believe her too, but I just..." Draco put his hands near his head and slowly drew them away, making an explosion noise.

     Harry smiled and kissed his cheek.

     "How can they use magic? They're Muggles, through and through," Ron said.

     "Severus doesn't know yet. But as a place to start, we decided to look into wizards who specialize in genetics." I informed him without using my condescending tone, even though I wanted to.

     Draco jerked in his seat. "Wait, I recall hearing a few of the elders speaking of Muggles becoming magically capable."

     "Really?"

     He nodded. "I thought they were drunk and making up tales to impress each other—Pure-bloods do that sort of thing all the time."

     "What did they say?"

     He rubbed his temple. "It was a few years ago at a party, so I don't remember the details. But Gaunt and Rowle's discussion revolved around this being possible through infusions. They never said what kind of therapies were used or any real details of the process."

     "Gaunt and Rowle?" I recognized the names.

     Nodding, Draco said, "Members of the Twenty-eight. Power-hungry but not in the upper ranks of the Pure-bloods."

     "There's a ranking system for them too?"

     Draco shrugged. "Of course."

     "Who's the leader then?" Harry asked then took a bite of his dinner.

     "Before the war, it was Greengrass, Lestrange, and Parkinson families." As Draco called off the family names, I wasn't the least bit surprised. 

     "Not Malfoy?" Ron asked with a childish smile on his face.

     "Of course we were, I just thought you were smart enough to know that without me telling you."

     I chuckled as Ron rolled his eyes.

     Harry stared at Draco. "You mean there isn't one family that leads the rest?"

     "Well, not exactly. I mean, can you imagine Father bending to someone else's will—other than Voldemort?"

     "Yes," I said with Ron and Harry at the same time.

     "Oh, well, he didn't, so..." Draco popped a bit of his roast into his mouth.

     "Do you know if any of the Twenty-eight are scientists of some sort?" I asked.

     "All of us are, to some degree or another."

     "Geneticists?"

     "No, not that I know of. But there are a few biologists in the mix."

     "That doesn't help much," Ron said.

     Draco pointed his fork at Ron. "It's more than you helped, other than clearing the dishes of any leftover food that is."

     Ron kept chewing, and they glared at one another.

     So, what can I help with, Mione?" Harry asked.

     Smiling, I said, "For now, keep an ear out for anything involving new magic users."

     "I'll do what I can and check the files at the Ministry about the Twenty-eight's educations and activities. Maybe there will be something there that leads us to your parents' new abilities."

     "Thanks, Harry. That would be great."

     "If there's something I can help you with, let me know. I do know a bit about the Pure-bloods after all."

     "Thanks, Draco."

     Nodding, the blonde said, "I'm sure Severus will find your parents and bring them home. He's brilliant at tracking people and in fights, after all."

     "How would you know?"

     "He and father used to practice to keep in shape. I learned a lot watching them clobber each other."

     Harry smiled. "I'd have paid good money to see that."

     "I loved watching Father get blasted across the courtyard, good times." He chuckled.

     The room went quiet as we ate.

     Draco said, "I finished getting the upstairs bathroom remodel done. The sink's hardware looks good in the copper color you chose, Hermione."

     "Yeah." Weasley nodded. "It's nice."

     I smiled. "I'll have to get up there and check it out after we finish eating."