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Stealing from Thieves

Something Wicked This Way Comes

I spent the first two days of new found and ill begotten freedom clearing away everything I had brought from the castle. I arranged the basement into a more than serviceable potions laboratory. I considered making a trip to Diagon Alley for ingredients and a book or two, but decided that I did not want to face anyone that knew me, which was everyone, and I especially wanted to avoid people that I might know. Instead I went to a Muggle bookshop and purchased some books that I thought Hermione and I both would like to read. I cooked a couple of meals and literally wandered around the house bumping into things, lost in thought but unable to find something productive to occupy my time.

Hermione had only stopped by briefly because she was busy with work and I missed her. There was a Hogsmeade weekend coming up and she was going to visit with Harry, but I was rambling without her. I wanted her to forget that we were attempting to be secretive and just come home.

On the second evening I decided it was probably time to visit with the Malfoys to see how Lucius was adjusting to home.

When I arrived at the manor significant alterations had been made. Even the outside shone with a sort of newness like it had been freshly scrubbed. The albino peacocks were strutting around in a garden cleared of snow and spelled green. The privet bushes lining the house were trimmed and flowerbeds surrounded the gazebo in the back garden. There was not a hint of the winter that lay outside the Manor's gates. It was typical of Narcissa to want summer all year long. The Ministry watchdog assigned to the family for the day was standing alert by the front gate.

"No press!" he shouted with his wand out as I approached. When he saw who it was he put the wand in its holster. "Sorry, but the bloody news people have been an absolute nightmare."

I made no reply to that. "Am I allowed in?"

"Yes, but I need to go over the rules with you. Let's see, they can't leave the property and I would not bother trying to magic them out because it would not be worth it to them or you, I guarantee, and I guess that's about it," he said standing up a little straighter in a feeble attempt to be more menacing. I tried to place his face considering I had taught every student that walked through the front doors of Hogwarts over the last eighteen years.

"John Finley, Hufflepuff," I said. "From what I can recall not much of a potion maker."

He puffed up even further. "I do all right for myself."

"I never said you didn't," I commented walking away. I understand that I had called many a student any manner of name that referred to substandard intelligence over the years, but they only confirmed their idiocy by acting as if being successful in potions was the end all to a successful career. At the end of the day I could care less if they learned potions, or even liked them. It was the select few that were either talented or determined that caught my attention.

Draco opened the door just as I came to it. Another Auror inside glanced my way and then went back to the book he was reading.

"I see they have sent you babysitters now that your father is here." I took off my cloak and Draco hung it for me. I was unaccustomed to seeing him act as host and servant, but found it pleasant to see that he could do both.

Draco glanced at the Auror and shrugged. "I hardly notice them to be honest. They were helpful in keeping the reporters away yesterday."

"Who manicured the grounds?" I asked to make conversation as we walked through the house. It was clean and polished just as I remembered it from the days when Dobby was in service. There was no evidence that Voldemort had once ruled there or that people had died or been tortured beneath its roof. Draco led me to the dining room where Narcissa and Malfoy were seated side by side at a newer smaller table. The room had been completely redone in lush greens and gold. There were long velvet curtains lashed to the sides of the windows with golden tasseled cords. There was long Oriental rug underneath the round mahogany table and the chandelier that Dobby once loosed on Bellatrix and Hermione was replaced with a much more simple and elegant crystal hanging candelabra. The effect was exactly the opposite of what it had been less than two years previously. It was not longer stony and cold, but warm, rich, and inviting.

"I did the grounds and most of the work in the house." Draco gestured around him clearly proud of what he had done. "Mother helped a lot as well. We both had to read some books on maintenance spells and housekeeping, but we actually had fun."

Narcissa smiled warmly and reached her hand out to me. She looked much healthier with her family back together.

"Severus," she said grasping my hand. "Welcome."

I kissed her hand and nodded. I knew she was saying thank you. Lucius stood up and shook my hand. He too looked better after only two days out of prison. His color was considerably restored even if he did still look half starved and exhausted. His clothes were fitted only exacerbating how gaunt his frame had become. His hair had been restored to its natural color with the green tinge of the ocean washed away, but there were streaks of grey in it that were never there before.

"You both look well," I commented. When I sat down Draco left the room and returned with a large tray balanced precariously on the tip of his wand. "What is this?"

"Its supper," he said pulling the large silver dome covering the tray away. "Roast beef, buttered greens, roast potatoes, and red wine jus. Since we're not allowed help in the house I've learned to cook as well. It is a bit like potion making. One little mistake and a whole recipe can go awry."

"It is a lot like potions," I said.

After we were all served I could not help but comment on how good the meal was.

"This is very nice."

"Draco has risen to the occasion regarding both domestic and business matters," Narcissa said. "Not only has he been teaching himself to cook and clean, he is contacting many of Lucius's old investment associates and attempting to restore some accounts that were lost during the war."

Lucius nodded.

"And if you do not succeed in rekindling your investment firm?" I asked.

Lucius took a long drink of his wine still savoring after all his time consuming little more than saltwater in Azkaban. "I have high hopes. I am going to branch out and learn more about Muggle trading so that I can be of service to witches and wizards with Muggle or mixed parentage who are looking for investment opportunities that can be transferred from one realm to the next."

"That is very ambitious," I said slowly actually admiring the idea.

"And if I don't succeed," Lucius continued. "Well, we have a lot of money still. I could retire now and live out the rest of my life in more than comfortable conditions."

Lucius looked happier than I had seen him in years. I truly believed that with enough damage control for his past deeds his ideas could work. Draco's face on the campaign would work considerably in his favor. I said as much.

"I rather agree," Draco commented. "I never really thought that the family business would be something I would want for myself, but I am finding that I enjoy it. Father and Mother will be free of house arrest in a year's time and I plan to use it to learn as much from them as I can."

Narcissa smiled proudly and patted her son's hand. Whatever faults the Malfoy's had their sense of family and loyalty could teach many a lesson. The conversation slowly drifted towards my dismissal from Hogwarts.

"I never intended for you to get sacked over me," Lucius told me over a glass of scotch in his study. Draco had joined us and Narcissa had retired for the evening.

I tipped back my own glass. I had been drinking a lot of scotch lately I thought wryly. "I never asked your opinion."

"Of course not," Lucius said. "That would not be your style would it? The Prophet said there was little commotion at the school over your dismissal."

"No, it was an understated affair. I never expected protesters in the streets," I said finishing off my drink. "With Minerva leaving as well there is enough other drama for those who care to focus on."

"I heard Granger was quitting too," Draco said. I had intentionally not mentioned her. Lucius raised his eyebrows ever so slightly.

"Yes," I said carefully. "She is going to further her magical education."

"Good." Draco offered to refill his father's glass, but Lucius covered the top with his palm.

"Why this sudden interest in the Granger girl, Draco? This is not the first time you have mentioned her."

"We have become acquaintances," Draco said boldly. "She befriended when no others would and saved our lives more than once if you recall. We are attempting to let bygones be bygones. It would not go amiss for us to have her as an ally either."

Lucius looked at his son warily. As much as he probably wanted a woman for his son to take over the new domestic responsibilities, a Muggle born would not be on the top of his list anytime soon, no matter how strong his determination to be open-minded.

Draco seemed to read his father's train of thought as well. "I'm not falling in love with her if that is what you are worried about. Although, a man could do a lot worse, right Severus?"

"Much worse," I admitted in a tone that I hoped would close the subject. The damage was done however. Lucius put the pieces together in his mind and turned a stony gaze in my direction.

"Now really," Lucius grated. "You can't be serious. She is almost half your age, a Mud- Muggle-born, Potter's best friend, and one of your students."

"She is no longer a student." I felt dumb because there was nothing else I could say to refute his other claims. They were all true, irrelevant, but still true.

"Are you entertaining the idea of courting this girl?" he asked incredulously.

I felt my ire rising. "I have entertained the idea and then some although I do not care to discuss it with you. I am not seeking your blessing."

"Severus," Lucius said shaking head. "There are so many women out there who would have you."

"Father," Draco admonished sensing my mood shifting. "We have to accept how things are and how things are going to be in the future. Hermione is my friend now as well, and while I won't parade her under your nose, I will expect you to be civil should I invite her around, especially if she is with him."

"Might I add, civility is the least you could do even if she chose not to be civil with you," I said.

"So you discuss us, do you?" Lucius said, his own temper rising. "Do you have a good laugh at our expense?"

"Of course not," I snapped. "Do not lose your composure. She is far too tactful and mature to comment on you when she knows what your family is to me. She is fully aware of what Narcissa did for Harry Potter and is infinitely grateful and would probably tell you so herself if you ever gave her the opportunity. She is far too trusting in the fundamental goodness of mankind and the strength of friendships to assume that you would step over me to harm her. It is probably her only fault, and not quite such a horrible one to have."

Lucius sniffed reproachfully and said nothing.

"I would appreciate your discretion on this matter," I said warningly.

Lucius waved me off dismissively. "You have it."

I excused myself shortly after and went home. I stuck my head in the floo and called for Hermione's rooms at the castle hoping I would catch her. She was sitting in front of her fireplace with a stack of essays perched precariously on one knee while she scribbled on them. Her other hand was absentmindedly stroking her gigantic ginger cat. When my head popped up in the fire she screamed and dropped everything. Her wand was trained at the fireplace with the reflexes and skill only battle worn veterans had.

"Only me," I said laughing.

"You terrified me!" She bent down on her knees so she could be more at my level. "Why don't you come all the way through? This is terribly uncomfortable."

"Tempting, but I should probably stay away from the castle for awhile. I just wanted to tell you about my evening," I said and proceeded to describe to her my evening at the Malfoy's.

In the end she shrugged her shoulders and tossed back her hair. "Well, that's that then. At least you have a friend who knows. My friends have not exactly been thrilled either, but they are coming around."

"If I had to choose, I would choose you," I said wishing I could kiss her without burning off her face.

"Let's hope it does not come to that. It sounds like Draco would not let that happen," she said.

"Probably not. I will go so you can get back to work. See you Saturday?" I was feeling better, but lonelier at the same time. I had to find my own way to happiness. That was my albatross and I did not want Hermione to know that I was feeling her absence and the absence of my old profession so keenly.

"I can't wait," she said blowing me a kiss. I stood up and stretched my aching knees. It wasn't late, but I went to bed anyway and spent a better part of the next two days sleeping. It was exactly what I needed. By Saturday I was feeling refreshed. I'd had a few days of dreamless sleep and uninterrupted peace and I was ready to make plans for my future.

I was feeling so good I was even willing to meet Hermione and Harry in Hogsmeade for a butter beer instead of having them meet me at the house. I arrived at the Hogs Head early to say hello to Aberforth and have a pub breakfast before moving on to the Three Broomsticks.

"Mornin'," Aberforth said wiping down a spot at the bar with a dirty rag for me. Soon I had a greasy full English breakfast sitting in front of me. It was perfect. Aberforth didn't say anything which was exactly his way. It was clear whenever you were around him why nobody really counted Aberforth. We passed small talk for about a half hour before the bleating of one of Aberforth's goats alerted us to another entering patron.

"Severus Snape," Septima Vector exclaimed upon seeing me. "He walks in daylight even without the protection of the castle."

"I would ask where you left your broom, but I always forget that accusing you of being a witch is supposed to be a compliment," I replied. It was good to see her. As fellow Slytherins we spent far too little time in each other's company.

She heaved a stack of parchment that she had tucked under her arm onto the table. She gave them a solid thump with her fist. "Calculations for the next generation of Hogwarts babies right here."

"Is it that time of the month already?"

"Very funny," she replied flipping over the top page on the stack. Each month Vector ran calculations on the pool of potentially magical children in the UK that Hogwarts was alerted of. The system was quite complex and woven together by no small amount of spells that kept track of the magical potential of just about every child born in the United Kingdom, and the arithmantic calculations Vector did helped to predict which children would still be around for school and located children born outside of the UK who might be coming in the future. It was an elaborate guesswork that was accurate enough to keep the school running efficiently with few surprises in its enrollment from year to year.

I nursed a cup of coffee while Vector pored over her calculations with one hand and ate her own full English with the other. After awhile she whistled and laughed.

"Now there is a child with a lifetime of burden ahead of him," she said.

"Sorry?" I asked.

She pushed a sheet in front of me. "Cleomenes. That's a heavy moniker if I ever heard one."

Septima pulled the parchment back towards herself but I reached out and snatched it from her hand. The name rang a bell somewhere in my memory.

"Hey!" she said.

I scanned the sheet looking for confirmation. There it was about halfway down the sheet.

Date of birth, 25 December 1998. Name, Cleomenes Wilkins, born in Melbourne, Australia. Hermione's little brother was magical as well. I relinquished the sheet to an impatient Vector.

"Problem?" she asked.

I looked at her in confusion for a moment before answering. "No. No, actually I think this is a solution to one instead."

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"Nothing. I need to be off now," I said. I paid Aberforth and left. It was far too early to meet Hermione and Harry, but I was hoping I would see her in the streets. This news was far too big to keep inside. If she knew that her little brother was also magical and was listed for Hogwarts, then she owed it to her parents to restore their memories. Clearly they were on their way back to England at some point in the future if their unfortunately named son was going to Hogwarts. It very well could be Hermione's influence that set the ball in motion.

I was able to catch Hermione at the Hogsmeade location of Scrivenshaft's. She always seemed to need more quills and ink. I met her at the counter just as soon as she was going to pay for her purchases. I pulled a couple galleons out of my pocket and plunked them down on the counter before she could.

"No thank you, I can pay for my—," she stopped talking when she turned around and saw me. "Severus!"

I pushed the galleons towards the confused salesclerk. "Allow me."

"All right," she said. I gathered her bag and led her out the door.

"Where's Harry?" I asked.

"He will meet us later at the Three Broomsticks. What's going on? You seem agitated," she said taking the bag from me and putting into a small handbag similar to her beaded on with the extendable charm. "Thanks for getting this for me."

"It's the least I can do. I'm not agitated, but I do have some news that I really don't want to wait on." I practically dragged her to the back of Scrivenshaft's and Apparated into my house with her.

"What's going on?" she said immediately.

I pulled her to me and hugged her and kissed her before answering. We both sighed in pleasure before she pulled away.

"Now that's taken care of so spill," she demanded.

I sat down on my sofa and pulled her with me. "I just found out from Professor Vector that your little brother has manifested magic and that her calculations show that he might attend Hogwarts in the future."

"My little brother?" Hermione said astonished. "He's only got to be two or three months old!"

"Not even two. He was born on Christmas day. Nevertheless he was on the list and you have to restore your parents' memories, Hermione."

Hermione sat facing the fireplace chewing on her bottom lip.

"Think about how difficult it was for your parents to watch you grow up not understanding what it was that made you so different, what made it so difficult for you to fit in when you were a child," I pressured. "You could spare them and your little brother some of that pain by being there to support him. I know you want to see him grow up."

"My parents were relieved when I got my letter because it was an explanation," Hermione mused. "I had already agreed to go to Australia hadn't I?"

"Yes, but this means you ought to strengthen your resolve to restore their memories," I said.

Hermione looked at me with a slightly angry glint in her eye. "I know I should, and I want to. I will, but I don't understand why you keep bringing it up. I'm the one who could potentially get hurt and I don't want to think about it until I absolutely have to."

"It was not my intention to remind you of the risks." I took her hand and stroked her palm with my thumb attempting to calm her with my touch. I felt her relax slightly. "I truly believe, Hermione, that the risks will be very minimal. Hasn't everything this year happened in an unexaggerated fashion? My return from the dead, catching rogue Death Eaters, freeing Lucius, and getting sacked, it has all happened with minimal fanfare. Perhaps going back to Australia will simply be part of the trend."

"Possibly," she acknowledged.

We spent the rest of the time before we were to meet Harry talking of our trip.

"Why planes?" Hermione asked right as we were leaving to meet with Harry at the Three Broomsticks. "I thought you did not like them, and it is much faster to use a Portkey."

"International Portkeys are nauseating in their own way. I don't know why I bought tickets. I suppose it is because you flew that way the last time you went, and if we are going to restore your parents' memories we should probably bombard them with as little magic as possible so they can reacclimatize."

"Hm, that's oddly thoughtful."

At the Three Broomsticks I was greeted by a few students and Professor Slughorn. He was clearly trying to recruit Harry back into the Slug Club. Ron seemed pleased which could only mean that he'd finally made it in. Harry was ignoring Slughorn. He seemed to be watching Ginny Weasley closely. She was seated at another table nearby with Michael Corner.

Nobody seemed particularly shocked that I was meeting with Hermione. I supposed her status as a Professor was complete enough that people did not really think twice of our acquaintance. Or, they suspected we were together and truly did not care. Once were all seated and people stopped coming by the table to say hello Hermione told Harry about her little brother.

"Well, that's really good isn't it? Not only do you have a brother now, but he is magical as well," Harry exclaimed. "I would be chuffed if it was me."

"I suppose I am happy about it," she said thoughtfully. "Oh! In all this excitement I nearly forgot. I have to leave right after lunch because I have a couple of detentions to administer."

"Really? Who?" I asked.

"A couple of Slytherin fourth years who feel they don't need to do their homework because I am not qualified to teach," Hermione said testily. "We'll see who is qualified to teach after they spend an afternoon scrubbing the castle the Muggle way, including the dishes and the kitchens. I already arranged it with Filch and the house elves."

Harry laughed. "I wouldn't want to miss that."

Hermione laughed as well. "I don't plan on it."

It was a good thing I was not at the school to discipline those Slytherins myself, really though I was disappointed that Hermione was going to be leaving so soon, but perhaps it was a good thing. If people were nonchalant about us having a meal together they may not be quite so if it lingered into the afternoon. When Hermione did leave Harry was still distracted by Ginny and he barely noticed his friend go.

"You know, Potter, Ginny does have red hair like your mother did, but that is really where the similarities end."

Harry looked at me slightly confused, but more hopeful that perhaps I was going to tell him more about his mother at last.

"For instance," I continued. "Ginny is shorter, spunkier, and more athletic, has brown eyes instead of green, and really does not look the same. I can understand why you feel awkward about the whole situation, but they really are two different people."

"In what other ways are they different?" he asked.

"Your mother was not much into Quidditch. It never really mattered to her that your father played. She was really good at potions, but only because I spent so much time teaching her. She was more like Hermione academically. Her curiosity about the magical world could never be satisfied. I don't know Ginny Weasley very well, but if you find yourself missing her, it really can't have anything to do with Ginny reminding you of your mother can it? You never knew her." I finished off my butter beer and replaced it with a stronger stout.

Harry tore his eyes off of Ginny. "Do you ever wonder if you had done as my mother wanted and left your friends if she would have wanted to be with you?"

"All the time," I admitted. "But she was not very forgiving of some of my other transgressions."

"I don't know if Ginny would forgive me," Harry said.

"There is only one to find out," I replied.

Ginny caught Harry looking at her and held his gaze for a moment. She shifted her eyes to mine and then back to her date's.

"Would you have asked her? My mother, I mean. If you had the opportunity to ask her if things could have been different, would you?"

"Maybe in the past, but now it seems dishonest to Hermione a little doesn't it?"

"Who knows? I still have not figured out what is honest or not. I say something one day and mean something else the next. Does that make me a liar?" he asked with intensity.

"It certainly makes you fickle," I responded a little worried.

"Can we go to your house? I want to show you something." Harry stood up and began walking out of the pub. I left some coins on the table and followed him out. It had begun to snow since we went in and I was chilled thoroughly by the time we were back at my house.

Once we were inside I lit a fire and warmed my hands.

"What is it, Potter?"

"Did you hate my father only because he got Lily in the end?" Harry asked.

"No. I hated him because he taunted me and made my life at school miserable. Getting Lily was only a small part of his wickedness that hurt me," I said honestly.

Harry stared into the fire. "My father wasn't evil. At least not evil in the way I always understood it. Like Voldemort evil."

"Evil is a very difficult and convoluted subject, Harry. Nobody really understands it."

"My mother thought she was able to detect evil in you, but I reckon you aren't evil at all and never really were," Harry stated.

"Lily's one true fault was misunderstanding evil, same as how I think you are now. Evil's origins are unknowable. She seemed to that I was evil, or potentially so, because my friends openly supported less than ethical ideas, but is it any less evil to be a bully and treat others as if they are meaningless and then claim that you are only good? Just as there are two sides to every coin no one can be all good or all bad."

Harry did not seem reassured. "Sirius told me the same thing after I saw my father taunting you during that Occlumency lesson back in fifth year."

I remembered that day well. The shame I had felt that day was unmatched by any other experience I had with Potter including the memories I gave him when Nagini bit me.

"Harry, if you try to examine right and wrong you meddle with their normal delicate balance. I read somewhere that it is similar to trying to see a dragon while it is still in its egg. You can't unless you crack the shell, and then it is no longer a dragon inside an egg. Once you attempt to truly see good and evil it is exposed and it changes according to the situation you put it in," I offered. "You are not still concerned that a little of Voldemort is in you making you evil?"

Harry rubbed absentmindedly at the scar on his head. "No. My questions have more to do with power than evil. Unless you can't have one without the other."

"Albus Dumbledore was powerful," I remarked.

"Yeah, and he kept a lot of nasty evil secrets," Harry retorted.

That I could not argue with.

"I said I wanted to show you something." Harry reached into the cloak he was still wearing and pulled out a bundle of cloth like woven water. I recognized his invisibility cloak instantly. He unrolled it revealing the Elder Wand, Dumbledore's wand. With a final flourish he pulled a stone out of his pocket. It was square and black with a crack in it. The last time I had seen that stone was in a ring that I was barely able to save Dumbledore from. Harry dropped the stone on the cloak next to the wand.

"How did you get this?" I asked.

"Easy, I remembered where I dropped it in the forest and went and did a summoning charm. It flew right into my hand. I know I promised everyone that I would leave it lost, but something compelled me."

"No, Potter, I have no idea what you are talking about. How did you come by it in the first place? That stone was in the ring that cursed Dumbledore," I said.

"You really don't know?" Harry asked.

I shook my head. Apparently I hadn't learned all there was to know about the way the war ended. Harry told me the entire tale of receiving the snitch and figuring out how to open it after seeing my memories and having those last words with his family.

I touched the Resurrection Stone with the tip of my finger and then drew away as if shocked.

"And the wand?" I said my voice cracking.

"I put it behind Dumbledore's portrait after the battle. I took it out a couple of days ago. Technically it belongs to me."

I had to sit down. In front of me was the Deathly Hallows. The fabled Deathly Hallows that Voldemort believed in but I really didn't and Dumbledore never once mentioned. It was useless getting angry with a dead man, but even from beyond the grave he never ceased to annoy.

"You quite literally are the most powerful wizard," I said to Harry.

"That is what worries me. I swore I would never put these things together again because I don't have a desire to vanquish death. I don't want eternal glory or to raise the dead, but I still dug out the wand and the stone," Harry replied with more than a touch of fear in his voice. He was still afraid of himself after all this time.

"If you have been able to resist the temptation to use them, then I do not see what the problem is," I answered.

"For how long do I resist? Could you resist? If I handed you this," he picked up the stone. "And told you that my mother would come and answer any questions you had for her, could you resist?"

I said nothing.

"If you could wear this cloak and take this wand and exact revenge on any person still living that might have wronged you, would you?"

"I would no more do it than you would."

"I like the feeling of power owning these objects gives me and I don't like that about myself." Harry took the wand and stone and placed them on the coffee table. "Take these. I want you to have them. Only I wouldn't tell anyone about them. I reckon there are still plenty of people who would kill for them."

He was absolutely correct about that. Unfortunately Harry didn't understand what that Resurrection Stone was to me. Was Death trying to find a new way to communicate with me? I thought I was done with all that.

"What do you want me to do with them?"

"Lose them, use them, burn them, I don't care. Just don't let me see them again," Harry said and gathered up his cloak and left. I was beginning to think that perhaps Potter was becoming a little unhinged.

I sat staring at the wand and stone for a good long while thinking of all the things I had to say to the many dead people I knew. I even had a brief fantasy of bringing back Voldemort just so I could give him a good telling off and then kill him again. Naturally my mind drifted to Lily and what Harry had said earlier. Did I still want to know if there had ever been a chance? The obvious answer was no, but a part of me did find it compelling to hear the answer from her own lips. I wanted to demand honesty of her once and for all. It would not have been fair to Hermione either. The answer would not have any effect on my life because Lily was still gone and I loved Hermione with all my heart. Still I looked at the stone for a long time and kept coming back to it throughout the night until finally I could stand it no longer and I picked the stone up.

A/N: I am so sorry I didn't respond to reviews last chapter. I adore them all even when I don't get a chance to reply. This chapter is dedicated to Severus49 who pretty consistently reviews every chapter and I love it! Sorry if the editing on this chapter is worse than usual. I really wanted to get it out before there was too much of a delay.