For those reading my other fic I'm working on it now and hopefully will have it up soon.
If I owned Harry Potter I'd be touring Europe right now not working nonstop.
Enjoy!
James stood as if frozen, a small hourglass encircled by two bands of silver and gold glinting in his hands. It would be so easy, a couple of turns and it never happened. There would be no need to worry about growing up. No responsibility shoved into his lap that he was nowhere near prepared for. There would be no one relying on him, no one expecting him to have the answers. He could be James Potter, prankster extraordinaire, who went to parties and never took life to serious. He could spend time with his girlfriend, and take his sweet time to decide what he wanted to do with his life. And best yet, he would not have to tell his parents that at 18 years old, he was going to be a father. His father, almost 40 years old would not be told that he would be a grandfather for the third time. Harry loved his grandchildren but he did not appreciate being made a grandfather before his six older brothers.
The fading light glinted temptingly off of the time turner as he sat in the window seat in the Potter family library. This seat was always Ally's favorite since she was small even though she occasionally had to fight Rose for it. Having acquired the turner from his Aunt's study nearly two weeks ago, James had considered using it on his own, but that would have been disrespectful to Ally. It was her choice, her child too. So for the past two weeks, he had considered every possible way of telling her, how to propose such an idea. He had no idea on her thoughts on the matter as the eighteen year old had fled from the Room of Requirements, tears in her eyes, shortly after announcing she was pregnant. She had then proceeded to ignore him, an easy feat as he was doing the same.
Their families worried a bit as he an Ally had always been good friends but they had left it for him and Ally to sort through. Neither her family nor his had known their friendship had shifted into a relationship nearly a year ago. They had gotten together at the start of summer, after sixth year, when Ally's idiot boyfriend had slept with another girl, a scene she had witnessed. She had fled to James' home, and spent the night wrapped in his arms. The next morning the other Potters assumed she had crashed in one of the guest rooms that usually had one family member or another occupying it, when she did not want to wake one of the girls. They happily let them assume, not bothering to correct them. A week later they had went on their first date. A small smile crossed James' lips as her remember that disaster. Merlin only knows how he got so lucky. He wondered idly if this was how his parents felt, how his aunts and uncles felt. Seventh year had a blissful year of secret meetings, passed notes and stolen kisses. Shortly before graduation, they had begun sharing a bed whenever they could disappear long enough without raising suspicions. Just weeks before graduation, barely two months before their futures were to begin; all plans were violently derailed in one brief, awkward late-night meeting.
The door open slowly and James stood placing the turner next to him, knowing it would be Ally as the rest of the Potters were at the Burrow for the weekly family dinner. A slim willowy figure slipped into the room, her long black hair in a plait down her back. Her hair, inherited from her grandmother Alice, was one of his favorite features along with her shining gray-blue eyes, a combination from her grams and her mother, Luna. She had a lot of features from Neville but the way she carried herself screamed Lovegood. Her arms wrapped around him as she slammed into him, forcing him to sit. Now at nine weeks pregnant, James could feel a small bump. His heart jumped, his child, that little bump was his baby. A weird surge of pride coursed through him as he held her close, his child and his girl.
"Sshh, Ally. It's alright. I'm sorry I didn't say anything, didn't write or call. Forgive me love?" James whispered softly, his hands rubbing comforting circles on her back.
"Only if you forgive me, I shouldn't have just run away. It's not like I gave you a chance to say anything." Her wide gray-blue eyes bore into his hazel ones and he could see the barley contained terror in them. He nodded his assent, giving her a quick peck. "We are alright," she said with a sigh, tension leaving her body.
"Of course Ally. I love you, no matter what." James whispered softly as she extradited herself from his grasp. She played with the end of her braid as she began to pace, her face contorted with worry.
"I don't know if I can do this Jamie. I can't be a mother at 18. I just finished my Newts. I was accepted into Healer Academy, the one in Germany; the one that Aunt Hermione would have given her right arm to get into. I don't know if I can sacrifice it all for our child Jamie. I would be all alone-" his glared caused her to pause both her ranting and pacing. "We," she corrected before resuming her back and forth motion, "would be all alone. No support. Just us Jamie, or we stay here and then I end up resenting both of you. That would kill me. Can we even give this child a good life, I mean look at how Maddie struggles. I mean the trust funds can only last so long, not that Uncle Harry or my father will let us simply live off of our trusts, and having to balance school, work, a child… Even with Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry and my parents helping they are the grandparents. We would be expected to raise this child, ensure its safety, that it has a warm, loving roof over its head. It's not like we can just live with your parents forever. What if I'm a horrible mother?" The last line broke her, her voice losing its hysterical edge and sounding absolutely defeated.
James went to her, taking both of her hands into his. "It is alright, if you want to keep the baby, we'll make it work. We'll both learn to be parents and our parents will help. We can use your trust for your school. I'll find work in Germany, learn German and work in the muggle world if I must, to keep up a steady income. When your due, I'm sure your professors will work with you. Maybe send you the work so you can have some maternity leave. Our parents will help, after they finish screaming. We could do it if you want, or there is always adoption, or…" he trailed off, unsure. The more he thought about it the less he wanted to do it. He could just see a little girl with curly black hair and shining gray-blue eyes.
"Or?" asked Ally, but she did not need an answer as she saw the innocent time turner sitting on the bench. She picked it up, her fingers gliding over the surface, it would be so easy. A quick trip, cast the anti-pregnancy charm on herself, problem avoided. That one innocent word slammed a rock into her stomach. A child… their child… a symbol of her love for James was a problem. Right then she knew she could not do it. James was right she did not have to give up her dreams, just alter them a bit. Adoption was out of the question and as for the time turner… Ally ripped open the draw that had been built into the wall next to her favorite seat, dropped the time turner into it and slammed it shut viciously.
Spinning to face James she lost some of her fierceness. "I want this, our child. Do you? I'll understand if you can't be a father James."
James shook his head, "Silly women, don't you know me at all? You are not getting rid of me, not once I made up my mind. I more than want this. In fact," he said reaching into his pocket, "mind you this isn't because of the baby." Pulling out a velvet box, James dropped to one knee. And there, as the sun disappeared behind the horizon, James Sirius Potter asked Alice Kryshna Longbottom to marry him.
Alice woke the next morning to a comforting weight around her waist, a hand stroking the barley noticeable bump. She grinned as she thought of last night. She was usually a voice of reason for James Sirianna, Roxie and Fred, but last night she had been completely reckless. She covered his hand with hers, "Good morning Mr. Potter," she whispered, turning to face him.
"Good morning Mrs. Potter," James replied a silly smile on his face. "I can't believe you said yes, or that you then proceeded to drag me to the wedding chapel. How did you even know there was one?"
Blushing, she shrugged, "Mum did a piece on muggle weddings. Now we just need to slip it into the ministry records without the media throwing a fit or our parents finding out." At his frown she rushed to explain, "I want to tell them, I'm just… Give me a week, Jamie. Just one week to prepare myself."
He nodded, slipping out of the bed. Ally looked away from his naked form with a slight blush, before remembering it did not matter. They were both well versed in terms of the other. She slid out of bed as well, pulling some of her clothes from one of his drawers.
"I can take care of the ministry; call in a favor or two. And then maybe we can look for a place." James suggested, as he put his things in the bathroom. "Unless you want to live under my father's roof?"
"Maybe, just for a bit, till we have it all sorted. But we can start looking. I want a house Jamie, not a flat. And I think I want it to be in Germany, at least for a while." She grabbed one of her longer necklaces, removing the pendant and slipping her wedding bands onto it as James had done. "I really do not want to give up that school."
James nodded, having expected as much. Ally had always wanted to be a healer and the German school was one of the best and would allow her to study to become a muggle doctor if she so chose. Only forty students from every magic school in the world were accepted each year He did not dare as her to give it up. If he chose he could play quidditch anywhere, but with the baby on the way… Between training camp, practices and away games he would miss a lot. Not to mention leaving Ally to balance school, work and baby. Longbottoms and Potters were not raised to live off of their trust funds, but taught to work and save; living off the trust funds was never an option even if his father would allow it. He always had been a fair hand at charms and spell invention would give him interesting puzzles. Near the Healer's academy were several universities that offered masteries in various areas like charms and transfiguration and so forth. Spell creation would give him regular hours, he would not miss time with his family and Ally would not worry about him getting killed like his mother and Aunt Hermione worried about their husbands. James nodded, mind made up, "I'll start looking tomorrow." They kissed goodbye, Ally returning home as James had claimed illness to get out of dinner.
The week passed quietly, not even a hint of their marriage in the papers or floating around the ministry. They were debating if they would tell James' siblings and cousins first as they would be at the manor Friday night. One weekend at the end of June, their parents and assorted blood, non-blood family and family friends got together in remembrance of the war and people lost. Thankfully none of the Weasleys died, just some major injuries, but they had lost Remus and Nymphadora Lupin- Teddy's parents, and a large number of friends, professors and mentors. So the designated Friday night into Saturday morning was for stories, memories and getting completely sloshed. It was not the healthiest tradition, but in the twenty two years since the end of the war, James' family had never stopped. His father always said "to stop is to forget. To forget dooms us to repeat." Victorie, the second eldest Weasley, had went a couple of times, supporting Teddy as he heard stories of his parents, and recording all the tales she could. She collected stories for each person who had died, even those that had been questionable in their loyalties, and with the approval of the surviving family members, published it in her first book, Remembering the Fallen.
Teddy and Victorie had chosen to stay home this year, joining their younger family members at Potter manor. It was a slightly smaller gathering than usual as several of the non-blood family members, the younger Malfoys, Zambinis, Woods, Jordans and various family friends were staying elsewhere. Of course small did not mean calm among the Weasley-Potter-Lupin (-Longbottom-Malfoy-Zambini-Wood-Jordan) group, even with James acting more responsible. Ally did not mind one bit, as the craziness screamed "home". And Uncle Harry's home was always the worst. Between the huge pool with waterfall and slide, hot tub, quidditch pitch, stables, tennis courts, and the big screen TV and state of the art sound equipment and the latest game systems, his house always had a crowd. Not to mention his cooking rivaled Mrs. Weasley's cooking. It was a rare week when he was not yelling if people ever went home, although he never managed to say it in earnest. Heck, half the family-blood and adopted- had their own rooms when they stayed, usually shared with one or two of their cousins.
Only blood family were staying at Potter Manor this year, with the exception of Scorpius Malfoy, Alice Longbottom and Teddy Lupin. Molly Weasley had practically demanded grandchildren and her sons had not disappointed her. In total there were nineteen grandchildren plus another 16 who while not blood counted as far as Molly was concerned. All had lost family during the war and Molly had stepped in, pulling her son's friends into her family whether they liked it or not. Ages ranged from 23 to 11, and there were two great-grandchildren age four and three months. Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny were not happy being the first grandparents in their extended family. It was weird Alice thought, after years of referring to them as aunt and uncle, they were now her in-laws. Little fists brought her out of her musings. Grinning she pulled her niece, four year old Ava Potter into her lap. Neither her father nor her half-brother Daniel's father had stuck around long. It was a good thing they truly disappeared because her father-in-law would have torn them to shreds. If he ever learned what she and James had considered doing… The mere thought terrified her. Little hands tugged on her sleeve wanting attention, which Ally gave, happy to distract herself from the news they had to share soon as she was approaching her fourth month of pregnancy and baggy clothes would only work for so much longer.
James smiled watching Ava and Ally. He could not help thinking how it would be their child she was cuddling soon.
"Oi, James!" Turning to his cousin and partner-in-crime, Fred, James raised his eyes in question. "Potions lab?" his cousin questioned with a grin that terrified most people. James agreed, calling for their sisters Roxie and Sirianna. Rose and Albus rolled their eyes, as they along with Scorpius restrained from yelling for everyone to take cover. Al liked pranks as well but he or Lily handled the potions. There was a reason James was typically banned from the lab, usually by Lily, that reason being explosions that made even his Uncles Fred and George nervous. Lily, who was actually winning against Hugo at chess, decided she could check on James in a minute, after all the twenty minutes it took to finish the game surely was only time for a minor explosion not an utter catastrophe. Oh, how she would come to love and regret that decision.
With the main trouble makers, but certainly not the only ones, gone the common room seemed almost quiet, a thought that terrified most Weasleys or Potters. Silence was the quiet before the storm or in most instances the screaming mums. Glancing around the room while Hugo planned his next move, she took a mental roll of the people present. In her family a running head count was necessary for the moment disaster occurred as it inevitably would.
Starting with the eldest, she accounted for her cousins and siblings: Audrianna Regina Weasley, her Uncle Charlie's daughter was in the library studying for her healers' exam. Her oldest sister Maddelyn Grace Potter was upstairs with her son Daniel, getting ready to go out, probably on a date Daddy would not approve of. Teddy and Vikki had disappeared among wolf whistles to have some alone time. James Sirius, Sirianna Renee Potter and Fredrick Michael and Roxanne Jeanette Weasley were doing something no one wanted to think about in the potion's lab. If her beautiful red hair changed colors again she would kill her brother. Mirianna Elizabeth, Uncle Fred and Aunt Angelina's daughter was arguing about quidditch statistics with her younger sister Katherine Jade. Charlotte Antoinette, Charlie's youngest daughter traded looks with Bill's son, Luis Arthur, trying to stay neutral. Mirí and Katie could go on forever and neither Luis nor Chara wanted to be sucked in. That lasted until the wasps were brought into the argument and Chara had to defend her team. Al and Rose had disappeared and were either finding trouble, causing trouble, researching trouble or eating the last of the treacle tart before her Dad could eat it all. As Scorpius was not in the room and Hugo was, Lily put her money on finding trouble. She ducked to the side as a spell shot by her, Hugo remaining completely unfazed, as her older cousins' quidditch argument turned violent. Molly Michelle Weasley and Lucy Anne Weasley sat in the corner with Tony, Uncle Charlie's son, who was regaling tales of Hogwarts to the almost 11 year old Lucy Weasley. Ava Potter, Lily's niece listened wide eyed from the lap of Alice Longbottom, a non-blood family member she had grown up seeing as a sort of sister. Lily was sure something was going on with her and Jamie though because her brother had hardly looked away from Ally all night. She would not mind Alice becoming her sister for real. Maybe Ally could reign in James like her grandmum Lily had with Grandpa James.
She was pulled from her thoughts as Hugo crowed, "Checkmate. Sorry Lils not this time."Lily shrugged she had to check on James anyway, and Merlin knows only Uncle Ron stood a chance at beating Hugo. Getting up, she headed for her favorite room, the potion's lab, trying to remember what was causing the uneasy feeling in her stomach. She had forgotten something, but what was it. As she neared the steps leading down to the basement she heard her brother curse.
"Those are Lily's, aren't they?" ask Roxanne her voice a combination of mirth and terror. "You know she is going to kill you."
Hit with a lightning bolt of realization, Lily began to shake. Her shoes, he destroyed her brand new Italian shoes that had taken weeks of pleading to get her father to buy her. The same ones she had planned to wear on her date tomorrow night. He was dead. She walked down stairs, sparing only a moment to make sure she was right. "JAMES SIRIUS POTTER! You bastard," she screamed, lunging for him. James took off Lily close on his heels.
Upstairs, Hugo and Rose did not even look up from the treacle tart they were inhaling. Fights between the Potter siblings, especially James and Lily, were common. It would be more concerning if there was silence as that would mean Lily succeeded in killing him, or worse another prank war. Of course being a Weasley she had pulled her fair share, but Rose preferred to be able to go to sleep without having to lock down her room. Maddelyn Potter appeared holding two outfits diverting Rose's attention. Neither outfit was something Uncle Harry would approve of his 22 year old daughter wearing, although Aunt Ginny might have gone for the dark green strapless dress. Maddie was in the midst of asking Rose which she thought was a better date outfit when Lily and James came up from the basement. A collision threw one outfit in the direction of the fireplace and the other met the pumpkin juice from the container that had been in Hugo's hand.
Motion stopped at once as Lily and James looked fearfully towards their older sister. Maddie's eyes moved slowly between the burning green silk dress and the once white corseted, satin and lace dress. Those had been her two indulgences, the two things where she would spend more money on herself than on her children for the entire year. And that material… no spell could fix the damages done to them. Her lips pulled into a thin line, a look James knew all too well from Minerva McGonagall. "James Sirius Potter," she whispered softly in the same deadly whisper their father had, "YOU ARE DEAD!" The scream that tore from her lips proved that while she may look like Harry Potter's daughter, she had her mother Ginevra's lungs and temper. Unlike her father her cold whisper was a precursor, a warning to take cover. Where as if her Dad's temper had reached icy whisper level, so termed by the twin sets who due to constant trouble making had found it imperative to make a system to indicate danger levels, the person it was directed to could give up all hope. Harry Potter ranting and raving was bad, icy whisper he was pissed well beyond control.
Maddie's curly black hair fanned out behind her as she spun on her heel in the direction of her brother. Her blue eyes flashed dangerously as her muscles tightened preparing to spring. The feral growl that rose from her diaphragm seemed to awaken James as he dashed for the stairs. His sisters would not literally kill him, but they would deliver a world of pain. Lily, the slightly sadistic slytherin that she was, was always ready for a good fight. She gave a joyful chuckle before sprinting after her siblings.
Rose and Hugo went to clean up the mess, and put out the dress, as their cousins left in a gust of air. The door opened as Chara, Katie, Luis and Mirí came in, curious. "What was it this time?" Chara asked, blue eyes sparkling with mirth.
Rose indicated the ruined dresses and a smoking silver Italian shoe that Roxie had entered the room holding. "The shoes were victims of our potion, but we didn't ruin the dresses. That was just bad luck." Roxie told them, sweeping dark auburn curls over her shoulder. "Perhaps we should make sure Maddie leaves him breathing. Those are rather expensive dresses. Plus if Dría and Al are disturbed in the library you know it won't be pretty."
"Nah," Siri said with a dismissive wave of her hand, "James will be alright. My twin will just thoroughly hexed, as he should be since he didn't listen. We should play some quidditch 'fore the sun sets." There was a loud crash and a few cries of pain upstairs but the others ignored it, deciding quiddtch was a better idea than getting into the middle of a Potter fight. They quickly divided the teams: Hugo- keeper, Katie- seeker, and Sirianna and Roxie- chaser. That left Mirí as keeper, Rose as seeker, Fred and Chara as chaser. Luis would keep score and make sure there was no cheating. They moved to get the things from the hallway closet, dragging out the trunk where the balls were stored, when they heard a gasp. They all looked to Siri, who was starring open mouthed at the row of beater bats. There were two spares and one custom, individual one for those who played beater. Nothing seemed out of place, Siri's bat was hanging right next to Dom and Vicki's blue and silver bats where it always hung. Unless it was the fact that the normally black bat was bright pink but that would not usually be enough to upset Siri. "That bastard is going to pay for ruining my bat," she seethed, storming away supposedly to join her sisters' attempt to kill James. With a shrug Luis took Siri's place.
The league standard pitch, a gift from Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny, was set up just as the pitch for the world cup; all the standard wards and the exact hoops plus a few safety charms. Because of Ginny they could play day or night as the pitch had lights and seating for those who wanted to watch. Their brooms, all top of the line nimbus' firebolts' and cleansweeps', were graciously given by Fred Sr., Alicia, Angelina, and George. The remaining equipment had been bought as Christmas and birthday gifts through the years, until much to Hermione's horror, there was a complete set of balls, gloves and bats in every Weasley and Potter home.
Luis won the coin flip so his side started with the quaffle. The game had been going for about an hour when the wind started picking up, nearly knocking Rose from her broom. The sky was turning gray at an unnatural sped. She yelled a warning to the family, meeting them at the center of the pitch. "Something's wrong. This storm is just unnatural. We should go in-," Several loud voices protested. Rose rolled her eyes; it was still just a game. "120 to 150, ball in Luis' possession, I know. I'll record it we can pick up after the storm subsides." A crash of thunder stopped all arguments.
"Damn it," Luis cursed, stupid summer storm. His team had been winning. Putting their things back, they joined Alice, Ava, Lucy, Molly and Tony.
"Story time?" asked Fred. Roxie rolled her eyes but indulged her brother's need for attention and drama. The story managed, as most of Fred's did, to devolve into a tickle/pillow fight that destroyed the living room. Not that anyone was paying attention to that detail.
Meanwhile, Albus was rocking his 3 month old nephew while softly reading a book on time travel theories. It was a topic that always started a fight between him and Rose. She believed in a closed time-circle that could not branch while he was partial to the concept of a fluid time-circle. Essentially he believed it was possible for a time traveler to create an alternate universe and still return to their original time. Like if he saved his grandparents, there would be a time where they continued to exist and his time where they did not. Rose believed it would lead in some world ending catastrophe. But then it formed a paradox of when it came into being which was where Rose found most of the problems with the latest time theories. "Which is just silly, isn't it Daniel?"The baby looked at him wide eyed. "Of course Rose is probably right, but I can hope there's a time where Dad grew up with them, can't I? One where Uncle Percy still has use of his legs? Or where Teddy's mum and Dad are alive?" The little one gurgled happily and Al grinned, whishing his nephew was old enough to understand. He took no notice of the glowing light by the window seat, settling Daniel a little more comfortable so the kid could sleep and he could read.
Dría, who had been unintentionally eavesdropping as she took a break from studying, grinned. Only Al would read a three month old a book on time travel. But then Daniel was one of the few that stayed awake and appeared to calmly listen no matter what Al read to him. A scream was heard as James ran by for the third time, chased by his three sisters. Dría shook her head, only her family found this normal. With a sigh she picked up the book on potions, poisons and curses, immersing herself in the knowledge. Focused as she was she did not notice the light emanating from the window's seats drawer growing steadily brighter nor the red haired woman slowly making her way to the manor.
Dominique Leanne Weasley made her way up the path to her Uncle Harry's house. When she had discovered she was pregnant in December, he had helped her escape. She had stayed with a tutor in the mountains of Montana in the States. It was gorgeous and Merlin knows she was going to beg to vacation there, but her child like the rest of the family would be born on English soil. She paused as the sun disappeared. Looking up, her eyes widened. She had been doing some independent studies on time travel spells and their stability. This looked like a spell was about to collapse in on itself. The clouds overhead were growing increasingly dark at an abnormal rate and the lightning looked wrong. A bolt of lightning struck, but instead of the typical white light, it shone gold. "Oh, Merlin. James, what have you done?" Dom asked in a horrified whisper, her hand covering her stomach. She fumbled at her pockets, trying to remember which held her cell phone that her Uncles Fred and George had created with help from her Aunt Hermione. Hands shaking she dropped the phone as it tried to send the text. A bolt of lightning blasted apart the side of the house, the library Dom thought, as she watched in fascinated horror. She barely had time to register the fact her phone failed to send before a surge of energy and debris slammed into her, throwing her backwards. Her head hit the ground and the world faded from her sight.
Across the country, in the three broomsticks, Harry Potter's head shot up. "Does anyone else feel the sudden need to check on the kids?" He asked, looking around the room at his various in-laws and friends.
"Your being paranoid Potter," muttered Draco Malfoy. Seeing the truly worried look, he muttered "Harry we left two hours ago, how much trouble could they have caused?" When Draco had chosen a side in the war, Harry's side, the boys had bonded somewhat. Lucius was locked up but Harry had spoken for Narcissa and Draco during the trials. Over the years a mutual bond of acceptance had formed, and they along with Blaise, Neville and a reluctant Ron formed an almost brother like relationship.
"My sons Dray. Ron and Hermione's. Yours. Fred and George's. Do I really need to go on? Or did you forget the howler we received when Al, Rose and Scorpius decided to fly to school on motorbikes? Or where James and Fred made the dungeons uninhabitable? Or the one that involved vats of colored ink and every school owl? I believe that was Roxie, Fred, James and Siri."
Draco held up his hands, "I get it, natural disasters are born from the Potter and Weasley genes. Between Teddy, Vikki, Maddie, and Dría, it will be corralled Harry. I'll prove it." Pulling out a cell phone, a muggle invention Hermione had introduced him to and Fred and George had improved upon, he called his son. When it came up as unavailable, he simple shook his head. It would not be the first destroyed phone. When Al's came up the same, his eyebrows shot up, slightly concerned. When the same message came from Rose's phone, Draco let out a series of curses that caused Hermione to distribute the sobering potions. Harry's phone was in his hands seconds later. Knowing the three Draco would have called, he went through the rest of the family that had been at his house. Only Dominique's cell came up busy rather than unavailable.
Work was distributed quickly. Seamus and Lavender Finnegan and Dean and Parvarti Thomas would make sure any rumors would not make it into the papers. Hannah McMillian would ensure that no rumors started in the Leaky Cauldron, a bar she owned. All the younger children would stay with Blaise and Daphne Zambini who would keep an eye on the wards around the houses for any signs of activity. Both would use extensive connections to check outside the country. Susan and Justin Finch-Fletchley along with Terry and Padma Boot would keep an eye on the Weasley's, Malfoy's, Longbottom's and Potter's, making sure they stopped to take care of themselves. Work distributed and sobering potions kicking in, the Weasley's, Longbottom's, Potter's and Malfoy's took off for Potter manor.
"How much trouble could they cause?" Harry muttered as he surveyed the grounds. The wall that had been the west wall of the library was gone, its remains scattered on the lawn. Ginny was wrapped in his embrace sobbing into his chest, unable to look anymore. Aurors were searching the manor, trying to determine if it had been an attack. Bill, with other curse breakers, was checking that the wards had not been tampered with. Family was normally excluded from investigations but Bill was one of the best and could maintain a cool head, unlike the rest of the family. Ron held an equally distraught Hermione, who had yet to look away from the library remains.
An auror approached slowly, dreading the moment he had to face the Potters. Out of all the families, the individual Weasley families, the Longbottoms and the Malfoys, the Potters were the scariest especially Harry Potter's ice cold temper. If he was mad, then he screamed some, maybe threw an object or two. When he was beyond reason, his voice dropped to a deadly whisper, his eyes hardened like ice. "Head Auror Potter, sir, we found indication of a struggle or fight." The auror gulped as deadly emerald eyes fixated on him. "There um… there is no blood or anything to indicate any injuries. No bodies have been recovered. The wards have not been tampered with and there were 27 people present. Those are the preliminaries; of course, we will be looking into it further. "
"Thank you, Auror Shields. You may go." There it was that deadly whisper, the one that could turn a man to stone. The same one that indicated the man in front of him was about to crack.
"Burrow?" Bill asked softly knowing that none of them, especially his brother-in-law should be left alone right now. "You are invited as well, Draco, Astoria, Luna, Neville."
The blond and brunette nodded their thanks as Draco gently guided the Potters away from the house. Luna took a moment longer, "Be safe Ally," she whispered head cocked to the side, "Save them if you can."