A scream rent the quietness of the large manor. Jezzy rolled her eyes. Sidra came running into the room, mud splashed across her new dress. She was in tears and sobbing loudly.

"Sebastian threw mud on me!"

"I see that." Jezzy said, sighing.

"Aren't you going to punish him?!"

"Sid, I can't punish him until I find him. Just go change."

Sidra stomped her foot and left the room. Jezzy stood up from the chair she was in and poked her head out in the hall. Sebastian was peaking around the corner at the same time and fried unsuccessfully to hide himself again.

"Sebby." Jezzy said in a tone of warning.

He walked out from his hiding place and approached his mother sheepishly.

"Why are you so mean to your sister?"

"I'm not mean. She said I was a mistake. That it was only supposed to be her and Xan"

"All of you were a mistake."

Sebastian frowned as Jezzy smiled and pulled him into a hug. "I'm joking."

"I'm not mean." He repeated.

She patted his shoulder and told him to go wash up for dinner. He scampered off to his room and slammed the door. Jezzy rolled her eyes again and stood up straight, arching to stretch her back. Nine years had passed since her marriage to Lucius. Her children, Sebastian, Xanthus, Sidra, and Drucilla, were so big now she had trouble keeping up with them. Especially since she was expecting again. She rubbed her belly and made her way down the stairs to the dining room. On her way there she popped her head into the Study. Lucius was sitting behind his desk, writing what seemed to be a very long letter.

"Lucius, it's time for dinner."

He looked up at her and smiled. He had aged well over the years. Even though he was over fifty he had the appearance of a man much younger.

"Coming, my love."

She smiled and continued her trek to the dining room. She heard a crash from upstairs and decided to ignore it for now. There was no way she was walking up those stairs again. Xanthus came running up behind her and came to a sudden stop.

"I wasn't up there."

Jezzy turned around and looked down at him. "Sure you weren't. Who did it then?"

"Dru. She said that there's a Bogart in the closet, but Sebastian told her she was being stupid and she threw something at him."

"You sure know a lot about what happened for not being up there." Jezzy replied, arching her eyebrow.

Xanthus had the grace to blush before running the rest of the way to the dining room. As she was sitting down all four of her children came into the room, each one yelling at the other for some reason or another. Lucius followed behind them and cleared his throat. Sudden silence. Everyone took a seat and waited to be served their meal.

"So, Sid, I heard you screaming. What happened this time?"

"Daddy, Sebastian threw mud on me." She looked at Sebastian and stuck her tongue out at him. "And what did you do to deserve that?" Lucius asked.

Sidra looked like she had been slapped and Drucilla snickered at the other end of the table. Jezzy looked down at her plate as it was filled and tried not to smile. Her family was crazy and she loved them all dearly. She decided to change the subject before Sidra started crying again.

"So, what have you three decided to do for your birthday this weekend?'1

Sebastian, Xanthus and Sidra brightened and started talking at once. "I want all of my friends to be here..."

"And we could have a scavenger hunt..."

"With loads of sweets and cake..."

Drucilla hung her head. She always felt a little left out this time of year. Sure she got her very own party, but her three older siblings seemed to have the most fun at their parties. Sebastian, Sidra and Xanthus were each turning ten this year and because they were turning a double digit, Jezzy had decided that they could do what they wanted for their party.

'Alright, alright. We don't have much time to plan this, so let's try and not make it too outrageous."

Sidra pouted. She always pouted when things didn't go exactly as she wanted them to. Xanthus smiled at his mother.

"I want to play a song for everyone. Dru and I have been practicing for a while and I think we got it down."

Drucilla blushed. She and Xanthus were the only ones that were musically inclined of the four. Xanthus and Drucilla both sang

3beautifully. Xanthus also played the piano while Drucilla played the violin. Sebastian was more interested in terrorizing the kids that came to visit and Sidra stuck her nose in the air about anything she didn't like, or couldn't do.

Sidra rolled her eyes. "I don't want to hear a stupid duet from you two."

"You're such a

"I suggest you hold your tongue young man." Lucius cautioned Sebastian.

He hung his head and started to eat. Sidra gave him a snotty look and daintily picked her fork up, testing the blood pudding.

After dinner was finished, and the plans for the party that weekend were finalized, Jezzy sent them to bed and followed Lucius to their bedroom.

"Good lord." She said as she plopped on the bed. "Those four wear me out."

Lucius smiled and kissed her lightly. He put his hands to her belly and felt the baby kick.

"He loves it when you eat." He said with a smile.

"Lucius, I don't want you calling it 'he' since we don't know what we're having yet."

He grinned and kissed her belly. She giggled and let him rub her for a while. She was about ready to burst; her due date was anytime now. She wondered what it was about mid-summer and her getting pregnant. July was apparently her fertile month.

After sometime Jezzy stood to get her bed clothes on and Lucius stripped down and crawled into bed. She marveled at how young

14and tight his body was after all these years. She got into bed with a grin on her face.

"What?" He asked as he pulled her close.

'Nothing. I just can't seem to get over how gorgeous you are." Lucius rolled his eyes. "I'm old."

She kissed his cheek. "Me too." She whispered.

They cuddled up together and fell to sleep in each other's arms.

The day before the party Draco showed up. He was going to be staying the weekend with them. Sebastian flew down the stairs and jumped on him the moment he arrived.

"Draco!"

Sidra and Xanthus walked down the stair and hugged their uncle. Draco hugged them all back, kissing Sidra on the top of the head. Drucilla came down the stairs behind her brother and sister. Draco pulled something out of his pocket and beckoned her over. He put his arm around her and handed a small box to her. Inside was a polishing cloth for her violin.

"Thank you!" She said and hugged him tight.

"How come she gets something and we don't?" Sidra asked, very put out.

"Because you three get presents tomorrow." Draco said.

Sidra pouted. Jezzy walked down the stairs and Draco looked up at her with a smile.

"Merlin, how many are you carrying this time?" He said with a smile.

5'Wow that never gets old)' Jezzy said with a hint of sarcasm. He smiled and hugged her as tight as he could. "Where's father?"

'Probably in the Study. He's been busy all week.' Jezzy made a face and rubbed her belly.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked.

"Yeah. I think it's gas." She said loudly so her children could hear. "Ew!" All four of them said.

She smiled and walked out back to sit in the sun as everyone bustled around the house, she drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Before long someone shook her awake.

"You shouldn't be so long out in the sun." Lucius said as he helped her up.

"Oh. I didn't realize I fell asleep." She said as she rubbed her belly again.

"Are you sure everything is fine?" He asked as he led her back into the house.

"Yes, but I think I need to go lay down. I'm really tired." She stood up on her tip toes and put her lips to his.

When he tried to pull away she snaked her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. He pulled her close and grabbed her butt.

"Uhg, do you two have to do that in front of the children?" Draco asked as the five of them walked into the room.

"If we didn't do this, none of you would be here." Jezzy joked and kissed Lucius one more time before heading up to bed.

She heard laughter as she settled herself against the pillows and closed her eyes. She loved her family and she loved her life. She hoped nothing would change.