A/N: The first part of the prologue is written in the form of letters. Any grammatical errors are intentional.
Prologue: The Sea is Calm, The Moon Lies Fair
Albus Severus Potter to Harry and Ginny Potter
1 September 2017
Hi Mum! Hi Dad!
Its my first night here. I'm in Slytherin. I hope no one is too mad. You were right. The hat didn't try to eat my brain. I'm never listening to James again.
Professor Zabini said he knew you in school. Did you know everyone?
I know some of the people in my house already. Art and Victoire didn't give me a hard time about it but James just laughed. That scares me. Don't tell him I said so.
Rose is in Ravenclaw, she seems happy. We didn't really have much time to talk because of the feast and then meeting our Heads of House and the Prefects and everything.
Almost lights out. Tell Lily and Hugo and Henry and Alex and Edward hi!
Love you,
Al
Scorpius Malfoy to Draco and Elysia Malfoy
1 September 2017
Hello,
I made it safely to Hogwarts. I was sorted into Slytherin as we suspected. There are a lot more people here than I had expected.
Professor Zabini seems interesting. I'm looking forward to his class. I'm not worried about finding friends. Headmaster Flitwick told our prefects that this was the largest first year class of Slytherins since Voldemort was defeated.
Remember my love to grandmother.
Your son,
Scorpius
Percy Weasley to Arthur Spinnet Weasley
5 September 2017
Arthur,
Glad to hear that things are going well your first week back. I know you're anxious to enjoy yourself, but O.W.L.s will be upon you before you know it, so don't lose your focus. Also, I have a few questions regarding the matter of your younger brother's aborted stow-away attempt. There are several places I might lay blame, but hiding in the luggage rack seems more your style. I think you might expect a rather longer letter from your mother quite soon.
That being said, I'm sure you're tired of hearing about how proud we are of you, but I think it bears repeating. Not just your becoming Prefect, though that's certainly an honour, but also the sort of young man you've managed to become.
Keep the firsties in line, but don't abuse your power. Look out for your brother and cousins. Don't let Gideon spend too much time shut away, and for Merlin's sake, try to keep Victoire out of trouble.
The twins send their love and would like me to ask you not to be too good at everything so they don't have to prove they're better than you. I've no doubt you miss your brothers greatly.
Your loving (and slightly exasperated),
Dad
George Weasley to Henry Weasley
12 September 2017
Henry,
You know, when I suggested that you hide in the luggage on the train, I was mostly joking. Your dad had a few choice words for me once he figured it out. Next time I give you an idea, you may want to think twice about it.
I know everyone's been a little preoccupied with the new baby coming, but I don't want you to think that I'm not going to have time for you. You're still my favorite nephew, and that's saying something.
Angie's in hospital now, sooner than we expected, but she and the baby are doing fine. Try talking your dad into bringing you and the urchins, I mean twins, round this evening. I've got some new sweets I want you to try for me.
Give my love to your mom and dad, and tell Ed and Alex to behave, at least for now.
See you soon.
Your favourite Uncle,
George
Dudley Dursley and Harry Potter
14 September 2017
"Hello?"
"It's Dudley. Let me talk to Harry."
"Okay. Just a second." There was a brief pause and the sound of Ginny calling Harry's name.
"Hello?"
"Harry?" Dudley's voice was shrill with panic.
"Dudley? Is something wrong?"
There was a long pause. "D. . . well. . . he. . . movedtheremote."
"What?"
There was another long pause, and Harry could hear Dudley's wife making funny noises in the background. "He . . . he. . . moved the remote with. . . with . . . you know."
Harry gasped. "Magic? D's a wizard?"
Dudley groaned. "I was afraid you were going to say that."
"Stay calm. I'll be right there."
Hermione Weasley to Victor Krum
16 September 2017
Dear Victor,
I'm sorry I haven't written in ages. There seems to be no end to the excitement around here, lately. Our oldest, Rose, is starting Hogwarts this year with Harry and Ginny's younger son. George is about to have his first, and Molly's in a panic. Teddy's started working at the Ministry, and he's doing wonderfully. Mr. Lathrop put in a very good word for him, and Teddy's endlessly grateful.
It seems strange calling the young man "mister". He's not yet thirty and has already made quite a name for himself. You would like Daniel Lathrop, I think. He's very charming and intelligent, and his ideas about equality for non-human magical beings are truly groundbreaking! I have no doubt that he will succeed in changing the world.
I've been following the recent muggle conflicts, I admit, with some apprehension. I know that you are well out of harm's way, but I still feel this violence is too close to Europe for comfort.
Do take care, and tell your lovely wife Hello.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Faithfully,
H.
Ron Weasley to Charlie Weasley
21 September 2017
Charlie,
How're things? Have the new dragons hatched yet?
I know that Romania is safe from these Muggle Conflicts, but be safe and careful. You're probably not anywhere near Muggles, so you're safe enough, but you know you're more than welcome if you want to come back to England for a bit. Hugo would love to see you. He misses having his sister around even if he won't admit it.
Rose was sorted into Ravenclaw. No surprise there. She inherited all of Hermione's brains. Al was sorted Slytherin. A Slytherin in our family. He's already friend with Malfoy's offspring. Could you imagine that ferrety little brat at our house for hols? I don't know what we're going to do with him. A Slytherin. Who could have imagined it? Herm says I'm overreacting. I don't think I'm overreacting. He's a Slytherin.
Speaking of Hermione, she's been spending a lot of time with this new kid at the Ministry. He's only 25 and already has people eating out of his hand. He and Hermione talk for hours. He's a Muggleborn, too, so they have that in common. Lathrop was a Ravenclaw, so he's thrilled about Rose. Herm says she's known him for a few years, but he's really getting noticed now with all his talk about maintaining Wizarding culture and heritage. Big talk from someone who's Muggleborn. He just goes on and on about wizards being peaceful and good. He must not remember Death Eaters. Right. Wizards are all good. So much better than Muggles. Everyone just laps up everything he says, like he's Merlin reborn or something. Even Harry.
Well, I'm running out of ink and parchment. Be careful.
Cheers,
Ron
Theodore Lupin to Daniel Lathrop
22 September 2017
Daniel-
Hello! I just wanted to say thank you again for helping me get this job. I'm not sure that I could have gotten it without your help (and of course some help from Hermione, as well). I don't really have much to do right now that's very important, but I don't know how they survived without their tea before I came along.
Hermione says that you're doing really well at the Ministry. I hope that you can find some time soon for us to go get lunch. We haven't done anything since I graduated with the exception of that dinner party, but I didn't really get to talk to you there.
I'm still dating Victoire, but she's at Hogwarts this year. Hermione's oldest daughter was sorted into your house. I don't know if you know that. She and Harry's son Al, who's a Slytherin, are the first non-Gryffindors in that whole giant family. There's a small amount of chaos about it. I just shake my head and smile. It can be nice for it to be just me and Gran.
I think I've given you as much of an update on life as I can without boring you in the middle of your crazy schedule with all of these ridiculous "Muggle Conflicts".
Your ever-grateful friend,
Teddy
Neville Longbottom to Luna Scamander
25 September 2017
Dear Luna,
Thanks so much for the rare plant clippings you sent! Our greenhouse here is excellent, but there are some things that just can't be kept in Scotland. My 4th years got quite a kick out of the Scandinavian Ice Weed, especially since it was growing right over the top of the cooler I was keeping it in.
Sounds like you're having quite a lark in Finland, though you'll probably be somewhere else by the time this reaches you. I do worry about you being abroad, especially with all these Muggle conflicts going on.
You have to come home for a visit soon. I'm anxious to see little Thisbe again. Who knows? Maybe I can convince you to give a guest lecture.
My best to Rube. Write when you can.
Yours Always,
Neville Longbottom
London, 30 September 2017
"I thought it was supposed to be another month," Ron grumbled as he, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny hurried past empty store fronts that glinted softly in the early morning light. The proprietor of a coffee shop, just preparing to open, looked at the curiously as they jogged past.
"They couldn't have kept feeding the baby much longer, anyway," said Hermione, tugging at Hugo who stumbled sleepily along clutching her hand.
Lily, alert and clinging to her father's back, asked, "Is Aunt Angie gonna be okay?"
"'Course she will, sweetheart," Harry told her confidently, hoping his voice did not betray how deeply he began to doubt it. "It'll take a lot more than an impatient baby to hurt Angie."
Ginny gave him a sidelong look, and he knew her apprehension mirrored his own. As they approached the disheveled front of Purge and Dowse Ltd., Hermione quietly told the mannequin, "Visitors for Angelica Weasley." The Mannequin beckoned them on, and they stepped through the glass.
As they made their way up to the private ward where Angie had been for the better part of a month, Harry thought, rather suddenly, of George and felt a pang of sympathy. He glanced at Ginny, felt Lily's weight on his back, and imagined that this, the things he loved most and had worked so hard to have and keep, were caught precariously in the balance, their future and safety in someone else's hands, his own hands tied.
Harry stepped a little faster.
In the waiting room, Percy sat holding Henry in his lap. Both their eyes moved steadily back and forth as George paced an uneven line across the centre of the floor. When the others entered, to looked up only long enough to acknowledge their arrival before swinging his gaze back to the ground and continuing to chew intently on the end of one finger.
Percy greeted them with a cheerful, and very tired, smile. Gesturing vaguely at George, he said, "He's been doing this for two hours. I think a trail's started forming in the carpet."
Ron snorted and sat next to Percy. "Heard from mum and dad yet?" he asked.
"Flooed them a little while ago," Percy replied. "Dad said they'd stop for supplies."
The Weasleys had spent enough time waiting outside delivery rooms to know that a bag of biscuits and butterbeer was a wise thing to have at the ready.
Lily had just dozed off in a chair beside the already unconscious Huge when Molly and Arthur arrived bustling disarray, supplies on hand. George stopped pacing to hug Molly and tell his parents, in a voice too exhausted to sound frightened, that they didn't know anything yet and the healer would be out as soon as they did.
Molly looked close to tears as she patted his arm reassuringly before rummaging in the shopping bags to pass out drinks and packets of snacks which went largely untouched. Harry saw George exchange a deep look with Arthur who put a hand on his son's shoulder and said softly, "Angie's a tough girl, son."
George nodded, apparently unable to speak, and Arthur went to sit on the other side of Percy, who was now busy opening a butterbeer for Henry. Henry kept his solemn eyes fixed on George.
When the healer, a surprisingly young man, stuck his head in half an hour later and said, "Mr. Weasley?" George jumped several inches in the air and got to the door so quickly he might have apparated. The healer stepped back and George followed him into the hall. Harry could hear the healer's low voice, occasionally interrupted, but could not make out what was being said. The room was quiet and tense, Molly wringing her hands nervously, until George came back in looking, if possible, even paler and more distraught than before.
"They won't let me see them," he said, angry and disbelieving. "It's been four bloody hours and they won't let me see them." His pacing resumed, more like weaving circles. He reminded Harry of a lion franticly stalking the perimeter of his cage.
Molly, Hermione, Ron, and Percy all seemed to start talking at once, asking questions, offering comfort. Molly stood tensely as though restraining herself from running forward to take her little boy in her arms, practically shouting that everything would be fine. Percy wanted to know what the healer had said. Ron cursed the hospital administration as Hermione defended it speculatively. George seemed to hear none of it.
Henry twisted his head round and gave his father an unreadable look, at which Percy's mouth immediately closed. Then, without a word, Henry stood, walked over to George, and firmly took his favourite uncle by the hand.
The clamor subsided, and George looked down, stunned. At a reassuring smile from his nephew, he took a deep breath and, with apparent effort, spoke. "The baby's born. Fred. He… He's so small. So tiny, they said. The don't know if…" He broked off, passing a hand over his face. "Angie unconscious. They said she's not breathing right, won't wake up, and… and… I can't see her, either of them. The healers won't let me in. They said it could be a while before they know anything." His shoulders sagged as if this speech had drained the last of his strength, and Henry led him silently to a seat across the room from everyone else. After a mom, he sighed and said, without looking up, "You don't have to stick around. Could be a long wait."
"Bugger that," Ginny said so forcefully that Harry started. "We're not going anywhere." She looked at Harry as if daring him to suggest otherwise.
George nodded and sat back in the chair so that Henry could hold more tightly to his arm.
Shortly after noon, sixteen faces peered thought the big window of the nursery at what appeared to be a small wad of blankets crowned by a wispy tuft of bright ginger hair. Everyone seemed awed at the sight and relieved to know that the little baby had inherited his parents' fighting spirit and was going to be just fine.
Hugo leaned with both hand against the glass, legs held up in Ron's arms. "Was I that tiny?" he asked his father.
"Not quite," Ron said. "Baby Fred's got a lot of growing to do."
"He's gonna be tall," said a quiet voice. George looked down at Henry who was still gripping his hand. The two of them shared a knowing smile and turned back to the window.
"At least this is the last one," Molly said. Percy looked sideways at Alicia who returned with a glare that clearly said, "No."
"I zink zat two ees more zan enough," Fleur observed primly. Bill made a sound of general agreement.
Harry seemed to be the only one to notice the silent conversation taking place between Ron and Hermione. Hermione seemed to feel there was something that needed to be said, something which Ron would have preferred not to bring up. Harry watched this exchange with some puzzlement and curiousity.
"Any more and we'd have to rent a space for Christmas," Percy laughed. A chuckle went round, and Hermione decided she couldn't take it anymore.
"He's not the last one," she said shortly. Silence fell as fourteen heads turned to stare at her. Ron gazed resolutely through the window. She turned pink and muttered, "It's due in March."
Molly's face slowly lit into an expression of brilliant joy. "You're having another baby?"
Hermione nodded and a burst of hugs and chattering and congratulations consumed the next several minutes.
When the healer came to say that Angie could have a few visitors, the herd of Weasleys split. The twins, Edward and Alex, conferred briefly and seemed to decide that Alex would keep watch over the new cousin while Ed followed their father, Henry, George, Harry, Lily, and Hermione down the hall. He grabbed hold of Percy's hand and strode with purpose into the large hospital room.
The suite was set up for two patients, but Angie was alone so there was plenty of space for her visitors to spread out and make themselves comfortable. In the far bed beside the window, George's wife lay back against a pile of pillows, pale and thin, her dark eyes open and alert.
Harry had known a number of strong, frightening women in his life, his wife and mother-in-law included, and most of them would feel inclined to back carefully away from Angelica Weasley. How she had come to be cursed had never been explained in detail, but its effects were evident. Harry had seen her without the scarf that typically covered her lower face, but the thick, uneven stitches that sewed her lips together still sent a chill up his spine. The curse sustained her, though she could not eat or drink, and she was nearly emaciated after almost twenty years of minimum subsistence.
George beamed at her, and her mouth twisted into a grim facsimile of a smile. Her eyes though, too wide for her face and little too close together, were glowing with genuine happiness.
She took a small piece of parchment from the bedside table, touched it with the index finger of her right hand, and held it up for George to read. In an even, angular scrawl it said, "You look like hell."
Ruefully, George ran a hand through his unkempt hair, still a brilliant orange now sporting bits of grey at his temples. As he sat beside her, Angie reached up gently to touch the week's growth of silver-ginger stubble on his chin.
"Gave me a scare," he said softly.
She touched the parchment again, and when she held it up it read, "It'll take more than that."
George smiled, and Lily gave Harry a satisfied smirk.
Half an hour later, as much of the family that could had squeezed into the room, which suddenly seemed much smaller. The rest stood at the doorway, chatting happily. In the far corner by the window, George sat next to Angie, cradling the tiniest baby Harry had ever seen and grinning like an idiot.
There was a brief flurry of activity out in the hall, and Bill turned round, evidently to talk with a passing healer. When he looked back in he said, "Something's happened. They're telling us to turn on the wireless."
"What do you mean? What's happened?" Molly asked as Ginny reached to turn the dial.
Bill shrugged. After a faint burst of static, the voice of the speaker came through sharp and clear.
"That's Daniel Lathrop," Hermione said, surprised. "But what's..?"
Percy shushed her and bent closer to the wireless. As the message of the speech emerged, even the sounds of breathing seemed to fade into tense silence. They listened, and Ginny turned up the volume.
Hogwarts, 30 September 2017
"Bored," Albus announced, flinging himself into a chair.
"Do your homework," Rose suggested, as she made the final corrections on her first Transfiguation essay.
"Already finished."
"We could go exploring," Scorpius piped up, a glint of adventure in his eye.
"We went exploring last week."
"Yeah, but everyone's at Hogsmeade. We'll have the castle to ourselves."
Al considered this, looking questioningly at Rose who ignored him until she had rolled her parchment and tucked it safely away. "We could go down to the kitchens. Uncle George told me how to get in."
"And do what? Eat?"
"Well I am a bit hungry," Scorpius said.
"You're always hungry."
Scorpius assumed an offended, haughty air. "It's only because I've a fast m-… meta-… metbee…. Anyway, mum says I've got one, so I need to eat more than most people."
"Sure," Al snorted. "Then one day you'll wake up all huge and fat 'cause you're metawhatsit's quit working."
"I will not!"
"Or maybe it'll get faster," he continued. "Then you'd be skin-and-bones like Aunt Angie."
"Who's Aunt Angie?"
"She's our aunt."
"Figured that out, didn't I? Imeant…"
"Uncle George's wife," Rose informed him, then added solemnly, "She's got a curse."
"Oh," Scorpius said, as if having a curse explained everything. After a pause, he said, "I think I've lost my appetite."
"Miracle, that," said Al, bouncing out of his chair. "Let's go exploring."
In the passageway, they found James and his friend, Colm Lachlan, heading toward the back of the castle.
"Wotcher, snake-boy," James greeted his little brother with a grin.
"Don't call me that," Al snapped back. "Dad said not to make fun."
"Relax," he said, ruffling Al's hair. "I'm just teasing."
Al looked rebellious but said nothing.
"What're you sprogs up to?" Colm asked with a smile at Rose who immediately turned pink and began studying her feet.
"We're exploring!" Scorpius declared proudly.
"What? Again?" James scoffed. "There's only so much castle to see, you know."
"We're off to say hullo to Professor Longbottom," said Colm.
"Oh! I wanted to ask him about our herbology project," Rose chimed brightly.
"Why? We're not due to start til next half," Al said. "We don't even know what it is, yet."
"That's why I want to ask him," Rose replied.
The five of them trekked cheerfully out to the greenhouses, chattering away in the cool September air. As they got closer, the sound of the wireless drifted up to greet them. Neville liked to listen to music while he tended the plants. But they could hear the voice of the newscaster, not the rollicking wizard rock Neville preferred, and they entered the building to find him seated in a wooden chair beside the radio, hunched over, his strong face drawn and pale.
The students slowed their approach, and James queried hesitantly, "Professor?"
Neville held up a hand, and the children stayed quiet as he listened intently to a few more lines of the report. When he finally turned to face them, his expression was heavy and grave. Unable to stand the curiousity, Al came forward to stand at the knee of his parents' old friend.
"Neville? What's happened?"
"There's been…" he began and stopped as though foundering. "The Muggle conflicts have escalated. They've… There was a bomb. In India. A school was hit."
"That's awful," James said, "But what's..?"
"A wizarding school?" Rose cut in.
Neville nodded. "The Hindi school in the south. More than three hundred students and professors."
"Are they alright?" Colm asked. "I mean, is anyone..?"
"All of them," he replied softly. "Every last… I had a colleague, a friend, who was a teacher. The school was leveled, completely destroyed."
Silence hung heavy with shock, the students struggled to understand the enormity of this tragedy, to grasp the meaning of their professor's sadness and grief.
Slowly, Neville spoke again. "This has never happened before," he explained. "Our worlds have touched, ours and Muggles, have affected each other, but never…" He took a deep breath. "I'm afraid things may be about to change."
Al opened his mouth to ask another question, but something on the wireless had caught Neville's attention again. "Wait," he said. "I think we're going to want to hear this."
In that same moment, as the students stood group around their professor, Al's mother switched on the wireless at St. Mungo, and all of them listened closely as Daniel Lathrop addressed the wizarding world.
"Today, the hearts of millions are broken. Today, an entire generation has been lost to a senseless act of violence, a blow struck in a war in which they had no part. Today, for the first time in many generations, the entire wizarding world is united. And it pains me to think that such unity may only come through our mourning together.
"In the midst of this tragedy, I applaud the witches and wizards here in the United Kingdom and all over the world who have so generously offered whatever they can to help those affected by this horrendous act. In this time of grief, we must learn from their example. We must see past the boundaries that have divided our world for so long and remember that the hardships faced by our fellows in India could be faced by any of us, anywhere, at any time. We must stand with our arms open, welcoming those who seek shelter on our shores. The doors of our halls must be flung wide, giving hope to those who have lost that which is most precious.
"Still, even as we work to heal this terrible wound, we can never forget the lessons it has taught us. We cannot forget that there is blamed to be laid, not with our own neighbours and leaders, but with the barbaric governments whose constant warring has brought this evil to pass. We cannot forget that, though we ourselves abhor such indiscriminate violence, the Muggle societies to which we are attached have no such compunctions.
"Even so, we are not blameless. No, we too are responsible for bringing about this brutality. For years, we have driven their cars, paid for their goods, engaged in their leisure, and in doing so have given precious currency to the very governments which have brought us to such evil today.
"For the sake of our world, for the sake of our children, we must ensure, we must be absolutely certain, that a tragedy like this will never happen again. We must distance ourselves from the Muggle culture of violence, from their perpetual self-destruction and from their terrifying weapons against which we cannot defend ourselves.
"Peace must be preserved so that another generation, a new generation, is not lost. Vivere pro pace, to live for peace. This must be our new way of being. To live apart from the cycle of destruction. To live for our children and their way of life. To live, every second, for hope and for peace."
A/N: Also, we're looking for a beta who can check for continuity errors and the like. We're fine on grammar and spelling, but it's an opportunity to read the chapters ahead of time.
