I'm back! After way longer than I had previously anticipated, I have returned to fanfiction with a new story! To those of you who follow Phoenix Rising, not to worry, I'll write more soon. I promise. But until then, read and ENJOY!

"It's just two days Lily! Two! Mummy and Daddy will be back before you know it!" Harry pleaded to his two year old daughter, but his voice was drowned out by her shrill cries. "Please Lily? Hugo will be there! You love playing with Hugo!" She clung still tighter to his neck.

"You best let me take her, dear." Molly Weasley said, reaching her arms out to grab the screaming toddler from her son-in-law.

"Are you sure you can handle the five of them for the weekend?" Lily's going through that clingy phase, and you know how James and Al can get…"

"We'll be fine. Rose will help keep the boys in line, isn't that right Rosie?" She called back into the house.

"Sure thing Gran!" Said the red- headed four year old from where she sat reading a picture book.

Harry smiled and leaned down to give Lily one last kiss as she was still whimpering into her grandmother's neck. "Bye Lily." He told her, then straightened up. "Bye boys!"

He heard heavy footsteps as his youngest son burst into the living room at full force. "Bye daddy!" Al said with his face buried deep into Harry's chest. "Have fun with Mummy and Uncle Ron and Aunt 'Mione!"

James followed, though not as exuberantly as his brother. "Bye Dad." He said, giving his father a hasty hug before running back into the kitchen to play with Al.

….

"James Sirius, would you please stop tormenting your brother!" Molly Weasley said, rubbing the bridge of her nose impatiently. Two hours and James and Al had caused enough fights to put all her children to shame. It was always the same. James would pick a fight, then Al would retaliate, and it would continue to escalate until Molly had to step in and separate the two. Then they would play like nothing had ever happened. Ten minutes later and it all started again. It was a wonder that Lily and Hugo were able to stay asleep with all the noise going on.

"But Gran! Al took my action figure!" James whined, pointing an accusatory finger towards his brother.

"No I didn't!" Al yelled. "Rosie took it! She loves playing with dolls!"

Rose looked up at hearing her name. In her hands were clutched two dolls; a blonde witch and a Quidditch player. Her chin started to quiver. "I'm sorry James!" She cried. "But Wendy needed a boyfriend!"

James seized his figurine from his cousin's grasp. "Viktor hates girls. He thinks they have cooties!"

"I'm sorry!" Rose sobbed. "I didn't mean it!"

"James! Apologize!" Molly scolded.

"I'm sorry Rosie." James sighed, defeated.

Rose's cries subsided. "I'm sorry too."

CRACK!

The sound of somebody apparating brought everything to a halt. Al ran towards the door to let the person in without checking who it was.

"Why hello Albus." Came a pompous, yet familiar voice. "Are your parents here?"

"No Uncle Percy. They went on holiday. Gran's watching us." Al answered politely before scurrying away as quick as possible.

Molly walked over and hugged her son tightly. "Percy! I haven't seen you in ages! I hope you weren't avoiding me on purpose."

"Hello Mother. I'm sorry to say that this isn't just a friendly visit. I have something I need to discuss with you."

Molly looked at him expectantly.

"In private, if you don't mind." He finished.

Molly blinked uncertainly. 'Well, okay. In the kitchen." She ushered her son past the kids and into the next room, shutting the door tightly behind her. In less than a second, James gave Al a mischievous smirk and rushed forward, pressing his ear against the door. Al wasn't far behind.

Rosie looked appalled. "Al! James! Uncle Percy said he wanted to talk in private!"

"But Rosie!" Al whined. "All the good conversations happen in private!"

Seeing that they weren't going to budge, she sat down in a huff, though secretly keeping her ears wide open.

"I must ask you a favor mother." Percy started. "As you know, I have recently been promoted to Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic."

"Yes, yes, of course."

"Well, my first task was to write a report on a new piece of developmental magic." At this point Percy took something out of his pocket and showed it to his mother who let out a small gasp.

"But how did they… I thought they were all destroyed?"

"They were. But the unspeakable have been working on a new one for several years. It is still in its testing stages, very temperamental, you see. I couldn't take it home and run the risk of Molly or Lucy finding it."

"I see your concern Percy, really, but I can't take it. There are kids staying here for the weekend and…"

"yes, yes, I know. But there are so many more places for you to hide it here. Surely they won't-"

"Clearly you haven't babysat James." On the other side of the door James smiled slyly to his brother.

"Please?"

"Well alright. But just for today."

"Of course! Well, I best be leaving. I'll see you tomorrow Mother!"

A resounding crack signaled that it was okay to enter the kitchen again.

"I suppose you heard all of that?" Molly asked her grandchildren. James, Al, and Rose nodded guiltily.

"Well, I don't want you three looking for what your uncle dropped off. You have no business with it."

A muffled cry sounded from upstairs. "that will probably be Hugo. Remember what I said." She warned.

They waited until the sound of their grandmother's footsteps past directly above them before all three were searching the kitchen frantically. "I've got it!" Rose called quietly. In her hands dangled a gold chain with a golden hourglass.

"Rose!" Scolded an angry voice.

She set the necklace back on the edge of the table so quickly it was if it had burned her. She ran to give her grandmother a hug in hopes to pacify her. It didn't.

"Time out! All three of you! That necklace is extremely dangerous! If it would have fallen, or-" Two loud cries echoed from upstairs. "Now look what you've done! You've woken up Lily and Hugo! You know how long it took me to get them to fall asleep?" She ushered them into the living room and sat them down in opposite corners before stalking upstairs, still muttering under her breath.

A few minutes later and the kids were let out of time out to resume playing. A temporary peace seemed to fall over the house. Rose had gone into the kitchen and was coloring a picture on the table. Lily was sitting beside her and babbling on and on as she too picked up a crayon and started scribbling on the table. Hugo was watching transfixed as Molly knitted a pair of brightly colored socks. However, it wasn't long before-

"Give it back!" Al cried as James laughed triumphantly, waving the light blue blanket above his head.

"You're going to have to catch me first!" He taunted, racing into the kitchen.

Molly set her knitting down and placed her head in her hands, slowly counting to ten. Couldn't they be still for one moment? No sooner had she thought this that a loud crash boomed through the house, followed by complete and utter silence.

"Oh no. Merlin, please no." She picked up Hugo and rushed into the kitchen. Not a single one of her grandkids were in the room, replaced by a light mist starting to dissipate. As the mist started to clear, her heart gave a lurch when she saw a glint of gold from the time turner, completely shattered on the ground.