Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize as J.K. Rowling's, or any other author's. I do not intend to make any money from this story. This is only one aspiring author's attempt at contributing to the wonderful world that is fan fiction, without which my invented characters would spin around in my head forever with no outlet. I only ask that I be allowed to use the world Rowling has created as a setting for these characters, and that I maybe borrow a few of her characters along the way. But as I said before: No money will be made from this story. Please don't sue!

Full Summary: History repeats itself sometimes. It's inevitable. But as Aria Granger, Sean Weasley, and Jake Parks will soon learn, the redundancy of history can bring both unspeakable joy and heart-wrenching pain, both love and heartbreak.

It's been almost six years since Aria Granger discovered the identity of her father, who had been conspicuously absent for the first eleven and a half years of her life, though she paid a terrible price for it: the death of her mum. Now Jake Parks, one of her best friends, is getting restless. He's lived with the Weasleys for almost his entire life, ever since his mum left him with them when he was five years old after his father disappeared.

Determined to find his father now that he's done with school, Jake sets out on a challenging journey that takes him far from the place he's always called home, meeting some new people along the way, and falling into a whole heap of trouble that will show him exactly what – and who – is most important to him, what the word 'family' means, and the very distinct, age-old comparison between what is right and what is easy.

An Important Note – Please Read!: This is the sequel to Family Ties 2: Adjustments, which is the sequel to Family Ties: The Beginning, so I strongly advise you to read those before this one as it will probably make more sense, but if you don't, I guess that's just your loss. I'll try my best to make this story understandable for someone who hasn't read the first two to the best of my ability. :)
Author's Note: Well, here it is! I'm pretty sure this is going to be the final installment of the Family Ties series. I'm hoping this last story will tie up all loose ends my reviewers have been pestering me about. I know I said I'd get it out yesterday, but I was super busy last night and didn't have time. So, here is the long-awaited final (I hope) installment of Family Ties. Happy reading!
Update 9/21/08: In case you haven't heard yet, this is not the final installment of Family Ties. The plot was simply too involved, and as it grew and changed, I realized I can't possibly fit it all into a story without it turning into some sort of epic, million-chapter thing. So that said, the fourth story probably won't be out until later this winter. I have other projects I'm working on currently, so it could take awhile for me to get started on FT4. Thanks for your attention. Read on!

Family Ties: History's Redundancy

Chapter One: The End of the Beginning

Jake's POV

There isn't going to be a ceremony. No public announcement, no big crowd gathered, no celebration. The only acknowledgement made to the seventh years' graduation will be the end-of-N.E.W.T.s parties being held in every Common Room tonight. Other than that, it's like this isn't our last year at all. It's as though next fall, we'll be back at Platform 9¾ to board the Hogwarts Express for another long year of school. Except we won't.

It's hard to believe this is our last year. We won't be coming back. And unless we become teachers, most of us probably will never see the castle again. And I can't speak for any of my classmates outside Gryffindor, but I certainly don't plan on becoming a teacher anytime soon.

Sitting in the Common Room with my three best friends Skyla Janes, Aria Granger, and Sean Weasley (the latter two of which are sort of step-siblings, though I'm not quite sure how to explain it), not really studying for my Transfiguration exam because I know I'll pass with flying colors, I watch some first years sitting under a window together, laughing and joking around.

Then I look at the other seventh years in the room – none of them are laughing, or even smiling. If they're not sitting somewhere with their head stuck in a book or studying their notes rigorously, they're looking around like me, with a sad expression on their faces. I catch the eye of one of my dorm mates and friends, Mike Carson. He gives me a grim smile.

I return the look just as sadly. There is only one week left of what had seemed to be an endless education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When we were eleven, it felt as though the prospect of graduating and leaving school was a far-off thought of the future. And now it's right in front of us, taunting us with its nearness, frightening us. Or at least that's how it seems to me.

Abby Weasley – Sean and Aria's younger sister - is one of those happy-go-lucky first years, along with her extensive group of friends. She's sitting near the empty fireplace – it's much too warm this time of year for a fire – with a cluster of first and second year boys and girls – including the ever-hilarious Lily Potter – chatting, laughing, reading, studying, drilling. They're preparing for their last exams of the day – Charms for the first years and Herbology for the second years. It's almost laughable how worried they are.

I long to be among them, worrying about nothing but simple charms and spells that any second year could do without thinking.

Aria Granger looks over at me and catches my eye with a concerned frown. I attempt to smile at her, but I fail somewhat miserably.

"You okay?" she asks quietly. I swallow. I know the expected answer, and I can feel it resting on the tip of my tongue, but I can't speak. The answer to the question itself is easy enough – no, I'm not really okay. But the way she's looking at me with that troubled look on her face, her head tilted to one side, she just looks so damn beautiful. I know I shouldn't be thinking this. She's my best friend. Hell, she's my other best friend's sister! She's practically my sister. Okay, ew. Can't think like that.

I can't help it though. I've fancied her for years. She's funny and beautiufl and witty and clever. She's wicked fast both on a broom and on foot – she can outrun Sean and me (combined – we once tired to outrun her relay-style, and she still won). She's the best Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, earning her the coveted Captain position again this year, which is sure to lead us to the Cup in four days' time. She's just … perfect. In every way.

"Jake?" she asks, her concern deepening when I don't reply. I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

"I'm…" I pause to figure out exactly what it is I'm feeling. "I'm just a bit sad and surprised that we're actually leaving in only one week. And never coming back," I reply at last. She smiles slightly at me, and my heart skips a beat.

"I understand," she says simply, returning to her book. Unlike me, she's been studying for Transfiguration since our Charms N.E.W.T. ended over an hour ago. Transfiguration isn't her best subject like it is mine. Then again, she could probably recite our DADA book cover to cover backwards; she's always excelled in that class.

I notice Sean glance at me, then at Aria. He smiles to himself and looks quickly back down at his textbook as though he'd never paused. I watch suspiciously him for a few seconds to see if he does it again. When he doesn't, I go back to staring around the Common Room.

Sean's suspected – or, more accurately, known – that I've fancied Aria for a very long time. Probably since we were eleven or twelve years old. I remember him screaming at me once and referring to Aria as my 'precious little girlfriend', which had been extremely uncomfortable for me, seeing as Aria had been standing right behind him at the time.

I glance back over at Sean to see him looking at me again. I frown at him, and he just smiles again before burying his nose in his textbook once more.

I'm about to open my mouth to ask him just what he finds so amusing when the bell rings, and we all jump in surprise. Aria nearly drops her book.

"Oh no," she murmurs, a panicked look creeping over her face. "Oh no. I'm not ready!" She frantically scrabbles for her bag and slings it over her shoulder.

"Oh, I'm going to fail," she moans, burying her face in her hands.

"Aria," I say sternly, and she looks at me from between her fingers. "You're going to do fine," I say confidently. "You're one of the best in our year. You'll pass easily."

"Don't say that!" she gasps. "You'll jinx it!"

I roll my eyes and smile. "You'll do great," I assure her, taking her by the shoulders and steering her toward the portrait hole. She takes a deep breath.

"Yes," she agrees. "I'll do just fine. Just be confident. I'll be fine."

I smile at her self-coaching as we walk down the hall with Sean and Skyla. Sean gives me another knowing look, and I roll my eyes again.

"I still don't see why you haven't asked her out yet," he murmurs to me with a grin. I glare at him. He's been torturing me with this for months – or more like years.

"Because, I know she won't say yes," I hiss back. He raises his eyebrows at me.

"Sure about that?"

"Yes."

"What are you two talking about?" asks Skyla, dropping back behind Aria, who's still talking to herself.

"Nothing," we reply in unison. It's well known how well Skyla can keep a secret – which is to say, not at all. The only secrets she keeps are her own, and sometimes Aria's on a good day. Not to say she we don't love her (as a friend of course). We just don't trust her with anything we don't want the whole school to know by lunch – which is why she still has no clue as to how I really feel about Aria after almost seven years.

She just gives us a disbelieving look before falling in step with Aria again, a few paces ahead of us. Skyla is one of my best friends, and I love her, but she's extremely nosy. I'm sure no one is surprised that she wants to pursue a career in journalism. She'll be great at it.

That's another problem I have. I have absolutely no idea what I want to do with my life. Aria's set her heart on becoming a Healer like her mum was and like her mum's best friend currently is. Sean's so amazing at Quidditch that he's already been offered a spot on countless different teams, and his only decision is which one he wants to play for. (Ron's been trying to get him to accept the Chudley Cannons' offer, but everyone knows they suck – except Ron, who truly believes they will one day win the Quidditch World Cup.)

Aria could play professionally as well if she wanted to – she's absolutely amazing on a broomstick – but she doesn't like the idea of a profession where she could be fired at a moment's notice because the manager found a better player. I also suspect she doesn't like the idea of having to travel so far from home all the time for games, though she'd probably never admit it to me.

Mike Carson is going to become an Auror, like Ron. He'll be good at it – next to Aria, he's the best in our DADA class. Brian Foster, another one of my dorm mates is going into Magical Law Enforcement because both of his parents are in that department.

Karen Vemborrow, one of Skyla and Aria's roommates, is going into Quidditch professionally as well. She wants to play for the Holyhead Harpies, which used to be an all-women's team for years (why any bloke would openly admit to being a harpy is still beyond me, but there you have it). She says her dream is to make it that way again. She'll probably do it too. She's very strong-willed.

Karen's best friend Kelsey Bryns is going to write for the popular magazine Witch Weekly. She's already been offered an internship there. Like Skyla, she's gossipy and nosy, so she'll be great there. Their common trait is what enables the two of them to get along so well, and also explains how Aria can hardly stand Kelsey (although it's still a mystery as to why she tolerates Skyla – then again, I don't know why I tolerate her either).

Our last dorm mate, Aiden Mydlin, is going to Australia. Gringotts has recently expanded, and he's going to be working as a cursebreaker there, like Sean's and Aria's uncle Bill, who has been running the branch in France for years now.

So, all of the seventh year Gryffindors know what they're going to do with their lives – all of them except for me. I've thought about some careers, but nothing's really stood out to me yet. I know I don't want to be an Auror, a Healer, a cursebreaker, a journalist, or a professional Quidditch player (not that I've gotten any offers for the last), but that doesn't help me much.

It's at times like this that I wish I had a father. Not just Ron, who's as good as a father to me, but a real father. Ron's always treated me like I belong at the Weasley household, which I'm thankful for, but he's not my dad. He's never given me the same special attention Abby, Aria, and Sean and their little brother Henry get. He loves me, but he doesn't love me – not like a real father.

Then again, if my real father loves me, he has a sucky way of showing it considering I haven't seen him for over thirteen years. I don't even remember him.

We arrive at the Great Hall for our final N.E.W.T. the same time as all the other seventh years. Some of our friends from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff nod at us, but don't come over to talk. They're too nervous. We all are.

The seventh years file into the Great Hall in silence, looking at the numerous single desks set up with growing apprehension. The seats are alphabetical, but we already know where to sit, considering we've been taking these tests all week. I sit down behind Emily Palstone and in front of Deryn Peterson. Harry – I mean, Professor Potter – stands at the front of the hall with the giant hourglass and waits for us all to be seated.

"Okay. I'm sure you all know the drill by now," he calls, waving his wand so our exams appear on our desks, face down. "Ready. Go!" He flips the hourglass over as we simultaneously turn the tests over.

Question One: What are the five principles of human transfiguration?

Rolling my eyes, I list them, the answers jumping from my head to my paper via quill naturally. Transfiguration is such a simple subject.

The rest of the questions are similarly easy for me. I set my quill down and screw the top back on my ink jar and lean back to stretch. Looking around, I see I'm the first one done. I know I should probably go over my answers again to double-check them, but I really don't feel like it. Besides, I know I'll pass. I knew all of the answers.

I glance over at Aria, sitting at the other end of the hall with Brian Foster in front of her and Cassidy Helmer behind her. I'd love to sit here staring at her profile for the rest of the hour, but Harry has absolutely zero tolerance for cheating, and even though he's known me practically my whole life, he'd throw me out of the Hall in a heartbeat if he saw me glancing anywhere but at my own desk.

Sean, Aria, and I have always found his cheating policy rather hypocritical of him, seeing as Ron "accidentally" let spill once that he and Harry copied Aria's mum's homework almost religiously when they were in school. But either way, he'd still have no qualms about kicking me out.

Reluctantly, I pull my eyes back down to my paper and pick up my quill. I wish I'd thought to bring some sugar quills. Then at least I'd have something to do while I wait. Twirling my quill in my fingers, I look at the blue-and-grey feathers spinning away. Finally I uncap my ink again and begin doodling on a scrap of parchment.

Thirty minutes later, Harry yells out for everyone to stop. People groan and lay their quills down while others hastily scribble last answers as quickly as they can. He might not permit cheating, but at least Harry usually gives us all a few extra seconds to finish before actually making us stop.

"Alright everyone! Time to stop! Put those quills down!" he calls. "Lauren, I mean it!" he warns. Lauren Aandros lays her quill down reluctantly, a blush creeping into her cheeks. I catch her eye and smile at her, and she blushes even more, which only serves to confuse me. She glances away quickly at whatever expression she sees on my face.

Harry waves his wand and all of the scrolls roll themselves up and land on the table behind him in a neat pyramid. "I'll let you go in just a minute," he says patiently as some of the students start to stand. "I just want to wish you all a good summer and tell you that whatever you choose to do with your life, I hope you excel at it. You've all been wonderful students. Dismissed!"

Everyone else bolts as fast as they can. I linger for awhile, packing up my stuff and crumpling my doodles into a ball and vanishing it, just because I can. I look up to see Skyla and Sean already on their way out the door, deep in conversation. Skyla is brandishing the exam paper at him somewhat angrily, as though she doesn't agree with his opinion on one of the questions. I smile at their backs. They'd never admit to it, but they'd make a great couple.

I glance over to see Aria talking to Harry, an easy smile on her face. I feel my heart speed up as I watch her tuck a stray curl behind her ear and laugh slightly. Merlin, she's beautiful.

Harry looks my way and smiles. Aria sees his face and turns to see what he's looking at – she smiles too. I feel a smile spread across my face instantly when I look at her. It's just a natural reaction around Aria.

"So, how do you think you did?" Harry asks as I join the two of them at the front table. I shrug.

"I thought it was easy," I say nonchalantly. Aria shakes her head at me.

"I thought it was terrible," she admits. "I'm so awful at Transfiguration. I wish I were as good at it as you are," she says, a touch of jealousy and a hint of admiration in her tone. I smile down at her.

"Well, I thought the written Defense test was hard, and you thought it was easy, so I guess it's all in perspective," I say with another shrug.

"That's true," she comments, casting me a slightly shy smile. I feel my stomach clench.

"Well, I think you'll both do fine. You're both wonderful students. I suppose I'll see you both tomorrow night," Harry says with a smile. He's throwing the seventh year Gryffindors a sort of graduation party tomorrow in his office. We wanted it in the Common Room, but he said it wouldn't be fair to the others who actually wished to spend time in there.

We nod at him and make our way outside to where most of the other students are hanging out. Sean and Skyla have taken up residence underneath a tree on the lake shore. They're still debating on the exam. I laugh at them as I sit down.

"What's so funny?" snaps Skyla somewhat viciously. I raise my eyebrows at her tone. Skyla can get over-excited sometimes, and the results usually mean enduring bouts of nastiness directed at me. She shakes her head, and the anger dies out of her eyes quickly.

"I'm sorry, Jake," she says somberly. I smile at her.

"It's fine," I insist. "It's just the stress getting to all of us."

"Hey," Aria says suddenly. "Why are we stressed? Exams are over! We're completely and totally free! We should go swimming," she suggests impulsively. I smile at her in amusement.

"And what do you propose we go swimming in?" Skyla asks, her snappishness returning as it usually does when Aria makes a suggestion for an activity that can't be easily carried out. I try not to betray anything as Sean stands up behind her, pressing a finger to his lips.

Aria's face falls theatrically, but her blue eyes are twinkling mischievously as she watches Sean. She'd never let Skyla's nastiness actually hurt her feelings – she's too used to it.

"I mean, who actually brings a bathing suit to school? No one actually goes swimming! What a dumb suggestion. What are we going to go swimming in?" Skyla asks again, rolling her eyes. She doesn't realize how cruel she is sometimes, but we've all learned to take it in our stride. It's the younger students who really suffer her bluntness, because they're more sensitive and not used to Skyla's harsh treatment.

"Well," says Sean, scooping Skyla into his arms and carrying her toward the lake, "I'd say that most people go swimming in the lake!" And with that he launches her into the water, Skyla shrieking hysterically.

A few seconds later, she surfaces, her blonde curls plastered to her head, a furious look on her face. Her makeup is running, and her casual Muggle clothes cling to her wet frame. I can't hide my grin.

Sean is laughing uncontrollably on the shore, and Aria is slowly inching toward me as she laughs, moving out of Skyla's range of wrath.

Skyla tracks through the shallow water and comes to a stop directly in front of Sean, who, despite his obvious fear of behind slapped, cannot seem to control his laughter.

"Sean Weasley, that was just plain mean!" she snarls angrily. For a split second I wonder if she really will slap him – it's not like she's never done it before. Sean just keeps laughing.

"It was mean and deceitful and just … just horrible!" she continues, glaring at him. She's nearly as tall as he is, which makes her even scarier when she's mad at you. Aria is short enough that it's not quite as terrifying to see her angry as it is Skyla. Plus, Aria's temperament has improved considerably since we were younger, and she hardly ever finds reason to yell – except at Skyla.

"Wow, Skyla. I am so sorry," Sean snorts, still sniggering.

"Oh, I'm sure you will be," she says somewhat evilly. I eye her warily. Skyla always makes good of her threats. Sean's smile falters slightly.

"Hey now," he says, holding up his hands, as she takes another step closer so they're pressed together. He leans away from her nervously. "You're getting me all wet," he warns her. She just smiles at him and wraps her arms around her neck. I grin.

"You deserve a nice…" Skyla starts, pulling his head down as though to kiss him. Sean's eyes widen in shock. "…wet…" His look only grows more frightened as she pulls him closer. "…dip in the lake!" she shrieks, moving away at the last possible second and sending him sprawling into the water. He lands on his face in the shallows.

"That was mean," he says as he spits out water. "I was afraid you were actually going to kiss me."

Skyla laughs it off, but I can see his reply bothers her slightly. She asked Sean out once when we were fifteen, and he said no, claiming it would complicate their friendship, so she hasn't asked since. But she still fancies him. Not enough to want to take it anywhere serious, but she's had a little crush on him for awhile now.

Aria seems to notice the slight tension too. "Well, now that Sean has had his monthly bath," she says, and I laugh. No matter what she says, Aria can make it sound funny. Of course, that could all be in perspective as well…

"We should go flying," she suggests, Sean perks up instantly. I swear, if you didn't know better, you'd think they were blood relatives.

"I don't want to go flying," Skyla pouts. "I'm all wet."

"Come on, Sky, it'll be fun," Aria insists. "I'll let you ride my old broom."

Aria's "old" broom is hardly even a year old. Her granddad bought it for her sixteenth birthday, and then this year she got another brand new broom from her dad. They're both extremely good models, although the newer one is the latest style in professional Quidditch.

Skyla makes a big show about it as we walk down to the Quidditch pitch. She really loves flying, but everything she does is dramatic. That's just another reason we love her. If we didn't, no one would.

Aria unlocks the Gryffindor Quidditch team broom shed, and hands Skyla her barely-used Firestreak 12. Skyla tosses it from hand to hand lightly, testing the weight as though it's changed since the last time she rode it three weeks ago.

"Here you go," she says to me, holding out her other "old" broom. She actually gave it to me to use permanently after she got the Firestreak 12, and this model is barely four years old. It's one of the last ever made Firebolt 11's, which makes it really valuable, and she gave it to me for my seventeenth birthday.

Sean takes out the broom he got for his seventeenth birthday. It's even better than Aria's broomstick, if that's possible. It's the same exact model, except Ron and Harry somehow weaseled it out of some shop stocker before it was even released to the public, which, to Sean, makes it better.

"Alright," says Aria, extracting her own Stormbreacher 800 from the mass of tangled broomsticks and locking the shed again. "Let's go."

We head out onto the pitch together. It's such a perfect day for flying. Barely any breeze and blue skies. The ground is firm but not rock-hard.

Aria and Sean kick off almost instantly, Skyla and me following close behind. Aria and Sean are what make the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Without them, we would not have won the last six consecutive Cups. And Aria is bound and determined to bring home another. She's been working us like dogs for months, just working up to this final match.

It's really no small wonder that Sean has been offered so many Quidditch positions. There have been scouts from almost every team in Europe and beyond at our matches over the course of the last two years, watching his every move, every catch, every throw with greed and longing in their eyes.

Of course, what they really want is Aria, but she's turned down every offer so far, and most team scouts have given up. Of course, since the final match of the year is up in four days, there will most certainly be some die-hard coaches and managers here, hoping once more to convince the amazing Aria Granger to join their team. I almost feel sorry for them.

Flying feels wonderful. When I'm flying, all of my worries, doubts, and cares just fly away with the wind. I grin at Skyla as I loop around her, making her shriek. She's not so great with a broomstick, but she's a lot better than she was six years ago. I just love to torment her.

Aria laughs at Skyla's discomfort and imitates me, spiraling around her and zigzagging back and forth in her path, just to get a rise out of her. The only place we ever actually try to make Skyla mad is up in the air – otherwise, we'd most certainly suffer worse than she.

"This is just … the perfect day," Aria comments, flying up beside me. Once more I marvel at how well she handles the broom. Here she is, Muggle-raised until she was eleven, never even been on a broomstick until the age of twelve (unless you count the stupid flying lesson we got as first years, during which we never even got up in the air more than five feet), and she's the best seventeen-year-old player in the country – maybe in all of Europe. Amazing.

"It is the perfect day," I agree, smiling at her. "Perfect in every way."

Just like you.

A/N: Chapter one for you all! It's longer than I had originally anticipated, but that's okay! The following chapter may not be quite as long as this one, but they won't be horribly short either. Anyway, thanks for reading! Please review!