Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Warning: Fluff

Family

She was silent as she watched the children play with one another. She would never have thought that this would be possible. She always thought that she would be alone. After all, everyone she cared about left her in the end, whether they wanted to or not. It was just a fact of life. The only thing that stayed with her was her guilt and the cold that had long ago settled into her heart. So this, all of this, was a surprise, one of the more pleasant ones if not the most pleasant one.

Her son, her son laughed as he helped his younger cousin work on her 'masterpiece' using blocks and books and anything else she'd been able to get her hands on. Her nephew, someone who she hadn't thought she'd ever be able to see again and look him in the eyes at the same time, smiled at the others before going back to the conversation he'd been having with her husband.

That was what really stopped her heart. She had a husband, someone who loved her enough to take everything she came with. Every hurt and nightmare, every doubt and distrust and accepted them as vital parts of who she was. Accepted that she would never be able to give him a child of his own blood. Loved her enough to overlook the parts of her personality that weren't exactly kind or forgiving.

Loved her for what she had made of herself with her past.

She turned back to the young man sitting beside her and couldn't stop the smile from growing at his knowing look. He, too, was someone who hadn't expected a second chance, especially not in this place where he had done things worse than she had. Here, they were taken in, albeit with suspicion and with limits at first. She knew that, even now, there would always be those who would expect the worst from the two of them, but she also knew that it would matter. Here they had a home, a home where they were loved and could love in return. He turned away from her for a moment to scratch at his dearest friend behind her crest. The beautiful bird cooed at him and closed her eyes in bliss.

Her cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much.

Not for the first time, she thanked heaven for second chances.

End

A/N: This is far into the future of Crack in the Line with a character that hasn't even been introduced yet. It's just a little birthday present to myself with how happy and fluffy I've been feeling today.