"For the last time, it was my father who taught the kids how to cast the dark mark. I swear!" Draco said, throwing his hands up in defense, half a sandwich in one hand.
"Not about that," She said with a wave of her hand. "I still want to have a little chat with him about that as well, though."
"Yes, well. I already told him it was inappropriate. What do we have to talk about now, then?" He asked, putting down his sandwich.
"I've decided to throw a little dinner party."
"With who?" Draco eyed her suspiciously.
"Well," She hesitated, not meeting her husbands gray eyes with her own brown ones, "my friends."
"And are we talking our friends, or your friends?" He asked with a slight sneer.
"Both, if you must know."
"I don't know, Ava..." He said reaching over and tucking a strand of Ava's long auburn hair behind her ear. Ava brushed his hand away.
"Mummy!" A six year old red headed little boy screamed, running into the room, followed shortly by an identical little boy.
"Talon, don't scream, you'll wake Ella," Ava reprimanded with a sigh.
"Trae hit me," Talon pouted.
"Boys," Draco said sternly, "what did we tell you about fighting?"
"Sorry, Daddy," both said looking at the ground. Talon climbed into Ava's lap while Trae climbed into Draco's.
"Anyway, Ava. Who are we inviting to this party?"
"We're having a party?" A blonde hair, brown eyed boy said as he walked into the kitchen.
"Maybe, Andrew. Could you go check James and Lilie for me?" Ava asked nicely.
"Sure, Mummy," Andrew said before leaving the kitchen.
"As I was about to say," Ava said, "I've invited the Potter's-"
"As in Harry and Aubrey?" Draco said in slight disgust.
"Yes. They're my friends. You and Harry are going to have to get along at some point. I've also invited the Weasley's-"
"Which ones?" He asked again in disgust, casting a downward glance at the twin boys sitting in their laps.
"Well Fred, of course, and then Angelina, Katie and George, Ron and Hermione-"
"That filthy mudbloo-"
"Draco! She is my friend. I'd like it if you don't speak about her that way."
"Fine. Who else?" He said shortly.
"Charlie, Percy, Bill and Fleur, and Ginny and Dean. Then there's Oliver Wood, Seamus Finnigan, Cedric Diggory, the Longbottom's-"
"Americus and Neville? With that great lot of children? Are you insane?"
Ava ignored him and continued on, "and Crabbe and Goyle of course."
"Finally, someone I like," Draco mumbled.
"Boys, why don't you go and find your brothers and sister," Ava said. The boys nodded and jumped down from Ava and Draco's laps and ran off to some other part of the manor.
"So will there be anyone else I'm on speaking terms with or your not sleeping with coming?"
"Your father."
"So how many people is that total?"
"About twenty-five. Plus everyone's children. I think that must be at about thirty-five now."
"The damned house elves will have a field day with that."
"And could you kindly hold your tongue about the 'damned house elves' while Hermione's around. I don't want her starting with SPEW again."
"Oh dear, not that retchid program again. I knew she'd lost it when she attempted to make me join in seventh year."
"Yes, well, she went a bit crazy that year, didn't she? I think we all must have, I mean, I got together with you that year, didn't I?" Ava smirked.
"Pansy wasn't too happy when you started going for me."
"No, no she wasn't. I remember when I told her that I had decided to get you from her, well she was livid. She kept trying to get the Gryffindor password from Neville to come up and hex me in my sleep."
"Brave thing you did there."
"Yes, well, good thing for me Neville couldn't remember passwords," Ava said as the two heard crying coming from above them.
"Well, your daughter's awake. You'd better get her."
"Must you talk about her like that?" Ava shook her head as she stood up.
"Well, she's not mine. That's for sure."
"You're being silly. They're all your children."
"Oh yes, Trae and Talon are mine I suppose with that flaming red hair and freckles?"
"I have red hair and freckles!"
"You don't have flaming red hair."
"I have to get Ella," Ava said turning on her heels and apparating to Ella's room to comfort the crying child.
"Look," Draco said as he climbed into bed beside Ava that evening, "I'm sorry about earlier today."
Ava put out the candle beside her side of the bed with a snap and layed down, facing opposite Draco.
"You're being silly, you know. I'm sorry if I find it hard to believe that all seven of those children are mine. Only Lilie and Andrew resemble me, and well, the other's clearly resemble other close friends of yours. And we all know you're not so faithful."
Ava sat straight up, lighting the candle with another snap. "Don't act so innocent in all this like you're the victim! I know you've got your side women too. I'm not stupid. It's so obvious that Patrick Potter, Ginger Longbottom, and Nick Thomas are yours!"
"And how did you come to that conclusion?"
"Well just look at them. Patrick doesn't look anything like Aubrey or Harry, and for goodness sake Nick is supposedly Ginny's child and he's pale and let's face it, Dean isn't exactly white. And, well, Ginger is so obviously not Neville's."
"Did you ever stop to think that there's some Weasley gene that includes platinum blonde hair? Or maybe Ginny is sleeping with some other platinum blonde who happens to look like me?"
"Like who? Your father?"
"No! Of course not!"
"Whatever, Draco, I'm going to sleep. Goodnight," Ava said turning out the candles once again and laying back down.