A Fated Encounter 2 Hogwarts Bound

by SpencerandHotchlover

This is a sequel to Fated Encounter and Spencer and Hotch find out that their twins sons have magic and are related to the Potters, through Spencer. Harry and Ginny show up on the their doorstep and explain how they discovered they were related and offer the twins a chance to go to Hogwarts, instead of a school in the States.

3. Chapter 3

"There are passwords to enter each house and they change on a weekly basis," Ginny explained as the group of them walked towards Gryffindor tower. "Gryffindor and Ravenclaw are located in towers while Hufflepuff is located near the kitchens and Slytherin is in the dungeons."

"This sure is a humongous place," Landon said looking around him in awe.

"I agree with you," Harry told the 11-year-old boy with a grin. "I sure did have trouble finding my way around for the first couple of weeks at least. Really you Lochlan are already ahead of the game since we're showing you where all your classes will take place so you probably won't have as much trouble finding your way around when you get here on September 1st."

"So boys and girls have separate dormitories?" asked Hotch.

"Of course," Harry agreed, "and there's a lot of wicked spells on the girl stairs to stop the boys from getting up there. It's been that way for over thousand years as the founders believed that girls were more trustworthy than boys and so they can enter the boys dormitories. They are usually 4 to 5 to a dormitory and the students are sorted by year, first, second, third and so forth. Each dormitory also has its own bathroom.

"Welcome, Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley," said the portrait of a lady as the group reached the porthole that led into Gryffindor tower. Hotch and Spencer and the the twins and Jack didn't even blink when the portraits spoke for they had seen a lot of of talking portraits on their tour of the castle.

"Could you let us in please," Ginny asked politely, "we're giving these people a tour as their sons will be starting here in September."

"Of course," the Fat Lady agreed the portrait swinging aside. "I will look forward to seeing if you are sorted into my house," she told the twins, Art, Lily and Jack.

"It is just the twins, and Art that will be here come September," Ginny told the Fat Lady.

They all climbed through the portrait hole and the Reid/Hotchner household started to look around them.

"This place sure does bring back memories doesn't it, love?" asked Harry as he looked around at the empty common room. "I used to sit in that chair over there," he said pointing at an overstuffed, shabby armchair in the corner, "and you would sit on my lap once we started dating."

"Yes, we had some good times, didn't we?" Ginny said looking around her expression wistful.

"For me it was really the first home I had ever known, the Dursleys don't count," Harry said. "This was my dorm," he added pointing at one of the sets of stairs. "We can go up and look around if you want, although it's nothing more than what you would expect from a dorm room, just the basics, bed, nightstands between each, bathroom."

"Since we're here we might as well look," Spencer said and so they all trooped up the stairs to Harry's old dorm.

"I don't think most dorm rooms have four-poster beds," Hotch commented as he looked around noting that Harry had been right for other then the beds it was just your basic dorm room.

"I hope when I'm sorted I get into a different house," Art said and his voice startling the others for he had been mostly silent up until now. "I don't think I could share a house with James for the next five years. I love my brother, but he's always teasing and pranking Lily and I and I don't think I could put up with that at school because at home it's bad enough."

"I think James has changed for the better," Harry told his son, although he could certainly understand Art's point of view.

"Maybe," Art said with a shrug, "but I still think I'd prefer another house. I know that no Potter or Weasley for that matter has ever been sorted anywhere, but Gryffindor, but if I was sorted into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw I think I would enjoy school much more since I wouldn't have to always look over my shoulder for James's next prank."

"You can suggest a different house to the Sorting Hat you know," Harry told his son placing his hands gently on Art's shoulders, "It happened to me when I was first sorted. I never told you this, but the hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, said it would 'lead me on the road to greatness', but I had met Draco Malfoy by that point. He reminded me strongly of my bully of a cousin Dudley and I didn't want to be is the same house as him."

"Thanks dad," Art said looking happier.

"I agree with my brother," Lily said, "I would be happier if I was sorted into some other house then Gryffindor when I come to Hogwarts in two years."

"What's with the moving staircases?" asked Spencer and Hotch who had been wondering the same thing listened with interest.

"It's just something that Rowena Ravenclaw did to put her own unique stamp on the school," Ginny said. "She is also responsible for the trick steps. Rowena Ravenclaw was a genius, kind of like our friend Hermione, come to think of it. Each founder is responsible for parts of the school, for Hufflepuff it was the kitchen, as she was the nurturer of the group. The way that the food just appears on the tables in the Great Hall at mealtimes, is due to her, although it is prepared by the house-elves. We're heading there next and then after that we'll show you where all the students eat their meals and then we'll be done and we can either head back to our place or to Diagon Alley."

"Were those really ghosts that we saw?" asked Jack.

They had stopped and talked to several ghosts during their tour of the castle.

"Yes, that was," Ginny said smiling at the boy. "The one who had his head mostly severed was Nearly Headless Nick and now you know why we call him that. He is the Gryffindor ghost."

"How can you have your head partly severed," asked Landon curiously and all the adults grimaced for they knew how it could be done and none of the ways was pretty.

"Well, the story goes that Nick who lived several centuries ago fell in love with Margaret Ashton, but she was already engaged to marry this baron against her will as her family wanted stronger ties to the nobility. Arranged marriages were very popular back then, as they were used to form alliances between houses and to also strengthen ties. Well, anyway Margaret had already given away her heart to Nick and they were caught together. Lord Ashton immediately called for Nick's execution and then deliberately blunted the axe so that his head was not completely separated from his neck. Nick in the afterlife chose to come back because he wanted to be near the woman he loved even though he was dead, but when she discovered that her lover was dead she killed herself. Unfortunately though Nick was stuck here in this existence, because once the choice had been made there is no changing your mind. All the ghost here have similar stories."

"That is so sad," Spencer said and Hotch who looked like he actually had tears in his eyes nodded in agreement. He, Aaron Hotchner hadn't used to be the emotional type at all, but ever since he had gotten together with Spencer he had let himself feel more and more emotions and now smiled more then he had used to, especially in his lover's presence. He was also much happier then he had been, but because he was things like the story that Harry had just been told affected him more then they would have seven or eight years ago.

"Yes, I agree it is sad," Ginny agreed escorting them out of the tower and towards the kitchens. "In fact it is believed that Shakespeare based Romeo and Juliet on their story."

"Wow! That's really neat!" Lochlan said who like his father loved Shakespeare.

"Really?" asked Spencer. "Romeo and Juliet were based off what happened to Nearly Headless Nick and his lady love?"

"That's what's believed although it has never been a hundred percent confirmed," Ginny said as she led the group down to the common room and out of Gryffindor tower entirely so they could head for the kitchens.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

The nine of them strolled down Diagon Alley the next day including James. The only reason that James had been brought along was so that he could get new robes since he had a growth spurt over the summer, and his old ones were now to short.

The Hogwarts letters had only come that very morning and it was a very fortuitous event considering that they had been going to go anyway just to give their guests more of a taste of the magical world, but now they could actually shop for school supplies. Headmistress McGonagall must've really been on the ball to get the letters out the very next day after they had just seen her.

Four letters had arrived by owl during breakfast, three of them of course carrying Art's and the twins acceptance letters with the usual list of supplies and warning that broomsticks were not allowed for first years.

"So where do you want to go to first?" asked Ginny. The nine of them had already stopped by Gringotts and while Harry had gone down to his vault to get money for supplies, Spencer and Hotch had exchanged American dollars for Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. Harry had offered to buy the twins supplies, saying that he had more money then he knew what to do with, but both Spencer and Hotch had refused saying that the twins were their responsibility and that they had plenty of money of their own.

"We don't have to do anything in any particular order, although it's probably smart to do the books last since they're rather heavy."

"And also because if you get Spencer into a bookstore he won't want to leave," Hotch teased his mate who blushed knowing it was very true. "We had enough trouble dragging you out of the Hogwarts and Potter libraries.

"Whenever you want to go first is fine," Spencer finally said, "we're not in any hurry after all."

"Alright then I think Madam Malkin's robes should be first so we can get that out of the way," Ginny decided. "After that we should go get three trunks for the books and other supplies something besides the standard one compartment ones that most students have."

"Ollivander's after that," Harry suggested and Ginny nodded in agreement.

"How about Weasleys Wizard Wheezes," Art suggested looking pleased when James flinched knowing that he wouldn't be allowed inside until after his restriction was lifted and that would be Christmas.

"Well you can certainly go if you want, well anybody except for James that is," Ginny said looking at her oldest son who looked downcast and completely miserable.

"What's Weasleys Wizard Wheezes?" asked Hotch.

"It's my twin brothers shop," Ginny explained, "the one with all the magical pranks. Really it's fantastic all the things that they've invented. You should at least go in and see it even if you don't buy anything."

"Can we go, dad, Uncle Aaron?" the twins begged along with Jack except he called Aaron, dad and Spencer uncle was the only difference.

Hotch and Spencer exchanged locks and then Aaron said, "Just so you understand that you're not to pull any pranks on us. If you want to pull a few harmless ones at school that's fine."

"And remember we'll get any letters about your misbehavior if you go to far," Spencer reminded them.

"We just want to look," the twins protested.

"Alright then," Spencer said looking resigned, "I suppose there's no harm in looking around."

"Yah!" the twins and Jack cheered.

The nine of them headed towards Madam Malkin's to get their robes first.

"Maybe after we get our shopping done we can go to Florean Fortescue's ice cream shop," Harry suggested.

"Can we, dad?" Jack asked enthusiastically for he loved ice cream.

"I don't see why not," Hotch agreed with a smile at his son's enthusiasm.

"Yah!" all the children, except for James cheered, as he knew that since he was on restriction he wouldn't be getting any ice cream, making the four adult's look at each other and smile.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

A couple of hours later they headed to Ollivander's wand shop.

"Ollivander's Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC," Spencer read the writing on the window. "Since 382 BC?" asked Spencer not sure if he believed it.

"Oh yes," Harry said with a smile, "wizarding history is rather well-documented."

"I think only the children that need wands and one adult should go inside," Ginny commented. "Ollivander's shop is rather narrow and small and there isn't much room for many people at once."

"I'll take them," Harry volunteered immediately, "why don't you go ahead to Flourish and Blotts and we'll meet you there. This shouldn't take to long."

"Alright," Spencer and Hotch agreed after looking at each other, "We'll meet you at the bookshop."

"It'll probably be at least an hour," Harry warned them. "Choosing a wand takes time, some more then others. Ollivander told me when I first came in for my wand that it's not the wizard or witch that chooses their wand, but the wand that chooses them."

"A lot of families pass down their ancestors wands, but a wand that hasn't chosen a person is much harder to get results from. Oh another person's wand sometimes makes a good secondary wand, but is rarely a good match for a person," Ginny said. "My grandmother's wand was passed down to me and I was lucky that it was a fairly good match, but Neville is another story as he was using his father's wand and he had a lot of trouble getting the results that he wanted but he carried it because his grandmother wanted her grandson to honor his father's memory by using his wand."

Spencer handed over a bag of Galleon, Sickles and Knuts to Harry and then half the group split off and headed towards the bookshop while the twins and Art stayed with Harry

"Well, come along boys," Harry said as he ushered the three children into all Ollivander's wand shop.

The boys followed him willingly for all three had been looking forward to getting wands. "Ah, Mr. Potter, I wondered when I would be seeing you and your youngest son," Ollivander greeted Harry, "and who these two?" Ollivander asked as he studied at Lochlan and Landon.

"These are some distant cousins of mine from America, Lochlan and Landon Reid," Harry informed him. "They will be going to Hogwarts as well, along with Art."

"Hmmm," Ollivander said. "Which one of you would like to go first?"

"You can go first if you want," Art offered to the twins.

Harry was so proud of his son for being so polite and being willing to wait to get his wand if the twins wanted to go first and he was well aware of how hard it was to wait to get something you had been looking forward to especially as a child.

Lochlan nodded eagerly and both twins thanked him.

Ollivander immediately began to pull wand boxes off the shelves and passed Lochlan one wand after another while telling him, how long it was, what wood it was made out of and what the wand core was. It took more then two dozen wands before Lochlan took one that Ollivander passed him and immediately felt a warmth spread through his fingers just before sparks shot out the end.

"Ah, yes an interesting choice," Ollivander murmured. "Oak, with a unicorn hair for a core, 13 1/2 inches, excellent for charm work."

Landon went through the same process and it was quite a few wands later that he felt the same warmth spread through his fingers.

"Yours is mahogany, also with a unicorn tail hair from the same unicorn as your brother's, 16 inches, excellent for transfiguration."

The twins stepped back beside Harry, so that Art could now get his new wand, although they kept fingering their new wands and Harry could hardly blame them as they had only known about magic for a couple of weeks. He certainly remembered his own reaction when he learned that magic was real and when he had gotten his wand, the one he still used to this day.

Art wasn't nearly so hard to fit and it was only six or seven wands later that he found his match.

"How much for the twins wands?" Harry asked Ollivander.

"That will be 40 Galleons," Ollivander replied.

"And my son's?" asked Harry.

"20 Galleons," Ollivander said.

Harry passed over the money 40 Galleons from the bag that Spencer had given him and 20 Galleons from his own. "I will also take three arm holsters, please," Harry requested.

Harry showed the three boys how to attach the holsters to their arms and then told them gently, "You should never carry your wand in your back pocket as it might accidentally go off. A great Auror I knew by the name of Alastor Moody once told me that it was dangerous to keep it in your pocket because it could cause an accident where you or someone close to you could be hurt if it did happen to fire. I didn't know this until Moody told me as I had always carried my wand in a pocket, but I was just lucky that it never went off accidentally."

"Wow this is really cool Uncle Harry," Lochlan said as he put his new wand in his holster.

"Yeah, it's really neat," Landon echoed.

"Yeah, dad, thanks," Art said.

"You're welcome, but we better head towards Flourish and Blotts, so we can meet your parents and mother," Harry said ushering them out of the shop.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

The rest of the summer passed incredibly quickly with Hotch, Spencer and the three boys learning more about the wizarding world all the time.

Either Hotch or Spencer called in every day to let Garcia know that they were fine and one of them also called Sara to let her know that they'd be home soon and that they were doing great.

Finally the day came when Hotch knew he really needed to get back to work as he had been gone almost a month which was more time than he had ever taken off at one time before.

"We understand that you need to get back to you own lives," Harry said sounding disappointed.

"Don't worry we'll visit each other often," Spencer assured Harry.

"That Portkey you gave the boys should allow them to get back home without any problems and to come here too of course."

"The only problem is that underaged children aren't supposed to do magic outside of school at least in Britain," Harry said. "I found out that the rules are little bit more relaxed in America.

"So they're not allowed to use their wands then how will they activate the Portkey?" asked Hotch curiously.

"Well when the twins use their wands in America you shouldn't get in trouble for as I said the laws are a little more relaxed, so long as nobody who isn't supposed to see is there. They should only use their wands to activate the Portkey until they are of age, because so long as they don't do a great deal of magic the ministry over there probably won't even notice. As for over here technically only muggle-borns are watched, and yes the twins are considered muggle-borns, but they will also be living in a wizarding household doing at least part of the summer and there is no way to track a specific wand when a whole lot of magic is being used."

"So if I'm understanding you right so long as they don't use their wands in muggle areas the ministry shouldn't be able to detect it and they won't get in trouble," Spencer said.

"That's right," Harry agreed. "Of course I don't plan on letting them do any magic at all except the activation of the Portkey, because there is a law about underage magic for a reason. It's there to prevent accidents as young witches and wizards have been known to kill themselves because they don't know what they're doing, there's at least one death every year, mostly purebloods or half-bloods whose parents don't watch them closely enough."

"I think to be on the safe side," Hotch said immediately, "that we'll take their wands and lock them in the safe in my office until it's time for them to come back to school. I know the twins and they are very curious about how things work and they would try some experiment and they might just kill themselves or blow something up."

"A wise precaution," Harry said. "Anyway before you leave I have a gift for you." Harry handed them a package and the two men opened it looking at the strange blue box.

"What is it?" asked Spencer.

"It's for your letters," Harry explained. "What you do is open the lid and place your letters inside and they automatically disappear. I have a similar box in my office and they will appear in there and then they'll be sent by owl to Hogwarts. This way you and your sons can exchange correspondence and so can we."

"This is a precious gift," Hotch said in a tone of awe as he handled the box as if it was made of precious metals and gems. "Both Spencer and I were worried about being able to keep in contact with Lochlan and Landon. It's bad enough they'll be gone most of the year to school, but we were afraid we wouldn't be able to hear from them, but this generous gift of yours solves that problem."

"I'll make sure they both write you at least once a week," Harry promised, "since I am a teacher at the school I can remind them to write. I'm sure they'll let you know what house they get sorted into and how their first few classes went. Just make sure you don't show the letters to anyone, except Sara and Penelope, of course."

"I think letting the twins stay here for the last couple of weeks of summer is a good idea," Spencer said looking at Hotch who nodded. "They can get to know James, Art and Lily better since they are family."

"They are of course welcome," Harry assured the two men. "They're welcome to stay here for the Christmas holidays and next summer too and so are you."

"We'll discuss staying for Christmas at a later date, but probably not, because I've already taken a lot of leave time even if it was unpaid," Hotch said who understood very well how the government worked.

"Then maybe we can come spend a week or so with you," Harry said.

"That's a possibility," Spencer said with a smile.

The two men said goodbye to the whole Potter family, but they all knew that they would keep in contact and remain friends throughout the rest of their lives.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

The Potter family and the two Reid children arrived at King's Cross station with only 10 minutes to spare on the morning of September 1st. They had gotten a very late start this morning.

"You can go through the barrier first if you want," Ginny told Lochlan and Landon kindly. "Just remember run straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten with your trolleys. You can even close your eyes if you want."

The twins nodded and did as Ginny instructed and started running towards the barrier until they felt themselves pass through in which they immediately open their eyes and looked around and fascination. On the train tracks was a scarlet red steam engine with Hogwarts Express emblazoned boldly on the side in big letters. Other than the train though it was just an ordinary train platform with several adults and children milling around.

"Go on, get on board, you only have about five minutes before the train leaves and it always departs on time," Ginny told the twins and Art with a smile.

"James, a word with you right quick," Harry added before his oldest son disappeared onto the scarlet steam engine.

James hung back not looking happy about it while the other three children headed for the train dragging trunks, which had been lightened with a charm behind them.

"Now son I think you know why I have held you back," Harry said.

"Yes, dad," James said hanging his head still ashamed of his actions.

"Have you learned your lesson about going to far so that others get hurt?"

"Yes, dad," James said as he looked up into his father's brilliant green eyes.

Harry studied his son, seeming to find what he was looking for in his sons hazel eyes then nodded. "Good, just remember that there's nothing wrong with playing a few harmless pranks, but there is such a thing as going overboard and if you go to far then your mother and I won't be able to get you out of the trouble it will get you into as we're not like the Malfoys that used to bribe people to get their son Draco out of trouble. Now go ahead and get on board as a train is going to leave any minute and just remember to write."

"Why, since you're a teacher at the school?" James questioned his usual mischievous expression returning.

Harry just laughed and pushed his son towards the bright scarlet steam engine. "Go on you scamp before you miss the train entirely."

James grinned and nodded and then was gone dragging his trunk towards the train. Just after he got onboard and had disappeared from the doorway the whistle blew signaling that it was time to get on the train before you missed it.

Harry and Ginny stood there side-by-side and watched as the Hogwarts Express started to make yet another journey towards a school that was over thousand years old.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

"Arthur Potter," Flitwick finally called causing the hall to start buzzing in excitement. Another Potter? The students buzzed in excitement. What house would he end in? Would he end up in Gryffindor like his older brother or somewhere else? What house would get the younger son of the famous Harry Potter?

Art sat down on the stool and Flitwick plopped the Sorting Hat onto his head. "Hmm, what house would fit you best?" the Sorting Hat said into Art's mind. "You're loyal enough for Hufflepuff, sly and cunning enough for Slytherin, brave enough for Gryffindor and smart enough for Ravenclaw. Hmm, you are really hard to sort since you have the traits that all the founders prized. Why don't you choose since I can't decide what house would fit you best?"

"Well I definitely would prefer not to go into Gryffindor with my brother, and I don't think my cunning or slyness are my dominant traits so I choose Ravenclaw, if you please."

"Very well then," the Hat agreed, "Ravenclaw!"

The cheering at the Ravenclaw table increased until it was so loud that it was almost impossible to hear anything else. "We got a Potter!" The students of Ravenclaw cheered as Art made his way to the correct table.

Landon finally heard his name called as he stood with the other students ready to be sorted and he immediately stepped forward and sat on the three legged stool that had been placed in the middle of the floor of the Great Hall. The Sorting Hat, was immediately plopped on his head by tiny Professor Flitwick.

"Hmmm," the Hat said. "You have a good mind, and are definitely smart enough for Ravenclaw, but you also have bravery in spades and would fit into Gryffindor as well and so which shall it be?"

"Please put me in Ravenclaw with my cousin Art," Landon silently requested politely of the Hat. "If you say I'm smart enough for Ravenclaw then just put me there."

"Yes, I see," the Hat said finally, "you have just discovered that you are related to Harry Potter this summer and have just started becoming friends with his youngest son Arthur, so yes, I think it's Ravenclaw for you as you will do well in that house."

"Ravenclaw!" the Hat shouted out loud and Ravenclaw table cheered as Lochlan approached the appropriate table.

"Lochlan Reid," called Professor Flitwick looking at his scroll that had all the students names on it.

Lochlan stepped forward and sat on the stool and although it took a few minutes soon he was also headed for the Ravenclaw table to sit with his brother and cousin.

Finally Rose, Ron and Hermione's oldest daughter was called and she too joined her cousins at the Ravenclaw table.

"Well it looks like we are all in the same house," said Rose looking around her pleased with herself. She and Art had already been friends, since they were cousins after all, and she had just started to get to know Lochlan and Landon, and so far liked them both as they were just as intelligent as her and Art, but didn't allow it to go to their heads like some people did.

"Good, I'm just glad I'm not in the same house as James," said Art. "Don't misunderstand me, I love my brother, but if we were in the same house he would make my life miserable, by pulling constant pranks on me and whoever I was with. I'd like to be able to enjoy my time at Hogwarts and not always have to look over my shoulder for the next prank."

"I definitely agree with that," Rose said who had been subjected to more then one of James pranks over the years, even if she hadn't taken the brunt of them, because she didn't live with him.

"I have a couple of start of term announcements before the feast begins," McGonagall announced standing up as soon as the last first year was sorted.

"One the Forbidden Forest is absolutely forbidden to all students. Two Mr. Pringle requests that there is no magic done in the corridors between classes. There is also a list of banned pranks in Mr. Pringle's office for those who care to view it. Now let the feast begin!" Suddenly with McGonagall's last words all the tables in the Great Hall were suddenly groaning with food and the students immediately begin to fill their plates for they were starving.

"So what's with the accent, mate?" asked one boy who looked to be at least the fourth or fifth year of the twins.

"I'm Lochlan and this is my brother Landon, we're from America."

"America? Really? Then why aren't you going to a school closer to home?" asked a first year girl sitting on the other side of the table looking interested.

The twins had already been warned that if they mentioned that they were related to Harry Potter that they would be instant celebrities and that if they wanted to keep a low profile it wasn't a good idea. Harry and Ginny had explained to the whole Reid/Hotchner household that Harry was quite famous in the wizarding world and why this was.

"Well, about 300 years ago a relative of ours was British, but he moved to America determined to have his own life away England were he was treated like spun glass. His name was Edwin and he was a squib, even though he came from a long line of purebloods. My twin and I are the first ones to inherit the magical gift in all that time. I'm guessing that the reason my family was contacted in America was because our family line was originally British and our ancestors have always gone to Hogwarts," Lochlan explained quite proud of himself for being truthful and factual, but also in not mentioning that he and his twin were descended from the Potter line.

"Wow! That's really neat," said the same girl who had asked the question. "By the way my name is Michelle Bones. It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you to, Michelle," Lochlan said shaking her hand across the table thinking she was very pretty.

"You know we weren't really all that surprised when we were contacted right after we had gotten home from summer camp for several odd things had happened around us, especially when we were small," Landon said. "It was explained to us that children with the magical talent often have incidents of accidental magic when they are angry or upset and although that didn't happen often since we were basically very happy children, there are a few incidents that come to mind."

"At the time we just dismissed those incidents as our imaginations or a trick of light like most children would and we never told our father, because he is usually a very logical and scientific type of person," Lochlan added. "Our father Spencer is very intelligent, really, he's considered a genuine genius, and doesn't usually believe in things like magic, but he wasn't really surprised either when we were finally contacted when we turned 11 back in November of last year."

"You mentioned your father but not your mother," asked another boy who was also a first year. "Sorry, haven't introduced myself, I am Greyson Owens, but you can call me Grey."

"It's nice to meet you," said Landon shaking the boys hand his twin following suit. "We didn't mention a mother because we've never had one. My father got this girl Clara that he liked pregnant while he was in college and when he found out he offered her some money in order not to get an abortion."

Everybody who was listening in gasped for abortion was not something that was considered in the wizarding world, well at least most of the time. If some witch did have an abortion she certainly didn't tell anyone about it for she would be ostracized by a lot of people. Every magical child was considered precious—at least by all but a certain faction of the population who believed that no magic user who wasn't a pureblood should ever be conceived—because a lot of time thanks to the magic a witch had a hard time getting pregnant. This wasn't true a 100 percent of the time of course, but most purebloods only had one child or at most two, the Weasleys being one of the few notable exceptions, and the same was true of some half-bloods. Muggle-borns had the easiest time getting pregnant, probably because they were the first of their line to have the magic. It seemed that the more generations of magic users their were the more difficulty witches had conceiving. Of course that was what conception potions were for, to make it easier for a witch to get pregnant.

"He told the girl, well I guess she is our mother even if we've never met her, that he would pay her a certain amount of money, but only after she had given birth. My dad was and is no fool and knew that if he gave her the money before we were born she might still have had an abortion."

"So you grew up with just your father?" asked Michelle.

"Well, there's also Sara who helped raise us because my father knew there was no way he could raise twins by himself as just one baby is a lot of work," Landon said. "She's the housekeeper, but she lives with us and helped raise us from the time we were six months old. Really she's a member of the family."

"I'm surprised that your father didn't marry her then if you guys are that close," said Grey.

The twins broke out in peals of laughter at that, laughing so hard that they almost fell over.

"What's so funny?" asked Grey looking offended.

"Just that my father marry Sara?" Lochlan chuckled. "For one thing she's at least 25 or 30 years older than him and has several grown children."

"She's been a grandmother to us ever since we were babies, but our father would never have even considered marrying her," Landon added still chuckling. Even if he wasn't very much in love with Uncle Aaron, he thought silently. "Don't get us wrong we love Sara, we do, just not like that. Besides Sara was still in mourning for her late husband when she first started working for our father who died of a heart attack."

Several other's chuckled by the time Landon had finished his explanation.

Soon after the feast ended the prefects begin to lead the line of first years towards Ravenclaw tower as they had classes in the morning an they were quite tired.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

Several days later Hotch felt his phone vibrate and he took it off his belt at looked at the text message he had been sent.

Got a letter from L & L. Will wait til u get home to read it. Am anxious to see how they are doing. Call me when u have a free minute. Ilyl and miss u.

S

Hotch smiled as he read the text message from Spencer for now he knew he had something else to look forward to for when he went home in a few hours. Having a last few days mostly alone with Spencer had been a dream come true for him as it had been for his lover. Sure there was Jack, but he had school, his friends and Sara also kept them busy working on his homework, although he and Spencer both did make sure to spend at least a couple of hours with him most evenings, so that he wouldn't feel neglected or like he was unloved.

It had taken a lot to convince Spencer that sometimes texting was better than talking on the phone, especially when he was working as he wasn't like most young people who loved to text their friends. Actually in a lot of ways Spencer was considerably old-fashioned and probably would have been more comfortable if he had been born in the 20s or 30s instead of the early 1980s, but Hotch was glad that his lover had been born, because he had been far happier in the last seven years, then he had been in all the years previously. Spencer made him feel complete, like he could take on the world and win and he knew that the younger man felt the same about him, which was one of the reasons that their relationship worked as well as it did, despite him being gone so much.

Hotch began to text Spencer back immediately.

Looking forward to seeing how L & L are doing. Should be home by 6 unless something comes up. Ilyl and miss u too.

H.

Once Hotch had sent his text he tried to get back to his paperwork, but he was having a hard time concentrating as his mind kept drifting back to the team and how they had enthusiastically greeted his return and had what seemed a million questions about why he had taken unpaid leave and what he had been doing while he and Spencer had been gone. Hotch had answered as best he could, but had to dodge quite a few of them as he couldn't exactly tell the rest of the team that the twins were now going to start to learn actual magic as not only would that have gotten him and his family in trouble, the team wouldn't have believed it, except for Garcia of course.

All he had told them was that the twins had been selected to go to a private school up in Scotland because of their intelligence and other talents and since that was mostly the truth the team had accepted it.

"So how's it going?" asked Morgan sticking his head in the door. "Beginning to miss Lochlan and Landon yet?"

"I've missed them ever since Spencer and I dropped them off at that private school in Scotland," Hotch said looking up at his friend. Derek came into the office closing the door behind him and sat down and want to Hotch's office chairs. "I admit it's been quiet since they left..."

"And you've had more time alone with Spencer since they've been gone," Morgan pointed out with something of a leer.

Hotch smiled for Morgan was spot on. "True enough and we have enjoyed having that time alone, although we've made sure to spend at least a couple of hours with Jack every day so he doesn't feel neglected."

"So this place is a boarding school?" asked Morgan curiously.

"Yes, it's year-round except for two weeks at Christmas and two and a half months in the summer. It starts on September 1st and ends in mid-June," Hotch replied. "That's one of the reasons I took the unpaid leave so Spencer and I could go check out the school for ourselves and make sure it was legit, since we had never heard of it."

"Smart," Morgan said.

"Yes, it was," Hotch said with a nod. "We asked the boys if they'd like to give it a try and they were all for the idea."

"What's the other reason you had for taking the unpaid leave?" asked Morgan curiously.

"Well it turns out that Spencer had some relatives that live in England, the Potters and we wanted to get to know them and their family."

"How did Spencer discover he had some relatives that are from England?" asked Morgan surprised.

"Well, actually it's them that found us," Hotch admitted. "Their names are Harry and Ginny Potter and they appeared at our door one day. Apparently Harry had a friend of his do some research into his family tree because his parents were killed when he was just a baby so he grew up with his aunt and uncle from his mother's side of the family. Harry was naturally curious about his father's family and when his friend Hermione discovered that the Potters had a child that moved to America about 300 years ago he tracked us down."

"You sure that they're related Spencer?" asked Morgan a little suspiciously.

"Of course," Hotch said giving Morgan a look that said that their was no way he would not have verified their story since he knew very well how many kooks were out there. Morgan looked sheepish for he knew that Hotch would do anything to protect those he loved, but his boss couldn't exactly blame him for being concerned since their were a lot of dangerous people in the world and Hotch was a member of an FBI unit that was formed to catch the bad guys. "They brought all the research that their friend did with them and it's undeniable, though it's a very distant connection. We stayed with them while we were in England and they have three children with two more on the way as Ginny is expecting twins. In fact we just had a letter from them saying that Ginny's pregnancy was going fine and that she was expecting in March, but that they might be born a few weeks earlier since twins don't usually stick to the schedule."

"So have you had a letter from Lochlan and Landon, since they went to school?" asked Morgan.

"Yes, I just got a text from Spencer saying that a letter had arrived and that he'd wait until I got home to read it."

"Man he certainly has more self-control then me, because if it was my child at a strange new school thousands of miles away, I wouldn't be able to stand not opening a letter from them to see how they are doing."

"We're not to worried about what the letter is going to say, especially since Harry is a teacher at that same school and promised to keep an eye on them and Harry takes his promises very seriously."

"So this Harry is a teacher at the same school that the twins are going to?" asked Morgan.

"As are two of his own children, the ones who are old enough to go," Hotch said.

"So are you telling me that Harry drives all the way from this school in Scotland to his home in England every day."

"Ah no," said Hotch thinking it was technically true, since Harry Apparated from one place to another as most magical people didn't drive. "I forgot to mention that they have a place in Scotland that they use during the school year and they only use the place in London during the summer." Again technically true for the Potters did have small cottage located in Scotland, that they sometimes used for long weekends.

"A schoolteacher makes enough to afford two places?" asked Morgan in surprise.

"Apparently Harry comes from a fairly wealthy family as his father's family was apparently loaded and since he was the last remaining Potter the money came to him. He inherited it when he turned 18, so even though he and Ginny both work, they don't necessarily have to. They told me that they would be bored without something to do and that they didn't want their children to grow up with an exaggerated sense of their own importance and become arrogant and full of themselves, which is exactly what Spencer did with the twins and Jack since they all have trust funds set up for them, but they don't get until they are 21."

"Wow! That's really something," Morgan said Hotch having managed to lay his suspicions to rest.

"Yes, it is," Hotch said dryly, "and unlike a lot of rich people they haven't let having a ton of money go to their heads. They are really nice and that was why Spencer and I agreed to let Lochlan and Landon spend the last couple of weeks of summer with them and their children so that the twins could start getting to know their cousins and vice versa. The twins were very excited at the opportunity and could talk of nothing else. I suspect that the letter from the twins is to tell us about their first few days of classes and if they made any friends and the like."

Morgan and Hotch chatted for a few more minutes and Hotch managed to be truthful with his subordinate and friend without revealing things he shouldn't.

Finally Morgan left and Hotch went back to doing the paperwork that had piled up in his absence.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

Hotch arrived home just before six and was greeted by Sara who said that Spencer was in the study.

"We'll bring the letter out here to the living room so we can read it," Hotch offered the housekeeper. "Why don't you go and get Jack out of his room so that he can hear it too."

"Alright," Sara agreed. "I know they've only been gone for like three weeks, but I miss them. I knew they would eventually grow up on me, but I always thought I would have them around until they went off to college, but now they are thousands of miles away."

"I know it's hard," Hotch told her giving her a hug. "I miss them to and so do Spencer and Jack, but you will still get to see them for most of the summer and for Christmas too. I know having them around for the holidays isn't the same as seeing them every day, but we have take what we can get and having them at Hogwarts is no worse then if we'd set them off to a regular boarding school as we still wouldn't see them for most of the year. Harry and Ginny made it clear that their magic had to be trained so that it would stop popping out at unexpected moments when they are angry or upset. You have to admit that there have been several times over the years where odd things happened around them when they were mad."

"Yes, that's true," said Sara. "I always dismissed it as seeing things or a figment of my imagination."

"So did all of us," Hotch assured her. "As adults we don't believe in magic since as children we are admonished whenever we see something that cannot be ordinarily explained and then tell an adult."

"Who of course don't believe their child and mark it up to imagination when they're young and if they keep it up as they get older they'll be admonished until they quit believing at all," Sara agreed. Sara sighed deeply and then headed upstairs to get Jack. "I just miss them you know?" Sara said stopping halfway up the stairs.

"All parents miss their children when they're away at school," Hotch said. "The good ones anyway and you are as much a parent to them as Spencer and I are."

Sara disappeared onto the second floor and Hotch headed to the study to greet his lover.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

"We got a letter from Lochlan and Landon, dad, Uncle Spencer?" Jack said as he bounded into the living room with his usual youthful energy.

"We sure did, son," Hotch told Jack smiling at his son's youthful enthusiasm. "Why don't you sit down and we'll read the letter out loud so that everyone can hear how they're doing."

Jack sat down and tried to be still, but he was still practically twitching with excitement. He had wished for about the millionth time that he had the talent to do magic so that he could go to Hogwarts school but unfortunately that was not to be because you had to be born with the ability. Finding out that magic was actually real was something of a revelation for the 12-year-old boy, although a welcome one. What child didn't wish that magic was real? And now he knew that it was real, but he also knew that he had to have something inside him, some ability and unfortunately he didn't. He supposed that he was just a plain ordinary muggle to use a wizarding term, not there was anything wrong with that since his dad was just like he was and so were his Uncle and Sara, so it wasn't like he was alone in being ordinary, but still it would've been ultracool if he had the ability to do magic just like the twins, although unfortunately that was not to be.

"So what does the letter say, dad?" Jack asked.

Spencer opened the letter, which was not done home ordinary paper, but on parchment instead. "Let's see shall we," Spencer said. He had the entire letter read in just a few seconds thanks to his ability to read 20,000 words a minute, but finally he began to read out loud to his attentive audience.

Dear dad, Uncle Aaron, Sara and Jack, Spencer began.

This is our first of I'm sure many letters to you our family whom we miss already even though we've only been here a few days. Hogwarts is so ultracool that it is hard to believe it is a school and not some fantastic amusement park, but that is probably only because we do not come from a wizarding family and therefore magic that is common place to the children that have grown up with it, is still weird, cool, and unreal all rolled into one to someone who didn't even realize it existed until recently.

Traveling by train was neat as we met several people onboard and have begun making friends with them. After we got to the train station we were escorted by Hagrid to some boats and went across the lake into this little anteroom, right off the Great Hall. Apparently using the boats is kind of a tradition for the first years and they are controlled by magic. After we entered the Great Hall in order to be sorted there was a welcoming feast that had every kind of food you can imagine.

By the way both of us along with Art, and his cousin Rose were all sorted into Ravenclaw. Art was so happy that he wasn't in the same house as his brother that you can't imagine how ecstatic he was to not have to put up with James pranks for the next five years.

Everybody, except Sara laughed appreciatively at this for they knew all about James pranks and they could hardly blame his younger brother for not wanting to be in the same house as him where he would be constantly having to look over his shoulder.

Anyway after the feast we were all very tired and stuffed, so the prefects led us to Ravenclaw tower and gave us the password when we went straight to bed once the first year dormitory had been pointed out to us.

The next morning we found a way to the Great Hall without too much trouble thanks to the tour that we had with Harry and Ginny and we ate a very hearty breakfast. Make sure you tell Sara that we're not going to die of hunger here as there is always plenty to eat for all three meals of the day and all of it—at least so far—is delicious, although not as good as Sara's cooking of course.

Sara sniffed at that for she had been worried about her children in all but name getting enough to eat. "Flatterer," Sara muttered, but with a pleased smile on her face.

First class of the day after breakfast was charms with Professor Filius Flitwick whom we didn't meet on the tour that the Potters gave us because he was on holiday. He is a very short person that looks to be at least partly goblin, but he is also an excellent teacher, patient, kind and helpful. He seems to be one of those people that enjoys transferring learning to his charges and at least as far as we've seen always cheerful. He is also the head of Ravenclaw house and told us that we can come to him should we have any problems at all.

Right now we are studying the levitation charm, by trying to make a feather float. Loch and I were only two of the four to succeed in this by the end of that first class and the other two were of course Rose and Art. We each were given five points apiece for succeeding in making our feather float.

After that we had transfiguration with Remus Lupin and he's really good in that subject. He apparently took over for McGonagall when she became headmistress. According to Rose and Art, Professor Lupin has had some big shoes to fill since McGonagall was apparently some kind of genius in the subject and was hired right after at Hogwarts to fill the vacant post right after she graduated. He seems to fill the position very confidently and really knows his stuff and he is also very informative and helpful.

After that we ate lunch in the Great Hall and then headed to potions which is taught by Professor Amanda Mann. We managed to brew a simple cure for boils, but I have a feeling potions it's not going to be my favorite subject as it requires a lot of nitpicking details that I just don't have the patience for. You have to stir a potion a certain number of times and prepare the ingredients exactly right, etc...etc... Of course a cure for boils is relatively simple to prepare, but Professor Mann has warned us that if we take potions past fifth year they will get more and more complicated, with a lot of different ingredients that have to be added at exactly the right time and like I said takes way more patience then I have. Unfortunately it is a required course up through the end of fifth year. By the way Lan was exactly the opposite from me and enjoyed the class more then I did as he has more patience then I do for the kind of nitpicking details that potions seems to require.

Well we'll sign off here as we have homework to do.

Love to everyone,

Lochlan and Landon

PS. Art and Rose told me to tell you hello from them, so hello. Well see you at Christmas.

The letter was done in two different handwritings so it was obvious that both twins had written parts of it.

"Seems like they're doing really well," Hotch said finally when Spencer had finished reading.

"I didn't really expect such a long letter," Spencer said as he folded the several pieces of parchment together.

Hotch knew his lover and knew that he would keep the letter in a safe place and never dispose of it.

"Why not? They're in a strange place it's the first couple of days of course their going to write you a long letter to let you know how they're doing. They love you both and want you to know that they're okay," Sara said.

"I agree with Sara," Hotch said. "I'm sure we'll get plenty of other letters and some will probably be long and others will be short, but I won't be surprised if they come every couple of days for awhile until they really start settling in and start to make friends."

"It sounds like they've already made a couple of friends," Sara pointed out.

"Well, yes," Hotch admitted, "but Art is their cousin and Rose is related to the Potter children through their mother's side of the family, so the twins and Rose are not related, but I would still like them to make friends with other children their own age that aren't related to them."

"Give it a few weeks," Spencer suggested, "once they have a chance to settle into classes I'm sure they'll start to make friends. They're bound to be in their dormitory with several other boys so perhaps we'll hear about them in a letter sometime soon."

"I wish I could go," Jack said longingly. "It would be so cool!"

"That it would be," Hotch agreed smiling at his son, "but unfortunately magic doesn't run in our family at least as far as I know anyway."

"And did you think what I would do with no children at all to look after," Sara sniffed looking offended. "It's bad enough that the twins off at Hogwarts and I won't see them accept at Christmas and the summer, are you willing to deprive me of having any children to take care of?"

"No of course not," Jack assured her getting up from where he was sitting and going to give Sara a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You know I love you."

"It's bad enough that it won't be too much longer before you're off to college."

"That is still years away," Hotch said his voice even. He knew was going to happen he didn't like to think of his son being all grown up on him. He knew that he needed to let Jack go when the time came, but it was going to be hard and Hotch was sure that all parents had the same problem about letting their kids grow up and have their own lives, the good ones anyway.

"It'll be here sooner than you think," Sara said. "He's already 12, in six or seven years he'll be going off to college and that might seem a long time away now, but the time will pass quickly."

"I would think you'd be happy to be able to relax some now that the twins aren't here," Spencer added with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "You only have Jack to look after now and that should give you more time to do some things for yourself."

Sara sniffed at that and told Spencer quite smartly making Hotch grin in amusement, "I am what is known as a caregiver, I am never happier then when I have people to care for and love."

"And also makes you very good at what you do," Spencer told her with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Exactly," Sara sniffed again causing the two other adults to grin at each other in amusement, although no one actually dared laugh as they didn't want to offend the older lady.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

A few days later another letter arrived and when he did Hotch just happened to be home for once.

"We have another letter," Hotch told Spencer as he just happened to be in the study where the box was located doing some paperwork.

"Let me get Sara and then we can read it," Spencer said.

Jack unfortunately was not home at that time as he was out with some of his friends and they weren't about to wait to read a letter from their sons.

Spencer returned with Sara and once they were seated Hotch opened the letter, scanned it quickly, although not as fast as Spencer could and then said, "It's from Harry instead of the twins."

"Well what does it say?" Sara asked interested

Dear Spencer, Aaron and family, Hotch began.

I thought I'd write this letter to you to let you know how the twins are doing. They are actually doing really well in most of their subjects and certainly much better than most first years. They are very talented. As you know I teach defense against the dark arts, which really is a very important class especially when the war was upon us back when I was going to school. I am proud to say that both Lochlan and Landon seem to have a real knack for the subject and the truth of the matter is they remind me of me when I was taking it the only difference being that they won't have a different teacher every school year because of the curse placed on the position. When I was going to school Voldemort was still active even if he was only a wraith for some 13 years, no teacher could keep the defense against the dark arts position for more than a single school year and they usually ended up either dying or leaving for one reason or another. Having different teachers every school year wouldn't have been so bad if not for the fact that not a single one of them, with the exception of Remus Lupin, 3rd year, knew how to teach defense or even how to do it themselves.

What Dumbledore was thinking at the time when he hired people like Gilderoy Lockhart I don't know. Perhaps it was the best he could do as there weren't exactly a lot of people knocking down the headmaster's door looking to teach defense.

In any case the twins are doing exceptionally well in my class and while they're not always the first to get a new defense technique they are certainly never the last.
Lochlan and Landon also visit me when they have free time and we've been getting to know each other. The three of us talk about the wizarding world and I try to educate them about our world and how different it is from the muggle one. Really I'm trying to save them from being sneered at by purebloods that think they're better than anyone else and some other people as well. A lot of muggle-borns have trouble adjusting to the wizarding world as it is nothing like the muggle one that they are familiar with. It is better to give the muggle-borns and muggle raised a foundation upon which to build while still keeping their muggle roots although a lot of magical people don't agree with this idea. I have suggested more than once about having a class that would teach muggle-borns about the wizarding worlds, the basics like banking and how our world is different from the one that they have grown up in until they found out that they had magic. Our world is absolutely nothing like the muggle one as for one thing we are at least 150 years behind muggles technology. There are many misconceptions among magic users about people who have no magic. For one thing a lot of magic users believe that muggles don't have two brain cells to rub together, but what they don't realize or perhaps refuse to acknowledge is that fact that muggles and magic users are all still basically the same, except for that fact that we can use an energy or perhaps a better word is force to do things without the use of technology, while they have to do things the hard way. Just because we are different in this way does not mean that we are not fundamentally the same and a lot of magic users fail to realize this and are taught to believe that they are better then anybody else, especially someone who has no magic at all.

The wizarding world has improved a great deal since I was a student as now a lot of witches and wizards have cell phones and understand how they work, although not everybody approves of the change, but that is mostly older people who would like things to remain as they have always been. Certain muggle technology has been introduced into the wizarding world as well and so the world of magic is a lot less quaint then it used to be, but it has had to be done slowly as it takes time for magical folks, especially the older ones to accept that we must be a little less stubborn in changing or pretty soon we will start to stick out even more we do now when we go out in to the muggle world. Slowly but surely the younger generation is learning to use muggle technology and also how to fit in to the muggle world much easier than their elders and this is a good thing as muggles have the advantage of numbers over magical folks and it is much better to fit in then to be thought of as odd and be ostracized.

Lochlan and Landon are both very intelligent young men and seem to grasp their lessons with ease and are always willing to help their classmates understand what it is they have been taught. What is truly amazing is that they are popular not just with their own Ravenclaw classmates, but have started making friends across house lines and that is a very rare ability to have as most students tend to stick to their own housemates and don't bother to make friends with anybody from another house. I have seen them hanging around with Franklin Longbottom, who is the oldest son of Neville and Luna two very dear friends. Frank is a Gryffindor just like his father was and is also in his first year as well. I have also seen them hanging around with several first years from Hufflepuff and they seem to be taking the time to really become good friends with other students in other houses and not just their own, so you should be very proud of them for being willing to put up with the peer pressure to only make friends with their own house for it is a very rare trait indeed to not be willing to be forced to conform so as not to be ostracized. Having friends among the other house is not as looked down on as it was doing my school days because of that time we were at war and certain factions, Slytherins in particular, made everybody who didn't share their pureblood attitude miserable. Attitudes of the last 15 years have also changed and a lot of magic users who survived the war have taught their the children tolerance unlike what it was in my day and especially my parents day.

If we are very lucky our children will never know war like we did and they will never have to fight for their lives or the lives of their friends. If we were even luckier we will not see another Dark Lord in our lifetime or even better our children's lifetime. A lot of the reason that Voldemort became so powerful was a lot of the I am better then anyone else attitudes back in my parents and my day and also witches and wizard being unwilling or unable to do anything about them as most of our society are a nation of followers who instead of thinking for ourselves let the government do it for us. There's nothing wrong with that so long as the government is not corrupt, but when it is it is a good thing to be able to think for yourself instead of following someone that might lead you and your family into harm's way. Things have changed over the last 15 years for the better, mostly, even though it's a very slow process so hopefully this will stop another Dark Lord from rising for a very long time. If another Dark Lord does rise I intend for my students to be ready to defend themselves if it is necessary for them to do so unlike in my day where most of our defense instructors couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag, much less teach us defense.

The only cloud on the horizon seems to be some of the Slytherins who come from old pureblood families that managed to stay out of Azkaban. Tyler Nott and Finley Parkinson are just like their parents in the the fact that all the pureblood crap has been instilled in them by their families and both have gone out of their way to be nasty to not only Lochlan and Landon, but anyone whose parents don't have magic. The rules here at Hogwarts are much stricter then when Dumbledore was in charge and anybody caught in any wrongdoing is immediately given detention or points taken depending on the severity of the offense. If you were defending yourself because you were attacked then that is different and he is the attacker that will be penalized. Unfortunately when Dumbledore was in charge he was very lax on discipline and let the students practically get away with murder. Children need to be punished when they do something wrong so that they can learn that such behaviors are unacceptable, because a lot of them won't ever learn any better if they are allowed to act any way they want without fear of being punished for their behavior. So what if some of the children have very rich parents? The parents sent them to school to learn and if they are allowed to get away with unhealthy behavior like bullying or casting a hex when someone's back is turned then how are they ever to learn to be decent citizens? Sorry to get up on my soapbox, but this has always been a bit of a pet peeve of mine and about how Dumbledore always let some students off with just a slap on the wrist so to speak. Doing that only encourages them to act worse and instead they should have been suspended or expelled for certain behavior. There should always be a line that if they cross it gets those actions to be taken. Luckily ever since the war we have a much more honest government and a better headmistress who understands that sometimes such actions are necessary in order to get certain students to correct their behavior. Money no longer has the power that it once did, although I realize that there will always be corrupt people in the world. Luckily we have a very honest Minster of Magic who runs a tight ship and certain laws have been passed that make it hard to bribe someone and if they do and are caught stiffer penalties and fines usually stop them from accepting a bribe again. Also Veritaserum has started being used on the employees of the Ministry of Magic once every six months to ensure that they remain honest as we don't want another dark wizard to rise again anytime soon or that anyone is not using their position for their own ends. Kingsley told me once that he was sorry that these kind measures were necessary, but he wanted to ensure that another dark wizard did not rise after Voldemort as we lost a lot of good witches and wizards and entire family lines were wiped out completely as Ginny and I told you when we first met. All ministry employees must sign a waiver that they will allow the administering of Veritaserum twice a year and if they don't then they are not allowed to work in the ministry, no matter how qualified.

I know you were wondering what this Veritaserum is, so I will tell you that it is a very powerful truth serum kind of like sodium pentathol in the muggle world. It forces you to tell the absolute truth to any questions that are asked of you.

I know this might seem as if we violating peoples rights and privacy, but it's only done for the ones that work in the ministry and they sign a waiver before they are hired. Using Veritaserum might seem like we're going to extremes, but we cannot afford to have another government that is so corrupt that innocent people are thrown into Azkaban like my godfather was, without a trial and other peoples lives are ruined because all the government cares about is a certain section of the population, namely the purebloods.

The purebloods ran things for too long and bribed government officials in order to get their way, whether that was getting a discriminatory law passed or putting someone in Azkaban without a trial like my godfather Sirius Black. Anybody who wasn't a pureblood did not get the top positions in the government back in my father's and my day and people were hired not because they were qualified for the position, but due to their heritage and bloodlines.

The twins have their flying class in a couple of weeks and I'll let you know how it goes unless they write you first. If you're anything like me they will feel like they were born to fly and I know that if their any good they will be begging you to buy them brooms so they can try out for the Quidditch team.

And yes I realize that most first years aren't allowed to have their own brooms, but that's only because a lot of them don't know how to fly when they first come to Hogwarts, and in fact never heard of flying on a broom, which is muggle-borns for the most part. I was let on the team during my first year because in my first flying class because I rescued Neville's Remembrall before it hit the ground, no thanks to Draco Malfoy. I did a dive and caught it and didn't even get a scratch and on an old, outmoded broom that really needed to be replaced that is practically considered a miracle. My father was apparently a Chaser on the Gryffindor team, while I was a Seeker. So you see exceptions have been made in the past and probably will be in the future.

I had better cut this letter off here as the house-elves have called us for dinner. I hope we can become good friends as you learn more about the wizarding world and I and Ginny would be happy to help with that, so if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask either in person or a letter and we will answer it if we can.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely

Harry

"Well that was certainly… interesting," Sara said after a moment.

"It was," Hotch agreed as he folded the letter carefully. "A lot of what he wrote about though we witnessed for ourselves when we visited the Ministry of Magic while we were gone."

"Harry told us that it used to be much worse the way that purebloods treated others like something nasty on the bottom of their shoe before Kingsley was minster. Some people that work there still feel that way, but they don't dare voice them, especially in the ministry or they could get themselves in trouble and be up for an inquiry at the very least."

"Kingsley told us that the ministry is so changed from when he used to work in the Auror under Cornelius Fudge that it's practically a different place. Creatures like house-elves, centaurs and goblins are treated with more respect by most people then they ever have been before and there is better understanding about muggles, so all and all the wizarding world is a lot safer and more open minded place then it was before Voldemort was defeated," Spencer said.

"That's a good thing then," Sara said.

"That it is," Hotch agreed, "although no form of government is perfect, just look at our own, it at least looks after the rights of the people like it's supposed to instead of stepping all over them."

"And that is the way it should be," Spencer said firmly and the other two people nodded in agreement.

"Well it sounds like the twins are learning a lot," said Sara.

"That it does," said Spencer who looked somewhat pensive for a moment.

"You okay?" asked Hotch gently looking at his lover's expression.

"Yeah, I just miss the twins is all," Spencer said. "I know they are learning a lot, but at least if they were going to regular school I would get to see them every day. I'll be okay. The letters do help and it is better then not hearing from them at all, but..."

"You still miss them," Hotch said.

"Yeah," Spencer said looking sheepish. "I know I have to let them grow up, but..."

"It's hard," said Sara with feeling knowing exactly how Spencer felt as she missed them to, probably as much as Spencer did.

"Exactly," Spencer agreed leaning his head on Hotch's shoulder.

"They'll be home in a few months for Christmas," Hotch said placing an arm around Spencer's thin shoulders and holding him close kissing the top of his head.

"That's still over three months away though," Spencer whined looking dejected.

"We'll just have to find you a hobby to keep you busy," Hotch said understanding very well how Spencer felt as he missed them to, although probably not as much as his lover did since he was their father.

"Maybe you could try writing a book?" Sara suggested. "I always thought you would make a good writer, with you being so intelligent."

"You know that's not a bad idea," Spencer admitted thoughtfully. "I never thought of myself as a writer, but it would certainly give me something to do, while you are at work and the twins are at school. What could I write about though?"

"Nonfiction?" Hotch suggested. "Historical novels?"

"That might not be a bad idea as I've noticed that a lot of historical novels are inaccurate. I'll have to do some research on the subject."

Hotch and Sara smiled at each other over Spencer's head and knew that they had given him food for thought at least.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

Finally it was Christmastime and Sara and Spencer were expecting the twins home at any moment for the next two weeks. Finally the twins arrived right in the middle of the living room along with their trunks as one minute they weren't there and the next they were.

Spencer of course was there since he didn't really have a job that he had to be at and so was Jack and Sara, while Hotch was still at work.

"Welcome home," Spencer said as he gave each one of them hugs. "I missed you so much."

"We missed you too, dad," both twins answered at the same time grinning while returning the hugs.

"Hey don't I get any hugs?" asked Sara trying to sound put out with them.

Lochlan and Landon turned towards her and hugged her as well at the same time. "We missed you too," Landon assured her giving her a kiss on one cheek while at the same time Lochlan gave her a kiss on the other one.

"And we especially missed your cooking," Lochlan added with a grin his eyes sparkling mischievously.

Sara hugged the two boys to her and was glad that they were home for the next two weeks before they had to go back to school.

"Come on tell me all about Hogwarts," Jack begged.

"Alright," Landon agreed as he gave Jack a hug. "We missed you big brother."

"I've missed you too and often wished I could be at Hogwarts with you."

"We do to," Lochlan agreed.

"Why don't you wait until your uncle gets home before you start telling us all about your time at school," Spencer suggested. "For now why don't you just go unpack and give your dirty clothes to Sara and by the way I'll take your wands and put them in the safe so you won't be tempted to experiment with them and get yourselves hurt."

"Ah, dad," both twins protested at the same time.

"I know your curiosity, and I know you'll be tempted to experiment with spells while you're at home and risk getting yourself hurt or worse. You'll get them back before you leave for school in a couple of weeks," Spencer ordered sternly holding out his hand expectantly.

Both twins reluctantly handed their father their wands and Spencer took them from his sons.

"I'm sorry about this, sons," Spencer told his son sympathetically, "but neither Aaron or I want you to get hurt experimenting with spells when there's nobody to watch you to make sure you do it correctly and considering how curious you both are you would both end up experimenting before the end of vacation and we can't exactly help you since we don't have magic. Harry warned us that your wands wouldn't register in the States since they were bought in England. He said that the Americans have a different way of tracking magic wands then they do."

"We understand dad," Lochlan assured his father still looking disappointed, though he really did understand what their father was talking about. If they experimented and got hurt in the process what could their family really do for them since they didn't have any magic to reverse the effects and what if they were seriously hurt and they needed serious medical attention?

"Now why don't you to go unpack," Sara told them gently. "I'll prepare a snack while you're gone. I baked chocolate chip cookies just this morning."

The twins cheered at this announcement and headed upstairs dragging their trucks behind them with ease since they both had lightening charms on them to make them only weigh a few pounds no matter how much was in them.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

The Christmas holiday was going well, Hotch thought with a small smile as he watched the three children run out the back door so that they could play in the snow. Virginia had gotten quite a lot of snow this year as their were over 6 inches, perfect for building snowmen or making snowballs for a fight.

"It's good to have Lochlan and Landon home, isn't it?" Spencer asked as he came to stand beside Hotch who was staring out the window.

Hotch looked at his lover and said, "Yes, it is and I'm sure you are, especially happy as I know how much you missed your sons."

"I am happy to have them home," Spencer admitted, "but I've enjoyed having more time just you and me too. If you weren't on call I probably would have suggested that all of us take a vacation somewhere as a family since all three boys are growing up way to fast on both of us, but since you are we can't do that."

"Maybe next year we can," Hotch suggested smiling at the thought, "we can take the boys somewhere we've never been before. You're right, they're growing up way too fast on us and it won't be many more years before we have the house to ourselves, except for Sara."

"By then she'll probably be ready for retirement by that time though," Spencer said, "as she isn't exactly young anymore."

"Maybe you're right, but this is her home I have a feeling that she'll be serving us until she's old and gray which is hopefully many years in the future," Hotch said.

"Oh I would never throw her out of her home," Spencer promised, "as I love her too, but if she asked to retire I wouldn't say no. I know she was initially hired to help look after the twins, but she really has become an integral part of this little family and looks after all of us very well."

"I agree," Hotch said who had come to love Sara just as much as he loved Spencer and the three children, just in different ways.

"So do you think Lochlan and Landon will marry witches or muggles like us?" asked Spencer.

"Only time will tell," Hotch said. "Really they're too young to start dating right now, although I am aware that it won't be much longer before they reach that age where they find girls no longer icky and start seeing them as attractive."

"Will you be shocked if one of them turns out like you and me?" asked Spencer.

Hotch thought about it then shook his head, "Not really, although I'm not sure how accepting the wizarding world will be if one them turns out to like their own sex."

"Or our world either," Spencer agreed, "Just look at all the crap we've had to put up with, when people realize we are a couple."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to," Hotch said. "Hopefully it won't affect their careers if that does happen. Of course it's also possible that they'll both find girlfriends and not boyfriends."

"And even if it does affect whatever careers they eventually choose, thanks to their trust funds they won't starve, although I would rather not have them depending on their trust funds for their livelihoods."

"There's no point in worrying about it now when they are two young to even consider having girlfriends or boyfriends right now," Hotch said.

"It won't be long though," Spencer said looking pensive. "Harry warned me that at least 85% of the wizarding world marry right out of Hogwarts, like he and Ginny did and that could very well happen with Lochlan and Landon."

"If it happens, it happens," said Hotch with a shrug. "It isn't like they need to get a good job before getting married, since they do have their trust funds and yes, I know they can't touch them until they are 21, but do you really think that Harry hasn't opened to accounts at Gringotts in the twins names?"

"He wouldn't do that without asking us first would he?" asked Spencer looking startled as it had never occurred to him that Harry would do that, although he knew it should have since Harry was one of those people who didn't bother to ask permission if he felt like he was doing the right thing and technically the twins were Potters, even if it was a very distant connection.

"Yes, I believe he would," Hotch said. "He's one of those people that believe that being rich is a burden, especially since he only inherited it, because his parents were murdered. If he had gotten it because they died of natural causes it would be different. Besides, technically the twins are Potters and you do things for family or those you consider family that you wouldn't do for anybody else."

"You're right," Spencer said trying to figure out how he felt about Harry giving his sons money, probably a lot money.

"Don't let it bother you," Hotch told Spencer. "Harry isn't trying to say that we can't take care of our sons, just that they're his family as much as ours and until recently all the family he had, at least from the Potter side was his children. Don't make a big deal out of it because of pride."

"Would you be saying the same if it was Jack?" asked Spencer with an eyebrow raised incredulously.

"Absolutely," Hotch assured his mate, "so long as I was sure that he was doing it for the right reasons and not to try to cause a split in the family or for darker purposes. Harry doesn't expect anything in return for his generosity, expect to get to know the family he never knew he had until recently and no one can blame him for that."

"I suppose," Spencer finally agreed, knowing that Hotch had more experience in the the world then he did and so he would trust his lover's judgement on the matter.

"Think of it like an inheritance," Hotch suggested, "and maybe if you do it won't bother you so much. Say if you had a distant uncle that had died and left your sons a lot of money."

"That does make me feel better," Spencer admitted after he had thought about it that way for a few minutes.

"Good," Hotch said. "So why don't we shelve this discussion for a later date and go upstairs while the boys are busy," Hotch suggested with a smirk and Spencer immediately felt his insides squirm in happy anticipation and agreed immediately knowing exactly what his lover was talking about and also that he was trying to distract him, which he greatly appreciated.

The two of them turned from where they were watching the boys playing in the snow and headed upstairs arm and arm.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~

One month later

"They is here, they is here," a squeaky voice shouted excitedly waking Hotch and Spencer out of a deep sleep.

Hotch sat up immediately reaching for his gun that was on the bedside table and demanded, "Who's there?"

"Dobby, is sorry I woke you up, but Master Harry told me to come and tell you that Mistress Ginny has had the twins and wants you to come and visit and see them."

Spencer flicked on the light that was on his bedside table and both he and Hotch were able to see the strange creature that had spoken. It was a house-elf like the ones that worked at Potter Manor.

"You work for the Potters then?" asked Spencer as he finally came fully awake.

"Yes, sir," Dobby said looking sheepish that he had scared them so much. "Master Harry gave me instructions to see if you want to come see the twins. He told me not to scare you that you wouldn't be expecting me, but I was so excited as their hasn't been a birth in the Potter family in almost ten years. I is sorry that I frightened you. He also told me to give you this," Dobby added handed over rolled piece of parchment that was tied with a ribbon.

Hotch removed the ribbon and unrolled Harry's quick note.

Both Spencer and Hotch recognized the handwriting immediately as they should considering how many letters Harry had written them over the last few months.

Dear Spencer and Aaron,

Sorry, to bother you and I hope this letter finds you well. I just wanted to let you know about the birth of two more sons to the Potter family and thought you might want to come and see the newest members of the Noble and Ancient House of Potter. Ginny is exhausted, but fine and is very happy with her two newest sons, although we were both secretly hoping for at least one daughter. If you want to Dobby will bring you to visit as house-elves have no trouble transporting themselves or others across great distances, although it is not commonly known that they are capable of transporting anybody but themselves. If you aren't interested just tell Dobby and he will inform me that you were unable to make it.

Harry

"You like children then?" Spencer asked curiously as Hotch handed him the note and he read it in about two seconds.

"All house-elves love children and are often used to look after infants and are often used to raise them by the wealthy of the wizarding world," Dobby informed them looking sad. "Master Harry and Mistress Ginny never did that though and raised them themselves, although I, another house-elf or Mrs. Wheezy were asked to babysit while they were working."

It took a second for Hotch and Spencer to translate Mrs. Wheezy to Mrs. Weasley Ginny's mother.

"Well as long as we are awake we might as well get dressed," Hotch said and Spencer nodded getting out of bed, yawning hugely looking incredibly sleepy, but also incredibly adorable at least in Hotch's humble opinion. "It's just as well that tomorrow is Saturday and I don't have to work unless I get called on a case, so if Ginny had to have the twins the timing couldn't have been much better, although she is about a month early."

"That happens all the time with multiple births," Spencer said who had read a lot on the subject. "It's a very rare event when twins or triplets are born on time instead of early. Twins are usually born anywhere from a month to six weeks early while triplets are typically six to eight weeks before their due date."

Hotch shook his head as it always amazed him even after all the years he had known Spencer how he could spout off facts even at 2:45 in the morning.

"Well, ready to go?" asked Spencer as soon as he had pulled on his socks and shoes.

"Yes," Hotch said who had been in the bathroom giving himself a shave and brushing his teeth. "Let's leave a note for Sara and Jack so they don't worry if we're not here when they get up in the morning."

"Ah, good idea," Spencer agreed, taking a legal pad out of the nightstand drawer on his side of the bed and a pen and wrote a quick note. "I'll just leave this in the kitchen for Sara where she will be sure to see it and then she can tell Jack," Spencer said leaving the room and heading down the stairs as quietly as possible so that he didn't wake of the other two occupants in the house.

It wasn't more then five minutes later that Spencer returned closing the bedroom door quietly behind him.

"We're ready to go," Hotch told Dobby who nodded from where he was standing in the corner quietly watching the activity.

"Each of you grab one of my arms," Dobby instructed them.

Spencer and Hotch did so and suddenly they felt weightless for just a second and when they reappeared they were standing in the lobby of St. Mungo's hospital in the middle of London England.

"Wow, what a rush," Spencer said shaking his head since he was just a little dizzy.

"I'll be going now," Dobby said, "to inform Master Harry that you are here."

"Thank you, Dobby," Hotch said causing the little house-elf to blush.

"You is welcome. The reception desk is over there just tell them that you are relatives of Harry Potter's and they will take you to him," Dobby said as he snapped his fingers and disappeared.

Hotch and Spencer did as Dobby said and asked the receptionist to tell them what floor that maternity was on and that they were relatives of Harry's.

The receptionist as well as the few people in the lobby looked at the two men strangely, because of their very obvious American accents, but since Harry had already made sure they were on the list of people that were allowed to come and see Ginny in her room the receptionist simply pointed them towards the elevators and told them the correct floor.

~~~Hotch and Reid~~~