A/N: uuuugggghhhhhh I'm already failing at the whole "quick upload" thing. I was planning on uploading so many chapters because I've been on winter recess, but um...as you can see, that didn't happen. I've had a MAJOR case of writer's block, and that combined with constant headaches, the holidays, and homework... well, you know. Enough excuses from me though! I had this written like 2 weeks ago, but I wasn't happy with it. (I'm still not if you were wondering.) I've read over it about 500 times and changed things even more than that... and it's still not quite how I want it to be. BUT. I needed to upload it anyways. So here it is! *silent cheers from my invisible fans*

Thank you again to all of you who have been reading, favoriting, following and reviewing! It means so much! As always, I don't own anything and it all belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Sorry, one more thing. Well two technically. First, I already have the next chapter written and I'm finishing up with editing it right now, so I'll put it up as quickly as I can to make up for how long this one took... Second, there's a hidden movie quote in here. I won't tell you what it is, but it's from ICE AGE so if you can tell me the character who said it: brownie points for you! Please review and tell me what you think/any suggestions or theories you may have or any questions!

Ahem. Chapter 2.

Chapter 2

...

Draco's icy gray gaze remained glued on Hermione as she paced around their spacious room. She came to a stop by the loveseat and sat down lightly on the edge, clasping her hands in her lap.

"Dra-"

"No."

Her jaw clenched tightly at his blatant refusal; her eyes flashing. "Draco you can't just refuse to help him."

"Hermione did you see her wrists?" Draco growled in response. "I am not helping the boy who did that to her."

"If this is because he's Harry's son," Hermione warned, standing back up and walking over to stand in front of Draco; her wet hair dripping onto her bathrobe. "So help me, I will hex you until you cannot remember your own name."

"This is not because James is Potter's son," Draco responded sharply. "Doesn't it bother you that someone Evanna has known since birth; someone who we trust, attacked her at school? Somewhere that should be safe?"

"Of course it bothers me," Hermione hissed, her eyes flashing as Draco rose from his seat; towering over her. "I'm infuriated that something like this happened. But Evanna has sound evidence that James was poisoned with an anti-love potion, and I choose to believe that that is what propelled James into attacking her; not something else."

"Hermione, anti-love potions aren't just something you can pick up in Diagon Alley," Draco pointed out; attempting to stifle the anger out of his voice. "There is a reason they're classified as poisons."

"I'm not stupid Draco," Hermione retorted. "I know they aren't common. But we live in a world that's plagued by Death Eaters, and with them around stuff like that isn't necessarily hard to come by. I don't have a doubt that this was somehow caused by them."

"Death Eaters or not, I'm not extremely inclined to assist James Potter," Draco replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh you are impossible!" Hermione groaned; shooting him a fierce glare before entering her closet and shutting the door.

"I'm the impossible one?" Draco muttered to himself as he walked to the bathroom that adjoined the pair of closets.

He showered somewhat slower than he usually did; letting the warm water soften the tension in his shoulders and wash away the majority of his frustrations. He took his time changing, and preparing for bed before he re entered their room. The door to Hermione's closet was still tightly shut, and at the moment, he didn't feel much like convincing her to come out. Draco pulled down the comforters and duvets on the bed, crawling under them and laying completely still; his eyes fixed on the ceiling. The silk sheets felt cold without Hermione. Why was he fighting against her on this? He knew perfectly well that he was able to make an antidote for James…. so why was he so reluctant? It wasn't like he and Potter where enemies anymore; sure they weren't the best of friends, but they always seemed to get along fine. Was it really because of their history that he was hesitant? Or was it solely the fact that James Potter had hurt his daughter?

His silent thoughts were interrupted by the sheets shifting around him; Hermione's small body slipping in beside his. He didn't say anything, and neither did she. They just lay beside each other; thinking. Eventually Hermione turned to him, remaining silent for a few moments more before she spoke.

"Do you really not want to help James?" She whispered, her voice free of all the anger and frustrations it had held before.

Draco didn't answer immediately; mulling over his answer. "I do want to help James," he finally replied, turning so they faced each other. "Just, part of me is convinced that it's not poison that made him act like that."

"You really believe James would suddenly lash out without a reason?" Hermione questioned.

"I don't know Hermione. We've known James since he was born.. you're his godmother even. I just know that stress and environments like the one we all live in tend to take their toll on a person," Draco said quietly. "That combined with what Evanna said was Firewhiskey…. well that inhibits one's rational side quite drastically."

"Draco," Hermione whispered, sitting up slightly so she could look into his eyes. "Promise me, that tomorrow we can at least talk to Ginny and Harry? Maybe they know something we don't about what's happening with James."

"Alright," he agreed, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Hermione nodded, a hint of a smile lining her face as she lay back down, curling up against Draco's chest. He wrapped his arms around her, burying his nose in her curly brown hair as she pulled the duvets up over their shoulders.

"I'm sorry I was cross with you," Draco murmured into her hair; stifling a yawn.

"I know. And I'm sorry I yelled," Hermione whispered in response. "It's not your fault."

Draco yawned for real, making a disgruntled sound against her hair. Hermione smiled, snuggling down further into the bed; Draco's gentle breathing already putting her to sleep.

…

…

Evanna gripped her wand tightly, firing another hex directly at Evander, who tucked his arms in and rolled out of the way; standing quickly and returning her hexes with an added ferocity.

"You know rolling really slows you down in the long run right?" Evanna questioned, turning to block an incoming spell from Scorpius.

"But I look good doing it," Evander smirked. "Besides, I won't do that if we were actually in a real fight."

"Whatever," Evanna grumbled, flinging another hex his way.

"So you figured out what was wrong with James huh?" Evander questioned as the three siblings continued their controlled training; slowly circling each other around the cushioned room.

He stumbled as he was hexed from behind; having to drop to the ground to avoid Evanna's hex as well as the ones now coming from Scorpius. He swore under his breath, rolling over to knock his brother's feet out from underneath him before spinning around to return Evanna's attacks.

"Death Eaters aren't going to let you knock them over 'Vander," Scorpius coughed; trying to regain the breath that had been knocked out of his chest when he had crashed to the floor..

"Who said anything about them letting me?" Evander responded, holding up his hand to signal Evanna to put a halt to their small battle.

Scorpius laughed, light coughs interrupting him periodically. "Well I guess you're good then," he sighed, letting his arms fall from his chest down to lay beside him on the floor.

"Are you alright?" Evanna questioned, crouching down on the matted floor beside her younger brother.

"I'm fine 'Vanna," he replied, raising himself so he was leaning back on his elbows. "Just got the breath knocked out of me. But not my brain," he added, glancing up at Evander teasingly.

"Hey. I still have a brain," Evander laughed, offering Scorpius his hand. "I couldn't be passing History of Magic without it."

"Everyone passes History of Magic 'Vander," Scorpius pointed out, accepting his brother's hand. "You could sleep through that class and still pass."

"Well that's not entirely true."

Scorpius laughed, running his hands quickly down his shirt to brush off the dust that had stuck to it when he fell. "So V… you never answered his question. Did you finally figure out what was wrong with James?"

Evanna nodded, reaching up to tighten her ponytail. "I'm almost positive that it's an anti-love potion."

"An anti-love potion? What the heck is that?" Scorpius questioned, one pale eyebrow arched as he looked at her.

"It's basically the same as a love potion," Evander answered, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Except that it has the opposite effect."

"And that means?"

"It means that instead of being increasingly attracted to me, James' feelings towards me would take a serious downward plunge," Evanna answered quietly.

"That's definitely a problem," Scorpius responded, running his fingers through his hair. "And it makes sense with what happened between you too. It seemed weird that he would attack you like that. You've been friends practically forever."

"I know," Evanna smiled sadly. "I just hope dad can help him."

"Why wouldn't he be able to? I mean, he runs a potions company that has a major department revolving around antidotes," Scorpius pointed out.

"Anti-love potions are dangerous Scorp," Evander commented, glancing at Evanna. "If you don't fix it soon enough after the person is poisoned, it ends up killing them."

"Killing who?"

All three siblings turned to the doorway of the training room where Callista stood; her hand still on the door, and her phone in the other.

"Cal. What are you doing down here?" Evander questioned.

"I'm not coming to join in on your training if that's what you were thinking," she answered, rolling her eyes as she stepped into the room.

"Well duh. You're not old enough," Scorpius teased.

"I'm plenty old enough," Callista argued. "I know spells that you three have never even heard of. Mum and Dad just don't think it's safe for me to be battling with you just yet."

"Right," Scorpius laughed.

"If you two are done rowing, what did you need Cal?" Evanna asked, tucking her wand into the holder strapped to her leg.

"The Potters are here and mum wanted me to come and get you," Callista answered. "I think it's got something to do with James."

Evanna nodded, jogging to the corner of the room to pick up her discarded sweater; slipping it over her tank top. "Are they in one of the sitting rooms?"

"No, they're in one of dad's labs. At least they should be by now. They were heading there when I came to get you," Callista answered. "Oh and Scorpius? Delanie said you promised to play Princess Rainbow with her."

Scorpius' eyes widened slightly and he blew out a quick stream of air. "Forgot about that," he said, half to himself.

"Well you are her favorite, so you should probably get up there so you stay in good graces," Evander teased, bumping Scorpius lightly on the shoulder.

"Very funny," Scorpius laughed drily. "Lanie doesn't play with you anymore because she claims you almost beheaded Princess Saphire Rainbow."

"I didn't," Evander groaned. "I left for a second and then came back and stepped on the doll accidentally. It's head wasn't even close to coming off. She's exaggerating."

Evanna laughed, shaking her head as she left the training room; Callista trailing after her. "I think your idea of poison is really accurate," she commented, stopping as Evanna halted in front of her.

"What makes you say that?" Evanna questioned, spinning to face her younger sister.

"Well after we talked about it, I did a little more reading and all your facts make sense. It just seems like the most logical explanation."

"You said that when I first told you I thought James had been poisoned," Evanna said. "Why did it come up right now?"

"I saw James before I came down to get you," Callista replied quietly. "He looked really awful.

"What happened?" Evanna questioned, paling slightly.

"I don't know," Callista replied truthfully. "But he looks sick. Either that or he hasn't gotten enough sleep. There are bags under his eyes, his hair looks messier than normal and he just looks about ready to vomit."

Evanna's brow furrowed and she turned and continued down the hall without another word. James. He was sick….poisoned….possibly dying and somehow it all came back to her. Why? She carefully opened the door to her father's largest lab, quietly standing by the door while she focused on the conversation happening in front of her.

"This is outrageous. James hasn't been poisoned. The stomach flu always comes around this time of year," Harry argued, staring stonily at Draco and Hermione.

"Harry…" Ginny murmured, placing her hand on his shoulder. "It does make sense."

"But it doesn't. For this to have happened to James, someone would have to be able to sneak poisoned articles into the school. That's not exactly easy to do," Harry pointed out.

"Harry, I almost died in my first year because of a plain, unsuspecting journal someone stuck in my cauldron," Ginny interrupted, glancing at Draco who nodded slowly.

"I was able to get a cursed necklace and a bottle of poisoned mead inside the school, almost killing both recipients," he added, his gaze trained on Harry.

Those sentences combined put a sharp halt to Harry's argument, and he bit the inside of his cheek while he mulled over Draco argument as well as his wife's. "Alright," he relented.

Draco began explaining everything to Harry while Ginny stayed motionless beside James. Hermione had noticed Evanna and was moving towards her, but all Evanna could focus on was James. He hadn't noticed her yet, but she had a clear view of him and she was shocked to see that Callista had been right. James was extremely pale and there were large dark bags underneath his bloodshot eyes. His movements seemed stiff and almost mechanical as he talked to his mother. Hermione reached Evanna's side and wrapped a reassuring arm around her shoulders.

"Sorry you have to be down here. I tried to convince Harry, but he still is a little shaky. He wants proof," Hermione explained, searching her daughter's face.

"It's fine," Evanna replied quietly. "I can talk to him once dad is done."

Hermione nodded. "Your father wasn't too happy about him wanting to talk to you. He doesn't want you having to relive it any more than you have to."

"If talking to Harry will convince him that James needs help, then that's what I'll do," Evanna said firmly. "I just hope dad's potion works."

"Your father is very good at what he does," Hermione reassured her. "We spent most of the morning down here making the antidote. If that's truly what's wrong with James, then this will work."

Evanna nodded, hearing her father calling her name. There seemed to be a bit of warning in his voice, but she wasn't sure why. Evanna turned to look at her father only to find herself face to face with James. Her mother's arm tightened around her shoulder, but no one moved; waiting to see what happened. James just stared at her, his bloodshot eyes focused on her pale grey ones. Evanna stared back, hopeful that maybe she had been wrong, and James really was just sick with the stomach flu and he was trying to figure out how to apologize. James blinked, and in a split second lunged toward her throat, only to be thrown back by unspoken spells. Evanna took a step back, her heart racing in her chest as she looked at James. He had snapped again, turning into something that reminded her of a wild animal. Harry and Draco had grabbed James and were attempting to restrain him as he continued trying to lunge toward her. His expression seemed almost psychotic and his voice was turning coarse as he screeched her name along with other obscenities over and over in a frenzied rage. Evanna took one more look at him before bolting from the room; racing through the long corridors of the Manor, her steps echoing down the halls as she ran.

Evander found her a few hours later in the upstairs piano room; all the windows open and music filling the spacious chamber. He walked into the room, pausing by one of the windows to look out onto the Manor's gardens while Evanna continued to play. She finished the last chord, then roughly played a dozen or so random keys and released an exaggerated sigh.

"Beautiful ending," Evander teased, turning from the window to look at his sister, who was staring unseeingly at the piano keys.

"Hm," she responded, flipping her hair onto her back.

"You know, you can come back out now. James and his parents are gone, so you don't have to be a hermit anymore," Evander commented, walking over to stand beside the piano.

Evanna just nodded, placing her small, delicate fingers back on the keys. Evander watched as she started playing once again; stroking a slow, haunting melody out of the keys that flowed out of the piano like a river. She stopped again after a few minutes, biting her lip thoughtfully.

"You are so talented Vanna," Evander said, watching her face as her eyes slid over the ivory keys.

"Vander, you can play too. Mum taught us both," Evanna replied, glancing up at him.

"Not nearly as well as you can," he countered. "But there is one thing I can do that doesn't necessarily need skill. Scooch over."

Evanna compiled, a smile on her face as she slid over, allowing Evander to sit on the bench beside her.

"Still remember 'Heart and Soul'?" he teased, bumping her lightly with his shoulder.

Evanna glanced at him quickly before launching into their modified version of Heart and Soul, causing Evander to smirk for a moment before joining; his lower melody adding perfect harmony to hers. They played and played until the continuous loop of Heart and Soul ended in a bout of laughter and both of them toppling off of the piano bench. They lay on the floor in a fit of giggles; the afternoon sun flooding into the room and covering the pair in a soft golden glow.

"I miss this," Evanna sighed, letting her head fall back lightly onto the woven rug as her laughter dissolved.

"What? Lying on the floor and laughing like a toddler?" Evander questioned, glancing over at her. "If you miss it that much, play with Lanie some more. That's usually how the games end. It's actually quite relaxing."

"Well….yes, but that's not quite what I meant," Evanna laughed, hitting him gently.

"Then what did you mean?"

"Just being able to do things without having to worry," Evanna answered. "Being able to just play the piano, or read, or cook whenever….and not just as an escape."

"But you can do those things whenever you want," he pointed out. "But you are right about the whole escape thing."

"Duh," Evanna responded teasingly.

"All of us are going to Diagon Alley tomorrow to do our Christmas shopping tomorrow," Evander commented, switching the topic. "That will be a good distraction. Or escape as you put it."

Evanna shook her head, a smile stealing its way across her features. "Now you're just mocking me," she teased, getting up off the floor. "I know when I'm being mocked."

"Do you?" Evander asked, his voice laced with fake shock. "Well you may know when you're being mocked, but do you know when you're about to get pranked?"

Evanna's eyes widened and she looked up just in time to see loads of wet snow tumbling down from the ceiling to land on top of her. She gasped as the snow fell on top of her, the cold, icy clumps trickling down her sweater and sending a shiver running up her spine. Evander, for his part was doubled over with laughter; thin tears peaking out of the corners of his eyes. Evanna looked over at him, her blonde hair slicked down to the sides of her head, and dark wet splotches appearing on her sweater. Her eyes narrowed and she bent down to scoop up a pile of snow, clumping it into a cold sphere. Evander noticed what she was doing and his laughter stopped abruptly; watching her mold the snowball. His eyes widened as Evanna drew her arm back and chucked the ball of ice at him. He ducked effectively and raced out of the room; Evanna close on his heels.

"Evander Orion Malfoy you get back here right now!" she screeched, her wet hair flipping her in the face as she ran.

"No thank you! I choose life!" He called back, sparing a glance behind him as he bounded down the stairs and raced into one of the sitting rooms.

"'Vander!" Hermione exclaimed as the twins ran into the room, skidding to a halt in front of her. "What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

Evander opened his mouth to respond when Scorpius poked his head into the sitting room. "What is- yes!" He pumped his fists in the air, jumping up and down in happiness. "Oh you did it! Wasn't it just amazing?"

Evander laughed, while Evanna and Hermione both looked incredulously at Scorpius. "You knew?!" Evanna questioned, taking a step toward her younger brother.

"Of course!" Scorpius laughed. "I'm the one who gave him the spell."

"Scorpius," Evanna threatened teasingly, her eyes glinting as Scorpius took a step back.

"Evanna," Hermione warned, closing the book that had been open on her lap. Turning to her sons, she sighed, a small smile on her face. "Scorpius, Evander, please go clean up whatever it is you did upstairs."

The boys nodded, exiting the room dutifully but it wasn't long before Hermione and Evanna could hear their laughter echoing down the halls. Hermione shook her head, turning back to Evanna. "Your brothers…."

"Agreed," Evanna sighed, plopping down on the couch. "Where's dad?"

Hermione sighed again, sitting down beside her daughter. "He had to go into work. There was some sort of mix up with an order."

Evanna nodded, glancing at the book in her mother's lap. "Mum, is Lanie down here?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, we were reading this together though. But she decided it was time for a nap, so I took her upstairs. She's most likely asleep now." Evanna nodded again, not saying anything. "Evanna," Hermione continued, looking worriedly at her daughter. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine mum."

Hermione looked ready to argue the fact, but decided not too. "Alright."

"We're going Christmas shopping tomorrow," Evanna said suddenly, fiddling with the edge of her sweater.

"Who's going? Just the usual people?" Hermione asked, noting Evanna's quick change in subject.

Evanna shrugged. "Probably. For sure it'll be me, Vander, Scorpius, Cal, Kymber and Maxton. But other than that, I don't know who's in town."

"You'll probably be gone for most of the day then," Hermione laughed. "Kymber is her mother's daughter and she sure loves to shop."

Evanna laughed in agreement. "I'm pretty sure if someone could fit a single store into their personal closet, it would be Kymber. That girl owns more clothes than a Barbie doll."