Apologies for the amount of time it has taken me to publish this chapter I haven't had much time but here it is and I hope you enjoy.

Note I am also aware Luna's mother would have died before Alexia would have been born but let me just say that Alexia is a half sister whose mother was a muggle and left when she found out about the wizarding world, leaving Luna to be the mother figure for Alexia.

Also note I do not own Harry Potter and all rights belong to J.K.Rowling

Chapter 4 - Family doesn't have to be blood

Waking on Sunday, Harry was glad to see two old bearing letters. The first was from Hermione as the Minister of Magic:

Dear Mr Potter,

We were aware of a child living in the Dursleys household however had not made the connection to your relatives or to the state she could be living in. We already know the type of cruelty she will have endured based off your own as a child however Miss Weasley did inform us of how she was said to be in even worse condition. We will need to have the child examined and you may have temporary guardianship over her until then. We wish to see her next Tuesday which is the 26th August and speak to her about where she wishes to spend her time. If she so decides she wishes to stay with you, we will do the general checks on you and your home on the Wednesday 27th August to try and give you a definite answer before the Hogwarts term starts.

Kindest regards

Hermione Granger

Minister of Magic

Harry frowned a little at the thought that Destiny may have to go back to the Dursleys but he supposed everything had to be done formally. This was the best he could hope for.

It was still strange to receive such formal letters from Hermione but he guessed a certain level of formality was needed in order to be Minister of Magic.

He was a bit unsure as he moved on to the next letter, he knew it wasn't customary for the headmistress to reply to the letters confirming attendance but he supposed he had always been a special case.

Dear Mr Potter,

Although I can say I am happy for Ms Dursley to be attending Hogwarts, I have to express some concern about why she is currently staying with you, I trust you have already contacted Ms Granger and allow her to take control of this however I must warn that your connection to this child must not impair your teaching ability.

Best Wishes

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress of Hogwarts

Harry smirked a little at this. He knew a certain potions professor who had definitely used his relationships with students to influence his treatment of students. Although Snape did eventually turn out good, when he taught Harry he had a lot of favouritism. Harry had vowed when he took the position that he would never teach in the way that Snape had.

Harry sent the two owls away thinking that no response would be necessary as neither asked for one.

He went downstairs to meet up with Ginny, Teddy and Destiny. He was happy to see that Destiny was eating. He waved his wand to add the potion to her cup before he could forget. She looked up a little surprised. Harry nodded at her but didn't make a comment, he didn't want to stop her eating.

Instead, he walked over to Ginny.

"Morning," he greeted.

"Morning!" She returned.

"I've got the responses from McGonagall and Hermione."

"So?"

"McGonagall just wanted to ensure that I wouldn't show any favouritism and that I'd checked with the Minister of Magic."

"And Hermione?"

Harry steeled his face, this wasn't the best news.

"We have to go and get her examined on Tuesday and then if everything goes right, on Wednesday they'll come and evaluate whether she can live with us or not."

"I might not be able to stay?" Destiny said running up to them.

As Harry and Ginny span around, Destiny turned red and backed away. She knew she wasn't supposed to have heard that conversation.

"No, no, you should be able to stay, it's just the way things have to be done." Harry said in what he hoped was a convincing tone.

"Please don't make me go back," she whimpered.

Ginny beckoned Destiny over to her and she hugged her as if she was her own.

"I promise," Ginny said, "I will never make you go back there, I will do everything to keep you with us but even if that doesn't work out-"

Destiny sobbed at this.

"-you will go anywhere but back to the Dursley's."

Destiny clung to Ginny and burrowed her head into the mother she'd never had.

Harry locked eyes with Ginny and smiled. Destiny would be there's as much as Teddy was and he would not let anything stop it.

He walked over to Teddy and led him back upstairs away from the girls. Somehow Teddy understood, he really was remarkable for a five year old.

In the kitchen, Destiny clung to Ginny. She'd never had a mother to support her, nobody had been this nice to her ever. The people at school bullied her, her parents abused her and her big brother, he kept away. Now, she had all these people caring for her and she didn't know what to do. Teddy was like her little brother: fun and kind. Harry was like her father: caring and supportive and Ginny she was like her mother: she didn't need to say anything but she was there always.

They pulled away after what had seemed to be an eternity.

"Did you drink your potion?"

"Yes, mum." The last word was basically a whisper but Ginny heard it. Destiny hadn't thought about it, it just felt right.

"Good, now know that I won't let anything happen to you my child. Just be brave and be kind like you already are."

Ginny's heart had warmed at being called "mum". She promised to herself she would care for this child as if she was her own, just as she had Teddy.

Pumpkin interrupted the moment by coming and jumping up on top of them.

"Get down." Giggled Destiny but the moment was gone. She climbed down off Ginny's knee and pulled Pumpkin into her arms. She went up to her room to reflect on what had happened.

Ginny stayed in the kitchen for a moment. What had just happened? She wasn't completely sure. Harry came downstairs after leaving Teddy playing with wizarding blocks (the same as normal building blocks, except they would randomly fall or go invisible).

"She called me mum." Ginny said.

"Wow." Harry didn't know what else to say.

He hugged her.

"She really is a sweet kid."

"I know, I knew it when I met her, I knew I couldn't just leave her but now they might make her go back and I can't let it happen."

"Hey," said Ginny attempting to quieten him down, "you heard what she said, she doesn't want to go back and the Ministry won't make her. It's Hermione remember, she's not going to let anything happen to her."

"Yes you're right, sorry."

Up in her room, Destiny sat on her bed. She looked around her room, it was so much bigger than anything she'd had before. She looked down at her lap where Pumpkin was snuggled up, she had a cat. Harry and Ginny had done so much for her.

A tear came into her eye, a wish that she'd always had this kind of life. She shook herself, she couldn't be this selfish now, she had to honour what Harry and Ginny had given her.

She went over to her trunk and picked out her school books and she laid in her bed, with her kitten snuggled into her and read. She loved it, she'd obviously read before at school but these books were all so interesting and informative. At home she'd never been bought a book to read, she was stuck with the school library which wasn't very good. These books were something different, something great, something magical.

Harry made his way upstairs, after leaving Ginny making a cake for Destiny's birthday. He stalled at Destiny's door and peered round the door to see the child totally engrossed in her reading, her eyes wide with curiosity. He smiled, he wouldn't interrupt her now, she seemed very happy. Also he needed to make sure she was prepared in case there was another Professor like Snape at Hogwarts. He could still remember that awful feeling when Snape had questioned him in front of everyone, he shuddered. He didn't want that for Destiny but all he could hope was that she was as prepared as possible.

He carried on walking to Teddy's door, who was happily playing. He also didn't want to disturb him.

He walked downstairs, thinking about his family. None of the children were his own yet they both felt like they just belonged. He pushed away the thoughts of the possibility of what could happen to Destiny after Tuesday, after all Ginny was right, it wasn't Fudge anymore, it was Hermione.

He went back down to Ginny in the kitchen.

"Don't interrupt my cooking!" Said Ginny sounding a lot like a different Mrs Weasley.

"Wasn't going to," Harry defended, "I'm going back to Diagon Alley I think I should get some more books for our little Ravenclaw's birthday."

"Do you reckon so?"

"Most definitely, she's reading those books more intently than Hermione."

"Hermione was in Gryffindor!"

"Yes, I suppose but nobody understood that decision."

"You don't want to be her head of house, do you?"

"Well no, to be honest, I don't. I don't want to be accused of showing favouritism and I want to be a guardian separate from Hogwarts. I don't want to have to be the one to decide her punishment." He sighed. He knew he couldn't control what house she was in but to be Destiny's head of house, he couldn't see how he'd be able to do it.

"I know," said Ginny, "She'd understand though, now get out of my kitchen while I'm cooking!"

Harry smiled and grabbed his floo powder to take him to Diagon Alley. He walked over to Flourish and Bolts thinking about the types of books he should get her. He'd already bought her some books on animals but he thought that something concerning the history of Hogwarts or something about Voldermort after all that's what everyone would be talking about. The older students were even at school when Voldermort was still around.

Eventually he decided to buy her Hogwarts a History and The Rise and Fall Of Voldermort. He decided this was enough after all he'd already bought her two books on animals, a Pygmy puff and Pumpkin. It didn't make up for the years of birthday she hadn't had but it was definitely good enough for one year.

He apparated back to just outside the protective wards of his house and walked the rest of the way back.

He got back just as Ginny was serving lunch. He noticed the cake had been hidden using what was probably a concealment charm so didn't touch any of the surfaces for worry of accidentally ruining it. He joined them all at the table as they were tucking in to Pumpkin pasties.

"How was your morning Destiny,?" He inquired.

"It was really good, I've started reading my school books and they're all so interesting."

"That's great, what about you Ted?"

"Naughty blocks!" He said excitedly.

That was what he called wizarding blocks.

Harry gave Ginny a look to ask if she'd finished the cake. She nodded.

"Well then," Harry said, "I was thinking that this afternoon we all go outside and do some flying. I can teach you Destiny."

She looked excited at the prospect of flying.

"Yessssss!" Said Teddy very excitedly, "I can use my new broom!"

They had bought him a training broom for his

birthday because he'd loved his toy one so much.

They all went outside. Harry showed Destiny how to get her broom to raise and how to mount it. He then flew on his new Firebolt 2000 while she rode his old Firebolt. He kept hold of the tail of her broom to steady her but she was a natural. Within half an hour she was able to fly herself so they played two a side Quidditch. Harry played with Teddy and Ginny played with Destiny. Eventually it started getting dark so they headed back inside.

Ginny went to make tea, Destiny went upstairs to read and Harry played exploding snap with Teddy exactly like a normal family.