Thank you to all of my readers and reviewers! I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

There is a warningthat I have to include with this chapter. There is discussion of eating disorders, so if this could be a trigger for you please do not read further. As the story progresses and the characters age there will be more warnings. But I will try to name all of them in the beginning note :)

Year Three

Summer

Dominique was sitting in the family living room while her parent's prepared dinner. It was her seventeenth birthday and they were cooking her favourite. As she flipped through that week's edition of Witch Weekly, the sound of her older sister playing the cello drifted down the stairs. Her sister had been playing the cello since she was eleven years old. It had been their grandmother's instrument of choice and had been passed down to the three of them.

Louis had never held an interest in playing it, preferring a more alternative style of music. Victorie had picked the instrument up and never put it down. She was a natural, with long and delicate fingers that were able to stretch the neck of the instrument. She had continued playing ever since, and had even been a part of the Hogwarts Orchestra in her later years of schooling. Dominique loved the deep rich sound that the cello made. But when she had tried to play there was nothing but screeches and blistered fingertips. No matter how long or hard she practised, she was never as good as her sister. Eventually she just stopped trying to play the instrument.

Once dinner was over, her father brought out a delicately iced white cake with lavender writing and flowers. Seventeen candles flickered as her family sang began to sing happy birthday. As they were nearing the end of the song, an owl came in through the open kitchen window and dropped a letter on the table. Dominique recognized the Hogwarts seal and her heart instantly sank.

"Oh no!" Victorie gasped.

The results of her NEWTS had arrived. And in that single paper envelope held her entire future. She quickly snatched the envelope and ripped it open. Her eyes quickly scanned the letter as the candles of her sisters cake continued to burn. After she was able to take in the results she began jumping up and down in delight. Bill and Fleur rushed over to their eldest child and wrapped their arms around her and congratulations as Louis picked up the letter and began to look over it himself. The conversation quickly moved to Victories success and what jobs she would be able to apply for now that she had succeeded in getting the grades that she needed.

Dominique sat back and rolled her eyes. How hard was it for her to have one day where her sister wasn't the centre of attention. All her life, Dom had felt as though she was playing second fiddle to her older, smarter, kinder, prettier, and thinner sister. There was never a day that she didn't feel that she was being compared to her, or that she wasn't able to live up to the president that her sister had created. She could feel anger and worthlessness begin to fester and bubble up inside of her. She needed out of the room.

Without a second thought, Dom blew out her candles and ran out the back door towards the beach. Her stride was unsteady in the shifting sand, but she didn't let herself slow down. When she came to the edge of the pier she jumped off and let herself sink to the sandy beach floor. She gripped her blond hair in her hands and pulled at it, letting out the scream that she had been holding in. She screamed until there was no longer oxygen in her lungs and her chest began to burn.

Autumn

Roxanne eagerly bounces on the balls of her feet. She and her cousins Hugo, Lily and Lucy are waiting to be let into the Great Hall so that they can be sorted into their houses and begin their first year at Hogwarts. Her older brother Fred had given her a reassuring hug just before getting off the train as told her that she would be fine. Fred was good that way, he had always looked out for her ever since they were toddlers.

Lucy elbowed her stomach to get her to stop bouncing up and down when Professor Longbottom came out to get them. He made sure to give the four Weasleys a thumbs up as they walked by.

There was always a roar of cheers and a thunder of clapping when one of the Potter/Weasley clan climbed up onto the stool to be sorted. Hugo had been the first to be called. The hat had barely touched his head when it shouted out for him to join his fellow Gryffindors. Her older sister and cousins all stood on their seats clapping and whistling for him as he ran over to the table.

The next Weasley to be called up to the sorting hat was Lucy. "Ah, another Weasley! My, my how many more of you are there? No matter, let's see what we have here… A lovely spirit you have. So different from your father. He was always so serious. I think you'll find many just like you here… HUFFLEPUFF!"

Lucy happily hopped down from the stool and raced to join the Hufflepuff table. She was congratulated by students who were already there and could hear the cheering of her family in the background. She was finally beginning to feel like we was in a place that she belonged with people that would understand her. She turned her her head as she hear Lily's name being called. She knew that Lily was nervous about where the hat would place her. Sending a grin to her cousin, Lucy set her hands under the table and crossed her fingers that Lily would get a house that would make her happy.

"Hmm…. Curious. Very curious. How marvelous it is that you Potter children are so different from eachother. Not one of you are like the other. I can see here in your mind that you are a quiet one. It's clear that you are not loud or outspoken like your older brothers… But there is a gentle kindness in you. A wonderful asset to have. I think this will be a good place for you. HUFFLEPUFF!"

Lily tried her best to hide her disappointment about being sorted into the Hufflepuff house. She had always felt as though she could not compare to her charismatic and outgoing older brothers. She had been hoping to be sorted into Gryffindor, to prove to herself that she was worth more than she currently felt she was. Though if nothing else, she was grateful that she had Lucy to keep her company.

Roxanne Weasley took a seat on the sorting stool next. She watched her cousin Lily walk over to the Hufflepuff table and felt an ache in her chest towards her. Lily had talked to her all summer about how much she was hoping that the Sorting Hat would see something in her. She was sure that the Hufflepuff house was not what the redhead had in mind.

As the hat was placed on Roxanne's head, she took a deep breath. She wasn't exactly sure why she was so nervous. There was no one house that she wanted to be in above all of the others. She felt that she would be able to enjoy herself in any of the four houses. Though part of her knew that was only because she had family in each and every house. She could feel the Sorting Hat rooting around in her mind. It would let out a noise of thought or discovery every once in a while, but other than that was silent.

"I know just what to do with you. SLYTHERIN!"

And with that Roxanne was the first Weasley (she put Albus into the Potter category) to be sorted into the Slytherin house. That thought alone put a smile on her face.

Rose was having breakfast with her brother when the morning post arrived. An owl dropped a letter on top of Rose's toast while she was going over her brothers timetable.

"Hey Rose, is that a letter from Dad?"

Rose felt the heat rise into her face. Should she tell Hugo about the letters that she had been getting? What if he doesn't get a letter? "Oh! Um, no. It's just a letter from Aunt Angelina. I asked her to send me some information about…Something... Enjoy your breakfast! Don't be late for class!"

With that lie out of the way, Rose climbed out of the bench and scooped up her belongings. She couldn't risk reading the letter at the the house table with Hugo right beside her. If he happened to read something over her shoulder he would have a lot of questions that she didn't have any answers for. She hoped one day that we would be able to let him in on this secret of hers. She hoped even more that he would forgive her to keeping it to herself all these years.

Without enough time to find a place to read her mother's letter in private, Rose placed the letter in between the pages of one of her textbooks and headed the class. Reading the letter would have to wait until tonight, Rose thought to herself as she walked into her first period transfiguration class. With a quick shake of her head, she pulled out her quill and parchment notebook and began to take down the notes that were already written on the board.

It wasn't until after dinner that Rose had a moment to herself. While the rest of the Gryffindor house were all lounging in the Common Room and talking to each other about how their summers had been, Rose snuck up to her empty dormitory.

Drawing the curtains closed around her four-poster bed, Rose cast a quick lumos spell and pulled out the letter from her bag. Though her eagerness made her hands shake, she was careful not to rip any of the paper. Unfolding the delicate parchment, Rose drew her wand closer to the letter in order to give herself better light for reading.

Dear Rose,

When your dad and I started thinking about having children we had different opinions. He wanted lots of children, I only wanted a few. He was ready to show you of all the things that we had done growing up. I felt that doing so would skew your vision of the real word. I wanted you to grow up humbled, and not thinking that this world owes you something just because of who your parents are, because it doesn't. I always told your Dad not to tell you and Hugo of all the mischief that we had gotten into as children. I knew that all you kids would get into your own trouble without our stories to give you any ideas. However, I think you are old enough now to hear this one.

In my third year at Hogwarts I was given a very rare opportunity. With the support of professor McGonagall, I completed a double course load with the help of Time-Turner. When I was your age, I never felt as though I had enough time. There was so much that I wanted to do and learn, but I had this constant anxiety that I was running out of enough time to do it all. I suppose in the end, my feeling was right, because I didn't have enough time, not nearly as much as I wanted.

Having that time turner taught me many things. It taught me that we never have enough time. I could have used that device for my entire life and still not have been satisfied. There still would be things that I wanted to do, or see, or learn. There would still be people that I wanted to spend my time with. I wish more than anything that I had more time to be able to spend with you and Hugo. I wish that I could have had more time to spend with the new people in my life, the ones that I didn't get a chance to really be with.

There is a theory that, although they can allow you to travel back in time, all time-turners follow certain time principles. The main one being, that no matter what part of your past you change, your future will still find a way of unfolding itself in the same way. And I think that is important for you to understand. Clearly, there is a reason for everything, and that reason is to bring us to the right places as the right times throughout our lives. I know this because in my third year I went back into the past to try and change it.

Uncle Harry and I traveled back in time in order to save his Godfather, Sirius Black, from receiving the Dementor's kiss. Sirius had been wrongfully accused and sentenced for the death of Harry's parents and friend Peter Pettigrew. After breaking out of Azkaban, we discovered the Peter was indeed alive, and that he was the one who had given up the information of Harry's parent's whereabouts. We were able to save him, and an unfairly sentenced Hippogriff that night. They rode off together in the night and Sirius when into hiding. And I wish that this was where the story ended. Unfortunately, Harry's Godfather was killed two years later. As you can see, though the timeline changed, the outcome remained the same.

In all of my experience with time, both trying to create more present and trying to change the future, I learned the most about the past. The past is a tricky thing, it's the only thing we know and the only thing that we cannot change. So many people spend so much time thinking about the past and how perhaps their present or future would be different if they could change it. When we dwell on the past, we replay the memories in our minds over and over again. The more that these events play in our mind the more distorted these memories become. We end up remembering the past better or worse than it was, or read into something that didn't mean nearly as much as we thought. By not letting go of the past, we set ourselves up for disappointment in the future. We build these things up in our mind, and when we experience them again we're left disappointed because it didn't live up to our expectation.

It took me a long time to stop living in my past and to start moving toward the future that I wanted. I could blame this on a number of things. Being close with your Uncle Harry, and often in dangerous situations, there were times when that I wasn't sure that I would have a future; day's that I wasn't sure I would see the end of. At that time, growing old seemed like a far off dream that I had no business in having. We had lost so many close friends and allies during the war that we spent a long time after remembering them. That meant staying in the mind frame and memories of my seventeen year old self. Before I knew it I was in my twenties and didn't remember getting there. All that time, lost.

Rose, you may not be able to control all of the events that happen to you, but you can choose how you let them affect you. You can be hurt by them, controlled by them, or you can choose to grow from them, and not let them define who you are. Remember that just because something bad happens to you does not mean that you are a bad person, or that you a being punished for doing something wrong. Things, good and bad, happen to people every day. You're meant to learn and grow from what you go through and experience. Everything that happens, happens for a reason. You may not understand the reason at the time, but I promise you, there is one.

Even if I had that chance, I wouldn't change anything that has happened to me. Because every event, good or bad, has shaped me into the woman that I am today. And everything that I have seen and been a part of has helped to shape the people around me as well. I wouldn't want any of people that I have met over the years to be any different than who they are. Not even your dad, not even after being on the other side of our relationship. If he was more of the person that I wanted he wouldn't be one of my very best friends, or as stubborn or as loyal, he wouldn't be Ron. I hope that you know that I love your Dad very much. I never stopped loving him. As time went on, as we began to grow apart, as I began to realise what it was that I wanted, I just loved him in a different way. No matter what, he will always be one of my best friends.

One day, I hope that all of this will make sense to you. And I hope that you will still love me at the end of all of it.

Love always,

Mom

As Rose folds the letter back up and places it gently in her box of keepsakes, she wonders if she were to go back in time and fiddle with the things that happened; if she would be able to save her mother. She wonders about what kind of person she would be if she hadn't lost her mother. She wishes that there were some way for her to see what he life would be like if her mother was still alive. Her mom had said that she still loved her dad. Surely that meant that if things were different, if she were still alive, that they could have worked through their problems. That they could have found happiness again. But perhaps nothing would have changed the fallout that had happened in their marriage.

Rose was beginning to think that perhaps, for most people, there was no such thing as a happy ending. Not one that lasted anyways. Maybe people were happy in segments. Maybe happiness ebbed and flowed like the ocean. Sometimes it was pushing up against the shore, almost overpowering, and other times it was shallow waiting for rain to come and fill it's crater once more.

Hugo is so incredibly eager for his second charms class at Hogwarts that he can hardly keep still in his seat. Hugo know's from pestering his sister all summer that the first charms lesson is about how to perform a levitation spell on feathers. He had spent the previous night reading the chapter on levitation spells twice the night before. He just knew that he would be able to get that feather to float.

His dad and uncle Harry had told him many times about one of their first encounters with his mother. It was in their first charms class when they were also learning on how to levitate feathers.

"And then she goes, 'It's Leve-o-sa! Not Leve-o-sar!'."

Uncle Harry began to laugh at his friends recounter of their school days. "And then your father, as charming as ever, had to go and insult her to our other classmates. Little did he know that she was right behind us."

"Oi! It wasn't that bad!"

"She locked herself in the bathroom for the entire night!"

Hugo mentally said the spell to himself a few more times as the rest of the class filtered into the room and Professor Flitwick took a stand on his stool.

"Alright class, today we are going to be levitating feathers. Levitation is one of a wizards most rudimentary skills. It gives them the ability to make objects fly. Now, I trust that you have all read the chapter on levitation in your charms books. Yes? Good. Now, does everyone have a feather?" Once the class nodded, he continued. "Now, we'll practice the enchantment a few times without our wands first. Repeat after me. Wingardium Leviosa. Good! Now remember to enunciate and use that swish and flick movement that we practised yesterday. Off you go!"

Professor Flitwick allowed the class to practice for about a half an hour before calling the class back together and asked if anyone would like to demonstrate for the class. Hugo eagerly raised his hand. He was able to get the feather to float a few feet above his desk by the end of the half hour and was eager to show his classmates.

"Ah, Mr. Weasley! Wonderful! You're mother was quite good at this spell in her first year as well! Of you go then!"

Hugo cleared his throat and took a deep breath in. But when he saw that all of his classmates eyes were fixed on him he began to panic. He suddenly wished that one of his cousins were in the class with him.

"W-wing-g-gardium Levios-sa!"

In a panic, Hugo flicked his wand far more sharply than she should have. And for a second, his feather did nothing. He thought for sure that he had failed when suddenly, his feather sprung to life. it went arrow straight and shot straight into the wall opposite of him, narrowly missing the blond pigtail of a Ravenclaw. The girl gasped in fright and bucked below her desk. With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Hugo began to feel as though his was nothing like his mother.

Scorpius glanced across the room of his transfiguration class to find his best friend Albus Potter staring intently at his table with a sloppy grin on his face. They were meant to be working on their assignment while their professor was speaking with the Headmistress out in the corridor. Kathryn Longbottom, who was sitting next to him on the bench had her mind focused on her textbook and was completely oblivious to Albus as he very nearly came to drooling over his desk. Scorpius crumpled up a piece of parchment and stealthily tossed it at the side of his friend's head. With a start, Albus quickly shot his friend a look before pretending to write something down just as Kathryn looked up from her work.

When class was over, Albus quickly made his way across the room. "Hi Kathryn!"

Kathryn tucked her loose brown hair around her ear and smiled, "Oh, hi Albus. Thanks for letting me borrow your notes."

"Yeah! No problem! No problem at all. Any time!"

She waved goodbye to the two boys and turned to head towards her next class. Scorpius could no longer hold in his laughter as Albus stared after her. "You should consider bringing a drop towel if you're going to keep staring at her like that every class."

"Shut it, it wasn't that bad!" Albus shot back. "... Do you think she noticed?"

"Sadly no. Because I think Kathryn is as oblivious as you are obvious. You two should make a lovely match!" Scorpius said as he pinched Albus' right cheek between his fingers.

Albus quickly shoved his friends hand away from his face and told him to piss off as he headed towards his next class. Scorpius laughed once more before heading in the opposite direction towards his potions class.

"Oi! Malfoy!"

Scorpius stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder to see the Gryffindor quidditch captain Nicholas Woods running to catch up to him. Malfoy wasn't sure why he was looking for him. After last years let down, Scorpius didn't even bother trying out for the quidditch team this year. He knew that they would never choose a Malfoy to be on the team.

"Malfoy -"

"It's Scorpius."

Nicholas waved him off. "Sure, whatever. Look you have the position of Seeker."

"What are you talking about? I didn't even try out this year. You have McTaggert."

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "Please, that tosser couldn't even catch the snitch when it was buzzing by his ear. There is no way that I'm losing the cup because of him again."

When Scorpius neglected to respond, Nicholas got a look of desperation on his face. "Please! Don't make me beg. Look, you're the best seeker that our house has. Last year…"

Scorpius looked at the older student with a weary look. "You didn't want to pick me because of my name."

"And that was wrong."

Scorpius shrugged, "Wouldn't be the first time. I'll take the spot, no way are we losing to Slytherin again."

Nicholas grinned and clapped him on the back. "Sounds like a plan to me, mate! I'll see you Saturday morning bright and early for practice!"

Scorpius waved goodbye to his captain and waited until he had turned the corner and was out of sight because dropping his books and throwing his firsts in the air. Seeker! Scorpius Malfoy was going to be a seeker! Ignoring the odd looks that he was getting from the other students in the hallway, he scooped up his things and raced to the Owlery to send a letter to his father.

Winter

Albus could hear his dad and uncle arguing in the kitchen from the next room over. Uncle Ron had come over to have dinner while Albus' mom went to have a girl's night with Rose. His mom often did things like that with rose, like taking her clothes shopping, or going for ice cream. His mom says that her brother has the emotional range of a weed, and that Rose needs a mother figure in her life. He thinks about how Rose lost her mom when they were only kids. He can't begin to imagine what not have his mom around would be like.

"So you told him no, right?" That was his uncle.

"What? Of course not, why would I do that?" and that was his dad.

"You're going to let a Malfoy join us for Christmas? Are you trying to ruin the holiday?"

"Would you keep your voice down? And quite frankly, I don't see a problem with Albus wanting to bring his friend along for Christmas dinner! I'm not going to be the parent who tells his child who he can and cannot be friends with!"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what I meant, Ron. Do you really think that's good for her?"

"Don't tell me what is good and not good for my children!"

"And don't tell me what's good for mine!"

Uncle Ron left in a fiery fury that could match the colour of his hair. Once he had left, Albus slowly walked into the kitchen to see his father bracing himself against the kitchen sink. The tap was still running and the bubbles from the dish washing side was rising steadily higher. Albus sighed to himself, all he wanted was to have his friend over during the holiday. He had heard hundreds of times about how his dad and Aunt Hermione spent holidays and summer vacations at the burrow. He didn't see what the big deal was.

"Dad? It's okay, you know. I don't have to have a friend over for Christmas."

Harry was startled by the sound of his son's voice. Finally noticing that the kitchen tap was still running, he quickly shut it off and turned to his youngest son.

"No, it's perfectly fine for you to have a friend over during the holidays, no matter who it is. Don't mind your Uncle Ron he just… Is really good at holding grudges. Come on, you dry and I'll wash."

When Ron arrived back from Harry's home, his face was as red as his hair. His children were in the kitchen baking chocolate chip cookies when he came bumbling in. His sister Ginny only had to take one look at him to know that it would be a good idea to send Rose and Hugo upstairs. She gave them a cookie each and told them that she had to talk to their dad alone for a minute.

Rose knew better than to go and stay in her room like her Aunt had requested. As soon as she walked to her room, she closed her bedroom door and turned right back around. As quietly as she could, she crept back to the top of the staircase and crouched down so that she could just barely see into the kitchen. Her dad stilled looks pissed, and had taken a seat at the kitchen table while aunt Ginny took the last batch of cookies out of the over before they burned.

"Alright," She said as she set the stay on the counter to cool. "Out with it. What's got your wand in a knot?"

"Have you and Harry lost your minds?"

"I beg your pardon!"

"You're letting your children go off and make friends with our enemy's children! Have you forgotten what that man did to us when we were in school?"

"How could we, Ronald? You would never let us forget it! You pitting Rose against that boy is so selfish! Do you really think that this is what Hermione would have wanted?"

"Shut up! Shut up! Don't you dare talk to me about what she would have wanted!"

"You need to grow up, Ron. Before your grudges pull the rest of your family apart as well."

Aunt Ginny then apparated with a crack, leaving his dad to sit alone with his anger festering in the kitchen. Rose knew exactly what this argument had been about. Albus had mentioned to her the other day that he had invited Scorpius Malfoy over for Christmas dinner at The Burrow. She's guessing that he dad was just finding out now. Judging by his reaction, she would be willing to bet 10 galleons that they would not be going to Christmas dinner this year.

Rose tried to visit her grandparents on her mother's side as often as she could. But between being away at school, and anything to do with the Weasleys having a tendency to take over any other commitment, it wasn't as often as she would have liked. Even so, her grandparents welcomed her and Hugo with big smiles, tight hugs, and pinched cheeks. Rose had decided that to spend the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with her muggle grandparents, in order to spare her fathers sanity. He was still fuming mad about Scorpius Malfoy being invited to Christmas dinner, and had made it very clear that he would not be stepping foot into The Burrow.

Rose was always struck with how different gatherings were between her muggle grandparents and her magical one; and none of those differences had to do with magic. When she was at Grandpa and Grandma Grangers, it was so relaxing. There wasn't any shouting to be heard over the person next to you and there was always a place for you to sit down. Rose and Hugo were actually able to hold a conversation with their grandparents that lasted more than a few minutes. Here, she felt like someone could actually hear her.

"Alright kids, before we dig into the lovely meal that grandma has made for us, I would like us to go ahead and say grace."

This was one of the things that she liked about having dinner here. Her grandparents were faithful Catholics. But that wasn't the religion that she cared about. It was the fact that they would always take the time to pause and be thankful for what they had. The four joined hands around the table and bowed their heads as Grandpa Granger said a short thank-you for the fact that they were fortunate to have food, family, and shelter this holiday season, when so many did not.

"So Hugo, are you enjoying your first year at Hogwarts this year? I've heard that you were sorted into the same house as your mom and dad!"

Hugo immediately jumped into telling their grandma all about his time at Hogwarts. His favourite class so far was Potions, but that was because he was good at it and it came easy to him. His least favourite class was history because the Professor Bins was so boring. He had made two good friends so far out of the boys that she shared a dormitory with. Hugo was always hard to get talking at first because he had a stutter. If he was very calm and was only speaking a few works at a time, he could usually control it. But as soon as he got excited or nervous, it would come out full force. Because of this, he often avoided anything that involved public speaking and often made it hard to make friends.

As Hugo and Grandma Granger continued to chat, Rose's grandpa turned to her and said, "I'm glad you and Hugo were able to join us for Christmas this year, Rose. It's nice having you kids in the house."

Rose smiled back at him, "I'm really glad we came too gramps."

It was just then that Rose noticed that her grandpa's eyes were filling with tears beneath his spectacles. He made a show of pulling off his glasses and cleaning them with his dinner napkin before putting them back on. "You look more and more like your mother every time we see you."

At her grandfather's kind words, Rose herself began to tear up. The red hair often caused people to peg her down as a Weasley child and not look past that aspect of who she was. It was nice to hear that she had some of her mother in her as well. Not trusting her voice, Rose nodded towards her grandfather and whispered a heartfelt thank-you. When he pressed a quick kiss to the crown of her head, she knew that he understood. She missed her mother dearly, and it was still too painful at times to talk about her.

During midnight mass, Rose thought a lot about the past few years, and about the letter's that her mother had been sending her. She had thought about asking her grandmother about it, to see if she know about them. She wanted to know how much longer she had to look forward to those letters, or if her mother had left her anything else. She had never told anyone about them, not even her brother. She had tried to watch his mail during the first few weeks at school to see if he got a letter as well, but she was never able to find out if he was getting one. And she didn't have the heart to ask, just in case the answer was no.

The priest called the congregation to stand and take part in the Lord's prayer. Rose and Hugo looked at each other, neither of them knowing the words. Their grandfather passed them an open book and pointed to the page on the right which had the words to it printed. The people of the parish joined their voices and recited the poem.

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Was it really so easy, Rose wondered, to forgive those that had done wrong by you? Did the act of forgiveness really wash away all of the history that had happened? Rose wondered if her father was right, if blood meant that you carried your family with you wherever you went. That you carried all of the bad and all of the good, regardless of who you turned out to be. Rose was beginning to think that perhaps it was more than that. Maybe you were the people that came before you only until you were able to decide who you wanted to be for yourself. And if that was true, it was possible that Scorpius Malfoy was not anything like his family. But it was also possible that Rose was exactly like hers. She desperately wished that she understood the intricacies of life.

Everyone had only been back from winter break for a little over a month when they were all called to McGonagall's office. Rose knew that calling the whole family together meant that it was not good news. They had tried to ask their Headmistress what it was about, but she said that it was better if they heard it from their family. And that is why they found themselves lining up to be flooed to The Burrow at such a late hour.

Rose had always thought that Dominique was quite beautiful. She can remember being a little girl and wanting to be just like her older cousin. She wanted to wear her clothes and talk like her. She wanted long blonde hair like her and blue eyes like her. Rose never came right out and told her older cousin how much she admired her. When she was younger it was because she was shy, but at she grew older it was because she was embarrassed and thought that Dominique would think that she was being annoying. As she sits with the rest of her large family in the kitchen of The Burrow, she wishes that she had said something. She wishes that she would have told Dom more often that she was pretty, and smart, and someone that she looked up to.

A few days ago, Dominique had collapsed on her way to Charms class and hit her head on the stone floor. Another student found her and called for help. Together with the help of a nearby professor, they levitated Dom to the Hospital Wing. It was Madame Pomfrey who noticed how skinny Dominique was during her examination and sent an owl to her parents. A few days later, after having a professional come in to speak with Dominique, she was diagnosed with an eating disorder.

Bill and Fleur felt that it would be best to pull Dominique out of school, and place her in a supportive environment free from stress and judgement, where she could get the proper help that she needed. Dominique wanted nothing to do with this. She kept telling everyone that there was nothing wrong with her; that she was in control. She kicked and screamed the entire way, and refused to speak to either of her parents once she had been brought to the facility.

Just as Rose was getting up to refill her tea, Bill and Fleur Flooed into the living room of the bedroom. All of the children froze in what they were doing, unsure of how to react or if it was appropriate to ask questions.

Louise, who had been quiet and deep in thought since the clan had left Hogwarts, was the first to speak up. "Is she okay?"

Fleur, who was quite visibly still upset over the whole situation was unable to speak. Bill wrapped a supportive arm around his wife and addressed his children, along with his nieces and nephews. "Dominique is going to be alight. She's getting help from some of the best trained professionals. But we feel it would be best if she took some time off of school to get better. Aunt Ginny is doing what she can to keep this out of the press, but we all want you to be prepared if they find out. You are not to speak to any media personnel about this. Understood?"

The clan all nodded their head solemnly, though Victorie felt that the comment was more directed at her. She had been the only one of their generation to speak with the media directly before. Her interview with Witch Weekly last year hadn't gone over well with her parents. She had received a howler from her mother and a stern letter from her grandmother. After that incident she had promised herself that she would never find herself in their terrible position again, or allow any of her family members to be caught in it either.

When Victorie was able to find her voice, she asked "When can I see her?". She felt like she had failed her sister, and that she would have been able to see that something was wrong.

"For right now, the Healers are not allowing many visitors. Once she is more stable, we'll arrange for all of you to see her. In the meantime, you can write her letters. I'm sure she would like that." Bill smiles at them, but it looks wrong. Like someone was just pulling at the skin around his mouth.

Spring

Lorcan and Lysander were the twins of her parent's friend Luna Lovegood. Lily had always thought that Luna was a bit on the strange side, but she was always very kind. They were in their third year with Albus and Rose, but had spent their second year abroad with their parent's on an expedition for some creature that Lily couldn't pronounce. The twins were also a bit on the odd side, though quite toned down in comparison to their mother. They had inherited Luna's blonde hair and their height from their father Rolf.

Lorcan was tutoring Lily in Herbology while Lysander was tutoring her in potions. Lily never felt as smart as her other siblings. School didn't come easy for her, and she had to work extra hard to get just passable grades. While their travels and their mother teaching them about herbal remedies, the twins were quite skilled in the two subjects and were more than happy to help their friends little sister out. They met with her once a week to go over her assignments and provide clarification on the areas that she didn't understand or had gotten wrong. Normally Lily would have gone to one of her cousins, but Molly and Louis were busy studying with David Longbottom for their OWL's and all of her family were quite distraught with their cousin Dominique. At the thought of her cousin, Lily felt a pang of guilt in the pit of her stomach. She wished that there was something more that she could do.

After her session with Lysander, Lily thanked him and gathered her books to head back to her Common Room. On her way back, she decided to stop by Headmistress McGonagall's office in hope that she would allow her to use her fireplace to call over to the Shell Cottage and see how Dominique was doing. Dominique had been allowed to go home after completing eight weeks of inpatient treatment with the commitment that she would complete her treatment as an outpatient.

Once she provided the password to the gargoyle it sprung to life and move out of the way of the staircase, allowing to climb up to the office. When she arrived at the top it was clear that McGonagall was not there, Lily turned to leave.

"Lily?" A voice said.

Lily spun around but could not see anyone else in the room. The voice said her name again. As she turned her head in the direction that it came from, she saw a line of portraits. Her dad had told her every Headmaster of Hogwarts had a portrait made of them that hung in the office. Lily instantly recognized the portrait of Dumbledore, who was currently dozing in a soft purple chair. It hadn't been Dumbledore that had called it, but the portrait next to him. Severus Snape.

"My apologies, you look just like someone that I… used to know. What is your name?"

"Lily Potter."

Lily wasn't aware how realistic the portraits emotions could be. The man with black hair looked heartbroken after she told him her name.

"I would be correct in assuming that you are a child of Harry Potter than." Lily nodded her head. "Are there more of you?"

Lily nodded her head once more, "I have two older brothers. James and Albus." She did not miss the subtle eye-roll that the portrait gave.

"Of course. Well, I hope you care more about your grades than your father did while he was in school."

Looking down at her shoes in embarrassment, Lily responded saying. "I try. But I'm not very good at potions."

The late headmaster then insisted that she show her him her assignment. He then spent the next half hour correcting it and pointing out where she had confused two different potions. As she left the office, Lily began to think that perhaps her dad was right. Maybe Severus Snape wasn't a bad person, just misunderstood.