Listening to: Good-Bye Privet Drive by Ministry of Magic

Before I do anything, I have to say: !WHOO-HOO!

Well, here we have the sugar crash after the wedding. As for the flashbacks, we have a double header-both Severus in 1981 and Aster and James in 1976. We also have to listen to Riddle rant about the Keeneys, Malfoys…and the wedding.

Thank you so much, Bri for doing "History" for Remus and Tonks in "Avalon Drabbles", as always it was amazing, especially as it was from Padfoot's point of view.

Now, I have also decided to start the school year with a bang next year. AVPM/AVPS references will be sprinkled throughout (on a side note, I heard they're doing A Very Potter Threequel and rumor has it Evanna Lynch is going to be cast as Luna-as she was in the HP films).

And feel free to coo at the little ones in the flashbacks-that's why they're there.

Chapter 6

Family is what keeps many fighting. At the end of all this, the medals, ceremonies, and press clippings won't matter. They're the ones that were with you through it all and the reason you fight. They're also your greatest liability. With one word, they can betray you.

It's at times like this I still wish that I still had Arthur to talk to. I was only five when he was murdered, and since then, a part of me has been missing in a way I cannot describe. They say he was like me- half-British, half-Avi, only his father was Abraxas Malfoy. But what I remember most about him is also the saddest.

We never got to say good-bye.

- from the jouranl of Domina Magicae Aster Jean Keeney June 24, 1976

Sirius rifled through Aster Keeney's journal yet again. It was late and still Harry had to be on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow but for some reason he couldn't sleep.

Almost as soon as the photo-ops and press interviews and…Sirius had lost count around the fourteenth or sixteenth frown from Crouch as the couple posed for photographs which, it was said were now on a Chocolate Frog Card (he'd have to get Moony to test that theory on a later date), Sirius had finally been able to corner Snape and demand to know exactly why he'd given his go ahead for Draco to pop the question to Abigail.

The happily married couple, meanwhile had moved into a nice little cottage of their own (and Tonks assured him that they had one on Avalon that was much better for raising a family-at which Remus started stammering an argument about that not being the case for a while).

Barty Crouch, according to Arthur Weasley who heard it from Percy, had to start censoring his post as many pro-werewolf groups, organizations, individuals….and Geoffrey Johnson had started pelting him with Howlers, letters of contempt…and such to get him to convince Scrimgeour to pass the Pack Laws here in the UK.

He'd also had to replace his desk from all the scorch marks, but that was just a rumor.

Sirius meanwhile had to dodge questions about when the Keeney-Malfoy wedding was going to take place.

He threw the journal onto the table in front of him.

It wasn't fair. Snape'd had fourteen years with her. He knew that this was coming, but in all honesty, he'd have expected Draco to have the decency to wait until she was of age, not just steal her away from behind his back.

In all honesty, he knew he was being selfish. It was Abigail's choice, not his. She was the one who would be marrying Draco, spending her life with him. But she was only fifteen for Merlin's sake! Compared to most people, she was still a kid!

He downed the last of whatever was in his glass. It was like with his brother all over again.

He wasn't going to get to say good-bye.

{PAGEBREAK}

Tom Riddle studied the smiling pictures in front of him with a sneer. They thought it was this easy? That she would be safe? If anything…he fingered his wand. If anything, it would make the whole chase that much sweeter.

Not many, he supposed, had courage like that. Oh, in the end, her mother did, but only after things threatened to reveal themselves.

As for the werewolf, well from hearing Bellatrix's earlier screeching, that news was not well-received in that family. Though he supposed the Malfoy boy would be happy to mind the cubs.

As for Potter…he'd better start planning another event quite soon. For if Lord Voldemort had his way, the same picture would again appear, only this time, all those involved would be wearing white for one of their own.

{PAGEBREAK}

Avalon

December, 1981

If Aster were here, she would never let him live it down. That's what Severus thought as he sat on the floor, rolling a ball back and forth with Abigail. She would clap whenever the rolling toy would move.

It was just after Christmas and he had a day or two before he had to return to Hogwarts. Pushing those unwelcome thoughts out of his mind, he focused instead on the little girl before him. Abigail Andromeda Keeney was a happy child, her hair the same as her mother's-and cousin's-he reminded himself, glancing at the boys walking themselves into bean bag chairs in another part of the room.

As if to remind Severus that they were still there, Neville Longbottom walked straight into one and laughed as he fell into the soft surface. Following his lead, Harry Potter, pushed himself off the ground and forward into another. "Dray play?" he asked, looking around for his blonde friend. The young Malfoy nodded, "Fun," the boy said, "Squishy chair," Neville agreed, trying and failing to push himself off.

Ginny Weasley was perhaps the noisiest, squealing as Harry attempted to drag the blanket she was lying on across the room towards the chairs. He glanced at Abigail. The girl just threw a small plush ball towards him.

He rolled it back. "Da," she said, tossing it back. Severus's head snapped up. "What did you say?" he asked.

Abigail repeated herself. "Da," she didn't seem to understand what she was saying, only that she was meant to say it, clapping her hands. "Da," she repeated, taking his hesitation as he needed clarification, this time pointing a chubby finger at him.

He picked her up, all else fading away. "Da-da" she said, clearly delighted with this new, her first, word. Until-

"Da!"

"Don't pull my hair."

{PAGEBREAK}

August 1976

They abandoned all pretense as they pounded down the road, only occasionally pausing to shoot spells behind them. "How many are there?" he asked, as they darted behind a tree. "Five, maybe more." she replied. "The LeStranges, Rookwood, Crouch Junior's looking pretty upset tonight. Maybe Daddy didn't acknowledge his ten OWLs."

"How in hell can you joke at a time like this?" He asked, hoisting himself into the oak.

"Well, if you really look at it, there's always a joke to be made, Prongs," she said, heaving herself into a nearby tree. Two beams of light from lit wands made their way into the trees.

James watched Aster climb through the branches so she was standing over Rookwood and Rabastan LeStrange. "Aster!" he hissed, realizing her plan all too late. "Get back here!" She responded by sticking her tongue out at him and leaping out of the tree.

"Hello boys," she replied, as the two cursed from underneath her. "Nice of you to drop by."

"Not for long, you little bitch." Rabastan snarled, pushing her off him and pointing his wand at her throat. Aster slapped him, leaving a bloody streak on his face. "Any help here would be nice!" she called stumbling to her feet and pointing her wand at Crouch Jr. who stood open-mouthed in shock. He didn't have time to react as she sent him flying backwards before taking off into the woods.

Cursing, James followed after her in the trees, leaping from one branch to another until he reached the tree at the end of the path- slightly ahead of Aster and LeStrange. Rookwood had stayed behind to find Crouch.

He leapt out of the tree, pushing LeStrange face-first into the dirt. "Are we done here?" he asked in a tired voice. "Should be," Aster said, a thin line of blood trailing out of her nose. "Going back home?" He nodded. "You?"

"Anywhere Mum won't go." she replied. "See you,"

"See you," he said as she disappeared heading towards what he could only assume was a safe house of some kind.

He turned and headed back, wondering just how he'd explain this to his mum.

Yes, James, the never-ending Mum-approved explanations. I also want to note that of course, if there would be a comparison between the two- James and Severus would definitely compare Aster to Xeno Lovegood because let's face it, she's random-it's her way of dealing with stress (although, I have shown that she can be serious too).

Further ideas for the flashbacks:

Should Aster and Lily ever meet or should I keep them separated?

Should James (or Severus) have ever confessed to Lily (at which point, you choose) about Avalon?

Should Lucius ever feel insulted that Aster repeatedly broke into his house without him knowing or Narcissa telling him?

Should Aster have ever met (worked with , talked to, etc) Petunia-who simply ignored her as crazy because she moved in with Severus?

Think about them, and if it's something you'd like to read, please PM or review!

Until next week, enjoy all the Harry Potter-ness that is the joy of a new movie release!

Respectfully,

Sparky

R2-D2106