Chapter Seven

Generation Gap

Stole was finding it fun to be Terry's arch enemy. Terry was fun to be around even when they weren't fighting publicly. He was a wiz at History of Magic, her least favorite subject. They never fought like their fathers had but were careful to snub each other in the presence of others.

Stole was also finding it hard to ignore Lestat. She knew she was only eleven and the possibility of him thinking of her that way was very slim but she couldn't help it.

Lestat was charming and handsome. He was like family but she couldn't help but think of him as someone more. Someone she liked and wanted to be with.

Terry was fun too. She was in the library, researching. Terry was hiding behind a stack of books, speaking in an Australian stage whisper as she tried to read the Shakespeare play for her Muggle Studies class.

"So the lion stalks his prey, the unknowing snake," Terry drawled, peeking at her over a stack of Potions books.

Stole smiled but focused on her Shakespeare.

"The snake is a cunnin' li'l creature," Terry continued, creeping around the edges of the books. "But is she any match for the fearless lion?"

"She is if she's a lion tamer," Stole chirped, setting down her book. "Which she is."

He grinned. "So, what is a poor lion to do?"

"He can start by leaving me alone so I can finish this play," Stole admonished.

He leaned over to see what she was reading. "As You Like It?"

"Shakespeare."

"I know that. I'm just wondering what class that's for. I might have to look into it."

"You like literature?"

"I like Shakespeare," Terry corrected.

Stole wasn't sure what to say to that and wondered if she should just go back to her book. That seemed rude but it was getting uncomfortable.

"You know," Terry began, looking out over the stacked books. "I find Shakespeare is easier to read if I read it aloud."

"That gets rather boring with just one person," Stole pointed out.

He grinned. "Well, looks like you need some help."

888

Ginny lay on the bed and breathed a contented sigh. Her husband propped himself up on one elbow to grin down at his wife.

"So this is what an empty nest feels like," she sighed.

Draco leaned down and kissed his wife's bare collarbone. A fire was lit in the hearth, taking the edge out of the crisp November night. Beneath the sheets, Ginny and Draco were naked.

Draco took a moment to admire his wife. Ginny Weasley was gorgeous in ways almost too painful to contemplate. She had aged well, only a few silver strands starting to appear in her shock of crimson hair. She had laugh lines but they were still small. She wasn't vain about that kind of thing and neither was he.

Ginny returned the admiration. "Heard from Eve lately?" she asked.

Draco nodded. His wife worried about their children a bit much but he couldn't really blame her.

"Eve's in France right now, hunting a few Horntails."

"I thought they didn't get that far south," Ginny protested. Draco sensed the underlying worry in his wife's voice. She was probably remembering the Tri Wizard Tournament and Harry's task.

"Not usually but Rob says they've been tracking their migration and it's changed."

Ginny nodded. "Rob would know that sort of thing."

Despite the difference between him and his sister, Rob took an active interest in his sister and her well being.

"Phil's going to try to come home next weekend."

"Trying to mooch food from us again?" Ginny asked wryly.

"Most likely. Oh, you remember Blaine Zabini?"

"Blaise and Pansy's little girl? Isn't she twenty or so now?" Ginny asked.

"Nineteen. Apparently she's shadowing Phil now."

Ginny nodded, bringing up what she could remember of the girl. She remembered a chocolate colored girl with sleek black hair and striking violet eyes. She hadn't seen Blaine since Eve and Rob's graduation and had not even known Blaine was going into Auror school. Blaine tended to get lost with her big brother Cameron around. Cameron was working as a special effects artist for one of the many Wizarding film industries. He rubbed elbows with the best and people tended to forget about Blaine in all the mix up.

"Phil wanted to know if he could bring her home with him. I don't know if that's part of the shadowing or not..." Draco trailed off.

Ginny looked at her husband, knowing what was going on in that mind of his. When people worked close together for extended periods of time, they tended to grow feelings for each other. She wondered if the same would happen with Phil and Blaine. She would just have to wait and see.

In the mean time, she slid her hand over to touch her husband's chest. He stiffened then relaxed as she moved closer. Well, most of him relaxed. She grinned and climbed on top of him.

He grinned back and kissed her even as they started again.

(A/N: I like families. No I will not tell you if Blaine and Phillip get together. You'll just have to read on and see what happens. I thought about putting some As You Like It quotes in this one but I'm not familiar enough with that one to do so easily and any time I don't have to work hard is a good time in my book. :3