"So how was Luna, Louise?"

"What's an infestation of wrackspurts?"

"An infestation of invisible creatures that float around your ears and can enter your brain. If they do, it causes fuzziness of thought. At least that's what Luna says."

"Thank you, Rex. Apparently, I'll suffer from one if I hurt you. How was Jean?"

"She began threatening, but quickly started telling me that I'm the brother she always wanted.

"That reminds me. I need to tell my friends back home the news. Jigger will be best man, Boko, Jon and Richard can be ushers. Luna…"

"What about me, Rex?"

"Would you want to escort me down the aisle?"

"Why me?"

"You are my family now, Sis!"

"Who will escort you, Sis?"

"You will, Jean. Doris and Evelyn can be bridesmaids. Oh, I need to get dresses sorted.

"I'm getting married, Sis! Hopefully, in a few months' time, I'll be Louise Milligan, although I'll keep Louise Dana as my professional name."

"I'm so happy for you, Louise. Rex will be a great brother-in-law for me and a better husband to you."

"We also need to announce it to the Council…"

"Announce what, Rex?"

"Ah, Harry, I am going to marry Louise Dana."

"You finally got together then, mon vieux?!"

"Yes, thank you, Wednesday."

"Congratulations, Rex!" Ginny said, hugging him tightly. "I'm Ginny Potter," she said to Louise.

"Wednesday sent us wedding photos!" Jean laughed. "Plus, Rex speaks of you and Harry all the time. As with Luna, we feel as if we have known you for years."

"That should really stop my nephew from trying to marry us off!" Zelena laughed.

"I think that kiss you gave me not producing chiming bells and fireworks did that."

"I don't think even Henry is quite that naïve," Regina sighed. "The fact that you haven't turned green should be added confirmation of that, though, Sis."

"When's the wedding?" Millie asked.

"Not so fast Millie! I still have to get this beauty an engagement ring!"

"A beauty, am I?" Louise smiled. "Rex, my love, you've just earned yourself a nice long kiss…"

Meanwhile, at the Serafina Picquery Elementary School, team sports were beginning. "Hugo, are you on your school's lacrosse team back home?"

"No! It's a game for girls, so Lily is."

"Well, it's baseball next term."

"You mean rounders!" Lily laughed. "Another girls' sport."

"Well, they are both sports for boys, here.

"What about football?"

"If you mean soccer, fine. If you mean American football, no thank you. What is it that Uncle Rex says about what he calls Americanised rugby, Lily?

"A noble sport of strength, speed and fair play perverted into armoured giants charging into each other like rutting stags. I think that was it."

"There's basketball…"

"I'll take that option, then. Thank you." Finally, a proper man's sport.

"As for you, Lily, there is soccer…"

"I often play with my brothers and cousins. I'll join in happily. My normal spot is left back or central defence."

"There should be a space available. Emma, you are on the left…"

"I'm left wing. Our left back moved away.

"Fancy working on link-up play, Lily, if the soccer mistress is happy for you to play there."

"Yes, Emma. By the way, Mommy was wondering if your parents would agree to a playdate?"

"One Saturday or Sunday? Sure. Mom and Dad would be happy to arrange one. Robert and I like you and Hugo. Mom's friends with your American Mom. I can't foresee any problems.

"If your American Mom is picking you up tonight, she can discuss it with Mom and Dad."

"She is planning to, I believe."

Herbology was not James' favourite subject. He loved Professor Longbottom (Uncle Neville when out of class), but was not gifted with plants. Still, he was good enough to get As and EEs in the exams, so it wasn't a handicap. As with his father, Defence Against the Dark Arts was his speciality, with a strong affinity for charms and transfiguration. Albus was the green fingered one and the better at potions. James wondered if this was due to temperament. He was more instinctive and Albus more careful and methodical. Apparently, Severus Snape's portrait at Hogwarts had smiled for days after learning Albus Severus Potter had inherited his grandmother's potions skills as well as her green eyes!

Once the lesson was over, Neville stopped him. "I believe you have a free period now?"

"Yes, Pro… Sorry, Uncle Neville."

"No problems, Jimmy. Hagrid, Aurora and I were planning on holding a series of informal gettogether's for students from all three Houses. We were wondering if Ginny and Harry would be happy to address one such gathering? Perhaps Wednesday could do one on wizard America?"

"I'll ask them, Uncle Neville. You could do that yourself, though. Mum and Dad are always happy for a chat, as is Mom."

"I will, Jimmy. No, it was more that I wanted you to act as the Third Year Representative to the Staff Council that we are putting together to organise it.

"This will look good on your report.

"One of the reasons we are doing this is because Hogsmeade weekends are obviously not possible for the duration. Another is, well…"

"You don't want something like the old Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry starting up again?! Hagrid told us that you and Professor Sinistra had discussed with him that all inter-house rivalry would be strictly friendly."

"Exactly, Jimmy. Will you?"

"Of course, Uncle Neville."

Scorpius sighed as he read the latest Daily Prophet. Apparently, Auntie Hermione had been conspiring with the White Council and the International Confederation of Wizards to liberate all house elves and use them to enslave respected pureblood wizards. Where does Rita Skeeter get her ideas from?! She's almost as barmy as Umbridge is!

Whilst Draco was right that the Headmistress was not actively cruel to her students (being of the right sort of pureblood, she was disinclined to indulge in torture), she was disinterested in having them taught anything. Most current and former Hogwarts staff had gone into exile, so there were few real teachers available anyway. Her only interest seemed to be in getting an army of purebloods willing to use the Dark Arts to defend their homeland.

Most of his friends were as happy as he about Grandad's hostile takeover, so were also likely to only use the taught curses to hex Umbridge and the Carrows in the back. And it would serve them right for teaching us them in the first place…

"Sabby, could I speak to you for a moment?"

"Sure, Wednesday. What's up?"

"I'm thinking of inviting Robert and Emma for a playdate with Lily and Hugo next weekend. Is that OK with you?"

"Of course! Would next Saturday afternoon suit you?"

"Perfect!

"Hi kids! This is Robert and Emma's Mommy. A week on Saturday, Robert and Emma will be coming to us for a playdate."

"Yay!" Lily exulted.

"Now, say thank you to Mrs Kinkle and goodbye to your friends.

"We need to be off home for tea."

The Alchemists Arms, the following afternoon

Jean Dana squealed with delight as Louise showed her the third finger of her left hand. "That sapphire is exquisite, Sis! As is the white gold ring. Ooh, you are so lucky, Louise!"

"I'm the lucky one, Jean," Rex smiled, taking the time to kiss Louise softly on the lips.

"By the way, I'm having a portal we can use set up between our homes when those odious oiks are removed from power. That way the three of us can travel between them at will."

"Why me, Rex?"

"You are Louise's sister and a good friend of mine. I want you to be a full part of our lives, Jean. She isn't losing you, Doris or Evelyn, anymore than I am Luna, Rolf, Jigger, George, Jon, Penny and the rest.

"We are combining our families, be that in blood or quasi-adopted, Jean. You most of all. After all, all my close blood relations are long gone. You are Louise's only surviving one. Think of it as gaining a brother."

"Keep him, Sis! He's perfect! Family hug!"

"That reminds me." Rex Skyped the Paranormal Investigations Bureau's branch in an old smugglers' secret room at The Gay Dolphin Hotel in Rye once the three-way cuddle had finished. Jigger, Jon and George were there, as was Jon's wife, Penny, another Lone Piner and proprietor and manageress of the family hotel. "Hi everyone."

"Hi Rex, Luna. I say, good to see you both again, Louise and Jean." Jon tried to straighten his hair and adjusted his glasses. "Anything to report?"

"Would the betrothal of Rex Milligan and Louise Dana count?!"

"Finally!" chorused Jon and Penny in unison.

"That was my reaction too!"

"I'll just bet it was, Jean." Jigger grinned. "So, you finally spotted what was right under your nose all this time?!"

"It was obvious to everyone else," George agreed.

"Velma Dinkley?! Jupiter Jones?!" Penny interjected. "I'm so lucky I made the first move with Jon and before you three infected him with your obliviousness to the opposite sex at that!"

"I am in love with Velma?!"

"Yes, you are, Jig," Rex was relishing the turning of the tables. "A love she reciprocates, I believe.

"As for you, George, you only put on proper perfume and swap shirts and trouser suits for blouses and skirts when meeting Jupiter. Why would a confirmed tomboy make herself appear feminine for just one man, unless she wants him to notice her as being a woman?!"

"Is it that obvious?" George cried softly.

"Yes," Penny told her, putting a comforting arm around her. For all her fiery redhead's temperament, Penny was genuinely kind-hearted with a smile that could light up a room. "Try asking him out for a date next time. Preferably one that doesn't define "getting down to basics" as a discussion on quarks!

"As I said, hopeless! At least one of you has finally seen sense. Did you kiss him, Louise?"

"Well, yes, but only after Jean threatened to lock us in a closet after we wondered why a love potion smelt to each of us partly of something associated with the other. Long story!"

"Well," George giggled, "do you have a ring yet? That's beautiful!"

"There's a celebration in The Alchemist Arms' tomorrow night. Can you all gather as many as you can with portal access? Lone Piners, Old Sheldrakians, the rest of the Famous Five, the Secret Seven, the Baker Street Irregulars, the Swallows and Amazons…"

"Of course, Rex! Congratulations to the pair of you! Oh, Jon, we haven't had a community wedding in decades…"

"I suppose not. Athena and Reuben are engaged, so I assumed that would be the next one.

"Any ideas for the wedding, Rex? Rex?!"

It was clear from the view from the other side of the screen that Rex and Louise had better things to do with their lips than speaking. From the closeness of their embrace, it seemed that the kiss wasn't destined to be a short one.

"How romantic!" sighed Lily Potter, as she saw Rex twirl Louise around The Alchemists Arm's ballroom. "Uncle Rex has found his True Love."

"That'll be you one day, Lils!" James told her, on weekend pass from the Albus Dumbledore Academy with Albus, Rose, Victoire and the other children. Neville, Hannah and Minerva were with them.

"And you, Jamie."

"This Louise Dana," James mused, "we don't know her, do we? What's she like?"

"In wizard terminology, she has the brain of a Ravenclaw, the heart of a Hufflepuff and the spirit of a Gryffindor," Jigger told them. "She's brave, loyal and clever. Rex loves her, and she loves him.

"This is Jean, Louise's younger sister. Why don't you talk to her? You are really nice, aren't you, Jean?"

"Well, thanks Jigger. And you are two of Harry and Ginny's children, right?"

"I'm Lily and this is James. We want to know about you and your sister. What is she really like? Will she make Uncle Rex happy?"

"Well, my sister has loved him for fifty years, kids. He has loved her equally as long. They were both too stubborn to admit it, even to themselves. Now that they are together, they won't part. His heart beats only for her and vice versa.

"Rex is an honorary uncle? Well, great! You now have two extra honorary aunts."

"Auntie Jean. Auntie Louise." James tried the names out. "I like it!"

"Auntie Millie says she will take us sailing again in the holidays. Would you like to come, Auntie Jean?" Lily also discovered that addressing the blonde thus felt just right.

"Our Uncle Ned was a sea captain. Louise and I would be glad to join you.

"On that subject, John, Nancy, can you come here for a minute please?"

"Well, shiver my timbers, your sister has finally landed that lubber!"

"Rex is perfectly happy on the water, dear. Unless it involves that lunatic inventor he went to school with…"

"Staggers?!" John Walker sighed. "His contraptions would only float if they were designed to sink!"

"True," his wife replied. "Sorry, Jean. I need to keep up the piratical image you know."

"Well, these are James and Lily Potter. Apparently, their Aunt Millicent takes them sailing sometimes. Would the captains of the Swallow and the Amazon be interested in giving them some pointers?"

"Rex has introduced us to Millicent Potter, Jean. We'll be glad to impart our knowledge of sailing to her family.

"Now, me 'arties, we must arrange for you to take to the waters with us…"

Jean sighed. Ruth "Nancy" Walker nee Blackett would never change! She looked around. Nancy, Ned and Frank were holding court with Joe and Iola, the blonde and brunette forms respectively of pretty Doris and the shy but ever-loyal Evelyn beside them. Mystery Inc. (having reached New York, following their return to Crystal Cove from vacation), the Bob-Whites of the Glen, the Three Investigators, the Bobbseys and many more were there. On the British side, the Secret Seven, the Baker Street Irregulars and the Five Find-Outers were all out in force, again just the tip of the iceberg. Throw in mages, mutants, Amazons and other varieties of metahuman (Rex was well-liked and respected in many circles, with British wizards regarding him as very much one of their own) and there was an impressive roster. Some engagement party, Sis!

"That ballgown suits you, Louise." It was true that the pale blue long dress did look stunning on her, but quite frankly the dinner jacketed man on her arm was Louise Dana's main concern that evening.

"Thank you, Daphne."

Daphne Blake had come up to the engaged couple, who were taking a break from the dancefloor. "It was great to hear your news! Congratulations to you both!"

"Thanks Daphne." Rex smiled at her.

"Yes, congratulations!" Velma Dinkley echoed.

George and Jigger were talking nearby. "There's your chance, Jig. Invite her to dance."

"Petrified Paintpots! What do I say?"

"You are asking her for a jive, not a dirty weekend in Margate! She likes you, you like her, so just be yourself. If it goes well, ask her out for a coffee.

"Trust me, you'll be fine. Oh, and wish me luck. I'm going to ask Jupiter to whirl me around the floor!"

"Good luck, George." He saw her approach the stocky fair-haired Jupiter Jones and lead him to the dancefloor. Sheldrake Forever! He walked to where Velma was chatting to Daphne, Rex and Louise. "Velma, may I have the pleasure of this dance?"

"Of course, Jigger. I'd be delighted!"

The following morning, Rex, Luna and the Danas were back in the Central Perk. A kooky middle-aged blonde was playing a guitar and singing in the corner. When not doing so, she was speaking nineteen to the dozen about crystals and horoscopes. She quickly struck up a rapport with Luna.

At an engagement party in Storybrooke later that evening, Luna started to sing a song about a flatulent feline she had picked up from her new friend. "This is such a great song!" she said often.

"Luna's sweet, but she must drive you mad sometimes, love," Louise sighed after the twentieth repeat.

"Yes, but I wouldn't have her any other way!" Rex drew her close. "Now, Louise Dana, there is only one woman I want to concentrate on tonight…" He kissed her passionately.

"Any regrets, Auntie Zelena?" Henry asked.

"No. He's a great friend, which is what I need right now, Henry.

"Now, be a dear and dance with your favourite Aunt…"

"Maybe later. This is a slow waltz, so I'm dancing with Ava.

"Oh, Ava, how about this summer for our wedding?" The way she kissed him was all the answer he needed.