Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JKR, of course. Just puttering around in her world.

Harry emerged from his goblin account manager's office feeling a bit overwhelmed by the experience of reviewing the Potter and Black accounts as the adult manager of them. He had thought he was prepared for the scope of things based on the lessons Narcissa had begun for him in the week she'd been at Grimmauld Place, but studying pureblood law and culture versus seeing just how much he actually owned and was responsible beyond the actual people in his household was overwhelming. Although he supposed he should be grateful that he now knew he'd have no problem supporting them all even if no one took an outside job. Shrinking the two account ledgers, he stashed them in a robe pocket to review with Narcissa and Andromeda later.

He paused, intending to renew the obscure variation of the Notice-Me-Not charm the Black sister had insisted he use while in public today, but was distracted by a semi-familiar face emerging from the vault carts area. The sight of tears on someone he'd have sworn would have prefer to die rather than show weakness publicly made him take a deep breath and approach her.

"Bulstrode? Is there anything I can help with?"

The stoutly-built young woman looked startled, before she rubbed the sleeve of her worn robe across her face to remove the evidence of her tears. "Nothing that concerns you, Potter."

Her tone lacked the bite he'd associated with Slytherins in school, and he sighed softly. Part of him wanted to accept the out she'd given him, but he remembered all too well that Bulstrode had not been a Death Eater. She hadn't fought at the Battle of Hogwarts on either side, but had been seen protecting younger years and aiding their escape from the castle. That alone merited he make more of an effort. "Maybe not, but I'm not so heartless to walk away when I strongly suspect you need someone to talk to, even if I can't help."

He thought she was going to reject the offer again, but a glance toward two shabbily dressed boys near the entrance seemed to change her mind. "The Ministry is going to place my brothers in a Muggle orphanage if I can't prove I'm capable of providing for them." She reached into a robe pocket and removed a small money bag he could tell contained far too few coins for someone responsible for two youngsters. "This is all that was left in my father's vault. It isn't even enough to cover next month for our flat, much less feed them properly. Even if there were jobs available, I doubt anyone's going to hire a Slytherin half-blood who hasn't got any NEWTs."

He could tell the admission of poverty cost her dearly, and she stood resolutely before him, seeming to expect ridicule. "If you have somewhere else to stay, do you think the Ministry would give you more time to find work?"

She shrugged. "Maybe, but I don't have anyone left to help me."

"Yes, you do." There was room to spare at Grimmauld, and he suspected Draco could add wizard space to expand the house if necessary. "I've got room, if you don't mind staying in a house with two small infants in residence."

The woman frowned at him. "I don't want us to be a charity case for you, Potter," she said gruffly.

"It's not just charity. It's common decency, and those boys don't deserve to end up in a Muggle orphanage." The thought made him shudder, considering Voldemort's childhood. Magical children might be safe enough with their families in the Muggle world, but to be essentially abandoned in a group home was not a good solution. His hand brushed the lumps of the family ledgers and it gave him an idea. "Are you related to Violetta Bulstrode in some way?"

"She was my great aunt. Why?"

"Because that makes us cousins. She was my great-grandmother." He smiled, hoping the family connection might settle her discomfort. "And I may have a lot left to learn about wizarding culture still, but it means there's no charity if family is in need. I don't want to see your brothers end up left in the Muggle world any more than you do."

She took a deep, shuddering breath and then gave an abrupt nod. "It'll just be until I find work, and I'll pay you back every sickle spent on us."

Harry figured he'd allow her that much pride, even if he didn't need the money. He'd feel the same way if their positions were reversed. "How about you introduce me to my other cousins then, Millicent?"

"I prefer Millie," she said softly, before leading him to the waiting boys. "Boys, I'd like you to meet Harry Potter. Pot, er, Harry, these are my brothers. Sebastian is thirteen and a Ravenclaw at Hogwarts. Edmund just turned eleven. He's due to start school this year."

Harry didn't want to imagine the pressure on Millie at the mention of the boys' school ages. His Hogwarts fees had been paid in full by his parents as soon as he'd been born, but he knew that was unusual and only a practice of wealthy families. Others, like the Weasleys, had to scrimp and save to lay the 1,700 galleons per year. He shook hands with both boys and smiled reassuringly. "Your sister and I just realized we're cousins."

They looked to Millie for confirmation and she nodded. "We are going to go stay with Harry until I get everything sorted out with Father's estate," she explained. Harry thought the younger boy looked near tears in obvious relief, but Sebastian frowned.

"Why would he do that for us?" the teenager asked. His pale colored eyes were very different from his sister's dark gaze, and he studied Harry in the way the young man associated with Ravenclaws mulling over an intriguing puzzle. It reminded him quite a bit of Luna.

"Because that's what family ought to do for each other," he explained. "For seven years, I was allowed to believe I had no relatives in the wizarding world. Now I've learned I have a lot of cousins, especially through my Black grandmother. I'm also Lord Black, and I would not be serving my duty to that House if I didn't look after all my relatives properly."

Sebastian didn't look entirely convinced, but seemed to decide he'd accept it for now since he turned to Millie. "When are we moving?"

She glanced at Harry, who shrugged. "Today, if you like. I can loan you a house elf to help pack up your things."

"There's not much, but I guess help would make it go faster. How will we know where to go?"

"Netta will pop you over when you're ready. That'll give me time to let everyone know you're coming." He called the elf before Millie could rethink her acceptance and gave the elf instructions. Leaving his newest family members to the efficient care of Netta, he recast his privacy charm and headed for Diagon Alley and then Muggle London. Kreacher now had access to the housekeeping fund, but he wanted to try out the Muggle bank card the bank had provided. With three more mouths to feed, more groceries were now a high priority.

An hour later he apparated into the entrance hall, shifting the Tesco bags. He'd concentrated on tonight's dinner and tomorrow's breakfast, figuring that would give Kreacher time to restock the pantry via wizarding shops. Considering Luna's instant love of the Happy Faces biscuits after his last trip to Tesco's, he'd also bought several packs of the biscuits for her. He'd also sought out the barmbrack that Draco had hungrily devoured and wished he'd paid more attention to the two older women's tastes in regards to the last round of shopping he'd done,

He made his way toward the basement kitchen, calling for Luna as he went. It didn't surprise him that she was in the kitchen, but he was pleasantly surprised to find Hermione, Percy, and George there. He plopped the shopping bags on the table, extracted a packet of biscuits from one, and offered them to Luna before he settled next to her, happy with her delighted squeal and the quick kiss she pressed to his lips. It was the first time she'd initiated a kiss of any sort, and despite the chaste nature of it, he felt a pleasant warmth spread through him.

Smiling at the others, he greeted them. "I didn't expect a visit so soon." He'd figured it would be at least two or three days before anyone came over, and Percy's presence was a true surprise.

"It's not exactly a visit," Hermione explained. "The Burrow is a bit uncomfortable for us three right now. Luna said you'd be glad to have us stay."

Harry nodded. "Of course I am. You three can stay as long as you like." He spared a thought for just how the logistics of adding in the Bulstrode siblings would pan out, so he turned to Draco. "We're going to have three more people to accommodate beyond Hermione and these two."

The blond grimaced. "I can rush sorting out the attic space, but they'll need to share until then. Might take me two days of so to clean out the old servant quarters up there. Who's coming?"

"Millie Bulstrode and her two brothers. I sent Netta to help them pack up their old flat."

"I can share with her," Hermione offered. "Sirius' old room is plenty large enough for two women."

Draco looked pensive, and Harry could almost imagine his thoughts about toward rearranging the house. "Her brothers are school age, so they can stay with me until I get the attic room ready. They can keep my room and be closer to their sister. I'll take the attic room." He began rummaging in the Tesco bags, before finding the bread Harry had gotten especially for him. "How did you manage to collect another Slytherin?"

Shrugging, Harry stroked Alexander's tiny foot, wishing the baby was awake for a quick cuddle. Today had been the first day he'd been away from Luna and their son for more than an hour or two, and it made him crave contact with both. "The Ministry's back together enough to start investigating child placements, and they were threatening to put the boys into a Muggle orphanage since she doesn't have a way of supporting them."

"That's awful," Hermione exclaimed. Harry met her gaze, knowing she was thinking of a young Tom Riddle the same as he had. "Aren't there wizarding orphanages?"

"Not in Britain," Draco explained. "It doesn't happen often that there are no relatives to take orphaned magical children. Pureblood families will usually claim even distant cousins rather than let a pureblood child be Muggle raised. It's usually pretty informally done, since the child welfare department just requires a letter stating the child's been taken in." He summoned the teapot on the table to him and refreshed his cup. "But the war's likely scrambled things up, and Millie's a half-blood, which complicates things."

"Why's that?" Harry asked.

"Her father was disowned by his family for marrying a Muggle woman, so his relatives won't take the boys in. Millie's grandfather is a Death Eater, too, so odds are high that he'll end up in Azkaban and be no use to them, even if he did take them."

"That's just bloody awful," Harry said, glad he'd bumped into Millie in the bank. "Will there be any problem for me taking them in?"

"Even if you weren't the Savior of wizarding Britain, they'd approve you. The Black name may have been dormant since Orion Black died, just like the Potter name had been until you came of age, but both carry a lot of weight for child custody."

"He'd right," Percy added. "You probably wouldn't even need any sort of blood relation to claim custody of an orphan."

Luna reached out to take Harry's hand, looking troubled. "You should ask Kingsley to put a halt to Muggle orphanages, Harry. I doubt the Bulstrodes are the only ones at risk, between the war and the parents that might end up in Azkaban."

"Are you suggesting Harry take responsibility for more?" Draco asked.

Luna simply shrugged and finished chewing her biscuit. "Every last one. They're just children."

Though it sounded like a daunting task, Harry knew she was right. "I'll go see him in the morning."

Draco sighed, no doubt trying to picture how to stuff more people into an already full house. "I hope you got a property list from Gringotts. I think we may need a larger place than a London house meant as a single family dwelling."

"I'll go over the ledgers tonight. I'm sure your mother will know which properties would be suitable."

Before more discussion could occur, Harry heard the sound of house elf apparition in the entrance hall and excused himself to go fetch the newcomers. While the thought of further responsibilities scared him, he knew Luna was right. None of the children made parentless by the war deserved to be sent into an unfamiliar world on top of what they'd gone through in the last year. He wouldn't be alone in this endeavor and that was enough to calm his nerves.

A/N:

W L Chastain: Thank you for the nice review. While I understand your pet peeve, I have always enjoyed seeing reviews answered in this way. If I were getting enough reviews to significantly alter word count, I'd stop, but at this point, it really isn't pushing things over by much.

Sunsethill: I'm glad you liked George's backstory for protecting Luna, and yes, you're right about Percy's place in the story. It isn't that I dislike Ron, but I never saw either of the males of the Golden Trio as the best match for Hermione.

My other reviewers: forgive me for a group response but it's wee hours and touch typing on my tablet screen is getting cranky. Thank you for taking the time to review!