Anya scurried around her room, grabbing the Divination book from her desk Hermione found for her and tossing into her Hogwarts trunk as she completed some last minute packing. Wearing one of her several thin, long sleeved black knit shirts in her closet, she grabbed a sheer, purple and green striped scarf James got her for Christmas off the back of her desk chair and looped it around her neck while stepping into her tall, grey knit boots. She sat down on her chair, making sure her skinny jeans didn't bunch near her ankle when Claire came into her room, holding a big piece of paper.

"What's that?" Anya asked, sliding her hand down her other boot to straighten out her jeans.

Already dressed in a red jumper with a white, lace collared long sleeve shirt underneath with matching white tights and black Mary Janes, Claire skipped over to her sister and handed her the paper. "I drawed you a picture to hang in your room." Presenting the picture to Anya, she moved to stand next to her and pointed at the drawing. "See - there's you, and there's me, and that's Scorpius, and we're making snow angels like Grandpa Richard showed us."

Anya wrapped an arm around her sister and gave her a hug. "Well, it's by far my most favorite picture yet."

"You think so?"

"Absolutely. I'll hang it up next to the others by my bed."

Clare grinned, standing on her tiptoes to kiss her sister's cheek. "I'm going to miss you."

Anya gave her another squeeze. "I know, but I'll be home on the weekends for awhile this semester…so that will be nice, right?

Nodding, Claire sighed as she leaned into her sister. "I guess."

"You start school on Wednesday - you're going to be so busy with counting and coloring and reading that you aren't even going to notice that I'm gone," Anya said, trying to cheer her up a bit. "Now, if you want, I'll braid your hair before we leave for the platform."

"Can you just put it in a big ponytail instead?" Claire asked. "I feel like having swishy hair today - but with a bow."

"Like I'd let you leave the house without a bow," Anya mocked, grabbing Claire's hand as she stood up and led her down the hall to her bedroom, where they passed their father walking in the direction of their mother's room. "Hey can I get -"

"Not a chance," Draco replied as he kept walking.

"Seriously?"

He stopped and turned around. "Do you know how embarrassing it was to have Granger walk across the hall to my office with an improper use of magic letter with your name on the top of it?"

Anya scowled. "It's happened once!"

"Twice, actually, which is two times too many," Draco replied. "You can have your wand when we get on the platform."

"Fine," Anya huffed. "But you're going to have to drag my trunk downstairs because it's heavy and I can't do it myself."

Draco placed his hands on his hips and gave his eldest a look. "You have three house elves at your beck and call - use one of them."

"Hermione says we shouldn't make elves do things for us that we can do ourselves," Claire recited in her most serious voice.

Draco flared his nostrils slightly, humming a laugh as he looked up at the ceiling for a moment. "Well, can either of you carry the trunk by yourself?"

Anya smirked. "No - but you can."

Draco watched as Claire giggled, Anya pulling her hand as they continued walking towards his youngest daughter's room. He wasn't really sure what it was about his eldest today. Maybe it was her hair and how it was parted to the side, different than the sloppy bun she usually had it in. Maybe it was the faint, sheer lip gloss on her sassy mouth, or how her dressing habits were slowly evolving from t-shirts and zipper jackets to something a bit more put together, but she looked a little bit more grown up today, and that notion wasn't sitting well with him.

He knocked twice before entering Astoria's room, finding her sitting in front of her vanity mirror, fitting her wig on her head. Draco knew the headscarf was Astoria's preference when around her family, but if she was going to see her daughter off on the platform, he assumed the wig would make an appearance. It didn't look any different than her hairstyle when she had hair - pulled halfway up, the ends flipped outward, the top of her hairdo teased slightly. Taking a seat on the edge of her bed, he watched as she clipped her earrings to her ears.

"What's wrong?" she asked, looking at him through the reflection.

"Nothing," Draco replied. "How are you feeling?"

Astoria shrugged, turning around on her stool to face him. "Alright, a bit tired from yesterday I suppose. You were right though - Hermione's parents were lovely people."

Draco nodded. "They seemed to really like you - thank you for not…you know…"

"Being me?" Astoria questioned with a smirk.

"Essentially," Draco replied.

"Yes well, I have my moments," she replied, retrieving her wand from the vanity surface. "I do need to talk to you though. It's about yesterday and -"

"I'm sorry for yelling at you," Draco quickly replied. "I didn't mean to panic, and it wasn't fair of me to do, especially in front of Hermione and her mother."

She shook her head. With her wand in hand, she gave it a quick flourish at the slipper on the floor, and managed to levitate it in the air for several moments before it dropped to the floor with a thud. "Yesterday, when you asked me to levitate the magazine, I couldn't do it."

Draco was confused. "But you did it. I saw you do it."

"Hermione did it," Astoria replied. "And don't get upset with her - she was trying to keep you from coming unglued in front of her mother. I haven't been able to transfigure for the past few months, and yes, my magic is getting weaker, but yesterday morning my magic applied my glamour charm but I couldn't make the magazine levitate. When I woke up this morning, I went to apply my glamour charm like I always do, and when I remembered my magic didn't work I looked in the mirror and was shocked that it work. But it doesn't make sense…magic doesn't just stop and go, does it?"

He scratched at the nape of his neck, trying to process what she was saying. He wracked his brain, trying to think back to a few years ago when his mother died, and the event that led up to her final days. But she was different. Her dead was the result of an unknown dark curse Voldemort used on her during the war, only to manifest itself years later. It was kind of like a cancer, if Draco thought of the similarities, but the manifestation came on so quick that by the time St. Mungo's narrowed down the handful of curses could have been causing her to deteriorate, it was too late to undo the damage. She died a day after she was admitted as a patient.

"We should go to St. Mungo's after we go to the platform," Draco resigned.

"But the children -"

"Let me worry about Scorpius and Claire," Draco said. "Just…let's get Anya on the train. Granger's meeting us there with the Potters. We'll get Anya on the train and go from there." He stood up from the bed, holding a hand out which his wife accepted, helping her stand as she slipped her feet into her heels. She had on a lovely, emerald green dress with a matching jacket, a strand of peals resting around her neck.

"Do I look like I'm on my deathbed?" Astoria asked.

Draco sighed. "You know I hate it when you talk like that."

"Just answer my question."

He leaned in and pecked her cheek with his lips. "You look like the same headache of a wife that I've always had."

Astoria laughed, grabbing her clutch from the dresser. "You're a prat."

"And a predictable one at that," he replied. "I'm going to go get Scorpius up and dressed. Eat some breakfast before we go, please."

"Of course," Astoria replied, rolling her eyes as she made her way towards the kitchen staircase.

Hermione stood in the kitchen, wincing along with Ginny at the echoing sound of two heavy Hogwarts trunks banged against every step towards the front of Grimmauld Place. Grinding her teeth slightly, Ginny took a drink of her coffee while Lily and Albus sat at the kitchen table eating their cereal. "How hard is it, I ask you, to pick up a trunk?"

"Maybe they're heavy?" Hermione offered.

"There's two of them. They could carry them down one at a time."

Harry walked into the kitchen, catching the last half of the conversation as he kissed his wife. "They're never going to carry the trunks, dear. Best get used to the noise."

Ginny sighed, placing her coffee mug on the counter as the boys barreled into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table. "Teddy, did you even brush your hair?"

Teddy grabbed an empty bowl and the box of cereal. "I ran my fingers through it when I got out of the shower. Does that count?"

"Not exactly," Hermione replied with a laugh.

"Did you guys pack everything?" Harry asked as he kissed the top of Lily's head. "Socks, underwear, uniforms, homework assignments…"

James nodded, pouring cereal into his bowl and taking the pitcher of milk from Teddy. "We even double checked this time."

"You better have," Ginny warned. "If I have to send you something you've 'forgotten' later this week you best be expecting a howler to come along with. You understand me?"

"Yes Mum," Teddy and James chorused with mouthfuls of cereal.

"Oh James," Hermione said suddenly, reaching into her purse as she pulled out a book. "I brought you Tales of Beedle the Bard like you asked. Just be careful with it, ok? It was a very special gift."

James eyes went wide as he quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I'll be careful with it - promise."

"Why do you need her copy? We have one here." Harry asked.

"It's for a uh…a book report in my History of Magic class," James quickly replied. "I was going to swipe the copy from here, but I know Mum reads it to Lily often."

Ginny ruefully laughed as she finished of her coffee. "You could have taken it," she muttered under her breath. "If I have to read 'Babbity Rabbity' one more time I might find a cackling stump to impale myself on."

Hermione and Harry chuckled, earning stares of curiosity from the kids. Albus finished his cereal first, returning his empty bowl to the sink. He hugged Ginny tightly, wrapping his tiny arms around her waist as he sighed. "Thanks for breakfast, Mummy. It was delicious."

She ruffled his shaggy head of hair and gave him a smile. "It was just cereal, buddy."

"I know," he replied. "I love you."

"Love you too. Go get your shoes and your coat, alright?"

He nodded, scampering off as Hermione watched. "We told Albus about Astoria yesterday," Ginny said, leaning against the countertop as Harry moved, standing next to his wife, their shoulders touching.

Hermione looked over to Ginny, watching as she ran her finger through her long auburn hair. "How did he take it?"

"He's said 'I love you' at least twenty times to me yesterday," Ginny replied. "Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the extra sentiment…but he's never had to think about parents dying and I guess this is his way of coping? Of course, Teddy's parents have always been gone and I tried to relate it to him in that manner, but because they've always been gone, it's a bit more to grasp."

Harry wrapped a reassuring arm around his wife's shoulder, pressing a kiss to her temple. "He'll be fine."

"Yeah Mum, he'll be fine," James said, echoing his father as he flashed her a smile.

"If you want, James and I can wind him up about being sorted in Slytherin again once it's his turn to go to Hogwarts," Teddy offered with a mischievous grin.

Ginny pointed a finger at the two of them, shaking her head. "Don't you dare."

"Just offering, Mum," Teddy replied with a laugh, standing up from the table and depositing his dirty bowl into the sink. He grabbed Lily's empty bowl as well before turning around to face the her. He reached his hands under Lily's arms and picked her up from the table, giving her a brotherly kiss on the cheek as she beamed at him. "Are you going to miss me?"

"I always miss you," Lily said with a heavy sigh. "How many days 'til you come back?"

"I'll be back in May – which is lots of days, close to four months."

"Four like me! I'm four!" She held up four fingers to reiterate her point.

"Yes you are, love," Teddy replied. "Come on now, let's get you ready so Mum can get James and I out of her hair."

James watched as Teddy carried Lily out of the kitchen while he finished up the last of his cereal. He looked back over at his mom as he picked up his empty bowl and walked towards her. "Could you and Dad maybe have another girl - a sister that likes me more than Teddy maybe?"

Harry chuckled as Ginny smirked, kissing her eldest son on the forehead as he himself laughed a bit. "Lily loves you," Ginny promised. "As for another sister - sorry, but that ship has sailed."

He laughed, kissing his mum on the cheek. "I figured as much."

"Come on now," Harry said. "We're going to be late if we dwell around here much longer."

"You know James," Hermione said as she stood up from the table. "If it's any consolation, you're still my favorite."

James wrapped an arm around Hermione as she did the same, the two of them walking out of the kitchen. "Of course I am," he said, flashing a amusing grin he could have only inherited from his father.

Making sure Claire's hands were securely on the trolley cart handle, Anya counted to three as the two pushed the trolley, disappearing into the brick wall unbeknownst to the Muggles passing by as they navigated the various platforms of Kings Cross Station. Adjust his hold he had on Scorpius, Draco took his wife's hand as they walked towards the brick wall, swiftly crossing over to Platform 9 3/4. Looking over at his wife, she responded with a tight-lipped smile.

"I'm fine," Astoria said.

"You sure?"

"I won't repeat it," she shot back through grit teeth, catching the waves of Harry and Ginny halfway down the platform. The large clock on one of the brick pillars ticked the minute hand clicked upward. The Hogwarts Express would be taking off in fifteen minutes. As they walked down the platform, Astoria couldn't help but feel like she was being gawked at. Tightening her hold a bit with the hand she had wrapped around Draco's upper arm, she continued to look straight as she spoke. "Is my wig falling off?"

Draco glanced over at her. "No - of course not."

"Then why is everyone staring?"

They stopped long enough to put Scorpius down, as he was itching to run in the direction of Hermione. He pointed to his son as he caught Hermione's attention. "They're probably staring because we never stand this close to each other in public."

Astoria scowled. "Draco -"

"Astoria," he mimicked, watching his son until Hermione had him scooped up before turning his gaze to his wife. "They're a bunch of nosey gits. If I had a knut for every time I caught someone staring at me in public I'd have an entirely separate fortune at Gringotts. It's not worth you stressing yourself over."

They approached Ginny, Harry, and Hermione, the younger kids standing next to them while the older kids returned once their trunks were safely aboard the train. Ginny held Lily as she kissed Teddy and James goodbye. Claire stood next to Albus, watching him out of the corner of his eye as Albus couldn't help but look at Astoria every now and then. Draco shook Harry's hand like he always did and leaned in to kiss Ginny on the cheek.

He tugged a small lock of Lily's auburn hair and smiled. "How are you today, Miss Lily?"

Lily sighed. "Sad. Teddy and James are leaving me. But I still gots Albus."

Ginny laughed as Lily laid her head on her mum's shoulder. "We're a bit woefull today, if you couldn't tell."

Draco grinned, placing a hand into his wool coat and removing a 11 inch, black vine wand from his inside pocket and handed it to his eldest. "As promised."

Anya took her wand and rolled her eyes, sliding it into her coat pocket. Her scarf was visible around her neck, a garment that didn't go unnoticed by James as he grinned. "What?" she asked.

James laughed. "That's a lovely scarf you're wearing."

She gave him a look. "I could say the same thing about your hat - why don't you try not losing this one, eh?"

"Not likely," James replied with a grin, tugging on his knit hat so the tops of his ears would stay warm.

As the train whistle sounded the ten-minute warning, everyone turned to stare at a rather loud and obnoxious woman running in their direction, her shouts echoing above the train whistle in the most awful ways. As the five adults turned and looked at the end of the platform, Hermione's eyes went wide as Ginny made a face. "Isn't that…" she trailed off, the woman coming closer in a large decorative hat, wrapped up in a fur coat with a stole wrapped around her shoulders, the head and tail still attached.

Draco scowled. "Daphne - what in the bloody hell are you doing here?"

"Seeing my beautiful niece off to Hogwarts of course!" Daphne cried, slightly out of breath from her jog down the platform. "Anya sweetheart, come here so Auntie Daphne can give you a hug."

Anya scowled. "Not bloody likely."

"Anya really, I don't understand the hostility," Daphne cooed

"That's because you're an idiot," Anya replied with a sarcastically sweet smile, clapping a hand to her chest. She walked over to her Hermione and gave her a hug, kissing Scorpius on the cheek. "Love you," she said, tilting her head to the side as Hermione fixed the part in Anya's hair.

"Love you too, YaYa," Hermione replied.

"Yuh you YaYa!" Scorpius sang.

"Love you too, Scorp," Anya said, ruffling his hair before squatting down to Claire's height. "I'll see you this weekend, alright?"

Claire nodded, sniffling a bit as she wiped her tears away with her mittens. "Alright."

"It's ok Claire," Albus said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Don't be sad."

Anya smiled at Albus and shot Claire a quick wink as she stood upright. Turning to her parents, she noticed her Aunt Daphne managed to squeeze her way so that she was now standing between the two. Scowling, she rolled her eyes before hugging her dad, letting a small giggle slip as he picked her up off the ground. "Love you," she said, kissing his cheek. "See you on Friday."

"Love you too," Draco replied. "See you on Friday."

Anya scowled once more at her aunt, ignoring her attempts at a hug before standing in front of her mother, biting her lower lip as Astoria straightened out Anya's jacket a bit, fluffing her scarf just a bit around her neck. "Dress shopping on Saturday?"

"Dress shopping on Saturday," Astoria replied, blinking rapidly so that she wouldn't cry in front of her daughter. "We'll find the most beautiful dress."

Anya nodded quickly, blinking her own tears away. "Promise?"

"Promise," Astoria said. "Now run along and find a spot on the train."

Teddy and James had already said their goodbyes, laughing as Lily showered them both with kisses and made them promise to write her letters even though she couldn't quite read. Albus gave them both a high five before Teddy scampered off towards the train, more than likely looking for Victoire Weasley. The adults had their suspicions about the two of them, but only James knew the truth and he refused to reveal details when asked.

Ginny gave her son a final hug and a kiss on the cheek, brushing away the lip stain with her thumb as she watched Astoria and Anya out of the corner of her eye. "Keep an eye on Anya," she whispered. "Even if she resists the process by being her usual self."

James nodded. "Of course, Mum."

"You're a good boy, James Potter," Harry said, giving his son one more hug. "Try and stay out of trouble this term, please."

Laughing, James shrugged as he walked backwards. "That's rich coming from you, Dad."

"Oi! Get on the train, will ya!" Harry said with a laugh.

James grinned, turning around as he walked over to Anya, who gave her mother a gentle hug. He waited a few minutes, his jovial mood somewhat deflating as he heard Anya sniffle as Astoria pulled away. With a sigh, he lightly touched Anya's elbow, half expecting her to jerk away but was pleasantly surprised when she didn't. "If we don't get on the train now, we're going to be forced to share a compartment."

Anya slid her glove back onto her hand and sniffled once more. "Too good to share a compartment with me?"

"More like the other way around," James countered. "Unless you care to prove me wrong this time."

She rolled her eyes. Waving goodbye, the adults watched as Anya rattled on about who knows what while James shook his head, the two of them bickering about something only they could bicker about as they nudged each other while walking. With the final whistle, all of the Hogwarts children popped their heads out of the window and waved to the parents as the train began to pull away from the platform. As the train started slowly to roll away, Anya and James popped their heads out of the same window, waving primarily at their siblings before popping back into their compartment.

Daphne loudly scoffed as he watched the train pull away from the platform. "Honestly, Astoria," she said. "That girl of yours ought to be keeping better company if you know what I mean."

"Excuse me?" Ginny asked, her voice shrill as Harry prevented her from taking a step forward. "Who in the hell do you think you are talking about my son that way?"

Harry kept a hold of his wife on the arm, gently leading her, his kids, and Claire away from Daphne as he could see Draco's jaw set with a piercing stare at his sister-in-law. "We're going to head out to the parking lot - we'll meet you out there."

Daphne sneered at Ginny, who returned the look with gusto. "Blood traitor," she muttered under her breath as soon as Ginny was out of hearing distance.

"Why must you always be like this?" Astoria said, taking a handkerchief from Draco as she dabbed her eyes.

"Well someone ought to be taking a better interest in who your daughter associates with," Daphne continued in a snotty, breathy voice. "It's like you'll let her associate with anyone and it reflects poorly on our family name!"

Hermione walked over and placed a hand on Draco's arm, squinting her eyes shut momentarily as she waited for the impending explosion. "It's not your family name, it's my name - my name - and I'm fine with her associating with the Potter boy. She is my daughter, not yours, and if you were wise you would disappear from my sight this instant."

"I was just -"

"Go!" Draco hissed.

With a huff, Daphne stormed off, disapparating a few feet away with a loud crack. Astoria sniffled, still using her husband's handkerchief. Scorpius leaned towards his mother, opening and closing his hands quickly. Pocketing the handkerchief, Astoria took her son into her arms and let him hug her. He might have only just turned two, but Scorpius was very sensitive to other's feelings, especially his parents. Draco watched his wife for a moment, making sure she had a good hold on him before he followed her with Hermione at his side towards the exit. Hermione shoved her hands into the pockets of her black wool coat, her heels clicking against the concrete with each step.

"I might kill her," Draco muttered. "She'd be worth spending a few years in Azkaban at the rate she's going."

"Yes. Let's orphan the children," Astoria sarcastically quipped, not even bothering to look back. "Brilliant plan, Draco. Because my impending death clearly isn't enough to scar them for life."

Draco scowled. "Again - would you please quit talking like that?"

They crossed through the brick wall, back onto the Muggle platform as they made their way towards the exit leading to the parking lot. Astoria pressed a kiss to Scorpius' cheek and stopped, turning to hand him off to Draco. "He's getting too heavy for me," she explained.

Draco grabbed his son, adjusting his hat so it covered his small ears. He wasn't in the mood to deal with an ear infection on top of everything else and thankfully, his son wasn't balking at wearing at the hat like he usually did. Approaching the parking lot, he saw Ginny loading the kids, including Claire, into their minivan. He was confused for a moment before remembering he owled Ginny that morning asking her to watch the kids while he went up to Hogwarts, before the St. Mungo's trip appeared on his list of things to do.

"You ready to go bye-bye?" Ginny asked, reaching for Scorpius as he grinned.

"Vroom!" he squealed as Ginny placed him in the car seat. "Bye-bye!"

Draco and Astoria waved back at Scorpius, who was perfectly content sitting next to Lily in her booster seat while Claire and Albus stood by the van. "Ginny, thanks again," he said, giving Claire a hug and a kiss.

"Harry told you we don't mind," Ginny replied. "I know Harry mentioned something about securing a place for Scorpius at the Ministry daycare but if I would be more than happy to watch him. That is of course as long as your sister-in-law doesn't feel like my influence will taint your family image."

Draco laughed. "My daughters lectured me on the 'improper' use of house elves this morning, Ginny – if we're worried about anyone tainting the Malfoy name, it's going to be done by Granger."

"Hey!" Hermione exclaimed. "If anything, my affiliation with you only makes you look better."

"She has a point," Harry chimed in, helping Claire into the van so she could walk through to the back seat where her booster chair was sitting. "Albus – hop in buddy."

Albus scratched the insides of his hands, despite wearing gloves as he looked at his dad for a moment before running the short distance from the van to Astoria. She was shocked when she felt his arms wrap around his waist, hugging her tight, while her own arms awkwardly hung at her sides.

"Albus…" Ginny said.

He looked up at Astoria with the same bright green eyes his father had and sighed. "I'm sorry you can't get better, Miss Astoria."

Despite her best attempts to speak, Astoria couldn't make a sound. Gently, she hugged the boy in return and watched as he scampered back towards the van, jumping inside and giving Scorpius a high five as he made his way to the back seat. Draco went to reach for Astoria, but she shrugged him off, weakly smiling as she nodded towards where their car was. "I'm just…I'm sorry I need…"

Draco watched as she quickly walked over to the car, the driver opening her door as she stepped inside, hidden behind the tinted windows once the driver closed her in. "Sorry," he apologized on her behalf. "She's just tired. Granger – I'll see you back at the office."

Hermione nodded. "Did you still…do you want me to come with you to Hogwarts still at noon?"

He shook his head. "I'll be fine."

"Are you sure –"

"Granger I said I would be fine!"

She jumped at his tone, despite her face remaining neutral. Watching him all but storm off in the direction of his car, Hermione turned her head at Harry and sighed with a smile. "Fancy a ride on the tube? It's only four stops to one of the Ministry entrances."

Harry nodded. "Certainly." He gave his wife a hug and a kiss. "See you tonight."

"Don't be late," Ginny replied. "I'm making your favorite tonight and you know it always tastes best when it hasn't been reheated."

He grinned, kissing her once more. "In that case, I just might be a bit early."

"Well off with you then," she laughed. "The sooner you leave the sooner you'll be home."

James and Anya sat next to each other on the train, the only two in their train car, saying nothing for the longest time. The treat trolley had already passed them twice and on the third time, James bought two pumpkin juices and a package of licorice to share.

"Thanks," Anya said, snapping the cap off of the bottle.

"No problem," he replied. "You know, I'm surprised your friends haven't come looking for you."

She shrugged. "Maybe they aren't really my friends."

James laughed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well like you said – they haven't come looking for me, have they?"

"Fair point," James replied, tearing the top off the box of licorice. He pulled a licorice wand out and offered it to Anya, which she accepted before he pulled a piece out for himself. Silent once more, James watched the countryside pass as he chomped away on his candy. "Oi!" he suddenly exclaimed, leaping to his feet as he reached for his rucksack on the rack above their heads. "I completely forgot to tell you – Aunt Hermione let me borrow her book."

Anya's eyes widened a bit as James pulled out what was probably one of the original copies of Tales of Beedle the Bard. She remembered Hermione reading her stories out of the book when she was younger, as she didn't own a copy of the book herself. Not that it mattered, considering her mother wasn't one to read her stories. Her dad would have read to her if she asked, but reading was something she left to just her and Hermione. "She bought the book report story?"

"She didn't question it," James replied. "Though you can feel free to fill me in at any time."

Opening the book, she dragged a finger over the inked in mark on the upper right corner of the page. "Do you think the deathly hallows exist?"

"You mean like in the story?"

"Obviously. What else would I mean?"

James shrugged. "I don't know…Dad has an invisibility cloak, though he has it locked away for fear of Teddy using it to sneak off with Victoire. They're rare, but its not like he has the only one. Why?"

Anya shrugged. "No reason I guess."

"You're a terrible liar."

"James…"

"Whatever it is you can tell me," he said. "You know I won't tell."

"Like how you don't tell when I sneak over to your room?"

James jaw dropped. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. One - sleeping together when we were little is much different than sleeping together now - it's improper. Two - your dad finding you in my bed may as well be signing my death certificate and three - I always give you the courtesy of passing out before Dad takes you back. That's totally different than whatever this is."

Anya gave him a look. "Are you calling me improper?"

"No…but you're a girl…with girl parts now…"

She gave him a wry grin. "Um, James, I've always had 'girl parts'. Being a girl isn't something new that I'm suddenly experiencing."

His cheeks blushed slightly. "I uh, no, what I meant to say, is that you have visible girl parts and…and…I don't know! It just isn't proper! Just tell me why you need the book?"

"Because I do!" Anya exclaimed, her finger still rubbing against the mark. "I feel better reading it sometimes…I can hear Hermione reading it to me in my head and it relaxes me."

James dropped his shoulders, watching as she fiddled with the fringe along the edge of her scarf. "Why didn't you ask Aunt Hermione for it?"

"I was embarrassed," she said. "She's already worried about me, no need to give her another reason."

"Everyone's worried about you," James said. "Your siblings too."

She took another licorice wand out of the box, tearing off a bite with her teeth as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "Don't worry about me," she whispered. "Please? I just need someone to be normal."

Laughing, James wrapped his arm around her shoulders as her head leaned against his chest. "We're on the train to school sharing space. What about this is normal?"

Anya rolled her eyes. "You complain when I'm an ass at school, you complain that I'm nice to you now - what exactly is it that you want from me, James Potter?"

"You mean I get to choose? What a banner day I'm having."

She sighed, rolling her eyes again. "I'm actually trying here. I can't say I'll always be successful…but I am trying."

"Well…if I'm getting a preference, then I choose the girl who sat with me on the train when we were eleven, before she was sorted into Slytherin and became too good to be seen with a Gryffindor."

Anya took another bite of her licorice. "I'll see what I can do." She glanced out the window and sighed. "How much longer do we have on the train?"

"A good couple of hours," James replied. "Why?"

She yawned. "No reason. Why haven't your annoyingly chipper Gryffindor friends come searching for you?"

James shrugged. "I usually ride the train alone."

"Really?"

"Yeah…gives me time to think."

Anya yawned again. "Oh. Well I'll let you get back to thinking, because I'm going to take a nap."

"You want me to move to the other bench?"

She shook her head no. "You're fine right here. Unless of course my visible girl parts gross you out."

"Anya?"

"Yes?"

He gave her a slight hug with the arm wrapped around her. "Shut up."

Taking a seat on the tube, Harry nudged Hermione with his elbow, eliciting a small smile from her lips. The tube screeched to a halt on the first of four stops, everyone swaying forward a bit before leaning back. "He's just stressed, you know."

"I know," she replied. "You act like I'm not used to it."

"He hasn't snapped at you like that in a while though, am I right?"

Hermione shrugged. "It really isn't that big of a deal. Do you want to grab lunch today?"

"Sure, what are you thinking?"

"Maybe the pizza place on Maiden Lane?"

His eyes brightened. "Brilliant! We haven't been there in forever!"

She smirked. "Consider it sorted."

"Pizza for lunch…steak for dinner…I'm having a banner day, Hermione. A banner day indeed."

She giggled, holding onto one of the metal poles next to her seat as the tube stopped at their second to last stop. "I'm so thrilled I was able to help contribute to your oh-so wonderful day."

Harry smirked, linking his arm with hers. "You should be - it's hard to be impressed - being The Chosen One and all."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're incorrigible."

"No, I'm The Chosen One. Big difference."

Draco stood in front of the entrance of Hogwarts, the wind crisp as it scratched against his skin. It was a slightly eerie place to be when it was empty, though he was certain he'd find a few students who stayed over the winter holiday inside, eating lunch in the Great Hall or getting a head start on homework in the library. Astoria was back at home, sleeping if she followed Draco's direct orders. He hoped she did, anyway, as their trip to the healer kept replaying in their head over and over again.

"Why would you have said six months if you didn't mean six months?" Draco barked as he sat with his wife in Healer Nelson's private office. "Where do you get off lying to people and toying with their lives!"

Healer Nelson and his ever present, calm demeanor, sat quietly in his chair, waiting for Draco's ranting to cease. "Mister Malfoy, he said. "I said best-case scenario was six months. Sometimes, we don't get the best-case scenario. No one anticipated your wife's magic to drain at such a rapid rate."

"But it came back this morning," Astoria said. "It was non-existent last night, but this morning, it worked."

Sitting forward in his chair, Healer Nelson clasped his hands together and rested them on his desk. "That can happen…your magic is recharged in a sense with rest - in your case - a good night's sleep. With this happening so rapidly after ceasing treatment…" he sighed, removing his wire rimmed glasses from his face. "Astoria, if your affairs aren't in order, they need to be, and now."

"Mister Malfoy, what on earth are you doing standing out here in the freezing cold?"

He snapped out of his thoughts, finding an irritated headmistress in front of him. "Sorry…I was thinking."

"Well might I suggest you do it someplace a bit warmer?" she suggested, motioning for him to follow her into the castle. "I'm alright with you requesting a meeting, but I most certainly will not freeze in the process."

Following, he rubbed his bare hands together, warming them up as he hustled inside behind her. The shuffles of their feet echoed through the silent halls of Hogwarts as Draco followed his former teacher to her office, jogging up the stone spiral staircase to her office. He never found himself in this office for just a visit. He was always in some sort of trouble.

"I'm assuming this is in regards to your situation with your wife," Professor McGonagall said, sitting at her desk as Draco sat in the chair next to her desk, popping the buttons of his coat with a flick of his thumb and forefinger.

"Astoria…ceased treatments over the break, last week, actually," Draco hoarsely stated, clearing his throat. "Initially, I thought if we could collect Anya on the weekends - Fridays after her morning classes and bring her back Sunday night it would allow her to continue…her studies but still spend time…with her mother but now…"

Professor McGonagall reached her hand out, grasping his with a tight squeeze. "What is it, Mister Malfoy?"

He couldn't stop the tear that escaped his eye in time. "She was supposed to have months," he bitterly spat. "Months to make things right with the children - with Anya especially - but she was sicker than even the healer's knew." He scraped away another threatening tear with his thumb. "I wanted a divorce. I wanted for her to take herself and her selfish, irritating ways and to leave me and the children alone - see them every other weekend, watch Scorpius while I was at work since he was still a baby. I used to tell myself every day for so long that if I could just get rid of her my life would be better and now…"

Draco glanced up at Dumbledore's portrait, then over at Snape's…and for a moment he felt like both of them were viewing him with a sort of pity. Professor McGonagall looked up in the direction of Draco's gaze and smiled. "You know, I often look up there…when I need guidance of sorts."

"Dumbledore maybe, but Snape?" Draco ruefully chuckled. "I wasn't aware the two of you even liked each other."

Professor McGonagall let a laugh slip from her usually stern lips. "Yes, well, even Severus had his finer points, despite our differences." She gave his hand one more squeeze before letting go. "Just stay in contact with me - I'll let Anya's teachers know the situation, and we can make whatever accommodations we need to make."

Nodding, Draco looked down at the ground, shuffling his feet against the cement floor as he sat. He cleared his throat again and sighed. "Also…Granger is to be listed as an emergency contact for Anya, just as I am. Anything I can do or should know, Granger should um…she should have the same authority."

"Hermione Granger?"

"Unless there's another one. Now that I think of it, let's hope there's only one."

Professor McGonagall sat back in her chair. "I didn't realize you two had become friends."

"You don't keep up with the gossip much, do you Professor?"

"Do I appear to you as someone who entertains in such frivolity like gossip?"

Draco snorted. "Not exactly."

"I will make sure the appropriate personnel are aware of your request regarding Miss Granger. Now, I'm sure you have more important things to do other than dwell in my office, am I right?"

Draco stood up, extending his hand for Professor McGonagall to shake, which she kindly accepted. He looked around her office once more, noticing not much had changed since his childhood. They walked out of the office together, traipsing down the spiral staircase as it sank back down to the ground. Walking towards the front door, he saw two students wearing their street clothes and Ravenclaw scarves run past them, their laughs filling the halls. Soon the trains would arrive, and the school would be back to normal.

"You know…it's funny," he said, wistfully looking around the Hogwarts entryway. "This place was the only place I felt normal."

"Normal? Dear child, have you forgotten everything that happened to you?" Professor McGonagall inquired with a small gasp.

"A bit pathetic, I know, but until I mended that bloody vanishing cabinet, this was my sanctuary of sorts. I never should have treated it with such disrespect," Draco confessed, his voice plain as day as he rebuttoned his coat.

Professor McGonagall placed a kind hand on his shoulder. "You were caught in an impossible situation."

He sighed, shoving his hands deep into his coat pockets. "Some days, Professor, I feel like my entire life is an impossible situation."

I was going to do it this chapter and I couldn't. I might be a bit more attached than I care to admit. Obviously, it's going to happen...but not today. I'll be blogging it about for sure later, as well as 'Building a Life' - which I'll update hopefully by the week's end.