St Mungos was not somewhere Esther had planned to be the day before she returned to Hogwarts for her seventh year. Luckily, her family's tradition of being ready to go at least two days before had paid off. Even Luke and David had done so this had gone two hours ago to get some dinner, leaving Esther to sit outside the room, occasionally hearing her mother's crying or moaning. It had been eleven hours already. Since it was her sixth baby, they had expected the labour to go fairly quickly, but her waters had yet to break, and she wanted the whole family there to greet their newest member. Abram had flooed home an hour ago to retrieve Casper, as Frances had a summer job, thanks to Esther. She was due to work her final shift today. Solomon was asleep in the chair beside her, while Malachy and Lena had gone with the boys. Solomon shifted in his sleep and dug his head into her hip. She lifted it onto her lap and looked down the corridor, hoping to see any sign of the others. She saw a group of people moving down towards her and recognised it was who she was waiting for. Abram and Casper were with them, the one year old asleep in his father's arms. Luke, David and Malachy sat down opposite, beside the door, while Abram sat beside Esther and Lena on Solomon's other side.

"If this kid doesn't come within the next few hours, you guys can floo home so you can get to Hogwarts. Nanna said she'd come and stay with Lena, Solomon and Casper, while I bring you to Kings Cross." Abram said to all of them. "Essie, was there any word from in there while we were away?"

"No, still nothing, just noises of her crying and stuff. Sounds like the contractions are getting closer together. Samuel said he'd come out every hour to give us updates, but he hasn't been out in three hours."

Just as she said this, Samuel came out and addressed them all "The baby's nearly here, her waters went about an hour and a half ago and she's almost fully dilated, so it looks like the baby will be here soon. I best get back in there." he ducked back into the room and the children were left waiting. Twenty minutes later, their nanna appeared, and after a brief update, she sat down in the remaining seat by the door. It was another hour before Samuel came out and said "Would you like to meet your new brother and sister?"

"Twins?" Abram was the first to find his voice

Samuel nodded at his stepson, whom he was fond of. "Three at a time. Abram and Casper, along with Lena first." Then Rhonda, Solomon and Malachy, Then Luke, David and Esther." They all took their turn and met Roman and Rebekah. There had been surprise when they'd pulled Roman out to discover a small hand gripping his leg firmly. After a few more pushes, Rebekah had arrived. The two small bundles were introduced to their half siblings, nephew and Nanna. Esther looked up from Rebekah, who she was holding and saw Samuel stroking her sleeping mother's sweaty brow. She put Rebekah back in her cot and kissed her head. She went to Roman's cot, as Luke had just put him down, and kissed him too. The three quietly left the room and silently closed the door. Nanna stood, carrying a sleeping again Solomon and holding the hand of a tired looking Lena. Abram hoisted his son onto his hip and the large group headed for the travelling spots. Luke, David, Esther, Malachy and Lena would floo, while Abram would apparate with Casper, and Nanna with Solomon. Within ten minutes, they were gathered in the family home. Lena and Malachy trudged upstairs, closely followed by David. Nanna took Solomon to his room and came back downstairs.

It was half four, they'd be leaving in four hours to get to Hogwarts. Abram poured hot water into four mugs and stirred each one. He put them on a tray and levitated it, along with a packet of biscuits to the sun room. "I decided to make tea. And a honey and lemongrass for you, Nanna." They each took a mug and sat down to chat. "So, twins, eh?" Abram said, always the one to begin conversation

"Yeah, that was a shock." Nanna said "but, after five grandchildren, what's two more?" She sipped her tea "And I suppose I think of you and your brother as my grandchildren as well." She added to Luke. "The three of you should get to bed, I will do so as well."

"Nanna, we'll be up again in three hours, it takes us an hour at least to get ready and two to get to King's Cross."

"Only because of the traffic. We'll apparate this year, because we have enough to do so."

"Nanna, I only got my licence three weeks ago, I haven't taken a passenger yet."

"Worries for tomorrow, my dear. Now. Bed, all of you. We have an early start."

The two seventh years went upstairs, Luke leaving his half finished mug, and Esther draining hers before heading to bed. Abram started to clear up and was stopped by his Nanna. She indicated that he go to bed. He would stay the night so he could see them off. He was shortly followed by his grandmother, who waved her wand, cleaning and putting everything away.

~~HP~~

Kings Cross was full of people rushing to get trains, their mother had returned that morning, babies in tow and had stayed at home. Lena had begged to come along and she had been granted her wish. She had been transported by Nanna, while Luke took David and Esther took Malachy. They apparated into an alley, about ten minutes from the station. With four trunks, two owl cages and a cat carrier, they found it difficult to remain inconspicuous. They had an hour to get to the platform, so Nanna suggested a quick detour to the station cafe. They'd only had time to grab something quick before the apparitions, so they stopped in and after a crafty glamour charm on their luggage, they sat at a couple of tables in the back. Four teas, including a green, an espresso and two hot chocolates later they made their way down to the platform. There was still thirty minutes before the train was due to leave. Nanna checked they all had some money for the trolley and Abram helped them load their luggage on to the train. Hugs went all round and the four students climbed aboard. Malachy seeing Seraphim, went to join him, Luke and David went with their friends, while Esther headed to the prefect carriage.

Her Head Girl badge had been a little harder to keep secret.

~~HP~~

They watched as the scarlet engine puffed away, Abram put his hand on Lena's shoulder and steered her to the exit. "That'll be you next year, Lena." He muttered into her ear

She nodded and the three left platform 9 3/4 to return to their large home. Lena would start school the next day, her final year in a muggle school. Technically, she should have started today, but a quick note would clear any questions. It would be a sad time for her, leaving her muggle friends from Barnaby Franks Primary School behind. But she knew she would be making plenty of new friends when she got to Hogwarts Even so, the only people she would really see again were the two other girls in her year who lived in Oakley Green. Lena started to put her bag together for the next morning. She didn't know if she had PE or not, so she'd bring her kit anyway, and leave it on her hook if it wasn't used.

Just as she was getting ready for bed that night, her mother came in and said "There's not much point in you starting on a Friday, so I'll let you have tomorrow off but back into the school routine on Monday. Solomon too. He's year one this year. He's growing up fast. You all are."

"Is Abs staying tonight?" She asked

"No, he's already gone home with Casper. He has training tomorrow. The season is starting in a few weeks and they've been warming up. Tell you what, the first match he plays, we'll go up to watch."

"Really? When'll that be?"

"Not for a while, darling. I think he's still reserve. His first match as a starting player, we'll go watch." Anya kissed her daughter's cheek and rose, leaving the room. "Go to sleep now."

A few moments later, Anya returned to her own room, the two cots at the end of the super king size bed. Her husband kneeling on the mattress over the twins. "They're asleep. Leave them be." Anya strode to the bed and lay back, soon joined by her husband. "I wonder how they are doing at Hogwarts." With that final thought, the pair settled into sleep.

~~HP~~

Evan Leasbey, Head Boy exited his dorm, went down the three steps and entered the Heads Common Room. He saw Esther at the large ornate mahogany desk they shared that sat on a raised platform at the back of the room. He frowned, ran his hands down his robes and went over to her. The desk was covered in paper and Esther was frantically writing and scribbling, shuffling through the many pieces of paper.

"What could you have to do this early in the year? I thought our duties were shared."

"Evan, I was just about to finish and head to bed. I-"

"Have you been up all night?"

Esther looked at him, her eyes wide and hair in disarray "I-it's morning?"

"Yes. Luckily, they're not starting lessons until Monday. Some timetabling issue, means they're giving us an extra day to get settled. It was all explained last night after dinner. McGonagall said when she was briefing us and setting us up here. You were listening, weren't you?"

"Yeah, of course. I have a provisional duty rota done for up until Hallowe'en. I just need to consult with all the prefects and confirm them."

"You did that all night?"

"Yeah, that and organised a Quidditch rota that's fair on each house. I'm sick of the disputes surrounding the practices. I'll consult with the house captains and organise tryouts."

"That's not your job. We're dealing with academic issues, not extracurricular. Why do it all now? Why not wait until I was available to at least do some of it? You haven't slept. Come on. Breakfast and then you're coming straight back up here to sleep."

"Uh, I'll be back in a minute." She sprang up and dashed up to her dorm. She returned a few moments later tidy and fresh faced. "Let's go to breakfast. It's half seven. Still nice and early." Without waiting for a reply she strode out of the room.

~~HP~~

Malachy sat down to breakfast, seeing his sister standing by the door, the head boy on the other side. Once the whole school was seated, at various stages of eating, Headmistress McGonagall stood and the hall quietened.

"Your attention please, thank you. It is my duty to inform you that due to a minor timetabling issues, you will not be receiving your timetables until later today, and as such, classes shall commence on Monday. So, I am pleased to announce the return of several former pupils who will be demonstrating how magic has affected their lives and there are a number of workshops being held throughout the day in lieu of classes. Please make them feel welcome in the place they once, like you, called home. It is my pleasure to introduce some well known faces and names, some not so.
Mr Harry Potter and Mr Ronald Weasley of the Auror Office; Healer Draco Malfoy, Mrs Ginny Potter former chaser for the Holyhead Harpies and Newspaper journalist; Mrs Hermione Weasley from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Mr Blaise Zabini owner of multiple businesses including two racing broom manufacturers and a chain of restaurants. Mr Oliver Wood, former Keeper and now manager of Puddlemere United; Mr Anthony Rickett and Mr Rolf Scamander, from the Magical Naturalist society and finally Lady Arabella Bole, one of the Ministry of Magic's international ambassadors." Each person stepped forward to show themselves as they were introduced. "Mr Potter will take first year and second year Hufflepuff students. Mr Weasley will take first and second year Ravenclaws, while Healer Malfoy will take first and second year Gryffindor. Mrs Potter will take the first and second year Slytherins.
You will rotate every half an hour and go through each workshop, being told where you will go next. Third year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students will be taken by Mrs Weasley, while third year Slytherin and Ravenclaw will go with Mr Zabini. Fourth year Gryffindor and Slytherin to Mr Wood, fourth year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff to Lady Bole. All fifth years to Mr Rickett and Mr Scamander. Sixth years to Lady Bole and seventh years will report to educational advisors, in preparation for N.E.W.T. examinations. All prefects wait behind for an important meeting please." Once she had finished speaking, excited chatter built up and the crowds thinned and the Hall was soon empty, bar the prefects, Head Boy and Girl, Heads of Houses and the Headmistress.

Evan cleared his throat and began to speak "I'd like to say to the prefects that a provisional duty timetable has been drawn up, by our fantastic Head Girl once we get copies of your timetables, we'll be able to fill in duties for the common areas and study halls, that aren't already covered by teachers."

"Thank you, Evan and indeed, Esther. Now, the educational advisors will be with the seventh years until about lunch time. They will be allocated as they finish to groups to go round the workshops with. I also want one prefect in each of the groups. You are charged with maintaining order, and taking note of any troublemakers." She placed down a list and saw the groups they would be assigned to.

1st and 2nd Slytherin: Scarlett Ferris and David Mulvenna

1st and 2nd Hufflepuff: Rosa Wakefield and Woody Farrington

1st and 2nd Gryffindor: Hollie Turpin and Lewis Entwhistle

1st and 2nd Ravenclaw: Elizabeth Armitage and Aaron Guthrie

3rd Gryffindor and Hufflepuff: Lauren Fleetwood and Joseph McKinley

3rd Slytherin and Ravenclaw: Alana Harper and Daryl McCormick

4th Gryffindor and Slytherin: Cherry Gibbon and Lawrence Kensington

4th Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff: Karen Tuckett and Leon Armitage

5th: Holly Woods, Lisa Spriggs, Evan Leasbey and John Stonewall

6th: Esther St James, Aisling Crews, Luke Mulvenna and Harvey Ewhurst

"You will notice that you have not been assigned with someone from your own house or year, or to a group of your own house, with the exception of those monitoring the 5th and 6th years, where there is one member from each House. The duties are as evenly spread as possible using a boy-girl pairing. A little draconian, I know, but it is to ensure there is no slacking off. Seventh Year prefects will speak to educational advisors after lunch, now off you go to your assigned groups, bar the Heads."

The 22 prefects left. "Miss, I notice Elijah Dunn's name is not on the list, nor was he present." Evan said, speaking of the Seventh Year Gryffindor Prefect. Evan had not been a prefect before he was awarded Head Boy.

"Yes, Mr Dunn was taken to St Mungos for treatment of an unspecified illness. He is unlikely to return for most of this year for study, much less carry out prefect duties. It is possible he will return to join next year's Seventh Years, or take his N.E.W.T.s through the Ministry." Professor McGonagall said "Now, I am also assigning one teacher per workshop except the Heads of Houses, you will be overseeing the Seventh Year Educational advisor meetings, then we shall meet back here for our timetable meeting. Thank you all, please go to your post now. I have a few floo calls to make."

The seven remaining in the Great Hall left and went their separate ways.

~~HP~~

David glanced shyly at the girl he'd been assigned prefect duty with. Scarlett Ferris was known for her confidence, and not having much success holding down a long-term relationship. He had heard from a few boys that had gone out with her, that they had been a little put off by her confidence and independence. He firmly decided that his relationship with the sixth year would be strictly professional.

"What's your deal, Mulvenna? Your brother's a hot Quidditch Captain and narrowly missed out on Head Boy. You're a shy little bookworm who wouldn't say boo to a goose." Scarlett asked in her confident, hard voice.

David shrugged. "Guess it's a different gene mix. Or maybe I don't want to be everything my brother is. I don't want to live in his shadow."

Scarlett nodded and said "What about the Head Girl, what's going on there?"

"She's our step sister. Our dad married their mum. They just had twins early hours of yesterday morning."

"So there's a blood connection now."

"Yeah. I guess so."

"You know I went out with your brother a few years ago?"

"Yeah, it lasted all of three weeks. Who ended it, you or him. He never told me"

"I did." she sighed "He was everything I liked in a guy at the time, but as soon as I realised I was being shallow and he annoyed me so I ended things. Did he ever talk much about me?"

"Just that you'd lost out on a good thing and he was out of your league. The usual Luke crap."

The two laughed in good spirit as they quietly entered the room where Mrs Potter was talking about her life as a professional Quidditch player then a Daily Prophet columnist.

~~HP~~

Malachy's head turned slightly as the door opened to reveal a prefect each from Gryffindor and Slytherin entering the room at the back. He turned back to continue to listen to Mr Wood, who was describing his Quidditch career, from Gryffindor Keeper and Captain, to his time with Puddlemere United and being on the England Reserve Team. Malachy glanced at Seraphim beside him, who rolled his eyes. Neither boy was that interested in Quidditch.

~~HP~~

Esther opened the door quietly to the room where Lady Bole was having a Q&A on international co-operation. She slipped into the seat beside Aisling, smiling at her Hufflepuff friend, who nodded back. They really needed a catch up. Luke looked over at her and scowled. Perhaps she had not been as quiet when she entered.