"So there's nothing we can do?"
Hermione grimaced. "Not as far as the money goes, but I've already started a petition to protest the rights pureblood parents have as far as their children go. I've gotten a huge amount of support so far. Once the people I talked to learned about this so called law," her expression soured, "they immediately gave me their support, especially after hearing Anna's story. She's apparently a favorite at Hogwarts. All the teachers love her and the only reason they didn't give her the prefect position and ultimately Head Girl one is because of how quiet and shy she appears. Whereas Lily," she cleared her throat, hiding the grin that formed on her face, "is not."
Harry grinned somewhat sheepishly, looking fondly at a picture of his daughter with her three friends. They had gotten into a food fight and were all covered, but laughing. Lily had always been anything but shy. "No, I would say she definitely is not that."
They shared an amused smile before Hermione continued. "I'm sorry I can't do more. I tried reasoning with the Goblins, but you know how they are." She frowned. "And I suppose I can't really complain that much in this case even though I want to. They're just protecting their clients rights." At Harry's furious look she sighed. "Whether or not the client is a right bastard makes no difference."
The anger in him gradually faded, his eyes sporting an apology. "Sorry, Mione. I'm just so angry about the whole thing." He ran a hand briefly across his face. "She's become like our own child, you know? All three of those girls have." His smile softened as he glanced once more at the picture. "We always enjoyed James' and Albus' friends, but they never seemed to become family quite like these girls have."
Hermione smiled gently, reaching over to squeeze his knee. "I know Harry. I feel as though they're my nieces." A small line formed between her eyebrows as she frowned. "I'm just angry for not seeing the signs of abuse earlier. I mean for heavens sake I did attempt to become a healer for two years before changing my mind and becoming a lawyer. I should have picked up on it!"
"I'm just as guilty as you are Hermione," Harry replied, shaking his head. "Lily told me that Anna never even confirmed it to them and that she only seemed to have bruises on very rare occasions. I'm not trying to excuse myself or diminish the blame, but I don't think the physical abuse was something that happened continually. From what Lily says it seems as though they were bigger on the verbal abuse."
"Hmm." Hermione frowned, eyes still angry. "Well, we'll just have to make up for it by taking down these laws." Her tone became brisk and business like causing a small smile to form on Harry's face. "I'll need you and Ginny to testify as soon as this gets to court over what you saw." She paused, hesitating. "It would probably help to have the girls come in to." At the look on Harry's face she quickly continued. "I know that you would rather they didn't have to, but it might be the only way we can establish a history of abuse. Those girls are the only ones who've noticed her bruises. Anna's story only won't mean as much without their support."
Harry sighed, his expression weary but accepting. "I understand." He paused, his eyes growing slightly harder. "I don't like it, but whatever we need to do for Anna we'll do."
"Good." Hermione smiled gratefully, standing up as he did and reaching out, squeezing his hand affectionately. "It'll work out Harry. When haven't I come through for you?"
He grinned, his eyes softening. "Never. I trust you completely."
When her eyes welled up he laughed, pulling her in for a quick hug. "None of that now. Ron will have my head if he hears I made you cry."
She sniffed, wiping at her eyes briefly before sending him a haughty look that never failed to make him grin. "There'll be no need for Ronald to hear about this." His grin widened a notch as she glared at him. "I don't need anymore teasing about being overemotional. He already thinks I'm nutters half the time."
"Aren't you?" Harry asked with a mockingly serious expression.
Hermione smacked him across the head, pleased when he winced, holding up his hands as a sign of peace. "Try that again, Potter, and it won't just be your face that gets smacked."
Harry let out a long-suffering sigh. "Why am I surrounded by violent women? Hmm? What did I ever do to deserve this?"
Hermione smiled, kissing him quickly on the cheek before opening the door to leave. "Goodbye Harry. I'll floo you later about the case, alright?"
"Bye Hermione." He watched her leave with a smile before easing back down onto the couch and looking towards another picture. He picked it up, smiling gently as he looked at his girls.
They had only been twelve and thirteen in that picture, barely on the verge of becoming the women they were now. Kate was sending that already knowing smile towards the camera, the one that said she was beautiful and knew it. Lily was standing next to her, a vivacious redhead with a grin that lit up the room. Kris had an arm thrown around Anna's shoulder, her blue eyes shining as she kicked at some of the water, sending it towards a protesting Kate. Anna, her brown curls hanging down towards her waist, sent Kris a disapproving glare while Lily laughed, pointing a finger at Kate as she mocked her shrieking.
They were beautiful girls he thought with a proud smile. Smart, intelligent, kind, and healthy - they were everything a parent could hope for. His smile faded as he recalled the fact that one girl had no parents at all and the other had ones that, rather than taking care of her, had hurt her. He would never forgive those people for hurting a child. Anna was sweet and caring, always helping those around her without a second thought. He knew that both James and Albus were rather fond of her, despite their gentle teasing. Ginny loved each of the girls to the point where Harry sometimes had to remind her they were not their own, especially Kris. Ginny had a tendency to forget that Kris had her own parents, not that Mr. and Mrs. Bennett seemed to mind overly. They had always respected Kris' wishes to come and stay at their home rather than her own. Harry had been rather grateful for that fact. He knew that a part of him wouldn't feel normal without having each of those girls running around the house, wreaking havoc during the summer. It didn't feel like home without them.
A pair of gentle hands rested on his shoulders, causing him to jerk out of his thoughts with surprise. He looked up and met the gaze of his beautiful wife as her fingers began kneading his shoulders. "What's wrong?" She asked quietly, her expression concerned. "I saw Hermione leaving a couple of minutes ago. Is everything alright?"
He smiled, raising one of his hands to rest against her own and then averting his eyes back towards the picture, not immediately answering the question. "We're awfully lucky aren't we, Gin?"
Ginny removed her hands to go and sit next to him, taking the picture and smiling. "Yes, we are." She traced the girls faces lightly, eyes soft and loving. "I love them so much."
He placed an arm around her shoulder, dropping a soft kiss on her forehead. "Hermione says that there isn't anything we can do about Anna's father cutting off her access to the bank." Ginny looked up, her eyes immediately blazing as he continued. "But she's already started on working at emancipating Anna." His grip tightened briefly. "She thinks she can make it work."
Ginny smiled briefly, but her eyes were still worried. "Well if anyone can do it, it would be Hermione."
Harry nodded his agreement, his lips quirking upwards. "I thought we could open up our own account for Anna and put some money in there. I know she won't like it, but I'm not going to have her going without money."
Ginny pecked him softly on the lips, her eyes shining with affection. "Of course we will. Anna will just have to accept it." She looked back towards the picture once more and leaned her head against Harry's shoulder. "Kate told me that Abraxas gave her money for Anna's school things."
Harry looked at her with bewilderment. "Why would he do that? And they actually accepted it?"
Ginny shrugged, her face turned away so that she could hide the knowing gleam in her eyes. "Kate said he wouldn't give her a choice. Held onto her arm while the others walked away and then shoved the money bag in her hand, telling her not to say anything to Anna." She smiled. "Kate seemed surprisingly impressed."
"Did she?" Harry asked with a small bit of alarm. "You don't think she likes him, do you?"
Ginny laughed richly, burying her face in Harry's shoulder before looking up at him with a grin. "No, Harry, calm down. I think she just might have gained some respect for him, which we should consider a good thing. You know how Kate normally is about men."
Harry grumbled a bit, but finally nodded, only sighing slightly. He and Ginny had talked before about Kate's difficulty in accepting anyone of the opposite sex. It had taken him forever to get her to open up and actually share things with him. She had taken easily enough to Ginny, but he had had to wait several years before she cared for him in the same manner. Minerva had told him that according to the orphanage her father had simply left her there. Apparently her feelings about men had, after that point, taken a decidedly negative turn. As a result, Ginny was always pleased whenever Kate warmed up to a male. She felt Kate's disregard towards them wasn't healthy and a result of her fear of abandonment. The first time she had tried speaking about it with Kate, the girl in question had told her that was a load of rubbish and wouldn't speak to her for weeks. It had taken months for Ginny to get her to talk like normal with her again. She and Harry had quickly learned the a more gentle persuasion was needed as far as that subject went. Kate simply refused to talk about it freely.
"You think they'll be alright, don't you?" He asked worriedly, a sudden bout of anxiety rising within him.
Ginny smiled at him tenderly, running a hand across his cheek. "Harry, didn't we end up alright?"
The tension in his shoulders eased as he sent her a smile, leaning in to nuzzle her neck. "How do you always know what to say?"
She tilted her head to give him better access as he slowly ran his lips across her neck, the shadow from a day late shave rubbing against her. "It's a gift," she said quietly, bringing her hands around his neck and smiling with pleasure.
He laughed against her skin before bringing his mouth to hers and kissing her deeply, not stopping until she moaned. He leaned back, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "I think it's time I showed you how much I appreciated that gift."
Ginny grinned, leaning in to kiss him once more, her tongue running briefly across his lips before she backed away, an answering smile on her face. "I agree, Mr. Potter. I think it's high time you did just that."
He swooped her up in a manner that never failed to make her heart flutter, carrying her towards the bedroom and grinning down at her. "It would be my pleasure, Mrs. Potter."
She smiled sweetly, leaning against his chest. "I love you, Harry."
He brought his head down to kiss her forehead, his eyes going soft. "I love you too."
"You'll never take me alive!"
That declaration was followed by a series of shrieks as Albus reached out and grabbed Kate, flipping her over his shoulder and heading toward the lake. She screamed, arms and legs flailing as she attempted to escape his grasp. "Albus! Lemmego! Lemmego!"
Lily howled with laughter, bending over to clutch her stomach at the panicked expression on Kate's face as Albus grinned. "Sorry kitten," he replied, a wicked gleam in his eyes, "but you must be punished for insulting my manhood."
Kris snickered, shaking her head at the pair and looking towards Anna to share an amused smile. Within seconds another ear piercing shriek was heard, followed by a loud splash. Albus and Lily both laughed hysterically as Kate rose out of the water sputtering and with hair stuck to her face.
She shoved the offending pieces out of her eyes and looked back towards Al and Lily with a haughty expression before reluctantly grinning. "What I said about your manhood still stands, Al!"
Albus immediately stopped laughing, fixing Kate with a glare. Kate smirked at him, languidly floating in the water. "How are you going to punish me this time?"
Albus, unwilling to lose, whipped off his shirt and dove in the water. Kate's eyes widened with shock as she immediately attempted to swim away.
"Get her Albus!" Lily yelled from on shore, ignoring Kate's glare and cheering on her brother.
A resulting water fight ensued as Albus dunked Kate, ignoring her scream of protest and laughing with pleasure until Kate returned the favor. Before long both were drenched and snickering at each other. Anna watched the scene with a smile, briefly looking back at the Potter mansion.
It was a huge white house with lights shining as dusk neared. The pond they were currently at was to the left of it, several old willow trees gracefully sitting next to it. Off to the right was the path the girls often ventured on, the path that would eventually lead to the lake where they had had so many of their adventures.
She smiled peacefully, leaning back against the rock she was sitting on. Kris smiled at her, a small tinge of worry in the expression. She ignored it, grateful for the fact that she had friends who cared enough to be worried, but unwilling to talk about the last couple of days.
She knew that if they knew she was, on some level, blaming herself they wouldn't leave her alone about it. She also knew that that reaction was only one of love and concern, but she just wasn't up to dealing with it. Her parents had always found faults within her and though she knew that she was a good person she couldn't help but wonder if she was good enough. Perhaps if she had been a bit kinder, a bit lovelier, they wouldn't have abandoned her like this.
Kate would kick her arse if she heard her speaking like that. At the thought she smiled, her gaze wandering back towards the other three. Lily was now in the water as well, having been, at some point, pulled in by Kate. Their laughter lightened her heart and filled her with happiness. She wasn't sure exactly what she had done to deserve them, but she was thankful for it everyday. She didn't know what she would do without them.
"Oi!" Kate shouted, pointing at she and Kris. "Why don't you two stop being lazy arses and join us?"
Kris glowered at her, shooting her the bird, to which Kate responded with an outburst of laughter. "Lazy my arse!" Kris shouted. "Who's the girl that refuses to join the Quidditch team?"
"Oh shut it," Kate shouted. "Maybe if you get in the water, I'll consider it."
Kris' eyes lightened, her expression immediately calculating. "Really?"
"Yeah." Kate grinned. "But you've got to bring Anna with you."
Kris spun around towards Anna, eyes pleading. "Anna will you go in? Please. I really want Kate to join the team."
Anna laughed, standing up and brushing herself off. Kris, understanding the laugh as a sign of acceptance, reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the water. "We're coming!" She shouted happily, practically sprinting by that point.
Anna chuckled as they reached the edge of the pond, smiling at her girls and Albus.
Maybe she had done something worthy after all. Even if she didn't have her parents she had them.
Her family.
AN: I hope you guys enjoyed the Harry/Ginny moment! It was good to write them :) Anyway, I want to say thank you again to all of you out there reviewing. The reviews I've gotten have all been amazing. I haven't had one negative one and I'm both shocked and incredibly pleased with that. I've had so much fun writing this story so far and a lot of the credit goes to you guys for that. You definitely keep me happy to write. Thanks again guys! I adore you.
Caro
