AN: Short chapter and this will be the last update for this fic for a while. I will finish it, but again, slooow updates. I think I need to spend more time with my paint brushes than my overworked keyboard.

Future Plans: This story will complete itself within the fifth book. But I am planning several shorts on the future of the next gen grown up. They are adorable and fluffy (aside from when the Potter Sisters are tormenting people), and I'm already in love with my characters.

M rated fic of the Black Sisters' past that fits this fic is up if you're interested: Even Villians Fall in Love.

Chapter 14 - The Lights of Eve

Narcissa laughed, utterly, completely delighted.

"Shut your yap," Andromeda snapped.

Narcissa shook her head, her blonde curls falling around her shoulders freely. They were both in nightgowns in Narcissa and Lucius' suit. Harry was putting the kids to bed and Lucius was playing chess with Draco.

"What are your stupendously awful names for this round?"

Andromeda whapped her with a pillow, "I didn't plan this! I haven't had my moon cycle in eleven months! I should have been safe."

"Menopause doesn't start until twelve, one more moon cycle and you-"

Andromeda tackled her to the comforter, she knew exactly where her sister's tickle spots were.

"Alright! I give, I give!" Narcissa said, struggling to curl around her middle.

Andromeda rolled to her back, looking up at the ceiling, "What am I going to do?"

"You are going to have another one of Harry's beautiful babies. Now, what names have you concocted?"

"Celena Narcissa Potter or Winslow Sirius Potter."

Narcissa hugged her, "You will raise them here, won't you? All of them?"

She stroked her younger sisters soft hair, the gold catching in the candle light. Andromeda sighed, "Draco wasn't enough, was he."

Narcissa pressed her face to her sister middle, "He is enough. But I always wanted a bigger family, we both did."

"We will stay, Cissa. Harry seems more content than I thought he would be given his history here. The children love it, but you mustin' spoil them."

"I will try," Cissa said with little to no sincerity, she stroked her sister still flat stomach, "When are you going to tell him?"

"In another month or two, I want to be sure. My menopause truly is right around the corner. This will be my last baby."

"You said that the last time."

"I mean it this time. I love all my babies, but five pregnancies are enough."

"What do you think this one will be like?"

Andromeda's fingers laced with her sister's, "I hope this one takes after Harry this time. My daughters are too much like us."

"You children are going to rule the world one day."

"Or burn it down."

"Whichever they decide to do," Cissa said, "this world likely deserves it."

"No one deserves to be faced with Potters," Lucius said, entering the room.

"Debatable, Luci," Andromeda chimed, not bothering to sit up as Lucius stripped out of his outer robes.

He laid down beside them, in a pair of slacks, his undershirt, and no shoes. "If I ask you to leave, you will just stay longer, correct?" he drawled.

"Yes," Andromeda and Narcissa said in unison.

Lucius sighed and rolled onto his side, placing an arm around both Black sisters, Andromeda in the middle, his hand rested on his wife's back. "Are you having another one?" he asked, the placement of their hands not escaping his notice.

Andromeda closed her eyes, "Yes."

"What silly names did you concoct this time?"

"I will curse you."

Cissa laughed.

Minerva was not sure what she was expecting when she arrived at Malfoy Manor with Filius, Poppy, Severus, and Hagrid at her side.

But she certainly wasn't expecting Lucius to greet them, he wasn't warm about it, but he was completely civil.

"Aunt Minnie! Uncle Filius! Hagrid!" Three voices chorused, as they ran into the greeting room.

Minerva was struck by their stunning emerald green eyes, and that they all looked like younger versions of Bellatrix and Andromeda Black. Although Morwenna, the oldest had tan skinned as if she liked to bake in the sun, it was very noticeable when one had her sisters beside her for comparison.

"Hello," she greeted them.

Teddy took charge, "Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, Snape, and Hagrid, these are my sisters; Morwenna, Ophelia, and Persephone Potter."

All the Potter children resembled one another, the same curly brown or black hair, the delicate futures, and a smattering of freckles.

Hagrid's deep laugh filled the room, "And are you young ladies as much trouble as your father?"

"Or as dangerous as your mother?" Minerva muttered.

The girls only smiled up at them, not even the youngest could pull off an innocent smile.

"As devious as their mother and as trouble seeking as their father," Lucius said in passing.

They were led to a large dining room with a wall of windows that overlooked the grounds. It was a cold room in winter and it felt too large for a family of three in Minerva's mind.

But of course, the Malfoys were no longer a family of three. Four Potter children found their seats as Sirius and Regulus Black entered the room.

Minerva embraced them both, "It is good to see you."

Sirius barked a laugh, "I missed you, Minnie."

Regulus flushed a little, "I missed you, and everything. I missed everything. Hello Professor Flitwick. Madame Pomfrey. Severus."

There was no time for further greetings as Narcissa and Andromeda entered, a new round of greetings started up.

It was an odd mix of people, Minerva thought, but somehow, they made a fitting group. Draco looked a little lost, sitting beside Teddy, but Minerva thought it would be a good thing for him to have siblings.

The boy had few friends, a loving family would do wonders to his character.

Harry came in last, his cheeks a bit flushed, his emerald eyes bright. He seemed to be perfectly in his element. As if the people around him were all he wanted or needed.

The food was exquisite, and she said as much, all the professors -barring Severus, did.

Harry grinned and Narcissa said, "The house-elves are about ready to mutiny."

"Dobby already did," Teddy pointed out.

Lady Malfoy glared at him.

"How are the house-elves having a mutiny?" Hagrid asked, "This meal is wonderous."

Andromeda placed a hand on Harry's where it rested on the table, "Harry is quite wondrous."

It took them a moment, before Poppy asked, "You cooked all this?"

He nodded, "I made dessert too, whenever you are ready."

"I'm ready!" Persephone declared.

"You will finish your carrots, young lady."

She pouted at him before stabbing her fork into the little orange mound left on her plate.

Minerva couldn't quite wrap her head around everything that was happening, the chains of conversations flowing around her. She couldn't gauge the varying degrees of sanity and morality around her. But one thing was for certain.

The members of this family could conquer Britain by accident.

That Christmas Eve, Nymphadora asked her father's permission to spend it with her mother.

The fact that she felt she had to ask broke Ted's heart. He did not want his bitterness to ruin the relationship his daughter had with her mother, and he would be ashamed if the reason Dora felt she should stay was because of his ill mood.

So he had smiled and told her, of course, she should spend Christmas with her mother, sisters, and son.

Ted had not the gusto to say he would like to join. Perhaps it made him weak, but he couldn't watch his ex-wife in the arms of another man, not on Christmas. At least not on the first Christmas he had had since he was seventeen without her.

He planned to work through the night, but his shift manager had sent him packing.

He sat in his empty house, looking at the clock on the wall, wondering if he should go visit his parents. He hadn't told them about the divorce yet. Andromeda didn't walk the neighborhood much so he doubted the neighbors had even realized yet what had happened. They had gone through London for the paperwork, their own town hall was in the loop yet.

Ted was preparing himself mentally to go to his parents and face the almost certain venomous comments about Andromeda. I told you she was trouble. That snake. You never should have gone near a girl like that, much less have touched her.

A knock on his door brought him out of his dark musings. When he opened the door he found Amelia, with her niece Susan bundled up in winter coats. Susan held out a package to him.

"Merry Christmas Eve," she said, her smile obscured by her scarf.

"Merry Christmas Eve," he greeted, accepting the package.

"They're cookies, they aren't very good but the frosting and chocolate chips are alright."

"Susan," Amelia chided.

"I'm sure they're good, no one can ruin sugar after all," he said peaceably.

"Don't be so sure," Susan warned.

"Susan," Amelia said again, exasperated.

"Won't you both come in. I have a fire going, you can warm up."

"Thank you!" Susan said, not hesitating for a moment in entering the house, placing herself right between the fire and the tree. "I love your tree, Mr. Tonks!"

"Please, call me Ted, Susan. And Dora decorated the tree."

"She has a good sense of color."

"That she does."

Amelia stepped in close to kiss his cheek and give him a hug.

He hugged her back, tightly. "I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't get you two a gift."

She entered the house and took off her fuzzy scarf, "You took the cookies, that is gift enough."

"She's not joking," Susan called.

Ted grinned, "You can both stay for the night if you like, I don't have any plans."

"Yes, please," Susan and Amelia said in relieved unison.

He felt his smile waver a bit, he worried-

Amelia caught his thought before he had finished it, "Holidays are hard without family."

Ted nodded his understanding, "You will always be welcome here."

Lucius, Narcissa, Sirius, Regulus, Nymphadora, Draco, Teddy, Morwenna, Ophelia, and Persephone were playing wizarding monopoly, that involved a board that experienced natural disasters, had miniature houses, and miniature goblins that would come after your fools gold.

Regulus and Persephone had teamed up, their joint crazy was kicking everyone else's butt, well, except for Narcissa who was hoarding money like a miser and somehow managing to cheat her husband on every round.

"Harry," Andromeda protested as he led her out into the gardens. "Why are we missing out on Christmas Eve?"

Not that she minded alone time with him, but it was a family holiday. Besides if they were going to sneak off, she would have much preferred one of the bedrooms as opposed the snowy outdoors.

"Look around you, Andromeda, just look."

And she did, and one crunching step after another into the fresh snow drove all protests from her mind.

The night was cool, the breeze was fresh and soothing to her flushed skin. The gardens felt vast in the quiet hush beneath the stars. Harry led her forward and there was something about the way he looked at her... His emerald eyes brighter than the specks of starlight that winked down on them.

The inky indigo of the sky seemed to merge with the treeline, the snow was a sparkling white in the moonlight filtered through a veil of blue.

Harry's hand was warm in hers, and Andromeda found herself grateful, grateful for this life, this family, this man.

This man who had pulled her from the ashes when she thought all was lost.

Harry kept glancing at her as if she would disappear, as if she were some snowflake fairy to be blown away by a silent gust of a winter wind.

But Harry was the wind, it was to his music that she danced. The deeper they got into the gardens the more she realized that Cissa had quite outdone herself.

White Witch Roses were in full bloom, their petals looking as soft as down, and as they got closer to the gazebo, lights like captured stars glowed as if in reflection of the heavens above them.

"You look so beautiful," Harry breathed.

Andromeda turned from the roses to meet his gaze. "Not as handsome as you, my love." And she meant that, from his wild raven black hair, his emerald eyes, his fair skin, and to utterly delectable slender waist, he was beautiful.

He shook his eyes, "You are radiant, your eyes are richer than chocolate. You- I don't have the words."

She smiled, "I love you."

His returning smile melted her heart, "I love you, too."

The gazebo was lit as well, though the floating lights were warmer, fending of the night and bringing color back to the world like candlelight.

Music started up from some invisible source, the song was…

Andromeda laughed and held out her arms to him, he caught her hand, her waist, and took the first steps back, easily taking lead in the dance.

She had taught him well.

"Do you remember that night?"

"Seducing you, Harry Potter, was the evilest most wonderful thing I have ever done in my life."

He pressed his forehead to hers, "Andromeda, you are the woman I love and I would not change a thing."

They danced for what felt like hours, for what felt like heartbeats. When the last song finished, Harry stepped away from her at arm's length. She made to step forward, she wasn't ready for this night to pass.

He dropped to a knee in front of her, and she felt her heart tumble in her chest.

The look on his face was humbling, so vulnerable, so awe-filled. Over a decade of sharing a life together and he still looked at her like that.

Sometimes she thought her love for him was so great it would break her. But she was never afraid, could never be afraid of him. He was her safe harbor.

He pulled a small black box from his robes, and offered the elegantly crafted ring out to her. "Andromeda Black," he began. "Will you marry me?"

She did not hesitate. "Yes," she answered, "of course, yes."

He picked her up around her thighs and hips, spinning her in circles around the gazebo. And though it was still beautiful darkness around them, she felt as she was standing in a room lit by the morning sun. There were tears in his eyes, as he laughed in relief. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him for all that he was worth.

When he slipped his ring on her finger, all was right with the world. Andromeda was exactly where she wanted to be, in the arms of the man who knew every jagged edge of her, and against every odd, he loved her still.

And more than anything else she felt loved.

AN: A short for the holidays. Merry Christmas Eve my lovelies!