Chapter 21

"You're what?" Chloe nearly screamed, causing everyone in the burrow to come and see what was going on.

"I told you it was a surprise. Now I have to tell everyone. I got a job teaching DATDAs at Hogwarts. I'm going to be a teacher!"James said, sounding excited. "And Chloe, I've gotten permission and you can stay in my room at the castle. We'll be together all the time."

"Don't go getting her pregnant now," Ginny said. "but I'm so proud of you."

"Great," Albus said with a sigh. He couldn't really be away from James not could he?

"I think that's great,"Dominique said. "Going to go easy on us in class right."

James laughed. "You wish. I'll push you nice and hard. Got to be make sure you're ready in case something happens and you need to be ready. I'm going to work everyone as hard as I can."

"Awe, not cool," Roxanne said.

"You want to be ready in case something bad happens right?"James asked.

"Well yeah I guess,' Dominique said wish a sigh.

"I can't believe they're letting someone as young you be a teacher," Alek said.

"I guess they found out about my army I was making. They thought that I did well at that so they gave me the job when I applied for it," James explained.

"Aren't you worried that someone found out about the army?" Alek asked.

"No. Why does it matter?" James asked. "It got me this job so it's okay."

Alek shook his he head, but didn't say anything else. He just went back to his room.

"Well I'm proud of you," Harry said. "I'm sure you'll make a great teacher."

"Thanks," James said.

XXXXX

Alek turned to Albus. "I don't like this."

"You mean James being a teacher at Hogwarts now?" Albus asked.

"He's going to be extra mean to me because he doesn't like me dating you. He's going to be hard on Slytherins in general. He'll not be a good teacher. Maybe Gyfindor, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuff, but not Slytherins. I don't think that's a good idea. A teacher should keep all of their students the same. I mean, I can see him not pushing Chloe as hard as everyone else, but she's his wife. It makes sense. He already said he wouldn't let family off easy. I doubt he'll play favorite, except you, Lily, and Chloe Like I said, I think he'll make it extremely hard for me and the other Slytherins, minus your cousins, to pass the class. I still think he's too young to teach.''

"I agree, but it's not like there's anything we can do about it," Albus said. "He hasn't even taken any teaching classes. He'll teaching himself the spells right before he trains people in them. I don't think it'll work that well."

"Do you think it's because of the dark wizard that attacked the ministry? They might want the students to be ill prepared for war," Alek said. "It make sense. If they students can't fight back, or not fight back o the best of their ability. It would make sense. "

"Do you really think they'd put that much effort into it?" Albus asked, unsure.

"Depends on how organized this dark lord is," Alek said.

"I don't like thinking there's one out there planning this much. I don't like this," Albus said. "What if that is what is going on?"

"Like I said before, I'll always protect you," Alek said, pulling Albus into a hug. "No matter what happens I''ll protect you."

"I know. I know you'll protect me," Albus said.

"Everything will be okay. I'm sure we can get through this. Just put your trust in my hands," Alek said.

"You know I will. I'm depending on you,"Albus said, leaning into Alek. "I love you."

"I love you too," Alek said. He leaned in and kissed Albus. "Everything will be okay."

XXXX

"Dom, you miss Luis?" Roxanne asked.

"A little bit, but he's back working with dragons with Uncle Charlie," Dominique said. "He's happy. That's all the matters."

"Are you worried about him?"Roxanne asked.

"A little bit," Dominique said. "I mean, he got hurt last year, so I can't help but worry that he'll work again. I was worried he'd be afraid too afraid to go with dragons again. I'm glad him getting hurt hasn't made him afraid of working with Dragons. Nope. If anything he wanted to go more than he ever has."

"Well it's good to find out what you love,"Roxanne said. "Do you know what you want to do?"

Dominique thought a moment. "I'd like to play pro quidditch, but if that doesn't work then I'd like to work in a flower shop in France."

"I want to work for my dad in his game store," Roxanne said. "I love that place, and I know it makes dad sad sometimes, but I know he loves it too." She wished she could have met her Uncle Fred. He sounded so funny. Her father her happier too, before Fred died. It wasn't something they ever talked about, but Roxanne knew and Fred, well Fred seemed to know everything about everything, so I figured that he knew it too. I love my father dearly, but sometimes he just breaks down at the loss of his brother." Roxanne started to cry.

"Sometimes, it's like we're not even there. He just stays alone and stays lost in his thoughts. He's still in so much pain after losing his brother, even after so many years. It hurts to see him like that, but what I can do? I can't really do anything to make him happy again. But he's always happy again after he's done locking himself away. But he shouldn't lock himself away. He has mom and me and Fred. He's not all alone anymore. He has a huge family, but he still feels alone sometimes. I hope I never feel such a loss that it never goes away."

Roxanne gave a sad smile. "My dad was so happy at the wedding. It was great I'm sure he's happy about James working at Hogwarts. I just wish he could be that happy all the time. He fakes it sometimes you know, when he's working. No matter how he feels he acts happy when he's in joke shop. I'm sorry I shouldn't say all of this to you.'

Dominique hugged her cousin. "I'm the love of your life right? You can rant at me however long you want about whatever you want."

"I'm so happy I have you Dominique,"Roxanne said, letting Dominique hold her. "I just want my family to be happy."

"Most of us are,"Dominique pointed out. "I know things are bad with your dad sometimes, but remember that you have a huge family that cares about you. If you need help, you can go to anyone of us if you need help."

"I know, but I'm just happy I have you. You never over react or try to hide what's really going on. I know we both have boyfriends, but you're the closest person to me. I love you more than anything," Roxanne said. She held her cousin closer.

"And you're the closet person to me," Dominique said.

"We're cousins in love," Roxanne said with a smile.

"Maybe I'll have to work at the joke shop to stay close to you," Dominique said.

Roxanne laughed and let go of Dominique. "That would be nice. I don't know what I'd do if you were all the way in France and I'll be here, without you. I don't think I can take it."

"Well then I'll have to stay here once we graduate," Dominique said.

Roxanne smiled. "That's good. I'd be lost without you,"

"I love you," Dominique said.

"I love you too," Roxanne said.

XXXXXXXXXX

It was a few days later, Lily collapsed. "Lily!" Ginny cried. "Lily wake up!"

Harry was quickly over to them. "We should take her to St. Mungo;s."

They whole family was in the waiting room as they waited for word on how Lily was doing. A doctor came out, and everyone was on edge. "It looks like someone hexed her. She'll be okay, but she has some memory loss and is rather weak at the moment, so only her direct family can come and see her.

They went to see Lily." Hey Lily how are you doing?" James asked.

"I don't understand. What happened? Why and who would attack me?" Lily asked.

"I bet it was Alek. He's damn Slytherin. Of course he'd attack. Lily," James said harshly. "I knew it was a bad idea to let him stay with us."

"Alek would never do something like that," Albus said.

"And you're saying that one of us would have done it?" James said.

"I ate one of Uncle George's candies. I think that's what happened. I thought it was a normal candy, but I guess I was wrong," Lily said.

"See I told you it wasn't Alek,' Albus said.

"I still don't trust him. I just get a bad feeling about him,"James said.

"You just don't like him because he's a Slytherin. I'm in that house and so are Dominique and Roxanne.. Do you not trust us?" Albus asked.

"Of course I trust you all. You're family and I trust you all because you're family," James said. "And family is the most important. If you don't have your family, then you have nothing."

"Exactly why Alek needs to be here. I'm the only family he has. I'm all he has left." Albus said. James huffed but didn't say anymore on the subject.

"How long will Lily need to be here?" Ginny asked

"Only another day to make sure she's okay. It was a simple hex, no actual damage. She just needs some rest, and not eat candy she doesn't know where it came from," the doctor said.

"I'm so happy," Ginny said.

"I'm sorry for worrying you," Lily said.

"It's okay. I'm just glad you're okay," Ginny said. Ginny hugged Lily. "I'm just so happy my baby girl is okay."

"Mom, you're embarrassing me."

"Oh you can't be embarrassed. It's just your family around here. Everyone understand what's going on,'' Ginny said.