Our house was pandemonium. You would think Aunt Mora would want a little peace and quiet after having been locked up for so long, but she seemed fine with it.

Uncle Charlie brought her over to our manor house and she was immediately tackled by Mum and all of the rest of their group. It looked like they would bury or suffocate her!

Aunt Mora laughed and hugged them back and they all looked completely, happily, out of control.

The parents had planned a big party to celebrate Aunt Mora returning and we were expecting a lot of people. Like all of our combined family. Practically. I doubt Grandfather and Grandmother would show up.

Which is too bad, I felt like I rarely saw my grandfather these days. He was busy rebuilding the Malfoy fortunes and I was busy with school and not being assassinated.

While Malfoys may not assist in the physical part of setting up a party, Weasleys did. Mum put us all to work straight away.

There were tables to be hauled out on to the lawn, warming spells to be cast, platters of food to be set up and insects to be warded off.

House elves could have done it but my mother believes that manual labor is good for the soul. Daddy grew up totally different but let Mum have her way because he always lets Mum have her way.

Sometimes when Daddy looks at Mum I get the feeling that he is sort of in awe of her. Even after all of these years I think that is really sweet.

Sweet as it may be it did not get me out of chores. But now that I am over 17 I can use my wand for the worst of it. Like getting rid of bugs. Ugggh!

"Miri!" Cissa whined. "Can't YOU put the tablecloths on? You can do it with a wave of your wand."

"I am absolutely not doing all of your chores, Cissy." I laughed at her pout. "You know Mum would just find harder work for you if I did anyway."

"Stop making me sound like bitter old task master, Miranda." Mum came out with another armload of food. It was ridiculous. She could absolutely use magic.

I ran forward to help her "Mum, you know Daddy hates it when you over work yourself for these things."

"Since when did you care what some man thinks about your comings and goings Miranda Malfoy?" Mum put her hands on her hips and gave me a fake glare.

I tried for very innocent look "When that man controls my allowance."

"Well said young Lady Malfoy." Mum laughed. "But you are an adult now what makes you think you will get an allowance?"

I just looked at her scandalized while she laughed.

I guess Aunt Mora must have been more worn out than I thought because she came outside looking like she had just got out of bed.

And then I saw Uncle Charlie behind her looking the same.

Ewww! Ewwww! Ewww! Ewww!

Aunt Mora and I had not really spoken yet. I wasn't sure what to say to be honest.

She looked at me and grinned. "Later witches? Really?"

I laughed. "It was the best I could come up with at the time."

And the ice broken she grabbed me in a big hug. "I am so sorry, Miri. I tried to scare you in to going home with all of those letters I sent. But I couldn't speak to you and I never knew when…"

"Aunt Mora, it wasn't your fault!" I squeezed her back. "I am so sorry you were dragged in to this. I don't know who hates me or my family enough to have used you that way."

"But we are going to find out." Uncle Harry had just come to the gardens.

"Albus!" I called out happily seeing my young cousin. "Why don't you come help Scorp and Cissa finish setting up?"

"Hey Mir! Yeah sure!" I really do like that kid.

"You really are good with the younger ones, Miranda." Aunt Ginny kissed me on the cheek. "You really should focus on them when you go in to healing."

"Yeah, well, they don't annoy me nearly as much as adults do." I looked over at Rose who had just come with Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione "Well, most of them anyway."

Rose rolled her eyes.

"Oi now," Uncle Ron glared at her "you know what your Mum says about getting on and acting like one big happy family."

"Yeah, I know." Rose sounded as though she were being tortured.

"Well then?" Uncle Ron gave her a little shove "Get on with acting like it then."

"That wasn't precisely the lesson I was trying to impress." Aunt Hermione brought in a few covered dishes and looked fondly at Uncle Ron who just shrugged.

"Brilliant bit of courtroom drama, Miranda, please don't come back in to court while I am Minister." Aunt Hermione handed me her dishes.

"Sorry Aunt, it was all I could think of." I tried to look ashamed, I really did.

Aunt Hermione laughed. "You aren't sorry one bit. I wouldn't be either."

After lunch we cousins all got together for a family Quidditch match.

Knowing how tough things were going to get I quickly said "I get Albus and Scorpius." Both were completely hopeless, but damned if I was going to let their feelings be hurt.

"Alright" Rose grinned. "Then I get to be on James' team."

"Fine, but just so you know, he missed four of the last ten goals through." I shrugged.

"That is because I am a beater!" James protested. "I was just filling in!"

"It is still a Quidditch fact." I laughed when Rose looked at him scandalized.

"We aren't any good, Miri." Albus looked at me helplessly. "We will just sit on the side and watch.

Scorpius nodded his agreement vigorously.

"Nothing doing." I glared at them. "This is family time, and by Rowena's tall hat you are going to join the family!"

"Come on Al, you can do it!" Uncle Harry encouraged.

"No Dad, YOU can do it. And don't call me Al." Was I sensing some tension? Was I such a prat at that age?

"Hah, you think YOU have issues with a Quidditch player as a father, think of what Viktor goes through." I reminded him. "He really can't stand the sport at all."

"Which is a crime." Uncle Ron chimed in.

"It is NOT a crime." Aunt Hermione slapped his arm lightly "You are just sorry you don't have another name to add to your autograph collection."

Everyone, even Albus and Scorpius laughed at that.

"Speaking of Viktor." Leo looked at me "Where is the old boy? I figured he would be here."

"Don't know." I confessed. "His father said he needed to go home for a bit."

Leo looked a bit worried about that but I couldn't imagine why. Maybe because Viktor hadn't told him? It didn't matter. I wasn't going to ask him now in front of everyone. I would only get a smart arsed answer from him.

The game was cut throat, and everyone was cheating. Leo was playing keeper for my side and Rose shined a mirror right in his eyes costing him to allow a goal through.

"Hey! You cheater!" I shouted.

Rose just grinned at me and shrugged.

We were goofing around with each other so much that Leo dropped the quaffle. It almost hit the ground but I tried a spell that I had been practicing.

Ironically enough it was one that Aunt Mora had attacked me with while imperiused.

"Alarte ascendare!" I over shot and the quaffle went up and over the manor.

We all set down laughing. "We won!" Shouted Rose.

"You did not!" I objected. "The game wasn't over!"

"We were ahead and…." Rose trailed off looking over my shoulder.

Uncle Harry was standing there with a frown on his face. "Miranda, where did you learn that spell?"

I blushed "Well… Aunt Mora used it that, you know that first time, but it seemed useful and so I…"

Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione were right behind him. "Merlin, Harry," Uncle Ron looked stunned, "but it can't be him, right? He can't even remember who he is!"

"You ever see anyone else use that spell?" Uncle Harry's serious tone was beginning to scare me.

"Who?!" My father shouted.

"Gilderoy Lockhart." Uncle Harry looked grim. "If so…"

"But you can't mean the same one in Saint Mungos?" I protested. "He is so sweet and…"

"And?" Aunt Hermione prompted.

"I just… he seemed really nice but sometimes I got this feeling like someone was watching who genuinely hated me." I finished lamely. It still sounded stupid when I said it out loud.

"Why didn't you tell us, sweetheart?" Daddy asked.

"Tell what, Daddy?" I threw my hands up. "That in a room full of mentally ill people someone might not like me?"

"We have to go and make sure Harry." Uncle Ron looked so serious, nothing like my normal fun loving uncle.

Uncle Harry nodded. "We can't risk him cursing anyone else."

.