A/N Thank you Dragon, and yes I understand. You have to realize that long chapters isn't a forte of mine. I will do my best though. For those of you who showed me some ocs, there's a surprise for you at the end of the chapter. There is one oc left to be claimed. Please r and r.

Chapter 10:

2 Year Old Fun

Harry and Hollyhock were now 2 years old. It seemed like the time had flown, and Holly and Harry were so close to Narcisa and Iliana, it seemed like they were really their new mummies. Holly even consented to play more with Lucius and let him hold her for longer periods of time. Nine months give or take had passed, and the children were very much enjoying their meditation lessons, as well as various other fun activities.

Meditation was very hard for Draco, Blaise and Harry, but came quite quickly to Hollyhock's mind. Iliana and Severus decided to approach the situation from a different angle, and turned the meditation into a series of mind exercises. The boys were encouraged to run daily laps in the Zabini or Malfoy gym, jump rope with Hollyhock or even paint and draw. This was all done with the adults steadily sending out small but sharp probes to the mind. The boys would throw up any obstacles they could, whether it be the walls of the gym, a forest of trees, a maze of toys, or one memorable occasion, a pile of spaghetti. They had been eating at the time.

The guardians had slowly gotten Hollyhock used to the outdoors, and had even taken the children out to parks and the zoo. Harry was always disguised as was Hollyhock. She was always called Holly outside and she soon learned that for now, that was her new name. She was only almost 2, so didn't understand very much, but she tried. As for Holly's meditation, she could sit there for hours, just crooning to herself and holding up a barrier of woven vines. There was no gap in it, and the vines grew stronger the longer she was told to use this skill. With the happy and mischievous children only being almost 2, they weren't expected to know everything, but within a few years, they would be able to pick up on the tiniest, most subtle probe. They might even be able to push back.

One evening, Severus and Morgan took off their bracelets. They sadly looked at the 2 missing settings and the carvings of the wolf and dog. Severus gathered up a cloth and spread it on the table, then sprinkled a few herbs and flower petals over the bracelets. He then asked for a silver chain from each of them. Narcisa and Lucius handed one over, then Iliana.

"Do any of you have stones that are close to you?" asked Severus. "It doesn't have to be from a wedding ring or anything, just a stone that you feel might help you focus your magic."

Narcisa and Lucius looked at each other, then Narcisa came back with a turquoise stone which was perfectly round. In her other hand was a ruby in the shape of a teardrop. She handed the ruby to her husband and they placed down their stones. Iliana put down a fire opal with a hole in the middle of it.

"This next part will be a bit painful and draining magically," Severus said seriously. "The 2 prisoners in Azkaban can't be here with us today, but when they are set free, we will do this ritual again if all agree."

Everyone nodded, not seeing a problem with this. Severus picked up a silver knife and sliced his palm, letting 7 drops fall onto the pile of jewelry on the cloth. Morgan then took the knife and did the same. The five witches and wizards held bloody palms to bloody palms as they chanted.

"My life entwined with thine, my hand in thy grasp, my wand with thine, forever and eternity, so mote it be."

The cloth wrapping the bundle burned away and the marks on the witches and wizards' palms stung and were healed in an instant. Severus plucked up a bracelet. On the silver chain was a dog, a wolf, a raven, a dove, and now a phoenix, a narcissus, and a peacock. Severus cackled at the peacock ruby as he put the bracelet on. His fingers moved to the 2 missing settings. Lucius didn't find this very funny, but he had no time to say anything as just then Draco began to cry. He left the room to tend to him, though Dobbie would be there as well.

"So are we celebrating all 4 birthdays at once?" asked Narcisa. "Draco's birthday is in June, the twins are in July and Blaise is in September. He won't be 2 yet but I don't want him to feel left out."

"I like that idea," said Morgan. "Hopefully I can get away for a bit of that. I'll have to come up with some excuse."

"Just thinking of them all opening presents at the same time pulls up images of such big messes," said Iliana with a laugh. "Will we do it here or at my manor? I can have Mardy and Leefy cater everything if we can come up with a menue."

"I'd say Zabini manor is a nice change," said Severus. "We've not taken Draco and Hollyhock out in a few weeks."

"I'd say it's settled then," said Narcisa. "Iliana, I trust your catering advice. You know what Holly needs and you know what everyone is allergic to."

Iliana nodded and bowed graciously. She took Harry and Blaise home with promises they could come back soon. With one toddler on each hip, she apparated home, landing in the foyer of Zabini manor. Mardy popped in and took Harry, while Leefy took Blaise. She walked up a few flights of stairs and into her bedroom. She leaned against the balcony railing as Blip, her own house elf, brought her a cup of tea. She drank the boiling liquid in a few swallows, then rested it on the glass table top before retiring for bed.

The boys gasped as they were lead into the larger sitting room. It had more room for all the presents, the food and the cake. Iliana would have chosen the smaller one but didn't want any accidents. Hollyhock followed behind, holding hands with Morgan and Severus. She cawed like a crow, trying to get the boys' attention. She wanted to know what was going on.

"It's our birthday Holly," said Harry. "Remember? This morning is our birthday."

"Birthday?" queried Holly, confused. "What's a birthday?"

Severus smacked his forehead and peered at Lucius with a what the hell look. Lucius and Narcisa frowned and hung their heads. They had forgotten to tell Holly this morning about why she had to get dressed all pretty. Morgan was about to explain before Draco beat her to it.

"Remember?" he asked her, taking her hands and leading her over to a low seat, climbing up beside her. "Birthdays is when you get lots of presents and good cake and food."

"I like cake," said Holly, finally able to get the l out properly. "Presents is like things we get? Things we get like dresses?"

The boys didn't know. Harry climbed up to snuggle beside his sister, and Blaise sat at the end. Iliana picked one present for each child and put it in their laps. Holly and the boys eagerly tore into the paper, trying to figure out what was inside it. Holly's fingers encountered something rough. She pulled out a big rough pine cone. She studied it, then put it up to her nose and smelled it. A wide smile crossed her face as she put it on her lap. Harry had gotten a backpack with dragons on it, Blaise got a picture book of muggle cars, and Draco got a few toy soldiers.

Hollyhock unwrapped a pot next, then a huge bag of dirt. She also got a few dolls, some stuffed animals, (magical and non-magical), and a portrait of her mother. Harry got one of his father. They both promised to share them and trade them with each other next time they saw one another again. Hollyhock wanted to plant her tree, but Lucius convinced her to plant it later at home. She decided to play with Harry and Draco instead, trying to put together a lego set.

Blaise was left alone and wasn't sure what he wanted to do. He didn't want to build a lego house. He decided to play with one of the tea sets the children each got. He picked up Harry's because it was red and had snitches on it. Harry turned around and Blaise shrank away, but Harry just smiled.

"Next time I will play with yours."

"Thanks Harry," Blaise said demurely.

"Did any of you figure out why they like tea sets so much?" asked Severus.

"Somehow Blaize and Harry got into the kitchen and were playing with the regular one," said Iliana, grinning. "The house elves were trying to teach them how to pour with cold water, but it wasn't working too well."

"Actually," said Narcisa through a peal of giggles, "That's what happened at my home too. It wasn't water though. They were trying to shred up leaves for the tea."

"I wish I could have been there to see it," said Morgan as the children knocked down the lego house, Blaise happily drinking pretend tea.

Holly asked him if he wanted to play with the foam shapes she had gotten and he said yes. They tried to teach each other the shapes and Blaise had a go at trying to tell Holly the colors of the shapes. The adults all had a good laugh at that. Morgan sat down with Holly and Blaise, carefully correcting them. Harry and Draco began to build a tower with Blaise's new set of blocks. It was at this moment when the floo chimed and the Greengrass family stepped out of the fireplace.

"We've brought them all a gift," said Mary Greengrass as David greeted the men. "It seems like they're all having a lot of fun."

Mary was offered a seat as she patted her round belly fondly. Daphne scurried over to the blocks and began to play with Harry and Draco. The morning was full of fun, and the lunch was delicious. Afterwards, they all had a piece of cake with Happy Birthday Harry, Holly, Blaise and Draco written on it in multi-colored icing. The carrot cake with cream cheese frosting was divine. The Greengrass family stayed a little longer, but when the children began to fall asleep amongst the toys, David picked up Daphne and they flooed home.

"I would say this is a rousing success," said Iliana. "There were no fights, they shared their toys, and they even put the wrapping paper in a pile. I'm so proud of those little munchkins. They'll be hellions at Hogwarts though I'll tell you that much."

They all agreed and clinked glasses of butter beer. Blaise, Harry, Hollyhock, and Draco were all put in their own beds while their guardians had a nice long talk, minus Morgan and Severus.

()()

"So are we sending them to Hogwarts?" Mrs. Miller asked her husband and the other couple across from them.

"I don't see why not," Mrs. Pines answered. "It's supposed to be the best magical school in all of Brittain."

"I don't think you've attended Hogwarts though have you Mrs. Pines?" Mr. Miller asked her.

"I haven't, and neither has your wife," said Mrs. Pines. "We've both agreed to send our daughter there anyway, though. If your daughter goes with her, she'll have a friend."

"We'll have to talk about it a little," said Mr. Miller. "I vote for Hogwarts, but we want the best for our daughter."

()()

While a healthy toddler boy slept in his crib, an orphaned little girl shivered under a ratty blanket. Neither of them would realize that in just 9 short years, they would meet up, though they wouldn't know each other. They wouldn't even know if they liked each other.