I was looking forward to summer vacation and dreading it all at once.

In years past my grandparents would take us on vacation for a whole week. We would visit amusement parks and eat whatever junk food we wanted. It was always so much fun. And now it seemed like none of that would happen.

Not ever again.

The thing is as much as they now despised me, I really loved my grandparents.

They had really extreme views, in fact, one might even think of them as the pureblood extremists of the muggle world. But my grandfather also had a wicked sense of humor and my grandmother always knew the right thing to say and the right outfit to wear at any occasion.

I doubt I would have the social graces and manners I do now if it wasn't for her. My father was just happy if I managed to dress myself and keep my elbows off of the table.

But I knew this year would be very different. There would be no invitations to afternoon tea. No special shopping trips with my grandmother.

No anything.

At least Angus would be home. I really missed him and father while I was away. Angus and I fought like… well, like brother and sister I suppose, but he also defended me against the bullies of the world. And I adored him. He was my first real hero.

And it would be my fault entirely that he wouldn't go on any special trips with our grandparents because I was absolutely certain they would not come around if I was there. And I would NOT be chased out of my own home.

About a week before we would be leaving school for the summer, Scorpius came bouncing in to the common room with a letter in hand.

"There you are!" He waved the letter in my face excitedly. "I have been looking everywhere for you!"

"Just getting a head start on packing." I could not help but smile at his excitement.

"Well, you can just take a break!" I did not point out that I was in the common room actually taking a break.

"Why?" I grinned. "Are you planning to finish my packing for me?"

He raised an eyebrow at me, looking very much like Professor McGonagall "Physical labor is healthy."

"Why thank you "professor" I shall keep that in mind." Scorpius really should become a professor. He is smart and loves knowing more than anyone else.

"OK, two points." I rolled my eyes "One, I got that from my mother, and two, I am not a professor."

"You know as much as some." I pointed out.

He just shrugged. "Anyway, I came with an invitation from my Mum." He waved the letter around again.

"An invitation?" I moved over so he could sit by me. "An invitation for who? To what?"

He handed me the letter. "For you. To Italy."

I read over the letter. It seemed like Mrs. Malfoy was in fact, inviting me to their villa in Italy.

"Wow… your family must be rich." A whole villa. That was something.

Scorpius just shrugged. "Yeah, but Mum makes us do our own chores and we have to get good grades and figure out a career just like everyone else."

"Like your sister the doctor? Or healer I mean." I corrected.

"Yeah. Miri and her fiancé are starting their own hospital wing and everything." Scorpius nodded. "I mean my grandfather is helping with the funds, but they will have to do all the work."

"Your grandfather? Not your parents?" I suddenly remembered something. "Um… will your grandparents be there?"

"No. They never go to the summer get togethers." Scorpius shrugged. "But you really don't have to be afraid of them you know."

I guess I couldn't hide my skepticism because Scorpius frowned, looking a little sad.

"I'm sorry." I apologized. "But the history books all suggest that even if they wouldn't hurt me they would want to. I am surprised they even let us be friends."

Scorpius sighed. "My grandparents did some despicable things. That part is true. But they did some good things too! Mt grandfather protected my Mum during the Battle of Hogwarts. And they fought on the right side…. Well, eventually."

That may all have been true except… "Yeah but your Mum is pureblood. And to them, I am just a mud…"

"I told you to stop using that word." Scorpius interrupted me. "Besides, my Mum isn't like that. You like Uncle Ron, right?"

I nodded. I do like Uncle Ron!

"Well, Mum is his sister." Scorpius pointed out. "And I keep telling you, my Mum doesn't hate anyone. She even loves my grandfather even though he was on the wrong side of the war. Come on, Lils. Say you will go!"

"You better just agree and get it over with Lils." Albus called from the floor. "We are all going and you know Scorpius will not stop badgering you until you agree."

"I do NOT badger!" Scorpius huffed. "I just tell people the things they should do in their own best interest."

"Says every person who has ever badgered anyone." Albus quipped and then returned to his book. "Now shush, if I don't study I will never pass this stupid class."

A week later we were at Platform 9 ¾ and Mrs. Malfoy was talking to my father about the trip.

I expected my father to put up some sort of token resistance at least. You know, "Oh but I can't possibly let you take my baby for a whole month. Whatever will I do without her?"

OK, he probably wouldn't say something like THAT, but you know, the Dursley equivalent.

But he was surprisingly OK with it. Suspiciously OK with it if I were being honest, but I was going to Italy with my best friends, who was I to complain?

I didn't expect my grandparents to be there to greet me either at the train station or at home, so I wasn't disappointed. But Angus was at home.

"Get your feet off of my side of the couch!"

"Wiggle your fingers and make a whole new side of the couch!"

Was how we cheerfully greeted each other, both of us grinning like fools.

We spent the next several weeks hanging out, bickering over the telly remote. Oh how I missed my television programs! I only had two short months to catch up on Wolfblood and Angus kept hogging the telly for Peaky Blinders.

He could watch telly at school, it was so unfair!

I loved every minute of it.

Finally the day came for Uncle Harry to come pick me up. I wasn't really surprised that I hadn't yet seen my grandparents… I wish I could get over being hurt by it just as easily.

I could hear Uncle Harry's voice in the kitchen. He sounded angry. "You will have to tell her at some point Dudley. She is going to figure it out."

"Figure WHAT out?" I stormed in to the kitchen. I was tired of all the secrets.

"That… that I wasn't planning to take you to this wizard shopping place myself." Father's face was very red. "But your Uncle convinced me I should."

Father looked so uncomfortable and I finally figured out why. "Oh, father. It is not as bad as you are picturing it. The witches and wizards…"I tried to ignore how he winced at those words "dress differently and they are shopping for some… exotic… items, but they have the same worries you do. Getting a good price, making sure their kids don't eat too much ice cream…"

Father smiled a bit at that."I am sure you are right, Lilliana."

I hugged and kissed my father good bye and hollered bye to Angus who had his headphones on.

"Later, weirdo!" Angus called out making me laugh.

And with that Uncle Harry grabbed my bags and we went to the floo.

We came out in the Leaky Cauldron. I had only been here a couple of times, but I loved it. Uncle Harry called out hello to the barman, Tom, and we stepped in to Diagon Alley.

We walked over to Finnigan's Ice Cream Parlor and sitting at the table were "Scorpius! Albus!" I cried running forward.

"Hey Lils!" Albus grinned.

Scorpius had his mouth full of ice cream and just nodded. I wasn't insulted. No one comes between Scorpius and his sweet tooth. Not even a best friend.

A very pretty woman I recognized as Mrs. Malfoy stepped forward and hugged me.

"Lilliana, we are so happy you could join us this year!" She squeezed my hand.

When she did, something odd happened. It felt like… I don't know, like everything would be OK somehow. It was weird. But good weird.

Mr. Malfoy was there and he smiled at me like he knew what I had just experienced.

"Hello Mrs. Malfoy, Mr. Malfoy." I said shyly.

"Oh please call me Aunt Aly, Mrs. Malfoy is my mother in law." I noticed Mr. Malfoy did not extend the same offer. Not like I could call him by his first name anyway. Too strange.

"OK then." I smiled up at her. "Aunt Aly." She nodded happily.

Mr. Malfoy looked at his watch. "We will miss the port key if we don't leave now, love."

"Oh, I had hoped for just one more scoop." Aunt Aly looked longingly at the door of the shop.

Mr. Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Then next time order two scoops to start with." I had the feeling this was NOT the first time they had this discussion.

For some strange reason it made me really miss my Mum. Would my parents have had the same silly discussions over and over?

I think Uncle Harry understood because he put a hand on my shoulder and looked down at me very kindly.

"I don't see why you can't just share." Aunt Aly pouted.

Scorpius and Mr. Malfoy looked at her scandalized. So THAT is where Scorpius gets his sweet tooth from.

I laughed and Scorpius looked at me suspiciously. "You aren't sharing mine either."

"I am aware." I rolled my eyes. "But it is a sin to be so selfish."

Aunt Aly linked her arm through mine. "It is nice to have someone agree with me." She leaned down and whispered "None of my children will share their sweets with me."

"I would appreciate it if you did not give my wife any idea… or any MORE ideas… about how to get her hands on my toffee Lilliana." Mr. Malfoy gave me a mock glare. His eyes were sparkling so I know he wasn't really upset.

I was suddenly feeling very silly that I had hesitated in wanting to go on this trip.

We walked down the street to a nice office building. Over the door were the words "Malfoy, Malfoy and Gamp."

"Is this your office, Mr. Malfoy?" It was so normal looking I doubt even my grandfather could have complained.

Except that he would have.

"Please," he smiled down, "you are intent on further corrupting my wife, the least you could do is call me "Uncle" and no, or sort of. This is actually your Aunt's office, although I am the first Malfoy listed."

"Second." Aunt Aly correct him.

A kind looking man stepped from the back room. "And I would be the Gamp."

After the introductions were over we all gathered around a beat up old tea kettle.

"Don't be afraid." Uncle Harry whispered. "It is disorienting but it doesn't hurt and it isn't dangerous."

On a count of three we all grabbed the tea kettle and the world completely spun away from underneath me.

Disorienting indeed!

...