"I invited grandma and grandpa Malfoy." Leo tells her mother. "Do you think they'll come?"
"I don't know," Rosanna zips her carefully into her gown.
"I know they're mad, but they'll come. Don't you think?" Leo lets out a nervous laugh. They didn't want her to marry a squib; but surely, some outdated prejudice wouldn't have them miss her big day.
Rosanna sighs, deeply. "This is your day. I don't want you worried about anything."
"What's the big deal about Henry not having magic? He can't control it, it's hardly like he asked to be without it. He works hard and makes a decent living and-"
Rosanna touches her shoulder, to stop her rambling, "they don't care about that. They only see what they want to see. And what they see, is a person who can't do magic. I was never good enough for their son. Henry will never be good enough for you. They love you, it's just how they are."
"But why?" Leo's brows furrow, "it's stupid!"
"I agree-"
"But better to be inbred than marry anything but a pureblood? I know they wanted Dad to marry Astoria Greengrass." Leo shakes her platinum head. "I did my research, they're cousins."
"Very distant." Rosanna informs her, nearly all pureblood families were related somewhere.
"Mum, why are defending them?" Leo say in disbelief. Her father's parents were never overly warm to her mother. It was always clear, they wanted their son, and his children, but that is all they wanted.
"What color is the sky?" Rosanna asks, throwing a curve ball.
"What?" Leo snaps around to look at her mother, thinking she'd finally lost it.
"Just humor me for a second, what color?" Rosanna begins again, patiently.
"Blue." Leo narrows her brown eyes.
"How do you know what blue is?" Rosanna raises a brow.
Leo scoffs, "you taught me."
"What if I told you it was yellow instead? Would you have believed me?"
"I guess so." Leo still doesn't understand where this is headed.
"So the sky is yellow, if I tell you it's yellow. Because you trust me, and you don't know any better." Rosanna reiterates.
"Ok, the sky's yellow." Leo says, "so what?"
"Well no, the sky's blue." Rosanna chuckles.
"Mum!" Leo snaps.
"Imagine the frustration and confusion you feel. You've gone your whole life thinking the sky was yellow. Realistically you know the sky must be blue, because that's how the rest of the world sees it. But wouldn't it be easier to keep pretending that the sky is yellow; if your friends and family thought it was too? Especially if you knew that accepting that the sky is blue would have you disowned?" Rosanna explains further, to put into perspective, the pressure a person must feel.
"Well...I guess." Leo gets it. "That's still not an excuse."
"I'm not trying to excuse them. I'm just trying to explain the best I can." Sometimes, being a mom sucks. Being the bigger person sucks even more.
"They came to your wedding," Leo says bitterly, "I've seen pictures."
"Maybe they'll surprise us," Rosanna smiles, rubbing her daughter's arms reassuringly.
Leo nods, "where's dad?"
"Last I saw him, he was trying to wrangle Corina into her dress." Corina...their one year old daughter, was a spitting image of her mother, which pleased Draco to no end. But she also had his own dramatic tendencies, which did not please him nearly as much.
"You know, you guys had five great kids," Leo says teasingly. "But you had to push your luck for just one more. You should have stopped while you were ahead."
"I'll have you know, your father wanted at least a half dozen more of you." Rosanna flicks Leo's shoulder playfully. "I pulled the plug, thank you very much."
"Corina, straighten your legs." Draco coos, the little girl draped across his lap diagonally.
"No, no, no." She screeches.
"Please darling," Draco huffs, holding the stockings firmly. "You'll tear your tights."
"Go, bye bye." Corina demands, strawberry blonde curls frizzing as her head tosses back and forth against his suit.
"You will go bye bye, when you're dressed." Draco promises.
"Nooooo. Daddy!" The little beast howls, thrashing in his arms.
"Stop moving, you're going to hurt yourself."
She burst into crocodile tears, her mouth open in an obscenely wide sob.
"Shh, I'm sorry. I know you're tired." He kisses her head ten times over.
"Nunni." The one and a half year old cries. Corina was having a hard time breaking from nursing. She still wanted 'nunni' whenever she was tired or upset, running Rosanna rugged.
"Nunni in a moment my love, when you're in your dress hmm?"
"Mummy, my mummy, my nunni," Corina wails; over tired and beyond cranky.
"I am sorry Rosanna but she needs nunni, now." Draco bursts into the room, with the heartbroken little girl. Still wearing only a diaper, her tiny dress slung over his shoulder and her tights dangling from one foot.
"Come here my angel," Rosanna coos, taking the baby into her arms. "What did daddy do to you?" She tuts her husband teasingly, pulling down her own dress so that the child can receive her beloved nunni.
Corina latches on almost forcefully in her frenzied state.
"Doesn't that hurt?" Leo winces for her mother.
"I'm flattered you think I can still feel my nipples, after nursing six of you." Rosanna smiles.
"Can't you?" Leo asks, a horrified expression taking over her features.
"She feels her nipples just fine." Draco chuckles, kissing the back of his wife's head.
"Dad!" Their daughter flushes scarlet.
"Sorry sweetheart." He apologizes, realizing his slip up. "It's your mother's fault truly; for lying about the state of her nipples."
"Please stop saying nipples," Leo closes her brown eyes against the unwanted visual. No one wants to imagine their parents having sex.
Rosanna presses her lips together to contain a laugh.
"Alright, changing the subject." Draco smiles apologetically, "would you look at you." His chest constricts, Draco's oldest daughter is a vision, in her angelic white wedding gown. "I'm not sure I want to give you away." He confesses. Although she hasn't lived at home for some years, marriage felt so much more...permanent. "Can't we keep you?" His voice breaks.
"Daddy," Leo wraps her arms around him. "You have five more to keep you entertained. You'll be fine."
"But I only have one Leo; and I will miss you, my darling girl. You taught me how to be a father. I'm so very proud of you, the woman you've become. So like your mother." He kisses her cheek lightly.
"I love you Dad," Leo sighs, "and I'll still be around, it's a wedding, not a funeral." She reminds him.
"Yes, I know." Draco squeezes her once more, before drawing back. "I love you too."
For Narcissa it was never a question, this was her granddaughter's wedding; she was going. Lucius however will not listen to reason.
"Draco, I've said no. That's the last I'll speak on the matter." Lucius continues his path up the stairs.
"Don't you want to be there for Leo? To see her happy? This is her day, she's asked you be there." Draco trails after him, determinedly.
"I will not watch my granddaughter reduce her life and namesake to rubbish and marry a muggle." Lucius huffs a laugh.
"He's fit you know, for her. He used to tend the quiddich pitch. But now, he does computer design; it's quite prestigious among muggles. A lucrative business, to expand upon. He works hard, and he makes her happy. I'm quite proud to have him a part of the family." Draco defends the younger man. He is so much more than just a 'muggle.'
"If you're so proud, what does she need me for?" Lucius demands, "surely your bride has filled her head with ideals of how monstrous I am. For my unwillingness to stand by while Leo makes a mistake."
"What makes you so certain it's a mistake?" Draco wonders.
"Putting aside all else, here are the facts." Lucius turns on his heels to face his son. "She will outlive him, squibs die out the same as muggles. If she has children, and they are squibs, she will bury her children. They will never wield a wand, never fly a broom, never know what it feels like to receive a Hogwarts letter. Is that the life you want for Leo?"
"What's a life without love? Marrying out of obligation and blood status is a farce. I don't think you understand love." Draco's chest heaves. "When people say you're mental; they tell you that you can't possibly love the back of a person's knees or the vein that pulses in their neck when you row. But somehow, you do."
"What would you have me do Draco?" Lucius narrows his eyes, "I can't give my blessing."
"If you don't approve of the way I've raised my children, or the person I've chosen to raise them with; then punish me." Draco takes a step closer. "Punish me, you coward! Don't punish my daughter. It's not her fault."
"I am sorry son. I just can't. Give Leo my best and tell her that... I love her. I wish it were different-"
"You act like you're superior to everyone; because of your blood. But the truth is, you don't deserve Rosanna, you don't deserve our children...you don't deserve me." Draco turns and leaves without another word.
Leo's wedding is perfect and without incident. Which is nearly unheard of for a Malfoy affair.
The reception is equally beautiful, under an ivory tent behind the manor. Leo and Henry are both elated to dance into the night. They would take a red eye out of London that night for a two week honeymoon in Hawaii, before quidditch picks up again.
Corina has taken up residence in 'Won's' arms. She adores her mother's good friend.
Rosanna finds them, near the dessert table, when Draco heads to relieve himself. "So, not as much fun as you remember huh?"
"I gotta tell you, this kid's a laugh. A bit grading at times, when she asks for n-u-n... or is it n-o-o-n-i-e? However the devil it's spelled, but other than that," he shrugs, "good company."
"Don't let Hermione hear you say that, she asked me to cure your baby fever." Ro confesses, around a mouthful of Ron's abandon pastry.
"I dunno what the big deal is. I want to have just one more...Maybe if you talked to her-"
"No, nice try." Rosanna cuts him off. She'd been caught up in their spats one too many times.
"If you plant the seed, next time you're at the spiral class-"
"It's spin class, because you're on a bike." Rosanna laughs, picking at his plate of sweets, for anything else that hasn't been gnawed on.
"Come on, help a guy out Ro. I want one of these." His eyes drift down to the child in his lap.
"I'll mention it, but that is all." Rosanna narrows her eyes at him. "I'm getting too old for this."
Harry and Ginny make their way over.
"What are you two in cahoots about now? Eating up all the sweets?" Ginny asks teasingly as she takes a seat.
"Ron wants me to convince Hermione to have another baby. I'm still trying to figure out why he thinks Hermione can be talked into things." Rosanna explains, crossing her legs beneath the table.
"You're her best friend, and you work together; see her more than I do I reckon."
"I work with her too Ron." Harry points out, "why haven't you asked me?"
"Well...you're not a bird." Ron explains with a half shrug, "it won't be as impactful coming from you."
"What won't be impactful?" Hermione asks, joining the conversation.
"I thought you went to the loo?" Ron tries to change the subject.
"I did, and now I'm finished; what's going on?" Hermione knows him like the back of her hand.
"Well, it's really something I'd rather speak about in private." Ron tells her.
"You thought it fit to talk about behind my back?" Hermione's brows furrow.
"It was hardly behind your back." Ron argues, the tips of his ears flushing. "I know you think I don't know what I'm asking, but I do. I want to have another baby with you, my wife, who I love, very much."
Rosanna places her hand at the base of the champagne flute Hermione is sipping from, encouraging her to finish the glass before answering. "You can't be serious!"
Polaris has always been monumentally different from her sisters. Most notably Vega, her twin. Almost as if they were polar opposites. But her sister was always there, always around. Until they were sorted into separate houses. They didn't share a room, or clothes, or even a class schedule. At first it was nice, the distinction; then it was more lonely than either of them anticipated.
The moment Arlene met her roommate Vega, she knew she was different. Very quiet, reserved, and hated to sleep in her bed. She'd often find the girl, curled up anywhere but in her assigned sleeping area. One night in particular, the platinum blonde is draped over an arm chair in the common room.
Arlene leans in, to tap her shoulder. Vega's pale skin just brushes the pads of her fingers, looking even lighter beneath her ebony complexion. The contact instantly jolts the Malfoy awake.
"What the hell are you doing?" Vega snaps, drawing in on herself.
"Why don't you go to bed?" Arlene frowns.
"I can't sleep in that bed." Vega shakes her head.
"And why not?" The dark skinned girl crosses her arms, over her chest.
"Because it was my Mum's, and when I lay in it... I see things." Vega whisper into the dimly lit room.
"What kind of things?" Arlene wonders, taking a seat on the couch opposite her.
"Things that happened. Not to me." A thousand laughs, a thousand tears, none of them are her's.
"We could switch beds, but I'm not sure who mine belonged to." Arlene offers, she knew of Vega long before she met her. Her mother is one of the most well known legilimens of all time.
"Lavender Brown." Vega says, the bed aside of her mother's used to be Hermione's. "They moved all the beds around, got new mattresses. So no one would be particular when given room assignments."
"Maybe it'll be easier for you there?" Arlene hopes so, the girl deserves a proper bed.
"Or maybe I'll see you." Vega tells her.
"I'm not so bad." Arlene smiles, "quiet boring really, my life; compared to yours."
"Boring sounds pretty brilliant." Vega grins in return, "thank you."
Polaris likes Arlene well enough. But she all but sprints from the crowded dance floor, when she overhears them dreaming up a wedding of their own.
Harry's oldest son sees Polaris leaving, just as he's gathered the nerve to ask her to dance. James follows her, to the outskirts of the lawn. Near the cast iron fence that separates their estate from the rest of the world. "Polaris, wait up!"
"Bugger off James." She snarls, feeling tears prickle at the corners of her ice blue eyes.
"Oi, I'm here to help." James rakes a hand through his dark hair.
"How are you gonna to do that?" Polaris scoffs, of course, perfect James Potter, thinks he can fix everything.
"Dunno really," He admits, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his dress pants. "I'm rubbish at this sort of thing. But I'm here."
"I heard Vega talking to Arlene...about doing something like this, after they graduate." The white-blonde girl tells him.
"So?" James shrugs.
"So, it pissed me off." She snaps, tracing a finger down the dark metal beside her.
The boy chortles, "go on then, tell me how chuffed you are at the idea of your sister being happy."
"I don't understand how people can just settle. All that life to live, all the potential and possibilities and you...get married? And they're so happy about it! Leo is thrilled to leave the Holyheads and have a baby. Arlo and Marko basically have an entire ceremony planned. And Vega, we shared a womb for nine entire months! She's completely content to move into a hole in the wall with her little girlfriend." Polaris seethes, she is envious of her sisters. Not for being happy, no, not that at all. Rather because they're content to be 'normal'...and she can't be.
James chuckles, Polaris is something between a friend and a lover. They'd snogged, he'd asked her out, she shot him down, and then snogged him some more. "What's so wrong with that?"
"I want more than that." She whispers, "I want someone to tell me that's ok, someone who thinks it's ok if I don't settle."
"I think it's brilliant." James smirks, at the back of her head. Thick hair beginning to break free of it's bun.
"Really?"
"Sure," he reasons. "I think you're afraid of what comes after graduation, you haven't got a proper plan. It's ok that you don't."
"You're not just saying that because you're randy?" Polaris turns to him, full lips quirks in an accusing grin.
"I'm sixteen," he shrugs a shoulder, "course I'm randy. But I meant what I said and I fancy you a bit."
"You won't wait on me forever."
"Maybe I will," he tugs a loose piece of platinum hair. "Perhaps I don't want to settle either."
"So it's sorted." Polaris leans in for chaste kiss.
"About being randy though-" James mumbles around her mouth.
"Shut up." She pulls back, glancing up at the sky as it begins to darken. "Holy dark mark in the sky at my sister's wedding." Polaris says breathlessly.
"Way to change the subject." James turns from her, to have a look. "Holy dark mark in the sky at your sister's wedding."
"What's this?" Leo asks, the unfamiliar man attempting to hand her a poorly wrapped parcel.
"It's a gift from your father. He so wishes he could be here." The man explains, he looks about her parents age, unkempt, with wild eyes.
"My Dad's here," Leo lets out a nervous laugh.
"No matter, open it." He insists.
"What the hell are you doing?" Rosanna spots the exchange. This man, Theodore Nott, was wanted by the ministry.
"Don't you think her father should see her on her special day? Sweet Rosanna, his vessel, bringing forth his seed into the new world. Come back with me. The dark lord would love to have you again." Theodore holds his hands out, skirting the area around her. Hovering over Rosanna's skin, but never touching.
"Voldemort never had me." Rosanna says, calmly. Taking the box from Nott, checking the contents; then withdrawing her wand to bind his wrists and ankles. "The possession of time turners is illegal, as of September two thousand and one. You are hereby under arrest for crimes against the ministry."
Nott breathes in the scent at her neck deeply, "I can still smell him on you, after all this time. His magic lingers in your blood."
"Mhm," Rosanna purses her lips, not feeding into his nonsense.
"You think I'm lying, slut?" Theodore scolds loudly, drawing the attention of Leo's guests.
Draco appears at Rosanna's side, swinging his fist hard, against the man's jaw, "you will not speak that way to my wife."
"Draco, calm down. Auror brutality during arrest may result in suspension." Hermione reminds him, "but as minister for magic, I'm willing to over look this little indiscretion, so long as it doesn't happen again."
"Never thought I'd see the day. A mudblood, minister for magic. It's a laugh really." Theodore licks his lips.
"We'll see how funny it is from your cell." Harry steps in, to take him into custody.
"In groups of two, spread out." Draco says, tying his hair at the nape of his neck. "Anyone above the age of maturity, is welcome to help search the grounds for more intruders."
"But Dad-"
"No buts, you're staying here and that's final." Rosanna tells her children. "Ok, head count, before we leave." She scans the area quickly, "where's Polaris?"
"James is gone too." Ginny pushes her way through the huddle of bodies.