Chapter 10

They apparated to the manor her parents lived in and lots of chatter could be heard from outside. "I thought this was a dinner just for us," she commented more to herself as she raised her hand to knock but the doors opened on their own.

Juniper answered the door, "Madam Cassandra, welcome home."

"Hello Juniper, I am pleased to see such a familiar face," she took her coat off and handed it to her, "this is my fiancé, Richard."

The house-elf nodded her head respectively in his direction as he gave the elf his coat, "Hello sir," she magically sent the coats into the coat closet, "If you will follow me. I will take you to the party."

She was confused following her family's house-elf into the ballroom of the estate, the room silenced as they entered despite the room already being quiet you could hear a pin drop the announcer of the party knocked his cane on the ground announcing their arrival, "Ms. Cassandra Rice and her fiancé Mr. Richard Banks."

Her father approached them swiftly, "My friends…I present my lovely daughter, Cassandra, and her fiancé an American-Canadian heir, Richard. Tonight, is an evening to celebrate their recent engagement to unite our two families," he took a glass of champagne from a floating tray, "Let us raise a glass to Cassandra and Richard."

A waiter handed the couple two champagne glasses, "To Cassandra and Richard," the guests said then took sips of their drinks.

Her father downed his drink then placed it back on the tray turning to them, "Father…I thought this was supposed to be a dinner with you and mother."

He shrugged, "It is your engagement party. We have Richard's parents here too," he looked over in their direction who was speaking with her mother.

She examined the guests around the room recognizing most of them as death eaters except for Richard's parents, "This is not the engagement party I want. These are not my friends these are your friends."

He ignored her disappointment, "Go meet your future in-laws."

Richard took her hand, "That is an excellent idea, Mr. Rice…Come on darling I want you to meet my parents."

She followed him to his parents across the room, "Mother. Father," he kissed his mother's cheek.

"Richard," his mother spoke, "You could have told us you were going to get engaged. We had been informed you had visited the family jewels."

He looked at Cassandra, "I could not wait a moment longer to dedicate myself to her," he placed a kiss on her hand, "she is the perfect woman."

Cassandra gave him a small smile not feeling comfortable at this party, "Any wedding plans?" his mother asked her seeing her drift into a daydream.

She looked at her, "Oh…um…spring wedding."

"That would be lovely," both mothers agreed.

"We will have to work quickly," her mother said to their small group

She looked at her ring, "Yes…we will have the wedding out one of our properties." Her mother loved this idea and continued discussing wedding details with Richard's mother excluding her daughter from any opinions about the wedding. She just watched as once again her life was being planned before her, "They will need to leave the city though for their married home. New York is not the city to raise children…perhaps the Hamptons. It is a beautiful coastal city just a train ride away."

"Wonderful idea. They will love it for when they have children of their own."

This made Cassandra speak up, "I already have children, and they like New York."

They looked at her, "Yes…but your own children."

"One of them I did give birth, too. The other two I adopted after death eaters murdered their parents."

Her father stepped in, "Cassandra, let us not bring politics into this."

She looked at him, "This is not politics. Hallie and Holly's parents were murdered. Ann who was their mother and my best friend was killed battling death eaters along with her husband. Not political just facts."

He eyed her then returned to a normal addressing her behavior toward Mr. and Mrs. Banks, "Forgive my daughter. She is tired."

Richard stepped in this time, "She may be tired, but she speaks the truth. Her friends were killed and now she raises their children, she does have a daughter who will be three in March. I will be raising these children as if they were my own with her plus any children we shall have together."

"Preferably a son," Richard's father added.

He shook his head, "No. I have no preference on what I wish for us to have except a healthy baby. We will share the joy of children together and raise them how we see fit...accept them as your grandchildren or do not expect to see any grandchildren," he looked at his watch, "I think it is time we take our leave. We hate to leave the children with her friends too long, we like a routine," he turned and left with Cassandra.

"Thank you," she said as they got their coats.

He slipped his coat on, "I will hear about this later, but the girls and any future children we have will be welcomed into the family as grandchildren for both sides of the family or they will not see any of their grandchildren ever."

She buttoned her coat, "I think you just got even sexier and I was not aware that was possible."

He smirked at her then returned to his normal face, "Those are my children now just like they are yours. I plan to legally adopt them once we are wed. If any issue arises especially medically, I want to be there for them not pushed out because papers do not consider me a parent to them."

She kissed him, "I love you so much."

He kissed her back, "I love you more."

The two apparated to the burrow and got the children then returned to the hotel. The following morning quite early they boarded a muggle airplane in first-class and flew the twelve hours from London to New York City.