A/N: Okay, after a rather long absence from writing this one – I'm back. Honestly, take my advice: never organize your teaching exam, write a 20-pages research paper, prepare your senior thesis AND build a website at the same time. Which reminds me: to all, to whom I've send a mail about the archive and who didn't answer – do that, please!

I decided to let the story be told through the eyes of several people. Thus, not everything might be explained. Anyways, this chapter is Albus' and therefore contains a lot of cutsieness. And yes, I'm still guilty of giving them a daughter.

Thanks to all my reviewers.

Maria: You never nag me. Lol. Have fun with all the work I loaded upon you. *winks*

Petriebird: I wouldn't dare to risk your anger. Am I forgiven????

MK: You don't expect me to tell at this point, do you? You wouldn't read the rest. And there are more chappies to come.

Laura: What can you do about fathers? Nothing. But I'm not through with good old Horus (btw, that name came from Isis Malfoy – little disclaimer here)

Chapter II: Albus – Heaven is a Place on Earth

August in France was beautiful, Albus Dumbledore thought, as he made his way through the gardens of Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Even though the destruction of the war could still be seen, now more than a year after its end, life came back to normal in the muggle as well as the wizarding world.

After a lot of hard work they had done it. Beauxbatons would be able to open in September – ready for students of magic. The grounds were in good shape, the castle as magnificent as ever and they had gathered an impressive teaching staff.

Dumbledore smiled. The school was in good hands. His friend and co-fighter Luc had taken over as headmaster. He was still fairly young, but more than qualified, nonetheless. The students would love him. And they would love their new transfiguration teacher. Although, not as much as he did, of course.

Minerva - his wife – would instruct those young people here in Beauxbatons. Of course, he could think of better places for her to be – Hogwarts being on top of that list – but there were no positions vacant at the moment and since Minerva insisted on a teaching job, that was the way to be.

If he was honest with himself, Albus had to admit that he just didn't like to be separated from his family, but France was probably a lot safer than England. Not all of Grindelwald's followers had been caught and having his family close by might put them out on the spot. And of course, Lanney would love the lavishness of her surroundings, once she was a little older.

Lanney – his own personal wonder. His little daughter. He had never thought that such a tiny little person could have such a power over him. But all she had to do was to look at him with her big dark eyes and he was a lost cause. Not even three months old, the little girl could wrap him around her little fingers in no time. Just like her mother…

Stepping up the terrace he found both objects of his thoughts. Minerva was sitting in a recliner with the baby lying securely on her chest. Both seemed to be sleeping. Stepping closer, he realized his error when he heard Minerva talking quietly to the baby.

"And when it is night there are many stars in the sky. Then it looks like a band of dark velvet covered with twinkling lights. My Mama, your grandma, told me when I was a little girl that every star stands for someone, who loves you and protects you from above. And the more stars you can count, the more people you have to love you. But you, my little angel...," she kissed her daughter on the little nose, "you won't need the protection from the stars. Your Daddy and I will protect you and love you forever."

Lanney gurgled happily "You like that, do you? Yes, ma astérisque, be sure, your Daddy and I love you. And you know what? I love your Daddy too – so very much."

Albus took a deep breath as his heart seemed to swell out of his chest. This was heaven.

He stepped up to the recliner laying a hand on his wife's shoulder and sat down next to her. Minerva turned to him and flashed him a brilliant smile.  He put an arm around her shoulders and with his free hand supported Lanney's head.

"I love you, too. Forever…"

Two geese loudly landing in the pond snapped him out of this happy memory. He looked down on his wife and found her apparently caught in her own happy memories. So, he just tightened his hold on her and watched nature unfolding.

***

Several feet behind them, Peri leaned against a tree and watched the couple. She was worried. Every year on James' birthday she was. She knew that there was a reason for everything, but why James actually had to be born the same day as Lanney had, was beyond her. It made the boy's special day always bittersweet.

Lanney should be with them – she would have all the younger children following her. Peri smiled. That little girl had been born to rule everybody around her. Already on the day of her birth, the charisma, Lanney had inherited from both of her parents, showed. Peri knew from the very first second that the gentle likeability and humor of her father combined with the cool strength of her mother would get the girl everything she could ever want. That realization did not need the seer she was. Four men had been present that day and little Lanney had conquered each one by storm.

She felt somebody approaching and suddenly Uray stood next to her. "They are missing you up there, Peri." He said and then with a nod to the pond. "Them too."  

"I know, that's why I came down here. To see what is the matter."

"Are they alright?"

"It seems so." Peri hesitated. "Well, at least, as alright as they can be today."

"Yes, sometimes I ask myself, how they make it through this day. I'm not sure, I would."

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes, in the middle of playing with Coeus and the girls or, even worse, reprimanding them, I look at them and suddenly see Lanney. And I imagine what I would do if anything happens to one of them. Then all I want to do is to run over hug them and never let go. – They always look at me as if I'm going mad." Uray smiled sheepishly.

Peri squeezed his arm "I know, how you feel. It's the same with me and James." Her expression darkened. "But you know, I also feel a little guilty."

"Guilty? You? Whatever for, Peri?"

"Oh Uray, today is James' birthday and Papa put in such a huge party. He does that every year. But it would be Lanney's too. And Min and Albus are always here and have to endure a children's party, when they probably feel like everything but a celebration…"

"And…?" Uray urged.

Peri continued agitatedly: "And then everybody is talking about, how Min helped me through James' birth and wonder, how she ever did that with no experience and all. And I just want to scream. Scream into their faces that she had experience, because she had a baby of her own. That I was there to help her through the delivery just like she did for me. And that they shall treat her with the respect and sympathy she deserves."

She calmed down a bit: "Papa and the boys always wonder, why Min and I are so close knit and why I do have her so close by with James. But it is nothing more than she did with me…"

"What do you mean, Peri? I don't understand." Uray asked, slightly confused.

His sister just looked him straight into the eye. And it began to dawn in him. "What did actually happen between you and Min in those rooms?"

Okay, I almost forgot: Thanks to babelfish for helping me out. – I don't know any French. But they told me that 'astérisque'  means 'little star'. If that's wrong – blame them.