"Nobody said it was easy, it's such a shame for us to part. Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard. Oh take me back to the start."

- The Scientist, Coldplay -

Chapter 6.

Virginia Zabini stood in front of the mirror studying her reflection. She was wearing a dark green robe that was lined with gold. It had warming charms placed on it. Underneath she wore blue jeans and a white jumper with black boots. Her hair was left out and she had straightened it. She checked her make up one last time before grabbing her wand and leaving the room. She walked down to the hall to where she could hear laughter coming from the children's rooms.

They had settled in well at the Zabini Estate. Cassandra had done what she does best and had made them all feel at home. Both Josh and Grace really seemed to like it in England and she was looking at enrolling them in a school after Christmas. Entering Grace's room she found Grace and Josh playing Exploding Snap with Rohan and Claire Zabini's eldest children, Garth and Sarah. And then there was little Max, the baby Zabini who was two years old just watching them and laughing. They all had brown hair, Garth having his father's eyes the same brown and gold as Blaise's and Sarah and Max having their mother's green eyes.

"Okay everyone we've gotta get going now. Where are your cloaks?" she asked as they all looked up at her.

Max grinned at her and waved his arms at her wanting to be picked up. "Aunt Rose up!" he said happily calling her by the name that all the Zabini's called her fondly. Reaching down to pick him up she grabbed his shoes from the floor and sat on the bed resting him on her knee. She tied the little laces and put on his little black cloak over his jumper.

"All nice and warm" she said kissing his forehead. "Garth hold him for a sec for me will you?" she said as she passed Max of to his oldest sibling, ten year old Garth.

Virginia then turned to her children who were getting into their green cloaks, which were mini versions of her own. All designed by herself of course. John had managed to get into his okay and was putting on his boots. She looked at Grace who had brown curls sticking out everywhere.

"Want me to fix your hair hunny?" she asked leaning down in front of her daughter.

"Yeah" Grace nodded and smiled at her mother who had tidied her hair with the flick of her wand.

"Sarah you okay?" she asked looking at her niece who was doing up the buttons on her cloak.

"Yep Aunt Rose" she said smiling as she stood up.

"Okay you know that we are going to a place called the Burrow. This is where I grew up as a Weasley, before I was a Zabini. Now I haven't seen any of them for a very long time so I want you all to be on your best behavior okay? Your all Zabini's so please act like it tonight. Okay?" she asked looking at them all.

"Yes Mum. Yes Aunt Rose" they chorused. She took Max out of Garth's arms and swung him around as they went downstairs.

"We're going by floo powder. So Josh please go with Garth, you boys can go first. You need to say The Burrow very clearly" she said as she threw some floo powder into the fire.

"The Burrow" the two boys yelled as they stepped into the fire and disappeared.

"Okay Grace, Sarah. Your next" she said and they disappeared moments later. Looking at the baby in her arms she grinned. "Ready?" she said tickling his side and he laughed at her.

"Ready" he replied imitating his aunt. She stepped into the fire and yelled "The Burrow" before disappearing like the others had.

**

Four hours earlier it was mayhem at the Burrow as Molly and Arthur stared at Bill and Charlie in shock.

"She's coming here tonight?" Molly repeated stunned.

"It'll be fine Mum. She was very reluctant to come but she's bringing her children and she said her niece and nephew's cause she is babysitting tonight" Bill explained.

"I'll have to cook more food, tidy the place up a bit. Oh my goodness Arthur, she's coming here. Home" she muttered as she began to take deep breaths.

"Calm down Molly it'll be fine. Now I'm sure they you've got enough food. Now I'll contact the twins and Ron to let them know about Virginia" he said as he walked over to the fireplace. Bill and Charlie made themselves scarce whilst Molly went on a rampage cleaning everything again. Her only daughter was coming home after all this time. She would be back! Molly thought. So much has happened that I have missed out on in my baby's life she was thinking. She has children. More grandchildren and the thought bought a smile to herself.

It was seven o'clock and everyone was there. It was a real family affair the twin's birthday this year seeing as how everyone was in London for it. The kids were running around the living room and the adults were standing around talking. Harry apparated in and was swamped by kids straight away.

Cries of Uncle Harry could be heard and he chuckled stopping to say hi to all of them. He felt someone attach themselves to his legs and he looked down to see Simon Weasley, Ron and Hermonie's four year old son and his godson attached to his legs. Picking him up he gave the boy a hug.

"Hi Simon" Harry said happily hugging the boy.

"Hi Uncle Harry. Dad said that we're going to your quidditch training tomorrow" he said excitedly.

"That's great. I'll even take you for a ride how about that?" he asked him as they walked over to Ron and Hermonie.

"Cool" Simon said and he jumped down.

"What's wrong? Is it the baby?" Harry asked as soon as Simon was out of earshot. He was worried by the look on Ron's face and the way Hermonie was rubbing her stomach.

"No, the baby's fine. It's Ginny. Virginia she's coming for dinner tonight" Hermonie explained as they both turned to look at Ron.

"Did she contact you?" Harry asked curiously.

"No, Bill and Charlie took the kids to Diagon Alley today and John came out the wrong fireplace. Apparently she found him and bought him back to Bill at Diagon Alley. She had a talk with Bill and Charlie. John seems to have taken a real liking to her. Bill says he hasn't shut up about her for the entire day" Ron explained.

Harry found himself wondering about Virginia not for the first time that day. It had been six years since he had seen her. He wondered how much she had changed. He knew that she had married Blaise. They all did. He was ashamed for the way he had acted around her. He had tried to talk to her after the Weasley's had thrown her out of home but he hadn't tried hard enough he admitted to himself. And then when Percy had died he had really given up as she had distanced herself even further. She had been a great help in the war he knew that now. As did the rest of the Weasley's and the truth had only come out when she had given her story to Luna to publish in the Quibbler. He still had that article in his apartment as well.

"Butterbeer Harry?" Angelina asked as she held out a bottle for him.

"Thanks" he said smiling at her.

The noise in the living room was interrupted by a bang coming from the fire place signaling that someone had arrived. Everyone turned to look as two children came tumbling out of the fireplace. The oldest one took a step forward and said a quiet hello. The youngest one simply stood there staring at them.

"He's like a mini Blaise Zabini" someone muttered.

Another bang from the fireplace and two girls came tumbling out this time. The older one catching herself but the youngest one went tumbling into the boy who was still standing there.

"Grace" he said loudly as they both fell to the ground in a tangle of legs and arms.

A final bang came and out of the fireplace stepped Virginia holding a young boy. She shook her head and grinned at the two children in front of her.

"What have I told you about standing in front of fireplaces when you know someone is coming behind you Josh?" she said as the two of them stood up.

"Mum" he whined and tried to get the dust of himself.

Virginia took out her wand and muttered a cleaning spell over herself, the twins, Garth and Sarah. She then looked up to see everyone staring at her. Taking a deep breath she took a few steps forward she said a quiet hello.

"Oh Virginia" Molly said unable to hold back any longer and she rushed forward to hug her only daughter trying not to squash the child in her arms.

Virginia stiffened and hugged her back quickly before letting go.

Arthur was there and he looked closely at his daughter, just seeing how much she had grown up.

"Congratulations on the Ministry of Magic position. I read about it in America" she said and reached up to kiss him on the cheek in a very impersonal way.

"I'm so glad you came for dinner Virginia" Molly said to her.

"It's the twins birthday and Bill and Charlie asked. Besides I had to come see you all at some stage right?" she said talking to herself just as much as Molly.

The twins were in front of her next watching her cautiously, not sure how she would receive them.

"Happy Birthday" she said as she took two packages out of her pocket and enlarged them before giving them to each twin.

They hugged her quickly from each side and Max began to squirm in her arms. The twins quickly took a step back and looked at the boy.

"Is he yours?" George asked interested.

"No this is my nephew Max Zabini and this is his brother Garth and sister Sarah. And these two are mine; Joshua and Grace Zabini" Virginia explained to everyone.

"Grace, Josh meet the Weasley's" she said to her children and she gave them a little nudge forward as Sarah and Garth took a step towards Virginia wanting to stay away from everyone else.

"Oh look at you to" Molly said as knelt down to look closer at them. She reached out and hugged them both tightly, pulling back she started pointing out everyone in the room.

"This is my husband Arthur. He's the Minister of Magic here in England. And this is Bill and his wife Fleur they have three children; John, Rebecca and Sky" she explained.

Josh looked closely at Fleur. "You like Aunt Gabrielle" he told her as he turned to look at Virginia with a questioning look.

"That's Fleur, Gabrielle's older sister Josh" she told him quietly ignoring the surprised looks she was getting from people.

"Well" Molly said a little flustered as she continued. "And this is Charlie and his wife Kate. They have two boys Andrew and Mitchell. Next there are the twins. Fred is married to Angelina and they have two children Ian and Maria and George is married to Alicia and they have two girls Liz and Amy and finally is Ron and his wife Hermonie and their son Simon" she said introducing them to everyone.

Josh and Grace exchanged a look as they looked at Ron warily. They had heard stories about him and how he was mean to their mother when they were younger.

"Uncle Draco says you're a prat" Josh said crossing his arms across his chest and glaring at Ron, not liking him at all.

"Joshua Blaise Zabini you will behave" Virginia warned.

"But Mum it's true, Uncle Draco says so all the time and Uncle Rohan agrees with him. I heard them talking they said that Daddy hated him for what he did to you" Josh said stubbornly.

Everyone looked at Virginia and her face softened at the mention of Blaise.

"Okay" she said softly as she ran her fingers through his head. Josh smiled up at his mother and everyone could see how much he adored her.

"Try and behave ok? I'm going to have to have a talk to Draco" she said a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Virginia" Ron said stepping forward to talk to her. She quickly took a step back pulling the children with her. Her spare hand reaching for the wand in her pocket.

Harry quickly let go of Hermonie's arm and dashed forward trying to prevent anything from happening in front of the children.

"Hi Gin" he said happily as he reached down and kissed her cheek. "It's been such a long time" he said smiling down at her. Ron took a disappointed step back and said nothing as he watched his sister smile at Harry.

"Hello Harry. How have you been?" she asked genuinely happy to see him. It seemed that forgiving Harry was somewhat easier than all the others. He had helped her that night, he had made an effort for a while at least. And he had been there for her at Percy's funeral.

**

"And let us mourn for to long for all that we have lost as we bury Percy here today, but let us rejoice in the many ways that he touched our lives. Remember Percy for the way he was, for what he meant to so many of you. Ashes to Ashes. Dust to Dust."

The priest stepped off the podium as Percy's coffin was lowered to the ground. Sobs could be heard from the crowd of about 50 people. They had wanted it to be a small affair family and close friends only. The Weasley's sat in the front row and each made their way to the front to pay their last respects. Then there were close friends from Hogwarts and work. Penelope Clearwater was sobbing loudly as her mother led her to his grave so she could throw a flower in. Then Virginia Weasley solemnly walked past followed by Blaise Zabini who remained a few paces behind her. She was wearing black robes with her hair pulled back tightly from his face. Penelope Clearwater reached out a hand as Virginia walked past.

"Gin, wait. He never stopped loving, never stopped believing in you. You should know that. You were always in his thoughts" she said quietly but loud enough for the rest of the Weasley's to hear.

Virginia reached over and the two hugged tightly. A bond was formed between as they were the one's that Percy loved them most and who loved him back the most in return.

"And I love him very much. He never gave up on me and I'll never give up on him. I saw him two days ago you know? We met to pick out your engagement ring. He loved you so much" she said quietly as tears began to make their way down her cheeks.

She quickly walked to the coffin and placed the single white rose she had with her on top of the casket. "I'll make you proud of me Percy" she whispered before hurrying back to Blaise tears now streaming down her cheeks.

Harry left the Weasley's and hurriedly walked over to Virginia who was wrapped up in Blaise's arms.

"Virginia? Can I talk to you for a sec?" he asked cautiously ignoring the glare that Blaise was giving him.

"What is it Harry?" she asked feeling emotionally drained.

"I just wanted to tell you how sorry that I am. Percy loved you so much, and I just wanted to let you know that if there is anything that I can do" he trailed off.

Virginia smirked, a trait that she had picked up from Draco, and shook her head at him. "Thanks Harry but you're here for them not me" she said pointing in the direction of the Weasley's before turning with Blaise to leave.

Harry quickly reached out a hand and grabbed her wrist. "I mean it Gin, anything I can do for you. All you have to do is ask" he said quickly.

She studied his face for a minute before smiling sadly at him and then leaving without a word.

**

"Your Harry Potter!" Grace said excitedly stepping out from her mother's side and looking up into Harry's face.

"Yes I am, it's nice to meet you Grace" he said smiling down at her. "Your Harry Potter" she said again gaping at him and everyone had a laugh at her expense.

"Yep, that's me the Boy Who Lived" he said rolling his eyes.

"No, no I don't care about that. We already know heroes from the war. You play Seeker for the Wimbourne Wasps. You've won the championship since you started playing for the team. You were the youngest seeker at Hogwarts in forever" she said excitedly bouncing around.

Harry laughed at her. "A bit of a Quidditch fan are you?" he asked her.

"A bit? She's obsessed with it!" Garth said speaking up for the first time.

"Excellent, you are a true Weasley" Harry said.

The twins looked at each other before breaking into identical grins. "Nope we're Zabini's!" they said simultaneously before breaking into fits of laughter.