A/N: Ok, I suck at writing little kids. I will admit I went a little overboard on writing Joy's lisp, or rather lack of ability to say l. I drew that from my own niece who talked with a New York accent, even though we live in Michigan. When I decided to write this story, it was meant to span from the time that the HP gang found out about the trips (age 3) until they were 19. I ended up needing to explain more about that. Huge thanks to gidgetgirl for all of your constructive criticism. I only have one little cousin who's two, and I don't get to see her very often. So, I'm gonna end up drawing back on my own childhood weirdness for the next few chapters. Plus, I'm a big ole liar. I said everyone was gonna freak when the kiddos made the announcement about Harry . . .and then nobody did. I was rushed. Ok, so tell me if I do any better with this one.
Chapter Six
TA giggled as Uncle Xander carried her up to bed. She and Joy got to be carried up. Aunt Dawnie had Jimmy in her arms. She caught her sisters eyes as Joy put her head on Uncle Xander's shoulder. Aunt Dawnie opened the door. The walls were painted light blue. That was their favorite color. Three little beds were on each of the three walls of the room. The fourth wall was made up of the two window doors. Toys were scattered on the floor. Aunt Dawnie sighed.
"Pick up your toys, then get into bed."
TA grabbed the closest two toys and them in the wooden toy box. Jimmy and Joy followed her lead. Pretty soon they had gotten everything put away. Aunt Dawnie tucked them all in, kissing each one on the forehead, and Uncle Xander did the same thing. They were just about to leave the room, when the three little bodies popped up again.
"MR. GORDO!"
"MR. SQUEAKS!"
"MR. POINTY!"
Dawn had a horrified look on her face. They wouldn't sleep without their stuffed toys. Ever. She raced down the stairs and into the kitchen. The pink stuffed pig Mr. Gordo was on the counter. She snatched him up. Tossing him up the stairs to Xander, she turned to the sitting room. Buffy, Charlie, and Willow were in there, talking about Giles.
"Hey, you seen Mr. Squeaks? Or Mr. Pointy?"
"Pointy is in the weapons chest with the real Mr. Pointy." Buffy said, rolling her eyes.
"Squeaks was under the coffee table last I saw." Willow replied.
"Thanks."
Dawn went into the living room and dropped to her knees. There, under the far leg of the coffee table, was the pink stuffed rat. She dutifully tossed that up the stairs to Xander then went to the bolted weapons chest. Andrew must have thrown it in there on accident when they were putting Buffy's weapons away. There, amongst daggers, stakes, and other weapons, was the stuffed brown stake.
Dawn re-locked the chest and raced back up the stairs. Big crocodile tears were in TA's eyes as she waited for her favorite stuffed toy. Dawn leaned down and gave the little girl her stake. A huge smile crossed her tiny face as she hugged the stake Dawn made for her to her chest.
Each child was cuddled up under their blankets, and Dawn closed the door behind her.
* * * * *
As soon as they heard Aunt Dawnie go downstairs, TA shot up in her bed. She nodded to her siblings. Jimmy and Joy dragged their blankets and toys over to the white bed and each took one side of TA. TA stuck her hand down the back of the bed and grabbed the photo album and flashlight there. Joy laid her head on TA's shoulder and prodded her sister.
"C'mon, TA. I wanna see the pictures!"
"I'm tryin' Joy. Just gimme a sec."
The book was filled of pictures of when their Momma and their Aunties and Uncles were still in school. And the special pictures Mr. Dumbidore had given to Grampie Giles had given them. TA opened the book. The first page was of Momma and Grandpa James. TA always liked that picture. Momma looked so happy, like she had one of Aunt Willow's cookies, or brownies. Momma liked brownies. She made them all the time.
A picture of Aunt Buffy, Aunt Willow, Uncle Oz, Aunt Cordy, and Uncle Xander. There was one of Grandma Joyce, Aunt Buffy's momma. TA was always sad when she saw that picture. It always reminded her to give Aunt Buffy and Aunt Dawn great big hugs. Jimmy was asleep on her other shoulder already. And just when they were getting to the good stuff. The pictures that moved and talked!
"Look, Joy! That's Ms. Mione and Mr. Ron."
"And Uncle Harry. Why's he riding a broom?" Her little brow furrowed in confusion.
"Dunno. Aunt Willow said it was just a mint." TA said nodding.
"One of those yucky things Aunt Dawnie eats before she kisses boys?" Joy asked, looking up at her sister.
"Yep."
"So, Uncle Harry gets to eat his broom?"
"Yep."
"Yuck."
"I know. Grown ups are soooo weird."
"TA?"
"Huh?"
"Ya think Uncle Andrew is gonna be our Daddy? Now that he and Momma were kissing?"
"Yep. 'Bout time, too."
"They were making the googly eyes at each other, like Aunt F and Uncle Robin do."
"We'll never make googly eyes at boys, will we, Joy?"
"I will. I like boys."
"Boys are gross. 'Cept for Jimmy. He's not a boy. He's one of us."
"I know. And not all boys are gross."
"Uncle Xander says other boys, 'cept for Jimmy, a course, have cooties."
"What are cooties?"
"Dunno. He got all goofy. Aunt Dawnie said that was 'nother mint."
"Huh. TA?"
"Huh?" She yawned.
"Can ya do that thingy with the ducks, purty please?"
"K. Mister Wing and Mister Thing were walkin through the forest. . ."
Pretty soon, Joy was asleep, too. TA smiled, and kissed her siblings on the head. Burrowing down between her brother and sister, TA clutched Mr. Pointy to her heart.
* * * * *
TA was running. The pixies were pointing for her to collect flowers and magic tricks. She giggled when she saw herself in the pool. Her face looked like a cartoon. Joy and Jimmy weren't with her. She didn't like being away from her siblings. Suddenly, she heard a howling in the distance. She knew it was a wolf.. She was scared of wolves, 'cept for Uncle Oz. He was a good wolf.
She was in a shadow. But, there weren't any trees around her. She looked up and saw a scary giant. She didn't scream. She ran. Aunt Buffy always said to run away from scary things. She ran, as fast as she could.
She tripped and fell over a cliff. She bit back a scream, cause she was caught. She looked up to see a wolf, holding her by her shirt in it's mouth. It growled and she screamed her head off as she fell to the scary looking rocks below.
* * * * *
Dawn and Harry were talking quietly in the kitchen while Willow and Buffy were setting up the spare bedrooms for their guests. There was a scream that pierced Harry's soul. Dawn ran up the stairs.
TA was sitting in the middle of her bed, screaming her head off. Dawn picked the little girl up, taking her to the white rocking chair. Harry entered the room, seeing the two other little children asleep in the middle bed.
"Shhh. It's ok, TA. It was just a bad dream. Nothing more. It's ok."
"But the wolf was gonna eat me."
"There aren't any wolves in Michigan. You know that."
"Yeah." The little girl snuffled.
"Uncle Xander's gonna teach you how to play hockey tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Yup. And Uncle Harry said he'd show you some magic tricks."
"Magic? Like Aunt Willow?" TA
"I could show you something now."
"You could?"
"Yes."
Harry pulled his wand out of his back pocket and swished and flicked, until her Mr. Pointy floated in the air. And then he sent a few green sparkles from the tip of his wand. TA clapped her hands in joy.
"Cool!"
"Indeed." Amy's voice burst in from the doorway.
"Momma, I had the wolf dream again. Aunt Dawnie and Uncle Harry cheered me up. But me and Mr. Pointy are gonna go to sleep now. Cause, If Jimmy and Joy wake up, you're gonna have to tell us a story, and you and Uncle Dada want to cuddle and be tender."
"Be tender?"
"That's what Uncle Xander said."
"Well, let's get back into bed."
"K Momma."
* * * * *
TA was asleep within five minutes. Amy and Charlie had been talking for a while. The triplets would have to meet Albus Dumbledore. She was a little nervous, but Charlie had reassured that they would be all safe. So, tomorrow, they were going to England.
Was now a good time to start panicking?
A/N 2: So? The dream was a reoccurring nightmare I had when I was about that age. Drop a line with whatcha think? Please? Tell me if I did better with the kiddos.