The Next Generation and the Blades of Alpha and Omega

Chapter Two: A Few.. er, Informal Introductions

Bene qui latuit, bene vixit - One who lives well, lives unnoticed. (Ovid)

Farrah Alexandria Potter lay awake in bed for a while after she had opened her eyes that gorgeous August morning. No, she was not manic-depressive, but she did have reason to be. Today was the day of the annual family get together of the Potters, Malfoys, and Weasleys. Seems harmless, right? Quite the contrary, my naïve reader.

Today was going be pure hell. You see… the waters concerning the families had always been somewhat hostile. No, ma petite amie, the adults of the families would never be petty enough to hold grudges from years past, but their tacky excuses for offspring were not as susceptible to reason or logic. Blimey O' Riley's trousers, there were even dislikes that reached deeper than the average sibling rivalry within the Potter household itself.

The young girl got from under her black satin sheets and started to make her way down the long winding staircase of the Potter mansion. She sluggishly made her way down, stopping only to pick up her three-year-old brother Sirius on the way down.

Sirius was the youngest of the Potter children. (And the last as their mother would have it. But you really could never take her word for it… as she was usually popping out babies left and right.) The young raven-haired toddler was also one of only two boys in the family.

As they neared the kitchen she immediately began to brighten when she got to the table. There was no Aerin; ergo there could be no confrontation. If there was ever a reason to rejoice, that was it. She gave little Sirius to Binkie, the family house elf, and look a seat next to her father. Farrah started to think, it wouldn't exactly be a great loss if she didn't show up for breakfast at all, seeing as she'd probably throw it up anyway. Of course, with her luck being as rotten as it usually is, it only took Aerin two seconds after she had completed the thought to make her Grand Entrance (wearing more makeup than a circus clown, at that). Luckily though, she entered the kitchen silently because she was still officially not on speaking terms with her father. (The hilarious incident had ensued about a week ago when Dad had burned all of her thong underwear when he came across it doing the laundry. Miss Aerin, to say the least, had not been pleased.)

Now that everyone was finally sitting down, the she started to observe everyone at the table. Her father was deeply immersed in the sports section of the Daily Prophet. It was obvious that he had not yet combed his hair yet that morning, as it strongly resembled something he ran over in the family car. Her mother, who had taken the day off, ran a hand through her winding blond hair as she patiently sipped her morning coffee.

Ickle Sirius was playing with his eggs and soldiers instead of eating them. Rose, nine, was just as intent on reading an arithmancy booklet as her father was, her long wavy ebony locks covering her face.

At sixteen James Potter had the legendary lean build, messy hair, and kind, warm smile enough to make him Hogwart's resident hottie. Once in Hogsmeade she had hear a bunch of sex-crazed girls throw out the phrases "a worthy shag" and "absolutely gorgey." Yes, a very traumatizing experience indeed.

Last and certainly least in her book, was the unforgettable Aerin, who was done up to impress Robert Wood and anyone else who might be looking (but then again who wouldn't stop and stare at someone who had a clown face?). In five years she had made Hogwarts her domain. When she said "jump" people asked how high. Just two feet? I'll make it three.

Yes. Disgusting.

That was part of the reason that she had desperately wanted to go to Italy and live with her grandfather for her schooling, because you see, Farrah Emeris Lillian Potter was no one's fool. Never in her life had she done her evil sister's bidding and she definitely wasn't about to start now. Regrettably, this meant that the next three years would be hell on ice for her, but since her father had taken the Defense Against Dark the Arts vacancy at Hogwarts sunny days at Amore Philosophia Academy for Young Witches didn't seem like an option...

SSSSSSS

About an hour later the rest of the Weasley-Malfoy clan had arrived in their family room.

Bill and Fleur were the first to arrive. Their fifteen-year-old daughter Rosalia was had inherited her mother's stunning looks and sharp wit. These things, in addition to her warm smile, made her get many second glances most anywhere she went.

Next were Fred and George with their families. Over the past twenty years or so the twins had built their way up on the financial scale, and WWW was a well-known household name. They also had shops in nearly every country on the globe and had just finished a touring campaign in Tokyo. After Hogwarts, the boys had married their Yule Ball sweethearts. George and Alicia had had twins named Fred and Molly who were entering their sixth year. Molly and Fredrick (as he liked to be called) were nothing like there namesake. Fredrick was studious, rule following, and a shoo-in for head boy. Molly was the one that carried the torch of mischief and trickery. On the plus side though, Molly always managed to get good grades and Fred could enjoy a good joke as much as the next brainiac, so neither were too unbearable. Fred and Angelina's daughter Nadine was a rebel without a cause. She was extremely opinionated and her extreme open mindedness combined with her striking beauty had branded her with the name of the "Ice Princess of Gryffindor Tower."

After Charlie and his wife showed up with their 11-year-old Charles, Ron and Hermione appeared with their batch of kids. Surprisingly enough, Ronald Weasley was the Weasley with the most children. Not surprising though, was that he had started the earliest. Jasmin at fifteen was Aerin's best friend and co-head honcho of Hogwarts. David, much nicer and cuter (but then again, how could he not be without the clown makeup) with curly brown hair that made girls swoon. Last, 11 year old Piper was the clone of her mother. Everyone was convinced, as the two were exactly alike in mind, body, and spirit.

Draco and a nine and a half month pregnant Ginny were the last to arrive with their daughter (and Farrah's best friend) Phoenix. The two girls had been joined at the hip ever since they were in diapers.

When the seven families had assembled, they all made their way over made their way over to Diagon Alley via many portkeys. Once hitting their destination, they all split up into groups and set off to buy their school things.

SSSSSSS

Mark Xavier Boot woke up on his birthday to an empty house for the third year in a row. His father was no doubt at the ministry or once again campaigning in some other pointless town. His mother was probably at some insignificant charity event.

Young master Boot didn't feel especially good about being left alone on the anniversary of his birth, but things like this weren't exactly new to him either. His mother had always been active in the wizarding community, and his father was running for Minister of Magic, after all.

He went into the lounge to find a large royal blue gift-wrapped box resting on the family's grand piano. Assuming it was for him, he gently began to unwrap the paper. It didn't take long to figure out the interior of the package, it's long silky feel grave it away right off.

Dress robes. He picked up the card:

Mark,
This is for you to wear tonight at the promotional campaign dinner and photo op. Be ready at six.
Dad

Wonderful. Even if his father was a serious politician it didn't mean that he had to suffer for it. He decided to leave a note on the fridge:

Dear Mum and Dad,
I hope everything's going well. I found a bit of old toast for my tea and a Jammy Dodger to avert scurvy and gone out. Remember me when you get the chance.
Your Son,
Mark

P.S. Gone to Auntie's house. Be back around five.

He briefly proofread the letter before grabbing a pinch of floo powder and dashing over to the fireplace. The boy hastily grabbed a handful of khaki colored sand and shouted "Patil Place" before being engulfed in a sea of sapphire flames.

SSSSSSS

In a matter of seconds Mark found himself in another person's smokestack. It only took an instant for his aunt to come hurrying into the marble-floored living room to investigate the source of all the commotion. Because he saw it everyday in his mother, he knew her face all too well. Only her face was nicer. More motherly. She was still miraculously beautiful: the only blemishes on the attractive middle-age woman's face were slight laugh lines from years of joy brought to her by her family and her job at Witch Weekly. He remembered how when he was a child; he would wish Parvati to be his mother. However, those days were over long ago… He was suddenly shaken out of his own thoughts by the voice of the woman in front of him.

"Mark?" His aunt was asking.

"Sorry, auntie. Did I catch you at a bad time?" He asked apprehensively.

"Of Course not! Happy Birthday!" In an instant the petite woman had shrouded him in an immense hug. For a while he just gave in to her embrace, taking in the strawberry scent of her obsidian colored hair. He was shaken out of his trivial slice of euphoria by not just another voice, but what smelled like- the overwhelming odor of sea weed?

"Hi, Mark."

He glanced up to see the build of his cousin, Micheal. From the look of his attire, he had just come from football practice, (His "Uncle" Dean had set him up with one of the best boys' leagues in the country.) although that didn't account for why he smelled like he had just come from a fishing tournament. Even to a stranger, there would have been no doubt who the boy's mother was. Everything down to the expression to the finest hue of color in both of their charcoal tinted eyes was alike. It was remarkable. His cousin flashed him a smile.

"Happy Birthday." He handed him an elongated box. He let out a girlish squeal when he saw its contents.

"A Nimbus 3013! Really, Auntie, Mark… You shouldn't have!" He leapt up from his spot on the floor and gave his aunt a hug, then gave his cousin a high five.

After answering tons upon tons of questions (i.e. how are your parents? how was Italy? how much have you grown this year? what kind of underwear are you wearing nowadays?), he was asked what he wanted to do that day.

"I wouldn't want to inconvenience you two…" He began.

"Don't be silly, Mark!" they scolded, urging him for an answer.

"Well.. There's a Quidditch display in Diagon Alley. Could we go there?" He asked.

"Why of course! Today is your day! You and Micheal can go together. I have to stop by the office. Just be sure to steer clear of Knockturn Alley and I'll meet you at the Leaky Cauldron for tea at about 1:00. And Mark, you desperately need a shower.. You new coach must be making you boys play underwater.." With that Parvati started back toward the fireplace, wishing them the best.

SSSSSSS

It was almost noon and the large group had been everywhere. It had taken a while for Farrah, Phoenix, and Piper to get their wands, but remainder of their shopping had been exhausting. Much of his was due to the fact that his was a blistering August day, and the sun seemed to be following them everywhere they went. It wasn't long before the five girls (Rosie had decided to tag along) decided to stop at the ice-cream shop.

SSS

Micheal was going out of his way to ensure that this was one of the best birthdays that Mark ever had. They had seen the new exhibit at the Quidditch store, bought out the WWW, and were now on their way to Florence's Ice-Cream parlor.

SSS

There was only one thing Mark saw when he entered the shop, an she was tall, slender, had jet-black hair and dazzling sage eyes. He had seen her and her family before, of course. She was a Potter. And his father's biggest threat for the job of Minister of Magic.

Even though he hadn't entered the race yet.

Once at a charity event for St. Mugo's he had stuck up a conversation with her, only to be rudely steered clear of her by his mother. Yes, yes molto embarrassmimo. Nevertheless, he hadn't forgotten about her, and since they were going to be attending Hogwarts together, he vowed they would start anew.

Disclaimer-
"I hope everything's going well. I found a bit of old toast for my tea and a Jammy Dodger to avert scurvy and gone out. Remember me when you get the chance." Is adapted from "Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants" by Louise Rennison

GLOSSARY-
Eggs and soldiers- pieces of toast cut into strips and dipped in egg

Alana-Lou- My first reviewer! Thanks to you Alana Lou!

Do keep the reviews coming!