Disclaimer: I'm such a dunce! I forgot my disclaimer! None of the following belongs to Moi, unless you don't recognize it from J.K.'s writing. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here; I'd be partying with my friends in Bermuda…or Mexico…or somewhere tropical.
Tonks' jaw dropped, "What!" She said in unison with Harry, Ron, and Remus. Vanessa was a tough girl, even though her parents were Neville and Hannah, both known to be rather…weak at the knees sometimes. "I'm going! Where are they?" He asked, his voice calm, his green orbs darting around frantically.
"Over at the apparition safe-point!" Ziven exclaimed, her hands on knees, panting slightly as she tried to catch her breath. She made a hand motion to say it was nothing, while Harry thanked her, rushing away. Tonks stayed to with her, to make sure the usually rather peppy Romanian was all right.
"Neville! Get Hannah, Vanessa's collapsed!" Harry called. He and Ron continued at a steady pace towards the apparition point, while Remus explained to Hannah talking to Susan Finch-Fletchley. (A/N: I can't remember if that's Justin's last name or not) A flustered looked Neville what they knew. Neville nodded his thanks, and found with her and Neville's sixteen-year-old son, Alexander.
Harry reached James, who was cradling Vanessa's head in his lap, "C'mon Nessie, wake up! What's wrong?" He heard James murmur desperately into the ear of the blonde haired young woman. His hazel eyes looked oddly shiny, his lips were pressed together in a thin line. "C'mon Ness, I don't want to lose you, I can't!"
"It'll be fine James." Harry said softly, resting his hand on his son's shoulder as he squatted next to him to peer into Vanessa's warm face. "What happened?" As he said those words, an anxious looking Hannah and Neville, who were followed by their mellow son. "Alex, keep people from crowding. Hannah, conjure a blanket, some cold water, and a washcloth. Neville, go get Molly." Harry told them what to do, while he told James to keep Vanessa's head steady.
Molly bustled over with Neville, while Hannah draped the blanket over her daughter, and mopped Vanessa's face with the cold water. "Okay, move over everybody!" She ordered. Harry stood up, and backed away, pulling Hannah and Neville with him. James gently rolled his cloak up, and placed it under her head. He took a few steps back, his eyes never leaving his girlfriend.
"Is she going to be okay?" James inquired, his voice a hoarse whisper. Harry and Neville smiled sympathetically. Hannah smiled indulgently, and exchanged a glance with Ginny, who had hurried over.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine Potter." Neville assured his old student, as he had taken over for Professor Sprout teaching Herbology.
Molly quickly apparated Vanessa to St. Mungo's, and was followed shortly by James and Hannah. Harry sighed, and turned to Neville, "Well today has certainly been eventful." Neville had stayed behind with Harry.
"It has. Ready for classes? Hogwarts starts again in what, three days?" Neville asked. "Well, at least we aren't losing Defence teachers again all the time. Minerva would sure be a lot less lucky in finding them then Dumbledore was." Harry nodded. He'd held the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for the past 17 years. He'd graduated Hogwarts, waited for Ginny to graduate, and then had applied to Professor McGonagall for the post.
The colleagues wandered around the picnic grounds, before bumping into Ron, who joined them. The three watched fondly as Alexander flirted with Maria, who batted her eyelashes, and flipped her long mane of glossy brown hair over her shoulder. Harry turned to Ron, "Remember when Lavender did that, trying to get your attention in sixth year?" Ron flushed, and nodded. Neville chuckled, and punched Ron lightly on the shoulder.
"Good thing you never married her. Seamus wouldn't be too happy." Neville added. "Seamus found lots of comfort in Lav, especially after…well, after Dean died." The three looked a bit uncomfortable, speaking of their fallen housemate, who'd died jumping in front of Parvati, to save his girlfriend from the killing curse.
"Let's talk of happier things? Today's a day to be happy, talk to old friends, and catch up with family." Hermione admonished, as she waddled up, aided by Fred. Katie and George were with them.
"George! Alexander and Maria are flirting." Ron said, winking at his brother, who began to fume.
"My little girl! She's too young!" George said immediately, his chin jutting out. Katie rested a hand on his arm delicately, and reminded him they were that age when THEY started dating. He in turn grinned sheepishly and said, "I guess you're right Kitty." He said, using her nickname fondly, while she smacked him lightly upside the head.
"How many times have I told you NOT to call me Kitty?" She demanded. Soon it was all out bickering, while Ron, Harry and Neville departed, still laughing over the antics of the ever immature George and Katie, who were now sided with by Fred and Hermione, aiding them in their arguments.
Luna was talking to Colin Creevy, who was a single photographer for the Quibbler, and the three men heard the two discussing Neezles. "What are Neezles?" Neville asked, knitting his eyebrows together in concentration. Ron and Harry just chuckled.
"It's Luna mate, who knows what she's talking about?" Ron answered as he waved at Luna, who smiled back a little bit airily. The three continued, and then stopped, seeing the Malfoys talking with Snape. "What are you doing here still?" Ron growled angrily, while Harry frowned.
"Just discussing the funny prank played on James and Vanessa." Kaida said with a smirk, then clamping her hand over her mouth. Draco looked at her angrily, and Snape sighed with exasperation. "Silly girl." He muttered.
"You made my daughter collapse!" Neville yelled. He pulled out his wand, and pointed it at Malfoy's chest. "What did you do to her!" He bellowed.
Malfoy shrugged, "It was the stupid girl's fault. If she'd just let my Kaida have Potter, none of this would have happened. Although, I don't approve of Kaida wanting Potter, but anything for my daughter." He said, looking with what appeared to be fondness at the blonde girl next to him.
"LEVUSCORPUS!" Harry shouted, having had enough of this. Malfoy found himself hanging in the air by his ankles. Ron and Neville roared with laughter. The three men strode away, while Pansy and Kaida fussed and worried, trying to get Malfoy down.
"It's getting dark. Molly will be putting everything away now. We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get the kids' things for Hogwarts. Sirius wants a new broom, and he needs a new cauldron, and Lily needs new robes." Neville nodded.
"Yeah, us too. I'm relieved Vanessa's out this year. Of course, her and James are living together now, so Vanessa's got a new job. Healer at St. Mungo's!" He said proudly, "And Alex is going into his sixth year. He just needs his new books, and some dragon-hide gloves. Those are going to be expensive. But Hannah just got a promotion in the department, so we should be okay."
"I'm so pleased Selena is only four. She doesn't go to Hogwarts yet. It'll be seven years until I need to worry about that, then another eleven. The new baby will definitely be a boy, right?" Ron said, at first pleased, then looking a bit desperate. "I don't think I could handle five girls! Luna, Selena, Luna's cat Diana, and our owl, Hedwig's hatchling, Tivona; that's way too many girls for poor me! Imagine if we had another daughter!" He began to pace nervously, pulling at his read hair.
Harry began to laugh, at first quietly, but then rollicking gales of laughter, soon joined by Neville. "The big Chudley's keeper reduced to nerves at the thought of another daughter." Harry said, gasping for air. Neville and Harry stopped their choruses of mirth though after the sharp look Ron sent them.
"Look, I'd better be off, I've got to check on Vanessa, and Hannah." Neville walked away, pulling Alex with him, after his son had bid Maria and Lily goodbye. Ron chuckled.
"Well, Alex is good looking, you'd better be careful Harry. Lily might run off with him," Ron said in mock warning. Harry snorted.
"Alex and Maria are in love. Anyone with half a brain can see that. It's as plain as day. Just like Vanessa and James are." Harry said, brushing the rumour aside. The two men chuckled, said goodbye, and went to see their respective wives.
Ron, Luna, and Selena went to the fireplace inside the Burrow, and flooed back to their home. Soon, the crowd dispersed, until only Ginny, Harry, and their children were left with Molly and Arthur.
"Lily, you take Beth." Ginny ordered, sending the two through the floo. She then sent Sirius and Molly through. She went next, soon followed by Harry. "Potter Estate!" He called out as he stepped into the green flames. Waiting in the sitting room tastefully decorated by their house elves, Dobby, Winky, Kreacher, and Zarreh were his wife, and three of his children.
"Where's Lily?" Harry asked, looking around. Sirius was bouncing around, playing with a mischievous eyed Beth, and Molly was curled up into her mother's side, reading a book. Ginny looked up and smiled, "She's owling Sasha." Harry nodded, her and Maria's other best friend. The three girls from Gryffindor had formed a bit of a group. They'd been best friends since first year, Maria and Lily since birth.
Ginny clapped her hands, "Bedtime!" Sirius scooped Beth onto his back in a piggyback, and hiked upstairs to bring her to her room and get her ready for bed. Harry smiled, Sirius loved his little sister, no matter how much he denied it. Molly skipped upstairs. She'd been James' favourite, but he was no longer here. "So Harry…" Ginny purred, wrapping her arms around his neck, only to be interrupted by Lily traipsing down the stairs.
"Mom. Daddy. Might I go stay in the Leaky Cauldron with Sasha and Maria for the next three days, until Hogwarts? Uncle George and Aunt Katie have already said yes." Harry glanced at Ginny, and then nodded.
"I think it should be fine. Angelina wouldn't do something to put her daughter in jeopardy. She and Lee are so protective of Sasha! Will her older brother be going? " He said, raking his hand through his dark mop of hair. Will Jordan was a good-looking, sixteen year old player who always hung out with Alexander, who also happened to be a Gryffindor.
"Yeah…" Lily said, shifting uncomfortable, "He and Alex are coming. They'll be staying in the room across from ours." She grinned hopefully at her parents, "Please Daddy?" She begged, making puppy eyes, pushing her lower lip out into a pout.
Harry sighed, "Of course Lilyflower, I can't say no to that face." Lily squealed, ran over to her dad, stood up on her toes, and kissed him on both cheeks, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise you won't regret this! I'll go pack!" Lily exclaimed, hugging Ginny, and flying up the stairs. Ginny giggled, and returned her attention to Harry. She gently brushed her lips against his, and he moaned into the kiss, but his moan turned into a groan of frustration when Beth tumbled down the stairs, her curls mussed.
"Daddy, I want a bedtime story!" Beth demanded in her sleepy, high-pitched voice. Harry clutched at his hair in mock fury, and then chased the little girl up the stairs, roaring like a monster, pretending to try to eat her. Ginny sighed, and followed her husband up the stairs.
"Sirius, in bed?" She asked, poking her head into her son's Quidditch poster covered room. Her son popped his head up from behind the new edition of the Quibbler. He nodded, and then continued reading, looking fascinated. Ginny smiled, and continued down the hall to Molly's room.
"G'night Molly. Ready for bed?" The red-haired woman asked, sitting on the foot of her daughter's bed, the yellow comforter creasing around her, holding her shape when she stood to place a kiss on her daughter's forehead, and slip out of the room, turning out the lights as she went.
"Molly and Sirius are in bed then?" Harry asked as he exited Beth's room, across from Molly's. Ginny nodded, and twined her arms around his neck, resuming their embrace from before they'd been interrupted by the joys, and chaos, of parent-hood.
"Check on Lily yet?" Harry mumbled into Ginny's hair, while she trailed little kisses down his jaw. She groaned, and hit her head against the wall. She stomped up the next two flights of stairs, to the loft, which Lily had converted into her bedroom when James' moved out.
Ginny entered the room, and screamed. "HARRY!" She cried, her voice hysterical. Luckily for the two parents, silencing charms had been placed on their children's bedrooms, so that they would not be disturbed when finally asleep. Harry bounded up the flights of stairs two at a time.
"What Ginny? What's wrong!" He exclaimed, throwing the door open, Ginny having left it ajar. He gaped at the sight in front of him. The closet doors flung open, the drawers on the floor. The window was open, the curtains fluttering about, whipping around the bedposts pushed against the window. Most of his daughter's clothing appeared missing, but for a few items littered about the room.
"What-what happened?" He stuttered, his eyes taking in the usually neat room in shambles. "Did she take off? But we gave her permission!" He slumped against the wall, pulling Ginny to him. "Why would she do this to us?"
There is the end of Chapter 3! Thanks to Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-MEGAMI, Aria-wolfstar, AquamarineDreams for reviewing! Offers cookies
I hope you all enjoy the chapter! I worked hard! Please review…pouts
