Chapter 17:

Jamie and Lily sat on the grand staircase as everyone else was in class. They just sat there, chins on fists, elbows on knees, just staring into space. "I'm bored," Jamie broke the silence.

"You said that five minutes ago," her sister responded.

"And it was true then." Pause. "Why are we so bored? Have we gone exploring the tunnels?"

"Yes. And got lost for ten minutes till Mommy came and bailed us out, remember?"

"Oh, right. We've never gotten lost before. Why now?"

"Because Sam is usually the one who gets us out at the end."

"Oh. Have we visited Hagrid?"

"It's snowing. Besides, he has a class now."

"Right, I forgot. I'm bored. And don't say what I know you're going to say."

"How do you know what I'm going to say?"

"Because I'm your identical twin sister!"

"Thank you, Captain Obvious!"

"Why I oughta—hey, isn't someone supposed to break us up now?"

"Yeah. Sam."

"Oh. I miss her."

"Me too."

Remus walked out of the Great Hall with a few students who were asking some questions about the practical class they just had when he saw his twin daughters sitting melancholy on the steps. "Excuse me, I'll answer your questions later," he said, leaving the crowd. "So, why are you two only sitting on the steps?" he asked Lily and Jamie. "Why aren't you running the school yet?"

"Because we're bored. Nothing is the same without Sam," Jamie said as Lily started to sniff. Remus' smile softened and he picked up his crying daughter before reaching a hand out to the other one. She took it quietly and the two walked back to their rooms.

"Isn't Professor Lupin the best father ever?" one of the girls whispered to her friend. "I hope I'm as lucky as Professor Anderson when I marry."

"Close your eyes," Ron Weasley told his wife. Hermione scowled but did as her husband said. This wasn't a good time for her to play one of his stupid games. She had important news to tell him and she didn't want him to faint like the last time she told him. "I have a surprise for you." Great. The last "surprise" Ron gave her had been an ice cold bucket of water since "she needed to chill out" according to her three best friends. Oh, how she had wanted to hex Ron, Harry and Ginny to next week and back! Kiki would've let her, but Luna stopped them because she and Neville had just gotten little Frank to sleep.

"What is it, Ron?" Hermione asked. She really was not in the mood to do this. She was told to open her eyes and all her irritation melted away. "A trip to New York City? Oh, Ron!" she said, throwing her arms around her husband's neck. "Of course, you do realize this leaves like no time to pack?"

"Did it for you. Or rather, Ginny did," Ron admitted, kissing her. "And Flitwick agreed to take your Charms classes while you were away. I thought you'd might like to go do some of the Christmas things there."

"Thank you! Thank you!" Hermione said, kissing him over and over. "And I have a surprise for you."

"Oh?"

"I'm pregnant…Ron? RON!"

Sirius had all his children outside of their house after snow had covered Grimmauld Place. He quickly bundled up little Arden, who was already trying to take off her scarf, and found his sons waiting by the door, all ready to go out. Sirius chuckled at how much his sons were like him and quietly opened the door. The three walked outside and—WHACK!—Sirius was hit by a snowball. "Mama!" Arden cried, clapping along with her brothers. Bianca, not caring her briefcase was now in the snow, took some bows.

"Thank you, thank you, I try," she said. Sirius put Arden down and walked slowly over to his wife. "Sirius? Siriu…I don't like that look. Sirius? No!" With that, Sirius pushed her down into the nearest snow bank yelling:

"POWDER DONUT TREATMENT!"

The Blacks all trouped in later, wet but happy. Bianca took Arden to give her a bath while Sirius herded his sons into another tub for their baths. As usual with James, Sirius ended up wetter than either Giachi or the splasher combined as Bianca changed Arden and started dinner. Sirius leaned back in his chair after drying off, James sitting on his lap, suddenly drowsy. He smiled at how good life was, but quickly frowned as he remembered Kiki was still missing her daughter…

Kiki careful held Garret up as the almost five month old baby attempted to stand on the snow. Harmony watched from nearby, keeping an eye on little Alida, who was walking everywhere. Remus was in the middle of a snowball fight alongside Rawlins, attacking the twins. Severus was helping Madi build a snowman. She sighed, wishing Sam was also there to help. "Missing someone?" she heard Minerva McGonagall's voice from behind her.

"I only wish I knew where Sam was," Kiki said. "It's so frustrating to know who has her, but not to know where."

"Of course, if we knew where she was then there would be a team of Aurors—lead by my son-in-law—breaking down the door to get Sam back to you."

"What if she's scared? She's alone with Lucius and Narcissa. I'm frightened," Kiki said, astonishing McGonagall. Kiki Snape never admitted to being frightened. But when it came to her own children, Minerva knew she would admit they were her weak spot. Minerva decided to bring up another topic before her former student slipped into depression.

"Did you hear about Hermione and Ron?"

"Oh yeah. Kid number two, right?"

"What?" Minerva said. "I was talking about how he surprised her with an anniversary present. How did you hear she was pregnant?"

"From your daughter, that's how! I took Garret for a check up and she told me that Hermione had been in. She said it was a secret until Hermione told Ron. I thought she would've told you! I mean, how else would you have heard about the trip?"

"Actually, from Ace. Eden wasn't home and he told me that Ron had asked for some time off for the trip."

"Ah. Wonder if Ron fainted again?"

"Knowing Mr. Weasley, I have no doubt he fainted again," McGonagall said, smiling. "They're going to New York City."

"Ah, NYC. I have fond memories of that city," Kiki said, dreamily as she watched her husband. New York City—the first place they were really alone together during their relationship. Also the city that witnessed them losing their virginity to the other. But then something else crept into her mind…the vision from September, a month that seemed so long ago…did Hermione and Ron's trip have anything to do with Lucius Malfoy? Was he in New York City? And that blonde girl with him…was that her Samantha under a memory and glamour charm? She wondered…

"Watch me, Daddy," Serena called out, attempting to finally skate on her own. She succeeded in skating a few feet ahead before losing her balance. Luke skated quickly behind her to catch her before she fell. "Thank you, Daddy," she said, holding onto his hand as they continued to skate. Nora was tired and sat on the sides, watching them with a cup of coffee in her hands. The two waved to her as they passed by.

"You have a very cute family, Nora," one of their family friends said. Nora smiled in response. "And I love the fact you never tire of hearing this old bag say it."

"Oh, Kate, you're not an old bag," Nora replied. "And how can one get tired of the truth?" Kate chuckled as Nora excused herself. She retreated back into her mind, back where she was Narcissa.

Narcissa had to admit that when Lucius first told her of his plans to restart their lives with a brainwashed Sam, she was skeptical. For the first month she and Lucius pretended to be Nora and Luke Malon, she kept watching her back everywhere she went. When Serena went to school, she was to come straight back. Eventually, she learned to breathe and let Serena go to friends' houses for afternoons, piano lessons, and play in the park a few blocks from their house. She stopped being wary of people and made good family friends, like Kate and her husband Pete. Of course, Narcissa always felt bad about lying to Kate and the other ladies of their Friday circle, but she knew it was right. Especially because of how important Lucius and Serena had become to her. She had to say she was quite unnerved by her husband's change in behavior after they arrived in New York, but was delighted. She was finally having the marriage she always dreamed about having, but never dared to tell anyone beside Andromeda.

The pair on the ice skated off and Luke took off his daughter's ice skates. Serena put her boots back on and then ran the short distance to Kate as Nora returned with another cup of coffee and one of hot chocolate. "Thank you, Mummy," Serena said, taking the chocolate drink. She sat down next to Kate and watched the other skaters. Nora handed the cup to her husband, who smiled in return. "Auntie Kate, when's Uncle Pete getting here?" Serena asked.

"Good question, Rena. I don't know. I should go call him," Kate replied, walking off to the side. She returned shortly. "He said he's stuck in a taxi in traffic nearby. He should be out soon. And then we can go to dinner before the ballet starts."

Later that night, the Malons were among the crowd spilling out of Lincoln Center. There was a beautiful Christmas tree separating the New York State Theatre (the building they had just come out of), the Metropolitan Opera House, and the Avery Fisher Hall. Kate looked over at her companions. "Luke, Nora, why don't you two pose with Serena in front of the tree?" she asked, wielding her new digital camera. "It'll make the most adorable picture ever." The Malons shrugged and let their friend take the picture as Pete called Lars.

A/N: So…how long till Christmas break? Sometimes, when I'm going everything in my head at night, it seems to be so close. But then when I'm pulling together a French project or doing something for MCCTA, it seems that it's so far away. Of course, I love the holidays but it's hard to get in the mood though I'm listening to Christmas music because the weather is too nice for November. Really. Last year, around this same time, I remember running to the bus trip for "Moving Out" and there being snow! Now, that was enough to get me in the holiday spirit. Oh well…maybe making signs for the Giving Tree tonight will help. Thanks to all my reviewers:

SarahtheBardess: Looks like Kiki's starting to put two and two together, huh? And no, no one suspected the Spanish Inquisition, least of all Harmony. All HP fans seem to have that burning hatred for the Prophet, don't they? And it looks like my friend isn't the only person with the same view of Sirius. Yes, Serena is still too little. Heck, I'm 5'5 and I'm still too little to see all the way up St. Pat's spires (trust me, I've tried. I love being inside the Cathedral). Serena/Sam thinks she used to live somewhere in the English countryside before her family moved to NYC. We'll learn that it's a very advance memory charm on her. Yes, Serena is humanizing the dear old Malfoys.

Magnificent the Destroyer Lord: You know, it must suck to have to be on a leave of absence your sophomore year. That's my year and I can't imagine missing this year. And as I told Sarah, we'll learn about the memory charm later when the Snapes start doing their own research.

cerzee: You know, it's amazing how jokes can grow. The Spatula of Death was supposed to be a one-time joke, but it started showing up in certain scenarios and became popular. Of course, I try not to overuse it so its humor appeal won't diminish. And I was worried I had made Lucius too OCC in the other direction, but no one is really too shocked at what Lucius did, though they are appalled. I miss Christmas too. And as for NYC, I live in one of the outer boroughs, not Manhattan, but I've been to Manhattan during the holidays. It's more crowded than usual, but so beautiful. And you have to see NYC—it's lovely. Though I might be partially biased.

Well, I hope all of those who could voted yesterday, I know I did. I'm glad those Jersey campaigns are over (and for those who have only heard about them on the news, trust me, they were BAD) and I voted for Bloomberg, who won the mayoral campaign in NYC. 8 days till GoF, 15 till "Rent," and 47 till Christmas! (38 till my Christmas break)…Mac