eeeee, hi guys! I'm loving the reviews, so keep 'em coming! Just wanted to update you, cause I just wrote a part that I REALLY want you to read,...but it doesnt happen for another two chapters or so, lol. SO, read quick! and review! And maybe we'll get there soon.

By the way, I'm no Dr. Seuss.

Chapter Four, Tomorrow

"Times have changed, and times are strange,
Here I come, but I ain't the same.
Mama, I'm coming home..." -'Mama, I'm Coming Home', Ozzy Osbourne

Ginny spun in the fire, gripping Alex's hand tightly. When they finally stepped out, Alex nearly fell over.

"Are you ok?" She asked worriedly. Using the Floo system for the first time was never a comfortable experience. Alex just stod still for a moment and nodded.

A second later, Damon and Emma spun into view, and stumbled out of the fire.

"Over here, guys," Ginny called out as she led Alex to a small table. She took a few deep breaths as she sat down, and pulled the hood on her cloak up.

"Mom, why are you wearing that?" Damon asked as he sat down next to her, Emma next to him, still trying not to fall over.

"Can I get you anything?" A voice from behind Ginny said. She looked over, making sure to keep her hair out of sight, and trying not to look the barman in the face. She liked being anonymous, and she was going to hold onto that as long as she could. She needed to be the first one to tell her family she was back. So she kept her hood up.

"Apple juice," Alex whispered to her.

"Coke!" Damon and Emma said simultaneously.

"Four pumpkin juices and two butterbeers." Ginny said loudly and firmly. All three kids looked at her like she was crazy.

"What?" Damon asked,

"Mom!" Emma exclaimed. Alex just sat there, confused.

"Pumpkin juice?" Was all he could get out.

"Things here are going to be very different. It's not like it is back home, you're going to have to get used to some different things..." Ginny said firmly.

"If they don't have Coke at this school, I don't wanna go." Emma huffed. Ginny smirked at the little girl, who was growing up to be just like her father.

"Emma," Damon chided.

"WHAT was THAT!" They heard a high-pitched voice cry. Ginny turned around just in time to see Izzy fall over. "Wow." She said, grinning. "Can we do it again?" Ginny laughed at the little girl as Draco helped her up. She saw he'd put up his hood, too, and chuckled softly.

"C'mon, you," he said softly, as he carried both little girls over to the table. "What'd you get?" He asked Ginny quietly.

"Pumpkin juice for them, butterbeer for us." She replied.

"Dad, I want a Coke." Emma huffed. He looked over as he sat down next to her, making Alex scoot his chair over, closer to Ginny, so he could fit.

"I'm sorry, Emma, but they don't have Coke here."

"What?" She cried. "I want to go home!" She said immediately, beginning to pout.

"You haven't even tried the pumpkin juice yet, Emma," Ginny reminded her. "Remember green eggs and ham?"

"I do not like green eggs and ham." She huffed,

"I do not like them, Sam I am!" Damon finished with a grin. Ginny laughed, thinking that Mia would be proud of them.

A few minutes later the barman came back and set down the drinks.

"Anything else?" He said. He might've been Tom, but he didn't sound like Tom, and Ginny was too afraid to look at his face, so she just shook her head.

"No, thank you." She said, as she began passing out the cups. "Drink up, everyone."

After about ten minutes, Draco took out a few large, gold coins from his small bag. Ginny smirked and shook her head.

"It's been a long time." She said quietly, standing next to him.

"It sure has..."

"What are we doing now?" Emma asked.

"Emma," Damon chided, "We just got here. Sheesh." Ginny smiled at them - they could be quite a pair.

"We're going to go see an old friend of mine," Draco explained calmly. Ginny wasn't feeling so calm. Blaise Zabini? She was going to walk into a place owned by Blaise Zabini? This was a bad idea.

"Damon, Emma, could you two watch Alex, Izzy and Julia for a minute while I talk to Dad?" She said sweetly. The kids nodded and stayed at the table while Ginny and Draco walked a few steps away.

"I'm really not comfortable going to see Blaise Zabini..." she began timidly.

"Why not?"

"Well, we weren't exactly best friends in school..."

"I wasn't best friends with him either," Draco said with a chuckle, "but he can find us a good place to live, and quickly."

"How do you know he'll do it?" She asked, unsure. Draco just smirked.

"He will." And he turned around, motioning for the kids to get up, and they walked out towards Diagon Alley.

"What are we doing now?" Emma repeated.

"Emma! Jeez!" Damon said again. Ginny laughed,

"We're going to go talk to an old friend of Dad's, and get a house. Then you'll all need new clothes --"

"New clothes?" Emma said, straightening up and grinning.

"School supplies, uniforms, and some other things we can't get anywhere else." Ginny finished, ignoring Emma's interjection.

"New clothes?" Emma repeated as they entered the alley. "Wait...what are we doing here? There aren't any new clothes here."

"Emma," Draco said warningly, "Clothes will come later. First we have to go see Mr. Zabini, and go to the bank."

"Why didn't we just go to the bank at home?" Damon inquired.

"This is different money, Damon," Ginny explained.

"Why do we get new clothes?" Izzy asked.

"People here wear different things, Izzy," Ginny continued explaining. Draco waved his wand around, tapping things, and Diagon Alley appeared before their eyes, stopping all questions from the children as they marveled at what had just occured in front of their eyes.

As they entered the alley, Ginny leaned over to Draco.

"I wonder who's selling wands these days," she said quietly. He shrugged, and she tilted her head downward, keeping an eye on all the kids around her.

They walked up to Gringott's, and stood at the foot of the steps. Ginny could barely control the emotions welling up inside of her. She took a few deep breaths, trying to control her heartbeat, but she was getting a headache.

"What's this place?" Alex asked, in awe.

"The bank." Draco replied, taking the first step up.

"You have your key, right?" Ginny said, knowing full well that Draco still had the key to his personal vault.

When they walked in, Izzy grabbed her hand tightly and gasped. Ginny'd forgotten the kids didn't know about goblins.

"Kids," she called, "Come here." As they gathered around, she bent down so she could talk lower. Draco nodded to her, and walked off to talk to a goblin, leaving them at the entrance.

"Mom," Alex whispered, coming up next to her and poking her arm. "What...what are they?"

"Kids, Dad went to get some money, he'll be right back, ok?" They all nodded. "Now," her voice dropped a bit lower, "listen to me. These are goblins." A few gasps were heard, but Ginny shook her head. "Don't worry, they're very nice. They work here and keep our money safe."

"Why don't people do it?" Damon asked. Ginny noticed the death grip he and Emma had on each other's hands - both their knuckles were turning white.

"Goblins are better at it," she said calmly, with a smile. "They're very good at what they do. They're not scary, don't worry - just don't try and steal their money." Julia whimpered and cowered into Ginny's shoulder as a goblin walked by behind them. "Really, it's ok," Ginny assured them.

Draco came back a few seconds later, and the kids led the way out quickly. He gave Ginny a puzzled look, but she just gestured to a goblin as they walked out and he understood.

They walked out and down a street, until they came up to a large building with glass siding.

"You should probably come, too," Draco said, holding open the door for her and the kids. She sighed and walked in, marveling at the gorgeous lobby. They walked up to the reception desk, and stood there, waiting for the receptionist to see them. When she finally looked up, she popped her bubblegum and quickly cleared her throat.

"Can I help you?" She said in a high pitched, nasal voice.

"We need to speak with Blaise Zabini." Draco said firmly. Damon and Emma's heads both snapped up at their father's tone, and they looked confused.

"Is he expecting you?" the receptionist asked, eyeing the kids.

"No." Draco replied.

"I'm sorry, but Mr. Zabini is very busy. You'll have to make an appointment." She said snidely. Ginny's face flushed, because she knew what was coming next. Draco's posture hardened, and he cleared his throat.

"I don't think you understand." He said quietly, reaching up and taking down his hood. "I need to speak with Blaise Zabini. Right now." He sneered. "I'm an old friend."

"Sir, I don't care if you're the Minister of Magic, Mr. Zabini's busy." She snapped.

"What's your name?" He inquired viciously. She looked up at him defiantly.

"Suzie."

"Alright, Suzie. You call Mr. Zabini's office right now. Tell him Draco Malfoy needs to speak with him. He'll want to talk to me." At this point Emma's mouth fell open. She'd never heard her father talk to anyone like that in her life. Damon propmtly smacked her arm, and hissed something into her ear. She closed her mouth, but kept her eyes wide. Ginny blushed - she didn't want Draco to use his name like that. She used to hate it when he flaunted it like that.

Suzie just glared at him. His face twisted into a cold, dispassionate glare.

"Do it now, or I will have your job." He hissed quietly.

"Draco!" Ginny cried, wanting to yell at him. But he turned around and gave her a look, to which she sighed frustratedly and waited for the receptionist to do as she was asked. Suzie seemed skeptical of the situation, but decided she'd give it a shot. She pressed a few buttons, and pulled the microphone to her headset down.

"Mr. Zabini? There's someone here to see you. ...Yessir, I understand." She pushed it back up above her head. "He says he's busy and to come back when you have an appointment. Ginny was sure that if Suzie didn't stop being uncooperative, Draco would say something he'd regret.

"Call him back." Draco interrupted Ginny's thoughts, with a vicious tone. "Right now. Call him back and tell him my name." Suzie glared at him, but pulled the microphone back down.

"Mr. Zabini? Sir? Yes, the gentleman...yessir...no sir...he said to tell you that Draco Malfoy wanted to see you... ...Yessir, I'm sure. Sir, I would never..." She gave a puzzled look to the air in front of her and pushed the microphone back up. "He hung up on me." She said, confused.

"Thank you." Draco said stiffly. A few seconds later, the elevator near the desk dinged, and Draco and Ginny looked up to see Blaise Zabini walk out. He looked older and more sophisticated, but he was still Blaise. He hadn't changed too much.

"Who thinks he's Draco Malfoy?" He asked angrily.

"I do." Draco said with a smirk. Blaise froze in his position, staring at his old classmate. His gaze then shifted to Ginny, then down to each child in turn, then back to Draco.

"What?" He asked in disbelief. Draco took a step forward and stuck out his hand.

"Hello, Blaise." Blaise looked down at his hand, then pulled Draco into a hug.

"Where the he--"

"Happy." Ginny said loudly, through gritted teeth. Blaise stopped and just looked at her.

"Happy?" He asked, confused. Draco chuckled. "Where the happy have you been?" Blaise surveyed her curiously, not recognizing her. She figured her time as a regular, old, normal person was up, and she lowered her hood.

"Hello, Blaise." She said, trying to smile politely. She could feel her cheeks flush at all the eyes on her, even though that was just her family, Blaise and Suzie.

"And you are...?" Blaise said, taking a step over and sticking out his hand.

"Ginny Weasley." She said, timidly shaking his hand. Blaise's mouth dropped open and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. He turned back to Draco.

"She...you...he...but..." he stuttered. Draco smirked at him,

"Get back to me when you can form a coherent thought, Zabini." Blaise shook his head and smiled.

"What...where have you been? Have you two been together all this time? What's going on?" He said, firing off questions faster than the couple could catch them.

"There are a few people I'd like you to meet." Draco said, putting his hand on Damon's back and ushering him forward. "This is Damon, Emma, Alexander, Isabelle and Julia." He said, motioning to each child as he said their name.

"And they're...yours?" Blaise asked. Draco chuckled,

"Yes, they're ours."

"Holy --"

"Cow." Ginny finished for him, warningly. He looked up at her and held her gaze for a second, as if trying to decide whether or not he liked her. He reluctantly inclined his head slightly,

"Cow." He repeated. "So," he began again, turning back to Draco. "What the he--"

"Happy! For crying out loud, it's not that difficult!" Ginny said exasperatedly. Blaise gave her a surprised look.

"I'm sorry," he said in a too-polite voice. "What are you doing here?"

"I need a favor, Zabini." Draco said seriously.

"Sure, whatever you need. Want to go up to my office?" He said, motioning to the elevator. Draco looked back at Ginny who nodded,

"I'll take the kids over to Madam Malkin's or something. Is that place still open?" She asked Blaise. He nodded,

"I'm not sure it'll ever close."

"Some things never change," Draco said with a smirk. "Get the kids what they want." He instructed, handing Ginny a small purse full of coins. Emma squealed and took her place next to her mom, ready to go buy new things. Ginny sighed and ushered the kids out of the building, thanking the receptionist as she walked by, who looked like she'd choked on her gum.

They walked down the street, Ginny's hood down. They got numerous glances, and people were pointing and whispering. Ginny remembered how it had been back at school when she'd first gotten her streak ofwhite hair. This was ten times worse. Shouldn't people grow out of this sort of thing?

"Mom, why are people staring at us?" Damon asked as they walked briskly down the street. She adjusted Julia on her hip, and just pushed them into Madam Malkin's, heaving a huge sigh of relief.

"Mom?" Damon prodded.

"May I help you?" Madam Malkin asked. Ginny anxiously tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"Hello...yes, we need robes for all these kids, they don't have any, so they'll need measurements done, and multiple sets..."

"Mom?" Damon said impatiently.

"Mom, Damon's talking to you." Emma spoke up.

"Alright then, Who's first?" Madam Malkin asked.

"ME!" Emma cried, raising her hand, forgetting her petition for her brother.

"Right this way," Madam Malkin said, and Emma followed her into another room.

"Mooommm," Damon said frustratedly.

"What?" Ginny snapped.

"Why is everyone staring at us?" he repeated. She sighed and looked around. No one else was in the shop, so she sat down on a chair. Izzy roamed around the shop a little, looking at all the different robes, Alex sat next to her, brooding, and Julia was playing with a lock of her mother's hair. Damon stood right in front of her with a determined look on his face. "Well?"

"Damon, a lot of the people here know me and your dad."

"Why?"

"Because we grew up around here. And they haven't seen us for a long time - Since before you were born..." She said, trying to sound more confident than she was.

"Oh." Was all he said. It was all he had time to say - Emma came bounding out of the fitting room a few moments later, walking quickly up to Ginny with a wide grin on her face.

"Damon, you go in next," Ginny instructed. He did as he was told, and Ginny turned back to Emma.

Most of the afternoon was wasted in Madam Malkin's - Alex was less than happy to be measured for new clothes that he considered dresses. Izzy, on the other hand, was thrilled when she found out dress robes were all different colors. Ginny didn't want to get any of them dress robes just yet, though. Especially Izzy - she was way too young to need something like that.

After a few hours of fitting, browsing and waiting for everyone else to finish up, Draco strode into the shop. He looked less than pleased, which gave Ginny a sinking feeling. Part of her would be perfectly happy to go back to New Jersey now - back to the diner that they'd lived in for so long, but she knew that wasn't really an option. Especially not now that Emma thought she was getting new clothes.

"So what happened?" Ginny asked quietly as Draco sat down next to her. Julia was the only one left near them, she was on the floor by Ginny's feet, happily playing with the hem of Ginny's cloak.

"What? What do you mean?" He asked, seeming to snap out of whatever daze he'd been in.

"I mean do we have a place to sleep tonight?"

"Of course we do," He said, brushing off her anxiety. "This is Blaise we're talking about. I told you he'd come through. Are we almost done here?" It amazed her sometimes, how quickly and flawlessly he could change the subject.

"Yes, almost," she answered. "We just have to pay for the robes we have now, and order whatever she doesn't have."

"And their dress robes?"

"What?" She asked, confused.

"Their dress robes - what colors are they getting?" He asked casually.

"I wasn't going to get them dress robes." She replied.

"What? Why not?"

"Draco, I didn't get dress robes until I was thirteen, none of these kids are going to need them anytime soon." She pointed out.

"What? You didn't?" He asked, surprised. Ginny shook her head. "Well why not?"

"There's no need for them," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"I wore mine all the time." He said matter-of-factly. "We might as well get them. If they grow out of them before they need them, we'll just get them another set, but until then..."

"Draco, that's ridiculous." Ginny said bluntly.

"Why?"

"It's a waste of money!" She couldn't understand why this needed to be explained to him. It was completely unnecessary for a four year old to have dress robes.

"Red, we have more than enough. My vault is just as full as it was when I left, and I don't plan on not working, so we'll be earning money. It's not an issue." She was about to retort when Madam Malkin came out of the racks and Draco stood up.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" She asked politely.

"We need dress robes for all of them - silver for Damon, lavender for Emma," which earned quite a loud squeal from the little girl, "For Alexander, navy- shouldn't you be writing this down?" He asked impatiently.

"For the oldest, silver and lavender, the next boy blue - no, I've got it." Madam Malkin replied. Draco sighed impatiently before continuing.

"Sky blue for Isabelle, and for Julia --"

"Pink!" The little girl shouted, tugging at her fathers pants. He looked down at her and smirked. 'Pink' was one of the very few words she said often, but she did say it quite often.

"Alright, then, pink it is." He said good-naturedly, picking her up. Ginny sighed an impatient sigh of her own, and crossed her arms.

"I still think this is absurd." She muttered. Draco ignored her, and Madam Malkin walked off. They paid for the robes they had, and walked out.

For whatever reason - Ginny couldn't figure it out - Diagon Alley was much more crowded than when she'd gone into the shop. Maybe it was just that people wanted to shop, or were out for dinner or something, but it seemed busier.

Suddenly, a middle-aged woman with obviously dyed blonde hair sprinted up and almost collided with Draco. They gave her an alarmed look, but she didn't move. She just stared up at him in curiosity.

"Are you really Draco Malfoy?" She asked quickly. Draco glanced at Ginny, but nodded. Ginny slipped her hand into his, more anxious now than she'd been all afternoon. This was the beginning of the part she'd been dreading.

"And who are you?" The woman asked Ginny snidely. Ginny gave her a surprised, almost offended look at her tone of voice.

"Excuse me," Draco interrupted, "May I ask who you are?" The woman looked up at him, but didn't answer. She surveyed them, and then reached into her crocodile purse and pulled out a bright green quill.

"Oh my God," Ginny said out loud, "they still let you work?" She said, disgusted. She'd always hated Rita Skeeter, and couldn't imagine her still writing for the Daily Prophet. The woman gave her an offended look of her own,

"Do I know you?" She asked rudely.

"Excuse me," Draco said through gritted teeth, "but you will not speak to her in that tone." His voice was firm and resolute, but the woman didn't listen.

"Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet," she said with a sweet smile, turning back to Draco and sticking out her hand. He looked at Ginny for some sort of confirmation that he should know her.

"She's the one who used to write all those horrible things about everyone, about how Harry was crazy, and how Hermione was cheating on him." Ginny answered loudly, earning her a harsh glare from the reporter.

"And who might you be?" She asked again, just as rudely.

"Ah, now I remember," Draco smirked.

"You should, you prat. You helped her." Ginny spat amusedly. Draco chuckled, but Rita Skeeter looked less than amused. She cleared her throat and the couple turned back to her.

"No comment." Draco smirked. She looked at him aghast.

"But I haven't --"

"No comment." He repeated, as he began to walk past her. Ginny followed suit, with a smirk of her own, and the children all just fell in step behind them.

"Mom, who was that?" Damon asked quietly, looking over his shoulder at the woman they'd left behind.

"She's just someone we used to know." Ginny said, deciding it was best to follow that up with instructions. "If she ever comes to talk to you guys, though, you come get me first, understand? Don't talk to her, ok?" Damon nodded decisively, and moved up next to his dad.

As they walked through the streets, the sun began to set. It wasn't until then that Ginny realized how late it must've been. As they neared the end of a block, they found a small cafe where they silently decided to get dinner.

After they ate, Ginny sat back and reflected on the mind-blowing experience that had been her day. She couldn't believe she was back, and conversely, now couldn't believe she'd really left. And for so long. She couldn't believe she had children. She couldn't believe their father was Draco bloody Malfoy.

"You ok, Mom?" Damon asked, concerned. Ginny looked down at him and smiled. She nodded and sighed, looking out onto the street.

"You should probably send your family an owl. If Rita Skeeter knows we're back, the whole world will in a few hours." Draco said seriously, but as nicely as he could. She looked at him and nodded sadly. This was going to be the second most difficult owl she'd ever written.

They made their way to the post office, Ginny attributed the kids' behavior to their fascination with the new experiences and sights, and she hoped it'd stay at least until she wrapped her own head around the situation. But the kids were mainly quiet, with only a few tired protests from Julia and Izzy.

Ginny bought a piece of parchment, borrowed a quill and paid for an owl to deliver it to The Burrow. Now came the hard part. She stood, quill poised to write, for almost a half a minute before sighing frustratedly and looking up at Draco. He gave her a sympathetic smile, but was quickly distracted by a tired cry from Julia, who just wanted to go home.

Ginny wanted to take her to her home. Tell her that she was safe and everything was ok. But the truth was that she wasn't sure if everything was ok. She knew it was sort of her job to at least say everything was ok, but she couldn't even do that. She knew it would be ok someday, though.

She turned back to the parchment, which now held the words 'Dear Mom' on it, and held her quill over it again. She scribbled down a few sentences, telling her she was back, hoping she could come see her, she'd missed her, etc. etc., and signed 'Love, Ginny'. She knew it wasn't good enough. Nothing could ever be good enough. How do you say hello after twelve years? Especially after not having given a proper 'goodbye' in the first place. How do you even approach that situation? Seeing her face to face would have been preferable, but there wasn't time for that. They needed to go settle down in their new home so the kids could get to bed. They would go see the Weasleys tomorrow.

Tomorrow they would meet everyone again. Tomorrow they would see what was left of their old world. Tomorrow they would find out what this new world held for them, where they fit in.

But that was tomorrow. Tonight, they were just going to sleep.