Lily's here!

That's all I really have to say. Well not exactly, I think I got a chance to respond to all of your lovely reviews on the last chapter, but if I haven't then I'll be doing that now.

Honestly I think writing Dorea and Charlus would have to be one of my favourite parts of writing this story to be quite honest. Also, Hermione and Draco. They are my beautiful witch and wizard and I will love them forever and ever. Luna as well, but unfortunately she's not in this story as much...someone quite like her will be come their third year. Would LOVE to hear any guesses.

Soon you'll find out Draco's animagus form, as well as the boys, (which is obvious, but hey, let's pretend we know nothing :D). Also I promise you'll see all of their reactions to Hermione's animagus form, and then their reactions to each other's, soon.

THANK YOU ALL SO, SO, SO MUCH for following and favouriting this story. I can never emphasize enough how much it means to me. I love you all, and I really hope you enjoy this chapter and the one to come.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's are mine.

My tumblr : indiebluecrown. tumblr. com

July, 19th, 1973

Potter Manor

The Potter children were watching the area in front of the house with rapt devotion; whilst Peter, Sirius and Remus watched the fireplace in the Drawing Room. Charlus had left twenty minutes ago to get Lily. They were unsure if he was travelling by floo or not, and they wanted to be prepared to greet their guest when she arrived.

They didn't have to wait long before the floo lit up with green flames and Lily skipped through; Charlus stepped out moments later carrying Lily's suitcase.

"James is going to flip his top," Peter whispered to Sirius, whilst Remus had already moved forward to greet Lily. The redhead surprised him by engulfing him in a tight embrace, arms wrapped around his neck, her face scrunched up in happiness.

"She's here?" Draco asked as he entered the Drawing Room.

"You're looking straight at her," Sirius drawled, Draco swiftly put him in a headlock and began to rub his knuckles across Sirius' head.

"Lily!" Hermione exclaimed happily and Lily let go of Remus, then she ran and jumped onto Hermione; both of them falling onto the ground in an entanglement of limbs.

"Oh, Mione, I've missed you so much," Lily hummed, her cheek against Hermione's, stroking Hermione's hair.

"Evans is-" James froze in the doorway, eyes wide with shock. "Evans, what did you do?" James gestured at the redhead and she tilted her head backwards to look at him.

"What are you talking about, Potter?" Lily pursed her lips, before going back to clinging to Hermione.

"Just breathe, Jamie," Draco patted his brother's shoulder as Sirius tried to get his revenge. Launching himself at Draco's back; who stepped to the side and Sirius ended up tackling Peter instead.

"Why aren't my friends more normal?" Remus sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head.

"Life is more interesting this way," Charlus nudged the boy, who stopped shaking his head to look up at the older wizard; Remus walked over to the chair in the corner of the room to watch the events unfold.

"What did you do?" James repeated his early question, albeit a bit weaker than before.

"It's just hair, Jamie," Hermione laughed breathily, tangling her fingers in Lily's locks; which were now a couple inches below her ears.

"I can't believe this," James said in a distraught tone, throwing his hands in air and leaving the room.

"That was strangely calm compared to-" Draco started before a loud noise came from the hallway.

"Did James blow something up?" Dorea asked in a serene voice.

"No, dear. I think he tripped over something."

When Sirius and Draco went to investigate, they found that Charlus had been right; James was laying face down on the light hardwood floors.

"Jamie...you ok?" Sirius asked, poking James' butt with his wand.

"No. I'm not," was the muffled answer.

"It's just hair-" Draco tried to reason with his brother, but James cut him off.

"No. Dray. It's not just hair. It was the most beautiful hair in the world."

"Thanks, I guess?" Lily said from the doorway, left leg crossed in front of the other as she grabbed the door frame with her right hand. "It got in my eyes too much, especially when I was in potions."

"Speaking of potions, Dray and Mione have a potions room," Peter piped up, just as excited as the rest of them that Lily was there. "I'm not allowed inside, they don't want me to break anything," he added quietly.

"Can I see it?" Lily asked with wide eyes, full of curiosity and excitement.

Hermione and Draco shared a secret look. If they let Lily see, the boys would most likely want to see it too. There was also a chance she would be able to figure out what they were brewing. Hermione saw Lily's bottom lip jut out, as she then silently pleaded with the Potter 'twins', and Hermione knew that was that. She's got a bit of Slytherin in her.

"Fine," Draco and Hermione sighed together.

"Just make sure-" Hermione started.

"You don't touch anything," Draco finished.

As the twins led Lily to their potions room, Remus, Sirius and Peter were left to try and pick James up off of the ground. Dorea, Charlus and Mipsy were discussing which guest bedroom to put Lily in. There was one to the right of the staircase on James, Hermione and Draco's side of the Manor. Their bedrooms, Sirius, Remus, and Peter's were to the left of the staircase. Dorea and Charlus were a bit farther away, having let James have his own space when he turned ten.

"This is amazing!" Lily exclaimed, vibrating with excitement merely being in entranceway of the room.

Hermione subtlety went to go check on the Polyjuice potion in the corner, slowly stirring it as needed. Draco was showing Lily the area where they kept their ever growing area of potion ingredients. One side of the room was just bookshelves that were almost as tall as the high ceilings. Since being in this time, Draco and Hermione had collected quite the selection of Potions books between them. It was quickly becoming one of their most frequented rooms in the Manor.

Lily flitted about the room for the better part of the next hour, she only stopped because she was hungry. The delicious smells of Mipsy's cooking that had wafted throughout the rest of the house were just too tempting to ignore.

James insisted for once that they sit at the dining room table, at least the smaller one next to the kitchen if not the larger one. "Mipsy, the good silverware!" He yelled over his shoulder as he ran to the dining room, arms ladled with placemats and a pale blue tablecloth.

"You'd think the Queen had come round for tea," Hermione muttered under her breath, and Lily shot her a weird look. Hermione, however, did not notice, she was too busy watching Remus. The full moon was in three days, and so far he was being really good at hiding how much pain he was actually in.

"Jamie is really excited that you're here," Hermione smirked, whispering her comment to Lily.

"Peter grab the candle holders!" James demanded, head peeking out of the dining room.

"Clearly. I almost don't want to hex him," Lily marvelled at how animated he was as he laid out the cutlery that Mipsy had given him.

"He's really not that bad, y'know," Draco joined the girl's conversation.

"Up until recently, he wasn't the Potter I was interested in though," Lily said boldly with a large grin.

Draco seemed to understand immediately when he glanced at Hermione and saw her tight smile, and her knuckles turned white in her lap; that didn't mean he couldn't have a little fun though. "Really? Mione? She is quite pretty after all," Draco winked at both girls, before going to return the favour from earlier, twisting around quickly and jumping on Sirius' back.

As the two boys wrestled, Hermione and Lily got up went to go see if Charlus or Mipsy needed help in the kitchen. Dorea had excused herself to go answer the floo network.

Hermione's curiosity was peaked though, so upon Mipsy shooing the two girls out of the kitchen; she gestured for Lily to follow her. I really shouldn't be doing this, but Mum looked quite peeved when she went to go answer it, like she'd been expecting it. When Hermione walked gingerly down the hallway, her right hand running lightly along the wall. Lily didn't know why they were sneaking around in Hermione's own house, but she was interested to see what was going to happen. Hermione winced every time a floorboard creaked under the weight of the two girls as they walked. When you're trying to be silent, it's as if everything is against you, trying to betray you. Hermione stopped abruptly, and was about to scold herself for not thinking about using magic; when she recalled that she still had the trace on her. Dumbledore had explained that once Dorea and Charlus had adopted them; they became officially registered in the Ministry's documentation of known witches and wizards and therefore they would have to wait until they were seventeen before the trace would be lifted. Even though the trace is on us, we've used magic plenty...and we have yet to get called out on it. Weird. Either way, silencio! Hermione didn't know why the Ministry hadn't complained about the fact that Hermione or Draco used magic outside of school, but at the moment, she didn't really care.

Breathing heavily through her nostrils, she brushed her hair back over her shoulder and started tip toeing forward again. When they reached the Drawing Room, the door was ajar, and Hermione gently pushed on the smooth surface, until she managed to get a proper look inside.

"Cygnus, I am not going to side with you if you try to get the head of the Black Family changed. Orion is the head, and then it will be passed onto his sons," Dorea snarled.

"Aunt Dorea. Cousin. You and I both know that Walburga is growing a little unhinged, not to mention that Sirius is going down a path that is not good for the reputation of the family. His actions reflect on all of us. That boy Regulus up until a year ago still clung to his Mother's skirt like a babe." Cygnus was a fairly attractive man, and Hermione could see where his daughters got their good looks. She'd never seen Druella, but Dorea said she looked exactly like Andromeda but a few years older. Cygnus had thick, raven hair, and for a disembodied head in the middle of a fireplace, he looked quite good.

"This is part of the reason I stopped talking to you people. Always on about another member of the family. Always a problem with someone or the other."

"That's not fair. I have plenty of problems with other witches and wizards as well," Cygnus teased, but Dorea did not look amused.

"This is not a social call, Cygnus. Oh, and trust me, I know all about your inability to play well with others. Do you talk to Abraxas anymore? Best friends since school, yet now you're both practically mortal enemies." Dorea threw her hands up in the air, pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.

"Careful with what you say, Dorea," Cygnus voice was really low and dangerous when he spoke after a few tension filled moments. "You can't shut yourself away from all of your family. You'll need us one day."

"I invited you lot round, on numerous occasions when I was first married to Charlus. Not once did you come," Dorea spat. "When James was sick in the hospital when he was three. Did you come to see if he was okay? No. Not a single one of you. Funnily enough however, Abraxas came to visit." Abraxas Malfoy did what? Wow...I just assumed he was a horrid man since Lucius was so horrible when we were growing up.

"That was our parents-"

"That. Is. Not. The. Point. It wasn't always your parents, Cygnus. None of you came to visit me after James was born. Not one of you sorry lot." Dorea eyes were alight with venom and fire now. Whoa. Mum is beyond pissed off.

"So no, I didn't tell you when we adopted Hermione and Draco. I didn't think to share that with you. I may not have been burned off the family tree, but as far as I'm concerned, it would have been better if I was. You all practically disowned me!" Dorea raised her voice for a moment, running a hand through her long, wavy locks.

"You speak of loyalty and family. You know nothing of either. I don't know how you managed to do it, but at least your daughter knows what they are. That is why I, choose my family. I, decide who I will and will not have in my life."

"It was my idea to invite your family to-"

"Don't you dare lie to me." Dorea said in a eerily calm voice, walking slowly towards the flames. "Also, my son, Draco, has taken a liking to your daughter as a cousin...therefore, I expect that the rest of the family be on their best behaviour. I would hate for Narcissa's wedding to be ruined because someone upset my children." Dorea smiled lightly as she continued to speak in a smooth and reposeful tone.

"Dorea...at least consider what I said, you know I'm right. I didn't mean to cut you out of my life. I'm sorry." Cygnus closed his eyes, and bowed his head slightly. The green flames fizzled and then died, and with them, Cygnus Black was gone.

"Doesn't have a proper conversation with me in years, and decides to floo me out of bloody nowhere. Sending a letter an hour in advance," Dorea grumbled, plopping herself down on one of the armchairs in the room. Rubbing at her temples. "He is right...Walburga is getting a bit out of hand. More paranoid than ever, all she ever talks about is blood purity these days."

Hermione moved back from the door, shocked at what she had just seen. Lily eyes were wide.

Feeling a bit guilty, both girls began to make their way back to the kitchen, and that's when Lily decided to say something. "Should I not have seen that?"

"No. Yes. I mean, I wasn't supposed to have seen that," Hermione said quietly.

"Your Mum is amazing though," Lily tried to lighten the mood a bit.

"That she is, Lily, that she is." Hermione looked to her right and smiled at her friend.

"Trust me, the rest of your visit will be a lot more fun," Hermione reassured Lily.

"Are you kidding? This has been bloody brilliant so far!" Lily exclaimed, eyes rounding.

"Got you!" James jumped out from around the corner and tried to tackle Lily.

"Stupefy!" Lily yelled instinctively, her wand pointed at James. The spell hit him straight in face and he hit the floor with a loud thump.

"Oops," Lily grimaced slightly, looking down at her wand in her hand. "Will the Ministry get upset with me over that?"

"Well..." Hermione's mind drifted to the incident in the Summer before their fifth year; though Fudge had it out for Harry, and Mister Weasley said they didn't normally hold trials for cases of underage magic. There was also the summer before their third year when Harry made his Aunt into a human balloon. Technically before second year, that time was Dobby, not Harry. "I think you'll be fine."

"Dinner!" Sirius informed them as he ran around the corner, stopping before he tripped over James. "Well. At least we know you're the real Evans," Sirius grinned.

"It's his fault, he jumped out at us," Lily frowned, crouching down, and shaking James lightly. "What do we do with him?"

"I'll handle it," Dorea's voice behind them made both girls jump, and Lily moved out of the way, and Dorea picked James up and turned around, heading for the stairs and the bedrooms. Dorea had looked a bit haggard when Hermione got a good look at her, but once she had James in her arms, all of her anxiety was expunged from her body. A warm, content look washed over her feature as she looked down on her son.

"Food, anyone?" Sirius piped up.

"I'm starving," Hermione and Lily chimed together, and then all three adolescents walked into the dining room next to the kitchen, laughing the whole time.

...

"He wants you to make a stand with him at his daughter's wedding against Orion and Walburga?" Charlus frowned, they were both in bed and Dorea was laying on his chest, his arm was around her shoulders, tracing patterns on her side.

"It's ridiculous, he wants me to say that they are not fit to be the Heads of the House," Dorea sighed. "He's not thinking as long term as he should be. Even if everyone decides to make him and Druella the heads, thus in charge of that stupid tapestry, Walburga and Orion won't forget it."

"Your family is so dramatic," Charlus teased, Dorea tilted her head up to look at him, scowling.

"Like you Potters never did anything stupid. Why is there not a sacred twenty-nine, Charlus?" Dorea pursed her lips, "remind me."

"See, now that's not fair," Charlus laughed heartily.

"Either way, they aren't really my family. They haven't been in a long time." Dorea murmured reticently.

"You talk to Abraxas recently?" Charlus asked, remembering her childhood friend.

"I owled him the other day and he responded this morning. He says whatever Cygnus does is none of his concern anymore." Dorea grumbled.

"Should I be worried that you're talking to your former fiancé again?" Charlus joked.

"No." Dorea ran her fingers along his bare chest. "Not at all, Abraxas and I are just friends, which you know. You're the one who kept badgering me about talking to him again," Dorea reminded him.

"His wife is a right terror though. I'm not surprised that the children came home and talked about how vile their son can be."

"Vile?" Dorea laughed loudly, her hot breath washing over his exposed skin.

"Abraxas isn't that bad, beside his insistence that we as Purebloods need to keep our bloodlines pure." Charlus shrugged, "his son is probably a little misguided. Draco says he treats his wife-to-be like a Queen."

"Eventually blood prejudice needs to stop," Dorea sighed tiredly.

"I doubt that'll happen for a time yet, you'd need something big to take place. Something that would bring the Wizarding community together. Something which would cause blood purity not to matter to the supremacists anymore."

"You have a very good point," Dorea sighed.

"Of course I do," Charlus grinned broadly, kissing the top of his wife's head.

"Night, love," Dorea whispered lovingly.

"Night, love. I love you." Charlus kissed her head again, and then laid his head back against his pillow.

"Love you too," she murmured sleepily, letting sleep claim her. Not looking forward to seeing her blood relatives, all at once, in the same place anytime soon. The wedding next month was going to be hell.