* ~ The Eighth Year Universe ~ *
Love Wins
Love is the Answer
The chapter title is from the song:
Love Wins by Carrie Underwood.
Teddy and Almina had ended up on babysitting duty on election night. Technically, Charlus was supposed to be helping too, but they had discounted him as he was generally useless. The Black-Nott, Potter and Longbottom children were all gathered together in the drawing-room of the castle, awaiting the election news.
Almina was convinced her mum would win and was therefore going to every effort to make the party as good as possible. But not everyone else was feeling quite as helpful.
"Charlie!" Almina called across the room, "Could you please help with something?"
Charlus grinned and put his arm around his 'girlfriend' Victoire Delacour, "Sorry Minnie, got better things to do," he said before sweeping out of the room.
Almina rolled her eyes. She had acquired several nicknames over the years. Most people called her Mina, which was fine. Some people called her Ally, which was also fine. But Minnie was the worst, and Charlie knew it, so he insisted on using it all the damn time.
Angel snorted and wandered over, with her hands stuffed in the pockets of her denim jacket, "Like that's subtle. What do you need help with, Mimi?"
Almina hated that nickname too. It had been given to her at the time by her boyfriend (a relatively insignificant muggle-born called Sam Barnes who thought he was going to do great things when really, he was pretty average).
Still, she let Angel call her it because they had been friends for years.
"Can you hold the other end of this banner, Angie?"
Angel jumped onto the ladder and grabbed it, "Sure thing. You okay? You seem kinda tense."
"I'm just trying to make this perfect for Mum," Almina admitted as she stuck the banner up, "And I'm worried about Charlie. Do you think Victoire is good for him?"
Angel made a face and jumped down, "Victoire Delacour? Ugh, don't even get me started. She is unbelievably attractive but so nice that you can't even hate her for it. She is way too good for him, frankly."
Almina bit her lip, "Is he using her? I know he says he's fine, but Blake-"
"Yeah, Blake did a number on him," Angel agreed. She shrugged, "He isn't fine, Mimi, but we can't heal a broken heart for him."
"Hm," Almina mused, "Maybe Victoire can, though."
"Maybe," Angel agreed.
Almina glanced around the room, trying to figure out what else needed to be done and if any of her siblings would help out.
Her youngest sisters Ada and Dora were far too preoccupied with a game that involved throwing Bertie Bott's every flavour beans into Laurel Longbottom's mouth. Laurel had the best poker face ever, unsurprising for the first Longbottom in a couple of generations to be sorted into Slytherin house. Ada was a Slytherin too, so they were still best friends, although a school year separated them.
Ada and Dora – nicknamed the Wonder Twins because of how small they had been at birth - were inseparable. For twins, they couldn't be more different. They had different parents for a start, and also one of them was a Slytherin and the other a Gryffindor. They did look like they could be sisters though, both being blonde with blue eyes. Ada looked the spitting image of Sadie, down to the pale, pearly white complexion.
Although her skin was darker and her hair curly like Hermione's, Dora's hair was dark blonde, and she had Draco's eyes.
"Mango flavour?" Ada guessed.
"Nope," Laurel grinned, "Vomit!"
"And you didn't even make a face?!" Dora exclaimed, "How can you put those things in your mouth and not react?"
"That's what she said!" Charlus remarked rather immaturely as he slunk back into the room with Victoire.
Charlus and Victoire were a mis-matched pair. Charlus, with his tattoos, dark hair and leather jacket, compared to Victoire with her perfect complexion, platinum blonde hair and angelic features. It was all a lie; she was as wild as her father underneath it.
"Oi!" Harry said.
"Yeah, Charlie, that's our sister!" James agreed.
Almina, who had been hovering near the radio at all times, held up her hand, but nobody took any heed of it.
"Idiots!" Almina shouted, "You're going to miss the announcement!"
Silence fell in the room – Teddy sat down by Almina's side and put his arm over her shoulder. Charlus leant against the wall and pretended he didn't care when really, he did. Ada, Laurel and Dora stopped throwing beans for a moment.
Alastor, Andrea, Ella and her boyfriend, Noah, had been relatively quiet anyway. But they looked up and leant forward with interest to hear the result.
Harry and James paused in their game of chess. Thea didn't move her head from Caspian, her best friends, lap. To anyone who didn't know, she might have been asleep.
"The Wizengamot have voted, the results have been verified, and we have a clear winner. With a majority of over 70%, the new Minister for Magic has been elected."
Everyone in the room held their breath as they waited for the final part of the announcement.
"The youngest Minister for Magic to ever be elected – Hermione Black!"
The room erupted into cheers. Even Charlus jumped up and fist-pumped the air. When Victoire raised an eyebrow at him, he tried to play it off, but Almina and Angel shared an amused look.
Teddy chuckled when he saw the exchange, "Didn't I tell you if anyone could do it, it would be your mum?"
Almina smiled proudly, "I can't wait until she gets back here. Okay, everyone, let's get this after-party ready! Charlie, send out the floo invite to everyone, telling them it's definitely going ahead! Ada, Dora, help me with the rest of the banners. Al, Andie, Ella, you guys are on the food."
"What can we do?" James asked.
"Uh…just play chess and don't burn anything?" Almina replied.
"One time!" Harry exclaimed.
"We burnt down the library one time," James said with a shake of his head.
Laurel rolled her eyes at her brothers, "You two are idiots. Hey Mina, can I help with the banners too?"
"Yeah, you and Ada can keep each other out of trouble," Almina said with a chuckle.
Laurel dashed out after Ada and Dora, and Almina glanced down at the sofa, "Thea, are you going to do anything useful?"
"I'm here. That's a miracle in itself," Thea drawled.
"So that will be a no then," Almina said sarcastically.
Cas kneed Thea in the head, and she whined irritably.
"I'll get her arse in gear, Mina," He promised, "What d'you need us to do?"
"Light all of the fires downstairs and make sure the front doors and gates are open," Almina ordered.
Thea jumped to her feet and saluted Almina with a solemn expression on her face.
"Yes sir, Auror Nott, sir!"
Mina hit her with a stinging hex, "That'll be ma'am next time, Theodora."
Teddy snorted and smirked at his baby sister, "Oh, you had that one coming!"
"Screw you, Tedward!"
"Right back at you, Theodora!"
When Hermione walked into the ballroom with her hand in Draco's, she was expecting some sort of welcoming party because she knew her family. She knew they liked grand gestures. But she hadn't been expecting a huge after-party – the ballroom as full as it was for their annual Halloween party.
"CONGRATULATIONS!"
Hermione smiled tearfully at her friends and family as they all cheered and waved banners or flags.
Draco squeezed her hand and smiled at her proudly, and Theo put his arm around her shoulder.
"Not quite sure I can still call you princess," He murmured in her ear.
Draco chuckled and kissed Hermione on the cheek, "You're a Queen now."
Hermione gave them both an amused look as she slipped out from under Theo's arm and let go of Draco's hand, "No, I'm the Minister for Magic, and that's far better."
Sadie chuckled as Hermione walked over to the kids, "World domination is not out of her reach, you know?"
"Oh, I know," Draco said. The smile on his face was a soft one, but his eyes were shining with pride.
Almina was the first to congratulate Hermione, "Nobody doubted you would do it, Mum," she said, hugging her tightly.
"I doubted it," Cas said with a shrug.
Ada and Dora rolled their eyes, and each elbowed Cas in the ribs.
"Ouch!"
The twins shared a grin and then hi-fived.
Hermione shook her head at their antics. Charlus smiled and gave her a slight nod, "Congrats, Mum."
Hermione smiled broadly, and then Ella stepped forward to hug her, "I'm really proud of you, Mum."
Hermione kissed her on the cheek, "Thank you, darling."
"Congratulations, Mrs Black," Noah said, holding out his hand.
Charlus whistled, and Hermione raised an eyebrow, "And you are?"
"Noah Wood," Noah said, a little nervously, "Ella's boyfriend. She has mentioned me, right?"
He looked at Ella nervously, "You've mentioned me?"
"I've mentioned you," Ella said, trying to stifle a laugh.
Draco, Sadie and Theo appeared by Hermione's side.
"Don't call her Mrs Black if you want her to like you, dude," Charlus said, patting Noah on the back and slipping away.
"Sorry," Noah said sheepishly.
"This is the boyfriend?" Draco asked, looking from Noah to Ella.
Ella gave him a pointed look, "Dad, don't be like this about it."
Draco said, "It's bad enough that he's a Gryffindor."
"Dad, I'm a Gryffindor," Dora cut in, glaring at him.
"Yes, so am I," Hermione said, smirking at Draco.
Theo ignored them and frowned at Noah, then glanced back to Ella, "I thought you said he wasn't weedy?"
"Pops!"
"Theo," Sadie chastised, nudging him in the ribs.
Ella rolled her eyes and glanced back at Noah, "You see why I said they could be a little intimidating now?"
Almina hooked her arm through Teddy's and gave Noah a concerned look, "We're not intimidating. We just care about you, Ella."
"A lot," Ada said, smirking, "This family is so caring. It's like borderline creepy."
"And when she says 'caring', she means over-protective," Dora said, with a shit-eating grin.
Draco gave them a stern look, "Do you two want to go to the alps this Christmas? Or will we just leave you here and take everyone else?"
Ada rolled her eyes, and Dora made a face, but they said no more on the subject.
Charlus snorted, "This is the first boy you've brought home to meet the parents, Ellie," he teased, "Is he the one?"
Ella hated being called Ellie, which was why Charlus called her it.
She glared at him and said, "Stop being stupid, Charlus. It's not that serious."
"It's not?" Noah asked, looking at her in surprise.
Ella's cheeks flushed, "Well, we're not getting married or anything. We're only 17, you know?"
"Yeah, right," Noah said, swallowing and nodding.
Cas made a face, "Anyway, this is awkward, so I'm gonna be anywhere but here. Congrats, Mum. It's so lame that you're now in control of our entire country, but cool for you."
Hermione shook her head and gave Draco an exasperated smile.
Theo cocked his head at Draco, "It's quite frightening how similar he is to you at that age, isn't it?"
"It is a little, yeah," Draco said matter of factly, "So Noah-"
"No," Sadie said, holding up her hand, "The boy has come to a party with his girlfriend. Ella is nearly 18. She is old enough to make her own decisions."
Draco and Theo both opened their mouths to object, but Sadie turned back to Ella and Noah before they could.
"Go on, you two – dance, have fun, and ignore these two idiots."
Noah let out a sigh of relief and dragged Ella away before anything else could be said.
"This is why you're all the kids' favourite. You realise that, right?" Theo asked, smiling fondly at her.
"You're a soft touch," Hermione agreed, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Sadie shrugged and shot them all a smile, "It pays to be nice."
Almina chuckled as Teddy intertwined his fingers through hers, "You guys deserve to celebrate this win tonight. It has been a long time coming."
"Yes, it has," Hermione agreed, "Thank you, Mina."
With a smile, Almina and Teddy drifted away.
"Are we done being supportive kids now?" Ada asked, hooking her arm through Dora's.
"Why? Do you have more important things to do?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow at his daughters.
"Uh, yeah," Dora replied, "Like ten of them. Starting with how many marshmallows can we shove in our mouths, and who can fit more, me or Laurel?"
"With your big mouth, you'll win hands down," Theo retorted.
Dora stuck her tongue out, "Funny, Pops," she said.
Hermione bit her lip to hide an amused grin, "On you go, girls. Don't do anything too stupid, please."
Ada made a face, "Define too stupid."
"If your Pops would do it, it's too stupid," Sadie said.
"Hey!" Theo objected,
The girls chuckled and disappeared, leaving the four adults alone for a brief moment before their friends could bombard them.
"How did we wind up with six kids, only two with their heads screwed on, right?" Hermione asked with a shake of her head.
Sadie shot Hermione a grin, "Because the only two that take after us are Almina and Elladora."
Draco and Theo shared an affronted look.
"Are you offended yet?"
"I'm always offended."
Sadie and Hermione shook their heads at each other, both smiling at the men's antics.
"Welcome to the party, Minister for Magic Hermione freakin' Black!"
Hermione laughed and hugged Lilly, "Thank you, Lilly."
Neville grinned and hugged her, "You deserve it."
"Yes, you do," Daphne agreed, smiling at her friend.
Harry grabbed Hermione and pulled her into a tight hug, "It's been such a long time coming, but honestly, Hermione, nobody has ever deserved it more."
Hermione smiled and kissed him on the cheek, feeling tearful for the first time all night, "Thank you, Harry," she murmured.
Daphne and Lilly were sitting in a bay window, both holding glasses of champagne. They were sitting with their backs against the window frames, their legs resting on top of each other's as they watched the party unfolding.
"I've not seen Al for a while," Lilly mused as her eyes fell on Almina and Teddy, who were dancing together.
"He'll be around," Daphne said, "Where's Laurel?"
"Getting into the trouble with the Wonder Twins, no doubt," Lilly replied. She shot Daphne a smile, "Those three are their own little trio."
The Longbottom twins were playing chess in the corner of the room – being in Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, respectively, they were very different but both quite insular and happy with their own and each other's company.
Andrea sat in a corner with a book and a sound-proof bubble surrounding her to keep out the noise of the party.
"If it weren't for the fact I remember giving birth to her, I'd say she was yours," Daphne said, nudging her head in Andrea's direction.
Lilly chuckled, "But she's all you, that one."
Daphne followed her line of sight to Thea, who was trying to persuade Cas to dance with her.
"It's true, what they say," Daphne remarked, "That having a daughter means that all the things you did when you were young will come back to haunt you."
Lilly chuckled and cast her eyes away from their kids to focus on another two.
"Do they really think nobody knows?"
Daphne followed her line of sight to Charlus and Victoire. They were both of age and had left school. Charlus worked with Daphne as a Junior Curse Breaker, and Victoire was a Healer. At the moment, they were hovering in the entrance to a secret passageway, half-concealed behind a tapestry.
"Well, Bill doesn't know," Daphne said, smirking at her best friend, "But he is a Weasley."
Lilly chuckled, "Are you gonna tell him?"
Daphne raised an eyebrow, "That his perfect daughter has slept with her rebellious boyfriend on his desk?" she shook her head, "No, I'll let him work it out for himself. It's much more fun that way."
The smirk she shot Lilly made the shorter woman have to bite back a grin of her own.
Daphne knew what that meant. She pushed herself up and leaned down to murmur in Lilly's ear, "Later."
As she stalked off, catching eyes in her sparkly dress and high heels, Daphne shot one last grin over her shoulder at Lilly.
"Your wife flirting with you again?" A new voice asked as the seat Daphne had vacated was immediately taken.
Lilly gave the girl opposite her an amused look, "She's not my wife."
The girl, who was 13 and looked remarkably like Lilly (with auburn hair, bright blue eyes, a lightly freckled but slightly more tanned face), smiled, "Uh-huh."
Lilly flicked a jelly-leg jinx at her, "Shoosh, Gracie."
"Lillian!"
Lilly grimaced as her mother's dulcet tones graced the scene, "Don't hex your sister."
"I'm used to it, Mum," Grace Corner said, looking up at their mother, "I just duck now."
"That doesn't make it okay," Linda said, glaring at Lilly, "Your sister is much older than you. She knows better."
"So much older," Lilly said as she got to her feet, just in time for Michael to appear behind Linda, "So old."
She shot Michael a suggestive look, "As old as your dad, even."
Michael muttered, "Here? Really?"
"You married my mother, Michael. I don't know what you expected," Lilly said, smirking at her ex-boyfriend, "Come on, Gracie, you wanna dance?"
"Yeah!" Grace said, jumping up and heading onto the dance floor with her sister.
"Oh, look, our mums are hanging out again."
Edith Lamb-Sumner chuckled and looked up, "Shocker," she said sarcastically.
Addison Weasley grinned and sat down next to the other girl. There was a three year age gap between the two girls, and Edith had been in Ravenclaw while Addison had been in Hufflepuff. Still, they had been aware of each other at Hogwarts because their mothers had been friends for a while now.
They didn't look that dissimilar. Both had red hair, but Addison's was bright and vibrant, whereas Edith's was dark. Addison was pale and freckled, and Edith's complexion was darker and smoother. Everything about Edith was darker, from her hair down to her eyes. Addison's were baby blue, and Edith's were dark blue.
They were starkly different in personality. For the most part, Edith was quiet and reserved – a typical Ravenclaw. Addison was outgoing and boisterous, more of a Gryfindor than a Hufflepuff, her mother had said on more than one occasion.
At the moment, they were both looking at their mothers. Susan and Caroline were sitting at the bar, laughing about something and clinking their beer bottles together.
"Do you think they've worked it out yet?" Addison asked.
"Nope, they still think they're friends," Edith replied calmly.
"How can two people be so stupid?" Addison asked, rolling her eyes, "You wanna sit out on the balcony?"
Edith glanced at her mother, who was paying no attention whatsoever and said, "Yeah, sure."
The two girls slipped out together, and Addison handed Edith a cigarette.
"Does she still think you've stopped then?" Addison asked, shooting Edith a grin.
Edith leant against the railing, "If she does know, she hasn't said anything. Let's put it that way."
Addison chuckled, "I don't know why you don't just move out. I would have done if it wasn't for the massive manor we live in. I basically have my own flat in the wing I live in."
Edith shook her head, "I'm all she has. If I move out…I don't know. I don't want her to be alone."
"You're 22, Edie," Addison said, "You can't stay at home forever."
"Coming from the 20-year-old baby who has no idea what she wants to do with her life?" Edith retorted.
"I've got a job," Addison pointed out.
"Uh-huh, in the DMLE because that's what your mum wanted you to do," Edith said pointedly, "Not what you wanted to do."
"Coming from the girl who is literally her mother's apprentice?" Addison asked, and then she blew out a ring of smoke.
"That's different, I've always wanted to follow in my mother's footsteps, but you don't want to work in the DMLE. You're bored, Addie."
Addison couldn't argue with Edith, not when she was spot on.
"It's not because it's what my mum wanted me to do," Addison said quietly, her gaze on Hogwarts castle, which they could see in the distance, "It's because it's what my dad did."
Edith smiled sadly, "I can understand that."
Addison blew a ring of smoke out, "Are we at that point in our friendship already?"
"The point when we reminisce about our dead dads?" Edith quipped, "It does look like it, yes."
Addison was quiet for a moment, "He was an Auror, so I thought maybe I should be an Auror or work in the DMLE at least. I was so young when he died…I never know if anything I'm doing would make him proud."
Edith reached over and took her hand, "I never even knew my dad. But I spend my whole life trying to be someone he would have been proud of, so I get it."
Addison frowned but didn't take her hand out of Edith's, "I just keep thinking that life is too short to spend it doing someone you don't love, you know? My dad died when I was ten, he never got to see me go to Hogwarts, and it's not like he was old; he was only 35 when he died."
Edith nodded, "I know. It was different for my dad. He died young, but he also died in the line of duty."
Addison looked down, "Mum still thinks I'm traumatised, you know?"
Edith sighed, "As your friend and a mental health healer, I would agree with her. You were ten years old, and you found your dad's body."
Addison swallowed, "I didn't realise he was dead at first. I never told Mum that, but I just started talking to him about my day at school, and then I realised his eyes weren't moving. Aunt Lilly said it would have been painless and fast."
"Aneurysms are," Edith agreed softly.
Addison cleared her throat, "The point is, he died of something nobody could have done anything about. It was a complication of something that happened ten years earlier on an Auror raid that weakened his blood vessels."
She pulled her hand out of Edith's and put her wall back up, "You never know when it will be your time, and I don't want to waste the time I do have down here."
"I understand that," Edith promised, "And you will find your calling, I'm sure of it."
Addison snorted, clearly a little less sure.
Edith realised it was the end of the conversation, and truthfully, she was surprised Addison had shared as much as she had. Usually, she kept her cards close to her chest, and she was a very guarded person.
"So, where's your girlfriend tonight?" Edith asked in a bid to change the subject.
"Oh, she's in there somewhere," Addison replied offhandedly, "But she hasn't told her dad that we're together yet, so I'm keeping my distance. I'm not so great at keeping my mouth zipped shut."
"You are your mother's daughter then."
Both girls jumped when they heard that voice. They spun around to find Caroline standing in the archway to the balcony.
"Uh," Edith floundered, "I have stopped smoking. This is just…a relapse?"
Susan snorted from Caroline's side, "How stupid do you think we are?"
Caroline saw the look in Addison's eyes and said, "Don't answer that question."
Susan cocked her head at Addison, "You're a bad influence, Addison Weasley."
Addison grinned, "I'm a bad influence?"
Caroline narrowed her eyes at Edith, "You got her smoking?"
Edith made a face, "Maybe? I mean, she didn't need much convincing to be fair."
Addison slapped her hand over her heart in mock offence, "Edith, my sister in everything but blood, throwing me under the fucking bus like that?"
Susan rolled her eyes, and Caroline shook her head in amusement. She glanced over at Susan, "I don't know why we even try."
"Neither do I," Susan said, hooking her arm through Caroline's as they headed back inside, "Addison, I'm kicking you out."
"No, you aren't. You love me too much!" Addison called after her.
Edith rolled her eyes as soon as they were out of earshot, "They are the most oblivious people I have ever met."
"Tell me about it," Addison agreed, blowing out a ring of smoke and then transfiguring it into a dragon.
"Show off."
"Hey, Dad."
Theo smiled. Only one person called him that, and it was Lacey. He had been Pops or Papa for the last 15 years to his other six kids.
He turned around and smiled at her, "Hey, Lace."
Lacey sat next to him at the bar and said, "She did it."
"Yeah," Theo said, glancing over at Hermione, who was dancing with Draco. She laughed and shook her head at something he said; her hair was bouncing, and Draco was grinning from ear to ear. It made a genuine smile slip onto Theo's face.
"Where's your better half?"
"Last I checked, telling off the Wonder Twins for throwing mouldy bits of bread at people as they leave," Theo replied, shaking his head, "You know that phrase about your kids turning out like you for karma?"
Lacey laughed and nodded, "Well, we didn't all turn out like you."
"You're lucky. You got your mum's brains," Theo said with a smile, "Where is she, anyway?"
"She left a little while ago," Lacey said offhandedly, "One of their dogs is sick or something."
Sally and Jason had been married for over a decade now, and as promised, Jason hadn't tried to step into Theo's shoes with Lacey. Lacey liked Jason well enough, but he had never been a father figure to her.
"So listen, I know this probably isn't the best time or place," Lacey said, running her finger along the wooden bar, "But I need to talk to you about something, and I don't want you to freak out."
"When do I ever freak out when you tell me things?" Theo objected.
Lacey raised an eyebrow at him, "Uh, how about when Jackson proposed to me?"
"Well, he didn't ask my permission first," Theo said.
Lacey gave him a pointed look, "He didn't need to. It's an old-fashioned tradition-"
"That I happen to believe in," Theo cut in, "Teddy asked my permission. Not only that, he asked Draco too."
"Yeah," Lacey said, leaning forward, "Because Jack told him that you'd curse him if he didn't."
Theo grinned, "Well then, at least Jack learned from his mistake."
Lacey shook her head in amusement, "Has Teddy actually asked Almina yet?"
"No, not yet," Theo replied, curiously glancing over at Teddy and Almina.
Lacey cleared her throat, "Well, I'm sure he will get around to it. Now, the point is that you freaked out when Jack proposed to me, and you freaked out when I asked you to walk me down the aisle-"
Theo shrugged, "Technically, I cried. I didn't freak out."
Lacey smiled softly at him, "And you freaked out the night before my wedding. I didn't get cold feet; you did."
Theo smiled sheepishly, "Alright, so maybe I've got a little bit of history there. Still, what could be so big that you think I'm gonna freak out?"
Lacey bit her lip and caught his eye, "Are you ready to be a Grandpa?"
"What?" Theo asked bluntly.
Lacey bit back a smile, "You're freaking out, Dad."
"N…no," Theo stammered, "I'm just shocked. I mean, you? Are you having a baby? But you're still a baby!"
Lacey laughed loudly, "No, I'm nearly 30. I had to have a baby sometime!"
Theo smiled weakly, "When?"
"It's due in November," Lacey replied, smiling at him, "Jack and I are really happy."
Theo smiled tearfully and nodded, "I'm…" he cleared his throat, "I'm really happy too," he promised.
Lacey wasn't sure he meant it until he pulled her in for a hug and kissed her cheek, "Your mum know yet?"
"Yeah," Lacey said with a sheepish smile, "She worked it out when I had to throw up twice in the middle of dinner the other night."
"You could have blamed that on her cooking, to be fair," Theo joked weakly.
Lacey smacked him in the leg, "No, because I value my life."
Theo laughed, "This kid is totally gonna call me gramps, isn't it?"
Lacey grinned, "Oh yeah," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
Theo smiled as he thought back to Lacey's wedding day, which had been one of the best days of his life. Walking his baby sister, who had taken to calling him Dad sarcastically around 15 years ago, and it had stuck about 13 years ago, down the aisle had been such a great honour.
A voice sounded behind them—the familiar voice of Jackson Sheppard, Lacey's husband.
"Lacey, babe – we should probably head home."
"Yeah," Lacey said, taking her hand off Theo's to grab her husband's, "Love you, Dad."
"Love you too, Lace," Theo said, smiling over his shoulder at her as she left.
He sat there in a daze for a few minutes until Hermione appeared at the bar. As she was reaching across to grasp a bottle of whiskey, she saw the tears on Theo's cheeks.
"Theo," she said, her voice low, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Theo said, smiling tearfully at her, "Lacey's pregnant."
Hermione's eyes widened, "Is she? Oh wow, that's great!"
She waved Draco and Sadie over, and they joined Hermione and Theo by the bar.
"What's going on?" Draco asked, looking between the Nott cousins.
"You tell them," Hermione said, pouring out four shots of firewhiskey.
"Lacey's pregnant," Theo said, clearing his throat and smiling, "She asked me if I was ready to be a grandpa."
Draco grinned and patted him on the back, and Sadie smiled, kissing Theo on the cheek and murmuring, "That must mean the world to you."
"It does," Theo agreed.
Hermione levitated the glasses around, and Draco raised an eyebrow, "Shots. Is that really a good idea?"
"Depending on how you want this night to end, it could be a great idea," Hermione said, knocking hers back in one.
Draco raised an eyebrow, Theo chuckled, and Sadie shook her head in amusement.
Hermione held up her glass, "To Theo."
"To Gramps," Draco corrected, grinning at Theo as he clinked their glasses together.
The four of them knocked them back simultaneously, but their reactions were varied. Draco and Theo didn't react. Hermione made a face, and Sadie gagged at the spicy aftertaste.
"Merlin," She muttered, "I'm getting old."
"Not as old as grandpa over here."
"Oh, that's gonna get old fast."
Harry and Daphne were dancing together when Harry leaned close to murmur, "Teddy's going to propose."
Daphne chuckled, "You've just worked that out? He's been head over heels for that girl for years, Harry."
Harry smiled into her hair, "No, Daph. He's got a ring."
Daphne drew back briefly to observe him, "Really?"
Harry nodded, his eyes flitting over to his son, who had an arm around Almina. He was talking to Nick, his best friend and Auror partner. Almina was laughing about something with Nina, who was Nick's girlfriend. Their love story had been something of a funny one because, from first year when they were both sorted into Hufflepuff, Nick Wolfe and Nina Frost had hated each other until, of course, they realised that they didn't.
Teddy, Nick, and Almina had all followed in their father's footsteps to become Aurors, but Nina had branched out from the other three and was now a brilliant paediatric Healer who worked quite closely with Lilly.
"She's perfect for him," Daphne admitted, smiling at her husband, "Even if she is a Nott."
Harry chuckled lowly, "And to think when I was shown that false future, you were worried about Andrea becoming a Nott?"
Daphne smirked and leant up, kissing Harry lightly, "But neither of our daughters are becoming Nott's. Almina is becoming a Potter, so I win."
Harry just chuckled in response. Some things never changed.
"Gross. Mum and Dad are snogging again."
Andrea didn't even look up from her book, "They are so embarrassing."
"Aunt Lilly says it's nice that they're so in love," Al said, making a face, "But it's not. It's just gross."
"Speaking of Aunt Lilly," Thea said, throwing herself down next to her sister, "Her and Uncle Nev just left."
"And now Mum and Dad are leaving," Alastor said with a shake of his head, "Gross."
"Ugh, when's the portkey back to school?" Andrea complained.
"Now," Teddy said as he threw a boot down in front of them, "What are you lot complaining about?"
"Mum and Dad and their weird thing with Aunt Lilly and Uncle Nev," Thea said offhandedly, "Just think, what if none of us actually have the same Dad?"
Andrea rolled her eyes and shut her book, "Don't be so stupid, Thea."
Thea gasped in mock horror, "You might be Uncle Neville's. It would explain why you're so lame!"
Alastor snorted and kicked Thea half-heartedly.
"Right, spoiled brats who do have the same parents," Teddy said, raising an eyebrow at them, "Wanna spare a thought for us adopted kids over here?"
"Technically, you're the only one whose properly adopted," Alastor chimed in, grinning at his big brother, "They blood adopted me."
"Yeah, but can any of you lame bitches do this?" Teddy asked, closing his eyes to turn them green, then changing his hair into Harry's jet black mop.
"Yeah, yeah, end the argument with your cool Metamorphmagus shit," Thea said with a roll of her eyes, "Like we've never seen that before, Tedward."
Teddy grinned, "You've got like ten seconds to grab that boot and get your arses back to school, so adios!"
Alastor made a face, Andrea grabbed the boot without question, and Thea stuck her tongue out. Then in a whirl, they all disappeared.
Teddy shook his head, and Almina snaked her arms around him from behind, "You okay?"
"Mm," Teddy said, spinning around so that he could kiss her, "Yeah, you know I'm proud to be a Lupin and a Potter, babe."
Almina kissed him lightly, "Still, your siblings can say stupid things sometimes."
"They're kids; that's what they do," Teddy said with a chuckle, "Yours are just as bad, and Charlus is technically an adult."
"The word 'technically' being key," Almina said with a chuckle, "You wanna stay here tonight?"
"Your folks gonna be okay with that?" Teddy asked in surprise.
Almina bit her lip, "Ted, my mum just became Minister for Magic. Put bluntly, I don't think my parents will notice anything I do tonight because they are going to be so shit-faced."
"Hell yeah, let's take advantage of it," Ted said, pulling her into a secret passageway.
Almina's laughter echoed up the staircase.
The party wound down relatively early, but after all the stragglers had gone, there were still four people sitting in the ballroom bar, nursing firewhiskeys. It was well after midnight, but somehow that didn't matter.
"Do you think Charlus is even here?" Theo asked, glancing up absentmindedly.
Draco clicked his fingers and shook his head, "Nope, not according to the wards."
"Almina is," Hermione said, glancing at the other three, "One of the elves came to tell me that she had snuck a male companion into her room."
"Teddy," Sadie said with an amused smile.
"Are we going to break that up or…?" Theo asked.
Draco shook his head, "She's 21. She's an adult, and a sensible one. Besides, if she's distracted and Charlus isn't here…we practically have the castle to ourselves."
Hermione bit her lip in amusement, "I know what you're thinking."
"I'm thinking we're all in an excellent mood," Draco said, shooting her a grin.
"And very full of alcohol," Sadie added.
"What better time to congratulate you properly?" Theo finished, pushing himself off the barstool.
Hermione didn't move or answer straight away.
"Unless you're too much of a prude for that now," Draco continued, falling into step with Theo, "Now that you're Minister for Magic."
"Too much of a prude?" Hermione challenged, quirking up an eyebrow and getting to her feet, "Oh, I'll show you."
Draco and Theo shared a grin as they left the room.
"Every time", Theo mouthed at Draco, who just chuckled.
Sadie shook her head in amusement as she followed the trio upstairs.
- TBC -
