Disclaimer: As always I own nothing. Beta'd as always by my wonderful better half.

Narcissa had snapped a quick photo of the bundle of children fast asleep in Neville's room, an open copy of 'The Tales of Beadle the Bard' resting on Draco, she'd had a grateful smile on her face, the children needed to be able to be children as she doubted any of them had had proper childhood. She made a mental note to frame the pictures she'd been taking of the kids as she closed the book and tucked them in, kissing each of them on the forehead before quietly closing the door behind her. She'd padded down the corridor to her own room and mentally got her own thoughts in order before she followed them into dreamland.

Morning would see replies from Dumbledore and in light of what the two had discussed the night before the adults would request that he came over for dinner that evening. It wasn't until the kids were doing their homework that Narcissa would join them, softly asking Harry and Neville how they were doing with Potions class. She'd heard from Draco that Harry had (prior to the accident) struggled with the class and Augusta had mentioned that Neville suffered with the subject. At two bashful comments of them finding it difficult, her decision was made. "The pair of you will be joining me in the mornings." She'd announced, "We'll go over the basics, including ingredient preparation and see if we can't give Severus a heart attack with how good you'll both be!" Her confidence in them was infectious and the pair grinned at her. "Draco…I'm sure Augusta would be delighted to have your company while we're studying potions." The little blonde girl nodded with a smile, she liked the stern old woman and had made up her mind to break her stern exterior as much as possible, she knew already that Augusta adored her Grandson but she thought that Neville could do with more encouragement. She'd already gone through one self-deprecating person with Harry and she had already decided that she was going to recruit as many allies to her new project as possible, she knew that she could be referred to as arrogant but Neville and Harry were proof that too much humility had a negative effect. 'Project; Make Neville and Harry believe' was already a go, she'd made a fair amount of work with Harry but the brunette still relapsed and she'd be damned if she let either of her siblings go through life like that. They were both from old families and if it was the last thing she did, they'd act with the confidence that that required.

That days dancing lesson went off without a hitch, the kids though were already getting bored and neither Harry nor Neville's co-ordination was improving, especially as they got more fed up with the lessons. Andromeda sighed and after an hour, she'd made her decision, "Alright. That's enough for now." She smiled, beckoning them over, "I'm thinking that you might prefer a different way to improve your dancing," all three stared at her, "Fencing is an acceptable sport for young purebloods and it'll help with your co-ordination." That got her young students to brighten up and before she knew it they were happily learning to wield, of course she was having to take it slow but she could already see that some of the problems were beginning to resolve themselves and she found herself beaming with how quickly all three were picking it up. Surprisingly Neville was getting on better than the other two and it was amusing her watching the other two trying to keep up with him especially as none of them realised how much they were improving their co-ordination.

Before the kids knew it she was calling an end to their lesson, "That's all for today, I'll see you tomorrow." To her amusement they were all upset about the end of their tutoring and she was glad that she'd thought to introduce them to it. Especially as it seemed to be improving Neville's confidence.

The three had spent their day after lessons and homework outside, Neville had wanted to work in his greenhouse so the other two had offered to go with him and help, although the sandy haired boy was beginning to wonder if this was how Professor Sprout felt every lesson as he calmly corrected what they were doing. That said the other two insisted they'd learned a lot more than they ever had in Herbology, so it was three tired and grubby children who were fetched by Narcissa to go clean up before tea. None of them noticed that she'd taken a few more pictures with her trusty camera prior to letting them know that she was there.

Once cleaned up, the three tired children joined the adults and their guest, Harry and Draco sat either side of Narcissa while Neville sat opposite between his Gran and Dumbledore. The kids suspected that the headmaster wasn't just there as a social call but he seemed to have decided that food should not be sullied by that conversation. Small talk started, little things about what was going on at Hogwarts followed by amusing stories from his youth and things he'd discovered through the years. Neville was particularly fond of the stories of his Gran when she was at school, from what Dumbledore told them, and how red her face went, she'd been quite the prankster at school. Giving young Charlus Potter a run for his money especially after she caught the younger Potter heir in broom closet with Dorea Black, Dumbledore had clarified to the confused teens that that was a couple who later married. His eyes twinkled and his lips twitched as he told them that they later had a kid who they named James. Harry's eyes lit up at that on the realisation that it was her grandparents he was talking about and that meant Augusta had known them, she made a mental note to ask the older woman about them later.

Albus had chuckled and told them about a prank which he'd always suspected was Augusta but he'd never been able to able to prove it, where the prankster had linked the charm series to the then Headboy's badge. Augusta had scoffed and muttered something about arrogant idiots deserving it. Dumbledore had laughed loudly and thanked her for answering an old mystery. Draco had begged to know that had happened and the headmaster laughed again. "She'd set a series of charms that when activated changed the targets uniform into frilly little princess dresses, complete with tiaras and the secondary set changed their voices to match and forced them to waltz with each other whenever anyone said any form of their name."

"Who was it?" Neville asked.

"Do we know them?" Harry and Draco finished.

"…." Dumbledore hesitated, he knew that Harry at least would recognise the name and unless he was very much mistaken it was likely that Draco would too. As such he was loath to tell them.

The answer was taken out his hands, "It was a lad named Tom Riddle, think your grandfather Abraxas was one of the included ones." Augusta told them, given who she knew to have donned a white mask, she'd always suspected what had happened to the 'charismatic' Tom Riddle.

Dumbledore met her eyes and Harry's wide ones and hoped that the girl wouldn't say what he thought she was about to. "You Pranked Voldemort?!" Harry practically yelled, they could almost hear the punctuation falling into place, but they could all definitely hear the pure admiration and awe in her voice.

Augusta flushed, "if that's who Tom became than yes…I might have pranked him a fair few times during my years at school." Neville stared at his Gran in admiration, he'd never been more surprised nor proud of her.

All too soon the group was sitting in the drawing room and the conversation moved onto more serious matters. Narcissa quickly gave Dumbledore a rundown of what the girls had told her about the memory bleeding, and the old wizard looked his age his expression grim. He rubbed his face thinking, "If you don't mind my asking Harry, Draco, what do you remember from your childhoods."

The pair looked at each other, silently deciding who would speak first, "I remember a fat walrus of a man and a skinny woman with a shrill voice, who'd bang on my cupboard door screeching at me to get up." Draco scowled, she'd talked to Harry about it and the younger girl had looked embarrassed, explaining that those were her muggle relatives, "They usually feel like bad dreams, they have the same kind of clarity but unreal feeling as a dream." She'd finished, she remembered a lot more but for Harry's sake she'd rather not elaborate on how bad the raven-haired girl's life was like with them.

Harry opened her mouth but Dumbledore held up a hand, "What do you mean Cupboard door?" The headmaster's voice was careful and controlled but he sounded like he was furious yet not with the children.

Harry swallowed, especially when Draco looked at her expectantly, "…until my letter came I slept in the cupboard under the stairs."
"The first letter was addressed there," Draco added knowing that Harry wouldn't mention that.
"….Accidental magic would see me locked in there." Harry looked down but before she could wallow too much in her shame and embarrassment, Narcissa had pulled her onto her lap and wrapped her arms around her.

"…I…" Dumbledore looked his age as a tear trickled down his face, "I never knew my dear." Draco's expression softened with the elderly headmaster's reaction, "The letters are addressed by an enchanted quill and automatically taken away by the house elves to be posted, had I know I'd have let you stay with me that first summer." His expression tightened, "Even if that would have meant that you'd have had a very boring year with me." Harry giggled weakly, she could never imagine that life with the headmaster would be boring. "Narcissa?" The blonde looked up, "I…I hope I'm not being presumptuous in asking if you'd be willing to have Harry live with you full time?"

The blonde had a slightly haughty expression but she smiled showing it was fake, "Albus. I was intending to fight you for Harry, she's as good as my daughter and frankly I couldn't be gladder."

Augusta looked at the blonde with her two children and her decision was made, "Narcissa dear?" when she had her full attention, she continued, "Harry is Neville's godsister and frankly I'm rather fond of all three of you. The rooms upstairs are yours as long as you wish to live here." Narcissa's eyes filled with tears, her expression grateful as unable to head over to the older woman, Draco and Neville however hugged Augusta for the elder blonde. Dumbledore wiped his eyes relieved that things were looking up for Harry.

Harry looked up and grinned at Narcissa, "I remember you reading to me and tucking me into bed." Her head tilted, "I remember you crying in the rose garden but I don't know why." Narcissa went pale, but Harry continued "They seem the same as how Draco describes mine."

Augusta looked at the blonde, "…I…" Narcissa looked down, "I didn't realise that Draco had seen me, I was hiding from Lucius." She really didn't want to elaborate especially in front of the children.

"It would probably be best if the girls and Neville learn Occlumency, I would teach you myself however I don't think that's wise. Severus would be best I think." The headmaster spoke again.

The kids all protested loudly. Narcissa frowned, "Albus with all due respect you need absolute trust to learn Occlumency, while I don't disagree that Severus is incredibly skilled in the mind arts, he wouldn't be the best person to teach the children….as a Black I taught it from a young age I could teach it."

Augusta smiled at her young friend, "From what Neville has told me, the girls have conflicting memories of Severus, whereas they'll only have good ones for Narcissa and failing being able to learn from her, I could teach them." She nodded to her friend, "My family wanted me to learn so we could always swap around as to which of us is teaching." The kids nodded eagerly.

Dumbledore beamed, "Well that solves that issue and it should help with your memory issues." The kids all nodded eagerly, it would be a cool thing to learn even if it would be hard work.

Augusta looked at Narcissa who nodded her expression serious, "We're going to go and see Fudge about getting rid of the dementors and would appreciate if you'd like to go with us."

Dumbledore looked weary, "I've been down every weekend to try to get them removed but the Minister won't listen to reason."

Harry bit her lip, she hated going past the nasty cold things, "Ma? Does it have something to do with what happens when I go past them?" neither of the two realised what Harry had called her, but the blonde nodded and at Dumbledore's inquisitive look, Harry continued, "I remember hearing someone at the door, dad yelling 'Lily it's him, take Harry and run.' A flash of green before a high pitched voice goes, 'Stand aside you silly girl'…" Harry broke off tears running down her face.

Dumbledore looked furious, a palatable aura of power surrounding him, "Harry. Dementors force you to relive your worst memories, none of us thought what that would mean for you and possibly even the other children who lived through the first war. Perhaps if we bring that news to the Minister we could convince him."

"…." Neville looked shifty, audibly swallowing, "…Professor." He raised his chin, taking a deep breath, "It might help if wasn't just Harry." He steeled himself, "They make me remember…I hear the explosion and see her face before the screaming starts. I think it's mum who says, 'Not my baby' and then I just see mum crouching over me before she starts shaking, and eventually she starts screaming too. It lasts for ages and then…she stops screaming." Harry and Draco launched themselves at the boy who like Harry had tears streaming down his face. With the kids comforting each other it was no surprise that the three didn't realise instantly that both Narcissa and Augusta had moved over to them and wrapped their arms around the sobbing children.

"We'll deal with Fudge tomorrow." Dumbledore said, he was furious, both at the Minister and himself for not realising what they had done.

Morning saw the group splitting up, Narcissa took Harry and Neville off to teach them potions while Draco found herself sprawled on a sofa opposite Augusta. The older woman seeing the intent look that the blonde was giving her smiled and suggested that they head outside. Draco had looked confused and the old matriarch laughed softly. "I suspect that you and Harry intend to teach Neville to fly." She smiled knowingly, fully believing that the pair refused to have a sibling who couldn't fly, "I wish to see for myself, I'd never have been a quidditch player, but I can fly." She rose to her feet, raising her eyebrows as Draco sat stupidities for a moment before bounding to her feet and rushing to the door. Augusta hadn't flown for years but she calmly settled herself demurely side-saddle and rose to the air even as the blonde flew literal circles around her. As they flew she pointed out different things and gave the young girl an impromptu tour of the estate from above. It felt merely minutes later when the swan patronus shot through the air asking if they could head back as the kids needed to get changed to head to the burrow, and Augusta found herself feeling melancholy about having to stop. "We will have to go flying again." She spoke softly before a thought hit her, "Have you even flown a hippogriff or Abraxan?" at the shake of a head she smirked, "Might have to see if I can get some before summer so I can teach you and we can add that to our days."

Before long the children were dropped off at the Weasley's, the two gave her a quick explanation before flooing to the Ministry to meet up with Dumbledore. The very prestigious trio were given a wide berth on their way up to meet Fudge, a few employees gave them a fearful look after all a few months back it would have meant the end of the world was nigh to see a Malfoy and a Longbottom flanking Dumbledore. Fudge's office door was very quickly opened for the three and Fudge gave them a beaming smile which faded slightly when he saw their expressions.

"What can I do to help you three today?" He wondered what was serious enough to have these three together in his office, it had slipped his mind what all three had in common.

"…We want the dementors gone." Narcissa started calmly.

Fudge's eyes widened and he shook his head about to make excuses but Augusta didn't give him a chance, "You do recall that they cause someone to re-live their worst memories?" She asked calmly, at the confused expression the rage from the night before boiled over, "Are you aware that my Grandson can now accurately describe to you what it looks like to see and hear someone subjected to the Cruciatus curse?"

Fudge went white, whipping his bowler hat off of his head, Narcissa opened her mouth and he shook his head frantically. Rubbing his face tiredly, "Please Lady Malfoy, I think I can guess what you are going to say, give me a moment while I summon Madam Bones." The two women frowned and he gave them a grim smile, "She should be here, after all she does have a child in Hogwarts too."

Moments later, a scowling Madam Bones stalked into the office, she looked like she was about to say something, but she took in the group and her expression gave way to confusion. "Madam Bones, my apologies for interrupting your day." The woman in question looked suspicious, but the Minister chuckled grimly, "I have been made aware of how idiotic and detrimental my idea of protecting our children. I was hoping that you would be willing to part with some of your most trusted Aurors to take the Dementors place at Hogwarts." He rubbed his face again thinking, "I would appreciate if you would stand with me when I do a public apology and announce what we're doing instead….however between us, I want the Aurors to be your most trusted as Black must stand trial."

Dumbledore looked taken aback, "Sirius' trial?"

Fudge waved a hand in his direction, staring intently at his green hat, "Later. This needs to be dealt with before the kids go back to school. I'm going to insist that every student in Hogwarts has a full and confidential meeting with a St Mungo's mind healer along with Madam Pomfrey, to ensure that they don't have any lasting or prior issues brought on by the Dementors. Paid in full by the ministry of course, I am aware that some families may well not be able to afford it otherwise." He beamed suddenly, "I'll need to have a word with Arthur Weasley." Everyone blinked but the Minister didn't elaborate. "For the time being, I wish to apologise to you both Lady Malfoy, Lady Longbottom while also thanking you for bringing this to my attention and my only regret is that the children suffered for it to be realised."

While Fudge had been in office, Dumbledore had had many thoughts on his old friend and seen several sides of the Politician however…this was a new one and while he would have to get answers later about the Sirius situation he was interested in where it was going to go, and this Fudge might well be able to change the wizarding world…for the better.

Molly had been tempted to send the children outside to De-Gnome the garden however she had decided to keep them inside at least until her two daughters arrived with Neville.

"I'M BACK!" two voices yelled together loudly as the door slammed back on its hinges, Molly chucked fondly to herself as she could hear Narcissa chastising the girls and found herself echoing the younger blonde as her twins rushed passed her.

"HONEY! WE'RE HERE!" The twins had seemingly appeared in front of them and each grabbed one of the girls spinning them around. Neville looked over-whelmed but before he knew it the twins were being clipped around the ear and he was being hugged tightly by Molly who pushed him into the kitchen before shoving a huge plate of food in front of him.

The twins were talking a million miles an hour telling the girls about their holidays…which had been all of two days and Neville was pretty sure that they'd embellished tonnes into their break. After all he'd heard enough about Molly to know for a fact that she'd never allow the pair of them to go and hunt bowtruckles let alone Dragons during their holidays. He must of looked out of place as the eldest Weasley child at home sat down beside him and gave him a knowing smile, "Draco," Percy spoke in his usual pompous way, "Congratulations on joining us Blood Traitors." The table instantly silenced, the twins staring at him with wide eyes, even as the blonde grinned widely at him before beginning to giggle.

"FRED! GEORGE!" Molly yelled, "…Percy?" It had dawned on her which of her children had spoken. The twins exploded into cackles, delighted that not only had their elder brother gotten into trouble, he'd gotten into trouble for a joke. The Weasley Matriarch let out a long suffering sigh and returned to feeding the children up, eventually stomachs would be fit to burst and she'd beam at them before turning the whole lot outside to play in the snow…including Percy much to his disgruntlement.

Round two of the battle for snowball supremacy would commence, Fred quickly trying to claim Harry but the Raven haired girl grinned. "We'd be better doing pairs and I claim Draco." She'd smirked, that same smirk that always freaked Ron out due to the similarity to the previous incarnation of Draco. George had seen the vein that the two were planning to take and had grabbed his twin, Ron could already foresee a tonne of cold snow in his face with a clarity that would have made Trelawney proud. Eventually it was decided that he'd have Ginny and Neville would be on a team with Percy, preparation had already begun by the time that it had been decided and his sister had some of the most devious plans for how to win against the twins.

Harry and Draco seemed to have forgone defence and just stockpiled snowballs, the pair of them were watching calmly as the Weasley's and Neville each built some form of fort or wall. Draco got a mischievous smirk on her face and with a wink at Harry picked up a snowball in each hand before lobbing them (with skill that would have made Flint change chasers in an instant) at the back of Georges head. The ginger screeched so high pitched that everyone stared at Ginny thinking it was her who'd gotten hit, while everyone was staring at Draco, Harry had snuck around so that she was hidden by the others forts. George had been too shocked to retaliate but Fred had no such caveats and threw one at the blonde only for the slight girl to show them all her grace as she dodged. Getting hit by one from Neville as she grabbed another, her cry of indignation was Harry's cue and before anyone knew it Fred was hit from behind his own defences. Ron was shocked to see that if Neville hadn't had his flying issue the sandy haired boy would have been a terrifying chaser with his skill and aim at hitting dodging targets especially Harry and Draco who were seemingly avoiding most attacks by either not being there or using the other's as defence. Ginny was the only other one who could hit the duo. Before long everyone was shivering, the scent of hot chocolate drifted out of the cottage and like a stampede of hippogriffs the group charged the delicious smell.

Neville had been bringing up the rear when he heard a soft tinkling he'd not noticed before over the sound of their shouting and laughing, his head tilted curiously and he found himself heading towards it. He nearly tripped down a hole but caught himself….only to see the source of the sound.

"MRS WEASLEY." He yelled as he bolted into the kitchen, the red headed woman looked worried and blinked in shock, but Neville didn't notice that or the fact that everyone else was staring at him with dropped jaws. "You have Snow Bells?!"

Molly laughed relieved, she'd thought that he'd been injured or something had happened, before her brow crinkled slightly as she registered what he'd said, "Snow bells?"

Neville nodded franticly, "You have Snow Bells growing in the garden! How did you do it?" She shook her head, wiping her hands on her apron before gesturing to him to show her, the boy hurriedly lead the way to where he'd seen the flowers. When the rest of the group followed, he'd gestured to them to keep quiet, as silence fell they all heard the tinkling. The flowers were beautiful, all shaped like tiny bells, the centres seeming to have tiny ringers in them, they were such a pure white that they glowed almost silvery in the light and to Harry the sound was similar to when she'd heard Fawkes.

"They're gorgeous." Harry found herself whispering so as not to distract from the sound.

Neville nodded, "They need an abundance of magic both ours and that of other creatures to grow, house-elves' magic isn't the right kind so theirs doesn't work."