Unexpected Things

KeysCanHurt: Haha, yeah... I miss them na rin...Haha, overused gel, but still cute =)) What ifs can bring about the greatest moodswings, doncha think? Eh, if he told her, it'd be harder for her to let go kasi she might think na may chance siya :P WHOO! I have the power to change your mind. MWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! I remember there was a teacher or something who told us that during some assembly, pero I can't remember anymore :)) Eh kasi naman she became a Quidditch churva instead of a Ministry chever =)) :P hmm... it could be one of those items ;)

MalfoyMaiden:*hugs*

Guess Who: Congratulations on living. :P =)) DRUGS?!?! =)) DUDE! =)) Randomness! =)))

crazy-wee-cat: Haha, great xD The twins won't be here :( They will be next chapter though! :D

yellow 14: Haha, depending on the way ya look at it, it COULD be something dark and dangerous ;)

SiriuslyDistracted: Awww :) Yeah... it sucks to be Rose in the last chapter.. :( Haha, that Truth or Dare chapter is pretty popular now =)) Haha, NO :P I have grades and pride to think about once in a while =))

Lonely Traveler: Thanks for adding this story to your alerts and favorites lists :D Haha, thanks. And yeah... true :))

Reneeogg, Curly96: Thanks for Story Alert-ing this :D

XxXAishiteruXxX: Haha, well he WAS under pressure. Conscience or impulse? Aawww, that sucks. Dang school keeping us writers from doing what we love :|

Sorry for the wait. School's hell, as usual xP

Chapter Thirty-Three

Parents

It was too late to be evening and too early to be morning. It was long past midnight yet long before dawn. Nearly all the lights were already out, except for the lamp on the little stand next to the couch. Shadows blanketed the living room and silence filled the air.

The children, the pet ferret and the house-elf guest were asleep, the owls were hunting, the husband was out, and the wife waited, anxious and frustrated.

Ginny was well aware of the fact that ever since they first met each other, trouble seemed to stalk Harry, her husband, Ron, her brother, and Hermione, her best friend.

Heck, trouble followed Harry before he was even born!

But he wasn't helpless. She knew that. Still, it frustrated her, not being able to help. It felt like their old school days all over again whenever those three ran off to take care of Ministry business, leaving her with the children. She hated it back then when they left her in school while they risked their necks. She hated it now, with the situation basically the same.

At the sound of the door being unlocked, Ginny agilely leaped to her feet, just as the door swung open.

Harry stepped in looking tired, his brow was furrowed and he looked displeased. It must not have gone well. But she still felt the urge to snap.

"Well? You, Ron and Hermione go rushing off once again, leaving me to be the babysitter. Who said you could just charge off like that, with barely a goodbye?"

Harry blinked, staring at her blankly, as if he didn't know how to react.

"What took so long?" She challenged fiercely. It was her worry and frustration that added the edge to her tone and actions. Mostly her worry. She forced herself to relax before finally admitting in a softer tone. "I was worried."

"I'm fine," He walked towards her, putting on a smile, though she knew it was only to reassure her.

"Right, you say you're fine." Ginny rolled her eyes. They were standing close to each other now, the distance between them miniscule. Locking his green eyes with her brown gaze, she said. "Now what's the truth?"

Harry's shoulders sagged. "We arrived just as they were about to leave. There was a brief duel between us and stragglers. But they Apparated before anything could escalate into a huge battle."

"No one was hurt?" She put her arms around his waist and pressed herself against him, not taking her eyes away from his.

He shook his head, then sighed. "It's getting frustrating though. We can't get a good look at that… gang or whatever they are. So it's hard to place who they are or what they want. Plus their victims… those bastards wipe their memories clean."

"Anything connecting the victims? Anything at all?"

"Well…" Harry's eyes broke away from hers to look at the ceiling thoughtfully while his hands stroked her hair. "It's worth mentioning that we found in their homes burnt paper, melted metal… things like that. But nothing else in their homes damaged. Ron got a good look at this thing in the man's house. And… It was a gold medallion, coated in ash, and it looked like they tried to destroy it too, but didn't have much time because we arrived… And... when we wiped the ash off that thing… there… there was a symbol on it. It looked… like…"

His hand stopped and his eyes widened.

Three figures hid in the shadows, one tall, one small, and one in between. They leaned forward, to hear what would happen next, but were wary of getting too close to the lamplight, where they may get caught.

"What?" Mum asked, urging Dad to continue.

"Cookie, stop tugging at my clothes!" Lily hissed, but the little ferret would not stop. She kept pulling at Cookie's clothes with her teeth, then run in a circle, then repeat the process.

"What does she want?" James demanded in the softest volume he could manage. It must be very difficult, considering how much James loved to shout and hold conversations with a loud voice.

"I don't know." Lily replied. "She's been acting strange all night, she keeps clawing at Mum and Dad's room too."

"Did she leave a toy in there or anything?" Al asked.

"Wait... Gin, do you hear something?"

"Shoot!" James grumbled.

"Two boys and a girl seem to be out of bed." Dad sounded half amused.

"Two girls." Lily corrected. "You didn't count Cookie!"

Al couldn't help feeling frustrated. He sensed that whatever was happening, Dad wasn't going to tell them. If they asked, he'd probably say he'd tell them another time, or he'd say he didn't want them to get involved, and it was nothing to worry about.

But if Mum was worried, why shouldn't they worry too?

It was crowded. Many wizarding families were in Platform 9 ¾, the parents saying goodbye to their children, who were going back to school.

Somewhere further ahead, Hermione saw the Potters. Harry left early; he was busiest of all, being Head of the Auror Department. They were still working on finding out who the members of gang were, but they had at least one theory regarding why they attacked those people.

She watched as Dobby Jr. hugged Al, James and Lily in turn, planting big, wet kisses on their cheeks while he wrapped his little arms around their necks.

The House Elf was adventurous and daring, more so than his father and namesake. About twenty or thirty years before now, such traits would have gotten him beaten- if not by selfish wizard masters, then by his own mother, Winky. But things have changed, and Hermione was proud that she had helped bring about that change. Dobby Jr. could travel where he wished without any trouble from discriminatory people, since he did things that were fully within his rights. Winky too, had finally adjusted. She still lived in Hogwarts, and sometimes sent Hermione letters about life in Hogwarts.

Hermione had been tempted on occasion to ask Winky to spy on their children for her.

But where would the trust between herself and her children go?

As Rose was hugging her, Hermione stroked her daughter's hair and whispered. "Rose, dear, is there something you want to talk about before you leave?" Rose's eyes widened. Hermione wasn't blind. She could tell when her daughter was bothered by something. At first, she'd decided to wait for Rose to come to her. But that didn't happen, so, at the last moment, she decided to ask Rose.

Pulling away from the hug to look her daughter in the eye, Hermione spoke seriously. "You know you can tell me everything, don't you?"

Rose nodded, "Yeah, I know… thanks." Smiling, Rose added. "I'm okay, Mum."

Hermione smiled back at Rose. "Alright then." Maybe it was best to wait until Rose was ready to share her problems.

"Be good!" Ron told their children as he gave Rose a hug. "No fighting with each other. And make sure your House wins the House Cup!"

Rose and Hugo looked at each other. Rose frowned, Hugo grinned. Then the two looked up at their parents and said in chorus. "We will!"

Their trunks were already on the train, so all they had to do was get on board. With one last wave, Rose left.

Hugo hesitated. Hermione also wished she could ask Winky what House Hugo was really in. But she should first try asking Hugo directly.

"Hugo… what House are you in?"

"Hemione, why're you asking that? Of course Hugo's in Gryffindor!"

She wanted to hear Hugo say it. Ever since Hugo's second letter last September, Hermione couldn't help wondering if Hugo really was in Gryffindor.

"Uhh…" Hugo glanced from her to Ron, then back.

"We won't be mad if you're not in Gryffindor." She reminded him gently, while giving Ron a warning look. She would not let him repeat the insane things he did when he found out Al was in Slytherin.

"I'minslytherin. Gottagobye!" Hugo spoke quickly, in one breath before running out of sight.

"WHAT?" Ron's yell was surprisingly audible even if the train's whistle blew, signaling its departure. The train began to move, and Ron was still staring at it with his eyes and mouth wide open.

"Wait! Wait! Hugo! Are you kidding?" Ron began running in the station alongside the train, yelling at a window. "Hugo! HUGO! Are you serious? HUGO! WAIT! I-"

Ron was silenced when he crashed into someone, knocking that person over as the two hit the floor.

Hermione sighed.

Really, she loved Ron, but sometimes, she seriously wished he thought things over more thoroughly, and exercised a bit more self control.

Raph listened quietly as Rose leaned against him, burying her face into his jacket. His arm was around her, while his other hand stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry, Raph." She whimpered.

He didn't know what to say. What the hell was Malfoy thinking? Was he insane? What, because Kron made out with his girlfriend, he was going to go and snog other guys' girlfriends?

A part of him was… hurt. It was this… stabbing, twisting, constricting feeling somewhere in his chest.

Another part of him was enraged. He felt his blood boil at the very thought of Malfoy and that rat's lips touching Rose's. That part wanted to hunt down Malfoy and let him have his punishment for hurting Rose. That part wanted to hex, jinx, curse, throttle or punch. That part wanted to rip… tear…

"You're angry…" Rose noted. Raph became aware of how tense he was. Rose must have felt it.

He forced his muscles to relax and let his shoulders sag. "At Malfoy, yes." He growled.

"Please… don't fight him." She had lifted her head and was looking him in the eye.

Raph looked away from her watery brown eyes. He glared out at the window. Trees sped past. Earlier, Katy and Al had been in the compartment with them, but left to give them privacy. He'd thank them later.

At the moment, he felt anything but gratitude.

"Why not?"

"Please?" she begged.

Raph sighed.

The things he'd do for her. "Fine."

"I'll get over him." She promised, resting her head on his shoulder.

Another part of him wanted to yell at her to build a dam to block out her damn feelings for other people.

That's what he always did. Whenever he'd begin being attracted to other people, he'd stop himself. He'd find a fault and focus on that fault. He'd be over before the feeling even got to grow.

Why couldn't she do that?

A part of him wanted to ban her from speaking to Malfoy.

But he wouldn't do that. He couldn't do that.

That would be suffocating.

He didn't want to suffocate her.

Rose would get over Malfoy. Raph trusted her.

Raph planted a kiss on her forehead. "I know ye will." He hoped so.

"Wow, Hugo!" Lysander patted Hugo's back.

"That sure shocked your dad." Lorcan ruffled Hugo's hair.

"Congratulations!" Lily knew that Hugo had managed to escape telling his parents what House he was in for practically half the school year. She was proud of him for finally telling Uncle Ron.

"The look on your dad's face!" Lysander laughed.

"Priceless." Lorcan nodded.

Most people couldn't seem to tell the difference between the the Scamander twins. After all, it wasn't as easy to tell them apart as it was Tom and Theo, who had different eye colors. But Lily had figured it out.

Lysander had edgier features, and his personality was louder and more excitable than Lorcan's. Lorcan's softer features matched his calmer personality. Lysander's eyes were a somewhat brighter shade of blue than Lorcan's were. Lysander was more playful, Lorcan was a bit more serious.

But nevertheless, both were fun companions, and both constantly talked about strange creatures Lily couldn't quite believe in.

"So were you able to find any Mangguggols?" Hugo asked, changing the subject.

The twins' smiles faded. "No…" Lorcan sighed, then he corrected Hugo. "By the way, it's Manananggal."

"I could've sworn I saw one flying overhead! But then when I looked at the sky again, I couldn't find it…" Lysander added.

"Lysander, that was a bat, remember?"

"It could have been a Manananggal!"

"And cows fly."

"Mom said that was a possibility!"

"Dad said it isn't!"

"Cows fly?" Hugo and Lily exchanged looks of disbelief before staring at the twins, expecting an explanation.

Lysander opened his mouth to explain, but before a single word could exit his mouth, the compartment door slid open and a big, scary-looking third year entered. Lily knew she wasn't very tall, but this third year really made her feel like… like she was a small as Cookie!

On her lap, Cookie woke at the sound of the opening door, and bristled upon seeing the intruder.

"Out!" the third year growled.

Missing the awesome Slytherin twins yet? Worry not, they make their triumphant return in the next chapter ;)

Oh, and just so y'all know, Harry hasn't noticed yet anything missing from his and Ginny's room, but he will soon. Because he's gonna need it sooner or later.