Two of a Kind

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters therein. We do, however, own Persiopeia Black and all other original characters created for this story.

Chapter 12: Familiar Faces, Unfamiliar Settings

Pia's pov

"Not all of them," Draco said, and my jaw dropped. He'd not only heard but remembered what Titus Black said about my parentage. And now he was going to turn me over to my extended Weasley family!

"You're not serious," I said to Draco, and I could feel my cheeks start to burn. I wanted to cry, and the tears were forming on their own, but I couldn't let them fall. Not here, in front of Draco, Snape, and all those other people.

"Draco's right, Persiopeia. You're a Weasley, by admission of your so-called 'parents'. You need to stay with family, and the Weasleys are all you've got. Draco and I will take you there ourselves, and we'll collect you Sunday evening to take you back to Hogwart's," Snape said, and I heard the finality of the situation in his voice.

Kingsley Shacklebolt, his assistants, Mathilda Gotwaite and her assistants (AN: the MLE people) had finished their investigation and meeting. Mathilda, a portly middle-aged witch who looked as if she should be dandling grandchildren and baking and eating cookies was the first to speak.

"Now, Persy," she began, and I shot her a dirty look.

"Don't call me 'Persy'. You may address me as Persiopeia or Miss Black, but not 'Persy'," I said coldly. We'd already gotten off on the wrong foot, it would appear. Perhaps it should be Miss Weasley now?

"Miss, we'll allow Professor Snape and young master Malfoy to take you to your next of kin. As Ronald Bilius Weasley was Arthur Weasley's twin brother, you will be staying with his family, no argument. As for the events that took place in this manor today, I declare all three of you innocent. Anything done was in self-defense, and the death of Necromana Black was quite obviously an accident. As for Black Manor and all properties and effects therein, you will be informed at a later date as to what will be done with them. Good day," and with a POP! Mathilda Gotwaite and her assistants Apparated to Merlin-knows-where.

Shacklebolt shared a look with his assistants and Snape before he looked to me. "You'd best learn to make do, Persiopeia. You may keep your last name for now, but you may find that you are required to take your birth-father's last name. Do you want me to take you to the Burrow?" Shacklebolt's voice was kind as he finished, but I looked to Draco.

"We'll take her, sir. No need to put her through any more today, now is there?" Draco said, but he averted his eyes from mine. It was only late Friday afternoon; it was going to be a long weekend, getting to know my new family.

"Am I not to have any say in the matter? Why can't I just go back to the school?" I asked; I knew that once I was confirmed as a Weasley, there was no going back. I just didn't know what would happen between Draco and me once that happened.

"'Pia, it's time for you to listen to those who know what is best for you. We're not just going to ship you off to live with the Weasleys. But you are an underage wizard, and as such the safest place for you to be is with close blood relatives. You will do as you are told, and you will be civil. Besides, how would you marry into a prestigious family like that of the Malfoys if you don't accept your blood?" Snape said, and I blushed as he hit my most tender part: I wanted Draco, and as long as he wanted me, I wanted to be his, to marry him.

"Yes, Professor," if he wanted to be cold, so could I. "No need for young master Malfoy to join us, then?"

Draco's pov

No way in hell as I just going to let Pia go off to family she'd never spent any time with alone. Especially the Weasleys, a family that had no reason to treat her any better than we'd ever treated her own children. Yes, they shared red hair and that famous temper. But Pia had skin that tanned, it didn't burn or freckle, the way Ron and Ginny's tended to. Maybe Ginny would be like a sister to her, and the boys like brothers.

That was bad. Pia would inherit six boy cousins, more like brothers, because she'll be living in the same house, plus she's had no brothers up till now, might as well call them brothers; five of them older and therefore very jealous and apt to do me bodily harm for looking at Pia. Period. I knew from guys at school that one Ravenclaw that had shown particular interest in Ginny had gotten a visit from both Bill and Charlie Weasley, the eldest Weasley boys. Other than that, Percy Weasley and Ron kept boys away, save Potter. I don't know what they all saw in him, but apparently he was good enough for the Weasley princess. Or one of them, now that Pia was a Weasley.

Would I be good enough for my Weasley princess?

Pia's pov

Snape and Draco took me to the Burrow in the dead of night; I thought it was most like the stories of when Potter was dropped off at his family's home after his parents' deaths. All that was missing was Hagrid and his motorcycle. I grew sicker as we drew closer to the Burrow. We could not Apparate directly into the Burrow, out of courtesy for Mrs. Weasley.

We Side-Along Apparated to a site about ten minutes' walk from the Burrow. I attached myself to Draco's hand; I didn't want to let go, but I knew that I'd have to when we arrived and Mrs. Weasley descended on me. I looked from Draco's steely-blue eyes to Snape's stony black ones. Neither would reveal anything to me, and therefore I was left to my own thoughts as we trudged towards the dark dwelling.

"Did it occur to anyone to let them know what was happening? Are the Weasleys expecting me?" I asked, desperate to break the silence that had descended on the three of us.

"No, Pia, we have not notified Arthur or Molly. Bear in mind that to them, Ronald is long dead with no heir. Better to shock them at once than twice in quick succession on one night," Snape said as we arrived at the gate that would lead us into the yard before we entered the house.

"And you're just going to leave me here all alone? You'll go back to your family home, Draco will go to Malfoy Manor, and I'll stay here, at the Burrow, all alone?" I said, stopping in my tracks. I'd had quite enough of the whole thing, and I wasn't letting those two off that easy.

"Stop being so dramatic, Pia. You'll not be alone you're gaining an entire extended family. You'll have six brothers, basically, and a sister. You'll never be lonely in this house. And if it's too bad here, perhaps Tonks will take you in," Snape said exasperatedly.

"Pia, from now on, you'll never be lonely. You're a Weasley now, and they look after their own. I know you'll be safe here," Draco said quietly. I looked at him and I think I saw him, really saw him, for the first time that night.

A light drizzle had started when we had arrived outside the Burrow, and by the time we had reached the gate, it was pouring. Draco's long platinum blonde hair was wet, and he was soaked to the bone like me. His hands were scratched, and his face looked gaunt after the ordeal. Blood had collected at the back of his head, where the skin had split when Titus pounded him into the floor. His breathing was labored from the fight. I reached out to him, and my robes fell away from my torso.

Draco hissed a breath before reaching out and pulling my robes back together for me. I looked down and saw why. My shirt was ripped to shreds and my bra was held together by strings, but that wasn't it. My neck and chest was laid almost completely open from my mother's first lucky attack. It was as if hadn't even seen the wounds before, and the pain was new and awful.

"Sorry you had to see that, love," I whispered, mortified. I should have noticed, but instead I put him through the experience again. I was sure that he had seen the act that gave me the wound. I turned to Snape. "Any chance you could heal this for me before Mrs. Weasley sees me?"

"Sorry, but no. I'm not too good with healing spells. Molly Weasley will be better at healing this than I would. We're almost there, so be patient and don't move your torso too much," Snape said. He put a hand on my shoulder and one on Draco's. "Mr. Malfoy, if there is anything you must say privately to 'Pia, I suggest that you say it before we breach the Weasley stronghold."

"I have nothing to say," Draco said in a voice without emotion. I wanted to cry out to him, but Snape marched us into the Weasley kitchen and bellowed for Mrs. Weasley.

Snape sat me down at the large kitchen table in the Weasley home and I waited for a family I had never known. Draco stood by the window, determinedly staring out; Snape paced until we heard footsteps coming down stairs. Snape came to stand before me, and motioned for me to stand myself. I rose and tried to arrange my robes to cover my shredded clothing and ruined chest. Sighing, I gave up and stared at the two sleepy redheads who ran into the kitchen.

"Severus, what is going on?" Arthur Weasley said, but his wife cut him to the chase.

"Snape, why have you brought Malfoy here? And the girl, who's she?" Molly Weasley. "Have you any idea what time it is? And the boys are only here for a short while; they are exhausted, they don't need to woken up in the middle of the night by professors on fool's errands."

"Molly, quiet. Look at her her eyes; that green is unmistakable. We haven't had those eyes in the family since" Arthur broke off quietly. Molly stopped her tirade and turned to stare at Pia.

"Snape, what is the meaning of this?" Molly whispered. "Draco, could you leave us alone?"

I spoke up at that point. "Draco, please don't leave. Not now, not until this is all straightened out."

"May I have the pleasure of introducing Persiopeia Cornelia Weasley Black?" Snape asked me more than he actually announced my parentage. Arthur and Molly Weasley shared a look and sat down heavily in two of the many chairs scattered around the table. Draco turned from his place at the window and came to stand by me, in the space between Snape and me. He slipped his arm around my shoulders and kissed me in front of my aunt and uncle. "Knock it off, Malfoy. This is neither the time nor the place for you two to be doing that."

We heard two more sets of footsteps coming close. I brought my wand up, ready for anything. I was on edge after the night's events. I let out the breath I had been holding when two more redheads joined us. One was taller and lankier, but both had the same build as Ron Weasley. The one I attended school with. The taller one had the most piercing eyes I had ever seen, save for Draco. The other one had blue eyes that bordered on green, but not the green of my own eyes.

"Mum, Dad, everything alright?" the taller boy man, rather, said, his own wand held high.

"Yes, Bill, we're fine. Come meet your cousin," Molly Weasley said softly. "Persiopeia, this is your cousin, William," she motioned to the taller man, "And this is your cousin Charles," she motioned to the other man.

"You may call me Charlie. Well met, Pia," Charlie bowed to me, grabbing my hand and kissing it. "And stay away from my newest sister, got it, Malfoy?"

"You can call me Bill, Pia. We won't call you Persy. That name has somewhat of a stigma in this family, now. And I'll say the same: stay away from Pia, Malfoy," Bill and Charlie glared at Draco and came closer to tower over him.

"Knock it off, you two! He's my lover, so you'd better deal quick!" I shouted. I sat down in a chair and tried to calm my racing heart. New family, dead parents, and a boyfriend that at times wanted to marry me and at other times probably wanted to throttle me. The new family would probably never accept Draco, and sooner or later, I would have to choose. Draco would win.

Did I announce that he was my lover?

Draco's pov

Almost the entire night was a 'question and answer' session. The Weasleys asked Snape questions, Pia asked Snape questions, she asked the Weasleys questions, they asked her questions, and eventually the truth of her parentage came out.

"Ronald was my twin, Pia," Mr. Weasley said quietly. "When we told our own parents that we were joining the Ministry of Magic, we all kind of assumed that he and I would work in the same office. But when we arrived for our exams and to tour the place, Ronald became entranced by the Aurors and their lifetime work. He didn't say a thing, not even to me, until he had already trained and had been accepted into the corps of Aurors. You need to know that he was one of the bravest Aurors ever to serve. He was a part of the force that tracked Voldemort and suppressed the Deatheater uprising of 1980. He helped save over a hundred muggles that would have died that day, without the intervention of the Aurors. Your father, your real father, was a brave, honorable man. Had your mother not led him to believe that she was available; he would never have courted her. I'm sure that you realize that we do not blame you. Your return to us is amazing; we never even knew that you existed. We had always heard of the one who looked like a Weasley, but Ronald never told us." Mr. Weasley smiled at Pia, and came around the table to put his arms around her. Her wounds had been healed and she'd been given new robes to replace the ones destroyed by the Blacks.

Mrs. Weasley blushed and coughed quietly. I shot my eyes to her. "What now? What have you to say?" I was sick of the emotion in the room; I wanted Pia back to herself, and back with me, and me alone.

Mrs. Weasley looked guilty as she spoke. "Arthur, Ronald mentioned something to me before he went off on that fool's errand that cost him his life."

I settled into a chair and pulled Pia onto my lap, putting my arms around her waste to hold her to me. She kissed me softly, and we readied ourselves to hear the story.

Mrs. Weasley began softly, and her voice grew in volume as she continued. "Ronald was Arthur's twin, but he was also close to the Marauders, a group of people you are all well-acquainted with. When James and Lily Potter went into hiding, Ronald was one of the wizards who helped with the charms used to hide Godrick's Hollow. Remus Lupin was stationed in a ton nearby, and Sirius Black, Pia's uncle, was chosen as the secret-keeper. But as time went on, and more of the higher-ups in the Ministry heard of Sirius's previous activity as a Deatheater, they put pressure on him to step down as secret-keeper. He finally agreed, and Peter Pettigrew was set as the new secret-keeper. Attacks came closer and closer, just barely missing Godrick's Hollow at some times. Pettigrew disappeared, and Ronald was assigned to find him. He had come to the Burrow late one night, when Arthur was still at the office, because he couldn't hide his excitement any longer.

"Pia, you probably already know this, but not only are you distantly descended from the Black and Lestrange families on both sides from the Blacks who raised you, your mother was one of the prettiest witches of our age when she was younger. Ronald had fallen hard for her, but she as we know now, she was, at that time, married to Titus Black. Necromana was unable to carry any of Titus's children to term, and from what's been said, we also know that she duped Ronald into her bed. Ronald came here to tell us that he was in love with Necromana, and that she was pregnant and they were getting married. When I asked if he had asked her yet, he had said no, but that he knew that she would say yes. An urgent owl flew into the window with an anonymous clue to Pettigrew's whereabouts.

"When Ronald Dis-Apparated out of my kitchen that night, it was the last time he was seen. All hell broke loose the next morning: James and Lily were murdered and Harry Potter was spirited away; your uncle was unjustly sent to Azkaban with a farce of a trial; but for us, the worst thing was that your father, our darling Ronald, was found dead. It took a long time to find out who had killed him, but in the end, from what Titus Black said, he killed Ronald himself, and he must have sent the owl and the message. I went into premature labor, and named my youngest son after his courageous uncle," Mrs. Weasley finished, and she looked at her husband. "I'm so sorry, Arthur, I should have told you that night that he had been there, but something just clicked, and I couldn't say anything."

Snape spoke up at that point, "Chances are good that there was a compulsion on the message, one that would not allow anyone to whom it wasn't addressed speak of it. Apparently, the compulsion has finally worn off."

Pia hung her head, and I turned to cradle her head on my shoulder. Charlie Weasley growled at me and Bill came over to help her up and onto her feet.

"I think it is about time that we get to sleep, don't you think?" Mr. Weasley said. He couldn't look his wife in the eye, but he turned instead to Snape and me. "You two are welcome to stay the night, or what's left of it. I think that I'll head into work early, though. Lots of paperwork, you know."

Mr. Weasley went to prepare to leave. Snape turned to Mrs. Weasley, "We appreciate the offer, but I must take young master Malfoy back to his own family due to the night's events. I myself will be staying at my family's hereditary lands for the time being. Pia, you know how to contact me, if you have need of me. I'll return to take you back to the school Sunday afternoon. Draco?"

I looked at Pia, and I had no idea when I'd next see her. I pried her from Charlie and Bill and kissed her with all my might. Perhaps that would be enough to keep her through the coming days.

Pia's pov

Bill and Charlie caught me after Draco released me from his powerful kiss. I threw their arms off and turned to face Molly Weasley. Her eyes burned into mine and she turned away first.

"I win," I said softly, waiting for her to say something. Bill opened his mouth, but Charlie spoke first.

"What do you think you've won, Persiopeia? This night has gone on far too long, for my taste. Bill, take Mum and get some chocolate into her, after this shock she needs it. I'll take care of the runt. Mum, d'you mind if I put her in Percy's old room? Fine, then," Charlie stepped in like a drill sergeant. Bill took Molly in his arms and guided her away from me and towards the pantry, opening it and pulling out a foil-wrapped package, presumably containing chocolate. Charlie looked down at me and motioned towards the door of the kitchen, leading into the house proper. I moved ahead of him and he stopped me.

"What, Charlie?" I said, scared. I was afraid that he was going to take his revenge for his uncle's death on me.

Saying nothing, Charlie took my hand in his and led me through the door and up some poorly-lit stairs. I stiffened at first, but I quickly relaxed as Charlie's hand warmed my own. I looked up at him, and he looked back with warmth playing in his eyes. I blushed, mostly for thinking that this gentle man would hurt me. Then he opened his mouth.

"This was our brother Percy's room before he betrayed the family. You'll be staying here for the time being. I'm sure once the shock has worn off, Mum and Dad will let you do what you like to it. Before you go back to Hogwart's, you'll have to go back to Black Manor with Bill and me to gather your things. It's not like we can afford to provide you with all new. I understand that it is probably too soon for you, but you need your things before you go back to school. When you arrive for your break, this room will look as if you always lived in it. For what it's worth, I'm sorry this all had to happen. We all love you, remember that when things get hairy," Charlie said quietly as he opened the door to a small room filled with books, a small desk, a bed, an old trunk, and a chest of drawers.

"I don't have any sleep-clothes with me," I said lamely. I looked at Charlie and he started laughing. I had to laugh as well. The two people I had grown up calling mother and father were dead: father kills mother, lover kills father, and I'm worried about what I'm going to sleep in.

Charlie smiled at me and whipped out his wand. He pointed at the bed and murmured a short incantation, and a vibrant green nightdress appeared there.

"There you go, 'Pia. To match your beautiful eyes, and a gift to me newest 'sister'," Charlie leaned down and kissed the top of my head.

I couldn't help myself, my sense of humor was out of whack, probably from shock, and I spoke without thinking. "I'm sure Draco will love it!"

"Good night, Persiopeia," Charlie said shortly. I must have touched a nerve, because the warmth left with him.

"Damn," I said to no one in particular. This was turning into a knock-out night, all-around. I shucked my borrowed robes and slipped the nightdress over my head and onto my shoulders. I silently thanked Merlin for the warmth of the room, because what I couldn't see when the nightdress was on the bed was apparent on my skin when I put it on: it was made of emerald green silk, falling straight down to my toes and hanging from thin spaghetti straps.

I looked at my reflection in the old mirror that had probably seen more than ten generations of Weasley women. The one who looked back now had an unbelievably sad expression on her face. I scowled and climbed into the waiting bed, praying for a dreamless sleep.

Pia's dream, again

Malfoy Manor, the coming spring

"Draco, your family will have no love for me, not upon Titus's nor Necromana's death. Why have we come here?" I asked, feeling weightless. I was pregnant; I'm not sure how I knew this.

"Ah, darling, nothing to worry your sweet little head over. All will be well and good when we leave here," Draco replied, resting his chin lightly on the top of my head. He'd taken the news of impending fatherhood quite well for one so young. I let him guide through the gates and up to the imposing structure. As I gazed at the decrepit exterior, it occurred to me that most old wizarding families must neglect their dwellings. More money equals less elegance, I suppose.

We entered the grand foyer and were met by a maid who floated on air. She led us mutely to the family drawing room, where Draco's parents waited. I smiled tentatively, watching Draco for any clues as to how to act. He drew me to stand in front of his parents while they all studied me.

"She hasn't even begun to show yet, Lucius, Draco. Surely things can be reconsidered," my aunt Narcissa said. Titus was not my birth father, but my mother was also a distant relative. She tried to smile at me, but failed miserably.

I stepped back, out of Draco's reach, while I regarded my uncle Lucius. "Uncle mine, what does your wife speak of?"

"It has already been considered, Narcissa. You will do well to keep your mouth shut from now on. Draco will do the good thing, the honorable thing. He would do no less," Lucius said, saccharine poisoning his words.

No one was talking to me, they were staring at me, or glancing to me and then away again. I opened my mouth to speak to Draco. "What is going on, Draco?" I hissed.

He gave me a triumphant yet sad look as he knelt down on one knee before me.

"I just wanted my parents to see this, darling," Draco said, emphasizing the last.

My heart swelled and I knew what he was about to do. "Yes, Draco!"

"I cast you out of my life, Persiopeia Cornelia Weasley. You're the miserable get of a half-baked, washed up Auror-wannabe. You will leave this house, and all will know that I was not the one to get this child on you. All will know that you tried to bespell me with your wanton black magick. You are the whore-bitch born of a whore-bitch. Get out!"

I was running, falling. Suddenly, I was in the middle of a clearing in a forest. Nasty-looking fairies and pixies hovered around me.

"Young master Malfoy wished for us to mid-wife his heir. We are concerned only with the child. Don't die before it rips its way out of you," the leader, a sickly green hag of a pixie, said.

I felt a contraction rip its way through me as the child began to move from my womb out into the world. The horrid creatures hovered, never aiding me. I bled gallons and gallons of blood. The child finally stuck one, two arms out and pulled himself from me. As the creature slithered from my birth-canal, he turned to face me with a lipless mouth and haunted eyes. He was bald, and he'd never have hair; his eyes were evil as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Finally, the Malfoyssss havvve proven their worthhh," the creature hissed at me, his face taking on a reptilian cast.

"He Who Shall Not Be Named," I breathed. Another contraction threatened to rip my body in two. I screamed.

"Quit it," the pixie queen hissed. "The young master is coming, and he'll not be disturbed by the likes of you!"

Draco appeared in the clearing. "Finally, you bint, you've birthed the rightful lord and king."

The creature reverted to an almost passable baby form. Draco picked him up and turned to leave. I was going to be left to die.

"Draco," I croaked. I wanted him to end it, to kill me with some sort of mercy.

"I'll not be helping a slag who killed her parents and tried to rope me into marriage," he spit on me and left.

I screamed until the pixies swarmed.

end dream

I was still screaming, because Molly and Bill came running. I was clawing my own arms, trying to rid myself of the memories of the dream, but they wouldn't leave me alone.

Molly sat on my bed, trying to cradle me, but I was trying to escape the teeth of the pixies. Bill lit every light in the room and opened the drapes at the window to let in the light so it could chase my nightmare away.

"Shh, darling, all is right. Your aunt Molly is here, and your cousin Bill," Molly was cooing as I came out of my fugue. I shook my head one last time as I began to really see them.

"Molly? Bill? Where's Charlie? Where's Draco?" I was getting hysterical again. Not a good sign.

"Charlie's gone to town to pick up some things. I don't know where Malfoy is," Bill said stiffly. "What happened?"

I spilled my guts about the dream. I wanted it out in the open and out of my head. When I finished, Molly continued to hold me as I cried. Bill patted my shoulder awkwardly, as if he weren't used to comforting people. I knew that wasn't what was going on: Charlie was upset about my remarks about Draco last night, and he and Bill must have had words.

Bill cleared his throat. "Your dream is right. You shouldn't trust Malfoy. That sounds just like that family. Find another boyfriend, and this time around, don't sleep with him immediately," Bill said before he stalked off.

My mouth dropped open at his bluntness. I looked at Molly, and said in a wry voice, "My, what sweethearts are your children."

She tried to frown at me, but must have thought the better of it. "I imagine you don't get along with Ronald or Ginny either?"

I shook my head. "Not most of the time. They did help rescue me at the beginning of the term, though. They seemed to have been warming up to me, if not to Draco. By the way, so you know, Draco really isn't like that. Neither is his mother. She's just weak, from years at the hands of the Black family and Lucius. I won't leave Draco just to make Charlie or Bill happy, either."

Molly laughed and hugged me tighter. "Yes, you are a Weasley, that much shows. I'll give Draco a chance. If he is all you make him out to be, then you and he won't have a problem. You may continue to see him, so long as his family agrees to it. In fact, even if they don't, I don't see them being able to keep him from you. Give the rest of the family some time. Old, rich blood has always had a problem with old, poor blood. As generations pass, the old rich families have fewer children and therefore less of a chance of an heir living to get another heir. The poor purebloods seem much more willing to intermingle with different families, regardless of heritage, in an order to keep the magic alive in the family. Unfortunately, the truth about your birth will make things harder with Draco's family. But I'm sure your cousin Tonks can help you. Its not like her love-life is any less complicated."

Molly kissed the top of my head and got up from the bed. I pulled my covers back from my body and climbed out of the bed.

"I'm sorry about Percy," I said quietly. Molly stiffened as she walked towards the door.

"Get dressed, love. I've got breakfast on, and I assume your cousins, Weasley and other, will be winging in shortly. You may not want to greet them in that. Charlie, I presume?"

"How'd you guess?"

"He was, shall we say, peeved, when he came down from escorting you to bed last night. I never would have left that for you, and Bill thinks any younger girl related to him should still be wearing flannel every night of the year," she said as she left me to dress.

"Aunt Molly! I don't have any clothes!" I screeched, reality striking.

I didn't even hear the spell, but a pair of denims and a royal blue, soft as lamb, sweater appeared on the bed. I was going to mention a lack of knickers and bra, but when I unfolded the sweater, clean undergarments fell onto the bed.

"Thank you!" I shouted down, fighting a giggle. I ran to the bathroom in my new nightie and grabbed a towel from the linen closet in the bathroom. I turned the water on and enjoyed a nice warm shower. I washed the rest of the gunk from the previous night from my body and shampooed my hair. Yes, Molly's spell had gotten rid of the grime from the battle, but I needed the shower to finalize the feeling. I toweled off and dressed quickly and regarded myself in the mirror.

My Merlin, my hair. Even wet, it curled with a mind of its own. I dried it well with a towel and finger-combed it back out of my face. I pulled half of my hair up and back on either side of my face, loosely braiding it and securing it with some hair ties I saw lying around. My clothing from last night had pockets, so I at least had some lipgloss. I smeared it on my lips and headed downstairs barefoot.

When I reached the kitchen, Molly's back was turned to me, but she wasn't alone. Beside her was pacing Nymphadora Tonks, Tonks to her friends. Hermione Granger was standing in a corner speaking to Ron. Ginny was seated at the large table, Harry standing protectively behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder.

"Now, now, shouldn't you have let me know there was a party starting, Molly?" I said breezily as I sauntered into the kitchen. I was stuck here, and they would have to deal with it the same way I had to deal with it.

Tonks spoke first. "She is your paternal aunt, Persiopeia. You will call her as such."

Tonks was obviously unhinged by what was going on, or else she would never have spoken like that. Molly ignored her and didn't even turn from the breakfast she was making as she talked to me. "Have a seat, Pia, dear. You may call me Molly or Aunt Molly, Auntie, it doesn't really matter. You already know everyone in the room, so try to get along, please. Sit down and get ready to tuck in."

I sat across from Ginny. Harry took a seat to one side of her, Hermione at her other. Which put Ron between Hermione and me. Tonks sat at my other side, and Molly served us but declined to join us.

"Whatever is going on, fix it. We're family, so if you can't like each other, then just love each other," she said as she stormed off, muttering about the lack of maturity of the clan and cursing both my father and her own husband.

Hermione started us off. "Well Pia, at least you have a good, strong family to fall back on," she said, glaring daggers at Ron.

"Gee, thanks, Hermione. Thanks for reminding me about last night. I should have put money on you showing up at an otherwise family-only occasion," I said dryly, watching her to see if she'd react. Ron put his hand on her shoulder and she said nothing.

"If you're so keen on family only, then why're you here, then? This isn't where you grew up, now is it? Big, bad Pia can hex her classmates up a storm but can't stay alone in Black Manor for one night? But, she wouldn't have been alone! She shares her bed with a dragon," Harry hissed.

"So, the next slumber party is at Godrick's Hollow, right, Harry, ol'chap?" I dropped casually. Ginny pulled her wand out to shut me up, but it was Tonks and Ron that used silencing charms the four of us.

"Funny, I would have thought you'd have put your foot in it by now, Ron," Tonks chuckled while I was forced to remain silent. I'd have it for her when she took the charm off.

"Charlie talked to me before he went back out. Explained that she'd be just another sister, like Gin. What more can I do? Other than castrate Draco," Ron added as an after-thought. Tonks silenced him then.

"Listen, loves, we're going to be one big, happy family because that's what we are. We will bury the past and make new memories. Pia, I think you should be tested for your House again, and I think that Hermione and Ginny should start making room for another roommate as soon as they get back to the school. Harry, you and Hermione are the only ones not blood right now, and you haven't married in, either. Ron loves you both, as does Ginny, but I won't let you hurt this family. Through Pia, I am also family, though distantly. You want in, learn to get along. I won't have it any other way. Neither will Molly, but you're lucky I'm the one giving you this pep-talk and not her. Chins up, loves. And behave, because I happen to have an in with the big, bad wolf," Tonks released the silencing charms and Ron immediately opened his mouth.

"You sure do, Tonks. An in, an out, another in, another out," he trailed off, and I cracked up. It was a joke I would have made. Tonks blushed, but so did Hermione, so I took my chances and

"So, Ron, how are your ins and outs with Herms, here?" I grinned wickedly as I said it, and soon we were all taking potshots at each others' sex-lives. Ginny even got me a couple of times.

"So, Pia, inquiring minds want to know, are dragons like dogs? Does it retract when not in use? Is it scaly and hard or what?" Ginny was giggling so hard I could barely understand her. It struck me so funny I started to laugh so hard I cried.

"Not scaly, but definitely hard, and most of the time, too. For some reason, he's a much earlier riser than I am," I cracked up as an image of a horny dragon at dawn chasing a red-haired princess flashed in my mind.

"Well, I was going to rescue you from your newfound family, but I see I am not needed; at least, not outside the bedroom," a new voice joined our conversation.

I leapt out of my chair and into his arms.

"Draco!"

Later that night, after having talked Molly and Arthur into an extra houseguest and sneaking Draco into my new room, his kiss was the last thing I knew before I drifted into dreams.