A/N: Okat I want to say thanks to all my reviewers and readers. Ya'll are all greatly appreciated!
A/N2: I also want to take this time to address what's going on. From chapter 3 to four I've skipped two weeks and it's Correna's fourth birthday. Also the rest of the chapter will skip anywhere from a day to weeks or months or years. I'm just going to focus on major things that happen to the children between now and starting Hogwarts. When they get to school it will follow most of the books but add in and editing out to follow my train of thought.
Disclaimer: I of course own nothing but Correna, Mia, and the twins that come later. Everything else in our Potter world belongs to mis JK Rowling!
Now on with the show!
Chapter 4: Correna's Birthday Picnic
Two weeks after Harry and the others were announced dead, the Dumbledores' found themselves at a birthday picnic with a few close friends and family. As per Correna's request they were picnicking in front of a beautiful waterfall in the forest about ten miles from the Dumbledores' home. Everyone was quite enjoying himself or herself as the many toddlers ran in and out of the trees.
"So I take it the four children have become accustomed to you two," Severus asked Albus as they were stacking the many birthday gifts? "What? Oh yes they have. I think Correna has a lot to do with how fast they have accepted us as their parents though," he replied. "How so?" "Well that first day, we took them all out to buy clothes and toys and the entire time we were out Correna kept telling the kids to remember they needed to hold mummy and daddy's hands. All last week she's referred to us as their mummy and daddy. Then she tells them stories of us when they were born, till I guess they just decided to believe her." "Interesting. It seems she has a unique ability to make all around her feel completely comfortable while simultaneously controlling them. She may be even smarter than we can conceive." "That is something I'm afraid of." "Why do you say that? Shouldn't the greatest wizard of the age be ecstatic to know his four year old is some kind of prodigy?" "Not when she seems to be following the in the foot steps of Grindelwald and Voldemort." "Stuff and nonsense," scoffed an elderly man as he walked up to the two wizards. He had blue-green eyes and sliver hair with a few streaks of the original auburn color running through it. "Little Correna is as much on the path of evil as I am a young boy," he quipped to the two younger men.
"What makes you so sure dad," Albus asked the elderly wizard? "Because my dear deluded son, you forget that there was another prodigy that would use a certain infuriating twinkle to control those around him," the man replied eyeing his son. "You mean Albus controls people," Severus asked in mock shock and confusion? "I do not! I merely tweak things to my advantage," Albus defended. "Yes, and I'm a monkey's uncle," laughed the elder man, "trust me son, she's not evil. She'll figure herself out in time just like you did. Now let's gather the children, I want cake!" Laughing, the other men agreed and gather all the children around the large picnic table.
"Alright everyone start singing," instructed and elderly woman. She had dirty-blonde curls and those same twinkling blue eyes that Albus and Correna possessed. Everyone obliged and sang a round of 'Happy Birthday' to the little raven-haired child sitting in Severus's lap. When they finished singing, Correna blew out the candles and soon everyone was diving into the chocolate iced marble cake. "This is yummy mummy. You make," little Varick asked? "Yes darling I did," Minerva grinned at the site of the cake covering her son's face, "But are you sure you got enough of it in your mouth?" The little boy nodded and proceeded to eat his sherbet ice cream. "Me want more," little Kenny whined holding up his empty plate and tugging on his mother's dress. "I don't really think you need anymore," she gentle replied.
As the child started to cry, the elderly woman came up and gave the child another plate saying, "Minerva it's a birthday party. If they want to pig out let them. If they get sick later, it's a lesson learned." "I guess so," Minerva sighed biting her lip, "do you really think they should eat so much though?" "Min, there're growing children. I let Aberforth and Albus do it every once in a while and I don't think they turned out to bad. Though I must admit it is strange that they both developed a taste for beautiful and stubborn raven-haired green eyed witches," she laughed as they looked toward the end of the table where stood a plump witch wiping the icing off of Johnny's face.
"I didn't think their choices that odd," said the elderly man as he came up behind the women and placed a kiss on his wife's cheek. "I mean after all, Cassiopeia, the boys wanted someone that acted like you but didn't look like you," he laughed. "That is true," she conceded, "Minerva and Mia do often act like I do." "Now that's a scary thought. Thanks for those images Percy and Cassi, now I'll never look at Albus and Abeforth the same again," exclaimed Madam Hooch as she and Mia walked up to the other two witches. "Oh Mara, honestly," Minerva scolded rolling her eyes. "I thought our choices in wives were good," Albus replied wrapping his arms around Minerva's waist and resting his head on her shoulder. "I did too. I mean after all, it's not easy to find someone besides your own mum that will love you with all your eccentricities," added Aberforth as he laid a hand around his wife's waist and pulled her closer to him. "That is true," said Percious. "Which I guess means that we three women are out of our minds for marrying you with all your quirks," jabbed Cassiopeia and the other women laughed.
"Seems your parents and grandparents are having a good laugh," Severus stated watching the other adults. "Yeah, mummy and daddy love to make fun of each other. I think that's why they fit so good together," said the tiny toddler, "Here Dracula you need more cake. I scrapped off the icing," she proclaimed and stuck the fork in his mouth before he could object. "Thank you Belladonna, but you know you should be the one eating it," he replied and took the out of her small hand and proceeded to feed her the rest of the cake. "Thanks Dracula," she giggled once all the cake was finished. Actually the two had fed each other.
"Psents now," Johnny asked pulling on Madam Hooch's skirt? "I don't know John. What do you think Vera," she asked picking up the little boy and turning toward Minerva? "What? Oh yes Correna can open the presents now," Minerva nodded. After receiving the go head, the children ran over to the other table and Correna proceeded to open her gifts.
Minute by minute the large stack dwindled down till nothing was left. The young girl had gotten almost everything she wanted and then some. She had gotten books, clothes, stuffed animals, coloring books, colored quills, crayons, chocolate frogs, a tin of ginger newts, a bag of sherbet lemons, a dollhouse, and a new potion kit. But of everything she received there was still one thing she had not gotten, it was the same thing she'd wished for three years for and had never gotten. And she didn't really expect to get it because it cost so much but she still wished for it every year. And there was still one person in which she had not received a present from. Correna new she had not gotten his present because every time she opened a gift she would run to the person who had given it to her and hug them, and she had not hugged him yet. So she turned to her godfather and said, "Uncle Sev, I must have mispaced your pesent. What color paper was it in?"
"You did not misplace it angel. I just haven't given it to you yet," he said giving her rare smile. In reality Correna received his smile and laughter all the time, it was only every other person in the world that did not know he could smile. "Oh otay, what is it," she asked excitedly? "Let's see…" he mumbled digging in his pockets, "I know it's in here some where…where did I put that thing…oh wait I know where it is," he said and pulled a large picnic basket out from under the table. "Ooh," Correna smiled looking at the basket, "What's in it?" "Open it and find out," Severus quipped. Correna obliged and let out a shocked gasp as she pulled a small Siberian tiger cub out of the basket. "Oh thank you, Uncle Sev. Thank you, thank, thank you so so much," she squealed and gave him a huge hug and kiss.
"Is that thing really safe," Minerva asked eyeing the small creature, "Won't get really big later? Will it attack?" "Only if she's in danger," Severus replied watching the children running off, the little cat following close behind. "What do you mean," she asked? "You worry to much Minerva," he sighed, "I'm not idiotic enough to give her a regular tiger. That is a Romanian Mini-Sphinx Siberian Tiger. Its sole purpose is to protect its master, no matter what the cost. They are one of the best companions, aside from a phoenix or keneazle that anyone could hope to have. And it will only grow to about three feet high." "Where did you get it," Percious asked, "If I remember correctly, those things are extremely rare. They're almost extinct and they live in a sanctuary in Romania. I heard there is tons of paperwork to get one and they cost about 300 galleons." "That's true," Severus acknowledged, "I've been working on all the red tape for almost two and half years." "Oh Severus you shouldn't have spent so much on her," Minerva chastised. "I most certainly should have and I did. She's my goddaughter and she needs to be splurged on," he snapped. "I knew we should have picked someone else," Minerva joked. "Well it's done with now," said Albus. "Who would have thought that Correna could turn the greasy dungeon bat soft," laughed Xiomara; "I must congratulate her, for not even I could get him to splurge like that. And I'm his wife!" "Children can make even the toughest men turn into big softies," said Cassiopeia. "Indeed," Percious nodded and all the adults started to laugh.
"So was your birthday everything you wanted," Minerva asked her daughter later that night as she and Albus were tucking her in? "Oh yes mummy it was wonderful. I had the best time and I got everything I wanted," she yawned while absentmindedly stroking the tiger cub's head. The cub was curled up on a large pillow next to Correna.
"We're very glad," Minerva smiled, "By the way, what did you name the cub?" "Arya," she sleepily replied, "It means faithful friend." "That's a very good choice," chuckled Albus, "Good night my Ice Princess. Sleep well," he whispered kissing her forehead. "Night mummy, daddy. I love you," she sighed and fell into a deep and peaceful sleep. "Good night my darling," Minerva whispered and kissed her daughter's forehead and she and Albus left the room.
The two parents made sure their other children were peacefully sleeping in their cribs and then headed to their own bed. "That was quite a day wasn't it," Minerva replied as she braided her long hair. "It was most enjoyable," nodded Albus as he pulled back the covers. "I think all the children behaved really good considering," she said crawling into bed and snuggling into Albus's strong arms. "Yes I thought so too. I also think that the next few years are going to be extremely interesting," he mused kissing her head as they both fell into dreamland. Neither knowing how interesting the next few years really were going to be!
A/N: oh and by the way...Severus Snape is nice to all the Dumbledore children, but his favorite is Correna. He even has a special nickname for her that no one else uses. (Belladonna) and when no one is listening to them they use it. SHe also has one for him (Dracula). So when you see them calling each toher that, either they are alone or no one is paying them any attention.