Chapter Two

In Hiding

December 24th, 1996

Christmas Eve, duh

Ginny's POV

"Ginny, d'you wanna come outside with us?" Alex asked.

"Why?" I asked her; usually they asked Fred and George.

"We wanna have a snowball fight with everybody. Harry and Ron said yes, and Fred and George did too," Sam said.

"We want you on our team, please," Alex added.

"Who else is on our team?" I asked them.

"Harry," they answered together. Okay, I'm definitely in.

"'Kay. Go get ready; I'll be down in a few minutes." They nodded eagerly, and ran out of my room.

Harry's POV

I saw Alex and Sam come down the stairs.

"Is Ginny coming?" I asked, hoping my voice didn't sound too hopeful.

"She says she'll be down in a few minutes," Alex answered.

"But hang on a minute," Ron said, "that makes seven."

"Yes, but Alex and Sam are only three," I pointed out. "So really, you, Fred, and George against me, Alex, Sam, and Ginny is fair." Ron nodded.

"Hey, let's go get you two ready for a snowball fight," I said, leading them to where Mrs. Weasley had laid out their winter clothes. I handed them their hats, which they jammed eagerly on their heads. I handed them their scarves, which I noticed were Gryffindor colours. I gave them their gloves, and helped them into their coats. They ran to Ginny, who I hadn't noticed come down, for their boots. Ron and I followed them outside. Using magic, Fred and George had made two snowball pyramids, the same height as Alex and Sam solely for their purpose.

Normal POV

"On the count of three, then?" Fred asked cheerfully. The rest nodded.

"One…. Two…—" George started.

"THREE!" finished Alex and Sam together, each holding a snowball and threw them at Ron, hitting him squarely in the face.

"Good aim!" Ginny called to them, as she threw a snowball at George, while Harry hurled one at Fred. Ron retaliated by aiming a snowball for Alex's shoulder, Alex dived to the ground to avoid the hurtling snow. Sam lobbed one at Ron. All of a sudden, there were snowballs flinging at them, faster and quicker than a human could do on his own. Harry, Ginny, Alex, and Sam ducked behind one of the snowball pyramids for cover. Harry peeked over the pyramid, and came back with a face full of snow.

After wiping the snow off his face he said, "Fred and George are using magic."

Ginny stood up. "You prats can't use magic! That's not fair!"

"Fine! If we don't use magic, will you come out so we can have a proper snowball fight?" Fred asked.

"Yes," Ginny answered. They came out from behind the pyramid, and the snowball fight resumed.

Grant's POV

As soon as the darkness let go, I looked down towards the Burrow. Alex and Sam were outside with Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, and a black-haired boy I did not recognise, but had suspicions on who he is. I walked down the hill towards where they were having their snowball fight. I magicked seven snowballs to hit them. They all looked over at me. They looked surprised, not that I blame them. I've been in hiding ever since Voldemort came into the open. Alex and Sam recovered first; they ran over to me.

"Uncle Grant!" they shrieked, though it does kill me for them to call me "uncle" instead of "dad". I bent down to give them a hug.

"Hey," I said standing up. Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, and the black-haired boy, who I can clearly see I is Harry Potter, came over.

"Guess what, Uncle Grant?" Sam asked.

"What?" I asked her.

"We're gonna be four in four days!" Alex replied excitedly.

"And so you are," I said looking at Ginny, then looking back at the twins.

"Hey, Alex, Sam," Ginny said, "why don't you go tell Mum Uncle Grant is here?"

"'Kay," they agreed, and ran into the Burrow. I turned to Harry Potter.

"No need to ask you are," I said holding out my hand, "you're the famous Harry Potter." He nodded, and took my hand and shaking it.

"But I don't know who you are," he added.

"I'm Grant Winfield," I answered introducing myself, "the twins' biological father. And obviously, they have no idea who I am. But on a lighter note, how is your joke shop, Fred and George?"

"It's doing well, so well, that we have to sleep above it," Fred answered.

"And how many O.W.Ls did you get, Ron?"

"Seven," he answered.

"Ah, what did you fail?" I asked.

"Divination and History of Magic."

"Divination's a useless subject if you ask me. Are you nervous for your O.W.Ls, Ginny?"

"A little," she replied.

"Has Percy come home yet?"

"No, and don't mention him in front of Mum and Dad," George advised me.

"Shall we go in?" I asked. They nodded and led the way in. Molly was at the table talking to a man and a woman who I could only assume was Bill's fiancée. Molly looked up when I cleared my throat.

"Oh, hullo, Grant. I suppose I should introduce our other guests. Who I was talking to is Remus Lupin, and that's Bill's fiancée, Fleur Delacour."

"Where're the twins?" I asked Molly.

"Bill's giving them a bath, or trying to, they hate baths," Molly answered, before turning the kids behind me. "Ginny, why don't you go and help Bill? And the rest of you can go pull the vegetables out of the garden for dinner tomorrow." I watched as Ron, Harry, Fred, and George went outside and Ginny upstairs to the bathroom to help Bill.

"So how have you been holding up, Grant?" Molly asked me as she handed me a cup of tea.

"Not bad, I hate not being able to see them every day," I answered. "They aren't giving you much trouble, are they?"

"As much trouble as I can expect from three year olds, but with Fred and George as mentors, I'm afraid the worst is to come," Molly answered with a chuckle.

"How've they been?" I asked.

"On the night of You-Know-Who's return, Dumbledore said it was important they were only in public when it was absolutely necessary, because they look a lot like you Grant, only with Audrey's red hair, but they're having fun. They miss Fred and George, but you'd think with school, they'd've gotten used to it. With the upcoming wedding, all anyone's got to do is mention the colour pink, and they disappear so fast, you'd think they'd've Apparated," Molly said.

"Which I do not understand, because pink would be 'orrible with zair 'air. I am theenking of dressing zem in green," Fleur said.

"Oh, are they in the wedding party?" I asked Fleur, wishing I could go.

"Zey are ze flower girls," she answered.

"Don't worry, Uncle Grant, you can come," Bill said as he came down the stairs holding a now, clean Alex, while Ginny was holding her twin. "Harry's coming, and he's on the top of You-Know-Who's top ten 'Must Die' list." Seeing the mortified look on Alex's face, he added, "Why don't you go help Ginny decorate the sitting room?" She nodded and followed Ginny and her sister.

"And how've you been, Bill?" I asked him as he sat down.

"'M alright, bit of a shock when Mum and Dad showed up in Egypt with two babies. Even a nastier shock when they said Fred and George were godfathers. I almost fell over, Charlie did fall over," he replied.

"Yeah, I saw the article in the Daily Prophet a few years back," I said. "How's work?"

"Fine as it can be with goblins," he answered.

"That's good," I said. "So what's been happening? I haven't seen a Daily Prophet in months."

"Well, Ollivander and Florean Fortescue have been missing since the summer, Igor Karkaroff's been killed, he was the headmaster at Durmstrang, Amelia Bones and Emmeline Vance have been killed, and Cornelius Fudge is no longer the Minister of Magic," Bill answered.

"You don't say? Who's the Minister now?" I asked, surprised.

"Rufus Scrimgeour, used to be head of the Aurors' Department," Lupin answered. Just then, Alex and Sam came running over to me.

"I thought you were helping Ginny decorate," I said to them.

"We were-" Alex began.

"-but we decided to come see you instead," Sam finished.

"So it begins," I said chuckling.

"Did you bring us a present, Uncle Grant?" they asked eagerly.

"Now girls, your Uncle Grant's going to think you only like him for his presents," Molly said half-heartedly scolding them, as I pulled out two of Honeydukes' best chocolate bars and gave them one each.

"Thank-you, Uncle Grant," they chorused, as they opened their chocolate.

"Oh, come on, Molly, lighten up, it's Christmas Eve," I said as Molly gave me a disapproving glare.

December 25, 1996

Christmas Day

Normal POV

Alex and Sam woke up at dawn. Excited, they immediately opened their presents. From Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, they received a green jumper with their first initial on it and homemade fudge, Mr. Weasley had also given them a Muggle toy each, a Slinky, Harry gave them sweets (which Mrs. Weasley would confiscate later), Headless Hats from Fred and George, Honeydukes' chocolate from Grant, from Bill and Fleur they received Puddlemere United robes, Ron had given them a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and from Ginny they had received a box of Chocolate Frogs. Alex and Sam went downstairs with their Slinkys, (A/N: how do you pluralize Slinky?), they had just entered the kitchen when Molly saw them.

"Oh, Arthur, you didn't," she said the moment she saw the Slinkys. "What if they're dangerous?"

"Don't worry, Molly, they're perfectly safe, Muggle children play with them," Arthur said trying to soothe her. Just then, Harry walked in the kitchen. "Maybe Harry can show them how they work?"

"What? A Slinky?" he asked, looking at the toys in Alex and Sam's hands. "Come to the stairs, Alex and Sam." They followed Harry. He sat at the top of the stairs, Alex handed him her Slinky. He placed it at the top of the stairs, and grabbed the top coil and placed on the step below and let go. Alex and Sam watched delighted as the Slinky 'walked' down the stairs by itself.

When everyone came down for Christmas lunch, they were wearing new sweaters, all except Fleur. Mrs. Weasley was wearing a brand new midnight blue witch's hat glittering with what looked like tiny diamonds, and a spectacular golden necklace.

Grant's POV

"Fred and George gave them to me! Aren't they beautiful?" Molly exclaimed.

"Well, we find we appreciate you more and more, Mum, now we're washing our own socks," George said, waving an airy hand. "Parsnips, Remus?"

"Harry, you've got a maggot in your hair," Ginny said cheerfully, leaning across the table to pick it out.

"'Ow 'orrible," Fleur said, with an artificial little shudder. I can see how Ginny doesn't like her. She acts like a delicate little French girl.

"Yes, isn't it? Gravy, Fleur?" Ron asked.

In his eagerness to help her, he managed to send the gravy boat flying. Bill waved his waved and the gravy returned to the boat gently.

"You are as bad as zat Tonks," Fleur said after she had finished kissing Bill. "She is always knocking–"

"I invited dear Tonks to come along today," Molly said, setting the carrots down with unnecessary force, and glared at Fleur. "But she wouldn't come. Have you spoken to her lately, Remus?"

"No, I haven't been in contact with anybody much. But Tonks has got her own family to go to, hasn't she?" Lupin asked.

"Hmmm. Maybe. I got the impression she was planning to spend Christmas alone, actually," Molly said. Molly gave Lupin an annoyed look.

"Who is Tonks, anyway?" I asked.

"Oh, sorry, Grant. Her name is actually Nymphadora Tonks, but she doesn't like her first name too much, so everyone calls her Tonks. Do you remember Ted Tonks?" I nod.

"She's Ted's daughter?"

"Arthur! Arthur– it's Percy!" Molly said suddenly, looking out the window,

"What?" We all looked quickly; Ginny, Alex, and Sam stood up for a better look. Sure enough, Percy was striding across the yard. He wasn't alone, though.

"Arthur, he's– he's with the Minister!"

I watched as Harry quickly threw an Invisibility Cloak over the twins. Good thinking, as it'd be hard to explain why there are two three-year-old identical twins here.

"It's a game," Harry told them, "you must stay quiet while that other man is here." I Disillusioned their plates. The back door opened and there stood Percy.

There was a painful silence; then Percy said stiffly, "Merry Christmas, Mother."

"Oh, Percy!" Molly said, throwing herself into Percy's arms.

Rufus Scrimgeour stopped in the doorway, leaned on his walking stick, and smiled as he watched.

"You must forgive this intrusion," he said, when Molly looked at him, beaming and wiping her eyes. "Percy and I were in the vicinity–working, you know– and he couldn't resist dropping in and seeing you all."

I glanced at Percy, and it seemed to me he'd rather not be here. Arthur, Fred, and George were looking at him with unfriendly faces.

"Please, come in, sit down, Minister!" Molly fluttered, straightening her hat. "Have a little purkey, or some tooding…. I mean–"

"No, no, my dear Molly. I don't want to intrude, wouldn't be here at all if Percy hadn't wanted to see you all so badly…"

"Oh, Perce!" Molly cried.

"…we've only looked in for five minutes, so I'll have a stroll around the yard while you catch up with Percy. No, no, I assure you I don't want to butt in! Well, if anyone cared to show me your charming garden… ah, that young man's finished why doesn't take a stroll with me?"

The atmosphere changed noticeably. We all looked from Scrimgeour to Harry. It seemed I am not the only one who found Scrimgeour's pretence that he did not know Harry's name convincing, or that Harry should be chosen when Ginny, Fleur, and George also had clean plates.

"Yeah, all right," Harry said into the silence. "It's fine," he said as he passed Lupin who had half-raised from his chair. "Fine," he added as Arthur opened his mouth to speak.

"Wonderful!" Scrimgeour said as he let Harry pass him. "We'll just take a turn around the garden and then Percy and I'll be off. Carry on, everyone!"

The moment Scrimgeour left, our attention turned to Percy.

"Er… where are Alex and Sam?" Percy asked.

"Right here," Alex said as she flung the Invisibility Cloak off her and Sam.

"Hello, Uncle Grant, I didn't expect to see you here," Percy said to me.

"I didn't expect to see you here after you ran out on your family for the Ministry, Percy," I said coolly. His face flushed, evidently he didn't think I'd've heard. He silent for a few minutes.

"So, er… how is everyone?" he asked.

"We we're fine Percy, until you showed up," Fred said icily. Before anyone knew what was happening, Percy's glasses were splattered with mashed parsnips, along with a bit of his chest. Fred, George, and Ginny were all standing looking murderous, along with Alex and Sam, whose hands still had a little bit of mashed parsnips stuck to them.

With a final look at us, Percy turned and stormed past Harry as he walked in.

"What happened to Percy?"

April 22nd, 1997

Normal POV

Hogwarts, breakfast

"Is anyone we know dead?" Ron asked

"Yes," Hermione answered shakily.

Ron and Harry immediately faced Hermione, and at the same time asked, "Who?"

"It's your uncle, Ron. Alex and Sam's father," Hermione said. "Listen.

"'Grant Winfield, 37, was found dead in his home late last night. Four years ago, Mr. Winfield went into hiding after the death of his late wife, Audrey, and their two daughters, Alexandra and Samantha. Funeral arrangements are yet to be made by Mr. Winfield's mother, Ivy Winfield, 70.'"

"To think, if your parents hadn't adopted Alex and Sam, they'd be dead right now," Hermione said quietly.

"I wonder how they'll take it when they hear," Harry said.

"Not well, I reckon, they were his shadows when he was at the Burrow," Ron said grimly.

Author's Note: This is a bit of a filler chapter, I was originally going to include Dumbledore's funeral, but it'd just be the same pretty much, except Alex and Sam would be happy to see everyone again. Next chapter'll contain when George loses his ear, Bill and Fleur's wedding, Christmas, and the girls' birthday, Easter, the battle, and Fred's funeral, and the next chapter the girls will be eleven. Merry Christmas!