Disclaimer: I do not own the magical, fantastical world of Harry Potter.

Chapter Five
Family Reunion

January 4th, 2004
Dominique's first birthday

The whole house had woken to Alex's screams. Molly and Arthur rushed to girls' room, with George –who had decided to spend the night, just in case Ivy Winfield came bright and early– following behind.

"Alex! Alex! Alex! ALEXANDRA WEASLEY!" George called. Alex's eyes snapped open.

"What did you see?" Molly asked.

"I saw Aunt Audrey and Uncle Grant's death over and over again," Alex choked out. She looked over at her sister's bed. Sam was sitting in a corner, arms wrapped around her knees, eyes wide open, rocking back and forth.

"Sam? Sammie? Sam, are you all right?" Alex asked. Sam shook her head. "She looks like she's in shock."

"Samantha? Dear, are you all right?" Molly asked.

"What did you see?" George asked.

"I know," Alex whispered. The attention snapped back to her.

"What is it, Alex?" Arthur asked.

"She saw our births, again," Alex explained. "The last time was when Uncle Grant died."

"How long will she be like this?" Molly asked.

"Umm… cover your ears, I'm going to yell," Alex said, taking a deep breath. Simultaneously, the adults covered their ears.

"SAMANTHA WEASLEY!" Alex bellowed. Sam looked at her sister before bursting into tears. Molly immediately comforted her daughter.

Arthur turned to Alex, "How d'you know she saw your births? You were only four when Grant died."

"We didn't know then, she was just in shock, but you never noticed. You were too busy fussing over me, because I was screaming bloody murder. I didn't even know what she had seen until she told me, on our eleventh birthday," Alex said in a hollow voice. "But why are we reliving them now? Why now? What is our subconscious telling us?"

"It's just probably nerves, because you're nervous about meeting your grandmother later today," Arthur said reasonably. "Now, it's time for sleep."

Alex nodded and laid down again, tucking the quilt around her. Sam finally let go of Molly, and crawled back under her quilt. After wishing the girls goodnight, Molly, Arthur, and George headed down to the kitchen, where Molly began making tea.

"D'you really believe what you told them, Dad?" George asked.

"Not really. I think their subconscious is trying to warn them against Ivy, but what can we do?" Arthur said, looking extremely tired.

"You don't think Ivy'll turn this into a custody battle, do you Arthur?" Molly asked anxiously.

"She'd better not," George said firmly, "because I'm not giving them up, not now, not ever. They kept me going after… after Fred. I've been looking after them since I was fifteen years old. They're like my daughters."

"Don't worry, George," Molly said. "We won't let them go. Not without a fight."

Early afternoon

Alex and Sam couldn't believe their luck. They were in the Weasleys' sitting room with their red hair in a bun, and wearing a blouse and a skirt. They had spent the last half hour fidgeting until Mrs. Weasley told them to sit and be quiet, resulting in them staring at the wall. At half past one, there was a knock on door.

"It's her," Alex and Sam simultaneously said. Molly got up, and headed to the door.

"Nobody move, stay put. I'll bring her in here," she called behind her shoulder, the knocking continued. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" She opened the door.

"Molly," Ivy said coolly.

"Ivy," Molly replied just as coolly. "They're in the sitting room."

"Excellent, are they ready to leave?"

"Leave?" Molly repeated faintly.

"I believe that is what I said. There's no need for you to look after them anymore, not now that their grandmother has found them."

"I think that decision belongs to them," Molly said firmly. She led Ivy to the sitting room.

"Arthur, I believe you know Ivy. You met George last week. On the sofa is Alexandra, and Samantha," Molly said. "Alexandra, Samantha, this is your grandmother, Ivy Winfield."

"Pleased to meet you, ma'am," Alex said meekly.

"Well, don't just sit there, give your grandmother a hug," Ivy said, with a smile that did not reach her eyes. Alex and Sam stood; even though they were only eleven, they stood taller than Ivy.

"My, my, you two take after your father in more than looks," Ivy said as Alex bent down to hug her.

"Sit down," Molly said, offering Ivy a chair and cup of tea.

"Thank you, Molly," Ivy said crisply as she sat. "I have a proposition for you two. I was wondering if you would like to come and live with me at Winfield Manor from now on. No need for you to live in this dump. Grandma Winfield will take care of you."

"But Aunt Molly has looked after us very well," Sam said. "George and Uncle Arthur too."

"And this place is not a dump," Alex said hotly. "It's our home."

"Be that as it may, it is a pigsty, and no place for young ladies to grow up. You'll grow up good and proper. That is something Molly Weasley could never teach you," Ivy said icily.

"OI! Stop trashing our mum!" Alex and Sam yelled.

"Mum?! She's not your mum, and he's not your father! They're your aunt and uncle for Merlin's sakes!" Ivy shouted just as loudly. Molly, Arthur, and George stood up.

"We know that, you miserable, old hag!" Alex snapped.

"I will not be spoken to like that."

"We'll talk however we like to you while you're trashing the people who've raised us since we were born!" Sam defended.

"Mum, now that we've met her, and we don't like her, can we please change into our jeans and jumpers?" Alex asked, turning to Molly.

"I see I arrived none too soon. They are little heathens."

"Oh, now we're heathens because we like to wear jumpers and jeans. I think the technical term is tomboy," Alex said sarcastically, turning back to Ivy.

"Haven't we told you? We're not going anywhere, not with you, anyway," Sam said. She and her twin took a step back to join their family. Molly wrapped an arm around Alex, while Arthur gripped Sam's shoulder.

"I see." And with a crack, Ivy Disapparated. Five minutes later, there was another crack as Harry Apparated into their midst.

"Sorry to butt in like this, but –good on you two, by the way–" Harry nodded at the twins. "–but, Ivy Winfield is storming up and down the Department of Magical Law Enforcement claiming her twin granddaughters have been kidnapped, and the 'kidnappers' won't give them back. I've told Naismith what's really going on. Now that Mrs. Winfield knows that I'm on your side, she wants a custody battle."

Molly collapsed onto the sofa. "A custody battle?" she repeated faintly.

"But she can't do that," Arthur said. "George has legal rights. After Grant died, they went to Fred and George."

"I've been informed she can," Harry said. "The twins are allowed to live here until the final verdict, but they're not to leave Great Britain."

"But we've got tickets to the European Cup! Who knows where what'll be held!" Sam shouted.

"Why would she want us? From what I've seen, we're the exact opposite of what she would want for granddaughters," Alex said.

"Something about family tradition," Harry said grimly. "She's also demanded that the twins be present for her grandsons fourteenth birthday celebration next week. They must be wearing dress robes. Naismith says they have to go."

"WHAT?!" three voices screeched indignantly.

"It's just a party," Harry said, earning him death glares. "Hermione's already looking stuff up, Amos Diggory is still Head of her department, and remembers you two from night of the third task. Mrs. Winfield tried to say you two aren't looked after well, but pretty much everyone in the department squashed that claim. The first trial is set for February twenty-eighth. I have to go back now. Sorry I couldn't be helpful."

"It's not your fault, Harry," Molly said, as Harry walked over to the fireplace.

"We're still allowed to the wedding, right?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, she can't do anything about that, you're part of the wedding party," Harry said, as he disappeared into the emerald green flames.

"It's just not fair," Alex said faintly. "Why in the name of Merlin did she have to find us? Why?"

"George?" Sam asked tentatively. "George, are you okay? You know she can't possibly win, right? We'll win, George, you'll see, we're Weasleys, not Winfields."

Without a word to anyone, George turned and left the room. They heard him climbing the stairs.

Alex and Sam turned to Molly and Arthur at the same moment, and said, "You'll be our alibi if we murder her, right?"

January 11, 2004
Party day

Alex and Sam sat in the tiny living room, with the entire family present except for Bill, Fleur, Charlie. Alex and Sam were glad of the moral support. They were waiting for their escort, since no one was quite certain where Winfield Manor was. They were wearing dark green dress robes, and their hair was in a chignon. No one was speaking. Alex felt queasy, and Sam looked how she felt. A knock on the door made them all jump.

Molly jumped up to answer it.

"Would you like to come in?" they could hear Molly ask.

"Yes, please," a woman answered. They could hear Molly come back into the living room. Molly returned to her seat next to Arthur. Everyone looked at the doorway. An average-sized woman stood in the doorway, her black hair was in an up-do, and was carrying a toddler with the same colour hair. Both her and her daughter wore dark blue dress robes.

"Hi, I'm Wilhelmina Winfield, or you might know me as Billie Sterling," she said with a slight smile. "This is my daughter, Marlene. Know who you all are, of course."

Everyone was looking at her nervously.

"Oh! It's not just because you're all famous now. I went to Hogwarts from nineteen eighty-six, until October nineteen ninety-two," Wilhelmina explained, and then added, "I hate these parties."

Alex and Sam warmed up to her instantly.

"Why?" Ginny asked.

"Because Claude and Dexter are the most spoiled brats I've ever had the misfortune to know," Wilhelmina answered. "You can't say no to them, you mustn't yell at them, and they're arrogant. It's a shame Everett's a school governor. But, what can I do? I've yet to find a plausible excuse to get him sacked."

"Why won't their mother do anything?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"She's been married to Everett since she was twenty-one, and he's taken the spirit out of her. Out of all of them, Grant was my favourite. He told me to get out while I could, elope or run away. My father found out though, and forced me to marry at seventeen, and have a baby in the same year," Wilhelmina explained. "I was at Hogwarts right until she was born."

"How did you manage that?" Hermione asked.

"Concealment Charm, and she was born on Hallowe'en, so everyone was at the feast but me, my friends, and Madam Pomfrey. Ticked off Ivy, that did, her being born at Hogwarts."

"You're late!" a voice screeched.

"Damn, I was hoping we'd have more time, ah well," Wilhelmina said. "Best be off, Alex, Sam, into the fiery pits of–" she covered Marlene's ears. "–hell, otherwise known as Winfield Manor."

"Do we have to?" Alex asked, almost pleading.

"Unfortunately," Wilhelmina said. "Come on. See you soon. Say, 'Bye,' Marley."

"Bye," Marlene said in a shy voice.

"If you ever need to get away, you could come here, Wilhelmina," Molly said. "Your children invited."

"I have five daughters, Mrs. Weasley," Wilhelmina said.

"It's Molly, dear, and it's no trouble. This lot's moved out, and Alex and Sam are hardly here sometimes."

"Thanks, Molly," Wilhelmina said. The twins said their goodbyes and followed Wilhelmina outside.

"Aunt Wilhelmina, how're we getting there?" Alex asked.

"You can call me Billie, all the kids do when they're not in front of their fathers or grandmother, and we're flying. You have brooms, right?"

"What kind of Weasleys would we be if we didn't?" Sam asked.

"I figured as much. I was in Gryffindor at Hogwarts. And if I remember correctly, Charlie was on the team, so were the twins Fred and George."

"Yeah. Ginny was on the team later too, Seeker and Chaser, and Ron as Keeper when Oliver Wood left," Alex explained from the broom shed.

"What position do you two play?" Billie asked.

"Beaters," Sam answered re-emerging from the shed carrying her broom, as was Alex.

"You have Nimbus Three Thousands?" Billie asked. "All I have is a Cleansweep Twelve."

"Yeah, we got them for our birthday this year," Alex said. "You follow Quidditch?"

"I love it. I haven't seen a match since I was seventeen," Billie said.

"We have tickets to the next Harpies game, you should come with us," Sam offered.

"Maiah would love that," Billie said. "Wait 'til she hears you're related to Ginny Weasley. I won't tell her until we're home. Well, come on. It's a short flight."

Alex and Sam mounted their brooms, and Billie mounted hers, placing Marley in front of her.

"How old is she?"

"She'll be four in April," Billie answered. "Along the way, I'm going to explain family traditions, so, stay close."

She kicked off, and Alex and Sam followed suit.

"The main reason Ivy has called a custody battle is because of a family 'tradition'. From the age of six, all the grandchildren go and live with the matriarch or patriarch of the family at Winfield Manor. Which means, Claude and Dexter live there, as does Maiah, only my two youngest and you two, do not. Really, Ivy brainwashes them for their purpose in the family. Claude and Dexter are the heirs, and will inherit the Manor. All of the girls purpose is to marry a pure-blood, doesn't matter if he's a blood-traitor, just as long as he's rich. If you cannot find a husband successfully, one will be chosen for you. Girls are forbidden from playing Quidditch, or behaving unladylike. The boys can act however they like, unless important company is present. I'm telling you this to help you. I was forced into this. Grant took a liking to me, and tried to help me get out. I'll help you. This isn't meant for you, or any of the children. The other two women were like me, and your biological mother, but they've lost their spirit. You two could be the key to getting out of this.

"Now, the family. You've met Ivy. Now, you have three uncles. Everett's the oldest, and is Claude and Dexter's father. His wife is Marcella, you can't miss her, she's the only one with blonde hair. Claude and Dexter's is dirty blond. Then there's Luther, his wife is Estella. She has ash blonde hair, usually wild curls, but not tonight. Their children are Truman, and June Josephine, whom I call J.J., she's adorable, she's six, and Truman is eight. J.J. has the same hair as her mother, and Truman has brown hair. Which leaves my husband, Spencer. Tall, with brown hair. Maiah's your age, and has the same hair as me– wild, black curls. Nicola's next, she's nine, has straight, black hair, and I usually call her Nikki. Cat's seven, and the only girl with brown hair, her full name is Cathalina. Which leaves Stacy, or Anastasia. Black hair, sorta wavy, turns six this year. Can you keep all that straight?"

"Think so," Sam said.

"So, we'll be the outcasts. Fiery red hair, and an attitude to match it. Yup, we're gonna fit right in," Alex said. "Someone kill me now."

"See, this is why I liked you, before I even met you," Billie said, grinning. "You've got spunk."

"Spunk?" Alex repeated.

"Can't think of a better word right now. You're exactly what the kids need," Billie said. "Now, here's how the party works. We have dinner, followed by pudding, then presents, and then social interaction. Stick by me the whole time, and you'll do fine."

"Thanks, Billie," Sam said.

"No problem," Billie said. "Darn, we're here."

She dived, and Alex and Sam did, too, beating her to the ground.

"Put your brooms here," Billie said. "Now, let me see your hair. I told them I was Apparating, and I've been gone for half an hour. Oh, well. Flying was the only way to give me time to explain everything to you. Come on."

They walked up a cobblestone path, and were amazed at what they saw. In front of them, was a magnificent, black marble building, with pillars, and balconies, and fountains. But it had an eerie feeling to it.

They followed Billie up the marble stairs, and to the huge, wooden door.

"One more thing, nicknames are strictly forbidden," Billie added, before knocking.

"Who is there?" a voice squeaked.

"It's Billie, Nell," Billie replied. The massive doors creaked open. Alex and Sam looked around. The interior was black marble. There were two winding staircases, and a fountain halfway between them. There were only three other doors in the hall. One directly in front of them, another on their left, and another to the right.

"It is almost time for dinner, mistress," Nell squeaked. "Mistress is expecting you, and her granddaughters."

"I have them here, Nell. Alex, Sam, this is Nell, the family house-elf. Nell, this is Alexandra and Samantha, they're Grant and Audrey's daughters," Billie introduced.

"Pleased to meet you, misses," Nell said, curtsying. "Ah, you look like Master Grant, but you has Mistress Audrey's hair."

"Um… thanks, Nell," Alex said.

"Come, quick, dinner is about to start." Billie said. "The dining room is this way."

They followed Billie through the door directly in front of them. The corridor that followed was as wide as any Hogwarts corridor, and it was lined with portraits. The very first one dated back to just over a thousand years ago.

"She started the tradition of the grandchildren coming to live here, but it was to teach them magic. All anyone knows that was sometime before Hogwarts was established. This was her parents' home, but she was her parents' only child, which made her the heir to this place," Billie explained.

"So this place didn't always belong to Winfields?" Sam asked.

"Oh, yes. Her surname was Winfield. Her husband kept her name, because once upon a time, it was a respectable name. A name no one feared. A good name. Now, it just represents anger, and coldness, and nothing Winfields used to stand for."

"What was her name?" Alex asked.

"Elfreda," Billie answered.

"Who is this in this picture with the mean-looking man?" Sam asked, two portraits away.

"Elfreda's granddaughter, Ethel," Billie said sadly. "This is where things started to go wrong. This is man screwed things up. Ethel was, again, an only child. She was a Squib. Her parents didn't put her in the Muggle world. Back then, the founders didn't see any reason why she couldn't go to Hogwarts. There were only three classes she couldn't attend: Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Charms. Her parents and grandmother wanted her to have a good life, and why would a wizard want to marry a Squib? She was still, technically, a pure-blood. And the man seemed like such a gentlemen. Said it didn't matter if Ethel was a Squib, he'd treat her just the same. And he did. At first. The poor girl had eleven children, and the first ten were daughters. Elfreda didn't trust him, and she was right too. She begged her son and daughter-in-law not to marry Ethel to him, but they didn't listen. So, poor Ethel was beaten after she gave birth to girl after girl. She finally told her grandmother, and admitted she was being beaten, not only because of the girls, but because she was Squib. Only Elfreda believed Ethel. So, when her son was sent to live with Elfreda, Ethel committed suicide. When Elfreda confronted him, about it, he denied everything. Next night, Elfreda was poisoned. Of course, he didn't brainwash his children, he started with his grandchildren, and so forth. To the terror we know today."

"So was Ivy born a Winfield, or married into this family?" Alex asked.

"Born one. Ready?"

They were now standing in front of double French doors.

"No," they answered simultaneously.

"Too late," Billie said, smiling. "J.J. has spotted you."

Billie opened a door, and ushered them in. The dining room was huge. The table was long and rectangular, and Ivy herself was seated at the head of the table. The table was wooden, and polished. There was five fireplaces placed strategically in the room. It was lit by two large candelabra. On either side of Ivy, two boys were seated. And next to either of them were two men, who Alex and Sam supposed were their uncles.

Billie led them to the remaining empty seats. She sat to her husband, instructed Alex to sit next to her, and Sam to sit next to her. Sam found herself next to Maiah. Alex and Sam had the seating figured out in less than five minutes thanks to Billie's descriptions. It went like this:

Ivy

Claude-Dexter

Luther-Spencer

Estella-Wilhelmina

Truman-Alex

June Josephine-Sam

Nicola-Maiah

Cathalina-Marlene

Marcella-Anastasia

Everett

Before dinner, Everett spoke to them.

"What are your names?" Everett barked.

"You know our names," Alex said politely, but with an edge in her voice. "I'm Alex, and my twin is Sam."

The atmosphere at the table went from uncomfortable to nasty. Only Billie was grinning, until Truman gave her a look. She changed her face to match that of her husband.

"Nicknames are strictly forbidden!" Ivy spat. "Surely you told them that, Wilhelmina."

"Of course I did, Ivy, why wouldn't I?" Wilhelmina asked, her face cold, and her voice indifferent.

"Your son gave them to us the day we were born," Sam interjected.

"Grant was a fool," Ivy said coldly.

"That's our unc– father you're talking about!" Alex said fiercely.

"They have Audrey's hair, do they not, Spencer?" Luther said in a deep voice.

"They do," Spencer confirmed.

"No redheads have ever married into this family nor were any born in this family until Audrey came along," Everett said from the other end of the trailer.

"I always said she was trouble, and now we're stuck with her progenies," Luther said.

"Hey! That's our mother you're talking about!" Alex said angrily.

"And the 'progenies' have names!" Sam said. "And we're your brother's children."

"My brother made a mistake in marrying your mother, and then not remarrying when she died," Spencer said.

"Because he loved her," Alex and Sam said together.

"He also made a mistake in leaving you with the Weasleys," Luther said.

"He didn't want us ending up with you lot," Alex said.

"You would have grown up properly with us!" Everett said. "Their only daughter plays Quidditch!"

"Yeah, because Ginny likes playing Quidditch!" Sam snapped.

"We even have tickets to go to the European Cup," Alex added.

"You won't have to go anymore, dears," Marcella said kindly.

"Are you mad?! We love Quidditch! We've been playing since we could walk!" Alex and Sam said together. "Whoa."

"The Weasleys have been letting you play Quidditch? I knew they were a bad family," Everett said.

"The Weasleys are a good family," Alex and Sam snapped.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this custody battle, Mother? They have spirit. And fiery red hair," Everett asked.

"Oh, you don't want us because it's too late to crush the spirit out of us?" Alex asked.

"And because of our hair colour?" Sam asked, their hazel eyes blazing.

"It is tradition," Ivy answered Everett. "And this… discussion is over." She snapped her fingers and their dinners appeared in front of them. Alex and Sam looked at their plates, then each other. There was a small piece of chicken, a helping of rice, and a small piece of steamed carrot.

The rest of dinner passed without interruption. There was no talking. Pudding was crème brulée. Next were presents. Billie wasn't kidding when she had said Claude and Dexter were spoiled brats. The presents they received! Alex and Sam weren't exactly sure what the presents were, but knew they were fairly expensive. They even received Nimbus Three Thousands! They groaned. Finally, Ivy dismissed them from the dining room. Everett led the way to the sitting room. Once they had reached it, Everett turned to Alex and Sam.

"You never did tell us your names. Your full names," he said.

"Alexandra Audrey Marie," Alex answered.

"And Samantha Audrey Eleanor," Sam replied.

"Alexandra Audrey Marie Winfield and Samantha Audrey Eleanor Winfield," Ivy said. "I like that."

Alex and Sam shook their heads. "Weasleys, not Winfields," Alex corrected.

"Winfields," Ivy said.

"Weas-leys," Alex and Sam emphasised.

"Win-fields," Ivy retorted.

"We're Weasleys, for now," Alex said, deciding to placate Ivy.

"For now," she agreed coldly.

Turns out, 'social interaction' meant Claude and Dexter got to complain about whatever, and their parents, aunt, uncles, and Ivy agreed. Tonight, it was about being in Gryffindor, instead of Slytherin. The twins had to bit their lips to keep them from retorting.

Finally, it was time for Billie to take them back to the Burrow.

Alex and Sam did all but run out the door. They had retrieved their brooms before Billie had even made out.

"You guys did better than me, when I first came here," Billie told them. "I caused an argument every five seconds."

They mounted their brooms, and flew off towards the Burrow.

"How in the name of Merlin do you put up with that?" Alex asked.

"I don't," Billie said. "I usually put a Silencing Charm on myself."

"How come none of the other kids talked?" Sam asked.

"Claude and Dexter's rule, they don't want anyone else taking the attention off of themselves," Billie answered.

"Gits," the twins said, and fell silent. They didn't speak again until they were at the Burrow.

"Do not–" Alex began.

"–make us–

"–go back there."

"Ever," they finished, and turned to go to the stairs. Molly pointed her wand at their hair, and it fell loose.

"Was it that bad?" Molly asked.

Billie relayed everything to her.

"They defended Audrey and Grant? And us?" Molly said incredulously.

"Did you expect nothing less?" Billie asked wryly.

"Well, no, but we told them they would do better to not speak at all, no matter what," Molly explained. "Should've known. But they usually don't speak when they're at a formal dinner. Anyway, my earlier offer is still up, you're more than welcome to come over. Your daughters, too."

"I'll come by before the trial," Billie replied, before Disapparating.

Author's Note: Okay, the seating plan. They're paired with who they are sitting across. I would've had this up earlier, but I lost what I needed, then I found it, then I was busy. And then I found out HBP's release date has been pushed back to July 17, 2009. Does anyone know why? I have good news for any Twilight fans, the movie comes out on November 21st, now. I'm not too thrilled with that. Harry was here first, not Edward!