Five Years Later

"Eltanin," Bella sang walking through the rose garden. She was met with silence till she heard a small giggle coming from her left. "Where oh where could my little star be?"

She smiled hearing more giggles before she sprang on her son who screamed in happiness. Bella took him into her arms and swung him around peppering him with kisses.

"Mama!" Eltanin laughed as his mother tickled his sides. "Mama stop it! Mione mouse is going to be here soon!"

"Right you are little star, shall we go?" Bella set her son down and held her hand out to him that he grabbed on to happily. Bella laughed at her son who swung their hands together.

"Mama, I would like a haircut," Eltanin stated as they walked up the stairs to the study where Hermione would be flooing into.

"Oh? What brought this change on?"

"I don't like it long anymore it has become a… what's the word… nuisance, yes!" he said grabbing a tome and began reading. Bella chuckled watching her son. Hermione was basically making him into her protégé which is not a bad thing, but how brilliant he was still surprised her.

"El?" Hermione said stepping out of the floo she smiled upon seeing the little boy jump from the couch and run to her. She pulled him into a hug and kissed the top of his head before handing him a new book.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, how interesting!" he said immediately opening it and reading it.

"Hey Mione, how were the Italian officials today?" Bella asked handing her a glass of wine that she knew her best friend loved after having a long day.

"Well, I got my law signed through that will allow centaurs to gain back many acres of land that they had previously lost due to wizards wanting the woods, but I think my boss Frederico is wanting to transfer me to another department to a higher up position," Hermione stated biting her lip.

"I knew you'd get that law! Wait, why do you sound like you don't want the higher up position? I thought that's what you were wanting?" Bella asked confused. She glanced at Eltanin who would undoubtedly be consumed with his new book.

"Don't get me wrong I'd love to get a higher up position, but I want it to be in my department. I don't want to be in a different department. I'm making a lot of changes in the world when it comes to the magical creatures, and I just don't think I'd get the same results if I were to be in a different department," Hermione sighed taking a sip of her wine. Suddenly there was a tapping at the study's window. Hermione went up to it letting the owl in who hooted at her. Handing an owl treat to the owl she pulled the letter from it's tie noticing it as addressed to Bella with the Zabini crest on the back.

"Bella, it's for you," Hermione said walking over to her sitting down beside her. She handed the letter watching as Bella nervously gulped and ripped open the letter. Her eyes widened as she read the letter.

"It's a wedding invitation… Blaise and Daphne are getting married," she whispered feeling the ache in her heart hit her full force. She saw Eltanin raise his head and look at her at the mention of Blaise.

"Do you mean Uncle Blaise?" Eltanin asked. Bella had told Eltanin all about her brother and the adventures they got up to as children. He knew that they had stopped talking, but never asked why.

"Yes little star, Uncle Blaise is getting married," Bella looked at Hermione. "He invited me to go."

"Do you want to?" Hermione asked shocked at the nerve of Blaise who had not tried to contact his sister in years.

"No, but I am his only family member he'd be willing to have at the wedding. It would be insulting if I didn't show up not to mention I am his twin sister," Bella rationalized. She knew though that this choice would be throwing herself and Eltanin to the wolves.

"Are we going to his wedding mummy?" Eltanin asked crawling over to Bella then laying his head on her chest and reaching his hand into her natural curls and played with them.

"Would you like to my love? If you want to meet him, we can go, but if you're not ready for that we can stay here and have a movie evening just the three of us," Bella offered her son holding him close.

"I would like to meet him, but what if he doesn't like me?" Eltanin raised his head staring into his mother's eyes. Bella felt her heart clench staring into her son's beautiful gray eyes that were so much of his father she always had to release herself from the stupor it put her in at times.

"He'd a be a fool not to," Hermione chipped in. She was worried to go knowing that if Blaise was marrying Daphne that mean Astoria and Draco were bound to be there. Although Bella had become a stronger woman and incredible mother, Hermione knew her heart had never let go of her love for Draco.

"Miss Bella, dinner is ready!" Daisy popped in.

"Thank you Daisy!" Eltanin smiled hopping off the couch. He held out his hand for his mother and Hermione to walk to dinner.

"Listen, I'll be by your side the entire time. If they so much as even breathe badly on either of you, I'll hex the lot of them and then call in reinforcements," Hermione whispered to Bella who laughed.

"I know the Weasleys and Potters wouldn't hesitate," Bella shook her head laughing more.

"Oh can we see Nana Molly this weekend!?" Eltanin exclaimed.

"We have a wedding to attend little star," Bella laughed. Eltanin huffed sitting at his spot at the table before placing his napkin neatly in his lap.

"You know we don't have to stay the whole time, we could just visit briefly to meet uncle Blaise then go to Nana Molly's," Eltanin tried bargaining with his mother.

"I blame you," Bella jokingly glared at Hermione who smirked and shrugged tucking into her chicken alfredo.

"Mione mouse hasn't done anything. I just know that as a child I will be bored within a few hours anyways, so we might as well make it short so I can see Nana and my uncles," Eltanin reasoned making Bella sigh knowing her son would persist until he bargained into getting exactly what he wanted. In that aspect she could undoubtedly see his father in him, she smiled at that even though just thinking about seeing him made her palms clammy and her heart race with fear.

"You know Molly loves when we visit," Hermione commented drinking a sip of wine.

"I know, but I just feel bad always imposing," Bella muttered then chuckled seeing Eltanin pull out his pocket sized encyclopedia Hermione bought him for Christmas that he carried around no matter the occasion.

"Impose to cause to affect someone or something by using your authority or way. Mama you don't do that," Eltanin looked at Bella confused.

"It can also mean to put one out in a situation, but your Mama knows she doesn't do that because Nana Molly loves you both as if you were own," Hermione stared at Bella daring her to argue.

"Fine, we will see Nana Molly after. I'll send in our RSVP as well," Bella said calmly knowing when an argument was a lost cause especially involving two of the most brilliant people she'd ever met.

"Looks like you'll be getting that haircut sooner than we planned," Hermione laughed mussing Eltanin's blonde curls.

"I want to look my best when I meet them," Eltanin said happily eating his pasta.

"You and I both my love," Bella whispered tucking into her dinner as well.

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"I invited her to my wedding," Blaise told Draco and Theo as they sat in his study as they did most evenings after finishing up at their respective businesses.

"You… I thought you don't talk?" Draco swallowed a large amount of firewhisky. Theo and Blaise watched their friend try to keep his composure at the mention of Bella.

"We don't. She's still my twin, and I love her no matter what. It doesn't feel right marrying not having her there. Regardless of how things ended between us, I would never forgive myself if I didn't try with her," Blaise stated plainly sipping his whisky.

"Do you think Hermione would come with her?" Theo asked hopeful. He had tried to date other witches, but they all paled in comparison to the bushy haired witch that had ensnared his heart. He knew she was working at the Italian ministry, but she never replied to any of his owls, no matter how large or small the letter was.

"There's no way she would show up alone," Blaise scoffed knowing his sister sought strength in numbers.

"What about a date?" Draco asked curious as to Blaise' insight into his sister.

"I hope for your sake she does," Blaise said plainly ignoring Draco's tensing.

Blaise and Draco had come to a truce of sorts when it came to what happened nearly 6 years ago, but Blaise still held onto resentment towards Draco which is why Bella had never been brought up in conversation till this moment. Draco felt his stomach drop at the thought of seeing her now after all these years. A large part of him hoped to Merlin she'd stay away, but a small tiny part he tried desperately to damp down was hoping she'd come.

"I hope so too," Draco muttered drinking another sip from his tumbler as the three of them mulled over the idea of the witches they never thought they'd see again would possibly be back in their lives in a matter of days.