Note: Thanks for the overwhelming positive response to my return to writing, I'm so pleased to have you all back! Sorry for the delay, I found this chapter quite difficult to write as inspiration was low, with it being a link chapter between parts of canon, so I end up writing silly fluff until the next chapter gets onto Diagon Alley and the return to Hogwarts.

Chapter 2

"Harry, why on earth is there a house-elf in your bedroom?"

Maia was at a loss for words as she lowered her wand and stepped into her son's bedroom, eyes fixed on the house-elf that most certainly did not belong to the Potter family. James followed her, resting his hand lightly in the small of her back, eyes fixed firmly on his son.

Harry seemed at a loss for words, and it took him a second to come up with some words, but even then he seemed too surprised to adequately explain.

"Erm … this is Dobby. He – erm – came to see me."

Maia frowned, turning her attention to the elf, who looked alarmed and clearly hadn't intended to be seen by any fully grown witches or wizards, as he was staring at James' wand cautiously.

"So," she said, trying to remain calm "Dobby – what are you doing here? Who sent you?"

"No-one sends Dobby, miss," the house-elf squeaked, raising one hand so his thumb and middle finger were pressed together. He then turned to look at Harry and said, "Harry Potter must heed Dobby's warning."

With that, the elf snapped his fingers, a loud crack sounded through the room, and he was gone.

"What the hell was that all about?" James demanded of Harry.

"Is it gone now?" Lyra asked from Harry's doorway, clearly too curious to stay away, "Daddy, what was that thing? I just came in because it was noisy and saw it hitting itself in the head with the lamp."

"It was a house-elf, angel," James told his daughter, taking a few steps closer to her so he could reach out and wrap an arm around her shoulders.

Lyra frowned, "Really? Well, they're much less ugly in my books. What was it doing here?"

James chuckled and leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead, "Never you mind. How about you go back to whatever you were doing and let us talk to your brother?"

Somewhat reluctantly, but always one to listen to her dad, Lyra turned and left the room.

"Well?" James asked expectantly as he looked between Neville and Harry, "the elf had a warning for you?"

"He … he just turned up. He said I shouldn't go back to Hogwarts."

"What?" James demanded more sharply, with all the air of someone who regularly carried out interrogations.

Harry was forthcoming with his answers, to say the least, as he continued, "Dobby said if I go back to school, I'll be in mortal danger. He said there's a plot to make terrible things happen at Hogwarts, and I'm too important to be harmed. "

Maia's blood ran cold – there was no doubt that anything happening to her children was her biggest fear, and it hadn't been long since Harry had been in danger at school, facing a teacher possessed by Voldemort himself. She looked at James, alarmed, and he looked concerned, but much less so than she had expected. Instead, he looked as though he was calculating, and she could almost see the cogs turning in his head.

"Who sent the elf?" James asked.

Harry shook his head, "He didn't say. Couldn't say, I think. They didn't know he was here – he said he'd have to punish himself for coming here. He implied they were bad wizards."

James frowned, "So a house-elf came here without his master's knowledge, to tell you not to go back to Hogwarts because something dangerous is going to happen?"

"He said I couldn't go back," Harry confirmed, "said he'd tried to stop all my letters, so I'd think I didn't have any friends there, but he couldn't intercept owls without one of you knowing they'd been tampered with."

James was silent for a moment, and Maia couldn't tell what he was thinking. Her heart was racing – could there be a danger at the school? Wouldn't Dumbledore know? But then again, he hadn't known that Quirrell was possessed, and it had fallen to Harry to stop him stealing the Philosopher's Stone, so Dumbledore wasn't exactly all-knowing. But how would a house-elf know? And why would he come and tell Harry? It just didn't add up. But whatever she thought, there was no way she was going to worry Harry about it.

Maia sighed, "Harry, I wouldn't worry too much. If there really was a danger at the school, how would this elf know?"

Harry shrugged, "He said it wasn't Voldemort, so maybe Dobby's family are the ones who are going to do something bad."

"No," James said firmly, suddenly in full control of the room, "listen to me Harry – you are not to worry about what that house-elf said. There is no way a house-elf would know of a serious danger to the Hogwarts security – one that didn't involve Voldemort, but the elf's masters - without the headmaster or the ministry knowing. Hogwarts is very well protected, and the events surrounding the Philosopher's Stone will only have increased Professor Dumbledore's caution. You'll go back to Hogwarts, and nothing will happen."

"But why would Dobby say-" started Harry, trailing off, face twisting in confusion.

James sighed, "It's probably someone's idea of a joke. I can't see how that house-elf would know of a threat, and if he did, why he'd come here to warn you. Realistically, what would his family even do? It would take dark powers beyond a normal family to do any damage that Dumbledore wouldn't be able to instantly put down. No, I think someone sent that elf to you on purpose."

"But who'd do that?" Maia frowned, though she had to admit it sounded more plausible than the elf's actual story, and it was much more reassuring to think of.

James shrugged, "Well I don't know. Is there anyone who'd have some sort of grudge against you?"

Neville and Harry exchange knowing looks, and Harry instantly said, "Draco Malfoy."

Maia nodded – she remembered Harry mentioning the boy once. How he picked on people, had taken an instant disliking to Harry. Regulus had spoken about him too, and he sounded like a thoroughly nasty child, which wasn't surprising given what he had for parents. He probably had no good influences in his life.

She and James had been careful however, to make sure they didn't openly speak badly of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, beyond saying they weren't nice people, not feeling the need to tell Harry all about the family's dark ways, and Lucius' suspected (or known, to the former members of the Order of the Phoenix) death eater activity. It opened the way for too many conversations about death eaters, and things they had done, and they'd quite like to avoid having those conversations with their children for as long as possible. Lyra and Harry had no idea, for instance, that their uncle Regulus had once been a death eater, or that Sirius and Maia had run away from home as teenagers due to the abuse they suffered at the hands of their parents.

There had once been a nasty run in with Narcissa, Lucius and Draco in Diagon Alley however, that Maia imagined would have forever cemented the Malfoys as bad people, in her children's minds.

"Well," Maia said, "I suppose the Malfoy boy could have sent his elf here as some kind of joke. They'll certainly own an elf."

"You think there's really nothing to worry about?" Harry quizzed his father.

James offered his son a small smile, "I do. I don't want you worrying about anything. How would an elf know about a plot at Hogwarts, that Dumbledore didn't even know about? Don't worry, Prongslet."

At his father's affectionate nickname for him, Harry smiled, seemingly relaxed.

"You believe me?" James asked, raising his eyebrows.

Harry nodded, "Yes Dad."

James grinned, "Good lad. Now, don't you two be staying up too late," he added, grinning at Neville too, before turning to the door, glancing at Maia, trying to work out whether she was still worried.

Maia plastered her best smile on her face and went over to hug her son, wrapping her arms around him and leaning down to press a kiss to his cheek, "Listen to your dad, sweetie. Sometimes he talks sense. Did you have a good birthday?"

Harry smiled as she let go of him, "It was good. Thanks for everything, Mum."

"You're very welcome, sweetie." Turning to Neville, she reached out and squeezed his shoulder, "good night, Neville. I was thinking we could go down to the beach tomorrow, if it's nice."

When they'd left Harry's room, James closed the door behind them and reached out to drape his arm over his wife's shoulders as they made their way back to the garden.

"Do you believe everything you just told Harry to believe?" Maia asked, looking up at him as they slowly started to descend the staircase.

James looked at her with a slight frown, "Do you not?"

Maia bit her lip, eyes focused on the stairs in front of her and her arm curled around her husband's waist, "I don't see how a random house-elf could know about some dangerous plot at the school when no-one else does, and even if there was such a plot, I don't see why the elf would come and warn Harry. Why not go warn someone who could do something about it? So … I struggle to believe it all but … what if there is some … danger?"

Running his hand from her shoulder to her elbow and back again as they walked, James sighed, "I promise you, I don't think we need to be worried."

"But what if-"

James interrupted her gently, "I know. Of all people, I get it. He's already been in more danger than any child his age but logically … I really do think it's far more likely that this is some kind of silly joke."

Maia nodded, knowing it made sense, "I hope so. But … what kind of idiot would send a house-elf to try and stop someone they didn't like from going back to school?"

"Well, you know how kids are," James replied, still stroking her arm.

Maia snorted, "There were people we didn't like at school and we didn't try to stop them from coming back!"

James chuckled, "The point is, I really don't think we should worry about this. I know we have plenty of reason to worry about Harry but this is too unbelievable, if we think about it logically. We could maybe mention it to Dumbledore though, so he's aware? But I think we should do that and then try to forget about this."

She nodded, fingers curling into the material of his shirt, "It just … doesn't sit right with me but … it doesn't make sense if the elf is telling the truth either."

They had now reached the bottom of the staircase and James drew to a halt, making Maia stop too. He moved to stand in front of her, reaching out to cup her face with one hand, the other moving to settle on her waist.

"Darling wife, please don't worry yourself about this," he said sincerely, "I know it's concerning, but there's no evidence to back the elf's claims up. We can't investigate, but we can tell Dumbledore about it so he's aware, and what better person to tell? Beyond that, I think we shouldn't worry."

Maia nodded, closing her eyes as James brushed his thumb across her cheek softly, "I know what you're saying makes sense, I just … it's our kids. If there was anything dangerous going on, and we hadn't done something about it …"

"I know," James said softly, his thumb brushing over her lower lip, "we'll write to Dumbledore and let him know – even if it's nothing, it can't do any harm. Beyond that, I don't think there's anything more we can do, but that should be enough. How do you feel about that?"

She nodded, staring into her husband's hazel eyes, "We should definitely let Dumbledore know. Even if it's nothing."

"Yes."

Maia nodded again. There was nothing more they could do, and if she thought about the logic, it really didn't make any sense as a story. "Ok," she said, "ok then."

James nodded too, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead, lips lingering for a few moments. When he pulled back, offering out his arm and gesturing towards the door that led to the garden, Maia took his arm and sighed, "Do you think our children will ever stop causing us so much stress?"

James chuckled as they strolled towards the garden, "Of course not. In fact, I'm sure we'll have more to stress us out before long."

Smiling at the thought, Maia found herself resisting the urge to press her free hand to her stomach, wondering when – if – they might be blessed with another baby.

Almost as soon as they arrived back in the garden, approaching the picnic bench where Tonks sat opposite Remus and Sirius, a fairly intoxicated Tonks shouted at them, "Oh, you're back, are you?"

James saluted her with his free hand, "Gracing you with our presence once again."

"Thought you were making yourself a cup of tea?" Tonks asked, raising her eyebrows and looking very interested, as Maia sat down beside her, James on her other side.

"We got distracted," Maia replied.

Sirius' face took on a look of disgust, "Gross," he muttered.

Under the table, Maia kicked him, "Oh shut up. Nothing like that. We were slightly distracted because a random house-elf turned up in our son's bedroom and insisted that he not go back to Hogwarts."

"What?" chorused Tonks, Remus and Sirius.

After filling the other occupants of the picnic table in on what had just occurred upstairs, all were concerned but agreed that they just couldn't see how this could be a real threat. Maia felt quite a lot better knowing that not only her husband, but two other aurors, not to mention people she'd trust with her life, agreed they shouldn't worry.

An hour or so later, Maia stifled a yawn behind her hand as she rested her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand, propping herself up.

"I think it might be time for bed," James chuckled, draining his glass of mead and putting it down.

Maia shook her head, aware that Sirius and Tonks were still having fun telling Remus yet another ridiculous story, the alcohol having livened them up and kept them going after a long week at work, where Maia was falling asleep without it. Not wanting to spoil the fun, she mumbled, "No, s'fine."

Sirius snorted, "You look like you're going to fall asleep at the table. Sis, I think you're getting old."

She rolled her eyes, "I have a tiring job."

"So do I!" Sirius insisted, his hand over his heart as if she'd wounded him, "that's why you should have had a little drink to liven you up."

James grinned and got to his feet, offering his hand out to his wife and telling the others, "I think we're going to leave the party. The kids will be in bed by now and we didn't intend it to be a late night. We've promised we'll take them down to the beach in the morning."

"I don't think we'll be far behind you," Remus nodded, to which Sirius and Tonks, who were pouring another drink each, protested loudly.

"Good night, you lot," Maia grinned, "sorry Sirius, but this old woman is going to bed. And as you're so fond of reminding me … you're older than me."

Curled up together in bed soon after, James ran his fingers through his wife's dark curly hair and she sighed in contentment, snuggling into him, cheek resting on his chest.

"I could stay here like this forever," James mumbled.

Maia hummed in agreement, enjoying having her hair played with and being close to him, "It's not very practical though."

He chuckled, "Screw practicality. No-one would begrudge me staying in bed with such a beautiful woman."

Maia scoffed, though she was grinning, "I'm already in your bed, James Potter, so you don't need to woo me."

"Just try and stop me," he replied firmly.

She smiled, sleepily letting her eyes close as she argued, "Besides, I think Sirius and the kids would begrudge it. They're all looking forward to the beach now."

James chuckled, ducking his head down and pressing a kiss to the top of her head, "Alright then, go to sleep. Lots of sandcastles to build tomorrow."

The next day was indeed warm and sunny, and Maia and James were woken early by Lyra walking up and down the landing as loud as she could, trying to wake them so they'd take her to the beach sooner. The prospect of going to the beach was one of the only times Lyra would willingly get out of bed before lunch.

Maia packed up bags of sandwiches, drinks and leftover birthday cake, and with her husband, children and godson in tow, left for the nearby beach. They were joined not long after by Remus and Sirius, who brought the day's post with them.

Maia was watching James and the children splashing about in the sea, when Remus sat down beside her.

"Morning," she grinned, not taking her eyes from James, who had picked Lyra up and was wading into the water with her, loudly threatening to throw her under, earning loud protests and shrieks from her. Nearby, Neville and Harry were splashing about far more calmly.

Sirius tore past her without even a greeting, racing towards James and Lyra.

"Uncle Padfoot! Save me!" Lyra shouted when laying eyes on him.

"I'm coming, pup, I'm coming!" Sirius shouted, transforming into his animagus form of a big black dog as he moved, bounding into the water and proceeding to jump up at his brother-in-law.

"Sirius!" Remus hissed, looking around to see if anyone was nearby, but of course no-one was. Sirius wasn't stupid. It might be a nice day, but they lived on the outskirts of a village, and this beach was a small bay. The main stretch of beach in the area was a mile down the coast, and most people went there.

Maia rolled her eyes, pushing her sunglasses further up her nose and turning her attention to the pile of post. On top was the Daily Prophet, as usual, as well as James' monthly subscription to Which Broomstick? there were also two envelopes addressed in the same large loopy handwriting. One to "Harry Potter" and the other to "Mr and Mrs Potter."

Curiously, Maia reached for the envelope addressed to she and James and began to open it, as Remus picked up the Daily Prophet and opened it to the first page.

Dear Mr and Mrs Potter,

We hope you and the children are enjoying your summer, and Harry enjoys (or enjoyed, depending on when you get this) his birthday, and received Ron's gift earlier in the week.
Ron has included a letter with this, to invite Harry to stay at our house before the end of the summer, so I am writing to ask your permission, and reassure you that we'd be very happy to have him, and he'd be very well looked after. I know Ron is getting restless and missing his friends, so we're inviting Hermione and Neville to stay too.
If Harry would like to come, we could collect him on the second Saturday in August, and he could stay with us for the remaining two weeks of the summer holidays.
Please return yours and Harry's replied with our owl Errol as soon as you think Errol is up to the task. I'm afraid he's rather old, so he might need a little rest first.

With Best Wishes,
Molly Weasley.

Maia had no doubt that Harry would want to go stay with Ron for the last two weeks of the holidays, given the option. He was also getting restless, missing his school friends, and had written to Ron and Hermione every week, as well as seeing Neville a few times each week. There was little for him to do at home, and he had already been at home, bored, for several weeks.

She had never sent her son away anywhere other than to school, and although she was at work every day, she was very much enjoying having him at home and getting to see him on evenings and weekends, and other times around her work shifts. This was two weeks earlier than she had thought she'd be parting with him. Still, if Harry wanted to go, he should of course, go.

It would be strange knowing he was sitting at dinner in someone else's house, not very far away, in comparison to Hogwarts, but still not at home. And she would absolutely have to see him off to Hogwarts herself.

It had until this moment, felt like a long time until her precious eldest child and only son, was going back to school, and it would be months before she saw him again, but now it was feeling very real. It would be easier than it had been the year before, in many ways, but she imagined it would be so much harder next year, when Lyra also left.

"Everything alright?" Remus asked, looking up from his paper and frowning at her.

Maia realised she must have suddenly looked disappointed, or upset, and quickly schooled her features, for fear of making him worry that there was something seriously wrong. "Everything's fine," she assured him, waving the letter, "this is from Molly Weasley. They've invited Harry to stay with them for the last two weeks of summer."

Remus offered her an understanding smile, "I see."

Maia sighed, handing him the letter, "Don't give me that sympathetic smile. I know I'm clingy, I'm over protective. Stifling. I just can't help it. I'm going to let him go, of course, I just hate saying goodbye."

"I know. It's natural, I'm sure," he told her, scanning the letter.

"Sometimes I think I'm crazy when it comes to those kids," Maia said, a smile now crossing her face as she turned her attention back to the sea, watching her family play.

Remus actually snorted. "Course you are. But I think crazy just runs in your family."

With that, he nodded towards the water, where Sirius, still in his canine form, was chasing Lyra along the sand, getting just close enough to nudge her back with his nose.

Maia laughed, "Sadly, I think you're right." After a second's pause, she added, "what time did Tonks leave last night? I didn't hear the three of you come in."

"She apparated home an hour or so after you went to bed," Remus supplied, a fond smile crossing his face, "personally I think she was in no state to be apparating, but she insisted she was fine, and started walking in a straight line, reciting the alphabet backwards, to prove it."

Maia grinned, "That sounds about right. She's a lot of fun, Tonks is."

"She is," Remus agreed.

Maia was sure her suspicions about Remus' feelings for Tonks not being completely platonic, were correct, and she didn't dare voice it outright, but she was sure it had been a long time since she'd seen that particular look on his face when talking about a woman, or indeed the look he got when she laughed at his jokes. She was also sure Tonks was especially bright around Remus.

"She likes you," Maia said, a smirk pulling at the corners of her mouth as she waited to see how he'd respond.

Remus frowned slightly but recovered quickly, "I can't imagine Tonks dislikes anyone. She doesn't have it in her."

"Yeah," Maia agreed, "but … she likes you. And I thought maybe you-" she trailed off.

Remus was silent for a moment, but then replied, "Don't think I don't know when you're trying to interfere," he said, though his tone was good natured, almost teasing.

"I'm not, I just-"

Remus interrupted, "There are a thousand reasons why what you're implying is nonsense. Not least, the fact that your 19 year old cousin certainly does not have any romantic interest in a shabby, poor, much older, werewolf."

Maia rolled her eyes, "You should give yourself more credit."

"Maia," he said, eyes narrowed a fraction, tone slightly less teasing.

Maia rolled her eyes and held up her hands in surrender before he could say another word, "Alright, alright, I'm not saying anything else about it."

"Good."

She sighed, "But I really wish you'd get over this ridiculous thing you have in your mind, that you're somehow unworthy of anyone else."

Remus almost growled as he replied, "I thought you were dropping the subject?"

There was no time to argue back, because Sirius chose that moment to bound up to them, still in dog form and being chased by Lyra. The big black dog looked very happy as he stopped in front of Maia and Remus, dropping water all over the sand and suddenly looking far more mischievous than any real dog ever could.

"Sirius, don't you dare," Maia told him sternly, narrowing her eyes.

Remus looked confused for only half a second before he caught on, also narrowing his eyes at the wet dog, "Sirius-"

Heavy droplets of cold sea water hit Maia as the dog shook his whole body, soaking she, Remus and Lyra, and she groaned, holding her hands up in front of her face in a vain effort to protect herself. When the soaking stopped, she lowered her hands and glared at her brother.

Lyra was laughing madly, despite being also soaked, and out of the corner of her eye, Maia saw Remus reach into his pocket and withdraw his wand.

"Sirius Black," Maia spoke in a dangerously calm voice, "if you're not careful, I'm going to transfigure you into a flea and make sure you stay that way."

Sirius still looked quite happy, tongue and tail wagging madly, and he leapt towards Remus, leaning up and licking his face, causing Remus to moan in disgust, trying to push the dog away and jab him with his wand.

"Sirius," Remus said sternly, brandishing his wand, "I suggest you start running."

Whatever else he was, Sirius was not stupid, and although Remus was supposed to be the most sensible, he was not to be tested. With that, the black dog started to run across the beach.

"Are you going to catch him, Uncle Moony?" Lyra asked eagerly.

Remus grinned at his beloved goddaughter and got to his feet, "Of course. Are you going to help me?"

Lyra tore off across the sand, Remus following closely behind her, and Maia smiled as she watched the pair of them, only looking away when a shadow fell across the sand in front of her and she looked up to see James.

She grinned, "Well hello. Got bored of the sea, did you?"

James beamed, flopping onto the sand beside her and reaching into the picnic basket for a slice of birthday cake, "Saw you over here on your own and thought I'd come and keep you company."

Maia smiled, reaching over and kissing his cheek, "You're sweet."

"You smell like wet dog," James replied, leaning back and frowning at her, then looking her up and down, "and you look wet too."

She scoffed, reaching into her pocket, grasping her wand and casting a spell to dry herself. She'd been quite distracted by watching Remus and Lyra chase Sirius in his dog form, that she'd not thought to immediately do so.

"Better," she announced.

"Much better," James agreed, through a mouthful of cake.

Maia rolled her eyes at him, watching Neville and Harry walking by the edge of the water, and only a second or so later, she felt his arm around her shoulders and couldn't help but smile.

"We have a letter," she told him, closing her eyes behind her sunglasses and resting her head on his shoulder, "from Molly Weasley."

"Oh? What does she want?" James asked, quickly looking around and locating the parchment in question.

"They've invited Harry to stay with them for the last two weeks of summer," Maia told her husband. He nodded in response, the hand around her shoulders trailing lazily from her shoulder down to her elbow and back again as he read the letter.

When he was finished, he tossed it aside, "Well now, I'm sure Harry will love that."

"He will," Maia agreed, "he'll have a great time." A second later, she added with a sigh, "Jamie, he's growing up so fast."

James chuckled a little, kissing her head gently, burying his lips in her hair, "I know. Second year at Hogwarts already, and he's doing so well. Gryffindor seeker at the age of eleven!"

Maia let out a little laugh – trust James to always bring it back to quidditch. But they'd both been so unbelievably proud of their boy when they heard the news. James had told every single person he came across at the ministry for weeks afterwards. It was one of the things Maia adored about her husband – how much he doted on their children, how he'd do anything for them and for her, and how he was so good with them.

"I just hope he keeps out of trouble this year," Maia said, though she knew it was probably in vain – he shared the blood of half of the Marauders, after all.

Still, Harry hadn't actually spent his first year at school getting into the sort of trouble they had in their school days. He hadn't pulled pranks, turned all the Slytherins' hair pink or anything. No, he'd just fought a mountain troll, been caught out of bounds smuggling a dragon out of the school at midnight (not that the school knew about the dragon, they thought he'd just been messing about), and broke about 50 school rules saving the Philosopher's Stone from a teacher possessed by Voldemort himself.

"It can't be any worse than last year," James told her brightly, kissing her cheek this time.

"Hope so," she replied, letting herself relax against him, relishing in the feeling of the sun beating down on her face and her husband's familiar touch. Sighing, she said, "I am proud of him going to school and doing great things, and getting to learn all the amazing things we did, getting to experience all the magic of Hogwarts, but … they're just growing up so quick. It'll be Lyra's turn next year."

James scoffed, "Good luck to the teachers who'll be putting up with her," he said, stroking her arm lightly, "and I know, I know. I mean, I for one, don't feel nearly old enough to have two school age children."

Maia laughed – James always knew exactly what to say to make her smile. She knew he'd miss Harry just as much as she would, and he was just as worried about Harry as she was, given all he'd been through, but she also knew that he'd be fine, and they'd be fine. They always were.

"You're 32," she told him, rolling her eyes fondly, "hardly old."

"Still," he replied, "feels like only 2 minutes since I was your handsome, dashing new husband and now our boy is 12."

Lifting her head from his shoulder and turning to look at him, Maia smiled, lifting a hand to cup his cheek, thumb brushing gently over his skin, "Darling husband," she said, in a dramatic voice which made him grin, "you're more handsome now than ever."

He smirked, eyes flickered down to her lips, "Glad to hear it."

She grinned, letting her eyes flick from his deep hazel eyes to his full lips, her hand moving from his cheek to the back of his head, fingers brushing through his messy hair, "Ageing like Madam Rosmerta's finest mead."

He chuckled and closed the small gap between them, pressing his lips to hers, kissing her softly and sweetly, "I'm glad you think so."

As she turned to watch Harry and Neville, and Sirius, Remus and Lyra, checking everyone was alright, and letting her hand drop back into her lap, Maia felt James' hand come to rest on her stomach as he moved his arm from around her shoulders, to around her waist. It was a habit she'd noticed him take on as their attempts for another child continued, as if he was trying to connect with the life that might already be growing inside her. Sometimes it was annoying, sometimes it was endearing. Right now, when she was ovulating, it was endearing. In the middle of the month, if the pregnancy tests had just come back negative, it would be annoying.

"I've been thinking," James said quietly, in a tone that Maia knew meant he was up to something – whatever he had to say, he thought it was a subject to be broached carefully.

"Have you?" she asked carefully, narrowing her eyes and she turned her face up to look at him.

"It was just a thought but … when we have this baby …"

She sighed heavily, "James, I'm not even pregnant yet, as far as we know. I feel like you're … I don't want to jinx it."

"It's going to happen, I'm telling you," he replied firmly, confidently, looking into her eyes, "we've got plenty of time. It'll happen."

She smiled at his confidence, but a moment later, all that faded and he suddenly looked suspicious, nervous, looking away from her and watching their daughter play with her uncles.

"James?" she prompted.

He cleared his throat, still not looking at her, "When we have this baby, he or she is going to be a lot younger than Harry and Lyra, and I know those two haven't always got on swimmingly, but they've done pretty well, and I think it's been nice for them to grow up with a playmate, and it'll be even nicer when they're older, and they can confide in each other and help each other out, and … and this new baby won't have that companionship, not quite in the same way anyway ... I mean, unless it's twins, and I was just thinking …"

He trailed off and Maia stared at him in surprise. It wasn't often that her husband was lost for words, or appeared nervous, especially when he was asking her for something, since they were usually so in tune. She mulled over his words and narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at his profile as he continued to look towards the sea, "James?" she prompted further.

He bit his lip, then said very quickly, "I was thinking that when we have this baby, maybe we could try for another, just one more, so they'd have each other for company, and wouldn't it be great to have two little ones to raise together? And I love you, and I love the kids, and I've always wanted a big family, and I want this baby to have everything in the world, and I thought maybe that could include a built-in playmate, a friend."

A moment of silence followed, and as Maia took in his words and realised what he'd just suggested, she didn't know what to say. He turned to look at her now, meeting her eyes, looking a little hopeful, but also scared that she'd be angry at his suggestion, and almost like he wished he hadn't brought it up, and was waiting for her to explode at the thought.

Instead, she couldn't stop herself from laughing at his panic-stricken expression, but also his excitement at the prospect of a new baby, which was so great that he was already considering its life, and everything he wanted him or her to have, and how excited he was to be getting so ahead of himself.

"What?" James demanded in confusion, leaning away from her and studying her face and her body as she shook his laughter, his arm dropping from around her waist, "what are you laughing at?"

Trying to suppress her giggles, Maia shook her head and then reached out to take hold of both of his hands, "Oh James, you just sound so scared and nervous."

He frowned at her, "Well it's a pretty big thing to suggest. It took you months to decide whether you wanted number three. I honestly thought you might slap me for suggesting number four already. I just … what's so funny?" he asked in frustration as she just grinned at him.

Maia composed herself and squeezed his large hands in hers, "James, it does frustrate the hell out of me that we haven't even conceived our third child, and you've got a fourth on your mind-"

"I'm sorry, I just-"

"I'm not finished," she sighed, smiling at him, trying to get him to understand that she wasn't mad, and in fact, it was a bit funny, "but I love that you're so invested in this, and you love so deeply, and you're so excited already."

Most people wouldn't have thought it possible, but James Potter actually blushed, eyes moving away from hers, down to their joined hands.

Maia continued, "As for whether I think it's a good idea … maybe let's just focus on this one for now. I know what you're saying … Merlin knows I think it's important for kids to grow up surrounded by friends and family who love them, but let's not run before we can walk."

James met her eyes again, and he looked so hopefully that Maia sighed – how was she ever going to be able to say no to this man?

"That wasn't a no," James pointed out, some triumph in his smile.

She shook her head at him and shoved his shoulder playfully, "You're just determined to get a full quidditch team out of me."

"I just always loved the thought of a big family," he replied with a smirk, throwing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close again.

She laughed, still thinking about the audacity of the man, daring to bring up the subject of a fourth baby before they'd even had a third, but knew there was no point having a serious debate about it until it was closer to the time.

As they watched Sirius, still in dog form, leap into the sea and start splashing Harry and Neville now, James brushed her cheek with his lips again, "Don't misunderstand me though, love," he said softly, "I'm perfectly happy with you, Harry and Ly. I'm sure baby number three will happen for us, and I'd be keen on a number four, but I don't need it. I have everything I need. I don't want you to think that I'm not happy with everything I have already."

She smiled at his sweetness, "I know you're happy. You think after all these years, I don't know everything about you?"

He chuckled, and for a second Maia enjoyed the sun shining on the, the sand between her toes, her husband's body warm against hers, and then she saw her dog-form brother splashing in the sea, being berated by Remus, as Lyra laughed madly.

"Mum!" Harry shouted loudly, waving over at his parents, "aren't you coming in?!"

She grinned at the sight of her 12 year old son splashing about in the sea, wanting her to go and join in the fun – she and James would have their much longed for third child, on days like this, when she was in a good mood, she was sure of it. But for now she had her daughter, wild and mischievous as she may be, and she had her beloved son, who might be the Boy Who Lived, but was thankfully still very devoted to his mother.

"Mum, help!" Harry laughed, "Sirius is soaking us all!"

"I'm coming!"