Later in the week, Gabriel came over for lunch so he and I could sit down with Carrigan and talk about changing her last name to Quintin. She seemed surprised that I was now pushing Gabriel's last name on her because she knew what that would mean for me and her Father. She looked at me with very serious eyes once I told her I wanted her to change her name to Quintin.

"But aren't you afraid of Dad?" she whispered. "And what will happen when he finds out?"

"First of all, this isn't about your Father," I said taking her hand as Gabriel sat quietly, eating his sandwich. "It's about you and your safety."

"But it is about Dad," Carrigan replied. "It's about protecting me from him—"

"Not so much him as the media," Gabriel said. "You'll be in danger your entire life if your Grandfather returns, no matter what you change your name to."

Carrigan sighed. "I don't want to change my name to begin with. I'm really not crazy that I'm changing my name to that of a man's so it will protect me. No offense Gabriel, but you're not my Dad, you're not my protector—"

"It was your Mother's idea," Gabriel responded. I looked across the table aiming the ugly eye at him. He smiled frankly and took a sip of his tea, winking at me as he did so.

"I said I would only take your name," Carrigan said softly. "It was really my idea. I was hoping Mom wouldn't want me to have your name so she'd drop the subject."

"Ah, I see," I said looking at my daughter. "You're a very manipulative young lady, Carrigan."

"Learned it from Gabriel."

"That' doesn't shock me," I said with a smile. Gabriel looked flabbergasted, but smiled after a few moments. "Does that mean you want to do it, Carrigan?"

She sighed and put down her sandwich, wiped her hands in her napkin then looked at me very seriously. "If I change my name I can never change it back?"

"No, probably not," I whispered. "Not until we know you're safe."

"Because I'd be changing it to Quintin, does that mean you'll be changing my Father's name on my birth certificate?"

"No," I shook my head. "That will remain blank. But it will change your last name to Quintin on your birth certificate. You can file for a new name once you turn seventeen. This would be done in pure secrecy—it will be like Carrigan Coleman never existed and Carrigan Quintin always has."

Carrigan sighed after a few moments of silence. "I just don't know if there's a point Mom. So what if the papers print my picture and my name? I can't keep my identity a secret forever."

"Actually, you can," said Gabriel. "If you change your name to something new entirely."

"But I'm still living with Mom—the daughter of the Dark Lord! People aren't stupid," she responded with some frustration.

"Would you rather me ship you back to America?" I suggested.

"No!" Carrigan said quickly. "Not that you would. We moved here so I could go to school at Hogwarts."

"Well that was before your Father broke out of Azkaban," I responded.

"That doesn't change that you want me to have the best magical education and that is only found at Hogwarts." Carrigan was too smart for her own good…one of these days it would get her in trouble.

"Alright," I said. "How about you change your name or I send you to America?"

"I thought you said this was my choice!" Carrigan responded.

"You're making me be a parent, Carrigan," I said with a frank smile. "You're not making up your mind."

She crossed her arms over her chest and gave me a nasty look as I continued to smile at her. Of course she knew I was being sarcastic. I wasn't going to send her to America and I wasn't going to make her change her name—I just wished she'd listen to my advice about the harassment and violence she could face if her true identity got out.

"Fine," Carrigan whispered. She stood up from the table slowly and stepped

behind her chair. She gripped the back of it tightly, turning her knuckles stone white. "I'm keeping my name. Carrigan Coleman. I can take what will happen."

Before Gabriel or I could say anything she walked out of the kitchen, heading upstairs to her bedroom. I sighed loudly and dropped my head down on the table, rolling my forehead back and forth on the wooden surface. I gripped the edge of the table with my hands, squeezing it tightly with frustration.

"You can't be angry at her for making a choice," Gabriel said as he stood up from the table. "That is all you asked her to do."

"I'm not angry with her," I said sitting up. "I'm just worried that she isn't going to be safe. What if something happens to her—"

Gabriel pressed a finger to my lips. "Cadence," he said my name very seriously. "Stuff will happen to her, good or bad, and no matter how much you protect her you won't be doing her any favors by not letting her learn and experience things on her own. Carrigan is a smart strong young woman, you know that. She'll be more then capable of taking care of herself."

"I just don't want to lose her," I whispered sadly as I pressed my finger tips together on the table top. I looked down at my hands as tears welled up in my eyes. I wasn't one to cry very often, and I hated it when I did, especially in front of Gabriel.

"Hey," Gabriel said pulling me up out of the chair and holding me against his chest. "She's brave to not change her name, and I think she knows the consequences that will occur for that."

"I know," I sighed wiping my cheeks. "And it's not that. I know she'll handle things well at school. No matter what happens. But I'm so afraid that something bad will happen to her and I'll be left to wonder if it wouldn't have happened if I had changed her name."

"You can't think like that," Gabriel said still holding me. "And no matter what happens, I doubt changing her name would have protected her a great deal—especially because she was only willing to change it to mine."

I sighed, knowing he was right. I just didn't want to admit it. I pulled away from him as he stroked my cheek with his fingers. As I looked up at him I could see in his dark velvety eyes that he wanted nothing more then to love me like I was his wife...kiss me like he had kissed me last night…Gabriel Quintin was not the marrying type; at least that's what I had always thought. He was a womanizing, cheating, lots-of-sex-with-lots-of-women type of guy…and then he looked at me with those eyes and threw my entire world into a chaotic disaster of conflicting emotions and passions. His eyes knew everything I was thinking and the charming half smile he had on his lips told me he knew I would never give into him. I would never let him love me the way he could; I had never let him before and I was going to start letting him now. And he couldn't hold it against me, because he said it was okay—when I tried to apologize for it he told me not to; we had both made choices, he had said, and we both knew that no matter what we'd be with each other for the rest of our lives anyways.

"Mom," said Carrigan's voice.

I stepped to the side of Gabriel's body and looked at Carrigan with a weak smile. She raised her eyebrows at the pair of us as Gabriel turned to look at her. She approached it, still with the awkward studying look on her face.

"Were you two kissing?" she asked with a disgusted look.

Gabriel laughed. "I was trying to kiss your Mom; she didn't want me to though." He walked out of the kitchen, pinched Carrigan's arm as he passed her, and made his way to the front of his house.

"Why don't you want to kiss him?" Carrigan asked.

"Because he smells," I said turning and going to the kitchen sink. I finished the lunch dishes and glanced at my daughter. She was standing tall in jean Capri's, red flats and a white tee shirt with a black vest over it. Her vest was unbuttoned, her Capri's rolled up a little, shirt untucked and hair pulled back in a messy bun; I couldn't help but smile. She was going to be a very beautiful woman someday. "Are you ready to go to Diagon Alley?" I asked.

Carrigan smiled. "Yes," she said. "Do you think we could get more then just school supplies?"

"Like what?" I asked as I dried the last of the dishes.

Carrigan didn't answer right away. "Clothes," she finally whispered not looking directly at me. I smiled and shook my head.

"Don't you have enough clothes?" asked Gabriel coming into the kitchen with his jacket on. "I swear you're just like your Mother."

"Well, I can't imagine why that would be," I whispered with a smile.

"Do you want me to go with you to Diagon Alley?" Gabriel asked.

"People will think you're my Dad," Carrigan said as she went through the stack of mail on the counter, looking for her Hogwarts letter.

"That wouldn't be a bad thing, Carri," said Gabriel wisely. Carrigan rolled her eyes and pulled her letter out. She looked closely at the list.

"I need a total of twelve books for the year," she said ignoring Gabriel's comment. "And my fall clothes are too small." She added as she looked at me. I glared at her and smirked, knowing full well that she was my daughter.

"How about we get you new clothes at Christmas," I said trying to negotiate. "You just had your birthday and I got you clothes then."

"You got me summer clothes," Carrigan said with a whine.

"Oh," Gabriel laughed. "I know that whine."

I laughed and pick up coat up from the back of one of the kitchen chairs. I pulled it on and looked at Carrigan with sad eyes. "Come on, let's see how much your school things cost and then we can talk about clothes."

"You're still trying to negotiate," Carrigan said folding her letter into her pocket.

"Yea," I said holding her shoulders as I pushed to her the front door of the house. "Can you blame me?"

"No," Carrigan laughed. "I guess not."

Gabriel followed us to the front of the house and I looked up at him with smiling eyes. "I don't know if you need to come."

He looked at me like he had a thousand times when I was a teenager, like I was irresponsible and I didn't know the risk Carrigan and I were in. I sighed and rolled my eyes, turning away from him. Carrigan and I stepped out onto the porch and Gabriel followed, like the watchful guardian he was.

"No one is going to try anything in the middle of the day, Gabriel," I said as I locked the front door. He just kept looking at me with a very stern look.

"No point in fighting it Mom," Carrigan said from the lawn. "He's going to come either way."

"You're right," I said going to her and wrapping my arm over her shoulders. I put my other hand on my hip and looked at Gabriel. "You think we should let him come?"

"Yea," Carrigan shrugged. "He can help carry my books, plus you like looking at him—"

"Alright," I said standing up straight and giving her an ugly look. "That's enough from you young lady. Let's Apparate."

Gabriel came up to us, rolling his eyes and wrapped his arms around both of our shoulders. "I'm so happy that I'm stuck with you two for the rest of my life," he said bitterly.

"Cruel to be kind, Gabe," Carrigan said beaming. "We tease you out of love."

"I'm sure," he said with a nod. "Hold on tight."

Carrigan and I closed our eyes and held tightly onto Gabriel as he Apparated us to Diagon Alley; actually, he Apparated us to the alley in London outside the Leaky Cauldron. I frown and looked up at him with raised eyebrows. He shrugged as Carrigan broke free and began to walk down towards the opening of the alley. I walked after her, and Gabriel followed quickly.

Inside the Leaky Cauldron, I was not surprised to see that it was darkly light, like a Muggle bar. There were people of all shapes and sizes sitting around tables and booths, drinking, laughing and having a good time. As we walked through the inns first floor, someone called out my name.

"Cadence!"

I turned, on edge a bit, gripping my hand on my wand tightly. I didn't want to take any chances—for all I knew it could be that bastard Carmen Legacy calling my name; if it was I was going to curse him straight in the face. I sighed with some relief as my eyes fell on a tall, skinny red haired man.

"Arthur," I sighed. "You startled me."

"Sorry, Cadence," he said approach me. I shook his hand with a smile as he beamed at me. "It's good to see you. You as well Gabriel, how are you?"

"I'm doing well Arthur," Gabriel said exchanging hand shakes with the man. "How is work treating you?"

"Well, there will never be a shortage of people unreasonably trying to use Muggle objects," Arthur beamed. "And who is this?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Arthur," I said as he looked at Carrigan with curious, but happy eyes. "This is my daughter, Carrigan. Carrigan, this is Arthur Weasley. Gabriel and I work with him at the Ministry."

"Nice to meet you," Carrigan said extending her hand to him. Arthur beamed and shook it.

"You also, Carrigan. Here, come meet my family," Arthur said waving us to follow him to a busy table where a number of red headed individuals were sitting. Two people stood out dramatically because they did not share the family trait of red hair. Rather, they both had brown hair; one was Harry Potter, who was smiling happily as he talked with his red headed friend; the other was a brushy brown haired girl. She was sitting next to Harry holding a large orange cat in her arms.

I paused for a moment and held Carrigan back. I leaned down to her ear and whispered softly. "Harry does not know that your Father is his godfather. He knows I'm his godmother but not that we were involved and not that you are your Father's daughter."

Carrigan nodded her head. "Alright, I understand."

I squeezed her shoulder and forced a smile at her, then continued to approach the busy table. Gabriel was being introduced to the table. When I reached him he gave me a smile.

"And this is Cadence Coleman," said Arthur. "She is a phenomenal Auror. Cadence, you remember my wife, Molly."

"Yes," I said smiling. "Hello Molly, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Cadence. It's nice to see you again," Molly Weasley said. She was a short woman with long red hair and darling brown eyes. It was no wonder that she and her husband produced so many red headed children. Cadence smiled at all of the children around the table. The Weasley's were a large, happy bunch and gave Cadence hope to see all of them. She wished that she had been part of such an amazingly large family. But she also was thankful that such happiness survived after her Father.

"Going around the table," said Arthur. "This is Percy, George, Fred—no sorry, Fred then George, our daughter Ginny, Ron, and his friends Harry and Hermione."

"Hello everyone," I said with a small wave. "Harry, nice to see you again."

Harry bowed his head to me, giving me a weak smile. "Hello, Cadence."

"I trust you have not been expelled, like you feared?"

"Nope," Harry said. "I'm going back to Hogwarts."

"Good," I nodded smiling.

"Are you thee Cadence Coleman?" questioned one of the twins. I wasn't sure if it was Fred or George. "As in, daughter of He-Who-"

"That's enough Fred," said Mrs. Weasley harshly. The teenage boy frowned deeply and crossed his arms as he sat back in his chair, looking annoyed. I glanced at Harry, who now was looking at me with very curious eyes. It didn't matter what was said now at this table, no doubt he would go home with his friends tonight and they would discuss my loyalties, my lineage, and now my daughter. "I'm sorry Cadence."

"Its fine, Molly," I said. "No need to apologize. Can't hide from the truth."

"So it is true?" questioned the twin.

I nodded my head slowly, giving the twin a very keen look. He frowned slightly at my gaze and leaned back in his chair.

"This is my daughter Carrigan," I said placing my hands on her shoulders. "She'll be starting at school with all of you in September."

All of the children were studying Carrigan with curious eyes. There were probably many questions bouncing around in their heads. Obviously, they were curious about her being Voldemort's granddaughter. Their eyes could not hide that.

"Hi Carrigan," said the youngest at the table, Ginny. She stood up and went to Carrigan. "It's nice to meet you. Don't pay attention to the others, they're just stupid."

Carrigan smiled slightly. "I wasn't really worried about them."

Ginny laughed. "That's good. I'm going to be a second year, how about you?"

"I'm eleven, but I'll be taking second year courses," Carrigan responded.

"Well, hopefully you'll be in Gryffindor so we can be friends," Ginny said.

"That would be nice," Carrigan nodded with a smile.

"You must be really clever," said the other girl at the table, Hermione. "To be taking second year courses."

"I supposed," Carrigan shrugged with modesty.

"She is," said Gabriel proudly, as if she were his own daughter.

"I imagine she is gifted, like you, Cadence," said Arthur with a smile.

"Is it true that you can disintegrate people with your mental powers?" the other twin asked. I frowned slightly and glanced at Molly and Arthur who both looked ashamed of their son.

"George, really those questions are inappropriate," said Molly quickly. "Stop asking such personal questions."

The boy frowned, like his twin and crossed his arms over his chest. I smiled slightly.

"We should be going," said Gabriel. "Lots of shopping to do before night falls."

"Yes," I said. "Of course. Nice to meet all of you. Arthur, we'll see you tomorrow at the Ministry."

"Of course," Arthur said shaking Gabriel's hand. "You all be safe."

"You too," Gabriel said. "Good day."

"Bye," Carrigan said with a wave. "See you at school."

"See you," Ginny said with a smile.

I held Carrigan's hand as we followed Gabriel to the back of the Leaky Cauldron. He opened the back door and went into a small cobblestone alley. Walling straight up to the wall in the alley, he tapped his wand against the bricks in the center. The wall began to unfold from the center, opening up to reveal a busy magically street behind it. Gabriel waved for Carrigan and I to pass him, and we advanced into Diagon Alley.

There were booths lining the streets, selling hats, crates, food, wine, and wild animals. The first place we went was the robe shop. Carrigan was measured for her robes and I asked that she have two black robes and two Gryffindor robes. While we were waiting for the robes to be packaged she pointed to a black sleeveless robe that hung on a manikin in the window of the shop. The back of the robe was cut out in the shape of a low v-neck, and lace had replaced the black material. There was lace detailing on the sleeves and bottom of the robe.

"I think I'd like that," Carrigan replied. "It's edgy."

I smiled at her. It looked like something I would wear. "Maybe for Christmas," I whispered. Carrigan frowned and shook her head with a sigh.

"Come on," I said as the witch brought us Carrigan's robes. "Gabriel must be going nuts waiting for us outside."

Carrigan took her packages and we left the robe shop. Gabriel was waiting for us outside the pet shop. I frowned slightly as Carrigan dashed up to him. She looked at me with burning eyes.

"Please," she said. "Can I get a pet?"

I bit my bottom lip. "I don't know Carrigan…It's hard to take care of a pet when you're away at school."

"How about an owl?" Gabriel suggested. "Then you can write home all the time. And owls feed on their own. You wouldn't have to worry about feeding her." He looked at me and saw my worried eyes. "I'll buy it for you, Carri. Go in and take a look."

Carrigan handed her boxes to me and rushed into the store without saying another word. I gave Gabriel a very nasty look, raising my eyebrows at him as he smiled.

"Don't worry," he shrugged. "I'll take care of it."

"That's not what I'm worried about," I said. "You know she's not going to pick an owl."

"Well I'm not going to buy her anything but an owl," Gabriel said sternly. I shook my head at him, knowing very well that he was going to bend to Carrigan's will.

"Mom! Mom!" Carrigan said running out of the shop. "You have to come see him, he's the only one and he's adorable! Please, come see him. I want him!"

I sighed. "It's so not an owl," I said walking past Gabriel who turned to follow me as Carrigan dashed back into the shop. She led us to the back of the shop, into the "Wild Creatures" section. I frowned deeply and looked over my shoulder at Gabriel, who looked a little pale as we entered the back section of the store.

It was dark and quiet in this section, and most of the cages were empty. There were a few containing wild looking animals that were rare and probably illegal. I frowned deeply as Carrigan led me to the back far corner.

"Look at him!" Carrigan said point to the bottom corner cage in the section. It was the largest cage in the store it appeared, but had a small, kitten size animal in it. I immediately recognized the mythical creature with is lion like body, eagles head and wings. "He's so adorable!"

Carrigan smiled as she leaned against the metal cage. The griffin was looking up at her with dark chocolate brown eyes. I couldn't help but smile slightly. The creature was adorable—but so not the kind of pet I wanted Carrigan to have. First of all, she couldn't take it to school. Second, I would be stuck taking care of it. And third, it was going to grow to be about five hundred pounds.

"Carri," sighed Gabriel. "I said I'd get you an owl."

Carrigan turned to Gabriel with wide eyes. "Well, owls are birds and he's part bird! He's half eagle. Look at him! How can you say no to that face?"

The griffin was hoping around in its cage, pouncing at the metal bars that separated it from Carrigan.

"Quiet easily," Gabriel said with out hesitation.

"Hello," said a man coming towards us from the front of the shop. I assumed he worked for the pet shop because he was wearing an apron that was stained with dirt. "I see you're looking at our most treasured creature. Would you like me to take him out of the cage?"

"Yes!" said Carrigan eagerly.

"He's harmless?" I questioned.

"He's a griffin, Cadence, of course he's not harmless," Gabriel responded. "Carrigan, this is not what I said."

"He is a domesticated griffin," said the shop keeper with a nod. "They're specifically bred as house pets—"

"It's a griffin," interrupted Gabriel. "I don't care if it was bred as a house pet."

The shop keeper had already opened the cage, and before Gabriel or I could object, the griffin was climbing out of the cage with his talons on the metal cage. It wasn't strong enough to climb out without the help of its wings, which were fluttering frantically as it climbed. It reached the top of the cage and jumped onto the store floor. It quickly crawled around in circles, chasing its tail for a moment. Then is stopped, immediately on the spot and looked up at Carrigan with wide brown eyes.

Carrigan dropped down to her knees and the griffin bound across the floor to her, jumping into her lap and flattering its wings frantically, trying to fly. It jumped up, pulling its talons back and putting its paws on her shoulders. Carrigan laughed as the griffin turned its eagle's head sideways at her, studying her closely. It cawed loudly, catching all of us off guard, then walked on Carrigan's lap until it laid down, closing it's eyes.

"See I have to get him! He likes me!" Carrigan insisted.

"Carrigan, you can't take him to school," I said.

"That's fine," Carrigan sighed. "He can stay home with you."

I bit my bottom lip as Carrigan looked up at me with big batty blue eyes. I sighed and rubbed my head. "He's going to grow up to be a five hundred pound beast—"

"Actually, the domesticated griffins only grow to three hundred pounds," the shop keeper said. "And this young griffin was the runt of the litter. He's small even now. He'll be lucky if he reaches two hundred pounds."

"Oh, what a relief!" I snapped.

"Mom!" Carrigan looked at Gabriel and I with pleading eyes. "Please? Look at him, he's adorable and he likes me already!"

I looked at Gabriel and shrugged. "It's up to you," he said. "You're the one who will be living with it."

"You'll be paying for it," I said. "And all its food."

"Please?" Carrigan said standing up, holding the griffin in her arms gently. He stirred in her arms and raised his head to rest on her shoulder. "I'll never ask for anything ever again, Gabe. I promise."

"Ha," he laughed. "I don't believe that. We'll take him, Sir," he said to the shop keeper. Carrigan's face exploded with a beaming smile. She rushed forward and hugged Gabriel with one arm around the waist. He hugged her in return as the griffin between them grew restless. Gabriel stepped back and looked at the griffin with raised eyebrows; it was already very protective of Carrigan. I smiled slightly and made my way to the front of the store as Carrigan followed. We stepped outside as Gabriel finished the transaction and purchased food and a crate for the griffin.

"We still have to get the rest of your school supplies," I said as we waited for Gabriel.

"Right," Carrigan nodded not taking her eyes off her new pet. She was stroking its feathered head very slowly. The griffin was purring deeply as it rested its head on her shoulder, its eyes looked relaxed and happy.

"What are you going to name him?"

"Hector," she said instantly.

"That seems appropriate," I said with a frank smile. Gabriel came out of the pet shop carrying a box of pet supplies and a large crate.

"He has to be in the crate when we go into other stores," said Gabriel putting the crate on the ground and opening it. Carrigan frowned slightly but nodded, then lowered a sleepy Hector into the crate. He immediately stirred when she set him down and looked up at her with his big brown eyes.

"It's just for a little while, Hector," she said petting his head gently. "I promise."

Gabriel closed the crate easily and latched it, then picked it up to carry. Carrigan took the box of supplies and carried it as we walked towards the book shop. Gabriel waited outside with our packages and Hector while Carrigan and I finished shopping. By the time we had gotten the rest of her supplies it was dusk. Gabriel was insistent that we get home as soon as possible. He didn't like us being out this late, with all of these packages. He felt it made us vulnerable.

"You take Hector," I said. "We'll take the rest."

Gabriel nodded and Apparated on the spot. Carrigan smiled at me with exhausted eyes.

"You alright?" I asked.

"Yes," she nodded with a smile. "I'm just tired."

"Of course," I said. "Let's get home. We have to get Hector settled."

"Can he sleep in my room?" Carrigan asked. I thought the question over for a moment.

"I suppose, but he'll miss you more when you leave for school in a few weeks then," I answered.

"Alright," Carrigan said. "Let's go home."

She held my hand as she supported the box of pet supplies that was now also full of her extra school materials. Gabriel had taken her packages of books, and I carried her new robes. I squeezed her hand and Apparated smoothly. There was a loud crash when we appeared in the back sitting room of the house. I looked around confused, thinking that Carrigan had dropped the box of pet and school supplies, but she hadn't. She was looking up at me with a similar confused look.

"Hector!" Gabriel yelled through the house. Carrigan and I put down her new belongings and rushed through the house, to the front room, where Hector was on top of the highest bookshelf in the room.

"How'd he get up there?" Carrigan asked looking up at the top shelf that almost touched the ceiling. "Hector," she called. "Come on, buddy, come down."

Hector cawed and squeaked as he looked at Carrigan, wiggling his lion's butt in the air like he was ready to pounce on her. He jumped ambitiously off the shelf and spread his wings wide. He had a four foot wing span, as a cub, which frightened me slightly. How big were his wings going to be when he was fully grown? He didn't flap his wings, just glided down until he hit Carrigan's chest and she wrapped him in her arms. She laughed as he cuddled in her arms.

I looked at Gabriel with a frank smile.

"He just bounded out of the crate, as soon as I opened it," he said waving his wand at the broken lamp and picture frames on the ground. They immediately fixed themselves, falling back into place as if they had never been touched by a rambunctious griffin cub.

"Time fore bed," Carrigan said to Hector in her arms. I smiled as she walked by Gabriel and me. "Good night Mom," she said pausing to kiss my cheek.

"Good night sweet heart," I responded. She then went to Gabriel and stood on her toes to kiss him. She pecked his check and held up his fist. She tapped her balled up fist against it and bid him goodnight.

"Thank you, again," she said. "For Hector."

"You're very welcome, Carri," he replied smiling at her with dark brown eyes. I couldn't help but smile as I looked at the two of them. Carrigan made her way upstairs quietly, taking a calm Hector with her. "I feel like I'm going to regret buying that animal for her."

"Yes," I nodded. "Especially when I make you come over to take care of it."

Gabriel smiled at me then looked at the ground awkwardly. I frowned, pushing my hands deep into my pockets. Gabriel came up to me and touched my shoulders.

"I'll see you at work tomorrow," he whispered close to my ear. I nodded.

"Thank you," I said. "For everything today."

"Of course," he said as his lips pressed against my neck. I smiled slightly and bit my lip as I moved away. "We spent it together like a big happy family."

"Good night, Gabriel," I sighed looking up at him with an intense dark stare. He smiled and nodded his head once. I ignored his last comment about us being a happy family.

"Good night," he whispered then made his way out of the house. I sighed with relief and sank down into the couch in the front room. My insides were pulsing with desire. I blinked and pinched my arm, trying to bring myself back to reality. I had to stay focused on everything that was going on in my life—Carrigan was going to be leaving for school in a few weeks, we now had a pet griffin in the house, I had massive amounts of work to do for the Ministry, Sirius Black was on the loose, and the Magical paparazzi was out to get me and my daughter. There was a lot to stay focused on. I did not need Gabriel Quintin teasing me with sexual desires.