The Wonders of Family
In a melancholy mood because I do not own the Harry Potter or Charmed characters that make up this short tale :p
"Harry passed," Coop said softly. Everyone gasped. Hermione's sobs became louder at the confirmation of her best friend's death and Lucius held her to himself tighter than ever as he worried about the fate of his son.
"Wyatt's calling me," Paige said to her sisters before she orbed away from the depressing atmosphere and into a forest. "Wh-"
"Shh!" Wyatt ordered his Aunt.
"He's dead!" A ginger yelled to a cheering crowd wearing black cloaks with skull masks over their faces.
"NO!" A giant roared. Hagrid wiped his crocodile tears with one of his sleeves.
"He's not dead," Wyatt whispered to his Aunt Paige.
"But Hermione felt him pass just now," Paige whispered back to her nephew. Wyatt just shook his head.
"He's not. I saw him move a few minutes after old Voldy used the Killing curse on him," Wyatt said. "Let's get back to the castle," he took her hand and orbed them into an extremely large stone castle. "He survived," Wyatt said to a relieved Draco, Chris, and potions master. "He's playing dead though and old Voldy is heading this way, get everyone ready."
"You can call him Voldemort now," Severus Snape said as he left the group to gather the Order and Dumbledore's Army members.
"Weird name," Paige muttered.
"They all have weird names," Wyatt whispered. "I am going to have more people to heal," he said to himself.
"You already look worn out," Paige observed her nephew's appearance. "Chris go home and grab the strengthening potions Hermione made. Wyatt and I will need them," she said as she looked around at the large number of injured witches and wizards. "Hurry," she whispered softly. Chris nodded and left.
"They're here," Draco said as he ran to follow the noises of a cheering and jeering gathering outside the front doors of the castle. Everyone gathered outside to see the joyful cheers and jeers of Lord Voldemort's Death Eater army.
ChaRmEd
"Chris!" A brunette shouted and ran into him.
"Mom," Chris breathed out. "He's not dead. Harry's not dead," he said to everyone in the drawing room, but mostly to Hermione.
"What happened to you?!" Piper demanded, taking in the scrapes, bruises, and blood covering almost every centimetre of her son.
"We're fighting," Chris said. "It's starting again and I have to take strengthening potions to Aunt Paige and Wyatt so they can heal more people," he said, leaving the drawing room to gather the needed phials.
"I'm going," Hermione suddenly stood up and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"NO!" Lucius bellowed, startling everyone. "Not in your condition," he said sternly. "I have to go and fight beside Draco and Severus," he said to the occupants of the room, but mostly his wife.
"Then we go with you," Phoebe said as she and Piper stood together.
"Paige is already there and people will need us too," Piper said. "Please watch over Leo and the children for us," Piper said softly to a fuming Hermione.
"I'm going too," Luna spoke up as Clarence came up behind her and gave his own nod of agreement.
"Please watch them Hermione," Phoebe said softly. "You are the only one left with active powers left to protect our family." Hermione paused at her words then reluctantly agreed to stay behind. Lucius stood before Hermione. She looked up at him shyly then grabbed him holding him to herself tightly.
"Please bring Draco and Harry back safely," she whispered. "Please," she begged.
"I will," Lucius said as he held her to close himself in a tight embrace. "I promise I will." Hermione looked up at him with teary eyes.
"Thank you Lucius," she said softly to the suddenly smiling wizard, then pulled his head down and laid a soft kiss on his lips. "For good luck," she whispered. "Please be safe." Lucius grabbed her tighter and kissed her with his heart in that one kiss.
"I will bring them back," he breathed out softly, promising his blushing wife.
"Let's go," Piper said, bringing the couple back to earth.
"Chris left!" Phoebe shouted.
"I'll take you both," Lucius said, offering each of the sisters an arm. "Miss Lovegood, you know the way," he said before apparating away with the sisters. Luna and Clarence apparated away together leaving behind a worried Hermione, Leo, and Coop to look after the children.
"So what does a cupid do?" Hermione asked Coop in her hoarse voice.
ChaRmEd*ChaRmEd*ChaRmEd
"Who are they?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she looked over at the Halliwell family and the two whitelighters healing the injured.
"Hermione's family," Harry answered as he smiled at both families. Mrs. Weasley looked shocked.
"Her family?" Ginny gasped, then smiled.
"We're your family too," Chris said behind Harry. Harry turned and smiled at him. "You did say Hermione and yourself did a ceremony to become blood siblings." Ginny squealed and hugged Harry.
"So Hermione will really and truly be my sister-in-law!" The girl laughed and smiled.
"What?!" Mrs. Weasley shouted at a blushing Harry and Ginny.
"What do you want?" The twins glared at their younger brother who looked at the stone floor in shame. Mrs. Weasley also stood staring at the stone floor, stiff, with tears in her eyes, turning her back on her wayward son.
"Leave him be," Harry softly spoke up.
"Why?" The twins sneered as they continued blocking Ron from the rest of the family.
"He told Voldemort I was dead when he knew I was alive," Harry answered.
"Really?" Mrs. Weasley whispered as she looked at her surrogate son hopefully. Harry nodded and smiled when Molly threw herself at her youngest son and cried.
"How's Hermione?" Ron asked Harry.
"My step-mother is fine. No thanks to you," Draco glared at the ginger.
"S-step-mum!" Ron's stuttering voice rose.
"I will tell my bride you asked after her," Lucius spoke up beside his son.
"WHAT?!" The whole Weasley family yelled.
"You should see them together," Phoebe smiled as her, Piper, and Paige walked up to the family. "I've Seen how happy and wonderful their future is."
"You've Seen?" Arthur Weasley asked a nodding Phoebe. "You have the Sight," he stated as his wife gasped. Phoebe nodded happily and she slid her arm into Lucius's giving him her support.
"I'm Phoebe," the witch said. "Hermione's cousin." She shook the Weasley Patriarch's hand. Arthur Weasley smiled at the witch.
"She must be happy to have discovered more of her family," he said, his eyes gleaming happily as he stared at the Halliwell witches.
"She will be more happy when we bring you all home with us," Lucius said softly, looking at the Weasley family apprehensively.
"Why would we want to go anywhere with you?!" Ron glared at the elder Malfoy.
"I'll be there soon," Harry said quietly, looking around him sadly at the fallen witches and wizards who made his victory possible. There were still casualties in this war and he fully blamed himself for the world they would not have the chance to rebuild.
"Stop it!" Phoebe spoke up as she grabbed Harry into a hug. "It is not your fault! None of this is your fault! It is that maniac's fault and you are taking his burden upon yourself!" Harry looked at her hopefully. "It is old Voldy's burden alone to carry. Not yours," Phoebe said sternly as everyone openly agreed with her.
Lucius grabbed Draco and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "A lioness told me to bring you two to her safely," he smiled at them. "I think it is in mine and your best interest to listen to her before the claws come out." Harry and Draco laughed.
"We will meet you all there," Lucius said to the Weasley family and left them floo directions before apparating his son and the saviour of the wizarding world back to his wife.
ChaRmEd
Hermione looked up at the Pop and ran into Harry and Draco's arms. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" She shook them as they held her. "I will hex you both into next year if you ever pull something like this again. Do I make myself clear?!" She glared at her boys.
"Yes," they both muttered.
"What was that?" Hermione asked sternly.
"Yes ma'am," they answered clearly.
"Merlin she's scary," Draco muttered and yelped at the stinging hex Hermione threw his way. "I'm sorry mother," Draco smirked and ducked as her hand attempted to find the back of his head.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, you behave yourself," Hermione glared as Draco smirked.
"Yes ma'am," he said mockingly. Hermione laughed.
"I missed that," she hugged him again and pulled Harry into their embrace.
"What is this now?" A matronly voice asked from the direction of the fireplace. Hermione turned and smiled.
"Mrs. Weasley!" Hermione called and ran into her surrogate mother's arms. Phoebe smiled and wiped a happy tear as Coop reached for her hand and squeezed gently.
"Hermione, love," Mrs. Weasley hugged her back and then held her at arms length to look over her daughter. "When were you going to tell me you are pregnant?" Molly smiled at her then at Lucius.
"WHAT?!" The Weasley men bellowed and glared at Lucius Malfoy. Ginny squealed and hugged Hermione.
"I think-"
"We need-"
"To teach someone a lesson," Fred and George finished together.
"We all do," Charlie Weasley growled. "For Hermione!" He yelled, his fist raised up in the air as the Weasley men shouted as one, "For Hermione!"
"STOP!" Hermione and Mrs. Weasley shouted.
"You will behave yourselves!" Mrs. Weasley glared at her men. "If Mister Malfoy makes Hermione happy then we should also be happy!" The Weasley men squirmed but nodded then glared at the blond when Hermione and Molly turned. Lucius chose to wisely stick to Hermione's side after that.
"Is this a Gryffindor gathering?" Severus Snape sneered as he stepped into the drawing room.
"Severus," Lucius greeted as he kept Hermione's arm firmly latched through his, keeping her near just in case. Severus's eyebrows rose and he smirked.
"Scared Lucius?" The potions master quietly teased. Lucius glared but didn't release Hermione who snickered at her husband.
"Just a bit of advise," Hermione whispered to her husband so she wouldn't be overheard. "Do not take anything the twins offer you. Bill, Charlie, and Arthur will not bite unless you bite first. Other than that you are safe," the curly-haired witch smiled up at her blond wizard. "Unless you choose to join them in a game of Quidditch. All's fair then," she laughed.
"This is your home?!" The twins shouted at Hermione.
"Summer home," she corrected them with a blush.
ChaRmEd*ChaRmEd*ChaRmEd
"Paige!" Phoebe called out as she ran into the drawing room. Paige's head snapped up from the desk at the urgent tone her sister used. "The Book of Shadows," was all Phoebe said as the two sisters rushed out of the drawing room. Lucius head turned to his wife when she suddenly gasped.
"Hermione?" Lucius held her tighter into his side. "Are you alright?" He asked worriedly.
"I need to go home," Hermione whispered. Lucius's brow furrowed at her words.
"Why?" He asked.
"It's calling me?" She asked, confused by what she felt. "It feels important," she whispered.
"Hermione," Phoebe called softly from the doorway. The couple looked at the woman as she held her heart as tears fell and as her sisters stood behind her. "It's important to her," she said to Lucius. "And it might be important to us."
"Where is Hermione's home?" Piper asked the blond.
"Little Norton," Lucius answered and frowned when Hermione shook her head.
"A few miles North-East of Sheffield," she whispered and looked up at her husband. "My ancestral home is Jane Manor." She looked at the sisters when she spoke her next words, "That is also the home Clarise and Melinda Warren were birthed." Piper, Phoebe, and Paige sucked in audible breaths.
"We must go then," Piper spoke urgently.
Hermione carefully pulled off a necklace from around her neck and looked up at her husband. "Emergency portkey," she whispered. He looked slightly surprised at that.
"Everyone just touch a finger to her necklace," he instructed. The sisters each reached out to touch Hermione's necklace.
"What is this?" Phoebe asked, fingering the pendant attached to the white-gold chain. It was a triquetra set inside a heart.
"The necklace belonged to her ancestor," Lucius answered for his wife, remembering one of the conversations they had during the times they were alone together during her captivity at his Manor.
"Bring the Book," Piper said to Paige. Paige called the Book and it appeared in her hands. "Ready," Piper said.
"Jane Warren Manor," Hermione said, her necklace glowed blue and the sisters felt a hook pulling them along as they spun and landed in the drawing room of a rather large home. "It's not as big as Malfoy Manor," Hermione looked at Lucius. "But it is my home." Lucius smiled down at her and kissed her lips.
"The Book," Paige gasped as it flew from her hands. The sisters, Hermione, and Lucius ran after the floating Book of Shadows, following it up the stairs, down the corridors, and stopping before an old door.
"It's locked," Hermione breathed out. "We've never been able to open the attic door." As if on cue the lock clicked and the door opened a little. Hermione froze. Lucius pulled out his wand and stepped in front of Hermione and the sisters and climbed up the small staircase into the attic..
"All is fine," Lucius called from top. The witches piled into an almost bare, dusty attic save for some wicker chairs and a podium engraved with small triquetras inside a heart. The Book of Shadows left Paige's arms again and placed itself atop the podium and glowed white, then thumping was heard from the floorboards.
Piper, Phoebe, Paige and Hermione pulled up the flooring and a second book popped up and placed itself atop the Book of Shadows, joining with the glowing Book. The two Books combined to become one whole Book.
"You did it." Piper, Phoebe, and Paige turned to see their Grams standing behind them.
"What did we do?" Paige asked.
"You were there for Hermione when she needed you the most," Penny smiled at her granddaughters and Lucius, then at Hermione. "This is your reward. The Book of Light." Penny walked up to the podium and flipped through the pages. The sisters gasped at the new found knowledge.
"You all are being offered a choice," Penny said to her granddaughters. "My family can become witches and wizards like Hermione and train with wands, or we can keep practising our green ways and continue fighting evil."
"What if we choose to become like Hermione?" Piper asked.
"Evil will avoid you like it does for Hermione and Lucius's kind," Grams said. "Their magic is powerful, you all saw what it did to the demon rat."
"What about evil?" Phoebe asked. "Who will fight it?"
"A new power is rising that will take your place if you choose this path," Penny informed them.
"Can we do both?" Paige asked. "If Hermione's kind is so powerful that evil avoids them. Can we not chose to train to be like her and still fight evil?" Grams smiled at her youngest granddaughter.
"You may," Penny answered. "That is why the Books of Shadows and the Book of Life have combined to become the Book of Light once more. This is to be my family's new destiny if you so choose."
"How did the Book of Light separate?" Hermione asked. Penny looked at her with a sad expression.
"You do know that our ancestry can be traced back to Morgan le Fey?" Grams asked. Lucius's eyes bulged at that piece of information.
"You are related to Morgana!" Lucius looked down at his wife with new eyes. "No wonder you and your family are so powerful," he held her and rubbed her already protruding belly. "Our child is going to be a very powerful wizard."
"Or witch," Hermione corrected.
"You will see," Lucius smirked. Penny smiled at them then frowned at Lucius before proceeding with her explanations.
"Samantha, Melinda's and Clarise's mother had an argument with Beatrice, Samantha's mother," Grams said after witnessing one of Hermione and Lucius's moments. "Samantha wanted to teach her daughters the green ways so they would respect and appreciate their magical gift. Beatrice was stubborn and adamant that they should stick with the 'modern' ways of wizards and witches."
"I think we all know where Beatrice's way led," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry had to pay for it too," she said sadly.
"Hermione has a point," Piper frowned. "You said we could choose both ways, but what of the ever non-changing ways of Hermione's and Lucius's world?" Penny smiled at her family.
"You would be the deciding factor for both worlds," Grams said. "With your choice you would be deciding your destiny and the fate of Hermione's world. Hermione is already attempting change in her world, but without your help, Hermione will not be enough to enact the positive changes her world needs."
"So we help her," Phoebe smiled. "We are once again blessed with the Book of Light to help Hermione and fight evil when we are needed," Phoebe clarified. Grams again smiled.
"Exactly," she said. "But it is your choice to choose this or to remain with the Book of Shadows and Hermione with the Book of Life."
"No," the sisters said hurriedly.
"The Books were one to start with," Piper said.
"And that is how they should remain from now on," Paige finished as her and her sisters shared a smile with their cousin.
"We are whole again," Phoebe wiped a tear away. "Our family has finally become one again," she smiled at Hermione then at Lucius. Hermione smiled back at her cousins.
"It is going to be so much fun teaching you all magic!" Hermione laughed.
"What are you trying to change Hermione?" Piper asked curiously.
"Well I think the way house elves are treated is horrid," Hermione frowned at her husband who rolled his eyes.
"They like serving us!" Lucius defended.
"I would bet that they don't like to be kicked!" Hermione glared up at him.
"Kicked?!" The sisters and Penny shouted. Hermione nodded and continued glaring up at her husband.
"Mister Lucius Malfoy can tell you all about how he used to treat Dobby, his former house elf," Hermione sneered at her husband as she spoke to the sisters. Lucius held his forehead in his palm already feeling a headache coming on.
"How?!" Penny demanded to know.
"He used to kick him," Hermione bit out, "when he would give him an order he was sure he couldn't possibly follow." The sisters sucked in a sharp breath and glared at the wizard who suddenly felt like shrinking himself.
"I think you should see something Hermione," Lucius said softly. Hermione continued glaring but motioned for him to continue. "Cots!" Lucius called and a house elf appeared with a Crack.
"Yes Master Lord Lucius," the house elf bowed so low his nose brushed the floorboards. The sisters gasped. "Would yous be liking me to clean dusty attics?" He looked around the attic with excitement growing in his eyes at the thought of cleaning.
"Is this a house elf?" Phoebe asked. Hermione nodded but studied the clean pillow case the elf wore.
"Mistress!" The house elf trembled when he spotted Hermione. "Please please don't be freeing Cots! I's is a good elf I's promise!" He begged as he latched onto Hermione's leg.
"Cots," Hermione said softly as she sat on the floor and pulled the trembling elf onto her lap. The elf looked up at her in surprise. "Is this really what you want?" She asked softly. "To remain in service to a family that doesn't treat you well-"
"Master Lord Lucius is kind master!" The elf declared, interrupting her.
"What about Dobby?" Hermione asked. The elf looked down sadly at the floor.
"Brother Dobby always be wishing for freedom. He wasn't liking to serve," Cots explained.
"Dobby is your brother?" Hermione asked in surprise and looked up at a nodding Lucius. "Would you like to visit with Dobby?" Hermione asked the elf. The elf looked up at her again with wide eyes.
"Can Cots?" He asked. Hermione smiled down at the elf and hugged him.
"Dobby," she called softly.
"Harry Potter's friend calls," the elf answered as he appeared with a Crack.
"Someone would like to say hello," Hermione smiled as the elf in her arms jumped up and grabbed his brother in a hug.
"Dobby is one of the exceptions," Lucius said to the witches. "Being in service to our kind was hard for him because he wished for freedom everyday."
"Why did you never release him then?" Hermione glared. Lucius smirked down at his wife.
"Did you think I did not know Mister Potter had his sock tucked into that blasted diary?" Lucius asked. "It was only obvious when the book would not close correctly and black material stuck out of a corner," he rolled his eyes. Hermione looked stunned. "I need to teach you how to act," the wizard sighed playfully. Hermione laughed as she looked up at her husband and lightly pinched his calf.
"Help me up you big goon," she smiled. "Still, there are other elves who suffer because their masters are needlessly overbearing," Hermione said to everyone. "I need to help improve their environment or free them so they won't have to suffer that abuse."
"That I can help you with," Lucius smirked. "You should know that an elf will not accept pay."
"Please don't be paying me!" Cots suddenly cried as he threw himself at Lucius's feet.
"House elves are weird," Piper muttered. "Can I get one?" She asked hopefully then shrunk back at her sisters' glares. "What?" She asked. "Wouldn't you like to go home to a clean house after a long day at work?" She muttered.
"As it so happens," Lucius said. "Cots and two of my other elves are wanting new scenery." Cots looked up at his master with wide hopeful eyes.
"Cots be serving Master's other homes?" He asked. The sisters and Hermione's hearts melted at his wide eyes.
"I wouldn't be your Master," Lucius said to the elf. "You would serve a new family," he said quickly before the elf could cry.
"New family?" The elf asked apprehensively. "Do theys be having children?" He asked hopefully. Lucius smiled down at the elf.
"Phoebe and Paige have little ones that you would enjoy taking care of," Lucius said to him. The elf smiled widely. "You can pick which Mistress you would like to go home with." The elf looked up at him with wide eyes.
"Cots picks?" He asked as he trembled. Lucius nodded.
"Both Phoebe and Paige are very kind Mistresses and they have a lot of work for you to do," Lucius added. The elf smiled widely and looked up at the sisters.
"I's be liking the name Paige. Mistress Paige!" The elf joyfully clapped as he bonded with his new mistress.
"Ignobus!" Lucius called. "Toke!" Two elves appeared with loud Cracks. "I understand you like cooking," Lucius said to a nodding Piper. "Toke," Lucius spoke to the elf. "I understand you would like to clean some place new."
"Yes Master Lord Lucius," the elf trembled, but spoke hopefully.
"Piper Halliwell is looking for a new house elf that cleans. She likes cooking for her family and would not require you to cook unless she is sick, but you would have to clean the kitchen after she is through with using it," Lucius spoke down to the elf. The elf gave him a wide smile then frowned.
"Master not be wanting me?" She asked with teary eyes.
"On the contrary," Lucius said softly. "I want you, but Piper needs someone to help her and wants you too. It is your choice if you would like to go home with Piper or remain with me. I should tell you that Piper has a lot more mess to clean than I do. Everyday," he smiled.
"Then I's be going with Mistress Piper!" The elf smiled at the thought of cleaning new messes everyday. "I loves to be cleaning new messes!"
"Are these elves backwards?" Penny asked. Hermione laughed at her question.
"That is exactly what I still think everyday since I learned of the wizarding world," Hermione smiled at the woman. "There are more backwards things in the wizarding world, like the Wizengamot."
"The Wizengawhat?" Paige asked.
"Do not tell me you are looking to change that too?" Lucius asked, already knowing the answer. "You will have to fight tooth and nail to get those archaic wizards and witches off their seats."
"These elves are so cute!" Phoebe smiled down at Ignobus who smiled up at his new Mistress and the thought of taking care of children and cleaning after them. "What do you want to do about the Wizengamiggers?" Phoebe asked a laughing Hermione.
"Wizengamot," Hermione corrected. "I think their seats should be open for election and a person can only serve two six year terms in the seat." Lucius looked at his wife thoughtfully.
"I think the Warren witches are going to take the wizarding world by storm. We won't know what hit us!" Lucius smiled down at his wife.
"It's a boy," Grams said out of the blue with a smile for Hermione and Lucius. Lucius laughed and swung Hermione around then kissed her small stomach.
"My little Slytherin," Lucius said to his unborn son.
"Gryffindor," Hermione glared at her husband.
"Malfoys are always Slytherins," Lucius stated proudly.
"Not this Malfoy," Hermione pointed at herself. Lucius's eyebrow rose.
"Well my son will be a Slytherin. He is a Malfoy after all," he stated arrogantly. Hermione poked him in his abdomen and smirked at his yelp.
"That was for your overbearing ego," she said, smirking up at her husband.
"You little witch," Lucius laughed as he claimed her lips with his.
I really hope this was a suitable ending for this short tale (^.^')
I would like to say thank you to everyone who chose to post a review, and also thank those who took the time to read this story.
Thank You all for your encouragements and support (^.^)