Live to rise

by AirmidM

When Ginny Weasley is faced with a startling set of circumstances, she does what she has to in order to be happy and safe. She has no idea where life will take her or what joy and heartbreak she will endure along the way. Ginny/Blaise and hints of other possible ships. A series of long one shots and ficlets in celebration of Ginny's birthday.

5. Swimming through the ashes

Swimming through the ashes of another life (45 by Shinedown)

"Up up," Marguerite called out, walking the hallway, knocking on each door as she passed. "I know none of you want to go, but remember what you promised."

Damon's door opened first and he stared blearily at her, a small smirk forming. "We thought you were joking when you said we had to go back."

Her brows shot up and she shook her head. So he was in a teasing mood was he? So be it. "What did I tell you?"

He sighed dramatically, leaning against the door frame and yawning. "I am a Zabini and a Weasley, I will show the world what that truly means."

"And?"

"A Malfoy," Margot supplied sleepily.

"Very good, now go get ready."

"Grand?"

She turned to see Brais standing in the doorway, frowning heavily. "Yes, darling?"

"Can I hex people who make fun of us or say mean things?"

She grinned evilly. "What is the rule?"

"Don't get caught," Dora said, stepping out into the hallway already dressed and ready. She had a look in her eyes that Marguerite recognized as dangerous to all that tested her already limited patience. It was one that she approved of highly. "I won't, Grand. I promise."

Marguerite waved her over and kissed her cheeks. "I know you won't, darling. We taught you all well."

Another door opened and Scorpius' sleepy, "Don't make us go back," filtered out.

She marched down and peered in, only to find him still abed. "Scorpius Draco Malfoy, I will call Uncle George to get you out of that bed if you aren't up in ten seconds."

He made a 'yelp' sort of noise and tumbled out of the bed and onto the floor tangled in his sheets and duvet. She laughed, shaking her head. "I thought that might get you moving."

Considering it a job well done, she made her way down to the dining room and took her seat. It was almost amusing the speed in which her grandchildren, and yes Scorpius definitely counted, made it to the table. In fact, they were all eating by the time Gin, Draco, and Blaise made it down. Athena was bundled in Blaise's arms, her tiny arms wrapped around her daddy's neck. She hadn't let Blaise out of her sight since the announcement had been made of Theo's death. Gin had six week old Deimos in her arms, though he was still soundly sleeping.

"Grand?"

"Yes, Margot?"

"Did you not threaten them with Uncle George?"

Marguerite laughed. "Uncle George left for work already, darling, and your parents knew that."

Gin yawned, reaching for the carafe of tea. "I want to go over things one more time."

"Agreed," Damon said, setting a filled plate in front of Gin.

Kingsley came in at just that moment. "Each of you will have a pressure activated portkey which is spelled to not be removable by anyone else. If at any time, things go badly outside of Hogwarts, the Aurors you have already been introduced to will arrive to protect you and keep you safe until you arrive back home. Each of you knows the questions to ask to verify their identities. With the precautions we have in place, you should be as safe at Hogwarts as you are here. If, at any time, we feel that your safety has been compromised, we will bring you back here. If, should the unfathomable happen, and some lucky bastard manages to breach the wards here, your portkeys will pulse with a bright red light. You are to activate them right then and hold tight until you arrive at the secure location."

Breaching the wards here was something that would take hours and hours to even make enough of a hole to shoot a spell through thanks to Bill contacting a few people he had worked with and who had been able to point him in the proper direction of a few ancient wards. Wards the likes of which hadn't allegedly ever been seen in Britain in a millennia, if ever. The only reason Damon and Margot were returning to Hogwarts was because they had yet to find out if the Weasleys had been working on their own or if there was a larger group at work. They had agreed to shadow Dora, Brais, and Scorpius and were fully prepared to take whatever actions necessary to assure the safety of their siblings. She was very proud of them for doing so, even if they had teased her a bit earlier about it.

"Mummy, Thena, and Deimos won't leave the grounds, correct?" Brais clearly needed to hear it again.

"Yes," she assured him. "Until we are certain that there is no more risk."

"Daddy?" Dora frowned. "You and Draco should stay too. Grand promised she would, why won't you?"

Blaise sighed heavily. "We will be here as much as possible, lovely. I promise you that I will not take risks."

"Dad?"

Draco sighed. "What Blaise said goes for me as well, Scorpius. I promise to not take any risks."

Scorpius sighed, looking a bit less stressed. "Grandpa Kingsley, you have trusted Aurors watching you as well, right?"

"That I do," Kingsley said genially. "I have personally trained and tested each of them. We are doing our very best to make certain you children do not lose anyone else. Now, I just spoke with Headmistress McGonagall. She is not pleased at the steps that have been taken, but considering half the Board of Governors is around this table and the other half are Moons, Bletchleys, or MacDougals, she risked her position by protesting. If at any time Margot or Damon is unavailable, Ares Moon as well as Liam and Ewan MacDougal will also be in the castle looking out for their family members just as Damon and Margot are for you."

Margot grinned wickedly. "If you need a volunteer to spend time with Ares, I am definitely up for that task, Grandpa."

Marguerite and Gin burst out laughing at the look of utter horror on Blaise's face and his screech of, "He's older than I am!"

"Oh well, you won't be upset that I am seeing his nephew Dougal then, eh, Daddy?"

It was Draco that recovered from the mass fit of mirth at Blaise's continued horror to say, "Seriously? Talon and Morag's oldest?"

Margot grinned, preening a bit. "Yes indeed, Auntie Morag certainly taught him how to treat a princess. Close your mouth, Daddy; you're gaping like a pleb."

"Don't taunt your Daddy," Gin said primly, her wicked grin giving away her amusement. She turned to Blaise, pushing his mouth closed. "She's an adult, love. You can't deny it any longer."

"Why do I get the feeling that I am going to be seeing a lot of Dougal?" Damon said wryly, shaking his head.

"Not as much of him as I am," Margot quipped.

"Margot!" Scorpius said, looking outraged. "I don't want to know!"

"Margot, do stop taunting the animals." Marguerite winked at her namesake, appreciating not only the style in which she announced her beau, but that she had done so at a time when happiness and amusement was certainly needed. After dating at Hogwarts, the two had drifted apart, but it really was wonderful to hear that they were giving their relationship a second try.

"Mother, we are not animals." Blaise was smirking though, clearly having worked through the shock to see what his daughter had done. He turned to Gin, his eyes narrowing though his tone was more appreciative than accusing. "That is all you, darling, that ability to taunt so eloquently."

"Aww, Daddy, keep lauding us," Margot said with a cheeky grin. "Mummy and I will listen to that all day."

"Grand." Everyone turned to Dora. "I am going to maim Rose Weasley, just thought you and Grandpa should know so that you can get me back out of trouble."

"Theodora Gwyneth Zabini, you will not." Gin passed Deimos to Blaise and was glaring at her daughter.

"I will so, Mummy, the first time she opens her mouth and is horrible." Dora crossed her arms over her chest, looking just as stubborn as Gin. In fact, it was almost as if they were getting a picture into Gin at thirteen since she was so similar in looks and attitude.

The silence stretched as they stared at one another angrily. Finally, Gin nodded. "If she taunts you or insults you, use the hex I taught you. I won't have his ludicrous behaviour affecting you any more, lovely."

"I really shouldn't be hearing this," Kingsley said with an air of defeat. "I won't ask where exactly the hex you two are discussing falls on the line of legal and not so very legal, because I don't want to know."

Gin scoffed. "If it wasn't clear before now, you each have my leave to protect yourself and defend this family to the fullest extent of your abilities."

Marguerite really was going to have to find an excellent Yule gift for Gin. She was shaky since the betrayal and loss of Theo, but that hadn't stopped her from doing what needed doing and comforting the children and Blaise. "As you have mine and the hexes I taught you as well."

"Oh dear gods," Draco muttered, shaking his head. "I guess that is my cue to assure Scorpius that I'm in total agreement, but that the hexes he knows-"

Blaise chuckled. "Are the same ones the rest know, Draco. Surprise."

Marguerite laughed when Draco leaned in and looked down the table at Gin. "Did you teach them that horrid bogey one?"

"Every last one of them the moment they got their first wand and Scorpius the first time we had him over to visit," she replied gleefully. "Now, I can't be certain what George, Bill, Charlie, or Theo taught them…"

"I want to take this moment to say," Kingsley interjected, "that bloodshed should be avoided if at all possible."

"Yes, Grandpa," chorused down the table, though every last voice was sullen and the children were pouting heavily.

"Then it is a really good thing I too imparted knowledge to each of them." Marguerite grinned at Kingsley's soft groan. "Now, all of you up and to the entrance hall in no more than ten minutes, we will portkey."

"There are Aurors in place," Kingsley reminded them.

Everyone looked resigned and Marguerite just prayed fervently that this mess would be cleaned up quickly; she hated to see her family so emotionally broken.

-ii—

All was quiet until the end of October and it was decided that they would all travel to Hogwarts to watch Scorpius and Brais play in the match against Gryffindor, though Marguerite and Kingsley were staying home at their insistence and keeping Athena and Deimos with them. Morag and Talon Moon along with Lilis and Miles Bletchley had joined them in the guest box. Their children had been friendly, but the letters home indicated a deeper friendship had formed this term. Gin had laughed and laughed, saying that if Màire and Lilias Moon were anything like their mother, than the boys had their hands full. Blaise had pointed out that Lysander Bletchley was just like his father and that meant even more mayhem was likely going on with him to cover it right back up. Draco had spoken up at that point, saying that the 'watchers' would likely sit back and help with the mayhem. It really was almost a miracle that the castle was still standing and Rose and Hugo Weasley weren't permanent residents of St Mungo's. Those two had taken to making comments in the last week or two, or so Dora and Antonia Bletchley had informed them upon their arrival. That was why they had been given one of the larger classrooms to have a private family talk.

Gin was sitting on the professor's desk, watching Draco, Blaise, and Miles pace the room. Ares and Talon were seated, looking relaxed though she knew better. Liam and Ewan were outside; making sure no one bothered them while Morag and Lilis were leaning on the desk on either side of Gin. Whatever was said would be interesting. "So, someone fill us in."

"Rose has recruited some friends," Dora said grumpily, from her seat midway back. She tipped her head towards Antonia. "Tell them, Toni, please."

Antonia, a mini version of her mother with her dad's attitude, just glared. "They are restarting the old rumours about Auntie Gin being a traitor to her family, Uncle Draco being a Death Eater…"

"And?" Morag said blandly.

"Do we have to say?" Lysander said as he stood, moving to set a hand on Màire and Lilias' shoulders. "There aren't enough of us willing to stop anyone that would make them pay for their lies."

"Lysander, come over here with me." Lysander followed her over and they had a whispered conversation. The look on Lilis' face alerted the rest of them to just how bad it was.

"Lil," Ares interjected. He had moved quickly so that he was leaning on the wall next to the door, clearly in position to stop anyone that might try to get out and cause pain and suffering. "You really don't want to do this."

"I do." Gin stood moving swiftly to where Brais and Scorpius were sitting with Màire and Lilias. "What are they saying, loves?"

Scorpius looked mutinous. "They are saying bad things about you. I am not repeating them either. I can't even think about it without feeling ill."

"Brais?"

He shook his head. "Dougal stopped us from killing them twice already, Mummy. I won't repeat it either."

She turned, glaring her most dangerous glare at Morag. "Get one of them to say, Morag."

"I don't think I want to know," Blaise muttered, crossing the room to pull Gin into his arms. "I can guess what was being said."

Lilis was back with Morag and she looked furious. "Lysander, tell them what you told me."

Lysander winced. "That Aunt Gin had whored herself for Draco and then Blaise and now she was whoring herself for both of them. That is in addition to the claims of her being brainwashed."

Silence fell. Finally, Gin and Lilis burst out laughing. Gin recovered first. "So I am either brainwashed or a whore?"

"Or a brainwashed whore," Morag sputtered, finally giving in and laughing.

"I am failing to see the humour here," Blaise said angrily.

"Wouldn't that make me a sex slave?" Gin said dryly. "I mean, brainwashed means no control of my own actions, right?"

"Oh give over," Lilis said, pointing at Blaise. "We all know if either of you is a sex slave, it's you."

Miles was furious, no one doubted it, but he managed a, "Yeah, that would be all of us married blokes, darling."

Lilis favoured him with her patented eyebrow raise. "Well of course, my love, but we don't seem to hear any complaints."

Blaise shook his head. "This has got to stop. You'd think after twenty years they would come up with new material."

"They're Gryffindors," Draco drawled, coming to stand behind Scorpius. "I am beginning to think that home-schooling is the best option for all of you."

Gin shook her head and sat back to watch the show his words were sure to cause. None of them were exactly even-tempered, though if pressed she would pick Lysander and Scorpius as the ones most likely to be the voices of reason.

"No." Màire stood, planting her hands on the desk. "You'll forgive me for contradicting you, Uncle Draco, but it is not the best option."

"No, no, no," Lilias said as she too stood.

Gin grinned; it was like mini-Morag bookends. She actually sort of pitied Draco for having to face them. That was until she remembered he had faced all of her children and walked away relatively unscathed. So, she sat back having decided that he didn't need help.

Lysander cleared his throat pointedly. "Leaving would mean that there was shame. I don't see why there should be. Aunt Gin did nothing to be ashamed of."

"No," she agreed with a shrug. "I did nothing that I am ashamed of. I have beautiful children, a loving husband, and wonderful friends. For them to continue this vendetta has moved far beyond ludicrous."

"I say we all calm ourselves," Morag said with a pointed look at Dougal who was hovering protectively behind Margot. He had insisted on helping protect the younger ones when he found out that Margot was as well. "All of us," she emphasised, looking at each of the children in turn. "Even the adults," she added dryly with a look to the men. "We're going to go down to dinner, sitting as one big family and should any plebeian brats try to start trouble, we'll end it."

Gin just grinned, taking Blaise's hand and kissing his cheek. "You'll let our children handle it, darling."

Draco joined them, looking pensive. "I know my vote counts for far less here, but why should they be forced to deal with this day in and day out?"

Gin leaned into Blaise and sighed, feeling as if she didn't do much else these days. "If they were working alone it just means that their jealousy of all that we have built has pushed them to extremes, Draco. You know that the Trio always hated you, mainly because the idiot did. You know he was jealous, right? I heard him muttering about it the summer after his first year. That was why he made fun of you and pushed Potter to hate you. He feared Potter would like you better and kick him aside in favour of you."

Draco smirked. "Really? You could have said that years ago, you know. I've missed out on years of amusement at his expense."

She laughed. "Well, you know now and can laugh about it anytime you please."

"If you three are done?" Morag called out cheekily. "I hear there may be scones on the menu and you know how I get when I am denied my scones."

"We're done," Blaise returned wryly. "I refuse to be hexed for you being five minutes late getting to your scones."

Gin laughed as he wrapped his arm around her waist. The meal would be interesting, one way or another.

-ii—

Blaise watched as the kids filed into the Great Hall. The parents were sitting back and watching to see if Rose and Hugo, along with their little band of followers, would actually be brave enough to start something.

"What a disgrace that was," Rose said haughtily, her brother and friends ranged behind her.

"What was?" Scorpius replied sounding bored.

"Having that whore show up in public! She has done well hiding and keeping the shame to a reasonable level thus far," Hugo said with an evil grin.

"Really? As I hear tell the only person that ever attempted to whore her out was her own mother." Oh dear gods, Lysander was in top form tonight. He was holding Dora close to his side, either to keep her from slaughtering someone or to let her know that he had finally reached his limit. "Popping out children they couldn't afford until they had a girl and then treating her like chattel once the Golden Boy appeared on the scene. Tsk, tsk, you lot really should get your facts straight."

Margot, it seemed, wasn't about to allow Lysander to do all the defending. "Then she went so far as to attempt to kidnap my Mummy and have her tossed into St Mungo's. I may have been only a baby at the time, but I know the facts."

"Exactly. Prophecy Boy was to marry the chattel and nothing was going to stop your insane family's plan," Damon added viciously. "It really was too bad that Mummy had a new family, one that loved and appreciated her."

"Which would that be?" Rose spat. "She whored herself out to your father and Zabini."

"You really are a little fool." Màire said angrily. "It is no wonder Lilias and I are ranked higher than you in all our classes. So much for that lauded intelligence you were to inherit."

"You know," Lysander drawled, sounding very much like his father. "They sold her short; because her husband is one of the most prominent men in the wizarding world and I am sure her father in law would be interested in this slander. Oh that's right! Your father is dying in St Mungo's from attempting to break through the wards at Valhalla and your mother is in prison, your grandmother as well; even a couple of uncles and your grandfather." He turned to go, showing his back to make it clear that he had no fear of them, tossing over his shoulder, "Mind you that's a good thing, because if my father ever gets hold of the person who quite literally harmed a hair on my mother's head, people would still be looking for the pieces years later. Not to mention that Uncle Talon has also yet to calm down."

"That would be our cue," Lilis said, motioning them all to go in. "There are days I swear that Lys is already angling to take over for Kingsley."

Gin chuckled. "Kingsley knows that, Lilis. In fact, he is more than a bit amused and proud at what a 'fine young man' Lysander is."

Blaise groaned, though he was as amused as they were. "So, our daughter will be the wife of the Minister for Magic someday?"

Draco snickered. "Just thank all the gods it is Lysander and not Margot or Màire with an eye on that job."

"Bite your tongue," Gin teased the blond. "Not that either of them wouldn't make an excellent Minister, but dear gods, just put it out of your head right now."

Draco rolled his eyes and strolled into the Great Hall. "Yes, Gin, of course, Gin."

Laughing, Blaise and Gin passed the little group of indignant looking students. Gin, it seemed, couldn't help herself, muttering, "Grow up and open your eyes."

-ii—

Three days before the kids were due home from Hogwarts for Yule, Bill showed up for lunch at Valhalla looking haggard. Concerned, Gin ushered him into the closest parlour and made him sit down. "What is wrong?"

He buried his face in his hands. "We took custody of those two, as you know."

"Yes."

"They are so indoctrinated that nothing I say helps." He looked up, dropping his hands, looking heartbroken. "I think Fleur was helping them."

While it was true that she and Fleur never had gotten along well and that Fleur never had accepted that Bill had forgiven her, Gin was still stunned. They were beginning to piece together all that had happened and the picture that was forming was an insane one. After the botched kidnapping when the twins were babies, it seemed that her blood relatives had joined a group of vigilantes that felt the purebloods had not been punished enough at the end of the war. The more information that Helios and Wren, along with the others they had searching for it, pointed to a plan to not only destroy the Malfoy and Zabini families, but all of the prominent purebloods. To find out that Bill knew, and she knew that he wouldn't make a baseless accusation, that Fleur was a part of it was almost too strange to be believable. But, she believed him just the same.

She leaned over and took his hand in hers. "Where is Victoire?"

"With Teddy, he has nothing to do with it. I made him take a truth serum. Victoire too, though she was the one to insist on it." He sighed heavily. "I also went to Hogwarts this morning. Louis and Dominique are staying close to your brood. Damon and Margot promised to keep an eye on them. You know that they have always preferred the company of your kids over Rose and Hugo."

Gin sat back, her mind spinning. "Okay, first things first, proof of her involvement and getting you and yours here where it is safe. After that, we will deal with it as it comes."

"I should contact Wren," Bill muttered wearily. "He's the solicitor and all."

She huffed and rolled her eyes. "You will sit right there, William Arthur, and allow us to deal with it. You shouldn't have to, not after finding out your wife betrayed you."

"What is going on?"

She turned to see Draco in the doorway with a cranky Deimos in his arms. "We need to contact Wren and ready rooms."

Draco merely crossed the room and handed her Deimos. "He is sleepy and hungry. You go on up and I'll help Bill."

Standing, she gave both men The Look. "You'll tell me everything once I have the little man settled in for a nap."

She walked out of the room, not needing to look to know that they weren't about to go against her wishes on the matter. Kissing Deimos' cheeks, she allowed herself the simple joy of being with her nearly five month old son and take an hour away from all the stress that was beginning to wear everyone down.

-ii—

With the addition of Victoire, Louis, Dominique, and Teddy, Yule had been even more loud than usual. Margot was pouting, since it had been decreed that none of them were leaving their family estates once they had reached them for the duration of the holidays. It was too dangerous out there just now.

Draco sat back, watching the kids race around the grounds, even getting Athena in on the snow battle. She was finally not clinging to Blaise every possible moment and being a normal toddler again. He winced as Damon was hit in the face by a snowball thrown by Scorpius, thankful that he had been able to make excuses instead of joining them. He was all too happy to stay in the nice warm manor and watch through the windows.

"Oh, I didn't know you were in here."

He turned from the window, lifting a brow. "Hiding, Gin?"

She laughed lightly. "It's even more a madhouse than usual, so yes, I was. Were you doing the same?"

He grinned. "I was watching the mayhem from the safety and warmth of the manor is all. Last I checked, Damon was getting his arse handed to him in the snow war."

She laughed as she crossed to stand with him, peeking out the window. "Ouch, they really are ganging up on him. I'm confident that he will pay them back ten-fold."

"Even the girls?"

She laughed, shaking her head and giving him a look that said 'what do you think'. "Come on, I have something to show you."

"What is it?" He wasn't about not to go, but he was really curious as to what she was about. They made their way through the manor to a room he'd not been in before. It was decorated in nearly every shade of purple imaginable and there as a portrait of the kids hanging above the mantle. He guessed it to have been painted about three years ago since Athena and Deimos were missing. Gin waved him over to a large bookshelf and pulled a book off handing it to him. "They are in chronological order," she explained, pointing to the shelves. "You never asked and I thought you might be curious."

He flipped it open to see pictures of the twins as babies. These were taken what looked to be minutes after they were born. Severus and Marguerite were holding them and Severus had even managed a smile. Draco looked up, stunned. "I never asked because I figured it wasn't my place to do so."

She sighed. "It is though, I realised that years ago. I never have said aloud who their father was, a holdover I think from fearing what would happen if anyone knew about it. Go ahead and look through them. I'll be over by the fire reading if you have any questions."

"If you'd sit with me, I would appreciate it. You can explain. I mean," he paused wondering if he was overstepping, "if you want to."

Laughing, she dropped down on the sofa. "You haven't figured out yet that asking me to talk about my kids is dangerous? I might keep you here for hours."

Draco sat next to her, handing her the album. "I think in this case that will be fine. So, tell me, please."

So she did.

-ii—

Blaise found Gin and Draco laughing over the albums three hours after she'd gone looking for the blond. He stepped in, grinning at the sight. "So, have we made it past their sixth birthdays yet?"

"Join us, love," Gin said, holding her hand out for him. "You get to explain why Damon is so fervent about those charms for his hair when he is out in the sun too long."

He took her hand and pulled her up, sitting down where she had been and pulled her into his lap. His grin was just this side of wicked. "That would be because Margot's hair only gets streaks of lighter red, but his just gets paler the more sun-bleached it gets."

At Draco's confused look, he took the album and flipped to the pictures of their first holiday after Brais had been born. He pointed to the picture of a very indignant looking Damon. "See."

Draco just laughed until he was holding his side. "Is his hair pink?"

"Strawberry blond," Gin said primly, "and if he hears you call it pink, he will bat-bogey you."

"We spent the entire summer in Greece," Blaise explained. "We didn't think about sunblock charms for their hair."

"Not that they freckle, unlike me," Gin said, playfully sullen. "I hid under the umbrella with Brais."

Blaise shrugged. "Not everyone tans like I do."

She popped him upside the head. "No need to be smug over it."

Draco looked up from a picture of Blaise and the twins. "I can manage a tan as well."

Blaise roared with laughter when Draco didn't duck quickly enough and was the recipient of Gin's playful slap to the back of his head. He stood, flipping her over his shoulder. "I was sent to find you two; the kids are meeting in the family lounge for hot cocoa and treats, which Lilis sent over with one of the Moon elves."

Draco stood, setting the album on the table. "You know, no one has explained why Marguerite is Grand and not Grandmother or Grandma."

Gin chuckled, swatting Blaise's backside. "Right after the twins were born, she decided that they would call her Grand because she is very grand and that she wasn't about to be Grandmother."

Draco chuckled, walking on the side of Blaise where Gin couldn't reach him. They walked in a comfortable silence until they reached the family lounge. The scene inside was anything but quiet. Blaise set Gin on her feet, laughing at the sight of Scorpius and Athena sitting on the sofa with a book whilst the rest of the children chased Damon, who looked to be holding the bakery box of Lilis' treats over his head, taunting everyone that he was going to keep them for himself and wasn't sharing.

Gin joined in laughing when Brais and Margot tackled Damon and Dora took the box, retreating with Louis.

"Where are Victoire and Teddy?" Bill asked, stepping around the three of them and into the room.

"We're here," Victoire called from down the hallway. "We've been keeping Deimos company."

Blaise took Deimos from her, grinning. "Sure you were, if that is code for snogging where you think no one will catch you."

Draco snickered, pulling Teddy into the room. "We Blacks have to stick together, you know."

Blaise leaned over to kiss Gin, Deimos chattering happily between them. "You did a good thing."

"I know," she said, laying her head on his arm.

"Why don't we go save our oldest son from certain death?" he suggested dryly.

She shook her head and laughed. "He can save himself, he's a grown man."

Blaise pulled her inside to where the hot cocoa was. There were days he forgot just how much time had passed. He wouldn't change a thing though, not one little thing.

-ii—

Gin was relaxing in the main parlour, enjoying the scene as Victoire and Teddy helped Deimos walk across the room. He almost had the hang of it, though he was still shaky. Months had passed since Bill, Victoire, and Teddy had moved in and the divorce from Fleur was to be final any day. Fleur had fessed up easily, well at least once she had realised that she would face a longer prison term if she didn't give over any and all details she could. Her confession was still somewhat secret, only known to the Aurors and solicitors involved and Wren hadn't told them much. She was actually content to wait, not sure what the whole truth would be only that it was likely to be horrid.

Sleepily, she rolled to her side and pillowed her head on her arm. They had less than a week before the kids were home from Hogwarts and she was content to take advantage of every moment.

"Aunt Gin?"

"Yes, Teddy?"

"We'll put little man down for his nap, okay?"

Gin waved them on, too comfortable to move just yet. They were practicing, at least in her opinion, for when Teddy finally got the nerve to ask for her hand in marriage. She was certain that babies would quickly follow. She drifted off to sleep happy with the knowledge that her family was happy and as safe as they could be.

"Gin, Gin," someone whispered and she blinked, rubbing her eyes and sitting up. "George? Is everything okay?"

He grinned, plopping down next to her. "I should ask you that. You're sleeping in the middle of the day."

She swatted at him. "Bite your tongue! I was just taking advantage of Teddy and Victoire's willingness to keep Deimos occupied."

He sighed, hugging her close. "I have some news for you."

She pushed away, her mind already going through all the possibilities and none of them good. "What? Just tell me, no sugar-coating it, George!"

"The kids are fine," he said quickly. "They're all being brought here as we speak."

Her chest tightened and she grabbed his hand. "Tell. Me. Now."

He winced, pulling her into his lap and wrapping his arms around her tightly. "You must stay here."

"TELL ME!"

"Blaise is missing," was the last thing she heard before everything went black.

-ii—

"Fix it, fix it now," Margot demanded, turning to Dougal, who had refused to leave her side. She sobbed against him, fists clenched in his shirt. "Get my daddy back!"

Draco wasn't sure what they were supposed to do. Gin was upstairs, staring blankly at the wall almost comatose. Marguerite and Kingsley were raising all sorts of hell and trying to figure out how the person or persons responsible had made it past the guards at Zabini Enterprises, the Aurors, and Blaise himself. He turned to see that Damon was staring out the window, a look on his face that warned everyone that if you dared attempt to speak to him, it would bring down his wrath raining upon your foolish head.

"Dad?" Scorpius had Athena curled in his lap and Brais, looking in no better shape than Gin was, at his side.

He sat on the arm of the sofa. "What do you need, son?"

"Don't you dare step one foot off these grounds until Uncle Blaise is home."

He nodded slowly. It should have been expected, seeing as Dora had made the same request of Bill and George. He had no doubts that Charlie would be the recipient of it as well once he arrived from Romania. "I promise that I won't. Why don't we get you three up to your rooms, perhaps you can try to rest?"

"No," Athena said forcefully.

Holding his hands up, Draco stood. He loathed feeling helpless, so he made his way down to Kingsley's office. The door was open and there were a dozen Aurors ranged around the desk. "Any news?"

Marguerite turned from the windows, a letter clutched in her hand. "They say that they will keep him alive, but won't return him until their demands are met."

He sat in the nearest chair. What the seven hells was going on? What demands? "What?" was all he managed to say, his voice sounding flat and emotionless even to his own ears.

"They want us to publicly declare that we have been using the Imperius curse on Gin for the past twenty-two years to start with. Then, they want you to turn yourself in and accept imprisonment for your alleged war crimes." Marguerite looked murderous. "Of course, neither of those things will be happening, nor will any of their other insane demands."

"How," Draco began, slumping back in the chair. "How do they expect to accomplish the second with Kingsley as Minister?"

"Oh," Kingsley said from his seat at the desk, "That is their next demand. I am to resign, admitting my wartime allegiances were not with the Order of the Phoenix. I am to name Michael Corner as my successor. They added that should anyone attempt to arrest Corner, they will deliver Blaise in pieces."

"I am to turn myself in and confess to the murder of all my former husbands as well as the attempted murder of Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley," Marguerite added with a derisive snort.

Draco held up a hand. "Just how many demands do these idiots have?"

One of the Aurors turned from the desk and sighed. "Well, you are also to confess to murdering your wife, we're to release all of the Weasley family members currently imprisoned and erase all charges against them. Oh yes, then there is the bit about Gin publicly declaring that she was a spy for the Death Eaters and you were her contact, hence the twins existing."

Draco lifted a brow. "The twins are Zabinis." Then he smirked. "Wait, wait, wait. You're telling me that they, whoever they are, have been plotting to take us all down by twisting things around to fit their mad world view?"

"And they have Pansy Parkinson helping them," Kingsley said with a wry smile. "Though, for once she was smart enough to turn herself in. We immediately transferred her to the Romanian Ministry's care to prevent any attempts at rescue."

"Doesn't that risk Blaise?" he asked, not even thinking about his old friend being involved in this madness.

Kingsley held up a long parchment. "No, it says that if she is caught than she is merely a martyr for the cause, though we felt it a risk keeping her here. You will recall that her family fell on hard times after the war. It seems that could be the reason for Miss Parkinson throwing in with this lot. There was a good bit of ranting about how she was supposed to marry you and you refused and then something about none of the purebloods good enough for her would marry her."

"She always was stupid and vicious," Draco murmured. "The kids need to rest and we all know they won't listen to a word I say."

Marguerite laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'll round them up and get them settled. Can you check on Gin for me?"

"I think I'm the last person she wants to see right now."

Shoving at his shoulder, she glared. "A friendly face is what she needs. Go see if anyone has been able to get through to her yet."

"I'm going," he grumbled certain he was about to be hexed. He found the manor eerily quiet as he made his way to Blaise and Gin's rooms. He found that almost as disconcerting as the situation. He met a very upset Charlie in the main hallway and they walked together the rest of the way. Gin was curled up in the bed with all three wolfhounds ranged around her. Bill and George had pulled up chairs next to the bed. The fact that she had allowed the dogs on the bed was just a small clue as to how shaken she was, even Draco knew that much. Charlie didn't stop, crawling into the bed and pulling her into his arms. Her sobs were the only sound in the room. He stepped back to go, only to be pushed into the room by Damon. He gave up, going to get another chair and sitting with Bill and George, not wanting to be hexed.

Gin finally stopped crying, her voice rough and yet deadly. "We will get him back and I want them all dead."

"They will be," Damon promised.

-ii—

Blaise had been missing for a month and Gin couldn't deny it any longer. Pulling herself up, she rinsed out her mouth and went to find Marguerite. This was so not the time, but there was no helping it. She certainly had the knack for making a complicated situation worse. Marguerite was, thankfully, alone in her sitting room. "Hey."

"Come in and sit down, darling, I Flooed the mid-witch not ten minutes ago."

Gin gaped. "What? How did you know?"

Marguerite smiled softly. "Dearest, I know the signs. You looked positively green just looking at the eggs this morning and they were at the other end of the table. I remember the look well from every other time you were pregnant."

Gin buried her face in her hands. "I can't do this, Marguerite, not without Blaise here."

She sat down and hugged Gin tightly. "Yes, you can. You have made it through this part once by yourself. At this point, you'd be hard pressed not to have a line of people willing to do your bidding."

"All right, well I'd best tell the kids."

"We already figured it out." Margot stepped in and closed the door. "We really don't need a pregnancy charm with you, Mummy. All we have to do is mention eggs and wait to see if you turn funny colours."

Gin waved her over. "You aren't going to tell me how I'm too old and it should be you having the babies, eh?"

Margot kissed her cheek and sat on the floor at her feet, laying her head on Gin's leg. "Not this time. Daddy will be back soon and there to hold your hand and make the mid-witch laugh at his antics when you give us a new brother or sister."

Gin ran a hand over her hair. "I hope so, baby. I really hope so."

-ii—

"Nope, not me," Bill said, glaring at Marguerite.

"Not after the hex she hit me with," George exclaimed, making the kids laugh.

"Not a chance, give me a testy dragon any day." Charlie looked mutinous, rubbing his arm from where he still had the bruise after waking Gin up three days ago.

Draco winced. "Fine. Someone had best be at the ready to heal me."

Marguerite just looked at him, a serene look on her face. "Look at it this way, at least you boys take turns."

He knocked on the door a few minutes later, bracing for whatever she wanted to throw at him this time. When Gin didn't reply, Draco pushed open the door cautiously, only to hear her being sick. Not thinking twice, he rushed over and stepped into the lavatory. "You know, women really do get the short end of this deal."

She stood shakily, taking his arm. After she rinsed her mouth out, she sighed. "We really do, but it is worth it in the end. How did you get the short stick today?"

He snickered, leading her back out to the bedroom. "I think your brothers really truly fear you now."

"Blame the baby not me," she declared primly. "Any news?"

"No, not yet. Are you back to bed or are we going downstairs?"

"Bed," she said tiredly. "I'll eat later."

"Was it this bad with…all of them?" he asked, mentally kicking himself for doing it.

She laughed, allowing him to walk her over to the bed. "Yes and no." She curled up and snuggled down under the blankets. "With the twins it was worse because I had to hide it, the being sick and the mood swings. That is what you weren't asking, wasn't it?"

He sat on the edge of the bed, nodding slightly. "You could have told me, you know."

She rolled her eyes, shifting a bit and sighing. "Sure, give you one more thing to worry over, yeah right. Should I have snuck into the hospital wing while you were nearly dead and told you then? Perhaps caught you in the Room of Requirement? You had enough to deal with and I wasn't about to risk us all by telling you."

Now that angered him. He glared at her. "Seriously? Did you think so little of me to think that I'd what… turn you over to that monster? Or perhaps I would go running to my parents who would have either turned you over to that monster or something equally as horrific?"

She pushed herself upright. "No, you idiot, I did not think that! Granted, I feared your parents storming in and taking them from me, but that is perfectly justifiable. We shagged and don't you dare say it was anything more than it was because I do have my wand. I didn't hate you, if you are thinking that. I just tried to do the best in a bad situation." She poked him in the chest with her finger. "I didn't regret it and I never, ever regretted the twins."

"Do they know?" He had a million questions now that she seemed in the sharing mood, though if all of her answers were as surprising as the ones thus far, he was likely to fall over in shock.

"That I found you half pissed and helped you finish off about five bottles of the best wines your winery produces before we decided a shag would be a good idea? Yes, they know."

Shaking his head, Draco stood and turned to go. "You know…had you told me you would have ended up in this very place anyway."

"What?"

He didn't turn to face her or stop walking. "I would have had all of two people to go to, Severus Snape and Blaise. Everyone else was either loyal or their parents were. I'll have food sent up and yes, the elves know that eggs will get everyone hexed."

He was probably more surprised than he should have been to find Margot waiting just out of Gin's sight in the hallway. She all but dragged him down to the library, closing and warding the door. "So, you and Mummy finally had a chat did you?"

"Dear gods, are you going to yell at me too?"

She laughed, sitting down and pointing to one of the other chairs. "No, though I am the chosen spokesperson for both of us. Dame said he just wants everyone to get along and Mummy to not be upset until Daddy gets back."

Knowing that he was on shaky ground and always had been in regards to Margot, Draco sat. "I think we all want that."

"Good. Daddy knew, you know, from the moment he heard our middle names. The way he told it to us, he was certain after Dame was cleaned up. I think Grand has plans, which is why I followed you."

Not knowing if that was good or very bad, he merely waited, having learnt long ago that Margot, much like her mother, would say what she wanted at her own pace. As revealing as the discussion with Gin had been, it had also given him quite a bit to think about. Even after all these years, Draco still had moments where he had to stop and assure himself that it wasn't some weird arse dream. It was almost unfathomable that he hadn't been murdered and his body hidden where no one would ever find it. But, instead, he and Scorpius had been welcomed into the family as if they were long lost relations not the man who had impregnated Gin and left her to deal with it on her own and his son.

"She seems to think that something Mummy said after Deimos was born means quite a bit more than when taken at face value. Granted, she wasn't even supposed to hear it, but that never stops Grand."

"Dare I ask what was said?"

Margot got to her feet, grinning. "Well, Mummy was watching you, Deimos, and Scor. She said something to Daddy about having to make it work and Daddy said basically that it was up to you and if you were going to be a prat or not. With that, I am off to find Dougal."

He sat there really not knowing what to do or say to that.

"Oh, by the by; do you really think that Daddy sent you with Mummy and Deimos to Greece because he was worried about her being abducted whilst Apparating?"

Draco sat there for hours in a disbelieving stupor.

-ii—

"We have identified everyone in the organization," Kingsley announced once everyone had settled in after he called a family meeting. He smiled brightly. "One of them, Demelza Robins, defected. She has agreed to lead us to Blaise. She has also said that he is fine, a bit malnourished and very, very angry, but fine."

Gin sighed, rubbing a hand over her baby bump. He had been gone for six months and the mid-witch had announced during her last check-up that the twins were doing just fine, but that she was likely to go early. Draco had, since their little chat, been a dear. She wasn't sure if he was trying to make up for missing out on this the last time or if he was merely assuring that she was as comfortable as possible. Not that she minded; it was actually fun to see him this way. She speared Kingsley with her most potent glare. "You have four weeks, tops, to get him home."

"We must have everything in place," he replied apologetically, "but, I will do my best to have him home so you can attempt to break his hand for the sixth time."

Everyone laughed at that.

-ii—

Gin was pacing no matter how often he tried to get her to sit. Draco was actually the only one left that hadn't found other things to do rather than risk her temper over the last month. They were rescuing Blaise today and she was on the brink of giving birth. He shook his head, having made a concentrated effort to be there for her, partially to make up for the months she'd had no one whilst pregnant with his twins and partially because he felt that it was just right.

She stopped her pacing, glaring down at her stomach. "Oh no you don't! You two are staying in there until your Daddy is home."

"Gin?"

She turned her glare on him. "I need you to go up and find the green sleep shirt, there is only one. After you find it collect it and the pyjamas it is sitting on top of. The pyjamas go-"

"On the counter next to the shower?" he suggested wryly.

She nodded, wincing. "Marguerite has probably already Flooed the mid-witch, but Margot will need to gather everyone. I swear…"

His eyes went wide and he didn't question her further. He met Damon in the hallway, almost running into him. Damon laughed. "Get Mummy upstairs, Grand noticed the signs earlier. You can get all the things together after you get her up there. It looks like you get to see all of it this time rather than hiding out with Grandpa."

"I risk her wrath by not following her orders. You do want to see me hexed half to death, don't you?"

Damon laughed, pushing him back down the hallway. "Nah, Mummy wouldn't do that. Go, get her and I will check with the Aurors on the status of the rescue mission."

Unsure of his welcome, Draco stepped back into the parlour only to find her bent over, clutching her stomach. He was at her side in a heartbeat. "Come on, let me help you."

"If you try to carry me…" she sighed. "I just don't have it in me to protest; though I want it noted that I tried."

"Let me have your wand." He wasn't about to be budged on that little request.

She handed it over without protest and he picked her up and carried her upstairs. He set her on the edge of the bed, unsure of what exactly he was supposed to do now.

"This is where you go get that sleep shirt and while I am changing, put the pyjamas on the counter," she said wryly. "I really hope you're ready for this."

He laughed, ducking into the closet and spotting the clothing on a shelf by itself. He recognized the sleep shirt from when Deimos had been born and couldn't help but wonder what the story behind it was. After handing it to Gin, he took his time laying out the pyjamas.

"You can come back in here now."

He stepped out and tried to hide his nerves. "You're the one who knows what is to be done, direct me and I'll do my best to help."

She snickered, holding out a hand. "This is where we walk and you distract me."

He tucked her arm in his, surprised when she shook her head and took his arm, putting it around her. "You're going to have to help me stay upright. We walk the room, stopping when I have a contraction."

"So, start talking, tell me anything you think I should know," he suggested as they walked.

"It is messy, gory, and bloody. I will attempt to break your hand unless B gets here in time." She paused, turning and resting her head on his chest. "Sorry," she said a minute later, "old habits and all."

"Like the sleep shirt and pyjamas?" Draco hoped he was being a decent stand in. There was no way he wanted to ruin one moment of this for her.

"Yes. I stole the shirt from B when we were at Hogwarts and the shirt I had stolen from Charlie stopped fitting. Marguerite found me-" she stopped, laid her head on his chest and worked through the contraction. "Crying over the fact that it didn't fit anymore and then fixed it so that it would."

He took her weight as she leaned more heavily on him. "So, are the pyjamas the same ones too?"

"Yes, as is the room and the mid-witch as well. We amuse her, or so she says every bloody time. Marguerite stays with me and the rest stay out in the other room. The little ones-"

He cut her off, anticipating the next contraction just by the look on her face. "To the playroom, I remember."

She sighed, resting her head on his chest. "Can you rub my back, lower spine right in the middle?"

He did as asked. "You know, I always wondered why you didn't have Deimos up in your suite and now I know."

She snickered as they resumed walking. He wasn't sure how long they walked only that his respect for her grew as she showed strength above and beyond what he had already known she possessed. The mid-witch and Marguerite left them to it, talking quietly over by the bed. Finally, Gin changed directions, moving towards the bed. "I have to stop now."

"All right," he replied easily, helping her up onto the bed. He didn't miss the pleased little grin from Marguerite either.

"Up here," Gin said, pointing behind her. "You have to help prop me up."

He stood there for a moment in utter shock. But, Marguerite glared and he got moving. Soon, Draco stopped thinking altogether, just doing what Gin said and part of him wondering why she would choose to go through this so many times.

"I will not!"

Draco snapped back to reality, puzzled. "You won't what?"

"I am not pushing until Blaise is here," Gin said petulantly.

"Well, you have to," he replied dryly. "I don't think you have a choice."

The mid-witch and Marguerite laughed loudly.

"What?" he snapped, his nerves shot after seeing Gin like this. It wasn't right, not at all.

"Has it really been almost twenty-three years?" Marguerite said with a wistful smile.

"I do believe it has," the mid-witch said cheerily. "If he snaps at us that she should have anti-pain charms despite her refusal, I may fall over laughing."

"I fail to see the amusement here," he snarled.

"Oh but I see it."

"Blaise!" Gin exclaimed happily.

Draco simply stared at the man in the doorway. It was Blaise, though thinner and clearly weary. "Get your sorry arse over here."

Marguerite laughed loudly. "I will smother you with hugs later, son. For now, get over here and take my place."

Draco watched as Blaise kissed Marguerite's cheek and took Gin's hand. "I can swap places if you want."

Blaise smirked before he kissed Gin. "Oh no, you stay right where you are."

Gin gripped his hand hard enough that Draco swore it was going to break and snarled, "Boys, eyes on me here!"

"Go on and push, love," the mid-witch said though she was chuckling. "I say, you never fail to amuse me. This one tops all the others though."

"Yes yes," Gin muttered. "Now, time for babies."

Draco moved to help hold her up, shooting a questioning look at Blaise, but was met with a grin and a wink. That was until Gin's words sank in. "Wait, babies?"

Draco was laughing as Gin delivered a girl. The shocked look on Blaise's face was something he wouldn't ever forget. But, he couldn't help but look over Gin's shoulder at the brunette baby on her chest. "So, what is her name?"

Blaise burst out laughing, kissing Gin's brow. "I dare you to ask if we're betting on what the next one will be, Draco."

"Not until I get to call him Mr Impatience and tell him that we will find out soon," Marguerite said taking the baby and cuddling her close. "Though, I have to say I see both of you in her."

"You know," Draco said, though he was grinning. "I think you broke my hand."

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Don't be a wimp, Draco. She's yet to break mine. Now, I as much as I want to swap with you, I don't think I have it in me, so you have to keep going."

Gin sighed. "I have yet to hear the bet question and I really want to push again."

Blaise kissed her and grinned. "So, are we betting on what it will be?"

She leaned her head back on Draco's shoulder and laughed. "I say boy again."

"You're being confusing again," Draco drawled.

"We'll explain after he gets here," Blaise promised.

Gin leaned up and Draco moved to help her. "He?"

"She's not been wrong yet." The mid-witch murmured.

Not five minutes later, Gin was cradling her son and Draco was shaking his head. She passed the baby to Marguerite. "So… I need-"

"A shower," everyone chorused.

She laughed and then sighed, gripping Blaise's hand. "We didn't get to pick names this time."

"Well," Blaise said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "What about Seren Lyra and Ares Etamin?"

"Perfect," she murmured sleepily.

"Seren?" Draco asked, a bit shocked at the middle names they had chosen, but wise enough not to say a word.

"It is Welsh for star," Blaise explained as he hugged Gin tightly.

Draco didn't need to say more. Clearly the Welsh was in memory of Theo as the middle names were for him. He sat there and watched as Blaise led her across the room to shower. He moved when the elves appeared, sitting in the chair in the corner where he'd retreated after Deimos had been born. A few minutes later, Gin and Blaise appeared, though Blaise tucked Gin in and went to change seeing as he was clad in nothing but a towel.

"The babies will be back as soon as they are done being named."

He looked up at the sound of Gin's voice. "You managed one redhead and one brunette this time."

She grinned, leaning back against the pillows. "To which I am required to say… that means we tried enough."

Blaise was snickering as he crossed the room and crawled into the bed. "So you say now." He turned to Draco. "Go steal a pair of my pyjama bottoms and shower. The hoard will descend soon."

Draco didn't bother protesting. They had left him with plenty to think about.

-ii—

Blaise tucked the blankets around Gin and handed Ares to Draco, nodding towards the sitting room as he settled Seren against his chest. Draco still looked utterly confused and it seemed now was the time to clear the air. After everyone had the chance to ooh and ahh over the babies, they had been shooed out for the mandatory rest time that Gin had instigated after Brais' birth. He was tired and had been fed nearly a dozen potions to start him back on the road to good health after all those months of captivity. No matter how weary he was, Blaise wasn't about to sleep just yet.

They settled in on the sofa, stretching their legs out. "You know," he said softly, not wanting to wake Gin or the babies, "I used to get up and check on Margot and Dame in the middle of the night, just to make sure that they hadn't been spirited away."

Draco's brows rose. "You know she – they – would have ended up here even if she had told me, don't you?"

It was Blaise's turn to be shocked. "I think you need to explain."

The blond shrugged, shifting Ares a bit so that the baby settled back to sleep. "I was a little prat back then, but I wouldn't have turned her over to my parents or that monster. The only ones I would have trusted to keep her safely hidden away would have been you and Snape. Thus, she would have ended up in the same place."

Blaise just shook his head in wonderment. "Thought about it a lot have you?"

"I've had what… six years to think about it. I was a miserable brat stuck in a bad situation and I honestly figured I wouldn't live to see seventeen. Hells, from about February on I was half-lit constantly."

"Oh," Blaise assured him, patting Seren's back, "You don't have to tell me that, I was there remember? You also had nightmares, nasty ones. I wondered how the seven hells Theo, Greg, and Vince slept through them."

Draco winced. "My entire life, awake or asleep was a nightmare that year."

"Gin isn't stupid."

"No, no she's not," Draco agreed, looking confused again. "Where exactly are you going with this?"

Blaise bit back a chuckle, not wanting to startle Seren. "I adore that mean streak of hers…"

"Are you talking about the bit on the platform?"

He shrugged slightly. "Yes and no. That, I will admit, was fun. We figured you'd be bashing at the wards the next day actually. But, I meant she knew exactly who she was with that night."

"I figured it was some sort of rebellion or vindictive way of getting back at that oaf." Draco shifted, settling in so he was reclined and taking up half of the sofa, one arm cradling Ares and the other behind his head. "I wasn't complaining. Who in their right mind would?" He smiled wryly. "I actually braced for the oaf accosting me and making a public spectacle over it."

Blaise rolled his eyes, turning so he was reclined against the other arm of the sofa. "Yeah no, she wouldn't have told anyone, not even Lovegood and they were, according to Gin, close friends that year. She was as miserable as you were, just so you know."

"You people are very confusing. I know I say it a lot, but it still holds true. Why didn't you or your mother have me …disappear once you knew?"

Blaise's jaw dropped. He sputtered and finally managed, "You have got to be joking. You know that my mother taught her many, many things, right? I'd have been flayed alive had I tried it. It was a firm rule from day one, no matter what not a hair on your head was to be harmed. As much as I wanted to kick your arse for being irresponsible, I also knew that you had no idea about the twins. Granted, had you come knocking and wanting to take them from me, I would have taken whatever punishment she handed out."

"It wouldn't have been safe, for any of them," Draco pointed out. "Even if I had known, I'm not idiotic enough to have a. risked your wrath, b. risked my parents trying to slaughter the lot of you and take the twins, or c. risk Gin's wrath."

"Is there a d.?"

Rolling his eyes, Draco shook his head. "I think those three cover it well enough. That is unless you separate out what that foolish family of hers would have done. They were barmy enough without knowing the whole truth. They are amazing and I would have been proud to acknowledge them, but I couldn't. I think that is why I was such an arse actually."

Blaise held up a hand to stop him. He knew they should have had this talk long ago, but it never seemed the right time. "Is that why you weren't bashing down the wards after seeing them on the platform?"

Draco sneered. "I was busy ducking hexes for the first couple of hours, but yes. That and the first time I brought Scorpius over, the look Margot gave me made it clear that any such action would bring her wrath down on me before her mother and grandmother could get the chance. All of the children seemed to treat me like some dangerous creature that they didn't trust not to attack."

"Margot…well she is Gin and my mother wrapped up in a pretty package with just enough of me and Theo thrown in to make it interesting."

"Dora is a tiny female version of Theo, though I still have never figured out how he fit in."

Blaise sighed heavily. "Gin needed a potions tutor and my mother brought in Theo. Honestly; I think she was trying to get him here and out of his all but destroyed house. He and I weren't really close, but it was killing her to know that he was all alone out in the middle of nowhere in Wales. He spotted right off that Dame looked a lot like you. I think, had anyone tried to call Gin out on it, Theo might have been the quickest of all to remove the problem."

"You did sort of hide them from public view," Draco pointed out.

"We did, though Dame refused to cut his hair from about age four and preferred to have it falling in his face when we were off the grounds and still in Britain. That day on the platform he was attempting to impress a girl and that was why he had it pulled back."

"But you three…you, Gin, and Theo were close?"

Blaise stared blandly at him. "Not like that though. We gave him a family, something he hadn't had before. After what happened with his mother, he wasn't about to get married. Dora and Deimos will inherit everything, by the way. He wouldn't have listened even if we'd tried to object. Brais and Athena both were given small, by Theo standards, gifts at birth as well."

"So, the twins inherit everything from you?"

Blaise nodded. "Not that these two will be left high and dry, but Damon and Margot will run things with their siblings taking up the rest of the spots on the board."

Draco looked confused again. "But-"

"But nothing, names matter, you know that. Hells, those who matter have known the truth for years and don't give a damn, never have actually. If you wanted to take out a full page advert in the Prophet tomorrow claiming them, no one – not even Margot and Damon – would stop you."

"But, they're yours."

"They are ours; I came to terms with that long ago." Blaise sighed when Seren started fussing. "With these two it came full circle, you realise?"

Draco sat up, looking a bit panicked when Ares joined in on the fussing. "Yes, I clued in to that when you had me stay in place, a place rightfully yours."

Blaise just smirked, getting to his feet and moving towards the bedroom. He looked over his shoulder and said, "I once did the same for you. Now, we should get these two to their Mummy before they really get going and wake the whole house. Just so you know, Theo always sat in the chair in the corner and helped my mother with the naming, nothing more."

He probably shouldn't have been as amused by the look of confusion on Draco's face, but he truly was.

-ii—

Gin just chuckled when she woke up and realised that she had been scooted to the middle of the bed. Draco was sound asleep on her left with Seren just as Blaise was on her right with Ares. It wasn't as odd as she thought it would be actually. She laid there and watched as Seren's eyes opened, her light brown eyes so like Blaise's still hazy with sleep. She smiled softly, wondering if these two would be her last babies since even by wizarding standards she was pushing the limits of being 'too old' to get pregnant. Pushing that thought aside, she carefully sat up, reaching for the baby before she started to cry and wake the men or her brother.

Draco's eyes flew open, his hold on Seren tightened slightly. He relaxed the moment he saw just who was taking the baby. "Sleep," she whispered.

He shook his head, scooting up and handing the baby over. "I'm awake now."

She cradled Seren and flipped open her shirt, figuring that Draco had pretty much seen everything twice now and modesty really was unnecessary. Once Seren was happily suckling, she looked up to see that he looked wary and unsure. "What?"

"How the seven hells did you not hunt us both down and slaughter us for putting you through that?"

She laughed.

Blaise's sleepy, "That is why I take her wand," set her off laughing until she had tears running down her face.

Once she had calmed herself enough to be able to speak coherently, Gin explained, "Why do you think there was an almost five year break between Brais and the twins?" She tipped her head towards Blaise. "That one was adamant that I should never, ever have to go through it again. It took almost two years to convince him after Brais and then just over eight after Dora."

"You did have a rough time with her," Blaise pointed out indignantly. "I had sound reasons for that."

She rolled her eyes, handing Draco Seren. "Put her up on your shoulder and burp her," she instructed, before turning to Blaise and taking Ares. She playfully glared at her husband. "You heard the mid-witch say over and again that it was fine, you're just stubborn."

"I heard her say that you are tiny and Dora was huge," Blaise returned wryly. "I also heard her say that any babies after her could be bigger than she was since she was the biggest one thus far."

Gin settled in, rolling her eyes. Once Ares was eating, she turned to the blond. "You see! Stubborn; only hearing what he wanted to hear and not paying a bit of attention to the fact that she also said that they could be smaller as well."

"I do see Blaise's point," Draco said with a shrug. "Don't you dare hit me for saying it either."

"Good gods, overprotective Slytherin bastards, the both of you," she grumbled, though she was trying not to grin outright.

"You don't sound like you're really complaining," Blaise teased, wrapping his arm around her and kissing her brow. She settled happily against his chest.

She crinkled her nose. "So much better than clueless, moronic Gryffindors."

"Would this be a bad time to point out that you were a Gryffindor," Draco said teasingly.

"Pfft, tell him, Blaise," she said wryly, buttoning up her shirt and shifting Ares to her shoulder.

"The sorting hat is a sadist," he deadpanned.

"Uh huh, what if one of these two, or even Athena or Deimos sorts how their mother did?"

Gin rolled her eyes. "Really, Draco? Really? You think that is possible?"

He shrugged. "Honestly, no, but as you said… the hat must be a sadist."

"Even the hat isn't that sadistic," Blaise muttered. "Now, I say we sleep, because the so very much not Gryffindor hoard is going to invade very soon."

"Three of them were Gryffindors," Draco pointed out guilelessly. "Wait… four, Teddy was as well, yes?"

"No, he was a Hufflepuff like his mother." Gin yawned, shifting down and not bothering to protest when Ares was taken from her and settled against Blaise's chest. "Victoire and Louis sorted Ravenclaw and Dominique is a Slytherin, which didn't go over well at all."

"Will we send them back now that the danger is gone?" Draco asked sleepily.

"We'll vote, later. Sleep now," Blaise replied groggily.

-ii—

Draco hadn't questioned his inclusion, not when Gin and Blaise were both still recovering. In fact, he had noted over the past two weeks that not one person other than himself seemed too terribly surprised about it. If he were honest with himself, he was actually waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop in the form of being booted back to his rooms. He hadn't though, at least not yet.

He was pacing the entrance hall with Seren, who was proving to be quite a fussy princess already. It was odd not to have to dodge kids, dogs, kneazles, and the like. The kids had been tutored during their absence from Hogwarts and had, with many objections, boarded the Express at the end of the winter holiday. Margot and Damon were actually up at Moon Hall in Scotland visiting Dougal's family after he asked for Margot's hand just a week ago. It had shocked Draco when Dougal had asked to speak to him and to Blaise. He'd asked them both for permission, which they had given. Though, both had added 'good luck, son, you'll need it.' Teddy and Victoire were with Bill, though everyone was still waiting on him to request to speak with Bill. They had retreated to Bill's home after the verdicts had come down. No matter how many times Blaise and Gin had assured them that Fleur and Potter's actions did not have anything to do with them, Victoire and Teddy had both been too ashamed to stay.

He turned at the sound of a door and spotted Marguerite looking far too crafty and pleased for it to be anything legal that had kept her locked in her parlour all morning. When she joined him, taking Seren, he shook his head. "I don't want to know, really, I don't."

Chuckling, she patted his cheek with her free hand. "You go up and tell them that I said that the problem has been taken care of…permanently."

"I really didn't need to know," Draco muttered, already halfway up the stairs to do as asked. He had no doubts that the majority of the co-conspirators (who had been sentenced to total memory removal of any and all details of the wizarding world and had been stripped of their magic) would shortly be missing from the Muggle world where they had been taken. The handful of masterminds were in Azkaban for life, in solitary confinement and barred from any communications to keep them from re-starting their mad plot. Shaking his head, he knocked lightly.

"Just walk in," Gin called sounding exasperated.

He pushed the door open and tried to look apologetic as he joined her by the fire. "Old habits and all. Is Blaise sleeping or in the shower?"

"Shower, I can get him." She went to stand, but Draco shook his head and gently pushed her back down.

"Nothing is wrong; I just have a message from Marguerite for both of you."

"If you're sure," she said warily.

Draco shook his head and sighed. "I have never outright lied to you, have I?"

She leaned down and tucked the blanket back over Ares and sat back, leaning into him a bit. "Well, no, not that I'm aware of."

"I haven't, so believe me when I say that nothing is wrong." He was still not used to the random touching, though he wasn't going to complain. He rather liked it, though he wouldn't be admitting that aloud anytime soon.

"All right," she conceded.

They sat in comfortable silence watching Ares until Blaise joined them; sitting on the other side of Gin and tossing a fur throw over their laps. "So, I heard something about a message from my mother?"

"She said to tell you that the problem had been taken care of permanently. As much as I don't want to know," Draco ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. "Well, I am dead curious as to what she meant."

"They're all going to die," Gin said simply, sounding pleased.

He goggled a bit, his jaw dropping.

Blaise laughed. "We take care of our own."

"But, but…" he finally said, still not quite sure he'd heard them properly.

Gin tipped her head back and glared up at him. "Oh please! Do you think it was simply Potter's word that got your family off the hook after the war?"

"It wasn't?"

She sneered. "Yeah, right, he may have helped, but it was mostly Kingsley."

"Darling, did you truly expect any different?" Blaise pouted, making quite the show of it.

"Well… I guess I did say 'not one hair on his head is to be harmed' didn't I?"

"Wait." Draco waved a hand to shut them up for a minute. "Is that what you meant," he said with a nod to Blaise, "about the ones who were important have known for years and didn't care?"

Blaise shrugged. "Perhaps, there was also the bit about not daring Gin's wrath."

Draco burst out laughing. He just couldn't help it. His father was likely rolling in his grave right now, knowing that a member of the one family he loathed had saved his family from poverty and imprisonment. He finally regained control of his mirth, though it took a good bit of time.

"You done?" Gin asked dryly.

"Yes."

"Good, because I want a nap and you make a great pillow." She slipped into his lap, laid her head on his shoulder, and promptly went to sleep.

He shot Blaise a questioning look. The brunette just smirked and quipped, "I'm taking Ares to check and make sure that George hasn't turned Thena and Deimos into canaries or any other weird animals. You're going to have a backache if you keep sitting there, I know that from experience."

Flummoxed, Draco sat there for a good ten minutes after Blaise left before wrapping his arms around Gin and getting to his feet. His plan was to find a book after tucking her in, but she grabbed his hand, muttering sleepily, "you need rest too."

He wasn't daft enough to argue. Rounding the bed he climbed in and as he drifted off, he felt Gin roll and curl up next to him. The next sound he heard was, "Shh! They are sleeping."

Draco turned his head just enough to see that at some point Blaise had joined them. Athena, George (who had a baby in each arm), and Deimos were standing at the edge of the bed and the redheaded man was snickering. "I think you woke them up, Thena."

"Hand over the babies," Gin muttered sleepily from his left and Blaise added, "Toss Thena and Deimos up here too, if you want," from his right.

George deposited the twins in Gin's arms and lifted the other two kids up, walking out quickly, "Call for one of us when you want us to get the heathens."

Deimos climbed over and dropped into Draco's lap. Blaise merely leaned over and scooped up Athena before she fell into Deimos. Athena was tucked in between them and Blaise took Seren from Gin, grinning all the while.

Draco could admit that he didn't want anything to change. As far as he was concerned, if life stayed just like this from here on out, he would be overjoyed. One thing he was certain of was that he was happy for the first time in far too long.