Here it is for real this time, guys. The final chapter. I know a lot of you will be sad to see this end, but all good things have to at some point. I feel I've done everything I could with this idea, but here's a few extra scenes that didn't quite fit into the original narrative.

Dobby's Polka-Dotted Sock

Chapter Nine

"C'mon, Sweetie. It'll be fun!"

"Absolutely not. River, you are not going to get me on one of these things."

The two stood arguing, as usual, only this time on the Weasley's makeshift Quidditch pitch. The archeologist had the height advantage for once as she sat sidesaddle on a broom a few feet in the air. Several of the Weasleys and their significant others were already zooming about back and forth in a pickup game of the popular wizard sport, but the Doctor had his feet planted firmly on the ground.

"You're telling me you'll fly halfway across the universe in a box, but you're too scared to fly a few feet on a broom?"

"Not scared! Just- skeptical. The TARDIS is not a box, she's a Type 40 Time Capsule that's designed to fly. A broom just shouldn't work."

"Well, it's working, dear. Just look around," the blonde gestured to the Quidditch players, and to her own current position. She then patted the space left on the broom. "You don't have to go alone."

But he gave an incredulous sort of sound. "If I'm having trouble believing this thing can hold one person, how do you expect me to feel safe trying two?"

"You might want to tell my parents that, then," the woman remarked, nodding at something over his shoulder.

"What?" The Doctor turned to see what she had indicated, only to find Amy convincing Rory to take the two of them up into the air.

"Oh come on, stupid face," the Scottish woman rolled her eyes, sounding not unlike her own daughter had moments before, "Your siblings said I can't make it work by myself since I'm not magic, but you can. So you'll just have to take me."

"Well…" Rory hesitated. It was true that if a broom had enough latent magical power, a Squib could get it to work. Sure, it wouldn't be capable of a Wronski Feint or anything fancy, but he would be able to control it pretty well. It had been one of the few magical things first Charlie, and then Rory could participate in with his siblings, and he had missed it. Plus Amy was fixing him with that pouty look he could never deny. "Ok," he agreed with a grin, throwing a leg over the broom and wrapping an arm securely around his wife.

"What on Earth are you doing, Pond?" The Doctor couldn't help but question her sanity.

"Getting off the Earth, actually," she retorted while making a face at him. "It's called fun, Raggedy Man. Try it." And with that the two took off, Amy giving a whoop of excitement.

"Good advice if you ask me," River said casually, and he ran a hand through his hair in frustration as he faced her again.

"It's not that I don't want to, it's just the whole trusting magic thing. It doesn't come naturally to Time Lords. I'm not quite used to it," he admitted.

She offered him a gentler smile. "I understand. See you in a bit?" He nodded and she gave a little wave before taking to the sky. It was an oddly captivating sight, and it seemed almost fitting. His little enchantress. The Doctor shook his head and made for the edge of the pitch, intending to strike up a conversation with Hermione, one of the few who remained grounded. Because of that, he missed his wife's hurried conversation with a pair of her uncles.

So he was caught completely by surprise when minutes later he was grabbed under the elbows by Bill and Ron Weasley, and yanked up into the air. "Woah!" The ground fell away fast from his legs, which flailed rather violently as the two men laughed a bit at his expense. "What are you—wait a minute, no!" He closed his eyes as their grips slackened and he dropped. These crazy wizards! Falling in his experience was a rather nasty way to go—

But he wouldn't be repeating that today, it seemed, for he landed on something that felt suspiciously like a broom and was now zooming along. The Doctor opened his eyes to find himself seated behind his wife. She threw him a smirk over her shoulder.

"See? Perfectly safe."

"Yes, well, I suppose I have to concede that broomsticks can fly. In fact, this is quite—ahhh!" His bespoke psychopath suddenly went into a sharp dive, forcing him to throw his arms around her waist in an effort to not die. And she said he was the bad driver!

He loved every minute of it.

OoO

"And here he is de-gnoming the garden with Bill," Molly Weasley pointed out the photo, and Amy had to marvel both at the way everything in the picture moved, and at little Rory. She'd forgotten how cute he was.

"He was a bit ginger as a baby then?" She asked, and it struck her that until now she'd never seen any pictures of Rory before he'd met her. Probably because they'd all been moving ones.

"Oh yes, but it had faded to a sort of brown by the time he went to primary school," her mother-in-law replied. "His brothers and sister used to tease him about it, but I think it suits him."

"Me too," She smiled. "Course, he still looks like you all, even without the hair." Rory had told her how the color was almost synonymous with Weasley in the Wizarding world, and she'd noticed how sad he'd seemed about it, like it was yet another thing that separated him from his family.

"He does, doesn't he?" Molly nodded, seeming quite pleased at the idea. "River's the same, I think. At first I couldn't see the connection, but now that I know she's your daughter, I don't see how she could be anyone else's." Amy didn't really know what to say, not sure how to explain regeneration to the witch, but the older woman continued, "Anyway, it's how we love each other that makes us a family. That's far more important than looks."

Amy felt rather warm inside as she said, "You're right."

They heard someone enter the house, puttering about the kitchen for a minute. "That must be Arthur- he was in the shed before you dropped by." Molly patted her on the knee and stood, returning the photo album with a flick of her wand. Amy followed the woman into the kitchen to find Rory's father hanging up a rather unusual clock.

"I've done it, Molly. It's finally finished," the man announced proudly, and accepted a kiss on the cheek. "At least until any of the kids decide to expand the family, at any rate."

Amy stepped forward to have a look for herself, seeing that it was a clock made up of places as opposed to times, and that there was a hand for every one of the Weasleys. Brian had added three new ones: Amy, River, and Doctor.

She had to look away a moment and dab at her eyes. "That's really amazing, Brian," she complimented with a watery smile.

But a gasp from Molly made her jump in surprise. "Oh no!"

The woman was pointing to the Doctor's hand, which had swung around to the label Mortal Peril.

Amy turned and grabbed her mother-in-law's hands, needing to reassure her. She didn't want the woman to always be worrying. "Molly, it's alright. I know you hate to see us hurt or in danger, but it happens." The woman turned frightened, tear-filled eyes on her and she swallowed before continuing. "And I want you to know that no matter how many times one of our names lands on that label, we're okay. Rory and I've got each other, whatever happens. And the Doctor—" She faltered, not sure exactly how to comfort Molly. Telling the truth, telling her that the alien was used to it, didn't seem to be a good move right now. "He always pulls through," she decided eventually.

"Amy's right, Molly dear," Brian, who had wrapped his arms around his wife, nodded to the clock. Both woman looked to see that the Doctor's hand had moved to Travelling, and Amy wryly noted that it would likely be there often, and it finally stopped at Home. This was accompanied by that familiar wheezing of the TARDIS outside.

It wasn't long before they heard his voice. "Hello? Weasleys? Ponds? Anybody home?" Amy gave Molly's hands a last squeeze before opening the front door. "Oh, Amy! I had no idea you'd be visiting today. Is Rory here, too?"

"No, but we can get him after his shift," she suggested, stepping back to allow him inside. "What are you here for?"

"Oh, it's nothing really—Brian, good to see you, and Molly. I was on the Wizarding colony of Mars—they've got their own school with a talking lion and everything—only I ran into a spot of trouble when they realized I wasn't actually a wizard. So I figured that space wizards are rubbish anyway, why visit them when I can stop by the Burrow, right?"

"What were you doing there then, Doctor?" Brian inquired, obviously seeing through the Time Lord's use of flattery as a distraction.

"Ah, well, I'd heard the marketplace was rather good for…magic things." He scratched at his cheek as he realized they were still waiting on the full explanation. At last he reached into a pocket and pulled out a pair of knitting needles, passing them to an astonished Molly Weasley. "They're enchanted, so I was told, to never drop a stitch—not that I think you would—" He was saved from his typical floundering by the Weasley matriarch pulling him into one of her crushing hugs.

"Thank you, dear. They're just what I needed." Molly pressed a kiss to the alien's cheek, causing him to give a nervous giggle, before she went back in the sitting room to place her new needles reverently in her sewing basket. "Arthur, call Rory on that fellytone you've rigged in the shed, I think I'd like company for dinner."

Brian jumped at being caught. "Er, yes, Molly." He hurried out the door again, and Amy turned to the Doctor with a considering look.

"What?" Her friend asked, tugging at his jacket lapels.

"Oh, just trying to decide if the sweaters she's going to make you will go with the bowtie," she commented with a smirk.

"I'll have you know that I have looked very nice in sweaters, Pond."

"Of course you have."

"Besides," he added, "Weasley sweaters are cool."

She couldn't have agreed more.

OoO

Fred and George Weasley were the very successful owners of a growing empire of joke shops. Naturally between dreaming up ideas, experimenting with products, and running the stores, they were incredibly busy men, and hardly had time for idle chitchat—

Unless an employee came into the back and told them a 'River Song' was asking for them. Then they rushed out to the storefront. After all, she was one of their best customers.

"Ah, if it isn't our favorite grownup niece."

"I'm your only grownup niece, Uncle Fred. You'll have to come up with something else in a few years, though. How old is Victoire now?"

"True, true," George entered the conversation. "Well then, what brings you to our fanciful wonderland?"

"I believe you agreed my order would be ready today."

"Order? Why, whatever order could she mean, Gred?"

"I have no idea, Forge—unless, perhaps, it's this," a twin pulled a tube of lipstick out of his sleeve, placing it in River's waiting palm.

"Thank you, Uncles. You adjusted the formula like I instructed?" She unscrewed the lid and applied the product to her lips, making them stand out just that much more.

"Yes. Though we're not sure if it changed anything—"

"Not like we had the proper test subjects."

Their niece gave a wicked grin. "Don't worry, I brought my own. Sweetie?" She called, turning slightly away from them.

"Hm?" The Doctor stuck his head out from an aisle on the other side of the store. "Sorry, did you need something?" The alien made his way over to them, pausing every once in a while to look at something that caught his eye. "This place is remarkable, you two," he addressed the twins.

"Why thank you," George gave a bow.

"We do try," Fred added, mimicking his twin.

"Did you get whatever it was?" The Time Lord asked his wife.

"Yes, thank you for bringing me, Sweetie." She wrapped a hand around one of his braces, causing the twins to each raise an eyebrow. The Doctor seemed oblivious to her actions, however, merely giving a shrug.

"Well, it was hardly difficult. Don't know why you were so insistent we—mmph!" The alien's words were cut off as the woman tugged him down into a kiss that he at first almost struggled with. Then his eyes clouded over and his arms wound tight around the blonde's waist, and it was some time before they parted.

"You two ought to congratulate yourselves; if it works on him it'll work on anything," a breathless River commented. "Thank you, Uncles, I'm sure I'll be a very satisfied customer." Their niece then dragged the dazed Doctor from the store. Fred and George watched them go, silent for some time.

"How soon can we have that on the shelves?"

"Monday at the latest."

"Good, I'll get to work on the Hallucinogenic Chapstick for Men, shall I?"

"An excellent idea, dear brother."

"…think it'll work on a Veela?"

"God, I hope so!"

OoO

Rory was just about to throw his last dart when the TARDIS gave a violent shudder. "What now?" He questioned even as Amy pulled him down into the safety position.

"Something's got a lock on her, it's pulling her out of the Vortex!" The Doctor shouted over the sparking of wires and the groans of the machine. He darted about amidst the chaos, but seemed powerless to stop whatever was forcing them into landing. The TARDIS jerked around for a few minutes before landing with a bang, sending Amy sprawling across his lap.

Rory helped his wife up as the Time Lord hurried out the doors to confront whatever danger. There was a few seconds silence before they heard their friend's irritated, yet almost amused voice say something that made absolutely no sense. "You are a very persistent bird!"

Exchanging confused glances, the Ponds hurried out of the time machine to find themselves somewhere in a mountainous region. There were a few trees around them and perched on one of them was a vaguely familiar owl clutching a letter in its beak.

"I believe that is for you, Rory," the alien prompted, and the nurse took it, still baffled.

"It's from Ron," he realized as he opened it and saw the familiar handwriting. But as he read through the letter his eyes widened. "Wait, this can't be right," he muttered.

"Why? What's wrong?" Amy asked, concerned for the younger Weasley.

"Apparently Hagrid—he works at Hogwarts—has got a dragon and Harry, Ron, and Hermione want my help sneaking it out of the castle. But that makes no sense, those three aren't even in school anymore!"

"Actually, we've been brought about ten years back in your personal time-stream," the Doctor corrected. "That would make your brother and his friends eleven years old if I'm not mistaken."

"But if we're only a few years in the past, why didn't the owl deliver the letter to past-Rory?" Amy countered.

"Because Hedwig's a clever girl, aren't you?" The alien stroked the snowy owl's feathers, causing her to give what Rory could only assume was the owl equivalent of a purr. "She knew she had to get a Rory that could actually help."

"How can I help any more now than I could have then? I know nothing about dragons—I don't even know why Ron sent this letter," he shook his head at his sibling's antics.

"Dragon taming is your cover story, isn't it? His friends probably suggested he write to you for help, and he had to so they wouldn't find out you're a Squib. He's protecting you," the Doctor pointed out, and he felt bad for being angry with Ron.

"But I can't actually help—I mean, I don't. I've heard about this story from them, and I don't pick up the dragon, some 'friends' of mine do. So I guess we should go talk to dad and see if he can refer us to some dragon tamers—"

The Doctor did not seem to hear the last part, though, for his eyes were wide and not seeing him. "Oh. Oh. Oh, I see now, that's really quite interesting," his friend gave a little laugh. "This is going to be fun!"

"What is? Doctor?" Amy prompted with a suspicious look Rory was sure he was mirroring.

"Amy Pond," the Doctor took her hand with an excited grin. "How would you like to be a dragon tamer?"

OoO

"I cannot believe we're doing this," she repeated not for the first time, tugging uncomfortably at the robe she'd been given to wear. Amy knew that a large part of her newly extended family wore such things on a regular basis, but to her they were just odd. Still, she had to look the part.

Amy left the wardrobe and found Rory and the Doctor in the console room. Their alien friend had parked them around one corner of the Hogwarts North Tower late at night, and they were due to meet a young Harry Potter and Hermione Granger with Norbert the dragon any minute.

"Ready, Amy?" The Doctor asked, turning away from the console, and she resisted the urge to giggle; if she thought she looked weird in robes, the Doctor was certainly weirder. He'd still managed to keep the bowtie somehow, and a pointed wizard hat with a floppy brim sat on his head at a jaunty angle.

She snatched the hat off his head and tossed it like a Frisbee to Rory. "I don't think so, Space Gandalf." The pout he wore morphed into a grin at the old joke. "So, we just wait for them to show up, take the dragon, bring it in the TARDIS, and fly it to Romania, yeah?"

"That's right."

"Are you sure you guys don't want my help? A dragon's got to be heavy," her husband inquired.

"No, Rory, you've got to stay put; it might go badly if Ron realizes you're not the right Rory," the Doctor explained. "It's a slim chance, but I'd rather not risk the temporal consequences. And anyway, you've got to be ready to treat us for burns—I've heard baby dragons can be quite excitable."

"Great," Rory muttered, clearly having second thoughts about this plan.

"We'll be fine," Amy waved off his concerns, and stepped out of the TARDIS. "Wow." They were out on the battlement, and she walked to the edge to look down on the magnificent grounds. They seemed to stretch on forever, with large greenhouses and a full-size Quidditch pitch to one side, and a huge, dark forest on the other. A few windows in the castle were illuminated by candles, but otherwise the ancient fortress stood out dark against the night sky, under the stars.

"It's quite remarkable, isn't it?" The Doctor commented from behind her, breaking into her awed reverie. "Built by the mysterious Hogwarts Architect, it was commissioned by the four Founders in—"

"Raggedy Man?"

"Yes?"

"Just enjoy the view."

"Yes, Pond." He was standing beside her now, and they leaned on the rampart gazing out across the grounds.

"Er, hello?" A little voice asked after a moment, and they turned to see a little boy and girl emerge from seemingly nowhere, a silvery cloak dropping to the floor. They carried a large crate between them, a rustling noise coming from inside and occasional puffs of smoke rising out of the little holes in the top.

It was funny how alike and yet different these children looked to the young man and woman she now knew. They obviously had some growing to do, but there was just something very Harry and Hermione about the two. She wondered if this was how the Doctor felt whenever he thought of little Amelia Pond.

"Hello!" The Time Lord greeted brightly, stepping forward. "We're Charlie's friends, the dragon tamers, that's us. You must be Harry and Hermione."

The two nodded, stepping forward. They seemed a bit wary of the energetic man, so she moved to join them. "So this is Norbert?" She asked gently, indicating the crate. A large puff of smoke rose up at the mention of the name.

Harry nodded shyly. "Yes. Hagrid didn't want us to take him, but we don't want him to get in trouble. He's our friend."

"And it'd be dreadful if somebody got hurt," Hermione piped up. "He was keeping a dragon in his wooden hut!"

"Well then, best for you to leave him in our care, and for you two to head off to bed," the Doctor concluded, and he and Amy each grabbed one end of the crate, carrying it much easier than the children.

"Thank you," Hermione said, seeming quite relieved to be rid of the creature. She turned to go, clearly wanting to be done with the rule-breaking as quickly as possible. Amy and the Doctor started to carry Norbert in the direction of the TARDIS, out of sight of the kids.

"You, er, never introduced yourself," Harry called after them, a curious light to his eyes.

She exchanged a glance with the Time Lord. "You'll know soon enough, I should think," her friend said with that enigmatic smile, and they continued on their way.

"Be careful," Amy advised before they disappeared from sight. Rory was waiting just inside the door, and helped them lift Norbert up onto the platform.

"So, off to Romania?" The nurse inquired hopefully.

"Yes, but first- let's have a look at him, eh?" The Doctor was almost grinning, but Amy crossed her arms.

"Not in here."

Their friend pouted again. "Oh, alright. At least a conversation?" He crouched down in front of the crate, placing a hand on the side. "Hello, Norbert. Are you comfy in there?" There was a low growl, but the Doctor did not seem worried by the sound. Instead he pulled back with an almost appalled expression. "Oh, I am sorry. I had no idea, believe me, ah, will Norberta do?"

"Norberta?" Amy echoed with an incredulous look.

"Yes, Amy. Our Norwegian Ridgeback is very much female," the alien informed them, turning back to the crate. He petted the side of it, murmuring, "It's alright, girl, I'll get everything sorted."

"He would speak dragon, wouldn't he?" Rory remarked dryly. "Doctor? You can tell the dragon tamers in Romania, okay?"

"Yes, yes, alright, Rory," their friend replied in a put out sort of way, moving to the controls.

Of course there was no persuading him to simply drop the newly christened Norberta off and just leave. So the Doctor and the Ponds spent an enjoyable few hours doing something not even wizards would attempt: playing with dragons.

OoO

"He's here, he's here!" Several children ranging from three to eight came rushing into the kitchen of the Burrow. The majority of them were redheads, although other shades were present, and all were dressed in the Wizarding equivalent of a Sunday best. The man they dragged with them, by contrast, looked rather out of place in a Muggle tux and top hat with a white scarf hanging from his neck.

"Oh good," Molly Weasley stated, ushering the children out the back and sending the large, brightly wrapped present over to the pile of gifts with a flick of her wand. "We're so glad you could make it, we didn't want to start without you."

"Oh dear, no need to wait on me," the Doctor gave a laugh, "I'm sure Ron's already a nervous wreck."

It was Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger's wedding day, the last of Arthur—or Brian—and Molly's brood to tie the knot, at least until some of the grandchildren grew up.

"Nonsense, it wouldn't be the same without the entire family. Besides, you've got a wife of your own to escort, young man," the grandmother chided, and he felt it best not to remind her he had lifetimes on her.

Instead, he grinned sheepishly. "Yes, I suppose she's rather impatient, isn't she? Hi honey, I'm home!" He called out, and sure enough, River Song came to stand in the archway, looking absolutely radiant as always. She'd somehow managed to strike a rather perfect balance between wizard and Muggle, not that he'd expect any less.

"And what sort of time do you call this?" She reproached, but was wearing a smile. They both knew she loved him in a tux.

"Uncle Doctor!" Little Roxanne, technically his cousin, ducked around River and ran right up to him, her face a blotchy red as tears poured down her chubby cheeks. "Victoire and Dominique said I can't be a flower girl with them cause I lost my basket!"

"You lost your basket?" He repeated, bending down and scooping up the wailing child. "Well, we'll just have to find it, won't we? Now let's think, where did you see it last?" He carried her into the sitting room as she screwed up her face in concentration.

"Mummy told me to put it away cause Louis kept throwing the petals."

"Hm, then maybe…" he balanced her with one arm as he reached behind the couch, grasping a handle. "Aha! Clever girl, you hid it so well you couldn't even remember where you put it."

Her tears had subsided to sniffles and she beamed with pride. River dabbed at the girl's face with a handkerchief, wiping the remaining tears away.

"Now you go line up with the other girls, and don't let them boss you around," the blonde woman instructed, and he placed the child on the ground so she could run off. Molly was watching them with a warm smile and more than a little hope in her eyes. The Doctor tried not to grimace, instead holding his arm out to his wife.

"Shall we join the others?"

"Yes we shall." She looped her arm through his and he led them out the door. "It's this way, Sweetie."

"Right, sorry."

They quickly made their way with Molly to the tent that had been set up in the yard, and snuck over to their seats, the mother in the front and the two of them a couple rows back. Amy and Rory had saved them a spot.

"Cutting it a bit close, Doctor," Rory muttered as he slid in next to the redhead.

"At least he's actually here for the ceremony," the Scottish woman countered, and the Doctor made a face.

"Excuse me for being busy rebooting the universe."

"Oh hush, it's starting," River scolded them all, and silence fell over the crowd as the music started.

"There will be dancing, won't there?" He whispered in her ear. River's lips quirked upwards for a second.

"It's a wedding, and you're here, of course there'll be dancing."

"Oh good. Cause you know, this is my first Weasley-wedding. Timey-wimey and all that. And I still owe you a dance, wife. Mind if I make that up to you?"

"You better."

OoO

"I don't understand, where are we?" Clara Oswald glanced about yard in confusion. They were obviously somewhere in the country, but why she could not guess.

"It's Sunday," the Doctor said in explanation, and she merely raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

"So this is where I go on Sundays," he replied.

"And why is it Sunday?" She asked with a challenging smirk, happy to play along with his mysterious game for now.

His ancient eyes fell on her briefly before darting up again, as if gazing at something she couldn't see. "Because you said you were hungry, and I'm returning the favor."

"What favor?"

"That dinner at the Maitland's."

Clara's lips turned down in a frown. She remembered that evening quite well; the Doctor and Mr. Maitland had hit it off just fine, and the kids had been entertained by the alien as always. But when it had come time for him to leave, she'd walked him out to his snog box. She would have just sent him off with a wave and returned indoors, but the light from the bulb on top of his ship had allowed her to see tears glistening in his eyes.

She'd pressed him to tell her what was wrong, and had been floored when he'd simply beamed at her, and said, "Absolutely nothing." He was just happy to have been accepted into her family.

If he was repaying the favor… "Doctor," she gazed out at the empty field before them, "where are we?"

He placed gentle hands on her shoulders, guiding her forward like he'd done on Akhaten. "Clara, welcome to the Burrow."

As he said it a house, a magnificently impossible house, melted into view, causing her jaw to drop. It was countless stories high and seemed to be built out of odds and ends, and looked more unsteady than a house of cards. It shouldn't have been real.

"Doctor?" A somewhat plump woman with red hair appeared in the doorway of the incredible house, looking out at them with surprise. But as she caught sight of them, a warm smile broke out on her face and she bustled out the door. They met her about halfway, and the woman pulled the Time Lord into a crushing hug. "Oh, we've been worried sick! How are you, dear?"

"Just fine, Molly," he somehow managed to say, though Clara didn't know how he had the breath. Molly released him only to hold him at an arm's length to look him up and down.

The woman tutted after her appraisal. "Much too thin, I can tell you haven't been eating properly. And you're a bit peaky—but we'll fix that." At last, the redhead turned questioning eyes on her.

"This is Clara Oswald, she's a friend of mine," the alien spoke up. "Clara, this is Molly Weasley."

"It's very nice to meet you Mrs. Weasley," she smiled politely and held out her hand, but inwardly Clara felt absolutely thrown. Who was this woman and why was she behaving almost like a mother to the thousand year-old man?

"Oh, Molly please, dear," the woman admonished warmly, rejecting her hand in favor of a hug, and Clara wondered if her lungs would ever work properly again. If they didn't, it was so his fault. "Any friend of the Doctor's is just part of the family. Thank you, dear," Molly whispered in her ear, and her voice sounded a little shaky as if suppressing tears.

She felt her eyes go wide and searched for the Doctor, but he didn't speak or make any indication one way or the other.

"Well, come inside you two, you're just in time for dinner!" With that, the woman turned and hurried back into the strange building.

Clara didn't get the chance to interrogate her friend, for when she turned to look at him again, he was letting out a deep breath, as if he'd just jumped some metaphorical hurdle. "Thank you, Clara. I needed to do this."

So she followed him inside and met more people in the space of an evening than she thought possible all while eating one of the most delicious meals of her life. And Clara realized she didn't need to understand, she just needed to be there. Because that's what family did.

OoO

"Mom! Mom!" Amelia Williams looked up from her writing desk and set her glasses down. Though she and her husband were known in the neighborhood for their accents, their son had assimilated quite nicely. It still felt strange to hear, sometimes.

"What is it, Anthony?" She turned in her chair with a warm smile. Adopting the boy had been one of the best decisions they'd ever made, making their lives here a joy instead of the loneliness it could have been. They had just celebrated his eleventh birthday.

"The mail came, and I got a letter! Only it's got a funny thing on the back." He handed an envelope, made of a heavier material than normal paper to her, and she turned it over with a bemused expression.

What she saw nearly made her drop the letter in shock. A wax seal, just vaguely familiar to her, with an H surrounded by a lion, eagle, badger, and snake, sat clearly on the parchment, waiting to be opened.

"Rory!" She called.

"What is it, love?" Dr. Rory Williams entered the room from his own office. He had a growing practice, but took every Sunday off to spend with his family. Wordlessly, she passed him the envelope and saw his eyebrows rise to his hairline. "Oh."

"Oh is right."

"What's the matter? Did I do something wrong?" Anthony piped up, looking back and forth between his parents in confusion.

"No, son," Rory laid a hand on the boy's shoulder, and then handed him the letter. "Wait in your room for a minute, your mother and I need to talk. Then we'll all take a look at that."

Anthony shot off for his room, as if that could make the adults talk faster, and she watched him with an amused smile.

"That's some odds," her husband remarked, and she sighed.

"Yeah, I just can't believe we haven't noticed. I suppose odd things must have happened, accidental magic or something. Maybe we're just too accustomed to weird." They shared a grin until her brow scrunched up in puzzlement. "Why would they send him a letter, though? There's got to be a school that's closer."

"Probably," he agreed. "But it might be good for him to learn a little about where we came from. And mum and dad always said Hogwarts was one of the best magical schools in the world."

"If that's the case, I'm amazed he got in. It's not like we enrolled him ourselves."

Rory shrugged. "Could he really go anywhere else?" At her questioning look, he reached for her hands and pulled her up from the chair. Smiling, he clarified, "Adopted or not, he is a Weasley."

Amy grinned and looped her arms around her husband's neck, pulling him down for a kiss. "That he is, Mr. Pond. That he is."

Ok, so I lied and included TATM spoilers! Sorry if that makes you sad, but this story felt incomplete without wrapping that up. Why is Anthony a wizard, you ask? Because I say so, that's why! The Sorting Hat can have fun looking through his head, at any rate. So yeah, thanks so much for all the feedback guys, I never expected this crazy idea of mine to receive so much interest. I've enjoyed hearing all of your comments, and I've been grateful for your patience in me while I've been updating this story. Thanks once again for reading, and please review!