A/N: Forgive me readers, for I have slacked. It's been four years since my last update.

A/N2: Seriously. I just checked the other day. Four years! It didn't seem that long.

Arthur poured the older man a drink.

"You seem a bit out of sorts," he remarked.

"Well...it's just that Severus is growing up. It seems only yesterday that I rocked him to sleep, and now he is thinking about his career."

Albus smiled, "Although, I doubt he will end up with the Ministry. But Amos wants to spend time with Rick, and Rick told me he'd feel less awkward if Severus went with him. Both boys then went on to convince Amos that they wanted to see where he works, and maybe take a tour of the Ministry, to check out career opportunities. I know it is partly an excuse, but...my boy thinking about a career and a life of his own..."

The Weasley clanleader chuckled. "They do grow up fast, don't they? Ah, it seems just yesterday I was holding a newborn Bill...and then his brothers and sister after him. I still feel the weight of the two tiny little bundles the twins were...each barely half the size of Charlie when he was born. Molly said she'd rather give birth to five sets of Fred and George than to one more Charlie...although, given the trouble those two got into, I doubt we'd have survived two sets of them, let alone five."

The Headmaster of Hogwarts paled a little at the thought. "Five sets of Weasley Twins at Hogwarts? We'd have been lucky to even have a castle left."

Topping up their drinks, Arthur smiled. "And now I am a grandfather many times over. It's amazing how time flies."

Suddenly he laughed. "Remember when you took Severus to his first playgroup?"

Albus blushed but nodded, a wicked smile on his face all the same. "It took six months for the male students to settle down and stop worrying about getting pregnant. A blissful six months of a distinct lack of catching students in broom cupboards after curfew...I wonder if that trick would work again..?"

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"Uncle Harry!" Severus exclaimed in surprise, as Amos Diggory led him and Rick through the maze that was the Ministry. They had seen Amos' workplace, and been given a tour of the public areas. The two of them still were looking for a way to escape for a little while, but were beginning to despair of having the opportunity when Severus spotted a familiar face.

"Hey Sev, hi Rick!" Harry, carrying his two year old daughter on his arm, nodded politely to the other man. "Mr Diggory."

Amos made no reply, staring instead at the little girl on Harry's arm. Lily buried his head against her Daddy's shoulder, suddenly shy now that this strange man was looking at her so intently.

"Mr...Mr Potter," Amos cleared his throat, "I...am glad to see you...would...I mean, you have your daughter with you, but, I'd like a chance to talk to you..."

Severus and Rick shared a look. "We can take Lily to find a treat," Severus offered.

"Lily have a cookie?" the toddler asked, eyes brightening.

Harry hesitated. "Alright, I suppose. The cafetaria is two floors down. Take the elevator, and then turn left when you exit them. To the right are the archives, you'll only get lost and dusty there. I'll come pick up Lily there in a bit, alright? And just ONE treat, Sev, or she won't go down for her nap later."

He handed Lily to Severus and pressed a few sickles into Ricks hand.

The boys entered the elevator, not believing their luck.

"We'll have to be quick," Rick said.

"I have a chocolate frog in my pocket," Severus said, retrieving it and handing it to a delighted Lily, "we'll only have to claim we bought it at the cafetaria. Lily, we're going on an adventure, alright?"

Lily cheered, and the boys quickly hushed her.

"If anyone asks, we can always say we got lost on our way to the cafetaria. Thankfully they're on the same floor!"

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"Mr Diggory," Harry motioned to a couple of chairs in the hallway, "what can I do for you?"

Amos cleared his throat. "I...I apologise. It is just that, seeing you with that beautiful little girl..."

"Oh." Harry sighed, and then his green eyes hardened slightly, "you were thinking she should be Cedrics, right? The boy that deserved to live...not the one who actually survived."

He winced as his words came out more harshly than he'd meant, reminding himself that Amos had already had some very difficult weeks. To his surprise, however, the older man reached out, and covered Harry's hand with his own.

"I will not deny that for a long time, that is how I thought. To my great shame, I even said so...that it was unfair that Cedric died while an orphan..."

"An orphan that no one wanted got to live," Harry muttered darkly, "I thought I might have earned my right to exist by defeating Voldemort."

"No," Amos said firmly, and Harry flinched. The years of being married, of having loved ones around him had done a lot to help him work through his initial reactions, but there were times when the Dursley-ingrained insecurities flared.

"No, you did not earn your right to exist, you always had the right to exist," Amos clarified, "Mr Potter...Hárry...I am, however ineptly, trying to tell you that I was wrong...and to apologise. I missed Cedric. Of course I missed Cedric...how could I not? He was, is, my firstborn son. Yet in choosing the wrong ways to grieve for him I did a great deal of injustice to my youngest, as well as to you. No one can replace Cedric, I know that now, and no one should. Each of you have your own place in this world, and no one can replace you, either. I guess...I already knew I should apologise to you at some point, but seeing your little girl just brought it home to me...that had you died, she would not exist, either."

He breathed deeply. "What I am trying to say is that I have learned, that one human cannot replace another...people are not interchangeable, nor is an acceptable exchange possible. I apologise, Harry, for the wrong I've done you. I am...glad, that you lived. You could easily both have died that night."

Harry swallowed. "I...I had nightmares of Cedrics death for years...still have, on occasion. It was so unfair. I blamed myself for years for convincing him to take the Cup with me, but all I wanted was a Hogwarts victory. Cedric had been honourable and fair throughout. It took years for me to become grateful that I got to know him a little that horrible year."

He glanced sideways at Amos. "No matter how you look at it, his death was so unfair. It was such a waste. If only..."

"Hush," Amos put a hand on his shoulder, hesitating briefly, "If only's won't help now. It was war. Voldemort killed Cedric, as he killed many others. He is to blame. Else the 'what ifs' never end. What if Cedric had not been Champion? What if he'd gotten the flu and not competed? What if we never sent him to Hogwarts in the first place?"

"He'd just have been the Champion of another school," Harry snorted, "I don't see why people underestimate Hufflepuff so much. Cedric was the best Hogwarts had to offer, the Triwizard Cup left no doubt about that."

"Oh yes, we were so very proud of him," Amos agreed, "but you were only a fourth year, and kept pace with Champions three or four years older than yourself. Your parents would have been as proud as we were."

"I should hope," Harry slowly replied, a wry grin on his face, "that had my parents been alive, they'd have moved heaven and earth to get me out of that Tournament, contract or no contract."

Amos shuddered. "Merlin, yes. If that had happened to Cedric, I'd not have rested until the contract had been terminated. I am grateful to have you teach at Hogwarts, at least I won't have to worry about you allowing such a Tournament while Rick is in school. I think I'd pull him out and homeschool him the moment I heard rumours of such a thing."

"I'd happily resign and deliver him home to you myself," Harry had paled a little at the thought, "no Tournament on my watch."

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"Here it is," Severus whispered, holding a chocolate-covered Lily in his arms, "check if anyone's near, Rick."

Rick looked left and right down the hallway. "No, no one."

"Good."

Opening the large filing cabinet drawer, Severu stared at the emptiness. "Uh..."

"Magic, of course," Rick said, "You have to state what you want."

"Erm.." Severus hesitated, "Birth certificate of Severus Dumbledore."

A flash, but nothing appeared. Severus looked over to Rick for help.

"Maybe it's not filed under that name," Rick suggested, "Maybe it's under your fathers last name, or maybe it is part of an adoption file. Did your grandfather officially adopt you?"

Severus frowned. "Why would he need to adopt me if I'm already his grandson?"

Still, he figured it was worth a try.

"Adoption file of Severus Dumbledore," he requested, and this time the flash was accompanied by a non-descript brown folder. Rick picked it up and took it to a nearby desk.

"Let me hold Lily," he offered, "then you can give it a try."

Handing a by now slightly fussy Lily to Rick, Severus turned over the cover of the file. A small trickle of magic passed between the file and his fingers, and the folder opened.

"Great!" Rick said, "now find the right..."

A hand slammed down, grabbing the file and closing it.

"Now WHAT," an angry voice demanded, "do you children think you are doing?"