"Betsy, we have to make a choice," Fred said firmly, holding up the pile of brochures.

"Not right now," Elizabeth said, snapping a leash on Snitch. "Right now is dog walking time before the girls get back from your mum's."

"I'll come with you," Fred said, taking Angel's leash. "We can talk about it."

Elizabeth groaned. "Fred, I said I was thinking—

"The girls are going to be four in February, Betsy. We have to decide where they're going to school." Fred opened the door. "We have choices, and we have to make one."

"Fine," Elizabeth sighed. "Deaging them isn't one of those options, right?"

Fred laughed and put an arm around her as they walked. "I'll look into it. In the meantime, maybe we can rule something out."

"Okay," Elizabeth sighed again. "Option 1- Muggle school."

Fred nodded. He rubbed Angel's ears as the door trotted beside him.

"Option 2," Elizabeth said, pulling back on the leash as Snitch pulled to investigate a tree, "I quit working and stay home with them and homeschool, which I feel like isn't really an option."

"I agree," Fred nodded. "No offense, Betsy, but I think you might be one of those crazy mothers who starts hoarding toilet paper because she has to stay home all day."

Elizabeth laughed. "Like your mother?"

Fred grinned. "Once, when I was about eight, she put all seven of outside on the front step and just left us there. When my dad came home, he asked her about it, and she said that she was taking her life back."

"Alright then," Elizabeth said quickly. "No to option 2."

"There are witches that run homeschools, but I've always thought it was a little shady," Fred looked down at Angel, who was sniffing the bushes along the sidewalk.

"So the other option is Angelina," Elizabeth said, putting her hand in his. "You know she wants them."

"I know," Fred nodded. "And I think it's great she wants to integrate kids from wizarding families in with Muggleborns. I just…"

"I know," Elizabeth nodded. "You don't want them to be on display. I'm worried about that too."

"Between Angelina looking at them as something she'll never have with George, and the history books featuring you…" Fred sighed. "Maybe Muggle school is better."

Elizabeth nodded. "We need to start explaining it to them, you know. We've kept them secluded, but no matter where we send them, they'll find out. When their eleven, if nothing else."

"We need to figure out what the five-year-old version of the story is," Fred said thoughtfully. "But we also need to make sure they understand that not everyone is a witch," He grinned. "Can't have them getting mad at their Muggle teacher for not being able to summon things."

Elizabeth laughed. "Maybe we should go check out the Muggle school. My dad said he could watch the girls tomorrow."

*S*S*

"Good morning," the secretary in the office chirped as Fred and Elizabeth made their way through the doors. "Welcome to Whitechapel Primary."

"Thank you," Fred nodded. "We're the Weasleys. We have an appointment with Miss Clearwater."

"Just one moment," the secretary pressed a button on her desk. "Miss Clearwater? The Weasleys are here."

A moment later, the door to the office swung open. "Welcome," Miss Clearwater said, holding out a hand to the couple. "I'm Virginia Clearwater."

"Fred Weasley," Fred introduced himself. "And this is my wife, Elizabeth."

"Wonderful," Miss Clearwater smiled. "Come in and have a seat."

Elizabeth and Fred followed, sitting down opposite the woman.

"First, let me say how honored I am that you're considering sending your children here, Mrs. Weasley." Virginia said, folding her hands on her desk.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said awkwardly, not at all sure why a Muggle principal would be honored by anything having to do with her.

"Your daughters are…" Miss Clearwater consulted her notes. "Almost four?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Georgia and Sevannah. They'll be four in February."

Miss Clearwater nodded. "Are you looking for a place for them in September? Or are you interested in starting them as three-year-olds when the semester changes after the holidays?"

"In September," Fred said quickly.

Virginia nodded. "Well, there's no need to make a decision about this immediately, but as they have middle of the year birthdays, you'll need to decide if you want them to complete one year of Nursery, or you want to place them in Year 1. We can offer an assessment, if you'd like." She smiled. "Either way, they will still complete Year 6 before September the year they are 11."

Elizabeth met the woman's eyes, starting to understand. "That would be helpful," she said carefully.

"I would bore you with statistics about how many of our children are accepted into excellent secondary schools," Miss Clearwater continued. "But I would imagine their names are already on a list, am I right?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Miss Clearwater… are you… related to a Penelope Clearwater?"

Virginia nodded. "My sister. I understand that we very nearly became family, Mr. Weasley."

Fred chuckled. "Your sister was too good for my brother, Miss Clearwater."

Miss Clearwater smiled again. "Penelope never was able to settle down." She stood. "That said, would you like a tour of the place that could potentially turn your children into Ravenclaws?" She grinned.

"A witch at a Muggle school," Elizabeth marveled aloud.

"You'd amazed how many wizards and witches are in the Muggle education system," Miss Clearwater said. "It takes a bit of magic." She led them down the hall.

"These are our upper level Nursery classrooms," she gestured to the brightly decorated rooms at one end of the hall. "It appears that Mrs. Taylor is unoccupied." She raised her voice slightly. "Mrs. Taylor, come meet the Weasleys."

Mrs. Taylor came to the door. "Actually, I've met the Weasleys. My maiden name is Spinnet—

"Your sister is Alicia," Elizabeth said. "You came to a few Quidditch games." She turned to Miss Clearwater. "How many witches do you have on staff?"

Virginia smiled. "I have one teacher each Year until Year 3. I find it's easier to deal with accidental magic that way. That's why we're known as a magic-friendly school. You didn't know?"

Elizabeth shook her head.

*S*S*

"That's why Sirius bought the land here," Elizabeth said to Fred as she rolled chicken in spices. "There's only one primary school in this town, and he knew we'd send our children there."

"Awfully forward thinking of him," Fred said, pouring milk into two child-sized glasses. "I have to say, it makes me feel better. We can keep them from being punished when they start exhibiting random magic."

Elizabeth grinned. "Let's just hope they don't end up on top of the school like me."

"That's where Georgia will end up," Fred said, opening the back door to let the dogs into the backyard. "But it won't have anything to do with accidental magic."

Elizabeth was about to respond when she heard the floo. "Dad?"

"I come bearing trouble," Severus said, appearing in the kitchen, Georgia running ahead of him, and Sevannah in his arms.

"Just the usual amount, I hope," Fred swung Georgia into the air.

"Well, we discovered all kinds of things at school today," Severus said. "Didn't we, sweetheart?" He looked at Sevannah, who buried her face in his neck.

"Sevannah is scared of squids," Georgia told her father helpfully.

"The beast decided to make an appearance as we walked around the lake today," Severus said, kissing Sevannah's head. "Georgia wanted to adopt it, but this one hasn't let go of me since we saw it."

Fred chuckled and sat Georgia on the counter so she could chatter to Elizabeth. "It's okay, Angel." He held out his arms and Severus deposited the redhead into them. "We won't let Georgia bring it home."

"Sevannah screamed really loud," Georgia told her mother, and then let out a demonstrative scream that startled the older witch into dropping the potato in her hand.

"Georgia Ann!" Fred scolded, as Sevannah almost strangled him with her hold.

Elizabeth lifted her louder daughter down to the floor. "Go upstairs and play," she said. "I'll call you for dinner." She looked at her father as the little girl ran off. "Are you joining us?"

"As long as we put a silencing spell on Georgia," Severus said, sitting in one of the chairs around the table. "That girl has your brains and his volume," he indicted his son-in-law.

Fred snorted. "She's smarter than both of us," he grinned. "That's the problem, most of the time." He hugged Sevannah. "Why don't you help Mummy?"

The little girl nodded slowly, and Fred settled her on the counter.

"Sevannah, tell your father what else you did today," Severus said, smirking.

Sevannah's eyes got big and she smiled suddenly. "Kissed Scorpius."

Elizabeth covered her mouth to smother her laughter. Fred rolled his eyes. "No boys, little girl. Boys are gross."

Sevannah shook her head seriously. "Kisses. Like this," she launched herself off the counter and back into Fred's arms, kissing him on the cheek.

Fred chuckled. "Okay, Angel. But only like that."

"Are you running a daycare at Hogwarts now, Dad?" Elizabeth loaded all the food into the oven.

"Draco came to borrow a book," Severus explained. "Though he's trying to get me to start tutoring the boy. I told him that six years old is a little young." He stretched his legs under the table. "Speaking of education, how did you like the school?"

"It's good," Elizabeth nodded. "The principal and some of the teachers are witches. The kids looked happy."

"Really?" Severus looked surprised. "Isn't it odd to have a concentration of witches in one Muggle school?"

"Apparently it's a magic-friendly school," Elizabeth shrugged. "Something Sirius must have known."

"Well, that makes me less concerned," Severus admitted. "Especially with Georgia. There's no chance she'll stay quiet about her magical family."

"There will be definite need for memory charms, it's true," Fred said, putting Sevannah down and watching as she ran out of the room to find her sister. "Let me guess. Draco is homeschooling Scorpius?"

"Hiring tutors, I believe," Severus nodded. "That's how he was educated before Hogwarts."

"Dad, could you discourage my daughter from kissing Malfoys?"

Severus smirked. "If I had any power to keep girls from kissing, you might still be single."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes as Fred came around the counter, pulling her into a long kiss.

"Alright, Alright," Severus held up his hands in mock surrender. "Your point is taken. And mine is proven, by the way."

*S*S*

Elizabeth knelt in front of Sevannah, buttoning her school sweater and straightening the straps on her new backpack. "You're going to have so much fun," she assured her shy daughter.

Sevannah looked nervously from her mother to Severus, who stood behind Elizabeth, dressed in Muggle clothing like the rest of them. "Mrs. Taylor looks like she knows what she's doing," Severus assured. "Come here." He swung Sevannah into his arms and kissed her head. "Here," he said conspiratorially, handing her a Muggle snack cake. "Don't tell your mother."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Just call you Albus Dumbledore," she said, tucking the cake into Sevannah's lunch box.

Fred was crouched in front of Georgia. "Ready, Firebolt?"

Georgia rolled her eyes. "Daddy…" She whispered urgently. "You go away. It's my school." She kissed his cheek and ran into the room, waving at Elizabeth and Severus over her shoulder.

Fred chuckled and straightened. "Okay. I just had a pretty violent premonition of her wedding, when she pushes me over and sprints down the aisle." He held out his arms to his other daughter. "Are you ready, Angel?"

Sevannah looked at him warily. "I want to go home."

Fred's heart broke. "Sweetheart, you are going to have so much fun," he said, hugging her hard. "But just in case," he set her on the floor and slipped a necklace around her neck. "If you are in trouble, I'll know about it, okay? And I'll come right away."

Sevannah looked at the flower-shaped pendent, and then nodded solemnly. "Bye, Daddy."

"Have fun, Angel," Fred kissed her head and pushed her gently toward the door.

Elizabeth stood with her arm around her husband, watching the girls put their backpacks in their cubbies. "We have to go," Elizabeth whispered, finally. "Georgia will come out and yell at us." She turned to Severus, who was staring intently into the room, an expression she couldn't identify on his face.

"Dad?"

Severus shook his head. "I need to go," he said gruffly, and nearly fled the building.

Elizabeth looked at Fred as they walked slowly to the door. "What's wrong with him? It's not like he hasn't done this before."

Fred raised an eyebrow. "Betsy… he hasn't. He didn't get to take you to your first day of school."

*S*S*

"Dad?" Elizabeth opened the door of Severus' office.

"Elizabeth?" Severus looked up from his desk. "Is everything okay?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Yeah, everything's fine. I was just on my way to pick up lunch for Fred and I, and I thought I'd drop this off for you." She handed him a small jar with silver smoke swirling inside.

"What is this?" Severus asked, taking the jar.

"Just something to look at. If you get bored." Elizabeth kissed his cheek. "You're coming over for dinner tonight?"

Severus nodded, and Elizabeth hopped into the floo, barely giving him time to wave goodbye.

*S*S*

Severus found himself in the hallway of a school, the trappings of which made it clear that primary students attended at least that wing. He looked to the left, and saw a door, covered in construction paper stars. "Mrs. Glengarry's Stars" was printed across the top of the doorframe in bright, cut-out letters.

"Good Morning!" A cheerful, round-faced woman chirped at the children. "My name is Mrs. Glengarry. What's your name?"

Severus' eyes went to the tiny, dark-haired girl standing in front of the teacher. "Elizabeth," the girl said shyly.

"Elizabeth! What a beautiful name!" Mrs. Glengarry smiled. "You could be a queen with a name like that, Elizabeth!" The teacher held up a marker. "Do you know what your name starts with, Elizabeth?"

Severus watched his daughter shake her head.

Mrs. Glengarry seemed unconcerned. "You have a big, strong beginning letter, Elizabeth. Your name starts with an 'E'." The woman carefully wrote Elizabeth's name on one of the stars. "Can you tell me something about you, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth thought for a moment. "I'm weird."

Mrs. Glengarry laughed. "Do you know what another word for that is? Special." She wrote "special" under Elizabeth's name, and pulled the star off the door. "Can you find your name on one of the desks? If you match your name from the star?"

Elizabeth nodded, taking the paper in her hands and carrying it reverently into the classroom.

*S*S*

"Grandpa!" Sevannah launched herself at Severus the moment he stepped through the floor. "My name starts with 'S'. What does your name start with?"

Severus laughed, and swung her into his arms. "My name starts with an "S" too, my girl." He set her down. "Where's your sister?"

"Daddy says it's my turn to talk," Sevannah said.

Severus laughed. "Okay, Sev. What else did you do at school today?"

"I made you a picture," the little witch said, wiggling down before grabbing his hand and leading him into the kitchen. "There," she pointed at the refrigerator. Severus looked at the picture she indicated, a tall blob in black robes standing beside a little red-haired girl. "Me," Sevannah said, pointing at the girl. "You," she indicated the tall blob.

"It's a good thing her teacher's a witch," Elizabeth said, coming into the kitchen. "She might think her grandfather wears a dress."

"Only in Longbottom's dreams," Severus snorted. "Sevannah says it's her turn to talk."

Elizabeth laughed. "Georgia was doing that thing where she answers for Sevannah. Fred hates that."

Severus ruffled Sevannah's hair. "You can speak for yourself, right?"

Sevannah made a face. "Georgia talks too much."

"She'll grow out of it," Fred said, appearing in the doorway. "Did you show Grandpa your picture?"

Sevannah giggled. "Grandpa wears a dress."

Severus rolled his eyes and pointed a mock-accusing finger at his daughter. "This is your fault."

Elizabeth laughed. "Remus and Teddy are coming for dinner as well," she opened the refrigerator. "Fred, can you expand the table?"

"I want to!" Sevannah said, looking up at her father, who reached down and picked her up.

"Okay, Angel." He scooped her up and set her on the counter. He raised his wand. "Ready?"

Sevannah smiled and put her hand on his wand hand.

"Extendo," Fred said, flicking his wand and then pulling it away until the table reached the desired size. "That's good work, Miss Weasley."

Sevannah grinned again and let him help her down to the floor.

Georgia ran through the backdoor holding her broom. "Mummy?"

Elizabeth waved her wand to start the vegetables chopping themselves. "Say hello to Grandpa."

"Hi, Grandpa," Georgia said quickly before turning back to her mother. "Mummy?"

Severus snorted, and snuck up behind the girl, grabbing her from behind and tickling her. "I see where I rank," he set her on the counter.

"What, Georgia?" Elizabeth set water on the stove to boil.

"I'm not a baby."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "I am not taking the speed limit off your broom, Georgia."

Georgia turned her eyes on Fred. "Daddy?"

Fred shook his head. "Not a chance. Maybe when you're thirty."

Severus smirked. "It's so nice that you think you'll have control over her for more than another year or so."

"Go put your broom away. And both of you go wash your hands," Elizabeth said, wincing as Georgia jumped off the counter and landed on her feet.

Fred shook his head as both girls ran off. "She inherited Ginny's death-wish."

Severus snorted. "Really? She didn't get that from the two of you?"

"Never mind," Elizabeth said, pointing at the table. "Remus will be here soon, and it would be good if we had plates."

As Fred busied himself setting the table, Severus pulled the jar Elizabeth had given him out of his pocket. "I believe this belongs to you."

Elizabeth took it and set it on the counter. "You watched it?"

Severus nodded. "Thank you, hatchling." He pulled her into his arms.

"Thank Fred, he's the one that pointed out that you'd never seen it."

Severus tucked her head under his chin, and watched his grandchildren run around the kitchen table, showing their father their newly washed hands.