Chapter 4

The Legacy of Harry Potter

25th of May 2013

Potter Manor, Outskirts of Godric's Hollow

Stepping into the halls of Potter Manor left very little to be desired as Hermione and Blaise surveyed the entry hall. An unusually soft 'pop' signalled the appearance of the Manor's house elf, who narrowed their large nearly black round eyes at the duo standing in his Master's foyer, completely uninvited.

"Dippy wasn't aware that Master Potter had approved of any visitors," the elf scowled at the pair. "Master Potter doesn't like visitors on the property; Dippy is going to have to tell you both to leave."

"Dippy, isn't that just like–"

"Dobby, yes I know. Be happy he didn't name the damn elf Tom or some other ridiculous name." Hermione cut Blaise off before bending forwards to be eye level with the free elf that despised her something fierce. "Dippy, Harry has, well, he's died." The information didn't seem to shock the elf as much as Hermione had thought it would, as he only lifted his bony shoulders, the oversized shirt he wore slipping down slightly, revealing his grey skin.

"Only a matter of time before Master Potter would die, Dippy will go care for the new Master Potter then." Without any more fanfare, the elf blinked out of existence, presumably off to go spy on James.

"Wait, call him back here. I don't want him corrupting the Zabini family elves!" Blaise said, looking around the hall and taking in the disaster that awaited them, "Look at this place; I don't think he's even attempted to dust, ever."

"Oh, hush. Dippy is the son of Dobby and Winky; his mother drank a lot, all through her pregnancy with him, so his magic is semi-limited. That's why Harry took him in, because he can't do much more than apparate. He actually gets along well with the boys, I would not trust him to watch them though."

"Wasn't planning on it… Why in Merlin's name did Ginny never tell me about him before?" Blaise asked, looking over at Hermione.

"Dippy came to Harry after the divorce. Winky died and then Minerva contacted me to see if I wanted him, and at the time I thought Harry might benefit from having some company, and well. You see how he is."

Blaise only slowly nodded along as Hermione spoke before shaking his head, as if he could rid his mind of Dippy with the action. "Alright, where do we start? We have to host a funeral for The Chosen One here; I don't suppose it can look like, well, this." Blaise said, gesturing to the peeling wallpaper and the stained flooring. The window hangings were all tattered and doxie infested, the furniture smelled musty as if something had spilled and it was never cleaned up properly. Yes, the once grand Potter Manor was a complete dump, seeing as Harry had only used it as a flop house.

"We can always–" Hermione was cut off as a large piece of plaster fell from the ceiling, crashing at their feet, making both of them jump out of the way.

"Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me! Seriously, Granger, why are we hosting the fucking wake here?"

"Would you rather we have it at the cottage?"

"Well, no," Hermione knew she'd already won as Blaise threw up his hands, storming from the room. "We're warding off the rest of this dump and having a contractor come in to make sure no one dies while coming to pay their respects!"

Turning to face the very outdated furniture that had clearly been Harry's grandparents when they lived here, Hermione thanked her furniture refurbishment phase. At least all the hours she'd spent memorising and practising those spells would go to some use.

"GRANGER!" Hermione turned to see Blaise running from the parlour that he'd disappeared into.

"Blaise, what the–'' he cut her off as he grabbed her arm, pulling her from the manor. A roar rang out from the hall and they apparated away before Hermione could see what had made the sound.

As they landed in front of the entrance to the Ministry, Hermione hurried to catch up with the Italian man, who had taken off at a brisk pace walking towards the toilet house. "Blaise, what the fuck!?"

"We need the DRCMC."

"What, why!?"

"There's a fucking Nundu living in his parlour. Probably letting Hagrid store creatures there, idiot! Add exterminator to the list of people we need to hire. Who knows what other things we're going to uncover there."

...

26th of May 2013

Potter Manor, Outskirts of Godric's Hollow

"If the chap wasn't dead, he'd be looking at possibly a life sentence in Azkaban. You realise how dangerous some of these creatures that he's harbouring here are? Not to mention the ones that are completely disfigured," Chuck, who was head of the investigations unit for the DRCMC, said, a clipboard in hand as he walked out of the stables. "Not to mention, the conditions these creatures are living in are hardly humane. What are you wanting to do, Head Auror Granger?"

"Acting Head Auror, Chuck, but you know to call me Hermione. We can't press any charges–"

"What about his widow? Surely she knew of some of this," the pudgy man said, waving his hand around. "There's no way she didn't notice and the fact that she never–"

"Ginny Zabini has not set foot in this manor in nearly six years. The only known person to ever come here since their divorce was Harry himself and seeing as he is, as you pointed out, dead and cannot be charged, the only thing left to do is to relocate the creatures and move on from this mess. We have a wake to be held here in five days and I'd appreciate it if you didn't attempt to throw false allegations at an innocent and grieving woman just because you'd like someone to pin for this crime."

"Sure thing, my apologies, Hermione."

"Acting Head Auror Granger," Hermione clipped, as she turned on her heels and strolled back into the manor. She entered the back garden and was pleased to find Blaise and Charlie Weasley settled in, each with a cuppa tea and a plate of biscuits sitting out. She approached the brothers-in-law, who at the moment were laughing as Blaise recalled some of the latest Zabini clan shenanigans.

"...And then Cole knocked Lance off his broom, claiming it was an accident, but Albus immediately ratted him out. Made sure we knew that Cole had gotten mad at the four-year-old for scoring on him!" The two men were clutching their sides in laughter at the mental image, "and then your sister, bless her, from the couch, tried to scold Cole, who just ran away knowing she couldn't come after him!"

"Oh, that boy is going to get his once Gin has those babies!"

"Absolutely," Blaise was still laughing as he wiped a stray tear from his eye. "Granger, how bad is it?"

"A unicorn recovering from a botched knee surgery, a feral hippogriff with a bad eye, a baby dragon, and a wingless Abraxan. The dragon didn't seem to be in bad shape, but he will have to go with you, Charlie."

"There's no way Harry was doing this alone; I found three clutches of eggs in the bathroom in cauldrons over a flame. I know care of magical creatures was never his forte before his drinking got out of hand, I highly doubt he took it up as a hobby after.' He placed his empty cup on the table and brushed off any crumbs. "Alright, Blaise, good to see you as always. I'll pop by the cottage after I get this mess sorted. Darius will be here for the wake, though, and we plan to stay for a few extra days; we can't miss the opportunity for the kids to see their favourite uncles." Charlie shook Blaise's hand as he stood from the small iron patio set.

"Hermione, I'll touch base later with my official report," the broad man said, giving her a flirtatious wink that only made her roll her eyes. If only fourteen year old Hermione could see her now, she'd probably faint from shock at the attention the handsome wizard was giving her.

His long red hair was braided down his back and, even with a vest on, the expanse of his bare chest was on full display, showcasing both the scars and tattoos that he'd acquired over the years. If you didn't know Charlie, he could be one of the most intimidating and imposing figures you could ever come across. Under his tough exterior to those fortunate enough to call the man family, under his tough exterior he was just a giant teddy bear with his biggest weakness being his nieces and nephews.

"Make sure you speak to Chuck, see if he'll tell you his theory on who should be charged with this mess," Hermione replied, going in for a hug and being lifted from the ground for it.

"Huh?" Charlie looked at her in confusion, but Hermione waved off the look on the second eldest Weasley sibling.

"Just maybe drop that you're Ginny's brother and be shocked that your ex-brother-in-law was capable of this mess."

"Well, that won't be hard…" Charlie trailed off, looking at Hermione's face for any clue. The years working as an Auror had done her some good in masking her emotions, but Charlie Weasley would always be able to see right through her. "Oh! That son of a bitch," Charlie growled out as he stormed off towards the stables, most likely about to put a certain investigator in his place.

"Normally, I'd defend my wife's honour, but I'm going to let Charlie handle this one," Blaise said, taking another sip of tea. Hermione raised a brow, very much doubting that Blaise wouldn't have Chuck's job for this when he added, "for now."

Hermione settled herself at the table, fixing her own cup while Blaise watched on, waiting on her to finish before speaking again. "Alright, we've got to get this shit done. The Nundu is out, Charlie got the dragon eggs secured, the exterminators are clearing out all the doxie nests and the boggarts. The contractor is stabilising the floors, walls, and ceiling in the foyer, parlour, kitchen, and lower bathrooms. What else are we needing to do for this wake?"

"Well, I spoke with Hannah Abbott and she said she and Susan would cater, then we still have the flowers. I was thinking of asking Neville, but he's completely swamped with the mess Harry caused by dying in the muggle world."

"Narcissa can do the flowers, hell, she'd be happy to do it. And to be honest, I would like to spend as little on this fucking thing as possible. Saviour of the world turned deadbeat dad and all around fraud. For fuck's sake, the goblins have already shown up with his gambling debts wanting permission to get into his fucking vault. Told them we had to wait until the reading of the will, but they don't care, they just want their money."

"Seriously? I didn't even know he was gambling," Hermione shook her head, reaching out the tea pot to refill her cup. "I feel like I didn't even know him these last few years. After the affair, he shut out everyone besides Ron, not that Ron was any help being in Canada."

"Yeah, well, Ginevra got you in the divorce and he got this shithole. I'd say she came out ahead. So, Narcissa for the flowers, yes?" Blaise asked, a pen poised over their checklist.

"Well, if you don't mind asking–"

"And why the hell couldn't you ask her? For fuck's sakes, you're shagging her son and have spent the last three years having weekly tea with the woman." Blaise set the pen l aside and leaned back in his chair. "Is this because of the children? Luna told me that you were struggling coming to terms with having them, but they're living with Narcissa, surely you're speaking with her daily to check in on them and how they're settling to life here in the past."

"Well, you see, the thing is–" Hermione smoothed her hair down in the way she did when she was fighting anxiety, and looked everywhere that wasn't at Blaise.

She could see Blaise crossed his arms in her peripherals and putting on that look of fatherly disappointment he had long since perfected. "When was the last time you spoke to your children, Hermione?"

"Uh, I don't know exactly," she chanced a look in Blaise's direction only to be met with a raised brow. "Ten days ago, after they attacked Cormac," Hermione blurted out, her eyes dropping to the creamy-coloured liquid in her cup. "I'm not their mum, Blaise–"

"So, you're going to act like Potter? Just ignore them and let someone else raise your children, even though they will still crave a relationship with you because no matter who steps up, that person will never be their mother."

"The fuck, Blaise!" Hermione looked up into his dark eyes, rage boiling right under the surface of her skin. "I don't know what the fuck I'm supposed to do with two teenagers! Two teenagers that are from the fucking future, where they had me, or another version of me, that wanted children!" Hermione's hands were trembling, and she knew there were sparks shooting off the ends of her hair, but the Italian wizard didn't seem even slightly intimidated by her.

"They're your babies! Future you grew them, birthed them, and raised them until her death! What would she think of your behaviour?"

"I'm not her! I don't know how to be a mum. I don't know what I'm doing outside of work! Work is the only thing in my life that I'm good at!" Hermione shouted, standing from her seat, knocking the heavy chair to the ground. "They hate me, Blaise, because I'm not her! I'm just a shadow of the woman who raised them!"

"You can obviously figure it out, Granger," Blaise's reply came, blatantly ignoring her last statement.

"Look at who raised me! There's a reason I avoided a serious relationship with Draco all these years. He wants kids; I do not. I thought he'd end up with Astoria and they'd go on and have the little perfect heir, but instead he wrecked that because, despite my protests, he wanted me. I'm not cut out for parenthood, Blaise. I'm not meant to be a mother."

"Just because your parents were a nightmare doesn't mean that you will be one to your kids."

"You don't know that Blaise!" Hermione was almost shouting, the damn tears pooling in her eyes threatening to fall. "You don't know that I won't be just like her!"

"Do you think Draco is anything like old Lucy?" The question made Hermione stop before shaking her head.

"What the fuck are you talking about, Blaise? Of course Draco isn't anything like Lucius." Hermione answered, not understanding where Blaise was going with this.

"Well, then why would you be like Jean?" Blaise looked at Hermione and her breath caught, because her mother had been cold, cruel even. Despite not wanting Hermione to be a part of the wizarding world, they'd sent her to Hogwarts to rid themselves of her for ten months of the year at no cost to them beyond supplies.

She'd been the product of an accident, of which she was frequently reminded while growing up. Her mother believed menopause had started instead of the possiblity of being pregnant. Because she was in her fifties, Hermione's mother hadn't discovered Hermione's existence until it was too late for an abortion.

Hermione had been neglected as far back as her earliest memories went; she was left home alone for hours on end having to learn how to prepare meals for herself starting around the age of four, maybe five. There were so many times that she was left overnight while her parents went out. Every morning she had to get herself up and ready for school before finding her bus stop alone. They'd gone on these elaborate summer vacations, but that was because they couldn't find someone to leave Hermione with.

Her mother's drinking had been out of control and she always made sure that Hermione knew how much Hermione's birth had ruined her life and her body.

To her mother, Hermione had been an inconvenience at best and an unwanted burden at worst.

"I would never have made you the godmother of my children if I thought you had an abusive bone in your body. You just have to give yourself a chance to be their mother, Granger. You all deserve a healthy relationship and avoiding Scorpius and Viola is not going to make them go away or any less real. I know you, I know you want to analyse this twenty ways to Sunday, but there's no way to do that with teenagers, much less ones from the future who have lived through horrors we can only imagine. Just be present for them, the rest will sort itself out, and just remember, you aren't in this alone."

Hermione shot around the table, wrapping her arms around Blaise's neck as he patted her head, "Granger, you know I love you, but please stop hugging me."

"Thank you," she whispered into his ear before a loud banging sound made Hermione pull away from her friend.

"Blimey, Mione? What are you doing here?" Hermione looked around and as soon as her eyes landed on the half giant, all the pieces of where these highly illegal magical creatures had come from fell into place.

"Hell,o Hagrid, you might want to leave before anyone from the DRCMC sees you here and starts to ask questions. Especially with all the supplies you just carried in." Hermione looked Hagrid over, and suppressed the urge to shake her head at him. He had with him two buckets and a satchel, most likely containing feed and medical supplies. "They're looking for someone to bring charges against, and you being here makes you the most likely target."

"I don't know what you're going on about, where's Harry? He'll tell ya." The massive man replied, only readjusting the leather strap on his shoulder.

"Do you not read the paper?" Blaise asked, his slow blink made Hermione suppress a snort, because this situation was far from humorous, but Blaise had never dealt with Hagrid before.

"Can't say I do," the man replied, his eyes narrowed and a confusion painting his features as he tried to place Blaise and where he might know him from.

Hermione let out a sigh, lifting a hand so that it rested gently on Hagrid's enormous biceps. "Harry's dead, Hagrid. I found his body a bit over a week ago. That's why we're here, we've got to get the manor, or at least part of it, set up so that we can hold the wake here."

When Hagrid didn't immediately respond, Hermione questioned if she might have to repeat herself before she heard the giant clearing his throat. Still holding a bucket, he swiped a hand at his eyes before he turned and began walking away. "Always knew something like this might happen to him, the poor lad. Never could get his potions use under control," she heard the half-giant saying as he continued walking away, no longer acknowledging either her or Blaise before he disappeared back into the house. Hermione's heart clenched at the subdued reaction of the man, remembering when he'd carried Harry from the Forbidden Forest and how distraught he'd been at the time believing Harry to be dead. It only further showed how far her former close friend had fallen from the sassy, brave, and loving boy he'd been.

"Hooked on potions too? Why am I not surprised," Blaise muttered before looking at Hermione. "As Head Auror–"

"Acting Head Auror," she corrected.

"Shouldn't you be, oh I don't know, arresting him? Clearly he is the one who's been harbouring all the illegal creatures here."

"What's the point of being Head Auror if I can't protect my friends?"

Blaise snorted, "How very Slytherin of you, Acting Head Auror."

Hermione rolled her eyes at the jibe. "I'm choosing to take that as a compliment."

"Good, it was meant to be one."

...

2nd November 2007

Leaky Cauldron, London

Ginny couldn't help but tap her hand against her thigh in a nervous staccato. This was the first time Harry was going to pick up the kids himself rather than just getting them from her mother at the Burrow, but that was only because her mother had gone to visit Charlie in Romania along with her father. They'd chosen a public place to keep them both on their best behaviour, but at the last minute Ginny had begged Blaise to come with her.

"He's already fifteen minutes late. Seriously, how much longer should we wait on him?" Ginny asked, leaning over to Blaise who held Lily Luna in his lap.

"It's alright, love, the kids are eating anyway and there's no need to rush them," Blaise ran a hand through Lily's little tufts of red hair on the top of her head. Her large hazel eyes looked up at the man whose lap she was sitting in and clapped her hands excitedly before slapping his face.

"Lily!" Ginny exclaimed, reaching out to take her eight-month-old daughter, but Blaise held up a hand warding her off.

"Let her be, she's a baby, she doesn't know any better," Blaise stated, leaning in to give Ginny a kiss on the temple.

"Sorry, it's just Harry always–" Blaise held up a hand, stopping Ginny's rambling.

"I'm not Harry," Blaise said, and Ginny couldn't help but smile at him. There was something about this man, who took in Ginny and her three kids when he didn't have to. Blaise was amazing with all her children. Despite being an only child and having no consistent father figure, Blaise Zabini was the epitome of a loving patriarch. He was everything that Harry had never been able to be.

After having Albus, Ginny had seen a shift in her ex-husband. His nights had become later, his drinking heavier, and any spark that had been in Harry had extinguished. In one of the few times in her life, she'd followed her mother's advice of what to do, Ginny had suggested that they have another child, foolishly thinking that it would fix their marriage.

She'd been wrong, of course. When she'd announced to Harry that she was expecting again he'd become even more closed off than he had been before. Giving birth to Lily Luna had been a solo affair as her mother went to stay with the boys and Harry was nowhere to be found for the entire week following. Normally, she would have called Hermione or Luna in that situation, but she'd been so embarrassed that she'd opted to be alone instead. When Ginny had questioned his whereabouts, Harry just waved her off saying it was for work and was classified information. Looking back, she should have pressed him for a better explanation, but at the time she was too tired and emotional, only thankful that he had finally come home.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you," Blaise whispered against the top of Lily's head, making Ginny's heart clench.

"Sorry I'm late. There was a work thing– what is he doing here Gin?" Harry's arrival pulled Ginny from her musings as she saw her ex-husband walking up to their table. "I'll take her, thanks," he said, leaning in and pulling Lily Luna from Blaise's grasp, causing the infant to begin to wail.

"Harry! You can't just show up late," Ginny scolded, reaching out for her daughter, only for Harry to pull the infant away, blocking her with his body.

"I had a work thing like I just said, Gin. I wasn't expecting you to show up with your boyfriend of all people." Harry said, his face contorting as Lily's high pitched screams only increased in volume. "It's okay, Lil, Daddy's got you now, no need for this," he said, awkwardly bouncing and jiggling the girl.

"Daddy! Daddy! Are we going to Grandma Molly's?" James asked, discarding the remainder of his fish and chips.

"What, er, no, she's not around. I thought we might stop by and see a quidditch match; Uncle Ron is in town and he's playing in the game. Doesn't that sound like fun, boys?" Harry asked the two small children that were now dancing around his legs.

"You don't think that might be a bit…er, I don't know, much for you to handle?" Ginny bit at her bottom lip. She tried, she really did, but Harry had never taken all of their children out in public and the chances that he might lose one of them was fairly high.

"What, oh no, Padma is going to be there and Parvati and Lav are coming too. We'll be in the family box for the players, so it'll be fine. Lily Potter, you need to stop that screaming immediately." He scolded the baby, letting out an annoyed breath.

"Where are you planning on sleeping tonight?" Ginny asked, knowing that the Potter Manor had not been cleaned since she'd moved out two months ago.

"Hm, oh, well I'm actually going to go out to an after party with Ron, so I thought I might drop the kids back off with you after the match. That is, if that's alright?" Harry's green eyes were dull, making it obvious that he hadn't slept much in weeks, only causing Ginny to wonder where he had been sleeping or rather with whom. That wasn't her problem anymore, she reminded herself.

"That's fine, I can adjust the wards so you will be able to floo right in with them," Blaise said before looking sheepishly back at Ginny. Normally she would have reached out for his hand to reassure him that what he'd said was fine and not overstepping in the slightest, but she didn't want to provoke Harry.

"Uh, thanks," Harry replied, his tone seemingly unsure. "Er, Gin, would you mind taking her? I think it might be her nap time or something, I can't seem to calm her down." Harry had given up on trying to soothe the baby in his arms, reaching her out towards Ginny. When Ginny went to take her though, Lily shook her head and let out another high pitch screech, her chubby arms waving wildly in Blaise's direction. When Harry noticed this, he only cleared his throat and instead turned towards the other wizard, offering his daughter up to him.

When Blaise lifted his arms to reclaim the baby, Lily's screaming instantly ceased as she was once again reunited with the man she wanted.

The excited four-year-old and almost two-year-old ran around their father's legs as the exchange happened and Ginny couldn't help but spot the slight hurt that showed in Harry's eyes as Lily buried her face into Blaise's neck.

"Alright boys," Ginny said, clapping her hands together. "We'll see you later tonight, do you think you can be good for Daddy?"

"Yes Mum," they both chanted as they continued to run their laps around their father's legs.

"Are you going to cheer loudly for Uncle Ron?" Ginny asked, as both boys jumped and let out little cheers. "Alright, be safe, and Harry," she said, making eye contact with her ex again, "if you have any issues just let me know and I can come get them early, yeah?"

"Sure, there shouldn't be any issues, but I'll keep in touch."

Ginny couldn't help but look on nervously as her ex-husband led their two sons away. Blaise, always seeming to know what she needed without being told, reached over and rubbed her shoulders with one hand.

"It'll be okay," Blaise said, putting his lips to her neck in a soft kiss.

"How can you be so sure?" Ginny asked.

Blaise gave her a wink. "I had Luna put a tracking charm on all the children before we came."

Ginny's laughter rang out in the now empty pub, "Good Godric, I love you two."

...

24th December 2029

Ministry of Magic, London

The room was a vision of holly and golden candles, the grand crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling bathing the room in twinkling light. The decor smelled of pine and cinnamon, just adding to the atmosphere of merriment. It was a perfect setting for a joyous mid-winter event, but everything had gone wrong long before the midnight closing.

After the Ministry's wards had been disturbed, the ballroom had been cleared immediately, the guests of the Christmas Eve charity gala were told the event was being put on pause without any explanation. The DMLE hoped this would cause less of a panic, but the gala goers were spooked nonetheless. Hermione didn't have time to worry about their public image as she tried to assess what exactly had happened.

"And all the other guests were accounted for as they left?" Hermione asked Neville as they walked together towards the hall.

"Hermione, Ginny's missing," Neville whispered, pulling Hermione to the side, "George too."

"You must have gotten something wrong," Hermione clipped, "call the elves to search the entire building. There is no way that we are missing two Weasleys."

The breach of the Ministry had put the building on lockdown; no one could go in or out without their knowledge. Kidnappings weren't considered anything out of the ordinary in this day and age. Witches and Wizards went missing and were held for ransom all the time. Hermione was convinced the ransoms were part of a bigger plot, though; but whenever she took her suspicions to McLaggen, he would always say that there was no evidence Dark Wizards were involved and that she needed to stay in her lane.

"Touch base with Pansy and the two of you stick together, we are not having anyone actually going missing tonight. Not under our noses," Hermione commanded, slipping into her Head Auror role. Only Ginny and George were unaccounted for at the moment and she was determined she'd find them.

"Granger, come here," Draco called out, waving Hermione down a side hallway that didn't house anything other than a few utility closets.

"What is it–" Hemione began to ask, but the sight of what looked like blood dripping out from underneath one of the doors stopped her.

"Ginny's missing," she whispered to her husband, whose face went pale. Without another moment's hesitation, Draco grasped the doorknob, yanking on it. As the wooden door opened, George Weasley's eviscerated body toppled out of the broom closet and into a heap at their feet. His sightless eyes stared up at her accusingly.

Hermione didn't even hear the scream as it left her mouth and the world went black.

..

"Draco! She's coming back around!" Pansy's voice sounded above her as she blinked against the white light.

"Granger? Hermione? Love?" She could hear Draco over her as everything began to come back into focus.

"What happened? Why am I on the floor?" she asked her husband, too embarrassed to look at the witch next to him. Regardless that Pansy had been her friend for years and had even helped deliver her children, it was still mortifying to think she'd fainted at a crime scene.

"It was George—I don't blame you. He's been like a brother to you since you were eleven. Even in our profession, that's hard to discover." Draco spoke to her in a low voice so that Pansy couldn't hear. "Neville was just back; they can't find Ginny anywhere in the building. He's expanded the search parties across the country and we're checking every floo destination that was used since she was last seen to see if they left with her that way in the confusion."

"We have to find her, Draco."

"We will, I promise."

...

31st May 2013

Potter Manor, Outskirts of Godric's Hollow

Harry Potter's Wake

Scorpius and Viola were not sure how exactly it came to be that they were attending Harry Potter's wake, but here they stood, in this dump that claimed to be a manor. It was a bit like attending a historic milestone you'd heard about all your life, with the reality being a thousand times more dysfunctional than you could ever have imagined. Scorpius, of course, was bouncing with excitement of getting to witness it first hand, and the possibility of adding more chaos to the scene that the history books would choose to ignore.

"Is that an ice sculpture of Harry Potter?" Scorp whispered into his sister's ear, gesturing towards the monstrosity that took up a good portion of the foyer they stood in. The scar and the glasses were the only thing that even remotely looked like the man they'd seen pictures of in their history books. In his youth, he'd always sported messy hair, round glasses, and had a wide smile, but this was a well put together man with a stern look on his face, looking intimidating and imposing as he glared down at the crowd gathered to honour his memory.

"I don't think Mum or Uncle Blaise are responsible for it," Vi whispered back, trying to hide their laughter as they looked at the two who had put this entire service together staring at the massive monument with gaping mouths. "Oh good, Grandmère is stepping in," Vi pointed out, just as their grandmother stepped up to the two adults and closed their mouths with her index finger before whispering a few harsh words to the pair.

"I'm so glad we were invited," Scorp murmured as he took off towards the refreshments table. Vi rolled her eyes at her retreating brother's back. They'd both been given clothing by their grandmother to wear, Viola sporting long black dress robes and Scorp in an all black ensemble that he had loudly complained about the entire time they were getting ready. His suit, at least for the moment, was still fully intact as their grandmother had threatened bodily harm to the teenage boy if he were to destroy it before the end of the services.

The one thing the full black-on-black suit did make easier was that Scorpius only had to disillusion his neck tattoo. Grandmère had been very concerned how Draco would react when he saw all of Scorpius' ink, and had made him promise to reveal it in a private setting. Scorpius had been considering what exactly she meant by private and how much chaos he could cause with the revelation. Of course, he still couldn't believe Draco hadn't noticed them when they were in the Ministry in the first place, but he supposed the man had been somewhat distracted. Theo hadn't cared about the tattoos, but Papa hadn't been concerned in the future either, so that was semi predictable. Anything that kept Scorpius in the safehouse for hours on end was good with him and this Theo seemed more concerned about where he could get his next hit than what his children were doing.

Being in an unfamiliar setting with a load of people who didn't know her, Viola took in her surroundings to find any similarities from her life to this new one she found herself in. The sea of redheads was hard to ignore, making Viola remember a time not too long ago that she was surrounded by this same family, but older versions of themselves just trying to survive in the insane circumstances of the future. There were many who were not born yet and far too many who had perished during the war, but it was still the same family with the same dysfunctional dynamic. This was all just another reminder to her that this event, the murder of Harry Potter, was the beginning of everything to come, events she'd already lived through, and would be forced to endure again.

She looked at her mother and father where they were standing with their Uncle Blaise, who had all three of the Potter children with him. A teenage Ted Lupin had passed by, blue hair hanging in his eyes, holding the hand of his future wife and the sight had stopped Vi in her tracks. She was even older than him now. Again, she was jarred by the fact that they were all just so…young.

"I didn't know Mione had a kid," a man that Vi didn't know said, his words slurring and walking over sticking his hand out towards her. "Ron, Ron Weasley. This is my wife, Padma. You are the spitting image of your mother, you must know that." Vi couldn't help when her lip began to curl; oh she'd heard of Ron Weasley, alright.

Viola began to open her mouth to say something when she heard, "Psst, Vi!" She rudely turned away from the couple standing in front of her to find her brother half hidden by a plant. Without bothering to excuse herself, Viola didn't even spare them a glance back as she wove her way through the crowd, even when she heard the woman say, "that girl must have been born during the war, Ronald, look at her, she has to be at least sixteen. Who was Hermione sleeping with back then? Could she be Harry's daughter? I always suspected…"

"Do I even want to know?" Vi asked as she reached her twin, joining him in his hiding spot.

"Here, I found a bottle of firewhisky. Thought it might liven the party up a bit," Scorp shoved an overly full glass into her hand, the amber liquid splashing over the sides.

"You realise Grandmère is going to skin us if she catches us drinking." Still, Vi took a drink of the alcohol, letting out a hiss as it went down her throat.

"Just weighing the risks and the benefits, and the benefits of being pissed at this thing much outweigh Grandmère's wrath at the moment. This Grandmère lets us get away with a lot more shit than her older self, and I for one am going to take advantage of it."

"You do know if she hears you saying that she would make you eat your words."

Scorpius only shrugged, pouring himself another drink while Viola looked out from their hiding spot. "Where's Dad and Mum?" her brother asked, as he spilled a bit of the firewhisky onto his hand.

"Dad's over by the window talking to the Minister of Magic." Viola gestured towards where the tall bald man stood, his billowing purple robes flowing in a non-existent breeze.

"That's not Weasley," Scorpius said, taking another drink, directly from the bottle this time, giving up on his glass.

"It wouldn't be, you dope. Weasley isn't elected until the year after we're born," Viola told him, snatching the bottle from his hand to take a drink. "I don't recall his name, but– oh look, he's leaving already. That's weird, I thought he was a huge Harry Potter fan. Guess no one could stand the wanker, besides fucking Molly. But she's trash and has horrible taste. Now where's Hermione? Want to make sure I avoid her, not enough alcohol here to deal with that awkward interaction."

"She disappeared with the caterer a bit ago. We are barely on their radar. Honestly, It's only too bad there isn't anyone fuckable at this thing," Scorp complained, tapping his tie pin and turning it into the Pansexual Pride flag. "Is pansexuality even a thing yet? Or am I an anachronism? Oh my gods, if it's not a thing yet, does that mean I can invent it?" Viola rolled her eyes at her twin and resisted the urge to hold the brim of her nose like mum always used to do, the last thing she wanted was to look even more like Hermione in this social setting.

"HELLO!" An excited young voice yelled, making Viola scream and jump from where she was crouching, dropping the entire crystal tumbler to the ground where it clanked. "Are you positive that you aren't a veela? I asked Teddy again and Uncle Bill, they both said that veela draw you in, whatever that means, and you're just so beautiful."

"And who is this?" Scorp asked, bending down to speak to the young boy, as he had also stood up at the sudden intrusion.

"I am Albus Severus Potter," the very young raven-haired kid said, holding his hand out towards Scorpius.

One, two, and… "Al? Oh my gods, you have got to be kidding me," Viola closed her eyes as Scorp's laughter rang through the foyer, drawing much unwanted attention to their small group.

"Scorpius Draco Theodore Malfoy-Nott, what do you think you're doing?" Narcissa had appeared in all her graceful elegance, but the fury etched in her features was evident. "Outside, now, young man," she scolded, turning one of his shoulders and marching him towards the front door, but not before he tossed the firewhisky into the upper branches of the plant where it stuck.

"This is the best day of my life," Viola heard Scorpius say, as the entire room had fallen silent to watch the display of inappropriate merriment. When Narcissa smacked him upside his head, even his muttered "sorry" was easily heard before the front door slammed shut.

"Of course, Draco Malfoy's son would be the one to be disrespectful of a dead hero," Viola heard Ron say. She cringed when she saw that he was standing near Blaise who was holding Lily Luna and had James at his side. "And you, the home wrecker, had to come? My whore of a sister couldn't even be bothered to show her face at her own husband's funeral? Too busy laying around at yours taking care of all your spawn instead of her own kids?"

"She is at home on bedrest as you well know. You better watch your mouth, Weasley," Blaise warned, hugging Lily Luna closer to his chest and wrapping an arm around James' shoulders. "Now is not the time nor the place."

A little streak of jet black hair shot across the room, hurtling towards the scene. Vi looked at the front door and back at the growing tension in the room where three children, who grew up to mean a lot to her, were being harassed by their drunk uncle. "Fuck it," she muttered as she began to push her way towards the crowd that had gathered in a circle around Blaise, his kids, and Ron.

"Luna always claimed to be his friend, but instead she's just a lesbian cunt that slept with his wife!"

"Weasley, if I didn't have my kids here, you would not be standing upright. Keep talking about my wives and I won't care who sees me hit you or that I'm holding my daughter while I do it. I will knock your fucking teeth in."

"Your daughter? Ha, she's not yours, she's Harry's daughter and my goddaughter! The only reason she doesn't know me is because you've never let me meet her," Vi could hear Ron saying as she continued to push through the crowd, not able to see over them anymore due to her small size.

Then that woman's voice sounded, "Mr. Zabini, I think it best if you go. I'll take my grandchildren. you're causing a ruckus and frankly, I cannot believe that you even had the nerve to show your face here after what you and that Luna woman did to poor Harry."

Vi had finally gotten to the centre where Blaise stood, blocking the Potter children with his body, his hold on Lily Luna firm. At the same time, her dad had also made his way to the chaos and was standing beside her uncle. A raging fire went up in Viola's chest as Molly fucking Weasley reached out a hand and grabbed Al's arm.

Al's gaze met Vi's, fear evident in his eyes. Never in all her time knowing the man, had she ever seen him look this way. As a boy, he couldn't protect himself, and there was no way Viola was about to let this woman destroy him. "You need to come sit with your real family," she heard Molly say and after that all Viola could see was red. Oh fuck her.

Vi's wand was out and aimed towards the bitch, who'd caused so much suffering in the future, so quickly that no one even noticed she'd appeared. "You need to back the fuck up," she growled, not caring that every eye was on her.

"I don't know who you think you are," Molly snapped, "But this is a family matter and has nothing to do with you."

"I'm Viola Malfoy-Nott and you are a fucking dumb cunt if you think Al is going anywhere with you." Viola's wand was pointed at Molly's throat; while she knew the bitch was one hell of a duelist in her time, that was long past.

At the same time, Draco had stepped between Ron and Blaise, and commanded, "Weasley, back the fuck up otherwise I'll gladly be breaking your face."

The tension broke like a snapping cord at her father's words, sending the intoxicated redheaded man into a fit. He lunged towards Draco, wildly swinging his fist. Her father easily dodged the blow, slapping Weasley on the back of the head as he tumbled past him, falling to the ground. Getting into a boxer's stance, Draco waved a hand towards the drunken idiot in a taunt, inviting the fight to continue. This was the father that Viola recognized. She hoped he broke the stupid oaf's face.

It took no more encouragement than that from Draco and Ron pulled himself off the floor and ran at him, bending so that he was aiming for his opponent's waist.

In the chaos of the fight, Molly released Al, screaming some nonsense about Death Eaters attacking her precious boy. Lily Luna clung to her papa, screaming and crying in Blaise's arms. When the red-headed moron tumbled too close to Blaise, Lily yelled out and a burst of accidental magic threw her estranged uncle across the room, effectively ending the match.

Upon reentering with Hannah and Susan and realising what had occurred in her absence, Hermione looked at that same sneer reflected between the father and daughter, as they looked on at the problematic Weasleys. Despite Viola not looking in any way like a Malfoy, there was no way in that moment that a single witness could deny that the pair were father and daughter.

Albus slipped away from Blaise's side once Molly and Padma had escorted Ron away. Looking at Viola, he smiled at his saviour, "I really like Al as a nickname; I think I'll have everyone call me that from now on."

Viola sighed, her head dropping as she relented and rubbed the brim of her nose, "What did I ever do to deserve this?"

Albus squeezed her free hand, "Don't be sad. You were amazing." She looked over into his leafy green eyes and wanted to cry.

...

31st July 2007

Potter Manor, Outskirts of Godric's Hollow

It was late in the evening and Ginny was skirting around the kitchen trying to get a few things together for when Harry got home from work for his special birthday celebration. Yes, that cake was leftover from James' fourth birthday a few days prior, but it was good enough. Harry hated it when she made too big a deal of his birthday anyway, and she didn't want to upset her husband.

As she bustled around the kitchen, her lips pressed to the top of her daughter's head as the baby took a shuttered breath before nuzzling in against Ginny again. Lily was sleeping peacefully against her chest, as the poor infant was getting her first tooth and it was taking its toll on her.

Albus and James had gone with Charlie for an overnight stay at a hotel after meeting her brother's new boyfriend, Darius. Charlie had rented a room at a place that was near the magical zoo in London and wanting to give the married couple a little bit of privacy to celebrate Harry's birthday, he'd offered to keep the older two as Lily would not yet leave Ginny. Charlie had tried to cajole his little niece, but Lily wasn't having it. It was sweet, but also a little frustrating. Ginny wanted to have some special time with her husband as he'd been so busy at work lately and she'd hardly seen him in months. But Lily needed her and Ginny wasn't going to deny the baby her comfort during a hard time.

Though Harry had promised Ginny that he would be home hours ago, it was getting late and she questioned just how much celebrating that they would be able to do. As she adjusted the 'twenty-seven' on the top of the half a cake, a tapping at the window pulled her away from the task. "Who in the world would send an owl at this hour," she muttered, wiping her hands on the apron she wore.

The owl that flew in was just a plain brown barn owl, one that looked similar to the ones that would deliver the morning news. Though, instead of the rolled-up paper attached to its leg, there was a large, unmarked envelope. Dread filled Ginny as she reached out with shaking hands and removed the package. She'd hardly gotten the string untied before the bird flew back out the window and off into the night sky, clearly not expecting anything to return to the sender.

She broke the seal and Ginny felt the tears well up in her eyes as the photographs fell onto the counter in front of her. Moving images of Harry and Cho Chang wrapped in very compromising and intimate embraces were laid out before her, showing a clear change of time by the landscape that could be seen through the various windows in the background. Bloody hell, the jumper she bought him for their last anniversary was being ripped off his body and thrown to the ground. How long has this been going on? Ginny thought, but that was quickly answered as the next picture showed the two sitting with an infant Albus sleeping next to them as Harry pulled open Cho's shirt, sending buttons flying around the frame.

As much as Ginny wanted to believe that this wasn't real, the proof was too damning to believe otherwise. Wrapping her arms around Lily, who was thankfully still sleeping, Ginny blindly fumbled through Potter Manor, passing the moving boxes and some of the new furniture that she'd spent hours with Susan Bones picking out. How could she have been so stupid, Ginny cursed herself as she reached the fireplace, not knowing where to go. She most certainly didn't want to be home when Harry finally stumbled in, probably drunk and after another night with bloody Cho Chang.

Hermione was always an option, but she'd always been closer to Harry than Ginny and she honestly didn't want to put the witch in that awkward situation of having to choose. Closing her eyes, another friendly face appeared in her mind and Ginny threw in a handful of the powder, letting the flames whisk her away to the Zabinis' cabin home.

"Luna?" Ginny called out, before slapping a hand over her mouth. It was nearly eleven at night and the Zabinis' son had just turned a year old the month before. A little elf popped into existence in front of Ginny, his wide eyes round and dreamy, just like his mistress's.

"Missy Ginny needs to speak to the master or mistress? Flick will go get them," he said after surveying Ginny. Without waiting for a response from her, he blinked and was gone again. Ginny turned around and began to fumble around the fireplace searching for the floo powder that could take her away. She didn't need to be a burden to her friends over her marital problems. Gods, what was she thinking? What was wrong with her, showing up at this time of night, completely unannounced.

Before she could find the pouch though, a strong hand rested on Ginny's forearm stopping her. She looked up to see the darkest eyes looking down at her with actual concern for her well-being and that was all it took for Ginny to crumble as she sobbed into Blaise Zabini's chest. Sure they had spoken a few times before, but she wouldn't have ever called them friends. She was close with his wife, she had attended some charity galas for the foundation that he and Dean Thomas had started after the war and that was about the extent of their relationship up to this point, the boundary lines of which she'd just completely leapt over.

"I'll put on the tea," she heard Luna's dreamy voice in the distance. "Flick, could you set up a second cot in the nursery?"

"Of course, Mistress, Flick believes Missy will be here for some time. Yes, he does believe so.," When Ginny heard the little 'pop' signalling his departure, she attempted to pull away from Blaise, only to be stopped.

"What's happened?" he asked, his eyes flickering between her own, as if he could sort out the mess that was her life if he only looked long enough.

"Harry's been seeing Cho Chang since Albus was a newborn, at least. Possibly longer." Her voice hardly a whisper, as it was hard to admit such a thing out loud. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be here, bothering the two of you. I'll just go."

"You'll go nowhere, Ginny. Now give me that baby so I can put her to bed, and you settle in and warm yourself up." Luna said, going to Ginny and taking Lily from the carrier, easily transferring the baby without waking her.

"How could I have been such a fool?" Ginny asked, her face in her hands. "The late nights, the long missions out of town."

"When you love someone," Luna smiled comfortingly, "It's natural to trust them, want to believe the best of them. You didn't make a mistake here, Ginny. Harry did. I'll go tuck Lily into bed and be right back. Blaise, do you think you could take care of Ginny til I get back?"

Blaise Zabini just nodded at his wife, leading Ginny to the couch to sit. He sat next to her and held her hands. Ginny stared at his large dark hands engulfing her smaller paler ones and felt the conflicting feelings roll through her. It felt so nice to have a man comfort her. When was the last time Harry had even held her hand? Blaise's hands were warm, calloused; his shirt sleeves were rolled up to reveal dark muscular forearms. Didn't Luna say that he liked to work outdoors the muggle way? Such a strange hobby for a Pureblood, but Ginny did suppose that the house was hidden deep in the Trossachs. Blaise rubbed a soothing circle on her wrist with his thumb, making Ginny feel more at ease by this almost stranger than her husband had in years.

Was she supposed to enjoy the way his hands felt? He was married to her closest friend! She was no better than Harry if she was having these types of thoughts and reactions to him.

Against her own inclination, Ginny pulled her hands away from Blaise, clearing her throat, embarrassed by her reaction to his touch, and tried to ignore the feeling of loss she felt and how it was reflected back to her on his face.

He was her best friend's husband. What was wrong with her?

Luna came back into the room and smiled at the two of them, making Ginny feel sick to her stomach with guilt. She had no business being here, not with the way Blaise was making her feel. But Luna smiled at her kindly, and then Flick appeared with the tea tray, so Ginny tried to push down her uncomfortable feelings. She just needed to be a better friend.

...

31st May 2013

Godric's Hollow Cemetery, Godric's Hollow

The burial itself was set to be a more private affair, where the wake had been opened to the public for people to come and pay their respects to the family and friends. However, now was the time for everyone who had been near and dear to Harry to have their chance to say goodbye as he was finally laid to rest.

So, it confused the hell out of Scorpius as to why he was standing in the sodding grass because he most certainly did not know Harry Potter, nor did he care much for the bloke from all the stories he'd heard from his father over the years. Even his mum, who tried desperately to put a good face on things, struggled to come up with wholesome stories about the man after the war.

The coffin was being slowly lowered into the grave by two squibs, so they were doing it the muggle way with ropes; it was making this whole uncomfortable business take much longer than it should have and Molly Weasley's sniffling was starting to give him a headache.

Grandmère was standing next to him, looking severe and exhausted, her mouth pinched. Bless the woman for all she had done for him, but she was at her wit's end and Scorpius was currently on a short leash. Viola stood on his other side, her expression about as happy as Grandmère's. He wanted to do something inappropriate so badly, the restlessness under his skin difficult to ignore. He fidgeted with his signet ring and breathed deeply. How was he supposed to stand still for so long? He'd barely gotten any Firewhisky earlier, certainly not enough to slow down his whirling thoughts.

Aunt Luna apparated in with Cole, Lance, Selene, Ember, and Delia at that moment, giving him something new to look over. Her ability to side-apparate with so many kids was impressive. Scorp let out a low whistle at his godmother and she turned and smiled at him, giving him and Viola a small wave, before arranging their children in a line next to Blaise and the Potter kids.

The boys were all in matching all black suits, Cole a tiny version of uncle Blaise, Lance with his darker complexion and bright red curls clearly showing who his parents were. Selene, Ember and Delia were all in simple little black tulle dresses and Aunt Luna wore a black funeral veil on her cocktail hat. Her black dress was tight enough that her current pregnancy was obvious as her fingers interlaced with those of Uncle Blaise who had Lily Luna on his other hip.

Scorpius couldn't help but notice Molly Weasley, on the other side of the grave, curling her lip in distaste at the Zabini kids especially when Cole and Lance were hugging Albus and James, who were both crying as their father was slowly lowered into the ground. Charlie, who Scorpius called Uncle in the future was trying to help soothe the boys with his husband, Darius, behind him. They were the only Weasleys not on the opposite side with their mother and father.

Wait, were Uncle Charlie and Uncle Darius married yet? Or had they gotten married after Mum, Dad, and Papa? Scorpius had always been shite with maths and timetables. This whole being in the past business was getting confusing really fast.

There were several other Weasleys that Scorpius didn't recognize. The one in the suit and the sour expression had to be the one that worked at the Ministry. His wife and daughters all looked as if they were sucking on lemons. Ted and Vic were over with her parents. Vic's mom was the spitting image of how the future resistance strategist would look in 2032. Bill Weasley was a striking figure with his facial scars, his arm around his wife. Their younger daughter and son stood attentively nearby, looking every inch the Veelas they were. Veela blood definitely overruling the Weasley genes. But where were their other wives? Perhaps that was something else that hadn't happened yet. Finally, George Weasley, who Scorpius remembered owned a very useful prank shop, was alone as his wife and children hadn't stayed.

Staring at Luna's stomach pointedly, Ron Weasley, who'd clearly been drinking, snottily commented, "Aren't you done yet Luna? Another one on the way already?"

Nonplussed, Luna responded, "As a Weasley, you have no business saying anything about my fecundity, Ronald. Children are a blessing."

Lance looked at Blaise and said very loudly, "Papa, is that my uncle? He's horrible." Being only four or so, Lance mispronounced "horrible" so it sounded more like "horribeeble." Luna hushed her son, but only half heartedly. Scorpius had to fake a cough to cover his laughter; even as a toddler, that Zabini was hilarious. When she turned toward him, Narcissa's look could freeze water. Scorp choked a little and tried to pull himself together.

Viola rubbed her temples in a way that made her look just like their mum, who was standing on the other side of Uncle Blaise, staring at them now. She had looked like she wanted to say something to them all day, but she'd never tried to approach them, always keeping distance and a few people between them. Scorpius wasn't sure if he wanted her to talk to him or if he didn't. She wasn't his mum, not really. His mum would never have called him a liar and pulled a wand on him. His mum would have never stood for anyone calling him a liar. His mum loved him, defended him, and would have never avoided him like this woman had and continued to do. Fuck he missed her.

Scorpius started his occlumency exercises, going carefully through the steps that his Papa had taught him, when he was distracted by Ron Weasley's bullshite again.

"I dunno Padma," the loud redhead slurred, "I didn't think Hermione was seeing anyone during the war, but maybe you're right. Harry's daughter."

Her gasp and red face indicated that his mum was clearly upset by the man's comment, and the muscle in his dad's jaw was clenching. Instead of letting them handle it, Scorpius decided his time had come.

"Oi, Weasley, that's my twin sister," Scorpius yelled out across the cemetery, causing Narcissa to pinch his arm. But Scorpius would not be stopped, not when this scum wouldn't shut up, "Do I look like Harry Potter's bleeding bastard to you?"

"Fucking hell, Scorp," Viola hissed under her breath, her face turning crimson as even more attention was brought towards her.

"Scorpius Draco," Narcissa hissed, grabbing his arm, "Not. Here."

Ron Weasley looked at Narcissa's hand on Scorpius' arm, Scorpius, then Viola standing with them and then turned towards Hermione, who was right next to Draco.

"Bloody hell Mione, you were shagging Malfoy during the war? Would have never marked you as a Death Eater whore."

Bill smacked Ron upside the head, as Hermione grabbed Draco's arm to keep him from leaping across the grave and pummeling Ron for a second time that day.

"Ron," Bill snarled, "Do shut the fuck up." Charlie laughed outright at the command, only making Scorpius smirk at the hottest Weasley. Aunt Luna pressed her face into Uncle Blaise's chest to hide her own smile, Scorpius guessed, as he couldn't see her.

As the casket was finished being lowered into the ground, all the bickering that had been taking place ceased. Nothing else could be heard over Molly Weasley's wailing, but Scorpius assumed no one else was making a sound. The Potter children were all clutching at their parents and their siblings, the boys' tears had stopped and were replaced with blank looks on their faces as they said goodbye to the father they hardly knew.

Once his body was laid in his final resting place, each of the boys stepped forwards, along with Blaise still carrying Lily Luna. A single flower was given to each child as they tossed them in, a parting gift. One by one, each person in the cemetery stepped forwards, taking a handful of dirt and throwing it into the hole.

"No bloody way am I going up there," Vi murmured, only to stop as Narcissa's hand came down on her shoulder and squeezed. "Or I can…"

Scorpius chuckled following the group, each person saying their last goodbye. As they approached, the sloshing sound in his jacket gave him an idea. They'd reached the grave and after both Vi and Narcissa paid their respects, it was Scorpius' turn. Pulling out the hidden bottle of firewhisky that he had managed to rescue from the plant before coming to the cemetery, Scorp uncapped it and took a swig.

"It's fairly common knowledge that you liked the cheap shit, but luckily for you, I won't drink it." Scorp poured out a single shot's worth, before putting the bottle back to his lips and taking another drink. "From the sounds of it, your life was pretty shitty, self-inflicted, no doubt." He glanced up and saw his grandmère heading his way. "Alright, gonna make this fast then, because otherwise she's going to stop me. You were the world's hero and then became a human-sized piece of shit. Congratulations."

...

15th of April 2009

Ministry of Magic, Family Centre, London

"Come along, kids. We can't delay; I've got a few things I've got to get done before we go back home." Blaise was saying as he ushered four of his children into the ministry lifts. Petite red-haired Lily Luna, at just over two years old, was secured snuggly in a carrier on his back as she hummed and played with her doll behind him. The two younger dark-haired boys, Cole and Albus, were playing tag, running and weaving between Blaise's legs. Albus looked eerily like his biological father while Cole was a lighter version of Blaise, got along much better than the men they resembled, acting as if they had always been brothers. James, who brought up the rear of the group, could be nothing but a Weasley, had his nose buried in a quidditch magazine, much like his mother in that respect.

Luckily for Blaise, it was late enough in the day that there were hardly any employees or visitors, not that the Family Centre was ever busy. As they stepped out onto their level, Cole and Albus took off running towards the activity corner that housed all the toys, games, and art supplies for the kids that came along with their parents or case workers.

"Blaise? What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home getting settled in with that new baby of yours?" The voice of Blaise's partner made the Italian wizard look away from his children as his smile widened at the sight of a friendly face.

"Dean, good morning, Maeve," Blaise greeted the young witch who was hiding behind her father's leg. "James is here, if you'd like to play with him." At the mention of the boy she was enamoured with, the little blonde perked up and went looking for her favourite playmate. "Just stopping in to get some work done, you know, Gin wasn't due until next month, so a bit behind on everything."

Blaise and Dean worked together running the largest magical orphanage in all of Europe. The two had founded the organisation after seeing the death and destruction caused by the second wizarding war, and just how many families, but especially children, had been affected by it. Once it came out that Voldemort had been raised in a muggle orphanage and that it had likely contributed to his later evil deeds, this added even more fuel to the desire to do something. Dean and Blaise had struck up their unlikely friendship during their eighth year when they discovered that they both shared the same passion. Dean, who had grown up without a father, much like Blaise, wanted to make a difference for children, knowing they often had no say in the direction their lives took.

Blaise and Dean often worked closely with the Ministry to help facilitate their approach to muggleborn children, therefore bringing both men into London on a regular basis. While taking in needy children was the main goal, the secondary mission of their orphanage and adoption project included a muggleborn outreach program.

Dean had pushed for this, stating that when he'd come to the wizarding world as a muggleborn, he was not only leaving his family for the first time, but also joining an entirely new world. A world that was not interested in teaching muggleborns how to exist within its society. It was decided between Blaise and Dean that, as a society, they couldn't grow if they didn't make changes. So they set out to make those changes themselves, Blaise as the face of the purebloods who knew all the traditions of their world, and Dean as the face of the muggleborns who were just entering this strange new society.

Blaise decided that, since the muggleborns' names show up on the register of magical births, he would develop a whole division of their charitable foundation devoted to reaching out to muggleborn families before the children's eleventh birthdays; the sooner they were integrated, the easier the transition it would be when they went to Hogwarts. Sometimes that meant offering culture classes, providing support to both the children and families as they accepted the new reality, and occasionally taking in children whose families didn't want the 'burden' of raising a magical child.

If Hermione hadn't already warmed up to Blaise for being the family man that he was, his foundation would have sold her on him. She adored that Blaise used his status as a pureblood socialite to help muggleborns and orphans who needed the kind of help that he could provide. And that was something that had helped their friendship blossom, a good thing, too, as she was named godmother of all his children by their mothers.

"I hear that—explains all the kids being with you. Luna has Selene then?" Dean asked, looking over the children Blaise had brought with him.

"Nap time, plus these three are getting ready to be picked up by their father, so I figured getting Cole out of the house for a little one on one time might be nice." Blaise winced as Lily Luna hit him upside the head with her doll, a little squeal of excitement coming from her. "Well, hopefully, we'll see if this one actually goes with Potter or not. The last visit, he brought her back early because she wouldn't stop crying even after being with him for an hour."

"Ouch, well, if you need anything, Seamus, Justin, and I are available and happy to help. Plus, I know the girls would be thrilled to get an invitation to that bloody island of yours again." Dean let out a chuckle as he shook his head, "I still can't believe you purchased a whole ass island; just how many kids do you think you're going to have?"

"We already have six; you just never know where the future lies. I'd rather have the room and not need it than need it and not have it, plus what is multi-generational wealth for if not to buy the ultimate playground for my children," Blaise said, his face dropping as the dinging sound indicated the arrival of someone new to the level. He schooled his features, preparing himself for the snide comments and jabs by his wife's ex-husband when he was surprised by the other person accompanying the wizard. "Oh, great, always a pleasure to see my mother-in-law…"

Dean turned his head and sucked in a breath, making a hissing noise as he watched the duo approaching. The scowl that seemed to have a permanent home on Molly Weasley's face did nothing to make Blaise believe this was going to be anything but a painful drop off.

"Morning, Mrs. Weasley, Potter," Blaise politely greeted the pair. "It's nice to see you as always, Potter, I shrunk down the kids' bags with their things. James just got the new Quidditch player figures that he wanted to bring along, so if you could just make sure those get back to us, it was rather hard to find the set and we had to have it shipped internationally."

"Where is Ginny and my newest grandbaby?" Molly interrupted as Harry stepped forwards to take the bag Blaise was offering him. "She can't honestly be having a lie-in when she has children she's supposed to be taking care of!"

Blaise breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth, reminding himself that he was standing in the office where he conducts his business and he could not say his piece here. Especially with his children present. "Mrs. Weasley, Ginevra and Lancelot are home resting as they just were released from the hospital this morning. You are more than welcome to go to our home to visit them; I adjusted the wards to allow you through."

"I am not going to that brothel that you call a home!" Molly nearly shrieked, throwing a hand over her heart. Blaise had to grit his teeth to keep himself from rolling his eyes at his monster-in-law.

"You're missing out, Mrs. Weasley. I took the girls there a few weeks ago after they first moved in, and let me tell you, the place is—" Dean put his fingers to his lips and blew out a kiss, causing Blaise to laugh.

"Papa, laugh, Papa, laugh!" Lily Luna trilled behind him, finally bringing her presence to the attention of the newcomers.

If Molly was angry before she'd noticed Lily Luna nuzzling against Blaise, it was nothing compared to how she reacted once she had noticed the toddler. "Lily Luna Potter! What do you think you are doing!? Get down and come here, now, young lady!" Mrs. Weasley was scolding at a volume that was not typically tolerated in the family centre.

"Molly, really, it's fine," Harry began, but a look from the older witch stopped him.

"Honestly, Harry, you're letting your children be raised by, by, a harem! What type of example does this set for your daughter to see women treated as nothing more than slags for breeding! Look at how many children that Lovegood woman has produced!" Blaise's jaw was beginning to hurt from how tightly he had his teeth clenched; internally, he kept reminding himself that he was not going to rise to the bait that this woman was laying for him, but it was becoming harder the more she spoke.

"That's a bit harsh, don't you think, Molly?" Dean chimed in, his face clearly showing just what he thought of the Weasley matriarch. "You liked Luna just fine while she was dating Ron and, if we're being fair here, she's only had two children. Not really that many when you compare it to the seven you alone birthed."

"Well, I never," the red-haired woman stuttered, but Harry walking over to Blaise with his arms outstretched took the Italian wizard's attention away from the debate that was now being had between Dean and the bitch.

"Come along, Lils, come to Daddy. We're going to go to Grandma Molly's for a few days, doesn't that sound like fun?"

"No Harry, no Harry, no Mowee! Papa! Papa!" The little red-headed witch on his back began to sob, her doll dropping to the floor as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "No Harry, Papa, no Harry!"

In a desperate attempt, Blaise reached back to soothe the little girl, whispering into her ear, "Va bene, va bene."

"No, no, no!" she shouted, wrapping her arms around Blaise's head and pulling him against her. "Papa!"

"Lily Luna Potter!" Molly scolded again, but this time Blaise levelled her with a look that made the woman back down.

"You know, how about she just stays with you. I'll let you know the next time I can take her with the boys." Harry said, stepping away from his daughter, a glare set in his eyes towards Blaise, "maybe I just need to wait until she's grown a bit and gets some space from her step-father before she realises who her real dad is. Come on boys, who wants to go play with Teddy and little Fred!"

James, who had been sitting and watching the entire exchange, picked his magazine off the floor and stood, shooting Blaise a glance before casting his eyes downwards. Blaise's fists flexed at his side as he struggled to not go over and reassure the young boy, but knew that if he made any move towards him that it would likely set off either Molly or Harry again.

"Come along, Albus. What is that you're drawing?" Molly asked, walking over to pull Albus out of his task.

"My family," the small boy answered, running a hand through his ever-messy hair.

"Oh, is that your mum and dad? Who is everyone else?" His grandmother asked, leaning over, trying to make out who each person on the page was.

"No, that's dad," he said, pointing at a figure off to the side by itself. "That's Papa Blaise, Mama Luna, Mum, James, Lily, Cole, baby Selene, baby Lancelot, and me. Oh, and Mama's niffler, but she's old, so she's taking a nap." Molly's face turned as red as the hair on her head as she looked from Blaise to Harry.

"That's enough of that nonsense; now come along, Albus. We must be going, can't keep your grandfather waiting." And as Molly pulled Albus away from the drawing on the table, she flicked her wand setting the paper to flame. "Your real family is so excited to see you boys again, isn't that wonderful? Maybe Uncle Bill will let you play a little Quidditch."

When Albus looked back over his shoulder towards Blaise, his green eyes bright with unshed tears, Blaise wished that he could make this easier on his sons but knew he couldn't. Not as long as Harry had visitation with them and took them to the Burrow to deal with that harridan every time.

Blaise hated feeling so powerless, his heart aching for the boys that he loved so dearly, even if they weren't biologically his. Dean laid a comforting hand on Blaise's arm in solidarity as they watched the young wizards look back once more, before the small group disappeared behind the lift's closing doors.

...

1st of June 2013

Zabini Cottage, Samson, the Isle of Scilly in Cornwall

"Is everyone present and accounted for?" The elderly wizard, who was clearly nearing two hundred at this point, adjusted his glasses on the tip of his nose, squinting at the paper. "To hear the reading of the will for Harold Jim Porter."

"You mean Harry James Potter," Hermione corrected the man.

"No, my name is Walter, I don't know anyone named Harry." Hermione slapped her hand to her forehead, not able to suppress her irritation with her late friend. Why the fuck would he ever hire this man to be in charge of his estate…

"Walter, hi," Blaise started holding out a hand to shake the elderly wizard's.

"You must be Harvey Patrick, alright, well. let's get this over with so anyway to Rolland and Lucy Wesley," the elderly man announced, "I leave you my broom and quidditch supplies along with five thousand galleons to help with any expenses your future children might bring you. Hm, maybe that says five hundred," he adjusted his glasses, squinting down at the paper before a snort came, startling the man as if he'd fallen asleep for a moment.

"This can't be legal…" Hermione muttered as she looked towards Ron and Padma, who were both sitting looking at each other in confusion. "Luna, I think Harry thought you and Ron were going to stay together, good lord, when was this last updated…"

"To Mr. and Mrs. Wobbybee, maybe that says wobbly knee–"

"Oh, he's not even trying–" Draco chuckled, leaning his head into Hermione's hair to muffle the sounds of his laughter. Hermione slapped her partner with her hand, regretting her decision in inviting the blond to the reading. He was supposed to be here for moral support, but it was apparent he was here for his own entertainment at what else could go wrong with this fiasco.

"I should have left you to watch over Theo," Hermione hissed, who only waved his hand dismissing her.

"Oh please, Mipsy and Buffy were more than happy to ditch the Ministry for the last few days to watch over their old master while he…naps." Draco whispered back, causing Hermione to roll her eyes.

"I leave you the deed to my aunt and uncle's home in Little Whinging." The solicitor's croaking voice came through, bringing Hermione's attention back to the task at hand.

"Sir, he didn't own that, nor did he ever have the deed–" Hermione started to interject, but stopped when he continued, clearly not hearing her or caring what she was saying.

"Along with all the contents of the home, I hope you find great joy in the muggle junk."

"Okay, well, I guess at least Molly isn't here to find out that she's actually not getting anything from her favourite son." Blaise muttered, making Hermione choke as she tried quickly to cover the sound with a cough, nodding her head indicating the elderly man should continue when he glared at her.

"To Harriet Gadget—" Hermione turned towards Draco and mouthed 'Harriet', before the blond wizard burst into a fit of laughter, having to excuse himself to stand by the door now that he was completely out of control and honestly not needed in the slightest. "I leave Grimmauld Place and all its contents, plus the entirety of my personal and family libraries." Hermione's eyebrows shot into her hairline, because this was actually something that Harry did own. The Black family library alone was an impressive collection and one that she would gladly accept. She probably needed to have some curse breakers look it over and wondered if Bill was up for some consulting work.

"To Gabby and Antony Wheelhouse," the man began to cough so hard, waving his hand towards anyone who made a move to help him.

"I'm starting to wonder if this bloke is going to die on us in the middle of the reading," George whispered.

"I'm almost wondering if that might not be better…" Angelina's reply to her husband caused another round of snorted giggles from everyone in the group gathered, aside from Ron and Padma as Draco slipped from the room.

As Draco stepped into the hallway, still chuckling over the disaster that Potter had managed to put together, he was a bit surprised to find two uninvited guests crouching near the door. "What are the two of you doing out here?" Scorpius and Viola jumped up, looks of false innocence plastered on their faces.

"Uh, hi, Draco…" Scorpius said, rubbing the back of his neck. "We were just, hm, looking for the bathroom." Viola shot her brother a look before rolling her eyes and folding her arms over her chest. "What? He might believe it."

"Well, he's not going to now!"

"Your mother won't be happy if she catches you out here," Draco said, reaching forwards to shut the door so they couldn't listen in anymore.

Scorp snorted as he looked at the younger version of his father, "I don't think I've ever seen Hermione happy. Highly doubt I ever will."

Draco sighed as he shook his head and closed his eyes. "Scorpius, that's not fair. You need to cut her some slack; besides the fact that she's grieving, she's also under a lot of pressure."

"And we aren't?" Viola snapped, never one to allow their emotions to be dismissed. When Draco didn't respond, she scuffed as she roughly grabbed her brother's arm. "Come on Scorp, wouldn't want to offend Hermione."

"Oh, do you want to play house with Albus?" Scorpius asked as they stepped away together.

"Shut the fuck up, Scorp, I swear to Salazar that I will drown you in the pool."

The only answer she got from her brother was hysterical laughter as they disappeared around the corner, leaving Draco standing alone in the hall to wonder what the fuck that was about.

On the plus side, it sounded like his kids were Slytherins. He'd take what good news he could get at this point.

...

1st of August 2007

Zabini Cabin, near Loch Lomond in the Trossachs National Forest, Scotland

Ginny walked into the small kitchen, carrying Lily on her hip. She'd just gotten off a fire call with Charlie to let him know where she was, not giving him any details as to why she was currently staying with Luna and not at Potter Manor. Shockingly, she hadn't heard a thing from Harry as to her or their children's whereabouts.

Luna was set up at the small stove, cooking breakfast for everyone while Blaise sat at the table next to his and Luna's one-year-old son, Cole. The baby was happily pulling at his sippy cup and banging it on his tray before tossing it over the side, making Blaise levitate it up in a game. Watching the father and son interacting, Ginny couldn't help but think about how much of this her own children were missing.

Their father had instead decided to carry on an affair instead of having breakfast with them. Instead of taking them out to the park, he'd brought them along with him to meet up with his mistress.

"Did you get a hold of Charlie?" Luna asked Ginny as she flipped a pancake.

"Yes, he and his new boyfriend, Darius, still want to take the boys to the zoo this morning. Apparently one of the unicorns had a foal and they're really looking forward to it. I told them to bring the boys here after they're done, if that's alright?"

"That's fine, I actually already had Flick pop over to the Potter Manor to gather your's and the kids' things while you slept. I hope you don't mind, I had him set up two of the guest rooms for you and the kids." Blaise explained, looking sheepishly towards his son as he again handed the toddler his cup. "I er, I suppose I should have asked, I just didn't want you to have to go back there or anything."

"No, Zabini, that was very thoughtful, thank you." Ginny said, pulling at Lily, who was clinging to her side. "Come on Lil, Mummy just needs to set you up for breakfast, sweet girl. Come along," she encouraged the tiny redhead, but the girl only held tighter to her mother. "Lily Luna…" Ginny softly groaned, about to give up when two strong hands reached out for the infant.

Lily's head popped up as she looked for the offender's hands of who would dare try and separate her from her mother when she finally saw Blaise. Her hazel eyes narrowed as she studied the man trying to take her from her mum, her brows scrunched together. Her grip on Ginny's shirt tightened as she let out a puff of air as if she were a little dragon before lunging her body towards the wizard reaching out for her.

"She…she never lets anyone else hold her…" Ginny muttered in amazement as she watched Blase's eyes widen as her five-month-old daughter burrowed into his neck, the sound of her sloppy wet kisses and her pudgy little pale hands gripped at his cropped hair, failing to grasp any. "I can't believe it."

"She looks just like you, Ginevra," he said as Lily pulled away from his neck, now giggling as she went in for another snuggle. "Salazar, she's perfect."

"I like to think so," Ginny pulled out a chair and sat, allowing Luna to serve her a full plate of eggs, pancakes, and fruit. "And please call me Ginny, I hate being called Ginevra, only my mother does it and I think that's because she wants to annoy me."

"I will work at it, but it is a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Also, then you have to call me Blaise," his smile was dazzling, but before she could analyse that thought any further, the room actually filled with a bright light.

The familiar lynx bounded onto the table, its head twisting around as if it were able to survey the area to find Ginny. When the bright silver eyes of the patronus finally landed on Ginny, its mouth opened and the voice of the Minister of Magic came out. "Ginny, I have an urgent matter I need you to come to the Ministry to discuss. Don't bring the kids as we need the utmost discretion." As the message ended and the silver lynx dissolved into a mist, Ginny felt her stomach twist as the nerves took hold.

Had something happened to Harry? Was there really a mission that he'd gone on the night before and he'd gotten hurt? Was that why he hadn't gone looking for her or their kids? There were only two times that Kingsley had ever asked Ginny to come to the Ministry to talk and both those times had been when Harry had nearly gotten himself killed on missions.

"Luna, would you mind–"

"Go, you can leave Lily here. If Charlie is back with the boys before you return, it's no problem. I'll show them around the cabin and the playground that Blaise had installed for Cole's birthday," the blonde witch said, waving her hand as she went over to Lily and handed her a bottle with Ginny's milk in it. When the baby refused, Luna simply chuckled and lifted her into her arms and cradled her close, positioning the bottle so that Lily believed that she was nursing instead. "Go on, it sounded urgent. I promise, we'll be fine here without you for a bit."

Not wanting to disrupt Lily's feeding, Ginny slipped from the room without another word, ignoring that she had put back on the same clothes she'd been wearing the day before. A stain was prominent on her shoulder from Lily's spit-up, but the urgency with Kingsley's message made her not care in the slightest. She scourgified it quickly, but the spot still showed, at least it no longer smelled.

Just as she reached the foyer where the main fireplace was located, a dark umber hand held the pouch of floo powder out to her. "If you wouldn't mind, I have some work to attend to at the Ministry as well, so I think I'll just accompany you," Blaise explained, the muggle suit he wore fitting him perfectly and not a stain in sight.

In fact, looking at him you wouldn't think that he'd just been sitting at a table feeding his infant son, unlike Ginny who looked like a disaster. "Yes, I suppose that would be alright. Just maybe we shouldn't mention that I stayed here last night, nor that I will be staying here while I look for other living arrangements for myself and the kids, yeah?"

"Sounds good, now shall we go see what the Minister of Magic would like to discuss with you?" He held out the bag of floo powder again and this time Ginny accepted it with a nod. Blaise stepped back, allowing Ginny a respectable amount of space before the green flames whisked her away.

They'd made it to the atrium, but Ginny didn't wait around to see if Blaise was following her or not. She rushed to the lifts, pressing the 'up' button frantically, willing the blasted contraptions to move faster. The gates opened and Ginny darted on, bumping into numerous others as she hit the button for the Minister's Office. One perk to being Harry Potter's wife was that she automatically had the clearance needed to just appear in the highest office without a special pass or appointment.

At the activation, the doors slid shut, barring anyone else from being able to join her and she was whisked away to the most secure level of the Ministry. The rattling cage was jarring, but nonetheless, Ginny held steady, worrying for the life of her husband and what type of trouble he might have found himself in. As soon as the gates opened, Ginny slipped out and was running down the hall towards Kingsley's office. The man's secretary saw Ginny's approach and hit a button informing the minister of her appearance and the door swung open with zero resistance.

"Kings, is Harry–" Ginny stopped in her tracks as she entered the room to find Harry, Kingsley, and her mother, of all people, sitting around the desk. "Harry, are you alright? What happened to you last night?" She asked, deciding that she would start by ignoring the others in the room and go straight for her husband.

"Hm, oh, uh, a mission…" Harry said, his words slurring as he spoke, making Ginny realise that he'd already been drinking that morning. Or perhaps he'd never stopped from the night before. "Went home and saw that you'd gotten a package. A similar one was sent to the Daily Prophet, that's—er, that's why you're here."

"That's, what are you talking about? What does the Prophet have to do with me, and why are Kingsley and my mother involved in this?" Ginny asked, her worry fading away and morphing into the anger that she'd been holding back since she'd first seen the pictures of her husband fucking another woman. "Do you really want to have this conversation here, Harry? Really?"

"Gin, come on," Harry started, but stopped when Kingsley held up his hand. The older wizard cleared his throat and waved his hand as a teacup floated towards the empty chair in front of his desk and motioned for her to sit.

When Ginny didn't move from her position by the door, her arms crossed over her chest and her body language set in a defensive position, the elder wizard merely shrugged and cleared his throat again. "We here at the Ministry find that Harry's reputation, for the greater good, cannot be tarnished in such a way. This indiscretion will not become public knowledge." Ginny could feel the tightening in her chest as the realisation of what was coming began to settle on her like a load of bricks.

"I'm going to need you to sign this non-disclosure agreement that you will not nor will anyone you tell be able to publicly speak on what arrived at your home last night. I'm not sure what game Chang was playing at, but before we could stop her, she had already moved to Beijing. Now, we understand that this will be putting a bit of a strain on your marriage, but I need you to move your things back into Potter Manor and continue on as if this never happened. Harry's public image is of the utmost importance."

"That's why my mother is here? Because you think I'm going to stay married to a man that hasn't been faithful to me for years. You think I'm going to stay married to a man who abandoned me to give birth to his youngest child to go fuck Cho Chang? An alcoholic, who can't even arrive at the Minister of Magic's office at eight in the morning sober! Are you fucking kidding me?!" Ginny had uncrossed her arms and was storming towards the desk Kingsley was seated behind. Unluckily for Harry, though, he was right in her path.

With her chaser reflexes, Ginny snatched the messy mop that was Harry's hair and pulled it upwards. "This man who had abandoned his family and has blown through over half his vaults on gambling? Why in the world would you think I'm going to stay with this pathetic waste of space?"

"Ginevra Potter!" her mother shouted, finally speaking to her, "you unhand that poor boy at once! You have no idea what he's been through!"

"Really, Mother? You're going to side with Harry Potter over your only daughter?" Ginny asked, though she wasn't surprised in the slightest. "He's been cheating on me, Mum! Since Albus was a newborn! He's nearly two!"

"Ginevra, honestly, all men stray. If you hadn't been so focused on playing that silly sport and had invested more time into the home–"

"Excuse me! Are you honestly excusing his behaviour?" Ginny yelled, turning on her mother, though she didn't need to wait for a response. The tears stung in her eyes, and Ginny, once again, cursed herself for not being able to stop them. "Give me the quill," she snapped, turning towards Kingsley, "I'll sign your damn NDA, but I will not stay married to this man."

"Ginevra, that is quite enough," her mother began as Ginny scribbled out her signature. Before Molly could say anything more, the door burst open, revealing a completely composed Blaise Zabini, who strolled into the room as if he owned it.

"What's the meaning of this?" Kingsley asked, clearly agitated, but Ginny couldn't have been happier to see the intruder.

"Ah, Minister Shacklebolt, we've never been properly introduced, Blaise Zabini. I believe you know my mother fairly well if the rumours are to be believed, though you are still alive, so it must not have been that well." He dropped his hand when the Minister's only response was to narrow his eyes in Blaise's direction. "Anyway, I believe you've all had your say and Ginny here has said a bit, but I would also like to throw my own two knuts in."

Molly had begun to open her mouth when Blaise cut the older witch off.

"Ginny deserves more than anything the three of you could ever provide her. Her children deserve better and it's disgusting that, instead of wanting to help Harry get better from the disease that is addiction, the two of you are enabling the behaviour to continue and for him to not take responsibility for his actions. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking this amazing witch and returning home with her. Don't bother trying to come calling, we won't answer and the wards aren't going to let you near the property. We'll see you later, Potter, owl us when you're sober and we can arrange a time for you to visit with your children."

With that being said, he nodded his head towards Kingsley and tucked Ginny's arm into his, whisking her out of the office with more flare than Ginny would have ever been able to possess. Just as the door began to shut, Ginny flicked her wand over her shoulder, sending a nasty bat bogey hex at Harry, sending the office they'd just vacated into a bit of a frenzy. "Ginny? What are you–"

"Not today, Percy. Congratulations on the promotion by the way," Ginny said, passing her brother as he stepped out of his new office. "Deputy Minister of Magic, next stop is the top job, huh?" Her brother stood watching her, with her arm linked with Blaise's and his face morphed into a disapproving scowl. "Let's go home Blaise, I need to contact a solicitor about a divorce."

...

1st of June 2013

Zabini Cottage, Samson, the Isle of Scilly in Cornwall

Luna sat, her hands perched on her slightly protruding belly, softly smiling; her heart, however, was in utter turmoil as she watched her wife struggling with the day. The day before had been hard on Ginny, as she had been unable to attend any of the services for Harry, and even though Blaise had been more than willing to take the three Potter children, she knew Ginny still felt guilty for not being there for her children as they said goodbye to their father.

As the solicitor, a very kind gentleman that Luna very much wished to invite to tea to look over her father's estate, finished the reading of the will, the room seemed to be coming back to life. Luna moved slightly closer to Blaise as she watched Ron take another drink from his hip flask, the smell of firewhisky rolling off him in waves, making her feel slightly nauseated.

She took another deep breath, reaching out a hand, resting it on Ginny's leg, rubbing soothing circles on her wife's swollen limb. Ginny was attempting to stay calm so that she did not go into labour with the triplets early, but Luna knew that the rest of the Weasleys, sans Charlie, were trying her patience to various degrees.

"Now," the elderly man adjusted his glasses, "the executor can begin passing everything out. I have all the deeds and some of the items here with me." He reached out in his case, pulling out an odd looking birdcage filled with some sort of exotic animal she'd never seen. "No, that's someone else's," he said, as he shoved the cage back into the case with a clang and a squawk. "Oh, here it is," he pulled out a large bag labelled with an 'HJP' on the outside.

"Who is the executor?" he asked, looking around, squinting, when Hermione huffed again, walking over muttering something that sounded like 'he shouldn't be asking, he should know.'

"I'll take it," the brunette witch snapped, roughly taking the bag. "You don't have to stay any longer, Walter. We appreciate everything you've done, but I can take it from here."

The wizard looked Hermione over as if he were seeing her for the first time and it made Luna smile again at what a kind soul he was. She could tell from his eyes that he was a gentleman that had lived a very full life, but his days would be coming to a close within the next few months.

"Yes, alright then, thank you for having me and tell Henry I'll be in contact." Standing on shaky legs, he pulled his walker over to himself. An elf that Luna hadn't even seen arrive with him, appeared next to the man, smiling fondly up at her master. Without another word, the pair disappeared with a crack.

"Shall we get this over with? Arthur, I'm really sorry, but Harry didn't own his aunt and uncle's house, so he couldn't leave it to you. However, there are a handful of muggle possessions in both Grimmauld Place and Potter Manor that I'm sure no one would have any issue with you taking your pick of, right?" Hermione asked the group at large, everyone nodding in agreement.

"And what about Mum? She was practically Harry's own mother, even after he was tossed aside." Ron's speech was slurred and Luna noticed that Padma's eyes grew wide as she looked at her husband. Luna's old housemate leaned in to whisper something into Ron's ear, but he pushed her off. "Mum should get the vaults, I say. Not some harlot that ditched him to pick up my ex-fiancée."

"Weasley," Blaise growled out next to Luna, clearly wanting to get violent with their brother-in-law, but now was not the time.

"Ron," Luna said, drawing the attention away from her spouses and towards herself. She was the one that he really had issues with and not either of them. "I realise when Harry put this together that we were still involved, but you are more than welcome to have everything that Harry left us. I know that it will mean more to you anyway since I was never nearly as close to him as you were."

"Hm, now she speaks," he said, his head rolling back slightly. "Tried to ignore me until you can't anymore, hm."

"Ron, mate, I think you've had enough to drink," George said, stepping away from Angelina and towards his brother. "You need to remember that you are a guest here, not entitled to sit in that chair, and you need to use some manners."

"Get off me; you have no idea what she," he pointed a finger in Luna's direction, "put me through. Complaining about my drinking? I wonder how many of her little spawns came out addicted to pixie dust. The bint got wrapped up with Nott, dragging that fucking pick-pocketing niffler everywhere while she sold the shit." A hiccup made his entire body bounce, "I bet that's how she could even afford to buy this place or have all those kids. Harry's child support payments that were supposed to take care of his kids, and fucking drug dealing, pieces of shit." Another hiccup made him stop, and he visibly swallowed a bit of sick that had come up with the last one. "Fucking slag, left me for a bunch of snakes, and then, when that wasn't enough, she had to go after my sister."

Luna hadn't even noticed Blaise move until he had an arm wrapped around Ron's neck and was dragging him from the room. "Because, and only because, you're my brother-in-law, I let you get away with a lot of shit. Calling my wife a slag under my own roof though, I'd slit a man's throat for less. If you ever try coming back to my home, I promise you that stupid mop of red hair won't be reminder enough for me not to skin you alive."

Just as Blaise was reaching the fireplace, the door burst open and the children spilled into the room followed closely by Charlie, Darius, and Draco. Of course, even in his intoxicated state, Ron was able to see who was there. "What the hell Charlie? Why are you here?"

"I come to see our sister's family whenever I'm in the UK, you tosser, which you'd know if you ever came to visit. And Blaise is one of my best mates," the elder brother stated, just shrugging as he watched Blaise continue dragging Ron towards the hearth.

"But he's a bleeding Slytherin!" Ron shouted. Padma stepped in front of him, grabbing the floo powder and tossing it into the flames, calling out 'The Burrow' and disappearing.

"Aren't we all a little old to be concerned about which dorm our brother-in-law slept in back in school, Ronnie? Grow up," were Charlie's parting words, and with that, Blaise tossed Ron Weasley into the green flames and he was gone.

...

7th of August 2007

Zabini Cabin, near Loch Lomond in the Trossachs National Forest, Scotland

After tucking her children into their beds in their new room, Ginny made her way downstairs.

"Thank you so much for letting me and the kids stay with you while we figure out what to do next. My mum has made it clear that me and Harry splitting up is all my fault, so staying at the Burrow would be…awkward. She sent an owl that basically said that she would only help with the kids if me and Harry were going to work it out. Dad made her say that we could move in there regardless, but it's just not…" Ginny trailed off, both embarrassed and unsurprised at her mother's complete defection.

"Ginny," Luna gripped her hand, "We have plenty of space. You can stay with us as long as you want or need. You aren't a burden here. Our baby loves your babies. And we adore you."

"And most importantly," Blaise Zabini entered the room with two bottles of champagne and three flutes, "Congratulations on your divorce from the Chosen Prat! I think getting those papers calls for a celebration, don't you?"

"I can't believe he signed the divorce papers so quickly and agreed to everything I asked for," Ginny smiled, "I'm glad to be out of that miserable excuse for a marriage."

Blaise poured three glasses and passed two to the ladies before sitting next to Ginny.

"Alla libertà e alla felicità." The three of them drank deeply.

"And what does that mean?'' Ginny asked, not knowing a lick of Italian to be able to translate.

"To freedom and happiness," Luna supplied, and at Ginny's surprised glance, "What? You can't be married to an Italian and not pick up some of the language. Blaise and his mother sometimes will only speak in Italian at dinner, and I like to be able to know what they're saying."

"Lu, we apologised. How long are you going to hold that over my head?"

"Oh," she leaned over Ginny and kissed him slowly, lingeringly at his lips, "at least one more day, as always."

Blaise laughed before refilling all of their glasses again. "What shall we toast to now?"

"To good friends?" Ginny laughed.

"An excellent place to begin," Luna smiled.

The three of them drank down the champagne, it going down much too smoothly, but Ginny couldn't find it in herself to care. After another round of refills, Luna lifted her glass and toasted, "To future possibilities and aged nifflers."

Ginny couldn't help but cackle; perhaps the champagne was going to her head already. A fourth glass of champagne was followed by a fifth and then a sixth. Ginny was soon giggling at Luna's increasingly nonsensical toasts, her head leaning on her best friend's shoulder as Luna stroked Ginny's hair.

"You know this is the first time since before the war that you've been single," Luna said, "I'm going to do something that I have been dying to do for years."

In a surprising move, Luna leaned forward and kissed Ginny, her lips soft and tasting of expensive champagne. Ginny had never kissed a girl before and Luna was so feminine and soft, completely different from the wizards she'd ever kissed. Ginny had seen girls kiss, when she'd played for the Harpies before she'd retired to be a stay at home mom and public celebrity. Hell, half of her old teammates had wives, but she'd never thought herself attracted to women in that sense. It had always been Harry for her, even when she'd briefly dated Dean in school before he'd come out.

Luna, unlike the men she'd been intimate with, smelled of peaches and cream and Ginny laced her fingers into Luna's blonde hair craving to pull the blonde in closer to her. The daisies Cole had put there earlier falling to the ground. Why on earth hadn't they kissed before? Luna was delicious and soft and warm.

"Fuck," Blaise moaned and Ginny looked over to see him palming himself through his pants. He looked bloody massive. Her eyes met his as Luna's lips trailed kisses down Ginny's neck, Luna's fingers working their way down Ginny's buttoned shirt slowly revealing more and more of her pale skin. "Fuck, Ginevra."

"You like what you see there, Mr. Zabini?" Luna laughed and looked over at her husband with hooded eyes.

"You know that I do, Mrs. Zabini. The question is, does Ginevra like me watching the two of you?"

"I do," Ginny whispered as she thought her heart was going to explode. Was this okay? Was this going to mess everything up between her and Luna? All doubting thoughts were pushed out of her head as Luna eased down Ginny's bra and began to suckle on one of her nipples, her milk quickly pooling forward with her arousal running into Luna's mouth. Luna's pleased hum made Ginny involuntarily arch her back, pushing her breasts forward into Luna's face.

"Luna! My milk!" Ginny felt self-conscious as she realised that Luna's tongue was chasing after the escaping drops down towards her navel.

"Ginny, it's so healthy and sweet. Can't waste even a single drop," Luna's bright blue eyes looked up and locked with Ginny's, "Blaise never wastes any of my milk. Isn't that right, my love?"

Blaise just groaned, unable to make any words as Luna continued to chase the milk droplets with her mouth. One made its way past Ginny's waistband and Luna sank to her knees, pulling Ginny's trousers down, exposing her black knickers.

"Sweet fucking Salazar," Blaise breathed out, his voice hoarse. As Luna revealed more and more of Ginny's long freckled legs, Ginny heard her breath becoming more and more erratic.

Luna looked up at Ginny with her fingers hooked into Ginny's knickers, ready to pull them down, "Do you want to go further? I can stop if you aren't comfortable with where this is heading."

"And where," Ginny gasped, "are we heading?"

"To our bed," Luna simply replied, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world.

"I don't want to ruin things between us," Ginny bit her lip, pensively.

"Bellissima, you could never," Blaise said from his place on the couch. "It's been a long time since we've brought a third to our bed, but we'd never expect it from you after tonight. It's your choice, now and any night. You have your own bed here, but we just hope that you will choose ours. It can be however you like."

"What Blaise means," Luna said, kissing along the lace edging of Ginny's knickers. "is that this can be as casual or serious as you like. We can be a hot revenge fuck or we can just let this evolve and see where it takes us. You are my best friend and I love you." Luna ran her tongue along Ginny's inner thigh, making constellations of the freckles that she found there. "And I want you to know that you are desirable and perfect."

Ginny was beyond aroused and she was sure that Luna could tell that her knickers were soaked. "As long as you promise it won't change anything between us."

"I can't promise that," Luna replied, "But I promise it won't change you being welcome to stay here for as long as you need, my love for you, nor how we act around you."

Ginny licked her lips as she watched Luna lay open mouth kisses up each thigh, pausing before she reached the apex. "Well, how could I say no to that?"

"Very easily if you do not want to, Bellissima," Blaise said, his voice steady. "We will not force you."

Ginny flashed him her most mischievous grin, "Let me rephrase that, why would I want to?"

"That's my girl," Luna purred, pulling down Ginny's knickers and Ginny's breath and soul left her body as Luna's tongue found her wet folds. Luna was amazingly talented with her mouth and Ginny found herself briefly wondering who exactly the Zabinis had taken to their bed in the past. But when Luna pulled the bud of Ginny's clit into her mouth and sucked, all those thoughts flew out of her mind. Ginny's whole consciousness was focused on the apex between her legs. Her eyes closed as she let the sensations wash over her.

Blaise had lowered the top of her trousers and freed his cock, holding it in his hand when Ginny looked over at him.

Bloody hell, he was massive!

Harry had been average and Dean, her first lover, had been slightly above average, but neither came anywhere near the size of Blaise Zabini's cock. Blaise was a dark skinned man, but his cock was a deeper darker colour, the tip almost plum. His uncut length looked like it would never fit inside her, Ginny couldn't imagine how it fit inside of Luna who was even more petite than she was. His own large hands barely wrapped the circumference and the length was almost more than Ginny could believe was real.

Pulling together her Gryffindor bravery, Ginny met Blaise's eyes and said, "You can do more than watch." That seemed to be all the invitation that Blaise needed as he was on his knees next to Luna in the next heartbeat. His tongue joined his wife's at Ginny's dripping core. His other hand continued to stroke his impossibly huge shaft. One of Luna's tiny pale hands joined his and the contrast was so erotic to Ginny that she felt herself clench at the sight. She'd loved the way her hands looked on Dean's skin too all those years ago.

Ginny ran her fingers through Luna's hair with one hand and stroked Blaise's cheek with her other. The tension coiled in her belly and she felt as though she were melting. There was no part of her core that she felt had not been kissed, licked, or nibbled by their diligent attention. When Blaise slid two of his long fingers into Ginny's dripping body while Luna sucked on her clit, Ginny came almost immediately all over Luna's face. Ginny's vision dimmed for a moment and the amount of wetness that came out of her body was a bit embarrassing, but Luna and Blaise seemed thrilled.

"Una brava ragazza," he breathed and blew across her over sensitive body.

Her body still vibrating, Ginny blinked slowly at the couple around her who had just brought her so much pleasure. Wanting to return the favour for everything he'd done since the end of her marriage, Ginny locked eyes with the Italian wizard, slowly licking her lips as she gazed at his massive cock. "Can I," Ginny's voice sounded raspy in her ears, "can I taste you?" she finally managed to get out, making Luna's shoulders go back as her excitement at the idea was painted all over her face.

"You don't–" Blaise started, but Luna's tiny hand slapped over his mouth, stopping the rest of his sentence.

"Hush, I want to see her lips wrapped around you, come here love, I'll help you." The blonde witch said, reaching out towards Ginny, a dreamy look on her face. "Now, come, Ginny." Ginny was powerless as she moved towards Luna, as if she were in a trance.

"Relax your jaw, my love," the blonde whispered into Ginny's ear as she positioned her two partners, readying herself for the show she was about to receive. "If you don't, he could hurt you, and we don't want that."

Ginny did as she was told, opening her mouth as wide as she could while leaning into towards the prick throbbing in the air waiting for her as Blaise sat back in his chair. She hovered over it for a moment before finally taking a breath and taking as much as she could into her mouth. She'd hardly gone past his tip before her jaw was aching and the head was nudging at her gag reflex.

"Don't worry, you'll get there," Luna whispered into Ginny's ear as the tears began to pool in her eyes at the full feeling in her mouth. "I can help you," came as Ginny felt Luna moving towards the exposed shaft that Ginny couldn't take. Luna sucked and licked while Ginny attempted to bob on the head of his cock, making Blaise beg desperately in Italian at the attention the two witches were giving him.

"Do you need to cum, my love?" Luna asked, looking up at him wide-eyed as she licked the underside of his manhood as Ginny popped off, wondering where this was going.

"Don't want to waste it," Blaise groaned, his hips rolling, "I need to put it where it counts." His words confused Ginny, but she licked her lips, enjoying that lingering taste of Blaise.

Blaise didn't waste a moment as he grabbed the petite blonde's hips and lifted her so that her dripping cunt was lined up with him. Ginny's eyes were drawn to her best friend as she watched the massive cock spread Luna apart in front of her. Ginny could only watch, enraptured, as her friend sank all the way down, taking his entire length deep inside her. Luna's gasp for Ginny finally broke her attention. "Gin, please, I need you too; it's so much," the little blonde was breathing heavily as she accommodated the massive prick inside her. Ginny moaned as Luna reached out, pinching Ginny's nipples, causing the milk to flow from her breasts. Luna lifted her finger to her mouth. Sucking the milk from her fingers, Luna let out a hum of appreciation at the taste.

"Your milk is so sweet, so delicious, just like you," her pupils blown wide, Luna reached out desperately pulling Ginny's face towards her. Ginny couldn't help but to look down at Luna's flat stomach where she could see the outline of Blaise impaling her. If it wasn't for the groans and the way Luna was looking at her, Ginny might worry that Blaise would be splitting her in half. Their lips meeting again was like lighting, a fire that Ginny never wanted put out, the bucking of Blaise's hips rocking Luna made for a constant reminder of the wizard that Ginny owed so much to already.

Blaise's climax hit him as he pulsed his release deep inside his wife, making Luna hum in satisfaction against Ginny's lips. "That was magic," Luna whispered, pulling away, a hand gently caressing Ginny's cheek before taking Ginny's hand and moving it to where Blaise and Luna were still connected. "Finish me, Ginny, I need your fingers to help me finish."

Doing as she was asked, Ginny found Luna's clit, rubbing tight circles that she often did on herself as Blaise slowly moved his still throbbing cock inside the little blonde. "I'm, I'm there, I'm there!" Luna shouted as her body vibrated with her release until she was slumped over on Blaise's chest, her pale skin a perfect contrast to his deep umber tone.

Ginny's eyes went wide as Blaise slowly pulled Luna off his cock, still fully erect as if he hadn't just pumped Luna full of the seed that was dripping down the inside of her thigh. "Do you want a turn, Ginevra?" he asked, his husky voice hard to ignore. "It's alright if you don't want to."

"No, I think," Ginny stopped, pulling her Gryffindor courage out, "I think I do want a ride."

"Come here, love," Luna whispered, her eyes wide as she slowly blinked at her. "I need to get you ready first," wiggling her fingers in a 'come here' motion, Ginny did as she was told. "I don't want Blaise to break you," Luna whispered, letting two fingers easily slide into Ginny's slick folds. "You're so tight, hm, he's going to love the feel of you around his cock."

Spreading her fingers, Ginny took in a deep breath at the stretch that the tiny hands were giving her. "Luna, oh my gods!" Ginny gasped as Luna spread her again.

"I want you to enjoy this, I'm used to Blaise and he still nearly breaks me every time."

Luna added two more fingers and stretched and scissored within Ginny, causing her to drip the wet proof of her arousal onto Luna's arm.

"I think I'm as ready as I will ever be," Ginny gasped after she came again under Luna's touch and moaned as she felt her wetness coating her inner thighs. She didn't think she had ever come so many times in her life.

"That's my girl," Blaise growled at Ginny as he hoisted her, just as he had Luna moments earlier, lining her up perfectly at the head of his cock. "You set the pace." Gripping his shoulders, as she impaled herself on Blaise and began to ride him. She had to ease her pussy onto it while Luna moved backwards in order to ride his face and whispered encouragement, kissing the column of Ginny's throat and teasing her damp nipples. With Blaise's hard shaft fully seated within her dripping core, Ginny had never felt so full. It was a revelation.

Blaise thrusted up into her again and again. His thickness made Ginny feel as though she might split into two. Luna reached forward to stroke and flick Ginny's clit causing Ginny to explode around Blaise. He groaned, but Ginny didn't feel him explode within her. He slid her up and off him, before grabbing Luna and sliding her wet core down the length of his chest.

"Blaise, put a baby in me, please!" Luna begged desperately, as she took him inside of her riding him while facing Ginny who had melted into the cushions, finally boneless and aching with the aftereffects of so much pleasure. Ginny's whole body was over-sensitive and twitching. And Luna holding her perfect full breasts as Blaise took her from below was an incredibly erotic image.

"Si mia dea perfetta, let me fuck a baby into you. I can't wait until you are pregnant again with my baby. Love the way you look when you are growing another one of my heirs. Your body is so perfect when you are incinta. Oh I just want to make one after another with you! Keeping you full with baby after baby."

"Fuck yes," Luna exclaimed, "I want that too! So many babies, I want everyone to know how much we love to shag, how much I love it when you fill me with your seed."

Ginny watched in awe as Blaise gripped Luna's hips and Luna held onto his thighs while he pounded into her with abandon. Their simultaneous orgasms were so overwhelming to her senses, that Ginny stroked her clit to completion one final time. It took only seconds. When she opened her eyes, Blaise and Luna were both smiling at her.

"Fancy a cuddle, Ginevra?" Blaise asked.

"Yeah, I think I might."

Luna's smile was overjoyed, and in that moment, Ginny couldn't find any single thing wrong with what had happened despite what she suspected other people would have to say. Well screw everyone else and what they thought, she was just going to reach out and grab her own happiness for a change.

And when a naked Blaise pulled her to her feet and kissed her deeply, Ginny Weasley (formerly Potter) kissed him back.

...

25th December 2029

Zabini Cottage, Samson, the Isle of Scilly in Cornwall

Hermione stepped through the fireplace with Draco and Theo close on her heels. Normally, she wouldn't bring Theo with her when it came to informing a family of a kidnapping, but Theo had simply refused to be left behind and wanted to bewith Luna when they broke the news.

Flick was pacing around, wringing his hands together in the grand foyer, only pausing with their arrival. He paid them no notice though, only continuing to mutter to himself in Elvish and at the speed he was speaking, Hermione couldn't translate what he was saying.

"Do you know where the twins are?" Draco asked, leaning in as his hand rested on his wife's lower back. "I know they said they were planning on hanging out with Pandora and Hermes today, but did they specify where exactly?"

"They're somewhere around here. Blaise isn't letting any of the kids off the island, even had James come home from the flat he shared with Al and Cole." Theo answered as they ascended the staircase, making a beeline for the master rooms where they knew Blaise and Luna would be waiting for them.

"Where are Al and Cole?" Hermione asked, looking over her shoulder at Theo.

"Romania with Charlie and Darius, apparently there was a dragon trainer that Charlie wanted Cole to meet, and Al went along with him for brotherly support. The rest of the Zabini kids are around though, Selene and Ember are back from Italy for the holiday." Hermione reached out, grasping Theo's hand in her own as they approached the doors. The trio all made eye contact before pushing it open to find the room filled.

Blaise and Luna sat together, holding each other, their eyes not seeing as they gazed towards the floor. Their posture was a complete contrast to James and Rory, who were both walking circles around the room, only stopping when they spotted Hermione, Draco and Theo. Lily, Selene, and Ember were all gathered around a drink cart, a tumbler in each of their hands as they sipped the whiskey, trying to calm their nerves.

Lancelot stood near the open window, a spliff hanging from his lips as he took deep drags, before blowing the smoke out into the air outside. Delia, Ruby, and Scarlet were each holding one of their younger siblings (Omaira, Nova, and Apollo). Hermione's heart clenched as she watched each of the children worrying for the well-being of their missing mother and their unborn sibling.

"How much are they wanting? We'll pay, however much it is, we'll pay it." James said, breaking the silence and stepping forwards. "I can go to Gringotts today and withdraw it."

Hermione and Draco exchanged a look with each other before looking towards Blaise and Luna and back at their younger children. "Delia, why don't you, the triplets, Omaira, and the twins go check on Flick and get some tea together." Realising that this wasn't up for discussion, the elder children all nodded their heads in agreement and ushered the younger three out, leaving their five older siblings and their parents.

"Papa," Lily Luna whispered, gently touching Blaise's face trying to bring him back around. "Papa, Auntie Hermione is here with news about mum." Her touch seemed to do the trick as Blaise looked up at the trio in front of them.

"Where is she?" Luna whispered, her eyes still unfocused, "her future is unclear; I can't see what's going to happen to her or the baby."

"There's been no ransom demand," Hermione began, unable to sit. Theo moved to Luna's other side, grasping her free hand, trying to offer her any support he could as the news was delivered. "George is dead, he was killed at the Ministry and there's no trace, magical or muggle of Ginny ever even being at the Ministry last night. With more typical cases, there's usually at least lingering magic and no one has ever died. We have to assume that it's someone else at this point."

Hermione's eyes flickered down to the wedding photo Blaise had grasped in his hand. "You have to find her, Hermione. You have to find my wife and our baby. The baby is due in two weeks. You have to bring them both home."

"I promise, we will," Hermione swore, and hoped that she wasn't about to be made a liar.