"You're starring"
Magnus didn't say a word and dedicated himself to spreading kisses on his husband's back. "How much time do you think we have?" he whispered softly.
Alec chuckled, "It depends, how fast can you be?" he shot back, turning around to wrap his arms around Magnus's neck.
Just as their lips were about to meet, the door to the room slowly creaked open. Magnus let out an exasperated sigh. "Forget it," he murmured, as Alec's chest vibrated with laughter.
"Good morning, cupcake," Magnus said with a grin, watching their son approach the bed. With an evil smile, Alec quickly scooped up Harry and began to tickle him, making the little wizard squeal with delight.
"Dad! Help me!" Harry screamed, struggling to escape Alec's ticklish assault.
"I'll save you, Hazz," Magnus said with a laugh, pulling Harry out of his husband's grasp and pinning Alec's hands to the bed above his head.
"It's not fair," Alec accused, feigning anger. "You're using your magic."
"Everything is fair in love and war," Magnus winked at Harry, making him laugh. "What should we do to Dad for misbehaving?"
"Tickle him!" Harry shouted. Magnus and Harry started tickling Alec's sides, making Alec burst into laughter. Finally, Magnus decided that they had tortured his husband enough and released him.
"Are your siblings awake, buddy?" Alec asked Harry, as sat between his parents, trying to tame his son's unruly hair with his fingers.
"I saw Teddy sneaking into Mia's room," Harry said, tracing patterns on the bed sheets.
"THEODORE NOTT LIGHTWOOD-BANE, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Mia's angry voice and Theo's laughter echoed down the hallway.
"She used his full name," Alec whistled in surprise.
"Mia, let go of my hair!" they heard Theo shout with a hint of desperation. "Don't grab the scissors, I'm begging you."
"We better get up before they kill each other," Alec said, quickly pulling on a black t-shirt and some sweatpants.
Magnus, Alec and Harry listened in horrified fascination to the dull thud of chairs falling as Mia threatened Theo with cutting his hair and many other unspeakable things. Harry jumped out of bed and ran towards the kitchen where his siblings were fighting.
"You're worried," Magnus said, already dressed in a silk robe, as he put his arms around Alec's waist.
"What time is Jem coming?" Alec asked, fixing his blue eyes on Magnus's hazel green ones.
"He's coming at twelve, as we agreed. What's worrying you?" Magnus asked, his hand gently caressing Alec's cheek.
Alec's blue eyes met Magnus's hazel green ones. "I'm afraid of how they'll react," he admitted. "The rune... they're part Shadowhunter, part witch."
"Our princess is strong. She's a fighter, just like you," Magnus said with a comforting smile. "Look at Teddy, he's fine."
Suddenly, they heard a loud crash followed by their daughter's scream. Harry jumped out of bed and ran towards the kitchen where Mia and Theo were fighting.
"Harry, be careful"
Suddenly, they heard a loud crash followed by their daughter's and Alec looked at each other in alarm and ran towards the kitchen. In the kitchen, there was a broken bowl with milk and cereal scattered on the floor. Mia was holding Theo by the collar of his shirt, and Harry stood there, looking embarrassed.
"I'm sorry?" Harry said, his eyes darting between his parents.
"Don't worry, Hazz," Magnus said, walking into the kitchen and with a snap of his fingers, cleaning up the mess. "Who wants pancakes?"
"Happy birthday, princess," Alec said, giving Mia a kiss on the top of her head.
"Happy birthday, Mia!" Harry shouted, hugging his older sister.
Theo came over, scratching his neck in embarrassment. "Happy birthday, I guess."
Mia examined Theo closely and then hugged him tightly. "You're an idiot, but you're my idiot."
"Wash your hands and sit down to eat the best pancakes in the world," said Magnus, approaching with two plates full of pancakes topped with whipped cream. "Happy birthday, tootsie."
"Dragon, what are you doing awake?" Clary asked as she walked into the living room.
"I couldn't sleep anymore," Draco answered, looking at his mother.
Clary glanced around, searching for her eldest daughter. "Your sister?"
"Sleeping like Dad," Draco said, laughing.
"Is there something worrying you?" Clary asked, lifting Draco into her arms and sitting him on her lap.
"Is it wrong for me to want to go to Hogwarts?" Draco asked a little sadly. "I know Addie doesn't want to, but I would like to."
Clary smiled and brushed a strand of hair from Draco's face. "There's nothing wrong with that, honey, but you still have three years left to make that decision."
"Addie thinks I don't hear her talking to our parents at night, but I do hear her," Draco confessed, playing with the rings on Clary's hand. "Sometimes she cries, and sometimes she yells at them. I don't want Addie to get angry with our parents."
Clary looked sympathetically at Draco. She and Jace knew how hard it was for their children to lose their parents. Of the two, Adhara had the hardest time overcoming the death of her parents. Draco, being only a year old when it happened, didn't remember much, but Adhara used to have a lot of nightmares.
"Your sister is not angry with your parents," Clary explained to her son. "Addie feels alone, and that's why she reacts that way."
"But Addie has me, Teddy, Mia, Harry, Uncle Magnus, and Uncle Alec," Draco argued, frowning. "She's not alone.
Clary smiled at Draco's innocence. "But deep down, she feels alone because your parents died, and sometimes that hole is hard to cover. That doesn't mean Addie doesn't love us."
"Addie says that our parents are heroes, just like Mia's parents," Draco said quietly. "It scares me because I remember very few things about them. I don't want to forget about them."
"You were very little when you came to the Institute," Clary said, ruffling his hair. "I remember very little from when I was one year old, almost nothing."
"Mom, do you think Addie or Dad will be mad if I tell them I want to go to Hogwarts?" Draco asked worriedly.
"They're not going to be angry, honey, don't worry," Clary reassured him, giving him a kiss on the forehead. "Do you want to help me prepare breakfast for your sister and your father?"
Draco's eyes lit up. "Can we make pancakes?"
Clary smiled at her son. "Absolutely, Dragon. Let's make some delicious pancakes together. Hopefully that'll get your father and sister up"
"Lily, it's today, it's today!" James squealed excitedly. "My princess is turning eleven"
"James, we're right here next to you, don't scream," Lily said, watching as Mia and Adhara entered the room, followed by her parents and siblings.
"Will it hurt?" Narcissa asked, her voice filled with concern as she watched her daughter talk to Mia.
"Alec and Teddy only mentioned that they would feel heat in the area where the rune was," Lucius commented, trying to calm his wife. "I trust their judgment."
"I can't believe they're already eleven years old," Lily said with a touch of melancholy. "It's incredible how time flies."
"Shut up, it's about to start," said James, summoning a bowl of popcorn.
"To the Angel, I entrust my life," Mia said with a clear and strong voice.
"To receive the rune of the Angel," Adhara continued.
"And vow to uphold the laws of Heaven."
Alec heard sniffles next to him and, turning away from Mia, he saw his husband, Magnus, with makeup running down his face. Without saying a word, he hugged Magnus and placed a kiss on his forehead. Magnus looked at him and gave him a watery smile as the ceremony continued.
"I take this Mark to honor Him,"
"To bring His light into me, so I may join the ranks of the Shadowhunters, the guardians of peace."
Jem smiled and, carefully taking the stele, he drew the angelic rune on Mia and Adhara's forearms. Mia showed no emotion, but Adhara grimaced as she looked at where the angelic rune was pulsating, while Harry and Draco clapped excitedly.
"I'm so proud of you, tootsie," Magnus was the first to run and hug his daughter.
"Now we're the same," Theo exclaimed, rolling up his sleeves to show his own angelic rune.
"I can't believe Jace cried at his daughter's rune ceremony," Izzy said, sipping some wine from her glass.
"Alec also cried," Alec commented, watching as Magnus was talking animatedly with his daughter and his niece.
"Addie, princess, I'm so proud of you," Jace said as he hugged Adhara with tears in his eyes.
"Dad, don't cry or you'll make me cry," Adhara smiled at her father.
"You're going to be an excellent Shadowhunter," Jace said, ruffling his daughter's hair. "I love you more than anything in this world."
"Dad, not the hair!" Adhara protested, trying to fix her hair with her fingers.
"BIRTHDAY PARTY AT MY PLACE!" Magnus shouted, opening a portal.
"May I have this dance, Miss Potter?"
Mia raised her head and found a blonde boy with golden eyes, very similar to her uncle Jace's, looking at her with a charming smile. "It's Lightwood," she replied.
"Excuse me?" the boy asked, tilting his head.
"My last name is Lightwood," Mia repeated, "Lightwood-Bane to be precise."
"So, will you grant me this dance, Miss Lightwood-Bane?" He repeated, still smiling and offering his hand.
"I don't know what your name is," Mia pointed out.
"My name is Jace," the boy introduced himself. "Jace Beaufort-Grimaldi."
"Same as my uncle," Mia commented with a small smile.
"I bet he's an excellent person," Jace said arrogantly.
"You also have the same arrogance," Mia said, shaking her head in amusement.
"Does that mean you'll dance with me?" Jace asked excitedly.
"You can call me Mia, my whole family does," Mia took the hand that Jace was offering her, and they approached the dance floor.
"I know your story, Potter, the entire wizarding world knows your story," Jace commented as he twirled Mia in his arms.
"Who are you?" Mia asked, scrutinizing him with her gaze.
"I already told you my name," Jace replied with a smile.
"If you've come to get information about my family, I'd better go," Mia started to walk away from Jace when she felt a hand on her wrist. "Let go of me and get lost."
"I'm sorry," Jace said softly. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
"Me... Addie and I stayed away from London for people like you," Mia glared at him. "It's cruel and honestly sick that we are known for the death of our parents."
"My parents fled before the war got worse," Jace commented, trying to empathize. "I'm sorry you lost your parents. I can't imagine the pain you must have gone through."
"Do you want me to show you something?" Mia asked suddenly.
"Lead the way," Jace said, smiling, "I was already getting overwhelmed anyway."
Mia and Jace crossed the dance floor, which was full of people dancing and drinking. They walked down several hallways until they finally reached a white door with several golden runes on the door frame.
"What are they?" Jace asked curiously, bringing his hand closer to brush his fingers against the door frame.
"They're runes," Mia responded, taking out her stele and drawing a rune on the door post. With a soft click, the door opened.
"It's incredible," Jace said in amazement, looking at the room decorated with photos, "where are we?"
"This room contains everything related to my parents," Mia murmured, lovingly picking up a small plushie star, "those are my parents and my godfather."
Jace looked where Mia was pointing and above the fireplace he saw a painting of the Potter couple: James was standing, dressed in a black three-piece suit with a burgundy vest, and under the vest a white shirt and a gold tie. Perched on the bridge of his nose were his black glasses with his eyes shining mischievously, a lopsided smile showing the dimple on his right cheek. Lily, on the other hand, was sitting, wearing a pastel green dress, her straight red hair half up. Her green eyes shining and a smile from ear to ear.
In another painting, there was Regulus in an all-black suit, his curls perfectly combed back, with a serene expression and a hint of a smile if you looked closely.
"Was your father a Gryffindor?" Jace asked, examining the painting.
"What other house could I be in, young man?" James's voice came from the painting, making Jace jump in shock.
"Hello, Dad," Mia greeted with a soft voice.
"Princess, happy birthday," James said in a cheerful voice, "I can't believe you're already eleven."
"Happy birthday, babygirl," Lily smiled at her daughter, "I hope you are enjoying your special day."
"I miss you," Mia said, her voice tinged with sadness looking at the painting, "I wish you were here. I wish you were all here"
"Don't be sad, princess," James said with a small smile, "I don't like seeing you sad."
"Lord and Lady Potter," Jace's voice interrupted, making James and Lily turn in their direction.
"And who are you supposed to be?" James said, narrowing his eyes in jealousy.
"James, stop," Lily said, hitting him on the arm, "what's your name?"
"Jace," He replied shortly, a little nervous because of how James looked at him.
"Call me Lily," Lily said smiling, "so are you a friend of my daughter?"
"We met today, mom," Mia explained, blushing.
"You remind me of my brother," Regulus had been watching the scene silently, the boy was bold.
"Regulus Black," Jace swallowed hard. Everyone knew the Black family and their history.
"That's right," Regulus smirked, his gray eyes shining malevolently, "what are your intentions with my goddaughter?"
"I...I... We're just friends, if she wants," Jace added quickly, scratching his neck, flushed with embarrassment.
"It's the first time you've brought a friend in here, Mia," Regulus said, looking at his goddaughter. "By the way, happy birthday, petite étoile."
"The party was getting a little stuffy," Mia responded as she played with the stele in her hand.
"I've noticed that there are almost no pictures of you and your other siblings," Jace commented, walking around and picking up a framed photo. "You look cute in this photo."
"Family portraits are a pureblood tradition," Mia explained as she walked around the room. "They are usually done at Christmas,, the portrait in which my little brother was going to show up was going to be done the Christmas my parents died."
"We managed to do three of those portraits with Mia," said James proudly. "It took me a while to convince Lily to do them, but in the end, I won."
"I thought it was ridiculous," Lily complained, blushing slightly, "but now I'm glad that Mia and Harry have photos and portraits of us."
"I'm sorry you had to die to guarantee peace in the wizarding world," Jace said, looking at the portraits. "I didn't live in London through the war, but everyone knows your story. Your daughter... your children are famous."
"What do they call her?" Regulus asked in an authoritative, cold voice. It seemed as if the temperature in the room had dropped. "What sick nickname did they give my goddaughter?"
"The Girl Who Lived, or at least one of them," Jace responded fearfully, watching Regulus's eyes darken.
"You shouldn't have said that," Mia whispered, pulling Jace's shirt and watching as her father and mother began to get angry.
"I... I thought they knew," Jace apologized. Today it seemed like he was doing nothing but screwing up.
"That's one of the main reasons why Addie and I don't want to go back to London," Mia's voice was loud above the voices of her parents and her godfather. "That's why we don't want to go to Hogwarts."
"But... but, princess, it's in your blood right to go to Hogwarts," James exclaimed, looking at his daughter in alarm. "Your mother, your grandparents, our entire family has gone to Hogwarts."
"I don't want to go, Dad. You should understand," Mia looked at him, hurt by his response. "You should support me.
"Petite étóile," Regulus pronounced softly, "why don't you want to go to Hogwarts?"
"I don't want to be compared to anyone. I don't want to be told how much I look like Dad. I don't want to be asked what it's like to be an orphan. I don't want to be asked what it was like to lose you all," Mia listed, crying. "I don't want to—"
"Mia, princess, I'm sorry," James said, embarrassed. "I just... I just thought you'd like to see where your mother and I learned magic, the walls of that castle hold all our memories."
"I don't regret who I am," Mia said, frustrated, wiping her tears, "but you can't imagine how difficult it is for Addie and me to look in the mirror every day and see that you're not with us, especially when we look so much like you."
"You are beautiful just the way you are," Lily said with tears in her eyes, "and your father and I couldn't be more proud of the young woman you are becoming. But I would like you to do me a small favor."
"What's that favor?" Mia asked curiously.
"Go to Hogwarts for one year, just one," Lily smiled hopefully, looking at her daughter. "I would like you to see the castle and its surroundings, discover everything that the wizarding world can offer you. What do you think, honey? It's only one year."
"Harry does want to go to Hogwarts, I heard him talking to Draco a couple of weeks ago," Mia confessed thoughtfully. "I promise I'll talk to Addie and Teddy about it."
"REMUS, REMUS, WE'VE RECEIVED A LETTER," Sirius was shouting through the corridors of Hogwarts, without apologizing to the students who bumped or tripped.
"SIRIUS BLACK, STOP RUNNING RIGHT NOW OR I'LL GIVE YOU A DETENTION," Minerva screamed, seeing the chaos that Sirius had caused.
"TERRIBLY SORRY, MINNIE, YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU ARE NO LONGER MY HEAD OF HOUSE OR MY HEADMISTRESS," Sirius shouted, running past Minerva, waving the letter.
Remus, who had heard Minerva's screams, came out into the hallway just to see how her husband came running in her direction with a letter in his hand.
"Moons... letter... I," Sirius was breathless as he held out the letter for Remus to take.
Remus laughed and put an arm around Sirius's shoulders and led him into his chambers. Once inside, he let Sirius sit down and offered him a glass of water, which he happily gulped down.
"Now that you are able to breathe," Remus began, laughing, "who is this letter from and why are you running?"
"Look at the sender of the letter," Sirius was practically jumping with excitement.
Remus turned the envelope over, and there in elegant gold letters was written HERMIONE LIGHTWOOD-BANE AND ADHARA HERONDALE. With tears in his eyes, he delicately traced the letters while he felt Sirius hug him from behind.
"Open the letter," Sirius encouraged, his voice thick with emotion. With great delicacy, Remus opened the letter and began to read.
"Hello Uncle Pads and Uncle Moony,
You may be wondering why we haven't contacted you before, and we don't even have the answers to that question. I guess we are not yet ready to face our past.
We have decided to write to you because Addie and I are not going to go to Hogwarts or at least not in the near future, and although we are not ready to set foot in London, we would like to be able to visit you or for you to visit us.
We will understand if you are angry with us for not having spoken to you before, but we would like you to know that we are fine, we have a huge family that loves us and has raised us as if we were their own.
We all live in New York, Addie and Draco live with Uncle Jace and Aunt Clary, and I, Teddy, and Harry live with our dads. You read that right, Dads. We have two dads; Alec and Magnus, we call Magnus 'Papa,' and we call Alec 'Dad.'
Although we have our own houses, we live and study at the Institute. We have written the address at the end of the letter so that you can come to visit us. Our parents train us daily in Shadowhunter tradition (we will explain it to you when you come) and 'Papa' is in charge of teaching us magic (a friend of 'Papa' has gotten us books and wands).
We have not forgotten you or our parents, when Teddy turned seven, along with our entire adoptive family, they gave us family portraits and all the photos of our first four years. We have taught Draco and Harry that if they look at the sky, you, along with all our parents, watch us and take care of us, and there is not a day that we do not remind them of how brave you all were and how much you loved us.
We miss you very much, and we hope you can come see us one day.
With love, Mia and Addie."
"My God," Remus murmured between sobs, "it's really them"
"You know what this means?" Sirius asked with tears running down his cheeks, ruining his makeup, crouching in front of his husband.
"We've found them," Remus rested his forehead against Sirius's as he cried with relief.
"We're going to New York," Sirius exclaimed through tears and hugged Remus, who was laughing through his own tears. They'd found them. They'd found their family.