(Edward "Ted" Tonks - PoV)

Once the kids are all packed off to bed, Andy and I can finally relax on the sofa.

She stretches out across it with a great groan, resting her head in my lap, eyes closed.

There is a lot to talk about, but it is best to start things off light.

"So, it's been a while since I got to play the good little minion for my Pureblood Princess."

She groans again, swatting at me without opening her eyes.

It really has been a long time since we did that. It was our original dynamic, how we played things up in school, and how she could be seen with me in public. I was her good, quiet little henchman.

She hmmms as I massage her head.

I won't lie, I don't mind playing the role, even now. She is beautiful when she gets like that. Scary and beautiful. Unlike her sisters, I know she only acts out on those that deserve it, like those bloody child-abusing bastards.

...

She looks so comfortable right now, so content. I don't want to ruin it, but we really should talk about the whole taking in a new kid thing. An abused kid at that. A famous abused kid, the most famous one in the wizarding world. One that we will probably have to fight the entire ministry and the most politically and magically powerful wizard in the world for.

I open my mouth to speak when I hear the first light snore.

...

Slapping the shit out of the most powerful wizard in the world really takes it out of you, huh?

I stroke her hair.

I guess it can wait until tomorrow.

I wake up to that irritating buzz of the alarm spell. Grunting, I shake my wand to get it to quiet down.

Ugh, my back is killing me.

I stretch my arms and look around as Andy grumbles in my lap.

Right, went to sleep right here on the couch, because I didn't want to wake her. That may have been a mistake. I'm not old yet, but I'm certainly not a teenager anymore.

I stand up. Ohhh, god my back. Damn, damn, damn.

"Did we sleep on the couch?" Andy asks groggily.

*Snap* *Crack*

Ugh. Well, that's a little better at least.

"You slept on the couch. I think I spent all night compressing my spine," I reply. "There has to be a spell for this..."

I need more medical books...

Andy stares at me like a zombie, her hair appearing almost like a separate living creature.

I sigh.

"I'll get the coffee started," I tell her, shuffling my way to the kitchen.

I look at the twins laying on the floor.

"You two do remember that Dora finished her sixth year right? Not only that, but she is top of her class in Defense, and training to be an Auror. Just because you finally got your wands doesn't mean you can actually take her now, especially in the morning when she is moody."

They don't respond, of course. The Full-Body Bind won't allow for that.

"I could just leave you two here for the morning, let it be a lesson. Maybe you would learn something?"

Oh wow, I can feel the sudden hostility.

"Then again I get the feeling I would regret that choice rather quickly."

They very much inherited the Blacks' vengeful nature. I shudder to think how bad they are going to be when they get older.

I cast the counter curse, freeing them.

Their jerk around for a few moments, before springing up and hugging each other.

"That absolutely sucked. We will have to get her back for it." Coeus says.

Phoebe nods.

I shake my head. Like I thought, vengeful.

They look at each other, frowning, before turning to me with unhappy expressions.

I roll my eyes and return them to their normal colors.

"Thanks, Ted," they say in unison.

At least I am safe from their retribution. I try to play Switzerland around here. Someone needs to, or it would be constant war with so many stubborn, spiteful personalities.

It is a good thing too. I remember the Halloween incident, when everyone other than me was paralyzed, through spell or poison. I can't imagine how long they would have been stuck like that, glaring at each other, if I hadn't been free to fix everyone.

I knock on Dora's door.

"Dora? Are you good yet? Breakfast is ready," I call out.

Most men and boys complain about how long it takes for girls to get ready. With Dora, it can be even worse since she not only has to decide what clothes to wear but what body to wear them on.

"Coming!"

The door opens, revealing a head of purple hair.

Fortunately, it looks like today she went with her usual build, similar to a teenage Andy. I am not quite sold on the 'Punk' outfits she has taken to recently but try not to complain. At least she isn't into drugs or something.

She smirks at the twins, who meet her with matching glares.

"None of that now. Breakfast." I pat my belly, which may have grown a bit since my own school days. "Let's go."

I mostly ignore the breakfast argument, other than to slip a little bit of chocolate into my own pancakes.

Mmm. I don't really get Andy's opposition to the matter.

I wait until after breakfast is finished to pull Iris to one side.

"Are you ready for your checkup then?" I ask her.

She nods reluctantly.

Not exactly enthusiastic, but no one ever is. Not even healers. I smile. We actually tend to be the worst patients, I would know.

(Coeus Black - PoV)

"Now, another important question," Ted tells Iris. "Do you want to do it alone, or do you want the others to come with you?"

He tries to ask the last part quietly, but the room is only so big, so we can still hear him.

Iris looks over at us uncertainly.

Phoebe and I both smile at her, Dora having already retreated to her room to change her shirt due to the chocolate stains it gained after our disagreement.

"Whatever you want Iris, we got your back either way," I tell her.

I mean it, I won't be offended if she wants us to stay out. I can certainly understand embarrassment and shame well enough, and this is several magnitudes beyond that.

She opens her mouth, hesitates, and then spins around and runs away.

We all stare after her as we hear the bathroom door slam shut.

(Iris Potter - PoV)

I...I hesitate.

I...I don't want to. Idon'twanttoIdontwanttoIdontwantto.

I can't help it, I run. I run away, slamming the bathroom door behind me.

Collapsing on the floor I start rocking back and forth, and I can't stop the tears that spring forth.

...

*Sob*

A...A day. I didn't even make it...a day...

And I already messed it all up. I...I ruined it. They are going to kick me out, aren't they?

Oh no...oh nononono.

*thud* *thud* *thud*

I thump against the door again and again as I rock back and forth, tears streaming down my face, ruining my new shirt. The shirt they bought me. That Coeus picked out for me.

*Sob*

All...all I had to do was...was just go along with things...just let him...let him see...everything...

Clutching at the ugly bruise on my shoulder I cringe at the thought of all the other marks they will find.

"Iris?" Coeus's voice calls out on the other side of the door.

I freeze.

"Iris...are you ok?"

...

Am...am I?

...

I'm not, am I? Normal people don't act like this...Normal people don't do this...

*Sob*

No...no I'm not ok...I'm all messed up...They were right all along, I'm a freak...

I start shaking...Freak...

"Iris, can you come out?"

I shake my head. No...No I don't think so...Freaks don't belong outside...

"I can't give you a hug while you are in there."

That makes me freeze in place again.

I...really want a hug. But freaks don't deserve hugs.

I stare at the door. Stare really, really hard.

"Please? We miss you."

...

They...they want me to come out. Good girls do what they are told, right? I...I should listen.

"I...I'm coming..."

...

I just...just have to, grab the handle, and open it...right?

Why...Why is it so hard?

They...they won't...be mad...will they?

...

...

"Iris?" he calls out softly.

"Are you mad?" I ask, pressing against the door.

"Mad? No, I told you. We want to hug you. We think you need it."

...

"O...Ok."

I grab the handle.

Breathe deep. Ok. It'll be ok. Coeus said so.

I open the door.

(Coeus Black - PoV)

The door opens, and she is there, trembling.

I drag her out of the bathroom and pull her in a hug, ignoring her ruined hair and wet shirt.

Phoebe wraps around her from the other side.

"We've got you now," I tell her.

This entire thing was ridiculous. Not for her, no. That she was reduced to this. That those muggles did this to her. I...I try to suppress my rage once more. There will be time for anger later, for proper Black vengeance later. Right now, she needs taken care of first.

I think I am successful, by the time she looks up at me, wiping her puffy eyes.

She looks around the room, cringing when she sees Ted and Andy.

When nothing happens, she looks again.

"You're not...mad?" she asks.

"No Iris, we are not mad, not at all," he says, before hesitating. "Not at you. How about you come sit on the couch, and we can talk, ok?" he asks her.

She hesitates.

"Phoebe and I will be right beside you," I tell her.

"Ok," she answers quietly.

We eventually have to unwrap ourselves to get through a doorway, and settle for holding hands. Iris maintains a deathgrip on us as she sits between Phoebe and me on the couch.

The adults take their usual chairs. Dora still has not come down from her room, presumably assuming that Iris is having her checkup and doesn't want to be bothered.

Andy and Ted look at each other, while Iris's eyes flick between them nervously. She sits stiffly.

"Relax Iris," I tell her. "We told you, no one is mad. You are not in trouble."

She looks at me but remains stiff.

"Iris," Ted begins, "I am sorry, but I am going to be blunt here. We all know about the abuse."

She clenches our hands harder.

"I...have not suffered the same, so I cannot pretend to know what it is like, but you have nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing. We only want to help you."

He holds up his wand.

"We do need to do a medical check-up, to make certain that you are healthy, that there are no problems that can be prevented that may come back to haunt you later in life. Why are you afraid of doing it?" he asks directly.

...

She doesn't respond, looking slightly to the side.

"Iris, I am sorry to force things like this, but if you don't answer, I am going to start casting diagnostics."

She tenses.

"I..."

...

"I don't...want anyone...to...see."

See? See what?

"To see what Iris?" Ted's voice is calming and patient.

...

She whispers something under her breath, so quietly I cannot make it out, even right next to her.

"I'm sorry, what was that Iris? We couldn't hear you," he says.

...

"I...I'm a freak..." she says...

This time it's my turn to squeeze her hand too hard.

"No!" I start to say more, but Ted cuts me off.

"Coeus is right. Is that what the Dursleys called you? A freak?"

She nods.

I can barely stay in my seat. Those absolute scum.

"Ignoring that it is not true, why is it relevant right now?" he asks.

...

She looks over at me, and I reach over with my free hand and hug her.

"We got you Iris, and we will get those scum back for everything," I promise her, whispering in her ear.

I let go and sit back.

She looks at me for a long moment, before taking a deep breath.

Letting go of our hands, she stands and lifts up her shift, showing up her back...

She slowly turns around the room, so everyone gets a good look, and it is...

There is no shortage of ugly bruises scattered at random, of every size and shape. Some are old and near healed, others appear fresh, as recently as...as just before she met Hagrid.

They go up and down her torso, disappearing under the hem of her jeans, implying more below.

Worse, is underneath them. A number of scars. She is not quite covered in them, like Moody, but there are far more than I have seen on anyone save a couple of other veteran Aurors. I don't know enough to know how they were made, but I recognize a couple of nasty burns.

She pulls her shirt back down and sits, grabbing our hands like a lifeline.

"The-There's more, but I don't want to..."

"T-" Ted clears his throat. "That's fine, Iris. I think we saw enough to make your point...though I am afraid it reinforces mine, in that we very much need a medical check up, and honestly, we may need to visit St Mungo's."

"Do...Do we have to?" She asks.

"The checkup or the hospital?"

She shrugs.

"The checkup I am afraid we very much have to, yes. I couldn't live with myself if you were to develop a serious health problem down the line that could have been easily prevented now, and it is very likely, given everything we have seen. The hospital...it will depend on the results of the checkup."

Iris sighs but doesn't argue as Ted begins his scans.

I squeeze her hand tighter.

...

Ted's frown becomes more and more pronounced as he casts.

He scribbles notes down on a piece of parchment as he works, but I don't have a good line of sight to read them.

I probably don't want to, I am trying to avoid being angry right now, and Iris is already getting fidgety.

Andy can't seem to contain her curiosity and stands from her chair to go look over them.

Considering her expression? It is best if I don't read them for the moment.

...

It takes longer than anyone would like, but eventually Ted lowers his wand with a sigh.

"Are...are we done?" Iris asks, still refusing to look at anyone.

He looks at Andy before answering. "We will have a lot to talk about later, but it has been a long day already, hasn't it? Yes, for now, we are done." He smiles at her...sort of. I'm not sure if she can tell, but after living with him, it is obviously fake. "You three go have fun for a little while until lunch."


A.N. This was originally supposed to go straight to the checkup, then move onward from there. Iris felt otherwise.