December 1985

Hazel Potter-Black was confused, an emotion she never liked to have so used to it meaning some sort of manipulation behind-the-scenes of her life was happening.

And yet this time it seemed to be for a pure reason.

Home, she'd never truly had one til Hogwarts and then even that had been taken from her. She could still smell the ash in the air after the final battle l, hear the sobs of those who had lost and she had become numb.

It took living her life to it's end before she realized she'd failed so many because she failed to truly live after the dust settled.

Then Death came to her with an opportunity, see through the lives of other versions of her in other timelines. She'd learned much from the different variations of the One Who Conquered. And when the time came for her to return to the moment she'd given up in her own life she had a new outlook. She new the mistakes she made, the unattentional suffering she caused, the history she repeated and so she changed it.

The boy from her only father figure she ever had.

The girl from the one who killed her father and mother.

She would give them what she never had, a home. The unconditional love of a parent.

But Hazel knew the wizarding world would not change quick enough, and her small family would be put under scrutiny. So she said goodbye to her old dimension and stepped into another.

Godric and Helga were nothing like how they looked in their portraits in Hogwarts. Death had informed her he had given them a new start in every sense, which included new names with their memories and magic from their days as founders locked away.

Without her arrival they would have died in 1991, but with it they received magic and memories. Their magic healing them from the inside out. Still they embraced their new lives completely, so comfortable in a modern world (well in comparison to their original time).

Death had told her of this new world she'd find herself. Wixen had died out, magical creatures were in hiding, whereas funnily enough the goblins had embraced their new circumstances. Gringotts was the largest bank chain in the world. The goblins wore glamours happy with their way of life and control over many countries finances. Magical beings were few but still about; veela stayed to themselves, vampires had kings ruling them, werewolves remained in less populated areas with their packs and the rare shapeshifters stuck in their reservations and communities around the world.

Any future children she might have would have the mage gene but any before her return that might have had it due to gifts passed down in families would not have it activate. Meaning they'd still have a gift, but they would not have access to magic.

For this reason although Charlie Swan had the mage gene, he would not be able to use magic only pass on the gene himself. She did notice he had natural Occulemency which she assumed must be one of these gifts Death had mentioned.

Charlie was a kind man, he never failed to visit his parents no matter how tired he might look after a week of training. He was wary and his gaze curious of her at first, but as he spent more time around her, Teddy and Dahlia (once named Delphi) he relaxed and so she in effect did as well.

The reason she'd been confused was his parents.

A couple of months after settling in, she tried looking into getting another home for her and the kids. The pamphlets, info on for sale properties would always vanish. She would be distracted from making a call to a realtor because they'd come forward with something. It took her longer than she would like to care to admit to realize its all on purpose.

She rounded a corner to find Helen in a rocking chair with Teddy, her eyes drooping, and Geoffrey reading to Dahlia in the other chair. She watched under a notice-me-not as Geoffrey lovingly kissed Lia's forehead before placing her in her crib.

"Good night, sweetheart."

Then he carefully woke his wife and followed her as she placed Teddy in his crib. His arms around her as they looked down at the babies.

They loved them.

"Come out dear we know you are there."

She cancelled the notice-me-not before stepping into the small pool of light from the soft lighting.

"You love them."

"Yes."

"We love you too, Hazel."

They spoke at the same time.

I didn't understand.

"Why?"

"You are lovely, Hazel. You love so fiercely not asking for anything in return. You truly care about others. You are bright and inventive. You know so much, have been through so much and yet you never stop being curious about everything." Helen gave her a gentle and proud smile.

Hazel felt a blush rising in her cheeks, she tugged at the bottom of her sweater a nervous habit. "Is this why you don't want me to move?"

Geoffrey stepped forward, "Why should family part unless they absolutely have to."

"I'm your family?" Hazel hated how her voice cracked.

And Helen stepped forward carefully pulling her into a hug, "We would be proud to call you family, if you would have us?"

Hazel nodded, her chin in the woman's shoulder her throat clogged for a moment unable to speak afraid if she did she'd start crying.