Of Chocolate Hair and Violet Eyes - A Story of Life After...

Of Chocolate Hair and Violet Eyes -  A Story of The Life After…

Another story by that blasted Aravaeya

Chapter One

~~)~*~(~~

Author’s Notes and Introduction:

Right, well, some of you may have read my other story, Hurt Loves, a Draco and Ginny fic, and yes, I promise, I am still working hard on it, and another chapter should be served within the next three days or so. However, I sat down to finish it tonight, and this came instead, and who am I to repress my muse when it comes a-calling? It’s a different idea for me, to write about life after Hogwarts, but I quite like this, and will follow it to see where it goes.

This is definitely a Draco/Ginny and Harry/Hermione fic – could I possibly write anything else? No. Not possible.

Draco, Ginny, Molly Weasley, Snape, Dumbledore, Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy, McGonagall, Binns, Flitwick, Madam Hooch, Harry, Hermione, Fudge, Trelawny, and Ron, etc, are characters created by the wonderful JK Rowling, and I do not mean to harm them, only borrow them momentarily for my own enjoyment. I make no money off of this.

The plot of this story, however, and Aurora, Jamie, Mycah, Emerald, Trinity, and Daniel, are creations of my own heat-oppressed brain, so please do not use them without asking(you are more than welcome to use them in your own stories, just ask first).

Also, if you wish to archive this or any of my other works, please do ask so I can keep a record…

Now, I think that is it other than to say this:

REVIEWS ARE WHAT MAKE IT WORTH IT!!!! I try and review every story that I read, which I admit, is not many since I rarely have time, but reviews, whether praises or constructive criticism, are why we post our stories, so please do us writers the courtesy of reviewing!

NOW ONTO THE STORY!

This is a revised chapter because the one I posted before was the first draft, and I accidentally got them mixed up, so apologies to everyone who was confused by the Oriella/Orion thing and the 14 years/10 years thing!

~~)~*~(~~

10 Years Ago

Virginia Anders carefully peeled the banana she was holding and disposed of the peels with a flick of her wand. She placed the fruit into a bowl and picked up a fork, diligently mashing the fruit, adding some milk and honey until she deemed it perfect. She picked up the bowl and sat down at the kitchen table in the Burrow’s warm, bright and cozy kitchen, next to the high chair holding one of her one year old twins – James.

“Hello, sweetheart,” she cooed, lifting him out of the chair and onto her lap. “Does my little darling want some banana?”

She lifted a spoonful of the yellow mush to James’s lips, and he ate greedily, smiling and sputtering in his adorable baby-like way.

Molly Weasley edged her way into the kitchen past the now empty high chair, with the other twin, Isabella, cradled in her arms. Isabella gurgled away happily, pulling her grandmother’s hair whenever she could get her hands on it.

“How’s little Jamie doing?” Molly asked her daughter, using James’s most common nickname.

“Wonderful,” Ginny replied, smiling at her mother briefly before giving James another spoonful of his banana meal.

Mother and daughter sat in silence for a few minutes, content to just serve Ginny’s children, but a sudden cry of anguish from outside the burrow shattered their would-be peaceful night.

~~)~*~(~~

Draco Malfoy surveyed the flames from a distance, watching the rest of the robed figures serving his father disappear down the lane. He couldn’t believe it. They’d attacked families of pure bloods. Pure Bloods!

Okay, so it wasn’t as if he had been best friends with these families, but to just round up pure blooded wizards and bring them to a torture site – it was more than Draco could take. He was sick and tired of the long and endless war. He was sick and tired of following his father. He was sick and tired of being pressured into receiving the Dark Mark. He was sick and tired of watching scenes like the one before him unfold night after night.

As the last of the Death Eaters involved in that night’s rituals disappeared into the night, Draco appeared from his hiding place, making his way down into the clearing where the bonfire was burning brightly still. The scenes from previous hours played back in his head with full force – the cries of anguish, the screams of pain. Draco knew that some of the prisoners had escaped, he had seen them break free of the circle of captives when the Death Eaters guarding them had turned, even if no one else had seen them. The flash of red hair that had caught his eyes – well, it had been obvious which family on of the victims had come from.

He sank down onto a tree trunk, his head pounding, his heart miserable. He sat there for an indeterminable amount of time, watching as the fire died down. He wanted to leave, to stop taking part in this stupid war. He didn’t know what he believed anymore – and he didn’t really know what he wanted, other than somewhere quiet and far away to escape to.

A small noise jolted him from his mindless daze. He looked around the near dark clearing, but heard nothing, so he shook his head and rubbed his temples, assuming that he was just hearing things.

A moment later, a small cry broke the still night air, and Draco jumped up from his uncomfortable stump. He heard it again, and this time it continued for longer, until Draco realized what it was – a baby’s cry.

He began to search wildly, overturning logs other indefinable objects until, after overturning a bough of hemlock, he found what he was looking for, a tightly wrapped bundle – a crying bundle.

Trembling, he bent down to pick it up, feeling it’s warmth seep into him, warming his heart, his very soul. Gently, carefully, he loosened the material the bundle was wrapped in until he could make out something in the dim fire light – a face. The face of a little baby girl.

~~)~*~(~~

Present Day (as in 10 years later, when this story occurs)

“Aurora?”

Aurora Malfoy yawned widely, stretching to reawaken her muscles, and she cracked open an eye to see her father standing tall over her bed, his face framed by the lace curtains that she had pulled the previous night.

“Go away, Daddy,” she moaned, turning over and stuffing her face underneath her pillow.

“Aurora, it’s time to wake up,” he said once more, leaning over and shaking her slightly. When that failed, he brought his long and slender fingers to her stomach, and started to tickle her.

She shrieked in laughter and bolted upright, nearly butting heads with him in the process, desperately trying to get her father back.

“Dad, stop it!” she panted in between gasps of laughter, “Dad!”

Draco grinned and sat down next to her on the bed, producing something from his suit pocket – a letter. “This arrived for you this morning. I thought that you would want to see it.”

Aurora eagerly held out her hand, reaching for the letter, but her father held it out of reach.

“Uh uh uh-” He said, his silver eyes sparkling in the morning sunlight. “You have to give me something for it – something that I believe you nicked from my study yesterday.”

Aurora grinned guiltily and slid out of the other side of her bed, going over to her large vanity and opening one of the drawers. She pulled out a silver and pearl tiara that she often nicked from its display case so that she could play ‘dress-up’. He stood up and walked over to her, hands outstretched, but face soft, and she placed the tiara back in his hands, not looking up into his face, which towered high above her. He led her to the two wingback chairs that stood in the corner of her room, and they sat down as he pulled out the letter once more, holding it out to her.

Aurora sucked in a deep breath and took the letter from her father’s hand, praying that it was what she thought it was. She felt his gaze on her as she slipped her finger under the flap, extracting the letter and opening it up with shaking hands.

It read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of  WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc.,Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Miss Malfoy,

            We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

            Term begins on September 1^st. We apologize for the delay in the dispatchment of acceptance letters this year and regret to inform you that we need to receive your owl no later than August 25^th.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Aurora’s face broke into a wide grin, and she looked up at her father, approval glowing in his eyes. “Dad! I’m going to Hogwarts!”

“As if there was ever any doubt!” Draco exclaimed, smoothing her long black hair. “No daughter of mine would ever be a squib.”

Aurora smiled softly at him, eyes a little sad. “I could’ve been. I mean, I’m not really your daughter, Daddy.”

Draco smiled at the young girl, his eyes warm and reassuring although he felt his heart being squeezed by the worried look in her eyes. He pulled her onto his lap, enveloping her with is strong arms. “Nonsense. You’re my daughter from head to toe. Do you think that your blood not being the same as mine makes that any different? You’re mine, and don’t let anyone tell you any differently. Alright?”

Aurora nodded, and returned Draco’s strong hug, eyes shining slightly with tears.

“Now, what does that other piece of paper say?” Draco asked, motioning with one of his hands to the envelope. “I’ll bet you that that’s your supplies list, Aurora.”

Earlier worries of paternity forgotten, she pulled out the other sheet of paper that was in the envelope and scanned it quickly.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of  WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

uniform

First year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils’ clothes should carry name tags

course books

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)

By Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginners’ Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

By Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

By Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self Protection

By Quentin Tremble

other equipment

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass crystals or phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring and owl OR a cat OR a toad

parents are reminded that first years are not

allowed their own broomsticks

“When can we go to Diagon Alley to get this stuff, Daddy?” Aurora asked, scrambling off of Draco’s lap to place the letter in her keepsake’s box.

“I have an appointment in Diagon Alley today, so,” Draco said, glancing at his watch and then back at his daughter, “If you can be ready in one hour, we can shop today.”

Aurora smiled happily and disappeared into the adjoining bathroom. Draco smiled to himself and looked around Aurora’s room. She had changed his life so radically that he shuddered to think of what he would have been like now if it hadn’t been for her. To have her finally growing into a teenager – to have her finally off at Hogwarts – well, it was hard for him to let her go.

~~)~*~(~~

Ginny Anders hummed softly as she went about her early morning ritual of preparing breakfast for her 11-year-old son, Jamie.

She looked up as she heard an owl tapping its face on the kitchen window of the little cottage she lived in, and she hurried to let it inside. It dropped two letters into Ginny’s hand and then soared back out into the early morning sunshine.

Ginny looked down at the letters and saw that the one on top was addressed to Mr. J Anders. She flipped the letter over and saw the Hogwarts seal on the back. She sat down at her kitchen table and sighed, studying the letter in her hands. Jamie wanted to go to Hogwarts so badly, had wanted to ever since he could totter about the house and speak proper sentences, but Ginny was dreading letting him go. She knew that he’s be safe there, but she just didn’t know if she would ever be ready to let her son go after what happened to… No, it was better not to think about it. She took a deep breath and placed the letter at Jamie’s spot.

She looked at the other letter in her hands – addressed to her – and flipped it over, surprised to see the same Hogwarts seal on the back. She opened it and pulled out the piece of parchment, covered with lines of neat writing that she recognized as Professor Dumbledore’s.

She quickly scanned the letter, reading softly out loud:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of  WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc.,Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Anders,

            I, Professor Dumbledore, have long been following your highly acclaimed career as an auror for the Ministry of Magic, and empathized with you entirely upon your retirement last year. I have been following your life since, please forgive me, and I know that you are now employed in a small bookshop.

            I am pleased to offer you another option if you so desire it. The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher has once more been vacated rather unexpectedly, and, based on your stellar career in this subject, I would like to offer you the post. Accommodation would be provided at the school for you, as well as a salary of 250 galleons per term, with summer holiday included as a fourth term, resulting in a total of 1000 per year.

            If you would be so kind as to owl me with your decision as soon as possible I would be extremely grateful. If you should choose to accept this position, I would like for you and your son to come to Hogwarts within the next few days so as to be acclimated and settled before the school year commences.

I eagerly await your reply,

Albus Dumbledore

Ginny finished reading the letter and let her eyes scan over it once more so as to fully understand its contents. Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher? Her? She was…flattered…excited…honored. Here was an answer to her predicament. A way out of her boring job at the Muggle bookshop, a way to be connected to a community of wizards, and most importantly, a way to not be separated from her son. And 250 galleons per term? That was quite a hefty amount considering that board and food were all paid for.

“Mum?” Jamie yawned as he shuffled into the kitchen, “Has the mail c--”

Jamie stopped short when he saw the envelope sitting at his place at the table. Ginny watched as his face lit up with joy as he reverently picked up the envelope, his fingers running over the Hogwart’s seal as if it were the best gift on earth. She felt the dam of motherly emotion break and tears slip down her face as she realized just how much this meant to him, and as she realized just how much she didn’t want to lose him. She watched as he opened the letter and took out the two pieces of parchment, his eyes quickly scanning the first one.

He didn’t have to say anything, his face said it all…he was going to Hogwarts, and in that moment, Ginny’s decision was made. She rose from the table to gather and piece of parchment and a quill and hastily scrawled out the words:

Would be delighted to accept and will arrive whenever you like.

~Virginia Anders

~~)~*~(~~

“Rora, are you finished yet?” Draco called into the dressing rooms of Madame Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. The sales witch standing next to him laughed as Aurora called back that she was coming. As soon as the witch had realized that the blond haired man in her shop was THE Draco Malfoy, the one with all the money, the one who had seemingly disappeared off of the face of the earth after the War, she had stuck to Draco and Aurora like glue, showering them both with compliments and showering Aurora with sweets.

The curtain cordoning off Aurora’s cubicle opened, and she appeared, outfitted in the finest school robes to found in the Wizarding community. Draco smiled in approval, and Aurora twirled for her father and the sales witch, showing off the back of the robes as well. They were of a very fine material, suited for girls especially, because is shimmered slightly in the light and was of a very flattering shape.

“Oh, Miss Malfoy!” the sales witch exclaimed, bringing her hands to her mouth, “They are perfect! You look like such a beautiful young lady!”

Aurora blushed slightly in response to the witch’s praise and looked to Draco for his opinion. He had never really quite gotten used to clothes shopping because he had usually sent Aurora’s nanny to do it, and didn’t really quite know what to say, so he smiled warmly at his daughter, hoping that that was the right response. “We’ll take three sets of these robes, the second to last cloak that she tried on earlier, and that hat that we decided upon.”

“Very excellent choices, Mr. Malfoy,” she gushed, scribbling down his order on a sales receipt. “You have a natural eye for beauty!”

Draco smiled accordingly, fighting the temptation to roll his eyes and tell the woman to be quiet, and handed over a considerably large amount of money that would cover the cost of the expensive robes his daughter would wear. A Malfoy child would wear nothing but the best – the proud side of him had not disappeared with his parents.

“Shall we proceed, Aurora?” he asked the eleven year old as the sales witch handed them the four bags which contained their purchases.

“Can we go to Florean Fortesque’s now? Please?” Aurora begged, moving towards the door as fast as she could with the two lighter bags in her arms.

Draco pushed the door open with his shoulder and the were let out into the bright and beautiful day that they were fortunate enough to experience. “I have my appointment now at the Leaky Cauldron very soon, and we still need to get your wand and books, but if we can do those things, and  you behave well and sit quietly we shall go to Florean’s right afterwards. Deal?”

“Deal,” she replied, beaming.

~~~)~*~(~~

Albus Dumbledore sat his table in the corner of the Leaky Cauldron, watching the door carefully for any sign of the man he was looking for. Once he would never have preferred to conduct business in the Leaky Cauldron- one could never know what types of people choose to patronize it – but after Tom’s incredible contributions in the war, mainly in the usage of his pub as an emergency overflow hospital, the Ministry of Magic had decided to gift him with a substantial amount of money, which he had put to good use renovating and dramatically improving his dear little establishment.

The door opened and a flash of platinum blonde hair caught Dumbledore’s eye. He squinted and looked across the crowd of heads and saw Draco Malfoy, laden with bags, and looking somewhat flustered. Dumbledore grinned to himself. You saw something new every day. He stood up and motioned for Draco to join him when he saw that Draco was not alone. Standing beside him was a young girl, about ten or eleven, whose was quite tall and had a head full of wavy waist length black hair. So this was Aurora Malfoy. Her origins were once one of the most gossiped about things, but no one had been able to fully explain it, and Draco wasn’t talking. In fact, he hadn’t even acknowledged to the public that he had a daughter, only in private had he informed Dumbledore because he wanted to make sure that Aurora would have a place at Hogwarts when the time came. The general public had come to the conclusion that she was the result of some torrid affair that Draco had had before defecting over to the Order of the Phoenix in the war, and that the mother must have been one of the many women Death Eaters who had met with death, but black hair? That raised some interesting questions about heritage.

“Draco Malfoy,” Dumbledore greeted after Draco had set his burdens down, “How wonderful to see you in the country once more. Glad you could meet me.”

“It’s nice to be back. Switzerland is nice, but isolated,” Draco admitted, shaking the old man’s outstretched hand. He turned to his daughter, “Professor, may introduce my daughter, Aurora Venus Malfoy.”

Dumbledore smiled widely at the young girl, looking at her face fully for the first time. He was surprised to see electrifyingly violet eyes staring back at him curiously. Definitely not genetically a Malfoy - they always had green or silver eyes. He bent down to shake her hand. “Hello, my dear. I am Albus Dumbledore. I didn’t expect to meet you so soon, not until next week at least.”

Her mouth opened wide as he mentioned his name and she stuttered, “P-professor A-Albus Dumbledore?”

“The one and only, my dear,” he replied, winking at her and presenting her with a galleon that he had seemingly pulled from nowhere. “Now, why don’t you go and buy yourself whatever drink you want from that nice man over there while your father and I talk, alright?”

She glanced at her father for confirmation and then skipped merrily away. Dumbledore motioned for Draco to be seated and then took a seat himself. “Well, Draco, she seems lovely.”

“She is perfect,” Draco said, not elaborating anymore.

“But she’s not your daughter, is she?” Dumbledore asked, watching Aurora chat with Tom and hoist herself up on a barstool.

Draco followed his gaze and sighed, “No. I found her lying near a bonfire that Death Eaters had used to murder muggle-supporting pure-blood families 10 years ago. It was before I joined you. Actually, she’s what made me join you.”

“I’m glad that her father finally realized his potential and decided to follow the right path,” Dumbledore muse, observing Draco over his steepled fingers for a moment. “Which in a sort of round-about way brings me to the subject of our meeting today. Working for me.”

“Working for you?” Draco asked, turning from watching his daughter to look at his former Headmaster. “What do you mean, Professor?”

“Three teaching positions opened up this year: History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions. The position of flying instructor has also been vacated. I have filled the first two teaching positions, as well as the post of flying instructor, and have asked you to join me because I think that for you to take up the position of the last would be beneficial to both of us,” Dumbledore replied, watching Draco’s face carefully.

“Really?” Draco asked, a hint of skepticism creeping into his voice. And offer of a faculty position was obviously not what he was expecting to receive as a result of this meeting.

“Professor Snape and Madam Hooch have finally decided to retire together, thereby leaving the position open. You were undoubtedly the best potions student we have had since Snape himself. Aurora shall be starting at Hogwarts in a week and a half and I can see in your eyes that you are reluctant to let her go. To accept my offer would allow you to do something at which you excel, to be close to your daughter, and to escape that self-imposed isolation in Switzerland,” Dumbledore explained in a matter-of-fact tone. “I think that it quite clearly benefits you, and it means that I get an excellent potions teacher.”

Draco said nothing but studied Dumbledore with an almost vacant expression on his face for well over a minute before speaking. “And where would I live?”

Dumbledore smiled. The fact that he was asking implied that he was at least considering the proposition. “All teachers have a suite of their own rooms in a section of the castle that no students have ever found. There are quite a few to choose from, and are, I assure you, as luxurious as anything you have ever lived in. If you preferred it, it could be arranged for your daughter to live with you, although she might prefer to live in her house.”

“And what of my home in Switzerland?” Draco asked, drumming his fingers on the table.

“What of it?” Dumbledore asked, turning the question back on Draco. “You have already admitted that you are tired of it for now. Keep it, and use it during the summer holidays. I have surveyed your family long enough to know that it will be no financial burden upon you. And besides, you haven’t been back to visit Hogwarts once in the entire fifteen years you’ve been out of it.”

Draco sat in silence once more, this time with his eyes fixed on Aurora who was sitting on a bar stool facing them, swinging her legs from side to side. She noticed the two men looking at her and waved, a beautiful smile spreading across her face. Dumbledore heard Draco’s breath hitch in his throat and knew right then what the young man’s decision would be.

“When do you want me there?”

~~)~*~(~~

“Mycah James Sirius Potter! Come here at once!” Hermione’s voice rang out loud and clear throughout the three-story entrance hall of the near-empty house that she and her husband Harry Potter had called home for eleven years. Another loud explosion issued from the room that had been her son’s bedroom, located on the floor two above her. A girlish scream followed promptly and after hearing a door open and slam shut she saw her eleven year old daughter jump on the banister of the top staircase and begin to slide down. “Emerald Lillian Amelia Potter, you stop that at once!”

Emerald jumped off of the banister at the sound of her mother’s voice and clattered noisily the rest of the way down the stairs as her twin brother Mycah appeared at the top of them, looking sheepish. Standing next to him, beautiful and graceful, was his white stag – Orion. He had found him while in the forest with Emerald as a seven year old and nursed him back to health. As a result, the beautiful creature had refused to leave and became a member of the Potter family.

When both of her twins were standing contritely in front of her, she spoke. “And what, exactly, were you two doing, might I ask?”

Emerald covered her mouth, and Hermione could see that she was trying to hold in laughter, but failing miserably. She turned to her eldest son. “Mycah?”

“Orion knocked my lamp onto the ground as the moving man was trying to pick it up and it fell on him. He was startled and tried to curse him and Emmie screamed,” Mycah replied. Hermione lifted his chin with one finger so that his eyes were looking into hers. He was telling the truth. Her children, although mischievous as anything, were not dishonest.

“Alright, I believe you,” she said, her voice warmer. “Now go and check around your rooms one last time to make sure that everything that you want at Hogwarts is packed. We probably will not be back here until Christmas time, and I am sure that your father will want to leave and minute now.”

Hermione watched as Mycah and Emerald charged back up the stairs, Orion scampering delicately up behind them. She sank down onto one of the elegant 17^th century antique chairs that were arranged in the entrance hall and looked around the beautiful entrance hall. It was a truly amazing house, she thought for a bout the millionth time. She had lived here ever since Harry had finally caved into public pressure and his own secret desires and accepted the post of Minister of Magic four years previously. This house was always the home of the minister at the time, and had been for as long as the Wizarding world could remember. It was architecturally stunning, and the interior was exceedingly beautiful. Since the Potter family had moved in, she had given birth in the house, and so many happy times had taken place there. And now they were leaving it. Not because of Harry – no, he was still the Minister of Magic, and had grown to love it so much that the Wizarding public would have to drag him out of office kicking and screaming to be rid of him – but because of her. She was uprooting her family to move them to Hogwarts, because she was finally going to teach. Professor Dumbledore had offered her the position of History of Magic teacher when Binns had finally put in his resignation, still not seeming to notice he was dead. Hermione had leapt for joy at the prospect, but had been in hesitant in telling Harry because it meant she would have to leave, but when she told him, she found that he had been even more enthusiastic about the idea than she was. He knew how badly she wanted to teach, and Dumbledore had made excellent accommodation arrangements for them inside the castle, making it possible for them to live there, and with three of her four children actually attending Hogwarts this year, it would be nice to keep an eye on them.

“Are we going to go yet, or what, Mum?”

Hermione was pulled out of her silent reverie as her just about 15-year-old daughter plunked herself down into the chair next to her. Trinity Potter had been an unexpected surprise to say the least. During the Christmas holiday of Harry and Hermione’s seventh year the two had finally come together, and in the hast of the moment had forgotten that all-important spell. Nine months later, during a brutal battle that would mark the true start of the war, Trinity Tanisia Scarlett Potter had made her entrance into the world, kicking and screaming with a head of black hair and startling green eyes. In fact, all of the Potter children had green eyes. Trinity still had Harry’s black hair, and so did their three-year-old son, Daniel, but Emerald and Micah had Hermione’s chocolate brown hair.

“I’m sure your father will be ready any moment,” Hermione said, stroking the long silky black strands of hair that trailed down her daughter’s back to her waist. “In a hurry to leave?”

“Me?” Trinity asked, biting her lip, “Not at all.”

Hermione chuckled, “Right, so this is nothing to do with a certain man named Ian?”

Trinity blushed and turned away as Hermione laughed. Ian McGonagall was Professor McGonagall’s nephew who had moved to England from the United States when Trinity was in year 3 of Hogwarts. The two had immediately become friends and like Harry, Hermione, and Ron, became pretty inseparable. And to top that off, Hermione was sure that there was something else between them.

“Who are we talking about?” a male voice said from behind them. Hermione grinned at the sound of it, feeling for the millionth time almost like a teenager with rampant hormones. She had never gotten rid of the habit of feeling all warm and tingly at the sound of her husband’s voice. She turned to look at him as he came up behind them, eyes sparkling like emeralds.

“We were just talking about how Trinity wants to get back to her boyfriend Ian,” Hermione teased her daughter, winking at Harry.

“Mum!” Trinity gasped, her face turning bright red. Harry laughed and ruffled her hair before leaning down and drawing Hermione in for a deep kiss. Trinity turned away to give them privacy for a moment, but when she turned back to look at them 10 seconds later, Hermione’s arms firmly entwined around his neck and Harry’s hands wrapped in her hair, Trinity couldn’t help but look slightly disgusted. “Mum, Dad, seriously, get a room before I have to witness the conception of yet another sibling.”

Harry and Hermione pulled apart breathlessly and Hermione looked at her eldest daughter with slight confusion on her face. “What? You haven’t witnessed the conception of any of your other siblings.”

“I meant I don’t want to watch the conception of what would be yet another-” she broke off as she realized that her grinning parents knew what she meant all along. “God, you guys act like kids sometimes.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing out on, sweetheart,” Harry said, standing up straight while stroking Hermione’s hair. “Just think, you and Ian could have this.”

“Dad!” Trinity cried, completely red, and she rushed out of the entrance hall.

“Ooo, Harry, that was mean,” Hermione said with a smile as she stood up to face him.

He pulled her head in for one last kiss and grinned wickedly at her. “Yes, but it was fun to see her squirm.”

Hermione laughed with him and pulled him out into the center of the hall to the bottom of the stairs. “Emmie, Mycah, Daniel! It’s time to go now!”

Trinity shuffled back into the hall, still not quite looking her parents in the eye. “Daniel’s asleep in the car.” She pointed over her shoulder and out of the door to where a black ministry limousine could be seen, waiting to take them to King’s Cross station where Dumbledore had agreed that the Hogwart’s Express should escort them from.

Not a minute later, the Potter family, minus little Daniel, plus Orion and Emmie’s fox Farrah, stood assembled in the grand entrance hall of their home, quietly looking around for the last time before they moved.

“Well, we’ll be back at Christmas,” Harry said, cheering up his twins slightly, and Hermione smiled as she tugged on his arm.

‘Let’s get out of here,” she said with a small smile, “Or we’ll be late.”

 He ruffled the hair of both of his eleven year olds and dropped a kiss on to Trinity’s forehead before smiling widely and leading Hermione out the door. “Well, Hogwarts, here come the Potters.”

~~)~*~(~~

So, um, what do you think of it as a start? Love it? Hate it? Think you see any connections? Want to make any guesses? Tell me! I live for reviews! They encourage me to write more! ~Aravaeya