Authors' note: Tonight is more of Christmas with the action going on at the Burrow. We hope you enjoy!
The Burrow was filled to capacity with Weasleys and Potters. George and his twin brother had seemed to call a truce where Angelina Johnson was concerned and were currently chasing Ron around the backyard.
Casey, Noah, Aidan, Chloe and Adam Weasley sat staring transfixed at the four-year old red-head who was standing before them. Saffron stifled a laugh as she looked at the children.
"I'm the teacher," Emma announced pointing a little finger at them. "You lot better shape up or Em will ship you out!"
"No out," Adam said to his sister.
Emma grabbed the little chalkboard that Arthur and Molly had given her and she picked up a piece of purple chalk. "O-kay. Today, we're going to teach the alphabets."
"A, B, C," Casey sang. "X... J..."
"You have to raise your hand!" Emma scolded, holding up her hand. "Like this!" She looked over her shoulder at Saffron. "Right?"
"Right," Em." Saffron bit her lower lip.
Adam toddled over to Saffron. "Hold?"
"Adam," Emma said. "You're not s'posed to leave class!"
"No Em," Adam said, reaching for Saffron.
Saffron picked him up and sat him in her lap. "Don't worry, Em. Adam's still listening."
Adam shook his head. "No."
"Sassy," Chloe also reached for her. "Hold me!"
Emma put her hands on her hips. "Chloe!"
Chloe looked at her innocently. "I want Sassy."
Saffron took Adam and sat down on the floor. "How about we all sit together and listen to Emma?"
"Kay," Adam said, leaning against her. "Em be nice?"
"Em is always nice," Emma said before getting back to the lesson.
"No," Adam shook his head and looked up at Saffron.
"Em is a sweetheart," Saffron said winking at the little girl.
"I know," Emma grinned.
Saffron couldn't help grinning back. This was the most fun she'd had all day. They'd all been so happy to see her when they'd arrived earlier.
Maddie was watching her sister in law from across the room. "She's going to be happy again," she said softly.
"Did you have a vision, Mads?" Drew asked.
"Just a feeling I have," Maddie replied.
Drew put her arm around her sister. "She and Ethan have been through so much."
"But I'm so happy they're home," Maddie said. "I've never been so happy as I am right now."
"I can tell," Drew said. "And I'm happy that you're happy."
"Thanks Drew," Maddie hugged her sister.
"Darla," Molly said to her granddaughter. "Would you please go and get your father and uncles? Tell them that they're setting a bad example for the little children. I swear, Fred and George are never going to grow up."
Darla laughed. "Come on Nana, they're harmless, right?"
"It's always fun and games until someone gets hurt," Molly said. "And I'm not spending Christmas in St. Mungos."
"Good point," Darla headed for the backyard.
"At least they're not yelling at each other anymore," Hermione pointed out to Molly.
Molly sighed. "That's very true, my dear."
"It's like how these two are when they gang up on me," Josh said pointing at RJ and Jon who both looked up with innocent expressions.
"Gang up on you?" Jon asked. "Ronnie Jr, would we do that?"
"Absolutely not," RJ replied. "We're adults. Adults don't act like that, Joshie."
Josh rolled his eyes. "When is your better half coming?" he asked RJ.
"About an hour," RJ replied. "Nana, do you have any more of those lemon biscuits?"
"For you, anything," Molly beamed at her grandson.
RJ gave her a hug. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
"I always love hearing it," Molly squeezed him tightly.
"It's freezing out there," Darla said coming back into the house. She dusted snow off her jumper. "I can't find them, Nana."
Molly's eyebrows knit together as she released RJ. "Perhaps they went into the woods."
"Poor Daddy," Drew said shaking her head. "I thought they were going to ease up on him."
"That'll be the day," Darla replied.
"Let a pro handle this," Luna said getting to her feet and opening the backdoor. She flicked her wand in the direction of the stove and the aroma from the food carried out the door.
"DINNER!" Luna yelled at the top of her lungs.
Ron came barrelling out of the woods. "Food's ready?" he asked brightly. "Brilliant!"
"Ronald, what on earth happened to you?" Luna asked as he breezed past her into the house.
Ron grinned. "Wait until you see Fred and George."
Luna hugged him. "You got them?"
Ron laughed as two muddy, colourful figures staggered from the trees.
Drew peered out the window. "Daddy, they don't look very happy..."
"Oh well," Ron replied. "It's about time."
"What happened?" Luna asked as Fred and George stalked into the house.
"That husband of yours tricked us," Fred grumbled. "We thought we had him cornered down by the old pond..."
Ron grinned. "And?"
"He Apparated," George glared at his younger brother. "Just when Fred and me tried to hit him with a stunning spell. Only, we hit each other when he disappeared..."
"And the new eggs we were trying out on Ronnie here backfired," Fred finished gloomily.
"You two need to just admit that someone finally beat you at your own game," Ron said happily. "In fact, Maddie, I might put that memory in my pensieve."
Maddie laughed. "You definitely should."
"You two are dripping mud all over my clean floor!" Molly said to the twins, hitting them with a dish towel. "Go clean yourselves up! And for Merlin's sake! Poor Angelina is all alone in the dining room!"
"I can do something about that," George said.
"Clean up first," Molly told them. "Drew, sweetheart. Can you go and fetch your grandfather. I'm sure poor Brian and Hans are tired of looking at that old rubbish in his barn."
"Be glad to, Mum." Drew grinned at them before heading outside.
Drew hurried out to her grandfather's barn which was overflowing with Muggle artefacts. Her husband and brother-in-law were listening politely as Arthur showed them his latest find.
"Grandpa," she knocked on the door. "Dinner's almost ready."
"Oooh," Arthur said grinning at her. "Of course. Brian and Hans have been humouring me by pretending to care about these things."
"That's not true," Brian protested.
"We had fun, Arthur," Hans agreed. "We wouldn't have come out here otherwise."
Drew grinned at her husband. "Hungry?"
"Absolutely," Brian said putting his arm around her. "How's our munchkin?"
"Enjoying herself with Sassy," Drew leaned against him.
"Let's get you out of the cold," Brian said.
"It's not too bad," Drew said as she shivered.
"Right," Brian said pulling her close to keep her warm.
"You know Chloe's going to go crazy when we open gifts later," Drew told him. "I've had to pull her away from them three times already."
"She does love opening gifts," Brian said. "Like her Mum..."
Drew elbowed his side.
"Ow!" Brian yelped.
"Serves you right," Drew said
They walked back into the house with Hans and Arthur in tow.
"You're just in time," Josh said. "We have to round them up."
"Uh oh," Brian said. "Can't we just ring a bell?"
Drew laughed. "No. Come on."
"And now if you can't count to ten," Emma was saying. "Em gets to eat your dinner."
Adam's lower lip trembled. "No! No eat?"
"Count to ten," Emma told him.
Allison came into the room with the others and Adam toddled over to her. "Mummy! Em mean!"
"What?" Allison picked up her son.
"Em kind of told the kids that they had to count to ten or she'd get to eat their dinner," Saffron told her.
"Emma," Allison said. "That's not how to be a teacher."
Emma looked innocently up at her mother. "I love you, Mummy."
"Emma Madeline," Allison said, trying not to smile.
"More than the sky," Emma said holding up her hands. "More than the whole wide world!"
"Em still mean," Adam shook his head.
"She's not mean," Allison said. "She just went about teaching the wrong way. You're going to get to eat, Adam. I promise."
"Kay," Adam said, resting his head on Allison's shoulder.
Allison patted his back. "Speaking of which, let's go sit before it's all gone."
Saffron knelt down and picked up Chloe. "We'd better hurry, Chloe."
"Eat with Gampa," Chloe told her.
Saffron smiled and kissed the top of her head. "That's right."
"I missed you," Chloe looked up at her innocently.
Saffron felt a lump rise in her throat at the toddler's words. "Oh, I missed you too, Chloe. So much."
Chloe hugged her tightly and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Drew came up behind them. "Tugging at Sassy's heart strings, munchkin?"
"Like you wouldn't believe," Saffron said as the little girl let go of her.
"She asked about you every day," Drew said softly.
"She's such a sweet girl," Saffron said.
Drew smiled with pride. "Yes, she is. Unless, you tell her no."
"No," Chloe shook her head.
"How could anyone tell you 'no', Chloe?" Saffron asked.
"I don't know," Chloe spread her hands apart.
Drew and Saffron laughed at this as they headed into the dining room.
Lizzy and Josh were trying to gather up the triplets.
"Aidan, run!" Casey squealed.
"You guys, we're not playing a game," Lizzy said reaching for Casey. "We're going to go eat. Come on."
"I run!" Noah dashed away from his father.
Josh looked at his wife. Where did they get all this energy?"
"I wish they'd bottle some and give it to me," Lizzy said dryly.
"Case!" Aidan grabbed his sister's hand. "Go! Go!"
Casey squealed as Aidan propelled the two of them into the dining room.
Noah ran after them. "Wait! Wait for Noah!"
Josh sighed. "We need six arms apiece."
"I'll give you a hand," RJ said grabbing Noah. "Come here, you little monster!"
"No!" Noah squealed.
"It's the chair for you," RJ said with an evil laugh. He set Noah down in his high chair. "Haha!"
Noah stuck his tongue out at RJ.
RJ mussed his nephew's hair. "You'd better be good. Remember, we still have to open presents."
"Santa?" Noah asked.
"That's right," RJ said. "So you'd better be good."
Lizzy finally managed to get a hold of Aidan. "Gotcha!"
"Nooooo!" Aidan wailed.
"Only good little boys and girls get to open their presents," Lizzy said breathlessly putting her son in his chair beside Noah.
"I'm a good girl!" Casey screeched. "Am too a good girl!"
Josh picked her up. "Well, let's get you in your chair, Miss Casey Weasley."
"Eat now?" Casey asked.
"Yes," Emma said happily. She pointed at a dish of turkey. "I want that! And I want potatoes! And I want some of that orange stuff! And some of that! And ooooh! Some of that!"
Jon laughed. "We'll get you some of everything, Em. Don't worry."
Emma was sitting beside Ron who looked about as happy as his granddaughter.
"The two of you have the exact same looks on your face," Harry said.
"Sheer joy," Ron said rubbing his two hands together. Emma did the same causing everyone to laugh.
"Yum, yum, yum!" Emma bounced in her seat.
Molly laughed. "Ronald, Emma is just like you!"
"Just like Grandpa," Emma nodded. "And Aunt Mad."
"The only difference is Aunt Mad will eat off my plate," Ethan said nudging his wife.
"And Uncle Ethan will let me," Maddie nudged him back.
"Uncle Ethan never has a choice," Ethan said chuckling.
"Can I eat off Uncle Ethan's plate too?" Emma asked.
"If you did that, Ethan wouldn't have any food," Allison said with a grin.
"And you don't want me to starve, right Em?" Ethan asked.
Emma shook her head. "No way!"
"That's a relief," Ethan grinned at her.
"Before we eat," Arthur said standing beside his wife. "I just wanted to say how nice it is to have all of you here with us today. Our family has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and nothing gives us more pleasure than to watch the grandchildren grow up before our eyes. I can remember when Allison, Jon, Josh, Lizzy, Julie, Ethan, Nick, Maddie, Drew and Darla used to run around here as kids..."
"And now you're all here with your own kids," Molly added, tears in her eyes.
Arthur put an arm around her. "It's okay, love."
"No need for waterworks," Ron called out.
"I can't help it," Molly sobbed.
"And we're also so happy to have our Ethan and Saffy home with us for the holidays," Arthur continued, his arm still around his wife. "Safe and sound."
"Here, here!" Harry exclaimed raising his glass.
Ethan grinned. "And to my beautiful wife, for giving me the best gift in the world."
Maddie leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"And to Arthur and Molly for hosting this mad group nearly every year," Hermione said with a smile.
"And managing to keep the Burrow in one piece," Darla chimed in.
Everyone toasted, even the small kids who had no idea what was going on.
"Tuck in," Molly said sitting back down.
"With pleasure," Ron dug into his meal.
Emma grabbed her fork and looked down at her plate. She didn't know where to start.
"Try some of the turkey with the potatoes," Ron told his granddaughter.
Emma happily took a bite. "Yummy!"
"That's my girl," Ron said proudly.
"This is really delicious, Nana," Saffron said. "You outdid yourself."
"It's in your honour, love." Molly told her. "Yours and Ethan's."
"Sassy's back," Chloe said before taking a sip of her juice.
Saffron smiled as RJ guffawed.
"What?" Saffron asked. "I like that name."
"Suits you," RJ teased her.
"I think so too," Saffron said breaking off a piece of her bread roll and throwing it at him.
"Fight?" Noah asked, a piece of food poised in his little hand.
Lizzy put her hand out. "No, no. Put that down, Noah. No fight."
"Yes," Noah said.
"No waste food," Casey said looking at her cousin.
Emma nodded. "That's good Case. You get full marks!"
Casey beamed at her. "Yay, me!"
"Me too," Noah said.
Katie looked at Caroline. "What on earth are they talking about?"
Caroline smiled. "They were playing school earlier, remember?"
"Oh yeah," Katie shrugged.
"What were you two doing?" Luna asked them. "You were upstairs for a long time."
"Just playing with makeup," Caroline said,.
"We're going to start wearing makeup to school," Katie announced. "Right, Caroline?"
"I beg your pardon?" Jon asked, looking at his daughter.
"I second that," Nick said.
"Ease up, Nicholas," Katie said waving her hand. "I'm nine, nearly 10."
"Nicholas?" Nick asked, taken aback.
"And ease up?" Julie asked, her eyebrows raised.
"Caroline and me aren't kids anymore, Julie," Katie announced. "Right, Caroline?"
"Well," Caroline hedged.
"Did I miss the moment when you turned 18?" Nick asked. "And since when do you call me Nicholas, Katie?"
"Come on," Katie said. "All the cool kids do it."
"Allison, can you pass the potatoes?" Caroline asked, trying this out.
"Caroline," Allison said sternly.
Caroline looked down at her plate. "That felt really weird. I'm sorry, Mummy."
Allison nodded. "It should feel weird. We're still your parents, and we always will be, no matter how old we are."
"Fine," Katie said rolling her eyes.
"Katherine Rose," Nick said. "We are going to have a talk when we get home later."
"Poor Nick and Julie," Drew whispered to Darla. "Katie's going to be a handful. She's not even hit her teens yet."
"I know," Darla replied quietly. "Hopefully she'll take a cue from Ashley."
"I don't see that happening," Drew whispered back.
"Probably not," Darla agreed.
"Maybe they'll get along like we always have," Drew said. "Someday."
Darla smiled. "I'm glad you me and Maddie always got along."
"Though, we did have our moments," Drew laughed. "Especially when I kicked Dolly's cage."
Darla giggled. "You were terrible!"
"I was determined!" Drew said defensively. "I wanted us to move back here!"
"We finally got our way," Darla nudged her.
"I like us all being together like this," Drew said. "That's the way it should be."
"Not all of us," Darla said. "Uncle Percy and Aunt Ginny aren't here. Uncle Charlie's stuck in Romania and Bill and Fleur are spending Christmas in Paris."
Nick shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I'm glad my mother isn't here."
"Nicholas, I know Ginevra wasn't the best mother to you," Molly said in defence of her youngest daughter. "But I believe in my heart that one day, she'll come home where she belongs."
Nick shrugged. "I wouldn't hold my breath, Nana. Not as long as my father's around."
"I still hold out hope," Molly said. "I'll never give up on her or on my Percy."
Fred and George rolled their eyes at that one but said nothing.
"Me too," Ashley said softly.
Julie put a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Ethan, when do you go back to work?" George asked, eager to get the conversation away from his estranged siblings.
"After the holidays," Ethan said. "I um... I have to sort of... repeat some of the training." his face turned red.
"A formality," Harry said. "You'll pass with flying colours, Ethan."
"I hope so," Ethan said. "If I didn't always just dash in without thinking..."
"I've been known to do that too," Harry told him.
"Yeah," Ethan shrugged.
"I've still got an assault charge to beat," Harry said.
"You'll get through that," Hermione told him.
"No jury in the world would convict you, Daddy," Saffron said.
"Thanks baby," Harry said. "I think it'll be okay- he'll probably just want to reach a settlement."
"What's that?" Katie asked.
"Where I have to pay him." Harry explained.
"That's not fair, Grandpa," Katie said.
"I know, sweetheart," Harry told her. "But that's how it is."
"Trial will probably be a media circus," Ron commented.
"Most likely," Harry agreed. "We're hoping to settle it out of court."
"I hope so too," Saffron said quietly.
Maddie heard Kiera start crying in the other room. "Pardon me," she said, getting up.
Ethan got up, too. "I'll go with."
Maddie took his hand as they headed for the bedroom. "I bet she's hungry."
"She has quite the appetite," Ethan said eager to see his daughter again.
"She is a Weasley," Maddie grinned as Ethan reached into the pram.
"Baby girl," Ethan said soothingly. He picked her up and hugged her to him.
Kiera's sobs stifled as her father held her.
Ethan patted her back. "I bet you were just feeling ignored, weren't you?"
Maddie smiled. "She loves you."
"How could she not?" Ethan said with a grin. "I'm handsome, charming..."
"The love of my life," Maddie said with a laugh.
"She is absolutely perfect," Ethan said softly.
"Yes she is," Maddie agreed.
"Baby," Ethan leaned down and kissed Kiera on the forehead.
"Let's see if she's hungry," Maddie said, preparing to feed her daughter.
"I bet she is," Ethan said watching as his wife sat down in the rocking chair.
Maddie nodded as Kiera nursed. "I thought so."
"Mother's intuition?" Ethan asked.
"You could say that," Maddie smiled.
Ethan sat down. "This all seems so surreal."
"Having a baby?" Maddie asked.
Ethan nodded. "Yeah."
"We've wanted it for so long," she replied.
"Way too long," Ethan said. "And here she is."
"We got lucky," Maddie said.
"We sure did," Ethan said softly.
Maddie rested her head on Ethan's shoulder as he sat down next to her.
"I want to thank you for agreeing to stay at my parents," Ethan said. "I know you want things to get back to normal..."
"You're home with me," Maddie said. "That's all I really care about."
"I love you, Mads," Ethan said.
"I love you too," Maddie said softly.
"You know, you never said what you wanted to do for New Year's," Ethan said. "But I was hoping we could just stay at home and be with our baby girl and Blue."
"That sounds good to me," Maddie said. "Will and Frankie mentioned something about getting together. Perhaps we can have them over."
"Kiera's first play date," Ethan joked.
Maddie smiled. "She'll grow up to be best friends with Izzie."
"And marry Nathan?" Ethan asked. "Wait---no. My little girl is never going to get married and she's never going to date."
Maddie laughed. "Already the protective father are we?"
"Absolutely," Ethan said.
Kiera finished nursing and cooed up at them.
Maddie smiled down at her daughter. "Happy Christmas, love."
Ethan took her and put her on his shoulder. "I know it won't always be this easy, but I'm just still in awe over her."
Maddie knew just what her husband meant. "I know. I notice something new and different about her every single day."
"She has your smile," Ethan said as he patted Kiera's back gently.
"I bet she'll have my look, too," Maddie said. "Though, she doesn't need it. She has you wrapped around her little finger."
"She sure does," Ethan said softly. "From the first moment I saw you holding her..."
Maddie smiled at him. "Love at first sight."
"You know something," Ethan looked over at her. "That first night I saw you twirling in the snow... I think I fell in love with you then."
"If I'd only known that was what it would take, I'd have done that sooner," Maddie said. "I loved you for a long time, Ethan."
"Forgive me for being a blind prat?" Ethan asked.
"You finally came around," Maddie said standing up. "That's what matters to me."
Ethan also stood. "I think she wants to join us out there."
"She wants to be a part of the action," Maddie said. "Come on. Let's bring her down."
Ethan set Kiera into her little carrier and picked it up.
Molly squealed when she saw the baby. "Oh, Madeline!"
Maddie smiled. "She wants to see her Nana."
"She's an angel," Molly gushed. "An absolute angel."
Saffron smiled. "Can I hold her?"
"Of course," Ethan said setting the carrier down and picking up Kiera.
Saffron carefully took her niece into her arms. "Hello gorgeous."
"I can't stop looking at her eyes," Ashley said.
"They're so neat," Saffron agreed, looking down at Kiera.
"She's going to break a lot of hearts," Arthur said winking at Maddie.
"Not on my watch," Ethan said immediately.
Hermione grinned at Harry. "He sounds just like you."
"A father has to watch out for his daughter," Harry said.
"And scare the poor blokes off?" Julie asked teasingly.
Ethan and Harry both nodded.
Saffron rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to them, Kiera."
"We'll set her right," Maddie said conspiratorially.
"Absolutely," Saffron agreed.
"Brat," Ethan said with a grin.
"Golden child," Saffron countered with a grin.
"What does that make me?" Julie asked.
"Green with envy?" Ethan suggested.
The whole table, including Julie, laughed at that.
"It's not easy being the favourite," George said to Ethan. "Having everyone be jealous of you..."
"Like you would know how that feels," Ron shot back.
"Everyone knows that I'm the favourite," Fred said.
"Not bloody likely either," Ron said.
"Who is the favourite then?" Fred asked. "You?"
"Of course," Ron answered.
Fred cackled. "Yeah, right."
"Charlie's the favourite," Harry said with a smirk.
Molly hit him playfully on the shoulder. "I'll have you know that I do not have favourites. I love all my children equally."
"And your extended family," Arthur said with a grin.
"Well, in our family, Ethan's the golden child," Saffron said. "He never had a curfew. He could do pretty much what he wanted..."
"So could you," Ethan said. "You have Dad wrapped around your little finger."
"I do not," Saffron said. "And I'll remind you that I always had a curfew."
"Midnight," Ethan replied.
"And I bet Dad didn't mind when YOU started dating," Saffron said.
"I liked the blokes you've dated," Harry protested.
"You scared poor Peter to death!" Saffron reminded him.
RJ smiled. "Andrew was terrified of you."
"Not to mention what you did to the blokes that dated me," Julie said. "Saffy's right. There is a bit of a double standard where boys are involved."
Harry coughed. "Fun as this is to rehash..."
"Careful, Daddy," Saffron teased. "You're squirming."
"I just want you to be happy, baby." Harry said.
"I am, Daddy," Saffron said. "Now that I'm home with all of you."
Harry smiled. "What I wanted most."
"Here, here," Hermione said raising her glass.
RJ looked over at Saffron, who was still cuddling Kiera. "Andrew wanted me to tell you Happy Christmas," he said quietly.
"Oh?" Saffron asked trying to keep her voice neutral. She'd thought an awful lot about Andrew these last few days. "He's...he's in Italy, isn't he?"
"Yeah..." RJ said.
"That's nice," Saffron said. "Really nice."
"He misses you," RJ told her.
Saffron looked across the table at him. "RJ..."
"Just saying," RJ replied hastily.
Saffron told herself not to get her hopes up where Andrew was concerned. For all intents and purposes, he was with Natalia now.
"I like Natalia," RJ said. "She's really nice. But she's not you, Saf. The two of you were made for one another. And I really think he's still in love with you."
"I used to say the same about you and Alexa and now you're both with other people," Saffron reminded him. "Andrew's...Andrew's with the person he wants to be with, RJ."
"I don't know about that," RJ shook his head.
"I do," Saffron said firmly. "Besides, I'm going to be busy enough starting my new career and spoiling my new niece."
"And spending time with your fantastic team mate?" RJ asked her with a smile.
"Which team-mate would that be?" Saffron asked dryly.
"Me, of course," RJ said. "Unless you want to go and spend all sorts of time with Daniel, the reserve seeker."
"Oh, yeah," Saffron asked. "He's my new dream guy."
RJ scoffed. "Not nearly as fun as yours truly."
"No one's that fun," Saffron said shaking her head and laughing.
RJ grinned. "I could always get you to laugh."
"Yes, you could," Saffron said handing Kiera back to Maddie.
"The team's really looking forward to having you play," RJ told her seriously.
"I'm looking forward to starting," Saffron said. "I know I'm a bit rusty..."
"I'll practise with you anytime you want," RJ said.
"Thanks," Saffron said sincerely. "I'd like that."
"Anything you want," RJ said.
"That'd be great," Saffron said. "Maybe we could set something up for after the New Year?"
"Sure," RJ nodded. "Sounds good to me."
"When would your first match be, Saffy?" Ashley asked.
"I'm not sure," Saffron said. "Whenever the team captain feels I'm ready."
"You're going to get right back into it," RJ told her. "I know you will."
"I've missed it," Saffron said. "It's what I was born to do."
I'll be there watching you.
Saffron paled. She'd just heard Gordon Devereaux's voice but that was impossible. He was in Azkaban.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Hermione noticed the look on her daughter's face.
"N-nothing," Saffron stammered.
That's my sweet Saffron Grace.
"Saffy," Hermione put her hand on her daughter's arm.
Saffron flinched. "DON'T TOUCH ME!"
The entire table stopped talking and stared at her.
Saffron shakily got to her feet as she saw Gordon Devereaux coming toward her. "Don't run away, my love."
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Saffron shouted.
Harry quickly got up. "Come on Saffy. Let's go in the other room."
"Daddy, he's here!" Saffron exclaimed, looking at her father with pleading eyes. "He's here!"
"No he's not, baby," Harry said soothingly as he and Hermione took Saffron into the kitchen.
Saffron looked at her mother. "Mum...I heard him! He was there!"
"He's in Azkaban, sweetheart," Hermione said softly. "He can't hurt you anymore."
Saffron started to cry and Harry took her in his arms. "It's okay," Harry soothed. "He's not here, Saffron. I promise."
"I just can't forget him," Saffron sobbed. "I always feel like he's watching me."
"You will forget him, baby," Harry told her. "It's going to take some time, but you'll get past this."
Saffron shook her head. "He said he'd always be watching me."
Harry held her while she cried, wishing he could do something to take away her pain.
Hermione smoothed down her daughter's hair. "Sweetheart, believe us when we say he can't hurt you. We'll never let him. Not again."
"Promise?" Saffron asked softly.
"I promise," Hermione said. "It's possible he'll be given the kiss."
Saffron hugged her mother. She wanted to believe her.
Hermione kissed the side of her head. "We'd never lie to you, baby."
"I'm sorry for scaring everyone and ruining the dinner," Saffron said still holding onto her mother.
"You didn't ruin anything," Harry told her.
"Why don't you get her a glass of water, Harry?" Hermione suggested.
"Sure," Harry went over to the sink.
He came back a few moments later with a glass of ice water. Saffron gratefully took it. "Thanks, Daddy."
"Anything for you, sweetheart." Harry replied.
"Will you make me a dreamless potion for tonight?" Saffron asked. "I really don't want to have another nightmare."
"Sure," Harry agreed. "Soon as we get home."
Saffron took another sip of her water.
"Everything okay?" Julie asked from the doorway.
"I think so," Hermione smiled at her older daughter.
"I hope I didn't scare the little kids," Saffron said. "I didn't mean to..."
"They're all right," Julie reassured her. "Just worried."
"We all are," Hermione said. "Oh, sweetheart. This will get better. Your father's right. You'll put this behind you and move on."
Saffron shrugged. "I hope so."
"You ready to go back or do you want to sit in here for a few minutes?" Hermione asked her.
"Just a few more minutes," Saffron gulped down some more water.
"I'll let everyone know you're okay," Julie said.
"Thanks Jules," Saffron said gratefully. "Can... can you tell Ethan to come in here?"
"Sure," Julie said. "I'll get him."
Ethan was there in a flash. "Saffy?"
Saffron looked at her parents. "Can you give us a minute, please?"
"Sure, baby," Harry took his wife's hand.
When they were alone, Saffron looked at her brother. "I--I just feel like no one else understands what we went through but you."
"Its okay Saf," Ethan sat down next to her. "Tell me what happened in there."
"I heard his voice in my head," Saffron told him. "He said he would always be watching me."
"Sometimes I hear it too," Ethan said. "I just keep telling myself that he can't get to me again."
"But you never told me," Saffron said. "I thought you weren't having any problems."
"I have nightmares too," Ethan told her.
"Really?" Saffron asked.
"Sure," Ethan nodded. "But I have to stay strong. I have a family to support now."
"Ethan, what if I can't put this behind me?" Saffron asked.
"You will, Saf." Ethan said. "I know you will."
"I'm not used to feeling this way," Saffron said. "Feeling like I have no control over anything."
"You'll get back to how you were before," Ethan squeezed her hand. "I'll help you any way I can, Saf."
"I know you have Kiera now, but could I call you sometimes to talk?" Saffron asked.
"Anytime," Ethan said.
"Love you, Ethan," Saffron hugged him.
"I love you too, brat." Ethan said affectionately.
"If anything good came out of this, you and I are closer than we've ever been," Saffron said grinning at him.
"That's true," Ethan smiled back at her. "Not such a bad thing."
"Mum and Dad will be pleased," Saffron said.
"That you finally saw me for the perfect bloke that I am?" Ethan asked.
Saffron rolled her eyes. "Perfectly conceited."
"There's my bratty little sister," Ethan nudged her.
Saffron nudged him back. "Thanks, Ethan."
"Ready to go back in?" he asked.
Saffron nodded. "I think so."
"Good," Ethan helped her up.
Emma ran toward Saffron the moment she walked back into the dining room. "Saf, okay?"
"I'm okay Em," Saffron hugged the little redhead.
"I'm going to sit with you, 'kay?" Emma asked.
"That'd be great, Em." Saffron said.
Saffron sat back down in her chair and Emma climbed on her lap.
"Dessert time," Emma told her.
"My favourite," Saffron said.
"Em will help you eat," Emma replied.
Saffron kissed the top of her head. "Thanks, Em."
"Don't' be sad," Noah said from across the table.
Saffron smiled at him. "I'm not sad, Noah. I'm---I'm very happy that I have a family like this."
"We all love you Saffy," Molly told her.
"Thanks, Nana," Saffron said feeling tears welling up in her eyes.
"Dessert time!" Emma said, banging her fork on the table.
Saffron laughed and wiped at her eyes. "You heard her. It's dessert time. Bring on the chocolate!"
Molly laughed too. "Coming right up."