Authors' note: Happy Valentine's Day…we have a feeling that you will enjoy this chapter.
Things had been strained at best between Ashley and Katie for the remainder of the summer. They had been pretty much home bound since returning from Brighton due to their punishment and it was with lots of relief that they went shopping with Julie for school items.
Katie had accompanied her sister and parents many times to buy school things for Ashley. But, it was different now. "I need a cauldron," Katie said looking at her letter. "And I don't want just any cauldron. I want the best one."
"You'll get a good one," Julie told her. "One that fits your needs."
"I want to pick out my wand, too," Katie said.
"You don't really get to pick it," Ashley told her. "The wand kind of chooses you. At least that's what Mr. Olivander says."
"Well if it's an ugly one, I don't want it," Katie said.
Ashley rolled her eyes.
"And I want an owl like Grandpa used to have," Katie said tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Katherine Rose," Julie said firmly. "We are here to buy you what is needed."
"Fine," Katie said innocently.
"I think we should see about your wand first," Julie announced. "Ashley, if you want to go to the book shop instead, we'll meet you over there."
"Okay," Ashley agreed.
"Do they make gold wands?" Katie asked her mother.
"I don't know," Julie said.
"I want a gold one," Katie announced. Ashley again rolled her eyes before she walked toward the book shop. She pulled out the letter that listed her school books for the term.
It was quite crowded inside and Ashley had to fight her way over to the shelves.
"Standard Book of Spells Grade Three," Ashley said to herself.
Another arm reached for the same copy. "Ash!" Brittany exclaimed.
Ashley looked at her friend in surprise. "Brit--what---what are you doing here?"
"Getting school stuff," Brittany hugged her.
"Oh, right," Ashley said. "Me, too."
"I've missed you this summer," Brittany said. "Look at these awful things in my mouth. I look like such a wretch."
Ashley laughed. "Brit, you look gorgeous. Braces or no braces."
"You're sweet to lie," Brittany said dramatically. "I've missed you like mad. Are you still grounded?"
Ashley nodded. "My mum's at Olivander's with Katie."
"Oh right," Brittany nodded. "Katie's going to be a first year."
Ashley sighed. "I don't know if Hogwarts is ready for Katie."
Brittany smiled at her. "I'm sure we'll all handle it."
"Brit, I've been looking everywhere for that--" Zander was saying as he came around the corner. He stopped short when he saw his cousin wasn't alone.
Ashley turned red. "Hi Zander," she said softly.
"Hello," Zander said quietly.
"I was just buying my books," Ashley said awkwardly.
"Us too," Brittany said, trying to break the tension.
"How's your summer been?" Ashley asked, talking to both but aiming her question at Zander. "Since... since Brighton?"
"My summer of metal, you mean?" Brittany said sarcastically.
"You look great," both of them said automatically.
Zander's cheeks reddened.
"Whatever," Brittany said. "My life as I know it is over."
"I, um, I'm going to go look upstairs for that book," Zander said.
Ashley sighed as Zander hurried away. "He still hates me."
"He doesn't hate you," Brittany reassured her.
"Could have fooled me," Ashley said sadly.
"He's just a little angry is all," Brittany said. "I can't say as I blame him. You guys were perfect together Ashley. It's a pretty stupid reason to break things off. And he's not with that horrid Lucy."
"It was just too much," Ashley said. "Too much for me to handle at once. So many things happened this summer."
"How's your aunt by the way?" Brittany asked. "I read in the Prophet that she and Andrew are engaged again!"
Ashley nodded. "He's going to adopt her baby when it's born."
Brittany grinned. "I knew he would. He's such a great bloke!"
"He really is," Ashley nodded. "So the wedding is back on, and I think it's going to be sometime next summer."
"Awww," Brittany gushed. "The baby will be here then!"
"Exactly," Ashley said. "She said she didn't want to get married with her stomach three feet in front of her."
Brittany giggled. "I can understand that." She saw Zander was watching them from upstairs. "Ash...maybe you could go and talk to him..."
"What am I going to say?" Ashley asked.
"Anything," Brittany said. "Just to get over this awkwardness..."
"I don't know," Ashley said. "He wants to get back together... but I think we're better off as friends. I'm not ready to be in a relationship."
"Tell him that," Brittany said. "And I'm not on anyone's side here. I'm Switzerland. Completely neutral. I want you to get along because I'm not going to be the owl that runs messages between the two of you."
"I understand," Ashley told her.
"I'll be in the romance section," Brittany said winking at her.
Ashley had to smile as she headed up the stairs.
She found Zander in the Ancient Runes section. "I didn't realise you were going to take that this term," she said softly.
"Yeah," he said. "I thought it seemed pretty interesting."
"I'm taking it too," Ashley said.
"That's nice," he said, moving down the shelf.
"And we get to go to Hogsmeade this year," Ashley said hoping to engage him in conversation. "That should be pretty cool, right?"
"It'll be great," Zander said noncommittally.
"Zander," Ashley said touching his arm.
He looked over at her, his expression softening.
"You're my best friend," Ashley said.
He nodded. "This hasn't' been easy."
"I want to be your friend again," Ashley said.
He had missed her, both as a girlfriend and her friendship. "Me too," he admitted quietly.
"And we're both going to have to be there to reassure Brittany about her braces," Ashley said. "I can't do that on my own."
Zander had to grin. "I haven't even been able to do it on my own."
Ashley laughed. "How bad has it been?"
"Put it this way," Zander said. "Even Evan can't convince her otherwise."
"We have two more years of this," Ashley groaned.
He shook his head. "Hopefully we can get through it."
"Together?" Ashley asked hopefully. "Come on...I have to also deal with my little sister being at Hogwarts, too."
Zander nodded.
"Really?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah," he said. "I mean... it may still be a little awkward, but we can try, right?"
"I'd like that more than anything," Ashley said, taking a chance and giving him a hug. "I've missed you, Zander."
"I missed you too," he said.
Ashley felt happier than she had in weeks. "Is Brit taking Ancient Runes, too?" Zander laughed. "No. She's in Divination."
"That doesn't surprise me at all," Ashley said, picking out the rest of her books.
"No, that's right up her alley," Zander said. "Here...I'll carry those for you."
"Thanks," Ashley said. "I have to wait for my mum and Katie. They're getting her wand and who knows how long that will take?"
Zander nodded. "Maybe she won't be that bad at Hogwarts. I mean, your mum is a professor there."
"I hope not," Ashley said.
"I hope this means that you're talking and everything's normal," Brittany said when they met her downstairs.
"Yes," Ashley said, feeling better than she had in ages.
"Fantastic," Brittany said. "Because the two of you were really starting to get on my nerves."
"Shut it, metal mouth," Zander said.
"Zander," Brittany glared at him.
"Didn't mean it," he said sheepishly.
Ashley laughed. "I have missed you guys so much."
"We missed you too," Brittany said. "Don't go getting yourself grounded like this ever again!"
"I promise," Ashley said giving her a hug.
"Hello Brittany," Julie said. "Hi Zander."
The three friends turned. "Professor Malfoy," Brittany said. "Hi, we just ran into each other."
"It's nice to see you both," Julie said.
Katie smiled smugly at her sister and mouthed the word "trouble" in her direction.
Ashley gave her a dirty look. "I got all my books, Mum." she took them from Zander.
"Oh, great," Julie said. "We took a little longer in Olivander's than I expected."
"Did you get a cool wand?" Brittany asked Katie.
"Yes," Katie said taking the box out of the bag and opening it. "It has unicorn hair in it and it has a silver tip."
"That's really pretty!" Brittany said admiringly.
"After she turned down the three wands Mr. Olivander picked out for her," Julie said.
"Katie!" Ashley exclaimed.
"They were ghastly," Katie replied. "I can't carry something ugly around, Ashley."
Ashley only shook her head.
"Mr. Olivander was telling me about Grandpa's wand, Mummy's wand, Aunt Saffy's wand..."
"It's a very lovely wand," Julie told her daughter.
"I bet it's the prettiest one ever made," Katie said admiring it.
"I'm sure it is," Ashley said.
"Are your parents here?" Julie asked Zander.
"They're waiting for us outside," Zander said nervously.
"Relax, you're not in trouble," Julie reassured him.
Zander relaxed visibly and Katie looked disappointed.
"I need to help Katie find her books," Julie said. "Ashley, if you'd like to spend time with your friends..."
"Really?" Ashley asked.
"Really," Julie replied. "As of now, you and your sister are free on good behaviour."
"REALLY?" Katie and Ashley both shrieked.
Julie laughed. "Yes. Ashley, leave your books at the counter and I'll pay for them when I have Katie's."
"Thanks Mum," Ashley said happily.
"What happened to your mouth?" Katie asked looking at Brittany in horror.
"KATIE!" Ashley snapped.
"Sorry," Katie said hastily.
"You look lovely," Julie reassured Brittany.
"It's okay," Brittany said heavily. "Two years I have to be deformed..."
"You're not deformed," Julie said. "I had to wear braces and so did my sister."
"You did?" Brittany asked.
Julie nodded. "Next time you're over at the house, I'll show you the photographs."
Brittany looked hopeful for the first time since getting her braces.
"Come on, Mummy," Katie said tugging on her mother's arm.
"Twenty minutes," Julie told her oldest daughter.
Ashley nodded. "Thanks, Mum."
"You're off grounding!" Brittany said happily. "Come on, let's go to Florean's!"
Zander nodded. "I'll go tell my dad that we've finished. Be right back."
"So you guys are okay?" Brittany asked.
Ashley nodded. "We had a good talk."
"Thank Merlin," Brittany said dramatically.
"It might still be awkward for awhile," Ashley said.
"But you're talking," Brittany said. "That's all that matters."
Ashley nodded. "So how has he been, really?"
"Really down in the dumps," Brittany said.
"Me too," Ashley said.
"Well you were probably bored," Brittany said.
"Somewhat, but I was able to do a lot of sketches," Ashley said. "I'll show them to you on the train."
"That's cool," Brittany nodded.
Zander came back into the shop with his father. Mr. Murray greeted Ashley and said he would leave her books at the counter. The three friends set off to get ice cream.
"This is so great," Brittany said happily.
Zander was going to make a smart remark, but Ashley sensed it, and nudged him. "Don't," she whispered.
"Fine," he said.
Ashley grinned. "It is pretty great, though."
"Now that you're free," Brittany nudged her.
Ashley laughed. "Free at last!"
"How come Ashley gets to go out with her friends?" Katie whined to Julie.
"Because they showed up," Julie replied. "And before you say anything, I was thinking you could invite Caroline over for a sleepover."
Katie brightened. "Okay!"
Julie smiled. "I know you're going to miss her when you go to school."
"I'll write to her," Katie said.
"The two of you have been through a lot together," Julie said. "I can still remember the two of you playing together when you were babies."
"I bet we had fun," Katie said as Julie pulled a few books down from the shelves.
"You did," Julie recalled.
"That looks like a boring book," Katie pointed to History of Magic.
"Sweetheart, this is a very interesting book," Julie said. "I wore out my copy my first year. It's so interesting to see how our world has evolved."
"I guess," Katie said unenthusiastically.
"If you need any help, you know where I'll be," Julie said putting an arm around her.
Katie nodded.
"You're going to love it at Hogwarts," Julie said. "And you'll have your sister and me to help you."
"Ash won't want to help me," Katie made a face.
"She would," Julie said. "Katie, she loves you."
Katie only shrugged.
"I'm so proud of you and the hard work you've put in on your reading," Julie said.
Katie straightened up proudly. "Thanks Mummy."
"And I suppose we could get you an owl," Julie said. "If you promise to share it with Ashley."
"Really?" Katie asked.
"Really," Julie said. "And maybe we can find one like Hedwig."
"A really pretty white one," Katie nodded.
"And you'll have to come up with a good name," Julie said.
"I will," Katie nodded. "I mean... we will."
"That's my girl," Julie said grinning at her.
Katie couldn't wait to tell her sister about the owl.
They headed for the counter to pay for the books. A young girl about Katie's age gave Katie the once-over in the queue. "You're Katherine Malfoy, right?"
"Yes..." Katie said slowly.
"I'm Miranda Zabini," the girl said. "My grandfather went to school with your grandfather...well, both of your grandfathers."
"Oh..." Katie said. "You mean my dad's dad?"
Miranda nodded. "They were in Slytherin House together. Back when the name 'Malfoy' meant something."
Julie put her hand on Katie's shoulder. "Come on, sweetheart."
"What does she mean, Mummy?" Katie asked.
"Nothing," Julie said evenly.
"The name Malfoy has always meant something," Katie said to the other girl.
"Not from what I hear," Miranda said disdainfully.
"That family fell into a shame spiral when Draco Malfoy married into that dreadful Weasley family," Miranda's mother said. "And then his ungrateful son carried on the family tradition by marrying...the mud--"
"That's my mum," Katie said angrily.
"Madam," Julie said through clenched teeth. "I'd appreciate it if you and daughter would refrain from making comments about my family."
Miranda's mother gave a superior sniff and turned her back on Julie.
"What was she talking about, Mummy?" Katie asked looking up at her mother.
"Nothing worth repeating," Julie said. "Unfortunately, there are still some prejudiced people in our world. We have to ignore what they say."
"But the Malfoy name has always meant something," Katie said confused. "Daddy's famous."
"His grandfather wasn't a very good man," Julie tried to explain. "And most people know our last name from that."
"Oh," Katie said. She vaguely remembered the grandfather they'd met briefly in Australia when she was little. But, she'd never met her great-grandfather. "He's not in Azkaban, is he?"
Julie nodded. "Thankfully."
"Oh," Katie said thoughtfully.
"Just don't listen to any of it," Julie told her.
"Okay," Katie said, but she was secretly wondering if everyone at Hogwarts knew that her great-grandfather was in Azkaban. This was beyond embarrassing!
Julie patted her shoulder. "That's my girl."
They finished paying for Katie and Ashley's books. Katie found that she was glad Ashley was with her friends. She liked having her mother and her mother's money all to herself.
"All right," Julie said. "Let's go find your sister and tell her we're going to the cauldron shop."
"Okay," Katie grumbled.
"Or would you rather have your robe fitting first?" Julie asked.
"Ooh," Katie said eagerly. "The robe fitting, please!"
Julie laughed. "All right."
"Mummy, when do I find out what house I'm in?" Katie asked. "Uncle Ethan said I had to swim the moat first."
Julie shook her head. "You don't have to swim in the moat. You'll find out what house you're in right before dinner.
Katie sighed in relief. "I'm glad. Uncle Ethan had me scared."
"He was terrified when he got there too," Julie told her.
"He was?" Katie asked.
"Petrified," Julie said. "I told him he had to battle the Giant Squid."
Katie giggled. "Mummy!"
"It's a rite of passage," Julie grinned.
They entered Madam Malkin's, which was crowded. But, it helped when you know one of the shop girls. Katie recognised her Aunt Saffron's friend Beth behind the counter.
"Hi, Professor Malfoy," Beth said smiling at her.
"Hello Beth," Julie smiled at her. "When did you start working here?"
"A couple of months ago," Beth replied. "How's Saffy doing? I've been meaning to owl her."
"She's great," Julie said. "Positively glowing."
"She's going to the doctor today to find out if it's a boy or a girl," Katie said to Beth.
Beth's eyes grew huge. "SERIOUSLY?"
Julie nodded. "At first, she didn't want to know, but I think curiosity is getting the better of her. So, the healer's going to tell her today."
"Ooooh I have to owl her right away then," Beth said. "Well... soon as I get out of here."
Julie smiled. "I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. But, for now, I'd like to have Katie fitted for her first set of robes."
"Absolutely!" Beth grabbed a tape measure.
"It's my first year," Katie announced proudly.
"I can't believe it," Beth said.
"Neither can I," Julie said while Beth measured Katie.
"I want some purple robes," Katie told her mother.
"Sweetheart, you really don't have a choice on the colour," Julie told her. "All students wear standard black robes."
"But I want to be different," Katie protested.
"So did I, but it's always been that way," Beth said making notes of Katie's measurements. "But, you'll dress it up with the good old Gryffindor red and gold."
Katie nodded. "Of course I will."
Beth smiled at her. "Okay...I think I have just the set for you. I'll be right back."
"I thought they had to make them then we pick them up," Katie said once Beth had disappeared.
"Not anymore," Julie replied. "They've come quite a ways since I was your age." Julie smoothed her daughter's brown hair. "My baby girl."
"Mummy," Katie said. "You promised not to say that in public!"
Julie laughed. "I'm sorry. You're right."
"What else do we have to buy?" Katie asked.
"The cauldron and your owl," Julie replied. "But, we should collect your sister first."
Katie nodded. "For the owl."
Beth came back with four sets of black robes. Katie still wasn't too crazy about the colour, but they fit well. She knew that she could dress it up with the Gryffindor red and gold.
"A perfect fit," Beth said. "Katie you're going to have such a great little figure in another year or so!"
Katie beamed at her. "Thank you."
"Thank you so much for your help, Beth." Julie said. "I'm sure we'll be seeing you soon."
"Absolutely," Beth replied. "And I'll just put this on your tab, Professor."
Julie nodded. "Perfect."
They left Madam Malkin's and found Ashley. They waited as she said goodbye to her friends.
"I'll owl you both later," Ashley promised. "And Brit... braces are...."
Brittany held up a hand. "Save it, Ash. They are my cross to bear. I'm stuck with these horrid things for two years."
"Brilliant," Ashley said. "Braces are brilliant."
Brittany gave her a hug. "Liar. I'll see you soon."
"Okay," Ashley said. "Talk to you later."
Zander smiled. "Bye, Ashley."
"See you," Ashley grinned at him. "I'll owl you tonight."
Katie rolled her eyes. "Come on, Ashley! Let's go!"
Ashley shook her head. "Fine, Katie."
Julie looked at her oldest daughter. She hadn't seen her this happy in weeks. "You had fun with your friends?"
Ashley nodded. "It was good to catch up with them."
"Forget about them," Katie said excitedly. "Mummy's going to buy me---I mean us---an owl."
"What?" Ashley's eyes grew huge. "Our own owl?"
Katie nodded. "Isn't it great?"
"SO great!" Ashley hugged her mother.
Julie smiled. "I'm proud of both my girls. If you can share the owl, your father and I are happy to provide you with one."
"We can definitely share," Ashley nodded.
"Absolutely," Katie said. "We share Sophie."
"And when I'm a seventh year I can take her to school," Ashley said. "So we can both have her there then."
"Thanks to Aunt Saffy," Katie said.
Julie nodded. She hoped that her sister's appointment with the healer was going well.
Saffron was actually feeling very impatient. She was starving and she had to use the loo. They'd been waiting to see the healer for the past half hour.
"Saffy, you know you can't eat anything until afterwards," Andrew reminded her.
"But you don't even know how hungry I am," Saffron complained.
"Yes, I do," Andrew grinned. "You told me about seven times since we sat down."
Saffron frowned at him. "You're taking this entirely too lightly."
"I'm not," Andrew said. "I promised to take you out to lunch as soon as we finished."
"Anywhere?" Saffron asked.
"Anywhere you want," Andrew said.
Saffron smiled. "You know what does sound good? Hagrid's rock cakes... with a nice big smear of pepper jelly on top."
Andrew looked at her. She must be hungry if she thought Hagrid's rock cakes sounded appetizing. "Um...sure."
"With a nice big glass of butterbeer," Saffron sighed. "But I can't have butterbeer."
"Miss Potter?" the receptionist said. "Healer Parkinson will see you now."
"Finally," Saffron muttered.
Andrew took her hand and followed her into the examination room. Saffron stepped behind the curtain and changed into an examination gown. "Ooooh, I know what I want, Andrew," Saffron said to him from behind the curtain. "Greta's peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
"If that's all you want, I can make that for you," Andrew said.
"But it's not the way Greta makes it," Saffron said.
Andrew laughed. "Okay, we'll go by Nick and Julie's when we finish."
"That works for me," Saffron came out and sat on the exam table.
There was a knock on the door. Saffron smiled as Pansy Parkinson came into the room. She liked the idea that the same healer that had delivered her was going to deliver her baby.
"Good morning, Saffron," Pansy said warmly.
"Hello, Healer Parkinson," Saffron said. "It's good to see you again."
"And Andrew," Pansy nodded to him. "I'm glad you're both here."
Andrew squeezed Saffron's hand.
"So we're hoping to find out the sex today, right?" Pansy asked.
Saffron nodded. "Yes, please."
Pansy nodded and began making some marks on Saffron's chart.
The nurse helped prepare Saffron for the procedure. Andrew took a seat beside his fiancée's bed and held her hand.
"Okay," Pansy looked over the information that had been sent over from the Muggle doctor Saffron had seen.
Pansy put some cold gel on Saffron's stomach and then muttered a spell as she waved her wand over Saffron's belly. The sound of the baby's heartbeat filled the room and a picture of the baby appeared on the opposite wall.
"Oh," Saffron sighed happily. She would never get tired of seeing her baby.
"Look at him!" Andrew exclaimed.
Pansy smiled. "That would be a ...her, Andrew."
Saffron gasped. "I'm having a girl?"
"Yes, you are," Pansy replied with a grin. "There's her hand...and that's her leg..."
Saffron's eyes filled with tears. "Our daughter."
Pansy looked at the notes from the Muggle doctor and then at the image of the baby. "Um..."
"Is something wrong?" Andrew asked.
"Yes," Pansy replied. "The notes from your Muggle doctor said that your conception date was March 13th. But, the baby's---the baby's actually older than that. Without a shadow of a doubt, you conceived February 28th."
Saffron stared at her, unable to speak.
Pansy shook her head. "Muggle doctors think they know everything with their fancy machines, but they're really off quite a bit."
"But then that means..." Saffron's eyes filled with tears. "That means it's not Daniel O'Neal's..."
Andrew was in a bit of shock himself. "Are---are you sure, Healer Parkinson?"
"Quite positive," Pansy said. "I can run a paternity spell right now if you'd like."
"Yes, please," Andrew said. He didn't want to get his hopes up to have them dashed again. He wanted to be certain.
Saffron nodded. "That would be wonderful..." she couldn't help the hopeful feeling that flared up inside her.
Andrew squeezed her hand and then turned his attention to the healer. "What do we have to do?"
Pansy mixed a few ingredients together from some bottles in the corner. "Both of you drink this. If you're the father, Andrew, then you'll both glow red for a moment."
Andrew nodded and took the bottle from her. He looked at Saffron and both of them downed the contents at the same time.
For a few moments, nothing happened. Saffron knew it had been too good to be true. But, she noticed that Andrew had started to glow red. To her delight, she saw that she had too. "Andrew? Ellie's---Ellie's yours."