A/N: Not counting the Epilogue which will come next, this is the end of the trilogy. One day I might go back and fiddle with Crescent Moon or the other two to make it a bit better, but for now I will content myself with working on my very own story and finishing up chapter 1 of my new Harry/Hermione story "The Light". No title for that as of yet. I hope to post that before next week! Thank you to all my readers and reviewers!
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My Song Is Love
Devon stood at the doorway to Marissa's old bedroom, staring at its starkness.
Jennifer's suitcase was propped against the bed and a lone hanger hung on the doorknob. The only piece of furniture Marissa chose to take with her to the new flat in Hogsmeade was her bookcase. They bought everything else and she figured that Elizabeth would want to move out of her tiny bedroom ten years from now and take over her oldest sister's room; the one with the private bath and great view.
Loosening his formal cloak he wore he draped it over his arm, thinking about the wedding that took place hours earlier and how happy Marissa and Brian were. Many people didn't understand why they chose to not get married at the beginning of the school year. Devon understood. So many students got married right after school because they couldn't wait or a sibling had to go back in the Fall.
Reggie had married a Muggle and that wedding had been right in the middle of the summer. The hottest time of the year. And for some strange reason they had it OUTSIDE.
Fall was Marissa's favorite time of year and they both decided their honeymoon could wait until holiday break. THEN, they would go on that cruise to Greece for a week. That made sense to Devon. Leave the cold and snow behind and go somewhere warm.
A pair of arms slipped around his waist startling him into dropping his cloak.
"You okay?" Jennifer asked, resting her cheek against his back.
"Sure. Just…taking in the empty bedroom," Devon said resting his hand over hers, but not turning towards her. His misty eyes would betray his true feelings that he was indeed going to miss his sister. He still had three younger ones in school with him, already in their fourth year. Elizabeth would be going through Hogwarts by herself in another ten years. But, Marissa was the sister he was closest to and now her own life with her new husband was just beginning and he was trying to figure out where he fit into that. When would he see her besides family birthday's and holiday's?
"You know, Dev, she said you can visit anytime. And, with me working at the lab with her in another few months, I can keep you posted on how she is doing." Jennifer tightened her arms around him for a second then let them drop. "I'll give you some time-," she started but Devon shook his head sharply finally turning around. For a moment he took in the eerie quiet of an empty house. His parents were still talking and having drinks with the family back at his grandmother's. His siblings were being forced to help clean up, along with Kirstin, Taryn and Laura.
Devon managed to escape saying he had to pack to go back to school early the next day, which was Sunday, to study for a Transfiguration exam.
"You're starting at the lab after Christmas?" Devon asked leaning against the doorjamb his eyes drinking her in. She was still dressed as a bridesmaid and Devon had to really control himself during the whole evening to not grab and snog her in front of everyone.
"Yes. If all the paperwork goes through, allowing me to work in England, I should be here for New Year's Eve. Marissa said I could start anytime after January second. I'm going stir crazy at home, so the sooner I get back here the better," Jennifer told him watching him carefully.
Marissa's wedding was only the fifth time she had seen him since meeting him for the very first time a year and a half ago. After spending Easter out here with her parents, Devon actually came to America to visit her for a week that summer and for a few days over Christmas. Her parents didn't want her traveling to England over the holidays so they consented to having Devon visit them. In June, Jennifer came for Marissa and Brian's graduation in conjunction with a fitting for the wedding then had to leave days later to go on one last vacation with her own parents and a few cousins back in America. Now, here she stood--her heart torn for Devon.
First Marissa moved away, which she could see was something he was struggling to deal with. And then in two days time she needed to get back home and continue her temporary job editing articles for the American Magical Journal. It wouldn't be easy to leave each other this time…it was getting harder and harder to say goodbye.
Jennifer kept her eyes trained on Devon, then silently reached out and took his hand. Motioning for him to pick up his cloak she led him across the hall to his bedroom and sat him down on his bed.
"Do you want to stay here and talk or go back and hang with everyone back at your grandmother's?" She asked releasing his hand as he sat down quietly.
Jennifer kicked off her silver high heels and with a sigh lowered herself onto his bed next to him, picking up his hand again and holding it in her lap. She felt his thumb and forefinger pinch the satiny, silver material and rub it between his fingers taking in its softness.
"Devon?" Jennifer turned towards him trying to get a feel for what he wanted.
"I can't believe my sister has her own freaking lab," Devon said suddenly, not looking at her but instead out his bedroom window, over his desk.
"Well…she certainly has the mind, business savvy and money to do it," Jennifer said slowly not quite sure if that is what he really wanted to hear. Relief settled on her shoulders when he nodded in agreement.
"I know that. I mean…she knew she wanted to work in a Potions lab from her seventh year on. I'm still not sure what I want to do."
"You're excellent in Potions and she said she'd love to have you help her run experiments and research. You know that," Jennifer said placatinlyg, covering his hand in her lap trying to get him to open up a bit more easily to her.
"I know. Grandma Malfoy said she'd give me the same amount of money for graduation she gave her. So I could sink it into her Lab and help, or keep it and do something else."
"You'd be great at anything that had to do with Potions, Devon. You don't HAVE to put your graduation money into the Lab in order to work there. Marissa would take you in a second and probably wouldn't WANT your money. She has enough coming in from the sale of her and Brian's formula."
Jennifer stood up and looked down at him, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"What do YOU want? It doesn't matter what other people want for you," she asked sliding her hands down
his arms and grabbing his hands as they went to rest on her waist.
Devon looked up at her; his eyes flicking to her dark hair piled up in curls on her head then met her concerned gaze. Feeling his hands squeeze hers and trying to keep her expression neutral under his forceful gaze, she waited patiently.
Finally her patience was rewarded as he lowered his head and rested it against her stomach.
"You," he replied softly wrapping his arms around her middle only to be pushed back and find Jennifer's face now level with his.
"You have me Devon. You don't think I'd move all the way from Maine to England, a different COUNTRY, if I wasn't sure this relationship was going to last?" She framed his face between her hands and kissed him feeling the jolts of desire starting to move through her veins.
"I know. It was just the first answer-," Devon mumbled against her mouth tugging her down towards the bed.
"That came into your head…I know," Jennifer smiled down at him, wiggling to find a spot that was comfortable for her in her dress and finding the right position to where she just fit with Devon.
"It's only October, you have a good two months to really think about what you want to do. But,
don't let anyone sway what YOU want to do…if it's trying out for Quidditch, then do it. If it's working
with Marissa at Malfoys Potions, then do that. Either way, I'll still love you."
Devon stared at her, his hands not moving as they came to rest on the small of her back. It was the first time she had said it, verbally. Even when they slept together the first time, they had both been so stunned at the fact that it actually happened and was better than they could've imagined, saying "I Love You" never entered into the conversation afterwards. Then, with his visits to America her parents kept a very close eye on both of them, not giving them much alone time to do anything much more than a few slow kisses and a few soft touches. Their letters to each other concluded with "Love," after he visited America over the summer. Then after his visit last Christmas, it became "Love you," until the card Devon received for his birthday back in February she said she loved him. He wrote it back in a slightly shaky hand but it had been said.
Now that it was verbalized it seemed to mean so much more, and seemed to solidify a sense that this relationship was becoming permanent. Devon slowly brought the words that he was thinking to his mouth and began running his hands up and down her back feeling the fabulous silver dress against her curves.
"I love you, Jennifer, If I didn't I'd be talking you out of moving to England. I'm very excited that you'll be here permanently after Christmas," he smiled, his eyes lighting up for the first time since she came back to his house to find him when he disappeared from the wedding reception.
"Oh, I'm excited too. Though the food you all eat is so different. I'm going to have to steal some of my mother's cookbooks and cook you some American meals," Jennifer kidded her breath catching as Devon's fingers found the zipper on the back of her dress.
"Where are you going to look for a place to live?" Devon asked slowly pulling down her zipper, waiting to see what her response would be. It had been a VERY long time for them to have this much time alone and Devon was hoping Jennifer was on the same page.
"Janet said I could share her apart…umm…flat until I could find a place. She's in London, so if I like it there, I'll stay there, find my own place." Jennifer felt his hand stop at the base of her back and fresh air flowing over her open dress.
Talking was done as he pulled her head down and kissed her, not being hesitant this time around with what he wanted to do with her. And Jennifer didn't stop him, feeling her dress being pulled down off her shoulders and she helped him by raising herself up on one arm while pulling her other one out of the sleeve. As his hands encountered her bare skin she motioned towards his bedroom door, putting her wandless magic to the test. The telltale sign of the door closing and the ripple of magic as the silencio charm was put up verified it did indeed work.
"Impressive," Devon murmured flipping her so they were side by side. Her hands flew down his shirt, unbuttoning it and pulling it off quickly.
"What's impressive is we haven't jumped each other the past three days since it's been like a over a year since we last did this," Jennifer whispered gasping as he pressed close to her. She wondered how everything came off without her knowing, then remembered who she was dealing with. From the few times she had spent with the Malfoys she grasped how powerful and intelligent they were. And as his mouth covered hers in tandem with a few nudges of his hips, she vividly remembered the power that Devon could make her feel. Jennifer was very thankful she worked at practicing wandless charms and loving the fact that he remembered with out any provocation to cast the contraception charm.
Jennifer wasn't sure if verbally voicing their love made their time in bed any better, but it certainly didn't hurt. She wasn't entirely sure that she was going to be able to spend the night in Marissa's room alone, without thinking of Devon across the hall and not going to his room. But in the end it didn't matter. Hours later after everyone was asleep and a very tipsy Draco and Ginny managed to fall into bed after putting Elizabeth and the triplets to bed, Devon walked into "her" room as she dozed. Silently he slid in next to her loving how she turned towards him, curling against his side. And he knew then, he couldn't leave every other day to play on a Quidditch team. If he wanted to stay with Jennifer, and not have it become harder and more painful to be apart from her he was going to have to stay close by.
He was never so happy that his grandmother gave Marissa 50,000 Galleons as a graduation gift and never more thankful that Marissa took their grandmother's advice to start her own Potions lab. When his father had announced that piece of news last year, the entire magical world supported her.
And now, three months later, Marissa was well into finding a cure for Dragon Pox with the help of a few wizards and witches Professor Snape had recommended. Devon decided he needed to be a part of that. Seeing a brand new fledging lab begin it's ascent into the ranks of world renowned labs and to know he helped would be a great accomplishment.
With that decision being made, he whispered his thoughts into Jennifer's ear, feeling her smile against his
shoulder. The happy sigh and tightening of her arms around him cemented the fact that he made the right
choice.
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January 3, 2018
"England Magical Medical Journal"
A new Potions Scientist was added to Malfoys Potions Lab staff today as Marissa Malfoy Potter hired Jennifer Marie Clark from Bar Harbor, Maine in the United States. They attended the same internship the summer of 2015 in Africa and have remained friends ever since.
"I asked her as soon as I made the decision last June that I was going to open my own lab. But with her not being English and not a resident, it took six months to go through the paperwork and documents the American and English Ministries needed. It was worth the wait though. Having another pair of eyes and someone with a totally different Potions teacher helps us to gather more information than we could have without her," Mrs. Potter explained. Miss Clark was not available for an interview as she was being given a tour of the facility and being introduced to her co-workers.
We were able to interview Mrs. Potter in between meetings with the Australian Potions Master and Ministry regarding the
progress of the Dragon Pox formula her small staff is working on currently.
"My Great Grandfather Malfoy died of Dragon Pox so this also is a special interest of mine. We receive list after list of different viruses or sicknesses that don't have cures. Hopefully, with cooperation from other labs we can together find cures for most of these."
We posed the question of how her small staff, only six right now, are handling the demand of cures and we could see her excitement mounting.
"Oh, we're growing. My brother has expressed an interest in joining and with his talent we will be able to add a bit more to the work load. I have my first intern for the summer, Taryn Potter, my sister-in-law, expressed an interest in learning about the research involved in finding cures. Along with those two and further recommendations from my father and former Professor Snape I think by the end of the summer we will have over fifteen people. My goal is too break down the lab into two parts. Research and Development. Then of course your basic front office where we take appointments for meetings and go through the list of sicknesses to see what priority it needs to be assigned. My grandmother has been a big help in the office front along with my cousin James."
We weren't able to speak at length about her decision to sell the formula she and her former fiancée and now husband, Brian Potter, chose to sell to the largest Potions maker in the Magical World, "Magical Maladies Lab, Inc" based in Japan. But she did say all the money they made off that sale went into securing this building, next to St. Mungo's and into a fund to pay their employees. She said that the gift her grandmother had given her was what she used to buy the equipment necessary to perform the experiments.
Marissa and her husband Brian currently reside in Hogsmeade.
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July 10, 2018
"Hogwarts Alumni"
Draco and Ginny Malfoy announce the engagement of their son, Devon Charles to Jennifer Marie Clark of Bar Harbor, Maine. Both Mr. Malfoy and Miss Clark are employed at Malfoy Potions Labs and are planning a wedding for May, 2019. They also announce that their son, Derek, will be attending a Potions Internship in Africa this summer.
Harry and Hermione Potter announce their daughter's, Taryn, Potions Internship in Africa. She will be joining Derek Malfoy from Hogwarts and six other students from around the world for this six week long course.
Chad and Cassandra (Weasley) Hart announce the birth of their first child, Michael, born on July 8 at St. Mungo's. The couple reside in Scotland and are graduates of Hogwarts Class of 2016.
Cassandra's parents, Charles and Katharine Weasley announce the wedding of their daughter Jillian to Richard Smythe, both Graduates of the Hogwarts Class of 2016. The wedding took place on July 2 outside of the Smythe home. The couple plan to settle in Ireland where Richard is a Medi-Wizard. Jillian hopes to open up her own day care for children of Magical parents.
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"Brian!" Marissa gasped pushing herself up in bed gulping for air. Brian stirred next to her and mumbled her name back to her with his face buried in his pillow.
"Brian, wake up dammit!" she reached over and shook him, before collapsing back against her pillows.
"What?" Brian raised his head and looked at her with bleary eyes. They had only been asleep for three hours and he couldn't fathom why she was waking him up at two in the morning.
"I think the baby is coming…Merlin, I know it's coming," Marissa moaned, curling on her side trying to breath through the pain in her lower back that seemed to slowly encircle her whole body.
"What?" Brian now sat straight up and stared down at her, his hair poking out in every direction. "Now!?"
"I didn't plan this!" Marissa snapped at him feeling the contraction slowly fade away. "Just get my bag and apparate us to St. Mungo's."
"Yeah…bag," Brian echoed, standing up quickly and grasping the wall for a moment trying to get his bearings.
"Here, let me help you to the living room," he said gently, his senses coming back to him. Walking around the
bed he took her outstretched arm and helped her to her feet. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders he led her slowly
down the stairway then through the dim hallway to their living room, settling her in to their new
recliner.
"I'm going to go get your bag, I'll be right back," Brian said but was stopped as her hand grabbed his and squeezed.
"Another…," she gasped curling over herself. Brian held her hand and rubbed her back as she breathed through the next contraction. "How far?" she panted throwing her head back against the chair.
"Maybe three minutes apart. Be right back," Brian felt her hand relax and quickly let go and ran down the hall to their cloak closet, grabbed her bag and ran back seeing her sitting in the same position.
"Ready?" Brian asked pulling a sweatshirt over his bare chest.
"Hurry," Marissa gasped, reaching for his arm. A few seconds later she was standing inside the entrance to
St. Mungo's. It didn't take the receptionist long to recognize the granddaughter of their biggest benefactor
and the son of Harry Potter. One contraction and another minute later, they had her situated in a private room across
from the Nursery, in a gown and a baby monitor hooked up to Marissa.
Marissa made Brian go downstairs and owl their families that she was indeed having the baby. Reluctantly he left her and wrote a note to his parents, Draco and Ginny and one to Devon and Jennifer as fast as he could. Handing all three to a tawny brown owl he opened the window for the owl, closed it then ran back upstairs.
He walked in right as one healer was asking the typical questions and another was casting a pain muffling charm over her. Brian could tell from his vantage point in the doorway that she visibly relaxed as soon as the charm was cast.
"…and you're twenty one right?" a healer asked and Marissa nodded, her eyes catching Brian in the doorway. She reached a hand out in his direction and he walked around the healers, setting himself between her and the baby monitor.
"Everything look okay?" he asked nervously looking at the Healer's faces. They nodded and then the one with "Healer Sellers" embroidered on her robe spoke.
"She's doing great and already halfway there, to when she can push. We just gave her a pain muffling charm which will wear off just a bit so she knows when she needs to push. Marissa," she turned to Marissa who was almost asleep. She opened her eyes and looked at the Healer she had seen a few times in her visits to the hospital.
"What is your original due date?"
"Umm…July fourteenth. Two weeks from now."
"Yeah, not much of a break from classes you're giving me here," Brian kidded, dropping a kiss on Marissa's forehead.
"Sod it Potter," Marissa said but with a smile in her voice and no sooner had she closed her eyes than sleep fell upon her.
"Go ahead and rest. We'll know up front when she's ready to push. It shouldn't be too long since she's gone this far in just a few hours," Healer Sellers told Brian. A moment later it was just a very awake Brian, a sleeping Marissa and a baby that seemed to move around continuously making noises through the monitor.
Settling himself in the comfortable chair next to her bed he looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. Memories ran through his head unbidden, knowing that this would be the last time it was just the two of them. She had wanted him to herself for a few years and for both of them to get comfortable in their jobs and get a house before thinking about children.
This October would mark their four year anniversary. He smiled a bit as the image of Marissa in her long cream colored dress, the one her mother had worn for her wedding, sprang into his head. He loved how she wore her hair piled on her head, back to its strawberry blond color that he had grown to love. She fit perfectly into the dress, being the same height as her mother and as soon as Brian saw her he had choked up. The emotions that flowed through him (whether they were his own or from her because she was staring at him as she walked down the aisle) had brought tears to his eyes.
Later, Marissa would pretend that she hadn't seen the tears in his eyes, instead mentioning that right before her father walked her down the aisle he had hugged her, and kissed her cheek. And as they pulled away he had tears in his eyes. The first time she had ever seen him not in control of his emotions…her mother swore her father cried a bit when Elizabeth was born but none of the children believed it. Now, she knew that all six of them held a special place no one else could ever touch in his heart. Brian had just agreed with her not really understanding what she had meant.
But, three hours later as Brian sat holding his newborn daughter in his arms he cried. Tears rolled silently down his cheeks as Marissa rested next to him running a hand over their daughter's blond hair. Then placed a small hat upon her head.
"I think she'll have green eyes…see?" Marissa pointed to their daughter's open eyes, which were fixated on Brian. The expression on her tiny red face seemed to be asking, "Who the hell are you and what just happened?"
Brian could only see a blue tint to her eyes but nodded, learning that Marissa was hardly every wrong if she saw something and he didn't.
"You don't really see it do you?" she asked softly smiling and Brian shook his head causing Marissa to
laugh then cringe grabbing her stomach reflexively.
"I think she'll look like your grandmother Lily did. Though she does have your mouth and chin," Marissa said softly running a finger down the tiny cheek. Immediately the baby turned and rooted towards the finger.
"Is she…hungry?" Brian asked his voice still not quite sure of anything at this point. He handed her to Marissa who had just placed a pillow under her arm.
"I believe so." Marissa reached up to unbutton the shoulder of her hospital gown.
"Want me to get a healer to bring a bottle?" Brian asked wiping his eyes with the back of his hand then looking back up.
"No," Marissa looked up at him and saw him staring in wonderment at their daughter as she began nursing. Marissa gripped the bed sheets with her free hand as the unfamiliar sensation of nursing took hold. It hurt but didn't all at once.
"I…I thought you were kidding when you said…that you'd…," Brian floundered pointing a finger in the direction of the baby whose pink capped head was snuggled close to Marissa. "Wow…that's…how do you know how to do that?" Brian was still mesmerized by Marissa's arms holding their daughter against her, knowing what the baby was doing but barely seeing any part of Marissa's exposed breast.
"I don't know. I read up some, talked to a few Healers doing my visits." She craned her neck trying to meet his gaze. "Are you okay?" Marissa asked noticing his gaze hadn't left the general vicinity of her chest. Finally he moved his eyes up and met hers smiling reassuringly.
"I'm great. I should be asking you since you just gave birth to her a half hour ago."
"I'm tired but immensely happy," Marissa sighed, settling her head back against the pillow. "Who is here already?"
"Everyone. Your parents, mine, all the new aunts and uncle. At least that is was Healer Sellers told me an hour ago. Do you want me to get them?" Brian asked watching Marissa open her eyes reach down and in a single movement removed the baby and covered herself.
"Here burp her…just like we did with Elizabeth," Marissa handed him the baby and after a few awkward movements he had her sitting up against her hand and began patting her back. "I'll call the healer and have them send in our parents first…is that okay?"
"Sure. It's about time they met Sarah Jane, don't you think?" Brian asked chuckling as a nice sized burp resonated in the hospital room.
"Very much so," Marissa agreed, reaching out and grasping the tiny fingers the peeked out from her blanket. "Let's call in the new grandparents."
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"The Daily Prophet", "Hogwarts Alumni", "The Quibbler", "England Magical Medical Journal", "Witch Weekly", "Magical Teen Magazine"
July 2, 2020
Harry and Hermione Potter along with Draco and Ginny Malfoy became grandparents on July 1, 2020. Brian Potter and Marissa Malfoy Potter are the proud parents of a baby girl named Sarah Jane Potter. Weighing in at six pounds ten ounces both mother and daughter are doing wonderfully. There wasn't a full twenty four hours rest from Mr. Potter's teaching until he became a father, but according to his father, Harry, he didn't mind in the least.
"I still think he's just stunned that he's a father. But, now he'll get to enjoy a full two months with Sarah before he has to go back to work in September," the new grandfather said to us as we caught up with him outside St. Mungos.
"Marissa plans on taking off three months from work. Between the sets of grandparents, great grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles Sarah will be well cared for while Brian and Marissa continue working," Draco Malfoy explained when asked if his daughter was going to cut back on the hours she spends at the lab.
A little voice popped up from Professor Malfoy's side as we ended our interview outside St. Mungo's.
Four and half year old Elizabeth Malfoy was standing quietly holding her father's hand but at the mention of Sarah she couldn't contain her excitement.
"I'm an aunt!"
There is no doubt that this newest addition to the Malfoy/Potter family will be receiving lots of love and attention. And word is that she has already received the custom gift basket from Hogwarts, ensuring her a spot eleven years from now.
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A/N: onto the Epilogue (it should be posted in the next day or two)…many thanks for all my readers and reviewers. If it wasn't for YOU I wouldn't be doing this. It's been great fun and I've enjoyed every second of writing this!!
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