A/N: thanks to every reader and reviewer out there. I loved writing this and was sad to see it end, but they couldn't go on and on forever! My next story will be called "The Light". If you can handle Harry and Hermione, I hope to see you over there. I should be posting that chapter very soon; within the next few days, under my same author name "JazzyGeorgie".
And now, the conclusion…<drum roll please>
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EPILOGUE TO DRAGON TEARS: THE NEXT GENERATION
Marissa fidgeted from one foot to the other, anxious to see her oldest daughter arriving on the Hogwarts Express having just finished her first year at school.
"Excited?" Brian asked grinning down at her, touching his wife's hand.
"I am. That evident, huh?" Marissa answered smiling and leaning against Brian who just nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"I think I hear it!" a voice at her feet said. Marissa glanced down at her son playing quietly with a few Quidditch figures his Uncle Devon had given him for his eighth birthday two weeks ago.
"Do you?" Marissa asked ruffling his dark blond hair, then feeling him stand up on his toes to look past the parents in front of him.
"Yes…and I see it now…see the smoke?" he pointed off to his right then spun around as Marissa laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I do hear it, and I think I do see the smoke," Marissa stood on her toes, mimicking her son as Brian laughed
at her.
"You're acting like you didn't see her at Easter," he kidded, reaching out to grab their youngest that darted out from between them. "Stop running, Natalie." Brian grabbed their five year old's hand and held it firmly.
"I just want to see like Drew is," she said pouting, her eyes narrowing in anger. In one swift movement Brian lifted her to his shoulders, feeling her grab his hair.
"Better?" he asked glancing up at her and she nodded happily her dark ponytail bobbing up and down.
The excitement rose as the train drifted into the station and came to a steamy, squeaking stop and the doors flew open with a whoosh. Five hectic minutes later Natalie spotted eleven year old Sarah coming off the train and pointed towards her.
"I'll go get her. Drew, you stay here with dad and Natalie," Marissa pointed at him and he nodded backing up towards Brian as people began moving towards their children.
Marissa moved through the crowd seeing her daughter's strawberry blond head walking down the stairs and carefully pulling her trunk after her.
"Sarah!" Marissa called, waving to get her attention. She was answered with a wave and set down her trunk to give her best friend, Susan, a hug before they parted for the summer.
"Hi mum. Where's everyone else?" Sarah handed her trunk to her mother who pulled it behind them, resting an arm around her daughter's narrow shoulders.
"Waiting in the back."
"Did Uncle Devon come?" she asked her green eyes quickly scanning the platform for people she knew.
"He couldn't make it because of work. Aunt Jennifer is home with your cousins with some type of stomach flu, so when they get better we'll go see them, alright?"
"That sucks that both of them are sick," Sarah empathized then broke into a grin seeing her father standing off to the side, with Natalie now holding his hand.
"Hi dad," Sarah gave him a quick hug then stepped back, having just seen him the day earlier, she wasn't that excited to see him. Turning around she tapped her brother on the shoulder.
"How was your birthday Andrew?"
"It's Drew now," he said importantly, blue eyes narrowing just like Natalie's. Marissa and Brian covered up a smile, remembering two weeks ago their son saying his name was now "Drew", not "Andrew" because that was a little kid's name.
"Really? Fine, I'll try to remember that. Did you get the candy I sent you?" Sarah asked and he nodded.
"Mum made him share with me," Natalie said impishly and Drew shot her a look, making it clear that it was not something he had wanted to do.
"Come on then…let's get you home and unpacked. Tomorrow we rest, celebrate your birthday, then the next day is the family picnic."
"I'm starving," Natalie said, taking off her robe with the blue trim and placing it over her arm. "I forgot to pack a sandwich."
"Well, Grandma Molly left some food and my mum brought over a cake for Drew's birthday so there is still some of that left. It's all yours."
"Yeah, mum made me save you a slice," Drew said a bit grumpily trudging up the walkway to where they could apparate home.
"I feel the love, Drew. Really," Sarah responded, and then switched the subject asking about Quidditch camp.
Marissa walked a few steps behind her family, thrilled to have all of them home under one roof. Sarah had grown a few inches and her hair was past her shoulders now. Marissa could see that she was going to have her hands full with the boys in another few years. Brian had been saying off and on all year that when she got further along in school, the boys were going to be all over her. Teaching for fifteen years had taught him a lot about the students at Hogwarts. He just hoped that his presence at school would help to keep some of the boys at bay.
Secretly, Marissa was happy that there was another Ravenclaw in the family. She truly believed that Drew would be a Gryffindor, just like his father. He had an extreme talent for Quidditch and had no fear or trying anything new.
It was too early to tell with Natalie yet. She was feisty and still loved to play with dolls…pretending she was teaching them their lessons or taking them on field trips around the house. Hufflepuff was the first house that entered Marissa's mind when she thought of Natalie but only the Sorting Hat knew.
Quickening her step, she caught up with her family and holding hands they apparated back to their comfortable house in
Wiltshire, a mile down the road from Narcissa's home.
The Summer of 2033 was just beginning and Marissa could start to see her daughter blossoming into a warm hearted, smart one-day-shy twelve year old who would probably thoroughly enjoy her second year at school; taking after her Grandmother Hermione with her love of the written word. As Sarah turned around. right before they apparated to glance at the train, Marissa noticed that she was beaming ear to ear having successfully completed her first year as a Ravenclaw. Marissa could feel that Sarah was brimming with stories and tales of her new friends and classes. And Marissa couldn't wait to hear each and every one of them.
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Marissa sat at her grandmother's table at the Burrow, surrounded by the Malfoy, Potter and Weasley sides of the family. Her eyes roamed around the room taking in Dixon and his wife of six years, Amy Parkinson, and their two sons. Derek was sitting next to Dixon either talking about the latest Quidditch Match he had played in or about his girlfriend…who just happened to be Laura Potter.
Marissa had no idea how she felt about her sister-in-law possibly marrying Derek, and from the slow progress of their relationship it was obvious they weren't to sure what to make of it either. Marissa remembered when Derek came home from a Quidditch Match with the Canons (he was the Seeker) he found Laura sitting at Marissa's kitchen table discussing some of the latest books they had read. Once in awhile he stayed with Marissa and Brian if he was only in town for a day. The rest of the time he kept a flat near the training facility.
Derek and Laura hadn't seen each other in over two years. Laura had worked at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC for a few years before realizing she missed her family to much and moved back to England at the age of twenty eight, leaving behind a boyfriend and a job she liked, but her family had won. As Derek and Laura slipped into conversation about what they had been up to over the past year, Marissa had slipped out of the kitchen, feeling like they needed time to themselves. That one conversation started a friendship which blossomed into something more.
Laura wasn't one to hover over Derek so she flitted about holding her niece, Isabel--Taryn and her husband's first child-- showing her off. Kirstin was trapped in the corner with her two children playing a game of Exploding Snap with Ron, Fred and George. Occasional shouts of laughter broke through the boisterous crowd as Fred or George always managed to catch something on fire.
Marissa looked for Erin but couldn't find her in the kitchen, then remembered she was going to be late.
Devon and Jennifer had shown up for a bit after Erin offered to watch the five year old twins, Thomas and Shane, so they could visit; then they would switch. Erin still wasn't married but much to Marissa's chagrin had actually gone out on a date with Arnold Bosse. They both worked in the Ministry and after numerous lunch outings had actually gone to dinner and a show in London. Wisely Brian had kept his mouth shut but Marissa could sense he wasn't too happy about the date either.
"Hey, Marissa…where are the kids?" Janet asked settling herself down on the bench next to her friend. Marissa pointed outside.
"Brian is with them in the pool; well, at least with Natalie. I was helping mum with dinner but she shooed me away. So, now I'm just people watching." Marissa took a sip of her pumpkin juice and gazed down at Janet's very pregnant belly.
Janet caught her glance and smiled, patting the roundness under her t-shirt. "Have you seen my husband anywhere? We apparated into the front yard and that's the last I saw him."
"I think James is in the pool with everyone else. At least, Ron said he was when Samantha was looking for him earlier," Marissa patted Janet's stomach (Janet and James Weasley's third child), and gave her friend a gentle push off the seat and towards the back door to the pool.
"Marissa!"
She turned to see her sixteen year old sister coming down the stairs.
Sixteen and a half year old Elizabeth…Marissa vividly remembered being that age and couldn't believe that she was now 33 years old. It felt like yesterday she was in her fifth year at school. And due to that late birthday, she was going to turn 19 in her last year at Hogwarts. Sarah loved the fact she had an aunt only a few years older than she was, but admitted she viewed her mainly like an older cousin.
"Are you coming out to swim?" Elizabeth stood there in a two piece suit and looked down at her sister.
"I guess so. Mum said she needed my help, then shooed me away from the stove. So, yeah, I'll go swim with you." Marissa followed her youngest sister out towards the pool, peeling off her shirt and skirt, revealing her swimsuit underneath.
"Hey mum! Aunt Elizabeth…over here!" Natalie waved her hands from the inner tube she was suspended in. Brian was pulling her back and forth and seemed relieved that Marissa was outside now. She could help keep Natalie entertained in the water.
"Hullo my favorite brother in law," Elizabeth said jumping into the water and bobbing up next to Brian.
"I'm your ONLY brother in law."
"For now," Elizabeth kidded and swam under the water to where her Uncle Devon was swimming at the other end of the pool chatting with the numerous Weasley cousins. Marissa let her gaze roam around the backyard, happy to be here with her family, cousins, her cousins children, parents…everyone.
"Earth to Marissa," Brian said gently splashing water to get her attention.
"I'm sorry…what?" Marissa pushed Natalie back towards Brian in the tube, listening to her laugh and giggle the whole time, her brown eyes bright with laughter.
"I was just asking what you were thinking about…twice."
"Oh," Marissa blushed slightly and smiled at him, "Just looking at everyone. Seeing what they were doing."
"Happy to have Sarah home and happy to be around everyone aren't you?" Brian pulled Natalie behind him as he swam with one arm to where Marissa was treading water.
"I am. You know me, happiest when everyone is home," Marissa lifted Natalie up onto the sidewalk and watched her run towards Draco who scooped her up, wet suit and all. He was a lot more relaxed as a grandfather than he was with Marissa and the others. Perhaps because at the end of the day, he knew he could hand them back to Marissa and Brian and not have to worry so much about what they were doing.
Brian tugged Marissa towards him, circling his arms around her, his feet barely touching the bottom of the pool.
"Any big plans tonight?" Brian asked kissing her neck then pulling back.
"No…why? Do you have some?" Marissa asked resting her hands on his shoulders still not able to keep her hands from tracing the contours she found there.
"I think we should celebrate that Sarah's home."
"Well…we are sort of doing that here," Marissa said her voice filled with confusion.
"No, I mean our own way…Silencio and all." Brian grinned at her as her mouth dropped. She should be used to his surprising comments after being with him so long, but they always came out at the strangest times.
"Brian Potter…you're a trip!" Marissa laughed splashing water onto his chest. "But," she leaned forward so her lips were against his ear. "If you're good, I can show you something new I learned…."
Brian pulled back and stared at her with a happy glint in his eyes.
"Do I even want to know where you learned this new…thing?"
Marissa rubbed her hands over his shoulders as she smiled at him.
"Good ol' Janet found a book and was showing me some of the…pictures…that should answer all your questions."
"I think I like Janet even more than before," Brian said grinning from ear to ear. Marissa laughed, leaned over and kissed him.
She didn't have the heart to tell him that she learned how to cook a new dessert, which was chilling in the kitchen at home as they played in the pool. That the dessert was from one of Janet's cookbooks.
She couldn't wait to see the expression on his face when she showed him what she meant; but she was sure he would forgive her for what she had in mind for later that night.
Much later, after all three children were in bed.
Silencio charm and all.
She was going to show Brian James Potter just how much she loved him, and how thankful she was for giving her three beautiful children.
THE END
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