Final Legacies

Disclaimer: Okay, people, I do own the plot and the following characters: Bridget “Mystic” (Granger), John, Valerie, Alex, Renee, and Kiera Paloumar; Sierra; Gwynethia, Rhia, and James Potter. The following characters belong to the following people, not me: Kikio (Black), Travis, Shaleen, and Jerico Axion - Kikioblack (FF author); Jenny Granger - JennyGranger (FF author); Harry and Hermione (Granger) Potter (and all other familiar HP characters) - J. K. Rowling. The song Breaking The Habit belongs to Linkin Park. Thank you for wasting valuable reading time on this disclaimer. Now, go read my story and please remember to review it for me.

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A/N: This story takes place 16 years after the second book in the Meant To Be Series, Meant To Be. Things are different, such as that Bridget “Mystic” Granger is now married to John Paloumar, Harry and Hermione are the proud parents of 3 kids, and Kikio Black is married to Travis Axion and now has 2 kids.

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Meant To Be 3:

Love Binds

(Rhia's Story)

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Chapter 1: 16 Years Later

- Harry turned around just in time to see his five-year-old daughter, Rhia, come flying towards him. Her shiny jet black hair flew out from behind her like an ebony banner, her hazel eyes sparkling, showing her excitement over seeing her daddy come home from work. Her laugh, clear and beautiful, made him forget how tired he was and how incredibly long his day had been. Rhia leaped into the air to be caught in her dad's strong arms, where she was the happiest.

Rhia was a total daddy's-girl. His oldest daughter, Gwynethia (Gwyn) however, was a 6-year-old mommy's-girl. James, at age one and a half, really didn't seem to prefer either parent, as long as he got fed. Gwyn had long, incredibly blonde hair and dark brown eyes, the same shade as her mother's. She was tall even for her age, and couldn't wait to start going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as soon as her parents would allow her to.

Rhia didn't seem very anxious to go to the boarding school because that would mean leaving her beloved daddy behind. The young little witchling couldn't understand that eventually she would have to. Right now, kindergarten was a major issue for her. The thought of a year-long separation from her father would traumatize the little girl. -

“Leave me ALONE!” came a very upset squeal from one of the girls upstairs.

Harry shook his head and brought himself mentally back to the present. That was then and this was now. Right now James was probably pulling some more of his never-ending pranks on one of his older sisters. Right now was 16 years after the birth of Gwyn, 10 years after his nice little memory had been created. Now, Rhia was highly independent, outgoing, had a royal temper, an attitude, and didn't want anything to do with her father and very little with her mother.

Gwyn was quiet, laid-back, thoughtful, and still a momma's-girl. She didn't mind her dad, but her mom was the one she ran to. She was the smartest of the 6^th years and was very active in various organizations at Hogwarts.

James lived up to his name quite well; James Sirius Potter. He was the worst of his grandfather, James, and Sirius Black. Harry was sure that he could even out-prank the Weasley twins, Fred and George. He knew all the ways out of Hogwarts, including 3 ways that none of the second generation marauders had ever found.

At that moment Hermione happened to come home from work, thoroughly exhausted from a long day. Harry had to duck quickly as a shoe came flying his way, nearly nailing him in the head. He knew she didn't mean to hit him and just wanted out of her shoes, so he didn't comment on it. Instead, he walked over to his wife and kissed her, asking her how her day had been.

“Awful! First we had to break the news to a young couple that their three-year-old daughter had a disease even magic couldn't cure, then one of my patients died and…” Hermione continued to explain about her bad day, all the while looking like she was going to just fall to pieces.

“That sounds awful, honey,” Harry said sympathetically. “Tomorrow's bound to be better.”

“You're only saying that to make me feel better,” she said in a cross tone but her smile showed how much she appreciated his support.

The two of them headed out to the kitchen, where Harry proceeded to make lunch for a change and Hermione plopped down in a chair. A big, furry black and white Siberian husky came bounding in to greet them, but slid to a stop when she saw Hermione. She whined deep in her throat and laid her head on her knees.

Sierra was a two-year-old dog that Hermione wasn't sure who had adopted who. She had just turned up one day, a starving, dirty little puppy. At first Hermione was just going to feed her and let her go on her way until Sierra had looked up at her with her pleading little blue eyes. That's when she officially became a member of the family.

“Hey Sierra!” Hermione said, trying to be cheerful for the dog's sake.

“You're not fooling me. I know you're miserable,” the dog replied, looking up at her with almost transparent blue eyes. Some days Hermione regretted using a special charm to translate what the dog was saying to English and vice versa.

“Fine then. With your acute hearing, you should know why I'm not in a good mood.”

“So come play with me. Or, we could go out and visit Danzair!” the dog said eagerly. Danzair and Sierra were really good friends, and the dog was always wanting to go out and visit him.

“No, not right now; I'm going to eat lunch and then I'm going to take a nap.” Hermione said decisively, sticking stubbornly to her original plans, ignoring the dog's beseeching eyes and deplorable whining.

“Fine, then. I won't tell you what's up with Rhia then! Treat me like crap!” the dog muttered huffily, trotting out the doggy door.

“That reminds me,” Hermione said thoughtfully. “Do you know what's going on[Author ID1: at Fri Mar 23 16:19:00 2007 ] [Author ID1: at Fri Mar 23 16:19:00 2007 ]with Rhia? She really hasn't been herself since she came back from Hogwarts this year.”

“I don't know!” Harry said, totally fed-up with the 15 year old. “Maybe she had a bad break-up with a boyfriend or something.”

“I don't think that's it, Harry. Something like that wouldn't be enough to totally change her personality like this.”

“I don't know about that, you know how she is,” Harry replied.

“Yeah, but-”

Just then they heard a loud crashing noise come from upstairs followed by a loud thud. Harry raced up the stairs while Hermione apparated to the cause of confusion. They both arrived upstairs in time to see James sprawled on the floor, a confused look becoming one of hurt on his face.

`Ya know, there could be a reason why Harry and I didn't try to have a fourth kid…' Hermione thought in semi-amusement as she helped the 12 year old to his feet and brushed bits of broken glass off of him. A book laid a couple of feet away, and the vase that had been sitting in a small table along the hallway was on the floor, shattered.

“Now what were you doing to Rhia?” Harry asked his son.

“I didn't do anything to her!” James protested with a hurt look on his face. “All I did was asked her why she was crying, and she threw her potions book at me.”

“Alright, James. Why don't you go play at the park after you eat your lunch or something and leave Rhia alone, okay?” Hermione told him and motioned towards the kitchen where Harry had finished lunch before racing upstairs.

“Okay, Mom.” James headed down the stairs and Harry turned towards Hermione.

“I don't know what's gotten into her, Mione, but this has got to stop,” Harry said, his green eyes looking suddenly tired.

“Why don't you go let Gwyn know lunch is ready and go eat lunch with the two of them? I'll talk to Rhia and see what I can find out,” Hermione suggested.

“Okay, it's your head you're risking getting bitten off,” Harry said as he headed on down the hall to Gwyn's room.

Hermione sighed and slowly opened the door to Rhia's room. She slipped inside and immediately noticed that Rhia's back was to her. Her shoulders shook with her silent tears, her pillow clutched tightly against her chest. She looked like a little kid who'd just lost their best friend. It took several minutes for her to even discern that her mother had entered her room.

Hermione sat down gently on the edge of the bed as if at any minute it would shatter beneath her. She studied the light blue blanket beneath her as if she had never seen it before, waiting for Rhia to calm down. She knew that Rhia would talk to her when she was ready to do so and not an instant sooner.

The only noises to be heard in the room were Rhia's choking sobs and the steady ticking of a clock. At the clock ticked the minutes away, Rhia gradually grew calmer and her sobs quieted down a little. Her hazel eyes still betrayed her fear and misery.

“Rhia, what's wrong, honey?” Hermione finally asked her daughter.

“Nothing!” Rhia responded. Her resentment shocked Hermione and threw her off a little.

“Rhia, I'm only trying to help you. `Nothing' isn't true if you were crying, something's got to be wrong.”

“NO!” she shrieked, jumping away from her mother as if she had been burned. “Don't even start! Go away!”

Hermione debated staying, but thought better of it. She got up and walked almost dejectedly out into the hallway and stood there, although she wasn't sure why. Then she squared her shoulders and headed to the now-empty kitchen to eat a now-cold lunch. She ate quickly, not really tasting the food, grabbed her jacket, and left for the stables. She scanned the eager horses standing there and then began grabbing lead ropes. The first two horses she took out to the paddocks were Dunnit and Marauder. After them came Remnant and Triumph, Renegade and Rain, and then Jenny's mares and yearlings, including her 15-year-old mare, Rayne. Finally came the other horses that had been bought or bred within the last 16 years; Sullivan, Rhia's palomino horse, Skylark, Hot Rod, Lady Of The Celts, and many others.

All the horses were brought out of the three barns to frolic in the paddocks with the exception of one, Gremlin's Lady, who was a three-year-old filly that Hermione was training for competitive jumping. “Lady” had to be exercised more than the others to keep her in top shape for competing, and to burn off the edge she always had. She mounted the horse and they took off for the trails.

Hermione wasn't too surprised to see Jenny returning from the trails on Mustang Moon (a.k.a. `M and M'), as she was often on the trails with one of her many paint horses. She waved Hermione over to ask her about Rhia, as she knew Rhia often talked more to her aunt than her parents.

“Jenny, do you know what's going on with Rhia? She's become really introverted and angry. I don't think it's anything I did, or even Harry for that fact, but she seems to resentful all the time. I went into her room to talk to her about it, but all she did was tell me to go away. Jenny, I felt so bad! She was crying and she looked so sad,” Hermione said almost desperately to her twin, her eyes pleading.

“I don't know what's going on with her, Mione, honestly. She was talking to Sullivan a few days ago and said something about wanting to tell somebody something but not knowing how to do it, that she was too scared to. I'd say give her some time. I'll try to talk to her next time I see her. I hope she isn't in trouble or something,” Jenny said, a frown creasing her forehead. “Well, I have to go and work with one of the yearlings. Later!” she said and rode off.

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Rhia lay on her bed listen to absolutely nothing but the confusing thoughts crashing into one another in her head.

`You know you need to come clean with your family…you need their support…what are you going to do about it…you can't do this on your own ...things will only get even worse if you don't tell your parents…how's Drayden going to feel about it…your family has a right to know…you screwed up, so fix it…why did you ever agree to it in the first place…it's your own fault …look at what a mess it has gotten you into…you need help, ask for it…they'll find out what you did sooner or later, just tell them already…some secrets just can't stay secrets…they'll be mad, but they'll get over it…your mom will be there for you and help you out of this…tell her…maybe you should tell him the truth, he has a right to know…ask Aunt Jen, she'll know what to do…

On and on her thoughts went, perplexing her, making her head hurt a great deal. She was on the brink of tears again before she grabbed her headphones and CD player and left for the barn. She had a Linkin Park CD (Hybrid Theory) in it and put it on random. The first song that came on she didn't want to listen to, she so skipped it and the next three songs until a good one came on:

“Memories consume

Like opening the wound

I'm picking me apart again

You all assume

I'm safe here in my room

[Unless I try to start again]

I don't want to be the one

The battles always choose

'Cause inside I realize

That I'm the one confused

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

I don't know why I instigate

And say what I don't mean…

…I tightly lock the door

I try to catch my breath again

I hurt much more

Than any time before

I had no options left again…

…I'll paint it on the walls

'Cause I'm the one at fault

Ill never fight again

And this is how it ends

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

But now I have some clarity

To show you what I mean …”

Rhia knew precisely what she had to do now, but she wasn't very keen on doing so. It would mean telling her Aunt Jen and her parents that she wasn't the good little girl they all thought she was. It would mean admitting she had done something completely erroneous and that she actually needed their help.

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Rhia was in the barn tacking Sullivan up when Jenny rode back into the barn. She thought about how she should approach Rhia on the subject, and wasn't sure how to. She was still thinking about it when Rhia walked over to her. She didn't have to approach Rhia in the end; Rhia came to her.

“Aunt Jen?” she said apprehensively.

“What Rhia?” she asked the girl, leading one of her 2-year-old paints, Rayne, over to the crossties.

“You know Mom pretty well, don't you?'

“Well, maybe. Depends on what you want to know about her,” Jenny replied, being cautious about how she answered.

“Let's just be hypothetical about this,” the teen said to her. “How would mom respond if I told her I'd had a boyfriend?'

“She'd almost certainly be happy for you,” said Jenny.

“What if I told her his last name was `Malfoy'?” she asked curiously and somewhat guardedly.

Jenny nearly choked on thin air. A Malfoy?! “If you're trying to start World War 3, that'd be a great way to go about it,” she said, looking doubtful of Rhia. “She'd probably yell and screech and raise holy hell with whoever he was and his parents. She'd be out-and-out furious.”

Rhia looked almost ill. “But what if I told her he was different, and we loved each other?” she persisted. It was quite obvious to Jenny by now that absolutely none of this was theoretical; Rhia had Malfoy's son for a boyfriend.

“I highly doubt that would make a difference, Rhia Elaine. Whoever this kid is, you'd better break it off with him before your mom finds out about him. Draco and Lucius Malfoy were rotten to us at Hogwarts. Your mom will hear his last name is Malfoy and quit listening. Is this what has been bothering you since you came home for vacation?” Jenny asked her.

“Well, part of it,” Rhia said, looking down at the floor, kicking at some loose straw with the toe of her boot.

“You know, you can tell me, Rhia. If something's going on with this kid...if he's hurting you…” she let the sentence trail off into silence, hoping that Rhia would finally tell someone what was going on.

“Aunt Jen, it wasn't my fault, it really wasn't! Well, it was, but it wasn't. You'll see why.” Once Rhia started to tell Jenny what was going on, she just couldn't seem to stop…

…TO BE CONTINUED…

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Okay, yeah, I know that wasn't very nice, but I had to bring it to an end there. I bet you read chapter 2 now! Don't worry; Ch. 2 will be posted soon!

-Bridget-

-MWB-

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Disclaimer: As an added disclaimer, I don't own the song or the lyrics to “She Will Be Loved”, belonging to the band Maroon 5. Also, for future reference, I don't own any songs I use in this story unless I directly state so.

Chapter 2: You Can't Turn Back Time

“Aunt Jen, it wasn't my fault, it truly wasn't. Well, it was, but it wasn't. You'll see why.” Once Rhia started to tell Jenny what was going on, she just couldn't seem to stop. “It was all so innocent, really. He and I started talking because he was the first Malfoy ever to be put in Gryffindor, or any house other than Slytherin, for that matter. Then we became really good friends, and we dated most of the year. At the last Hogsmeade outing we went on, we went off by ourselves and had a little too much butterbeer. You know what that stuff can do to a person if you have too much of it. Anyway, I honestly don't remember much about what happened after that. And now… now…I-I'm…pregnant,” she finished in a whisper as she fought back tears, but lost.

Jenny had listened in silence to her niece, and now her head was spinning. She hugged the teenager in her arms, giving her a shoulder to cry on, literally. `This is SO not good,' she thought numbly. `Hermione is going to have a cow, maybe ten. Her whole life she and Harry have been plagued by Draco and Lucius Malfoy, and now her daughter is not only head-over-heels for a Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's SON, but pregnant with his kid!'

To Rhia she said, “The only thing I can say here is you need to go talk to your mom, big time. I can't help you this time, and the longer you wait to tell her, the more upset she'll be.”

Sniffling, Rhia wiped her sleeve across her cheeks and said to her aunt, “Can you come with me? Just for support. I don't want to face Mom on my own. Please?”

All of Jenny instincts were screaming at her to stay out of this mess and as far away from Hermione as she possibly could for a few days, but instead, against her better judgment, she said, “I guess I can. Just enlighten me of something, Rhia. Who's this Malfoy kid's father and what's his name?”

“His name,” Rhia said after taking a deep breath, “is Drayden Malfoy, and his father is…Draco.”

Jenny stiffened, imagining the scene this was going to cause. The Potters and the Malfoys had never gotten along. How was this poor kid going to be happy when he or she would be forever trapped between the two feuding families? How were Rhia's parents going to handle this?

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Hermione was sitting in the family room reading a book when Jenny and Rhia came into the house. She was immediately aware that something big had taken place, but what she wasn't sure. She laid down her book and waited for one of the two to say something.

When neither one did, she said, “Alright, what's going on?”

In the background “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5 was playing.

(All the words in italics (lyrics) are being sang in the background on Hermione's radio)

Beauty queen

Of only 18

She had some trouble

With herself

“Mom, I need to tell you something. Just listen until I finish,” Rhia said, looking anxious. She looked somehow younger and yet older than she actually was.

He was always

There to help her

She always belonged

To someone else

“Okay…” Hermione said apprehensively. Her coffee-colored eyes, pools of ocher light, reflected her fears for her daughter, but she didn't say anything.

I drove from

Miles and miles

And wound up

At your door

I've had you

So many times before

But somehow

I want more

I don't mind

Spending everyday

Out on your corner

In the pouring rain

Rhia began to tell her mother what had been going, starting with the part about a boyfriend. “He's really sweet, Mom,” she said, not telling Hermione his last name. “Drayden and I really care for each other. Anyway, we went out on our last Hogsmeade trip and I think we both had a little too much butterbeer. Honestly, I don't remember much after that, except, well…” Rhia's voice trailed off, not wanting to say the words that would shatter her mother's heart. Her hazel eyes gained a far away look to them, and Hermione waited patiently to hear the rest of her daughter's story.

Look for the girl

With the broken smile

Ask her if she wants

To stay a while

She will be loved

And she will be loved

Tap on my window

Knock on my door

I want to make you

Feel beautiful

I know I tend to

Get so insecure

Does it matter

Anymore

The moments ticked slowly by. Rhia couldn't seem to find the courage or the words to hurt her mother this way. In spite of everything, her mom had always been there for her, been there to reassure her and tell her everything would be all right. What would her mother think of her now?

It's not always

Rainbows and butterflies

It's compromise

It moves oh so long

Hermione sat immobile, not being able to endure this tense silence, but not finding the words to ask Rhia or Jenny what was wrong. She dreaded hearing the words she knew were pending, but she just wanted this all over, wanted everything to be alright once more. Then again, perhaps things would always be upside down starting from this point on out.

My heart is full

And my door's always open

You come anytime

You want

Jenny sat in supreme silence, hoping Rhia could do this on her own. She really didn't want to get drawn into this if she didn't have to, but she knew that Rhia might require some assistance, too. However, she was content to wait it out for the time being.

I don't mind

Spending everyday

Out on your corner

In the pouring rain

Look for the girl

With the broken smile

Ask her if she wants

To stay a while

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

At that moment Sierra entered the room and sat importantly down on her favorite chair, even though she knew she wasn't allowed on the furniture. Hermione glared at her, but the Siberian husky just ignored the death glare and looked her straight in the eyes. “Alright, there's only one way to say this,” the dog said suddenly. “Hey STUPID, haven't you figured out what your daughter is trying to tell you? What she's trying to say is that-”

I know where you hide

Alone in your car

Know all of the things

That make you who you are

I know that goodbye

Means nothing at all

'Cause that makes me

Catch her every time she falls

Harry entered the room and glared at the dog. “Did I just hear you call Hermione stupid? Look who feeds you and gives you a home you little-”

Tap on my window

Knock on my door

I want to make you

Feel beautiful

“HARRY!” Hermione protested loudly. “Put that dog back down! She was trying to say something to me!” Harry grudgingly set Sierra back down none-too-gently on the floor, taking the chair for himself. He glared at the dog. Sometimes he went overboard on protecting Hermione.

I don't mind

Spending everyday

Out on your corner

In the pouring rain

Sierra shook herself, silently snarled at Harry, and began again. “As I was saying before he interrupted me, what you haven't figured out yet that your daughter is saying is that she's expecting her boyfriend's kid.” To herself, the dog grumbled, “Why is it that dogs always figure things out way before humans do?”

Look for the girl

With the broken smile

Ask her if she wants

To stay a while

A hush fell over the entire room. Not a person stirred, Jenny looking at Hermione, Harry looking at Sierra, Hermione staring at Rhia, and Rhia staring at the floor. Sierra got up and trotted over to the doorway to escape Harry's skeptical stare. Once again, only the lonely ticking of a solitary clock filled the room.

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

“Is that true, Rhia?” Hermione said in a strained whisper, her world seeming to break down around her. Her own faced paled to a deathlike white.

(Please don't)

(Try so hard)

(To say)

(Goodbye)

“Yeah, it is,” the teen said, her face paling significantly as well.

I don't mind

Spending everyday

Out on your corner

In the pouring rain

“Rhia, why?” Harry asked; hurt filling his voice and eyes. “And who?”

(Please don't)

(Try so hard)

(To say)

(Goodbye)

“Dad, even I don't know why. I was stupid, and Drayden and I were both drunk, and, well…I honestly don't remember myself.”

“So what's his last name and who the hell is his dad?” Harry demanded from his daughter, green eyes smoldering with his anger at her boyfriend.

“His name…is Malfoy, and his dad is Draco,” she said quietly, knowing her parents wouldn't be happy about it. Before they could say anything, she pressed onward. “He's not like Draco or Lucius, really. He's really sweet and we really do care about each other. We can make this work, all of us together,” she pleaded.

“Where in hell does this kid live? I'm gonna kill him!” Harry shouted, standing up even as he spoke.

“Harry, calm down,” Hermione said, trying to soothe him. “Killing the poor guy isn't going to solve anything. The kid probably doesn't even know she's pregnant with his kid if she's just now telling us.”

“I don't care! He's one of those damn Malfoys!” he said angrily. Harry stalked out of the room obviously upset. Hermione herself just said, “And I suppose you knew about this, Jenny.”

“Actually, I didn't until I got back to the barn with M and M.”

“Mom?” said Rhia, “Are you mad at me?”

“By all rights, you'd think I should be, but I'm not. I'm disappointed in your poor judgment, and I'm upset with your actions, but I'm not mad at you.”

“Okay.”

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Hermione stood outside with one of her favorite horses, The Last Marauder, Marauder's 2-year-old (and last) foal. The filly had her coal-black nose buried in the crook of her arm. Hermione was infuriated with the latest turn of events, but she knew there was precious little she could do about it. Yelling wouldn't help matters. However, she was going to do something about this. Oh yes she was.

Hermione had just decided to go see McGonagall about tracking Drayden down, even if it meant facing Draco. There really wasn't any way around it. She had to know who he was as a person, what he was like. Would he be there for Rhia and the baby, or would he be like his father and run away from his responsibility? It was crucial to her to know where he stood on this matter. Would he step up to the plate? That was the question that was really bugging her. Well, she would have to go find out. She sighed in annoyance and apparated to McGonagall's house to find some answers to her burning questions.

- 3 -

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