los part4

It happened as it always did when Ariel came to England, word got around fast that she was there and by nightfall Harry's home was filled with all their friends. However, unlike the distressful occasion at Luna's the night before, the house was filled with laughter, talking, and children.

"Blimey Evans," said Dean as soon as he, Padma and their 5 year old daughter, Ariel's goddaughter, Dipali, walked into the house from the fireplace, "Didn't expect to see you so soon!" He reached to hug his friend, but his daughter squealed at the sight of her godmother and leapt into her arms instead.

"Godmummy!" yelled the cute little brown skinned girl with two long, loose thick ponytails, that each alone were the width of her head.

Ariel squeezed her goddaughter, her face lost in midst the thick black hair of the little girl. "Dipali! I missed you girl!" said Ariel. "We had a lot of fun when you visited on Easter, didn't we?" The little girl pulled her head back from her godmother's and nodded profusely, her ponytails bobbing behind her. "Next time, leave mommy and daddy at home. They're killjoys," she whispered to the little girl and smiled.

"Oi, Evans!" called Dean. "Just don't want my little one to grow up to be a handful like you!" he joked.

Ariel waved her friend off, and continued to carry the child as she hugged Padma. Padma's own twin walked up right behind her to greet Ariel, and for once, there was a major difference between the two. While Padma was lean, with a flat tummy, Pavarti was heavily pregnant. "It's amazing that your about to have your first child considering how early you two got started," joked Ariel.

"Evans!" shouted Pavarti, looking at her niece.

The little girl looked confused. "Started what, Auntie?" asked Dipali.

Pavarti's tanned skin blushed. "Nothing, Dear."

"Your one to talk, Evans," said Seamus, smirking beside his wife. "If I hadn't received a letter from him last week, I'd a thought you finally killed Neville."

Ariel looked at her friends in mock disgust. "You people are sick! What a thing to say in front of a child. Dipali, hon, don't grow up to be like your dad and uncle. They are sick and twisted individuals," she said with mock earnest as she put the child down. "Now go play and forget everything you heard except what I said, okay?"

"Yes, Godmummy!" Dipali said playfully, before running off to the crowd of children near by, eager to get to her best friend Kendall and godsister Jade.

"You're going to be a bad influence on her," Dean said, shaking his head.

Ariel nodded self-righteously. "You picked the right chick to be her godmother than. Be proud!" she laughed. "Speaking of mothers..." said Ariel suddenly as a large group of red heads, with one brown head of hair in the bunch, strolled into the living room. "Goodness, Granger, your belly never shrinks!" Hermione blushed and waved Ariel off, as Ron smiled behind his wife, nodding just as self-righteously as Ariel had just moments ago.

"There she is! The second best looking twin in the world!" said George Weasley with half a smile.

"George Weasley," beamed Ariel, before rushing over to him and hugging him. "Haven't seen you in so long! Now why is that?" she asked after she let him go.

George sighed, his half smile slowly fading away. "Been quite busy, is all, making my brother and I rich men while he stays here to keep a chair and whip to my niece and nephew." With that, Olivia and Jackson came running through their uncle and Ariel, holding balloons full of water.

"Oh no you two don't!" shouted Harry, chasing after them. "Not in the house!"

Ariel smiled, watching her brother chase the twins down the hall, then drenched in the water balloons they were trying to keep away from him. She turned back to George. "Yeah, the store in Geneva Gardens is doing great, according to Longbottom. SIMS staff is always confiscating Weasley products from students. Babe's so use to them, he knows all the counter spells to all of them. And no one believes him when he tells them he knows you all, and saw all your products when they were in their experimental stages." Ariel giggled, but George only snorted lightly. Her smiled disappeared too, seeing that he wasn't much for jokes or compliments anymore.

Although Fred and George Weasley owned a number of famous joke shops all over the world, one of the twins rarely made or laughed heartily at jokes anymore. George was a shrewd businessman. Every location he chose to open a new Weasley store on his quest to chase Mindy Monroe around the world, had proven to be an excellent and extremely profitable choice. However, George's jovial nature had begun to fade almost instantly after he proposed to Mindy two years prior, and she turned him down, stating that her career was in full swing and she didn't want to be tied down just yet. Not only was she THE name is fashion, she also began modeling her creations, and from years of being with George, learned how to be a proper, profitable, and uncompromising businesswoman.

It was the first and only time George had ever been in love. Even after they broke up and he began dating an old schoolmate, Alicia Spinnet, she had fallen head over heels in love, but George couldn't return her feelings. And after six months, they two broke up, and George never dated again. He was the only Weasley, the only person in that house, that wasn't married and contributing to the massive baby boom in Britain.

Ariel knew that the break up was hard on George, but what he didn't know was that it was hard on Mindy too; only her best friend knew that. "Well, I hope Neville's confiscating the products, that way the kids will go out and buy more," George tried to joke. Ariel snorted, mostly out of pity for the heartbroken twin.

***

"They're so mean sometimes," said Jade, as her, Kendall, and Dipali peeked into the dining room Olivia, Jackson, and Sirius were huddled together in. "We gotta get them back!" All three girls stood there sopping wet from head to toe.

"Not all of them. Sirius isn't a meanie," Kendall defended her godbrother quietly to her cousin.

Dipali giggled, squeezing out her bushy ponytail. "He is when he's with them, isn't he?" Jade nodded, Kendall shrugged her shoulders.

"Alright KC, if Sirius isn't a meanie, then why did he throw water balloons at us?" Jade asked in a whisper.

"Because you babies deserved it, didn't you?" sneered Olivia, turning around to face the 3 peeking, now surprised heads at the door. The 9 year old twin, with her thick reddish brown hair in braids, turned to the face the girls with water balloons in both hands. Her brother, with his short, course reddish brown hair, turned to the face them as well; hands filled to capacity with the loaded balloons. Sirius also turned around with his red mane that instantly turned black at the sight of the girls at the door, holding his balloons with less enthusiasm and grit that played across the faces of his friends. "And just for the record, I threw the balloons at Inkle-Everyone's-Little-Angel Kendall. Sirius couldn't hit her because she's too small to see!" Olivia joked, and her brother laughed. Sirius opened his mouth toward the twin, but closed it quickly.

"'Least that better be the reason, Sirius, or Olie and I will show you how it's done, ON YOU!" threatened Jackson. Sirius mumbled something under his breath. "What's that, Sirius?" Jackson said with a menacing tone, as he raised his balloon filled hand to the lowered head of Sirius.

Suddenly, Jackson dropped his balloons and wailed in pain when he felt a sharp kick in the shin. "DOODY HEAD!" screamed Jade, and ran top speed out the dining room with Kendall and Dipali following closely behind. The girls just missed a shower of Boomerang water balloons, created by the twins' father and uncle. Once the balloons hit their target, they refill instantly, and land gently in the hands of the owners, ready to be thrown again. The twins sputtered out a slew of obscenities as they ran after the little girls, Sirius slowly dragging behind.

As the group ran through the house, Kendall ran ahead of her cousin and best friend. "This way!" she yelled to them, and ran straight for the living room in the sea of adults. The littlest Weasley twins barrage of swears and water balloons halted when they noticed they were surrounded by big people, and when their mother yelled both of their full names with a not so pleased look on her face. Their contraband was confiscated by one of the creators, their father, and the two were sentence to sitting quietly, and separately on the couch until further notice.

"Wicked, Kendall!" praised Dipali, and the two girls' slapped hands, then turned to Jade and did the same. "And what do you want?" Dipali's smile faded as Sirius walked up behind Jade.

Kendall and Jade turned to Sirius, their smiles fading as well, as the solemn looking boy stood in front of them. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"What? Can't hear you!" said Jade loudly.

Sirius lifted his head and narrowed his eyes at Jade. "I said, I'm sorry," he rolled his eyes at Jade and looked at Kendall instead.

"You ought to be. You got me in the head twice! Know how long it takes Mummy to dry my hair?" said Dipali, taking again to wringing out her still wet ponytails.

Sirius ignored her statement, and stepped back as water dripped to the floor from her hands and hair. Instead, he turned to Kendall. "Please don't...tell Harry. I mean I didn't hit you with them, but..."

"I bloody well knew it!" yelled Jackson from the couch. "He's a bleeding girl-lover, that one!"

"Yeah! Traitor!" yelled Olivia at the other end of the couch. "Hang on..." she said, realizing what she had just said.

Sirius turned toward the couch, his hair turned bright red. "I don't like girls, they are disgusting!" he yelled at the twins as he walked and they bickered with him and each other. As Fred and Angelina scolded their children, Sirius stomped away and sat next to Ron when he had no parents present to discipline him, and his godfather was no where to be found.

***

"There you are! Man, I was wondering where you went!" said Ariel, entering Harry's bedroom. "It's a mad house downstairs. Care to join in? It is your house after all," she joked.

Harry had just pulled on his pants and was in the middle of changing when his sister walked in. "Would you get out of here? I'm a bit naked, if you've notice. Besides, they are all here to see you. I see that lot all the time."

Ariel huffed and sat in one of the chaises in the room. "Whatever dude, I've seen you in your underwear, trust me, it's NO big deal. By the way, you don't have to get all dolled up for me. I know I deserved top hats and tails and all, but really..."

Harry ignored his sister, and put on a white button down dress shirt. Then he proceeded to put on a tie as Ariel babbled about nothing in particular. Harry was still angry from that morning when he read Cho's letter. He was also worried sick, and did all her could not to apparate to wherever she may be. Harry hadn't only excused himself from the festivities downstairs of his home because he was anger with his wife still, and things were beginning to vibrate around him, but because he had a dinner to go too that evening with the team owner, Matthew Terrance. He would now have to go alone, another thing that irritated him greatly.

"Didn't she?" asked Ariel. Harry had heard nothing much of what his sister was saying until that statement.

"She who? What?" he asked, turning to Ariel.

Ariel sighed. "Monroe. She designed those pants, didn't she? I know she's starting the men's line now. And of course you'd be her guinea pig. Regg and his son are always decked out in something new, so that's why I recognized them."

Harry looked down at his lightly pleated, black dress pants. He forgot Mindy had sent him a rack of men's clothes, with explicit instruction to Cho on how to show her husband how to wear them properly. Harry had been so upset about his wife, and worried about the dinner that all he thought about was dressing nicely. Dressing nicely warranted thoughts of what Mindy would say about anything he chose, and without thinking he reached for something of hers. "Yeah...well, I reckon you're right, then," Harry said softly. He began the always challenging task of fixing his hair in the mirror. He had grown accustomed to using products in his hair, but he was too frustrated at the moment to make it work right. Soon he saw his sister's smiling face behind him in the mirror.

"Hopeless, as usual. Turn around, Stubby," Ariel said, turning her brother to face her. She put the tip of her wand in her hand, and said nothing as the familiar foamy white stuff came out the tip. "See if you had a child, your hair would actually be like normal people's hair. It stopped mine from growing insane lengths in a day!" Ariel explained, with her shoulder length red hair, which she rarely wore in a braid or braids anymore...since the Fair at Hogwarts 9 years ago to be exact.

Harry was becoming even more irritated as she fiddled with his hair. He exhaled heavily and tried to move her arms out the way. "I can do it myself!" he snapped.

"What is your freaking problem, Potter? I don't know how many times I've seen something shaking, or felt unusually calm in a house full of kids today. I know part of it is about Chang, because she is female, in the world, and you know her, so therefore..."

"Ariel, I don't need you witty comments about my suspected chauvinism right now, if you don't mind! Let's save it for our birthday, or Christmas perhaps, shall we?" Harry said nastily, as he turned back to the mirror to finish the job of his hair.

Ariel's temper began to raise now, annoyance evident on her face. "Ok, instead of being so God damn pissy, why don't you tell me what's wrong with you?" she demanded, crossing her arms in front of her.

"Nothing!"

"Bullshit!"

Harry exhaled again, and walked over to his bed. He sat down and began putting on his shoes. "I'm going to quit," he said so quietly Ariel didn't respond because the statement was so soft spoken, it hadn't made it to her ears yet.

"What?" she asked finally, walking closer.

"You heard me," Harry said, refusing to look up at her.

Now Harry felt a calm coming over him. He expected it, he even welcomed it for the brief moment of his anger subsiding enough that he could feel calm, although he knew what was coming next.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me? Correction: YOU BETTER BE fucking kidding me, Harry? Say you are right now to save your damn life, because so help me if you're serious..."

Harry stood up and defiantly in his angry sister's face. "Well I am serious! So do whatever the hell you see fit, Evans!"

Ariel narrowed her green eyes. "What a wus! You can't help it if you develop new abilities! Its just like that night in the cemetery when the Inferi attacked! You lost your grip, but you eventually learned how to control that new power and..."

"Yeah, and how long did that take? And now, I barely need a bloody wand to do anything! What else is there to come? How do I know that snitch didn't come to me because I was begging for it too in my mind? And I was Evans, I was begging for it! Suddenly it's in my hand..." Harry stalked away from his sister, grabbed a jar of Cho's cream off the dresser and threw it clear across the room. The glass jar shattered when it hit the wall as white cream slide down it with shards of glass stuck in the substance. Ariel didn't so much as flinch.

Judging by the way the lamps were moving on the night stands, and the headboard and mirror were shaking, the glass jar wasn't short of exploding on its own. "So that's it?" growled Ariel. "You're going to quit, because you wanted to freaking win? Well damn it all to hell, Harry, the whole fucking team should quit then, right? You can be such a dramatic, over analyzing, little cynic..."

"Cemetery? Wait, that reminds me? What was Jade on about, about you two going to a ceme-something today before you arrived at my house?" asked Harry, cutting her off.

Ariel paused her rant for a moment. "She's 5, Potter! She didn't know what she was saying..."

Harry's chest burned. "You're lying! Where were you two today? Does every woman in my life have to lie to me?"

"Sometimes we do, yes! Because you're insane if you haven't noticed!"

He huffed loudly in frustration. "I don't have time for this!" Harry shouted at her, and headed for his bedroom door.

"Oh hell no! I'm not through with you yet, Harry!" yelled Ariel, following him out.

"I've got a dinner to go too. Watch Kendall, won't you?" snapped Harry, rushing down the stairs.

"No! I'm going to let my niece run rampant and wild in the streets! Sorry!" retorted Ariel on his heels as they made it down the stairs. Harry turned back to shout at her when they heard a pop in the foyer.

"Good Lord! Arguing the last time we were altogether, and arguing now!" exclaimed a voice in the foyer with a hint of laughter.

"Monroe?" said Harry, stopping in his tracks on the bottom step, his sister colliding into him and knocking him off of it.

Mindy Monroe smiled brightly as she walked up to Harry and kissed him on the cheek. "Hey Potter, nice pants," she said and winked, turning her blue eyes reddish-brown instantly as she always did around Harry. "Evans, what's up?"

"What's up, Monroe? I didn't expect to see you this soon. Thought you were going to Italy first then..."

Mindy shook her head. "Done in Italy already. When I got your letter this morning, I decided to come earlier and see..."

"MONNIE, MONNIE, MONNIE!" yelled Jade from clear across the house.

Mindy turned to see the round cheeks of her goddaughter smiling ear to ear in the living room. "Now I know I don't have to come all the way over there to get a kiss from her goddaughter, right?" Mindy asked smugly with a smile. The little girl shook her head and disappear where she stood, reappearing in her godmother's arms.

Ariel grabbed both sides of her head in frustration. "Dam...DANG IT, Jade! I've told you not to do that! You're too young! You could splinch yourself or something! And Monroe, don't encourage her!" Mindy and Jade ignored their friend and mother as they walked giggling into the living room.

"Auntie Mindy!" shouted Olivia.

"Mi-Mindy," said Jackson shyly, but ran with his sister to Mindy as they threw their arms around her waist. Mindy was just able to put Jade down in time before the twins ambushed her.

"Oh boy, my favorite troublemakers! How've you been? Angels, I bet."

"Boy, could I win money off of you," said a somber voice.

Mindy turned to the source, and the facial expression of George Weasley matched his tone. "Weasley," said Mindy, her smile slightly fading. "How are you?"

"Business is well."

The twins released Mindy and she walked over to George. "That's not what I asked you, G," she said quietly, her smile fading till her expression matched his.

The two gazed at each for a moment, before George leaned down and placed a light, lingering kiss on her cheek. "That's all I feel right now," he whispered, before turning and walking away.

Mindy sighed and stood there, watching George walk into dining room. Judging the sudden green light, and sound of flames coming from the area, she guessed he used the Floo to leave. Before she had time to react, Pavarti and Padma had fought their way out of their husbands restraining hands, and rushed to Mindy for an autograph, practically squealing all the way.

Harry was done arguing with his sister in the foyer. Ignoring her completely, he turned toward the living room. "Kendall?" he called out, not knowing exactly where she was.

His little girl sprinted out the crowd in the living room, her tiny form dodging through bodies, and under her godfather Ron's legs. Her black ponytail bounced behind her as she smiled heading toward her father. "Yes, Daddy?"

"Yes, Daddy?" Olivia imitated from the couch in an octave higher than necessary, before he mother shushed her.

Kendall saw or heard nothing but her father. She beamed up at him in a way that always made Harry's heart melt. He kneeled down in front of her. "Sweetheart, I have to go to dinner with Mr. Terrance. You remember him, don't you?"

"Yes, he owns your team, right?" answer the little girl, her smile beginning to fade. "You're not going away to play, are you Daddy?"

Harry shook his head, and put his hand on her shoulder. She always hated when he went on the road. "No, Kendall. It's just a dinner. He wanted you, me, and Mummy to come, but she's not here," he said through clinched teeth when referring to his wife, "but since Mummy's not here, and we have a house full of people, Daddy's needs you to watch everyone for him, okay?" The little girl smiled again. "Keep an eye on your Aunt Ariel, particularly. She's a nutter, that one."

"Watch it, Potter," said Ariel standing next to him, and still annoyed.

"All right, Daddy, I'll watch everyone for you," said Kendall. She threw her arms his neck and hugged him with all her strength. Harry held his little girl for moment, then kissed her forehead before heading out the door.

***

Harry apparated to the front door of a house so large, it rivaled Mindy's father's home in Boston. Stepping in front of the double doors, with their large solid gold T shaped knockers, Harry grabbed hold of one and used it. The sound the knocker made was so quiet, he was sure no one heard him. Reaching for the knocker again, he was proven wrong.

The door seemed to opened on it's own, because all Harry could see was a spacious foyer. Again, he was wrong. "Welcome, Mr. Harry Potter, sir. Master Terrance has been expecting you and your family," said something near Harry's knees. He looked down to see a bowing house-elf that seemed only an inch or two shorter then his little girl. "Oh, Mittens is sorry sir," said the elf looking at the empty space around Harry, "only you, then. Please come in sir, Master and Misses shall be down at any moment."

Harry bowed with out realizing it to the elf, so use to bowing at random when visiting Cho's extended family. "Er, thanks, um, Mittens, is it?"

"Yes, sir. Your welcome, sir. Mittens is very honored the Great Harry Potter would want to use Mittens name," beamed the house-elf in his extremely clean, and well pressed tea clothe.

The tiny elf walked Harry into a ridiculously large living room area he was sure could fit his entire first floor in. Harry took a seat on an extremely comfortable couch, and politely refused all the snacks, wine, and candies he was offered by Mittens. As the elf bowed before leaving the room, something clicked in Harry's mind. "Pardon me, Mittens?" he called and the elf lifted his bowing head. "Did I hear you correctly? Did you say your Master and Mrs.?" Harry never knew that the owner of the team was married. Although Matthew had to be in his late 40's, Harry had never heard of him having a wife or any children. At most, he remembered hearing a year or so ago that Matthew had some girlfriend no one expected him to snag.

"You only heard it partially correctly, Harry," said a kind voice, approaching the doorway. Matthew Terrance walked into the living room with a smile on his face. Harry stood up and extended his hand to Matthew's already extended one.

"Pardon me, sir, what have I miss then?" Harry asked.

Matthew turned to Mittens. "Please help the others set the table, Mittens, we'll be in shortly." The elf bowed until his forehead tapped the floor. Matthew snorted and shook his head, and turned back to Harry. "Well, not 'Mrs.' yet to be exact, Harry. But in a year, I shall have the most beautiful wife I could never have imagined loving me. So my fiancée will join us for dinner shortly, she's upstairs making some attempt to make herself even more stunning. Told her it was a lost cause, but women never listen, do they Harry?" Matthew nudged him with his elbow and grinned. "Speaking of beautiful women? Where's that's lovely wife, and that adorable little girl?" he asked looking around as if Cho and Kendall where hiding behind one of the lounges.

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Your right sir, beautiful women never listen."

Matthew curved his mouth sympathetically to Harry and patted him on the back as they walked out the living room and passed a massive marble staircase. "Rotten luck, mate. But we'd bore them with all the Quidditch talk set to take place this evening. I must say, my fiancée is eager to see you. Says you two were at Hogwarts together. Blimey, in my day at Hogwarts, the girls looked nothing like mine."

"If you weren't playing, thinking, talking, or dreaming about Quidditch all day, you may have noticed a beauty like me walking about the halls, Matty," said a voice on the stairs, a voice Harry recognized almost instantly, a voice he still heard on occasion in his dreams. His mouth dropped opened as both he and Matthew turned toward the staircase, with Natasha Cicconi descending it. She was even more attractive, alluring, and gorgeous then Harry remembered the pretty Slytherin to be. Every step she took down, the more Harry felt like he was 17 again. Her olive skinned looked as soft as it always felt, and it seemed to glow. Her deep brown eyes stayed focused on Harry. And it seemed just for him that she wore that smile that always made him feel like he was sitting on the equator.

Stop staring at her like that, you're a married man, Potter! he cursed himself.

Yeah! And she's engaged to your boss!

Let's not forget that she attacked your wife.

Right. So what's that breeze I feel then?

That's the cold air flowing into your gaping mouth!

SHUT IT!

"Besides," continued Natasha, still watching Harry watching her, "there are other things worth thinking, doing, sneaking around about, wouldn't you agree, Harry?"

Harry was sure his face was scarlet, and if it wasn't, it promised to be after she winked at him.

"Such a little flirt, this one. I saw that wink," Matthew chortled, grabbing Natasha around the waist before kissing her cheek. "Shall we eat then, before Potter forgets he's married and runs off with you?"

Harry remained speechless until well after they were seated, and the elves were filling his plate with the first course.

"Mead, Mr. Potter?" asked Mittens, hovering a bottle over Harry's wine glass.

"Please," he said, glad it was offered considering how much he needed it with Natasha sitting across from him. As that sly smile played across her face once more toward him, he asked if the elf would leave the bottle near him.

"So," began Matthew, startling Harry slightly, "I wouldn't guess you two were very close considering she was a Slytherin and you a Gryffindor, Harry. In my day, Gryffindors and Slytherins didn't get on very well with each other. Lucky for me I was a Ravenclaw, completely void of enemy houses."

Harry drained his glass of Mead. "We, uh, had detention...once...twice actually."

"Three times," Natasha said, her expression devious.

"We had detention twice," Harry corrected through his teeth, but still trying to sound casual in front of Matthew, "if you remember?" Her smile from across the table prove to be to much for him, so he turned his attention back to Matthew.

Matthew chuckled. "Well I know my darling can cause mischief, blissful mischief most of the time..." he smiled, looking at Natasha, while Harry agreed in his mind. "But you, Harry? Wouldn't take you for a trouble maker at all. What had you two gotten up too?"

As Natasha opened her mouth that curved in a wicked smile, Harry quickly spoke. "Nothing, sir. Something about a monkey. ANYWAY, I really appreciate you inviting me, and well my family to dinner tonight, sir. I was just wondering was their any particular reason?" asked Harry, as if he didn't already know.

"Family," said Natasha with concern, "that's right. Where is your wife, and child, Harry? I took extra time beautifying myself knowing I would not so much as receive a basket of rolls with those lovely ladies in this house." Harry could always recognize when she wasn't being as sincere as she wanted others around her to believe. Then it dawned on Harry, Natasha obviously knew Cho, but she had never seen his daughter.

"Lovely, are they? Don't believe you've met my daughter, Natasha. Obviously, you know my wife...from school, of course," Harry tried with all his might not to sneer at the pretty Slytherin.

Natasha picked up on his annoyance particularly at the reference of Cho, and her smile faded slightly. "I've met Kendall while at practice. I rarely miss practices lately, and never a game. Lovely little girl, that one. She's going to have all the boys' hearts at Hogwarts. Just like her father had all the girls'." Natasha allowed a sweeter, less sly smile to appear on her face.

"Oh ho, now I understand," exclaimed Matthew, and Harry's inside froze. "You had a crush on Harry didn't you, Love?"

Harry's eyes widened at Matthew then at Natasha where they seem to plead with her. "Who bloody didn't? Blimey, he's a hero! And a right adorable one at that," Natasha explained. Harry was sure he wasn't breathing anymore as he lowered his head to his food, convinced Natasha was about to truly reveal their past together. For the first time that day, he was glad Cho was not sitting next to him. "But I was never lucky enough to get his attention. He was in love with two other girls, one of which he is married to now. The other luckily, is pregnant not helping the Wasps beat the Tornadoes." Harry looked up into her brown eyes in complete shock.

"I resent that!" Harry heard Matthew say from a distance it seemed, still trying to register what he had just heard. "We've never been defeated by the Wasps, but once in the past few years!" Matthew argued playfully with his fiancée, who now continued to argue with him, leaving Harry in a daze. As Harry began to slowly realize that his secret, their secret, was going to kept strictly between them...and Ariel...and Ron...he allowed himself to come back to the reality of the room. "Think you're an expert on Quidditch, do you Tash?" asked Matthew still beaming at his girlfriend.

"I know what I need to know," smiled Natasha. "And I know that if you lose Harry, your have no chance of achieving another World Cup for a very long time."

Harry shook his head slightly, not sure if he heard her correctly. "Lo-lose me?" he asked, not like he hadn't expected this turn of conversation, but he didn't expect it from Natasha, or Natasha in general for that matter. "I..."

"Lose you, yes," said Natasha. "We're quite aware that you contemplating leaving the team Harry, because of that little...mishap. Actually, I still think you're overreacting, and may be slightly delusional believing you summoned the Snitch to you. I mean, honestly," Natasha huffed.

"My darling has a way of getting right to the point, doesn't she?" smiled Matthew.

Harry watched Natasha. He knew from the times they did speak, she wasn't much for beating around the bush. Whatever she felt, she expressed it; whatever she wanted, she did what she could to have it. "Yeah, she does," he mumbled.

"But she's absolutely right, Harry. My darling found out that you were thinking about leaving. I must say, that would be an awful waste for someone with your talent. Not to mention a complete downer to the spirit of the team. You're an honorable man, Harry, no one would ever believe that you were a cheater," explained Matthew with sincerity.

Harry sighed. He had had this conversation numerous times now with many people; his wife, Ron, Ginny, his coach, and just recently his sister. Oddly, Harry hadn't had this conversation with people outside his family and extended family, not wanting to make an official statement yet. So Harry wondered how Natasha had learned of his plans to quit. "How," Harry interrupted Natasha and Matthew who were still talking at him, because he wasn't listening anymore, and looked to Natasha, "did you know I was thinking of quitting?"

Natasha looked slightly taken aback by his question, and paused for a moment before answered. "Well, Harry...it's because...it's just who you are. No, I don't mean you're a quitter," she added quickly as Harry's green eyes narrowed on her dark brown ones. "It's just...you're a bit too noble sometimes...I think...I heard at Hogwarts, so that's why I guessed."

"But darling, you said..." began Matthew, before he was interrupted by Mittens in the doorway telling him he literally had the head Frank Hummel, head of Quidditch International Liaisons, floating in the fireplace with an urgent message. Matthew sighed reluctantly. "All right, Mittens, tell him I'll be right there." The Tornadoes owner excused himself from the table and headed toward the large entry way of the dining room, before turning around at the door. "Harry, Tash is right, you're not a quitter. I hope you'll think about this a bit more thoroughly before you make your final decision. Now, keep eating you two, I won't be a moment."

After Matthew left the room, Harry turned back to his plate, ignoring the brown eyes staring at him. "So how have you really been, Harry? It's been ages," he heard her say after an uncomfortable silence.

"Fine. You?" he asked picking at his food, still refusing to look up at her.

"Aging to say the least," she seemed too joke.

"Flawlessly to say the least," Harry mumbled, hoping she wouldn't hear.

When he heard a slight giggle, he knew she had. "Really?" Natasha asked. "You think I've aged well then?"

She must not own a mirror, he thought. "You look...lovely as usual, Natasha," he said exasperatedly toward his food.

"You sounded more convincing when you mumbled," she joked. Harry fell silent and picked at his food some more. "How's, um, Ariel, your sister? I've only seen her at a few games. Never see Neville, though. But her little girl is adorable too."

"Evans's is fine, and my niece is...like her mother. Neville is often times..."

"Teaching at the Salem Institute of Magical Studies, yes, I know. Its difficult for him to get home to his friends, I see," said Natasha, interrupted Harry.

"Right. Got his hands full, that one. My sister and niece are very...rambunctious," Harry explained to his food.

Harry's fork picking at the fine china was the only sound in the large dining room for several moments. "You miss her don't you, your sister? I mean you two were already so close when she arrived at Hogwarts, I noticed."

Harry refrained from looking up at her curiously, so he did the plate instead. "You noticed, 'eh? Keeping an eye on me, I suppose?"

Natasha giggled. "I always had my eye on you, Harry, if you remember. Hard habit to break, really. But yes, I noticed that you kept your eye on her, and her eye on you. Must miss her loads."

"I reckon. But I don't miss her right now, she's home...well she's here in England for a friend's birthday party in a few days," Harry said.

"Yes, I...I mean oh, is Neville here too then?" asked Natasha.

Harry shook his head. "Not yet, maybe in a week or so I think."

Natasha giggled coolly. "Friend's party, 'eh? Can only imagine how many friends your sister made in her short time here. She's was quite popular so quickly at school. Made loads of friends, or at least admirers."

Harry nodded, smiling briefly at his plate remembering Ariel's one year at school and gaining more popularity then even him just on her own personality alone. "Made loads of both, that one," he chuckled.

"Even with your enemies, I heard. Draco Malfoy? Couldn't believe my eyes when I read about her speech at the honors ceremony at Hogwarts! Harry Potter's sister befriending Harry's Potter archrival, Draco Malfoy! Complete shocker!" she exclaimed, shaking her head though Harry didn't see it as he continued to watch his food. Finally it dawned on him where his sister was that morning. "You must have exploded when you found out she was friends with your enemy."

Harry sighed in recollection of what Ariel told him about Draco and how Draco died. To Natasha's surprise, Harry simply shrugged his shoulders. "I was...shocked at first. But he sacrificed himself for four of the most important people in my life at the time; my sister, my best friends, and Ginny. I'm forever in his debt. My enemy..." Harry said with a light snort, as he shook his head. "In saving their lives, 'my enemy' saved mine."

The two fell silent again as Harry picked at his food. He could feel Natasha's eyes on him but he refused to look up.

"So...how is your...wife?"

For the first time since Matthew left the room, Harry looked into Natasha's eyes. He was shocked she'd have the nerve to ask such a question. "You mean, was there any permanent brain damage from that night you attacked her?" he asked surly.

Natasha lowered her head for a silent moment. Then to Harry's surprise, she got up and walked over to his side of the table. He watched her walk like he had many times at Hogwarts. His eyes narrowed slightly in confusion, however, when she sat down next to him. She added even more to his confusion, and now nervousness, when she grabbed his hand off the table.

"Harry, like I said that night in the...tunnel, I'm so very sorry for what I'd done. I can't believe how unbelievably jealous I had gotten for that brief moment. I was your...friend, I knew how you felt about her and Ginny. I was weak, and again, I apologize," said Natasha holding Harry's hand with both her olive ones. Her hands and the touch of her skin was very familiar to Harry although it had been 9 years since he had really 'touched' her at all. And now, he wished she'd let go out of fear of being caught by Matthew, but also because he was reveling in her touch a little too much.

Ok Potter, we know the routine with her.

Yeah, don't let her touch you.

Well, stop enjoying it at least.

I...miss my wife is all.

Right, she's been gone for one day.

Yeah, so...I miss my wife is all.

She's not your wife; let go...

"Actually, I suppose I should stop apologizing and thank you instead," said Natasha as Harry watched their hands for a moment, thinking to himself.

"Thank me?" he asked, looking up and into her appreciative eyes. "What for?"

Natasha lowered her head, causing her dark brown hair to fall forward over her shoulders. Harry got a good whiff of whatever scent she was wearing, and he was reminded of lilac. "Thanking you, yes," she said toward their hands. "I mean, your...wife...is an Auror after all and...I was never chucked into Azkaban...for what I had done to her. I know she didn't see me...do it. When her eyes flutter closed from being held by you, I...well you know what happened...but I knew that sensation she was feeling at the moment, and I guess it dawned on me only then that...I was not to have it...all to myself at least, or eventually after school. I...loved you, Harry. So thank you for not turning me in for my weak moment." Natasha leaned forward and gently kissed Harry on the cheek, a little to close to the corner of his lips. Quickly, she pulled away just as Harry remembered to breathe again. "AND that's why I don't think you should leave the team!" she said suddenly. Harry could hear footsteps behind them, and tried pulling his hand out of Natasha's grasp.

"That's my girl, doing all she can to convince someone of something. Listen to her, Potter, she'll never steer you the wrong way," said Matthew walking back into the dining room and sitting down at his plate.

"Come along Dipali, it's time to go," called Padma, as her and Dean were the last of the group of people coming to see Ariel to leave Harry's home, beside Mindy.

"But Mummy," said Dipali sadly, not wanting to get up off the floor where her, Jade, Kendall, and Quirky were playing a game.

Dean walked over to the group. "Pali, you heard your mum. Come on."

Dipali lowered her head, refusing to look at her father. Jade elbowed her and she looked over at her godsister. Jade nodded her head slightly, then looked over at her cousin, who nodded in turn as well. Then all three girls stood up, and faced Dean.

Jade pouted her naturally red lips, and lowered her eyes sadly though keeping them on Dean. "Please Deano, can Dipali spend the night? We haven't seen each other in months. You wouldn't want my first night here to be a sad one, would you?" she asked with a mixture of sweetness and sadness, her expression matching it perfectly.

"Yeah, Dean, I'm sorry Mr. Thomas, may Dipali stay the night? I'm quite sure my father won't mind. And we'll be on our best behavior, we will," added Kendall, her emerald eyes batting sweetly at Dean.

Dean tried to suppress a smile. "Mr. Thomas, 'eh? That's a first, Kendall."

"Please Daddy, may I stay? I'll be your perfect angel for a week, longer even! I just...don't want to cry all night alone in my room; tossing and turning all night in my bed from sadness and loneliness. I could...fall out of the bed...and bump my head! So please Daddy, for my safety?" added Dipali. At the end of her statement, all three girls lowered their heads toward Dean's feet, then Kendall held Jade's hand, and Jade held Dipali's.

Dean shook his head. "Where on earth did you lot learn how to pile on the sympathy to get what you want like that?"

Someone near by took a deep breathe, and exhaled with satisfaction. "Ah yes, awesome aren't they? I've taught them well. I'm so very proud of them," beamed Ariel.

"Should've known," Padma giggled, standing next to her husband. "Let her stay, Love. I don't mind, if you don't. And besides, your birthday is in a few days...we'll have the house all to ourselves tonight," said Padma. Dean looked at her, and they shared a smile that only two adults in love should share, then ignored Ariel and Mindy when they made a loud noise of disgust from a nearby couch before laughing heartily.

"Right," said Dean to his wife, then turned to the line of pouting and cunning little girls. "Alright Pali, you may stay. We'll pick you up tomorrow morn...uh, afterno...tomorrow, Sweetheart, tomorrow." Dean picked Dipali up and kissed her good night, then leaned her over so that her mother may do the same, catching a face full of one his daughter's long, puffy ponytails.

"Thank you, Daddy, thank you!" beamed Dipali as her father put her down.

"Alright. Be good Dipali, Ja...uh, Kendall," said Dean, before walking over to Ariel and Mindy on the couch. "Mindy, you're invited to my party too if you like?"

"Cool, Thomas. I'll be there. I'll actually be in England for a little while so that would work," Mindy agreed.

"Oh," said Ariel, slightly disappointed. "That kind of sucks because I was going to ask you watch Jade and Kendall while me, Potter and Chang were at the party. We would just take them to the Burrow, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley might be..."

"Yeah, they are going to France to visit Bill and his wife since they had their third baby. It's for sure now that they are going. I offered my apartment there to them," said Mindy.

"Don't worry about it, Evans. My cousin's going to watch Dipali. She has a massive backyard with a play set. Ginny told me her parents were going to France, so I've already asked my cousin if she wouldn't mind watching...more than just Dipali. She said it would be fine," explained Dean. "Most importantly, it will be a safe place considering all that's going on."

Ariel considered the idea for moment, then glanced over at her daughter on the floor with her niece and goddaughter. She watched Jade change quickly into a monkey, then into a puppy, causing the girls around her to cover their mouths to quiet their giggles, Mindy sitting next to Ariel included. Then she saw Jade as herself, turn slightly around to see if her mother was watching her. Ariel narrowed her green eyes at the ones that matched her own, and Jade quickly turned back to the game. Ariel sighed. "You think she'll be able to handle my little terror? Only Monroe has the ability to keep her in check, if she's not encouraging her to do things she shouldn't be." Mindy stopped giggling.

"It won't be a problem, Ariel. Cicely's awfully good with children. She has 3 herself; 2 of which are grown up now," added Padma.

"Alright then," agreed Ariel. "I'll talk to Potter about it when he gets home. You know how protective he is over Kendall, and the general female population in his life." Dean and Padma laughed, Mindy and Ariel didn't, knowing how very right she was in her statement.

After the Thomas' left, Ariel and Mindy sat on the couch watching the girls and Quirky play their game. Sirius sat off in the big chair, looking sadly at the group, not feeling welcomed to play after his torment of the girls with Jackson and Olivia. The little boy finally decided to slide out the chair. "Ariel," he said quietly to his godsister. "May I go upstairs to bed?"

Ariel looked solemnly at the boy, who looked just as sad. "You sure, hon? You don't have too. Just ask if you can play with them," Ariel suggested.

Sirius shook his sandy blonde head. "I'm...sleepy. Besides, I'm not in the mood to play any games. I miss Daddy, is all," he said to the floor.

Ariel nodded her head slowly. "Yeah I miss your daddy too. Hey, what do you say we go visit him tomorrow? It's Sunday. He won't be doing anything but grading papers."

Sirius smiled for the first time in hours. "Ok, Ariel!"

Ariel smiled back at her godbrother. "Great. Now give me a hug, and you can go off to bed if you want." Sirius hugged her, and skipped happily out the living room, past the girls and house-elf on the floor.

"G'night, Sirius," said Kendall, smiling.

Sirius stopped in his tracks, and turned toward the girls. "Thank...I mean sor...uh, good night, Kendall," said Sirius.

Dipali giggled as Kendall went back to the game. "Night, Sirius," said Dipali.

"Night, Dipali. Sorry...again for..."

Dipali waved her hand at him. "That's alright. I'll get you back," she smiled.

Sirius smiled back, then looked at Jade, who glared back at him. "Uh, well, night then," he said, before going up the stairs.

"So let me get this straight," began Mindy to Ariel on the couch. "You're going to go to Hogwarts tomorrow, take your daughter to visit Longbottom's grandmother, go visit your buddy who just lost her husband, and go to the cemetery?"

"I've...already been there today. We went when we left the Appaport," explained Ariel in nearly a whisper.

Mindy narrowed her reddish brown eyes at her best friend. "You took my goddaughter to the cemetery? And who did you tell her you were visiting?"

Ariel watched her lap. "I...yeah I took her there. Not like she's never been. Potter and I took her and Kendall to our parents graves before. She knows what death is. She knows that park down the street from here used to be where our parents home stood before 'God sent them to heaven'. And...I told her it was mommy's old friend from school. She understood. Besides, if I had come here first to drop her off, then went back out, Potter would have been all over me about where I was going. As if I can lie to him without him knowing? So no biggie."

Mindy considered her friend for a moment. "Ok, so I guess that means we're not hangin' out tomorrow. One more question then, Evans."

"What?"

Mindy reached for the red hair lying over Ariel's shoulder. "Your hair grew about an inch since I got here, um..."

Ariel quickly pulled her hair out her friend's hand, and tucked it behind her. "Hair grows, Monroe."

"Don't bullshit me, Evans. Your hair stopped growing all crazy after you had Jade. Hormones out of whack for some reason, Mrs. Longbottom?" asked Mindy.

"Will you keep your voice down?" snapped Ariel angrily at her best friend, looking toward the pile of girls now rolling around the floor giggling for some reason only they understood. Luckily they hadn't heard a thing the adults were saying. "The Healer says I'm just a month along. I was...wondering why my hair was growing like it use too, so I went to get a check up and surprise," she said sadly.

"Why do you sound so disappointed? What did Longbottom say?"

"Nothing. I haven't told him yet. I just found out a few days ago," said Ariel.

"He'll be happy, won't he?" asked Mindy, confused about her friend's emotional state.

Ariel nodded to her lap. "Yeah, Babe will be excited of course."

"It's a miracle Potter and I aren't neck and neck in godchildren considering the rate you two..."

"Shut up," Ariel smiled, hitting her friend on the arm.

Mindy rubbed her now sore arm. "So if he'll be fine with it, then why do you seem so sad?"

"I'm not sad, exactly. And it's not Babe I worried about finding out. It's..." Ariel was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, and her niece squealing as she ran to the foyer.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Kendall yelled, running toward her father. Harry greeted his daughter with a big hug. "Daddy, can Dipali spend the night? Please, please, please, Daddy?"

Harry smiled at his daughter. "Of course, Sweetheart." Kendall yelped with joy, and the girls, along with Quirky, ran up stairs, giggling all the way. Harry walked into the living room to find his sister and Mindy sitting on the couch, speaking adamantly in hush tones. They stopped speaking the moment they noticed Harry trying to tune in to their conversation. "So what's going on? You two look like you're cooking something up?"

"Always think someone's up to something, don't you Potter?" smiled Mindy standing up.

"You usually are, Monroe," he said, grinning back.

"Well we're...uh, going to bed. Or rather, I'm going to bed, and Mindy's going to her apartment, and I'm...going to bed," said Ariel getting up, and tying her hair into a knot. She quickly walked past Harry as she bade her friend 'good night' and went up stairs.

Harry watched her with narrowed eyes and confusion. "Wonder what you two are up too?" he asked the stairs before turning to Mindy.

Mindy was still smiling. "We're up to nothing, Potter. She has a full day tomorrow that's all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going home."

Harry leaned over and kissed Mindy on cheek. "Good night, then."

"Night, Potter," she said before heading toward the door.

"You'd tell me if something was wrong with her, wouldn't you?" he asked suddenly, just as Mindy touched the door knob.

She paused for a moment before speaking. "She'd tell you if there was something wrong with her," she answered the door knob. "Don't worry about Evans. She's fine."

"Then why was she at the cemetery today?" asked Harry, needing confirmation, walking over to Mindy. "You know, Monroe. I know you do."

Mindy turned to face him. "That's a very silly question. How many people does she know that are buried in Britain? Think about that. Night, Potter," said Mindy, finally leaving the house. And Harry received his confirmation.

****

After kissing his daughter and niece, and Dipali at Kendall's giggled request, good night, Harry went to his empty bedroom to pretend to sleep. He never slept well when Cho was out working for days at a time. It worried him, even though he was angry with her. He also found it hard to sleep because he felt guilty. The sight, thought, or anything Natasha always made him feel guilty. And yet there was one more something, rather someone to add to his anger, worry and guilt.

"Figure you wouldn't be asleep yet," said Ariel at Harry's door. He hadn't even heard it open, something she was very good at doing.

Lying on his bed, Harry turned his head toward the door. "You know me well, don't you Evans? Shame I can't say the same about you," he said nastily.

Ariel narrowed her green eyes at her brother. "Whatever, Potter. I didn't come in here to argue with you, I came to ask if you punked out."

"I...wait, what does that mean again?" he asked.

"It means, did you quit because you're being a wus?" she huffed.

Harry turned his head back to ceiling of his room. "Not yet," he said quietly.

"Good!" said Ariel, crossing her arms in front of her flat stomach. "Maybe there's still time for someone to talk some sense into you."

Harry was just about to tell her that Natasha Cicconi had been one of the people trying to convince of just that, that evening. But he decided against mentioning her. "Right."

"Look, there's something else I want to tell you," Ariel said suddenly when the room fell silent.

Harry sat up, and turned to his sister, expecting to hear what he had been worried about. "What is it, Evans?"

Ariel lowered her head for moment before speaking. "Um, well...turns out...Monroe's been invited to Thomas' birthday party. And Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are for sure going to France to see the new baby..."

Harry exhaled, it wasn't what he expected to hear. "Ok."

"Well since we were expecting Monroe to watch Jade and Kendall, and now she's going....Thomas said his cousin, who's a mother of three, would be willing to watch the girls, and everyone else's kids too. The Boots are leaving Patrick there, and Granger told me their leaving YOUR godkids there. So..."

"Is this what you've been acting weird about?" Harry interrupted her.

"You know how protective you are with Kendall, or any female in your life," said Ariel.

Harry lay back down. "I'm sure she'll be...fine there, Evans. It's all right."

Ariel was now confused at easily her brother agreed. "I...are...Potter, are you alright? You heard me say that she's not going to be under your thumb right, or other thumbs you trust for that matter?"

"I heard you just fine. Besides, Cho should be back by then anyway. We may not even be going to the party."

"Why?" asked Ariel, shrugging her shoulders. Harry didn't answer. "Oh, silly question. First you two have to fight because she left without telling you, then you have too..."

"No, it's just...we may have some serious matters to discuss when she gets back is all."

"You mean you two have to fight for several days then; got it. Well I'm going to bed. I got a big day ahead of me tomorrow," said Ariel, heading toward the door, Harry watching her ponytail swishing behind her head.

*

Ariel did have a big day the next day, and she made Harry and Mindy tag along, with Dipali and Kendall as well. First they all went to Luna's. Luna was speaking now, but very little and it wasn't for very long that she'd let her son Wilfred out of her sight. By the end of the visit, Ariel wouldn't put Jade down, no matter how much the little girl protested about wanting to walk with her friends.

Then the group headed to Hogwarts, more like Grimmauld Place, then through the floo to Lupin's office. Sirius was elated to see his father, and Ariel was just as excited to see her godfather.

Remus Lupin usually looked older every time Harry would encounter him growing up. But these days, every time Harry saw Lupin, he seemed to be stalling in age, if not looking younger. Regular meals, regular employment, and the love of his wife and son had done wonders for the once disheveled, destitute, but goodhearted werewolf.

After twirling his son in the air as he hugged him, Lupin engulfed his goddaughter in one as well. "Sweetheart, it's so wonderful to see you!" Lupin said joyfully.

Ariel was smiling as wide as Sirius at the sight of Lupin. "You too, RJ! I've missed you!" she said, giving him another hug feeling like the little girl he used to visit in America.

"It's only been since Christmas since we saw each other last, but I've missed you a great deal as well. But this lovely young lady..." Lupin began, as he picked up Jade and squeezed her until the little girl giggled from the strain. "How's my great goddaughter?" he laughed.

"Fine, RJ! But Sirius was mean to us yesterday..." Jade tattled.

Sirius turned red, and looked angrily at the little redhead in his father's arms. "I...was not, Dad. It was Jacks and Olie, of course! I..."

"You hit me with a water balloon though," added Dipali lightheartedly, but Sirius still looked fearfully at his father, then shamefully at Harry. "But it was okay, Remus, he apologized for it."

Lupin looked sternly down at his son. "Is that right, Sirius? You were mean to Dipali, but then you apologized?"

Sirius lowered his mousy brown mane, and Lupin smiled. "Yes...Sir. I'm sorry."

Lupin snorted. "It's alright son, as long as you realized your mistake and apologized."

Ariel and Mindy huffed in unison. "Hold up! If we would have said we apologized for anything you had to come to SIMS for you, you wouldn't have forgiven us so easy!" said Mindy as she hugged Lupin, and kissed his cheek.

"That's because the two of you were never sorry for what you did! You were only sorry that you got caught! And I had a right to be upset because when they would ask where you two learned certain spells or charms, and you'd graciously say it was from Ariel's godfather!" explained Lupin with mock indignation.

Mindy and Ariel now giggled in unison. "That was just that one time with our battling Patronus' in the hallway and..." began Ariel.

"And you nearly gave your Principle a heart attack when she opened her classroom door, seeing a silver cheetah and coyote do battle in her halls!" Lupin added.

"That was the objective," she whispered to Mindy and the two slapped hands quietly.

The group talked for nearly an hour, Ariel heading most of the conversation, dreading going to Mrs. Longbottom's home. "You'll be in and out," Lupin assured her. Ariel nodded. "Then stop dreading it so much, dear. Just remember you're doing it for Jade."

"I'm doing it because I don't want the old woman to come looking for us," Ariel said contemptuously. "She knows we're here the moment we set foot on British ground. Don't know how she does it! Probably has me followed or watched to make sure I'm still worthy of her grandson," Ariel said half jokingly.

The professor shook his head at his goddaughter and smiled. "Harry, thanks again for looking after Sirius while his mother's..." began Lupin but stalled, looking down at his son with matching mane attached to his waist.

Harry sighed. "No at all, Remus. My godson's never any trouble. Speaking of his mother...have you...heard from Tonks?" asked Harry tentatively.

Lupin shook his head, recognizing Harry's real intentions with that question. "No, Harry, sorry. I'm sure the ladies will be alright, if you're concerned," offered Lupin.

Harry shook his head vigorously and ignored his sister hissing in pain while conversing quietly with Mindy. "No, not worried in the slightest really," he lied, keeping his eyes everywhere but on his surrogate godfather.

Lupin smiled sympathetically. "Harry I understand your concern. I worry about Dora everyday. And when she was pregnant with Sirius...well let's just say, transformation had nothing on my nerves at that time. I worried so much that I think Dora saw to it that we didn't give Sirius a little brother or sister," smiled Lupin, squeezing his son's shoulder, although Sirius looked sadly toward the ground.

"Don't worry, Sirius, I'll be your little sister!" beamed Kendall. Oddly, this didn't change the little boy's expression.

"But Remus, how could you allow her to still work while she was preg..." asked Harry before he could stop himself.

Ariel stood up but her best friend spoke first. "ALLOW HER?" Mindy interrupted, and every male in the room looked nervous as she twirled her neck in a way that only females knew how. "Excuse me, Potter! I know I did not hear you say that?"

Harry stepped back a little pulling his daughter in front of him for protection. "No, no, Monroe, honestly, I didn't mean it that way. I meant..."

"What he meant, Mindy," Lupin interrupted, and Harry was grateful, "was why hadn't I thrown myself on her mercy and beg her profusely not to work while she was pregnant, because if she was so much as gotten a nick on her lovely face, I'd be sent to the mental ward at St. Mungo's for going completely mad."

Mindy relaxed some of the tension in her pretty face, but not enough to make the men in the room relax. "That's not what he meant, RJ, but I'll pretend you're right," she conceded, crossing her arms.

"You see now?" Ariel whispered to Mindy.

Lupin walked over to Harry and put his hand on his shoulder. "Look Harry, remember when you and Cho...well, finally told us all that you were married, all four of us sat down for this conversation? Dora and I explained to you what it's like to be married to an Auror. You love her; you'll be concern with whatever she does. Granted being an Auror is dangerous, but it's a noble profession. And you must admit, it's one of the things that attracted you to her." Harry couldn't deny that little fact. Had he run in Cho again in Hogsmeade in his 7th year, he would have still been stunned by her beauty, but had she been a shop girl like her giddy friends, he wouldn't have been so taken by her...again. "Harry," began Lupin again, shaking Harry out of his reverie, "I know your concern because of what happened the last time she was pregnant. But don't worry, it's not only your baby she's carrying, it's hers too. She wouldn't want anything to happen to it either." Lupin was right, and Harry had to admit that, but it didn't make him any less angry that Cho had left without fair warning.

"Hey, I'm going to take Dipali to visit her uncle before Jade and I leave. We'll be right back," said Ariel, taking Dipali's hand and walking out of Lupin's office followed by Mindy.

Once they were in the hall, Ariel began reminding Mindy about Dipali's uncle. "Oh yeah!" said Mindy. "He was at the wedding. He was a cutie! Not that I was looking, of course. I was with Weasley...at the time..." she sighed. "But anyway, he's a multi-magus, right? Like my little goddaughter?"

Ariel nodded reluctantly. "Must be something about all that shape-shifting that makes people nuts!" she laughed.

"Bite me, Evans!" Mindy laughed with her. "Oooh, cute and can shape-shift... You know, I've always loved those who could shape-shift," said Mindy with her hand on her chest rolling her eyes to the ceiling dreamily.

Ariel stopped them in their tracks, wide-eyed. "Is THAT why you're so in love with yourself?"

Mindy widened her reddish brown, now green, now purple eyes at her best friend. "I think that could be it! FINALLY, mystery solved!" The two ladies walked down the hall, laughing in unison.

The conversation turned to their follies at SIMS as they walked the halls of Hogwarts. "We would have had a great time if you transferred here for Senior year with me, Monroe. Well...at least until the end of the year it would have been awesome."

"Yeah, then maybe I could have met this Malfoy person. Taken him off your hands," Mindy smiled, mischievously.

Ariel narrowed her eyes at her best friend but smiled. "Yeah...he heard George Weasley talking about you, and he wanted to meet you." Mindy's mischievous grin fell at the mention of George. "But I told him 'no way'!"

"You said he was cute. You want to keep all the cute ones to yourself, huh? Selfish little brat!" said Mindy.

Ariel snorted. "You're damn right! All for me, none for you! Besides, Weasley would have transferred back into Hogwarts to be near you after he met you!" she laughed.

Mindy sighed. "Can we stop talking about him please?"

Ariel composed herself, understanding her best friend's feelings. "Sorry, Mon. There's, uh...is something I wanted to mention to you...another reason I didn't want my pregnancy known."

"Alright, gossip! What is it? You had an affair? The new baby is someone else's? Dear LORD, it was with that Malfoy dude; he's not really gone, is he?" Mindy tried not to laugh.

"Okay, you know what? That's not funny!" said Ariel in a whisper, motioning to the Dipali who smiled up at them. "And no, for your information."

Mindy giggled, and Dipali did the same. "Well, spit it out then, Evans, or I'll keep guessing. You ran into Nassir and..."

"ANYWAY, alright! I...well, remember Vice Principle Kowalski?"

Mindy scrunched her face up in thought, then nodded. "Oh yeah, for an administrator, he was a little...quiet, well compared to Principle Chauvez, a bullhorn is quiet. And I think he had a thing for you back in school, always trying to get you out of trouble with Chauvez. But not me! Damn the cute little caramel girl, save the freakin' redhead instead!" she laughed. "HOLD ON? YOU'RE HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH HIM? That is...you are...UHN!" said Mindy in disgust.

Ariel chuckled as if in agreement. "Yes, it's true, you've found me out...NO, PSYCHO! ANYWAY, he was talking to Babe after class one day and ended up inviting himself to dinner a few nights ago."

"Wanted to see the happy home he was breaking up? How sweet?" Mindy said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"Very," said Ariel in the same manner. "Turns out, he wanted to talk to me. Professor Soto is retiring from teaching the Dark Arts and..."

Mindy stopped their walking, grabbed Ariel's arm and turned her toward her. "NO-FREAKING-WAY! He did NOT offer you the position to teach DA, did he?" she asked nearly breathlessly from shock and admiration. Ariel smiled from ear to ear, and nodded. "OH MY GOD! THAT IS SO AWESOME!" The two friend's hugged each other, and Dipali, not knowing for sure why everyone was so happy, hugged her godmother's leg too. "Hold up! Chauvez is down with that; you stepping foot, let alone TEACHING in her school? Has she taking up drinking as her pass time, because she will if you start working there? And then Jade coming there in a 6 years...goodness, that woman is now plotting her retirement to start shortly, I'm sure of it!"

"Good riddance if she does!" snorted Ariel. "You know I can't stand her! She's always pulling Neville into her office for little...chats. She loves him, can't stand me, and is terrified of my child! Man, it would be great to get in there and terrorize her for a few years!" Ariel said menacingly, wringing her hands and raising her eyebrows up and down, causing Dipali to laugh.

Mindy snorted as well. "SO why the big secret then?"

Ariel sighed away her laughter. "Well...it's Potter really, not Babe, though they would be happy for the same reasons. See, Babe thinks its just a great opportunity. Plus, I'll be at SIMS with him all day, which I would love too. But as soon as he finds out we're pregnant again, he'll really want me to take the position so that I'm not running, tackling, and picking up heavy children all day at the daycare. I guess he doesn't realize that little Miss Jade Cypress Longbottom exists on the planet earth, and she's like having a daycare full of screaming children all in one!" Dipali giggled about her godsister. "Can't be an angel like this one," said Ariel, smiling down at the pretty brown girl.

"What goes around, comes around Miss Evans," Mindy said, shaking head while smiling. "I've known you since you were 6 years old. Jade is just showing you how you were. And such a bad influence me; I was such a good girl before I met you, just like Dipali and..."

Ariel huffed. "Good thing it's not raining, and we were in the Great Hall because you would have been struck by lightning just now!" The redhead dodged a swing by her best friend, before composing herself from laughter. "Anyway, Potter will be giving me the speech of how he thinks it's the best thing for me because I'll be safer in a school as oppose to rolling around the floor with a bunch of little children, blah blah blah... I mean, he would be relentless. He'd have a Howler following me right now with his voice booming about what's best for me, and the baby, and...my shoes for that matter, because he's just that annoying sometimes."

"Well Evans, he's your brother. He cares about you more than anything. And you care about him immensely too. I mean, you left our Senior year to come all the way over here to another country, to meet and stay with a dude you just found out about, with some lunatic chasing after him! No, you wouldn't go to extremes to protect him, not at all," said Mindy.

Ariel fell silent as they walked along the corridors, thinking over what Mindy said. Knowing Mindy had a point didn't make her want to admit it. Harry would drive her insane with his concern over her, and what she should do to keep her and the baby safe, especially after what happened with Cho. Ariel still thought it best not to mention the baby or the job offer to her brother.

The Transfiguration classroom was nowhere from the Defense room. They walked into the empty classroom, and Ariel led them toward the office she knew too well. Dipali was nearly pulling her up the stairs to her uncle's office, squealing gleefully at the prospect of seeing him. After Ariel allowed Dipali to knock on the door, Anton LeRose opened it with a look of utter shock, surprise and joy spread across his face.

"DIPALI!" shouted the handsome professor as he picked up his niece. "My little darling, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Uncle Anton!" Dipali replied excitedly. "My godmummy brought me here to see you!"

"I can see that, Love. Love seeing you as well, Miss Evans," said LeRose as he leaned over and kissed Ariel on the cheek.

"Oh now, what's this Miss Evans stuff," Ariel said haughtily. "I'm not a student anymore as you often point out, so it's alright for you to call me...Mrs. Longbottom." The adults laughed.

LeRose's eyes fell on Mindy. "Miss Monroe, am I right?" he asked, putting down his niece and gently taking Mindy's hand in his before kissing it. Mindy snorted coolly, and nodded. "Yes, I remember meeting you at Mrs. Longbottom's wedding. You were lovely then, but absolutely radiant now."

"Funny thing," Ariel interjected after LeRose failed to give Mindy back her hand, as his eyes soaked up the vision of her in front of him. "You were married then, and you're still married now!" reminded Ariel, pulling her best friend's hand away from the professor.

LeRose glanced at Ariel for only a second. "Actually Teresa and I have split up. Guess she doesn't like the fact that I've brought Blaise into my life." Ariel grunted in agreement. "Says she doesn't trust him because he served time," LeRose explained as he now turned his full attention to Ariel.

"Well it is kind of strange. He went to Azkaban for what he did to me and Longbottom, or attempting until you came along. Then the very person who stopped him, turned him in, and is now wants him to be family," Ariel explained.

LeRose nodded slowly. "I know. I've been trying to get Dean to come around, but he refuses too. And he doesn't want my niece anywhere near him, or you for that matter. Whenever you're in town, he wants me to give him a full report of Blaise's activities or locations he'll be."

Ariel chuckled lightly. "Well, Thomas is a good father, a good friend, and a great brother I'm sure, but everyone has their limits."

*

The time had finally come for Ariel and Jade to leave to go visit Neville's grandmother, but she promised to meet Harry and Mindy in Hogsmeade so Mindy could shop there. After leaving Sirius to visit with his father, Harry showed Mindy around Hogwarts with Kendall and Dipali. Before going outside, Harry made sure to stop by the girls' lavatory on the 4th floor. Tracey Davis, a Slytherin girl who was murdered by Snape in Harry's 7th year, all because she had a crush on Harry, now haunted that bathroom with Moaning Myrtle. Harry had promised the girl ghost the year he left school that he would always send her flowers on Valentine's Day since it was near the day she was killed. He made good on his promises, always sending her a dozen lilies, and one red rose for Myrtle. On occasion when visiting Lupin or Hagrid, he'd even go visit her personally. Today she was delighted to see him as he laid the single lily he had brought with him on the sink leading to the Chamber of Secrets.

And even though Harry hadn't been a student there for a little over nine years, kids still stopped and stared at him the same as they did when he was a student. A few of the students even asked him for his autograph, while some of the giddier girls asked Mindy for hers.

"Weird when people do that, isn't it?" asked Mindy, watching Harry sign his last autograph as they stood on the luscious grounds in the June sun.

"I guess so. You're use to it by now, aren't you?" he asked, watching Kendall and Dipali climb the massive body of Hagrid as he played with the little girls. "You're famous all over the Muggle and magical world."

"I suppose. But what about you, Mr. Tornado? Don't act like you're not held in high regards by, oh, everyone!" joked Mindy. "A hero and a Quidditch star."

Harry glanced at the Quidditch pitch he had learned how to play in, grew up in, and had the most freeing experiences of his life in. He didn't want to give it up. But things had changed for the boy wizard who used to play on that pitch, for now he was a potentially great sorcerer in the making who was playing professionally. How could something that is such an extraordinary honor to be, become such a burden? A heavy burden at that, taking away or interfering with what he loved? Harry wasn't sure he wanted the 'honor', not if it meant changing every aspect of his life.

He watched his daughter and her best friend get tossed too high in the air by Hagrid. Although holding his breathe, he was certain Hagrid wouldn't let the girls fall...hard. "Reckon, you'll ever have one of those, Monroe?" asked Harry after he and Mindy fell silent watching the joyful play in front of them.

"What, a half-giant? Nope, don't think I can handle that. Might mess my hair up or something," she joked. "Not to mention throwing my back out when..."

Harry nudged her playfully with his elbow as he smiled. "You know what I mean. A child? Reckon one day..."

"Are you offering up, Potter? I told you it was over between us years ago!" she said with mock indignation. "I understand you pining for me all these years, but come on Dude, we had our fun!" Mindy crossed her arms, and turned her nose up at him as she turned away to suppress her smile.

"Blimey, you and Evans are the...LEAST funniest people I've ever met. No wonder the two of you are best mates! You're a Metamorphmagus, why don't you change into someone funny?" said Harry, refraining from leaping toward Hagrid as he caught Dipali to close to the ground.

Mindy laughed at his statement and the fact that his arms kept jerking upward every time the girls fell through the air. "First off all, I'm too gorgeous naturally to change into anyone else. Why bother? And don't lie, we're hilarious! Seriously, can you see me with a child, or pregnant at least? Anyway, I've got to be in love and married before I have someone's child, don't you think?" she asked with less of a smile on her face.

"Ok, so you've got half your requirements filled, and you could have had the second but you chose not too," said Harry sincerely.

"What do you mean, 'half' of my requirements are filled?" she asked, tucking a loose curl behind her ear, while keeping her eyes on the flying children and half-giant net.

"Don't play dumb, Monroe, that's the only thing in the world that could possibly look bad on you. George, of course. You still love him. And I swear on my flying child that he still loves you. The first time you fall in love, and you run away? Right smart move there!"

Mindy turned to Harry with mostly red, very little brown, pupils. Over the years, Harry learned never to anger Mindy, that's why he always did what she said, when she said it, and how she wanted it done. It was like having a second wife, no third counting Ginny, no fourth counting Hermione, and Ariel was on a plane all her own. But right now if Mindy struck him dead, he didn't care; he knew he was right.

"For your information, Harry, I did not run away! I was not...ready for..." Mindy was interrupted when in one second several things happened at once. Kendall was in the air, when Dipali fell off Hagrid's shoulder. Hagrid reaching for the Dipali who was falling head first for the ground, took his eye off the now plummeting Kendall. However, all at once, Harry only just took his eyes off Mindy's red ones, put his arms up and Kendall speedily flew toward him like she was being sucked through a vacuum hose. Before Mindy, Hagrid, Kendall, Dipali, or even Harry knew it, his little girl was in his arms giggling, asking if they could do that again. Everyone was dumbstruck for several moments except the two little girls. Finally Mindy broke the silence amongst the adults. "Potter, I...know you can...do things without a wand...and nonverbal incantations and all but..."

"I didn't use any nonverbal spells," Harry said quietly, putting his daughter down so she could run to Dipali. "I...didn't even...think of using any, I was just...worried...she'd fall...and..."

"Blimey, Harry, I'm sorry," began Hagrid sorrowfully. "I...would ne'er do anythin' to hurt Kenda'. I los' me head when Dipali fell. I'm so sorry, Harry."

Harry was so dazed by what he had just done, he barely registered his long time friend's apology. "It's...alright, Hagrid. I know," he barely replied aloud looking down at his hands.

It took the adults a few moments to realize that someone was speaking to them. It was only when Harry realized that Dipali had just run off passed him, that someone was approaching the group. Harry turned around to see Dipali lifted into her uncle's arms.

"I couldn't let my girl go, without saying good-bye one last time!" said LeRose, swinging his niece in the air as he walked toward Harry, Mindy, and Hagrid.

"Uncle Anton, you're so silly. I'm going to see you in a few days before Daddy's party, aren't I?" said Dipali, knowingly. LeRose nodded, shyly. "You came out here to say something to Jade's godmummy, didn't you? I saw the way you looked at her upstairs..." the perceptive 5 year old stated plainly.

LeRose couldn't help but to narrow his eyes in surprise at the pretty little girl. "My goodness, Dipali, but aren't you the smart one? You'll be a Ravenclaw like you mum and uncle, mark my words!"

"Me too! Me too! Like my mum!" said Kendall, from Hagrid's shoulders.

"Oi! I've got money on you making Gryffindor, Keni. Let's not discount Daddy's house," Harry said, affronted.

Kendall giggled along with Dipali. "Sorry, Daddy. But Pali, Ian, and I have decided we want to be in Ravenclaw."

"Ian? Hang on, both his parents are Gryffindors!" said Hagrid.

Harry lowered his head and shook it slowly. "Yeah, but it's obvious Hermione would have faired well in Ravenclaw. She chose Gryffindor."

"And a fine house it is!" LeRose said proudly, kissing Dipali's cheek and setting her on the ground. "And speaking of fine..." the Transfiguration professor began as he strolled toward Mindy. Mindy smiled slightly, and cocked a perfect eye brow up at the sight of the handsome man walking toward her. Harry also cocked an eye brow up, one that was nowhere near as perfect as Mindy's, but one nonetheless.

"How may I help you, Professor?" asked Mindy flirtatiously as she turned to face the professor.

LeRose obviously didn't expect such a response from the beauty, neither did Harry. He recognized the look in Mindy's now ocean blue eyes. It didn't say 'like', it definitely didn't say 'love', but it said 'need for a fun'. Harry new that look well, and all the trouble they had gotten into many years ago when it was presented to him. "Um, Monroe..." began Harry.

Mindy made a narrowing glance at Harry, and returned her flirtatious look back at LeRose. "Sssh, Potter. Grown ups are talking," she said dismissively. "You had something to say, Professor?"

LeRose glanced back and forth from Harry to Mindy, and couldn't help the broad smile from taking over his chiseled features, almost loosing his cool demeanor to the joy he felt from the interest she obviously had. "Yes, Miss Monroe..."

"I'm not your student, Professor," Mindy began in a cool tone on her curved lips. "And I'm sure there are many things I could teach you that you haven't a clue about. So why don't we start with using my first; Mindy."

LeRose reddened slightly at the bluntness of her statement and the tantalizing half smile she still presented him. "Uh...right," he said breathily, slowly losing his cool. Harry, remembering Regg's words from so many years ago, was waiting for LeRose to begin to drool. "So Mindy..."

"Yes, Anton?" she interjected smoothly, sliding both her hands in the back pockets of her well-fitting jeans.

The Professor swallowed hard, and diverted his eyes to the grassy sanctuary by his feet, unable to maintain his cool if he kept looking at her. If it didn't annoy Harry so much, he would have rather enjoyed watching Mindy break down the normally over-zealous and over-confident man, when it came to women. "Well," and the grown man's voice cracked slightly, reddening him further as he watched the ground. Mindy's half smile threaten to become larger at the obvious nervousness of the gentleman, but she maintain her cool persona. "I was thinking...maybe I could...take you to dinner next weekend? School will be over for summer holiday," he continued toward the ground, "and I would love to see a pretty face at the end of a long school year." LeRose chanced a glanced at Mindy, but her half smile and hooded eyes made him look away.

This was not amusing Harry in the slightest. He knew Ariel would have a few choice words about it when he'd tell her about LeRose, but more so about Mindy. Mindy had stepped closer to LeRose. The professor seemed to notice, though he hadn't looked up, because his body stiffened. Mindy placed a well-manicured finger on his chin, and lifted it to see his eyes. "I'd love too, Professor. Just drop me a line, and let me know when. I'll be in England a while..."

"Monroe!" Harry shouted, in a whisper. Mindy ignored him.

"Brilliant!" beamed LeRose. "I'll...be in touch, then. Bye for now," he said, and bravely took her hand from his chin and kissed the back of it, before waving at his niece and walking away.

Mindy snorted coolly, watching him walk away. "Are you mad?" asked Harry, not caring that LeRose may hear him.

The beauty turned to Harry and sighed. "Oh chill out, Potter. It's a freakin' date. No biggie," she said strolling away from him as the kids continued to play with Hagrid.

"No biggie? You know how much he was after Ariel? AND to make matters worst, he's friends with the family of your EX! Doesn't that matter to you at all?" Harry asked angrily, trying to keep his voice down from the kids and Hagrid.

"What are you getting so worked up over, Potter?" began Mindy, her once blue eyes turning red with anger. "Because I KNOW it's not the fact that I'll be hanging out...and that's all it would be is hanging out...with someone associated with the Weasleys! Let's us not forget that you are practically a freckled face redhead in their eyes, and it didn't stop us, did it? So don't even try to pull that on me!"

Harry huffed in frustration. "What about George? Don't you think he'll care about this?"

"Weasley and I aren't a couple...anymore. And what do you think I'm going to go do, take LeRose to one of his shops on our date? Yeah, that's right, I'm a heartless bitch; I forgot!" Mindy retorted, but keeping her voice low, and her tone even. Harry opened his mouth to retort but Mindy put her hand up. "This is not up for discussion anymore, Potter." Harry could tell she was starting to lose her patience, something that took a lot for her to do. So he dropped the subject, knowing not to push Mindy on anything, but had every intention of telling Ariel when she returned. "And just in case you're thinking about it, Potter, don't tell your sister about this. I will. Got it?" she ordered sternly, as if reading his mind.

Damn it, Harry thought to himself, knowing he wouldn't, couldn't tell Ariel now.

But it hadn't been Harry or Mindy to tell Ariel about LeRose's proposal for a date, and Mindy's acceptation; it ended up being Dipali. "Godmummy, guess what?" said the little girl before she left Harry's house with her parents.

"What, Sweetie?" Ariel said, hugging the little girl good-bye.

"Monnie's going on a date with my uncle! He asked her today at Hogwarts! If she marries Uncle Anton, will Jade and I be related somehow?" asked the little girl to the gaped mouthed Ariel. Dean, just as shocked as his friend, closed his mouth, picked up his daughter and said good night; leaving Ariel still gaped mouthed in the foyer after they left.

When Ariel realized her mouth was opened, she closed it and waited to confront her friend about her pending date. Unfortunately, Ariel, Harry, Mindy, Jade, Kendall and Sirius were to go the Burrow that night for dinner, and the redhead was finding it hard to keep her tongue.

"What's this I hear about you going out on a date with LeRose, Monroe?" asked Ariel after she pulled Mindy to the Weasley's staircase before dinner.

Mindy narrowed her eyes at the unsuspecting green-eyed man sitting clear across the room, barely speaking out loud to his own red head best friend. "I'm going to kill Potter!" Mindy sneered.

"Why?" asked Ariel, confused.

Mindy looked to Ariel. "He told you! I told him not too."

Ariel shook her redhead. "Potter hasn't said anything since I met you guys back in Hogsmeade. I thought maybe you had hexed him silent for some reason. Actually, Dipali told me, and WHY didn't you want me to know?"

Mindy shook her head, trying to shake the red anger out her eyes. "Oh, she did? Oh...well, it's no big deal, Evans. Just one date," Mindy said coolly.

"One date? Uh, huh. Did you forget the fact that he's friend's with the Weasley's?" reminded Ariel.

Mindy sighed in frustration. "I've been through this with Potter. And actually he's not friend's with the entire Weasley clan, he's friend's with Bill and Charlie, none of which I've dated...though both cute. But one's married and one's gay so what, it's not a direct insult to either of them. He wasn't best friend's with...G...so..." she sighed again, this time at the thought of the only Weasley in the house that hadn't said more than 'hello' to her all night.

"But he's married, Monroe," Ariel added, still sounding irritated.

"He's separated, Evans," Mindy replied, no anger in her voice, just exasperation. The two best friends never, well hardly ever, fought. The last one they had was about Harry 9 years ago in Geneva Gardens. So when potential arguments threaten, they both seemed to naturally cool down on their own.

Now Ariel sighed. "Mon, do you know what you're doing?" she asked, her eyes more concerned then annoyed.

Mindy shrugged her shoulders, and nodded. "Yeah. And besides, he's cute and he's...easily broken. You should have seen him. I loved it," she smiled. Her best friend smiled with her. "But anyway, Evans, you need to hear what else happened at Hogwarts today..." began Mindy, not realizing that someone else at the top of the stairs overheard the other events at Hogwarts that day.

For the rest of the day on Sunday, Harry had hardly spoke. Even when Dean and Padma thanked him profusely for allowing Dipali to stay, Harry only nodded his response. Mindy had filled Ariel in on what happened at Hogwarts, and Ariel decided it wasn't a good idea to chide her brother about possibly quitting the team anymore that night. All through dinner at the Burrow for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's farewell before they went to France for two weeks, Harry hardly spoke. That of course didn't stop him from having a full conversation with Ginny when she asked him what was wrong, and they argued solely with their facial expressions that he didn't want to talk about it.

"Weasley?" called Mindy after dinner as George headed toward the kitchen door for an early exit. It was the first time they had used any words toward each other that evening; seeing fit to only look at one another when the other had their attention elsewhere.

"Your in a house full of Weasleys, Monroe, be more specific, won't you?" requested George exasperatedly, refusing to turn around to face her.

"Well the one I wanted answered me, didn't he?" said Mindy in the same tone as George.

George turned his head slightly to the side, catching only a fracture of her in his peripheral vision. "Funny. I thought you made it very clear I was not someone you wanted," he answered, leaving her, for once, speechless, before he left his parents home.

****

When Harry got home, he was even more upset to find that Cho hadn't come home yet. The Boy-Who-Lived was not just upset out of worry for his wife, but because he really needed to talk to someone about what happened at Hogwarts that day. Granted, Ariel was there, and he could talk to her about anything, but he needed his wife to listen to him, console him in the way only a wife could. Ariel had her mind made up on what he was suppose to do, so she wasn't fit to listen, just listen in this case. Cho would listen to him, and let him come to his own decision. But now, he couldn't even talk to her. He felt abandoned with her not being there when he needed her most.

Harry checked Fawkes perch to see if there were any letters from her, but there were none. Now he had to get Sirius and Kendall to bed because they both had their last day of school before the summer holidays. After repeatedly explaining to Kendall that Jade could not sleep in her room because she had school the next day and the two would not sleep through the night, Harry went back to his empty bedroom.

Lying in his empty bed, Harry had to imagine Cho's voice comforting him. It wasn't working, however, and his mind went from remembering sounds to remembering sensations. Harry's hand warmed at the memory of being held just the night before. The skin of the person that held his hand was comforting as it had been so many years ago. The look in her eyes pleading for him not to leave the game of Quidditch was not harsh like Ariel's, but gentle. Harry wasn't sure if that was entirely true, but he couldn't deny that Natasha was now on his mind when was in need of consolation. He could feel her hands holding his, then, her lips touching his cheek, and the look in her eyes...

Harry not only felt alone at the moment, but now he felt guilty, confused, and nowhere near a decision on what he was to do about Quidditch.

***

Harry threw his all into practice on Monday. He barely noticed Ariel and Jade sitting in the family box in the stands, cheering him on when Ariel wasn't chasing Jade to restrain her from going to far. Luckily for Harry, rather his foolish teammates and other staff of the Wilshire stadium, he didn't see the many men striding and flying over to talk to his married sister. The one thing he did notice high in the stands above his sister, sitting alone, with her eyes only on him, was Natasha. He thought he was dreaming again, considering he awoke that morning from a dream about her.

Coach Wyman blew the whistle ending practice just as Harry caught the snitch for the fourth time that day, on his own accord. He flew to the stands where his sister and niece were nearly surrounded by men. As he walked over to the crowd, he talked himself down from overreacting, being nasty to his teammates, making a scene in front of his niece, and making his sister angry with him...actually he didn't care much about that anymore, he just hope he wouldn't make a scene. Fortunately, he didn't have to worry.

"Hiya," said Natasha from behind Harry. He jumped slightly, not realizing she was just behind him.

"Oh hi, Natasha. I was...wondering why you were here, when I saw you. Matthew is rarely at practices," said Harry, turning toward her to keep the group of men out his vision, and possibly Natasha out of Ariel's since he hadn't told her he saw her recently. He had actually failed to mention that she had attacked Cho so many years ago to Ariel also. And he never told Ron exactly who the girl was he had intimate encounters with back at Hogwarts. Harry often wondered why he gave very little information about Natasha to anyone.

Natasha smiled at him, although her eyes were narrowed in mock confusion. "Thought I told you, I haven't missed a practice in nearly two years. Haven't missed a game in nearly 9 years, no matter where you are...the team that is," she added quickly.

Harry nodded slowly at her statement, trying to focus on anything on her that he hadn't had any personal experience with; he opted for her feet. "No, no, I don't remember you mentioning that. Well...brilliant! Good to have that support out there! That's why Matthew wants to marry you, you're a proper fan," said Harry.

Natasha's narrowed brown eyes were no longer of mock confusion, but of sincere confusion. And her smile vanished, which Harry appreciated when he finally looked up. "No, I'm, um, not a Tornadoes fan...necessarily," she said, stepping closer to the Harry. "I am, however, a proper..."

"Uh oh, check it out! Cicconi, what are you doing here?" asked Ariel, although she was smiling at Harry.

Jade let go of her mother's hand and climbed up her uncle's back. "You were great, Uncle Harry! But you...EWW, stink!" said the little girl, her pudgy face contorted into a look of disgust as she waved her equally pudgy hand by her nose.

Ariel snorted with laughter. "He get that's way around her, Jade," joked Ariel. Harry gave his sister a snarling look that could kill if he was anymore powerful. Natasha only giggled; her olive skin faintly blushing. "So I'm sure this is a very shocking, surprising moment for you two, you haven't seen each other in ages," said Ariel.

Natasha stopped blushing and looked from Harry to his sister with confusion. "Er, I just saw Harry the other night at..."

"She's engaged to the team owner, Evans. She...was at dinner that evening," Harry nearly mumbled. "Must've forgotten to mention that."

"Hmph, must have," said Ariel, eyeing her brother suspiciously.

"Well, I must be going. Brilliant work out there today, Harry. Don't want to lose you. We need that out there, you know," said Natasha.

"Oh he's not going anywhere, Cicconi. Don't worry about that," replied Ariel just as Harry opened his mouth.

However, it wouldn't have mattered if his sister had interrupted his forth coming statement or not, he still would not have said anything, for at that moment, Natasha leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, again, to close to his lips. "Bye, Harry," she nearly whispered. "Bye Ariel, Jade. Have a good evening," she said walking away and waving.

"Later, Cicconi. Say bye Jade...Jade?" said Ariel looking at Harry's back not finding her child there anymore. Harry and Ariel both turned around quickly to search for the girl. "JADE CYPRESS LONGBOTTOM, FOR GOD SAKES! GET DOWN FROM THERE!" yelled Ariel, as she and Harry watched the little girl on Harry's broom, flying low to the stadium seats jerkily, and giggling all the way.

Walking into the house that afternoon and not finding that Cho was home, Harry cursed loud enough that the Kendall and Jade both put their hands over their mouths and giggled. "Such language, little brother," Ariel joked, covering Sirius's ears. "Ok all three of you upstairs until dinner, change out of your school clothes, and Jade...just don't change into anything." The three kids ran up the stairs. "Oh, that goes for you two, Stubby. You stink and you've kept a secret from me," smiled Ariel knowingly. "Why didn't you tell me Cicconi's been hanging around?" she asked, following him into the kitchen.

"I...she hasn't...look, it was just dinner. I didn't know Matthew was even seeing her. I haven't heard from her in 9 years, have I?" defended Harry before downing a huge glass of water.

"Don't know, Potter. You know how secretive you were about...any female encounter you have, had, or whatever."

"Yeah but you know all and see all, don't you Evans? Can't bloody well keep anything from you for too long, can I?" mumbled Harry. Ariel laughed smugly. "Besides, as annoying as you may be, you're not my wife, I don't have to tell you everything," he snapped suddenly.

Ariel folded her arms in front of her, her triumphant smile vanishing and her green eyes narrowing on her kin. "You don't tell your wife everything either. She knows about you and Cicconi, huh? WAIT! Don't even open your mouth to lie to me, because I don't feel like having my chest catch fire, thank you."

"I..." began Harry, then stopped just as suddenly, realizing she was right.

"That's what I thought," she said. "Look Potter, I don't feel like arguing with you tonight. Leave that for your wife...whenever she gets back. Hopefully, she'll be back before the party."

Harry was angry with his wife, but he hoped she would be back too...safe and sound.

"Speaking of secrets, Mrs. Longbottom, let's go out to dinner. There's something I want to show you," requested Harry with a raised eyebrow. Ariel did the same, but when she asked him to elaborate, he shrugged it off and went upstairs.

As the twins drove to the restaurant Mindy was meeting them at for dinner, Harry seemed to take the long, scenic route. Convinced they were going to be late for dinner, Ariel demanded that they hurry up. "Where the heck are we going, Potter? I may not know the streets of England very well, but I know that that restaurant is in London, and this is not London."

"Yeah, where are we going, Daddy?" asked Kendall in the back seat between Jade and Sirius.

Harry smiled in the rearview mirror at his little girl, and ignored his sister next to him altogether. "You'll see, Sweetheart. Your mother is not the only woman in your life that's sneaky. You're aunt is quite the sneaky one as well. Loves keeping secrets just like your mum, doesn't she?"

"Alright, Potter, what are you talking about?" asked Ariel. Still, she received no answer, at least not verbally, because when she looked out her window, a slightly familiar street came into her focus. Ariel now fidgeted in her seat. "We're...uh, going to be late for dinner. Can we get going? My child...she must eat soon or..."

"I'm not that hungry, Mommy," said Jade quickly.

"Yes, you are, Sweetie. Help Mommy out here," she said toward her window, knowing her little girl was sitting behind her.

Jade leaned forward as much as she could in the seat beat. "But I'm not. You said not to lie," added Jade in a loud whisper everyone heard.

"Now you listen to me?"

"I could turn into a kitten, Mommy, and run around the car. That should get his attention. I think I have it down now, I..." began Jade eagerly.

"Oooo, a kitten!" said Kendall. "I want to see that!"

Ariel shook her head. "No, no, Jade, don't turn into...anything...just..."

Harry snorted. "Nice try, Evans. But it's time to come clean."

Harry parked the car on a quiet suburban street. A street he knew only too well considering he spent most of 17 years there. Privet Drive looked almost the same as it did the many years ago he left, except for one thing. Number 4, Privet Drive seemed to stand out among the quaint little suburban homes, with their front lawn-mowed grasses, matching awnings, sold white garage doors, and perfectly paved driveways. But number 4 possessed all of the above, except on thing; the finely mowed grass of the front yard. In it's place were a sea of white lilies with not one speck of grass visible. The little girls in the backseat of the house stared out the window the best they could and awed in amazement of the beautiful flowers.

The girl in the front seat, however, seemed to sink lower in her chair, wishing there was a way to hide in the glove compartment. "Dinner...Monroe...attitude...late..." was all she could say.

Harry smiled knowingly at his sister. "Right, sis. So, care to explain?" he asked nodding his head toward the lily-drenched lawn of his old residence.

"Where are we, Daddy?" asked Kendall, peering out the window. "Those are grandmum's flowers, aren't they?"

Harry nodded though he kept his eyes on his sister. "Yes, Keni. Those are the flowers our mother, your grandmother was name after."

"Oooo," said Jade, smiling. "I love lilies! Daddy always spreads the petals all over my room for my birthday!"

"Maybe those people have a grandmum that's name after that flower. That's why they have them in the lawn," concluded Kendall.

Ariel sighed and sat up in her seat. "Not exactly, KC," she began looking in the backseat of her brother's car. "You see, there's someone in there...that had a sister named Lily." The little girls made sounds of comprehension. "However," Ariel continued, "she didn't care for that person in her life name Lily...or her nephew named...Harry..." Ariel looked to her brother and watched his smile disappear. She knew Harry never told his daughter where he grew up. The little girl seemed to think on her own that she just happened to have 6 redhead uncles, and one redhead English aunt, yet he wasn't related to any of them.

"Daddy?" said Kendall quietly.

"Harry..." began Sirius just as quietly but in awe, "you...lived here growing up?"

Ariel looked from her godbrother to her brother. Harry looked out the car window to the second floor window that used to hold bars on it so many years ago. "Yes, Sirius, Kendall, I grew up here. With my Aunt Petunia and..."

"Aunt Ragweed you mean!" sneered Ariel, looking angrily at the house now.

Harry snorted lightly. "So you broke your promise to Remus and visited old Aunt Ragweed, did you? Don't think I don't recognize your husband's handy work, Evans. Cho and I drove by here early last winter, because...I don't know why and I saw them. All the trees were without leaves; all flower beds were dead, but this lawn was in full bloom. Cho and I saw old Mr. Langston raking the last of the fall leaves and I had Cho ask him about the Dursley's lawn. Mr. Langston would have recognized me I'm sure since he didn't care for me very much growing up. But he told Cho that during the summer last year, the grass seemed to disappear overnight, and that bed of flowers was planted and in bloom. He didn't understand why the Dursley's had planted them if they continued to keep coming out and mowing it over or pulling it up everyday, just to replant it by morning. And they stayed through the winter, of course, because I drove by on my own just to check. Blimey, but that sounds familiar to me, Evans. A certain park near my house has a similar issue. But I know who planted those flowers, and I know who planted these. Just don't know why they were planted here. Care to fill me in?"

Ariel sighed and looked into the eyes that matched her own. "It's very simple, Potter," she began sincerely, no longer trying to figure out how she could get both legs in the glove compartment. "She was awful to you. Her husband is one thing, our cousin quite another, but our Aunt? No. She should have loved her sister so much more after her...death, that she showered that excess love on you. But she didn't. Instead, she hurt you, emotionally, physically... She deserved a constant reminder of who she hurt. Her only sister, and her only sister's son.

"I told them I'd get them back for what they did to you, Potter. I couldn't do it the way I wanted too, but I think this will have to do for now. You just don't hurt family like that; especially my little brother," Ariel said sincerely into her brother's eyes. Harry smiled, but Ariel didn't. "I promise I won't do...anything else to them...well to the house. Can we go now, I am hungry."

*

Not much in a partying mood on the night of Dean's birthday, and his mind on Quidditch, Cho being gone now for several days without word, and oddly Natasha, Harry went along with the rest of his friends and their children to Dean's cousin's home in Bristol. Cicely had a quaint home, with a massive backyard that included a large wooden playground. The nearly summer night was still lit with sun, and the moment Kendall, Jade, Dipali, Sirius, Olivia and Jackson, Ginny and Terry's son Patrick, and Ian and Timothy, saw the massive backyard and huge play set, the children ran from their parents without saying good bye. Cicely assured all the parents she wasn't related too that the children would be fine there.

"Ok you guys, please listen to Cicely! And Jade, for the love of all that is holy, PLEASE be good, or some variation of good!" begged Ariel loudly to her daughter who was already on top of the monkey bars and had changed into her monkey animagus. Harry snorted next to his sister. "Shut up, Potter! Just because you have an angel..."

"She'll be good, Godmummy. I'll watch her," offered Dipali, the only child who came back to say good bye to her parents.

"Thank you, Dipali. Or should I say, 'Good Luck'?" Ariel said. She hugged her goddaughter around her shoulders as the little girl squeezed her leg. Ariel's smile faded instantly, and she pulled the little girl away quickly but gently. Kneeling down, she looked into the little brown skin face. Dipali just smiled at her, and Ariel wore a look of concern. "Dipali...listen to your cousin alright? And if...everyone else won't listen to her...make sure you make them, ok hon?" Ariel said, not quite knowing why she said it.

The words of worry seemed to land of deaf ears. Although Dipali nodded at her godmother, her eyes kept darting toward her parents, seeming eager to get to her father. "Happy birthday, Daddy!" said Dipali as she jumped up on her father for a hug. "Now you lot be good tonight," warned the little girl, her little face wearing a stern expression while she waggled her finger at her parents, "or no more birthday cake!" The Thomas' laughed as Dean began playfully gnawed at his daughter's neck and shoulder.

Ariel folded her arms in front of her, her expression vacant. "What's the matter with you?" asked Harry, watching her.

"Nothing...I guess...just...nothing. They will be fine," she said more for herself than anyone else.

**

"I don't know about this anymore, Cho," said Tonks as the two Aurors walked down residential street in Oxfordshire that evening. "I mean honestly, there's no pattern of where the children that have been returned are found. Only thing we know is that they are never hurt in anyway, were obviously taken good care of, and never remember a thing. They just appear in baskets or skipping down the street. We aren't honestly going to walk every Muggle suburb in the hopes of finding Sarah skipping down the street, are we?"

Cho slowed they're walking. Her body was aching, and she missed her child and husband. She knew she was in for a fight when she got home, but she just couldn't return without Sarah. Cho couldn't explain it, but she had to find her, and for some reason, she knew she would. "No...well I don't know really, Tonks. I just...hoped...we'd find her. Luna, she's..."

Tonks put her hand on Cho's shoulder as the two stopped just as the they were about to turn down a path into a playground. "I know. I was just as gutted that Colin was...killed, died, whatever happened before we could find Sarah. But this extensive search...I miss my son, my husband, and I know you missed your family. We can pick this up tomorrow, let's just go home tonight. I've been dreaming of flooing to Hogwarts to surprise Remus."

Cho nodded her lowered head, then looked at her colleague, friend, and boss with her copper mane. "Ok, Tonks, lets..." Suddenly Cho had an odd feeling come over her. She looked toward the path they were walking on, and began almost racing down it. Both her and Tonks heard a swing set squeaking in the distance, accompanied by the sound of a child's laughter.

"Blimey, is that a little one laughing in the park at this time of night?" asked Tonks, nearly out of breathe as the Auror widening her strides to keep up with her pregnant partner. "It's nearly 10 o'clock after all!" added Tonks, looking at her watch.

Cho didn't respond to her colleague, she just continued on down the path. Finally, the two women could see the large playground setting. It was eerily abandoned, it seemed, as the wind blew the merry-go-round around, and the see-saws creaked in unison. The swing set further off had several swings blowing on their own, except one. In the dark, the two women could see a tiny blonde girl swinging high in the air on the swing set. The little girl was squealing with joy, begging for the shrouded figure behind her to push harder.

The two women relaxed slightly at the sight of the little girl with what must be a parent. That was until Cho recognized the large protruding blue eyes of the little girl, and her wispy, tiny voice as she yelled "CHO!" with all her might. The two year old leapt off the swing and began running toward Cho. The shrouded figure that was pushing Sarah Creevey, began to run in the opposite direction.

"Halt!" screamed Tonks, sending a red light toward the figure that only just missed the assailant. Sarah was nearly to Tonks and Cho with her arms up, when Cho dashed around the little blonde and ran toward the fleeing person. "Cho, wait! Stay with Sarah, I'll get the wanker!" But Cho didn't listen, and Tonks was force to stay with Sarah as Cho ran into the forest preserve nearby in hot pursuit of the bandit.

Now red, yellow, blue lights flew back and forth between the shrouded figure and the pregnant Auror. Leaping over branches and roots in the darkening of the woods, Cho did manage to hit the person in the shoulder, causing them to tumble over. Unfortunately, the person was swung around so quickly by the curse, they managed to hit the Auror in the chest with a blue light causing her to slam sideways into a tree before scraping her face and body on her left side as she slid down the harsh, ragged bark.

**

"Alright you lot, it's getting late! Time to come inside before your parents arrive!" shouted Cicely at the hoard of kids having the time of their lives in her back yard.

The children covering her play set failed to even so much as nod in her direction, acknowledging her statement. Instead, many were yelling upward toward Olivia and Jackson who decided the bridge of the wooden fort was theirs and no one could pass or even ascend the stairs near by without guessing the proper password. Sirius, standing behind the twins, did not participate in their ridiculous tyranny over the play set. Instead, he played on the railing of the bridge watching the moon rising over the woodsy area near by, missing his father almost instantly. He did, however, notice a sneaking Jade as her Koala animagus climbing up the side of the fort, then turning into herself and reaching down to pull Kendall, and Dipali up. Sirius just laughed to himself as the twins continued to shout at their little cousins still begging to come up. Kendall caught him watching them and put a tiny finger up to her smiling lips indicating that he stay quiet. Sirius smiled back, and nodded slightly before continuing his swing around the railings.

Olivia threatened her pudgy cousin Ian who began to yell even louder toward her when she seemed ready to turn around toward Jade, Kendall, and Dipali. Sirius picked up the cue from Ian and instantly rushed over to Olivia's side, blocking her view of the sneaking little girls. "Oi! Finally come to help us, Nancy pants?" sneered Olivia. "Hang on," she began as she noticed a puffy ponytail coming toward the back of Sirius.

Sirius became nervous and pointed toward the woodsy area near by as a distraction. "Hey, what's that over there?" he questioned loudly, pointing aimlessly toward the trees. As everyone turned around to see what he was pointing at, the three little girls behind him came around to stand behind Jackson and Olivia, ready to knock them down on the bridge so that the others may rush up.

However, they didn't get the chance to take down the tyrants.

"Yeah, what is...no, who is that, really?" asked Ian, looking toward something moving in the trees. Everyone stopped to look, ignoring Cicely calling for them to come in for the umpteenth time.

Dipali suddenly began wringing her hands as a dark figure emerged from the trees. "Guys, maybe we should go in like cousin Cicely said. GUYS!" yelled the little girl.

"Hush little babies, don't say a word..." sang the shrouded figure soothingly, as their wand raised.

"RUN!" screamed Sirius, as he turned and dove toward Kendall, Jade, and Dipali. But it was too late. A loud explosion erupted around the play set and the children occupying it. Wooden pieces, ropes, plastic, rubber, and children flew every where. Screams came from all around from the children that weren't knocked out. A red light hit Cicely in the chest as she ran out into the yard, knocking the Muggle woman out cold.

As the figure approached the mess of children and rubble, the person stepped over the unconscious Olivia under the broken plastic slide, her twin, with his broken arm, trying desperately to reach for her. Kendall was sniffing hard and sobbing with no tears as she felt a searing pain in her leg. Jade, who was next to her, was crying liberally as her arm bled just as freely from being struck by a rope like whip. Dipali was on top of both girls and a wooden plank that had fallen over Kendall's now broken leg.

Sirius, having dove for the girls the moment he noticed the wand, was just scratched and bruised, but buried under several pieces of wood. He watched the figure still walking toward the girls, having now by past Ian and Patrick, and he became very scared. The hood of the person seemed lowered toward the three girls. "Kendall, Jade, Dipali, run you guys! Run!" Sirius yelled, then without thinking grabbed the nearest piece of discarded wood and chucked it at the advancing figure. The piece struck the hood of the person causing them to stumble backward. Dipali slide off the board, and began pushing it off her friends as best she could.

The dark figure got their footing once more and proceeded over the rumble again. When struck originally, the figure stumbled back as far as Jackson and Olivia. After getting no response from his sister, Jackson grabbed hold of the pursuers pants leg with his non-broken arm, then sunk his teeth into their leg. The scream from the person was definitely that of a woman. Without verbalizing one coherent word, she stunned Jackson.

This was a long enough distraction for Dipali to get the board off Jade and Kendall, and for her and Jade to help Kendall stand. The little girls fell over again as Kendall's broken leg couldn't support her weight. Sirius was wiggling the best he could to get out from under his rubble, spitting and cursing, trying to get up as the shrouded woman kept coming. Finally he morphed into someone he had studied quite a bit, Harry, and he pushed the bits of rubber and wood off him. He ran toward the pile of little girls, changing back into himself on the way, not strong enough to hold an adult body transfiguration for very long at his age. Just as he reached them, the little boy caught a yellow light to the legs, and flew back.

Dipali and Jade were now practically yanking Kendall up when they felt a sudden gush of wind push past them toward the shrouded woman. Soon, it became so strong, it was like a vacuum pulling at their bodies. Dipali, standing in front of the Jade and a stumbling Kendall, seemed to be catching the full force of it. Jade and Kendall locked their arms with their friend as the three little girls screamed when Dipali's legs lifted off the ground. Sirius was crawling over to them, his legs aching after being hit, trying to throw whatever he could grab at the woman.

****

"Don't worry so much, Harry, Cho will be back soon," Hermione offered, rubbing Harry's arm.

Harry hadn't spoken much during the dinner, although everyone around him was having a great time. He only nodded toward his glass of Mead on the table, not wanting to admit to his best friend that Cho wasn't the only thing on his mind.

Ariel's diverted her attention from the game Mindy and LeRose were playing with each other; the one where they were pretending to be acquaintances not going on a date in a few days all for the sake of George. But what Ariel also noticed was that George was watching the game as well, seeming just as aware of it as Ariel was. "Don't even waste your time, Granger," Ariel interjected as Hermione opened her mouth to offer more words of comfort to Harry. "Stubby here," she put her arm around her brother, "doesn't feel right unless he's sulking, arguing, or trying to save..." Ariel's smile disappear as soon as she squeezed her brother around the shoulders, "Kendall..." she whispered.

Harry turned his head and narrowed his eyes to those that matched his own. However, that other set was now suddenly filled with worry. "Saving Kendall?" he asked, not paying much attention to the worried eyes as much as he was to the thumping on his wrist from him and Ariel's matching bracelets. "What is it?" he asked sitting up straight, staring at the rigid form of his twin. Ariel stood up so quickly, her eyes were darting around wildly. Harry stood up too and everyone now took notice of the Potters strange behavior.

Ariel began wringing her hands, and now Harry's heart was beating wildly on Ariel's wrist. "Kendall's...arm... no, leg...she's..." she sputtered.

"I'm going!" Harry said instantly. He concentrated on his little girl, and apparated away. Before he could open his eyes after apparating, Harry fell over. Where he landed was not a flat surface and he tittered on a wooden board before hitting the ground in the backyard of Cicely's house. "KENDALL!" he yelled before even getting to his feet.

"Daddy!" he could hear pain in his daughter's voice, but he was elated to hear it at all. Harry stumbled to his feet, knowing she had to be near by. He was just able to absorbed the wreckage around him for only a moment, having been blinded by his need to find his child, and he barely noticed a shrouded figure running back toward the woodsy area with a bundle in her arms. Then the familiar whimper of his little girl indicated that she was just behind him. Harry turned around to see Kendall and Jade holding each other on ground with set of arms and pointing toward the woods with their others. He didn't care to see what the little girls were pointing at, he just scooped his daughter and niece into his arms.

"Dipali, Daddy!" cried a tearless Kendall over her father's shoulder.

Dipali's named was yelled again but was in a chorus of the names of all the children as everyone else finally apparated to Cicely's front walk and made it through the house and into the backyard. Ariel grabbed her crying daughter out of Harry's arms, and reached down to pull Sirius up from the ground. The little boy's legs were still shaky but he clung to Harry's waist for support, as Harry held him around the shoulders.

Fred, Angelina, George, and Mindy dug the unconscious twins out of the rubble. Using their wands on both twins, the parents were only able to revive Jackson since he was knocked out by magic. Fred held his unconscious daughter in his arms, and Angelina wailed as she tried unsuccessfully to wipe away the blood that soaked the reddish brown braids of the child. "Is Olie okay, Daddy?" cried Jackson. "Daddy...Mummy?" he called when his parent didn't answer him. "Olie!" he tried reaching for his sister, but George pulled his nephew away, holding him against him. "No! NO!" he screamed. "SHE'S ALRIGHT! SHE IS!" Jackson was now struggling against his uncle, trying to get away and get to his sister.

"Jacks, don't worry!" offered Mindy, trying to help George restrain the child. "Olie will be fine!"

The parents began looking around aimlessly for Terry who was a healer. "Fred, Angelina, get her to hospital!" ordered George instead, before picking up his distraught and still fighting nephew. "I'll bring Jacks, just go!" Fred holding his daughter and Angelina turned on their spots and apparated away.

"Jacks, please calm down!" begged Mindy, trying to hold onto Jackson's hand as the little boy fought through tears to break free from his uncle.

"I've got him, Monroe," said George.

"I'll come with you once I check on my goddaughter," said Mindy looking around as she held Jackson's hand.

"No...no. We'll...be fine," George said, pulling a settling Jackson's hand from Mindy before apparating away without warning.

Mindy only sighed before rushing over to Ariel and Jade. Ariel was rubbing her crying daughter's back, trying to will her own tears not to fall. Mindy noticed the healed gashes on Jade's arm. "You've healed them already, Evans?" asked Mindy touching her goddaughter's arm.

Ariel pulled Jade away for a second, not having noticed anything on her daughter. "Where?" she asked. Mindy held Jade's arm out. "No, I..."

Jade sniffed. "No, Monnie, K..."

"Ssshhh!" said Kendall over her father's shoulder near by, putting a single finger up to her mouth.

Jade nodded at her cousin. Mindy pulled Jade out of Ariel's arms to hold her too. Ariel wiped a tear that snuck down her face away. And soon found her arms full of her niece as Harry silently handed his daughter away, and helped Sirius to Ariel's side, all while keeping his eyes on his two best friends.

Hermione, crying loudly, was trying to hold her baby boy Timothy against, but her full stomach was not allowing her. Timothy was not crying nearly as much as his mother. Ian, his big brother, was not crying at all in his father's arms. But as the men in her life watched her worriedly, Hermione could not seem to control her crying. "'Mione, please sweetheart, calm down!" begged Ron of his wife, rubbing her back. Hermione continued to struggle with holding her son, believing he was just not close enough to satisfy her or ease her fear.

Harry grabbed Ian out of Ron's arms. Ron instantly pulled Timothy out of Hermione's arms, and held his wife close to him as she cried in his shoulder as best she could. Harry was glad his godsons were alright, seeing as Hermione's condition would not have allowed her to handle any direct strife to well at the moment. However, worry shot through him and his eyes darted around. He only took a short breathe of relief when he saw Patrick hurt, but conscious in Terry's arms as his father examined him, already healing a few cuts with his wand; Ginny wiping tears from her baby boy's face as well as her own.

That breathe of relief was shortened for Harry when he became conscious of the sound of adults yelling, and women crying. It had only just registered to Harry that LeRose, Dean, Seamus and Pavarti were yelling Dipali's name over and over again. He put Ian down and rushed toward Padma who had just hit the ground, on her knees crying her daughter's name helplessly. Harry tried getting her to rise by her arms, but she wouldn't move. The only thing she repeated through her tears was her child's name. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Harry turned around to the tear-streaked face of Cicely. "Please help them find my little cousin. I'll stay with Padma," she begged. Harry nodded, got up and rushed toward the woodsy area just behind his sister, leaving the crying mothers on the ground.

*

Another mother fell to her knees that evening in a mass of tears and sobbing. Luna held Sarah in her arms as she cried without shame into her little girl's blonde, curly hair. The little one squealed as she hugged her mother back, then playfully swatted at her crying brother who hugged her while she was in their mother's arms. Dennis and his girlfriend were also there, staying with Luna every night since she lost Colin.

"Thank you so much, Cho, Tonks!" said Dennis who was waiting for his turn to hold his niece, but Luna had no intentions of letting go of her daughter.

Cho wiped a tear off her scratched cheek. "I'll see if I can't get Terry to come by to check her out tonight. I think they had a dinner for Dean's birthday tonight, so I'll see him probably at the Weasley's home."

Dennis still waiting for his chance, shook his head at Cho. "No. Evans tried to get us to go out tonight too. Said Dean's cousin was watching the kids because the Weasley's went out of town or something."

"Oh," said Cho getting a sick feeling in her stomach she knew wasn't caused by the baby. "Right, well..."

"Cho," said a voice no one had heard in a very long time. Everyone in room looked down at Luna, face wet with tears, but no longer sobbing. "Thank you for bringing my little girl home. I can't even begin to..." Luna stopped as sobbing took over again.

Cho leaned down painfully on her scratched knee. "You don't have to thank me, Luna," she nearly whispered before kissing Luna's cheek, and Sarah's forehead.

"Cho...I think we should go," said Tonks, also getting a worried feeling suddenly.

Sarah pulled away slightly from her mother's embrace. "Mummy, where's Daddy? Is he mad at me because I was at the park?"

Cho stood up quickly, looking nervously at Tonks, then Dennis who's happiest at the sight of his niece had instantly turned to sorrow. "Let's get going then," whispered Cho to Tonks, and the Aurors left out the door.

As they walked out into the front yard of the Creevey home, Tonks stopped Cho before they apparated. "We need to get you checked out, Cho. You took a nasty fall. Harry's going to be even angrier when he sees you in his state, isn't he?"

Cho knew she was right, but something was ebbing away at her, calling for her to go home...first. "I know. But let's...just go see our children first Tonks, then I'll go. The party should be over by now...maybe they are at my house?" she added unsurely. "Besides, Terry may be at my house anyway when we arrive," she hoped. "Even though it's awfully late."

Apparating on the cobblestone pathway of Cho's and Harry's home, the two Aurors were worried, but eager to see their children. When they walked into the house, Sirius hobbled quickly over to his mother. Tonks instantly took a knee to the floor to face her tear-laden, cast leg 8 year old. "Blimey, Sirius, what's happened?" she whispered loudly over his shoulder, her mane turning mousy brown as she held her son tightly.

Cho stood in shock as she looked around the living room. Ginny was sitting with her bruised and cut son. Hermione was also sitting down with Ian next to her on the couch rubbing his mother's back, while Ron sat on the other side doing the same with Timothy in his lap; both boys just as equally scratched and bruised as their cousin. Ariel sat next to Mindy with Jade's head in her lap and her legs in Mindy's lap as the little girl continued to cry asking the same question over and over again. "Mommy, where's Dipali? Where did she go?" Ariel had such a glazed looked on her face, her daughter's questions did not seem to register. Mindy held one of Jade's hands while trying to wipe hers and the child's tears away.

Cho had been right about one thing, Terry was there. He was presently setting a cast over Kendall's leg as the little girl bounced on the coffee table at the sight of her mother. "Kendall, please settle down so I may get this on here correctly," ordered Terry.

"Baby?" Cho barely whispered, advancing toward her daughter.

There was a glass that shattered near by once Cho reached Kendall. "Cho?" said Harry, who had just dropped a glass of water he was bringing for Hermione, when he saw his scratched and tattered wife.

"She's fine, Cho," said Terry, still trying to hold Kendall steady as he waved his wand in a strategic way causing a cast to circle and set on the little girl's leg. "Just give me a few more minutes, and you can hug her into oblivion," he continued, knowing the mother wanted to get to the child as much as the child wanted to get to the mother.

However, Cho would have been intercepted well before she could reach her daughter, for Harry had her in his arms in no time. She winced from the pressure he placed on the ripped skin down the left side of her body as he hugged her tightly. Harry lighten his embrace at the sound of her pain, but instead of taking a moment to find out why she winced, he kissed her.

It was the only minute Cho didn't think of her daughter on the table. She had missed her husband very much as well. And she knew this would be the only moment he was happy with her. Cho fell into her husband's kiss. Harry's hand was lost in her raven hair, and his arm around her waist held her close. Soon that arm lifted from her left side, and gently landed on her cheek. Not only did Cho winced again as her scratched and gash laden cheek was covered by Harry's hand, but also because she knew he would feel them and his happiness toward her would end.

With everything that happened that evening, Harry felt relieved, blessed, contented in the thought that at least he would be able to hold his wife tonight. He'd wait until morning to fight with her. However, when his thumb gingerly swiped across Cho's cheek, he felt rough, raw, and still moist with some substance skin. Harry broke their kiss and both panted slightly to catch their breaths from the passionate kiss. Yet, Cho's pant ended with a heavy sigh, and Harry's, now glaring at her cheek, began to pick up the pace. "What...happened?" he growled, barely opening his mouth.

At first, Cho's sad eyes averted away from her husband's piercing from anger, green ones, but then she looked into them defiantly. "I should be asking the same thing about my daughter, shouldn't I?" she retorted, scratchily.

"Kendall will be fine, Cho, but you..." began Terry, now standing up next to Harry with Kendall in his arms. "Merlin sakes, what's happened to you?" Cho didn't answer her husband or Terry. Instead she reached for Kendall who was now reaching for her. "No," said Terry, pulling back the child from Cho's reach. "Not until I check you out to make sure you're all right. Harry?" Harry and Cho stared each other down, but Harry reached for his daughter from Terry. "Cho, upstairs," Terry ordered, waving his hand toward the entrance of the living room, heading toward the stairs.

"I'm fine!" she growled, angry that she was being denied her child and was now being ordered around.

"Mummy," said Kendall from Harry's arms, "can I give you a hug, or would that hurt too much?" asked the little girl.

Cho's put her arms down, defeat spreading across her face at her little girl's words.

"It would hurt Mummy right now, Keni. But Terry's going to take Mummy upstairs and make her feel better okay? Then, you can hug Mummy all night," said Harry to his little girl, who eagerly nodded at her father's words.

Terry put his hand on Cho's shoulder, urging her to walk with him. "I'll go up with you, Cho," offered Tonks. "At least I can tell Terry what happened." Tonks put Sirius down gently on his wobbling legs, much to the child's disappointment. "Go sit with Evans, Love. I'll be down in a moment, and we'll go home. Maybe even floo to Daddy, all right?" Sirius nodded sadly at his mother, then turned to walk toward the couch. The Auror watched her son walk on his unsteady legs, and she did all she could to hold back tears. As Cho and Terry passed her in the foyer, Tonks followed behind them. "By the way Terry, mind swinging over to Luna's tonight? We took Sarah straight there instead of St. Mungo's to get her checked out."

Terry stopped in his tracks, and turned to Tonks. The entire living room heard the conversation in the foyer and stopped all of their own. "You've...found...Sarah?" asked Terry.

Ginny suddenly appeared by her husband's side. "Is she...was she...is she alright?" asked Ginny tentatively, looking like she wasn't strong enough for any bad news.

Tonks faintly smile, as she put her hand on Ginny's shoulder. "She's fine, Ginny. Well...she's alive. Your husband will have to tell us if she's fine. Would you mind, Terry?"

Terry's jaw was still hanging open from when he asked the question. Ginny smiled slightly, and put her arm around Terry's waist. "No...not...at all. This is good news! I'll be happy to go and have a look." Terry turned to his wife. "Gin, after I make sure Cho is alright, I'm going to head over to Luna's. Then, I want to go to St. Mungo's and check on Olivia." Ginny nodded at her husband. "I...don't want you and Patrick at home alone tonight. Stay here or stay at Ron's, please?" Ginny sighed, then looked toward the living room. She could see Harry glaring at Cho, and Cho doing the same toward him. Ginny knew they would be arguing tonight, and she knew she wouldn't be able to help herself from getting into it. "Better yet, go home with Ron and help him with Hermione, Love. I can tell you shouldn't be here this evening...not in your condition," said Terry, noticing the same thing too and knowing his wife too well. Ginny easily conceded to her husband's wishes.

"Daddy," said Kendall on Harry's hip as they watched Cho go upstairs with Terry and Tonks, "if Mummy and Tonks found Sarah, does that mean they can find Dipali too?" Harry looked into his little girl's face. For the first time since Cho had come home, Kendall's face was riddled with sadness. The little girl sniffed hard, and laid her head on Harry's shoulder. Harry squeezed his daughter tightly, not knowing what to say. Not being able to image what Dean and Padma were going through right now.

The sound of Dipali's name drifted through the air and landed on a sleeping Jade's ears. "Dipali..." Ariel's little one muttered in her sleep. Jade was now sitting up in her mother's lap, fast asleep on Ariel's tear drenched chest. Sirius sat next to his godsister and rested his head on her arm. Ariel herself still hadn't moved or spoke since she had arrived that evening. Mindy tried talking to her, but Ariel couldn't, didn't respond; her thoughts and prayers with her goddaughter.

"Evans..." called Mindy, but her friend still offered no response. Mindy touched Ariel's arm gently. Ariel turned her head toward Mindy. The expression she wore, Mindy had seen several times in their lives as best friends. She knew Ariel was doing all she could not to cry, no matter how painful it was to hold in. "Never mind," said Mindy after a few moments of looking into her friend's pain stricken eyes.

"What?" was the first thing Ariel said since she had gotten back to the house.

"Nothing," Mindy said, shaking her head. "I'll wait until you two go to bed, then I'll go to the..."

"Monroe, I don't know if that's a good idea," said Harry, having heard the two talking as he sat in chair near by with Kendall. "Maybe you should stay here tonight?"

Mindy shook her head. "I'm a big girl, Potter, I'll be fine. Besides, I was going to go to the hospital to check on Olie and...Jacks."

Ariel watched her best friend and understood her real intentions. "It's alright, Monroe. We'll be fine. But after you go...if you want to stay here..." Ariel offered quietly. "I'd really like you too."

Mindy nodded. She kissed her sleeping goddaughter on her wet cheek, before standing up, heading to door, and apparating away once she hit the cobblestone pathway.

*