When We've Grown Up

When We've Grown Up
Chapter One

"Siobhan, would you hurry up and get down here? Professor Dumbledore is waiting to start your lesson!" Ginny Weasley called up the oak staircase to her eldest daughter. Rubbing her temples with her fingers, Ginny turned back to the living room fire, where the head of Albus Dumbledore sat amidst the green flames.

"I'm really sorry about all this Albus. You would think that after five years, she would have memorized the times of her lessons."

"Never mind Virginia. For someone who learns magic from an old man via Floo, Siobhan is doing exceptionally well." Dumbledore chuckled. "She's top of sixth year Potions and History of Magic and she's never set foot inside Hogwarts." The ex-headmaster beamed with unmistakable pride for the student he tutored. Still very much apart of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, whose age was not known by anyone except himself, had retired seven years earlier leaving Minerva McGonagall to fill his position.

"Albus you talk about her as if she were a saint," Ginny replied with a pained expression. "God only knows what that girl has been up to! Draco caught her yesterday, coming back in after she'd flown around half the bloody countryside!" Ginny sank down into the leather armchair behind her, running a delicate hand through her long red curls. "Really Albus," she continued, now dropping her voice, "the number of times Draco and I have warned those kids...they know the precautions we have to take, God we've been in hiding for nearly sixteen years, they were born into it...!"

"Virginia, you don't think you may be overreacting?" Dumbledore asked with concern. His statement made Ginny jolt upright in the armchair.

"Overreacting?" Ginny repeated incredulously. "Albus, Voldemort was the reason we went into hiding. For the past seventy odd years he has been thought of as immortal. You can't expect me to believe he was truly killed in the attack six months ago..."

"Yet the whole wizarding world seems to believe it." Dumbledore interrupted, green flames licking at his face and beard. "I believe it, Draco certainly believes it, the only thing that's keeping him here in Ireland is your unwillingness."

"Draco knows I would move back to London tomorrow if it was safe for us. But even if Voldemort has been killed, there's still a heap of brassed off Death Eaters....including Lucius."

"Virginia if Lucius Malfoy is the main reason you want to keep hiding out here...."

"Yes, yes I know," Ginny cut him off, "he's in St Mungo's. But Albus that's a hospital not Azkaban, which is where he should be," she finished bitterly.

"Just promise me you'll think about.," Dumbledore said.

"I can't promise you that! It's simply too dangerous to take the kids back to London."

"Virginia all of the children would go straight into Hogwarts." Dumbledore said calmly. "You must know you cannot keep tutoring Daymeon and Ella yourself! Siobhan will be taking NEWTs next year, and I don't think I am the best person to keep teaching her."

Ginny crossed her arms over her chest and averted her eyes from Dumbledore's gaze, it was obvious she had been defeated in the debate.

"Please Virginia, just promise me you'll talk it over with Draco," he said, the tone in his voice forcing Ginny to look him straight in the eye and nod. There was silence for a few minutes before Ginny realized her daughter still hadn't come down.

"Siobhan, I'm giving you until three before I summon you down here faster then you've ever flown in your life!" Ginny yelled without getting to her feet.

"Are you sure that old threat still works on a sixteen year old?" Dumbledore asked lightly, trying to brighten Ginny's now dull mood.

"ONE!" Ginny yelled, ignoring the comment.

"TWO!" With some satisfaction, Ginny heard the stomping of feet descending the stairs.

"THR-"

"Alright, alright! I'm here and God I'm not deaf!" came the irritated reply. Ginny swiveled her neck to glance behind at her teenage daughter.

Tall and thin, Siobhan Malfoy gave her mother a sarcastic smile, showing a set of perfect white teeth, before changing her expression into her trademark "I don't give a damn" look. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a loose bun, stray tendrils tucked behind pierced ears. She had inherited Draco's lovely pastel colored skin and Ginny's dainty, freckled and slightly upturned nose. Siobhan's eyes were large and hazel and often darkened when her temper was high. Her pink lips could form the most genuine smile but could also curl into a cruel sneer or smirk - just like Draco's.

"Hello Professor," she said, gliding gracefully across the room like her father always did. Seeing that the start of Siobhan's lesson was underway, Ginny left the room and went into the adjoining kitchen, still keeping Siobhan in view in case the girl tried anything unexpected. She had no idea where Draco was, or for that matter, her other two children Daymeon and Ella, but she assumed they were around the house somewhere. Seating herself down on kitchen chair, Ginny started to think about what Dumbledore had said...

When she was twenty, Ginny had married Draco Malfoy, son of a Death Eater whose family was the Weasley's sworn enemy. At the time Ginny thought the relationship was extremely similar to the Muggle play about Montague's and Capulet's. As could be expected, most of the Weasley family flat out refused to accept the preposterous idea of her marrying Draco Malfoy. Ron's reaction was by far the most hurtful. Ginny could take the rantings of the twins, the disapproval from Percy and the pleas of reconsideration from her father. But Ron had walked up the narrow rickety staircase of the Burrow, returned in the living room five minutes later with plastic bags full of clothing and walked right out the front door. He had said nothing to her and the silence from him still hadn't been broken. The wedding had been small with only Mrs. Weasley, Charlie, Bill, Hermione, Harry, Seamus Finnigan and Blaise Zabini, an old school friend of Draco's. Only a few months after, Dumbledore had come to them with news of a planned attack. An attack by Lord Voldemort, who intended on killing Ginny or her first-born child.

It was believed, but not proven that Lucius Malfoy was behind the planned attack, using it as a measure of revenge. This news had sent Ginny into a wild state of panic and so Dumbledore had suggested they go into hiding using the notorious Fidelius Charm. After many arguments, Draco and Ginny decided to use Seamus Finnigan as their Secret Keeper. A trusted and close friend of the Weasley family, who had married Lavender Brown, one of Ginny's oldest friends. As a result, it was also decided they move to be near the Finnigan's who lived in Cork, a town in Ireland. They were both under strict instructions not to tell their families or friends where they were moving to. No post by owls were to be sent home as they could be intercepted, and no traveling or visitors by Floo except for the Finnigan's or Hogwarts Professor's. They were allowed to send letters by Muggle mail but no photographs were to be included.

This was how Ginny and Draco had lived for the past sixteen years, ever since Ginny became pregnant with Siobhan. They lived in a rambling villa overlooking the green valleys of Cork, a short distance from the Finnigan's who now had two young children, one in their first year at Hogwarts. Education had been another problem.

From the beginning all three kids had known about their magical background, but Ginny also wanted them to have some knowledge of the Muggle world and so they were enrolled in an elementary school. When Siobhan received her Hogwarts letter, both Ginny and Draco had decided not to send her off. Voldemort had still been at large, so they had tutored Siobhan at home. This had continued up until the start of her forth year, when it was arranged that the Hogwarts Professor's would teach her by floo. The same happened with Daymeon and Ella, Daymeon was just staring lessons with the Professor's and Ginny was still tutoring Ella herself. But now it was getting nearly impossible. Siobhan was now learning sixth year work and as Dumbledore had said, Ginny couldn't expect any of her children to go through their NEWT's still being tutored at home...

" Weasley you're going to have no nails left if you keep biting them like that."

Ginny jumped at the sound of the familiar drawling voice. Automatically she looked down at her fingers, where most of the nails had been unconsciously bitten. Switching her gaze to Draco, who was leaning against the kitchen bench, she said, "I've been thinking." To this he raised one blonde eyebrow. Even as a 37-year-old father of three, Draco Malfoy still looked as young and perfect as he had been at seventeen. His pale blond hair was kept short and up with the latest styles. There wasn't a wrinkle or gray hair in sight, and the smug bastard knew it. Despite Draco's own beliefs, the rest of the family secretly agreed that he spent more time doing his hair then Siobhan, whose locks were at least four times longer.

"Go on.... you've been thinking," Draco said, looking down at his impeccable black shirt, checking for bits of fluff.

"I think we should consider going back to London."

Draco stopped his scrupulous search and looked up. "What brought this sudden change on?" he asked, gray eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure when I suggested it two weeks ago, you labeled me...what was it? A thick, irrational, blonde ferret?" Draco smirked at his wife, which caused her temper to immediately flare up.

"This sudden change is due to a talk with Dumbledore, who wisely pointed out some very relevant reasons to return to England!" Ginny snapped, scowling like a little girl. Before Draco could reply, a loud bang echoed through the house, almost immediately followed by the start of a yelling match between two teenagers. Draco swore and Ginny slammed her fist onto the table before marching back into the living room, past Dumbledore and Siobhan, and up the stairs. When her mother was out of sight, Siobhan excused herself for a minute to stand at the foot of the stairs and yell up at her two younger siblings. "IF YOU GUYS HAD ANY SENSE WHATSOEVER, YOU WOULD SHUT-UP AND START RUNNING! WEASLEY TEMPER IS UP AND RISING!!" Unfortunately for her brother and sister, they did no hear her warning.

Ginny reached the second floor landing and was almost knocked over as the family house elf, Napaea, went skidding past her.

"So sorry Mistress!" Napaea squealed as she dashed full pelt down the stairs, away from all the yelling and commotion. Drawing her wand and her breath, Ginny stalked down the left hallway and found a gigantic hole in one of the plaster walls. Standing in the middle of the hall was her only son and youngest daughter, both yelling at the top of their lungs while two wands lay forgotten on the floor.

"Surdus" Ginny shouted. The spell hit the two teenagers, whose mouths were still forming words despite the fact that no sound was emitting from them.

"What the hell happened here?" Ginny shrieked, glaring from one to the other, behind her Draco had arrived and was inspecting the damage of the wall. Ella, the youngest of the family pointed straight at her brother, gray eyes cold with fury. The 13yr old redhead was furiously moving her mouth but in sheer desperation of not being able to talk, she stamped her foot, crossed her arms over her chest and started to sulk.

"Right, talk." And with another wave of her wand, Ginny took the spell off Ella who immediately started to babble.

"I was only doing what dad told me to do...practicing the levitation charm...the swish and flick... I was using my desk and...."

"Your desk?" Ginny repeated incredulously, while her only son Daymeon let out a snort of disgust, still being unable to talk. Ella continued on as though her mother had not spoken.

"I was doing ok until he decided to hex me from behind.... I lost control of my wand and the desk hit the wall..." She looked desperately at her father, knowing she could get away with almost anything with him. Draco however was eyeing his son. He took out his own wand and performed the counter charm.

"It didn't happen like that at all." Daymeon spat at his father, "She's got you so wrapped round her finger you can't even see that she's lying her ass off!"

"That's enough," shrieked Ginny. "Ella go to your room.."

"But I didn't do.."

"NOW!"

Ella picked up her wand and stormed off down the hall, as Ginny turned to Daymeon who was now in full 'Malfoy brassed off mode'. Draco was in the middle of repairing the hole in the wall, using his wand to replace bits of plaster.

"Now, what happened?" she said. Daymeon, who was inspecting his nails carelessly, looked up at his mother. He, like his father and younger sister had beautiful gray eyes. He had a tall and muscular frame and he kept his dark blonde hair messy and slightly spiked. Sometimes Ginny thought that her genes had very little say in how her three children had turned out. Daymeon was uncannily like Draco had been at 15yrs. Arrogant and handsome, who had girls tripping over themselves to get to him. However Daymeon was usually level headed and fair but his comment to Draco had been anything but. Ginny was concerned at what had gotten under his rarely penetrable Malfoy skin.

"It really doesn't matter what I say does it? You think she's a bloody angel...all-innocent. She lies to your face and you can't see it!" Daymeon snapped, squaring his jaw. "I didn't 'decide to hex her from behind'.... That's something Siobhan would do. She was deliberately ramming my bedroom door with the stupid desk. So I came out to tell her off but she's so useless with magic that her aim slipped. And that's how the huge hole came about." He finished sarcastically.

"Don't take that tone with me." Ginny said warningly. "And your sister is not useless, you're probably just exaggerating the situation." At these words, Daymeon narrowed his eyes.

"See? This is what I get for telling the truth! You never believe me. I'm just the stupid middle child." Daymeon snarled, grabbing his wand off the floor and stalking into his room before slamming the door with all his might.

"Can you believe those two?" Ginny asked Draco, who had expertly fixed the wall and was now staring at the closed door of Daymeon's room.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*

Dinner that night was rather tense. Daymeon and Ella sat on opposite sides of the six person rectangular table and refused to talk to one another. Napaea skirted in and out of the room, the poor elf hated seeing conflict between the family as it reminded her of the horrible master she previously had. Siobhan glanced up from her soup at her mother. Never would she admit it, but Siobhan was extremely jealous of her mother's delicate features, including the long red curls. She noticed her mother and father were sharing quick glances with one another, which always meant they were trying to decide whether or not to share news with the rest of the family. After watching them for a few more minutes, Siobhan could no longer take it.

"Ok would you mind telling us whatever it is that you're thinking about?" she said exasperatedly, resting her spoon in the soup bowl. Both her parents looked at her. Daymeon and Ella unconsciously shared a look of confusion, before adverting their gaze to their mother. They knew if their parents agreed to tell whatever it was they were hiding, it would come from Ginny. Their mother always cracked under pressure.

"Well?" Ella said wrinkling her freckled nose impatiently. Ginny looked desperately at Draco, who was smirking at the cute way his wife was biting her bottom lip.

"Oh for heaven's sake." Ginny burst out, taking a sip of red wine and placing the glass back down rather heavily. "This afternoon I was suggesting to your father that we move back to England."

Siobhan's eyebrows shot up, Ella paused, her spoon full of soup suspended in midair, Daymeon muttered "Holy shit" and ran a hand through his blonde hair, making it stand on end. Draco looked around at the three teenagers, amused at their responses.

"Didn't dad suggest this a while ago?" Daymeon asked, his brow furrowed.

"Certainly!" Draco said smugly, "but your mother called me a thick..."

"Irrational, blonde ferret!" Siobhan, Ella and Daymeon finished in unison. There was silence for a few seconds as the family all tried desperately to keep straight faces. Ella let the tiniest snigger escape which sent everyone into fits of laughter. The bad moods that had darkened the meal earlier were instantaneously removed. Ginny, who had both slim hands covering her face, peeked through her fingers at Draco and once again bit her lip, this time in embarrassment. When the laughter had a last subsided (after two more outburst caused again by Ella), everyone turned rather serious.

"So would moving mean we get to go to Hogwarts?" Ella asked her father.

"Only if you want." Draco shrugged. "The castle is rather old and cold and the food's not that...." He broke off as Ginny hit him on the arm.

"Don't listen to your father," she said as Draco smirked, "Hogwarts is brilliant, after a while its like your second home!"

"For you it may have been Ginny-love, but having to put up with Potter's swollen head and Weasley's annoying...."

"Careful ferret, you're talking to a Weasley" Ginny reached across and poked Draco hard in the chest. Siobhan, Daymeon and Ella watched in disgust as their parents continued to flirt for the next couple of minutes.

"Right, should we leave now or do you two wanna get a private room?" Daymeon asked in pure revulsion.

"Yes. I don't think married couples over thirty, with kids, should be displaying affection for one another in public." Siobhan added. "They should leave that sort of thing to us." She shared a knowing look with her siblings

"What?" Draco flicked his eyes from his wife to the 16yr old.

"Nothing." Ella cut in, "So about England?" she pressed, pushing her soup bowl away from her.

"Would you kids be willing to go?" Ginny asked, "There's nothing really keeping us here, and in England you'll be able to be near the rest of the family."

"I want to go," Daymeon said, "it's so boring here, we don't know any other wizarding families except for the Finnigan's." Ella nodded her agreement. Siobhan however, was looking at Draco. While the rest of the family was busily discussing the move, she quietly whispered to her father, "Dad, is it safe?" Unlike Daymeon and Ella, she knew the full details of why the family had to go into hiding in the first place. Draco looked at his eldest daughter, taking in the look of concern etched into every part of her face.

"Dumbledore is sure," Draco replied. Siobhan looked at him blankly.

"But do you think it's safe?" she said.

"Siobhan it's safer then it was 16 years ago, that's all I can say. Surely you don't want to stay here?"

"No, but Voldemort didn't want to kill you did he?" Siobhan muttered.

"What?"

"I said if it's good enough for you, it's good enough for me." She replied.

"So is everyone in agreement for moving?" Ginny asked. There were four nods; one rather hesitant although nobody seemed to notice.

Ginny inhaled, beaming around at her family. "Well I guess we're going to England."

*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*

Three weeks later the house that the Malfoy family had called home for sixteen years was bare. The Fidelius Charm had been removed by Dumbledore only days ago. They had not yet brought a house in England, although Ginny planned to stay at the Burrow for a few days - a place she hadn't seen since she was 20. Draco had asked Dumbledore if he could get in touch with the Weasley family, telling them about the move. But Arthur and Molly, according to Dumbledore, had been staying at Ron and Hermione's house and Ginny had refused to get in contact with her 'stubborn, git of a brother'. So nobody knew they were coming, but as Ella had pointed out it would be 'a nice big surprise'. At the time Siobhan had thought it might be a too bigger surprise for her mother's family to cope with.

She had heard a lot about the Weasley family. Ron, the brother who wasn't speaking to Ginny had married a Hermione Granger and they had three children, two were twins and the eldest was a boy who was around Siobhan's age. Bill (which didn't mean anything to Siobhan) was married to an extremely sexy woman (according to Draco) called Fleur, they had a daughter who was already finished at Hogwarts. Then there was Charlie and Fred. Siobhan knew Charlie had two sons and that Fred had married his seventh year girlfriend and now had three children, the youngest was 16. Percy, her mother had told her, was extremely ambitious and had no time for a family of his own and George was a single parent - Ginny never told her children how that had happened.

Siobhan had also heard her mother discussing Harry Potter, much to her father's annoyance, and a woman called Blaise Zabini, much to her father's delight. Apparently the couple were very good friends of the Weasley family and had a few kids of their own...not the Siobhan was very interested. She really wanted to get to know all her cousins, Aunties, Uncles and most importantly her grandparents...she would worry about family friends later.

The morning of July 31^st had been hectic. Boxes lay everywhere, some half packed others with their contents pilling over the top. Napaea was using her own magic, permitted by Ginny, to successfully stack and label packed boxes, Ella was trying desperately to call her sooty colored owl, Linox; who had decided to take a last minute siesta somewhere. Daymeon, (much to the irritation of Siobhan) had finished all his packing some days ago and was now watching his older sister trying to get down the stairs carrying two boxes. Draco and Ginny were running around, searching for forgotten things like photo albums in the attic and all the old bits and pieces that weren't found until you moved house. They had arranged to have all their furniture magically portkeyed to a wizarding storage warehouse near Catchpole; the activation time was only a few hours away but a lot of things still needed to be done.

By the afternoon Ginny and Draco were using magic every two seconds to summon items and to rearrange boxes. Siobhan had managed to finish packing everything from her room and was now helping Napaea, along with Daymeon.

"I found him! I found him!" Ella came through the front door and into the box-filled living room. She had twigs caught in her hair, numerous scratches on her face and one sleepy looking owl perched on her arm. Ginny, who was kneeling on the floor, red curls tumbling out of the loose bun, looked over her daughter but decided not to comment.

"That's good love, put him in his cage and come help." She said. Ella looked at her mother, scrunching up her freckled nose.

"I can't help yet, I haven't finished packing and I want to have a quick shower." She said, as though this was obvious to everyone. The statement was no sooner out of her mouth when four people and an elf jumped to their feet and pelted up the stairs. Napaea was calling, "Hurry sirs and misses! We have only fifteen minutes."

*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*

"3.00 o'clock pm transport of furniture from Cork to Catchpole, England. Courtesy of Rye's Reliable Removals, 'Making your move magically manageable'. Please make sure all items you wish to be portkeyed are within the yellow circle. Counting down from ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one..."

Daymeon and Siobhan watched with wide eyes as everything inside the enormous designated circle vanished. The house was now completely bare, save for the one suitcase every member had which was packed with clothes and other necessities they would need during their stay at the Burrow. Ginny and Draco looked satisfied.

"Right," Draco said, "Now it's our turn. I've got the portkey here." He rummaged around in the pockets of his leather jacket, holding up a small and cheap looking ornament of a horse.

"Where's little miss?" Napaea piped up, who had been busily securing the cages of Linox, Petrol and Hora, the pet owls of Ella, Daymeon and Siobhan.

"Probably still in the shower," Daymeon guessed, scrunching the top of his hair with his fist.

"No I'm here. We ready to go?" Ella appeared in the room looking lovely and fresh. Her red short red hair was just long enough to be tied back in low pigtails. Siobhan and Daymeon glared. Both were annoyed at how she had squirmed her way out of packing her things up - leaving it for the rest of the family to do.

"Damn, she's here," Daymeon said sardonically, "Now she'll have to come, I was hoping she might get left behind." Ella flicked him in the back of the head as she moved to stand with the rest of the family.

"Ow! Damn it that hurt!"

"Stop it you two," Draco said warningly.

"Are we all right to go?" Ginny asked as the family nodded. "Right say goodbye to our lovely old home," she sniffled, Draco wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Come on mum, we don't need this sentimentality," Siobhan said impatiently, despite the tightness in her own throat as she looked around the only home she had ever had.

"Oooo big word Sib," Daymeon smirked, "Sure you know what it means?"

"I know the words arrogant and bastard means Daymeon Malfoy," she retorted. Draco dropped his arms and turned on his children.

"Would you guys shut-up?" he said through gritted teeth.

"No it doesn't matter Draco, let's go." Ginny wiped her eyes, took out her wand and muttered Elimo, making her face and makeup perfect once more.

"Ok... the best way to do this is if me and your mother are both touching the horse." Draco said, "the rest of you make sure your grasping one of us tightly, otherwise you could be left behind."

Daymeon smirked at Ella, who gave him the finger - out of view of her parents.

"We're going to have to transfigure our suitcases," Ginny added, "Because you kids need to be holding your owls as well." Standing next to the suitcases was Napaea, who clicked her long, bony fingers. The suitcases now resembled pocket-sized wallets.

"Thank you Napaea," Ginny said, as the elf took a bow and Ella clapped. "Everyone, get your things, quickly."

The three kids scrambled to pick up the tiny suitcases, stuffing them in their pockets before grasping the handle of their respective owl's cage.

"Ready?" Draco asked, checking that everyone, including Napaea was securely holding either himself or Ginny. Taking out his wand, Draco counted, "Three, Two, One.." He tapped the ornamental horse twice and everyone felt a jerk just behind their navel, like invisible fishing line was pulling them in towards the little horse.

Suddenly there were swirls of color flashing before their eyes. Ella, who always suffered from motion sickness felt extremely nauseated, her stomach seemed to be up in her throat somewhere. Just when she thought she could hold it in for no longer the whirling colors stopped and her feet slammed into solid ground, sending her sprawling on all fours and causing Linox to screech shrilly. Next second Napaea had landed on top of her; the elf had her eyes tightly shut. Groaning, Ella crawled out from Napaea and threw up only meters away. Feeling slightly better, she got shakily to her feet and found the rest of her family standing; Daymeon and Siobhan looking extremely windswept while her mother had started to fuss over her.

"Ella, honey? Are you alright?" Ginny had pulled her youngest daughter into a hug.

"Fine mum..." Ella muttered, now trying to rub the dirt off her face and get rid of the disgusting vomit taste from her mouth.

"Here I'll fix you up," Ginny took out her wand again, muttering a spell to get rid of the dirt.

"Thanks."

"Gin stop fussing," Draco told his wife, gently pushing her aside. "You right babe?" He asked Ella, patting her affectionately on top of her head. Ella nodded, smiling at her father. They had arrived behind a clump of dense trees, shielding them from the dirt road on the other side. The area was very country like; long wild grass grew at the foot of old trees, which were creaking and swaying in the mild winds.

"Looks like it might storm," Daymeon said, gesturing towards the darkening sky where rain clouds had formed and the distant roar of thunder could be heard. The words were no sooner out of his mouth when Ginny felt a water droplet hit her nose.

"Come on let's get going, the house is just on the other side of these trees," Ginny said. Draco picked up Linox's cage, (the bird was still screeching from being knocked around) and muttered a silencing spell. Siobhan followed her mother out of the trees, but soon dropped back to walk alongside Ella, who looked on the verge of tears. She took hold of her sister's hand and squeezed it tightly, still holding Hora's cage The trees thinned out and the family reached the edge of the road.

It was lightly raining now and forked lightening flashed across the sky, causing Napaea to tremble and cover her bat like ears. Daymeon scooped the elf up as they crossed the road, heading towards the only house for what looked like miles. Siobhan could sense how edgy her father and mother had now become but she couldn't blame them. They stopped at an old wooden gate and as their mother fumbled with the chain, the three teenagers took in the house where she had grown up.

The house looked like a badly made, multi tier cake. It had at least several stories, each more precariously crooked. Paint was peeling off the green window shutters; tiles were missing from the red roof, where numerous chimneys were perched. Gnarled fig trees were dotted around the front yard; one had a tyre attached as a swing. Wild flowers grew here and there, mixing with overgrown grass and weeds. On the bottom level, lights were suddenly flicked on, just a Ginny managed to unlock the gate. Daymeon could see her hands shaking as she swung it wide open. They silently made their way up the dirt driveway, getting wetter as the rain became heavier.

Draco could hear music coming from somewhere in the house as he tried to calm his nerves. Nervousness wasn't something a Malfoy normally felt, but he was dammed if he wasn't going to allow himself to be nervous now. Only pure love for Ginny and his kids was making him do this. It seemed like suicide.

Ginny reached the front door, the rest of the family standing behind her. She knocked loudly. After a few minutes Ginny said, "Let's try around the back, they used to sit out there a lot." She led the way and as she did the music got louder. Siobhan could hear gales of laughter as well as many, many different voices. Younger voices were yelling out to one another as older, more mature ones boomed out. There was giggling and shrieking as well, which sounded like a group of women. "Hermione love, would you mind brining out a few more glasses while you're in there? James has just vanished some accidentally." Ella watched as her mother froze at the sound of the voice. "Sure Molly. Tell the kids there's some more Butterbeer in here for them."

"Oh shit!" Ginny whispered, her shaking hands covering her mouth. It was a sign of how nervous their mother was - for Ginny Weasley rarely swore. " Napaea what's the date today?"

"July 31^st Mistress" the elf squeaked, still being held by Daymeon.

"Oh God. It's Harry's birthday..." she said, immediately turning around.

"Virginia you can't back out now," Draco snarled, grasping her hand tightly and thrusting Linox's cage into Ella's hands.

"We're going in now!" he added and started to walk, making Ginny do the same. They reached the end of the side of the house and walked straight round the corner, Daymeon followed and Siobhan and Ella came last.

The scene that met Ginny's eyes blurred. They had stepped into a full-fledged family party for Harry. Under a huge new patio, was the whole extended Weasley family. Teenagers were running around in the rain while groups of adults talked, laughed, ate and drank. Ginny could see her father, gray haired and looking very much like a granddad, stoking an enormous barbeque; laden with steaks, sausages and pâtés. There must have been about 45 people all up but all it took was one turn of a head in their direction. It was Harry himself standing amongst a throng of people, he spotted them, his eyebrows contracted and his mouth formed a disbelieving 'O' shape.

"Ginny?" he called. The affect of this statement was instantaneous. The whole place turned deadly silent, heads turned and the Malfoy family were like rabbits in headlights. The other children pointed at Siobhan, Daymeon and Ella, whispering to each other behind their hands. Arthur and Molly Weasley who d been in an animated conversation with each other, turned to see their youngest and only daughter.

"GINNY?!" Molly cried out before sinking to her knees on the floor. Arthur had dropped the tongs in his hands. Nobody was moving towards them, it seemed they were all to intent on staring. A woman with long, jet-black hair walked out the back door and onto the patio. "What's wrong out here?" she asked. She turned her head in the direction everyone was looking. "Draco?" she screamed, "Ginny?"

The whole situation was too much...too much Ella thought. She didn't know these people. They had all grown up together...been around each other. Her family didn't fit in, that much was obvious. She couldn't take it anymore...everyone staring...pointing....whispering. She bolted. Dropped Linox's cage and bolted. Back round the side of the house and scrambled up into one of the fig trees, rain now hounding down on her. She heard Siobhan scream her name and go running after her. She hated her mother's family already.