Family Ties

Random Passageways

Inside Remus Lupin's estate in Dublin, Ireland, Harry Potter lounged in a chair, reading a book. "Harry!" Kalli called, walking into the room, holding a tray of tea. "Harry," she said softly, setting the tray on the table in front of the fireplace. He glanced up at her, his green eyes meeting her ice blue. "Luke decided that he wanted to be a Chaser for the house team, and Lara wants to be Seeker..." Harry smiled up at his wife, and grabbed her hand. Pulling her into his lap, Harry buried his face in Kalli's neck. "Do you think they'll make it?"

"Course!" Harry replied, without giving it a second thought. "Their parents were both on it, their grandparents, and their godfather." Kalli smiled at Harry, and moved to get up. "You stay here, relax. I'll check the kids." Kalli smiled as Harry set her back down in the chair, then moved out the door.

Upstairs in the rambling estate, Harry moved along the corridor toward the children's rooms. Lara and Luke were twelve, second years at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, and little Kayla had just turned nine. Opening the door to Lara and Luke's room, Harry peered into the darkness. Instant silence overwhelmed the room. "Excited?" he asked, moving across to the beds. A sprite-like giggle came from Lara's bed, and Luke sat up. "Lumos," Harry said, lighting the tip of his wand.

At the foot of their beds sat two trunks, filled with their school belongings. Each had gone to Diagon Alley for supplies just days before. "Dad," Lara said, looking up at him, "Will you be angry if I don't get Seeker?"

Harry grinned at his daughter as he brushed a strand of black hair from her pale cheek. "Of course not, love! You could get dumped on your bum, and you'll still be my little girl!" Harry pulled Lara close and kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep, darling." Lara pulled the covers up to her chin, and smiled up at her father. Luke laid back down and sprawled out under the sheets. "Good-night, kids," Harry whispered, kissing their foreheads, then closing the door behind him.

The following day was filled to the brim with activity. The children were delivered to Platform 9 ¾, and Kalli and Harry bid them farewell. Luke and Lara sat in the compartment in the back of train, exchanging Chocolate Frog cards, perfectly alone, until the door swung open and two redheads strolled in.

"Daynia!" Lara exclaimed, rushing toward her friend. "Oh, thank heavens! I was so afraid that I wouldn't find you!" Luke clasped hands with Malcolm Weasley, his red hair giving away his heritage. "Dad says that there're supposed to be new teachers as Hogwarts, what's Uncle Ron say?"

Malcolm Weasley frowned at Lara Potter, "I heard Dad saying that Dumbledore was retiring this year..." Lara's face took on a look of sheer disappointment. Luke stared at Malcolm, disbelief on his features. "No one knows who they'll get."

An unexpected noise came from the corridor, and the door swung open once more. Standing before them was a girl with dark eyes, and even darker hair. Luke glared at her with uncharacteristic contempt. "Devia," he spat, stepping in front of his sister. "I thought your type wasn't allowed at Hogwarts anymore!"

"And what type would that be?" Devia drawled, eyeing Luke with equal hatred.

Lara rose to her feet and glowered at the girl. "The Death Eaters!" she exclaimed, menacingly.

Devia Malfoy snorted at Lara, her repulsion for the Potters growing with every breath she took. "You should talk, your mum was to be the Dark Lady!" she snapped, her eyes flashing.

Now, Daynia Weasley stepped forward, her face darkening, she cried, "You conniving git! What do you know of the Potters! You serve the Dark Lord!" Devia found herself outside the compartment, staring at the closed door.

* * *

Just an hour later, Luke and Lara found themselves sitting in the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft. Before them stood all the students, preparing to be Sorted. They sat at the Gryffindor table, watching the first years shift nervously.

Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet, and cleared his throat. Everyone fell silent as he began his usual speech in the most unusual way. "It is no doubt to me that you have all heard of the rumors being spread that I am retiring this year." A loud groan rang through the hall, until Dumbledore raised his hand for silence. "It is true, I fear, I am retiring this year." Barks of disappointment replaced the groan, and again, Dumbledore received silence. "I have truly enjoyed my years here, and I hope you will treat your new Headmaster with as much respect that I have received." Glancing about the room, Dumbledore nodded to his students, as he motioned toward the far end of the table. "Mr. Harry Potter," Dumbledore announced.

Lara and Luke turned to see their father striding toward Dumbledore as a ripple surged through the crowd. "Greetings, students," Harry began in the same voice he had heard Dumbledore use for seven years.

After the Sorting Hat had placed them all in the appropriate houses, Lara, Luke and Daynia sat at the table, watching the teachers eating at the head table. Kalli had been added to the ranks as a Potions teacher.

As Lara leaned over, she whispered, sharing Luke's smile. "What do you think Dad and Mum did with Kay?" Her brother's face took on a look of pure stupidity. "Do you think she's here?"

"Headmasters have their own quarters for whatever they which..." Malcolm said, watching Harry as he spoke with Kalli and Willow. "Perhaps little Kayla will be staying there with your Mum and Dad."

The rest of dinner went uneventfully, and finally it came time for the students to retire to their houses. Lara, Luke, Daynia, and Malcolm followed a prefect up to the Gryffindor tower. The Fat Lady portrait smiled down at them as the prefect announced, "Phoenix!" as the password. The painting flung open, revealing the common room.

* * *

"Hey, Potter!" came the ever familiar voice of Conrad Finnigan son of one of Harry's old school mates. Behind him stood Robert Wood, and Cole Thomas, both grinning. "You trying out for the house team?" Brunette, blue eyed Conrad asked the shorter Potter. Robert leaned on Luke's bed post, crossing his arms in expectation. When Luke nodded, Conrad grinned and asked, "Which position?"

"Chaser, I hope," Luke replied, enjoying the presence of his best friend. "Dad was a Seeker... That's what my sister wants." Cole flopped down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. "You guys trying out?"

Robert shook his head, "Dad was captain, but I don't want to be on it... Mum says it's fine, and Dad will just have to get used to the idea."

A large smile grew over Cole's face as he replied, "I can't even stay on a broomstick, let alone chase balls back and forth on one." Luke nodded and threw his pillow at the head of his bed. "From what I've heard of your father, you're bound to get on it, Potter."

Luke shrugged halfheartedly. He had never even thought of his father as a superstar, let alone the man that had defeated Voldemort, twice. "Well, I'm just hoping to make my own reputation," Luke replied, tossing another pillow out.

"And no doubt you will," Conrad responded supportively. Luke peered into his trunk to discover the familiar shimmer in the bottom. His father's Invisibility Cloak. A small smile crept across Luke's face. Indeed, a reputation for himself, and a damn good one too.

* * *

"And, so, Mum's teaching History of Magic," Daynia was saying as she and Lara unpacked their trunks. Lara pulled a pillow from her trunk, and reached for the wand. "Won't this be fun! Your Mum is the new Potions teacher, and mine is the new History teacher!" Lara frowned as she set the wand down on her bed. "So, who got the Invisibility Cloak?"

Instantly, Lara's eyes darted up in disbelief. "I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped. Daynia's look told her that she knew otherwise, but she didn't move to speak. "So, how's your Dad?"

"He's fine... Says the Ministry is working toward opening another school in Ireland... But it won't be ready for a few more years," Daynia replied, pulling out a robe and hanging it.

The door had been partially opened, and trio of girls strolled in. They stopped as they spotted the duo, then each moved to one of the other beds. Tina Longbottom, and Rebecca Warrick accompanied a girl she didn't recognize. "Hi, Lara," Tina said calmly. "We got a new girl, her Dad did something, kept her out of the school for a year, but she's here, meet Marina, Marina Dursley."

"Dursley?" Lara questioned, eyeing the girl thoroughly. "I'm Lara Potter..." she let it trail off as realization struck in Marina's eyes. "Your father is Dudley Dursley?" Marina nodded, surprise reaching beyond her blue depths. "Oh, bugger..."

* * *

The following day, first class was Potions, with Kalli. Luke and Lara entered, each taking a seat. Luke sat beside Conrad, Lara beside Marina, Daynia beside Tina Longbottom, and everyone looked toward the front of the room, where Kalli sat at her desk. Without looking up, Kalli began roll. "Andromeda, Kylie," a girl sparked her wand. As Kalli moved down the list, Marina got more and more squirmy. "Dursley, Marina," Kalli said, nonchalantly. Beside Lara, Marina tensed, but Kalli didn't even seem to notice that the girl had the same last name as Harry's rude Muggle family. Moving further down the list, Kalli continued on to Luke and Lara, without responding to the fact that they were her children.

Finally, Potions was over, and the Gryffindor house made their way to History of Magic. At the front desk sat a woman with fluffy blonde hair, and a book in front of her. Hermione Weasley glanced up at the students that filed in. Daynia sat down, keeping her head down, careful not to draw attention to herself. Hermione took a quick role, barely acknowledging the Potters, and her own daughter. The only name she hesitated on was Marina. A quick glance at the girl was all Hermione allowed herself, then she continued on her way.

* * *

Lunch came all to soon for the children, who were enjoying their new lessons. Marina didn't know anything about Magic, besides what she read in books. Lara, Luke, Daynia, Malcolm, and Marina all sat in one section of the table, watching the students mull around the Great Hall. Without them noticing, Harry had arrived behind them. "Hello, children," he said, touching Luke's shoulder.

"Dad!" Luke exclaimed, surprise in his eyes, "How come you didn't tell us?" Lara looked toward her father in expectation.

A smile crept over Harry's face, "It was a surprise..." He looked toward Marina. "New friend?" He asked. Lara exchanged glances with Marina, nodding supportively.

"My name is Marina... Marina Dursley..." she said softly, watching his vibrant green eyes. They clouded over for a moment, then seemed to go blank. "Mum said I should talk to you... She said you would know what to do..." Fear sprang into her eyes as she whispered, "I can't go home, Uncle Harry..."

"All right," Harry replied, "Meet me at the gargoyle on the third floor in ten minutes, sweetie... We'll talk." Marina nodded slowly, tears in her startling blue eyes. "And don't worry... Everything will be fine."

As Harry strolled away, Lara put a comforting arm around Marina's shoulder and said, "Dad'll know what to do... He's good at that."

* * *

Marina didn't show up until halfway through Defense Against the Dark Arts, red-eyed and sniffling. Lara scribbled a note with her quill and Marina answered it. Apparently, Harry would write the Dursley house as Headmaster Harry Potter, hoping to get some response. If one did not come, he would take it upon himself to find her the right placement.

Willow Lupin stood before the class, describing the curriculum for the year, as she eyed Lara and Marina closely. Lara turned and flashed her aunt a smile. This year was either going to seriously suck, or seriously rock. Father as Headmaster, mother as teacher, god-mother as teacher, aunt as teacher. Lara was in a whole lot of trouble.

* * *

Upstairs in the Gryffindor common room, Luke, and Conrad sat by the fire, whispering as Lara made her way over. "What're you two whispering?" she asked, plopping down in another chair.

"Marauder's strike again..." Luke whispered. Pulling a piece of parchment from his robes. Luke tapped it with his wand, and said, "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." The Marauder's Map appeared in his hand, and Lara smiled. "Tomorrow night..." Luke whispered.

"You know, Luke, by reputation, there's supposed to be more Marauders," Lara muttered to her brother.

Luke rolled his eyes disdainfully, and replied, "Dad only had three."

A small smile crept over Lara's face as she replied, "Dad, Uncle Ron, Aunt Hermione, Aunt Willow and Mum." Luke glanced to Malcolm, who nodded reluctantly. "I think we should invite Marina." Luke eyed her skeptically. "She's deserves it... It's in her blood... Like us."

"She's a Muggle Born," Conrad whispered, leaning closer to Luke.

Anger closed over Lara's face as she squinted toward the young Finnigan, as she spoke fiercely. "So is Aunt Hermione, and she was a Marauder!" Conrad's eyes darted to the fire, then he nodded. Luke smiled at his sister, approval in his eyes. "Cool!" Lara exclaimed, jumping up. "You won't regret it! I promise!"

* * *

The next day, all notions about the Marauders were stripped from their minds as they entered the Great Hall. Harry sat at the head table, speaking softly with Willow Lupin and Kalli. As they students sat down, Harry rose to his feet. "Something terrible has happened in Hogwarts..." he announced in a clear baritone note. Kalli touched his arm as his voice choked up. "A small child has gone missing, my daughter, Kayla." Lara felt Luke grab her arm somewhere behind the fog in her mind. "She's nowhere on the grounds... My wife awoke in the middle of the night to hear a sound just outside our home, and when she went to check, Kayla was gone..." Harry continued, his eyes filled with trepidation. Malcolm glanced over to the twins, his face filled with sorrow. "If any of you know the whereabouts of my daughter, please, please step forward." With that simple plea, his announcement had finished.

Running out into the corridor, Lara and Luke raced to their father. "Dad!" Lara cried, rushing into his arms. Harry held her close, feeling her heart beat. "Did you talk to Hagrid? Maybe she's in the Forbidden Forest."

Nodding, Harry pulled away, "That's the first thing your Mum thought of. Hagrid's been there since dawn." His eyes seemed more downcast then they had ever seen them, and the green seemed dulled. "Go on to class," Harry said, kissing Lara's cheek and tousling Luke's hair. "And don't you worry, Kay'll be fine," he finished, hoping he sounded more sure then he really was.

When they arrived at Potions, Kalli wasn't there, instead Willow sat at the desk. She began the lesson as if nothing was different, just as if Kalli had been unable to attend. As Lara looked out the window, she saw her mother emerge from the Forbidden Forest, double over and vomit. Luke looked over, and watched her as well.

"She's fine, Lar," he whispered, leaning back to talk to her. "Probably just saw something she didn't want to see." Suddenly, he caught himself, turning to see the look of consternation on his sister's face. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with Kay..." Lara turned her head down to focus on her potion, but found herself watching the words swirl all over the page. Then, as she watched, the words swirled off the page, and floated away.

Seconds later, she heard Willow shout something, and her eyes snapped up. The words from her sheet of paper were flying all over the room, causing people to duck in panic. No one wants to be hit in the face with a word. It makes you want to say that word all the time. Willow glanced at Lara, who looked around the room stunned. "Miss Potter, if you could keep yourself focused, we wouldn't have to worry about this!" Willow Lupin said, with a slight smile on her face. She waved her wand and all the words fluttered back to Lara's paper.

* * *

It wasn't until lunch when Luke and Lara saw their mother again. She was standing outside Harry's office, talking to Minerva, red eyed and sniffling. Luke pushed his sister onward, knowing that if she had stopped, both women would be crying violently within minutes. The Great Hall was quite crowded, everyone hoping to hear something of the child. But Harry didn't even show up for lunch, but neither did Hagrid. A whisper explained to the twins that Harry had been out searching for Kayla since sometime after Potions.

Halfway through lunch, a voice startled them from their collected thoughts. "Ever wondered what the inside of the Forbidden Forest looked like?" They turned to find Remus Lupin standing behind them. Jumping to her feet, Lara embraced him. "Princess," he said, kissing her forehead. "I understand that you had a bit of an accident in Potions today..." Luke stifled a laugh, as Remus tousled his dark, messy hair.

"Why are you here, Uncle Remus?" Lara questioned, looking up at his soft eyes quizzically, her own green eyes sparkling with an verboten magic.

A sentimental smile flowed over Remus' face as he looked down upon his young niece. "Your father sent for me, asked me to help out in the search. After all, who knows the Forest like Moony?" The twins felt tears spark in their eyes at the same moment. "No worries, kids!" Remus said, lightheartedly. "There's some right nice people in there."

"Then there's Aragog!" Luke erupted before he could stop himself.

With the smile still remaining, Remus said quietly, "Your father told you about his run through the Forest, did he?" Remus asked, mildly amused. The twins nodded, and their uncle grinned, ear to ear, "I suppose you won't be attending any un-chaperoned outings into the Forest..." Both twins shook their heads vehemently. "How about a chaperoned one?" Amazement overtook their features as shock settled in.

* * *

Inside the Forbidden Forest, standing beside Remus Lupin, Lara felt invincible, but Luke shook like he was standing before Voldemort himself. Lara had never understood her brother's supreme fear of the unknown, nor did she share it. It must have come from her mother's side, because Kalli always said that Lara's tendency to be like her father would get her in trouble some day. Now, as she stood beside Remus, every ounce of her body and soul wanting to run into the woods in search of all the magic it held, she finally understood the meaning of her mother's words.

They began into the Forest, each person holding their breath, all for different reasons. Remus turned to make sure no one in the school yard could see them, then bent to inspect the grass at their feet. Ducking down beside him, Lara inspected the grass. He half smiled at her, then said, "You see this piece of grass that's smudged to the left?" She nodded silently, staring right at it. "This indicates that a little girl ran through here recently. She was heading north, see, another one." He squatted back down, and flicked the grass. "By the looks of this, it seems she was chasing something. A butterfly perhaps." Luke glanced ahead, into the impending darkness. "I think I know who might have seen her," Remus finished, viewing the trees to his left.

Following his gaze, Lara thought she glimpsed something behind a tree. Staring even harder at it, she found herself face to torso with a centaur. "Remus," he said, stepping from behind the tree, his black body dappled with flecks of gray, same as his hair. "It's been a long time, friend," he finished.

Remus nodded, walking forward to accept his hand. "Yes, Ryu," Remus replied, bowing gratefully. "It has. But now is not the time to reminisce. My niece has gone missing, and I had hoped that someone had seen her."

"Not young Kalli," Ryu responded, confused. "She must be thirty by now." His dark eyes reflected a bit of age, but not so old. "I am only three years her senior," Ryu finished, flicking at flies with his tail.

Shaking his head, the wizard's eyes seemed to beam with joy at the mention of his niece. "No, not Kalli. Her youngest daughter, Kayla. These are her eldest children, Luke and Lara." Ryu seemed taken by surprise.

"She married, then?" Ryu questioned, obviously trying to combine Kalli's features with friends of theirs to make out Luke and Lara.

Lara stepped up to Remus as he nodded calmly, she wanted him to hurry up, not stand around and chit chat. "Yes, the young Potter boy." Lara tugged Remus' robe, and he nodded sharply. "Have you seen a small child out here between last night and now?"

After a long pause, Ryu met Remus' eyes once more. "My brothers may have. I'll ask them this evening. Meet me here tomorrow morning, just after dawn," he said. Remus nodded politely, watching the sun sink down onto the horizon. "You better leave, dear friend... The moon will peer over the land soon." Remus nodded, pointing Lara and Luke from the Forest, "Until tomorrow, friend, may steel keep you safe."

* * *

That night, sitting by the fire, Lara pulled a blanket tighter around her, and stared into the flames. A hand appeared over her shoulder, holding a handful of Nestle's Crunch bars. Turning to look up at the owner, she found Marina standing over her. "You look like you need the chocolate. It's Muggle food, but it's good. Promise," Marina said, plopping herself down in the chair beside Lara. "Your father wrote Dad," Marina waited for a response, the most she got was a nod, but she continued. "Mum wrote back, sent an owl and everything. Dad doesn't want anything to do with it. Grandma and Grandpa refuse to believe it, they want to know how it happened. Your dad wrote and told them that sometimes it just happens. And that Great Aunt Lily was a fine example of it."

Suddenly, Lara heard something that made her inhale sharply. A voice! So familiar! It had to be! Could it be? "Marina, do you hear that?" Lara whispered, her eyes darting back and forth sharply. Marina didn't move as Lara rose to her feet. "Come on!"

The duet moved up the stairs into the boys dorm, ducking into Luke's room. Lara grabbed the Invisibility Cloak from it's hiding spot under the bed mattress. Throwing it over them both, they ran from the common room, just as Luke and Conrad walked in. "You feel that?" Luke asked. Conrad shook his head, Luke stopped for a moment, then turned on his heel and darted back out the opening. Shortly after he burst through the hole, he crashed into nothing and went spiraling on the floor.

"Bloody hell!" Luke exclaimed, ripping the cloak from the girls. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, pulling his sister to her feet.

Abruptly, she slapped him across the face. "Bloody hell yourself, Luke James Potter!" she cried. "Give me the map!" He glared at her in denial. "Come on, I think I found Kay!"

His eyes widened in surprise and he wrenched the map from his robes. "How'd you do that?"

"She's in a secret passage that keeps switching," Lara replied, searching the map. "There. Right there!" Marina and Luke peered onto the sheet. Sure enough, Kayla Potter sat in a secret passage with no definite ending. "I heard her when the passageway switched to right behind the fireplace in the common room. She was singing "I'm a little tea pot" and bouncing a ball."

Luke had been watching the track, and he glanced at his sister with sadness in his eyes. "It doesn't seem to have a pattern. I think it's random," he said, pointing. "That's gonna make it hard to do. We're gonna have to make it to the passage before it switches again." Marina and Lara exchanged glances, then nodded at Luke. He tossed the cloak over them, and they charged down the hallway, toward the passageway on the map.

* * *

"What do you mean, it just moved!" Lara screamed at her brother. They stood in the northern tower, right before a picture. "We've been doing this for over six hours! Luke! We've got to find Kay!" she continued screaming, not caring who heard her.

Her brother glared at her, then turned back to the map. "It's moving again," he whispered. "Over toward Potions. Go!" The trio took off down the narrow stairs, out of breath and gasping for air. Lara's muscles screamed with agony, but she kept running.

Down toward Potions, across the hallways, darting back and forth, pulling at picture frames. "Here!" Marina whispered urgently, yanking open a painting. Both twins raced toward her, their eyes alight with glee. "Come on," she finished, ducking in. The wall closed silently behind him, and they found themselves submerged in darkness.

"Lumos!" Luke called, followed closely by Lara. Marina followed, uncertain, and all three lead themselves by their wandlights. "Lar, do you hear her?" Luke questioned, watching the tunnel ahead of them. Pausing for a moment, Lara listened carefully, straining her ears for her sister's soft voice. Nodding, she pointed forward, and the trio moved forward, into the gloom.

* * *

Sitting in the Headmaster's office, Harry and Kalli faced Willow. "And when Conrad awoke, Luke wasn't there yet. Daynia said that Lara and Marina hadn't shown up either. Harry, I honestly don't know what's happening." Kalli's tears fell against her lap, and she sobbed loudly. Again, Harry pulled his wife into a comforting embrace, but it wouldn't help, as he knew.

The door burst open, and Remus strolled in, his robes flying behind him. He went to Kalli instantly, putting his arm around her as well. "It's all right, darling. Willow, what do you know?"

"Well, Dad," the woman said, leaning on Harry's desk. "The Finnigan boy says that Luke came in the common room with him, then went flying out after he asked if he felt something. He hasn't been to his room, and neither have Lara and a girl named Marina Dursley," she explained. Remus' eyes snapped up at the name and Harry nodded.

Between sobs, Kalli spoke, her voice shaking with fear, "Someone's out to get us, Harry. They are..." Harry kissed Kalli's forehead, then ducked to look in her eyes. "My babies are missing, and I don't know why!"

"It's all right, nothing can get us here," Harry replied, "That's why Ron was so willing to let us come. Voldemort can't get in!"

Sobs racked Kalli's slender form as she grasped Harry and pulled him closer, "Wormtail can," she whispered. "What if he got to my children? What if he did something to them. I won't be able to live..."

Suddenly, there was banging on the door, and shouting from outside. Leaping to his feet, Harry flung open the door and raced down the corridor to the gargoyle. As it jumped open, he found himself face to face with at least ten students. Devia Malfoy stood in the front, shaking. "Voices!" she cried, throwing her arms around him, "Voices in the walls!"

Another child stepped up, more calm then Devia and quickly explained that they had heard voices in the wall on the way to breakfast. The other children attested to it, and Harry exchanged glances with Remus. Both men started toward the hallway the children were pointing to.

When they arrived, they too heard the voices. "Luke?" Harry called, "Lara?" The shouting grew louder.

* * *

"DAD!" Luke screamed into the wall, "DAD, THE PASSAGE STOPPED MOVING! WE'RE STUCK!" Kayla stood beside Lara, her hand wrapped in her older sister's, as she glanced up at her.

They heard a mumbling, then Harry called, "Move down the passageway, ten steps to the left!" The kids moved down ten steps, and Lara stepped in front of Kayla. Seconds later, the wall exploded, and Harry's head poked through. "Come here, quickly," he said, reaching out his hand.

Racing toward him, Luke handed him Kayla, then Marina, then Lara, finally, he jumped from the hole. Remus and Harry sealed the hole with a word, and then Harry spun on his children. "We're sorry," Lara said instantly, gripping her wand, which was still lit. "We found Kay though," she whispered, gripping her sister's hand.

Kalli burst through, snatching up her youngest, then falling to her knees to grip the twins. Unexpectedly, she pulled Marina into the hug, and sobbed heavily. Kayla had been fine when they found her, but now the waterworks opened and she began to sob. Clutching her teddy bear to her, her head on Kalli's shoulder, she sobbed uncontrollably.

Harry shooed all the children to their classes, then pried the children from Kalli, leaving her with Kayla. The twins couldn't tell if their father was angry or relieved, but they knew what would be coming. Entering into Harry's office, they found Hermione Weasley leaning on the desk. "I wrote Ron, and told him, expect a reply. I should go to my class," she said, as she passed by Remus she smiled at him, "Hey, Moony." Remus smiled.

"I should go to," Willow said, turning to face Remus. "Walk me to class, Dad?" she asked. He outstretched his arm, allowing her to loop hers through. "I'll see you at lunch, Kalli," Willow said, exiting. The door shut behind them

Harry sat down at his desk, his eyes denying them to see what he was thinking. "What you did was wrong," he began, staring at them evenly. "You used the cloak, snuck out, and went gallivanting around the castle in the middle of the night," Lara went to speak, but Harry's glare silenced her. "You will listen to me, young lady, do you understand?" Lara nodded silently, and Harry continued, "You risked your lives, and Marina's, when you could've just come found one of us." Kalli sat on the couch in the corner, checking every square inch of Kayla's body for harm. But Harry continued, "Unfortunately, your Mum was right, you're just like me, and you wanted to do this." A smile crept over Kalli's lips, and she wicked at her husband. "I will let this go this once, because you rescued your sister, but don't make me blow another hole in the school to rescue you."

All three children leapt up to embrace Harry, then Kalli, then Harry again. With a silly smile, Lara said, "I suppose we should get on to class, right, guys?" the other two nodded, smiling back.

"Not so fast, Marina, I'd like to speak to you a moment," Harry interjected. "You two go on, Marina will join you shortly." The twins left the room, silently, hoping Marina would be okay.

* * *

It wasn't until the end of Potions when she joined them, her face slightly downcast, her eyes clouded. Willow had been rambling about some weed in the forest, and Lara didn't want to lose her focus again. At the very end, Lara finally had the chance to ask Marina what Harry had wanted. "He said that Father wrote him, and Mum sent it through Owl Post. Basically Father said that if I came home this summer, I'd be kicked out of the house. He wants nothing to do with magic..." Marina trailed off, her eyes brimming with tears.

Luke's eyes clouded over, and the green dulled icily. "What'd Dad say he'd do?" Luke questioned.

"He's going to write to Father, and ask for him to send document stating that he gets custody, but I don't think Father will do it. He hates Uncle Harry," Marina finished.

The bell rang at that exact moment, and the students filed out. As they walked down the hall in silence, they heard Kayla singing in the distance. "I'm a little tea pot, short and stout, here is my handle, here is my spout..."