Destination Unknown

Chapter 4

July 31^st, 2009

"Go, Cory!" shouted Ace, cheering her brother.

"Hey, that's not fair, Ace! You cheer for me, too!" Harry yelled from mid-air. Harry and Cory were playing Quidditch.

"No," pouted Ace, "Cory promised me a chocolate frog. You didn't!"

"I'll give you two," Harry yelled.

"Go Harry!" Ace screamed.

"Hey! That's cheating, Ace!" Cory shouted, "You're a bad, greedy girl!"

Ace started crying. Her brothers flew down immediately. They loved their almost three-year-old little sister very much, and hated it when she cried.

"Sorry, Ace, I didn't mean that. You're a nice, sweet girl," said Cory.

Ace howled louder and ran to her mother. The seven year old brothers shrugged.

"You shouldn't have said that," Harry said reproachfully.

"I know...but she was being greedy," Cory replied.

"I know. Let's hope Mum doesn't scold you on our birthday."

"Yeah," said Cory sincerely.

Ace came out with Hermione.

"What have you been doing?" Hermione asked them sternly. Harry related the entire incident to her. Hermione turned to her daughter.

"Ace, honey, you should not support your brothers when they promise you a chocolate frog. You should support them all the time," she said patiently.

"Why?" Ace asked, pouting.

"Because we are a family. And because they love you, dear."

"You're not going to scold Cory for calling me bad and greedy?"

"Cory, Harry, you should not bribe your sister. Now, Ace, Cory has already apologized to you. You should say sorry to him, too."

"I won't," said Ace and crossed her arms defiantly.

"Ace," said Hermione in a warning tone, "if you don't say sorry to your brothers, we won't take you to Diagon Alley today."

Ace burst into tears. "I want to go too!" she cried.

"Then say sorry," said Hermione curtly, "hurry up, Ace."

"Sorry," said Ace tearfully. The two brothers put their arms around her shoulders.

"It's all right, Ace," said Harry.

"Would you like to help us to open our presents?" asked Cory.

Ace brightened up immediately. The three of them went in to find the table laden with gifts, as usual on their birthdays. Their breakfast grew cold by the time they finished unpacking their gifts, and the House-elves had to heat the food again.

By the time Harry and Cory dressed up in their new robes, Draco arrived from the Ministry, ready for their trip to Diagon Alley.

They had a magnificent lunch at the Leaky Cauldron and then had ice creams at Florean's.

"Is there a special reason we're here, Dad?" Harry asked when they were walking down the Alley.

Draco nodded.

"We're here to get your birthday presents," he said.

"But we got so many in the morning," said Cory.

"You mother and I have decided that it is time for you two to have an owl each. You have friends, and it is time that you learnt to write letters."

"Cool!" the boys cried.

Fifteen minutes later, the two boys were walking out of the Owl Emporium with a cage each in their hands. Harry got a Snowy owl while Cory had an Eagle owl. Ace was hopping along, thinking of names for the birds, for her brothers had promised to let her name them.

"Artemis and Perseus!" she exclaimed suddenly.

"Uh?" said Harry.

Ace shook her head. She poked him and said, "Your owl is a girl she's Artemis. Cory's owl is a boy. He's Perseus."

"Ok," said Harry.

"Our children seem to have an innate capability of exotic names," said Hermione to Draco.

"They're Malfoys," said Draco proudly.

They returned to the Manor to get ready for the birthday party. Pretty soon, the Hall was filled with guests. The two birthday boys enjoyed their party tremendously. They enjoyed meeting all the Weasley children. There were so many of them! And Sylvia was one of their very good friends, even though she was a girl. Also the Longbottoms. Douglas was also one of their best friends. Rachel Longbottom was the best friend of Athena.