Dark Children

Chapter 3

"Mom! In here!" Des called causing Harry to jump. A pretty woman with light blonde hair stepped into the room with a stiff looking man with glasses behind her.

"Desdemona," the woman said. "You're back. Where's Harry?" Des motioned for Harry to stand so he scrambled up after her. The woman looked over at him with tears in her eyes. "I'm Drusilla. You have Lily's eyes and you look so much like James," she said. They must have been close. Why does everyone say that? Harry shifted uncomfortably on his feet and Des looked over at him worriedly.

"Shall we get started?" the man behind her asked.

"Oh, yes. This is Franz," Drusilla said clapping her hands together. Des smiled over at Harry as they followed Drusilla out of the room.

"You okay?" Des asked Harry. He nodded reassuringly and looked up at Franz as he began to talk.

"So, which room do we want to do first?" Franz asked looking at all of them.

"Damien, why don't you start?" Drusilla said motioning for him to come forward. He sighed and rolled his eyes, walking up to Franz.

"My room is the first one on the right up the stairs," Damien said obviously bored. "I want it to be all black...possibly a little green. A place where I can practice my guitar and a desk for writing music. My bathroom also black, but I will allow some green as before." Franz looked up from his quick notes.

"Is that all?" he asked. Damien nodded and Franz went up the stairs to the room Damien had indicated. Everyone followed and by the time they all got to Damien's room, it was finished.

"Does this please you?" Franz asked Damien. Damien looked around his room once then nodded.

"Thanks," Damien said walked in his room and shut the door. Harry looked over at Hades questioningly.

"He likes to be alone. He only really talks to Des," Hades informed Harry. "We don't get it either. They just have a bond no one can break." Harry nodded. Desdemona was easy to get along with and already was prying into his heart.

"Next?" Franz asked impatiently.

"Desdemona," Drusilla said pushing her forward. Des smiled sweetly at Franz then launched into her room.

"I want everything in blue with a mural of "Starry Night" on the wall next to my bed. I will make an exception for the use of black, but mostly I want dark blues. I will also need a place for my keyboard and a place to write music. I need a couch because usually people crash in my room and sleeping on the floor when you're drunk is not comfortable," she said glaring at Hades, who smiled sheepishly. "Bathroom is to be themed in frogs. Not ducks. Frogs." Des said happily. Franz smiled and nodded.

"Good choice with that 'Starry Night' mural," Franz said walking into Des' room, down the hall from Damien's, "One of my favorite paintings."

"Oh," Des said causing everyone to jump. They all turned to her. "If it isn't that much trouble, can I have a balcony overlooking the pond in back?" Drusilla laughed and Franz soon followed.

"Of course, dear," Drusilla said motioning for Franz to continue with his work.

"So, Harry," Des said turning to her cousin. "What are you going to do to your room?" Harry looked surprised. He didn't know what he wanted to do. What had he always wanted?

"Where is my room?" Harry asked Des. She pointed to the one right across from hers. "What should I do?"

"Well what do you like?" Des asked him smiling up at him. Harry thought. What was the one thing that he loved?

"Quidditch," Harry said simply. Des let out a little laugh.

"Well just tell Franz you want a Quidditch related theme," Des said.

"What color?" Harry thought out loud, "Green?" Harry suggested looking at his cousin hopefully.

"Okay. That's what you tell him. You'll probably be next since you're right here," Des said matter-of-factly. "Just because Mom and Lucifera's rooms are on the middle floor and Hades is in the basement."

"Dessie," Hades said. "Look at your room!" Des and Harry both turned to look at Des' room even Damien poked his head out of his room. It was exactly what Des had wanted. Midnight blue paint covered the walls and ceiling all except the wall next to Des' queen sized bed which was an exact copy of "Starry Night". Franz seemed to want to stick to the theme of Starry Night because the ceiling was black with tiny silver stars and a huge moon over the bed painted on. Also, in the corner next to what had to be the balcony hung a little tiny stars and moons as a kind of wind chime. Des smiled happily and went to the door on the right, which had to be the bathroom, and opened the door. The bathroom had tiny cartoon frogs on the curtains, towels, and various bathroom items. Des turned to everyone who was standing in the doorway and smiled prettily. Harry swore the whole room lit up when she smiled. He had never been around such a happy person. Des flung herself on Franz.

"Thank you, Franz. I love it," she told him as she hugged him. He smiled, despite his snobbish ways, then quickly cleared his throat, remembering himself. Des pulled back smiling still.

"Next?" Franz said. smiling despite himself.

"Harry, why don't you go next?" Drusilla said smiling at him. Harry stepped towards his room.

"Um... er... Could I have the room themed in Quidditch?" Harry asked although he already knew the answer. Franz nodded his head. "In...in dark greens and some black. The bathroom, well, you can pick Franz. Do whatever you want. Surprise me. Just don't make it too girlish." Franz laughed at this and Des smiled over at Harry.

"Thank you," Franz said stepping into the room. Harry looked over at Des who was looking worriedly at Damien's door.

"So, Harry," Hades started. "You like Quidditch?"

"Yeah," Harry said grinning.

"Cool," Hades went on, "What position do you play?"

"Seeker," Harry told him. Hades nodded knowingly and Des finally turned to walk towards Damien's room. She smiled back at both of them before she knocked on the door. It opened slightly and she walked in. Harry looked back over at Hades.

"It's always like that," he told Harry. "You just have to get used to it. If she asks him anything, he'll do it," Hades said. "She's his best friend since we never really got any. Well, unless you count Josh. He should be here any minute.

Downstairs, the doorbell rang. Harry looked at Hades. "Who's Josh?" Harry asked curiously.

"His family went into hiding with us," Hades said. "They knew too much about everything...also, my parents and his parents were friends. Josh is 15, just like Damien, and they have been friends forever. It's kind of funny, actually!" Hades said laughing, "Josh is hot for Dessie and she has no clue at all." Harry smiled slightly

"Thanks Jay!" a male voice called as he reached the top floor. He turned the corner and walked towards the family. He had honey blonde hair that fell in his face and icy blue eyes.

"Hey Hades! Oh, and you must be Harry!" the boy said walking up to them. "Josh Gilbert." Harry shook his outstretched hand.

"Harry Potter," Harry said grinning slightly as Des walked out of Damien's room.

"Hey Josh," Des said smiling at the boy who smiled goofily at her.

"'Lo Desdemona," he said in a daze. Des just smiled.

"Damien is in there," she said pointing to Damien's bedroom.

"Thanks," Josh said not taking his eyes off of Des and walking into Damien's door before opening it.

"Hey Josh!" Damien called through the door. Josh laughed hurriedly and rushed into the room.

"He's acting odd," Des commented as Franz walked out of Harry's room. Harry and Hades just shared a knowing grin then headed into Harry's newly finished room. Harry stared around. Dark green paint plastered the walls. Snitches and brooms were stenciled on after the paint. Posters of England and Ireland Quidditch teams hung on the wall and a huge picture of Victor Krum. Harry smiled in wonder. He actually had a room that was given to him as his. A permanent room. He headed towards the door that led to the bathroom. Everything was done in dark blues like Des' room but had a kind of nautical theme to it. Harry nodded in approval. This was starting to look up for him. Someone had shone some light in his direction. Finally....

Chapter 4

The rest of the house was finished and Des, Harry, Hades, and Drusilla were all in the new furnished parlor. Damien and Josh had yet to come out of Damien's room.

"This is our plans for this week," Drusilla said after awhile. "Tomorrow our new neighbors are coming over at noon. We will probably swim for awhile then all change for dinner. That should be fun. Next Friday, we are all invited to the Malfoy Mansion for one of Lucius' parties. They are supposed to be very extravagant. So dress clothes will be needed. Harry dear do you need dress clothes?" Harry nodded numbly. He was going to have to suffer through a Malfoy-filled night. Oh well, maybe he would see Ron there and tell him the good news. The Weasleys and the Malfoys might not have liked each other, but the Malfoys would never give up a chance to rub their wealth in the Weasley's faces. "Ok, dear, we'll go on Thursday to get you some dress clothes. How do you think Damien is on dress clothes, Desdemona?" Drusilla said facing Des.

"I'm fine. Can Josh come?" Damien asked coming into the parlor with Josh not far behind.

"Yes, of course," Drusilla said. "His parents are invited too." Damien lay down next to Des on the floor. Josh sat on Damien's other side.

"I can take Harry to get dress clothes since I have to get supplies and clothes myself," Hades offered.

"That would be nice dear," Drusilla said smiling over at her eldest son. Just then the door slammed and a petite woman about 22 strolled in. Her hair was blonde and pulled back in a tight bun but several hairs had pulled loose and fell in ringlets around her face. She looked very cross and strict. She reminded Harry a lot of Percy Weasley.

"Hello Lucifera!" Des said from the ground nudging Damien who was about to laugh. "How was work?" Des couldn't control the giggles that escaped her and Damien tried hard to suppress his. Hades was even biting his cheeks.

"Shut up Des! I know it was you or Damien!" Lucifera screamed at her. Des just let out another peal of laughter and Damien finally burst. Harry just looked around confused. The he saw it. A badge was on the woman's robes. It read:

My Head May Be Big

But Look At My Butt!

"Desdemona Lily Potter!" Drusilla let out suppressing a smile. "You didn't?!" Des just looked up at her mother with amusement in her eyes and an innocent smiled on her face. Damien had the same _expression and Harry was reminded so much of the Weasley twins.

"On your sister's first day at the ministry?" Damien snorted and hurriedly covered it up with a cough. Des patted him on the back making Josh laugh. Lucifera glared at all of them then noticed Harry.

"Hello, cousin Harry," she said smiling importantly. Harry rose to his feet to shake his cousin's hand. "I'm Lucifera," she told him. "I'm sorry for the bad influence that my sister and brother have put on. I hope this doesn't degrade your image of me." Harry just smiled.

"Of course not," he said winking at Des, who was shaking with silent laughter.

"I think, I'll go to bed," Lucifera announced to the room and turned on her heel and headed straight out the double oak doors. Not till Lucifera had shut her door completely did Damien and Des let their laughter out, falling all over each other clutching their stomachs.

"That wasn't very nice, Desdemona," Drusilla said breaking into a smile, "But extremely funny," she finished letting out a little giggle. Hades grinned over at Harry who was smiling at his new found family.