Luxor, Egypt - August 18, 2003
Monday morning most of the visitors left together. Since Remus had arranged for a mass portkey from Gringotts, they would go directly to the bank. Percy had been thrilled that they wouldn't have to wait at the international floo terminal,. He had been worried that that would make him late for work.
It had been a sad goodbye for everyone. The Weasley boys were sad that they were once again being separated. While the others, were both sad and happy about going home. They would miss Egypt, but they were also slightly homesick.
It was well after lunch when Molly arrived with the kids. Almost as soon as they arrived, they all started to complain about the heat. Charlie quickly cast cooling charms on them to get them to be quiet.
"Where is Harry?" Ginny asked hopefully as she looked around.
"What?" Charlie asked, although he knew the answer. Remus had told him all about the conversation he and Frank ensured Molly and his younger siblings would hear.
He knew that they had waited until the end of the weekend since they believed this was when Hadrian and his family would be arriving. It took a fair bit of effort to keep himself from laughing as they had already missed their chance.
"Nothing Charlie. Ron and Ginny had just heard that one of their friends would be coming here this week." Molly said. She didn't want anyone to know that the only reason the three of them were wasting their time going to visit Bill was because Harry Potter was going to be there.
"Well I don't know what you're on about, but the next group of visitors will be arriving on Wednesday." Charlie said, telling the complete truth. "Come on, I'll show you the camp where we've been staying.
Bill's already back at work, you missed seeing him during lunch, and Dad and Uncles Fabian and Gideon went with him."
Charlie lead the others into the camp.
"Is this it?" Molly asked in a disgusted voice. All she saw was a bunch of boring tents and sand. This was not someplace she would ever want to visit.
"For camp, yes. But there are plenty of different sights that are open to the public that we have been visiting." Charlie told them as he led them to their tent. "Now, there are only two empty rooms in the tent so you will have to decide who sleeps where. One of the rooms is set up with two beds for whoever decides to share. The open rooms have their doors open so you can just go and pick. With that said, I'm going to head off to find dad."
Molly watched as Charlie strolled off like he didn't have a care in the world before she lead her babies into the tent. Looking around, she saw that, like Charlie had said, there were two open doors leading into bedrooms, and three closed doors, each with a name tag on who's room they were. Both Arthur and Charlie had their own rooms while Fabian and Gideon were sharing.
The first thing she did was try to see if she could get into any of the claimed rooms, but they were magically sealed. Looking back at her babies, she saw that they were in the middle of an argument that was slowly getting louder.
They both wanted the single room.
"What's wrong my dears?" Molly asked, interrupting the argument.
"I should get the single room, I'm older." Ron said angrily, shooting his sister a mean look.
"You're just a whiny brat, I deserve that room. Muuum, tell him. I get the room." Ginny whined.
"Oh, I'm the whiny brat. Look at yourself. Crying to mum because you know that room should be mine. You're nothing but a baby that knows she will never be as good as me." Ron shouted back at his sister.
"I'm not a baby, that's you, and everyone knows it. You're just jealous that I'm so much better than you and that Harry will want to spend all his time with me."
"No he won't. Harry wouldn't want to spend his time with you, he doesn't even talk to you at school. He will spend his time with me. We're gonna play quidditch and explore the tombs together, we don't need a whiny little brat following us around.
Tell her mum. She can't follow Harry and me around. I get the single room so that Harry can come and hang out with me in there so we don't have to deal with Ginny."
"NOOOOO." Ginny screamed at her brother before turning to her mother. "I get the single room. And Harry is going to spend his time with me. Tell him mummy. I'm going to be Lady Potter, so I should get it."
Molly just stared open mouthed at her babies. She had never seen them like this. Sure, they fought like any siblings did, but she had never seen them like this. She really didn't understand where this behaviour was coming from.
What was she supposed to do now? She wanted to give both of her babies what they wanted, but she couldn't just make another room for one of them. She herself also didn't exactly want to share her room with either of her babies. If she had to share with anyone, she would prefer it to be Arthur.
She was going to have to take a stand. "That is enough. You two are going to stop this fighting right now. Since you are both misbehaving I will be taking the single room, and you two will be sharing with each other.
As for Harry, you are going to have to share him, just like the room. Ginny, Ron is going to want some time alone with his friend, you will give it to them. Ron, Ginny and Harry are also going to want some alone time together, you will give it to them.
When Harry comes over to stay with us in the tent, he will share his room with both of you."
Both Ron and Ginny just glared at their mother. She had never treated them like this, the only time she had ever been mean was when she had forced them to study last year, and she was doing it again this year, but she wasn't making them work as hard this year.
Ignoring what she said, they both made a dash for the room to get their first. Ron grabbed Ginny by the hair when she got in front of him and pulled her back. When Ron got in front of her, Ginny was furious and jumped on his back, making them both fall to the floor.
Molly was stunned. What was going on with her babies, they were acting like brats. With a few quick spells she had everything settled. Ron and Ginny were on opposite sides of the tent. Their luggage was moving into the double room, and the single room was closed and sealed, her name shining on the door.
"Muuum!" Both children yelled at the same time.
"That's my room. Get your stuff out." Ron stomped his foot as he demanded his mum give him what he wanted.
"No, it's my room. You can share with Ron. I hate you. Give me my room back. I want it, I want it, I want it." Ginny started demanding.
Molly didn't know what to do. She didn't want to be mean to her babies, she especially didn't want to hear Ginny say she hated her. But what else could she do?
"Enough, both of you. You will be sharing the room and that is final." Molly turned away so she wouldn't have to see how upset her babies were. She was going to have to see if there was anything she could do to get them what they wanted.
Having to share their room with each other would be their punishment for behaving like they were, but she would see if she could arrange for them to get their own rooms, that would make them love her again. Maybe she would just make Charlie stay in with Arthur, or move over to Bill's tent. Then she could give his room to one of her babies. They deserved it more anyway, Charlie really didn't need to stay in with them, he had a job, surely he could afford to buy his own tent.
For the rest of the afternoon, neither Ron or Ginny would even look at their mum. She was being so mean to them. They both knew that they deserved their own room, she was just being selfish.
Luxor, Egypt - August 20, 2003
On Wednesday afternoon, when the next group of visitors were set to arrive, Molly, Ron, and Ginny were ready. Molly had made a large lunch so she could invite Harry over. Ron had all his quidditch stuff set out so that he and Harry could go and play as soon as lunch was over. And Ginny was perfectly dressed.
Since it was so hot, Ginny was in a short little white dress. Her hair was pinned back and out of her face. And, she had even convinced her mum to let her wear some mascara and sparkly eyeshadow and lip gloss. She looked very mature for her age to her own mind. There was no way her Harry would be able to deny her anything.
When the group of new arrivals showed up, the three of them looked over everyone. But none of them could see the signature messy dark hair that Harry was known for.
He wasn't there.
All three of them made their way back to the camp in a huff. Harry was late, and they had all gotten ready and made sure that they were early. He was so rude to leave them waiting like that.
Storming into the tent, they looked around at all the others that were sitting inside to avoid the heat of the day. They were each holding a falafel pita.
Molly had made a bunch of shepherd's pies, but they all just said that they were to heavy to eat on a hot day like this and had instead made their own food. It infuriated Molly even more to see them all happily eating food that she hadn't made, they just didn't know how to appreciate good food. She really didn't like any of the local food.
"What's wrong now?" Bill sighed.
The past few days had been hard on everyone. Ron and Ginny had been complete brats to everyone because they were angry that they were being forced to share a room.
Molly had repeatedly tried to force Charlie or Arthur to give up their room, but they had both stood their ground. They weren't about to give in to the bratty behaviour of the children or the demanding of Molly. Arthur just told Molly that if they had wanted first choice of rooms then they should have come with them to begin with so they could pick. Since they were later than the others, they got what was left.
Then, all three of them spent their time complaining almost constantly about everything else. It was to hot. It was to dry. There were too many tombs to see. They couldn't go into certain tombs. They wanted things from inside the tombs and been told no. They weren't allowed to touch things in the tombs.
Nothing seemed to make them happy unless they were complaining and making everyone else miserable.
"Harry is late." Ginny whined as Ron threw himself down at the table and started stuffing his face.
"Who?" Both Fabian and Gideon asked at the same time. In truth, they knew exactly who she was referring too, but they also knew that wasn't his name. It gave them a little joy to bug her and the others for using the wrong name.
"Harry Potter, duh." Ginny gave her uncles a condescending look. She really didn't like them. She knew from what her mother said, they had plenty of money, but they never bought her anything she wanted. They always just told her that she had to go and ask her parents or earn the money herself. All she had wanted was a new party dress and broom, and maybe some sweets and an owl.
"I think you mean," Fabian started.
"Hadrian Potter-Black." Gideon finished.
Ginny just rolled her eyes.
"What made you think he would be here today?" Charlie asked.
"Because you said he would be." Molly told Charlie. She was getting annoyed at everyone again.
"No I didn't." Charlie challenged back. He was getting angry as he saw the hurt look in his dad's eyes. He was figuring out that they had only come on this vacation because they believed that Hadrian was going to be there.
"Yes, you did. You told us that he would be arriving today." Molly huffed.
"No, I said the next group of visitors would be here today. I never said Hadrian would be amongst them." Charlie gave a slight smile.
"Where did you get the idea that Hadrian would be coming here Molly?" Arthur asked, his voice hard.
"I heard Remus and Frank saying that they would be here this week." Molly didn't notice Arthur's tone.
"Are you saying that the only reason you three bothered to come on a family vacation was because you thought the teenage boy the three of you are stalking would be here?" Arthur was devastated. This was supposed to be a chance to repair the damaged relationship between him and his youngest two, not just another excuse to stalk a teenager.
"We aren't stalking him." Ron tried to say, but his mouth was so full it was unintelligible.
"Harry is our friend. We just wanted to spend some time with him. Those people he's forced to live with won't let him come and visit us." Ginny whined.
"His name," Gideon started this time.
"Is Hadrian." Fabian said.
"And just how would you know anything about him?" Molly looked to her brothers. "You've never even seen the boy."
"We know his name," Gideon continued.
"Because that was how he introduced himself,"
"When he visited the hospital during the Yule break."
"Harry came to the hospital over Christmas?" Molly shrieked. "Why weren't we told."
"Hadrian came to the hospital to visit someone." Arthur said in an angry voice. "And, you weren't told, because it had nothing to do with you. But back to what we were talking about.
Remus, Sirius, Severus, and Sebastian are Hadrian's family, not just some random people. They are not keeping him away from you, they are spending their holiday with their family. If Hadrian really wanted to come to the Burrow, they wouldn't stop him. He is not coming over, because he prefers to spend his summer with his family."
"And just how would you know that?" Molly glared at Arthur.
"Simple, Hadrian told us he was happily spending the summer with his family." Charlie smiled at the others. "When he and I talked, he explained that they had originally planned on coming here this week, but because both Narcissa Malfoy and Alice Longbottom were planning to volunteer at Sea Cliff House, they rescheduled.
Hadrian, his family, and closest friends were all here last week. They all left Monday morning. Percy and the twins actually left with them.
But, don't worry. Hadrian seemed perfectly happy. His family wasn't holding him prisoner or anything. He had a great deal of fun with his friends and family. He even went with Percy, the twins, and I when we went into the city for a few hours."
"Why didn't he wait for me?" Ginny whined as she started to sob dramatically. Why would her Harry have left without even stopping to greet her properly. She had come all this way for him, and he hadn't even bothered to wait a few hours for her.
"Why didn't you tell me he was here?" Molly demanded.
"Because it didn't matter." Arthur sighed. "This is a family vacation. It is about being with your family. Not stalking a young boy to a different country."
"We are not stalking him." Ron argued again. Harry was his best friend, what about that didn't his father understand.
"That's good to hear." Arthur said. "Since you aren't stalking him, then there is no issue. You are here for your family. It doesn't matter who was here last week, or who will be here next week, all that matters is that we are here now."
Molly just huffed. Ron went back to eating, and Ginny grabbed her own plate.
Luxor, Egypt - August 22, 2003
After finishing work, Percy and the twins returned to Egypt. This week had been oddly quiet at the Burrow. They didn't miss Molly, Ron, and Ginny's whining, but they did miss the rest of the family.
The twins stopped by Peverell Manor to say a quick goodbye to Hadrian after work, and off they went, back to Egypt. They didn't like being away from him, but they also knew that their dads needed them. Hadrian had encouraged them to go and be their for their family, that just made them love him more.
When they arrived at camp, the only people they found was their fathers and Charlie. Bill was still working in one of the closed off tombs. And Molly and the two youngest had gone into town to, 'get back to civilization' in their words.
"Hello."
"Hello."
"Hello." Fred and George said. They were excited to see their fathers again.
"Hello boys." Arthur smiled at his twins. They really did remind him of what Fabian and Gideon were like when they were younger.
"Hi dad. Don't mind the twins. We just came from visiting Hadrian, I think their still over excited from seeing their crush." Percy said, looking at the twins. They didn't look embarrassed at all, if anything, Percy thought they looked smug.
"I understand." Arthur said as he smiled at the 15 year old boys. He could only attempt to understand young love, since he couldn't remember experiencing it himself. "Welcome back boys. Let's try to have fun this weekend."
The rest of the evening was spent having fun for the boys. That was until Molly and the youngest two returned. After almost a full week of being in the country, they still hadn't acclimatized to it. They were all still complaining about the heat and almost everything else around them.
"What are you three doing back?" Ron asked as he looked at his older brothers.
"Well, this is a family vacation." Percy said.
"We came back," Fred said.
"To visit our family." George said.
"And we are glad," Fabian said.
"That you did." Gideon grinned at his nephews. They were just so much fun sometimes, or, all the time.
"And just where will you three be staying while you're here? We really don't have room." Molly asked. She really didn't think that Ron or Ginny would be willing to share their room with anyone else.
"We borrowed,"
"A tent from Remus." Fred and George said. In truth, Fred and George had purchased a basic three person tent. There were two bedrooms, a kitchen dining room, a bathroom, and a living room. It wasn't top of the line, or even close to it, but it would do for them.
"And just why do you three know Remus well enough that he would loan you a tent?" Molly asked the twins.
"He's our,"
"Boss." They responded.
"Remus manages the shop where the twins work." Arthur told Molly.
"You work for that man?" Molly didn't like that. Remus had already proven himself to be nothing but another dark creature, she didn't like her twins working for him.
"Yes." The twins said as one.
"Good, then Percy can share a room with Charlie and then I can have my own room." Ron said. He was glad they had a second tent now. He could move into the other tent and then he wouldn't have to deal with any of his stupid parents stupid rules.
"No." Percy said. "The tent we have only has two rooms. And Fred and George are taking one, and I'm taking the other. Charlie is just fine in the room he already has."
"But I want the room. Mum, tell them. I get the room."
Before Molly could say anything Arthur stepped in. "No, Ron. There's no point in switching rooms now. We are only going to be here for two more nights, we are going home Sunday evening. The twins and Percy will stay in the tent they borrowed, and you will stay in our tent."
Ron frowned, but for once, he didn't immediately cry to his mother. Over the past few days his older brothers, Bill and Charlie, had kept referring to him as a baby whenever he cried for his mother when he was denied what he wanted. He didn't want to have them do that in front of the twins because he knew they would never stop doing it. Instead, he just settled with glaring at his brothers and father.
In spite of Ron and Ginny being unhappy about the rooming issues, everyone managed to have fun during the rest of the weekend. Sometimes, when they momentarily forgot why they were mad, even Ron and Ginny started to enjoy themselves.
Since they had already visited most of the tombs in the area, and Bill had the weekend off, Bill took everyone around to show them other sites all over the country. It ended up being a lot of fun, and even educational.
The Burrow - August 25, 2003
With the end of their vacation, Molly knew that she needed to do something. Harry needed to be removed from Sirius and Remus's custody. They were keeping him from being friends with her babies, and stopping him from becoming the hero he was meant to be.
And, since no one else seemed to be doing anything, it was up to her.
It had been Charlie that had given her the idea. He had mentioned the Sea Cliff House. She thought it was absolutely ridiculous that those people that ran that place thought it was ok to expose those children to the likes of a Malfoy, but there was nothing she could do for those children. But, it did give her a starting point.
Sitting down at the table, Molly wrote out an anonymous report of child abuse on Remus. If the Department of Child Welfare was even slightly good at their jobs, she was sure they would find a lot of reasons to remove Harry from that house.
Once he was removed, she would apply for custody. She was sure, given her status as a good light witch, and her connection to Albus Dumbledore, she would quickly be granted it.
She was going to write up abuse accusations against Remus, Sirius, Severus, and Sebastian everyday until Harry was saved from them. She just needed to make sure that no one knew it was her, she was going to have to wait until after she had custody to let anyone know that it was her that saved Harry. The last thing she needed was Sebastian Prince-Peverell knowing, he would make her life difficult, and both Severus and Sirius would take it out on her babies when they went back to school.
Malfoy Manor - August 30, 2003
This year the end of summer party was being held at the Malfoys. Even though it was at a different house, the same people were invited, but happily, both the Prewett twins as well as Marlene were there too.
Just after arriving, Marlene took Hadrian, Bill and Remus aside and warned them to keep their mouths shut. She had stared each of them down for a moment before rejoining her husband over with some of the other adults.
Both Hadrian and Remus had chuckled, but Bill was more than a little confused.
"What was that about?" Bill looked between Remus and Hadrian.
Remus smiled and looked to Hadrian, he knew more about this from Bill's perspective. "Bill, look at Marlene and turn on your magic sight."
Bill did as he was told and pushed his magic into his eyes. Looking at Marlene, Bill could see two different kinds of magic. One, was a calm blueish colour, but the smaller of the two was a mix of swirling colours. Still not completely understanding, Bill looked back at Hadrian.
Bill took a step back as he gasped in pain, his hands shooting up to cover his eyes. Pulling his magic back, he blinked away the bright spots from his vision. In the moment he had looked at Hadrian, he had seen a blinding swirl of colours.
"Why does Marlene have two cores?" Both Hadrian and Remus just looked at Bill, both raised an eyebrow. Then Bill put it together. "Oh. Oh. Wow. Ok, she doesn't want us to spoil the surprise."
Bill smiled. He was happy for Marlene and Regulus. After everything they had been through in the last decade, they deserved some good in their life. And what would be better than starting a family.
"But, why is the babies magic swirling like that? On that note, why does your magic swirl too, Hadrian?" Bill asked.
"It's the Black family gift." Remus told him with a laugh. He had been able to smell that Marlene was expecting as soon as she had come up to them. Like Bill, he was happy for her and Reg. He knew that Reg had been wanting to be a father for a while now.
Bill looked to Hadrian, just to watch as Hadrians dark hair slowly shifted to Malfoy blond before fading back to his natural black.
"You're a metamorphmagus." Bill was slightly stunned, he hadn't even known. "How did you get the gift. I thought the gene was passed down through the Black family?"
"It is." Hadrian smiled. "I think I got it because of two different things. My grandmother, Dorea, was a Black, and it also might have come from when Sirius blood adopted me when I was a baby."
Bill nodded. He was slightly surprise that Hadrian was a metamorphmagus and he hadn't known, but it did make sense to keep it a secret. It was the perfect way for him to disappear if he was ever in danger. The fewer people that knew the better.
The three males all smiled at each other before they went their separate ways. Remus went over to head off his troublesome daughters and their friends who were slowly sneaking off towards the hedge maze. Bill went over to where his fathers were grabbing a drink. And Hadrian returned to his place between the twins.
When everyone sat down to a late lunch, Marlene and Regulus happily informed everyone else. Like Hadrian, Bill, and Remus, everyone else was just as excited.
"What are you three grinning at?" Regulus asked when he saw the looks the three other men were sharing.
"Oh, nothing." Remus smiled. "Just thinking about how much fun you're gonna have with this little one."
"What do you know that we don't?" Marlene gave Remus a hard look.
While Marlene was looking at Remus, Regulus watched as his eyes flicked over to Bill, and then Hadrian. "What do you two see? Please, tell me it's not twins. I don't know if this family will survive another set of twins."
"Hey!" Came the voices of the multiple sets of twins sitting at the table.
"No, it's not twins." Bill smiled.
"Then what is it. Can you tell the babies gender or something?" Marlene was confused by the smiles, but she knew that she couldn't trust them.
"No, magic is magic, regardless of gender." Hadrian said. "Let's just say… That little one is already taking after the Black side of the family."
It took Regulus only a moment. "Not another metamorphmagus?"
Bill and Hadrian just looked at him and smirked.
"What is that, three in this generation. The Black family gift has been dormant for over 4 generations, and now we have three in one generation?" Marlene sighed.
"Actually," Sirius looked at his sister-in-law, "this little one brings us up to five."
"Five?" Arthur asked, looking around the table.
"Well, we of course have the twins, Athena, and Ares. Then their is Andromeda's daughter, Nymphadora. Although, she only has a partial form. I think it is because Andy was disowned while she was pregnant." Sirius said.
"What do you mean, partial form?" Charlie asked. "I went to school with her, she was able to change herself."
"I've seen Nymphadora shift, she struggles with it and it causes her a little pain, she is also extremely clumsy, like her body can't accept itself. You've seen the twins, changing themselves is as easy as breathing for them. Their magic responds instinctively to what they want." Sirius explained.
"With the baby, that's four. So who's number five?" Marlene asked.
Instead of answering, Sirius looked to Hadrian. Once everyone turned to him, Hadrian started shifting the colour of his hair like he had done earlier. While most had known, a few, like Arthur, the Prewett twins, and Marlene hadn't even had a clue about Hadrians abilities.
"You're a metamorphmagus?" Arthur gasped. "Why don't more people know. It isn't something that you can keep quiet. Everyone knew about Nymphadora within a week of her starting school."
"People don't know because I don't advertise it." Hadrian explained. "I only use it around those that know me best. And, even then, I only use it to hide. It makes it so that I can disappear in a crowd. It's more useful for me if I keep it quiet."
"That's true." Charlie nodded his understanding. "Everyone knew about Nymphadora because she was constantly showing off. It makes the gift almost completely useless for her now because everyone knows about it."
"Just make sure you have the baby in St. Mungo's." Lucius sighed as he remembered when the twins were born. "I can't even count how many peoples memories I had to modify when the twins were born. I had to stay up for the full 24 hours we were at the hospital."
Everyone just laughed at Lucius's memory. He might complain about it now, but he had been thrilled to tell them all about it when they had first brought the twins home.
The Bubble - August 27, 2003
Nymphadora Tonks was a woman on a mission. She was going to make Charlie Weasley fall in love with her if it was the last thing she did.
She arrived at The Bubble in her auror outfit, so she knew no one was going to get in her way. It had only been a few weeks since she had finished her training period with Mad-Eye. She was now a junior auror. The only downside, was that once she had passed her final test, Mad-Eye had been forced to retire.
Amelia Bones said that it was because his contract had been completed, but Tonks was sure that Amelia and Rufus Scrimgeour had forced him out because they knew that he was a threat to their power. Mad-Eye, was much better than them, and they knew it. They must have just wanted him out of their way so that they could keep their positions. Not that Mad-Eye would ever be content as a stupid paper pusher like them.
Walking down the hallways, she followed the directions some random worker had given her. She really didn't understand why there even was a place like this. Why should anyone want to protect acromantulas or occamy. They were dark and dangerous creatures that served no purpose. It was one of the reasons the ministry advised people to stay away from them.
Eventually, she came to the dragon enclosure that the worker had said Charlie was supposed to be working at. Although he also said that Charlie would be on a lunch break, so there was no guarantee he would be there.
But Charlie was there.
And he wasn't alone.
Tonk's hair turned fire red in her rage as she saw that Charlie was standing inside the enclosure, the two dragons off on the other side, and he had someone pinned against one of the trees.
Getting a little closer, making sure to be quiet so he wouldn't notice her. Looking from the new angle, she could clearly see Charlie, the man she was supposed to marry, making out with another man. His hands sliding up and under the other mans shirt, while the other man ran his fingers through Charlie's dark orange hair.
The two separated for a moment to catch their breath and Tonks almost screamed. It was that stupid keeper that had been obsessed with Charlie when they had been at school.
As the two went back to kissing, Tonks stormed out. Just wait until she told Molly Weasley. That would set Charlie right.
She was just going to have to make sure that Charlie knew what he was doing was wrong. He would have to grovel a little before she would agree to go out with him after this, but there was no doubt in her mind that Molly would ensure she and Charlie were together by Christmas.
Peverell Manor - September 1, 2003
When the morning of September first finally arrived, Hadrian was moving slowly. Normally, they hurried to the platform so that they could get there before everyone else, but not this year.
Fred and George had warned them that this year, Molly, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione had all made plans to arrive at 10 exactly. They were planning on cornering Hadrian and starting to try and talk him into switching houses.
His papa had written to Edna and Tony and requested that they ward the compartment for them this year. They would be arriving later, and using the crowd as a barrier to protect Hadrian. Because of that, no one was in a rush.
Granger House
Hermione was looking forward to this year more than any of the others. She hadn't been able to do magic in over a month, and she still wasn't over her anger about that. Soon enough she would be back at school and able to do all the magic she wanted.
There was also the fact that they could finally make Harry transfer to Gryffindor. Once he was in their house, she was sure that they would be able to get control of him. Between her, Ron, and Ginny, Hermione was sure that they would have Harry behaving like a proper hero by the end of the first month.
Just before 9, Hermione and her parents left to go to the platform. They would arrive on the muggle side 10 minutes before it opened, this would allow her to keep an eye on everything since she had no doubt that Ron and the others would be late, like always.
The Burrow
For once, everyone was up and getting ready well before 11. Molly had even forced Ron and Ginny out of their beds at 8:30. As much as they had argued, Molly had held her ground.
Arthur had taken the morning off from work so that he could be there, and he was thrilled. For once, he was going to get to take all of his school aged children to the train at the same time.
Fred, George, and Percy just sat back and watched everyone. Like usual, they had made sure they had packed everything the night before, and their trunks were stacked next to the floo. They all knew what the rush was truly about, but seeing how happy their dad was, they couldn't be too angry. They knew Hadrian wouldn't let them anywhere near him, so it really didn't matter how hard they tried to get close to him.
Even with them being up so early, they still ran a little late as they left the house.
At 10:05, everyone flooed to the platform.
Platform 9 3/4
Hermione walked through the barrier at exactly 10. She was able to watch as the train slowed to a stop. Smoke puffing as it was finally still.
She had her father load her trunk on the train and said goodbye to her parents, before taking her place at the same bench she had used the year before. When the Weasley family came through the floo only a few minutes later, she was more than a little surprised. Sure, they were late, but they were a lot earlier than she would have thought they would be.
Arthur looked around smiling. It really did seem that what he had been missing was his friends. Now that Fabian and Gideon were there, he didn't have that hollow feeling in his chest. Sure, he would still miss his children, but he knew that everything was going to be ok.
"Everything ok dad?" Came Percy's voice.
Arthur turned to look at his son. He couldn't believe that this was already Percy's last year. It felt like only yesterday that he and Bill had been convincing Percy that he shouldn't try to go to Gryffindor. Now, his little boy was in his final year, and head boy too.
Arthur had been so proud when Percy had received the head boy badge the month before. This was their second head boy in the family.
Percy had changed so much over the years. Although he was still bookish, he was also more outgoing. Because he was in Ravenclaw, he was around many people that liked books just as much as he did. This had allowed him to make a few very good friends that understood him. Arthur had no doubt that if Percy had gone to Gryffindor, he would be very different. Although there were plenty of good people in the lion house, he knew that more than likely, Percy would have been alone most of the time without any good friends. Arthur was beyond happy that Bill had noticed his little brothers struggles with which house to go in to, if he hadn't, things would have been very different for Percy.
"Everything's fine Perce." Arthur smiled. "I just can't believe this is your last year already. I'm so proud of you, you know that, don't you. How much I love you?"
Percy went and hugged his dad. "Of course I do. You love me as much as I love you." "What do we have here?" Fabian said as he walked over with his brother and the younger twins.
"The epitome of cool, hugging your father." Gideon laughed.
When Arthur went to pull away, Percy didn't let go. He didn't care what anyone else thought. Rather than saying anything, he just held out one of his arms, inviting the others into the hug.
Fabian and Gideon both jumped forward and joined in the hug. It felt so natural to be so close with their family. Fred and George looked at each other, smiling, before they too joined in the hug.
Completely ignorant of the family hug behind them, Molly was talking with Hermione and her babies.
"So, he hasn't arrived yet?"
"No. But the platform has only been open for five minutes." Hermione said.
"Where is he?" Ginny whined. She wanted to see him again, she had missed him so much this summer.
"Don't worry baby girl, he will be here soon. Just remember, once you get him in your compartment you're going to need to convince him to get resorted. If you can't get it done today, you will need to work on him this year. As of this evening, he can get resorted at any point from now on." Molly reminded them.
"We know mum." Ron sighed. "You've told us that all summer."
"Then you will be sure to remember." Molly snapped back. She really was starting to wonder if she might have made a mistake with Ron, he just didn't listen like he should.
The four of them looked away from each other to start looking for the arrival of Harry.
Just after 10:30, like they had planned, Hadrian and his friends arrived on the platform. The Longbottom's were the first to arrive. Seeing the male Weasley's, they made their way over to them.
Percy, Fred, and George had already put their trunks in the front compartment so they were just hanging out with their dads while they waited for the others to arrive. Alice, Frank and the kids were all welcomed into the group quickly.
The Malfoy's came through the floo next. But before they could go and join Arthur and the boys like Alice and Frank had, Hadrian came through with his family.
Walking towards his friends, Hadrian had his fathers and uncles on either side, Lucius and Narcissa were just behind him, and Draco and the girls were in front of him leading the way. Hadrian didn't even try to stop himself from laughing at just how overprotective his family was, but it also filled him with joy as he knew that he was loved.
As soon as they reached the group of friends, Fred and George quickly took up their places on either side of him. Draco immediately pulled them into a conversation on the new classes that they would be taking this year.
Molly watched as Harry arrived, once again surrounding himself with dark wizards. That poor boy. His life must be awful with people like that. She really couldn't imagine that people like that could ever be good and loving parents.
But she was also angry. She and her babies only wanted what was best for him, and he was being so ungrateful. Once she had custody of the boy she would correct his insolent ways.
Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all got up and started heading in Harry's direction. But they kept getting blocked by the other stupid people on the platform that were running around. There were just so many people in their way.
Hermione and Ron knew what they needed to do. Headmaster Dumbledore had even come to visit Hermione the week before and gave her a potion that she was to give to Harry. She was going to get them all a bottle of pumpkin juice, and hide the potion in Harry's. Once he drank it, the headmaster had assured her that Harry would start to do what he was told, like he had always been meant to do.
Ron was just excited that everyone was going to finally learn that Harry was his best friend. Sure, Ron actually didn't like Harry all that much, he was just such a loser, with all his books and studying, but putting up with him would be worth it. He was going to be famous, and he was sure that as soon as people learned more about him, they would see that he was even better than Harry and start celebrating him instead.
Ginny went to call out to her Harry, she was sure that once he saw that she was there waiting for him, he would leave those other people and come over to greet her. He would probably even give her a hug, and maybe even a kiss. Then everyone would know that they were meant to be together.
But, just as she was opening her mouth to call out, another voice called to him. Looking over, Ginny watched as Loony Lovegood walked towards her Harry. Ginny almost screamed as she watched Harry go over to the freaky girl and wrap his arms around her.
Everyone could see. Her Harry, the man she was going to marry, hugging another girl.
That was it.
She was going to have to fix this.
Over the summer she had been working herself up so that she would have the courage to talk to Harry more, now she didn't have a choice. She was going to have to get over her shyness so that she could take her rightful place at his side. But he was going to pay for not only cheating on her, but doing so publicly.
But what she was planning for Harry was nothing in comparison to what she was going to do to the loser, Loony Lovegood. That girl was going to regret the day she was born for trying to take what belonged to Ginny.
After greeting Luna, Hadrian led her and her parents back to his family and friends. A few more quick goodbyes, the leaving students making sure they hugged everyone, they started to move towards the train.
Luna was their look out, and she kept them all up to date on exactly where Hermione and the others were. When they started to get close, Hadrian slipped in front of the twins and behind Neville and Draco, so he was completely blocked from their sight, and shifted his appearance. He lighten his hair to a dirty blond, made his eyes brown, and made himself grow a few inches.
Being completely unrecognizable, Hadrian separated from the others and headed towards the front of the train. It was easy enough to slip through the crowds of people.
Nem stayed hidden in one of her inside pockets. She knew that she couldn't be seen until they were safe in their compartment. She didn't want those awful humans finding her bond mate. Reaching the compartment, Hadrian went in. But the compartment wasn't empty.
Edna looked over from where she was waiting. She had wanted to make sure that Hadrian made it to the compartment safely.
"Excuse me, but this compartment is already full." Edna said to the boy that had come in. She was surprised as she looked at the boy. Over the years she had made it her business to memorize the faces of the children that went to the school, but she had no clue who this boy was, she had never seen him before.
"I know." Hadrian smiled as he let his magic relax and he changed back to his original looks.
Edna was stunned as she watched the strange boy become Hadrian. "How?"
"Black family gift of being a metamorphmagus." Hadrian told her. "Although I hope we can keep that quiet. I prefer to keep it secret. It gives me a way to disappear if I have too."
After assuring the boy that she would keep his gift a secret she went to her compartment to start getting everything ready for when they left the station.
Alone in the compartment, Hadrian sat down in his place and pulled Nem out to give her a belly rub.
While Hadrian was heading to the compartment, the others were heading towards the back of the train. Luna let everyone know that Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were still following them, so everyone was sure that Hadrian was safe from them.
Luna and Neville split off when they were about half way down the train, and Draco went his separate way shortly after. They were going to be getting on the train, and then making their way to the front. Ensuring that they weren't being followed. Percy had already left their little group to go and start his head boy duties.
Just as Fred and George were about to get onto the last train car, a hand reached out and grabbed Fred's shoulder.
Turning around, they saw the other three that had been following them, Ron had been the one to grab Fred.
"Where did Harry go?" Ron demanded.
"Harry who?" George smiled.
"Harry Potter." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I don't know a Harry Potter, do you twin of mine?" George looked playfully to Fred.
"Nope. I don't know any Harry Potter's brother dear." Fred smiled back.
"Don't be stupid." Ginny huffed. "Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. He was just with you, I saw him."
"There was no Harry Potter with us." Fred said.
Hermione growled slightly. "Harry Potter. You call him that stupid name, Hadrian. Where is he?"
"Oh, you mean our dear friend, Hadrian Potter-Black." George gave the mouthy girl a pitying look.
"We were confused by you calling him a name that isn't his." Fred said.
"As for where he is."
"Probably on the train."
"He is going to school after all."
"I mean honestly Eunice, it isn't that hard to learn someones name." Fred said looking at Hermione.
"Yeah, just ask Elmer and Ethel." George added, looking to Ron and then Ginny.
A few of the students walking by that heard the conversation chuckled lightly. Amongst those walking past, was Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass. They both liked Hadrian well enough and knew just how much he hated being called Harry.
"Those aren't our names." Hermione snarled as she stomped her foot.
"Doesn't seem to bother you when it's you," George said.
"Calling people by the wrong name." Fred finished just as they turned away and got on the train. Grinning at the other students that had heard their conversation with the annoyances.
Once they were all in the compartment with Hadrian, Fred and George took great joy in telling the others about their conversation with the annoying trio. They all agreed that it would be fun to refer to them by the wrong names until they started calling Hadrian by his proper name.
Just after Edna had dropped by to give everyone their lunches, Luna looked up. A beautiful smile on her face.
"Everything's changing."
"What's changing little moon?" Hadrian asked.
"Everything." Luna smiled as she looked around. "Something has happened that has given the chance for new life for so many."
None of them knew exactly what Luna meant, but they were excited. Something had changed, and although they didn't exactly know what it was, it made luna happy, so they knew it must be a good thing.
Hogwarts, Headmaster's Office
After the train left, Molly had things to do. She watched as Arthur left for work with her brothers. Once she was sure they were gone, she flooed directly to the headmaster's office.
Albus had requested to meet with her this morning. But, Molly wasn't sure what it was about. She didn't think that it was about her babies, after all, they hadn't done anything wrong. The only thing she could think that it might be about was Harry.
It had been over a week now since she had started filing her abuse reports, and although Harry arrived with those men again, she was sure that soon enough he was going to be taken away from them. Once that happened, she knew that she was going to get custody of the brat.
As soon as she arrived in the office, she saw that Albus was sitting at his desk, but he wasn't alone. Andromeda Tonk's was also there. Seeing that neither of them had anything in front of them, she quickly made them tea and grabbed a few of the biscuits that she always made sure were available in the office.
After serving the tea she looked at the others. "Albus, Andromeda. What is this about?"
"We have a problem Molly." Albus said.
"Dora came to me the other day. She was devastated." Andromeda was clearly angry about something upsetting her daughter. "She told me that she had gone to The Bubble to visit Charlie a few weeks ago. He was with someone."
"What do you mean? Charlie isn't seeing anyone. I've been encouraging him to stop by the auror office and spend some time with her." Molly still wasn't over the fact that Charlie hadn't done what she had told him. "The foolish boy isn't currently listening to me about it, but I'm sure I will be able to make the boy see sense, but as far as I know, he is single."
"Well, he isn't." Andromeda said. "Dora saw him making out with a boy named Oliver Wood that is a Gryffindor seventh year. She spoke with one of his co-workers, and Wood apparently went to visit Charlie during his lunches, everyday he was working, for weeks."
"WHAT?" Molly was furious. How could Charlie do something like this to her? She had found him the perfect girl, and he was throwing it away for some boy. He was just to much like his father, he must have gotten those proclivities from Arthur. "Don't you worry, I will set that boy straight. I will get to work on the marriage contract by the weekend. And, don't worry, I will make sure that that foolish boy stays faithful to her. Dora deserves that."
Molly left the office in a huff. Charlie was planning to come to The Burrow for dinner tonight. She was going to have to set him right.
The Burrow
Just as the train was pulling into Hogsmeade Station, Charlie was arriving at The Burrow for dinner with his fathers, and unfortunately, Molly. Charlie smiled as he walked into the house, the first thing he heard was his fathers laughing together. This was how things should have always been. His three fathers happy and together.
Looking at them, it was clear the three men had been cooking. All three of them had traces of flour in their hair and on their cheeks. Thankfully, it appeared that Molly was off somewhere else in the house.
When the casserole and fresh bread Arthur and the twins had made was done, they all sat down to eat, Molly joining them in a huff. It was clear Molly had worked herself up into a state, but none of the four men wanted to be the one to set her off, so they just ignored her constant huffing.
Arthur had just served the dark chocolate brownies with raspberry topping, when Molly had finally had enough of waiting for one of the men to have the decency of asking her what was wrong.
"Charles Septimus Weasley. What is wrong with you?"
"You are going to have to be a little more specific. Because right now, after such an amazing meal, and with this dessert, I'm actually pretty amazing." Charlie said, taking a large bite and enjoying it despite Molly's rage.
"Who do you think you are? Cheating on your fiancée." Molly glared at the boy, completely ignoring the brownie in front of her. She knew that there was no way it could ever be as good as any dessert she would make, so she wasn't going to eat something that was probably disgusting.
"Fiancée? I don't have a fiancée. And, I'm not cheating on anyone." Charlie was confused, what was she on about now, a question that Arthur also wanted answered.
"What are you on about Molly? If Charlie had gotten engaged I think we would all know. Not to mention, he isn't a cheater."
"Andromeda came to me today, Dora is inconsolable that you are treating her like this. She saw you with that boy. How could you do something like this to such a sweet girl?" Molly demanded, her voice raising in indignation. "You are going to go over to her apartment this instant. You are going to apologize for treating her like this. And you are going to propose to her properly, I will take your Gringotts card and get an appropriate ring, and you are going to make an honest woman out of her. And, most importantly, you will never see that whore again. Do I make myself clear?"
It took Charlie a moment to work through the woman's insanity. "Are you out of your mind. That's it, isn't it, you've finally gone over the edge and completely cracked, haven't you.
First off, don't you ever call Ollie a whore again. Oliver is my boyfriend, not some whore. And, I am not going to stop seeing him just because you've flipped your lid.
Second, I have never, and will never, ask Tonks to marry me. She's just some random girl that I went to school with. I don't like her, and I never will. She is no one to me, I have never even kissed her.
And, third, obviously, given the fact that I'm dating Ollie, I'm gay. I like men. I know that Tonk's can change her appearance, but it isn't the same. She doesn't have anything I want.
So, let me make this perfectly clear. I am not engaged to anyone, let alone Tonks. I am not going to get engaged just because you've demanded it. I am going to continue to see Ollie for as long as I want. And, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it."
"How dare you speak to me like that?" Molly shrieked. She knew she should have taught him better when he was a child. "You will do as I tell you young man or I will be going to Gringotts tomorrow and writing up a marriage contract that will stipulate that you are never even to lay eyes on that whore again."
Charlie froze. Could she really do that? He had never studied marriage contracts, so he really didn't know.
"No," Fabian snarled as he got up from where he sat at the table, moving to stand in-between Molly and Charlie.
"You won't." Gideon copied the movements of his twin.
"For a marriage contract to be valid you need multiple things that you will never get."
"First, as Charlie is of age, he would need to willingly sign the contract for it to be valid. And I think we know the likely hood of that happening."
"Second, all legal parents must sign. And there is no way Arthur would do that to any of his children. Is there?"
Arthur looked to his friends before smiling at his son, before turning to glare at Molly. "Never."
"And, thirdly, only the oldest and strictest marriage contracts, also known as absolute contracts, can control ones behaviour. And it is only the 'wife' who's behaviour can be controlled. As the male, in an olde magic marriage contract, Charlie would have complete control over the girl, not her over him."
Molly froze for a second. That couldn't be true, could it? The marriage contract between Harry and Ginny was valid, wasn't it? It didn't matter, they were meant to be.
"You two have no say in this. Charlie is my son, and as such he will do as he is told. He will Marry Dora, or I swear, I will fully disown him from this family."
Everyone gasped at that, full disownments weren't something that was ever taken lightly. It stripped a person of everything to do with their original family, including the last name. A disowned person was called No Name as a last name. It was a mark of the worst kind of shame to have been fully disowned.
Arthur waved his wand in a sweeping gesture over his head, and there was the sound of a thousand locks clicking closed.
"That is it. I am done. As of right now Molly, you have one week to get your things and move out of my house. This marriage is over.
Who do you think you are threatening my son like that? Given the choice between him or you, I will always choose him.
I have sealed the house. You will only be able to take what is yours. You will not be able to take anything else from this house.
I will be filing for divorce as soon as possible."
Charlie started to panic. As grateful as he was for how much his dad clearly loved him, he couldn't have him filing for divorce, not yet. They still hadn't found a way to reverse the ritual yet.
If his dad found out that he had never been married to Molly, it would lead to questions. If he or Charlie's other fathers learned that they had been married, he would lose them. He needed to at least buy a little time.
"Dad, as much as I think you are right in getting that… Woman, out of this house, I think you should take a little time with filing for divorce. Emotions are running high right now, and I think you should take a little time and let your head clear before doing anything to rash.
Take some time, think everything through, find a good lawyer, and then make a list of everything you need and want. Especially anything that involves custody of the younger kids. They need to be protected even more than I do.
Maybe, bring them home in a week or two and explain things to them. This isn't something they need to learn from a letter."
Arthur thought about what Charlie said. He was right. As much as Arthur wanted everything done now, he needed to think of his kids. He had no doubts that Percy, Fred and George would be ok with the divorce, but Ron and Ginny would be another story all together. More than likely, they were going to throw the biggest fits they could. This needed to be handled in the least upsetting way possible for them.
"Thank you Charlie. You're right. I am going to take a few weeks and work everything out, but I will be filing the divorce papers by the end of October." Arthur turned to a stunned Molly. "And you are not going to do anything that will upset the children while they are at school. We will call them home in three weeks, so they have time to settle in at school again, and then we will tell them together. You will not just send them a letter. It will just distract them, and they need to focus on their school work right now, Ron is just starting his new classes and needs to be able to pay attention. Do you understand Molly?"
Mollys look of shock turned to one of outrage. Of course she would never do anything to upset her babies, that was always Arthur that did that. "Fine. I won't tell my babies anything to upset them. And I will be here in three weeks to tell them with you."
With one last huff, Molly stormed out of the house, back straight and head held high.
Charlie quickly turned to his dad when a thought hit him. "Dad, you need to write a letter to Gringotts. It would be just like her to go and clear out your vaults. I'll take the letter personally so you don't have to wait for Maggie to fly there."
Arthur just nodded, still a little stunned that he had finally done it. The harpy was gone. "Yes, yes. I guess I should, although, it really doesn't matter. With Mollys inability to handle money responsibly I put a limit on how much she could take out. She is limited to less than 1000 galleons per month. But, I guess it would be better to stop her from taking anything."
Arthur went up to his office to get a piece of parchment and wrote out a letter requesting that Molly not be allowed access to his vaults. Over the years, his financial manager had encouraged him to protect his money. He had found evidence that Molly had been systematically syphoning money off and adding it to her own private account. Because of that, he had suggested that Arthur open up his own private vaults, and that he limit the amount of money that was in the family vault. The family vault was self refilling to 1000 galleons every month, the exact amount that he let Molly use, everything else went into a separate vault that had a higher level of security. He had made sure that he had final say on what happened with the money in that account.
While Arthur was upstairs, Charlie turned to his other fathers. He asked them to keep his dad calm and happy while he was away. He was going to pack a bag from his apartment and return to The Burrow for the night, so he told them he would probably be gone for an hour. They had, of course, agreed. They were furious with Molly for treating Charlie that way. Moving forward, they both brought their nephew into a bone crushing hug. Even with his own mother treating him so terribly, and even threatening him, all he cared about was protecting his dad.
Gringotts
After his dad returned with the note, Charlie quickly flooed to Gringotts. Going forward, he got in line to speak with one of the tellers.
Reaching the teller, Charlie greeted him formally, like Bill had taught him, and then he handed over the letter.
Teller Lark loved to stall and take up as much time as he could whenever he had to deal with a rude witch or wizard, but this one was different. This wizard had greeted him properly, so Lark knew that he would help this wizard to the best of his abilities, manners were so rare these days in wizard folk. Opening the letter, he looked over it critically. After a quick scan, the letter proved to be genuine.
With only a few quick notes, and a flash of goblin magic, the requests were carried out. Molly Prewett no longer had any access to any vault under the name Weasley. The letter referred to 'Molly Weasley', but the goblins magic recognized that as a false name used by one Molly Prewett.
When the goblin informed Charlie that it was done, Charlie made sure to thank him properly before leaving.
He had been just in time. As Charlie stepped into the floo, he saw as Molly herself dashed into the bank.
Molly dashed into the bank as quickly as she could. Getting in line in front of one of the only tellers that was working this late in the day, she waited impatiently. As it was the first of the month, she knew that there was 1000 galleons sitting in the family account. She was going to use that money to rent a hotel room until she could sort everything out.
There was no way that Arthur could divorce her, especially since they weren't actually married. She was going to have to talk to Albus, she was sure he would be able to sort everything out. He would be able to bring Arthur around to their way of thinking.
When it was finally her turn, she demanded that the goblin bring her down to the vault.
Lark almost growled. Oh, how he hated self important, rude, humans like this one. Looking at the key she handed him, he almost grinned. Molly Prewett. It looked like that polite wizard had gotten there just in time.
Lark took great joy in telling the rude witch that she had been barred from accessing the account she wanted to get into. Although, it took him almost 20 minutes to do so.
Molly was enraged, and if it hadn't been for the other people in the bank, she would have made sure that disgusting goblin knew it.
Since she couldn't use that money, she took out some money from the account Albus had set up for her. She hated having to spend her own money, but she didn't have a choice.
Molly was going to spend the night at the Leaky Caldron, and then go and see Albus in the morning so that he could fix Arthur.
12 Grimmauld Place
After leaving the bank, Charlie flooed directly to 12 Grimmauld Place. Arriving in the main hall, he waited until Kreacher came to get him.
Regulus and Marlene were curled up on one of the couches in the library.
"You two are just so sickly sweet." Charlie smiled at them.
"You're just jealous." Marlene smiled back.
"Well of course he is, I'm just too gorgeous." Regulus laughed.
Both Marlene and Charlie just rolled their eyes at him. Marlene muttered about hoping that the baby didn't inherit the Black family modesty that both Regulus and Sirius had.
"Ignoring him, what is it we can do for you this evening Charlie?" Marlene asked as she sat up. "Would you like some tea?"
"No thanks Marley." Charlie sat down across from them and looked to Regulus. "We have a problem. Dad is planning to file for divorce by the end of October. We have to figure out how to fix this."
"What happened?" Regulus started to panic like Charlie had. "I thought we would have more time than this. I'm not even through a quarter of the books, and without Percy, I'm moving even slower now."
"What's wrong with them getting divorced?" Marlene was confused, she knew just how much Charlie and his brothers didn't like the way Molly treated their father. She herself had been furious when she had learned about the love potions.
Charlie looked to Marlene, realizing that no one had told her what had happened. "They can't get divorced because they aren't married."
"Yes they are." Marlenes confusion grew stronger. "I was at the wedding. I remember them getting married."
"No." Charlie said. "My dad married Molly's brothers, Fabian and Gideon. Fabian and Gideon our our fathers. Just after the twins were born, Molly and Dumbledore used some kind of ritual to make my fathers forget that not only were they married, but that they were our fathers. Molly used a blood adoption on us to make us her kids.
The ritual messes with peoples perception and alters their memories. You might remember dad marrying Molly, but that is the ritual making you see her rather than my other fathers."
"That bitch." Marlene was furious. Just who did Molly think she was doing something like that to people as kind as Arthur, Fabian and Gideon.
"Earlier this summer we got a hold of Albus's darker library, and I have been searching for the ritual that they used so that we can counter it, but I haven't found anything yet." Regulus told his angry wife.
"So why don't you just tell everyone what happened?" Marlene asked, she had never been one to beat around the bush. If you wanted to say something, you should just say it.
"Because the ritual is designed to protect it's caster. If any of the three of them discover that they were married before we can counter the ritual, it will kill them." Regulus explained.
"What?" Marlene was horrified.
"If dad files for divorce, he will learn that they were never married, which will cause a lot of questions, because he clearly remembers the wedding. If he started trying to figure it out, which he will, we risk them finding out the truth." Charlie's voice was laced with just some of the fear he felt.
"Perception…" Marlene whispered. She had just caught a fleeting memory. "I remember something."
Regulus watched as his wife started to pace. "What is it that you remember love?"
"A book." Marlene said. "It was just after I joined the Order. I had gone to give my first report to Albus. He was in his office, just him and Molly. There was a book on the desk, as soon as I walked in, they slammed the book closed.
It was odd. I was surprised to see them with a book like that, I could almost feel the dark magic pouring off it. Albus told me that a member of the Order had been cursed and they were trying to find the counter. But their behaviour was off.
It was only a few months after that that Molly announced at one of the meetings that she was pregnant."
"What did the book look like?" Charlie asked hopefully.
"It was dark, but not black." Marlene's eyes went unfocused as she tried to remember so far back. "There were veins of brownish red through it. It looked like poorly treated dragon hide. And… There were two interlocking runes on the front. They were… They were…Control. The first one was the ancient Sumerian rune for control, and the other was… Perception.
I remember wondering what kind of curse would involve those two runes."
"I know that book." Regulus gasped. As a fully fledged Unspeakable, he was able to retain his memories about what was in the DOM better than those that were just visiting. He couldn't give any specifics with out permission, but he could speak in generalities, so long as he didn't talk about what he was working on. "When Perce and I were unpacking the crates, Percy had grabbed a book just like that and said that it told you everything you needed to know about the man based on how he treated his books."
"So that's probably the book that has the ritual in it. How soon can you find out?" Charlie was excited. They were possibly closer than they had ever been to saving his fathers.
"I can…" Regulus looked to his wife.
"What are you looking to me for?" Marlene snapped. "Get moving. I am perfectly capable of being home alone. I'm pregnant, not dying. Arthur, Fabian, and Gideon need you, so get going."
"I love you." Regulus kissed his wife before dashing off to grab a few things before he flooed to the DOM.
Charlie thanked Marlene for everything before he flooed home to his fathers.
Marlene smiled once the boys were both gone.
"Kreacher?"
"Yes Mistress Marley" The elf popped in immediately. He had taken to doting on her ever since he found out she was pregnant.
"Looks like it's just the two of us for the night. What do you say to making us some smoothies, and I'll get the cards, and we can play some poker?"
Kreacher grinned as he popped to the kitchen to make the smoothies. He did so enjoy a good game of poker with his Mistress Marley. Master Regulus had just never managed to pick up the finer points of the game.
Hogwarts, Entry Hall
As Hermione walked through the front door and into the school, she was immediately called over by Prof. McGonagall. Telling Ron and Ginny she would join them in a few minutes, she followed her favourite professor.
"Is something wrong professor?" Hermione asked once they were alone.
"Not at all, Hermione." Minerva gave the girl a small smile. She might have proven herself to be difficult, but Minerva wasn't going to give up on the girl, she was sure if they could just get the girl focused on the right things everything would work out. "I went to the Headmaster with your request about being able to take more electives, and he has found a way that you can take all the electives you want."
"Really?" Hermione beamed.
"Yes. Hermione, this is a time turner." Minerva pulled out the tiny hourglass that Albus had gotten decades ago. There was no way they would have been able to get approval to have one now, but since they already had this one, they could use it as they wished.
"What does it do?" Hermione gently took the little object.
"When you are wearing it, and you turn the little hour glass over, it will take you one hour back in time." Minerva smiled at the stunned look on the girls face. "But you must be careful. Terrible things can happen to those who meddle with time. You must never see yourself. And, no matter what, no one else can know that you have that.
We were only able to arrange to get the one, which means no one else has one. The last thing any of us needs is one of the other students getting jealous. The headmaster and I were only able to arrange this one because you are such a promising student. And, when I say no one, I mean no one. Not even Mr and Ms. Weasley can know about this. Neither of them understand secrecy the way you do.
Any other questions, Ms. Granger?"
"No questions professor." Hermione slipped the turner around her neck with a smile. "Actually, I was wondering if you could pass on a message to the headmaster for me. I want to thank him, and you, for doing this for me, but I also need to tell him that things once again didn't go as planned.
We were at the platform early enough this year that we saw Harry arrive, but we weren't able to get close to him. Ron and Ginny's brothers, Fred and George, blocked us from getting to him. By the time we finally managed to get away from the twins it was too late and Harry had disappeared again.
The three of us tried to search the train, but Percy stopped us before we were even half way through. So I wasn't able to get the potion into him. I'm sorry."
"Those boys." Minerva huffed. She was still extremely glad they weren't in her house, because she didn't want to have to deal with them, but on the other hand she wished they were, Pomona refused to deal with them properly. "It isn't your fault Hermione. I understand just how difficult the older Weasley boys can be.
I will tell the headmaster about what happened. Don't worry, we know that you did everything you could."
With that, they both slipped out of the room. Hermione went into the great hall and took her place between Ron and Ginny. If the two of them sat next to each other, they argued.
Minerva went directly to where she knew the first years would be waiting for her. She would tell Albus about what Hermione said after the sorting was complete.