New Beginnings

Serena slept for two days.

Nurse Longbottom said she had gotten up to eat somewhere in that time, but she didn't remember a moment between Phoebe's bone crushing hug and waking up to her younger brothers arguing over a game of Wizard Skittles. She walked down the steps, running her fingers through Wilson's hair as she walked passed them to sit in the armchair, watching quietly as she leaned back.

"You're up," Nurse Longbottom said as she came into the house with a bag of groceries. "Come get some tea and a sandwich."

Serena was happy to follow someone else's orders. She felt stiff, though it was finally from the hours in a bed rather than the abuse her body had taken in the other world. She sat beside her mum as Nurse Longbottom gathered together a tray for them.

"Boys, come eat," she called.

Mum looked over, her eyes focused on Serena. She reached out, taking Serena's hand in her own, squeezing it and nodding, her eyes filled with tears. She swallowed and turned back to her plate.

"Thank you Hannah," Mum said, without any other acknowledgement that Serena had been anywhere else the last several days. It was more than she had expected.

That afternoon, Serena went to the shop. Andreas wasn't there and she found Fred instead. "I was hoping to pick up some extra shifts to make up for... my absence," she explained when he said Andreas would be gone until after the new year.

"Heavens no," Fred said. Serena's heart sank. How was she going to feed her family now? "The other two owners and myself agreed that after everything Harry told us about what you did for our family, you've more than earned a few weeks time off."

"But I—"

"It's paid," Fred added hastily. "Now go enjoy your holiday."

Serena was relieved and concerned all in one. She would never be able to afford Christmas presents without overtime, but it would be horribly ungrateful for her to complain about that now. Instead, she used the time to play games with her siblings and get caught up on her studies. She busied herself and tried to ignore the fact that even by Christmas Eve she hadn't heard from Andreas.

Of course he was spending time with his family. But still… Serena had already wondered whether the affection Andreas had shown was the temporary side effect of the extremity of their situation. And here they were back in real life and she hadn't seen hide nor hair of him. Not a note or a hint or anything. And she felt idiotic for feeling hopeful after having woken up.

Serena started searching for another job. She couldn't stand working with Andreas all the time, going back to being just another employee. She couldn't stand the idea of hearing about dates with Shantelle, no matter how one sided it seemed. Even Shantelle would have to realize at some point how wonderful he was and Serena's heart would split in two when that happened.

Christmas Eve, Serena tried to get as much together as she was able. Phoebe helped her string popcorn and hang it all over the tree. Their mother even got up the energy to make the hot chocolate she used to make when Serena was much younger, showing her the charm she used to keep it hot for the drinker. When everyone went to bed, Serena sat with a bar of chocolate for each of her siblings, wrapping them with elaborate bows. She set them on the table, leaning on her knees. She wondered what they would think. The boys would be terribly disappointed. Serena cried imagining their fallen expressions when they realized this was all there would be.

When Serena woke in the morning she lay in bed, prolonging the moment she might have to explain why Christmas was so slim this year. Maybe if she took them out where the snow was built up they could have some fun. That's what she would do. If she couldn't give them a great present to remember, Serena decided she could at least give them a wonderful day. With a sigh she pushed herself from bed, wrapping up in a house coat and slippers, heading down.

"No way!" Wilson said. Serena swallowed, steeling herself for whatever he was about to say. "You got gloves too?"

Serena blinked, confused.

"And shoulder guards," Jeffrey replied. Serena took the steps quickly, stopping in the doorway of the living room.

Jeffrey and Wilson were pulling Quidditch gear out of two large, identical boxes, wrapping paper already torn off and littering the room. They compared them with one another, noting what type of gloves, shoes, and even a practice quaffle and snitch the other got. Over in the corner Phoebe sat in front of the beautiful, victorian dollhouse she had coveted every time Serena took her by the shop.

Serena rubbed at her eyes, certain she was dreaming. Mum came in the other door, Dad on her arm. He was disconnected with the going ons as he sat in the armchair, but Mum held his hands, watching the other three. On the table was a whole pile of presents, wrapped up and ignored for what were obviously the best prizes of the morning.

"Hey."

Serena startled, turning towards the voice. Andreas stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall with an easy smile and a present tucked under his arm. Her heart skipped a beat as she swallowed.

"How… I mean, all of those…"

"They aren't from me," Andreas interrupted. He took a step closer to her. "I was just in charge of delivery. Most of it was Isabella's idea. My grandma and aunt have some quidditch connections, you know, and Scorpius insisted on taking care of the dollhouse. My mum came up with some other things. Oh, and she wanted to make sure all of you were invited to our family's for dinner tonight. And I think my Uncle Lorcan went searching for some books for you on languages or something like that. I probably shouldn't have spoiled the surprise before you opened it. Sorry."

"We can't accept all this," Serena said, shaking her head.

"Why not?" Andreas asked, his brow knit.

"It's so much."

"You know, you can let people help you out a little," Andreas said. "They wanted to do it."

Serena cleared her throat. Of course she was seeming ungrateful. It was more than she would have ever dared asked for. "Thank you," she said, swallowing back any other comments.

Andreas smiled. "This is for you," he said, holding the box out.

It was wrapped in red and gold paper with a large gold bow on the top. Serena moved into the hallway with him, pulling the paper off carefully and lifting the top of the box. Inside, folded gently, was the blue lace dress. Serena looked up at Andreas, then back down.

"Callie had Aunt Imogen pack it. So that part is really from her, but… there's this ball my Uncle George and Aunt Angelina put on at Diagon Alley every New Year." Andreas picked up a sleeve, revealing two sparkling tickets, the image of fireworks exploding on the page. "I wanted to ask if I could take you with me? I-I mean, if you'd be my date?"

Serena looked down at the blue dress, biting her bottom lip.

"I mean, you don't have to wear that dress if you don't want. Callie just had thought you would like it and—"

"You wouldn't rather take Shantelle?" Serena asked, her heart racing with the question. But she had to know. She couldn't say yes and wonder if he would have rather been with her all night.

"No," Andreas said. He stepped in, placing a hand on either side of Serena's jaw. His eyes dipped down to her lips, then back to her eyes. "I wouldn't rather anyone besides you."

"Okay, but it's just… you haven't said anything and what happened… there… I don't want you to think you're accountable if you don't want—"

Andreas cut her off with a kiss. Serena melted into his lips, his fingers lighting over her skin making every inch of her tingle. She kept her eyes closed as he pulled away.

"The only thing that happened back there was that I realized what I had been missing out on for so long," Andreas said. Serena looked into Andreas's eyes. They were serious, intent. "Say you can forgive me for being a dolt and go with me?"

Serena couldn't suppress her smile. "Of course," she whispered. Andreas smiled back and leaned in for more.

Andreas stood at the top of the stairs where the annual New Year's party took place. His parents and grandparents were already inside, with the rest of the family who came. There were lots of other people as well.

Andreas rubbed his hands together, waiting for Serena.

Serena.

After getting back, Andreas did a personal inventory of whether or not he deserved her. Grandma had taken Serena back to her house, returning with news that Hannah had talked about bruised ribs, black and blue around her neck, and a gash on her scalp. All healable, she said when Andreas got upset, but he didn't like that she had been through so much. He had a decent bit of recovery himself, but not like Serena.

Belvedere was arrested and they all went to spend the holiday at the Burrow with Uncle Albus. Uncle George had come by and informed Andreas he had a paid vacation and that he was expected to return to work around January sixth.

"What about Serena?" Andreas asked. "She did just as much—"

"Oh, we know," George replied. "Ron and I already put Fred in charge of informing her of the same. You both need it, sounds like."

Andreas nodded gratefully and everyone else discussed providing a Christmas for the Redding family. That afternoon they got an owl from Scorpius, mentioning that Isabella had been talking with him about the same thing and that he wanted to kept in the loop about any plans the rest of them had.

Even in the Christmas surprise, Andreas had played such a small role that by the time they were all around, wrapping up presents, he felt defeated. How was he going to ever prove to Serena what she meant to him?

"Andreas, you alright?" Mum asked him. She had her arms full with a bowl of half made cookie dough. Everyone looked towards him. Aunt Emily and Uncle Al were nearest, but his dad and Grandpa were right across from him. Grandma and Aunt Lily were bustling around helping mum and some of his younger cousins were dashing in and out every now and again, Uncle Lorcan keeping track of some in the garden as they built snowmen. Mostly it was just him with the adults. He had to keep reminding himself that he, too, was an adult.

"Just thinking," Andreas replied.

"What about?" Uncle Albus asked.

Andreas looked at his dad, then around at the others. "I don't know, just… future things. I've been thinking I might want to go through the academy after all," Andreas said.

He looked back at his dad, whose grin was growing. Andreas honestly still didn't have any interest in being an auror, but he couldn't see a better way to be the type of man someone like Serena deserved—someone who could take care of her in every way possible. Someone who could keep her from getting hurt ever again. No matter what happened.

"You had the grades," his dad said, leaning forward. It wasn't the first time he'd said as much.

"I thought you liked working for George and Ron," Grandpa included, leaning back. He took off his glasses, cleaning them meticulously as he formed his thoughts. "You talked like you wanted to move up the ranks in that company."

Andreas gave a half shrug. "After… the last week… I just think it could be good to learn some of the things the academy could teach me."

"Your casting would put you at the top of the class, I bet," Dad said. "You'd do well."

Andreas shrugged again. He looked over where Grandpa was still scrutinizing him. "Does this have to do with Serena?"

And with that he opened a flood gate. Andreas described everything that had happened. How she had nearly drowned saving Isabella, how she had a concussion and he didn't know how to heal it properly, how she had several close calls with the shadows. When Uncle Albus pointed out Andreas's own injuries, Andreas disagreed, saying he had been much better off than her overall and that if he had been more prepared, she would have been fine, too.

"I just kept thinking that Dad never would have let any of us get hurt like that," Andreas said. His dad looked touched.

"Well, I think you'll make a great auror," Dad said again.

Silence settled over the group and Uncle Albus leaned forward. "I agree you'd be as good an auror as any if that's what you want," he said. "But… it's not the only way to do that. And I think maybe there are some… things you don't know about."

Uncle Albus looked at Mum, who was thinking. Dad's proud grin faded and Andreas looked between them. "What do you mean?"

No one said anything. Andreas noticed them all exchanging looks and nodding to James, but he just leaned forward against the table. "It's nothing," Dad muttered.

"You don't think he deserves to know the truth on that count?" Aunt Lily asked.

"What truth?" Dad retorted.

"Maybe about the time Imogen was stabbed? That summer?" Lily offered up.

Andreas perked up. "Mum's told me about the people who tried to take her casting," Andreas said. "She showed me the scar on her hand. But ... I thought Dad wasn't there when that happened."

"What about the one on her stomach?"

"Lily," Dad growled.

"Come on, James, after everything he just said, you're just going to let him think it's as simple as all that?" Aunt Lily countered.

"Then there's McMann," Uncle Albus added.

"McMann?" Andreas asked, turning toward Uncle Al.

"A man who wanted revenge on your dad," Uncle Albus said. "Took you and your Aunt Lily for about a month when you were a baby."

"What?" It was the only word Andreas could find to such a revelation. "I don't remember that."

"I should hope not," Aunt Lily said.

"How did … Mc… that man… how did he get us?" Andreas asked. Aunt Lily and Mum both sighed at the question. This would be a long story.

"I went out to a bar with your Aunt Emily the night before I was supposed to watch you and McMann put me under the Imperious," Lily started. "The next night he used that to make me take you to him."

"Really? Where were Mum and Dad?" Andreas asked.

His dad pushed back from the table, a scowl on his face as he turned and marched out the back. The sound of his laughing cousins in the garden came through until the door slammed behind James. Andreas looked around. His mum sunk into the chair left vacant. The next couple hours were filled with stories. Stories about McMann and a kidnapping he had never imagined he might have been part of. Stories about the summer his mum found out she was a gypsy. Stories about how she stabbed herself and how she just about died in Dad's arms. How she would have died if she hadn't managed to pass on her casting magic to him in those moments.

It turned into stories of Grandpa and Grandma recounting events that surrounded the war—vastly more personal than the accounts they were given in school. Grandpa talked about how Grandma was told to go home first and then allowed to stay, so long as she stayed out of the fight. Even then she joined the first moment no one was looking. It circled back around to times his mum and dad were in the federation and the risks that were made as a result. The room was suddenly filled with new acquaintances, though the faces were familiar.

"But why is Dad so upset about me knowing all this?" Andreas asked. "It's not like the bad stuff that happened was his fault."

His mum reached across the table, placing a hand over his. "For the same reason you've got in your head that you were somehow responsible to keep Serena from being hurt," she said. "That's what we want you to remember, Andy. You don't need to go to the academy to somehow be more capable. If you want to learn more, there's nothing stopping you from doing it on your own time. But no matter how good you become at defense, there are still lots of things out of your control."

Andreas nodded. "I just… I want to be good enough."

"There's more than one way to do that," Mum told him. Some of the others moved around, taking care of other things and attending to dishes being cooked and baked. "You know, your dad wants you to do what makes you happy, too."

"Then why does he only seem to care when I express interest in being an auror?" Andreas asked.

"Because he grew up wanting to follow your Grandpa's footsteps. And he felt a lot of pressure. I think your dad liked the idea that you might want to be like him. And that maybe he could have made that easier on you than it was on him."

"But I don't want to be an auror," Andreas said, despite his assertion otherwise not long before.

"Then follow through on what you do want. Stop talking about all your plans and start executing them," Mum said. "Don't hold back trying just because you might fail, Andy. You're smart enough to figure things out. And if something doesn't pan out, you're smart enough to come up with something else. Just start going for it. That's what your dad really wants to see you do. And I imagine it might make you more impressive to someone else, too."

Mum squeezed his hand then asked him to gather everyone for dinner. Andreas went outside. Lorcan and the others went in quickly, but his dad wasn't with them. Andreas walked around the house, seeing his dad taking a lap around the large empty field on the other side. He jogged out, his dad stopping once he'd noticed Andreas approaching.

"Dinner's ready. You coming in?" he asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Dad said with a sigh, scratching his head.

"I didn't know you'd been through all of that," Andreas said. His dad pressed his lips together, looking down at the ground. "You know… I still want to learn how to handle… dangerous situations like you can."

Dad looked up at him, his face still blank, but at least he was making eye contact. "Changed your mind on the academy?"

"Yeah, well," Andreas said, shrugging. "It's not exactly where I see myself."

"You would have really gone to the academy for some girl?" Dad asked him, a smirk growing, replacing the sullen expression from before.

Andreas grinned back. "She's pretty great, Dad," Andreas replied.

"She must be," he retorted. "You only ever rolled your eyes when I suggested the academy."

Dad lead the way as they walked back to the house, talking about books Andreas could read and his dad mentioning some of the most useful spells he had learned over the years.

Christmas had been a great beginning. Or at least a more normal one. Serena brought her siblings to the Burrow for dinner, where the only problem was that Uncle Lorcan kept trying to pull her attention away with discussions about whatever had been in those books. Then the Malfoys came and Isabella wanted Serena all to herself.

Over the next week Andreas spent his days with his notebook of ideas talking with Uncle George, who seemed more enthusiastic than Andreas could have even hoped for with the new ideas. There were still logistics to figure out, but Uncle George asked several times why Andreas hadn't brought these to him sooner. Andreas would just shrug and move on to the next pitch until evening came. Then he would get back to Hogsmeade and spend the evenings with Serena.

Every night Serena became more relaxed. Every night her smile grew a little. And every night Andreas found new things to love about being around her.

"Andy!" Shantelle's bouncy tone hit Andreas's ears, pulling him out of his thoughts as he turned left towards her.

She wore a gold gown with a white fur jacket over it. With her hair up in a twist and perfectly bouncing ringlets setting off the look, Shantelle looked like a celebrity guest. She beamed at him, stepping away from an older man.

"Andy, I didn't know you were going to be here," she said. "I have be dying to hear from you."

"Oh, well, I've been spending a holiday with my family and… other things," he said with a smile. "You're here with—"

"That's just my dad," she said, waving it off. "He gets an invite every year. He thought I might enjoy coming... and I thought I might finally be able to see you. There are all sorts of rumors going around. Where exactly have you been?"

"Long story," Andreas replied. He shrugged. "You know, wormholes and ancient realms and all that. Always sounds more exciting than it actually is."

"Well, maybe when you're back at Hogsmeade you'll have to spend an evening telling me all about it," Shantelle said, smiling sweetly at him.

Before he could answer, he caught Serena in the corner of his eye, walking up the steps towards them. "Sorry I'm late," she said, giving a side glance at Shantelle. "Phoebe was issuing all sort orders on things I needed to remember to tell her about tonight when I get back."

Andreas smiled taking two steps down to meet her, wrapping a hand around her neck and kissing Serena, her hands on his chest. She wore black gloves and a cloak, though he could see the blue lace below the hem. "You look beautiful," he said as he pulled back, offering her an arm. "It was good catching up with you, Shantelle. Maybe Serena and I will come have lunch at the pub and fill you in."

Shantelle looked like she had been clubbed over the head as Andreas led Serena up the last of the steps and into the large ball room full of people. "What was that all about?" Serena asked looking back over her shoulder.

"Nothing important," Andreas replied.

"You know, the way she was flirting with you, I suspect she might be interested," Serena pointed out, raising an eyebrow at him.

Andreas turned towards Serena, arms wrapped around her as he pulled her into him. She hung her arms on his shoulders, tilting her head with a smirk. "It might be something you have to get used to. I do have the face of a prince, you know," he said quietly. Serena laughed, her bright smile halting Andreas's heart as he reached up and pushed back the curls—natural compared to Shantelle's. "And you, my Serena, look an awful lot like a princess."

Serena's eyes, the color of the sea, sparkled at the praise. Andreas leaned in, kissing her again, loving how her arms wrapped around him as he pulled her in tighter. Andreas kept the tip of his nose against hers as he pulled back. "Mum and Dad insisted I bring you by to say hi before we ditch them for the night," he said. "Come on."

Abigail leaned against the trunk of the tree, writing in her diary. The Christmas holiday had been so wonderful after everything, with all her sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins… she didn't want to come back. It was a warm day, but even so she had cleared the spot of snow before sitting, taking her time parsing through her thoughts and feelings.

"Mr. Malfoy, this is not the pitch," Professor Newton shouted and Abigail looked around the trunk.

There was Malus, fumbling to get off his broom quickly, nearly tripping. "Sorry, Professor," he said, grasping the handle, then turning and running at full speed, looking behind him once and slowing as he approached. Abigail watched him come around, taking a deep breath. He swallowed. "Hey," he said to her.

"Hi," Abigail said.

It certainly didn't feel like they had seen each other lately. Malus and his family had come for Christmas dessert. Grandpa made a point of including them in games, but they hadn't really had a chance to talk. And when Malus tried, Abigail shook her head. "I want to talk to Callie first," she told him. And then she did. She finally let Callie tell her everything. Callie had seen him drink something. She saw Ines enter the come and go room. She saw them kissing and their embarrassed looks when the two realized what they were doing and broke apart.

"Why didn't you tell me all of this straight off?" Abigail asked.

Callie shrugged. "Every possibility where I told you he was kissing someone else you were sad," Callie replied. "The only time you weren't was if you didn't go. And Malus explained everything."

"You could see the possibilities?"Abigail asked. "I mean, you can see all the outcomes?"

"Only while they still might happen," Callie said.

Abigail reached out and put a hand on Callie's cheek. "I'm sorry I didn't listen," she said. Callie hugged her tightly.

Still, since being back she hadn't been able to talk with Malus. And now he looked at her hopefully. "New broom?" Abigail asked. This one was sleek and had a sheen to it. Not to mention its lack of knicks and scratches.

"Yeah," Malus said, though his smile was sad. "Dad said Grandpa wanted me to have it. So… it's sort of from him."

Abigail nodded. "I'm sorry about what happened to him."

"I'm just glad we went now," Malus said, looking down. "At least I got to say goodbye, you know? I mean, if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have told you I was going."

"Don't say that," Abigail said. Malus bit the inside of his cheek. "Callie explained everything."

"Yeah? And do you believe her?"

"I do," Abigail replied.

Malus let out a deep breath and let the broom rest on the ground as he moved over, sitting right next to Abigail. "So what does that mean?"

"I don't know," Abigail admitted. This was another reason she had avoided the conversation. "You know, I felt like everything was over after I saw you kissing… Ines."

"But I didn't mean to… I never would have if—"

"I know," Abigail said. "But… it's made me think about how big a part of my life you are that it could… disable me like that."

Malus swallowed. "Are you breaking up with me?"

"No," Abigail said. "I just want to take a step back. We're only fifteen."

"I'm sixteen next week," Malus pointed out. Abigail laughed.

"Still," she said. "Do you think we could focus on other things right now too? Just slow it down a little? Spend more time with other people?"

"But we would still be dating?" Malus asked. Abigail nodded. "Yeah, we can do that."

Abigail let out a breath and leaned into Malus as he placed an arm around her. He ran his fingers up and down her arm and she felt more at peace with life than she had in the last several months. They began chatting about classes and the workload the professors were giving now that O.W.L.s were on the horizon. They talked about some of the revelations they were given once they had all come home. Malus had just started talking about how his dad was planning to use the mansion as some sort of public museum when Callie came running up, interrupting him mid thought.

"She's doing it!" Callie said excitedly.

"Who?" Abigail asked.

"Cara! She's doing it!" Callie repeated. Abigail tilted her head, waiting. "We have to go cheer her on! Come on!"

Callie turned to run. Abigail looked at Malus.

"I guess if it's coming from Callie, you should probably just go with it," he said. Malus stood, grabbing his broom, then held out a hand to pull Abigail to her feet. With a quick kiss, they were off, running after Callie.

Cara turned the broom handle in her hand as she steeled herself. Cheyenne was walking by her, trying to talk her out of it.

"You're never going to live this down," Cheyenne said. "Come on, Cara, trials were over months ago. Just wait until next year!"

"No," Cara said, continuing forward, not looking at her friend.

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you," Cheyenne said, stopping where she was, a few hundred feet away from the entrance to the Quidditch pitch.

Cara took another deep breath. The team was already circled around Keith—sixth year captain—as he went on and on about the importance of getting a strong win against Slytherin in a few weeks. Most of the team members were bored. Utterly bored. Cara's cousin Trina was wondering when Keith was going to get it over with.

Lewis saw Cara first. His boredom turned to curiosity and surprise. He narrowed his eyes in question her way. Other team members stared at her now. Trina was pleased, but then Trina always had liked someone that would step in and shake things up. Keith was the last to realize Cara was there as she stopped and stood her ground. He lost his train of thought and turned toward Cara, fully geared up and waiting.

"The pitch isn't open today," Keith said.

"I'm here to try out."

A variety of emotions and thoughts were sifting their way through Keith until incredulity stuck. "Trials were in September," Keith said. "As they are every year. And if I remember right, you were there."

"I was," Cara said. She felt her resolve shaking until she caught Lewis's eye. He was smiling at her. She turned back to Keith, bolstered. "I was having… an off day. I want another shot."

Keith turned towards her, folding his arms across his chest. "We don't have time for this," he said.

"Oh, but we have time for a forty-five minute lecture on how much we need the next win?" Trina retorted. Keith scowled at her.

"It wouldn't be fair," Keith said. "Not to the other people who tried out and not to the members on the team now."

"I'm fine with it," Lewis said. Everyone turned to him. "She's a chaser and it was me that was up against her in the first place. All I care is that Gryffindor wins."

Keith's mouth was literally hanging open at this point. "If we need an alternate I'll—"

"You're making a mistake Keith," Trina interrupted him. "When we have family games during summers, we all try and get Cara on our team."

"And?"

"And she gets chosen before my aunt Lily most of the time," Trina added casually.

Cara thought this was a bit of an exaggeration. Besides the fact that her mum didn't often play with the cousins, she was also a seeker. But Trina was trying to convince him, so Cara stayed put as he digested this new information. Apparently they all knew who her mum was, because the others started to whisper.

"Fine," Keith finally decided. "Lewis and…"

"Cara," she said.

"Lewis and Cara, one-on-one. Trina, can I have you block your cousin without you playing favorites."

"There are no favorites in Quidditch, Greene. Only winners and losers," Trina responded with a smirk and took off towards the home team hoops.

"McMillian, you guard the other. You're blocking Lewis," Keith said. "Ten minutes. That's all you're getting."

Cara nodded as the other members of the team headed for the stand. As she looked around she saw Callie, Harriet, Abigail, and Malus entering the pitch, finding seats in a front row. No signs this time, but they started cheering nonetheless. Cara got into the air and met Lewis in the center of the pitch.

"Don't go easy on me, Scamander," Lewis said. Cara grinned.

"You either," Cara replied.

Keith brought up the Quaffle, hovering between the two of them. On the count of three, he tossed it up and Cara pushed forward, snatching it just as Lewis's fingers touched the ball. There were cheers from her siblings and Cara concentrated, dodging down when Lewis first tried to cut her off. It seemed to be the only move he had as she made it down the pitch. In her haste, she made a sloppy toss, which made it easy for Trina to catch. She raised an eyebrow at Cara as she tossed the quaffle to Lewis.

Cara gave him a few seconds, then was circling him. She darted down and then zoomed up, snatching the quaffle and taking it down the pitch, taking the extra time to think through her throw, sinking it into the right hoop. Trina gave an approving grin this time as she fetched the ball. Callie was louder than the others, cheering and clapping.

Back and forth they went. Cara took the quaffle half a dozen times from Lewis in half a dozen ways, whereas he only seemed to try and straightforward cutoff. By the third time Cara could anticipate this, tossing the quaffle over him and dashing under, catching it on the other side.

Keith blew a whistle after Cara scored her eighth shot and Cara followed Lewis down where the team was gathering, both of them out of breath. She landed, unclear exactly on how Keith was feeling. Maybe Keith didn't even know how Keith was feeling. That was probably the reason. He swallowed, looking between Cara and Lewis.

"It's really fine," Lewis said, still catching his own breath. "Come on Keith, you want to win? Here's your answer."

Keith's shoulders relaxed. "Fine, Scamander, but any more… off days… and I'll change my mind right back. Take two minutes, then everyone to the sky."

Cara turned towards Lewis. He was still grinning like a cheshire cat. "You know, a good repayment might be teaching me some of those moves."

"Any time," Cara replied. "I owe you."

"Good luck up there," Lewis added and winked as he walked towards the bleachers to watch the practice.

Cara turned just as Callie came behind her, throwing her arms around Cara's neck. "I'm so proud of you," Callie whispered in her ear. Cara wrapped her arms around Callie as well, looking towards the entrance to the pitch. Grandpa stood there, leaning against the wall with a wide smile.

Harry made it back to the Burrow in the afternoon, joining Ginny as they watched Arthur and Ivy. Albus and Emily were having something of a getaway weekend and Ginny had immediately volunteered to watch the kids.

"Ivy, why do you have that hat on?" Harry asked.

She was tugging it down around her ears, pushing every strand of long, dark, straight hair up as it came loose. It must have been one of Emily's, being too large for Ivy.

"So the pixies don't turn my hair white!" Ivy declared. "Like grandma!"

"She was asking me about why the front of my hair was white," Ginny said, coming around the table and giving Harry a peck on the lips. "So I told her."

"Ah!" Harry said.

Ginny's hair had hardly faded over the years. Unlike his, which had gone grey nearly a decade before. But there had been an incident which caused enough physical duress to make the hair framing her face a shocking white. Ivy pushed more hair up and Harry laughed, shaking his head, wondering just how detailed a story Ginny had made up for their granddaughter's benefit.

They took the children out for an evening picnic, Arthur collecting rocks from the field. After a few more games and a bedtime story from Ginny, Harry carried Ivy on his back and picked up Arthur under his arms, taking them to bed.

Making his way back down the stairs, Harry fell into the seat beside Ginny on the couch. She leaned against him, holding his arm. "We're getting too old for this," Ginny said, closing her eyes.

"I think we have a few years left," Harry said.

"Did everything get settled with Shadow?" Ginny asked.

Harry had stayed at the school Friday night and into the morning to catch up on lessons and help Andreas with Shadow. Scorpius had kept Shadow on the Malfoy property until Andreas made arrangements for Shadow's boarding and care in Hogsmeade. "It was fine," Harry replied. He kicked off his shoes and put his feet on the edge of the coffee table in front of him. "Andy's excited to have her there now. And Serena brought Phoebe to see her."

Ginny hummed. "It sounds like he'll have plenty to keep him busy for a while."

"Cara asked for another shot at the team," Harry added.

Ginny pulled away, looking at him, waiting.

"They're letting her play," Harry said. Ginny smiled wide.

"That's great!" Ginny said. "Oh, Lily will be so excited about that!"

"She plays like you," Harry added. He moved a hand up to her cheek. "It reminds me of when we used to come to your games."

"Hmmm, you mean half a century ago?"

"Now you're just aging us up," Harry said with a grin. He took a deep breath, looking into the same energetic brown eyes he fell in love with at sixteen. He leaned in and kissed her. For every bit of bad luck he had encountered in his life, his family had brought twice as much goodness. Harry thought of Draco... of Scorpius's wife... of his parents and every other person he knew that had been taken from this life too soon. All of them gone before they could take every bit of that goodness and really make the most of it. And here he was, with everything he could have asked for and more. Harry held to Ginny a little tighter. "This is a good life," he said.

Ginny smiled and nodded. "It's a great life," she agreed.

A/N: Okay, for reals this time people... THAT'S ALL! So if you've been reading this (or the series as a whole) and you have not chimed in (or chimed in recently) there is no better reward for me than to hear from you! Seriously! Thank you to everyone who has kept in touch throughout the 5 stories (WOAH!... How did I write that much?) and thank you if you were even silently following along. Each one I was certain I would be the only one who would even know it existed and though it's not some viral sort of success, there have still been a lot of hits on these stories, so thanks for taking a chance on me! (Also, before I go away, did anyone notice in the latest stories on Pottermore, JK Rowling addresses wandless magic and how some cultures either don't use wands or revere the higher magic as the magic done without wands? *points to Imogen* I think I was onto something :) ) Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!