Lily Luna Potter smiled at her best friend Julie, as they began to pack up their third year schoolbooks. It was the last lesson on the last day of term before the students would return home for the Christmas break.

"Now, for your homework over the break..." called out Professor Longhorn, a new witch this year, teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.

The class groaned, causing Professor Longhorn to chuckle. " Nothing too hard, I assure you. As I'm new to Hogwarts, I'd like to know more about you, personally. So these assignments are for you to do over the break, and each topic is different." She indicated her desk, where small pieces of parchment lay, face down. " You may come up, single file, and pick out your topics. There is to be no switching, once you pick a topic, read it out and my quill records it. Minimum length is twenty inches. Make it fun and interesting...and have a Merry Christmas."

The boys shot to the front, making Lily and Julie roll their eyes. They joined about half way down the line, listening as others ahead of them read out their topics.

"Tell me about your home. Describe in as much detail as you can," read out Oscar Wood.

"Tell me your favourite Christmas memory," read out Lisa Bones-Fitch-Fletchley.

"Do you have siblings, cousins or friends that live near you that don't go to Hogwarts? Tell me about them," read out Iris Boot.

"These actually sound like fun," commented Julie to Lily, who nodded in agreement.

Julie stepped up and picked up some parchment. " Tell me about your pets, and what they mean to you. Describe in as much detail as you can," she read. She beamed at Lily, who knew her friend was a mad keen animal lover, with a dog, two cats and her owl, Chudley. She was hoping to get a position at the Department and Regulation for Control of Magical Creatures after Hogwarts.

Julie stepped aside and waited for Lily. Lily smiled at the professor as she picked her parchment. She read it aloud. " Tell me about the bravest person in your family. What makes them brave?" For a moment she wondered if the parchment had been charmed so she would pick this topic.

Half the class groaned. " Lucky, that's so easy for you," they called. With Harry Potter for a father, they expected Lily to gloat.

But she hesitated. She looked up at Professor Longhorn, who smiled gently. " No swapsies, Lily. I look forward to reading your essay. Who's next? Ah, Finnegan, here." She gestured for the boy behind Lily to step forward.

Lily fell into step beside Julie as they left the classroom and made their way back to Gryffindor Tower to get ready for dinner. The essay soon slipped her mind as she and her dormmates started packing and talking about their plans over the Christmas break.

As much as she enjoyed Hogwarts, there was nothing like coming home, especially for Christmas. It was the favourite time of year for all the Potters, and it was fun to get together with her cousins and continue the traditions that even her mum used to do with her brothers when she was little. They would help Grandma Molly bake for the big day, while also helping their grandparents to decorate the Christmas tree. There would always be a snowball fight, especially with James and Freddie. Teddy and Victoire could be relied on to take the younger cousins shopping for that last minute gift if needed, and Uncle George was always happy for an extra pair of hands in WWW at this busy time of year.

Lily also loved the chance to do those things at her own home. Her dad would usually take the boys to meet with Hagrid to get their tree, while she and her mum stayed home to ready the decorations. Christmas carols would be playing when the males returned, then Harry and Lily would bake their own Christmas biscuits, laughing as they listened to Ginny, James and Albus squabbling good naturedly in the lounge. Scorpius was joining them this year, so a red faced Albus had told her. Their relationship was still new, but Lily thought they were perfect for each other, especially all they had gone through the year before.

/*/*/*/*

She'd only been home two days, and it was snowing fiercely. It was the day before Christmas Eve, and the Potter house was in readiness for the big day. James was in the kitchen making a sandwich. Albus had brought down his own schoolwork to do, settling on the lounge with the wireless on in the background. Ginny was going to be on next, to discuss the Quidditch standings and expectations; the teams were on their Christmas break.

With a sigh, Lily remembered her essay. She chanced a look at her dad, sitting in the armchair across from Albus, just picking up the paper. She went to get her parchment and quill, and settled in front of the fireplace, laying on her stomach.

"Bother!" huffed Harry, folding the newspaper down and tossing it aside. He rubbed his eyes behind his glasses. " Bloody reporters." He threw his glasses on to the arm of the chair.

"Mum's a reporter," reminded Albus.

Harry looked over, as if surprised to see his children there. " Your mum's a brilliant Quidditch reporter," he corrected. " I just wish some of the other so called reporters she works with at the Daily Prophet would check their facts before their stories make it to the pages," he said. He went on to mumble about the public being mislead with the wrong information.

"What's wrong, Dad?" asked Lily. He looked tired; his department had just closed a big case they'd been working on for months.

"Oh...it's nothing," said Harry. He hated bringing his work problems home. This was his sanctuary away from all that.

"Come on, Dad, tell us," encouraged James, coming in with his huge sandwich on a plate. He picked up the discarded paper. "Hey, front page again, old man."

"That's what I mean," said Harry, gesturing at the paper. " Yes, I'm head of the department, but the way it's been reported, it sounds like I was the one on scene to arrest the bastards, er, bad guys for making and selling those dodgy potions. They still see me as the Chosen One, damnit. I'm not seventeen anymore, and I''m certainly not deserving of all the credit in this arrest. There were a lot of brave Aurors who had a hand in this; especially the ones that went undercover. Still, at least they'll be home with their loved ones for Christmas," said Harry, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "If I read another bloody story about myself...oh, your mum's on, ssh," he said, his finger to his lips.

They listened as Ginny, Oliver Wood and Lee Jordan had an entertaining half hour discussing the Quidditch teams, and their expectations for the rest of the season. Harry's bad mood was gone as he chuckled at Ginny's description of the Cannon's Seeker in their last match, and Lee and Oliver's debate over Puddlemere or Tutshill for the early favourites to become the champions.

As Lee started to wind down, Harry jumped up. " Gin will be home soon, better get a start on dinner. Think I'll make her favourite." His children watched him head to the kitchen, then rolled their eyes at each other, knowing Ginny loved everything Harry made.

"James, what do you think it means to be brave?" asked Lily, looking back at the parchment, almost hoping it had changed since she stuffed it in her bag.

James scoffed. "You're looking at the poster boy for brave, Lil," he said, pointing to the kitchen. " Ask Dad!" He shoved half his sandwich in his mouth.

"I have to write an essay on someone in my family that's brave," said Lily. " You heard what Dad said. No more stories about him."

James and Albus looked at each other and laughed. "I don't think he meant a school essay from his precious Lily-loo," teased Albus, using their parents old nick-name for Lily.

Lily shrugged. "Everyone already knows everything about Dad, and what they don't know, they just make up. Albus?"

"I think Scorpius was really brave last year," sighed Albus, thinking of his boyfriend. James and Lily snickered at the sappy expression on his face.

"It's not like Dad's the only brave person in our family, Lil," reminded James. " Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron were by dad's side for a lot of it back then." He chewed his sandwich thoughtfully.

Lily nodded. " I know, James."

" What about where it all started? Grandma and Grandpa Potter," said Albus, softly. The events of last year were still strong in his mind, using the time-turner to go back to Godric's Hollow and actually seeing his grandparents with his own father, when he was a baby. He still remembered the tight grip Harry had on him and Ginny, as he watched Voldemort kill his parents. The way he fell to the floor, still grasping their hands as though needing a lifeline, as he gasped and wept in grief.

" What about Uncle Sirius, escaping Azkaban to try to get to Dad before Wormtail could lure him to Voldy," declared James, proud of his namesakes. He brushed his crumbs off his chest; their family cat wandered over to see if there was anything tasty.

" Well, what about Dumbledore himself?" asked Albus. "Or Snape?"

" They're not part of my family, though," reminded Lily, who was making a list.

" Family isn't always about blood, Lil. Grandma and Grandpa Weasley always considered dad a son, even before he married mum," said Albus.

Lily considered that fact, and added their names to the list. " Well then, what about Uncle Neville, cutting off the head of that snake during the battle. The Sword of Gryffindor came to him, just like it came to Dad, when they both needed it. Or my Luna, trapped in the dungeon at Malfoy Manor for months," she suggested, shooting an apologetic look at Albus as she mentioned her godmother. Albus shrugged, knowing it was a part of the Malfoy legacy Draco was ashamed of still.

The Potter siblings looked at each other, thinking hard, then - " Dobby!" they all cried, grinning at each other.

Harry poked his head out of the kitchen. " Did you lot say something? Is your mum home?" he asked hopefully.

"Not yet, Dad, you're fine," replied James, waving him away. Harry eyed the three of them sceptically, then retreated back to the kitchen.

"Dobby was definitely brave," agreed Lily, adding him to the list.

"So were Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur. They were harbouring the three most wanted wizards in our world at Shell Cottage, after they escaped from Malfoy Manor," realised Albus, thoughfully.

"Didn't Uncle George and Uncle Fred make a lot of products at WWW, that the Order of the Phoenix ended up using against Voldemort?" asked Lily, thinking back to the many stories she and her siblings and cousins had heard of the last wizarding war.

"The students at Hogwarts used them too, when Death Eaters were running the school," said James, gravely.

"I reckon Macgonagall had to have been pretty brave, doing her best to protect the students from the teachers that year. She fought during the battle too, and she's like, old," reminded Albus.

"Oh, Hagrid, we can't forget him. Dad said Hagrid always believed in him and Dumbledore. Dad's very first friend in the magical world," said Lily, enthusiastically adding Hagrid's name to the list.

"I know someone who's not brave," taunted James. " Fang the second." Albus and Lily laughed in agreement. Large though he may be, Hagid's faithful hound was content to simply lay around the cabin and snooze. He would more likely slobber over someone rather than attack them.

The Floo flared and Ginny stepped out. " That's what I like to hear when I get home, the sound of my children laughing," she said in greeting.

"Hi, Mum," they chorused. She kissed Albus' forehead, as he was the closest to her.

"Great show," mentioned James. " Can't wait to hear what Uncle Ron has to say about your comments on the Cannon's Seeker." He swung around so his feet rested on the back of the sofa.

The kitchen door opened and Harry stuck his head out yet again. " Hey, did I hear - Gin, you're home." His face lit up. " Great show," he commented. " Can't wait to hear what Ron says about your comments on the Cannon's Seeker," he teased.

Ginny exchanged a fond look with James as she bypassed him on her way to the kitchen, knocking his feet off from the back of the sofa. "Thanks, guys. Hey, what's for dinner, I'm starving?" she asked him, sniffing appreciatively. The door swung shut behind her.

The Potter siblings looked at each other, grimacing and wincing as they heard their parents greet each other in their usual way, which meant -

"Snogging!" said Albus, shaking his head.

"Dinner will be late," said James, regretfully, rubbing his stomach.

"But Dad will be happier," reminded Lily softly. She looked back at her list. There was an awful lot of people on there. " So, who should I write about?" she asked her brothers.

James shrugged. He shut his eyes then pressed a finger to the list. He opened them, looking to see who his finger had landed on. " Grandma and Grandpa Potter."

Lily looked thoughtful. "I know everyone at school is expecting me to write about dad, and I guess their story is really where his begins, so..." She still felt uncertain.

Albus leaned closer to her. " Lily, why don't you talk to as many people on this list as possible; we'll be seeing most of them this coming week because it's Christmas. Then you can decide whose story you want to tell."

"That's a really good idea, Albus. Thanks," said Lily, rolling up her parchment and laying her quill next to it on the coffee table.

"What is for dinner, anyway, I'm starving?" asked James, echoing his mother. He swung his legs over and stood up, going to the kitchen door and opening up. " Ahh, my eyes, my eyes," he gasped, covering his eyes with his hands.

Albus and Lily laughed as Harry removed his hands from Ginny's butt, chuckling at being caught out by his children.

"Dinner will be in fifteen minutes," he announced, reluctantly letting Ginny go as he turned back to stir the pots on the stove top.

James groaned and went to return to the lounge. " Shut the door," called his parents.

"No, or we'll never get dinner," replied James, jokingly.

"He's right, we can go all night. I'll leave you to it," said Ginny, kissing him again, then again before Albus coughed pointedly, "I'll dash upstairs and freshen up. Be right back," she told him, kissing him yet again.

"Mo-ther, go," pointed James.

Through the open door, Harry winked at Albus. Albus grinned, he knew what it was like to have that someone special you just wanted to snog all the time. Harry stirred the pots again, then disappeared upstairs.

The Potter siblings went to the kitchen and together set the table, laid out plates for Harry to dish the food onto and filled their glasses with water. When Harry returned ten minutes later, looking much happier, he began to dish up, thanking his children for the help.

Forty minutes later, as they were finishing dinner, Lily decided to start asking the questions. " Dad, who is the bravest person you know?" she asked.

"Your mother," he responded immediately, head over his plate, " for putting up with me."

The children all looked at Ginny, who nodded solemnly. " It's true, I'm amazing," she quipped in a 'what can I say' gesture.

"Da-ad," whined Lily, looking back at him. He looked up. " I'm serious. No, James, not Sirius." She got in quickly before he could respond with his usual comeback.

"So am I, serious I mean. No James, not Sirius," he said, winking at Lily. " Your mum is the bravest person I know." He exchanged a meaningful look with Ginny.

The Floo flared; it was Ron wanting to chat with Ginny about her comments on the wireless about the Cannon's Seeker. Ginny excused herself to go talk to him, and they all smiled as they listened to her shoot down every single claim Ron threw at her about how her comments were undeserved.

Lily thought now might be a good time to talk to Uncle Ron, so when she heard her mum tell him she had to go, she threw her napkin on the table and hurried out to the lounge. " Uncle Ron, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Here's my favourite Potter niece," he replied, smiling at her.

"Uncle Ron, I'm your only Potter niece," she sighed, at the familiar line.

"Just like your mother, too smart for your own good. So Lils, what can I do for you?" he asked.

"Uncle Ron, who is the bravest person you know?" she asked. " You can't pick Dad...or Aunt Hermione," she quickly added, " because you're kind of bias, in that you love her."

" Yeah, I do," he grinned. The grin faded. " Well, Lil, if it can't be 'Mione, or Harry, then I guess it would have to be your mum. Yeah, Ginny," he said thoughtfully.

"Mum? Why?" she asked.

Ron hesitated, and Lily knew it was going to be something to do with the war. She, her siblings and cousins had all been told a basic version of that time in their parents lives, only so they wouldn't be blindsided by gossip and wrong information when they got to Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny had probably been a bit more forthcoming with information than Ron and Hermione.

"You know how the Horcruxes work, don't you?" he asked. Lily nodded. "They make you think the worst things about yourself. I really struggled when I had to wear it, your dad and aunt did too, but it affected me worse. Then I realised, much later, mind, that your mum carried around a Horcrux every day for nearly a year, and it was a stronger Horcrux than the one we had. Your mum, she tried to get rid of it, but when she saw Harry had it, she stole it back to protect him. It nearly killed her, Lil," he said, lost in thought.

"But you and Dad saved her," argued Lily.

" Well, it was mostly your dad," offered Ron, " but your mum, she didn't let that horrible thing ruin her life. She's a very strong woman, your mum."

"Yeah, I know," replied Lily. " Thanks, Uncle Ron."

He nodded. " Course, she doesn't know anything about Quidditch," he winked, before closing his Floo connection.

Harry popped his head out through the kitchen door. " All right, Lil? Want some dessert?"

Lily nodded and went back to the kitchen.

/*/*/*/*

The next morning she was at the Burrow, surrounded by her cousins. It was Christmas Eve and the boys, bored with cooking talk, retreated for a quick fly while the snow was still light. The girls all had their assigned roles, some baking bread, some working on the mince pies and some making biscuits. Molly had made the Christmas pudding weeks ago, and it was wrapped in muslin in the pantry. Lily settled with Lucy, with pots of icing to decorate the biscuits. Grandma Molly flittered in between them all, overseeing them but mostly just happy to have all her granddaughters in her kitchen.

Once the biscuits were baked and decorated, with the boys returning in time to sample the ones that wouldn't make the Christmas table, the talk turned to their Christmas celebration. Just when the teasing turned to Victoire about Teddy and a possible proposal, Aunt Fleur came in, via the door, accompanied by Aunt Hermione.

"Mum, what are you doing here?" asked Rose in surprise. Being Minister for Magic was a 24/7 job, and Hermione was dedicated to her position. Unfortunately, Rose hadn't seen her mother much in the couple of days that they had been home.

"I need to talk to your grandfather about something," explained Hermione. She looked at Molly, who nodded when Hermione gestured to the shed outside.

"You will 'av a cup of tea before you return to zee Ministry, yes, ma soeur?" asked Fleur.

"That would be lovely, thanks, Fleur," said Hermione, as she headed outside to speak with Arthur, stopping to kiss Rose on the cheek. Hermione occasionally sought his counsel on several Muggle matters, and the best way to present her findings and rulings to the Ministry workers, especially the older ones, who argued against breaking away from the old ways.

Fleur found most of her nieces looking at her in concern. " Is everything all right with mum?" Rose asked her aunt.

Fleur nodded. " Zere are still many who want answers from what 'appened last year with Albus and ze Malfoy boy," she explained.

"Scorpius," supplied Lily. Everyone looked at her. " He's Albus' boyfriend now, and he'll be joining us here for Christmas." Her voice was defensive, almost daring any of her family to make fun of Scorpius or Albus, or both.

Fleur looked at her niece, her gaze softening. "I meant no offense, Lily. Albus is much 'appier these days, we 'ave all noticed. If that is because of Scorpius, zen e is most welcome 'ere."

The others drifted away, but Lily nodded. " Aunt Fleur, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, my ni'ece," acceded Fleur. The two sat on the steps that led up the stairs.

"Who is the bravest person you know? Besides my dad and Uncle Bill," she said. At Fleur's curious look, she explained, " it's for an essay at school."

"Ah, well, let's see," mused Fleur, thinking. "I zink people that returned to fight at ze battle were brave, especially the students. Zey could have stayed away, could have stayed safe."

"There's no way mum would have stayed away, stayed safe, with all her family and dad at Hogwarts," declared Lily. " Everyone she cared about were there. She would have wanted to fight alongside them."

Fleur stroked Lily's hair. "I zink you just answered your own question, Lily," she said gently. She stood and continued up the stairs.

Lily sat there thinking hard. She didn't even notice her aunt Hermione return inside, looking much happier than when she left to go out until she took Fleur's place next to Lily. Lily supposed her grandpa had helped her.

"Hey, Lily, how's school?" asked Hermione, always interested in her nieces and nephews education and the goings on at Hogwarts.

"Okay. I have an essay to write over the break, and I'm struggling a bit. Can you help, Aunt Hermione?" asked Lily.

"I'd love to try," offered Hermione. " What's the topic?"

"Who is the bravest person you know, and you can't pick my dad or Uncle Ron," instructed Lily.

"Why not?" asked Hermione, amused.

"Because everyone expects me to write about dad, and he doesn't want any more stories about him. And you love Uncle Ron, so he can't count," ordered Lily.

"The three of us saw many acts of bravery over the years, so it's kind of hard to narrow it down to one person. Dumbledore, Macgonagall, Hagrid, just to name a few," said Hermione gravely.

Lily nodded. " I made a list and they were on it, but it has to be someone in my family," she said, silently apologising to Hagrid, who was definitely considered a part of her family.

Hermione hesitated. " There was this one person, this was at the final battle. She was underage but when the call went out that Harry was at Hogwarts, she refused to stay away."

"Aunt Hermione, it has to be someone in my family," protested Lily, but Hermione continued.

"She lost her brother that night, and several close friends. And when the hour cease fire was called, she went out, looking for survivors. She came across a young girl, a dying young girl, and she stayed with her until the end."

Lily was entranced, watching her aunt get lost in her memories as she told the story.

"I remember hearing her cry out when Hagrid carried Harry out of the forest," said Hermione, painfully. "Luna and I fought by her side, against Bellatrix, before your grandmother..."

Lily knew what her grandmother had done during the battle, although Gran Molly never mentioned it all.

"The day after the battle, when we were still so exhausted and daring to realise it was really all over, I saw her with your dad. Poor Harry, everyone wanted a piece of him, and all he really wanted was some time alone with her; he'd missed her so much. Ron and I watched as they walked down to the lake together, and we hoped... well, she was really the only one who could help your dad, the only one he'd probably listen to then. Apart from Molly, I mean. But they really needed each other, to help each other start to heal," said Hermione softly.

"Who is she?" asked Lily, almost tearfully. Who was this nameless she that had meant that much to her dad.

"Haven't you guessed, Lil?" teased Hermione gently. " Who is the only person your dad listens to? The one person your dad trusts, tells everything to?"

"Well, there's you and Uncle Ron," began Lily, when Hermione interrupted.

"No, Lily. Harry, Ron and I, we're close, yes, but there are things only two people in this world know about Harry Potter. One is Harry himself, and the other is -"

" Mum. You were talking about my mum," realised Lily. " Dad does tell her everything, even some things she says she doesn't need to know. You know, when he got that rash all over his -"

"Er right, exactly like that, only, important stuff," interrupted Hermione, although she made a mental note to ask Ginny about that rash. Ron had one too, after a vist to Seamus' pub in Ireland.

She put her arm around Lily's shoulders. "When Harry and I were out there, just the two of us, I'd see him look at your mum's dot on the Marauder's Map. Oh, I worried about your dad so much, and how he would be after it was all over. He has a tendency to mope, your dad. I worried he would sink into a depression," she admitted quietly.

"He does get all broody and quiet," agreed Lily, " until Mum snaps him out of it."

"Exactly! Only Ginny can do that to Harry. Your mum looked after all of us after the battle. We all came back here, and she was busy flitting around, helping your gran with food and fixing up the Burrow, making sure your grandpa ate. She'd sit with George, and they'd tell funny stories about Fred to each other, till they were laughing and crying at the same time. She got Harry and Ron to go flying again, and she went with Harry when he visited baby Teddy. She forgave Ron for something he did on the Horcrux hunt, and when I was wallowing in my misery, she reminded me that somewhere in Australia, my parents were waiting for me. She helped us all, Lily," said Hermione, remembering those difficult first days, weeks and months after the battle was over. "I couldn't have gone back to Hogwarts without her by my side."

"But who looked after Mum?" asked Lily, trying to picture her strong, outgoing family as broken and lost. It didn't seem possible.

"Who do you think?" asked Hermione, with a twinkle in her eye.

"Dad," grinned Lily, and Hermione nodded.

" By the time we were all back on our feet, and getting back to some semblance of normality, your mum and I were at Hogwarts. There was a scout watching her in the first Quidditch match, and she offered your mum a spot at tryouts when she was done at Hogwarts. It was right before we returned home for Christmas," said Hermione.

"We were all so proud of her, but the more we told her that, the quieter she became. Harry took her back to Grimmauld Place and when they were alone, she finally broke down and let all her grief out," said Hermione sadly.

"But wasn't she happy she got to tryout?" asked Lily, puzzled.

"She was, but she began to doubt her career choice. Honestly, your mum could walk into just about any department at the Ministry and be successful. She wondered if she shouldn't be doing something more worthwhile, rather than Quidditch," explained Hermione.

"But Mum's brilliant at Quidditch," said Lily.

"We were still rebuilding our world, Lily," said Hermione gently. "Most of her family and friends were working at the Ministry, even Ron and Neville were Aurors back then."

"Did Dad convince her to play Quidditch?" asked Lily.

Hermione shook her head. "No, he offered her the best thing he could have. His unconditional love and support in whatever she chose to do."

"Sounds like something Dad would say," nodded Lily. She sighed and rested her head on her hands. This essay was not getting any easier.

"For what it's worth, I'm always glad I have Ginny on my side," finished Hermione. "She's my sister, my friend and she's the best person for your dad.

Just then the Floo flared, and the lady herself stepped out.