Title: the aftermath of war

Rating: PG-13

Pairing(s)/Characters: Narcissa Black / Lucius Malfoy, Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Percy Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Draco Malfoy

Warnings (if any): none, unless you count an angry young Bill.

Notes: Would prefer it you did not copy, save or download my work to alter it any way.

Obviously the adoptions go far more smoothly than would happen realistically. It is fanfic and who needs to spend 15k in family court to be honest.

So, at the point we join the families the ages are;

Bill 11

Charlie 9

Percy 6

Fred and George 4

Ron and Draco 1 1/2,

Ginny 8 months

To be honest this is semi-crack fic. The first 300 words popped into my head and then the rest came after that. Don't take it too seriously. I am absolutely not.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no monitory profit. All I have are my OCs and my ideas and a lot of effort. JK's world is just a sandpit I make castles in.

Molly and Arthur Weasley are killed just before little Harry Potter defeats Voldemort. The September to be exact. Their three week old baby screams as the wards hold on the nursery the rest of the children cower in, Ronald oddly silent in his oldest brother's arms. Their children tumble through various relation's custody for months until there is only one couple left that might be able to keep them out of an orphanage. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. The letter arrives when Narcissa is trying to coax words out of Draco while Lucius watches on in frond amusement.

"Weasleys!"

"Children, Lucius. Imagine if something happened to us? Custody of Draco would automatically go to Andromeda and that Muggleborn husband of hers. Ed or Ted or something."

A strange sound erupts from his throat and his eyes bulge but Narcissa knows that she has his attention. He pours more red wine into his wine glass and not as much into his wife's showing his growing anxiety over the matter.

"Children are not responsible for their parent's actions. They need a home, my love, and I won't have anyone thinking we won't give them one. Merlin, I won't leave them on the street regardless! We always wanted more."

"One!", Lucius snaps, "Perhaps two more. But seven. Just because we have space does not mean that we can cope."

"As I understand it, William is bound for Hogwarts in the Autumn and Charles the year after. Besides, Ronald and Ginerva are just the right age to play with Draco and the twins will have each other! Percival seems a very respectable lad from what I have heard and enjoys quiet and solitude. Give them a chance."

"If they are so wonderful, how have they run through all the other Weasleys and Prewetts in less than a year?"

"They don't have the space," his wife responds immediately, "Children need space of some sorts and then food, love and a bit of attention. Besides that I think many were overwhelmed with having four children under four but we have the elves to aid us too. We will do just fine."

"WE are not doing anything!"

"Yes we are, darling. Now come along. We have paperwork to fill out. The wine can breathe as we do so."

And that is the story of how the Malfoys started on a journey to become the Weasley - Malfoys to the bewilderment of Lucius.

April 1982 - Ministry of Magic.

Child Welfare Department

Narcissa arrives at the Ministry determined and Lucius resigned. Draco is tucked into his mother's robes with a blanket over his head to protect him in the floo but peers around curiously as they make their way to the interview room.

A harassed looking official by the name of Miller is waiting on them and looks terrified to be in the presence of Lucius Malfoy. Narcissa holds back a cringe. Damn that horrendous Death Eater nonsense. Handing their son to his father she gives Miss Miller a wide smile and asks how her day has been.

"Busy. Lot of kids needing homes and not many with relatives willing to help."

"Family is everything. It is what I was raised on, Miss Miller. I assure you that I hope to take up as little time of yours as possible and get my cousins on their way."

"Right. Well, there is some procedures to be dealt with. We like to do a face to face if anyone has had troubles with the law. I understand you were er, pardoned and victimised Mr Malfoy but it is just...procedure."

Narcissa turns to look at her husband and gives one of those looks. One of those he knows better than to ignore.

"Not a problem. Children's safety is what is important. I would expect the same if it were our Draco." Lucius does not smile because he is Lucius but he does lower his tone and return his attention to his son who is trying to eat the lapel of his robe. Miss Miller seems content for a moment.

"From the reports you clearly have the means and the space to care for the Weasley children. Certainly more than they have had before and that is good. It seems these kids need space, inside and out, or they get worked up if you will and that has caused them to ...be moved on before."

"Plenty of space for all of the children," Lucius adds and Narcissa turns to look at him in bewilderment at his addition. He had better not mean space means he will not have to see them because she will not be having any of that!

"Mmm," Miller murmurs, "Of course, you do not qualify for the stipend given out to help raise orphans given your circumstance."

Now that seems to get Lucius' attention and with a startled cry Draco is given back to his mother so that his father can draw his chair further towards the desk.

"Are you implying that my family is in need of money? That we would stoop so low as to use children to make money? Children are sacred. Everyone in our world is educated on that. Your ministry stipend barely feeds a child never mind keep it clothed, or with a roof over its head. It leaves children with acceptance to Hogwarts and fees paid but no way to purchase anything they need to actually attend. Do NOT insult me, Miller. Children are innocents. Adults make choices for the better or worst. And no, before you get to the question on your clearly ridiculous list we did not get on with Arcturus or Margaret before this point, nor have the Malfoys or Weasleys for a generation but the fact remains that there are children in need and the rest of their family, if they have the nerve to call themselves that have failed them. I will not, Miss. I will not!"

Everyone but Draco seems stunned but that is only because he is oblivious to what is happening and merely giggles at the odd looks on everyone's faces.

Either way, fifteen minutes later Lucius has a fist of freshly signed adoption papers and is leading Narcissa and Draco towards the room Miller had shakily pointed them towards.

Narcissa's first impression is that the room is far too small for seven young children.

The second is noting that it is an interrogation room only with the desk pushed against a wall and that will not do. Does the department not have better resources for this? She will be sending a letter once the children are settled.

The third is that young William is ashen faced and terrified but he stands between the Malfoy family and his own. A boy who can only be Percy cowers in the back corner with the younger four, a baby in his entirely too small for his age lap. Ginerva.

"Lucius," she murmurs, before handing Draco back to him once more . He takes in the room and sighs before taking Draco to a corner away from William.

"Hello. I am not sure what you have been told about today but I am Narcissa Malfoy and this is my husband Lucius and son Draco and we have just signed your adoption forms so look forward to taking you home whenever you feel comfortable," Narcissa says with an easy smile.

"Adoption? Not foster?" William demands sharply. Oh, she likes this boy.

"Oh, Merlin no. You are family. If you come home with us then you say with us for better or worse."

Behind William she hears a boy who can only be Charles hiss Malfoy like a curse word and once again wants to throttle her husband. And his entire family.

"Our family lines have crisscrossed many times over the years, darlings. If we had known your plight sooner we would have reached out. We are deeply sorry for what you have experienced this past year but we do, truly, want to open our home to all of you. Lucius here has our son, Draco. He should be ages with young Ronald I think?"

"Ron," Charles says flatly as he moves to join his brother in a barrier between the families, "We call him Ron."

"I see. And do any of you others use shortened versions? Forgive us but we only have the names the Ministry gave. Lucius?"

"Yes, hang on. Draco stop! You can't eat that. A second," Lucius frets while lowering Draco to the floor. The youngster instantly begins crawling around the room and trying to meet the new people. Charlie crouches down to interact with him. It puts smiles on the faces of the Weasleys and in turn, Narcissa.

"William, Charles, Percival, Fred, George, Ronald and Ginerva. That is what our papers say," Lucius drawls as he surveys the paperwork.

William screws up his face and Percival seems especially outraged so immediately speaks out.

"Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and...well we don't really know what mum and dad would have shortened it to but we picked Ginny? I-well-I like Ginny."

"Ginerva is a large name for a small child," Lucius comments. It is the closest they will get to approval and everyone else seems to understand even if they are young.

"Why are you here though? No one else wanted us. Ginny cries all the time and Ron is not much better. The twins are always into things and their accidental magic is terrible. I try my best with Charlie and Percy but-"

"We're family, son. That is all that matters. And I assure you that nothing your siblings can throw at me is going to make me go through the courts to reverse this adoption," Lucius says.

"But you are a Malfoy."

"And you are a Weasley but here we are."

"Come on children, let's head to the floos," Narcissa murmurs as she begins to think of the children, "When we get there, Lucius if you take Draco, I will take young Ginny. Bill can take Ron if that is ok. I will conjure a blanket for their heads. Charlie and Percy if you hold a twin each we should make it without any mishaps."

Perhaps it is fear. Perhaps it is disbelief but three hours after the Malfoys enter the Ministry the Malfoy-Weasleys arrive in Wiltshire.

Draco squirms in his father's arms and demands to be set down. As soon as his knees hit the floor his nanny-elf Jetty appears and follows his progress with a careful eye and half smile.

"You have house elves here?" Charlie blurts out to break the silence.

"Three. Jetty, Dobby and Remy. Jetty prefers to spend her time with children. She is very fond of Draco."

"So she will be raising Ron and Ginny?" Bill asks carefully.

"No, darling, merely helping. I assure you that I plan to raise you all. Having said that, I am afraid I won't be as good in the kitchen as Ma...Molly was. I don't think Remy would let me in anyway. He is very possessive."

Charlie laughs at that for a moment only to fall silent under Bill's stare.

"Why don't we all move to the living room shall we? This room is mostly used to receive people from the network or other guests. The living room is for family. Come," Lucius utters softly before placing a firm hand on Percy's shoulders and steering him from the room.

Percy doesn't seem bothered by much and if anything just seems glad to be freed of the responsibility of his younger siblings. The twins are staring at everyone and everything around them in awe and babbling to themselves in half sentences Narcissa figures they both understand. Lucius bites back a wince as he ushers the gaggle of redheads into his living room and watches the twins paw at his grandfather's couch and leave fingerprints on his mother's coffee table. Bill and Charlie pull each of them onto an armchair and Percy sits with Ron on another. Ginny sleeps peacefully on in Narcissa's arms as she takes the couch with Lucius.

"Well children I think questions are in order. I am sure you must be full of them," Narcissa begins brightly enough, " Though it might be easier if you all had drinks yes? I am sure Remy will be round soon with tea and juice and you can take your choices. Bill, no one deemed to tell us of Ginny's feeding schedule and what she is eating aside from taking milk. I am sorry to ask but you seem a responsible boy who would have noticed such things?"

While Narcissa gets the details of the baby's feedings from her oldest brother, Lucius sets about making sure the boys each have a drink. Ron's is safely in a cup with a spill proof lid and once he is happily sat against Percy's shoulder sipping away he leaves the room to find that Draco has not wandered far and hands another such cup to Jetty.

Soon enough his new family is once again gathered and there is nothing to be done but get down to business.

" I have never heard of you," Percy state frankly from his perch. "I had heard of everyone else."

"There has been a feud between our families for a long time. An argument," Lucius adds when Percy looks confused and screws up his face, "That no longer matters. We are family and you needed us so we are here."

"Why now?" Charlie asks innocently.

"I didn't like Muriel," Fred says, speaking for the first time.

"No, she was a fart!" George agrees.

"Twins!" Narcissa snaps," I will not have such talk in this house. Muriel tried her best and we shall be grateful for that, understood boys? And no one, and I mean no one, is to be called a, well, a fart. It is unbefitting of the name of Malfoy...and Weasley."

Lucius turns a laugh into a cough and notes that one of the first things his wife and he must do is figure out a way to distinguish between the young boys. Trouble indeed.

"As for your question, Charlie," Lucius drawls, "We did not know that you needed a home. You went to family far closer first, people who knew your parents far better than we did. I only ever saw your parents in passing at school and in the Ministry of Magic. As soon as we were contacted we made the appropriate arrangements of course."

"What chores do we need to do?," one of the twins pipes up and the Malfoys share amused glances before realising that all of the children are serious.

"None," Narcissa gasps, "None. I expect that you make your bed in the morning, keep yourselves tidy and attempt not to make a mess at the eating table. You are children. Bill and Charlie may be asked to do something in order to learn about their role in society but darling boys you are a mere four years old and will not be getting chores."

"Oh. Will we still be fed then?" This comes from the other twin and Lucius is certain that if it were not for the babe in her arms Narcissa might blow something up. He knew the Weasleys were trouble. And that damned Muriel Prewett.

"Every day, my children. Three times at least. Punishment might involve not getting pudding but that is all."

"I don't believe it. You're Malfoys!," Bill shouts suddenly, half dislodging Charlie and the twins while he is at it. "You did bad things in the war! You're bad people! You're going to hurt us all and I won't let you I won't!"

"William. Calm down," Narcissa states firmly," Adults make mistakes in life. I will not pretend we are different. But I promise on Morgana herself that I mean no ill will to you or your siblings. I just want to help. I want to give you a home."

"And you?!" Bill demands, turning on Lucius a moment later. The war flashes across the man's mind. It does not seem to make so much sense anymore. Not in the face of this terrified eleven year old boy trying desperately to defend his ragtag group of siblings.

"I want to help you, son."

"I'm not your son!"

"No, no you are not. Not if you don't want to be. But I will treat you and defend you as if you are. That, you can do nothing about."

Bill sways for a moment and then Charlie tugs him roughly back into the seat and has a word in his ear. Percy tries to hear from the other chair but fails. The twins look afraid.

"Can we have our own rooms?" Percy asks, "I wouldn't need a large one. Just, I like to read and everyone else is so...loud."

That lifts Narcissa's spirits again and she carefully gets to her feet and holds a hand to Percy, "Well I thought the twins might like to share and that for now perhaps Draco and Ron could given their shared age. Everyone else will have a room of their own and if the twins and the young ones don't want to share then yes, everyone gets their own. But Percy I have something for you. A library!"

"What is that, Mrs Malfoy?"

"Cissa darling. It is a room filled with books."

The young boy gasps and scrambles down from the couch to grasp at her robes, "Only books?"

"Yes darling, shall we go and see?"

He nods enthusiastically before his face falls, "I...I have to look after Ron."

Narcissa sighs and drops to her knees, Ginny carefully balanced between them, "Not anymore child. Not anymore."