Saturday 21st of December 1991

Hermione sat and waited patiently for her parents to absorb all the information she'd just given them, knowing it would take them a while. Anything up to an hour would pass before Aaron and Juliet Granger would enter the living world again, it was just the way their minds worked. Aaron would be replaying every word Hermione had said, while Juliet would be envisioning it as a film.

After twenty minutes, Hermione stood and made her way to the kitchen, a cup of tea sounded good, she'd talked for long enough to warrant one. Quietly and calmly, she made a pot of tea and using the wandless magic that she'd practiced with the boys, she summoned the lemon drizzle cake that Ares had sent with her, just for this very reason. Once the tray was ready, she took a deep breath and floated it back to the sitting room and her statue-like parents.

It took three cups and a fresh pot of tea before there was movement. First her mother and then her father, but eventually both adults blinked and began to move.

"Mione, love?" Aaron asked.

"Yes, Daddy?" She replied.

"When? When did you… combine, you said?"

"Yes, Daddy." She answered. "And I'm not exactly certain of the time, but I know the date. Harry's fifth birthday, 31stof July 1985. From what I was told by Aldwin, the Sorting Hat, Lady Magic brought us here and Lady Hogwarts was the one to… combine us."

"I see." He hummed in thought even as his hands sort out the teapot and poured tea for himself and Juliet.

"Thank you, dear." His wife commented absently, her mind still dwelling on Hermione's tale.

"So…?" Aaron drawled. "Where do you go now? What direction?"

"Well…" Hermione shrugged. "I'd like it if you'd let me go to Sorrell Cottage for Yule, even more if you'd come too."

"Yule?"

"Yes, Daddy. Yule."

"What's entailed in Yule? For you?"

She knew he meant for the Wizarding world, not just her. "Well, there's the Log. We'll go hunting and find a suitable piece of wood, usually oak or rowan. We prefer it to be a fallen log or if we can't find a suitable fallen one, we'll offer a tree a gift in exchange for a branch. The branch or log is brought to the house and carried through every door in the house, to bless the doors and those that pass through them. Then it's taken back outside and divided up. A main log is kept back for burning, but if it's a live branch we also keep a small piece to go above the hearth that we encourage to re-root so we can plant it for the Spring Solstice. Each person that's present gets a small twig or piece of bark and once the main log is burning, they offer the flames their piece of bark, as thanks for the fire's guiding light during the year."

"Right." Aaron nodded, waving a hand to encourage her to continue.

"Then we have a feast, again offering a small sample of each dish. The same deal as with the log. After that? It's presents. We give our gifts on Yule as opposed to Christmas, but we put the same thought and care and love behind each gift. Yes, Uncle Remus will probably give us a small box with certain things. A candle to light our way through the coming winter. A coin, so we are never penniless. A packet of seeds, that we might grow with the new year. A loaf of bread, that we might not go hungry. A cloak or blanket, to keep us warm when our loved ones aren't with us. A square of woven cloth, to remind us of those that are woven into our lives. And a seedling, usually of whatever timber our wands are made from and some time in the next year, we'll take a cutting from that seedling to the wand-maker that made our wands. That cutting will be trimmed and a sliver will be inserted into our wand." Seeing the look of confusion on her father's face, Hermione quickly explained. "It refreshes the wand-wood and the connection between the wood, the wand-core and our magic. Particularly if we've tended the seedling personally. Handling it, watering it, pulsing our magic through it. There's a little more involved, but it's different for each person. More a personal choice of how much of ourselves we open to the seedling." She didn't know how to explain it.

"I see." And strangely enough, Aaron felt that he did see, did understand. In this, at least. "And what do you hope to achieve over these holidays?"

"Other than to enjoy the holidays with both sets of people that matter to me? Nothing, Daddy." Hermione huffed.

"Really? Should I be disappointed? You've been very… ambitious in your academic goals, these last few years. Why not now?"

"I don't need to be, Daddy. I know what I'm capable of. I know what my boys are capable of. Our challenges won't really come until we're out of Hogwarts. That's when we're going to have to work hard, really hard. Now? It's a refresher course, with just a enough new subjects to keep us interested."

"Your boys?" Juliet finally spoke up.

"Yes, Mummy. My boys. Ares was my best friend, Harry. We went through Hogwarts, we went through Horcruxe hunting and we went through the Ministry, together all the way. Fred and George were in Gryffindor with us last time, but like this time, they're older than u- than I am. Cedric… he was in a different house, but his… his death shaped Harry's life, in a way." Hermione answered.

"And the other two. No, three. The other three?" Aaron asked.

"Four, Daddy. Draco, Neville, Lee and Mars. Draco was our nemesis at school, in just about everything, right until the end. It was during the final battle, that he realised that the person he was fighting for, wasn't fighting for him and didn't care about him at all. And Harry, who'd been his rival for years? Harry risked his own life for Draco, to save him from a fire that Draco's people started. It was a wake-up call for him. Ares says that it changed him, in a good way." She shrugged. "Neville? Well… Neville was… Neville. That's all you can say. He's good, kind, honest and a true Gryffindor. Lee was Fred and George's best mate, their partner in pranks and like them, he stood by Harry."

"And the other boy? Marc?"

"Mars. Mars was Sirius Black, the man that… However they did this, Mars and Ares have made Sirius Black into their father. They used Bloodline Conversions, which are complicated and messy and… the actual process is not very nice, but the end result is Harry Potter is now Ares Black, Sirius Black is now Mars Black and according to Lady Magic, Mars and Ares are the sons of Sirius Black. Super confusing and not a little mind-bending. But… that's magic for you."

Aaron and Juliet exchanged a long speaking look, before Juliet asked the next question.

"Can we expect one of these boys to… will you be bringing one of them home formally? Romantically?"

"Mummy!" Hermione objected. "I'm twelve years old. I-"

"Hermione Jean Granger. We know you better than that. I will admit that I didn't expect time travelling to be the cause, but… only your body is twelve, darling. Now… answer the question, darling." Juliet was not going to be deterred.

Hermione stared at her mother, a slight frown marring the smoothness of her forehead. She really didn't want to answer, but she knew her mother, the woman wanted an answer and she wasn't going to be happy until she got it.

Tuesday 1st of September 1992

A tapping at their compartment door made the Fiends, now numbering nine, to look up. A tiny blonde firstie stood at the door, her big blue eyes wide, giving her a startled look.

"Hello, Fiends." She said calmly. "May I join you?"

"Certainly." Cedric said, still not sure if the girl remembered or not.

"Thank you, Cedric. How do you like being a lion?" She tilted her head at him. "Red and gold suit you better than black and gold."

Well, that answered that question.

"I like it. I like having brothers." Cedric answered.

"And sisters?" She asked.

"Well… considering that Hermione could flatten me if she tried and I didn't have much to do with you…? Sisters are good." Cedric answered hesitantly.

The girl beamed. She just… beamed.

"Well, come on, in here." Draco huffed. "You're blocking the door, Sprite."

There was no need for further introductions, everyone knew everyone.

"So, Luna…? Question?" Ares asked.

"Yes, Ares." Luna turned to the twins. "Oh, hello, Mars." She added.

"Hey." He answered, waving at her.

"Is this it? Or will there be others?" Ares asked, he figured if anyone knew it would be Luna.

"No, it's just us and Astoria." She tilted her head in thought, as Draco sighed in relief. He'd missed his wife. "Do we need more? Lady Magic likes what you're doing, she'd probably bring more if you asked. But it could get a bit complicated if you do."

"Thanks, but I'm kinda happy with what we have." Ares assured her and pulled out a square of folded fabric. "Here, this is for you." He held it out in front of him, but still a few feet from her.

"My trunk and wands?" Her eyes lit up and she reached out her hands and made grabby motions. "Gimme, gimme, gimme." She chanted the words and her smile got even larger when Mars snatched the fabric from Ares and passed it to her.

"Not nice, teasing the firstie, Ares." Mars mock-frowned.

"Ooh, is Mars sweet on Luna?" Fred asked with a cheeky grin.

"Me thinks he is." George agreed.

"Knock it off, you two." Mars growled.

Draco sat back with a smirk. "Ares has Mione. And now, it looks like Mars has Luna." He turned to the other boys. "Who have you four got?"

"Us?" Spluttered Cedric. "What about you?"

"Gods, you lot are blind." Lee shook his head.

"What?" Cedric asked.

"What'd we miss?" Fred wanted to know.

Hermione and Luna exchanged glances and shook their heads.

Wednesday 1st of September 1993

The Fiends, all of them, smiled gently as Draco escorted Astoria Greengrass into their compartment.

"It went well, then?" Cedric asked, knowing how worried the younger blonde boy had been about the signing.

"It did." Draco replied.

"Yes, Father and Lord Malfoy signed our betrothal contract." Astoria added quietly.

"On the Summer Solstice. Just like Luna suggested." Draco continued. "Father also wants to know when you lot are going to put your own contracts in place?"

"Ah…" Mars grimaced.

"Mione's parents and Uncle Remus did ours the same day, but earlier in the morning. Lord Black is being stubborn about Luna." Ares answered brightly. "Suggestions?"

"Not needed, Ares. Cousins Narcissa and Andy have him in hand. He'll give his approval before Yule." Luna smile at them.

"Ah, in that case." Ares nodded. "We'll leave them to it."

"That would be best." The blonde girl agreed.

A tapping at the window revealed a dignified owl hovering outside the still stationary train. Fred, being the closest, opened the window and the owl fluttered inside, it held out a leg to Cedric and waited patiently. Cedric raised an eyebrow to his brothers and when they all shrugged, he subtly flicked his wand over the owl and it's burden, upon seeing no reactionary lights, he offered the owl a treat from his pocket and accepted the envelope. The owl bobbed it's head and took the treat, flying back out the window with the treat unswallowed.

"What's that, then?" Mars asked, pointing his chin at the offending parchment.

"I have no idea, Smoke." Cedric looked at the folded parchment, he wasn't expecting anything, so where did it come from? He turned it over and gasped.

"The Wizengamot?" He whispered, holding it so the others could see the official Wizengamot seal.

"Ooh. That looks important." Luna teased.

Cedric squinted at her. "You know about this, don't you?"

"Yes." She beamed. "Open it. It's good news."

Cedric huffed, but his fingernails lifted the seal and he opened the folded sheet.

"Read it aloud?" Ares asked, not sure whether Cedric would want to read it to himself first. Cedric cleared his throat before starting.

"Dear Mr Diggory. It has been brought to the attention of a number of members of the Wizengamot that you are the originator behind a mentoring system that was introduced into Hogwarts, by the student body. We understand that this system partners a muggle raised child with a Wizarding raised child."He took a shuddering breath. "This system had been in place for only two years but already there has been a marked alteration in student exams and participation in external activities, both muggle and Wizarding. We believe that this system may have benefits to the greater Wizarding community. Unfortunately, we do not have a grasp of the finer details that we have been told exist. Therefore, we would like to discuss the matter with you in person."He huffed in astonishment. "With the first two weeks of term not having classes for the advanced students, we are hoping that you, and your advisors, would be available to meet with a small delegation from the Ministry. Included in this delegation would be representatives from a number of departments, including the Aurors, the Improper Use of Magic, Wizengamot Administration Services, the Muggle Liaison Office, the Obliviators, the Office of Misinformation, Public Information Services, the Magical Research Committee, the Department of Magical Education and the Minister's Office." He paused while Fred whistled.

"Holy hell, that's a small delegation?" The other redhead demanded.

Cedric ignored him and kept speaking."With this in mind, we the Wizengamot, have formed a temporary department to trial your mentoring system, if successful after two years of implementation and we see similar alterations as have taken place at Hogwarts, this department will become permanent. At that point in time the Muggle Liaison Office will be subsumed into the new department, which will be titled simply as The Liaison Office and will monitor Wizarding relations with not only the muggles, but with other races, including Centaurs, Goblins, Vampires, Veela and Werewolves." Cedric paused while Fred whistled again. "With this in mind, we would like to suggest that you and your advisors be attached to this department as consultants, at least for the trial period, but preferably in a more permanent position. We also understand that as minors, you and your advisors in turn, should seek the advice of your guardians and as such we highly recommend that you do so. We anticipate a response from you no sooner than Monday 6thof September. Your sincerely, Tiberius Ogden, Chair of the Mentor Trial."He laid the parchment down on his lap and looked at his chosen brothers and sisters. "Are we ready to do this?" One by one he looked at the others and one by one, they nodded. "Alright, we'll talk to Master Snape, Uncle Remus and Professor Beeson, this evening and send Dad and Andi a quick note asking them to be ready for a lengthy ChatterBowl call this weekend."

"Why not have them go to the cottage, that way we can meet them all in the library?" Hermione asked.

"No, not yet. Professor Beeson's not ready for the library yet and we should ask the Headmaster to join us, he's got a few ideas that we might be able to use." Luna corrected. "By the end of the summer, Professor Beeson will be ready for our library." She paused and hummed. "Oh and Daddy is going to Bhutan for Yule, can I stay with you, Mione?"

Hermione shrugged. "Sure, Mum and Dad like you, I can't see them objecting, but I'll give them a call this weekend and ask."

"Thank you." Luna leant back against Mars' shoulder and began to hum the theme to the Addams Family movie.

"And we're all okay with meeting this delegation?" Cedric brought them back on track to confirm their agreement.

"As long as Umbitch isn't invited." Ares snarled.

"Uh, Ares? Umbitch is dead, she was killed years ago." Neville reminded them.

"What? When? How? Why didn't someone tell me?" Ares demanded.

"Well… It's been kinda kept under wraps." Neville grimaced.

"What happened?"

"It… um… She was illegally breeding kneazles, trying to breed the magic out of them by crossing them with cats."

"Don't lots of breeders cross them with cats?" Mars asked, not understanding.

"Yeah, but she wasn't just crossing them, she was using charms on them." Neville warned.

"To do what?" Ares asked.

"No one's really sure. She was either trying to cut their connections to their core or remove it completely." The younger boy answered.

"So the kneazles killed her?" Ares huffed. "Fitting."

"No." Neville laughed. "Even better. She drowned in kitty litter."

The entire compartment was silent for a few seconds and then the laughter started. One of them would get themselves under control, only to look at someone else and lose it, again. All in all, it took the train lurching into motion before the group settled, each of them holding their ribs and alternately chuckling or groaning at the ache.

"How?" Ares snickered.

"Again, no one's really sure and Grandma said the Wizengamot didn't care enough to investigate too far. The Aurors said her kitchen was full to the ceiling with the stuff, but that they did find a torn bag, with a badly laid never-out charm. So the easy theory is… she did the charm herself, badly, and the charm backfired, split the bag and… filled kitchen. But as Grandma says, 'who cares? She's gone and that's the important bit'. I don't think Grandma liked her very much." Neville shrugged. "It never got to the papers. It was a Ministry owned property, so they just demolished it and sold the land to the Welsh Dragon Preserve people."

That set Ares and Hermione off again.

"Ah, what's with them?" Mars asked.

"Umbitch was completely against creatures, any creatures. She didn't care if they were centaurs, elves, dragons, giants, hippogriffs or nifflers. They were creatures and so, they were disgusting and didn't deserve to be recognised." Neville explained.

"So… she got what she deserved, then?" Mars' question was almost a statement.

Saturday 30th of July 1994.

Neville paced nervously around his parents' room. St Mungo's wards were depressing, especially the Janus Thickery Long-Term ward and the room housing Frank and Alice Longbottom was no different. Dull mint green walls, murky blue-green linoleum flooring and heavy white-painted cast iron beds, did little to brighten the space. Not even the cards and colourful flowering plants could do that.

Logically Neville knew that his parents shouldn't be showing many signs of waking, not yet. But logic and magic don't always see eye to eye. And today was a perfect example.

It had been less than thirty-six hours since Ares and Neville had snuck in and… encouraged… the Longbottoms to swallow the Cruciatus Recovery potion that the Fiends had prepared. And no one had expected a reaction this quickly. Neville remembered it being many days before his parents began to react and weeks before they were able to hold a coherent conversation. But as Ares had told Hermione, they hadn't stepped backward, but sideways and this was just another minor difference. Like Lucius Malfoy not being quite the same fanatical Death-Eater that they remembered, like Snape not being quite the same abusive git, like Dumbledore actually doing the right thing, the Longbottoms sidestepping the weeks of progress, just seemed to be just another point of difference between the place the Fiends had come from and where they were now.

The three healers bustled around the room, moving from one bed and back to the other. tossing this scan at Alice, before hurrying over to cast another scan at Frank, then scurrying back to Alice to cast yet another scan.

Back and forth. Back and forth.

Mars, the ever irreverent Mars, caught Neville's attention as he paced passed.

"The healers are running around like squirrels, checking on their acorns before winter sets in." The older boy said.

Neville stopped in his tracks and looked at Mars. A glint in his eye made Mars step back quickly, shaking his head, he knew that glint, it was usually the precursor to a dare. And all the Fiends knew that Mars could rarely resist Neville's dares, someone else's, sure. But not Neville's.

And sure enough, Neville opened his mouth.

"Mars?" He growled. " I dare you to say that so that they can hear you, then keep your mouth shut for the next three hours." He raised an eyebrow in challenge.

"No, no, no." Mars whined. "Not today."

"No? You sure?" Neville's grin was an evil thing.

"I'm sure. Ares said, he'll make me a batch of chocolate and peanut-butter Swiss rolls with butterscotch-mallow icing." Mars whined. "And I want it."

"Are you sure?" Neville knew exactly how much Mars liked the gooey treat.

"I'm not listening to you. I'm not listening to you." Mars closed his eyes, covered his ears with his hands and began to hum the tune from the Flintstones movie that they'd seen the weekend before, as a part of Neville's birthday outings.

"Oh, leave him be, Nev. He's been really good this week. Really good. He knows how much this means to you." Ares whispered in Neville's ear as he turned the younger boy to face the healers. "And they do look like squirrels."

Neville huffed, but he looked at the room and the way the healers scurried about.

"Huh… Wadda ya know? Mars was right. They do look like squirrels before winter."

As one all the healers turned to Neville, their faces varying expressions of dismay.

"Neville." His grandmother chided. "That's not a nice thing to say."

"Grandma, I did not disparage their abilities nor their skill, I merely commented on the appearance they presented." Neville replied. "They are scurrying around like squirrels checking on their caches."

"Mr Longbottom…" An officious healer started, only to be cut off by Neville.

"Heir Longbottom, healer Rudlow." Neville's voice lost the soft, gentle tone and became hard. "That is the third time you have failed to address me correctly. Yesterday, I informed what would happen should you be so disrespectful again. Head Healer Stapleton, I want this… man… removed from my presence, he longer has the right to attend a member of House Longbottom."

"But-" Rudlow objected.

"Now, Healer Stapleton." Neville stated, bluntly.

"Most certainly, Heir Longbottom." The Head healer, a tall man with a smattering of grey through his black hair, turned to the officious healer and spoke. "Out, now. And consider yourself fired. You have been warned a number of times, regarding familiarity. No more. Go. Sign out and leave the premises." When the younger healer just stood there, Stapleton lifted his wand a fired a mild stinging hex at the man. "Now. Go." Stapleton turned back to Neville. "I apologise, Heir Longbottom, he has been warned in the past, that his behaviour was inappropriate and he obviously has chosen to ignore that warning. That is not acceptable." He bowed to Neville and Dowagger Longbottom.

"Apology accepted, Healer Stapleton." Neville dipped his head in acknowledgement. "Now, can you tell me? What of my parents' conditions?"

"Exceptionally good, sir. Lady Longbottom is showing clear signs of improvement. Her hand-eye co-ordination is markedly improved and she is able to respond to verbal stimulus. And Lord Longbottom is even further improved. He is capable of speech, some recognition and his hand-eye co-ordination is… according to Healer Matthews who shared a dorm with him at Hogwarts… as good as it ever was." He paused an hummed. "There was mention of broken brooms and a ban on flying?"

A voice from behind Stapleton, spoke up.

"Mike's a t-tattle-t-tale." It said and all present turned to the speaker.

Frank Longbottom lay on a hospital bed, wearing a simple hospital robe and covered by a light cotton blanket, his face tired and drawn, but his eyes were bright and aware.

"Frank…?" Augusta Longbottom looked at her son in shock, not quite able to understand what was happening.

"Ma…" Frank whispered, his voice rough and cracked. "M-mike owes me, h-he swore t-to not say anything. W-we made a d-deal. I'd stay quiet about h-his b-book collection and he'd stay quiet about m-my brooms." He shook his head as though to get rid of a ringing in his ears. "What happened? Last I remember is…" He frowned, thinking hard. His eyes narrowed, then widened. He snapped into a sitting position, a glare on his face and a snarl on his lips. "Bloody Crouch, how frigging dare he bring the Lestranges to my house! I'll skin the whiny little git! String him up by his toes and let Alice castrate the pervert!" His threats of physical bodily harm to Bartemius Crouch jnr and the three Lestranges went on for minutes.

"Well…" Stapleton ignored the invectives coming from the bed. "I think we can safely say that Lord Longbottom is in full control of his mental faculties." He frowned at Mars and Ares who were studiously listening to Frank. "Boys?" He warned. "Don't be taking too much notice. I doubt that Lord Longbottom would approve."

"I do." Augusta corrected. "Ares and Mars aren't listening to the threats, they're listening to their friend's father, so that later they can put the memory in a pensieve for Neville to watch."

"It lets me concentrate on the healers and that side of things, knowing that later I can watch their memories and concentrate on Mum and Dad." Neville added to Augusta's explanation.

"Oh… I see, yes, that's… that's a very good idea." Stapleton blinked.

"Those boys see Neville as a brother. Their Uncle is listed as Neville's crisis guardian and has welcomed us into his home." Augusta said.

"Enough about that. What about Mum and Dad? What now?" Neville demanded.

"Ah… well… if Lady Longbottom continues to respond as she's done until now, I can see both Lord and Lady Longbottom being released before Yule. Lord Longbottom may be showing control of his mental faculties, but his physical being needs attention, too. Unfortunately that's not something that Magic can correct, it needs time and care. Now that he's aware and responsive, we can start a physical therapy regime, that will require a larger food intake and constant monitoring. Yes, both are semi-mobile, but they need to be a lot more mobile before I'd consider releasing them. I don't require them to be at peak fitness, but they must be able to walk from one end of the ward to the other, without collapsing. They must also be able to eat a full meal and keep it down. Then there's the nerve issues to take into consideration… We can't really judge that until they are fully aware and can understand when we ask them to grade their control in comparison to prior to their admittance."

So far, everything that Stapleton had said was pretty much as Neville remembered it being from his adult memories. Stapleton was a little more conscientious than Augustus Pye had been, but that could easily be just the difference in personalities and experience.

"Thank you, Healer Stapleton. Will we be able to visit?" Neville asked.

"Of course. And I understand that you're going into fourth year, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"And as an Heir you are able to leave Hogwarts each weekend?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then, I'll writ up a request that you be given permission to leave Hogwarts and attend some of Lord and Lady Longbottom's therapy sessions." Stapleton declared.

"Perhaps…?" Augusta trailed off.

"Perhaps…?" Stapleton repeated.

"Know Neville and his friends, I believe it would be better if my grandson were to have their support." She paused and Ares spoke up.

"Neville will always have our support, Grandma Augusta."

"Oh, yes, Iknow that, but I think it's time to make that known to the public. Let it be official." Augusta replied. Ares blinked, he wasn't sure what she was getting at. "Frank, dear?"

"Ma?" Frank answered.

"Do you know who these young people are?"

"No, Ma." Frank frowned at the gathered teenagers. "Some of them look familiar, but… No, I don't know them."

"The red haired twins are Fred and George, they are the Heirs Prewett and will take the Lordship Rings at the Summer Solstice. Next to them is Cedric Diggory, he is Amos' son and beside him is Lee, Carlo Jordan's boy. The blonde young man is Draco Malfoy and the lovely girl on his arm is his betrothed Astoria Greengrass. The other two young ladies are Miss Luna Lovegood and Miss Hermione Dagworth-Granger. The two dark haired louts are Mars and Ares." She paused and took a deep breath. "Mars and Ares are Sirius Black's sons. They-" she was cut off by Frank's laughter, deep and belly-shaking. She waited patiently until he settled to chuckles, before continuing. "Mars, as you probably guessed is Heir Black and is betrothed to Luna. Ares is Heir Potter and betrothed to Mione. They-"

"What about Harry?" Frank's voice was hard and cold.

Mars stepped forward. "Lord Longbottom, our cousin Harry…? He's… he's dead."

Stapleton stepped up beside the lad. "He was found in a muggle hospital, badly beaten. Their healers were doing everything they could, but he just wasn't responding. I was the healer on rotation that week and I… I couldn't do anything to help. His core was fractured and… there was so much damage, not even magic could have saved him." The healer finished on a whisper, it hurt his heart to know that he not been able to save a child.

"We brought Harry home and buried him beside his parents, Uncle Frank." Ares stood beside Neville, a hand on his shoulder.

Frank frowned. "Where is Sirius?"

"Oh, boy…" Ares muttered. "There's a lot to tell you, to bring you up to date."

"Which one are you?" Frank's frown didn't lessen.

"Ares."

"Right, Ares. Where… is… Sirius… Black?"

"You know that he wasn't Uncle James and Aunt Lily's Secret Keeper?" When Frank nodded, Ares continued. "Well, after they were killed, Dad realised that Peter Pettigrew had to have told the Death-Eater where they were. So he went after the rat. Unfortunately he didn't tell anyone. There was an explosion and people died, Dad was arrested and sent to Azkaban for their murders. He died there, when we were seven years old."

"Oh, god…" Frank moaned.

"We live with our Uncle Remus, now." Ares went on. "Actually, most of us do. Us boys, anyway. Fred and George? They came to live with us just weeks after Mama was killed. Cedric two months later. Lee started staying with us after we started Hogwarts. Neville and Draco spend a good part of the holidays with us. And the girls? Well, cousin Narcissa, cousin Andi or Grandma Augusta comes to stay when the girls come over."

"Malfoy?" Frank frowned again. "Wasn't he a…?"

"Not really." Draco answered, shrugging. "He followed Grandfather's orders, at least until cousin Harry got rid of the snake-faced git." He snorted as all the teenagers nodded, sharply. "Now, he's quite pleased that I can go with my cousins to the movies or to a museum, without having to worry about someone idiot in a white mask, trying to kill me or anyone around us."

Frank's eyes narrowed in thought.

"He's not anti-muggle?" He asked.

"Not really, it kinda depends on the person. Some of them are really stupid, but hell… so are the Goyles." Draco answered.

"Ain't that the truth?" Frank grimaced.

"Perfect example of the downside of having an isolated community." Draco nodded.

"Alright. Ma? What's the point?" Everyone could see that Frank was tired and just getting more so, with each minute.

"Ares is Heir Potter and Mars is Heir Black. A Longbottom has always guarded the back of a Potter. I believe we should formalise that allegiance, Frank."

"You want us to declare a House Affiliation?" Frank's eyes widened.

"I do."

"You know what it will cost us, if you're wrong? Is it worth it?"

"Yes, to both. More to the point, I know that if you force Neville to choose, between them and House Longbottom? We will loose. Aligning the House behind them, is just a matter of timing, son. Now, while I am regent? Later, when you are fully recovered? Or later again, when Neville is Lord? If we do this now? We have the support of Houses Potter and Black, during your recovery. We-"

"Potter, Black and Malfoy." Draco corrected.

"And Diggory." Cedric added.

"And Greengrass." Said Astoria.

"Prewett, too." Fred and George spoke together.

Luna nodded to Hermione. "Lovegood and Dagworth-Granger, as well." Hermione answered for both herself and Luna.

"In short, Madam Longbottom. If you ally with Ares and Mars, you ally with all of us." Lee informed them. "We are Fiends and the Fiends are the Marauders' Legacy. We stand together in everything."

"Together." All eleven teenagers spoke together.

"Right." Frank goggled at them. "House Affiliation it is."

Friday 1stSeptember 1995

"I understand that, Headmaster, but please…? Please understand that the Fiends… I can't teach them anything more!" Severus Snape finally snapped. "All of them have completed their NEWT level studies, all of them. Even Miss Lovegood and Miss Greengrass. In particular, Miss Greengrass? I am firmly of the opinion that Miss Greengrass will make an excellent Potions Mistress and I doubt that it will take her long, certainly within the next four years."

Albus Dumbledore stilled, it was rare that Snape extolled the skills of his students. Yes, he was more… comfortable with the Fiends, but Dumbledore thought that was just familiarity. For him to declare, there was nothing more to teach a student?

Maybe it was time to reassess the examining of students. Griselda Marchbanks had been encouraging it for almost forty years and with the reintroduction of the Heir assessments, grading of students was all over the castle. Perhaps it wastime to judge a student solely on their abilities?

"Very well, Severus, do you think it possible to get me a listing of your students stating their examination level? Perhaps… Should I be asking the other Professors, too, do you think? Or have I left it too late?" Dumbledore asked.

"I don't know about the other Professors, but I can have a listing for you within the hour." Snape offered.

"Please do. And if you would be so kind as to speak to the other Professors, it appears I need to have a word with Madam Marchbanks and the WEA. Griselda has been after me to acknowledge prior and external learning for quite some time and I think I now understand her position." He sighed.

Snape winced. "I wish you good luck, Headmaster, I think you may need it."

Friday 8th of September 1995

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. Please find a seat and we shall begin." Dumbledore stated. Once the group of students were seated, he continued. "It has been brought to my attention, by a number of staff that for many of our students, their levels of educational competencies are very different to what is expected for someone of their age. This can have both good and bad consequences. For those of you here in this room, it is a good thing." He smiled at them, his eyes twinkling brightly. "All of you have been assessed by your Professors as being ready for your formal exams. For some that will come as a surprise to you, for others, not so much. Some are ready for your OWLs and some for your NEWTs… and for a few…? Your Professors believe that some of you are ready to sit bothyour OWLs and your NEWTs." He was met by a low hum of excitement. "There are thirty-one of you present, representing all four school houses. When I release you, please present to your head of house, who will notify you of the exam, or exams, for which you are eligible to sit." Almost all the students looked for their house heads when they heard this, but the Headmaster was alone.

He smiled at the excitement and anticipation he could see on the students' faces. Only a few looked concerned or unsure.

"Good, good. Now, Hufflepuffs? As I'm sure most of you are aware, Professor Sprout has classes this morning and she also states that as she was not the most… academic of students… she has asked Professor Vector to assist you today. And as the weather today is very… Scottish… Professor Vector has set up office in the Long Gallery. Slytherin? Professor Snape also has classes this morning and has asked Professor Lupin to stand in for him, however… his class this morning is only a single, so if you prefer, you may wait and see Professor Snape. It is, as always, your choice. Ravenclaws? Professor Flitwick will be in the Charms classroom and will be available until 2pm and again after 4pm. Gryffindors? Professor McGonagall wishes me to remind you that she has second years from 10am to midday and fourth years from 2pm to 4pm. Outside of those times she will be in the Transfiguration classroom." He waited for each group to nod their understanding. "Lovely. The next thing you need to know, is that if you decide to go ahead and sit the exams that you've been approved for, you will be excused from classes until that exam happens. There are choices each of you will have to make. Do you sit the exam? And if so, when? There are a number of choices, OWLs can be sat starting on the 3rdof October or with the rest of the fifth years in June. NEWTs can be sat starting on the 17thof October or… in June with the seventh years. And for those that wish to sit both exams, you can choose early for OWLs and June for NEWTs, if you so desire." There were a few heads nodding in contemplation at this snippet of information.

"Take some time and think about it. Once you've spoken with the Professors, find somewhere quiet and think about it some more. Do not make a hasty decision, that you may come to regret. You will not get a second chance. If you nominate to sit your OWLs in October, that will be the only time the WEA will assess you." A few faces fell, but even they nodded in acceptance. "Good. Now, off you go, the Professors are waiting." He flicked his fingers and the doors of the Great Hall opened and after a few seconds, students rose from their seat and trundled out into the school.

The bell for the last class had rung and the Fiends had all had a chance to speak to Professor McGonagall. Now they were all gathered in their library, chairs pulled up to a table.

"Well?" Remus asked. "Who's going first?"

As one, they turned to Cedric.

"Me? Why is it always me?" He muttered.

"You're the one that's going to be Minister, Ced." George reminded him.

"Is it too late to back out?" Cedric whined and the others all nodded. "Bugger."

"So…?" Remus raised an eyebrow and opened his hands in a 'well?' gesture.

"NEWTs starting on the 17thof October." Cedric sighed. "Fred, you?"

"Same. George?"

"Of course, brother mine. Lee?" George nodded.

"Yep, me too. Draco?"

"OWLs and NEWTs, both in October." Draco answered.

"Me too." Neville said.

"And me." Hermione added.

"I will be sitting my OWLs in October, But I've decided to wait until June for my NEWTs." Astoria offered.

"Yes." Luna agreed. "I'm doing the same as Astoria."

"Mars? Ares?" Remus asked.

The two boys exchanged looks and both nodded.

"We'll be joining our brothers in October." Ares spoke for them.

"In that case, will I be correct in assuming that you'll be spending a fair amount of time in here?" Remus asked. "Because if the ladies are joining you, I will need to organise a suitable chaperone."

"Yes and no, Uncle Remus. Yes, we'll be here and no, you don't need to, we've already asked Professor McGonagall if Grandma Augusta is suitable as a study monitor." Cedric responded.

"Ah… yes, I dare say Professor McGonagall would agree with that." He nodded a few times. "Very well, Fiends. I suggest that you head for the Great Hall and plan an early night. Luna and Astoria, you have three weeks to prepare for your OWLs, the rest of you have five weeks until your NEWTs. That's not a lot of time."

"Yes, Uncle Remus." Came from all eleven teenagers and one by one, they gave their honorary Uncle a hug and headed for the doors that corresponded with their own trunks.

Saturday 16th of December 1995

With the Express heading back to London the next day, students and staff alike were preparing for Yule and Christmas celebrations. The end of term feast was due to start in a few hours and while most students would be returning to their families, there were always a few that chose a relaxed and happy Hogwarts holiday, over a strained and miserable family one.

It broke Dumbledore's heart that a child would choose an almost empty old castle over their family home, but since the death of Harry Potter, he'd come to realise that not all houses were homes. And so this year, he was going to do something that he'd argued against, for years in fact. This year he was going to promote that unhappy children being removed from uncaring, irresponsible or abusive guardians and have those children fostered by a family in the Wizarding world.

Initially, he would suggest that the children in the mentor program that were in such homes, stay with their mentor partner's home during holidays, but in the long term, he was going to suggest that such children be removed permanently.

He was still undecided as to whether or not Severus and Minerva's suggestion of investigating each child's home life, when they first showed signs of accidental magic, was sound.

But… there could be no doubt that children raised in the Wizarding world adapted to Hogwarts easier and it was rare that a muggle-raised child was as comfortable with their magic as their Wizarding raised counterparts. That's not to say that there weren't exceptions, but the more contact they had, they more comfortable they were. Miss Dagworth-Granger, Mr Jordan and the Black twins were prime examples. The twins had lived solely muggle-raised by their mother until her death, when Remus Lupin stepped in, and even then Remus kept their home as a fine blend of both worlds. Miss Dagworth-Granger and Mr Jordan's association with the Black twins and then later with the Prewett Heirs simply reinforced that belief.

Of the thirty-one students that had been eligible to sit their exams early, nine had sat their OWLs, sixteen had sat their NEWTs and four had sat both OWLs and NEWTs. Albus had been forced to read and re-read their results, which had been sent to him to forward to the students. Not one student had failed an exam they'd sat, in fact… not one student had scored anything less than an EE, there'd only been six students to do so and three of those were those sitting both OWLs and NEWTs. All six EE's were for the same subject, Divination. Perhaps it was time to reassess Sybil's contract?

One child had abstained, he was a second year student and as a reason for refusing the offer, he stated that if he sat the exams, he'd be forced to return to his pureblood family sooner than he wanted. Seven years of boredom was a small price to pay, for freedom of his family's expectations.

Which brought Albus right back to where his meanderings had started. Removing vulnerable children from unsuitable housing. Ah, well… something to think about over the holidays, the next Wizengamot meeting wasn't until Thursday 1stof February, he would just have to remember to discuss the matter with his Professors at the January staff meeting.

Right now he had students to find and results to hand out.

Wednesday 3rd of July 1996

Albus and Minerva studied the last of the student profiles for the incoming, placing them in the appropriate pile.

"Well, tha's nay so bad." Minerva's brogue was tired.

"No, indeed it's not, but still far more than I'd hoped for." Albus acknowledged.

"How many?" Severus Snape sat at the far end of the table, scribbling notes and checking them against a large book. The book of Names.

"Seven." Albus sighed.

"Seven?" Snape repeated. "That's far less than last year."

"Yes, we had fifty-three last year, but that was for the entire school, this is just the incoming first years." Minerva agreed. "Still, seven is a marked improvement. I hope it continues."

"From your lips to Lady Magic's ears." Snape intoned formally.

A house-elf popped into the room.

"Master Snape, sir? Jelly is having a letter for Master Snape, sir." The little elf beamed as she performed her appointed task.

"Thank you, Jelly." Snape nodded graciously to the young elf, he knew it was her first solo task. "Please attend me when I've returned to my quarters, I have a task I would appreciate you undertaking."

The little elf bounced slightly before taking a deep breath and nodding.

"Yes sir, Master Snape, sir. Jelly will." And away she popped.

"Severus?" Dumbledore asked. "A task?"

"With Draco's birthday in a few days, Narcissa and Lucius are hosting the Fiends and they've asked me if I would transport the Dagworth-Grangers from Salisbury to the manor." Snape replied. "While I could easily respond by sending an owl or even floo-calling, Mipsy asked if I might have something young Jelly could do. She's gone along with other elves on deliveries, so this should hold no difficulties."

"Ah…" while Dumbledore's curiosity was sated, Snape was opening the letter.

A brief read through and Snape let out a most un-Snape-like sound. Laughter.

"Severus?!" McGonagall gasped.

"I have no idea how they do it, but those bloody Fiends…" Snape's deep chuckle filled the room. He leant back in his seat and shook his head in amusement. "Six years ago, Mars and Ares told me it would happen, but I refused to believe it."

"Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

"It appears that you are going to have to adapt, Headmaster, it has been many years since Hogwarts was home to a married couple." Snape answered.

"Married? Who's getting married?" Dumbledore blustered.

"Remus Lupin and Auror Tonks. According to Draco," held up the letter, "she got tired of waiting for him to ask, so she took matters into her own hands and did the proposing herself."

"Oh, my." Dumbledore whispered.

"But the protocols?" McGonagall asked.

"She followed them, even went so far as to ask Mars and Ares for permission. After all, Remus is seneschal to both House Black and House Potter." Snape shook his head, again. "Her parents and the Fiends hammered out a betrothal agreement that all are pleased with. Nymphadora is reported to have argued over the date of the wedding, but Remus and the Fiends won and the nuptials will take place on the Yule Solstice. Draco would have me warn you, Headmaster. Narcissa and Andromeda will be requesting an appointment to discuss the possibility of Hogwarts being the venue."

"Ah…" Dumbledore hedged.

"Draco states that Hogwarts would not be required to do anything other than provide a space for the ceremony." Snape added.

"Well… I suppose… Remus is one of our Professors." Dumbledore allowed.

"And Nymphadora is a graduate and has been a guest Professor." Minerva added.

Thursday 21st of August 1997

"Good morning." Snape's quiet voice greeted those entering the staff room.

"Good morning, Severus." Remus' smile was almost blinding.

"Someone's happy." Minerva offered.

"I would agree." Snape replied, tilting his head in consideration.

"I am and you're not going to spoil it." Remus warned.

"Alright, gentlemen, enough posturing." Minerva warned. "We need to get the incoming students reviewed and then we can go home again. Get to it." She directed and the seven present Professors nodded.

"First, I have news…" Remus put forward.

Everyone turned to Remus, a few with raised eyebrows, others with a little confusion.

"Ran into Oliver Wood earlier this week. He's been offered reserve keeper for Puddlemere." Remus said.

"Oh, lovely." McGonagall smiled.

"Also Mr Flint? Wood tells me that he signed on with Tutshill also as a reserve, but as chaser not keeper."

"He should do quite well there, Severus." McGonagall offered.

"He should." Snape agreed.

"Also… the Fiends? They're all in the Ministry. With the Liaison Office now fully established, Mione, Draco and Neville are there permanently. Ares and Mars have moved over to the Aurors. Fred and George have moved to Wizengamot Administration Services, while Luna is apprenticing under Amarillus Foppington in Misinformation. And Cedric's got a junior post in the Minister's office alongside Percy Weasley."

"And Astoria Greengrass will be apprenticing under me, here at Hogwarts." Snape added.

The next few minutes were filled by the other Professors offering updates on other students, before Remus once again, spoke up.

"Also… Dora…"He took a deep breath. "Dora and I… we're having… we're expecting a baby." The last four words came in a rush. "We're going to have a baby." He repeated more calmly. "The healers think, first half of April."

For seconds there was silence, the silence of shock. Eventually, it was Snape that broke the stunned silence.

"Well, well… tripped you up, did she?" Snape chuckled.

"Oh, be nice… and yes, she bloody well did." Remus snarked back, causing Snape to throw his head back and laugh. Remus reached back behind Aurora Sinistra, who was sitting between he and Snape, to smack Snape about the head and shoulders with a hastily conjured, rolled up newspaper.

Friday 3rd of April 1998

Professor McGonagall stood and called for the students' attention.

"Good morning. A quick announcement, before the day begins. Professor Lupin apologises, but his classes for today are cancelled." She waited while the students had a quick burst of chatter, before falling quiet again. "In happier news, Professor Lupin also asks that I inform you of the reason behind that cancellation. Edward Remus Lupin was born late last night, just a few minutes prior to midnight. A healthy 6lb 4oz, baby boy, who is already showing signs of his mother's metamorphmagi abilities. Professor Lupin says classes will resume as per normal on Monday and recommends that those sitting exams this year, read or at least open, 'The Highs and Lows of Magic; A history in brief', by Heracles Poindexter, as this will be the next material covered."

More chatter and McGonagall sat back down. She leant towards Snape and whispered. "Remind me to put it in my calendar. Resign before Edward is eleven. There is no way I want to teach him, not with the Fiends as his honorary uncles and aunts."

"Hmm… It will depend… On whom he takes after. His mother? Or his father? Remus is a Marauder, but Nymphadora? She was a pleasant student, surprisingly good at potions, given her clumsy nature." Snape responded.

Saturday 13th of September 1998

Ares' patronus burst into Remus' classroom, emerging from the wall in a shower of sparks.

"Uncle Remus? I need to ChatterBowl with you. Right now. Urgent." Ares voice was sharp, causing a few of Remus' seventh year students to catch their breaths, Ares was well known for not getting stressed.

"Go, Professor, go." Urged Colin Creevey, waving his hand towards the door.

"Thanks, just be a minute." Remus bolted for his office at the rear of the classroom.

It took him bare seconds to pull out his ChatterBowl and set it ready to connect to Ares'. A pinch of floo-powder and a quick incendioand Ares' voice emerged from the small flame.

"Uncle Remus?"

"Ares? What's wrong? What is it?"

"Not wrong. Right."

"Right?"

"Yep. Ced just bowled me. The muggle Prime Minister, the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury want to meet representatives from our Ministry."

"Whoa! When? Who? Where?"

"When? Today, we leave inside the hour. Who? Scrimgeour wants, Kingsley, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Lucius as the senior team. Cedric Mars, Mione, Draco, Neville and I are to be the junior team. We're to explain the mentor system, from both sides and how we see magic fitting into the muggle world."

"Oh, cub." Remus gasped.

"I gotta run, but I'll patronus as soon as we're done. Could be real quick or an all-nighter. Don't wait up!" With that Ares was gone.

Just in time for a patronus from Dumbledore to appear.

"Remus, dear boy. Minerva and I have to dash to the Ministry, can you slot her class in with yours, please? If you haven't heard from them Cedric, Mars and Ares will likely contact you in the next few minutes. Feel free to update your class as to why." The ghostly phoenix spoke with Dumbledore's voice and then exploded in a ball of blue fire.

"Oh, boy." Remus sighed. "Good luck, cubs." He took a deep breath and re-entered the classroom. "Right…"

"Everything alright, sir?" Colin asked.

"Yes, Mr Creevey. Ares was just giving me a heads up on an unexpected meeting. Now, we're going to wait as Professor McGonagall's class will also be joining us as the she and the Headmaster will be joining Ares and a few others." He waved as a head appeared around the edge of the doorframe. "Come on, come in. Take a seat, get comfortable, you'll be here for a while." Once everyone was in and seated, he went on. "Right, so… Most, if not all of you are aware of the Headmaster's 'Hide in Plain Sight' theory?" Heads nodded. "Okay, good. Well… He, Professor McGonagall, Mars, Ares and a few others are meeting with some of the ranking muggle authorities. Today. Unexpectedly. In the next hour."

"I can understand Ares stressing out." Colin whistled. "I'd be freaking out. I amfreaking out and I'm not involved."

"Me, too." Remus laughed.

Sunday 28th of March 1999

Minerva McGonagall studied the flat bowl on her desk. The only thing on the desk. A desk that last night was laden with student essays.

A pensieve was an unusual object to find on a Professor's desk and certainly not something she expected to see on a Sunday morning. She just hoped that the letter attached to it could provide some explanation.

A flick of her wand and the letter rose in the air, another flick and it opened out. Two cards floated free of the much larger letter. A quick glance showed them to be invites to a pair of weddings. Mars' on the morning of the Summer Solstice and Ares' later the same day. A quick read through of the letter and Minerva was certain that the pensieve was from the Black twins.

Professor McGonagall,

We promised ourselves that we would show you these memories when we left Hogwarts, but we weren't seventeen when we left, so we talked to Uncle Remus and the other Fiends and decided that we could wait.

First we planned on our seventeenth birthdays, then that got pushed back to claiming our Lordship, which got pushed back to the muggle integration project, which in turn got pushed aside.

A meeting of the Fiends, yesterday, reminded us that we still hadn't done this.

So… here you are. Mione and Luna charmed the pensieve, it will only let you view the memories we put in, anyone else will be ejected. There is a reason for that and once you've viewed the memories, that will be self-evident.

This is not a prank, Professor, and you may use any means you feel necessary to verify the authenticity of what you see.

These memories are the truth behind the Fiends and what we call the Marauders' Legacy. You will not find them easy to watch, but we hope that you will watch them from start to finish.

Ares and Mars Black.

Minerva frowned at the letter, it was definitely from them, it bore both their Lordship seals. Seals that required the magic of the legitimate Lord to leave and impression, without it the seal would just be a set of round rings. While she debated with herself, she called a house-elf for tea and toast, if the memories were as bad as they intimated, she was going to need fortification.

An hour and half later, tears trailed down Minerva's face, as she emerged from the pensieve.

"Those boys, those poor, poor boys." She didn't know whether she wanted to hug them or curse Dumbledore.

But she understood better now. Seeing the war from Harry and Hermione's points of view was downright scary, seeing Sirius Black fall through the Veil and the devastation that Harry felt, hurt her heart. Seeing how close the Statute was to falling and how the muggles were reacting, made her very glad that Harry and Sirius hadn't just walked away. They could have and after having watched their memories, Minerva wouldn't have blamed them.

That they had stayed? Not just stayed, but were actively working to see that the future they knew never happened.

And they were well on the way.

Sunday 23rd of June 2003

The headlines screamed across the Prophet's front page.

YOUNGEST MINISTER FOR MAGIC - EVER!

In historic moment, Cedric Diggory, was declared Minister for Magic.

Cedric, aged only 24 was one the founders of the Liaison Project that involved integrating the Wizarding World into the Mainstream World. I'm sure that many graduates, who attended Hogwarts between 1989 and 1995, will remember Cedric and his foster brothers fondly.

The article went on about Cedric's time at Hogwarts and the Ministry, detailing how the Liaison Project evolved from a simple mentoring system to the in-depth, muggle-supported program now in place.

Sunday 31stof July 2005

The eleven Fiends sat in the library in Sorrell Cottage. So much had changed, but the people they trusted, stayed the same.

"So…? We did it." Ares said.

"We did." Mars grinned at his brother.

"We've come a hell of a long way." Cedric added.

"And now we've passed the point of no return." Fred added.

"The day it all started." George added.

"Harry's twenty-fifth birthday." Ares nodded.

"Yup." Mars smiled as he sighed, his shoulders falling and tension seeping away.

"Yeah." Astoria agreed. "I hadn't realised how tense I was, until this morning."

"And now, it's all gone." Hermione tilted her head and rubbed her distended belly. "If only this one would go." She was already days past her due date.

"Oh, love, she'll come when she's ready." Astoria assured her.

"I know, I just… I'd like to see my feet again, you know?" Hermione pouted. Then caught her breath. "Oh, blast."

"You had to tempt fate and Lady Magic, didn't you, Mione?" Ares sighed.

"I think I just may have. Who's taking me to St Mungo's?" Hermione breathed shallowly until the contraction passed.

"That would be your darling husband, Mione. He's the one responsible for knocking you up, earlier than you'd planned." Mars grinned.

"Here's the medi-key." Astoria handed Ares a leather band. "You take Mione and we'll let everyone know." She assured him.

"Thanks, 'Tori." Ares gently lift Mione from her chair and held her bridal-style in his arms. He held up his hand, Hermione linked her fingers with his and lipped the band over their joined hands. "Let's go do this." Once heroine nodded, he said the activation phrase. "Maternity day." There was a twisting in the air and they were gone.

Hermione looked at the bundle in her father's arms and shook her head.

"This is your fault." She told her husband. "You and Mars."

"Me? Us? How do you figure that?"

"Twins? I wonder where that came from? There's no history of twins in the Dagworth-Granger line, nor in the Watkins line." She reminded him. "But you pair?"

"Huh. Alright, I'll give you that one." Ares remembered lines on a chalkboard.

"Too bad, if you won't, I'm taking it anyway." She poked her tongue out at him.

"Oh you two, stop it." The midwife chided, shaking her head. Cho Chang, soon to be Diggory, re-entered the room. "So, I need some names for their birth certificates." She held up a clipboard and a fountain pen. "What are you calling them?"

Hermione and Ares exchanged long speaking looks. They'd long ago decided what they wanted to name their children, but as typical for them, the names they'd chosen, didn't suit. It meant a few frantic moments between the new parents, while their unnamed children were passed from one set of arms to another.

"We wanted to keep true to the family traditions." Hermione answered. "So our daughter is Titania Calypso."

"And our son is Curtis Mercury." Ares added. "Calypso and Mercury for their grandfather Sirius."

"Titania and Curtis for the Dagworth-Granger tradition of naming their children after Shakespearean characters." Hermione finished.

"Oh, lord." Professor McGonagall poked her head in the door. "There's two of them." She turned to someone in the hallway. "Severus, there's two of them. Albus, Albus, consider this my resignation. I'll give you another three years, but that's it. I'm not teaching Lupins, Blacks, Prewetts, Jordans, Diggorys, Longbottoms or Malfoys, not again. Once was more than enough." She turned back to the maternity room and it's laughing occupants. "I'm not." She affirmed. "I'm too old to live through that again."

Snape stood in the doorway. "I think I shall join you, Minerva. Once was enough." He agreed.