*Riley's POV*
It's been three months since the twins left for Hogwarts, I missed them but I knew that Fred saw them constantly so at least I wasn't worried too much. Today I was walking down the street of Diagon Alley, heading to the Leaky Cauldron where I was meeting a particular person.
I walked in the small pub to find a table in the far back, where the platinum blonde hair stuck out against the grey atmosphere.
"Hello, ferret," I greeted as I sat across from Draco Malfoy.
"Is that all you can say to me?" He smirked as he sipped his butterbeer.
"Well, actually there's a lot I'd like to say, especially about the fact that you never told me you had a daughter," I shrugged slightly.
"Ah," Draco nodded as he placed his drink down in front of him. "I knew we'd have this conversation eventually."
"You had a daughter, stopped talking to me, and now she's my daughter's best friend. You had to have seen this coming," I commented.
Draco chuckled slightly, "of course they're friends."
I paused and studied my once best friend, he had dark circles under his eyes but even that didn't stop him from looking attractive. I sighed as I leaned forward, "Why did you just...disappear like that?" I asked, slightly confused, we were friends who always told each other everything-why hadn't he talked to me about something like this.
Draco frowned, "I was ashamed alright? Parkinson showed up and basically left two with me, I didn't know what I was doing and I didn't have time to ask for help. Besides, I wasn't ready to run up to you and your fabulous life and beg for help. Especially since half of your new life hates me."
"Two kids?" I asked completely ignoring his last comment.
"When she had Samantha we tried the whole family thing, but it only lasted a year before I saw that she was getting bored if it. Then we had our son Scorpius and well, two more years went and she just disappeared. I had to abandon the potions post and raise two children on my own. I got a job in the Ministry as an auror so I was able to be home more. I was a trainwreck! Especially when Samantha started asking about her mother," Draco spoke in a rush as he put his head in his hands and sighed. "It didn't help when Pansy tried to come back and be a mother, Samantha wouldn't hear of it and Scorpius just...cried a lot."
"So all those times I wanted to know if you wanted to do something and you blew me off, you were raising two children alone?"
"Pretty much," Draco admitted miserably.
I nodded once and smiled, "I'm sorry to hear that."
"I do apologize for not talking to you, and barely keeping in touch."
"Why did you name your daughter Samantha?" I looked at him accusingly.
That infamous smirk crossed his face as he studied me closely, "for laughs mostly."
I scowled, "ever think that's the reason why that slut left you?"
"No, she left me because she was bored. She wasn't cut out for raising a child, especially two children, and since I was gone for months at a time it wasn't the life she wanted." Draco scoffed.
"Well, when the holidays arrive I expect you at my home with Samantha and Scorpius."
"We both know how well that'll go over."
"I didn't mean to the borrow, I meant to my home. I know Fred will be fine with it, whenever he asks if I hear from you he doesn't make it sound like you're scum," I smiled slightly.
Draco sighed but smiled slightly, "alright."
I glanced at my hands and frowned, "you could've asked me for help."
Draco scoffed, "and have that husband of yours make fun of me for it?!"
I glared slightly, "Fred would have never done that." Draco scoffed into his drink, "look. I'll tell you a secret, Fred regrets not being there for the twins, if anything he would make one comment and that's it. All because he can't, he still feels horrible for what happened when I was pregnant with the twins."
"But he couldn't help that," Draco shrugged.
"And yet, he still has that feeling that he messed up so he'll try to do something extravagant for the kids. He thinks that if he doesn't do something every day...that the kids will hate him. It's the reason he lets the twins sneak in to the shop and stay there for a few hours everyday."
Draco smirked, "of course he does."
"Funny part is that he doesn't think I know," I smiled slightly at my hands. "But I let it happen because I know that he just wants to be a great dad and see the twins constantly."
Draco was quiet as he sighed, "I think my kids hate me. Especially Scorpius, he's always alone now a days, his sister is at school and I work all day."
"You know you can ask for help."
Draco shrugged, "we both know I'm not the one to do that." I chuckled slightly and nodded.
*Natalie's POV*
"I'm so sick of school! I just want to go on break."
"So you can spend your days in here?" I grinned as dad flashed me a grin before turning back to his work. It was true, since we had Uncle Harry's invisibility cloak I used it to sneak to the joke shop and see my dad and Uncle George almost daily.
"Is that so bad?" I asked innocently.
"You are keeping up with your studies, aren't you?"
"Of course! I just have the other half of a charms essay to write and I'm done for today."
Dad looked at me uncertainly but he smiled, "how's your brother doing?"
"Still moody as ever," I commented.
"Fred, honey! I need to talk to you now!"
Dad looked at me before tossing me my cloak, I put it on and sat there, trying not to make a sound as my mum appeared on the other side of the counter.
"Hello, Rye. What is it?"
"So I had lunch with Draco and get this, he has two children! Samantha and Scorpius!" she seemed out of breath as she looked at him expectantly.
"So what exactly happened?" Dad asked confused.
"Well, apparently they had Samantha and Parkinson was getting bored so a year passed and she wasn't happy. But they had another child and well...Parkinson left him."
"That would explain why he never returned your owls," dad nodded as he looked for something in the register.
"I just feel so horrible, he raised two children alone...he was ashamed to ask for help!"
Dad laughed, "he's a Malfoy. Of course he feels ashamed to admit he needs help, they're the most stubborn people I've ever met. Especially Draco!"
Mum gave dad a pointed look and sighed, "I was thinking-"
"I'll let mum know we'll be a day late, don't worry," Fred leaned across the counter and kissed mum. It took all of my strength not to make a retching noise. "Tell the ferret he's welcome over for Christmas."
"I love you so much," mum grinned, she leaned over the counter and ruffled his hair. "How did you become so incredible?"
Dad chuckled before stepping back, "now why don't you see if our lovely daughter needs anything. Last I checked she was in the supply room..." dad looked over his shoulder, "it's been a little too quiet."
Mum's face was comical was she glared before running off, I took the cloak off the minute she was gone.
"Did you really leave Maryann alone in the supply room?! You'd never let Ollie or me do that!" I hissed.
"That's because you two would destroy everything," he gave me a pointed look before hugging me quickly. "Get going before your mother sees you, I don't need to get yelled at for you sneaking out and Harry will get killed."
I nodded once before slipping on the cloak and heading to the door, but not until mum came back out.
*Samantha's POV*
"You sure you want to do this?"
"I need to!"
"You're completely mental."
"Just like my dad."
I snickered at Oliver as we hid behind a statue, in ten minutes the halls would be filled with students and a smoke bomb in which will turn people's hair a different color every five minutes will go off.
"This is going to work."
"Think again," a hand clapped down on both of our shoulders. I tried not to scream as McGonagall scowled at us. "Ms. Malfoy, Mr. Weasley, please follow me."
I threw Oliver a look before we followed the Headmistress to her office in which she sat us down in front of her desk.
"You two have caused quite a few stunts lately..." she picked up her quill, "I'm sending a letter to your parents and we will talk about what will happen next."
I looked at Oliver and glared, my dad was already busy enough. He didn't need me to cause trouble and have him come down here, Oliver on the other hand just sat there looking like he hadn't done a single thing. We waited twenty minutes while the letters were sent, before the door opened and my father walked in quickly followed by who I presumed to be Oliver's father.
"Ah! Thank you for coming on such short notice," MgGonagall smiled, "now please take a seat and we can discuss the matter at hand."
"Of course your son is causing problems," dad muttered as he sat beside me, he shot a glance at Oliver's dad and frowned.
"My son is a model student," Oliver's dad sat taller in his chair.
"Model student in mischief," dad snorted.
"You still admit he's a model student," Mr. Weasley winked.
"Right, well, it doesn't seem that detentions are working anymore...we need a better course of action."
"How about Umbridge's tactic, sure would teach him a lesson," dad commented.
"You will do no such thing to my son!" Mr. Weasley shouted angrily.
Dad smirked, "bad memories, eh Weasley?"
"Now this isn't just about Mr. Weasley, this also involves Ms. Malfoy as well," McGonagall commented.
I turned to dad and looked up at him before grabbing his hand, "I'm sorry daddy."
Dad's face seemed to melt before he squeezed my hand, "it's alright sweetheart." I couldn't help but grin, I was terrified he would be furious with me, but the look in his eyes told me differently.
"Now, it doesn't seem that detention matters to Mr. Weasley. I've reached my limits, there's nothing else I can possibly think to do."
"Extra essays?" Mr. Weasley commented.
"How about missing the next quidditch game in exchange for detention?" dad commented.
"But you can't be serious!" Oliver screamed.
Mr. Weasley patted Oliver's shoulder and sighed.
McGonagall frowned slightly but nodded, "that seems...do able I suppose."
"Fantastic!" Mr. Weasley smiled before a gigantic noise sounded down the hall, Oliver and I exchanged a look before McGonagall stood up.
"If you will please excuse me." She rushed off before saying another word.
"What exactly did your son do?" dad chuckled slightly.
"Testing that color changer, eh?" Mr. Weasley grinned.
"Yep!" Oliver grinned, his dad ruffled his hair and laughed slightly.
"You can't use the students as test subjects, you know?" dad commented.
"Why weren't you using Harry's cloak? You would've never gotten caught," Mr. Weasley questioned.
"It was class change and we put it right in the middle of the hall, I thought everyone was preoccupied," Oliver shook his head as he sighed. "Should've used it..."
"Remember free periods exist, that includes professors."
"Are you really teaching your son how to get away with something?" Dad scoffed.
Mr. Weasley gave a shrug, folding his arms in front of him and leaning back in his chair, "so what if I was?"
"Daddy, I'm sorry-"
"It's alright sweetie, I'm not mad at you," dad smiled as he hugged me slightly.
"Can we leave yet?" Oliver whispered to his father.
Mr. Weasley chuckled, "not yet."
McGonagall soon appeared looking flustered, "interesting product Mr. Weasley but do try to keep the testing away from the students," she looked pointedly at Mr. Weasley who nodded once.
"I do apologize for any inconvenience I caused," he smiled.
"Now, I do have a matter I would love to discuss with the two of you, if Ms. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley wouldn't mind waiting outside."
I glanced at Oliver who shrugged and left the room, "I'm sorry for getting you in trouble," Oliver glanced at me as we stood against the wall.
"I just wish we hadn't gotten caught," I grinned at him. "Sorry you have to miss the quidditch game."
Oliver shrugged, "the next is Ravenclaw against Hufflepuff...I can accept missing it."
We stood in silence before the door opened again and dad bounded out with a smile, "come over for dinner tomorrow. Riley will want to hear the news," Mr. Weasley called over to dad who nodded and waved good bye.
I watched them leave before I looked at dad, "I'm confused."
Dad chuckled slightly, "Oliver's mother was my best friend in school. Now," dad clapped my shoulders and kneeled so that he was eye level. "I have a very important question I want to hear your opinion about," I was worried about this, dad usually never needed my opinion on anything. But I nodded slightly, waiting for him to continue, "well. I was offered my old teaching post starting next year, what do you think?"
I bit my lip slightly and mulled this over before nodding a bit, "I think that would be fun. I get to see you every day!"
Dad laughed, "I wouldn't be teaching until next year but are you sure you wouldn't mind?"
I hugged him tightly and nodded, "I get to spend more time with you and Scorpy will be here next year so we all get to be together!"
Dad kissed my forehead and grinned, "I'll accept it then."
I grinned, I was excited for next year, I got to have my family together-that was more than I could ever ask for. Dad hugged me once more before entering the office again, I grabbed Oliver's hand as we skipped down the halls to charms class.
*Freds POV*
I felt myself drifting to sleep when I felt something hard on my hand, I opened an eye to see Maryann trying to hide her laughter beside me.
"What'd you do?" I chuckled as I sat up, I looked in my hand to find a spider the size of my palm sitting there.
"Maryann," I hissed.
She giggled slightly, "I found him by the pond!"
I gave a strained smile, "that's nice sweetie, but I really need him off my hand."
"You don't like him?" Maryann's face fell slightly as she pouted.
"I do! I really do," I gave a shaky laugh, "I just think he would like to be outside where you found him."
Maryann frowned, her brown locks framed her face as her brown eyes started to water. "Mary, please."
"I thought you liked spiders," Maryann was pouting as she started to lightly prod the spider in my hand, making it slowly move up my arm.
"Who told you I did?!"
"Uncle George was saying that the last time he took me to the pond!" She grinned as the spider moved up my arm.
Oh. He's dead. "Did he now?" I laughed, "Mary how about we setup a nice little home for him outside where he should be with all his little friends?"
"Do we have to keep him out-"
"Yes." I cut her off, I coughed slightly and smiled at her, "yes."
Maryann sighed as she took the spider from my arm and slowly walked outside, I glared at the door before getting up and going to my office. Looking for a small box, I added glitter, cut out stars Maryann had left around, exploding snaps, a firecracker, decoy detonator, and instant darkness powder that would all go off at once when the box was opened before sealing the box and going to the fireplace.
"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," I stated clearly as I tossed a bit of floo powder into the fireplace for the box. I smirked at the green flame, excited to see George's reaction.
That night, I was cooking dinner when the front door burst open wide, Riley stood covered in glitter with George over her shoulder. The two had murderous looks on their faces.
"Look what you did to my brand new cardigan, Fred Weasley," Riley opened her cardigan and a shower of glitter fell to the ground.
"Oi, really funny with the exploding snaps and instant darkness powder combo there! The entire office is still up in dust!" George shoved his hands in my face, they were covered in tiny bites from the sour sweet. "What was that for?!"
"You told my youngest daughter I enjoyed spiders and she put a giant one on my hand while I was asleep!"
"I told all your children you enjoyed spiders!" George exclaimed, "I also told them tarantulas were Ron's favorite kind of spider!"
"Yeah well Mary actually listens when you tell her things," I folded my arms just as Mary ran into the room. She grinned at seeing her uncle, running and attaching herself to my hip.
"Uncle George! I found this big spider and gave it to daddy but he said we couldn't keep it inside, but he sure did love him!"
George smirked at me, "Mary is most definitely my favorite niece."
"Oi!" Riley objected beside him, "you can't have favorites."
I sighed, shaking my head slightly, "you're just in time for dinner, Georgie. So get yourself a drink," I motioned to the kitchen as Riley gave me a tight hug.
"I'll get you back for that," Riley hissed in my ear, "at least could've sent a warning to me."
~*~*'
So I hope you enjoyed this rather long chapter!! :) I plan to start skipping around now, soon this story will...it will come to an end...maybe..I dont know, I don't want to see that happen!!! But yeah...I have no clue!!
Please please leave a comment and vote! Thank you for being such awesome fans! :)