Harry Potter and Changing Destinies

Chapter 58

Five years later saw big changes in the families at Safehaven. Severus and Sirius had moved out and opened up Severus’ dream apothecary shop on Diagon Alley called Prince & Padfoot Potions. The store that they had bought had a nice flat above it and after much discussion and a few tears they decided that they would move yet still be frequent visitors. After all how could they not see their grandchildren all the time?

Remus and Tonks had asked and been granted permission by Draco to build a small house on Safehaven island. They wanted their own place and yet Remus felt that he needed to be close to Harry. Severus had developed a potion that made Remus’ werewolf into an animagus form that he could control by will. Many times he, Harry and Draco could be found running, or in Harry’s case, flying around the island. It had taken Harry quite a long time but shortly after he and Draco enrolled in Auror training he had confessed to Draco that he was in fact a phoenix animagus, to which Draco smiled and transformed into his own impressive black panther form. Surprisingly little Teddy had inherited only his father’s werewolf form and he to loved to change and run and play with Moony, Ash and BlackKnight.

Ali and Hermione were enjoying their time as mothers as well as their chosen careers. Hermione had taken her natural gift at healing and had gone to school to become a mediwizard. Not surprisingly she had sailed through her studies and was now working on the cure for the insanity caused by the Cruciatas curse. Ali, who didn’t have to work but told Draco under no circumstances would she sit at home and become Molly Weasley, was teaching wandless magic and DADA at Hogwarts. When they had time Draco and Harry, who by this time had advanced to become the first Co-Head Aurors (and the youngest ever), would stop by and give lessons. They could also be found having impromptu Quidditch matches in the pitch. Harry couldn’t believe it when Ali beat him and Draco at seeking. Especially considering that she had given birth to her and Draco’s second child not three days before.

Harry and Draco were sitting in their study going over case records when they heard a crash and a yell. Before they could react two three year old whirlwinds came barreling through their door followed by two five year olds chasing them.

Draco caught his daughter around the waist as Harry grabbed his son. Setting their children on their laps they faced their oldest children.

“Anthony Lucius Malfoy-VanLint! What were you doing!?” Draco asked.

“Dad it wasn’t my fault. Rose and I were playing when THEY” He said pointing at his sister and his cousin “decided they were going to mess it up.”

“Yeah Daddy we were practicing our elements when they got in the way.” Rose explained.

Harry looked at his oldest daughter. She had her mother’s curls, yet not as frizzy, but they were pitch black and she had Harry’s piercing green eyes. Looking at her and at Anthony he felt like he was seeing himself and Ali as they should have been. Rose and Anthony had a bond that Hermione often said that only he and Ali had. In fact due to his and Ali’s bond as twins their oldest children were often mistaken for siblings themselves.

“Rose Alexis how many times have I told you that you don’t practice your element around your brother?”

“But Daddy you and Aunt Ali do it all the time!” Rose exclaimed

Draco covered his smile with his hand. His niece was right. Ali and Harry were constantly using their elements. Harry caught the smile and tried to hide his as well.

“Rose, Aunt Ali and I are much older then you and Anthony and we can control our elements better. If you want to train then train in my training room.”

“But Daddy!”

“No buts Rose. Aunt Ali and I practice there and that is where you and Anthony should practice also.”

Anthony looked over at Draco “Dad?”

“Your Uncle Harry is right Anthony. You should never practice your fire element around your sister. What would happen if you burned her?”

Anthony gave his father the Malfoy smirk that he had perfected while still in the cradle. “Rose or Mum would put it out then Aunt Mione would heal her.”

“Don’t get smart with your father young man”

Anthony turned around. Seeing his mother walk into the study her stomach gently rounded again with her third child caused him to blush. As much as he had a healthy fear of his father his mother flat out scared him. Her water element was much more developed then Rose and she didn’t hesitate to let him know it. Even his father stayed away when Ali was angry.

“MUMMY!” Ali’s daughter yelled from her perch on her father’s lap. Ali picked her up and cuddled her close.

“What happened this time Anthony?”

Anthony gulped “Um Rose and I were practicing with our elements and Marion and James got in the way.”

Ali raised an eyebrow “They got in the way? Where were you practicing?”

Rose looked at her aunt sheepishly “In the nursery.”

James (Harry and Hermione’s son) said “They broked my bed Aunt Ali.”

Harry and Draco looked at their children and then at Ali. “Did you know already Ali?”

“Yes I did. Rose it’s a good thing your mother isn’t home from St. Mungo’s. It’s up to your father but I think that you and Anthony better go and clean the nursery.”

Harry looked at Draco and they said together “Sounds good to me.”

As Anthony and Rose ran towards the nursery Harry yelled out “Without magic!”

All three adults laughed at the groans from the five year old terrors.

Ali sat down on the loveseat in the study and put her feet up. Being five months pregnant was making her very tired.

“Ice?”

“Yeah Ash?”

“You look wiped. When do you go on maternity leave?”

“In another month but Headmaster Longbottom wants me to give up DADA until the baby is born.”

“I can’t believe that I actually agree with Longbottom but I do Ali. You don’t need to tax yourself. Having Anthony almost killed you and your pregnancy with Marion was no better. Tell me again why did I let you talk me into a third child?” Draco asked

Ali smiled at him and then looked down at her daughter. Marion Narcissa was a beautiful child. She had her mother’s platinum streaked brown hair that fell into the tight ringlets that Ali hated so badly. She was pale like the Malfoy’s and had inherited her father’s silver eyes. Ali kissed her now sleeping little girl on the forehead and looked back at Draco.

“This is why. You love me and I love being a mother. Besides this pregnancy hasn’t been as hard on me as the other two.”

“Well no but that is because Draco and I hover over you. We have already taken leave to continue to teach DADA for you so follow Neville’s advice and focus on wandless magic. If that gets to be too much the closer you get to term then I will take that class over.”

Draco agreed. “Ali love I know that you love being a mother but please allow Harry and I to help you.”

Ali looked into the beloved faces of her twin brother and husband. Nodding her head she said “Ok. If it gets to be too much I will let you know.”

Draco got up out of his chair and sat down by her lifting Marion up off her lap and holding her himself. “Promise me one thing?”

“If I can.”

“Promise that this is the last baby we have?”

“Only if it’s a boy.”

“Why only if it’s a boy Ice?”

Ali sighed looking over at Harry who was holding his own son. James Sirius was the spitting image of his famous father. The only difference was that he had his mother’s brown eyes instead of his father’s emerald green.

“Because Ash Anthony is the heir to the VanLint title. He can’t be the heir to both.”

Harry looked confused “But Draco is already Lord VanLint. Aren’t you going to be Lord Malfoy when your father passes?”

Draco shook his head. “Only if I don’t have another son. And then the way that the Malfoy title is held Anthony would become the head of the VanLint family while I am the head of the Malfoy family. That’s why the headship of the Black family went to you. One you were Sirius’ adopted son and direct heir and two the head of the family Malfoy cannot hold two headships.”

“Why not? I hold two.”

Ali answered “Money Ash. It’s all about money. Draco’s great-great grandfather wanted to make it clear that the Malfoy line continued. By making it impossible for the heir to hold two headships he made sure that the Malfoy name would always be taken. Other then the VanLint name the Malfoy’s have always had more money. It wasn’t until your adoption into the Black family that Draco wasn’t the wealthiest wizard. The Potters and Blacks weren’t too far behind but the Malfoy’s have for years held most of the wizarding wealth.”

“Ok that I can understand but I thought that the VanLint’s were the wealthiest?”

“We are but my money isn’t just in wizarding money like the Malfoy’s, Blacks, and Potters was. Because my title is recognized in England the VanLint’s have always had muggle money also.”

Draco looked over at Ali. “Sweetie can I ask you how much money you actually do have?”

Ali shrugged her shoulders “Drac my love if I knew I would tell you. Between stocks, property, both wizarding and muggle, cash, jewelry I honestly don’t know. The last statement I received from the many banks that hold my money I think I’m worth somewhere in the hundreds of billions but don’t quote me on that. All I know is that just the interest from the liquid cash in banks comes to a couple billion annually.”

“Whoa. I had no idea.” Harry said

“I didn’t either. Is that why you don’t take a salary from Hogwarts?”

“I do but it goes straight to the trust that you and Ash set up for wizarding orphans and to set up the wizarding elementary school that is headed by Arthur and Ron and Luna.”

Ali was referring to the idea that Harry and Draco had had after the war. Neither one wanted there to ever be another Tom Riddle and both knew that the best way for that was to make sure that any magical child without parents had a place to go. Harry never wanted a child to go through what he did and decided that children who had any magical ability where identified early and placed in wizarding school from birth. Arthur Weasley was the headmaster and Ron and Luna, who married three years ago where in charge of teaching children. Much to Harry and Draco’s dismay the school had been named after them as they had started it and held the trust that allowed it to run. As much as they hated to admit it the two couples were still very much folk heroes and still quite famous. Even after five almost six years since Ali and Harry had defeated Tom they still drew a crowd whenever they went out.

Just then a loud pop signaled that Hermione was home. Calling out she asked where everyone was.

“In my study my love!” Harry called out.

“Oh good are Ali and Draco with you?”

“Yeah we’re here Mione, but keep it down James and Marion are sleeping” Ali answered

Hermione walked in and went straight to Harry quickly kissing him then dropping a kiss on top of James’ head. “Where are Rose and Anthony?”

Draco answered “Cleaning up the nursery. They decided that they were going to practice their elements and ended up breaking James’ bed.”

“How long have they been doing that?” Hermione asked.

“For awhile now love because I told them no magic.” Harry said.

Hermione laughed. “That ought to keep them busy for a while then. Ali how are you feeling?” She asked slipping in to mediwitch role?

Ali laughed “I’m fine Healer Potter-Black. In fact I just agreed to let Ash and Drac continue teaching DADA for me.”

“You did? When?” Harry and Draco asked simultaneously.

Ali elbowed Draco in the stomach. “I did because I really can’t take the risk especially since Draco and I have agreed that this is my last baby if it is a boy.”

“We did?” Draco asked

“Oh hush you. You know we did.” Ali said exasperated.

“Well would you like to find out? I still don’t understand why you haven’t this time. With Anthony and Marion you knew right away.”

“I was just waiting for the right time. So go ahead Mione.”

Hermione stood and grabbed her wand. Waving it in front of Ali she smiled.

“Well?” Draco asked.

“Congratulations. It’s another boy and he is very healthy by the way.”

Draco hugged Ali then kissed her softly. Harry stood and hugged her too asking “Have you thought of names?”

Ali looked over at Draco and mouthed ‘tell him’

“Actually Harry since you named your daughter after Ali we figured that we would return the favor. His name will be Harrison Draconis VanLint-Malfoy.”

Harry looked at his sister as tears welled up in his eyes. He knew that Ali had been touched when he and Hermione had given Rose the middle name of Alexis but he had always figured that when Ali had another boy she would make the middle name after him. Never would he have thought that his nephew’s first name would be after him. “Why his first name Ice?”

Ali smirked. “Because there can only be ONE Draco Malfoy and I married him. I have no desire to be the mother of one. Besides I figured what better way to stick it to Lucius then to have the next Lord Malfoy be a Harry.”

As all four laughed a ministry owl came flying in. Landing in front of Harry he took the letter with a groan seeing his and Draco’s names written on the official parchment.

“What’s that Harry? It’s our day off for Merlin’s sake.”

Harry opened the scroll and read out loud.

“Dear Lord Potter-Black and Lord Malfoy-VanLint,

It has come to our attention that our current Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt has decided that it is time for him to step down from the role of Minister. His recommendation for his replacement, in fact the only ones that he would trust, is the two of you.

Minister Shacklebolt was adamant that he would not step down unless you Lord Potter-Black and Lord Malfoy-VanLint would act as Co-Ministers. He says that between the two of you acting as Co-Head Aurors the department is completely changed.

We, the committee to replace the Minister have researched you both and have found that Minister Shacklebolt is correct. You are the best Head Aurors that the Wizarding world has seen and we agree with his recommendation for you to be Co-Ministers.

If you are willing to accept please send your reply as soon as you can.

Sincerely,

Seamus Finnegan

Personal Assistant to Minister Shacklebolt

Head of Replacement Committee.

After Harry was done reading all four looked at each other and said “Whoa”

“Are you going to accept guys?” Ali asked.

Harry looked at Draco. After five years of partnership, first on the field then as Co-Head’s they could almost read each other’s thoughts. Draco nodded his head at Harry’s unspoken question and Harry said “Yeah Ice I think we are.”

Hermione gave Harry a kiss and said “This has been a big day for you. I have another piece of news for you.”

“What’s that my love?”

“I’m pregnant.”