Saving Granger

All things Harry Potter belong to the wonderful JKR. I just take them out for a bit of exercise.

a/n I want to thank everyone for making this a fun fic to write. Your reviews kept me going and I had a fun time as this story wrote itself. Thanks go to Regina, Hermioneandseverusfan, Shadwcat27, Susan, halfblood princess, sea, K. Edania, LillaQ, jj, hezzie, Vermillion Rhodes, Evelynn, mystic song, Snapespet 30, Cupotrevor, Lilo, Anon, Heather, and..anyone that I missed. But really big thanks go to Dark Kiki and Anri who encouraged me to take the plunge and go for it. You guys rock and you BOTH need to write a little. Kiki you have the gift of words, put them on paper. Anri you have the most amazing imagination I have ever had the pleasure of encountering, write it down. Now, on with the final curtain call.

Victoria had always loved this room. She had spent her entire life growing up in this house. The mantle over the fireplace was full of family pictures. The next wall was a series of French doors that opened onto the patio and her mother’s favorite gardens. The last two walls were floor to ceiling bookcases with her parent’s favorite chairs in front of them.

Crossing the room to the mantle she surveyed her family’s lives in pictures. The first one was her parents wedding picture. Her Mom had on a simple white sundress and sandals, her father had on black trousers and a white silk shirt. How young they looked. It was taken 30 years ago tomorrow in the garden just outside. They held each other smiling and waiving at the camera.

Turning to look out the doors she realized the garden still looked exactly as it did in the picture. Well, if you could over look the catering company setting up for the party tomorrow. Mom and Dad always had a big party for their anniversary. Mom said Dad was always trying to make up for them eloping the day after Uncle Harry and Uncle Draco’s wedding.

Speaking of Uncle Harry and Uncle Draco they were in the next picture over. They were on a beach and Draco was sitting on a large flat rock with Harry standing behind him draped over his shoulders, both of them looking out to sea. It seemed sadly romantic even now. Dad said it was taken on their honeymoon. Must have been at nearly the same time as Mom and Dad’s picture. Her Uncles would be here soon, must remember to make sure their room was ready.

Next was the infamous baby picture. She had long since stopped being embarrassed by it. It was her first birthday and she was shoving a handful of cake into Andrew’s face. Andrew was the child Harry and Draco adopted. Harry had been doing some charity work for the local orphanage. There were a lot of displaced children after the war and this one little boy had stolen Harry’s heart at first glance. Harry had gone straight to the fireplace and flooed Draco to come immediately. In no time they had filed to adopt Andrew.

She had grown up with Andrew. The next picture was of her and Andrew on platform 9 3/4 waiting for the Express the first time. He had his arm around her neck almost in a head lock and both of them were smiling. Later that day they had been sorted into different houses at school. It didn’t mean much since the inter-house rivalry had been gone for a long time. Well, if you overlooked Quidditch, they NEVER overlooked Quidditch. She had played Keeper for Slytherin and he had played Seeker for Gryffindor. Their games rivaled Harry and Draco’s when they were in school.

Hearing her twin’s laughter pulled her eyes to the window. Two dark haired figures raced past the windows on brooms followed by two red haired blurs hot on their tails. Sighing she crossed the room to open the French doors and stepped onto the patio. The foursome had buzzed low over the catering crew and caused a half erected tent to fall over. Pulling a Quidditch whistle from the chain around her neck she gave a loud signal. All four children immediately turned and headed for her. Being Hogwarts quidditch coach had its advantages.

As the four figures slowly landed in front of her she did her best impression of her father’s most intimidating face. “What do you think you are doing gentlemen? You know tomorrow is a very important day around here and here you four are acting like you have never ridden a broom before.” All four looked so sheepish that she just wanted to hug them. James and Luke had their dad’s unruly dark hair and her smoky black eyes. George and Fred looked just like their namesakes. Ginny had not been able to resist naming them after their uncles and Blaise had never been able to refuse Ginny anything she desired.


“Sorry Mom, we will put the brooms away for awhile,” James said. He was always the spokesperson for the group but it was usually Luke who came up with the brilliant plans for mischief. It was all Victoria could do not to smile and let them off easy.

“How about you boys go use the quidditch pitch your grandfather had installed for you?” her husband drawled from behind her as his arms slid around her waist. She leaned into him and watched the boys take off over the manor to the pitch.

“You know that they are going to descend on an unsuspecting Hogwarts next year? It will be up to you to keep them from blowing up my father’s precious potions lab and up to me to keep them in check on your father’s precious quidditch pitch.” she said as she looked back to her husbands smiling face.

“Yes, Andrew, I seem to have entrusted you with four of the top five most important things in my life” Severus said with a smile as he took his favorite seat. “Somehow, I knew that old lab would rank up there ahead of me” Hermione quipped as she poured tea.

The fire glowed green as Draco stepped through and turned to help Harry out. “Hail, hail the gang’s all here” called Draco. Everyone smiled because they knew as the day progressed that everyone would be there. By dinner time the entire Weasley clan had arrived along with Neville and Luna and all of the remaining order members. Even Remus made it in time for dessert which was his favorite part after all.

After everyone had gone to bed, Victoria found herself looking at the rest of the pictures on the mantle. There was Albus and Minerva smiling at her. There was a picture of the original Order of the Phoenix with her Dad looking impossibly young and brooding. There was a picture of Mom and Harry and Ron on the front steps to Hogwarts. Everyone had seen Ron’s ghost from time to time, it was almost as if he had to check on everyone once in awhile. It usually happened when Mom was stressed about something but if Ron showed up everything seemed to turn out fine.

The last picture was taken today with everyone. It had so many people smiling and waiving that they had to break into three rows. This mantle proudly showed the wonderful life that her parents had made for themselves and their extended family. She whispered a quiet nox and retired knowing that the party tomorrow would be one more in a long string of happy family memories.