Author's Notes: Still kind of an introductory chapter. It sets the stage for some stuff that will some up later.
Disclaimer: JKR owns all thing Harry Potter.
Part I: Chapter One
1991
"Mum!" George Weasley shouted, "Hogwarts stuff is here!"
Molly bustled in from the kitchen to see what had arrived. The owl had delivered Ron's letter, booklists for four of her children, and something else. Molly opened the mysterious letter just as Percy, Fred, Ron, and Ginny entered the room noisily.
"Did my letter come?" Ron asked, sounding nervous and excited.
"Here you are, Ron," Molly handed her son his Hogwarts letter, momentarily putting the other one aside.
"Ickle Ronnikins isn't a squib, then?" Fred teased.
Ron replied, "Shut up."
"It isn't fair!" Ginny moaned, "I want to go, too."
Molly resumed opening the other letter. She quickly read the contents.
"Percy!" She exclaimed moments later, "Percy, you've been made a prefect!"
Percy gave a satisfied smile.
"Perfect Percy!" George exclaimed.
"Your father will be so proud," Molly told him, "And so am I!"
She knew of two other people who would have been quite proud of Percy. She thought of Alice and Duke nearly every day. Percy was the spitting image of Duke, with Alice's red hair. Percy had inherited their intelligence and academic stamina. Of course, Percy did not yet know of his true parentage. Molly trusted Albus to do it when the time was right and did not expect that time to come until Percy was of age. Percy was truly a member of the Weasley family, yet he had to eventually know about them. About Duke and Alice. His parents.
Molly looked at her children. Fred said something, and Ginny and George laughed. Ron and Percy were talking, Ron still clutching his letter. Percy had to know eventually, but he didn't need to know just yet. Amidst the chaos of her children's laughter and conversations, Molly remembered her best friend.
1965
It was spring, nearly summer, and Alice Dumbledore was sitting outside, trying to escape from the heat. Cooling charms had not made much difference, so she had resigned herself to the fact that she would just have to deal with the heat. She sighed and turned the page of the book that she was reading.
"Alice!" Molly Prewett called, "Hey, Alice!"
Alice looked up from the novel and waved.
"I've been looking all over for you," Molly said as she sat down on the grass, "Terrible heat, isn't it?"
"You can say that again," Alice agreed.
"Arthur was going on about something he learned about in muggle studies…air conditioning, I think it was called. It sounds like a godsend."
"Yeah," Alice replied, "Where is Arthur, anyway?"
"He and Benjy are playing wizard chess in the common room. He said something about going to Hogsmeade tomorrow, though."
"Sounds good. We haven't been there in awhile."
Molly nodded, "Maybe Jacob and Gideon can come, too."
"Excellent," Alice said cheerfully.
"What're you reading?" Molly asked, pointing to the book in Alice's lap.
"As You Like It."
"Is that the one with Desdemona in it?"
"No," Alice paused as the name Desdemona triggered a memory. She had lent Duke that book, and they had both liked it. It was one of the things they used to talk about back when - well, they didn't talk about it anymore. That was that.
"Alice?" Molly asked after a few moments of silence.
"Sorry," she replied, sounding pensive, "Desdemona is in Othello."
"Oh, that's right," Molly remembered. Alice remained quiet.
"Are you alright?" Molly asked Alice, concerned.
"I'm fine," Alice said, "It's just the heat, that's all."
Molly looked at her friend knowingly, "The heat wouldn't make you sad; it would make you annoyed and possibly irritable. Alice, what's wrong?"
"I miss him," Alice said sadly, "I miss him more than I should."
Molly knew who she was talking about, "I'm sorry Alice."
"We used to have these conversations about literature. We had such similar tastes when it comes to books. I could have spent forever talking to him."
"You know, you could always give things with him another chance," Molly advised.
"No, I've made up my mind. The fact that I could've spent forever with him was also terrible - I couldn't have time for anyone else. We were too connected."
Molly nodded.
"So, Hogsmeade tomorrow," Alice swiftly changed the subject, "We'll have to get to The Three Broomsticks."
"Of course," Molly smiled. It would be a great day.
Albus knocked on the door to the transfiguration classroom.
"Come in," he loved the sound of his wife's voice. He entered the room to find her sitting at her desk, almost hidden behind three rather large stacks of papers.
"It would seem that you are quite busy, my love," he observed cheerfully.
"I've already gotten through half of them," Minerva replied.
"What exactly was the assignment?"
"I had all of my sixth years write essays.
"A fitting task," Albus replied. He paused, "Minerva, I have a question for you."
"Yes, dear?"
"Would it be alright if I invited Bartholomew Bagshot to dinner?" Albus sounded as if this were the most typical thing in the wizarding world to do.
"What?" Minerva exclaimed.
"Invite Bartholomew -"
"No, I heard you the first time. Albus, why on Earth would you want to do such a thing?"
"I think he's probably lonely," Albus explained.
"Might I remind you of the fact that he cursed our little girl?"
"And the curse was removed before any lasting damage occurred. Min, he has hardly any family left. He was always a rather shy person and never had many friends. I know what you're thinking, but he's completely harmless."
"Albus, I know you are renowned for being a friend to all, but I cannot allow that man into our house, to be near our children. I'm sorry, but that's just the way I feel."
"It's alright, love, I understand your perspective. I really do."
"Thank you," Minerva said, as she took her husband's hand in hers. They stayed like that for awhile.
"Can you believe this year's almost over?" Zoey Bell asked Katherine as they walked to go visit Hagrid.
"No," Katherine said in response. She smiled, "Time flies when you're having fun, I guess."
"Yeah," Zoey replied, "That was great in Charms class yesterday. You definitely put Lucius in his place when you were the first one to do it right."
"I didn't think I would be first. You don't think I was mean, do you?"
"No!" Zoey exclaimed, "You didn't even say anything to Lucius or do anything remotely mean. You just got the charm before he did."
"Yeah, you're right," Katherine said and forgot about Lucius Malfoy as they knocked on the door to Hagrid's hut.
Jacob, Gideon, and Greta sat in a circle on the floor of Professor Merrythought's classroom, papers surrounding them. They were putting the finishing touches on what would likely be the final issue of The Quill for the year.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Benjy rushed in.
"Sorry! Sorry I'm late!" Benjy apologized, "Arthur and I were playing chess, and I lost track of time."
"Did you win?" Gideon asked.
Benjy nodded proudly.
"Then don't worry about it," Gideon said with a grin as he handed Benjy some papers.
"This'll be a good issue," Jacob said as he looked up from the papers he was organizing. The others nodded in agreement.
"We probably ought to get more people for next year, but I kind of like having just the four of us at meetings," Gideon commented.
Greta nodded, "It is nice, this small group."
"Let's finish this up, though. That was we can all relax at Hogsmeade tomorrow," Gideon said. The four got back to work.
Molly, Arthur, Alice, Benjy, Greta, and Jacob lounged around a table at The Three Broomsticks the next day. Arthur had Molly's hand in his. Benjy looked at Greta fascination as she talked rapidly.
"Gid's fashionably late again," Jacob said, smiling.
Alice grinned, "What's new?"
"Speak of the devil," Jacob commented cheerfully as Gideon entered The Three Broomsticks.
"Here I am, in the flesh," Gideon flashed a smile, "Party can start."
Jacob laughed, and Alice shook her head and smiled. Gideon ordered himself a butter beer.
"What's new?" Gideon asked, taking a seat next to Jacob.
"Slughorn's been pestering me about when I'm going to start going to the Slug Club again," Alice said, "I told him I wouldn't go unless the rest of you all were invited, too. Well, everyone but Jacob and Greta, since you two were already a part of it. Anyway, they're having some sort of dance this weekend, if you guys are free."
"Cool," Benjy replied. Molly, Arthur, and Gideon nodded in agreement. The group of friends lapsed into conversation, enjoying their time in Hogsmeade.