THIRTY TWO

ANDREW FLUTTERED HIS EYES OPEN as the sunlight hit him through the blinds. He rolled over and saw a messy mop of dark blonde hair peeking out against the white bedsheets. He smiled to himself and for a moment, almost went back to sleep. He was simply too content to get up and start his day. The woman stirred next to him and lightly hummed out a yawn. She faced Andrew and smiled.

"Good morning sunshine," she said quietly, her voice coated with a slight hoarseness.

"Good morning, beautiful," he responded planting a soft kiss on her forehead. The woman propped herself up on her elbow, with her hand placed on her head. A white sheet draped over her body and to Andrew, she looked like a renaissance painting. Waking up to different women was something Andrew used to consider part of his daily routine for years. That was until he met Cordelia. Cory, as he called her, was the only woman he ever wanted to see in his bed ever again.

She was a breath of fresh air. A ray of sunshine. Andrew had spent years of his life without purpose. Since the day he wasn't allowed to see his children anymore, he felt like a part of him died. Now, that part of him was back. He was reunited with Rory and Aaron and had finally found a companion. Although his work life was not ideal, he was able to find joy in places he couldn't before.

"So what's on the agenda today?" Cory asked.

Andrew sighed, "We've got a meeting, remember, love?"

Cory smiled and sat up, "How fun! Alright, should I make breakfast?"

Andrew chuckled softly and placed a hand on her cheek, fingers tangled in her short hair, "I'd rather not get salmonella. I'll make it." Cory laughed and nodded. She was a horrible cook and she knew it.

The man went to the kitchen and whipped up eggs and bacon for the two of them. As he did, he heard the familiar chirp of an owl near his window. He grabbed the two letters from the bird, he tipped it, and it flew off.

Aaron and Rory had both written to him as they usually did. He opened his letter from Rory first.

Dad,

Thanks for asking, but I was unfortunately unable to go to Hogsmeade because Angelina called for all day Quidditch practice. It was awful. However, I think we're slowly getting to the point where we can beat Hufflepuff next week. I really wish you could come, I know there's new rules about visitors and I know why, but I'm still going to be upset about it. After practice Fred planned this date for us in the common room and he told me he loves me! Isn't that wonderful? I'm overall fairly happy although I really do miss you and I can't wait to see you again. I hope all is well. I love you!

Love,
Rory

Andrew smiled as he read her words. He wanted nothing more than for his daughter to be happy. It was strange, the last time he saw her was when she was only five and now she was a beautiful, opinionated young woman. He wished he could have seen her between now and then. He felt the same, even worse about Aaron. He barely saw a year of his own son's life. However, although Andrew never properly raised Aaron, he could tell the boy was his son. That fact was especially prominent in the letter he sent the man.

Dad,

I spent Valentine's Day with Luna (as friends!), everything was going well until my old friends came up to us and started picking on Luna! They were calling her Loony! I started to get very angry, and then one of them called Rory... a fucking bitch. Sorry for swearing, I'm just quoting those assholes. Shit, I did it again, didn't I? Anyways, I wasn't going to let them get away with that! Except I did because I didn't want to get in trouble. What made me angry was that they were picking on Luna and Rory but not me. It must be because I'm a boy, right? Hopefully karma gets to them. Well, I hope that everything is well. I miss you.

Aaron

Andrew wrote back to his children, giving them the best advice he could. He told Rory how happy he was for her and he told Aaron how proud he was of him for attempting to stand up for the girls. Although he felt a strong anger towards whoever had said that about his daughter, he didn't want Aaron getting in trouble after hearing of the type of punishment Hogwarts permitted (he couldn't wait to raise hell when the time was right, however). Something he didn't mention though, was his relationship with Cordelia.

Andrew felt as if both children had gone through too much change in the last six months. He wanted to wait until things were a bit more serious with the woman. Although, she was basically living with him and had joined the Order... yeah it was quite serious... he was just nervous to tell his kids. He cared about their opinion and their approval more than he did anyone else's.

What if Rory and Aaron didn't like Cory? What if they disapproved of their relationship? Those sort of things stressed him out greatly.

Cory was optimistic about the whole ordeal, however. She told Andrew that if Rory and Aaron disliked her for whatever reason she'd try her hardest to change that (but who could dislike Cory? She was delightful in every sense).

Everyone in the Order loved her. Sirius was especially drawn in by her infectious energy. They were always talking Quidditch much to the annoyance of people like Mad-Eye and Remus who always wanted to stay on topic.

As positive as everyone tried to stay, it was difficult at times. Having the kids around certainly brightened the aura of Grimmauld Place. However, with them being at school and barely able to communicate, it was hard to find reasons to be cheerful. Although most of them had experienced more than a lifetime worth of pain and torment, they still had their youth. No matter what, youth was a gift. A gift that entitled a person to a brighter perception of the world. Laughter and singing were parts of it, unable to be taken away despite the death and sadness surrounding them.

Cory didn't have children, and she was only about five years younger than Andrew, however she brought a similar positive energy to the room that the kids had.

Although everyone could appreciate the way the woman made meetings feel a bit brighter despite the times they were living in getting darker. With the mass breakout at Azkaban and the Ministry watching over everything, including St. Mungo's... it seemed like their voices were being silenced more and more. He was becoming fearful of the state of their world, everyone was. But they had to put on their brave faces, someone had to.

[][][][][]

RORY SAT NEXT TO GEORGE in Transfiguration on a Friday afternoon in February. The Hufflepuff match was quickly approaching and it was all she could think about.

There was a big part of Rory that wanted to quit Quidditch. Everything she enjoyed about it wasn't there anymore. The twins were no longer on the team to make her laugh during practice, they had lost all the closeness that made them play so well in the first place. Not even Angelina could be her friend on the pitch. On top of all that, Hogwarts was turning into a prison with Umbridge controlling everyone. She hated it. She knew she couldn't quit, though. She didn't spend all her time being a part of it just to give up right at the metaphorical finish line. It was rough, though. She hardly recognized the sport without the twins, every single match she ever played was with them.

However, both Fred and George seemed happy despite their lifetime ban from the sport. They were selling more Skiving Snackboxes than ever before. It seemed students more than ever wanted to vomit, pass out, and get bloody noses. The girl didn't blame them. She considered eating a Fever Fudge before Quidditch practice that morning but she knew Angelina would be suspicious. She was glad they were doing well for themselves, however it worried her that she was doing so poorly.

She only had a few months left under the safety blanket of Hogwarts and soon would be off in the real world. The girl knew she needed to find a job as well as a place to live. The fantasy of living with Fred danced around in her mind. It was something she always thought about and they even discussed long before becoming a couple. She glanced over at George and wondered if he'd mind now that Fred and Rory were dating. As for a job, she could always ask the twins if she could work for them until the time had come for her to try and get a job at Hogwarts. Rory wanted to do her own thing though, not be an extension of their success. She'd just have to work at a shop or something since the Ministry was absolutely not an option.

The future stressed Rory out so much, she nearly missed half of McGonnagal's class worrying about it. Before she knew it the bell had rung and students were shuffling out.

"I will see you all in class Monday! Remember there's a match tomorrow, Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff... I will not share my bias as to who I want to win but... I'll be rooting for Gryffindor. Good luck, Miss Archer." McGonnagal said to the class as they left. Rory thanked the woman and chuckled softly as she walked out with George, who seemed to have zoned out the lecture as well given he was unable to tell her anything she might have missed. It was the last class on a Friday, so she couldn't blame him.

"Want to play Gobstones or something tonight?" George asked as they walked down the busy corridor, "You can ask Mar and Angelina to join us."

"Well I doubt Mar is going to be down for that," Rory mumbled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" George asked raising an eyebrow.

Rory sighed, "It's just... well she's been acting strange lately hasn't she? It's like she doesn't want to be around us anymore."

George seemed a bit taken aback, "I mean... I guess I haven't really noticed. But now that you say something..."

"It's definitely a secret boyfriend," Rory shrugged, "Probably a Slytherin and that's why she's not telling us because we're going to make fun. At least you will."

The boy scoffed as they approached a moving staircase, "I would not! I happen to love Slytherins." Rory shot him a look and he quickly backed down, "Fine, maybe I would. Why don't we just ask her about it then?"

"I wouldn't. There's a reason she's not telling us, I say we wait until she's ready. It's not really our business, is it? She obviously feels like she can't trust us, forcing it out of her isn't going to help — Ancilla." She spoke the password and the portrait hole swung open.

George quickly dropped the subject as he saw Marina sitting in an armchair, her nose in her potions textbook.

"Hey, Mar!" He smiled.

The girl looked up and gave him a small smile in return, "Hey, George, Rory. How was Transfiguration?"

Rory shrugged, "We weren't paying attention."

"What are you up to tonight?" George asked. Rory rolled her eyes.

Marina closed her book and nervously scratched her neck, "I've got... plans. Probably just going to be in the library all night. Snape assigned this retched essay and —"

"What are you hiding from us?" George asked bluntly.

Marina paused for a moment, she seemed shocked at his question, as was Rory.

"Excuse me?" She asked calmly. "What makes you think I'm hiding something?"

"Is it a secret boyfriend? Because you can trust us! Promise!" He said in an almost pleading tone.

Marina stood up, "Fine. If you must know, I actually have been seeing someone. That reminds me I'm going to be late in meeting up with him if I don't leave soon. Goodnight."

The girl left without saying another word. Rory and George were left speechless. Rory was suddenly very annoyed at George for doing the exact opposite of what she told him to. However she was more concerned with Marina. Her suspicions were right but... were they? Marina could easily be lying to them. There must be a reason she wasn't telling them who she was seeing. However, Rory figured it'd be best to hold the sleuthing off until after the match.

A/N:

i love the "be rosamund pike, do crime" genre as much as the next girl but cory is nice i promise <3

also andrew can't be w tonks she's like five years older than his daughter... they literally went to school together —