Home And Hogwarts

Nightfall, Potter Residence

Harry stepped out of his car and closed the door, looking around at his home and land. After he and Mali married, Allesandra presented them with this secluded place, about an hour away from Allesandra's. Surrounded by woods, it was a large farmhouse, once a favorite retreat of Allesandra's. About three stories high, it had four bedrooms, a potions lab, a large library, and a kitchen that Harry loved since he taken to cooking, something Mali was quite glad to give Harry since she couldn't cook worth a damn.

Along with the farmhouse were a large balcony and a wrap around porch. There was a small storage unit beneath the porch that contained all of Raven's winter sports equipment. Raven had taken a liking to the winter sports that Muggles tended to indulge in. She excelled at skating, skiing, snowboarding, and ice hockey. Then again, Harry had to admit when Raven put her mind to something, she usually excelled at it. And as soon as his two children came home, he would release the spell that was keeping the lake from being frozen and let the snow come down.

It was now past midnight. Harry had stayed at the MMIA for hours with Hermione and Ron, working out a way to try and protect the last remaining Death Eaters. Although Harry had created the protection program mainly for the remaining Death Eaters, it had been used to hide other witches and wizards who were afraid of the ones they were ratting out to the Agency. He had sent out agents to the safe houses, ten for each one of them, and then decided that he had done what he could. He couldn't get the witches and wizards out now. There was no place to put them until he had worked out new hiding places. They would have to stay put.

Opening the door, he walked inside, dropping his bag and throwing his long overcoat on the couch. He headed straight for the kitchen, stopping in front of the table to see a couple of letters that Trouble, Hedwig's offspring, had delivered earlier. Taking a soda out of the fridge, he sat down and read them. One was from Raven, telling him that she beat James and Gryffindor in Quidditch. Nothing unusual in that. Ever since Raven joined the Slytherin team in her first year, Slytherin had beaten Gryffindor. Every year James never failed to complain bitterly about it. Raven also told him about the hexing incident, saying James didn't mean to and that everything was fine. As usual, she was protecting her arse of an older brother.

Harry sighed. James and Raven used to get along. Until she entered Hogwarts his third year. Then that friendly brother and sister rivalry turned into downright hostility and animosity. Damien Malfoy, one of two people that Raven was closest to at Hogwarts, constantly argued with James over his treatment of his sister. Apparently, James couldn't handle his sister being sorted into Slytherin, then being put on the Slytherin team as Seeker. What he hated even more was losing to her, for Raven was like Harry in Quidditch. But no matter how much James acted up, Raven protected him.

Now in his last year, it had appeared that James and Raven had cooled their hostility, but it looked as if the truce hadn't lasted long. It didn't help when accusations were made that Harry favored his daughter over his son. Looking back, Harry could see that the accusations seemed to have some merit. Raven got his Firebolt 6000 when she made the Slytherin Quidditch team and then his father's Invisibility Cloak on her fourteenth birthday. Harry gave her the cloak because even though it had hurt to tell James, Raven showed more responsibility than his son did.

He supposed he favored Raven because he saw more of him in Raven. She was determined not to follow the rules and buck authority just like he did. She refused to wallow in his shadow and take for granted that she was Harry Potter's daughter. Princess Potter, the Daily Prophet dubbed when she was born and which she instantly hated. James, though, was somewhat like his namesake. And he willingly stayed in his father's shadow and accepted the nickname Prince Potter. Harry wasn't surprised when his daughter was sorted into Slytherin. He was surprised at his son's reaction though. So he guessed it was true: He was lenient when it came to Raven, hard when it came to James. At least he didn't spoil them to the point they were the size of orca whales, had nicknames like Diddydums, and were disrespectful.

Harry set Raven's letter down and recognized his son's untidy scrawl on another letter. It was probably filled with accusations, lambasting his sister and asking if he could stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. Mali never let him, although Harry wanted to at least let his son have his way once. He'd have to talk to her about it soon. Standing up, he headed towards the master bedroom. He entered and took in a quick visual. As usual, Mali's clothes were on a heap in the floor; she was a dedicated slob. She was in bed already fast asleep. He quietly walked into the bathroom to take a shower, casting a Silencing Charm to prevent her from waking. She had the same habit that Ginny did, kicking anyone's ass that woke her when she wasn't ready.

Harry leaned his against the tile, letting the hot water pour over his tired body. Ginny. Many had accused him of turning to Mali on a rebound, saying that he was trying to replace Ginny with Mali. Harry scoffed and turned away from those who did. He had broken things off with Ginny after Dumbledore died, unable to handle the thought of them hurting her, and they still had. They still hadn't gotten back together, not for the lack of trying on Ginny's part. But she had died, during one of most nasty battles that have ever taken place, while Harry was being distracted by Angel and Voldemort.

Harry stopped the washcloth at the middle of his chest, touching the long scar that ran down the middle of him. He had nearly died that night at the hands of Angel. That woman and her love for knives. As much as he hated to admit it, if it hadn't been for the late Severus Snape, who came out of nowhere, hitting her with a Stunning Spell that had almost killed her, Harry would have been dead, and Voldemort would still be around. It was during his recovery when he finally found out about Ginny.

Harry had refused to talk to anyone for weeks after she died, only forced out of his seclusion because Mali told him to stop being an ass and accept that fact that people died in a war. She also told him that she wasn't trying to be nice to him on purpose. Harry smiled as he remembered Mali bitching him out for hiding from the world. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Mali was quite good at hiding. The two of them hadn't gotten along when they'd first met, but the hostility had changed over the space of a year. Harry had started using Mali as a confidante and, within a year after that, fell in love with her.

He knew that she wasn't Ginny. Ginny would always be his first. But he loved Mali. His love for Mali nearly destroyed his friendship with Ron due to his friend's inability to get along with Malicia. Ron had refused to accept Malicia, and if it hadn't been for Hermione, the two boys might have never repaired their friendship. Allesandra had her own opinion on Harry's romance with her daughter. She had simply taken him aside one day and told him that if he ever hurt Malicia, she would kill him.

Turning off the water, Harry stepped out and dried himself. He shook his head, dislodging the memories and returning to the present. Deciding not to bother with a towel, he stepped out of the bathroom and walked towards the bed. He drew back the blankets covering his wife and smiled at the sight in front of him.

Nude. On her stomach, arms under her pillow, Mali's body never failed to make his cock salute. Even after having two children. Eyes traveling up her body, he quickly paused at the scar on her right arm that went from her wrist to her elbow. It was a reminder of her time when she was held hostage by Lord Voldemort, and he still didn't know to this day what or who had done it. She refused to talk about it. Gently placing his hands on her side, he rolled her over, getting nothing but a soft sigh as he ran his hands down her firm legs.

Eyes on her breasts, still as gorgeous and large as ever, he straddled her waist. Leaning forward, he kissed her mouth, his hands sliding up until they cupped her breasts. That finally woke her up, and her eyes slowly opened, sleep still etched in them, but arousal coming into play.

"Harry?"

"That better not be a question," he growled.

"No..."

"I said I would make it up to you, didn't I?" Harry started trailing kisses down her neck, pausing at the juncture between her neck and shoulder. She sighed, and he felt her hands on his back, then moving upward into his hair. He felt her shift slightly and then curl one leg around his waist.

"Yes, you did."

"Well then," he paused and moved his hands down to settle at the warm, soft juncture between her legs, "let me make it up to you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An Hour Later ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bed shifted and then dipped. Malicia opened her eyes to see her husband bend down to the floor and pick up his robe. She watched quietly as he opened the sliding doors that led out to their private porch and sat down on a chaise lounge. It was obvious that previous events from today were on his mind. Knowing from experience that he preferred to be alone with his thoughts, she reached down for the comforter, drew it over her body and closed her eyes, letting herself fall back asleep.

_____________________________________________________________________________

The Next Day, Hogwarts School of Magic, Potions Class

"Malfoy, wake Potter up."

"Are you crazy? She hates it when anyone wakes her up."

"Well, someone needs to before Professor Snape wanders her way over here, and you KNOW she will, and finds one of her students asleep."

"Well then you wake up Raven if you think it's so bloody fucking important."

"Language, Draca!"

"Stuff it, Weasley."

"I am so NOT going to get into trouble for this. I should have known better than to make myself partners with you and Raven."

"I was wondering why, Weasley. Why aren't you with the other Gryffindors?"

"Raven issued the invitation, and I took it. Now I know why she did it. Just so she can sleep. Come on, wake Raven up. She'll get into trouble."

A snort. "Like you care."

Draca Malfoy and Regina Weasley stared at each other for a full minute before Regina finally looked away, muttering to herself as she stirred the potion the three of them were making. As usual, Draca was cutting up the ingredients, and as usual, Raven was asleep, resting her head on her textbooks.

Raven Potter was always asleep. Or at least asleep when she got the chance. The only time she didn't sleep was during meals or Transfiguration and Charms class. It was well known that Raven Potter was NOT a favorite among the professors.

What people didn't know, and what the Slytherins did, was that Raven had a Quick Quotes Quill. It took all the notes she needed during class, and she also had an enchanted Muggle tape recorder, enchanted so it could work through the magic in this place, and had every one of her classes recorded. It was during the night that she did her homework, studied, and of course wandered around the castle with her father's Invisibility Cloak.

Draca looked away from her sleeping friend and picked up the beetle eyes she had finished sorting. "Ready for them?"

The Weasley girl looked down at her notes... actually Raven's notes that the quill had taken during the lecture. "Yeah. Now is good." She looked up and paled as Professor Snape started walking down the aisles, now obviously checking the work of the students.

Draca was starting to pale a bit too as she added the beetle eyes. Professor Severa Snape was bitter, rude, nasty as hell, but damn, she was so cool. She didn't resemble her father much, except for the black hair (minus the grease) and the cold, black eyes. She had her mother's Italian features mainly, including the copper skin. But her attitude was exactly like the infamous Severus Snape's was: nasty.

But that was where the similarities ended. Where her father favored the Slytherins, she did not. She tolerated them like she tolerated everyone else. It was quickly learned that if you wanted to survive with Professor Snape, you had to do your work and keep your mouth shut. The only time the professor had acted out of character was when she had Raven put on the Quidditch team the first year the girl was there. And that was mainly due to the fact that Raven had pulled a Wronski Feint in front of her.

"Weasley, wake Raven up," Draca said urgently.

Reggie frowned. "Oh, now you want her to wake up. Well, guess what? No."

"Damn it, Weasley, wake her up."

"No. Let her get into trouble for once. Merlin, she always sleeps through class. I'd like for her to get caught once."

"Weasley, if you don't wake her up--"

"How about I wake her up?" a silky, feminine voice said. Standing right beside her.

'Shit,' Draca moaned inside her head. She looked up to see Professor Snape move in the front of the cauldron, take a book out of Raven's bag, and open it... It was her Potions book. "So, Miss Potter, a quick question: What does a bezoar do?" And with that final word, she slammed the book shut... right next to Raven's ear, who instantly jumped up and was now wide awake.

"It cures poisons," Raven gasped out, her sleepy green eyes quickly coming into focus. "Bezoars need to be shoved down someone's throat to cure a poison if ingested." Draca handed the girl her glasses, and she slipped them on.

Regina and Draca stared at the girl in between them, potion now forgotten. Raven Potter was sound asleep, but still was able to answer the question that was asked before she was woken up. Even Professor Snape looked surprised.

"Well, perhaps you do pay attention, Ms Potter," she said softly. She set the book down. "Ten points for answering the question. But twenty points will be lost for falling asleep. Be grateful it isn't more."

She turned to Draca. "And ten points will be lost from you for failing to wake her the moment she fell asleep. Twenty points from Gryffindor for your inability to act as well, Ms Weasley." She looked down at the ruined potion in their cauldron. "I don't see the need to take points for this. You've had enough taken."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2 Hours Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ms Potter?"

Raven stopped as Professor Snape called her name. Class was over, and she was on her way to lunch before the professor stopped her. Draca shot her a look and Raven sighed.

"Go on. Don't bother waiting for me." Draca nodded and headed upstairs as Raven wandered over to her professor's desk.

"So." Professor Snape leaned back in her chair, her black eyes showing nothing of what she was feeling. "If it wasn't for the fact you play on the Quidditch team, Ms Potter, I would be forcing you to sit a detention Saturday. As it is, I don't approve of my students, or for any of my students from my House, falling asleep in class. But at least it appears my class isn't the only one."

Raven colored at the thought of the other professors talking about her. "I'm sorry, Professor. It's not the class itself..."

"Oh, I should hope not. I hate to think of my subject being in the same league as History of Magic." The Professor smiled, sort of... If you call a forced moving of the lips upward smiling. Raven shifted her weight onto the other foot. "How long have you had trouble sleeping?"

Raven shrugged. "Since I was little. Always up at night. Dad called me a night owl."

"Do I need to give you daily access to a sleeping potion to ensure you sleep at night? Or do you find that you would rather break the rules and wander around the school after curfew?"

Raven stared at her Head of House for a full minute. Was she trying to get her to admit to that? Not for the first time, she wondered if Professor Snape could read minds.

"I don't do that," she said slowly. "It's just..." Raven sighed. "I get all my work done at night when the common room is empty, and there's no distractions."

"Then I suggest you find another way to do your work. And I will be making sure you get daily doses of a sleeping potion so that you will be in your bed," the professor said firmly. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal." Raven gritted through her teeth. Sometimes she hated the fucking bitch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severa Snape watched as Raven Potter's green eyes darkened and her skin flushed red. She was pissing the girl off. Not unusual. She and Ms Potter seemed to have a daily battle of pushing each other's buttons.

"Can I go?"

Severa raised an eyebrow at the poorly concealed hostility and barely politely asked question. She wondered what life would have been like for Raven if her father Severus was still head of the House of Slytherin. "Certainly."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Great Hall~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Looks like you won't be able to wander around anymore," Draca stated, reaching for her goblet as Raven finished ranting.

"Good," her brother stated, sitting down across from them. Draca took a closer look at her brother. His cheeks were pink, and his eyes angry. "You won't get off the Quidditch team then if you don't get fucking caught sneaking around the halls." He slammed his books on the table.

Raven narrowed her eyes at Damien's rare display of temper and then rounded herself, looking directly at the Gryffindor table. Lorena Granger was there, talking to Regina's older brother Sebastien. Also at the table were Farrah Longbottom, George Weasley's twins Vivian and Cristy Weasley, Fred Weasley's twin daughters, Jade and Janna Weasley, and several others. And of course, holding court was her arse of a brother who was looking quite pleased with himself.

Raven turned to Damien. "What did James do now?"

Damien shook his head. "Don't want to talk about it."

"What did he do?"

"You're going to defend him no matter what I tell you anyway, Raven, so drop it."

"Damien..."

"Just... Drop it, Raven," Damien sighed. "Save it for the Quidditch match and make sure you catch the Snitch for my sake before he does. All right?"

"Hey, Damien, have you heard?" Another Slytherin sat down

"Heard what?" he grumbled, ripping his roll in half.

"About your grandparents' murder?"

Silence. The Slytherin table stopped eating completely, and Raven choked on her pumpkin juice. The Ravenclaws, whose table was closest, went silent as well. Damien and Draca stared at the Slytherin girl in disbelief. She just raised an eyebrow and tossed him the Daily Prophet.

Damien opened it up, and there they all saw: DEATH EATERS IN HIDING: MURDERED!!!!!!!

"What the fuck?!" Damien yelled. "MURDERED!"

Well, everyone definitely heard that. Students everywhere were grabbing Daily Prophets and opening them up. Raven leaned closer to read the smaller articles.

"The bodies of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy, as well as some other former Death Eaters that have gone into hiding," Raven read aloud, the entire Slytherin table listening, "were found dead at the safe house that Harry Potter, the One Who Defeated You-Know-Who, had installed for them in Moscow, Russia. Their bodies were found tied to makeshift crosses while the safe house and woods burned around them. The MMIA, the AWC and Harry Potter himself could not be reached for comment, but the work of this grisly scene has the same trademarks that Allesandra Quartermaine herself has made on some of her most vicious and infamous massacres..." Raven quieted down after that.

"They're blaming Grandma for this?" She sat down, shock going through her. "Why?"

"Because they have no one else to blame," Draca said matter-of-factly. "Raven, it's not her. She wouldn't jeopardize herself like this. She knows what would happen if your dad even suspected she was behind this. She didn't do it."

"Then... someone's framing her?"

Raven looked sick at that thought, and Draca worried for a moment her friend might blow chunks right there. Loud, angry curses were suddenly heard, and Draca turned towards the Gryffindor table where James had just finished reading the articles and was obviously pissed. He looked angry. And she knew why. Raven and James loved their grandmother and took any insult or nasty remark made their way about her personally. They understood that their grandmother had a rather... bloody history with their world, but they didn't care. At the moment all they cared about was that someone was slinging mud on Allesandra's name.

Draca watched as James threw the Daily Prophet on the floor and stormed out of the Great Hall, Granger, Longbottom, and the several Weasleys following. Draca turned back to her friend, whose green eyes normally had a look of mischief or planning in them. Now they held worry. Even the Headmistress Dumbledore and other professors were watching what was unfolding with narrow eyes and tight lips. The Transfiguration teacher, Professor Korrinth, the late Professor McGonagall's daughter, didn't look particularly thrilled as she read the article herself.

"Yes," Draca said firmly, turning her attention back to Raven. "Yes, whoever did this is trying to frame her."

Raven slumped down into her chair. "But why?" she whispered.

Damien and Draca exchanged looks. Draca sighed. "Because they can."