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[aspittingimage]

Having siblings is way too complicated.

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[sophically]

Is it? I always wondered.

[aspittingimage]

It's a lot like having dormmates that don't go away, only these dormmates know the exact best way to get under your skin and also make you look bad in front of your parents.

[sophically]

That is unfortunate. I'm sure Ron feels the same way now that I think about it. He has always been competitive with his brothers.

[aspittingimage]

Perhaps I should be happy I just have James and Lily. I don't know how Mum did it with six older brothers.

[sophically]

James...and Lily? [Those are curious names.] And your mother has six older brothers?

Don't tell me your mother is Ginny?

[aspittingimage]

Yes. [He sounds only slightly confused, but his parents are famous. It's not that hard to figure.] I'd ask how you knew, but I imagine there aren't many large Wizarding families left. [Albus. Albus pay attention for a moment and look at who you're talking to.

...ah.

Well. This...is both fascinating and perplexing all at once. Hello, Aunt Hermione.]

...it was Dad's idea to name us. [Nice recovery.]

[sophically]

[She stares at him openly, searching for familiarities. Yes, those are green eyes and that is black hair. It's messy too.]

I imagine it was. [Harry would want to remember his parents that way.] What did he name you?

[This is surreal, yet she can't help but smile.]

[aspittingimage]

[Ooh boy. He almost seems to straighten up as soon as he notices she's staring at him. He's not as tall as his brother, a little on the short side for a boy, so it really doesn't make much of a difference. Nevertheless there's a tentative grin because he has a feeling what he's going to say next is going to surprise her.]

Albus Severus.

[sophically]

Albus...Severus...Potter. [She says the name slowly, her smile growing.] It seems like I have a lot to look forward to in the future.

[Especially since she hasn't seen the end of the war yet.]

[aspittingimage]

[He nods, simultaneously pleased and embarrassed all at once because Merlin his aunt's his age. He hasn't quite figured out how this is possible, but then again they're wizards. Time trav--

--it might be safe to assume that's it. Less headaches. He just holds up three fingers though and ticks them off as he speaks and counts down.]

James Sirius is the oldest, I'm in the middle, and Lily Luna's the baby. [He grins though.] I'm pretty sure Mum didn't get a say in any of the naming.

[sophically]

[Time Travel is a tricky business and Hermione knows she shouldn't be hearing any of this, but she can't stop him; she doesn't want to. Hearing all of this is giving her hope in the future and there's something so like Harry about him.

How can she not like listening to him?]

Lily...Luna? [Her breath catches in her throat. Does something happen to Luna?] No, it doesn't sound like she did. All of your names came from people who were important to Harry...your father.

I am surprised he chose Severus.

[aspittingimage]

[And likewise, Albus is aware that he shouldn't be telling her any of this, but...well in all honesty, out of the three kids he bonded with Hermione the best. James is all about pranks and mischief just like his namesakes, and Lily's a little spitfire. Albus, despite having his father's temper and blatant disregard for rules whenever he feels it's necessary, also obtained his mother's brains and therefore usually found himself locked away in Hermione's personal library while he was growing up. Despite not being related by blood, he also seemingly inherited Hermione's dire need to learn and know things. It doesn't surprise him at all that they're currently speaking like they're equals.]

Luna really helped Dad during the war, but I think he just liked the way the two Ls sounded together. Luna was very touched to hear she's a namesake. [He can at least alleviate Hermione's worries about Luna's life-status. At the mention of Severus Snape though Albus just shrugs, looking skyward.]

Dad told me the story before I started at Hogwarts. There's a lot of things that happened during the war that he didn't think would happen. [He looks down again to meet Hermione's eyes.] So it's true that he and Professor Snape didn't get along at all?

[nextgenfred]

Don't tell me James tried to Bat Boogey you in your sleep again.

[lilylpotter]

Yeah, tell me about it.

(Yes, Albus it's your loving and caring younger sister Lily. Minus the loving and caring part. She doesn't exactly enjoy having two brothers at the best of times but she loves you both really. Maybe.)

[aspittingimage]

Tried being the operative word here. I've come to find that I have to sleep with one eye open in this house.

[aspittingimage]

[Wow rude LiLu he loves you! Sort of. Kind of. Maybe only on Wednesdays 'round noon.]

Now what have James and I ever done to you?

[nextgenfred]

Just beef up on your defensive magic and build a strong impenetrable barrier around your bedroom door. It can be very effective.

[aspittingimage]

And just how long have you had your barrier up against your sister?

[nextgenfred]

If I'd had my way it would have been up around the time she started walking.

[aspittingimage]

You do realize she's not that bad, don't you? Not to me anyway.

[nextgenfred]

Yes, well. You and Roxy share a similar... zest for life shall we say.

[aspittingimage]

I may or may not have been teaching her some things.

[nextgenfred]

It seemed from my vantage point to be a mutually destructive on both sides.

Although she still made prefect so who knows she must have a system of balance more effective than others or something.

[aspittingimage]

She must get it from your mum because we know it's not from your dad.

Either that or you're actually rubbing off on her more than we thought, take your pick.

[nextgenfred]

I'll go for the latter, it gives me a few fleeting moments of warm big-brotherly pride.

[lilylpotter]

Don't you mean what haven't you done to me?

(Rude? Na, she's not rude. Not all of the time anyway. Don't make her tell dad because she will. Dad will always take her side over yours Albus. Always.)

So you're saying that dungbomb that went off in my room last week wasn't you?

[aspittingimage]

So what happens when she inevitably blames you and hates that part of her life?

[aspittingimage]

[His lips twitch slightly, but otherwise he's keeping a pretty straight, innocent face. He lifts his shoulders in a shrug and shakes his head.]

Must have been James alone. Why would I even have a dungbomb? [Other than the fact that he keeps a stock of them.]

[nextgenfred]

I have an emergency kit for that type of situation. It involves beers.

[lilylpotter]

(She saw that big brother, don't think that she didn't. She raises a brow at his words, nope she doesn't believe you in the slightest. The brothers might have their own pranks to play on each other but they worked together when it came to Lily.)

You do know I know you right, Al? You always work together. You're lucky I decided not to tell mum and dad this time.

[aspittingimage]

Ah, always prepared. If you ever need help breaking into your emergency kit, well, you know how to find me.

[aspittingimage]

See this is exactly why it's far too complicated to have siblings. [But...but. He just regards her for a minute.]

You know...you could always help me get back at James for once. [Usually he worked alone in his mission to make his older brother's life miserable, but now that Lily was getting older? He's got to watch both of them.]

[nextgenfred]

But you'll just drink it all.