Hestia (Jones) Shacklebolt

Hestia paused in the doorway to the kitchen, taking one last look into the living room. Gathered around the low coffee table were four little girls; her two curly dark-haired girls, Dora and Amelia, and Fleur's two little blond-haired girls, Victoire and Dominique. They were playing quietly together, paper and crayons scattered on the table in front of him.

With a fond smile, Hestia turned and made her way back into the kitchen where her slim blonde friend sat at the kitchen table, a cup of tea before her. "They're playing nice and quietly now, drawing on the paper I gave them. Should keep them quiet for a little while at least." Hestia slipped back into her seat, pulling over her cup of tea and smiling at Fleur. "So how have you been, Fleur?"

Hermione's owl had definitely caught Hestia's attention. Viktor Krum, he was the international Quidditch star, wasn't he? Hestia remembered watching him perform in the Triwizard Tournament. But the fact that he apparently had information about Death Eaters and some sort of organization, now that was what really peaked Hestia's interest.

Immediately upon replying the owl, Hestia ushered her children into their room and set them to a little arts and crafts project, hoping it would keep them distracted long enough for her to talk to Hermione with out interruption. Just as she was casting a little listening charm on their room (so she could keep an ear on them), she heard a knock at the front door. Reminding her two little daughters to behave, she hurried down the hallway and to the front door, opening it to reveal Hermione Granger.

"Hermione, welcome. Come inside, please." Ever well-mannered, Hestia asked, "Would you like some tea?"

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Even though she was engrossed in watching her daughters drawing at coffee table, Hestia's gaze couldn't help but flick up to the clock above the mantle. Kingsley had owled her earlier in the day to let her know he'd be staying at the school for dinner. Now, it was nearing the time he should be flooing home from Hogwarts; even after years of being married to him she still felt that happy excitement at the thought of him coming home for the night.

Just as she glanced up at the clock again, the flames in the fireplace beneath it flared a bright green. Immediately her two little daughters jumped up from the table, skirts swirling around their legs as they cried out, "Daddy's home, Daddy's home!" Hestia stood up herself, a happy smile spreading across her face as her husband's tall form became visible in the swirling green flames.