Edited 3/2/2022

Chapter Sixteen, Summer Vacation

With the war over and their Fifth Year over James and Pandora along with Remus and Marlene signed their betrothal contracts, each bestowing them with beautiful rings that Monty helped them pick out. They were now in Sirius and Josie's gang, as Sirius claimed. For a few weeks in the summer Monty and Mia treated everyone to a holiday at their villa in the south of France where it was nice and hot this time of year. They had also invited Remus, Pandora, Regulus and Marlene to join them on their family holiday (Sirius was living permanently with the Potters).

For the first time in over a year Josie felt safe. She felt relaxed, and she welcomed that feeling with open arms after the rather stressful year she had endured: trying to win the war by finding the Horcruxes so Dumbledore could destroy them, coping with the horrifying visions she'd endured the previous year, her illness, studying for and taking her OWLs, trying to create a potion to help Remus and other werewolves, and her visions on top of everything, had caused her to become extremely stressed and tensed and was looking forward to this holiday.

Once Josie had showered, brushed her teeth and finished getting ready she removed the necklace and her betrothal ring for the time being, as she didn't want them to get covered in sand or to get lost. Next; Josie covered herself from head to toe in sun cream using her magic to do her back before slipping on her blue tie dye halter neck bikini with matching bottoms, brown sandals, and a white tie front dress cover. Smiling happily she skipped downstairs to the patio where they would all be having breakfast before they headed to the beach.
"Morning." Josie chirped happily, noticing everyone was there and waiting for her.
"Morning sweetheart, did you sleep alright?" Monty asked his daughter.
"Perfectly Daddy. You and Mum alright?" She asked, kissing their cheeks.

"We're fine darling." Mia assured, only to notice her daughter wasn't wearing her necklace or the ring.
"I didn't want them to get lost or have sand get in them." Josie explained, noticing her mother's looks.
"That's very wise darling." Mia agreed. "Girls, I think you should leave your rings in your rooms. There's only so much a spell can do to protect jewellery from the elements." She advised them.
"Thanks Mrs Potter." They said, grateful for the advice.
"Morning Remus, Reggie, Jamie, Siri." Josie said kissing Remus, Regulus and James on the cheek in a sibling way and kissing Sirius on the lips sweetly. "Morning Dora, Marl." She greeted, seating between Sirius and James.
"Morning Starfall." Everyone greeted Josie happily.

Once everyone had finished their breakfasts they headed down to the beach. The Potter Villa just so happened to have its own private beach so they had no risk of disturbing anyone or anyone disturbing them. The group of teenagers ran down to the seafront laughing and joking with each other while Mia and Monty strolled casually behind them hand in hand and smiles upon their faces.
"We have our twins back." Mia sighed happily, watching the girls jump onto their betrothed's back laughing as they messed about trying to push each other into the water, with Regulus joining in and trying to take them all out.
"That we do, my love. That we do." Monty agreed happily, his smile widening at his daughter giggling noisily. "Josie is much happier now that the war is over. Those visions she saw, if it didn't end, really took a toll on her the past year." He added with a frown.

"It did but it's over now. We have our Josie back." Mia said happily, sitting down in the deck chair. "How's the potion coming along, the one you and Josie are working on to help Remus?" Mia said quietly, so the boy couldn't hear.
"I think we've just about cracked it." Monty said with a giant grin. "Our daughter is definitely going to take after her father in the potion making and creating department or even exceed me. She came up with most of the ideas and even an alternative to wolfsbane." Monty said proudly, causing Mia to shake her head at husband but to smile proudly at the news of her daughter's talents.
"When will it be ready for Remus?" Mia asked curiously, knowing there were procedures involved in the creation of new potions before they were allowed for public consumption.

"We sent it to the board at the Ministry for extensive testing and to get a license for it, so no one can claim it's theirs. All being well, it should be ready by the time we come off holiday." Monty explained.
"That's great. It's going to help that poor boy and so many others." Mia said, turning her attention to the teens in the sea. They all needed this nice relaxing holiday after the past year and for the kids to actually have a chance of being kids again. It was wonderful for Monty and Mia to sit back, and just watch them play and mess about with each other, sipping on the ice cold Butterbeers that a House-Elf had brought them. This holiday was very much needed and much deserved indeed. As she watched them she started making plans in her head on settings for her daughter's wedding that was now in two years time.

She wasn't like the other mothers that would take control of her daughter's big day, Josie had discussed some things with her the night before and she was making a mental list of the things they discussed and what was left to be done which was quite a lot still. But she knew they'd manage. Looking to Regulus she hoped he would find someone who made him just as happy as his brother was and planned to talk to Melania about it once they got off holiday. She couldn't help it, he'd worked his way into her heart just like all these other children and she couldn't be happier at the loyal and loving friends her twins had. She knew the twins would always have each other but they had an extensive support network in their friends, and it eased her mind knowing when she and Monty were no longer here her babies would be loved and supported.