Harry was woken up by the sound of his son's incessant knocking on his and Ginny's bedroom door.
"Mum, Dad, it's here, it's here, get up" came James's muffled voice through the door. They had been forced to place loads of silencing spells on their room ages ago after James and Al had heard a few ah— noises they shouldn't have, making hearing through the door a bit chancy. Harry sat up and shook his wife's shoulder lightly.
"Gin, I think his Hogwart's letter's here" He said groggily, his voice still heavy from sleep.
"Yes, yes, but tell him to shut it, it can't be after seven" she mumbled, making Harry laugh.
"I don't think that's going to work, love" Harry got up and opened the door. James immediately bounded into the room and onto the bed, clutching a letter sealed with the Hogwarts crest.
"Mum it's got my name on it and everything, it's really here, I'm really going"
"James, darling, we've known you were magic since you popped out" Ginny sat up and ruffled James's already rumpled black hair. He gave his parents a broad grin.
"I know but Al was going on and on yesterday about how he reckons I'm a squib" he said.
"He's just jealous, but Jamie you cannot rub this in his face alright?" Harry said warningly.
"I know Dad" he responded waving his hand, "can we floo to Aunt Angie's and Uncle George's for lunch?" he gave Ginny a pleading look.
"Maybe we can meet them at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch, I'll owl them, and Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron as well" she responded.
"Brilliant, I'll wake Al and Lily" he popped up and raced out of their bedroom.
Ginny turned to Harry with shining eyes. Harry wordlessly opened his arms and she fell into them. He started to stroke her fiery hair with his left hand.
"I know Gin, I'm going to miss him too"
Turns out, everyone was free that Saturday and the Potters found themselves in the Leaky Cauldron a few hours later surrounded by family. Fred had gotten his Hogwarts letter that morning as well and he and James were huddled together at the end of the table talking animatedly about what they needed to buy and how much fun they were going to have. Hugo and Lily were in good spirits as well, being young enough that the allure of Hogwarts was still too far away to be thought about. Ron, Harry, and George were chatting casually about the joke shop and Hermione, Ginny, Angelina were talking about the family's worst kept secret; Teddy and Victoire's budding relationship. Roxanne was sitting next to her mother, looking a bit bored. She's was going to be a fourth year in September and the novelty of going back to school was getting a bit old. The only ones in a strop were Rose and Albus. Sitting slightly separated from the rest of the group, they kept their faces down and picked at their food, sighing heavily every time James or Fred said something related to school.
"I cannot believe we have to continue with primary school and these prats get to learn magic" Rose huffed, taking a small sip of her butterbeer. Albus nodded in agreement.
"I had James convinced he was a squib a week ago all because I can do a better Wronski Feint than him" he rolled his eyes.
"That's ridiculous, you can't ride a broom at all unless you have magic" Rose mumbled, "what an idiot"
"I know, but he was all put out by it; it was brilliant" he paused to take a nibble from a chip, "Think about it Rosie, we're going to be suffering through maths next term while they'll be in defence learning how to hex us to bits" Rose was about to respond when Neville Longbottom came to the table accompanied by his wife Hannah, the landlady.
"Hullo all" he greeted everyone before turning to Harry and clasping him on the shoulder, "this just came for you" he said holding out a crisp letter emblazoned with the ministry stamp.
"Thanks, Nev" Harry responded and got up, rubbing the back of his head nervously. Hannah sat in with the wives, next to Hermione and started to chat with them while Neville took Harry's place next to Ron.
"Alright Neville?" Ron greeted him, "ready for next term with these heathens" he jabbed his thumb towards his nephews who had returned to animated chatter.
"Yeah I reckon they can't be worse than Teddy and his mates" he said while opening up a fresh bottle of butterbeer.
"Then you haven't been paying much attention at Sunday lunches," George laughed, "They give Fred and I a run for our galleons" he said, "I caught him yesterday trying to sneak fireworks into his underpants on the way to tea with Angie's parents"
"Sometimes I think I'm mad for taking the Gryffindor head position and it's solely because of the trouble your lot brings" he said, making George and Ron laugh.
Outside the pub, Harry opened the Ministry letter with shaking hands. In his head, he hoped he didn't have to go in to the office today, he loves being able to spend time with his family. He saw immediately that the letter was from Kingsley directly, making him swear under his breath. In the Minister for magic's tight cursive the message simply read, 'please come in as soon as you can'. Harry went back inside and immediately met Ginny's eyes; she sighed and looked at him with a glance that seemed to say 'if you must'. Harry went to James and patted him on the shoulder.
"Sorry mate, I have to go in to work, something with the case I'm working, but we'll come back in a few weeks to get your things" James looked a bit put out but smiled anyway.
"S'alright dad, I get it" Harry's lips formed a tight smile; he ruffled Al's hair and kissed Lily's cheek to say goodbye.
"I shouldn't be back late Gin, hopefully for dinner" he said, obviously disconcerted.
"Okay" Ginny responded, standing up. She kissed Harry on the mouth lightly, just a peck but Harry could feel the emotion behind it.
"love you" he whispered into her lips. Harry then stalked out to the muggle side of the Leaky Cauldron and ducked into an alley before disapparating directly into the ministry atrium.
Harry strode into his office only to find the minister already waiting for him, sitting in Harry's chair no less.
"Kingsley" Harry greeted him shortly, a bit perturbed. Kingsley jumped up from Harry's chair and walked around to sit in the one in front of the desk. Harry sat and pulled the case files from a drawer.
"Same sort of thing as last week?" he asked the bald man. Kingsley nodded and pulled a piece of parchment from his robes.
"This is the official report, came in about an hour ago" Harry read over the parchment, his free hand running through his hair nervously.
"Brixton? Shit that's getting closer. Who wrote this report? It's a bit rushed" Harry asked.
"Cokely I believe"
"The trainee?" at Kingsley's nod Harry sighed.
"He's alright, was it just him that witnessed it?"
"No, a few muggles saw it as well but the Obliviators took care of it" Kingsley responded shortly.
"I'm going to have to put everyone on this, aren't I?" Harry asked unnecessarily and Kingsley nodded before getting up and walking to the door. He paused here and turned to look back at one of the most loyal people he has ever met.
"Harry?" he called, causing the younger man to glance up, "We will figure this out" he said as he left the office, his midnight blue robes billowing behind him.
"I hope so" Harry whispered after Kingsley had disappeared from view.
Back at the Leakey Cauldron, lunch was wrapping up and Ginny Potter was getting restless. Everyone paid for their lunches and kids were corralled by their respective parents.
"Mummy, can I go over to Hugo's for a bit? Aunt Hermione already said it was alright, please, please, please" Lily begged her mother. Ginny glanced at her sister-in-law who nodded and smiled, her bushy hair bouncing around her face.
"Alright darling, have fun" Ginny said, caressing her daughter's face in farewell.
"I'll floo her home in time for dinner" Ron said to his sister.
"That's fine, I'm thinking about taking the boys for a fly at the Burrow, I can take Rosie if she's interested"
"Sure, she'll love that" Ron nodded.
"Rosie, fancy a fly with me and the boys?" Ginny called to her young niece.
"As long as I can play keeper" Rose called back.
"Can Fred come?" James called, "with Rose as keeper, you and me as chasers, Al as seeker, and him as beater we could have enough for a mini match"
"Fine, come on you lot, let's go" Ginny called, the four kids following her.
Ginny being an ex-professional Quidditch player made the teams slightly more even if James and Fred teamed up against her. The game was that whoever earned the most points before Al caught the snitch won. Rosie was a fair keeper for being only ten and Al took after his father with his seeking abilities. They played many matches in the Burrow's makeshift pitch before turning in for tea and lemonade. Molly had also put out some sandwiches for snacking.
"I reckon you cheated Mum; that bludger looked confunded in the last match" James said while munching on a cucumber sandwich.
"James darling, if Fred could get his head out of his arse to locate his bat then maybe the bludger wouldn't have hit you"
"Ginny, watch your language around the children" Molly chided, taking a sip from her lemonade. Ginny scoffed in response.
"Oi, I'm not that bad" Fred protested.
"Yes, you are" Rose muttered, rolling her eyes.
"I heard that Rose, shove off"
"So, we're not going to mention the fact that I caught the snitch in less than twenty minutes?" Al interjected.
"No" Was the collective response.
"Mum, is Dad around?" Ginny asked her mother, "I want to talk to him about something"
"I think he's in the shed dear" Molly responded while trying to wipe Rose's muddy face with a dishcloth.
"Gran, I've got it" she said, tugging the cloth out of her hand. Ginny popped up from the table and went out to see her father.
Dominique Weasley was upset. Her mother had just informed her that she was not allowed to have her best friend in the entire world that wasn't related to her over for Sunday lunch at the Burrow simply because he's a boy.
"But Mum, it's not like that, Andrew is just a friend!" Dom said again but Fleur had already made up her mind.
"Darling, I'm sorry, but your father and I agreed you weren't allowed to have boys over until fifth year"
"Ask Roxy! The three of us are good mates, I'm not even sure Andy likes girls anyways" Dom spat back. She had gotten her father's fiery hair and the Weasley temper to match.
"Dominique, c'est assez, j'ai dit non" Fleur snapped, making Dominique even more enraged.
"Fine!" she huffed and retreated up the stairs and to her room, slamming the door behind her. Victoire had heard the entire exchange from the kitchen.
"Mum, what's the problem, it's just Andrew Thomas. Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron went to school with his dad" she said raising an eyebrow at her mother.
"I know, but Andrew is infatuated with your sister. I saw it on the platform at the end of last term and they're too young" Fleur finished and stalked to her and Bill's room that was located on the first floor leaving Victoire confused. She felt like there was more to the story.